image: header
image: gownflare

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Blog Awards

Well, I'm not doing a blog spotlight this week. Taking off for the Christmas and New Year's holidays. But, Casey, a friend and fellow blogger sent an award to me, and I wanted to share the joy with others.

So, here goes!


I have to write five things I love and then pass this award on to five other people. (If I presented you with this award, simply right click, save it as a photo and then put it on your site with the five things you love- then pass it on to five other bloggers).

Five things I love to do: (in no particular order)

1. Read
2. Write
3. Watch old movies
4. Spend time with family and friends
5. Travel

The five people I am going to pass this on to is:

1. Margaret at Creative Madness
2. Trish at Reading, Writing & the Stuff In-Between
3. Dawn at From Dawn Til Dusk
4. Jen at Musings on This, That & the Other Thing
5. Jenny at Come Meet Aus Jenny

If you'd like to share this award with any friends and bloggers, just right-click the image and save it to your computer. Then, compose your own post and share it with your readers.

Hope you have a safe and happy close to 2009 and a warm and bright welcome to 2010! Thanks for visiting and for your support this past year. Looking forward to sharing a brand new year with you as well.

Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Spotlight on Margaret Brownley and A Lady Like Sarah

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MARGARET BROWNLEY - Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this—except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction."

So that’s what Margaret did. She now has more than 20 novels to her credit. In addition, she's written many Christian articles and a non-fiction book. Still, it took a long time before Margaret tried her hand at writing inspirational fiction which led to her Rocky Creek series.

"I love writing about characters at different stages of faith," she says of the new direction her writing career has taken, "and I'm here to stay."

Happily married to her real life hero, Margaret and her husband live in Southern California.

A Lady Like Sarah
by Margaret Brownley
Published by Thomas Nelson

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Preacher Justin Wells promises an injured lawman to help him take his prisoner to Texas, Justin has no idea the trouble that lies ahead. The slightly-built prisoner turns out to be a Sarah Prescott—sister of the notorious Prescott brothers--and she’s determined to miss the hanging party waiting for her in Texas.

But escaping proves to be tougher than she thought. The poor man doesn’t own a gun and hasn’t the foggiest idea how to survive the wilderness. How can she leave him alone with the injured marshal?

Nothing is more sacred to Justin than a promise made to a dying man. But can he really bring himself to turn the blue-eyed beauty over to the hangmen? She’s tough as leather, but there’s something about her that is pure and good.

When she rides into a trap, he blames himself. Now, she faces the gallows and nothing short of a miracle will save her.

He can’t bear to lose her, but how can a simple preacher fight an entire town? And how can either one of them know that miracles come in many guises—including love?

Margaret's book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prY2q9Oasp4

Readers, buy your copy of A Lady Like Sarah today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your debut inspirational novel after 20 novels for the secular market. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

You never know when inspiration is going to hit. It’s different for every book. It can be something someone says or an item in the newspaper. Years ago I read an article in the National Enquirer about an Avon lady in the Amazon. She sold cosmetics to the natives who preferred buying their war paint than making it. From that article sprang my book Touch of Lace.

A Lady Like Sarah was inspired by Pearl Hart who robbed a stagecoach to pay her mother’s medical bills (Health care was highway robbery even in the 1800s). Her story got me thinking about how far we would go to protect or save a loved one.
My next book A Suitor for Jenny (September 2010) was inspired by an organization that really existed: The Society for the Protection and Preservation of Male Independence. What fun the heroine has breaking through that society!

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

My experiences are, as one might expect, very different than what my characters experienced in 1879. However, human emotions haven’t changed and that’s the heart of my story. As for traits, Sarah and I are both survivors. The trait that is most hers is that she acts before she thinks. I try to think before I act and sometimes I even succeed.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Sarah would be Rocky Road. It’s got hard nuts and soft marshallow. She’s a tough gal—had to be, it was the only way she could survive. But the hero sees a softness in her that others don’t see. Justin would be Napoleon. He doesn’t know what God expects of him just as Napoleon ice cream doesn’t know what flavor it’s meant to be.

4. Are there any themes in Wild West Christmas that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I hope that one of the themes that readers see is that it’s still possible today as it was more than a hundred years ago for goodness to triumph against all odds. An overt theme that developed during the writing of the book was that God always sends the right people in our lives when we most need them.

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

One of the things I feel is missing from many inspirational romances is sexual tension. I don’t want to read what happened beneath the covers or behind the bedroom door, but I do want to see and feel their growing attraction and love for each other. Sarah and Justin were alone together for most of the story. The hardest part was to show their growing desire for one another without crossing the line. Though he was a preacher, God made him all man and he was greatly tempted. My favorite part was writing Sarah’s dialogue. She kept waking me up at night to tell me her odd though humorous take on life and I’d have to jump out of bed to jot it down. I loved every moment I spent with her.

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

The 2nd book in my Rocky Creek series is A Suitor For Jenny. The book is scheduled for publication September 2010. A little preview:

When seeking a husband, it is best to go where the odds are in your favor. That would be Rainbow Creek, Texas, with the highest number of eligible bachelors per capita of any other town in the west due to the and fulfill the promise made to her dying father.

Soon after arriving, she posts a sign that reads:

Wanted: Husbands
Must be clean, well-mannered and generous
Interested parties are to meet at the hotel
10 a.m. to 4.p.m.
Must provide proof of financial security

Her plan hits a snag when the enthusiastic applicants, including the handsome marshal, RICK ARMSTRONG, fail to meet her stringent requirements. Rejecting her sisters' poor choices for mates and riding herd on her own growing feelings for the marshal, Jenny doggedly continues the search. But she is about to learn that a man's faith is more important than his bank account and choosing a husband is a job best left to the heart.

Thank you all!

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of A Lady Like Sarah.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.

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

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Blog Spotlight - Susan Page Davis and The Sheriff's Surrender

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

SUSAN PAGE DAVIS is a Maine native. She’s the author of two dozen published novels, mostly in the historical romance and romantic suspense genres. Her husband Jim is a retired news editor turned freelance editor. They have six children and six grandchildren. Visit Susan at her Web site: www.susanpagedavis.com.

THE SHERIFF'S SURRENDER
by Susan Page Davis
Published by Barbour Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Gert Dooley has kept house for her brother, a gunsmith, for eight years and seems content, but she wishes Ethan Chapman, the new sheriff of Fergus, Idaho, would notice her. Ethan tries to solve the murder of his predecessor, without much success. Women come to Gert wanting to learn to shoot in order to protect themselves, their property, and their families. When the Ladies’ Shooting Club springs up, the men of the town aren’t happy. They want their women back in their kitchens, where they belong—not out shooting up all their lead. But when the murderer strikes again, it’s the Ladies’ Shooting Club that steps forward to help keep the town safe. Will Ethan listen to the men and disband the club, or will he surrender his heart to a crack shot lady?

Readers, buy your copy of The Sheriff's Surrender today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

This story came about from a number of factors. I wanted to write about Idaho. My daughter lives there, and in visiting her I’ve learned some of its fascinating history. I wanted to write about a group of women supporting each other. Most of my past heroines have been loners—very independent. In this book, you’ll find several strong, independent women who find even greater strength in unity. And I wanted to write a lighthearted mystery. I hope you enjoy it!

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

I was going to say almost none, but that wouldn’t be strictly true. My husband used to be a gunsmith, so I have that in common with Gert—I live with a man who fixes guns for other people (or used to. Please don’t bring him any guns now—he no longer does that). I’ve lived in a small town and had to learn to cope with changes. I’ve also worked around horses a lot.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Rocky road. Does everyone say that? Gert has a lot of bumps to dodge in her road to maturity.

(insert from Tiff: Yes. I'm thinking I should remove Rocky Road as an option. *winks*)

4. Are there any themes in The Sheriff's Surrender that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The overriding themes are friendship, bearing each other’s burdens, and acceptance. The women of Fergus had to get past years of self-imposed isolation and reach out to each other.

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

My favorite parts were when Ethan tried to sort out his feelings for Gert. The most difficult was keeping the Penny Man’s identity hidden. I had to delete one scene where a couple of the women saw him because it wasn’t realistic that they would have the contact I described and not recognize him.

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

Book 2 in The Ladies’ Shooting Club series, The Gunsmith’s Gallantry, will come out in June. But before that, there’s another I’m quite excited about. In January, Mainely Mysteries will release. It’s a 3-in-1 anthology of cozy mysteries I wrote with my daughter Megan, set in Maine. The first two came out in 2008 as single titles, but the third one, Impostors at Blue Heron Lake, was never printed as a single title. Now it’s finally coming out as the finale of the Mainely Mysteries trilogy. These stories follow Emily Gray, a reporter who decides to leave her big-city job and return to Baxter, Maine, the tiny town where she grew up. She’s reunited with her childhood sweetheart, Nate Holman, who runs the marina on Blue Heron Lake. Together they stumble into solving mysteries, and they fall in love all over again.

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of The Sheriff's Surrender.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.

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

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Vote for Starfire - ACFW Book Club Selection!

Have you heard of the ACFW Book Club?

It's a great place to interact with authors and other readers of Christian fiction.

I'm here today with a personal favor to ask. My husband's debut novel has been nominated for the ACFW Book Club selection for March 2010 in the Science Fiction category. So many here have heard of his publishing journey and the exciting things happening with his publisher in the science fiction and fantasy realm. Having his book nominated is fantastic, but it would be even greater to see it receive top votes. I and he would be grateful if you would vote for Starfire.

http://tinyurl.com/stustar

If you're not yet a book club member, you can join for FREE!

Feel free to share this post with friends and family too. This is sort of a grass roots, massive effort, to spread the word and garner support for his book. The more votes, the better! Thank you SO much in advance.

Friday, December 11, 2009

Spotlight on Margaret Daley and Christmas Peril

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MARGARET DALEY is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Holt Medallion, Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines. She has sold sixty-six books to date.

Margaret is currently the Volunteer Officer for ACFW. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She served as vice-president for two years in WIN-ACFW and is still on its board as an advisor. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired last year, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community.

You can visit her web site at http://www.margaretdaley.com and read excerpts from her books and learn about the ones recently released and soon to be released.

CHRISTMAS PERIL
by Margaret Daley & Debby Giusti
Published by Love Inspired Suspense

ABOUT THE BOOK

Christmas Peril
December 2009 (anthology-2 in 1)

Christmas bells ring with danger in these suspenseful holiday stories

Merry Mayhem by Margaret Daley

When single mom Annie Coleman unexpectedly arrives in Christmas, Oklahoma, police chief Caleb Jackson suspects she's hiding secrets. He'll be watching her closely. And his protection is just what Annie and her daughter need, as danger has followed them to their new home.

Yule Die by Debby Giusti

It's hardly a happy holiday for medical researcher Callie Evans…until she discovers her ailing patient is her long-lost brother. And he's being watched by undercover police officer Joe Petrecelli. When the trio is abducted by a cadre of bad guys, Joe and Callie will have to fight to keep her brother—and themselves—alive.

Readers, buy your copy of Merry Mayhem today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

My editor wanted me to write a Love Inspired Suspense novella with a Christmas theme. I came up with the town of Christmas, OK as the location of the story during December. I figured with a town called that a Christmas theme would come naturally. It did.

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

There’s a little of me in a lot of my characters, but there is a lot that isn’t me. If I made everyone like me, all my characters would sound alike. Often my characters’ back story is very different from mine. And a character trait is molded from a person’s background. Who we are today is because of our past.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Annie would be plain vanilla. Up until she receives a call from her ex-boyfriend, her life was pretty dull, uneventful. Then everything changed with the call.

4. Are there any themes in Merry Mayhem that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Trust was a big theme in my story—trust in the Lord, trust in others, especially the heroine for the hero.

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

Weaving suspense, faith and a romance through a story that is only 30,000 words. That’s hard to do. My favorite part was coming up with Annie’s story. I love to plot and this was a challenge but fun.

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

Cowboy Protector is the third book in the Love Inspired Suspense continuity series in 2010 called Protecting the Witness. My book comes out in March.

Will she ever be safe? Two years ago, Hannah Williams left the Witness Protection program and she’s been running ever since. To stay ahead of the mob, she changes her name and location constantly. So when she takes a job caring for a Montana rancher’s sick daughter, she expects to leave soon. But little Misty Taylor tugs at Hannah’s heartstrings and so does her handsome father. Hannah knows Austin Taylor suspects she’s keeping secrets. But how can she tell him the truth without endangering the pair she’s come to love?

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Christmas Peril, the anthology with Margaret's novella in it.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.

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

Wednesday, December 09, 2009

CFBA Blog Tour - Robert Liparulo and Whirlwind

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Whirlwind
Thomas Nelson - December 29, 2009)
by Robert Liparulo


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ROBERT LIPARULO is a former journalist, with over a thousand articles and multiple writing awards to his name. His first novel, Comes a Horseman, released to critical acclaim. Each of his subsequent thrillers—Germ, Deadfall, and Deadlock—secured his place as one of today’s most popular and daring thriller writers.

He is known for investing deep research and chillingly accurate predictions of near-future scenarios into his stories. In fact, his thorough, journalistic approach to research has resulted in his becoming an expert on the various topics he explores in his fiction, and he has appeared on such media outlets as CNN and ABC Radio.

Liparulo’s visual style of writing has caught the eye of Hollywood producers. Currently, three of his novels for adults are in various stages of development for the big screen: the film rights to Comes A Horseman were purchased by the producer of Tom Clancy’s movies; and Liparulo is penning the screenplays for Germ and Deadfall for two top producers. He is also working with the director Andrew Davis (The Fugitive, Holes) on a political thriller. Novelist Michael Palmer calls Deadfall "a brilliantly crafted thriller." March 31st marked the publication of Deadfall’s follow-up, Deadlock, which novelist Gayle Lynds calls, "best of high-octane suspense."

Liparulo’s bestselling young adult series, Dreamhouse Kings, debuted last year with House of Dark Shadows and Watcher in the Woods. Book three, Gatekeepers, released in January, and number four, Timescape, in July. The series has garnered praise from readers, both young and old, as well as attracting famous fans who themselves know the genre inside and out. Of the series, Goosebumps creator R.L. Stine says, “I loved wandering around in these books. With a house of so many great, haunting stories, why would you ever want to go outside?”

With the next two Dreamhouse books “in the can,” he is currently working on his next thriller, which for the first time injects supernatural elements into his brand of gun-blazing storytelling. The story is so compelling, two Hollywood studios are already in talks to acquire it—despite its publication date being more than a year away. After that comes a trilogy of novels, based on his acclaimed short story, which appeared in James Patterson’s Thriller anthology. New York Times bestselling author Steve Berry calls Liparulo’s writing “Inventive, suspenseful, and highly entertaining...Robert Liparulo is a storyteller, pure and simple.” He lives with his family in Colorado.

Visit Robert Liparulo's Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/LiparuloFans

WHIRLWIND
by Robert Liparulo
Published by Thomas Nelson

ABOUT THE BOOK

Which door do you go through to save the world?

David, Xander, and Toria King never know where the mysterious portals in their house will take them: past, present, or future. They have battled gladiators and the German army, dodged soldiers on both sides of the Civil War, and jumped from the sinking Titanic. They've also seen the stark future that awaits if they can't do something to change it--a destroyed city filled with mutant creatures.

And they've still got to find a way to bring Mom back and keep Taksidian from getting them out of the house. The dangers are hitting them like a whirlwind . . . but the answers are becoming apparent as well.

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

Readers, buy your copy of Whirlwind today!

MY REVIEW

The Dreamhouse King series is a phenomenal series. If you haven't read any of them, you'll want to start with the first, House of Dark Shadows. Otherwise, you'll miss a lot of the character development and feel like you're walking into a movie that's nearly 3/4 of the way done.

I had the pleasure of recently meeting Robert at a book signing in Colorado Springs. You'd never guess from appearances that he can write the types of novels he does. :) An excellent example of not judging a book by its cover. The same goes for the books in this series. There is so much more to each book than meets the eye upon first reading.

You would think at first that it's impossible to maintain the forward momentum with each sequel, but Robert does this with an expertise that keeps readers begging for more. Good thing only a few months take place between each release. In Whirlwind, he takes the existing tension that's been building since book 1 and amps up the nail-biting suspense as he escorts the reader on yet another thrilling adventure. He also deals with an age-old question of finding God's purpose for your life--what you're designed to do--and deciding whether to take that path for not.

Now, only six more months until the conclusion is reached. And I have it on good authority that the themes from all the previous books along with God's providence in our lives and throughout time will culminate with the conclusion in Frenzy. Do you think you can wait?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The basic plot of a house haunted not by ghosts, but by time actually came to me as a dream when I was eleven years old. I was living in the Azores (a group of nine islands in the Atlantic), where my father was stationed in the Air Force. It’s a mystical, magical place (and I mean that in the Godly sense of the words): lush forests, misty grounds, cobblestone roads, beautiful lakes hidden in steep valleys, stone walls. One day, I found an old playground in a forest clearing that caused my imagination to soar. I started dreaming of this place. In each recurring dream, my mind added a new element: the ability to fly in this area only, shadowy figures watching me from the woods, and finally an old house.

Between the dreams and my continued fascination with this place, I started thinking of what I might find inside the house. Over time, I decided that it was a place that God had created with a very specific purpose, but to know that purpose, I’d have to experience a lot of adventures, I’d have to go through a fire, if you will. The progression of the Dreamhouse books is toward that purpose, through that fire.

Of course, when I finally sat down to write the story, I replaced what had always been me in my imagination with the King family. As far the dramatic details (such as Mom getting kidnapped), I think they come from my belief that our true characters come out in times of extreme stress, when we feel the heat of a life or death situation. I wanted the Kings to find out who they are inside: what do they really believe in, what things are they willing to fight for?

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

All of the characters I’ve written have possessed traits I have myself, to varying degrees. But the Dreamhouse Kings books have more of me than anything I’ve ever written. I found myself mining my own childhood for nuggets to give the King family. For example, fifteen-year-old Xander loves movies. He often relates the things that are happening around him to movies he’s seen, and he makes short films and puts them on You Tube. I was exactly like that at age thirteen. I even made a movie about the social impact of Jaws, which a few PBS stations aired.

I didn’t realize it until I finished House of Dark Shadows, but twelve-year-old David, also, is precisely who I was at that age: inquisitive and fairly adventurous; afraid of dangers, but willing to try new and wild things anyway. He knows himself and is comfortable in his own skin. At the same time, he’s caught between the innocence of his nine-year-old sister and the rebelliousness of his older brother, so he exhibits a bit of both. It was actually my mother who pointed out how similar David’s behavior is to the way mine was. She was surprised when I told her I hadn’t consciously written myself into the story in the character of David.

A lot of the emotions the Kings feel—familial love, fear of losing a loved one, trying to be brave in order to do the right thing—are ones I feel all the time. The story helps me explore these feelings. Dad’s love for his kids, his family, his willingness to do just about anything to protect them is me through and through. I don’t think I’m over-protective, but I pray a lot for their safety and have taught them how to protect themselves.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Well, I’d have to choose a main protagonist first, and while Dreamhouse is an ensemble piece (the King family), David is the real “star.” All but one of the books use his POV for most of the story. I’d say he’d have to be Rocky Road. He has it pretty tough throughout the series. He breaks his arm, gets cuts and scrapes all over, rides an emotional roller coaster. He’s also multi-dimensional: very smooth and easy-going, but can be tough when the situation calls for it. Plus, he’s a good guy at heart—and I like Rocky Road ice cream.

4. Are there any themes in Whirlwind that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

Several themes weave through the entire Dreamhouse series, each slowly developing as the story progresses toward the final chapter in the final book. Primarily, it’s that God has a purpose for each of us, and we have to choose whether to accept our calling or not. I try to show that there are huge repercussions for either doing or not doing what we were designed to do, in our lives and in the lives of many others whom we may never even meet. It’s like the quote from Gladiator: "What one man does in a lifetime will echo throughout eternity."

One theme that solidifies in Whirlwind is that we have to take a stand against evil. David slowly develops incredible bravery through the story. We learn early in the series that he has a big heart for people; he doesn’t like the suffering of other people. By Whirlwind, he learns to use courage to help others, to stand up against people who are hurting other, even when his own life is on the line.

I always knew where David was heading, what his arc would be. But how definitely he would embrace bravery and takes a stand surprised me. Without consciously realizing he’s doing it, he embraces the concept of bravery and fighting for others when they can't fight for themselves. He takes the lessons of the house to heart and it changes him.

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

I love the story and thoroughly enjoyed writing every aspect of it. History, the way the family learns to work together and love each other unabashedly, the action and adventure—I love it all. If I had to chose the most difficult parts, it would be when the characters get hurt, physically and emotionally. I wanted readers who would not normally enjoy fantasy or, in the case of the Dreamhouse Kings, time travel, to like this story. I wanted them to be surprised that they like something they normally don’t.

To accomplish this, I decided to make everything that wasn’t time-travel-related to be very real, almost gritty. I’ve had a lot of people say how real the story feels, despite the fantasy elements, so I think it worked. But in doing it, the family faces horrendous dangers—an antagonist who used to be an assassin and saves body parts of his victims, people dying around them, their own brushes with death, and a lot of injuries. It’s very hard to put these characters through that. I cringe when I write scenes like Xander getting hit in the back with a thrown rifle, or when Toria wakes up to find a big, strange man in her room, or when David breaks down and cries for his mother—more than cries; he wails out of anguish, grief, and despair. Each time, it feels like when my own daughter broke her arm and just cried and cried from the pain. Terrible.

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

The next release is Frenzy in April. It’s the final book in the Dreamhouse series. Right now, I’m writing the next adult thriller, called The 13th Tribe. It’s the first time I incorporate a supernatural element into a story. It’ll have the save level of action and adventure, of intrigue and gun-play as my other novels, but with a completely new twist. It’s a big story, both thematically and globally. I can’t say any more about it at this point, but I think it’s going to blow a lot of socks off.

Thank you for the interview. Great questions!

* * * * *

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win your choice of a FREE copy of either Whirlwind if you've read the other books or House of Dark Secrets if you haven't read any in the series. Let me know your preference when you comment.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.

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

Friday, December 04, 2009

Blog Tour & Review - Dan Walsh and The Unfinished Gift

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAN WALSH is the senior pastor of Sovereign Grace Church in Daytona Beach, Florida, a church he helped found 23 years ago. He is the author of The Unfinished Gift and lives with his family in the Daytona Beach area.

THE UNFINISHED GIFT
by Dan Walsh
Published by Baker/Revell

ABOUT THE BOOK

Can a gift from the past mend a broken heart?

Ian Collins is an old man without his son. Patrick Collins is a young boy without his father. On his Christmas list are only three items. He wants the army to find his father. He wants to leave his grandfather’s house. And he wants the dusty wooden soldier in Grandfather’s attic–the one he is forbidden to touch.

Set at Christmastime in 1943, The Unfinished Gift is the engaging story of a family in need of forgiveness. With simple grace, it reminds us of the small things that affect powerful change in our hearts–a young boy’s prayers, a shoe box of love letters, and even a half-carved soldier, long forgotten. This nostalgic story of reconciliation will touch your heart.

Click here to read an excerpt.

Readers, buy your copy of The Unfinished Gift today!

MY REVIEW

This book is a keeper to be read again and again. It should be right at the top of favorite Christmas reads. If you love nostalgic stories, heartwarming family interactions, memorable characters and a message that rings true, straight to the heart, you won't want to miss this book. But make sure you have your tissues handy. The emotions in this book will resonate with even the toughest of readers.

You experience a rollercoaster of emotions and are taken on a ride through a time in our country when war was tearing the USA and many other nations apart. From Patrick to Mrs. Fortini, from Ian to the crochety old Grandpa and the entire ensemble of characters in between...everyone in this story leaves a mark on you as you read, and you pull for each and every one of them in turn. You won't want to put this book down!

Thanks so much to Donna Hausler at Revell for my copy...which I'm giving away in a drawing to those who leave a comment on this post.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. You've penned an amazing story of redemption, forgiveness, and healing within a single family. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Every Christmas my wife and I love watching those classic stories on TV, the ones that really grab your heart (like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "A Christmas Carol"). For several years after watching them, I'd have this strong desire to write a story like that, one that at least had the potential to affect others the way these stories affect me.The Unfinished Gift actually came to me just after Christmas in 1998 over two or three days. I saw the ending of the book first, like a scene from a movie playing in my thoughts. Over the next two days, different parts of the story kept dropping into my head. I kept stopping and writing them down. In a few days, the whole story was there, from beginning to end, like a detailed synopsis. From there I sat down and started writing the book. Though many more details emerged as I wrote the book, as far as the story itself, what you see in the book is exactly what came during that burst of inspiration back in '98.

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

I'm sure at some level, I'm drawing from life experiences when I write, but as best as I can tell (and my wife of 33 years agrees), all the characters in The Unfinished Gift are who they are without any help from me. Ian Collins looks like my grandfather, but my grandfather was a wonderful man, and I adored him. Both my Mom and grandmother had the strong affectionate traits of Mrs. Fortini, but they were both shy, timid types. One parallel that might be in play is the idea of family members becoming so offended with each other that they shun each other for years (like Ian did with his son). My mother told me of feuds like this that existed in her family (back in the 40's and 50's), where some became bitter and didn't speak again for the rest of their lives, wouldn't even attend the funeral.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Fair to say, I've never thought of people as ice cream flavors. Let's see, Ian as ice cream. Do they make a black licorice flavor? The thought of that is revolting, so that might be a good pick. For little Patrick, perhaps mint chocolate chip (without the green food coloring). One of my favorite flavors. Got an Irish feel to it, light, bright and refreshing.

4. Are there any themes in The Unfinished Gift that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

I can think of one...I wanted to indirectly encourage Moms, who often work so tirelessly and sacrificially, serving in obscurity, pouring their lives and hearts into their kids, wondering if it's enough, wondering how they'll do when these young ones are thrust out into the harsh world beyond their reach. Patrick demonstrates that God sees it all and is able to make it enough. Elizabeth's influence lives on in Patrick's heart and God's sovereign, providential care insures that all these significant obstacles will work together for good.

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

I cried numerous times while writing the book. Sometimes I'd see the scene as if I were right there in the room watching events unfold, and I'd have to stop, regain my composure and keep writing. It only got worse as the story unfolded. But I knew where it was all going, and I cried all the more when we got there. Then I cried almost as much during the many rewrites and then again when I read the book, as a book, when the publisher sent it to me back in August. I don't deliberately set out to write tear-jerkers, but I've decided it's okay to cry at the right times, about the right things. I want to feel whatever you're supposed to feel whenever the love of God breaks through, whenever I see or read things that affect my heart in a good way.

As far as favorite scenes? There's this one scene early on in the book when little Patrick is crouching in this cold, dark bedroom of his grandfather's house, terrified of the dark, of being alone, of all the uncertainty before him. He sees moonlight slipping through the blinds and turns to God in this wonderful childlike way. The way he talks to God and the things he says...no matter how many times I've read that scene, it still gets me.

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

My next book is called The Homecoming, the sequel to The Unfinished Gift. It will be released on June 1st. If I say too much about it now, I'll give away the ending of the first book. After the holiday season is over, I can probably speak more freely about it. I can say this, when I completed The Unfinished Gift, I hadn't planned on a sequel. But virtually everyone who read it--my wife, my test readers, my agent and my editor--all said something like this at the end: "Now in the future, this is going to happen, right?" They all suggested the same thing, something I had already begun thinking about. I can give you this clue, the sequel includes a powerful love story (one I believe Jane Austen fans will appreciate, even though it's written in the 1940's).

You can see the cover for The Homecoming on my blog (http://danwalshbooks.blogspot.com). It's even available for pre-order on Amazon. But be aware of a spoiler alert, if you go on Amazon. The intro blurb for the 2nd book gives away the ending of the 1st book.

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of The Unfinished Gift.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.

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

Wednesday, December 02, 2009

Spotlight on Ramona Richards and Field of Danger

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RAMONA RICHARDS, an award-winning editor, speaker, and author, started writing as a child and sold her first story in her 20s. After 25 years as an editor, she returned to writing fiction, and her first three Steeple Hill novels, including The Taking of Carly Bradford, received 4 ½ stars from Romantic Times magazine. Ramona is a member of the Romance Writers of America and The American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her daughter Rachel near Nashville, and she occasionally escapes by scuba diving, hiking, dancing, and going to movies and bookstores.

She can also be found online here:
http://www.facebook.com/ramona.richards
http://www.twitter.com/RamonaRichards

FIELD OF DANGER
by Ramona Richards
Published by Steeple Hill / Love Inspired Suspense

ABOUT THE BOOK

“Who killed my father?”

Eyewitness to a murder, April Presley wants to answer the deputy sheriff’s harrowing question. But she can’t. She barely caught a glimpse of the crime through the deep Tennessee cornfield, and cannot recall anything to help the investigation. Or can she? Daniel Rivers is certain that April remembers more of his father’s death than she realizes. And the killer agrees.

In the race to uncover April’s missing memory before the killer finds her, Daniel is the only one she can trust to keep her safe. Yet will he stay by her side when the shocking truth is unveiled?

Readers, buy your copy of Field of Danger today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I can’t talk too much about the inspiration or I’ll give away the ending! Let’s say that it’s inspired by a few stories that come out of the farm country of a real small town in Tennessee. The cottage my heroine calls home is based on the homeplace of my real-life friend (and my daughter’s nurse) Phyllis. The book is also dedicated to her.

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

In this case, my hero and heroine, Daniel and April, have more in common with people I know than anything I’ve experienced personally. Daniel was influenced by a number of men I admire, whereas the inspiration for April came from several women I know who have survived some pretty rough times and not only thrived but soared in the love and success that came from their struggles. They are truly examples of how God can turn almost anything to good.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

April – definitely strawberry. April is a “garden girl.” She’s turned the yard of her cottage into a glorious array of blooms and colorful plants. She has that down-home sweetness, and her home-based business (organic jams and preserves) would add to that. I could even see her letting wild strawberries replace grass in her yard.

Daniel – probably mint chocolate chip. He’s sweet, but has a quiet, steady strength and an exotic bit of sharpness to him.

4. Are there any themes in Field of Danger that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

That perseverance is the key to surviving the hard times. April and Daniel really don’t know who to trust and whether she’ll ever remember enough details of the crime she witnessed to help solve it, but they simply never stop trying. The theme that surprised me concerned family legacies – what qualities in ourselves do we pass down to our children and those around us. What do they see in us that we’ll remember forever.

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

My favorite part is an exchange April and Daniel have when they are looking at his father’s photo albums. It’s one of the few quiet moments in the book, when they have a real chance to share with each other. They are both still grieving, and they begin to turn toward each other for the first time.

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

House of Secrets comes out next summer. It’s set in the same county as Field of Danger, but is centered on the sheriff from Field of Danger (Ray Taylor) and April’s sister, June. Ray discovers June standing over the body of their pastor, and at first thinks she may be guilty of murder. Innocent or guilty, June quickly realizes that the secret to the murder is hidden somewhere inside her former home – a secret the killer will do anything to keep concealed.

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Field of Danger.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when the winners are announced each time.

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