Friday, October 8, 2010

Julie Lessman ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 6 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*
Today author Julie Lessman is telling us about her new book, A Hope Undaunted (Winds of Change series #1, September 2010). 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, Julie! Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a high-energy baby boomer married to a man who makes me feel like I’m living my own personal romance novel, and we have two wonderful kids and a daughter-in-law. Out of a family of thirteen, I was the drama queen and the one enamored with books and movies. In fact, I started writing my debut novel A Passion Most Pure when I was twelve years old after reading Gone With the Wind. But … it wasn’t until almost forty years later that God breathed new life into that early attempt and inspired me to finish my childhood novel of passion—only this time the “passion” would be for Him!

Tell us about your salvation experience.
In my debut novel A Passion Most Pure, the heroine Faith O’Connor has a spiritual mentor by the name of Mrs. Gerson, who I actually modeled after my own spiritual mentor and dear friend, Joy Bollinger . Let me tell you—this poor woman had her hands full! You see, I was a twenty-three-year-old, mini-skirted, hardnosed agnostic from a devout but dysfunctional Catholic family of thirteen kids. I was so angry at God that I actually wanted to burn Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms. According to the world’s standards, I had everything going for me—a hunky boyfriend with a Corvette and a boat, a great job, my own apartment when other friends still lived at home, and I was acing an advanced writing course at Washington U., a prestigious college in St. Louis. But I wasn’t happy. I felt like Peggy Lee singing, “Is that all there is?"

Then one day, this annoying gal named Joy approached me at work. She had a lesser job than me, was divorced with a kid and no boyfriend in sight. I hated her because she came in humming every day, happy as a lark while I was utterly miserable. One day when she and I were alone, I looked up from my typewriter and said, “Just what in the heck (except my language was a bit saltier back then) makes you so happy all the time?” She said, “I’ve been praying you would ask.” Oh, no, a Jesus freak, I thought to myself, but I found myself going to lunch with her, badgering her with questions and accusations. I don’t remember now if it was weeks or months, but either way, I met Jesus Christ through the remarkable patience of a God-sent angel by the name of Joy—pretty appropriate name, eh?

Joy spent two years of intensive one-on-one inner healing with me, teaching me the Word, praying with me, showing me God’s love. Since then, my life has been a journey of “joy,” because EVERYTHING with Jesus Christ at the center IS pure joy—especially romance! So you might say my books are my love letters to a God whose love took me from the dark into His glorious light, and I hope and pray it brings Him the glory He so richly deserves.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Unfortunately, “spontaneous,” which means I am driven by emotion and passion in my writing, which is certainly good if you’re looking to write a passionate story, but not so good if you’re trying to make a living at it!

You see, when my emotions are low or the passion near-empty (which happens when I am tired, too busy or a little blue), not much writing gets done. If you’re trying to make a name for yourself as an author, it’s better to be a disciplined writing machine like my very good friends, Mary Connealy and Ruth Logan Herne, who can write a new book every two months, it seems, while I am lucky to eke one out every nine months. I know I can write fast when I want to because I wrote A Passion Redeemed (almost 500 pages) in two months while working a part-time job, but that’s not the norm for me, at least not lately!

Organized or completely chaotic?
How about a little bit of both? I have files for everything and a method to my organizational madness, but when I get REALLY busy like now with the launch of a new book and series, well, we’re talking stacks of books to read/review, lots of paper clutter and general mayhem.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
Honestly? For me, it’s hard. I am such a wired individual, that I can go tilt pretty easily. That’s when I RUN … not walk … to the throne of God for true perspective.

Which is what I did one Christmas when I was engaged to my husband and he gave me a watch, which I absolutely hated! Now, it wasn’t his fault because God knows I am one of the most particular people on the planet when it comes to watches—they have to be digital, waterproof, have a day and date window, a second hand, have both silver and gold metal on it so I can wear it with either gold or silver jewelry, and a stretch band skinny enough to fit my wrist. Yeah, you get the picture—NOT easy to find, especially with numbers big enough for someone with poor vision to see.

So I faked it, of course, thanking my husband and telling him how pretty it was because he was just so darn proud of his gift (and it was pretty, of course, just not what I wanted!!). But I didn’t “fake it” with God, oh no!! I went straight to His throne in prayer and BEGGED Him to help me love this watch. I even went so far as to write the prayer request on a piece of paper and put it in my Bible so I could pray it every day. Which was fine … until my husband used my Bible a few years later and found the note.

“You don’t like your watch??” he confronted me with hurt in his eyes.

“What are you talking about?” I asked, somewhat confused.

He held up the note. “You told God you hated it in this prayer note I found in your Bible.”

Gulp … oh-oh … BUSTED!!! So I gave the love of my life my brightest smile and a quick kiss on the lips and said, “Oh, that was then, babe, but I love it now, really!”

And you know what? I did!! :)

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
Best trait? My passion for God and the love for others that has come out of it. Worst trait? A bad temper and beating myself up mentally.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I used to chase this one boy named Johnny Huels into the coatroom in kindergarten and kiss him. And then in 3rd grade, he moved right next door to me, and everybody in the neighborhood teased him about me being his girlfriend (since I blabbed that I used to kiss him). So his older brother and my older sister baked a cake and invited all the kids in the neighborhood to our tennis court for a … wedding!! (My dad was an eye surgeon, so we were well-to-do even with 13 kids, and yes, we had a tennis court and HUGE house with six bedrooms.) Poor Johnny never lived it down and I just found out a while back that he ended up becoming a priest! Glad I could help with the vocation. :)

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?
Well, my agent and editor tell me that there really isn’t anyone in the Christian market writing what I’m writing—which is family-saga romance (with separate sub-stories for other family members) infused with more romantic passion than the norm in CBA romance. But as far as writers whose style compares to mine, I think I would say Tamera Alexander and Laura Frantz as far as literary style, and then MaryLu Tyndall, Ruth Axtell Morren, Michelle Sutton and Deeanne Gist as far as romantic passion. And I would classify my books more as PG because my romantic scenes (of which there are many in each book) are pretty intense and passionate, but always according to God’s precepts and ALWAYS to drive those precepts home.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I am currently working on A Trust Restored (working title), which is the 3rd book in the “Winds of Change” series, a trilogy that continues the O’Connor saga from the first series, “The Daughters of Boston.” Book 1 A Hope Undaunted just released this month and is about the fourth O’Connor daughter Katie. This book was a lot of fun to write because Katie is a pistol who comes of age in the Roaring Twenties, right before The Great Depression.

Books 2 and 3 will be about the O’Connor brothers, Sean (and guess who … Emma, Charity’s scarred friend from book 2!!), and then Steven, all during the exciting era of speakeasies, dance marathons, gangsters, G-men and era criminals like Bonnie & Clyde and John Dillenger. Steven will be a tall, brooding G-man-type modeled after Elliot Ness … you know, a la Robert Stack from the Untouchables? I’m very excited because all three plots are very involved, include detailed sub-stories for some of the other character couples and enough plot surprises that I hope and pray will blow readers away!

As far as what I plan to write next, I’m hoping to write a prequel about Marcy and Patrick O’Connor before they were married as well as a new trilogy entitled “The Cousins McClare,” a poor-man, rich-man scenario among three cousins amid the Irish-political landscape of 1920s San Francisco, prohibition and the Barbary Coast. Think Little Women meets Dynasty.” And for those of you too young to remember the TV show Dynasty, think family wealth and poverty in a political setting.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I LOVE to hear from readers, so they can contact me through my Web site at www.julielessman.com, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/. My newsletter is chock-full of fun info on my books and there’s always a contest featuring signed book giveaways. Also, I have a cool feature on my website called “Journal Jots” (http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots/), which is a very laid-back, almost-daily journal to my reader friends that would give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing. Then finally, I can be found daily at The Seekers blog (http://seekerville.blogspot.com/), a group blog devoted to encouraging and helping aspiring writers on the road to publication.

Book blurb:
What happens when the boy she loved to hate ...
becomes the man she hates to love?

The 1920s are drawing to a close, and feisty Katie O'Connor is the epitome of the new woman—smart and sassy with goals for her future that include the perfect husband and a challenging career in law. Her boyfriend Jack fits all of her criteria for a husband—smart, good-looking, well-connected, wealthy … and eating out of her hand. But when she is forced to spend the summer of 1929 with Cluny McGee, the bane of her childhood existence, Katie comes face to face with a choice. Will she follow her well-laid plans to marry Jack? Or will she fall for the man she swore to despise forever?

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
For the heroine Katie O’Connor, think Reese Witherspoon with an attitude.

Katie is eighteen years old going on thirty with a sassy attitude WAY taller than she. Five foot two, eyes of blue, Katie has a stylish blond Dutch-boy bob and can eat whatever she wants and still fit into the rail-thin styles of the Roaring 20s, which annoys her friends to no end. With her biting wit and cool air, Katie’s petite size is no hindrance in keeping everyone on their toes … especially the pest from her past, Cluny McGee.

For Cluny McGee, imagine a younger, toe-head Brad Pitt. From street orphan to gang thug to lawyer, Cluny McGee exudes charm and charisma from every pore. With a muscular frame of six-foot-three, clear blue eyes that can pierce right through and a teasing, almost cocky grin, Cluny is a natural athlete who does not like to lose. He spends endless hours playing sports with the kids in the streets, garnering a year-round tan that hides most of his freckles and bleaches his hair to white blond in the summer.

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
Sure, people can read the first chapter at ACFW’s Fiction Finder site at http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/948.

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Just the message of my book, A Hope Undaunted, which is that God IS “a hope undaunted” incarnate, and what I mean by that is that He IS the “God of Hope” according to Romans 15:13: “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Now I ask you, if God Himself is the “God of Hope,” then don’t you think that means He wants to fill us—his children, the “apples of His eye”—to overflowing with hope as well? Hope in Him and the fact that He loves us and has a plan to bless us in our lives? Well, that’s what my heroine Katie O’Connor discovers in A Hope Undaunted, as does her family at the onset of the Great Depression, and it’s my deepest hope and prayer that in the telling, it’s also a message my readers will discover too.


~~~~~
*This giveaway is open to everyone!!!*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of A Hope Undaunted!


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 The Vigilante's Bride
+2 Teen People of the Bible

**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 (October 8) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (October 14). 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 15th, 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.

70 comments:

Renee said...

Carman, I bought Julie's book, but I just think the Facebook party and all these interviews and giveaways are a lot of fun! Don't enter me, because I'm sure the book is on its way to me even now.

I just wanted to say "Hi" to you and Julie and thank both of you for giving us exciting things (like great giveaways and great books) to look forward to!

And, BTW, I always check out your site and read your reviews!

Joetta said...

I don't need to win the book - I already have 3 of my own! I love Julie's writing and spreading the word about her awesome books!
I loved the story about the watch -the 1st Christmas that I was dating my now husband - I opened my present (in front of his family!) and it was a teddy bear - I'm trying to act like I like it and what a nice present and they start laughing.. cuz the bear actually had a watch on it! haha...
God does have a sense of humor - it also reminds me of the times I would buy my hubby clothes and then they would just hang in the closet - I finally realized he HATED them, but was afraid to tell me - it works out great now, I just let him do his own shopping and we are both happy!
looking forward to Julie's next book - great interview!

cynthia said...

Thanks for the great interview Julie. I love the part where you talked about your 3rd grade crush. How mortifying that must have been at the age to have a "wedding" thrown by older siblings. :) But I thought it too funny.

Please enter me in the book drawing. I have also become a follower.
cynthiakchow (at) earthlink (dot) net

Kathy Habel said...

Please enter me.
bkhabel at gmail dot com

+1 I'm a follower

Anne Payne said...

Would love to read the book. I'm a follower.

homesteading{at}charter{dot}net

Anonymous said...

I am very interested in this book so would like to be entered in the contest.

+1 I am a GFC follower and e-mail subscriber of this blog.

+4
I left a comment on the Vigilant's Bride review and the Teen People of the Bible.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

This book looks really good. I like the fact that she's so petite and he so tall!!! *SIGH* I am a total romantic! You delivered in your previous books for sure! I can't wait to read this one!
April
apeygirl[at]gmail[dot]com

Julie Lessman said...

CARMAN ... Thank you SO much for hosting me on your blog -- always fun to be here!

RENEE ... I SOOO appreciate you coming by to say "hi" and your support for both Carman and me. I agree -- Carman has one of those great sites I tend to check more than others because her reviews are great!

JOETTA!!! Girl, that teddybear/watch story is cute ... and once again we have something in common -- Christmas watches!! Only I bet you LOVED yours right off the bat, right??? Thanks for all your support, my good friend, and I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to seeing you and Kelsey and Charlene (and Todd, I hope!) next month.

Hugs,
Julie

Julie Lessman said...

CYNTHIA ... Well, actually, the mortifying part that I didn't mention was that I had just gotten up from a nap when they surprised me with the "wedding," so I was crabby and REFUSED to go!! I have regretted that decision my whole life, believe it or not. :) So they all ate cake without me, and I am sure Johnny was more than relieved! Thanks for coming by, sweetie!

INSPIRED KATHY ... sure hope I can "inspire" you with a win, girl! Good luck!

ANNE ... and trust me, I would dearly LOVE for you to read this book, girl, so here's to a win!

Hugs,
Julie

Julie Lessman said...

CAROL ... Soooo glad you are interested in this book because I am VERY interested in getting it into your hands, so good luck in the contest!

Thanks, APRIL, and if you've read my books, which it sounds like you have, then you know I am a TOTAL romantic as well. And, sigh, nothing is more romantic to me than seeing a realllly tall/big guy next to a little, petite girl like Katie and Cluny in this book. I tend to like tall heroes as you probably know since all of my heroes are 6'2 are taller!! :) Thanks for coming by, and good luck in the contest.

Hugs,
Julie

Virginia said...

I am a follower Carmen vrush729(at)aol(dot)com...want to write about Julie last...so extra points for Teen People of the Bible...that was fascinating....I've never thought about the ones you named being teenagers, but it makes sense now, especially Esther!!!! now about Julie, I'm in love with her spirit, I love her salvation experience and grateful for a friend who cared enough to follow through. and Julie something you wrote reminds me of Mother Theresa, something she wrote: "we are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world" Mother Theresa Julie keep sending them...

Joy Tamsin David said...

Just popping in to wave at Julie.

I am thrilled that you're giving author recommendations! I've never read anything by either MaryLu Tyndall or Ruth Axtell Morren. But guess whose names are getting googled right now? :)

Great interview Carmen!

misskallie2000 said...

I have been following Julie's tour hoping I would win a copy of her book. Maybe this will be the lucky one.lol
Thanks for the opportunity to enter Julie's giveaway.

+1 I am a GFC follower

+1 I am an email subscriber

+2 Left comment on The Vigilant's Bride

+2 I left comment on Teen People of the Bible

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Katy said...

This sounds great--I hear rave reviews of Julie's books all of the time and I really need to pick up a copy of one of her books.

+1 I am a follower :)

srfbluemama[at]gmail[dot]com

Diane said...

Sounds like a great book. The story of the little boy she kissed was too adorable. :O)

estrella8888 at roadrunner dot com

I am a google friend follower.

Unknown said...

Guess who's here, Julie? Yes, it's me again!! I want to read your book very much, and I might as well give up on winning it and buy it. I really wanted an autographed copy. I'd like to be considered in this giveaway and thanks for offering it. I'm also glad to have another chance to win it. I hope I do!!

+2 I am a follower and a subscriber.
+2 I commented on The Vigilante's Bride.
+2 I commented on Teen People of the Bible

6 Chances.

Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Ann Lee Miller said...

Reece Witherspoon and Brad Pitt--I'm melting, melting, melting. Julie, you know how to pick 'em!

+ 1 I just became a follower.
Ann_Lee_Miller@msn.com

Edgy Inspirational Author said...

Hey Carmen, I see you have some books on your wish list that I've had on my shelf. Wish you would have told me you wanted to read them while they were still there. :) But that is an aside. I don't need to win anything as I've already read all of Julie's books (yay!) and I just wanted to thank you for the mention, Julie. :) I love Deanne Gist and Marylu Tyndall's writing, too. But I haven't read anything by Ruth Axtell Morren (though I do believe I have one of her books on my shelf.) Great giveaway, Carmen.

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

Awesome contest! I love reading about this time period! Thanks!

+1 I'm a follower

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

Charlotte Kay said...

Julie,
Through yet another interview I was excited to learn more about you. I plan to read the books of the authors with whom you compare your style! Loved this interview!!!!!!


I qualify for all 6 entries:
+1 I left a comment
+1 I became one of your followers
+2 The Vigilante's Bride, I left a comment
+2 Teen People of the Bible, I left a comment

THANKS! I'm excited to be entered!

charsaltz (at) yahoo (dot) com

Elizabeth@In Pursuit of His Excellence said...

Just stopping by to say Hi! You don't need to enter me for the giveaway as I was blessed to win at Julie's FB party!! So fun!!

Wanted to say how much I enjoyed this interview! Will be subscribing, Carmen, so that I can keep up with your other reviews! :o)

Enjoyed hearing your heart again, Julie, and your honesty - especially in your answer to 'A spontaneous or scheduled writer?'
Do you have a prayer partner list? Would love to be called on to pray when you are feeling low...

Catch you soon! :o)

Lady DragonKeeper said...

I'm glad there's still some book drawings around . . . I was SO disappointed I couldn't make Mrs. Julie's FB party --heard it was a blast though. =) Thanks for the chance to win!

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

Lady DragonKeeper said...

Email subscriber

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

Lady DragonKeeper said...

Posted here: http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2010/10/vigilantes-bride-by-yvonne-harris-5.html

= entry 1 of 2

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

Lady DragonKeeper said...

Posted here: http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2010/10/vigilantes-bride-by-yvonne-harris-5.html

= entry 2 of 2

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

Lady DragonKeeper said...

commented here: http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2010/10/teen-people-of-bible-by-daniel-darling.html

= entry 1 of 2

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

Lady DragonKeeper said...

commented here: http://continuousdelights.blogspot.com/2010/10/teen-people-of-bible-by-daniel-darling.html

= entry 2 of 2

jafuchi7[at]hawaii[dot]edu

Michelle said...

Thanks so much for the great interview Carman and Julie! I really enjoyed it! I love the story about the watch, Julie! ;-)

Thank you for entering me to win one of Julie's books!

Blessings,
Michelle (aka "Old Faithful") :D
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Michelle said...

+1 entry

I am a follower of this blog.

Thanks,
Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Michelle said...

+2 entries for commenting on The Vigilante's Bride.

Thanks,
Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Michelle said...

+2 entries for commenting on Teen People of the Bible.

Thank you,
Michelle
scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

Julie Lessman said...

VIRGINIA SAID: "Julie something you wrote reminds me of Mother Theresa, something she wrote: "we are all pencils in the hand of a writing God, who is sending love letters to the world" Mother Theresa Julie keep sending them..."

WOW, VIRGINIA ... I do believe that is the very first time I have ever seen my name in the same sentence as Mother Theresa! :) I have never heard that quote of hers before, but it is WONDERFUL. That woman sure knew how to write love letters, that's for sure. And I'm with you -- I'm "grateful for a friend who cared enough to follow through" too!! AND a God who cares enough to bring people like that into our lives. :) Thanks for your kind words, my friend.

JOY!!! YES ... DO read both MaryLu Tyndall and Ruth Axtell Morren --you will not be sorry. Both are good friends of mine BECAUSE they are such good writers that I actually contacted them to tell them so. To be honest, you know how much I love the edgier style of romance, of which there's not a ton in the Christian market, but these two ladies are definitely a bit edgier than the norm.

My favorite of MaryLu's is her most recent, Surrender the Heart, but they all are wonderful.

If you read Ruth, be sure to read Winter is Past first because that is a book she wrote for Steeple Hill Women's Fiction before it went belly up, and it's edgier and REALLLLLY good!! After that one, Steeple Hill got more restrictive in their guidelines, so her subsequent ones are, consequently, not as edgy buy still really good. She is a great writer, and I LOVED Winter is Past A LOT!!

Hugs,
Julie

Julie Lessman said...

MISSKALLIE ... Girl, you are on the right track in trying to win a book by posting on the various blog giveaways because do you know that about 50% of the reader friends of mine who "cyber-stalk" the giveaways (one of my reader friend's term, not mine ... a reader friend who won actually FIVE of my books last year by "cyber-stalking"!!!), have won books??? Those odds are pretty good, so hopefully you are next! Good luck, sweetie.

YES, KATE ... YOU DO!! :) Sooo glad you are hearing "rave reviews," about me, but the next "rave review" I want to hear is YOURS, girl, so here's to a win! :)

Thanks, DIANE! I have to admit that A Hope Undaunted is my favorite of all my books so far, so hopefully you will think so too if you win it. :)

Hugs,
Julie

Julie Lessman said...

BARB!!! Gosh, girl, you are one of those reader friends who are SOOO due to win, so maybe this is the contest!! But if not, I can always send you a signed book plate to stick into the front of the book as a last-ditch option, okay? :) Thanks for your diligence and here's hoping it pays off.

Thanks, ANN -- I'm glad you agree with my choice of Reece and Brad too. They came as close as anybody to what I had in my mind. :)

MICHELLE!!! SOOO fun to see you here, girl, and thank YOU for writing "edgy" books that I love!! As far as I'm concerned, you and I are two of the "edgiest" romance writers in the CBA, so I thrilled to mention you, my friend. And like I told Joy above, when you read Ruth, make sure you read Winter is Past -- I LOVED it, and it was pretty edgy for Steeple Hill, but that's because it was before SH got a bit more restrictive.

Hugs,
Julie

Julie Lessman said...

CARRIE ... I agree!! The 1920s is SUCH a fun period to read about, and I sure hope you get the chance with A Hope Undaunted! Good luck in the contest, girl!

Thanks, CHARLOTTE, for your continued support and encouragement -- you are a blessing, my friend! And you cannot go wrong with any of the authors I mentioned.

WOW, ELIZABETH, are you serious??? I do have a prayer-partner list of a select few friends who pray for me and for whom I pray as well, so YES, I would love to add you to that group, my friend. BLESS YOU!! And I am soooo glad you won in the FB contest and hope to get the book out to you first of next week.

Hugs,
Julie

Julie Lessman said...

WHEW, LADYDRAGONKEEPER, you sure made the rounds with all those requirements met -- THANK YOU!! And SUPER CONGRATS on the win in the FB Party contest, girl -- are you going for book 2 in the series here??? :)

Thanks, MICHELLE, I kinda like the watch story too, primarily because it really showed me that prayer can turn around what may seem like the smallest and silliest things! Nothing is too "silly" or "small" to God when it comes to His kids, eh? Thanks for coming by, sweetie, and good luck in the contest.

Hugs,
Julie

amber said...

i want to read this book!! it looks really good!!

amber (afren07@gmail.com)

Julie Lessman said...

Oooo-oooh, AMBER ... I want you to read this book too, so GOOD LUCK in the contest!!

Hugs,
Julie

Cindy W. said...

Great intrview! I have heard nothing but wonderful things about Julie and A Hope Undaunted. I had fun during her Facebook party the other night. Would love to be entered into your drawing to win a copy of AHU. Thank you so very much for the opportunity!

Smiles & Blessings,
Cindy W.

countrybear52[at]yahoo[dot]com

Breanna said...

Julie, I absolutely love your books and I always look forward to your newest book! I just read A Hope Undaunted and I already can't wait for Sean and Emma's story!


bberry96@aol.com

kristia4 said...

Hi Mrs. Lessman!

Actually, Lady DK couldn't make it to the Facebook party, so she told me --er, I mean, asked me-- =) to go. It was fun --I just got a FB account, so I'd never been to a FB party. I'm glad I went --LOL, when LDK got back from work, the first thing she said was, "So how was it?!" She got so excited when she heard I won one of the drawings. =)

Carman, thank you for hosting this book giveaway!

kristia4(at)hawaii(dot)edu

kristia4 said...

Posted a comment on "The Vigilante's Bride" review.

= Entry 1 of 2

kristia4(at)hawaii(dot)edu

kristia4 said...

Posted a comment on "The Vigilante's Bride" review.

= Entry 2 of 2

kristia4(at)hawaii(dot)edu

kristia4 said...

Posted a comment on the "Teen People of the Bible: Celebrity Profiles of Real Faith and Tragic Failure" review.

= Entry 1 of 2

kristia4(at)hawaii(dot)edu

kristia4 said...

Posted a comment on the "Teen People of the Bible: Celebrity Profiles of Real Faith and Tragic Failure" review.

= Entry 2 of 2

kristia4(at)hawaii(dot)edu

Liz R said...

As always, a wonderful interview, thanks Carman and Julie! Loved the story about the third grade crush and the "wedding." I've got several Deeanne Gist and Mary Lu Tyndall books sitting in my "library" that I haven't made it around to yet. Now I'll have to pick one of them up. Any suggestions?
I'd love to be entered in the drawing. Thanks for the giveaway!
God Bless,
Elizabeth

-I'm a follower
ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I would love to win this wonderful book.


cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Marjorie/cenya2 said...

I follow by google reader and email.

cenya2 at hotmail dot com

Molly said...

Hi Julie!!!

I just wanted to stop by here and tell you hi!!! I love how you told us to picture Cluny as a younger Brad Pitt...I ADORE Brad!!! =D I can't WAIT to read the Daughters of Boston books that are coming! YAY!!!

Carmen, no need to enter me! Just stopping by to support Julie!

Blessings to you both!!
*HUGS*
Molly

Julie Lessman said...

CINDY ... Thank you SO much ... both for your kind words AND coming to the Facebook Party!! It was CRAZY BUSY, wasn't it??? Well, I'm sorry you didn't win there, but there's always here, so good luck!!

BREANNA ... GOSH, thank you, my friend, for tearing through all of my books like that -- MUCH appreciated!! And if you'd like to win a $50 CBD.com or Amazon.com
gift card AND a signed copy of Sean and Emma's story A Heart Revealed when it comes out, I am running a contest on my newsletter where you can do just that for posting a short review on any of my books, so check it out if that interests you, okay? If you're not signed up for my newsletter, you can do that on my website. Good luck in this contest!

KRISTIA!!! Yes, you two girls certainly deserved that win, I'll tell you that -- SUPER CONGRATS!! And good luck in this contest too.

ELIZABETH ... MaryLu Tyndall is one of my favorites, and I loved her latest, Surrender the Heart, so that would be a great place to start.

MARJORIE ... Well, I don't know how "wonderful" it is, but I sure would like for you to win it! ;) Good luck!

Hugs,
Julie

Unknown said...

I would love to be entered! Thanks for the chance.

~Lauri (lulu)
Http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com
l_meinhardt(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

I follow and subscribe

~Lauri (lulu)
Http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com
l_meinhardt(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

+1 I commented on the Vigilante's Bride.

~Lauri (lulu)
Http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com
l_meinhardt(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

+1 I commented on the Vigilante's Bride.

~Lauri (lulu)
Http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com
l_meinhardt(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

+1 I commented on The Teen People of the Bible

~Lauri (lulu)
Http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com
l_meinhardt(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

+1 I commented on The Teen People of the Bible

~Lauri (lulu)
Http://knitsandreads.blogspot.com
l_meinhardt(at)yahoo(dot)com

Unknown said...

This book was great -- I just finished reading it last night! I love all of Julie Lessman's books! Please enter me in the contest!

+2 I commented on The Vigilante's Bride
+1 Subscribed to blog by email

Jess
cthworld@gmail.com

Julie Lessman said...

MOLLY!!! Girl, I had APMP all packaged up for you last week and thought I'd sent it, but I didn't, so I ripped it open today and repackaged all three books for you and hope to ship them out tomorrow. You are one LUCKY girl, you know that??? Winning three of my books -- GOOD JOB!! And thanks for your support, Molly -- you are a blessing!

LAURI!!! Very smart going for the other books -- Molly above just won all three of my DOB books, so it can be done!! Good luck, sweetie. :)

JESSICA ... SOOOO glad you enjoyed AHU, girl, and if you win this contest, I will be happy to sign AHU or any of the books to you or whoever you want, in case you want to give it away as a Christmas gift. Thanks again, Jessica, for coming by AND reading my books!

And if you are prone to posting reviews, I am running two contests that involve posting reviews, one in my newsletter where you can not only win a signed copy of Emma's story when it comes and a $50 Amazon.com gift card, but have a character named after you in that book. The other contest is a random drawing for a $50 Amazon.com gift card and signed copies of all four of my books, so if posting reviews is your thing, sign up for my newsletter and check out the contest tab on my website at http://www.julielessman.com/contest/. Just scroll down till you get to the contest info, and GOOD LUCK!!

Hugs,
Julie

Katie Marie said...

Count me in on the giveaway! :-)

legacy1992 at gmail dot com

Katie Marie said...

Im also a follower of both your blogs, Carman!

legacy1992 at gmail dot com

Kathryn said...

Thanks for the interview, Julie! I feel like I know you as I've been following your blog tour and reading all sorts of interviews with you for about a week now. I'm working on "A Passion Most Pure" right now, and I love it!! Can I call you one of my new favorite authors, since I know your other books will be equally great?

I have the other two "Daughters of Boston" to read, but haven't purchased "A Hope Undaunted" yet.

Please enter me! ksmiley2[at]kent[dot]edu

Kathryn said...

+1 for being a follower of your blog (via my Google reader)

ksmiley2[at]kent[dot]edu

Julie Lessman said...

KATIE M ... we will gladly "count you in," girl -- thank you for coming by to enter the contest! Good luck!

KATHRYN!!! I am SOOO thrilled you are enjoying A Passion Most Pure, and YES, PLEASE do call me one of your "new favorite authors" -- I am honored and MOST grateful!! And let's see if we can't net you A Hope Undaunted in this contest, okay???

Hugs,
Julie

Cindy said...

Please enter me in the giveaway. I am looking forward to the chance to read A Hope Undaunted.

Thanks,
Cindy Martin
thesbgirls(at)comcast(dot)net

Julie Lessman said...

CINDY ... you're making the rounds tonight, and if you're not careful, you're going to win a signed book that way, girl!! :) Thanks for taking the time to post a comment, and I wish you the very best in this contest.

Hugs,
Julie

Carol Moncado said...

I'm in!

I cannot wait to dig into Julie-fic! And if I win a book then I don't have to worry about the library wanting their book back ;).

Carol at carolmoncado dot com

Julie Lessman said...

CAROL!!!! "Julie-fic" -- I LOVE it!!! Here's hoping we can start your own library with a few wins ... :) Thanks for coming by and GOOD LUCK!!!

HUGS,
Julie

Carol Moncado said...

It's *started*. Book 1 is mocking me from the pile on top of the cubbies in the kitchen. It needs finished and then updated regularly. Like 2 or 3 [or 4 ;)] times a year with new Julie-fic!

;)

Julie Lessman said...

Oh, CAROL ... don't I wish!!! I'm going to have to kick up the pace with reader friends like you, I can see that right now ... :)

Hugs,
Julie

Carol Moncado said...

Hehe - I finished the first book in that stack and started the second one [which I am liking much better even though they're by the same author so it should be read faster]. That means your book is now #... 4? in the pile I believe...

Part of me wants it to jump to the top for a nice long Saturday reading session but sadly my house isn't clean enough to allow that ;). I'll have to enjoy it in chunks when I get that far =D.