REVIEW OF PATRICIA HICKMAN'S "THE PIRATE QUEEN" AND GIVEAWAY

And the winner is: Wendy!!! Thanks Wendy for entering the contest and I will be getting in touch with you very soon. I also want to thank Waterbrook Press for offering a copy of "The Pirate Queen" for this giveaway. I hope you enjoyed this review and be sure and look for the review and giveaway of Young Adult Books " Shoot the Wounded" and "Heal the Wounded" by Canadian Lynn Dove. You don't want to miss this one. Be on the lookout for the launch of "Heal the Wounded" on January 25th.


was not able to copy a picture of the book cover or a picture of Patricia. If you go to the Waterbook Press site you can find both of them.

Back cover: The envy of all her friends, wife and mother Saphora Warren is the model of southern gentility and accomplishment. she lives in a beautiful Lake Norman home, and has raised three capable adult children. Her husband is a successful plastic surgeon - and a philanderer. It is for that reason that, after hosting a garden party for Southern Living magazine, Saphora packs her bags to escape the trappings of the picturesque-but-vacant-life.

Saphora's departure is interrupted by her husband Benders early arrival home, and his words change her life forever: I'm dying. Against her desires, Saphora agrees to take care of Bender as he fights his illness. The relocate, at his insistence, to their coastal home in Oriental - the same house she had chosen for her private getaway. When her idyllic retreat is overrun by her grown children, grandchildren, townspeople, relatives, and a precocious neighbor child, Saphora's escape to paradise is anything but the life she had imagined. As she gropes for evidence of God's presence amid the turmoil, can she discover that the richest treasures come in surprising packages?

About Patricia Hickman: Patricia Hickman, author of the acclaimed novel Painted Dresses, is an award-winner, speaker, and humorist who has won two Silver Angel Awards for Excellance in Media as well as a Romantic Times Reader's Choice Gold Award for her novel Katrina's Wings. Patricia holds a master's degree in creative writing from Queens University and enjoys biking, hiking, and mapping out the Southern towns where her novels are set.

My Take: Four Stars: I wasn't sure what "The Pirate Queen" would be like. I wondered what the title meant. Now that I've read the book I know what it means. I'm not going to tell you though, so you can read the book and find out for yourself.

Saphora Warren is the main character. She has been married more than thirty years to a Doctor who has a personality bigger than life. He has also been a philanderer most of the marriage. Saphora has lost who she is and is just about to leave Bender when he comes home and tells her he has a life threatening illness.

What should she do? Leave or stay. She chooses to stay and take care of him during his last months of life. This might seem far-fetched, but I've heard of several women who have even taken care of their ex-husbands during their terminal illness. It is real life and could happen to anyone.

The story is about her journey taking care of him during his last days. It also probes the in and outs of their family dynamics and how this effects them.
It is a story of a family in crisis and then a time of healing.

I enjoyed reading "The Pirate Queen", but I found it hard to stick with sometimes. The pace was slower than I would have liked for it to be.With that said I am glad that I chose this book to review and believe anyone who reads it will not be sorry.

To enter the giveaway please follow the instructions:
1. Be a follower or sign up as a new follower
2. Leave an email address so I can contact the winner
3. Visit Waterbrook Press and check out their books and authors.

Contest will end on December 30th.

Interview and Giveaway with Cathy Bryant!

AND THE WINNER IS:
DEBRA

Thanks to all of you who entered. You will be automatically entered to win the Box of Books I will be drawing for at the end of December. Cathy thank you for being my guest and keep up the good work! Thank goodness for self-publishing!

BE SURE AND SCROLL DOWN TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY FOR SHAWNA K. WILLIAMS "IN ALL THINGS."

Cathy thank you so much for being a guest on my blog. Cathy has offered to give away a copy of her book "A Path Less Traveled" in book form or ebook form. Here we go:

About Cathy: Greetings from East Texas! I live in a century-old farmhouse (complete with a front porch and white picket fence) with one amazing husband, a phobia-ridden cat, and a garden full of flowers, hummingbirds and butterflies. (I'll leave out the giant mosquitoes!)

I'm the proud mother of two wonderful sons, and (as of the summer of 2007) the daughter of my prayers. In 2009, I experienced the joy of all joys and became a Nana to the most beautiful grandson the world has ever known. A teacher by profession, I'm currently teaching private voice and piano and pursuing my lifelong dream of being a writer.

My first novel, Texas Roads (Book 1 in the Miller's Creek novels) was chosen as a finalist in the ACFW 2009 Genesis contest in the Contemporary Romance division. The second book in the Miller's Creek novels, A Path Less Traveled, was released in November 2010.

I've also written several devotions for online sites, books, and magazines. In my spare time (ha!) I enjoy walking, bike riding, gardening, watching movies or reality TV, and of course, reading.

Back Cover:Trish James is tired of being rescued. When a spooked horse claims her husband's life, she’s determined to blaze a path for herself and her traumatized son without outside help. But will that mean leaving the place etched on her heart?

Andy Tyler has had to struggle for everything, and starting a new law practice in Miller's Creek, Texas is no different. Though prepared for business challenges, he's not prepared for falling in love--especially with yet another woman who will probably abandon him for her career.

Will Andy and Trish be able to see past their limited human understanding to take a path less traveled?

My Take: Great book! Very realistic. I could really relate to many of the things the main character was going through. I think you might could as well. I think I enjoyed this book even more than the first one. It was very easy to read - very smooth. I give both books a five star rating.

INTERVIEW WITH CATHY

1. Have you always wanted to write. Cathy how did you come up with this series and how long did it take you to finish your first book - including editing.
I've been writing since I was a child. I loved stories, whether written by me or someone else. The series really flowed from my experiences of growing up and living in small towns across Texas. From concept to finished book on Texas Roads, the book took me about three years.

2. I really enjoyed "A Path Less Traveled" the second in a series. How did you come up with the plot?
The plot kind of evolved from the spiritual lesson I wanted in the book (trusting God no matter what). I also wanted to keep the flavor of Miller's Creek, but with new characters. I needed two characters that were introduced in book one, Texas Roads, so it only made sense to choose Trish James and Andy Tyler.

3. What do you have planned next?

I'm currently working on the third book in the series, entitled The Way of Grace. It tells the story of a young woman who struggles with perfectionism, to the point that she becomes spiritually proud and legalistic.

4. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

My advice is to 1) study the craft of writing fiction; 2)seek God's will for you and your writing; and 3) read voraciously.

THINGS TO DO TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

1. BE A FOLLOWER OR BECOME A NEW FOLLOWER. LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN CONTACT YOU IF YOU WIN.

2. VISIT CATHY'S WEBSITE AT:

http://www.catbryant.com/2009/08/inspirational-stories-with-touch-of.html

3. Cathy has chosen to self publish her books. I for one am glad she did. Does it matter to you whether a book is self-published or not?

4. Giveaway ends December 20th, 2010.

HAPPY READING!

INTERVIEW AND GIVEAWAY! SHAWNA WILLIAMS

AND THE WINNER IS:
EMMA

Thank all of you who entered the contest for Shawna's book. You will automatically be entered o win the Box of Books I will be drawing for at the end of December. Thank you Shawna for being my guest and keep up the good work. I'm looking forward to reading your next book!

I am excited to host Shawna this month for an interview and giveaway. I hope that you enjoy it, too. Shawna has been kind enough to offer a PDF file of her book "No Other" or "In All Things"and a freshwater pearl bracelet. Without further ado here we go:

SHAWNA WILLIAMS

ABOUT SHAWNA: I'm a lot of things: a Christian, wife, mother, friend, author, artist, rock hound, science geek and animal lover. The first four take priority. The rest tend to jostle for my attention. Since I'm always a dreamer, author usually wins.

Indeed, my first two books are the result of a dream -- an actual dream. It nagged me for six months as I mentally tried to fill in all of the gaps. I finally had to write it down. Since then, God has continued to bless with me inspiration at times of His choosing.

Technically, I'm an Inspirational Romance writer. But I like to think that romance includes more than the relationship between two people. It can also be about the era or place, or even a single moment in time, when an elusive whisper reaches inward and ever so gently taps the soul, saying, "This. Remember this."

It's my desire that my stories create such a moment.

Some of my methods for filling my creative reservoir are reading about the histories of small towns, pouring over old photos in antique shops and people's homes (if I'm at yours, I'll ask to see your picture albums) and asking prying questions about your best family stories. Oh! And if you ever see a lady on the side of the road, taking pictures of old, dilapidated houses and buildings, it's probably me.

MY TAKE: This is the second book in a series. The first book was "No Other" that I have reviewed in the past. The first one is set during WWII and is about the internment of Germans. The second book is more about the life of a married couple who have left their little town for Hollywood so the wife can make it as a movie star. Though I liked both of the books very much, I must say that I liked the first one better. I would rate the first one a five star and then rate "In All Things" four stars. Not that the writing wasn't very good, but there was a lot of "angst" as Shawna put it and it was hard to read. I will say the ending is worth reading to the end!

INTERVIEW WITH SHAWNA

1. Have you always wanted to write. Shawna how did you come up with this series and how long did it take you to finish your first book - including editing.

In All Things and No Other are linked very closely. In fact, the original version of both books was one story. That story was inspired by a dream, and before that dream I had never intended to be a writer.

The dream was really profound, like scenes from a movie. I found myself thinking about it constantly for the next six month, trying to fill in the details between scenes. It eventually became so complicated that I had to start writing it. At first it was to satisfy my own curiosity, but over time I grew to love the characters, love their story, and love writing.

This story actually took about eight years to mature into its finished form. When I started it my kids were very small, so it took me about two years to complete, and it was dreadfully long and horribly written. I made several attempts to revise it, but I hadn't taken the time to really learn what I was doing, so I pretty much just revised it from one terrible book into another terrible book.

When I did decide to get serious about writing, I spent some time just learning before I really dug in to make the book the story I knew it could be. I realized immediately that it wasn't one book, but two. I wrote No Other first, and it took about six months. A lot of the editing came as I wrote, and more edits through the publisher after it was under contract.

Desert Breeze went ahead and contracted In All Things even though it wasn't revised and rewritten into its own book. Writing In All Things was quite an experience. I worked on it for nine months before it was due, but the final story didn't really form until the last four. The previous five months I kept starting new drafts, and I'd get 2/3rds of the way through and feel like the whole thing was slipping away from me. Part of the problem had been that I was trying to hold onto some elements and a character from the original that no longer had a place in the new book. Once I let that go, everything fell in place. I wrote the last thirty thousand words in the three weeks before the due date. I had a friend and my hubby read as I wrote to help catch typos and poor phrasing, but it was edited by the publisher after I turned it in.

2. I really enjoyed "In All Things" the second in a series, but it was a little different from "No Other". How did you come up with the plot? By the way, I loved the ending.

Well, I always knew that Jakob and Meri's story wasn't complete in No Other. No Other is about their romance, but their underlying struggles are still there. I think by the end of No Other they were more aware of them, but dealing with them doesn't come so easily. Knowing that one needs to rely on God isn't as easy as actually doing it. And their path was complicated by past events. I wanted to explore how those things might have played out in later years, not just between Jakob and Meri, but with other members of both families.

In All Things is ten years later. It's actually more of a character journey than a romance. I also wanted to write about a mature marriage. So many stories end with the guy and girl getting together and life being happily-ever-after, but marriage takes work. Sometimes couples really struggle. I wanted to write about that, too. The main idea of the story, though, was to complete the journey from No Other, with all things coming together in healing.

3. What is next in the series, and do you have anything planned after this series?

I'm currently working on a spin off about Roger. I'd like to write about his journey from the snotty, kiss-up, wannabe son-in-law to the district attorney. I have a feeling he's going to be going after Meri's dad for his involvement with the mob. I'm even planning on bringing in that character I had to cut from the original. I also plan to include Esther, Jakob's sister, in this story. No romantic involvement; she's way too young for Roger, but there'll be a link between her, Ralph, Ralph's sister and Roger. I haven't signed a contract for this yet because I'd like to be further along before I commit to a deadline.

4. Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

You always hear the phrase 'write what you know' but I think it's equally important, if not more-so, that an author writes who they are. Yes, we have to learn the craft, pay attention to trends and whatnot. Those things are important. Just be sure that in doing so you don't lose yourself. God gave us this calling because of who we are, and the best stories come from a sincere heart.

We start off with this dream to write because of this passion deep inside, and of course we want to get published, but I hope beginning writers will ask themselves which is more important; to write what you love, or to write to get published. There's a difference. I'm not saying that they are exclusive of each other because obviously they aren't. It's just that it's a tough journey and the reason for writing can be easily obscured.

Do you have anything you want to donate for a giveaway?

I'd love to give away a pdf copy of either In All Things or No Other and a freshwater pearl bracelet.

THINGS TO DO TO ENTER THE GIVEAWAY:

1. BE A FOLLOWER OR BECOME A FOLLOWER. LEAVE AN EMAIL ADDRESS SO I CAN CONTACT THE WINNER.

2. VISIT SHAWNA'S WEBSITE AT http://shawnakwilliams.com/Home_Page.html. THE PICTURE OF THE HOUSE PLAYS A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HER BOOKS.

3. TELL ME WHAT YOU THINK OF EBOOKS. DO YOU HAVE AN EREADER (NOOK, KINDLE, ETC) OR ARE YOU INTERESTED IN GETTING ONE. WHAT PART DO YOU THINK THEY WILL PLAY IN THE FUTURE OF BOOKS.

4. The Giveaway ends December 20th, 2010,

HAPPY READING!

ANOTHER WINNER

CONGRATULATIONS TO ANN WHO IS THE WINNER OF

ALICE K ARENZ "MIRRORED IMAGE".

AND THE WINNER IS !!!!!!!

THE WINNER FOR VICKI MCDONOUGH'S A BRIDE BEFORE CHRISTMAS IS

JAN CLINE

CONGRATUATIONS JAN!

Review And Give Away for Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz

Another great interview and give away for the month of November. I want you to welcome Alice K. Arenz as a guest on my blog. Alice has written several cozy mysteries The Case of the Bouncing Grandma and The Case of the Mystified M.D.

Today we are going to be talking about Alice's latest book Mirrored Image, a romantic suspense. First let me tell you a little bit about Alice:

2010 ACFW Carol Award winning author, Alice K. Arenz author of October 2010 suspense Mirrored Image has been writing since she was a child. Her earliest publication was in a small, family-owned newspaper where her articles, essays, and poems were frequently included. In the mid-90s, her writing earned her a stent with a well known New York literary agency, and although it failed to produce the hoped for results, her determination to become published eventually led her to Sheaf House Publishing.

Arenz also writes cozy mysteries under A. K. Arenz. The Case of the Bouncing Grandma,was a finalist in the 2009 American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year contest. the second in the Bouncing Grandma Series, The Case of the Mystified M. D., won the 2010 ACFW Carol Award for mystery. She lives in Missouri with her husband and two Himalayan cats.

Back Cover of Mirrored Image: Their faces were the same. Will their fates be as well. The uncanny resemblance between eccentric newspaper columnist Cassandra Chase and a murder victim gives Detective Jeff MacMichael's the haunting suspicion that there is a link between the two women. As he is increasingly drawn to Cassie, a rash of attacks leads him to conclude she was the murderer's real mark -- and to wonder if he can keep her alive.

My take: For those of you who have read my blog in the past you know that my favorite genre is mysteries. Out of the genre of mysteries cozies would be my favorite. Next and certainly not least would be romantic suspense. Just by reading the back cover of Mirrored Image you get a sense of tension and suspense. I think Alice did a wonderful job jumping from writing cozy mysteries to writing a fast-paced suspense. Anyone who decides to read Mirrored Image will not be disappointed.

Alice thank you so much for be a guest on Butterfly Journey.

1. I know you have written Christian Cozies in the past. What made you decide to try Suspense this time. Actually, I’d always written mystery/suspense. It was the cozies that were the “new” thing for me---and the one that got my foot in the door of Sheaf House.

2. How did you come up with your plot and your characters for "Mirrored Image"?

I don’t really have an answer for that other than God. I don’t consciously look for a plot or characters---I’m totally a seat-of-the-pants author. Um . . . that might be better explained as a listener/obeyer (is that a word?) writer. I’ve always felt that God – through the Holy Spirit – reveals bits and pieces of plot and character. After they rumble around in my head for a while, they start demanding to be let out. That’s when the writing starts – and the surprises.

I know that doesn’t answer your question, but it’s the way it happens for me.

3. What is your next novel about (and title)? An American Gothic

You told me there is a butterfly theme in your upcoming novel, can you tell us a little about this or will we just have to wait and see? I believe that butterflies are a very unique and wonderful creature. Beyond that, I wouldn’t want to spoil the story.

4. As an aspiring/struggling writer would you please give some advice to all of us with a goal of being published someday?

I always say that the best advice is to be sure this is really something you not only want to do, but that you truly feel that God is leading you to write. If the answer to both of these is “yes,” then go for it. Learn all you can, read everything in the genre(s) you want to write, attend conferences and meet authors and others waiting to be discovered, and pray. Above all, pray. It’s not an easy road. Even after you get published, there may be bumps and bruises along the way. But if this is where God is calling you to be, and you feel it deep inside, then never, ever give up. And you know what? I continue to remind myself of this every single day.

Now to enter the giveaway:

1. You must be a follower or sign up as a new follower. Also, this giveaway is limited to those living in the US. Please leave an email address.

2. Have you read sub-genres in mysteries such as cozies, romantic suspense, suspense, thriller, etc.

3. Visit Alice's website and check it out.

4. The contest will end on 11/28/2010.

HAPPY READING

Giveaway from Vicki McDonough

I am so excited to have as a guest on my blog for November, Vicki McDonough, author of Anonymous Bride and Second Chance Brides as well as many other books. I have read both of these books and throughly enjoyed them. There were many times I laughed out loud at the antics taking place. I think you will, too.

Vicki has graciously donated one of her books A Bride by Christmas as a giveaway. With Christmas just around the corner this will be a great read. Lets get started with the interview:

1. Can you tell me how you decided on this series? I was trying to come up with an idea for a new book and started asking "what if" questions. The one that stuck in my mind was: What if a mail-order bride arrives in town to marry a man who never ordered a bride? Then I wondered how I could take that situation and make it worse, so I ask myself: What if three mail-order brides showed up in town expecting to marry the same man, only he hadn't ordered a bride. I wondered how something like that could happen and if it did, what would the man do about it? The wheels of my mind kept turning--and I brainstormed ideas with my critique partners--and that's how The Anonymous Bride was born.

What about the characters and plot? I knew that there would need to be some "sidekick" characters in this book--the ones who actually ordered the brides and decided they would be my hero's cousins, two men who grew up with him in the same small Texas town. I wanted a hurting hero who'd been jilted big time and was now skittish toward women. And then I set up the poor guy with more brides than he could use. It was a lot of fun. :)

2. Is there going to be another book in the series after "Second Chance Brides"? Yes, Finally A Bride is the third and final book in the Texas Boardinghouse Brides series. It tells the story of Jack, the tomboy girl whose story thread runs through the first two books. She is now grown up but that doesn't keep her from making impulsive choices that backfire and get her into all kinds of weird circumstances. Enter the man who has the guts and where-with-all to tame her. Readers will also see the return of a past character or two from previous books. Finally A Bride releases in April.

Are you working on anything else? Yes, I'm currently writing the second book in a historical series set in South Carolina. The first book, Mutiny of the Heart, releases in December. It's the story of a woman who travels from Canada to deliver a young boy(after the boy's mother has died) to his father--a wealthy Charleston ship builder--but the man never knew of the boy and claims it's impossible for the child to be his.

Also, here's some exciting new news--I'll be writing a prairie romance series for Guideposts called Whispers on the Prairie. This will be for a new line of books, and the first book, Light of a Silent Dawn, will release next fall.

3. I love the humor in your books. What made you decide to use humor? Humor comes natural to me. My dad was a big joker and loved to tease and pull pranks on people. He loved to laugh, and I'm glad that I inherited part of his funny bone. I think it's taken me a while to catch my stride in writing and learning to use humor. It's a hard thing to write, because humor is very selective. What one person sees as funny might just offend someone else. But I love to read funny things in books and try to give my readers something to laugh at in each story I write.

4. As an aspiring author I always like to ask guest authors what advice they have for us still plugging along on our manuscripts. Take the time you need to develop your craft and don't be in a rush to get published. I'm using parts of the third book I ever wrote in a story I'm now working on. It's roughly the same concept--a story about a man who has been raised to believe that family is the most important thing next to God. It's so important to him that he would deny himself the love of his life because he fell for the woman his brother is engaged to. When I first wrote this book, I thought it was fabulous I just knew an editor was going to scoop it up the minute it came across his/her desk. Well, not so. It got rejected and never found a home. Six years later, I realize this plot is perfect for the story I'm now wanting to write. So, I thought I'd polish it up a bit and viola! I have an easy book. Not so. My stomach is turning as I re-read it. The romance is so gushy, the dialogue so immature, the descriptions so over-the-top. It was a real eye-opener. I've grown so much as a writer since I wrote this that my own story was nauseating. If I judged this book in a contest, it would have gotten a mediocre score. The plot was good, but the writing definitely needed work. Looking back, I can see how God protected me in not letting this book get published back then, but at the time, I was heart broken. It's interesting how our perspective can change over time. What I though was the next great novel--wasn't. Only writing and more writing and studying the craft can make you a better writer. You only got one shot to pitch your book to an editor, so don't get in a hurry and take the time you need to develop your craft.

Thanks so much for having me as a guest today!

Vickie McDonough

Thank you Vicki for being our guest. Now here are a few housekeeping things you need to do to enter for the book:

1. Be a follower or sign up as a follower. Please leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.

2. What time period do you like to read about the most?

3. Do you enjoy humor in the books you read?

4. Now, go on over to Vicki's website and check out all of the fantastic books she has written and learn a little more about Vicki.

The giveaway will end on November 20th.

Thank you to all of my followers. I appreciate your support more than you know!

Deborah

HAPPY READING!

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