Blog Tour - Sherri Sand and Leave it to Chance

I had the privilege of "meeting" this author via email and through my husband after she visited David C. Cook one day a little over a month ago to see the office of the publisher for her book. As Cook rebuilds their fiction line once more, they are developing some new talent and unique stories through the books they're acquiring. Sherri's first book is one of them. And you'll learn about it today!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sherri Sand is a wife and mother of four young children who keep her scrambling to stay ahead of the spilled milk. When she needs stress relief from wearing all the hats required to clothe, feed and ferry her rambunctious brood, you'll find her sitting in a quiet corner of a bistro reading a book (and surrounded by chocolate). Then to elude that calorie consumption you might see her running on the trails throughout Eugene, a city considered to be the running capital of the world. Sherri is a member of The Writer's View and American Christian Fiction Writers. She finds the most joy in writing when the characters take on a life of their own and she becomes the recorder of their stories. She holds a degree in psychology from the University of Oregon where she graduated cum laude.

Sherri's blog: http://sherrisand.blogspot.com/

LEAVE IT TO CHANCE
by Sherri Sand
Published by David C. Cook

ABOUT THE BOOK

Single mom of three, Sierra Montgomery is desperate to find a new job to keep from having to move back home and be smothered to death by her mother's good intentions and overbearing love. So when Sierra inherits Chance, a quirky old gelding she doesn’t have a clue what to do with, she thinks her best bet may be to sell the horse to cover another month's rent—a decision that devastates her children.

Enter Ross Morgan, a handsome landscaper who just happens to have an empty barn and fenced pasture...perfect for an old horse to live out his days as the pet of three wounded kids. Ross develops a soft spot for eldest child Braden...and he just might have one for Braden's mother. But what he doesn't have is time for distractions—he's got a landscaping business to run.

But Sierra has a secret. She's terrified of horses and—thanks to her past—wary of attractive men. Yet seeing the way her angry son idolizes Ross and adores that old horse forces Sierra to confront her fears. Will she remain distrustful and self-reliant, or will she seek help from God and those who love her?

PERSONAL REVIEW

From the moment I saw the cover, I knew this was a book I would love to read. And I was right. At first glance, it appears that Chance is the man on the cover, when in fact it's the horse! The antics of Chance kept me laughing all the way through, and I suspect any woman reading this who loves horses will feel the same.

Sierra's plight with her three children will be one that grabs you from the start. You struggle along with her as she faces financial difficulties and decisions that might devastate her children. Then, Ross Morgan enters the picture with what appears to be the perfect solution. Trouble is, Sierra can't get over her past...or her fear of horses.

Sherri has established an engaging and heartwarming story with a writing style similar to that of bestselling author Karen Kingsbury or Deborah Raney. With perfect blend of humor and genuineness, this story will keep you turning the pages to the very end. Even then, you'll want to read more. Here's hoping for a book 2 to be out soon!

Buy your copy of Leave it to Chance today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I have four children of my own, and as a writer, I have such a vivid imagination. I can always come up with the most gut-wrenching conclusions to the most innocuous circumstances involving my kids. That makes it hard to let go and trust. But how much control do we actually have over every day life? I also love horses, and desperately wanted one as a child. So, I set out to write a story about children, a mischievous horse and trusting God.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What traits became theirs and theirs alone?

They came to me. When I saw Sierra, I knew she was a mom who deeply loved her kids and wanted the best for them. Elise was so fun to write with her over-the-top ways. When she drove up to Sierra's and pushed her ooga horn, I knew I was going to love her. And Sid is such a dear and reminds me so much of my father-in-law, Art. And Ross, how could you not love him?

3. What themes exist in Leave it to Chance that you hope the reader sees?

The theme of forgiveness played a significant role, though I didn’t consciously implement it into the novel. Just like most of us living in this fallen world, there have been a couple of significant events in my life that I had difficulty forgiving. I finally realized that if I waited until I felt like forgiving, it would never happen. And I desperately needed to forgive. The bitterness was choking the life out of me. So with God's help and through His grace I made the choice to forgive and forgive and forgive. I wish I could say that there was instant peace and joy. Though I think that can happen for people when they forgive, I'd lived in unforgiveness for so long that I had to continually make a choice to forgive until the freedom came. And when that freedom came, it was a wow moment for me!

Another theme is that of proving your worth. Our world is performance driven. How often do we praise others without attributing it to something they've done? Even with our children, we praise how well they unloaded the dishwasher or drew a picture or minded us. It's difficult to find the words to value people for who they are, apart from anything they do. For most of my life, performance colored my relationship with God. I could not wrap my mind around the concept that He loved me despite less than perfect behaviors.

4. What was your most difficult part to write with this book?

The editing. I wrote and rewote and rewrote and then my agent sold it to David C. Cook who hired an amazing editor to reshape it. It was tough. Spent a lot of time sending up SOS prayers!

5. What is next in the writing line for you?

I've started a collaboration series that I'm really excited about. I met with my agent and another writer a couple weeks ago to brainstorm and do some character development. It's going to be a lot of fun to write.

* * * * *

Thanks, Sherri, for joining us and being in the spotlight.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Leave it to Chance.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

OTHER STOPS ON THE TOUR

Blog Tour Spot

Camy's Loft

Chatter Matters

A Christian Romance Writer's Journey

Cliffy's Mom’s Blog

Fictionary

Flying Changes
The Friendly Book Nook

Horse Book Reviews

I Don't Wanna Blog

In the Dailies

Leap of Faith

lighthouse Academy

A Little Bit of Sunshine

Margaret Daley

Ma Space

Musings on This, That & The Other Thing

Mystery, Suspense and God, Oh My!

Net's Notes

Novel Journey

Penning Prose

Portrait of a Writer...Interrupted

Reading 'N' Writing with Patricia

Real Women Scrap

Relevant Blog

Sharon Hinck

Sips 'n' Cups Cafeteria

Smells Horsey

Toni V. Lee

Writing by Faith

The Writing Road


* * * * *

Spotlight on Michelle Cox, John Perrodin and Simple Little Words

Today, I am veering just a smidgeon off-course from featuring a fiction book. However, as my tagline is "Touching Hearts; Inspiring Lives" I figured this book would fit right in line with that. It's all about how the simple little words you speak can touch a life in ways you never imagined.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Michelle Cox is a speaker, co-author (with John Perrodin) of Simple Little Words: What You Say Can Change a Life, and the author of Mothers Who Made a Difference. She writes frequently for various publications at Focus on the Family, has written greeting card text, and recently taped a part of a DVD small group curriculum on parenting and marriage for Focus on the Family. She and her husband, Paul, live near Asheville, North Carolina.

John Perrodin is Senior Editor for the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild. He has written three YA novels with Jerry in the Renegade Spirit series. For 12-plus years, he worked at Focus on the Family and served as Special Assistant to Dr. James C. Dobson. He and his wife, Sue, live in Colorado Springs.

SIMPLE LITTLE WORDS
by Michelle Cox & John Perrodin
Published by David C. Cook

ABOUT THE BOOK

Words can inspire, encourage, and convey love. They can poke and prod and compel to action. Or they can wound, discourage, and criticize. And what is said or not said in the most mundane moment can alter the course of a life...forever.

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. You've compiled a collection of stories from a wide variety of authors and known names in the industry for this book. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

JP: Michelle Cox and I have been friends for years. When I saw some stunning samples of her article writing I knew it would be great to work on a book project together. So we did some brainstorming and pitched and pitched and pitched. Simple Little Words was Michelle's brainchild and appropriately leads off with her sharing a touching personal story. I think both of us try to share encouragement whenever we can – and we were thrilled to have the chance to put some of the exciting results of those "simple little words" in this special compilation.

MC: A special moment from my childhood was the inspiration for Simple Little Words. As a child from a dysfunctional home situation, I had no self-esteem and no self-confidence. On a class field trip one day, a classmate’s mom said, "You have the most beautiful green eyes I've ever seen." To her they were ten simple little words, but to a child who needed to hear there was something of beauty about her, they were life changing. This book is a beautiful reminder that our words are powerful tools.

2. Tell us one thing about this book that might not be obvious from reading it, or something special from the time it took to put it together.

JP: This project helped me to realize how everything – even a book – must be placed completely in God's hand. From the cover selection to the order of chapters, I had to let go and trust. And that was as fun as it was hard. Ultimately, it was exciting to see things shaped differently than I expected and yet clearly along the lines God had in mind. Both Michelle and I experienced email problems and computer "issues" and learned that "in everything we must give thanks." Maybe that's part of the reason we were so pleased to turn over the creation of the website, http://www.simplelittlewords.com, to my teen son, Jace.

MC: John lives in Colorado and I live in North Carolina. I'm still amazed at how well our writing partnership works despite the distance. Writing with John is a joy and I know without a doubt that God put this team together. I think the thing that really surprised us as we worked on this book was that God’s vision for Simple Little Words was so much bigger than ours had been. We were awed by the heart-tugging stories He sent us. John and I split the submissions for editing so neither of us had read the entire manuscript from start to finish until several weeks before our deadline. When I read the complete book for the first time, the powerful stories God provided blew me away. I cry every time I read them.

3. What themes exist in Simple Little Words that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

JP: I hope the reader sees that our time on this spinning orb is short. We don't know how many more opportunities we'll have to look a loved one in the eye and say "I'm sorry." That's the beauty of Simple Little Words. We're not asking anyone to make fancy speeches or write eloquent tomes. All we're asking is that they take the time to speak life, hope, and love to those around them.

MC: I think one of the most important themes is that people need to say those simple little words to their loved ones while there's time. None of us has the guarantee of tomorrow. We all need to hear that we're special to someone or that we're loved. Children need to hear that they are of value to their parents—and they need to hear it often. I hope our readers will realize that the words they say today might be remembered for a lifetime.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

JP: The hardest part of the job was making sure we were staying true to the heart of the each storyteller. Especially with the "as told to" chapters we wanted to allow the voice of the person to come through loud and clear. My favorite part of the process was waiting to see what stories God would send our way. That was sheer delight – to see Him deliver us the words He wanted us to share.

MC: One of our challenges was that we had a rather tight deadline to compile Simple Little Words. The publisher originally wanted the book in six weeks—and we only had two stories! Our first thought was panic and then we prayed. Two days later, I called John and said, "If God sent us the contract, He will send us the stories." We were amazed at how the stories came to us.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

JP: I have two books coming out: Uncover Me and Surviving Me, the first two (of four) books in the Trio Plus series for teen girls. These Thomas Nelson releases will be available August 2008. Uncover Me and Surviving Me are co-authored with Susie Shellenberger, editor of Focus on the Family's Brio magazine.

MC: I just finished a 360-page cookbook as a gift to welcome my son's new bride to our family. John and I will begin working soon on a study guide/workbook about prayer for a large evangelistic ministry. We don't have a release date yet. We also have several projects under consideration at various publishing houses.

* * * * *

Thank you, Michelle and John, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Simple Little Words.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Spotlight on Terri Kraus and Renovation

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After eleven co-authored books with husband, Jim, Terri Kraus has added her award-winning interior designer’s eye to her world of fiction. Terri has worked as a professional designer for 25 years. She has also directed women’s ministries at her church for the past 6 years and has traveled extensively internationally. She makes her home in Wheaton, Illinois, USA, with her husband, son, Elliot, miniature schnauzer, Rufus, and Siberian cat, Petey.

Visit Terri Kraus at her website: http://www.terrikraus.com/.

RENOVATION
by Terri Kraus
Published by David C. Cook

ABOUT THE BOOK

Ethan Willis has made a career out of restoring old houses like the Carter Mansion, so he's an expert with doors and windows. Tragically widowed and left with a young son, he's done the best he could, but now that Chase has become a teenager, that best somehow isn't quite good enough.

For his part, Chase doesn't know what he'd do without baseball, his best friend Elliott and the secret hideaway even his dad doesn't know about. What he does know is that the reporter lady who suddenly started chatting with his dad can't be a good thing.

In a small town where everyone knows everything, does an outsider a young, cute, ambitious reporter-kind-of-outsider like Cameron Dane even have a prayer of getting to know the handsome but moody builder? Does it matter that they both hold secrets from their pasts? And can Chase ever be freed from the hidden guilt of his mother's death? Only time, and a special kind of patience, will tell.

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your first solo novel after writing for years with your husband, Jim. What gave you the inspiration for this story and how did you find the experience of launching out on your own?

Writing a novel set in the world of the restoration of old buildings has always been a dream of mine. The idea of renovation is in my family's blood. I'm an interior design professional. My brothers are rehabbers. My husband, Jim, and I have survived the renovation of three houses.

Many readers are probably, like me, HGTV fans that watch the many shows about fixing up old houses. You find yourself glued to the glimpses of contractors and owners engaged in the process. You live vicariously through the rehabbing, renovating, and restoring.

I've always been captivated by old buildings. Poring over books about art, architectural styles, and decoration from all over the world has always been one of my favorite pastimes. As I've traveled internationally and visited many of the places I've studied independently and in the course of my education in design, I've become even more passionate about restoration. I can talk forever about the importance or preserving buildings that are testaments to the creative impulse, the hours of painstaking effort, the motivation and dedication of artists, designers, craftsmen and artisans from previous eras. All were, no doubt, imperfect people—but people used as instruments in God's hands to create perfectly rendered works of art that endure and can stir our hearts so many, many years later.

For me, there's something quite magical about walking into an old place, with all its history, where so much life has been lived, where so many events and significant moments have taken place—the happy ones, the sad ones, and all the everyday moments and hours in between. Imagining who might have inhabited a house, how the family came together, the love they shared, their conversations, the tears and laughter, is irresistible to me. I find inspiration as I imagine how they celebrated and grieved, how they overcame adversity, how they survived tragedy, then moved on to enjoy life within the old walls once again.

Having my own series to write has been a bit scary at times, but a great experience nonetheless. Jim and I work wonderfully together, having very complementary skills, so it's different than I'm used to. He'll always be my best critique partner, so it’s been good to have his input. He's great with dialog, so that's very helpful.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the characters of Ethan, Chase and Cameron? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

Having worked as an interior designer for 25 years, I've been involved in a lot of restoration/renovation projects. I know well the upheaval, the despair of having no control, the agonizing over style decisions, the budget constraints, the disagreements between contractor and owner, and the emotional rollercoaster of unexpected problems and unanticipated gifts along the way. Together my clients and I have accepted big disappointments, celebrated tiny successes, and experienced the inexpressible elation at seeing what was once in ruins—old, broken, useless—become, with all its quirks, a beautiful, completely renewed, and usable place for people to share life again.

Looking back on all those projects, I can echo the sentiment in the opening line of Dickens’ A Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." As the owner of the Carter Mansion in the book, these are the struggles and triumphs CeCe experiences. As the builder/contractor, Ethan struggles with all of the problems and victories on the reverse end. CeCe is Italian, so I enjoyed giving her some of my own ethnic characteristics. Ethan and Cameron, the other two main characters, are a conglomeration of people I have worked with, and their journey back to God through all the pain and secret keeping caused by tragedies in their lives is their own entirely. Ethan's son Elliot does reflect some of the character traits of our son Elliot, and that was fun to weave into this book.

3. What themes exist in Renovation that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I love the metaphor of restoration, which is why I came up with the idea for the Project Restoration series—stories that would follow both the physical restoration of a building and emotional/spiritual restoration of a character.

After all, God is in the business of restoring lives—reclaiming, repairing, renewing what was broken and bringing beauty from ashes. I know, because I've seen his renovation firsthand. For many years, I've worked in women's ministries. I've seen many women—as well as the men and children they love—deal with scars from their past that shape their todays and tomorrows. They all long for restoration—to live joyfully and productively once again—but that also requires forgiveness. Forgiveness of others (whether they deserve it or not) and, perhaps most importantly, forgiveness of oneself in order to be healthy and available to God. Clinging to past hurts or "unfairness," hostility, anger, grudges, resentment, bitterness, or allowing abuse to alter your self-worth renders your life virtually useless.

Unforgiveness shapes your perception of yourself, your outlook on life, the kind of relationships you have, and keeps you in "stuck" mode. It leaves you in a dark, emotionally paralyzing, spiritually debilitating, physically draining state and causes so much unnecessary pain…even addiction.

Yet God himself stands and waits, extending the gift of restoration. The light of his love shines on all those dark places deep within us, exposing what needs his healing touch. This is the type of restoration I've become passionate about too. For when our souls are gloriously freed through God's renovation, we become whole, useful, and able to extend the forgiveness we have experienced to others. Then individuals, families, churches, and entire communities can be transformed!

Perhaps there are readers who have an event in their past they need to let go of. It is my hope and prayer that by reading the book some will experience the renovation that awaits them through saying yes to God’s invitation of heart restoration…and the life-transforming joy that will follow.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I think he most difficult were the heart-wrenching scenes, because it’s sometimes difficult to strike the right balance of conveying the emotion without becoming overly sentimental and "sappy." It's also difficult to know how to be sure to convey the theme without overdoing it. My favorite parts to write are, of course, all the design features of the renovation and the historical details of the house.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Book 2 of the Project Restoration Series comes out in October.

Single-mom Leslie Ruskin and her 5-year-old daughter, Ava, are starting over in a new town—Butler, Pennsylvania—where her ancestors once lived, after a devastating divorce turned their world upside-down. As Leslie tries to provide a stable life for little Ava, she struggles to manage her own anxiety. She buys a landmark building in the historic area of town, which she is strangely drawn to. As the new owner of the Midlands Building, with its architecturally stunning first floor, Leslie is in need of a master carpenter to renovate its neglected interior. Jack Kenyon seems to be the perfect man for the job. He's starting over, too, after leaving Franklin, Pennsylvania, where he worked for Ethan Willis on the restoration crew of the Carter Mansion. But Jack is struggling to master his own demons. Haunted by loneliness, his past failures, and the lost relationship with his own young daughter, Jack finds it difficult to maintain his sobriety. As the Midlands Building is transformed from the run-down former home of a locksmith shop, with its own secrets, into a vibrant café/bistro, the relationship between Leslie and Jack becomes the catalyst in their journey towards the renewal that their lives so desperately need…and unlocks the love they are destined to discover.

* * * * *

Thank you, Terri, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Renovation.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:" when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *