Monday, February 27, 2017

Interview with Inspirational Romance Author Diane Craver



Diane writes Amish romance, contemporary romance, romantic suspense, historical fiction, and women’s fiction. Although she enjoyed being published with traditional houses, she made a decision to switch to self-publishing her fiction to have control over all aspects of publishing. But there’s more - she’s also a wife, mother to six children and grandmother to four grandchildren in southwestern Ohio! Diane’s dream vacation is going to the beach.

Welcome to my blog. Where did you get your inspiration for The Bishop's Daughters Series?

My inspiration for my new series came from my previous Dreams of Plain Daughters Series. Bishop Amos King tried to influence his only son, Luke King, in Book 4, to stop dating Violet Robinson, a U.S. Senator’s daughter. I thought it would be fun to write about the bishop and his daughters in a new series.

Please give us a description of book one for us: Amish Baby Snatched.

Instead of going backpacking in Europe for the summer, pregnant eighteen-year-old Chloe Parrish ends up in Fields Corner. Her parents send her there to work in her aunt’s restaurant. Chloe’s parents and her boyfriend Logan want her to consider adoption.

Amish and happily married, Beth Byler is pregnant with her first baby. When she sees how sad Chloe seems at the doctor’s office, Beth asks if everything is okay. Although they come from different backgrounds, their pregnancies give them something to share and they become friends.

A young obstetrician, Dr. Tony Cunningham is hired, so he meets Chloe and Beth during their office visits. He becomes interested in the lovely Chloe. Tony and Chloe find themselves at crossroads in their lives—she’s torn about what to do about her baby, and Tony isn’t sure he wants to do Amish home births.

After a baby is kidnapped, anger explodes between Beth and Chloe. Can both women recover from a heartbreaking situation, and trust God still knows what is best for them? 

Now tell us about book two: A Plain Widow.

A Plain Widow is about the bishop’s oldest daughter, Molly Ebersol. Her husband, Caleb, goes into their barn when it is on fire to save his horses. Although firefighter, Jonathan Mast, tries to save Caleb, he fails. Now alone, Molly has to cope with her pregnancy and their little toddler, Isaac.

A mysterious donor leaves money for her. She doesn’t think it was an Amish person. The fire investigator wonders if the arsonist feels guilt about Caleb’s death and left the money. During this time, Jonathan is a new neighbor who lives close by, and he helps her family members with planting her crops. 

When the fire investigator tries to learn who torched the barn, she uncovers that Caleb had secrets he kept from Molly. She is crushed by what Caleb did before meeting her. 

Although she has feelings for Jonathan, can she ever trust him to be truthful to her? She isn’t sure she can fall in love again. Caleb hurt her deeply that he never trusted her enough to share about his past.

Did you have to do any research for this series?

My research for Amish Baby Snatched, Book 1, consisted of medical research about stillbirths. For my second book in the series, I researched Amish firefighters because I hadn’t realized they volunteered in their local fire departments. Some bishops frown on their members working with non-Amish firefighters, but many districts don’t have a problem with it. I also researched arson investigators. One of the characters, Nicole Spencer, is one and wants to find out who caused the tragic fire in the book. 

Where is your website and blog so my readers can check out your recent and past books that you have written?


Thank you for this interview, Diane. I hope my readers will check out this new series.

Monday, February 20, 2017

Interview with Children’s Author Cheryl Malandrinos



Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Little Shepherd, A Christmas Kindness, and Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving. A blogger and book reviewer, she lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. 

She also has a son who is married. Visit Cheryl online at http://ccmalandrinos.com/ and her children’s book blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com/

Welcome to my blog. Please tell us about your picture book: Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving.

Thanks for inviting me to visit with your readers, Linda. Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving finds ten-year-old Macy using some quick thinking and ingenuity to save dinner when the dog swipes the turkey from the table.

This story sounds really cute. I just happen to know someone who does something like this for Thanksgiving. Haha. Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

While searching for an alternative to National Novel Writing Month in 2010, I stumbled upon Picture Book Idea Month (PiBoIdMo). The challenge: to create 30 picture book concepts in 30 days. It’s not as easy as it sounds.

By the end of the month, I was struggling to come up with concepts. A review of my ideas from earlier indicated a trend toward holiday-related books (Valentine’s Day, Easter, and Christmas). I settled on Thanksgiving, but wanted something more than the standard “be thankful” message. After wandering around in my brain a bit, I decided a holiday disaster story would fit the bill…but it would need to be something kids would find funny. That’s when the “what if’s” began flying around and I thought, “What if the dog stole the Thanksgiving Day turkey off the table?”

What ages is this book written for?

Macaroni and Cheese for Thanksgiving is part of Guardian Angel Publishing’s Littlest Angels line and is written for children ages 4 to 8.

Tell me about one of the main characters and what you love about him or her?

Macy is the oldest child in her family. She’s expected to help out around the house and enjoys cooking with her mother. Sometimes she’s the peacemaker for her eight-year-old twin brothers who fight a lot. What I really love about Macy, though, is that she’s smart and creative in providing a solution to the family’s dinner problems.

Where is your website so my readers can check out your recent and past books that you have written?

Readers can find my website at http://ccmalandrinos.com/ and I blog at https://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com/. Thanks again for hosting me today. I greatly appreciate it.

Thank you so much for this interview, Cheryl. I hope my readers will check out your children’s book.

Monday, February 13, 2017

Interview with Fantasy Romance Author Anna del C. Dye



Anna was born in Chile, S.A. near some famous beaches. She is fluent in Spanish and English. She loves cats, when not shedding, and romantic clothes and music. She lives in Utah, USA with her husband of thirty-nine years. Anna has received many awards through the years and has published her work by different houses. She self-published her YA novels.
  
Welcome to my blog. Please tell us about your novel, A Golden Princess.

Small for her age, Princess Nyala is determined to be noticed and someday rule with fairness and valor in Kaloma. Then one day, all changes when she looks upon the stars and they predict her accident. After she awakens to a broken body, her father takes to his goblet and she steps into power in her kingdom at sixteen.

Her father said that no man would choose a half-broken princess. Is that how Prince Nicolao sees her after the accident? Her heart is unsure and out of fear she keeps him away to avoid a broken heart. As soon the other kingdoms discover the condition of the Royal House of Kaloma, they too will prey on her vulnerability to steal her kingdom from her hands.

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

It came to me one day, when I didn't expect it. I wondered about medieval times and a crippled main character. I have never seen another medieval book that deals with the subject and it thrilled me to do something about it. Also, once I saw a young man whose eyes, hair and skin were in different tones of gold, but with an undertone of black too. I asked him about his parents and his father was black skinned while his mother was white. (Brazilian descendants) it made such an impression on me, that I had to have a golden princess for one of my Royal Romance books.

That is so interesting. What kind of research did you do?

Some about wheel chairs in medieval times. Also about horse accidents and back injuries.
  
Tell me about one of the main characters and what you love about him or her?

Nyala, the princess in this tale, is small and shy yet, when life throws a curve at her, she becomes a hero that not even she could see before. She is so much like me in many ways, and that keeps her close to my heart. You can say we are soul mates.  

Where is your website so my readers can check out your recent and past books that you have written?


Thank you Linda, I appreciate your help to spread the news about my new YA, medieval, Clean Romance

You’re welcome, Anna. Thank you so much for this interview. I hope my readers will check out your books.

Saturday, February 4, 2017

Interview with Romance Author Linda Baten Johnson

Linda Baten Johnson loves reading and writing, especially about historical events. She currently volunteers as a docent for the Frisco Heritage Museum where she dresses in costume and tells Frisco second-graders about the lives and difficulties of pioneers to the Blackland Prairie of Texas. 

She manages to write at least two books a year when she is not having fun with friends and family. Linda is the author of 14 books, including those of romance and books for young readers.


Welcome to my blog. Please tell us about your novella, Magnolia Morning.

Magnolia Morning is part of the state flower series and represents Louisiana. I chose to write about this state flower and include a fictional account of the love story of my great-grandparents, which began after the Civil War.

Energetic, hard-working Martha Bodine and her mother survive the war, but Captain Bodine does not return from the Confederate Army when expected. Threatened with the loss of their farm unless Martha agrees to marry a neighbor, they offer lodging to a controversial Northern gentleman, which causes a rift between them and those in the community.
Peyton Anderson, a soldier in Captain Bodine’s unit pays a condolence visit and offers to help the feisty Martha and her gentle mother get on their feet, but he has his own family obligations and practical concerns about their situation. Even his best efforts may not change the course mapped out for Martha’s life or his own.

Where did you get your inspiration for this story?

This is loosely based on the story of my great-grandparents.

What kind of research did you do?

We had letters my great-grandfather wrote to “Most Honorable Miss Martha” and in them, he described sections of Louisiana and his hopes and dreams. My two sisters and I went to Louisiana to find some of the places they lived. We also visited a living history museum in the state to get a feel for the time period, and enjoyed good Louisiana food. Yummy.

Tell me about one of the main characters and what you love about him or her?

I tried to be true to what I knew about my relatives. Martha was not a beauty. She had a rounded figure, freckles and a no-nonsense attitude, but she was a loving and caring woman. I hope that comes through in the book.

Where is your website so my readers can check out your recent and past books that you have written?

My website is www.lindabatenjohnson.com. I would love for readers to visit.

Thank you for this wonderful interview. I have read this novelette and enjoyed it. Here is my review below:

This is an adorable story that has a few surprises toward the end! Knowing it was loosely based on the love story of the author’s great-great grandparents made it even more fun. I was taken into the past during the 1860s after the civil war and learned what life was like. I loved Martha’s character right off and how feisty she was. It’s fun to learn about our ancestor’s and what their lives were like, especially after hardships from the civil war and how they recovered. I totally enjoyed this story.”
–Written by Linda Weaver Clarke