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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Blog Spotlight Winners -- December and January

First, let me offer my sincere apologies for allowing so many weeks to pass without choosing winners from my spotlights. I book so far in advance and schedule so many weeks ahead for the spotlights to automatically post, when life gets hectic, I sometimes forget to come back here to select winners.

Of course, this time, the reason has been a sick daughter who hasn't been sleeping well, which means Mama hasn't been sleeping well either. There have also been increased demands from work that have all but zapped my free time.

But I'm SO embarrassed that 8 weeks of spotlights have gone without winners. Thank you for continuing to leave comments though, and a special thanks to those who have emailed me asking if I was all right, as well as offering to pray. I truly appreciate your support. So much more than words can say.

And now, I'm making up for my lapse by listing all the winners here:

Dan Walsh's THE UNFINISHED GIFT
SuperMOM - ladyverlina

Robert Liparulo's WHIRLWIND
Warren - wjuhnke

Margaret Daley's MERRY MAYHEM
Mark - marcus802001

Susan Page Davis' THE SHERIFF'S SURRENDER
Carolynn - carolynnwald

Margaret Brownley's A LADY LIKE SARAH
JoAnn - joann4us

Julie Klassen's THE SILENT GOVERNESS
Sylvia - Samitude

Kim Sawyer's KATY'S NEW WORLD
Suz - suzbeav

C.J. Darlington's THICKER THAN BLOOD
Anne - annepatrick07

And that's all folks...for now. Another winner next week. I believe I contacted all of you, but if you see your name here and did NOT receive an email from me, let me know.

Congratulations to all the winners. Would that we could have more than 1 winner for each spotlight. But keep coming back and leaving comments. You just never know when the next win will be you!

Thanks so much for your continued support.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Spotlight on Martha Rogers and Becoming Lucy

One day late, but the author had computer problems. :)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MARTHA ROGERS is a Christian freelance author of both fiction and non-fiction and speaker. Her stories and articles have appeared in a number of compilations and magazines. Her first fiction will be released in 2007. Her experiences as a public school teacher, Sunday school teacher, youth leader, First Place leader, Mom and Grandmother give Martha a unique field of ministry.

BECOMING LUCY
by Martha Rogers
Published by Strang

ABOUT THE BOOK

After her parents' deaths, 17-year-old heiress Lucy Bishop takes refuge on her aunt and uncle's ranch in Barton Creek, Oklahoma. If it weren't for ranch hand Jake Starnes, the genteel young woman wouldn't survive the backbreaking work. But a dark secret torments him. Can Jake face his past before somebody claims Lucy's hand---or her life? 304 pages, softcover from Realms.

Readers, buy your copy of Becoming Lucy today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Driving back and forth to Tulsa to visit our son and his family, we always stopped at the Oklahoma Tourist Info Center for a break. I picked up a book about Oklahoma and liked the history. I decided I had to write a story about those years before statehood.

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

Lucy is like me in some ways, but she is her own person. I am adaptable and have a giving spirit and determination to make things work like Lucinda had when she first came to Barton Creek. Jake is not like anyone I know. He had great faith to go back and face the consequences of his actions when he had just found the girl he could love the rest of his life.

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

Lucy would be strawberries and cream because it's just the right blend of tart and sweet at the same time.

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

The main one is that God's great love forgives us and reconciles us to Him no matter what we've done. The other more subtle one is that of God's protection for His children. All my books carry a theme of reconciliation and reunion.

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

The most difficult part is keeping up with conflict because I dislike confrontation and don't like to write conflict. I love to write about love and how a couple grows and discovers truths about each other as they fall in love.

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

Book 2, Morning for Dove will be out May 1st.

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Becoming Lucy.

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, January 20, 2010

Title Trakk Blog Tour - C.J. Darlington and Thicker Than Blood

TitleTrakk.com Blog Tours Presents:

Thicker than Blood
by C.J. Darlington
Published by Tyndale House


Winner of the
2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel Contest!


Christy Williams finally has her life on track. She’s putting her past behind her and working hard to build a career as an antiquarian book buyer. But things begin to unravel when a stolen Hemingway first edition is found in her possession, framing her for a crime she didn’t commit. With no one to turn to, she yearns for her estranged younger sister, May, whom she abandoned after their parents’ untimely deaths. Soon, Christy’s fleeing from her shattered dreams, her ex-boyfriend, and God. Could May’s Triple Cross Ranch be the safe haven she’s searching for? Will the sisters realize that each possesses what the other desperately needs before it’s too late?

MY REVIEW

From the back cover copy, this book had me hooked. As an author, who could resist a premise dealing in classic and antique books, especially first edition collectibles? Throw in the transition to the cattle ranch, and I couldn't stay away. :) I was impressed with the characterization, depth and emotion in C.J.'s first novel. It read more like a seasoned author in both flow and pacing. She tackled the difficult issues of alcoholism, domestic violence and shame with skill and extreme care, her attention to detail amazing. I felt like I was right there in the book shop, smelling the pages of the old volumes, or right there on the ranch smelling the musty hay, and deeply involved in the sisters' lives. The suspense only heightened the enjoyment. But most of all, I appreciated the fact that Christy's path toward healing didn't become predictable or superficial. Super kudos to C.J. on her debut novel! This is one author you should put on your watch list!

ENDORSEMENTS

With careful attention to detail, emotion, and scene-setting, C.J. Darlington scores with her debut effort. Here is a special writer you won’t want to miss.
--Jerry B. Jenkins, New York Times best selling author

If you love a good read filled with adventure and ultimately redemption, I encourage you to brew the tea, settle into your favorite chair and pick up the page turner that is C.J. Darlington’s imaginative new novel of a modern day sisterhood that triumphs over separation and the raw challenges of life to find the real endurance of both family ties and God’s amazing grace.
--Rebecca St. James, Grammy award winning Christian singer and bestselling author

With Thicker than Blood, C.J. Darlington proves she's a novelist for the long-haul, a strong new voice in Christian fiction. This book speaks to the heart, from the heart, about the heart. Readers will not soon forget it.
--Sibella Giorello, Christy award-winning author of The Rivers Run Dry & The Clouds Roll Away

Watch the book trailer:



About the Author:
C. J. began writing the story that would become Thicker than Blood (her first novel) when she was a fifteen-year-old homeschool student. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over a decade, scouting for stores similar to the one described in the novel before cofounding her own online bookstore. Thicker than Blood was the winner of the 2008 Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel.

C. J. co-founded the Christian entertainment Web site TitleTrakk.com with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. She makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website www.cjdarlington.com for more info.

QUICK LINKS:


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Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Thicker Than Blood.

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, January 13, 2010

Spotlight on Kim Vogel Sawyer and Katy's New World

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

KIM SAWYER is a bestselling, award-winning author who wears many hats besides “writer.” As a wife, mother, grandmother, and active participant in her church, her life is happily full. But Kim’s passion lies in writing stories of hope that encourage her readers to place their lives in God’s capable hands. An active speaking ministry assists her with her desire. Kim and her husband make their home on the beautiful plains of Kansas, the setting for many of Kim’s novels.

KATY'S NEW WORLD
by Kim Vogel Sawyer
Published by Zondervan

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Katy Lambright is given the opportunity to attend a secular high school outside her Mennonite community, she is ecstatic. But as Katy begins to adjust to life outside her community and begins to make decisions for herself, her relationships with her family and lifelong friends become strained. Can Katy balance her new world with the Old Order?

Readers, buy your copy of Katy's New World today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

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

In my "former life," I was a teacher. I'm also a mom of three daughters. So I have a desire to be an encouragement to young people. There's an incredible pull for teens to be accepted by their peers, yet acceptance sometimes involves compromising principles. I truly hope these stories will give young readers the courage to hold tight to their convictions regardless of what the "crowd" tells them to do.

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

Like Katy, I grew up Mennonite. I had a fascination with words and writing--had to write out my thoughts or I feared I'd explode. Unlike Katy, I have never lived on a farm, and I had the privilege of two parents. I was painfully shy as a kid--Katy has a lot more spunk than I possessed at that age.

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

I think Katy would be something unique, like Creme Broulee. She stands out in her Mennonite community because of her desire to continue her education; she stands out in the secular high school because of her Mennonite dress. So she'd have to be something outside of the norm, flavor-wise.

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

Obviously, I hope readers recognize the importance of holding tight to Christian convictions. Some things that emerged effortlessly was the importance of family relationships as well as reaching others with the gospel. I can't say any more than that without giving things away. :)

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

Well, it has been a while since I was a 16-year-old girl! (lol) Sliding into the teenage mindset proved more challenging than I had anticipated. I loved the scenes between Katy and her father, as well as the scene with Katy and her grandmother. I enjoyed replaying some tender moments with my own dad and step-grandma as I wrote the story.

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

I'll have two releases in June--the second book in the Katy Lambright series, titled Katy's Debate, and an historical, A Hopeful Heart, which features women from the east attending a herdsman school in Kansas to learn the skills needed to survive as western ranchers' wives. I hope readers will look for both stories.

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Katy's New World.

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, January 06, 2010

CFBA Blog Tour - Julie Klassen and The Silent Governess

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Silent Governess
Bethany House; original edition - (January 1, 2010)
by Julie Klassen


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

JULIE KLASSEN says: My background is in advertising and marketing, but I am blessed with a dream job—working as an editor of Christian fiction. I have been writing since childhood, but Lady of Milkweed Manor was my first novel. It was a finalist for a Christy Award and won second place in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards. My second novel, The Apothecary's Daughter, was a finalist in the ACFW Book of the Year awards. I am currently writing one novel a year.

I graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoy travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends.

My husband and I have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.

THE SILENT GOVERNESS
by Julie Klassen
Published by Bethany House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Olivia Keene is fleeing her own secret. She never intended to overhear his.

But now that she has, what is Lord Bradley to do with her? He cannot let her go, for were the truth to get out, he would lose everything--his reputation, his inheritance, his very home.

He gives Miss Keene little choice but to accept a post at Brightwell Court, where he can make certain she does not spread what she heard. Keeping an eye on the young woman as she cares for the children, he finds himself drawn to her, even as he struggles against the growing attraction. The clever Miss Keene is definitely hiding something.

Moving, mysterious, and romantic, The Silent Governess takes readers inside the intriguing life of a nineteenth-century governess in an English manor house where all is not as it appears.

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of The Silent Governess, go HERE. You can also sign up as a Follower when you get to that page, and get announcements of the first chapters for all the great books we tour!

Readers, buy your copy of The Silent Governess today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The original idea for this novel was inspired by Mahler’s Third Symphony, which I heard on a long, solo car trip. Even though I rarely listen to classical music, that day as I did, whole scenes spun forth like a movie in my mind. Also, I have been intrigued by English governesses ever since my 6th grade teacher read Jane Eyre aloud to the class (with real emotion and even mascara-tears). My research into real-life governesses also inspired and shaped The Silent Governess.

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

I intentionally try not to write about myself. I don't want all my characters to sound and think like me. However, an occasional anecdote from my childhood might sneak in from time to time. Also, I seem to like to give my heroines traits I wish I had. Lilly Haswell (The Apothecary’s Daughter) has a nearly flawless memory (I don't), and Olivia Keene (The Silent Governess) is a genius with numbers. Given complex arithmetic problems, Olivia instantly "sees" the numbers and solution in her mind. Wouldn't that have been nice back in school!

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

Olivia Keene would be something British (English Toffee? Currant & English Walnut?) with many hidden ingredients, because there is more to her (more depth, more secrets, more capabilities) than initially meets the eye.

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

One theme relates to identity--that we would all do well to ground our identity in our relationship with God, and not on someone or something else (family, profession, status, church). I also hope that readers who grew up with less-than-ideal dads will realize anew that, unlike imperfect earthly fathers, our Heavenly Father is just, yet merciful and endlessly loving.

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

I struggled with several scenes that involve inheritance laws of the day, since I had to search out antiquated laws, navigate parliamentary procedures, and try to decipher unfamiliar legal language. "Legalese" is not a modern invention! But with help from some learned writer-friends, I hopefully managed to get the facts straight.

I really enjoyed writing the romantic scenes, of course, and scenes with the children (especially the boy, who was inspired by two rambunctious boys of my own). But, unexpectedly, my favorite scenes feature the book’s most curmudgeonly character. I hope readers will enjoy them as well.

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

My next book is contracted and scheduled to come out in December 2010 (Lord willing). I have begun working on it, and can tell you that it is set in early 19th-century England as my other novels have been. I haven’t settled on a title yet, but will post more information on my web site (www.julieklassen.com) when I can.

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Thank you, Julie, for being in the spotlight.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win your choice of a FREE autographed copy of The Silent Governess.

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.