CFBA Presents - PROMISES, PROMISES by Amber Miller - WIN IT!

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingPromises, Promises(Barbour - July, 2008)byAmber Miller

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hi, I'm Amber, but my friends call me Tiff, short for Tiffany, my first name. Writing had always been a hobby, a way for me to express my innermost thoughts and feelings in a way I sometimes find difficult with the spoken word -- although my friends will tell you 'shy' is not in my vocabulary. Thanks to the gentle nudging of a fellow author -- Tracie Peterson -- in 2002, I took the next step in my writing career and joined the American Christian Fiction Writers. I owe so many there a hearty hug of appreciation for their constant encouragement and unselfish assistance. I feel a lot more confident thanks to their support and love. For those of you who are also fiction writers looking for a wonderful support group, check them out!

I got involved with web design in 1997, when I was asked to take over running the official web site for the television series Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. That eventually led to a series of negotiations where I was offered the job of running world-renowned actress Jane Seymour's official fan site. That has branched into doing web sites for a variety of clients, including: authors J.M. Hochstetler, Trish Perry, Kathy Pride, Louise M. Gouge, Susan Page Davis, and Jill Elizabeth Nelson, actor William Shockley (the voice of AT&T and Sony) and many others. With the help of a handful of other web site "technos," Eagle Designs was born! Feel free to visit and see our other clients.

Books are a definite passion. Why else would I be writing and publishing them? I firmly believe that a good book can take you away from all of your problems, into a world you've never seen. My favorite food is Italian; I sing all the time, and I once worked with my church choir to do a professional recording for a music CD of our performances.

I am in my 30's, married the love of my life in July 2007, and live in beautiful Colorado, but I love to travel and visit new places. Ultimately, my dream is to own horses and live in a one-level rancher nestled in the mountains. For now, I will remain where I am and do what I love—design web sites and write.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Raelene Strattford knows God has promised never to leave or forsake her. But after the catastrophic deaths of her parents, she doesn t believe it. What kind of God would take a girl's family and leave her alone in a wild land where women have no voice? Gustaf Hanssen has admired Raelene from afar for a while, but his poor attempt at courting her in the past has made him unwelcome in her life. When Gustaf promises Raelene's dying father that he will take care of her, he finds himself bound to her happiness, her success, and her well-being in ways he never imagined. To keep his word must Gustaf really oversee all of Raelene's affairs, find her a husband, and maintain her farm, while she does nothing but scorn him? Can God reach through Raelene's pain and self-centeredness and give her the love that awaits, if only she will accept His will?

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

At this time,
Promises, Promises can only be purchased through the
Heartsong Book Club.

THE INTERVIEW

JA: Your debut novel is Promises, Promises from Heartsong Presents. Please tell us a bit about it.
AM: It is the first in a 3-book series that will be repackaged in 2009 as “Delaware Brides.” I am covering the historical beginnings of the little, but significant state during the Colonial period. Here is a synopsis: Gustaf Rutledge, a gruff farmer, recently made a business-like proposal for the hand of the neighbor's daughter because he wanted the land. Stinging from Raelene Strattford's rejection, he plans to relocate. When he finds Raelene's parents injured in a wagon accident, he promises her father he'll take care of her. Seventeen-year-old Raelene makes a deathbed promise to her father to fulfill her parents' dream: to turn the untamed acreage into a successful farm. Circumstances force Gustaf and Raelene to work together, but pride and grief blind them to the plan God has for their lives. The savage land is not all that needs to be tamed. Will they find common ground at the foot of the cross, or will they lose it all, including a chance at love?
The back cover copy, cover and brief excerpt is available on my web site.

JA: Promises, Promises is your first book. What was the genesis of the story?
AM: The ‘what if’ moment came when I tried to develop the story line for the first book. Without a lot of background, I had to rely on the elements I had learned would make a good story. Some excellent advice given to me included the method of taking your character to a point that seems hopeless…and making it worse. So, I asked, “What if a heroine with no siblings also loses her parents, then finds herself as the sole owner of land in a new world where women have no voice, feeling as if God has forsaken her?”

And thus, Promises, Promises was born!

JA: Raelene Strattford seems like quite a feisty character. What’s your favorite thing about her?
AM: Despite her prickly exterior, she possesses a heart of gold. She wants to be accepted and find love, and she wants someone to love her in return, but she acts like a wounded animal for the first half of the book. The fact that she is also a fighter drew me to her as well. She might be down, but she’s not out. And Katie bar the door if anyone gets in her way. :+]

JA: What do you hope people take away after reading Promises, Promises?
AM: The primary theme is that no matter how bleak the circumstances, God will never abandon or forsake you. It goes along with the question that almost everyone asks. “Where’s God when I’m hurting?” Even when life throws all sorts of road blocks your way and it seems like you have nothing left, there will always be hope just down the road. You must keep looking forward and maintain your faith.

JA: What’s next for you in the writing arena?
AM: I just submitted my 4th book to my editor on July 15th, so I’m feeling pretty good about now. Next, I’ll work on polishing my 2 full-length historical novels to be submitted to 2 editors and 2 agents. I also have a contemporary full-length out with an editor under consideration. Then, in late August, I’ll start on my 5th contracted book, which is the 2nd in the current series of Michigan Brides. The 1st I just submitted.

JA: Besides being a writer, you’re also a web designer. In your opinion, what’s the most important thing authors need to keep in mind when designing a site?
AM: It’s never too soon to get a web site. If you’re serious about writing and pursuing this career, get online. Get connected. Network and get noticed by word of mouth. Once you have your site, make sure your navigation is clean and easy to follow. Don’t clutter your pages with unrelated material. Make each page count and contain content related to that page only. And remember, this site is your image to a world who might not know you. This could be your only chance to make a good first impression….or a bad one. If you don’t feel confident in being able to do it yourself, hire a professional.

Obviously, I’d love it if you hired me. :+]

JA: What would people be surprised to learn about you?
AM: Hmm, I’ll give you two things. The first is that I share a birthday with my husband, only he was born 1 year later. So I ‘robbed the cradle’ so to speak. LOL!

The second is that I’m related to a president of the United States through marriage. My great-grandfather’s sister married President Woodrow Wilson during his presidency. Her picture and story and information are featured at his home in Virginia. And when I visited there for the first time, I was rather surprised to find a physical resemblance between us.

JA: Are there any books you can’t wait to get your hands on?
AM: At the moment? It’d be one I already have and I can’t wait to delve into its pages. It’s The Edge of Recall by Kristen Heitzmann. But after that, it would be the next book in Tracie Peterson’s Ladies of Liberty series and her Broadmoor Legacy series. I have read and own every single one of Tracie’s and Kristen’s. They are at the top of my list.

JA: Last but not least, how can people keep up with your latest publishing news?
AM: You can always come visit my web site. I have a blog posted on the main page that is kept up to date several times a week, and you can subscribe to it receive email alerts when I make a post. That’s the best way to keep up with me and everything I’m doing or where I’m headed next.

I always love to hear from visitors to my site and especially readers of my books or my writing in any form. Feel free to drop me a line through the contact form on my site. I respond within 48 hours unless I’m out of town and without an internet connection.

Thank you, Jennifer, for hosting me today and featuring both my book and a spotlight on my career. It’s been a pleasure getting to ‘know’ you online, and I look forward to seeing our friendship grow. Be blessed!

Thanks for stopping by and chatting with us. May God continue to bless your writing journey!

JEN’S REVIEW

It’s always exciting to read a book from a fresh new voice, and this book was particularly enjoyable. In Raelene and Gustaf, Miller has created two vulnerable souls, bound by the promises they’ve made. She does a masterful job at balancing painful circumstances with humor, and the pace never drags. Two thumbs way up for a grand debut! I look forward to the next book in the series, and many more for years to come.

WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Promises, Promises just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on July 23rd. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. (To prevent spammers from trolling for your email, please use this format with the brackets--you [at] yourmail [dot] com--or something similar.) Good luck!

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE
Check out more interviews with Amber Miller and giveaways of Promises, Promises:

Shirley Connolly (July month-long feature)

July 7 - Margaret Daley - Bio
July 7 - Dawn Kinzer at From Dawn til Dusk, Musings of a Night Owl
July 8 - Donna Moore at Write by Faith
July 8 - Kim Woodhouse at God's Grace, Love & Forgiveness
July 9 - Margaret Daley -interview
July 9 - Amy Riley at The Friendly Book Nook
July 10 - Jenny Blake at Come Meet AusJenny
July 11 - Rose McCauley
July 11 - Shauna Sturge at The Coffee Stop; Long and Short Reviews
July 12 - Carolyn Strawder at Quiet Time with Carolyn
July 14-19 - CAN! blog spotlight
July 14 - Martha Rogers at Martha Writes
July 15 - Leslie Sowell at A Little Bit of Sunlight
July 16 - Novel Journey / Novel Reviews
July 16-18 - CFBA blog tour date (various blogs)
July 17 - Eileen Astels at A Christian Romance Writer's Journey
July 17 - Cheryl Wyatt at Squirrel's Treehouse
July 18 - Cara Putman at Cara's Musings
July 18 - Tyora Moody at CB Reviews
July 19 - Stacy Johnson at Vader's Mom
July 21 - Camy Tang at Camy's Loft
July 21 - Trish Perry - interview
July 22 - Cindy Woodsmall at the Plain Talk Blog
July 23 - Delia Latham at The Melody Within -review/interview
July 24 - Margaret Chind at Creative Madness
July 25 - Delia Latham at The Melody Within -guest blogger
July 25 - Christa Allan at Fictionary
July 26 - Paula Moldenhauer at Grace Reign