In Her Own Words: Sarah Sundin talks about her new release, Blue Skies Tomorrow, and her writing journey from its beginning to the present

When asked to tell us about her writing career from its earliest stages through the recent release of Blue Skies Tomorrow, the final book in her debut Wings of Glory Trilogy, Sarah had this to say:

"Although I grew up surrounded by books, I didn’t consider a writing career. Instead, I became a pharmacist and chose to work one day a week so I could stay home with our three children. On January 6, 2000, I had a dream with such intriguing characters that I felt compelled to write their story. The novel that came from that dream will never be published, nor should it, but it got me started. I set out to learn the craft of writing from books, a critique group, and writers’ conferences.

"In 2003 my critique partners said the first novel in my World War II trilogy was ready, so I submitted A Distant Melody at Mount Hermon Christian Writers’ Conference. I received good feedback—and began accumulating a stack of “good” rejection letters. They liked my writing, my story, and my characters—however, historicals weren’t selling. I often felt discouraged, but the Lord made it obvious that He wanted me to finish the trilogy, so I kept plugging away. Then at Mount Hermon in 2008, I heard, “We need historicals.” And there I was with my trilogy close to complete. I submitted to Vicki Crumpton at Revell, and later they offered me a three-book contract.

"Since then it’s been an exciting roller coaster ride. Holding my first book in my hands was an amazing experience—I just sat there stunned with a lump in my throat. Then there was the shock of hearing from “real” readers, not just my mom. The greatest adjustment has been the shift from dedicated hobby writer to professional. This really is a full-time job—I spend 40-60 hours per week on writing and writing-related activities. Part of the transition was learning how to juggle. Right now I’m doing publicity for Blue Skies Tomorrow, editing the first book in my next series, and plotting the second book in the series. In addition, social networking, blogging, and publicity keep me hopping. And I love it."

If you've already finished one or both of Sarah's first two books, A Distant Melody and A Memory Between Us, I know you can't wait to read Blue Skies Tomorrow, or if you've haven't read either of them, Blue Skies Tomorrow is a great place to begin.

From cover to cover, Sundin's books keep you turning the pages as you travel back in time to World War II and visit interesting places along the way. Please hurry with that editing, Sarah. We're waiting impatiently for that first book in your next series!

If you're one of Sarah's many fans, please leave a comment for her below. I'm sure she would love to hear from you.

You may visit Sarah and learn more about her at: http://www.sarahsundin.com

Dry as Rain -- Riveting New Release from Award-Winning Author Gina Holmes

Gina Holmes is the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans and the newly released novel, DRY AS RAIN. She's the founder of Novel Rocket, (formerly Novel Journey), a registered nurse,  wife and mother who makes her home in Southern Virginia. You can learn more about her at www.ginaholmes.com 

Your debut novel hit ECPA, Amazon, PW and CBA bestsellers list (some throughout the span of a year!) For several weeks Crossing Oceans was the #1 free kindle download and then stayed in the top hundred for a long time.

Beside the commercial success, your book was a finalist in every major Christian book award, including: Christy, ECPA, Retailer’s Choice, Carol Awards, and won RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice and an INSPY. Does having that kind of success put the pressure on for your second book?

I try not to think too much about it. I didn’t expect that kind of success but am very grateful for it. I had a lot of pressure on me on this releasing novel, not because of the success of the first book, but because, unlike the first, I didn’t have all the time in the world to write it. Some books flow smoothly, this one I had to yank out like a bad tooth. I faced multiple rewrites, some of them pretty major, all while trying to promote my all important first novel. I was still working full time, mothering, running Novel Journey (now Novel Rocket) and all of that, so this was a tough, tough book for me to produce.

Tell our readers about your latest release, Dry as Rain:

I'm a really bad pitchman so I'll just repeat the back of the book copy:

Behind every broken vow lies a broken heart.

When Eric and Kyra Yoshida first met, they thought their love would last forever. But like many marriages, theirs has gradually crumbled, one thoughtless comment and misunderstanding at a time, until the ultimate betrayal pushes them beyond reconciliation. Though Eric longs to reunite with Kyra, the only woman he has truly loved, he has no idea how to repair the damage that’s been done.

Then a car accident erases part of Kyra’s memory—including her separation from Eric—and a glimmer of hope rises from the wreckage. Is this a precious opportunity for the fresh start Eric has longed for? Does he even deserve the chance to find forgiveness and win back Kyra’s heart . . . or will the truth blow up in his face, shattering their last hope for happiness? A richly engaging story of betrayal and redemption, Dry as Rain illuminates with striking emotional intensity the surprising truth of what it means to forgive.

You can read the first chapter HERE. 

"Holmes grabs the reader with a unique storyline about infidelity and what it truly means to forgive after betrayal.  By looking at the situation from a different angle, the author provides a great deal of food for thought and contemplation." RT Book Reviews – September, 2011


Library Journal says, "Fans of emotionally packed domestic fiction will love it."

This novel feels so much different than Crossing Oceans. Why did you choose to take such a different path?

I didn’t intend to write something completely different and I think it feels that way because of the characters telling the story. In Crossing Oceans, Jenny was our narrator and she was a melancholy, all woman sort.

In Dry as Rain, we have Eric, who is a man’s man and doesn’t think in flowery language and descriptions so it would have been wrong to write him that way. While both books have a heavy subject matter, Crossing Oceans was much more so. You can’t get heavier than dying, so it was bound to be more emotional, no matter how I wrote the next book.

But, my genre seems to be relational drama which both are and I like to pepper in a quirky cast and that’s true of both books.

You took a lot of chances in this book. First writing first person from a male’s perspective, secondly to have the protagonist someone who does a lot of things that aren’t very Christianly, like cheating on his wife, drinking, lying, etc. Are you afraid this might hurt your sales in the Christian market?

Afraid? No. Concerned, sure. While I don’t personally have a problem with Eric drinking a beer, the rest I have a problem with too. The thing is Eric’s a nominal Christian at the beginning of the book, lukewarm about his faith like many who call themselves followers of Christ. This is his journey though, and he doesn’t end up where he begins. I wanted to tell the story as truthfully as I could and at the end of the day let the chips fall where they may.

What happened to your long time website, Novel Journey?

www.noveljourney.blogspot.com is now www.novelrocket.com You can get to it by either address but we decided on an overhaul because we wanted to drop the blogspot address and just have a dot com. The guy who owned Novel Journey didn’t return our emails to sell so we had to do something a little different. This turned out to be a good thing maybe because we’d been chewing on broadening the site for some time. We’ve got some exciting changes now, the most notable is the addition of “Rocket Pages” a sort of Craig’s List for writers to find the services they need to launch and sustain their career.

What’s going on with you personally?

Well, I’m blissfully married, mom to two, stepmom to three, and owner of 2 dogs and a fish. I bought a guitar and hope to start fiddling with that soon and just writing a lot. Nothing too exciting over here but that’s the way I like it. I’m the happiest I’ve been in my life. I’ve accomplished many of the dreams and goals I’d hoped to and I always tell my husband, if I died today, I’d feel I lived and full and rewarding life. Not that I’m looking to die just yet.

What are you working on now?

I can’t give the title yet as that’s a work in progress but it’s a story very close to my heart. I’m more excited about this one than anything I’ve ever written. Hopefully my publisher agrees and you see it on the stands in the next year or so. That’s really all I can say for now.

Tell us something we don’t know about you.

I’ll tell you a few. I thought I was afraid of heights until I bungee-jumped and loved it. I’d love to skydive for the first time in the next year, white water raft and get at least a little skill on the guitar. My husband is a talented songwriter. My kids are the sweetest in the world, (yes, the world!), and I love to get my hands dirty. That should do it. Thanks for having me!

Special Feature: Best Selling Author Jody Hedlund – Her Story

What a dream come true for any author! ... Your debut novel hits the CBA best seller list within months of publication. That's exactly what happened to Jody Hedlund after Bethany House Publishers released The Preacher’s Bride, an inspirational historical romance, in October 2010.

The Preacher’s Bride is set in 1650's England. A young Puritan maiden is on a mission to save the baby of her newly widowed preacher–whether her assistance is wanted or not. Always ready to help those in need, Elizabeth ignores John’s protests of her aid. She’s even willing to risk her lone marriage prospect to help the little family.

Yet Elizabeth’s new role as housekeeper takes a dangerous turn when John’s boldness from the pulpit makes him a target of political and religious leaders. As the preacher’s enemies become desperate to silence him, they draw Elizabeth into a deadly web of deception. Finding herself in more danger than she ever bargained for, she’s more determined than ever to save the child, and man, she’s come to love.

Jody is a busy mother-writer, who has the wonderful privilege of teaching her crew of five children at home. In between grading math papers and giving spelling tests, she occasionally does a load of laundry and washes dishes. When she's not busy being a mother, she's in front of her laptop. Sometimes her family thinks her fingers are super-glued to the keyboard, but in reality she usually finds her writing time in the wee hours of the morning and then for a couple of hours in the afternoon when she's finished with school.

Jody has spent the past sixteen years writing, although she took a break during the time she was busy having children. The Preacher’s Bride was the first book she wrote after she returned from that hiatus. (She had written five books previously that now gather dust in a closet!).

After completing The Preacher’s Bride, she began sending out queries and was rejected by all the agents on her list ... except one who liked her query and sample writing and asked her to submit the full manuscript.

"Of course I was excited," says Jody, "but little did I know at the time that my manuscript would languish in her slush pile for nine long months. During the wait I wrote another book and decided to enter both books into a contest for unpublished writers.

"Much to my surprise and delight, both of my entries made it to the finals. At that point, I followed up with the agent who still had my manuscript. I notified her of the contest finals. Within three days, she offered me representation.

"My agent and I worked hard at putting together a proposal. She sent it out to a publisher she believed was perfect for my books. Within the span of a few months, I signed a contract for a three-book deal with Bethany House Publishers.

"The Preacher’s Bride was the first book in that deal. The Doctor’s Lady is the second (releasing in September of 2011). And I’m currently working on writing book three in the contract. It will be released in 2012." Jody is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Word Serve Literary.

Congratulations, to you, Jody! Thank you for sharing your journey from finished book to publication with us. We're all pulling for you to have a second, and a third, CBA best seller.

Another Great Read from Best-Selling Author Loree Lough ...

Gifted storyteller and prolific writer Loree Lough has given us yet another must read in Beautiful Bandit, Book One in her Lone Star Legends series published by Whitaker House.

Set in 1888 Texas with an out-of-this-world gorgeous cover, Beautiful Bandit vividly brings to life two unforgettable characters, Joshua Neville and Kate Wellington, and weaves a tale of intrigue and romance loaded with unexpected twists and turns. The book's back cover hints at its heartwarming storyline:

"Joshua Neville is a quiet, even-keeled rancher who was just minding his own business when he witnessed a brazen bank robbery in San Antonio, Texas, that left three men dead. Even more shocking than the heist itself is that the ringleader looked like a woman!

"Having escaped a gang of robbers who forced her to participate in a bank heist, Kate Wellington adopts an alias and decides to flee to Mexico. Lost and hungry, she stumbles upon the camp of a man named Josh Neville who offers to escort her across the border. But when she injures her ankle, the kindly cowboy takes 'Dinah' home to his ranch to heal instead.

"As the two grow closer, Josh realizes he's fallen in love, even as he learns the truth about Dinah. But does he know the whole story? And, after the truth comes out, will he put his life at risk to keep her with him?"

Beautiful Bandit has received many accolades from its readers, including many award-winning authors including Michelle Sutton, Laurean Brooks, and Rita Gerlach. You, too, will find the book entertaining and uplifting. Be sure to visit Loree at loreelough.com to learn more about this talented author.

Exciting New Release: Catherine Leggitt's Payne & Misery

Cozy mysteries are a fun read, especially when written by talented author, Catherine Leggitt. Payne & Misery is the cleverly woven tale of Christine Sterling, a lonely, nosy, imaginative woman who envisions intrigue at every turn, and who ultimately stumbles into much more danger than she ever anticipated. The book's back cover gives us a hint about her escapade:

"Christine Sterling's loneliness reduces her to snooping on neighbors she's never seen. When her newly-retired husband, Jesse, becomes obsessed with a hobby requiring long weekends away, Christine inserts herself into the wrong place at the wrong time–a sure recipe for disaster. Add Christine's dubious "gift" of observation, a super-sized need to rescue, and a double dose of imagination. Sprinkle with peculiar circumstances lurking just down the hill and what do you get? Not the glittering paradise of togetherness Jesse promised their "Golden Years" would be. You get trouble. Big trouble.

"Christine has already demonstrated a severe propensity for jumping to wrong conclusions. When she discovers an injured neighbor named Lila Payne withering away in the house next door, friends and family turn a deaf ear. Something about crying wolf once too often. Until Lila and Christine's beloved border collie, Molly, both disappear the same night. Who's crying wolf now?"

You don't want to miss this one! Published by WestBow Press, Payne & Misery can be found online at www.westbowpress.com, www.amazon.com, or www.barnesandnoble.com, and to learn more about Catherine, visit her at catherineleggitt.com.

Sarah Sundin's A Memory Between Us - Riveting!

"Can they overcome the past to find a brighter future together?"

A Memory Between Us, Sundin's second novel in her Wings of Glory series, seeks to answer this question as it plunges us into a realistic re-creation of 1940's Europe during World War II. The book's back cover aptly describes this gripping story:

"Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge–until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man.

"As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

"From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice."

Once again, Sarah weaves an authentic tale as she skillfully takes us back into a time of honor, valor, and bravery while drawing us into the realism of war and love.

Don't miss this book published by Revell. It will impact your life in ways you will never forget.

DEMON: A MEMOIR by Tosca Lee -- Intriguing!

You've heard it said often. Writers should "read, read, read," and it is true. Reading well-written books does improve our writing.

So, with that premise in mind, I must say that if you haven't already read DEMON: A MEMOIR by Tosca Lee, you have to get it! Published by B&H Publishing Group, it's back cover hints at the suspense that held me spellbound until its very last word:

"I started to rise. He grabbed me by the arm. His fingers bit through the sleeve of my coat, exceedingly strong, unnaturally warm.

"'You will recall everything–every word I say. Long after you have forgotten, in fact, the way I summoned you to this table, the first prick of your mortal curiosity about me. Long after you have forgotten, in fact, the most basic details of your life. You will remember–and you will curse or bless this day.'

"I felt ill. Something about the way he said mortal...In that instant, reality, strung out like an elastic band, snapped.

"'Yes, You see.' He smiled. 'You know. We can share now, between us, the secret of what I am.'

"The words came, unbidden, to my mind: Fallen, Dark Spirit.

"DEMON."

My enthusiastic recommendation doesn't stand alone, either. Accolades from twenty-nine well-known authors and reviewers are listed in the book's first pages. I won't quote them all, but the following is a sample:

New York Times Best-Selling Author Ted Dekker comments, "So few books rattle me to the core yet lift my hopes to the heavens in the same breath. Tosca Lee's DEMON is a rare find that must be read."

Brandilyn Collins, Award-winning author of Exposure, says, "I will not read the stories of Creation or Lucifer's fall again without picturing the scenes described in DEMON."

Tracey Bateman, Christy Award-Winning author of Thirsty states: "DEMON: A MEMOIR isn't a mere work of fiction. DEMON is an experience."

Tosca Lee is a Christy Award finalist for excellence in Christian fiction and a ForeWord Magazine Book of the Year Silver Award winner. She is also the critically acclaimed author of Havah: The Story of Eve. Tosca lives in the Midwest and enjoys travel, history, and theology. You can learn more about this amazing author at ToscaLee.com.