Tiffany Amber Stockton's "Bound by Grace"

Title: Bound by Grace

Publisher: Barbour Publishing / Heartsong Presents

Cover blurb: While young ladies happily attend parties, gossip, and pursue eligible gentleman, Charlotte would rather run her bookshop and discuss great literature with her customers. But when her parents pressure her to agree to an advantageous match, Charlotte fears she'll be trapped in a loveless marriage. Richard Baxton feels pressure at every turn. The accidental deaths of his brother and sister-in-law leave him responsible for the family business and his niece Grace, who is unable to walk. When Grace's love for books leads him to Charlotte's bookshop, Richard is drawn to Charlotte's sweet spirit. But endless problems leave Richard unable to afford the surgery that may allow Grace to walk again and to assure Charlotte's parents that he could provide for their daughter. Time is running out before Grace is permanently paralyzed, Charlotte is forced to marry a man she barely knows, and Richard will lose the woman he loves. Will God's grace bind them together as they confront their challenges?

1) How did this story come to you?
I wrote a series that released in 2008, set in Delaware during the Colonial era. Many of my readers asked if I was going to continue that family’s story at some point. So, when my editor asked me for another 3-book series, I jumped forward a little over 100 years and continued the family a few generations down the line, using a book that figured prominently in the first book of the previous series to tie the couples together in each of the 3 books of the new series. It proved quite a challenge—albeit an enjoyable one—to research the area over 100 years into the future and map out the family lineage from where I left off to where I began with this book.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
There isn’t much to say, to be honest. Since I had already sold 8 books to my publisher, I didn’t have to do anything more than pitch a paragraph or two about this series to my editor. She loved the premise and sent me a contract from a 2-page synopsis.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) Before I married, I was the only living female Miller in my family (except my mother who married into the name).
2) My grandfather’s cousin married President Woodrow Wilson while he was president, so I’m somewhat related to “American Royalty.” :)
3) I work for international celebrity Jane Seymour, handling her fan mail and managing her web site.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am currently writing book 2 in this series (Stealing Hearts), and it’s due in January. My next book releases in May 2012, and it’s a novella (Colonial Courtships) with 3 other authors. I’m also working on a 3-book series for Harvest House Publishers, and there’s a possibility of another book for an ongoing series partnering multiple authors from a single literary agency working in collaboration. That’s a relatively new development, so nothing is confirmed yet.

5) Parting comments?
I’d like to thank K. Dawn for having me here today, and you for stopping by to read this interview.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Look me up anytime at http://www.amberstockton.com/. There, you will find links to my blog, Facebook fan page, and Twitter account. I love to hear from my readers, and anyone who follows or is interested in my writing career. Drop a note. I always respond within 48-72 hours, unless one of my 2 little ones interrupts my nicely made plans. :)

Jeanne Brooks' "Across the Wilderness" and "Through the Waters"

Title: Across the Wilderness
Cover blurb:Isobel dreams of marriage and a family of her own after graduation from college. Her plans come to a grinding halt when her potential in-laws reject her because of her ethnic appearance. She doesn’t fit into their class-conscious, blue-blooded, American society. Broken-hearted, she retreats to the home of her last living relative, Aunt Betty. When her aunt dies, she discovers a family secret: that she isn’t who she thought she was! Isobel was raised to believe she was part Japanese and part Caucasian-American, but she finds proof that her ethnicity is totally different and that her birth mother might still be living. She determines to seek out her biological family and in the process finds a heritage far greater than she ever anticipated.

How did this story come to you?
A close acquaintance, when he was over 50 years old, learned that the man he knew as his father was not his father. The knowledge was traumatic and life-changing. That particular incident combined with my love for other cultures helped me to build this story. As the mother of bi-racial children, I also saw situations of rejection purely because of the appearance or ethnicity and wanted to carry that into my main character’s life.

Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This book is one of four books, called Journey of Faith, about friends who graduated together from a Christian college. Each book follows one woman on hers. Having self-published my first book (“Through the Waters”) it seemed natural to continue that path for this one, although I chose a different publisher for several reasons.

Title: Through the Waters
Cover Blurb: MADELINE MARIE GALLOWAY is a single, solidly Christian young woman excited about the future until she experiences the loss of her father and a violent attack resulting in a pregnancy. How could God let this happen to one of his faithful? How could she ever offer herself to her future husband now that she was no longer pure? And what about the baby? Abortion, Single parenthood? Adoption?

JIM AND SUZANNE are a young couple looking forward to raising a family and having a loving Christian home. They experience multiple disappointments until tragedy forces them toward a choice they never expected to make. Unexpectedly, the result brings them great joy, but will their happiness last? Why do tragic things happen to good people?

Watch how God carries them through their trials and tears. See how “all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:27-29 KJV

How did this story come to you?
As a medical professional for over 30 years, I have had the opportunity and challenge to work with many of these situations. Probably the one event in my life that strongly impacted me was when my oldest sister became pregnant after an attack and chose to give up the child for adoption. Combining my personal experience with various individuals I’ve treated helps me build strong characters. Recalling how my faith has carried me through various losses: grandparents, father, daughter, helped me insert that into this story in a realistic manner.

Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Honestly, I never approached an agent or traditional publisher to attempt to get published. I have been writing for years, but struggled with self-esteem issues, so wasn’t willing to risk rejection. Instead, I decided to test the market by putting this quartet of books out there using self-publishing. I prayed hard about it and felt impressed to go this path, even though I knew that many did not respect self-published authors. I’m glad I chose self-publishing because it has allowed me to continue my primary job, working with soldiers before and after deploying to war. I was even able to freely give copies to soldiers heading to the combat zones without feeling guilty; the cost was on me and my publisher carried no risk.

Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I was the first female in my career field in the United States Air Force: Aircrew Egress Systems Repairman,
2) I worked in a male, medium-high security prison for nine months, and
3) I married nearly 38 years and have 10 grandchildren (guess that’s a two-fer)

What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I tend to work on multiple projects at the same time. Right now I am working on completing the Journeys of Faith, with the third named “Out of the Valley” which I hope to have out later this year, and a fourth, “Over the Mountain” which will be out early 2012 if all goes according to plan.

Parting comments?
Jeremiah 29:11 is my favorite Bible verse, “I know the plans I have for you, they are plans for welfare and not for evil, plans to give you a future and a hope.” ESV

Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.jeannebrooks.com/
Facebook Author page: Jeanne F. Brooks
Twitter: Author4Him
Amazon Author Central: Jeanne F. Brooks

Edward Snipes' "I Called Him Dancer"

Title: I Called Him Dancer
Publisher: GES Publishing

Cover blurb:I Called Him Dancer is about a boy growing up
in a broken home. His fragile world is shattered when his mother leaves him with a relative and walks out of his life. After seeing a man dancing with grace and acrobatics, he decides to imitate the man and discovers a natural talent for dance. His life's passion becomes dance and eventually the young man achieves his dream of Broadway. A drug addiction and his inner demons destroy his life and he eventually becomes homeless. His previous dance partner refuses to let go and reaches out to him, but he rejects her. Bitter at God and the world, the dancer embraces a solitary life on the streets. Though he lashes out at God, the Lord has other plans for the fallen dancer.

1) How did this story come to you?
In 2009, two song writers named Tralena Walker and Tom Webster visited the Atlanta Writers Club. They were scheduled to speak at the second hour of our meeting. I almost didn’t stay since I had no interest in song writing. I headed down the hall after the first session ended, but when I reached for the door, I had the strange urge to stay. At the end of their presentation, Tralena performed a song titled, Dancer, and then said, “I’ve been trying to find someone to write about this song. I think it would make a great novel.”

Until then, I was a passive spectator, but her words made my head explode. Embarrassed by the loud pop, I quickly scooped up the pieces and reassembled my head and discovered that the book was mixed into my brain matter. The whole story hit me at once. I met with them and we worked together shaping the story into what it is today.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I never expected to become a writer, much less did I plan to get published. When I was a child, I got my first book. I flipped through the pages, then tore it apart. I didn't know it at the time, but that's exactly what you do when editing a manuscript.

I hated writing when I was younger. I only did what I had to do, and sometimes not even that. Writers block was more like writers dementia. My mind didn't return to me until after... hmmm. What were we talking about?

In 1998, I became active in prison ministry. Many of the men I ministered to were eager to learn. Someone asked me if I had my studies or notes on paper. I agreed to write out the next study and then my writing career was born. The problem wasn't that I couldn't write. It was that I didn't have something to say. Or didn't realize I had something to say. Over time writing transformed from a task to a passion.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m dyslexic, but hey, slysdexics are teople poo.
I have 5 kids – all girls. I did get a male dog to get some testosterone in the house.
My favorite hobby is to tap dance on oatmeal while reciting Shakespear.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have many project going. I’m working on my new release, Sound Mind. It’s a non-fiction book about how to deal with emotions in a healthy way. This was inspired by many discussions with my 5 girls. While working through a problem with my third daughter, I realized these same issues keep coming up. Maybe it’s time to put these things on paper.

5) Parting comments?
I try to make my books affordable. The ebook version of I Called Him Dancer is only .99 cents. The ebook version of my discipleship books are free downloads from my website. All are available in print as well.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.eddiesnipes.com/
Twitter: @eddiesnipes
I’m also on Facebook and LinkedIn.