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, May 6, 2019

Johnnie Alexander and Free Books!

A postmaster’s daughter risks her secret . . . and her heart . . . to rescue a runaway from a slave-hunter.

Before we meet today's author, I want to announce that the winner of the free copy of my new romantic suspense novella, A Special Kind of Double, is subscriber:

rackylemaire@...

Congratulations! I'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 revisit novelist Johnnie Alexander, author of the historical novella, "Journey of the Heart," in The Erie Canal Brides Collection (Barbour, March 2019).

Johnnie Alexander creates characters you want to meet and imagines stories you won't forget in a variety of genres. Her award-winning debut novel, Where Treasure Hides, is a CBA bestseller and has been translated into Dutch and Norwegian. Her first indie novella, "Match You Like Crazy," (Resort to Romance Series) released in April 2019. She's part of an international group of authors writing the Mosaic Collection, a series of contemporary novels releasing in 2019-2020.

An award-winning, best-selling novelist, Johnnie serves on the Serious Writer, Inc. executive board, co-hosts Writers Chat, and interviews inspirational authors for Novelists Unwind. She lives in Oklahoma with Griff, her happy-go-lucky collie, and Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon.

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

Such a fun question. Here’s a random thing I don’t think I’ve used before—my parents actually moved from one house to another while I was at 4-H camp. I didn’t know until we pulled into the driveway of the new place. A big surprise!

What a fun thing to do! That's not a surprise one can pull off very often in a lifetime.

Please tell us a bit more about the plot of "Journey of the Heart."

In public, Charity Sinclair masquerades as a self-centered dilettante while helping her father operate the post office located in the front rooms of their home. Behind closed doors, however, she works with the Underground Railroad and writes abolitionist pamphlets.

Tavish Dunbar, an architect with the Circleville Squaring Company, has a government mandate to design a new post office and lodgings. Unfortunately, Postmaster Sinclair and his attractive but vapid daughter aren’t cooperating with the project.

Neither Charity nor Tavish are thrilled when they find themselves traveling together on the nearby Ohio-Erie Canal. But when a slave-hunter threatens a runaway’s journey to freedom, the couple reveal their true hearts while risking their lives for the fugitive and each other.

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

Charity is smart, caring, and passionate about doing whatever she can to educate others on the evils of slavery. To protect her identity as the author of abolitionist pamphlets, she pretends to be something she’s not. As the story progresses, she shows her courage and willingness to sacrifice her comfort for someone who desperately needs her help.

A year or so ago, my book club read The Scarlet Pimpernel. You made me think of it with your description of Charity and her noble, clandestine efforts. I love when a character is far more than most others realize.

Let’s say someone wrote a novel based on your life. What would the title be?

She Smiled at the Future

Great attitude!

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

We Hope for Better Things, by Erin Bartels. This is an incredible novel that weaves together the stories of three women from different eras. It explores prejudices, family relationships, and the heartache of secrets. I can’t wait to read more books by Erin.

What are you working on now?

I’m writing another novella for Barbour. The story is titled “Blue Moon” and will appear in the Hometown Heroines Collection.

Where else can readers find you online?

I mostly hang out on Facebook but it’s also fun to connect on BookBub.
Connect with me at www.johnnie-alexander.com and other social media sites via https://linktr.ee/johnniealexndr. Sign up for my newsletter on my website for updates and special giveaways.

The collection can be purchased online via the following button:



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

What would be your preferred mode of nineteenth century travel—canal boat, train, or horseback?

I can tell you right now that this woman would take the train whenever possible! Thank you, Johnnie, for visiting and telling us about yourself and your novella. Readers, Johnnie has offered to give away a free copy of the collection. To enter, leave a comment and your email below in answer to Johnnie'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, an 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

20 comments:

Patty said...

I would definitely pick train travel as my transportation of choice! Seems like it would be the fastest, and you could see a good bit of the country as you teaveled.
It's still something I would like to do!

pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

Paula Shreckhise said...

Don’t enter me because I already have a copy. My favorite story from this compilation is Jonnie Alexander’s! Some great stories and a chance to learn about the Canal and a bit of history!
I would pick train travel.

diannekc said...

My mode of travel woule have to be train travel. I think it would be the most comfortable and safest way to travel in the 19th century.

Calliegh said...

I think I would choose train! I am afraid of horses. Thank you!
rackylemaire @ Gmail. Com

Library Lady said...

I would prefer traveling by train.
My husband and I went to California to visit his family via the train.
I can't imagine what train travel would be like back then compared to today.
Janet E.
von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

Johnnie Alexander said...

Hey, everyone! I agree with all of you who have answered so far--I think I'd want to travel most by train, too. Actually, it was the coming of the railroads that ended the era of the canals. I've talked to a few people who have ridden on the restored canals and they say it's a leisurely and enjoyable trip--but riding the canals today is more for the experience than to get from Point A to Point B!

Shonda F said...

I would definitely pick train, I’m sure train wasn’t comfortable but it’s better than the other two choices. I think you could see more of the country too. I have always wanted to travel by train using the private sleeping quarters, just to say I experienced it.

Anonymous said...

I pick train.afraid of horses. Jane Squires sarahmom335@yahoo.com

Trish Perry said...

Johnnie, hearing your brief description of the updated canal travel makes it sound like a nicer trip than it probably was back in the 19th Century! I'll bet it would be very pretty these days.

LeslieSLowe said...

I think I would enjoy traveling by train. I heard that you don't even have to worry about taking care of your luggage because they have people to do that for you. Though I love horses, I don't think I could get on one with my knee injuries and I have read too many stories of boats getting stuck on sandbars. LOL! Would love to win!

To Trish and Johnnie, I totally enjoyed being able to see the interview afterwards, since I missed it last night. Our son had his recorder concert at school, so I couldn't make it. Thank you for posting it on here!!! Blessings on your future writing.

Melanie Backus said...

The train would be my choice of transportation.

Vivian Furbay said...

Would love to read this book especially about the girl who helps with the underground railroad. If i win, i can only read print books. Thank you!

Trish Perry said...

Friends, in case you click on any of the other pages here (Meet Trish, Books, etc.), I'm posting tonight to give you a heads up that today we had a bit of a mix-up on the site, which my host company will hopefully be able to fix tomorrow. My apologies for any annoyance...

Johnnie Alexander said...

It looks like the train is the overwhelming choice! Shonda, I rode in a train sleeper car in Europe because I wanted to have the experience. Glad I did, but it was not the most restful night's sleep I ever had. LOL! And we didn't have our own bathroom so that wasn't so much fun. Still, it was a great memory and I'm glad I did it.

Amelia said...

I would pick the train. I have a lot of great memories of riding trains with my family.

Nic said...

Hands down, it'd be the train. Horseback would be hard on the bottom, boat would be hard on my tummy, but the train...ahhh comfort. ;)

Carla said...

Well because of ease I would pick the train, but I could definitely learn to ride a horse. I wouldn't turn down a boat either if it was the only way to get there LOL.

Rebecca Maney said...

I would definitely prefer a train. . . . and probably read the entire trip. There's just something a bit nostalgic about eating in a dining car and sleeping in a bunk that I would love to experience. rmaney(at)firstarpchurch(dot) org.

SARAH TAYLOR said...

I would definitely take a train for my transportation Thank you so much would love to read this book! SARAHTAYLOR601973(at)YAHOO(dot)COM

CRYSTAL said...

I would probably pick train for my mode of transpertation. Would love to rad this book. Please enter me. Hope I win
My email is don(dot)stewart(at)zoominternet(dot)net
Crystal

 

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