The Lottery Tickets, by Evelyn Mays - FREE eBook

Tell us about your book.

Harry Pearson woke up feeling out of sorts. Before the day ended, his unusual action—buying lottery tickets—set off a chain of events in the lives of three women. Darcy Tatum, has a sick child, Shelley Calhoun spends more time focusing on her children than her job in the hair salon, and the owner of Daisy's Diner has a people problem—she doesn’t like anyone. As these women struggle with painful life-issues, they interact with people that reach out in Christian love: a caring banker, a life coach, a handsome young doctor, and a very repentant husband are a few of the supporting characters in this story.

Can you give us a sneak peek?

Chapter One

Fidgety.

Fractious.

Unsettled.

Yes. Those words pretty much described his mood, and he couldn't account for the feelings. He wasn’t sick, that much he knew, but something wasn’t quite right. Everything seemed a little—off kilter. Yes, that was the expression.

Well, he’d just have to deal with it; some things are just the way they are. A person couldn't always change the circumstances of life, but he could always call on the Almighty.

Good morning, Father God, Harry Pearson here. Thank you for granting me another day in your world. Dear Lord, I need a special touch from you today, I’m just not feeling so well. Lord forgive this silly old man, you already know all about me. You know about these disturbing feelings that are hanging around me like a cloud and I humbly ask that you take them away and give me the energy to be your servant. Father God, thank you for the blessings you’ve given Edna and me. Amen.

Satisfied that he had delivered his worries to the feet of his Savior, Harry Pearson hurried to the kitchen—if a seventy-two-year-old with arthritic hips and knees could hurry. He was anxious for that first cup of coffee.

One thing about his Edna, she could make a great cup of coffee, even after all these years. At last count, they had been married—well, he’d have to think about it—but somewhere around fifty years. Harry savored each sip of the bold brew until about half the contents of the chunky mug were consumed. Then he reached across the snack bar and turned on the kitchen radio, just in time to catch the beginning of the local early morning news cast.

“Good morning, East Texas! We had a big winner in yesterday’s lottery drawing and some lucky person now has seventy-two million dollars to take to the bank. Yes, that one is over and gone, but now five million dollars is waiting for some lucky winner. But you can't win if you don’t buy a ticket, so pick out your lucky numbers. Now for the weather forecast . . . ”

Harry shook his head, thinking about today’s culture and the pie-in-the-sky attitude of so many people. He’d often heard their comments as they walked away with those little slips of hope grasped tightly.

These are my good numbers!

This is the winning ticket!

It’s my lucky day, I just feel it!

And he’d also seen the more secretive purchasers hurriedly walk away, quickly stuffing the tickets inside a purse or pocket, furtively glancing around in fear of being seen and recognized. Yet still they came and made a down payment on their dreams.

Lord, will they not look to your promises instead?

What inspired this book?

There was a gentleman in our church that talked to God in very a personal way. He always began his prayer with these words. “Good morning Father God”. I wanted to have a character that lived so closely to God, that prayed as if he were talking to his best friend, and The Lottery Tickets is the result. The Lottery Tickets began as a short story and then a novel of 85,000 words.

What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?

I guess there is more than one challenge when writing. Technically—it’s the first chapter. I find myself continuing to refine and re-edit the first page. It’s hard to find the words that will hook the reader with such curiosity they want to keep reading.

Time is also a challenge. Even though I am retired and have plenty of time for writing, I cannot allow this present occupation to control my life. This is very important to me, but never as important as my family.

And then there’s the psychological challenge—doubt. Self-doubt is a favorite tool of Satan, and sometimes after a particularly good writing session, Satan wakes me in the wee hours of the morning with questions.

What do you think you are doing? Who is going to read what you write. Get over yourself and go back to being a housewife!

Satan can certainly twists our uncertainties into a tornado of doubt. The answer to that is simple—prayer.

I have learned that writing is a craft that must be learned through trial and error. I’m very thankful for the fine authors who have published such good instruction books to help others learn the craft.

What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?

I love to write about the personal relationships between people. I like to write about the good times and the bad times, and how these issues are handled.  I love to insert an element  of danger and mystery—although those elements are not a part of The Lottery Tickets. Each author of Christian fiction has a different role to play. I want to write a good story, an engaging story that is not populated with four letter words and graphic sex. All of my main characters will either find salvation, or will deepen their relationship with God. With the exception of a minister in another series there isn’t any preaching—I just want to tell a good story and share the lives of Christian people.

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

I write to entertain—and I hope they are entertained, but also, I want people to look at others before we judge them. I hope the readers can feel the pain of characters like Daisy Benson and as we learn her back story, understand that everyone carries a load of trouble. Perhaps we could be a little kinder to that abrupt or rude person who may have a lot of emotional or physical pain to deal with.  Is there a happy ending for everyone in life as there usually is in a novel? Not necessarily, but we must always understand that God knows the beginning and the end.

What is your favorite color?

I have a degree in Interior Design, and have learned the strange emotions that color can evoke. In decorating, I like monochromatic color schemes as a quiet background for an unusual pop of color. My traditional answer to that question is blue and I wear many shades of blue—but I never use it in decorating (for the Mays family) except as an accent color. Yellow makes me happy, but I also use it sparingly in decorating and in apparel.  This time of year, as we drive about the county on the back roads, I’m filled with great pleasure at the beauty of a newly greening field. It is a reminder that God has something new for us after a long hard winter—or an intense summer drought. Such along answer to a simple question—sorry.

Do you have a favorite recipe?

I’m a creative cook—always changing recipes to fit the ingredients on hand—and usually it’s edible. Lately, we have opted for non-traditional holiday meals and serve a full array of brunch dishes instead. I have several breakfast casseroles and bread recipes that I bake, but our favorite is cheese grits served with a side of tomato gravy.

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

I’m quite content living in the here and now. I like central heat, air-conditioning, indoor plumbing, deodorant and penicillin. I can’t imagine riding in an open wagon, or on horseback or walking to the next town. I like pedicures, perms and finding a great BOGO sale on clothing.


What project are you currently working on?

A series of books set in Three Bridges, Texas. The first of these, Blueberry Fields, is scheduled to be published later this year. To date, there are five novels in this series, and more are planned. They will be released on Kindle during the next two years.

Evelyn has offered to giveaway one free ebook. Contest rules: at least 10 people need to leave comments WITH email addresses for there to be a contest. OR you can email me at srstormo@yahoo.com and put "Contest - Lottery" in the subject line. Winner announced March 7th.

Note: Book to release on or around March 15th.

Heart of Honor, by Connie Stevens - FREE BOOK

Tell us about your book.


HEART OF HONOR is releasing very soon and it is the first in a three-book historical series (published with Heartsong Presents). Heart of Honor takes place in the north Georgia mountains in 1838—at the time of the Trail of Tears. The heroine, Abigail Locke, is the daughter of an army colonel. Her father feels it’s unsafe for Abby to remain at the fort during this uncertain time, and sends her to stay with a spinster aunt. All of Abby’s arguments won’t change his mind. The guide who is to escort Abby and her traveling companion to Raleigh is a dishonorably-discharged army officer, Nathaniel Danfield. Nathaniel thinks Abby is head-strong and spoiled. But when they run into difficulties on the trail and Nathaniel is shot by bandits, he sees a whole different side of her. When Abby loses items that are dear to her, Nathaniel wants to prove to her that he is an honorable man, regardless of the way the army has branded him.

Can you give us a sneak peek?

Father cleared his throat. “Mrs. Cobb, where is this man you’ve hired to act as your guide? I must satisfy myself that my daughter will be in good hands.”

Abby bit her lip to restrain the grin that was tugging the corners of her mouth. “If he doesn’t meet with your satisfaction, does that mean I can stay, Father?”

As expected, his jaw muscles twitched and his chin jutted out. Father turned a stern glare in her direction and with a purposeful shove, maneuvered her satchel into the back of the wagon. His lips, pressed into a tight, thin line, almost disappeared under his mustache.

At that moment, a tall, slender young man stepped out the door of the sutler’s store carrying a large crate filled with supplies and food stuffs. Abby’s breath caught. Mesmerizing hazel eyes glanced her way and held her captive for a split second. His sandy brown hair curled over his collar and the breeze blew one lock in his eye. He stepped around her, carrying the box toward the tailgate.

“Excuse me, Miss.”

The intonation of his voice rippled through Abby as she watched him heft the load with ease. Staring was impolite. Abby mentally reprimanded herself but her gaze refused to listen. The young man stepped to the side of the wagon and checked the lashings securing the water barrel. It wasn’t his muscular build that she studied. Abby couldn’t take her eyes off his uniform. Darkened areas of material on his shoulders and arms traced the places where epaulets and rank insignias had been removed. Even the brass buttons bearing the army crest were missing, replaced with wooden pegs inserted through the buttonholes to keep his shirt closed. Raised on a dozen different army posts, nobody had to explain to Abby why his shirt was devoid of military displays.

The young man tugged the brim of his hat at Abby. “Miss Locke?”

Before Abby could reply, Father stepped between her and the man. “What is the meaning of this? Mrs. Cobb, do you know who, or should I say what, this man is?”

Florrie lifted her hem as she stepped down from the boardwalk. “Well, of course, I do, Colonel. This is--”

“I know who he is.” Father’s voice lost its usual bellow. Instead, he lowered it to an ominous cross between a hiss and a growl that raised the hairs on the back of Abby’s neck. “His name is Nathaniel Danfield. I had business at Fort Reed the day he was stripped of his commission and dishonorably discharged.” Father’s back was as rigid as a flagpole. “Mrs. Cobb, surely this isn’t the man you’ve hired to act as an escort for my daughter and yourself all the way to Raleigh.”


What inspired this book? I live within shoutin’ distance of the north Georgia mountains. The area is rich in history and legends. One of the threads of the Georgia tapestry is the Cherokee nation and the way they were stripped of their land and forced into the long journey we know as the Trail of Tears where so many died.


What has been your most challenging experience writing a book? You mean other than having to stop to do laundry, cook meals, and run errands? The biggest challenge for me is also one of the biggest joys. I love doing the historical research, but it can also take over my entire focus. When I was researching for HEART OF HONOR, I needed information about sawmills in the 1830’s. How were they built, what kinds of blades did they use, how were the blades powered, how did they feed the logs in, what kind of timber did they use to make planks for housing? The questions were endless. I also needed to know what the sawmill sounded like, and I found a website where they had a video of a working restored sawmill from 1837. I played the video over and over, listening to the machinery clacking away. Suddenly I was startled by a strange noise and I momentarily didn’t know what it was. The telephone rang.


What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)? One of the things that God has taught me over the past seven years is one of my favorite things to write about—trust. I’ve tried to show through my stories that God is worthy of our trust, even when we can’t see around the bend in the road.


What do you hope readers will take away from this book? When circumstances appear bleak, they aren’t hopeless. God is our strength and refuge, even when we don’t understand “why”.

What is your favorite color? Hmm, the past few years I’ve been learning to like purple, but I think I’d have to say my favorite is sage green.


Do you have a favorite recipe?

HOT CHICKEN SALAD



3 or 4 cooked chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces

¼ cup chopped onion

¾ cup chopped celery

½ cup slivered almonds

Salt and pepper to taste

A few dashes of poultry seasoning

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 cup sour cream

1 ½ cups shredded cheddar

1 seven-oz bag potato chips



Mix chicken, veggies, almonds and seasoning in large bowl. Combine soup and sour cream in small bowl. Blend in half the cheese. Pour soup mixture over chicken mixture and blend well. Spread in a lightly greased 9X13 casserole dish. Sprinkle remaining cheese over the top. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Remove from oven. Crush potato chips and sprinkle over the top. Return to oven for another 15-20 minutes.


If you could travel back in time when and where would you go? Wow, what a question! There are so many eras of our country’s history that intrigue me. I love the Revolutionary period when America was struggling for independence. The Civil War era was so tragic for our country, as was the Great Depression. So hard to choose, but I think it would have to be the late 19th century when the country was recovering from war and making great strides toward what and who we are today.


What project are you currently working on? I am currently working on the third book in my historical north Georgia series. HEART OF HONOR, which releases in a few days, is set in 1838. Book two, HARVEST OF HOPE, is set 22 years later in 1860, just before the outbreak of the Civil War. I’m working on book three of the series, HARBINGER OF HEALING, which is set in 1870, 6 years after the war. HARBINGER OF HEALING is schedule to release in September.


Come visit my website at http://www.conniestevenswrites.com and look for me on Facebook.


Connie has been nice enough to offer one free book to a lucky winner. At least 10 people need to leave a comment with an email address for there to be a contest. OR you can email me at srstormo@yahoo.com and put "contest and the book's name in the subject line. Winner announced March 4th.


This book can be purchased by clicking on this link.
http://www.barbourbooks.com/

Because of Me, by Fay Lamb - FREE eBOOK

Tell us about your book.


Because of Me was birthed when the hero, Michael Hayes, came onto the stage of my imagination and said, “There’s a young boy, Cole. I’m not his father, but he’s definitely on this earth because of me. I allowed something horrible to happen to his mother, but I still love her. I despise the kid, though. I’ve forgiven another for so much more, and Cole’s only fault is that his father is the man who took everything from me. How can I learn to love this child and protect his mother from the man who can again take her from me?”

Michael’s story captivated me, and when it was all said and done, I realized that Romans 8:28 permeates the pages of this story. All things, both the good and the bad, are used by God for our good.

Can you give us a sneak peek?

From the first chapter:

“Michael.” Issie bolted upright in bed, fighting the blankets and gasping for air. She ran her hand across her mouth and scanned the darkness enveloping her room.

Her breath, harsh at first, settled into a normal rhythm. She had nothing to fear. “Michael,” she choked out his name again then settled back down and curled into a ball.

She’d clung to the memory of his handsome face, but with each passing year he slipped further away. The desperate yearning to see him took her breath away.

One thing she’d never forget was the way his eyes, the color of dark chocolate, always followed her lips when she spoke, as if he wanted to kiss them long and deep. He’d loved her then. She loved him now.

Another face fought to replace her treasured memory. She shuddered and closed her eyes, fighting the vision of Tom Jervis on top of her, taking everything she’d saved for Michael—for their marriage bed. Everything she desired fell out of reach on that night.

“Mommy?” the frightened voice sounded from the hallway.

“Cole, I’m here. What is it?”

With bare feet, her seven-year-old plopped across the wood floor and over the old woolen rug to her bed. “Are you okay?”

Issie turned on her bed stand lamp. A soft light shone from beneath the green glass top, illuminating his sleepy face and tired soul-filled gray eyes.

“I had another bad dream.” She scooted over, and he climbed up beside her.

The nightmare had vanished for such a long time. Why was it resurfacing now? Could you call them dreams if the events really happened?

“Mommy, who’s Michael?”

She stiffened. He’d never asked that question. Had she not cried out for Michael in the night before? How could she answer? Yet, not responding might alarm him since he heard her call out the name. “Yeah, baby, I do.”

He rolled over to face her. “Your bad dreams are about him?”

She touched her finger to his nose. “No, they aren’t about him, but he’s in them. Having him there makes it better for me.”

Better for her, but not for Michael. What had it cost him to watch Jervis do what he’d done to her?

“How does he make it better?”

Issie pushed her boy’s shaggy blond hair from his face. He needed a haircut, but he wanted it long until the end of the baseball season. His helmet fit better, he said.

“How does he make it better?” He repeated, propping himself up on one elbow. “Did he help you?”

A vision of Michael branded her memory—the tears in his eyes, the rage in the flare of his nostrils, and the sorrow in the turn of his lips.

“No, but he would if he could.” She pressed her chin against the top of Cole’s head and wrapped her arms around his pint-size body, drawing comfort from his warmth and concern. Cole was a good boy. No one could tell her differently. “In my dream, Michael’s having a tough time too, maybe worse than Mommy.”

“Where does Michael live?” He yawned and turning, he faced away from her, his little body curving with hers.

“I don’t know where he is today.” At least that was the truth now. “I haven’t seen him in over seven years.” Since his release from prison, Issie had no idea where he’d gone.

“Oh,” he said. His breathing soon settled into a sweet rhythm of sleep.

“Michael.” She breathed the name. As she’d done since the day she learned she carried a boy, she imagined Michael embracing her son and accepting him as his own. The fantasy, though, was too fantastic for even her to believe.

What inspired this book?

There are several issues covered in this story, but deep down, I think Because of Me came about because my two boys were like Cole, the young boy in the story. In fact, my youngest son—the one who really never had the favor of his natural father—his middle name is Cole. My boys needed a man in their lives who would love them unconditionally, who would nurture and care for them, and show a Christ-like example of a true father. My husband, Marc, stepped into that role when my children were six and four years old, and he’s never let those boy think for a moment that he wasn’t as much their dad as the man they share DNA with.



Still, there’s so much more to Because of Me. It’s a story of forgiveness, the depths of which some may never experience, and the story will renew your faith in the Lord’s design for us. After all, God is always in the details whether you recognize it or not.



What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?

Everyone has an opinion, and they are always greatly appreciated. However, it is important that a writer have enough confidence in what they have to say that no one can change the message God has placed on her heart. I didn’t always have that confidence.

What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?

I love to tell a story that shows the intricate and personal way God works in our lives. Hurting people don’t always see it until the pain is lifted, and I love to paint a picture that shows them that God does care about them where they were, where they are at the moment, and where they will be in the future.



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

With God there is always hope.



What is your favorite color?

Like my hero, Michael, my favorite color is blue.



Do you have a favorite recipe?

Women who don’t cook fear recipes. My husband jokes that our kitchen is actually in the restaurant we visit an average of three nights a week.



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

I’d travel back to July 11, 1986, the night I fell in love with my real-life hero who became my husband.



What project are you currently working on?

I have completed a second romantic suspense, Willow’s Path, and two contemporary romances, Charisse and Liberty. Currently, I’m working on two other romantic suspense novels and the last story in the contemporary romance series while editing a contemporary fiction entitled, Storms in Serenity. Beyond that I am excitedly looking forward to delving into a novel that includes the intriguing world of professional surfing.



Because of Me:


Issie Putnam’s life took a detour the night she was raped at gunpoint in front of her fiancé, Michael Hayes. Instead of marrying Michael, a promising young investigative reporter, Michael, along with the man who attacked her, and the man who held the gun on Michael, are imprisoned for conspiracy to assassinate the local district attorney—a crime Michael was trying to expose but had no intention of committing. Issie’s name is ruined, she lost her perfectly-planned future, but she gained Cole, her son—born of that rape.


On the eve of her attacker’s parole, Michael, already released from prison, follows through on his plan to return to the small town of Amazing Grace and protect Issie from the madman who promised to seek revenge. There, he meets Issie’s seven-year-old son for the first time.


Can Michael learn to love the child Issie holds so close to her heart? Will Michael be able to protect the woman he loves from the man who will stop at nothing to destroy them all?


Fay Lamb works as an acquisition/copyeditor for Pelican Book Group (White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books), offers her services as a freelance editor, and is an author of Christian romance and romantic suspense. Her emotionally charged stories remind the reader that God is always in the details. Because of Me, her debut romantic suspense novel is soon to be released by Treble Heart Books/Mountainview Publishing.

Fay has a passion for working with and encouraging fellow writers. As a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she co-moderates the large Scribes’ Critique Group and manages the smaller Scribes’ critique groups. For her efforts, she was the recipient of the ACFW Members Service Award in 2010.

In 2012, Fay was also elected to serve as secretary on ACFW’s Operating Board.

Fay and her husband, Marc, reside in Titusville, Florida, where multi-generations of their families have lived. The legacy continues with their two married sons and five grandchildren.





Fay has kindly offered to giveaway one free e-book. At least 10 people need to leave comments WITH email addresses for there to be a contest OR email me at srstormo@yahoo.com and put "Contest - Because of me" in the subject line. Winner announced Feb 26th.

Goodbye Noel, by Nike Chillemi - FREE eBOOK

Salena: Tell us about your book.


Nike: This novel resonated with me on a really deep level. I so wanted things to come out right for the heroine. I wanted her to find true love and to be able to give her heart to the hero. Every time I put an obstacle in her way, I so hoped she'd overcome it. I'll give you a short synopsis of the story.

GOODBYE NOEL Blurb: Historical Romantic Thriller

The first body is found under a trimmed Christmas tree, the second as they ring in the New Year (1947), the third goes head long out a window. Will a young pediatric nurse determined to make it on her own be able to care for an infant whose mother was murdered and escape the killer who has struck again? Can she trust the stalwart village detective with her life and her heart as he works to catch this killer before somebody else dies?


Pediatric nurse, Katrina Lenart, grew up strong willed and independent minded, while sharing her mother's flair for high fashion. When the police chief gives her an orphaned baby to care for, her maternal instincts take over and she's willing to fight anyone who might not have the infant's best interests at heart, even the man she's growing to love. After an attempt is made to kidnap the baby, she and the resolute village detective team up and do some sleuthing, undercover at a cult as well as at a fancy ball.

Detective Ian Daltry is a widower with a child and is not interested in a new love. Hunting a killer who stops at nothing has placed him in the position where he must protect a beautiful young woman he's drawn to. Is there's something he's overlooked in analyzing the case? Will he find out what that is before this ruthless murderer kills someone he loves?

Salena: Can you give us a sneak peek?

Nike: Sure, I'd love to show you an excerpt. This is Chapter 5, Long Island, NY, late December, 1947. At the local police chief's command, just the day before Katrina has driven through a raging blizzard with Ian to take an orphaned infant to the local hospital for a physical checkup. Now the detective is back.

Katrina wanted to throw Detective Daltry into a snow bank. The nerve of him, barging into their house twice in two days, demanding she bundle the baby up and take him into the cold. How could that man not recall their harrowing, nighttime drive through the storm of the decade? She tossed her hair back over her shoulder, and with great difficulty held her tongue.

Momma apparently had no such reservations. "Detective, what you are doing is very wrong."

Katrina came up beside her mother, to show a united front. "This is outrageous." Her eyes narrowed and she crossed her arms over her chest. She hated the tone of her voice, but this baby wasn't a ping-pong ball to be batted back and forth as the detective moved forward with his murder case.

He ignored her and continued addressing her mother.

"I'm sorry, ma'am." He removed his fedora. "Chief Ferguson has already made the necessary phone calls and arrangements have been made. I must take Leslie Janos Bauer with me to the home of his aunt in Bay Shore. The chief would prefer your daughter come along in an official capacity as a nurse. It's up to her, but I have to take the baby."

Momma's face flushed beet-red, a sure sign she'd become enraged. "This is not good for him… this hustle from place to place."

"With all due respect, ma'am, a child belongs with his family, if at all possible." The detective took a step toward Katrina. "Now, will you please fetch the baby." It wasn't a request.

Katrina made sure she stood tall. "Yes, I'll get Leslie." She clenched her fists at her side and jutted her chin. "This is disgraceful. You are using this infant to solve your murder case. Perhaps your own tragic life experience clouds your judgment?"

His mouth fell open and he took a step back.

"If you have it within your heart, give me one minute. I'll get him ready and get my coat and boots on." Without giving him a chance to reply, Katrina turned and stormed up the stairs.

Leslie lay sleeping in the baby-doll cradle Poppa had made for her when she was a little girl. Poppa had that kind of talent. He could make anything. In her heart she knew, he'd figured it would be her baby's bassinet. At least now, it had a real purpose. She ran a finger over the hand carved leaves in the headboard.

"Milachku, time to wake up." She took the infant into her arms inhaling the smell of baby, sweeter than the most expensive imported perfume.

Leslie yawned and she snuggled her nose in the soft folds of skin between his head and shoulder, kissing his neck. He cooed, so safe in her arms.

She brought him to her heart, holding him, rocking him and spoke softly to her reflection in the mirror above her bureau. "Fat chance I'll ever walk down the aisle or have a family of my own with the man shortage since the war." Something deep in the core of her female-self rebelled, a throbbing turbulence, from which deep hunger erupted.

She stroked Leslie's cheek and made a funny face. The softness of his skin melted her heart.

He smiled at her and kicked.

"I'm so sorry. I promised I'd protect you and I can't." She forced a smile and made clucking noises.

He grabbed her hair and yanked.

"Ouch." She laughed, removing strands of her hair from his little fist.

A tear escaped and ran down the side of her cheek. "I can do this." She lifted her chin, sucked in a long breath, wrap ed Leslie in a heavy quilt, and picked up his tote bag.

Salena: What inspired this book?

Nike: I like to read and write character driven crime fiction stories. Take a complex character, perhaps with some quirky personality traits and drop him or her into the middle of the action. That's what I did with GOODBYE NOEL. I had a great time creating Katrina Lenart and Ian Daltry, both of them deep, three dimensional characters, and then brought them to the scene of a henious murder. They are forced to interact and discover each other as they try to catch a killer before there is another murder.


Salena: What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?

Nike: I wanted my main characters to be believable, warts and all, yet also sympathetic. So, I'd say the hardest part was showing their less than perfect side and yet somehow getting the reader to cheer them on. There were times when they might not be so likeable in their actions, still I think the reader will understand their inner turmoil and route for them. I wanted to show how two ordinary people could rise up, face evil, and do the right thing. A difficult challenge.

Salena: What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?

Nike: The main theme in both of my novels, I think, is that LOVE triumphs over all. There is nothing that can stand up to love. Nothing can defeat love. I try to show that if my characters love, even if the villain or antagonist wounds them, still my heroine and hero win. They win because they love. A secondary theme in all my novels is to champion the victim. Someone in my novel will always stand for the rights of the victim. One of my main characters will speak on behalf of the victim.

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

Nike: Hope. I purpose in my writing that my readers will take away hope. GOODBYE NOEL is set at the close of WWII, a time when our nation was recovering from the great and devestation losses of the war. And yet, it is a time of great courage and optimism in America. The people of that time were a get up and go generation. They strove to make something of themselves and of this nation. I hope my characters reflect the spirit of that era. Right now this country is facing a very difficult time. I hope this story transmits a little bit of can do spirit of an earlier era.

Salena: What is your favorite color?

Nike: I mostly wear black. That's the uniform in New York City, where I live. It's also slimming. However, I also wear royal blue. I love a velvet or velour royal blue top with black slacks. This past summer I got into pink, in teeny-weeny amounts. I'll wear an entirely black outfit and add a splash of hot pink.

Salena: Do you have a favorite recipe?

Nike: I'm a foodie. I like to cook. I like things I can whip up at a moment's notice and serve to family and friends. I'll create a Roasted Chicken Pasta dish with Alfredo Sauce at the drop of a hat. My husband is Italian-American so he really loves that. My family's heritage is Slavic. I can also whip up a mean Beef Stroganoff. If there's an ingredient I can't live without it's sour cream. I throw that into anything that needs to become creamy or needs thickening.

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

Nike: I'd go back to the late 1940s in America, to the setting of my novels GOODBYE NOEL and BURNING HEARTS. I love that era. I love the pluck of Americans then. Americans were a classy people then. The fashion of that period was classic and really hot. The slang was so upbeat.

Salena: What project are you currently working on?

Nike: I'm working on two projects. HUNTING DANGER is a contemporary novel set in Brooklyn, NY. It's heroine, Phoebe Andropolis, is a feisty NYPD detective in the elite Special Investigations Unit. Think the roller coaster ride of Janet Evonovich, but think clean. I'm also working on a new historical series set in the 1950s. The heroine is out of work and becomes a private detective almost by default.

Author Bio:
Nike Chillemi has been called a crime fictionista due to her passion for crime fiction. She was an Inspy Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the 2011 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense categories. She is the founding board member of the Grace Awards and its Chairman, a reader's choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. BURNING HEARTS is the first book in the crime wave that is sweeping the south shore of Long Island in The Sanctuary Point series, published by Desert Breeze. GOODBYE NOEL, the second book in the series was released in December, 2011. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Edgy Christian Fiction Lovers (Ning).




Nike has been kind enough to give away one free ebook. At least 10 people need to leave comments WITH email addresses for there to be a contest. OR you can email me at srstormo@yahoo.com and put "contest - Noel" in the subject line. Winner announced 2/19/12

Bread Upon the Water, by Deanna Klingel

Tell us about your book.


Bread Upon the Water is the true story of a boy in South Vietnam who has a calling to the priesthood. When the North Vietnamese Communists invade and overpower the country, Tien has no choice but to escape, in order to follow God's call. It takes two escape attempts, a debilitating disease, a hurricane at sea, dehydration, starvation, imprisonment, separation from his family,near death experiences, and a couple of miracles before Tien makes it to the U.S. There he meets his next nemesis- the English language.

A sneak peak? Okay.

The neighbor pounded at the doorway, shouting into their house, “Hurry, Pham Toá, gather your children. There is no time. They’re approaching. Run!” Pham Toá crossed herself and quickly gathered all the children.

“Run,” she said. “Fast as you can. Run to the Church and hide.” Along with all their neighbors, Tiến’s family ran across the market to their church. No one knew what would happen when the army arrived. The President of South Vietnam had commanded all the villages not to resist when the North Vietnamese army invaded their villages, hoping there would be less bloodshed.

“Will we all be shot?” they wondered aloud.

“They’re going to burn our homes.”

“Are we going to be prisoners?” The thoughts were terrifying. Young children clung to their parents who helped their elderly into hiding.

“I’ll not let them torture my children,” screamed one of the women, running with a knife in her hand.

Crouching silently and praying in the darkened basement of their church, Tiển and his family huddled tightly together, barely breathing. They kept watch from tiny darkened windows. The terror was so complete that even the babies were silent. Some of the adults were shaking. They were all praying, Buddhists and Catholics. Tien watched a woman pull a rosary from her pocket made of grains of rice. No one would ever be suspicious of a pocket full of rice.

“They are here. I can see them,” whispered Tiến to Phương, from his lookout place.

“What’re they doing?” she whispered behind him.

“They’re on foot! They’re walking around on foot in small groups. They aren’t marching. They don’t look like a fighting army,” he whispered in her ear. Phuong kept her hands over her eyes.

“The soldiers are all clean; their uniforms are cleaned and pressed,” said a neighbor woman who squinted through a crack in the door. “Doesn’t look like fighting to me. Not like a war.”

“Do they have guns?” someone asked.

“They’re armed, yes, but the guns are hanging loosely at their sides. They look like tourists,” Tiến whispered to them nervously.

“That’s right,” the neighbor agreed. “They just look around and walk slow.”

The soldiers looked around at the houses, peeked inside them, and walked through the market place. They seemed to be puzzled about what they were seeing. The frightened villagers peering out from the church peep holes saw the soldiers pointing, gesturing, and talking quietly to each other.

The church building where the villagers were hiding was a large, two-story, brick building. The church was upstairs, the school was downstairs. Frightened and displaced villagers crowded into the seven large classrooms of the school. As the quiet ensued, the nervous people looked out the door, and seeing no threatening armies, began slowly and quietly returning to their homes. The soldiers didn’t stop them. They watched them treading hesitantly and fearfully back to their homes.

“We’ll go home now,” whispered Pham Toá. “Be strong. Be brave. God be with us.”

Tiến’s family moved quickly from the church yard, across the market, and back to their home. Pham Toá’s market tables were still set up with her colorful displays of fruits and vegetables. She’d recently added more merchandise to her display including household items, clothing, and sandals.

Four soldiers approached her market table. They were talking and gesturing to each other. Tiến squatted beneath the table and listened to what they were saying. He could see their faces through the cracks in the tables. He was surprised to see what they looked like.

“Where is this poverty that we must liberate these peasants from? I see no poverty here.” The soldier said. He looked around at the substantial housing and colorful marketplace, and spat on the ground.

“There’s no squalor that disgraces our country. This place is clean and healthy,” said the second soldier, gesturing with his hand towards the swept yards and absence of trash. Tiến thought the soldiers sounded annoyed by this discovery, as if they wanted it to look trashy.

“Look inside this house.” He pointed into the door of the Dương’s home. “The floor is tile from the door to the end.”

“A tile floor? These people aren’t poor. These aren’t the homes of stupid indigent peasants.”

The soldier with a puzzled demeanor scratched his head.

“Could it be the government told us wrong? Is it possible that these Vietnamese countrymen aren’t our enemy?”

“This is confusing,” the fourth soldier said, looking around at the well-organized village. “But, no, the communist government is never wrong. The NLF knows all. We are never wrong. Never!”

“That’s right,” they all agreed.

“Here, woman,” the first soldier said. “I want to buy these sandals.” He held four pair of sandals in his hand. He sneered condescendingly at Pham Toá. He turned to the second soldier and winked his eye. Tiến peered at them from under the table. He saw the soldier whisper to the others.

“The poor woman will be grateful that I give her any money. These pitiful peasants are always groveling, and now they’ll see that their new government is generous to them. They’ll be better off now that we have liberated them. They’ll be grateful to us.” He grinned at Pham Toa.

Tiến watched as the soldier reached into his shirt pocket and proudly presented Pham Toá with the small amount of money he had. She looked at the money disdainfully. A couple of the children muffled their laughter, knowing that the amount didn’t pay for even one pair of the fine sandals. Tiến was outraged that the soldier would offer such an insulting pittance to his mother.

“No,” said Pham Toá proudly. “You may keep your money. I don’t need it, and I have many sandals. You may keep these sandals.” She gave him a dismissive wave of her hand.

She ushered her family into the house leaving the soldier, embarrassed, with his puzzled comrades. Her quiet, stoical children wanted to cheer her, but they moved quietly into the house and resisted looking back at the humiliated soldiers. Tiến was proud of his mother’s courage. She held her head high, but once inside the house, she collapsed in the chair and covered her face. Her children gathered around her, whispering and celebrating her small victory. They were all proud of her. Her hands trembled. Theirs patted her shoulders, congratulating her.

What inspired this book?

The inspiration for this book was Father Tien himself. He was our pastor for two years. He's a holy and inspiring man, and extremely humble. He's the last person who would consider himself a hero or a model for faith. But he is. I convinced him to share his story with me so we could share it with young readers.

What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?

Probably the biggest challenge with any book is getting it to a publisher. But besides that, I think it's a huge challenge to pare down the volumes of research into the tiny bit that actually enhances the story.

What is your favorite thing to write about (i.e, forgiveness, rebellion, etc.)?

Hmm. I like writing about humanness. Is that a word? It's the feelings that make us human, our souls, perhaps. It's the experiences that make people who they are. In the Avery and Gunner stories it was Avery's growth from boyhood to manhood, the sum of his experiences during the war and how it helped him to be the man he became. It was how his belief in God influenced his decisions, and how those decisions decided his future. In Bread Upon the Water, it's Tien's determination to follow God's call, and his faith that enabled him to endure the many hardships.

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

My hope for this book is that it will inspire young readers to examine their own faith. Tien, as a young boy, as a teenager, was just like them. He was angry at what was happening politically. He felt helpless at times, overwhelmed, and often confused, listening to all the propaganda and differing opinions. His world was being destroyed. He had a calling and a dream of following it. But most of us don't know we have the capacity for the amount of faith Tien had to face his future. Trust in God was all he had. I hope my readers will see how that could work for them.

What is your favorite color?

I'm not sure. My favorite vegetable color is green. My favorite jeans color is blue. My favorite flower color is coral, favorite dog color, golden. My favorite sock color is all of them and I like red anything. Except nail polish. I really don't like red nail polish.

Do you have a favorite recipe?

What's on the menu?

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

I recently finished a rewrite of a short story, Rebecca & Heart, which is on Storyrealm.com. I've rewritten it as a full length novel during war time England. I was fascinated by the things I discovered. It must have been a frightening time, but the people were so committed, so brave. And I would like to have met Winston Churchill. I might like a visit there, then. With a gas mask, of course.

What project are you currently working on?

I constantly read, re-read, cut and paste, reword, all my work, all the time. But, my focus right now is launching Bread Upon the Water. My project is keeping my frustration under control. The book was supposed to be out between Thanksgiving and Christmas. Then Christmas. Then before New Year's. Then by February. It still isn't out. I don't know why. I've got other manuscripts out that I'm waiting to hear about and one going to contract. I travel nearly every weekend to Civil War re-enactments, living histories at museums and National Parks, and do school visits with the Avery and Gunner books. You can find me on the last page of my website http://www.booksbydeanna.com/.
I might be in your area. I'd love to meet you.

Warring Spirits, by April Gardner

Tell us about your book.


That’s a dangerous question! I might never shut up. 

My latest adult novel is a historical romance set in 1816 Negro Fort across the Spanish Floridas border. Milly, a woman whose African heritage would be hidden except for her textured hair, has run away from her master and sought refuge at Negro Fort. She vows to die before returning to slavery. Major Phillip Bailey stumbles upon her the dark of night outside the fort. Unaware that she’s actually a slave, he sets out tor “rescue her” from the escaped slaves controlling the fort. But will he be able to do so before his detachment opens fire?

Can you give us a sneak peek?

Sure! Here’s that forest scene where Philip and Milly meet…


Unless the encroaching night was playing tricks on him, this woman was white. Not the midnight skin of a runaway or the smooth olive of a Spaniard, but white. Nearly as white as Phillip.


He settled the butt of his musket at his feet. “Ma’am? What are you doing out here?”


Her struggle grew more desperate until the sound of ripping preceded her tumble. Mostly hidden by palmettos, she scooted backward on the ground.


Still many yards distant, Phillip reached a hand to her, unable to imagine why she might be afraid of him. “I won’t hurt—”


A black man, large as a bear, darted from behind a thick pine to Phillip’s right. His sprint carried him across Phillip’s path and directly toward the woman.


“No! Get away.” Her words came out a garbled croak.


“Halt!” Phillip flipped the weapon back into position and aimed it at the slave’s chest.


Unfazed, he kept moving and would have intercepted the woman except for the stone she hurled. It thudded off his shoulder and stopped him dead in his tracks.


He swiveled to face Phillip, who had shortened the distance between them, his eye never leaving the musket’s sites. “One more step, and before the night's out, I’ll bury you where you stand.”


The man’s shoulders rose and fell with each rapid breath, but his stony face showed no fear. “Then you bettah do it. Otherwise, it’ll be you what's buried. See, I plan to make it to that fort, and losin’ my life to do it is no mattuh to me.”


Phillip’s brother, Dixon, had often said that a man who didn’t value his own life made the most dangerous of enemies. This one wouldn’t live long enough to become that. Phillip leveled his musket’s barrel at the big man’s heart.


In response, he took a single step forward.


“Don’t shoot!” The woman stumbled forward, placing herself between the runaway and the iron-tipped muzzle.


Reflexively, he skipped to the side to maintain his aim on the man. “Step away, ma’am. Don’t want you hurt.” What was she thinking?


She mirrored his movements, keeping herself between them. “No one needs to get hurt.”


“Move away from him, and let me handle this.”


She faced Phillip, her large brown eyes pleading. “Let him go. Please.”


“Woman, are you crazy?” The black man voiced Phillip’s own thoughts.


She was either insane or suffering from over-exposure.


Weapon still trained on the runaway, Phillip took a quick step forward and flailed at her, trying to grab her by the arm.


She skittered to the side, and he swiped nothing but air.


“Get out of the way,” he snapped. Not one of his men would have dared defy his command, yet this woman stood her ground.


She backed further away from him and dangerously close to the black man. “He didn’t run a hundred miles just to be shot down defenseless in the woods a day away from the only chance at freedom he’ll ever have.” Her voice shook, but her rigid back told Phillip she wouldn’t give in any time soon.

What inspired this book?


It is too cliché to say God? I needed a sequel to Wounded Spirits, the first in the Creek Country Saga. Fourteen thousand words into the new book, I KNEW it wasn’t the story I was supposed to be writing. So I stopped and reopened my research books. That’s when I came across Negro Fort. I’d read about it half a dozen times before during research, but this time, it leapt off the pages at me and screamed, “Write me!!” So I did.



What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?



The ending to Warring Spirits was a bear! I rewrote it four times, but I’m so glad I did. Many readers have told me what a satisfying ending it has. Praise God!


What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?


History! In my opinion, a story doesn’t have much appeal unless it’s based on real events. Taking details from history and weaving them through my characters lives is what it’s all about for me!



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

There are several issues Warring Spirits deals with, but the main one is probably hope despite hopeless circumstances, and God’s enduring strength.



What is your favorite color?

Varying shades of blue, all mixed together. Like the ocean!

Do you have a favorite recipe?

I just discovered sautéed bananas. I know. Odd huh? But let me tell you! It’s Iron Chef worthy!! It’s a healthy-ish and cheap dessert that uses ingredients I always have on hand, and it only takes a few minutes to make! You can find it here. http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/melissa-darabian/sauteed-bananas-with-tangy-sweet-cream-recipe/index.html



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

Tough question for a writer of historial fiction! The answer probably varies by the day, but today, I’d like to visit Rome at its peak. It was a harsh period in world history, but it fascinates me. Perhaps because of its close link with the Bible.



What project are you currently working on?

I’m plotting my next children’s action adventure novel, “Lizzie and the Forbidden Crystals.” The first in that series released simultaneously with “Warring Spirits,” and is called “Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang.” It’s based on the life of my friend Ruth Davies who lived in Guernsey, UK during the five year Nazi occupation. Talk about fascinating! You can learn more about it here: http://www.channelislandsresistance.com.

It was a pleasure to visit with you today!

If you would like to learn more about my books, you can do so at my blog. http://www.aprilwgardner.com/

19th Century Carriages & Wagons: A Writer's Resource by Lynn Coleman

I am SUPER excited to have Lynn on today to talk about a GREAT resource guide for historical writers. If anyone could pull this off Lynn can!

Tell us about your book.


19th Century Carriages & Wagons A Writer’s Resource is guide for writer’s of historical fiction. The information is arranged by decades as well as by individual wagons, giving the reader access to the various types of wagons throughout the 19th century. It is in an electronic format that allows the reader to quickly find the material they are looking for. I don’t know about you but when I’m writing a story I hate to have to leave the story in order to find a tiny bit of information to help paint the scene. I’ve gathered all those tiny pieces and placed them in this book, for the writer of historicals.

Can you give us a sneak peek?

There are sample pages on my website. The link is http://www.lynncoleman.com/carriage/tabcon.htm




What inspired this book?

The inspiration for this book was originally my own need as an author. I was about to write a scene involving a carriage and discovered that my mind went to three types of carriages, the Wells Fargo stage coach image, the buckboard used by Lucas McCay in the Rifleman series and the old farmer’s wagon. I knew there were other types of wagons but it took a lot of time to find the information I was looking for, such as what were they made of, how did the passenger get into the wagon, the driver, what size was the wagon, etc. I’d been compiling my information for myself for quite a while, then decided others would be interested and the idea for the book was born, little did I know that hunting down all this information for the various wagons would take a lot of time and in many cases the information has been lost over the years. However, I did manage to find over 60 various wagons with several 19th Century sources and images. It was very exciting but I do love research.

What has been your most challenging experience writing a book?

The hardest challenge was writing the html code for the book. My youngest son, was going to help me but he passed away last July. I’d hoped to put a section within the book where you, the reader, could put in their own notes. However, without Tim’s expertise I wasn’t able to include such a feature.


What is your favorite thing to write about, (i.e., forgiveness, rebellion, etc)?

Hmm, that’s an interesting question. I suppose it is on deeper life, applying Biblical principles and knowledge to life events and learning to lean on the Lord. Currently I am working on a character who has stuffed their survivor’s guilt and it is causing her to not understand her current insecurities and anxieties.

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

Good and useful information to help them write more historically accurate books. To enable them to spend more time writing and less time having to search for hours for a tiny tidbit of information.

What is your favorite color?

Purple. When I was a child it was blue but after high school where the school colors were purple and white, my favorite color is purple. It’s still a part of the blue family of colors.

Do you have a favorite recipe?

I love to cook, I’m not keen on baking but I love to cook. I’ve been given a gift in being able to take a few simple ingredients and turn them into a delicious meal. I don’t know if I have one favorite recipe. I suppose it would be my Mom’s Boston Bake Beans. Living in the south I found their baked beans to be good but not as appealing as my mom’s with molasses in them.


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

I would love to go back in time to walking the hillsides of Israel and listening to Jesus talk with the masses. To see him face to face, to hear him speak, to watch him heal, to have a front row seat to those eternal historic changes, that would be my ultimate desire.

What project are you currently working on?

Currently I’m working on two historical proposals. I’ve also started gathering additional information that will be an addendum to 19th Century Carriages & Wagons A Writer’s Resource.

Thanks Salena for this opportunity to chat with you and share a bit about myself and my work.

If you want to purchase this CD click here.
http://www.lynncoleman.com/carriages.html

If you love history and have not checked out Lynn's blog do so now. :)
http://www.historicaltidbits.blogspot.com/