Interview and Giveaway for "Deer Run"

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANN KNOWLES



WINNER OF "THE ROAD TO DEER RUN"

The year is 1790

The American Revolution has long been over, but the wounds of batter still linger in the hearts and minds of many.

A verteran Continental soldier still awaits the return of his missing father, years after the last battle. Haunted by the painful memories of war and scarred from betrayal in love, the young man turns away from faith. The only hope he clings to is that perhaps his father still lives.

Then he discovers his hope is shared by a young woman, who understands loss and the longing for a father. As they encounter this unexpected connnection, their hearts become drawn together. But jealously, slander, and misunderstandings ignite a fire of doubt and mistrust - distroying their relationship.

Can two souls longing for healing and trust, love again? Can faith - and a family - be restored?

Elaine Cooper is an award-winning author currently living in the Midwest. She grew up in Massachusetts, the setting for her three-part Deer Run Saga that takes place during the period of the American Revolution. The novel is the second in the series. Elaine is a registered nurse and has been a magazine freelance writer for many years.

Interview with Elaine

1. Tell us a little about yourself. I am a wife, mom of two grown sons, and grammie to two-year-old triplets. I am a registered nurse but I now work fulltime at writing. My writing career started in freelance work for newspapers, then as a magazine freelancer. My life is more
hectic now than it has ever been, but I LOVE writing! I am also quite addicted
to tea and coffee. J
2.
Tell us
about your most recent book/or the book we are focusing on. “The Promise of
Deer Run,” was released in 2011 and I was so honored to have this novel win the
Romance Category at the 2012 Los Angeles Book Festival. I praise God for His
goodness and grace in my writing. This novel is set in 1790 in Western
Massachusetts, and focuses on a young veteran from the American Revolution. He
suffers from, what we now know to be, posttraumatic stress. It is a story about
healing, forgiveness, commitment, and love in the midst of life’s harshest
realities.
3.
Why did
you choose this particular genre? I love the history of our country.
Growing up in Massachusetts, I was surrounded by the history of the American
Revolution and just immersed myself in it. Finding out that one of my ancestors
fought in that war—as an enemy soldier from England—prompted the plot for my
first novel, “The Road to Deer Run.” It quickly grew into a three book family
saga.
4.
What was
your journey to publication like? When “The Road to Deer Run” was ready to
be sent to an editor, the publishing industry was in a huge spiral downward.
Undaunted by the discouraging news, I opted for self-publishing my first two
books without ever sending in a query to any traditional publisher. My third
book was contracted by Sword of the Spirit Publishing and will be released by
this summer.
5.
What is a
couple of your favorite books and what are you reading now? Right now I am
reading “Map Quilt” by Lisa Lickel, which is a cozy mystery with a touch of
historical drama in the plot. I am loving it! It will be released later in
April. I have lots of favorite books. Of course “The Bible” is THE favorite in
my collection. I love the historical fiction genre: “The Chamomile” by Susan
Craft, and “Daughter of Liberty” and “Native Son” by J.M. Hochstetler are some
of my favorites. I also like contemporary romances, especially by Karen
Kingsbury. But I am one of the strange readers that also likes non-fiction
biographies. What can be more interesting than the true tale of someone’s life?
I read Bob Dole’s biography as research for “The Promise of Deer Run” and was
completely caught up in his amazing story of surviving his injuries from WWII.
Inspiring.
6.
What are
you working on now and can you give us a little peek inside it? I just
finished Book Three in my saga, called “The Legacy of Deer Run.” It is set in
1800 in Western Massachusetts and involves political intrigue, class struggle,
terrorism at the Springfield Armory, and of course, plenty of romance at the
core of the story. As always in these novels, the themes of faith and
forgiveness flow through the chapters as well.
7.
What
advice would you give authors who are on their own journey to publication?
Pray! Learn the craft from other writers, but don’t be so overwhelmed by
someone else’s style that you lose your own writer’s voice. Each author has a story
to tell. While there are certain guidelines that are necessary to learn, don’t
get so caught up in technique that you lose a really great story.
8.
Do you
have any books or websites that have helped you with your writing that you
could share with us? One of the most helpful authors that I know is Cec
Murphy. He gives the most practical, worthwhile advice of almost anyone. Here
is his website: http://cecmurpheyswritertowriter.blogspot.com/
9.
Is there
anything you’d like to tell us we haven’t covered? I have to say that the
biggest influence in my writing has been the death of my daughter from a brain
tumor eight years ago. It was on the fourth anniversary of her passing away
that I felt inspired to begin my first book. I was driven in a way unlike
anything I have ever experienced before. I know that the Lord used my writing
to help me heal from this loss, which still grieves my heart every day. My
first book is dedicated to my daughter, Bethany.
10.
Please
let us know where we can find you on the web. You can friend me on Facebook
at http://www.facebook.com/elainemariecooper
And I have two
websites:
www.DeerRunBooks.com
www.PromiseOfDeerRun.com
I also write a
blog every Friday at http://ReflectionsInHindsight.wordpress.com,
every second Wednesday at www.colonialquills.blogspot.com,
and the first of every month at http://www.thebarndoor.net/.
No wonder I drink
so much caffeine! J

Thank you so much for being with us Elaine. What an interview!

To enter for a copy of "Deer Run" please:

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3. Have you ever read a book set during the Revolutionary War?

4. Leave an email so I can contact you if you win.

5. Contest ends 4/20/12.

HAPPY READING!