MaryLu Tyndall ~ Interview + Giveaway!

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

Today author MaryLu Tyndall is telling us about her new book, Surrender the Heart (Surrender to Destiny series #1, August 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.

Here is MaryLu's author bio:

M.L. Tyndall, a Christy Award Finalist, and best-selling author of the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series is known for her adventurous historical romances filled with deep spiritual themes. She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer. MaryLu currently writes full time and makes her home on the California coast with her husband, six kids, and four cats. Her passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but expose Christians to their full potential in Christ. For more information on MaryLu and her upcoming releases, please visit her website at http://www.mltyndall.com/ or her blog at http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/

Welcome, MaryLu! Tell us about your salvation experience.

It certainly wasn’t your typical experience! But it definitely shows that God can save anyone in any situation when He deems the time to be right. You see, I was in my mid-thirties and I had made a huge mess of my life. I was on my second marriage which was falling apart. I had rebellious teenagers (Go figure. They were just imitating me!) and I was in a dead-end job that I hated. Because of all that, I drank quite often and would hide alcohol in my closet. One night while I was heading toward my bottle, I spotted an old Bible my Mom had given me when I was a little girl. I dusted it off and decided that I would read it from cover to cover to see if it could somehow help me. So, every night I would crawl in bed and read. Several months later, in the middle of Ezekiel, I had an encounter with the living God. It was as if a light bulb turned on and I KNEW without a doubt that He existed and that He loved me. I gave my life to Him right then and there! At the time, my entire family were non-believers, but one by one, most of them (and the rest will soon) have come into the Kingdom! Isn’t God awesome?

Are you:

A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
If you mean do I schedule time to write each day, yes, I usually try and do my writing in the morning when my mind is fresh. If you mean do I plot every detail of my story before I write, absolutely not. I get to know the characters and allow them freedom to write their own story.

Stubborn, or compliant?
It depends on the topic. I’m great at compromise on many issues, but on certain things, I won’t budge!

Organized or completely chaotic?
My husband likes to call my writing office “organized chaos” so I guess you could say both. It appears like chaos, yet I know where everything is! LOL

In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
I’m a great listener and very compassionate, but I’m also really bad at handling stress and at worrying.

Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
I love ice hockey (Go Sharks!) and popcorn is my all-time favorite food!

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?
Deeanne Gist or Tamera Alexander...PG13

What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’ve just turned in book 2 in my Surrender to Destiny series and I’m starting to work on book 3, Surrender the Dawn. Here’s a blurb about the story:
The only way Cassandra Channing can provide for her younger siblings is to hire a privateer, captained by the rogue, Luke Heaton. Although Luke’s prizes provide much wealth for her family, Cassandra suspects foul play. Luke Heaton spends his nights drinking, carousing, and selling supplies to British ships just off the coast of Baltimore. When Cassandra catches on to his treasonous acts, he begins to have second thoughts. Secrets and dangers abound as the British fleet heads toward Baltimore and begin to bombard Fort McHenry. With the fate of their fledgling nation at stake, what destiny awaits this couple as they struggle to keep their faith, their lives, and their love?

How can readers get in contact with you?
http://www.mltyndall.com/

http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/marylu.tyndall#!/marylu.tyndall

Book blurb:

On the brink of the War of 1812, Marianne Denton must marry to unlock her inheritance. Without the money, her mother can’t receive medical care and her sister will be destitute. But Noah Brenin needs to sail his cargo to England before the war commences in order to prove his worth to his father and make enough money so he won’t have to marry at all.

But when Noah walks out on their engagement party, Marianne chases him down and ends up on his merchantman out at sea. The situation worsens when Noah’s ship encounters a British man-of-war and the couple is impressed into the British navy.

While a young lad’s prophecy of destiny looms over them both, Marianne and Noah are forced to face their darkest fears as they desperately try to find a way to escape and fulfill their destinies—destinies that could change the course of the war and history forever.

Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?

Rupert Penry-Jones would play Noah Brenin

Amanda Hale would play Marianne

Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?

Yes, http://www.mltyndall.com/SurrenderTheHeart.html

Is there anything you would like to add, or tell your readers?

My books are not your typical boy meets girl stories. Yes, they are romances, but they are much more than that. They are filled with suspense and adventure all woven around a deep spiritual theme. My goal in this series is to wake people up to the realities of their God-given destinies!

~~~~~

*This giveaway is open to anyone*

Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Surrender the Heart!

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 Surrender the Heart
+2 A Memory Between Us

**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 1) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (October 7). 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 8th, 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.