I read the first book in this series, A Ticket to Tomorrow, and really enjoyed it. I just finished this book and it was even better than the first one. I'll have to go get my copy of book two, Fair Game, off the shelf soon and read it as well. I loved all the characters (except the bad guys *grin*), and I give Carol two thumbs up for a hero with a moustache (I have a thing for moustaches!). She tied that moustache into the plot too, how cool is that.
| Q&A with Carol Cox, author of A Bride So Fair
Q. Where did you get the idea to write A Bride So Fair? A. Several years ago, I came across a brief article that mentioned the World’s Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, calling it a pivotal moment in our nation’s history. And my response was, “If it was such a big deal, how come I’ve never even heard about it?” So I looked it up online and was overwhelmed at the wealth of information I found. I had no idea how many of the things we take for granted today were introduced at that fair—things like the Ferris wheel, Cracker Jacks, Cream of Wheat, Juicy Fruit gum, and the concept of the Midway. Familiar names from our history books were among the 27 million people who visited the fair. Thomas Edison, Scott Joplin, Frederick Douglass, Jane Addams, and Susan B. Anthony were all there. It was a moment in which our nation felt itself on the brink of major change, and the more I learned about the fair, the more excited I became. I knew I had to set a story there, and that initial idea turned into a three-book series, A Fair to Remember. A Bride So Fair is the final title, and it was hard to say goodbye to the setting and characters I’ve come to love.
Q. How much research is involved in writing a solid historical fiction novel like this one? A. I was so fascinated by what I learned about the fair that I continued researching for two years before the first book in the series was even contracted. As I mentioned above, I found a tremendous amount of information online, including photos of the fairgrounds and its buildings. I was able to purchase several books printed during that time period that gave detailed descriptions of exhibits as well as the reactions of people who visited the fair. That was invaluable in getting insight into how it affected people of that day. I studied maps of the grounds and floor plans of several of the buildings until I felt like I could navigate them as easily as I can get around my home town.
All of that helped in getting my facts straight, but I needed to add sensory details to make the setting come alive. What would my hero and heroine experience on the shore of Lake Michigan? What would they see, hear, smell? How would it feel to walk across the vast fairgrounds or stroll along the edge of the lagoon? I made a trip to Chicago, where I spent a day at Jackson Park, the site of the exposition. All but one of the buildings are long gone, but simply being there and soaking up the setting added a myriad of details for me to draw on when writing the story. At that point, I could look at my research photos and feel like I could step into the scene and describe it as though I’d actually been there.
Q. What inspires you the most as a writer?
A. It’s always interesting to hear what sparks ideas for other writers. For some, it springs from a character; for others, the catalyst is an issue they’re passionate about. With me, the setting often comes before either the characters or the plot. A particular place will catch my imagination and I’ll wonder what kind of people might have been there and what would have happened to them. I love the challenge of bringing a setting to life so it becomes something a reader can experience rather than just read about.
Q. You’ve written quite a few novels already, do you have any advice for aspiring novelists?
A. Read in a wide variety of genres to discover which holds the most appeal for you. Your writing will show far more depth and passion if you're working in a genre you love.
Be patient. Prepare to learn and gear yourself mentally for a marathon, not a sprint. The learning process takes time.
Study the craft of writing. There are excellent books available, covering everything from basic grammar to character development to plot and structure and much more. A number of organizations exist today that offer teaching, encouragement, and support to both aspiring and experienced writers. And writers conferences are held all around the country. Attending conferences is a wonderful way to build on your knowledge as well as getting to know others who share your passion for writing.
Develop a teachable attitude. The more I write, the more I realize how much more there still is to learn. There is always the joy of growing, of improving my skills, of learning to be a “workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.” (from 2 Timothy 2:15 NIV)
A Bride So Fair (ISBN 13: 978-1-59789-492-0) is published by Barbour.
About the Change and Cherish Series:Follow the story of feisty Emma Giesy  A Clearing in the Wild: Book OneSpirited young Emma Wagner chafes at the constraints of her 1850s religious community, which values conformity over independent thought, especially in women. Skeptical of the colony’s growing emphasis on preparing for “the last days,” Emma clashes with their increasingly autocratic leader—and faces the unexpected consequences of pursuing independence.  A Tendering in the Storm: Book TwoThis lyrical novel, based on an historical figure of the 1800s, follows the spirited and intelligent Emma Giesy, who achieves her goal of separating her family from the repressive religious community in which she grew up. But unexpected and dire consequences leave her family—and her faith—struggling to survive.  A Mending at the Edge: Book ThreeThis richly textured novel, the third in the acclaimed Change and Cherish series, follows the historical figure of Emma Wagner Giesy, who chafes under the restrictions of her 1860s religious colony. When her bid to belong in her unique way unravels her most precious relationships, she seeks new ways to stitch meaning into her life. About Jane Kirkpatrick: Jane Kirkpatrick is the best-selling author of two nonfiction books and fourteen historical novels, including the popular Kinship and Courage series. Her award-winning writing has appeared in more than fifty publications, including Sports Afield and Decision. She’s won the coveted Western Heritage Wrangler Award, an honor shared by such writers as Larry McMurtry and Barbara Kingsolver. Jane is a licensed clinical social worker as well as an internationally recognized speaker. She and her husband, Jerry, ranch 160 acres in eastern Oregon . My Thoughts:I haven't read this series yet, but her Kinship and Courage series was really good. Want to chance to win a copy of Book Three, A Mending at the Edge?Please leave a comment on this post with your contact info in this format (you at yoohoo dot com) by midnight central time on Sunday, April 27, 2008. I'll draw the winner first thing Monday morning. US residents only, please.
 This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingMy Soul To Keep(Multnomah Books - February 5, 2008)byMelanie WellsABOUT THE AUTHOR: A native of the Texas panhandle and the child of musicians, Melanie Wells attended Southern Methodist University on a music scholarship (she's a fiddle player), and later completed graduate degrees in counseling psychology and Biblical studies at Our Lady of the Lake University and Dallas Theological Seminary. She has taught at the graduate level at both OLLU and DTS, and has been in private practice as a counselor since 1992. She is the founder and director of LifeWorks counseling associates in Dallas, Texas, a collaborative community of creative therapists. When the Day of Evil Comes is her first published work of fiction, and the first of a three-book series. The second work, The Soul Hunter was released in May, 2006. Melanie lives and writes in Dallas. ABOUT THE BOOK:  As nasty as I knew Peter Terry to be, I never expected him to start kidnapping kids. Much less a sweet, funny little boy with nothing to protect him but a few knock-kneed women, two rabbits and a staple gun…It’s psychology professor Dylan Foster’s favorite day of the academic year…graduation day. And her little friend Christine Zocci’s sixth birthday. But the joyful summer afternoon goes south when a little boy is snatched from a neighborhood park, setting off a chain of events that seem to lead nowhere. The police are baffled, but Christine’s eerie connection with the kidnapped child sends Dylan on a chilling investigation of her own. Is the pasty, elusive stranger Peter Terry to blame? Exploding light bulbs, the deadly buzz of a Texas rattlesnake, and the vivid, disturbing dreams of a little girl are just pieces of a long trail of tantalizing clues leading Dylan in her dogged search for the truth. “Like water rising to a boil, My soul To Keep’s suspense sneaks up on you…before you know it, you’re in the thick if a frightening drama…Superbly crafted.”
---ROBERT LIPARULO, author of Deadfall, Germ, and Comes A Horseman “Written with passion, a good dose of humor and, dare I say it, soul, this novel reminds us that we all, with grace and good fortune, bumble our way toward salvation.”
---K. L. COOK, author of Late Call and The Girl From Charmelle
Karen Kingsbury will be appearing at the Christian Publishers Outlet on Friday, April 18, for a book signing. Date: Friday, April 18, 2008 Time: 6pm-8pm Location: Christian Publisher's Outlet 4145 S. National Ave. Springfield, MO 65807 Contact: Bruce Erdel 417-891-2200 Come at 6pm for a 15 minute Q&A session with Karen before the book signing. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Join Karen Saturday, April 19 for a book signing at the Christian Gift Outlet store in Branson. Date: Saturday, April 19, 2008 Time: 2pm-4pm Location: Christian Gift Outlet 4270 Gretna Rd. Branson, MO 65616 Contact: 417-332-2025 Come at 2pm for a 15 minute Q&A session with Karen before the book signing. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~Join Karen and many other wonderful entertainers at the 2008 Women of Joy conference. Date: Sunday, April 20, 2008 Time: 9:00am Speaking Event Location: The Grand Palace in Branson, MO. Contact: (800)374-1550 Karen will be at the Women of Joy event throughout the weekend and available for book signing on Saturday from 10am-12pm and from 7pm-8pm as well as Sunday after her talk. She looks forward to meeting you there! Check out more information on this wonderful event.
 About Do Hard Things:With over 10 million hits to their website TheRebelution.com, Alex and Brett Harris are leading the charge in a growing movement of Christian young people who are rebelling against the low expectations of their culture by choosing to “do hard things” for the glory of God. Written when they were 18 years old, Do Hard Things is the Harris twins’ revolutionary message in its purest and most compelling form, giving readers a tangible glimpse of what is possible for teens who actively resist cultural lies that limit their potential. Combating the idea of adolescence as a vacation from responsibility, the authors weave together biblical insights, history, and modern examples to redefine the teen years as the launching pad of life and map a clear trajectory for long-term fulfillment and eternal impact. Written by teens for teens, Do Hard Things is packed with humorous personal anecdotes, practical examples, and stories of real-life rebelutionaries in action. This rallying cry from the heart of revolution already in progress challenges the next generation to lay claim to a brighter future, starting today.  About Alex and Brett and The Rebulution:Alex and Brett Harris founded TheRebelution.com in August 2005 and today at age 19 are the most popular Christian teen writers on the Web. The twins are frequent contributors to Focus on the Family’s Boundless webzine, serve as the main speakers for the Rebelution Tour conferences, and have been featured in WORLD magazine, Breakaway, The Old Schoolhouse, and the New York Daily News. Sons of homeschool pioneer Gregg Harris and younger brothers of best-selling author Joshua Harris (I Kissed Dating Goodbye), Alex and Brett live near Portland, Oregon . My Thoughts: This book needs to be in the hands of every teen you and I know. The wisdom and fire that Alex and Brett Harris have really comes through in the words of this book. Chock full of amazing examples of teens doing "rebelutionary" things, this book doesn't just tell you that no one is ever too young (or too old) to do the "hard things" in life, it shows you! Want to chance to win a copy of this phenomenal book? Leave a comment on this post with your contact info in this format (you at yoohoo dot com) by midnight central time on Sunday, April 20, 2008. I'll draw the winner first thing Monday morning. US residents only, please.
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingTrouble the Water(Thomas Nelson - March 11, 2008)byNicole SeitzABOUT THE AUTHOR: Nicole Seitz is a South Carolina Lowcountry native and the author of The Spirit of Sweetgrass as well as a freelance writer/illustrator who has published in numerous low country magazines. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism, she also has a bachelor's degree in illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Nicole shows her paintings in the Charleston, South Carolina area, where she owns a web design firm and lives with her husband and two small children. Nicole is also an avid blogger, you can leave her a comment on her blog. Seitz's writing style recalls that of Southern authors like Kaye Gibbons, Anne Rivers Siddons, and Sue Monk Kidd, and this new novel, which the publisher compares to Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees, surely joins the ranks of strong fiction that highlights the complicated relationships between women. Highly recommended, especially for Southern libraries. ABOUT THE BOOK: In the South Carolina Sea Islands lush setting, Nicole Seitz's second novel Trouble the Water is a poignant novel about two middle-aged sisters' journey to self-discovery. One is seeking to recreate her life yet again and learns to truly live from a group of Gullah nannies she meets on the island. The other thinks she's got it all together until her sister's imminent death from cancer causes her to re-examine her own life and seek the healing and rebirth her troubled sister managed to find on St. Anne's Island. Strong female protagonists are forced to deal with suicide, wife abuse, cancer, and grief in a realistic way that will ring true for anyone who has ever suffered great loss. "This is another thing I know for a fact: a woman can't be an island, not really. No, it's the touching we do in other people's lives that matters when all is said and done. The silly things we do for ourselves--shiny new cars and jobs and money--they don't mean a hill of beans. Honor taught me that. My soul sisters on this island taught me that. And this is the story of true sisterhood. It's the story of Honor, come and gone, and how one flawed woman worked miracles in this mixed-up world."
"...a special sisterhood of island women whose wisdom and courage linger in the mind long after the book is closed."
-NEW YORK TIMES best-selling author SUSAN WIGGS
 Catherine O'Rourke is a newspaper reporter covering the high profile trial of a woman accused of murdering her husband in cold blood. That woman, Annie Newburg Hofstetter, is being defended by her brother Quinn Newburg, a flashy Vegas lawyer whose forté is representing the criminally insane. Once Catherine returns to her hometown of Virginia Beach, she begins writing articles about a disturbing series of kidnappings and murders. Those articles contain startling details that seemingly only those close to the investigation would know, and Catherine takes the heat for not revealing her anonymous source, to the extent of being jailed for her silence. She begins having visions of the crimes she's reported on and shares the details with her confidential source. Things start to get intense as those details, along with physical evidence, begin to point to her as the main suspect. At Catherine's request, Quinn Newburg comes to Virginia to assist in her defense. Can his expertise of the insanity plea help set Catherine free? []-- []-- []-- []-- --[] --[] --[] --[]Randy Singer has done it again! If you think the last Randy Singer book you read was his best ever, wait until you finish this one. With storylines that could've been ripped from today's headlines, you'll find this book riveting from the very first page. Randy's characters are so real and believable - letting you see their fears and frailties, as well as their sympathies and strengths. Each plotline is expertly blended in this book with every facet truly engaging. And there's no doubt that your reaction to the book's ending will be the same as mine - how did I not see it coming? This book is definitely a thriller in every sense of the word, and will be a tough one for Randy to top. I give it my highest recommendation! By Reason of Insanity hits shelves in May. Learn more about Randy Singer and his fabulous legal thrillers at randysinger.net.
 Be sure to mark your calendars for September, as that's when Sharlene MacLaren's next book is to hit shelves. Looks like it will be a good one.About Long Journey Home: After divorcing her abusive husband, single mother, Callie May, is still nursing the scars of a painful past. The last thing she needs in her life is another man, so she’s less than thrilled when a handsome but brooding stranger moves into the apartment across the hall. Dan Mattson may be attractive, but his circumstances certainly aren’t; a former pastor, he abandoned his flock in Michigan and fled to the Chicago suburbs after the death of his beloved wife and baby daughter in a tragic automobile accident. Embittered by his loss, Dan turns his back on God. Callie mistrusts men, and the angry Dan often gives her good reason. Both are weighed down by the scars and disappointment in their pasts. When Callie’s ex-husband shows up to wreak more havoc in her life, Dan finds himself coming to her defense—and facing his own demons in the process. Will Dan and Callie be able to get past their baggage and give love another chance? Can they come to see life’s tragedies as part of God’s perfect plan? And most important, will they allow the power of God to change their hearts and mend their hurts? And here's another exciting announcement from her website...In November 2007, I signed another three-book contract with Whitaker House for a series entitled: THE DAUGHTERS OF JACOB KANE. This trilogy focuses on each of three sisters who live with their father, Jacob, and their very proper English grandmother, Helena, in the fictional west Michigan resort town of Sandy Shores in the early 1900s. The beautiful and determined sisters help run the family’s general store, Kane’s Whatnot, while discovering true love and a deeper sense of God’s purpose for their lives. Hannah Grace Maggie Rose Abbie Ann ****Watch for these titles beginning in January, 2009!****
 About Courting Emma: Twenty-eight-year old Emma Browning has experienced a good deal of life in her young age. Sole owner and operator of Emma’s Boardinghouse, she is “mother” to an array of beefy, unkempt, often rowdy characters. Though many men would like to get to know the steely, hard-edged, yet surprisingly lovely, proprietress, none has ever succeeded. That is, not until the town’s new pastor, Jonathan Atkins, takes up residence in the boardinghouse, affecting not only her with his devout faith and strong convictions, but her clientele as well. Emma clings desperately to her stubborn ways, refusing to acknowledge God’s love—until all of Little Hickman witnesses a miracle—the conversion of her abusive and alcoholic father, Ezra Browning! Only then will Emma begin to experience God’s transforming power at work. I really enjoyed this book - with it's host of likeable characters and an engaging plot filled with humor, romance, and a powerful lesson of forgiveness. It's definitely a book I'll be passing along.
Be sure to check out Sharlene MacLaren's website, as well as the first two books in the Little Hickman series, Loving Liza Jane and Sarah My Beloved.
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingAmber Morn(Zondervan Publishing Company - April 2008)byBrandilyn CollinsABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense™. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline “Don’t forget to b r e a t h e …®” Brandilyn writes for Zondervan, the Christian division of HarperCollins Publishers, and is currently at work on her 19th book. Her first, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows. She’s also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons), and often teaches at writers conferences. Brandilyn blogs at Forensics and Faith. Visit her Website to read the first chapters of all her books. ABOUT THE BOOK The whole thing couldn’t have taken more than sixty seconds.
Bailey hung on to the counter, dazed. If she let go, she’d collapse—and the twitching fingers of the gunman would pull the trigger. The rest of her group huddled in frozen shock.
Dear God, help us! Tell me this is a dream . . .
The shooter’s teeth clenched. “ Anybody who moves is dead.” On a beautiful Saturday morning the nationally read “Scenes and Beans” bloggers gather at Java Joint for a special celebration. Chaos erupts when three gunmen burst in and take them all hostage. One person is shot and dumped outside. Police Chief Vince Edwards must negotiate with the desperate trio. The gunmen insist on communicating through the “comments” section of the blog—so all the world can hear their story. What they demand, Vince can’t possibly provide. But if he doesn’t, over a dozen beloved Kanner Lake citizens will die... Amber Morn is the climactic finale to Collins’ widely read Kanner Lake series. All first three titles in the series, Violet Dawn, Coral Moon, and Crimson Eve, were bestsellers. Library Journal placed Crimson Eve on its Best Books of 2007 list, and hailed it the “Best Christian suspense of 2007.” A few early reviews of Amber Morn: “… essential reading … a harrowing hostage drama.” – Library Journal “… heart-pounding … breakneck pace … satisfying and meaningful ending.” – RT Bookreviews “This cataclysmic ending left me breathless … Kanner Lake is the Best Suspense Series of 2007/2008.” – deenasbooks.blogspot.com “Collins has saved the best for last .. a powerful ensemble performance.” -- BookshelfReview.com “… a staccato tempo … Sometimes you just have to close the book in order to come up for air.” – Dale Lewis “…a masterpiece of page-turning suspense with a cast of dozens.” – Peg Phifer
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Jenny B. Jones is the author of A Katie Parker Production series. The other books in the series are In Between and On The Loose. Though now an adult, she still relates to the trauma and drama of teen life. She is thrilled to see her writing dreams come true, as her previous claim to fame was singing the Star Spangled Banner at a mule-jumping championship. (The mules were greatly inspired.)
Sometimes there’s a fine line between comedy and tragedy—and Katie Parker is walking it.
