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Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Spotlight on Tammy Barley and Faith's Reward

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


TAMMY BARLEY - I have lived in twenty-seven places in eight states (so far) and have visited nearly all. When I'm not writing? I judge a number of top writing contests and love my work as a manuscript editor and biographer. I am also Mom to two sons, one daughter, a rescued American Eskimo dog, thirteen parakeets, and an aquarium full of fish. The children I home-school; the dog I taught to sit. She also barks at parked cars. In my spare time, you're likely to find me baking, gardening, behind a camera, or hugging a horse.

FAITH'S REWARD
by Tammy Barley
Published by Whitaker House

ABOUT THE BOOK

The year 1865 starts out as a nightmare come true for Jessica Bennett. The cattle she and her husband, Jake, fought to save from drought the summer before now face the threat of freezing to death. Her fears worsen when Jake contracts pneumonia.

Springtime brings trials of a different kind—the snowmelt causes the ranch to thrive so much that Jake must sell off the last of their cattle to make room for their horses and the young foals to be born. In the meantime, Jess endeavors to recover her rightful inheritance, which mysteriously disappeared from the bank. When she discovers a link between the banker and a group of murderous Unionists, who continue to target Southerners even though the war is over, Jake launches an undercover investigation.

The conspiracy runs deeper and wider than either of them could have imagined. Jess must put her life—and the life of her unborn child—at risk to stop the ringleader and save the lives of many others. Yet, Jess refuses to give up hope in the God she serves—a God of love who often provides above and beyond our greatest dreams.

~ Rated four stars, "Compelling. A page-turner" by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

Readers, buy your copy of Faith's Reward today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The climactic scene. I wondered, “What has never before been done before in a climactic scene?” On-location research in Virginia City, Nevada inspired the answer, and the third book of The Sierra Chronicles grew from the mental image of that one scene.

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

You mean Jess’s stubbornness? You think she might have gotten that from me? LOL! Probably, though I try to think of it as certitude and tenacity. :) Neither Jess nor I are wired to quit. Traveling to places I write about grows my real-life experiences and influences my characters, as does reading intriguing historical journals written by people who lived it.

I have Jake and Jess’s love for wild, open places, and I share their love of horses, mountains, streams, and walks in the moonlight. Like them, I’ve ridden horseback over mountains on extended trips, waded in snowmelt streams, and often lose myself in the moonlight, or in watching a fog bank roll in.

Those are the qualities I’ve shared with Jake and Jess. The rest are qualities they have shared with me.

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

Jess would be mint chocolate chip—fresh and breezy as all outdoors, with a little sweetness and just a bit of kick. :)

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

The main theme was inspired by one of my favorite Bible verses, “Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Jess’s faith, and her powerful love for Jake, enables her to see “impossible” circumstances as merely obstacles, and it enables her to prevail against all odds.

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

Difficult: Twisty plots. As the third book in a complex three-book plot, I had to be certain to tie all loose ends neatly, forgetting nothing.

Favorite: Everything else. This book has tons of unknowns, twists, and suspense, and I loved the romance. It was great fun to write.

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

The next trilogy is set in 1873 Wyoming Territory, tentatively titled The Legend of the Wind River Mountains. Three sisters find love, and discover themselves, in a most unexpected place. Release date currently unknown.

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Thank you, Tammy, 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 Faith's Reward. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: As indicated above, I wrote a grip-your-seat-suspenseful climactic scene in Faith’s Reward that has never been done before (to my knowledge) in any fictional format. What is your favorite suspenseful climactic scene in a book or movie? Why is it your favorite? All you folks who share your favorite scene will be entered into the drawing to win a personalized, autographed copy of Faith’s Reward.

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.

2 comments:

Tammy Barley said...

Hi, Ladies!

Okay, I know it's only 8 days till Christmas and you're all busy shopping, wrapping, and baking, BUT you do a need a few minutes to yourselves, and with few people leaving comments, your chances of winning a new book are excellent!

Leave a quickie comment, and you're entered to win it! =)

Hugs & Christmas blessings!

Tammy

Tammy Barley said...

And by the way, I AM giving away a vacation too--win The Day of Your Dreams! Visit http://www.tammybarley.com/Bookshelf.html for details and to enter.

=)