The Official Review of Better Than Gold

I've been busy giving final exams and working slowly but surely toward my deadline for my Steeple Hill Love Inspired Historical Romance, tentatively named Enemy Seas, due to be released in 2009. But I did manage to finish Better Than Gold, and I'm so glad I did!


Any book by Laurie Alice Eakes will have three outstanding elements: characters you care about, an engaging plot that keeps you guessing, and detailed historical accuracy that takes you back to a time long past. Her latest release, Better than Gold, from Heartsong Presents, is one such story of two sweethearts with diametrically opposed goals.


Lily longs for the bustling city. Ben longs for small town farm life. The reader understands each one's struggle and wants each to reach those goals. But you'll also want Lily and Ben together. Complicated? Impossible? Not under the pen of Ms. Eakes. With attempted murder, the theft of life savings, deadly arson, and rumors of hidden gold threatening their lives and happiness, Ben and Lily learn what truly matters. A delightful story you'll not want to miss.

Laurie Alice Eakes ROCKS as an historical novelist!

CONGRATULATIONS to Pamela Williams, who won a free copy of Better Than Gold!


I am so excited to have my good friend Laurie Alice Eakes as my guest for these next few days. PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT AND YOUR EMAIL ADDY SO YOU CAN BE ENTERED IN THE DRAWING FOR HER LATEST RELEASE!



1. Laurie Alice, what book or project is coming out or has come out that you’d like to tell us about?

Better than Gold, Heartsong Presents, Barbour Publishing. It's been released to the book club this month and is available from the publisher. 1876 Iowa.

2. How long had you been writing seriously before you got “the call” that you were going to be published? Tell us how you heard and what went through your head.

This is always a difficult question to answer. My writing has taken many twists and turns over the years with long hiatuses for things like grad school and work schedules that left no time for writing. So I tend to say two years from when I finished grad school and when I got "The Call". I'm ashamed to say that my reaction was, "It's about time." Not that I wasn't ecstatic, but I was also relieved.

3. What’s the best advice you’ve heard on writing/publication?

If you want to be published, sit in the chair and write.

4. What’s something you wish you’d known earlier on that might have saved you some time/frustration in the publishing business?

I could write whole books on this, except I think people have. Probably make sure your agent knows the genre for which you are writing. Or make sure you know the genre for which you are writing.

5. Do you have a scripture or quote that has been speaking to you lately?

Matthew 28:19-20: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.

6. What piece of writing have you done that you’re particularly proud of and why?

My master's thesis novel, True as Fate. It's complex both in plot and character emotion, and sometimes I think I managed to pull off that which I set out to do—create a novel that readers couldn't put down. Ironically, I haven't yet tried to sell it. (Louise speaking now. I must add that this as an awesome, exciting novel!)

7. Can you give us a view into a typical day of your writing life?

On my favorite kind of writing days, of which I get too few due to other commitments, I get up at 4:00 in the morning, write for three hours, then go to the gym for 30-45 minutes, eat breakfast, shower, nap, then put in another two-three hours of work. Since I live in the city, I love the early hours when everything is quiet. No one is Iming me or calling me or wanting me to do something. And my brain is fresh. Later in the day, if I don't have a nap, I just can't get that energy up to be creative.



8. If you could choose to have one strength of another writer, what would it be and from whom?

The answer to this question can be found at http://www.inspirationaleditor.blogspot.com/

And visit Laurie Alice at her Web site and blog: http://www.lauriealiceeakes.com/

Great Book Giveaway!!

It's hard enough to find books that are just right for everyone. Chapter-a-Week gives readers the opportunity to read sample excerpts from a broad range of Christian fiction every week without having to pay a cent! Plus it's a great way to discover new authors you might not have found otherwise. Your inbox will NOT be filled with needless emails. Only one email per week is all it takes to discover great new titles.

Founded in February 2002 by beloved novelists Jane Orcutt and Angela Hunt, Chapter-a-Week has had a steadily growing readership. In honor of the 1000th member, Chapter-a-Week is giving away autographed books by your favorite Christian novelists! The 1000th member will receive a box of books! And if that person recommends the books, he or she will receive two free books to your snail mail address too!

Chapter-a-Week is a Yahoo! Group, so simply sign on to be a subscriber of the list and you'll start receiving your excerpts every Friday. Just go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChapteraWeek/ and click "join this group."

Every Good and Perfect Gift

CONGRATULATIONS to Janna Ryan, who won Sharon K. Souza's Every Good and Perfect Gift!
In addition to Lena Dooley's Carolina Carpenter Brides, I now have a copy of Sharon K. Souza's Every Good & Perfect Gift to give away. To read her interview, click on her Book Title on the right side of this screen. Be sure to enter separately for each book. AND BE SURE TO PUT YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS IN YOUR ENTRY COMMENTS!

Appearance in July

Click on map for directions

Saturday, July 19, 2008

Book signing 1 – 3 PM

 

Borders Books, Music, & Café

9441 W. Colonial Drive

Ocoee, FL 34761

407-629-8111

Appearance in June

Click on map for directions

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Book signing 1 – 3 PM

 

Borders Books & Music

8285 Red Bug Lake Road

Oviedo, FL 32765

407-977-3385

Lena Dooley's Artful Novels

CONGRATULATIONS to Margaret Chind for winning Carolina Carpenter Brides!!

Welcome, Lena. Here are some questions readers would love to have answered.

1. How do you come up with the ideas for a story?

I spend time with the Lord. I believe He gave me the imagination, so I could write, but spending time with Him often sparks another story idea. Sometimes I see something in the newspaper in real life that sparks one, too.

2. You write both historical and contemporary books. Do you like writing one more than the other? If so, why?

I enjoy both. Some stories work better as historicals, others as contemporary. I’ve sold more historicals, but I also love to write about the present, too.

3. If you were planning a party with contemporary Christian authors, what six people would you invite and why?

I just love to get together with people and have fun.
Tosca Lee – where does she come up with her stories? And she’d add a touch of glamour
James Scott Bell – we need at least one male, and I love his stories.
DiAnn Mills – Her novels about the Sudan should be read by everyone.
Linda Windsor – She’d keep us all laughing.
Nikki Arana – She’ll keep us in touch with what’s going on in some areas we might not visit.
Robin Caroll – I love her Bayou suspense books.

Actually, this was hard. There are so many others I’d want to invite, too.

4. Now let’s do that for a party for historical Christian authors, what six people would you invite and why?

This won’t be any easier, but here goes.
Kathleen Y’Barbo – Have you read Beloved Castaway? Where did she get her ideas?
Terry Burns – The masculine member. Besides he writes wonderful westerns
MaryLu Tyndall – Pirates, pirates, and more pirates
Tricia Goyer – No one else has gotten me to read war stories and like them. Quite a feat.
Tracey V. Bateman – Her soul series was just too good to pass.
And I’d ask you, Louise, I loved your Ahab’s family series.

5. Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

Just like unpublished authors and newly published authors, I have to submit proposals to see more books. Right now, I’m working on several proposals. It takes a lot of work to present new fresh ideas.

6. Tell us about the featured book.

My story in Carolina Carpenter Brides is titled Can You Help Me? It contains misunderstanding and learning to trust someone who has withheld vital information. Set in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, the story starts in a home improvement superstore.

7. How can readers find you on the Internet?

Actually, I’m several places. My web site is: http://www.lenanelsondooley.com/
My blog, where I interview authors, is: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com/
I’m also on Shoutlife: www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley

I give away free copies of my books on my web site and free copies of the other authors’ books on my blog.

Thank you, Louise, for having me.

LEAVE A COMMENT AND YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A COPY OF LENA'S Carolina Carpenter Brides.