Book Drawing

When you leave a comment on THIS post by 6 p.m. CT Sunday, February 23, 2014 you'll be entered in the DRAWING for a copy of the book I mention below. If you mention in your comment that you’re a follower (see in the left column “Join This Site” and “Follow by Email”), I’ll add your name a second time in the drawing. You must have a U.S. mailing address. You can read details about my book giveaways at Disclaimers. 

Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman

Our guest blogger is Pam Hillman, author of Claiming Mariah. Pam was born and raised on a dairy farm in Mississippi and spent her teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor raking hay. She didn’t mind raking. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so Pam spent her time working on her tan and making up stories in her head. Now, that’s the kind of life every girl should dream of! Claiming Mariah is her second novel.

Welcome, Pam. Please describe yourself with three words.

Southern country girl.

Please tell us a little about your novel, Claiming Mariah.

After her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Frederick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.

With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he unearths more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal, and murder threatens the well-being of the ranch, endangering those who hold it dear. As the days dwindle until the rest of the Donovan clan arrives at the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed changes their futures forever.

What takeaway value do you want your readers to have?

One reader’s review starts out “Hunky bad-boy hero. Beautiful, desperate heroine…” I love it! She was looking for a good read and got it. That makes me happy. Another reader took away a reminder to forgive and to pray for those who have hurt or offended us. Yes, she loved the story (yay!), but the spiritual aspect spoke to her as well. I like that, too.

I hope readers take away something that correlates to what they brought to the table when they started reading, whether that’s simply a sigh of satisfaction, or a deeper understanding of moral or spiritual question they’ve been struggling with.

 

If you could have dinner with one person from today or history (except Jesus) who would it be?

I think I would want to have dinner with Mary, the mother of Jesus. I would ask her what Jesus was like as a child. Was he a happy, laughing child, or a very serious one? What were her hopes and dreams, her fears? We’d spend the entire time talking about the 33 years he walked this earth.

What do you find the most enjoyable about writing?

I enjoy the early stages of dreaming up a story when that first little nugget of an amazing idea or character starts germinating. Eventually, I plot myself into a corner, and the real work begins!

Do you have a nugget of writing advice that has completely changed how you view writing?

When I first started writing, I didn’t realize how much I didn’t know about crafting a well-thought-out story. It’s not that I didn’t have the passion to write, or some unique ideas, or that they weren’t perfectly well-formed in living color inside my head, but I had a long way to go to get those stories onto paper so that readers would enjoy them. I’m still working on that!

Where can readers find you online?

Readers can find me at website. From there, they can sign up for my newsletter, read my blog, connect with me on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest. I look forward to meeting new friends.

Where can readers purchase Claiming Mariah?

Print and digital versions of Claiming Mariah can be ordered online or found in retail bookstores. All the buy links can be found at the books page of her website In addition, I’m very excited to report that Claiming Mariah can be purchased at Wal-Mart.

Any parting comments?

Thank you, Jo, for inviting me for a visit. I’d love for your readers to stay in touch either on facebook or by signing up for my newsletter.

Thank you, Pam for this interesting interview. One of the commenters on this post will receive a copy of Claiming Mariah which you graciously offered.

Remember: leave a comment on THIS post by 6 p.m. CT Sunday, February 23, 2014 and you'll be entered in the drawing for a copy of  Claiming Mariah by Pam Hillman. Please, please remember to leave your email address. I’ll need your email address so that should you be the winner I can get in touch with you. I’ll announce the winner in Monday’s blog.

Till next time … keep on smiling.