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Wednesday, August 25, 2010

CFBA Blog Tour - Tracie Peterson and Twilight's Serenade

I'm thrilled beyond words to be able to feature today's author and the 3rd book in her latest Alaska series. Tracie has been instrumental in my own publishing career, with her husband having been the acquisitions editor to acquire my first novel. From our email exchanges in the late 1990's, she fast became a woman I admire, and to this day, she remains a good friend and mentor.

Happy reading!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TRACIE PETERSON is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels.

She received her first book contract in November 1992, and saw A Place To Belong published in February 1993 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row.

In December 1995, she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers.

She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research.

Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests.

Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max. She's active in her church as the Director of Women's Ministries, coordinates a yearly writer's retreat for published authors, and travels, as time permits, to research her books.

TWILIGHT'S SERENADE
by Tracie Peterson
Published by Bethany House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Britta Lindquist left Sitka six years ago in an attempt to distance herself from the love of her life, Yuri Belikov. Upon her return, she finds Yuri absent and his wife about to deliver a child. When tragic circumstances ensue, Britta suddenly finds herself caring for Yuri's children--and her life intertwining with the man she's tried so hard to forget.

But Britta's other great love is for the violin, and her talent is recognized by Brenton Maltese, a conductor from England. He proposes she accept the coveted first chair position in his orchestra...and also his hand in marriage. At a crossroads, Britta must determine what her heart truly longs for--and if she's willing to fight for it.

At a Crossroads, Britta must determine what her heart truly longs for─and if she's willing to fight for it.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Twilight's Serenade, go HERE.

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MY REVIEW

This is the third book in this Song of Alaska series. While I can't say this is among my favorites of Tracie's books, I can say Tracie does a terrific job getting first time readers up to speed on the history. Yuri's change of heart seemed rather quick, since it happened near the beginning of the book, and the inclusion of Marston was excellent. Britta is a fantastic heroine, fierce in her love, devoted to her family, and with an enormous amount of heart. One warning, there IS a devastating twist thrown in that will likely break your heart. Still, it's a satisfying conclusion to a epic story about the Lindquist family that ends with everyone happily ever after.

Looking forward to your new series on the Texas family, Tracie. Thanks for the years of reading pleasure.

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AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

1. This is the final book in your latest Alaska series. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Inspiration to write this book came from the characters in the story. I felt that Britta's unrequited love story had to be told, and I wanted to bring back troublesome characters from the past to show that some people never change. All sorts of things were changing in the location of Sitka during 1906 time period and those issues and concerns lent themselves nicely to the story as well.

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

One of the issues in this story series was about letting go of the past and forgiving. There were things that were purposefully done to Lydia for instance and she had to learn to let go of her fears and anger over those things in order to have the future God wanted for her. That's a lesson I've had to learn myself. However, there was also the issue of Britta's love for Yuri. A love that had driven her and molded her since she was a small girl. That's not been something that I've experienced, but I've seen it happen in the lives of others and found it amazingly powerful.

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

Britta would be Caramel, Fudge Ripple. She appears calmly vanilla - sweet and simple, but underlying that facade are rivers of caramel and fudge that liven up the pretense of simplistic calm.

4. What themes exist in Twilight's Serenade that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as your story unfolded?

Throughout the book, Britta's character deals with one seemingly impossible situation after another. Not the least of which is her love for a man who first of all is headed on a self-destruct path, and second - is married. Britta is an honorable young woman and she tries her best to let go of this deep love and focus on what God has for her. But it always seems to come full circle that the delight of her heart - her passion and longing - are the very things God has put there for her.

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

Probably the most difficult was daling realistically with Lydia and Marston and the issues of forgiving the past. I didn't want it to seem trite or easy, because we all know that forgiveness is sometimes very hard. I wanted to show that this was a situation of growth for Lydia's character, while Marston was the same old ugly, heartless man he'd always been. My favorite - putting Yuri and Britta together.

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

My new series STRIKING A MATCH comes out in late September 2010. Book one is titled EMBERS OF LOVE and starts readers on a massive saga dealing with the Vandermark family. Set in East Texas in the 1880's, this series will focus on the logging industry of the area. I chose it because one doesn't usually think "logging" when they think Texas, but yellow pine was and continues to be a strong industry for Texas. The focal character for this series is Deborah Vandermark - a remarkable young woman who is educated in a time when female education is frowned upon. She has a passion and love of life and her family, God and Texas - but despite this she finds herself longing for more. I hope everyone gets a chance to join us on the adventure.

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Thanks so much, Tracie, for being in the spotlight.

Readers, answer the bonus question related to the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Twilight's Serenade. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: Have you read any other book by Tracie (she's written over 80 novels!) ? If so, what is your favorite? Why?

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.

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

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Spotlight on Laurie Alice Eakes and When the Snow Flies

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Answer the random question associated with this spotlight in the comments in order to be entered in the drawing.

I'm thrilled to have Laurie Alice as a guest today. She is both a friend and a web client, and we're about to unveil a brand new web site design that I'm sure you're going to love. Her life is a true inspiration to so many. Enjoy learning more about her and her latest book.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author, LAURIE ALICE EAKES, does not remember a time when books did not play a part in her life; thus, no one was surprised when she decided to be a writer. Her first hardcover was an October 2006 Regency historical from Avalon Books and won the National Readers Choice Award for Best Regency, as well as being a finalist for Best First Book. She is also a finalist for the ACFW Carol award in the short historical category (winners to be announced in September). After selling her first book in the inspirational market, she also wrote articles and essays for Christian publications. A brief hiatus in publishing climaxed with her selling thirteen books in thirteen months, to publishers such as Barbour, Avalon, and Baker/Revell.

She is an active member of RWA and ACFW, and started the Avalon Authors group blog. A graduate of the Seton Hill University Master of Arts Degree in Writing Popular Fiction, And a Bachelor of Arts graduate in English and French from Asbury College, she is an experienced speaker, and has made presentations at local and national RWA conferences, as well as local universities and libraries.

Until recently, she lived in Northern Virginia, then her husband’s law career took them and their dogs and cats, to southern Texas, where she writes full-time and enjoys the beach whenever possible.

You can find her web site at:
http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com

When the Snow Flies
by Laurie Alice Eakes
Published by

ABOUT THE BOOK

Audrey Sinclair Vanderleyden sets her heart on fulfilling a promise to her deceased husband to continue practicing medicine, despite oppositions from their families. But the old physician from whom they bought a practice stands in her way and refuses to honor the contract. Audrey must give up medicine and return to her family, or marry a near stranger.

A gunshot wound robs Nathan Maxwell of the ability to continue practicing medicine. He must find another purpose to his life. Marriage isn’t an option. Only a desperate woman would want a blind man for a husband.

Audrey is desperate, but marriage to Nathan isn’t the salvation of her medical career she thought it would be. For Nathan, the union challenges loyalties and exposes what he’s lost.

Readers, buy your copy of When the Snow Flies today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

One day, I was playing the childhood game of predicting what sort of man one marries by counting buttons on one’s clothes and reciting: “Doctor, lawyer, merchant, chief…” And thought that would be a fun concept for a series—having characters who were a doctor, a lawyer, a merchant and a chef. Then I decided to make them females. Since I write historicals, I picked a time period in which a female could be one of those professions.

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

One of the characters in When the Snow Flies, the first book in the series, is blind from a gunshot wound. Although I have no experience with gunshot wounds, I do have a great deal of experience with blind people and know their capabilities, much more than the average person thinks possible. I also know the frustrations of limitations, so worked to convey this through the character without making him a victim or whiny.

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

My heroine, Audrey, is probably lemon sherbet, sweet, but a little tart-tongued, too. She’s bold. You won’t mistake her for anything other than what she is. At the same time, she’s refreshing in her determination for herself, yet compassion for others.

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

Hope and determination are the strongest theme in the story. Loyalty developed along with hope as the story unfolded.

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

This sounds kind of arrogant, and this book was not difficult to write. It flowed out of me as though I were dictating from my subconscious. From requested full manuscript, to sending it to my agent was six weeks. I had the first three chapters written at that point, so wrote the next 13 in those six weeks. I found some of the scenes emotionally draining.

As for most fun, the scenes between hero and heroine, especially later in the story when they are starting to realize they love one another.

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

Other than with the Heartsong book club, which is just now sending out the third New jersey historical, The Newcomer, I have my first mainstream book coming out in February. Lady in the Mist is the first in the Midwives series from Baker/Revell. Set in Virginia in 1809, it’s a romantic suspense story, where the midwife heroine finds herself involved with an English indentured servant to discover who is abducting young men from the coast and forcing them into the British navy.

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Wow! That story sounds fascinating! Definitely not one I've seen in other stories or plots. Looking forward to reading it. Thank you, Laurie Alice, for being in the spotlight with us.

ENTRY RULES Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of When the Snow Flies. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: Thank you for reading this interview. Now, for a few moments, I want to interview you. Will you please share a story of hope and determination or loyalty either you have experienced or witnessed happening to others?

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.

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

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Spotlight on Liz Johnson and Vanishing Act

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Answer the random question associated with this spotlight in the comments in order to be entered in the drawing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR


LIZ JOHNSON grew up reading Christian fiction, and always dreamed of being part of the publishing industry. After graduating from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a degree in public relations, she set out to fulfill her dream. In 2006 she got her wish when she accepted a publicity position at a major trade book publisher. While working as a publicist in the industry, she decided to pursue her other dream-becoming an author. Along the way to having her novel published, she completed the Christian Writers Guild apprentice course and wrote articles for several magazines.

Liz makes her home in Nashville, TN, where she enjoys theater, exploring the local music scene, and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her two nephews and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Keep up with Liz's adventures in writing at www.lizjohnsonbooks.com.

VANISHING ACT
by Liz Johnson
Published by Steeple Hill/Love Inspired Suspense

ABOUT THE BOOK

Eighteen months ago, Nora James watched as her father was shot in an alley-and then she fled. She changed her name, her appearance and her job, hoping to keep her father's shooter at bay. For months, it worked…but now her luck has run out. A ruthless assassin is on her trail, and soon Nora, now known as Danielle, will be found. But this time, she has FBI agent Nate Andersen by her side-right? The handsome agent would give his life to protect Danielle, but he’s wary of giving his heart…until a deadly confrontation leaves him with both on the line.

Readers, buy your copy of Vanishing Act today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I was really excited to write this story as it features one of the minor characters from my first novel, The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn. I was so excited to tell Nate's story.

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

As I wrote the book, I realized I was dealing with a lot of fear in my own life, and that wound up as one of the strongest themes in the book--giving fear over to God and trusting that he's in control. But there's certainly a lot of original traits that belong only my characters. For example, Nate loves his coffee, and I'm not a coffee drinker at all. And Nora/Danielle has technical skills that I can only dream of.

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

If Nate were an ice cream, he'd be a Starbucks coffee flavor.

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

As I mentioned, dealing with and facing fear is certainly a big theme throughout the book. I was surprised to see how much Nora's love for her friends was a big part of overcoming her fears at the beginning of the book. Nate's big fear in the book deals with the sins of his father and grandfather, and Nora's fear also comes from what happened when she left her father bleeding in an alley. Those family ties and the sins of fathers came out of the characters and really weren't planned.

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

By far the hardest part for me to write was a fight between Nora/Danielle and Nate. I hated having to write her heartbreak and that he was the one breaking her heart. Fights are the worst for me! My favorite part to write is always the ending. I love a happy ending.

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

The next book is tentatively titled Code of Justice, and is due out in March 2011. Another familiar character, FBI Special Agent Heather Sloan, tracks down the people behind a drug ring that brought down a helicopter--one her Heather and her sister were both riding in. Heather's sister Kit was killed in the crash, so Heather teams up with a local Sheriff's Deputy to solve the crime and begin to heal Heather's heart.

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

ENTRY RULES Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Vanishing Act. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: Which of the themes in Vanishing Act (fear or sins of the family) do you most relate to and why?

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.

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

Friday, August 06, 2010

Spotlight on Lisa Wingate and Beyond Summer

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Answer the random question associated with this spotlight in the comments in order to be entered in the drawing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LISA WINGATE is the national bestselling author of novels published by Penguin Putnam and Bethany House Publishers. Beyond Summer is her fourteenth novel. She began writing before starting school, drawn to the career by a blue ribbon her older brother won in a poetry contest. A special first grade teacher convinced her that writing actually was something you could do for a living, and she has been writing ever since.

BEYOND SUMMER
by Lisa Wingate
Published by NAL Penguin Putnam

ABOUT THE BOOK

When a financial turnabout causes three women from very different worlds to land in the same Dallas neighborhood, life-altering friendships flourish and unexpected lessons are learned…



When Tam Lambert learns that her family's upscale home is in foreclosure, the life she's known is forever changed. Her father, facing prosecution for financial schemes has fled to Mexico. Tam, her high-maintenance stepmother and four pre-school-age siblings must move to a tiny house owned by her father’s company, Householders, in a changing Dallas neighborhood called Blue Sky Hill... 



New resident Shasta Williams knows nothing of real estate schemes when she and her husband purchase a home in Blue Sky Hill. To her it's the perfect place to raise her children. Better yet is getting to know Tam, who lives across the street. But even as Tam and Shasta form a bond, something about Tam’s family doesn’t add up. When news of Householder’s corrupt mortgage scheme breaks, and neighbors realize that, barring a miracle, they’ll soon be forced from their homes, friendships and loyalties are tested.

Over the span of one summer, two young women discover the strength and maturity to do the impossible. They find that even in Blue Sky Hill, life-altering relationships and amazing possibilities can begin to blossom...

Readers, buy your copy of Beyond Summer (Blue Sky Hill Series) today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Beyond Summer is really a story pulled from today’s economic headlines. In a time when reversals of fortune have become common due to mortgage problems and over-extended family budgets, many people are finding themselves in circumstances and living situations they never expected to face. In the previous book in the series, The Summer Kitchen, the Blue Sky Hill neighborhood was under siege by unscrupulous development companies. It occurred to me to wonder whether some of the CEOs of those companies, who collect paychecks while remaining comfortably above the dirty work, really understand the devastation their faulty mortgages can cause to a family of moderate means. Then, I wondered what would happen if one of those comfortably-wealthy families lost everything and ended up with no place left to live but a tiny house in Blue Sky Hill, right across the street from one of their intended victims. If identities weren’t revealed, would the families become friends? Would they begin to lean on one another and care about one another? What would happen when the truth came out? Beyond Summer is a story families, friendships, and about community--how we find it, what it means, and how strong communities help us to survive in difficult times.

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

There are always bits and pieces real life in every story. For one thing, I think life influences the subjects you’re interested in exploring. Once I have the central idea for a story, I start looking for who might tell parts of this story, and in searching for the other storytellers for Beyond Summer, I knew I needed someone who’d been in the neighborhood for a while. I realized there was a person’s story I’d been waiting to tell for a long time. She became the inspiration for Sesay, the tiny, dreadlock-wearing wanderer in the book. I met her in real life years ago when I was sitting in a college class, and the teacher, who’d been letting us do pretty run-of-the-mill journalism stories up to that point, suddenly announced that we were to write a story about marginalized people. Then the professor walked out, leaving us to ponder what that meant.

I don’t remember exactly through what series of connections I found my person to write about, but I ended up at a mission shelter interviewing a woman I’d been told had an interesting story to tell, and did she ever! It’s just proof that you never know how those seemingly-pointless school assignments will pay off later in life. Twenty-some years later, that little woman with skin the color of coffee beans, long gray dreadlocks, and cloudy gray eyes became the inspiration for Sesay, who is living homeless on the streets of Dallas when the story begins.

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

Tam, who has grown up in surrounded by privilege, would probably be something fancy and expensive sounding—Neopolitan, but with some surprises inside.

Shasta would be a Dilly Bar—funny, impulsive, a small-town girl who can talk to anyone about anything.

Sesay would be the whole Baskin Robbins case of fifty-one flavors, as she’s a collector of stories. Inside her is a bit of everyone she has met in her wanderings.

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

Beyond Summer is really a story about families, friendships, and about community--how it develops, what it means, and how strong communities help individuals from many different backgrounds survive in difficult times. Human beings are, at the most basic level, communal creatures. There’s so much evidence that people are happier and healthier, that we’re more generous and open with one another, that families are stronger and children achieve more when strong ties of friendship and community are there. These days, technology, busy schedules, and an on-the-go lifestyle compete with community-building activities, chipping away at the very thing we need the most. So often, our society tells people, especially young people, that success is in not having to rely on anyone, but we were created to give and take, to need each other. I hope that Beyond Summer provides a challenge to all of us, to see what we can contribute and what we can gain from our communities. There’s also a secondary theme of looking beyond the surface of people, of really seeing the value of every person in the community, regardless of age or economic status. We each have value, and our stories are equally valuable.

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

People often ask me if I have trouble with writer’s block. I don’t battle writer’s block nearly as much as I battle writer’s laziness. For me, the battle isn’t so much about what to write, or what part of the book I’m writing, as it is about getting myself to the keyboard and getting down to business. On any given day, there are a million other things that seem tempting—there’s email to answer, the house is dirty, something neat is happening in town, the kids think it would be fun to go swimming (so do I), I don’t want Dr. Phil to miss me when he comes on TV at 3:00. You name it, I can become distracted by it. That, for me, is the biggest writing struggle. The hardest thing about writing Beyond Summer was probably researching the sort of real estate schemes that take place in neighborhoods like Blue Sky Hill. My favorite part was probably writing about the literacy class the brings Shasta, Tam, and Sesay together in the book. My first book, Tending Roses, has been used to help mentors teach adult learners to read. As I was writing about the literacy class, I was thinking about that—somewhere, someone who has never known the joy of living in a story might be reading that book (in which my grandmother’s true stories were interwoven) right now!

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

I write for two publishers, so I’ve just finished writing two books for 2011. Larkspur Cove (Feb 2011) will be the first in the Moses Lake series for Bethany House. Moses Lake, Texas is the sort of little lakeside community you might pass by on a vacation without even noticing—a peaceful sort of place, but the unexpected lurks beneath the surface. Right now, I’m editing the next book for Penguin Putnam, Dandelion Summer (July 2011) , which will follow Beyond Summer in the Blue Sky Hill series. Dandelion Summer features the unlikely partnership of a spunky teenage girl and a cantankerous old man, with a bit of the turbulence of the 1960s space race stirred in for good measure.

Thanks to my awesome publishers, we’re celebrating the upcoming 2011 releases with a contest on www.Lisawingate.com. Readers can enter for a chance to win a Girlfriend Getaway weekend in historic Jefferson, TX, where we’ll be celebrating the release of Larkspur Cove at the Pulpwood Queens Girlfriend Weekend, 2011. Girlfriend Weekend is the fun-filled book and reader event of the year, and our Girlfriend Getaway includes two nights at the beautiful Delta Street Inn bed and breakfast in Jefferson! For more info, go to www.Lisawingate.com.

Entry Question: Beyond Summer is a book about women’s friendships, and you’re having a Girlfriend Getaway contest. If you were planning a Girlfriend Getaway, who would you take and where would you go?

I’d probably grab one of my long-time shopper girlfriends, and we’d end up anyplace the weather is beautiful and there are antiques, crafts, jewelry, and little boutiques to wander through. At some point during the day, we’d linger in a tea room and talk about the old days when our shopping trips included diaper bags, strollers, and taking turns in Walmart, so that one of us could keep the car running during naptime. Friends who’ve walked along the path beside you through life’s joys and challenges are valuable beyond measure.

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

ENTRY RULES Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Beyond Summer. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

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.

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

Wednesday, August 04, 2010

Spotlight on Darlene Franklin, Tamela Hancock Murray, and Lynette Sowell and Seaside Romance

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Answer the random question associated with this spotlight in the comments in order to be entered in the drawing.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS


DARLENE FRANKLIN, an award-winning author and speaker, recently returned to cowboy country—Oklahoma—to be near family. She recently signed the contract for her twelth book. This fall she is celebrating her third novella anthology, Face of Mary in A Woodland Christmas. Visit Darlene’s blogs at http://darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com for monthly book giveaways (books by Darlene as well as others) and http://thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com for helpful hints for writers.

LYNETTE SOWELL works as a medical transcriptionist for a large HMO. But that's her day job. In her "spare" time, she loves to spin adventures for the characters who emerge from story ideas in her head. She hopes to spread the truth of God's love and person while taking readers on an entertaining journey. Lynette is a Massachusetts transplant, who makes her home in central Texas with her husband, and five cats who have their humans well-trained. She loves to read, travel, and spend time with her family. You can learn more about Lynette at lynettesowell.com and can find her on Facebook.

TAMELA HANCOCK MURRAY seeks to provide other Christians with edifying, entertaining works. She is grateful to Christian publishers for the opportunity to share unabashedly the saving faith of Jesus Christ. This award-winning, bestselling author of contemporary and historical novels is published by Heartsong Presents and Barbour Publishing. As an agent, Tamela represents authors for the Hartline Literary Agency.

SEASIDE ROMANCE
by Darlene Franklin, Tamela Hancock Murray, and Lynette Sowell
Published by Barbour

ABOUT THE BOOK

Rhode Island of Yesteryear is Charmed by Love

Coastal Communities of old experience a test of faith when three women face fear, jealousy, and scorn as they ride the tide of romance.

Judith Morrison lives at the lighthouse her father operates on Capernaum Island. When her friend Sam Hathaway returns, will his fears of the sea keep him from reaching her in a storm?

Becca Hanham’s first day on the job as a scullery maid in Providence ends with a marriage proposal from Nash Abercrombie, a business tycoon. Is this the answer to her dreams or a preposterous scheme?

Francesca Wallingford is being pressure to enter a marriage with Count Philippe de la Croix. When Alfred Finley returns to the Newport society that once scorned him, could her choices become any more unclear?

Can true love be found even when the obstacles seem as wide as the ocean? Will God answer their prayers to bridge the gap?

Readers, buy your copy of Seaside Romance today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is a 3-in-1 repack of your story with 2 other authors. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Darlene: Reading about the Great Gale of 1815. When I learned that the hurricane destroyed a lighthouse, I imagined someone keeping the light burning during the storm—and Beacon of Love was born.

Lynette: I have always been fascinated by the mansions of Newport, built by the barons of industry like Vanderbilt, Astor, and others. This was something our country had never seen before at the end of the 19th century, and the lifestyle these people lived is now rivaled by few. This brought my heroine onto stage: What if a young woman found herself in such a home? What if she had to choose between love and duty to her family?

Tamela: I love Cinderella stories, and Becca's journey from an impoverished match girl to the mistress of the manor was one of my favorite stories to write. Reader response to this story has been positive and uplifting -- a blessing to me.

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

Darlene: A little bit of me sneaks into all of my characters, I suspect, but none of them are autobiographical. They all have their unique careers. None of my characters is an office worker in a 9-5 job, and that’s what I did for the majority of my away-from-home career!

Lynette: I think all of us have been in seemingly impossible situations. My hero finds "dirt" on someone in the book, and as an honorable man, he knows he can't make himself look better by exposing someone else's secret. I've also felt "trapped" as my heroine does at one point in the book. At times like that, I've had to choose like her, that sometimes God's intervention via other people will be the only way out of the situation. My hero's mother really surprised me. She became quite the character and is not like me at all. But her dramatic antics were fun to write about.

Tamela: My husband is a kind and generous person, much like my hero in the story. While I've never been impoverished, my life's journey has taken me from growing up in a small farming community to living a much different life in the city. However, as an only child, I had to tap into my imagination to write about a family blessed by a new baby every year. My father is very unlike Becca's harsh father, I'm happy to say. Daddy is a Southern gentleman.

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

Darlene: Sam, my hero, might be pistachio—green because he’s afraid of the sea. Is there an ice cream made from burnt sugar? That would be Judith, my heroine, who can’t cook.

Lynette: My heroine would be cherry chocolate chip; creamy vanilla ice cream, with chunks of cherry and chocolate. Not an expected combination and a bit more fancy than the average ice cream.

Tamela: Nash would be smooth and creamy French vanilla -- sophisticated and honest. Becca would be fat-free vanilla in the beginning, but by the end, would be covered in rich, full-bodied butterscotch sauce, symbolizing the change in her outward appearance to reflect her new life.

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

Darlene: In Beacon of Love, Sam battles his fear of the ocean in the scariest of circumstances. He learns to trust God and displays courage beyond what he is humanly capable of. As I wrote the story, I discovered that Judith wanted to be as certain of God’s calling on her life as Sam was.

Lynette: Personal possessions and wealth can change a person, but often they magnify the sort of person we are to begin with. Another theme that emerged was the importance of doing the right thing, even when it hurts, and God will honor us in due time.

Tamela: As a teenager, Nash displayed immense kindness to a little girl with no power or even importance to him. Years later, God rewarded his kindness. I hope readers will be inspired to a great degree of kindness in their everyday lives as a result of this book.

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

Darlene: I generally struggle with beginnings, although Sam’s dream about the storm that killed his father brought this story to life. I found a delightful book on colonial cooking that I used to describe Judith’s perils in the kitchen.

Lynette: The most difficult part ended up being my favorite. I'd originally cast the hero's mother as a weak sickly woman who desperately needed to be near the ocean for fresh air. When she showed up on the scene, she came in as a very bold and quite healthy woman who, um, tended to be a tad dramatic about her maladies. Of course I enjoyed writing the parts with Francesca and Alfred, realizing their love for each other and facing the very real obstacles that kept them apart.

Tamela: The most difficult part for me was writing about the kidnappers and Nash's unpleasant fiancee. I have a much greater sense of peace and wonder when I write about kindness. However, for a good story, everyone can't be too pleasant all the time or there wouldn't be much of a story!

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

Darlene: Next month, A Woodland Christmas comes out. My story, Face of Mary, is one of the novellas. Joey Carpenter once told Polly Jessup that he would marry her in jest. But when he returns from law school, he’s courting the banker’s daughter instead. He has to search his heart for the woman who reflects the character of the mother of our Lord as he paints the Face of Mary.

Lynette: My next book releases in September, a novella in the anthology A Riverwalk Christmas. My heroine is a chef in her family's Mexican restaurant on San Antonio's famous Riverwalk. She has her hands full with her family and a certain guy who comes back into her life, right at Christmas time.

Tamela: I'm so busy with Hartline Literary Agency that I've had to give up most of my writing. However, I do love being a literary agent!

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Thank you, Darlene, Lynette, and Tamela for being in the spotlight with us.

NEW!! Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Seaside Romance. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: When you hear "Rhode Island", what comes to mind? Have you ever been to Rhode Island yourself? If you have, tell us about 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.

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

Monday, August 02, 2010

August New Releases in Christian Fiction

1. Angel Song by Sheila Walsh and Kathryn Cushman-- General Fiction from Thomas Nelson. Angels eagerly watch over Anne Fletcher's every move. She just doesn't know it yet.

2. Assignment: Bodyguard; CHAIM series, Book Four by Lenora Worth -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Steeple Hill. Fast-paced romantic suspense.

3. Be Not Afraid; The Samantha Cain Series Book 1 by Deborah Lynne -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from OakTara Publishing. Samantha Cain witnesses a serial killer in action and is now his next target.

4. Beautiful Bandit by Loree Lough -- An historical from Whitaker House. An old-fashioned "Wild West" tale that puts trust, faith, family loyalty, and love to the ultimate test.

5. Detours; Tabor Heights Series by Michelle L. Levigne -- A Romance from Desert Breeze. It's a long and winding road from "some enchanted evening" to the first date, let alone the promise of a lifetime.

6. Exposing Amber by Elizabeth Goddard -- A Romance from Barbour Heartsong. Amber McKinsey interns under museum director Brandon Selman and finds a kindred spirit who loves the science of God's creation, but they must confront their pasts to have a future.

7. Fear No Evil by Robin Caroll -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from B&H. A new policeman must protect a young social worker from big-city gangs making their evil way down south.

8. Hometown Proposal; Book 2 in Kellerville Series by Merrillee Whren -- A Romance from Steeple Hill. Finding family, community and love in one small town.

9. Hope's Promise; The Sierra Chronicles, Book 2 by Tammy Barley -- A Romance from Whitaker House. While trying to prove their unconditional love for each other, the Bennetts must defend against attacks, deeply rooted doubts, and an unknown force that could destroy all they hold dear.

10. Killing Time by K. Dawn Byrd -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Desert Breeze. "I was framed!" Drew Stone has heard it before, so why is he tempted to believe Mindy when she tells him the same thing?

11. Lost Island Smugglers; The Sam Cooper Adventure Series - Book # 1 by Max Anderson -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Port Yonder Press. Three boys, a monster storm, Lost Island, and smugglers?

12. Love Remains; The Matchmakers, Book 1 by Kaye Dacus -- A Romance from Barbour. Circumstances pulled them apart fourteen years ago--will two young professionals allow themselves to discover if love remains?

13. Mission of Hope by Allie Pleiter -- Romance from Love Inspired Historical. The gallant, romantic sequel to Pleiter's San Francisco historical, "Masked by Moonlight," featuring an unlikely hero helping the city heal from it's massive earthquake.

14. Never Without Hope; Sacred Vows Book 1 by Michelle Sutton -- Women's Fiction from Sword of the Spirit Publishing. Succumbing to temptation often decimates marriages, but with God, restoration and healing is within reach.

15. Sarah's Christmas Miracle by Mary Ellis -- A Romance from Harvest House. A Plain and loving story of hope and redemption, one that will be a welcome addition to the joy of the Christmas season.

16. Surrender The Heart; Surrender to Destiny, Book 1 by MaryLu Tyndall -- An Historical from Barbour. A lady, desperate to save her family and a man, desperate to please his, are caught in the brink of a war that could change the course of history forever.

17. The Bridge of Peace; Ada's House Series by Cindy Woodsmall -- A Romance from Waterbrook. Love alone isn’t enough to overcome the obstacles between a man and a woman.

18. The Doctor's Blessing; #2 in The Brides of Amish Country by Patricia Davids -- A Romance from Steeple Hill. A nurse-midwife to the Amish and the new doctor clash over her home deliveries.

19. Twilight Seranade; Book 3 by Tracie Peterson -- An Historical from Bethany. Britta Lindquist must decide whether to settle for a peaceful future or fight for the love of her life.

20. Vanishing Act by Liz Johnson -- A Romance from Love Inspired. Eighteen months ago, Nora James vanished, but she's about to be discovered by a ruthless assassin ... and an FBI agent afraid of risking his heart.