Lorn Seilstad's "A Great Catch"

We're happy to have Lorna Seilstad with us today talking about her book A Great Catch. To learn more about Lorna and her book, read on!

Title: A Great Catch
Publisher: Revell/ Baker Books

Cover blurb: She wants to change the world. He wants to change her mind. It's the beginning of a new century at Lake Manawa resort in Iowa, but some things never change. When Emily Graham's meddlesome aunts and grandmother take it upon themselves to find her a husband among the resort guests, the spunky suffragist is determined to politely decline each and every suitor. She has neither the time nor the need for a man in her busy life.
Carter Stockton, a recent college graduate and a pitcher for the Manawa Owls baseball team, intends to enjoy every minute of the summer before he is forced into the straitlaced business world of his father.
When their worlds collide, neither Emily nor Carter could have guessed what would come next. Will Carter strike out? Or will Emily cast her vote for a love that might cost her dreams?
The perfect summer novel, A Great Catch will enchant you with its breezy setting and endearing characters.

Endorsements
"A Great Catch weaves humor, history, romance, and spiritual truths into a delicious story that will delight readers' hearts. What a fun, relaxing read! I'd like to remain at Lake Manawa forever."--Laura Frantz, author of The Frontiersman's Daughter and Courting Morrow Little
"A Great Catch is a grand slam! In a story as refreshing and invigorating as lemonade, Seilstad raises deep questions about a woman's relationship with God, her dreams, and the people in her life--while making me laugh so loudly my kids came running to get in on the joke."--Sarah Sundin, author of the Wings of Glory series

1)How did this story come to you?
While I was researching Lake Manawa for the series, I discovered that baseball was such a huge thing at the time. I decided I wanted to somehow incorporate it in with the book. I also knew I wanted the heroine to be suffragist. After mixing the two together, I got A Great Catch.

2)Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This is the second book in the Lake Manawa Summers series. I contracted all three books after meeting Revell’s senior acquisitions editor, Andrea Doering, at an ACFW conference. Writing this book has been so much fun!

3)Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I played violin (badly) in elementary school.
2. I was once pulled over for armed robbery because my car matched the getaway car used by a bank robber. I didn’t think there was another ’73 Dodge Polara still in existence and neither did the state patrol officers who came to my door with their guns drawn.
3. The line in A Great Catch where Emily says she could trip over a chalk line drawn on the sidewalk is something my older brother once told me. It’s true. I relate a lot to Emily and her struggle with gracefulness.

4)What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Right now, I’m working on book 3 in the Lake Manawa Summers Series. It will feature a love interest with the roller coaster designer.

5)Parting comments?
Thank you for having me! Making Waves is available on Kindle free this month, so if you haven’t read it, be sure to download it. I am also having a special Baseball Gift Basket Giveaway for those who sign up for my newsletter by the end of May. You can sign up on my website.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.lornaseilstad.com/
http://www.inkspirationalmessages.com/ (10-writer blog)
On Facebook and on Twitter.

"Making Waves" by Lorna Seilstad

February was Romance Month at Clash of the Titles

For February, Clash of the Titles featured two gooey, deliciously sigh-worthy clashes.

Michelle Massaro hosted Clash Two, another tough contest between Elaine Marie Copper's The Road to Deer Run and Lorna Seilstad's Making Waves. The COTT team was delighted with two new "firsts" for Clash of the Titles. Lorna's book was nominated by one of our team reviewers over at Title Trakk. "I was blown away and very honored that a reader would take the time to submit a scene from Making Waves, and I'm pleased as punch that it was this scene. It's always hard to know if the same scenes I see as romantic are the same ones that move readers," Lorna said.

The other "first" for COTT was that a self-published author won the Clash. "Recently, we've come to the decision to open up all of our Clashes to self-published authors," Michelle Massaro, assistant editor for COTT said. "There will still be guidelines to adhere to, disclaimers to sign, but we feel this will best serve you guys—our readers, authors, and friends. We will still have unpublished Clashes according to our usual schedule, but now they will be reserved for our truly unpublished friends."

And the Clash fairly zinged with the most site comments from our readers. "Readers flooded in to participate in this clash and the battle was fierce. The race was very tight--we were dead even up until the last couple of hours," Massaro said. The Road to Deer Run won the "I Conquered COTT button."





Web sites:
Lorna Seilstad: http://www.lornaseilstad.com/

Making Waves: http://www.amazon.com/Making-Waves-Novel-Manawa-Summers/dp/0800734459/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299433897&sr=1-1

Lorna Seilstad's "Making Waves"

We're happy to have Lorna Seilstad with us today talking about her book, Making Waves. To learn more about Lorna and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
I’ve lived in Iowa my whole life and Lake Manawa is about a ten minute drive from my house. Since my dad lived there as a child, I’d heard stories about the resort’s heyday, but I had no idea just what a fascinating place it was until I began to research it. After I did, I had to write a story set there. I wanted to bring the area back to life—at least on paper.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
At the 2008 ACFW conference, I presented this book to Andrea Doering. I completely forgot my pitch and just handed her my one sheet. Then, I sat there while she read two chapters. Thank goodness, she laughed in the right places! I knew I was in trouble if she didn’t.

After she was done, she complimented my fresh voice and asked me to send of full copy to her. Less than a month after I submitted the manuscript, I received an e-mail asking for a couple more ideas to make this into a possible series. A month later, Revell offered me a contract.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I’m good at pinball. This really surprised my husband when we were dating.
2. I’ve never sailed, although I’d love to. I read “Sailing for Dummies” when writing Making Waves. I also had help from a sailing writing friend to make sure I got the information correct.
3. I occasionally serve as a wedding coordinator. I guess romance is in my blood

3) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
There are two more books in the Lake Manawa Summers series. The next book is called A Great Catch and occurs five years later at the lake. I’m busy working on book three which will be yet another five years later and will feature the resort’s new roller coaster.

4) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me today. It’s been fun.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I love connecting with and hearing from readers. I can be found at:
http://www.lornaseilstad.com/
http://www.inkspirationalmessages.com/ (10-writer blog)
On Twitter and on Facebook