Y’all a
re in for a treat today! I had so much fun with Sarah Sundin when she visited the blog a few months ago to talk about A Distant Melody that I couldn’t resist having her back to talk about its sequel, A Memory Between Us. It releases is just a couple days, so consider this a sneak peak. You’re not going to want to miss this one!
Sarah’s graciously offered a copy of A Memory Between Us to one lucky reader, so leave your comments below with an email address. (You must be a follower to enter.)
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About A Memory Between Us
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.
~*~
About Sarah
Sarah Sundin lives in northern California with her husband and three children. When she isn’t ferrying kids to soccer and karate, she works on-call as a hospital pharmacist and teaches Sunday school. Her first novel, A Distant Melody, published by Revell in March 2010.
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What’s your latest book?
A Memory Between Us releases 1 September 2010 from Revell.
And can I just say how excited I am to read this?? Come on, Revell, send me my copy! 😉 What’s your favorite part of the story?
So much of this story wrote itself. Any time I put Jack and Ruth in the same room, the banter flew. I just transcribed their dialogue. It was a lot of fun.
Don’t you love it when that happens? But it’s never ALL fun and witty banter–what was the hardest part to write?
Near the end when Ruth had to face her great ordeal. The poor thing had been through so much in the story so far, and I found myself wanting to back off and resolve the scene early. But I couldn’t. I had to keep pushing the scene and pushing Ruth to the brink, because I knew only when she faced her darkest moment would she see the truth she needed. Argh. I think the Lord must have similar feelings when we go through trials. He knows the lessons we’ll learn, which is why He lets us stay there, but it must grieve Him.
That is a truly great analogy. What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?
I never write a novel with a message in mind, but I do hope my readers will learn from my characters’ experiences. Shame serves a purpose—to bring you to ask God’s forgiveness—but when it persists after forgiveness, that’s not God talking. Shame burdens so many people and holds them back from the wonderful plans God has for them. I hope my readers will learn to truly accept forgiveness, shove off shame, and allow God to use them. I also hope they see the insidious nature of pride and learn to trust in the Lord a bit more each day.
Beautiful. What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?
I wrote two contemporary romances. Really bad ones. Those were my “starter” books. Lately I’ve been drawn to writing historical fiction/romance, and I don’t see that changing for a while. As a reader, I gravitate toward the classics, women’s fiction, and contemporary or historical fiction—preferably with a strong romantic thread. I also love a good suspense novel and anything with humor.
Three cheers for romantic threads! =) What are you reading right now—and what do you want to read next?
I just finished Lost Mission by Athol Dickson (amazing!) and started Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz (which is beautiful so far). My To Be Read pile overfloweth. And I like it that way.
You want to talk overflowing, you should get a load of the 250 books awaiting reviews on MY shelves, LOL. And speaking of shelves . . . what would your dream office look like—and what does your REAL writing environment look like?
This is fun! I’m in the process of carving out my own office right now. Our den has served as guest room/sewing room/husband’s office for years, but I rarely sew any more, and our oldest son is going away to college in September. His room will now be the guest room when he’s away. We’re putting in a lovely large L-shaped desk with a hutch and a tackboard, an extra bookcase for all my research books, and a cushy, ergonomic chair. I’m so excited. It’ll be much more efficient than working at the dining room table.
Ooooo, that sounds sweet! Hopefully your son doesn’t feel replaced by your writing. And that is my brilliant segue into the next question. Any funny family stories about living with a writer?
Real conversation overheard during carpool between my fourteen-year-old daughter and her BFF. BFF was complaining about walking in on her dad, who was talking to the bunny. BFF was horribly embarrassed. My teen: “You think that’s bad? My mom talks to her computer! To her characters! And they’re not even real!” BFF: “Okay. You win.”
That made me chuckle. My daughter’s still young enough that she also talks about my characters as if they’re real. Not looking forward to the day when she realizes her mom’s just a nut. Anyway. What are you writing right now?
I just turned the third book in the Wings of Glory series in to my editor, and now I’m working on another series, also set during World War II.
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Thanks so much for coming by again, Sarah!! Everybody, be sure to check out her website and blog. You can find A Memory Between Us at Amazon, ChristianBook, B&N, and Borders.
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Contest ends 9/2/10. Winners will have two weeks to claim prizes.
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.
This book sounds like a wonderful read. I would love to be entered. Thanks.
betweenthelines-kam[at]hotmail.com
Please toss my name into the hat!
Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com
I cannot wait to the sequel to A Distant Melody! I loved A Distant Melody! Read it in 2 days! Thanks for the chance to win A Memory Between Us!
Tammy Anderson
tatertam1@aol.com
I am excite for the sequel. Thanks for offering it.
wsmarple/at/gmail/dot/com
PS – I LOVED 'A Stray Drop of Blood'
Lovely interview! I'd love to read Sarah's book, and hope to be entered in your giveaway. I haven't read A Distant Melody yet, but hope too.
They both sound really good. I really like the covers of both books, and the era they are set in. Thank you for the entry.
Blessings,
Sandee61
Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com
First, WOW on all these comments! Second, I just had to crow because my copy of A MEMORY BETWEEN US arrived in the mail today. Woo hooooooo!!!!
This story sounds so wonderful. Please enter me.
CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com
I enjoyed A Distant Melody so much and hope Sarah has many more books for us. I'm not a writer, but I love the way Sarah talks to her characters. The writing process is very interesting.
I was looking at the cover of A Memory Between Us and realized that I have that English village scene on my screensaver, in color though. I'm a big fan of English novels and that's one of my favorite pictures.
Thank you for the interview and chance to win book #2 in this great series.
cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net
Sounds like a great book! Enter me please!
latawniakintz [at] gmail [dot] com
carman sent me!
I would love to read this!
ksmiley2[at]kent[dot]edu
This book sounds great. Looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for giving away a copy.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Oh, I'd love to win this book. I am a follower thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com
I had two brothers that was in World War II, one a marine and one a navy sailor. A Memory between us sounds like a great read.
Carmen sent me!
I am a follower.
rbooth43(at)yahoo(dot)com
thanks for the opportunity to read this fabulous novel 🙂
karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com
I would love to win this book. Sounds wonderful!
trishbazin(at)yahoo.com
I've been SO excited for this book to release. Please enter me! If I don't win, I'll be ordering myself a copy because I can't wait to see what Sarah did with these characters.
I'd love to be entered to win this book. I really enjoyed the first in this series!
erinlowmaster at gmail.com
Love the conversation between the daughter and her BFF. That is fantastic.
Please enter me. I'd love to win:)
kristengjohnson (at) gmail (.) com
Marjorie – I take no credit for the covers at all – that's Revell's extraordinary art department. I just send them dry data about uniforms and planes and what the characters look like – and this is what they come up with. I've been so impressed. I'm expecting the cover for Book 3 soon, and I can't wait to see it.
Hello. I would love to receive a copy of a Distant Melody, although I'm not sure that I'm a follower. I'm fairly new to the world of blogs, so I'm not sure what a being a follower means, if it's different than just a frequent reader. If I qualify, great. If not, I'd still like to read this book soon. Thanks much.
kaupp(at)gridcom(dot)net
I have recently read A Distant Melody and I just loved the storyline, a super book.
Carmen sent me.
Sarah, I wish you much success with your new novel. You certainly pick beautiful covers.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
Carmen sent me.
Enter me please! Would love to win this!
cparkins14 AT teancum.net
I am a follower.
No need to enter me, but I'm sure excited to get my "tour" copy. I hope you love Courting Morrow Little as much as I did. I love that you admitted to talking to your characters, too 🙂
Sounds like a great book. Looking forward to reading this one.Thanks for giving away a copy.
plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net
Oh my goodness – I go to work and this place explodes 🙂 Thank you all for stopping by and for your uber-kind words. I hope you all enjoy MBU as much as you enjoyed ADM.
Carmen sent me. Thanks for entering me in the drawing.
Jennifer
avidreader at middleswarth dot net
I loved "A Distant Melody" so much that I finished it in less than 2 days! It touched me on many levels– as a soldier's wife, a history teacher and a Christian. I can't wait to read the sequel (and the new series on WWII, as well! It is one of my favorite periods in history) God bless!
thanks for introducing me to a new author with your review. i look forward to reading her books.
sheree
neednspace at aol dot com
I loved your review. I'd be thrilled to win this giveaway!
pbclark(at)netins(dot)net
Oh my, oh my. I am sooooooo excited that A Memory Between Us is going to be released next week. I read A Distant Melody and fell in love with it. Sarah's characters are so real that I still think about Allie & Walt. I keep telling myself they live between the pages… I can hardly wait to read A Memory Between Us. I would love to win a copy. Thank you so very very much for the opportunity.
Sarah…thank you for writing such wonderful Christian stories. I love the WWII era. Your descriptions of the B-17…well let's just say I was right there in the cockpit with Walt.
For any of you who haven't read A Distant Melody, I highly recommend it!
Thank you for the wonderful giveaway!
Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.
countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com
I haven't read anything by Sarah but this book sounds intriguing. I would enjoy reading it.
Thanks for the opporunity to win.
pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net
Can't wait for the 2nd book to get here, and for the third book to come out. I love your writing and I love you Sarah.
I just loved A Distant Melody and would like to win this sequeal. A super great giveaway.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
Sounds like a great story.
lkish77123 at gmail dot com
I totally enjoyed A Distant Melody, I've told everyone what a wonderful book it is. And I am anxious to read A Memory Between Us. I'm sure it is just as amazing.
jettie.parrishatgmaildotcom
Please enter me!
Dreilly316[at]gmail.com
Sweet book!
Please enter me!
Emreilly303[at]gmail.com
Your books sound great, Sarah! I read about A Distant Melody when it came out, and it looked like an amazing read! I'd love to win A Memory Between Us!!
legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com
Bless you Sarah for another book…I couldn't put down A Distant Melody. I can't wait to read this new book A Memory Between US!!
Carman sent me!
alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com
I am a follower
Love WWII novels. Please enter me. Carman sent me.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com
Looks like a great read! Please enter me.
jennycohen104(at)gmail(dot)com
I can't wait to read this book! It looks great! Please enter me.
lubell1106(at)gmail(dot)com
A Distant Melody is at the top of my favorites list, and I look forward to reading Sarah's new book! It sounds wonderful! And I'm so glad to hear that another series is in the works. : )
Thank you for the great interview, Sarah and Roseanna!
I'm a follower. Thanks for entering me.
Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net
Okay. I'm not waiting for my ordered copy to arrive in the mail via amazon. I'm going to Graceland to get one today. Instant gratification? You betcha.
I'm patiently awaiting the sequel! Thank you for a great interview and giveaway. I'm excited to hear about a new series!
I loved A Distant Melody, and I've been eagerly anticipating this next book. I would love to win!
stinarose(at)bell(dot)net
It's amazing how attached we get to our characters. They accompany us through all the ups and downs of writing,and when we write our last sentences we start missing them like old friends.
Hi Sarah! I'm looking forward to reading this. I have your first book, but not this one…yet. If I don't win it, though, I'll definitely buy it, because there's no way I can pass it up. Hope you're having a great day!
Thanks, everyone!
Roseanna – yes, the time comes when your daughter realizes you're a nut 🙂 Actually my son has benefitted from my new office – he got the full-size guest bed in his room. His old twin bed couldn't contain his 17yo limbs anymore. And I'm sitting at my new desk now!!! Love it. I feel so much more professional and efficient.
Roseanna – 250 books????? Okay, my TBR pile looks teensy now.
I have her first book in the series and it was wonderful. Good luck Sarah on all your future books and projects! :O)
A Memory Between Us sounds like a wonderful story. I like the theme of shame drawing one to God's forgiveness and then moving on by His grace. Please include me, thanks.
I'm a follower.
worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com
This is another great sounding book!
derekannette at gmail dot com