DeAnna Dodson and Free Books!

Drew Farthering goes to Scotland for the 1935 British Open, but instead of a week of world-class golf, he finds himself involved with murder, betrayal, family intrigue, and the possibility of Nazi spies.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the e-copy of Jerusalem Rising: Adah's Journey, by Barbara Britton, is:

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Congratulations! We'll get your book right out to you. 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! Subscribers are entered a second time when they comment.

And now let's chat with novelist DeAnna Dodson, author of the historical cozy mystery (think Agatha Christie, Margery Allingham or Dorothy L. Sayers), Death at Thorburn Hall (Bethany House, November 2017).

Julianna Deering has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity.

A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey.

Her series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted from Bethany House with Rules of Murder (2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (2014), Dressed for Death (2016), Murder on the Moor and Death at Thorburn Hall (2017).

Also, as DeAnna Julie Dodson, she has written a trilogy of medieval romances (In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered) and several contemporary mysteries for Annie’s Fiction and Guideposts. She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books & Such Literary Agency (www.booksandsuch.biz).

Please tell us one random thing we might not know about you.

I love doing hand sewing, particularly needleturn applique. I just got one of those fabulous cutting machines, so I can cut out patterns perfectly. I’m so excited!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of Death at Thorburn Hall.

Drew Farthering arrives in idyllic Scotland for the 1935 British Open at Muirfield hoping for a relaxing holiday, but he soon finds a mystery on his hands. Lord Rainsby, his host at Thorburn Hall, fears his business partner may be embezzling and asks Drew to quietly investigate. Before Drew can uncover anything, Rainsby is killed in a suspicious riding accident.

Thorburn Hall is filled with guests, and as Drew continues to dig, he realizes that each might have had a motive. Together with Madeline and Nick, he must sort through shady business dealings, international intrigue, and family tensions to find a killer who always seems to be one step ahead.

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

I love Drew! He’s such a gentleman, the old-fashioned kind who stands when a lady comes into the room. Besides being kind and honorable, he’s funny and adventurous and wants to help people in difficult situations. He’s learned from his own mistakes that people are never quite what they seem. Best of all, he was educated at Oxford and loves classic literature, especially cozy mystery. Plus, as Madeline says, he always smells like freshly laundered linen, new books and tea and honey What’s not to love?

I love the "classic" feel of this entire concept. 

What special effort do you want to make in 2018 to improve your writing?

I’m determined to find a way to plot my stories more quickly. James Scott Bell has a wonderful book called Write Your Novel From the Middle which has an extremely useful fourteen-point list to ensure you have good structure. I highly recommend it, but I want to read more of his craft books (and those written by others) to help me get done faster.

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

I just finished The Talisman Ring by Georgette Heyer. Heyer was without question the queen of Regency romance back in the 1930s and ’40s, and her stories (with a few exceptions) are clean, humorous and so romantic! The Talisman Ring is one of my many favorites of hers, and any fan of Regency romance just has to get the three Georgette Heyer audio books that Richard Armitage has narrated: Sylvester, The Convenient Marriage, and Venetia. Swoon!

You're inspiring me to dive back into Regency reading! Thanks for those suggestions.

What are you working on now?

I’m working on a book for Guideposts’ Mysteries of Martha’s Vineyard series (under the name DeAnna Julie Dodson), Water Flows Uphill. The main character, Priscilla, has concerns about the stranger who has quite suddenly declared his love for her cousin Joan. Is he sincere or just using her to cover up something illegal? It’s a fun contemporary cozy mystery.

Where else can readers find you online?

On the web: www.juliannadeering.com
www.deannajuliedodson.com
On Facebook: AuthorJuliannaDeering and
julie.dodson
On Twitter: @DeAnnaJulDodson
On Goodreads: Julianna_Deering

The book can be purchased online via the following button:



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

I would ask them “What kind of book would you like to read that nobody seems to be publishing right now, at least in Christian circles?”

Thank you, DeAnna, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, DeAnna has offered to give away a signed copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to DeAnna's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that subscribers are entered an additional time in each drawing. The drawing is done by email, so leave your email address, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. Many commenters are left out of the drawing because they forget to include a way for me to notify them of their win (their email).

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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, as well as my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE