Play It Again by Tracy Krauss

Tracy Krauss, author of ‘edgy inspirational fiction’, is launching her book  PLAY IT AGAIN on Feb. 21. You can help her achieve ‘best seller’ status by purchasing the book at amazon.com TODAY – and receive all kinds of cool free gifts while you’re at it!

Here’s how:

1. Go to the Landing Page on Tracy’s Website

2. Buy the book at amazon.

3. Go back to the Landing Page and fill in the form with your name, email and purchase number

It’s that easy! You’ll be directed to your free gifts and all you have to do is choose which ones you want.

About the book:

An unlikely duo meet in Play It Again, a story of love, life and faith. Sparks fly when an ex-rock and roll junkie and a stuffy accountant rendezvous at a local resort, but neither are prepared for the emotional entanglements, family complications, and threat from the past that unexpectedly resurfaces. Set in the 1980s, this story brings two opposing forces together in a clash of romance and danger, while its musical undertones highlight the theme that God can turn anything into beautiful music. Play It Again is the much anticipated prequel to Tracy’s debut novel And the Beat Goes On. Find out where Mark Graham’s journey began in this, the story of his parents.

What others are saying about PLAY IT AGAIN:

“This is one of the best contemporary novels I've read all year. . . Not only was it well-written, but it was edgy in that the story dared to be honest. . . I can see this touching a lot of people who have thought about God but have been afraid to move forward.”

-  Michelle Sutton, author of more than a dozen inspirational novels

“This book is hot property, and grabs your interest from page one.”

-   Yvonne Pat Wright, author of From Spice to Eternity

Author bio:

Tracy Krauss is a high school teacher by profession, and a prolific author, artist, playwright and director by choice. She received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Saskatchewan and has gone on to teach Art, Drama and English – all the things she is passionate about. After raising four children, she and her husband now reside in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, BC where she continues to pursue all of her creative interests. Her first two books were both nominated for the ‘Indie Excellence Book Awards’ for religious fiction in 2011.

FREE STUFF:

Here’s just a sampling of the FREE e-gifts from generous supporters:

-          An e-copy of Lisa Lickel’s award winning novel Meander Scar

-          Sample chapters from The Promise of Deer Run by Elaine Cooper, Warring Spirits by April Gardner, and The Right Person by Stacy Padula

-          Beautiful downloadable art cards by author and artist Brenda Hendricks

-          A free subscription to ‘PixApple’

-          You copy of Frazzled No More by Shelley Hitz

-          A cool ‘Daily Scheduler’ developed by author Janalyn Voigt

-          And much more!

All if you buy your copy of PLAY IT AGAIN at amazon.com on Feb. 21!  All links will be operational on the ‘Landing Page’ at www.tracykrauss.com/ 



DISCLAIMER: This ‘Best Seller book launch’ has been coordinated with the help of the ‘John 3:16 Marketing Network’ and many other generous supporters. The free gifts are deliverable electronically over the internet or by email by individual authors and supporters. They are not in any way associated with, nor deliverable by, amazon.com  

Dangerous Ties: Interview with Author Debra Parmley

Today I get to welcome Debra Parmley to my blog with her new book, Dangerous Ties. Debra is a multi-published author, but this is her first work with Desert Breeze.  Dangerous Ties is a historical romance for the secular market, and it sounds like a really enjoyable book!

Hello Debra, and Welcome!

Tell us about your new book? Dangerous Ties is a western historical romance. Lillian's fiancé convinces the townsfolk to exchange their gold for his worthless bank notes. When he disappears, every eye turns to Lillian. Even her cousin Carl insists she knows where the gold is. Carl is deeply indebted to Kingston, owner of the saloon and small town criminal.  When Nick discovers Lillian she's strung up over a mineshaft and the rope is breaking.

What inspired this story? My stories always come to me with an opening scene. I see the heroine in a situation and wonder what happened to her, how did she get there and where does she go from there? For Dangerous Ties, I saw the heroine strung up over a mineshaft and the rope was breaking. Everything else grew from that initial scene.

Is there an underlying theme? Yes. In the beginning of the book, Lillian sees herself as a victim, but by the end she realizes she is a survivor. Someone once asked me why I write about victims. (In my first book the heroine was married to an abusive man.) I don't see myself writing about victims. I write about survivors.

What do you hope readers take away from reading your book? I hope my readers enjoy the read, that it transports them into the story, as all good fiction should do. But also that we can overcome the things which happen to us and that it is what comes from within that defines who we are.

How did you get started as a writer? I believe I was born a writer, from the singsong rhymes I would make up as a child, to the poetry and diaries of my teen years. In college I had a few poems published in literary journals and began writing short stories. I turned to novel length fiction not long after my first short story was published.

What genre(s) do you write and what draws you to this genre? I love writing romance because they must end with a happy ever after. I love writing historical romance because history fascinates me. I also write fantasy and paranormal romance because I can play in those genres and let the imagination fly more so than in other genres. And I still write a bit of poetry, though not every day like I used to.

What was your journey to publication like? Oh my. Well it has been quite the roller coaster ride. The first novel I ever wrote came about as a challenge issued to me at the Ozark Creative Writers conference in Eureka Springs, AR. Dusty Richards, a western novelist challenged those of us who had never written a novel to write one and have it to him by the next conference and the winner would receive a complete read from his agent. At the time I had written only poems and short stories. So I entered, but by the time the next conference had come around he was no longer with that agent. Instead he sat with me and went over the first few chapters giving me tips. I then came home and started rewriting it. Then I attended my first RT convention and entered it in the Bobbi Smith beginning writers competition. My story was a finalist and Bobbi told me the story really begins in chapter three. I went home and rewrote it. The following year when I went to the RT convention I had entered it in the American Title II competition where it was a finalist. Eleven of us were competing for one publishing contract with Dorchester Publishing and RT magazine would feature us in each issue as readers voted for the winner. Suddenly I had to have a website and get the PR going to get votes. All this and I didn't even have a book out yet. It was an exciting time. Quite the wild ride. I was bumped in the second round, but soon after got an agent. About a year after that he sold A Desperate Journey to Samhain. I used to call the novel my training wheel novel because I learned so much about writing with that one. The learning curve was tremendous. My newest book, Dangerous Ties, was the first novella I ever wrote, so there was a learning curve there as well, but nothing like that first book was.    

What do you think of the eBook explosion, pros and cons, and what do you think will happen with print books? I have been saying for several years now that publishers cannot continue with so many forms of books. Right now we have hardback, trade paperback, mass-market paperback and now eBooks. There are simply too many forms for even the largest of publishers to afford putting out a book in all these forms. One or more is bound to be phased out.  It is great to have a book in print and also in eBook. I have both with my first book, A Desperate Journey. But the simple fact is, even with your book in print, unless it is sitting on the shelves of a bookstore, the reader is not likely to come across it. Distribution is very important to authors. The eBook allows readers easier access to the books if they live overseas or in an area, which doesn't have a bookstore carrying your book. The eBook also makes it easier for a reader to try a new author or a new genre because of the lower cost. I think we are going to see an upswing in readers who weren't reading much before as well as readers exploring more books than they were before the eBook readers came out. I am reminded of Gutenberg and the Bible. I'm sure the printing press raised controversy as well. No, we don't have the beautiful illuminated manuscripts that were once in the homes of the wealthy, but the books are in the hands of more people.  It's an author's job to write the best book possible and then to see it reach the hands of as many people as possible. I'm happy that eBooks will help to accomplish that.

Three favorite things: movie, place and food?
Out of Africa, though it ends sadly. The island of Moorea where we stayed in an over the water hut and swam with dolphins. Tiramisu, which I can never turn down.

Thank you for visiting today!
To Purchase:
Desert Breeze
Amazon
B&N

Originally from Ohio, Debra now lives in Tennessee, just outside Memphis. She has lived in six states and traveled extensively. Her experience includes work as a city recycling co-ordinator, bank head teller, selling advertising for a weekly newspaper, work as a dance instructor and work as an independent travel consultant. Ms. Parmley holds a BA in English from Marywood University in Scranton, PA. Her first book, A Desperate Journey, was an American Title II manuscript. Desert Breeze Publishing will publish her second book, Dangerous Ties, in February of 2012. It is with infinite love and gratitude that she gives thanks for this opportunity to fulfill her dream of sharing her stories with readers all over the world. One of her greatest joys is to hear from her readers.

More about Debra:
http://www.debraparmley.com/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Debra-Parmley/19909053561?sk=wall
https://twitter.com/#!/DebraParmley
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Debra-Parmley/19909053561?sk=wall

An Inspiring Word with Author JoAnn Carter

Some of you guys know that aside from being an author, I also work as an editor for two publishing houses. I love what I do, but sometimes get a little frutrated at the lack of time it leaves me for reading what I want to read. This makes it all the more special when a book comes along that's not only a project, but something I can get lost in and truly enjoy. Well, I've had a slew of these privileges lately, and one of them came to me in the form of a sweet, novella-length story called Mercies in Disguise. I write 20th Century historicals, so I was especially delighted with this story's setting. It's my pleasure to introduce the author, JoAnn Carter, and let her tell you what inspired her to write this story.

I have to let you in on a secret... I've been having a blast with this project! I'm thrilled at the release of the second book in this series, Mercies In Disguise. I think what has made this particular book so special to me is the setting. You see the Pine Barrens of New Jersey was where I grew up.

I love the woods. I realize some city folks would get nervous following a seemingly never-ending dirt path, where every tree looks the same – tall and scrawny—but it's home to me. I've learned many lessons in the pines, but I think the most important is "looks can be deceiving." Now, I must admit, scrub pine trees aren't the most attractive trees in the world. In fact, they look as if a good wind could knock them over. However, it isn't what you see on the outside that's most important. Rather, it's what you can't see – their complex root system – which is crucial to not only their survival, but their ability to thrive.

The soil in this neck of the woods is pure sand. It gets very dry and fires can wipe out acres upon acres in mere hours. But these hardy little pines have an amazing resilience. It's all because of their roots. They get burned, totally scorched and you'd think nothing could ever grow back, but wait even just a few weeks and before you know it, little shoots are sprouting back up. Within a few years, you can't even tell there had been a fire. What an awesome object lesson God blessed me with in my own backyard!

We see this same kind of strength through the main character, Abigail, in this story. In the midst of disappointments, storms life sends her way, and the fears she needs to face, her "roots" in Christ keeps her grounded. I hope her story (as well has her hero's) will be an encouragement to you. No matter what you may be facing today, if your "roots" are grounded in Christ, He'll see you through.

Blessings, my friends! Until next time~

JoAnn

What's Mercies In Disguise is about:

Abigail Madison, a gentle quiet spirit, has always dreamed of a life away from her mother’s controlling ways. Even more than that, she’s dreamed of finding someone with whom she could share her life with. However, her shyness is often taken as aloofness and no marital prospects were anywhere to be found. What was to become of her hopes?

Stanley Fisher, the Steamboat pilot of the Ticonderoga, was drafted and fought in World War I. The experiences he lived though on the battlefield left him wounded -- but not in a way that the naked eye could see. Yet, when he meets Abigail, he yearns for a love like his best friend and Captain of the Ti, Philip found in Ellie. However, with his recurring nightmares from war, what does he have to offer to this special woman?

EXCERPT

Abigail's dark hair hung to her shoulders, framing her fair face in shiny curls and her green eyes sparkled when he asked if he could take her bag. A slight blush colored her high cheekbones. He was in trouble -- deep trouble. She was every bit as beautiful in person as she was in the photograph Ellie had given him earlier today when she asked him to pick up her friend at the train station. Like a magnet, the picture had held him captive. And now that he saw her in person... he gulped. As his fellow bell bottoms would say, she was a doll. And although she was very quiet, the longer they talked he couldn't help but notice her beautiful, expressive eyes. They held a sort of tempered peace, or perhaps it was contentment, which he found completely unattainable.

Never before had he been so enamored, nor had he ever had as much reason to keep far away from that allure. He needed to stay strong. The serenity in her eyes would vanish if she knew the sorrow buried within his heart and how it affected him. Granted, his war wounds didn't leave any scars on the outside, but they were too numerous to count on the inside.

Lord, help me overcome the past.

He took a deep breath and stepped back, widening the space between them. If he could just turn off his thoughts and stop dwelling on his recurring nightmares, he'd be great.

Time.

He was sure that's all it would take... time to put his experiences behind him. Meanwhile, he had God, work, friends, and most importantly, the determination to make it through -- somehow, someway -- without being a total killjoy and dragging a beautiful woman into the mess of his life.

Abigail finished the letter, tucked it into her handbag, and gazed trustingly into his eyes. "Will you please take me to the steamboat now?"

Stanley nodded and offered her his elbow. "I'd love to." To fill the time and keep his mind off her tiny hand warming not only his arm, but also a place in his heart, he asked, "Have you been on board the Ti before?"

Abigail nodded. "A time or two. My family and I once resided here in Vermont."

"Ah, so that's where you know Ellie from."

"Yes. We've been best friends since grade school."

Purchase Link: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-262/The-Roarin%27-Twenties-Book/Detail.bok also available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well as other e-book retailers.

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About the author:

JoAnn Carter writes stories that will encourage your faith through her inspirational romances. She resides in Vermont with her wonderful husband and four children. JoAnn is available for speaking engagements to book clubs, reader groups, library groups, women's ministry events, school events and church retreats.

You can find her here:

JoAnn's Website
JoAnn's Amazon Author Page
Connect with JoAnn on Facebook