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12/19/2018 0 Comments New Book - HIS CINDERELLA SWEETHEART Book Blurb
Internationally recognized outdoorsman and business leader Jace McKibbon is not used to feeling helpless, until he sets foot in America’s favorite amusement park, Neverland. When his grieving daughter forms a connection with the young woman playing Cinderella, Jace gratefully places himself in the beautiful princess’s hands. Carolina is in her element helping the little family negotiate the park, and Jace’s sparking blue eyes and rugged good looks don’t hurt. But as much as Carolina loves playing Cinderella at Neverland, she longs for more challenging work in God’s world. Can Jace help Carolina find a fairytale ending? INTERVIEW with author ANNA GRACE Where did the idea for this book come from? I was struck with the image of a little girl desperate to connect with someone who could understand her suffering. The characters of Jace and Carolina filled in later, but the initial scene of Ruthie rushing up to a woman playing Cinderella at an amusement park was the spark for the story. How long did it take you to write this book? I wrote the first draft in about six months, then I set it aside for over a year. I tried to focus on other projects, but this book just kept calling to me. Finally I decided I would finish it with the intention of creating a fun book for my teenage daughter and her friends to enjoy. The final edits only took three months. I’m a teacher, so I was home for the summer and would get up before my family everyday and chip away at it. Tell us about your revisions… Honestly the revisions were really fun. I felt like I was trying to figure out how the characters wanted the story to be told. When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission? I read through the book carefully and came up with a list of problems, everything from character inconsistencies to words I overused. Then I just forced myself to go down the list and correct all the problems. I gave the manuscript to my mom to read, and once I had her seal of approval I started looking for publishers. What happened along the way in your submission process? This is my first published novel. I’ve been facing rejection for years and was hesitant to put this book out there. But I really love this novel and felt like it would appeal to readers. I researched a number of small publishers and thought Clean Reads might be a good fit. When and how did you get the offer on your book? It was about 9:30 on a Friday evening. My husband and I had just gotten home after going to a play at the high school where we both teach. I don’t know why but I decided to check the email on my phone. When I saw I had a response from Clean Reads, I assumed it would be a rejection. I almost didn’t open the email, but took a deep breath and told myself to deal with it. And there was a brief note from the editor saying she loved my book and had attached a contract! I was dancing around the kitchen, laughing and yelling. Then I called my mom, and continued with the laughing and yelling. Tell us about the editorial process… The Clean Reads editors had some great ideas about how to word things more clearly, and helped sharpen the focus of the book. The biggest wrench in the system came when I found out that Disney would not allow me to use their name in the book. I freaked out for a good twenty-four hours when I got the official-looking letter with mouse ears stating that I would not be allowed to use Disneyland as a setting. I brainstormed with my family, and finally came up with Neverland as a setting. That was actually freeing, because I didn’t need to worry about getting all the Disneyland details right. Did you get to participate in the cover process? If yes, how? The cover process was one of my favorite parts. The designer, Cora Bignardi, sent a beautiful cover, but it didn’t fit with the characters. I went to the designer’s pinterest page and looked at all of her covers, then let her know what type of image I thought would work. Stephanie Taylor (owner and Chief editor of Clean Reads) weighed in on the process. Cora ultimately came up with this gorgeous cover. I couldn’t be happier with the way it turned out. How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand or on screen (e-book)? Just nine short months! It’s hard to believe I went from someone struggling to get published to a working author in less than a year. What marketing are you doing for this book? There’s so much to do! I thought it would be difficult, but I love these characters and am excited to share them with others. I’m focused on asking friends and family members to read and review the book on Amazon. A funny detour on that road has been my high school students. In a sincere effort to be helpful they keep going on to Amazon and saying His Cinderella Sweetheart is the best thing since the Sumerians invented writing, way better than Shakespeare, the best romance novel ever written. I have to ask them, gently, to take their lavish praise down. I like my book, but there have been better things written in the last 5000 years. I’m also reaching out to bloggers and asking them to read and review my book (Thank you!) And finally, I am in the process of making an audio book. Years ago I was an actress, and have always loved reading out loud. Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication? This book really wanted to be written. From the inspiration to the final product, I’ve always felt like I was just helping this story get told. I loved the process and am excited to share it with others. Where can you be found online? Website: MudandGraceStyle.com Twitter: @AnnaEmilyGrace Facebook: Anna Grace Author Instagram: mud.and.grace Where can your books be purchased? Amazon : https://www.amazon.com/His-Cinderella-Sweetheart-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B07KG8Z66N/ Clean Reads: http://cleanreads.com/catalog/adult/his-cinderella-sweetheart-a-contemporary-romance Author Bio Anna Grace lives on a small farm outside of Eugene, Oregon. She spends her time writing, rock climbing, keeping up with her family, attempting to keep up with the garden, and wrangling goats. She writes about honest fashion for active women at MudandGraceStyle.com.
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11/29/2018 0 Comments Fall Book Release - HOPE FOR TOMORROW Michelle De Bruin’s new book came out from Mantle Rock Publishing in September.
Book Blurb: When Logan De Witt learns of his father’s sudden death, he returns home to the family’s dairy farm. During his stay, he discovers his mother’s struggle with finances and his younger sister’s struggle with grief. Concern for his family presses Logan to make the difficult decision to leave his career as a pastor and stay on the farm. As a way to make some extra money, he agrees to board the teacher for their local school. Karen Millerson arrives from Chicago ready to teach high school but her position is eliminated so she accepts the role of country school teacher. Eager to put her family’s ugly past behind her, Karen begins a new career to replace the trust she lost in her own father who had been in ministry when she was a child. Logan and Karen both sense a call from the Lord to serve him, but neither of them expected that one day they would do it together. Can Karen learn to trust again? Will Logan lay aside his grief in exchange for God’s purpose for his life? Where did the idea for this book come from? The idea for this book came from my family history and Dutch heritage. I also wanted to help people know how to handle loss and grief well. How long did it take you to write this book? Three years. Tell us about your revisions… I worked with a freelance editor. She helped me develop the characters and strengthen the plot line. When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission? When the freelance editor and I had reached the last chapter. What happened along the way in your submission process? An agent expressed interest in my manuscript but decided not to offer representation. I had taken a class with Kathy Cretsinger through ACFW and remembered that she owned a publishing company. I met their requirements for submission so sent them a sample. When and how did you get the offer on your book? I received an offer in February 2018. Kathy e-mailed me. Tell us about the editorial process… The editorial process was good. My manuscript was originally 97,000 words but the publisher preferred manuscripts between 80,000 and 85,000 words. The editor helped me make the best cuts. Did you get to participate in the cover process? Yes. The publisher sent me a questionnaire about my characters and what I would like to see on the cover of my book. How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand or on screen (e-book)? 8 months. What marketing are you doing for this book? Participating in Facebook parties, appearing on blogs, telling local bookstores and churches about it, and selling at craft shows. Where can you be found online? Website: https://michelledebruin.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/MichelleDAuthor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MichelleDeBruinsAuthorPage/ Author Bio: Michelle De Bruin is a worship leader and spiritual services provider. She lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always looking for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story. Where can your book be purchased? Amazon (ebook and paperback): https://www.amazon.com/Hope-Tomorrow-Michelle-Bruin/dp/1945094583 Barnes and Noble (paperback): https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/hope-for-tomorrow-michelle-de-bruin/1129589055 11/20/2018 0 Comments Before We Were Yours I'm not sure what led me to Before We Were Yours (Ballantyne Books, 2017) by Lisa Wingate, but I'm sure glad I found the book. This historical novel was inspired by the terrible practices of Georgia Tann and the Memphis Tennessee Children's Home where children--especially blond children--were stolen from their parents to be sold (via expensive adoption fees) to families needing children.
1939 Twelve-year-old Rill Foss and her three younger sisters and brother live with their parents on a Mississippi River shantyboat. Tragedy strikes when the children are taken away while their parents are at the hospital and the children are put in an orphanage. One by one Rill loses her siblings. Juxtaposed with that story is modern day Avery Stafford. From a wealthy and influential family, this woman, who is a federal prosecutor, has a chance encounter with a woman at a nursing home that makes her worry about family secrets. Specifically with her grandmother who is in a "memory unit" and doesn't necessarily recognize Avery when she visits. As I read Iwondered, are these two families really connected? And if so, how bad is the discovery going to be? The book is difficult to put down. And now I want to read more by Lisa Wingate. Fortunately, the author of this bestselling book has lots more to read. Read about her here. (Isn't it great to see a best selling book that's also a clean read?)  I’ve decided to celebrate fellow author’s releases. These will be clean adult fiction: romance, suspense, and/or inspirational. First up to be interviewed is Emily-Jane Hills Orford with Queen Mary’s Daughter, a historical fiction/fantasy.
Book Blurb: “This novel is a masterpiece, written by a great storyteller, one who leads readers into the workings of the hearts of her characters and allows them to explore the conflicts inherent to human nature.” - Romuald Dzemo for Readers' Favorite There are so many possibilities that affect the course of history. One change, one small item overlooked, can make a world of difference, not only in a person's life, but in the history and well-being of an entire nation. And then there are those multiple scenarios of what if? What if King James VI of Scotland didn't succeed in amalgamating Scotland with England? Would Scotland have remained free and independent and a nation of its own well into the twenty-first century? And would Scotland, this independent version, make its own decision to join the European Union when its southern neighbor was choosing to pull away? And, what if there was another heir to the Scottish throne? In Queen Mary's Daughter (Clean Reads Publisher), author Emily-Jane Hills Orford presents another plausible timeline, one that incorporates both historical fact and fiction with the endless possibilities of time travel. Where did the idea for this book come from? First and foremost, my grandmother (Gran). She and I had a special relationship. When I was old enough, we traveled together. One special trip took us to Scotland where we traced Gran’s childhood memories (she was born in Scotland) and we followed the trail of Mary Queen of Scots. We had been enjoying a number of novels and biographies about the ill-fated queen and my grandmother ignited my interest by telling me about ancestors who helped in her escape from Loch Leven Castle. I always wanted to write about Queen Mary, but it wasn’t until the Brexit debacle and the ongoing desire of the Scottish people to separate from England, that I started looking more closely at the stories around Queen Mary. I knew she had given birth, prematurely, to twins while imprisoned at Loch Leven. History records that the babies died at birth and were buried on the island where the castle sat. An interesting footnote states that the location of the burial and the babies’ remains have never been found. So, I started thinking, ‘what if?’. What if there had been another heir to the Scottish throne and Scotland never did amalgamate with England and Ireland? And my story unfolded. How long did it take you to write this book? For the first draft, just over a year. Then came all the editing. Tell us about your revisions… It’s a painful process for a writer. We have to be very self-critical and look at our own work from the perspective of our potential readers. Does it flow? Does it make sense? And watch out for all those typos – when we’re writing, fast, there are bound to be typos. Sometimes very humorous typos. When did you know your manuscript was ready for submission? After several full edits, I took the plunge and found Clean Reads. I worked with their editors and fine-tuned the manuscript even further. What happened along the way in your submission process? I really lucked in with Clean Reads. Queen Mary’s Daughter was only sent out to a couple of publishers before Clean Reads snatched it up. While I awaited the contract, I continued working on other writing projects, including my recently released Middle Grade fantasy novel, Mrs. Murray’s Ghost (TellTale Publishing). When and how did you get the offer on your book? Everything was done via email. Which was great. Ten years ago, I was still submitting manuscripts via snail mail, which, when adding the return postage, was becoming expensive. And it took longer to get a response, if I ever did hear back from the publisher. Tell us about the editorial process… I had already gone through several edits before sending out the manuscript. Clean Reads has a very intense process. I think I went through three different editors to get the manuscript ready for publications. It was a lengthy process. Did you get to participate in the cover process? Not really. But I’m pleased with the cover. It really captures the main character and the Scottish flavor. How long did it take from offer to having the first copy in your hand or on screen (e-book)? 6 months. What marketing are you doing for this book? I’ve participated in a lot of blog tours, advertising campaigns, seeking book reviews. I almost spend as much time promoting my books as I do writing them. Anything else you’d like to share about your book’s journey from inspiration to publication? I learned a lot of interesting details about Scottish (and English) history. Where can you be found online? Website: http://emilyjanebooks.ca Twitter: https://twitter.com/ejhomusic Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/realpeoplestories Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1732544.Emily_Jane_Hills_Orford Author Bio: Emily-Jane Hills Orford is an award-winning author of several books. Her recent historical fiction/fantasy novel, Queen Mary’s Daughter, is receiving rave reviews as is her recent Middle Grade fantasy novel, Mrs. Murray’s Ghost. She writes about the extra-ordinary in life, in both creative nonfiction styles and historical fiction/fantasy. A regular book reviewer, the author loves to read almost as much as she loves to write. Where can your books be purchased? On Amazon: https://www.amazon.ca/Queen-Marys-Daughter-Emily-Jane-Orford-ebook/dp/B079DMRRR8/ 8/14/2018 0 Comments Travel Reading – the Ups and Downs When I travel I like to take “light” fiction with me. By that I mean ones that don’t make me think too hard. I like to download them to my kindle app on my iPad, so I’m also not carrying extra physical weight.
The first one started out so well—set in Africa, viewpoint of a baby rhino, then switched to the people. I loved what the people were doing—saving at-risk animals. But there were sections where something would be shown and then it would be followed up with an unnecessary telling sentence. I don’t want to give an example from the book directly, so I’ll make one up: Showing: Dark clouds scrolled across the sky and Lydia shivered in the sudden wind. Before she could reach the porch, rain stung her bare arms. A flash of lightening flared, immediately followed by a boom of thunder. Lydia ran up the steps and under cover, but she was already soaked. Telling: It was a terrific storm. D.B. Jackson says, “Trusting your reader means, in essence, not slowing your narrative to explain things that don’t need explaining.” (Italics mine.) The next book. After an intense scene in the viewpoint of the child who is the main character, we hung around too long. She was only four. I remember a few powerful happenings from when I was very young, but not a lot of detail. The excessive detailed memories of a four-year-old made me lose my suspension of disbelief. It needs to be logical or we need to be provided with reasons why it is logical. I really like this post by Dr. Vicki Hinze on “Suspending Disbelief” where she discusses how to do it in your writing. Later I was in disbelief again when the main character, now a teen, blamed herself for her older brother drowning in the pond. She felt it was her fault because she went off to do something else. Foreshadowing suggested it could have been suicide, but the character never thought anything about that possibility, ever, which would have validated the drowning and her feelings of guilt. I felt as if I’d been lied to. In Anton Chekhov’s famous book of writing advice, he says, “If in the first act you have hung a pistol on the wall, then in the following one it should be fired.” Note: I bought both of these books. I was trying new-to-me authors, and unfortunately they won't be new favorite authors. So, my reading choices weren’t the most successful, but someone this week recommended the Netflix movie The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society and I loved it! Here’s a link to the trailer. I since discovered it was based on a book, so that’s my next reading choice. What are you reading and learning from?  I haven't yet had the chance to read The Black Raven, White Dove (Clean Reads, 2017) by Elle Marlow yet, but this Christian inspired adventure romance sounds intriguing. And fun cover, right?
Here's the blurb: Known as the Ice pirate, Stefan Ice captains the Raven, a wicked ship filled with treasures and haunting secrets. The one thing missing from Raven’s coffers is revenge. The only thing missing from Stefan’s life is love. Bianca is the jewel in her father's crown. When she is captured and bound on the Raven, she becomes an unwilling pawn in an unknown feud between the dark pirate and her father. With every rock of the ship, Stefan steals her heart and unravels their tangled and tragic past. Bianca will need to rely on her faith and her heart to find God's purpose for her life. Is it with the legendary pirate? Here's what Elle says about herself: Hello, everyone! My name is Elle Marlow, and I am thrilled about my latest release, The Black Raven, White Dove. Never, would I have imagined penning an exciting pirate tale. See, I’m known for my western romances which can range from sweet to sizzling. So, when the inspiration came to return to my love of Christ and find a way to speak of it in an unique and fun way, pirates came to mind! Crazy, right? Well, the way I see it, what a better way to showcase our true growth then through adversity. Bianca and Stefan have plenty to overcome in this romance. And when you’re on the high seas with such a rough crowd as the crew of the Raven, there are multitudes of ways in which to bring about hope and inspiration, and to show that God’s grace is for all—even crusty old pirates. I had so much fun trying to take my “writer’s voice” to a whole new level with this story. I’m used to the familiar, “Yes, ma’am and howdy,” of my heroic cowboys. But, a good pirate isn’t too different from a good cowboy, I just had to think outside the box and reach outside my comfort zone. I would love for you to dare to climb aboard the Raven take this, and many other journeys with me. Here is the Amazon link. However, The Black Raven, White Dove is available where ever all good Ebooks are sold. See all my titles inside my library. |
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SM Ford writes inspirational fiction for adults, although teens may find the stories of interest, too. She also loves assisting other writers on their journeys. Archives
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