Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Cynthia Hickey's Fudge-Laced Felonies, Candy-Coated Secrets, & Chocolate-Covered Crime


Title: Fudge-Laced Felonies, Candy-Coated Secrets, Chocolate-Covered Crime.

Publisher: These three books were originally published through Barbour and are now available as ebooks on www.Amazon.com and www.smashwords.com

Cover blurb: Summer Meadows walked into church on Sunday, not to find God but to search for a killer. While transplanting the rosebush her church's handsome greeter, Ethan Banning, inadvertently killed, Summer and Ethan discover a hidden stash of diamonds, a rusty can full of cash, and a bloody-gardening glove. This discovery sets Summer and her candy-making aunt on a search for a killer.

As Summer gets closer to the truth-not only of the theft but of her true feelings for Ethan-the diamond thief hatches a plan to hush the feisty sleuth.

1) How did this story come to you?
When Barbour announced they were opening their cozy mystery line, a friend told me I should try writing for it. I didn’t know what a cozy was and told her no. She dared me, and the rest is history.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Fudge-Laced Felonies was originally titled Buried Beneath the Midnight Blue and won first place in a contest where I acquired an agent, who sold the book to Barbour in less than a month. Books two and three followed in the consecutive years.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m shy, I’m the detention monitor at my local school, and I have seven children.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My agent has asked me to write historical romance and I have several proposals awaiting answers. Of course, they all hold a mystery of some kind.

5) Parting comments?
NEVER give up. Perseverance wins in this game.

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

Monday, October 31, 2011

Deanna Klingel's "Avery's Crossroad"

Title: Avery's Crossroad

Avery’s skills as a doctor and his dog Gunner’s friendly personality make the pair a welcome sight to the soldiers in the Civil War hospitals. But mending wounds is not the only challenge Avery faces. Dwindling supplies, insufficient medical facilities, and local troublemakers add to the stress of the war. Avery realizes that the real wounds of the war—the wounds of the soul—will take years to heal. But he finds hope for the future in his deepening friendship with Claire, a girl from back home who shares his passion for helping the wounded. Together they pray for the long war to end.

1) How did this story come to you?
The Avery & Gunner stories came to me from Avery himself as he wiggled into my heart and my writing soul. He's fictional, but not to him and me.

2)Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The journey to getting this book published was almost as long as Avery's journey. In 2006 the book was in the hands of Brubaker Ford Agency in UK. They loved the story and their editor worked intensely with me. It was a wonderful learning experience. In 2008 Avery & Gunner's Civil War Chronicles, as it was then all 5 years in one big book, went to the International Children's Book Fair in Bologna and apparently created a stir. The agents & editor were very excited. A couple of large publishers in NY were interested, one talked about film rights. They gave us specific "to do's" which we did post haste. In 2009 we were close to closing a deal when the request came to make it "edgier." They wanted Avery and Claire to have "more realistic sexual behavior toward each other." I gagged. I'd been totally cooperative to this point, but I know this boy Avery and he wouldn't do what they were suggesting. It was 1861; Avery was a 14 year-old Quaker, a farmer, homeschooled by two well-educated Quakers. We aren't talking about 21st century behavior. I said I could do anything they asked except compromise my character. Avery could live out my life in the drawer. They walked. I had a consultation with God. Is this what you want me to do? If not, tell me what you want. I can do other things. I don't have to write. I was really wondering if I could write for today's market based on what these publishers said. The agents said they'd done all they could do, and we parted ways. Then one morning I was hurrying out the door, saw this strange logo on my screen, hit print, shut down the computer and left. I discovered this odd poster dangling off my printer later, practically waving to get my attention. I'd never seen it before, had no idea who sent it; I still don't. It was an invitation to Write2Ignite, a Christian Writers' Conference. Christian Writers? Really? I never knew. It was close, inexpensive; what did I have to lose? The speaker was dynamic and said everything I needed to hear: there IS a market for my work. My first workshop facilitator convinced me. I stopped into her room later to thank her for her words of conviction, how important it was to me to hear those words. She asked me to come in and talk to her. She wanted to know what my experience had been to elicit this kind of response. I told her about Avery and Gunner. She said she'd like to have a look at that. I didn't know then what I know now. She was the aquisitions editor for Journey Forth Publishing, BJU Press. Avery's Battlefield, 1861-1862 was released in March 2011, and Avery's Crossroad, 1863-1865 in September, 2011.

3)Tell me three things about yourself tht would surprise your readers.
Three things that would surprise readers about me? I'm married almost 50 years, have 7 children, like to travel, garden, golf, read, write. None of that is very surprising. I'm pretty wide open, and I think reading my books probably tells you all you need or want to know about me. You might be surprised that I'm really rather shy! Really!

4)What are you working on and what is next for you?
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Rafka Press will release my next YA nonfiction, Bread Upon the Water. I'm currently rewriting Rebecca & Heart, a short ebook story, into a YA length. I've got two finished manuscripts, Cracks in the Ice and Waiting With Elmer, that I hope a publisher will want, and I'm currently writing a nonfiction YA, Rock and a Hard Place. Your question was what is next for me? Only God knows.

5)Parting comments?
I'm passionate about literacy. I hope everything I write inspires someone to want to read more books.

6)Where can fans find you on the internet?
You can find me at http://www.booksbydeanna.com/. If you google my name you can also find me on other blogspots.

Dana Pratola's "The Covering"

Title: The Covering
Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Cover blurb: What do a woman of faith and a heathen biker have in common? The devil of course.

1) How did this story come to you?
I’ve always been fascinated by glimpses into the spirit realm, whether through God’s Word, testimonies, or fiction, like Frank Peretti’s Darkness series. I wanted to illustrate that forces for Good and evil are always at work around us and the lengths God will go to to show us the Truth.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As I tell everyone, it was only God. I couldn’t afford to attend a writer’s conference, so God led me to a free online conference where I pitched the book to Nicola Martinez. In five minutes I had a request for the entire manuscript and signed the contract shortly thereafter.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. This year marks the first time I’ve read the entire Bible, cover to cover. I always intended to but this year I actually did it, lol.
2. I know many women won’t agree, but I DO NOT find Brad Pitt sexy. I just don’t get what the big deal is. 3. I can get almost any knot out of anything.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next book is about a young woman who is suddenly gifted with an extraordinary singing voice, how she uses her gift, and the consequences of her choices. Of course there is a love interest – an autobiographer doing her story.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for having me, it was a blast =-)

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.danapratola.webs.com/  or facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Dana-Pratola-Author/221067454600043

Interview with Barbara M. Britton and spotlight of Lioness...

We're happy to have Barbara M. Britton with us talking about her book Lioness . To learn more about her and Lioness, please read o...