Desert Breeze Publishing 20% off during April

James L. Rubart's "Rooms"

James L. Rubart's "Rooms"

We're happy to have James L. Rubart with us today talking about his new book, Rooms. To learn more about James and Rooms, read on!


1) How did this story come to you?
In my teens I read a little pamphlet My Heart, Christ’s Home. In my mid-twenties I thought, “What if you took that idea and put it on steroids?” After laying dormaint for many years it eventually become ROOMS.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The dream to be a writer started in 7th grade when a story I wrote was picked to be acted out in class. But I didn’t do anything about it till 2003 because of fear. At that point I got serious, finished ROOMS in late ’05, went to my first conference in the spring of ’06, and signed with an agent six months later. He shopped it to all the major houses and everyone rejected it. But a year later, David Webb (with B&H at the time) said he’d read 200 manuscripts since he first read ROOMS but he couldn’t get it out of his mind, so decided to take another run at it. ROOMS sold in June of ’08.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Fun question! I used to be a semi-professional magician, I’ve almost drowned twice but still like to scuba dive, and I started my career on-air at a Seattle radio station.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just signed a new three-book contract with B&H which I’m thrilled about. Book of Days will hit shelves on January 2011 and The Chair will be released fall of 2011, and I’m working on ideas for the fourth book.

5) Parting comments?
I lived too many years with my music still inside. Don’t do that. Take the risk, go after your dream. Even if you don’t reach it you won’t carry any regrets.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My author Web site is: http://www.jimrubart.com/
My marketing company is: http://www.barefootmarketing.com/
e-mail: jim@jimrubart.com
Facebook: James L. Rubart
Twitter: @jimrubart

Nicole Zoltack's "Knight of Glory"

Nicole Zoltack's Knight of Glory

We're happy to have Nicole Zoltack with us today talking about her new release from Desert Breeze Publishing, Knight of Glory. Read on to learn more about Nicole and her book.

1) How did this story come to you?
Knight of Glory is the sequel to Woman of Honor, both medieval fantasy romances. Knight of Glory takes place immediately after the events in Woman of Honor, with full war going on between the Kingdoms of Arnhem and Speica. It centers on Sir Geoffrey, who travels across the continent of Alethereia to recruit allies for Arnhem, while trying to determine which of two very different ladies he loves.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Because this book is book 2 in a series, it was easy to get the contract for it. As for the journey to get Woman of Honor published, I first learned about Desert Breeze Publishing through a publisher chat at the Castle in the Sky yahoo group. Gail mentioned that she would love to see a fantasy romance series, I mentioned Woman of Honor (which was still a WIP at that point). Gail said to send it to her once it was done, and I did. Shortly thereafter, she sent me a contract.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. Although I absolutely love to ride horses, and even took lessons for several months, I am extremely allergic to them. At the end of each lesson, I would be sneezing so much that I could only hold the reins with one hand! I would love to resume my lessons at some point, but it’s too dangerous right now (I’m pregnant) plus I plan on having two more. Maybe once the kids are all in school?

2. My husband and I collect swords. Some are medieval-style replicas, others are from movies (mostly LOTR). I often look at the different swords for ideas for my characters’ weapons, and I’ll even wield one through the motions of a pretend fight to get a better idea of what a sword fight entails. Ah, what us crazy writers will do to better our craft! LOL

3. I can’t be in the middle of reading a book and work on my own stories at the same time. I have to finish reading the book first. As such, the amount of time that I can devote to reading is not nearly as much as I would like it to be.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently working on a paranormal with romantic elements about a female assassin. This story is very different from my other works. Most of the time, my heroes and heroines are just that—heroes and heroines. To write from the point of view of an assassin is completely different. The mindset, the motivations, the killings, everything is tainted. But Lorna isn’t completely evil. I’m surprised how fun it is to write from her POV. I’m also working on a couple of short stories, and of course, Champion of Valor, book iii in the Kingdom of Arnhem series.

5) Parting comments?
Writing is such a huge part of my life that I couldn’t stop even if I wanted to. Even if I were told that I would never sell another story or that I would never sell another copy of my works, nothing would stop me from writing. And if you have this kind of attitude, this drive, this determination, there’s nothing that can stop you from writing a story and publishing it.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Everywhere! LOL My website is http://www.nicolezoltack.com/ I have a fan page and a regular page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nicole.Zoltack and a myspace page http://www.myspace.com/scarlett9284 I’m also on twitter: http://twitter.com/NicoleZoltack Finally, my blog is at http://nicolezoltack.blogspot.com/

Angela Breidenbach's Creative Cooking for Colitis

Creative Cooking for Colitis

by Angela Breidenbach

We're happpy to have Angela Breidenbach with us today talking about her new book, Creative Cooking for Colitis. Angela has been kind enough to give one lucky blog reader a copy. Since this is an ebook, it'll be in electronic format. To register, place your e-mail address in the feedburner box to the top right if you've not yet done so. After reading Angela's interview, leave a comment at the bottom. To learn more about Angela, read on!


Your title: Creative Cooking for Colitis: How to start living and eating confidently again

1) How did the idea for this cookbook come to you?
I was diagnosed with severe colitis (microscopic colitis in two forms) last year. Malnutrition and dehydration were my constant companions. As I learned how to nourish myself, I noticed I began altering/cooking foods my family and friends could eat with me instead of always making two meals or avoiding food altogether.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I'd lost both hope and joy in eating. Everything hurt. I'd become so depressed when I couldn't get the condition under control for six months. One friend, Tod Trimble, suggested some ideas I put in the book. They worked! I decided Creative Cooking for Colitis might put joy and hope back into other people's lives too. It started with just tips, but then I thought, “why not add the recipes and the photos so others could happily sit down to a social meal too?”

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Hmm, I'm so open it's hard to think what would surprise anyone...
1. My HP printer is my arch nemesis (I can't get it to work and it's brand new!)
2. I want to live a month in both Scotland and Sweden for heritage, cooking, and writing.
3. I hate fish & coconut with a passion. You won't find those in any of my recipes but you will find important substitute nutrient options.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Building my speaking ministry for women based in biblical wisdom and how to apply that in real life, planning the next cookbook my husband has teasingly titled, Creative Cooking: Another Blooming Cookbook, because it's going to be different fillings from appetizers to desserts like the Blooming Chicken Savories in this Creative Cooking for Colitis book. I don't know of the title will stick, lol, but it is cute! Then my second non-fiction, Courageous Beauty, needs to get finished so I can start on an historical fiction novel inspired by an 1850's amethyst glass Swedish pitcher set I inherited.

5) Parting comments?
Cooking, writing, and photographing Creative Cooking for Colitis was hard work, but also heart work. The recipes are for anyone, any family, any fun social event. The title was important so people with colitis, IBD, and even celiac sprue would know some recipes would be helpful and hopeful because it's so hard to learn what you can eat with these conditions. I love public speaking, so I welcome invitations :-) Come visit me as I tour with the http://www.lifeandfaithtour.com this summer too!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.mygemofwisdom.com/
http://colitiscooking.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/AngelaBreidenbach
http://www.twitter.com/AngBreidenbach

Ann Shorey's "The Promise of Morning"

Ann Shorey's "The Promise of Morning"

We're happy to have Ann Shorey with us today talking about her new book, The Promise of Morning.To learn more about Ann and her book, read on!

Your title: The Promise of Morning
1) How did this story come to you? The story was inspired by the lives of my great-great grandparents. My gr.gr. grandfather had been a circuit-rider in his youth, and when he was thirty he married a girl of fourteen. They were my models for Ellie and Matthew Craig in The Promise of Morning. A few of the events in the story are true, but most are fictitious. Guess which ones are which?

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The Promise of Morning is the second book in the At Home in Beldon Grove series from Revell. When I submitted the proposal to Revell for Book One, The Edge of Light, I included the next two novels in the proposal, knowing Revell likes series. I met my editor at the Mt. Hermon Christian Writers conference in 2007 and she asked for the manuscript after reading the proposal.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
The At Home in Beldon Grove series is set in Illinois, and I’ve never lived there. I must add that I have many helpful people “on the ground” in that state to ask when I don’t know about something. I have been there and researched the area I use in the books.
I like liver and onions. Lots of people say “yuck,” but I think it’s yummy. I was going to say, “I love chocolate,” but that’s not too surprising.
A third thing? I often carry a hand-held tape recorder when I take my daily three-mile walks. I use the time to work out scene problems and figure out where I’m going next in my wip. I’m sure people who see me talking to my hand must think I’m a little strange.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on Book 3 of the At Home in Beldon Grove series, tentatively titled The Dawn of a Dream. The story features Luellen McGarvie, Molly McGarvie’s oldest daughter, now all grown up. It’s been fun to write—Luellen’s a spunky young woman.

5) Parting comments? If you’re one of those readers who don’t enjoy series because you have to buy the next book to find out what happened after the end of the previous one, the At Home in Beldon Grove stories are for you. Each book has a different protagonist, so they stand alone. But since all the characters live in Beldon Grove, their lives intersect so you’ll know how things are going with characters from the previous books.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet? Please visit my website at http://www.annshorey.com/

In Plain Sight
by Michelle Sutton
We're happy to have Michelle Sutton with us today talking about her new release from Desert Breeze Publishing, In Plain Sight. If you're an ebook fan, Desert Breeze is a publisher that you should become familiar with because they're turning out some great stories.
I don't read many books due to time constraints, but I have read this one and loved it. Michelle's Danger at the Door is also a personal favorite of mine.

1) How did this story come to you?
In Plain Sight is the sequel to Danger at the Door. I loved Bojan's sister when I first created her so I wanted a story of her new life following the tragedy that happened to her.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I told the editor (who loved Danger at the Door) that I'd like to write a sequel about the hero's sister and she said great and sent me a contract. She loved Danger at the Door and figured my readers would want another story following Danger, too.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I never liked writing until I was in my thirties.
I'm a step grandma and have been for fifteen years even though I'm only 43.
I put a little bit of my heart in every book I write so if you want to know my heart you can read my books and get to know me better. Weird, but true.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
What am I NOT working on? I have a bunch of projects going on right now. I am writing the sequel to First Impressions and also preparing for my next paperback release in July of this year called Never Without Hope.

5) Parting comments?
I have to mention that the blogger interviewing me is one of the coolest people I know, partly because she loves to talk about fiction as much as I do. And, Michelle is one of the coolest people I know and I love her books. Can't get enough of them!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Um, everywhere? Google my name and you'll see what I mean…

Easing into Ebooks (Part 3)

Easing into Ebooks
Part Three

Welcome back for the last part of my series, Easing into Ebooks. As a reader, I hope you are better informed about the new and exciting technologies now available, which combine comfort and convenience for a pleasant reading experience. I also hope that I've been able to ease a few concerns that weigh heavy on the minds of booklovers as they witness the publishing industry incorporate electronic formatting, and promote reading devices in this digital age.
I'd like to devote the last segment in this series to passing on information about where to find ebooks. Obviously, there are the storefronts of individual publishers and online retailers that specialize in the sale of ebooks. But there are also the major retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Borders – all of these now have an ebook division, and have either developed a device exclusively sold at their store, or teamed up with a tech company to sell that company's product. Such is the case with Borders and Sony.
Barnes and Noble has done both of these things. The Nook, which was developed exclusively for B&N, is sold at brick and mortar stores and on their online storefront -- there you can also find an extensive ebook catalog. Along with this, they have purchased the popular ebook retailer, Fictionwise, which sells the eSlick Reader, a product of Foxit Corporation.
Amazon strictly promotes its Kindle and Amazon Kindle books, but they have developed a wide array of free apps that allow their books to be read on other devices, such as Apple products like the iPhone, iPod Touch, and soon, the iPad. Kindle books can be purchased and read on Blackberry, PC, and Mac. Kindle is in the process of developing apps for the much anticipated tablet computers, once again, including the iPad. And, as I've already mentioned, these apps are absolutely FREE.
B&N is keeping pace by also developing similar apps, and the Sony Reader Store is with the program too. Competition is an excellent motivator.
Now all of this is well and good, but perhaps you're just getting your feet wet in this rapidly changing world of reading, and want to sample ebooks before you commit to buying any. Many retailers allow you to download a sample of one to five chapters, depending on length, so you can see if the book captures your interest before you hit the "buy" button.
Most retailers also offer some ebooks for free. Sometimes this is done as a promotion effort. An author may have a new book in a series coming out, so for a specified time period another book in that series may be offered for free. Either check up top, or scroll down the length of any ebook retailer and I bet you'll see these words, "Free Ebooks." And there ya have it – except in the case of Amazon, but here's a hint. Amazon calculates their bestsellers list through the number of downloads. Nothing motivates a reader to download a book better than offering it for free. Click Amazon's bestseller's list and see how many of them have $0 listed as their price. If a book interests you though, grab it, because some of them are only offered this way for a few days.
Aside from books given away through retailers, there are also public domain sites where many works of literature have been converted through the effort of volunteers and are available at no cost. Project Gutenburg is a prime example, offering over 75,000 titles completely free of charge. http://gutenberg.us/Collections.htm.
Even libraries are adopting technology that allows readers to access their ebook collection online, and check out books with the aid of a specialized library card. Here's a library doing just that. http://www.greenwichlibrary.org/. Click on "Downloadable Library" to see. This is a great service for the homebound.
Retailers have also heard the demands of customers who wish to loan their ebooks to friends. Barnes & Noble has developed the LendMe service for their ebooks, and other retailers are sure to follow suit. Competition's an excellent motivator! Did I already say that?

How to Get and Read EBooks for Free

How to Get and Read Ebooks for Free
****No expensive software to buy****

After I learned to download ebooks to my Blackberry, there was no turning back. The picture to the left is Apple's new ipad set to launch tomorrow. I must have one! It'll be free when I finish because I'll save money by downloading and reading the free books that will be at my disposal. Don't have an ebook reader? Read on to learn how to download and read ebooks without one.

Amazon's Kindle store has hundreds, maybe thousands of free book just waiting for you to download. No Kindle? No problem. You can go to their website and download the Kindle app for PC for free. Once downloaded to your compute or netbook, you can search for all the free books (and there are some great ones!) and read to your heart's content. I downloaded the Kindle app to my netbook and read a lot of ebooks on it.

Want to read ebooks on your Smart phone, but don't know how? The easiest way to do this is to to go http://www.fictionwise.com/ and click on their help link at the top right corner. This will take you to a page that lists all the smart phones and what software you'll need to read ebooks on them. The best thing is...the software is free! I downloaded Mobipocket to my Blackberry and that's how I read ebooks from there.

Once you've downloaded the free software, I'd recommend that you choose a free book to make sure everything's working properly before spending your money. My publisher, Desert Breeze Publishing. has several free items. Go to http://www.desertbreezepublishing.com/ and then click on the "Free!" link to the left and if you'd like to take a look at my new book priced at $5.99, here's the link for it http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-70/Queen-of-Hearts/Detail.bok .

I've enjoyed reading ebooks so much that I'm writing them. My first book, Queen of Hearts, released from Desert Breeze on April 1. Here's some info and links

Daphne Dean is proud to be serving her country stateside during WWII as a reporter and an Office of Strategic Services operative. When the photograph she takes of the crowd at a murder scene places her on the mob's hit list, she's forced into hiding in a vacant mental asylum in the middle of nowhere with terrifying secrets of its own.

Daphne believed herself to still be in love with her ex-fiancée, Kenneth, until she spends several days locked away in the asylum with Vito, the mob boss' son. Can she put the terrifying events that occurred there behind her and allow herself to pursue a relationship with Vito? Or, will she return to Kenneth who has turned his back on his country by becoming a draft dodger and a black market racketeer? One thing's for sure, it won't matter if she can't escape the mental institution alive.

Click on one of these links for more info or read the excerpt below.
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-70/Queen-of-Hearts/Detail.bok

http://www.amazon.com/Queen-of-Hearts-ebook/dp/B003EV5T3K/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=digital-text&qid=1270208277&sr=8-8

http://www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com/

EXCERPT

Daphne opened her eyes and then closed them quickly as her head pounded and a wave of nausea threatened to consume her. She breathed in deeply and exhaled slowly. Once she felt stronger, she attempted to pull herself up to a seating position, but was unable to move her arms.

Stay calm, she told herself. Daphne peered through the slits in her eyes and then squeezed them shut when the dim overhead light increased the blurred vision and the pounding in her head. She tried again, keeping her eyes open long enough to realize that she was in an unfamiliar place. She shivered in the frigid air.

Daphne tugged on the restraints, exhausted. The band on her left arm gave slightly. She worked her arm back and forth, her heart pounding wildly as she took deep, even breaths in an attempt to decrease the terror racing through her. What kind of sick person would strap her down to a table? And, where was Vito? He knew how much she hated the place, how terrified she was of being alone. Why would he leave her?

The thought that maybe he had done this to her sickened her. Vito had said he loved her. Was this how he treated someone he loved? Maybe Vito was a sick man. Maybe he needed psychiatric help. Her left hand broke free with a snap that rocked the stillness like a shotgun blast. She tugged on the other restraint with her free hand and once she was free, Daphne rose to a sitting position, raising her hands to cover her eyes as a wave of dizziness overcame her.

The realization that she was alone brought a mixture of relief and fear. After several minutes her legs were free, but she didn't dare move because movement brought on a fresh wave of sickness. Nausea washed over her once again and she leaned over and vomited. It was coming back to her. She'd been drugged.

Daphne glanced over her shoulder. The eight steel drawers behind her mocked her, enticing her to enter the black depths that had undoubtedly held numerous corpses in the past. An icy shiver traced its way up her spine as realization exploded in her brain. The basement was terrifying enough, but the morgue almost sent her over the edge into the slim line that seemed to separate her from sanity and madness.

She stood on rubbery legs and then collapsed, crawling to an old chair in the corner. It was an antique wheelchair, dusty and abandoned long ago. She slumped onto it, removing her feet from the frigid floor, wondering how long it would support her weight.

To her horror, Daphne realized that she had been strapped to the embalming table. Rust stains splashed across the basin gave the appearance of dried blood. She gritted her teeth to hold back the scream that hung in her throat.

Register to win a book from Nicole O'Dell...

Register to win a book from Nicole O'Dell.

We're happy to have Nicole O'Dell with us today talking about her books Magna and Making Waves. Nicole has been kind enough to give a free book to a lucky blog reader. To register, place your e-mail address in the feedburner box at the top right if you haven't done so and leave a comment at the end of Nicole's interview. Be sure to include your e-mail address with your comment. To learn more about Nicole read on.

Your titles: Magna and Making Waves
These books, Magna and Making Waves, are numbers three and four in my Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series. In each book, the reader arrives at a moral dilemma and must make the choice for the main character. The alternate endings let her live out her own choices.

1) How did this story come to you?
Both stories come from experiences I had as a teen. In Magna, Molly Jacobs gets a job at a trendy clothing store—I had very similar experiences when I was fifteen and got a job at the mall. In Making Waves, Kate Walker joins the swim team. While I didn’t have any encounters with performance-enhancement drugs like Kate did, I had similar feelings about being a part of my high-school swim team and loved being in the water—still do.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It’s been a fun journey and the steps to publication were relatively simple compared to many stories I’ve heard. The first two books in the series came out in August of 2009. The fifth and sixth books release in 2011.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I have six kids, the oldest is 18 and the youngest are toddler triplets.
I started college at fifteen. Why am I STILL in classes, though?
I’m a member of Mensa.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a three-book YA series called Diamond Estates--a girl’s group home in a converted monastery in the Colorado Rockies.
High Stakes and Essence of Lilly are the next two books releasing in the Scenarios Series. Look for them in Spring, 2011.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much for checking out my books. Stop by my blog if you get a chance—On, Mondays I post to parents. Tuesday’s I post my Girl Talk column in which my two daughters and I answer reader’s questions. You can see the rest of the schedule here: http://www.nicoleodell.blogspot.com/.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.nicoleodell.com
You can sign up for my newsletter here: http://ymlp.com/signup.php?id=gejjymsgmgj
www.facebook.com/nicoleodell

Easing into Ebooks (Part 2)

Easing into Ebooks (Part 2)

by Shawna Williams
Part Two

Before I discuss the top three questions about ebooks, let me address this all encompassing question.
Is an ebook even a book?
According to Dictionary.com a book is:1) a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction, usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers. From the same source, an ebook is: "a book in digital form." So, I guess the best way to put it is that an ebook is a book, (a written or printed work of fiction or nonfiction) in digital form.
What does this mean for the "usually on sheets of paper fastened or bound together within covers" part? Well, that brings me to the first question in our top three. What does the proliferation of ebooks mean for print? This question seems to raise a lot of fears amongst booklovers. I've read a full gamut of comments blaming ebooks for everything from the demise of brick and mortar stores, to being responsible for the rampant forest fires in California. (Go figure?) What it all boils down to is fear of change; specifically, that ebooks will be the end to the tried and true, comfy paper book.
Rest assured, they will not.
The paper book has tangible qualities that go beyond the content of its pages. How many of us hold a book to our heart, or stare lovingly at its cover when we feel a connection to the story inside. The story may be the object of our affection, but the physical book enhances those feelings by giving us a memento to remind us of our experience.
For this reason, we're always going to want paper books.
So here's a question: do you want this representation for every book you read?
I don't. As a Matter-of-fact, my paper books are more cherished than ever because they have been carefully selected as stories that have truly touched my heart. That doesn't mean I haven't enjoyed the hoards of ebooks on my Kindle, only that like print books, they have spanned a wide range in appeal. There have been those that made me roll my eyes, and those that failed to hold my interest. Ones I thought were good. Some I thought were great; and on occasion, I've found a book that is uniquely special – leaving me a changed person inside. And because of the ease and economy of ebooks, I've had more opportunity to find those rare gems, and they're resting in a place of honor upon my bookshelf. So, ebooks may have an impact on the number of books going into print production, but they will not replace them.
Next question: What happens if my computer or reading device breaks? Do I lose all of my books?
Nope! When you buy an ebook you are purchasing the content, not a one-time download. Amazon, Fictionwise, Books on Board, Reader Store at Borders, even publisher storefronts, keep what's known as a virtual bookshelf for every customer. Your ebooks are stored there, and if by chance you lose them through mechanical mishap, or delete a book, and later decide you want it back, all you have to do is log into your account, go to your shelf and download it at no extra charge. You can also have the same book on multiple devices. About a third of what's on my Kindle is also on my computer through Kindle for PC. This is a big bonus since my twelve year old is entranced by a fantasy series and has been hogging my Kindle for over a month now.
And this brings me to the last question on the top three. It's a doozy. Are ebooks inferior to print books? By this, I'm referring to story, editing, and cover -- not the format.
The answer to this is, some are and some aren't. And likewise, some print books are inferior to some ebooks.
This depends on the publisher's standards. I've come across my fair share of print books -- put out by traditional publishers – with weak or implausible storylines, spelling errors, continuity errors, bad research, and characters who fall into the whole array of writing pitfalls – flat, cliché, Mary Sue, inconsistent, or just plain stupid. Some print books are fraught with corny analogies. I've seen some covers where the models' expressions seem to indicate they might be concealing a bad case of constipation. And to detract from this, the artist conveniently sprinkled the page with colorful clipart.
You can find every one of these things in ebooks put out by publishers with low quality standards too. Bad books have been, and always will be part of the industry.
But there are a number of epublishers with high standards for story, editing and cover art. These publishers, as a whole, are more inclined to take a risk on an experimental genre or new author, but that doesn't mean they've compromised they're standards. Only that a door has been opened for a talented person to share their work, and an opportunity has been given to a curious reader to enjoy it.
Now, if you're wondering where you might be able to investigate ebooks at no expense, check back next week for the third installment of this article, and I'll tell you.
Happy reading!

April Contests

April Contests


All contests are now located under the contest page on the blog. Please check there for upcoming writing contests.

Sarah Sundin's "A Distant Melody"

We're happy to have Sarah Sundin with us today talking about her new book, "Distant Melody."

To learn more about Sarah, read on.

Your title: A Distant Melody
1) How did this story come to you?
It came out of a “what if” question—what if a man and woman met at an event, truly clicked, and parted before exchanging contact info? Wouldn’t it be romantic if he went through great effort to track her down? It wouldn’t work in a contemporary setting—he’d “Google” her—but it made a sweet premise for a historical. My husband and I watched a History Channel special on the US Eighth Air Force based in England which flew over Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, and I had my link. My great-uncle was a B-17 bomber pilot with the Eighth, so I had access to family stories plus his personal letters.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I first submitted A Distant Melody at Mount Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference in 2003—and began accumulating a stack of “good” rejection letters. They liked my writing, my story, and my characters—however, historicals weren’t selling. This continued through 2007. I often felt discouraged, but the Lord made it obvious in many ways that He wanted me to finish the trilogy so I kept plugging away. Then at Mount Hermon in March 2008, I heard, “We need historicals!” And there I was with my trilogy close to complete. I submitted to Vicki Crumpton at Revell, and in September I was offered a three-book contract.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. During summer breaks in college, I worked as a ride operator at Knott’s Berry Farm. I knew how to jump on and off of a moving merry-go-round. Don’t ask to see it now.
2. I write my rough drafts longhand, curled up on the couch. That’s when the stories flow. The computer feels sterile to me. It’s where I edit, not where I create.
3. For my birthday present I made my husband buy me a model kit of a B-17 Flying Fortress (the plane my heroes fly in my series). He and I put it together—175 itty-bitty pieces to paint and assemble—and I was a prissy girly girl who never did models. It’s so cool! One half of the fuselage is clear so you can the itty-bitty crewmembers and bombs and all. Really nerdy, huh? I bring it to my book signings—if it fits on the table—because it’s a great conversation piece.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m doing publicity for A Distant Melody, doing edits with Revell on Book 2, A Memory Between Us, polishing Book 3 before I turn it in, and doing preliminary work on another series, also set during World War II.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for visiting with me today! If the Lord has called you to something, have the courage to step out and do it. Don’t let setbacks discourage you. I’m always encouraged to remember that God’s view of success is different than the world’s. He values obedience over results. As Mother Teresa said, “God doesn’t require us to succeed; He only requires that you try.”

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.sarahsundin.com/
Blog: http://www.sarahsundin.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sarahsundin
Twitter: http://twitter.com/sarahsundin

Easing into Ebooks by Shawna Williams (part 1)

Easing into Ebooks
Part One
by Shawna Williams

It seems to be human nature to greet something new with a certain amount of skepticism, and I can't claim to be totally immune. When I first became aware of ebooks, I turned up my nose, thinking they were a passing fad in which I had no interest. But when an author I like published a book in ebook format, I decided I would give it a try. Reading on my computer wasn't my preferred choice, as I like to recline on the sofa and get cozy, but since the book was interesting, it was worth snuggling up with my laptop instead.
Of course, now with the influx of ereaders and ereading apps there are plenty of options that make reading ebooks a more enjoyable experience. There's also a lot of misconceptions, and today I'd like to address the top three as they pertain to ereaders..

Anytime I see an article on ebooks/ereaders I always scroll down to the comments section, and it never fails, someone has made this statement. "I don't want an ereader because reading off a screen hurts my eyes." Sometimes the complainant ventures further. "In ten years, when all of today's youth are blind from staring at screens for countless hours, then what are we gonna do!" Occasionally, they're downright belligerent. "Ereaders! No thanks! If I wanted to fry my eyeballs I'd stare directly at the sun!" (You may think I'm joking, but I'm not.)
Let me explain the technology behind today's ereader. It's called e-ink, and it actually is ink. The particles are rearranged with every turn of the page through an electronic charge. It looks like paper, with non-reflective surface and a contrast that is pleasant to the eyes -- no blurring or smudging of words either. The font is also adjustable. In short, there is less eye strain than what you will encounter with a traditional book For more on e-ink:

http://www.biblio-tech.com/BTR901/January_2001/e-ink_for_e-books__.html

Probably the second most common complaint is that the cold ereader can never match the comfort of holding a "real" book. Now, before I fully address this, I want to tell readers to please reconsider before saying this aloud, or typing it in a comment. It is offensive to authors, who have put countless hours into writing, researching and editing a book; then to have gone through the submissions process, being rejected numerous times, most likely; finally being accepted (brief celebration) more edits, formatting, promotion and so forth, to be told that theirs isn't a "real" book.

There. Since that's off my chest, I'll continue. For some people, this is true. Reading from an ereader is a slightly different experience than reading from a print book. But "different" isn't the same as not being cozy or comfortable. I have a Kindle. I keep it in a book-like cover made especially for Kindles. When you open it, you can either hold it like a book, or fold the cover behind the Kindle so that the soft felt surface rests in your hands.
I'm prone to muscle cramps and stiff fingers, so for me, holding a book causes discomfort over time, since constant tension is needed to keep it open. I also like the fact that if I read at night, I'm not continually having pages get caught on a book light and having to readjust it. So while reading from an ereader is different than reading from print, I wouldn't go so far as to say the experience is any less satisfying.

The last most common objection I want to address, though not the last I've heard, is this: "What if the power goes out. Then my ereader is useless." Thanks to e-ink, and the minimal amount of power it requires, your ereader's battery should last from two to four weeks, if you remember to turn off the wireless feature. This is a reasonable amount of time for your power to be restored. http://ireaderreview.com/2010/01/14/the-opposite-approach-making-ereader-batteries-better/

These are just a few of the concerns consumers have, and often voice. But not all concerns are related to ereader. Some are related to ebooks, and in my next post I talk about the top three of these.

Kimberly Woodhouse's Welcome Home

We're very excited to have Kimberly Woodhouse with us today talking about her book, Welcome Home: Our Family's Journey to Extreme Joy.

Click on the photo of the book to be taken to the CBD website to read more about it and to purchase. To learn more about Kimberly and her journey to publication, read on.

Title: Welcome Home: Our Family’s Journey to Extreme Joy

1) How did this story come to you?
This is my story. The ups and downs of life with my daughter Kayla’s diagnosis, her rare condition, brain surgery, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition experience, and the joy of the Lord.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As a fiction writer first, I never thought about writing non-fiction until millions of people saw the EMHE episode on TV and the requests started rolling in. When I was approached to write our story so that we could encourage others, I was humbled and thrilled to write it.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
-I read really fast, and finish a book pretty much every other day. This surprises most people because my life is so busy—but I love to read, so I squeeze in as much as possible. 
-When I was a child, I never dreamed of being a writer. I studied music all my life, all the way through college.
- I once fell almost 500 feet while climbing a mountain in Switzerland. Hmmm, maybe I’ll write a book about that one day 

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
-Kayla and I are writing three suspense books for B&H Publishers. They are set in Alaska. Kayla will be the youngest published novelist! The first releases in March of 2011, the second in February 2012, and the third in August of 2012.
And I’m also working on a Parenting Book.
In April, we’ll be traveling back to Alaska for a research trip with my incredible editor, Karen Ball. We are so excited and privileged to be working with B&H.

4) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for having me here!

5) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.kimberleywoodhouse.com/
www.twitter.com/kimwoodhouse
www.facebook.com/kimberley.woodhouse
www.kimberleyandkaylawoodhouse.com

Darlene Franklin's Beacon of Love

We're happy to have Darlene Franklin with us today talking about her book, "Beacon of Love."

To learn more about Darlene, please read on.

Your title: Beacon of Love

1) How did this story come to you?
I often research actual historical events to come up with ideas for stories. When I learned that a hurricane destroyed a Rhode Island lighthouse in 1816, I knew I had the setting for Beacon of Love!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Tamela Hancock Murray, Lynette Sowell and I put together a proposal for three books set in historical Rhode Island for Heartsong Presents (Barbour Publishing). Heartsong has (or will) publish 3 contemporary and 3 historical romances for all fifty states! The editor chose our proposal to represent Rhode Island. (And by the way, I’m also writing three books set in historical Vermont, starting with Prodigal Patriot this July.)

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I graduated from high school in Augusta, Maine.
I studied church music in college.
I have had almost 200 devotions accepted for publication.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently working on my second Vermont historical romance (to be followed by book #3): Bridge to Love and Love’s Raid. At the moment, I have books lined up for publication through 2012. God is good!
This summer, look for the repack of our Rhode Island stories under the title Seaside Romance.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Look for me on Facebook and at darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com. I’m also a regular contributor to http://thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com/. You can get a free critique at the Book Doctor blog—check it out.