Deanna Klingel's "Crack in the Ice"

Title: Cracks in the Ice
Publisher: Write Integrity, October 2012

Cover blurb:
Gina, niece of a mafia don, has dreams of Olympic gold as a figure skater. When crisis destroys her dream she is ill-equipped to cope. She spirals into depression and alcoholism. Two people who love her are able to show her God still loves her and help to restore her identity. She returns to the faith of her childhood and discovers a different kind of victory.

1) How did this story come to you?
Truthfully? I have no idea!

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This book was easy to write once I researched the history and facts I needed to know. Write Integrity had just announced they were open to receiving YA novels, especially those that crossed over to women’s fiction, so I submitted to them. The editor loved the story, offered a contract and quickly took it to press. The proofreaders say it’s their best one yet! I’m honored and excited to begin selling the book.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’ve been married for fifty years, for one. For two, I’ve been married for fifty years to the same man, and for three, I’m happy as a clam and yes I would do it all over again.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’ve got three finished manuscripts I hope to find homes for in the next year, I’ve just started writing another historical fiction for YA, and I’ve got a couple of ideas for the future. I’ve got enough ideas to last for the rest of my life!

5) Parting comments?
I love to read and write and love to share my enthusiasm with young readers at schools. Call me if you’d like a school visit.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is www.BooksByDeanna.com. The last page is my schedule, so you can see when I’m in your area and could visit at your school. I blog as a guest a couple times a month, and those can be found by searching my name. I’m also on facebook, linked in, and Pinterest.

Deanna Klingel's "Avery's Crossroad"

Title: Avery's Crossroad

Avery’s skills as a doctor and his dog Gunner’s friendly personality make the pair a welcome sight to the soldiers in the Civil War hospitals. But mending wounds is not the only challenge Avery faces. Dwindling supplies, insufficient medical facilities, and local troublemakers add to the stress of the war. Avery realizes that the real wounds of the war—the wounds of the soul—will take years to heal. But he finds hope for the future in his deepening friendship with Claire, a girl from back home who shares his passion for helping the wounded. Together they pray for the long war to end.

1) How did this story come to you?
The Avery & Gunner stories came to me from Avery himself as he wiggled into my heart and my writing soul. He's fictional, but not to him and me.

2)Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The journey to getting this book published was almost as long as Avery's journey. In 2006 the book was in the hands of Brubaker Ford Agency in UK. They loved the story and their editor worked intensely with me. It was a wonderful learning experience. In 2008 Avery & Gunner's Civil War Chronicles, as it was then all 5 years in one big book, went to the International Children's Book Fair in Bologna and apparently created a stir. The agents & editor were very excited. A couple of large publishers in NY were interested, one talked about film rights. They gave us specific "to do's" which we did post haste. In 2009 we were close to closing a deal when the request came to make it "edgier." They wanted Avery and Claire to have "more realistic sexual behavior toward each other." I gagged. I'd been totally cooperative to this point, but I know this boy Avery and he wouldn't do what they were suggesting. It was 1861; Avery was a 14 year-old Quaker, a farmer, homeschooled by two well-educated Quakers. We aren't talking about 21st century behavior. I said I could do anything they asked except compromise my character. Avery could live out my life in the drawer. They walked. I had a consultation with God. Is this what you want me to do? If not, tell me what you want. I can do other things. I don't have to write. I was really wondering if I could write for today's market based on what these publishers said. The agents said they'd done all they could do, and we parted ways. Then one morning I was hurrying out the door, saw this strange logo on my screen, hit print, shut down the computer and left. I discovered this odd poster dangling off my printer later, practically waving to get my attention. I'd never seen it before, had no idea who sent it; I still don't. It was an invitation to Write2Ignite, a Christian Writers' Conference. Christian Writers? Really? I never knew. It was close, inexpensive; what did I have to lose? The speaker was dynamic and said everything I needed to hear: there IS a market for my work. My first workshop facilitator convinced me. I stopped into her room later to thank her for her words of conviction, how important it was to me to hear those words. She asked me to come in and talk to her. She wanted to know what my experience had been to elicit this kind of response. I told her about Avery and Gunner. She said she'd like to have a look at that. I didn't know then what I know now. She was the aquisitions editor for Journey Forth Publishing, BJU Press. Avery's Battlefield, 1861-1862 was released in March 2011, and Avery's Crossroad, 1863-1865 in September, 2011.

3)Tell me three things about yourself tht would surprise your readers.
Three things that would surprise readers about me? I'm married almost 50 years, have 7 children, like to travel, garden, golf, read, write. None of that is very surprising. I'm pretty wide open, and I think reading my books probably tells you all you need or want to know about me. You might be surprised that I'm really rather shy! Really!

4)What are you working on and what is next for you?
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas Rafka Press will release my next YA nonfiction, Bread Upon the Water. I'm currently rewriting Rebecca & Heart, a short ebook story, into a YA length. I've got two finished manuscripts, Cracks in the Ice and Waiting With Elmer, that I hope a publisher will want, and I'm currently writing a nonfiction YA, Rock and a Hard Place. Your question was what is next for me? Only God knows.

5)Parting comments?
I'm passionate about literacy. I hope everything I write inspires someone to want to read more books.

6)Where can fans find you on the internet?
You can find me at http://www.booksbydeanna.com/. If you google my name you can also find me on other blogspots.

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.

Deanna K. Klingel's "Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog"

We're happy to have Deanna K. Klingel with us today talking about her book, Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog. To learn more about Deanna and her book, read on!

1) How did this story come to you?
Telling stories about the therapy dog visits with my dogs, seemed to be of interest to people. When out with my dogs I'm always asked questions. So I decided it was a story that needed to be told.
2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Every publisher I submitted to sent back encouragement. They loved the book and hoped I could publish it. One even explained why he couldn't publish it: because of the economy they were cutting back to five books (dog) and they were all how-to. This book doesn't fit neatly into any genre, and I'm an unknown author, so it was very difficult to sell. The only publisher who didn't like it said I needed to develop the character and create a plot. I knew he didn't get it. There is no plot and it's not about characters. It's about moments. I finally found a publisher who "got it," and was willing to take the risk of a book outside the box.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.

Usually the thing that surprises most people about me is that I have seven children. The other surprising things are probably that I'm OLD and I attend college classes, known as a non traditional student. Otherwise, I'm not a very surprising person.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have three manuscripts that I'm peddling right now. I have an early chapter book, Walker Hound of Park Avenue, a middle grade non-fiction, Bread Upon the Water, and a teen novel, Cracks in the Ice. But, Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog will occupy me this fall with the marketing details and some travel.

5) Parting comments?
I'm enjoying this slippery slope called a steep learning curve. I hope you'll enjoy the results.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?

In September my book can be found on therapydogstories.com, and I can be found on http://www.booksbydeanna.com/.