ANNALISA DAUGHETY, an Arkansas native, won first place in the Contemporary Romance category at the 2008 ACFW Genesis Awards. After graduating from Freed-Hardeman University, Annalisa worked as a park ranger at Shiloh National Military Park. She currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee. Her first book, Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, released in September 2009. In October 2009, Love is a Battlefield hit the shelves. Love is a Battlefield is the first book in the Walk in the Park series. Each book will be set in a different national park.
Kristy O’Neal gave up her dream job as a park ranger at Shiloh National Military Park to get married and move away. When she’s left at the altar, she returns to the park to find her old position has already been filled. She accepts a seasonal position even though it is a step back, career-wise. Working alongside Ace Kennedy (the man who has her old job) is almost more than Kristy can handle. Throw in a matchmaking mother and friends who think she should put herself back in the dating game, and Kristy is nearly at her wits’ end. She sees the past as a battlefield of failed relationships and isn’t sure she’s ready to risk her heart again.
For Ace Kennedy, history offers proof that true love exists. With stories from the park’s rich history in his arsenal, he begins the battle to win Kristy’s heart. But when Kristy learns he’s keeping secrets from her, her skepticism seems justified. Can she risk her heart on the battlefield of love one more time or will Ace lose Kristy forever?
I spent a few years working as a park ranger at Shiloh National Military Park. I absolutely loved my job, but at the same time realized it was very unique. Not many people dress up like a Civil War soldier and fire a musket on a daily basis! Ever since then, I’ve wanted to use Shiloh as the setting for a novel.
2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?
I think my own life experiences helped me better understand how a character might react to a particular situation. I might draw from an experience I’ve gone through, yet magnify it in a big way. For example, I know what it feels like to experience a break up, but for my character I kicked it up several notches—and she’s actually left at the altar. So while there might be bits and pieces of myself in some of my characters, the things they experience and the way they handle them are totally their own.
3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?
Ace Kennedy would be rocky road because he’s very sweet, yet a little unpredictable.
Kristy O’Neal would be vanilla with a hard chocolate shell because on the surface, she comes across as tough and unemotional, but once you get to know her, she’s actually very vulnerable.
4. Are there any themes in Love is a Battlefield that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?
The theme of forgiveness is really central to Love is a Battlefield. Kristy’s journey allows her to understand how important (although not always easy) it is to forgive those who’ve hurt her, and how freeing that can be.
I think the underlying theme is of friendship. Even though Kristy and her two best friends are separated by miles, each time they see each other it’s as if no time has passed.
5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?
The most difficult chapters for me to write had to do with an accident and it’s aftermath. I don’t want to give too much away, but those scenes were very emotional, both to write and to read. Even though Love is a Battlefield is a light read, I didn’t want to gloss over anything. So trying to keep the right balance of seriousness, yet still have a touch of humor was hard during those scenes.
My favorite part to write was probably the “one question” game that Kristy and Ace play to pass the time while they’re on night patrol. It was fun coming up with questions for them to ask each other and of course, figuring out what their answers would be.
6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?
Next to release is Love is Monumental, book two in the Walk in the Park series. It’s set at the Washington Monument and surrounding area in Washington D.C. It releases in May 2010. Here’s a blurb:
Park ranger Vickie Harris might love her job at the Washington Monument, but she's never been in love. On her thirtieth birthday, Vickie impulsively promises her friends that she’ll ask out the next eligible man she meets. That man, professor Thatcher Torrey, has spent years building his life around work. Thatcher is searching for a historic document and enlists Vickie’s help with his quest. Just as these polar opposites form a bond, a secret from Thatcher’s past pulls them apart. Will they go their separate ways? Or will they finally realize that when it’s with the right person, Love Is Monumental?
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Thank you, Annalisa, for being in the spotlight with us.
Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Love is a Battlefield.
Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.
And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.
This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.
I'm thrilled to be part of this tour, so I can share with you a fantastic grass-roots endeavor to uplift, encourage, inspire and touch hearts from women to women.
But I'm also excited because THIS IS MY 500th POST ON MY BLOG! Wish I would have seen this coming. I could have prepared better and had a super giveaway. Guess I'll have to save that for my 1000th post. :) Stay tuned and stick with me until then.
And now on to the tour!
About the book:
With His love and grace, God covered the unexpected pain in my life of becoming an adult orphan and transformed this pain into a pearl. We are all Pearl Girls. Each of us has been touched by God's gift of love and grace, and it's a gift that I want to share with others. That's why I am launching Pearl Girls.
Actually, my very first gift from my parents was a pearl. The gift of my name. Margaret means "precious pearl." So perhaps this is what I was always supposed to do. My heart's prayer is that Pearl Girls will be a blessing to others - to the women who contribute their literary talent to the Pearl Girls projects; to the readers who are inspired and comforted by the life experiences shared through these projects and to the women and children who will benefit from the proceeds given by Pearl Girls to various charities. This is a win-win for everyone, and each of us has a special part in making the Pearl Girls projects "blessed sellers."
After the first Pearl Girls tea in Atlanta, I went to my brother, Claude's home to help sort through our parents' boxes in his basement. It was an emotional experience and tedious process to discover what was in each box, to decide what to do with each item and to discard those belongings which we needed to let go. After several long hours of sorting, I received an incredible hug from heaven - a confirmation that Pearl Girls is something that is meant to be. I discovered a three strand necklace of painted pearls belonging to my grandmother from the early 1900s! Isn't that amazing?
It’s about Connecting Hearts and Souls to Impact the World.
As you know Margaret doesn’t keep a penny of any proceeds. When getting the word out about Pearl Girls, please let people know that 100% of the royalties go directly to two charities:
WINGS (women in need growing stronger). The proceeds will help fund a Safe House in the Chicago suburbs. It costs $50 a night to provide safe shelter for a woman and her children. During this economy, WINGS is receiving even more phone calls for a safe place to stay. Already, the Pearl Girls have provided 60 nights with the advance royalties. www.wingsprogram.com
Hands of Hope. The proceeds will help build wells in Uganda for school children. Can you imagine a child at school without a water fountain in the hallway where he or she can grab a quick sip of water in between classes on a hot day? These children have to drink from puddles and other water sources which carry diseases and parasites. It costs $12,000 to build a well in Uganda. Already, the Pearl Girls have provided funds to build ¼ of a well. www.handsofhopeonline.org First and foremost Margaret would like you to highlight above all else that 100% of the book’s royalties go to Charity.
Inspired by the many women who opened their lives and shared their stories in Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit, Experiencing Grace, we have created sister site, Post-a-Pearl. A place to continue the connection and encouragement the book began. I hope you will take the opportunity to connect through the Post-a-Pearl site. Please post your own Pearl story and reach out to share your own story with others. Collaborating is an important purpose of Pearl Girls. We connect to make a difference in the world.
READERS, a question for you. Have you read this book or heard anything about it? Have you been touched or inspired by any of the stories, either in the book or on the Post-a-Pearl web site? Feel free to share your connection with this book or your thoughts on the ministry behind it.
There is no free book to offer this time, but you can keep up with the rest of the tour by visiting these sites:
Today, I wrap up my focus on the Work at Home Girls by bringing you a feature interview with them both and links again for you to get connected with other work-at-home women and moms.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
Mary M. Byers successfully juggles both a freelance writing and speaking business and her responsibilities as a wife and mother of two school-aged children.
She is the author of Making Work at Home Work, The Mother Load: How to Meet Your Own Needs While Caring for Your Family and How to Say No...And Live to Tell about It. Byers is also a columnist for two professional trade journals and edits two others. She lives in Chatham, Illinois.
Jill Hart is the founder of Christian Work at Home Moms, and co-author of So You Want To Be a Work-At-Home Mom. Jill is the co-host of the live internet radio show, "The CWAHM Network," and the publisher of RadiantLit.com. Jill has published many articles on sites like DrLaura.com and MomLogic.com. She is a contributing author in Laundry Tales, The Business Mom Guide Book, I'll Be Home for Christmas, and Faith Deployed.
She holds a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies. She resides in Nebraska with her husband and their two children.
As of 2004 nearly three million self-employed women worked at home, and women continue to start home-based businesses at twice the rate of men. Many of these women left the workplace by choice in order to stay home and raise their children. And though their numbers increase each day, resources for this growing market of entrepreneurs are scarce. Making Work at Home Work shows moms how to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set without sacrificing their families. It covers important topics such as developing a successful business philosophy, balancing time between work and family, setting realistic goals, and handling the challenges of being both "Mommy" and "CEO" while running a profitable home-based business. In addition to including her own experiences, author Mary Byers profiles real moms with home-based businesses who offer their hard-won advice.
Home-based businesses are estimated to be a $427 billion-a-year industry. In recent studies it was found that as many as 105 million people in North America alone were working at home. Considering this information, it is obvious that home-based businesses can be successful and authors Jill Hart and Diana Ennen will help you succeed with your own.
So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom details all the basics of starting a business in a spiritual, motivational, and comprehensive manner. From deciding what type of business to start to keeping your family and faith first, this helpful tool details every aspect of establishing a business. With proven success tips utilized by the authors and others who own work-at-home businesses, this inspiration approach will provide you with the resources you need to start your own home-based business.
So You Want to Be a Work-at-Home Mom includes: Detailed information on types of businesses to start Ideas and assistance for setting up, operating, and marketing your business Definitions and descriptions of work-at-home terminology and processes Help for developing your Web site Explanations of the business nuts and bolts, including bookkeeping, taxes, and more
1.What was the inspiration behind teaming together to present the information you share in this manner?
I knew Jill’s book So You Want to be a Stay At Home Mom was being released and I contacted Jill about how I could help her promote it. She’s been great about featuring my writing on her website, Christian Work at Home Moms (cwahm.com) and I wanted to return the favor. We scheduled a phone conference to brainstorm together. The teleseminar series was the result of that call.
Jill: It's been such a blessing to work with Mary. It was amazing to both of us as we talked through our experiences and the areas that we felt were our strong points we found that we complimented each other. God has developed different areas in each of our lives and businesses. What an amazing God we serve!
2. How long did it take you to establish your at-home business, and what were 1-2 hurdles you had to jump in order to successfully get things started?
Mary: I left full time employment outside the home to be with my kids. When others learned I was no longer working, they started calling to see if I was available for project work. So, my business really started itself. The hurdles I faced were juggling the needs of very young children (my son was a newborn when I started) with client needs. And I also had to overcome the superwoman syndrome which led me to believe I really could handle everything all at once. I’m glad I don’t believe that anymore!
Jill: I started working at home part-time and within a year I was at-home full-time. I've done whatever it took to stay here - data entry, direct sales - while building my business. One of the things I struggled with in the beginning was truly treating my business as a "business." In the beginning, my website was just a fun project that I hoped would help me find a way to work from home. Once I realized that I had a business right under my nose I began to treat it as a business (and not a hobby or project). That was when I started seeing true growth in the business.
3. How long did it take before your business became profitable? What would you do differently if you could start over again?
Mary: Because my overhead was so low, I was profitable almost from the beginning. But I think my “profit” the first year was somewhere around $3,000. So I certainly wasn’t rolling in the dough! If I could start over I know exactly what I’d do: I relax more, worry less and spend more time enjoying my children. Had I known I’d still be in business over a decade after I started, I wouldn’t have worried nearly as much as I did in the early days.
Jill: My experience was much like Mary's. I brought in an income within just a few months, but it wasn't enough to even buy groceries. :) If I could start over I would outsource more from the very beginning and leave myself more time to do some of the tasks that can only be done by me (writing, etc). I would also strive to have more confidence in God (and in myself because of Him) instead of constantly doubting.
4. If you were to describe yourself using an ice cream flavor, what flavor would you be and why?
Mary: Neapolitan—the ice cream that blends vanilla, chocolate and strawberry together because that’s what a work-at-home mom is: a blend of wife, mother and entrepreneur all under one roof!
Jill: I love Mary's answer! But, I consider myself Cookie Dough. You're not sure how it can possibly be any good, but one taste reveals that maybe the Creator knew what He was doing after all! :)
5. If someone were to ask you to give them 2 things you wish you knew when you started your at-home business, what would they be?
Mary: That it would be the hardest thing I’ve ever done. Balancing work at family without the support of regular childcare is difficult. I’ve talked to so many moms who are relieved when they realize that it’s not them—it’s the path we’ve chosen. It’s hard, but it’s manageable. But we have to be willing to look at things differently than a woman who works outside the home from profit. Also, I wish I had known that my times of self-doubt would be great periods of self-growth. Now, when I’m scared about solving a problem, I see it for what it is: a chance to increase my value to clients. I still have moments of doubt, but they don’t mess with me emotionally like they did earlier in my career.
Jill: I would encourage them not to compare themselves with other moms or other business owners. God has a path for each of us and we have to trust that He knows what's best for us. I would also encourage them to make sure they have a support system in place. Especially in the beginning, it takes a LOT of time to get the foundation of a new business built. If you have people in place to help you - in business, with the kids, etc - things will go much more smoothly.
6. What is your most recent book/publication or an upcoming book/publication coming out soon? Where can we find it?
Mary: Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof is available online. Also, readers are invited to follow my blog at www.makingworkathomework.com.
Jill: So You Want to Be a Work-At-Home Mom: A Christian's Guide to Starting a Home-Based Business. Readers can find it online or ask for it at your local bookstore. Readers can learn more about the book and find some out-of-the-book resources at http://www.SoYouWantToBeAWAHM.com.
7. Do you have any parting comments for my readers?
Mary: Trust yourself. God has given you what you need to be successful in all the roles you play, even when you’re scared or doubtful.
Jill: Don't be afraid to ask - Ask God when you need help, reach out and ask other moms when you need a question answered, and ask others how you can help them.
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Thank you, Mary and Jill, for being in the spotlight with us.
Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Making Work at Home Work.
Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.
And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.
This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.
1. A Silent Pursuit, by Lynette Eason from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Gina Santino has something someone desperately wants. Now, she's on the hunt to find it. Her deceased fiance's best friend, US Ranger, Ian Masterson is her only hope of staying alive while they race to be the first to discover the treasure her fiance left behind.
2. Chasing Shadows, by Terri Reed from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. An heiress turns to her former love, a cop, for help when she fears for her grandmother's life.
3. Close to Home, by Carolyn Aarsen from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A reunion of old lovers brings up the shadows of past tragedy.
4. Fit To Be Tied, The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Book #2, by Robin Lee Hatcher from Zondervan. Who says a woman can't do a man's job?
5. I'm So Sure, A Charmed Life, Book 2, by Jenny B. Jones from Thomas Nelson. Its prom time and someone is trying to sabotage the queen contest. Can Bella solve the mystery in time AND keep it together as her life goes public on a wrestling reality show?
6. The Bartered Bride, by Erica Vetsch from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Tempests rage, in the board room, the ball room, and on treacherous Lake Superior as two hearts set sail on a collision course.
7. Together for the Holidays, Fostered by Love series-book 5, by Margaret Daley from Love Inspired. Can the true meaning of Christmas bring two loners together?
I recently read a post by a friend and fellow author, Brandilyn Collins, about Halloween and her family's traditions. It sparked or re-ignited a passion in me that is completely against this day and just about everything that surrounds it.
Just this past Saturday, my husband and I attended a "Boo at the Zoo" event with our daughter here in the Springs. It was full of people dressed in some amazing costumes, local vendors advertising their businesses, coupons, giveaways and of course, candy! :) Since our daughter is only 6 months old, all the candy went to us. LOL!
But I don't celebrate Halloween at all. Haven't since I was 5 years old and really haven't missed it. Our church always had a harvest festival with pies, apples, corn, fruits of the harvest, etc. And we all dressed as Bible characters.
Back in college, I once researched the history behind the day. What I learned turned me away from Halloween forever. I have nothing against the costumes, or celebrating the harvest, or even the candy, but the rest of evil origins, I can do without. There is already enough evil in the world. Why celebrate it and encourage the focus on death, blood and gore? Why not celebrate the harvest instead and keep the atmosphere light instead of dark? God sent His Son to shed light in a dark world. I see no reason to return to the dark.
For 25 years, my family closed the doors, turned off the lights, and was "not home." Inside, however, we would always watch movies together and cook some popcorn. Our candy came the day after when everything was 50-75% off. :) If the day fell on a Friday or Saturday, we would be out at the church.
Tonight, it's a harvest festival at church with Trunk or Treat where families decorate their trunks and the costumed kids come to the cars in the parking lot to get their candy. I'm looking forward to it.
So, what about you? Do you have any traditions around this time of year? Something different or unique that you do? Share your stories or your thoughts with all the readers.
ANNALISA DAUGHETY, an Arkansas native, won first place in the Contemporary Romance category at the 2008 ACFW Genesis Awards. After graduating from Freed-Hardeman University, Annalisa worked as a park ranger at Shiloh National Military Park. She currently resides in Memphis, Tennessee. Her first book, Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, released in September 2009. In October 2009, Love is a Battlefield hit the shelves. Love is a Battlefield is the first book in the Walk in the Park series. Each book will be set in a different national park.
LOVE IS A BATTLEFIELD
Mary M. Byers
Jill Hart
MAKING WORK AT HOME WORK
SO YOU WANT TO BE A WORK AT HOME MOM
