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Friday, May 30, 2008

CFBA Blog Tour - Tina Ann Forkner and Ruby Among Us

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Ruby Among Us
( Waterbrook Press - May 20, 2008)
by Tina Ann Forkner


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tina Ann Forkner writes contemporary fiction that challenges and inspires. Originally from Oklahoma, she graduated with honors in English from CSU Sacramento before ultimately settling in the wide-open spaces of Wyoming where she now resides with her husband and their three children. Tina serves on the Laramie County Library Foundation Board of Directors and enjoys gardening, spending time outdoors with her family, and works as a full-time writer.

RUBY AMONG US
by Tina Ann Forkner
Published by Waterbrook Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sometimes, the key that unlocks your future lies in someone else's past...

In Ruby Among Us, Lucy DiCamillo is safely surrounded by her books, music, and art─but none of these reclusive comforts or even the protective efforts of her grandmother, Kitty can shield her from the memory of the mother she can no longer remember. Lucy senses her grandmother holds the key, but Kitty seems as eager to hide from the past as Lucy is eager to find it.

From the streets of San Francisco and Sacramento, to the lush vineyards of the Sonoma Valley, Lucy follows the thread of memory in search for a heritage that seems long-buried with her mother, Ruby.

What she finds is enigmatic and stirring in this redemptive tale about the power of faith and mother-daughter love.

"What an incredible story. As both mothers and daughters, Ruby Among Us struck a special cord in each of the four of us. Tina writes in a way that makes us feel like we're there; from the first line, we were captivated and drawn into an intricate weaving of the precious and fragile relationships that define us."
~Point of Grace

"Reading is a passion of mine, and when I find myself identifying with the characters, anxious to get to the next page to find answers to my questions, I know I'm into a good book! The daughter-mother-grandmother theme in Ruby Among Us pulled me in. Wonderful story-telling."
~Jordin Sparks~, 2007 winner of American Idol

"Highly recommended. If you're a mother or daughter, you're going to love Ruby Among Us. Forkner does an extraordinary job...I look forward to more from this author."
~Ane Mulligan, Novel Journey

"Don't miss this one! Tina Ann Forkner is a strong new voice in fiction and Ruby Among Us is an amazing story of trials, regrets, and, ultimately, redemption. Lucy and her family history in the historic wine country of Sonoma bring to life the Scriptures about the Vine and His branches."
~Kristin Billerbeck, author of The Trophy Wives Club

Buy your copy of Ruby Among Us today!

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

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first novel. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

For a time I lived in Sacramento and spent a few weekends a month visiting relatives in Santa Rosa and driving through the Sonoma Valley. I think the setting lent itself to the book easily because I had absorbed so much of it during that time.

A few years later, I was living as a single mom in Wyoming and began to think about my daughter and worry about what would happen to her if I were to die while she was still young. I know it sounds dark, but when one is a single mom, these things come to mind even if there is a father involved in the child's life.

During this introspection, I asked myself the question, "What would she be told about me?" And then like a typical writer, I expanded my questions to the hypothetical. "What if someone decided to take her away from everything that has to do with me? How would she feel? Would she try to find out about me?"

I sensed she would, so I typed out what amounted to a few paragraphs of fiction, or maybe a few pages, I can't remember, and then I called it Ruby Among Us and closed the file. It wasn't until I later married my husband that I pulled that file back out and it turned into a book.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Probably quite a bit, especially the aspect of knowing what it is like to be a single mom, but actual people in the book are fiction. I don't mean that as a disclaimer, but things that happen to Lucy, Ruby, and Kitty in the story are only reflections of what I've observed in life as I've questioned and tried to learn about why things happen the way they do.

Perhaps some things I know about first hand and then they became fiction, but many things I've seen other people go through and wondered how they survived it emotionally and physically? How does one manage to go on when terrible things happen to them? These were questions I had and was trying to figure out the answers to when I wrote Ruby Among Us.

3. What themes exist in Ruby Among Us that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Actually, nothing was overt from the beginning because at first I didn't realize Ruby Among Us was going to be a novel. I don't outline ahead of time, so I was really focused more on the story as it came and any themes evolved as the story progressed.

One theme that came through fairly early during the writing was the desire for at least some of my characters to find redemption with each other, and possibly spiritually. I have read many amazing books that really didn’t leave me with much hope or faith at all, so I think I needed to write a story that on some level was real, but would still leave me feeling hopeful. Other writers, including Francine Rivers with Redeeming Love, have done this before me, so it's not like it's a new thing, of course, but it's what I felt passionate about when I was writing the story.

Another theme that evolved during the writing of Ruby Among Us deals with how keeping secrets really puts people in bondage. I think that truth really can set people free emotionally and my characters are in bondage as a result of the secrets the grandmother, Kitty, keeps. She doesn't realize that her secrets aren’t protecting her granddaughter at all, but instead keep her imprisoned in a way that keeps Lucy from growing up.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

It's hard to write about death. It's not that I felt any writer's block about that part of the writing, but it was pretty emotional at times.

My favorite parts to write were the single-mom/daughter scenes between Lucy and Ruby. I know how that relationship and responsibility feels, so it came very naturally.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book comes out in 2009. It's called Rose House and while it focuses on a sister-sister relationship, readers will get to see what happens to some of the characters in Ruby Among Us, including my favorite character, Kitty.

* * * * *

Thank you, Tina, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Ruby Among Us.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Spotlight on Vickie McDonough and Virginia Brides

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vickie McDonough is an award-winning inspirational romance author. She has written six Heartsong Presents novels and six novellas, with more books coming out later this year and next year. Her third Heartsong book, The Bounty Hunter and the Bride, placed in third in the Top Ten Favorite Historical Romance category in Heartsong's 2007 annual contest. Her stories have also placed first in several prestigious contests, such as the ACFW Noble Theme and Book of the Year contests, the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, and the Texas Gold contest. She has also written books reviews for over six years and enjoys mentoring new writers.

Vickie is an Oklahoma native, wife of over thirty years, mother to four sons, and has a two-year-old granddaughter. When she's not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, gardening, watching movies, and traveling. Vickie loves hearing from her readers at vickie [at] vickiemcdonough [dot] com.

VIRGINIA BRIDES
by Cathy Marie Hake, Vickie McDonough and Susan Page Davis
Published by Barbour Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Historical Romance: The Shenandoah River Valley is full of romantic history that you will enjoy exploring along with the fictional Walsh family. Meet Garnet Wheelock whose indenture has been sold to a respectable widower. Sympathize with Amy Rogers who has lost all her family only to gain motherless children. Ride along with Sadie McEwan as harbored secrets bar the road to love. You relive a gentler time as love and faith are rooted in Virginian soil.

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for your story in this anthology?

I can't say any one thing gave me the inspiration for Spinning Out of Control, which is the second book in Virginia Brides. It was more a thing of playing "what if." What if a young, destitute woman had to beg sanctuary from her only living relative, a cousin? What if said cousin was in the middle of a rough childbirth when my heroine arrives? What if the cousin dies, leaving the heroine to care for a newborn and a three-year-old? What if the cousin's husband is nowhere to be found? Something like that. I tried to put my heroine in a tough situation and then made it worse.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I don't know that any of my experiences influenced my heroine in Spinning Out of Control, except that I've been the mother of four boys. I know the difficulties of raising young children and having to keep a home.

Amy, the heroine in Spinning Out of Control, doesn't trust men. Her father abandoned her and left her and her sickly mother without support. So, when her cousin's husband fails to show up at first, Amy immediately distrusts him and thinks badly about him.

3. What themes exist in Virginia Brides that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

That no matter how bad your situation is, God can help you if you turn to Him.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

It was hard to kill off the cousin, Kathryn. I think she is the first good person I ever killed in a story. But Kathryn's death was crucial to the plot. Here's something funny. At first, I named Kathryn after Kathleen, a close friend of mine. When my friend found out I killed off her character I could tell she was upset, so I changed the name to Kathryn.

My favorite part of the story was watching the romance develop between Micah and Amy. Micah felt like a failure because he wasn't around when his wife died. At first, he thought his own newborn daughter was Amy's child. He grew a lot and had to overcome his feeling of feeling like Amy was an intruder in his home. Writing Rosie, the three-year-old daughter was fun, too.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book is a Barbour anthology called A Bride by Christmas. Four people must marry by Christmas to avoid some awful things happening. Also coming out is Oklahoma Brides. This is a repackaging of my three Oklahoma historicals published by Heartsong. Last, is Wild At Heart. This is the first book in a historical series set in North Dakota.

* * * * *

Thank you, Vickie, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Virginia Brides.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Monday, May 26, 2008

Blog Tour - Rene Gutteridge and Skid

I didn't get the chance to send out an interview to Rene, but the skilled copywriting below for the back cover of the book says it all. This book is an adventure of comedic proportions that you're sure to love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rene Gutteridge is the author of twelve novels, including the Boo series, the Storm series, and the novelization for The Ultimate Gift, as well as Scoop and Snitch, the first two Occupational Hazard novels. She lives with her husband, Sean, and their two children in Oklahoma City.

SKID
by Rene Gutteridge
Published by Multnomah Books

ABOUT THE BOOK

Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.

On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of "What Would Oprah Do?" will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests–prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline–test the limits of the crew's customer service.

But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank's odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.

Buy your copy of Skid today!

* * * * *

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Skid.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Friday, May 23, 2008

Spotlight on Cecelia Dowdy and John's Quest

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Cecelia Dowdy is a world traveler who has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember. When she first read Christian fiction, she felt called to write for the genre.

She loves to read, write, and bake desserts in her spare time. She also loves spending time with her husband and her young son. Currently she resides with her family in Maryland. You can visit Cecelia on her websites: http://www.ceceliadowdy.com/ and http://www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com/.

JOHN'S QUEST
by Cecelia Dowdy
Published by Heartsong Presents

ABOUT THE BOOK

It's amazing how quickly life can change. Overnight, Monica Crawford finds her neatly organized world turned upside down. Her sister abandons her blind son, Scotty, leaving him on Monica's doorstep. Caring for a handicapped child brings unexpected conflict-but unexpected joy as well. When John French volunteers to tutor Scotty, he finds himself irresistibly drawn to Monica. But John and Monica are very different. She is a strong believer, determined to live her life for Christ. John is an agnostic who wants nothing to do with God.Will John see the light? Will Monica realize that sometimes letting go of a dream is the way to achieve it? Only in full surrender will either of them be happy- whether they end up together or alone.

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I work for a non-profit science publisher for my day job. Since a lot of my coworkers are scientists, I started wondering if any of them were atheists or agnostics. My musings led me to write John's Quest.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Since I was well into my thirties when I got married, I feel that I could kind of relate to Monica since she's an older heroine (late-thirties) and still unmarried. As for John, I think I created him because, as I said in the first question, I'd wondered if an atheist or agnostic would approach me, wanting "proof" of God, how would I reasonably go about trying to sway that person's beliefs. I made the child Scotty blind since my husband is blind, and I thought it would be an unusual twist to have a blind character in my novel.

3. What themes exist in John's Quest that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The only theme I felt was dominant in the story was: always trust in God. I know it's hard for us to do that at times. Since John is an agnostic, he doubts God's existence due to the pain and suffering in the world. Why can't God fix everything and make it better? I think, even as Christians, we still have a tough time maintaining a strong faith in God when things get especially rough. However, we need to plow through those bad times, looking to God for comfort and solace, and just remembering that He's always with us.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Writing from John's viewpoint was kind of hard overall. I guess since I've been a Christian for so long, it was hard for me to imagine what life would be like to doubt God's existence. My favorite part was John's conversion scene.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The title of my next novel is...Milk Money! The tentative release date is January 2009/ Here's a brief blurb about the story:

Running a dairy farm is a big job, but doing it alone is almost impossible.

When her dad dies, Emily must work hard to save the family farm, but she manages. Until the day the CPA pulls in her drive and announces he’s there to do an audit on the place.

Franklin Reese is appalled at the lack of interest the Cooper women have in the financial end of their livelihood, but he dives in, determined to help them learn. The further he looks into Mr. Cooper’s dealings, however, the more uncomfortable he becomes.

Can he uncover the truth of the situation and still earn the love of the amazing Emily Cooper? Will issues in Franklin’s own life keep them apart, even after the farm is taken care of? Only God can heal hurting hearts and repair broken lives. Will these two let Him in?

* * * * *

Thank you, Cecelia, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of John's Quest.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Blog Tour - Sherri Sand and Leave it to Chance

I had the privilege of "meeting" this author via email and through my husband after she visited David C. Cook one day a little over a month ago to see the office of the publisher for her book. As Cook rebuilds their fiction line once more, they are developing some new talent and unique stories through the books they're acquiring. Sherri's first book is one of them. And you'll learn about it today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sherri Sand is a wife and mother of four young children who keep her scrambling to stay ahead of the spilled milk. When she needs stress relief from wearing all the hats required to clothe, feed and ferry her rambunctious brood, you'll find her sitting in a quiet corner of a bistro reading a book (and surrounded by chocolate). Then to elude that calorie consumption you might see her running on the trails throughout Eugene, a city considered to be the running capital of the world. Sherri is a member of The Writer's View and American Christian Fiction Writers. She finds the most joy in writing when the characters take on a life of their own and she becomes the recorder of their stories. She holds a degree in psychology from the University of Oregon where she graduated cum laude.

Sherri's blog: http://sherrisand.blogspot.com/

LEAVE IT TO CHANCE
by Sherri Sand
Published by David C. Cook

ABOUT THE BOOK

Single mom of three, Sierra Montgomery is desperate to find a new job to keep from having to move back home and be smothered to death by her mother's good intentions and overbearing love. So when Sierra inherits Chance, a quirky old gelding she doesn’t have a clue what to do with, she thinks her best bet may be to sell the horse to cover another month's rent—a decision that devastates her children.

Enter Ross Morgan, a handsome landscaper who just happens to have an empty barn and fenced pasture...perfect for an old horse to live out his days as the pet of three wounded kids. Ross develops a soft spot for eldest child Braden...and he just might have one for Braden's mother. But what he doesn't have is time for distractions—he's got a landscaping business to run.

But Sierra has a secret. She's terrified of horses and—thanks to her past—wary of attractive men. Yet seeing the way her angry son idolizes Ross and adores that old horse forces Sierra to confront her fears. Will she remain distrustful and self-reliant, or will she seek help from God and those who love her?

PERSONAL REVIEW

From the moment I saw the cover, I knew this was a book I would love to read. And I was right. At first glance, it appears that Chance is the man on the cover, when in fact it's the horse! The antics of Chance kept me laughing all the way through, and I suspect any woman reading this who loves horses will feel the same.

Sierra's plight with her three children will be one that grabs you from the start. You struggle along with her as she faces financial difficulties and decisions that might devastate her children. Then, Ross Morgan enters the picture with what appears to be the perfect solution. Trouble is, Sierra can't get over her past...or her fear of horses.

Sherri has established an engaging and heartwarming story with a writing style similar to that of bestselling author Karen Kingsbury or Deborah Raney. With perfect blend of humor and genuineness, this story will keep you turning the pages to the very end. Even then, you'll want to read more. Here's hoping for a book 2 to be out soon!

Buy your copy of Leave it to Chance today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I have four children of my own, and as a writer, I have such a vivid imagination. I can always come up with the most gut-wrenching conclusions to the most innocuous circumstances involving my kids. That makes it hard to let go and trust. But how much control do we actually have over every day life? I also love horses, and desperately wanted one as a child. So, I set out to write a story about children, a mischievous horse and trusting God.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What traits became theirs and theirs alone?

They came to me. When I saw Sierra, I knew she was a mom who deeply loved her kids and wanted the best for them. Elise was so fun to write with her over-the-top ways. When she drove up to Sierra's and pushed her ooga horn, I knew I was going to love her. And Sid is such a dear and reminds me so much of my father-in-law, Art. And Ross, how could you not love him?

3. What themes exist in Leave it to Chance that you hope the reader sees?

The theme of forgiveness played a significant role, though I didn’t consciously implement it into the novel. Just like most of us living in this fallen world, there have been a couple of significant events in my life that I had difficulty forgiving. I finally realized that if I waited until I felt like forgiving, it would never happen. And I desperately needed to forgive. The bitterness was choking the life out of me. So with God's help and through His grace I made the choice to forgive and forgive and forgive. I wish I could say that there was instant peace and joy. Though I think that can happen for people when they forgive, I'd lived in unforgiveness for so long that I had to continually make a choice to forgive until the freedom came. And when that freedom came, it was a wow moment for me!

Another theme is that of proving your worth. Our world is performance driven. How often do we praise others without attributing it to something they've done? Even with our children, we praise how well they unloaded the dishwasher or drew a picture or minded us. It's difficult to find the words to value people for who they are, apart from anything they do. For most of my life, performance colored my relationship with God. I could not wrap my mind around the concept that He loved me despite less than perfect behaviors.

4. What was your most difficult part to write with this book?

The editing. I wrote and rewote and rewrote and then my agent sold it to David C. Cook who hired an amazing editor to reshape it. It was tough. Spent a lot of time sending up SOS prayers!

5. What is next in the writing line for you?

I've started a collaboration series that I'm really excited about. I met with my agent and another writer a couple weeks ago to brainstorm and do some character development. It's going to be a lot of fun to write.

* * * * *

Thanks, Sherri, for joining us and being in the spotlight.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Leave it to Chance.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

OTHER STOPS ON THE TOUR

Blog Tour Spot

Camy's Loft

Chatter Matters

A Christian Romance Writer's Journey

Cliffy's Mom’s Blog

Fictionary

Flying Changes
The Friendly Book Nook

Horse Book Reviews

I Don't Wanna Blog

In the Dailies

Leap of Faith

lighthouse Academy

A Little Bit of Sunshine

Margaret Daley

Ma Space

Musings on This, That & The Other Thing

Mystery, Suspense and God, Oh My!

Net's Notes

Novel Journey

Penning Prose

Portrait of a Writer...Interrupted

Reading 'N' Writing with Patricia

Real Women Scrap

Relevant Blog

Sharon Hinck

Sips 'n' Cups Cafeteria

Smells Horsey

Toni V. Lee

Writing by Faith

The Writing Road


* * * * *

Monday, May 19, 2008

Humor in Life -- conference experiences

This past weekend, I attended the Colorado Christian Writer's Conference. Before I get into the funny aspects, I had a fantastic time with 3 requests from 2 agents and 1 magazine editor and interest from 2 other book editors. That, plus discovering that all of my web design fliers and brochures were taken and I sold ALL TWELVE of my books that I consigned with the bookstore...and it turned out to be a promising experience.

Obviously, these events also allow you to re-connect with friends and meet some new ones. Several of us from ACFW spent time together at various opportunities and roped in other fiction writers or authors to join as soon as they could. Don't worry, we didn't use brute force or blackmail or any other form of threats...although that has been known to be done. :)

Some of the other memorable moments were:

  • watching 3 teams of 2 volunteers unravel toilet paper rolls as fast as they could while a team of 3 teenage guys used a rigged leaf blower with a paint roller attached to the end where the TP tube was hung and blew out the roll right over top of the conference attendees in the audience.
  • trying to catch Bill (bookstore volunteer) before he changed one of his wacky ties, so I could get the upper hand on his goofy wardrobe combinations.
  • walking through the cafeteria line and looking at the food available, trying to identify it as something other than science projects or unknown substances; once in a while the food was labeled on the buffet line, but not often.
  • going to the drink dispenser and having ice shoot out with a light touch of the trigger.
    trying to place trays in the moving conveyor before it disappeared behind the window and all contents of the tray were upended on the floor.
  • doing everything possible to avoid a collision with kids in the cafeteria who were zooming in and among other diners and looking to break land-speed records as they grabbed their trays to snatch a table, wolf down their food and race to the tray deposit conveyor area.
  • attempting to find a table to eat meals while surrounded by hundreds of young people and kids staying at the YMCA where the conference was held, and then meandering through a maze of tables to get drinks, condiments and other supplies after which the return to the table became a feat of extraordinary ability!
  • doing a dance on stage with a tablecloth under my feet as I cleaned up spilled coffee in preparation for a performer who would be dancing during the closing service.
  • driving all the way up a dirt and pothole-filled road to what looked like an abandoned cabin and depositing Kim's belongings there only to find out that she had been given a key to the wrong cabin, and that the entire area was closed, so we had to drive all the way up there and retrieve her belongings then transport and unload them in the *right* cabin -- only Kim would have this happen!
  • watching Darcie roll on the floor in the bookstore for a reason that escapes me at the moment.
  • driving home and following another car, where the driver swerved a bit and then turned into a strip mall area after seeing "Outback" and thinking it was the steakhouse only to discover it was a saloon!
  • swapping places with that car so we were in the lead and looking for a place to eat dinner, arguing over whether the state of Delaware was in the Mid-Atlantic region or New England, then spotting Olive Garden and turning, only to see a mall on the other side of the road just as we turned, which led us to change direction and get over to that side...all with the other car following us!
And the # 1 funniest moment by far was helping a friend with her luggage getting loaded into her car, setting down her rolling "briefcase" to rearrange what was in the back and then being told that piece was rolling away. I turned to see the organizer just strolling on down the dirt area into the slightly paved gravel area and headed right for another car. My friend couldn't chase after it, so I did, commanding it to stop rolling and stay right where it was. Of course, it didn't listen. But, I managed to snatch it before it hit the car and drag it back up the hill where I placed it in the back seat.

So much more happened, but it was all conference-related stuff. I might save that for later, or stick with this funny-flavored post and leave it at that.

Regardless, it was a great time. Now, back to the grind of work.

* * * * *

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

CFBA Blog Tour - Amy Wallace and Healing Promises

Today, I'm re-running a blog spotlight from April because this week it's part of her week-long blog tour with Multnomah AND CFBA's blog tour. This gives you *TWO* more chances to win a copy of her book. Be sure and leave a comment to enter.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Healing Promises
(Multnomah Publishers - April 15, 2008)
by Amy Wallace

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams and Healing Promises, a wife, homeschool mom of three, speaker, Bible study leader, and avid chocoholic. She loves crafting high-action suspense that delves deep into heart issues, but who she really is can be summed up in a few short words: Amy is a daughter of the King learning to live and love with laughter. Please visit her at http://www.amywallace.com/. Sign up for her Dark Chocolate Suspense Newsletter and stay up to date on all of Amy's latest news.

And don't forget to visit the Defenders of Hope web site for more information about these books and the themes of inspiration behind them.

HEALING PROMISES
by Amy Wallace
Published by Multnomah Books

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chained To Yesterday
When tragedy struck and Gracie Lang lost everything, her faith crumbled, and nothing but the drive for justice propelled her forward. But after two years of dead-end searching, the truth Gracie seeks is the very thing her stalker will stop at nothing to hide.

Forgiveness Unlocks the Future
An FBI agent in the Crimes Against Children Unit, Steven Kessler spends his days rescuing other people’s children and nights caring for his son. He’s through with God, embittered by his ex-wife who abandoned them both, and definitely doesn’t expect what’s coming next.

The Past Is the Key
A plot to kidnap a British ambassador’s daughter dangerously intersects Steven and Gracie’s worlds–a collision that demands a decision. But are they willing to pay the high ransom required to redeem dreams and reignite hope?

Read the first chapter here.

Buy your copy of Healing Promises today!

Ransomed Dreams is the first book in this Defenders of Hope series. It's important to read this prior to reading Healing Promises. Healing Promises won't lose you as it can stand alone, but there are some spoilers in the first chapter and Amy would hate to ruin Ransomed Dreams for you if you haven't read it first.

Facing a new threat.
When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear.
Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission–beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but in this case, the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire.
As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

Read the first chapter here.

Buy your copy of Healing Promises today!


AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. Healing Promises is book 2 in your Defenders of Hope series. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

One of the major storylines for Healing Promises came from a question I posed to the federal agent I interviewed before writing Ransomed Dreams. I had the seed of an idea about FBI Agent Clint Rollins's emotion journey, so I asked, "What would a federal agent do if he was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness?" My expert advisor said that many agents would end the battle fast. I knew then I wanted to explore how a Christian federal agent would handle a life-altering medical diagnosis.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I didn't realize until writing the end of Healing Promises how much of my recent journey through intense physical pain from a shoulder injury and my faith struggles were woven into the characters and their experiences. All I was aware of doing was pouring my soul into the pages. My writing mentor calls this "bleeding into your work." The process is painful, and yet it's one of the best ways to bring stories to life.

But the characters in Healing Promises are far less me and more composites of real-life heroes and heroines who've faced life-threatening illnesses and held onto Jesus. At the same time, Clint, Michael and Steven along with Sara, Hanna and Gracie have their own unique quirks and ways of approaching life. The result of taking different personality elements and blending them in various ways provides one of the most fun parts of writing.

3. What themes exist in Healing Promises that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

My prayer is that readers will experience a deeper sense of the goodness and trustworthiness of God, even when life doesn’t go according to plan. I also hope readers will see that at the end of ourselves only one truth remains—God is good. What we do with that fact changes everything.

The theme of weaknesses and how we deal with them grew as I dug into the story and got to know the characters better.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The hardest parts to write were the scenes in the killer's POV. But I longed to write them well so parents could see some of the "tricks of the trade" kidnappers use and be a little more informed about keeping their children safe.

The best parts to write were at the end, so I can't really elaborate on them. :) But there are two scenes that still make me cry—even after editing them over and over and over again. I can say that I loved writing the depth of relationship that exists between various characters: Clint and Sara, Steven and his sister, Hanna, and the friendship between Clint and Steven and Lee and Michael. Writing those character's interactions were usually a great deal of fun.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Enduring Justice, the third book in the Defenders of Hope series, releases in spring of 2009. This is Michael and Hanna's story and focuses on a painful secret and a racially motivated killer. When circumstances simplify the options to fight or fear, Michael and Hanna learn that the difference between executing vengeance and pursuing justice is their choice to heal.

* * * * *

Thank you, Amy, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win one of TWO FREE copies of Healing Promises.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Monday, May 12, 2008

Blog Tour - Tricia Goyer and A Whisper of Freedom

Today, I am one of several blogs kicking off a fabuloso blog tour featuring Tricia Goyer and the final book in her chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series. It lasts all this week.

Not only do you get to learn more about Tricia and her book, BUT you get to participate in a MEME questionnaire where your answers will enter you in a chance to win a FREE copy of this book PLUS be part of a group from which THREE lucky winners will be chosen to win your own "lost gold" (copies of the entire book set AND gourmet chocolate coins). :)

And there's more!

You also can enter for 1 of FIVE chances to win the book set by signing up for Tricia's fantastic newsletter here.

Here is the link to the blog tour schedule:
http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2008/03/whisper-of-freedom-meme-sticky-post.html

Everything else is found below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tricia Goyer is the author of twelve books including From Dust and Ashes, My Life UnScripted, and the children's book, 10 Minutes to Showtime. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer's Conference in 2003. Tricia's book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005. In addition to her novels, Tricia writes non-fiction books and magazine articles for publications like Today's Christian Woman and Focus on the Family. Tricia is a regular speaker at conventions and conferences, and has been a workshop presenter at the MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers) International Conventions. She and her family make their home in the mountains of Montana.

A WHISPER OF FREEDOM
by Tricia Goyer
Published by Moody Publishers

Links:
Book excerpt: http://www.triciagoyer.com/cmsdocuments/WhisperCh1.doc
Watch the series trailer: http://cg.creativenuclei.com/wip/TriciaGoyer/cscw.html
Tricia's website: http://www.triciagoyer.com/
Tricia's Blogs: http://www.triciagoyer.com/blogs.html

During the tour, anyone can enter to win one of FIVE signed copies of A Whisper of Freedom by signing up for Tricia's newsletter here!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Battles heat up...not only those being waged by the soldiers on both sides fighting for Spain, but in the hearts and minds of the men and women who must sacrifice more than their dreams to save the lives of their loved ones.

In this meticulously researched novel, brave and idealistic Sophie, Philip, Jose, and Deion realize their only hope for freedom is escaping Spain's borders.

By continuing the story of this band of volunteers during the Spanish Civil War, A Whisper of Freedom proves that there are whispers of hope and liberty that resonate through even the darkest night.

Buy your copy of A Whisper of Freedom today!

Other books in the series:
Valley of Betrayal (book 1) - For reasons beyond her control, Sophie finds herself alone in the war-torn Spanish countryside. What was once a thriving paradise has become a battleground for fascist soldiers and Spanish patriots. It doesn't take long for Sophie to realize just how far from home she really is. Caught in the middle of what is quickly becoming a bloody battleground, she receives tragic news, but remaining in Spain is her only option. The route to safety is blocked and fighting surrounds her. On her darkest night, Sophie takes refuge with a brigade of international compatriots. It is among these volunteers, through the use of her fiancés camera and her art, that she pledges to make the plight of the Spanish people known around the world.

A Shadow of Treason (book 2) - Sophie discovers that nothing is as she first imagined. When Walt, the reporter who helped her over the border, shows up again after Guernica is bombed, Sophie is given an impossible mission. She must leave behind the man she's fallen in love with and return to the person who betrayed her. Another layer of the war in Spain is revealed as Sophie is drawn into the international espionage schemes that could turn the tide of the war and help protect the soldiers from the International Brigade ... but can she find a way to get the information she's discovered to Walt before it's too late?

MEME Questions

1. List three things you would do with a chest full of gold (assuming you got to keep it!)

* cash it in, put a large amount in savings or a Roth IRA and other investments with good returns on the deposit
* entice Johnny Depp or Orlando Bloom to come take a look at it, so I can indulge in my fantasy of pirates and being a lass they come to visit when in port :)
* set it out and see if a rainbow forms so I can discover if those little leprechauns really do exist

2. List three charities/missions/organizations you support (and why).

* Pike's Peak Christian Church (because it has a solid family-based ministry and meets our spiritual needs
* City Hearts, they have a mission of bringing the arts to inner city children who wouldn't otherwise have that exposure
* ChildHelp USA with their mission to help abused or neglected or abandoned children find healing, hope and sometimes new families

3. List three ways you have volunteered your time/services.

* working with children in Sunday School and Children's Church
* playing taxi service
* going on short-term mission trips to Mexico and Venezuela

4. List three things you keep "hidden" when company comes over.

* my Tiki bird slippers
* the dog who loves to lick people and jump on them
* dishes until they need to be used and mounds of paperwork as much as possible

5. List the last three things you've lost.

* my mind
* my keys
* my ability to ignore into the voices in my head

6. List the last three things you've found.

* a long-spout watering can for my plants, since I'm short and have trouble reaching them
* contentment
* my sense of humor

* * * * *

Readers, you've been tagged to answer the MEME questions above for your chance to win a FREE copy of A Whisper of Freedom. Be as creative as you like. The more creative the better. Have fun with the questions. Answer them all or just one of them. Your comment gets you entered.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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Friday, May 09, 2008

Heartsong Presents -- Readers & Authors Community!

As many of you know, my first books are part of the Heartsong Presents Book Club. The first released in February and will be on Amazon.com in July. The 2nd and third release in July and December. It's such an honor to be part of the club of which I've been a member since its inception in 1991. With 48 books released each year, that means I've read 768 books and only a handful this year due to book deadlines and other things that have kept me away.

It's fantastic to see such a wholesome book club that brings joy to so many members each month. Even better is how the club has its own online presence that has grown by leaps and bounds this year.

They have short stories available online, contests, giveaways, author blog links, trivia, sneak previews, recipes, places to write reviews of the latest books for the HP Readerzine, and so much more! For anyone who loves romance and reading romance stories, the HP web site is THE place to be.

I want to encourage you to link to www.heartsongpresents.com from your own blog and/or website. Also encourage your friends and fellow readers and authors to link to Heartsong Presents.

New content is being added every day! If we spread the word, we can create a really cool community of authors and readers. Check out some of the new stuff!

HP and HP Mysteries on ShoutLife!
http://www.shoutlife.com/heartsongpresents
http://www.shoutlife.com/heartsongmysteries

Free Online Stories: http://www.heartsongpresents.com/online-stories/

Inspirational Networking, Social Networking Groups, and author blogs: http://www.heartsongpresents.com/author-blogs/

Easy-to-make recipes pulled right from the pages of our stories: http://www.heartsongpresents.com/recipes/

It's a great place to hang out. So come on by!

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Wednesday, May 07, 2008

Spotlight on Shirley Connolly and The Flame Within

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Shirley Connolly presently lives in Brookings, Oregon with her husband Tom. The two of them have served in the ministry together in some capacity for over 25 years. They have three children now grown. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, Shirley states she began attempting her writing career early. Although her creative imagination and love for make-believe keep her active as an historical fiction writer of mostly romance, she also wears other hats penning devotionals, teaching, and speaking at women's retreats and small seminars. Also a lover of research, Shirley keeps her books as true to life as possible, while hoping to lace them gently with nuggets of inspiration that will draw not only the believer but also the seeker to her pages. She focuses her light-hearted devotionals on simple everyday living as books of encouragement to women young and old.

Visit her blog as well as her web site to learn more about her.

THE FLAME WITHIN
by Shirley Kiger Connolly
Published by Vintage Romance Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

A journey across the sea begins a journey of healing for Aimée's soul and a discovery of love and faith she thought she'd never find. When a Yankee-induced fire destroys her family and her home, young plantation-bred Amethyst Rose finds herself on the run. Angry towards God and the men in blue, Amethyst's only choice left is to move in with her elder and controlling sister, who runs a bordello in The French Quarter of New Orleans-a decision guaranteed to destroy Amethyst's personal respect and tarnish her family name. With her bitter hatred towards all Yankees plunged into high gear, nothing seems to matter anymore, until, on a riverboat en route to New Orleans, she finds herself intrigued by the presence of not one, but two Union officers. Each in his own way find ways to tug at the heart and soul of this woman lost.

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

At first it was from reading an old romance about New Orleans back in the late 70s. I wanted something inspirational to read so I thought I would try to write one. But later, after my husband and I lived on the east coast and worked at the United States Military Academy (West Point) for a while and traveling to the Old South, we learned more about the history of the U.S. It was then I wanted to bring out my old manuscript and make it into a well-researched historical romance, not just a flimsy romance about a man and a woman.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Good question! I don't see much of my own personal experience in the life of my heroine, Amethyst Rose or her situation, but as a pastor's wife, I would have to say my husband and I have dealt in the past with many dysfunctional families who have tried hard to mask the true nature of their characters around others before they have come to know the Lord. In the story I used some of those situations in a way to bring out the nature of Amethyst Rose. Readers may not read the specifics of what happens to her, but it is there nonetheless, written between the lines. Amethyst Rose (Aimee's) unspoken abusive past becomes part of the reason she begins her life so bitter and full of hatred but without anyone to share it with. A lot of healing needs to take place in her life. It is pretty interesting to see who she ends up admiring the most in the story to find her way to the truth!

3. What themes exist in The Flame Within that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The main theme that exists throughout the story was the importance of love, acceptance, and forgiveness working together no matter who you are or from what station you come from. But the golden nugget that developed as the story progressed was compassion.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I think the most difficult parts for me were getting the first five pages down the cleanest, and the ending done in a way that would make my reader want to say, "Ah, now where is the next book! Will there be a sequel?"

My favorite part to write was going back over the manuscript because I wanted to make it better. I could never get it just right. (I am not good at grammar. I know I will improve as I continue to grow as an author.) To me, there is always room for improvement.

I would also like to add what I did NOT like finding was the mistakes that were there and not corrected when the book came out and knowing it was then too late to fix them. I still have so much to learn. But I'm getting there. (It's interesting how they begin to jump out AFTER they are in print.)

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

I also write light-hearted nonfiction devotionals. I have a three-book series coming out beginning in 2009. And I am just about ready to finish up another historical fiction manuscript that takes place in the year 1877. This one is about a middle-aged backslidden mother with two illegitimate daughters who is anxious to finally be able to introduce her girls to their military father for the first time out in Kansas...that is, until everything under the sun begins to go wrong before they get there. I'm looking forward to sending that out soon.

* * * * *

Thank you, Shirley, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of The Flame Within.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Monday, May 05, 2008

Promises, Promises: Reviews and Book Club Feature

I am simply busting at the seams with excitement and joy and even tears.

image: Promises, Promises book coverEarlier this week, I received a CC (carbon copy) of an email sent to my editor from a friend/fellow author. She's also a member of ACFW. Janice Thompson offered to review my very first book, and she loved it so much that she actually emailed my editor to tell her! Of course, Janice also writes for the same line, but I was FLOORED! It brought tears to my eyes just reading it. I mean, I expected Janice to post a review on her new Double-Booked blog for book reviews and all kinds of awesome stuff, but I NEVER expected her to email my editor! Talk about the shock of the week!

Double-Booked Review of Promises, Promises

"Amber Miller is truly one of the strongest historical romance writers I've read in years. Sometimes historicals (as a whole) don't hold my attention, or the reader tries too hard to impress with historical lingo/tidbits. But in this case, I found myself caught up in the action right away and also found the story very believable. I could relate to both the hero and the heroine. As I mentioned, it's the perfect blend of story, history and biblical truth."

For the rest, you'll have to visit Janice's blog. :) It's a fantastic one. You really should check it out. AND, if you go there and leave a comment, you'll win a chance for a FREE copy of my book. So, run on over there and take a look at the great review site Janice has.

This next one is from a Heartsong Book Club reader:

"Your book was absolutely wonderful! Just finished it tonight and decided I would look you up online. I loved your story about Gustaf and Raelene. They seemed so real! I could especially relate to Raelene's feelings, because after I lost my dad in 2005 (he died a very hard death) - I went into a long period of depression. I had trouble trusting God, but now I realize that death will come to us all, sooner or later, and in some way or other. God decides. Even Jesus, God's Son, was allowed to suffer, and it had a purpose. That thought has comforted me. You have an amazing gift for expressing people's innermost feelings. Thank you so much for your exceptionally fine work! I look forward to your new titles coming soon!"

Isn't that just the sweetest comment and review? I was so touched. She read my book from the book club then took the time to find me online so she could email me.

This last one came from a dear friend and fellow newbie author, Debra Ullrick, whose first book, The Bride Wore Coveralls, also released with Heartsong this year:

"Oh my gosh, I loved your story! I finally got to read it and when I started, I couldn't put it down. I loved your characters, your writing, the plot, ah heck, I loved the whole thing! FANTASTIC! You're writing is awesome. I can't wait to read your next story."

She and I have shared so much as we both sold our books around the same time. It's been quite the journey.

Add those to the other reviews that have trickled in, and I'm one snoopy-dancing, honored and humbled new author. God is SO good, and His promises have truly been fulfilled in my life. That's one of the main themes in this book and it's taken from Romans 4:21. The reviews aren't overwhelming, but they're sincere and heartfelt, and reveal how this book has touched the readers' lives.

That's what this journey is all about. As I posted two weeks ago, I'll be having a blog tour in July where more feedback and reviews for Christianbook.com and Amazon.com and other online sites will start appearing.

image: ACFW Book Club logoBut before that happens, my book is one of the two that is being featured THIS MONTH at the ACFW Book Club. If you haven't heard of this club, but you love reading and discussing great new fiction and even chatting with the authors, then this club is for you! Take a look.

image: ACFW logoThe cover of my book is on the main page of the ACFW web site and listed with my buddy, Cheryl Wyatt's book on the club information page. You can see that here. Talk about fantastic publicity! The largest Christian fiction organization in the world, and my book is on the main page. Praise God! Woo-hoo!

I look forward to the discussion among book club members later this month...at least from those who read historicals. :)

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Friday, May 02, 2008

CFBA Blog Tour - Jenny B. Jones and The Big Picture

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Big Picture
(NavPress Publishing Group, April 15, 2008)
by Jenny B. Jones


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jenny B. Jones is the author of A Katie Parker Production series. The other books in the series are In Between and On The Loose. Though now an adult, she still relates to the trauma and drama of teen life. She is thrilled to see her writing dreams come true, as her previous claim to fame was singing the Star Spangled Banner at a mule-jumping championship. (The mules were greatly inspired.)Jenny resides in Arkansas, where, as a teacher, she hangs out with teens on a regular basis.

Buy Your Copy Today!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sometimes there's a fine line between comedy and tragedy—and Katie Parker is walking it.

School is winding down for the summer but Katie Parker is having a bad day. After leaving the drive-in, where her imploding love life was the main attraction, Katie arrives home to a big surprise on the Scott's front porch. Her mother, Bobbie Ann Parker, a former convict and recovering addict, wants to take Katie away from her family, friends, and church. Now Katie's life will be changed by a series of dramatic choices as she struggles to understand what family and home really means.

Katie is forced to walk away from In Between, leaving behind a family who loves her, a town drive-in to save, and a boyfriend who suddenly can take his eyes off his ex. When the life her mother promised begins to sink faster than one of Maxine's stuffed bras, Katie knows she needs to rely on God to keep it together. But where is he in all this? Can Katie survive a chaotic life with her mother—and one without the Scotts? And if God is there, will he come through before it's too late?

A Katie Parker Production series offers teen girls real-world fiction balanced by hope and humor. The The Big Picture helps us realize that the difficult chapters in our journey are only part of God's big story for our lives.

You can read the first chapter HERE

"A heroine to love. Jones just gets better with every book, and The Big Picture is her best one yet." ~BARBARA WARREN, author of The Gathering Storm

"Such inspiration in a package of fun and faith!" ~EVA MARIE EVERSON, author of the Potluck Club series

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

We knew from book one, IN BETWEEN, that my main character, Katie Parker, had an addict mother. So it was just a natural progression that Mom would have to show up sometime and deal with some issues, as we find in THE BIG PICTURE. As a teacher, I see a lot of teens struggling with addict parents or parents who just aren't living right, and the kids getting trapped in the cycle. And it is a cycle. Without education, encouragement, and support, these kids will most likely go on to repeat the process or repeat some form of dysfunction. So I wanted to write the story from the perspective of a kid who has hope and wants more for herself, no matter who her biological parent is or how she was raised. The cycle can be broken, and God provides that out. Also Katie is a new Christian in book three, and I wanted to see how these life challenges played out against new faith.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

I definitely have experience with addict family members, though not from a teenage perspective. I think as a teacher, my teen students influence me a lot. Their personalities, humor, trials and issues are on every page. And I think there are definitely aspects of myself in this girl. We're both a little snarky, clumsy, irreverent, and occasionally love to ham it up. We both had wonderful, sassy grandmothers. And we both look just like Keira Knightley. (Kidding!) And as for aspects of Katie that were just hers? Hmmm...she's into vintage eighties clothing, and I'm definitely not, since I lived it once already...though I am REALLY thankful the giant hair didn’t come back in with the clothes.

3. What themes exist in The Big Picture that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I think we see a few themes played out. There's the theme of defining what true family is. There's the dominant theme of trusting God when it makes no sense—when life isn't fair, when the tragedy or problem defies explanation. There's also the theme of using fireworks to snare a man, but I won't go into that.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I think any of the scenes were Katie deals with her addict mother were hard. Though I wouldn't call this a dark book, this was dark for me. In my own life, I don't function well in pitiful situations and will start cracking jokes immediately. So it's hard to stay in one of Katie's issues until it's fleshed out. But you can see in her character that she can't be pitiful or wallow either. Most sad or high emotion scenes end with some sort of joke or crack. I was really worried the book would be too emotionally charged, too dramatic, but I've gotten nice feedback from reader’s with similar life experiences as Katie or her mother.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Next is a new series for Thomas Nelson called A Charmed Life. The first book, So Not Happening, won't be out until spring of ’09, but I'm really excited about it. It's quite a departure from the Katie Parker Production, but still includes humor, sass, and teen issues. This series revolves around Bella, a 17-year-old socialite from NYC. Her life radically changes when her plastic surgeon dad dumps her mom for a newer version, and Mom remarries...a professional wrestler from Oklahoma. I'm really excited about it, though I miss Mad Maxine already. But there's enough spandex and pile drivers to keep me typing.

Thanks for letting me stop by!

* * * * *

Thank you, Jenny, for being with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of The Big Picture.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

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 type the email address where you'd like them sent. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Thursday, May 01, 2008

FIRST - Lisa Samson and Finding Hollywood Nobody

Last month, I joined a new alliance for promoting fiction. This one only posts on the first day of every month. There WILL always be a bonus book giveaway for the featured book. Drawings work the same as for the feature spotlights. Post a comment and you're entered. But make sure your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com) is available either in your comment or via your blogger profile link. Otherwise, you won't be notified if you win.

Buy the Book Here

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It is May FIRST, time for the FIRST Blog Tour! (Join our alliance! Click the button!) The FIRST day of every month we will feature an author and his/her latest book's FIRST chapter!

Today's feature author is:


and her book:

Finding Hollywood Nobody

Navpress Publishing Group (February 15, 2008)


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Samson is the author of twenty books, including the Christy Award-winning Songbird. Apples of Gold was her first novel for teens.

These days, she's working on Quaker Summer, volunteering at Kentucky Refugee Ministries, raising children and trying to be supportive of a husband in seminary. (Trying ... some days she's downright awful. It's a good thing he's such a fabulous cook!) She can tell you one thing, it's never dull around there.

Other Novels by Lisa:

Hollywood Nobody
Straight Up
Club Sandwich
Songbird
Tiger Lillie
The Church Ladies
Women's Intuition: A Novel
Songbird
The Living End

Visit her at her website.

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Chapter One

Hollywood Nobody: Sunday, June 4

Well, Nobodies, it's a wrap! Jeremy's latest film, yet another remake of The Great Gatsby, now titled Green Light, has shipped out from location and will be going into postproduction. Look for it next spring in theaters. It may just be his most widely distributed film yet with Annette Bening on board. Toledo Island will never be the same after that wacky bunch filled in their shores.

Today's Hottie Watch: Seth Haas has moved to Hollywood. An obscure film he did in college, Catching Regina's Heels (a five-star film in my opinion), was mentioned on the Today show last week. He was interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air. Hmm. Could it be he'll receive the widespread acclaim he deserves before the release of Green Light? For his sake and the film's, I hope so.

Rehab Alert: I've never hidden the fact that I don't care for bratty actress Karissa Bonano, but she just checked into rehab for a cocaine addiction. Her maternal grandfather, Doug Fairmore, famous in the forties for swashbuckling and digging up clues, made a public statement declaring the Royal Family of Hollywood was "indeed throwing all of our love, support, and prayers behind Karissa." The man must be a thousand years old by now. This isn't Ms. Bonano's first stint in rehab, but let's hope it's her last. Even I'm not too catty to wish her well in this battle. But I'm as skeptical as the next person. In Hollywood, rehab is mostly just a fad.

Today's Quote: "It's a scientific fact. For every year a person lives in Hollywood, they lose two points of their IQ." Truman Capote

Today's Rant: SWAG, or Party Favors. Folks, do you ever wonder what's inside those SWAG bags the stars get? Items which, if sold, could feed a third-world country for a week! And have you noticed how the people who can afford to buy this stuff seem to get it for free? I'm just sayin'. So here's my idea, stars: Refuse to take these high-priced bags o' stuff and gently suggest the advertisers give to a charitable organization on behalf of the movie, the stars, the whoever. Like you need another cell phone.

Today's Kudo: Violette Dillinger will be appearing on the MTV Video Music Awards in August. She told Hollywood Nobody she's going to prove to this crowd you can be young, elegant, decent, and still rock out. Go Violette!

Summer calls. Later!

Monday, September 15, 4:00 a.m.

Maybe I'm looking for the wrong thing in a parent.

I turn over in bed at the insistence of Charley's forefinger poking me in the shoulder. "Please tell me you've MapQuested this jaunt, Charley."

She shakes her tousled head, silhouetted by the yellow light emanating from the RV's bathroom. "You're kidding me right?" She slides off the dinette seat. Charley's been overflowing with relief since she told me the truth about our life: that she's not really my mother, but my grandmother, that somebody's chasing us for way too good of a reason, that my life isn't as boring as I thought. We're still being chased, but Charley can at least breathe more freely in her home on the road now that I know the truth.

Home in this case happens to be a brand-spanking-new Trailmaster RV, a huge step forward from the ancient Travco we used to have, the ancient Travco with a rainbow Charley spread in bright colors over its nose.

"Where to?" Having set my vintage cat glasses, love 'em, on my nose, I scramble my hair into its signature ponytail: messy, curly, and frightening. I can so picture myself in the Thriller video.

"Marshall, Texas."

"East Texas?"

"I guess."

"It is." I shake my head. Charley. I love her, I really do, but when it comes to geography, despite the fact that we've traveled all over the country going to her gigs ever since I can remember, she's about as intelligent as a bottle of mustard. And boy do I know a lot about bottles of mustard. But that was my last adventure.

"If you knew, then why did you ask?" She flips the left side of her long, blonde hair, straighter than Russell Crowe, over her shoulder. Charley's beautiful. Silvery blonde (she uses a cheap rinse to cover up the gray), thin (she's vegan), and a little airy (she's frightened of a lot and tries not to think about anything else that may scare her), she wears all sorts of embroidered vests and large skirts and painted blue jeans. And they're all the real deal, because Charley's an environmentalist and wouldn't dream of buying something she didn't need when what she's got is wearing perfectly well. She calls my penchant for vintage clothing "recycling," and I don't disagree.

"Is this really a gig, Charley, or are we escaping again?"

She shakes her head. "No phone call. I really do have a job."

I feel the thrill of fear inside me, though there's no need right now. Biker Guy almost got me back on Toledo Island. (Yeah, he looks like a grizzled old biker.) To call the guy rough around the edges would be like saying Pam Anderson has had "a little work done."

I've been looking over my shoulder ever since.

But more on that later. We need to get on the road. And I need to get on with my life. I'm so sick of thinking about how things aren't nearly what I'd like them to be.

I mean, do you ever get tired of hearing yourself complain?

I flip up my laptop, log on to the satellite Internet I installed (yes, I am that geeky) and Google directions to Marshall, Texas, from where we are in Theta, Tennessee—actually, on the farm of one of Charley's old art-school friends who gave her some work in advertising for the summer. Charley's a food stylist, which means she makes food look good for the camera. Still cameras, motion picture cameras, video, it doesn't matter. Charley can do it all.

"Oh, we've got plenty of time, Charley. Five hundred and fifty miles and . . . we have to go through Memphis . . ."

My verbal drop-off is a dead giveaway.

"Oh, no, Scotty, we're not going to Graceland again."

The kitsch that is Graceland speaks to me. What can I say?

And you've got to admit, it's starting to look vintage. Now ten years ago . . .

I cross my arms. "Do you have cooking to do on the way?"

Yes, highly illegal to cook in a rolling camper.

"Yeah, I do."

"And do you expect me, an unlicensed sixteen-year-old, to drive?" Again, highly illegal, but Charley's a free spirit. However, she refuses to copy CDs and DVDs, so in that regard, she's more moral than most people. I guess it evens up in the end.

"Uh-huh."

"Then I think I deserve a trip through the Jungle Room."

She rolls her eyes, reaches down to the floor, and throws me my robe. "Oh, all right. Just don't take too long."

"I'll try. So." I look at the screen. "65 to route 40 west. Let's hit it. And we'll have time to stop for breakfast."

Charley shakes her head and plops down on the tan dinette bench. The interior of this whole RV is a nice sandy tan with botanical accents. Tasteful and so much better than the old Travco that looked like a cross between a genie's bottle and the Unabomber cabin. "You're going to eat cheese. Aren't you?"

"I sure am."

And Charley can't say anything, because months ago she told me this was a decision I could make on my own.

Freedom!

"I've rethought the cheese moratorium, baby. I know you're not going to like this, but three months of cheese is enough. I can't imagine what your arteries look like. I think it's time to stop."
"What?" Cheese is my life. "Charley! You can't do this to me."

"It's for your own good."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah, I am."

"Why?"

"Because summer's over, baby, and we've got to get back to a better way of life."

I could continue to argue, but it won't do any good. Charley acts all hippie and egalitarian, but when push comes to shove, she's the boss. However, I'm great at hiding my cheese . . . and . . . I'm going to convince her eventually.

But still.

"This isn't right, Charley, and you know it. But it's too early to argue. And might I add, you have no idea what it's like to have a teen with real teen issues. You ought to be on your knees thanking God I'm not drinking, smoking, pregnant, or"—I was going to say sneaking out at night, but I've done that, just to get some space—"or writing suicidal poetry on the Internet!"

We stare at each other, then burst into laughter.

"Just humor me this time, baby," she says. "We'll come back to it soon, I promise."

I don't believe her, but I hop into the driver's seat, pull up the brake, throw the TrailMama into drive, and we are off.

Six hours later

I pull through Graceland's gatehouse at ten a.m., park near the back of the compound's cracked, tired parking lot, and change into some crazy seventies striped bell-bottoms, a poet shirt, and Charley's old crocheted, granny-square vest. Normally I go further back in my vintage-wear, but I'm trying to go with the groove that is Graceland.

I kiss Charley's cheek. "I'll be back by noon."

"When will that put us in Marshall?"

"By six thirty."

"Because I'm not sure where the shoot is."

"Please. Marshall's small. Jeremy and company will make a big splash no matter where they set up. Besides, growing up around this, I have a nose for it."

She awards me one of her big smiles. "You're somethin', baby. I forget that sometimes." She puts her arms around me, squeezes, pulls back, then smacks me lightly on my behind. "Tell Elvis I said hello."

"Oh, I will. He's one of the groundskeepers now, you know."

I've seen computer-generated pictures of what he would look like now, in his seventies. Scary.

I jump down from the RV, head across the parking lot, over the small bridge leading into the ticketing complex and walk by Elvis's jets, including the Lisa Marie. Gotta love anything with that name. Don't know why. Just has a nice ring to it.

Banners proclaim, "Elvis Is."

Is what? Dead? A legend? What? Because he isn't "izzing" as far as I'm concerned. Present tense, people! If the person's not alive, "is" can only be followed by a few options: Buried up in the memorial garden. Rotting in his casket. Missed by his family and friends. Not exactly banner copy, mind you.

Still, you've got to admit the name Elvis wreaks of cool. Perhaps the sign should read, "Elvis Is . . . A Really Cool Name."

But it's not nearly as cool as my name. You see, my real mother loved the writer F. Scott Fitzgerald. And that's my name: Francis Scott Fitzgerald Dawn. Only Dawn's not my actual last name. I don't know what my real last name is. My real first name is Ariana. Being on the run, Charley renamed us to protect our identity. So she honored my mother by naming me after Mom's favorite novelist. More on that later too.

It sounds fun, traveling on the road from film shoot to film shoot, never settling down in one place for too long, but honestly, it's very sad.

I always knew Charley lived with a sadness down deep, and when I found out why this spring, her sadness became mine. See, my dad is dead and my mother, Charley's daughter Babette, is too. Or we think she must be, because she disappeared under questionable circumstances and never came back. Learn that when you're fifteen and see where you land.

When I thought Charley was my mother, I had such high hopes for who my father might be. Al Pacino was number one in the ranking. Don't ask.

Okay, Elvis, here we go. Let's you and me be "taking care of business."

I hand over my money to the lady behind the reservations counter. I called thirty minutes ago on my cell phone, compliments of my mother's friend Jeremy, and reserved a spot.

"You'll be on the first tour."

Yes! More time amid the shag carpeting and the gold records. And the jumpsuits. Can't forget the jumpsuits. I want a cape too.

The gift shop calls to me. Confession: I love gift shops. They even smell sparkly. Key chains dangling, saying, "You can take me with you wherever you go!" Mugs with the Saint Louis Gateway Arch or the Grand Ole Opry promising an even better cup of coffee. Earrings that advertise you've been somewhere. That's exactly what I choose while I wait for the tour, a little pair of dangly red guitars with the words Elvis Presley in gold script on the bodies, and how in the world they put that on so small is beyond me. See, gift shops can even be miraculous if you take your time and look.

A voice over the loudspeaker announces my tour number, so I stand in line. By myself. Just me in a group of twenty or so.

Okay, here is where it gets hard to be me. I know I should be thankful for my free-spirited life. But especially now that I know my parents are dead, it feels empty all of a sudden. I shouldn't be standing in line at Graceland alone. My mother and I should be giggling behind our hands at the man nearby who's actually grown a glorious pair o' mutton-chop sideburns, slicked back his salt-and-pepper curls, and shrugged his broad shoulders into a leather jacket. Really, right? My father, who was an FBI agent the mob shot right in a warehouse in Baltimore, would shake his head like a dad in a sixties TV show and laugh at his girls.

We'd get on the bus like I'm doing now, each of us putting on our tour headphones and hanging the little blue recorders around our necks in anticipation of the glory that is Elvis.

The driver welcomes us as he shuts the hydraulic doors of the little tour bus with its clean blue upholstery, a bus in which an assisted-living home might haul its residents to the mall.

It smells new in here, and my gross-out antennae aren't vibrating in the least like they do when I go into an old burger joint and the orange melamine booth hasn't been scrubbed since the place opened in 1987.

In my fantasy, my dad would sit beside me. And Mom, just across the aisle, holding onto the seatback in front of her, would look at me as we pass through those famed musical gates, because she would have introduced me to Elvis music. According to Charley, my vintage sentimentalism comes from my mom. I've learned a little about her this summer.

Charley said, "She'd wear my cousin's old poodle skirt and listen to Love Me Tender over and over again while writing in her diary." She became a respected journalist, loved books as much as I do. I pat my book in my backpack, looking forward to tonight when I can cuddle into my loft and get into one of Fitzgerald's glittering worlds. "She was different from me, Scotty. I tried to change the world through protest. Your mother wanted to build something completely different and much better." She sighed. "All my generation could do, I guess, was tear apart. It's going to take our children to put the pieces back together. Babette was a very careful person. Very purposeful."

If it drove my freewheeling grandmother crazy, she doesn't let on.

"I could try to describe how much she loved you, baby. But I don't think I could begin to do her devotion to you justice. I was so proud of her, for how much she loved and gave away. She was amazing."

So in May I found out she existed, the same day I found out she is dead, or most likely dead. And now I'm going into Graceland alone, truly an orphan. Who wants to be an orphan?

We disembark from the bus—me, Elvis Lite, some folks from a Spanish-speaking country, and a lot of older people. I miss Grammie and Grampie right now. More later on them, too. And you'll get to meet them. Like the waters of the Gulf Stream, we seem to travel in the same general direction. I spent a week with them this summer in Tennessee. Yeah, we did Nashville right. They're loaded.

Standing beneath the front porch, my gaze skates up and down the soaring white pillars and comes to rest on the stone lions that guard the steps. My father was a lion. That's why he ended up with a bullet in his chest. Speaking in very broad terms, the story goes as follows:

Dad, undercover, worked his way into a portion of the mob, or mafia if you prefer, that was heavily financing the campaign of a Maryland gubernatorial candidate. When they discovered him, they shot him on site, in a warehouse in the Canton neighborhood of downtown Baltimore. My mother watched, gasped, and a chase ensued. She hid in a friend's gallery, called Charley and told her to keep watching me. (Charley had kept me the night before because my mom and dad had some glamorous function to attend.) And then she disappeared.

The Graceland tour recorder tells me to look to my right into the beautiful white living room with peacock stained-glass windows leading into the music room. This room really isn't so bad, I've got to admit. A picture of Elvis's dad hangs on the wall. He really loved his parents.

I've toured this house at least seven times before, and I'll tell you this, Elvis's love for his family soaked into the walls. A girl that lives in a camper, has dead parents, and is being chased by someone from the mob who knows my grandmother knows what went down, well, she can feel these things.

Charley thinks someone's trying to kill us. This guy is always trying to find us, but Charley's really great at evasion. She said the politician who won the governor's seat all those years ago just announced his candidacy for president and—oh, GREAT!—he's probably trying to make sure nothing comes back to haunt him and sent Biker Guy to finish off the entire matter.

The thing is, he seems to be after me too. And what in the world would I have to do with all of that?

I'll bet Charley's back in that camper shaking in her shoes because I'm over here by myself; I'll bet she's figuring out more ways to be utterly and overly protective of me. I wouldn't be surprised if she's wondering whether locking a kid in an RV is child abuse.

But I love Charley. I really do. I know she's scared back there, and despite the fact that I would be no real help if Biker Guy caught us, I can't leave her there so frightened and alone for long.

Elvis dear, I can only stay a little while. So love me tender, love me sweet, and for the sake of all that's decent, don't step on my blue suede shoes.

I hurry past the bedroom of Elvis's parents, decorated in shades of ivory and purple, very nice, and through the dining room—a little seventies tackiness I'll admit—into the kitchen with dark brown cabinetry and the ghosts of a million grilled peanut butter and banana sandwiches, then on down into the basement. Okay, I admit, I've got to just stand for a second in the TV room and admire the man's ability to watch three TVs at once on that huge yellow couch with the sparkly pillows.

I shoot through the billiard room, which is, honestly, truly beautiful with its fabric-lined walls and ceiling, up the back steps and into the Jungle Room, probably Graceland's most famous room. Green shag carpet overlays the floor and the ceiling, and heavily carved, Polynesian-style furniture is arranged around a rock-wall waterfall at the end of the room. It really defies the imagination, folks. Google Jungle Room Graceland and see what I mean.

The second floor of Graceland is closed off to the public because Elvis died up there. On the toilet. Wise decision on the part of Priscilla I'd say.

Out the door, into the office building, down to the trophy hall, I whiz through all the gold and platinum records, the costumes, the awards, and even a wall full of checks he'd written for charity. According to my recorder, Elvis was an active community member in Memphis. And he obviously didn't care what race or religion people were. He supported Jewish organizations, Catholic, Baptist. Pretty cool.

Of course, this recorder isn't going to tell of the dark side of the man. But Elvis Isn't, despite what the banners say. So why drag a dead man through the mud?

I hurry through the racquetball court, more gold records, the infamous jumpsuits, back outside to the pool and memorial garden where Elvis has been laid to rest.

An older lady cries into a handkerchief. I don't ask why.

Good-bye Elvis. Thanks for the tour. Maybe one day I'll do something great too.

A few minutes later . . .