Stealing Jake, by Pam Hillman - FREE eBOOK

I am so excited to have Pam on today, talking about her new release Stealing Jake!
Welcome Pam, can you tell us about your book?

Prologue opens in October 1874 in the slums of Chicago. The first chapter picks up on a cold, snowy night a few weeks later just before Christmas descends on the small town of Chestnut, Illinois.

When Livy O'Brien spies a young boy jostling a man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. After all, she used to be known as Light-fingered Livy. But that was before she put her past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, where she's helping to run an orphanage. Now she'll do almost anything to protect the street kids like herself.

Sheriff's deputy Jake Russell had no idea what he was in for when he ran into Livy--literally--while chasing down a pickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids in town--as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off--Jake doesn't have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can't seem to get Livy out of his mind. He wants to get to know her better . . . but Livy isn't willing to trust any man, especially not a lawman.

Interwoven throughout is a group of street kids arrested in Chicago and sold as child labor. Leading this band of ragamuffins is young Luke, a scared, determined orphan intent on rescuing his little brother at any cost.

What inspired this book?

Jake and Livy’s story started out as a novella proposal for Tyndale House Publishers several years ago, but didn’t make the cut for their Cowboy Christmas anthology. I liked the premise so much that I revised it, working with the story until I had a full-length novel.

The manuscript garnered several awards, and the attention of editors, but I always felt like something was lacking. I couldn’t get it out of my mind that Luke’s story needed to be told as well. And finally, one night sitting on the steps at the hotel at the ACFW conference in 2008, romantic suspense author Robin Caroll helped me brainstorm ways to weave Luke into the story.

I loved the results, and the revised version went on to final in the 2011 RWA Golden Heart contest before being contracted by Tyndale House as one of the launch books for their Digital First Initiative program.



How long have you been writing?

I've been writing most of my life, but seriously started pursuing publication almost twenty years ago. Over the years I’ve developed relationships with industry professionals and other writers, learning and improving my craft a bit at a time.


Being chosen as one of the launch authors for Tyndale’s Digital First Initiative was a combination of having a completed manuscript ready to go at the exact time Tyndale started looking for debut authors to launch the program. When my agent, Steve Laube, asked if I was interested in submitting, I didn’t hesitate. And the rest is history.

What is your favorite character trait to write about?

Loners. I like to write about men and women who have no one to depend on but themselves. In Stealing Jake, Jake depends on himself and himself only, Livy is learning to depend on herself and God. I read a lot of Louis L’Amour growing up, so a love for tough cowboys and cowgirls are ingrained in me.

Louis L'Amour was my favorites growing up too!!!

What do you hope readers will take away from this book?


I write to entertain. I want readers to close a book by Pam Hillman with a satisfied sigh, and a desire to find another one as fast as they can. However, I also write from a Christian world-view, and if they also mine nuggets of wisdom, encouragement, or Biblical truths and principals that speak to them, that makes me happy.

What is your favorite season?

Late spring when it’s warm enough to get outside, but not so hot that you can’t enjoy it. I love to see the first daffodils start blooming in our part of the country.

If you could travel back in time when and where would you go?

California gold rush, or the Oklahoma land rush, or maybe be a pilgrim settling Plymouth Rock! But can I take my laptop, heat pump, and cell phone with me? Please?

What project are you currently working on?

I have a few eggs in the frying pan. What author doesn’t? Terms of Indenturement is an indentured servant story set in the 1790’s. Vengeance Rider is a about a man who is intent on taking back land that’s rightfully his, only to discover the person in possession of it is a woman, with problems of her own. And, there’s a feisty young widow named Johanna Thorndike in Stealing Jake who’s looking to tell her story along with a brawny coal mine owner named Trey. Working title is Trusting Trey. Trey wants to reopen the mine where Johanna lost her husband. So the two of them square off on opposite sides of an explosive situation!

Thank you so much for joining us today. Jake lives in my kindle and I can't wait to read more about him and Livy!



Pam Hillman Bio:

Award-winning author Pam Hillman writes inspirational fiction set in the turbulent times of the American West and the Gilded Age. Her debut book, Stealing Jake, won the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis contest and was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart contest. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and family.

Pam on the web:

My website: http://www.pamhillman.com/

My personal blog: http://www.calicotrails.blogspot.com/

My group blog: http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pam-Hilman,-author#!/pages/Pam-Hillman-Author/284414064931343?sk=wall


Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/PamHillman


Stealing Jake Blurb:

When Livy O'Brien spies a young boy jostling a man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. After all, she used to be known as Light-fingered Livy. But that was before she put her past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, where she's helping to run an orphanage. Now she'll do almost anything to protect the street kids like herself.

Sheriff's deputy Jake Russell had no idea what he was in for when he ran into Livy--literally--while chasing down a pickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids in town--as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off--Jake doesn't have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can't seem to get Livy out of his mind. He wants to get to know her better . . . but Livy isn't willing to trust any man, especially not a lawman.

Interwoven throughout is a group of street kids arrested in Chicago and sold as child labor. Leading this band of ragamuffins is young Luke, a scared, determined orphan intent on rescuing his little brother at any cost.

KindlePalooza!
Contest Link: http://pamhillman.blogspot.com/2011/07/pams-blog-tour-kindle-contest.html


What's a KindlePalooza? It's BIG. It's BETTER. It's a-palooza! The winner of this Kindle given away December 15th, 2011 will be gifted with a MINIMUM of 12 of the 24 ACFW Book Club books chosen by the club during 2012!! So, the winner wins ALL YEAR LONG!

Pam has been kind enough to offer one free ebook of Stealing Jake. What that means for you is that this contest is open outside the US and Canada! :) At least 10 people need to enter for there to be a contest. Please remember to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. If you are having blogger issues you can email me at srstormo@yahoo.com and put "contest" in the subject. PLEASE check out Pam's Kindle Palooza contest as well. All the details are listed above. Ebook winner annouced on December 11th.

Want to read the first chapter??? Here's a sneak peek!

Stealing Jake Prologue and 1st Chapter: http://pamhillman.blogspot.com/2007/11/stealing-jake-prologue.html