Giveaway for Susan Page Davis' Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island

Two great giveaways on my blog right now. Be sure to leave a post to be entered to win Susan's new release, Love Finds YOu in Prince Edward Island. And there is still time to enter Connie Stevens' contest for her historical, Scars of Mercy. Go to the July 11th post (after you leave a comment here) and leave a comment there, also. I've extended the contest to August 1st because I made a mistake on the end date! So one blog and two chances to win books. Check at the bottom to see how to double your chances. Thanks for stopping by. 
 

HI! I’m happy to be here with you on Debbie’s blog. We’re giving away a copy of my book, Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island. Send a comment with your e-mail address below to enter the drawing. And do come visit me on my website at www.susanpagedavis.com . I give away books there at the end of each month.

In this story, Prince Edward Island pulls out all the stops to prepare for the visit of Prince Albert Edward (Queen Victoria’s son, later King Edward VII) in 1860. Molly Orland, a farmer’s daughter, is hired as a housemaid at the governor’s mansion, where the prince and his entourage will stay. Peter Stark is sent ahead of the royal party to ensure the arrangements are in order. Though Peter and Molly are attracted to each other, there seems to be no future for them, since Peter must soon leave with his master, the Earl of Washburn, and Molly will lose her job if discovered to be engaging in a flirtation with one of the visitors. However, Molly’s family harbors a secret that connects her family to Washburn’s. Can she and Peter overcome the past and set right a 60-year-old wrong?

Writing this book was a joy. The editor and I had talked several times about working together, but up to that point a story line hadn’t clicked for both of us. When Summerside Press decided to cross the border into Canada with the Love Finds You line, Rachel Meisel asked if I’d like to write a story set in PEI. I lived in Maine then, and was within five or six hours’ drive of the island. I jumped at the chance, we worked out the story line, and I went to PEI to do research.

While researching the book, I spent  a week on the island and visited as many historic sites as I could. (Of course, I also visited Green Gables, just for fun.) I also spent time at the archives in Charlottetown, and at Province House (known as “the Colonial Building” in my story’s day). It was a wonderful experience, and I loved seeing some of the actual rooms the prince saw in 1860 and reading newspaper accounts about his visit. I also used many Websites and books. One very helpful volume has the daunting title of Royal Spectacle: The 1860 Visit of the Prince of Wales to Canada and the United States. 

My next book, releasing in September, is called Captive Trail, which is a new venture with a new publisher for me. Moody Publishing has contracted a six-book series, Texas Trails, written by me and two of my favorite authors, Vickie McDonough and Darlene Franklin. The books all feature members of the (fictional) Morgan family, in different decades. Darlene’s Lone Star Trail will release first, then my Captive Trail in September, followed by Vickie’s The Long Trail Home in November. Next spring you’ll see Darlene’s A Ranger’s Trail, my Cowgirl Trail, and Vickie’s End of the Trail.

Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island!

DOUBLE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING by following my blog with Powered by FEEDBURNER on the right, and don't miss any giveaways (the button with the flame). If you already follow my blog go ahead and follow by FEEDBURNER so you can be entered twice. If you're not getting an email telling you I have a new giveaway you're not following through Feedburner. Just mention that you follow through Feedburner when you leave a comment with each giveaway and you'll be entered twice.

Be sure to leave your email address. Please check your junk mail on and the day after the drawing. I've had to redraw because of no responses. Subject box will have: winner of (book title). I'll email the winner and they'll have seven days to respond. If I don't hear back I'll draw another name. USA shipping only. Thanks so much and please stop back again! Drawing will be held Monday, August 8th. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Something Free from Miralee Ferrell

 Miralee Ferrell

I’m so excited and I just had to share this with you! My new book, Love Finds You in Sundance, WY is releasing in just under two weeks. I put together a little ‘thank you’ package of four gifts for buying my book ON August 1st…..here’s what you need to do to get those….first…what are they?

1.     A four page epilogue for the new book. We were running tight on word count and I wasn’t able to write an epilogue to show what happens in the future. Yes, the book ended fine, no problems there, but I LOVE an epilogue that wraps up little details I always want to know about, don’t you? So I wrote one just for YOU—My reader friends who support me.

2.     A fun page of 80 boy and girl baby names in the order of popularity used in 1889, when Angel Ramirez was riding the range near Sundance, WY. You can check it out and see if your child, grandchild, or your name was popular 120 yrs ago!

3.     A Sneak Peek at the full first chapter of the current book I’m working on, another historical romance. Yep. You will be the ONLY ones in the general public who get to read this chapter before it comes out. It won’t be available anywhere else.

4.     FIVE pages of my favorite recipes! Some are older ones that my mother and grandmother used, some more current, many are desserts, a couple of ones for canning, and a couple of bread recipes. Yummy!

PLUS----If you take part, your name will be entered in a drawing for a $5 Starbucks card and a $10 Amazon gift card….you could win both, which will repay you more than the book cost. Not bad, huh?

So how do you get all this? Simply mark your calendar for August 1^st. Anytime that day go to Amazon and purchase my new book, then send me (to this email addy, miraleef@gmail.com) a copy of the receipt you got from Amazon. As much as I love it when people pre-order my books, you need to WAIT till August 1^st and buy it THAT DAY to qualify for the free items.

If you’ve already pre-ordered my book let me know, I’ll still give you the gift package. Or if you get one from me personally but want to help spread the word, that would be a huge help. Maybe you can pass this email along to your email list as well as FB and your blog?

Would you like extra entries in the drawing as well to increase your chance of winning? Go to my blog and post a comment on any of the posts about the purchase of my book (one just posted today) at www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com and let me know you plan to take part.

That gives you one extra entry.

Follow/subscribe to my blog and let me know you did. That gives you another extra entry.

Blog about what I’m doing, or post it on Facebook with a link back to my blog. That will give you yet another entry!

Now, here’s the summary of my new book, with the link below it to Amazon. But BE SURE you wait to order until Aug 1^st to qualify. I’m hoping to get a BIG bump on Amazon ratings by everyone buying the same day. Here’s the Amazon link:

Click here for Love Finds You in Sundance, WY

Angel Ramirez is tired of living a lie. But can she live like a lady?

On the run from a dangerous outlaw, Angel works her way across several states disguised as a boy and working as a varmint tracker and horse wrangler. After taking a job on a Wyoming ranch owned by a bachelor and his widowed sister, she finally reveals her true identity and must fight to prove her worth as a ranch hand while somehow discovering her role as woman.

Hiring a woman doesn’t sit well with Travis Morgan, and the dark-haired beauty is causing a ruckus among his cowboys. Just as Angel decides she’ll never be able to please her boss, an unexpected surprise arrives from across the ocean and makes trouble on the ranch. Will Angel leave with the person who’s come so far to claim her? 

There is still time to leave a comment to be entered to win Connie Stevens new release, a historical romance, Scars of Mercy.  Just leave her a message on last weeks blog to be entered. 

Congratulations Martha Rogers! You won the tote bag with the embroidered quote. 

Giveaway for Connie Stevens' Scars of Mercy

Connie Stevens lives within sight of the north Georgia mountains—her favorite place on earth. She and her husband of nearly thirty-eight years, John, are active in a variety of capacities in their church. One cantankerous kitty, misnamed Sweet Pea, allows Connie and John to live in her home. When Connie isn’t writing, she is reading, planting flowers, browsing antique shops, and collecting teddy bears. She enjoys making quilts to send to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Connie’s debut novel, LEAVE ME NEVER, was released in January. REVEALING FIRE is her second book. Visit Connie’s website and blog at www.conniestevenswrites.com 

Connie is giving away a copy of her new release Scars of Mercy. So be sure to leave a comment to have your name entered in the drawing.

As authors, we like to get to know who our characters are before we begin writing the story. Without a deep understanding of their hopes and dreams, their goals and motivations, we can’t authentically bring them to life on the page. Regardless of how deeply we immerse ourselves in the characters, however, once in a while one will refuse to play well with others.

I first introduced Everett Behr as a secondary character in my book, REVEALING FIRE that was released in May. I could tell from the outset he was going to be one of those characters who would not willingly go along with the program. He was obstinate and rather demanding of his own way—not just with the other characters in the story, but with me also. Just when I thought I knew exactly the direction a chapter would take, Everett would poke his finger in my eye and start to whine that he wasn’t getting enough of the spotlight. I patiently (or not so patiently) explained to him that as a secondary character, he had to step OUT of the spotlight.

In my coming-soon release, SCARS OF MERCY, Everett is one of the main characters. If I thought he was contrary in Revealing Fire, he was downright ornery during the writing of Scars of Mercy. Sheesh!! He tried to hijack the story more than once, but I managed to keep him in line. While I was working on the last chapter, he decided to offer some “what if” suggestions.

Everett:  Hey, what if you gave me a reason to leave Willow Creek?
 
Me:  That’s not included in my chapter x chapter synopsis.

Everett:  But what if there was a distinct possibility that I might leave? How do you think that would affect Tillie?

Me:  I don’t know, Everett. Now get back on the page where you belong.

Everett:  I know I tried to make Tillie see how she’d be better off with Ben, but it’s a lot tougher than I thought it would be, watching the two of them together.

Me:  Well, you knew it wasn’t going to be easy. This was your decision.

Everett:  But if I had a reason to leave, I wouldn’t have to watch them fall in love with each other.

Me:  That’s not included in my chapter x chapter synopsis.

Everett:  Well, how would you feel if someone you loved fell in love with someone else? Wouldn’t that make you want to run away?

Me:  That’s not included in my chapter x chapter synopsis.

Everett:  You know I never planned to stay in Willow Creek anyway. What if there was a way I could return to Baltimore?

Me:  Everett!! You’re not listening. The chapter x chapter synopsis I sent to my editor does not include you leaving Willow Creek.

Everett:  But what are you going to do about this letter?

Me:  What letter?

Everett:  The letter I received from Grandfather’s attorney.

Me:  Huh?

Everett:  This job offer in Baltimore is pretty tempting.

Me:  What are you talking about? What job offer?

Everett:  Great opportunity, great pay, and I could sit behind closed doors and nobody would ever stare at me again.

Me:  Everett, I don’t like the sound of this. Do you realize what you’re suggesting? I’m almost finished with this story. In order to include this letter you’re talking about, I’d have to go back to earlier chapters and weave in this new thread.

Everett:  So why are you just sitting there? Get busy.

Me:  Let me see that letter.

Everett:  You have to write the letter.

Me:  You know, if you were going to make this suggestion, it might have been nice if you’d done so earlier.

Everett:  Hey, what do you want from me? I’m fictitious. (He tosses out his uplifted palms and shrugs) I could take the stage to Dubuque and board the eastbound train there.

Me:  Now just wait a minute. I’m the author. You’re supposed to do what I say.

Everett:  (tucking the letter into his vest pocket) I’m off to talk to my father about this letter. I need his advice.

Me:  And there he goes, and I must hasten after him, for I am the author… I think.

  

LOL! I love this, Connie. Now I'm dying to read your book! I can't wait until it comes out. Good thing it's right around the corner. 

SCARS OF MERCY – Willow Creek, Iowa, 1885

Everett Behr goes to great lengths to maintain his distance from people so they won’t stare at the disfiguring scars he sustained in a fire. He’s become adept at hiding in the shadows. A budding relationship with Tillie O’Dell eases his loneliness, but he is convinced she is only being gracious out of pity. Asking her to endure the humiliation of being with someone like him is out of the question.

Tillie sees Everett’s scars as noble and heroic since he put his own life in danger to save two others. In her eyes, his courage and compassion define him as a man of character, but persuading him to view his scars the way she does is more difficult than she imagined. How can she convince Everett his scars represent something beautiful to her?

If Everett can see himself the way God does, only then will he realize his scars are marks of mercy. Trusting in God’s enduring love, Everett finds a hiding place sweeter than any earthly device can afford, but has he destroyed any chance he might have had for happiness with Tillie?

 CONGRATULATIONS Brenda! Winner of A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley.

Be sure to leave your email address. Please check your junk mail on and the day after the drawing. I've had to redraw because of no responses. Subject box will have: winner of (book title). I'll email the winner and they'll have seven days to respond. If I don't hear back I'll draw another name. USA shipping only. Thanks so much and please stop back again! Drawing will be held Monday, July 18th. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.

Welcome Tamela Hancock Murray

I'd like to welcome my agent, Tamela Hancock Murray to my blog today. I'm excited and honored to have her as my guest. Thank you for stopping by and visiting with Tamela and me. In celebration of having Tamela on my blog and the Fourth of July, I'm giving away a canvas tote bag with the quote, Be nice or I'll make you the villain in my next novel embroidered on it, so be sure to leave a comment so you can be entered in the drawing.

I’m very excited to have you on my blog today, Tamela. I’m going to mix up the questions with some fun ones. I start every interview with this question.

 

Debbie Lynne, thank you for having me as your guest!

Where are you right now (LVR, DR, Bathroom) and what are you wearing? You have to tell the truth.

Right now I'm sitting in my office, typing on my computer, and I am wearing a Chanel suit and Christian Louboutin shoes. Oh, wait! I have to tell the truth. The first part is true, but I am actually wearing a casual shirt and pants you'd never catch me in at a conference. 

LOL! Glad I put that stipulation in there. 

How long had you been writing before you decided to become a literary agent and what brought that about?

I had been writing as a professional since the mid-1990s. You can see my books listed on my web site, www.tamelahancockmurray.com, and my articles appeared in a number of magazines and newspapers. Sometimes I drew on life experiences. For instance, our house came with a home warranty. When our refrigerator went on the fritz and we had to jump through hoops to get it fixed, I wrote an article on the pros and cons of home warranties for The Washington Times. This led to a television appearance. I was afraid of the home warranty guy who appeared with me, and he confessed after the interview that he had been afraid of me.

As for becoming a literary agent, I worked with Hartline Literary Agency as a client. The CEO, Joyce Hart, and I were chatting one day and she said she needed help. I saw the opportunity as an exciting new step in my career development so my response was to take her up on her offer. I will always appreciate the confidence she expressed in taking a chance on me. Then, recently when Steve Laube, President of The Steve Laube Agency, decided to expand his agency, he brought me on board.

And I am so excited about this new chapter in our lives!

As an agent are there publishers that you are more comfortable working with?

I seek and work with with successful publishers of quality Christian books who respect their authors and treat them fairly. Each writer has different goals and needs, so I work with a variety of publishers. I am always impressed by the dedication and commitment of the editors, and am grateful to Christian publishers in partnering with writers to further God's kingdom.

 

If you were writing a book about your life what would the title be?

Why I Am Grateful to God

This unagented book would be self-published to no fanfare but between them, my friends and family would buy approximately 150 copies. I doubt anyone but my parents would actually read it.

 I can think of some clients that would read it. ;o)

As writers we hear the term slush pile. How does an agent handle a slush pile?

With determination while draining a pot of robust coffee. With kindness for the feelings of writers who aren't quite ready, and with joy when we find a pearl worthy to be called a Mikimoto.

We hear publishers pass on something because they already agreed to publish something similar or have an author that writes comparable. Do agents take on a client if they have many authors that are similar?

Agents have the advantage of opening doors to lots of publishers for writers, whereas editors represent the interests of their publishing houses, so their needs are finite. Market conditions determine how many similar authors an agent can take at any given time.

 

What is something that very few people know about you?

At risk of being kicked out of the Worldwide Girlfriends' Club, my fondness for chocolate can be described as anemic. But keep me away from the lemon bars!

LOL! Lemon bars are yummy, but then I do like milk or white chocolate. However, given a choice I'd have to choose coconut. Does that mean I can't be in the GC club either?

Every writer looking for an agent wants to know what is that makes you notice a potential client?

Excellent writing aimed at the current market. Commitment to developing a new career or growing an existing career. Professionalism. And, making a connection -- do we like each other? 

CBA is blessed to have top notch agents with different personalities. Finding a match isn't always easy, but when you do, it's magical.

 

I know I feel very blessed to have you for an agent. I know I was walking around pinching myself for weeks after your call. 

What is the most exciting thing that has happened to you or one of your clients?

I love seeing God's hand in authors' careers. A common occurrence I've witnessed is when the discouraged author suddenly finds more than one publishing house offering excellent, multi-book contracts. Then we're flying!

What is your favorite material item that you own and why is it? (examples: ipod, Gone with the Wind book, grandmother’s rocking chair)

The bridal set my husband gave me for our recent 25th wedding anniversary. He wanted me to have a past, present, and future ring and wedding band to match, representing our lifetime of committed love.

And now the question that everyone has been waiting for. Can you tell us about this new chapter in your career?

This is quite an exciting chapter in my career, and I plan to stay here for the long term. As I see God's hand in my writers' careers, likewise I see His timing and blessing with this opportunity to join one of the top CBA agencies. Steve Laube is fabulous to work with, and he and I are partnering to grow the careers of my clients. I see continued success for my writers as they are represented by The Steve Laube Agency, and excellent prospects as we develop new talent. You will see when you visit our site at www.stevelaube.com that our client list is impressive. We are honored and privileged to be part of the ministries of each and every writer we represent.

Debbie Lynne, this has been fun! Again, thank you for letting me spend time with you and your readers today. God bless you all!

Tamela

CONGRATULATIONS Karen! Winner of A Stray Drop of Blood by Roseanna White.

Be sure to leave your email address. Please check your junk mail on and the day after the drawing. I've had to redraw because of no responses. Subject box will have: winner of (book title). I'll email the winner and they'll have seven days to respond. If I don't hear back I'll draw another name. USA shipping only. Thanks so much and please stop back again! Drawing will be held Monday, July 18th. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants.