Happily Ever After Giveaway Hop

For this hop I'm giving away a PDF of my sweet romance Renegade Hearts.  To enter all you have to do is become a follower of my blog and leave a comment with your contact information. The winner will be chosen using Random.org.

The winner of Renegade Hearts is Krista Grandstaff.  Thanks to all who participated!

Jenny needs another skilled cowboy around, but Gil is more than she bargained for.

Single mother Jenny Holloway has her hands full running a 1200-acre ranch, and keeping her daredevil son out of the emergency room.  So when her foreman suggests she hire on his son Gil Montgomery, who just got home from the war, Jenny jumps at the opportunity of having another skilled cowboy around.

Gil was used to taking orders, even from women.  What he wasn’t prepared for was the feelings this little firecracker of a woman triggered in him.  Jenny is a lot like the bronco she’s rescued and is now trying to break.  The unexpected death of her husband has left her jaded and afraid to risk her heart getting broken again.  Somehow, he has to gain her trust and prove that he isn’t going anywhere. 

Excerpt:

Gil helped distribute and light all the candles. By the time they were done it was almost as bright as if the lights had never gone out. 

"Thanks, guys," Jenny said.

Gil looked over at her. She looked miserable. "How's the pain?"

"It's okay."

It was the answer he had expected. Gil picked up a stack of magazines from a nearby table and moved to one of the chairs. He sorted through the titles of mostly ranching magazines until he found one on sports. The minutes crept by and every now and then they could hear a loud crash. As much as he hated being stuck somewhere where he couldn't see what was going on, he dreaded the moment when they would walk out of the basement. He'd seen on TV the amount of destruction a tornado could produce in the matter of seconds.

"Can I ask you something, Gil?" Jenny asked.

He glanced up from his magazine. "Sure."

"Earlier when we were leaving the barn and the lightning struck, what happened to you?"

He hesitated a moment, not quite sure how to answer her without leaving the impression that he was mentally unstable.

"Did you have some sort of a flashback?"

"Yeah," he admitted. "Loud noises and flashes of light sometime trigger's a memory. But it doesn't happen very often... I mean there's nothing to worry about."

"I wasn't worried, Gil. I was just curious. I'm sorry I brought it up."

He smiled. "Don't be. I didn't mean to sound so defensive. It's just some people, after learning that I was in the war, get a little nervous around me."

"I'm sorry people treat you that way. They shouldn't."

"No. What people don't understand is that when a soldier is in battle they don't have time to think about it, to process it correctly in their minds. So when they get home those memories that have been suppressed sometimes occur when we least expect them."

"That makes sense."

"The trick is to pretend that you're not shaken by them."

"I barely noticed."

"You're not a very good liar."

"No, I don't suppose I am. What happened is perfectly understandable though."

He smiled. "Thanks."

"You're welcome. Now will you stop hogging all the magazines and hand me one of them?"

Buy Links:

http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-206/Anne-Patrick-Renegade-Heart/Detail.bok

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=21201EB&item_code=WW&netp_id=953832&event=ESRCG&view=details

http://www.amazon.com/Renegade-Hearts-ebook/dp/B005MZ8GJU/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1316053113&sr=1-1

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/renegade-hearts-anne-patrick/1105618725

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Reading Clean Giveaway Hop

For this hop I'm giving away a PDF of my award-winning and best-selling Fire and Ash.  To enter all you have to do is become a follower of my blog and leave a comment with your contact information. The winner will be chosen using Random.org.

Congratulations to Jes...winner of the blog hop giveaway.  Thank you everyone who participated!!!


 

Fire Investigator Sadie McGregor is called to her hometown of Emerald Point, Missouri to investigate a suspicious fire which claimed the life of a local college student. By appearance the fire looks like the girl was just careless. What Sadie and the handsome new police chief discover will not only affect those close to them, but will rock the entire community and put Sadie's life on the line.


Excerpt:

"Excuse me, sir. Are you supposed to be in here?"

The fireman turned. Quinn's eyes widened. Even with soot covering a good portion of the face, he could tell it was a woman from the brilliant smile she tossed at him. "It's miss, and I reckon I am if you wanna know the cause of this fire."

"You're with the State Fire Marshal's Office?" he guessed. Emerald Point's Fire Chief had told Quinn earlier that he suspected arson.

She stuck her clipboard underneath her arm, reached for the badge pinned to her turnout coat and flipped it around for him to view. "Sadie McGregor, Fire Investigator."

Interesting. She shared the same last name as the Fire Chief. That couldn't be a coincidence. "I had an officer posted here. Do you know where he went?"

"I sent him on an errand. Hope you don't mind." She stepped forward. Underneath her helmet, short strands of caramel colored hair framed a pretty face with freckles marching across both her cheeks and the bridge of her nose. Haunting emerald eyes held his gaze as she offered her hand.

"Guess not." He shook the small latex covered hand, surprised by the strength of her grip. "Sorry for mistaking you for a guy."

She chuckled, turned, and walked into a room off to the right.

He followed. "I thought you were awfully small for a firefighter. I'm Police Chief Quinn Harrington by the way."

"I gathered that from your badge," she said with a smile. "Joe said you were on the scene during suppression, did anyone videotape it by chance? Or take pictures?"

"There were reporters on the scene so footage is probably available. Are you kin to Joe?"

"I'm his niece." She knelt along the baseboard. It was several seconds before she moved anything other than her head, which tilted from side to side as if in deep concentration. A few minutes later she balanced the clipboard on one knee, reached down and picked up what looked to be a framed photograph. "Must be her parents," she said, holding the frame up for his viewing.

"Mike and Donna Ingram. Larissa was their only child."

"Too bad. What do we know about her?"

"She was a senior over at the college, good kid, has never been in any trouble that I know of. The parents are away on vacation, so we think she was house sitting for them."

"Did you know her?"

"Not well. I've only been on the job a few months."

She laid the photograph on the buffet table, scribbled something on her clipboard and continued her examination of the room.

"I believe the point of origin is her bedroom, upstairs, first door on your right," Quinn volunteered.

"I've already been there," she said before exiting the room.

He followed her down the hall, into the kitchen. "How long have you been here?"

"Since dawn."

Just about the time he'd gone home to get a couple hours of much needed sleep.

Sadie pried opened the door of the soot-covered refrigerator and surveyed the contents. "Looks like our girl had herself a party."

"What makes you think that?"

"The refrigerator is almost empty and there are two barrels on the back porch with enough beer cans to pay for both our lunches."

"Preliminary findings of the coroner suggest she died from smoke inhalation."

"She also had a skull fracture."

"You've seen the body?" he asked.

"Yup."

"Well she could have received the head injury when she woke up disoriented. She was found next to the bed. She could have tripped and struck her head on the corner post."

"That's one possibility."

Kill Shot is a Finalist in the 2011 Grace Awards!

I'm thrilled to announce my novel KILL SHOT has been nominated by readers as a finalist in the Grace Awards 2011 in the Suspense/Mystery/Thriller/Romantic Suspense: category.  Yaay!   Winners will be will be announced on May 10, 2012. *Crossing my fingers:)* Thank you, readers, for your nominations!!!

Blurb:
Former combat medic Kory Wagner has been in four war zones, served three tours in Iraq, survived countless firefights, RPG’s, IED’s and even a helicopter crash. Now she’s home and out of the Army for good and someone is trying to kill her in her own backyard. Just as disturbing is the handsome sheriff who’s on the case.

Sheriff Sean Harding doesn’t quite know what to think of the decorated veteran that managed to outsmart an entire search party. What bothers him more is the body of a PI, whom she hired to find her sister's killer, was found dead in a building Kory owns. And Kory isn’t being very cooperative with helping him find the answers as to why someone would kill her sister and want her dead. Will he be able to keep her alive along enough to discover the truth?


Excerpt:

The steel door creaked as she pushed it open, the sound echoing throughout the metal building. "Mr. Urlik?" She waited for her eyes to adjust to the change in lighting before stepping all the way inside. A wide stream of light from the door spread out in front of her. "Mr. Urlik. Are you in here?"

Kory heard a sound a few yards in front of her. She quickly scanned the area. Three rows of huge metal shelves lined the interior. She inched forward, peering around the corner of the second row. Mr. Urlik lay on his side, facing her, clutching his chest. His eyes were opened and his mouth moved, but no sound came out. A heart attack? She ran to him, knelt down on the cement floor, and took his hand. It was wet, slimy. She looked down and saw his hand covered in blood. Her eyes shifted to his chest. A large crimson stain spread across the width of his white shirt from a small hole near the center. He was breathing erratically. Experience told her a bullet had pierced at least one lung and he didn't have much time. She immediately pressed the heel of her right hand against the wound.

"I'm sorry," he murmured.

"Where's your cell phone?" Hers was in her backpack but she didn't want to waste valuable time digging it out.

"No time. Get out."

"Who did this, Mr. Urlik?"

He grabbed her right hand and squeezed it tightly. "You were right -- no accident."

His hand went limp.

Kory felt something in the palm of her hand, looked down and saw it was a key. She shoved it into her jeans pocket. A whizzing sound buzzed past her, followed by the unmistakable clink of a bullet ricocheting off metal. She instinctively threw herself over his body as another bullet struck metal. Kory felt for a pulse. There was none. She lowered her hand to his chest and felt under both arms and along his waist. I thought all PIs carried guns. Just my luck this one didn't.

She scrambled to her feet, as more shots ricocheted around her, and dove through an opening on the first row of shelves. A piercing pain sliced through her upper arm as she took cover behind some boxes. They wouldn't shield her from the gunfire but they would conceal her presence while she figured out how she was going to get out of there. She paused long enough to grab her cell phone from her backpack, wishing she hadn't when another bullet tore through a box beside her. She ducked lower to the floor.

Kory ignored the throbbing in her arm and slithered along the floor toward the back of the building. As a child, she and her sister, Callie, had often accompanied her grandfather to the warehouse where he worked on boats as a hobby. She remembered a back exit that led to the side parking lot and nearby woods. If she could reach the door, she had a chance of getting out of this alive. She looked down at the tear in her shirt, drenched with blood.

This isn't good!

Available at Desert Breeze Publishing, Christianbook.com, Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, and most online bookstores.

New Reviews for Fire and Ash

Onedesertrose's Blog—Christian Book Reviews
Initially misidentified by Police Chief Quinn Harrington at the scene, the sparks of romance hit the Police Chief upon introduction to Sadie. Though strong-willed and opinionated, she is an accurate fire investigator–and that special someone whom Quinn hadn’t met since the loss of his wife. However, her first impression of Quinn was that he was a klutz. Sadie’s wit and ability to banter back and forth with Quinn makes for a fun read amidst the tragedy.

As a forensics show enthusiast, I found that Anne Patrick, in her book, Fire and Ash, goes into great, minute detail of the fire investigation, that puts you on the scent of a perpetrator. Her unique ability to incorporate multiple plots to throw you off course makes the pages fly by to connect the dots. The suspense builds as Sadie’s life is endangered. Someone wants her quieted, but who?


4.5 Stars from Manic Readers - "Fire and Ash turned out to be a heartwarming sweet romantic read. The sweet romance woven together with family, suspense, loss, grief, faith, God and masterpiece characters make this story real and believable. And with the characters, first of all, the author creates genuine unique characters that blend together, perfect for each other. And she uses these characters in real life situations, their problems, hurts, and struggles and teaches us how the Lord can work in any situation, using people that come into our lives to draw us closer to Him. I really like the way the author weaves the Lord and the Christian parts of the story into the characters everyday lives, fitting it right in with the rest of the story."

You can purchase Fire and Ash from Desert Breeze Publishing, or at Christianbook.com, Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble.

What Would You Do?

What would you do for $300million dollars? Would you commit murder?

Attorney Kirby Shelton has met a lot of wackos in her life.  But the computer software queen, Leah Dalton, takes the prize.  Leah, facing a losing battle with cancer, comes to Kirby with a plan to end her life on her terms.  Leah invites Kirby and five of her closest friends to her estate, and offers to make one of them a multi-millionaire.  All they have to do is kill her and make it look like an accident. Just as disturbing to Kirby are her growing feelings toward Leah’s ex-boyfriend, Jonas.  Will one of Leah’s friends take her up on her offer?  Will Kirby and Jonas’ love for one another survive the trials they face?  Join Leah on an amazing journey that changes the lives of all those around her. 

This week only, you can buy No Greater Love for 25% off (only $2.99).  Buy here!

 
Here are a some of the reviews:
Judy54 at LibraryThing gave No Greater Love Five Stars! - I don't give out 5 stars very often, but this story I felt deserved it. The author, Kinzie Monroe weaved into her story the salvation message so well and the story line was so unique and heartfelt. Leah is a beyond wealthy business woman who has a heart to share her riches with folks she meets in need. She is dying from cancer and knows her last days will be painful and she will be helpless. So. . . she calls on 5 friends and Kirby an attorney she has just met, and plans a weekend get-a-way for them all at her mansion. Her purpose - to have each of them plan how they would kill her without it looking like a murder. She is willing to pay them $300 million. When her friends come together (who have never met each other before) they have such a love for this woman that they don't think they can go through with it.

The way all these characters interact with each other and the conversations throughout this book had me so wrapped up in the story that I couldn't stop thinking about it, even when I wasn't reading it. Some of the characters are believers in the Lord as their Saviour, and the impact they have upon the others, the questions they face within themselves and the questions they face with the others are so real and so well dealt with that I just wanted to meet the author and say "Thank you" for a job well done! You will not be disappointed if you read this book!!!

Lynn for Readers Choice rated it Five Stars! -"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." As one reads this book they will understand the true meaning of this verse. This is an excellent inspirational novel that is recommended for all ages from young adult up.

Martha at Martha's Bookshelf rated it 4.5 - This is a truly lovely inspirational story. I was surprised how many issues the author covers. I thought the plot was pretty unique and woven into the relationships of the characters the story addresses several fundamental Christian principles in a pretty outright fashion. Although the messages are direct, they are presented through the lives of the characters rather than in a preachy fashion….The characters are nicely developed, the story plot flows easily and the writing is clean and direct. The story touched my heart with sorrow and joy. I think any reader, believer or not, would enjoy the challenging questions in the plot scenario, the warmth of the friendships and the messages of faith.

Interview with Brandilyn Collins

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline "Don't forget to b r e a t h e . . ."® Brandilyn's first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows.

Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW Book of the Year (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice. Two of her novels are now up for Carol Awards (formerly Book of the Year). Brandilyn is currently working on her 23rd book.

Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing published in 2002.

When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers' conferences. She and her family divide their time between homes in the California Bay Area and northern Idaho.

[Anne] Welcome Brandilyn. Thank you so much for taking time out of your busy schedule to join us today. Your first book, A Question of Innocence, was published in 1995. Was your journey to publication a difficult one?

[Brandilyn] Yes! On my blog, Forensics and Faith, is a long story in the archives (60+ posts) titled “How I Got Here.” That’s the story of my 10-year journey to being published in fiction. Along the way, A Question of Innocence was published—my first book, and a true crime. I ended up writing A Question of Innocence because I was following a local murder case through trial in order to research the novel I was working on (Eyes of Elisha). The real murder case (dubbed The Diary Girl case in California) was so fascinating I followed it through to the end and wrote an exclusive book about it. But that book aside, 10 years to see my novels published seemed like a never-ending saga at the time. Finally when my craft had reached publishable stage—and my heart was where God wanted it to be—the publishing doors flew open and have remained that way since.

[Anne] You have four different suspense series. Do you have a favorite?

[Brandilyn] I can’t say I like any of my series—or my stand-alones, for that matter—above others. My series each have their own uniqueness. The Chelsea Adams series features a woman who has visions. In our law enforcement culture, where everything is based on hard evidence, what does one do with knowledge sent by God—knowledge about a crime you shouldn’t have? My Hidden Faces series features a forensic artist. Each of the four books revolves around a different type of project she must do—from drawing a composite that will age a fugitive 20 years to determining the features of an unknown murder victim from her skull. My Kanner Lake series features a wonderful cast of eclectic characters in a small Idaho town. (The first book in that series, Violet Dawn, has the infamous hot tub scene in the first chapter that my readers still talk about.) And the Rayne Tour series is young adult suspense featuring the daughter of a rock star. That series is co-written with my daughter, Amberly.

[Anne] You have a new release out titled Deceit. I took the liberty of snagging the blurb from your website.

Some evil shouts from rooftops; some scuttles in the dark. The worst evil tips its face toward light with shining innocence.  Baxter Jackson shone with the worst of them.

Joanne Weeks knows Baxter Jackson killed Linda—his second wife and Joanne's best friend—six years ago. But Jackson, a church elder and beloved member of the town, walks the streets a free man.

Joanne is determined to bring Jackson down, no matter what the police say. Using her skills as a professional skip tracer, she sets out to locate the only person who can put Jackson behind bars. Melissa Harkoff was a traumatized sixteen-year-old foster child in the Jackson household when Linda disappeared. At the time Melissa claimed to know nothing of Linda's whereabouts ... but was she lying?

In relentless style, Deceit careens between Joanne's pursuit of the truth and the events of six years past, when Melissa came to live with the Jacksons. What really happened in that household? Beneath the veneer of perfection lies a story of shakable faith, choices, and the lure of deceit.

[Anne] Wow! Where in the world did you come up with that idea? What is the inspiration behind it?

[Brandilyn] My books come to me in various ways. This idea first arose in the form of a “what if?” about a skip tracer. As I started plotting the story, details about the protagonist hit me. I knew she was addicted to Jelly Bellies—even eating different flavors based on her mood. (No, I don’t really like jelly beans myself.) And I knew she had one of those crazy Billy Bass Singing Fish things that date back to the 80s. Also, Deceit tugged my imagination because of the highly respected Christian businessman/church elder in the story. Is he for real … or not? I was intrigued with showing the inner workings of a Christian family vs. how that family is publicly perceived—and how events led up to a tragedy. Bottom line, there’s one thing you can say about any of my stories. They are fast-paced suspense, but they are driven by characters and those characters’ motivation. It’s not just action and chases that make for good suspense. Evil and deceit start in the heart. What is it that’s gone wrong there?

[Anne] How many books do you usually write in a year?

[Brandilyn] I space my adult books about 7 months apart. When Amberly and I were writing the Rayne Tour series, those books were slid in between my adult books—which made for a very hectic writing schedule. Fortunately the 3-book Rayne Tour series is now complete.

[Anne] Do you have a strict schedule to adhere to?

[Brandilyn] I write full-time, so I’m in my office all day. I don’t write all day, however. My day is basically halved—one part writing, the other part marketing and going about the business of being an author. When you’re a full-time novelist you are the CEO of your own business. There are certain things that must be done simply to keep that business running. For a novelist these days, that means lots of personal marketing, as publishing houses are expecting authors to do more and more of that themselves.

[Anne] You recently took part in the B&H Thriller Book Tour, along with novelists Jim Rubart, Robin Caroll, and Tosca Lee. I bet that was a lot of fun. What are some of your favorite memories of the tour?

[Brandilyn] Definitely hanging out in general with those three great people. Also meeting fans. At numerous locations readers drove as long as two hours to meet me. It’s a wonderful thing to meet enthusiastic readers like that!

[Anne] If your publisher agreed to send you anywhere in the world to research your new book, where would you like that to be?

[Brandilyn] That’s a hard one. Perhaps Australia. I’ve not been there yet and would like to go. What story I’d come up with—who knows? But it would be fun research.

[Anne] You’ve just woke in the middle of the night with a fantastic idea for a book, what do you do?

[Brandilyn] Actually this happened to me once. Sort of. Of course I love to wish that every book would come to me as a dream—fully plotted and characterized. Not. But when I was preparing to write the stand-alone novel that would become Exposure I awoke from a sound sleep with a thought blaring in my head: a camera that takes its own pictures. And in a flash (pun intended) I saw the scene that eventually became the crux of the first chapter in Exposure. Unfortunately my midnight bit of brilliance went no further than that scene. I was left to plot the rest of the book the old fashioned way—by hard work.

[Anne] What can we look forward to seeing next from you?

[Brandilyn] I just finished Over the Edge—the novel I was made to write. It’s about Lyme Disease and the Lyme wars in the medical community—pitting doctors who don’t want to treat chronic Lyme against patients who desperately need treatment. I was hit hard with Lyme in 2002, so I know the destruction of the disease firsthand. (Please read “My Healing” on my web site about how God granted a miracle cure to me.) Over the Edge is definitely another Seatbelt Suspense® novel. At the same time, interwoven into the story is information about the disease and the problems in diagnosis and treatment. This book, while entertaining readers, can also be very beneficial to people who don’t know enough about Lyme to recognize its symptoms in themselves or friends/family members. Over the Edge will release in May 2011. I’ve started a blog that tells the stories of those fighting Lyme. It’s called Lyme-Over the Edge. Reading the blog alone will tell you much about the disease.

[Anne] Last question I promise. If you could do anything differently over the course of your writing career, what would it be?

[Brandilyn] I would give my talent and desire for writing over to God at day one—instead of after 8 years of trying to do things my own way. It never pays to stray from God’s path.

[Anne] Thank you for allowing me to interview you, Brandilyn. Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Brandilyn] I love connecting with readers, and there are various ways you can do that. I’m on Facebook (under Brandilyn Collins) and on twitter (@Brandilyn). I blog at Forensics and Faith about my writing and the book industry (and a crazy story now and then just to keep it all interesting). To learn more about my books, please visit my web site. You can read the first chapters of all my books there to see what most interests you. And you can sign up to receive my newsletter, Sneak Pique, which features info about me and the latest releases in all genres of Christian fiction.

Author Interview with Cathy Bryant

Please join me in welcoming back, one of my favorite authors, Cathy Bryant. Cathy’s debut novel Texas Roads was a 2009 finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis contest. A Texas gal since birth, she lives in a century-old farmhouse with her husband of almost thirty years and a phobia-ridden cat.

[Anne] Welcome back, Cathy. I’ve been hearing some really wonderful things about Texas Roads. Will you remind us what the story is about?

[Cathy] Thanks for having me over for a visit, Anne. Texas Roads tells the story of a disillusioned widow’s quest for home. Here’s the back-cover copy:

Dani Davis longs for a place to call home. With quaint country charm, quirky residents, and loads of business potential, Miller’s Creek, Texas seems like the perfect place to start over … except for the cowboy who gives her a ride into town. Then malicious rumors and a devastating discovery propel her down a road she never expected to travel.

[Anne] You self-published this book, any regrets about not going with a publisher?

[Cathy] None at all. It’s been a huge learning curve, but what I’ve gained in experience more than makes up for the hours of work.

[Anne] I know you did a wonderful post on your blog about the pros and cons of self-publishing, but would you please list a couple that come to mind for those who may have missed it?

[Cathy] I’d be happy to. The biggest pro for me has been the ability to make all the decisions. I’ve always been the type of person who likes to get my hands into every part of a creative project. From cover design to interior design, I enjoyed learning about the process and making the final choices.

The biggest drawback for me has been the stigma associated with self-publishing. Unfortunately, many people won’t even take a chance on a self-published book. Truthfully, there are a lot of horrible self-published books out there, but there are also some really great ones (and some horrible traditionally published books). Statistics prove that more and more writers are choosing to go the self-publishing route, so I hope the self-publishing stigma will go the way of the dodo.

[Anne] Have you had any trouble lining up book signings? And do you feel they are worthwhile?

[Cathy] No trouble at all. In my opinion, book signings are more about gaining readers than they are selling books. While I’ve been very pleased with sales at the book signings I’ve done, I’m more pleased with the opportunity to meet readers.

[Anne] I totally agree with you there, Cathy. I love visiting with the readers too! You have a very successful blog, plus you’re a great writer. Do you keep to a rigid schedule that enables you to get everything done?

[Cathy] I’m a self-confessed workaholic, but I enjoy what I do. The hard part for me is fitting everyday life around my work. Last week, I finally took some time off to finish a major renovation project on our century-old fixer-upper. Sad, isn’t it? Take a break from work to—well, um—work!

[Anne] LOL. You’ve gotta love those working vacations. Do you have anything new in the works?

[Cathy] I just finished the rough draft of book two in the Miller’s Creek, Texas Series, entitled A Path Less Traveled. I hope to have it available to the public by October 2010. I also have a devotional book in the works.

[Anne] I had the pleasure of reading one of your devotionals in a recent Upper Room issue, so I’m looking forward to both your new books. What is your writing process like? Are you a plotter or a pantster?

[Cathy] I’m a card-carrying plotter! =) I compare writing a book to taking a trip. When I go on a trip, I want to know all the details ahead of time—which roads to take, where I’ll stay, what sights I’ll take in. I feel the same about writing a book. I spend at least two or three weeks plotting out every detail of the story, including lengthy character charts. My pre-writing is usually 50-100 pages long.

Next I zip through the first draft, usually in 4-6 weeks. After that, I spend considerable time on edits and revisions before sending out the novel to beta readers and editors.

[Anne] If you could be anyone of your characters, which one would you chose to be and why?

[Cathy] Without a doubt, Mama Beth. She’s the mother figure of Miller’s Creek, a woman shouldering a life-altering secret, but always willing to share her love and wisdom with anyone who needs it.

[Anne] Cathy, you’ve just been informed that Texas Roads is a NY Times bestseller and Hollywood wants to turn it into a movie. What actors would you choose to play your main characters?

[Cathy] Really? Thanks for passing on the good news! All kidding aside, Dani Davis would be played by Reese Witherspoon, and I see Scott Bakula in the role of Steve Miller.

[Anne] Great choices? What type of books do you like to read when you’re not writing?

[Cathy] I’m an eclectic reader. I read books in the genres I like to write, romance and women’s fiction. I try to read books from the Christian fiction market as well as books from the ABA. I also enjoy the classics, biographies, devotional/Bible studies, books on the craft of writing, and books that help me better understand the psychology of my characters.

[Anne] What advice would you give to someone who wants to self-publish their book?

[Cathy] Pray, pray, pray and research, research, research. Avoid subsidy publishing. You can do it yourself for much less money. Consider your time schedule and the LOADS of work required when self-publishing.

[Anne] Excellent advice, Cathy. Will you remind our readers where can we find you on the web?

[Cathy] At my blog, WordVessel (http://WordVessel.blogspot.com), my website (www.CatBryant.com), on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cathy.england.bryant), and on Twitter (http://twitter.com/CathyBryant).

[Anne] And for those who haven’t read your wonderful book, where can we purchase Texas Roads?

[Cathy] For all eReaders: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/8963.

For a print version: http://www.amazon.com/Texas-Roads-Cathy-Bryant/dp/0984431101/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1278725220&sr=1-1

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Cathy] Thanks again for the opportunity to join you at your wonderful blog, Anne. It’s always a pleasure!

[Anne] The pleasure was mine, Cathy. Thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to visit. In closing, I’ll let you all view Cathy’s book trailer. Folks, if you haven’t picked up a copy of Texas Roads yet I highly recommend you do.

Fire and Ash Book Trailer

I'm starting to get the hang of this trailer business...or at least I think I am.  The hard part is finding the right music and timing it just right.  Let me now what you think.

Also, I received news from my publisher of another great review for Ties That Bind.  Amazon Nymph gave the book a Golden Blush Recommended Read Award!

"Anyone that loves intense mystery and suspense stories is going to love Ties That Bind. The author has a way of keeping you on your toes as you read this book. There are so many twists that you will have a difficult time guessing who the killer is. Ms. Patrick keeps you guessing until you get close to the end of the book. I actually guessed wrong, but the man could have been the killer from the clues the author dropped. This story has a lot of romantic and subtle Christian undertones but they don't detract from the mystery. I could not put this one down...Ties That Bind is one book to be placed on every mystery lover's bookshelf to be read more than once."

Read the entire review here. [http://literarynymphsreviewsonly.blogspot.com/2010/06/ties-that-bind.html?zx=6e5bf683444e60b8]

Interview with Jennifer Hudson Taylor

Joining us today is the award winning Christian author, Jennifer Hudson Taylor. Here’s Jennifer’s bio: Jennifer Hudson Taylor writes historical Christian fiction set in Europe and the Carolinas. Her fiction has won awards in the American Christian Fiction Writers' Genesis Contest, and her work has appeared in national publications, such as Guideposts, Heritage Quest Magazine, Everton’s Genealogical Publishers, and The Military Trader. Jennifer graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Journalism. When she isn't writing, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, genealogy, and reading. She resides with her husband and daughter in the Charlotte area of NC. Highland Blessings is her debut novel. Learn more about Jennifer at www.authorjenniferhudsontaylor.com.

[Anne] First off, I want to congratulate you on your success, Jennifer. I’m honored you were able to join us for an interview. Let’s begin with how did you get started in writing? How difficult was your journey to publication?

[Jennifer] I was 12 when I decided I wanted to write the next Gone with the Wind.

[Anne] Please tell us about your new or latest book.

[Jennifer] (Highland Blessings, 1473 Scotland) Highland warrior Bryce MacPhearson kidnaps Akira MacKenzie on her wedding day to honor a promise he made to his dying father. When he forces Akira to wed him, hoping to end a half-century feud between their clans, she struggles to overcome her anger and resentment. . .Yet her strength in the Lord becomes a witness to Bryce. But there is a traitor in their midst . . . and murder is the ultimate weapon.

[Anne] Sounds great! Where did you come up with the concept for your story?

[Jennifer] From other secular historical romance novels set in Medieval Scotland. I had read them in the early 90’s. Highland Blessings started out in 1998 as a secular novel, Promised Betrayal. I converted it to Christian fiction in 2006.

[Anne] Okay, say you have this great idea for a book, what do you do next? How much plotting do you do?

[Jennifer] Highland Blessings was written as I went. The novels I write now are outlined and plotted. I begin with a working title, a plot paragraph, and then I write a character sketch of all the main characters. I add sub-characters as needed. Then I write an outline, a couple of sentences for each scene. I do some basic research, print things I think I’m going to need, and create a research folder for that novel. From there I write a 3-4 page synopsis and then I write the first draft of the book.

[Anne] In your opinion what are the most important avenues an author should take in promoting their works?

[Jennifer] Of all the social networking sites, I think Facebook is the most useful for building a community of friends and readers who share common interests with you and get to see more into an author’s life, than a static website. Second, I believe a blog is very helpful in finding blog readers who are interested in similar things. For instance, my blog targets readers of historical fiction, people who love history, historical trivia, etc. I’m also working on the traditional blog tours, mail outs to bookstores and churches, giving influencers ARC copies for reviews. I’ve purchased a couple of ads in newsletters, and I’m setting up book signings wherever possible.

[Anne] Wonderful suggestions, Jennifer. What is one of the most memorable thing’s that has happened to you since you’ve become a published author?

[Jennfier] When my ARCs first arrived, my 12-year-old daughter asked if she could have a copy and take it to school. I couldn’t deny her. Afterall, she sacrificed a lot of mommy time for this book. I went in the next morning to wake her for school and she had slept with my book and was still holding onto it. This image almost made me cry. I started writing Highland Blessings when she was a year old.

[Anne] Awe, that is so sweet. Now for a little fun! Do you have any unusual or not so unusual hobbies you’d care to tell us about?

[Jennifer] I love to research genealogy and some people, especially my husband, think I’m weird for spending hours out in cemeteries recording names and dates on old stones.

[Anne] What snack are we likely to see sitting next to your computer when you’re typing away on your next best seller?

[Jennifer] A cup of coffee and a granola bar.

[Anne] Now let’s pretend you’ve been stranded on an island somewhere in the pacific. What are three things you would miss the most?

[Jennifer] My family if they aren’t with me, my Bible, and Chick-Fil-A.

[Anne] What advice can you offer for any aspiring authors out there?

[Jennifer] Never give up.

[Anne] Where can we purchase your books? And do you have a website we can visit?

[Jennifer] At any major bookstore, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Borders, Books-A-Million, Lifeway, Chrisitanbook.com, Cokesbury, etc. If they don’t have a copy, ask them to order it because they may have only gotten in a couple of copies and when you ask for them, that creates demand and they are most likely to order one for you and another one for the shelf. My website is www.jenniferhudsontaylor.com.

[Anne] Is there anything else you’d like to add?

[Jennifer] I love hearing from my readers and friends. Also, please join me on Facebook and Twitter!

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Jennifer-Hudson-Taylor/334126764915?ref=ts

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/jt4novels

[Anne] Jennifer, I want to thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to do an interview with me. I wish you continued success with your writing career.