Party with Me! My Third Release is Here!

Does this book look like a miracle to you?

Trust me. It is.

I can describe this book no other way but a work of God. I hope you don't mind while I share this tale of of a hard-fought novel that wouldn't quit.

It had to come to life. For someone. Maybe you?

I started this book back in late 90's. Yes, 1990's! Originally it was keyed in on a Brother Word Processor. (I know this reveals I'm not 29 anymore. LOL) You see, I'm a writer from way back. At the age of fourteen, I lugged out a manual typewriter and plopped it on a waggling card table, ready to write the next equestrian wonder. I was a teen in love with horses. Ahhh, those innocent days!
But, as always, realty nosed in, and I got busy with. . .life.

And writing ceased.

That nugget of the need to write, however, had lodged itself permanently in my young brain. Fast forward through sporadic years of spastic writing here and there, some with a practical purpose, some just for dreams. Christmas plays, poems, journals. Notebooks of my chicken scratch writing (I'm not much of a neat freak. Sorry if this disappoints some.)

Then, marriage, kids, job, well, you know the drill. Category: This is Life, 101. And we were poor. We counted nickles just to do the laundry at the laundromat. Publishing? Phsaw. Just as well wish a year long penthouse stay in Hawaii with a million dollar expense account. Pretty much had the same possibility of actually occurring.

Then my kids left home. And God nudged me.

I extracted my files from the old Brother, and "The Secret Things" whispered to me. It wasn't ready to die. It was rejected time after time. Influential people scoffed at it. I started calling it my stepchild. No one wanted it.

I revised it. Rewrote it one, two, three. . .seven times. I revised the opening. It grew from novella-size to a full-blow novel. It started as a sweet romance and merged as a suspense. Wow, what a ride she gave me! I could tell you tons of more adventures she's led me on, but Daddy always said not to give away the farm. Suffice it to say, I've learned so much in the making of this novel.

Phew! I feel better. Confession is out. And I hope you don't mind the break in the interview format. Gee, I really hope you are still reading! 'Cause I'm getting to the nitty-gritty right fast. It releases this Saturday! Hallelujah, come fan me! I feel a little weak in the knees and that's no put-on.

"The Secret Things" is part of a series. The series is entitled Unchained Souls, and as you can tell, it's about secrets and revealing those secrets. (There's another one right now on my computer, whoop, whoop!)

And here's the blurb:

Boom! Need more? Of course you do! Here's the link! http://a.co/4MEIrtg Or if you like a solid paperback, go here:  http://a.co/hJ4AXwB


I'm giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to celebrate. Leave your email below to qualify for the drawing. I can't give it away unless 5 or more participate! So tell you friends and get them here! P.S. If you need some advice to spend a Amazon Card, let me know. . . . . :)

Interview and book giveaway with our own Peggy Trotter!!

Everything dissolved beneath Jules’ feet . . .

Can Jules trust God and step into a new life?

Can God's hope renew her?

Today we welcome our own fellow Miner, Peggy Trotter, to introduce her second book published with Prism Book Group: Reviving Jules.

At the end of the interview, please leave a comment with your email address to be entered into the drawing for a free copy of this sweet, touching romance.

And now, on to the interview!

Hi Peggy! How does it feel to have another book published?

Great, but I wonder if my fans will be confused.  The last one was a historical whereas this is a contemporary. But I can’t seem to stop doing both. I’m a two-fer-one type of author! LOL 

I like to write both, too! I'm sure your fans will want to read whatever era you write a story in. So, where did you get the idea for this story?

I love to start with women who are literary holding the shredded fiber of the end of their rope. This was no different. I started thinking how hard it is to make a living alone in today’s world and wondering what it would be like to share a household in the form of a marriage. And this is what the Lord bestowed upon me!

That's cool! Do any of the qualities or experiences in your main characters mirror you or someone in your life?

Jules reminds me a lot of me, but then all my characters are a small part of me. She’s quirky, vocal, and often sarcastic. Probably not good to admit that!

It makes you more interesting, don't you think? So, what do you like best about the relationship between Rhett and Jules?

I love how they vocally spar with one another. She starts with a smart aleck remark and he finishes with an outrageous one, which leaves Jules with her mouth hanging open in amused shock.  A fun relationship.

And fun to read! Are you a speedy writer, or does it take you a lot of time to fashion your scenes?

I’m a fairly speedy writer, but the scenes are already formed in my head. But I take a lot of time to fashion the entire project just because I’m short on time given I have a full time day job most of the year. One that often goes into 50-60 hours a week.

Ouch! You're a busy lady. When you begin a book, do you have a detailed idea of how it will develop, or do the characters kind of take over?

Usually I know the whole book. I’ve already daydreamed it numerous times.  But sometimes I add new scenes, which usually start with prayer, and God just opens up the whole scenario.  That is always a cool moment.  I’m always like, “Wow, that’s perfect! Thanks, God!”

I love those moments! What else do you like best about being an author? 

Pure unadulterated writing. The house is empty and quiet. T.V. is off, music off. Me and the computer. It feeds my soul.

What do you like least? 

Not being able to spend more time on it. But the naysayers are pretty hard to take at times.

Well, ignore the naysayers, and keep on telling what's in your heart. 

Is there a favorite theme in your writing that you want to convey to your readers? 

Yeah, I think cheering for the downtrodden, letting the reader know that its never too late for God to bring you an amazing blessing. Hope never dies with Jesus.

Well said! What are you working on now?

I’m working on a contemporary in which the heroine woman has made some serious bad decisions. She’s altered herself in many ways, and when she comes to Christ, she realizes she doesn’t need these extra adornments. But, changing the outside doesn’t always guarantee and complete change on the inside. I absolutely love the hero in the story. A big gentle, illiterate giant who accepts her the way she is.

But of course, I also have two historicals going, one which could be a continuation of Year of Jubilee, my debut. Wink.  We’ll see.

I love your books, so I'll be waiting to read your new stuff!  Thanks for sharing your time with us today, and keep on writing, Peggy!!

Here's a description about Reviving Jules:

Jules Summers, a proverbial Jonah, runs from family, career, and neighborhood. Where’s she going? To find a place of healing for wounds so deep, she shuts the door against the very One who restores. But God never abandons and a kindergarten angel arrives, towing her father, Rhett Carsen.

Rhett Carsen vows never to marry again. He redoubles his efforts to raise his motherless daughter alone, but runs into trouble when work sends him traveling. His daughter instantly bonds with the newcomer, Jules Summers, who in turn, assists him in caring for his daughter. She seems like the answer to his prayers—an instant live-in nanny. Yet, why does she captivate his every thought?

They work together as a team to care for Rhett’s child. But is, “practicality” the only thing God has planned for these two? Or could there be a whole lot more?

Don't forget to leave a comment with your email address, in order to be entered in the drawing for Peggy's book! Now here's some more about Peggy:

Peggy Trotter has been writing something for over 30 years. The empty-nest syndrome set her to groping for a new direction, and wow, did God answer! Year of Jubilee, a Christian Historical Romance set in southern Indiana, debuted in April of 2015 through Prism Book Group. A second, a Contemporary Romance entitled, Reviving Jules, just released on Oct. 9th, 2015 as well. She loves to reveal God’s miracles through the world’s underdogs and mix in a little love, a dash of romantic heat, and of course, a happy ending.

She took third place in the Indiana Golden Opportunity Contest in 2013 in the Inspirational Category, and won the coveted Genesis Award in 2014 from the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in the Novella Category with her entry, Spun, a Historical Romance.

God blessed her with a wonderful husband who cooks and helps clean while supporting her crazy dreams. She has two incredible grown kids plus two fabulous in-law kids, and two rays of sunshine, commonly called grandchildren. Seldom does she stand still, but when she does, it’s to praise her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, Creator of all gifts and Bestower of all blessings!

Connect with Peggy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/peggy.trotter.7

Purchase links for her newest book: 

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Reviving-Jules-Peggy-Trotter/dp/1517676215/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1444770186&sr=8-1&keywords=Reviving+Jules

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/reviving-jules-peggy-trotter/1122718298?ean=2940150840157

Prism Book Group: http://www.prismbookgroup.com/RevivingJules.html

Publishing Party with Peggy Trotter (with Giveaway!)

It’s proving to be another powerful release week for one of our Miners! Peggy Trotter’s first publication, Year of Jubilee hits the market on April 10^th. Let’s pop on over to the Hoosier state and profile this new release.

RB: Woohoo, another Miner publishes. Congratulations, Peggy! We’re all wanting to know how it got started.

PT:  Wow. So much to cover in such a little space! Well, let’s see. I won a contest as young girl, was encouraged to write by my Senior English teacher, but took a different turn as college approached. Once I had a teaching degree, however, the writing bug kept biting. Anything that needed writing in my life, I just wrote. Poems, verses, children’s programs, speeches, intros, just about anything that needed writing, I wrote without much thought. But life in general kept me from my true love, Christian Romance. With the encouragement of my husband, I never let the dream fully drop, but didn’t commit to publish until about three years ago.