Lena Nelson Dooley Interview & "A Texas Christmas" Feature

I'm honored Lena Nelson Dooley is here with us sharing about her new Christmas novella!!!

*Lena is offering a giveaway of this book! See red text at post's end for details.

Let's dive right in. Hi, Lena! What are some of the spiritual themes you like to write about?

I often include spiritual themes about forgiveness/unforgiveness, trusting God or not trusting God for all things, even dealing with root of bitterness or a poor self-image. I want the readers to see how they can deal with similar problems with the Lord.

What other books of yours are coming out soon?

My next book is Love Is Patient. It’s a novella collection as well.

If you could spend an evening with one contemporary person (not a family member of yours), who would it be and why?

I would love for James and me to spend one evening with George and Laura Bush. Our lives have several things in common but many more things that aren’t.

What historical person would you like to meet (besides Jesus) and why?

Queen Esther. She is my favorite Bible character. I wonder if I could have risked my life the way she did. There are so many nuances in the book of Esther in the Bible that I find fascinating.

How can you encourage authors who have been receiving only rejections from publishers?

Rejections are a fact of life for most authors. I’d tell them to learn to recognize that a rejection of a manuscript isn’t rejection of them as a person. And there are a large number of reasons a publisher might reject a manuscript, even though the manuscript is publication ready. They might have a similar book coming out by another author or the book is very good but doesn’t fit what they need at the time.

Tell us about the featured book.

A Texas Christmas is a novella collection.

  Six Romances from the Historic Lone Star State
Herald the Season of Love

Here Cooks the Bride by Cathy Marie Hake - Lacey Mather's delicious cooking is warming many hearts and stomachs--especially those of a closed-mouth blacksmith. But she has no plans to stay in Texas.

A Christmas Chronicle by Pamela Griffin - Travis McCoy is a nomadic photographer with no time to put down roots, find a wife, and raise a family. But then he meets the unconventional Vivian Sager.

To Hear Angels Sing by Ramona Cecil - Bridget O'Keefe leaves Chicago to teach Indian orphans and quickly experiences the hostility the Comanche face from locals like Seth Krueger who blame then for the death of his parents.

The Face of Mary by Darlene Franklin - Mary "Polly" Jessup holds onto a promise of marriage made five years ago, but when Joey Carpenter returns from law school with a new outlook and a new girlfriend, her future hopes are dashed.

Charlsey’s Accountant by Lena Nelson Dooley - Charlsey Ames can rope, ride, and work the ranch with the men and never thought she's be attracted to accountant Harold Miller, III, a citified tenderfoot.

Plain Trouble by Kathleen Y’Barbo - An expert tracker, the plain Bessie Mae Ames is content unmarried, until Texas Ranger Josef Mueller rides into town, trailing a wanted man.

Can you give us the first page of the book?

September 1879

“Excuse me, sir.”

Jeff halted mid-motion, his shovel full of coal. Black dust swirled around his thick boots as he glanced at the young lady. Oh, and she was definitely a lady. Judging from her so-very-proper Boston accent, the Daddy-has-money traveling suit with all the fuss and bother, and her wide hazel eyes, this gal wasn’t just out of place; she was lost.

“Might I impose for a moment to inquire as to the location of your local diner?”

He dumped the coal into his wheelbarrow and stood to his full height. “Diner’s closed. Best hop back aboard the train and try Meadsville.”

The feather in her stylish hat swayed back and forth as she gave her head a small shake. “I fear I did not make myself known. I’m Lacey Mather, and I’ve come to help my great-aunt Millie at the diner.”

“Millie’s your great-aunt?” Jeff couldn’t hide the surprise in his voice. On her better days, Millie looked as if she’d been caught in a whirlwind. Most of the time, she looked like she sorted bobcats for a living. No man in his right mind would imagine Millie as kin to this dainty blond beauty.

“Yes.” Miss Mather folded her white-gloved hands at her …

Love it! How can readers find you on the Internet?

Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com

Blog: Http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley

Twitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley  

Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_Dooley

http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/cms_content?page=1728796&sp=67484&event=67484|1728796|67484

Blogtalk Radio: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/along-came-a-writer/

www.linkedin.com

www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooley

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDE

Award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 800,000 copies of her books sold. Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandsons. 

She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year.  

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW. She's a member of Christian Authors' Network, CROWN Fiction Marketing, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.



LENA is generously giving away a PAPERBACK copy of A Texas Christmas!!! To enter, comment with your email address. Giveaway ends Tuesday, September 22 at 5p.m. CST. Winner will be announced in a post on September 24.

FOR INSTANT EXTRA ENTRIES: In the comment, you can request that your email be added to my e-newsletter or Lena's e-newsletter!

Comment fodder:

What's your favorite thing about books set during Christmas?
Fresh, cold snow? 
Remembering the Biblical Christmas account?  
Seeing what gifts the characters give one another?
Something else? Tell us in the comments below!!