Monday, April 28, 2014

Giveaway! The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton!

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

Thanks, it’s my pleasure!

When I was in third grade, my friend Leah announced she’d written a story. It had never occurred to me that a nine-year-old could write her own story. I loved to read, and made up stories and story worlds using my plush toys or animal figurines, but for some reason hadn’t considered trying to write my own story. It sounded like the coolest idea ever, so I gave it a go. Then I did it again. Every few years I’d write a story, or start one, until my early twenties when I finally got serious about trying to make it a career.

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

Fiction: A Voice in the Wind, by Francine Rivers. It taught me that Christian fiction could be gritty and real, and it showed me how to write unflinchingly. I’m still trying to master that. The heroine of that book, Hadassah, had a huge impact on me spiritually. For years after I would think, “What would Hadassah do?” in any trying situation. I still think that, sometimes.

Nonfiction: Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young. This little devotional was a significant factor in my maintaining peace and the awareness of God’s sovereignty through one of the most challenging years of my life. I can’t recommend it highly enough.

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?

“Lori, honey, learn to tighten your writing now, rather than waiting nearly twenty years to get the hang of self-editing.”

5 preference questions:

Homemade or take-out? Homemade
Email or snailmail? Email, though getting a letter is so rare that it’s a treat
Online shopping or Black Friday deals? Online shopping. I’m that atypical female who doesn’t like to shop in stores
Books or movies? I could live without movies, not books!
Note-taker or memorization? Note-taker. The older I get the more porous grows the memory.
               

Yes, I’m asking you to play favorites…which of your books is your favorite, published or unpublished?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?

My favorite book has not been published yet. It was my first 18th century set novel, the one I began in 2004 as my brain was healing from the lingering effects of chemo fog. It’s set in North Carolina, on a piedmont plantation, in 1793. The hero is a prodigal. The heroine is a slave. I hope one day it will be published.

Places for readers to learn more about you?

My website: http://loribenton.blogspot.com/
My Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLoriBenton#
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lorilbenton/

Thank you for being with us today!

Thanks for having me, Casey. Always a pleasure to chat with you about writing!

Readers, enter to win Lori'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 May 9th
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 


37 comments:

  1. Casey I love your reviews and look forward to reading them. I have heard this book is fantastic! Would love to win! I am a subscriber and follower. mommiebethers{at}gmail{dot}com

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  2. Thanks for this interview. Would love to win this book. I just finished Burning Sky. It was excellent! msudawgtooATcomsouthDOTnet

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  3. I love reading your blog. This book sounds great! I'm a follower and subscriber. Lilywhite4mykingATgmailDOTcom

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  4. I too love your blog. This looks like a great story with strong characters and a super plot. I am a follower and a subscriber. chris_davebures@bellsouth.net. Thanks for the opportunity to win.

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  5. Hi Casey and Lori,
    I literally just finished Burning Sky, and would love to read Lori's second book. Burning Sky was all it was hyped up to be, and more. Such a powerful story. Her unpublished books sounds fascinating, too. Thanks for a great interview, and the chance to win! I'm a subscriber, and a follower. Thanks!
    candidkerry (at) gmail (dot) com

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  6. This book sounds really good! Looking forward to reading it.

    I have never read that Francine Rivers book, but think it's neat that God would use that fictional character as an example for you to follow. Right now I'm reading "Jesus Calling" along with my devotions. This is the first time I've ever read it and it is a good book.

    nina4sm/at/gmail/dot/com

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  7. Would love to be entered! Thanks for hosting the giveaway!

    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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  8. Also, I am a follower and subscriber! Is this info supposed to go in the first comment or all separately? :)
    pocoauthorATgmailDOTcom

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  9. Wonderful interview! I love learning more about an author. I've read so many great reviews of this book so it's definitely on my TBR list! Thanks so much for the giveaway!
    I'm a follower and subscriber!
    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  10. The book has such a beautiful cover! I really enjoyed the interview and look forward to reading this book.
    I am a follower.
    I am a subscriber.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  11. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  12. I'm a follower!!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  13. Would love to win this book! I've heard such great things about Burning Sky and this one!!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  14. I'm a subscriber!!

    marissamehresman(at)aol(dot)com

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  15. Great interview Casey. I could love to read Lori's book. Love the cover!
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  16. I am an e mail subscriber
    marypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  17. What a lovely interview with Lori! Sounds like she and I have a LOT in common!
    :)
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  18. I'm a follower.
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  19. I'm a subscriber.
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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  20. Thanks for the giveaway! I've been wanting to read this book. :)

    crazybooklover7 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  21. Hi everyone! I'm sitting here after a morning's writing, about to go get lunch, but got distracted reading all your comments. Thank you so much to those who have read Burning Sky and let me know here that you enjoyed it. Music to a writer's ears--or eyes, as the case may be. And thanks for your interest in The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn, everyone. I look forward to signing this copy to the winner from Casey's drawing. Blessings!

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  22. Hi Lori, thank you for the great interview. I enjoyed reading it. I would love a chance to win your book. I love reading historical fiction. ~ Blessings ~ lisastifleratyahoodotcom

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  23. I always enjoy your interviews, Casey, and I've really enjoyed getting to know more about Lori and her writing this past month. I would love to read this story!!

    I am a follower and a subscriber. :)
    ozarkwriter(at)gmail(dot)com

    Have a great week!

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  24. I very much enjoyed reading your interview with Lori Benton. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to win her book.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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  25. I absolutely love A Voice in the Wind too. I am just starting to read Burning Sky, would love to add your newest book to my collection!
    Pandamanda02@yahoo.com

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  26. Great interview! I especially like the answer about her favorite book. :)

    Doreen
    priviesandprims [at]yahoo[dot]com

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  27. Fun interview. I love that name "Tamsen". Would love to read this. Sonja dot Nishimoto at gmail dot com
    Thanks!

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  28. Entry for Mary:
    Yay!!!!!! I'm so thankful you are giving me the opportunity to enter your contest via email. I've been frustrated that I can't leave comments on your blog. Appreciate your book reviews and honesty. I might add that I am able to comment on most of the blogs I follow, but there are a few that I don't seen to know how to make my comment print. (I don't have a blog myself. Does that make a difference on the comments???)

    I LOVED "Burning Sky" and look forward to Lori Benton's second book. I too hope she gets her favorite book published. Francine Rivers' writing is a wise selection for mentoring a new writer; or any writer for that matter.

    Mary in Idaho
    marysnews@q.com

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  29. I really like the colors and the cover theme. The dress is my favorite color, blue! I would love to win this book. sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  30. I'm like Lori…I don't like shopping either. Amazon is my best friend. ;)

    Follower and subscriber.

    nicnac63 AT hotmail DOT com

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  31. Great interview! Thanks for the giveaway!
    pj4824(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  32. I am an email subscriber.
    pj4824(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  33. The lost state of Franklin sounds so interesting ~ as a historical fiction genre reader specifically, I would love to win a copy! Thanks for your interview, Casey. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  34. I am a follower of your blog. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  35. I also am a subscriber to your blog. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House
    lanehillhouse[at]centurylink[dot]net

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  36. I've heard great things about this novel, Casey, and am curious about it. Thanks for the giveaway.

    dreamer(at)frontier(dot)com

    Following too.

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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.

 
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