Interview Today on India's Crown! FREE book!

Hop on over to India's Crown blog for my interview today! FREE book to one guest! 

http://indiascrown.com/2015/05/04/one-woman-one-god-one-passion/

A stranger's life hangs in the balance . . .

A stranger’s life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.

The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she’s endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.

When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia’s doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia’s faith won’t let her turn him out.

As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit’s intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.

She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love and learn to depend on the Perfect Love that drives out all fear? Or will her new love be snatched away before it has a chance to bloom? 

Author of Snow on the Tulips, Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her novella, Under His Wings, appeared in the New York Times bestselling collection, A Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow on the Tulips, released in August of 2013. When not busy putting words to paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. 

Congratulations, Liz, on your debut novel, Snow on the Tulips! What inspired you to write this story? 

On April 11, 1945, the German occupiers marched 13 Resistance workers to the edge of a canal in the Netherlands and shot them. This was in retaliation for an incident a few days earlier in which the Resistance blew up rail lines and derailed a German train. Twelve of the men died. One survived. The man who survived was found and brought to my aunt's home. Though he was seriously wounded, she nursed him until the Canadians liberated the area just five days later. 

When my father visited the Netherlands, he heard this family story and brought it back. I was only in junior high at the time, but I was fascinated and knew that someday I wanted to tell the world what happened that day. I have taken the incident and fictionalized it and have also worked in other stories I've been told about the time. It was amazing to do the research and learn what great courage and faith these people had in the face of such desperate circumstances.

Wow, Liz, love it when real life inspires a novel. One of my favorite historical fascinations is WW II. Thanks for picking up this challenging, touching story and running with it!

 

What is one fun thing my readers might not know about you? 

Okay, totally off the wall. I love Swiss cake rolls. The Little Debbie kind. Anyway, I eat the chocolate coating first, then bite off the ends. Then I lick out all of the frosting on the inside and finally I eat the cake. Been doing it that way since I was little and I don't know why.

I'm giggling, Liz, 'cause you remind me of my sister. She had special ways of eating food, too. Like popcorn. She'd bite off the puffed balls, set them aside to collect into a pile, then stuff a fist full into her mouth. She also liked to soak a piece of white bread in the bottom of her bowl of chicken noodle soup. She's now a caterer. No surprise there. She loved experimenting with recipes while growing up.

Thanks for joining me and my readers today, Liz! 

God's best to you with Snow on the Tulips! 

Visit Liz at the following locations.

 

www.liztolsma.blogspot.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@LizTolsma). She is also a regular contributor to the Barn Door blog. 

Welcome, Sharon Srock, author of Women of Valley View: Terri! Giveaway!

Sharon Srock lives with her husband, Larry, and two dogs in Rural Oklahoma. She is a mother, grandmother, and Sunday School teacher. Sharon has one and three-quarters jobs and writes in her spare time. Her favorite hobby is traveling with her grandchildren. She is a member of the ACFW and currently serves as treasurer for her local chapter. Sharon’s debut novel, The Women of Valley View: Callie released in October 2012. The second in the series, The Women of Valley View: Terri releases in April 2013.

Despite a bustling day care center and a new foster child, Terri Hayes hungers for a family of her own. Then a plumbing mishap leaves her homeless and questioning God’s plan. Steve Evans’s gracious offer of his basement apartment as a temporary solution is an answered prayer. 

Steve is a successful writer and a good father, but Terri is horrified when Steve’s book research leads him to a harsh confrontation with the parents of her foster child.  She needs to distance herself from Steve, but her efforts fall short as his two scheming daughters plot to make Terri their new stepmother. 

Will harsh words and sneaky plans drive Kelsey’s family further apart and put a wedge between Terri and Steve? Or does God have another plan in store?

Sounds like a fascinating read, Sharon, with lots of twists and turns!

What else would you like to tell my readers about yourself and/or your book?

 

I’m a Trekkie at heart.

 

There was a time in my life when that was more apparent than now. When you could come into my living room and find my shelves groaning under the weight of Trek books and videos. Memorabilia hung on walls, Stuffed Star Trek bears rested on my pillows. And, should you peek into the closet you’d find an assortment of uniforms from different generations of the show.

These days the Trek is a little harder to find, but it’s still there in the plates above my cabinets, small mementos tucked inside the glass curio, and the memories still held precious in my heart. Good times.

What was it about Star Trek that made people pay attention? I’ve thought about that a lot over the years and the most compelling answer I can come up with is message. Yes, it was entertainment, but most of the time there was a three day message hidden in that one hour show and they did it all without being preachy.

When I look back on the months spent writing my two published books, that’s what I want. A profound message delivered in such a way, that the reader doesn’t realize, until they’re done, that they learned an important lesson. Lessons about friendship, courage, forgiveness, hope, faith, and love. All under the guise of entertainment.

I'm giggling now, because I have family members who love Star Trek! You bring out an interesting point about the weaving in of a message without knowing it. 

Thanks for sharing with my readers today, Sharon! God's best to you in your writing venture, and in particular, with Women of Valley View!

~~

For more information about Sharon and her books, visit the following locations:

Blog: http://www.womenofvalleyview.blogspot.com/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SharonSrock#!/SharonSrock
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/SharonSrock
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6448789.Sharon_Srock

http://www.amazon.com/Terri-Women-Valley-View-2/dp/1611162378/ref=la_B009OB2HSO_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1365469479&sr=1-2

  

Sharon is also offering a giveaway, so please leave a comment after you read her interview. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!