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Monday, September 15, 2008

Blog Tour - Snowbound Colorado Christmas

Today, I'm the middle stop along a 9-stop blog tour for some of my fellow Heartsong and Barbour authors with their new release...just in time for Christmas shopping season. Three of these authors I've known for several years, and one shares the great state of Colorado with me as her residence. :) Here is the schedule for the rest of the tour:

September 16 – Tricia Goyer
http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/

September 23 – Lisa Buffaloe
www.ShoutLife.com/LisaBuffaloe

September 23 - Deborah Khuanghlawn
http://books-movies-chinesefood.blogspot.com/

September 30 – Linda Crow
http://www.2nd-cup-of-coffee.blogspot.com/

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Susan Page Davis is the author of ten historical novels, six romantic suspense, and two young adult books. She has co-authored a cozy mystery series with her daughter, Megan Elaine Davis. Susan's historicals have won awards in the Book of the Year and Inspirational Readers' Choice Contests. She's a homeschooling mother of six and grandmother of five. She and her husband Jim live in Maine, where Jim is a news editor. Visit her at her web site: http://www.susanpagedavis.com/.

Lena Nelson Dooley holds a BA in Speech and Drama, and she completed many graduate hours as well. She has served as a drama director for several churches. In addition, she has been the administrative assistant to two different pastors.

Snowbound Colorado Christmas is her 18th book release. Four more books will release in 2009. She is often a speaker at women's events, writers' meetings, and conferences. She's an award-winning, bestselling author. At present she serves as vice-president of DFW Ready Writers, the local chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers. She has a website, http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/. In the monthly newsletter, she gives away copies of her books and features reviews of her recent reads as well as what's new that month in Christian publishing. Her blog, http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/, is popular with readers, because she promotes authors and their most recent works.

Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin resides in the Colorado foothills with her mother and her Lynx Point Siamese cat Talia. She is the mother of two children. Her daughter has gone ahead of her to glory; her son lives in Oklahoma with his family. She loves music, reading, and writing. She is the author of five novels, and has contributed more than 150 articles to numerous magazines, anthologies, and devotionals. She has also written curriculum for children's Sunday school. Visit her web site: http://www.darlenehfranklin.com/.

A native Virginian, Tamela Hancock Murray has been writing all her life. She interned on Capitol Hill and at the U.S. Department of State before graduating with honors in Journalism from Lynchburg College in Virginia.

An award-winning, bestselling author, Tamela has over 20 fiction and nonfiction books to her credit. Upcoming releases include LOVE FINDS YOU IN MAIDEN, NORTH CAROLINA, and THE MASTER'S MATCH. She has discussed her work on radio and television. Her professional affiliations include Trois Riviere Fiction Writers and American Christian Fiction Writers. Tamela enjoys being an agent with Hartline Literary Agency, and she takes turns with her fellow agents writing a column for Christian Fiction Online Magazine http://www.christianfictiononlinemagazine.com/.

When she's not writing, Tamela spends wonderful times with her husband and their two daughters, as well as extended family and friends. Visit her web site: http://www.tamelahancockmurray.com/.

SNOWBOUND COLORADO CHRISTMAS
by Susan Page Davis, Lena Nelson Dooley, Darlene Franklin, and Tamela Hancock Murray
Published by Barbour Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Relive the Christmas of 1913 in Denver through four stories told through the eyes of young people in love as snow falls in a record-setting blizzard. During Christmas the Christmas of 1913, Colorado is buffeted with snow and four couples find that taking refuge also means taking a look at the past and giving love a chance for the future.

Buy Your Copy of Snowbound Colorado Christmas Today!

AUTHORS INTERVIEWED

1. Who came up with the idea for the collection?

Lena: (The Best Medicine) Actually, I asked other authors on the email loop for Barbour authors for volunteers to be in a Christmas collection proposal. The four that I put together for this one were Tamela Hancock Murray, Susan Page Davis, Darlene Franklin, and myself. We sent several emails about possible ideas. I think I suggested being snowbound, but Tamela found the actual historical blizzard in 1913 Colorado that we decided to use for our stories.

2. Did you find it hard or easy to work within the series framework?

Darlene: (Dressed in Scarlet) I found Lena's theme--"a snowbound Christmas" (Tamela discovered the historical blizzard in Denver, the worst in the city's history)—-easy to work with. I LOVE snow. I started by searching for Bible verses about snow and came across Proverbs 31:21. "She is not afraid of the snow for her household; for all her household are clothed with scarlet." That sparked the idea of a heroine who used her red woollies to make hats and mittens for her household during a blizzard.

3. What part of the country do you live it? And why do you like that part of the country?

Tamela: (Fires of Love) I'm a native of Virginia and I love it here. The weather is temperate, yet we have all four seasons. Northern Virginia is hectic, crowded, and expensive. However, we're minutes from the Kennedy Center and the Smithsonian, so that has allowed us to expose our daughters to world-class operas and artwork of the masters. You'll find art galleries everywhere, and local companies perform ballets and plays. Several major concert venues and sports complexes are nearby, and we enjoy our annual trip to see car races as a treat for my daddy's birthday. We've hiked through mountains and forests in national parks. Our town offers conveniences such as two easily accessible major airports, fine international dining and day spas, yet horse and dairy farms are only a fifteen-minute drive away. Churches abound, and my husband and I have been able to send our daughters to a fine Christian school. By taking day trips, we also educate our daughters in culture and history, plus prepare them for interesting and varied life experiences while having lots of family fun.

4. Tell us about your novella.

Susan: (Almost Home) In "Almost Home," Patricia is stuck in the blizzard in a town ten miles from her Uncle Bill's ranch. She’s determined to get home, since her aunt is expecting her first baby. Trains and automobiles aren't running, and the liveryman refuses to rent her a horse in the storm. But Patricia runs into an old friend—Jared, who used to live on the ranch with them when his father was Uncle Bill's partner. Against his better judgment, Jared agrees to let Patricia ride one of his two horses, and they set out together. He soon regrets the decision and wonders if he can get her home safely to her family and deliver the special gift his father entrusted to him for Uncle Bill.

Be sure to visit http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com on September 16th for more information on these authors.

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Snowbound Colorado Christmas.

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

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

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

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12 comments:

Laurie Wood said...

Hi Amber! I found you through BBAW. Plse enter my in your contest for Snowbound Colorado Christmas.

windycindy said...

Happy Monday! I really enjoy reading Christmas anthologies during the holiday season. How could one go wrong with these four wonderful authors?! Please enter me in your drawing. It is appreciated.....
Thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Stormi said...

I love Christmas stories! Please enter me in the drawing. Thanks.

Stormi
ladystorm282001@yahoo.com

Susan Page Davis said...

Hey, Tiff, I am in Alaska doing some research for another book. I was excited to see that you have our book on your site today. Thanks! It was loads of fun writing about the blizzard of 1913 and working with Darlene, Lena, and Tamela. And Alaska? Well, yesterday I went up in a Cessna and flew over two glaciers and saw a bear on top of a mountain. Today I visited the Iditarod headquarters in Wasilla (Sarah Palin's home town--but she wasn't home). I can't wait to start writing my Alaska books!
Susan

cheryl c said...

I love Christmas anthologies, and I read several every year. It's just about time to start on this year's stories, and this book sounds like a winner! Please enter me in the drawing.

castings[at]mindspring[dot]com

apple blossom said...

I love romances. What better theme than Christmas. I'd love to win this book.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

haras w said...

Would be the perfect book to read during the Christmas holidays. please enter my name in the draw.
thanks,
sarahwoll at hotmail dot com

Cherie J said...

Ooh! I love Christmas anthologies. Would love to read this.

Donna said...

I would love to win this Selection of Christmas stories. I love reading holiday novels. please enter me.

Maureen said...

I do like to read Christmas stories. This one looks great.
mce1011[at]aol[dot]com

Carolynn said...

I would love to read these stories. Thanks for the chance to win!
carolynnwald[at]hotmail[dot]com

Tiffany Amber Stockton said...

We have a winner from this drawing and that is:

CHERI2628!

Congratulations! I've emailed you for your mailing information so the authors can send out your book.

Everyone else, check out the interviews on Dorothy Clark, Lynette Sowell, Ginger Garrett, and Kelly Hake to see if you've won.

As always, thanks to everyone for your continued support.