Giveaway! When Mountains Move by Julie Cantrell!

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

Thanks for inviting me to join you today. I’m honored.

So, let’s jump right in. Interesting fact about moi? Hmm...I’m not very interesting, but I have had a wonderfully strange life, so it’s hard to choose just one quirky little-known tidbit. But, how about this...When I was in college, I went to the doctor about a funny little spot on my arm. He removed a bb, as in a bullet from a bb gun! I guess I’ll never know for sure how it got inside my arm in the first place, but the doctor felt certain that someone had once used me for target practice, perhaps when I was younger. There’s got to be a book to follow that story, don’t you think?

Do you have a favorite genre to read/write?

I read a wide variety of books, but I’m particularly drawn to literary fiction, biographies, and memoirs. Some of my favorite authors include Jeannette Walls, Barbara Kingsolver, Louise Erdrich, Chris Cleave, Sue Monk Kidd, Elizabeth Gilbert, Wally Lamb, and Ann Patchett (in no particular order). But I’ve got tons more. I better stop before I get carried away.

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

Wow, that’s a great question. One little nugget that changed my entire wriInto the Free, I had already written a first draft but I still needed to learn how to shape the plot. I learned by reading Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. That probably affected my writing more than anything else. It’s actually written for screenwriting, but I found it easily tweaked to fit a novel. My friend and fellow author Katie Anderson loaned it to me, and I have since purchased my own copy. It’s actually one of a three-set series by Snyder.

ting world? Hmm...Well, keep in mind that I never studied writing, so I had to learn everything from scratch. When I decided to publish

5 things you love?

My family – nothing matters more and nothing brings me more joy

True friends - the kind who show up/step up/speak up when you need them most

Music – a good song can soothe my soul and stir my creative spirit in ways nothing else can

Nature – I am happiest when I am surrounded by animals, trees, water, and wind

Stories – literature, oral storytelling, film, or works of art make me feel connected and inspired

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

Wreath by Judy Christie. But I also love her newest release, Sweet Olive. In fact, everything by Judy is safe to recommend, endearingly sweet (just like Judy), and inspirational in an authentic way that feels real and never contrived. I admire Judy as a writer but even more as a person. She’s just one of those saintly spirits, a Mother Teresa, and Wreath is an especially good mother/daughter read for mothers of tweens/teens.

Places for readers to learn more about you?

I blog with a group of five southern, inspirational authors: Lisa Wingate, Beth Webb Hart, Rachel Hauck, and Shellie Rushing Tomlinson. You can join us on our virtual front porch by visiting: http://www.southernbelleviewdaily.com/ Each week we tackle a new topic, and we love for readers to join our discussions.

You can learn more about my books, events, research, and farm by visiting: www.juliecantrell.com

I also join more than 70 WordServe authors who blog about all sorts of writing related topics at http://wordservewatercooler.com/ This blogsite was selected as one of the top blogs about writing by Writer’s Digest.

Thank you for being with us today!

Thanks so much for letting me join the fun. I greatly appreciate your interest in my stories, and I’d love to hear what you all think of Into the Free and When Mountains Move.

Readers, enter to win Julie's book here!

Please leave an email address! If I draw your name and there is no email, you will not win.

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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 October 18th

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