Liz Curtis Higgs "Mine Is the Night"

We're happy to have Liz Curtis Higgs with us today talking about her book Mine Is the Night. To learn more about Liz and her book, read on!

Title: Mine Is the Night
Publisher: WaterBrook Press
Cover:SHE LOST EVERYTHING SHE LOVED. HE HAD EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED. BUT COULD SHE FIND THE COURAGE TO TRUST HIM?
Stepping from a battered coach on a rainy April eve, newly widowed Elisabeth Kerr must begin again, without husband or title, property or fortune. She is unafraid of work and gifted with a needle, but how will she stitch together the tattered remnants of her life? And who will mend her heart, torn asunder by betrayal and deception?
Elisabeth has not come to Selkirk alone. Her mother-in-law, Marjory Kerr, is a woman undone, having buried her husband, her sons, and any promise of grandchildren. Dependent upon a distant cousin with meager resources, Marjory dreads the future almost as much as she regrets the past. Yet joy still comes knocking, and kindness is found in unexpected places.
Then a worthy hero steps forward, rekindling a spark of hope. Will he risk his reputation to defend two women labeled as traitors to the crown? Or will a wealthy beauty, free of scandal, capture his affections?
The heartrending journey of the Kerr women comes to a glorious finish in Mine Is the Night, a sparkling gem of redemption and restoration set in eighteenth-century Scotland.
“The crown of the series! I loved the historical setting, the details,
the love stories, the characters who change and grow.”
—FRANCINE RIVERS, author of Redeeming Love

1) How did this story come to you?
The story of Ruth has been a favorite of mine since childhood. Just reading it sends dialogue and scenery and costumes spinning through this writer’s mind and heart! For the sheer joy and challenge of it, I transported the journey of Ruth, Naomi, and Boaz to eighteenth-century Scotland, inviting my readers to see this familiar story through fresh eyes.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I write for the most encouraging (and patient!) publisher on the planet, WaterBrook Press. Here Burns My Candle and Mine Is the Night started out as a three-book series contracted in 2003, then shifted to a one-book wonder in 2007, and finally ended up a two-book saga in 2010 and 2011! As always, God knew best, because the biblical version has two parts, starting in Moab and finishing in Bethlehem; or, in the case of my novels, beginning in Edinburgh and ending in Selkirk. The relationships are also two-fold: a mother-in-law with her daughter-in-law, then a young widow with her redeemer. Oh baby. You will love this hero!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
LOL. I share so much in my nonfiction books, on the platform, and online, I’m not sure I have many secrets left! But they might be surprised to know I sing alto in our church choir, have a Bruce Springsteen tour jacket in my closet, and won a “Most Improved Bowler” award sometime last century!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
After two historical novels, it’s time to return to nonfiction with a verse-by-verse look at the story I’ve been immersed in for years: the book of Ruth. Like my Bad Girls of the Bible series, this new book will filter solid research through a storyteller’s lens. And did I mention it will be fun?! Look for that in Summer 2012. Meanwhile, I’ll be speaking at Women of Joy events all over the U.S. this spring and making my first trip to Australia in May.

5) Parting comments?
I am SO grateful for my faithful readers! Over the last 28 books you’ve followed me from humorous nonfiction to children’s picture books to contemporary fiction to Bible studies and finally to historical novels. That requires some serious flexibility, dear ones…bless you!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Kindly visit my website http://www.LizCurtisHiggs.com and sign up for my free seasonal newsletter. You’ll also find me on Facebook and Twitter. Not very eighteenth century but a fun way to keep in touch!

Robin Carroll's "In the Shadow of Evil"

We're happy to have Robin Carroll with us today talking about her book In the Shadow of Evil. To learn more about Robin and her book, read on!


Title: In The Shadow of Evil
Publisher: B&H Publishing

Cover blurb: Informed by the real-life fallout of the U.S. economy and devastation caused by multiple hurricanes along the southern coast, In the Shadow of Evil tells a modern day story involving the exposure of a building rebound scam. Amidst the layers of unethical practices, supply shortages, and excess murders, a top Louisiana homicide detective loses his heart to a charitable contractor while uncovering a secret about his tragic past.

1) How did this story come to you?
Since I'm from Louisiana, the hurricanes devastation and rebuilding interested me when a fellow author read me an article about rebuilding scams and shortcuts.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This was the 3rd book in a trilogy sold to B&H Publishing. Previously, I’d published eight romantic suspense books with Steeple Hill.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Only 3? LOL Okay.
1-My favorite food is hibachi, but I refuse to eat sushi.
2-When not on deadline, I usually read a novel a day.
3-I love my lab/Catahoula mix, but I’m really a cat person.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Right now, I’m working on the revisions to Injustice For All, the first book in a new trilogy. It releases in January 2012.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much for having me. I love dropping by and visiting with your blog friends.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.robincaroll.com/ and from there, people can sign up for my newsletter, catch my latest releases, visit my blog, and click to follow me on social media sites Twitter and Facebook.

Kimberley & Kayla Woodhouse's "No Safe Haven"

We're happy to have Kimberley & Kayle Woodhouse with us today talking about their book No Safe Haven. To learn more about Kimberley and Kayle and their book, read on!

Title: NO SAFE HAVEN
Publisher: B&H Books

Cover blurb: Jenna and Andie Tikaani-Gray are hoping for a fresh start. Though twelve year-old Andie has long struggled with a rare medical disorder, she and her mother have finally received good news from out-of-town specialists. It's news they desperately needed, especially after the recent death of Jenna's husband (Andie's dad) in a car accident.
But as they are flying home to Alaska, ready to begin again, the unthinkable happens. The pilot sabotages their small plane and crashes into Sultana, one of the most remote and dangerous mountains in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Even worse, a winter storm is headed their way along with someone who doesn't want to save them, but to kill them.
Only one man can keep them alive: Cole Maddox, the mysterious last-minute passenger who joined them on their flight. But trust doesn't come easy to Jenna or Andie and they both sense Cole is hiding something.
A relentless tale of survival and suspense unfolds, involving military technology designed by Jenna's late husband that some would do anything to possess.

1) How did this story come to you?
Our brilliant editor, (Karen Ball), suggested Kayla and I write together, and from there it snowballed.  Kayla’s character has the same disorder she has, we lived in Alaska for several years – so we wanted to add the adventure of the Land of the Midnight Sun, and we just plain ol’ had fun.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It was quick. Not your ordinary experience. Karen suggested we write together and asked for a proposal with a deadline of three days! We managed to pull it off and crank it out. Then we hashed it all out and Kayla and I wrote it in a quick few weeks. We both write fast, but I had no idea how fast we would be together! It was an amazing journey and so much fun. We’ve already finished Race Against Time, book 2 in the series, and are now into book 3. We love every minute of it.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Kayla writes faster than me. And I write pretty fast 
I’m a DP fan. Dr. Pepper AND David Phelps.
I lived on an island in Alaska that was a volcano and had no Wal-Mart.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Right now we’re working on the last of this three-book series, another three-book series, Kayla is working on a fantasy/allegory, and I’m working on a Romantic Suspense set in Alaska.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having us here! Hope you enjoy NO SAFE HAVEN. We’re loving hearing from readers and fans.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://kimberleywoodhouse.com/ and fan page http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=55713641#!/KimberleyWoodhouseFanPage

Trish Perry's "Unforgettable"

We're happy to have Trish Perry with us today talking about her book Unforgettable. To learn more about Trish and her book, read on!

Title: Unforgettable
Publisher: Summerside Press

Cover blurb: Rachel Stanhope tries to see the good in everyone. But even her good graces are challenged when she meets Josh Reegan outside her Arlington, Virginia dance studio on a brisk fall morning in 1951. Admittedly, he’s attractive, but she finds his cynicism and cockiness hard to tolerate.
A hard-news journalist and former World War II Air Force pilot, Josh considers distractions like ballroom dancing frivolous wastes of time. He has yet to shed his wartime drive to defend good against evil whenever he can. Yes, Rachel’s confident nature is a refreshing challenge, but he wouldn’t tangle with her if his newspaper hadn’t roped him into covering one of her studio’s competitions in New York City.
Between Arlington and New York, between the melodrama of ballroom antics and the real drama of political corruption, between family involvement and romantic entanglement, Rachel and Josh have their hands full. The last thing either of them expects is mutual need and support. But once they stop dancing around the truth, the results are unforgettable.

1) How did this story come to you?
 I honestly struggle to remember the genesis of some of my books. Summerside gave me this particular title, and the timeframe was inherent in the title (since the books in this line—the When I Fall in Love series—are each set during the era when the title song was released). Beyond that, I simply designed my two main characters and then waited until I could imagine them crossing paths numerous times because of their professions. The plotline developed from there. I always play with the long-range plot structure as I go along, since sometimes things happen between the characters that I didn’t originally foresee. I love it when that happens.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
 I hadn’t yet worked with Summerside but I was interested. When I suggested an idea for Summerside’s Love Finds You line, they contacted my agent and said they were more interested in working with me on their new nostalgic romance line, When I Fall in Love. There were a few song choices available to me, and I love Nat King Cole’s Unforgettable and consider the fifties a fun time frame, so I chose that one.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I was working on my second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do when I finally decided to hang up my dobok (uniform).
I used to sing lead in a rock band.
I keep a loaded shotgun under my bed. (Mercy. I’m much nicer than all of this makes me sound. Honestly.)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
In April my second Tea with Millicent book (Tea for Two, Harvest House Publishers) will release. Very excited about that!
I just turned in my manuscript for my Christmas novel, ‘Tis the Season, which will be coupled with Debby Mayne’s Deck the Halls in Summerside’s September release, Love Finds You on Christmas Morning (I got an LFY title after all!). Now I’m working on my share of devotions for Summerside’s Your Grace is Sufficient But Decaf is NOT, which is a follow-up devotional to Delight Yourself in the Lord…Even on Bad Hair Days, which released March 1. I teamed up with a few fantastic authors for those two devotionals.

5) Parting comments?
I know the typical comment here tends to be along the hang-in-there lines (that’s what I usually say, anyway), and that’s good advice. But just to add to that, could I encourage unpublished writers to add to your personal numbers? I mean, write and submit as much, and as often, as you can. There are many factors to getting contracts in this business, and the more work you have out there representing your capabilities, the better your chances of finding the publisher(s) with whom you fit.

6) Where can fans find you on the Internet?
My site is http://www.trishperry.com/. I feature fellow inspirational fiction authors twice a week, and they give away signed copies of their latest releases to readers who comment.
I’m also on Facebook as Trish Hawley Perry and on Twitter as TrishPerryWrtr.

Yesterday's Tomorrow by Catherine West

We're happy to have Catherine West with us today talking about her book Yesterday's Tomorrow. To learn more about Catherine and her book, read on!

Title: Yesterday’s Tomorrow
Publisher: OakTara

Cover blurb:Independent, career-driven journalist Kristin Taylor wants two things: to honor her father's memory by becoming an award-winning overseas correspondent and to keep tabs on her only brother, Teddy, who signed up for the war against their mother's wishes. Brilliant photographer Luke Maddox, silent and brooding, exudes mystery. Kristin is convinced he's hiding something.
Willing to risk it all for what they believe in, Kristin and Luke engage in their own tumultuous battle until, in an unexpected twist, they’re forced to work together. Ambushed by love, they must decide whether or not to set aside their own private agendas for the hope of tomorrow that has captured their hearts.

1) How did this story come to you?
I’m not exactly sure. I’ve always been fascinated with Vietnam, and had heard about the young female journalists who traveled there to cover the war, so I thought it might be an interesting story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Well. It’s a long story, but I’ll try to keep it brief.  Once I had a rough idea of the story, I put together a synopsis and sent it off to someone I’d been corresponding with through blogging. She was a freelance editor for some major CBA houses. She loved the idea and gave me some great tips and off I went. Once I finished the first draft, she asked me to send it to her. A few weeks after that, she told me she was in the process of making a career change, and would soon be a literary agent. That wonderful person was Rachelle Gardner, and she offered representation because of this book. But I think she liked me, too.  Anyway, it went through several re-writes and we shopped it to all the major CBA houses but nobody wanted it. Sadly, we had to sit on it for a couple of years. But then we started sending it to the smaller publishers who seemed more open to ‘touchy’ topics. OakTara loved it, and here we are.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Wow, I don’t know.  I’m really not adventurous. I could never hop a plane to Vietnam like Kristin did. I hate to fly, which is bad because I live on an island. And I’m a very impatient person. My agent, editor and poor critique partners can attest to that one!!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Right now I’m working on a family saga called Reprisal. Lots of interesting characters with a ton of issues. It’s the kind of book I like to read, so I’ve been having a lot of fun with it. I’m also working on a romance that takes place in a California vineyard. I was recently there on vacation and think I may have to go back for more research.

5) Parting comments?
I always love to encourage new writers, because were it not for the many authors who encouraged me along the way (and still do), I probably would have given up. Study your craft, go to conferences if you can, get some great critique partners and just believe in yourself. It’s not an easy road, but if it is the one you feel called to, you will succeed eventually.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.catherinejwest.com/
Blog: http://www.catherinewestblog.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @cathwest
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Catherine-West-Author/157773297594081
Book Trailer: http://youtu.be/vVQUMRlYhkM