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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Johnnie Alexander and "Where She Belongs"

3/29/2016

24 Comments

 
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About the Book:

Shelby Kincaid is ready to move on from her grief. With high hopes for the future, she longs to purchase her family’s ancestral homestead so she can raise her young daughters in the only place she ever truly belonged. She plans to transform the abandoned house into the perfect home of her memories. But she’ll have her work cut out for her.

AJ Sullivan never wanted the homestead. Inherited as a punishment from his grandfather, it has sat empty for fifteen years and fallen into ruin. He’s glad to finally unload it. But a clean break isn’t possible when he can’t get the young widow Shelby off his mind.
​

Welcome to Misty Willow, a place that will have as great a hold over the reader as it does over its inhabitants.

Author Mini-view:

Hello, friends! Can you believe that it's the last week of March already? I sure can't!

We have another author mini-view and giveaway on the books this week and the lovely Johnnie Alexander is joining us. Let's get this interview started!


Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)
​

I wrote about my writing journey when Anna featured my historical novel Where Treasure Hides a few months ago. After it was published, I returned to a story I first started as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) way back in 2005.

I’d gone back to this story several times because of its deeply personal premise. It’s about someone who desperately wants to raise her children in the house where she herself experienced such happy memories. I had lived in a house like that as a teenager, and I would have loved to raise my children there. Circumstances didn’t allow that, but I poured my own desire into my protagonist. We had little else in common, but we did have that—the love for a 19th century brick house that had been abandoned for a time.

When I sent the proposal to my agent, she suggested creating a series. I added a few paragraphs for a couple more stories to the proposal and a few months later signed a contract with Revell.
Where She Belongs is the first story in the Misty Willow Series. The second, When Love Arrives, releases in September, and I’m busy writing the third story which releases next year.
My first novella, The Healing Promise, will be included in Barbour’s Courageous Brides Collection which releases in July.
​


What is your favorite Bible verse?

I have more than one so I’ll share a different one this time than I did before. These verses are a theme in Where She Belongs and my heroine’s favorites, too.
He brought me into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me (Psalm 18:19, NIV).
I will be glad and rejoice in your love . . . You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place (Psalm 31:7-8 NIV).
The promise of God setting my feet in a spacious place resonates with me during tough times.


What have you read lately that you would recommend?  
 

The last novel I read was The Pawn by Stephen James. I have the next book in that series on my Kindle, but I’m afraid to begin it. Once I do, I won’t want to put it down. And I’ve got my own book to get written first!


What book are you featuring today?

Where She Belongs is about Shelby Kincaid, a young widow who dreams of raising her children in the place where she most felt loved and cherished. Sadly, the house that once belonged to her grandparents has stood empty and desolate for about fourteen years. The current owner, AJ Sullivan, is glad to get rid of the house which he inherited as a punishment from his grandfather.
As Shelby’s and AJ’s lives intertwine, they discover how their grandparents’ long ago decisions have affected them both in good ways and sad ways.  


If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

Be aware of the memories you’re creating for those you love.

About the Author:

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Johnnie Alexander writes inspiring stories that linger in the heart. Where Treasure Hides, her debut novel, won the ACFW Genesis Contest (2011) and Golden Leaf Award (2014). Her first contemporary romance, Where She Belongs (Misty Willow Series; Revell), and her first novella, The Healing Promise (Courageous Bride Collection; Barbour), release in 2016.

She also has won Best Novel and Best Writer awards (Florida Christian Writers Conferences), and Bronze Medalist (My Book Therapy Frasier Contest). She volunteers as a category coordinator for the ACFW Genesis Contest, judges various contests, and serves as marketing director for the MidSouth Christian Writers Conference.


A graduate of Rollins College (Orlando) with a Master of Liberal Studies degree, Johnnie treasures family memories, classic movies, road trips, and stacks of books. She lives in the Memphis area with a small herd of alpacas and Rugby, the princely papillon who trees raccoons.

Amazon
Barnes & Noble
Christian Book Distributors (ChristianBook.com)

Giveaway!

Johnnie is generously giving the winner's choice of an e-book or paperback copy of "Where She Belongs" to one of my blog subscribers! (Paperback copies available for US winners only, but e-book copies are available for international winners.) Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 4/5. Thanks for participating and God bless! 
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24 Comments
Sally Davison
3/29/2016 03:19:09 pm

I like how this book has the story surrounding the family's old homestead. I'd love to read it.

Reply
Johnnie Alexander link
3/29/2016 04:33:42 pm

Hi, Sally. That was such an important part of the story for me. It's not my history, but I've always been a tiny bit jealous of families who stayed in the same house for generations. Thanks for being here!

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/29/2016 04:35:11 pm

Anna, thank you for having me as your guest. I'm so excited to share a little bit about my writing journey and the story behind Where She Belongs. You are so appreciated!

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Lucy Reynolds
3/29/2016 04:41:53 pm

This book sounds interesting and I love the ties to the home place. Thank you for the chance to win. God bless!

Reply
Johnnie Alexander link
3/30/2016 07:35:57 am

Hi, Lucy. I love books with a strong sense of place, too. Thanks!

Reply
Sydney Anderson link
3/29/2016 05:23:55 pm

I have seen this book around recently and would love to read it! Looks like a good one! :) Thanks for the giveaway1

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/30/2016 07:36:45 am

Hi, Sydney. Thanks for your encouragement! Wishing you (and everyone else) luck!

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Alaina
3/29/2016 05:40:15 pm

Really looks like an interesting book.

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/30/2016 07:37:19 am

Thank you, Alaina. I had so much fun writing it.

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Kathy Anderson
3/29/2016 07:18:14 pm

Johnnie, I love reading about your dogs and the Alpacas on your page. You ared a new to me author. I love the premise of your book - returning to the home which houses so many of your happy memories. My favorite home is my Grandparent's lake house in Washington state. Unfortunately, the house was sold when my grandparents died.

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/30/2016 07:39:20 am

Oh, Kathy. You will definitely relate to Shelby's feelings for her grandparents' home. A lake house in Washington sounds so romantic. I've never been that far west but hope to visit there someday.

We really enjoy our alpaca herd. Hopefully we'll have a baby or two in a few weeks. I'll post photos if we do.

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Nishimoto link
3/29/2016 07:28:09 pm

I love books about new beginnings and this one catches my attention! It sounds wonderful.

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/30/2016 07:40:16 am

Thank you, Nishimoto. I'm glad WSB caught your eye. Revell created a beautiful cover--I love it!

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Stella Potts
3/30/2016 09:14:34 am

Just the name Misty Willow grabs me and the premise of the book sounds so enthralling. Thank you so much for a chance to win a copy of your book.

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/31/2016 01:57:58 pm

Hello, Stella! How are you? Misty Willow has become such a real place to me. The willow tree itself is one I used to climb as a child but it stood next to the road, not a creek. <smile>

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Tonya Robinette
3/30/2016 09:47:43 am

This sound like a book to really pull on your heart strings, remembering the good things from your own childhood. I would love to win a copy.

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/31/2016 02:05:19 pm

Tonya, you're so right. I've reconnected with childhood friends who read the story and remember some of the same things or at least similar things as me. It's been fun. I hope other readers' heartstrings are pulled, too. Thanks for your comment.

Reply
WENONA
3/30/2016 01:38:14 pm

Sounds like a great read! Thanks for doing this for your readers! Have a Blessed day!

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/31/2016 02:06:37 pm

Thank you, Wenona. May your day be blessed, too!

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Karen
3/31/2016 01:44:14 pm

I can understand the desire to raise your child in a place of happiness! I'm not sure that I'd want any of my childhood homes, though! haha

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Johnnie Alexander link
3/31/2016 02:08:13 pm

Hi, Karen. I lived in a lot of farmhouses growing up, and this one, The Brick, was definitely my favorite!

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Lane Hill House link
4/2/2016 08:59:45 pm

I have just finished reading Where Treasure Hides today. I would like to come to Misty Willow ~ however... please, could a sequel to Where Treasure Hides continue? Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House

Reply
Johnnie Alexander link
4/4/2016 07:09:59 am

Hi, Kathleen. I was so touched by your Amazon review for Where Treasure Hides. Thank you! I have a very rough draft for the sequel, and I'd love to spend more time on it. Maybe I'll get that chance this summer. I'm so glad you loved Alison and Ian's story.

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Lane Hill House link
4/4/2016 09:36:29 pm

Thank you so much. I am so glad their story will continue. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House




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