Roseanna White - Roseanna M. White

Story Time . . . SEASONS IN THE MIST by Deborah Kinnard

by Roseanna White | May 4, 2010 | Uncategorized

Giveaway – Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico by Lena Nelson Dooley

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Seasons in the Mist
by Deborah Kinnard

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a time-travel romance–long enough that I’d forgotten how much I enjoyed them. And a Christian time-travel? Not sure I’ve ever read one of those. But when I sat down with Deb Kinnard’s Seasons in the Mist it only took a few pages for me to know that this was going to be an amazing book.

Bethany Lindstrom is a graduate student who has planned her whole life down to the last detail, all revolving around her studies of the medieval period. She’s read all the literature, studied all the languages, and when a new plague pit is discovered in England, she knows it’s the perfect opportunity to validate her theories and write her thesis. But when a visit to one of the oldest houses in England ends up sucking her back to 1353 Cornwall, knowing her history isn’t all that much help. Why couldn’t the textbooks have told her how to deal with this?

Though her faith had been only nominal at home, this simpler time, which leaves her with so many questions, brings her quickly back to the Lord. Then the Lord leads her to Baron Michael Veryan, and new questions spring up. He doesn’t hesitate to offer her his protection and to entrust her with all that is his . . . but can it really be the will of God that she entrust Michael with her heart?

Seasons in the Mist is, simply put, phenomenal. Deb Kinnard has written a smart, fun story that combines what I love most about history with what I love most about contemporaries. We still get the voice of a modern woman, and hearing her describe medieval things in modern terms is sometimes hilarious and always eye-opening. What both Bethany and the reader quickly come to see is that, no matter the year you’re walking in, people are still people. Some will trust you quickly, some will betray you. Some will make your skin crawl, others will endear you to them with a single smile. And through it all, God is in control.

This is a book that will teach you about the period, make you wonder how you would respond if God chose to toy with time on your behalf, and make you fall in love, too. First with the heroine who tells the entirety of the story, and then with the baron who makes is worth reading.

I’m excited to recommend this book to romance lovers in general and history lovers in particular. You’re going to get a blast out of this trip through time and be amazed at the conclusion that comes out of the mist. Bravo, Deb! Can’t wait for more!

Winner!

by Roseanna White | May 4, 2010 | Uncategorized

And the winner of Jennifer Hudson Taylor’s Highland Blessings is . . .

debp (twoofakind12@ . . .)

Congrats! I’m sending you an email now.

Modern . . . Names

by Roseanna White | May 3, 2010 | Uncategorized

Giveaways – Today’s the last day for Jennifer Hudson Taylor’s Highland Blessings, and we also have Lena Nelson Dooley’s Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico.

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Ever wonder where authors get some of the names they use for characters? I was asked this recently in an interview, and it made me consider how different the process is for a contemporary novel versus a historical one.

For a historical, I have to make sure the name I’m using is historically accurate. That means coming up with a list of possibilities and checking them against census records, the Social Security Administration’s database, or, if going really far back in history before those two online resources are helpful, historical documents. It can be constrictive, but it can also be really fun to discover what names were popular back in 1784. And I can still end up with unique-sounding character names that are perfectly acceptable–like Lark and Emerson, for example.

For contemporaries, we have the freedom to use whatever name we please, but we still have to be careful. They have to appeal to the eye. They have to sound good. Be easily pronounced. We can’t have more than one (usually) character’s name that begins with a given letter. We need to be aware of meaning. The name needs to fit their personality. All that fun stuff.

I have several ways of coming up with my contemporary names. I do searches in online baby naming databases, sometimes based on ethnicity, sometimes on meaning. I watch credits on TV and movies and jot down the names I like. And my longest list exists from my days of data entry in college, when I sat with a Post-It note by my side and wrote down all the names I entered into our computers that I liked. Male, Female, and Surnames.

And I love names. I love how creative I can get. I now have these characters in my contemps.: Davina, Keaton, Orchid, Willow. Cantara, Smith, Peaches. One of my critters got a kick out of my family of five siblings named Logan, Phineas, Melrose, Julian, and Taylor–from the same book as Sawyer and Riley. I’ve got my Giovanni, who goes by Vanni. I’ve got my Garret and Celeste and Alton. I’ve got my Remington. And I’ve got my . . . Louisa?

Sometimes I look at a story and have no idea where this nice, common name has come from. I mean, seriously. Where did I come up with Louisa? There’s nothing wrong with the name, don’t get me wrong. I like the name. It’s just not like my usual choices. And looking back on when I started this story . . . I really have no idea how I chose it.

This is the book titled Yesterday’s Tides that I’ve mentioned on here a few times, the one whose idea kept me up one night, and then over the next three days I wrote 150 pages. I couldn’t have spared too awful much time for naming when I got started, given that 50-pages-a-day rate. I think I just picked a name and ran with it, telling myself I could always change it later.

Only I can’t. Know why? Louisa is Louisa. Authors will tell you about this all the time–when a character really fits their name, there’s just no messing with it. Louisa is one of those. She’s a Southern girl who can tackle the world and has. One who would give up anything for her family and has. The name means “warrior” and that’s what Louisa is–but she chooses her fights. She doesn’t fight for herself, she fights for those she loves. And she comes out of it completely unaware of how strong she’s come to be.

Readers, have you ever read a book where the character names just seemed wrong? Or one where it was so perfect you actually still remember them (LOL)? Writers, do you have a trick for naming, or a story about one you got so wrong or so right . . . or were so surprised by? Share, share!

My Friend Lena – Interview & Giveaway

by Roseanna White | Apr 30, 2010 | Uncategorized

Today I’m honored to welcome the amazing and prolific Lena Nelson Dooley to my blog! I know y’all will enjoy getting to know her.

Lena has graciously offered a copy of her latest release, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico to one lucky reader, so leave your comments below with a way I can reach you!

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About Lena

Lena Nelson Dooley, president of DFW Ready Writers—the local chapter of ACFW, is a multi-published, award-winning author who loves to mentor other authors. With her 25th book release, she has close to 650,000 books in print. Her next release, Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, will be on sale May 1, 2010. Look for it bookstores everywhere.

Lena has spoken at conferences and writers’ meetings in four states. She also speaks at women’s retreats and event of all kinds. She lives in Hurst, Texas with her husband of over 45 years.

Lena’s door and heart are always open to those God places in her path. She seriously considers her ministry as a mentor, prayer warrior, even a champion of the downtrodden, her life’s work.

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About Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico

All that glitters is not gold.

It’s 1890, and Golden, New Mexico, is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when an old wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride—despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah. Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip—and Jeremiah himself—the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden…and tarnish her reputation beyond redemption.

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What’s your latest book?

Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, from Summerside Press, releases May 1, 2010.

Ah, I love the Love Finds You books! What’s your favorite part of the story?

I loved watching the romance develop, but I also love the character of Philip Smith and how he interacted with everyone else.

Nothing beats a fabulous character! What was the hardest part to write?

Because I had to do a lot of research about it, preparing for and completing the train trip from Boston to Golden was the hardest.

Logistical stuff. Fun. 😉 What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?

I want them to understand that we don’t forgive someone only when we feel like it. God’s forgiveness is unconditional, and ours must be, too.

So true! Is there a theme to this book?

God’s plans for us are often far different from our own plans, but they’re so much better.

I keep telling myself that, but blockheaded me often forgets, LOL. What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?

I actually like to write both contemporary and historical novels, but I’ve sold more historical books to publishers.

And my reading is eclectic. I don’t like to read just one genre. I don’t want to read horror or war novels that contain mostly the fighting. I love historical and contemporary romances, romantic suspense, suspense, mysteries, even many sci-fi/fantasy or futuristic novels.

A woman with many of the same interests as me! What are you reading right now—and what do you want to read next?

I just finished Rooms by James Rubart and started Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J Mark Bertrand, both very good books.

I have a large number of books on my shelves that I wan to read, so I’ll just pick one that strikes my fancy when I finish this one.

What lessons have you learned through the publication process that you wouldn’t have guessed as a pre-published writer?

That editors aren’t people to fear. They’re our friends, and they need us just as much as we need them.

Are there any people (family, writing group, editors) who you rely on when writing?

I have hosted a critique group in my home for over 25 years. God has brought people into that group who have differing giftings. We all help each other.

Oh, it would be so cool if my critters could meet regularly! We’re a long distance group. If someone were to give you $5,000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? (No saving or gifts to charities allowed!)

I would buy one of those electric stovetops that has a smooth surface with the heating elements below, and I’d get a new door to the patio.

Very practical. If you have some leftover, I could use a new door to my porch, too. 😉 Any funny family stories about living with a writer?

One night at dinner, a thought came to me. I told James what a certain person was going to do. He asked who that was. When I told him it was a character in the novel I was writing, he said, “Writers really are weird.” (However, he loves and supports me in my writing. He just didn’t understand having a conversation about a character.)

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Thanks for visiting, Lena! Readers, you will not want to miss Lena’s blog–she interviews authors daily and always has a slew of fun giveaways from those authors.

You can purchase Golden, New Mexico at Amazon, ChristianBook, and CrossPurposes.

Void where prohibited. Contest ends 5/6/10. Winner will have two weeks to claim book before another winner is selected.