*You can earn up to 4 entries in this giveaway. Read below for details*
Today author Sharlene MacLaren is telling us about her new book,
Tender Vow. 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, Sharlene! Tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a Christian first, wife, mother of two married daughters, grandma of three (age 4 and under), retired schoolteacher, vocalist, and currently enjoying a very satisfying writing career.
Tell us about your salvation experience.
I asked Christ into my heart as a teenager. I was raised in a Christian home, but I learned quite early on that I had to make a personal choice about serving Christ—I couldn’t just follow my parents into Heaven by hanging onto their coattails.
Are you:
A spontaneous writer or a scheduled writer?
I am what you would call a seat-of-the-pants writer. I sit down at my computer, think about my next scene, and then just start writing. Don’t get me wrong; I do have a general idea of my beginning, middle, and end, but as I’m writing my characters sometimes say and do that surprise me—and off we go in a direction I hadn’t planned.
Stubborn, or compliant?
Probably a little of both, although I’m definitely more compliant than stubborn. Just depends on what the issue is.
Organized or completely chaotic?
I’m pretty organized most of the time—depending on the situation. I have to have a neat desk BEFORE I start writing and then when I close up at night, but things can get pretty chaotic while I’m in the writing process, sticky notes here and there, words scrawled across my whiteboard, papers strewn about with notes that only I understand. You get the picture.
How do you handle disasters/BIG problems? Do you have a funny or interesting story showcasing how you handle them?
I don’t know as I have a “funny” story about handling disasters. I usually just try to go with the flow and, ALWAYS, if it’s something major, prayer is of utmost importance in solving it.
In your opinion, what is your best trait? What is your worst?
Best trait? Hm, I don’t think I’ve ever thought about this before, but I guess I’d say my love of people, women and girls in particular, and my deep desire to encourage and build them up in the faith.
Worst trait? Probably lack of self-discipline. There are things I know need accomplishing every day, but I often get so distracted by the smallest things I don’t get to them. I have undoubtedly been going through life with undiagnosed A.D.D. **grins**
Tell us something surprising about yourself that readers may not know.
That’s a hard one because I’m very much an open book in that I don’t have much to hide. I love being authentic and showing others my very human, flawed side. Okay, here’s something: when I was a kid I had very few fears; I climbed trees, carried around snakes, strung big night crawlers on fish hooks, slept on the ground under the stars, looked for field mice to have as pets, caught bugs and spiders and stuck them in jars, skinned and gutted fish – you get the idea. As an adult, though, I am basically scared of anything creepy and crawly, and I have a terrifying, spine-tingling PHOBIA of mice.
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 don’t really think I write like anyone in particular, but others have told me I’m a cross between Tracie Peterson, Karen Kingsbury, and the now retired LaVyrle Spencer. I would consider my books PG for kissing content. I totally love a well-described, heart-stopping, emotion-wrought kiss, so when I reach that point in my novels I take my time with them. Overall, though, my stories are for general audiences. I receive fan mail from girls and women 13 – 93!
What are you working on now or going to write next?
Currently, I’m working on book one, River Song, of my next series titled River of Hope. The setting is Wabash, Indiana, circa 1926-1930, so, the roaring 20s.
How can readers get in contact with you?
You can reach me at any of these locations, including my email address:
http://www.sharlenemaclaren.com
http://www.shoutlife.com/sharlenemaclaren
http://www.sharlenemaclaren.blogspot.com
smac@chartermi.net
http://www.facebook.com (Let me know who you are and request my friendship!)
Book blurb:
Tender Vow releases September 2010, and you can purchase it and my other books at most any Christian bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc. Also, you can always order online at http://www.christianbook.com or http://www.amazon.com. OR…just click on any of the book covers on my website and it will take you straight to Amazon.
Here’s a SYNOPSIS of Tender Vow:
Michigan-born brothers John and Jason Evans take a ski trip to the Colorado Rockies, but only one comes home alive—John was tragically killed on a daring descent down Devil's Ridge, an infamously dangerous slope.
In an attempt to soothe his guilt and grief, Jason sets out to make amends with his widowed sister-in-law, Rachel, by offering to help with her two small children, doing odd jobs around her house, and trying to ease her own heavy burden of grief. A new Christian, he is bent on growing his faith and helping Rachel see her way through the fog of pain and confusion.
Left to raise her three-year-old daughter and newborn son on her own, Rachel Evans is anything but willing to become her brother-in-law's charity case, particularly since they have a history she'd rather forget. She's determined to make it on her own but soon finds that God has other plans for her--and for Jason.
Can she accept the Lord's leading and still honor her late husband's memory?
Who would you pick to play the lead roles if this book was made into a movie?
Wow, I had a male character picked out before I even started writing Tender Vow, and it’s Chris Hemsworth. (Do you think he’d be available?) He would, of course, play the part of Jason (Jay) Evans. I’d love to see Carrie Underwood play Rachel, but, alas, we’d have to talk her into beginning an acting career first. I’ve heard she’s been giving it some thought.
Do you have a link to a place to read the first chapter or an excerpt of this book?
Tender Vow is a stand-alone, contemporary romance, and you should be able to read portions of the book by going to Amazon. You’ll find a button that says “Look Inside”.
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*USA residents only, please*
Okay readers, here is your chance to win an autographed copy of Tender Vow!
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
Tender Vow
**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.**
*The contest will run from today (September 10) until 6:00 CST on Thursday (September 16). 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 17th, 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.
