See the Scoop on "See No Evil" #Giveaway

Howdy y'all! Crystal here. I've got my fellow Texan Mary Hamilton in the interview chair today with her fresh release, See No Evil. Keep reading to see what it's all about and have an opportunity to win a free copy for your own enjoyment. :)

Great to have you here today with us, Mary. Tell everyone a bit about yourself.

I’m a wife and mother of three grown children, two of whom are getting married this summer! My writing life began in earnest once my youngest started school. I lived at a Christian camp where my dad was the director until I was almost twenty. So, when I decided to write my Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series, I chose a setting much like the home of my youth.

Oh, wow! How fascinating! And congrats on the weddings. Two in one summer. Sounds like you're gonna be hopping. :) 

Congratulations on your new release. What is See No Evil about?

See No Evil is the third and last book in the series, and it stars Steven Miller, a blind but very capable camper. A guilty secret from his past motivates him to attempt a triathlon in honor of his deceased father. His buddy agrees to train with him at camp, but then starts down a dangerous moral path that threatens to pull Steven along with him. In addition, the camp’s beloved nurse is unable to manage the clinic due to health reasons. Steven teams up with his friend, Claire, to help Nurse Willie, but his feelings for Claire grow beyond friendship.

Since this is a series, care to give us a hint about the other two books? Can you read this newest story as a stand-alone?

Hear No Evil, Book 1, tells the story of 13-year-old Brady, whose mother leaves him at camp with the news she doesn’t want him living with her anymore. He struggles to understand her sudden rejection, until he discovers it’s for his own protection.

Speak No Evil, Book 2, stars Taylor, the bully who intensifies Brady’s misery in the first book. At 15, Taylor’s love for cars deepens when a staff member invites him to help restore a classic Mustang. But Taylor’s sister is at camp with him and her adventurous spirit keeps getting him in trouble. The fun and pranks escalate until they threaten to destroy both Taylor’s dreams and the Mustang.

Each book takes place during successive summers and features a different character, so they can easily be read as stand-alones. However, reading them in order might lend a better understanding of some of the relationships between the characters.

Thanks for the insight. Those sound like great reads. Where did you get the inspiration for See No Evil?

Steven’s character was inspired by a teenager who attended my home camp when I was young. He was blind, like Steven, and it always seemed odd that a blind kid would come to a camp like ours. This was back when there were no handicap accommodations. But he impressed everyone with how much he was able to do, and I loved developing Steven’s character on that basis.

Wow, that camp must be fodder for some great stories! What is the one thing you hope readers will take away from this one?

When readers close the book, I hope they’ll carry with them a greater appreciation for the way God loves them. Long before they were born, He was thinking of them, planning for them, and putting in place a way to redeem them from guilt and sin. He truly is a God of love.

What a wonderful message and a reminder even the most-seasoned Christian still needs. Do you have a favorite scene in the book? If so, can you tell us a bit about it?

Oh, it’s hard to pick one. I guess it would be when Steven and Claire begin to admit their feelings for each other. This is their last year at camp, and they’ve known each other at camp since they were five. Claire tells Steven she wants a picture of them before camp is over. With Steven’s blindness, a picture is worthless. But he asks Claire’s permission to touch her face. He uses his fingers to explore her features, making his own impression of her to remember. I’m not into romance, but this is a pretty romantic scene!

Aww, how sweet. :) Sounds like a great scene. 

Well, you’ve finished the series. What do you plan to work on next?

I’m playing with a novel for adults about a veteran who comes back from deployment and finds a family member or close friend has betrayed him. That sounds pretty serious, but I’d like to weave in some humor as he is forced to room with his artsy younger brother.

Military and the arts--yeah, I could see some humor pulled in there. :) 

Where can readers connect with you? Where can readers buy your book?

I love to hear from readers. They can connect with me on my website (www.maryhamiltonbooks.com), Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest. Readers can buy all three books on Amazon,  but here’s the link for See No Evil 

Thanks for those links. Last, but not least, apart from writing, what is your favorite creative outlet?

I love to knit sweaters and afghans. Unfortunately, here in TX, it’s too hot to do that this time of year. So I guess I’ll be concentrating on writing.

I hear ya, girl. That yarn gets hot in your lap real quick-like. Well, thanks so much for sharing with us today. Hope See No Evil is a great success and ministers to many hearts. 

Everyone, here's your chance to win a paperback copy of See No Evil. Leave a comment on this post to be entered in the drawing. The winner will be announced in the Weekly Wind-up post on Monday afternoon.

Here's your question: Did you attend camp as a child? If so, were there any lessons you learned there that you've carried with you through life?

Interview with YA Author Mary Hamilton

Howdy y'all! I decided to host a meet-n-greet for you today with a new friend of mine, Mary Hamilton. I'll get y'all started with a few questions of my own, but feel free to ask any more you can think of in the comments below. (Trust me, you won't regret leaving a comment--hint, hint. :) )

So, Mary, tell us a little about yourself.
I became a stay-at-home mom about 27 years ago and raised three of the best kids around, two boys and a girl. I started to pursue writing for profit at that time but gave it up when the kids quit taking naps, because I could never find a regular time to write when I wasn’t falling asleep. But as soon as my youngest started school, I took up writing again, particularly fiction. My dream was always to write a novel.

How did you get into writing YA?
I had no intention of writing for kids. I wanted to write for the adult audience and the first draft of my book was written for adults. I got involved in a local critique group about the time I was starting my first rewrites and after a few chapters, they convinced me it was better aimed at young teens, or tweens. The rewriting went much smoother after I accepted that. Although, judging by the number of adults who say the book has pulled them in and kept their interest, I must still be writing for adults just a teeny bit.

What is your book about?
Thirteen-yr. old Brady is dropped off at summer camp with the news he can’t come home. His mom doesn’t want him living with her anymore. Making matters worse is the camp bully who targets him with cruel taunts and teasing. Brady struggles to figure out what he did wrong. If he can’t change Mom’s mind by the end of the week, he’ll have to live with his workaholic dad, the guy who left when Brady was 7.

How did you come up with the idea for the book?
I grew up at a camp where my dad was director. So when I started thinking about writing a novel, I knew I wanted a camp setting. Then, when my kids were in jr. high and high school, we saw the devastating effects of divorce and remarriage in the lives of their friends. I brought the two ideas together by writing about kids who come to Bible camp with all their “baggage” from home. At camp, they learn how deeply God cares about what they’re going through, and develop a better perspective and coping skills for the issues they face at home.

The book is aimed at tweens, but you say adults are enjoying it. Why do you think that’s true?
For one thing, I think many adults have good memories of their own camp experiences, whether it’s Bible camp or scout camp or whatever. Most people say the story makes them feel like they’re right back there at camp. Another reason I believe adults enjoy it is because it appeals to our parenting instinct. We feel sorry for Brady and wish we could protect him, put our arms around him and assure him everything will be okay.

Hear No Evil is Book 1 of the Rustic Knoll Bible Camp series. What’s in store for the next books?
The next books will each take one of the characters from Hear No Evil and focus on them. I’m working on Book 2 right now, which focuses on Taylor, the bully. Book 3 will star Brady’s buddy, Steven, who is blind but never lets that stop him.

Where can people find your book, and how can they connect with you?
Hear No Evil is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and can be ordered through Christian bookstores if they don’t carry it on the shelf. It will be available in paperback, e-book, and audiobook.

I’d love to hear from readers on my website or Facebook. You can also check out my Pinterest page for pictures of my characters.

http://www.maryhamiltonbooks.com
http://facebook.com/maryhamiltonbooks
http://pinterest.com/mhamiltonbooks/boards

Okay, one last question: Do you have any other creative outlets besides writing?
I love knitting, mainly sweaters and afghans. I find great inspiration for creativity in nature and enjoy being outside as much as possible. And once in a great while, I play piano but only for my own enjoyment.

Ooo, I'd love to hear you play. Well, I think that's all the questions I have for now. Thanks so much, Mary, for dropping by and filling us in on your new release. Does anyone else have questions for Mary?

***Important: One lucky commenter today will win a copy of Mary's new release, so be sure to include your contact email with your comment(s) if you want to be entered in the drawing. The winner will be announced after 8 pm / 7 pm CST.***