Dora Hiers' "Journey's End"

Title: JOURNEY’S END
Publisher: White Rose Publishing.

Cover blurb: Devastated after the brutal murder of her husband, Chelsea Hammond vows never to love another lawman. Intent on rebuilding her shattered life, she turns her focus to helping troubled teens. But when an angry father bent on retaliation, threatens her, Chelsea must turn to the one man she never thought to trust: Deputy U.S. Marshal Trey Colten.
Trey wants only to protect Chelsea, but she blames him for her husband’s death. Trey can relate. He blames himself, also. As danger lurks, Trey begs Chelsea to heed his warnings. He let down one Hammond. He won’t let down another—especially one who now holds his heart.
When Chelsea is snatched from her home, can she put aside her fear, and trust Trey with her life? Can she Forgive him for destroying her past and let him help to rebuild her future?
Where one journey ends, another begins…

1) How did this story come to you?
JOURNEY’S END germinated with a seed from a newspaper article about a mobster, finally convicted for his crimes years later. Intrigued, I played the “what if” game until I came up with the premise, which ended up nothing like the article.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
After dropping out of the workforce to taxi my two sons around (and to make sure one of them actually attended school, he had a slight problem with that!), the writing seed dug in, took root around my heart with the idea for JOURNEY’S END. I soaked up online writing courses and attended a writer’s conference. Joined American Christian Fiction Writers, Carolina Christian Writers, and a critique group.
A dear friend from Carolina Christian Writers directed me to White Rose Publishing and on New Year’s Eve in 2010, some five years after I started down this crazy writing road, White Rose Publishing offered me a contract for JOURNEY’S END, my first heart racing, God-gracing book in the Marshals of Journey Creek series. Can you think of a better way to end one year and to begin another? Who needs fireworks?

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m a family room sports fan. Why should I leave the comforts of my air-conditioned family room to enjoy NASCAR, football, and hockey?
No beaches for me. Give me the mountains! My favorite getaway consists of sipping coffee on a cabin deck tucked in the mountains.
I can be somewhat rebellious at times, like when it came to joining Facebook. So help a girl out, click on over, and “like” me. Dora Hiers Author

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m about 98% finished with JOURNEY’S EMBRACE. I’m praying that JOURNEY’S EDGE will find a home with White Rose Publishing. I’ve also submitted two romantic fiction articles to Woman’s World Magazine for consideration.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks so much, Dawn, for hosting me today. I’ve enjoyed visiting with you and checking out the fabulous authors featured here.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
On my website at http://www.dorahiers.com/
Blog with me at Heart racing, God-gracing Romance.
I’m also on Facebook ~ Dora Hiers Author

Shannon Vannatter's "White Pearls"

Title: White Pearls
Publisher: Heartsong Presents

Cover blurb: Shell doesn't have a good reputation...But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, she's back in town with a job to do. She'll stick it out and make the best of things. But why does Ryler have to be the landscaper on this project? She was just getting her heart under control. Ryler has his own reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don't include Shell. Spying on his birth family was going to be hard enough. He doesn't have time to worry about a woman who dumped him...even if his heart says otherwise.

1) How did this story come to you?
The heroine's character was mentioned in the first book of the series, White Roses, as the bleached-blonde clad only in a towel who broke up a pivotal relationship. From the moment I wrote that description of her, I wanted to explore Shell's character and understand why she was like that. After the second book, White Doves, I had a long-lost brother, so the hero in book three tied up all the loose threads.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Once I got the offer from Heartsong Presents for White Roses, my editor asked if it could be a series. I felt like the bleached-blonde was too fresh in readers' minds for the second book, but by book three, they'd be ready for her conversion.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I love jigsaw puzzles. The 1000 and up piece ones. They relax me, but I don't want to do anything else when I've got one going, like make supper or go to bed. I just want to do my puzzle and that's all.
2) My graduating class had 20 seniors and that was considered a large class for our small school. The school was consolidated a few years ago. Now it's just a bunch of empty buildings.
3) I often use names that I wanted to name our son, but my husband wouldn't agree to for hero names in my books.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on the 2nd book in a Texas rodeo series. The first book, Rodeo Dust will release to Heartsong book club members in October.

5) Parting comments?
It was kind of sad for me when White Pearls released because the series came to an end. I miss the characters and the setting. What better place to set a romance than in towns called Romance and Rose Bud, Arkansas?

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

Edward Lewis' "Apostle"

Title: APOSTLE
Publisher: Cape Arago Press

Cover blurb: Rivkah and Shemu’el continue spreading the good news. Tensions surface when Barnabus brings Paul to Antioch and some oppose his new role. This saga of the Early Church takes a troubling turn when their youngest son adopts a pagan lifestyle. Meanwhile, the city trembles in the grip of a serial killer and Shemu’el fears who knows who it is. Though surrounded by chaos, the church in Antioch grows in size and influence.

1) How did this story come to you?
The series began with the Gospel account of the birth of Christ. Book Two, DISCIPLE, and now Book Three, APOSTLE, extend that by following the events of Acts. As usual, most Biblical events occur off stage. Through the lives of Rivkah, Shemu’el, their family and friends, the series chronicles the life and times of the Early Christians…their successes and failures, their trials and tribulations, their loves and losses.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Because it’s a series, my publisher, Cape Arago Press, has made a four-book commitment. My task now is to insure the Historic and Biblical accuracy of each book. This requires a tremendous amount of research not only into Early Church history, but also the life and times of the First Century Roman Empire. Whether it’s preparing a meal, firing a pot or building an aqueduct, I want to present the details to my readers in a factual manner.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I have a graduate degree in Economics and worked in Corporate Planning. Because of the Seeds series, people assume I trained in Ancient History or attended seminary. I also write Nonfiction. I have three eBooks dealing with specific topics I’ve encountered in my research. Despite my output — seven books in 18 months — I’m actually a rather slow writer.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
MARTYR, the fourth and final book of the series, is about 50% complete. I hope to have it finished by the end of this year. A commercial novel of mine, LOST, is with my editor. It should be out around August. I’m also developing a series of eBooks on the Roman World and expect to have the first one, The Art and Science of Rome, ready by fall. I’ve begun blocking out a new Christian novel, it’s too soon to say whether it will become a reality or not.

5) Parting comments?
I want to thank you for this opportunity to connect with your readers and tell them about APOSTLE and The Seeds of Christianity Series™. It’s been a pleasure to visit your a site again.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blog, Sowing the Seeds – The Life and Times of the Early Christians, has loads of interesting articles about the Early Church, Judaism, the Roman Empire, etc. http://seedsofchristianity.com/wordpress/. All of my books are available in hard copy or as eBooks from Amazon and most other internet booksellers, or direct from the publisher, Cape Arago Press, http://www.capearagopress.com/

"Fairer Than Morning" by Rosslyn Elliott

Rosslyn Elliot, author of Fairer Than Morning, competed in our Best Protagonist category. Her hero, Will Hanby, is based on a real historical person, just like her heroine, Ann Miller. “When I was ready to write my first nineteenth-century historical novel, I went to visit a local historic home in Ohio,” Elliot says. “While there, I watched a short video about the Hanby family who lived in that home. I knew right away that I had to write their amazing story of faith, love, and courage. William Hanby suffered through many trials as a young man, but his experience made him determined to free others who were in pain and bondage. In Fairer than Morning, Will Hanby and Ann Miller show us what is possible when we put faith into action.”

About the novel:
Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor, Eli-until Will Hanby shows her that nobility is more than fine words.

On a small farm in 19th-century Ohio, young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominent family. Eli is the suitor of Ann's dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautiful things and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.

Ann travels to Pittsburgh, accompanying her father on business. There she meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker's apprentice. Will has spent years eking out an existence under a cruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. But Ann's compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul. Through his encounters with Ann's father, a master saddler, Will discovers new hope and courage in the midst of tremendous adversity.

When the Millers must return to Ohio and their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will can make it back to Ann, will she be waiting?

What readers are saying:
“Rosslyn Elliott offers adventure, accurately-portrayed historical settings, romance, engaging characters, and beautifully-written prose in her debut novel Fairer Than Morning.”

“You will grow to love Ann and Will as they face and conquer their own weaknesses, and in the process, change the world around them. I can't wait to see what the future holds for these characters!”

“For Christians who enjoy Historical Fiction this is a must! Even if you're not a Christian, this is an inspiring story of courage and determination.”

Pick up your copy of Fairer Than Morning now! Then hop on over to Clash of the Titles (http://www.clashofthetitles.com/) to join the fun!

Find out more about Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Eliot, and her writing at http://www.rosslynelliott.com/.

Jennifer Slattery (http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/) is a novelist, freelance writer, and the marketing representative for the literary website, Clash of the Titles, where authors compete and readers judge.

In 2009 she won first place in the HACWN writing contest in the book category, placed second in the 2010 Dixie Kane, fourth in the 2010 Golden Pen and was a 2010 CWG Operation First Novel finalist.

She has a short piece appearing in Bethany House’s Love is a Flame (under a pen name), forwarded by Gary Chapman, another piece in Cathy Messecar’s A Still and Quiet Soul, and writes for Reflections in Hindsight, Christ to the World, Samie Sisters, The Christian Pulse, and reviews for Novel Reviews.

She’s also written for Granola Bar Devotions, Afictionado, The Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Romantic Times Review, Bloom, and the Breakthrough Intercessor.

"Fade to Blue" by Julie Carobini

Julie Carobini competed in Clash of the Titles’ Best Back Cover Blurb category with an endearing novel set in Northern California. She wanted to write a novel using the historic Hearst Castle as its backdrop for quite some time. “So much intrigue and mystery about that real castle on the hill overlooking the sea,” Carobini says. “Of course, novels are more than their location, so after writing the first two stand-alone books, Sweet Waters & A Shore Thing, I had an idea. Why not figure out what happens next for big-hearted Suz Mitchell from A Shore Thing? So... Fade to Blue is Suz's story.”

Her setting and plot choice was a hit!

About Fade to Blue:
How do you restore a soul? One brush stroke at a time...
Suz Mitchell is a determined dreamer, and won't allow her ex-husband's jail sentence to ruin their young son Jeremiah's life. An accomplished artist, Suz moves with her child across the country to California's central coast, and lands a job restoring priceless art for the historic Hearst Castle overlooking the sea.

But even dreams have shocking twists. To her surprise, a serious old flame, Seth, works at the castle and jumbles the new aspirations in Suz's heart. While sorting through their past and a palette of spiritual differences, an even bigger brush with yesterday awaits.

Suz must learn to let God be the true restorer of all that once seemed lost.

What readers are saying:
“Fade to Blue is an insightful contemporary Christian Otter Bay relationship drama. The cast makes the tale work especially Suz-Q whose belief in the Lord will soon be tested. With a profound underlying message that you can pray for others but like that proverbial horse not make them drink the water of faith. Readers will appreciate this strong drama.”

“I loved this book. It was a nice change from the normal everyday plots. Great characters and a wonderful style of writing will keep you enthralled in the pages of this book!”

“Julie has a gift for making characters and settings come alive… Julie offers a delightful summer read, full of more than romance to satisfy your yearning for a good story. Perfect to escape into the fun and the sun.”

Grab your copy of Fade to Blue (http://www.amazon.com/Fade-Blue-Otter-Bay-Novel/dp/0805448748/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1308957647&sr=1-1) now then head on over to Clash of the Titles (http://www.clashofthetitles.com/) to join the fun! And you can find out more about Fade to Blue, Julie Carobini, and her writing at http://www.juliecarobini.com/

Jennifer Slattery (http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/) is a novelist, freelance writer, and the marketing representative for the literary website, Clash of the Titles, where authors compete and readers judge.

In 2009 she won first place in the HACWN writing contest in the book category, placed second in the 2010 Dixie Kane, fourth in the 2010 Golden Pen and finaled in the 2010 CWG Operation First Novel Contest.

She has a short piece appearing in Bethany House’s Love is a Flame (under a pen name), forwarded by Gary Chapman, another piece in Cathy Messecar’s A Still and Quiet Soul, and writes for Christ to the World, Reflections in Hindsight, Samie Sisters, The Christian Pulse, and reviews for Novel Reviews.

She’s also written for Granola Bar Devotions, Afictionado, The Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Romantic Times Review, Bloom, and the Breakthrough Intercessor.

Interview with Pamela Thibodeaux

Award winning author Pamela Thibodeaux competed in our best protagonist category with her novel, Tempered Hearts. When crafting her protagonists, she creates characters that are identifiable by the reader, have good qualities to balance out the not-so-nice ones, and of course are open and willing to allow their best qualities show/develop by the end of the story.


Who’s her favorite protagonist as a reader? “Boy that's a tough one!” Thibodeaux says. “I absolutely love the protagonists in Nora Roberts and Julie Lessman novels - guess if I HAD to pick a favorite it would be Gray in Nora's Born in Ice (book 2 in the Born In trilogy).”

A bit about her book:
Rancher Craig Harris and veterinarian Tamera Collins clash from the moment they meet. Innocence is pitted against arrogance as tempers rise and passions ignite to form a love as pure as gold fresh from the crucible and as strong as steel.

Thrown together amid tragedy and unsated passion, Tamera and Craig share a strong attraction that neither accepts as the first stages of love. Torn between desire and dislike, they must make peace with their pasts and God in order to open up to the love blossoming between them. The first book in the Tempered Series is here! Tempered Hearts.

What readers are saying:
“Pamela wrote a wonderful, fast paced book with strong characters and a strong plot.”

“Tempered Hearts was written in a strong voice that spoke volumes to 'Christian' fiction. It was realistic and romantic, but without overwhelming us with too much 'morality checking'.”

“I would recommend this to anyone who wants a good book, with faith and a lot of zip. I would especially recommend Tempered Hearts to those teen readers on the verge of becoming adults. This is a perfect book to show love, without the physical act.”

“Tempered Hearts is a very inspirational and exciting book. A book you cannot put down when you start reading it. A JOB WELL DONE!!!!.”

Order a copy of Tempered Hearts (http://www.amazon.com/Tempered-Hearts-Pamela-S-Thibodeaux/dp/0976996022/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1308958217&sr=1-1) now! Then hop on over to Clash of the Titles to join the fun!

You can find out more about Tempered Hearts, Pam Thibodeaux and her writing at http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com/,  http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com/

Jennifer Slattery (http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/) is a novelist, freelance writer, and the marketing representative for the literary website, Clash of the Titles, where authors compete and readers judge.

In 2009 she won first place in the HACWN writing contest in the book category, placed second in the 2010 Dixie Kane, fourth in the 2010 Golden Pen and finaled in the 2010 CWG Operation First Novel Contest.

She has a short piece appearing in Bethany House’s Love is a Flame (under a pen name), forwarded by Gary Chapman, another piece in Cathy Messecar’s A Still and Quiet Soul, and writes for Reflections in Hindsight, Christ to the World, Samie Sisters, The Christian Pulse, and reviews for Novel Reviews.

She’s also written for Granola Bar Devotions, Afictionado, The Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Romantic Times Review, Bloom, and the Breakthrough Intercessor.

Starsongs Magazine

Title: Starsongs Magazine
Publisher: Written World Communications

Cover blurb: Although Written World Communications is a Christian publisher, Starsongs Magazine is a general market quarterly magazine for kids by kids ages 9-19. Starsongs accepts original short stories, poetry, essays, articles, photography and art work by young people in the above mentioned age group. Each issue of Starsongs contains a mentoring article about writing or photography by an adult writer. We also feature an interview with an extraordinary young person. These interviews to date include author Kayla Woodhouse, Olympic skater Rachael Flatt, manager and first violinist for the New World String Quartet Rebecca Phillips, and mulit-published teen author Riley Carney.

1) How did the idea for this magazine come to you? This magazine came into existence to inspire young people to express their creative talent through original writing, photography, and artwork. Our tag line is “voices of the future” and our goal is to inspire youth.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting the magazine in circulation.
The first issue of Starsongs became available in September of 2010. Starsongs staff is proud to have published over thirty young writers and photographers, many for the first time. Our publication is available in downloadable and print format. We will be celebrating our one year anniversary with our next issue, due to release in late August, so watch for some neat contests!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I have a son and daughter-in-law who live in the United Kingdom
2) I have an awesome granddaughter who was nominated for the softball all-star team
3) Even though I live in Colorado, I was born and raised in New York (not New York City!)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Lots! Starsongs will be launching a book imprint, general market YA books, for which we are currently soliciting manuscripts. As Vice President of Written World Communications, I also supervise our other two children’s publications, each of which have their own book imprints, which we plan to launch within the next few months. Untapped is a Christian YA magazine and book imprint. Patchwork is a Christian children’s magazine and book imprint.

5) Parting comments?
If you are or know a young person who likes to write, please get in touch with me. I am always looking for submissions and I love to work with and mentor young writers. Always be open to God’s plan for your writing life. My original goal was to write westerns! Even though that dream still lingers in the back of my mind, publishing young people brings me much more satisfaction than seeing my own book in print (if that ever happens) probably would.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Starsongs is available at www.magcloud.com/browse/magazine/113497. Our Written World Communications web site is under construction but we can be reached at http://www.written-world.com/. Send Starsongs submissions to Patti Shene at starsongs.mag@gmail.com.

Kim Watters' "Home Sweet Home"

Title: Home Sweet Home
Publisher: Harlequin’s Love Inspired

Cover blurb: Somewhere to belong....
Finally ready to settle down, Abby Bancroft has just inherited a place to put down roots. But her hopes for a successful bed-and breakfast are placed on hold when she learns that her grandparents’ run-down inn is in serious need of TLC. So is Cole Preston, the handsome contractor who offers to help make her dream a reality. His past mistakes won’t let him consider settling in the close knit town. Yet as he and Abby work together to repair the house, they also begin to mend each other’s hearts. And they just may find that consulting their hearts is what creating a home is all about.

1) How did this story come to you?
After I finished my first Love Inspired On Wings of Love, I wanted to write a story that was a little lighter and had nothing to do with a medical profession. I’ve always been intrigued by old Victorian houses and the idea of running a bed & breakfast. Since those are very remote possibilities, I lived it vicariously through my characters.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My editor passed on another proposal so I sat back down at the proverbial drawing board and hashed out a few ideas with my critique group. Voila. Home Sweet Home was born.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’ve lived in two foreign countries; South Africa and France . I work at a golf course during the day but don’t play golf. I’m claustrophobic so don’t be standing next to me in a crowded elevator.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next Love Inspired tentatively called A Father’s Love, which ironically visits the medical community again.

5) Parting comments?
Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your community for the day. I hope everyone enjoys reading Home Sweet Home as much as I enjoyed writing it.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.kimwatters.com www.facebook.com/kimwatters
www.myspace.com/kimwatters
www.twitter.com/kimwattersaz
http://www.muchcheaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Linda Rohrbough's "The Prophetess One: At Risk"

Title: The Prophetess One: At Risk
Publisher: High Hill Inspiration, a division of High Hill Press, St Charles, Missouri.

Cover blurb:
Front cover: A nation in peril. Only one woman can save it.
Back cover: "This is fast-paced, thrilling, edge-of-the-seat reading. The Prophetess One: At Risk had me flipping the pages and holding my breath." - Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestseller

It’s a very different kind of war.
Why would God choose a pregnant computer programmer to fight it?
All Anna McClintock wants is a peaceful stretch of beach she can walk to with her new husband, Jack, and her soon-to-be-born child. Jack is finishing his engineering degree this semester and the two plan to leave his Kansas home to build their new lives together.
But when Anna finds herself in jail for the murder of a preschool child she tried to save, she realizes she is alone, except for God. She has to rely on new-found spiritual gifts as well as her wits and skills in order to save herself, her unborn son, and her marriage.
And she has another decision to make. This one affects the entire nation.

1) How did this story come to you?
For me, real events formed the background for The Prophetess One: At Risk.
It all started after an extreme tragedy. My husband’s nephew, Daniel Rohrbough, was a casualty in the Columbine shooting. The entire family was in shock, but even so I started noticing strange events. For example, as family at the Columbine memorial service, I was down front far enough to see General Colin Powell on the platform in full military dress between musicians Amy Grant and Phil Driscoll. But he was never mentioned or introduced, and he never spoke. It didn’t take much research on my part to discover Powell is the military’s go to guy when it comes to problems with the Middle East.
As I followed the Columbine shooting, I discovered the shooters bragged theirs would be the first of many such events. And they were right. Plus the officials investigating Columbine looked unsuccessfully for months for third-party involvement in the year-long planning of the shooting.
I started researching other school shootings as they occurred. There were numerous reports of school shooters, including the Columbine shooters, doing a low-level format of the hard disk drives of their computers. This is an extreme measure that takes hours to perform, as it meticulously zeros out the hard disk drive. I only did a low-level format when a computer was so virus-ridden, there was no other way to salvage it. Since most of the shooters, including those at Columbine, posted their plans on the Internet, I wondered what they didn’t want found.
In two cases, the low-level format was stopped before it was complete. Once in a school shooting in Paris and once when a kid in Florida flew his Dad’s plane into a building. In both cases, the authorities found emails they traced back to Al Qaeda operatives.
As I investigated other shootings, I uncovered much more information that led me to believe this sort of thing could be prevented on a grass roots level. This led me to the theme of the book - men are important in the lives of children.
I wrote in more detail about the events and my process on my website on my Books page.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It took me twelve years. Most of that time I spent figuring out how to write fiction, which is very different than doing nonfiction. Every time I thought I should give up on this book, and write something else, someone I respected would read it and encourage me to keep trying. I got my fiction agent about three years ago and he’s been a great advocate for the book. And my publisher, a small press in St. Charles, Missouri, loved the book, thought it was important, and wanted to see it out there. So now we’re on that journey.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
As a child, I wanted to be an entomologist (someone who studies insects). I don’t know if readers will be surprised by this, but I am still surprised I won a national award for a short story I wrote in 7th grade. But readers might be surprised to know I have also produced an iPhone App of a workshop I do to help writers learn to talk about their books to an editor or agent called “Pitch Your Book.” It’s available for the iPhone, iTouch, or iPad at the iTunes store.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on The Prophetess Two. And I’m doing a new App for writers. Plus my fiction agent is shopping my women-in-technology suspense series - five books each with a strong, smart gal trained in a technical field who sees evidence of God as creator in the everyday science she works with. Plus she has a sticky problem that’s got her in trouble. The first one is about a foreign object debris (FOD) expert at Denver International Airport. (A FOD expert is someone whose job it is to help prevent objects from getting sucked into jet engines, including animals, like those geese that forced a commercial airliner into the Hudson River a couple of years back.) The other books feature an astronomer, a chemist, an astronaut, and a physicist.

5) Parting comments?
I’m grateful to be here. Thanks for joining me.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I have a website where I keep readers posted at http://www.lindarohrbough.com/. And I’m on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LindaRohrboughAuthor.

Mistaken Identity by K. Dawn Byrd

Here's the second review of Mistaken Identity. It's now on Amazon. I'm excited that the book is being so well received.


Best friends Eden Morgan and Lexi Branson are as different as day and night. Lexi can get any boyfriend she wants, and Eden longs for boyfriend of her own. As this story unfolds new neighbors move in next door to Eden's family. And we have all heard about the `boy next door' right? Well these new neighbors included that boy Channing, and wow was he ever drop dead gorgeous! He and Eden seemed to hit it off from the beginning, but the problem was that Lexi wanted him too. And what Lexi wants she gets.

Mistaken Identity, a wonderful and sweet love story that anyone romance fan would like. And I would especially encourage any teenage young lady to read this book because dating is something they will all face at sometime. I loved the teen characters in this story; they made me feel as though I was watching this story in real life! Channing was just a sweet and hot guy that every girl at school had their eye on. The idea of having a Christian and non-Christian going for the same guy was cool. And it kept me wanting to finish the story to see just who Channing would pick, Eden or Lexi. It just all depended on what Channing was looking for in a girlfriend. Now you just need to read the book to find out who the winning woman turned out to be.

First Review

I'm so excited! I just had to share my first review of Mistaken Identity. It's from Clare Revell at http://telscha.blogspot.com/. She gave it 4 1/2 out of  5 stars. Here's what she had to say:

I loved Mistaken Identity. I read it in one sitting, so engrossed that the toast burned and milk boiled over as I read. Eden faces all the problems young Christian girls do today. Short skirts, make up, protective parents (and yes I’m one of those dreaded protective parents who ban her daughters from wearing belts or pelmets – aka short skirts). And when she does finally fall for a boy, admittedly a slightly older boy, not only does she have to worry about what her parents will think, her BF, Lexi falls for him too. Problem is what Lexi wants, Lexi gets.

A book for parents and teenagers alike, this one deals with important issues as well as having an engaging storyline, loveable characters and enough nail biting moments to keep you rooted to the pages and wondering about the characters after the last page is turned.





Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/6ez8xvh
Barnes & Noble: http://tinyurl.com/6bpw26c
Also available at Sony and other ebook outlets and coming soon to Christianbook.com

Deanna Klingel's "Avery's Battlefield"

Title: Avery's Battlefield
Publisher: Journey Forth, the young reader imprint of BJU Press.

Cover blurb: Avery and his dog, Gunner, have a good life in Kanawha Valley-a loving family, a prosperous farm, and a warm community of friends. But when the long unrest between the North and South ignites into war, Avery's peaceful world is shattered. His father, brother, and uncle leave home, each drawn away by the war. Soon Avery and Gunner must begin a dangerous journey that will take them across the paths of people on both sides of the struggle. What can a simple farm boy bring to the war effort? A true heart, a healing hand, and a large supply of courage and faith. Avery discovers that his battlefield is in the clinics and hospitals, where the anger and pain continue long after the fighting ends. Avery's Battlefield is the story of a boy, a dog, and their search for peace in the first years of the Civil War.

1) How did this story come to you?
Avery told me his story. It was in my mind and heart before I put it to paper.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The journey to publication was almost as long as Avery's journey across Virginia. Avery and Gunner started out with an agency in London who loved the story and we worked hard together on it. They took it to the Bologna Children's Book fair and a couple of major New York publishers were interested in it, one was interested in film rights. We worked on everything they asked and made all the changes they requested. Then the agents delivered it finished to their specs, and were as disappointed as I when, in the end, neither took it. I was thrilled when a year later Journey Forth said they'd be interested in seeing the manuscript, and they took it.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Three things that might surprise people about me are 1) my family: I've been married 49 years and we have 7 kids and 11 grands. 2) I dance with my dog and run a dog park. 3) Anyone who visits my house would be surprised to learn that I love to garden because there isn't any evidence of that.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
What's next for me is book two of Avery and Gunner, Avery's Crossroad, which will be out in September, and Bread Upon the Water, coming out between Thanksgiving and Christmas from Rafka Press. Bread is a true story of a modern adventure hero, a boy who escaped Vietnam as a boat person to pursue his calling to the priesthood. I have a YA novel finished, Cracks in the Ice, a story of a destroyed Olympic dream. That manuscript is looking for a home, and the one I'm finishing up Waiting With Elmer, kind of an unusual quirky one that's been a lot of fun to create.

5) Parting comments?
I'm keeping busy and love it. I'm traveling a lot with Avery and Gunner, especially to the sesquicentennial events in Virginia, meeting lots of folks, signing a lot of books, and having fun. I even wear a reenactment costume of a nurse, a character in my book.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I have a website, http://www.booksbydeanna.com/. The last page tells where I'll be going, and there's a comment place for friends to write. I also have email deannaklingel@yahoo.com and I'm on facebook. I frequently blog with other writers. If you google my name you can find those. I'd love to hear from readers.

JoAnn Carter's "Paradox"

Title: Paradox
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing

Cover blurb: Lilly Holland’s passion is flowers-not people. All she’s ever dreamed of was a peaceful life surrounded by the beauty of God’s creation. The exact opposite of what life is like at the touristy Holland Lodge in the small town of Paradox. So, why does she feel like God is nudging her to go? He, if anyone, should know better than ask this of her.

Ric Walker, Holland Lodge’s grounds keeper, is Lilly’s only link to sanity. His steady presence and strong faith encourages her through this trying situation. However, that sanity is threatened as she realizes her feelings for him are changing into something more, something deeper.

Will Lilly learn that Paradox is more than a town’s name, but rather a divine place where God can reveal His power, bring healing, and love, just when she thinks all hope is gone?

1) How did this story come to you?
We live in Vermont, but our extended families are from in New Jersey. Whenever we go back to visit, we drive through a tiny little town in New York, that if you'd blink—you'd miss it—called Paradox. The name always made me wonder about the town's founders and such.


2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It's was about a year and a half (or more) of a long dry spell. I had submitted many things and receiving lots of rejection slips... so I went back through a list of possible publishers to bug--ah, I mean submit to. :) Then along comes a random e-mail from a dear friend mentioning a publisher I had on that list, Desert Breeze Publishing. Fast forward a month. I decided to query Desert Breeze Pub. That same day I get an e-mail stating not to expect to hear back until July—eight months later. GULP! Looks like another possible dead-end. However, three day's later, an e-mail arrives... they like what I submitted and offered a contract. Needless to say, I was overjoyed. I can't wait to see what God will do next. I can only sit in this roller-coaster seat and enjoy the ride.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I am the wife of a wonderful Youth Pastor who has been in the ministry for 20+years.
2. We have four children—all boys. (One of which is about to get his learners permit!)
3. Although I enjoy being around people, I am an introvert and "recharge" my batteries by walking, reading, listening to music, and spending time alone.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
What's next? A Mission trip to Mexico!
Yes, your read that right. This summer, our family is headed to serve in Mexico. Writing wise, in the middle of our time away, The Floating Palace ~ A Historical Inspirational Romance will be released. (July 15, 2011) You can check it out here~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDcuTF8v9bg
Then in December, Hidden Paths a Young Adult Inspirational Romance will release through Desert Breeze Publishing. What a great way to finish up 2011, huh? God has been so faithful.

5) Parting comments?
Perhaps today, you're feeling stuck in a rut and listening to the lie that you're not worth anything and what you've done in your past defines who you are today. Don't believe it. No matter where you are, what you've done, or who you are, your heavenly Father loves you -- dearly. Some days that feels like such a paradox! I love Merriam-Webster definition of that word, "a statement that is seemingly contradictory or opposed to common sense and yet is true"...such is the love of God. Why He loves me so is beyond my comprehension. Yet He does and it is my prayer that each person who reads this book will be challenged to consider that and what it means for your life.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://home.comcast.net/~jo.glenncarter/site

Lynn Squire's "Joab's Fire"

Title: Joab’s Fire
Publisher: HigherLife Publishing.

Cover blurb: Joab Black and his wife Sarah overcame the worst of pioneer hardships in order to establish a prosperous farm in Alberta, Canada. But those challenges never prepared them for the tragedy they now faced—a staggering loss and intense pain causing them to doubt everything they had ever believed. In the midst of their sorrow, even their closest friends interpret their sufferings as a result of God’s judgment. Has God abandoned them?
Sergeant Dixon, the local North West Mounted Police officer, investigates the events leading to the Blacks’ plight. While his work gives them a ray of hope, his probing into the activities of a certain stranger possibly connected to the case may cost him his job and even his life.
Inspired by the Biblical book of Job, this novel includes a Bible study exploring the perfection of God’s plan and the bounty of His love even in the most inexplicable and intense sufferings.

1) How did this story come to you?
I wanted to write a book that would help people through difficult times. Considering my life, I knew Job, in the Bible, helped me through life so I set out to write a story based on him. After reading what my great grandparents went through to settle a wild country, I felt there could not be any better location for a Job-like story than Southern Alberta at the turn of the 20th century.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I never intended to publish this book. I considered it my practice work where I tried all the writing techniques I was learning at the time. However, I posted each chapter on my blog for Fiction Friday. When I saw how readers were responding to it, and after discussing the possibility of writing an accompanying Bible Study with some friends (including pastors’ wives), I wrote the Bible study section. The book went through two critique groups and finally I mentioned it to my former agent. She suggested I try HigherLife and said she would mention it to the editor there. I submitted the book; they reviewed it and offered me a contract; and I sweated buckets as I signed the contract. This would be a great step of faith. This wasn’t about me becoming famous. This wasn’t about me making a name for myself. This was about getting the message to people who needed to hear that life is short and we survive by focusing on God and the eternal life He provides for all who believe that Jesus died for our sins, was buried, and rose again. Whenever I grew nervous through the publisher’s editing process and production schedule (and now through the marketing stage) I reminded myself to be bold and courageous for the Lord is on my side.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m told I’m a pretty open book. But here we go:
1) Perhaps one of the greatest fears I have is being caught in a lie. Stressing over that has kept me as honest as I can be, but there are times where I have spoken without giving my answer enough thought and it turns out that what I said was false. Oy, such a thing can give me an ulcer.
2) I have a scar on my face between my eyes, which I got as a child. Just recently it occurred to me, after studying myself in the mirror, that who ever thought I was angry when I wasn’t were looking at the scar—when I squint it makes me look angry. I squint a lot, according to my eye doctor. Trust me, I’m not as angry as I look.
3) I had a cousin who told my husband when we were first married that I am fearless. And while I can see his point (given the crazy things I did as a kid), he was sadly mistaken. My life has tended to be governed by fear, and my way of coping has always been to lower my horns and charge like an angry bull. I’ve realized, in my old age, that this is my tendency, and I’m working on laying those fears at my Lord’s feet and learning to curl up under His wing.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on a novel set in the late 1840’s in Cornwall, England. Here’s my one sentence summary: A vicar seeks inner peace by destroying the ministry of an evangelist.
By the end of July, I hope to have a booklet out with seven short stories and seven devotionals on faith. The stories are based on Hebrews 11, the faith chapter. While none of my characters are in this chapter of the Bible, they do demonstrate the same faith that the Bible characters did.

5) Parting comments?
The passion of my work lies in my desire to present Biblical truths through story to readers. On my blog I regularly post for Fiction Friday, and with each post I include a Food for Thought section. I’d love for readers to come and join in the discussion. My blog address is: http://faithfictionfunandfanciful.blogspot.com/

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My personal website is: http://www.lynnsquire.com/
My blog is: http://faithfictionfunandfanciful.blogspot.com/
You can purchase my books at: http://www.presentingbiblicaltruths.com/
If you want to learn more about Joab’s Fire, go to: http://www.joabsfire.com/

Dorothy Love's "Beyond All Measure"

Title: BEYOND ALL MEASURE
Publisher: Thomas Nelson Fiction

Cover blurb: Ada Wentworth journeys south to take a job as a lady’s companion, hoping to save enough to eventually open her own millinery shop. But when she falls in love with the local mill owner, Wyatt Caldwell, she must decide whether she can trust God with her future…and Wyatt with her heart.

1. How this story came to me:
I love history, and the beautiful southern Appalachians, and knew I wanted to set a story there. A couple of years ago I visited a museum that featured a collection of vintage ladies’ hats and my protagonist Ada Wentworth, a young Bostonian hat maker, whispered her story into my ear. I wrote down what she said.

2. Journey to publication:
Like Angela E Hunt and others, I began my career writing novels for preteens and young adults. After publishing fourteen books in the secular market I wanted to write more complex stories for adult readers and realized that the CBA is a better fit for me. I was lucky to find my fabulous agent, Natasha Kern, who sent out the proposal for Beyond All Measure, the first in the Hickory Ridge series. We received interest from several publishers and the books found a home at Thomas Nelson fiction.

3. Three things that may surprise readers:
I once sang (briefly) in a rock and roll band; I love collecting beach stuff, my chocolate chip coffee cake is pretty darn good.

4. Working on:
I recently turned in the revisions for BEAUTY FOR ASHES, the second Hickory Ridge novel which will be out early in 2012, I’m writing book 3, and polishing up the proposal for another series of southern historicals.

5. Parting Comments:
Thanks so much for hosting me.

6. Find me on the Internet at:
 http://www.dorothylovebooks.com/  and on Facebook.

K. Dawn Byrd's "Mistaken Identity"

I am pleased to announce my latest release, Mistaken Identity, my first young adult romance. It will be available on Wednesday, June 15 at all ebook outlets including Amazon, Desert Breeze Publishing, Sony, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBook.com, etc.

Eden Morgan longs for a boyfriend of her own, an impossible goal when her best friend, Lexi Branson, gets all the attention and all the guys. When they fall in love with the same guy, Eden believes she doesn't have a chance. She can only hope that sometimes the good girl gets the guy.

For your chance to win, please leave you comments in the comments section. I hope you've enjoyed my blog and all the great Christian fiction that's been giving away here since I started it.
 
You can read an excerpt from Mistaken Identity, here: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-178/K-Dawn-Byrd-Mistaken/Detail.bok