As usual, leave your comments below with how I can reach you for a chance to win a copy!

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About Deb

DEBORAH RANEY dreamed of writing a book since the summer she read all of Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books and discovered that a little Kansas farm girl could, indeed, grow up to be a writer. After a happy twenty-year detour as a stay-at-home wife and mom, Deb began her writing career. Her first novel, A Vow to Cherish, was awarded a Silver Angel from Excellence in Media and inspired the acclaimed World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Since then, her books have won the RITA Award, the HOLT Medallion, the National Readers’ Choice Award, as well as being a two-time Christy Award finalist. Deb enjoys speaking and teaching at writers’ conferences across the country. She and her husband, artist Ken Raney, make their home in their native Kansas and love the small-town life that is the setting for many of Deb’s novels. The Raneys enjoy gardening, antiquing, art museums, movies, and traveling to visit four grown children and small grandchildren who live much too far away.

Deborah loves hearing from her readers. To e-mail her or to learn more about her books, please visit www.deborahraney.com

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About Almost Forever

Garrett Edmonds has no shoulder to cry on, no one who really understands. His wife was the only female firefighter to perish in the blaze. His conscience tells him that he was supposed to protect the woman he loved, but instead she’s the one who died a hero.

Inevitably, Bryn and Garrett find themselves drawn together—and the relationship becomes more than just friendship. But Bryn’s secrets may be powerful enough to drive them apart: She may have, herself, been responsible for the fire that killed their spouses.

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What’s your latest book?

Almost Forever is the first in my new Hanover Falls. The book releases in May 2010 from Howard/Simon & Schuster.

I can’t wait to read it, knowing how great your previous books are!! What was the hardest part to write?

The scenes set at the location of the fire and in the firehouse required the most research because that is a world I was not familiar with. Fortunately my niece is married to a second-generation firefighter. They were able to help me so much with the details and research material that gave it a more authentic flavor.

Hey, now that’s handy! Family’s so helpful. =) What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?

With a couple of exceptions, I’ve always written women’s fiction. I love writing character-driven stories that deal with various social and human interest issues. One of the most fun books I ever wrote though, was Playing by Heart, which I term a romantic comedy. I’m not a funny person, but that book just came out funny. I was as surprised as the next guy at the lines that came out of my characters’ mouths.

As for reading, I have pretty eclectic tastes. Women’s fiction is probably always my first choice in reading, too, but I also love legal novels (nothing too scary!), mysteries, historical novels, even science fiction and fantasy occasionally.

What are you reading right now—and what are your favorite recent reads?

I read so much non-fiction for research that I almost always choose fiction for pleasure reading. Recent favorite reads have been Randy Singer’s By Reason of Insanity, The Help by Kathryn Stockett, and Rooms by Jim Rubart.

I’ve heard great things about all those. What would your dream office look like—and what does your REAL writing environment look like?

I wrote my first novel at the kitchen table (our ONLY table at the time, so I had to move everything off the table twice a day!) The next few were written at a makeshift desk in the corner of our bedroom, and later our living room. But when we moved to our current home almost five years ago, I got my dream office. I wouldn’t mind adding a wall of bookshelves to it someday, but it serves me very well and I feel very blessed to have such a great place to write. My desk gets a little messy when I’m in the middle of a project or on deadline, but I tend to be a neatnik so usually my office is tidy if not clean. Here’s a picture.

Jealous! *grins* Is there any one thing or reference you keep handy when writing? Anything you kept around for this particular book?

My nephew-in-law loaned me all his firefighter training manuals and they were an invaluable reference for all three books. Even though most of the book revolves around the relationships of the surviving spouses of my firefighters, for key scenes I needed specific information on the firefighting world, and these were great books to have!

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

Oh, my goodness! There are so many people! My writing critique partner, Tammy Alexander, is wonderful and tough on me. My editors are invaluable. I often say they should share the byline on my books’ covers. My supportive husband gets huge credit. My kids are my sounding board because many times I’m writing heroes and heroines who are closer to their ages than mine! My sisters and close friends are great encouragers. I have a brainstorming group I meet with every January here in Kansas, and they are fabulous. I could go on and on. No book is written in a vacuum and I could not do what I do if I had to do it alone!

Wow, that sounds like one of the legendary “power” crit groups! You and Tamera Alexander?? Sigh. 😉 If someone were to give you $5,000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? (No saving or gifts to charity allowed!)

What a fun question! And I’m sure glad you put those stipulations on it. My dad gave each of his daughters a nice sum of money on a shopping trip once and his only stipulation was that we had to spend it on ourselves. I think he knew that we would all feel a little guilty doing that unless it was his specific wish. To answer your question, the first thing I’d do is buy a new Mac laptop with the 7-hour battery life! The rest would pay for a trip to Europe. It’s been a dream of mine for many years to spend an extended time in Europe visiting the English village where my maternal great grandparents hailed from, and writing a book set in Europe while I’m there to do the research. Now that I have a niece living in the UK with her English husband, my desire to visit has grown even stronger––plus I have a place to stay and a wonderful tour guide!

Awesome trip! And let me assure you that 7-hour battery is sweet, LOL. I have an Acer I chose for that very reason. Is there another author who has greatly influenced your writing?

My first influence was Laura Ingalls Wilder. Later Eugenia Price and Catherine Marshall became favorites––writers who managed to combine a compelling story with deep characterization. Contemporary author heroes for me are Angela Hunt, Robin Lee Hatcher, Ann Tatlock, Lisa Samson…Oh! There are so many…the list goes on and on.

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Thanks so much for visiting, Deb! Readers, you’ll want to check out her website at http://www.deborahraney.com and her blog at http://novelgarden.blogspot.com.

Her book is available from ChristianBook or CrossPurposes.

Void where prohibited. Contest ends 5/13/10. Winner will have two weeks to claim book before another winner is selected.