CFBA Blog Tour - Robin Jones Gunn and Sisterchicks Go Brit

You know, I'd always found the books in this series to be hilarious and full of winsome characters. But after meeting Robin face to face last year in Dallas, I know why. She just exudes personality. No wonder her characters are such a pure joy to read. I'm sure you'll enjoy them too.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Sisterchicks Go Brit
(Multnomah Publishers - May 20, 2008)
by Robin Jones Gunn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Robin grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawaii.

Robin's first novel was published in 1988, and she has continued to write between two to five books a year. Her 63 published books include 47 novels, all of which are still in print. Sales of her popular Christy Miller Series, Glenbrooke Series and Sisterchicks Series, including Sisterchicks in Gondolas and the new Katie Weldon Series including Peculiar Treasures, are all approaching four million copies sold, with translations in nine languages.

Robin's passion for storytelling and travel are evident in all her books, especially the Sisterchicks novels, and she has received thousands of letters from readers around the world who have come to know Christ through her writing. She sees this as her dream come true. Her novels are traveling to foreign lands and her characters are doing what she always longed to do; telling people about God's love.

She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for 30 years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown.

As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin's favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives.

Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins' Christian Writers' Guild.

SISTERCHICKS GO BRIT
by Robin Jones Gunn
Published by Multnomah Publishers

ABOUT THE BOOK

SISTERCHICK® n: a friend who shares the deepest wonders of your heart, loves you like a sister, and provides a reality check when you’re being a brat.

Two midlife mamas hop over to jolly ole England and encounter so much more than the usual tourist stops. Liz does have a bit of a childhood crush on Big Ben, and she has hoped to "meet" him ever since her fifteenth birthday. Kellie dreams of starting an interior design business and figures Liz needs to be a part of that equation–a calculation that hasn’t added up for Liz yet.

Nothing on the excursion goes the way these two friends had envisioned. They start with a village pancake race and end up being held for questioning on The Underground. Kellie and Liz take a wild tour through the land of C. S. Lewis and J. R. R. Tolkien and then find themselves swept up, up, and away in a hot air balloon over the Cotswalds. London beckons with the Tower of London, Windsor Castle, shopping at Portabella Road in Knotting Hill, and of course, reservations at the Ritz for a posh high tea.

A few detours along the way and the possibility of being lost in a London fog of wonderment aren't enough to stop these two Sisterchicks! Each step of their regal journey is lined with evidence of God's gracious compassion, and both come to realize that God knows their every wish. He is the One who planted every dream in their hearts.

And, oh, what a surprise awaits them when they return home!

If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE.

"Robin has done it again! You and your Sisterchicks will love taking this new adventure together!"
- Karen Kingsbury, New York Times best-selling author

"My only complaint about Robin's latest is that now I want to hop a plane to England! But combine a cup of Earl Grey tea and this charming story and you're halfway there. Another delightful tale about women helping women to live their lives to the fullest."
- Melody Carlson, author of A Mile in My Flip-Flops

Order your copy today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

As with all the Sisterchicks® novels I wanted to tell a story of friendship between two women and show what happens when they get out of their comfort zone. They see God as much bigger than they ever thought and they open up their hearts to each other and to the Lord.

Of course, I had to go to England and do the necessary all-important research. My editor, Julee, came with me and we had a fantastic time. The first few days we stayed with another good friend of mine, Marion, who lives in England. She showed us the sights Sisterchicks style!

We also met with a group of British Sisterchicks readers who called themselves the Blessed Chicks. We had a silly, frilly tea party at a very old hotel in Bedford and ended our time together in prayer. It was such a treat! Sisterchicks are the same around the world.

To give readers a sneak peek at the story behind the story, I've added a scrapbook/travel journal entry at the back of Sisterchicks Go Brit!. You'll find a photo of a special group of women who call themselves the Blessed Chicks. It was one of our sillier moments.

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

Interesting question. I think every story I tell has a distinctive overlapping of true life experiences and feelings mixed with the imaginary and embellished adventures. Our real life tour of Oxford and all things Tolkien and Lewis was an especially memorable day. The account of Oxford that appears in the novel needed very little embellishing over our real life experience. It was crazy!

Oh, and I do have a bit of a crush on Big Ben like Kellie did. Watching his handsome face light up for me on a summer evening was definitely an experience from my life that influenced Kellie.

As far as traits that were Liz and Kellie's alone I think one of the traits was Liz's interest in decorating. Liz is like my sister in that way. My sister is an artist when it comes to putting together a beautiful room or combining colors. I'm learning more and more how to do that but I don't think it comes naturally for me as it did for Liz or as it does for my sister.

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

You know what’s funny about this? So often I'll set out with a key thought or theme and think it's being woven through the story as I write. Then I get a letter from a reader telling me that God showed them this and that and whatever else while they were reading and I am amazed. I know I didn't have that thought in mind as I wrote but clearly God's Spirit used whatever was there to touch them in a tender place in their heart. And that's what really matters to me in the end.

The verse I selected for Sisterchicks Go Brit! is from Joshua 23:14 in the paraphrased version of The Message. "Deep in your hearts you know that every promise of the LORD your God has come true. Not a single one has failed!" That says it all as far as what I had in mind as a theme that developed as the story progressed. I wanted Liz and Kellie to look over their lives this far and see how faithful and trustworthy the Lord had been to them. They had every reason to trust Him for whatever was next in His mysterious plan for them.

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

I don't remember a part that was particularly difficult to write but the whole book was difficult in one way and effortless in another. Let me explain. The effortless part of the story was that I had the privilege of going to England and gathering ideas and information that I came home and pieced together for the tale. That part was fun and super energizing and rewarding. The difficult part was that this story turned out to be written in two separate chunks of life. I got about half way through and then due to schedule changes and publishing adjustments, I had to put this book aside and go on to work on another project. When I came back to Sisterchicks Go Brit! I felt like it took me awhile to get back into the locale. So much time had passed. It was much easier when I was writing immediately after the trip to England. As I was putting my attention to the second half of the book it took awhile to start to "hear" the characters talking to me again.

I remember getting up on morning and as I was brushing my teeth I could "see" the two friends having tea at the Ritz. I could hear what they were saying to each other in my imagination. That's a happy moment for a writer – when you're allowed back in to the story after fragmenting your imagination for a stretch. In the end, I think it was over two and a half years from when Julee and I went to London and when they book finally released. With the first six Sisterchicks books it had been a shorter stretch between the research, the writing and the release, which makes the stories feel fresher. At least it seemed that way with the fifth Sisterchicks novel, Sisterchicks in Gondolas!. I wrote the whole book fairly quickly right after returning from Venice. The experience and location was fresh and on the tip of my imagination. That book won a Christy award.

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

My next book to be released is On a Whim, book #2 in the Katie Weldon series. These stories have a special little corner in my heart because I always wanted to find out what happened with Christy Miller, Todd, Sierra and the especially Rick. These are all characters from the teen series I've written for the past 20 years. Katie definitely has her own voice. It's so fun to write about her. After that the next Christmas novella comes out: Engaging Father Christmas.

Then next spring we should be seeing the next Sisterchicks novel -- #8. It's Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes! I recently finished writing that one so the two Sisterchicks, Summer and Noelle, are still near and dear. I was thinking about them yesterday when I saw a tulip on a postage stamp and thought about their visit to the tulip fields in Holland. I know these characters aren't real but sometimes they sure seem like it. Especially after I've spent so much time writing their story and then all of a sudden the story is over. It's like I can still see them and find myself imagining what they're doing now. I guess that's why I've written so many sequels!

* * *

I really appreciate your hospitality, Tiff. Thanks for inviting me to your blog. I'd like to return the favor by inviting all your readers to come visit www.robingunn.com. I'm celebrating 23 years in Christian publishing this month and am holding a drawing on August 1st. All your readers need to do is come by my website at www.robingunn.com and sign up to receive the Robin's Nest e-Newsletter. Everyone who signs up during July will be entered in a drawing to win an autographed copy of one of my books. Winners will be notified by August 1st via email. We'll be drawing 23 winners so come on over and sign up!

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Sisterchicks Go Brit.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. 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 anyone worldwide.

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Blog Tour - Allison Pittman and With Endless Sight

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allison Pittman is the award-winning author of Ten Thousand Charms and Speak Through the Wind. Before her recent success in fiction writing, Allison spent seventeen years teaching high school English. Now a full-time writer, Allison serves as the director of her church's Theater Arts Group ministry. She lives in Texas with her husband, Mike, and their sons.

WITH ENDLESS SIGHT
by Allison Pittman
Published by Multnomah Books

ABOUT THE BOOK

Belleville, Illinois and Wyoming Territories, 1861

Born into a life of privilege, fourteen-year-old Belinda never questions her security, even as she leaves Illinois with her family to discover new adventures in the Oregon Territory. But when disaster falls, Belinda is left wounded, weak, and alone. Her faith in God gives her the only strength she knows in a harsh new world.

Belinda's journey takes her to a snow-covered mining camp and a red-roofed brothel in the Wyoming mountains, but not before she must spend a lonely winter with the man who took away the life she knew. Throughout the grief and hope of a strange land, Belinda must decide if her faith is big enough to allow her to forgive.

The satisfying conclusion to the Crossroads of Grace series, With Endless Sight offers a rich story of family, new beginnings, and the freedom that grace can bring.

Buy your copy of With Endless Sight today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Well, Belinda (Biddy) first appears in Ten Thousand Charms, and at the time all I really knew about her was that she was a young girl who had gone through a traumatizing experience. I knew she was hiding something, but I hadn't decided exactly what. The next year, as I was writing Speak Through the Wind, I fleshed her out a little more, giving her a strong spiritual core and a background of privilege. But the inspiration for this actual story is my family. I mean, trade a green station wagon for a stage coach, and those first few chapters are every childhood road trip I remember (minus the tragic twist, of course...). Also, during the time I was working on the series, I lost my brother, and I really wanted that brother/sister relationship to play a big role in the story. It's there with Belinda's actual brother, Chester, but also with the character Laurent. That's the kind of arm's length love that doesn't get a lot of attention in novels.

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

I wouldn't say I have many experiences that influence my characters, but they are definitely products of my perceptions and insecurities. In each of my main characters—Gloria, Kassandra and Belinda—the trait that is theirs alone can be summed up in one word: strength. Gloria (Charms) is such a fighter—I mean, it's covering up a mass of insecurity, but she's so tough on the outside. I can never pull that off. If I'm feeling weak or wounded, you know it. Kassandra (Wind) is scrappy too. Just continuing to get up time and time again. Me? Knock me down and I'm going to wallow for a while. And Belinda (Sight) possesses the faith I wish I had.

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

The idea of betrayal and forgiveness play an important role in the story. I would hope the readers see forgiveness as a cornerstone to strength and healing—whether or not that forgiveness is warranted.

And I love the follow-up question here, because while I did set out to write a story that showcased forgiveness, there is another idea that developed on its own. I don't think I was really aware of it until I was actually writing those final chapters, and that's the idea that, eventually, we all need to take responsibility for ourselves and be comfortable with and confident of the woman who's standing in our shoes. Belinda is a child of privilege, the youngest of a doting family, she has a spiritual big brother and a bevy of caring women, but there's this wonderful moment in the story when she is absolutely alone. And fine. I think about that now—and it's literally just a few lines—but now I'm wondering if those few lines aren't my favorite part! I just love and admire her so much in that moment.

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

I think my fellow writers will really identify with this...You know how when you write a book, then finish it, then revise, then revise again, then go through line edits, then copy edits...and then finally you see it in its final book-shelf form, and you just wish you could change one (or, a dozen!) more things? Well, because the stories in this series intersect, I get to revisit the characters and very scenes from those previous books, and I wanted to tweak things, but I couldn't, because of questions of continuity. Every now and then I'd look at something in the Silver Peak chapters and have to remind myself—hey! This is Belinda's story, remember?

My favorite scenes in the book are those with Belinda and Laurent in their winter in the cabin. First of all, it was a challenge to find some way to write about two people sittin' for months on end. Second, I just love Laurent, because I think he's a really unique character in the genre. An unexpected innocent. His feelings for Belinda are so pure and unselfish. He stole my heart!

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

My next book (coming out August 19) is actually a work of non fiction. It's called Saturdays with Stella, and it tells the story of the spiritual lessons I learned when I took my dog Stella through a six-week obedience course. Let's just say we both got a crash course in recognizing our Master! Readers can get a preview by signing up for my newsletter at my website (www.allisonpittman.com) as each month has a Dog Daze Devotional.

My next novel will come out next summer. It's quite a break from the Crossroads series—it's a turn-of-the-century tale of the healing powers of God, grace...and baseball!

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of With Endless Sight.

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 there is a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. 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.

* * * * *

Blog Tour - Gayle Roper and Fatal Deduction

Gayle is one of my author friends from back East, and a fantastic writer. I'll never forget the day she brought her RITA award to our monthly meeting so we all could see it and hold it and dream that one day WE might be the one with a RITA of our own. :)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gayle Roper has been writing mystery and romantic suspense novels for more than thirty years and is the author of over forty-five books. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist, the winner of three Holt Medallions, and the recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from Romantic Times magazine. Her novel Autumn Dreams won Romance Writers of America's RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance. She and her husband, Chuck, divide their time between Pennsylvania and Ontario, Canada.

FATAL DEDUCTION
by Gayle Roper
Published by Waterbrook Press/Multnomah Publishers

ABOUT THE BOOK

Libby Burton longs to be close to her twin sister, Tori, but their lives have taken them in different directions. Forced to share Aunt Stella's old Philadelphia home in order to receive their inheritance, Libby hopes for a change, but it isn't looking good so far.

First, Tori tries to steal the affection and allegiance of Libby's thirteen-year-old daughter, Chloe. Then when a crossword puzzle with a hidden warning shows up on their doorstep, Tori refuses to take it seriously—in spite of the dead man who delivers it.

Libby finds comfort in neighbor Drew Canfield, but he hesitates to trust her after his disastrous marriage. As Libby struggles to act faithfully in the midst of these confusing relationships, she must also deal with a stolen diamond and a botched kidnapping. The answer to her problems lies in the riddles of the crosswords, if only she can solve the puzzle before it's too late.

Buy your copy of Fatal Deduction today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Where a story comes from is always a difficult question to answer. Usually several things come together to form a whole, and I never remember the order the thoughts appear or the reason they appeared. They just do.

I know that for Fatal Deduction my editor asked for an urban setting, so I picked Philadelphia. I've always lived near that city though never in it. It was the only city I'd feel comfortable tackling. One day when my husband Chuck and I went into Philly to see Les Miserables, we were early and walked around a bit. We stumbled on this wonderful Colonial era lane some distance from the historical district. Bingo. I had my setting. To get around my lack of living-in-the-city knowledge, I had my characters come from outside. Libby and her twin Tori are forced to live in one of the Colonial row houses to inherit their aunt's estate, and Drew, a Ben Franklin scholar, is on a house exchange so he can research in Ben's city for a time.

I'm not sure when the crossword puzzle device came to me. I've always done crosswords and enjoyed them. Using them to have the threats delivered was fun. I found an online site where you could build your own puzzles. I made up ones that included all the crucial words with the clue letters in the right order. The readers can either solve them for themselves or let the characters do it for them. Answer keys are at the back of the book.

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

Most of the characters' experiences are strictly the product of my fevered imagination. I've never found a body on my doorstep. I've never sold anything on ebay. I've never discovered a cache of stolen jewels. I've never been pregnant ever, let alone at sixteen. But I have lived in a family that loves me even though they don't understand my commitment to the Lord. Where Libby's family is cold toward her, mine has always been kind and loving, but they do think I'm extreme in the area of faith.

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

I guess the theme is family. Sometimes, like Libby (and me), you can reach détente, loving and respecting in spite of differences. Sometimes, like Drew, the others involved won’t allow any meaningful relationship, however tenuous.

My feeling is that most of us with unbelieving families live in situations more like Libby, where you aren't actually rejected, just perhaps misunderstood because of your faith. I wanted readers to see that, like Libby, you can stand firm for Jesus but accept those related to you as they are. They may be angered by your different way of thinking and living, seeing it as a criticism of them, but if you love back, not preach at, most times you can do well together in spite of the differences.

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

For me the most difficult parts to write are always the spiritual arcs, the spiritual conversations. I want those segments to be strong, but in fiction you can't write things we might say, like "Praise the Lord"”, and have it sound normal. You also can't have lengthy paragraphs on God-topics or the reader will skip over them. That means that the characters have to be able to state their spiritual case concisely without losing its meat and without sounding trite. A challenge!

I have several favourite parts of writing Fatal Deduction. I liked developing Chloe and Jenna, the teenagers. A thirteen year old mindset is something unique. I loved writing Drew and his penchant for Ben Franklin quotes and his frustration over what to do about Ruthie. I thoroughly enjoyed turning the readers' perception of aged patrician Tinksie Mowrey on its ear during the climactic chase. And I loved writing Libby in first person so she could think things like Bling and bland. That was the Keating twins, she, of course seeing herself as the bland one.

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

My next book will be Hide and Seek from Focus on the Family, due out next spring. It's the first in a series about a family of four adult siblings, each having his/her own book. The series is called Legacy: every family leaves one, good or bad. Hide and Seek is about Gabe, the older brother, the local police chief, and football coach, and Ellie, a woman in hiding to protect her son who plays on Gabe's team. He senses her secrets, and she wants to keep them at all costs. His background is a legacy we'd all be happy to have; Ellie's is one of pain and dysfunction.

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Fatal Deduction.

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 Marlo Schalesky and Beyond the Night

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Marlo Schalesky is the award-winning author of six books, including her latest novel BEYOND THE NIGHT, which combines a love story with a surprise ending twist to create a new type of story. She has also had over 600 articles published in various magazines, had her work included in compilations such as Dr. Dobson's Night Light Devotional for Couples, and is a regular columnist for Power for Living. Marlo recently earned her Masters degree in Theology from Fuller Theological Seminary and is currently working on more "Love Stories with a Twist!" for Multnomah-Waterbrook Publishers, a division of Random House. She owns her own construction consulting firm and lives in Salinas, California with her husband and four young daughters.

BEYOND THE NIGHT
by Marlo Schalesky
Published by Random House/Waterbrook/Multnomah

ABOUT THE BOOK

They say love is blind.

This time, they're right.

A poignant love story...

A shocking twist...

Come, experience a love that will not die.

A Nicolas Sparks (The Notebook) type love story meets a M. Night Shymalan (The Sixth Sense) twist in this moving story of two people trying to find love in the dark. A woman going blind, a man who loves her but can't tell her so, a car crash, a hospital room, and an ending that has to be experienced to be believed.

Buy Your Copy Today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for your story in this anthology?

It was all God's fault. And it started with a dream. Not one of those "I have a dream" kind of dreams, but a real, honest-to-goodness, it's-3am-and-I'm-asleep kind of dreams. I dreamt Paul and Maddie's love story. And when I woke up, I couldn't get the two of them out of my head. I thought about them in the shower, on the way to seminary classes, in the grocery store. Everywhere! For weeks, I found myself replaying tidbits of their story in my mind, until I finally figured out that maybe God wanted me to write their story.

Two more days went by, and Paul and Maddie's story still kept teasing my mind. And then I saw it – the big twist. The incredible truth that I had no idea about before. It took my breath away. So, after I finished picking my jaw up off the floor, I sat down and starting working on the proposal for Beyond the Night.

As I fleshed out the story, I realized that this is exactly the type of book I'd like to keep writing – something with the poignancy of a Nicolas Sparks love story matched with the knock-your-socks-off twist of a M. Night Shymalan movie (without the horror). That kind of story excited me, spiritually, emotionally, mentally. And I figured that there had to be more people like me out there – people who want to be both moved emotionally and surprised and delighted intellectually. People who want to be changed, challenged, and caught with wonder by a story. And that's what I'm hoping Beyond the Night provides.

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

When my grandfather was going blind, he took a shotgun to the backyard and ended his life. So, Maddie's journey through blindness and fear grows out of my family's experiences. Maddie's condition is also a metaphor for the dark times we all face. For the difficulties that come and rattle our faith, for those times when we can't see what's ahead, when life is masked by shadow and doubt.

For Maddie, losing her physical sight prompted her journey through doubt and fear. For me, it was infertility and miscarriage. If there's one thing I know about it's living the life God has given you when it's not the life you dreamed. Infertility taught me how to do that. It taught me that life takes unexpected turns and dark, difficult times come. And it taught me that it's not the darkness that will destroy you, but the fear of it.

So, in many ways this book explores my own questions, my own doubts, my own faith journey in facing the darkness, facing fear, with hope and dignity. That's why it's is about overcoming the fear of the unknown, rather than letting it overcome you. It's about finding the light, the hope, the promise that lies beyond the darkness. And I think we could all use that, whether we're going physically blind or not.

As for what traits belong to only my characters, well, their quirky fun personalities, their humorous interactions with one another – those things are only theirs, they came complete with the characters I dreamed about – funny half-smile and all.

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

Funny thing is that when I first proposed this book, I thought it would be about the enduring qualities of real love. And that is part of it. But as I started to write, I soon discovered the story was really about overcoming fear – fear of the unknown, fear of death, fear of getting hurt, fear of letting go – the kinds of fear that regular, not-particularly-fearful people still have to face in their everyday lives.

But the interesting thing was that as the story progressed, I began to see that overcoming fear isn't really about "getting up the courage'or trying to be brave. Not at all! What truly defeats fear is a glimpse of the breathtaking wonder of a vivid God. It's about the awe of knowing that "no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has risen to understand what God has prepared for those who love Him." (my translation from the Greek of 1 Corinthians 2:9).

Just as light drives out darkness, so fear is driven out by hope, and hope is found in God's amazing love.

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

The first few chapters are always the most difficult for me to write. This book was no exception. In those first chapters, I haven't gotten into the groove yet, and I usually feel like I'm still finding my way. In contrast, the last few chapters are always the easiest.

But for this book, my favorite parts were those in which Paul and Maddie "bantered" back and forth. Those two were just so much fun! They joked, they teased, they saw into each other's hearts. And really, all I had to do was sit back and listen...then transcribe what I heard. They did all the work! So, I had a good time with those scenes, and I hope readers will enjoy them as much as I did.

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

If Tomorrow Never Comes releases in March 2009 (whoo hoo!) and here's a bit about it:

They say you should reach for your dreams.

This time, they're wrong...

Childhood sweethearts Kinna and Jimmy Henley had simple dreams—marriage, children, a house by the sea...everything they needed for happily ever after. What they didn't plan on was years of infertility, stealing those dreams, crushing their hopes.

Now, all that's left is the memory of young love, and the desperate need for a child to erase the pain. Until...

Kinna rescues an elderly woman from the sea, and the threads of the past, present, and future weave together to reveal the wonder of one final hope. One final chance to follow not their dreams, but God's.

Can they embrace the redemptive power of love before it's too late? Or will their love be washed away like the castles they once built upon the sand? The past whispers to the present. And the future shivers. What if tomorrow never comes?

* * * * *

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Beyond the Night.

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.

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Blog Tour - Rene Gutteridge and Skid

I didn't get the chance to send out an interview to Rene, but the skilled copywriting below for the back cover of the book says it all. This book is an adventure of comedic proportions that you're sure to love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Rene Gutteridge is the author of twelve novels, including the Boo series, the Storm series, and the novelization for The Ultimate Gift, as well as Scoop and Snitch, the first two Occupational Hazard novels. She lives with her husband, Sean, and their two children in Oklahoma City.

SKID
by Rene Gutteridge
Published by Multnomah Books

ABOUT THE BOOK

Blissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.

On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of "What Would Oprah Do?" will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests–prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline–test the limits of the crew's customer service.

But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank's odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.

Buy your copy of Skid today!

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

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.

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CFBA Blog Tour - Amy Wallace and Healing Promises

Today, I'm re-running a blog spotlight from April because this week it's part of her week-long blog tour with Multnomah AND CFBA's blog tour. This gives you *TWO* more chances to win a copy of her book. Be sure and leave a comment to enter.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Healing Promises
(Multnomah Publishers - April 15, 2008)
by Amy Wallace

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams and Healing Promises, a wife, homeschool mom of three, speaker, Bible study leader, and avid chocoholic. She loves crafting high-action suspense that delves deep into heart issues, but who she really is can be summed up in a few short words: Amy is a daughter of the King learning to live and love with laughter. Please visit her at http://www.amywallace.com/. Sign up for her Dark Chocolate Suspense Newsletter and stay up to date on all of Amy's latest news.

And don't forget to visit the Defenders of Hope web site for more information about these books and the themes of inspiration behind them.

HEALING PROMISES
by Amy Wallace
Published by Multnomah Books

ABOUT THE BOOK

Chained To Yesterday
When tragedy struck and Gracie Lang lost everything, her faith crumbled, and nothing but the drive for justice propelled her forward. But after two years of dead-end searching, the truth Gracie seeks is the very thing her stalker will stop at nothing to hide.

Forgiveness Unlocks the Future
An FBI agent in the Crimes Against Children Unit, Steven Kessler spends his days rescuing other people’s children and nights caring for his son. He’s through with God, embittered by his ex-wife who abandoned them both, and definitely doesn’t expect what’s coming next.

The Past Is the Key
A plot to kidnap a British ambassador’s daughter dangerously intersects Steven and Gracie’s worlds–a collision that demands a decision. But are they willing to pay the high ransom required to redeem dreams and reignite hope?

Read the first chapter here.

Buy your copy of Healing Promises today!

Ransomed Dreams is the first book in this Defenders of Hope series. It's important to read this prior to reading Healing Promises. Healing Promises won't lose you as it can stand alone, but there are some spoilers in the first chapter and Amy would hate to ruin Ransomed Dreams for you if you haven't read it first.

Facing a new threat.
When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.

Frozen in fear.
Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission–beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but in this case, the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?

Faith under fire.
As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

Read the first chapter here.

Buy your copy of Healing Promises today!


AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. Healing Promises is book 2 in your Defenders of Hope series. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

One of the major storylines for Healing Promises came from a question I posed to the federal agent I interviewed before writing Ransomed Dreams. I had the seed of an idea about FBI Agent Clint Rollins's emotion journey, so I asked, "What would a federal agent do if he was diagnosed with a life-threatening illness?" My expert advisor said that many agents would end the battle fast. I knew then I wanted to explore how a Christian federal agent would handle a life-altering medical diagnosis.

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

I didn't realize until writing the end of Healing Promises how much of my recent journey through intense physical pain from a shoulder injury and my faith struggles were woven into the characters and their experiences. All I was aware of doing was pouring my soul into the pages. My writing mentor calls this "bleeding into your work." The process is painful, and yet it's one of the best ways to bring stories to life.

But the characters in Healing Promises are far less me and more composites of real-life heroes and heroines who've faced life-threatening illnesses and held onto Jesus. At the same time, Clint, Michael and Steven along with Sara, Hanna and Gracie have their own unique quirks and ways of approaching life. The result of taking different personality elements and blending them in various ways provides one of the most fun parts of writing.

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

My prayer is that readers will experience a deeper sense of the goodness and trustworthiness of God, even when life doesn’t go according to plan. I also hope readers will see that at the end of ourselves only one truth remains—God is good. What we do with that fact changes everything.

The theme of weaknesses and how we deal with them grew as I dug into the story and got to know the characters better.

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

The hardest parts to write were the scenes in the killer's POV. But I longed to write them well so parents could see some of the "tricks of the trade" kidnappers use and be a little more informed about keeping their children safe.

The best parts to write were at the end, so I can't really elaborate on them. :) But there are two scenes that still make me cry—even after editing them over and over and over again. I can say that I loved writing the depth of relationship that exists between various characters: Clint and Sara, Steven and his sister, Hanna, and the friendship between Clint and Steven and Lee and Michael. Writing those character's interactions were usually a great deal of fun.

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

Enduring Justice, the third book in the Defenders of Hope series, releases in spring of 2009. This is Michael and Hanna's story and focuses on a painful secret and a racially motivated killer. When circumstances simplify the options to fight or fear, Michael and Hanna learn that the difference between executing vengeance and pursuing justice is their choice to heal.

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

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win one of TWO FREE copies of Healing Promises.

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.

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