Please welcome a dear friend and wonderful writer, Louise Gouge. Ask Louise a question to be entered into the drawing. She is giving away a copy of her new release or a copy of one of her other books. Don't forget to leave your email address so we can contact you if you win. And let me know if you are a feedburner follower for an extra entry. For those of you who are new to my blog if you follow The Sword and the Spirit via feedburner (they will send you a message through your email every time I have a new post up. Usually once a week) if you let me know when you leave a comment I will give you an extra entry. Just remember to let me know.
Thank you for inviting me to your blog, Debbie Lynne. Today I wanted to tell everyone about an exciting new adventure I’ve been enjoying for the past year: I’ve officially become a hybrid author! That means I’m still publishing with Harlequin’s wonderful Love Inspired Historical imprint, AND I’m also independently publishing my out-of-print books for Kindle and NOOK, and through Smashwords, all at great low prices.
I’ve had such a good response to those older titles that I decided to “indie” publish some of my previously unpublished works. The first one, Escape from Kikwit, based on my daughter’s missionary adventures in Zaire, was released last year. This summer I have Daughter of Destiny, a historical missionary adventure, available for purchase in all formats.
This is an exciting time for authors because we all have manuscripts stashed in our closets (these days, I guess that would be virtual closets, i.e., our computers!) that traditional publishers have rejected for one reason of another. Rejection doesn’t mean the stories aren’t as good as our published works. Maybe the timing or setting wasn’t right, or it’s in a different genre from what our readers expect from us. But those stories beg to be published, to be given a chance to find readers who will enjoy these adventures with us.
And after all, a writer’s focus should be her readers and what they’re interested in. When readers ask for more that is offered by traditional publishers, why not give them other stories?
So today, let me tell you about Daughter of Destiny. Editors tell us that missionary stories don’t sell well, but what about James Michener’s Hawaii, a huge bestseller that was made into several movies to span the generations? Michener didn’t have good things to say about missionaries, but I personally know many pure-hearted missionaries who have dedicated their lives to serving God and loving the people to whom they minister. My novella (short novel) is a tribute to those who took the Word of God to the distant South Seas to bring the beautiful island people to Jesus Christ. Let’s prove those editors wrong!

My next Love Inspired Historical, Cowboy to the Rescue,
will be released in September 2014. It’s my first western! And it will be available in both print and e-book.
Each of these books can be found by clicking on the titles. Please check them out! I’ll be giving away one title to the lucky winner of our drawing. Leave a comment or question below to be entered. You must be a resident of the U. S. or Canada OR be able to receive a Kindle copy of the book of your choice. Daughter of Destiny is offered only in e-book format. Cowboy to the Rescue
is offered in either e-book or print.
I love hearing from my readers, but I’m a bit slow to jump into Facebook, Twitter, and the myriad other social media. Please visit my website at http://blog.Louisemgouge.com
More about Louise:
Award-winning Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes historical fiction for Harlequin's Love Inspired imprint. In addition to numerous other awards, Louise is the recipient of the prestigious Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award for her 2005 historical novel, Hannah
Rose and her 2011 Regency novella, The Gentleman Takes a Bride.
I'm really grateful for the ebook market because I have found some amazing books on there that a publisher has not picked up! I think your book sounds really good! Thank you for the giveaway! :)
ReplyDeletesylvesternator (at) yahoo (dot) com
Thanks, Laura. Isn't it great that we have so many choices these days!
DeleteAnother wonderful thing about ebooks is that books need never go out of print anymore. So many times I've wanted to get my hands on an out of date copy of something and now I can!
DeleteHey Louise,
ReplyDeleteWelcome! It is so good to meet you. I love reading missionary books. Your books sounds like a good book to read. I would love to read it.
Oh and I clicked on your cowboy book that is coming out in September and that one looks also like a good book to read too.
My question for you is. When you write your books were do you like to go too write?
oh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
Hi, Danie. I love "meeting" people who love to read. Where do I write? I have an office in my home, so that's where I write. Thanks for asking!
DeleteHey Danie! Thanks for stopping by my blog. Louise has written some wonderful Regency books and bible stories. She is multi talented! Good luck in the drawing. If you aren't a follower of my blog you can join via feedburner and you get a second entry every time we do a giveaway on the blog. Just let me know you're a feedburner follower.
DeleteThe cover of this book is so beautiful. How did you pick it and why?
ReplyDeletepbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Thank you, Ruby. I envisioned this cover when I saw my granddaughter in a family portrait. She fit my heroine just perfectly. So we took the picture, and my e-book gal put it all together with the background and title. Thanks for asking!
DeleteHi Ruby, thanks for coming by. Great question! I do love the cover.
Deleteluv that descriptive term 'hybrid' author & glad you've found this extra publishing method to get your stories to a wider audience with ebook options. Have you found the emanuscript publishing process difficult ?
ReplyDeleteps- {I'm a feedburner follower =)}
DeleteI'm so uninformed that I don't even know what feedburner is! LOL! But as far as getting my emanuscripts published, I hired a gal who does this for a living. She formatted the manuscript for each of the programs, Kindle, NOOK, and Smashwords, designed most of my covers, and put them up on the Intenet. I'd be lost without her!
DeleteHey Faith (Love your name!) I'll fill Louise in on Feedburner. ;o) I've been looking into to doing some ebooks/print and joined an awesome group that helps so much on the formatting and all the ins and outs of it. It sounds extremely complicated but if you have someone to walk you through it I think it isn't too bad.
DeleteSounds good, Debbie Lynne. I'll take that help!
DeleteI have actually read HAWAII by James A Michener & enjoyed it. The missionary story line was compelling, though certainly biased.
ReplyDeleteI would love to read DAUGHTER OF DESTINY thank you.
marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Hey Mary. Thanks for coming by. I haven't read HAWAII but you two have my interest up. I may have to put that on my read list! Good luck!
DeleteHi, Mary. Thanks for your comment. Yes, Michener's missionary story is compelling and biased. I hope I've created a more balanced view of those godly people who sacrificed so much in serving the Lord.
ReplyDeleteIt is so nice to "meet" you, Louise! I agree that the ebook market is exciting! While I still prefer print books, I also enjoy having an entire library at my fingertips! :) Thank you so much for sharing this great giveaway opportunity.
ReplyDeleteI follow via feedburner.
texaggs2000 at gmail dot com
Thanks, Britney. I'm like you in preferring print books, but I'm so glad many more people like e-books.
ReplyDeleteI volunteer in my church library and have for 35 years. How much time do you spend in a library doing your research?
ReplyDeleteI prefer print books to email.
Thanks for answering my question.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com
Janet, How wonderful that you keep your church library going! I used to spend many hours in libraries for my research. Now I can use that time to write because most everything I need is online. Thanks for stopping by!
DeleteHi Louise! Books bring such pleasure and I seem to still favor a paperback over an ebook. I didn't really love reading until later in life. How about you?
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Hi, Melanie. I always liked to read, but didn't always have time because I was busy raising our four children. When they got old enough for me to have some free time, I chose reading as my favorite pastime. That turned into my writing career. Thank you for asking!
DeleteHi Louise! I've enjoyed several of your books. Do you find inspiration in people, places, events or all the above and more? Thanks for your amazing stories!
ReplyDeleteI'm a follower.
worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com