Monday, March 19, 2012

Margaret Brownley's "Dawn Comes Early"


More Love and Laughter from New York Times Bestselling Author Margaret Brownley

“Daily Reasons to Smile” Contest...“I’ve matched up twenty-three couples over the years and in all that time I only made one error. Although I still think the marriage would have worked had she not shot her husband.” -Aunt Bessie in Dawn Comes Early

Characters from Margaret’s new book will send you a reason to smile every day until April 11th. Join in the fun and you could win a book, potted cactus (the story takes place in Arizona Territory) or an iPod Nano and alarm clock docking station. To enter send an email to info@NancyBerland.com. Be sure to put “Reason to Smile” in the subject line. That’s it!

Title: Dawn Comes Early (Book 1 of the Brides of Last Chance Ranch series)
Publisher:  Thomas Nelson

Cover blurb:  Brides of Last Chance Ranch Heiress Wanted. Looking for hard-working, professional woman of good character and pleasant disposition willing to learn the ranching business in Arizona Territory.
Must be single and prepared to remain so now and forever more.  Arizona Territory:1895

Her latest dime novel banned, twenty-nine-year old KATE TENNEY finds herself without a publisher or other means of support. An advertisement for a woman willing to learn the ranching business seems like the perfect solution for a displaced western writer who has no intention of getting married—ever.

Trouble begins the moment she steps foot in Arizona Territory. The west is nothing like she wrote about in her books. Not only does she have to deal with a hard-nosed ranch owner, and nefarious outlaw, but a traitorous heart. Deserted as a child by her father, grandfather and others—even God— Kate does not trust men and has no intention of falling for LUKE ADAM’S charm. She’s determined to learn the ranching business and prove to the doubting ranch owner that she’s up to the task—if it kills her. Her faith tested by the harsh realities of the desert, Kate battles to hold on to the one thing that promises permanence—land.

If only she could stay away from a certain handsome blacksmith and his two matchmaking aunts.

1) How did this story come to you?
The idea was inspired by a group of fifty ladies of the First Church of Millford who formed a society of old maids in 1861. Each member vowed she would not marry. Each woman paid five dollars on admission with the principal going to the one who remained unmarried the longest.

According to an article in The New York Times thirty years later all but fifteen of the original had married. I was never able to find out who won the prize—and being a romantic I sincerely hope that no one did—but where real life stops imagination takes off.

2) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers
I flunked eighth grade English and still can’t diagram a sentence. I also hated history (all those dates and battles). No one would have ever guessed I would one day earn my living writing historical fiction. My office is painted Monet purple for inspiration and I’m addicted to Cadbury Easter eggs. If that’s more than three it’s because I can’t count.

3) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The second book in the series Waiting for Morning will be published January 2013. My first non-fiction book Grieving God’s Way: the Path to Hope and Healing will be published in July. I’m currently working on the third book in my Last Chance series and a novella for an anthology.

4) Where can fans find you on the internet?
You can find me at http://www.margaretbrownley.com/. I’m also on Facebook and Twitter. Thank you so much for letting me visit today!

18 comments:

  1. Sounds like a great read! Can't wait :)

    randomness.is.awesome@gmail.com

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  2. I like a plot with a strong woman
    character! How fun?!
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  3. I LOVE Margaret Brownley's sense of humor and this book looks as though it is loaded with it! Looking forward to this one! Thanks!
    Cheryl ihhcheryl(at)comcast(dot)net

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  4. I've not read any of Margaret's books yet but I have read about the book described above. I wondered if, after seeing what the west is really like, if Kate sat down in her "free rancher's time" and re-wrote her book. Perhaps by reading the book myself, I will get to find out.
    purensimplenatural at gmail dot com

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  5. Margaret, what an accomplishment to have written a historical novel when you failed grade 8 English! One could never tell that now. Absolutely want to read Brides of Last Chance Ranch Series. Guess i'd have been one of the ladies of First Church of Milford (by the way, was it really the first church of Milford?)
    mitzi underscore wanham at yahoo dot com

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  6. This sounds like a book I would enjoy. Thanks for the chance. :)

    nancyecdavis AT bellsouth DOT net

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  7. My mom and I have enjoyed Margaret Brownley's previous series --this one sounds fun as well!

    jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

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  8. I haven't read any of Margaret Brownley's books yet, but the blurb for this one makes me think I'd really enjoy her writing. And according to one comment, she writes with humor, something I LOVE.

    Thank you for this giveaway! I'd love a chance to win this!!!
    -Emily

    emily_reynolds(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  9. It's wonderful getting in at the beginning of a series. I would love to read DAWN COMES EARLY thank you.

    marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

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  10. Would love to win a copy and get acquainted with this author's style of writing !!

    Donna J Krueger
    djkrueger@wildblue.net

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  11. What a delightful premise for a book. Made me laugh - when I met my husband (we just had our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary) I told him I was celibate - I had come off of a marriage and stayed single for almost 20 years. God had other plans. LOL

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  12. I love to read historical romance and this sounds exciting!!

    crystalaroach@yahoo.com

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  13. sounds like a good book thanks for chance to win


    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  14. This book sounds great. I've always thought I was born in the wrong time era; wishing I'd been born back "when" when marriage meant forever and family and love were most important! I thank you for this chance to win your book!

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  15. thanks for the chance to read this beautiful story :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  16. Sounds so interesting & I was delighted to learn the group of fifty ladies at the Millford Church society of old maids with the $5 admission, vowing not to marry. Glad to hear so many of them did end up marrying!! Please include me in your free book drawing. Thank you & God bless you!

    Dawn
    autumnraindaisy@aol.com

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  17. I just wanted to pop in and thank you all for your comments. I wish I could send you each a book!

    To answer Marianne's question: It really was the Church of Milford, at least according to the to the N.Y. Times. I'm still trying to find the name of the winner.

    Take care and happy reading.

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