Author Janet K Brown visits My Cozy Den and offers a giveaway

As Fall creeps in, and Winter approaches, we’ll be be chatting in My Cozy Den from time to time.Come on in and make yourselves at home. The refreshment bar is through the door on your left. Now, let’s get started.

Janet, Welcome to Whispers in Purple, and My Cozy Den.

I’m honored to be your guest, Peg.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My husband and I live in Wichita Falls, TX. We love to travel with our RV. I write wherever we roam. We have three daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and three perfect grandchildren. With God’s help, I lost a hundred pounds and have kept it off for nineteen years. I teach a weight controlling class at my church based on my devotion book, Divine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness. I love line dancing to keep down my weight.

What do you say to people who ask you how you come up with ideas for a book?

Ideas are everywhere; our own experiences, others’ experiences, newspaper and magazine articles, but mostly asking the question, “what if.”

How do you choose the settings for your books?

I mostly write about North Texas which I know. Others evolved from places I’ve visited. In my YA ghost series, I use real places with real ghost legends.

Do you have a speaking ministry? Tell us something about that.

As I said, I teach a weekly weight class. I have also spoken for other weight classes. I do workshops on writing, weight loss, and the history of my settings for libraries, book clubs, and women’s clubs.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Hands down, the promotion. I’m tech-challenged, so find all the online promotion time consuming and difficult. I’d much rather stick with in-person events. I like people.

What keeps you the most humble as a writer?

When I weighed 250 lbs, my self esteem was lower than a worm, but I learned that putting myself down is pride, not humility. Humility comes from gratitude. I’m so thankful to the Lord for what He’s done for me. Without Him, I’m nothing.

If you’d been born into the animal kingdom instead of the human race, what would you be, and why?

A bear. I like the idea of hibernating through the winter, and I think I get angry too easily.

What gives you the most satisfaction in your writing, besides THE END, that is?

There’s nothing I like better than facing a blank page with a story sparking through my mind. Sometimes, the fingers tap so fast across the keyboard that I don’t remember writing it.

Which author would you never get tired of reading, and why?

There’s a lot of them, but here’s a few: Tracie Peterson, DiAne Mills, Linda Goodnight, Bonnie Langthripe, James Scott Bell. I’m sure I’ve left out a bunch that don’t come to mind right now. I like books that delve into relationships and tug on my emotions.

What project are you working on at the moment? Tell us about it.

Pen-L Publishing released my first women’s fiction in January of this year. The title is Worth Her Weight. My work in progress is the sequel to this book.

How can a woman who gives to everyone but herself accept God’s love and healing when she believes she’s fat, unworthy, and unfixable? Can she be Worth Her Weight?

Here’s the trailer for the book:

The book can be purchased on the Pen-L catalog store -

• And on Amazon -

About Janet:



Janet K. Brown lives in Wichita Falls, Texas with her husband, Charles. Writing became her second career after retiring from medical coding.

Worth Her Weight is the author’s first inspirational women’s fiction, but it makes a perfect companion to her previously released, Divine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness. Both books encompass her passion for diet, fitness, and God’s Word.

Worth Her Weight marks Brown’s third book. Who knew she had a penchant for teens and ghosts? She released her debut novel, an inspirational young adult, Victoria and the Ghost, in July, 2012.

Janet and her husband love to travel with their RV, work in their church, and visit their three daughters, two sons-in-law and three perfect grandchildren.

Janet teaches workshops on writing, weight loss, and the historical settings of her teen books.

• Find her at http:/ /www.janetkbrown.com


• on Twitter at https://twitter.com/janetkbrowntx


• on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Janet-K-Brown-Author/143915285641707


• E-mail: Janet.hope@att.net

Janet is offering a Kindle copy of Worth Her Weight. Entering is easy. Just leave a comment below and tell Janet why you’d like to win this book. You have until Midnight (Central) Wednesday, September 23. All commenters will be entered in a drawing through random.org and drawn on Thursday, the 24th. Watch your email for notification if you turn out to be the winner

Thank you so much, Janet, it’s been a pleasure having you on my blog this week.

And, thank you, Peg,  for having me.

Interview with author Teresa Lilly

Hi, Teresa. Welcome to Whispers in Purple. I’m so happy to have you here. Let’s get acquainted.

What was your first job?

I taught gymnastics when I was in high school.

What’s the first thing you do when waking up in the morning?

Pray for my sister and stretch my feet..

What is your favorite color?

Black, and like Johnny Cash I usually dress in black as well.

Ah, the Man in Black Do you have a pet, or pets? Tell us about it/them

Unfortunatly, no. I love animals but at this time in life do not have time to care for any.

That’s too bad. I don’t know what I’d do without my dog these days. If you weren’t a writer, what would you most likely be doing instead?

Teaching, however, I’ve always thought it would be fun to be a waitress in a truck stop.

Why did you become a writer?

I dreamt of doing it since I was a young girl, and after reading Janette Oke…I knew I had to.

When reading, what is your favorite genre? What are you reading right now?

I love Christian Romance Novellas, however, I also love all of Grace Livingston Hill Books. I am currently rereading all 100 of her books.

Where do you get your ideas?

Most of the time they just appear in my mind.

What is your Book about?

Cooking Up Christmas is about a woman who comes to Angel Vale as one of about 9 mail order brides. She intends to marry, but in the meantime will work at the Angel Vale Eatery as a cook. She can’t seem to find out what her intended does for a living and who owns the eatery. It’s full of fun collisions. I’m actually very proud of this novella, I believe it is some of my best writing.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

When Henrietta agrees to become a mail order angel for Benjamin Capel, she moves to Angel Vale Wyoming eager to begin working in the town’s eatery. Although happy with her job and attracted to her husband-to-be, she discovers that Benjamin has several secrets. What does he do for a living, why does talking about money upset him so much and who actually owns the Angel Vale Eatery. Will these questions be answered so she can freely say I Do or does God have a different plan for her life in Angel Vale?

Check out the book HERE

What is your next project?

I am currently writing a story called Wild Prairie Rose, about a mail order bride coming to Iowa. The main thing is she isn’t a true beauty and wants to find someone who is plain like herself.

About Teresa:

Teresa Ives Lilly lives in Texas with her husband, near her grown children. She loves to write Christian Historical Novellas, although she dabbles in contemporary as well. You can see all her books at www.teresalilly.wordpress.com. She loves to hear from her readers at teresaiveslilly@yahoo.com

 

Thank you so much for being my guest here today, Teresa. Wishing you the very best with your next project. AND . . . we’ll be seeing you back here on October 12! Looking forward to that.

Thoughts from an Award-Winning Author: Q and A with Sylvia Bambola

This week we're proud to introduce Sylvia Bambola and her beautiful book, The Daughters of Jim Farrell! With a wonderfully unique background and several published novels to her name, see the advice she offers other writers.

First, a peek at her latest book:

The Daughters of Jim Farrell by Sylvia Bambola

Pennsylvania 1873: When, in the harsh world of Pennsylvania coal country, Jim Farrell is hanged for murder, his wife and three daughters must turn their beautiful home into a boarding house in order to survive. But struggling beneath the shadow of shame becomes too much for eldest daughter, Kate, who resolves to clear her father’s name, and in spite of her mother’s admonition to “let it go,” convinces her sisters to help. All too soon their dangerous quest rips the family apart. Will it also cost them the men they love?

Q&A with Sylvia:

Q. What are the main themes in your new historical novel, The Daughters of Jim Farrell?

A. There are a few but I’ll mention only three. The first, and I believe the most important, is the issue of forgiveness even in the face of the ultimate sin—that of having a loved one killed unjustly. All of us will have opportunities in our lives to forgive wrongs. And the importance of doing so cannot be understated. Jesus says in Luke 6:37 “Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.” That’s a stunner. And means what it says. So we cannot afford to harbor unforgiveness of any kind. And forgiveness isn’t a feeling, it’s an act of will.Another theme is the tension between labor and management. And this tension seems to be intensifying as politicians seek to divide us by income and pit us against each other. The Bible cautions us that “if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Labor needs management (and entrepreneurs, etc) to create jobs and management needs labor in order to make their companies successful. We are ONE nation under God. We need each other to succeed.

Finally, what family hasn’t seen its share of sibling rivalry? The Daughters of Jim Farrell touches on this as the three sisters struggle to find their identity and place in the family.

Q. What is the one thing that influences your writing the most?

A. In a word—Scripture. The thing I love about writing fiction is that it’s a nonthreatening way to share spiritual truths. Like the parables in the Bible, story and characters can bring these truths to life.

Q. You now have eight published novels. What would you say to those writers just starting out?

A. I would make these four recommendations:1) Get connected. That means join a critique group, go to writing conferences and become an on-line member of associations like ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and others.

2) Learn your craft. Take no short cuts here. Learn and employ good writing techniques and understand that good writing means LOTS of rewriting.

3) Learn about marketing. You the author will be required to do most of it even if you are fortunate enough to be picked up by one of the Big-5 traditional publishers.

4) And finally, NEVER give up. This is generally a long and bumpy road full of ups and downs. I personally don’t know any “overnight wonders” those who have taken about a year to write their first book which then becomes an over night success. Most published authors have written for years before getting published. Remember, the spoils go to those who persevere.

Meet the author:

Born in Romania, Sylvia Bambola lived her early years in Germany. At seven she relocated with her adopted family and saw the Statue of Liberty and America for the first time. But the memory of those years in post World War Germany inspired her to write Refiner’s Fire, which won a Silver Angel Award, and was a Christy Finalist. Her frequent moves as an “army brat” gave her an opportunity to see America and fall in love with her new country. Bambola has authored eight novels, has two grown children, and teaches women’s Bible studies.

Connect with Sylvia Bambola:

website: http://www.sylviabambola.com/books
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/83706.Sylvia_Bambola
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sylvia-Bambola/78754640991
twitter: https://twitter.com/sylviabambola
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Jim-Farrell-Sylvia-Bambola/dp/0989970787/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1435785514&sr=1-1&keywords=the+daughters+of+jim+farrell
Barnsandnoble.com:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-daughters-of-jim-farrell-sylvia-bambola/1122239437?ean=9780989970785

Guest Blogger Author Beth Wiseman w/Giveaway

For years, I wrote Amish fiction exclusively. Then I opened the lid on the box and wrote Texas contemporaries (Need You Now and The House that Love Built). Following those ventures, I jumped way out of the box and wrote a story inspired by actual events, about a woman being held captive in Pakistan (The Promise).

My new release—A Tide Worth Turning—is another new venture for me, my first non-Amish novella and first Indie project. This novella is a romance, but like my other books, the story is relationship driven. I explore the mother/daughter relationship in A Tide Worth Turning, and as secrets are revealed, my characters are able to come to terms with their past while also finding hope for the future. I always try to sprinkle in a little humor along the way too. In an effort to make this story as strong as possible, I used the same editor I’ve used for years and mirrored the traditional publishing process in an effort to provide a quality work of fiction. A Tide Worth Turning is a fun and romantic beach read that I hope readers will enjoy in any season.

Fun fact – I took the photograph for the cover, then turned it over to a graphics artist to finalize. This story starts out in Galveston, Texas, and for those familiar with Galveston, you’ll know right away that the beach on the cover isn’t Galveston. Correct! This story takes my readers to another beach far across the world. To say more would be a spoiler.

I’ve had an amazing publishing journey so far, and I hope and pray that God will continue to bless me with stories to tell. I’m grateful beyond words to readers also. I hope you’ll add A Tide Worth Turning to your reading list. I loved writing the story.

About the book:

Addison Burke is a successful real estate agent who specializes in high-end closings and who enjoys an elite lifestyle not often afforded someone her age (27). But following a stroke and a recent fall, Addison is forced to hire a caregiver for her estranged mother, Lee Ann, a job Addison chooses not to take on, despite her financial freedom to do so. She hires an agency to fill the position, and to her surprise, they send a man for the job.

Logan has somehow managed to keep his act together despite a past that is slowly catching up with him. If he can make enough money over the next couple of months by tending to Lee Ann Burke, he should be able to flee the country before his world comes crashing down around him. But when Lee Ann’s beautiful daughter, Addison, begins to awaken feelings in him that he thought died long ago, he begins to question whether or not fleeing from the past is worth leaving Addison forever.

Will Addison let down her guard for love and renew her relationship with her mother? Can Logan face his past, come out unscathed, and act on his feelings for Addison? And why is Lee Ann selling everything she owns on EBay and Craig’s List?

About the Author:

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series.  Having sold over 1.5 million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List.  She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013.  She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award, and an Inspy Award winner.  In 2013, she took home the coveted Holt Medallion.  Her first book in the Land of Canaan series--Seek Me With All Your Heart--was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year.  

Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2019, and she has published thirteen novels and thirteen novellas to date.

As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels fulltime.

Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary—Need You Now—released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary—The House that Love Built—which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. Beth continued to spread her wings when she released The Promise in October 2014. Inspired by actual events, The Promise follows Beth’s characters all the way to Pakistan. Beth was involved in the real-life rescue when her friend was held captive in Pakistan. Beth is currently working on book #2 in her new Amish Secrets series, tentatively titled Jacob’s Ladder. Book #1—Her Brother’s Keeper—recently released and was chosen as a Top Pick by RT Reviews Magazine.

Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas with three dogs and a rooster. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bethwiseman.

About the Giveaway:

Beth is offering one digital copy of A Tide Worth Turning after it releases on September 12. Entering is easy: just leave a comment below and your name will be entered into a random drawing on random.org. Giveaway ends at Midnight (Central Time) on Friday, September18.

Thank you, Beth, for sharing your time with us here on Whispers in Purple. It’s been a real pleasure learning about you and your writing journey. Or should I say journeys?

Drawing a Blank

I got nothing.

So, I thought I’d share a little something to make you smile.



 

However, I do have a guest blogger scheduled for tomorrow…author Beth Wiseman.

Do join us then on Whispers in Purple, and thanks for visitng today. Oh, comments welcome :)