We're happy to have Valerie Comer with us today talking about "Topaz Treaasure." Leave her a comment with your email address to register to win a copy and if you've not done so, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to get weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Valerie and Topaz Treasure, read on!



Title: My story is called "Topaz Treasure," and it's the first novella in a 4-in-1 contemporary romance book called Rainbow's End.

Publisher: Barbour Publishing.

Cover blurb: The collection blurb is "Four young women find unexpected gifts on a geocaching adventure in the Missouri Ozarks wilderness—but will they lead to happiness or heartbreak?"

My novella blurb is "Lyssa Quinn volunteers at the Rainbow’s End geocaching hunt hoping she'll have the nerve to point folks to the true treasure found in Jesus. She’s not expecting her former prof to be there, too. Kirk Kennedy’s treasure hunt takes him down a path he hadn’t intended when he is captivated by Lyssa’s intriguing sparkle. Can he convince Lyssa that there is more than one kind of treasure? Can Lyssa remind him of the greatest prize of all?"

1) How did this story come to you?
Ever since my husband and I started geocaching about four years ago, I toyed with the idea of writing a contemporary romance with that backdrop. The specific story of Lyssa is partly grounded in my own (aren't they all?) in that Lyssa needs boldness to share her faith.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This is my first and, so far, only publishing credit. I saw Barbour's call for anthology proposals in December 2010 and began brainstorming with my friend Nicole O'Dell about what we could put together. Once we had the framework of the geocaching event in place, we pulled in Cara and Annalisa to begin developing our individual stories. "The Call" was actually an email, and it came about two weeks after we'd submitted the proposal. Barbour allowed me a bit of time to get an agent. Once I'd signed with Joyce Hart, Barbour issued the contract and I was able to share my exciting news with everyone!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. My family runs an apiary with about 70 beehives in our 'spare time.'
2. I wrote 9 novels over 9 years before signing the novella contract with Barbour.
3. I write at my day job, a small-town flooring shop, and my bosses don't even care.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My agent and I have several proposals out at the moment. While we wait for word, I'm continuing to write the remainder of one of the proposed books.

5) Parting comments?
As one of the many authors writing for Barbour's Romancing America line, I've started a website and blog to promote all the books in the series. Right now we're just finishing up 4 weeks of historical romance with The Quakers of New Garden and its authors. Next week we start talking about Rainbow's End. Come join us at http://romancingamerica.com.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet? Connect at:
• Website: http://valeriecomer.com/
• Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/valeriecomer.author
• Twitter: http://twitter.com/valeriecomer
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/valeriecomer
• Blog: http://valeriecomer.com/blog
• Blog: http://romancingamerica.com/