Susan Page Davis ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Susan Page Davis is telling us about her new book, The Crimson Cipher. 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, Susan! Tell us a little about yourself.

I recently moved from my home state of Maine to Kentucky with my husband Jim and our two teenagers. So far we love it here. We have four older children as well, and six grandchildren. I’ve written about 30 published novels, and I love connecting with my readers.

Tell us about your salvation experience.
I was saved when I was eight years old. I’m thankful to have been walking with the Lord for many years.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Nowadays I’m fairly scheduled.

Stubborn, or compliant?
Depends on who’s asking. Ha, ha.

Organized or completely chaotic?
A little of both. I’m fairly well organized but sometimes it gets away from me.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems?
Mostly with prayer and support from my family.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
My best trait is consistency, which may also be my worst. I could probably do well to give people a few more surprises.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I had a major stroke (embolism) in January, 1997. For two days I couldn’t read or write. The Lord blessed me with a full recovery.

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be? Also, how would you rate the romance in your books?
Maybe DiAnn Mills? We both write historical and contemporary, and we both like suspense. My romances are usually G.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’m finishing up Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, which Summerside Press will bring out early in 2011. It’s set in 1860, when the Prince of Wales visited PEI.

How can readers get in contact with you?
My Web site is at www.susanpagedavis.com, and my Facebook page is at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Susan-Page-Davis/139580589399172?v=wall

Book blurb:

Saboteurs are doing their best to keep America out of the Great War. When Emma’s father is murdered, she’s hired to do the job he could have had--helping track them down by breaking their ciphers.

It’s 1915, and saboteurs are doing their best to keep America out of the Great War by bombing ships and factories and fomenting unrest among workers. Can Emma discover their plans and unmask their leader? Adventure and romance beckon as she joins a band of cryptographers trying to stop their enemies within the United States.

Here is an excerpt from the book. Enjoy!
     Emma Shuster hurried across campus against the cold wind coming off Casco Bay. Six inches of powdery snow draped the college’s brick buildings in glittery icing, and Emma’s heart sang.
     A man in a blue wool coat with epaulets on the shoulders and a peaked hat of the same hue approached the Searles Science Building from the opposite direction. Navy, Emma concluded—a fine-looking officer. She looked away before he could catch her eye.
     He reached the door of the brick building just as she did. “Hello.” He smiled brightly and opened the door for her.
     “Thank you.” As she entered, she tucked the large envelope she carried under her arm, pulled off her knit gloves, and headed for the stairs.
     “Excuse me,” the man said.
     She paused and turned toward him. “Yes?”
     He unbuttoned his overcoat, revealing a uniform beneath. “I wonder if you could direct me to Professor Shuster’s office.”
     Emma relaxed and smiled. “I’m just on my way up to see him, sir. If you’d like to follow me, I’ll take you there.” Her father was a Navy veteran. She wondered what the young man wanted with him.
     He walked beside her to the third floor landing. The handsome stranger towered nearly a foot over her.
     She supposed she should break the silence if she didn’t wish to be thought rude. “Several of the mathematics and science professors have their offices up here.”
     “Indeed. I expect the climb keeps them fit.” The young man smiled. “I’m John Patterson.”
     “And you’re with the Navy, Mr. Patterson?”
     “Yes. Lieutenant, actually.”
     They’d reached the door of her father’s office. Emma gave a quick knock and turned the knob.
     “Father, I’ve brought someone to—” She broke off with a gasp. Her father’s slender form lay sprawled on the floor. Blood seeped onto the varnished oak boards and the papers strewn near him. “Father!”
     She dropped her envelope and knelt beside him. Bending close, she touched his arm. The awful stillness of his body sent chills through her. A dry, fierce ache filled her throat. Pushing his shoulder slightly, she tried to speak again, but a sob wrenched her chest.
     Patterson knelt on the other side and put a hand to the fallen man’s throat. After a moment, he reached across and gently touched Emma’s sleeve. “I’m sorry, ma’am.”
     “No, no! We need to call a doctor.”
     “I’m afraid there’s nothing a doctor could do for him.”
     She wept then¬¬—great, hot tears splashing down her cheeks.
     “Miss Shuster. Come and sit down.”
     Emma raised her hand to her mouth, staring at the blood. She struggled to stand, but her knees buckled, and she grabbed the lieutenant’s outstretched arm.
     He caught her as she wilted. “There, now. Let me help you.”
     He turned a wooden chair to face the door, holding her upright with his steel-like right arm.
     “Sit down, miss.”
     Emma sank onto the chair and held her hands over her face.
     “Can I get you anything?”
     “No,” she managed. “Thank you. Just...please, see to Father. Make certain...”
     He left her side, and she shivered. She wanted to look over her shoulder and see what Patterson did—to assure herself that she’d been mistaken and only imagined the ghastly scene.
     She didn’t move.
     The lieutenant came back, his jaw tense. “I’m sorry, Miss Shuster. I’m afraid it’s too late.”

~~~~~

**USA and Canada residents only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of The Crimson Cipher!

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 AND your email address.

*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.

Read and leave a comment on one or more of my recent book reviews.
+2 Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa
+2 Angel Song

**You can earn a total of 6 entries if you do all of the above entry options. 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 (August 13) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (August 19). I will announce the winner that night. The winner is always randomly drawn. I will contact the winner either directly after choosing him/her or on Friday the 20th, 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.