Sunday, April 10, 2011

LILLY'S WEDDING QUILT - Kelly Long - Free Book

Welcome, Kelly. Tell us how much of yourself you write into your characters.

I write in common fears, anxieties, prayers and hopes.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

Finished a novel…and I didn’t even really do it alone. God did the work. And I think it’s quirky because I never thought I’d write fiction as a career.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

I’m still discovering this…still terrified of every new project. But, The Moral Premise has really gone a long way in helping me overcome the driving terror.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

Little House on the Prairie to Flannery O’Connor…

How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

Sanity is a relative term I’ve come to realize, so I don’t run as much as I used to…Just learning to be still and to finish what I start.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

Syllabic cadence. Sounds snotty, but it’s true…whatever sounds work well enough together to listen to for a whole book works for me.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

I’m bad about the proud stuff…I start to think of something but then realize that it all goes back to God.

If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

Snow Owl. Beyond beautiful.

What is your favorite food?

Food of memories…Aunt Ruth’s roast beef; Donna’s raisin cookies, pizza with my mother…

What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Again, sheer terror. Not feeling adequate, going through the “wrong man, bad plan” God scenario. Educating myself, talking with other writers, and just by hitting the ball against the wall of actually doing the writing is what helped.

Tell us about the featured book.

Lilly’s Wedding Quilt is the sequel to Sarah’s Garden. Jacob Wyse, the handsome Amish man who lost his heart to Sarah but didn’t win out, learns to love again—this time under very deliberate circumstances. It’s about choosing passion in life, battling depression and coming out on the other side, and has subplots of illiteracy and child abuse. Hmmm….sounds like a lot when I write it….One reviewer called me the “Queen of Edgy Amish Fiction,” so I guess I like to push the mark of what a book does and is.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Prologue
Pine Creek, PA

In the moments between heartbeats he heard the ominous report of a gun, then lurched forward from a burst
of blinding pain. He groaned aloud and stared down at the dark sleeve of his left arm in the moonlit winter night. He tightened his muscular thighs against the horse. Stay on. Stay on. The voice seemed both his own and that of a fading echo. He wavered, then concentrated on the saddle horn, the reins, and the lead of the other horse behind him. Primal and metallic, the smell of his own blood mingled in his senses with the distancing shouts of the shooter, and he managed a grim smile. He was now, among supposedly other intriguing things, a horse thief . . .

Not the usual prologue for an Amish novel. I'm intrigued. How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m on Facebook a lot on Fans of Kelly Long
I blog for Amish Hearts on Fridays which shows up on AmishLiving.com
I twitter @KellyLongAmish

Thank you, Kelly, for spending this time with us. By the way, I believe all of us authors experience the fear and questioning when we write.
 
Readers, here's a link to the book. By using it when you order, you help support this blog.



Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory. (Comments containing links may be subject to removal by blog owner.)

Void where prohibited; the odds of winning depend on the number of entrants. Entering the giveaway is considered a confirmation of eligibility on behalf of the enterer in accord with these rules and any pertaining local/federal/international laws.

The only notification you’ll receive is the winner post on this blog. So be sure to check back a week from Saturday to see if you won. You will have 6 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Feedblitz, Facebook, or Amazon, please come to the blog to leave your comment if you want to be included in the drawing. Here’s a link.

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/

26 comments:

Deborah said...

yay i was a fan of Sarah's Garden and i also enjoy's Kelly's short stories in the amish collections so i have been looking forward to this one!

Deborah in VA

From Snowflakes To Hotcakes said...

I would love to win a copy of this book! :-) Writing in from the beautiful state of Georgia! :-)

scottsgal said...

snow owls - what a cool choice for an animal
I'm in Illinois and would love to read this

msboatgal at aol.com

Unknown said...

I read the first book in this series and can't wait to read the second! Thanks for the chance to win!
Kari in Oregon

Molly Noble Bull said...

I love Kelly's writing. I would like one of her books. I never really liked Amish books that much until I tried one of hers.
Keep up the good work, Kelly. You, too, Lena.
And everybody, please pray for West Texas. The fires there are terrible.
Love,
Molly
www.mollynoblebull.com

Kristie said...

Hello! I love Kelly's fiction because it is very unusual, not cookie cutter Amish fiction. I'm from Ohio. Hope that I win. Have a great day! kristiedonelson(at)gmail(dot)com Thank you.

Linda Kish said...

This sounds like an interesting story.

California

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

windycindy said...

I would love to experience a book by this author! Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

Judy Cooper said...

I have not read a book by Kelly Long, but look forward to it, because I enjoy reading about the Amish. Thank you for this opportunity to win. I'm Judy in Louisiana Cajun Country.

Judy B said...

I would love to win a copy of "Lilly's Wedding Quilt". I have read all of Kelly's books and enjoy them so much.

Judy B from Indiana

apple blossom said...

love to be included in this drawing thanks

apple blossom in ND

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Diana Flowers said...

I would love to win this book! As a matter of fact I've become a blog stalker trying to do so! LOL

dianalflowers@aol.com

Diana from SC

Anonymous said...

I have a copy of Sarah's Garden and would love to win a copy of Lilly's Wedding. Angela from KY

Unknown said...

Thanks Lena and Kelly for the post and the chance to win one of your books! You are in my prayers, Kelly...mitzi_wanham[at]yahoo[dot]com from Arizona

Loree Ellis said...

Oh wow I want to read more. Hope I win :)
Loree Ellis
Weatherford, TX

Coolestmommy said...

I've never read 'edgy Amish fiction' before. I feel left out. Can't wait to pick up some of your titles--they sound right up my alley.

coolestmommy2000 at gmail dot com
NE

dancealertreads.blogspot.com said...

I like reading Amish stories and I like Kelly's books, so yes please enter me!

Brenda from Michigan

dancealert at aol dot com

The Herd said...

I would love to win this! I love reading of the Amish ways!

karenk said...

thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story :)

karenk...from pa
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Susan Hatley said...

I am hooked on Amish books, and I am looking forward to reading "Lilly's Wedding Quilt"!!!!! I am coming to you today from North Carolina. Thanks!

Ann Lee Miller said...

Please put my name into the hat. Thanks! Ann Lee Miller, Gilbert AZ

Anonymous said...

Would love to win a copy of this book....maybe someday I will win LOL...
Mona/Ohio
kylady717@cinci.rr.com

Jo said...

I would love to win a copy of this book. It sounds great! Please enter me!

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me to win this book. Thanks

Angela C./Ohio

Carman said...

Please enter me! I've heard great things! :)

midwest.

booklovercb at yahoo dot com

Judylynn said...

Please include me in this drawing. Thanks!

Judylynn in Tennessee