Congratulations to Molly for winning Marta Perry’s The Guardian’s Honor, to Juanita for winning Bonnie Leon’s Touching the Clouds, and to Cindy for winning Gail Sattler’s The Narrow Path.
This week I’m hosting Darlene Franklin with Prodigal Patriot, Elizabeth Ludwig with Love Finds You in Calico, California and Carla Stewart with Chasing Lilacs. If you want to enter the drawings, please leave a comment on one of the post during the week with your email address. I will not enter you without an email address (my way to contact you if you win). If you don’t want to leave an email address, another way you can enter is to email me at margaretdaley@gmail.com. The drawings end Sunday (July 18th) evening.
Bio for Darlene Franklin:
Award-winning author and speaker Darlene Franklin recently returned to cowboy country—Oklahoma—to be near family. She recently signed the contract for her twelfth book. This fall she is celebrating the repacking of her Rhode Island romance in Seaside Romance and her third novella anthology, Face of Mary in A Woodland Christmas. Visit Darlene’s blogs at www.darlenefranklinwrites.blogspot.com and http://thebookdoctorbd.blogspot.com.
Book blurb for Prodigal Patriot:
The Reids will not be scared away. Sally Reid’s family decides on a dangerous course when the Tories of Maple Notch, Vermont, chase Patriot families off their land. They live in a cave and farm their land by moonlight.
When Josiah Tuttle discovers their secret and offers to help, Sally doesn’t know if she can trust him. After all, Josiah’s father is one of the Tories who forced her family into hiding.
The Tuttles have already lost one son to the hated Patriot cause. How can Josiah both honor his grieving father and protect the woman he loves? When called upon to take a stand, which side will he choose? How can Sally and Josiah battle through the barriers separating them to love and forgiveness?
Bio of Elizabeth Ludwig:
Elizabeth Ludwig’s first novel, Where the Truth Lies, which she co-authored with Janelle Mowery, was released in spring of 2008 from Heartsong Presents: Mysteries, an imprint of Barbour Publishing. This was followed in 2009 by “I’ll Be Home for Christmas,” part of a Christmas anthology collection called Christmas Homecoming, also from Barbour Publishing.
In 2010, Elizabeth’s first full-length historical novel, Love Finds You in Calico, California will be released from Summerside Press. Books two and three of her mystery series, Died in the Wool, and A Black Die Affair, respectively, are slated for release in 2011 from Barbour Publishing.
In 2008, Elizabeth was named the IWA Writer of the Year for her work on Where the Truth Lies. She is the owner and editor of the popular literary blog, The Borrowed Book.
Elizabeth is an accomplished speaker and dramatist, having performed before audiences of 1500 and more. She works fulltime, and currently lives with her husband and two children in Texas.
To learn more about Elizabeth and her work, visit her at www.elizabethludwig.com.
Book Blurb for Love Finds You in Calico, California:
A young seamstress weaves her own story in a world run by men. After hearing news of a silver strike in Calico, California, Abigail Watts packs up her needles and thread and follows her beloved father out West. But when she’s suddenly left alone in the rough mining town, Abigail finds herself pressed into a marriage of convenience with the local livery owner, Nathan Hawk. Determined to uncover the mystery surrounding her father’s death in the mines, Abigail agrees to stay in Calico. But when the truth sets her free, she must decide whether to leave the town – and Nathan – for good.
Bio for Carla Stewart:
A two-time ACFW Genesis winner, Carla Stewart is a Guideposts Writers Workshop alumna and has been published in Guideposts, Angels on Earth, and several regional magazines and anthologies. Her debut novel, Chasing Lilacs, released in June 2010 with FaithWords. Carla enjoys a good cup of coffee, weekend getaways with her husband, and the antics of their six grandchildren.
From the FaithWords Spring Catalog about Chasing Lilacs:
Debut author Carla Stewart
tugs heartstrings in this powerful
novel about a girl searching
for the truth about her
mother’s love.
It’s the summer of 1958, and life in the small Texas community of Graham Camp should be simple and carefree. But not for Sammie Tucker. She has plenty of questions about her mother’s “nerve” problems, shock treatments, and whether her mother loves her.
When tragedy strikes, Sammie’s life careens out of control and she must choose who to trust with her deepest fears: her best friend who has an opinion about everything, the mysterious boy from California whose own troubles plague him, or her round-faced neighbor with gentle advice and strong shoulders to cry on.
Trusting is one thing, but accepting the truth may be the hardest thing Sammie has ever done.
• This is Carla Stewart’s first published novel. She won first
place in the 2007 American Christian Fiction Writers’ Genesis
contest for CHASING LILACS.
• This brilliant novel is written in the same vein as Sue Monk
Kidd’s beloved novel The Secret Life of Bees (Penguin, 8/08).
• Carla’s articles have appeared in Guideposts, Angels on
Earth, Saddle Baron: Magazine of the West, and Blood and
Thunder: Musings on the Art of Medicine. Her story “A Nod
in the Right Direction” appeared in the 2007 Shades of Tulsa
anthology.
• Carla maintains a website (www.carlastewart.com) and
blog (www.carlastewart.blogspot.com) and is on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ChasingLilacs
Book Cover Endorsements:
“A remarkable debut novel. Carla Stewart cleverly captures the stark simplicity of a young girl’s voice with all the masterful qualities of powerful prose. Unforgettable.”
—Susan Meissner, author of The Shape of Mercy
“CHASING LILACS is the kind of coming of age story that sticks to you beyond the last page. Unforgettable characters, surprising plot twists, and a setting so southern you’ll fall in love with Texas. Carla Stewart is a new talent to watch!”
—Mary E. DeMuth, author of Daisy Chain and A Slow Burn
