Margaret Daley's "From This Day Forward"

Title: From This Day Forward
Publisher: Summerside Press

Cover blurb: Rachel Gordon is stranded in South Carolina, pregnant, a recent widow when her husband fell overboard on the voyage to America. Nathan Stuart, a physician who came home from serving in the American army during the War of 1812, disenchanted with his life and the Lord, rescues Rachel and saves her life. Feeling responsible for her, Nathan tries to discourage her from living at a rundown farm her husband bought to start a new future in America. He wants her to return to England.

Rachel refuses to go back to England where her father disowned her for marrying against his wishes. The farm is all she has, and she is determined to make it on her own. But Nathan has other ideas and becomes her farmhand to discourage her from staying in America. Instead he ends up protecting her and being challenged by her. Can two wounded people heal each other?

1) How did this story come to you?
Years ago I wrote a secular book which was part of a three book series. The publisher stopped publishing historicals. This is based on the second story but I changed the time period to after the War of 1812 instead of the Revolutionary War. I like that period in American history.

2) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I was a cheerleader in high school. I can’t sing but then that wouldn’t really surprise my readers if they heard me. I hate liver, fish and coffee.

3) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am writing the third book in A Town Called Hope Series for Love Inspired. After that I have my third book in the Men of the Texas Rangers Series for Abingdon Press to write.

4) Parting comments?
I love to write stories, especially ones with a faith element in them.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.margaretdaley.com/  Sign my guestbook on my website for a chance to win an autographed book.

Mary Ellis' "A Marriage for Meghan"

Title: A Marriage for Meghan
Publisher: Harvest House Publishers

Cover blurb: How long will true love wait? Meghan Yost is bright, talented, and eager to prove to her father, the bishop, that at nineteen she’s mature enough to teach in an Amish school all by herself. But just as she gains confidence and assurance, a troubled student challenges her authority and an enthusiastic suitor in the headstrong Jacob Schultz challenges her patience. How can Meghan outgrow her nickname of “little goose” if she can’t prove herself to be a capable adult who can stand on her own two feet? When a series of apparent hate crimes sweep through the district, the sheriff calls in the FBI, and Special Agent Thomas Mast arrives in Wayne County carrying a secret he’s hidden for years. Will he come to terms with the past and regain his relationship with God (before his career hardened his heart)? (With more on her plate than one girl can handle, Meghan sets out to help with the investigation.) Thomas works closely with the bishop, who hopes the criminals will be arrested before Meghan finds herself in love with the most inappropriate of suitors—an Englischer…An engaging story of one girl’s quest for independence and true love as social prejudice tests a community’s faith in a simpler world.

1) How did this story come to you?
As a former schoolteacher, I still have nightmares regarding facing six classes of middle-school teenagers during my first year. My heroine experiences similar jitters. Regarding hate crimes against the Amish, I ran into (and interviewed) a county sheriff’s department deputy who sparked that part of the story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
We don’t really have kind of time, do we? I can only say I never gave up despite my fair share of rejections. Keep your dreams in your heart and pray for direction is the best advice I could give. Keep knocking on doors until one opens, even if it’s only a crack.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m obsessed with Niagara Falls; I’m obsessed with popcorn (I eat it every day) and I make an incredibly good lobster bisque (soup). Can you tell I just returned from a research trip to Maine?

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next release in Feb 2012 will be An Amish Family Reunion. It will be book four of the best-selling Miller Family Series. For those who enjoyed the series, we pick up the story 12 years after A Widow’s Hope and 4 years after The Way to a Man’s Heart. Right now I’m working on Living in Harmony, set in Maine.

5) Parting comments?
Any readers who’d like my recipe for lobster bisque can send me an email: maryeellis@yahoo.com

6) Where can fans find you on the internet? I hope they’ll stop my blog:

http://www.maryeellis.wordpress.com/
https://www.facebook.com/#%21/pages/Mary-Ellis/126995058236

Sam Batterman's "Maximal Reserve"

Title: Maximal Reserve
Publisher: Deep River

Cover blurb: WHAT IF OIL ISN’T SCARCE? A secret that can change the balance of the world’s power and finance in a moment is known by the most unlikely of people—and he’s only been employed for a week.

Philip Channing was just an ambitious college graduate who wanted to make his mark on the world. He didn’t know that mark would be the greatest oil discovery of all time—in the wrong place. Philip finds the largest oil reserve in history, a reserve that dwarfs the lucrative reserves in Saudi Arabia and threatens to change the world’s balance of power and wealth in favor of the most unlikely country of all.

But Phil isn’t the only one who’s discovered the reserve—and an alliance of crooked politicians and European terrorists will do anything to keep it secret.

1) How did this story come to you?
I have always been curious about whether or not oil was generated when the dinosaurs died, or if something else provided all this petroleum we burn in our cars every day. As a Christian, I don’t prescribe to the notion that dinosaurs lived 65 million years ago and thus created all the hydrocarbons on our planet in a “geologic instant.” In searching for this answer, I came across a real scientific theory that underpins the Russian Science Academy and the Russian Exploration effort and also endorsed by scientists like Hans Bethe and Freeman Dyson. With that kind of scientific pedigree behind it, I figured I had found something worth writing about.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Maximal Reserve was relatively easy for me to get published. Wayback was a best seller for my publisher, Deep River and I have continued to build my audience (which is the real hard work for an author now days). The Christian publishing market (and actually the entire book market) is going through tumultuous changes right now.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I work at Microsoft, I teach computer programming at a Christian High School for an elective, I travelled to Israel back in March, it was amazing to see many of the things I write about (the Lion Gate, Masada, the Dead Sea and the Western Wall) in person.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on the sequel to my first book, Wayback. It’s called Insurrection and I’ve rewritten it three times in the hope of getting it “right.” Insurrection picks up where Wayback leaves off and includes quite a number of surprises and twists from the original. The most difficult part of writing a sequel is giving it its own feel and theme to be different, but making it close the original to make it feel like a continuation. In short, it’s not easy. I have a lot of other ideas cooking in my mind, but they have to wait until I get Insurrection out.

5) Parting comments?
Here are some endorsements:
“Maximal Reserve is a fascinating adventure into the depths of God’s earth. Batterman’s book is a combination James Bond movie and Ken Ham seminar—entertaining and educational. And Batterman makes science fun. He presents his theories in an action-packed way that makes it all seem so realistic, I wonder if it isn’t happening this way right now. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the way it made me ponder the great mysteries of this planet.”
---Jill Williamson, Christy Award-winning author of By Darkness Hid

“The world needs oil, and Phil Channing has just discovered the greatest single oil reserve in history. Ripped from the headlines, Sam Batterman’s sophomore techno-thriller is a compelling, fast-paced read that weaves together scientific discovery, biblical prophecy, romance, and action-packed adventure in the Middle East. From the riveting opening to the jaw-dropping conclusion, readers will delight in drilling to the depths of Maximal Reserve. Batterman especially excels at wedding science with biblical truth in Crichton-esque plots. An awesome ride!”
---Adam Blumer, author of Fatal Illusions

“Maximal Reserve has a shockingly intelligent premise, bolstered by equally intelligent research. The stuff truly great techno-thrillers are made of.”
---lan Brown, author of The Firstborn and The Overseer

“A rousing, suspense-fueled thriller that grabs you from page 1, Maximal Reserve is a cautionary tale about the world’s largest oil reserve, found at the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, and the terrible price people are willing to pay to get to it.”
---Mike Lynch, author of American Midnight

“Maximal Reserve has an intriguing premise involving fascinating science and relevant history. I love it when a novel not only entertains, but educates.”
---Kerry Nietz, author of A Star Curiously Singing.

“In Maximal Reserve, Sam Batterman ratchets up the tension about Israel’s future. As timely as today’s headlines, this techno-thriller plunges the reader into the struggle for the world’s lifeblood—oil—and combines the need for diminishing resources with end-times prophecy, resulting in a timely novel for the inquiring mind.”
---Diane and David Munson, bestselling authors of Hero’s Ransom


6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My author site, http://www.sambatterman.com/, or my fan site on Facebook:
Wayback Fan Site (http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=79413287456)

Jayne Pearson Faulkner's "The Place of Belonging"

Title: The Place of Belonging
Publisher: Deep River Books

Cover blurb: This elegantly written story is told from the eyes of a child of a single mother, set in the 1940's in Big Sky Montana. Humorous yet bracingly honest, The Place of Belonging stirs our basis feelings of wanting to belong somewhere and to someone. Beautifully and simply told, The Place of Belonging takes the reader on an uforgettable step back in time, a place many will recognize. [“This emotionally satisfying book reads like prose. It is one of the best books we have ever published, and certainly, that I have ever read.” Nancie Carmichael, DRB Publisher, and bestselling author. ]

1) How did this story come to you?
I found an old ragged 5-year diary given to me by my grandma when I was eight years old. It brought me back to the 1940’s in Montana, and my life with my single mom and grandma, struggling to “fit in”—not very possible in that time period. Then Mom met a farmer from Conrad (Montana) and our lives changed forever, but not without the ever-old question, “Where do I belong in this scheme of things?”

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My writing has been in the short story venue, so I was only planning to write a short fiction story based our life experiences during this five-ear span. When I realized that what I was writing was actually more than fiction, and told through the eyes of a child, I decided to tell the whole story. I meant to only make copies for my family to read. When my sister saw it, she wanted it to be published, and helped me to that end.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
(1) I’m pretty old. (Maybe that wouldn’t be surprising.)
(2) My husband and I were missionaries in the Philippines and Tonga during our kids’ growing-up years, and we all loved it.
(3) I can yodel. But I only do it in private.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on a sequel to The Place of Belonging, which will go into high school years in the 50’s—the trying to fit in (in high school) honed to a new level—with the mix of younger siblings, farm life, and adolescence. It will probably be more funny than sad this time around.

5) Parting comments?
I appreciate very much the fact that so many people have enjoyed my book. It makes me enormously happy. Thank you.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.jaynefaulkner.com/

Marianne Evans' "Hearts Communion"

Title: Hearts Communion
Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Cover blurb: Jeremy “JB” Edwards dreams of one thing: Having a loving wife and children of his own. Not a surprising ambition, since he was raised at the heart of a large, tight-knit family. Monica Kittelski spends her days at Sunny Horizons Daycare Center pouring her heart and faith into other people’s children. But Monica harbors one impossible dream: Having children of her own someday. JB and Monica seem the perfect match, but what will come of their electric, sassy relationship when Jeremy learns of Monica's infertility? Hopes and reality collide when they must confront the idea of finding God's plan and following His will when a dearest hope is destined to remain unfulfilled. Can these two loving, passionate hearts survive a communion of dreams and reality?

1) How did this story come to you?
Hearts Communion is part of my Woodland Series, so it bloomed as I settled into this very special fictional church and got to ‘know’ my characters. The series centers around a church in suburban Detroit called Woodland. Woodland stands along the shoreline of a gorgeous and picturesque lake called Lake St. Clair. These inspirational romances center around a few of the parishioners who worship there.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It all began with a contest win. White Rose Publishing sponsored the “Hearts Crossing” contest with the grand prize being publication. I was blessed by a win, but here’s the funny part: as I waited for the results of the contest, a series came to life in my heart. I had to tell these stories, whether I won the contest win or not. Hearts Surrender followed as book 2 in the series, and Hearts Communion is book 3. Hearts Key concludes the series early next year…although my editor has said, “You know…there are more parishioners, and more stories you could tell if you want to keep it going…” I like hearing that kind of reaction.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m a collector of antique salt cellars. I garden and weed to break episodes of writer’s block. I’m a Food Channel addict.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m developing another series for White Rose Publishing called ‘Sal’s Place.’ Sal’s Place is a comfy, family owned diner with lots of regulars, and employees, who I can see embracing some amazing stories of faith and love! My publisher is also considering a mainstream Christian novel I’ve tentatively titled Devotion. Devotion studies a marriage on the rocks, and how only God can get you through the tough times in a long-term, committed relationship. Writing it has been a complete joy, and such an eye-opening journey! I’ll keep you posted on developments!

5) Parting comments?
I’m grateful to be part of your blog today! Thank you so much for creating a wonderful space on the ‘Net! Also, I love hearing from readers, so please, connect with me via my links below and let’s hang out!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.marianneevans.com/, http://www.marianneevans.blogspot.com/, http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Marianne-Evans/308711716744  is my Facebook reader’s page

< --- Click on cover for more information!

Lisa Bergren's "Mercy Came Morning"

Title: Mercy Come Morning (previously released as Christmas Every Morning)

Publisher: WaterBrook

Cover blurb: Krista Mueller is in a good place. She’s got a successful career as a professor of history; she’s respected and well-liked; and she lives hundreds of miles from her hometown and the distant mother she could never please. It’s been more than a decade since Alzheimer’s disease first claimed Charlotte Mueller’s mind, but Krista has dutifully kept her mother in a first-class nursing home.

Now Charlotte is dying of heart failure and, surprised by her own emotions, Krista rushes to Taos, New Mexico, to sit at her estranged mother’s side as she slips away. Battling feelings of loss, abandonment, and relief, Krista is also unsettled by her proximity to Dane McConnell, director of the nursing home—and, once upon a time, her first love. Dane’s kind and gentle spirit—and a surprising discovery about her mother—make Krista wonder if she can at last close the distance between her and her mother … and open the part of her heart she thought was lost forever.

1) How did this story come to you?
I had two grandparents who died of Alzheimer’s. It’s a tragic situation, every time, and tragedy breeds good novel tension…I thought, “What would happen if you had issues with your loved one who has Alz, and never had the opportunity to talk them out?”

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Happily, I’ve been published for a while, and one contract leads to the next. Given how publishing is changing, I’m not sure how long that’ll last, but I appreciate it for now!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I was a ski bum/bartender for the winter after college; I’ve been in the tomb inside the Great Pyramid at Giza; my husband and I met on a blind date.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m in the midst of promoting a YA series called The River of Time (Waterfall, Cascade, Torrent), about two teen girls who time travel back to medieval Italy. Lots of action and romance. Next up: An adult trilogy called The Grand Tour—beginning with Grand Illusions—about a group of young people traveling across Europe in search of cultural refinement, and an understanding of themselves.

5) Parting comments?
I love to connect with readers and hope your readers will check out one of my books!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.lisabergren.com/
@LisaTBergren on Twitter
Facebook: Lisa Tawn Bergren and River of Time Series

Sharon Dow's "Antipas: Martyr"

Title: Antipas: Martyr
Publisher: Deep River Books

Cover blurb: Young Antipas is steeped in the religion of Zeus but his belief that there must be more to life finds him rejected and driven away from his own family and home. Overwhelmed by his loss, he cowers in the darkness when an opportunity arises for him to leave behind his troubles and embark on a new life. On the ancient Roman road through the wilderness of Asia, Antipas finds a new friend in Epaphras who teaches him everything he can about Christ. Laying his life on the line, he lives in danger from his own father and brothers as he grapples with the forces of good and evil in an epic battle for his soul.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was reading in the book of Revelation chapter two where Christ is talking to the church of Pergamum. He mentioned Antipas, his faithful witness who was martyred where Satan lives. I was intrigued and did some research on him. He is not mentioned anywhere else in the Bible, and there is little historical information about him. I decided to write his story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As a new author, it is hard to break into the publishing world. Major publishing companies state on their websites that they do not accept manuscripts from new authors. One site directed me to Christian Manuscript Submissions, an online site where you can (for a fee) post information about your manuscript. I did this and was approached by Deep River Books. When they read my manuscript, they suggested I have it critiqued, which I did. Then I did a revision of the book and submitted it again. This time it was accepted!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I spent 27 years in the field of Education as a junior high teacher and principal of an elementary Christian School.
2. I have a great desire to travel to Russia. This country has long fascinated me as I have read many stories set in Russia prior to the Revolution.
3. I love politics and have harbored a secret dream to run for office at the federal level.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have completed the manuscript for ‘Pergamum: Satan’s Throne’ which is the sequel to ‘Antipas: Martyr’. I have over 22,000 words written on a third book titled ‘Huldah: Prophetess’. This is a stand-alone book and is based on the life of Huldah found in 2 Kings and 2 Chronicles. She was a prophetess when Josiah was King.

5) Parting comments?
Writing for me is pure joy. It has been a life-long dream to write a book. Now that I have had my first book published, my dream has expanded. I now want to write 10. I have ideas for all ten and maybe more.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.sharondow.ca and I can be found on facebook – Sharon Dow and/or Antipas: Martyr.

Marilyn Meredith's "Bears With Us"

Title: Bears With Us

Publisher: Mundania Press

Cover blurb: Deputy Tempe Crabtree has her hands full when bears turn up in and around Bear Creek, a young teen commits suicide and his parents actions are suspicious, a prominent woman files a complaint against Tempe and her preacher husband Hutch, a love affair from long ago comes to light, and a woman suffering from dementia disappears.

1) How did this story come to you?
My grandson is an Aspen CO police officer and he kept telling about chasing bears out of people’s homes and posting photos of the bears on Facebook. I emailed him asking lots of questions about how they knew the bears were inside homes, how they chased them out, what the bears did inside, and how they smelled. I knew my heroine, Deputy Tempe Crabtree would have some of the same experiences.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Because I am writing a series, my publisher seems to be willing to publish the next one. This series does have a history though. The first four were published by a small press who put them out in mass market paperback. I had one earlier one that an e-publisher picked up. My publisher passed away and I met the publisher of Mundania at a conference and asked if he’d be interested in picking up the series. Thankfully, he said yes and I’ve been with Mundania for this series ever since.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. Though I’ve had over thirty books published, I’ve been rejected many, many times.
2. I’ve written in all sorts of genres, historical family sagas, psychological horror, Christian horror, romance with a touch of the supernatural, ghost stories, and of course, lots of mysteries.
3. And years ago, I went to a nudist colony. One day I ought to put something about a nudist colony in a book.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a new Rocky Bluff P.D. mystery that has yet no name. The next one in that series, No Bells, will be out in

5) Parting comments?
Writing is an important part of my life—something I really enjoy. My characters all seem very real to me—and I hope they do to my readers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My webpage is http://fictionforyou.com/ and my blog is http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com/

Jeff Dixon's "The Key to The Kingdom"

Title: The Key To The Kingdom
Publisher: Deep River Publishing

Cover blurb:
Grayson Hawkes learns how imaginative and elaborate Walt Disney World is when he accepts an invitation that lands him in a world he never knew existed. Suddenly unraveling a perplexing puzzle and trying to solve a mysterious disappearance . . . Hawkes navigates through the Magic Kingdom where the knowledge of seemingly unimportant Disney facts and some divine help may be the only way he can discover the answers and get back out.

Soon the lines between right and wrong begin to blur. Telling the difference between the real and unreal becomes nearly impossible. Loyalty to faith, family, and friends is stretched to the extreme in a pulse quickening adventure through a place where dreams really do come true. In this world, Disney trivia is no game...and the ancient key is the only way out.

1) How did this story come to you?
The origin of the story actually began with a love for the creations of Walt Disney and a fascination with the powerful way the Disney company tells a story. As a preacher and storyteller I have always been on a quest to tell stories in a way that not only connects with the hearer but also can change their lives. I had the opportunity to sit down with a Disney Imagineer and ask how we as a church could learn to tell the story we tell each week better. I can still remember the Disney stories I saw and read as a child. The ability to tell a story that becomes unforgettable is in many ways a lost art form. I get the chance each week to tell the Greatest Story Ever Told and I desire to tell the story in ways that people will never forget.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I had never written a novel before so I jotted down a notebook full of notes and ideas. Just like putting a puzzle together I began to sort through the pieces and started connecting them into a real storyline. I submitted a concept idea for the book through a manuscript submission group and was contacted by Deep River Publishing.

Once the contract was signed I took the rough copy of the story and began to tweak and fine tune it (or so I thought.) The most humbling moment came when the editors contacted me and told me that the story was way too long and I had to lose a significant number of pages. Working with the editor was fantastic because it really began to teach me how to craft a story that was not only readable but also how to bring characters to life and keep them moving at a pace the reader would enjoy. The end result is a page turning thriller and I am excited about the response people are having to the story.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
First, I am part of a group of people building a Christmas theme park for terminally ill children and their families. It is a place where parents will bring their children to experience one last Christmas. It is called Christmas Dreams... because some children just can't wait for Christmas.

Second, I wrote the bulk of the original storyline for The Key To The Kingdom while watching college football. There is just something exciting about the game and there were moments that I was listening to the game and I just could not type fast enough.

Third, I actually have been Goofy at Walt Disney World. Now don't misunderstand me, I don't mean I was acting silly while visiting Walt Disney World. I really was the character Goofy in the theme park. It was fantastic and the job of a lifetime.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am working on a sequel to The Key To The Kingdom. The reaction to the adventure of Grayson Hawkes has been phenomenal and I immediately began receiving mail asking "what next?" I am excited about answering that question and I think that fans of this story will like the next installment a great deal.

5) Parting comments?
I am just thrilled and amazed that people are connecting to this story like they are. I have gotten e-mail from all over the world and people sending me stories, pictures, and questions about their family vacations to Disney World and allowing me to catch glimpses of their lives. For people to want to open up their world just a bit and allow me to be a part of it means more to me than words can express.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.keytothekingdombook.com/
www.facebook.com/KeytotheKingdombook
twitter.com/keykingdombook
http://www.jeffdixon.org/

Nan Corbitt Allen's "Watercolor Summer"

Title: Watercolor Summer
Publisher: DEEP RIVER BOOKS

Cover blurb:
If Kathleen could relive any moment, it would be the one in 1969. Not because of its sweet memories, but because it changed her life forever.

In the summer of 1969, Kathleen’s thirteenth year, her mother drags her to yet another artist colony on the beaches of Northwest Florida. There, Kat’s feelings of isolation and hopelessness, spawned by her parent’s estrangement, develop into a selfish rage.

Malcolm, a mentally-challenged boy who lives at the artist colony, tries to befriend Kat, but his very presence annoys her to her core.

Though it takes a long and difficult summer for Kat to see it, Malcolm and his colorful guardian, Jeanette, are the examples of true and selfless love. Just as Kat’s heart begins to melt, Malcolm’s congenital heart problems become a concern. The canvas of Kat’s life, first stained by pain and trial and now touched by love, begins to transform into a masterpiece.

1) How did this story come to you?
I’m a child of the 60’s who grew up on the beaches of Northwest Florida, so the time and place weren’t hard to imagine. Having been a 13-year-old girl myself once I understand what it’s like to feel out-of-place and ignored as my main character, Kat, did. I decided to put my memories of this time, place, and feelings into a novel and let readers know how God can take any life and remake it to be something beautiful.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I went through three literary agents to help me find the right publisher. They all were unable to help me. Then I contacted Deep River myself. It took six months to write the book and maybe three more to find the right publisher.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
•I’m a song writer/musician who has written over 100 musicals and collections and 100’s of single songs with my husband, Dennis. He and I are three-time Dove Award winners for musicals we wrote: two for children’s choirs and one for adult choirs.
•Watercolor Summer is my third published book. I had my first novel Asylum published with Moody Press in 2004. I had a non-fiction book called The Words We Sing published by Beacon Hill Press in the fall of 2010. It is a reference/devotional guide that gives insights into lyrics that we sing on Sundays but hardly use otherwise, i.e. Abba, Redeem, Ebenezer.
•My husband and I are about to celebrate 37 years of marriage! We have two grown sons and two beautiful daughters-in-law and two exceptional grandchildren.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I will continue to write music, drama, lyrics, etc. but my next book project will probably be a historical fiction work based on the life of William Carey (the father of foreign missions).

5) Parting comments?
I hope the readers enjoy reading the book as much as I had writing it. It was such a blast!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.allenhouseproductions.com/

Karin Kaufman's "The Witch Tree"

Title: The Witch Tree

Cover blurb:Four days before Christmas in Elk Park, Colorado, genealogist Anna Denning discovers a client’s body. When she starts asking questions no one wants answered, she becomes the killer’s next target. Still grieving the death of her husband, Anna must draw on her wounded faith to enter a world of wicca and paganism -- and discover the secret of The Witch Tree.

1) How did this story come to you?
Several things came together. First, I’ve loved mysteries since I was a kid and I’ve always wanted to write the kind of mystery I like to read. Second, about ten years ago I started researching my family tree, and as anyone who’s done that knows, genealogical research is a lot like detective work -- or at least how mystery writers imagine detective work to be! (I should mention that the “tree” in the title is a family tree -- in this case, one full of witches.)

And finally, in my twenties, even though I considered myself a Christian, I dabbled in wicca. I feel tremendous empathy for young people caught up in wicca, witchcraft, and paganism. I completely understand what draws them to those “paths.”

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Although I wrote a lot as a child and off and on as an adult, I didn’t complete my first mystery novel until about seven years ago. A couple years after that, I wrote my second mystery. Neither book was fit for publication, but I learned a lot as I wrote and received some encouraging feedback. After I finished The Witch Tree, I realized that the world of publishing had changed a great deal, so I decided to change with it and publish my mystery as an indie ebook.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. In my early teens I played guitar in an all-girl rock band. We were ahead of our time!
2. When I lived in Los Angeles, I worked on the sets of two low-budget movies produced by the king of B movies, Roger Corman.
3. I dislike summer, and since weather plays a big part in everything I write, I may never write a mystery that takes place during the summer months . . . though a Christian horror novel and August seem made for each other.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on some short stories (mysteries with a touch of romance) and the second novel in my Anna Denning mystery series.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you for having me, Dawn! I love connecting with readers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website: http://www.karinkaufman.com/
My blog: http://www.karin-kaufman.blogspot.com/
I’m also easy to find on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Roger Bruner's "Lost in Dreams"

Title: Lost in Dreams
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb: Grace, hope, and healing intersect in the California mountains.
From the moment eighteen-year-old Kim Hartlinger steps off the plane from a mission trip to a remote Mexican village, her journey takes a turn for the worse. As she collides with the biggest challenge of her young life—and faith—Kim struggles with haunting questions and recurring nightmares. . .all the while trying to hide a deep, dark secret.
Will Kim find the hope and healing she needs? . . . Or is her broken spirit beyond repair?

1) How did this story come to you?
When I was writing the first book in this series, Found in Translation, I arrived at a good stopping point long before I’d finished the story I’d meant to write. So I could easily refer to Lost in Dreams as Found in Translation, Part Two. I had entitled it Prancing on Pebbles to signify the way God can lead us to a joyous victory through a series of terrible events. (My publisher didn’t think that title would resonate well with teens.) The Altered Hearts series has a mission theme. Since I’d done some prison ministry years ago, that gave me the needed mission idea. Kim’s fatigue problem came from my daughter’s similar problem during middle school, although hers had nothing to do with what caused Kim’s.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
That journey actually begins with Kimberly Shumate, who worked at Harvest House at the time and loved my writing, even though it didn’t fit into Harvest House needs. When she read Found in Translation, she knew it needed to be published. So she obtained Mr. Terry Burns for me as an agent.

In spite of his strong belief in Found, Terry needed about a year to sell it to Barbour. My acquisitions editor there wanted my ideas for other books in a series. Because I had one chapter of Lost in Dreams written and a clear idea of where it was going, Barbour contracted it at the same time.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
• I started my novel writing career with adult fiction and have three or four unsold manuscripts that fall into such varied genres as contemporary women’s fiction and speculative.
• I’ve been playing guitar since 1963 and have written several hundred Christian songs (you can listen to some of them at RogerBruner.com/ReadListen.shtml). I’ve shared them on mission trips to Wales, Romania, England, and Australia; in prisons, migrant camps, and nursing homes; and anywhere else I could get people to listen.
• I have quite a collection of Beanie Babies (the corner cabinet in the living room is full of them) going back to the time they were so popular. I prefer the cat ones since we have two cats.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on book three in the Altered Hearts series in the hopes Barbour will contract it. But I’m also working on a YA novel I hope will appeal to teen guys. Misfits is about a couple of misfit preacher’s kids who start such a rocking nonconformist movement that the in crowd is begging to join. Since I’m a preacher’s kid, that’s a fun one to work on.

5) Parting comments?
The fact that writers are largely responsible for their own marketing is an unfortunate reality of today’s publishing world, and making oneself known is a daunting task for the newly published author. I really appreciate this opportunity to greet the readers of your blog and to thank them for their interest. I hope you’ll come visit me at my website.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.rogerbruner.com/; Facebook.com/roger.bruner

Tom Blubaugh's "Night of the Cossack"

How Well Do You Know Your Heritage?

When I was four years old, my parents moved us to a small town in southeast Kansas. The only relatives I had there was an aunt, uncle and five cousins. The rest of my relatives were at least 120 miles away. We would go to see rest of our relatives on Thanksgiving. It was always a good time, but we had very little time to get to know them. I think I spent a week with my maternal grandmother once during a summer. Very rarely did anyone come to visit us. I’m not sure why that was other than it was a five hour round trip.

My mother had three siblings and my father had eight. Most of them lived in the same city so I met them and learned a little about them and their families, but that is pretty much, where it stopped. I didn’t know one single great aunt or uncle and no cousins beyond my first cousins. I really didn’t think too much about this until I became a grandfather and suddenly the realization hit me—I didn’t have a grandfather. Both of them died before I was born.

Oh, I heard bits and pieces about them, but I did not really know them. I started asking questions, but my father had already passed. My mother didn’t know much about my dad’s dad because he died when dad was six years old. She didn’t know much more about her own father, at least that she would tell. She would tell me that her accounts of him didn’t agree with her siblings. This mystified me because he was alive when she married dad when she was twenty years old. She did tell me he died of ALS and that he was an insurance salesman. Somehow, I knew he was born in Russia, was a Russian Cossack soldier, was a Jew, married my grandmother who was from Poland and was a Jew. They met in New York City where my grandfather tutored Hebrew in exchange for tutoring in English at New York University and that he was a streetcar conductor. That was pretty much all I got. I found out from an aunt that when grandmother and grandfather talked about the old country, they would talk in one of the nine languages they spoke because they wanted their children to be Americans. I found out in latter research that this was common among immigrants.

When my mother died, I was left with one aunt in her family and I decided I had better find out all I could before she passed. I asked her if I could interview her on tape. She agreed. For two hours, I asked her everything I could about my grandparents and their families. I gained very little new information—not even the names of my great grandparents or their families. I wondered how this could happen and made a decision this was not going to be the case with my children and grandchildren although I had developed the same pattern when I thought about my own situation. I made a commitment to change things.

Most of my adult life, I have written nonfiction, but I sat down at my computer with the intent to write a story about my maternal grandfather. I was intrigued with his being a Russian Cossack soldier. So I took the seven things I knew and started researching. As I researched, I found the things I knew fit into the history I was reading. I started writing a historical novel in which I was creating my grandfather for my heirs. They were going to have a heritage.

Long story short, it is a published novel, Night of the Cossack, and is available on amazon.com, B&N, my website (a signed copy) and in a few bookstores. It is written for the YA genre. I didn’t know this until after it was published, which you may find strange, but I wasn’t writing it for publication—I was writing it for six children and fourteen grandchildren, the majority YA’s and younger. No big surprise when I think about it—subconscious I suppose.

What is surprising to me is that I am finding out, as I talk to students in middle school and high schools, that a fair percentage do not have a grandfather and know very little about their ancestors. I encourage them to find out all they can while those ahead of them are still living—to create a heritage for themselves. I have had adults tell me they are in the same boat. I hope it is not the case with you.

Register to win your choice of SQ Eads' books!

We're happy to have SQ Eads with us today. She's been kind enough to offer to give away one of her books (anything except large print). Your choice! You can check out all her books on Amazon by clicking on her author link at the bottom of the page. Please leave a comment with your email address at the end of each interview for your chance to win. In addition, place your email address in the feedburner box to the right to receive weekly email reminders about giveaways.

Title: Unlikely Partners
Cover blurb: Texas 1880: When Texas Ranger Colt McCutcheon picks up his final assignment it comes with a major complication. His job is to infiltrate and capture the deadly Palmer gang while baby-sitting a would-be gunslinger. Suddenly he's forced to ride on the wrong side of the law with Dru Ramsey, a beautiful, gun-toting female bent on revenge. His unwanted partner soon proves the pearl handled revolvers strapped on her hips aren’t decorations -- a renegade lawman and a fast gun. When the dust settles will Colt’s faith have stood the test? Will Dru trade in her guns? Is there a future for this unlikely pair?

1) How did this story come to you?
My husband challenged me to write a western. That was the beginning. My father was a cowboy and a deputy sheriff. I cut my first “entertainment tooth” on TV westerns and grew up in the Wild West where cowboys and fast-guns were commonplace. It was great fun combining action, adventure, humor and romance in one historical setting.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
A Texas Ranger hero was an easy character for me to develop. Then, of course, he needed a worthy partner. A female that could out-ride and out-shoot him seemed perfect. I love strong characters, but I want them real enough to have a weakness or problem. I didn't have any idea what escapades they would get in to, but once they mounted their trusty steeds, I was simply along for the ride. They surprised even me at times.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
My husband and I love to take photos of wildlife and spectacular scenery. The cover of this book is actually a shot taken of my dad many years ago on the family ranch. All my female characters are strong and independent and I'd like to say they are me in different forms. BUT I'm more wimp than warrior. I like company on my journeys whether to the store, to a party or around the world to visit my grandkids.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on a tough one...a mystery. I love to read them and to solve them. However, I'm finding it difficult to plot events and leave clues for any would-be detectives. One of the funniest scenes I've ever written is in this book so I will persevere. I will solve the mystery of writing a mystery!

5) Parting comments?
I panicked recently—I had only one more story idea in my file. I feared I was working on my last book. Then, as usual, the Lord stepped in with two new project ideas. He plants them on my heart. At times He drops entire scenes, or a couple of cool characters, or perhaps an important issue or just a funny tidbit into my mind for me to mull over. These then pester me until I tell their story. I'm thrilled that I now have several challenges ahead. I'll write as long as the Lord allows. Praise Him!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.amazon.com/SQ-Eads/e/B004C84Y2Q
http://sqeadsfiction.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/SQ-Eads/173761605969733

Shellie Neumeier's "Driven" by leaving a comment

*Guest post by Michelle Massaro

Today we focus on Clash Of The Titles' alum Shellie Neumeier. Shellie competed in the Back Cover Blurb Clash with an excerpt from her YA novel Driven. This was COTT's first YA title to take the crown.

 

A bit about Driven:

Robyn can’t help but notice the handsome new guy at her school. She ignores, however, the arrival of another being at Brookfield Central High School—a demon assigned to destroy her…

Robyn loves her friends, enjoys her youth group, and looks forward to meeting cute Caleb Montague. But when a caustic news reporter challenges her school’s prayer team, Robyn must choose: defend their right to meet on campus and pray for whomever they wish or back down at the principal’s request.

Now she must learn what God wants her to do. And she had better learn fast, because there’s a supernatural enemy in town whose sole mission is to stop her—no matter the cost.

How did Shellie come up with the idea for this book?

"The plot [for Driven] morphed over several dinner conversations with my kids and my hubby," Neumeier says. "It started with a whole lot of what-if questions and ended with a girl, a demon, and a whole lot of forgiveness.

Once that idea was ready to be written, Shellie got to work writing anywhere and everywhere she could--even in the car while her husband drove. Shellie feels writing very well could be God's gift to moms. " It's something that can be done from the comfort of your home, when time avails," she says.

You can check out her interview on COTT here. What did Shellie have to say about her experience at Clash:

"I had a wonderful time. Such sweet readers with great questions. My favorite part was answering the ones about whether or not I scared myself :D. It made me realize how much closer writing that MS brought be to God. Boy did I pray for those dark scenes. It was a good reminder to keep that dependence even now. Especially now!"

We're so proud of Shellie's success and happy to have had her on COTT. Can't wait to see what's up next for this author!

Order Driven http://www.amazon.com/Driven-Shellie-Neumeier/dp/098409315X or click on the ad a the bottom of the page.

Visit Shellie http://shellieneumeier.com/

* Michelle Massaro is the Assistant Editor for COTT. Her passion is evangelizing through fiction. She writes contemporary inspirational novels with heart-rending themes intended to frame the message of God’s healing love. Michelle has written for Romantic Times, Circle Of Friends, and Pentalk Community, among others. Find her on twitter @MLMassaro, Facebook, or her blog, Adventures in Writing, and join the fun.