Spotlight on Debra Ullrick and The Bride Wore Coveralls

Today, I'm pleased to introduce to y'all a good friend of mine and a fellow Heartsong Presents debut author this year. We received our contracts close to the same time, and it's been fantastic sharing this new publishing journey together. Not only that, but she lives in Colorado too!

I'm sure you'll love her and her book as much as I do!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Until a year ago, my husband of thirty+ years and I lived and worked on cow calf ranches in the mountains of Colorado. I have one daughter, who recently got married on 7/7/07 in Las Vegas. I am a ginormous fanatic of classic cars, mud-bog racing, monster trucks, hot rods, and mean-looking trucks. Give me a Manx cat and I'm a happy camper. Just ask my thirteen pound Manx, Tickles. At one time I had three Manx's. Boy, howdy, was that a riot. My passions/hobbies include, animals, strong Christian romance novels, drawing western art, collecting classic car models, playing with my Gravedigger RCC, watching Jane Austen movies, and of course writing.

THE BRIDE WORE COVERALLS
by Debra Ullrick
Published by Barbour Publishing / Heartsong Presents

ABOUT THE BOOK

Camara (pronounced Ca-mare-ah) Cole is a southern female mechanic, who loves to race and build bog trucks. But several of the jealous old fashioned men she competes against strive to make it extremely difficult for her—especially her long time rival Chase Lamar. Camara, a Chevy lover, and Chase, a Ford lover, have been bitter rivals for years. Not just in the mud pits either. Camara sets out to prove to Chase, and all the other men, that she's just as capable of building and racing bog trucks as they are. Her goal is to win the mud-bog racing championship at Swamper Speedway, and hopefully earn her fellow workers and competitors respect. When Chase becomes a Christian, Camara has a hard time believing he's a changed man. Just when she starts trusting him and even liking him, someone starts sabotaging her bog truck. And who else but Chase would do such a thing? After all, he's done it before. Chase Lamar is a changed man, but proving that to Camara is his biggest challenge. That, and overcoming a controlling father who hates the Coles. When his feelings for Camara begin to change, he tries desperately to win her heart. But Camara doesn't trust him. And he doesn't blame her.

Buy Your Copy of The Bride Wore Coveralls Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first book. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this book?

Thank you so much, Tiff. Er...um..Amber. *smiling*

Well, I've always loved any kind of racing. Except for NASCAR, that is. Not enough action for me there. Figure eight races, round track where there's no more than fifty laps, drag races, monster truck races, you name it, I love it. I'm especially hooked on mud bog racing—especially after riding with my nephew as he flew through that pit. That was the biggest rush ever. Woo Wee. I'll admit though, I was afraid to ride with him at first. Visions of me having to get out in the middle of a mid-thigh, overgrown mud puddle—oh my! The thought of the cable they pull the trucks out with coming undone about undone me. hehe. Not that they would have made me get out, mind you. Someone else would have, but the fear was there nonetheless.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Okay, confession time. Gulp. hehe. Pride is something I've always struggled with. Not the haughty kind per se, but always struggling to be someone or something I wasn't. Always trying to prove myself, but always falling short. While writing The Bride Wore Coveralls, God was speaking to me. I needed to hear what Camara had learned. While it's still hard for me to not compare myself to others and to prove my worth by what I do, instead of who I am in Christ, it is getting better because God is teaching me that we all have an anointing on our life. Some are anointed to be wives, mothers, fathers, carpenters, mechanics, racers, secretaries, CEO's, janitors, writers, etc. I've learned that if I find myself frustrated in what I'm doing to ask myself if I'm trying to do something that God hasn't anointed or gifted me to do. Camara was anointed to be a mechanic. God blessed her with those abilities. So if others were jealous and mad about it, that was their problem and not hers. And yet she struggled to prove to them that she was just as capable as they were. Her pride cost her.

As for the traits that were theirs alone. Well, I'm nothing like either one of them. Camara is the type of gal I would love to be—short in stature, messing around with vehicles, racing, no fear, sassy, feisty, and yet kind, generous, forgiving, and lovable. See, there's that comparison thingy again. *smiling* Hey, what can I say? I'm a work in progress.

As for Chase, well, his traits are a lot like my husband's. Tough yet gentle. Kind but bold. Owns up to his mistakes and works on them. Handsome. Well-built. Loves racing, classic cars, and trucks. But most of all—is very Godly. All the things I admire in a man.

Plus, Chase and Camara are people who rose to the challenges in their lives and overcame them. Those are the things that I want in my life. Those are the things that influenced me.

3. What themes exist in The Bride Wore Coveralls that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

That it's okay to be yourself, and that you don't have to prove yourself to anyone. There will always be jealous people in this world. People who will put you down no matter how good you are or how hard you try. So embrace who you are, just the way you are, and don't let other people's opinion of you bring you down. And don't let anyone stop you from pursing your dreams. But mostly that foolish pride has consequences.

The theme of forgiveness wasn't apparent at first. God surprised me with that one. Pleasantly I might add. Judging was a biggy too. How quick we are to judge someone based on their past.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The whole story was difficult to write—except for the mud bog races. That was the easiest part to write. Well, that and the romantic segments. My hubby's an excellent teacher in that department.

My favorite part was—well—the whole thing. I must admit, however, that I especially loved writing it from chapter eighteen until the end. I can't say why though, or I'll give it away. You'll just have to buy the book to find out why. ~wink~wink~

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

I'm not sure when my next book is coming out. There are two sequels, but neither one has sold yet. Déjà vu Bride sat on my acquisition editor's desk since November of 2007, and she only just recently rejected it. The story is about monster trucks, patience, and forgiving yourself and God. The third and final book in the racing series is, Powder Puff Bride.

I'm also working on a historical titled, You Ordered What, and several other stories. So with a little luck and lots of prayer, I'll have another book coming out soon.

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Thank you, Deb, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of The Bride Wore Coveralls.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada only.

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CFBA Blog Tour - MaryLu Tyndall and The Falcon and the Sparrow

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Falcon and the Sparrow
(Barbour Publishing - August 1, 2008)
by M. L. Tyndall

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

M. L. (MARYLU) TYNDALL grew up on the beaches of South Florida loving the sea and the warm tropics. But despite the beauty around her, she always felt an ache in her soul--a longing for something more.

After college, she married and moved to California where she had two children and settled into a job at a local computer company. Although she had done everything the world expected, she was still miserable. She hated her job and her marriage was falling apart.

Still searching for purpose, adventure and true love, she spent her late twenties and early thirties doing all the things the world told her would make her happy, and after years, her children suffered, her second marriage suffered, and she was still miserable.

One day, she picked up her old Bible, dusted it off, and began to read. Somewhere in the middle, God opened her hardened heart to see that He was real, that He still loved her, and that He had a purpose for her life, if she'd only give her heart to Him completely.

Her current releases in the Legacy of The Kings Pirates series include:The Restitution, The Reliance, and The Redemption

ABOUT THE BOOK

When Mademoiselle Dominique Dawson sets foot on the soil of her beloved homeland, England, she feels neither the happiness nor the excitement she expected upon her return to the place of her birth. Alone for the first time in her life, without family, without friends, without protection, she now faces a far more frightening prospect, for she has come to the country she loves as an enemy-a spy for Napoleon.

Forced to betray England or never see her only brother alive again, Dominique has accepted a position as governess to the son of Admiral Chase Randal, a harsh man, still bitter over the loss of his wife. Will Dominique find the strength she needs through God to follow through with the plan to rescue her brother? Will Chase find comfort for his bitter heart in God's arms and be able to love again?

And what new deceptions will they both find in France when they arrive to carry out their plan?

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The biggest inspiration was my desire to create a heroine that I believe many women can relate to. She's not the normal brave, outgoing, independent woman we see in many novels. Not that I'm against that type of heroine. I adore strong women characters and write about them myself, but I think many more people are on the timid side like I am, than are on the courageous side. So, my ultimate purpose was to show how someone who's typically shy and frightened, someone who doesn't think they can make a difference at all, can do impossible feats with God on their side.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

My life experiences greatly influence my characters. In fact I pull most of my spiritual themes from things I have learned in my walk with God. The heroine in this particular story I modeled after myself. I tend to be on the shy, timid side, fairly insecure and usually nervous. I used to think I was an oddity, that God must have made a mistake, but as I've gotten to know more and more people, I realize many of them are much closer to being this way than to being brave and outgoing! So the heroine of this story, Dominique, was fairly easy to write for me. My own experiences and fears paved the way for her reaction to the world that I threw her into. When I'm writing a character who is not like me, I still inject some of my own qualities in him or her, but rely heavily on experiences and observations I've had with other people. But no matter how well I have mapped out a character's personality in the beginning, they always tend to take on a life of their own and develop qualities that are uniquely theirs as the story progresses.

3. What themes exist in The Falcon and the Sparrow that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The main theme I hope to portray is that no matter how frightened we are, no matter how hopeless our situation, God is our strength. We may not feel calm, we may not feel courageous. In fact we may be shaking in our boots, but if we trust Him, He will never let us down.

(I can tell you’re a writer, Tiff, because you ask questions only a writer would know!) But, yes, often while I'm writing a book, other themes that I hadn't planned on developing seem to formulate out of the story. In Falcon, two more themes emerged. One, that life doesn't always turn out as we hope or pray for, but that doesn't mean God doesn't love us or has abandoned us, and two, that often times when we think we are horrible witnesses and doing nothing good for God, we are affecting those around us in ways we could never imagine.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The hardest part of any book I've written is the first 30,000 words or so. I really struggle getting a story started, introducing all the characters, the conflict, the plot. But something magical happens somewhere around the first third of the book. The characters become real to me and begin to take over the story. The words flow out of me and my writing becomes easier. By far my favorite part to write is the last 10,000 words. I love endings and have no trouble putting together a tense, satisfying ending to my books. At least, I hope you'll think so too!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next release is called The Red Siren, book 1 of the Charles Town Belles series. It will be released in February '09 and is the story of an admiral's daughter who is a pirate by night, and a lady by day. She hopes to accumulate enough wealth to save her and her sisters from unsavory marriages. But her plan is thwarted when she falls in love with the British Navy Captain who is out to catch the villainous woman pirate scouring the seas around Charles Towne!

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Thank you, MaryLu, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of The Falcon and the Sparrow.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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Spotlight on K.M. Daughters and Jewel of the Adriatic

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

K.M. Daughters is the writing team of sisters, Patricia (Pat) Casiello and Kathleen (Kathie) Clare. The penname is dedicated to their parents, Katherine and Michael.

Pat is a former technical writer, newsletter editor and corporate communications manager. She is also the founder and President of a relocation benefit management company and a real estate appraisal management company. Pat is married to Nick Casiello and has three/four children, Jen, Brian and Emilie and new son-in-law, Jeff. Pat and Nick live in the western suburbs of Chicago.

Kathie currently runs the appraisal company and has been a retail storeowner and accounting executive. She is married to Tom Clare and has two sons, Tom and Michael. She is also the proud Nana of five year old, Natalie and four-month old, Michael John. Kathie and Tom live in the sisters' hometown in New Jersey.

JEWEL OF THE ADRIATIC
by K.M. Daughters
Published by Wild Rose Press

ABOUT THE BOOK

A nightgown model and a soap opera star meet in Valselo, a Croatian village where millions believe the Mother of God appears to three visionaries. Yugoslavian born Maya Lidovic owns Intimate Whispers, a New York based sleepwear company. Determined not to lose her faith in a secular world, she spends her vacations leading tours in Valselo where her parents run an inn. Colin O'Reilly plays heartthrob, Dr. Brock Stone, on the soap opera Tides Of Tomorrow. Through various setbacks in life he's managed to keep God first. But now he's furious at God for taking his mother. Colin doesn't believe that God has sent the Virgin Mary to earth with messages of hope. He doesn't believe that God cares about the world. A series of apparitions, prophetic dreams and earthy attraction draw these different people together. Human frailties obscure the intention of the call that brought them to their destinies.

Buy Your Copy of Jewel of the Adriatic Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this book?

The collective experiences of three trips we took together: Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; and Medjugorje, Bosnia-Herzegovina inspired us to write Jewel Of The Adriatic. We felt called to these places, historic and contemporary sites of Marian apparitions - the first time, shortly after our mother's sudden death. They were healing journeys for us that connected us to God and deepened our faith.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Our Dad died when we were teenagers. Mom died suddenly when our children were young. Dad's absence for all our milestone adult moments and Mom's absence for many give us insight into the burdens of grief – we would give anything if they were here to see K.M. Daughters published! But, we have experienced and continue to experience the healing power of prayer. Belief that our dad and mom are with God consoles us. Seeing God in nature – in all good things - helps us live lives of gratitude. No matter how difficult things seem, or truly are, turning burdens over to God brings peace. In Jewel of the Adriatic, Maya’s central defining trait is she IS her faith. She has doubts and failings and fears, but she handles them by seeking God's help. Colin is stuck in that place of constant anger at God for ripping away Maggie, someone he loves fiercely and needs sorely – in the here and now. And the prayers of well-meaning souls just serve to rip the scabs off his wounds, make the pain fresh and start the cycle of anger again. He needs God's healing love...he just has to get to the point where he wants it. But ah – the power of love.

3. What themes exist in Jewel of the Adriatic that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The central theme in all our writing is "love heals." Jewel's recurrent theme is pray, pray, pray. Turn your hearts to God. "Cast your burdens unto the Lord." Perhaps less overt, but hopefully inspiring to readers is the theme that with faith and trust in God come joy and riches beyond anything you can imagine for yourself. Ask and you shall receive surprising, wonderful gifts.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult parts were the "guide-talk" parts. Maya's job as a part-time guide in the village is an important role for her in the story, but we didn't want to set her "apart" from Colin too much. Limiting that narrative, but still conveying the "history" and flavor of events in the fictional village was sometimes difficult. Writing the rest of the book was our favorite. It felt like weaving a prayer for us.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

We're close to a release date for Against Doctors Orders, the first in our Sullivan Boys series. Gotta love those handsome Sullivan boys, all professional law enforcers.

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Thank you, Pat and Kathie, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Jewel of the Adriatic.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada only.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Patricia Hickman and Painted Dresses

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Painted Dresses
(WaterBrook Press - July 15, 2008)
by Patricia Hickman

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Patricia Hickman is an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction, whose work has been praised by critics and readers alike.

Patricia Hickman began writing many years ago after an invitation to join a writer's critique group. It was headed up by best-selling author Dr. Gilbert Morris, a pioneer in Christian fiction who has written many best selling titles. The group eventually came to be called the "Nubbing Chits". All four members of the original "Chits" have gone on to become award-winning and best selling novelists (good fruit, Gil!).

Patty signed her first multi-book contract with Bethany House Publishers. After she wrote several novels "for the market", she assessed her writer's life and decided she would follow the leanings of her heart. She says, "It had to be God leading me into the next work which wound up being my first break-out book, Katrina's Wings. I had never read a southern mainstream novel, yet I knew that one lived in my head, begging to be brought out and developed." She wanted to create deeper stories that broke away from convention and formula. From her own journey in life, she created a world based upon her hometown in the 70's, including Earthly Vows and Whisper Town from the Millwood Hollow Series.

Patty and her husband, Randy, have planted two churches in North Carolina. Her husband pastors Family Christian Center, located in Huntersville. The Hickmans have three children, two on earth and one in heaven. Their daughter, Jessi, was involved in a fatal automobile accident in 2001. Through her writing and speaking, Patty seeks to offer help, hope and encouragement to those who walk the daily road of loss and grief.

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this story of sisterhood and unexpected paths, Gaylen Syler-Boatwright flees her unraveling marriage to take refuge in a mountain cottage owned by her deceased aunt. Burdened with looking after her adult sister, Delia, she is shocked to find a trail of family secrets hidden within her aunt’s odd collection of framed, painted dresses. With Delia, who attracts trouble as a daily occupation, Gaylen embarks on a road trip that throws the unlikely pair together on a journey to painful understanding and delightful revelations.

Steeped in Hickman’s trademark humor, her spare writing voice, and the bittersweet pathos of the South, Painted Dresses powerfully captures a woman’s desperate longing to uncover a hidden, broken life and discover the liberty of living authentically, even when the things exposed are shrouded in shame.

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE

* * * * *

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Painted Dresses.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

CFBA Blog Tour - James Scott Bell and Try Darkness

I'll never forget when I first 'met' Jim Bell. It was just last year at the ACFW Conference in Dallas. He had been invited as our keynote speaker, and I (along with a good friend) was coordinating the conference bookstore. The day before the conference, we bustled about setting up the tables, the books, the displays and establishing the overall layout. For Jim, we had a spotlight section right up front for his books. As we stacked and featured them, a man walks into the bookstore and says:

"I hear this guy's an awesome writer. And he's a great guy too."

I turned around and recognized Jim from his picture, smiled and said, "Well, you should know, seeing how close the two of you are to each other." :)

And that set the stage for the rest of the conference. A memorable time had by all. You'd almost never believe the plots and situations he crafts in his masterful legal thrillers. If you or someone you know enjoys these types of books, you won't want to miss Jim's latest.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Try Darkness
(Center Street - July 30, 2008)
by James Scott Bell

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James Scott Bell is a former trial lawyer who now writes full time. He has also been the fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine and adjunct professor of writing at Pepperdine University.

The national bestselling author of several novels of suspense, he grew up and still lives in Los Angeles. His first Buchanan thriller, TRY DYING, was released to high critical praise, while his book on writing, Plot and Structure is one of the most popular writing books available today.

TRY DARKNESS
by James Scott Bell
Published by Center Street

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ty Buchanan is living on the peaceful grounds of St. Monica's, far away from the glamorous life he led as a rising trial lawyer for a big L.A. firm. Recovering from the death of his fiancée and a false accusation of murder, Buchanan has found his previous ambitions unrewarding. Now he prefers offering legal services to the poor and the underrepresented from his "office" at local coffee bar The Freudian Sip. With his new friends, the philosophizing Father Bob and basketball-playing Sister Mary Veritas, Buchanan has found a new family of sorts.

One of his first clients is a mysterious woman who arrives with her six-year-old daughter. They are being illegally evicted from a downtown transient hotel, an interest that Ty soon discovers is represented by his old law firm and his former best friend, Al Bradshaw. Buchanan won't back down. He’s going to fight for the woman's rights.

But then she ends up dead, and the case moves from the courtroom to the streets. Determined to find the killer and protect the little girl, who has no last name and no other family, Buchanan finds he must depend on skills he never needed in the employ of a civil law firm.

The trail leads Buchanan through the sordid underbelly of the city and to the mansions and yachts of the rich and famous. No one is anxious to talk.

But somebody wants Buchanan to shut up. For good.

Now he must use every legal and physical edge he knows to keep himself and the girl alive.

Once again evoking the neo-noir setting of contemporary Los Angeles, Bell delivers another thriller where darkness falls and the suspense never rests.

If you would like to read the first two chapters, go HERE.

"Bell has created in Buchanan an appealing and series-worthy protagonist, and the tale equally balances action and drama, motion and emotion. Readers who pride themselves on figuring out the answers before an author reveals them are in for a surprise, too: Bell is very good at keeping secrets. Fans of thrillers with lawyers as their central characters—Lescroart and Margolin, especially—will welcome this new addition to their must-read lists."
—Booklist

"Engaging whodunit series kickoff...Readers will enjoy Bell's talent for description and character development."
—Publishers Weekly

"James Scott Bell has written himself into a niche that traditionally has been reserved for the likes of Raymond Chandler."
—Los Angeles Times

"A master of suspense."
—Library Journal

"One of the best writers out there, bar none."
—In the Library Review

Order your copy today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Like a lot of my ideas, it came by way of a random news item I read. Several years ago, a man shot his wife in South L.A., then drove to a freeway overpass, shot himself, and fell a hundred feet to the freeway below, hitting a car and killing the driver. My writer's mind kept thinking, what an opening. Now all I had to do was construct a plot to go with it. So I did.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Maybe it's more what drives me. Novelist David Morrell once said he writes according to his "inner ferret," the thing that gnaws at him. He can't write a book just "by the numbers," and neither can I. It has to be about something inside me.

Of course, my experience as a lawyer has a significant part to play in the plots.

One of the nice things about doing a series like this is that I can have my character do things I would never do, but maybe would have liked to. Like getting fed up with another lawyer and doing a tap dance on his conference table. Stuff like that.

3. What themes exist in Try Darkness that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

All my books seem to have a thread about fighting for justice in a dark world. Is it possible to get it? How? What do you have to give up? What part of you might die as a result?

I let the characters and story develop naturally, but it always seems to revolve around this.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Often, as I'm writing, a twist or turn will occur to me that I didn't plan. Or, a character may decide to do something quite against my wishes. Usually that's a good thing. Then the difficulty is making sure that's all layered in naturally in the story so far, and the story to come.

I love writing about the interplay between Ty Buchanan, my lead character, and the basketball playing nun, Sister Mary Veritas. That's really fun. Maybe the same way Hammett felt when he wrote Nick and Nora.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Deceived (Zondervan) will be out in early 2009. That's the story about a woman who makes a very bad choice, and tries to run from it, and what it does to her as a result.

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Thank you, Jim, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Try Darkness.

** If you have any questions for Jim, leave them in the comments. He might just pop in this next week and have a little chat with you. :)

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

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Spotlight on Thomas Phillips and The Molech Prophey

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Thomas Phillips grew up with a reading disability. He did everything possible not to read. It wasn't until he was in seventh grade that he finally read a book cover to cover. Now a voracious reader and prolific writer, Phillips uses his accomplishments as a motivational backdrop for speaking at school assemblies.

Born and raised in Rochester, New York, Phillips has worked as a freelance journalist and currently works full time as an employment law paralegal. When he isn't writing, Phillips plays guitar, is active at his church, coaches his children's Little League teams, co-leads Ink Spots and Coffee Grounds—a creative writing group, and plots his next story. The Molech Prophecy is his first published Christian novel.

THE MOLECH PROPHECY
by Thomas Phillips
Published by Whitaker House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Former gang member Tommy Cucinelle thought he had left his old life behind when he became a Christian. That's why he's surprised when his pastor asks him to use his old "skills"--finding people who don't want to be found--to locate the church secretary after she mysteriously disappears and the church is vandalized. The police don't have any leads. Tommy's investigation brings him face-to-face with the unpleasant memories from the past that threaten his new identity, but turmoil is soon the least of his worries. A local Wiccan church is at the heart of the mystery, and Tommy's search uncovers a startling prophecy about child sacrifice to the pagan god Molech. When the missing woman's sister--Tommy's newfound romantic interest--disappears as well, the quest becomes personal.

Buy Your Copy of The Molech Prophecy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this book?

You might expect a simple answer. When I wrote secular fiction, you might have gotten a simple answer. In 1995, I began my professional writing career with the sale of my first short story. From there, I went on to sell more than 70 short stories and articles until in mid-2000, my first secular novel was published. By 2003, I had five mystery novels under my belt. And then in April, everything changed. I became a Christian.

It wasn't that anyone told me to stop writing, or to change the way I wrote. It was that I realized the books I'd written did nothing to honor God. With sex, bad language and graphic, senseless violence filling my pages, I knew I needed to take a break.

It was bad timing for my then-publisher. My first hardcover had recently been released, and I decided not to do much to promote it. As a New Christian, I was confident that the works I'd written—as I said—did nothing to bring honor and glory to God. At that point, I quit writing, more or less. But, eventually, I got into writing weekly devotionals for my church's e-newsletter.

In late 2005, I began a journey into a deep, dark valley. I felt like God was testing me. As time went on, I realized, the valley only got deeper and darker. In the fall of 2006, I was inspired to write a new mystery novel. But this would be a Christian themed work. I believe that God allowed me to begin to work my way out of the valley through writing. Only this time, He wanted me to write books that glorified Him (and not just feed my own insatiable need for fame).

At the time, the church I attended had just built a new church building, and twice the front was vandalized. Black, ugly spray paint covered the pecan bricks. Vulgar, hateful words and satanic symbols were everywhere. No one was ever caught.

In short, lol, this is where The Molech Prophecy begins...

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

It is tough to write and not put some, or a lot, of yourself into your characters. Anyone who knows me, and reads my work, recognizes right off the similarities between me and the main character, Tommy. My life was nothing like his, but the way he acts, the things he says, the things he does – it resembles who I am. I'm a Yankees fan, a Miami Dolphin fan, so you will never see a protagonist who is a Boston fan, or a Buffalo Bills fan. Just won't happen.

But as I mentioned, the life experiences that the characters live out in the story, are all their own. I create these histories/pasts prior to even beginning to write the first chapter. It's only as I really get to know who they are, that I catch myself turning them into me. :)

3. What themes exist in The Molech Prophecy that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I really focused on one main theme while writing this novel. What I hope people take away from the story is this … Christians are people. Flawed. Real. Being a Christian does not mean your life is now on auto-pilot. In fact, the Bible promises a tougher road for those who proclaim Christ as their Savior. In a way, I show this to readers in The Molech Prophecy. (Non-Christians are always quick to point out mistakes Christians make, as if to say, ah-ha! Caught you! There is nothing to catch. We all make mistakes. I make them daily! That's to be expected. No one, except Jesus, was or ever will be perfect. It's that simple, yet, this is something that is often overlooked.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Some of the most difficult parts to write were the flashbacks that touched on Tommy's little brother. In the story, Tommy's brother has cancer and is in the hospital. In real life, when my little brother was 17, he suffered a major stroke. The helplessness I felt then, and even the guilt—the stroke happening to him and not me—comes out in my writing.

My favorite parts were also the flashbacks to Tommy's rough days a street thug. The scenes are tight, fast, intense. I like the dialogue and characters I created. Boy, does that sound conceited? I just mean, I really got into these characters while writing. They were so real to me. I hated finishing the book, saying good-bye.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The hope is that the second book will be released July 2009. Right now it is entitled, Convicted. This is the summary I used when I pitched it to my agent:

Best-selling mystery author, Noah Fuller, shocks his readers when he announces that he'll only be writing mysteries with a Christian theme from now on. When angry letters are sent to the publisher, his agent and even to his house, Fuller is certain the storm will pass. But when his four-year-old son is abducted from a grocery store parking lot, the police suspect the author's fans are more than just fanatical.

In an attempt to employ his fame, Fuller utilizes the media to generate a nationwide search for his son.

However, the police investigation uncovers a dark secret about Fuller's past that threatens to kill his new writing career, his marriage and the very life of his son...

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Thank you, Thomas, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of The Molech Prophecy.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

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Spotlight on Nancy Mehl and In the Dead of Winter

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nancy Mehl's novels are all set in her home state of Kansas. Although some people think of Kansas as nothing more than flat land and cattle, she believes they really are quite interesting. Nancy is a mystery buff who loves the genre and is excited to see more inspirational mysteries becoming available to readers who share her passion. Her "Ivy Towers Mystery Series" combines two of her favorite things – mystery and snow. Unfortunately, the past several winters have been pretty dry. She enjoys writing fiction because she can make it snow as much as she wants!

Nancy works for the City of Wichita, assisting low-income seniors and the disabled. She also spends time with her volunteer group, Wichita Homebound Outreach. She lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband of thirty-five years, Norman. Her son, Danny, is a successful graphic designer. He designed covers for several of her previous books.

IN THE DEAD OF WINTER
by Nancy Mehl
Published by Barbour Publishing / Heartsong Presents Mysteries

ABOUT THE BOOK

College student Ivy Towers reluctantly returns to Winter Break, Kansas to settle the estate of her late, great-aunt Bitty Flanagan, owner of Miss Bitty's Bygone Bookstore. Bitty's fall from a library ladder seems suspicious to Ivy, and items are missing from the store. An anonymous note confirms Ivy's worst fears. Someone in Winter Break murdered Aunt Bitty. But why? Ivy and her former boyfriend, Deputy Sheriff Amos Parker, search for the truth about Bitty's death and discover dark secrets that are worth killing for. As harsh winter weather rages all around Winter Break, another storm brews deep in Ivy's heart. Everything she believes will be tested, and in the end, she will discover that love lurks in the most unexpected places.

Buy Your Copy Today!

In the Dead of Winter will be available on Amazon sometime this month. For anyone who is interested in purchasing a copy, you can e-mail me at nancymehlbooks [at] hotmail.com, and I will notify you when it's available.

One important note: Cozy in Kansas is already available for preorder on Amazon and on Christianbook.com. Cozy will contain the first three Ivy Tower mysteries: In the Dead of Winter, Bye, Bye Bertie, and For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls. It will be released in December.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this your story in this anthology?

Believe it or not, I think it began with frustration over the lack of snow one winter. My agent told me Barbour's new mystery book club was accepting proposals for cozy mysteries. So I sat down at the computer and started typing. I created a place in Kansas where it snowed more than anywhere else in the state. A place where "winter comes early and stays late." Truth be told, Winter Break, Kansas is my perfect town. The place I'd live if it existed. The rest of the story evolved from there.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I truly believe authors transfer some of their own traits to their characters. To create characters with depth, you must be able to understand them. Some authors who craft particularly villainous individuals may not admit to this, but all of us have had selfish motives and desires in our lives. Perhaps we would never go to the extent our antagonists go – but we understand the drive behind their deeds.

In reference to In the Dead of Winter, I related to Ivy in many ways. Her desire for a simpler life in a small town is mine. Her attraction to old Victorian houses comes from me, along with her enjoyment of books. Her love for God and her desire for justice stems from me. Unfortunately, her nosiness and impatience are mine also. One of my friends said that when she read In the Dead of Winter, she just envisioned me as Ivy. Nice to hear since Ivy is in her twenties and I'm in my...(cough, cough).

As far as traits that belong to my characters that are not mine: I would never tackle a one pound cheeseburger like the one made by Ruby in Ruby's Redbird Diner. (Maybe one half now and one half later!) I find a pound of meat a rather unsettling proposition. Also, I think Ivy is a little braver than I am. She spends time alone in a funeral home because it's the only place where she can use a computer. I don't think you'd ever find me doing the same thing. When she hears a noise, thinking someone is in the mortuary who shouldn't be there, she tries to escape out the front door. I would either be crouched in a fetal position inside a locked room – or passed out on the floor – making myself a much easier target!

3. What themes exist in In the Dead of Winter that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

There are a few things. First of all I want everyone who reads my books to come away with something more than a good story. I certainly want them to enjoy themselves and get away from life for a while, but I also want to let them know that God loves them. In the Dead of Winter is about a girl who discovers that God has a plan for her life. And even though it looks different than the life He has for her parents, she finds out that it's just as important. God has a plan for all of us. To me, one of the saddest things in life is to find someone who feels like a "generality" instead of a "specific" – someone who has a purpose. We all have "the mark of the high calling" to achieve. We're all important to God. Whether we feel purposeless or whether we've cut God out of our future with our own plans and purposes, it’s important to bring our lives and lay them down at His feet, asking Him to put us on the "ordered path" he has for us. Our true fulfillment lies in this.

Also, there is a theme of forgiveness in my book. Forgiveness is the greatest gift you can give yourself. Forgiving others and forgiving yourself will set you free to be everything God has called you to be. Holding on to resentment, jealously or self-pity will stop you in your tracks. These things are life-killers. The idea of forgiveness did tend to grow as the story progressed, even though I did plan to address it. In the end, it became very important to the plot.

There is one truth that I have determined to always make a theme in everything I write. It is the fact that God is good. In In the Dead of Winter, Pastor Taylor says over and over, "The goodness of God gives me strength." It's important for everyone to know God for who He truly is. This is where our strength and our comfort come from. There is an unfortunate perception in the world (and in some parts of the church) that God is going around giving people diseases or taking loved ones from them. This is absolutely false. God is a good God. He is loving, kind, and merciful. He gave His most precious gift to a sinful world to bridge the gap between sin and holiness. He has made it clear that His love never changes, and it is to be trusted above everything. I've promised God that I will never, ever write anything that compromises that truth.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Actually, I enjoyed writing all of it. It's the editing that gets to me! When I find that I've repeated words or used the same non-verbal actions ten times in one scene – I get very frustrated. In one part of the story, I had Ivy touching people so often, she appeared to be in need of some kind of counseling!

In the Dead of Winter was my first cozy mystery. My other books had more suspense. In cozies, humor is a part of the story. I had a blast trying out my "funny side, not only in dialogue but in creating quirky characters. I've had more fun writing these cozy mysteries than anything else I've ever done.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Bye, Bye Bertie has already been released to the book club. It will available to the public in six months. In Bertie, Ivy finds a map she thinks will lead to a treasure. Instead, she finds something much different. Also, Ivy and Amos (the local deputy sheriff) will take an important step in their relationship. And a new character will be introduced. Someone who has been missing a long, long time. Can't say anymore because it will give the plot away!

There are two more in this series, For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls, and There Goes Santa Claus.

* * * * *

Thank you, Nancy, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of In the Dead of Winter.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

CFBA Blog Tour - Robin Jones Gunn and Sisterchicks Go Brit

You know, I'd always found the books in this series to be hilarious and full of winsome characters. But after meeting Robin face to face last year in Dallas, I know why. She just exudes personality. No wonder her characters are such a pure joy to read. I'm sure you'll enjoy them too.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Sisterchicks Go Brit
(Multnomah Publishers - May 20, 2008)
by Robin Jones Gunn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawaii.

Robin's first novel was published in 1988, and she has continued to write between two to five books a year. Her 63 published books include 47 novels, all of which are still in print. Sales of her popular Christy Miller Series, Glenbrooke Series and Sisterchicks Series, including Sisterchicks in Gondolas and the new Katie Weldon Series including Peculiar Treasures, are all approaching four million copies sold, with translations in nine languages.

Robin's passion for storytelling and travel are evident in all her books, especially the Sisterchicks novels, and she has received thousands of letters from readers around the world who have come to know Christ through her writing. She sees this as her dream come true. Her novels are traveling to foreign lands and her characters are doing what she always longed to do; telling people about God's love.

She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for 30 years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown.

As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin's favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives.

Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins' Christian Writers' Guild.

SISTERCHICKS GO BRIT
by Robin Jones Gunn
Published by Multnomah Publishers

ABOUT THE BOOK

SISTERCHICK® n: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.

Two midlife mamas hop over to jolly ole England and encounter so much more than the usual tourist stops. Liz does have a bit of a childhood crush on Big Ben, and she has hoped to "meet" him ever since her fifteenth birthday. Kellie dreams of starting an interior design business and figures Liz needs to be a part of that equation–a calculation that hasn’t added up for Liz yet.

Nothing on the excursion goes the way these two friends had envisioned. They start with a village pancake race and end up being held for questioning on The Underground. Kellie and Liz take a wild tour through the land of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and then find themselves swept up, up, and away in a hot air balloon over the Cotswalds. London beckons with the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, shopping at Portabella Road in Knotting Hill, and of course, reservations at the Ritz for a posh high tea.

A few detours along the way and the possibility of being lost in a London fog of wonderment aren't enough to stop these two Sisterchicks! Each step of their regal journey is lined with evidence of God's gracious compassion, and both come to realize that God knows their every wish. He is the One who planted every dream in their hearts.

And, oh, what a surprise awaits them when they return home!

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE.

"Robin has done it again! You and your Sisterchicks will love taking this new adventure together!"
- Karen Kingsbury, New York Times best-selling author

"My only complaint about Robin's latest is that now I want to hop a plane to England! But combine a cup of Earl Grey tea and this charming story and you're halfway there. Another delightful tale about women helping women to live their lives to the fullest."
- Melody Carlson, author of A Mile in My Flip-Flops

Order your copy today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

As with all the Sisterchicks® novels I wanted to tell a story of friendship between two women and show what happens when they get out of their comfort zone. They see God as much bigger than they ever thought and they open up their hearts to each other and to the Lord.

Of course, I had to go to England and do the necessary all-important research. My editor, Julee, came with me and we had a fantastic time. The first few days we stayed with another good friend of mine, Marion, who lives in England. She showed us the sights Sisterchicks style!

We also met with a group of British Sisterchicks readers who called themselves the Blessed Chicks. We had a silly, frilly tea party at a very old hotel in Bedford and ended our time together in prayer. It was such a treat! Sisterchicks are the same around the world.

To give readers a sneak peek at the story behind the story, I've added a scrapbook/travel journal entry at the back of Sisterchicks Go Brit!. You'll find a photo of a special group of women who call themselves the Blessed Chicks. It was one of our sillier moments.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Interesting question. I think every story I tell has a distinctive overlapping of true life experiences and feelings mixed with the imaginary and embellished adventures. Our real life tour of Oxford and all things Tolkien and Lewis was an especially memorable day. The account of Oxford that appears in the novel needed very little embellishing over our real life experience. It was crazy!

Oh, and I do have a bit of a crush on Big Ben like Kellie did. Watching his handsome face light up for me on a summer evening was definitely an experience from my life that influenced Kellie.

As far as traits that were Liz and Kellie's alone I think one of the traits was Liz's interest in decorating. Liz is like my sister in that way. My sister is an artist when it comes to putting together a beautiful room or combining colors. I'm learning more and more how to do that but I don't think it comes naturally for me as it did for Liz or as it does for my sister.

3. What themes exist in Sisterchicks Go Brit that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

You know what’s funny about this? So often I'll set out with a key thought or theme and think it's being woven through the story as I write. Then I get a letter from a reader telling me that God showed them this and that and whatever else while they were reading and I am amazed. I know I didn't have that thought in mind as I wrote but clearly God's Spirit used whatever was there to touch them in a tender place in their heart. And that's what really matters to me in the end.

The verse I selected for Sisterchicks Go Brit! is from Joshua 23:14 in the paraphrased version of The Message. "Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!" That says it all as far as what I had in mind as a theme that developed as the story progressed. I wanted Liz and Kellie to look over their lives this far and see how faithful and trustworthy the Lord had been to them. They had every reason to trust Him for whatever was next in His mysterious plan for them.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I don't remember a part that was particularly difficult to write but the whole book was difficult in one way and effortless in another. Let me explain. The effortless part of the story was that I had the privilege of going to England and gathering ideas and information that I came home and pieced together for the tale. That part was fun and super energizing and rewarding. The difficult part was that this story turned out to be written in two separate chunks of life. I got about half way through and then due to schedule changes and publishing adjustments, I had to put this book aside and go on to work on another project. When I came back to Sisterchicks Go Brit! I felt like it took me awhile to get back into the locale. So much time had passed. It was much easier when I was writing immediately after the trip to England. As I was putting my attention to the second half of the book it took awhile to start to "hear" the characters talking to me again.

I remember getting up on morning and as I was brushing my teeth I could "see" the two friends having tea at the Ritz. I could hear what they were saying to each other in my imagination. That's a happy moment for a writer – when you're allowed back in to the story after fragmenting your imagination for a stretch. In the end, I think it was over two and a half years from when Julee and I went to London and when they book finally released. With the first six Sisterchicks books it had been a shorter stretch between the research, the writing and the release, which makes the stories feel fresher. At least it seemed that way with the fifth Sisterchicks novel, Sisterchicks in Gondolas!. I wrote the whole book fairly quickly right after returning from Venice. The experience and location was fresh and on the tip of my imagination. That book won a Christy award.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book to be released is On a Whim, book #2 in the Katie Weldon series. These stories have a special little corner in my heart because I always wanted to find out what happened with Christy Miller, Todd, Sierra and the especially Rick. These are all characters from the teen series I've written for the past 20 years. Katie definitely has her own voice. It's so fun to write about her. After that the next Christmas novella comes out: Engaging Father Christmas.

Then next spring we should be seeing the next Sisterchicks novel -- #8. It's Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! I recently finished writing that one so the two Sisterchicks, Summer and Noelle, are still near and dear. I was thinking about them yesterday when I saw a tulip on a postage stamp and thought about their visit to the tulip fields in Holland. I know these characters aren't real but sometimes they sure seem like it. Especially after I've spent so much time writing their story and then all of a sudden the story is over. It's like I can still see them and find myself imagining what they're doing now. I guess that's why I've written so many sequels!

* * *

I really appreciate your hospitality, Tiff. Thanks for inviting me to your blog. I'd like to return the favor by inviting all your readers to come visit www.robingunn.com. I'm celebrating 23 years in Christian publishing this month and am holding a drawing on August 1st. All your readers need to do is come by my website at www.robingunn.com and sign up to receive the Robin's Nest e-Newsletter. Everyone who signs up during July will be entered in a drawing to win an autographed copy of one of my books. Winners will be notified by August 1st via email. We'll be drawing 23 winners so come on over and sign up!

* * * * *

Thank you, Robin, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Sisterchicks Go Brit.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

* * * * *

Spotlight on Kathleen Kovach and Florida Weddings

Today, I have the honor of spotlighting a friend and now Zone Director of the Rocky Mountain Zone for ACFW. But the best part about her story in this anthology featured is that I helped her with some of it and even received an acknowledgment in the book. I was tickled pink when I saw that. So, without further ado, here's Kathy and her book, Merely Players, as part of the Florida Weddings anthology.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathleen Kovach (known as Kathy by her friends) believes that if they'd done an ultrasound on her mother while she was with child, they'd have found a writing instrument clutched in her tiny hand.

After a lifetime of writing short stories, plays, and poems, God finally released Kathy to write as a career in 2002. This happened at the Colorado Christian Writers Conference where she won first place in the unpublished writers contest for her article "If Anyone Hears My Voice." She also met her editors, Jim and Tracie Peterson from Barbour's Heartsong Presents, who became intrigued with her heroine's profession, a dolphin trainer. By 2006, that novel, Merely Players, became published and went on to place second in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest (IRCC) 2007. Then in May of this year it was bundled with two other stories by Lynn Coleman and Kristy Dykes under the title, Florida Weddings. In 2007, Kathy teamed up with Mary Davis, Sally Laity, and Jeri Odell for Love Letters, a Barbour novella collection about unique expressions of love, (hers takes place through fortune cookies.) Heartsong holds a readers poll every year, and in 2008, Kathy placed in the upper five of the Favorite New Author category.

After her contest win at CCWC, Kathy became leader of her local critique group, JOY Writers. She joined a local association, Colorado Writers Fellowship, and also a national organization, American Christian Fiction Writers, www.acfw.com. Her affiliation with ACFW eventually led to a position as the Colorado Coordinator, and she just recently moved up as the Rocky Mountain Zone Director.

Kathy lives in northeast Colorado (out where the buffalo roam) with her husband of 30+ years. She has two sons, three grandchildren, and two grandpets - all of whom, at one point or another, have taken advantage of the revolving door on her empty nest.

FLORIDA WEDDINGS
by Kathleen E. Kovach
Published by Barbour Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Contemporary Romance: These fast-paced, simmering Florida romances are the perfect read while relaxing on the beach or reclining on the couch. Here you'll encounter the stories of three very different women. Renee Austin, accused of crimes she didn't commit, finds her relationship and reputation in jeopardy. Jeris Waldron and her wounded heart seem unprepared to take on a ready-made family. Bethany Hamilton, haunted by death and loss, cannot seem to escape her past, no matter where she hides. Do these three females have the faith and the fortitude to follow their hearts under the Floridian sun?

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this your story in this anthology?

My husband and I lived in Fort Walton Beach, Florida for ten years before he retired from the Air Force and we moved back to Colorado. While there, we visited the Gulfarium, a small aquarium along the Gulf coast. I loved all the marine mammal shows, but what sparked the idea for a story was the dolphin therapy they offered. Dr. Janet Flowers started this program several years ago to help children with special challenges enhance their therapies already in place. In essence, when they complete a behavior they are rewarded by being allowed to motion a sign to the dolphin so she will do tricks for them. Sometimes they're allowed to get in the water with the dolphin. I've showed both of these techniques in Merely Players, my story in Florida Weddings.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I've always been fascinated with acting and did a little bit in high school. I took my love of the art to the extreme and created my characters to be actors. Brick is a movie star and Bethany is involved with community theater. My son, Joey, has been a stage actor since high school. With his experience and mine combined, I had no trouble creating scenes for my characters. As the book progressed, Brick and Bethany became much better actors than I ever dreamed to be. I think I'd rather write about acting now.

3. What themes exist in Merely Players that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The theme springs from Psalm 139:1 "O Lord, Thou hast searched me, and known me." No matter how much you want to hide from God, he always knows where you are, and more importantly, who you are. The theme became "trust." Bethany has to learn to trust that her feelings toward Brick are God-breathed. She also must trust that God is in her future, and has it all planned out. Brick's trust issues run deeper. After growing up with an abusive father, he has trouble trusting himself with relationships. For the ten years he was away from Bethany, he went from one woman to another, never committing. When he reconnects with Bethany's family, he starts the road back to trusting others. He and I both had an epiphany when I wrote the scene where he realizes he had substituted father figures throughout his life.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The hardest were the Gulfarium scenes. This was a foreign world to me and I had to do a lot of research, a fraction of which made it into the book.

My favorite were the theater scenes. They gave me the chance to "become" an actor. The best part was that I didn't have to memorize any lines. *g*

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

I have other romance proposals in to editors but nothing contracted right now. While waiting on those, I'm writing a cozy mystery series about two sisters, possible descendants of the Brothers Grimm, who solve mysteries using their unique knowledge of fairy tales. In the first book, Big Bad Wolf, a girl in a red hoodie is missing and the sisters believe a chef named Wolf is responsible.

Thanks, Tiff, for the opportunity to talk about my book, Florida Weddings -- and specifically Merely Players, the third story in the compilation. The other two stories are by Lynn Coleman and Kristy Dykes. Here's something from the back cover: "The past casts a shadow upon the lives of three Florida women. Can these women find the strength to escape the past and the faith to embrace the future?"

* * * * *

Thank *you*, Kathy, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Florida Weddings.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

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Promises, Promises Blog Tour Starts Today!

I'm so excited to share with you the amazing schedule of stops I'll be making along this tour. For the next 3 weeks, I have over 30 stops with a fantastic group of blogs and web sites. I'll be doing everything from guest blogging and interviews to answering unique questions and being part of the CFBA Blog Tour from the 21st to the 23rd.

The focus of this tour will be my first book--in honor of it appearing on Amazon.com, Christianbook.com, Parable sites, Barnes & Noble and other retailers online.

** ADDED NOTE (7/10/08): I just learned the links won't be live until August. So, for now, use the links on the books page of this site for ordering. You can get it from Heartsong Presents or Signed by the Author. Your choice.

PLUS, my second book just released on the first, so you'll get to learn a little more about that one as well. It's entitled Quills & Promises, and picks up with the daughter of the main characters in book one. Ordering information can be found on my books page.

And now, without further ado, here is the schedule of stops. I hope to see you there!

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE

Shirley Connolly (July month-long feature) - http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/

July 7
Margaret Daley (bio)
Dawn Kinzer at From Dusk 'Til Dawn, Musings of a Night Owl
July 8
Donna Moore at Write by Faith
Kim Woodhouse at God's Grace, Love & Forgiveness
July 9
Margaret Daley (interview)
Amy Riley at The Friendly Book Nook
Book Lover News by Cindy Woodsmall
July 10
Jenny Blake at Come Meet AusJenny
July 11
Rose McCauley
Shauna Sturge at The Coffee Stop
Long and Short Reviews
July 12
Carolyn Strawder at Quiet Time with Carolyn
July 14-19
CAN! blog spotlight at You've Got Books! Fiction
July 14
Martha Rogers at Martha Writes
July 15
Leslie Sowell at A Little Bit of Sunlight
July 16
CFBA blog tour (various blogs) at CFBA
Novel Journey / Novel Reviews
July 17
CFBA blog tour (various blogs) at CFBA
Eileen Astels at A Christian Romance Writer's Journey
Cheryl Wyatt at Squirrel's Treehouse
July 18
CFBA blog tour (various blogs) at CFBA
Cara Putman at Cara's Musings
Tyora Moody at CB Reviews
July 19
Stacy Johnson at Vader's Mom
July 21
Camy Tang at Camy's Loft
Jennifer AlLee at Musings on This, That & The Other Thing
Trish Perry Reading, Writing and the Stuff In-Between
July 22
Cindy Woodsmall at the Plain Talk Blog
July 23
Delia Latham at The Melody Within (review/interview)
July 24
Margaret Chind at Creative Madness
July 25
Delia Latham at The Melody Within (guest blogger)
Christa Allan at Fictionary
July 26
Paula Moldenhauer at Grace Reign

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CFBA Blog Tour - Kristen Heitzmann and On the Edge of Recall

I'm pleased and honored to be able to spotlight one of my all-time favorite authors here today. I met Kristen a few years ago at the Mid-Atlantic Writer's Conference and she gave me some fantastic advice that stirred the embers of my writing passion. Five years later and 6 books sold, I'm well on my way toward catching up to her. :) And now, we even live in the same town! God is awesome!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
On the Edge of Recall
(Bethany House - July 1, 2008)
by Kristen Heitzmann

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Of her three main interests, art, music and writing, Kristen chose to study English at the University of Colorado and thrived on Creative Writing and Literature classes. She married her husband Jim, and turned her energy to building a family. They have four children whom they have home-schooled for all or most of their education. Kristen is a music minister with the Ecumenical Covenant Community People of Praise.

Once she realized the stories in her head were truly a calling from the Lord, she made writing not just a passion, but a ministry. She has written seven historical fiction novels as part of the The Rocky Mountain Legacy series, the Diamond of the Rockies series, and the Christy Award winner, Secrets. Most recently, she has written several contemporary fiction novels, including Echoes, Freefall and Unforgotten.

Kristen and her husband, Jim, and their family live in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she serves as worship leader in their church.

ON THE EDGE OF RECALL
by Kristen Heitzmann
Published by Bethany House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tessa Young, an up-and-coming landscape architect who specializes in the design and creation of labyrinths, has immersed herself in the mythological, spiritual, and healing aspects of the elaborate structures. She also is searching for God and hoping to make sense of the nightmares that have plagued her since childhood.

When Smith Chandler, an estranged colleague--with whom she'd half fallen in love a dozen times before catching herself every time--calls to propose a project he claims is the opportunity of a lifetime, she reluctantly agrees to check it out. Smith is reconstructing a pre-Revolutionary War abbey for wealthy clients. Among its remarkable features is an overgrown labyrinth.

Unable to resist, Tessa accepts his offer to work with him. Soon she is immersed in the project of a lifetime. But one evening, after weeks of work in the labyrinth, Tessa and Smith are attacked. While protecting Tessa, Smith is stabbed, and the nightmare begins...again.

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

My daughter Jessica and I conceived this story together. We had wanted to co-author it until her plans changed.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

Tessa was a more unstable character than I have written in the past. In developing her, I wanted a somewhat unreliable narrator who was not even certain of her own mind, someone trying very hard to succeed within her limitations, damaged and yet tenacious. I used the labyrinth as a motif to show a character searching for God and yet at the same time limiting him. I had recently gone through a rough time and found trusting God difficult. Making Tessa process her reluctance to be in relationship with the Father who had not answered her prayers as she had wanted forced me to see the distance I had put in my own relationship.

Smith on the other hand was a delight to write, his being British so much fun, especially in his interaction with Tessa. He's a bit fastidious and has this sort of horrified fascination with her that drives him crazy. He's constantly afraid of offending her, yet can't help ribbing and rubbing her wrong.

3. What themes exist in On the Edge of Recall that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I never start with a theme, so whatever is there emerges from the characters' trials and triumphs. Trust became an element in this story early on, playing out in multiple characters. Forgiveness and surrender more subtle themes.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The hardest part of creating this story was starting it as a collaboration, then having to fly solo. My daughter Jessica had conceived the characters, and I had to get to know them through her eyes first, then flesh them into my own. We had brainstormed the basic plot, but the labyrinth and architectural elements required a lot of research.

My favorite part was writing the two Brits, Smith and Bair, creating a villain unlike any other, and the pointed repartee between the leads.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book Rules of Contact is coming out for the general market in the summer '09. It is a darkly redemptive thriller with intense moral relevance and a poignant love story. Five years ago, the story came to me in a dream, but I didn't see how I could write it, so I tried to put it out of my head. The next night I dreamed it again—I never repeat a dream!—and that time the second half of the plot came clear. I decided to jot it down just in case and couldn't stop. During the one week I had between contracted books, I wrote two hundred pages. It's one of the most exciting things I've ever done, and I can't wait to see where the Lord takes it.

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Thank you, Kristen, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of On the Edge of Recall.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Rachel Hauck and Love Stars with Elle

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Love Stars with Elle
(Thomas Nelson - July 8, 2008)
by Rachel Hauck

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rachel Hauck is a forty-something, a child of the '60's, '70's, '80's, '90's and '00's, who roller skated through the '70's into the '80's with Farrah Fawcet hair and a three-speed orange Camero. She graduated from Ohio State University (Go Buckeyes!) with a degree in Journalism.

After graduation, she hired on at Harris Publishing as a software trainer, determined to see the world. But, she's traveled to Ireland, Spain, Venezuela, Mexico, Australia, Canada and the U.S. from California to Maine.

Rachel met Tony, her husband, in '87, at church, of all places. They married in '92.
They don't have any children of their own, just lots of kids-in-the-Lord and they love them all. However, they do have two very spoiled dogs, and a very demanding cat.

With a little help from my friends, my first book was published in '04, Lambert's Pride, a romance novel. My current release is Sweet Caroline from Thomas Nelson. Romantic Times Book Club gave both books their highest rank of 4.5 stars, with Love Starts With Elle being honored as Top Pick!

LOVE STARS WITH ELLE
by Rachel Hauck
Published by Bethany House

ABOUT THE BOOK

Elle's living the dream-but is it her dream or his?

Elle loves life in Beaufort, South Carolina-lazy summer days on the sand bar, coastal bonfires, and dinners with friends sharing a lifetime of memories. And she's found her niche as the owner of a successful art gallery too. Life is good.

Then the dynamic pastor of her small town church sweeps her off her feet. She's never known a man like Jeremiah-one who breathes in confidence and exhales all doubt. When he proposes in the setting sunlight, Elle hands him her heart on a silver platter.

But Jeremiah's just accepted a large pastorate in a different state. If she's serious about their relationship, Elle will take "the call," too, leaving behind the people and place she loves so dearly. Elle's friendship with her new tenant, widower Heath McCord, and his young daughter make things even more complicated.

Is love transferrable across the miles? And can you take it with you when you go?

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Elle was a fabulous, funny character in Sweet Caroline and I just knew she had a story to tell. Of course, once I started developing her for a lead character, I found she had a more serious side. I wanted a character to take a journey in prayer. Hard to do in fiction and not be boring or preachy. But, it worked out well.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I'm a firm believer in prayer and spent many hours wondering if God heard me, or knew me. So, I drew on my early days of learning to pray to build Elle's spiritual journey. I also drew from my own life disappointments to fuel Elle's. While she had way more let downs than I've had, I understood her pain.

Elle's drive and desire to be married and "run her own life" is unique to her. I'm a little like that but not as much. Her beauty is not mine, either.

3. What themes exist in Love Stars with Elle that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I hope they see that God is always with us, even in the wilderness. When we have nothing, it's then we see Him the most. Think of being out on the prairie or desert... the star light is amazing. Why? No city lights to compete. It's that way with God. When our lives are stripped of everything, it's then we see Him working in our lives.

I think another theme that developed as the story progressed was healing and forgiveness. We see this with Elle's youngest sister.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Writing in third person after writing four books in first was excruciating. It's hard to change! But, I'm glad I did and feel my experience in writing first person really helped me keep a close third person point of view.

I loved all the scenes with Heath!

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book comes out April 2009... but stay tuned for more details.

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Thank you, Rachel, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Love Stars with Elle.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

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