Martha Rogers' "Finding Becky"

We're happy to have Martha Rogers with us today talking about her book, Finding Becky. To learn more about Martha and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
It was a natural progression of a character from a previous book. I wanted a young woman who was independent, searching for truth, and firm in her belief about equality for women. Becky is all of those and her journey was fun to write.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It’s the third book in the series Winds Across the Prairie and was part of a three book contract. It took several years for an editor to choose the first book for publication. This one was only a one paragraph summary, so I had four months to plot and write it. Luckily I knew all but a few new characters, so the story came right along. It was the most fun to write.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I love Christmas and my house is totally decorated for that season. I have 24 storage boxes of decorations in my attic.
I am a Baylor graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in what was once Home Economics but is now something like Consumer Science.
My husband and I have lived in the same house for 34 years. (Didn’t think I’d haul all that Christmas stuff around did you?)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’ve just started a new series and am working on the first book. This one starts in Connecticut and ends in Texas.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for hosting me, and I hope you enjoy this new visit to Barton Creek with the Haynes and Frankston families.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?

http://www.marthawrogers.com/

Alison Strobel's "The Weight of Shadows"

We're happy to have Alison Strobel with us today talking about her book, The Weight of Shadows. To learn more about Alison and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
A few years ago I heard about a high school senior who was involved in a wreck that killed an off-duty policeman who'd been out cycling. She was, as you can imagine, completely devastated by the experience, not to mention terrified that she would be found at fault even though she hadn't been. But before the findings of the investigation even came back, the officer's widow met her and told her their family harbored no ill-will toward her, and that they didn't blame her at all for what happened. The grace they gave her was just amazing. But it made me wonder what would have happened if she actually *had* been at fault--and no one had found out. Would she have come forward and admitted it? Would she have kept the secret? And if she did keep the secret, how would that secret affect her soul as the years went on? From there, the story evolved of a woman who allowed herself to be abused because she thinks she deserves it because of the guilty secret she harbors.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I already had a contract in place, so getting the book picked up by a publisher wasn't a problem, thankfully! However, the writing of the story was a very different experience from the experience of writing my first two books. It was the first time I'd used the Snowflake Method of plot and character development, and it made the process so much smoother. After using it on that book I vowed never to write another book without it!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1 - I was hopelessly addicted to online roleplaying games in college. For a writer, they're *so* much fun--you're basically writing a story on the fly, but you don't get to control all the characters.
2 - My other dream job (since writing is my #1 dream job) would be to be a Broadway musical singer. I can really belt Eponine's songs from Les Miserables
3 - My husband and I met on eHarmony. com. He was my 100th match, after being on the site almost a year. I was his first match, after being on the site for about ten minutes.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My fourth book, Reinventing Rachel, just came out Sept. 1. I have two more books scheduled to release next year--The Heart of Memory comes out in April, and book #6, currently titled Trouble Child, comes out in September. My husband and I also have a second children's book coming out in the spring, and we're hoping to add two more books to that series.

5) Parting comments?
I host a number of contests and giveaways on my blog and through my newsletter. I currently have two contests going to celebrate the release of Reinventing Rachel--one for college students and one for everyone else. :)

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.alisonstrobel.com/
Children's book website: http://www.danandalimorrow.com/ (we have contests there, too!)
Blog: www.AlisonStrobel.com/alison-blog
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alison.strobel.morrow#!/alison.strobel.morrow
Twitter: twitter.com/alisonstrobel (not that I'm on there much, but I'm making an effort to be more active)

Deanna K. Klingel's "Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog"

We're happy to have Deanna K. Klingel with us today talking about her book, Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog. To learn more about Deanna and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
Telling stories about the therapy dog visits with my dogs, seemed to be of interest to people. When out with my dogs I'm always asked questions. So I decided it was a story that needed to be told.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Every publisher I submitted to sent back encouragement. They loved the book and hoped I could publish it. One even explained why he couldn't publish it: because of the economy they were cutting back to five books (dog) and they were all how-to. This book doesn't fit neatly into any genre, and I'm an unknown author, so it was very difficult to sell. The only publisher who didn't like it said I needed to develop the character and create a plot. I knew he didn't get it. There is no plot and it's not about characters. It's about moments. I finally found a publisher who "got it," and was willing to take the risk of a book outside the box.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

Usually the thing that surprises most people about me is that I have seven children. The other surprising things are probably that I'm OLD and I attend college classes, known as a non traditional student. Otherwise, I'm not a very surprising person.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have three manuscripts that I'm peddling right now. I have an early chapter book, Walker Hound of Park Avenue, a middle grade non-fiction, Bread Upon the Water, and a teen novel, Cracks in the Ice. But, Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog will occupy me this fall with the marketing details and some travel.

5) Parting comments?
I'm enjoying this slippery slope called a steep learning curve. I hope you'll enjoy the results.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?

In September my book can be found on therapydogstories.com, and I can be found on http://www.booksbydeanna.com/.

Elizabeth Goddard's "Exposing Amber"

We're happy to have Elizabeth Goddard with us today talking about her book, Exposing Amber. To learn more about Elizabeth and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
I’ve always wanted to do a story about a fossil dig and I found a museum that was connected to one and knew it would make the perfect setting for a book.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
For some, especially these days, it seems the journey to publication happens quickly. For me it’s been long and arduous. I started working toward publication in 2001, though at the time I hadn’t yet decided to focus on novel writing. But when I attended my first conference, ACW, and met DiAnn Mills I knew I wanted to write novels. I didn’t receive my first contract until 2007.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’d rather go to Yellowstone National Park than Disney World. I prefer action movies over chic flicks. I haven’t read any Amish novels. Not even one.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I recently turned in a romantic
suspense proposal to a category romance publisher and I’m working on a big story for my agent right now. I’m very excited about both stories, but I don’t want to give away any company secrets.

5) Parting comments?
I’m so thankful the Lord opened these doors for me—I love to write!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.bethgoddard.com/

Phyllis Johnson's "Being Frank With Anne"

We're happy to have Phyllis Johnson with us today talking about her book, Being Frank with Anne. To learn more about Phyllis and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
My book, Being Frank with Anne came to me after reading her diary. The effect the book had on me never let me go. In my adulthood, I felt moved to interpret the diary entries into unrhymed verse.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
There was the process of sending it out to publishers. Then someone in my writing group suggested I send it to Community Press and the publisher decided to publish it as my second book with them. This book is posted the New York Anne Frank Center website bookstore, a copy was autographed by Miep Gies and reviewed by her first cousin, Buddy Elias.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I like to act and model. I’ve been in FBI Files and New Detectives. I’ve also been in a feature film on the big screen.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’ve co-written a young adult suspense novel with Nancy Naigle. I’m also working on a book of funny high school stories and a book of monologues.

5) Parting comments?
I tell aspiring writers to never give up their dreams.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.phyllisjohnson.net/ and they can read more about Being Frank with Anne at http://www.beingfrankwithanne.com/