Submissions are now open for Clash of the Titles’ annual Laurel Award contest!

What makes us different? In our contest, entries are read and scored not by industry gatekeepers but by READERS.

Open to any genre of Christian fiction published in 2012, the Laurel has limited slots available and a submission window ending July 19th.

Great prizes and a low entry fee of $10 make entering the Laurel a snap. Don’t miss out on this opportunity!
 

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline “Don’t forget to b r e a t h e . . .“®  Brandilyn’s first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. Brandilyn’s awards for her novels include the ACFW Carol Award (three times), Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice. When she’s not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers’ conferences. She and her family divide their time between homes in the California Bay Area and northern Idaho.

Brandilyn has offered a digital copy of her new book, That Dog Won’t Hunt, to three fortunate winners! If you tweet or FB-post about the book—and include the photo of the book cover and the link to buy—she’ll put your name into the hat a second time! We need at least ten people to form a contest so make sure to leave a comment with your email address and tell your friends about this interview.

Now, let’s hear from Brandilyn!

Thank you for joining us today. Tell us about your journey to getting published, and the recent big change in your career.

Oh, I could fill a blog post or two about my ten-year journey toward publication in fiction. In fact, I filled over 60 blog posts with the story—posts written with cliffhangers and suspense, of course. You can read the posts on my old blog, Forensics and Faith (not blogging there anymore but posts are still up). The amazing, gut-wrenching, teeth-clenching, desperate, God-directed, ultimately victorious journey starts here.

As for the big change in my career, I’ve recently decided to go completely into self publishing. Which means turning down contracts from traditional houses who’d like to sign me. In today’s brave new world of publishing, an author has the opportunity to go out on her own. It’s not for everyone. And I’m doing it only after seeing over 25 books traditionally published. But if I’m going to try it, this is the time. So … I’m off!  (Right: Brandilyn’s office)

What is the bravest thing you have ever done outside of stepping into self-publishing?

Gone parasailing. (I’m afraid of heights). It was great!

I would love to go parasailing one day. Now tell us about this first self-published book of yours.

Believe it or not, I’ve written a book in which I don’t kill anybody. Yup, I’ve stepped away from my trademarked Seatbelt Suspense® to write a contemporary Southern series featuring the Dearing Family. (This is my first self-published title.) Here’s the back cover copy from the first book in the series, That Dog Won’t Hunt:

Meet the Dearings, a crazy, loving, boisterous family in small-town Mississippi. There’s mom and dad, three daughters and their families, and the youngest—twenty-five-year-old Ben. Oh, and the family dog, a Yorkie who thinks she’s royalty.

“This one’s perfect,” Ben says about his new fiancée, Christina, when he brings her home for a family reunion. Ben is just sure everyone will love Christina, and she’ll fit right in.

He always did tend to wear rose-colored glasses.

Christina loves Ben but secretly fears their relationship will never work. They’ve only known each other ten weeks. She hasn’t told him about her horrific past as an only child—the beatings, the neglect, and verbal abuse. Christina doesn’t know how to trust or be honest about her feelings. Being thrust into the middle of a tight-knit family like the Dearings is sure to send her over the edge.

With poignancy and humor, That Dog Won’t Hunt explores the complexities of relationships and the inner strength needed to overcome a difficult childhood. The Dearings are no perfect family, but they know how to love—if only Christina will accept it.

Now this book sounds quite interesting! What inspired you to write it?

I had the idea to write the series years ago for Zondervan, back when I was writing both contemporary and suspense novels. In fact, the series was contracted. Then Zondervan flew a bunch of people across the country to meet with me in my home for a day and basically convince me to write suspense full-time. The Dearing Family got shelved. Now I’ve taken it back out—and am self-publishing it. I’m still writing my Seatbelt Suspense®, but in between I’ll write books in the Dearing Family series. 

Where do you get ideas for your books?

Life! The world is full of craziness and wonderfulness and all-around Story idea-ness. You just have to keep your eyes open. Watch people. Eavesdrop on conversations. Read the news. Ask yourself “What if” a lot. Be curious. And a little strange. Okay, a lot strange. Novelists are not normal people. (Left: Brandilyn’s inspiration outside her window.)

Yay! You are a people watcher, too! Is there a scene in That Dog Won’t Hunt that came from a real-life happening?

Yup. And they’re doozies. Let’s see, there’s the lobster fiasco… and the howling dog … and the potties …  And more. At the back of That Dog Won’t Hunt I list what’s true (from my own life) and what’s fictional about the Dearing family. It’s quite the blend.

Is there a theme running through That Dog Won’t Hunt?

The novella is humorous. But humor isn’t enough for me. I like to tackle some issue in each of my books. As the back cover copy connotes, That Dog Won’t Hunt looks at how an abusive childhood can ruin adult relationships—and what must be done to overcome that syndrome.

I cherish a letter from one reader who’d grown up in an abusive household and completely related to Christina. She couldn’t believe how well the story pegged the emotions of someone coming from abuse to a large, loving family. And she believes the book can help people in that situation.

That is amazing! What a gift you have. What are you working on right now?

Pitchin’ a Fit, book two in the Dearing Family Series. It will release in November. Meanwhile my next Seatbelt Suspense®, Dark Justice, will release October first.

Do you have a favorite scripture? If so, why is it your favorite?

I live by Psalm 138 and pray it by memory every day. Psalm 138:8 is my life verse: “The Lord will accomplish what concerns me.” (Left: Brandilyn’s inviting great room)

Such a beautiful verse!  What is your number one spiritual gift?

In 2003 God miraculously healed me from Lyme disease. (The full story is on my web site.) A few months later, out of the blue, He bestowed upon me the gift of … I’m not even quite sure what to call it. Perhaps healing prayer mixed with a word of knowledge. It’s as if God said, “Okay, I gave you healing, now I want you to help me heal others.” (Which is amazing, because He hardly needs me to help him do that!) When people come to me for prayer, God impresses upon me certain places on their body to lay my hands and ask for healing. The healing is not necessarily immediate, but I hear back later what God has done. Many times the healing is physical. Sometimes it’s spiritual and emotional. Sometimes all three. All I have to do is listen and follow God’s instructions, and in turn I get to hang around and watch Him work in people’s lives. Pretty amazing.

You have chosen to be God’s vessel. I love it! Where can readers find you or your books on the internet?

You can read about all my books, including their first chapters on my web site. You can read the first two chapters of That Dog Won’t Hunt. And from that page are links to buy the book. (It’s $2.99/ebook and $9.69/paper.)

I keep in touch with readers daily through my Facebook page. If you’d like to be receive an email whenever I have a new release, you can sign up for Sneak Pique here.

Thanks so much for joining us today and for sharing about your writing and your spiritual walk.

Now everyone, don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of the book.

Crockett Archer, the preacher, is minding his business on his way to an interview with a church in another town when his life is turned upside down by his kidnapping.

Joanna Robbins, daughter of the robber, can’t believe her eyes when she sees what her daddy has done. In classic Karen style, lives are shaken up and changed in this book. She knows how to write believable characters and great settings that are real. She writes of love and faith, hardships and pain, and makes you smile all the way until the end. You’ve got to read this book!  

I recently interviewed Karen here on my blog. Although the giveaway she offered is no longer available, it’s still a great interview to read.

I received Stealing the Preacher from the publisher for a fair review.

THEY MAY NOT HAVE ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO CONVICT HIM, BUT THEY HAVE ENOUGH TO RUIN HIS LIFE.

Dr. Matt Newman thought he was leaving his life as a surgeon in private practice for a better one in academic medicine. But the kidnappers who attacked him as he left the hospital at 2 a.m. have no such plans—they just want him dead. Bound and in the trunk of his car, Matt’s only thought is fleeing with his life. He does escape, but at a price: a head injury that lands him in the ICU . . . where he awakens to discover he’s being charged with murder.

Sandra Murray is a fiery, redheaded lawyer who swore she was done with doctors after her last relationship. But when Matt calls, she knows she can’t walk away from defending someone who is truly innocent.

Matt’s career is going down the drain. His freedom and perhaps his life may be next. But with the police convinced he’s a killer and the kidnappers still trying to finish what they started, finding the truth—and the faith to keep going—will be the toughest stress test Matt has ever endured.

From the Clash of the Titles Commenters 

• Fascinating storyline, Dr. Mabry!
• Stress Test looks great! Very exciting premise, and I love the cover.
• Read it! GREAT!
• Love Mabry books. Love Abingdon fiction.

What The Reviewers Are Saying 

“The plot moves along with plenty of action and empathy, and there’s suspense and suspicion enough to keep readers zipping to the last pages. For Christian suspense fans anxious to see characters who ought to have it all—doctors and lawyers—react to the pressure of false accusations and the struggle to be loyal to the truth and to one another, Mabry’s novel arrives with a positive prognosis.”
Publisher’s Weekly

“Mabry’s latest provides fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action and suspense. His medical knowledge is evident in the realistic and detailed characters and scenes.”
Romantic Times Book Reviews (4 ½ stars

Dr. Richard Mabry is a retired physician, past Vice-President of the American Christian Fiction Writers, and the author of six published novels of medical suspense. His books have been finalists in competitions including ACFW’s Carol Award and Romantic Times’ Inspirational Book of the Year. His novel, Lethal Remedy, won a 2012 Selah Award from the Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference. Stress Test is Richard’s latest novel.

Where To Buy Stress Test: (if you go to
http://rmabry.com
, there are buttons at the bottom directing the reader to the sites on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, ChristianBook.com, and independent publishers)

Miralee Ferrell joins us today. She and her husband Allen have been married almost 40 yrs. They live on 11 acres in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where they love to garden, play with their dogs, take walks, and go sailing. Miralee also rides her horse on the wooded trails near their home with her grown daughter who lives nearby. She’s an avid reader and has a large collection of first edition Zane Grey books, which inspired her desire to write fiction set in the Old West. When she started writing fiction Miralee believed that she’d always stay with women’s contemporary, but has since branched out to historical romance. Her first two books were women’s contemporary with Kregel Publications, The Other Daughter, and Finding Jeena.

Miralee has offered to give away one copy of her latest book. Please leave a comment as an answer to her question, which you’ll find below after the interview. We must have at least 10 comments from Continental US only residents in order to have a contest. Please don’t forget to leave your email so we can get in touch with you.

Now for the interview!

Miralee, welcome! Tell us a little bit about your love for reading. Were you an avid reader as a child? If so, what did you read?

Yes! So much so that I’d hide under the covers after the lights-out deadline, using a flashlight so I’d finish a chapter or a page. I loved Nancy Drew, Anne of Green Gables, any horse novel, Sue Barton nurse books, and later Zane Grey and other westerns.

As a child or teenager, did you ever dream of being an author?

Surprisingly, not once. In fact, it never occurred to me that I might have any gifting in that direction.

Now that is a surprise! When did you first begin writing?

In 2005, after I’d turned 50, so a bit late in life, but it was perfect timing for me, as our kids were grown and I wasn’t working outside the home.

Why do you write?

I started because I truly believed God called me to do so. I was at an evening church service with a special speaker. At the end he had a call for prayer, and I went forward for prayer. When he came to me, he began to pray, then stopped. He told me he believed God was saying I needed to write and it needed to be published. I went home, prayed about it, and felt a confirmation, although I had no idea what direction to go. Now, several years later, I write because I love it and can’t imagine not doing so.

It’s amazing when Godly people speak truth into our lives. Tell us about the journey to getting published.

I first wrote a 60,000 word auto-biography, mostly chronicling things the Lord has done for my husband and a bit about our life together. Then several true-life articles, all of which were published that first summer. I had no idea what to do next, but a friend suggested I try my hand at Christian fiction. I didn’t think I had any creativity, but she urged me to use something from my life that I could fictionalize. Soon after, my debut novel, The Other Daughter was born (contemporary women’s fiction). It took me about 7 weeks to write the first draft, another 6-8 months to rewrite and polish, then I started shopping for an agent, as well as sending proposals off to the few houses that would accept them without an agent. I got requests for two partials and one full manuscript, and shortly after signed with my agent. Six months later we had a contract, and a little over a year later, (2 ½ yrs after the call to write), the book released. Since then I’ve written a sequel called Finding Jeena, then four books for the Love Finds You line, all historical, and currently I’m working on a three book series with David C Cook for my Love Blossoms in Oregon series (historical romance). The first of three, Blowing on Dandelions, just released.

God certainly has kept you busy with this new-found career and calling!

Now please answer this question in the comment section below for a chance to win a copy of the book!

Have you ever read anything by Miralee Ferrell, and if so, which book? If
not, which of her books (historical or contemporary) would you be most drawn
to?

You can find out more about Miralee at her website.

Connect with her on Facebook!

Beach trips, mountain jaunts and lazy days in the swing on the front porch. Tis the season to enjoy a great read outdoors. Clash of the Titles’s got five brand new April releases to recommend. It’ll be difficult to choose from these three romances, a mystery with suspense, and women’s fiction. The stories tell of a woman who falls in love with an Army veteran with PTSD; a kidnapped doctor accused of murder; a woman yearning for a family; a lady with a heart attack and spiritually broken heart; and three unwed mothers from three different eras. All will tug at your heart. But please select the one you most want to get lost in. Then vote for it below.

Cindy Waymire, a college senior in search for a topic for an upcoming sociology paper, finds more than a topic when she meets Army veteran and college freshman Danny Flynn outside the student union. An undeniable attraction to this troubled veteran leads her on a difficult and winding path that brings her to a crossroads—get into a relationship with a man who has serious mental health problems or turn her back on one of the best men she’s ever met.

Dr. Matt Newman escapes from kidnappers only to land in the ICU then awaken to find the police are convinced he’s a killer, and he’s still a target. Can attorney Sandra Murray and he find the truth before it’s too late?

Terri Hayes owns a thriving Day Care but hungers for a child of her own  while  writer Steve Evans has all the family he needs. Will harsh words and sneaky plans drive them further apart, or does God have another plan?

What would you do if the one man who can help is the one man you can’t trust? A heart attack has stopped workaholic Mara Keegan in her tracks, but Mara’s heart needs to be healed in more ways than one—will Joel Ryan help her or take all she has left?

Three women from three different eras face the aftermath of unwed pregnancies, desperate for hope. Can it be found in the memoirs of Anna, who ran a home for unwed Moms in the 1890’s, or is there no link to their cries for help and their source of hope?

Karen writes historical romance fiction for Bethany House, believing that the world needs more happily-ever-afters. She is an avid cross-stitcher, shower singer, and bakes a mean apple cobbler. She grew up in a small town in central California, attended Abilene Christian University, where she met a Texan, married him, and never left. They have been married for 20 years and live in Abilene with their three children. They both work at the university where they met.

Karen is offering one copy of Stealing the Preacher to one winner. Please leave a comment for her along with your email address for a chance to win. We must have at least ten comments to make a contest, so make sure and share this post with your friends. Continental US only, please.

If you missed Karen’s first interview with me, please take time to read it. This interview, we’ll get to know her a little bit better.

Karen, thank you for joining me again here on my blog. Tell us a little about your faith and how it affects your writing. 

I grew up in a Christian home and came to know Jesus at an early age. Therefore, my faith is an essential part of who I am, and when I decided to try my hand at writing novels, it was important to me that my stories honored God. I pray over my writing every day and try to infuse subtle nuggets of truth within the pages of an entertaining read. Writing is a ministry. It’s a business, too, but first and foremost, it’s about encouraging readers to deepen their relationship with the Lord.

Thank you for sharing that! I think it’s important for readers to know your heart and it’s also an encouragement to writers, as well. Do you have a favorite scripture? If so, why is it your favorite?

I have two favorite verses related to my writing that I keep near my desk. The first is Philippians 1:6 – He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. This verse reminds me to keep plugging away even when the story doesn’t want to come. God will help me see it through to completion.

The second verse I keep out as a humility reminder. Psalm 115:1 – Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory. I need this reminder to keep my perspective straight. Any success I experience is due to God’s influence, and he deserves the glory, not me.

I love those verses! Discouragement is everywhere these days and the scriptures sure help keep me pressing on to the goal! Okay, so, I am reading your latest book, Stealing the Preacher, and loving it (as I said before). The Archer brothers are captivating! Tell our readers about it. 

On his way to interview for a position at a church in the Piney Woods of Texas, Crockett Archer can’t believe it when he’s forced off the train by an outlaw and presented to the man’s daughter as the preacher she requested for her birthday. He’s determined to escape—which would be much easier if he could stop thinking about Joanna Robbins and her unexpected request.

For months, Joanna had prayed for a minister. A man to breathe life back into the abandoned church at the heart of her community. A man to assist her in fulfilling a promise to her dying mother. But just when it seems her prayers have been answered, it turns out the parson is there against his will and has dreams of his own calling him elsewhere. Is there any way she can convince Crockett he ended up right where he was supposed to be?

What inspired you to write this book?

After the amazing response to the Archer brothers depicted in Short-Straw Bride, I couldn’t wait to craft a story for Crockett, the charmer of the Archer clan. Since Crockett is no ordinary preacher, but a gun-toting rancher with a gift for doctoring . . . well, that meant a plot full of scrapes, trouble, and shenanigans. But amid the adventure and romance lies a heartrending tale of God’s pursuit of a single lost soul.

I won’t give anything away about the story, but I have to say how much I like how you took Crockett’s plans and replaced them with God’s plans. And how he willingly let those plans change. It spoke volumes to me. What are you working on right now?

My next project is actually a novella that features Neill Archer, the final brother in the Archer clan. I just couldn’t let him go without giving him his own happily ever after. Away from the Archer ranch for two years to earn the money needed to start up his own spread with his childhood friend, Josiah, Neill takes a job repairing a little old widow’s roof. Only the widow isn’t old nor is she little. She’s nine months pregnant with her deceased husband’s child, and she meets Neill with a shotgun aimed at his chest.

Neill’s story, A Cowboy Unmatched, will be part of a collection entitled A Match Made in Texas. It releases January 2014 and includes novellas by three other wonderful historical authors: Mary Connealy, Regina Jennings, and Carol Cox.

I can’t wait to read Neill’s story! What is your writing schedule and where do you write?

I have three children still at home and I work full-time as the Testing Coordinator for Abilene Christian University. Because of this, my writing schedule has to be very flexible. Instead of daily word count goals, I have a weekly goal of one polished chapter a week. This allows me the flexibility to make up for lost time over a weekend if my week was too full without feeling guilty. At this rate, I can meet my deadlines and keep my sanity—two objectives I find essential to success.

How do you balance writing with your job, family responsibilities, and other obligations?

I have definitely learned how to juggle. Thankfully, God takes care of me and provides the time I need. Whether I write at work over lunch hours or during down time, or sit on my bed with my lap top during evenings and weekends, somehow the words make it to the page. I pray a lot, set boundaries, and occasionally use my husband to run interference. In the end, it all works out.

My kids are grown, I work two part time jobs from home, and I’m in Women’s Ministry at my church. I find writing a challenge at times. My hat is off to you, Karen! For fun: If you could travel to anywhere in the world, where would you go and why?

If money was no object, I would love to tour the castles of Germany. I love mountain settings, romance, and fairy tales. What could be more romantic than the castle that inspired the home of Disney’s Sleeping Beauty situated in the Bavarian mountains? I get dreamy-eyed just looking at pictures of Neuschwanstein. I’d also like to see elegant Eltz Castle and historic Wartburg Castle. Wartburg is one of the oldest preserved castles as well as a place where church reformer Martin Luther lived and translated the Bible into German. How awesome would that be to see? My daughter would love touring the castles and my husband would dutifully ooh and aah, but I might have to bribe my boys with a ski trip or something to get them to tour the castles with me.

Such fun! Now one more question about your spiritual walk. What is your number one spiritual gift?

I’m not sure, but I think teaching is probably near the top of the list. Whether it comes in the form of story in my books, or teaching ladies Bible class, or instructing on writing, or even just helping my kids with their homework – teaching is something that I feel comfortable doing and gives me great satisfaction.

Thank you for sharing with us again! Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

My books are available at all major retail outlets. However, the easiest place to find information about my books is on my website at: www.karenwitemeyer.com

I also love to interact with readers through Facebook and the two group blogs I contribute to.

My author page on Facebook is: www.facebook.com/KarenWitemeyersAuthorPage

If you like my page, you can gain access to the first three chapters of Stealing the Preacher for free.

I blog with a group of western romance authors on a site called Petticoats & Pistols. This group features both Christian and general market authors.  www.petticoatsandpistols.com

The second group I blog with is called Writes of Passage. This group is made up of bestselling inspirational historical fiction authors. Some names you might recognize are Tracy Peterson, Tamera Alexander, Julie Klassen, and Lynn Austin. We have so much fun together and love to interact with readers.   www.writespassage.blogspot.com

Thanks, Karen!

My review:

Kathi Macias tackles tough topics very well. She doesn’t shy away from things that are controversial in nature. The Moses Quilt centers around Mazie and Edward, who are in an inter-racial relationship. Edward has proposed to Mazie but she can’t decide what to do. We are left wondering why the decision is so hard for her to make, since she loves him very much. Her elderly great-grandmother, who grew up in the Deep South during the height of the racial inequalities, tells the story of a family quilt and sheds light on the motives behind Mazie’s indecision. Although I felt like the internal conflict was a bit outdated for this century, I loved the characters and the love they shared with each other. This was a sweet and touching story.

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.