Let's start the New Year with a BANG!

I hope that everyone has a wonderful New Year, have you made resolutions, or do you skip them all together and just go with the flow?

This year I am going to finally open an Etsy shop, I've been talking about it for a year now and I've decided that if I just keep sitting around thinking about it, it's not going to happen!  I actually have it open, there's just nothing in it yet...but I'm working on that, one step at a time, right?

Now, on to the goodies, I decided to start the New Year off with a giveaway....so I'll quit my rambling and start by introducing you to author, Cathy Bryant!

Author Interview:


1.  How long did you write before you were published?
I've written my entire life, and I turn 50 in a few days, so I guess you could say I wrote for about 40 of those years. My first essays and articles were published when I was still in high school, but I didn't really get serious about writing as a profession until 2007.

2.  What were your feelings when you received a copy of your first book?
Elation. Anyone who's worked on a major project and seen it come to fruition can relate, I'm sure.

3.  Do the characters or circumstances in your books relate to any real life people or experiences?
It's impossible to keep my life experiences from my stories. Many of the baseball scenes in A Path Less Traveled were taken from true-life experiences. Also, the spiritual journeys of the characters in my books are based on my own search for truth.

4.  What are you working on now?  Will your next book be based in Texas as well?
I'm currently working on the third Miller's Creek novel, entitled The Way of Grace. It tells the story of a young woman by the name of Grace who thinks she understands God's grace, until she's called upon to exercise grace with a person who has hurt her. It's also her quest to overcome the diseases of perfectionism and legalism.

5.  What kind of message would you like your readers to get from your stories?
I hope that every reader of my books gleans God's goodness and grace from every page. I also hope that they take spiritual truth from the stories that they can apply to their own life situations.

6.  Tell us something about yourself that we may not find on your site!
Not sure that it's worth relating, but I'm also self-taught on piano and have published seven children's songs.

7.  Where can readers learn more about you and your books?
My website is the most logical place--www.CatBryant.com. But readers can also find me at my blog, WordVessel (http://WordVessel.blogspot.com), where I write devotionals, posts about writing, and Christian book reviews. I'm also on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/cathy.england.bryant) and Twitter (http://twitter.com/CathyBryant).

8.  Is there anything else you would like to add?
Yes! Thanks for allowing me the honor of visiting your blog today! Also, I'd like to wish everyone a Blessed New Year!

...Thank you Cathy for your generosity in sharing a little bit about yourself and your books, as well as the review and giveaway copy of A Path Less Traveled!


My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Miller's Creek Novel series, I loved the first book, but I think I enjoyed this book even more!  Once again, the story takes place in Texas where single mom Trish James is struggling to make ends meet.  Stubborn and full of love for her child, little Bo, Trish holds a burden that she isn't willing to share.

Opening a new business is difficult enough, but in a small town, how many people are really looking for a designer?  Unable to paint on canvas since the death of her husband, Trish starts her business off with a bang at none other than her brother's wedding!

Andy Tyler to rescue, or not!  When Andy arrives the night before the big event he brings a bit of disaster but quickly finds himself wanting to rescue Trish and little Bo, the problem is, will Trish let him?  Loss is hard to overcome and when a tornado destroys everything Trish has worked for,  it becomes unbearable and Trish finds herself running away...will Andy come to her rescue once again?  Will Trish let him help?

Loved this book, and I cannot wait for book 3!  Now, would you like to win a copy?  Thought so, here's what you need to do:

(Please leave a separate comment for each entry and your email address)

Mandatory:
Leave a comment telling me if you have a New Year resolution or not, feel free to share!
**My resolution is to follow through on my Etsy shop!

Extras:
+1 follow my blog
+1 follow me on twitter @lluuluu, leave your handle!
+1 leave a thoughtful comment or question for Cathy
+1 head on over to Cathy's blog or site and tell me something new that you learned about her!

Now for the small print!
Thanks for entering, and good luck!  This giveaway will end at midnight on Saturday, January 8th.  I will use Random.org to choose my winner who will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen!

If you don't win you can always buy the book on Cathy's blog or here: