"DELIVERING HOPE" BLOG STOP TOUR - GUEST POST BY AUTHOR, JENNIFER ANN HOLT



I am an infertility survivor. After five years of fertility treatments, two amazing adoptions, and a life-threatening (literally) pregnancy that ended at 28 weeks with an emergency C-section and a 2 lb. 8 oz. baby boy who spent 61 days in the NICU, I can truly say that I survived it and came out on the other side a more loving, understanding, hopeful person. I want to help others do the same.

That brings us to the release of my debut novel, Delivering Hope. A fictional account of one woman (Olivia) struggling with infertility, and another woman (Allison) facing an unintended pregnancy. It is a story about infertility and adoption, heartache and healing, and the power of love to provide hope in the midst of trials.

The idea for this book came to me over four years ago, and once it was there, it wouldn’t leave me alone until I wrote it down. At the time, my children were 5, 2, and 2. As you might imagine, it was difficult to find time to write. I finally decided that I was going to make some time for myself after the kids had gone to bed, and then I stuck to it. My writing time was an appointment that I tried to keep with myself every night. Once I made it a priority and scheduled some time, I was able to make consistent progress. I really think that’s the key if you want to write (besides doing lots of reading). You have to make time to write on a regular basis.

Because of my own experiences with infertility and adoption, this is a story that I am very passionate about, and it was important to me that the experiences were authentic and honest. I think sometimes as writers, we don’t want to fully expose our deepest, real emotions, but it is always the honest emotion in a story that I connect with most.

So, whether you’re passionate about dystopian futures, romance stories, a good mystery, or an issue that hits close to home, make some time and write about it. It’s really the passion that counts.



Delivering Hope (Published by Cedar Fort, Inc.)
Blog Tour Dates:January 23 – February 10, 2012
Book Release Date:February 8, 2012

I am very excited to officially invite you to be a part of the Delivering Hope blog tour. Please read on for a brief summary of the book and a few endorsements.

Olivia Spencer wants to be a mom more than anything else in the whole world, but years of infertility have wounded her soul and placed a strain on her marriage to Michael. Now, Olivia finds herself wondering if the life she has built will even survive.
Allison Campbell is a recent high school graduate who discovers that a moment of excitement has led to an unplanned pregnancy and an overwhelming heartache.
As the lives of these two women touch, we see that deep love can pave the way for sacrifice, and we all learn the true source of hope and healing.


“Delivering Hope is a great read! In addition, it’s also a novel that daughters and their moms should each go through and then get together to discuss what they’ve learned. Delivering Hope lives up to its title.”
-Jack Weyland, best-selling author of Charly

“Somewhere in the world a pregnancy test is negative...and a woman weeps. Somewhere else in the world a pregnancy test is positive...and another woman weeps. In Delivering Hope, the miracle of adoption brings them together. Holt has masterfully crafted an astonishingly honest and gripping account of the journey, the joy, and the Hope that is made possible through adoption and the Atonement of Jesus Christ. A must-read for anyone interested in adoption, and a page-turning, entertaining read for anyone interested in the real life drama we know as choice, consequences, sacrifice, selflessness, and pure love.”
–Wesley D. Hutchins, Esq., Adoption Attorney, Adoptive Father
–President, Utah Adoption Council

“An engaging and accurate account of individuals dealing with loss, grief, love, and hope through the adoption process. As someone who has worked with people on all sides of the adoption process, I would say Delivering Hope is a must-read for anyone whose life has been touched by infertility or adoption, as well as anyone who enjoys a well-written and uplifting story.”
-Sarah Burgess, Esq., MSW, Licensed Social Worker
I will be giving away a signed copy of the book to 2 individuals who enter the drawing via the blog tour. I will also be giving away a signed bookmark and Delivering Hope magnet to 5 individuals. (Details on entering the drawing will be in the next e-mail if you accept this invitation.)

If you accept, I will e-mail you a PDF Advanced Readers Copy, along with all of the other information you will need. I would ask you to review the book on your blog on the day we decide on, as well as to post reviews on the websites of Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Goodreads, Shelfari, and LibraryThing.

Thank you for your time! Please e-mail me ([email protected]) to let me know that you would like to join this blog tour, as well as to provide a couple of dates that would work for you to post your review. If you would like to do an interview to go along with your post, I’d be happy to do that as well. Just let me know.

Web Pages of Interest

Delivering Hope Book Trailer:www.bit.ly/peCixw
My blog:www.jenshopefulwriting.blogspot.com
Facebook:www.facebook.com/DeliveringHopeNovel

I look forward to hearing from you!
-Jennifer Ann Holt, author of Delivering Hope

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR OF "PERPETUAL LIGHT", JORDAN K. ROSE

Hello Jordan, thank you so much for the opportunity to interview you. My first question after reading your bio is, do you still work at crafting and art even though you have turned most of your creativity to writing?

What a great question. I wish I could, but my time is so limited that crafting is one of the things I’ve had to put on a backburner. I’m always trying to find more time to write so the idea of painting or sewing doesn’t sound as appealing as sitting at the computer. Of course, neither does getting on the treadmill, but some things just shouldn’t be avoided!

When writing do you find that your entire story is made up in your head or do you ever find things and people around you that influence you?

I think that everything around me has some influence on my writing, but I have not written a scene that has been taken directly from something that’s happened around or to me. I find it very challenging to include real life events in my books. It feels very uncomfortable to use them. Though, characters do have idiosyncrasies or certain traits of people I’ve met or known. For example, Lucia’s boyfriend, Michael doesn’t like Nutella and neither does my husband!

Your book "Perpetual Light" has a little to do with reincarnation, are you a believer in reincarnation?

I’m really not, but I still wonder. I believe in heaven, though a part of me wonders if souls have an option of returning for another go-around. So, I guess I have this idea that you go to heaven and then after being there for a while you could ask to come back for another lifetime but it’s not required. I laugh when I write this because I’m sure Sister Rose who taught my catechism classes when I was being confirmed would not approve.

Your next book is called "Eva Prim" can you tell us more about this venture and what drew you to her story?

I’d love to talk about Eva. She is a vampire on the hunt for friends, which is somewhat challenging for her as she’s obstinate and opinionated, emotional, excitable, aggressive and well-meaning, though completely entrenched in her own perspective on the world. Although it’s a vampire store, it’s on the lighter side in spite of the accidental deaths that might occur due to her overzealous personality.

What other genres have you thought about writing if any?

Since I love vampire stories I’ll tell you I’ve thought about writing a horror novel where the vampires aren’t lovers or neighbors who happen to work the night shift. Instead they’re they monsters that lurk in the night. That’s a project that I keep notes on, knowing that someday I’ll sit down and pull everything together.

When you have time to read what do you like reading most?

Vampire stories! I love vampire romance. It adds the twist of the vampire’s conflict as the predator to the mix, which equates to the whole tortured hero/heroine ideal. And who doesn’t love a tortured hero? I love to read other stories, too. From romance to non-fiction. I hate to sound like I only read vampire stories, but as my time is so limited right now, they are my first choice.

Who are some of your inspirations in the writing world?

I guess I’d have to say Charlaine Harris, Bram Stoker, Anne Rice and Stephenie Myer. It was after I spent about eight weeks reading several of their books that I realized I had a great idea and that if they could do it, so could I. And by that I mean, if they could take a niggling of an idea and turn it into novel-length stories, then ride the wave to publication, I could do it to.

Do you allow your husband to read or critique your work?

Nope! He always asks to read a page or a paragraph or just one sentence, but I don’t let him. I’m too sensitive to his comments. And he means to be helpful but I want to pummel him whenever he tells me anything about my writing. Maybe someday this will change. I know Brenda Novak reads her work aloud to her husband as part of her process. I think it’s wonderful that she can do it and that he can sit and listen. I laugh when I think about my husband and me doing that. We have a long way to go before we’d ever reach that stage.

How many hours straight would you say you've sat at a keyboard typing away on a novel?

I’ve had some nice long weekend days spent writing. Maybe 9 or 10 hours working. Of course, I did take quick breaks for lunch and stretching, but otherwise I wrote straight through.

Do you have any advice you'd like to share with other authors, and what are your links where your books and more about you can be found?

Yes, keep writing, keep pitching and querying, just keep at it. It is very competitive but now is a great time to be a writer. It’s easier to query than ever before because you can do it from your desk, never having to go to the copy center or post office. There are a number of avenues for publication smaller press, indie publishing. Find what works for you and go for it.

Thanks so much for having me on today. I love the blog and am thrilled to be a part of it. I’m looking forward to meeting some of your readers and connecting with them on my other links, too.

My website iswww.jordankrose.com.
I’m on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jordankrose
And I’m on Twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/JordanKRose


JORDAN K. ROSE (AUTHOR BIO)

After trying her hand at many, many things- from crafting and art classes to cooking and sewing classes to running her own handbag business, Jordan finally figured out how to channel her creativity. With an active imagination and a little encouragement from her husband she sat down and began to write, each night clicking away at the keys with her black Labrador, Dino curled up under the desk.

A few short years later she’s entered the publishing arena with no plans to ever turn back.

Jordan’s a member of Rhode Island Romance Writers, as well as RWA National, and the New England (NEC), Connecticut, and Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal (FFnP) Chapters.

Her first book, Perpetual Light, releases in February of 2012 from Crescent Moon Press.


PERPETUAL LIGHT SYNOPSIS:

Fate is cruel. Especially when the one you’ve sworn to love for all eternity, the very soul who changed your destiny is the last person you should trust.

After more than three hundred years of running, Lucia Dicomano must make a choice.

Forced to take her place as a Pharo of Redemption, the divine slayer needs to master her forgotten powers. Lucia turns to Vittorio, the one vampire she’s failed to deliver from eternal damnation. But overcoming smoldering remnants of love, lust and anger aren’t their only obstacles.

Samuel, who may know Lucia better than she knows herself, hunts her with a fervor stoked by a thousand years of vengeful hatred. His plan—capture and enslave the weakened Pharo then take control of her elusive power.

Can Lucia trust Vittorio long enough to reclaim her powers? Or will she have no choice but to kill him and battle Samuel alone?

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Book Title:"The Storm Dragon's Heart"
Author:David Alastair Hayden
Published By:Typing Cat Press
Age Recommended:10 +
Reviewed By:Kitty Bullard
Raven Rating:5

Review:A young wizard's apprentice Turesobei is bored with learning the ways of magic, tired of the lessons his elder is trying to teach him and wishes for high adventure. When he ends up getting his wish however, he realizes that sometimes it's far better to be happy with what you have than what you have no idea about.

I greatly enjoyed this book, yet another wonderful tale from Typing Cat Press, and the amazing authors there. David Alastair Hayden weaves a magical tale of enchantment, with all the finer elements that makes fantasy what it is. There is something for everyone in this one, lands of excitement, creatures unknown and magical, a tale of love and so much adventure you can barely keep up! It left me breathless and the characters were completely loveable. I would recommend this book to both young and old readers and don't be surprised if it reminds you of older tales you've read before. This books definitely makes your imagination work but the cover art is beautiful and lends its own spark to the story. This one is definitely a good read!

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INTERVIEW WITH AUTHOR OF "THE BRIDGE OF DEATHS" M.C.V. EGAN

Hello Catalina, and thank you for allowing us the chance to interview you. After reading your novel I was both amazed and touched by the story of your search to figure out the mystery of your grandfather's death. What was it that led you to begin this journey?

There is such a connection I feel, always felt to my grandfather. The letter found on pages 82 and 83 of The Bridge of Deaths, where the CEO of INTAVA; the European branch of Standard Oil of New Jersey wrote that it was 'one of those mysteries that would never be solved' well those words bothered me enormously and made me very serious, determined if you like to try to solve the mystery.

I also felt a tremendous affinity to him, to the personality I imagined him to be by the table-side stories from relatives and was told my ease to learn languages was a gift I inherited from him. One of my sister's refers to it as an obsession, who knows? Perhaps I was obsessed more than determined.

You mention in your bio that you speak a wealth of different languages such as English, Spanish, French, and Swedish. How was it you came to learn these languages and was it just something you did because you wanted to?

I am originally from Mexico City Mexico, where I lived for 11 years as a child. My father worked for the World Bank and my family was relocated to the Washington D.C. Area where I lived for about 13 years. I was fortunate to be able to study in Lyons, France at the Catholic University and at 22 I married a Swedish man and lived in Sweden for 5 years. After my divorce at the age of 27 I returned to the States and have lived in various parts of the US.

I do have an ease with languages but I also worked hard to memorize verb conjugations, vocabulary and tried to conquer prepositions, sometimes to no avail!

When my mom saw me crying one day after my divorce she told me not to be sad and that I was young and would meet someone...my answer got me a nice smack in the back of the head! "I wish he'd been German it is a far more useful language than Swedish", She is very Catholic and found it absolutely terrible my main concern was a language!

I listen to German CDs in my car and I am still trying to learn, so I guess my grandfather (he was fluent in five languages) is an obsession and languages are a passion!

Your book deals with the subject of reincarnation, tell us about your beliefs and perhaps any experiences that you've had that have made this belief stronger.

I had strange dreams when I met my husband of 20 years Tom Egan. A friend I discussed my dreams with assured me that we were two souls meeting again, and that we had many lives. I did not accept the philosophy with great ease, and I am a skeptic who loves to look for ways to question EVERYTHING!

However I have experienced several past life regressions and have benefited enormously from the experience. All in all I should be considered a believer, but I do not like to impose my beliefs on anyone, that is why I very carefully designed my characters to be Maggie; the absolute believer, Bill; the skeptic and Catalina the doubter, not sure what she believes in.
I am very secure in my beliefs, so there Catalina and I deviate very strongly. The Catalina in the book is far more obsessed and entangled in the story, she is alone and she's not a mother, which is a very full-time occupation.

I needed to keep the same name because there is a sea-plane called a Catalina and that opened so many doors for me, the name Catalina as the aviation people who helped me felt I was "named after a sort of Aircraft" she is however a small part of who I was perhaps five to ten years ago and I emphasize a small part of the complete individual that i am.

As a result of your search for answers you have traveled quite a bit. Did you get a chance to take in any of the sights while in Denmark and England?

Absolutely! I love to play the tourist and museums, parks, famous buildings and local food! As I lived in Europe for 7 years and mostly in Southern Sweden I have had the opportunity to visit Denmark a lot, and not for the purpose of research only. I made three visits specifically for the book to Denmark one in 1996,2000 and 2002. My husband Tom was with me in 1996 and we made it a great adventure even got to see Iceland, which is an amazing place, the only country that officially recognizes certain mythical beings such as fairies I forget which others...and when you see the natural rock formations, you cannot argue with them!

The UK and London specifically I was very lucky to visit numerous times thanks to my husband's work. There too whenever possible we have gone to many interesting places and in 2004 actually got to see Scotland and Ireland as well.
I simply love to travel and I find the world is full of such wonders everywhere I go.

Tell us about the book you are now working on with your co-author Jolie DeMarco.

It is far more paranormal than historical, a little wilder, a little edgier. Jolie Demarco owns a magical place in Boca Raton, Florida called My Flora Aura. She is a channel, a psychic and a Reiki Master. So working with her is an adventure in and of itself! The book is called 4COVERT2OVERT and I believe readers will enjoy it, I am certainly having fun writing it!

Do you already have other ideas for more books in the near future?

Many! I have had the outlines and ideas for many, but felt the first had to be about the crash of the G-AESY. Now that the obsession has been fed...I am free to write about ANYTHING and EVERYTHING!

When you get a chance to read, what are your most favorite kinds of books?

As you saw for The Bridge of Deaths I had to read and study many history books, and some were so fascinating, especially the diaries of English politicians. I am a fan of many authors, I have read all but one John Irving's books of which my favorite is The Water Method Man.

I love W. Sommerset Maugham and although not my favorite amongst his books, I love that he wrote a book titled CATALINA and the story begins with a Catholic Religious feast which just happens to be on August 15th, (The Ascension of Virgin Mary). If you notice the date it is also the day the G-AESY crashed and when the character Catalina goes to confession the priest is Father Vergara, the V in M.C.V. Egan stands for my maiden name VERGARA! Some coincidences? A friend found that for me and she introduced me to Maugham's work with the tremendous flattery that my letters (before e-mails) reminded her of the way he wrote! I wish of course!

I love to read, and every book is a journey and these days I am meeting self-published, Indie authors with such a variety of styles and ideas that frankly I cannot say there is one kind of book I enjoy, there are probably very few books I would not enjoy!

Do you have any inspirations in the literary world?

Many, but I love to write imaginary letters to W. Sommerset Maugham so he would be at the top of my list. I am trully inspired by all that I read. I am very fond of well written short stories, Jeffrey Archer is a master at those.

Do you allow your husband and son to read over and critique your work?

Not lately...perhaps proof read once a work is finished as Tom did with TBOD. Austin is 13 so he read about half of the book and then scolded me for some of what he referred to as the in-appropriate scenes! He will need to be older, especially for 4COVERT2OVERT!

If you have any advice you'd like to share with other authors we'd love to hear it, and also please include links to where we can find out more about you and your work.

I cannot be so presumptious as to assume I can give advice! So I just want to wish any and all authors out there the best of success with their work. I guess there is one rule of thumb for every writer and that would be READ and read a lot!

I am a guest at Nancy Cudis' Simple Clockwork where at the end of each month I give writing tips.

http://www.nancycudis.com/

I have a website with all my updates at:

http://www.thebridgeofdeaths.com

I blog a little and tweet all under either M.C.V Egan, Catalina Egan or The Bridge of Deaths and all that is always streamed through facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Bridge-of-Deaths/130675087014521

Thank you so much for your time Catalina, I hope to do this again soon!

Thank you Kitty, I am really honored to be your guest at Great Minds Think Aloud.

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