being an author

May 30, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 5 Comments

Life and Writing Time-Savers

Last weekend I had a special day out with my grandma. We went to lunch, went shopping, and I found some items on clearance for 85% off! Grandma found a few things too, but my shopping bag overflowed. I mean 85% off . . . how can you beat that?

Come to find out, this is a typical Gen X trait. I can’t pay full price for anything. Another Gen X hobby is shopping online. I have my favorite e-shops such as Red Envelope. I first found out about this place when my sweet agent sent me a gift in a lovely red box. I’ve followed suit, sending gifts to editors, family, and friends . . . shopping from their sale shop, of course. (Shhh . . . don’t give away my secret.)

Of course, the good deal doesn’t end there. The cool thing about online coupons is you just have to search for them and plug them in at check out. How easy is that? With them I’ve gotten free shipping, 20% off my order, and more.

Why am I sharing all this? Because as a Gen Xer, I like things that work and things that provide a savings . . . in this case saving me money. The above is a good example.

In life and writing I think things that work, too, saving me time . . . and here are a few examples:

When it comes to ANY kind of writing, the first thing I do is just start writing. Seriously, I open up a blank document and “clear out” my mind. Today, I did this for a new book I want to write. This morning I had nothing, and this afternoon I had enough of the idea down to email a basic outline to my agent. For me, the best way to deal with a blank page is to make it un-blank!
When it comes to kids, I’ve trained them to help around the house. Even before my oldest son could read, he used the washing machine with the help of a little angel stick on the dial to show him where to start. Not only does this help me, my kids have pride in their work . . . and they’ll make good spouses some day! (I’m taking applications.)
When it comes to being at peace in my world, I submit to the Prince of Peace. Every day I start my day by reading my Bible and praying. What a different it makes! As I turn my thoughts to God and submit to my will, my steps follow Him and not my own desires. What a difference that makes too.

So, what things work for you? What saves time, or money, or saves you from angst in your life? I’d love to hear!

*Photo credit: Image courtesy of nuttakit / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

May 22, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

My Writing Desk | Lisa Takeuchi Cullen

My office is a converted attic in my New Jersey home. My desk is an L-shaped, rickety el cheapo from Ikea; I use one end for my computer, the other to lay out print-outs and books. While I was writing Pastors’ Wives, my KJV Bible often occupied this surface. I try very hard to keep my desk free of snacks, but somehow the pretzels and nuts just find me. The snacks are usually accompanied by cup after cup of green tea.

I’m looking at this picture and marveling that most things on my desk have zero functionality. I have a collection of pretty bookmarks, but in reality I’m more likely to use one of those magazine subscription cards to hold my place in books. A case that held my late father’s glasses; a calculator that succumbed years ago to an unfortunate run-in with green tea; notebooks completely, totally, every-last-line full.

See that green, patterned hankie propped in the back? It’s wrapped around a flower that grew in my grandmother’s garden. In the month before my mother died of cancer, my Buddhist grandmother told me to wave it around the house to keep Mom alive. My Catholic mother wouldn’t hear of such malarkey. But I kept the weed. I suppose I couldn’t bear to discard a totem that bore such desperate love.

Now that I look around, I see I’ve been hoarding totems that give me comfort and help me keep writing stories . . . and I hadn’t even realized it. Thank you, Tricia, for this wonderful exercise!

About Pastors’ Wives

What’s it like when the man you married is already married to God? asks Pastors’ Wives, an often surprising yet always emotionally true first novel set in a world most of us know only from the outside.

Lisa Takeuchi Cullen’s debut novel Pastors’ Wives follows three women whose lives converge and intertwine at a Southern evangelical megachurch. Ruthie follows her Wall Street husband from New York to Magnolia, a fictional suburb of Atlanta, when he hears a calling to serve at a megachurch called Greenleaf. Reeling from the death of her mother, Ruthie suffers a crisis of faith—in God, in her marriage, and in herself. Candace is Greenleaf’s “First Lady,” a force of nature who’ll stop at nothing to protect her church and her superstar husband. Ginger, married to Candace’s son, struggles to play dutiful wife and mother while burying her calamitous past. All their roads collide in one chaotic event that exposes their true selves. Inspired by Cullen’s reporting as a staff writer for Time magazine, Pastors’ Wives is a dramatic portrayal of the private lives of pastors’ wives, caught between the demands of faith, marriage, duty, and love.

Lisa is holding an iPad Mini giveaway and hosting an author chat party on Facebook tomorrow evening! Enter the iPad Mini contest HERE and RSVP to her party HERE. You can also connect with Lisa on her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

May 9, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 13 Comments

7 Reasons You Should Take Social Media Seriously if You’re a Writer

Want to write a book? Think it’s just about writing a good one? Think again. Social media needs to be taken seriously. Below there are seven reasons why you need to give it some attention . . . but first what does social media look like to me?

What social media outlets do I focus on?

Since no one person can write books AND be active on the dozens of great social media sites, I focus on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

Facebook (Personal page, friends + followers)
Facebook (Business page)
Pinterest
Twitter

As you can see, I have a personal profile and a business page on Facebook—and I am active on both pages. To make posting easier, my business page is connected to Twitter, so whatever I post on my business page gets posted on Twitter, too. I do a little Instagram on the side, but I don’t take it seriously. For me that’s just fun.

How big is my reach?

My numbers change daily, but here’s an idea of what we’re looking at:

Twitter: 62,000+ followers
Facebook: 13,000+ friends/fans between my pages
Pinterest: 11,500+ followers

That’s a lot of folks I have the potential to reach every day. Even if I made a connection with ten percent of those folks, that’s a large gathering of friends!

So why should you take it seriously?

1. Social media matters to publishers. I’ve been in publisher meetings where Klout scores, Twitter followers, and Facebook fans garner a lot of attention. Why? Because publishers see the friends, fans, and followers as potential buyers for your books. Magazine ads, media tours, publicity staff to pitch your book, and giveaways cost money. If you can garner your readers’ interest in your book by posting fun photos, interesting insights, and real-life inspiration, then it’s a win-win for everyone. Your readers get to be a part of the publishing process, the publisher gets more sales, and you are the hero for building a bridge between the two.

2. Social media sells books. I’m not a mathematician. I can’t graph my ROI (return on investment) or how much I make per hour on social media through sales. But I can say, my social media connections have grown over the years and my book sales have, too. (A + B = C, maybe?)

I’ve also seen the publishing advances I get for my books grow as my social media presence has grown. Part of that is because of increased sales, and part of that is because of the “tribe” I’ve built and the potential for future sales.

3. Social media connects me with readers—and connects them with each other. One of my favorite things is to see my readers and friends connecting through social media and becoming friends themselves. They get excited about my books together! I also regularly turn to my social media friends to help me brainstorm book ideas, to get ideas for character’s names, and even to get quotes for my book! (Yes, Facebook fans have been quoted in my books!) People love being involved in the writing process, and I love including them.

4. Social media starts conversations. As communication and branding expert Dawn Nicole Baldwin says: “I think what’s important for most organizations to remember is that the heart of social media is being ‘social.’ Is what you’re posting creating a conversation or just informing? Sharing information is okay but at the end of the day if you’re not engaging people in conversations, you’ve failed.” While selling books is important, to me spreading the message is even more so. Through social media can start conversations about things that matter to you. It’s a place to share your heart, your passion, and your message.

5. Social media outlets like Pinterest make concepts visual. Have you ever heard the saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words”? This is great news when we’re trying to share our message and when we want to get people interested in our topics. When you post on Facebook or Twitter, adding a picture gains more interest. And when I develop great graphics for my blogs and post them to Pinterest, I easily double my pageviews!

6. Social media doesn’t take as time as you think. With all of these outlets I probably spend an hour a day posting or tweeting or pinning. This seems like a lot, but I do it while I’m writing on my exercise bike or when I’m standing in the grocery store line via my cellphone. A little here and there throughout the day goes a long way!

7. Social media gives you a platform to share TRUTH. Think about this: In one day you have more access to people around the world than most missionaries from history had their whole lives. “Go ye into all the world,” Christ told His disciples. It’s a message for us, too! And what an amazing way to do this from the comfort of our own couches or coffee shop chairs. God has plans for the people He wants to reach, and in the amazing way that God works He can use us—and social media—to spread the good news of Jesus! All it takes is a few posts, pins, and tweets!

Want further reading? I just finished reading Unique: Telling Your Story in the Age of Brands and Social Media by Phil Cooke. I highly recommend this book to help you share YOUR story!

May 8, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 14 Comments

My Writing Desk | Deeanne Gist

I love the sunshine. If I had my way, I’d live in a fishbowl so I could soak up as much sunlight as possible. My office is in the corner of our house with wall-to-wall windows. To bring even more of the outdoors inside, I painted a mural along the top border with vines, red berries, honey bees, and hummingbirds.

To make the environment more relaxed and less office-like, I have furnished it with shabby-chic antiques. I work on an old teacher’s desk from the 1950s and have a distressed credenza. Behind me, within easy reach are floor-to-ceiling bookshelves which house the reference material I need for the novel I’m working on.

I only have one wall in the study and on that wall is an old mercantile cabinet from the 1800s. The potato bins hold my files, the whatnot drawers hold office supplies, the shelves hold my bills and awards.

Thanks for stopping by!

About Deeanne Gist:

Deeanne—known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee—has rocketed up the bestseller lists and captivated readers everywhere with her original historical and contemporary novels. A favorite among readers and reviewers alike, her popular titles include A Bride Most Begrudging, A Bride in the Bargain, and Maid to Match. Her latest book, It Happened at the Fair (available now), is her ninth published novel.

A popular speaker, Gist’s presentations have been featured on the front page of the Wall Street Journal and in other publications. The Wall Street Journal’s accompanying online video was the most watched video on the FrontPageWSJ.com website for several days following their feature.

Gist has a background in education and journalism. Her credits include People, Parents, Parenting, Family Fun, Houston Chronicle and Orlando Sentinel. She is also the creator of I Did It!^®, a parenting line of products. Gist lives in Houston, Texas with her husband of thirty years. The couple has four grown children.

Dee’s new book, It Happened at the Fair, is available now, and to celebrate, Dee is holding an iPad Mini giveaway and hosting a live webcast on May 22 at 8 p.m. EDT/5 p.m. PDT! Enter the giveaway here, and RSVP for the webcast here.

May 6, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 12 Comments

How to Be a Best-Selling Author while Also Raising Little Kids {Well, Sort Of}

Because I’m an author and a mom, I’m often asked how I do it. I know people want me to give them a step-by-step plan of what to do and how to do it, but the answer is not so easy.

When I first started writing I had three little kids at home, and I want to be published SO BADLY. I thought it would validate my faith, and I wanted to do something for God. Mostly I felt that because I’d be a teen mom I had to prove myself.

I struggled with my writing for years . . . pushing, pushing, pushing. I worked hard, but I didn’t get very far. Finally one day I heard an author speak about relinquishment and putting everything into God’s hands. I did. (It was hard, but I did!) I got on my knees and lifted my hands. I told God it was all up to Him. And . . . He led me away from writing for a while.

I helped start a crisis pregnancy center. (He called me, and I followed.) I homeschooled my kids, and I helped care for my grandfather when he was dying of cancer. Yes, I still wrote, but not very much. It was for a season. It was a hard season. It was a good season. It’s a season I’m thankful for.

Then—after my grandfather’s death—doors started to open. God gave me an amazing book idea which turned into From Dust and Ashes. I got a contract to write the Mealtime Moments devotional (now titled Whit’s End Mealtime Devotions).

After those two books, the floodgates REALLY opened. I was still homeschooling, but since 2000 I’ve written forty books. There are times I felt very guilty for turning my attention to writing, BUT GOD has done amazing things with my kids. He has blessed them through my writing. We’ve gone places they never would have gone. We’ve met people they never would have met. Both of my sons are working on novels, and my daughter is twenty, graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in liberal studies, which includes writing and editing!

Mom, if you want to write, know that God has put that desire in your heart for a reason <click to tweet>. I wish I could tell you exactly how to be a best-selling author and raise kids. I’m still trying to figure that out day-by-day. It is possible to write and raise kids, but only God can tell you if that’s what He wants you to do . . . and when He wants you to do it.

Yet if He does call you, do not shrink back in fear. Your life can be the perfect model of how to follow God with your life <click to tweet>. Your children can learn to do it but seeing it done through you.

Also remember God will not call you to writing and say, “I know that you will be blessed—and your readers will be blessed—but I’m going to ruin your kids.” God’s calling for you IS His calling for your family. And His calling for your family IS His calling for you.

Yet, like I’ve learned, the only way you will know God’s plan for you is for you to draw close to Jesus. His answer for me is different from His answer for you. When you seek Him, you won’t go wrong. But remember if He tells you to step out in faith HE WILL BE THERE. And if He tells you to wait HE WILL BE THERE. He’s amazing like that!

March 25, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 19 Comments

I Flew to Focus on the Family to Talk About Parenting … and God Surprised Us With Two New Kids!

Today you can hear my radio broadcast on Focus on the Family! I loved being there with my co-authors Ken Blanchard and Phil Hodges. They were awesome in the studio, and I had a great time inserting practical applications with their awesome wisdom.

Other fun behind-the-scenes stuff:

-Meetings with editors, marketing people, and ministry leaders

-Video shoots to talk about the book

-Dinner with my co-authors

… and of course time in the studio taping these broadcasts!

And while all that was all very exciting, there was something even more exciting behind the scenes. After waking up at 3:00 a.m., flying to Colorado, having lunch with two amazing marketing people, and spending the afternoon in a video shoot I came back to my room to find this message on my cellphone from my husband:

Hi hon, call me right away. A social worker has information about kids … and they need a home by Thursday.

This was Monday. I was in Colorado. And KIDS … with an “s”.

I called John and got the scoop on “Sissy” and “Buddy.” (We can’t use their real names online.) I opened me email and saw their photos.

Lord, are these the little ones you’ve chosen for us? Do you want us to make them part of our forever family?

John and I had felt the call to open our home to kids from the foster care system one year prior. We took steps to get our home studies, we went to the trainings, and we prepared our family. (But how can you really prepare for something as big as that?) And, then, when I’m in Colorado, talking about Leading Your Family on Focus on the Family, God placed these children before us. {Strike up the soundtrack.}

Hmm, I don’t think it was any coincidence that the next day, at the studio, I was able to talk to John Fuller and the producer John Tracy—both of which have adopted kids. And both promised to pray.

It was also no coincidence that I was able to talk to Katie, themanager of Focus’ Wait No More foster-adopt outreach. Hmm … I think God was telling us that He was going to surround us with people who would pray and be there to give advice. (And they have done both!)

So … when you listen to the radio broadcast, imagine how my mind was spinning as I thought about the decision John and I were having to make. And as I thought about the possibility of adding a 5-year-old girl and 2-year-old boy to our home in just a few days. (I tried to stay focused, I really did!)

And the outcome? I finished the broadcasts and returned back to Arkansas that night. John and I prayed about the decision, talked to social workers, met the kids (and started the falling-in-love process), and then we welcomed them home!

It’s been two months now, and it’s been quite an adjustment … but what a gift! It also reminded me what Lead Your Family Like Jesus is all about: Loving God with all our heart, and loving others as we love ourselves. Sometimes that means loving kids who need a forever home.

If you’d like more information about adopting from the Foster Care system go here:

If you’d like more information about the book, go here: www.leadyourfamilybook.com

Also, you can get Lead Your Family Like Jesus FREE with any donation to Focus on the Family. More information is here: my radio broadcast

If you’d like to continue to pray for our adjustment, please do! We know God listens to those prayers. We can feel them!

Sissy, Buddy, and our 3-year-daughter Alyssa

Oh, and on April 16, join me and my friend Tracey Eyster for a LIVE webcast! We’ll be talking about being moms and leading like Jesus! RSVP by setting a reminder.

January 18, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

What A Character!

One of my favorite things about writing is creating characters. I love figuring people out. I want to know what makes them tick. I search hard to figure out their greatest hopes, dreams, and fears. I want to know what they want most of all and then put conflict in their lives that will keep them from that one thing. (Mean, I know.)

Of course, I can’t stay mean for the whole book. In the end my characters either reach their one goal, or they decide on a new, better goal (one they wanted all along but didn’t realize).

When I first started writing I didn’t understand this concept. When I thought “character,” I thought of looks, personality, and clothes (yes, clothes) first. It was like playing Barbies. To know your characters—really know them—you need to go deeper. Believe me, it will make all the difference to your readers.

If you’re working on a fictional character, here are some good questions to ask:

What does my character want more than anything?
What will keep her from her goal?
What are her inner strengths?
What are her inner weaknesses?
Why does she want to reach her goal?
What will she do to achieve it?
How will her strengths help her achieve it?
What is opposite of her goal? Would there ever be a time she’d consider doing the opposite? When? Why?
Who can help her achieve her goal?
Who will stand in her way?
What would cause my character to change her goal?
If her goal changes, how is the new goal better/different than before?

These questions are a great place to start. I also recommend three other books that really helped me:

Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook, Donald Maass
Getting into Character, Brandilyn Collins
45 Master Characters, Victoria Lynn Schmidt

After all, your character is more than just a pretty face. Right?

*Photo credit: Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzulti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 17, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 4 Comments

The Truth about Getting an Agent

Hmmm . . . after my blog on agents, many of you had questions.

Tracy asked, “This is helpful! As a newbie to all this, are there resources to help me identify which agents are taking new writers/if they prefer fiction or non-fiction, etc.?”

Great question, Tracy. The best resource is The Christian Writers Market Guide (which has a great pre-order price right now!).

This should have a list of agents and what they are accepting/looking for.

Of course, just because someone is looking for you doesn’t mean that is the right person for you. It’s a relationship that will need to be built on trust. (Focus on that word: “relationship.”)

There are three ways to find a good agent.

1. Ask around. Talk to authors. Ask lots of questions. Ask for recommendations. If you have a close relationship with a published author—who knows your work and wants to support you—that person might be willing to recommend you to their agent.

2. Read agent blogs. Their personalities will come through. If you connect with someone’s blog, you’ll probably connect with that person in real life. If you find someone you like, comment often. They do pay attention, and it’ll be a great way to build a relationship.

3. Meet agents at conferences. Two conferences I highly recommend are the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference and the Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference. Worth. Every. Penny.

Before you get TOO caught up, though, always ask yourself a few questions:

1. Do I know who I am and what I want to write? Agents look for career writers. If you only have one project, one book, and don’t know what to do next, you’re not ready. If you have a million ideas with no real focus, you’re not ready.

2. Am I building a readership? Do you blog? Are you active in social media? Do you speak? Things aren’t like the old days; you need more than just a good idea. You need a group of people who look to you and trust your words or advice. (This is for non-fiction; for fiction you need to have at least one great novel, already written.)

3. Am I at a place in my life that I can look to building my career? And does your spouse support you? Consider getting an agent as “going to work.” If you have an idea and your agent presents it to a publisher, you’ll have weeks or months—not years—to pull a proposal together. Is this the right season for you?

Finally, here are some agent blogs I recommend (which means I highly respect these agents, too!):

Books and Such Blog: http://www.booksandsuch.biz/blog/

Steve Laube Agency: http://stevelaube.com/blog/

Alice Crider: http://www.alicecrider.com/category/writing/

(Alice is just getting started in agenting. She’s my former editor and a good friend!)

*Photo credit: Image courtesy of luigi diamanti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 15, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 7 Comments

The Truth about Having an Agent

Fifteen years ago, my friend Robin Jones Gunn told me about her editor, Janet Grant, who was becoming an agent. I’d been attending Mt. Hermon Writer’s conferences for a few years, and having an agent seemed cool and very important. It took a few tries for Janet to welcome me into her flock. This was 1997 and before Facebook, so I’m pretty sure the only people who heard about my new agent-ed status was my husband, my dog, and maybe a writer friend or two. I don’t think I mentioned it to anyone at church because how can you explain something like that without sounding like you’re tooting your own horn?

The truth about having an agent is that she listens to my ideas. (I have a lot of ideas, if you couldn’t guess that.)

And she tells me which ones are good. Her mind is like a gold pan that swirls everything around, sloshing out the muddy water and stones, while clinging to the nuggets.

She tells me which ideas won’t work and why . . . and sticks to her beliefs even when I try to convince her otherwise. (And since her track record is pretty darn good, I listen.)

The truth about having an agent is that Janet is really the only one on this planet who understands what I’m juggling. She’s aware of the books that are due, the ideas she’s presenting, and even the ideas that are still being firmed up like cherry jello in the fridge.

The truth about having the same agent for fifteen years is that I’m learning how to read the pauses of her speech and the tones of her voice. I can tell when the phone rings and I pick it up if she has good news, bad news, or just business news. (There’s a special little chirp when there’s good news.)

Now, some of you might be wondering why this is the topic of today’s blog, especially if you’re not a writer or aren’t interested in publishing books.

The truth about having an agent is that I signed up with a life-mentor without realizing it . . . and all of us need mentors. We each need someone to listen to our ideas, to give us wise feedback, and to understand what we’re juggling. Too many of us go through life hiding everything inside and don’t get the chance to be listened to or known.

Having an agent-mentor has also guided me as I support writer-friends. There are times I’ve heard the advice she gave me fifteen, ten, or five years ago coming from my lips.

There is also another reason why I wanted to talk about this. It’s because I want to pass on a little advice to those who are looking to be published. Now, more than ever, it’s easy to get your words in print (or in ebook, which is electronic print). It may be tempting to handle things yourself, to upload your own products to Kindle, and to launch your own career from the security of your couch. While this is the right choice for some of you, in the midst of your business planning consider what you might be missing out on, who you might be missing—a gold pan, a fellow-juggler, an advocate, and a cheerleader.

I’m not going to tell you want to do, but at least take the time to explore what’s possible. For those who are diligent, the right person will come at the right time and you’ll be thankful that God gave you a companion on this writing journey who truly understands.

And that’s the truth.

*Photo credit: Image courtesy of creativedoxfoto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

January 12, 2013 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Three Words: Location, Location, Location

I’ve written more than thirty novels and for most of them, I’ve traveled on location for research. It takes time. It takes money, and folks may wonder if it’s worth it.

It’s possible to accurate novels without traveling on location, but sometimes the location forms the story.

This happened with my co-written novel Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska. When Ocieanna and I got the idea for Glacier Bay, we knew we wanted to mix a historical story with a contemporary one. We had a basic idea, but we were basically researching two books, set in two time periods.

Ocieanna and I traveled to Lonesome Prairie, Montana, and to Seattle, Washington for our previous books, and we knew the benefit of on-site research. We hoped we’d find the same benefit in Glacier Bay. Here’s a photo from that trip:

If you are looking to travel for research here are some things that might help.

1. Connect before you go. In each of our trips we did some research ahead of time and found knowledgeable people to talk to. The best places to look were historical societies or museums. A phone call goes a long way. Call the local historical society and museum and set an appointment to visit. Let the person know what you’re looking for. We’ve found wonderful people willing to help. They get excited that writers are interested in what they know. They like to share their expertise. (Just remember to take down everyone’s name so you can thank them in the acknowledgements.)

2. Talk to locals. One of my favorite things to do is simply talk to the locals. Ask: “What is unique about the area? What are some of you rfavorite stories that you tell others. And who else can I talk to.

Check out the rest of my tips over on Novel Rocket!

*Photo credit:

December 5, 2012 by Tricia Goyer 9 Comments

My Writing Desk | Dorothy Love

On my desk are reference books for my work in progress, a couple of my Shaker boxes, photos of Ron and me arriving in Hawaii for our honeymoon, sweetgrass basket from South Carolina, a small sample of my seashell collection taken from beaches all over the world, a wooden travel box from out trip to New Zealand. My current manuscript, my favorite Gel 2 pens, and my favorite brown coffee mug, a gift from my publisher. This is where I hang out every day.

Be sure you stop by my Facebook page for the next few days! I’m hosting a Home for the Holidays 12 Days of Gifts giveaway, and each day will have a new prize. You can also RSVP for my author chat party by clicking here!

~~~

An award-winning author of novels for preteens, young adults and adults, Dorothy Love is currently at work on her 17th novel. She is the author of the Hickory Ridge series, historical novels set in the beautiful Smoky Mountains region of her native Tennessee. Her well-researched, heartwarming stories of small town Southern life, faith, friends, and family reflect the emotions, concerns, and values of women everywhere.

Growing up in McNairy County, Tennessee, Doro attended Bethel Springs Presbyterian Church and the local grade school where she spent every spare moment writing stories to share with her classmates. As a college student in Texas majoring in teaching and English literature, she co-edited her university newspaper. After earning a masters degree and a Ph.D, she authored dozens of magazine articles before breaking into book publishing with a number of award-winning novels for preteens and young adults. The Hickory Ridge series (Thomas Nelson Fiction) marks her adult fiction debut. Visit her website, or connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Dorothy is giving away a copy of her book Every Perfect Gift. To enter, use the Rafflecopter widget below. Only those in the continental U.S. are eligible to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway