MIRALEE FERRELL'S BLOG TOUR FOR THE OTHER DAUGHTER:
UPDATED BLOG LIST -- SCROLL DOWN TO ENTER A DRAWING TO WIN A COPY!

Kick off day
Oct. 20th, Karen Phillips---Sky-High View
http://sky-highview.blogspot.com/

LaShaunda Hoffman—See Ya On The Net
http://lashaunda.blogspot.com/
http://sormagtours.blogspot.com/


21st Angie Arndt---The Road I'm Traveling
http://psmcmanus.blogspot.com/

22nd Deena Peterson---Deena's Books
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/

22nd Teresa Morgan---Teresa Morgan's Blog
http://www.teresamorgan.blogspot.com/

23rd Rose McCauley---Stories of Faith, Hope and Love
http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

23rd Pattie Reitz----Fresh Brewed Writer
www.xanga.com/pattierwrandhttp://freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/

24th Cecelia Dowdy---New Christian Fiction Reviews
http://www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com/

Tiffany Amber Stockton--A Fiction-Filled Life
http://www.ambermiller.com/

25th Bonnie Way---The Koala Bear Writer
http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com/

Stormi Johnson---Write Thoughts
http://writesthoughts.blogspot.com/

26th Robin Grant---Queen Of Perseverance
http://queenofperseverance.blogspot.com/

27th Delia Latham---The Melody Within
http://themelodywithin.blogspot.com/

28th Jennie McGhan---Jen's Life Journey
http://www.shoutlife.com/cmpctjen
andhttp://jenslifejourney.blogspot.com/

29th Susan Lohrer ---Inspirational Editor
http://www.inspirationaleditor.blogspot.com/

30th Carla Stewart---Carla’s Writing Café
http://www.carlastewart.blogspot.com/

31st Christina Berry--- Posting with Purpose
http://www.authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com/

November

1st Bonnie Leon---Bonnie's Blog
http://www.bonnieleon.blogspot.com/

2nd Jan Parrish---Bold and Free
http://www.caregiverscorner.blogspot.com/

3rd Tina Helmuth---The Ink's Not Dry
http://tinahelmuth.blogspot.com/

4th Teresa Slack---ShoutLife Blog
http://www.shoutlife.com/teresaslack
http://www.teresaslack.blogspot.com/

5th Pam Meyers---A Writer’s Journey
http://pammeyerswrites.blogspot.com/

6th Betsy St. Amant---Betsy Ann's Blog
http://www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com/

7th Megan DiMaria---A Prisoner of Hope
http://www.megandimaria.blogspot.com/

8th Christa Allan---CBAllan WordPress
http://www.cballan.wordpress.com/

9th Susan Marlow---Suzy Scribbles---Homeschool Blogger
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SuzyScribbles/

10th Jamie Driggers---Surviving the Chaos
http://www.survivingthechaos.blogspot.com/

11th Cindy Bauer----Christian Fiction Author & Speaker
http://www.cindybauer.blogspot.com/

12th Angie Breidenbach---God Uses Broken Vessels
http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/

13th Patricia Carroll---Patricia PacJac Carroll
http://patriciapacjaccarroll.blogspot.com/

14th Toni V. Lee---Spreading Truth Through Fiction
http://tonivlee.blogspot.com/

15th Camille Eide---Faith Inspiring Fiction
http://camillecannon.blogspot.com/

16th Lisa Jordan---Musings
http://lisadjordan.blogspot.com/


WIN A COPY OF THE OTHER DAUGHTER:

Leave a comment on my Miralee Ferrell/The Other Daughter blog tour post (interview, posted just prior to this). You can increase your chances by visiting other blogs on the tour. For every blog on the tour you visit and comment on, your name will be entered again. Be sure to give your blog link or email address in order to be contacted if you win.

Miralee Ferrell
Author of The Other Daughter---Read the opening scene:
Web Site http://www.miraleeferrell.com
Blog: http://www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com/

GodTube.com---See a short video trailer
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1b06e5749a83e6bed239

INTERVIEW WITH MIRALEE FERRELL, AUTHOR OF THE OTHER DAUGHTER--SCROLL DOWN TO ENTER DRAWING

TO WIN THE BOOK!

Miralee, you piqued my interest in this novel by describing a situation that hits close to home. We adopted both our children. What gave you the idea for a story about a child who shows up looking for a biological parent?

Great question and one that has a very personal answer. I was brainstorming with a friend who suggested I use an experience from my life as the basis or theme for my first novel. I ran through several scenarios in my head, as we've had many interesting things happen in our marriage...some great, some not. This personal incident did indeed capture the essense of secrets, forgiveness, and healing--not as much in my life as in our marriage and the life of an 18- year-old girl. About 17 yrs ago my husband received a letter stating a young woman believed him to be her biological father she'd never met. We agreed to meet and hear her story, and after some investigation came to believe he probably was her dad. The episode was similar to that of David in the book--a one night stand prior to his becoming a Christian, but that's where the similarity stops. He was not dating me at the time, and I had a strong relationship with the Lord and didn't have a problem accepting Trish into our lives.

David's character and responses are much more me than my husband, and the way Susanne deals with stress depicted my husband in the earlier years of marriage. He struggled with alcohol and 'kicked against the pricks' to use a biblical term....or just plain fought against anyone's authority being above his, including God. That's since changed, and our marriage is strong and stable, but it wasn't always. We did have a divided household where the aspect of our faith was involved and many times it was tough. Very tough. Some of David's frustrations with Susanne and her way of dealing with life came from my memories of the same type of circumstances.

Many new writers like myself need lots of encouragement to keep plugging away! Tell us how your writing journey began and developed.

I know a lot of writer's say the Lord told them to start writing, and I'm among them, but mine circumstances were a little out of the ordinary. Two-and-a-half years ago I attended church and sat under a visiting minister who I trust and respect. I went forward for a small prayer need, can't even remember what, now. He began to pray for me and stopped and looked me in the eye. "The Lord just told me you're supposed to be writing. I have no idea what...short stories, poetry, fiction...but it needs to be published." That was the jist of his message and I took it home and spent two weeks praying it through.

I decided it witnessed to my spirit and lined up with what other's had gently suggested in the past, but I'd disregarded, as I didn't feel I had any particular talent in that area. I spent the first 3 months writing my autobiography covering the time period from my marriage to the present, but from a mostly spiritual viewpoint. After talking to a few people I discovered there was no market for something like that, so began writing short-story, non fiction and sold a few pieces to magazines. I was too new and green to realize how fast everything was happening and soared on in to someone else's suggestion that I try my hand at Christian fiction.

The idea for The Other Daughter exploded in my heart and the entire rough draft was completed 5 weeks later. It took several more months to refine and revise it, and another couple of months beyond that to secure an agent. From that point on, as He'd done so far, the Lord was in control. He brought my agent into my life, and orchestrated the circumstances for the contacts I made that landed me a contract with Kregel. I take no credit for anything that's been done so far....after all, God told me through a visiting pastor I should be writing, or I'd still be selling stuff on Ebay and puttering around the house, wondering what to do with my time, LOL!

Hopefully when a novelist writes, he or she is primarily interested in creating human characters and a page-turning story. However, consciously or unconsciously, a message or theme of some sort unfolds when the reader picks up the book. What message does The Other Daughter convey?

The most important theme to me is the one of releasing control of your life to your Heavenly Father, and seeing that He cares more about your future than you ever can. Until a person bows their will to His and falls into His arms, there will be no true, lasting peace....and it's tough to find real forgiveness, or give it to others.

The character of Grandfather, a part Native American relative of David's, didn't exist in the first rough draft, but came quite some time after. He was brought into the picture to help both David and Susanne examine their motives and reactions to one another and to Brianna, on a deeper level. He's a picture of the unconditional love that we all wish for in our lives and the type of person we could all use, when we're heading the wrong direction.

Visit the site and buy the book.

WIN A COPY OF THE OTHER DAUGHTER:
Leave a comment on my Miralee Ferrell/The Other Daughter blog tour post (interview, posted just prior to this). You can increase your chances by visiting other blogs on the tour. For every blog on the tour you visit and comment on, your name will be entered again. Be sure to give your blog link or email address in order to be contacted if you win.

Miralee Ferrell, author of The Other Daughter.

Read the opening scene
Web Site http://w3.gorge.net/miralee/Author.html
Blog: http://www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com/

GodTube.com---See a short video trailer
http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=1b06e5749a83e6bed239

COMING OCT. 20 THE OTHER DAUGHTER BLOG TOUR

The girl standing at the door took a deep breath, pulling her suitcase a little closer to her trembling legs. "My mama's dead. He's my daddy." Susanne Carson knew that she could trust the love of her life—her husband, David—until she discovered a strange, unkempt young girl on their doorstep, claiming to be David's daughter. Not that their marriage had ever been perfect—David's decision to embrace the Christian faith had strained their relationship. Susanne may not have agreed with his beliefs, but at least she trusted him. Had David been hiding this not-so-little secret from his past? He wanted Susanne to believe in his God, but believing hadn't done much to keep David out of another woman's arms.

As David confronts the truth of his past, Susanne must face her own moment of truth as her marriage is taken to the breaking point, and the life of one young girl is left in her hands.


Read the entire opening scene at Miralee's web site:
http://www.miraleeferrell.com/

The Other Daughter, releasing November 5th, will be available in stores near you, or you can order from http://www.amazon.com/ or http://www.christianbook.com/


The Other Daughter by Miralee Ferrell Blog Tour

New participants:

Oct. 20th, Karen Phillips--Sky-High View
http://sky-highview.blogspot.com/

And

LaShaunda Hoffman—See Ya On The Net
http://lashaunda.blogspot.com/
http://sormagtours.blogspot.com/


Oct. 21st Angie Arndt---The Road I'm Traveling
http://psmcmanus.blogspot.com/


Oct. 22nd Deena Peterson---Deena's Books
http://deenasbooks.blogspot.com/

Teresa Morgan---Teresa Morgan's Blog
http://www.teresamorgan.blogspot.com/

Oct. 23rd Rose McCauley---Stories of Faith, Hope and Love
http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

Pattie Reitz----Fresh Brewed Writer
www.xanga.com/pattierwrandhttp://freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/

Oct. 24th Cecelia Dowdy---New Christian Fiction Reviews
http://www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com/

Tiffany Amber Stockton--A Fiction-Filled Life
http://www.ambermiller.com/

Oct. 25th Bonnie Way---The Koala Bear Writer
http://thekoalabearwriter.blogspot.com/

Stormi Johnson---Write Thoughts
http://writesthoughts.blogspot.com/

Oct. 26th Robin Grant---Queen Of Perseverance
http://queenofperseverance.blogspot.com/

Oct. 27th Delia Latham---The Melody Within
http://themelodywithin.blogspot.com/

Oct. 28th Jennie McGhan---Jen's Life Journey
http://www.shoutlife.com/cmpctjen
and http://jenslifejourney.blogspot.com/

Oct. 29th Susan Lohrer ---Inspirational Editor
http://www.inspirationaleditor.blogspot.com/

Oct. 30th Carla Stewart---Carla’s Writing Café
http://www.carlastewart.blogspot.com/

Oct. 31st Christina Berry--- Posting with Purpose
http://www.authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com/

Nov. 1st Bonnie Leon---Bonnie's Blog
http://www.bonnieleon.blogspot.com/

Nov. 2nd Jan Parrish---Care Giver's Corner
http://www.caregiverscorner.blogspot.com/

Nov. 3rd Tina Helmuth---The Ink's Not Dry
http://tinahelmuth.blogspot.com/

Nov. 4th Teresa Slack---ShoutLife Blog
http://www.shoutlife.com/teresaslack

Nov. 5th Pam Meyers---Pammy Meyers Writes
http://pammeyerswrites.blogspot.com/

Nov. 6th Betsy St. Amant---Betsy Ann's Blog
http://www.betsy-ann.blogspot.com/

Nov. 7th Megan DiMaria---A Prisoner of Hope
http://www.megandimaria.blogspot.com/

Nov. 8th Christa Allan---CBAllan WordPress
http://www.cballan.wordpress.com/

Nov. 9th Susan Marlow---Suzy Scribbles---Homeschool Blogger
http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/SuzyScribbles/

Nov. 10th Jamie Driggers---Surviving the Chaos
http://www.survivingthechaos.blogspot.com/

Nov. 11th Cindy Bauer----Christian Fiction Author & Speaker
http://www.cindybauer.blogspot.com/

Nov. 12th Angie Breidenbach---God Uses Broken Vessels
http://godusesbrokenvessels.blogspot.com/

Nov. 13th Patricia Carroll---Patricia PacJac Carroll
http://patriciapacjaccarroll.blogspot.com/

Nov. 14th Toni V. Lee---Spreading Truth Through Fiction
http://tonivlee.blogspot.com/

Nov. 15th Camille Eide---Faith Inspiring Fiction
http://camillecannon.blogspot.com/



  

REVIEW--Tricia Goyer's New Book

for Teens: MY LIFE UNSCRIPTED

Post a comment by Thursday, October 11,

11 p.m. Eastern, to enter drawing for book!

Less than a year ago, I was still mother to one teen, less than three years ago, mother to two. Too bad in those days I couldn't refer to My Life Unscripted. Tricia Goyer has written a nonfiction book a teen daughter and her mother could relish together.

The TV/movie script format gives a novel approach to guiding teens as they navigate the minor but not insignificant and the major choices of their everyday lives. Tricia has chosen bravely, revealing mistakes she made as a teen--these are some of the book's scripted scenes--and the life-changing consequences her decisions caused.

Quotes from real teens pepper the purple-print pages. Ashley, age 17, from Pennsylvania says,"

I find it hard to root for myself. There are so many people that expect different things of me and I feel like I can't please everyone, and that makes me frustrated."

Tricia doesn't shy from tough topics, but addresses them--The Hottie (boyfriends), Admission (what does beauty cost?), Inner Conflict (battling insecurity) are three of twenty. Questions and action points for each topic provoke thought and discussion. The author speaks from her heart to young women, producing a practical study guide an individual teen can read in devotional fashion or a Sunday School or Bible study group can work through together.

In My Life Unscripted, Tricia Goyer opens up and becomes vulnerable in speaking to teen readers. The delightful result? Honesty a young woman can respect and trust and a compass for making decisions in the days and years to come.

Click here to read Chapter 1:

http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2007/06/my-life-unscripted.html

Buy the book:

http://www.amazon.com/My-Life-Unscripted-Whos-Writing/dp/1400310520/ref=sr_1_1/102-7449010-4236950?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1185990173&sr=1-1

Tricia's blogs:

http://www.triciagoyer.blogspot.com/

www.shoutlife.com/triciagoyer

Tricia's website:

http://www.triciagoyer.com/