Victoria Burks' "A Legacy of Love"

We're happy to have Victoria Burks with us today talking about her book A Legacy of Love. To learn more about Victoria and her book, read on!

Title: A Legacy of Love
Publisher: Tate Publishing

Cover blurb: Please see attached New Release notice.

1) How did this story come to you?
While bedridden, recuperating from a severe back injury a few years ago, I dreamed the basic plot for my novel, “A Legacy of Love.” Not one to dream often, the next morning, I asked God, “Why did I dream a dream like that. Inside my heart I heard the words, “Write the book.” I informed God I was sure he had the wrong address; that surely he’d intended to go to the home of Victoria Holt, not the residence of Victoria Burks. However, the inclination to “write the book” would not leave my mind or heart. Therefore, I sent my daughter to purchase writing pads and pens; and in the weeks ahead, while lying flat on my back, I held each of those tablets along with a pen above my head recording the story I had envisioned in my dream. Later, after receiving a miracle of healing, I began the process of transferring the story into my computer.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Once I realized that God had placed this unquenchable desire to write inspirational romantic suspense in my heart, I began to attend writing conferences, purchase “how to” books on writing, and in the course of time met a popular Christian magazine editor who tutored me in writing for about two years.

During one of the Christian writing conference I attended, Francine Rivers read the first three chapters of my novel and encouraged me to continue the work. In that same year, one of our sons died in a truck/train accident and I laid my project aside for a few years. And then, in September of 2009, God spoke to my heart in church one Sunday morning and said it’s time for you to get back to writing. I took out the manuscript, did some updating, and e-mailed it to Tate Publishing. Seven weeks later, I received an e-mail from Tate stating they wanted to publish my book. A Legacy of Love was released November 9, 2010.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I have 11 children, 31 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren.
2. I have driven trucks to deliver U. S. Mail.
3. I have two children that were born on the same day, but not twins and two grandchildren that were born on Christmas Day.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My novel, “Bittersweet Justice” will be released this coming fall and my WIP is entitled, “Forbidden Garden”.

5) Parting comments?
I would like to encourage everyone who has a God-given dream in their heart to never let it go. Do everything you can with His guidance to fulfill that dream. Yes, you will get discouraged along the way, but look to Christ, “who is the author and finisher of our faith.”(Hebrews 12:2) Also, when we seek His kingdom and His righteousness first in our lives, “all these other things will be added to us.” (Matthew 6:23) And, too, God declared he would “perform (or make happen) that which concerns us.” And, that includes bringing to pass those plans he has made for us. (Jeremiah 29:11-12.) To God be the eternal glory!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
You can find me at http://victoriaburks.tateauthor.com/, on Facebook and Twitter as Victoria Burks, Author.

April Gardner's "Wounded Spirits"

We're happy to have April Gardner with us today talking about her book Wounded Spirits. To learn more about April and her book, read on!

Title: Wounded Spirits
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing, 2010

Cover blurb:On the frontier, Adela McGirth’s life is simple, rugged, and exactly to her liking. Her greatest concern is whether to marry the settlement’s most eligible young officer. When a distant war among the Natives spills over into a nearby skirmish, life takes a perilous turn. Deep in enemy territory Adela must choose between the man she loves and a baby that has yet to be born.
A peace-loving yet loyal Creek warrior, Totka is forced to align with the extremist Red Stick faction whose purpose is to eradicate the Whites from Creek soil. In the midst of battle, Totka is assigned to protect those he is expected to hate–and kill. Life was simpler before his enemy became a beautiful face with a quiet strength and dignity he cannot resist.

1) How did this story come to you?
I came across the lives of the Creek Indians and the McGirths on the pages of history books and felt a burning need to know these people better, to understand how they might have reacted and dealt with the circumstances thrust upon them. There’s a certain mysterious and regal quality to our country’s Natives that lures me. They had nearly perfected the true sense of community, selflessness, and passion. I just needed to live in their moccasins for a while.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I broke my “writing teeth” on book reviews six years ago. Writing and publishing reviews gave me the confidence I needed to put the story of my heart onto paper. But it was a single book review that prompted my relationship with Vinspire, my publishing house. Vinspire author Suzanne Woods Fisher thanked me for a review I’d written of her first book Copper Star (great book, by the way!). For some reason still unknown to me (besides the obvious—that she’s a super-cool gal) she took it upon herself to encourage me to submit my writing to Vinspire. Without her belief in me, I never would have had the confidence to do it. Thanks, Suzanne!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I backed into my husband’s car, crunching the bumpers of both vehicles. Twice. In three months.
I’m a self-proclaimed ditz. (Why deny the obvious, right?)
I collect antiquarian books.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently writing Warring Spirits, book two in the Creek Country Saga. Here’s a sneak peak at the working back cover blurb:
In 1816 Georgia, a fort controlled by runaways looms over the white population, threatening everything they hold dear. But to Milly—neither white nor black—it is a refuge. Major Phillip Bailey has orders to subdue the uprising at any cost, but a devastating event drives the price higher than they expected to pay. Neither imagines that where blood is split unexpected love can bloom.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me today! I’m honored to have Wounded Spirits counted among the many wonderful books that have passed through your literary halls.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.aprilgardner.com
http://www.facebook.com/#!/april.gardner1

Teryl Cartwright's "Courting Constance"

We're happy to have Teryl Cartwright with us today talking about her book Courting Constance. To learn more about Teryl and her book, read on!

Title: Courting Constance
Publisher: Vinspire Publishing LLC

Cover blurb: “I will make him love me again.” With this vow, Constance Alford, realizing she may have lost the only love of her life, pursues her former fiancé relentlessly. She isn't surprised to discover Sir Geoffrey isn't at all interested his not so “secret” admirer. And when her creative attempts to win him back fail, Constance began to think that her best, most daring plan of all still won't be enough.
Still suffering from the sting of Constance's earlier rejection, Sir Geoffrey also has a plan for the resourceful Miss Alford, although his ideas revolve more around revenge. She would pay for trifling with the love he once offered her. He would make her truly love him and then walk away from her, finally and forever. But his heart gets in the way of his ideas and he soon finds himself at the mercy of his own plans.

1) How did this story come to you?
When I started dating and even after I married, I got very creative in my gift giving to my husband. I had accordion player serenade him, got him an autographed book by his favorite coach, wrote poetry and set up scavenger hunts, etc.—you name it. The story of Courting Constance came when I asked myself what would happen if something went wrong every time a creative gift idea was tried out? What if the serenade was more earsplitting than romantic? What if the recipient was allergic to the food? So you can imagine the fun I had writing this book for a very persistent, creative heroine and her victim (I mean the hero) who learns to have a sense of humor and a bit of patience.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Like my first book, Courting Constance was a “Nano-book”, a fifty thousand word first draft that was written in a month in a Nanowrimo.org contest a few years ago. I then had to do a lot of research to make sure the Regency was accurate for Bath, England which helped add another 20 thousand words. This research meant going to the internet for pictures and even having a librarian from Bath help me find books with maps and more history. When I submitted the revised manuscript to Vinspire Publishing and got accepted I went through several edits. Although I had been through two and a half with one editor, when another took over, I had to go through a few more since each editor is different in their preferences and editing style. It took around two years from first draft to its publication.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I was crazy enough to go to Hollywood to pitch my first book for movie producers—and I’ll be back when better prepared!
2. I’ve written stories in many genres from sci-fi to satire, but have only been published in romance, drama and curriculum thus far.
3. I like to sneak inside jokes into my books—such as picking on stereotypes and putting in favorite author names as well as some street names where I live. I’ve even tucked in a reference to an actor I admire just for fun.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a historical romance is called Scottish Made which is about what happens when a girl has amnesia and doesn’t know who to trust with this secret in an intrigue filled society of highland and lowland Scots. The other book I've started is nonfiction, Dramatic Sunday School for Adults, which focuses on how to use drama in class as an special way to experience scripture.

5) Parting comments?
God is at work in so many wonderful ways; we just have to be looking, asking for and recognizing these blessings. While we writers inspire each other, you, as a reader, do this too. You'd be surprised how much a comment can make someone's day, because we really do appreciate the connections that are made. Writing is not a solo endeavor, there are editors, researchers, mentors and readers involved. Thanks for reading--you make our books stay alive!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.terylcartwright.com