Vicki McDonough's "Second Chance Brides"

We're happy to have Vicki McDonough with us today talking about her book, Second Chance Brides.  To learn more about Vicki and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
Second Chance Brides came pretty easily. I’d written The Anonymous Bride, and my editor asked for a sequel book. I already had the town and the characters, and I had two mail-order brides left over from the first book who needed to find a home—and a man to marry. Second Chance Brides is their story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
As I said above, this book came to me easily, but selling my first trade fiction book came about after a lot of hard work. I started out writing novellas, which are 20,000 words. Then I graduated to writing books for the Heartsong Presents book club, which are 45-50000 words. I’d sold 8 novellas collections and 8 Heartsongs, when my editor told me she’d like to see a proposal for a long fiction book. So I worked up one and sent it to her. She rejected my first idea, but liked The Anonymous Bride and bought it.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I lived on a kibbutz in Israel with my husband for a year, shortly after I was first married.
2. I bought a motorcycle when I was 14 and rode it all over the place
3. I love my blue jeans. I don’t even own a dress that fits. I used to have two of them, but I’ve lost weight and they no longer fit.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently writing the 2nd book in a short historical series for Heartsong that’s set in South Carolina. Next, I’ll write the 3rd book. Also coming next April, is the third book in my Texas Boardinghouse Brides series, Finally A Bride.

5) Parting comments?
I have a little sign taped to my desk that I picked up at a writer’s conference I attended when I first started writing. Maybe it will inspire you. It says: What would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is http://www.vickiemcdonough.com/
I’m also on Facebook and Twitter.

Cathy Bryant's "A Path Less Traveled"

We're happy to have Cathy Bryant with us today talking about her book, A Path Less Traveled. Cathy has been kind enough to offer to give away a copy to one lucky blog reader. To learn more about Cathy and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
During the writing of my first novel in the Miller’s Creek Series (TEXAS ROADS), I really grew to love Andy’s character and knew that I wanted to find a romantic interest for him. Trish James made the most logical choice, though it meant a horrible accident for her husband.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I actually wrote most of the book in November 2009, but had to lay it aside to launch TEXAS ROADS. I finally had time to get back to it June 2010. In August, I started sending the book out to beta readers, and just recently sent the manuscript to proof-editors. The book is in the process of being published in both print and e-book format.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I have a music education degree with trumpet as my primary instrument.
2) I’m a reality TV junkie.
3) I was a drum major in high school.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m currently launching Book 2 in the Miller’s Creek series, A Path Less Traveled. Next on the agenda is writing Book 3 in the series.

5) Parting comments?
I’m currently taking pre-orders on A Path Less Traveled for a reduced rate. You can find out the details on my blog, WordVessel (http://wordvessel.blogspot.com/).

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My blog, WordVessel: (address above)
My website: http://www.catbryant.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cathy.england.bryant
Twitter: http://twitter.com/CathyBryant

Lesa Henderson's "Someone to Trust"

We're happy to have Lesa Henderson with us today talking about her book, Someone to Trust. To learn more about Lesa and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
LOL. I have so many characters, places and story lines living in my head at one time it’s hard to say exactly. My stories usually develop as I write them – I have my ending and work toward that. It was birthed from the rising issue of infidelity in the home and the heartache it can cause a little girl and the lack of trust that develops in that little girl as she searches for love as an adult. Of course, in Someone to Trust this compounded by a horrible mistake the heroine makes as an adult and a second betrayal by a man.


2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Whew! I get tired just thinking about it. LOL. I actually wrote Someone to Trust about six years ago! I submitted the first three chapters and synopsis and the company requested the complete manuscript – which I gladly sent them. After about nine months I hadn’t heard anything from them so I made a polite inquiry. The manuscript had been lost and I was asked to resubmit via email this time. I did and the waiting game began again. This time a year went by and again I inquired – again it was lost. Unbelievable, I know, but it’s true. After a third submission it was rejected. I was totally disheartened and put the MS away. A couple of years later I heard about the White Rose Publishing and I felt prompted to get the MS out, dust it off, tune it up and submit it again. Someone to Trust by White Rose Publishing is the result.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Okay this is embarrassing…there are many days – I’d rather pull weeds or paint the house (two things I despise) instead of write.

I have an incurable sweet tooth and the icing filled chocolate-chip cookie I describe in Chapter One of Someone to Trust is my favorite.

As a little girl I played Charlie’s Angels with my sister and best friend and I was always Kelly (Jacklyn Smith). I’ve been making up plots and story lines my whole life.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
 I’m working on YA novel with my daughter Tiffany as well as multiple articles and my husband Ken and I are working on our 4th Screenplay.

6) Where can fans find you on the Internet?
http://www.lesahenderson.com/
 Twitter and Facebook.

Ava Pennington's "One Year Alone with God"

We're happy to have Ava Pennington with us today talking about her book, One Year Alone with God. We're spotlighting this book, but there won't be a giveaway. It sounds like a wonderful book. I've heard of poeple who actually pray, using the name of God that fits their situation at the moment. To learn more about Ava and her book, read on!

1) How did this story book come to you?
I’ve been drawn to the names of God ever since I completed several Bible studies on this
topic. Two years ago, I wrote a package of thirty-one devotions for Haven Ministries, and realized that I didn’t want to stop at thirty-one! So the idea for a one-year devotional was born.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I attended the annual Florida Christian Writers Conference for several years, learning more about the publishing industry and honing my craft by participating in classes and workshops. During my fifth conference, I met with the editor from Revell Books and pitched the idea for a one-year devotional. She was interested and asked me to send her a complete proposal.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. I never learned to ski – water or snow skiing.
2. I love to bake. One Christmas, I baked and decorated twenty-two gingerbread houses for family and friends!
3. I worked in lower Manhattan for twenty years as a Human Resources executive – just blocks from the World Trade Center, and moved to Florida two years before 9/11.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’ve co-authored a series of children’s picture books called Faith Basics for Kids. The first two books, Do You Love Me More? and Will I See You Today? will be released by Standard Publishing January 3, 2011. And I’m working on a new adult non-fiction book on prayer.

5) Parting comments?
I’m excited about the impact One Year Alone with God will have, and I’m thrilled to say that Kay Arthur, founder of Precept Ministries International, has endorsed it!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.avawrites.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AvaPennington.AuthorPage
Twitter: http://twitter.com/AvaPennington

Free Kindle books...

Read free bestselling Kindle books on your PC

Back by popular demand...how to read ebooks without a Kindle...
The following is the link to a listing of free bestselling books on Kindle this week. If you don't have a Kindle, follow the steps at the bottom to add the app to your PC, which will allow you to read any Kindle book on your computer. It's free and it's easy!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/digital-text/ref=pd_dp_ts_kinc_1

When the Amazon page opens, the list to the left is the top 100 ebooks, the list to the right is the top free 100 ebooks. While you're browsing, please check out my new release by clicking on the link below.

Follow these steps to download the Kindle app:
1) Go to my Amazon page
http://www.amazon.com/Queen-of-Hearts-ebook/dp/B003EV5T3K/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1270176182&sr=1-2
2) Scroll down. You'll see "Kindle for PC" to the right
3) Click to download the Kindle app
4) Go back to my page above and you can download my book to read the first few chapters for free. This will let you know it's working. When it downloads, you'll see the number "1" in the Archive at the top left.
5) Click on Archive to move the book over to your library.
6) Enjoy!
7) If you want to look at the bestsellers, click on "Kindle Books" on the toolbar at the top of the page. Click on "Kindle Bestsellers" to the left or follow the link above.
8) If you like the free viewing of "Queen of Hearts," I'd appreciate your supporting my work by buying the book. Thanks so much and enjoy the Kindle books!