Category: Author Mini View

Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Angela Meyer and "Where Healing Starts"

9/13/2016

Happy Tuesday!

Hello, blog friends! We are back with another author mini-view and giveaway this week! Joining us this week is the lovely Angela Meyer. Isn't the cover of "Where Healing Starts" lovely? Let's get this mini-view started!

Author Mini-view:

#1. 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 think I have tried it all, beginning when I was in junior high when I wrote poetry. In addition I have written inspirational essays, children’s stories, devotionals, novels and short stories. Where Hope Starts, the first book in the Applewood Hill series, is my first published novel.

There is a fun story about the first novel I wrote. It began when a critique partner challenged me to write more descriptions for a children’s story that I was working on.

I am currently releasing my second book in the series, Where Healing Starts, and I am writing the first draft of book 3.

#2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

"Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me; if you utter worthy, not worthless, words, you will be my spokesman." Jeremiah 15:19a

#3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Not a Fan by Kyle Idleman. This book is great. It gets to the heart of what it means to follow Jesus.

#4. What book are you featuring today?

Where Healing Starts continues the story of the Hannigan family which began in the first book of the Applewood Hill series.

After turning his life over to God, Charles Hannigan is seeking to restore the family to wholeness, but Joanna and Blake want no part of their dad’s efforts. Still hurting from his past anger and rejection, each sibling is on a path toward self-destruction.

Blake is unwittingly following in his father’s footsteps, anger punctuating all his relationships. His brief time serving in the Marines led to PTSD, increases his volatility.

Rejected by the only one she ever trusted, Joanna runs to addiction and men to salve her pain. She eventually finds herself with nowhere else to turn and asks their older sister Karen for a job and a place to stay.

Both Blake and Joanna are determined to hang onto their anger, refusing to forgive. They see no reason to trust God. This novel is about their journey towards healing.

Read the first chapter: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BwkAhFCBpzf4VWdnMTNrN1o0SVVqUUR4c0NNc0FJd0xZOWY0/view?usp=sharing

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

God is in the business of healing and restoring. When we bring our brokenness to Him, He will make us new.

About the Author:

Angela D. Meyer, author of The Applewood Hill Series, lives in NE with her husband of 25 years and their high school daughter. Their son serves our country in the Marines. Angela enjoys hanging out with her family, reading, connecting with friends and encouraging women to grow in their faith. One of her dream spots to vacation is next to the ocean and someday she wants to ride in a hot air balloon.

Giveaway!

Angela is generously giving away an e-book copy of "Where Healing Starts" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 9/20. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Patrick E. Craig and "The Amish Princess"

9/6/2016

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Hello!

Happy Tuesday, blog friends! I hope you are all doing well. We are kicking off this month of giveaways with an interview and giveaway from author Patrick E. Craig. Let's get this interview started!

Mini-view:

#1. 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 have been writing most of my life. I published my first article when I was seven years old. It was a piece for the school paper titled "What we did this summer." I got such positive feedback from family and friends I decided that writing was something I could do well and I've been writing ever since. My mother and my aunt both encouraged me tremendously. My Aunt was a real Irish Shanachie, a storyteller, who had most of the history of our family going back for generations in her head. And so throughout my young life I heard stories all the time. In school I was always on the school paper, usually as editor, entering writing and poetry contests and so forth. In high school my interest shifted toward music and I was playing in bands. But my favorite part was writing songs—songs that told stories and I achieved some success as a songwriter in the seventies and eighties. When I got saved in 1984, I went to Bible College and then became a music minister for many years. I also wrote non-fiction teaching books and articles. Then in 2007, I decided to put that all aside and pursue my real love—writing fiction books that created wonderful characters and told spellbinding stories. I did a three book series for Harvest House, Apple Creek Dreams, wrote two kid's mysteries and self published The Amish Heiress. So I've written seven books since 2007 and I'm working on number eight right now.

#2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

Well I have several but certainly Philippians 4:6&7 is one of them. Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

#3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I'm a big Zane Grey fan but I've read most of his books so I was looking for another adventure author to read. Someone recommended Louis L'amour so I've been reading his Sackett series. He has an interesting style—every book so far is written in first person, something I have never tried. I like the books and I suppose that fact that he sold twenty-five million of them says something about his skill as a writer.

#4. What book are you featuring today?

I am just now getting the second book in The Paradise Chronicles Series, The Amish Princess, ready for printing. It will be out in early November, but I want to feature it because it's been a year since The Amish Heiress came out. The Amish Princess is historical Amish fiction. The first book in the series, The Amish Heiress, did quite well and was on the Amazon bestseller top 100 list in three categories for over seven months. This new book is very unique and I think my readers are going to like it. Here's the blurb:

Opahtuhwe, The White Deer, is the beautiful daughter of Wingenund, the most powerful chief of the Delaware tribe. She is revered by her people–a true Indian princess. Everything changes when the murderous Shawnee renegade known as Scar brings three Amish prisoners to the Delaware camp. Jonathan and Joshua Hershberger are twin brothers that Scar is determined to adopt and teach the Indian way. The third prisoner is their father, Jonas Hershberger, whose stand against violence kept him from defending his family. White Deer is drawn to Jonathan but his hatred of the Indians who murdered his mother and sisters makes him push her away. Joshua's gentle heart and steadfast refusal to abandon the Amish faith lead White Deer to a life-changing decision and rejection by her people. In the end, White Deer must choose between the ways of her people and her newfound faith. And complicating everything is her undying love for the man who can only hate her.

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

We live in a very crazy mixed up world. The only thing that will really help people to make it through is a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. So as a writer I have two imperatives. One is to, somewhere in my story, present the gospel of Jesus Christ in a simple, clear, concise manner, without preaching so that people can hear the truth and decide what they are going to do about it. The other thing I want to do is to preserve our wonderful language. So I take every opportunity when I write to use words that will stretch people, get them out of the texting mode that most people live in today, and make them aware that real communication is everything.

About the Author:

Best-selling author Patrick E. Craig is a lifelong writer and musician who left a successful songwriting and performance career in the music industry to follow Christ in 1984. He spent the next 26 years as a worship leader, seminar speaker, and pastor in churches, and at retreats, seminars and conferences all across the western United States. In 2011 he signed a three-book deal with Harvest House Publishers to publish his Apple Creek Dreams series. His current series is The Paradise Chronicles and the first book in the series, The Amish Heiress, was published by P&J Publishing in August of 2015 and remained on the Amazon bestseller lists for seven months. The second book in the Series, The Amish Princess, will be released in the fall of 2016. Patrick and his wife Judy make their home in Idaho and are the parents of two adult children and have five grandchildren. Patrick is represented by the Steve Laube Agency.

Where can readers find me online?
www.patrickecraig.com Webpage
https://www.facebook.com/PatrickECraig Facebook
https://twitter.com/PatrickECraig Twitter

Where can readers purchase my books?
http://tinyurl.com/n6sfagg Amazon
The Amish Heiress is available in on Amazon, B&N and all your favorite online stores. You can also find it on my website at http://www.patrickecraig.com/my-book-store/.
Look for The Amish Princess in late November, 2016.

Giveaway!

In celebration of the release of "The Amish Princess" in November, Patrick is generously giving away a signed copy of the first book of the series, "The Amish Heiress" to one of my blog subscribers. Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 9/14. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Terri Wangard and "No Neutral Ground"

7/12/2016

5 Comments

Author Mini-view:

Hello, blog friends! We are back with another author mini-view and giveaway this week! Joining us this week is the lovely Terri Wangard. Isn't the cover of "No Neutral Ground" intriguing? Let's get this mini-view started!

1. 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?)

After doing a little writing in the early 2000s, I set it aside until 2008. That's when I read Debbie Macomber's Twenty Wishes, about a group of women who decide to fulfill bucket dreams. I bought a new laptop and started writing. All three books in my Promise For Tomorrow series release this year.

2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

Philippians 4:4-8 is a favorite passage, if not the favorite. I claimed verse 6 especially the first time I ventured off on my own (other than school).

3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Into the Black: The Extraordinary Untold Story of the First Flight of the Space Shuttle Columbia and the Men Who Flew Her by Rowland White. I’ve been fascinated by the space program since learning about the planets in second grade.

4. What book are you featuring today?

No Neutral Ground is the second book in Promise For Tomorrow.

After his father divorces his mother because of her Jewish ancestry, Rafe and the rest of his family flee Germany. As a B-17 navigator, he returns to Europe. Flying missions against his former homeland arouses emotions that surprise Rafe. Despite being rejected, he is troubled by the destruction of Germany and his heart still cries for his father’s love.

Sweden may be neutral, but it’s full of intrigue. Jennie assists the OSS at the American legation in Sweden. She thought she’d be doing passive, behind-the-scenes work. Instead, she’s pushed into an active role to gain intelligence and frustrate the Germans.

How can Rafe and Jennie succeed in their dangerous roles when they are so conflicted?

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

I read historical novels that I hope will entertain and enlighten. I hope that's how my readers feel -- that they enjoyed their time spent reading and that they could place themselves in that time.

About the Author:

Terri Wangard grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.

www.terriwangard.com

Giveaway!

Terri is generously giving away a copy of "No Neutral Ground" to one of my blog subscribers! (This giveaway is for an e-book copy.) Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 7/19. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Bonnie Leon and "To Dance with Dolphins"

6/27/2016

20 Comments

About the book:

Twenty-two-year-old Claire Murray has suffered from a mysterious disease for years. Her social circle has shrunk to a small support group for people with chronic illness and disability. But what if life could be about more than doctors, pain, and medications?

Claire and three others—old grouch Tom, hippy-holdout Willow, and moody Taylor—hatch plans for a cross-country trip to swim with the dolphins in Florida. Only a day into the trip, they unexpectedly need help. And who happens to be hitchhiking along the highway but a young, good-looking loner named Sean Sullivan? However, the last thing he wants is to be harnessed to a bunch of ailing travelers.

Though the journey proves difficult, following God’s plan might be even harder. Will they find the courage to follow their dreams and dare to live again?

Author Mini-view:

Happy last week of June, blog friends! (I can't believe we're halfway through the year already!) Please join me in welcoming the lovely Bonnie Leon to the interview table today. (Doesn't her book sound absolutely amazing?! And that cover... Gorgeous!) Let's get this mini-view 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've been writing and publishing books for more than twenty years. I love the mystery and beauty of creating stories, but what I love most about my life is my family. My husband and I have been married forty-five years. He's a good man. We have three children and seven grandchildren and we've lived in the same small town in Southern Oregon for thirty-six years.

All my growing up years I never imagined myself as a writer, though I loved to read. And then, in late 1989 I was gripped by a compulsion to write and filled up legal pads with poems, personal experiences and short stories. I played at writing until a terrible auto accident in 1991 left me unable to work or to care for my family. God in His mercy led me into writing during a time in my life when I felt I had nothing else to give. It was a whirlwind romance. I wrote my first-ever novel in 1992 and sold it to Thomas Nelson Publishing in 1993, and it published in 1994. I've been writing ever since.

I'm sixty-four now and I've slowed down a bit, but still love to write and have lots of book ideas still percolating in my mind.

I am presently working on a revision of one of my first novels. It is the second revision I've done and I've discovered that revising is much more difficult than creating. In the Land of White Nights will release in August and I am proud of the work and know that it is a much better book with a more satisfying story line. I can't wait for it to release.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My favorite Bible verses are Isaiah 40:26 - 31. I often go to these verses to remind me of the power and hope that is in my Creator.

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I recently finished reading A Flight of Arrows by Lori Benton and highly recommend the book. She is one of those writers who is special. I know when I sit down with one of her stories I am going to be carried away and lifted up.

What book are you featuring today?

I had a story, the story of my heart, that weighed on me for years. It was always in the back of my mind, asking me to write it. I wanted to but I was busy, or the time wasn’t right or publishers wanted something else from me. For years I let it go. But it had to be heard and finally I stepped away from everything else and went to work on the story of my heart.

It wasn’t easy. It was contemporary and I’ve always written historical. The characters had to be real and quirky and fun. And the story would reveal my soul. It was risky. But I did it. And I’m hoping you will read the book of my heart. TO DANCE WITH DOLPHINS is the story of a group of friends who have given up on life and set out on a cross country trip hoping to discover there are still hopes and dreams for people like them.

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

My books reveal the heart of people, their strengths and weaknesses, and the power of God who offers hope and change for those who seek Him.

About the Author:

Bonnie Leon is the author of twenty-one novels, including the recently released To Dance With Dolphins, the popular Alaskan Skies and bestselling The Journey of Eleven Moons. Bonnie’s books are being read internationally and she hears from readers in Australia, Europe, and even Africa.

She enjoys speaking for women’s groups and teaching at writing seminars and conventions and especially delights in mentoring young authors. These days, her time is filled with writing, being a grandmother and relishing precious time with her aged mother.

Bonnie and her husband, Greg, live in Southern Oregon. They have three grown children and seven grandchildren.

You can find Bonnie at:
https://www.bonnieleon.com
https://www.facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor
https://www.bonnieleon.blogspot.com
Twitter: @bonnie_leon
https://www.pinterest.com/bonnieleon/

Giveaway!

This week, Bonnie is generously giving away a copy of "To Dance With Dolphins" to one of my blog subscribers! (The winner can choose between a paperback copy and e-book copy.) Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 7/5. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Michelle Ule and "The 12 Brides of Summer"

6/20/2016

10 Comments

About the Book:

Meet 12 adventurous Victorian era women—a beekeeper who is afraid of bees, a music teacher whose dog has dug up a treasure, a baker who enters a faux courtship, and six more—along with the men they encounter while making summertime memories. Will these loves sown during summer be strengthened by faith and able to endure a lifetime?

Author Mini-view:

Hello, blog friends! Sorry for the hiatus this month... With a family wedding, two road trips, and increased hours at my job, this summer has begun with a bang here. I'm pleased to introduce Michelle Ule, our author interviewee and giveaway queen for the day. :) 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’ve been a professional author since 2011, but have a degree in English from UCLA where I trained as a newspaper reporter back in the dark ages. I’ve written forever—including a massive family history that’s in the Library of Congress.
I got my start towards publication at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference in 2003 when it seemed like God gave me a promise that if I put Him and His plans first in my life, someday I would be published. More to the point, I needed to focus on my daughter’s teenage years. I got my first contract the very day we drove her to college. You can read about that here: http://www.booksandsuch.com/blog/dreams-come-true-at-mount-hermon/
I’m the published author of five novellas and a rogue Navy SEAL novel; three of the novella collections made best seller lists, including The New York Times for A Log Cabin Christmas Collection.
I’m currently writing a biography called Mrs. Oswald Chambers, which is the story of Biddy Chambers, an intrepid Victorian stenographer who married the noted Bible teacher and compiled My Utmost for His Highest. It releases in fall 2017 from Baker Books.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

I like all of Romans 12, but the one I’ve clung to in these social media days as a Christian is Romans 12:18: “If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.” (NKJV)

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I really enjoyed Lori Benton’s A Flight of Arrows. I love all of Lori’s books, but this most recent one has such an interesting presentation of how God works in the lives of all people—no matter their culture. Several of my novellas examine how Jesus is expressed between cultures—and how he is the meeting place for people who see life in such different ways.
I’ve written about Lori’s book and my reaction to her presentation of the Gospel here: http://michelleule.com/2016/04/29/native-americans-gospel-flight-arrows/

What book are you featuring today?

My featured book today is the latest novella collection, The 12 Brides of Summer. Twelve different inspirational romance writers teamed up to write a first collection: The 12 Brides of Christmas and now have written sequels to their stories in the summer book.
The Sunbonnet Bride tells the tale of a young seamstress in 1874 Fairhope, Nebraska, who has to choose between a pristine banker or a sweaty teamster after a tornado rolls through town. Which man deserves her heart more? One who works with his mind or one who works with his hands? And however will she choose?
Hint: reed flutes, a blackberry pie and sunbonnets make the difference.

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

Truth can be stranger than fiction and often is more interesting. See my novella in A Pioneer Christmas Collection, A Gold Rush Christmas—which fictionalizes the true story of the day most of the prostitutes in Skagway, Alaska, fled.

About the Author:

Navy wife Michelle Ule is a graduate of UCLA and the author of five novellas and a novel. She lives in northern California with her family where she works at a literary agency, teaches Bible study, plays in a woodwind ensemble, and writes.

Michelle is a long-time lay counselor in both crisis pregnancies and budget counseling. She loves to travel and is an accomplished genealogist. You can learn more about her at www.michelleule.com.

Giveaway!

This week, Michelle is generously giving away a copy of "The 12 Brides of Summer" to one of my blog subscribers! (The winner can choose between a paperback copy and e-book copy.) Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter! (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 6/28. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Jessica Snell and "Not Alone"

5/24/2016

1 Comment

About the Book:

Our society understands how terrible the loss of a child is when that child is out of the womb, but what about when a child dies before birth? Or what about the emptiness that comes when a very-much-wanted child is never even conceived? These quiet, private losses are hard for those who have not experienced them to understand. And these losses leave those who have suffered them feeling alone in their grief.

Not Alone: A Literary and Spiritual Companion for Those Confronted with Infertility and Miscarriage is a resource both for those who have suffered through these experiences and for their friends and relatives, who want to understand what their loved ones are going through.

This collection contains true stories that are:
* sensitive, and yet honest
* angry and raw, but not despairing
* unique, and yet relatable

The contributors to this book are male and female, old and young, some who eventually had children and some who never did, and yet despite their differences, they share a common grief and a common faith.

No experience of miscarriage and infertility is like any other, yet by reading these painful and hope-filled stories, you'll be comforted by knowing there are others who understand the journey you're on, the loss you've suffered, and you will find that even though your loss is uniquely yours, you are not alone.

Author Mini-view:

1. 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?)

While I've published both non-fiction articles and short stories, both of my full-length books are actually books where I served as a contributing editor, rather than the sole author.

The great joy of being an editor is that I get to help other people tell their stories. It's an honor to be trusted with their words.

2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

I don't have a favorite Bible verse! But in my devotions this week, I found myself lingering in Psalm 4, where it says, "Many are saying, who will show us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us."

In a time when it so often feels like all the news is bad news, this verse made me take heart. Goodness is still where it has always been: in the light of our Lord's presence.

3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I just finished "The Dean's Watch", by Elizabeth Goudge. It was my first time reading her, can you believe it? What a discovery! The beginning was a bit slow-going, but it completely won my heart only a few chapters in, and proceeded to delight me over and over. I can't wait to read more of her backlist!

4. What book are you featuring today?

The book I'm featuring today is "Not Alone: A Literary Companion For Those Confronted with Miscarriage and Infertility".

I know that's a mouthful of a subtitle! But we wanted readers to know what they were picking up.

"Literary" because it's a book of essays. So very many people have shared this kind of suffering and so we wanted to feature a multitude of perspectives.

"Companion" because the longing for a child -- either one you've lost or one you've never had -- can be a very lonely kind of suffering. We wanted people to know this book was full of people who had been there too, who want to walk beside you in your grief.

And "Confronted" because this isn't something you ask for. It's something that comes upon you when you never wanted it and weren't looking for it.

This is a book that doesn't pretend that these things are easy, but also confirms that God is good. And those two truths: that there is real sorrow and a good God who loves us ... those can be hard to reconcile. The contributors to "Not Alone" were really honest about *both*, and I think it's that honesty that makes the book so valuable.

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

Keep going. Probably there will be someone reading this today who is wondering if she should just give up. My message is: don't. Evil and suffering are real, but God is more real. In the dark & dry times, placing one foot in front of the other is an act of great courage. Ask for help: asking is also an act of great courage. It may take a while to feel like it's true, but you are loved and God is good. Trust what you saw in the light and keep going.

Author Bio:

Jessica Snell is the General Editor of Kalos Press and she loves blogging about books, faith, and family at jessicasnell.com. She is the contributing editor of “Let Us Keep the Feast”, a book about celebrating the Christian church year at home, and “Not Alone”, a book on infertility and miscarriage. Her work has appeared in Touchstone Magazine, Christ and Pop Culture, Daily Science Fiction, and more. She and her husband live in sunny Southern California with their four children.

Giveaway!

Jessica is generously giving away the winner's choice of a paperback or e-book copy of "Not Alone" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 5/31. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Leeann Betts and "UnBalanced"

5/10/2016

3 Comments

About the Book:

Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant, is in the middle of planning her son's wedding when she sees a bank robbery that nobody else will admit to. When the story hits the regional news, her credibility is called into question, which jeopardizes her upcoming testimony at a trial. When Mike's long-lost brother turns up but soon disappears, leaving his young son behind, Carly wonders if the two are connected in some way. Can Carly figure out what's going on before her career is ruined?

Author Mini-view:

1. 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 started writing novels as a NaNoWriMo challenge in 2002. Before that, I wrote short stories, devotionals, poetry, greeting cards, magazine articles. But I love books the best! I've written more than 20 books, but recently started in the publishing journey with the release of the stories closest to my heart, the By the Numbers series, featuring Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant.

2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

My favorite Bible verse is Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God"

3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I recently read "In the Blink of an Eye" by Wendy Staub, which I would recommend if you like suspense. Spoiler alert: it contains elements of the spirit world.

4. What book are you featuring today?

Today I am featuring "Unbalanced", book 3 in the series. Carly Turnquist, forensic accountant, is in the middle of wedding plans for her son, when she sees a bank robbery everybody else denies happened. Then her husband's long-lost brother shows up but leaves soon after, abandoning his young son behind. And when the story about Carly spotting the non-existent bank robbery hits the national news, her credibility is called into question. Can she figure out what's going on, or is she really losing her mind?

Author Bio:

Leeann Betts writes contemporary suspense, while her real-life persona, Donna Schlachter, pens historical suspense. No Accounting for Murder and There Was a Crooked Man, books 1 and 2 in her By the Numbers series, released in the fall of 2015 Book 3, Unbalanced, released in January. Book 4, Five and Twenty Blackbirds, is due in April, with more planned for later dates. If you like accountants or are an accountant, check out Counting the Days: a 21-day devotional for accountants, bookkeepers, and financial folk. Leeann and Donna have penned a book on writing, Nuggets of Writing Gold, and Donna has published a book of short stories, Second Chances and Second Cups. You can follow Leeann at www.AllBettsAreOff.wordpress.com and Donna at www.HiStoryThruTheAges.wordpress.com . All books are available at Amazon.com in digital and print, and at Smashwords.com in digital.

Giveaway!

Leeann is generously giving away the winner's choice of a paperback or e-book copy of "UnBalanced" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 5/17. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Jo Huddleston and "Promise Me"

5/10/2016

5 Comments

About the Book:

In 1960, civil discord in Vietnam fills the news. After his college graduation, Patrick Fitzgerald plans to join his daddy’s South Carolina accounting firm. But Uncle Sam may have another position in mind for Patrick—in the U.S. Army. His family’s affluence would be no match for the persuasion of the military draft

Adriana Montagna’s Papá ekes out a living as a coal miner in the mountains of West Virginia. Can a lasting relationship form with Patrick, or will his wealth become a barrier between them?

Meanwhile, the fiber of America’s unity stands on the precipice, while its youth fight a no-win battle on foreign soil. What good can a young couple hope for at such a time as this?

Author Mini-view:

#1. 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 like to laugh with people but not at people. The beach is my favorite vacation spot. I don’t like to see or hear about people or animals being abused. I’m a spectator fan of several sports, my favorite being tennis. I dislike being in the dark and I’m fearful of snakes!

I write sweet Southern historical romance novels, and have published two series: the West Virginia Mountains series and the Caney Creek series. I have four nonfiction books published and have coauthored with Vickie Phelps two nonfiction published books.

After publishing more than 200 articles and short stories, which appeared in over 50 well-known Christian and secular publications including Guideposts, Decision and The Upper Room, I had a health problem that interrupted my writing career for seven years. You can read details of that part of my writing journey at http://bit.ly/1QKgRP5.

I’ve been a high school teacher and guidance counselor, a state political campaign secretary, two-time small business owner, and a real estate agent. I hold a B.A. degree from Lincoln Memorial University (TN) and am a member of their Literary Hall of Fame. I earned an M.Ed. degree from Mississippi State University and belong to American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

Please visit me at www.johuddleston.com where you can sign up for my mailing list and newsletter, connect with me on social media, and read my two blogs.

#2. What is your favorite Bible verse?

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Philippians 4:8, NIV

#3. What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Hearts That Survive by Yvonne Lehman. If you think the movie Titanic told you everything about that great ship’s short ocean voyage, well think again and read this book!

#4. What book are you featuring today? (Share a blurb if desired.)

Promise Me, Book 3 in the West Virginia Mountains series. Here’s the back cover blurb:
In 1960, civil discord in Vietnam fills the news. After his college graduation, Patrick Fitzgerald plans to join his daddy’s South Carolina accounting firm. But Uncle Sam may have another position in mind for Patrick—in the U.S. Army. His family’s affluence would be no match for the persuasion of the military draft.

Adriana Montagna’s papá ekes out a living as a coal miner in the mountains of West Virginia. Can a lasting relationship form with Patrick, or will his wealth become a barrier between them?
Meanwhile, the fiber of America’s unity stands on the precipice, while its youth fight a no-win battle on foreign soil. What good can a young couple hope for at such a time as this?
Buy Link for Promise Me: http://amzn.to/1MWyAl1

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

If you enjoy my books, please tell your family and friends about them and leave a short review of one or two sentences on Amazon to help others find Christian fiction to read.

Author Bio:

Jo Huddleston is an Amazon Bestselling author of books, articles, and short stories. Novels in her West Virginia Mountains series and her Caney Creek series are sweet Southern historical romances. Her novels are endorsed by Amanda Cabot, Cara Lynn James, Sharlene MacLaren, and Ann Tatlock. The redeeming story of God’s pursuing love is the foundation of her novels, and in them you will find inspiration, hope, and gentle stories that are intriguing and entertaining. Jo is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN).

Giveaway!

Jo is generously giving away an E-BOOK copy of "Promise Me" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 5/17. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Christine Lindsay and "Sofi's Bridge"

5/3/2016

2 Comments

Book Blurb:

Seattle Debutant Sofi Andersson will do everything in her power to protect her sister who is suffering from shock over their father’s death. Charles, the family busy-body, threatens to lock Trina in a sanatorium—a whitewashed term for an insane asylum—so Sofi will rescue her little sister, even if it means running away to the Cascade Mountains with only the new gardener Neil Macpherson to protect them. But in a cabin high in the Cascades, Sofi begins to recognize that the handsome immigrant from Ireland harbors secrets of his own. Can she trust this man whose gentle manner brings such peace to her traumatized sister and such tumult to her own emotions? And can Neil, the gardener continue to hide from Sofi that he is really Dr. Neil Galloway, a man wanted for murder by the British police? Only an act of faith and love will bridge the distance that separates lies from truth and safety.

Author Mini-view:

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?)

Just after the reunion with my birthdaughter Sarah in 1999 I started writing. Meeting Sarah whom I had relinquished to adoption in 1979 when she was 3 days old, and finding her again when she was 20 was the most emotional experience of my life.

My husband caught me crying one day about the original loss of my child, and he gave me a brand new journal and pen, and said, "Here honey, write it."

That was the start. A few years later I felt the Lord encourage me to put the emotional and spiritual healing I had received into Christian fiction to encourage others. It's been a long journey, but I this year I am seeing my 7th book published.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My life verse is Isaiah 49:15, 16a, "Can a woman forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has born? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. See...I have engraved you on the palms of my hands."

The whole aspect of God taking our broken hearts and healing them, giving us joy that is centered on Him, is the theme of all my novels. I believe in happy endings. It's also the theme of the non-fiction book of mine that is coming out this August 2016, Finding Sarah--Finding Me: A Birthmother's Story. More to come on that book in August.

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I recently read and loved the Language of Sparrows by Rachel Phifer, and highly recommend it.

What book are you featuring today?

But today I am featuring my latest historical romance Sofi's Bridge. In this book too, my readers will find complex characters, wounded by life, but finding joy and healing in Christ. You can read the first chapters of all my books on my website (www.ChristineLindsay.org) but here is a snippet from Sofi's Bridge:

“Sometimes I think it would be easier,” she said, “if I didn’t feel the urge to use these natural abilities—I think God-given abilities—but to do the more expected tasks of a woman in my social position. Strangely, my father considered it more socially acceptable for my sister to enter yacht races than for me to consider a career.”

Sofi raised her gaze. “But what about you, Neil? With all this talk about life’s purposes and the toil of one’s brow, what are you doing with your life?” The sun nestled between two peaks as she tensed her weight against the sun-warmed granite.

Her natural perfume intoxicated him—not the overpowering colognes of society, but the scent of soap, apples she been paring earlier—stirring the desire to touch her cheek, her hands, her arms. What if he closed the gap between them? How would the softness of her cheek feel against the roughness of his? What would her lips taste like?

His breath quickened.

Sofi’s eyes widened.

He couldn’t tear his gaze from her softly parting mouth. A muscle tapped at the base of her throat.

Had one of them moved closer?

He pulled in a breath. When a man and a woman cared for each other, they should speak the truth. He wanted to tell her about the thrift clinic he’d partnered in for the poor back home. Tell her of the work he’d done in the hospital. If he shared his pride in those accomplishments, he knew her eyes would shine in understanding.

Aye, right, ye fool. Then tell her you left the clinic and your position in Belfast City Hospital, as well as all your patients, to run to Washington State to be a gardener. How could he possibly tell her about the night that stole his life from him, and all with one slash of a knife? He rubbed the pressure between his brows.

“Time we were getting back to the cabin.”

“Right. Of course.” In a fluster, she smoothed her shirtwaist. Her eyes that moments ago were shining turned a dull slate. She set her profile to him. “Foolish for the two of us to stand here any longer.”

About the Author:

Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Tales of her Irish ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India inspired her multi-award-winning series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and the explosive finale Veiled at Midnight.

Christine’s Irish wit and her use of setting as a character is evident in her contemporary romance Londonderry Dreaming. Her newest release Sofi’s Bridge also features a dashing Irish hero.

Aside from being a busy writer and speaker, Christine and her husband live on the west coast of Canada. Coming August 2016 is the release of Christine’s non-fiction book Finding Sarah—Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story.

Giveaway:

Christine is generously giving away an E-BOOK copy of "Sofi's Bridge" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 5/10. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Jan Cline and "Emancipated Heart"

4/19/2016

10 Comments

About the Book:

Hana Kato and her family are nearing the end of their confinement in a WWII Japanese American internment camp. Her beloved Papa has been taken to prison, and Hana works hard to keep the family together until he can join them in preparation for their release. Surviving the attack on Pearl Harbor, and years of enduring difficult living conditions has tested Hana’s faith and trust. Although she stays strong through trials and tragedy, her resolve is weakened as she fights her affections for two men. Will she choose the rebel Japanese young man? Or will the bright Caucasian doctor she works with win her love? Emancipated Heart will hold your attention with a setting of an interesting era in American history, and a lesson in true loyalty, love and forgiveness, told through a Christian worldview.

Author Mini-view:

Hello, blog friends! I'm so happy you're visiting today! The lovely Jan Cline is joining us to tell us about herself and give away a copy of her book, "Emancipated Heart." Isn't the cover lovely? I can't wait to find out more about it... 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?)

Like so many authors, I've been writing since childhood. I guess you could say it's a God given talent and I regard it as a gift. I was first published in 3rd grade in a scholastic magazine. From then on, I was hooked. As an adult I always wrote non-fiction in the form of articles, essays, and mostly devotionals. But about 6 years ago I wrote a novel on a dare from a friend and found my love for writing fiction. Since I grew up with a father who loved history and took us to every museum we passed by, historical fiction has been my passion. I am currently working on a story about sisters trying to survive the depression in the drought stricken mid-west. I hope to make that my first series.

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My favorite Bible verse is Galatians 2:20. Someone wrote it in my Bible when I was a teenager and It's stuck in my heart.

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I recently finished Kate Breslin's For Such a Time. It's a great WW2 read and very well written. I also highly recommend James L. Rubart's The Five Times I Met Myself.

What book are you featuring today?

Emancipated Heart. Here is the opening few paragraphs:

"May 1945, Grand Peak Internment Camp, Wyoming

Today Papa was going to prison. Never mind that he was already in a prison of sorts, confined to a 46,000 acre camp surrounded by a barbed wire fence. And never mind that he was an innocent man.
The howling wind grated against Hana Kato’s frayed nerves. All night it had persisted, sifting dirt through the small cracks in the family’s barrack cubicle. Any other day her mother would scold her brother, Martin, directing him where to stuff mud in the holes in the floor and walls to keep out the dust. Today it didn’t seem important. Today none of them could even fill the holes in their hearts."

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

I would like my readers to know that the characters in my books are survivors, and through them we can capture a glimpse of the perseverance and endurance that God gives all of us who struggle. Whether it's in man's inhumanity to man, "acts of God" upon the earth, war, or our own mistakes, we can know God provides, and changes us in the process.

About the Author:

Jan Cline is an author and speaker from Spokane, Washington. She has been a writing conference director, workshop teacher, critique group leader, and blogger. She has 2 devotional books published by Barbour and has had numerous devotionals, articles, anthology essays and short stories published, as well as a self-published self-help book for women titled A Heart Out of Hiding. Jan is now concentrating her writing efforts on historical fiction. When she’s not writing she enjoys her grandchildren, her craft addiction, golfing, and baking, known by family and friends as the cheesecake queen!

Giveaway!

Jan is generously giving away a copy of "Emancipated Heart" to one your my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here and go to http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 4/26. Thanks for participating and God bless!

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