Birthday Bash Interview with Davalynn Spencer

Today I am excited to introduce a fellow Colorado author to ya'll! Davalynn Spencer writes heart-tugging, Western romance set along the Front Range of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains. She is the wife and mother of professional rodeo bullfighters and a recipient of the Will Rogers Gold Medallion for Inspirational Western Fiction. A former journalist and crime-beat reporter, Davalynn lives in Colorado where she caters to Blue the Cowdog and mouse detectors Annie and Oakley. She loves hearing from readers. Connect with her via her website at www.davalynnspencer.com.

Welcome Davalynn! We're so glad you could stop by for our Birthday Bash! Tell us about the books you write. 
I write what I like to read – stories with laughter, danger, grace, and love.
 

Sounds like a wagon-load of fun. Have Birthdays played a part in any of your books?

Unfortunately, no birthdays have played a part of my books. The closest would be the nation’s birthday when characters celebrated July 4^th in one of my historical novellas with Barbour, The Columbine Bride. In fact, that novella is a free give-away for readers who sign up for my quarterly newsletter!

GIVEAWAY! Readers, don't miss out on that. :D
Okay, back to the interview. What is your most recent book birthday?

My newest book released April 26 as Book 2 in my Front Range Bride series, An Unexpected Redemption. Abandoned by her faithless husband, then falsely accused and fired by her employer, Betsy Parker is desperate to redeem her reputation and independence. She returns home where she must face her toughest critics—the people she grew up with, a rugged lawman who threatens to steal her heart, and the one person unwilling to forgive her. “…a stirring story filled with faith, humor, romance and mystery.” –Amazon reviewer

Congratulations on that recent release. It sounds intriguing. 
If your main character was invited to our birthday party, would they come? What would they bring?

Oh yes, Betsy Parker would definitely come to the party. And I suspect that she’d make a batch of “bear sign” – cowboy donuts dusted with powdered sugar. Better than cake!

That sounds awful tempting. Good thing virtual food doesn't add to the waistline. LOL. 
If we ask your main character to sing us a happy birthday song, what would happen?

Betsy would sing out at the top of her lungs. Singing was a big part of her life until, well, things went south, so to speak. But those songs, one in particular, help get her back on the trail to a fresh start and a new love.

What was your most memorable birthday? Why?

One year my husband surprised me with a grasshopper pie he made himself. He knew I loved grasshopper pie – that frozen delight made with chocolate-mint chip ice cream and Oreo cookie crust. Yeah, that, but not what he presented me with. His surprise was green-Jell-O in a graham cracker crust with real grasshoppers in the Jell-O! Our two children thought it was wonderful. Me? Well, I just smiled for the camera and went along with the joke—until he brought the real deal out of the freezer. Memorable, indeed!

Haha, I love it. Alright, get your six shooter ready, Davalynn. Time for our Rapid Fire Round!

Birthday cake or Ice Cream? 
Ice cream (see question above!).

Streamers or confetti poppers?  
Streamers.

Do you like surprise parties?  
Sure, I’m game.

Books or gift cards?
Books!!!

Thanks so much for being our birthday guest today, Davalynn. Where can readers find you online?

Quarterly Newsletter sign-up: http://eepurl.com/xa81D

Weekly Blog: http://davalynnspencer.com/subscribe/

Website: http://www.davalynnspencer.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDavalynnSpencer

Twitter: https://twitter.com/davalynnspencer

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5051432.Davalynn_Spencer

Pinterest: https://pinterest.com/davalynnspencer/boards/

Amazon Author: https://www.amazon.com/Davalynn-Spencer/e/B002EZUEZK

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/davalynn-spencer

CAN: http://christianauthorsnetwork.com/davalynn-spencer/

BIRTHDAY PRIZES! 
Davalynn is generously giving away an e-copy of An Unexpected Redemption, and a signed paperback copy in the grand prize, so be sure to leave her a comment!

Cowboys, Horses and the Wild West with Vickie McDonough

Happy Saturday, Friends! Today I am pleased to introduce a blogging buddy of mine. Please help me welcome Bestselling author Vickie McDonough!

Vickie grew up wanting to marry a rancher, but instead, she married a computer geek who is scared of horses. She now lives out her dreams penning romance stories about ranchers, cowboys, lawmen, and others living in the Old West. Vickie is a best-selling author of more than 40 published books and novellas, with over 1.5 million copies sold. Her books have won numerous awards and Vickie has recently stepped into independent publishing.

Vickie has been married for forty-one years to Robert. They have four grown sons, one daughter-in-law, and a precocious granddaughter. When she’s not writing, Vickie enjoys reading, antiquing, doing stained glass, watching movies, and traveling. To learn more about Vickie’s books or to sign up for her newsletter, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com


Welcome Vickie! We're so glad you could visit us today. Please tell us about your book.

End of the Trail is the final book in the six-book Texas Trails series, which I created with authors Susan Page Davis and Darlene Franklin. The series covers six decades of a family and Texas history. Each book is a complete story, so you don’t have to read all of them—unless, of course, you want to. I wrote two of the six books: Long Trail Home and End of the Trail, but today we’re featuring End of the Trail.

Here’s what End of the Trail is about:

Brooks Morgan is quick on the draw, but his weapon of choice is his smile. He’s smart and witty and has charmed his way through much of life, but now he’s growing older—and a bit wiser. He wants to stop drifting and settle down. He sees his chance when he wins Raven Creek Ranch in a poker game, but when he goes to claim his prize, a pretty woman with a shotgun says the ranch belongs to her. Brooks isn’t leaving his one and only chance to make something of his life—but neither is she. Can they reach an agreement? Or will a greedy neighbor force a showdown, causing them both to lose what they want most in life?

Wow, that sounds intense. Where did the inspiration for your story come from?

I had an idea: “what if two people believed they owned the same ranch?” and out of that idea, End of the Trail was birthed. There’s a scene in End of the Trail that was originally a short story I wrote years ago. When I was thinking of ideas for Brooks’ story, I remembered that scene and decided to include it. It’s a scene where the heroine saves the hero’s life.


Sounds interesting. A bit of a flip from the traditional damsel in distress. How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing?

 I’ve been a Christian for as long as I can remember. All of my books have a faith element, although it’s stronger in some stories than others. It really depends on my character and his/her level of faith. Some of my characters aren’t a Christian but become one by the end of the book. Others are believers from the start, but struggle in some aspect of their faith.


What is your favorite thing about writing historical romance? 
I don’t know if I have just one favorite thing. I love the slower pace of life in historicals and admire how hard people had to work to survive. As a kid, I watched many cowboy shows on TV with my dad, and I fell in love with horses, cowboys, and western life. Western historical romances set in the late 1800’s are my favorite to read and write, although I do have a series set in the Charleston area and a novella set in Ireland.


Horses, sunsets, guns, what's not to love, right? What are you working on next? 
I’m finishing up something different—a USA Word Find Puzzle Book. It’s something I’ve wanted to do for years. Last summer, I took a series of webinars and learned how to create one. I’m glad it’s finally coming to fruition. I have ideas for some other puzzle books that I hope to create down the road.


Puzzle books! Not what I would have guessed, but that is exciting. Looks like you have some great stuff going on. Thank you so much for being with us!

Here's where you can check out Vickie's books & connect with her.

            

End of the Trail on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y55LYPM
Long Trail Home on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06XXG4SFT

 Connect with Vickie:

Website: www.vickiemcdonough.com 

Newsletter sign-up: http://www.vickiemcdonough.com/www.vickiemcdonough.com/Newsletter_Sign-up.html

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VickieMcDonough

Twitter: https://twitter.com/vickiemcdonough

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/VickieMcDonough 

Heroes, Heroines, and History blog: http://HHHistory.com

Follow me on Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Vickie-McDonough/e/B001JP4JE8/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1464450059&sr=8-2-ent

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/101317.Vickie_McDonough

List.ly: https://list.ly/list/1aRD-books-by-vickie-mcdonough

Don't forget to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for the STT Independence Day giveaway of Dawn of Liberty!

Susan Page Davis Interview and #bookgiveaway!

Today I have the pleasure of introducing a blogging pal of mine. 

 

Susan Page Davis is the author of more than 60 novels and novellas in the historical romance, mystery, and suspense genres. She is the mother of six and grandmother of ten. A Maine native, she now lives in western Kentucky with her husband Jim. Visit her website at: www.susanpagedavis.com.

Welcome, Susan! We're so glad you could visit us today. What made you decide to become a writer? 
I’ve always loved stories and have written them since I was a child. I didn’t really think I could become a published author for many years, but I decided to give it a try, and I’ve been blessed with many published books.


What is the first book you remember reading?
Crybaby Calf, by Helen and Alf Evers. I absolutely loved that picture book!



Where did the inspiration for your latest book come from?
For the Seven Brides for Seven Texans collection, the theme and premise for the seven novellas was already in place. When I heard that each brother would have to marry to inherit his part of the ranch, I began to think about how the young man in my story—“For Love or Money”—would come to the aid of a young woman whose family was looked down on in the community. Jane and Crockett find that forgiveness and love are possible even in bleak circumstances.


Why do you write the genre you do?
I write western romance because my readers love it! I also write mysteries for another publisher. I write the kind of stories I like to read myself.


How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing?
Some of my books have a strong faith thread, and others are more gentle, but all present my life values. My desire is to write stories that will honor God and serve a need for my readers, whether it’s entertainment, encouragement, or a challenge.

What are you working on next?
Today I’m working on a cozy mystery for Barbour Publishing, in the Tearoom Mysteries series. I’ve also got more western romances coming. Seven Brides for Seven Texans releases Dec. 1, and in March I’ll have two new books: Desert Moon and My Heart Belongs in the Superstition Mountains.


How can readers connect with you?
Find me at:

Website: www.susanpagedavis.com
Twitter: @SusanPageDavis
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanpagedavisauthor

Very interesting. I'll have to look into those Tearoom Mysteries. Looks like you have some great stuff going on. Thank you so much for being with us!

About Seven Brides for Seven Texans:

Meet the seven Hart brothers of the 7-Heart ranch in central Texas. Each man is content in his independent life, without the responsibilities of a wife and children—until their father decides 1874 will be the year his grown sons finally marry, or they will be cut from his will. How will each man who values his freedom respond to the ultimatum? Can love develop on a timeline, or will it be sacrificed for the sake of an inheritance? 

Links for Seven Brides for Seven Texans (Now available on Kindle, too!)

From ChristianBook.com:
From Amazon: 

We’re giving away a copy of Seven Brides for Seven Texans! It releases Dec. 1, and the winner will be one of the first to receive it. So be sure to leave Susan a comment to get your name in the drawing!

Weekly Windup: Comment to win Pursued by Elaine Manders

Weekly Windup

Happy Monday everyone, and welcome to this week's edition of the Weekly Windup!

 

 

This Week's Giveaway:

 

 

Pursued (ebook) by Elaine Manders

An idealistic librarian and a troubled cattle baron fight wickedness in high places in 1884 Nebraska.

Carianne Barlow never expected to leave her Philadelphia townhouse and travel to the wild-west, but when she inherits a fortune, conditions are attached. She must carry out her grandmother’s vision of a western culture center anchored by a library to rival those of the east. Such an undertaking requires political support, and no one is more influential than Rhyan Cason, a handsome rancher with the reputation of hardened businessman and rabble rousing lobbyist with a preference for the ladies. Carianne gets on the westbound train with no thought of the treacherous world awaiting her in the little prairie town near Rhyan’s sprawling ranch.

When Rhyan asks her to catalog his library, Carianne jumps at the chance without considering the ramifications. She rejects any romantic notions. Rhyan is known to be a heart-breaker, and he is an atheist, which doesn’t set well with her Christian beliefs. But they are thrown together when events take a dangerous turn, and menacing undercurrents run through the town.
Then Carianne learns too late Rhyan is pursued by a sinister enemy determined to destroy everything he cares for, including her. As they get closer to exposing the adversary, they realize he—or she—wants them both dead.

Comment on any post now through October 1st to get your name in the drawing! Winner will be announced in the Weekly Windup on October 3rd.

We've also got a great giveaway going on Saturday, so be sure to drop by!

If you are a winner, please contact us to claim your prize!

Coming up this Week:

• Monday: Waterfalls and Waves with Norma Gail
• Tuesday: S.S. Minnow Cruises on with Terri Wangard
• Wednesday:
• Thursday: Book Review by Amber Schamel
• Friday: Win or Die for Nelly Bly! with Shirley Raye Redmond
• Saturday: Interview with Amber Lynn Perry and #giveaway

An Interview with Historical Romance Author Elaine Manders

 

 

It’s my great pleasure to introduce one of Stitches Thru Time’s own crew today--Elaine Manders. Elaine writes historical romance to inspire and intrigue. Elaine began her writing journey with feature articles for a Christian newspaper and turned to fiction in 1992. Her debut novella series, the Annex Mail-Order Brides, was published Jul, 2015, and serves as prequels to her long historical novel series, Intrigue under Western Skies. The first of this series was published in Jan 2016 and the second, Surrendered, will be out Aug 2016. She has two other novellas out with several more full-length novels in the works. Her greatest joy is to create endearing characters and intriguing plots with humor and faith woven throughout, and her fondest hope is that these books will entertain the reader and bring glory to God. She lives in Central Georgia with her college going grandson and a happy bichon who guards her office.

 

Elaine has agreed to answer some questions about herself, and tell us a little bit about the newest book, Cloaked in Love, which is part of the Threads of Love Anthology featuring several of this blog's authors. Be sure to read to the end, since we have a couple of great giveaways you can qualify for by leaving a comment.

 

Let’s get started. Elaine, Please tell the readers about the release that is being showcased today.

 

Cloaked in Love is a historical western romance with a Christian theme about a young woman held captive in her isolated Wyoming ranch home by a ruthless outlaw gang. She’s forced into a pretend marriage to the youngest gang member, a handsome cowboy who must use his wits more than his six-shooter to help his “bride” escape.

 How did you come up with the concept for this book?

 I grew up in the era of TV westerns and have always wanted to write a series about women in peril. When Crystal Barnes asked for volunteers to do a STT boxset with a craft theme, the plot for Cloaked in Love crystalized, (pun intended) since a cloak the heroine is crocheting plays a major part in the story’s resolution. I looked upon it as a God thing, an opportunity to work with three other talented authors, something I rarely get to do.

 

I love westerns, too, and do some crocheting, so this sounds very interesting. What’s your favorite scene in your book and why?

 

My very favorite scene comes at the end, and I don’t want to give it away, so I’ll tell about my second best. The heroine, Jeannie, is forced to marry Zak, one of the outlaws who’ve taken her captive. Rather than docilely accepting her fate, Jeannie lights into him like a cornered wildcat and manages to do some serious damage before he’s able to convince her he means her no harm. As a writer, I didn’t see that coming—that Jeannie turned out to be such a tough little wrangler. She showed her strength and faith, believing if she resisted evil, God would deliver her. And He did in the end in a way she could never have imagined.  

 

Don’t you love it when your characters go off script? It makes for interesting writing. Speaking of characters, who is your favorite character in the book and why?

 

Jeannie. She questions her faith, but when faced with this nightmare, she faces the evil with courage and love, a love that even extends to her enemies.

 

You have several full length books and novellas out. Which do you prefer and why?

 

I’ve actually written more full length novels than novellas, but only one novel is published yet. The second is coming out next month. It takes much longer to edit and polish a 100K book than one at 25K. When I first decided to become an independent writer, I felt it was best to publish the most popular genres at a low price as a way to attract readers to take a chance on an unknown author. The novella isn’t my first love, though. It doesn’t allow you to delve into the characters as much as I’d like.

 

What is your next project?

 

The book I’m preparing for release in August is the second in my Intrigue under Western Skies series, entitled Surrendered. It’s the conclusion of the love story of an idealistic librarian and a handsome, but troubled cattle baron in 1884 Nebraska. It’s another of my God inspired premises, and very difficult to write, because it follows a man fighting against his own beliefs from atheist to redemption, and in the process, delves into those basic, bone-deep theological questions most people don’t want to even think about. There’s plenty of conflict in the series, though, as the series title suggests, so it moves as a fast clip for long novels.

 

Thanks for being with us today, Elaine. It’s been a pleasure interviewing you.

 

 Cloaked in Love

 

With Pa off on a cattle drive, Jeannie Baylor is alone on their isolated Wyoming ranch. When she’s taken captive by a gang of ruthless outlaws, she realizes her virtue is in imminent danger, and her life is safe only as long as they need her house for a hideout.

 

Unexpectedly, one of the men, Zak Collins, a handsome man with bitterness evident in his stone gray-green eyes, proposes a fantastic scheme to save her life. Having no other choice, she has to trust Zak. But God gives her another way, and its success depends on the cloak she’s crocheting for a friend.

 

 

 

 

Threads of Love

 

Four heartwarming historical romance novellas woven together with faith and love. From a mail-order bride seeking revenge, to a woman captured by an outlaw gang in the old west, to a young widow who follows her mother-in-law into a war-torn country, and sisters who make a pact to never marry, each one of these stories will satisfy the romance lover’s heart.

 

***Special Giveaway for today only. Up to 3 lucky commenters will win the boxset of Threads of Love, which includes Cloaked in Love.***

 

Don’t forget to leave a comment to get your name in the drawing for Cloaked in Love by Elaine Manders! Winner announced in the Weekly Windup on August 1^st. Check out all our great prizes on the Prizes Galore page.

 

 

 

Love, Stock, & Barrel - Release Day!!!

We've all heard of shotgun weddings, but how about a shotgun wedding with the gun pointed at the woman? Well, I took that what-if and turned it into a novel. A novel that releases today! Yeehaw!

Howdy y'all! Crystal Barnes here and I'm super excited to announce Love, Stock, & Barrel is now available! :D

A bit about Love, Stock, & Barrel:

Hiding from a rat of a fiancé, Dinah Lexington makes tracks for Texas and who she hopes is her late mother’s relative. She’s seeking answers but finds more than she bargains for when she gets caught in a shotgun wedding—with the rifle pointed at her.
Russell Cahill can’t believe his father is demanding he marry the feisty redhead. The sharpshooting female would only add to his troubles, but how does one argue with a gun and an attraction he's fought to ignore?

Sparks fly. Secrets surface. Loss threatens.

Will a dream for love shatter forever, or will the pair find a marriage worth lock, stock, and barrel?

Here's what folks are saying...

"Another great story from a talented historical romance author! I love how both books in this series have had good strong female leads, and always interesting marriage situations. Makes for fun reading! Especially with the sassy western twang that comes through on each page. A great read!" ~ Misty M Beller, author of The Lady and the Mountain Call

"I was given a advance copy of this book to read in exchange for a review. I was so blessed to have read it. There is surprises, romance, and so much more. I did not want the book to end, got so attached to the characters. This is 2nd in the series but can be read as a stand alone book but why not read the whole series. Dinah goes to Crystal Falls, Tx since [she] had information about it [in] her mother's diary. Her mother had passed away and her father was trying to force her to marry. She is welcomed into town and has quite a adventure. This is a very good western/historical book." ~ Janice Sisemore, reader

Want to learn more or have a chance to win a free copy of Love, Stock, & Barrel? Join me this evening at 7pm Central for my Facebook Launch party. Click the following link for more details. 
https://www.facebook.com/events/532347610274618/

Hope to see y'all there!

Wyoming Promises by Kerri Mountain - A Book Review

Wyoming Promises by Kerri Mountain releases on April 1st. Kerri is an inspirational historical western author for Love Inspired. Her characters are multi-layered and real-to-life, creating a story that's fun to read and hard to put down.

I love the first chapter of this book. The heroine, Lola Martin, finds a stranger on her doorstep looking for an undertaker. You’ve got to love a beginning like that. The mysterious stranger is Bridger Jamison, our hero, who finds himself in a difficult situation with secrets of his own. The intriguing characters in Wyoming Promises bring the story to life on a journey to discover the murderer of a well-respected citizen of Quiver Creek. When Lola hires Bridger as a carpenter for her business, their attraction grows, but their hope for a relationship may be lost when a murder investigation makes Bridger a prime suspect.

Kerri Mountain loves the western culture and Wyoming is one of her favorite states to visit when she gets the chance. Her passion for this area and the West shines through in every detail of this book.

You can order Wyoming Promises on Amazon now and on April 1st it can be found anywhere Love Inspired books are sold. I highly recommend this book and once you read it, I think you will too.

Kerri Mountain lives in rural western Pennsylvania with her parents on their small family farm.  An avid reader herself, Kerri chose to pursue a master's degree in Writing Popular Fiction to create the kinds of stories she loves to read. Kerri teaches elementary school in the district where she attended as a child.  Watching westerns with her grandfather and seeing the scores of western classics he read influenced her own interest in writing this genre.

When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys creating hand-made greeting cards with rubber stamps, traveling, and learning more about American history.  She also enjoys the quiet pace of country living and living close enough to her brother and sister and their families to spoil her nieces and nephews on a regular basis.

What's one of the favorite things you like about the West? or What was your favorite western to watch on television?