Mary Connealy Interview ~ THE HUSBAND TREE ~ GIVEAWAY

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: | Posted On at 5:46 PM


I'm excited and I hope you will be too! Mary Connealy is joining us and she brought the hero, Silas Harden, from her latest release THE HUSBAND TREE. If you haven't read THE HUSBAND TREE yet, I highly recommend it. It was my favorite read of 2009 and one of my all-time favorite books. 

I'm reading it for the fourth time this week in our online book club--I hope you'll join us! We've got a treat for one lucky book club reader--at the end of reading THE HUSBAND TREE one of our book club participants will have her choice of one of Mary's previously released books as a prize. So if you'd like to join the fun and be in on that giveaway, join us at Inspirational Romance online book clubs network, go to the DISCUSSION for THE HUSBAND TREE. Mary will also drop by here and there on our discussions, so that will be a lot of fun! Since we're doing this book club online, you can drop by anytime of the day to leave a comment/reply for the book club, it's all at your convenience. So, take a moment and join us there.

Let's enjoy our time with Silas Harden, handsome hero from THE HUSBAND TREE...

Silas, we won't go into too many details about where you worked just before meeting Belle Tanner, but what kind of work do you do/have you done in the past?

I've been a rancher all my adult life. I started a nice little spread in Arizona and got driven out by the Lincoln County Wars, then I moved on to New Mexico and started up again, only to abandon it to escape the noose of matrimony in a trumped up shot gun wedding.

How'd you come to work for Belle at the Tanner ranch?
 
She sat down beside me in a diner in Divide, Montana. I'd been drifting a long time, living off the land and doing fine. Then here comes a woman, a WOMAN hiring men for a cattle drive. Inside I was thinking it was crazy but my mouth opened up and asked for a job without my brain giving it the go ahead to do such. I think it was her pretty hazel eyes that made me do such a fool thing.

You pretty much had a rifle pointed at you on the ranch--care to tell us whose finger was on the trigger and why the rifle was aimed at you?

One of Belle's daughter threatened to shoot me because I was yelling at Belle for planning to take her four little girls—one of 'em wearing diapers—on a cattle drive. Now I'm not criticizing the girl. I'd expect her to pull a gun on any man who laid his hands on their ma. But I wasn't about to hurt her. It caused me considerable shame that the young'un thought I might, especially when she said a man had hurt Belle before.

And after Lindsay went back inside with her rifle, I controlled the urge to yell at Belle some more which was a big mistake, because before you know it, I was kissing her instead. And then here came Lindsay back with the blasted fire iron.

You're heading out on trail with an interesting crew. Tell us about them and what you think is in store for you on this drive. Do you foresee any problems?

Problems? I'm going to be doing the work of five or six men for a month. I won't have time to sleep or eat or think. Belle claims she's a good cowhand and her daughters will pull their weight but I don't believe that for a moment. I'm going to be lucky to get us all through this drive alive.

At this point, what are your plans once you finish this drive?

I figure once I get one thousand head of cattle and five cantankerous women to Helena, the word will get out that I went on a cattle drive with a breast feeding, diaper wearing baby and every man in the west will know me on sight and laugh his head off.

I might as well go ahead and shoot myself to speed up the process of being embarrassed to death.

I guess that's my plan.

Thank you Silas, for stopping by. I know you've got a ranch to get back to so we appreciate you dropping by. In fact, we don't mind a handsome cowboy dropping by anytime!

The Husband Tree - Available Now!

Belle Tanner buries her third worthless husband and makes a vow over his shallow grave. She’s learned her lesson. No more men.

Silas Harden just lost his second ranch because of a woman. The first deserted him when times got tough. Now he’s had to quit the whole state of New Mexico to avoid a trumped-up shotgun wedding and the noose of matrimony. He’s learned his lesson. No more women.

Belle needs hired hands to move a cattle herd late in the season and there’s no one around but seemingly aimless Silas. She hires him reluctantly.

Silas signed on, glad for the work, though worried about a woman doing such a thing as hiring drovers, only to find out he’s the lone man going with five woman, including a baby still in diapers. After the cattle drive is over, he might as well shoot himself to speed up the process of being embarrassed to death.

A fast approaching winter.

The toughest lady rancher you’ve ever seen.

A cynical cowboy who has to convince five women he’s right for their ma. . .and then convince himself.

And one thousand head of the crankiest cattle who have ever been punched across the backbone of the Rockies.


GIVEAWAY!

For a chance to win a copy of one of Mary's books
Subscribe to Mary's newsletter

Winner will be announced April 17th
after subscription is verified

32 comments

Author DiAnn Mills & Sworn To Protect - Giveaway!

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: , | Posted On at 12:02 AM



Today, we're visiting with my friend DiAnn Mills. DiAnn's books line the book shelves of many inspirational fiction readers. If you're not familiar with DiAnn's writing, she'll soon become an author whose stories you'll enjoy. We have a triple treat, DiAnn, the hero, and heroine (Danika & Alex) have joined us today. Sit back, relax with a warm cup of tea and let's chat...

DiAnn, you write a deep-set story, seasoned well with details about the setting, the characters, their sympathies. It's not a light story, but one that really draws the reader into another world and keeps her there. What kind of research did you do for SWORN TO PROTECT? Hang out w/BP?

Actually I did hang out with the Border Patrol! My husband and I received permission from the BP office in Washington DC to tour the station in McAllen, TX. I respected and admired the BP prior to this trip, but that aspect grew after the three day visit! We have no idea of the danger involved, not only for the agents who have a commitment to their job, but for their families who can be targeted for BP activities. 

You did such a great job in SWORN TO PROTECT of objectively showing both sides--those eagerly crossing the border illegally for the chance at a better life and what it's like for them, and those who protect our borders and what they go through in upholding the law, but also not opposed to immigrants. Did you interview anyone trying to cross?

I live in Houston and I know those who are not legal immigrants. I understand their desire to have a better life. I also know - from these illegal immigrants - the fear of the gangs and those involved in crimes who also steal across the border. I'm glad you saw the objectivity because that was my goal. In short, yes I did interview illegal immigrants. 

How did this story come to you?

My stories are always about women in unlikely roles - strong women who are led to a role or a profession that does not traditionally belong to a woman. Living in Houston means being exposed to media reports about what is happening at the borders separating the US from Texas. To me, this was a setting to include in my Call of Duty series. I wanted a woman who was dedicated to the Border Patrol and had various hardships that stood in the way of all she attempted to do.

What's the next book in the series about?

Pursuit of Justice is about a woman who is an FBI agent sent to her old home in West Texas as lead agent in solving a series of murders. She learns her father is under suspicion and must reckon with a rocky past.  

That sounds like a great suspense read! I hope your FBI agent will drop in for a visit when her story hits the shelves. We'd love to meet her.

Now, a few questions for our hero & heroine, Danika & Dr. Price...

Danika, tell us about your job. And, what's the most difficult thing you do?

I'd say the most difficult part is the understanding that I can't take my job home. My daughter needs a mommy who has her undivided attention, not distracted by work problems. I refuse to allow fear to stand in my way when apprehending potential illegals, and I must always react and respond according to my oath to keep US borders safe. 

You just passed the two year mark of your husband's death, how are things going? What's going on in your life now?

Some days are better than others. I miss Toby, and I regret that he won't see our daughter grow up. And she will never know what a wonderful father he was to her. All she will know is the stories I tell her about him. I want Toby's murder solved, but the police haven't been able to find a clue. I fear they've given up. 

Dr. Alex Price seems like an interesting man. What circumstances bring you two together professionally?

He's a doctor at the hospital where we take illegals. He's nice enough and attractive, but we definitely have a difference of opinion when it comes to the border situation. I'm trying to keep him at arm's length.

What were your first impressions of him?

Kind. Caring. Compassionate. Hard not to like a guy like that. But definitely off limits for me. If the BP found out that I was dating a man who supported an open border, I'd lose my job. I should have asked him his position. 

We can definitely see the conflict there. I actually hope you'll find a way to get to know him better. In fact, let's turn to him now and put him in the hot spot.

Dr. Alex Price, please tell us about the hardest part of your job.

I know that once my patients leave the hospital, I may never see them again. Most of them are illegals who are fearful of being apprehended and sent back to their country. Some of my patients are brought in by the Border Patrol for medical treatment before being sent back across the border.

Dr. Price--Alex, you know a few things about Danika Morales without ever having met her before--how is it that you came by this information?

I knew her husband Toby. He used to bring in illegals for treatment. However, he never told me about his wife and child. Perhaps he feared for their welfare. When I learned who Danika had been married to, I was surprised because I thought Toby and I were good friends. 

She's interesting to you (we can tell by the way your eyes smile even though your lips don't necessarily), what do you admire about her?

Strength and compassion in the line of duty. I thought a woman BP agent would be hard, but she's not. For that matter, most of the agents who bring in people for medical attention are compassionate. Danika is more . . . she's a solid professional with a feminine touch. Guess you can tell I'm attracted to her. :)



Yes, we can! And we like that you're persistent. You both have a wonderfully suspenseful story - I very much enjoyed SWORN TO PROTECT. DiAnn's writing is flawless, and the story is so good, the characters so interesting that before I knew it, I'd turned the last page. A great read and I'm looking forward to the next book.


Sworn To Protect - Available Now!
Border Patrol Agent Danika Morales has sworn to protect the southern borders of our nation, but that oath has cost her. Two years ago, her husband, Toby, was killed trying to help the very immigrants Danika was responsible for sending back to Mexico. His murder was never solved. But now, a recent string of attacks and arrests leads her to believe that someone in McAllen is profiting from sneaking undocumented immigrants into the country . . . and it may somehow be tied to Toby’s death. Watch the trailer on www.DiAnnMills.com


A Woman Called Sage - Coming May 2010
They took away everything she loved ... now, she's out for revenge. Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever. Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution. Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it's found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for. In this exciting historical romance set in the late 1800s, murder, intrigue, kidnapping, and questions of faith will keep you in suspense until the final pages. Watch the trailer on www.DiAnnMills.com


GIVEAWAY!

Want TWO chances to win? Here's how:

1) Answer the question and leave a comment here on The Homestead Heart

2) Let us know that you are or have signed up for DiAnn's newsletter (doesn't matter if you've been on it for a while or if you're just now signing up. But, you do have to let us know in the comment here that you are currently signed up.)

Giveaway of Sworn To Protect
Question from DiAnn:

What foreign mission is close to my heart?


You can find the answer on www.DiAnnMills.com 
Don't forget to sign up for her newsletter!

Giveaway winner will be announced 
Saturday, April 17, 2010
36 comments

A Special Treat From A Real Irishman - Author Terry Burns

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: | Posted On at 8:23 PM

Can I introduce you to a friend of mine? He's a fun inspirational writer who blogs regularly on Bustles And Spurs. 

Terry is both an honest to goodness real cowboy and an Irishman. How can it get any better than that?

Here's Terry...

Since it's St Patrick's Day and a lot of people know that I'm a 5th generation Irish storyteller and a 4th generation Texas Bull Shipper (you notice how carefully I said that word) that it might be appropriate to say a few words.

My Irish heritage goes back further than 5 generations, that's just as far as I can document the storytellers in the line, although I suspect they all are. My great-grandmother was an O'Green from Cork County, although they dropped the O on the boat on the way over and it just became Green. I know her daddy could spin a wee tale, so that makes five for sure.

On St Pats day everyone wants to be Irish. I was at a conference in San Antonio when it rolled around a couple of years ago and everyone in the place was trying to be Irish to the core. When they found out I was the real deal I became something of a celebrity. Given my size they speculated that I might actually be a leprechaun disguised in a ten gallon hat. Someone pointed out that leprechauns were very little men but someone else quickly pointed out “not in Texas.”

I neither confirmed nor denied it and still stand by that position. If you look up the definition of leprechaun it says "they usually take the form of old men who enjoy partaking in mischief." Ask my wife if that isn't true.

Should any of you be superstitious, or if you just don't want to take chances, the famous "Luck of the Irish" is only transferable on this day by receiving an Irish blessing, preferably from a real leprechaun. For that reason I will now pronounce upon you the most famous of all the Irish blessings:

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be always at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your face
The rains fall soft upon your fields
And until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Oh, yes, it's also said that you can capture a leprechaun and find the location of their pot of gold, but that's back in the old country and you'd have to catch one over there to accomplish that.

The first book in The Sagebrush Collection, On the Road Home contains short stories and poems about life and love from renowned inspirational western writer and literary agent Terry Burns.


Now for a little fun...visit Terry's site (you'll want to bookmark it, I've spent a good deal of time there!) and find the answer to the following question. 

Come back here and post the answer in your comment for a chance to win a copy of this book. I'll announce the winner and send the book on March 27th.

What award did one of Terry's books win recently? And what was the name of that book?


17 comments

Guest author Jennifer AlLee ~ The Pastor's Wife ~ GIVEAWAY

Posted by Tina Dee Books | Labels: | Posted On at 3:48 PM


Today, we're visiting with a writer friend of mine, Jennifer AlLee. She's got a great new book out and I thought you'd like to hear about it ~ The Pastor's Wife. So before you settle in, grab your favorite little treat to nibble on and, of course, a cuppa and let's visit with Jennifer.

Jennifer, please give us a little preview of The Pastor’s Wife.
Maura Sullivan never thought she’d see Granger, Ohio, again. But when circumstances force her to return, she must face all the disappointments she tried so hard to leave behind; a husband that ignored her, a congregation she couldn’t please, and a God who took away everything she ever loved.


Nick Shepherd had put the past behind him. At least he thought he had, until the day his estranged wife walked back into town. Intending only to help Maura through her crisis of faith, Nick discovers his feeling for her never died. Now, he must face the mistakes he made and find a way to give and receive forgiveness.

As God works in both their lives, Nick and Maura start to believe they can repair their broken relationship and reunite as man and wife. But Maura has one more thing to tell Nick before they can move forward. It’s the thing that finally drove her to leave six years earlier, and the one thing that can destroy the fragile trust they’ve managed to rebuild.

What made you want to write this book?
 
I served as a church secretary for many years which definitely gave me a unique perspective on the lives of a pastoral family. I worked at two different churches. One was a large denominational church, the other much smaller and non-denominational. But the lives of the pastors were quite similar. There’s always another meeting to go to, or one more person that needs counseling. People feel very possessive about their pastors. This usually manifests itself in positive ways, but sometimes it crosses a line. You have to watch out for that. And the pastoral family faces challenges no one really thinks about. They basically live in a glass house and are expected to be active members of every church activity, whether they’re interested in it or not.


When I was working on the original concept for this novel, I thought about the pastors’ wives I’ve known over the years. They’ve handled themselves with amazing grace under pressure. But what if another woman couldn’t? What if a young woman thinks she knows what she’s getting into, but the reality of losing who she is and becoming a “pastor’s wife” is more than she can handle? What if some other tragedy pushes her over the edge? Would she run? And what would happen if she had to return to the scene of her heartbreak years later? All those questions eventually became The Pastor’s Wife.

Have you always wanted to be a writer? 

I’ve always wanted to be something creative. I went through stages where I wanted to be a photographer, a singer, an actress… but I’ve always been writing. I was that kid in school who wrote a novella when the assignment was only to write a short story. I wrote my first novel during my senior year in high school and finished the second one in college. Neither one were very good, but they were good learning experiences. And I still have both of them packed away in a box.

Beside The Pastor’s Wife, what else have you published?
 
Early in my writing journey, I sold a few short stories. Later on, I had the honor of being recommended for a project at Concordia Publishing House. My pastor at the time writes for them and he thought I’d be good for a book of skits they were putting together. I did that, which led to other projects including writing for their My Devotions series. To date, I’ve written over 100 devotions. My first published book is The Love of His Brother, a contemporary inspirational romance for Five Star. You can read more about it on my website.

What’s your writing process like?
 
When I started out, I was a 100% seat-of-the-pants writer. That means I’d sit down at the computer with just an idea in my head and let it all unfold from there. But over the last few years, I’ve become a little more strategic in my approach. When you submit a proposal to an editor, you have to provide a synopsis of the entire book, from beginning to end, whether you’ve finished writing it or not. While I used to hate it, I’ve now come to appreciate the process. It forces me to think things through so that when I do sit down to write, I don’t spend as much time wondering what comes next. But I'm still quite fluid. If the story changes course in midstream, I go with it.

How do you come up with your ideas?
 
Ideas are everywhere! The hard part is knowing which ones will become great books. I tend to start with something I’m familiar with. In my first novel, The Love of His Brother, I set the story in Montana because, at the time, it was the only state I’d been to other than California. With The Pastor’s Wife, I started with my knowledge of ministerial families and church operations. So I start with a nugget of familiarity and then I start pushing it around, asking “what if this happened?” The questions layer one on top of the other, and pretty soon I’ve got a plot.

Authors sometimes say their characters take over the story. Have you ever had that happen to you?
 
Oh yeah. I love it when that happens! It makes me feel like God’s got a firm hold on the reins and He’s steering me in the right direction. In The Love of His Brother, I had a group of four teenagers in a mall. They were only supposed to be in that one scene, but they kept popping back into the story. They went from being mere walk-through characters to being important supporting players who deepened the story.

What advice do you have for new authors?
 
From a craft standpoint, there are two things you can do to become a better writer: read and write. Read books about the craft of writing and read other books in your genre. But don’t stop there. If you write sweet romances, stretch yourself and pick up a thriller. If you write historicals, try out a sci-fi or fantasy novel. Great writing is great writing, regardless of the subject matter. You can learn a lot by reading broadly.

For personal well-being, I would encourage every writer, no matter what stage you’re at, to have a support system. This includes belonging to a writer’s organization. I’m a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, which has been a huge blessing to me. Through it, I’ve cultivated friendships with other writers, including my best friend who is also my critique buddy. It’s great if your family supports your writing, but trust me, you need to have people you can go to who “get” you. 
You have a unique last name. Why is it spelled with a capital letter in the middle?
 
AlLee is my married name, so it’s really all my husband’s fault. The origin is French, and it’s morphed quite a bit over the years. Part of the family spells it like I do. Another part uses two lowercase “el”s. And a third rebel faction spells it with the capital “el” and an accent mark. I know it can be quite confusing. But it sure looks nice on a book cover when they get it right!

You grew up in Hollywood. How did that happen?
 
My grandparents met on the vaudeville circuit. Grandma was a dancer and my grandfather was a concert violinist from Hungary: Duci deKerekjarto (how’s that for a last name?) Duci immigrated to make his mark in Hollywood, which is how our family ended up there. He remained friends with another Hungarian performer, a Shakespearean actor named Bela Lugosi. (Yes, the original Dracula.) Bela died before I was born, but my mom remembers sitting on his lap and calling him Uncle Bela.

My own minor brush with fame came on the day I was born. Michael Landon Jr. and I were in the same hospital nursery in neighboring basinets. My Aunt Karen nearly passed out when she realized proud father Michael Sr. was standing at the window next to her!
 

He loves me . . . he loves me not . . .
Maura Sullivan thought she knew what she was getting into when she married soon-to-be pastor Nick Shepherd. But when “the other woman” in her marriage turned out to be her husband's congregation, she ran. Six years later, she’s back in the small community of Granger, Ohio, for the reading of a will that names both her and Nick as beneficiaries. Now Maura must face the husband – and the congregation – she left behind.
 ~ ~ ~ GIVEAWAY QUESTION ~ ~ ~

What famous theatre is across the street 
from Jennifer's childhood home?

For a chance to win a copy of The Pastor's Wife
answer the question above in the comment area

To find the answer, visit Jennifer's website.
31 comments
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