Sunday, August 15, 2021

Mid-Month Madness Party!


We really appreciate you coming by! We will be giving away books so be sure to pay attention about how to enter. 
 
To enter for a chance to win, you MUST leave a comment WITH your EMAIL and you MUST ask one or more of the authors a question you’d like to know about them, their writing, or their books. 
 
We are looking forward to getting to know you better and hope you’ll get to know us better, too! 

Be sure to drop by the Facebook Party for a chance to mingle with the authors, and nab even more great giveaways!

The party is TODAY from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM Eastern Time.



SPIES & SWEETHEARTS
By Linda Shenton Matchett

According to the OSS training manual, the life expectancy of a radio operator in Nazi-occupied France is six weeks. Partnered with one of the agency’s top spies, Gerard Lucas, newly-minted agent Emily Strealer plans to beat those odds. Then their cover is blown and all bets are off. 
 
The border to neutral Switzerland is three hundred miles away—a long way to run with SS soldiers on their heels. Will Emily and Gerard survive the journey? And what about their hearts? Nothing in the manual prepared them for falling in love. 





BENT TREE BRIDE
By Denise Weimer

Susanna Moore can’t get him out of her mind—the learned lieutenant who delivered the commission from Andrew Jackson making her father colonel of the Cherokee Regiment. But the next time she sees Sam Hicks, he’s wearing the garb of a Cherokee scout rather than the suit of a white gentleman. 

As Susanna’s father and Sam’s commanding officer, Colonel Moore couldn’t have made his directive to stay away from his daughter clearer to Sam. Then a suspected spy forces Moore to rely on Sam for military intelligence and Susanna’s protection, making it impossible for either to guard their heart. 





RESCUING HER HEART
By Cindy Ervin Huff

Her husband's evil deeds haunt a mail-order bride from the grave, can she learn to trust again and open her heart to true love? Jed has his own nightmares from a POW camp and understands Delilah better than she knows herself. Can two broken people form a forever bond? 





THE DEBUTANTE'S SECRET
By Mary Davis

Washington State 1894 

Geneviève Marseille has one purpose in coming to Kamola—stopping her brother from digging up the past. Deputy Montana has lived a simple life. But when a fancy French lady steps off the train and into his arms, his modest existence might not be enough anymore. A nemesis from Aunt Henny's past arrives in town threatening her with jail. Will she flee as she’d done all those years ago, or stand her ground in the town she’s made her home? When secrets come out, will the lives of Geneviève, Montana, and Aunt Henny ever be the same? 







Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. She is a volunteer docent and archivist for the Wright Museum and currently working with the museum curator to create her first exhibit entitled “Shaped by Conflict.” Linda is a native of Baltimore, MD and was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry. She has lived in historical places all her life and is now located in central New Hampshire where her favorite activities include exploring historic sites and immersing herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors. 



 
Denise Weimer writes historical and contemporary romance and romantic suspense, mostly set in her home state of Georgia. She’s authored a dozen traditionally published novels and a number of novellas. As a historical and romance editor for Iron Stream Media, she also helps others reach their publishing dreams. A wife and mother of two daughters, Denise always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses. 



 
Cindy Ervin Huff is an Award-winning author of Historical and Contemporary Romance. She loves infusing hope into her stories of broken people. She addicted to reading and chocolate. Her idea of a vacation is visiting historical sites and an ideal date with her hubby of almost fifty years would be live theater. 



 
Bestselling, award-winning novelist MARY DAVIS has over thirty titles in both historical and contemporary themes. She is a member of ACFW and has led critique groups for more than two decades. Mary lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband of thirty-seven years and one cat. She has three adult children and three adorable grandchildren. She enjoys playing board and card games, rain, and cats. She would enjoy gardening if she didn’t have a black thumb. Her hobbies are quilting, porcelain doll making, sewing, crafts, crocheting, and knitting.

52 comments:

  1. My question is for you all….
    Did the women before you, your mothers, grandmothers, love to write? Was your love of writing inherited or did you just start this on your own!
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Melanie,
      That's a great question. As far as I know, no . . . but last year, I learned that one of my mom's 1st cousins wrote a novel in the late 1990s, which I have recently inherited from the cousin's sister (also a 1st cousin of my mom, which makes her my 1st cousin once removed). She went blind soon after writing it and has since passed away. Her sister offered it to me to do with it whatever I want. She didn't want to pass away and have it found in her garage and thrown away because no one knew what it was. I plan to edit it and self-publish it.
      It's kind of exciting to know that someone else in my family wrote a novel.
      My mom and two older sisters were always big readers, always a book in their hands.
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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    2. Hi Melanie! That is a fantastic question. I'm not aware of any women before me who wrote, but on my mom's side they were all farm wives and may not have had the time or energy!). I always thought my paternal great-aunt would have made a great author. She was a wonderful storyteller. I definitely inherited the love to read from both sides of the family!

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    3. Melanie, I was the first in my family to write novels. My parents were history buffs who took me to old houses and towns. Around age 11, I had such an active imagination, I started scribbling stories about the people who might've lived in those places. - Denise

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  2. What an excellent question, Melanie. My mother had trouble spelling-so no. But she ignited the desire to read in me by reading to me at an early age. She even invested in a monthly book club for my sisters and I. My love of reading spurred my already vivid imagination. And that imagination is what fuels my stories. Thanks for asking.

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  3. My question is for Denise Weimer. How long does it take you to research the history and location for your novels?

    My email is bonnieweinman@gmail.com. Not sure it will show up?

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    1. Hi, Bonnie! Thankfully, I've gotten a lot faster with research with practice. For my first four-book series, I researched a year before I ever started writing, then kept researching during the writing. For Bent Tree Bride, it took me six weeks to research AND write. I guess I've learned how to zero in on what's most important and integrate it more subtly. :) - Denise

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  4. Darn it, I showed up as unknown, sorry. I'm Bonnie Weinman.

    My question is for Denise Weimer. How long does it take you to research the history and location for your novels?

    My email is bonnieweinman@gmail.com.

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  5. This question is for all the authors: Did you enjoy history in high school or go to historical sites for family vacations to develop your love for history?
    marilynridgway78 (at)gmail (dot)com

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    1. Yes! My parents took me to historic sites as a child, which prompted me to start writing historical stories. When I was a teen, I convinced them to take me to re-enactments so my writing would feel more realistic. It worked! ... We still love a good historical outing together. I often set up book tables at historical festivals, and they come to help me and partake of the atmosphere. - Denise

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    2. I did NOT enjoy history classes at all in high school. I took a couple in college, but the professor unfortunately was dry. After I married, we lived in Northern Virginia which has a lot of Civil War sites and we were 2 hours from Gettysburg and Williamsburg, and going to those places ignited my interest.

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    3. Hi Marilyn,
      I did not enjoy history classes. They were dry, boring dates and facts, nothing personal about it. I now enjoy history because I can go beyond the dry facts for a test. I love learning the unusual things in history. The more unusual the better. I can now imagine what a person in a particular time was doing day to and feeling. What was it like for an ordinary person. I also love learning about the history behind everyday objects like popcorn, forks, and meatloaf. I also love learning about the unusual like mourning lockets and rotating jails, and an underwater ballroom. There is so much interesting stuff in history that was never taught in class.
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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  6. Do you ever get ideas and then forget them, then get that same idea over and over again?
    Cindi Klemm
    Klemmk.c@gmail.com

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    1. Yep. Then you know it needs to be written. i try to write those deas down when they come to me. I refuse to get up in the middle of the night and write them down though.

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    2. I can't say that's usually happened to me. Instead, I'm usually scratching my head, asking myself, "Now, what is a really good idea that hasn't been done to death in a plot before?" LOL - Deinse

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    3. Hi Cindi! I have a folder where I put my ideas so I don't forget them. But I have been known to write down an idea and put it in the file only to find it's already there! So like Cindy says, then I know it needs to be written.

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    4. Hi Cindi,
      If I've truly forgotten an idea, I don't know that I know I've gotten it over and over. Like others, I try to capture those ideas in some form so I can return to them to write. I have ideas that swirl around in the back of my mind until I have time to write them. Some are more pesky than others.
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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  7. Hi! All of your books sound wonderful! I'll ask all of you how do you check to see if an idea you're mulling over has already been written to death....
    Thanks so much for participating in this blog. I enjoy it daily! bcrug(at)twc(dot)com

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    1. That's hard to say. Some of the ones that are written to death are the most loved by readers. It's the twist or unusual settings that set your book apart.

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    2. Hi Connie: Intriguing question! As the other authors have indicated, it's difficult to know completely if an idea has been overdone, but I do try to keep up with books in my genre by reading a lot. Being part of book groups on social media also helps because of the discussions. There may be talk about a book I haven't read.

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    3. Hi Connie,
      Some ideas go in and out of popularity. If it's overdone today and people stop writing that idea, then in a ten years or more someone will write about that idea and it will seem fresh again. I think ideas go in cycles. Like the Bible says, "...there is nothing new under the sun..."
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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  8. That's a good question. It's hard to search thoroughly for that. The best we can do is watch new releases and read a sampling of what's out there. - Denise

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  9. My question is "Do your book characters talk to you, and if they do have you had to change something in the story because of it? aliciabhaney(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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    1. Hi Licha! Sometimes my characters do talk to me. I outline my books so I know where to take the story, but sometimes a character "walks off the page," and I have to take them where they lead me. That doesn't happen with every book for me, but it does happen more than I thought it would when I first became an author.

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    2. Hi Alicia,
      ALL THE TIME! I had a secondary character who was supposed to walk in and give the stubborn hero a piece of her mind. You know what she did? She gave him a rock! And left. Both the hero and I were standing there dumbfounded. What were we supposed to do with a rock? Another time, I had a secondary character who was scheduled for exactly one scene, ONE! Every time I turned around she was showing up again. I had to tell her this wasn't her story and she needed to leave because her presence was taking over the story She folded her arms and said, "Make me." I had to promise her, her own story and shipped her off to her parents'. I seem to have the most trouble with secondary characters. I did have a main character who blurted out in the middle of the story, "I'm adopted." "WHAT?! No you're not. I created you. I should know." She wouldn't budge. She was apparently adopted. Go figure.
      Characters can be very headstrong.
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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  10. Yep, sure do. One told me they were a woman and another didn't like their name.

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  11. This question is for all of the authors. If you were not a writer, what would you be?

    Luvthots at gmail dot com

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    1. Hi Roxanne! Sometimes I've thought it might be fun to be a professional singer in a group because I love to sing.

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    2. As a child I dream of being an actress or a singer. Don't all little girls. I seriously considered a career in the Air Force because of my Dad. But instead I married young raised and homeschooled five great kids and didn't start writing novels until I became a grandma. If I wasn't writing now I might be doing community theater or mission trips.

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    3. Hi, Roxanne. When I was deciding about my career, it was either writer or historical preservationist. I love the architecture and interiors of old homes. I decided I might be limited in where I could live for jobs in that field, plus my drive to write was super strong when I was really young, so you know which way I went ... :) - Denise

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    4. Hi Roxanne,
      I would be a teacher. I received my degree in education. I love teaching people and I love crafts, so it would be great to be a craft teacher. I would also love to be a fairy so I could fly around with sparkly wings and sprinkle fairy dust.
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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  12. Hello, ladies. My first comment is in answer to Denise's question about her books. I've read Bent Tree Bride but the Backcountry Brides Collection looks especially good. Thanks for the fun this afternoon!
    Connie
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks, Connie! Yes, I think you would really enjoy that collection. - Denise

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  13. Hello Linda, is there a subject or era that you've researched that totally amazed you? Something that you couldn't include in your story?
    Connie Saunders
    cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi Connie! I write both 1800s and WWII fiction, and thus far the most intriguing topic I researched was spying during WWII. There is a vast amount of information, a lot of it technical that would slow down the story if it was included.

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  14. I enjoy reading historical fiction. My question is Denise Weimer are you part Cherokee?
    Denise my answer for your question # 2 is Sautee Shadow sounds interesting--I love historical fiction from 1800's.
    Brenda Walters-lemonade050athotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hi, Brenda! That's a great question. For a while I did think I might be part Cherokee, but then I got some clarity that the Native American on my maternal grandmother's side was Creek ... from Alabama ... where Bent Tree Bride is set. So that was fascinating b/c in my story, the Cherokees and Americans face a Creek foe. I wish I had actual documentation instead of some photos and oral history about that part of my ancestry. ... I'm also glad you find The Georgia Gold Series interesting. It's written in a different style, more narrative, literary fiction than my more recent books. It gives a lot of history of NE GA and Savannah. :) - Denise

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  15. i want to read them all! Bent tree Bride sounds so good thank you amandasmother(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Thank you, Charlene, good luck on being drawn for the e-book! - Denise

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  16. To whoever who is willing to answer How do you decide what will happen in the story? Also I have read Fall Flip and hoping to read Denise Weimer’s contribution for Georgia Peaches Series.

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    1. Hi Erralee: I outline my stories so I know what will happen from beginning to end before I write. I have goals for each scene (e.g., up the tension or bring the characters closer, etc.) so I try to think up a way to do that through what they are doing that isn't cliche or been done a million times.

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    2. Erralee,I'm a pantster,I just start writing my idea, but I do have a general outline but it changes as the story evolves and the characters talk to me. I know the beginning, middle and end but some scenes are a wonderful surprise to me and others end in the delete file.

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    3. Hi, Erralee! When I'm writing, I start with an outline of any history involved and the main plot points of the story so I don't have any sagging parts, but I leave room for smaller changes as I go. I hope you get a chance to read A Holiday Heart soon. I actually have another one in that series coming this fall - A Harvest Heart. Keep an eye out for a .99 pre-order special. - Denise

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    4. Hi Erralee,
      It depends on the story. Some events I know what is going to happen, others I don't. I don't always write (almost never) stories in order. I'll write the beginning and then often jump to the end, then fill in randomly, then I need to connect the dots from one scene to another. So I ask myself, how do I get this character from point "G" to point "L" logically. I also sometimes ask, "How can I make things worse for this character?"
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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  17. Question :)
    Do you act out your characters in front of the mirror?
    kykla99ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. What a fun question. I've only "acted out" a couple of scenes in front of a mirror. I was trying to figure out how to describe an expression and found it helpful to look at myself doing it, but typically I don't do this.

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    2. No, but I sat in a chair once and tried to figure out how a character tied to that chair could escape. Great idea though.

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    3. Hi Natalya,
      Not usually. In the early days of my writing, I did use a mirror to describe a facial expression or two. I've acted out bits of a scene to be able figure out what the character might be feeling or thinking.
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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  18. love to ask the authors where do you find inspiration for your books? sheliarha64(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Shelia'
      I find inspiration from modern events that seems to click with historical ones.

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    2. Hi Sheila: I find inspiration from Bible stories, headlines, TV shows or books I think should have been done differently, conversation snippets, and real events.

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    3. Hi Shelia,
      EVERYWHERE! Books, TV, Movies, People, Events, Driving, At a Stoplight (Hmmm. I wonder who that person is walking in the crosswalk, where they are going, and why), My Dreams (I've had a few that would make great stories), Pets, Children, a Tree, Bugs, Car, Research, and this could go on and on and on and........
      Blessings,
      Mary
      =0)

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