Showing posts with label solve by christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label solve by christmas. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Weekly Windup: Comment to Win Christmas Charity by Susan G. Mathis

  Welcome to the Weekly Windup! We have a winner to announce!

Winner of Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel (ebook) is...Faith Creech! Congratulations!


If you are a winner, please Contact Us with your email address to claim your prize.

This Week's Giveaway: 

Christmas Charity (ebook) by Susan G. Mathis




Susan Hawkins and Patrick O’Neill find that an arranged marriage is much harder than they think, especially when they emigrate from Wolfe Island, Canada, to Cape Vincent, New York, in 1864, just a week after they marry—with Patrick’s nine-year-old daughter, Lizzy, in tow. Can twenty-three-year-old Susan Hawkins learn to love her forty-nine-year-old husband and find charity for her angry stepdaughter?
Check it out on Amazon

Be sure to leave comments throughout the week to get your name in the drawing. Giveaway ends December 2nd. Winner will be announced in the December 3rd edition of the Weekly Windup.


Coming up this week:

Monday, 11/19: Giving Thanks by Carole Brown
Tuesday, 11/20: America's First Unknown by Terri Wangard
Wednesday, 11/21: TBA
Thursday, 11/22: Happy Thanksgiving!
Friday, 11/23: Mr. Bamberger and the Macy's Parade by Linda Shenton
Matchett
Saturday, 11/24: Interview with Susan Mathis


Monday, November 12, 2018

Weekly Windup: Still Time to Enter for Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel

  Welcome to the Weekly Windup! There's still time to get your name in the drawing for Solve by Christmas, a fun and inspirational mystery set in Denver during the great blizzard of 1913.


If you are a winner, please Contact Us with your email address to claim your prize.

This Week's Giveaway: 

Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel (ebook)

 Winner of the 2018 Christian Indie Award for Historical Fiction.


When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.
As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

Be sure to leave comments throughout the week to get your name in the drawing. Giveaway ends November 18th. Winner will be announced in the November 19th edition of the Weekly Windup.


Coming up this week:

Monday, 11/12: A Devotion by Catherine Castle
Tuesday, 11/13: Hollywood Gold by Linda Shenton Matchett
Wednesday, 11/14: Pickle Day by Shirley Raye Redmond
Thursday, 11/15: A book review by Jenn Fromke
Friday, 11/16: TBA
Saturday, 11/17: TBA


Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Genre Strays and Other Scary Beasts

The pitiful Genre Stray
Good morning, friends! I've got a pot of coffee on for ya'll, the tea kettle is whistling and the strawberry scones are still warm from the oven. I thought over brunch this morning we'd have a nice behind the scenes chat about what goes on in an author's head as they weave together a story.

Now, ya'll may not be aware of this, but there are scary beasts in an author's world. One of those is the Genre Stray. This mangy animal can be pitiful and harmless, (which for an author is scary because we don't want our stories to be pitiful, and harmless means there's no tension.) but other times they are baring their teeth and growling ferociously.

What do I mean by Genre Stray? It's what I did when I wrote Solve by Christmas. When an author strays from the genre that they typically write, we face the Genre Stray.  It can be terrifying because each genre has different elements that make it successful, and the new genre is not what we're accustomed to.

I typically write historical fiction. And while Solve by Christmas is a historical, it is also a mystery, which was a stray from my typical story. Suddenly there were red herrings, clues, and creating a semi-likable character that was just irritating and smart enough to also solve the case. The stakes of the story were high enough that I knew this stray wouldn't be pitiful and harmless, but it was certainly showing its teeth. The growls sounded something like this:
The ferocious Genre Stray

What if the mystery falls flat and everyone can guess what is going to happen?
What if your fans hate it and abandon you forever?
You should have stayed with what you were comfortable with. What made you think you could stretch yourself?
See? You don't even know what should happen next. You're a failure. 

There were days the story was almost devoured by this beast. But blessed be the Lord who can tame all beasts, whether figurative or physical. I could hear His whisper through my fears.

I gave you this story, now finish it. I'll tell you what happens next.
You can't grow if you don't stretch yourself. 
You won't be able to please everyone, but this story is for someone. 
If the goal is obedience, and you obey, there is no failure.

As Solve by Christmas made its way out into the world, I found that God's voice was right again. The story isn't for everyone, but there were a great many people who loved it and were touched by Jasper's tale. The Genre Stray doesn't stop growling after the book is published either. Doubts still creep in as we catch blips of negative reviews, or hear that a fan was disappointed that it was so different from your other books. But the Lord was gracious enough to confirm the book for me too. On Monday, I was surprised by the news that Solve by Christmas was awarded the 2018 Christian Indie Award for historical fiction.

I am humbled and honored that so many readers would find Solve by Christmas worthy of this award. So as a thank you, I'm running a special giveaway for readers. There are two prizes, the Solve by Christmas prize pack is for US residents and includes autographed paperbacks of Solve by Christmas and Dawn of Liberty (my two award winners), Solve by Christmas themed notepad, postcards, and a special edition Solve by Christmas mug. The other prize is for my international readers and is a paperback copy of Solve by Christmas to be delivered via the Book Depository.

Here's a link to the rafflecopter giveaway. Also, don't forget that leaving a comment will also get you entered in our giveaway for Cloaked in Love by Elaine Manders!

There are many other scary beasts we writers face, but that will have to be another post for another time. :) Have a wonderful day, my friends! 

Tuesday, December 12, 2017

Weekly Windup: Comment to win Solve by Christmas by Amber Schamel


Welcome to the Weekly Windup! We have a winner to announce!


Winner of the Handmade Dishcloth set by Gail Kittleson is...Jan Hall!





   If you are a winner, please Contact Us to claim your prize.

 

The Last Giveaway of the YEAR!

Solve by Christmas (ebook) by Amber Schamel!

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

Comment on any post now through December 31st to get your name in the drawing! Winner will be announced in the January 1st issue of the Weekly Windup. Paperback giveaways are for U.S. residents only.

Coming up this week:

Monday, 12/11: A Devotion by Norma Gail
Tuesday, 12/12: How One Man Changed the War, by Linda Shenton Matchett
Wednesday, 12/13: Guest Post by Rose Allen McCauley
Thursday, 12/14: A book review by Heidi Main
Friday, 12/15: Seasonal Safety Tips
Saturday, 12/16:TBA

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Meet Denny from Solve by Christmas with Giveaway

Today I'm excited to introduce you to one of the characters from my new release, Solve by Christmas. We're forcing Denny to sit in a chair for a short interrogation, which he will no doubt survive since he is so accustomed to Jasper's harsher ways. :)

Hello, Denny. Are you going to sit still, or shall I utilize Jasper's newest trinket?

Denny on a rare occasion when he wasn't smiling.
Jorge's must have been out of sausages.
(public domain photo by Lewis Hine)
No need to handcuff me with those wicked monsters. I agree to cooperate. But you'd best hurry. Mr. Rudin and Jasper will need me back at the factory soon. And I'm getting hungry.

Why don't you begin by telling us a little about yourself.
My name is Denny. I'm seventeen, and I'm currently the errand boy for Rudin Sugar Factory. Although I'm informally detective's assistant, it will become official here pretty soon.

Detective's assistant? That sounds pretty ambitious for a seventeen year old.  What qualifications do you have to be a detective's assistant, Mr...?
Denny. It's just Denny. And while I may be only seventeen, I'm plenty smart. I've been doing a lot of research into detective work and private investigation. Besides, I have skills that Detective Hollock lacks. Charm and charisma can go a long way. He needs me.

A lot of research? Such as?
Oh, you know, reading and observation and such. I've been honing my deducing skill for years now.

Ah, deducing. I'm sure Jasper will find your knowledge of Sherlock Holmes cases invaluable. Just how do you intend to help him?
It's just as I told him. I'm all around town. An incognito informant of sorts. I can keep tabs on things, gather information, and handle the people side for him. He's horrible at that.

Where do you see yourself in five years?
By then I should be a full blown detective and well known in Denver. When Jasper gets through teaching me the ropes, I'll talk him into going into a partnership. We'll expand, and I expect I'll own most of Denver by the time I'm forty. After that, I'll go into politics.

Well, I have to hand it to you, kid, you're ambitious.
That remark sounds like you don't believe me. But if readers will follow our story in Solve by Christmas, you can bet they'll be convinced by the end.

I'm sure. Thanks for joining us. I'd better let you get back to the factory. 
Thanks. I have to make a stop at Jorges’s sausage shop on the way too. But I'll be back to answer any reader questions. And perhaps make a few inquiries on of my own. *sly grin*

Readers, leave a question for Denny to get your name in the drawing for an ebook copy of Solve by Christmas! Winner will be announced in the October 9th edition of the Weekly Windup.

About the book:
When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

Find Solve by Christmas on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, or request it at your favorite bookseller. 

Monday, October 2, 2017

Weekly Windup: Still Time to Enter for Solve by Christmas!


Welcome to the Weekly Windup! We have a winner!


Winner of 12 days at Bleakly Manor by Michelle Griep is...Trisha Robertson!

   If you are a winner, please Contact Us to claim your prize.

 

There's still time to enter this Week's Giveaway:

Solve by Christmas (ebook) by Amber Schamel

When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?
Check it out on Amazon! or request it at your favorite bookseller.

 Comment on any post now through October 8th to get your name in the drawing! Winner will be announced in the October 9th issue of the Weekly Windup. Paperback giveaways are for U.S. residents only.

Coming up this week:

Tuesday, 10/3: Historical Tidbit
Wednesday, 10/4: National Cookie Month with Shirley Raye Redmond
Thursday, 10/5: ACFW New releases
Friday 10/6: Interview with Linda Weaver Clark
Saturday, 10/7: Interview with Fictional Character, Denny from Solve by Christmas with #giveaway