When
you leave a comment on THIS post by 6 p.m. CT Sunday, February 2, 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 be eighteen, have a U.S. mailing address, void where prohibited. You can read details about my book
giveaways at Disclaimers.
Hearts Rekindled by Patty Smith Hall
Our guest blogger is Patty Smith Hall. Patty has
been making up stories to keep herself occupied since she was knee-high to a
grasshopper. Now she’s thrilled to share her love of history and storytelling
with everyone, including her husband of thirty years, Danny; her beautiful and
talented daughters, Jennifer and Carly, and her future son-in-law, Dan.
Welcome,
Patty. What fun or unique things can you tell us about yourself?
1) Unlike most writers, I don’t
have a shy bone in my body so I’ve had to learn to be alone to write.
2) I read six newspapers a day;
five from all over the US and one from overseas. And I’m a magazine junkie!
Please
describe yourself with three words.
Determined, patient and frugal
What do you
enjoy doing when you’re not writing?
I spend time with my family. Danny and I
particularly love to watch shows on PBS like Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife.
Right now, we’re catching up on episodes of The Paradise. Oh, I’m a HUGE Castle
fan! I’m talking HUGE! And of course, I love to read--usually get through ten
to fifteen books a month.
If you could have dinner with one person from today or
history (except Jesus), who would it be? Why?
Probably my husband’s
dad--I’ve heard stories about him for years and I’d like to see what he’s like
for myself.
Please tell us
about Hearts Rekindled.
This is the third book I’ve written for Love
Inspired Historical that’s based in WWII Georgia. Merrilee Davenport is trying
to find a way to get her daughter Claire to Warm Springs after a bout of polio
has left her legs weakened, and finds herself spying on a person who means the
world to her, her former husband’s adopted mother. And of course, just about
this time, John Davenport shows up with a letter from Claire, wanting to get
acquainted with the child he’d never known about. They’re thrown together
helping Claire and the other physically and mentally disabled children John’s
mother has taken in.
What takeaway
value do you hope your readers receive after reading this book?
When I first started writing this book, I was sure
it was going to be about how marriage, no matter who much you love a person,
was HARD! But as I kept writing, I saw a pattern of abandonment in my
characters that I could identify with at the time. I was struggling with
physical pain which can be very lonely. But the one thing I learned is God
never abandons us even when we may not feel His presence. That’s what I took
from the story and I hope the readers see that too.
Please tell
our readers where they can get your book.
You can find all my books at Amazon, Barnes and
Noble, CDB and Wal-Mart.
Please tell
our readers where they can find you online.
Any parting
comment?
If you’re a writer, just remember to keep plugging
away--you can’t eat an elephant in one day. Same goes for writing a book.
Patty, thank
you for spending time with my readers and me. One of the commenters will win in
a random drawing a copy of Hearts
Rekindled that you’ve offered.
Remember: leave a comment on THIS post by 6 p.m. CT Sunday, February 2, 2014 and
you'll be entered in the drawing for a copy of Hearts Rekindled by Patty Hall. 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.