Monday, August 25, 2014

Giveaway! The Hesitant Heiress by Dawn Crandall!

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

Thinking up and writing stories had always been my favorite subject in school, and ever since I was in high school I knew I would write a book someday. Or at least I wanted to. Thinking about it, and wanting to do it is a lot different than actually doing it! It took my husband finding out about my desire to write a book to actually get me started. And it still took me years to figure out how before I started it in 2010. Once I got into it and figured out what I was doing, thinking up and writing really long, complex love stories quickly became my favorite things to do.

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

There are a lot of them from my high school and college days, but I’m going to pick out Gone with the Wind because after I saw the movie and read the book, I wanted to learn more about the author, Margaret Mitchell. I learned that while she was laid up because of a broken ankle, she decided to write the book she’d always wanted to… and I knew then, that if I ever had the chance, I would write a book too. I never had to break my ankle, fortunately, but I did have the support of my husband in staying home (though, I did nanny off and on during the process) to write. 


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 have joined ACFW or The Christian Writer’s Guild earlier. I knew about them, but since I wasn’t actually writing anything at the time, I thought it would be a waste of money to join prematurely. I started writing in January 2010 and joined ACFW in July 2011. I really should have joined as soon as I started writing. As it was, I knew about one person (that would have been you, Casey!) when I went to conference in 2011… and when I landed my agent right afterwards I didn’t have many writer friends to even turn to with my good news. Networking and making friends with fellow writers is very important, and I had to play major catch up. And I still don’t feel like I did that great of a job at doing so.

5 preference questions:

Homemade or take-out?
Homemade.

Email or snailmail?
I really do prefer snailmail, but I don’t do it enough. 

Online shopping or Black Friday deals?
Online any day! I hate the crowds!

Books or movies?
Books, although I do really enjoy watching my favorite books in movie form.

Note-taker or memorization?
I’m a little of a mix here. I’ve had times while writing my first book (The Hesitant Heiress) in which I needed to write out tons of notes, and then while writing the second book in the series, I depended a lot on memorizing everything. And then smack dab in the middle of me writing the third book, I got pregnant and my brain disappeared into my uterus for nine months. So, I’m back to the note-taking, which really drives me nuts!
           
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 have three books to choose from, and they’re all a part of The Everstone Chronicles series, all part of the same world involving the same characters, although the hero and heroine of each book is a different couple. I always feel that whichever character I am in the middle of writing is my favorite since I’m so entirely inside her head (writing first person POV does that). But even as I wrote Meredyth and am currently revising Estella’s story, Amaryllis is still very special simply because I had her name picked out and have been thinking about writing her story ever since I was in college.  


Places for readers to learn more about you?

Book Review Blog:APassionforPages.blogspot.com 

Thank you for being with us today!

Thank you for having me on your blog, Casey! It was a pleasure! :D

Readers, enter to win Dawn'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 September 5th
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 


52 comments:

  1. I have been seeing this book around lots lately and so wanted to read it. I hope to soon! I love that there are Christian book writers and am so grateful that I discovered that as so many books were not good to read...
    Sonja dot Nishimoto at gmail dot com

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    1. I forgot to mention above that I follow and subscribe! Thanks Sonja

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    2. Thanks for stopping, Sonja! I am so happy to write Christian books for readers who value them! :D

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  2. Love the cover! Looking forward to reading this book. I am a subcriber and follower.
    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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    1. Thank you, Patty! And thank you for stopping to comment and enter the giveaway!! :D

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  3. I'm getting on a plane tonight to go to my youngest sister's wedding and I plan to read The Hesitant Heiress on my kindle! I'm so excited!!! :)

    colorvibrant at gmail dot com

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  5. I love the cover of Dawn's book and I'm sure I'll love the inside of her book even more.
    A Subscriber and A Follower.
    Janet E.
    von1janet(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for stopping and for following the blog tour, Janet! :D

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  6. This looks like a great book. I LOVE the cover!! Thanks for introducing me to Crandall's work! [I'm a follower and subscriber.]
    amberdawnwhitlock[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Thanks so much for stopping by, Amber! I'm glad you think it looks interesting! :D

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  7. I agree with the comments above - what a beautiful cover on this book!
    Pandamanda02@yahoo.com

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    1. Thanks you for stopping to enter the contest, Amanda! And thank you all about the cover! Whitaker House really did do a FANTASTIC job with my "Everstone Chronicles" covers! :D

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  8. If you're interested, Whitaker House has made a webpage where you can read chapter one for free: http://whpub.whitakerhouse.com/dawncrandall/heiress.html. :D

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  9. I would love to win your book, The Hesitant Heiress. sm wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Thanks for stopping by to enter the contest, Sharon! :)

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  10. lovely cover and sounds like a great story stephiek1984 (at) yahoo (dot) com

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  11. If any of you have any doubts about buying this book...don't! It's a great read and you won't be disappointed. In this case you may judge the book by its cover. Thanks for the interview!

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    1. Thanks, R!!! I love to hear things like that!! Whitaker House did such a good job--I'm glad you think it matches the caliber of the story inside. :)

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    2. Ewe_r_merritt(at)yahoo(dot)com...forgot email

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  12. What a beautiful cover! Love the color scheme. Would love to be entered! Thanks :)
    I am a Follower & a Subscriber!
    pocoauthor[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Thanks, Nicole! I am really happy with the cover Whitaker House made for my debut novel! :) Thanks for stopping to enter the contest! :D

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  13. I have seen this book reviewed/promoted on a few other websites and am really looking forward to reading it! The cover is beautiful, and the title piques my interest.

    mallori.norris@gmail.com

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    1. I'm glad you like the cover and title, Mallori! I was used to simply calling it Amaryllis Brigham, but then Whitaker House asked for titles! I really hate coming up with titles! I made a whole list and let them pick the one they liked best! :D Thanks for stopping to enter the contest! :D

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  14. This is a new author for me, so I was glad to read this blog post. Inviting cover!
    susanlulu@yahoo.com

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    1. Haha, I'm pretty much a new author to EVERYONE at this point, Susan! :D This is my first book, and I'm super excited to have a chance to give it away to one of your wonderful blog readers! :D Thanks so much for stopping!

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  15. What good questions! I really feel like I got to know Dawn. I would love to win her book. Thank you for the opportunity. wandrnlady@aol.com

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    1. Hi Janice! This was a really fun interview, wasn't it? I really enjoyed answering the questions. I try to be an "open book" kind of girl. :D

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  16. I've been seeing promos too - it sounds like a good book! I hadn't heard of Whitaker Publishers before; I guess I'll have to check out what else they've been publishing without my knowledge!

    Follower!
    rachaeldalquist(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Hi Rachael! Thanks for stopping! Whitaker House has been publishing fiction more consistently in the last seven years or so. They've been a Christian publisher for a very long time, only they focus primarily on Christian Living and Personal Ministry books. Sharlene MacLaren is one of their most popular authors. :D

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  18. Great interview, lovely cover, I would enjoy reading this! I'm a subscriber :)
    d_stevens310 @ live.com

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    1. Hi Deanna! Thanks for stopping by and entering the contest! :D

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  19. Thanks for stopping to comment, Kate!! And thank you for your enthusiasm!!! :D

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  20. thanks for the chance to read this beautiful novel, casey.

    I'm a follower & email subscriber, too :)

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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    1. Thanks for stopping to enter the contest, Karen! :D

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  21. I'm a cover lover, and this cover art is gorgeous. :)

    Like you, Dawn, I love Gone With the Wind. I first read it when I was 16 and laughed, cried, and sighed during the process. It's not easily forgotten. (And much better than the movie in my opinion.)

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    1. Oops - forgot - I'm a follower and subscriber. nicnac63 AT hotmail DOT com

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    2. I agree, Cheryl! I loved watching the movie, but I love the book even more--there's so much that can't even come out in a movie... so many little parts of that book that I still think upon ALL THE TIME. I didn't mention it in this interview, but my husband and I had our first baby this spring, and we named him Rhett. :) Thanks for stopping to enter the contest! :D

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  22. Would love to win! Thanks!!
    Heather
    celebration_kids(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  23. Gone with the Wind has been an inspiration to many, I look forward to reading The Hesitant Heiress. Thanks for the giveaway!
    I'm a follower.
    I'm a subscriber.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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    1. Yes it has!! As it should be; it's a pretty amazing book! :) Thanks for stopping to enter the contest, Merry!! :)

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  24. I would love to win this book! Thanks for the giveaway!
    Rachel (smileytwin10{at}gmail{dot}com

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    1. I also followed for an extra entry. :)

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    2. Thanks for stopping again along the blog tour, Rachel!! :)

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  25. I love the cover. I am looking forward to reading your book : )

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    1. Thank you, Rebecca! I really love my covers too!!! :D Thanks for stopping! :)

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  26. I've been seeing this book pop up all over the place. It looks soooo good!

    dlkamstra@gmail.com

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  27. The cover is great!.
    I too am a fan of Margaret Mitchell's epic work. I can't even count how many times I have seen the move and read the book.
    Thank you so much for the interview.
    I am a follower and a subscriber
    Shirley
    straitfromthehive(at)gmail(dot)com

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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. :)