JoAnn Carter's "Teacher's Plans"

We're happy to have JoAnn Carter with us today talking about her book, Teachers Plans. To learn more about JoAnn and her book, read on!

Title: Teacher's Plans
Publisher: White Rose Publishing

Cover blurb: When Amanda Manning, an exhausted, short-handed special education teacher, is given an assistant, things don't turn out as she planned. Her new assistant is anything but what Amanda expected—most strikingly, a male.

Tracy Atkins secured a job as a teacher's assistant, but will he be able to secure the hand of the woman he is falling in love with? Especially when she finds out about the secret he is hiding? Come join their adventure as both Amanda and Tracy learn that God's plans are far better than their own. (Jeremiah 29:11)

1) How did this story come to you?
Have you ever been in what you thought was a disastrous situation—only to turn out to be one of the biggest blessings in your life? As I thought about that, this story started to coming to life for me. Truly, God's ways are higher than ours. This book was a fun outlet for me to share and explore just one way that we could see that come to be.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I held a contract for this story with a small e-publisher called, By Grace Publishing. However, before this book was published, the company went out of business. After a bit of searching for publishers who accepted Inspirational Romance, and praying, I found out about White Rose Publishing. (At the time, WRP was part of a larger group called The Wild Rose Press.)
I sent them a query. At first it came back rejected, but with suggestions for some revisions. I deeply appreciated their comments and knew I'd love to work with them so I could grow in the craft of writing. After working through the rewrites, I sent the manuscript back in, and the rest is history.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I'm not sure how surprising this is, but did you know my husband and I have been married for 18years? We have four boys ranging in age from 14-10. One of my favorite activities is walking. There's nothing like getting outside to see the flowers, snowflakes, birds, and other beautiful things in nature, up close and personal.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I'm working on a historical series set in 1923. The first book, The Floating Palace will be released July 15, 2011 from Desert Breeze Publishing. It's been a real blast and I'm enjoying every moment of this project! If you'd like to see the book trailer, please go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDcuTF8v9bg

5) Parting comments?
If anyone is interested in purchasing Teacher's Plans (or any of my other titles) they are available @ http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/Teacher39S-Plans, White Rose Publishing, Barnes & Noble.com, Amazon.com, CBD, and other e-book retailers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Visit JoAnn's Web site: http://home.comcast.net/~jo.glenncarter/site/
Email JoAnn: glenncarter@yahoo.com
Connect with JoAnn on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JoAnnDavisCarter

Maurice Gray's "Home Again"

We're happy to have Maurice Gray with us today talking about his book, Home Again. To learn more about Maurice and his book, read on!

Title: Home Again: Stories Of Renewed Relationships
Publisher: Micah 6:8 Books, LLC

Cover blurb: “Home Again is a compelling journey into the relationships that matter most: family, friends and self. Each story is founded on natural love, but will require the Father’s love to heal the brokenness. Travel with husbands and wives, brothers, sisters, friends and families as they maneuver through life’s hurts and betrayals while leaning on a power greater than themselves.”

1) How did this story come to you?
When I was invited to submit a story, the publisher told me about the book’s theme, restored relationships. At the time, I was working on my next novel, and it occurred to me that my lead character in the novel needed more of a family history than I’d given him. I decided to explore that via my contribution. Family Matters is about Erik Dawson, who is estranged from his mother CC. Neither of them is sure how to end their conflict until a brutal accident forces them to reevaluate the entire situation.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I met the head of the publishing company through an online writers group in which we both participate and then met her in person on a Christian cruise about three years ago. She invited me to contribute to the anthology, and, when I thought I didn’t have the time to do it, she wouldn’t take no for an answer.  My submission was accepted, and the anthology released on schedule.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I am a member of Toastmasters International, and have won or placed highly in several local speech competitions in my five plus years as a member.
2) I am an avid fan of both Star Trek and Lost
3) I once did standup comedy on a cruise ship

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next novel, Female Problems, is set to release in April 2011. This novel features my character Erik Dawson from Family Matters and deals with the bond of friendship between three Christian men and how it helps them deal with the ups and downs of life.

5) Parting comments?
If you enjoy Home Again, you will also enjoy individual works by the other contributors. Aside from myself, Linda Beed, Bernard Boulton, Wanda B. Campbell and Dijorn Moss have also written novels, and the others (Tavares Carney, Shenette Jones, Tyora Moody and Trinea Moss) have projects in the works. There is more information about each contributor on www.micah68books.com.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
I can be found at http://www.mauricemgrayjr.com/, on Facebook, Shoutlife and Shelfari.

Marilyn Meredith's "Invisible Path"

We're happy to have Marilyn Meredith with us today talking about her book, Invisible Path. To learn more about Marilyn and her book, read on!


Title: Invisible Path
Publisher: Mundania Press

Cover blurb: A popular young Indian man is found dead near the recovery center at the far end of the Bear Creek Reservation. While investigating, Deputy Tempe Crabtree learns the victim wasn’t quite what he seemed, and she crosses paths with a militant para-military group who piques her curiosity and ends up being a threat.

1) How did this story come to you?
Because I live near the reservation I base a lot of my story on, learning about the recovery center started the idea. I also had a contest asking folks to come up with a plot for the story. Though I got a lot of ideas, none quite fit the bill but pieces did.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This one wasn’t difficult as Invisible Path is part of an ongoing mystery series and Mundania has been supportive about publishing the last few.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Perhaps that I’m a great grandmother and family is extremely important to me. At one time I wanted to be an artist as well as a writer, but I realized to do a good job I had to choose between one or the other and writing won. I grew up during World War II and had a great time imagining that I would be asked to be a spy.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I write two series and at the moment am finishing up my next Rocky Bluff P.D. crime novel. The next one in that series will be out sometime after the beginning of the year and is called Angel Lost.

5) Parting comments?
The characters in my Deputy Tempe Crabtree series are as real to me as any of my friends and family—and I know how the characters think, not something I know about the flesh and blood folks in my life. I keep writing about Tempe because I want to know what’s going to happen to her next and I hope that’s why readers will continue on with the series.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My webpage is http://fictionforyou.com, my blog is http://marilynmeredith.blogspot.com and every Tuesday I make an appearance at http://thestilettogang.blogspot.com . I’m also on Facebook and Twitter.