Blog Tour: Topaz Reign by Teresa Richards

Topaz Reign by Teresa Richards

Book Description:

Fairy tales are simply tales, told and re-told, but changed over time.

It has been four months since Maggie learned the dark truth behind the tale of the Princess and the Pea and freed Princess Lindy from the cursed Emerald. Lindy is now back in the past where she belongs, queen of her tiny Scandinavian country, and Maggie is a fully reformed ex-stalker.

Except … she can’t stop doing internet searches on Lindy and her country.

One morning, Maggie wakes to find history turned on its head. Apparently, you can’t destroy a centuries-old curse without consequence. In order to prevent the changes in history from wiping out the present, Maggie resurrects her stalking gene and learns that fairy tales don’t stay dead for long.

Or at all.

Back in 1623, Lindy is juggling a threat to her family, a handsome new guard she’s not supposed to have feelings for, and a cursed Topaz with ties to the tale of Thumbelina. When past and present collide, Lindy and Maggie are brought together again, and another of Andersen’s tales turns from twisted fiction to chilling fact.

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle

Tour Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Interview:

What inspired you to write Topaz Reign?

I’m a little embarrassed to admit that it really started with a dream. I’d recently finished writing a different book I was really excited about, but was more women's fiction than young adult. Then one morning I woke up from one of those dreams that make perfect sense while you’re in them but fall to pieces when you wake up. It involved having to rescue a friend from certain death by getting a marble-like stone out from under her bed--I know, super random and weird. But it changed my direction.

I realized that the stone thread from that dream would make a really cool YA twist on the fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. I love reading fairy tale retellings, and the idea of twisting one up that hadn’t been done before was so exciting. Immediately, the story spun to life inside my head, and I stopped thinking about that first book and started working on this one. Even once Emerald Bound was finished, I felt there was still so much more I wanted to see the characters do, and so many more places I could take it, that I knew I wanted to do another. Hence, Topaz Reign.

Is there a message in Topaz Reign that you want readers to come away with?

I really didn’t write this book with the intent to deliver a message, but I hope readers come away with a new appreciation for family. I also hope readers will realize that it’s possible to be strong even when you lose your support network and the odds are stacked against you, but it’s also okay to accept help when it’s offered. 

Who is your favorite character in your book, and why?

I love both of my leading ladies—Maggie and Lindy. But this book was about Lindy coming into her own, while Emerald Bound was more about Maggie. I love the person that Lindy became through Topaz Reign. She handled herself with dignity and poise even in the toughest of circumstances, and I admire her for that.

What are your hopes/goals as an author, and what other projects do you have in mind?

I write because I love it, but writing something you know you’ll be able to share with other people makes it that much better. I love talking with teens about writing (and, really, all things life) and I hope to inspire them to chase their dreams in a way I didn’t have the courage to do when I was their age. I signed with a literary agent about a year ago, with the goal of bringing my stories to a wider audience. We have a book currently on submission with editors, a YA contemporary suspense, and another YA contemporary that I’m working on. I don’t want to say too much about either project, but the first features a piano playing lottery winner, and the second involves roller-skating gymnasts. How’s that for vague?

Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

Well, right now I’m sitting in the back seat of my car, in a deserted parking lot, writing on my laptop while I wait for the library to open. Does that count as unusual? I have five kids between the ages of six and sixteen, so I have to make use of every moment I can. I often find myself writing in the car as I wait for somebody’s class/lesson/school activity/club to end, or waiting outside the library before it opens because I had to take one of my kids to school or to a doctor appointment before school and it would be a waste of time to go home. There are fewer distractions in the car (actually, like none—it’s not comfortable enough to lay down for a nap, and there’s no tv or internet or dishes or laundry) and I’m often able to focus better.

What do you like to do when you’re not writing?

I love music. I play the piano when I need a mental break (it’s better than a therapist, I’d say) and I’ve always got a song stuck in my head (which I sing out loud in all sorts of places I shouldn’t, like the grocery store and the movie theater). I also enjoy watching movies and spending time with my family and friends. And reading, of course. Always reading.

What is your favorite book, and why?

Oh, man, that’s like asking me to pick my favorite child. There are so many books I love, and for different reasons. The Book Thief is at the top of my list, just because it’s so surprisingly different in the way that it’s written. And, of course, the story is amazing. I also love a little book called Ella Minnow Pea for being so clever. And then there’s the Cinder series and the Splintered series, both fairy tale retellings that I adore. And there are so many others. So, yeah, I’m sorry but I can’t pick just one. Books are the best!

Tour Schedule:

Tuesday, October 3--Katie's Clean Book Selection
Thursday, October 5--Singing Librarian Books
Thursday, October 5--Cindy's Treasury of Good Tales--review

Friday, October 6--Blooming With Books Saturday, October 7--Cindy's Treasury of Good Tales--Guest post, Interview with the Topaz Reign Characters Saturday, October 7--By Robin King

Sunday, October 8--Head Over Books
Monday, October 9--Why not? Because I said so!
Tuesday, October 10--EmmyMom 
Tuesday, October 10--Five Take Flight
Wednesday, October 11--Kindle And Me 
Wednesday, October 11--Getting Your Read On
Thursday, October 12--My Book A Day
Friday, October 13--Brookie Cowles
Saturday, October 14--LDS Women's Book Reviews 
Saturday, October 14--Literary Time Out 

Blog Tour: A Death in the Family by Marlene Bateman

Book Description:

Meet Erica Coleman—a gifted and quirky private investigator with an OCD-like passion for neatness and symmetry, a penchant for cooking, (ten terrific recipes are included), and a weakness for chocolate.

In A Death in the Family, the second in the Erica Coleman series, private eye Erica Coleman and her family happily anticipate Grandma Blanche’s eighty-first birthday celebration in the picturesque town of Florence, Oregon. But when the feisty matriarch, a savvy businesswoman, suspects wrongdoing and asks Erica to investigate her company, things get sticky.

Before the investigation can even begin, Blanche’s unexpected death leaves Erica with more questions than answers—and it is soon clear Grandma’s passing was anything but natural: she was murdered. When another relative becomes the next victim of someone with a taste for homicide, Erica uses her flair for cooking to butter up local law enforcement and gather clues.

Erica’s OCD either helps or hinders her—depending on who you talk to—but it’s those same obsessive and compulsive traits than enable Erica to see clues that others miss. When she narrowly escapes becoming the third victim, Erica is more determined than ever to solve the case.

Excerpt:

“It’s hard to believe she’s gone,” Kristen said dolefully. “When I moved here, I thought I’d have years with Grandma. She was always so active—I thought she’d keep going for years.”

“And all the time, her heart was getting weaker,” Trent said glumly.

Walter commented, “The last time I saw her, Blanche said the doctor told her she had the constitution of a mule.”

There were a few smiles at this, but Martha’s brow furrowed in confusion. “But Mom’s death didn’t have anything to do with how healthy she was.”

“What are you talking about?” Trent’s impatient voice billowed out and filled the small room.

Martha squirmed but fluttered on, “Well, after what Mom said when she came to visit me, you know—about how something wrong was going on in the company—I worried that something might happen.”

Her response reverberated around the room. Everyone went very still—as if they were holding their breath. 

Martha’s eyes went from one to another. “I didn’t mean—oh, I shouldn’t have said anything,” she stammered. Her voice was pure distress. “It’s just that . . . well, we’re all family here, so it’s okay, isn’t it? I mean, no one else knows.”

“No one else knows what?” Trent said brusquely.

Visibly flustered, Martha’s hands twisted in her lap. “And . . . and Mother was very old and—and the police haven’t even come, have they?”

Erica wondered what Martha could be getting at. Everyone darted quizzical looks at each other, trying to make sense out of Martha’s confused chirruping.

After meeting blank looks all around, Martha blurted, “I mean, that’s good . . . isn’t it? For the family?”

The room remained deadly silent as Martha’s cheeks flamed red.

There was a rumble as Walter cleared his throat. “Why would the police come?”

“Why, to arrest someone.” Martha sounded surprised—as if he had asked something that was completely and absolutely self-evident. She stared at Walter, as if he and he alone could straighten everything out. “Isn’t that why they’re doing an autopsy? I mean, don’t they always do an autopsy when someone has been murdered?”

Interview:

You began by writing nonfiction—Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, then a 3-book series about true angelic experiences, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visits from Beyond the Veil, and By the Ministering of Angels, and then last year, Gaze into Heaven; Near-death Experiences in Early Church History, and Heroes of Faith. What made you turn to fiction?

I started out writing magazine articles when my children were little because that’s the only writing I had time for. From that, my writing evolved into nonfiction.  I longed to write fiction, but didn’t think I could write novels. But I wised up and at some point realized that non-fiction writers are just as talented as fiction writers. So I finally decided to write a novel. It was hard but very rewarding. I kept working at it for three years, then sent it into a publisher, who accepted Light on Fire Island, which turned out to be a bestseller. Yay!

Does music help you or distract you while you are writing? If you like to listen to music while you write, what is a favorite selection?

I don’t generally listen to music as I write.  However, once in a while I’ll slip in a CD, but it is something simple and soothing, like “Sounds of the Forest” or “Rain” or “Sounds of Nature.” I don’t listen to anything with lyrics (except at Christmas time) so I don’t get distracted.

Who is your favorite author? Can you name a favorite book?

One of my favorite authors is Maeve Binchy.  I love her writing; she has a way of getting you so involved in her characters.  She writes about Ireland and it’s so interesting. I just finished Minding Frankie, which is good.  Glass Lake is amazing, as is Firefly Summer.  I’ve read everything she’s written.

When did you first know you wanted to be an author?

In Jr. High. That’s when I decided I wanted to be a writer. In high school I made a time line of my goals in life, which included having five books published by the time I was thirty!   I didn’t quite make that because when I was in college, I got married and when children came along, I put my dream of writing on the back burner until they got older. 


Were you ever discouraged as you tried to become published? If so, how did you deal with it?

I started out by writing for magazines, which was very discouraging, because it’s a tough field and involves a lot of rejection.  Looking back, I think part of my discouragement came from not having much time to write. Also, I never did develop a thick skin. Despite feeling discouraged, I kept telling myself to persevere and each time I got rejected, I would redo the article and send it to another magazine.



Where do your ideas for mysteries come from?  

Mostly my ideas come from other books.  I pay attention to novels I read and often when I’m done with a book I like, I write up a short summary and file it away. Then, when it’s time to come up with a new idea for a book, I read through all of my summaries, do a lot of thinking and pondering, and eventually come up with an idea for a new plot. 


How do you come up with characters names and place names in your books?

I get my names from two sources. First, I can look online. I found a great website that lists names according to year. This way, if I have an older character, I can type in their birth year and have a long list of names from that era to pick from.  Second, I save names from the sports pages of my local newspaper when they list all-star football and basketball teams.  I clip out the entire page and file it away for when I need some current popular names. Each page has dozens of cool names.

As for the place names in my books, they are all 100% accurate. For A Death in the Family, my husband and I drove to Oregon, rented a car and drove all over Florence and Lake Oswego. When I describe the Sea Lion Caves and how the gift shop and caves are laid out, it’s all accurate, as is the descriptions of the beach, Heceta Head lighthouse, the  historic Siuslaw Bridge, Charl’s Restaurant, etc. Everything, including the church house and stores in historic Florence are as described. I take great pride in going to each and every setting I write about, taking tons of pictures and notes, so that everything is accurate.

About the Author:

Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan and they are the parents of seven children. 

Her hobbies are gardening, camping, and reading.  Marlene has been published extensively in magazines and newspapers and has written a number of non-fiction books, including:  Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s From Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, Brigham’s Boys, and Heroes of Faith.  Her latest book is Gaze Into Heaven; Near Death Experiences in Early Church History, a fascinating collection of over 50 documented near-death experiences from the lives of early latter-day Saints.

Marlene’s first novel was the best-selling Light on Fire Island. Her next novel was Motive for Murder, which is the first in a mystery series that features the quirky private eye with OCD, Erica Coleman.

Website

Title: A Death in the Family
Author: Marlene Bateman
Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.
Published: February 2014
ISBN: 1621085732

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book | Seagull Book

Available online and at LDS bookstores

Blog Tour: Do Not Attempt in Heels compiled by Elise Hahl and Jennifer Knight

Tour

Do Not Attempt in Heels:

Mission Stories and Advice from Sisters Who've Been There 

Compiled by Elise Hahl and Jennifer Knight 

Book Description:

Whether a sister has already worn a missionary badge or is still planning to wear one, this collection of personal stories from the mission field is sure to inspire and entertain. Feel the elation, exhaustion, humor, frustration, and faith of these dedicated sister missionaries. Share the spirit of the divine work of sister missionaries with Do Not Attempt in Heels. 

Editor Interview:

E=Elise Hahl
J=Jennifer Knight

What inspired you to write Do Not Attempt in Heels?

E: When I was preparing for a mission, my mission prep teacher handed each class member a collection of stories and talks about missions. We read one each week. Each story was absolutely wonderful and really helped me, but I don't remember any one of them being written by a sister missionary, and as I learned on my mission, the elder experience isn't always identical to the sister experience. Fast forward ten years (okay, twelve) and the time was finally ripe for a sister missionary book because of the age change. When our publisher asked me if I was willing to put together some sort of compilation for sisters, I was really excited about the idea, and Jenn was excited too when I asked her to be my partner in crime. This kind of book is really a dream for both of us. What we put together is a sister-version of the packet our mission prep teacher handed us--something I wish I could have read before my own mission. 

How did you decide what to include, and what was the compilation process?

J: It was a very unscientific process. We asked friends and friends of friends. We asked for recommendations from mission presidents we knew, and we prayed. I really feel like the essays that came into our hands were the ones that needed to be in this book.

E: I actually flagged down a person I didn't know after her talk at church because I had this strong feeling that she'd be great for the book. She was kind enough not to make me feel like some weirdo stalker, and she ended up writing a great essay about deciding to serve a mission. Jenn had a similar situation in her own ward while watching someone speak.

What do you hope for people to gain from reading your book?

J: We hope to give girls who are trying to decide about serving a mission a good idea of what to expect. We were really trying to take a snapshot of the different phases and feelings you experience on a mission, and I think we achieved it: the joy of a call, the pain if homesickness, the heaviness of discouragement and the euphoria of watching someone's life change for the better. Then there are all the quirks of mission life: companionship issues, crushing on an elder, finding the balance between the letter and the spirit of the laws, roaches and sweat and physical exertion. There really is a little bit if everything, and that's exactly what we were going for!

E: Hopefully, these stories can help sister missionaries to be patient with themselves and to help them know that they're not alone--we've been through it all! But we also hope it will inspire them to know just what they are capable are doing. There are some truly amazing stories in here about sisters changing the dynamics of their wards, falling in love with the scriptures, helping unlikely candidates to become rock-solid converts, etc.

Were you surprised by any of the issues you collected from returned sister missionaries, or the topics mission presidents suggested that you include? And, if you weren’t surprised since you’ve been there, what do you think readers might find surprising?

E: I was a little surprised by how willing these exemplary sister missionaries were to tell stories about the times they felt weak. But I was so glad--those stories makes the book very personal and I think it will help people, both on and off the mission.

J: I'm not surprised by what we got, but a little worried that we were going to paint a really heavy picture of mission life. We all wrote about times that were turning points for us and a lot of these were really hard! But in the end, I feel pretty good about the mix. It does show that a mission is no walk in the park and it requires serious mental and emotional preparation, but the joy and personal growth make all the hard times worth it.

Do you have other writing projects in mind?

J: Ask me after I can get a full nights sleep! I wrote my Masters thesis on church attendance of single adult Christians in the US, and I've been itching to do more research on some of the interesting things I found. Elise jokingly suggested a "DO Attempt in Heels" book about post-mission dating life. I thought that was pretty funny.  This is all in the pretend world where life happens exactly as I want it to and I could devote as much time as I need to a fun project. This could be my first and last writing project, we will just have to see!

E: I'm working on a project with my dad, who served as a mission president in Brazil. He kept all the weekly letters his missionaries sent him and wanted to organize them into a book. Some of the stories are just incredible. But Jenn's right--a full night's sleep would also be really nice at this point! Someday...

About the Editors:

Website | Facebook 

Elise Babbel Hahl served in the Brazil Manaus mission, located in the heart of the Amazon, where she learned the real meaning of humility and humidity. Afterward, she completed her studies in English at Stanford University, married her mission pen pal, and went on to earn a master’s degree in writing from Johns Hopkins University. Her work has been published in Choosing Motherhood, Whereabouts: Stepping Out of Place, Education Next magazine, and recorded on “The World in Words” podcast. She lives with her husband and four children in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area.

Jennifer Rockwood Knight thrives on action, whether it’s raising her four children, writing, running, teaching, or traveling abroad. She recently finished a thesis examining declining church attendance among Christian singles in the United States, which culminated in a master’s in liberal arts in extension studies from Harvard University. After that arduous pursuit, her husband, Kurt, now tries to encourage more relaxing activities like knitting and sleeping. It doesn’t work.

Title: Do Not Attempt in Heels: Mission Stories and Advice from Sisters Who've Been There

Editors: Elise Hahl and Jennifer Knight
Publisher: CFI an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: February 2014
ISBN: 1462113915

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle | Deseret Book

Blog Tour: The Gathering: End's Beginning by Randy Lindsay

*Interview*

Tour Schedule

Book Description:

Robert Williams didn't expect an early honorable release from his mission, but upon his return home, he sees the reason for the surprise decision. Unemployment, rampant violence, and frequent food shortages have put the United States on the brink of another civil war. As the threads of society unravel, the Williams family must adapt to drastic changes as the long-foretold gathering begins to take place.

Author Interview:

*What inspired you to write The Gathering: End’s Beginning?
Part of it is that apocalypse and post-apocalypse tales are my favorite kind of story. But I also noticed that all prophecies about of the future picture a grim fate. I wanted to put together a story about an average family who face the apocalypse and survive. I wanted to create a story that gives my readers hope no matter what situation they face.


*Who is your favorite character in your books, and why?
 
That's easy; Calvin McCord. I'm not much of a fan of politics. Calvin is an old soldier who is now serving his country in Washington. He's the kind of person I would like to see representing us in government. For him it's all about making this country as great as it can be and he's not afraid of stepping on a few toes to make that happen.


*What are your hopes/goals as an author, and what other projects do you have in mind?
My goal as an author is to entertain people. Anytime someone tells me they laughed, or cried, or got chills from what I wrote, I know I succeeded. My hope is that I can write a story that really connects with my readers. Something that they will remember even years from now.

As for projects, I have a dozens of stories I want to write and hopefully get published. I'm about half finished with what I call a murder-comedy about two friends who solve mysteries in Hollywood. However, my wife keeps urging me to work on my story about Mormons in space. I won first place for it in the LDStorymakers First Chapter contest in 2011.


*Do you have any unusual habits while you write?
 
I talk to myself. Well, really I'm just reading dialogue to make sure it sounds good. Other than that I don't really have any unusual writing habits. However, I am unusually creative. My wife routinely points out that EVERYTHING is a story to me. And she's right. Tell me a joke and there's a chance I turn it into a story. Mention the title of a song to me and thirty seconds later I have an idea for a novel. The result is that I have too many exciting projects to work on.


*What do you like to do when you're not writing?
 
Mostly, I like to hang out with my children and play board games. When I'm not doing that I work on family history. I am the official historian for my family.


*What is your favorite book, and why?
 
I have read Damnation Alley six times. Since I generally don't read a book twice, that is quite the distinction. Damnation Alley, by Roger Zelazny, is a post-apocalyptic story with armored vehicles, roving bands of lawless bikers, radioactive monsters, and a mission to save humanity. What isn't there to like about it?


*Do you like having books you enjoy made into movies? What is the best/worst adaptation you've seen?
Not really. I read. I watch movies. I don't feel a need to have one transitioned over to the other. On the other hand, I am probably a minority with my view on movie adaptations. It doesn't bother me if a movie is different from the book. Having put together a treatment for my first novel I understand that they are two seperate beasts and what works in a book doesn't usually work well in a movie.

That being said, I think the Harry Potter series was one of the better adaptations and the old 50s version of The Lost World, by Arthur Conan Doyle, was the worst. The only connection between the two seemed to be a remote location that had dinosaurs. And it was a horrible movie.


*If money were no object, where would you like to go, and what would you like to do while you are there?

Ireland. My family came over to the U.S. from Ireland. I know the city they are from, but haven't been able to dig up much more than that. I would poke around and see if I can pick up the family history trail there and visit the area to see what my ancestors saw.
 
About the Author:

RANDY LINDSAY is a native of Arizona. From an early age, his mind traveled in new and unusual directions. His preoccupation with “what if” eventually led him to write speculative fiction. According to his wife everything is a story to Randy. And it is. Although this is his first novel, Randy has been published in a variety of science-fiction and fantasy magazines. He lives in Mesa with his wife and five of his nine children. If you want to find out more you can check him out at RandyLindsay.net.

Title: The Gathering: End's Beginning
Author: Randy Lindsay
Publisher: Bonneville Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.
Published: January 2014
ISBN: 1462113737

Purchase: Amazon | Kindle

Utah Book Month Author Spotlight: Sarah M. Eden

I am very excited to spotlight author Sarah M. Eden today as part of Utah Book Month.

Sarah is such an awesome person. I know this because I've read her books and I stalk follow her on Facebook and Twitter. If you haven't read her books or her blog, you are missing out! She is hilarious, and is an excellent author you can always count on to keep her writing clean! She is also very gracious, as evidenced by taking time to answer the following questions:

What does the M stand for in your name?

The M is for Miller, my maiden name. When I was first deciding the name I would write under, I opted to include the M as a shout-out to my family.

Out of the books you've had published, which was the most enjoyable to write, and why?

I loved writing Courting Miss Lancaster because it was a delight to write from beginning to end. The tone is very lighthearted and humorous, the characters were goofy and enjoyable and a great deal of fun. It was an absolute joy to write. Writing Longing for Home was also an amazing experience. I had a chance to delve deeper into my own Irish roots, to develop a larger, more complex story than I’d written before, and really push myself as an author.

What is the best part about being a published author?

I get to have a job that I love. I get to tell stories and share those stories with others. I have the opportunity to interact with other authors and with book lovers. Even though it is a lot of hard work, I can’t imagine a job I would enjoy more.

What is the worst part?

I would have to say the hardest part about being an author is the uncertainty of it all. What if this story idea is no good? What if my writing or storytelling falls short? Will this book find a publisher? What will the cover look like? How will edits go? Will reviewers like this book? Will readers like this book? Will it sell well? Will it flop? So much of a book’s success is out of the author’s control. We write the very best books we can and then send them out into the world, not really knowing how things will play out. And then we do it all over again with the next one. That uncertainty wears a person down and, for me, is the most difficult part of being a published author.

Do you read reviews on your books?

I don’t, actually. And, unlike most authors, I don’t even read the good reviews. For me, writing is a constant struggle against self-doubt. I am remarkably hard on myself. Reading reviews, good or bad, tends to magnify that tendency in me. Good reviews feel like a fluke. Bad reviews feel like what everybody must be thinking.

I finally admitted to myself that reading reviews was an unhealthy thing for me and committed to avoid them. I have a wonderful group of friends and family who let me know that they are hearing good things, and an incomparable writing group who helps me keep improving my work.

If one of your books were to be made into a movie, which one would you like to see?

Tough question. I’d enjoy seeing them all on the big screen. I would absolutely love to have a movie made of Longing for Home, and its sequel. To hear the rich Irish dialect and the folk music come to life that way would be absolutely wonderful.

Your post on July 11, 2013, about dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis was so touching. For those unfamiliar with RA and your battle with it, please share what it is and when you were diagnosed, and how your life has changed.

Rheumatoid Arthritis is a disease of the immune system. For reasons still not fully understood by medical science, in individuals with RA the immune system becomes confused and attacks the tissue lining the joints of the body. This immune system response causes inflammation in the joints, leading to pain, stiffness, and, over time, damage to the joints themselves. The symptoms initially begin in only a few of the joints, but as the disease progresses every joint in the body is afflicted. Other common symptoms of the disease include fatigue, weakness, fever, muscle pain, difficulty sleeping, nerve damage, and often depression. Over time, the disease can cause damage to many organs, including the lungs and heart. There is no cure for this disease and it is chronic, meaning once a person has RA, they will always have it.

I was officially diagnosed in February of this year, and we are still in the process of determining the best combination of treatments for me. Each individual is different and the treatments that work vary from person to person, and patients often need to change their treatments over time. Treatments are improving all the time and I hold out hope that we will find the right one for me so I can have more “good” days than I do now.

I don’t think there is a single aspect of my life that hasn’t been impacted by this disease. Everything I do is harder and slower and painful. There days when I can hardly shuffle around the house, and there are days that aren’t too bad and I can get things done, if slowly. I do my best to keep a positive outlook, but it can be a struggle.

I don’t know exactly the road that lies ahead of me or what my life will look like in the years ahead, but I’m pressing on and choosing to be hopeful.

One of your blog posts mentions that you were part of a panel discussion for a PBS documentary about the romance novel industry. You said, "Those of you who know me, know I am passionate about this genre, about what it could be, what it ought to be." Please share with us what you think it ought to be.

A romance is at its very heart a story about the strength that comes from truly loving and being loved in return. Romance was the first genre written by women, about women, and for women. This genre should be filled with stories that celebrate women’s strengths and worth and value. Romance should reflect healthy relationships, not glorify those that are abusive or demeaning—to men or women. The desire to love and to be loved is both universal and incomparably personal, and no genre has a greater opportunity to acknowledge and explore and celebrate that like romance does. That is what I dream of this genre becoming: one filled with stories that celebrate the power of real, healthy love and the strength that can be found in that kind of relationship.

It's no secret to your fans that you are not a tall person. Your "Short" Story post on July 20, 2012, was hilarious. So, tell us, how tall are you?

I am 4’11.” Unless you read my driver’s license, which declares I’m 5’ on the dot. I fudged it a little.

If people described you with one word, what would it be? 

Hmmm... Probably something along the lines of “goofy” or “funny.” I’m kind of a nut.

If that's not the description you'd prefer, what would you like to be described as.

I don’t really mind being known as a funny goofball. I’ve laughed my way through a lot of difficult times in my life, and I’m grateful for that as a coping mechanism. But I’ve found one of the tough things about being a person who laughs her way through life’s ups and downs, is that people don’t always see how hard you work, how deeply you feel things, or how much of a struggle it sometimes is to smile when tears would be so much easier. So, perhaps my one word could be “Funny*” and the * could lead to a disclaimer like: *hard worker, sometimes sad, tries her very best to be happy.

Thank you so much Sarah!

And now, because I think you will enjoy reading more about Sarah, here is her mini-biography (found on her website):

At the ripe old age of five, I wrote my first book. Entitled “The Sun,” this work of literary genius contained such awe-inspiring passages as, “The sun is yellow.” It was a ground-breaking success among the Kindergarten of Roadrunner Elementary. On the heels of this success, I went on to write absolutely nothing for many, many ears.

One sweltering summer, my mother, in what can now be easily identified as a desperate ploy to keep her five children occupied for a few hours during the never-ending summer break, implemented a summer writing challenge. That summer's efforts produced the first ten pages of “The Mystery of the Broken Unicorn”--my first experience with a plot idea that simply didn't work.

Several years after earning a bachelors degree in social science research, marrying my wonderful, if rather tall, husband and the birth of our second child, I took up my pen once more. Mercifully, I did not revisit the unicorn story but ventured into the world of Historical Romance.

My first novel, The Ramshackle Knight, was published in May of 2007 and met with rave reviews from my mother and closest relatives. Spurred on by the unbiased acclaim, I wrote eight more Regency romances before being picked up by Covenant Communications.

Courting Miss Lancaster was released in 2010, followed by The Kiss of a Stranger (a re-publication of The Ramshackle Knight) in 2011. Seeking Persephone, a 2008 Whitney Award finalist for Best Romance, was rereleased in fall of 2011. Friends and Foes and An Unlikely Match followed in 2012.

With work and a good bit of luck, this will prove just the beginning.

*Don't miss the giveaway for a copy of Longing for Home. You can enter using the Rafflecopter form on this post. 

Blog Tour: Motive for Murder by Marlene Bateman

Author Interview * Excerpt

 Title: Motive for Murder

Author: Marlene Bateman

Publisher: Covenant Communications, Inc.

Published: June 2013

ISBN: 1608612414

Purchase: Amazon | Deseret Book | Seagull Book




Book Description:

Meet Erica Coleman—a gifted and quirky private investigator with an OCD-like passion for neatness and symmetry, a penchant for cooking, (ten terrific recipes are included), and a weakness for chocolate.

Erica imagined that her trip to Florida would be a slice of heaven—a chance to get away from it all and catch up with her best friend, Wendy. But one day into her vacation, all hope of fun in the sun is dashed when she stumbles, literally, over a dead man on Wendy’s driveway. With police closing in on her friend as their main suspect, Erica must find the real killer before Wendy ends up behind bars.

With Erica’s skill, solving the mystery should be a piece of cake but then a second homicide-attempt hits close to home and generates a whole new list of suspects. There’s no way to sugarcoat it, a murderer is on the prowl, and no one is above suspicion.

As the plot thickens, it appears Erica may have bitten off more than she can chew, but she forges on, sifting through mounting evidence until she hones in on the killer who has a surprising motive for murder. With a dash of romance and some surprising twists, this thrilling mystery will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

Author Interview:

What inspired you to write Motive for Murder?
I love mysteries so much that I finally decided to write one.  My first book, Light on Fire Island, was a combination mystery/romance, and while there is a little romance in Motive for Murder, it is more of a full-blown mystery. I loved the idea of a quirky, OCD private detective, so created Erica Coleman, who will star in forthcoming mysteries.  Erica is both helped and hampered by her OCD tendencies, which alternately charms and irritates people.

Who is your favorite character in your book, and why?
I like Erica Coleman the best, but I had a lot of fun with Myrna and Coby Kincaid. I loved it when Erica helped Coby sneak some cookies while his wife isn’t looking!

What other projects do you have in mind?
First, I hope to do a sequel to my non-fiction book, Gaze Into Heaven, which was published earlier this year. Gaze into Heaven is a collection of 50 near-death experiences in early Church History. I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from readers, and that has been very encouraging.

I am also continuing to write mysteries and will have another Erica Coleman book out next year.  I titled it Charade, but my publisher usually changes the titles. Finally, I am finishing up a romance,  which is called (for now, anyway) A Home for Christmas.

Do you have any unusual habits while you write?
Not really, but I have four furry friends who keep me company. I have three cats and two dogs and both dogs and two of the cats follow me around wherever I happen to be working.; My husband built a little gazebo in the back yard, and I often go out there to write and my little friends always go out with me and curl up in the shade.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
My husband and I like to go camping. We roughed it when we had kids, but then bought a 5th wheel. Much nicer! Air conditioning, queen size bed, microwave, stove, the works. I take my laptop of course, and occasionally “work” but it doesn’t seem like work when you’re sitting underneath tall pines and enjoying the great outdoors.

What is your favorite book, and why?
I’m not sure I have a favorite book, but I do enjoy all of Mauve Binchy’s books. She has a great way with characters, you just fall in love with them. She has such an amazing way of letting the reader know about the people and understand them.  I also enjoyed James Herriot’s books.  Its amazing that James was a veterinarian when he’s such an amazing writer. Of course it helps that I’m an animal lover as well.

Do you like having books you enjoy made into movies?
Movies can never match up to books and so I’m usually disappointed if I’ve read the book first.

If money were no object, where would you like to go, and what would you like to do while you are there?
I’m a real homebody.  Although I love to go camping, there are not a lot of places I’d like to go.  Although I’ve always wanted to go to Australia and see kangaroos and koala bears.

Excerpt:

As she drove back to Wendy’s house, the headlights cleaved the darkness and shone through the rain, which was falling harder now. Erica parked across the street and was nearly to Wendy’s door when she stopped suddenly, catching herself as she nearly fell over something.

It was the still figure of a man lying face down on the driveway. He was strangely unmoving. The light from the porch illuminated a puddle alongside him, which was growing bigger by the second. A chill shivered down Erica’s spine as she noticed that the puddle was streaked by dark red threads that ran and merged with rivulets of rain.

About the Author:

Marlene Bateman Sullivan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah.  She graduated from the University of Utah with a BA in English. She is married to Kelly R. Sullivan and they are the parents of seven children. 

Her hobbies are gardening, camping, and reading.  Marlene has been published extensively in magazines and newspapers and has written a number of non-fiction books, including:  Latter-day Saint Heroes and Heroines, And There Were Angels Among Them, Visit’s From Beyond the Veil, By the Ministering of Angels, and Brigham’s Boys. Marlene also wrote the best-selling novel, Light on Fire Island.

A busy writer, Marlene is set to have three books published this year. Gaze Into Heaven, a fascinating collection of over 50 documented near-death experiences in early church history, was published earlier this year. Next is Motive for Murder, the first in a mystery series featuring the quirky Erica Coleman. In July, Heroes of Faith, a collection of stories about people who risked their life for the gospel, will be released by Cedar Fort Inc.
Author Website

Blog Tour: Penumbras by Braden Bell

Review * Author Interview * Tour Giveaway

Tour Schedule

Title: Penumbras

Author: Braden Bell

Publisher: Sweetwater Books, an imprint of Cedar Fort, Inc.

Published: July 2013

ISBN: 146211220X

FTC FYI: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Author Site | Amazon | Barnes & Noble


Book Description:

Conner Dell didn't meant to blow up the school bus.

Or the bathrooms.

In fact, he only wanted to go to sleep and possibly dream about Melanie Stephens.

But explosions had a funny way of happening when Conner and his friends were around.

***
Conner Dell wants to be good--he really does. But he is terrified that he might be turning into a Darkhand, especially when new powers start to surface. What's worse, the Stalker is following Conner, but no one else seems to be able to see him. The Magi think he might be hallucinating, the guilt of what happened in the Shadowbox keeps weighing on him, and his relationship with Melanie Stephens is complicating things. Even for a Magi, Conner knows his life is anything but normal.

Click here to read the first three chapters on the author's website.

Review:

Penumbras is the second book in Braden Bell's Middle School Magic series. I read the first book, The Kindling, over a year ago, so I particularly liked that Penumbras includes some recap (and that it's included in a way that feels smooth and shouldn't be redundant to readers who just read book one).

The story starts off with a bang, and then slows down as the kids are trained and Conner tries to figure out what he's become. I'm a bit of an impatient reader, so I was glad when the action really picked up. I found myself very emotionally involved-I even cried a few times!

There is a little bit of awkwardness with the pet names Dr. Timberi uses with the kids, and Lexa's quest to break down his emotional wall with lots of hugs (what with teacher/student etiquette), but I enjoyed getting to learn about Dr. Timberi's past and what makes him tick.

The ending is pretty exciting (and a bit of a cliff hanger). Sadly, book three isn't written yet, but this is a fun (and clean) series that I'd recommend to middle grade readers.

A bonus to Penumbras is that it's more than just an entertaining story. There is a great reminder about the good in people, and how the adversary wants us to think the worst of ourselves. Readers get to feel the importance of not giving up on the light within. Well done Braden Bell!

Author Interview:

Q: Tell us about Penumbras.

A: Penumbras is the second volume in The Middle School Magic series. The first installment, The Kindling  came out last summer. I am currently working on the third volume, which will hopefully come out next summer.

Q: “Penumbras” is a somewhat unusual title. Can you explain it?

A: A penumbra is a vague, shadowy, area, neither fully light nor dark. The Kindling, the first book in the series was about the sparking of new and exciting powers. This particular book follows the characters as they confront the complex consequences of those initial events and confront the shadowy places in their own hearts.

Q: How did you get the idea for this series?

A: One night during a sky-splitting spring thunderstorm, my kids came home from a church activity and told me about a man they had seen driving home. He had a black cape and was walking across people’s yards in the storm. Wondering about who he was and what he was doing triggered the idea for the book.

Q: What is your background?

A: I am a middle school choir and theatre director at a small private school. I’m the father of five children and the husband of one wonderful wife.

Q: Speaking of that background, is it a coincidence that a middle school theatre and choir teacher has such a prominent part in the book? How about the students and other teachers in the book? Are they based on anyone specific?

A: Well, writers write what they know! Dr. Timberi is admittedly similar to me in some ways. However, that’s not because he’s modeled on me. Rather, it’s because he is someone I would like to be. As far as the other characters, in the very beginning, I did sort of model their voices on some specific people—but that changed within a few pages of the first draft and they quickly become their own unique characters.

Q: Beyond the characters, are there any other events based on real life experiences?

A: There is a sad scene towards the end between Dr. Timberi and one of his students. While it is not an exact replication, being a theatre director means I have dealt with disappointed and/or angry students (and parents!) for many years. I tend to have a pretty thick skin. However, there are occasional times when this gets to me. This scene was actually inspired by a particularly difficult confrontation with a student of whom I was quite fond. I wrote the scene as a way of working through the incident—and ended up keeping it. The only other thing that might be based in reality is the degree to which teachers truly do care about their students. I don’t think the students often realize just how much teachers and other adult figures care about them and what they would do to protect and help them.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do, besides reading or writing?

A: My wife and I love to watch old movies, or adaptations of literary classics. Nearly anything by the BBC! I also love working in my yard.

About the Author:

Braden Bell grew up in Farmington, Utah and graduated from Davis High School. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theatre from Brigham Young University and a Ph.D. in educational theatre from New York University. He and his wife, Meredith live  with their five children on a quiet, wooded lot outside of Nashville, Tennessee, where he teaches theatre and music at a private school. An experienced performer, Braden enjoys singing, acting, reading, gardening, and long walks with the dog.

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Blog Tour & Author Interview: Evertaster - The Buttersmith's Gold by Adam Glendon Sidwell

Tour Schedule

 

The Buttersmiths' Gold

BATTLES. BLUEBERRIES. BOVINES.

TORBJORN AND STORFJELL’S HISTORY UNFOLDS IN AN EPIC EVERTASTER NOVELLA.

Everyone knows the most coveted treasure of the Viking Age was blueberry muffins. Blueberry muffins so succulent that if you sniffed just a whiff, you'd want a whole bite. If you bit a bite, you'd want a batch; if you snatched a batch, you'd stop at nothing short of going to war just to claim them all.

Young Torbjorn Trofastsonn comes from the clan that makes them. He's a Viking through and through – he's thirteen winters old, larger than most respectable rocks, and most of all, a Buttersmith. That's what he thinks anyway, until a charismatic merchant makes Torbjorn question his place among the muffin-makers. When Torbjorn lets the secret of his clan's muffin recipe slip, he calls doom and destruction down upon his peaceful village and forces his brother Storfjell and his clansmen to do the one thing they are ill-prepared to do: battle for their lives.

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About The Buttersmiths' Gold

The Buttersmiths' Gold is a spin off novella in the Evertaster series that tells the story of two Viking brothers and their adventurous past. The Evertaster series (Book #1 released June 14, 2012) is about Guster Johnsonville, who goes searching for a legendary taste rumored to be the most delicious in all of history. Along the way he meets a slew of mysterious characters, including two Viking brothers Torbjorn and Storfjell. The Buttersmiths' Gold is their story. 124 pages. By Adam Glendon Sidwell. Published by Future House Publishing.

Evertaster, Book #1:

A legendary taste. Sought after for centuries. Shrouded in secrecy.

When eleven-year-old Guster Johnsonville rejects his mother’s casserole for the umpteenth time, she takes him into the city of New Orleans to find him something to eat. There, in a dark, abandoned corner of the city they meet a dying pastry maker. In his last breath he entrusts them with a secret: an ancient recipe that makes the most delicious taste the world will ever know — a taste that will change the fate of humanity forever.

Forced to flee by a cult of murderous chefs, the Johnsonvilles embark on a perilous journey to ancient ruins, faraway jungles and forgotten caves. Along the way they discover the truth: Guster is an Evertaster — a kid so picky that nothing but the legendary taste itself will save him from starvation. With the sinister chefs hot on Guster’s heels and the chefs’ reign of terror spreading, Guster and his family must find the legendary taste before it’s too late.

 

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Book Trailer:  

Author Interview:

*What inspired you to write the Evertaster books?

Vikings did. The horned menaces are really delightful bakers, so why not give them their own book? Kids and teachers alike always told me, "I love the part with the Vikings in Evertaster," so I went ahead and wrote a whole book about the two big fellas, Torbjorn and Storfjell.

*Who is your favorite character in your books, and why?

I’ll confess that my favorite character is actually Mabel, Guster’s mom. She’s humble and pure in heart, but completely dorky in the way that an 11 year-old kid finds his mom dorky – wearing aprons all day, bad jokes, she makes you do your chores. She is pure mom-ness. Mabel realizes that about herself to a certain extent, which is why she half-heartedly lets the family set out on the adventure – she wants to prove something to herself. In many ways, she is based on my mom. My mom is a kindergarten teacher, finger paints, nursery rhymes, sugary sweetness and all. My mom had never been out of the United States until just a few years ago, and that’s the case for a lot of moms who are busy raising their families.  So I wanted to see what would happen if a mom like that – Mabel – were to go on a dangerous quest around the globe. The tendency in children’s books is to write about orphans. On this point I was firm while writing – Mabel was always going to play an integral role in my book, and the kids were going to learn to deal with that, scolding and all. The family dynamic only enriched the adventure.

*What are your hopes/goals as an author, and what other projects do you have in mind?

A new journey’s is beginning for me. In a few months, I’ll release CHUM, the story of a teenage boy who seeks fame and fortune on a TV show out at sea and gets mixed up with a bunch of tech-savvy pirates. I’ll also finish off the next two books in the Evertaster series. I’m working on a picture book right now as we speak. I can’t wait to show you that! This is a new era for me!

*Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

I like to wear a luchador mask.

*What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I like to wander the wilderness, dive underwater and spear fish with a pole, and patrolling the neighborhood looking for dogs with my kids.

*What is your favorite book, and why?

The Bible. It’s epic. It’s big, and it has a great ending.

*Do you like having books you enjoy made into movies? What is the best/worst adaptationyou've seen?

I certainly do! It means more work and tacos for my animator friends. A really great movie adaptation I have seen is Hunger Games. It caught the feeling of the book in some ways even better than the book did. Visuals can do that in a way that writing can’t.

*If money were no object, where would you like to go, and what would you like to do while you are there?

The Moon. I’d drive the lunar rover. I want to go there so bad.

About the Author:


In between books, Adam Glendon Sidwell uses the power of computers to make monsters, robots and zombies come to life for blockbuster movies such as Pirates of the Caribbean, King Kong, Transformers and Tron. After spending countless hours in front of a keyboard meticulously adjusting tentacles, calibrating hydraulics, and brushing monkey fur, he is delighted at the prospect of modifying his creations with the flick of a few deftly placed adjectives. He’s been eating food since age 7, so feels very qualified to write this book. He once showed a famous movie star where the bathroom was. Adam currently lives in Los Angeles, where he can’t wait to fall into the sea.

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Blog Tour Giveaway:
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Ends 7/2/13
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer http://iamareader.com and sponsored by the participating author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. Prize value $25 US.
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Blog Tour: A Change of Plans by Donna K. Weaver

Blog Tour Hosted by Lady Reader's Bookstuff

Title: A Change of Plans

Author: Donna K. Weaver

Publisher: Rhemalda Publishing

Release Date: June 1, 2013

ISBN-10: 193685077X

FTC FYI: Received an eCopy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Goodreads | Rhemalda Store


Book Description:

When twenty-five-year-old Lyn sets off on her cruise vacation, all she wants is to forget that her dead fiancé was a cheating scumbag. What she plans is a diversion uncomplicated by romance. What she gets is Braedon, an intriguing young surgeon. He's everything her fiancé wasn't, and against the backdrop of the ship's make-believe world, her emotions come alive.

Unaware of the sensitive waters he navigates, Braedon moves to take their relationship beyond friendship—on the very anniversary Lyn came on the cruise to forget. Lyn's painful memories are too powerful, and she runs off in a panic.

But it's hard to get away from someone when you're stuck on the same ship. Things are bad enough when the pair finds themselves on one of the cruise's snorkeling excursions. Then paradise turns to piracy when their party is kidnapped, and Lyn's fear of a fairy tale turns grim.

Review:

A Change of Plans is an entertaining read full of adventure and romance. There are also funny and sweet moments that break up the tension.

Lyn is a great main character. In some ways she seems like an average woman-down to earth and just looking to get away with a friend to try to forget some heartbreak. But she's also very strong (shown by the martial arts she practices on board and by the way she handles her trials).

When I saw that pirates were involved, I pictured a speedboat taking on the cruise ship (similar to news reports in the past few years). Even though a little boat taking on the huge cruise ship has really happened, I thought having the pirates come into play during an excursion felt more realistic.

The story covered more time than I expected. The pace of the beginning was pretty good, but the main action probably didn't occur until about half way through the book. I was expecting closure a lot sooner than it happened, but A Change of Plans is almost like two adventures in one. There was a little bit of a lull for me in the middle, but I really enjoyed the second half of the story.

As far as content, there are a few swearwords, some violence (not graphic) and sex is implied.

Author Interview:

*What inspired you to write A Change of Plans?

I was thinking about getting back to work on my personal history that I’d started a very long time ago. It occurred to me that, unless I wanted it to be a cure for insomnia to any descendants that I might want to learn more about writing. Plus, it might be good to see if I could even write a full length novel. I was too late for the 2009 NaNoWriMo, so I did my own in January 2010. I wrote 80,000 words and fell in love with taking the bits and pieces of story I’ve always entertained myself with and making a complete tale.

*Who is your favorite character in your book, and why?

That’s a tough one. I love the main characters, of course, but I’m into quirky, too. I’ve got a couple of secondary characters I love. One is Jack Randolph, the father of the love interest. The other one is Jori, the oh-so broken, hunky Finnish model who wants to be an artist when he grows up. He wasn’t in the first draft of the book, but I needed something and created him to accomplish it. It didn’t work, so I considered writing him out again. I couldn’t I found I’d become too attached to him. So attached that he got his own book, that I’m editing right now.

*What are your hopes/goals as an author, and what other projects do you have in mind?

I want to have fun and to keep learning, keep getting better. I’ve always loved books, so being able to create some of my own is too much fun to give up. I’ve got three completed novels that I’m in the process of editing. One is Jori’s book that I mentioned earlier, and the other two are part of a YA fantasy duology that will eventually get a prequel. I’ve got about 50,000 words into a SciFi story that needs to be a trilogy. By the time I get through these other books, I hope to be at a level where I can take on the SciFi. I have plans for two other companion novels to A Change of Plans sometime in the future.

*Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

Define unusual. Aren’t authors a rather eclectic group anyway? I have a desk and a computer. I even have Dragon software that I use for new writing. When I got that for NaNo last year, it really upped my word count and I finished the first draft of Jori’s book in 18 days. Of course, I’ve found that I’m not quite the pantster I thought I was. I just write really, really long outlines—like about 50,000 words. My real writing takes place in the editing. That’s why my first edit takes so long.

*What do you like to do when you're not writing?

I work full-time, so that takes quite a chunk out of my day. My husband and I are both gamers. We love RPGs like Baldurs Gate and Champions of Norath. We love to play StarCraft2. These are things were can take a little time with and then go do something else. I read. A lot. Though most of that, anymore, is through audiobooks. I don’t have as much time to physically sit down and read a book anymore.

*What is your favorite book, and why?

I don’t know that I could ever pick just one book or even a series. With Harry Potter, I embraced my inner geek, so much so that I ended up being a moderator over at The Leaky Cauldron’s forum, Leaky Lounge. Those were some crazy times before the release of Deathly Hallows.

*Do you like having books you enjoy made into movies? What is the best/worst adaptation you've seen?

There are a handful of books that I think the movie adaptations were actually better than the book. One of those was Jaws. The book was too complicated with hints of the Mafia and Brody’s wife having an affair with the oceanographer. I much preferred the man against beast elements of the film. As for the worst film adaptation: Starship Troopers. It makes me livid every time I think of it. That was a freakin’ awesome book and one of my favorites. They totally screwed it up.

*If money were no object, where would you like to go, and what would you like to do while you are there?

What? Just one place? I’m a Navy brat who started school in South Korea and spent two year in the Philippines. I joined the Army and served in Nürnberg, Germany (my oldest son was born there—he lives in China now after serving an LDS mission in Russia). I visited Ireland a couple of years ago and would love to go back, but there’s a part of me that would like to go back and see those places I lived as a child or even a young adult.

What I really wish is that we could really apparate like in Harry Potter so I could travel and still sleep in my own bed. But if money and time was no object, I would take a cruise around the world.

About the Author:

Donna K. Weaver is a Navy brat who joined the Army and has lived in Asia and Europe.



Because she sailed the Pacific three times as a child, she loves cruising and wishes she could accrue enough vacation time to do more of it with her husband.



Donna and her husband have six children and eight grandchildren who live all over the world.


At fifty, Donna decided to study karate and earned her black belt in Shorei Kempo.



After recording city council minutes for twenty years, Donna decided to write something a little longer and with a lot more emotion--and kissing.

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Blog Tour: Mattie by M. Ann Rohrer

Review

Mattie was a really interesting read. It's a novel, but is based on a true story (which I didn't realize until I saw footnotes). This made for a unique style, but Mattie's life is quite fascinating. A novel about my life would be so boring, so once I learned that the events depicted actually happened, I found the story to be even more compelling.

I won't go into details and spoil the story, but there is adventure, romance, and love and loss, surrounded by some great historical details from the early 1900's. I appreciated the Facts section at the end of the book that separates fact from fiction, and if you are looking for a book for book club, there are even discussion questions at the end.

About the Book

For nine years after the death of her father, Mattie has kept her vow to never pray. But as she places her trust, and heart, in the hands of a dangerous man, Mattie’s determination to remain detached from God is threatened. With her life hanging in the balance, Mattie discovers that though she left God, He never left her. This realization lifts Mattie from her abyss of dark despair to a new hope.
 
With Mattie’s opportunity for a new life comes the chance of new love. Faced with the choice between two men, Mattie must sift through the remains of her broken heart and decipher its depths. Will she choose Alonzo, her tall, good-natured, childhood sweetheart, or Enos, the rough, gun-packing nemesis of her youth? Relying on her rediscovered faith, Mattie learns that trusting God is not without heartbreak, especially when the hardships of the Mexican Revolution threaten her fragile faith and wedded bliss.

Author Interview

*Tell us about your relation to Mattie, and how you decided to write a novel about her life.

Mattie (Martha Ann Sevey) is my grandmother. I am named for her. When I was fifteen, she gave me a silver medallion necklace with a gold M inset that was made for her by one of her children. The year I went to high school in Colonia Juarez, I ate lunch often at grandma’s house. Her home was the gathering place for our big summer reunions. Famous for her cooking, breakfast being my favorite, she made pancakes so large they barely fit on our plates. At Grandma’s house I experienced the outhouse, chamber pots, the wood-cooking stove, the wringer washer, green apples, large gardens, irrigation ditches, canning produce, milk buckets, churning butter, and gathering eggs. Grandma had a great sense of humor and a matter-of-fact approach to life. She and I share a similar experience from our courting days. Grandma was not a journal keeper. I wanted to tell her story.

*How did you go about collecting information about Mattie's life?

I grew up listening to grandma and grandpa tell their stories. With each telling, the details shifted a little. Each cousin has their own version. Haha. The fiction in the novel is the emotion my grandparents might have experienced beyond, “I’ve never been more frightened in my life.” What is fact and what is fiction is footnoted.

*Is there a message in Mattie that you want readers to come away with?

When we meet with disappointment, heartache, or tragedy, we tend to blame God, shake our fist a little and ask why. The message in Mattie is that trial and tribulation come by virtue of living in this world, or sometimes a result of our own choices. Life happens. God’s role is to make us equal to the challenge, helping us through it, not saving us from it. By so doing we become stronger individuals, cultivate more compassion, develop deeper insight, and in some cases are led to better opportunities.

*What are your hopes/goals as an author, and what other projects do you have in mind?

My odyssey as a writer began after my children were grown. It was more of an adventure, not sure where it might lead. I saw myself as a Robert Fulghum, Dave Berry humorist. Being a novelist took me by surprise. Presently, I am working on a second novel—not a sequel, although a sequel is not out of the question. Undergoing a final revision, the second book should be ready to submit for publication in a few months. Who knows, I might even try to publish a collection of my essays.

*Do you have any unusual habits while you write?

Hahaha. I had to ask my husband about this one. He says I talk to myself when I write, and I sit crooked. Instead of working at a desk, I prefer a recliner and a laptop. Once into my work, it takes a two by four to get my attention, unless you’re offering chocolate.

*What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Read! Hahaha. With great discipline I make time for life.

*What is your favorite book, and why?

This is a hard question. I have many favorites. I don’t often read a book more than once, but I have read most of Jane Austen three or four times. Of her works, Pride and Prejudice tops the list. I enjoy her humor and satire. I admire how she develops sexual tension without even a kiss beyond a hand being “pressed to the lips.”

About the Author

Martha Ann Robinson Rohrer was born in Colonia Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico. At age nine, she moved with her family to Toquepala, Peru, South America, where they lived for ten years. After attending Juarez Stake Academy in Mexico her sophomore year, she returned to Peru and finished her junior and senior years through correspondence. In 1965, the family returned to the United States, settling in Tucson, Arizona. Ann served a two-year mission to Mexico Mexico City Mission. She is married to John Rohrer and they live in Pasco, Washington. They have five boys, one daughter, and at present, thirteen grandchildren.

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