Friday, April 23, 2010

Mona Hodgson ~ Interview + Giveaway!

**I have recently changed the rules for entering my giveaways and there are new ways to earn extra entries, so be sure to read that section at the bottom of this post. =)**

Today author Mona Hodgson is telling us about her new book, Two Brides Too Many. She has offered an autographed copy of her book to one lucky commenter. She will also be stopping by throughout the week to answer your questions! So if you have anything you want to ask her, you can include it in your comment for entering the contest. If you are only leaving a question in the comment and not entering the giveaway please say so.

Welcome, Mona! Tell us a little about yourself.
Carman, thanks bunches for this opportunity to connect with your blog audience. Hello everyone!

I’m a wife (nearly 38 years), a mother to two daughters in their 30’s, mother-in-law to one son, and grandmother to three boys and one girl.

I’m also a writer and a speaker. My favorite “work” things to do include writing novels and children’s books, and speaking at women’s retreats.

I like to hoola-hoop, hike, travel, picnic, read, and play games on the Wii. Wii Fitness and Tennis are my favorites.

How long have you been writing? How many books do you have published?
I began writing for publication in 1987. For many years, I wrote devotionals, articles, poems, and short stories for fifty different periodicals, including four newspapers that carried my weekly column, Letters from Home.

I have 28 children’s books published and one novel with a second novel, Too Rich for a Bride, scheduled for release in October 2010, exclusively available at Walmart stores until May 2011.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be?
My style is probably most similar to Robin Lee Hatcher’s and Lori Copeland’s. Maybe Cathy Marie Hake’s and Deeanne Gist’s too.

Also, how would you rate the romance in you books?
G.

In your own words tell us a little about Two Brides Too Many.
Two sisters arrive in an 1896 mining camp expecting marriage, but finding love.

Two Brides Too Many is the first in the Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series. The books will chronicle the journeys of four sisters and their father to Colorado. Book One is the story of the middle two sisters, Kat and Nell Sinclair, who embark on their journey as mail-order brides. What happens when the girls arrive at the depot in Cripple Creek and find that their grooms-to-be are not there to greet them, let alone marry them?

Blurb:
Two sisters. Two missing misters.

Kat and Nell Sinclair are headed west—away from the manicured lawns of Maine to the boisterous, booming mining town of Cripple Creek, Colorado, to start new lives for themselves as mail-order brides.

Aboard the train, romantic dreamer Nell carries a photo of her intended close to her heart and imagines an exciting and love-filled future, while her pragmatic older sister, Kat, resigns herself to marriage as a duty, not a delight.

But when the ladies disembark at the train depot, neither fiance’ awaits them with open arms. The well-bred Sinclair sisters find themselves alone in the wild, frontier town—a place where fire threatens to reduce the buildings to rubble, the working women strut the streets, rogues will gamble for the shoes on one’s feet, and God’s grace is found among the most unlikely of folks.

What made you want to write this story?
I was working on a historical set in an Arizona Copper Mining Camp in the late 1890s when an editor who had seen the opening pages of that novel gave me an opportunity to write the Sinclair Sisters’ stories set in a Colorado Gold Mining Camp in the late 1890s. I nearly dropped my cell phone in my jump at the chance. Like Kat Sinclair, the main character in Book One, I am one of four sisters and knew I’d have a lot of fun writing about the complex sister relationships. I love Colorado. And, of course, I had already done a lot of research on mining camps in the 1890s. I knew the opportunity was God’s answer to my prayers; His provision for my dream to become a published novelist.

What research did you have to do for this book?
I emailed the director of the Cripple Creek District Museum with a list of questions, which she graciously answered. And I did a lot of Internet research to begin with until I could actually tour Cripple Creek and visit their museums. I ordered books about Cripple Creek and mining in Colorado. I needed to know what kinds of business were there at the time, about the railroad and its route from the East, as well as all about the actual fires that destroyed the town. I include at least one “real life” woman from the time and place in each of my historical novels, so I did a lot of reading about Colorado women, specifically any who made a difference in Cripple Creek.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
Kat – Alexis Bledel

Morgan – Jake Gyllenhaal







 
Patrick – Johnny Dep or Justin Chambers

Nell – Rachel McAdams or AnnaSophia Robb







 
Judson – Ryan Gosling

Miss Hattie – Meryl Streep





 
What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’ve recently finished the edits for Too Rich for a Bride, the second book in the Cripple Creek series. I’m working on a proposal for a historical novel for middle grade readers set in Idaho Territory in the 1870s. Next month, I expect to begin writing Beyond a Bride, Book Three in the Sinclair Sisters of Cripple Creek Series.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Readers can learn more about me at my website: www.monahodgson.com. They can connect with me at www.twitter.com and www.facebook.com, and readers can find extras at my Facebook fan page—Mona Hodgson Fan Page. They can email me at www.mona@monahodgson.com and ask to receive my quarterly E-newsletter with updates and behind-the-scenes news.

What are you currently reading?
I seldom read one book at a time. Thin Places: A Memoir by Mary DeMuth, a “Blessings, North Dakota” historical by Lauraine Snelling, and Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania by Cerella D. Sechrist. Nonfiction, a historical novel, and a contemporary novel. I usually have a middle-grade novel going too, but three books at a time is enough for now.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I’ve ridden a camel, fed a giraffe mouth-to-mouth, and held a baby crocodile. I’ve flown in a helicopter and a bi-plane. I’ve been to Africa.

If you could be any animal, which would you choose? Why?
A roadrunner. Because I tend to dart from here to there and I love to explore. They can keep their lizard lunch to themselves, however. I prefer tacos or grilled cheese sandwiches.

FAVORITES:

Color?
Purple.

Childhood memory?
One of my favorite memories is of camping with my family at Butterfield Country in California. Another is of camping out in the desert with another family.

Era to write about?
The 1800s is a very intriguing time period. I’m inspired by the pluck and faith of the stalwart women, particularly those of the Wild West.

What is/was this book’s release date?
As of October 13, 2009, Two Brides Too Many has been available exclusively at Walmart stores. BUT on May 4th WaterBrook Multnomah will officially release Two Brides. Yes, in less than two weeks, you’ll be able to obtain Kat and Nell’s story from your favorite bookseller. In the meantime, they can accept pre-orders. The book will also be available as an e-Book and as an audio book on May 4th.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter of this book?
Yes. Readers can get a sneak peek at Chapter One at www.monahodgson.com. Click on Mona’s Novels, then on Sneak Peek on the Two Brides Too Many page.

~~~~~
**Anyone can enter this giveaway**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Two Brides Too Many!


TO ENTER:

*Leave a comment with your name and email address (so I can contact you if you win). The comment is mandatory. You will not be entered unless you leave a comment.

*If you leave a comment you will be entered unless you specify that you would not like to be entered.

*Here are the ways to get entries:

(First entry) The mandatory comment saying you would like to be entered with your email address.

+1 Become one of my followers OR subscribe to my blog by email.

+2 Read and leave a comment on one of my recent book reviews.

**You can earn a total of 4 entries if you do all of the above requirements. Make sure to tell me in your entry comment on this post which of the things you did to get extra entries.**

*The contest will run from today (April 23) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (April 29). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner on Friday the 30th, and then that person will have one week to reply. If the winner doesn't reply within that time period, I will pick a new winner.

Good luck! Thanks for visiting.

55 comments:

Linda said...

I would really enjoy reading your book. Please enter me.
Thank you!
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Linda said...

I'm a follower on Google Friend.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Hi Linda,
Thanks for reading the interview and for entering to win a copy of TWO BRIDES TOO MANY.
Blessings,
Mona

Unknown said...

This book sounds great! The title is awesome! totally grabs your attention! :) Please enter me in the drawing!
Oh, I have become a follower (your blog looks awesome, btw)
And I commented on your review of Texas Roads by Cathy Bryant. That book looks great too! :)

Thanks for the interview and the opportunity to win the book!
God bless!
Kim
lonebanana(at)msn(dot)com

Paris said...

I love book about mail order brides, this one sounds really interesting! I'm a follower:)

parisakins@gmail.com

runner10 said...

Great interview. Sounds like a great book.
csdsksds[at]gmail[dot]com

I am a follower.

Diane said...

Thank you for this great giveaway! I am your follower. :O)

www.dianeestrella.com

estrella8888 at roadrunner dot com

Katie said...

This sounds really great! It was an awesome interview! Please enter me in the giveaway!

katiegalyean (at) yahoo (dot) com

I am a follower!

Thanks and God Bless!

~Katie G.

Katie said...

I just commented on the review of
Beguiled by Deeanne Gist and J. Mark Bertrand.

Thanks again! God Bless!

Katie G.

Kelsey said...

Thanks for the giveaway! She sounds like a great author and from the summary it sounds like a great book too!

I'm already a follower.

Kelsey
krae991 at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

WOW! Thanks for all the encouraging comments everyone. So glad you enjoyed the interview. Carmen did a great job coming up with fun questions. I so appreciate your interest in the Sinclair Sisters too. The whole Cripple Creek cast was and still is fun to write about.
Blessings,
Mona

Anonymous said...

a fabulous interview/posting...thanks for the chance to read this wonderful book.

+1 suscriber
+1 commented on the 'beguiled' posting

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

Edna said...

Please enter me into this drawing


mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Edna said...

I am a follower on google


mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

This book sounds so good from the review, I would like to win and read this novel.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I follow by google reader and email.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Hello!
Thanks for all the interest in my debut novel, Two Brides Too Many. Wish you could all win a copy, but unfortunately, that's not possible.
Hope you're having a great weekend!
Mona

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this book.
debp
twoofakind12@yahoo.com

Barbara said...

Sounds like a great book! Please enter me in the drawing. I'm a follower on Google Reader.

quiltyreader(at)gmail(dot)com

adge said...

I am guessing she did all of the animal adventures while in Africa, but what a list that is. This looks like a great book. Please include me in the giveaway. Thanks. gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net

Trinity Rose said...

Hi,
Really sounds like a super book. Would love to win.
I'm your follower. I commented on Texas roads. Really interesting.
Have a beautiful day,
Trinity Rose

wandaelaine at gmail dot com

apple blossom said...

Oh, this looks like a wonderful book. Thanks for the giveaway.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

follower and subscriber

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Cindy W. said...

I would really love to read this book. Please enter me.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Cindy W. said...

I am also a follower.

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Megan said...

We posted about your giveaway at Winning Readings.

inspiredbyfiction[at]gmail[dot]com

Anita Yancey said...

I would like to be entered to win this book. It sounds wonderful. Thanks for this chance.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

I would love to read this book. It looks so good. I love books set in this area and time period.

Pam

afriend @ netcommander.com

Shonda said...

What a great interview! Book looks good, enter me! shondaet@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Thanks for the giveaway, this book sounds like a wonderful read!

lead[at]hotsheet[dot]com

Anonymous said...

Please enter me.

Wendy
ebeandebe at gmail dot com

Cheryl B said...

This book sounds great! I love the title, and the plot sounds like a book I'd love to read!
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Cheryl B said...

I follow your blog on google friend connect.
cln1812(at)gmail(dot)com

Linda Kish said...

I would like to read this book.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda said...

I'm already a follower by email.
desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Linda said...

I left a comment on Beguiled, which I would love tot read! TBR list!

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I would love to win this book. It sounds like my kind of book.
Thanks for the great interview. I enjoy learning little things about the authors as this lets me feel like I know them and I am closer to them.

Pls enter me to win and thanks for the opportunity to enter.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I follow via GFC


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

I subscribe via email


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

misskallie2000 said...

Left comment on Texas Roads. Great review and I have on my to buy list.


misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Naasom André said...

I would love to win this book. Thanks for the great interview. You make a fantastic job.

letrassantas(at)hotmail(dot)com

Naasom André said...

Helo, I follow via Google.

letrassantas(at)hotmail(dot)com

Merry said...

I've been waiting for Two Brides Too Many, it sounds like fun book.
Please include me in the drawing. +1

I'm a follower. +1
I commented on Texas Roads. +2

worthy2bpraised[at]gmail[dot]com

Alexia said...

I don't know what it is about mail-order bride books, but they are one of my favorite fictions to read!

Aleksija (at) ymail (dot) com

Mona Hodgson said...

Hello all,
Thanks so much for your comments and your enthusiasm for TWO BRIDES TOO MANY. I love the title too. My editor gets credit for the series title and the first three book titles. And I agree that Mail Order Bride stories are extra fun. Maybe it's the adventure of making the choice to step out into the unknown?
God's best to you,
Mona

PriviesAndPrims said...

I'm an email subscriber, a blog follower and I love mail order bride stories!

Please enter me!

Doreen
priviesandprims @yahoo .com

Kathryn said...

This sounds delightful! I'm a fan of mail order bride / marriage of convenience in stories (I love "Love Comes Softly")

Please enter me :)

ksmiley2[at]kent[dot]edu

Sylvia M. said...

I love these mail-order bride books. This one sounds even better because we have two sisters; one who is excited about marrying and the other who is not. This whole plot sounds great. I also think it's great that the two girls look like they could be sisters in real life.

Samitude/at/hotmail/dot/com

Aimee said...

Sounds like an interesting read. Please count me in. Thanks!

gevin13{at}gmail{dot}com

Esther Miriam Lopez said...

Hi...

I am a follower of both your blogs :))

Please enter me.

estherym[at]yahoo[dot]com

God bless

Anonymous said...

I'm enjoying your comments, especially those about the mail order bride storyline. Sylvia, how fun that you're intrigued by the sisters' parallel stories. I had a lot of fun writing about Kat and Nell. The girls on the cover are actual models from the Denver area. The blouse that Kat (the dark haired model) is wearing belonged to the Director of Marketing's grandmother. Cool, huh!
Blessings,
Mona

Anonymous said...

I really want to read this one...please enter me.
Thanks!!!
jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

Anonymous said...

I follow your blog!!!1 And love it.
jackie.smithATdishmailDOTnet

Patsy said...

I haven't read anything from Mona Hodgson so it will be interesting to see her writings. I love to check out new authors. The book sounds great! Count me in the giveaway!
plhouston@bellsouth.net