Monday, January 27, 2014

Giveaway! Dare to Love Again by Julie Lessman!


Welcome to Writing for Christ Julie Lessman, it is great to have you here! So you’re a writer? What made you decide to start creating characters and story world?

Four life-altering words: Gone With the Wind. When I read that novel at the age of twelve, I was swept away into the world of romance for the very first time, capturing me like no other book had ever done. I immediately set out to write (along with thousands of other love-struck young girls, I’m sure), what I hoped would be “the great American novel.” Obviously my dreams of grandeur didn’t go anywhere, but I did write 150 pages of a story that became the basis (some forty years later!) for my debut novel, A Passion Most Pure.

What is the one title that has significantly impacted your life?

Oh, now here’s a surprise—Gone With the Wind! From the moment Scarlett seared Rhett with a look on the winding staircase of Twelve Oaks, I was hooked, and my “romance-writing career” began! Clearly for me, GWTW is the greatest historical novel I’ve ever read, not only for the rich and sweeping Civil War tapestry that Margaret Mitchell created, but for the wonderful impact it had on me as well.


If you could get a do-over when it came to learning this whole thing called writing, what would you go back and tell yourself?

I would look myself in the eye (in a mirror, obviously) and point a definitive finger, making sure I understood—really and truly understood—that what I was about to say was something critical for every Christian author to know. And that is—our peace, joy, and confidence MUST come from God, not from our career. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way!

Oh, how I wish I had known what an emotional roller-coaster it was going to be AFTER I got published. Like a lot of unpublished writers, I thought all the anxiety and self-doubt would dissipate after I signed on the dotted line. I mean that would validate me, wouldn’t it? Give me confidence as a writer? But I discovered that true confidence is not in accolades from your editor or a really good review, but instead in where your heart is with God. HE is my confidence when my sales rankings on Amazon.com are high or low, which is why 2 Corinthians ll:3 is a bedrock Scripture prayer for me as an author: Please, Lord—do not let my mind “be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ.”

5 preference questions:


Homemade or take-out?
BC (before career as a writer), definitely homemade. AC? Take-out!

Email or snailmail?
HA! I think most people today would say “email,” don’t you? Goodness, does anybody write letters anymore?

Online shopping or Black Friday deals?
For others, online shopping—for as much as I can possibly get away with. For myself? Store shopping on the least busiest days!

Books or movies?
Oh, books, books, books!! Except on weekends, of course, then movies, movies, movies, because I can snuggle with Keith.

Note-taker or memorization?
Are you kidding—with my memory??? Note-taker!

Yes, I’m asking you to play favorites…which of your books is your favorite, published or unpublished? And if this is your debut novel, has your favorite been published yet?

I actually have two, one for each of the O’Connor saga series. For The Daughters of Boston series, it’s book 2, A Passion Redeemed, because it was the most fun to write of any book I’ve ever written. I actually wrote it (almost 500 pages) in two months, and that was working part-time at my day job! It just seemed to flow from me, I guess because Charity is so much like I used to be before Christ that it felt natural to be writing her story. I had to laugh at my husband while he was reading A Passion Redeemed because he couldn’t stand Charity. Poor guy, I didn’t have the heart to tell him he’s been married to her (without the incredible physical beauty) for over 35 years! J

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE A Passion Most Pure because it was both my debut novel and my love letter to God. And, of course, the heroine Faith O’Connor is very special to me because she is my spiritual self, so to speak—a woman heavily dependant on God and emotionally involved with Him, who prays at the drop of a hat. But Charity—goodness, my heart goes out to her and the woman I used to be—selfish, manipulative, lost. I think that’s why she fascinates me so much, because I look at her (and women like her) in the same way I suspect God looked at me back then—with eyes full of love and hope that we all can become new creatures in Christ. And quite frankly, I think she is just downright funny and quirky and such a hoot that she makes me laugh—especially in the 2nd series, Winds of Change.

My favorite book in the Winds of Change series? Oh my, that would be A Hope Undaunted, my tip-top favorite book of all those I’ve written. Not only do I love, love, LOVE all the head-butting between the hero and heroine Luke McGee and Katie O’Connor, but this book is so well rounded with everything I love. Not only do you have an explosive love story between the hero and heroine, but several dramatic subplots, a family trauma that unites the entire family, incredible history during the Roaring 20s and Great Depression, and a story where three types of love come together with a powerful message—romantic love, brotherly love and Agape love. And then, of course, there’s always Luke McGee … hubba, hubba! J

Places for readers to learn more about you or contact you?

Well, I love to hear from reader friends, so if they like, they can contact me through my website at http://www.julielessman.com, either by sending an e-mail via my site or by signing up for my newsletter at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/. Or through Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, or Pinterest.

Also, I have a cool blog feature on my website called “Journal Jots” at 
http://www.julielessman.com/journal-jots1/, which is a very laid-back weekly journal to my reader friends that will give your readers an idea as to my relaxed style of writing.
Or readers can check out my favorite romantic and spiritual scenes from each of my books on the “Excerpts” tab of my website at http://www.julielessman.com/excerpts/.
Of course, I can be found daily at The Seekers blog at http://seekerville.blogspot.com/, a group blog of 13 published authors that inspires, encourages, teaches, and informs aspiring writers on the road to publication and beyond.

Finally, here are some fun freebies, sales, and giveaways going on right now or in the future:
1.) FREE DOWNLOAD of my debut novel A Passion Most PureAmerican Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Book of the Year, A Passion Most Pure has 341 five-star reviews on Amazon and some of readers have actually read it more than 20 times! Here are the links for your free download!  AMAZONBARNES & NOBLECBD.COM 
2.) SALE TO END SOON ON 99-CENT A LIGHT IN THE WINDOW! I hope you’ll check out my video for my Irish love story, A Light in the Window, which stars my daughter and has won three awards and garnered 125 five-star reviews. It’s still only 99 CENTS on Amazon, but only for a little while longer, so check out the video here, http://bit.ly/1kkzvlC, and you can download it here: AMAZON.
3.) FREE DOWNLOAD on Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Inspirational and Sweet Markets coming FEBRUARY 11-15 on Amazon, so mark your calendar and here’s the link to find out more about the book: Romance-ology 101.
4.) NEW CONTEST TO HAVE A CHARACTER NAMED AFTER YOU IN MY NEXT BOOK!  I have a newsletter contest going on now through 3/31/14 where posting even one short review for any of my books will enter you to win a character named after you in my next book, a signed copy, and if you are the top poster, a $50 gift card. So if you're interested, just sign up for my newsletter (I send out two a year) at http://www.julielessman.com/sign-up-for-newsletter/, and I will send you the info, okay? 

Thanks, Casey, for a fun interview!

Hugs, Julie

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.

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 February 7th
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 

59 comments:

  1. I absolutely love all of Julie's books. We share a name and similar love for her books!!
    So, my name is Julie and my email is lilywhite4myking@gmail.com

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    1. Aw, Julie, THANK YOU!! We Julies have to stick together, don't we? ;)
      Here's to a win, my friend!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  2. I would love to win one of Julie's books! Thank you for the chance.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Hey, Wendy ... trust me, I'd "love" for you to win one of my books too, girlfriend, so fingers crossed!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  3. I would love to win this book! Love Julie! chris_davebures@bellsouth.net

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    1. Gosh, Chris, and I would dearly love to send it to you, so here's hoping your comment today pulls out a win!

      Good luck!!
      Julie

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  4. Great interview ladies! Love the questions! Julie is one of my favorite authors :) and I love your blog Casey!

    Julie @ My Favorite Pastime
    gravesok(at)gmail(dot)(com)

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    1. Aw, Jules, I ALWAYS get a big smile on my face when I see your name, my friend -- you have a way of blessing me every single time I "see" you!! :)

      Hugs and more hugs,
      Julie

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  5. Good morning to 2 of the sweetest ladies I know!!

    I'm reading that wonderful "A Hope Undaunted" as we "speak"! Truly - a family masterpiece!! I'm loving all that warm family interaction, laughing at Luke and Katie's sparring, Gabe is stealing my heart, and I'm bracing myself for the bombshells I KNOW are ahead (LOL)!

    It's so easy to get "lost" in your characters, and let them steal my heart, Julie! The O'Connors have become like a second family to me, I'll be sad to leave them behind when I reach the end of "A Love Surrendered"! However - I can revisit them as often as I want, and I can hardly wait to start the San Fran series! According to EVERYTHING I've heard - you've "outdone" yourself with "Dare to Love Again"!

    Your books are such a blessing, Julie, and YOU are an even greater one! Thank you for writing such inspiring books that draw us closer to God, for letting His light shine so brightly through you, and for ALWAYS giving Him the glory!! LOVE you, and your books!!

    bonnieroof60(at)yahoo(dot)com

    I am a follower and subscriber!

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    1. Aw, thanks, BONNIE, but if we're talking "blessings" here, we both know who THAT is!! ;)

      Love you!!
      Julie

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  6. I have a signed copy of book one in this series (thanks Julie!), I would love to have a copy of book 2 to read. Thanks for the interview and giveaway Casey!

    I follow via GFC and subscribe via e-mail

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hey, PATTY ... oooo, you're on a roll, girlfriend, so maybe a signed book 2??? Heaven knows I have enough giveaways going on right now, so can't be too hard, right? Check out my website calendar here for more giveaways: http://www.julielessman.com/julies-calendar/

      Hugs!!
      Julie

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  7. I am a follower!

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

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  8. I am a subscriber!

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

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  9. And I love, love, love Julie's writing! Heading back to Nicaragua for 2 months this coming Friday - hoping when I get back there will be one of her books in the mailbox!

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

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    1. Oh, MEL ... you sure flit around, girlfriend, but there's not a better cause for which to flit than missionary work, so GOD BLESS YOU!! And hopefully He will even more with a signed free book this week ... :)

      Good luck, girlfriend!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  10. I'm excited to read this book- the reviews have been great and the story sounds so interesting. I'm a follower and subscriber too :)

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  11. I read the last book and loved it! Hoping to win this one. :)

    I'm a follower and a subscriber too.

    Doreen Brannan priviesandprims[at] yahoo [dot]com

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    1. Oh, Doreen, I am SO glad you got to read LAAC, my friend, because that makes DTLA all the better ... I hope!! And I hope I already mentioned to you about the FREE DOWNLOAD of A Passion Most Pure, right? If not -- TAKE ADVANTAGE, my friend, because those are the books of my heart. :)

      Hugs!!
      Julie

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  12. It's Lady Sparks again! I'm going to read A Passion Redeemed with different eyes now. :) I agree, it's amazing how God's love and grace can transform a person. My grandfather was a terrific example - someone who literally went from grumpy, selfish, lost to the most compassionate, caring, giving, loving man ever.

    I have to share this with you, Julie. So we had my daughter's birthday party yesterday - 4 hours at an indoor water park. That's about 2 hours too many, btw. We get to our town around 6 pm last night, so exhausted that we knew we couldn't cook dinner so we hit a restaurant only to be too tired to even eat. So we finally get home and I'm sitting on the couch at 7:30 thinking bed sounds nice but wondering if I can even drag myself down the hall or if I should just collapse on the couch for the night. But I finally gather my strength, wash my face, dress for bed, clean up a few things in the kitchen, get daughter tucked in - all the motherly stuff one has to do no matter how tired they are. And I'm finally in bed right around 9pm (which is pretty early for me but I was so tired!). And then I think, I'll just read a page or two from Love At Any Cost before I crash, since I'd only read a couple of pages so far anyway. Well, 10:30pm, I finally force myself to put it down because I could barely keep my eyes open anymore, but, boy, was it a fight! If I'd been my usual chipper self, I would have stayed up to finish it for sure. (And if you want to know how far I got, let's just say I'm rooting for Cassie to slap Jamie like she's wanting, for right now.) ;)

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    1. LOL, LS ... I am TOTALLY honored that you didn't fall headlong into the spine of the book with a big snore!! ;) Yeah, Jamie definitely deserved a slap, but there's always hope because heaven knows I LOVE slaps ... I'll bet I have at least one a book and sometimes more. I sound pretty violent, don't I?? LOL ... just a CDQ (caffeinated drama queen), I promise, and not a violent one at that. :)

      Thanks for sharing the story, my new friend, and HAPPY READING!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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    2. Oh - forgot to say I subscribed & followed. And my email is kawaii(dot)katers(at)gmail.com

      lol - you don't sound any more violent than I tend to once I get wrapped up in a story, be it book or TV. That's one of the signs of a good tale - our emotions getting involved like that. ;)

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  13. I enjoyed the two earlier series, but this new series is still waiting for me! Sign me up!
    kandrajane at bell south dot net

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    1. Hey, KANDRA ... well, I will warn you that this series is a real departure from the other two O'Connor series in that it is shorter, less complicated, less passionate, more linear, and lighter and funnier than the O'Connor saga, so keep that in mind. I was trying something new in this series, which -- as much as I enjoyed writing it and loving this eccentric family -- I probably won't again. I'm just too much of CDQ who loves angst and drama and LOTS of subplots, so my next book will be an O'Connor variety, I promise. :)

      Hugs and GOOD LUCK!!
      Julie

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  14. I am an email subscriber, too!

    kandrajane at bell south dot net

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  15. I've read all of Julie's books and would love to win this one!!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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    1. Hey, MARISSA ... SO good to see you here, my friend, and I sure hope it nets you a win, so GOOD LUCK!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  16. I'm also a follower!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  17. And I'm also a subscriber!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  18. Dare to Love Again sounds wonderful. Please enter me in contest. Thank you for the opportunity to win.I enjoy reading her books.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Have a wonderful week.

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    1. Thanks, EMMA ... one can only hope ... and pray! Fingers crossed that you get a chance to find out with a win here, okay?

      Thanks for coming by and GOOD LUCK!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  19. a follower.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Have a wonderful week.

    ReplyDelete
  20. a subscriber.augustlily06(at)aim(dot)com.Have a wonderful week.

    ReplyDelete
  21. I am a subscriber.

    I am a follower.

    1dozenstars.gmail.com

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    1. Hey, TEA NORMAN ... thanks for checking the interview out, and if you don't win here, please hop on over to my website calendar for a list of other giveaways going on, okay? Here's the link! http://www.julielessman.com/julies-calendar/

      Hugs and GOOD LUCK!!
      Julie

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  22. Gone With the Wind was life changing for me as well!
    I follow.
    I subscribe.

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

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    1. Oh, LAG123, if you are a fellow GWTW freak, then I encourage you to check out the FREE DOWNLOAD of my first book, A Passion Most Pure, that's going on right now. It won American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Book of the Year and currently has 355 five-star reviews, so hopefully it's not a dog. I'm not comparing it to GWTW, mind you, but GWTW inspired APMP for me and since GWTW is a pretty emotional, dramatic book, I figure you like emotion and drama, which APMP definitely has. So here's the link -- I hope you check it out!

      http://bit.ly/1e3D9wP

      Hugs and GOOD LUCK!!
      Julie

      Delete
  23. I've read all of Julie's novels and am wanting to read Dare to Love Again. It would be so nice to win a copy! Thanks for the interview with Julie and the giveaway.
    I'm a subscriber.
    I'm a follower.
    pm56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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    1. Hey, PAM ... I hope I get to send you a signed copy, my friend, so GOOD LUCK!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

      Delete
  24. Another great interview! Would love to win a copy of Dare to Love Again!

    happygurl1807(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. YAY, KAYLA ... here's to a win, you sweet girl, you!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  25. Thanks for the interview with Julie. I enjoyed it!
    Tissakay at aol dot com
    Tonja S.

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    1. Thanks, TONJA ... and thanks for taking the time to check it out! Here's to a win!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  26. A great posting Casey & Julie...Hugs to you both.

    Thanks for the chance to read this wonderful novel :)

    I'm a follower & email subscriber, too.

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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    1. Hugs back to you, sweet Karen, and here's to a win, my friend!

      GOOD LUCK!!
      Julie

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  27. Thanks Casey for this interview with Julie. Great christian lady and a great author. I would love to win this book of hers. I only have 3 of her books. I am a follower and a subscriber of yours, So, please give me three entries. Thanks again. Keep up the good work and witness Julie. Maxie
    mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  28. Thanks SO much, MAXIE ... and here's to book #4, my friend!!

    Hugs,
    Julie

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  29. Entry for Janet E:
    Dear Casey,
    Please enter me in your contest to win Julie's book, "Dare to Love Again". I know how much you love reading her books so interviewing her must have been a blast!
    Hope all is well with you.
    Janet.

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  30. Hey, JANET, thanks for going the extra mile to have Casey post your comment and thanks to Casey, too! I can't tell from your comment if you've ever read my books or not, but if not, PLEASE check out a FREE DOWNLOAD going on right now of my first book, A Passion Most Pure, which won American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Book of the Year and currently had 359 five-star reviews. Here's the link if you want to check it out: http://www.amazon.com/Passion-Most-Pure-Daughters-Boston-ebook/dp/B...

    Hugs and GOOD LUCK!!
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  31. Great interview! I've read ALL of Julie's books and love them ALL! DTLA is HIGH on my TBR list! :) Thanks for the giveaway!

    Cyndi
    cyndilou83(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. YAY, CYNDI ... SO glad to hear that, my friend, and GOOD LUCK!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  32. Oh! And I get your blog posts via email. (at gracelib(at)bellsouth(dot)net) :)

    Cyndi
    cyndilou83(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I love Julie, she made me love romance novels again, but in a way I never expected and for that I will always be grateful to her. My first book I ever read of hers was "ALITW", oh my goodness I immediately began to think of how my father must have courted my mother, I laughed, cried, sighed, it was a reading experience like non I have ever had, but I hope to have again with more of her books. I love her writing, because it tells romance in the way it should be told, instead of those horrid stories that they now call romance which if you have ever picked one up, you know just what the word "smut" means. Now, I can enjoy the one genre I thought I had lost forever. I can never express to her my gratitude for her sharing such a gift with the rest of us. I get your blog posts, also. I thought you asked for this information so I included it. I follow Julie as well, and I also get her newsletter. Thank you for the chance to win a wonderful book by a wonderful author.
    Sincerely,
    Barbara Hopkins
    Barbara.hopkins39@yahoo.com

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    1. Oh, Babbie, thank you SO much for your sweet comment, my friend, and I am SO glad our paths have crossed and hope I get to send you another signed book!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  34. Sorry forgot to say I get your newsletter. Thanks again. B

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  35. Oh, how I love Julie Lessman and her magnificent writing! I would love to win a copy of DTLA!! Thank you so much for sharing this delightful interview and the chance to win.

    I am an email subscriber.
    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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    1. Hey, BRIT ... thanks for coming by, my friend!! And I would LOVE to send you a signed copy of DTLA, so good luck!!

      Hugs,
      Julie

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  36. Yay! Love Julie's books and I recently finished the first in this latest series, so I'd love to read the next! Thanks for hosting, Casey!
    rachelle@rachellerea.com

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  37. Has the winner been announced or did I miss seeing it?

    ReplyDelete

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