Carla Stewart and Free Books!

An East Texas widow sets her dreams on running the Stardust Tourist Court, but when her dead husband’s mistress arrives with a child in tow and polio strikes, her dreams are crippled.

Before we revisit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Hannah's Joy, by Marta Perry, is:

crazi.swans@ . . .

The winner of The Homesteader's Sweetheart, by Lacy Williams, is:

rosemcnana@ . . .

And the winner of Traveler's Rest, by Ann Tatlock, is:

k527@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll contact you all for your snail mail addresses, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Now let's revisit with novelist Carla Stewart, author of Stardust (FaithWords, May 2012).

Carla Stewart’s writing reflects her passion for times gone by. She’s an alumnus of the Guideposts Writer’s Workshop, a two-time winner of the ACFW Genesis contest. Her debut novel Chasing Lilacs was the 2011 trophy winner at OWFI (Oklahoma Writers Federation Inc.) and a 2011 finalist for the Oklahoma Book Award. Broken Wings was a 2012 Oklahoma Book Award finalist.

Carla believes in Jesus, the power of the written word, and a good cup of coffee. She and her husband have four adult sons and delight in the adventures of their six grandchildren. Her desire is to take readers to that place in their hearts called “home.”

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

-- My husband and I will celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary this month!

-- My miniature dachshund, Zelda, is my muse and writing companion.

-- I’m not afraid of snakes or lizards, but I can’t stand salamanders.

-- As a teen, I rode a Trailways bus from Oklahoma to California by myself.

-- I’m a huge Statler Brother fan and have been to their concerts in four different states.

Some day I'd like to hear more about the unpleasantness of salamanders. That actually sounds like an obscure book title: The Unpleasantness of Salamanders.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Stardust.

Shortly after burying her unfaithful husband, Georgia Payton inherits the derelict Stardust Tourist Court from a distant relative. Faced with opposition from the aunt who raised her and others in the town, Georgia breathes new life into the cottages.

The guests who arrive, though, aren’t what Georgia expects: her gin-loving mother-in-law; her dead husband's mistress; an attractive drifter who's tired of the endless road; and an aging Vaudeville entertainer with a disturbing link to Georgia's past. Dreams of a new life are crippled amid the havoc.

Georgia's only hope is that she can find the courage to forgive those who've betrayed her, the grace to shelter those who need her, and the moxie to face the future. One thing is certain: under the flickering neon of the STARDUST, none of their lives will ever be the same.

I love the sound of this book, Carla. What is it about Georgia Payton that will make your readers care about her?

Georgia was abandoned as a child to the care of her aunt, and now her husband has left her for another woman. She’s not one to lament over her situation, though. She’s headstrong and spunky and determined to make a new life for herself and her daughters. She’s generous and struggles to forgive, but for her children and others, she rises above and does the right thing.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Georgia Payton: Amy Adams with curly hair.



Peter Reese: Owen Wilson – I think he could do a Georgia accent.




Aunt Cora: Dee Wallace.



Ludi Harper: Viola Davis.




If a novel were published today, based on your life, what would be an appropriate title?

Ack! I’m horrible at titles, but I’ve always been a glass half-full person and am willing to try new things, so Rose Colored Glasses.

Or maybe The Unpleasantness of Salamanders?

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

Thunder and Rain by Charles Martin. He’s one of the best at mining the emotions and pulling the reader along with enough mystery so you have to finish the book. I love all of his books!

What are you working on now?

I just turned in Sweet Dreams (2013), a novel set in 1963. Two close-knit cousins struggle to fit in at an exclusive Southern charm school, but when they both fall for the same handsome guy, their love for each other is tested. Patsy Cline sings “Crazy” on the radio while the worlds both inside and outside the walls of the charm school begin to crumble. Past secrets and family lies collide with the changing times. Sweet Dreams has a flawed cast of characters whose dreams have the power to take them to new heights or tear them all apart.

Where else can readers find you online?

My website: www.carlastewart.com

Follow me on Twitter

FaceBook

GoodReads

Pinterest

Stardust Video Trailer





CBD.com

Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

In Stardust, the guests are not what Georgia expects. What is the most unexpected or surprising thing that has ever happened to you?

Thank you, Carla, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Carla has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, May 24. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Carla's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.

Ann Tatlock and Free Books!

Jane Morrow’s fiancé wants to end their engagement, not because he doesn’t love her, but because he was wounded and left paralyzed by a sniper’s bullet in Iraq.

Today we're chatting with novelist Ann Tatlock, author of Travelers Rest (Bethany House Publishers, May 2012).

Ann Tatlock is the Christy-award winning author of nine novels. In 2011 her novel, Promises to Keep, was named by Booklist Magazine as one of the top ten historical novels of the year. She has also authored a non-fiction eBook, Writing to a Post-Christian World.

Ann enjoys teaching at various writers conferences throughout the year. She lives in Asheville, NC, with her husband Bob and their daughter, Laura.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

-- My husband and I adopted our 14-year-old daughter, Laura, from China when she was seven months old.

-- I grew up in a state that many people don’t realize actually is a state: Delaware. (A common response: “Delaware? What state is that in?”)

-- For a little more than five years, beginning in 1987, I worked as an assistant editor of “Decision” magazine, a publication of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

-- Forget diamonds—dogs are a girl’s best friend! We have three rescue dogs, one Mexican Chihuahua and two Chihuahua mixes. They give us endless smiles.

-- While I’m no gardener, I do plant morning glories every spring for the sheer joy of watching them bloom.

I love how your list has an overriding theme of making a positive impact, Ann. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Traveler's Rest.

Jane Morrow’s fiancé has been wounded in Iraq and left paralyzed from the neck down. When Seth Ballantine comes home to North Carolina, he wants to break their engagement for her sake. But Jane still loves Seth and wants to keep her commitment.

Jane seeks the guidance of an aging vet and former physician, Truman Rockaway, who is nursing a decades-old heartache of his own.

Their individual journeys for answers merge and intertwine, leading them to hope and healing in a place called Travelers Rest.

What is it about Jane that will make your readers care about her?

Jane Morrow simply wants to lay her heart in a place where it won’t be broken and from which she’ll never have to take it up again. Don’t we all?

You said it! If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

I would cast complete unknowns so that they could convincingly become Jane Morrow and Seth Ballantine without all the Hollywood baggage attached!

If a novel were published today, based on your life, what would be an appropriate title?

Glimpses of a Distant City

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

I highly recommend The Prodigal God, by Timothy Keller. It offers fresh insight into the well-known parable of the prodigal son. While many of us might not be the prodigal, we may, however, be the older brother, the one who didn’t leave, and the one who equally needed a lesson in the meaning of grace.

What are you working on now?

I’m having a fabulous time writing a story that takes place in 1931 during Prohibition. The main character is 17-year-old Eve Marryat and the setting is Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge in Mercy, Ohio. The Island is based on a real island that used to exist in the Little Miami River called Hoppe’s Island. That island was named after my great-grandfather, who owned the place. It’s a story about everyday life in a time of gangsters, bootleggers and economic depression. What’s really fun is that Al Capone makes an appearance in the book!

What a fun project! And it sounds like the book will be fun, too.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.anntatlock.com

The book is available at fine book stores and for purchase online through the following buttons:





CBD.com


Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

If you could jump between the covers of a novel and live out the life of the main character, what book would you choose?

Thank you, Ann, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Ann has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Thursday, May 17. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Ann's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interviews with Lacy Williams and Marta Perry, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of each post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.

Lacy Williams and Free Books!

She comes from a world of wealth and privilege; he’s had to fight for survival. Can love unite them?

Before we revisit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Promised to Another, by Laura Hilton, is:

lynne.young@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Now let's meet novelist Lacy Williams, author of The Homesteader’s Sweetheart (Love Inspired Historical, May 2012).

This year Lacy Williams will celebrate both her thirtieth birthday and a decade of marriage to the love of her life. She traded in her childhood dream of being a veterinarian for a job as a bean-counting auditor at a public accounting firm, but her love of animals, especially dogs, continues (she has three).

Growing up on her grandfather’s farm, Lacy was bucked off a horse, tried to milk a feral cow, and once attempted to mine for gold in a red dirt field (with no luck). These childhood adventures provide a good amount of material for the western romances she writes.

More recent escapades include getting stuck in an elevator on the way to an awards banquet (where she won), having two children, becoming a multi-published author. Next up on her bucket list: writing a screenplay and taking a research trip to Australia.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

--I’m an oldest child and most of the birth-order stuff is right on the money for me (bossy, driven, type-A personality). I have a younger brother and a younger sister.

--I used to write fanfiction for several TV shows.

--I am a messy person. I have lots of piles around my house, but I know where everything is (most of the time!).

--I have never broken a bone in my body.

--I have a trained Therapy Dog that I do visits with, including to the local library for the Kids Reading to Dogs program.

Kids Reading to Dogs? What a clever idea. 

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Homesteader's Sweetheart.

Homesteader Jonas White has managed to overcome a rough start in life and has made a home for himself and his brood of adopted children.

When his daughter needs medical treatment, the only way he can get the money is taking on more work, but he’ll need someone to help watch over his daughter. His neighbor’s granddaughter offers and even though Jonas is a little concerned (she’s used to nice parties, not helping around the homestead), he has no choice but to accept Penny’s help.

But he quickly discovers there is more to Penny than meets the eye, and she discovers maybe there’s more to life than money.

What is it about Jonas that will make your readers care about him?

Jonas White wants to give the kids he has adopted everything that he never had—security, family, a steady place to live. He is devoted to them as if he was their biological parent, but he still worries they will be taken away from him.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

Alex Pettyfer for the hero (yum!).



And an older Bella Thorne for the heroine.



Yes, Alex Pettyfer is pretty striking, all right!

If a novel were published today, based on your life, what would be an appropriate title?

Chasing Dreams. Right now I am so blessed to be living some very big dreams—mainly staying home with my kids and also being published. But those blessings came from some very hard work being put in beforehand and continued hard work. The importance of chasing your dreams is definitely something I want to pass on to my kids!

I do like the idea of impressing upon our kids that dreams aren't always out of our reach, if we're willing to put in the effort. 

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

I recently enjoyed Protecting the Princess by Rachelle McCalla (Love Inspired Suspense). The suspense kept me turning pages as the hero tries to keep the heroine safe and the romance was sweet as the heroine tries to open the hero’s heart. It’s on my keeper shelf.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a proposal for a book featuring one of the sons from The Homesteader’s Sweetheart. Oscar White (I might be looking for a nickname for him—Oscar just doesn’t seem like a hero’s name to me!) is a famous horse trainer who can settle any filly. But he can’t seem to tame the schoolmarm’s heart.

Where else can readers find you online?

With the release of this book, I’m having a special promotion and giving away birthday gifts to my readers during the month of May at www.megamaybirthdaybash.com. I can also be found at www.lacywilliams.net

The book is available at fine book stores and for purchase online through the following buttons:





CBD.com


Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

In The Homesteader’s Sweetheart, the heroine tries to run away from her problems, but of course she can’t outrun them in the end. Have you ever tried to run away from or avoid something (can be big or small), and what was the result?

Thank you, Lacy, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Lacy has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 14. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Lacy's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Marta Perry, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of her post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.

Marta Perry and Free Books!

An Army widow faces opposition from all sides when she tries to return to her Old Order Mennonite roots.

Before we revisit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of After All, by Deborah Raney, is:

slking1@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Now let's revisit with Marta Perry, author of Hannah’s Joy (Berkley Books, May 2012).

A lifetime spent in rural Pennsylvania and her own Pennsylvania Dutch roots led Marta Perry to write about the Plain People to add to the rich heritage of her home state.

She is the author of more than thirty-five inspirational romance novels and lives with her husband in a century-old farmhouse in a central Pennsylvania valley.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

--I come from a long line of women who were only happy when they were feeding people.

--I have a secret passion for Dr. Who. 

--I once spent a cold November dawn in a tree stand so my son could go hunting.

--I secretly think no one has grandchildren as beautiful and talented as mine.

--I’ve traveled in fifteen different countries.

That's a dedicated mom--I don't know that I would brave the cold for something like hunting.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Hannah's Joy.

Army widow Hannah Conroy returns to Pleasant Valley to take refuge with her Old Order Mennonite aunt after her husband’s death. Hannah intends to stay only until she’s on her feet again.

But as she’s drawn into the life of the community and begins tutoring an Amish man, William Brand, to control his stuttering, she begins envisioning a life there.

When her dreams are challenged by her late husband’s father, who threatens to sue for custody of her young son, Hannah must choose between the freedom of the outside world and the home she’s found in Pleasant Valley, while William seeks the courage to speak for the woman he loves. 

What is it about Hannah that will make your readers care about her? 

Hannah is a loving mother, devoted to her son and still grieving the loss of her soldier husband. She faces the future with courage, seeking always to do her best for those who rely on her.

If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?



Since I’m not one to remember the names of actors, this is a tough question for me! Hannah is like a young Sally Field, combining vulnerability with courage.



And William’s solid strength and quiet manner makes him something like the character Noah Wylie played in the Gray’s Anatomy series.


If a novel were published today, based on your life, what would be an appropriate title?

Still Writing After All These Years! Although I guess that actually sounds more like a song title, doesn’t it?

Well, maybe the audiobook version could have music.

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

Murder in the Garden, by Veronica Heley. Murder in the Garden is one of the Ellie Quicke mysteries, which I thoroughly enjoy, and this one is particularly engaging, as amateur sleuth and everywoman Ellie seeks the answers to a body found in the neighbor’s garden and in the process searches her own conscience as a neighbor.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing the eighth book in my Pleasant Valley Amish series, tentatively titled Lydia’s Hope, the Lost Sisters.

Where else can readers find you online?

www.martaperry.com
Facebook
www.blogspot.com/booksbymartaperry

The book is available at fine book stores and for purchase online through the following buttons:





CBD.com



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What’s your all-time favorite book, and how has it enriched your life?

Thank you, Marta, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Marta has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 14. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Marta's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Laura Hilton, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of her post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.

Laura Hilton and Free Books!

Saying good-bye to past love…Welcoming hope for future romance.

Before we revisit with today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the signed copy of Saving Hope, by Margaret Daley, is:

randenlee2000@ . . .

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address, and we'll get your book to you right away. I encourage readers to keep commenting and/or subscribe at right (above my list of books) in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Now let's revisit with Laura Hilton, author of Promised to Another (Whitaker House, March 2012).

Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools three of her children. Her two oldest children are homeschool graduates and are in college. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor.

Her publishing credits include Hot Chocolate and Shadows of the Past from Treble Heart Books; a devotional in a compilation from Zondervan; and the first book, Patchwork Dreams, in her Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House released in April 2011, the second book, A Harvest of Hearts, in September 2011, and Promised to Another in March 2012.

Laura has her business degree from Ozarka and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.

Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.

-- I am a breast cancer survivor

-- My favorite flowers are tulips, violets, and roses

-- My favorite season is Winter (I love snow and don’t get near enough of it)

-- I collect snowmen, sleds, and other wintery things

-- I also collect lighthouses

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Promised to Another.

Annie Beiler is an Amish school teacher. She was in love with an Amish man, Luke Stultz, but Luke left the Amish community during his rumspringa, but not without begging Annie to go with him. Now Luke is back, trying to win back Annie’s love.

Joshua Esh may be Amish, but he has been bitten by the travel bug. He sees the opportunity to relocate from Pennsylvania to Missouri as a way to satisfy his longing to see another place yet remain with people of his faith. Josh quickly notices the beautiful Annie, but Annie is slow to respond.

With Luke in the picture, and Josh’s admission that he willingly left his district, will either man be steady and dependable enough to win the gift of Annie’s heart?

What is it about Annie and Joshua that will make your readers care about them?

Annie loves history and children, but she’s in danger of losing her job. Joshua wants to see the world – but he’s holding a secret.

What would you say has been the greatest challenge to your writing life that you’ve faced recently?

There’s been a lot of stress in the life of my family due to financial concerns.

Yes, stress can certainly get in the way of creativity! 

What is the last book you read that you would recommend?

The last book that I read that I would recommend is Words Spoken True by Ann Gabhart. It’s historical romance, based on real events in Lexington, Kentucky, and it’s a really interesting story. I really enjoyed it.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on the second book in a new series, The Amish of Webster County. It’s set in the same area as the first book, but a different church district in the Amish community there.

Where else can readers find you online?

Author Laura V. Hilton or Laura Vernet Price Hilton, or on twitter Laura_V_Hilton or my blog laurav.hilton.blogspot.com

The book is available at fine book stores and for purchase online through the following buttons:





CBD.com



Finally, what question would you like to ask my readers?

What Summer plans do you have that you are looking forward to?

Thank you, Laura, for visiting with us and telling us about your novel. Readers, Laura has offered to give a signed copy of her book to the winner of our drawing on Monday, May 7. To enter, leave a comment below in answer to Laura's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com.

Be sure to check out my interview with Deborah Raney, below. Leave an appropriate comment at the bottom of her post to enter the drawing for a signed copy of the book.

And I'd love it if you'd connect with me on Facebook. Just click on my name at the right of today's post.

Annoying legal disclaimer: drawings void where prohibited; open only to U.S. residents; the odds of winning depend upon the number of participants. See full disclaimer HERE.