Laurie Kingery's "The Sheriff's Sweetheart"

We're happy to have Laurie Kingery with us today talking about her book The Sheriff's Sweetheart. To learn more about Laurie and her book, read on!

Title: THE SHERIFF'S SWEETHEART
Publisher: Love Inspired Historicals.

Cover blurb: "He needs to turn his life around...
And Simpson Creek, Texas, is the perfect place to do it. On the run from his dangerous past, Sam Bishop is happy to find a town seeking "marriage-minded bachelors." A wealthy wife is just what he needs to make his gambling problems disappear. But when Prissy Gilmore catches Sam's eye, she proves to be much more than a rich match. Sam wants to deserve her, wants to become sheriff and protect her hometown--wants to be the man she believes him to be. Yet the true test is waiting, when his past returns to challenge his future."

1) How did this story come to you?
My husband and I were going on one of our frequent trips to Texas, as I am a Texan-in-exile and return frequently to visit extended family. A secondary purpose of this trip was to visit the area of San Saba County, in which my "Brides of Simpson Creek" series is set. I did some advance scouting of the area on the San Saba Chamber of Commerce's website, and it told of a famous old tree called "The Marriage Oak" or "Wedding Tree" nearby, where Indians and early settlers had come to get married. We went to see it, and it's a magnificent tree, huge and gnarly with lots of overhanging boughs. The cover of my book, though lovely, really doesn't do it justice. I knew then my characters had to marry under this tree. The story was already somewhat formulated in my head, because Prissy was the next logical heroine of the series. I just had to find her a worthy hero. :)

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I was already writing the series, so the journey to getting it accepted was not a long one, but I had been hoping to keep my original title, THE WEDDING TREE. My publisher does like to use hooks in titles, though, and in my series that has involved strong indications that it's a western and involves the hero's job or profession--i.e., MAIL ORDER COWBOY, THE DOCTOR TAKES A WIFE, THE SHERIFF'S SWEETHEART--so the title was changed to reflect that. But in my heart, it's still THE WEDDING TREE. So there. :)

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I have 6 grandchildren with one more due very soon, plus 3 step-grands. I've been an ER nurse for 40+ years. I wrote on a DOS program (Word Perfect 5.1) until 4 books ago (yeah, I'm averse to change...)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on the 5th book in the series, working title FAITH. After the above title struggle, I've learned to leave the title suggestions till the publisher asks for them.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks, K. Dawn, for letting me visit!
You're welcome, Laurie. Any time!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.lauriekingery.com/. I answer all email, except the rare weird or snarky ones which all authors occasionally get.

Penny Zeller's "Kaydie"

We're happy to have Penny Zeller with us today talking about her book, Kaydie. To learn more about Penny and her book, read on!

Title: Kaydie
Publisher: Whitaker House

Cover blurb: For the first time in years, Kaydie Worthington Kraemer can breathe easily. Although she is still haunted by memories of her abusive husband, Darius, she takes comfort in knowing the man is dead. Staying with her sister McKenzie and brother–in–law, Zach Sawyer, at their ranch, Kaydie is still wary of men, especially now that she has another life inside of her to protect. As she looks forward to her baby's birth, she builds a protective wall around herself that won't be easy to tear down.
Ranch hand Jonah Dickenson views his boss, Zach, like a brother. He does not, however, envy Zach's new role as a husband. Deserted by his mother at a young age and forever despised and rejected by his own father, Jonah has few close relationships. But there's something about Kaydie that draws him to her and makes him question his decision to remain a bachelor.
When Cedric Van Aulst, an old friend of Kaydie's, comes to town, an unforeseen prospect of marriage arises. Cedric is someone Kaydie trusts. Will she settle for a safe union with him, or can she trust God to guard her heart and her life in the arms of Jonah?

1) How did this story come to you?
We were on vacation in my hometown of Gooding, Idaho, when God began to give me the idea for Kaydie’s story. I couldn’t wait to return home and begin writing it!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
When Whitaker House accepted McKenzie (the first book in my Montana Skies Series), they also contracted me to write two more books in the series. I was ecstatic because I really wanted to be able to tell Kaydie’s story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Hmmm, let’s see – three things. Well, first, right out of a romance novel, I met my husband of 18 years through a prank phone call while we were in high school (he was a football player from a school 20 minutes from mine and I was a cheerleader). The rest, as they say, is history. Secondly, I am allergic to multiple foods, including coffee , which I used to love to drink! Thirdly, when I was 10, I made up this romantic suspense series in my mind where the main character was the handsome and fictional police officer, Josh McClain. Everyday, my younger sister and cousin would excitedly ask me what was going on in Josh’s life (and in the life of the main female character) and what crimes Josh had solved.
I loved telling them my sister and cousin stories about Josh McClain that I had made up in my mind from the night before (usually when I should have been sleeping!) and leaving them at a cliffhanger until I could make up some more details the following night.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just finished the third book in the series, Hailee, which is scheduled for release in September. I'm also working on a second historical romance series that takes place in the Post-Civil War Era. I recently finished book one in the series and have started writing book two.

5) Parting comments?
I would like to thank you, Dawn, for having me here, and also thank my readers for their support and encouragement. I couldn’t do it without you! Secondly, I would like to let everyone know that from April 1 – May 15 is my official blog tour for Kaydie. I will have all the details on giveaways (including a chance to win Hailee, the third book in the series) on my FB author page, so be sure to stop by.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love to connect with my readers at my website http://www.pennyzeller.com/, my blog at http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/, on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pennyzeller, and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts

Vickie McDonough's "Finally a Bride"

We're happy to have Vickie McDonough with us today talking about her book Finally a Bride. To learn more about Vickie and her book, read on!

Title: Finally A Bride, book 3 in the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series.
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb: Jacqueline Davis, a reporter for the Lookout Ledger, is bent on nabbing her story at any cost. When Noah Jeffers comes to Lookout as temporary pastor, Jack suspects there may be something hidden behind his shepherding ways. Soon though, Jack becomes attracted to the new pastor despite her initial hesitation. But as she uncovers the truth, will the story cost her too much? Will she reveal what she’s found, or keep it hidden to protect her heart and the town?

1) How did this story come to you?
I had finished the first book in the series, The Anonymous Bride, and my editor asked me for proposals for two sequel books. After writing about Jack, a rambunctious tomboy, in the first two books, I knew the last book had to be her story. I set the book ten years after the others and set about seeing what kind of trouble Jack could get into now that she was grown up. I also knew it would take a very special man to tame her.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Although Finally A Bride is my 21st book to be published, it is my first trade size book. I started out writing novellas (20,000 word stories) that were included in anthologies published by Barbour. In the mean time, I sent in several proposals to Heartsong. Sooner or Later, a book that won the ACFW Noble Theme contest, was later purchased by Tracie Peterson, Heartsong’s Acquisition Editor. She eventually bought two more books, to complete a series that later became Oklahoma Brides. After I’d written a number of Heartsong books, my novella editor, who also bought Barbour’s trade fiction books, asked me to submit a proposal for a trade fiction story. She rejected my first idea but then bought The Anonymous Bride, which led to selling the other two books in the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. When I was first married, my husband and I lived on a kibbutz in Israel for a year.
2. When I was 14, I used the money I’d earned babysitting and working odd jobs to buy a motorcycle. I was too young to drive a car, but I got a license to ride a motorcycle, and thus gained my freedom early.
3. I hate wearing dresses. I only own two of them, and one was the dress I wore to my son’s wedding ten years ago.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently writing Long Trail Home, which is the third book in a series that I’m writing with fellow authors Susan Page Davis and Darlene Franklin. The series is called “Texas Trails: A Morgan Family series” and spans several generations and 50 years of a Texas family. The first three books release this fall with the final three coming next spring.
Here’s the blurb for Long Trail Home: A weary soldier returns from the War Between the States to discover his parents dead, his family farm in shambles, and his fiancée married. Riley Morgan takes a job at the Wilcox School for Blind Children and tries to make peace with God and himself. When a pretty, blind woman who cares for the children reaches through his scarred walls and touches his heart, he begins to find renewed faith and hope for the future. But when he discovers Annie feigned her blindness just to have a home, will his anger and hurt drive him away and ruin all chances for a future filled with love, faith, and family?

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much for having me as a guest again, K. Dawn. I always enjoy being here. I’d like to also let your readers know about a new series I have coming out next year. Guidepost Books will be publishing Whispers on the Prairie, which is set in 1870s Kansas. The first book is titled Winds of Change, but I’m calling it book my “Love Comes Softly meets Bonanza” story. What happens when a young woman finds herself stranded at a stage stop with three brothers and a matchmaking mother?

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I’m on Facebook, and my website is http://www.vickiemcdonough.com/. Stop by an leave a comment in my guestbook to be entered in my quarterly book giveaway. Also, I plan to start a newsletter soon. If you’d like to be on the list to receive it, please use the link on my website and email me.

Dan Walsh's "The Deepest Waters"

We're happy to have Dan Walsh with us today talking about his book The Deepest Waters.  To learn more about Dan and his book, read on!

Title: The Deepest Waters
Publisher: Revell (division of Baker Publishing Group)

Cover blurb:
For John and Laura Foster, what began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 aboard the steamship SS Vandervere soon becomes a nightmare. A terrible hurricane strikes and the grand ship is lost in the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura is rescued by a small ship sailing by, but there’s only room for the women and children. Believing her John is lost but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone in New York City with a family she has never met. Award-winning author Dan Walsh skillfully tells an epic story of hope, faith, and love through an intimate lens. Inspired by real events.

1) How did this story come to you?
I had just finished my second novel, The Homecoming, and was praying about what the third book should be. I watched this fascinating documentary on the History Channel about a paddlewheel steamship called the SS Central America, which sank after a hurricane in September, 1857. It was as big a news story as the Titanic at the time. Tons of gold went to the bottom of the sea, along with over 400 souls. Among the few survivors there was this honeymoon couple who thought they had been parted forever in the midst of the storm. How this couple survived and the way they were reunited was nothing short of miraculous. I thought, surely someone has written a novel about this. I checked. No one had.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
After reading the manuscripts for my first two novels, my publisher (Revell) was interested in building more of a long-term relationship. They invited me to put together a 3-book proposal. The Deepest Waters is the first of those three books. The second is Remembering Christmas, coming out in September. At the time, I didn’t have a 5th book in mind, but they gave me the 3-book deal anyway. Since then, I did come up with another idea, which they loved. I’m just finishing that book now, called The Discovery. We’re also finishing up another 3-book deal (this time I had ideas for all 3 books and they loved all 3).

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
In high school, I was a long-haired surfer bum (actually wore a surfer shirt and baggies under my graduation robe on graduation day). I love the revival of the old standard love songs from the 40’s and 50’s (from guys like Michael Buble). I love dogs, especially our two mini-aussies. My son (20) says it’s a bit over-the-top.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m presently writing my 6th book, this one for Guideposts, part of a new book series they’re doing for their book club members. It’s called the Miracles of Marble Cove (fans of Jan Karon’s Mitford books would love this series). And I’m already beginning to research my 6th novel for Revell, which won’t come out until 2012.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for the opportunity to connect with your readers. Look forward to hearing any comments from them (and feel free to ask other questions, if you’d like).

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.danwalshbooks.com/
http://danwalshbooks.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/danwalshauthor