Free Book and Book Blogger Appreciation Week!

Today's winner, for the signed copy of Stephanie Whitson's latest novel, Unbridled Dreams is:

jenjohns@

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address. I encourage readers to keep entering and/or subscribe at right in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Today I want to alert you to another opportunity to participate in some free give-aways during the week of September 15-19. "My Friend Amy" will be hosting Book Blogger Appreciation Week, and the event is for both bloggers and readers. Here's what Amy says about the event:

Book Bloggers: You work hard. You read books, you write reviews, you maintain relationships with your readers, publicists, and authors. You are constantly running to the post office to mail your giveaways and participating in carnivals to help boost traffic. You sometimes want to faint when you see the size of your TBR pile, but faithfully you read. And you do it because you love it. Book blogging is for most a hobby. But it's a hobby that takes a lot of work and time. It's a labor of love.

I've been blogging for three years but only really got into book blogging in the last year. I have found, without a doubt, that book bloggers are the kindest, most open minded, and supportive group of bloggers on the internet. With book blogging, it's about community and a love for the written word.

The Readers: We love you! You don't have a blog, but you read our reviews and share your thoughts with us. You enter our giveaways and click on our Amazon associates link. We do this for you and appreciate your readership. We hope you'll join in the fun and festivities of BBAW! (we'll have a special contest just for you!)

Book Blogger Appreciation Week: Acknowledging the hard work of book bloggers and their growing impact on book marketing and their essential contribution to book buzz in general, I am excited to announce the first Book Blogger Appreciation Week. Think of it as a retreat for book bloggers and a chance for us to totally nerd out over books together. And of course, shower each other with love and appreciation.

Why bother? If you register, you will be added to a book blog directory which will exist long after this week is over. Additionally, you will receive one raffle entry into the daily giveaways during BBAW at My Friend Amy.

Instructions for registering are posted at My Friend Amy

I hope you'll stop by Amy's site. In the meantime, post a comment below to be added to the drawing (or added another time) for this Thursday's drawing for Daily Devotions for Writers.

And check back Thursday, when we meet Max Anderson, author of action-adventure novels for boys aged 8 and up.

Free Book and HUGE Book Signing!

To start today's post, let's announce the winner of our drawing for Joseph Bentz's A Son Comes Home. The winner is:

eviesmommo@

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address. I encourage readers to keep entering and/or subscribe at right in order to participate in future book give-aways!

As a matter of fact, this week you have a chance to win Daily Devotions for Writers, compiled and edited by Patricia Lorenz (Infinity Publishing, 2008). The book "provides 366 true stories about the highs, lows, struggles, and joys of writing. . . The page-a-day readings include a short prayer and an inspirational quote."

I'm one of the authors and will be happy to sign the book for the winner if desired. Or not! Just leave a comment below and/or subscribe at right. Each action will enter your name in the drawing once. Be sure to leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com

Speaking of authors, if you happen to be anywhere near the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, on Saturday, September 20, between 1:00 and 3:00 p.m., you have a chance to meet an amazing number of your favorite Christian novelists. The American Christian Fiction Writers organization is holding a massive book signing, featuring 127 published Christian novelists. The signing will take place near the Best Buy and Sears Rotundas, and Barnes & Noble will have the authors' books available for sale.

Here's the list of authors participating! I'll be there. If you come, please be sure to come say hello, regardless of whether or not you have anything for me to sign!

Mall of America Booksigners:

Tamera Alexander
Jennifer AlLee
A.K. Arenz
Diane Ashley
Karen Ball
Janet Lee Barton
James Scott Bell
Joseph Bentz
Terri Blackstock
Robin Caroll
Patricia PacJac Carroll
Jeanie Smith Cash
Eleanor Clark
Debra Clopton
Gloria Clover
Brandilyn Collins
Mary Connealy
Lyn Cote
Kathryn Cushman
Margaret Daley
KM Daughters
Susan Page Davis
Mary Davis
Janet Dean
Megan DiMaria
Brandt Dodson
Lena Nelson Dooley
Cecelia Dowdy
Sharon Dunn
Wanda Dyson
Lynette Eason
Meredith Efken
Leanna Ellis
Sharon Ewell Foster
Miralee Ferrell
Tina Ann Forkner
Darlene Franklin
Jonathan Friesen
Rhonda Gibson
Terri Gillespie
Debby Giusti
Beth Goddard
Cathy Gohlke
Rene Gutteridge
Cathy Marie Hake
Kelly Eileen Hake
Karen Harter
Rachel Hauck
Roxanne Henke
Cynthia Hickey
Patti Hill
Sharon Hinck
Joan Hochstetler
Steven Hunt
Angela Hunt
Denise Hunter
Annette Irby
Jennifer Johnson
Jenny B. Jones
Golden Keyes Parsons
Deb Kinnard
Julie Klassen
Kathleen Kovach
Harry Kraus
Patti Lacy
Maureen Lang
Jeanne Marie Leach
Tosca Lee
Julie Lessman
Michelle Levigne
Sherri L. Lewis
Elizabeth Ludwig
Christine Lynxwiler
Richard L. Mabry
Sharlene MacLaren
Gail Martin
Debby Mayne
Vickie McDonough
Andrew McGuire
Susan Meissner
Becky Melby
Dana Mentink
Amber Miller
Judith Miller
Sara Mills
Siri Mitchell
Nancy Moser
Janelle Mowery
Elizabeth Musser
Mark Mynheir
Jill Nelson
Mae Nunn
John Olson
Donita K. Paul
Trish Perry
Marta Perry
Allie Pleiter
Cara Putman
Deborah Raney
Sandra Robbins
Paul Robertson
John Robinson
Martha Rogers
Cynthia Ruchti
Gail Sattler
Kim Vogel Sawyer
Shelley Shephard Gray
Virginia Smith
Lynette Sowell
Candice Speare
Kathryn Springer
Denice Stewart
Sarah Anne Sumpolec
Michelle Sutton
Camy Tang
Donn Taylor
Janice Thompson
Cindy Thomson
Missy Tippens
Carrie Turansky
ML Tyndall
Amy Wallace
Susan May Warren
Linda Wichman
Beth Wiseman
Cheryl Wyatt
Kathleen Y'Barbo

Be sure to check back here next Monday, when we announce the winner of Stephanie Whitson's Unbridled Dreams.

Bonus Contest! Beach Bag Goodies!

DEADLINE: AUGUST 22 -- WRITING PROMPT AND CONTEST

Here's another item you could win. I'm in the middle of a blog tour for my latest release, Beach Dreams. You can participate in a special contest related to the tour. The prize is a beach bag filled with a few goodies.

Enter by visiting one or more of the blogs below. Sometime between August 11 and 22, those blogs are featuring Beach Dreams. At any of the blogs participating in the contest, you'll be invited to post a response to the following prompt: How has God used a mistake you made - big or small - for His purposes?

The example may be serious or funny, complex or simple, and you may or may not have realized He was even using it at the time it occurred. Tell your story on one of the participating blogs, and the stories will be forwarded to me. All entries must be received by 5pm CST on August 22.

I will judge the entries and declare my favorite. Go on, we've all made mistakes--here's a chance to win a little something by sharing yours.

A Christian Romance Writer's Journey
A Peek at My Bookshelf
Amber Miller
Artistic Blogger
Behind the Mountain
Blog Tour Spot
Book Junkie Confessions
Book Nook Club
Book Room Reviews
Camy's Loft
Christy's Book Blog
Edgy Inspirational Author Blog
Fictionary
Gatorskunz and Mudcats
Heart Chocolate
His Reading List
I Don't Wanna Blog
Kells Creative Musings
Lighthouse Academy
Lone Star Latte and Libre
Margaret Daley
My Christian Fiction Blog
Mystery, Suspense, and God, Oh My!
Net's Notes
Readin' N Writin' with Patricia
Real Women Scrap
Refresh My Soul
See Ya On the Net
Sips 'N Cups Cafe
So Many Books. . . So Little Time
The Friendly Book Nook
The O.L.D. Blog
The Writing Road
Toni V. Lee
Write by Faith
wandering, wonderings of a whacked-out woman
Writing on the Edge

Free Books and Stephanie Whitson!

Happy Monday, readers and writers! I'd like to start the day by announcing the winner of our drawing for Amy Wallace's Healing Promises. The winner is:

artist4christ@

Congratulations! I'll contact you today for your snail mail address. I encourage readers to keep entering and/or subscribe at right in order to participate in future book give-aways!

Now how's this for today's book teaser: A city gal chooses mud and manure over designer gowns and tea parties.

Today we're talking with Stephanie Whitson, author of Unbridled Dreams, (Bethany House Publishers, August, 2008).

A native of southern Illinois, Stephanie Grace Whitson has lived in Nebraska since 1975. She began what she calls "playing with imaginary friends" (writing fiction) when, as a result of teaching her four homeschooled children Nebraska history, she was personally encouraged and challenged by the lives of pioneer women in the West. Since her first book, Walks the Fire, was published in 1995, Stephanie's fiction titles have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times and been finalists for the Christy Award, the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year. Her first nonfiction work, How to Help a Grieving Friend, was released in 2005. In addition to serving in her local church and keeping up with two married children and three college students, Stephanie enjoys motorcycle trips with her family and church friends and volunteering at the International Quilt Study Center. Her passionate interests in pioneer women's history, antique quilts, and French, Italian, and Hawaiian language and culture provide endless story-telling possibilities.

Good grief, this makes two overachievers in a row, you and Joseph Bentz. I'm starting to feel like a bit of a slacker here, Stephanie. Okay, put down your quilt, get off the motorcyle, and tell us about Unbridled Dreams. In English, please.

Irmagard Friedrich has everything most girls want including admission to a prestigious finishing school--and she's miserable. To her, the perfect life means becoming "Liberty Belle" in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. When Irma's father goes against her mother's wishes and orchestrates a secret audition, Irma begins to realize her dreams. But when the Wild West proves to be more mud and manure than applause and acclaim, Belle's willfulness could ruin everything--including her budding romance with the King of the Cowboys.

That sounds like such a fun book! Which character most interested you while you wrote? Why?

That changed about mid-way through the book from the protagonist, Liberty Belle, to Belle's mother, Willa Friedrich. . . probably because I'm at the age in life where I can empathize with a mother's concern for her nearly-grown daughter.

Why will readers enjoy your novel?

Because they'll be able to identify with the women--either the young woman trying to find her way in the world and discover who she really is--or the mother doing her best to guide her daughter into a happy life and having her every move cause tension and misunderstanding.

On a lighter note, the setting is just great fun. Buffalo Bill's Wild West was a unique phenomenon in American history. Most of what we think about the "true west" is because of that touring company. Cody mounted a spectacular event that played to sold-out audiences of twenty thousand or more people night after night after night all across the U.S. and in Europe for decades. In 1886 he had a lighted arena and his troupe performed at night. Can you picture Native Americans in full regalia taking the Long Island Ferry to work at Madison Square Garden? Neither could I. . . . but they did.

Belle goes to New York when the Brooklyn Bridge was new and the Statue of Liberty was just being completed. I had such fun researching this book. . .and I think readers will enjoy going along for the literal ride.

I'm thinking movie! If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?

That's hard because I have actual photographs of my characters and they don't look like any of today's movie stars. I have a large collection of old sepia-toned photos and I always find my character's faces in those photos.

We'd need a fiery redhead to play Irma/Belle, an elegant lady to play Belle's mother, a portly pushover to play Belle's father. . . and a tall outdoorsman to play Shep Sterling. If I suggested names they'd be from another era of film-making. So I'll leave that to your readers' imaginations.

Maybe some of our commenters have suggestions for us! Stephanie, what facet of the writing craft comes easiest to you? Explain.

Story ideas. As I say in one of my lectures, "what really happened is far more interesting than anything I could make up." I have an expansive list of things from history that I'd like to learn more about and develop into a novel someday. Which is proof that God is faithful to enable us to answer His calling on our life. When I was first offered a contract, instead of it being for the ONE book I had proposed, it was for a three book contract. I remember looking at my husband and saying, "I don't know if I can write three books. . . I haven't even finished one yet." Eighteen books later I'm scrambling to prioritize the idea file.

What a lovely problem, to have to come up with ideas for a three-book contract! What do you struggle with in your writing?

Self discipline. The simple act of placing myself at my desk and facing a blank computer screen and filling it with words is for me the most difficult part of writing. It is so easy to be distracted by the business of writing or the demands of homemaking or the delights of quiltmaking
. . .and put off simply doing the work.

Choose an inanimate object to represent you. Explain what you have in common with that object.

Has to be a quilt. As the poem says, my life is a "patchwork quilt of births and deaths and marriages and things, and sometimes when you're looking for a lovely piece of red, you only find a knot of faded strings," but I've learned "the red is redder when it's by a piece of brown, and grey is not so grey by sunny gold. . . " The patchwork quilt of my life isn't finished yet, but God has pieced in some amazing people and wonderful moments.

That's a gorgeous analogy. What is something about your life, right now, that thrills you?

Anticipating becoming a grandmother. My first two grandchildren are due in August--a girl and a boy. Instant grandma--and one of each. It doesn't get any better than that!

You said it, Gma (from one to another). What are you working on now?

A Claim of Her Own for Bethany House about a woman gold prospector in Deadwood, South Dakota, in 1876. It releases in 2009. An as-yet-untitled book for Bethany House about a single woman homesteader that will release in 2010. An unsold novel about a mysterious trunk full of quilts. An unsold non-fiction book celebrating Nebraska's pioneer women who lived in sod houses--by focusing on the quilts that "lived" with them in those soddies. A series of new lectures for writer's conferences.

And some quilts for those grandbabies.

What's the last book you read that impacted you? How did it affect you?

I just finished Quaker Summer by Lisa Samson. It challenged me to ask myself some hard questions about how I am impacting my community for Christ. . . and to stretch my comfort zone. My copy of that book has lots of underlinings and notes in the margins. One says, "Every parent should think about this while their children are young and decide what they will do about it." Quaker Summer will soon be sitting on my "these books changed my life" shelf.

Where else can readers find you or your writing online? Please include the link for purchasing your book!

www.stephaniewhitson.com There's a "buy now" button on my web site.

Unbridled Dreams is also available on Amazon, at Unbridled Dreams

Stephanie, thanks so much for telling us about yourself and your latest book. Readers, Stephanie will give a signed copy of Unbridled Dreams to the winner of next Sunday's drawing. Simply leave a comment for Stephanie below (maybe suggest some stars for the film version of her novel) to be entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. And if you subscribe to my blog, at right, or if you're already subscribed, you'll automatically be entered another time.

And be sure to check back this Thursday, when we'll announce the winner of the drawing for Joseph Bentz's A Son Comes Home.

Joseph Bentz -- Bonus Interview and Drawing!

Sometimes I'm doubly blessed in one week, and this is one of those weeks. Not only did we meet the lovely Amy Wallace on Monday, but we have yet another excellent author featured today. And he's giving away a copy of his latest novel for one of this week's readers.

First, let's hear the tease on his latest novel: A Son Comes Home is a contemporary novel that tells the story of a life-changing summer in an American family when a grown son returns home to face his father's illness and to confront the unresolved pain and secrets of years past.

Today we meet multi-published author Joseph Bentz.

Joseph Bentz is the author of four novels and two non-fiction books. His most recent releases are the contemporary novel A Son Comes Home (Randall House, 2007) and the non-fiction Christian living book, Silent God: Finding Him When You Can't Hear His Voice (Beacon Hill Press, 2007). His other books include contemporary novels published by Bethany House and a fantasy novel, Song of Fire, published by Thomas Nelson. Some of his books have been chosen for the Guideposts and Crossings book clubs and have received various honors. Bentz is a professor of English at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California, where he teaches courses in American literature and writing. He earned a Ph.D. and M.A. in American literature from Purdue University, and he graduated with a B.A. in English from Olivet Nazarene University. He and his wife Peggy and their two children live in Southern California.

Really, Joseph? That's all you've accomplished so far?

Mercy, something tells me you don't spend as much time in front of the TV as I do. So, tell us in more depth about A Son Comes Home.

It took the news of his father's illness to bring him home for the summer. After fleeing Indiana following the tragic death of his idolized older brother, Chris LaRue struggles to set aside his bitterness and to renew the fragmented relationships abandoned two years earlier. But he discovers that his brother's presence still echoes through the house and time has not healed the wounded.

Battling a deep sense of loyalty to his brother, Chris tries desperately to patch together his family. But new challenges rock its foundation and threaten to undo their fragile progress. Chris yearns for a future free from the past—will it require revealing the betrayal his brother took to the grave?

The cover alone makes me want to read the book. Gorgeous. Why will readers enjoy this book?

The comment I have heard most from readers is that they recognize aspects of their own families in this book. The novel deals realistically with family dynamics, manipulative relationships, sibling rivalry, and emotional and spiritual reconciliation.

Which character most interested you while you wrote? Why?

A Son Comes Home is told by three alternating first-person narrators--the father Jack, his grown twenty-something son Chris, and his nineteen-year-old daughter Robin. To write these characters I had to get inside their heads and "be" them. The one I had the most fun with was Robin. She's impulsive, constantly in trouble, but lovable and lively. As I sat down to write her chapters, I never knew quite what she might do or say. As she fought with her boyfriend or hid things from her parents or ran off to try to escape her troubles, she kept me constantly on edge.

What facet of the writing craft comes easiest to you? Explain.

Coming up with ideas is the easiest part of writing for me. I have enough book ideas right now to last me for the rest of my life, and they still keep coming. Getting the actual writing done is the hard part.

What do you struggle with in your writing?

I struggle with seeing a book through from start to finish. It's so easy to get bogged down in the middle. That's when the doubts and insecurity rise up and threaten to kill a book, and that's also when I'm most prone to let procrastination and excuses sidetrack me. This summer I've been working on sticking to a writing schedule and getting those words written each day no matter how distracted or insecure I feel at that moment.

Oh, my goodness, I completely identify! And it's such a great feeling at the end of a day when you've stuck with it. What are you working on now?

Right now I have two books going. I'm under contract for a non-fiction book on the Tipping Point between doubt and faith. I'm looking at what allows people to move from being sometimes passionate atheists or agnostics to being devoted followers of Jesus Christ. I'm also interested in how that pattern of doubt and belief repeats itself throughout the Christian life as believers go through spiritual crises or come up against faith-challenging questions. I've been looking at lots of conversion stories, and it's been inspiring.

I'm also working on a novel that combines supernatural elements with history. It's a supernatural thriller set partly in the present and partly in Germany during World War II.

What's the last book you read that impacted you? How did it affect you?

Right now I'm reading a spy thriller called The Company of Strangers, by Robert Wilson. It is set in Portugal during World War II, and I'm impressed by the author's ability to create that time and place so richly. When I'm reading it, I feel like I'm right there with those fascinating characters. It's hard for me to read a novel purely for pleasure anymore. I'm either looking at it from a teacher's perspective if it's a book for one of my courses, or from a reviewer's perspective if it's a book I've been assigned to review, or from a novelist's perspective if it's anything else. Part of me always wants to peek "behind the curtain" to see how the writer creates.

What is something about your life, right now, that thrills you?

What I'm most grateful for right now is that I'm at a point in life where I'm able to do many of the things I've always wanted to do. I love teaching and writing, and now that's what I'm able to spend my days working on. I also love family life, and I have a beautiful wife and two lively children, ages 10 and 9, who bring balance and joy and keep me humble.

Wonderful words to hear from such a busy writer! Where else can readers find you or your writing online? Please include the link for purchasing your book!

The best place to find more information about my books is at my website: www.josephbentz.com

A Son Comes Home is available at Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, christianbook.com, and other online bookstores. Here is the Amazon.com link: A Son Comes Home

Joseph, thanks so much for telling us about yourself and your latest book. Readers, Joseph will give a signed copy of A Son Comes Home to the winner of next Thursday's drawing. Simply leave a comment for Joseph below to be entered. Leave your email address, in case you win, like so: trish[at]trishperry[dot]com. And if you subscribe to my blog, at right, or if you're already subscribed, you'll automatically be entered another time.

Also, check back on Monday to see who wins the signed copy of Amy Wallace's Healing Promises and to meet novelist Stephanie Whitson and hear about her latest book.