Monday, March 4, 2013

Lisa Lickel ~ featured author ~ plus monthly book give-away



Lisa Lickel ~ Living Our Faith Out Loud
Today, I'd like to introduce to my readers, Lisa Lickel.  She has been a good friend and encourager to me since we met through the John 3:16 Network of Christian writers.  I enjoy her writing style and her vitality.  I've asked her to tell us about herself and her writing.  Please be sure to take a look at  her blog and her website for more information, and leave a comment after the interview for an opportunity to win her book.

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I’m delighted to be here with you. Rose has done a marvelous job with her blog, and I’m so proud of her.  Thank you, Rose, for hosting me today. 

I’m a Wisconsin-made product, born and raised. On a recent road trip my traveling companion, who’s just as proud of her home state as I am, asked me whether I’d ever thought of living elsewhere. Of course not, I told her. I love the change of seasons. I even enjoy the blizzards and the mosquitoes. My husband, a high school science teacher, and I raised two wonderful young men who took equally wonderful wives. No grandchildren yet, but I have a grand kitty I adore. 

My writing history began seriously in 2001 when a historical society friend told me, “You should be a writer!” after seeing my press releases about our group. I took the Christian Writers Guild apprentice course while I was a church secretary, and began to sell magazine articles before I graduated.  

The first novel I wrote placed in the top ten of the First Novel contest in 2004, but it took a few more years before I signed with my first agent and sold my first manuscript in 2007. Meanwhile I’d been writing freelance for local newspapers and selling more articles and writing like nobody’s business. I’d racked up more than a dozen novels and a children’s book series that I hope will be published this summer.  

My first novel appeared in 2009 with Barbour’s Heartsong: Mysteries Book Club, and I’ve published one or more novels, mostly with independent publishers, ever since. I have three books coming out this year. I spent a couple of years learning about developing an audience (platform-building), how to market myself (terrifying), and how to keep growing my craft. Networking is vital in any business, and writing and publishing is no different. 

Recently, I’ve gotten the rights back to my first two published novels and resold them to my new publisher in Canada. MuseItUp is not in a Christian Booksellers Association publisher, but to me, they are doing the best job I’ve seen outside of the “big time” publishers. 
 

I like to write stories that define and defend contemporary families.   Here is a list of a few of my novels: 

The Map Quilt 

The Last Bequest 

Healing Grace 

Meander Scar 

You can read more about my novels on my website: www.lisalickel.com. This is what a real writer does: Find a publisher who is proud of their inventory and works with authors to put out a great book. Use the editors to learn and grow in your work. Figure out which battles are worth the cost. Sit in the marketplace and sell your wares. Be ready to delve into great conversation. Most of all: Delight in the work of your hands and share it with enthusiasm. 

“If you have a message of encouragement for these people, please speak.” Acts 13:15, NIV
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Lisa is offering a copy of her latest book, a mystery, Meow Mayhem from Whimsical Publications, either pdf version or in print, as a gift to one of our blog visitors.
Now available from Amazon in Paper back and e-book; available from Smashwords in other e-formats.
 
In this delightful story,  Ivy Preston keeps other people’s secrets for a living. When a small town mayor invites Ivy Preston and True Thompson to move their businesses to Apple Grove, can their love survive the sudden rise in crime? 
 
After being left at the altar, Ivy Amanda McTeague Preston uproots herself and her cat, an Egyptian Mau named Memnet, from her boring and lonely life to start over at the urging of Mayor Conklin, a fellow pedigreed Mau owner. Truesdale Thompson is ready to move in a fresh direction with his life. A private man whose physical wounds are the only outward sign of a tragic accident in his past, True and his cat, Isis, open a branch of his trendy little bookstore and coffee shop in Apple Grove. When Ivy takes a mysterious message while the mayor is away on business, only Ivy’s criminology professor mom and True believe there’s something rotten in Apple Grove. Can Ivy carry on her romance with True while saving the town from further Mayhem?

My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you--I, whom you have redeemed.  Psalm 71:23 NIV

Now, for an opportunity to receive a copy of Lisa's mystery, Meow Mayhem:

At least ten readers must comment and share in order for there to be a book give-away. So come on everyone. It's easy.  Join in. Follow these steps to qualify for the random drawing.


1. Leave a comment on this blog (my favorite part!) which includes your name and email address if you want to be included in the drawing. You can comment without leaving your email if you don't want to be in the drawing. I will use your address to contact you if you win. To leave a comment, click on the pencil icon or the word comment at the end of this blog post.

2. Share this blog post on Facebook so your friends will read about it and visit too.


3. Tweet, tweet, tweet IF you have twitter, and mention the book give-away on your own blog if you have one. It would be great as well and an extra perk for me if you would become a follower of this site, so you won't miss a single post.

Complete these steps by 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 9th.   A winner will be announced here on Monday, March 11th, so be sure to check back to see if you've won. 


Thank you so much for participating in the monthly give-away.  This feature of Write Moments with God is so much fun for me.

May God give you His peace and keep you safe in the palm of His hands, my friends.



 

 

 

26 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Oh this is fun! Coming home to lots of comments. Thank you Lisa for all the good advice and encouragement you have given me.

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  2. It's great to learn more about Lisa. I love her writing style, the mystery, suspense and warmth she puts in her books.

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    1. And watch for Gail's books! She's got a great sense of determination and passion in her situations and characters. Thanks, Gail! I'm back to our projectes tomorrow, Lord willing.

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  3. Great interview! I am going to touch base with you this summer as the mosquitoes are buzzing in your ears and we'll recount the billions and billions of glories of Wisconsin :) You can count my comment toward the 10 but don't enter me in the drawing. I'm going to pay real money for the book from Amazon!

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    1. He, he, Prude, dearest, comment away. I had stopped in, too, knowing Rose was going to be out for a while, but then work and working out got in the way until now. We'll get together...

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  4. Oh my. Looks like I will have oodles of comments here. I thought my earlier one was lost in limbo so I tried again :) Just saw that you have to approve first. Feel free to disapprove whichever comment you want ;)

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    1. Absolutely not disapprove. I love oodles of comments. :-) Thank you so much for your comments. I see you already know and love Lisa. Please visit the blog again.

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  5. Two of my favorite people! Thank you, Rose, for hosting Lisa! So excited about all that is happening in your writing world, Lisa. I could not be more proud to be your friend, and not just because of your accomplishments, but because of who you are.

    And Rose, I always love your blog posts. You have some of the BEST. :)

    I will shamelessly leave my e-mail addy because I would LOVE to win this latest release. If I DO win it, I will have to keep my kitty away from hogging it because he'll likely fall for the feline on the cover... Boys... ;-)

    Blessings and hugs, Elaine
    elainemariecooper (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Ah...thanks Elaine. I appreciate that. Yes, adding your name to the drawing.

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    2. Well, then, if you win, my friend, I'll be sending your copy for review any way...just waiting on my load of print copies.

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  6. Thank you for sharing, Rose and Lisa. I also have a publisher who works with me and teaches me. He called several months ago and spent two hours teaching me marketing skills for my book. Thank God for godly publishers who are willing to work with green authors to get the message of Christ out to the world.

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    1. Wow! That's wonderful! I agree with you. Thank God for godly publishers. Thank you Theresa.

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    2. Hi, Theresa, those marketing skills are crucial, aren't they? Thanks for stopping by.

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  7. Great article Rose and Lisa. It was nice to get to know Lisa better. I have sent a message to all social media via Hootesuite.

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    1. Hi Barbara! Thanks for the shout out via Hootesuite.

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    2. Babara, you are the best cheerleader! I surely appreciate you.

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  8. The cat alone makes me want to read the book.

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    1. I know it is cute. Calling all cat-lovers! Where is Jeanette?

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    2. Thanks for taking time, Lorilyn. You are my shining example for faithfulness.

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  9. It was great getting you know Lisa better and learning about the books he has to offer.

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    1. Hi, Kara,
      what a treat to see you stopping over! I look forward to reading your work.

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  10. Great to see both you and your book here, Lisa! What creativity you have! I love that you let a cat be the hero. :-)

    All the best to you!

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  11. Nice to meet you Lisa and many blessing to you in your writing career! :-)


    Check out the StepOutTime movement @ STEPOUTTIME.COM

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