Renee Riva's "Happy Camper"

Title: Happy Camper

Publisher: Stonehouse Ink

Cover blurb: “A delightful romantic comedy. Allie Jaskie, recent fashion school graduate, needs a job. Charlie Braun, editor of Happy Camper Magazine, needs a field reporter. The clock is ticking for an article about summer snow camping on Mount Rainier. Allie is not fond of camping, much less, snow. But she's down to her last can of tomato soup. What's a hungry girl to do? She changes her name to Sage Forester, and shows up for an interview in a comical ensemble of old camping attire, courtesy of Goodwill. Something about Sage Forester doesn't quite add up, but Charlie is intrigued enough to give her a chance.
When Sage returns from Mount Rainier with her article: “Fashions in the Forest,” the editorial staff roars hysterically—until their boss says “run it.”
Sage is an instant hit with the ladies. Who would guess so many would love the idea of trading in their army green camping gear for pink tents, and bright hiking attire?
Sage's celebrity continues to soar—until Charlie discovers that Sage Forester is not who she says she is, nor is she spending those invigorating nights sleeping in the snow, as all were led to believe.
Readers of all ages are in for an avalanche of fun in this heartwarming adventure as Sage and Charlie battle it out in Paradise on Mount Rainier. Young Adult; ages 12-100

1) How did this story come to you?
I was watching an old Christmas movie about a single woman who lived in a New York highrise and wrote a column as “The American Housewife.” She pretended to be writing from her farm looking out over the fields, when in reality she was looking at the brick wall of a highrise next door. She eventually got found out, but it was quite comical watching her try to pull this off. I thought it would be fun to try this with a modern day twist of someone who ends up with a job that is in direct opposition with their true intrests.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I started this book five years ago during Nanowrimo (National Novel ist Writers Month). Shortly after I began, I got a contract for two sequels to Saving Sailor and had to put Happy Camper on the back burner until this past year. So I pulled it back out one day and decided I still enjoyed the story and the characters enough to finish it. The Stonehouse Ink publisher who published Farley's Five and Dime also published Happy Camper.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I can't type without looking at the keys. I will only write happy stories because I get too depressed reading or writing about unpleasant things. I put my Christmas tree up on Halloween because I was writing a Christmas scene—really threw the neighbors for a loop and scared a few of the trick or treaters.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on a sequel to Happy Camper called Liza, about the twelve year old girl who lives at The Mountain View Inn on Mount Rainier. She was a very endearing character to me and I'd like to write about everything a little girl should be in a world that lets kids be kids.

5) Parting comments?
I love to write books that entire families can read together. One family read saving Sailor around the campfire; the mom and dad and kids all read the parts of the character they most identified with. That just thrills my heart to no end!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.reneeriva.com/ and Happy Camper is available on amazon at:
http://www.amazon.com/Happy-Camper-Renee-Riva/dp/098277057X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1304051977&sr=8-1

Donna F. Crow's "The Shadow of Reality" and "A Midsummer Eve's Nightmare"

Thank you so much for inviting me back to your blog, K Dawn. I was here only a few months ago, but things have been happening so rapidly that I’m really excited to be able to share my latest news. You know how it is, one can go for years without seeing any progress, then suddenly the Heavens open. At least that’s the way I’ve always found it. I hope this is an encouragement for all of us to hold on for God’s timing and not give up.


Title: My newest release is A Midsummer Eve’s Nightmare, book 2 in my Elizabeth & Richard Mysteries. I wrote the first draft almost 10 years ago as the proposed second book in a romantic intrigue series I was doing for another publisher. The series didn’t work out. The manuscript went to the Boise State University Writers’ Archives and I spent the advance. Now, here it is— fully rewritten and with a stunning cover. Talk about a resurrection story.

Publisher:I so admire writers who have the savvy to publish their own books, but I need a support team. This series is with an Indie publisher, though. StoneHouse Ink is new and vibrant and believes in “embracing the technology.” This is just what someone as stuck-in-the-mud as I am needs.

Cover blurb:Elizabeth and Richard want nothing more than a quiet, romantic honeymoon— with a touch of literary charm. So they have chosen the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon. Perfection. Until they find that Desdemona’s brilliantly acted death scene wasn’t acted and Elizabeth’s costume designer sister and her actress roommate are terrified that they are slated to be the next victims.

1) How did this story come to you?
The Oregon Shakespearean Festival has always been a favorite destination for my husband and myself so when it came time to send my newlywed English professor team on a honeymoon Ashland was as perfect for them as it was for me. The plot developed naturally from the setting and from the Shakespeare plays which form the framework of the story. The theme, which explores the true meaning of marriage, was also natural in a honeymoon story but really plays out more when Elizabeth gives advice to her younger sister who is dazzled by the company’s leading man.

2) Tell me two things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
People are often surprised to learn that I’m an introvert, especially those who have been to a conference with me. But, as much as I enjoy meeting people and helping other writers, at the end of the day I’m exhausted and I need lots of down time to recharge my batteries. I’m also what the Regency writers would call a nip-cheese, but my mother taught as good economy. Of course, today it’s entirely PC to recycle everything, so for once in my life I’m in line with current thinking. I love dollar stores and charity shops.

3) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just returned from a trip to Wales where I did the research for the next book in my Monastery Murders. Book 2 in the series A Darkly Hidden Truth will be out this fall, so my challenge will be to promote one book whilst writing another.
And then another Elizabeth & Richard. Since they all have literary figures in the background Jane Austen is up next. And that will entail another research trip. . .

4) Parting comments?
Follow your passions and hang in there through good times and bad. That’s true for any aspect of life, but I can’t think of a business where one needs it more than on the roller coaster we call publishing.

5) Where can fans find you on the Internet?
To see pictures from my garden and research trips go to: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/.
My blog is at: http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/articles.php and you can follow me on Facebook at: http://ning.it/eLjgYp

"When Sparrows Fall" by Meg Moseley

ABOUT THE BOOK:
Freedom. Safety. Love. Miranda vows to reclaim them--for herself, and for her children.A widow and mother of six, Miranda Hanford leads a quiet, private life. When the pastor of her close-knit church announces his plans to move the entire congregation to another state, Miranda jumps at the opportunity to dissolve ties with Mason Chandler and his controlling method of ruling his flock. But then Mason threatens to unearth secrets from her past, and Miranda feels trapped, terrified she’ll be unable to protect her children.
College professor Jack Hanford is more than surprised when he gets a call from his estranged sister-in-law’s oldest son, Timothy, informing him that Miranda has taken a serious fall and he has been named legal guardian of her children while she recovers. Quickly charmed by Miranda’s children, Jack brings some much-needed life into the sheltered household. But his constant challenging of the family’s conservative lifestyle makes the recovering mother uneasy and defensive—despite Jack’s unnerving appeal.
As Jack tries to make sense of the mysterious Miranda and the secrets she holds so tightly, Mason’s pressure on her increases. With her emotions stirring and freedom calling, can Miranda find a way to unshackle her family without losing everything?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Meg Moseley is a Californian at heart although she’s lived more than half her life in other states. She formerly wrote human-interest columns for a suburban section of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and home schooled for more than twenty years. Meg enjoys reading books, traveling, gardening, her three grown children, and motorcycle rides with her husband Jon. They make their home in northern Georgia. Visit her website at: http://www.megmoseley.com/. Read her blog at: http://megmoseley.wordpress.com/

When Sparrows Fall ENDORSEMENTS
"Rich, deep, and painfully honest. When Sparrows Fall is a lovely work of fiction that portrays a side to American freedoms that is too real to ignore."
-Cindy Woodsmall, New York Times best-selling author of When the Soul Mends

"Meg Moseley is the diamond in the haystack you’ve been looking for. She’s a rising star who will have a permanent place on my keeper shelf. In her remarkable debut novel, When Sparrows Fall, Moseley spins a tale of depth, poignancy, and humor. I savored every page and after I turned the last, I simply sat for a while, basking in the aftermath of a story well told."
—Deeanne Gist, best-selling, award-winning author of A Bride Most Begrudging

"Meg Moseley has penned a fantastic debut with When Sparrows Fall. It’s a story of darkness and light which she masterfully weaves so tightly, the reader can fully understand just how those seeking God can fall victims to the cult-like practices of false prophets. Still, in this thought- provoking, cautionary tale of extremism, Moseley drops in delightful moments of pure joy. Hers is a fresh new voice that readers—like me—should welcome with open arms."
—Allison Pittman, author of Lilies in Moonlight

"When a college professor becomes unwitting guardian to a brood of precocious and sheltered home-schoolers, the resulting culture clash is just the tip of the iceberg. Meg Moseley writes with a deft hand, bringing a deep sense of humanity to her struggling, sometimes haunted characters. When Sparrows Fall packs plenty of surprises, not the least of which is the way grace can break out in the most unexpected places and the hardest of hearts."
—J. Mark Bertrand, author of Back on Murder

*See early reader feedback on http://www.bloggingforbooks.org/

Mildred's Colvin's "Learning to Lean"

Title: Learning to Lean
Publisher: Self-published with Amazon (note from K. Dawn---author is multi-published with Heartsong)

Cover blurb: What woman wants the Brady Bunch reruns to take over her life? For that matter, what man wants that kind of responsibility? None, right?
Heather Conway, daycare owner and widowed mother of three, has no extra money and very little faith. Where was God when her husband died, leaving her with no insurance, no income, and facing bankruptcy? Her fourteen-year-old son is getting out of control, she needs something better than their two-bedroom rental to live in, and she just bumped into a man who has her heart beating overtime. If she were sensible, she’d latch onto a childless, wealthy man who could give her the security she craves.
Matt Sanders has just moved to town with his three kids and placed them into Heather’s daycare while he gets his Jack-of-all-trades construction/repair business off the ground. He may appear to be poor, but he has more going for him than meets the eye. His admiration for Heather soon turns into love as their families intertwine through church activities and work on her daycare.
But six kids? Maybe Matt and Heather would be better off as friends. They soon find it’s hard to let go of the security they see and blindly trust God to take care of their tomorrows. Learning to lean on God can take a lifetime or maybe only a lesson in trust.

1) How did this story come to you?
Learning to Lean is a story that developed as it was written. I owned a daycare several years ago, so child-care provider became a natural career for my heroine, Heather. The Jack-of-all trades business the hero, Matt, has going is also natural for me because of a close family friend who has done this sort of work for many years. The Brady-Bunch-type family Matt and Heather fight against forming was not planned, but just sort of happened. Heather’s insecurities and Matt’s as well, are very much like those we all face. If we don’t see an immediate answer, where do we turn? When life has no answers, there’s only one way to go. And there’s only One whom we can go to and know we will find the right answer. Heather and Matt have to learn that lesson.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I originally wrote this story to submit to Love Inspired, which I did. After their rejection, I set it aside unsure what I wanted to do with it. Several years passed, and I heard about the option of publishing on Amazon. I had no place in mind for Learning to Lean, but I knew the story was worth publishing so I read everything I could find about Kindle Direct Publishing, took a plunge out of my comfort zone, and published Learning to Lean.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m not sure I know three surprising things about myself. How about: I met my husband only 2 1/2 months before we were married, we allowed our daughter to name herself, and I’ve never seen the ocean. Not overly exciting, but…

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Oh my, I have so many projects going, I only hope I can do them all. The third book in my Route 66 series with Heartsong Presents will be released in July, 2011. I have 3 proposals out with as many publishers that I’m waiting to hear from. My current work is a sweet romance titled Love Returned that I hope to publish as an ebook on Amazon in June 2011. After that I hope to rewrite, adding scenes to a couple of my older books that have been returned to me. I will probably offer them as ebooks later. And I’m working on four more proposals for a couple of different publishers.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you, K. Dawn Byrd, for having me as a guest on your blog. I enjoy meeting new readers of Christian romance and hope you will stop by my blog, Romantic Reflections, from time to time. I plan to post any news about my books and a little about my venture into this new world of ebook publishing. It’s been interesting to say the least.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.mildredcolvin.blogspot.com/, on Face Book search Romantic Reflections by Mildred Colvin.