Interview and Giveaway with Author Rose McCauley

It's a great pleasure to welcome back my dear friend (and debut author!) Rose McCauley.

Q:  What was your inspiration for Christmas Belles of Georgia?
A:  Jeanie Smith Cash came up with the idea and graciously asked me to join her and Debra Ullrick and Jeri Odell.

Q:  Have you always wanted to be a writer?
A:  Yes, I have written since a young child, but only started pursuing publication about 10 years ago.

Q:  How do you come up with your story ideas?
A:  Many different ways—something I see or hear or read about, or sometimes I come up a character first and then write a story about them.

Q:  How does your faith impact your writing?
A:  Like life, I think our faith should impact everything we do. I like to put my characters in situations that cause them to reach out to God for help or insight.

Q:  How long does it take you to complete a novel?
A:  Since this was a novella (20,000 words) I was able to write it in a month. How many drafts do you go through? After the initial writing, I sent it to 3 crit partners who gave me some suggestions, then I sent it to the other three authors in the collection for their suggestions, then made a few more and sent it in, so this book went through 4 minor drafts. I have a longer novel (over 80,000 words) that has gone through several drafts!)

Q:  Do you plot out your story ahead of time, or do you think it up as you go?
A:  Since Barbour requires a complete synopsis of the whole book, this story was well plotted out before I started, making the writing go faster, but there were still minor changes as I went. The first story I wrote I just started with my characters and took them on a journey, but that story took much longer to write and is not published! One of the things I learned from that experience is to have more structure before I start, but to still allow myself and my characters to change direction if needed to make it a more compelling story.

Q:  After becoming a published author, what surprised you the most?
A:  How much hard work still remained to market the book.

Q:  What’s the most important piece of advice you would give to a fledgling writer? 
A:  Keep studying the craft of writing, keep reading and keep writing.

Q:  If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?
A:  Since I already had a career of 27 years of teaching, I am enjoying writing as my second career!

Q:  What does your family think about your crazy career?
A:  They are all very proud and supportive, and my husband has washed a lot of dishes in the past few years!

Q:  There’s been a lot said about the future of publishing and the possible death of the print book. What’s your take on eBooks, self-publishing, and such?
A:  I do not have a kindle, but my daughter and granddaughter do and love them. I have downloaded several books to my computer kindle but have not completed one yet! I still love to hold a book in my hands and I love to share my books with others, so will keep buying printed books.

Scenario: You’re about to be dropped off on a deserted island. You can take along one survival item, one book, and one person (living or dead… but they’ll be alive on the island). What and who do you take?
A:  I am very practical. I would take a blow-up mattress, a Bible, and my hubby. He is the McGyver-type, so he could build anything we needed!

Thanks for hosting me, Jen. This was a fun interview!

And thanks for joining us, Rose. I'm so happy for your success!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Rose McCauley
Rose has been writing for over ten years and has been published in several non-fiction anthologies and devotionals. She is happy for this to be her first fiction anthology because Christmas books are her favorites. A retired schoolteacher who has been happily married to her college sweetheart for 41 years, she is also mother to three grown children and their spouses and grandmother to three lovely, lively kids! You can reach her through her website http://www.rosemccauley.com/ or blogsite at http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

ABOUT THE BOOK: Nick’s Christmas Carol in Christmas Belles of Georgia

“God sets the lonely in families…” Psalm 68:6

Nick Powers worked hard to earn his college degree and his dream job. He doesn’t know what to expect when he finds out new owners will be taking over Bellingham Plantation soon. When Carol Wells comes to town, she and Nick get off to a rocky start, but soon combine forces to make Christmas a happier time for others. Can they find their own Christmas happiness?

WIN THE BOOK
If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Christmas Belles of Georgia, just leave a comment on this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday, October 14th. (NOTE: This time round, US addresses only. Thanks.) 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!

Interview and Giveaway with Author Alice J. Wisler

It's my pleasure to welcom Alice J. Wisler to the blog.

Q:  What was your inspiration for A Wedding Invitation?
A:  I received a wedding invitation intended for the previous owner of my house. The invitation was beautiful and the reception was to be held at a country club in New York. I wondered: What if I crashed this wedding? Instead, I let my main character end up at the wrong wedding.

Q:  Have you always wanted to be a writer?
A:  Yes, ever since I was in first grade and I wrote stories with stick-figure illustrations and stapled them together.

Q:  Do you plot out your story ahead of time, or do you think it up as you go?
A:  I plot ahead of time. Publishers want a synopsis, so this makes me go deep into the story and get it all lined up before I set out to write it.

Q:  What’s your favorite part of the writing business? What’s your least favorite?
A:  I love it when I’m about ¾ of the way through writing a novel. That’s when I love, love, love to spend all my time writing. Hours pass and I’m in my own world. Sometimes I even forget to eat.

Q:  After becoming a published author, what surprised you the most?
A:  What do you mean Oprah doesn’t know who I am? :)

Q:  What’s the most important piece of advice you would give to a fledgling writer?
A:  Don’t give up. Keep writing to improve your voice and the craft.

Q:  If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?
A:  I’m sure I would have discovered some drug that would help others and earn me millions.

Q:  What event, writer, or book has most impacted your writing life?
A:  The cancer-related death of my four-year-old son Daniel in 1997 has impacted my writing more than anything else. He was a sweetheart and I miss him each day.

Q:  What’s the one far out sci-fi technology you’d most like to see become a household item?
A:  A robot that cleans the entire house with one press of a button.

Thanks for taking the time to visit with us, Alice. Blessings to you!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Alice J. Wisler is the author of RAIN SONG (Christy Finalist 2009), HOW SWEET IT IS (Christy Finalist 2010), HATTERAS GIRL and A WEDDING INVITATION----all by Bethany House Publishers. In memory of her son, she teaches online grief-writing courses---Writing the Heartache---and at conferences across the country. Visit her website: http://www.alicewisler.com/.

ABOUT THE BOOK: A Wedding Invitation
Samantha Bravencourt ends up at the wrong wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and from there, the past starts to come alive. She meets Lien, a former student from her days of teaching English-as-a-second-language at a refugee camp in the Philippines as well as Carson, the man who taught with her, the man who broke her heart. Now she and Carson are asked to help Lien find her mother before Lien's wedding date. Why is the past so hard to forgive? And dare she take another chance on love?


WIN THE BOOK
If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of A Wedding Invitation, just leave a comment on this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on Monday, October 10th. 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!

Interview & Book Giveaway with Deborah Raney

It's a great pleasure to introduce you to one of the sweetest gals I've ever met, author Deborah Raney!

Q:  Have you always wanted to be a writer?
A:  I’ve always written. Even before I could actually read or form letters, I drew pictures that told stories. But the summer I read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books was the first time I realized that being an author was a career one could aspire to. I was only 11 or 12, but I knew from that day on that someday I wanted to try my hand at writing a novel. It wasn’t until I was 38 years old that I actually sat down to write seriously.

Q:  How does your faith impact your writing?
A:  I actually wrote two versions of my first novel––one Christian and one secular. That experience told me that I simply could not write honestly or deeply unless I was allowed to explore the faith––or lack of faith––of my characters. I know it’s important not to “preach”, but from that day forward, I’ve always included a faith thread in my novels. Sometimes it’s very subtle, or present only as allegory, but it’s always there.

Q:  How long does it take you to complete a novel? How many drafts do you go through?
A:  It takes me anywhere from 6-12 months to finish a novel. The actual writing may only be 3-5 months, but when you add in research, and four different edits, including a rewrite, it’s rare that I can finish a book in less than 9 months. I always say that what my editor sees as a "first draft" is actually more like a 10th or 12th draft. That may be a bit of an exaggeration, but I go over everything at least 5 or 6 times, especially the first half of the book, which gets read more times than the second, since––as a seat-of-the-pants plotter––I'm still getting to know my characters and figuring out my plot early on.

Q:  Do you treat yourself to something special when a project is completed?
A:  We almost always go out to eat or go to a movie, or something special to celebrate me writing “the end.” But the biggest treat for me is being able to clean off my desk, and then take a week or two or three off to just read for fun, and catch up on email.

Q:  What do you think about writing contests? Have you participated in any? What’s the benefit to an unpublished writer?
A:  I wish I could say that awards mean nothing to me, but that wouldn’t be true at all. I think writers are generally very unsure about our writing until we begin to hear positive feedback from readers and professionals. (That’s why a negative review stings so much!) The awards I’ve won have reassured me that even if my books aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, several significant someones have declared my work worthy. That means the world to me.

I think I’m a little odd in one sense, concerning awards. I can’t even analyze why, but I’ve always been thrilled to the gills about finaling in a contest, but winning simply isn’t that important to me. Sure, it’s nice to win an award, but I’m every bit as pleased about my Christy finalist medallions as I am about any first place trophies and pins I’ve won.

Q:  If you weren’t a writer, what would you be doing?
A:  I’ve always been very interested in psychology, especially as it relates to family relationships. I get to “practice” that a little as a writer, but I could see myself as a counselor. I also love decorating and design, and think it would be fun to give decorating advice or stage homes for Realtors, etc.

Q:  What does your family think about your crazy career?
A:  My wonderful husband has read everything I’ve ever written. Ken has always been my biggest supporter and cheerleader. Because I began writing when our kids were 17, 13, 11 and 3, they very much took what I did for granted. Our oldest daughter served as a talented proofreader for me, but after she went out-of-state to college, she called me one day having seen my books in a Missouri library. Apparently the librarian had been impressed to learn I was her mom. Tobi called with awe in her voice. “Mom, you’re kind of famous!” Tobi is an elementary teacher now and a wonderful writer herself. She and I wrote a Marriage Perspectives column together for several years.

Our oldest son read my books in college while donating plasma twice a week (because the blood center didn’t allow donors to play video games.) And our youngest son only read one of my books because his sweet fiancée––now his wife––guilted him into it. But he, too, called to tell me how much he enjoyed the book––and how much of our family he saw in my stories. Our youngest daughter had no choice. I read one of my books aloud to her when she was ten or eleven. I feel incredibly blessed to be surrounded by supportive family, parents, in-laws, and friends, but for the most part, to them I’m “just Deb.”

Thanks, Deb. It's always a pleasure when you come to visit!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deborah Raney's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched her writing career after 20 happy years as a stay-at-home mom. Deb's 20th novel releases June 14 from Howard. She and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy the wildflowers and native grasses growing in the Kansas prairie garden in their large back yard. They also love traveling together to teach at conferences, and to visit four children and three little grandsons who all live much too far away.

ABOUT THE BOOK - Forever After
Lucas was a proud firefighter like his father. Now, not only has he lost his father and his best friend, Zach, in the fire at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter, but the devoted rookie can no longer do the work he loves after being crippled in the tragic event. When friendship with his buddy's beautiful widow turns into more, he wonders what he could possibly offer Jenna. Jenna is trying to grieve her husband's death like a proper widow, but the truth is, she never really loved Zach. His death feels more like a relief to her. But that relief is short-lived when she loses her home and the financial support of her in-laws. Now the secrets of her past threaten to destroy her future.


WIN THE BOOK
If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Forever After, just leave a comment on this blog. (PLEASE NOTE: Continental US only on this one, folks.)  I’ll pick a winner at random on Friday, June 13th. 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!

Review: SECRETS by Robin Jones Gunn

Jessica Morgan is a woman with secrets. She moves to the small community of Glenbrooke in the hopes of starting fresh. But before she can put her plan into motion, a car accident throws everything off course. When the handsome, compassionate paramedic who comes to her aid becomes attracted to her, it's just one more complication to deal with. How long can Jessica keep up her ruse, and will her deceit cost her a chance at real love?

In Secrets, the first book of the Glenbrooke series, Robin Jones Gunn creates a charming Oregon community that most people would love to spend time in. She's populated it with interesting characters, the most interesting being Kyle Buchanan. The noble paramedic is the perfect story-book hero, the kind that makes you almost long to be a damsel in distress just so he can save you.

But Jessica Morgan presents Kyle with a problem... she resists being rescued. While she's a sympathetic character, it's a bit hard to believe her motivation or her methods. The secret she harbors doesn't seem to support the necessity of changing her identity. And while moving to a new town with no ID whatsoever and managing to get a job, a driver's license, and a bank account may have been feasible in 1995 (when the book was originally published) but I doubt it would be as easy today. Still, Gunn has a very easy-to-read style, making this the perfect book for when you want to kick back and relax.

For more information on this and other Spring Value Releases, visit the WaterBrook/Mulnomah website

Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for review purposes

Dreaming with Betsy St. Amant - WIN HER BOOK!

It's my pleasure to welcome today's guest blogger, author Betsy St. Amant!

Does Dream-Come-True
Equal
Perfection?

This is such a timely topic for me, as I've had several people over the last few weeks tell me "wow, it looks like all your dreams are coming true!"

It certainly seems that way, as two of my deepest dreams have indeed come to pass in the last year or so. I've received multiple contracts with Steeple Hill Love Inspired, a long-time dream of mine, but even more exciting than that, as of July 2nd, I officially became a stay at home mother!

My daughter is one year old now, and I was able to quit my day job as a receptionist just weeks before her first birthday. My husband, a fireman, graciously took on a second job so this could happen. It took lots of planning and prayer, but here I am! Blessed beyond belief and eternally grateful to my hero-hubby! =) Now I get to mother full time and write more often.

My dreams have indeed come true. But many people fall into the trap of believing that with dreams come perfection. And that is NOT true! Being a multi-published author still has its problems and stresses. Yes, it's what I've always wanted, and wouldn't trade it - but now I have deadlines to meet, the pressure is higher, there are new worries about bad reviews, etc. My problems didn't go away with publication, they just changed.

And that's life. Many unpubbed authors think their lives will be perfect when they get published, but it’s just not the case. Fears of rejections will just change to fears of low sales or never getting a second contract. Fears of never getting an agent will change, once agented, to fears of the agent not liking your next project.

The same goes with motherhood. We have our good days and bad days, like any other mother/daughter. But I wouldn't trade this time or opportunity for anything in the world. My dreams have come true, and that doesn't mean life is perfect, but it sure is sweet!

The only true perfection we can have is through Jesus Christ. Without God in our lives, we have no hope of true joy or happiness. Only with Jesus at our side can we be good mothers, good authors, good employees, etc. Without Him, its a futile search.

Jesus puts dreams in our hearts. I'm so blessed that He brought two of mine to pass recently. If you are pursuing a dream, don't give up. It took a year to reach mine of staying at home to write and mother full time. And it took MANY years of waiting before reaching publication. Keep trying, keep praying, and never release that dream in your heart. God has a way of providing at the most unusual - and perfect - timing. =)

Dream on, friends!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Betsy St. Amant lives in Louisiana and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers group. Betsy is multi-published through Steeple Hill and has been published in Christian Communicator magazine and Praise Reports: Inspiring Real Life Stories of How God Answers Prayer. One of her short stories, Kickboxing or Chocolate, appears in a Tyndale compilation book, and she is also multi-published through The Wild Rose Press. Betsy has a BA in Christian Communications and regularly contributes articles to Crosswalk.com. She is a wife, author, new mother and an avid reader who enjoys sharing the wonders of God’s grace through her stories.

To find out more about Betsy and her books, visit her website: http://www.betsystamant.com/



ABOUT THE BOOK - Return to Love

“I’m Not The Man I Used To Be!” If only Gracie Broussard could believe that! Years ago, Carter Alexander broke her heart and betrayed her. Now, just when she needs him most, he’s back—asking her to believe he’s changed. But this time, it’s not just Gracie who’ll be hurt if he disappears. A penguin keeper, Gracie urgently needs to find a new home for her beloved birds. Carter is the only one who can help. He promises that she can trust him, that he’s not the rebel he once was. And that he needs Gracie as much as her birds do.


WIN THE BOOK
If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Return to Love , just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on July 30th. 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!

Dreaming with Deborah Vogts - WIN HER BOOK!

It's my great pleasure to welcome today's guest poster, author Deborah Vogts, to the blog!

DREAMS CAN COME TRUE --IF YOU WAIT LONG ENOUGH

A little over a year ago, I received “the phone call” from my agent, Rachelle Gardner at WordServe Literary, that Zondervan had made an offer on Seasons of the Tallgrass, a contemporary romance series set in the Flint Hills of Kansas—a place I dearly love. My dream had arrived, my prayers had been answered. But it didn't happen overnight, and now a year later, I'm still amazed at how God answers prayer.

I began writing my first novel in high school, but it wasn’t until 2002 that I became serious about my writing, inspired that God had given me a gift and that I needed to use it or have it taken away. So, I jumped in with both feet. I became a member of two writing groups (one of them ACFW), joined a critique group, attended writer’s conferences and read whatever I could on the craft in books, magazines and the internet.

By the summer of 2005, I’d filed a good share of rejection letters in my desk drawer and although my writing had garnered some attention in a few contests, a publishing contract remained ever elusive.

That September, I received a scholarship to attend the Nashville ACFW Conference where I piqued the interest of an agent who took me on as a client. However, after a year of unsuccessfully shopping my series to publishers, she let me go, which was a real heart-breaker. My hopes sank, and I felt I'd been put back at the starting line.

I asked myself: What was I doing wrong? Why had God given me these stories and this hope if He didn't want it to happen? What lesson was I to learn, or what had I missed? God tells us that His grace is sufficient for us, for His strength is made perfect in our weakness. Believe me, I felt weak and insignificant, but that was a time of growing for me. I took comfort in the Psalms, reading the verses day and night. I knew that God had not abandoned me, but I had to learn to trust completely in Him, putting my life and my writing in his hands.

As mere humans, we don’t always see the big picture—and God does have a sense of humor. Just when I had accepted the fact that I might never be published and was indeed learning to “love and appreciate” writing again (something I had almost forgotten), I received interest from another agent. I signed with Rachelle Gardner in February 2008, and we had a contract with Zondervan a few months after that.

What did I learn? That God is in control, that His timing is perfect—and that I needed to be still and know that HE is God. Now my book has released and I am seeing the fruits of my laborious journey--a dream come true!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deborah Vogts and her husband have three daughters and make their home in Southeast Kansas. In writing the Seasons of the Tallgrass series, Deborah hopes to share her passion for one of the last tallgrass prairie regions in the world, showing that God’s great beauty rests on the prairie and in the hearts of those who live there. Snow Melts in Spring released from Zondervan in June 2009, and is available online and in bookstores near you.


ABOUT THE BOOK - Snow Melts in Spring

When an aged horse is severely injured on a gravel road in the Flint Hills of Kansas, country veterinarian Mattie Evans accepts the challenge to save him. But she finds herself in the middle of a longstanding feud between the horse’s owner, pro quarterback Gil McCray, and his ailing father—who is also her dear friend.

As the snow melts in spring, Gil’s return to his estranged father’s ranch brings a chance for new beginnings and reconciliation, but when he falls in love with Mattie, he must face the truths that haunt him or run from his past. Meanwhile, Mattie encourages Gil to return permanently to Kansas rather than retire in California. Their love collides when Mattie’s sister arrives on Gil’s doorstep, causing Gil to come to terms with the jealous acts leading up to his brother’s death and seek forgiveness from those he loves most. Can he accept God’s forgiveness, and will that be enough to make him stop running from his memories of home? In turn, if Mattie forgives, she’ll be forced to choose between the man of her dreams and the land she dearly loves


WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Snow Melts in Spring, just leave a reply to this blog. (PLEASE NOTE: This time around it's USA residents only. Thanks.) I’ll pick a winner at random on July 13th. 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!

Supporting the Dreams of Others by Cheryl Wyatt - WIN HER BOOK!

It's my great pleasure to welcome back today's guest, author Cheryl Wyatt!

Supporting the
Dreams
of Others

When we got married over ten years ago, my husband was a business owner by profession and a music guy by hobby. I was a Registered Nurse and Crisis Intervention Counselor by profession and a writer by hobby. Both of our hobbies were something we each dreamed of being able to pursue full-time. Fast forward to my first pregnancy. I was put on bed rest for preterm labor. I had two choices, either succumb to death by boredom while fear of losing the baby ruled my life...or distract myself. So, resting there day after day staring at the same four walls, I decided to start writing down all the stories that had been rushing through my imagination for decades. I wrote undercover for a couple of years before word got out. Actually my husband figured it out and told EVERYONE at church. I'd finished the world's worst manuscript...yet the wonderful man told everyone at church that I'd be on the New York Times Bestselling list soon. LOL! Now THAT's belief.

Because he was so supportive and encouraging of my writing dream, I started praying that he would be able to pursue sound gigs and music more. Over the next several years as we championed one another's dreams, I saw God open door after door after door. It took sacrifice on my part. Sacrificing time mostly. I couldn't always go with him on his sound gigs. He runs audio for a great many Christian and some nationally known Country and Rock artists at festivals, concerts, benefits, Etc. But there are times when I'm buried away for days trying to finish a book and meet deadlines. So we champion each other's dreams by trading time. We do spend quite a bit of time together since we both work out of the home. This is a HUGE fulfillment of a dream of mine to be able to pursue our dreams without sacrificing family time.

We've been involved in NASCAR ministry so there are frequent getaways where we enjoy each other. We have lots of great moments of reaching out in a low key way with our friends, but we also have lots of laughter. One of the funniest moments in my entire life was one day when our car was being given a police escort from the race along with the band, the tour bus, the campers, Etc and a large group of people mistook my husband for Ted Nugent and rushed our SUV. Very funny incident. But times our dreams take us apart for a few hours or days, I try to remember that his music ministry is as important to him as my writing is to me. This past year God has started doing this neat thing where, on occasion, He's started to combine our dreams. One way God has done this was to open the opportunity for my husband to run audio at the American Christian Fiction Writers conference. (www.acfw.com) I hope to see many of you there! If you happen to see a cute audio guy who looks like a rocker dude, be sure to come up to him and say, "Ted Nugent! Can I have your autograph dude?" LOL! Seriously, he really looks more like Steven Tyler than Ted. And my rocker dude's name is Billy. If you're ever lucky enough to meet this man who has championed my dreams and taught me how to champion his back by trading time, prayers and mutual respect, be sure to tell him thank you for being part of the reason I am able to write. And if you ever meet this man, you will see the number one inspiration outside of the characteristics of Jesus for how I can write such great heroes in my books.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR - Cheryl Wyatt

Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home, and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She's convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. Her debut novels (Books 1 and 2-Wings of Refuge Series-Steeple Hill) received Romantic Times Top Picks. In addition, her debut books received the honor of coming in at #1 and #4 on eHarlequins's Top Ten Most-Blogged-About-Books, lists which included several NYT Bestselling authors.

To receive her quarterly newsletter for updates on new releases and contests with GREAT prizes visit her Web site at www.cherylwyatt.com and sign up in the space provided. Cheryl respects your privacy and will not share your e-mail address with a third party.


ABOUT THE BOOK – A Soldier’s Reunion

A MAN FROM HER PAST
Despite a decade apart, this isn’t the reunion Mandy Manchester expected! She thought she’d put high school sweetheart Nolan Briggs behind her. Now he’s back…and the pararescue jumper literally sweeps her off her feet. He’s ready and willing to rekindle what they once shared.

Mandy, though, isn’t prepared to put her heart at risk. He left her before—she won’t trust him again. Can Nolan teach this grounded girl to take a leap of faith?


WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of A Soldier’s Reunion, just leave a reply to this blog. Because of my crazy schedule you get extra time on this one... I’ll pick a winner at random on June 12th. 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!

Interview with Author Anita Higman & Book Giveaway!

A Dreamy Interview
with
Anita Higman

How did you dream up Love Finds You in Humble, Texas?

Well, the creative process is a mystery to me. Characters like Wiley and Kat and Cyrus start showing up in my head and talking. Sometimes I’m not sure where they come from. As far as plot for Love Finds You in Humble Texas, I started with a premise, like two very different sisters—one an image coach and the other in desperate need of an image coach. But I thought, “What if both sisters fall in love with the same man?” I wrote an opening scene, and then my fingers began to fly. Even though I generally know where the novel is going, many times the story reveals itself to me as I go along. So, the process of creating a novel is part mystery, but I still have to put in my time. Lots and lots of time.


What’s the biggest dream-come-true in your life so far?

Well, having a family has been the finest dream-come-true. But beyond that, my latest novel, Love Finds You in Humble Texas has brought me a lot of joy. Even though this is my 24th book, I’ve been more pleased with this work than with anything else I’ve written. The reviews have been very positive, and so I’m grateful and happy. Yes, you could definitely call this a dream-come-true.


What are you striving for…the dream of your heart that is yet to be fulfilled?

I would love to have one of my books made into a movie. In the process, I’d like for these stories to entertain as well as inspire people to see that God cares for then deeply and that His gift of grace is a present just waiting to be opened. That is my finest dream.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author, Anita Higman, has twenty-four books published (several co-authored) for adults and children, and has two novels coming out in the next two years. She has been honored in the past as a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston. Some of Ms. Higman’s publishers are Bethany House, Barbour Publishing, McGraw-Hill, Lillenas Drama, Howard Publishing, and Summerside Press.

A few of Anita’s books are Another Stab at Life, Another Hour to Kill, The Celestial Helix, Pokeweed and Mrs. Gasp, and Big Book of Holidays and Holy Days. She also has contributions in ten nonfiction compilations.

One of Ms. Higman’s co-authored books entitled, A Tribute to Early Texas, has a foreword by Elmer Kelton and has won a San Antonio Conservation Society Citation as well as a Westerners International Book Award. She was also named a Favorite New Author in the 15th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards and her co-authored novel, Castles in the Air, was a Favorite Contemporary Romance in the 16th Annual Heartsong Presents Awards.

In addition, Anita has won two awards for her contribution to literacy and has raised thousands of dollars for literacy with her book, I Can Be Anything, while serving on the board of directors of Literacy Advance of Houston.

Anita Higman has also written for radio, television, ezine, and advertising. She has a B.A. degree combining speech communication, psychology, and art from SNU, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Anita lives with her husband near Houston, Texas.


ABOUT THE BOOK - Love Finds You in Humble, Texas

Trudie Abernathy is a little inelegant, and she’s never had much luck in love. To makes matters worse, her thirtieth birthday is fast approaching and her sister, Lane, has decided to “treat” her to a makeover and a blind date. Trudie is about to protest, but then she meets the kind and devastatingly handsome Mason Wimberley. In spite of Trudie’s humble manner, Mason finds her attractive, funny, and smart. But there’s one obstacle in the way of the budding romance: Lane suddenly decides that she’s in love with Mason! Trudie has never been one to compete with her glamorous sister, even when it means giving up the things she wants. Will she be able to stay true to her humble self and find her heart’s desire in the process?

Check out the Book Trailer: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4269149/11475177

Visit Anita's blog at www.anitahigman.com


THOUGHTS FROM JEN

Years of guilt have convinced Trudie Abernathy that she is not worthy of anything special. But then Mason Wimberley walks into her life and treats her like the most special woman on earth. She starts to think that maybe, just maybe, she does deserve to be happy. But then Trudie has to make a choice: Put her sister's feelings first, or grab her own chance at love.

Anita Higman has written a wonderfully sweet book about the many sides of love. With warmth and humor, her characters tackle the complications of life, relying on faith to get them through.

The publisher, Summerside Press has created something unique with its relatively new "Love Finds You" line. By setting these stories in real towns across the United States, the location almost becomes another character. I truly enjoyed my visit to Humble, Texas, and think you will, too!


WIN THE BOOK

If you’d like to be entered to win a copy of Love Finds You in Humble, Texas, just leave a reply to this blog. I’ll pick a winner at random on February 19th. 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!

CFBA Presents STAND-IN GROOM by Kaye Dacus

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducing Stand-In Groom(Barbour Publishing, Inc - January 2009) byKaye Dacus


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kaye Dacus is an author and editor who has been writing fiction for more than twenty years. A former Vice President of American Christian Fiction Writers, Kaye enjoys being an active ACFW member and the fellowship and community of hundreds of other writers from across the country and around the world that she finds there.

She currently serves as President of Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, which she co-founded in 2003 with three other writers. Each month, she teaches a two-hour workshop on an aspect of the craft of writing at the MTCW monthly meeting. But her greatest joy comes from mentoring new writers through her website and seeing them experience those “aha” moments when a tricky concept becomes clear.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When wedding planner Anne Hawthorne meets George Laurence, she thinks she's found the man of her dreams. But when he turns out to be a client, her "dream" quickly turns into a nightmare. Will Anne risk her heart and career on this engaging Englishman?

George came to Louisiana to plan his employer's wedding and pose as the groom. But how can he feign affection for a supposed fiancee when he's so achingly attracted to the wedding planner? And what will happen when Anne discovers his role has been Stand-In Groom only? Will she ever trust George again? Can God help these two believers find a happy ending?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Stand-In Groom, go HERE

What they're saying about it:

“Dacus pulls off a delightful story that places readers in the heart of the South with the debut of the Brides of Bonneterre series. Readers will enjoy this look at how lives are transformed through devastating events and how forgiveness is the key to a promising future. Nothing is as it seems in this heartwarming story.”
–Romantic Times, 4-Star Review

“Absolutely delightful! I enjoyed Stand-In Groom from cover to cover! Ms. Dacus’s clever story and wonderful prose will draw you away to a place deep in the heart of Louisiana, surrounding you with the scents, sounds, and sights of the deep south. A story filled with romance and intrigue, betrayal and forgiveness, I found myself laughing, crying and rejoicing right along with the characters.”
–M.L. Tyndall, author of The Falcon and the Sparrow and the award-winning Legacy of the King’s Pirates series

“Stand-In Groom is as sweet, beautiful, and chaotic as a perfectly planned wedding. Anne is a bright and wounded heroine you’re going to care about for a long time. George is a hero to capture your heart. Kaye Dacus will take you along for a fun, poignent ride in Stand-In Groom.”
–Mary Connealy, author of the Lassoed in Texas series and Of Mice...and Murder

JEN'S REVIEW

With Stand-In Groom, Kaye Dacus takes us into the hectic world of Anne Hawthorne, an up-and-coming wedding planner. Being around all things love, you'd think her life would be full of romance. But between her hectic schedule and a painful past, Anne's heart has not been spoken for. Until she falls for the absolutely wrong man... the groom!

Secret identities, misunderstandings, and grudges are just a few of the hurdles between Anne and Englishman George Laurence. But God has plans bigger than the two of them!

In her first novel, Dacus creates a fascinating group of characters. Anne is not your typical love-story heroine, and she's all the better for it. Her extended family and friends enrich the plot, as does the Louisianna setting. I completely enjoyed this sweet, charming story of two people who deserve to find love... whether they know it or not!

Welcome Guest Blogger Camy Tang!

Hi there! Jennifer asked me to blog about the reader reaction I’ve seen from my books.

To be honest, people are very accepting of the fact it’s a different American sub-culture, Asian American.

I think that part of the reason is that people want to know more about the Asian American culture. It’s different and a little mysterious to people who don’t know many Asians in their everyday lives.

Another reason is that people who have read the book recognize their own family culture in the foibles of the Sakai family. Even though the characters are Asian, they have the same type of exasperating family dynamics as, say, an Italian American family, or a German American family, or a Russian American family.

I get so many reader letters of people who say, “My Swiss/Norwegian/Spanish/French grandmother/mother/aunt/cousin is JUST like Grandma Sakai!”

(That’s actually kind of scary, and I say a prayer for them.)

I’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: No matter what your ethnicity, families are all alike.

Including the ones that make you want to run away to a third world country and never be found again.

I also have to say that I didn’t base Grandma Sakai off of any real family members. In fact, I really try hard not to base my characters off of family members, because I think that’s just rude.

The other day, my mom said she’d read Single Sashimi and she could see a little of herself in Venus’s mother.

And I was like, “There is NO WAY you are ANYTHING like Venus’s mother. Venus’s mother is a nag and slightly psychotic. You are not a nag and not psychotic at all. How can you be thinking that?”

I hope I was emphatic enough that she can get rid of the notion she is anything even remotely like Venus’s crazy mother.

But doesn’t that make you want to read the book now? ;)

Thanks for letting me guest blog, Jennifer!
Camy

And thank you, Camy, for spending some time with us. It’s always fun to hear from you! May God continue to bless you in your writing journey!


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. She used to be a biologist, but now she is a staff worker for her church youth group and leads a worship team for Sunday service. She also runs the Story Sensei fiction critique service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels every Monday and Thursday, and she ponders frivolous things like dumb dogs (namely, hers), coffee-geek husbands (no resemblance to her own...), the writing journey, Asiana, and anything else that comes to mind.

JEN’S REVIEW

I’ve read all three of Camy’s book and have thoroughly enjoyed each one. Single Sashimi was particularly fun, though. From the first page, Camy grabbed me and pulled me into this story of compulsively clean Venus, who’s neat life creating virtual worlds starts to unravel. As always, Camy seamlessly weaves in a strong spiritual thread that never comes off as preachy, but leaves you completely satisfied. Do yourself a favor and pick up Single Sashimi. And if you haven’t already, pick up the first two books in the Sushi Series. Your funny bone will thank you!

WIN FREE STUFF FROM CAMY!

Visit Camy’s website at http://www.camytang.com/ for a huge website contest going on right now. She’s giving away ten boxes of books and 30 copies of her latest release, SINGLE SASHIMI. She’s also giving away books in her monthly newsletter contest. Good luck!