Monday, July 16, 2012

Giveaway! Bees in the Butterfly Garden by Maureen Lang!


Welcome to Writing for Christ Maureen Lang, it is great to have you here! Do you have an interesting fact about yourself the average reader probably doesn’t know?

That word, interesting, always captures me. What makes something interesting other than trauma, angst, intrigue or drama? I come from a long line of interesting lives. My grandmother was raised in a school for girls because her mother and sister died suddenly, leaving only her father and older brother in the house with her—which was considered improper in those days, so off she went so the nuns could raise her. She eventually married—then divorced—but outlived three of her four children and one grandchild, so she knew her share of heartache. My father was a POW in the Second World War, for nearly three and a half years. He weighed around 100 lbs when he was liberated by the Russian army. Interesting? And my life . . . I didn’t know I was a carrier for a genetic disorder which I passed on to my middle child. He’s nearly 17 but functions like a two-year-old (but a very sweet two-year-old). So I have two full time jobs: writing and caregiver. Perhaps that’s an unnecessarily dark look at what makes something interesting. I suppose instead I might have said I once rescued a salamander in the hope of making up for the one I’d unknowingly slain several years before . . .

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

For fiction, I absolutely love historical romance, which is why I write it. If the characters are compelling, the era almost doesn’t matter, just so long as the setting is part of the escape. I’ve written some contemporary stories and they can be a great escape, too, but I prefer the total immersion into another story world that historical fiction allows.

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

Use what you have. What I mean is, when you’re building your story, strive to use the elements you’ve already introduced in or toward the beginning rather than continually dropping in new or unnecessary characters or subplots. Go back to drop in foreshadowing if you must introduce something new, but use the pieces of your foundation first rather than adding a lot of extraneous bricks along the way. The layers are better deeper than broader.

5 things you love?

God
My family
Writing
Learning
Music that inspires me


What do you enjoy most about being a published author?

I love those times when I’m writing a story and the characters do things I wasn’t expecting them to do. I truly cannot explain it, because until that point I almost feel as if I’m in control. Then I find I’m not, but I love it anyway. My husband always tells me to never presume I could teach anyone else to write, since I clearly don’t know how this sort of thing happens.

Places for readers to learn more about you?

I’m in the process of having my website and blog combined, so I’m hoping by the time this interview goes up that people will be able to read my blog on my website. My blog really is the place to get to know me, so it makes sense to direct people there; I update it once a week, and it’s a snippet not only of my writing life, but of the way I think. I have a lot of fun with it!

Find my blog on my website at:

Thank you for being with us today!

Thanks very much for having me!

Readers, here is your chance to enter to win Maureen's latest book!

Please leave an email adddress! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.
For extra entries:
~Be a follower
~Be a subscriber

Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. I am not responsible for any lost or damaged items for said prize.

Thanks for coming by to enter! Contest ends on July 27th.
Attn Readers! If you're struggling to leave a comment on my blog, please email your comment entries (in ONE email) and I will submit it for you. But PLEASE only do this after you've failed to leave a comment. My email is: caseym.writer(@)gmail.com 


62 comments:

  1. Love Maureen Lang books!! I am a follower and a subscriber. tammyredd@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  2. I've looked forward to reading this book. It looks very interesting. And I love the girl's hair on the cover. :)

    crandallberries at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. Monday, July 16th,
    Hello Maureen,
    I would love to read your book "Bees in the Butterfly Garden" ! Cannot say I have read your books before ... but I absolutely love "historical romance" novels !!! (And furthermore, I noticed that this contest 'ends' on July 27th ... and that, just happens to be my birthday ... wouldn't that be a wonderful birthday surprise !) Anyway, the book sounds "right up my alley" (being a faithful fan of MaryLu Tyndall's historical-romance books) ... and now, I want to add Maureen Lang to my 'list of authors'. Thank-you for the chance to win a copy of this book.
    Take care, and, God Bless, In Him, Brenda Hurley
    brennie7@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the cover - I have not read any books by Maureen Lang, so I would love to win this book.
    I am a subscriber and follower

    littlebird@hur.midco.net

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks so much for the giveaway! Love Maureen's work!

    I'm a follower and a Subscriber!

    Emreilly303(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Oh wow, that is one of the prettiest covers ever!!

    I loved Maureen's advice about using what you've got within a story rather than trying to add, add, add superfluous things that don't matter to the real story. I think that's a tip I need to take to heart. :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Looks like a great story! I've never read any of her books, but I'm looking forward to this one! Excited!!

    Dreilly316(AT)gmail(dot)com

    Also, I'm a follower and a subscriber!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Thanks for the giveaway! Please add my name to the drawing!

    Jreilly316(at)verizon(d0t)net

    ReplyDelete
  9. love the cover. thanks for chance to win

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  10. gfc follower

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  11. email subscriber
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can't wait to read this book!!
    subscribed by email!

    kglushchak@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Loved the interview. . . especially the interesting fact section! I would love a chance to win a copy of Maureen's latest book. It sounds so interesting and I love the title and cover.

    Sheri

    hspruitt{at}frontiernet[doT]net

    ReplyDelete
  14. I'm a subscriber!!

    Sheri

    hspruitt[at]frontiernet{doT}net

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm also a follower!!

    Sheri

    hspruitt[at]frontiernet{doT}net

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm so excited to read this book!! I absolutely love the cover!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I'm also a follower!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I'm also a subscriber!!!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have never read any of Maureen's books but would love to start!

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I follow via gfc

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I subscribe via email.

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. This sounds like a good book and a new author for me. Plus the cover is gorgeous! Thanks for the interview and giveaway!

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'm a follower.

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  24. I'm a subscriber.

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Maureen and Casey - Thank you for the great interview and a chance to win a copy of Maureen's book. Love the cover!
    Sharon
    smoore at tcq dot net

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love the cover! Thanks for the wonderful interview.

    loree dot huebner at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I'm a subscriber.

    sarahrichmond.12@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Very pretty book! I enjoyed the interview.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  29. email subscriber
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  30. GFC Follower
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love Maureen's books, and I can't wait to read this one!

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thanks for the interview Casey and Maureen! I love learning more about authors and the writing life.

    gabriellevan@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Bees in the Butterfly Garden has a beautiful cover and sounds like it has a unique plot. I'd very much like to read this book. Thanks for the interview with Maureen and for giving away a copy of the book.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  34. I just wanted to thank Casey again for having me on her lovely blog! And thanks, too, for all of the lovely comments. I wish I could take some credit for the many compliments about the cover for Bees In The Butterfly Garden, but it's the wonderful product of Tyndale's talented design team. I was so thrilled the first time I saw it, and have been ever since. By the way, I think the model has incredible hair, too! Clearly the only thing on her with a bit of weight. :-) The dress is vintage, and my editor told me it was so tiny even this perfectly petite model had to squeeze into it. Just goes to show us how our improved diets have made us grow a bit bigger than a hundred and fifty years ago.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Casey, another great interview of a great-sounding story. Thank you for another generous giveaway!
    Nancee
    quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  36. I'm a subscriber and a follower!
    Nancee
    quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

    ReplyDelete
  37. I am a follower and email subscriber. Please enter me in contest. I would love to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I don't think I've read any of Maureen's books. This would be a great way to be introduced to a new author. Maureen, it sounds like you have your hands full with writing and taking care of your son.

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  39. I am a subscriber.

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  40. I am a follower.

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  41. I would love to be entered in the giveaway! Thank you, ladies, for the interview! :)

    Beth
    bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Woops, forgot to say that I am a follower & subscriber! :)

    Beth
    bharbin07[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I'd love to read this book.
    Theresa N
    weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I have to admit that when I spotted the cover a few months ago, I automatically decided to read it. If I hadn't, though, your introduction would have sold me. Wow! That is very interesting(although sad).

    bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

    +1 follower
    +1 subscriber

    ReplyDelete
  45. I have been a fan of Maureen's since my first Kindle download of one of her titles. This title sounds like another winner. The cover is great too.
    Francine, Tamara and Deeanne are all wonderful writers. I couldn't agree with you more.
    Blessings to you Maureen and Casey.
    Shirley
    beekeeper5(at)bellsouth(d0t)net

    ReplyDelete
  46. I am a follower
    Shirley
    beekeeper5(at)bellsouth(d0t)net

    ReplyDelete
  47. I am a subscriber
    Shirley
    beekeeper5(at)bellsouth(d0t)net

    ReplyDelete
  48. That is such a lovely cover! Very pretty! :-)

    agirlslegacy(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  49. I am a follower

    agirlslegacy(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  50. And an email subscriber!

    agirlslegacy(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  51. The cover is just beautiful and the story sounds quite interesting.

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

    ReplyDelete
  52. I'm a subscriber

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

    ReplyDelete
  53. I'm a follower!

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

    ReplyDelete
  54. This book has a beautiful cover, and looks so good, although I don't know anything about it. And the interview was charming and funny :) I would definitely love to win a copy! (I'm also a follower.)

    ReplyDelete
  55. Hi! So far I haven't read any of her books. I love finding new Christian authors! I am a follower, am a subscriber and my email is surfinbabe404@gmail.com. Thank you for hosting the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Pat Hines --- I am also a subcriber and follower. I just finished reading your first book of The Great War series and was very impressed with your writing. That is the first book of yours I have read and an anxious to read more of you. Please enter my in your contest. Thank you and God Bless.
    pshines@frontiernet.net

    ReplyDelete
  57. That is a delightful cover and so it intrigues me. I love historical romance and when they are written by a Christian author I just rejoice. Please enter me in your drawing.

    My email is spangldlady@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  58. I am a follower and a subscriber

    spangldlady@sbcglobal.net

    ReplyDelete
  59. Oh, my gosh!! That's a beautiful cover! It alone makes me want to read this book!! I'm not sure if I have read anything at this point by Maureen, guess it's time to find out.

    ladettek[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  60. I am a follower.

    ladettek[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  61. I am a subscriber.

    ladettek[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for stopping by, I love to hear from those who traffic my blog! Have a wonderful day. :)

FTC Rules

According to new FTC rules I must let you, the reader know, that all views shared on this blog are strictly my own. Books to review are either provided for me by the author, publisher or ones I have purchased and I am under no obligation whatsoever to present anything, but my true opinion on any product. I receive no monetary compensation for anything written on this blog. Any giveaways on this blog are provided by the author/ publisher and I am not responsible for any views they express in their work or on this site. Giveaways are void were prohibited and chances of winnng are based on the number of applicants. A random winner is draw when a book is given away.

 
Blog Design by Imagination Designs all images from the Country Wildflowers kit by Laurie Ann