Donita K Paul ~ Interview + Giveaway!

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

Today author Donita K Paul is telling us about her new book, Dragons of the Valley (Sept 2010 -- Dragons of Chiril series #2). 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, Donita! Tell us a little about yourself.

I love children and am passionate about literacy. My ability to function begins to deteriorate if I don’t get a daily fix of being with kids. Fortunately my grandsons are close. My children used to tease me that my preschool Sunday school class was my peer group. I always felt better after Sunday morning, no matter how rough the week had been. I love making up new recipes. There are some posted on my website. I knit for exercise. LOL. And I can be crafty when the notion hits, but I do not do one craft beautifully. It is more like many, adequately. I hate to sew. But I have been known to make costumes. I will be 60 this year and my mind feels like I am still in my 20s. However, my body does not agree.

I began writing as a kid and kept it up as I aged. When my husband and I were cleaning out my parents’ house, we discovered a box full of my childhood writing. I chucked it all. Some of it was truly embarrassing. As an adult, I was too busy doing life and didn’t take much time to write. Then I had a flesh-eating strep in my leg and that retired me from teaching. My mother said, “You always wanted to write. Now’s your chance.” So, I gave it a try. My first book was published when I was 49.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I briefly did clowning for hospitals and church festivals.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
Am finishing Dragons of the Watch, which is the third and final book in the Chiril Chronicles. Next? I have a whole bunch of ideas swirling around in my head. It will be hard to choose just one.

How can readers get in contact with you?
www.donitakpaul.com On this site, there are individual blogs listed under Mrs. Paul.

www.dragonandturtle.com Blogs here, as well, under Parents’ page

And I do twitter, facebook, and shoutlife

Book blurb:

With an invasion of her country imminent, Tipper Schope is drawn into a mission to keep three important statues from falling into the enemy’s clutches. Her friend, the artist Bealomondore, helps her execute the plan, and along the way he learns to brandish a sword rather than a paintbrush.

As odd disappearances and a rash of volatile behavior sweep Chiril, no one is safe. A terrible danger has made his vicious presence known: The Grawl, a hunter unlike any creature encountered before.

To restore their country, Tipper, Bealomondore, and their party must hide the statues in the Valley of the Dragons and find a way to defeat the invading army. When it falls to the artistic Bealomondore to wield his sword as powerfully and naturally as a paintbrush, will he answer Wulder’s call for a champion?

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
This is a very exciting time in my career. This fall we have the picture book, The Dragon and the Turtle, which came out in August. I’ve always wanted to write picture books. And the illustrator is phenomenal. http://www.dragonandturtle.com/

Vanishing Sculptor came in second in the Clive Staples Award, and is up for the Carol Award from American Christian Fiction Writers. The award is given this Saturday, September 18th.

Dragons of the Valley comes out Sept. 21st and some have told me it is the best dragon book I’ve written so far. I hope readers think so, as well.

And Two Tickets to a Christmas Ball comes out Oct. 5th, and it was a labor of love. And I have been blessed. The cover is amazing. You can’t tell online but certain parts are highlight with a shiny print and a bit raised. And it is my first hardback book.

Series Info:
The series name is The Chiril Chronicles. Vanishing Sculptor was the first book but they are re-releasing it next spring as Dragons of Chiril. This book is the second, Dragons of the Valley. The third will come out in 2011, and is titled Dragons of the Watch. Bealomondore from the first two books is the main character in number three.

~~~~~

*USA residents only, please*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Dragons of the Valley!

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 A Hope Undaunted
+2 The Healer's Apprentice

**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 (September 24) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (September 30). 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 1st, 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.