The “Love Finds You in February” Contest kicks off today and runs until Valentine’s Day. If you leave a comment (and your contact information) at one of the following blogs and your name is selected, you’ll win a copy of one of the fantastic Love Finds You titles highlighted below.
We’re giving away free copies of eight separate books–not all to one person, either! There will be eight winners, and here’s how you can become one of them:
We’re not doing canned author interviews. You’ll be doing the interviewing! Pick as many authors as you like, ask any question you please (such as, something about their book(s), their writing or personal lives), and the author will post the answer in the Comments section. Be sure to bookmark the page and come back often (or have comments forwarded to your email) so you can keep track of the answers. And be sure to identify which author the question is for!
PLEASE NOTE: If someone has already asked the author of your choice a question on that particular blog, you must pick another author and a different question. Questions will be moderated before posting, so naturally, no inappropriate questions will be included.
All of the participating authors will post this same contest on their personal blogs. You can visit each one by clicking on the link listed with each book/author below. That way you can ask a different author a question on each blog, if you’d like (and increase your chances of winning!). You’re allowed multiple entries for posting on different blogs… but only one entry per blog.
So let’s get started! You can click on each author’s name to visit their blog. And if you’d like to visit their website as well, click on their name in the bio.
1. Cerella Sechrist – Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Chef Sadie Spencer has learned that in life, as well as in food, sour balances sweet. After returning to her deliciously charming hometown of Hershey with a young daughter in tow, Sadie has managed to rise from the ashes following the death of her husband, the passing of her mother, and the dissolution of her career as a TV chef. With the help and encouragement of her best friend, Jasper, she opens a restaurant and looks forward to savoring the sweet side of life. That is, until a handsome Russian entrepreneur arrives in town, apparently intent on opening up his own restaurant in direct competition to hers. Sadie becomes obsessed with honing the one skill she’s never had – creating desserts – to keep up with her adversary, and in the process, she finds a love that’s simply icing on the cake.
-Julie Carobini, author of Truffles by the Sea and Sweet Waters.
2. Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss – Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana
Julia Cavanaugh has never left New York City. But in 1890, the young 
woman must head west to ensure that the orphans under her care are settled into good families. After her final stop in Montana, she plans to head straight back east. But upon arriving in the remote town of Lonesome Prairie, Julia learns to her horror that she is also supposed to be delivered into the hands of an uncouth miner who carries a bill of purchase for his new bride. She turns to a respected circuit preacher to protect her from a forced marriage but, with no return fare and few friends, Julia’s options are bleak. What is God’s plan for her in the middle of the vast Montana prairie?
Tricia Goyer is the author of 23 books including From Dust and Ashes, My Life UnScripted, and the children’s book, 10 Minutes to Showtime. She won Historical Novel of the Year in 2005 and 2006 from ACFW, and was honored with the Writer of the Year award from Mt. Hermon Writer’s Conference in 2003. Tricia’s book Life Interrupted was a finalist for the Gold Medallion in 2005.
Ocieanna Fleiss is a published writer and has edited six of Tricia Goyer’s historical novels. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area. Connect with Ocieanna on Facebook.
3. Miralee Ferrell – Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon
In the thriving 1902 lumber mill community of Bridal Veil, accidents 
happened.
But nobody expected murder. Against the backdrop of the breathtaking Bridal Veil Falls in a historic Oregon logging community, a schoolteacher finds herself torn between a past love and the man who could be her future. 16-year-old Margaret Garvey promised her heart to Nathaniel Cooper the night he disappeared from town. Four years later, just as she’s giving love a second chance with handsome logger Andrew, Nathaniel suddenly returns to town with a devastating secret. While grappling with the betrayal of those she trusted most, Margaret risks her reputation and position by harboring two troubled runaways who might be involved in the murder of a local man. As disaster strikes the town and threatens the welfare of its citizens, Margaret will be faced with the most important choice of her life.
Love Finds You in Last Chance, California
Alexia’s father has died unexpectedly, leaving her burdened with a heavily-mortgaged horse ranch. Marrying one of the town’s all-too-willing bachelors would offer her an easy solution, but Alex has no interest in marriage. Instead, she dons men’s trousers and rides the range, determined to make the ranch a success on her own. But despite Alex’s best efforts, everything seems to go wrong: ranch hands quit, horses are stolen, and her father’s gold goes missing. Alex is at her wit’s end when wrangler Justin Phillips arrives in Last Chance with his young son, looking for a job. But there seems to be more to Justin’s story than he’s willing to share. Will Alex ever be able to trust him?
Miralee Ferrell lives in the Pacific N.W., and has been married to her husband Allen for 37 yrs. She writes both contemporary women’s fiction and historical romance, with three books out and a fourth releasing in April. Miralee is active in women’s ministry and enjoys gardening, riding her horse and playing with her new puppy.
4. Loree Lough – Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska
A former marine is no match for the spunky Sam Sinclair! Wounded in battle, Bryce Stone has returned to his home town of North Pole, Alaska, and the self-admitted scrooge isn’t happy about living in the town “Where the spirit of Christmas Lives Year Round.” What’s worse, he must postpone his dream of opening a furniture-making shop when his aunt retires and leaves him the family’s cramped and cluttered Christmas boutique. When Bryce underestimates the young woman he hired to manage the store, it becomes a battle of wills, and soon Bryce and Sam find themselves fighting for more than just the success of the shop.
Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania
For as long as anyone can remember, tourists have 
flocked to the quaint town of Paradise, Pennsylvania, where Amish buggies are as common as shops that sell hand-crafted goods. But to attorney Julia Spencer, this town is anything but a paradise. Raised in foster homes, Julia has succeeded in life only through steely determination and independence. The close-knit Amish people are a mystery to her. But local veterinarian Simon Thomas knows them well and is fiercely protective of their simple ways, which are increasingly threatened by the outside world. When Julia agrees to defend a local teenager charged in a case involving an Amish boy, she and Simon find themselves on opposite sides of an intense legal and emotional battle. Just when it seems they will never understand one another, God has something to teach them both about the power of forgiveness… and the joys to be found in Paradise.
Loree Lough writes award-winning inspirational fiction that touches hearts and changes lives. Lone Star Legends series book one: Beautiful Bandit, due on bookstore shelves in June, 2010, followed by book two, Lonely No More, in December, 2010. Watch for the rest of the series from Whitaker House Publishers!
5. Sandra D. Bricker – Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas
So what if she can’t hook a fish? This city girl has a plan to snag something else…and his name is 
Justin. Lucy Binoche is reasonably attractive, intelligent, and fit. She has French lineage and better-than-average hair. So why is she nearly 30 and still single? Justin Gerard is the rugged hottie new to her church’s singles group. When he signs up for a camping trip in the Ozarks, Lucy loses no time writing her name on the line beneath his. There’s only one problem: Lucy’s idea of roughing it is suffering through a long line at Starbucks. She assumes she can rely on the grace of God and the assistance of her friend to get through. But at the campsite in Snowball, Arkansas, Lucy bungles everything she attempts as she tries to impress Justin. She can’t fish, hike, or ride a horse; caves make her hyperventilate; and hot-air balloons make her ill. Soon, events are snowballing out of control. Will Lucy pretend to be someone she’s not just to snag a boyfriend? Or will she discover someone who loves her just as she is?
Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida
Cassie Constantine has no intention of staying in Florida. She’s just there to get her late husband’s vacation home ready for the real estate market, but the place needs more work than Cassie bargained for. What’s more, her widow status is like a target on her back, and the elderly matchmakers around town manage to sidetrack her mission at every turn. Holiday is a landmine of golf tournaments, ballroom dancing competitions and unexpected intrigue. But the biggest obstacle of all? Richard Dillon, the stuffed shirt she’s paired with on the dance floor, makes her heart beat faster than the rhythm of The Quickstep.
Sandra D. Bricker has been publishing in both the Christian and general market for years with novels for women and teens, magazine articles and short stories. With 10 novels in print and 3 more slated for publication through 2010, Sandie has carved out a niche for herself as an author of laugh-out-loud comedy for the inspirational market. Sandie was an entertainment publicist in Hollywood for 15+ years and currently works a “day job” as an editor.
this is a neat giveaway. I love this series.
my questions is for you tricia. I’d love to be entered in the giveaway for your book.
I’ve noticed most of the books in this series are by single authors. how did you get a partner in this book?
ABreadng4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
My question is for Ocieanna….have you ever been to Big Sandy before you wrote the book with Tricia? martha(at)lclink(dot)com
My question for Tricia:
Where do you find your inspiration comes from?
Thanks for this fun giveaway!
donnyandshelly at yahoo dot com
Abi,
I met Ocieanna at Mt. Hermon ages ago, and for some reason she volunteered to read the novel that I was working on. Long story short, she read/edited 6 of my novels before I sent them into to publishers. In the middle of that we said, “We should write a book together.” Summerside let us do that. Exciting!
Shelly,
My inspiration comes from stories I’ve heard, or places I’ve visited, or historical events I found interesting. The idea for Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, MT actually started with the name. Then Ocieanna and I discussed elements of history we found interesting: orphan trains, mail-order brides, circuit preachers, Montana settlers … and we plotted them into the same book!! Fun!
Tricia
Tricia,
Which is your favorite thus far of your stories, and what makes it close to your heart?
I so love every single one I’ve read. 🙂
~ Tara
http://pianogirl.wordpress.com
taralynee@gmail.com
This is for Cerella. I used to live not far from Hershey, and I don’t recall a lot of Russians in the area. Germans? By the spades. 🙂 So, what made you include a Russian entrepreneur in your story?
Tiff
tiff [at] amberstockton [dot] com
Amber Stockton
Martha, Yes! Tricia and I went on a research trip over thar. Big Sandy was a great town and we saw lots of the original buildings as well as the big street that went through town. It’s also were we met 91-year-old Keith who sat us down in his living room and told us all about the history of the area. Keith’s father actually knew Brother Van who was a real circuit preacher from the area. Some of the stories about Isaac came from Keith. It’s a very small town, but we loved the people and the beautiful area.
Hi Tiffany!
Excellent point – we do have a lot of German heritage around this area of PA but not as much Russian influence! Dmitri didn’t grow up in Pennsylvania, so he doesn’t have any roots in Hershey. In more recent years, I’ve met a variety of people who have gravitated to this area – New Zealanders, Brits, etc. I suppose it was that influence that made me want to mix it up a little by throwing in a Russian. Plus, I love the accent, and he just made a perfect foil for Sadie’s somewhat neurotic personality. He’s a nice contrast to some of the other characters. 🙂 He’s one of my favorite characters!!
For Loree: Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your personal writing process? Something that you simply dread having to do or perhaps something that is more difficult for you than anything else?
My question is for Sandra:
how many “rough” drafts and edits do you usually go through before you get the finished product? do you find there is around the same amounts of edits for each of your books, or does it vary widely?
Thanks!
Kim
lonebanana(at)msn(dot)com
Tricia,
I love the subject of your Love Finds You novel. What was the hardest part about co-authoring a novel?
I’d LOVE to read Love Finds You in Lonesome Prarie, Montana.
sherrykyle[at]hotmail.com
Hello Cerella!
I love your name. Do you know how or why it was chosen for you and if there is a special meaning? Thank you.
Cheri
Uekiya13[at]GMail[dot]com
Hi Tricia!
You’re always so very busy doing so much and helping so many, I often wonder how you find time to write. What is a “typical” day like for you..from when you first awaken till you finally find time to sleep. Thank you in advance for your answer. Thank you, also, for this wonderful “Giveaway” for fans to have a chance to win books from so many great authors.
Cheri
Uekiya13[at]GMail[dot]com
Good Evening Ocienna,
When you were growing up (where?), did you dream of someday being an author and if so, did your parents encourage you to do so? Thank you.
Cheri
Uekiya13[at]GMail[dot]com
Hi Marilee!
You said you like to garden…vegetable or flowers (perhaps both)? What types of things grow best in your area and what type of gardening do you enjoy most? Thank you.
Cheri
Uekiya13[at]GMail[dot]com
Greetings Loree,
How old were you when you first began writing and what or who inspired you to become an author? Thank you.
Cheri
Uekiya13[at]GMail[dot]com
Dear Sandie,
What are some of the best suggestions you could give someone interested in writing magazine articles? Thank you.
Cheri
Uekiya13[at]GMail[dot]com
Hi Cheri,
Roses are my favorite, and they do quite well here, but I also have flower beds laced with oriental lilies, delphinium, Rhododendron, blue bells, peony, dahlia, day lilies and so much more. The flower beds are my territory, but my husband works with me in our very large 3 tiered vegetable garden. Besides the normal veggies, we also have blueberry bushes, raspberries, strawberries, and several dwarf fruit trees. They’re all quite young yet, but will start bearing summer after this, so we’ll have lots of fresh fruit. Yum!
Miralee
Kim: My process is pretty similar with each book. I write in large chunks because of my routine. I have a day job, so I do most of my writing on the weekends. Because of that, I normally write a chapter or two, and then edit before I move on. Then when the whole book is complete, I go back for a full edit, all the way through. Since I’m an editor on the day job, that’s usually enough for me to polish up a clean manuscript.
Cheri: If you’re interested in writing magazine articles, my advice is pretty simple: DO IT. There are great opportunities these days to write articles for print as well as online sources, and I’m a true believer in “Practice makes perfect.” The more you exercise those muscles, the stronger you get for the genre, whether it’s magazine articles, books or screenplays! Best of luck to you.
In response to Cheri’s question (how old was I when I began writing):
I’d always been a storyteller, but it wasn’t until the family was transferred to Richmond in 1986 that the writing bug bit me. The state required more time than I was willing to devote to ‘certify’ to teach in Virginia, so I searched the newspaper and found an ad: “Looking for someone to write neighborhood column.” I answered, got the job and, the editor liked my work well enough that she began assigning other stories. Soon, editors of other publications were calling to do the same thing, and by the time we moved back to Baltimore in ’88, I had accumulated a clip book of nearly 200 articles published. LOVED freelancing, and stuck with it even after my first novel was published in ’94. To date, I have more than 2,500 articles in print.
One of the more fun elements of writing fiction AND nonfiction has been teaching others how to get from ‘idea’ to ‘byline’ in class I developed for area colleges, writing organizations and conferences, and online.
As for what/who inspired me to write, I’ll give 100% of the credit to God, for He’s the one who blessed me with the talent, fills my head with story ideas, and supplies the energy to get them all written!
Have a blessed day, m’dear!
Loree
Hi Cheri!
Thanks, I like my name, too! 🙂 It’s definitely a conversation starter. It’s Latin for ‘of the spring’ (though I was born in the fall.) It’s pronounced ‘surreal-uh’ Most people assume it has some family significance, but it’s actually just a name my mom found in a baby-name book when she was pregnant with me. She really liked it, and being that I was the firstborn, my dad was more willing to let her get away with an unusual name. 😉 (My sister and brother that followed were the slightly more normal ‘Carissa’ and ‘Caleb’.) I get so many questions on it that I have an entire page on my website to explain it. You can find more at: http://cerelladsechrist.com/aboutme/name/
Tara, tough question! I love ALL my books! Hahaha …
I have to say the one that pricks my emotions the most is Night Song. I get teared up just thinking about that story! The main character is a 13-year-old Jewish boy who gets put into a concentration camp. My son was 13 when I wrote it and my emotions poured into that book.
Sherry,
I think the hardest part about co-authoring is two people having two ideas of what should happen! Ocieanna started by each of us taking turns writing chapters, but it never really worked right. The characters would do something unexpected with me, and the same with her, and we’d be all over the place. To solve this, Ocieanna writes the 1st draft of all the chapters and then I clean them up, add to them, add research, etc. It works great! At least I think so!
Cheri,
I honestly feel that I want to do more than just write about good lives. I want to live one. It would mean nothing if I sat at my computer all day and didn’t love and serve those God brings in my path. There is NO typical day. Everyday is different. Instead, I try to settle in with God in the morning and submit my time to Him. When people and problems (or people WITH problems) pop up I know they’re from Him. I write when I can … and leave the results to God!
Thanks for the opportunity to participate in this wonderful giveaway!
My question is for Tricia. Do you think you will collaborate on another novel in the future?
Blessings,
Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net
My question is to Tracie
How could all you great authors get together enough to keep this series going, as I know all of you have a different writting style. I admire all of you
mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net
Hey everyone! My question is for Cerella (thanks for helping us pronounce your very cool name!). Does your novel include Valentine’s Day?
Well, since I’ve been straightened out on how we can post I guess I’ll start asking each author a question and move on to the next author’s blog. I’ve been trying to think of some fun and interesting questions, personal, writing and non-writing. All of the questions have been wonderful.
I posted to Tricia yesterday on here so I’ll post this one first to Cerella.
How important is it to you to stick with a Christian theme in your books?
Next one is for Ocieanna, which like Cerella’s us very unique.
Ocieanna,
Do you have a favorite scripture verse? if so could you share it with us.
Next we’ll give one to Miralee
Would you rather read a fiction or non-fiction.
Loree,
Do you write in other genres too…
non-fiction, children’s, mystery, etc…
If so could you tell us some that you’ve written.
Sandra,
Who has been your biggest inspiration in your writing. How so….
Annette,
Good question, given the timing of the season! 🙂 There IS a scene that takes place on Valentine’s Day, but it’s at the very end. And I’m not going to give anything away, so you’ll just have to read it to find out more! LOL! But there’s plenty of references to chocolate all throughout the story. So you can enjoy it ANY time of the year!!
Abi,
I always like to have a theme in my books, and usually, it’s something I’ve struggled with in my own life and Christian walk. I’ve discovered that writing is as much about me discovering myself as it is sharing the story. Many times, I’ll need to work through a particular issue in order to help my character struggle through it as well. I think stories are wonderful tools to teach us more about ourselves, and each person’s individual story *matters*. First and foremost, though, I want readers to be entertained – you enjoy the story first and then hopefully take something away from it afterward. Themes are important, but I don’t want them to be something that hits you over the head on every page. I want a reader to be entertained as well as hopefully discover something about themselves in the process. 🙂
Hi, Abi: There are so many people who have inspired me. Frank Peretti was a major influence, and I love Kristin Billerbeck and Robin Jones Gunn. I adore writers who paint a picture with their words, who are very visual, with a sense of humor (even when it’s not a comedy).
Sandie
Hi Abi,
I started out writing non-fiction and I can see myself returning to that someday, but right now my calling is fiction. That honestly surprised me when someone suggested 4 yrs ago that I consider writing a Christian novel, as I didn’t think I was a creative person. Surprisingly, I’ve been getting more and more ideas, and LOVE writing fiction. In fact, I can’t imagine not doing so now.
This question is for Cerella!
What is your favourite type of music? Do you listen to music when you write?
Thanks!
Kim
lonebanana(at)msn(dot)com
Kim,
I like a wide variety of music but probably listen to pop, rock and classical the most. I definitely like to have music playing in the background while I write – I LOVE instrumental movie soundtracks for this and keep a wide selection on hand. I also usually have a ‘movie soundtrack’ in mind for each book that I write. To see the soundtrack for LFY Hershey, you can visit the soundtrack page of my website at: http://cerelladsechrist.com/books/lfyhershey/soundtrack/
To Abi, who asked two questions (one that, because of a computer glitch, I couldn’t answer elsewhere):
1. Which famous person would I like to meet?
Well, since you didn’t specify ‘living or dead’ (at least, I don’t think you did! LOL), I’ll say Thomas Jefferson. The dude was brilliant in just about every way imaginable!
2. Do I write in other genres.
Yep. Sure do!
I have several non-fiction books out there, including two for kids. Plus 2 novels for kids.
I’ve written historicals and contemporaries, and most have a teensy thread of suspense or mystery woven into the plots.
I gotta say, Abi, your questions have been fantastic! If they didn’t make me smile, they made me scratch my head. LOVED ‘EM ALL!
Have a happy weekend, m’dear!
Loree
Loree, out of the genres listed that you’ve written, which was your favorite?
God bless,
Elyssa
lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com