Lena Nelson Dooley's "Christmas Love in Lake Tahoe"

Title: Maggie’s Journey
Publisher: Realms, a fiction imprint from Charisma House

Cover blurb:
A girl who’s been lied to her whole life…
Near her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she was adopted. The daughter of wealthy merchants in Seattle, she feels betrayed both by her real parents and by the ones who raised her.

Maggie desires a place where she belongs. But her mother’s constant criticism and reminders that she doesn't fit the mold of a young woman of their social standing have already created tension in their home. With the discovery of the family secret, all sense of her identity is lost.

When Maggie asks to visit her grandmother in Arkansas, her father agrees on the condition that she take her Aunt Georgia as a chaperone and his young partner, Charles Stanton, as protection on the journey. Will she discover who she really is and, more importantly, what truly matters most in life?

1) How did this story come to you?
This story had been percolating in my brain and heart for several years. It’s book one in my McKenna’s Daughters series about identical triplets separated at birth.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Several years ago, when Tracie Peterson was the acquisitions editor for Heartsong, she was interested in the series, but she left the company to concentrate on her own writing before it was contracted.

In the intervening time, my agent Joyce Hart has sent it to several editors. At least three of them were very interested, but the series didn’t make it through committee. Then in 2010, she sent it to Strang/Realms, which later became Charisma House, and they bought the series very quickly.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
For the first 20 years of my life, I was painfully shy.
I wear a brace on my left leg.
I wasn’t a redhead, but I became one as soon as I could.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Book 2 of McKenna’s Daughters, Mary’s Blessing, has been written and will release May 2012. I’m writing book 3, Catherine’s Pursuit, right now, and it will release January 2013. I’m also contracted for another series with Realms—Restored Hearts—so l’ll plunge right into writing them.

5) Parting comments?
I love my readers. They’re the reason I write. I love to connect with them, and I love to hear from them.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/lenandooley
http://www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley
www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts – my official fan page
http://www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley - my profile
http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/ – Bustles and Spurs
http://justthewritecharisma.blogspot.com/  – Just the Write Charisma

I will give away a copy of Christmas Love in Lake Tahoe.

Andrea Boeshaar's "Unexpected Love"

We're happy to have Andrea Boeshaar with us today talking about her book Unexpected Love. To learn more about Andrea and her book, read on!

Title: Unexpected Love
Publisher: Realms/Strang Book Group

Cover blurb: Nurse Lorenna Fields has always taken her job at Chicago's Mercy Hospital seriously, determined never to become personally involved with her patients. But when a mysterious man with eyes like onyx is admitted after a shipwreck on Lake Michigan, she develops a connection with him that she can’t deny.
Slowly her patient regains consciousness, but to Renna’s dismay he has lost both his sight and his memory. Dubbed “Mr. Blackeyes” by her, the two build a strong, trusting friendship as they search for clues to his past. But part of her dreads the day of his recovery, convinced that his memories will take him away from her and his regained sight will reveal a secret about herself that Renna has been trying hard to hide.

1) How did this story come to you?
As I wrote its prequel, Uncertain Heart, I realized I needed to tell Captain Brian Sinclair’s story too.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
A version of this story was published about ten years ago by Heartsong Presents. After the rights for this book reverted back to me, I asked my agent to shop it around because I still believed in it – and in this entire series. When Realms/Strang Book Group expressed interest, I was elated. The company ended up buying the series, renaming it to Seasons of Redemption. However, I must say, the stories in this series are much different than what Heartsong Presents first published. For one, I added another 30,000 words to each book and created new characters and plot twists. So readers who read the original versions will not be bored or disappointed with these updated and re-created stories!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’m a little bit shy – and growing shyer as I get older.
I want to learn to do needle point.
I have a 65 lb, 8 month old yellow lab named Miley who thinks she’s a lap dog. 

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am anticipating the release of Book 4 in my Seasons of Redemption series. It’ll release in May 2011. And this month (Jan ’11) I’m beginning to write a brand new series called Fabric of Time. It’s a 3-book historical romance series about a Norwegian family that migrates to Brown County, Wisconsin. The first book is set to release in November 2011.

5) Parting comments?
Be sure to leave a comment so you’re in the drawing for a FREE, autographed book.

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

Martha Rogers "Caroline's Choice"

We're happy to have Martha Rogers with us today talking about her book Caroline's Choice. To learn more about Martha and her book, read on!

Title: Caroline’s Choice
Publisher: Realms Fiction Division of Strang Communications

Cover blurb: Matthew Haynes enjoys working the ranch with his father. Caroline Frankston has had her eye on Matt since their school days, and has put off any advances from other young men. Now in her mid-twenties, she’s afraid she’ll never marry because Matt Haynes shows no interest in marriage, so she moves to the city to begin a new life. Matt misses her, but after seeing how happy she is with her new friends, he won’t pursue her. Two events, one happy, the other traumatic, work together to change hearts and bring love.

1) How did this story come to you?
It grew from the other books in the series. When I was asked to write the fourth book, I knew it had to be Matt and Caroline’s story.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It came about as the result of the first book in the series, Becoming Lucy. The publisher liked the first one and asked for three more.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
That I once made all my own clothes when I taught Homemaking.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The second book of my new series, Seasons of the Heart. This one is Autumn Song. I have two more in this
series and then a Christmas novel is set for 2012.

5) Parting comments?
I’m excited about this new series, and I so appreciate all the love and support given me by my ACFW friends. Without them, I wouldn’t be where I am with my books today.

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