I want to introduce you to another author that writes about the Panhandle of Texas!!!
1. I need you to tell me your name as seen on your books, your genre, and your title(s), and your website address.
I'm McKendree R. Long III, AKA Mike. Genre of the 1st book is Civil War/Western, and its title is "No Good Like It Is". The sequel was released Late December entitled, "Dog Soldier Moon". My website is www.mckendreelong.com
2. How long have you been an author and when did the desire to write (the writing bug) bite?
I finished the 1st book two years ago, and completed the sequel in August 2011. I took a Creative Writing course in 1978; as part of that, I wrote the 1st two chapters of fiction about my first tour in Vietnam. Got and A+ in the course, so I sent the piece to a friend I respected. He called it 'pedestrian', so I pouted for 30 years.
3. Why did you choose the genre you write in? Are there plans to write in another genre?
This all started as a nonfiction work on the rapid development of firearms technology in the Western Era (1850-1890), when we went from muzzle-loading flintlocks to smokeless powder and machine guns in just forty years. In my research I discovered the Eighth Texas Cavalry, got excited about their accomplishments, and decided to put a couple of fictional characters into that regiment to tell their story. The story took a life of its own, and the Eighth Texas and their guns quickly became secondary to the trials of my two protagonists. I've started on the third piece of the trilogy; I suppose when I finish that, I may go back and finish that Vietnam War story.
4. Please tell about each title here:
In "No Good Like It Is", the protagonists (West Pointer Dobey Walls and veteran non-com Jimmy Melton) meet and bond before the Civil War, barely survive the war, they try to speed 'home' to Texas at the war's end to rescue Dobey's long missing family.
They wind up dragging a small army of strays and misfits to the Panhandle with them. Run-ins with lonely widows, Union deserters, destitute farmers, and Confederate Cherokees slow them down. Southern Cheyenne and renegade lawmen add to the chaos.
In the sequel, our heroes establish a small community in the Texas Panhandle which thrives until a horrible crime decimates it. Dobey and jimmy are then driven to try to find and punish the perpetrators, but aren't completely successful.
Meanwhile, the nearby friendly Cheyenne village of Chief Black Kettle is attacked and destroyed by the U.S. Seventh Cavalry under Lieutenant Colonel George A. Custer; the destruction and aftermath are viewed through the eyes of the defeated Cheyenne.
5. Do you do speaking engagements? Tell about your subject matter.
I frequently speak to civic clubs (Rotary, Sertoma, Optimists, etc.) and to Civil War Round Tables. Typically spend half my time on the self-publishing process and the other half on my book. In these engagements I usually put out four or five original Civil War firearms for 'Show and Tell'.
6. What has been your most rewarding experience as an author?
Passing 1000 in sales, and being featured in Five Star Books website (5starsbooks.com) as one of twelve Western with lots of 5-star reviews.
7. Where can your books be purchased?
In addition to Amazon, Kindle, and most Hastings Bookstores, it can be ordered through Barnes and Noble, Books a Million, and my website.
7. How can readers reach you through twitter? through facebook? through your blog?
I'm @ McKendree Long on twitter, Mike Long on FB, and my website is www.mckendreelong.com
8. What was your biggest surprise at being an author?
My biggest surprise was that the book appealed to women and twelve year old boys. I thought of it as a 'guy' book; there's a lot of profanity, but I didn't find it necessary to use the 'f' bomb, and I do have a hooker trying to clean up the men's language. There sex, but it's understated. Anyhow, I got this email from a young boy whose Mom bought it for him. He said it was 'not as rough as the talk' on his school bus, and he thought it should be required reading for 6th grade US History classes. Wow.
9. We all know that writing can be a lonely occupation, what do your family and friends do to lift you up when you are down?
I'm just hardly ever 'down'. My wife listens to my drafts and provides first critiques. And I listen to her. We've been together since 1960, and only two things stop me from talking back to her: fear and common sense.
10. What is your favorite toy as a child?
A scaled-down replica of an 1861 Colt Navy revolver when I was six, and an American Flyer bike when I was twelve, so I could ride out and collect arrowheads/Indian artifacts; i ended up with over 1800 items.
If you found this interview interesting, please contact the author or comment on my website.
http://elainelittau.com
Showing posts with label christian fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christian fiction. Show all posts
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Thursday, April 7, 2011
"The Eyes of a Stranger" by Elaine Littau is Coming Soon.
"The Eyes of a Stranger, Gertie's Grace" is getting closer to production. This week a very talented young graphic designer took my ideas and developed several options for a bookcover. I am definately going to use her again. Her name is Jonna Feavel. (Contact me via email if you want to get her to work for you.)
I will tell you a little about what "The Eyes of a Stranger" is about. Gertie is an eighteen-year-old girl who finds herself at the threshold of life. Rejected by her father and sent off to become a mail-order bride by her mother, she realizes that many options are open to her.
We met Gertie briefly in "Luke's Legacy" when she helped her fellow traveler, Sheriff Roy Miller, on the train in his care for baby Rose.
After finishing "Luke's Legacy", I couldn't get Gertie out of my mind. The story she shared with the sheriff begged to be built upon. It has been a pleasure to bring this character to life. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did when I wrote it. It has the feel of "Nan's Journey", plus a little mystery.
Now, I would like to introduce you to Terri Burnell. She writes wonderful children's books.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Terri Burnell
Garden of Eden
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
My goal is to write children's Christian books that spark a child's imagination while teaching them historical, cultural, and scriptural facts.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
About three years ago, my son Andrew loved to read The Magic Tree House books. At that time, Andrew was 8 years old. After reading one of the Magic Tree House books with Andrew, I realized the reason children love these stories so much is because they are taken to a magical place where they can experience the adventures first hand. It gave me the idea to write a book based on a biblical story in which the main characters could actually go back in time to experience what it would be like to have lived at that time.
4. What are your hobbies?
I enjoy scrapbooking, playing games with my family, line dancing, and attempting to sing Karaoke.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes, but much more now than in my younger years. I love to read Christian inspirational books.
6. What are you reading right now?
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and the "Answers" magazine.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
Yes, I'm working on my second book titled Joseph, The Loyal Servant. This book takes place in ancient Egypt about 1725BC. The children go back in time to experience what it was like to travel in a camel caravan across the desert, learn the culture and customs of ancient Egyptian life, and witness Joseph being sold into slavery, and then later, through his faithfulness to God, see how Joseph is restored and uplifted to be the second in command over all of Egypt.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
My goal is to be as accurate as possible with scientific, historical, and biblical facts. I need to accumulate a lot of data to be accurate. Sometimes the resources may not be in agreement concerning certain details. As always, the Bible is first and foremost my most valuable, infallible resource. When other online sources or reference books don't agree, I continue to search for more resources to obtain the most accurate information possible. This can be time consuming, but necessary.
For the book I'm writing now, Joseph, The Loyal Servant, I've needed to research more materials to obtain the historical and cultural data. For Garden of Eden, my only two resources were the Holy Bible and my own imagination. At times, I get writer's block. When this occurs I usually just stop writing and come back to it another time.
Before writing, I pray that God will give me guidance, and that my story will bring honor to Him.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
Garden of Eden is a delightful story that will open a child's mind to explore the amazing possibilities of God's truth. Beth, an angel of God, takes brother and sister, Andrew and Shelby, back to the Garden of Eden to experience firsthand the new earth just ten days after creation.
Garden of Eden brings this well-known Bible story to life through imagination. Join the adventure as Andrew and Shelby make friends with the animals, explore the wonders of the garden, and discover the plan God has for all of his children. Along the way they will learn valuable lessons that can be carried with them, even after returning home.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
My personal email is: mag440ptas@peoplepc.com and the book website is: www.gardenofedenbookseries.com
As you know, I gave away a Kindle on April 1st. The winner was Melissa Kidd from IL. Congratulations Melissa.
The author's group I belong to got a few of us together to give away another Kindle on May 15, 2011 so it is not too late to get in on the drawing. To get in on it you have a choice to either set up an event for me or purchase 1 or more of my books. It counts if you want to pre-order "The Eyes of a Stranger" for $9 including s/h.
I will tell you a little about what "The Eyes of a Stranger" is about. Gertie is an eighteen-year-old girl who finds herself at the threshold of life. Rejected by her father and sent off to become a mail-order bride by her mother, she realizes that many options are open to her.
We met Gertie briefly in "Luke's Legacy" when she helped her fellow traveler, Sheriff Roy Miller, on the train in his care for baby Rose.
After finishing "Luke's Legacy", I couldn't get Gertie out of my mind. The story she shared with the sheriff begged to be built upon. It has been a pleasure to bring this character to life. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did when I wrote it. It has the feel of "Nan's Journey", plus a little mystery.
Now, I would like to introduce you to Terri Burnell. She writes wonderful children's books.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Terri Burnell
Garden of Eden
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
My goal is to write children's Christian books that spark a child's imagination while teaching them historical, cultural, and scriptural facts.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
About three years ago, my son Andrew loved to read The Magic Tree House books. At that time, Andrew was 8 years old. After reading one of the Magic Tree House books with Andrew, I realized the reason children love these stories so much is because they are taken to a magical place where they can experience the adventures first hand. It gave me the idea to write a book based on a biblical story in which the main characters could actually go back in time to experience what it would be like to have lived at that time.
4. What are your hobbies?
I enjoy scrapbooking, playing games with my family, line dancing, and attempting to sing Karaoke.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes, but much more now than in my younger years. I love to read Christian inspirational books.
6. What are you reading right now?
Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo and the "Answers" magazine.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
Yes, I'm working on my second book titled Joseph, The Loyal Servant. This book takes place in ancient Egypt about 1725BC. The children go back in time to experience what it was like to travel in a camel caravan across the desert, learn the culture and customs of ancient Egyptian life, and witness Joseph being sold into slavery, and then later, through his faithfulness to God, see how Joseph is restored and uplifted to be the second in command over all of Egypt.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
My goal is to be as accurate as possible with scientific, historical, and biblical facts. I need to accumulate a lot of data to be accurate. Sometimes the resources may not be in agreement concerning certain details. As always, the Bible is first and foremost my most valuable, infallible resource. When other online sources or reference books don't agree, I continue to search for more resources to obtain the most accurate information possible. This can be time consuming, but necessary.
For the book I'm writing now, Joseph, The Loyal Servant, I've needed to research more materials to obtain the historical and cultural data. For Garden of Eden, my only two resources were the Holy Bible and my own imagination. At times, I get writer's block. When this occurs I usually just stop writing and come back to it another time.
Before writing, I pray that God will give me guidance, and that my story will bring honor to Him.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
Garden of Eden is a delightful story that will open a child's mind to explore the amazing possibilities of God's truth. Beth, an angel of God, takes brother and sister, Andrew and Shelby, back to the Garden of Eden to experience firsthand the new earth just ten days after creation.
Garden of Eden brings this well-known Bible story to life through imagination. Join the adventure as Andrew and Shelby make friends with the animals, explore the wonders of the garden, and discover the plan God has for all of his children. Along the way they will learn valuable lessons that can be carried with them, even after returning home.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
My personal email is: mag440ptas@peoplepc.com and the book website is: www.gardenofedenbookseries.com
As you know, I gave away a Kindle on April 1st. The winner was Melissa Kidd from IL. Congratulations Melissa.
The author's group I belong to got a few of us together to give away another Kindle on May 15, 2011 so it is not too late to get in on the drawing. To get in on it you have a choice to either set up an event for me or purchase 1 or more of my books. It counts if you want to pre-order "The Eyes of a Stranger" for $9 including s/h.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Christmas Short Story
Merry Christmas!
This week I don't have an author interview for you. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the kind words and actions that you have done for me. As you know, last Saturday Terry and I had the book launch party for Luke's Legacy. We were blessed by the family and friends who came and showed love and support. There were also many who emailed us and sent greetings and well-wishes. That meant so much to us also.
Sometimes Christmas can be a tough time. I know that when I get out the tree and decorations, I think of those who are not with us any more. I have wonderful memories. I am very thankful for that. In my family we are very expressive of love. We hug a lot and tell one another that we love each other. That has been a comfort for me because I know that the ones I love have heard it from my lips.
Terry wanted me to send out the short-story I wrote last year called, "A Job for Christmas". I told him that people could click on the link to my website, but he wanted it to show up on the email...so here it is:
A Job For Christmas
The reception room was crowded as the tenth applicant for the job burst through the door. “Sorry Ma’am I hope I am not late.” He said.
“Put your name on the list. Mr. James will get to you in order.” The hefty middle-aged receptionist answered as if she were a worn out recording.
The young man wrote his name carefully to be sure that it was legible. There was no use being looked over for a job because the interviewer couldn’t read his name. He finished the task and the woman spoke. “Fill these out also.”
“Thank you.” He said. He searched the room for a spot to land on. There were a couple of chairs available but briefcases were in them. The other job seekers in the room looked as depressed and tired as he was. An inner door opened and a middle-aged man came into the crowded room. He was obviously the mail room clerk. He searched each face and his eyes came to rest on the young man who was standing.
“No place to sit?” He asked.
The young man shrugged. “Apparently not.”
“Hey you there, move your stuff and let this kid sit. You know it will be a long wait.”
The man continued reading the latest copy of Forbes magazine as if he had not been addressed. A young woman moved her briefcase from the seat next to her and nodded to the young man.
“Thank you.” He said.
The mailroom clerk crossed the room to the young man. “I am Harold. I have been here since the company was founded.”
“My name is Steve. I feel like I have been looking for work since the day this company was founded.” He smiled.
The man with the Forbes magazine remarked. “They don’t hand out promotions much here or else you don’t have much talent.”
The others in the room chuckled in agreement.
“I hold the best position in the company.” He said. Smiling he peered into Steve’s eyes. “Good luck Steve. Young lady, you have a good heart.”
They watched the man as he went in through the same door he came out of. “Loser!” One man muttered.
“Steve, my name is Marsha. It looks like we are interviewing for the same position.”
Steve nodded. “Every interview is the same. There aren’t a whole lot of positions available.”
“That is true. Tell me about yourself. We apparently have a lot of time to kill.”
His eyes watered. “I have a wife and three kids. Hopefully I can get something going before Thanksgiving so that Christmas won’t be bad for them.”
“Have you been on the job hunt long?” She asked.
He said, “It feels like a long time. Actually, it is when you have a family counting on you. As of today I have been out of work for three months.”
One of the job seekers left his chair in search of the restroom. As he left another man remarked, “How long before they call on another one of us to talk with personnel? This is ridiculous!”
“Hey you, is the man that hires even here yet?” Another man asked the receptionist.
The receptionist shrugged.
“It isn’t her fault.” Marsha answered.
“All I know is that they better look at qualifications when they fill this job.” The Forbes magazine reader said.
“In this economy I am sure they will look at a lot more than qualifications.” Marsha answered. “What is your name?”
“Listen, this isn’t a coffee shop and I am not looking to make friends. We are in competition for the same job.”
“All right then.”She said.
Marsha turned back to Steve. “Tell me about your kids. Are they really young?”
His eyes lit up as he began, “I have two sons. One is twelve and the other is ten. Our little girl is four years old now. My wife is the best. She has been great through all this stress. They are everything to me.” He fumbled with the papers that he had completed.
The receptionist leaned forward. “Marsha Brown.”
“That’s me.” She stood and smoothed out the front of her jacket. “Good luck Steve.”
One of the men in the waiting room muttered. “We might as well go home. They always give the jobs to the chicks.”
Steve contemplated the words. Sometimes it seemed to be true. He thought about his wife and hoped with all his heart that he would come home with good news. Christmas would be brutal if he didn’t land a job soon. They were down to eating beans and cornbread most meals as well as spaghetti and ketchup sauce too. Aimee was a great cook and managed to stretch the pantry to keep them fed. Presents couldn’t happen without a job. Of course the grandparents would send things, but he wanted to provide for his children. He clasped his hands together as he rested his elbows on his knees. This waiting was a killer.
“Steve Clark.” The voice beaconed.
He stood to go and angry voices erupted. “No fair! I have been here twice as long as he has.”
“Do I have to call security and have all of you hauled off?” The receptionist asked.
As Steve entered the interview room he was greeted by Marsha. “Hi Steve, let me look at your application.”
The look of confusion on his face was amusing. She smiled as she looked through the neatly scripted papers. “You can learn a lot about people when they are waiting for a job interview. As far as my authority goes, I would say that you have the job. There will be a nice Christmas bonus and sign on bonus. Sally, my secretary will cut the check today. You can come in first thing tomorrow to start work. Now all we need is for you to speak with the founder of the company. He enjoys meeting each new member of the team and showing them their office.
As she finished speaking the mail room clerk walked into the room. “Follow me. So your name is Steve?”
Steve nodded. “Yes sir.”
They went through a long hallway that opened into a plethora of cubicles. “Your desk will be in the corner at the window until we get settled into our new building. I hope this is ok.”
“Yes, thank you.” Steve said. “You have been so kind. I would like to tell the boss that you are a first-rate man, Harold.”
The middle-aged man stuck out his hand for a handshake. Steve firmly clasped his hand, looked him in the eye and grinned at him. “Steve, I am the boss. My name is H.W. James. I am the founder of this company. We do our hires just a little differently here. We believe in the Bible verse that says, ‘When you have done this to the least of these, you have done it to me.’ You can tell a lot about a person’s character in how they speak to the lowest guy on the totem pole.”
“Thank you for the job Mr. James. I will do my best.”
“Just one thing, Steve, don’t tell anyone about our criteria for hiring.”
“It’s a deal.” Steve could hardly contain his excitement. There would be a family celebration tonight.
Written by
Elaine Littau
Author of Nan’s Journey, Elk’s Resolve, and Luke's Legacy
Chapters 1-6 of Gertie's Grace (I am thinking of changing the title to "The Eyes of a Stranger.) are on the website. Just go to http://elainelittau.com and click on the last item on the list on the left-hand side of the website.
For Home School/Private School/Public School
I have placed Chapter 1 of Nan's Journey on my website along with a Lesson Plan and Reading Comprehension questions. http://elainelittau.com
I am working on completing the work of doing Lesson Plans and questions for all the books I write. The links are free. The books are on the accelerated reading list for Perryton Jr. High School. It is for readers 13 and up. If you are a teacher or parent who needs this, just log in the lesson plans and questions are free.
Between the Books Chapters
For new chapters "Between the Books" go to http://elainelittau.com and click on the tab. I plan to write a new chapter per week (If possible) until Luke's Legacy is in my hands. All the chapters written are available on the website.
This week I don't have an author interview for you. I want to take this opportunity to thank you for all the kind words and actions that you have done for me. As you know, last Saturday Terry and I had the book launch party for Luke's Legacy. We were blessed by the family and friends who came and showed love and support. There were also many who emailed us and sent greetings and well-wishes. That meant so much to us also.
Sometimes Christmas can be a tough time. I know that when I get out the tree and decorations, I think of those who are not with us any more. I have wonderful memories. I am very thankful for that. In my family we are very expressive of love. We hug a lot and tell one another that we love each other. That has been a comfort for me because I know that the ones I love have heard it from my lips.
Terry wanted me to send out the short-story I wrote last year called, "A Job for Christmas". I told him that people could click on the link to my website, but he wanted it to show up on the email...so here it is:
A Job For Christmas
The reception room was crowded as the tenth applicant for the job burst through the door. “Sorry Ma’am I hope I am not late.” He said.
“Put your name on the list. Mr. James will get to you in order.” The hefty middle-aged receptionist answered as if she were a worn out recording.
The young man wrote his name carefully to be sure that it was legible. There was no use being looked over for a job because the interviewer couldn’t read his name. He finished the task and the woman spoke. “Fill these out also.”
“Thank you.” He said. He searched the room for a spot to land on. There were a couple of chairs available but briefcases were in them. The other job seekers in the room looked as depressed and tired as he was. An inner door opened and a middle-aged man came into the crowded room. He was obviously the mail room clerk. He searched each face and his eyes came to rest on the young man who was standing.
“No place to sit?” He asked.
The young man shrugged. “Apparently not.”
“Hey you there, move your stuff and let this kid sit. You know it will be a long wait.”
The man continued reading the latest copy of Forbes magazine as if he had not been addressed. A young woman moved her briefcase from the seat next to her and nodded to the young man.
“Thank you.” He said.
The mailroom clerk crossed the room to the young man. “I am Harold. I have been here since the company was founded.”
“My name is Steve. I feel like I have been looking for work since the day this company was founded.” He smiled.
The man with the Forbes magazine remarked. “They don’t hand out promotions much here or else you don’t have much talent.”
The others in the room chuckled in agreement.
“I hold the best position in the company.” He said. Smiling he peered into Steve’s eyes. “Good luck Steve. Young lady, you have a good heart.”
They watched the man as he went in through the same door he came out of. “Loser!” One man muttered.
“Steve, my name is Marsha. It looks like we are interviewing for the same position.”
Steve nodded. “Every interview is the same. There aren’t a whole lot of positions available.”
“That is true. Tell me about yourself. We apparently have a lot of time to kill.”
His eyes watered. “I have a wife and three kids. Hopefully I can get something going before Thanksgiving so that Christmas won’t be bad for them.”
“Have you been on the job hunt long?” She asked.
He said, “It feels like a long time. Actually, it is when you have a family counting on you. As of today I have been out of work for three months.”
One of the job seekers left his chair in search of the restroom. As he left another man remarked, “How long before they call on another one of us to talk with personnel? This is ridiculous!”
“Hey you, is the man that hires even here yet?” Another man asked the receptionist.
The receptionist shrugged.
“It isn’t her fault.” Marsha answered.
“All I know is that they better look at qualifications when they fill this job.” The Forbes magazine reader said.
“In this economy I am sure they will look at a lot more than qualifications.” Marsha answered. “What is your name?”
“Listen, this isn’t a coffee shop and I am not looking to make friends. We are in competition for the same job.”
“All right then.”She said.
Marsha turned back to Steve. “Tell me about your kids. Are they really young?”
His eyes lit up as he began, “I have two sons. One is twelve and the other is ten. Our little girl is four years old now. My wife is the best. She has been great through all this stress. They are everything to me.” He fumbled with the papers that he had completed.
The receptionist leaned forward. “Marsha Brown.”
“That’s me.” She stood and smoothed out the front of her jacket. “Good luck Steve.”
One of the men in the waiting room muttered. “We might as well go home. They always give the jobs to the chicks.”
Steve contemplated the words. Sometimes it seemed to be true. He thought about his wife and hoped with all his heart that he would come home with good news. Christmas would be brutal if he didn’t land a job soon. They were down to eating beans and cornbread most meals as well as spaghetti and ketchup sauce too. Aimee was a great cook and managed to stretch the pantry to keep them fed. Presents couldn’t happen without a job. Of course the grandparents would send things, but he wanted to provide for his children. He clasped his hands together as he rested his elbows on his knees. This waiting was a killer.
“Steve Clark.” The voice beaconed.
He stood to go and angry voices erupted. “No fair! I have been here twice as long as he has.”
“Do I have to call security and have all of you hauled off?” The receptionist asked.
As Steve entered the interview room he was greeted by Marsha. “Hi Steve, let me look at your application.”
The look of confusion on his face was amusing. She smiled as she looked through the neatly scripted papers. “You can learn a lot about people when they are waiting for a job interview. As far as my authority goes, I would say that you have the job. There will be a nice Christmas bonus and sign on bonus. Sally, my secretary will cut the check today. You can come in first thing tomorrow to start work. Now all we need is for you to speak with the founder of the company. He enjoys meeting each new member of the team and showing them their office.
As she finished speaking the mail room clerk walked into the room. “Follow me. So your name is Steve?”
Steve nodded. “Yes sir.”
They went through a long hallway that opened into a plethora of cubicles. “Your desk will be in the corner at the window until we get settled into our new building. I hope this is ok.”
“Yes, thank you.” Steve said. “You have been so kind. I would like to tell the boss that you are a first-rate man, Harold.”
The middle-aged man stuck out his hand for a handshake. Steve firmly clasped his hand, looked him in the eye and grinned at him. “Steve, I am the boss. My name is H.W. James. I am the founder of this company. We do our hires just a little differently here. We believe in the Bible verse that says, ‘When you have done this to the least of these, you have done it to me.’ You can tell a lot about a person’s character in how they speak to the lowest guy on the totem pole.”
“Thank you for the job Mr. James. I will do my best.”
“Just one thing, Steve, don’t tell anyone about our criteria for hiring.”
“It’s a deal.” Steve could hardly contain his excitement. There would be a family celebration tonight.
Written by
Elaine Littau
Author of Nan’s Journey, Elk’s Resolve, and Luke's Legacy
Chapters 1-6 of Gertie's Grace (I am thinking of changing the title to "The Eyes of a Stranger.) are on the website. Just go to http://elainelittau.com and click on the last item on the list on the left-hand side of the website.
For Home School/Private School/Public School
I have placed Chapter 1 of Nan's Journey on my website along with a Lesson Plan and Reading Comprehension questions. http://elainelittau.com
I am working on completing the work of doing Lesson Plans and questions for all the books I write. The links are free. The books are on the accelerated reading list for Perryton Jr. High School. It is for readers 13 and up. If you are a teacher or parent who needs this, just log in the lesson plans and questions are free.
Between the Books Chapters
For new chapters "Between the Books" go to http://elainelittau.com and click on the tab. I plan to write a new chapter per week (If possible) until Luke's Legacy is in my hands. All the chapters written are available on the website.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Shari England, Lessons From the Sticker Patch
Be sure to scroll down to the bottom of the page for my interview with Shari England.
November is National Novel Writing Month. (NaNoWriMo for short) During this month anyone who has the desire to meet the challenge that the NaNoWri Mo people have set before them are to write a novel of at least 50,000 words within the month. Beginning November 1 through November 30 people or all walks of life are writing their fingers to the bone. What do the writers who accomplish this feat receive?
The accomplishment of writing a novel.
a badge for their website
and a few other things.
I have decided to do this, so I have posted the first 6 chapters of Book #5 on my website. Click here to read the first of the book "Gertie ". On the left hand of the opening page of my website, there is a list of the pages offered. Gertie is the last on the list. Click on that and you will get into the story. Write me an email by clicking here and let me know what you think. I will be writing more every day this month to attempt to meet this challenge.
For Home School/Private School/Public School
I have placed Chapter 1 of Nan's Journey on my website along with a Lesson Plan and Reading Comprehension questions. http://elainelittau.com
I am working on completing the work of doing Lesson Plans and questions for all the books I write. The links are free. The books are on the accelerated reading list for Perryton Jr. High School. It is for readers 13 and up. If you are a teacher or parent who needs this, just log in the lesson plans and questions are free.
Between the Books Chapters
For new chapters "Between the Books" go to http://elainelittau.com and click on the tab. I plan to write a new chapter per week (If possible) until Luke's Legacy is in my hands. All the chapters written are available on the website.
I have a few open dates if you would like to contact me to set something up.
http://elainelittau.com
Need help with book sales and marketing?
Go to my website and sign up for my coaching/consulting services. The first week is $5.
Try it before you subscribe by the month. Go to http://elainelittau.com and click on the coaching tab for more information.
I have begun a new blog that features books for sale for some of the authors I have interviewed. Please take time to look at it. http://titlesforsale.blogspot.com
Book III, Luke's Legacy will be in my hands in a couple of weeks.
If you want to take advantage of special pricing for pre sale click on the button. The special price is $11. That is a big reduction from the cover price when it comes out.
Nan in the hand made dresses are on sale for $10.
The Nan Doll in Overalls are on sale for $8.
I was at my sister's house one day and noticed a cute little doll she had. It was Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables Book series. I searched the Internet for a simple doll to buy wholesale to sell as a Nan doll. I didn't have much luck with it until one of my author friends pointed me to a website that had one of the cutest little dolls I have ever seen.
She is 6 3/4" tall. I hand sew the clothes. Each doll is unique.I sell them for
$10 + postage or I give one with the purchase of 5 or more books.
For those of you who haven't read the interview that I recently did, click on this link:Interview with Elaine Littau [laineygirl] in Whohub Source: www.whohub.com
Click Here for 3 old fashioned recipes available for free.
and
50 marketing tips for first time authors.
These are ideas that I have gleaned from books and the Internet...some from my own mind. I have tried all of them and they work and are inexpensive, unless I note otherwise. I will happily send these to anyone who asks for them.
The book trailer, recipes, photos, and freebies can all be found on the website also.
Book I of the Nan's Heritage Series is Nan's Journey.
Book II of the Nan's Heritage Series is Elk's Resolve
Book III of the Nan's Heritage Series is Luke's Legacy (in my hands soon)
Book IV of the Nan's Heritage Series is Timothy's Home. (almost ready to submit)
Book V of the Nan's Heritage Series is Gertie. (The title has not been decided.)
The Next Series will be called something like "The Chosen Ones". It will be about each of the young girls who were rescued by Fred, Elk, and Ted in "Elk's Resolve". I can hardly wait to get started. My plans are to release a new book each year. (maybe 2 if at all possible) If you would like to sign up to my Book Pre-Order Club, click here and leave me an email. The book club is for those who want to get a $5 discount on pre-ordered books. These would be future books by Elaine Littau. You do not pay before the books are available. You are simply signing up to be on the list for upcoming books as a pre-order club member
Titles
I have been making videos of the book covers of the authors who contact me. I am amazed by the titles that they have come up with. My titles are a little tame next to some of them.
I have to tell you something kind of funny about figuring out how to name Book #4.
Book #1 is Nan's Journey
Book #2 is Elk's Resolve
Book #3 is Luke's Legacy
Book #4 was going to be Thomas' _____
Then I decided that I might have trouble saying the title in speeches that I give. I decided that I needed to change the name of the main character based on this fact. I renamed him Timothy so the title will be...Timothy's Home
Today I want to introduce you to Shari England, author.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Shari England - Lessons from the Sticker Patch
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I have received new life both physically and spiritually. Physically through the accidental death of my donor giving me a new liver nine years ago, and spiritually through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
I took a creative writing class my senior year of high school and won a college scholarship in a writing contest, but even then, did not know of the gift that lay inside me. It took nearly 20 years for it to come full circle in order to be transformed into that for which God designed it.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I love creativity and I feel I am able to generate meaning through the most inanimate objects, and to parallel them with the profound. I gather ideas from the most mundane situations or conversations. I also love rhythm and movement in words and love words that dance. People often tell me my writing is "smooth" and easy to read.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes, I love to read, though I did not like to in my early years. I never get books from public libraries. I prefer to buy my books so I can mark them up, and return to them often. I need more shelves.
6. What are you reading right now?
It's hard for me to have only book going at a time. Besides the Bible, I am reading a couple devotionals by other new authors, plus a book on marketing, and Phillip Yancey's "The Jesus I Never Knew". I just finished a wonderful book called "Things Forgotten" by Thomas N. Tabback. Fabulous fictional read.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I have two books in progress now. One is a continuation of the first book. The other is a book targeted more as a ministry to women, young and old, using one of the stories in my first book as the foundation. I plan to use my own experiences, and combine them with the experiences of others through personal interviews with women who have come through their own issues and struggles victoriously through Christ.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Patience! My perfectionism comes out in things like dwelling too much on one thought or item and it burns up precious time. I've had to work at writing quickly, even if it's very messy and disorderly at first. Just write! Then put it to bed until later, sometimes much later, weeks or even months, and then resurrect it in its proper time.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
Lessons from the Sticker Patch (published) is a compilation of short stories of inspiration and encouragement through the creative combination of real life and real faith. The author's vivid accounts from childhood through parenthood will cause you to revisit wonderful memories of your own, while laying a foundation of truth and wisdom found only in God's Word. Whether it's a ballerina in an old jewelry box, a message in a jar of peanut butter, a child lost in a grocery store, or an aluminum Christmas tree, there's a lesson to be learned in all of life's occurrences about God's unfailing love and faithfulness.
More Lessons from the Sticker Patch (not published) - the same
Ballerina in a Box - (not published) - I was six years old when I received a pink jewelry box as a birthday gift. Upon opening the lid, I found a tiny tutu-clad ballet dancer poised at center stage. She exhibited such beauty, elegance, and grace. Balancing faultlessly on one toe, she spun gracefully to the dainty twinkling tune of the "Ballerina" melody. Occasionally hanging up on a single note, she quickly regained her position to continue her magnificent performance. At least that was until someone or something closed the lid... Discover through personal reflections of women of all ages how God takes our hurts, hang ups, and habits, and transforms them into a thing of beauty, poised in the center of His will for a magnificent endless performance of His glory at work in the lives of women--at work in you.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
http://stickerpatch.tatepublishing.net/
http://www.shariengland.blogspot.com/
November is National Novel Writing Month. (NaNoWriMo for short) During this month anyone who has the desire to meet the challenge that the NaNoWri Mo people have set before them are to write a novel of at least 50,000 words within the month. Beginning November 1 through November 30 people or all walks of life are writing their fingers to the bone. What do the writers who accomplish this feat receive?
The accomplishment of writing a novel.
a badge for their website
and a few other things.
I have decided to do this, so I have posted the first 6 chapters of Book #5 on my website. Click here to read the first of the book "Gertie ". On the left hand of the opening page of my website, there is a list of the pages offered. Gertie is the last on the list. Click on that and you will get into the story. Write me an email by clicking here and let me know what you think. I will be writing more every day this month to attempt to meet this challenge.
For Home School/Private School/Public School
I have placed Chapter 1 of Nan's Journey on my website along with a Lesson Plan and Reading Comprehension questions. http://elainelittau.com
I am working on completing the work of doing Lesson Plans and questions for all the books I write. The links are free. The books are on the accelerated reading list for Perryton Jr. High School. It is for readers 13 and up. If you are a teacher or parent who needs this, just log in the lesson plans and questions are free.
Between the Books Chapters
For new chapters "Between the Books" go to http://elainelittau.com and click on the tab. I plan to write a new chapter per week (If possible) until Luke's Legacy is in my hands. All the chapters written are available on the website.
I have a few open dates if you would like to contact me to set something up.
http://elainelittau.com
Need help with book sales and marketing?
Go to my website and sign up for my coaching/consulting services. The first week is $5.
Try it before you subscribe by the month. Go to http://elainelittau.com and click on the coaching tab for more information.
I have begun a new blog that features books for sale for some of the authors I have interviewed. Please take time to look at it. http://titlesforsale.blogspot.com
Book III, Luke's Legacy will be in my hands in a couple of weeks.
If you want to take advantage of special pricing for pre sale click on the button. The special price is $11. That is a big reduction from the cover price when it comes out.
Nan in the hand made dresses are on sale for $10.
The Nan Doll in Overalls are on sale for $8.
I was at my sister's house one day and noticed a cute little doll she had. It was Anne Shirley from the Anne of Green Gables Book series. I searched the Internet for a simple doll to buy wholesale to sell as a Nan doll. I didn't have much luck with it until one of my author friends pointed me to a website that had one of the cutest little dolls I have ever seen.
She is 6 3/4" tall. I hand sew the clothes. Each doll is unique.I sell them for
$10 + postage or I give one with the purchase of 5 or more books.
For those of you who haven't read the interview that I recently did, click on this link:Interview with Elaine Littau [laineygirl] in Whohub Source: www.whohub.com
Click Here for 3 old fashioned recipes available for free.
and
50 marketing tips for first time authors.
These are ideas that I have gleaned from books and the Internet...some from my own mind. I have tried all of them and they work and are inexpensive, unless I note otherwise. I will happily send these to anyone who asks for them.
The book trailer, recipes, photos, and freebies can all be found on the website also.
Book I of the Nan's Heritage Series is Nan's Journey.
Book II of the Nan's Heritage Series is Elk's Resolve
Book III of the Nan's Heritage Series is Luke's Legacy (in my hands soon)
Book IV of the Nan's Heritage Series is Timothy's Home. (almost ready to submit)
Book V of the Nan's Heritage Series is Gertie. (The title has not been decided.)
The Next Series will be called something like "The Chosen Ones". It will be about each of the young girls who were rescued by Fred, Elk, and Ted in "Elk's Resolve". I can hardly wait to get started. My plans are to release a new book each year. (maybe 2 if at all possible) If you would like to sign up to my Book Pre-Order Club, click here and leave me an email. The book club is for those who want to get a $5 discount on pre-ordered books. These would be future books by Elaine Littau. You do not pay before the books are available. You are simply signing up to be on the list for upcoming books as a pre-order club member
Titles
I have been making videos of the book covers of the authors who contact me. I am amazed by the titles that they have come up with. My titles are a little tame next to some of them.
I have to tell you something kind of funny about figuring out how to name Book #4.
Book #1 is Nan's Journey
Book #2 is Elk's Resolve
Book #3 is Luke's Legacy
Book #4 was going to be Thomas' _____
Then I decided that I might have trouble saying the title in speeches that I give. I decided that I needed to change the name of the main character based on this fact. I renamed him Timothy so the title will be...Timothy's Home
Today I want to introduce you to Shari England, author.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Shari England - Lessons from the Sticker Patch
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I have received new life both physically and spiritually. Physically through the accidental death of my donor giving me a new liver nine years ago, and spiritually through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
I took a creative writing class my senior year of high school and won a college scholarship in a writing contest, but even then, did not know of the gift that lay inside me. It took nearly 20 years for it to come full circle in order to be transformed into that for which God designed it.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I love creativity and I feel I am able to generate meaning through the most inanimate objects, and to parallel them with the profound. I gather ideas from the most mundane situations or conversations. I also love rhythm and movement in words and love words that dance. People often tell me my writing is "smooth" and easy to read.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes, I love to read, though I did not like to in my early years. I never get books from public libraries. I prefer to buy my books so I can mark them up, and return to them often. I need more shelves.
6. What are you reading right now?
It's hard for me to have only book going at a time. Besides the Bible, I am reading a couple devotionals by other new authors, plus a book on marketing, and Phillip Yancey's "The Jesus I Never Knew". I just finished a wonderful book called "Things Forgotten" by Thomas N. Tabback. Fabulous fictional read.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I have two books in progress now. One is a continuation of the first book. The other is a book targeted more as a ministry to women, young and old, using one of the stories in my first book as the foundation. I plan to use my own experiences, and combine them with the experiences of others through personal interviews with women who have come through their own issues and struggles victoriously through Christ.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Patience! My perfectionism comes out in things like dwelling too much on one thought or item and it burns up precious time. I've had to work at writing quickly, even if it's very messy and disorderly at first. Just write! Then put it to bed until later, sometimes much later, weeks or even months, and then resurrect it in its proper time.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
Lessons from the Sticker Patch (published) is a compilation of short stories of inspiration and encouragement through the creative combination of real life and real faith. The author's vivid accounts from childhood through parenthood will cause you to revisit wonderful memories of your own, while laying a foundation of truth and wisdom found only in God's Word. Whether it's a ballerina in an old jewelry box, a message in a jar of peanut butter, a child lost in a grocery store, or an aluminum Christmas tree, there's a lesson to be learned in all of life's occurrences about God's unfailing love and faithfulness.
More Lessons from the Sticker Patch (not published) - the same
Ballerina in a Box - (not published) - I was six years old when I received a pink jewelry box as a birthday gift. Upon opening the lid, I found a tiny tutu-clad ballet dancer poised at center stage. She exhibited such beauty, elegance, and grace. Balancing faultlessly on one toe, she spun gracefully to the dainty twinkling tune of the "Ballerina" melody. Occasionally hanging up on a single note, she quickly regained her position to continue her magnificent performance. At least that was until someone or something closed the lid... Discover through personal reflections of women of all ages how God takes our hurts, hang ups, and habits, and transforms them into a thing of beauty, poised in the center of His will for a magnificent endless performance of His glory at work in the lives of women--at work in you.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
http://stickerpatch.tatepublishing.net/
http://www.shariengland.blogspot.com/
Saturday, July 17, 2010
The Price of Trust by Amanda Stephan
I love meeting my fellow authors. This week we have Amanda Stephan.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
I am Amanda Stephan and the title of my book is The Price of Trust.
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
This is my first book, I've written two others, and I'm currently working on my fourth novel. The third and fourth are a series. I have ideas for a children's book, and many more ideas for my fifth and sixth books!
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer? I've always loved to write. In school, if I was given an assignment involving writing, I always went above and beyond. In college, I completely aced my English class because the professor had us write about specific topics. I never got below an A+. She was an awesome teacher...
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I really don't know what I could say my strong points are in my writing methods. My readers have told me that after they were finished with my book, they felt as if they were a part of the story, or that I had written the book exclusively for them. I hope my writing style is fun and happy, yet poignant and thought provoking.
5. Are you a reader?
I like to read, but not when I'm writing. If I have a book I'm working on, I won't read another book because I don't want to get fuzzy on my ideas!
6. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I have two other books I haven't submitted for publication yet, and am working on my fourth novel. The second book is about a single mother who is trying to raise her two beloved children to the best of her ability in a Godly manner. These children are constantly trying to entangle their mother in romantic affairs. My third book I'd have to say is my favorite so far. (That's only because I'm not finished with my 4th!) The third book is about a woman who is tricked into marrying a man she's not even interested in, and decides that love isn't a romantic fluffy feeling in the pit of her stomach, she chooses to see what God can do with her marriage. It's a romantic mystery with an introduction to a serial killer. The fourth is the continuation of that story, focusing on her, her husband, and the killer.
7. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
My largest obstacles are getting out of my comfort zone. I love to write, but I always feel silly so I tend to shy away from marketing my books. I'd love to just write and let someone else do all the other stuff!
8. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
The Price of Trust ~ Carly Richards is on the run. For the last two years, she's skipped from town to town, ducking her dangerous and well-informed ex-fiance every few weeks, never settling anywhere for long. With the death of her parents, Carly's vulnerability made her trust a man with an attractive facade. Now that same man has tracked her across the country, always nipping at her heels, preventing her from reaching out to anyone other than her God.
Now she's in Montana, and surely that is far enough away from Texas and her abusive past that she can rest. Without a car and money, she has little choice but to dig in and begin building back up her savings so she can run once more. Caught in the circumstances, the kind people around her begin to creep into her softening heart. God is at work, and she has to trust him to not only take care of her, but care for the people she is learning to love.
9. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here. Please stop by my site and leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you! http://www.thepriceoftrust.com
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
I am Amanda Stephan and the title of my book is The Price of Trust.
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
This is my first book, I've written two others, and I'm currently working on my fourth novel. The third and fourth are a series. I have ideas for a children's book, and many more ideas for my fifth and sixth books!
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer? I've always loved to write. In school, if I was given an assignment involving writing, I always went above and beyond. In college, I completely aced my English class because the professor had us write about specific topics. I never got below an A+. She was an awesome teacher...
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I really don't know what I could say my strong points are in my writing methods. My readers have told me that after they were finished with my book, they felt as if they were a part of the story, or that I had written the book exclusively for them. I hope my writing style is fun and happy, yet poignant and thought provoking.
5. Are you a reader?
I like to read, but not when I'm writing. If I have a book I'm working on, I won't read another book because I don't want to get fuzzy on my ideas!
6. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I have two other books I haven't submitted for publication yet, and am working on my fourth novel. The second book is about a single mother who is trying to raise her two beloved children to the best of her ability in a Godly manner. These children are constantly trying to entangle their mother in romantic affairs. My third book I'd have to say is my favorite so far. (That's only because I'm not finished with my 4th!) The third book is about a woman who is tricked into marrying a man she's not even interested in, and decides that love isn't a romantic fluffy feeling in the pit of her stomach, she chooses to see what God can do with her marriage. It's a romantic mystery with an introduction to a serial killer. The fourth is the continuation of that story, focusing on her, her husband, and the killer.
7. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
My largest obstacles are getting out of my comfort zone. I love to write, but I always feel silly so I tend to shy away from marketing my books. I'd love to just write and let someone else do all the other stuff!
8. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
The Price of Trust ~ Carly Richards is on the run. For the last two years, she's skipped from town to town, ducking her dangerous and well-informed ex-fiance every few weeks, never settling anywhere for long. With the death of her parents, Carly's vulnerability made her trust a man with an attractive facade. Now that same man has tracked her across the country, always nipping at her heels, preventing her from reaching out to anyone other than her God.
Now she's in Montana, and surely that is far enough away from Texas and her abusive past that she can rest. Without a car and money, she has little choice but to dig in and begin building back up her savings so she can run once more. Caught in the circumstances, the kind people around her begin to creep into her softening heart. God is at work, and she has to trust him to not only take care of her, but care for the people she is learning to love.
9. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here. Please stop by my site and leave a comment, I'd love to hear from you! http://www.thepriceoftrust.com
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Moon Dance by Susan K. Earl
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Hi my name is Susan K. Earl and my recently released book is moon dance ~a novel.
2.What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
Imagination played a major role in my life, and I really can’t remember a time when I didn’t write down my thoughts, short stories, or poems. My mom was a songwriter, my dad told stories all the time, and many of my ancestors traveled from across the waters in Wales to somehow, eventually end up in Texas. I’ve heard tell that Wales is a lot like where I grew up, and I’ve read that one of the national pastimes there is storytelling and writing. I’ve always felt an affinity to the folks there and often felt that my yearning to write is deeply rooted in my ancestral past.
Moon Dance is my first attempt at writing a full-fledged novel. It was born one cold day in December 2007 when I was overcome by a desire to write a story about my Aunt Margaret. Let me go back just a bit in time. My sister, Vickie, and I had begun researching information on my aunt and uncle during the summer of 2007 because we both felt that Aunt Margaret should be inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, which is located in Ft. Worth. We gathered a fair amount of information, and then school started, so our plans were put on the back burner for a bit. During our summer research we uncovered quite a lot of information, including one of the deeds to the largest portion of my aunt and uncle’s ranch. This deed was for the purchase of 250 acres a few miles down the road from Hugo, Oklahoma, and just a hop, skip, and jump from the tiny community of Sawyer, Oklahoma. Margaret and Joe ran the ranch together for many years until my uncle had a heart attack and died while fighting a wildfire on their ranch. After this, my aunt ran the ranch on her own for almost twenty-five years. She was close to eighty when she finally decided to sell off her land and move into town. As Christmas break neared, a yearning filled me to tell my aunt’s story. So began a journey of love, more research, and many late nights working on my “project”
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
All my life. I have always written, journaled, and researched. I .wrote my first novel at age 15, but didn't try and get it published..,it was just something I had to do.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I write from my heart. I write about things I know and strive to make them interesting to the reader. I put myself in the place of the reader and ask myself if it would be something that would reach out and capture readers attention.and would it capture the readers heart. I also taught writing at both the intermediate level and at the college level for many years.
5. Are you a reader?
I am an avid reader. I read all the time, for relaxation and to take journeys to places far away I've dreamed of, aqnd/or to enrich my own life. I encourage and try to instill in my students a love of readings because it is so vital to our lives. I read to them, I read with them, I show them how much the written word has affected our world in so many, many ways.In the words of Dr. Suess " Oh the Places You'll Go..."
6. What are you reading right now?
I must admit that during this time of the year I need books that take me away from everyday stresses and relax me, offer me a touch of humor and romance, so now I am rereading "Finger Lickin' Fifteen" by Janet Evanovich. I love her kooky characters and my sister and I often refer to quirky moments in our lives as Stephanie Plum moments. I love all kinds of books and read my favorites over and over again. It seems every time I read a book, I get something new from it.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I have begun a sequel to moon dance based on the same characters, but set during the early days of WWII.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Time is my biggest obstacle right now. My job teaching 5th grade math consumes much of my time right now, so I look forward to some time off in July when I can get back back to writing full time.Once I get involved in the story I'm writing and get to know and understand my characters, the writing just seems to flow. If I get stuck on a part, I just start looking at the world around me and usually something triggers a train of thought and off I go again.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
That day, that dreadful day began it all… It began like any other, just another carefree, lazy, May afternoon… Then without warning, as we rounded the corner, my heart commenced beating rapidly and just like that, I knew… I just knew something terrible had come to pass.Maggie didn’t notice being poor; her family managed to scrape by, even during the Depression. Times were hard for everyone she knew, but as long as she had her family, she felt contented. After a devastating accident, Maggie’s world is shattered.A Second Chance ‘Sometimes we just don’t understand why such things come to pass, but I don’t think God plans on bad things happenin’ to us. I believe he helps us through our troubles, and helps us realize that even in hard times, there’s been some good things happen this past year.’I fixed my eyes on him and whispered softly, ‘You’re my good thing, Joe.’While Maggie longs to find the love and trust she desires, Joe strolls into her heart. After the heartaches she’s endured, can Maggie believe there is happiness in store for her? Should she trust Joe, or will he abandon her as well? Moon Dance, by Susan K. Earl, is a captivating family saga portraying the heart and soul of hard-working small-town Texans during the Great Depression, bringing to life highly flavored, ‘deep in the heart of Texas’ characters readers will love—or love to hate. Let Moon Dance transport you to a simpler place in time; experience a tale that transcends generations and offers an outspoken story of faith, hope, love, and forgiveness.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
You can contact me through e-mail at moondance2010att.net or at my website http://susanearl.tatepublishing.net. Moon Dance is available on my website, on Amazon, Google or major bookstores online as both a soft copy book or a Kindle download. It is also available from most major booksellers
Hi my name is Susan K. Earl and my recently released book is moon dance ~a novel.
2.What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
Imagination played a major role in my life, and I really can’t remember a time when I didn’t write down my thoughts, short stories, or poems. My mom was a songwriter, my dad told stories all the time, and many of my ancestors traveled from across the waters in Wales to somehow, eventually end up in Texas. I’ve heard tell that Wales is a lot like where I grew up, and I’ve read that one of the national pastimes there is storytelling and writing. I’ve always felt an affinity to the folks there and often felt that my yearning to write is deeply rooted in my ancestral past.
Moon Dance is my first attempt at writing a full-fledged novel. It was born one cold day in December 2007 when I was overcome by a desire to write a story about my Aunt Margaret. Let me go back just a bit in time. My sister, Vickie, and I had begun researching information on my aunt and uncle during the summer of 2007 because we both felt that Aunt Margaret should be inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame, which is located in Ft. Worth. We gathered a fair amount of information, and then school started, so our plans were put on the back burner for a bit. During our summer research we uncovered quite a lot of information, including one of the deeds to the largest portion of my aunt and uncle’s ranch. This deed was for the purchase of 250 acres a few miles down the road from Hugo, Oklahoma, and just a hop, skip, and jump from the tiny community of Sawyer, Oklahoma. Margaret and Joe ran the ranch together for many years until my uncle had a heart attack and died while fighting a wildfire on their ranch. After this, my aunt ran the ranch on her own for almost twenty-five years. She was close to eighty when she finally decided to sell off her land and move into town. As Christmas break neared, a yearning filled me to tell my aunt’s story. So began a journey of love, more research, and many late nights working on my “project”
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
All my life. I have always written, journaled, and researched. I .wrote my first novel at age 15, but didn't try and get it published..,it was just something I had to do.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I write from my heart. I write about things I know and strive to make them interesting to the reader. I put myself in the place of the reader and ask myself if it would be something that would reach out and capture readers attention.and would it capture the readers heart. I also taught writing at both the intermediate level and at the college level for many years.
5. Are you a reader?
I am an avid reader. I read all the time, for relaxation and to take journeys to places far away I've dreamed of, aqnd/or to enrich my own life. I encourage and try to instill in my students a love of readings because it is so vital to our lives. I read to them, I read with them, I show them how much the written word has affected our world in so many, many ways.In the words of Dr. Suess " Oh the Places You'll Go..."
6. What are you reading right now?
I must admit that during this time of the year I need books that take me away from everyday stresses and relax me, offer me a touch of humor and romance, so now I am rereading "Finger Lickin' Fifteen" by Janet Evanovich. I love her kooky characters and my sister and I often refer to quirky moments in our lives as Stephanie Plum moments. I love all kinds of books and read my favorites over and over again. It seems every time I read a book, I get something new from it.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I have begun a sequel to moon dance based on the same characters, but set during the early days of WWII.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Time is my biggest obstacle right now. My job teaching 5th grade math consumes much of my time right now, so I look forward to some time off in July when I can get back back to writing full time.Once I get involved in the story I'm writing and get to know and understand my characters, the writing just seems to flow. If I get stuck on a part, I just start looking at the world around me and usually something triggers a train of thought and off I go again.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok)
That day, that dreadful day began it all… It began like any other, just another carefree, lazy, May afternoon… Then without warning, as we rounded the corner, my heart commenced beating rapidly and just like that, I knew… I just knew something terrible had come to pass.Maggie didn’t notice being poor; her family managed to scrape by, even during the Depression. Times were hard for everyone she knew, but as long as she had her family, she felt contented. After a devastating accident, Maggie’s world is shattered.A Second Chance ‘Sometimes we just don’t understand why such things come to pass, but I don’t think God plans on bad things happenin’ to us. I believe he helps us through our troubles, and helps us realize that even in hard times, there’s been some good things happen this past year.’I fixed my eyes on him and whispered softly, ‘You’re my good thing, Joe.’While Maggie longs to find the love and trust she desires, Joe strolls into her heart. After the heartaches she’s endured, can Maggie believe there is happiness in store for her? Should she trust Joe, or will he abandon her as well? Moon Dance, by Susan K. Earl, is a captivating family saga portraying the heart and soul of hard-working small-town Texans during the Great Depression, bringing to life highly flavored, ‘deep in the heart of Texas’ characters readers will love—or love to hate. Let Moon Dance transport you to a simpler place in time; experience a tale that transcends generations and offers an outspoken story of faith, hope, love, and forgiveness.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
You can contact me through e-mail at moondance2010att.net or at my website http://susanearl.tatepublishing.net. Moon Dance is available on my website, on Amazon, Google or major bookstores online as both a soft copy book or a Kindle download. It is also available from most major booksellers
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Feeding the 5000
I was at a meeting last year where the subject was "Feeding the 5000". Perhaps you are an author wondering how you are going to get your book into the hands of the multitudes or you may be someone with a mountain of debt or some other insurmountable task. The speaker that night said that Jesus didn't just plunge in and start feeding everyone. He had the disciples divide the group into companies of 50s and 100s and also the women and children. Some estimates are that the crowd was really about 15, 000 people. They just counted the men. There were 5000 men. He said that when we have something we need to do we need to divide the task up into manageable pieces. The end result will be the same, but the process is a process of faithfulness.
Whether it is putting an extra $20 on each bill or setting your book sales to 10 to 20 books per month. The process is faithfulness. Today one of my author friends celebrated the sale of over 5000 books. (Not everyone is John Grissom so 5000 is huge!) All of the author friends rejoiced with her. She did it one book at a time. Faithfulness..Feeding the 5000!
Today my interview is with Tracey Marley. You will enjoy her story.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Tracey Marley, author of Promise for Tomorrow
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
That I am real and that I face the same struggles, temptations and trials as the next woman. I am very much a work in progress and it is the through the power of God that I wrote this story and have been able to experience the blessing of watching it become a published reality.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
About seven days after I started my first book! I've always enjoyed journaling and such but when I dreamed the story of Promise for Tomorrow and started to write it down, I couldn't seem to stop. In seven months, I wrote it and the other four, possibly five, rough drafts for the remainder of the series as well as a separate stand alone title.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
Although I write fiction, I like to keep it real. I purposefully write situations and characters that are sometimes sticky and hard to deal with because that's what we face in reality. The Christian life isn't perfect nor will it be this side of Glory. I like to toss in a little humor to lighten things up, but in the end I want my readers to walk away with insights and truths that they can apply to their everyday life.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes. I love reading Christian romances as well as Bible Studies/Self Help books.
6. What are you reading right now?
This Present Darkness, a fiction novel, written in 1986 by Frank E. Peretti. It deals heavily with spiritual warfare which is something I deal with on a regular basis. There is no doubt as to why God kept putting it in front of me time and time again. I am also doing the study When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, by Beth Moore.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
Promise for Tomorrow is the first book in the Heritage House Series. Forgiveness for Yesterday, book two, is what I am currently trying to finish. Where book one teaches the beauty of hope, love and restoration to the broken hearted, book two will teach the cost, gift, and value of God’s forgiveness to the undeserving, and how He expects His children to mirror that forgiveness to others.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Time is always a struggle because I'm not just a writer. I'm also a pastor's wife, a mom and a graphic designer. In addition to those demands, either right before I write or right after I write I will often go through what is sometimes intense spiritual warfare. Depression, anxiety, doubt, fear, temptation—you name it—can often leave me feeling sidetracked and overwhelmed. I battle against this by surrounding myself with the truth of God's word. The Bible tells me in Isaiah chapter 55, verses 10-11 that: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." These verses remind me that God has given me a message to share through a story and that as long as I'm obedient to Him, He will bless me.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok) Promise for Tomorrow is the tale of a heart’s journey through the changing seasons of life and how God can bring something beautiful out of the ashes of loss and gives promise for the future—whatever it may bring.
Back cover copy:
Karen McMasters is tired of trying to convince everyone she is okay. It has been five years since the death of her beloved husband, Eric, and time still feels frozen in the past. The only cure for Karen and her children is to move away from the memories of what they have lost. Now living in Greensboro, North Carolina, Karen meets Amanda, a fun and vivacious spirit who dates Chris Lanning, the handsome bachelor with a past that offers more questions than answers. Chris offers an introduction to his best friend Bret Sears, allowing Karen to meet the first man whose Christian ideals match his striking good looks since Eric. Karen feels God’s spirit telling her it is okay to move on with her life, but what about her children and the memory of her loving late husband? As Amanda unearths more of Chris’ mysterious past, Karen searches for ways to minister to her friends while trying to figure out what God’s plan for her includes. What terrible injustice happened to Chris? Will temptation threaten to ruin Karen and Bret? Or will they rise above and seek the assurance God offers them if they listen to his Promise for Tomorrow?
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
My contact is traceymarley@embarqmail.com or traceymarley.tatepublishing.net. Books can be ordered through my website or anywhere books are sold.
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
Whether it is putting an extra $20 on each bill or setting your book sales to 10 to 20 books per month. The process is faithfulness. Today one of my author friends celebrated the sale of over 5000 books. (Not everyone is John Grissom so 5000 is huge!) All of the author friends rejoiced with her. She did it one book at a time. Faithfulness..Feeding the 5000!
Today my interview is with Tracey Marley. You will enjoy her story.
1. What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
Tracey Marley, author of Promise for Tomorrow
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
That I am real and that I face the same struggles, temptations and trials as the next woman. I am very much a work in progress and it is the through the power of God that I wrote this story and have been able to experience the blessing of watching it become a published reality.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
About seven days after I started my first book! I've always enjoyed journaling and such but when I dreamed the story of Promise for Tomorrow and started to write it down, I couldn't seem to stop. In seven months, I wrote it and the other four, possibly five, rough drafts for the remainder of the series as well as a separate stand alone title.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
Although I write fiction, I like to keep it real. I purposefully write situations and characters that are sometimes sticky and hard to deal with because that's what we face in reality. The Christian life isn't perfect nor will it be this side of Glory. I like to toss in a little humor to lighten things up, but in the end I want my readers to walk away with insights and truths that they can apply to their everyday life.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes. I love reading Christian romances as well as Bible Studies/Self Help books.
6. What are you reading right now?
This Present Darkness, a fiction novel, written in 1986 by Frank E. Peretti. It deals heavily with spiritual warfare which is something I deal with on a regular basis. There is no doubt as to why God kept putting it in front of me time and time again. I am also doing the study When Godly People Do Ungodly Things, by Beth Moore.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
Promise for Tomorrow is the first book in the Heritage House Series. Forgiveness for Yesterday, book two, is what I am currently trying to finish. Where book one teaches the beauty of hope, love and restoration to the broken hearted, book two will teach the cost, gift, and value of God’s forgiveness to the undeserving, and how He expects His children to mirror that forgiveness to others.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Time is always a struggle because I'm not just a writer. I'm also a pastor's wife, a mom and a graphic designer. In addition to those demands, either right before I write or right after I write I will often go through what is sometimes intense spiritual warfare. Depression, anxiety, doubt, fear, temptation—you name it—can often leave me feeling sidetracked and overwhelmed. I battle against this by surrounding myself with the truth of God's word. The Bible tells me in Isaiah chapter 55, verses 10-11 that: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth; It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." These verses remind me that God has given me a message to share through a story and that as long as I'm obedient to Him, He will bless me.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here. (back matter is ok) Promise for Tomorrow is the tale of a heart’s journey through the changing seasons of life and how God can bring something beautiful out of the ashes of loss and gives promise for the future—whatever it may bring.
Back cover copy:
Karen McMasters is tired of trying to convince everyone she is okay. It has been five years since the death of her beloved husband, Eric, and time still feels frozen in the past. The only cure for Karen and her children is to move away from the memories of what they have lost. Now living in Greensboro, North Carolina, Karen meets Amanda, a fun and vivacious spirit who dates Chris Lanning, the handsome bachelor with a past that offers more questions than answers. Chris offers an introduction to his best friend Bret Sears, allowing Karen to meet the first man whose Christian ideals match his striking good looks since Eric. Karen feels God’s spirit telling her it is okay to move on with her life, but what about her children and the memory of her loving late husband? As Amanda unearths more of Chris’ mysterious past, Karen searches for ways to minister to her friends while trying to figure out what God’s plan for her includes. What terrible injustice happened to Chris? Will temptation threaten to ruin Karen and Bret? Or will they rise above and seek the assurance God offers them if they listen to his Promise for Tomorrow?
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
My contact is traceymarley@embarqmail.com or traceymarley.tatepublishing.net. Books can be ordered through my website or anywhere books are sold.
It is great to get to know the writers. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These are interesting people!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Cloudy Days
Cloudy Days
In the 70's I loved The Carpenters. One of their hits was "Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down". It starts with the words: (If I can remember them) "Talkin' to myself and feelin' old. Sometimes I'd like to quit. Nothing even seem to fit. Hanging around nothin' to do but frown. Rainy days and Mondays always get me down."
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm that is upsetting. That seems to describe me. What with the talking to myself, feeling old, hanging around, frowning, rainy days, Mondays....Oh no!!!
Well, we are going from Fall to Winter...I better get used to it.
Please read this interview with new author, Delaine Swardstrom.
1. What is your name and the title of your book?
My name is Delaine Swardstrom and my book is THE PHOTOGRAPH
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about your?
The one thing that always captures everyone's attention is this - I spent twenty-five years in jail...................................
working as a nurse! I'm a registered nurse and I began working in the county jail in Olathe, Kansas in 1974. The first three years of those twenty-five I was a sheriff's deputy as well as a nurse. So as a deputy I attended the Police Academy where I earned the highest score on the shooting range when I qualified with the final day at the range!
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
I think it started when I was in the Police Academy. We had a writing course which was supposed to help us in writing our police reports. The instructor had us do some descriptive writing and I surprised even myself with some of the things I wrote. I believe this is when I actually began thinking that I could write - and enjoyed it. However as I look back at some of the first stories I wrote I'm surprised that I've come this far.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
When I was going through the editing process with my book my editor told me more than once that "you're so good with description". So I think this is one of my strong points.
5. Are you a reader?YES,YES,YES!!!! I would read twenty-four hours a day if I could. I love to read. In fact, I'm sorry to say that I have let it keep me from getting my housework done on several occasions.
6. What are you reading right now?
At the present I'm not reading anything. My husband and I are trying to get some building and landscape projects done before winter sets in so I haven't found time to read anything for a while. I did read "First We Have Coffee" by Margret Jensen a couple of weeks ago, sneaking it in between outdoor projects.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication?
I do have a couple. I have another book that is basically ready to send to a publisher. It's about a young couple who found themselves becoming intimate in spite of the fact that they were both Christians. When she found herself pregnant he insisted she have an abortion. After the deed had been done they both regretted the decision they had made. The story describes the pain-filled days following and the difficult time she had in forgiving him for insisting she have the abortion. It's a fairly emotional book.I'm also working on a sequel to The Photograph after so many of my readers asked if there would be one. It isn't coming along as well as I would like.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Like most people, time seems to be the biggest problem. Also a husband who keeps wanting me to help him with something when I get an idea flowing!! :) I also come up with a lot of good ideas when I'm supposed to be sleeping so I often just get out of bed and go to my computer. I know if I don't get it down while it's flowing in my head it will be lost by morning. Also, I'm likely to stay awake for hours developing the idea instead of sleeping if I don't go get it in the computer.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
Jennifer Mast has been forced to leave college after the untimely death of her parents to take over her father's successful picture framing shop in the small tourist town of Pine Bluff. The reputation of the frame shop, The Master's Shop, encourages Jennifer to keep up the family name and tradition. Despite missing her family she throws herself into her work, perfecting the matting and framing techniques her father taught her years earlier. Preparing for the tourist season leaves her little time to grieve or relax. When a new photographer in town, Brent Hamblin, walks in the first day she has reopened her shop after the death of her father, she can't believe how he impresses her. He notices the framed picture of a small cabin on the wall and Jennifer explains that it is the home where her great-grandfather lived. She goes there often to soak up the atmosphere of the old homestead up in the hills of the Smoky Mountains. Brent is eager to find out about Jennifer's ancestors and she shares the godly heritage handed down to her through the generations. Discovering that Brent does not share her Christian beliefs she wonders if she should continue keeping company with him. When the picture of the cabin comes up missing Jennifer wonders if she should have been so trusting of this man who wandered into her shop and insists on keeping company with her.The rest of the story you will have to read for yourself if you want to find out what happens. Some very unexpected things happen in the book and you might be pleasantly surprised as you read. There is some intrigue, some romance, and parts of the story tug at your emotions. If this is your kind of story then I know you will like The Photograph.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books?Check out my website - www.dswardstrom.com. The book is available through Tate Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Nobel and Borders. If you have questions or comments you can contact me at deesbook@rap.midco.net.
This was a great interview. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These was interesting people!
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
In the 70's I loved The Carpenters. One of their hits was "Rainy Days and Mondays Always Get Me Down". It starts with the words: (If I can remember them) "Talkin' to myself and feelin' old. Sometimes I'd like to quit. Nothing even seem to fit. Hanging around nothin' to do but frown. Rainy days and Mondays always get me down."
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm that is upsetting. That seems to describe me. What with the talking to myself, feeling old, hanging around, frowning, rainy days, Mondays....Oh no!!!
Well, we are going from Fall to Winter...I better get used to it.
Please read this interview with new author, Delaine Swardstrom.
1. What is your name and the title of your book?
My name is Delaine Swardstrom and my book is THE PHOTOGRAPH
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about your?
The one thing that always captures everyone's attention is this - I spent twenty-five years in jail...................................
working as a nurse! I'm a registered nurse and I began working in the county jail in Olathe, Kansas in 1974. The first three years of those twenty-five I was a sheriff's deputy as well as a nurse. So as a deputy I attended the Police Academy where I earned the highest score on the shooting range when I qualified with the final day at the range!
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
I think it started when I was in the Police Academy. We had a writing course which was supposed to help us in writing our police reports. The instructor had us do some descriptive writing and I surprised even myself with some of the things I wrote. I believe this is when I actually began thinking that I could write - and enjoyed it. However as I look back at some of the first stories I wrote I'm surprised that I've come this far.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
When I was going through the editing process with my book my editor told me more than once that "you're so good with description". So I think this is one of my strong points.
5. Are you a reader?YES,YES,YES!!!! I would read twenty-four hours a day if I could. I love to read. In fact, I'm sorry to say that I have let it keep me from getting my housework done on several occasions.
6. What are you reading right now?
At the present I'm not reading anything. My husband and I are trying to get some building and landscape projects done before winter sets in so I haven't found time to read anything for a while. I did read "First We Have Coffee" by Margret Jensen a couple of weeks ago, sneaking it in between outdoor projects.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication?
I do have a couple. I have another book that is basically ready to send to a publisher. It's about a young couple who found themselves becoming intimate in spite of the fact that they were both Christians. When she found herself pregnant he insisted she have an abortion. After the deed had been done they both regretted the decision they had made. The story describes the pain-filled days following and the difficult time she had in forgiving him for insisting she have the abortion. It's a fairly emotional book.I'm also working on a sequel to The Photograph after so many of my readers asked if there would be one. It isn't coming along as well as I would like.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
Like most people, time seems to be the biggest problem. Also a husband who keeps wanting me to help him with something when I get an idea flowing!! :) I also come up with a lot of good ideas when I'm supposed to be sleeping so I often just get out of bed and go to my computer. I know if I don't get it down while it's flowing in my head it will be lost by morning. Also, I'm likely to stay awake for hours developing the idea instead of sleeping if I don't go get it in the computer.
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
Jennifer Mast has been forced to leave college after the untimely death of her parents to take over her father's successful picture framing shop in the small tourist town of Pine Bluff. The reputation of the frame shop, The Master's Shop, encourages Jennifer to keep up the family name and tradition. Despite missing her family she throws herself into her work, perfecting the matting and framing techniques her father taught her years earlier. Preparing for the tourist season leaves her little time to grieve or relax. When a new photographer in town, Brent Hamblin, walks in the first day she has reopened her shop after the death of her father, she can't believe how he impresses her. He notices the framed picture of a small cabin on the wall and Jennifer explains that it is the home where her great-grandfather lived. She goes there often to soak up the atmosphere of the old homestead up in the hills of the Smoky Mountains. Brent is eager to find out about Jennifer's ancestors and she shares the godly heritage handed down to her through the generations. Discovering that Brent does not share her Christian beliefs she wonders if she should continue keeping company with him. When the picture of the cabin comes up missing Jennifer wonders if she should have been so trusting of this man who wandered into her shop and insists on keeping company with her.The rest of the story you will have to read for yourself if you want to find out what happens. Some very unexpected things happen in the book and you might be pleasantly surprised as you read. There is some intrigue, some romance, and parts of the story tug at your emotions. If this is your kind of story then I know you will like The Photograph.
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books?Check out my website - www.dswardstrom.com. The book is available through Tate Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Nobel and Borders. If you have questions or comments you can contact me at deesbook@rap.midco.net.
This was a great interview. If you missed one of the past interviews of the talented authors I have been interviewing be sure to visit my blog and catch up. These was interesting people!
http://nansjourney.blogspot.com
See you next week. I hope you enjoyed this.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Fun in the Summer
This weekend I am going to Leatherman Park at Perryton to sell books on Perryton's Celebration Day, Saturday, Aug 22 from 11-5 p.m.
It has been so hot this summer I hope all goes well. It is so fun to talk to people who come by my table. I like to talk with the children who timidly tell me that they love to write stories. Some of them tell me a bit of their story. There are some great writers growing up around here.
Since I was 52 when my first book was published, I think that the fact gives people my age hope that no matter what your age, God can use you. Never let go of your dreams.
I am continuing with featuring Tate Publishing and Enterprise Authors. I have "met" most of them through facebook and the Tate Publishing fan page. In the following weeks you will have the opportunity so see the dedication and heart each person puts in their writing. This week I am interviewing Karina Harris
1.What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
My name is Karina Harris. The title of my book is "Second Chance".
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I believe my readers would be interested to know that I grew up overseas. My parents were Baptist missionaries, and I spent much of my childhood and teen years in India and Thailand.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
As a teenager, I enjoyed writing poetry and short stories. I also wrote several short stories in college, but never did anything with them. After I married, started a career in education, and had children, the writing stopped for several years. This past year I moved to a new teaching position that gave me more free time. My children had reached the age where constant supervision was not necessary. And I felt the call of writing again. I began this book in January, and had an offer from Tate publishing in March.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I believe that characters are the key to a great story. So I spent quite a bit of time developing these characters before I ever started their story. I have been told that I have a gift in being able to describe things well, whether it be characters, scenery, or emotions in the book.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes!
6. What are you reading right now?
I just finished Julie Garwood's "Fire and Ice"; also an FBI romantic suspense.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I have finished the second book in this saga and am working on the third. The second book is entitled "Third Time Around", and tells the story of Quinn and Emma. Quinn is the outgoing, photographer brother of Avalin (our heroine in "Second Chance"). He is put on assignment with Emma, who is professional to a fault. They don't exactly "hit it off" to begin with, but circumstances continue to put them together. A twist in the plot is that someone is after Emma, has threatened her...but nobody knows who or why.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
My biggest obstacle is that I don't know the end of the story when I begin it. That makes it wonderfully fun at times, because it unfolds much like a movie in my mind. There have been times, though, when I don't know where to go next with the story (like the "pause" button has been hit), and it is quite frustrating on those days!
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
Second Chance:
Avalin Summers’s life changes forever when she is told her parents may not be dead.
In the romantic suspense novel Second Chance, Karina Harris weaves an intriguing tale of hope and uncertainty in the story of Avalin Summers, an art student who is fiercely loyal to her older brothers, Jaden and Quinn. When Jaden requests a family meeting at their childhood farm in Colorado, she doesn’t question him. But what she discovers is something she hasn’t dared to dream about for the past five years.
Agent Ian Martin has spent a year investigating the case of part-time FBI operatives John and Rosemary Summers and the suspicious conclusion to their last mission. Recent intelligence hints they may not have died in the European plane crash, but he needs the help of the Summers’s grown children, Jaden, Quinn, and twenty-one-year-old Avalin, to find out. At the family meeting, Ian presents evidence that suggests their parents may have escaped capture and fled to Portugal.
The siblings’ lives are turned upside down when they learn their parents were working as undercover agents. Hoping they are alive, Quinn and Avalin eagerly join Ian in his search. When they land in Lisbon, they are bombarded with even more uncertainties. Thrown together by circumstances fraught with danger, betrayal, and heartache, Ian and Avalin uncover something special in each other. As events unfold, Ian and Avalin begin to question their beliefs in their government, their families, and even God as they look for someone they can trust. Will they find love on their journey together? Will they discover the truth about the Summers’s parents before it’s too late? Find out in Second Chance.
Third Time Around
Harris brings us back to the Summers family in this gripping tale of suspense and romance. Quinn Summers has been assigned to Peru, as the photographer for a National Geographic expose on a Native Indian tribe. Expecting a short, two day stint, he encounters instead a situation which changes his life.
Emma McDonnell is a career driven journalist who has just received her big break. She has been given her first lead assignment for National Geographic, and she is determined to make it perfect. She's not about to let the overly confident, incredibly handsome replacement photographer, Quinn Summers get in her way.
Events conspire to bring them together, both professionally and personally. Quinn becomes determined to discover the cause of the fear he sees behind her eyes. Emma begins to wonder if perhaps Quinn is someone she should trust.
Just as their relationship begins to strengthen, trouble explodes as someone from Emma's past returns to haunt her. Who is it? What does he want? Will Quinn and Emma be able to discover the identity of the would-be kidnapper before its too late?
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
My blog is: karinabharris.blogspot.com
My website is: www.karinabharris.vpweb.com
Once the release date is set, people will be able to order a book through this website via PayPal. They will receive a signed copy.
It has been so hot this summer I hope all goes well. It is so fun to talk to people who come by my table. I like to talk with the children who timidly tell me that they love to write stories. Some of them tell me a bit of their story. There are some great writers growing up around here.
Since I was 52 when my first book was published, I think that the fact gives people my age hope that no matter what your age, God can use you. Never let go of your dreams.
I am continuing with featuring Tate Publishing and Enterprise Authors. I have "met" most of them through facebook and the Tate Publishing fan page. In the following weeks you will have the opportunity so see the dedication and heart each person puts in their writing. This week I am interviewing Karina Harris
1.What is your name and the title of your book(s)?
My name is Karina Harris. The title of my book is "Second Chance".
2. What is one thing you think your readers would like to know about you?
I believe my readers would be interested to know that I grew up overseas. My parents were Baptist missionaries, and I spent much of my childhood and teen years in India and Thailand.
3. When did you know that you wanted to become a writer?
As a teenager, I enjoyed writing poetry and short stories. I also wrote several short stories in college, but never did anything with them. After I married, started a career in education, and had children, the writing stopped for several years. This past year I moved to a new teaching position that gave me more free time. My children had reached the age where constant supervision was not necessary. And I felt the call of writing again. I began this book in January, and had an offer from Tate publishing in March.
4. What are your strong points in your writing style or methods?
I believe that characters are the key to a great story. So I spent quite a bit of time developing these characters before I ever started their story. I have been told that I have a gift in being able to describe things well, whether it be characters, scenery, or emotions in the book.
5. Are you a reader?
Yes!
6. What are you reading right now?
I just finished Julie Garwood's "Fire and Ice"; also an FBI romantic suspense.
7. Do you have another book that you are working on and hasn't been submitted for publication? Tell about it.
I have finished the second book in this saga and am working on the third. The second book is entitled "Third Time Around", and tells the story of Quinn and Emma. Quinn is the outgoing, photographer brother of Avalin (our heroine in "Second Chance"). He is put on assignment with Emma, who is professional to a fault. They don't exactly "hit it off" to begin with, but circumstances continue to put them together. A twist in the plot is that someone is after Emma, has threatened her...but nobody knows who or why.
8. What are your biggest obstacles to writing and how do you overcome them?
My biggest obstacle is that I don't know the end of the story when I begin it. That makes it wonderfully fun at times, because it unfolds much like a movie in my mind. There have been times, though, when I don't know where to go next with the story (like the "pause" button has been hit), and it is quite frustrating on those days!
9. Please put a description of each of your books here.
Second Chance:
Avalin Summers’s life changes forever when she is told her parents may not be dead.
In the romantic suspense novel Second Chance, Karina Harris weaves an intriguing tale of hope and uncertainty in the story of Avalin Summers, an art student who is fiercely loyal to her older brothers, Jaden and Quinn. When Jaden requests a family meeting at their childhood farm in Colorado, she doesn’t question him. But what she discovers is something she hasn’t dared to dream about for the past five years.
Agent Ian Martin has spent a year investigating the case of part-time FBI operatives John and Rosemary Summers and the suspicious conclusion to their last mission. Recent intelligence hints they may not have died in the European plane crash, but he needs the help of the Summers’s grown children, Jaden, Quinn, and twenty-one-year-old Avalin, to find out. At the family meeting, Ian presents evidence that suggests their parents may have escaped capture and fled to Portugal.
The siblings’ lives are turned upside down when they learn their parents were working as undercover agents. Hoping they are alive, Quinn and Avalin eagerly join Ian in his search. When they land in Lisbon, they are bombarded with even more uncertainties. Thrown together by circumstances fraught with danger, betrayal, and heartache, Ian and Avalin uncover something special in each other. As events unfold, Ian and Avalin begin to question their beliefs in their government, their families, and even God as they look for someone they can trust. Will they find love on their journey together? Will they discover the truth about the Summers’s parents before it’s too late? Find out in Second Chance.
Third Time Around
Harris brings us back to the Summers family in this gripping tale of suspense and romance. Quinn Summers has been assigned to Peru, as the photographer for a National Geographic expose on a Native Indian tribe. Expecting a short, two day stint, he encounters instead a situation which changes his life.
Emma McDonnell is a career driven journalist who has just received her big break. She has been given her first lead assignment for National Geographic, and she is determined to make it perfect. She's not about to let the overly confident, incredibly handsome replacement photographer, Quinn Summers get in her way.
Events conspire to bring them together, both professionally and personally. Quinn becomes determined to discover the cause of the fear he sees behind her eyes. Emma begins to wonder if perhaps Quinn is someone she should trust.
Just as their relationship begins to strengthen, trouble explodes as someone from Emma's past returns to haunt her. Who is it? What does he want? Will Quinn and Emma be able to discover the identity of the would-be kidnapper before its too late?
10. How can readers contact you or purchase your books? Please put your website or blog here.
My blog is: karinabharris.blogspot.com
My website is: www.karinabharris.vpweb.com
Once the release date is set, people will be able to order a book through this website via PayPal. They will receive a signed copy.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Bitter Water by Sherri Smith
I met Sherri Smith on a cruise in January of 2009. As I opened the book I was face to face with the message of forgiveness. The main character of "Bitter Water" had to decide whether to be bitter or better. Once again I was struck with the realization that forgiveness is a choice and not an emotion. While forgiving may not remove the pain of the offense immediately, the results of forgiving is freedom. The characters were the kind of people you would meet anywhere in the world. They had challenges we all face and lived their lives much like we all do. After reading "Bitter Water" I felt that I knew them. You will enjoy meeting them too.
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