Meet Pam Hillman, Author of Stealing Jake

Please welcome my friend, Pam Hillman. We're going to have a fun time interviewing her and sharing the news aout her new book, Stealing Jake! See below for a Kindle drawing too!

About Pam Hillman: Award-winning author Pam Hillman writes inspirational fiction set in the turbulent times of the American West and the Gilded Age. Her debut book, Stealing Jake, won the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis contest and was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart contest. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and family. 

Angie: Pam, are there ever times or seasons in your writing life when things feel overwhelming? If so, how do you get through those times?

Pam: Almost every writer I know is overwhelmed. The best thing to do is to keep moving forward, accomplish one task at a time, and as often as possible, re-organize and re-group. And, in the end, I am so thankful for talent God gave me, and the opportunity to pursue my dream, especially in this day and age of computers and internet connections.

Angie: What part of your main characters would you say was most like you?

Pam: Tenacity and dogged determination will see my characters through a lot of trials and tribulations. In Stealing Jake, former pickpocket Livy O'Brien is determined to help the street kids even at the risk of her own reputation, even her life. Sheriff's deputy Jake Russell is just as determined to rid his town of the group of street urchins, while young Luke puts his life on the line searching for his little brother. None of them are willing to give up or walk away.

Angie: What life or faith concept do you hope readers "catch"?

Pam: I write to entertain, but several of the reviews have just blown me away with what the reader has taken away from the story. One reader said the street kids were without hope, but went on to add,
"And yet God never leaves us that way, does He? Because He brings Jake and Livy together at His perfect time, not only to discover a future together, but so they can intervene in the lives of kids who have no one to fight for them."

Angie: Have you had any surprises from readers on something they connected with in your book that you didn't intentionally put there?

Pam: The one thing that readers have connected with is Luke. One reader said that Luke's story was interwoven so much with Jake & Livy's story that she couldn't imagine one without the other. Luke's story wasn't part of the original idea, but he kept niggling at my brain, and once I added the thread in his point-of-view, I knew the story was complete. I am surprised that Luke and the other street kids get as much "airtime" as Jake and Livy in reviews, but I guess I shouldn't be. I was pretty passionate about the street-kids story, and I guess it came through in the writing.

Angie: Do you have a favorite fan-friend story?

Pam: Oh, yes. I have a couple of writer friends whose mothers read Stealing Jake and raved over it. One said her mother wouldn't read a bad book, that "excellence" is her standard. Her mother called and told her that she "absolutely loved" Stealing Jake. Her mother goes to bed at ten, but kept reading several nights in a row to see what happened. She said her mother was not a gusher, but that she came pretty close to gushing over Stealing Jake! The other friend took her mother to the dentist, and her mother raved about my book to the dentist and his assistants. That made me smile. There have been so many friends, family members, and co-workers who have gone out of their way to tell me how much they loved my book. Those emails, phone calls, and texts are near and dear to my heart!

Angie: I love those stories! They're the stories that keep us writers going in the lonely days before anyone sees a page. Thank you so much for being with us today! Folks, please check out the information on Stealing Jake below.
 

Pam on the web:

My website: www.pamhillman.com 

My personal blog: www.calicotrails.blogspot.com

My group blog: www.seekerville.blogspot.com 


About Stealing Jake:

When Livy O'Brien spies a young boy jostling a man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. After all, she used to be known as Light-fingered Livy. But that was before she put her past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, where she's helping to run an orphanage. Now she'll do almost anything to protect the street kids like herself.
Sheriff's deputy Jake Russell had no idea what he was in for when he ran into Livy--literally--while chasing down a pickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids in town--as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off--Jake doesn't have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can't seem to get Livy out of his mind. He wants to get to know her better . . . but Livy isn't willing to trust any man, especially not a lawman.
Interwoven throughout is a group of street kids arrested in Chicago and sold as child labor. Leading this band of ragamuffins is young Luke, a scared, determined orphan intent on rescuing his little brother at any cost.
 

Kindle Giveaway Link: http://pamhillman.blogspot.com/2011/07/pams-blog-tour-kindle-contest.html

Kindle Giveaway BUTTON (html code): http://calicotrails.blogspot.com/2011/07/blog-post_07.html

Stealing Jake Prologue and 1st Chapter: http://pamhillman.blogspot.com/2007/11/stealing-jake-prologue.html

Stealing Jake Amazon link:

http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Jake-ebook/dp/B0057Z87DK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309377471&sr=8-1

Stealing Jake B&N link:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-jake-pam-hillman/1103995167?ean=9781414366616&itm=1&usri=stealing%2bjake

Stealing Jake CBD link:

http://www.christianbook.com/stealing-jake-ebook-pam-hillman/9781414366616/pd/19108EB?item_code=WW&netp_id=936169&event=ESRCG&view=details  

Changing Seasons

What do you do to start a long project?

My first inclination is to clean my office. For some reason getting it in tip-top shape helps my mind to prepare for the coming intense writing season. When I finish one book or major project, I feel the need to deeply clean from the last one. I think it helps me feel the closure and start with a clean slate. The counters have to be empty, the floor clean of all research debris, and my book shelves straightened.

The seasons are changing outside, but also professionally for me. I'm moving from the mad dash of marketing one book into the writing season for the next. The view from my window marks the change from summer to autumn. I'll soon see the glowing gorgeous gold of a Montana fall.

Changing Seasons: Montana's golden glow in the fall.jpeg

But that's not today. Nope. Today I looked at the office and walked out. Lol, today I made a little nest on the couch and started dealing with tiny things that kept getting pushed aside during the heavy travel season I just completed. That season ran from April to this last weekend. About 5 months! Home only a few days in between the next book signing, speaking, or family wedding event kept me in constant "go" mode. So maybe tomorrow I'll clean the office. But today I spent cleaning up little things that pestered me until I finished them. How do you prepare for a new season in your life, work, or the changing seasons on the calendar?

Angie

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing To Have and to Hold Bethany House (September 1, 2011) by Tracie Peterson
and

Judith Miller

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 85 novels. She received her first book contract in November, 1992 with Barbour Publishings' Heartsong Presents. She wrote exclusively with Heartsong for the next two years, receiving their readership's vote for Favorite Author of the Year for three years in a row. In 1995 she signed a contract with Bethany House Publishers to co-write a series with author Judith Pella. Tracie now writes exclusively for Bethany House Publishers. She teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. Tracie was awarded the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for 2007 Inspirational Fiction and her books have won numerous awards for favorite books in a variety of contests. Making her home in Montana, this Kansas native enjoys spending time with family--especially her three grandchildren--Rainy, Fox and Max.

Judith Miller's first novel, Threads of Love, was conceived when she was commuting sixty miles to work each day. She wanted to tell the story of a pioneer girl coming to Kansas and the faith that sustained her as she adjusted to a new life. Through a co-worker, she was directed to Tracie Peterson who, at that time, worked down the hall from her. Having never met Tracie, Judith was totally unaware of her writing career, but God intervened. The rest is, as they say, history. Since that first encounter many years ago, Judith has been blessed with the publication of numerous books, novellas and a juvenile fiction book. Joyously, she and Tracie had the opportunity to develop a blessed friendship. In fact, they have co-authored several series together, including The Bells of Lowell, the Lights of Lowell and The Broadmoor Legacy.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When Audrey Cunningham's father proposes that they move to Bridal Veil Island, where he grew up, she agrees, thinking this will help keep him sober and close to God. But they arrive to find wealthy investors buying up land to build a grand resort on the secluded island--and they want the Cunninghams' acreage.

Contractor Marshall Graham can't imagine why the former drinking buddy of his deceased father would beckon him to Bridal Veil Island. And when Boyd Cunningham asks him to watch over Audrey, Marshall is even more confused. He has no desire to be saddled with caring for this fiery young woman who is openly hostile toward him. But when Audrey seems to be falling for another man--one who has two little girls Audrey adores--Marshall realizes she holds more of his heart than he realized. Which man will Audrey choose? And can she hold on to her ancestral property in the face of overwhelming odds?

If you would like to read the first chapter of To Have and to Hold, go HERE.

Angry Birds, Bigfoot, and the Little Pigs have something in common

Today I'd like to invite you over to the group blog I've belonged to for five years.
www.theFaithGirls.com

It's fun, uplifting, interesting, and lots of great conversation from 5 different authors, one great God.
We focus on living out our faith in the real world while being writers with faith in our stories. But you will totally find behind-the-scenes stories, gems of wisdom, family issues, women's issues, and more. With 5 of us posting regularly (I'm Wednesday's child), you're sure to find something encouraging, enlightening, educational, and entertaining any day of the week. And today it's my turn to entertain...
www.theFaithGirls.com

theFaithGirls are:
Missy Tippens
Angela Breidenbach (hey, that's me!)
Lindi Peterson
Christy LaShae-Smith
Mindy Obenhaus
With drop in regular, Jennifer Hudson-Taylor too.