Book Giveaway & Interview With Sarah Sundin

              

Happy Thursday! 

Today's post features an interview with author

Sarah Sundin. So glad you could join us. 

In addition to the interview, Sarah has offered a copy of her latest book, A Memory Between Us, to one of my readers. Be sure and check out the giveaway details below.

Karen: It’s good to have you back, Sarah. Congratulations on the release of A Memory Between Us! You must be excited about the second book in the Wings of Glory series.

Who is your favorite character in A Memory Between Us? Why?

Sarah: It has to be the heroine, Lt. Ruth Doherty. She fascinated me. On the surface she is so strong she doesn’t need another human being—and she has a great sense of humor. But underneath she has deep hurts and shame. It was fun for me to tease out what made her the way she is and to watch her change and grow.

 

Karen:I’m looking forward to reading Book Three. When will it be released? Can you tell us a little about it?

Sarah: Blue Skies Tomorrow releases August 2011—I’ve just seen a preview of the cover, and it’s gorgeous! Lt. Raymond Novak prefers the pulpit to the cockpit, but his stateside job training B-17 pilots allows him to court Helen Carlisle, a widowed mother who conceals her pain under a frenzy of volunteer work. The sparks of their romance set a fire that flings them both into peril. Ray leaves to fly a combat tour at the peak of the air war over Europe, while Helen takes a job at a dangerous munitions yard and faces an even graver menace in her own home. Can they both find the courage to face their challenges? 

Karen: What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Sarah: Almost everything! I really enjoyed the historical research, to the point of getting ecstatic when I found copies of the pilot’s manual for the B-17 bomber and the Army Air Force B-17 training film. Sick, really. But I also love the pre-writing stage, the actual writing, even the editing. And my favorite part of all is when I’m deep in a scene and it flows.

Karen: What are your favorite fiction books? Non-fiction? 

Sarah: For fiction, I gravitate toward the classics, women’s fiction, and contemporary or historical fiction—and I love a romantic thread. I also enjoy a good suspense novel and anything with humor. I’m easy to please. That’s why I don’t write book reviews. 

My all-time favorites have to be Jane Austen’s books—she has it all—drama, romance, delicious humor, and wonderfully gooey endings. I don’t read a lot of non-fiction except for research—it feels too much like homework, and I read to relax and escape. Currently I’m reading Christa Parrish’s Watch over Me for fun and Medical Services in the Mediterranean and Minor Theaters for research. Quite a combo, huh?

Karen: Has your life changed much by becoming a published author? Are you ever recognized when you go out? How would you travel incognito if you had to?

Sarah: Life’s a bit busier as a published author. The nicest part is people take my writing more seriously. It used to be, “Isn’t it cute that you’re writing a book? Oh, and you have plenty of time since you’re home all day, so you wouldn’t mind doing such-and-such.” Now they’re more likely to see it as a career and understand my time constraints. I’ve had to make the same mental transition to career writer. Before publication, I spent long luxurious hours playing with my stories and chasing research rabbit trails. Now I have to be more efficient and focused to take care of research, writing, and publicity. 

As to being recognized—that’s really funny! Um…no. Although I had an incident this week that’s close. I attend a large church, and I teach a children’s church-type class for about a hundred fourth- and fifth-graders. This Sunday, one of the girls studied my nametag. “Did you write a book?” My jaw dangled. “Why, yes—I did!” “My mom read it. She loved it.” That made my day! 

Traveling incognito? Now I’m snickering. Should I get a big floppy hat and dramatic sunglasses and call everyone “daaaaarling?” 

Karen: Thank you for joining us again at Write Now! It’s been a pleasure. I am sure my readers would join me in wishing you success and blessings.

Sarah: Thank you!

For more info on Sarah and her books, click here.

Giveaway Details 

Please read carefully.

• Leave a comment to this post, include your email address.Entries without email address are not eligible.
• Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you already follow.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook and/or Twitter. Please be sure and comment telling me so.
• Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern Standard Time, Saturday October 23, 2010. Winner will be  notified via email and announced on Monday's post.       
• This is open to US residents only. My apologies to those who follow outside the US.                                                                                                                                                                           What exciting things are happening in your neighborhood this weekend?                                                                                                                                                                                             Have a wonderful weekend!           Karen                                                                                                                                               

A Week With Sarah Sundin

Review, Interview, and Giveaway!
 
This week's featured author is Sarah Sundin, author of A Distant Melody and A Memory Between Us, Books 1 and 2 in The Wings of Glory series. Sarah's offered a copy of A Memory Between Us to one of my readers. Today's post includes my review, and Thursday's post will share a short Q & A with Sarah.

You might recall Sarah's visit earlier this year, when she shared her thoughts on writing and A Distant Melody. If you happened to miss those posts, click here.

Review  

A Memory Between Us finds Ruth Doherty and Jack Novak serving their country during World War 2. Both stationed in England, ace pilot Jack and conscientious nurse Ruth seem to have little in common. But when Jack is injured and becomes a patient in Ruth's ward, their futures begin to intertwine.

Ruth's tough outer shell conceals her need for friends and support. She can't seem to outrun her past and the shame that goes with it. Despite her challenges, her goal is to do her job well; her younger brothers and sisters in the states rely on her income. Jack's good looks give the impression that he has it all together. What could he possibly have to learn? A lot, it turns out, and both he and Ruth face trials that could make or break their character and integrity. As they get to know each other, their relationship is tested again and again. Do they have a future together? Only time will tell.

I marveled at Sarah's ability to tell this story in such an engaging and intricate way. The flight scenes with Jack and his crew are excellent. The research that was required to paint such a realistic picture was clearly extensive. Sarah accomplished quite a feat and tells a wonderful story. I enjoyed A Distant Melody and had hoped that A Memory Between Us was just as good. It was!

One thought - In A Memory Between Us, Sarah deals with an episode of physical abuse. I think that she handled it tactfully; it's an important element for the story. But you may want to preview the book before handing it over to your teens.

Sarah Sundin is among my new favorite authors. I can't wait till her next book comes out. Join us on Thursday, won't you, when she gives us a sneak peek at Book 3.


Giveaway Details - Please read carefully.

• Leave a comment to this post, include your email address like so: karenelange(at)gmail(dot)com. Entries without email address are not eligible.
• Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you already follow.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog, Facebook and/or Twitter. Please be sure and comment telling me so.
• Deadline to enter is midnight Eastern Standard Time, Saturday October 23, 2010. Winner will be  notified via email and will have 36 hours to respond. Winner to be announced on Monday's post.       
• This is open to US residents only. My apologies to those who follow outside the US.                                                                                                   

Have you ever read historical fiction set during World War 2? What do you think we can learn from historical fiction?

See you Thursday!

Blessings,
Karen

Interview with Sarah Sundin, Part Two

Part Two   

Thank you for joining us for Part Two of Sarah Sundin's interview! If you missed Part One, click here to read it. Don't forget, Sarah has agreed to provide a copy of A Distant Melody for a giveaway.  Details follow the interview.  

Karen: Can you give us a sneak peek at A Memory Between Us, which is due out in September 2010?

Sarah: A Memory Between Us is the second book in the Wings of Glory series, which follows the three Novak brothers, B-17 bomber pilots with the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II. Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she carries a shameful secret that keeps her from giving her heart to any man. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?

Karen: What writing advice have you found most helpful in recent years?

Sarah:

1)  Join ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers)! Their e-zine, e-mail loop, and monthly courses are outstanding—like a mini-writers’ conference in your inbox every day.

2)  Join a local writers’ group if available or an on-line critique group. Not only will your writing improve, but you’ll meet other writers. We’re an odd lot really. We work in solitude. We talk to our characters. We have strange interests (how many women do you know who get excited about B-17 manuals?). We need each other.

3)  Don’t submit to agents and editors until you’re ready. That means a complete manuscript, positive feedback from experienced writers, and enough knowledge of the publishing industry to know how to submit properly. You want your first impression to be stellar.

Karen: Thank you, Sarah, for sharing this great info and your thoughts with us. I can't wait to read A Memory Between Us.  

To Contact Sarah

Sarah's website offers facts, links, and great information for readers and writers. Her blog posts include interesting facts about World War Two history and Sarah's insightful musings and wisdom.  Stop by and say hello; she'll be happy to see you!

Here are the Giveaway Details:) Deadline is Friday, July 9, 2010 at noon.

To Enter:

• Leave a comment to this post, include your email address like so: karenelange(at)gmail(dot)com. Entries without email address in comment box are not eligible.
• Receive an extra entry by becoming a follower, or by reminding me that you already follow.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your Facebook page. Please leave a comment telling me so.
• Receive a bonus entry by posting about this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a comment with the link.
• This is only open to US residents. For those of you who follow outside the US, I apologize:(
• Deadline to enter is noon eastern standard time, Friday July 9, 2010. Winner will be announced here, and notified via email, and have 24 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

Happy reading and writing!

Blessings,

Karen