CROSSING VALUES - Carrie Daws - One Free Book

Welcome back, Carrie. Why do you write the kind of books you do?

I love a good story, and some of the most fascinating ones center on real people going on with their everyday lives. Many of my stories are based in fact, whether it’s a young woman afraid to trust people or a fire marshal dealing with business owners who don’t understand the hazards in their own building.

Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life?

God’s brought so many happy moments to me, but my hands down favorite is my wedding day. It was, in many ways, the wedding of my dreams to the man of my dreams—not that it’s always been perfect or easy. But God’s done a marvelous work in us.

How has being published changed your life?

Besides the obvious stacks of books around my house or the constant disciplined pursuit of writing time, being published has forced me outside of all my comfort zones. I’ve had to get more comfortable talking to people from all over the world, walk through the fear of sharing so much of my life with the public, and be okay with some not liking what I say or how I say it. The last few years have brought a lot of internal and heart changes that have been very good for me, even though it was a tough process.

I think all authors grow through the process of writing their books. It’s wonderful. What are you reading right now?

At the moment, I’m preparing to write a nonfiction book on anticipatory grief—the mourning process we all go through when we see a tragedy about to strike, even before it has. So I’m reading several books related to suffering and pain. In my fun reading time, I’m working my way through Mary Connealy’s series, Lassoed in Texas. It’s a lot of fun!

I absolutely love Mary’s books. What is your current work in progress?

I’m currently working on two books, both in my Home Front Heroines series about military families. I’m almost done writing the book about a Navy family who faced a chronic illness in their oldest daughter. And I’ve started work on my book about an Air Force wife who battled depression and loneliness.

What would be your dream vacation?

I dearly love the ocean, and my dream vacation is one I strive to take each year at a nearby beach. As an introvert, people exhaust me, so we go during the off season when the crowds are low. My family and I go with one or two of our closest friends, limit our electronic device time, and just enjoy being together. We relax in the hot tubs, float around the lazy river, and enjoy quiet dinners. It’s quite refreshing.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Since I’m normally telling someone else’s story, the setting is most often determined by actual events. In my Crossing series, though, I needed a small town near a city where logging was common. I also wanted it close to a college that offered degrees in forestry, so that limited my possibilities.

If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why?

People really do stress me out. Because of this, instead of choosing one of my heroes of faith or more cherished authors, I would probably choose one of my beloved author friends that I rarely get to see in person, someone like Sherry Gareis, Joanie Bruce, or Jocelyn Green. My relationship with each is close enough that I’d be terribly excited, I wouldn’t have to dress up or worry about remembering all my proper manners, and I think we would both leave the evening refreshed and ready to tackle the writing world.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

My family loves movies, so we watch quite a lot of them. I also enjoy a good jigsaw puzzle—I almost always have one in progress on a table in my living room.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

The discipline of the daily word count. It’s so easy to get lost in answering emails, planning out my marketing strategy for the next month or next book release, or talking to friends and readers on social media. So I set an annual goal of words to write, and then I break that down into weekly chunks. I try to be very tough on myself—I either hit the word count or I didn’t. No excuses no matter what slammed into my week.

What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Breathe, because you’re on a long journey. Focus, because you’ve got a thousand things vying for your attention. Learn, because it’s a big job. Grace, because you only have a set amount of time today. Balance, because it doesn’t all have to be done right now.

Tell us about the featured book.

Crossing Values was my first book. Seriously—I’d never written more than a short devotion before I started writing that story. I’ve learned so much since then, but it still holds a precious place in my heart because it’s where I really began exploring deeper issues of faith as they apply to real life. Does God pursue us? Can He work in dire circumstances to show us how much He treasures us? What could happen if each of us completely bought into God’s plan to love others?

Please give us the first page of the book.

CHARMING TOWN, AMBER GRIFFIN THOUGHT as she kicked a plod of snow and walked past a sign welcoming her to Crossing, Oregon, population 725. Many homes featured broad porches, picket fences, and snowmen of various sizes. As she considered snatching a carrot nose for breakfast, she thought, This is the kind of town where everyone knows everyone and you expect Sheriff Taylor to stroll down Main Street.

Stepping over an abandoned mitten, she paused to watch two girls playing with dolls on the other side of a picture window. Her eyes lingered on the hearth and the fire burning in it. “If only people were as reliable in person as they are on TV,” she muttered.

As homes gave way to storefronts, Amber came upon a park that seemed to be the town’s center. She walked to the nearest bench, brushed snow off the seat, and eased her frigid muscles onto it. She stomped her feet, her toes aching in response. At least I know they’re not frostbitten.

With no good options the night before, Amber had forced her way into a dilapidated cabin a few miles outside of town. The thin mattress and worn quilt she’d found made sleep difficult in the plummeting temperatures, but the walls had kept the snow off of her. She’d slept in worse places.

An old Ford F150 rumbled down the street, blowing its horn at two boys practicing wrap-arounds with their hockey sticks. The boys waved in response just before the truck stopped at the hardware store. As a gray-haired man got out of the truck, Amber noticed a small yellow cross on the tailgate.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

The best place to find me is at CarrieDaws.com. However, I also like to hang out at:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarrieDaws/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarrieDaws

Thank you, Carrie, for sharing this book with us. I’m sure my readers are all eager to read it.

Readers, here’s a link to the book.

Crossing Values (Crossing Series) (Volume 1)

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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  

KETURAH - Lisa T Bergren - One Free Book

Dear Readers, Lisa T Bergren has been one of my favorite authors for a long time. I’ve read both her novels for adults and her young adult series. The characters always grab me and take me along on their adventures. It’s as if I’m right there in that setting with them instead of someone who is outside looking in. I know you’ll love her writing, too.

Welcome back, Lisa. As an author, I know it takes a lot of people to birth each book. Who were the people involved in the birthing of this book, and what were their contributions?

Keturah is a wounded woman. My daughter went through some trauma during her first year of college and I was really thinking about her healing journey as I wrote this novel. My parents and friends housed me during week-long writing stints. My family supported me through it all!

If you teach or speak. What’s coming up on your calendar?

I don’t teach or speak! Too busy with just writing, running my husband’s business, planning a summer wedding for my daughter and building a house!

You do have your hands full. Blessings on you. If you had to completely start over in another place, where would you move, and why?

Montana. Because it’s where my heart just sighs, “home,” every time I go. It was where I was born and spent every summer of my life ... up until about four years ago.

If you could only tell aspiring novelists one thing, what would it be?

Read obsessively in the genre you want to write; break down your favorite novel in that genre, chapter by chapter, outlining both what the author did with character growth/setbacks and plot arc.

You’ve been asked to be in charge of a celebrity cruise. Who would you ask to take part, and why? (AS in what program, singers, etc. [it doesn’t have to be writing related])

I’d probably invite all my author friends because we could talk shop and relate immediately, because we’re on the same path. And a great worship leader like Nicole Nordeman to lead us….or a team from Hillsong or Bethel.

I’d love to be included on that cruise. I love everything about it. Tell us about the featured book.

Keturah is the first in The Sugar Baron’s Daughters trilogy, and centers on the eldest, who has sworn off men and is going where no woman has gone before ... to save her father’s dying plantation. She is a headstrong, wounded woman, and finds she must find healing with her God and those who love her, before she can make much progress.

Please give us the first page of the book.

In the hopes that at least one would get through, their father had sent three copies of his last letter from the West Indies; as it happened, his daughters received all three. The first arrived nine weeks after it was posted. A servant delivered the second on a silver tray, a week after they received word their father had perished. By the time the final, rather ghoulish draft came, the girls were weeks into their grief, and it was buried in a stack of condolence letters.

“I’m only glad that Mother isn’t here to endure this,” Verity said, handing her older sister the letter in her father’s careful script. Her eyes were bloodshot, making them an eerie gold-green rather than their normal mossy-stream color. Ket knew she hadn’t been sleeping; she’d heard the floorboards creaking as Ver tiptoed downstairs each night. Their youngest sister, Selah, never left her rooms after retiring, but judging from her wan complexion and the dark circles ringing her own eyes, Ket wagered she’d spent much of her night tossing and turning.

“Here is another you ought to see,” Verity said, handing her a second letter as she shifted through the stack of words sent from well-meaning kin and acquaintances. Keturah met Ver’s concerned gaze before accepting it and glancing down. From the scrawl, she knew it was from her father’s attorney, Clement Abercrombie, the temporary manager of the entire Banning estate—both that of Hartwick Manor, here in Rivenshire, and Tabletop Plantation on Nevis.

Keturah sighed and closed her eyes. She didn’t know if she could bear to read the same words from her father a third time, describing his failing health … imploring his daughters to ever remember his fervent love for them. And yet had she not scoured the first and second, searching for variances, any scant detail that would somehow help her connect to their father? No, better to remain in realm of the head rather than the heart. To read of business, to know of the outcome of this latest sugar harvest. Certainly it had to be better than the last. They desperately needed some glad tidings…

She slid a finger under the wax seal and popped open the heavy linen paper, unfolding it. She settled back into the worn but beautifully upholstered damask chair, what had once been her mother’s favorite. But as she read, her heart sank lower and lower. No, no, no…

“Ket, what is it?” Verity asked, setting aside the rest of the letters and leaning forward. “You look positively aghast.”

Where can we find you on the Internet?

http://LisaTawnBergren.com

www.Facebook.com/LisaTawnBergren

@LisaTBergren on Twitter and Instagram

I’m really looking forward to reading this new book. It’s at the top of my to-be-read pile, and I’ll start it when I send in the book I finished writing last week after I finish a final edit this week. Thank you for sharing Keturah with us.

Readers, here are links to the book. 
Keturah - Christianbook.com
Keturah (The Sugar Baron's Daughters) - Amazon paperback
Keturah (The Sugar Baron's Daughters Book 1) - Kindle
Keturah: The Sugar Baron's Daughters, Book 1 - Audio book

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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

WINNERS!!!!!

New instructions for winners in 2018 - When you send me the email, make sure your subject line says this: Winner - (book title) - (author's name) 

Alison (MI) is the winner of an ebook or print copy of Wheresoever They May Be by Terri Wangard.

Dena (WA) is the winner of a copy of the Ebook, Ain't Misbehaving by Marji Laine.

Becky (MO) and Lourdes (NY) are the winner of ebook editions ofThe Wedding Barter by Alice K Arenz.

Connie (KY) is the winner of The Embers Series by Carrie Daws.

If you won a book and you like it, please consider giving the author the courtesy of writing a review on Goodreads, Amazon.com, Christianbooks.com, Barnes and Noble, or other Internet sites. 

Also, tell your friends about the book ... and this blog. Thank you.

Congratulations, everyone. If you won a print book, send me your mailing address:
Click the Contact Me link at the top of the blog, and send me an Email.

If you won an ebook, just let me know what email address it should be sent to.

When you contact me, please give the title and author of the book you won, so I won't have to look it up.

Remember, you have 4 weeks to claim your book.

LIKE A FISH OUT OF WATER - Janice Thompson - One Free Book

Welcome back, Janice. Did you always know you wanted to be a writer or did you want to be something else?

I started writing in 6th grade and never looked back! The push to write for publication began in the mid 1990s when my daughters were in their teens. I knew my day was coming. It was only a matter of time.

How long does it take you to write a book from start to finish?

This depends on the length of the book, of course, and the genre. Cozy mysteries (which only run about 65,000 words) can take longer than a full-length (85,000 – 90,000) romantic comedy, simply because of all of the twists and turns. On average, it takes me two to three months to write a book, give or take.

How do you come up with themes for your stories?

Most of my themes come from real life. If you follow my romantic comedies, you will see an overarching theme of cultural conflicts. It’s fun to throw different types of people into the same scene and watch them squirm!

Do you have a schedule of when you write?

For the most part, yes. I have more free time in the mornings and afternoons, which is ironic, because I’m a night person. When I’m on deadline, it’s a free-for-all. I write morning, noon, and night. . .sometimes even in the middle of the night.

How are you able to balance other aspects of your life with your writing?

I have to plot out my days in much the same way I would plot a novel. For example, I’m currently directing a play at a local Christian theater. Our rehearsals are from 4:30 – 8:30 p.m. I work on my books from the time I wake up until time to leave for the theater. Thank goodness, our production ends two weeks before my next deadline, so I’ll have more free time in the evenings to work.

What elements do you think make a great story line?

Most great stories are built on conflict. You take a group of very different people, throw them together, give them a problem to solve (or a romance to tumble into) and watch everyone flounder. It’s great fun to see my characters squirm!

What was the hardest thing about writing a book?

Staying focused. There are so many things to distract me—everything from friends to family to the Internet. Sometimes I get so caught up in online research that I forget to write.

I resemble that last remark, Janice. How many books have you written so far? Do you have a favorite?

I have written 107 books, to date. My favorite, I suppose, would be Fools Rush In, the first book in my Weddings by Bella series. It’s my best-selling novel, so I think readers would agree that it’s a favorite.

I loved that book. Actually, I loved all the novels in that series. Do you have a favorite character?

Yes, Bella Rossi, from the Weddings by Bella series. She’s a quirky wedding coordinator who doesn’t always have her act together. She’s also got an over-the-top family and they don’t make her job any easier!

Tell us about the story.

Like a Fish Out of Water is the second book in the Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard series from Guideposts. The sleuth/heroine remains the same in every book. Here’s my story’s synopsis:

After discovering an old sword dating back to World War I in her bedroom, Priscilla must defend the reputation of her great-grandfather against the controversial story behind the ancient weapon. Is this a battle worth fighting, or will Priscilla’s faith in her ancestor be her undoing in the community?

This particular cozy mystery is unique, in that it is set in the present, but the mystery actually took place in the past. I had a lot of fun going back and forth in time to lay out the mystery elements.

Please give us a peek at the first page of the book.

“Ready to head home, boy?” Priscilla Grant glanced over her shoulder at the dog in the back seat of her car. She grinned when Jake’s tail thumped against the leather. “I’d say we’ve had quite enough adventure for one day, wouldn’t you?”

Adventure, indeed. She and Jake had shared a wonderful day exploring Martha’s Vineyard, her new home. Though she’d only been on the island a short time, Priscilla still couldn’t get enough of the breathtaking scenery or the kind-hearted people. She’d grown to love it here.

Jake seemed to agree. His energetic tail wagged in merry fashion, as if to say, “I’d like to stay put, too.”

“Good boy.” She reached back to pat him on the head and he settled down, ready for the ride home.

Priscilla turned the key in the ignition and then pointed her car toward her cottage at Misty Harbor, her thoughts shifting back to the island and its colorful residents. Could she have landed in a more idyllic spot? To all who dreamed of white picket fences, American flags waving in the coastal breeze, and a quaint life along the one hundred and twenty miles of breathtaking seashore, this was the place. One could scarcely find a fault with Martha’s Vineyard, unless the cost of living was factored in. Owning a home on the island could squeeze the pocketbook, no doubt about that.

Not that Priscilla wanted to fret over finances, not after a day like today, when she’d enjoyed a blissful tour of the island’s historic homes. She would ponder the cost of updates to her cottage later. Right now, basking in the glory of this peaceful, picture-perfect day took priority. And eating a crème horn she’d picked up at the local bakery, of course. The take-home bag sat in her passenger seat. The sugary goodness permeated the air around her even now, but she would have to wait until after dinner to enjoy her treat. 

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

WEBSITE: www.janiceathompson.com

NEWSLETTER: http://janiceathompson.com/newsletter-sign-up/

FACEBOOK: JaniceHannaThompson

TWITTER: booksbyjanice

Thank you, Janice, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers. I’m one of your biggest cheerleaders as you are one of mine.

Readers, you can get a copy of this book and others in the series by visiting this site:
https://www.shopguideposts.org/mysteries-of-martha-s-vineyard.html

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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

THE MAN HE NEVER WAS - James L Rubart - One Free Book (You'll want this one!)

Bio: James L. Rubart is 28 years old, but lives trapped inside an older man's body. He thinks he's still young enough to water ski and dirt bike with his two grown sons, and loves to send readers on journeys they'll remember months after they finish his stories. He's the best-selling, Christy BOOK of the YEAR, CAROL, INSPY and RT Book Reviews award winning author of nine novels, a speaker, branding expert, co-host of the Novel Marketing podcast, and co-founder of the Rubart Writing Academy. He lives with his amazing wife on a small lake in Washington. More at www.jameslrubart.com

Welcome back, James. The first line of your bio made me laugh. I interviewed Sharlene Maclaren on “The Lena Nelson Dooley Show” on the Along Came a Writer Blogtalk radio network. We talked about the age we feel inside being so far distant from our bodily age. Since you’re being published regularly, what new avenues will your future books take?

I’m excited because things are changing! I’ve always published traditionally, but I recently got the rights back to my first three novels so I’ll be reissuing them with added bonus material. In addition, I’m working on a series of indie novels with Susan May Warren that will start to release in 2019. My indie books will help promote my traditionally published books and vice versa.

I’ve been doing some indie publishing, and my last indie book won the Faith, Hope, and Love Reader’s Choice Award last year. It was the only indie to final. What conferences will you be attending this year? Will you be a speaker at any of them?  

I’m cutting back this year on conferences, but will be speaking at the Spokane Christian Writers conference in March, at the Northwestern Christian Writers Conference in St Paul, Minnesota, in July, and at the Oregon Christian Writers Conference in August.

If you were in charge of planning the panel discussion at a writing conference, what topic would the panel cover, and who would you ask to be on the panel, and why?    

Great question! The topic would be how to write from the deep heart, and the identity of a writer. The panel would include Susan May Warren, Ted Dekker, and I might slip in there for a question or two.

I’d love to hear that panel. How important is it to you to be active in writing organizations?

When I started out, it was critical. I made connections, found inspiration and encouragement, and formed relationships with people who are now some of my closest friends. These days I’m still involved, but more by trying to help other writers. I’ve formed a company with my son called The Rubart Writing Academy where I teach authors how to get published, and maybe most importantly discover the theme of their lives which gives the motivation to keep going when they fell like giving up. We did our first Academy last October and the students said it was life changing. It’s a thrill to get to do it with my son.

           

Maybe I should interview you on “The Lena Nelson Dooley Show” about the academy. Email me if you’re interested. Where in the community or your church do you volunteer?

Darci and I are in a wonderful spot (empty nesters) where we can invest time in younger couples who are going through the struggles of young parenthood and marriage. Also, I’m part of a weekly men’s group where we read a book and talk about it. Was a thrill last summer when they chose to read one of my novels. Quite fun being a fly on the wall and seeing what they got out of it.

If you could write the inscription on your tombstone, what would it be?

Brought the Light of Christ to Everyone Around Him

I like that. Tell us about the featured book.         

What if You Woke Up One Morning and the Darkest Parts of Yourself Were Gone?

Toren Daniels vanished eight months back, and his wife and kids have moved on—with more than a little relief. Toren was a good man, but carried a raging temper that often exploded without warning. So when he shows up on their doorstep with no notice, they’re shocked to see him alive. But more shocked to see he’s changed. Radically.

His anger is gone. He’s oddly patient. Kind. Fun. The man he always wanted to be. Toren has no clue where he’s been, but knows he’s been utterly transformed. He focuses on three things: Finding out where he’s been. Finding out how it happened. And winning back his family.

But then shards of his old self start to rise up from deep inside—the man kicked out of the NFL for his fury—and Toren must face the supreme battle of his life.

In this fresh take on the classic Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde story, James L. Rubart explores the war between good and evil within each of us—and one man’s only chance to overcome the greatest divide of the soul.

Please share the first page with us.

Toren Daniels rolled over in bed and light pierced his closed eyelids, which meant five a.m. had come and gone. Which meant Quinn was already at the gym, into his third set. Which meant Toren would be buying lunch at the end of the week. And Quinn ate like a whale when he was training heavy. Toren groaned. He’d set two alarms on his phone and still overslept. Not good.

Toren opened his eyes for a second, then immediately closed them against the sunshine, far too bright. His head. Yeah, he’d been pushing his conditioning hard for the past seven weeks, but the haze swirling through his mind along with the dull ache that pressed in from all angles in his skull didn’t feel like the usual day after hard sprints and heavy weights. It felt like the day six years back, the only time he’d ever been rip-roaring drunk, after he’d made the team and all the vets forced Toren and the rest of the rookies to drink far past a rational level. At least he hadn’t puked. Right now? Same feeling. And his stomach might win this time.

What was wrong with him? He lay still, head on the pillow, eyes closed. Took in a deep breath, a vain attempt to clear his senses. Didn’t help. He ignored the pain in his head. He had to ping Quinn, apologize for blowing the workout. Toren covered his eyes with one hand and with his other reached for his cell phone, which he always placed in the same spot on his nightstand, a few inches from the edge, a few inches from the front. His fingers searched the smooth surface of the wood in widening circles. He blew out a sigh of exasperation, turned his head to the side, and opened his eyes again. The phone wasn’t anywhere on his nightstand. Worse, this was not his nightstand. Toren’s heart hammered.

“Sloane?”

He twisted and clutched a handful of the white sheets on the king-size mattress, blinking. Except for three pillows lumped up against the headboard, the bed was empty. His wife wasn’t there. His heart pumped. This wasn’t their bed, their room. The increased pulse brought a new level of throbbing to his brain. Toren did a slow half-circle spin until he sat upright on the edge of the bed, still squinting against the light. Why was it taking his eyes so long to adjust? He blinked and rubbed his eyes as he took in the room. A hotel room. Why? It made no sense. He’d gone to bed last night at home after a movie night with the kids, Sloane next to him, his alarm set for four forty. Toren staggered to his feet and wobbled over to the bathroom door.

“Sloane?”

No response. Toren pushed open the door. No lights. No Sloane standing under a rainfall of steaming water. He was alone. His pulse increased as his gaze swept the room and spotted nothing familiar except a pair of Nike sweats and a Seattle Seahawk’s T-shirt lying over the back of the overstuffed chair next to the window. Toren slipped on the sweats but hesitated with the shirt. His old team. The one he wanted to rage against for releasing him—but the cutting truth was he’d pulled the pin on that grenade all by himself. Still, whoever was behind this had a distorted sense of humor.

Where can my readers find you on the Internet?

On my website http://jameslrubart.com/ where they can sign up for my newsletter and get a free copy of one of my short stories.

On my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/JamesLRubart/  

On Twitter: @jamesLrubart

On The Rubart Writing Academy website: http://rubartwritingacademy.com/  

Thanks for having me, Lena!

As always, it’s my great pleasure. - I. Love. Your. Books. - That first page made me want to read your book right now, but I only have 8 days to meet a book deadline. Maybe my copy will be her by the time I meet the deadline.

Readers, here are links to the book.

The Man He Never Was - Christianbook.com
The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde - Amazon paperback
The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde - Kindle
The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde - Audio bookl

Leave a comment for a chance to win a free copy of the book. You must follow these instructions to be in the drawing. Please tell us where you live, at least the state or territory or country if outside North America. (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 4 weeks from the posting of the winners to claim your book.

If you’re reading this on Goodreads, Google+, Feedblitz, Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, 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

A SEASON TO DANCE - Patricia Beal - One Free Book

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

In the debut, I wrote a lot of myself into Ana. We both made a lot of mistakes and experienced great heartbreak because we lived life without God for too many years. We heard the Gospel for the first time well into our adulthood and came to saving faith practically together. But she’s better than me when it comes to surrendering. I look up to her now in matters of dying to self. In fiction you can make everything bigger and better, right? She’s a professional ballerina. I danced pre-professionally in three continents, but never earned a penny dancing ballet. Not one. I got a free costume once. Oh, and I never had a Baryshnikov lookalike and/or a Blake Shelton lookalike fighting over me. I did manage to land a handsome paratrooper who’s been putting up with my writing madness and other insanities for more than twelve years now.

What is the quirkiest thing you have ever done?

I wanted to write an accurate scene about a frustrated woman destroying a pregnancy test. So I purchased a First Response pregnancy test, used it, waited as the character would have, then threw it against the bathroom floor to see if it would break, and if so, how and in how many pieces.

When did you first discover that you were a writer?

The desire to write a novel came thirty years ago, when as a teenage girl back home in Brazil, Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist touched my heart. I wanted to do that to people, touch their hearts with a simple story that had something to say about the human condition. I moved to the United States, learned English, and graduated magna cum laude from the University of Cincinnati with a B.A. in English Literature. It was in college that I learned how to write and realized that the writing dream was possible. I was the news editor of the university newspaper for two years and continued in journalism after college while trying to come up with a story idea for a novel. After an internship at the Pentagon, I worked as a public affairs officer for the U.S. Army for seven years. Then came marriage and babies. Then the story idea and the book baby—at long last.

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

I read friends’ books more and more these days because I love them and know how hard it is to birth a book baby. So whatever they write is what I read. I find myself reading more historical novels and speculative novels than I ever thought I would. But I also read a lot of contemporary fiction and devotionals.

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

I don’t. I’m either crazy and running or sane and still. When I figure out how to run sanely, I will let you know how I got there.

How do you choose your characters’ names?

I usually have faces in my head first. Then I begin toying around with names—names that match the faces. Ana’s name is spelled this way because her mom grew up in Brazil and was also a ballerina. So she’s named after beautiful Brazilian ballerina Ana Botafogo. Peter is a man she mistakes for stability for her soul when no mortal men can give her that. What she really needs is the real Rock, the Lord. There’s a quirk about all the names of the people in her journey in the novel. I have a note on that in the readers guide. I won’t spoil the surprise. I do look at names’ meanings before going final on them. I also look at those long movie credits for last names.

What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Taking the leap and becoming a homeschooler. I thought for sure 2017 would go down in history as the year I got published. But no. Becoming a homeschooler is far more historical. See, I received an Asperger’s diagnosis in 2014. This thing is now considered an autism spectrum disorder—I’m not certain I understand or agree with that, but I’m not a doctor. Anyway, having Asperger’s makes me clinically selfish and giving my children my most productive hours when their peers are in school and mine are at Panera is a big deal to me. But the Lord is blessing our home school, and I’m proud of each of us for the work we produce and the love we share around our family table daily. There’s joy in obedience, right?

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

A backyard bird. Mine bring me great joy—to me and to my children. We have woodpeckers, chickadees, cardinals, tufted titmice, and many others who visit daily and fight the squirrels for the food we put out. If I were an animal, I would want to bring that kind of joy to those who hold down the fort day in and day out. Flying would be cool too.

What is your favorite food?

Churrasco! Have you ever heard of it? It’s a way of grilling different meats in the south of Brazil, where I’m from. We’re like the Texans of Brazil. Unique. There are several Brazilian-style restaurants in the U.S. that serve a good churrasco. But my dad’s is the best.

There was a Brazilian-style restaurant near us for several years. They are rather expensive here. (I live in Texas.) James and I went to eat there twice, and the meat was so delicious and tender. What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

Being lost. I didn’t write with an awakened heart. How I overcame it? Jesus passed by. I became a Christian during the writing of the novel. When I finally understood the Gospel and surrendered to Christ, I realized I had to rewrite the whole story. My novel wasn’t just the story of a woman looking for love and professional success. It was about a woman trying to fill the God-shaped hole in her heart with terribly misguided romantic and professional pursuits. She had to come to faith first. Then she could find sufficiency, love, and professional joy. Boom! God had me writing my own salvation story all along. Here’s how it happened: http://internationalchristianfictionwriters.blogspot.com/2015/10/a-season-to-dance-book-that-wrote-me.html

Awesome. Tell us about the featured book.

A Season to Dance is the heart-wrenching love story of a small town professional ballerina who dreams of dancing at the Met in New York, of the two men who love her and of the forbidden kiss that changed everything.

Blurb:

Ana Brassfield has her path to the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House all figured out until her first love, renowned German dancer Claus Gert, returns to Georgia to win her back. Despite a promising start toward her ballet career and pending marriage to landscape architect, Peter Engberg, Ana wonders if her dreams of dancing at the Met are as impossible as her previous romantic relationship with Claus.

Then, an on-stage kiss between Ana and Claus changes everything.

Convinced the kiss is more than a one-time mistake, Peter breaks off their engagement. With an old dog crippled by arthritis and dreams deferred but not left behind, Ana moves to Germany to be with Claus. But the ghost of his late wife, Ana’s own feelings for Peter, and the pressure of earning a spot in a large ballet company are a high price for a shot at success. Ana seems on the verge of having everything she ever dreamed of, but will it be enough?

Please give us the first page of the book.

November 12, 2011

This is for them. This is for the magic. This is for every little dreamer in the room. Dozens of little awestruck faces crowded the large studio as I took position to practice my Sugar Plum Fairy solo. Everyone in the company and the school had come together for the first full-length rehearsal of The Nutcracker season.

I’d been in every one of those shoes: mouse, soldier, angel, every flower, every food, and every country. Now I was the Sugar Plum Fairy at long last, the one role that eluded me all those years. Had it been worth the wait?

Images of the first Sugar Plum Fairy rehearsal I’d ever seen flashed before my eyes—a beloved mental movie my heart flocked to every year around this time.

Could a young dancer ever forget the magic of watching the Sugar Plum rehearse her solo for the very first time? I hadn’t. I peered toward the girls from beneath the bright studio lights. And they wouldn’t.

This moment was going to last forever in their little minds. And I knew that, within the next three minutes, most of them would be thinking, That will be me one day.

My breathing quickened with the first notes of the music, and I moved to Tchaikovsky’s composition in steps that were delicate, like the heavenly sounds of the celesta, and precise, like the pizzicato—or pinched—sounds of the string instruments. The descending bass clarinet punctuated the variation.

Tchaikovsky used the celesta, a keyboard instrument new in his time, to make the music of the Sugar Plum Fairy sound like “drops of water shooting from a fountain,” the imagery Petipa, the choreographer of the ballet, had requested. I imagined the fountain: sparkly, flowy, and elegant.

Glittering bell-like sounds inspired the gliding steps that followed, and regal arm movements came naturally in a variation that suited my strengths.

Sure, twenty-nine was ridiculously late for a professional ballerina to dance the role of Sugar Plum Fairy for the first time, but I didn’t let that bother me.

I’m eager to read the rest of the story. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Home: www.patriciabeal.com

Twitter: www.twitter.com/bealpat

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/bealpat

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/patriciasbeal

Facebook: www.facebook.com/patricia.beal.author

Instagram: www.instagram.com/patriciasimoesbeal

Google +: https://plus.google.com/111243901516914631366

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricia-beal-b185b653/

Blog: http://internationalchristianfictionwriters.blogspot.com/ (group)

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCusGML42eeycuYcxFCAtDZQ

Thank you, Patricia, for sharing this book with me and my blog readers. I know we’ll all enjoy reading it.

Readers, here are links to the book.

A Season to Dance - Paperback
A Season to Dance - Kindle

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