Traveling thru Time with Danele Rotharmel (Giveaway)

Hello, everyone! I have a special guest this week…Danele Rotharmel. I know you’re going to love her as much as I do.

I remember the day I met Danele. We joked around and chatted on Facebook and before we knew it, an hour had disappeared. It was like I’d found a long lost sister. She has a contagious sense of humor. You can literally feel her love for life the second she opens her mouth! Without further ado, let me introduce you to Prism’s Danele Rotharmel.

Renee: Hi, Danele, welcome to the Diamond Mine. I’m so excited that you’re here. Time Tsunami, your debut novel, is an awesome book! Congratulations on its outstanding success. What’s so unique or special about it…from your point of view?

Danele: When I wrote Time Tsunami, I wasn’t seeking publication. I was writing to distract myself from physical pain. I was extremely ill and in the middle of a seven-year period of quarantine. I needed a way to entertain myself—so I wrote. I would laugh like crazy over my funny scenes, and shiver when I wrote my scary ones. I lived Time Tsunami with my characters, and when I was through, I’d written a book that made me proud. Time Tsunami is a “clean” book that focuses on beautiful themes like self-sacrifice, love, and friendship. It’s a story about overcoming the odds. I’d like to think that my book has something for everyone. It’s full of suspense, romance, and humor. There are plot twists to keep you guessing, action to keep you on the edge of your seat, religious discussions to make you think, and funny scenes to make you laugh. Throw in a few time travel twists, and you have a unique book that’s designed to entertain.

Renee: What about your characters? For our writers out there…how do you make them “real?”

Danele: When I was in quarantine, my characters were very important to me—in a real way, they were my friends. As the long days of my quarantine stretched, I enjoyed analyzing my characters and discovering their strengths and weaknesses. I worked hard to give them backstories to explain their quirks and behavior. I came to love my characters, and I treated them with respect. I let them evolve and grow. Just like real people, my characters have victories, but they also have failures—and it’s how they handle their failures that determines the caliber of their personalities.

Renee: Is writing easy or hard for you, Danele? What about editing?

Danele: For the most part, writing is easy. It’s like flying. I love it!!! I enjoy editing too, but I’m such a perfectionist that editing my work can take forever. Sometimes it takes me an hour to edit each page. That’s because I read each sentence hundreds of times. I analyze the language, the punctuation, and the flow. For me, five hours of excruciating work can mean five complete pages. When you read my novels, you’re looking at literally hundreds of hours of work. I want to be proud of each and every sentence. I want to do a good job.

Renee: What’s your biggest challenge as an author?

Danele: Time. When I was in quarantine, the pace of my life was extremely slow. The days stretched on forever. There was all the time in the world for writing. But now that I’m starting to reclaim my life, I find that days are zipping by so quickly that I don’t know where the hours have gone. Sometimes I find it hard to squeeze all of my tasks into a single day—but I suppose that’s true for everyone. There’s a talent to managing time—I’m just a bit rusty.

Renee: I can relate to that one! I don’t know if I can help you or not, Danele. All I can say is…get a planner, but don’t forget to make time for God, you, your family, and rest. LOL Oh, and practice how to say the word “no.” That’s my advice on “time.” So…now that you’re a published author, do you have any advice for the new writer?

Danele: Pray about everything. Dedicate your work to the Lord from the very beginning. God gave you your talent—use it to glorify Him. Never compromise. Never write a single sentence that you would be ashamed to read directly to Jesus.

Renee: Very good advice…even for the best-selling author. Thank you, Danele. Let’s switch topics from writing now to something a bit more personal. I know you’ve experienced a great deal of trial and pain in your life. Is there a special quote or verse which comes to mind in times of need or adversity?

Danele: I love Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” When I was in quarantine, I would quote Philippians 4:13 as I went through each day. When I was in pain, knowing that I could do ALL things—even survive—was important to me. A special comfort comes when you know that Christ’s help makes everything attainable, doable, survivable, and reachable.

Renee: Our God is an awesome God, isn’t He? I have one last question for you. As most people know, I’m from Wyoming. I love to spend time in this rugged but beautiful land. I call it God’s country for I experience the glory and peace of God here in many ways. Do you have a cherished “spot?” If so, where and why.

Danele: My cherished spot is an isolated lake behind my house. I love strolling around it, basking in its beauty. When I was in quarantine, the lake was my place of escape. When my “cabin fever” would become too hard to handle, that’s where I’d go. On the shores of the lake, I’d feel peace seeping back into my soul. I loved watching the dragonflies, and the frogs, and the hawks. I loved hearing the wind whispering in the leaves. I loved seeing the waves lapping against the bank. That little lake is beautiful to me—it’s the place that epitomizes peace.

Renee: I would love to see your lake. I bet it’s absolutely beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing your writing, your story, and your heart with us. You are one amazing lady, and author!

Danele: Thank you so much for having me on the Diamond Mine, Renee! I’ve really enjoyed chatting with you and your readers!

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GIVEAWAY

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If you love Danele as much as I do, don’t miss your chance to win a copy of her new release Time Tsunami. But Danele is AMAZING and is giving away an AWESOME giveaway PRIZE on the Diamond Mine!

Answer this question and you will be entered to win this FABULOUS PRIZE!

“If you could travel back through time, where would you go?”

(One winner will be selected by random draw from comments on 3/23/2016. Minimum of 5 comments required to validate contest. Valid entries include comment and email address.)

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GIVEAWAY

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About the Book, Time Tsunami, The Time Counselor Chronicles Book One :

To stop a cruel serial killer, she must travel twenty-four years into the past…

Gil Montgomery, a cadet in the Temporal Counseling Program, can’t wait to pass her field exam and become a professional time surfer. The TEMCO program targets death-row offenders for time-based counseling while they’re children.  For her exam, Gil will travel twenty-four years into the past to counsel ten-year-old Danny Winston before he murders his abusive babysitter, Rick Olsen.  Preventing the stabbing should stop the chain of events leading to Danny’s eventual execution.

Gil’s assignment seems simple until her adviser, Dr. William Ableman, learns that Rick is a serial killer targeting Danny’s mother.  If Gil stays and protects the Winstons, she might not survive.  William wants the woman he loves to be pulled from the field, but if Gil fails to complete her assignment, it will unleash a Time Tsunami and destroy the timeline.

As TEMCO undergoes an emergency lockdown, and Gil’s fellow cadets try to figure out what’s happening, Gil and William learn the importance of faith and the price of true love. Everyone’s fate is resting in Gil’s hands, but does she have the strength she needs to defeat a ruthless serial killer intent on annihilating everyone in his path? Will she return from the deadly mission?

Time Tsunami is a fast-moving thriller with time travel twists that keep the reader guessing until the very last page.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/234DFBS

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/time-tsunami-danele-j-rotharmel/1123153640?ean=2940152530919

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

About the Author, Danele Rotharmel:

Danele Rotharmel grew up with a love of the literary word, and by age five, she knew she wanted to be a writer. However, her life took an unexpected turn when a mysterious illness brought her close to death. Eventually, she learned that a low-level carbon monoxide leak from a faulty furnace in her home was slowly poisoning her. This poisoning triggered severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity and partial amnesia.

During this time, the hardest thing she faced was a crisis of faith. She had to quit her job and stop going to church. She couldn’t write, couldn’t drive, and could barely remember who she was. To say she was upset with the Lord was an understatement. She began reexamining her faith in light of her illness, and eventually, she came to the firm conclusion that God is real, God is good, God is interested and involved, and God is trustworthy regardless of tragedy.

When her illness became even more severe, she was put into quarantine and could only talk to friends and extended family through the glass of a window. This quarantine lasted for seven years. During this time, she wrote the first six books in The Time Counselor Chronicles.

Danele currently lives in Colorado where she continues to write. Although her journey back to health was long and difficult, it provided her with the opportunity to grow closer to God and to write her books. For that, she is forever thankful.

Danele’s Blog: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/

Blog’s Welcome Page: https://dragonflydanele.wordpress.com/welcome/

Up Close and Personal with Julianna Deering ♦ Giveaway

Hi, Juliana –welcome to The Diamond Mine of Christian Fiction!. So happy to have a chance to interview you here for my inaugural post!  

Giveaway Alert ♦ Winner’s Choice ♦ Two Chances to Win ♦ Details Below

PEG: OK, Julianna, now that that’s out of the way, let’s chat a while.
How long have you been writing?

JULIANNA: I’ve always been a reader, though I would never, ever have predicted I would end up being a writer. I used to write little episodes of my favorite TV shows when I was growing up (Fan Fiction before there was such a thing!), but it wasn’t until I was in college and bored with my accounting classes that I started writing original characters. I still never really expected to be a writer, but I eventually made my collection of random scenes into a book. At the urging of a friend, I decided to send it to some publishers to see if anyone would be interested. Miraculously, the third one I queried decided they wanted it, and that was my first book, In Honor Bound. My new release, Dressed for Death, is my twelfth published book, and I have five more contracted. I would never have imagined that when I was just playing with stories.

PEG: Has your writing journey been as you envisioned it? If so, tell us a bit about it. If not, how is it different?

JULIANNA: Oh, not at all! I used to think, as many people do, that once an author gets one book traditionally published, that’s the beginning of a slowly but steadily growing career and fan base (and bank account). Not necessarily so. After my first three books were published, I had some setbacks and didn’t write seriously for several years. But, since writing is something that I can’t not do, I eventually started writing again. I am blessed with a wonderful agent who was determined to sell my mystery series no matter how long it took, but I wondered for a very long time if I would ever be published again. Even now, there are no guarantees about what the future will hold for my writing career, but I know I can trust God to do what is best for me as long as I am faithful to His calling.

PEG: I expect that’s the same for most of us. The important thing is, you didn’t quit! Congratulations on that! What sparks your creativity when feeling drained?

JULIANNA: It’s always good to recharge by reading someone else’s books or by watching good drama. It seems especially helpful to read or watch something outside of what you’re working on.

PEG: Oh, that’s funny. That’s the same answer I gave someone when they interviewed me, and it’s true! What have you learned recently about yourself, and how has it affected your writing?

JULIANNA: I’ve learned that there are several genres I’d like to try writing. This hasn’t affected my writing yet, because I have books I need to finish up, but it probably will eventually.

PEG: How much of yourself do you put into your books?

JULIANNANot very much at all. Of course, every writer writes from his own worldview, and I definitely write from a Christian one. I couldn’t do anything else in good conscience, even though I don’t usually have a lot of heavy spiritual content in my stories. But for me, one of the delights of writing is being able to put yourself into the shoes of someone who is not you and making that character convincing on his own.

PEG: Do you write in one place or switch off to different locations? Describe your favorite writing place.

JULIANNA: Apart from taking down notes about any story ideas when they come to me, and that can happen anywhere, I write almost exclusively in my office. It’s wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling books.

PEG: Let’s pretend: An anonymous donor has gifted you with a 5-day stay at a place of your choice, and you can bring four other contemporary (not family) with you.
A: Where would you go, and why?

JULIANNA: I’d definitely go to Disneyland and the other theme parks in the area. I’ve never been there and have always wanted to go.

B: Who would you take with you, and why?

JULIANNA: Hmmmm . . . I’d just take four of my friends. I’d want to be comfortable with whoever was with me.

PEG: Love it! First time I’ve received that answer. Some have said Hawaii or an equally desirable place, and a few have said they wouldn’t take anyone! Tell us something about your book.

• Title: Dressed for Death
• Publisher: Bethany House
• Release Date: March 1, 2016
• Genre: Historical Mystery
• Series or Stand-alone: Book Four, The Drew Farthering Mysteries
• Target Audience: Readers of Cozy Mystery, Readers of Christian Fiction, Readers of Historical Fiction

THE BACK COVER ‘BLURB’

A REGENCY-ERA COSTUME PARTY SHOULD BE NO MORE THAN AN AMUSING DIVERSION, BUT IT SEEMS, WHEREVER DREW FARTHERING GOES, MYSTERY—AND MURDER—ARE ON THE GUEST LIST
Drew and Madeline Farthering arrive at a Regency-Era house party at Winteroak House, excited to be reunited with old friends, including Drew’s former Oxford classmate Talbot Cummins. Tal is there with his fiancée, Alice Henley, and though many present seem worried about the couple, nobody is prepared when Alice dies from an apparent overdose. Tal refuses to believe she’d taken the drugs intentionally, and a dark question arises of whether the death is an accident or murder.
The police have their own information though, and Drew is shocked when they arrest someone he’s trusted and admired since his childhood—someone who’s been smuggling drugs into the country for years. Stunned by what has happened, Tal begs Drew to get to the bottom of everything, but Drew’s never felt more unsettled. Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn’t know who to trust, and he’s not ready for the secrets he’s about to uncover—or the danger he’ll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

BUY LINKS

• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Dressed-Death-Drew-Farthering-Mystery/dp/076421411X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
• Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dressed-for-death-julianna-deering/1122232789?ean=9780764214110
• CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/new-4-dressed-for-death/julianna-deering/9780764214110/pd/214116?event=GOOGORG

>>>ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY<<<
Winner’s Choice: A print copy of any book in the series (Rules of Murder, Death by the Book, Murder at the Mikado or Dressed for Death), U. S. mailing addresses only, please. BONUS: For one extra entry per commenter, sign up for DeAnna’s Newsltter HERE! and she’ll enter your name for a second chance. Giveaway ends one week from today, Wed. Feb. 16, at Midnight, Central Time.

ABOUT JULIANNA:

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted from Bethany House with Rules of Murder (2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (2014), Dressed for Death (2016) and Murder on the Moor (Coming 2017). Also, as DeAnna Julie Dodson, she has written a trilogy of medieval romances (In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered) and six contemporary mysteries for Annie’s Fiction. She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books & Such Literary Agency (www.booksandsuch.biz).