Meet and Greet Monday: Jill Williamson

Book Giveaway Contest!
See the details, below.

Jill is the author of By Darkness Hid and To Darkness Fled, the first two books in a medieval fantasy trilogy. She has worked as a freelance editor and published numerous articles. VOYA magazine named By Darkness Hid as one of the Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror novels of 2010.



Jill grew up in Alaska with no electricity, an outhouse, and a lot of mosquitoes. Thankfully it was the land of the midnight sun, and she stayed up late, reading by the summer daylight that wouldn’t go away. But in the winter, there was nothing better to do than daydream. Both hobbies set her up to be a writer.

Jill has served alongside her youth pastor husband for the past twelve years and loves working with teenagers, especially to encourage young writers. (http://www.teenageauthor.com/) An avid reader, she started Novel Teen Book Reviews (www.novelteen.com) to help teens find great books to read. She lives in Oregon with her youth pastor husband and two book-loving children. Visit Jill at http://www.jillwilliamson.com/.

BRC: How would you describe your book?To Darkness Fled is the second book in the Blood of Kings trilogy. It’s about Achan, a young man who wanted to become a knight, and Vrell, a girl who is dressed as a boy to hide from the man who wants to marry her. Book two picks up where By Darkness Hid left off.

Here is the back cover copy for To Darkness Fled (Blood of Kings, book 2):

They have no choice. Chased by an evil prince, Achan, Vrell, and the Kingsguard knights flee into Darkness. They head north, for Tsaftown and Ice Island, where they must free an army that can help them fight for Er’Rets.

Darkness sickens Vrell. How long can she keep her secret without being caught? Achan already suspects her of lying. If she is not careful, he will suspect her of treason as well. She hopes he will let his suspicions go until they reach her home.

Achan wanted freedom, but this new journey has bound him more than ever. Sir Gavin’s claims are so far fetched. First, that there might only be one God, and second, that this God chose Achan to push back Darkness, the magnificent curse of Er’Rets. Him. Achan. Barely a man himself.

Each setback Darkness brings seems minor compared to the one choice only Achan can make. What will he choose?

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?
From Achan’s journey: That there is only one God and that he is the desire of Achan’s heart. No matter what Achan faces, knowing God will make life more worthwhile. God created Achan for a purpose. If Achan wants to fulfill that purpose, he must discover who God really is.

From Vrell’s journey: That the truth will set her free, but there are still consequences to sin. Vrell may try to hide from those consequences, but she cannot hide forever. She must embrace who she is and confess what she has done if she is ever to be truly free.

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?I loved slowly revealing Vrell’s secret here and there. Vrell is a girl, but in the first book, she is in hiding, dressed as a stray boy to avoid having to marry the evil Prince Gidon, who only wants her inheritance. Then she meets up with Achan, who thinks she’s a scrawny boy. It was so much fun to dangle Vrell’s secret out there to be nearly discovered time and again, only to save her at the last minute each time. But the secret does come out in this story, and that was a fun scene to write too.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?
It was a challenge to write a book where much of it takes place in pitch black darkness. You can’t describe people or surrounding so easily without light. I had fun at first, but it was hard to keep it up for most (of) the story. There are lanterns and torches and candles used sometimes, but often, they travel in darkness so that no one will be able to track them. That was tough to write.

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?
I wanted to speak to teens. I discovered that sometimes, people hire speakers based on articles written by the speaker. So I looked into writing articles. Then the new Harry Potter book came out, and a new barrage of debates within the church community flared up as to whether or not the books were evil. The debate inspired me to write my own teen novel that all Christians would love. Yes, I was a bit naive. I have since learned that no one likes every book. But that’s how I got started. I was inspired to try and write blockbuster-style stories that glorified God.

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.I start by brainstorming a premise, characters, and a basic plot. I need to know where the story is headed before I can write too much. I also need to know how each main character’s story will end. For this book, I use a spreadsheet, since I have two point of view characters. I write Achan’s scenes in one column and Vrell’s scenes in the next column so I can see how their journeys will mesh. Once I feel good about where I’m headed, I start writing. I try to write the whole book as quickly as I can—in a month, preferably. Then I go back and edit, rewrite, and add or cut scenes if necessary.

BRC: What are you working on now? 
I'm working on From Darkness Won (Blood of Kings, book 3).

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading? Books by Ted Dekker, Eric Wilson, Frank Peretti, John Olson, Bill Myer, Anthony Horowitz, Jane Austen, Jenny B. Jones, Lisa Samson, Francine Rivers, Megan Whalen Turner, and Cathy Gohlke. I enjoy stories that make me laugh, cry, or stay up all night because I can’t put the thing down.

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?
Online you can go to Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or MarcherLordPress.com. You can also buy an autographed copy from me through my website. You can special order my book at your local bookstore by giving them the name and author. Also, many libraries have my first book, and if they don’t, they would likely order it if you ask. Print out a couple reviews from the Free Download section of my website and take them to the library with you when you ask so that they know my book is a good one for their library.

BRC: Where can readers find you online?
My website is http://www.jillwilliamson.com/. I’m also on Facebook, MySpace, Shoutlife, Shelfari, GoodReads, Twitter, Amazon… On top of that, I run two blogs. The first is Novel Teen Book Reviews at http://www.novelteen.com/. It’s a website that reviews clean teen fiction. This is a great resource to see what books are available in the Christian market for teens. The other blog is for teen authors, though adult authors may find some useful tips too. http://www.teenageauthor.com/.

BRC: Thanks for visiting Book Readers Central today.
Thanks for having me! J




Book Giveaway Contest: Limited to entrants with mailing addresses within the United States. Please leave a comment to this post to enter. The winner may choose either By Darkness Hid or From Darkness Fled. A link to the full giveaway contest rules is provided in a sidebar of this blog.

Meet and Greet Monday: Deb Kinard

Book Giveaway Contest!
Read the details, below.
Deb Kinnard started writing at age ten, because there was no preteen girl with a horse on Bonanza. From there she progressed to short stories and dreadful poetry. In college, she gained two degrees in health care and spent time observing hippies, basketball stars, el-ed majors and other strange species. While raising two active girls and cherishing her husband, she’s enjoyed a career that encompasses Spanish translation, volunteer work at a crisis line, years in assorted ERs, and a day job at a big Chicago teaching hospital. Deb keeps busy with reading, needlework, guitar-playing, and travel whenever possible. She prefers warm places with plenty of ocean and tall, cool fruit juice drinks.


Deb is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and serves as Zone Director for the Midwest. Her previously published novels include Powerline and Oakwood (Treble Heart Books). Angel with a Ray Gun and Angel with a Backhoe are published by Desert Breeze Publishing. Upcoming books include Seasons in the Mist, an April 2010 release from Sheaf House, Damages also in April 2010 from Desert Breeze Publishing and the novella Aloha, My Love will appear in Desert Breeze’s Christmas 2010 anthology. She’s currently working on a sequel to Seasons in the Mist.

BRC: How would you describe your book?
Seasons in the Mist is a time travel love story. I write romance by preference, so when I went to Cornwall a number of years ago, I visited an abandoned well. The feel there was rather strong, as though during its lifetime the well had seen many, many stories...by the time I got home from the U.K. I had the germ of the idea for a time travel adventure.

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?
The larger truth in this book is that every traveler must walk a straight path in God's eyes -- differences of the culture she's in, current-day mores and customs don't change this need we all have to walk closer to Him. He created it in our souls, and we're diminished if we don't acknowledge His sovereignty.

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
I loved working the years of research into it. I liked recalling the places I'd visited, looking them up on the 'Net to see how they look now, and dredging up difficult-to-find historical details.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?
Historical details that wouldn't dredge!

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?
"Bonanza." I was about 10 when it came out, and it came to me that what the show needed was a 10 year old girl adventuring around the Ponderosa on her own pony. So I created one.

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.
I get an idea and just start. I'm an unrepentant seat of the pants writer and I've tried outlining exactly once. Didn't work for me, so I guess I'm stuck with my own work style.

BRC: What are you working on now?
A sequel to Seasons in the Mist , tentatively titled Seasons of Reckoning. A thirtyish history professor accesses the time portal to find out if he can hack it in the 14th century, or was he just deluded? It's been a fun book to write, so far.

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?
My tastes are pretty eclectic. I read techno-thrillers, romance, nonfic (mostly medieval history and science) and the occasional science fiction story.

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?
Seasons in the Mist is published by Sheaf House.

It's available at Borders, B&N, Amazon.com, Books-a-Million, and CBD. So far. There might be more places I don't know about yet!

BRC: Where can readers find you online?
I have a web site (http://www.debkinnard.com/) and a blog (http://www.justtellthestory.blogspot.com/) where I rant about all sorts of issues.

BRC: Thanks for stopping by and letting readers get to know you!
Thanks for inviting me.

Book Giveaway Contest: Leave a comment on this blog post to enter. Entrants are limited to those with mailing addresses within the United States. The winner will be announced on this blog on Friday. Full Contest Rules

Whistlestop Book Review: Raven’s Ladder

With lyrical prose that sometimes verges on poetry and piercing insights into his character's motivations and desires, Jeffrey Overstreet brings to life a tantalizing world in Raven's Ladder. Glimpses of a ruined culture are made more terrifying by contrast to passages of incredible beauty and the nobility of the book's protagonist, Cal-Raven.

King of a conquered and wandering people, Cal-Raven seeks a place to build a New Abascar. He discovers a legendary city at great cost. Can he win the people of Abascar away from House Bel Amica, a seductive kingdom by the sea?

This is not a stand-alone book, as I discovered. I recommend this series for adult readers of fantasy, but first read Auralia's Colors and Cyndere's Midnight or you will be confused through most of the book's beginning, which switches viewpoint characters often.
 
 About the Author

Jeffrey Overstreet is the author of The Auralia Thread, the fantasy series which begins with Auralia’s Colors, a thrilling adventure twice-nominated for a Christy Award, and Cyndere’s Midnight. He is an award-winning film critic and columnist, his work appearing in many publications including Image, Paste, and Christianity Today. He is also the contributing editor for Seattle Pacific University’s Response magazine. Jeffrey writes in the coffee shops of Shoreline, Washington, with his wife, Anne.


Purchase Information for Raven's Ladder:
http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781400074679

* This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Whistlestop Wednesday Book Review: Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue

Chuck Black delivers an allegorical adventure in Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue, book four of The Knights of Arrethrae. This epic fantasy tells a cautionary tale of the effects of the mysterious and habit-forming "Waters of Moorue." The story unfolds as Lady Carliss, a young Knight of the Prince, is beset by troubles. First her friend, Salina, enlists Carliss's aid when her family falls into the hands of marauders. Then Dalton, who stirs feelings of love in Carliss despite his commitment to the Lady Brynn, lies near death after he suffers the bite of a strange lizard. Only a beautiful lily located in the deadly Swamp of Despon can save him, if Carliss can find it in time. The plot thickens as the secret order of the followers of the Prince, son of the great King, meet with treachery. Carliss discovers her call to bring deliverance to those imprisoned by the "Waters of Moorue". To obey this call may cost Carliss -- and Dalton - their lives. But if she turns from it, many will die.

Lady Carliss's focus on honor and morality, is suitable -- even desirable reading for teens caught up in our pleasure-seeking escapist culture. With many twists and turns and surprises, this book will satisfy young adult and older readers.

Reader questions and a brief summary by the author bring home an inspired message of deliverance and a challenge for the reader to join the forces of the great King. I highly recommend this book for teenagers and adults who suffer from addictions.

Chuck Black, a former F-16 fighter pilot and tactical communications engineer, is the author of nine novels, including the popular Kingdom series. He has received praise from parents across the country for his unique approach to telling biblical truths. His passion in life is to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to love his wife, Andrea, and their six children. He lives with his family in North Dakota.

 Purchase information for Lady Carliss and the Waters of Moorue: http://www.randomhouse.com/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9781601421272

* This book was provided for review by the WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group.

Meet and Greet Monday: Michelle Griep

Today's guest, Michelle Griep, tells us she's been writing since she first discovered Crayolas and blank wall space. She seeks to glorify God by imparting Biblical truths through the medium of fiction…well, except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager.

INTERVIEW:

BRC: How would you describe your book? 

A Wizard of Oz tale with a medieval twist. Who wouldn’t want to visit the realm of beefy knights and mysterious castles? Here’s a short blurb:

On his way to battle, Colwyn Haukswyrth, knight of Gallimore, faces a storm the likes of which he’s never seen, and a woman in its midst who claims to live centuries in the future. Jessica Neale’s faith may have been lost the day of her husband’s death, but she's about to turn Colwyn's beliefs on end and form a bond that might be strong enough to survive the grave.

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?

Love and forgiveness are choices, not feelings. I don’t think Jesus particularly felt like having his back ripped open or getting nailed to a hunk of wood and left to die. Nevertheless, He chose to do so. Should we do any less? 

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book? 

Visiting the past. I love history, particularly English history. Researching the early 1300’s was a treat. Thinking about what facts to use and how to combine them with fiction was like working a puzzle…a fun puzzle, not one of the kind with a bazillion pieces that all look the same.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?

Discovering how much I didn’t know about writing. It’s NOT as easy as it looks, kids, and should not be attempted by the faint of heart. 

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?

I’ve always written, whether journal entries or devotionals or whatever. Yes, I was one of the nerds that attended creative writing camp in junior high, thank you very much. I pursued publication, however, when I noticed an overabundance of Amish prairie novels and a gaping lack of English historical reading materials on the Christian fiction bookshelf. 

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.

When beginning a new project, I think long and hard about where to start and end the story, who the main characters will be, then leave the rest up to whatever whimsy the muse may impart. Thursday nights are my writing nights. I run away to Panera and park myself next to the fireplace with a mug o’ java and a double chocolate chunk cookie.

BRC: What are you working on now?

Currently I’m half-way through a historical set in 1795 England. The hero is an opium addict and the heroine lives with her brother, who’s an Anglican priest going mad.

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?

No brainer…historicals. Although I do have a longstanding penchant for sci-fi/fantasy. Favorite authors: Charlotte Bronte, Ginger Garrett, Siri Mitchell, Lisa Bergren, Marylu Tyndall, Charles Dickens.

  

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?

Amazon. Black Lyon Publishing. Bookstores.

BRC: Where can readers find you online?

http://www.mmgriep.com

Meet and Greet Monday: Lisa Grace

Today's guest, Lisa Grace, author of Angel in the Shadows, offers a fascinating alternative to the Twilight series.

 

Lisa Grace: Thank you Janalyn for having me on your site. I appreciate the chance to talk to anyone who loves reading and writing as much as I do. For those who would like to know who I am, I've been married to my husband Todd for over twenty years and I have a six-year-old daughter whom I home school. I live along the Gulf Coast of  Florida and also spend part of the year in Tennessee and the North woods of Wisconsin.

BRC: How would you describe your book?

Angel in the Shadows - Book 1 is a young adult supernatural thriller. What sets Angel apart is the supernatural creatures that appear, in Book 1, Angel in the Shadows, only do things we know they can from the Bible. I had my Pastor, Larry Vasseur (he has his Doctorate in Theology) of Fellowship Baptist in New Port Richey, FL, read my manuscript to make sure it is scripturally sound in its message. For fun, there are over a 120 footnotes for the teens who want to check what the characters say in their Bible.

BRC: What message do you hope it conveys?

 I hope teenagers come away with the knowledge that spiritual warfare for their souls is real. The characters in the book show the reader we all make mistakes, but you can be strong with God's help.

BRC: What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

I enjoyed seeing the characters come alive and when I finished, the sense of accomplishment you feel knowing something has been created out of your imagination. I felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to write this book as I was upset by the message in theTwilight series, that it's okay to try to commit suicide (the main character jumps off a cliff when her vampire boyfriend breaks up with her.) My novel is an alternative as it has a strong female character who perseveres by relying on God and knowing that God has given her everything she needs, even when dealing with supernatural creatures who are smarter and stronger than her.

BRC: What did you dislike most about writing this book?

The constant editing process is not much fun. I edited it about seven times before I sent it out. Then the Publishing house and I did about four more revisions. Even though the book is 60,000 words, which should make it 175 pages, the text block manager cut it down to 144 to make it look more uniform. At least I'm saving some trees!

BRC: What inspired you to become a writer?

I have always written, from the age of five on. That year I wanted a typewriter for Christmas so I could write Star Trek scripts. In fourth grade at a new school, I wrote a book report and received an "F" on it because the teacher was sure I had plagiarized the front flap. What he didn't realize is I was already reading on a college level and going through at least a book a day at that point. Actually, I was flattered that he thought it was that good. My Mother brought in the book to show him the front flap and he adjusted my grade to an "A." I always thought of myself as a writer as I have a whole drawer full of stories, poems, songs and ideas. I realized I better try and get something published soon. I wasn't getting any younger.

BRC: Tell us about your writing process.

I write a page, spell check, grammar check, and then I read it out loud. I start with a very rough outline, broken into about 10 to 20 parts. I set a goal of 2,000 words a day no matter what is going on in my life. I only write my official outline and synopsis after the book is written because too much of the plot and even characters change during the process. 

BRC: What are you working on now?

I have two works in progress. Angel in the Storm  - Book 2  and The 15th Star, ( which I'm working on for National Novel Writing Month) an adult mystery thriller that can be described as 1776 meets National Treasure.

BRC: What books do you enjoy reading?

I enjoy real-life adventure, some of my favorites lately are Fire and The Perfect Storm by Sebastian Junger, The Ice Master and Ada Black Jack by Jennifer Niven, The White Cascade by Gary Krist, Voyage of the Manteno by John Haslett, and I'm currently reading Malcolm Gladwell's books Blink and Outliers. I frequently reread On Writing by Stephen King, C. S. Lewis's Mere Christianity and the Screw Tape Letters and of course the Bible.

 

BRC: Where can readers buy your book?

Angel in the Shadows,  ISBN #978-1-60911-001-7, is slated for release in December/January at Barnes and Noble, and Amazon.com. It will be distributed by Ingram and available at fine bookstores everywhere.

The difference between vampires and angels? 

Angels are real.  

BRC: Where can readers find you online?

Readers can reach me personally at www.lisagracebooks.com and I return emails sent to lisagracebooks@yahoo.com I love to answer questions and hope to hear from your readers. Thanks again Janalyn for inviting me here today.

BRC: Thanks, Lisa, for a fun and informative interview.

Whistlestop Wednesday: "I Know Why the Angels Dance" by Bryan Davis

Bryan Davis gives us a rare glimpse of heaven through a child's eyes in this moving story of death and life.

Young Tabitha experiences a series of visions and prophetic dreams that confuse the adults around her. Tabitha’s dreams predict deaths, and they contain details she would not know on her own. When they begin to come true Tabitha and her pastor father, John, bear a grave responsibility, for they must work to bring lost souls to the saving knowledge of Christ before time runs out. Tabitha’s childlike faith cuts through disbelief and unbelief. John struggles to overcome his glib sermonizing and truly engage the heart of his hearers.

John and Tabitha labor under the conviction that to grieve the death of a Christian who has gone to heaven can only be a selfish act. And yet, the Bible tells Christians to weep with those who weep. As the book unfolds, this basic conflict resolves in a moving and sensitive finale.

I highly recommend I Know Why the Angels Dance for its passionate and beautiful prose and timeless story. Such a book can change the lives of those who embrace its message. It can make the angels dance.


*My thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for purposes of review.
**Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.

"The Noticer" by Andy Andrews (Thomas Nelson Publishers)

A homeless young man weeps in despair as he hides in a crude shelter beneath a pier. A couple, disappointed in marriage, faces the prospect of divorce. A landscaper too busy to take his wife's phone calls still makes time to fleece his customers. A businessman on the brink of bankruptcy makes the decision to end his life.

What do these people, the residents of Orange Beach, Alabama, have in common with one another? Each of their lives changes for the better after an encounter with Jones, an elderly fellow wearing jeans and sandals and carrying an aged suitcase. Jones, a self-described "Noticer," does just that. He points out the obvious to those unable to see it for themselves.

Andy, the homeless young man, attains success. He no longer has to sleep under a pier. In gratitude, he looks for Jones. No one seems to know where the old man lives. Andy learns that Jones goes by other names. He wants answers but doesn't begin to find them until one day a battered suitcase turns up without its owner.

"The Noticer" engaged me from start to finish with its charming storyline and memorable characters. A true sign of great writing is when a character "lives" off the page. Jones lives for me.

I have a few quibbles, but not enough to prevent me from recommending this book. Jones seemed given to violating people's personal space, barging in on Andy in the opening scene, getting into a truck uninvited, showing up on a boat without the owner's permission. His intrusions always ended up as more than welcome, but I found his methods a little unsettling. That was probably the author's intent, but no reader likes to feel manipulated.

Also, some of Jones' advice came across as cliched since it draws from popular Christian wisdom. And yet, cliches often exist because of their truth. The beauty of "The Noticer" could arguably lie in its ability to repackage and deliver conventional wisdom afresh.

*Janalyn Voigt is an Amazon Associate and benefits when books are purchased on Amazon through links from Book Readers Central.