WHAT'S IT GOING TO BE?

What book should you read next? What words should you write next? Whether you're a reader, a writer, or both, you need look no further for ideas and pointers to help you make up your mind. You might even get your next book for free!

Sometimes I even give away my own novels. My Inspirational romances and devotionals are pictured below and are detailed on my Books page. You can always count on a trace of humor in my novels and nonfiction. Whether you're a teen or a woman mature in years, I think these stories will ring true.

Read on, and discover some of today's most appealing Inspirational novelists, their latest books, and their words of wisdom and imagination. Enjoy!

Monday, July 30, 2018

Mary Davis and Free Books!

A single mother stepped out of the shadows of abuse and into the sunshine. But will a secret clouding her past cost her the man she loves?

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of The Ranchero's Love, by Nancy Farrier, is:

ourgod1-hisdaughter@...

Congratulations! I'll contact you to ask whether you want the paper or e-book version, and 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 learn about new releases! U.S. subscribers are entered in the drawings a second time when they comment.

And now let's meet novelist Mary Davis, author of the historical romance, The Widow’s Plight (Mountain Brook Ink, release July 2018).

Mary Davis is a bestselling, award-winning novelist of over two dozen titles in both historical and contemporary themes. She has five titles releasing in 2018; "Holly & Ivy" in A Bouquet of Brides Collection in January, Courting Her Amish Heart in March, The Widow’s Plight in July, Courting Her Secret Heart September, & “Zola’s Cross-Country Adventure” in MISSAdventure Brides Collection in December.

She’s a member of ACFW and active in critique groups.

Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of over thirty-three years and two cats. She has three adult children and two incredibly adorable grandchildren.

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

I make porcelain dolls. I have always loved dolls, so when I learned that I could actually make porcelain dolls, I jumped at the chance. I have been making them on and off for over thirty years.

















One of my favorite porcelain dolls I made was a Surprise Doll. It has a regular porcelain doll on the top, but the skirt base is made of wood with doors to open up to reveal a scene and is covered with the dress fabric. For a twist, I thought it would be fun to put a dollhouse inside of a doll. I love the way it turned out.

One of my friends put a bridal boutique inside the bride skirt, another put an outdoors-wintery scene inside a snow princess, and another a 50s diner inside the poodle skirt. The possibilities are endless.

What a clever (and time consuming) idea!

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of The Widow's Plight.

The Widow's Plight ~ This is book 1 in the Quilting Circle series.

Washington State, 1893

When Lily Lexington Bremmer arrives in Kamola with her young son, she’s reluctant to join the social center of her new community, the quilting circle, but the friendly ladies pull her in. She begins piecing a sunshine and shadows quilt because it mirrors her life. She has a secret that lurks in the shadows and hopes it doesn’t come out into the light. Dark places in her past are best forgotten, but her new life is full of sunshine. Will her secrets cast shadows on her bright future?

Widower Edric Hammond and his father are doing their best to raise his two young daughters. He meets Lily and her son when they arrive in town and helps her find a job and a place to live. Lily resists Edric’s charms at first but finds herself falling in love with this kind, gentle man and his two darling daughters. Lily has stolen his heart with her first warm smile, but he’s cautious about bringing another woman into his girls’ lives due to the harshness of their own mother.

Can Edric forgive Lily her past to take hold of a promising chance at love?

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

Though Lily has been battered on the inside as well as the outside, she is kind and caring to others and will do anything to protect her young son. And even though she’s fearful because of her past, she is brave for her son. She’s a broken individual who is trying to put her life back together.

Imagine you’ve been contracted to write a novel about a real person. Who would you most like to write about?

Many possibilities come to mind, but I think it would be fun to write about Little Curly Top Shirley Temple Black (1928-2014). I loved her movies when I was young and still like them. She was a very talented little girl. Besides being an actress, singer, and dancer from the age of three, she became a businesswoman and diplomat.

Well, I have to admit that your answer brought back memories of watching reruns of Shirley Temple movies as a kid, and I just spent a good hour reading all about her on Wikipedia! That would make an excellent novel.

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

Beauty and the Beast: Lost in a Book by Jennifer Donnelly. It’s a story about Belle while she’s held in the Beast’s castle. Belle finds herself pulled into the pages of an enchanted book. This is a bit like another book I like with this same idea of going inside a book, The Well of Lost Plots (Thursday Next Series) by Jasper Fforde.

I love this idea of entering a book and roaming around. Much like good stories do when reading them, I feel as though I'm transported to the worlds within.

What are you working on now?

I’m currently working on book 2 in this Quilting Circle series, The Daughter’s Predicament. Pressured by her family to marry, an oldest sister has three marriage proposals and a family secret to confuse her decision.

Isabelle is the unfavored daughter. While making a quilt for her own hope chest, her half-sister becomes pregnant out of wedlock and Isabelle becomes the sacrificial daughter. She is interested in one suitor when her family tells her she must marry another. But a silent suitor waits in the wings, hoping for his chance at love. Will Isabelle marry the man her parents wish her to? Or will she rebel and marry the man they don’t approve of? Or will a patient love win over her heart?

Where else can readers find you online?

marydavisbooks
marydavis1.blogspot.com
Facebook
Mary Davis Facebook Group
Amazon Author Page
Goodreads
Bookbub

The book can be purchased online via the following button:


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

Is there a book you’d like to climb into to visit with the characters or explore places and scenes that weren’t on the page?

Great question. I'm looking forward to readers' answers. Thank you, Mary, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your book. Readers, Mary has offered to give away an e-copy of her novel. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Mary's question, above. "Please enter me" won't get you entered. Remember that U.S. 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. 

Only United States residents are eligible for the drawing, but anyone can subscribe to the blog posts via the GDPA-compliant Feedblitz box above my list of books, at right.

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

Remember, if you'd like information on additional new releases, check out Christian Book Heaven, a new email newsletter for Christian book deals in whatever genres you select. You can subscribe here: ChristianBookHeaven

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, GDPA notice, and my Disclosure of Material Connection HERE

18 comments:

Wendy Newcomb said...

I don't have a particular book but it would be any in the 1800's. Thank you for the chance to win a copy of the "Widow's Plight".

wfnren at aol dot com

Mary Davis said...

Hi Wendy, I have written many books set in the 1800's, so I obviously really like this time period. Though I wouldn't mind visiting inside a book set in the 1800's, I'm glad I don't have to live there. I like my modern conveniences too much. =0)

Gail H. said...

I've read several books based in Alaska and Hawaii. I want to visit both places. They are on my bucket list.

Gail H. said...

tumcsec(at)gmail(dot)com

Patty said...

I've always been so amazed by the early American settlers. Those who left England and came to what was basically a wilderness! I wouldn't want to live back then, but it would be interesting to visit.

Mary Davis said...

Hi Gail, I have yet to visit either in real life so visiting them in a book would be great.

Mary Davis said...

Hi Patty, I applaud the early settlers for coming to an unsettled new world not really knowing what they would face. A book visit might be fun.

Trish Perry said...

Yeah, I think "visit" is the key word with any book settings I'd like to experience. Jane Austen's England, Tolkein's Middle Earth (the Fairy part of it, maybe) and Lewis's Narnia, Florence from A Room with a View, James Michener's Caribbean and/or Hawaii, so many others. I was going to say the Japan of Memoirs of a Geisha, or some other Japanese-set novel, but so often they're horribly sad. And like the rest of you, I'm too spoiled by my modern conveniences and paved streets and relative safety!

Mary Davis said...

Hi Trish, Thanks for hosting me on your blog. I agree that "visit" is the key. There are so many places we can go in books. That's why we love books so much. Yeah for books!

Unknown said...

I can't think of a special book, but I love visiting in different time periods, places,etc rose black are (at) gmail (dot) com

Unknown said...

Books take you back in different times and places.Not sure which ones I would like to live in, but I sure enjoy being there while reading the book.rose blackard (at) gmail (dot) com

Mary Davis said...

Hi Rose, Thanks for stopping by. I agree that books can take us places. That's why I love them so much. It's fun visiting different time periods.

journeystojoy.net said...

I HAVE to get this book, MARY - time has flown did NOT know it'd come out last month -

CONGRAT-YOU-LATIONS, girfriend.

Alice said...

I'd love to jump into any of Dee Henderson's O'Malley books. BUT my number one book to explore would be the classic "Ivanhoe".
Alice Myers
myersalicem@gmail.com

Mary Davis said...

Thanks, Joy! I hope you enjoy it.

Mary Davis said...

Hi Alice, Dee Henderson does write great books. And it would be fun to climb into one of the classics and visit for a while.

Anonymous said...

Fifth attempt. I am not a robot bet didn't know that and hate that. I am trying the fifth time to reply. I have taught children at church 44 years sarahmom335@yahoo.com

SARAH TAYLOR said...

would love to win if this is for a print book Thank you so much

 

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