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Friday, July 07, 2006

Pirates, Pirates Everywhere!

Redemption book coverGuard yer women, hide yer treasure, and read ye a merry yarn!

If you're feeling a sudden urge to steal a parrot, bury gold, or start your sentences with "Arr, me hearties," you're not alone. Fascination with pirates is reaching new heights this summer, and Christians aren't being left behind!

Timed to parallel the release of the sequel to Disney's blockbuster, Pirates of the Caribbean, The Redemption is hitting bookstore shelves as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest is hitting the theatres.

And you can be part of the action!

First, GlassRoad PR is holding a contest for TWO FREE TICKETS to Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. They will be sneaking those two tickets inside the copy of one of the books they'll be sending out to the winner of the blogosphere contest. All you have to do is comment on this blog for a chance to win.

In addition to the tickets, there are also two (2) opportunities for you to win a FREE COPY of THE REDEMPTION by Mary Lu Tyndall. First, you can comment on this post and be entered in a drawing, which will also enter you for the free tickets. Second, you can go on a treasure hunt, solving clues provided by 5 other blogs. Return here to submit your answers and be entered to win a FREE AUTOGRAPHED COPY of THE REDEMPTION.

The choice is up to you. Both will enter you in a drawing for a free book, but only *one* will enter you for the chance at an *autographed* copy.

If the hunt caters to your thirst for buried treasure, here's where you begin:

THE REDEMPTION TREASURE HUNT

Clue #1 "What is the name of MaryLu's fictional parrot?" Visit Camy's Loft for the answer and the next clue.

When you have all 5 answers, return here for the answer to the final clue. Send your answers through the contact form on this site. We don't want anyone else following your trail and stealing your loot out from under your nose! :)

Good luck on your treasure hunt! Contest ends on Thursday, July 13th at midnight EST. Two winners will be drawn and announced on Friday.



Redemption book coverNow, read a Q&A with author, MaryLu Tyndall, about her book.

"I dedicate this book to the only Father I have ever known and the greatest Father in all eternity: the Father of all Fathers, my Lord and King, Jesus Christ."

1.) Tell us a bit about the story.

My story begins with a horrific storm at sea in which Lady Charlisse Bristol becomes shipwrecked on an island. She has run away from an abusive uncle in London and sailed to the Caribbean in search of a father she has never known. After weeks of combating the elements, her salvation comes in the form of a band of pirates and their fiercely handsome leader, Edmund Merrick.

Captain Merrick has only recently given his life to God and turned his back on a life of piracy to become a privateer. While battling his attraction to this winsome lady and learning to walk a more godly path, he offers to help Charlisse on her quest-until he discovers her father is none other than Edward the Terror, the cruelest pirate on the Caribbean. Edmund must find a way to win this lady's love while shielding her from his lecherous crew and working to bring her father to justice.

2.) What sparked the idea to write about pirates?

I've always had an obsession for pirates--those swashbuckling heroes who roamed the wild Caribbean seas in their tall ships. The Golden Age of Piracy was such an adventurous and romantic time in our history, and having grown up in that part of the world--south Florida--it grabbed my interest at an early age. What sparked the idea for the novel, however, was the Disney movie, Pirates of the Caribbean. After I saw it thirteen times with my daughter, I had a desire to write about pirates that wouldn't go away. Why do the evil pirates get to have all the fun? Why not write about a Christian pirate?

3.) As you researched this subject, what most surprised you?

The biggest surprise for me was discovering that not all pirates were vicious thieves and murderers. Many, in fact, were commissioned by their countries during times of war to disturb merchant shipping lines and fleet movements, and in general to play havoc with their enemies. In fact, one of the most notorious pirate captains, Henry Morgan, commanded his own fleet of pirate ships, called the Brethren of the Coast, whose sole purpose was to raid Spanish ships and towns in the Caribbean. He was eventually knighted by King Charles II of England and became the governor of Jamaica. These facts aided my story a great deal as many of these pirates, who turned privateers, had strong religious convictions.

4.) How long did it take to write your first novel?

I began writing The Redemption in the Fall of 2003, but it was slow going at first. I was working full-time as a software engineer, not to mention my responsibilities at home as wife and mother. I'm sure many of you can relate. There just doesn't seem to be enough hours in the day! Consequently, I did not complete the novel until early Spring 2005, yet I still didn't feel it was ready. I hadn't written in a while and needed some counsel, so I hired two editors to go through my manuscript, and I entered four contests for the feedback. I made the final cut in two of those contests and felt encouraged, but I must admit, I learned a great deal more from my editors. By the end of Spring 2005, I had polished the manuscript the best I could and went looking for an agent. God's timing is always perfect. I was laid off from my job of fifteen years the same month my agent took me on as a client and began submitting The Redemption. By September of that same year, I had a contract in hand from Barbour for the entire three-book series!

5. How long must we wait for the sequel?

Not long! The second book in the series, The Reliance, will be released in January 2007, and the third book, The Restitution, will be out in stores, June, 2007. As you can tell, I've been very busy!

11 comments:

Kristy Dykes said...

Looks like a great story. Thanks for posting about it, Tiff.

I, too, live in Florida, and am fascinated by pirate stories, particularly those around our coast.

J. M. Hochstetler said...

Well, since I'm at work and don't have time for a treasure hunt, this will have to suffice. LOL! Sounds like a good book!

What's with the popularity of pirates these days? Is it just because Johnny Depp is so sexy...not to mention Orlando Bloom!

Jennifer Y. said...

This sounds like a great book. Please enter me in the drawing!

Anonymous said...

This book has caught my interest! I've had fun hunting for treasure. Please enter me in the contest (chadsturge@hotmail.com)

Blessings,
Shauna

Jennifer Y. said...

I loved visiting new blogs...just wondering...when does the contest end?

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

Kim -- pirate romance stories? you and me both!

Michelle -- sounds like your perception's about to change with this story. :)

Joan -- hope you have time to come back and hunt. As for pirate popularity? Perhaps it's the idea of the rogue and scalawag who can also be the hero. *winks*

Glad to see so many interested and participating in the treasure hunt and discovering new blogs. Feel free to tell others...and good luck!

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the contest!!

Ruth said...

If it's not too late, please enter me in the tickets/book drawing!

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

The contest runs until Friday, so you're not too late, Ruth.

Lena Nelson Dooley said...

I have read this book, and it is wonderful!!

How is the contest going?

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

Not bad, Lena. 9 entries for the free book with possible free movie tickets tucked inside and 10 entries for the treasure hunt for the chance at a free autographed book.

Contest ends tomorrow. We'll see if those #s change.