Saturday, August 20, 2011

Interview with Shirley Connolly + Giveaway!

Hey everyone,
In addition to my book review for today, I have an interview with Shirley Connolly and guess what? She has offered to give away one PDF copy of her book, Say Goodbye to Yesterday, to one of my readers! This book sounds really interesting so I am sure you will want to enter. And I have to tell you, I am just the littlest bit jealous of Shirley. You know why? Not only is she a published author, but most of all, she has gone to Ireland!! I have always wanted to travel to Scotland or Ireland. I think I should have been born there:) Anyways, this is a wonderful author who I would love to meet some day. Please read this enlightening interview and then get your entries in below.


Thank you for being with us today, Shirley!!
How long have you known you wanted to be an author?
Since I was around eight years old. I doodled around with poems and limericks and short stories all the time from about second grade on. Then later, worked on my high school newspaper doing feature stories. It’s just always been a part of me, I guess. (My dad, who was a writer, must have had something to do with the way my brain worked.)

Can you tell me a little bit about your newest book?

Would love to. There are lots of blurbs going around, but here is the one I put on my Sell Sheet.

An unwed mother with a questionable past heads west to find the father of her daughters only to discover she is about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

And the story goes a little like this:

Scorned with disgrace, Annabelle Jordan and her daughters are no longer welcome in her reverend uncle's community. In need of a fresh touch of grace, Annabelle's in no mood to seek mercy yet. Not after carrying on a youthful affair with that scoundrel of a boyfriend long enough to produce two daughters before she finally sent him away.

Now without a home, Annabelle's convinced her answer is to find the man again and force that marriage he pledged but never kept. Annabelle believes only he can provide her daughters the name, home, security, and future they need. Who else would show interest in a soiled, aging woman over thirty with two growing children?

That was before Major Carlton Radcliffe entered her life. How was Annabelle to know she was about to fall for someone beyond her reach, loyal to the faith she's been fleeing and nobly pledged to a wife and family of his own?


When a reader gets done with your book, what do you want them to come away with?
Why it’s so important to think about the decisions we make in our lives, and how those decisions never just affect one person, but can change the dynamic in the lives of entire families, as well as all others around. We can ruin the lives of ourselves and so many with the bad choices we make. We can also become an asset to people we are involved with when we pray through and think carefully before moving forward in our lives.

Is there a place you have always wanted to visit? A vacation spot, historical monument, overseas, etc?
I’ve been very fortunate to have been able to travel to Ireland, which was something I always wanted to do. And I loved it when my husband and I got to spend five years on the East Coast and see Washington DC area and Virginia and the states that played such a great part in how this Country began. I really loved that. I would like to go back and see more of that, and a little more of the South. I think I would like to see Italy too, maybe just so I could write a story, using that as my setting.

If you could have dinner with 2 people, who would they be?
Hmmm. I’d love to have dinner with YOU, Charity, for one. That would be sweet. And I also think I would love to have dinner with Glenn Beck (AND HIS FAMILY) so I could share the LORD with them. Strange, huh.

What one event would you love to be at? Historical or future?
Can hardly wait for the RAPTURE to come and meet Jesus in the clouds. I really look forward to that day.

Do you have a favorite hobby?
I have lots of hobbies…needlework, singing and playing my guitar, enjoying my animals, redecorating my house. I LOVE redecorating, just wish I had the funds to do what I really would like to do. Right now I look for what I’ve got, and just try to make it work.
Is there something about you most people wouldn't know?
LOL… I doubt it. Between FACEBOOK, TWITTER, my EMAILS, my BLOG, my Devotional Books which are so ME, I think most people know me inside out, if they wish to.

Do you have any suggestions for the aspiring writer?
Only that a person should not give up if that is what she or he really believes God has called her or him to do. The bad days will come, and they often do, you know, when the brain just won’t work. But don’t stop. Whatever is there WILL come back, and you’ll be on your way again. Just hang in there. Who cares if you never become a millionaire doing it. That’s not the reason we should be writing anyway…not if we love doing it.

Any last thoughts for your readers?
I think the readers know I love them a lot, and it means a great deal to meet them and read their comments. They give me so much encouragement just letting me know they are around…somewhere.


And how can they connect with you?
Come see me at http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/ (I’m redoing my author website, so I will hold off on that address for now) And also PLEASE connect with me at my FACEBOOK AUTHOR PAGE and say hello now and again. I would LOVE TO SEE YOU THERE> https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Shirley-Kiger-Connolly-Author-Page/155515914463370 And once they read my books, please come to Amazon or Barnes and Noble or Booksamillion or any of my publishers, or Christian Book Distributors, and leave your reviews. Every little bit helps a newer author like me.

Thanks for being a guest today!
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR HAVING ME. IT WAS A DELIGHT, CHARITY.



So readers, sound like a book you would be interested in? A lovely author and a wonderful sounding book! Get your entries in below!!

MANDATORY ENTRY-
Leave an encouraging comment for Shirley for your mandatory entry. Being an author gets to be lonely so we can give them some encouragement. That is one reason why I started this blog and I think we need to show more appreciation to our authors:) Please leave your email in one of the comments so I can contact you if you are the winner.

EXTRA ENTRIES!!

1.Blog or post about this on Facebook. Get 3 entries for each.
2.Follow my blog via GFC, subscribe through RSS Feed or email or follow me on Twitter. Get one entry for each you do.
3.Enter any of my other currently running giveaways. Let me know which ones.
4.Leave a comment on any of my review only posts. This must be for reviews only! Leave a comment for each.
5.Friend Shirley on Facebook. Get two entries for this so leave two comments.

6.Become a GFC Follower of Shirley's blog, A Pen For Your Thoughts. Get three entries for this so leave 3 comments.


This giveaway will end 9/2. Winner will be chosen through Random.org and they will have 48 hours to respond or another winner will be chosen.

31 comments:

Jo said...

This book sounds great and would love to be added to the giveaway. Please enter me.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Jo said...

I'm a follower.

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

Thanks, Jo. I recognized your email. Aren't Charity's questions interesting! I loved having you stop by!
Shirley

LoRee Peery said...

Shirley has a heart that shows in every connection. I kind of sigh inside every time I see the title. And there's a hotel in downtown Lincoln with a staircase like the one on the cover.

Unknown said...

Is there really, LoRee? Oh, I'm going to have to go to Lincoln and see! Maybe they would like a POSTER of my book? LOL
Or they can pass out free ebook copies???
How do you PASS OUT EBOOKS? Now, that would be something to see.
smile
Thanks so much for writing in.
Shirley

Unknown said...

Hi Shirley, we are friends on Facebook and I enjoy seeing your postings. The cover and title of your book are indeed intriguing. I already know there is a good story between the covers. Thanks for this great giveaway and the chance to win. I hope I win!

A Christian Sister,
Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

I am a follower of Shirley's GFC site. Also a Networked follower.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

I am a GFC follower of Charity's blog.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

Shirley and I are friends on Facebook.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

I follow The Giveaway Lady on Twitter.

Barb Shelton
barbjan10 at tx dot rr dot com

Unknown said...

Thanks so much for writing in BARB. And I'll look for you closer on the author page. I'm glad you enjoy coming by. I really appreciate the visit. God bless
shirley

Rebecca said...

Shirley you sound like an amazing author. I will have to look for your books to read. Thank you so much for the chance to win this. I would love to win this. This looks like a great book. Thanks again.

agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I would love to read this.
gardnerad@juno.com

Shirley said...

Thanks for writing in, Rebecca. I do hope you will enjoy the book. It's not your typical inspy. And thank you, too, gardnerad, for writing in today. I hope you'll get a chance to read the book too. I would love to hear your comments about it when you're done. I noticed the reviews are coming in over at Barnes and Noble. God bless you both.
Shirley

Glenda said...

Congratulations on your book, Shirley and thank you for providing thoughtful and inspiring reading in an age where so much of what's available is not worthwhile or appropriate.

Darlene said...

I agree with what you said about people not realizing how our actions affect others. Too many people think too selfishly. What we do or say today may not have an immediate effect, but it could have an impact somewhere down the line.

Please enter me in the draw, and thanks for the giveaway!

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+3 shared on Facebook
(Darlene's Book Nook)

#1 of 3

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=246809402025566&id=100002541526103

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+3 shared on Facebook
(Darlene's Book Nook)

#2 of 3

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=246809402025566&id=100002541526103

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+3 shared on Facebook
(Darlene's Book Nook)

#3 of 3

http://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=246809402025566&id=100002541526103

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 following you on GFC (Darlene)

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 following by email

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 following by RSS

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+1 following you on Twitter
(@DarleneBookNook)

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+2 friend Shirley on Facebook
(Darlene's Book Nook)

#1 of 2

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+2 friend Shirley on Facebook
(Darlene's Book Nook)

#2 of 2

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+3 GFC Follower of Shirley's blog
(Darlene)

#1 of 3

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+3 GFC Follower of Shirley's blog
(Darlene)

#2 of 3

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Darlene said...

+3 GFC Follower of Shirley's blog
(Darlene)

#3 of 3

darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

Good to hear from you Glenda and Darlene. Everyone is so encouraging. Makes it all worthwhile1

skgaff said...

I love that you are putting such an important message in your books! It is such an inspiration to read a book and come out feeling like it was time well spent and that it truly impacted your life.
glass.stephanie(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

No better way to do a promotion than to see your perfect ending, Stephanie. Thanks.

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