She’s generously offered a copy to one lucky reader, so as usual leave your comment with how I can reach you!

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About Lauralee

Lauralee Bliss has always liked to dream big dreams. Part of that dream was writing, and her career began with small creative works as a teen just for fun. After several years of hard work, the dream of publishing was realized in 1997 with the publication of her first romance novel, Mountaintop, through Barbour Publishing. Since then, she’s had over a dozen books published, both historical and contemporary. Lauralee’s desire is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that ministers to the heart. Along with the dream of writing and publishing, Lauralee has recognized another dream in her life, completing a hike of the entire Appalachian Trail, all 2,175 miles. Lauralee is a wife of 20 years to husband Steve and mother to son, Joshua. Her other interests include traveling (of which she has been to 49 of the 50 states), gardening, and perusing a yard sale or two.

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About Love’s Winding Path

Red rocks. River rafting. Freedom! Maybe?

After years of impatient living and working on his parents’ peanut farm, Dan has finally escaped. Life as a river guide in Moab, Utah, is as far from peanut farming in Virginia as a man can get, and Dan revels in the newness of this life. An awesome job, a cool jeep , a place of his own—and a gorgeous girl.

Gorgeous or not, Jo has no intention of hooking up with Dan. First off, he’s just a bit too sure of himself, and second, he shows no interest in God. He’s also got issues to deal with…but then, so does she, so maybe she’ll leave that particular area alone. But as long as Dan avoids God, Jo will avoid Dan. At least, that’s the theory.

When life in Moab takes some unexpected twists and turns, Dan must face who he really is. Maybe all that God stuff is true. But will he let go and believe, or continue to tough it out alone?

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What’s your latest book?

Just released this March, 2010 – Love’s Winding Path from Heartsong Presents, Barbour Publishing.

Is there a theme to this book?

The resounding theme is that of the Prodigal Son, that longing deep within for a wayward son or daughter to know God, though they might stray for a time, even from the people who love them. Prodigals want so dearly to succeed on their own but must find out that real success and worth is in accepting who God is and what He desires for each of them. And so it is with the Dan and Jo in this book who both must undertake spiritual journeys to find the true desire of their hearts.

A theme we can never read enough about! I think there’s a little bit of the prodigal story in all of us, whether we were the one who strayed or the one who stayed behind and wondered if our loved one would ever find their way home. What’s your favorite part of the story?

The rafting, of course, as my husband and I got to have our own rafting experience on the Colorado to bring authenticity to the book (hey, it makes life as an author a true and tried adventure). We rafted, quizzed our guide, and incorporated many aspects of the trip into the book.

Sweet! I think I need to set a book in Hawaii and then go visit. Research, you know. 😉 So what do you hope your readers will get out of the story?

I pray this book ministers to those with a prodigal or who may have been a prodigal at one time or another. And through this story I want to bring out the message—that no matter what you are going through, with God there is hope! And also, to get out and enjoy the beauty God has made through such wonders as Arches National Park (And the park’s primary formation, Delicate Arch, is pictured on the front cover).

Oh, I love learning tidbits like that! Is there any one thing or reference you keep handy when writing? Anything you kept around for this particular book?

My wonderful pictures of my trip to Utah! I love to look at them and use them as my inspiration in writing this series. The scenery adds life and depth to each of my books.

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

How tough this business is and how much of a thick skin you need. It’s important so you don’t cave in and lose the heart and the will to write when rejections come hard and fast—even those rejections that are sometimes very hard to understand. And I have endured them all. But sometimes I fear the skin is still not very thick…

The important thing is definitely to keep going, no matter the discouragement. And I’ve found that when I’m down the deepest, that’s when the Lord sends some special encouragement. Keep looking onward! And speaking of which (brilliant segue, eh?) what writing goal have you set for yourself that would be the hardest (or unlikeliest) but most rewarding to achieve?

To see one of my books turned into a movie. I just saw the Love Come Softly series on Hallmark. Wow, what an achievement for Christian authors and fiction in general. Janette Oke, here I come! =)

Well when you achieve that goal, let us know! And while we’re dreaming . . . if someone were to give you $5,000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? (No saving of gifts to charities allowed!)

I’d put it toward an SUV so we can transport my husband’s scout troop and our church youth group around to their activities. And use it for our own outdoor activities. My little 1992 Corolla just won’t cut it anymore!

Any upcoming releases we should keep our eye out for?

The next release will be the second book in the Utah series, Heart of Mine, for Heartsong Presents, Barbour Publishing, which should be out late summer or early fall.

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Thanks for visiting, Lauralee! Readers, be sure to check out her website at www.lauraleebliss.com and her blog at http://www.blissfulwritingthoughts.blogspot.com.

You can purchase Love’s Winding Path from the publisher right now; it’ll be available from other retailers in a few months.

Void where prohibited. Contest ends 3/15/10.