Monday, July 30, 2012

Jocelyn Green


Introducing debut novelist, Jocelyn Green. Jocelyn is an award-winning author of multiple books, including Faith Deployed: Daily Encouragement for Military Wives, and Stories of Faith and Courage from the Home Front. She is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Military Writers Society of America, Christian Authors Network and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She lives in Cedar Falls, Iowa, with her incredibly supportive husband and two adorable children. Wedded to War is her first novel. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com
Wedded to War  When war erupted, she gave up a life of privilege for a life of significance.

Tending to the army's sick and wounded meant leading a life her mother does not understand and giving up a handsome and approved suitor. Yet Charlotte chooses a life of service over privilege, just as her childhood friend had done when he became a military doctor. She soon discovers that she's combating more than just the rebellion by becoming a nurse. Will the two men who love her simply stand by and watch as she fights her own battles? Or will their desire for her wage war on her desire to serve God?

Wedded to War is a work of fiction, but the story is inspired by the true life of Civil War nurse Georgeanna Woolsey. Woolsey's letters and journals, written over 150 years ago, offer a thorough look of what pioneering nurses endured. This is the first in the series "Heroines Behind the Lines: Civil War," a collection of novels that highlights the crucial contributions made by women during times of war.
Welcome to Ink Dots, Jocelyn and congratulations on the release of Wedded to War. Before we get to that some more, tell us about your family. My husband Rob is a former Coast Guard officer, and we now live with our two young children in Cedar Falls, Iowa, where Rob is a Web developer. Ethan is three years old, and Elsa is six—just a few weeks from entering first grade! 
What is the main theme you wish readers to take away when they read Wedded to War? I would hope that readers will come away with inspiration to follow God’s calling on their lives, even if that goes against what others expect them to do. No one expected refined women of the Victorian era to give up their privilege to serve their country. Yet that’s exactly what many of them did, and by doing so, they paved the way for generations of women who would want to nurse after them.
If you could follow one historical person for one day and one night, who would it be, and why? Queen Elizabeth I. She was such a fascinating leader, I would love to watch her in action.
Have you been to Australia? I have not yet had the opportunity to visit Australia, but I’d love to! I would want to visit a family owned-homestead in The Outback, learn more about Aboriginal culture, and of course see the sights of Sydney, from the Harbor Bridge and the Opera House to Hyde Park and the Royal Botanical Gardens. I used to work for an organization that offered off-campus study programs to American college students, and one of our programs was the Australian Studies Centre, based at the Wesley Institute in Drummoyne. So I’ve enjoyed stories and photos from Australia for a long time, while working with our students—just haven’t made it there myself, yet!
What are you working on now? I’m working on the next book in the Heroines Behind the Lines Civil War series, which is called Widow of Gettysburg. This novel takes a look at how civilian women of the small town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, picked up the pieces and put life back together again after the great battle in and around their town left 24,000 casualties in its wake. The main character, 19-year-old Liberty Holloway, impulsively marries a wounded soldier in blue (Union side), only to discover as he recovers that he is not who he said he was. And as a reporter digs into the story for his paper, he learns that Liberty doesn’t really know who she is either—the roots of her family tree are so tangled that if she finds out her true identity, it will change her own life forever. Your stories sound great, Jocelyn! I'm about to read Wedded to War on my kindle and I can't wait. 

*****

If you'd like a chance to win a copy, please leave a comment below and you may be this week's lucky winner. Tell us one random fact you know about Queen Elizabeth I... and let's see if we can find something about her we didn't know before. I'll announce the winner in the comment thread here on Friday. 

Thanks for joining us Jocelyn. We look forward to hearing more writing news from you in the days to come. 



Friday, July 27, 2012

A Raspberry Wink

Even with a pantry full of home-made apricot jam, my boys are going through a raspberry jam sandwich phase. Every morning without fail, I make a stack of these for their lunch, and lick the spoon as my reward. 


With a fledgling raspberry patch, it will be some years before our crop yields enough for jam, so a jar of this good stuff is often on my shopping list. 


Like last week, when I wrote it down diligently ... and then walked right past the jams and marmalades and clean forgot to pick some up. As these things go, I didn't remember until I reached the other end of the store. Not the end of the jam aisle, but the diagonal opposite of the supermarket. I was as far from jam as you could wish to be, and my trolley was already overflowing. 


I steered toward the eggs, making mental notes to swing around and backtrack to aisle 1, when there, between flaked almonds and cornflour, I spied a solitary abandoned jam jar. Raspberry! And it winked at me like a genuine ruby ring in a box of paper crowns.


Well, not really. But in my heart I like to think God winked. 


There are times when He knows what I need and makes provision before I even go to Him. I hadn't thought to pray for jam to appear where it shouldn't be, knowing 100 jars were mine for the taking if I'd only looked for them earlier. And I was prepared to make my way back there. But God had some fun with me... and I didn't hesitate to take what He allowed me to see, miles from where it should have been. 


Have you ever experienced God's quirky provision? Has He smiled on you and given, before you even asked? I shared this little story with my children because I believe it's important to look out for the hand of God in the little things, as much as the big ones. Coincidence has no room to play when God arrives. I hope you think so too. 


Blessings for a wonderful weekend, dear friends. I hope there's a quirky wink from God for you in the days to come. 



See you Monday,

Wednesday, July 25, 2012

Porch Dreams

Side porch at Crabapple House
On Monday I chatted with Joanne Bischof, author of Be Still My Soul. When asked if she could live in a different time, she chose the early 1900s in the Blue Ridge Mountains... to sit on the porch and listen to the evening unfold. 


That made me think about my neglected little side porch. Neglected, only because it's not the best place to stop these days, unless one cares to meet with winter gusts and rains. But it is the perfect spot for a summer reading room. 


My cane rocker might look empty now, but I'll make my way there soon. I've missed sitting beside the long arms of our quince tree. It's no coincidence a rusty old railway clock sits above me, screwed to the wall. Some might lament its faded face, stuck eternally at a quarter past four. I think it's perfect. Time stands still when I'm in the garden or lost in a good book, and if my broken outdoor ornament agrees, who am I to remedy this?


No, I'll keep things as they are. Cerise cyclamen at my elbow and the rocker set to cradle my reading hour. I have no desire to take my book further than the little porch outside my kitchen door. 


How about you? Do you have a porch or balcony where you like to read? Or do you have a porch dream, like Joanne? 





Monday, July 23, 2012

Joanne Bischof


It's my pleasure to introduce a dear blogging friend and debut romance author, Joanne Bischof. Married to her first sweetheart, Joanne lives in the mountains of Southern California where she keeps busy making messes with their home-schooled children. When she’s not weaving Appalachian romance, she’s blogging about faith, writing, and the adventures of country living that bring her stories to life. Be Still My Soul is her first novel. 

                      Be Still My Soul

Gideon only ever cared about himself. Now that Lonnie is his wife, will he ever be worthy of her heart?
Night’s chill tickled her skin. Lonnie pressed her hands together and glanced up. He was even more handsome up close. Having grown up the shy, awkward daughter of Joel Sawyer, she’d hardly spoken to any boy, let alone the one who had mothers whispering warnings in their daughter’s ears and fathers loading shotguns.
Pretty Lonnie Sawyer is shy and innocent, used to fading into the background within her family, and among the creeks and hollows of the Appalachian hills. Though her family is poor and her father abusive, she clings to a quiet faith. But when handsome ladies’ man and bluegrass musician Gideon O’Riley steals a kiss, that one action seals her fate.  
Her father forces her into a hasty marriage with Gideon—a man she barely knows and does not love. Equally frustrated and confused by his new responsibilities, Gideon yearns for a fresh start, forcing Lonnie on an arduous journey away from her home in Rocky Knob. 
Her distant groom can’t seem to surrender his rage at the injustice of the forced matrimony or give Lonnie any claim in his life.  What will it take for Gideon to give up his past, embrace Lonnie’s God, and discover a hope that can heal their two fractured hearts?
Welcome to Ink Dots, Joanne. Tell us where you're from and who you live with. I’m from the mountains of Southern California and I live there with my wonderful husband, three homeschooled children and a handful of troublesome chickens.
Congratulations on your debut novel, Be Still My Soul. Tell us how you came to write this book. As the idea for the story unfolded, I was faced with the challenge of a love story between two mismatched people—a marriage between a shy, innocent girl with a strong faith, and a cocky, confident bluegrass musician who hasn’t given God much thought. By throwing them together in a shotgun wedding, how would their story unfold? Could true love rise from the ashes of broken hopes? These were the questions I asked myself as Lonnie and Gideon’s journey began. Sounds like a great read. I can tell you love a good old fashioned love story, like me.
If you could have lived in another time in history, what would it be and why?  I would love to go back in history and live at the time that I write about, which is the early 1900’s in the Blue Ridge Mountains. To sit on the front porch with my loved ones and listen to the sounds of evening unfold—without the distractions of modern day life. It would be so lovely to experience life then, when times were simpler. I hear you. Ditching the distractions sounds very appealing, even to a girl who's only heard of the Blue Ridge Mountains. I'd love to join you there...
Have you been to Australia?  The closest I’ve ever been to Australia is watching The Man From Snowy River. I’ve never been, but I would love to! My cousin lives there with my two beautiful nieces, so visiting them would be at the top of my list and then, I’d love to drive around and get to know the country and the culture. It looks like a gorgeous place! You won't be disappointed if you ever get the chance. I'm sure between us, your cousin and I will show you the best of what's on our doorstep. 
How has writing this book changed you? Wow, good question. I think I have a better understanding of people. Writing my character, Lonnie, wasn’t too difficult. We share a lot of the same characteristics, so she was like listening to a kindred spirit. On the other hand, writing Gideon was a new experience all together. We’re so different, but surprisingly, it was quite fun to get to write from his point of view. He’s cocky and confident and keeps God at arm’s length, certain redemption wasn’t meant for him. Working through Gideon’s character, from his sins and struggles, to his hopes and fears, was quite an adventure.  

Where can we find you on the internet?  I can always be found on my website, www.joannebischof.com where I have a weekly blog on my writing and country living journeys. Also, I love keeping up with readers on my Facebook page, www.facebook.com/joannebischof. We do fun giveaways and chit chat about books, family and more!

Thanks for being my guest, Joanne. I know you're in the middle of your summer holiday right now, and I appreciate the time you took to share some of your writing adventures with us. Dorothy, thank you for having me at Ink Dots. You and your blog are a delight and it’s been a pleasure!

*****

This is a good read, people. I should know - it's on my bedside table right now and I'm not putting it down! If you'd like the chance to win a copy of Be Still My Soul, please leave a comment below and I'll announce the winner on Friday in the comment thread. 

Tell us if you're a shy one, like Lonnie - the heroine of the story, or if you're a born talker.


Friday, July 20, 2012

How do you multi-task?



A cover of  French magazine Figaro Illustre, 1896
The last few days have found me back at my knitting. Perfect for those quiet winter afternoons. I can knit and listen to a podcast and sometimes I pack the needles in the car and add a few rows when I'm in the school car park, waiting for my children to emerge. 

You can imagine how taken I was by these pictures of French shepherds, knitting atop their stilts whilst keeping a careful eye over their flocks. Well known in the south west of France, these shepherds used to travel far distances to secure a better grazing location, keep the little creatures in sight at all times, and ensure their own feet stayed dry in the marshlands where they worked. 
French Shepherd - 1905

‘The shepherds of the Landes spent whole days on stilts, 15 foot ash-wood poles with webbed feet that allowed them to vault across a canal 26 feet wide. They used a stick to form a tripod when they wanted to rest. Perched ten feet in the air, they knitted woolen garments and scanned the horizon for stray sheet. People who saw them in the distance compared them to tiny steeples and giant spiders. They could cover up to  75 miles a day (120 kms) at 8mph or horse trotting speed. It was such an efficient mode of transport that letters in the Landes were still being delivered by postmen on stilts in the 1930s.’ Robb, G. 2007, The Discovery of France, Picador, London. 

Incredible? I think so! 

We all like to squeeze the most from our days. I love knowing the washing machine's on while I tuck fresh sheets onto the beds, the chickens are fed, a cake's in the oven and pizza dough's rising by the fire. But I couldn't knit at the same time as traipsing across marshlands on stilts. With... or without a flock of ewe lambs underfoot. 

What's your multi-tasking speciality? Do you have a story to match our French shepherds? 

Blessings for a wonderful weekend, whether it be spent accomplishing much, or enjoying a well earned rest.

See you Monday,

Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Take A Peek

The sun has set on the last day of the school holidays. Tomorrow, it's back to early breakfasts and making lunches in the dark, for us. 


Like my children, I sink into holiday mode and climb out only when I have to. So in the interest of guarding our last moments together, I'm going to revisit an old post today.


I've chosen the one which brings the most number of random readers from all over the world to my blog each week. So for your pleasure, here's the Ink Dots No.1 traffic generator. A post on nothing less, than Victorian Era Underwear


Monday, July 16, 2012

Carla Olson Gade



It's my pleasure to introduce a dear friend, blogger and romance writer, Carla Olson Gade. Carla's been imagining stories most her life. Her love for writing and eras gone by turned her attention to writing historical Christian romance. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Maine Fellowship of Christian Writers. An autodidact, creative thinker, and avid reader, Carla also enjoys genealogy, web design, and photography. A native New Englander, she writes from her home in beautiful rural Maine where she resides with her “hero” husband and two young adult sons.
The Shadow Catcher's Daughter

Eliana has secrets. Daring Eliana Van Horn aims to make her mark by joining her father as his photography assistant--disguised as a young man--on a survey expedition to the remote Four Corners.
Living in the shadows of his native heritage, trail guide Yiska Wilcox is thrown off course when the shadow catcher's daughter opens up the uncharted territory of his heart.
As they travel through dangerous terrain in the mountains and deserts of Colorado and New Mexico, Eliana and Yiska must learn to overcome the barriers of culture, faith, and ideals to discover common ground. Though they are worlds apart, will they stake a chance on love?

Welcome to Ink Dots, Carla. It's so good to chat with you today. Tell us where you call home and what you love about it? I’m a New Englander, originally from Massachusetts and now live in Maine. I love the history of the USA’s East coast and am proud to have many ancestors who were among the first settlers here almost 400 years ago. In Maine I love the rocky coast, the rural farm land, magnificent pines, many lakes, and lots of fresh air. Sounds like a wonderful place to live. I love your historical roots! 


Why did you become an author? As long as I can remember, I have been imagining stories—probably to entertain myself as a child, then I shared them with others. As an adult this passion grew, and I started seeing it as a tangible way to minister to others through the faith thread I often wove into my stories. I finally realized this was a calling and seriously pursued the craft of writing fiction and becoming published. I'm so glad you did. We have some wonderful reading to enjoy, thanks to you pursuing your calling. 

Why did you choose this period of history to set your story? The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter, book one in the Love in Four Corners series (followed by Pride’s Fall by Darlene Franklin and Almost Arizona by Susan Page Davis), is set in the Four Corners region of America’s Southwest.  My time period of 1875 is during the historical period when the territory boundaries were surveyed and one of the earliest monuments was set to mark the area. I can't wait to read this one, Carla. My book is set in 1875 too. I wonder how similar or different life will turn out for our characters, such a world away from each other. 

Speaking of a world away... have you been to Australia? No, but I’d sure love to so I could see some of my favorite animals, the koala and kangaroo, in their natural habitat. In fact, when I was a teen I loved Koala Bears and had a collection of stuffed koalas totaling 16! I’ll also mention that two of my very favorite movies are Australia and Ned Kelly. I’d love to meet you in your natural habitat (lol) someday, too, Dotti, but will probably have to settle for meeting up at a writer’s conference. Oh, a conference would be so much fun! I have to say, you're a dedicated koala lover - 16 is an impressive number for a girl so far from Australia!

What are you reading now? Is it fiction for pleasure or research for your next project?  I’m reading Lady’s Anne’s Quest by Susan Page Davis. It is the second in her Lady’s Maid trilogy. I’m reading as an influencer (to help promote the book when I’m done), but I also read Susan’s books to learn, since she is my writing mentor. That being said, it is always a pleasure to read Susan’s books!

Where can we find you on the internet? My website is CarlaGade.com Learn more about me and The Shadow Catcher’s Daughter, find links to facebook, twitter, and my blogs. I’m also on Pinterest http://pinterest.com/carlaolsongade/the-shadow-catcher-s-daughter/ where I have a board set up for each of my novels. 

Here are the first few paragraphs of chapter 1, and details on how to win your own copy of The Shadow Catcher's Daughter

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Of Days And Seasons

I am a creature of habit. I say so with fondness and I don't even care if I borrow the cliché, because it fits so well.


Habits and routines are wonderful girders for first born children who love to follow the rules. And I am a text book first child.  So when I'm told, it's time to prune the roses, by a dear friend who holds all the horticultural papers and know-how I could ever dream of -  I do it. No questions asked. 

Rambling Albertine Rose - On the chook shed, at Crabapple House

Aside from winter pruning, there's hardly any other pottering to lure me into the garden at Crabapple House, right now. And that's a good thing, because it's too miserable to lose any more of our holiday week out there, than absolutely necessary.

The raspberries have been pruned. The last of the hydrangeas will endure the same severe haircut I have planned for the roses, and then we shall wait for spring. 


Already I have seen eager pea shoots squirrel their way out of last summer's compost and raise their feeble tendrils. Runaway raspberry plants think they might find feet in the veggie patch but I've spotted them, and their days are numbered. 


While my garden may look like a sorry tangle of leafless limbs and veggie-less plots, there is a rhythm I enjoy with each season and its chores. 


Perhaps that's why I love the old ways of life. When people relied on their gardens for food and medicine, and worked with it to coax a bounty for today and tomorrow. I love to read about victory gardens, planted during wartime to provide families with food in times of dire lack. Of self sufficient farmers who carve most of what they need from their plots and share with their community. 


And I like to taste a little of this for myself, when I twist cold oranges from the tree, and bring my fresh feast indoors to share with those I love. Winter oranges, juicy and fragrant with thick skins I will toss right back into the compost. Basil and mint for my tea, pungent and able to lift the lowest of winter moods. 


And eggs. From the chook shed, covered in my rambling Rosa Albertine, where even the hens will have less to cover their roof, until spring steals the show with new finery. 


How about you? What's happening in your garden this week?

Monday, July 09, 2012

Eva Maria Hamilton


Highland Hearts

Logan McAllister survived years of indentured servitude in the Americas to reach this moment. Now he’s returned to Scotland, ready to redeem the secret promise from Sheena Montgomery’s father – that his years as an indentured servant would earn him Sheena’s hand in marriage. But when he arrives home, he learns that Sheena’s father has died, his contract has been lost… and Sheena is engaged to another man.

Eva Maria Hamilton spent years studying people from all different years of academia and brings that understanding of the human condition into each of her written pieces. An advocate for lifelong learning, Eva Maria Hamilton studied in Canada and the United States, earning a diploma in Human Resources Management, a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology, an Honors Bachelor of Arts Degree in History, and a Master of Science in Education.   

Welcome to Ink Dots, Eva Marie. Thanks so much for having me Dorothy! I’m so excited to talk with you and your readers!


So are we! Tell us where you're from. I live in Southern Ontario, Canada with my husband of almost thirteen years and our five year old daughter that we homeschool.

How did you come to write Highland Hearts? I’ve always been intrigued by the idea of indentured servitude. Why would someone sell themselves? What would happen to that person after their indenturement commenced? These and a ton of other questions wove this story together during a very a tumultuous time in Scotland’s history.

I can imagine you had the best time writing Highland Hearts. What’s the most fascinating thing you discovered in your research for this book? The Act of Proscription of 1746 prohibited Highlanders from wearing kilts or tartans, having weapons, and even playing their bagpipes, and this Act wasn’t repealed until 1782. Wow, no kilts or bagpipes for 40 years! Such a great detail to discover. 

Speaking of discoveries... have you been to Australia? No, I haven’t had the pleasure of visiting Australia, but if I ever get the chance, it would have to be for an extended visit, because there are so many things I want to see and experience. Yes, extended is a good idea. You'd need months... and even then you might have to miss something.

In the meantime... what’s on the horizon for Eva Maria Hamilton? I’m currently writing another novel, that is linked to Highland Hearts, and I will hopefully have news soon, as to its publication with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line.

Congratulations. It sounds like you're working hard! Where can we find you on the internet? Please visit me at my website www.evamariahamilton.com to find out more about me.

Can you include the first few paragraphs of Chapter 1? Sure, here's the Amazon link to the book where you can read the first scene from Highland Hearts. 

Thanks for sharing your book and writing journey with us. We look forward to hearing more about your achievements in the days ahead. 

******

What's the first thing you think of when you hear the word Scottish? I think of our next door neighbour growing up, and her beautiful accent. Anyone else love the melodious sounds of the Scottish brogue?

Wednesday, July 04, 2012

The Letters of Winter

I'm taking a little mid-winter break to keep in step with my children on school holidays. 


What are my plans? Write more, read more... and send some hand-written letters. I've had a list of dear ones on my mind, I would love to reach out to with more than a facebook hello or email. So I'm gathering paper and pen, cards and pretty envelopes, to send some of my heart the old fashioned way. 


I'll still be around to announce the winner of this week's book giveaway on Friday, and offer another great historical romance next Monday. 


But if my chickens get to bunker down by the fire... then I'm taking my book there too. How about you? What do you do when the march of everyday, slips into holiday mode? 


Blessings,

Monday, July 02, 2012

Murray Pura


Murray Pura earned his Master of Divinity degree from Acadia University in Wolfville, Nova Scotia and his ThM degree in theology and interdisciplinary studies from Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia. For more than twenty-five years, in addition to his writing, he has pastored churches in Nova Scotia, British Columbia and Alberta. Murray pastors and writes in southern Alberta near the Rocky Mountains. He and his wife Linda have a son and a daughter. 

The Wings of Morning

Jude Whetstone and Lyyndaya Kurtz, whose families are converts to the Amish faith, are slowly falling in love. Jude has also fallen in love with flying that new-fangled invention, the aeroplane.

The Amish communities have rejected the telephone and have forbidden motorcar ownership but not yet electricity or aeroplanes. Though exempt from military service on religious grounds, Jude is manipulated by unscrupulous army officers into enlisting in order to protect several Amish men. 

No one in the community understands Jude’s sudden enlistment and so he is shunned. Lyyndaya’s despair deepens at the reports that Jude has been shot down in France. In her grief, she turns to nursing Spanish flu victims in Philadelphia. After many months of caring for stricken soldiers, Lyyndaya is stunned when an emaciated Jude turns up in her ward.

Lyyndaya’s joy at receiving Jude back from the dead is quickly diminished when the Amish leadership insist the shunning remain in force. How then can they marry without the blessing of their families? Will happiness elude them forever?

Welcome Murray. Your name is so interesting. One of Australia's most famous waterways is the Murray River. How did you get such an Aussie sounding name? Not just Murray, mate. Years ago I found an Australian company called Pura Milk in Melbourne. So both my names are Oz names. Perhaps it's my destiny to spend some time there! I was named Murray Andrew because I was born on Bobby Burns Day, Burns being a famous Scottish poet, and Murray and Andrew being very Scottish names. Pura is the family name on my father's side but it's Eastern European, not South Pacific or Down Under. That's too funny, Murray - mate. You couldn't get more Aussie than that!

What inspired you to write The Wings Of Morning? Open cockpit flying – I love it! Which is how flying was done in the early part of the 20thcentury. That and the persecution the Amish faced in World War I in America for refusing to enlist or support the war effort. Both those themes figure prominently in the story along with Jude and Lyyndaya’s love for each other and their love for God.

How do you choose your characters’ names? In The Wings of Morning, Whetstone and Kurtz are Amish names that belong to families that converted to the Amish faith – which is exactly the sort of families I got them from in real life. For first names, I like to find ones that are a little different and have some strength to them. Though if the characters are born into the Amish culture parents will automatically give them Biblical names so an author has to work with that as a given.

Have you been to Australia? No, I haven’t been, but would love to. God, are you listening? I think I’d get along great with the people judging by how well I get along with the Aussies I know in Canada. I would want to hit the Outback, The Great Barrier Reef, and Snowy River country. And I would have to attend the Pura Cup for sure! I'm sure with a name like Murray Pura you'll fit right in. 
So what’s next for Murray Pura? I’m working on another Amish piece that takes place in the South Pacific – figure that one out. Then they asked me to do a Christmas story set in an Amish community and I agreed to do that as well. I’ve also started a new series set in England that is not Amish at all though it is certainly Christian fiction. I am grateful to have a number of contracts to fulfill for US publishers - it keeps my heart and soul and imagination firing on all cylinders. Wow, you're one busy writer. Thanks for sharing your heart with us today, Murray. 

Here's a peek into chapter one of Murray's The Wings of Morning. Please leave a comment below for your chance to win a copy of this great book. I'll announce the winner in the comment thread here, on Friday.