Friday, January 21, 2011

Tammy Barley ~ Interview + Giveaway!

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

Today author Tammy Barley is telling us about her new book, Faith's Reward (The Sierra Chronicles #3 -- January 2011). 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, Tammy! Tell us a little about yourself.
I have lived in twenty-seven places in eight states (so far) and have visited nearly all. When I'm not writing? I judge a number of top writing contests and love my work as a manuscript editor and biographer. I am also Mom to two sons, one daughter, a rescued American Eskimo dog, sixteen parakeets*, and an aquarium full of fish. The children I homeschool; the dog I taught to sit. She also barks at parked cars.

In my spare time, you're likely to find me baking, gardening, behind a camera, or hugging a horse.

Are you a spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
Both! I schedule my work hours, but if an idea for a scene strikes in the middle of the night, me and my bunny slippers hurry to the keyboard.

How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I always see the cloud’s silver lining. When I learned I had suffered kidney failure, I thought, “Well, at least I won’t have to get up anymore in the middle of the night and run to the restroom.”

If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be?
My writing style is unique. My novels will carry you back in time to the far reaches of the American West, place you into the saddle of a running horse, and slip you into the cool water of a purling river on a sweltering summer night. I write that you may experience it all firsthand, the stories unfolding around you, so that you feel you are there.

How can readers get in contact with you?
Links to my Facebook, ShoutLife, Goodreads, and other pages are all at my Web site: http://www.tammybarley.com/index.html (where you can also enter the drawing to win The Day of Your Dreams contest)

Book blurb:
The year 1865 starts out as a nightmare come true for Jessica Bennett. The cattle she and her husband, Jake, fought to save from drought the summer before now face the threat of freezing to death. Her fears worsen when Jake contracts pneumonia.

Springtime brings trials of a different kind—the snowmelt causes the ranch to thrive so much that Jake must sell off the last of their cattle to make room for their horses and the young foals to be born. In the meantime, Jess endeavors to recover her rightful inheritance, which mysteriously disappeared from the bank. When she discovers a link between the banker and a group of murderous Unionists, who continue to target Southerners even though the war is over, Jake launches an undercover investigation.

The conspiracy runs deeper and wider than either of them could have imagined. Jess must put her life—and the life of her unborn child—at risk to stop the ringleader and save the lives of many others. Yet, Jess refuses to give up hope in the God she serves—a God of love who often provides above and beyond our greatest dreams.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?The woman on the book cover is the perfect Jess, and Hugh Jackman is the perfect Jake.
Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?

~~~~~
**This giveaway is open to anyone**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Faith's Reward!

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.
+1 GFC follow my other blog, Christian Book Giveaways.
+1 Subscribe by email to my other blog, Christian Book Giveaways.

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

**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 21) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (January 27). 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 28th, 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:

Debra Chapoton, author said...

Nice interview. I'd be interested in knowing how she fits in homeschooling with all the rest. Please enter me to win. I'm already a follower.
bigpinelodge at gmail dot com

Tammy Barley said...

Happy Friday, Debbie! Thank you for visiting. =) How do I fit in homeschooling? The kiddos are in high school, so they pretty much self-teach. After my work day, we eat dinner while grading their homework and preparing them for the next school day. They're phenomenal kiddos, so it works out very well. =)

Tammy Barley said...

Before I forget--there's only a few weeks left to win a Vacation-For-A-Day. Read the Sierra Chronicles book two, Hope's Promise, before February 13, 2011. The drawing is on February 14, 2011--Valentine's Day. For contest details and to enter, visit http://www.tammybarley.com/Bookshelf.html. =)

apple blossom said...

oh, please enter me for a total of 6 entries. thanks
ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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

+1 GFC follow my other blog, Christian Book Giveaways.

+1 Subscribe by email to my other blog, Christian Book Giveaways.

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

jdjmcc said...

I'd love to be entered! Thank you so much! jdjmcc@aol.com

jdjmcc said...

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

jdjmcc said...

I follow your other blog- and I appreciate it very much:)
jdjmcc@aol.com

Tammy Barley said...

Hi, Apple Blossom! It's great to see you here.

Hi, jdjmcc, blog follower extraordinaire!

You ladies are both entered into the drawing. =)

God's blessings for a beautiful weekend.

Linda said...

I love the Old West, and would love to read your book and see how you place in the scene. Sounds great!

You are one BUSY person! You must be very organized.

I follow by GFC.

I'm a follower of Christian Book Giveaways.
I subscribe by email to Christian Book Giveaways.

desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

Lisa Nelson said...

Please enter me in the giveaway!
Thank you,
Lisa Nelson
storyreader617 @ gmail.com

Lisa Nelson said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
mindy said...

This sounds just wonderful i would love to be entered thanks for the giveaway minsthins at optonline dot net

Tammy Barley said...

Hi, Linda! LOL! Yep, I'm organized. Sometimes I even have lists of the lists I have. =)

Greetings, Lisa and Mindy! You ladies are entered in the drawing. You are most welcome. =)

A huge thank-you to Carman for all the work she does to connect readers and authors. You are more appreciated than you know.

Diana Flowers said...

I love your books, Tammy, and would be honored to win. I am from SC.

+1 comment

dianalflowers@aol.com

Diana Flowers said...

+1 I am a subcriber to Carman's blog via email!


dianalflowers@aol.com

Linda Kish said...

I am a GFC follower

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Diana Flowers said...

+1 I am a GFC follower Christian Book Giveaways

+1 I am a subscriber via email to Christian Book Giveaways

dianalflower@aol.com

Diana Flowers said...

+2 I left a comment on Hatteras Girl review when you 1st posted it.



dianalflowers@aol.com

PriviesAndPrims said...

I would love to win, so please enter me!

I'm a follower and a subscriber.

Doreen
priviesandprims at yahoo dot com

Tammy Barley said...

Happy almost-weekend, Linda Kish (Lindas are popular here today!), Diana, and Doreen!

Diana, thank you so much! Don't you think Hugh Jackman would make an excellent Jake? =)

Hugs!

Tammy

The Crazy Cat Lady said...

Hugh Jackman?! Hmmm, :)
Great interview! Thank you for sharing, and for the opportunity to win.

I'm a follower of this blog!
kjv1611as at gmail dot com

The Crazy Cat Lady said...

AND! I'm a follower of your second blog (love both of them)

kjv1611as at gmail dot com

Tressa said...

Thanks for the interview and giveaway!
GFC follower & email subscriber.
GFC follow Christian Book Giveaways.
Email subscriber to Christian Book Giveaways.

tressa dot sherman at hotmail dot com

Tammy Barley said...

Happy Saturday, Amanda and Tressa (and all)! It's a delight to "meet" you!

I'm inspired to share one of my favorite quotes with you ladies:

"In a real sense, people who have read good literature have lived more than people who cannot or will not read. It is not true that we have only one life to live; if we can read, we can live as many more lives and as many kinds of lives as we wish."
S. I. Hayakawa

Anyone else feel that way? =)

Diana Flowers said...

Goodness yes, Tammy! Hugh Jackman is what I picture every hero to look like in every book I read, haha. I love the quote Tammy. I have experienced so many pleasures, experiences, and places that I never will in this lifetime through books. I don't understand how people can go through life w/out a good book...how boring!

Diana Flowers said...

Sorry...email for above comment:

dianalflowers@aol.com

Meredith said...

Wow! The author moves around alot! I wonder what the motivation is?

meredithfl at gmail dot com

GFC follower
GFC follower of Christian Book Giveaways
Email subscriber of Christian Book Giveaways

MaureenT said...

Wow this book sounds like it has it all. When I saw the year of the book it made me think of the Civil War. I love reading Historical books. Please include me


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I subscribe by email

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I follow Christian Book Giveaway on GFC

MaureenT said...

I subscribe to Christian Book Giveaways

MaureenT said...

I left a comment on Hatteras Girl post.

alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Tammy Barley said...

Hi again, Diana! You reminded me of the first time I fell in love with a book. I was in second grade, and our class visited the local library, a big, wonderful old building that reminded me of a castle--lots of ornate woodwork (dark, rich woods) and high ceilings. I rented my first book, and I loved the story. I was in awe of the whole experience. =)

Greetings, Meredith! Actually, I haven't moved anywhere in a number of years. (I look forward to the next one, though.) Until now, I've moved about every two years. The motivation? To see what's over the next hill, to discover something new, to see more of God's creation. It's addictive. =)

lorlyn63 said...

I enjoy Tammy's writing and would like to be entered. I love the Western era and horses! Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of Faith's Reward!

Blessings,
Lori

Charity U said...

I would love to be entered!

photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

Tammy, on a side note: it's great to see an author who homeschools! I'm in my teens, mid-highschool, and am homeschooled along with my four younger siblings, so I always think it's cool to see other homeschoolers. :)

Charity U said...

I follow CBG. :)

photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

Charity U said...

I follow SCD too. :)

photographer4ever832[at]gmail[dot]com

Tammy Barley said...

Happy Monday, Lori! It sounds like you're a fellow horse-hugger! A gal can only go so long without hugging a horse. =)

Hi, Charity! I love seeing other home schoolers too. My kiddos are your age and they're already studying and working toward their careers, and loving it. It's awesome when you get to choose to study what interests you. One of them is learning to be a fiction author. =)

Hugs & blessings!

Tammy

Desmond said...

Count me in!

dwarzel at hotmail.com

Tammy Barley said...

Hi, SLB and Desmond! Thank you so much for visiting! You are both entered into the drawing. =)

crystletellerday said...

sounds like a good book crystletellerday@yahoo.com

Daniel M said...

i want to be entered, thanks - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

wgbc1446 said...

This looks like a good book. I love to read! wgbc1446[at]yahoo[dot]com

Lydia said...

I would love to enter this giveaway!

irishfilly4christ[at]hotmail[dot]com

Lydia said...

P.S. I subscribed to your other blog. I don't have a google account so I can't follow it.

Tammy Barley said...

Howdy, Crystle, Daniel, WGBC, and Lydia! You good folks are entered.

Today feels like it's going to be a special day. I pray God touches your day with something special, so that you're reminded how much He loves you and how very close He is. =)

cheekychann said...

this sounds like a good book.would love to read it.i subscribe email.robelady@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

I like that picture of Hugh Jackman!

theyyyguy@yahoo.com

susansmoaks said...

this is a great interview, i would love to win
susansmoaks at gmail dot com

Tammy Barley said...

Howdy, CheekyChann, Anonymous, and Susan! I'm so delighted you all visited.

Snow's coming down here in Illinois . . . and snow is a threat at the beginning of Faith's Reward, the first of many trials that Jake and Jess must overcome together. Come good times or bad, the best way to get through them is always together. Even if you're "by yourself," as God's kid, you're never alone. That's what enable Jake and Jess to press on. =)

Unknown said...

It sounds like a great book. I would like to read it. Thanks. garrettsambo@aol.com

rockymountain_brown said...

Thanks for the chance, looks like a good read!
Jenn Elliott
rocky_mountain_brown@hotmail.com

Tammy Barley said...

Greetings, Purango, Jenn, and Atreau! Great time to be stopping by--Carman will draw the winner tonight! Everyone who wants to be entered, be sure to include the information Carman needs! =)

Anonymous said...

I want to win.

elisa17@Hotmail.com

Tammy Barley said...

Elisa! LOL! I LOVE your direct honesty, m'dear! It is too rare a quality. =)

Blessings!

Tammy