Dora Hiers' "Journey's End"

Title: JOURNEY’S END
Publisher: White Rose Publishing.

Cover blurb: Devastated after the brutal murder of her husband, Chelsea Hammond vows never to love another lawman. Intent on rebuilding her shattered life, she turns her focus to helping troubled teens. But when an angry father bent on retaliation, threatens her, Chelsea must turn to the one man she never thought to trust: Deputy U.S. Marshal Trey Colten.
Trey wants only to protect Chelsea, but she blames him for her husband’s death. Trey can relate. He blames himself, also. As danger lurks, Trey begs Chelsea to heed his warnings. He let down one Hammond. He won’t let down another—especially one who now holds his heart.
When Chelsea is snatched from her home, can she put aside her fear, and trust Trey with her life? Can she Forgive him for destroying her past and let him help to rebuild her future?
Where one journey ends, another begins…

1) How did this story come to you?
JOURNEY’S END germinated with a seed from a newspaper article about a mobster, finally convicted for his crimes years later. Intrigued, I played the “what if” game until I came up with the premise, which ended up nothing like the article.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
After dropping out of the workforce to taxi my two sons around (and to make sure one of them actually attended school, he had a slight problem with that!), the writing seed dug in, took root around my heart with the idea for JOURNEY’S END. I soaked up online writing courses and attended a writer’s conference. Joined American Christian Fiction Writers, Carolina Christian Writers, and a critique group.
A dear friend from Carolina Christian Writers directed me to White Rose Publishing and on New Year’s Eve in 2010, some five years after I started down this crazy writing road, White Rose Publishing offered me a contract for JOURNEY’S END, my first heart racing, God-gracing book in the Marshals of Journey Creek series. Can you think of a better way to end one year and to begin another? Who needs fireworks?

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m a family room sports fan. Why should I leave the comforts of my air-conditioned family room to enjoy NASCAR, football, and hockey?
No beaches for me. Give me the mountains! My favorite getaway consists of sipping coffee on a cabin deck tucked in the mountains.
I can be somewhat rebellious at times, like when it came to joining Facebook. So help a girl out, click on over, and “like” me. Dora Hiers Author

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m about 98% finished with JOURNEY’S EMBRACE. I’m praying that JOURNEY’S EDGE will find a home with White Rose Publishing. I’ve also submitted two romantic fiction articles to Woman’s World Magazine for consideration.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much, Dawn, for hosting me today. I’ve enjoyed visiting with you and checking out the fabulous authors featured here.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
On my website at http://www.dorahiers.com/
Blog with me at Heart racing, God-gracing Romance.
I’m also on Facebook ~ Dora Hiers Author

Shannon Vannatter's "White Pearls"

Title: White Pearls
Publisher: Heartsong Presents

Cover blurb: Shell doesn't have a good reputation...But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, she's back in town with a job to do. She'll stick it out and make the best of things. But why does Ryler have to be the landscaper on this project? She was just getting her heart under control. Ryler has his own reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don't include Shell. Spying on his birth family was going to be hard enough. He doesn't have time to worry about a woman who dumped him...even if his heart says otherwise.

1) How did this story come to you?
The heroine's character was mentioned in the first book of the series, White Roses, as the bleached-blonde clad only in a towel who broke up a pivotal relationship. From the moment I wrote that description of her, I wanted to explore Shell's character and understand why she was like that. After the second book, White Doves, I had a long-lost brother, so the hero in book three tied up all the loose threads.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Once I got the offer from Heartsong Presents for White Roses, my editor asked if it could be a series. I felt like the bleached-blonde was too fresh in readers' minds for the second book, but by book three, they'd be ready for her conversion.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I love jigsaw puzzles. The 1000 and up piece ones. They relax me, but I don't want to do anything else when I've got one going, like make supper or go to bed. I just want to do my puzzle and that's all.
2) My graduating class had 20 seniors and that was considered a large class for our small school. The school was consolidated a few years ago. Now it's just a bunch of empty buildings.
3) I often use names that I wanted to name our son, but my husband wouldn't agree to for hero names in my books.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on the 2nd book in a Texas rodeo series. The first book, Rodeo Dust will release to Heartsong book club members in October.

5) Parting comments?
It was kind of sad for me when White Pearls released because the series came to an end. I miss the characters and the setting. What better place to set a romance than in towns called Romance and Rose Bud, Arkansas?

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

Edward Lewis' "Apostle"

Title: APOSTLE
Publisher: Cape Arago Press

Cover blurb: Rivkah and Shemu’el continue spreading the good news. Tensions surface when Barnabus brings Paul to Antioch and some oppose his new role. This saga of the Early Church takes a troubling turn when their youngest son adopts a pagan lifestyle. Meanwhile, the city trembles in the grip of a serial killer and Shemu’el fears who knows who it is. Though surrounded by chaos, the church in Antioch grows in size and influence.

1) How did this story come to you?
The series began with the Gospel account of the birth of Christ. Book Two, DISCIPLE, and now Book Three, APOSTLE, extend that by following the events of Acts. As usual, most Biblical events occur off stage. Through the lives of Rivkah, Shemu’el, their family and friends, the series chronicles the life and times of the Early Christians…their successes and failures, their trials and tribulations, their loves and losses.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Because it’s a series, my publisher, Cape Arago Press, has made a four-book commitment. My task now is to insure the Historic and Biblical accuracy of each book. This requires a tremendous amount of research not only into Early Church history, but also the life and times of the First Century Roman Empire. Whether it’s preparing a meal, firing a pot or building an aqueduct, I want to present the details to my readers in a factual manner.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I have a graduate degree in Economics and worked in Corporate Planning. Because of the Seeds series, people assume I trained in Ancient History or attended seminary. I also write Nonfiction. I have three eBooks dealing with specific topics I’ve encountered in my research. Despite my output — seven books in 18 months — I’m actually a rather slow writer.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
MARTYR, the fourth and final book of the series, is about 50% complete. I hope to have it finished by the end of this year. A commercial novel of mine, LOST, is with my editor. It should be out around August. I’m also developing a series of eBooks on the Roman World and expect to have the first one, The Art and Science of Rome, ready by fall. I’ve begun blocking out a new Christian novel, it’s too soon to say whether it will become a reality or not.

5) Parting comments?
I want to thank you for this opportunity to connect with your readers and tell them about APOSTLE and The Seeds of Christianity Series™. It’s been a pleasure to visit your a site again.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blog, Sowing the Seeds – The Life and Times of the Early Christians, has loads of interesting articles about the Early Church, Judaism, the Roman Empire, etc. http://seedsofchristianity.com/wordpress/. All of my books are available in hard copy or as eBooks from Amazon and most other internet booksellers, or direct from the publisher, Cape Arago Press, http://www.capearagopress.com/