Friday, April 29, 2011

Laurean Brooks ~ Interview + Giveaway!

*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*

Today author Laurean Brooks is telling us about her books, Jonquils in the Snow and Over the Coals. She has offered a copy of one of her books to one lucky commenter.

My guest today is inspirational romance author, Laurean Brooks. Hello, Laurean. Thanks for coming. Tell us how you became interested in writing. Who first influenced you?
In fifth grade, my teacher, Miss Mary enjoyed my oral book reports. My quirk was to end the report with a cliffhanger. No sooner would finish reading than half the class would fight over who would get to read the book next. One day after I finished giving a report, Miss Mary smiled and turned to the class to announce, “One day, Laurie will be an author."

Her words stuck in my heart and through the years until they were fulfilled with the release of my inspirational, Journey To Forgiveness in 2009. http://www.whiterosepublishing.com/

An ironic twist is Miss Mary was the one put a damper on my creativity. We were studying Columbus and his discovery of the New World. She assigned the class a 500-word essay to expound the perils this brave explorer might have endured. I had no idea she wanted “realistic.” So when I read my version to the class, in spite of the rollicking laughter, it didn't make the grade.

It could have been the part where the spear-laden natives tied Columbus to a stake and started to set fire to him. Or wait, maybe it was when obese Chief Kookamunga waddled out of his grass hut to shout, "Oola!" (translated to "have a better idea.") The natives took Columbus down to stuff him in a cannon and shoot him back across the ocean. Whatever it was, Miss Mary insisted I re-write the Columbus story and make it "a little more realistic.”

Funny story. I see you have a wild imagination. You've added a few E-books since 2009. Will you tell us about a couple?
Thank you, Carman. I'd be happy to. Jonquils In The Snow was released by Victory Tales Press in February 2010, an appropriate time since the story is set about the time Jonquils bloom here in the South.

Blurb:
Miranda Stevens swears she will never love again after her ex-fiance' skips town two days before their wedding. But when the ruggedly-handsome man from the tree service knocks at her door following a devastating ice storm, Miranda's resolve melts.

Brady Watson is instantly attracted to the cute Miranda, but he has issues. Brady still grieves over his wife, killed by a drunk driver three years earlier. When she died, a part of his heart died, too. At least that is how he feels.

Will Miranda find a way to encourage Brady to release the past and reach out to love again? Could the answer be found in a cluster of Jonquils bursting through the snow? http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/9341

Laurean is giving away one free download each of Jonquils In The Snow and Over The Coals. Now, Laurean, tell us about Over The Coals.
I'd love to. Over The Coals was released by Victory Tales Press In May, 2010. It deals with judging a person before you get to know him/her.

Blurb:
At a backyard cookout Jill watches the loud-mouthed man at the grill joke with a saucy blonde. If there is one thing Jill can't stand, it's a flirt, And Rob Canter definitely fits the description.

But looks can be deceiving. Jill's friend leaves the cookout early and Rob volunteers to drive Jill home. Jill strikes up a conversation, and realizes too late she's asked too many questions when Rob clams up. What turned the gregarious Rob into a gloomy introvert? What did she say? Why the dual personality?

Will Jill uncover Rob's dark secret? Can their relationship survive her revelation? http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/44638/

Thank you, Laurean for being my guest. To win a download of one of these wonderful e-book romances, leave a comment specifying which title you prefer.
Thank you for hosting me, Carman. I hope you all enjoyed the interview, and good luck on winning the E-books. I hope you enjoy them.

~~~~~
**This giveaway is open to people in any country**

Okay readers, here is your chance to win a copy of one of Laurean's books. Jonquils in the Snow, or Over the Coals. Let me know which you would like to win!

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 do not want 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.

+2 Read and comment on my review of Double Shot

**You can earn a total of 4 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. (You can put them on one comment if you want to, you don’t have to separate each entry into its own comment or anything like that.)**

*The contest will run from today (April 29) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (May 5). 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 6th, 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.

40 comments:

Faith said...

Laurean, I loved the story of how you became interested in writing!

Carman, Thanks so much for hosting anther great interview!

Alas I have no e-reader of any kind so, please don't enter me, even though I would love to read one of Laurean's books.

Meredith said...

I'd like to read Over the Coals and find out what the mystery is!

meredithfl at gmail dot com

Meredith said...

GFC follower

meredithfl at gmail dot com

MaureenT said...

This book is right up my alley...please include me!


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I am a follower and a subscriber!


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

MaureenT said...

I left a comment on Double Shot.


alekee02[at]yahoo[dot]com

Linda Kish said...

I would be happy to read either one...you pick.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

apple blossom said...

Love to be entered in this book giveaway. they both sound good but since I have to choose I'd pick over the coals.

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

posted comment on your double shot review post
entry #1


ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

apple blossom said...

posted comment on your double shot review post
entry #2

ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

Jo said...

I'm a follower

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Jo said...

I would love to read this book

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Laurean Brooks said...

Hi Carman, and you Fabulous Readers, I want to apologize for being so late to respond.

Unfortunately, I live in one of the tornado stricken areas in Tennessee. Though we suffered minor damage compared to those poor people in Alabama, our power was off for days.

Please remember the Tuscaloosa people and those in the surrounding area in your prayers.

Laurean Brooks said...

Faye,

Hey Girl! You don't need an e-reader. You can load it on your computer screen and open it as a PDF file. (I don't own an e-reader, either.)

If you'd like to do that, come back and leave your email address. Good luck! And thanks for dropping by.

Laurean Brooks said...

Thank you, Meredith. I think you would enjoy "Over The Coals." Good luck.

Laurean Brooks said...

Maureen,

Girl, you know how to make a writer feel good.

Here's wishing you the luck of the draw.

Laurean Brooks said...

Oh, Linda! You say the nicest things.

Good luck in the drawing.

Laurean Brooks said...

Apple Blossom,

Thank you for dropping by. Glad you signed up for the drawing.

Laurean Brooks said...

Hi Jo!

Blessings to you, too. Thank you for expressing interests in these two books.

Honestly, it's people like all you bloggers who keep us writers writing. We love entertaining you, and live to hear someone say, "I'd love to read that book."

Laurean Brooks said...

Carman, thank you for hosting me on your beautiful blog. All the comments have been sweet and uplifting.

Now that my electricity has been restored, I'll be checking back to read and respond to comments.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Wilma said...

I'd love to win this book.

Unknown said...

I'd love to win this book. it sounds great!

swmclendon(at)gmail(dot)com

+1 follower and subscriber
+2 let comment on Double Shot

Anne Patrick said...

Very enjoyable interview, ladies!
I wish you continued success, Laurie!

Miss Mae said...

I've read both of Laurie's books and loved them, so please don't enter me.

No reader wants to miss anything written by this talented author! So thankful you were spared from the storms, Laurie!

Laurean Brooks said...

Thanks for stopping by, Wilma. So sweet of you.

Come back and leave your email addy so Carman can enter you in the drawing. Good luck!

Laurean Brooks said...

Sheila, so good to meet you. Thanks for your interest in my books. Good luck!

Laurean Brooks said...

Anne, thank you for coming by. You are one talented suspense author, and a very busy one.

Here's wishing you the same.

Laurean Brooks said...

Miss Mae,

Thank you for stopping by...and for the plug. LOL.

You are another intriguing mystery/suspense author. I've read several of your books and never find a dull spot.

You weave hair-raising spine-tinglers. The reader will never guess the guilty party until the last page.

Anonymous said...

Please enter me in the giveaway for "To Win Her Heart." Seems like it will be a great book! Thanks.

Angie
angjay(at)bellsouth(dot)net

Gail Pallotta said...

A very interesting interview. Love Laurean's version of Columbus. She's an excellent writer. I wish her much success.

Laurean Brooks said...

Hey Gail,

Who's to say it didn't happen that way? We don't know the whole story of Columbus, do we? LOL.

Thank you for your well wishes. I wish the same for you.

Linda Weaver Clarke said...

I loved your story about creating a fictitious Columbus. It was so humorous, and shows that you wanted to be witty even back then. Enter me for Jonquils in the Snow.
linda@lindaweaverclarke.com

Unknown said...

Loved the blog post and OMG I did not know anything about Over the Coals! Definitely put my name in to win that one. Love your stuff!

Val
lastnerve2000@gmail.com

Donna B said...

Ooh, I'll go with the majority, it seems. I'd love to win a copy of Over the Coals. Sounds wonderful! Gotta love a man who hides behind silence.

donnabsnow(at)gmail(dot)com

Laurean Brooks said...

Hi Linda,

I'm glad you liked the Columbus story. Yeah, no matter how I try, humor seems to slip into everything I write. LOL.

Thanks for stopping by.

Laurean Brooks said...

Hey Val!

Thank you for commenting. OVER THE COALS was originally released, May 2010 as a novella in Victory Tales Press' "A Summer Collection Anthology." Now it's been released as a stand alone.

Good luck and good to see you.

Laurean Brooks said...

Hi Donna,

Glad you stopped by. Here's wishing you luck. I, too, love a little mystery in a guy.

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