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!

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.

DiAnn Mills' Awaken My Heart

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE WINNER OF DiAnn'S BOOK: Susan K. Marlow!


When I was a kid, I used to get spanked for lying. Now I get paid for it! Ah, such is the life of a fiction writer. Hi, I’m DiAnn Mills, and I’m excited about Awaken My Heart, my new historical novel published by Avon Inspire.

I live in Texas, the Lone Star State, where history and adventure are carved out of ordinary people and presented in novels and across the screen. Texas provides the perfect setting for tales of adventure. Here you can find cowboys and rodeos, deserts and mountains, bluebonnets and cactus, rattlesnakes and alligators, trail rides and space exploration. The romance and intrigue of those who helped build this State weave powerful stories. You name it, and Texas has it. But it’s the stories about the courageous people who stand tall and make this state what it is today that capture the readers’ attention.

If you’ve ever thought about writing your own novel, remember that characterization is the key to a dynamic and unforgettable story. Spend time getting to know your protagonists and antagonists, because well-written characters will make your manuscript stand out from others when you are looking for a publisher.

Now, let me introduce you to my February release and its cast of unforgettable characters!

Awaken My Heart is set in 1803, when Texas was Tejas, a colony ruled by Spain. Indians, Mestizos (native-Spanish lineage), and the elite ruling class of the Spanish lived and died here. The priests living in the Catholic missions helped educate and train the people in various crafts and how to serve God. From this culture was born my story of forbidden love.

Which brings me to one of my favorite heroes—Zorro. Who can forget the handsome, daring masked man who championed the poor and fought the injustices his people faced? His flashing sword, generous smile, and chivalry would bend the strongest woman’s resolve. It also helped Zorro’s cause to be portrayed by Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro (1998) and The Legend of Zorro (2005).

Is it any wonder that I call Awaken My Heart my Zorro book? My hero, Armando Garcia, is passionate about the cause of his poverty-stricken people, but his passion also extends to Marianne Phillips, the daughter of a wealthy Texas rancher. The wealthy and the peasant. The Diablo and his angel. And her daddy ain’t happy. Oops! I mean Marianne’s father is out for blood.

When mestizos kidnap Marianne, they hope that her father will trade land for her freedom. But rebel leader Armando Garcia is enchanted with this young woman whose faith is so strong---and arranges for her escape. How much will Marianne and Armando risk to give their love a chance?

This isn’t the first book I’ve written about historical Texas. The Texas Legacy Series was set in the period of the Old West when lawlessness reigned and unscrupulous characters crawled out from under rocks and attempted to claim the state. I chose unlikely heroes and heroines who made a courageous stand for what they believed in.

Hop into the saddle and grab the reins. This ride will keep you up all night.

http://www.diannmills.com/ Let me hear from you!

Leave a comment and win a copy of Awaken My Heart.

Home by Christmas

The Christmas season is here, and what better way to get into the seasonal spirit than to read a Victorian Christmas story? Fourteen authors joined together to write “Home by Christmas,” set in northern England.

I have the honor of being the first contributor to the story, which you can find at http://www.homebychristmas.blogspot.com/ .

Drop by, enjoy the adventure, and leave a comment. When the story is completed, we’ll have a drawing of all the names. Several published authors have donated books to be given away to the winners.

You might want to bookmark the story so you can find it easily to read the daily installments. I’m going to be reading it every day. Although I started the story, I have no idea how it ends! What fun!

Kathleen Y’Barbo’s Beloved Castaway

Historical author Kathleen Y’Barbo has written another delightful novel, Beloved Castaway, in which “a stormy romance rages along the Florida Keys.” Mistaken identities, broken families, forbidden romances, struggling faith, and adventure on the high seas come together to keep the reader turning the pages from beginning to end. Seldom do I finish the last page of a book with happy shivers running down my spine and tears in my eyes. Beloved Castaway is one such book.

If you would like to win a copy of Beloved Castaway, leave a comment in response to Kathleen's formula for a successful historical novel:

A successful historical novel is a combination of good research, good writing,
and great plotting. If any of these things are missing, the book will fall flat.
In my opinion, a great plot will trump the writing and research, but it’s got to
be really great.

--Kathleen Y'Barbo