Eileen Hinkle Rife's "Restored Hearts"

We're happy to have Eileen Hinkle Rifewith us today talking about her book, Restored Hearts.To learn more about Eileen and her book, read on!

Publisher: OakTara

Cover blurb: One brother’s dark secret. Another brother’s scorn.
Newlyweds Gavin and Maggie Munsfield return to care for the sick and wounded at The Oasis Compound in Chennai, India, which is still suffering from the recent tsunami. Gavin’s brother, Tim, a successful landscape architect, joins them for the clean-up and rebuilding of the Compound. But Tim harbors a dark past that threatens to destroy his relationship with his brother . . . and a promising new love. Will family ties be strong enough to bind two wounded hearts, once the secret is revealed?

1) How did this story come to you?
A few years ago, my husband, a licensed professional counselor and marriage/family therapist, asked if I would write a pamphlet on homosexuality which he could use in his office. I agreed and delved into research. However, it didn’t take long to realize I didn’t have the stomach for what I was discovering, so I abandoned the project. Three years ago, the Lord renewed my interest in the issue and pushed me to pursue the topic in a way I had not envisioned—in fiction format.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
In January, 2007, OakTara requested the manuscript for my first book in the Born for India trilogy, JOURNEY TO JUDAH, which was released in 2008. Since two other books were accepted at that time as well, Book Two, RESTORED HEARTS, naturally followed and was released in 2009.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Even though RESTORED HEARTS is set in India and I have visited on several occasions, I still do not like Indian food. However, I do like coconut water which is sold at roadside huts and is good for replenishing electrolytes. My Indian missionary daughter and son-in-law have now gifted me and my husband with three red-headed grandchildren!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
 The third book, CHOSEN ONES, in the Born for India trilogy is in the hands of my editor and should be released soon! CHOSEN ONES profiles a missionary couple in crisis who unexpectedly meet a child with a sorrow too big for words. A contract on my fourth novel, SECOND CHANCES, has also been signed by OakTara. One-liner for SECOND CHANCES: Mave Robertson has something in her purse that Dareece Jackson wants . . . and he’ll stop at nothing to get it.

5) Parting comments?
 As I walked through this journey with Tim, God used his story to shed light on my own healing journey. While I have not struggled with homosexuality, I have struggled with other equally devastating strongholds in my life. In writing Tim’s story, I learned in deeper ways to identify with another fellow struggler. And in doing so, my own prison door flung open and I was set free.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.eileenrife.com/, http://www.eileen-rife.blogspot.com/, http://www.guardyourmarriage.com/, http://www.christianspeaker.net/, http://www.oaktara.com/.

Laurie Kingery's "Mail Order Cowboy"

We're happy to have Laurie Kingery with us today talking about her book, Mail Order Cowboy. To learn more about Laurie and her book, read on!

Publisher: LOVE INSPIRED HISTORICALS

Cover blurb: With beaux scarce in post-Civil War Texas, practical Milly Matthews and her "Spinster Society" friends have their hands full protecting their ranches. Their only hope: advertising for mail-order grooms. But aristocratic British cavalry officer Nicholas Brookfield isn't exactly Milly's idea of a cowboy—or a man she can trust. And the more Nick proves himself as a ranch hand, the more he must hide his past from the woman he longs to make his own. Now Milly and Nick will need all their courage to face hidden dangers…and believe in a love that can answer all their prayers.i

1) How did this story come to you?
I wanted to start a series, for series are popular in Christian fiction, and was trying to think of a great story concept that hadn't been done in inspirational western fiction, so I used one of the staples of western stories, the mail-order bride, and turned it around so that the series involved mail order grooms instead.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
 This did involve a literal journey. I am a "Texan-in-exile" living in Ohio, so when I started devising this story, I picked out a location in the hill country of central Texas in San Saba County, and situated it on a real creek, Simpson Creek, near the county seat, San Saba. When I took a trip there to survey the area and take pictures, imagine how thrilling it was for me to read a roadside historical plaque that told me there had actually been a community with the same name as my town of Simpson Creek. My first story involved the plucky lady who started the Simpson Creek Spinsters' Club, Milly Matthews, known as "Marrying Milly" in the town. In the aftermath of the Civil War, Milly was not content to be an old maid in a town devoid of bachelors and set about finding her own solution—advertising for mail-order grooms for herself and her friends. I'm pleased that my editor at Love Inspired Historicals is as excited about my mail-order groom series as I am.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I am an eHarmony.com bride, so perhaps writing about mail-order grooms comes naturally to me. 
2. I am an R.N. who is a 40-year veteran of a big-city ER that is a Level One trauma center. And yes, I would love to write medical stories (suspense), but so far, the right plot hasn’t' come to me. I tried a couple of them, but they didn't sell.
3. I am terrified of spiders!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently working on the 4th book in the Brides of Simpson Creek series, working title COURTING CARO, featuring a schoolteacher who's loved and lost and a trail boss who has no intention of settling in Simpson Creek. If by "next" you mean the next book out, I'll have another Brides of Simpson Creek book out in January from Love Inspired Historicals, THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE, with a northern doctor who's matched sight unseen with Sarah Matthews (Milly's sister from MAIL ORDER COWBOY), who refuses to be courted by Dr. Walker as soon as she finds out he's a hated Yankee.

5) Parting comments?
I want to thank K.Dawn Byrd for giving me this opportunity to promote my book. She's so supportive of other writers, and I wish her all success in her own writing.

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

Clare Revell's "Season for Miracles"

We're happy to have Clare Revell with us today talking about her book, Season for Miracles. To learn more about Clare and her book, read on!

Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Cover blurb: A Killer lurks in Headley Cross…
…And Holly Carmichael is the only woman to survive his attack. Now she lives in fear, searching for normalcy and trying to put her life back together. When she meets Kyle Stevens, he turns her world upside-down. He’s as exasperating as he is appealing. How can Holly make sense of her awakening feelings when she’s so unsure of Kyle? His voice is familiar, he’s left-handed, and he wears the serial killer’s cologne. Who is he…really? As Holly struggles to restore her damaged faith, she must find the strength to trust once again—in Kyle and in God.
Kyle Stevens isn’t ready to live again. Racked by guilt, he’s afraid to feel. His sole focus is finding the Headley Cross serial killer—his girlfriend's murderer. That is, until he meets Holly Carmichael. He’s drawn to Holly, vows to protect her where he failed to protect his former love. But Holly makes him feel again, emotions quickly morphing into something much more dangerous to his hardened heart.
When the serial killer returns to finish what he started, only a miracle can save them…but then, it's the Season for Miracles.

1) How did this story come to you?
The prompt – why do they call it falling in love - came from a writing community on LJ called Nanowriwee – where you write 7k in 7 days.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
 I wrote a short story of 21K and submitted it to White Rose Publishing. My editor loved it but asked it be rewritten in third person so we saw the hero’s POV. The complete rewrite became my nanowrimo novel for 2009. I resubmitted it in Jan 2010, and got offered a contract for it. Several edits and a new title later and it releases on Nov 5th. Hubby jokes the whole of the UK will celebrate with bonfires and fireworks (it’s bonfire night so they’ll be doing it anyway)

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
 1 -I am a registrar for Carey Baptist Church where I have done two weddings and neither bride wore white. 2 – I have a teddy bear that goes everywhere I do. He’s had his photo taken in Vegas, Scotland, Wales and on a volcano. 3 – I have been married for over 18 years to someone who always told me I’d end up published and wouldn’t me give up trying.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I recently signed the contract for a second book, which should come out before Christmas. I’m currently working on three full length novels.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me here. I hope people that buy the book get as much enjoyment from reading as I did from writing it.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.revell124.plus.com/clarerevell

Lisa Lehr's "Touching the Brilliance of Sunrise"

We're happy to have Lisa Lehr with us today talking about her book, Touching the Brilliance of Sunrise. To learn more about Lisa and her book, read on!

Publisher: CreateSpace

Cover blurb: Melissa, a youthful mid-life artist from California, takes a vacation with her three kids to the coast of Maine. She’s hoping for some quality family time at a turning point in their lives…and dreaming of moving to Maine someday soon. They meet Kraig, a writer from Oregon, walking on the beach with his guide dog. He’s slightly younger, articulate, gentlemanly, deeply intuitive…unlike any other man she’s known. Neither is looking for love—but life has other plans.
    
1) How did this story come to you?
No kidding: the original inspiration was a dream that lasted only a few seconds. It “fleshed out” over a period of years as my imagination worked on it in my brain’s spare time.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I didn’t set out to write a novel! It was initially just a flight of fancy while I did mundane chores; I kept the story “in my head” and added to it day by day. When the story got too long to remember reliably, I began to write it out in longhand; then I decided I should learn to use a computer. Around this time, I was thinking about changing to a career in writing (after a time of being a stay-at-home mom, I’d considered graphic art as a career), so I read a lot of books on how to write books. I turned to self-publishing after exploring traditional publishing and deciding I didn’t like the way that system works. The entire process happened over a period of years.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
a. I was a biology major! That surprises people because I’m such a grammar geek.
b. I’m a marketing copywriter and not usually much into “creative” writing.
c. I rarely read fiction and virtually never watch TV.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Besides the copywriting that I do for clients and a few websites I maintain for fun and profit, I’m working on a screenplay of my novel.

5) Parting comments?
Send me any connections you have in Hollywood! Then come and see the movie!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
a. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Lisa.J.Lehr  (my personal page); you can also become a fan on my writer page for my book. (Search my name and you should see results for both.)
b. http://www.justrightcopy.com/  (this is my copywriting website; type /books after .com if you want to see my books).
c. In the future I plan to have a website for the screenplay. I don’t have a movie title yet.