Friday, January 14, 2011

Margaret Brownley ~ Interview + Giveaway!

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

Today author Margaret Brownley is telling us about her new book, A Suitor for Jenny (Rocky Creek Romance series, book 2 -- October 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.

Margaret included this in the interview. It's hilarious!
Some timely advice for landing a husband from A SUITOR FOR JENNY:

1) Charm and composure must prevail at all times. If a gunfight erupts, exit the scene with grace and serenity.

2) If you don’t know whether or not to kiss a handsome man, give him the benefit of the doubt.

3) Never engage in boisterous laughter. If you must show mirth, a polite smile or titter will suffice.

4) Never criticize your beau. If it wasn’t for his faults he’d probably be courting someone else.

5) A woman more knowledgeable than a man is obliged to hold her tongue and feign ignorance in all matters except, of course, childbirth.

6) Never show affection in public. Love may be blind but the townspeople are not.

7) Once your vows are exchanged devote yourself to domestication—his.

8) Eschew secrets, for they are normally discovered at the worst possible time. If confronted, weep and deny everything.

Welcome, Margaret! Tell us a little about yourself.
First, I want to thank you for inviting me to visit with your readers. It’s a joy to be here. As for myself, I always wanted to be a writer and wrote my first book in 5th grade—a mystery with no ending and probably no value. I went on to other things but that old writing bug never left me. It wasn’t until my children reached junior high that I decided to follow my dream. I started by editing the church newsletter. After making the church picnic sound like a John Grisham novel my then pastor took me aside and suggested that perhaps God was calling me to write fiction. So that’s what I did. A SUITOR FOR JENNY is my 23rd book.

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
I’m at my desk every morning at 4 a.m. rain or shine. When I first started writing my three children were still at home and I worked outside the home. The only way I could find time to write was at 4 a.m. It’s a habit I can’t seem to break. I guess that makes me a scheduled writer.

Stubborn, or compliant?
Let’s just say I’m determined.

Organized or completely chaotic?
I guess you could say I’m half and half. My writing tends to be chaotic. Plan a book? Me? I don’t even plan dinner. On the other hand, my drawers and closets are tidy and I can’t stand dishes in the sink. My husband often tells the story of getting up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and coming back to find the bed already made. Part of the fun of writing is being surprised. I never know where my characters will take me. Come to think of it, dinner always surprises me, too.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I usually remain perfectly calm in a disaster—and fall apart after it’s over. As for the BIG problems—I let God handle those.

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
I have an enormous amount of energy (people say I’m hyper. My family calls me Everready after the Energizer Bunny because I’m always going, going, going). My worst trait is…I can’t sit still.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I flunked 8th grade English (still can’t diagram a sentence), and got through history by the skin of my teeth (all those dates and battles!). I’m probably more qualified to be an astronaut than a writer of historical fiction.

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?
I’ve been compared to Mary Connealy because we both write western romances with humor. I consider this a tremendous compliment. I really don’t know how to rate the romance. My stories are about two people falling in love—truly a gift from God—and yes, sometimes they kiss and sometimes they simply wish they could.

What are you working on now or going to write next?
The next book in the Rocky Creek series is A VISION OF LUCY to be published in June. I just complete a short story for the Log Cabin Christmas anthology. I’m currently working on book #1 in my Spinster Brides series.

How can readers get in contact with you?
I love to hear from readers. You can contact me through my website:www.margaretbrownley.com

I’m also on facebook and Twitter.

Book blurb:
When looking for a husband it's best to go where the odds are in your favor.

After their parents died, Jenny Higgins felt responsible for taking care of her two younger sisters. Learning that Rocky Creek has the highest number of eligible bachelors per capita, Jenny rolls into this Texas town with a clear objective: find suitable husbands for her two younger sisters and then start fresh somewhere far, far away.

Jenny believes that women who fall in love at first sight often wish they’d taken a second look, so she diligently begins to follow all the rules set forth in her handy manual on how to land a husband. Leaving nothing to chance she subjects each eager bachelor to the Potential Husband Attitude Test (otherwise known as the PHAT), which even Marshal Rhett Armstrong fails.

But while Jenny is interviewing the less-than-promising candidates, her sisters are falling in love the old fashioned way. Jenny is convinced she knows how to pick “perfect” men and it will take two rebellious sisters, a handsome marshal and a whole lot of faith to convince her otherwise.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
Scarlett Johansson would make a great Jenny. Cool and independent on the outside, vulnerable within.

Finding a rugged, handsome cowboy type actor to play Marshal Rhett Armstrong would be a problem. They just don’t make that kind of thirty-something actor anymore. The closest would be Hugh Jackman (think Drover in Australia).

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?
Thank you for spending time with me today. I wish I could send you all a book. God bless and have a wonderful and blessed New Year!

~~~~~
**USA addresses only, please**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of A Suitor for Jenny!

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.

+4 GO HERE. (Very simple. I'm only asking for your opinion on something.) :)

**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 (January 14) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (January 20). 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 21st, 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.

58 comments:

Linda Kish said...

Good choice of lead actors for a movie. I'd see that.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Mary / Touch of Heaven said...

This sounds like such a fun book!!!
Would love to win it.

I am already a google follower.

I have subscribed tot he blog.

You don't have the additional entry requirements up yet ("more to come soon")

atouchofheaven2010[at]gmail[dot]com

Mary B.

Katie Marie said...

Ohh! Ive been wanting to read this book for some time now - please enter me! :-)

~ Katy
legacy1992(at)gmail(dot)com

Katie Marie said...

I am a follower of your blog!

Katy

Katie Marie said...

I left my opinion on your recent post about interview questions! :-)

Katy

Angie said...

People say I'm stubborn but I think I'll have to start telling them I'm determined not stubborn. :D

I'm already a follower and I'm fixing to go give you my opinion. :)

Angie
sundaisy920 at gmail dot com

Vidisha said...

Great Giveaway!!

GFC follower


vidishamun@gmail.com

Vidisha

cheryl c said...

What a fun advice list for landing a husband! I love reading books that have romance and humor.

+1 follower
+4 left an opinion for you

castings at mindspring dot com

Meredith said...

Love the advice given to Jenny! Wouldn't work nowadays of course.

Please enter me!

Meredith
meredithfl at gmail dot com

I'm already a follower.

From Snowflakes To Hotcakes said...

I can't wait to read this book, and would love to win it! Thanks for the chance!

snowflakes2hotcakes {at} gmail {dot} com

Anne Payne said...

Hi Margaret! I already won the book months ago, so don't enter me. I just had to say once again that this was my all time favorite read of 2010! I don't know if you meant it to be as funny as I found it, but it made me laugh, and I needed that!!! A delightful book, wonderful characters, and Yes, I think Hugh Jackman would make a fine Marshall ;)

Blessings,
Anne

karenk said...

would enjoy reading this fabulous novel...thanks for the chance :)

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

karenk said...

i'm an email subscriber...and a follower, too

karenk
kmkuka at yahoo dot com

PriviesAndPrims said...

I love these kind of books! And, hope that I win!

I'm a follower and a subscriber.

Doreen
priviesandprims at yahoo dot com

Ariel Wilson said...

I've been looking for this book! :) Thanks!

+1 I'm a follower.

+4 I left my opinion on your interview questions :)

pinkdaddysgirl[at]msn[dot]com

adge said...

Please include me in the giveaway. This looks like such a fun book!
Adrienne
gasweetheart211[at]netscape[dot]net

adge said...

I also answered your question.* Should probably have added that in my previous comment.

Leanne said...

I'd love to read this!

leanniegehrke(at)hotmail(dot)com

Leanne said...

I'm subscribed to your site.

leanniegehrke(at)hotmail(dot)com

Leanne said...

I gave my opinion on the other post!

leanniegehrke(at)hotmail(dot)com

Debra Chapoton, author said...

I'd love to win. I'm a new follower and I left a comment on the page about questions.
Debbie bigpinelodge at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I am a follower and a subscriber.+2
I also left a comment on the GO HERE place.+4
I have been looking forward to reading this book, I just haven't gotten a chance to read it, so maybe if I win....
dymesich(at)juno(dot)com

jdjmcc said...

This looks like such a good book- I'm so excited! Thank you,Jess
jdjmcc@aol.com

jdjmcc said...

I follow yur blog on GFC!!!!!!!!
Thank you!
jdjmcc@aol.com

amber said...

I want to be entered!!

afren07[at]gmail[dot]com

amber said...

I subscribe to your blog via email.

windycindy said...

What a delightful book and author!
Loved the interview...
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I am an email subscriber to your
blog and follow you via Google
Friend Connect!
Again, many thanks...
Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

windycindy said...

I answered you survey question!
Merci, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
#1

windycindy said...

I answered you survey question!
Merci, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
#2

windycindy said...

I answered you survey question!
Merci, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
#3

windycindy said...

I answered you survey question!
Merci, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com
#4

Jennifer said...

I would love to be entered to win.

I am a GFC follower

I answered your survey question.

Thanks for the giveaway.

Jennifer

jmschwindt0306 at gmail dot com

Lisa Nelson said...

Please enter me in this drawing!
I follow your blog.
Lisa Nelson
storyreader617 @ gmail.com

Charity U said...

Please enter me! This sounds like such a fun giveaway!

photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

Charity U said...

I left a comment at the other post! So that's four more entries. I hope you don't want them in seperate entries...I'm not seeing others doing that, so I'm not going to. :)

photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

apple blossom said...

Oh, I'd love to be included in this giveaway. thanks

+1 subscriber/follower
+4 left comment on other post

I have a total of 6 entries thanks

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Anonymous said...

I'd love to enter the giveaway

+1 - I'm a follower
+4 - Left a comment

Anonymous said...

Oops sorry
email is
mscarchick[at]aol[dot]com

lgm52 said...

Loved the "timely advice"! Made me "giggle quietly"! Sounds like a really good book..and would love to see a movie of it as well!
lgm52@hotmail.com

lgm52 said...

email subscriber
lgm52@hotmail.com

Margaret Brownley said...

Hi all, thank you for your interest in my book. I wish I could send you all a copy! Keep loving, laughing and reading!

Jenntleh said...

Just trying out the contest. Found you threw the vessel project.
Jenntleh@windstream.net
Thanks
Jenn

Anonymous said...

Would love to win this.

Katherine:
nickandkatherine@talktalk.net

sandyolson said...

Thank you for the giveaway!!! it is refreshing to be able to sign up for soemthing that MIGHT be free!! (I am a little kid at heart!!!!)

Have you ever considered giving away kindle/e-book versions??? Just an idea!

Erica said...

Great giveaway!

zambiaparrot[at]gmail[dot]com

Charlotte Kay said...

Thank you for the giveaway:)
I would LOVE to win this book!

+1 - I am your follower
+4 - I left a comment

Charlotte Kay
charsaltz at yahoo dot com

Anonymous said...

+1 I'd love to win this book!

+1 I'm a GFC follower

+ 4 I answered your interview question

bfaos{@}mail{.}com

Unknown said...

It looks as though a lot of readers are as excited as I am over seeing Margaret Downley's "Suitor for Jenny" offered as a giveaway again. I know I hadn't seen it around for a while. I'm looking forward to reading this book with it's humor. Thanks for this giveaway and the chance to win it. I hope I do win!

Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

I am a GFC follower and an email subscriber.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

I made a comment and answered your questions about your new possible interview questions. Thanks for asking for our opinions.

Blessings,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

dunlizzie said...

I would like to be entered. Thanks :)

dunlizzies_corner [at] yahoo [dot] com

Aik said...

I'd love to enter! Keiki at The Vessel Project sent me!

aikychien at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

I have wanted to read this book for a while now - thanks for the chance!

Kait
momiswayweird(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I am a follower!

Kait
momiswayweird(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I left a comment on your Questions. :-)

Kait
momiswayweird(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Always enjoy the chance of winning a good Christian novel. Carmen sent me.

true_sheila at yahoo dot com

Pam K. said...

I love the list of advice for finding a husband! This sounds like such a fun book, I'd love to win. Great choice of an actor to portray the hero too.
Thanks for the interview and the give away.

pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net