Monday, July 15, 2013

Giveaway! Harvest of Gold by Tessa Afshar!


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

Last year, I picked up my first pair of prescription reading glasses and am hoping they will add at least ten points to my IQ. But even if they don’t, at least I can see what I am writing now.

On a more serious note, I was born in a nominally Muslim family in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of my life. I survived English boarding school for
girls before moving to the United States permanently. My conversion to Christianity in my mid-twenties changed the course of my life forever. I hold an MDIV from Yale University where I served for one year as co-Chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. I have spent the last thirteen years in full-time Christian work and currently serve as the leader of Women’s and Prayer ministries at a church in New England.

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

I read everything from cottage mysteries to fantasy and science fiction. I think the quality of a book surpasses its genre. But I definitely gravitate most toward historical novels as well as British novelists. I love Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, and Wilkie Collins.  And I wouldn’t say no to a well-written romance novel.
Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

In a recent interview, Khaled Hosseini, the author of The Kite Runner said: “the most difficult thing about writing is outlasting the beast—lack of stamina, really . . . There are going to be many times where you’re going to be frustrated, where you’re pretty sure that you’ve just wasted the last four months of your life, where you think that this is something that somebody in junior high would write. There are multiple crises of confidence, and episodes of self-doubt. And what I’ve learned is that you just have to weather those.”
Even giants like Hosseini, who has sold over 38 million books, have moments of discouragement.  So who am I to be spared? I’ve learned that in times when I have lost confidence and want to give up, the trick is, just don’t!
5 things you love?

I love Jesus, good food, friends, watching BBC television productions in my PJs, and books, not necessarily in that order.

What novel have you recently read that has stood out to you that both teens and adults will find enjoyment in?

To Kill A Mockingbird.


Places for readers to learn more about you?

If you would like to visit me on my newly re-designed website, the address is http://www.tessaafshar.com/ or visit me on my Facebook author page where there is always some new discussion going on: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tessa-Afshar/337761827820?ref=ts

Thank you for being with us today!

Casey, thank you so much for inviting me to hang out with you. It’s been an absolute pleasure.


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

Please leave an email address! 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 26th
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 

48 comments:

  1. I had the great fun of sitting by Tessa at the ACFW awards gala last year! I'd previously "met" her online through blogging, but meeting her in person was even better. What a sweet spirit. And her books...so good!!!

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  2. I've not read much biblical fiction, or books set in that era. Sounds like this might be an interesting book.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  3. I ma a follower.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  4. I am a subscriber.

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  5. thanks for the chance to win

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  6. email subscriber

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  7. gfc follower

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  8. I'm a follower and a subscriber nicnac63 AT hotmail DOT com

    I love the cover to Harvest of Gold! Beautiful. And To Kill a Mockingbird is a favorite of mine as well!

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  9. I am a follower and subscriber! This really sounds like a good book! Lookinf forward to reading, Harvest of Gold.

    Linda Ortiz
    Strgth4yu@hotmail.com

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  10. Don't enter me as I already have a copy of the book - preordered it a few months ago & it just arrived in the mail last week. Can't wait to get to it!

    Also, just had to say that To Kill A Mockingbird is one of my all-time favorite books :)

    Beth

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  11. You said To Kill A Mockingbird, and I just...yes. Thats probably my all time favorite novel.

    godsforlife at gmail dot com

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  12. I'm a follower.

    godsforlife at gmail dot com

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  13. Count me in on the giveaway!

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  14. I am a follower.

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  15. I am a subscriber.

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  16. Entry for Cherie:
    I am a follower and a subscriber. I cannot leave a comment because my google account won't let me, if I'm not alread signed up for the contest to win this book, would love to read it. Thank you for sharing.

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  17. Thanks for hosting a giveaway! I'm a follower.

    pocoauthor[at]gmail[dot]com

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  18. I have not read anything by Tessa yet and thoroughly enjoyed this interview. I don't know why but reading about Tessa's conversion brought tears to my eyes. Maybe it is because I Love Jesus too! I am looking forward to her books. It would be a delight to win a copy of, Harvest of Gold.

    Blessings!
    Judy B
    sweetpea.judy(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  19. I am a follower!

    Blessings!
    Judy B
    sweetpea.judy(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  20. I am a subscriber!

    Blessings!
    Judy B
    sweetpea.judy(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Great interview. . . beautiful cover!

    Sheri
    hspruitt at frontiernet dot net

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  22. I subscribe!!

    Sheri
    hspruitt at frontiernet dot net

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  23. I follow!

    Sheri (hspruitt)
    hspruitt at frontiernet dot net

    ReplyDelete
  24. I've read some of Tessa Afshar's other books and enjoyed them!

    andrea2russia@hotmail.com

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  25. GFC follower - Andrea Williams

    andrea2russia@hotmail.com

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  26. email subscriber

    andrea2russia@hotmail.com

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  27. Tessa, I enjoyed your interview. Would love to win and read your book. Sounds great. Thank you for sharing. Please enter me in your giveaway.
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm a follower!

    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I'm a subscriber!

    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  30. This books looks wonderful! And I absolutely love the cover!!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I'm a subscriber!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I'm a follower!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I really enjoyed the interview and getting to know Tessa a bit. I would be happy to win a copy of Harvest of Gold.
    may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com
    I am a follower and a subscriber--different email addresses.

    ReplyDelete
  34. I saw this book was recently released and I was wanting to read it. Thank you for the interview and giveaway! I'm a follower and subscriber too !

    Wanda Barefoot
    flghtlss1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  35. I, too, have seen this book and now definitely want to read it! Great interview!

    cyndilou83(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. I follow you via email at gracelib(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  37. This was very interesting. And glad to meet another author, Tessa. I just joined your Facebook page. Casey, I am a follower and a subscriber of this blog. Please give me 3 entries. Would love to win this book. Thanks!
    MAXIE mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  38. Comment from Author Tessa Afshar

    It's been so much fun to read all your comments. I'm glad to find a few other fans of Mockingbird. Isn't it amazing how a good book can bring us together?

    Casey, great website as always. All the best,

    Tessa

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  39. I would love to win this book.
    I am a follower and a subscriber.
    wsmarple/gmail/dot/com

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  40. thanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel, casey.

    i'm a follower & email subscriber, too.

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  41. Entry for Janet:

    Dear Casey,
    We have her books in the church library. I would love to win this book to give to the library.
    Thanks!
    Janet Estridge.

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  42. What a beautiful picture of both the author and her book. (Especially the author!) I am so looking forward to the day I get the privilege of reading one of Tessa's books. I've been wanting to for a while now, but I'm not in the U.S. (so I can't enter the giveaway.) But it's good to see this post.

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  43. Oh, I've been wanting to read some of her book and would love to be able to win this giveaway! I'm a follower! Thanks so much for the opportunity to win!

    Bethany
    bethanydaughteroftheing{at}gmail{dot}com

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  44. My introduction to Tessa Afshar was through PEARL IN THE SAND, a story of Rahab, one of my favorite biblical characters. Beautifully written.
    I would love to win HARVEST OF GOLD!

    hudson5107[at]att[dot]net

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  45. Please, please, please enter me! I am (dare I say) her biggest fan. She is one of my most top favourite authors!!! I am SO excited to read her newest book; I have read her past two :)

    my email is:
    Godspeculiartreasurerae(at)gmail(dot)com

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  46. I am a subscriber now, too! :)

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  47. Thanks for the chance to win!

    I'm a follower and a subscriber.

    ecriggs1990(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete

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