Getting to know author Maria Hoagland

I have author Maria Hoagland, LDS Novelist, on the blog today, and I'm grilling her with questions!

Book Give-Away: You have a chance to win a signed print copy of Family Size. Go to this link for more details - http://mariahoagland.blogspot.com/2013/02/family-size-giveaway.html  

 

Bio: Maria Hoagland graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in English. She and her husband have three children and have lived in Texas, Missouri, Utah, and Idaho. Maria enjoys watching anything her children are involved in, going to book clubs and lunch groups, long-distance running, walking barefoot in the green grass, and eating raspberries from her backyard. Family Size is Maria’s second novel; her first, Nourish & Strengthen, is also available.

 

Welcome to my blog, Maria. Please tell us about your new book, Family Size.

Family Size is about three women who have very different experiences with fertility—three varying paths to reaching their unique family size. I’m not going to spill it all, but there are Canadian geese and culture shock, marital and medical trials, friendships and faith. It’s humorous, dramatic, touching, and emotional, and I hope, in the end, uplifting.

 

Where did you get your inspiration for this novel?

I’ve always been fascinated by medical issues and what people learn as they endure these trials. That’s why my first book deals with diabetes, and this one with infertility and fetal surgery (I’m sure my next novel as well will have a medical angle to it as well). Know how when women get together, the conversation always turns to labor and delivery? I was intrigued with the different accounts and experiences I heard, and realized that though we each have individualized complications in regards to having children, there’s something universal about becoming a mother and I think any woman will relate to the stories these women have to share.

 

What genre does your book fall under?

Generally speaking, I would say contemporary women’s fiction, but more specifically written for the LDS market. Although there’s not much religion in it, I think it will resonate with an LDS reader best.

 

What other books would you compare your story to within this genre?

There have been a couple LDS books about adoption in the last couple of years, Hope’s Journey and Delivering Hope—both excellent books I thoroughly enjoyed—but mine is the only one that deals with three main characters in three different situations, with adoption as only a part of the storyline.

 

What is your greatest strength as a writer?

Sure, make it hard on me. I’m trying to be humble, here…. I’ve been told that I’m pretty good at portraying women’s feelings and LDS culture. The thing is, I write what I enjoy reading, and I hope that enthusiasm is evident enough that readers will connect with and enjoy my work.

 

Where can readers find you? (Facebook, twitter, blog, website)

I love to hear from readers! Anything—random or not—will do J

Facebook: Maria Hoagland, LDS Author

Twitter: MariaHoagland

Website: mariahoagland.com

Blog: Writing, Running & Diabetes

GoodReads: Maria Hoagland

Unveiling of another new cover!

I'm happy to show you another book cover!!  This will be a short, sweet, and to the point kind of romance. When it's released, it'll only be 99 cents!!  Anyway, great cover again - Sheri McGathy! This story is a historical romantic comedy!

Dorothy Paxton is not pleased when a handsome Englishman walks into her inn and announces he's taking her to England to reunite her with the grandfather who turned his back on Dorothy years ago. Her escort, Calvin Seton, bribes her by paying her half-brother's doctor's bills, and soon she's on the ship sailing for London. Little by little, Calvin's charm softens her heart. While her lady's companion teaches her to become a lady, Dorothy is secretly wondering if the price of love is worth it. Especially when she knows Calvin will walk out of her life as soon as they reach England.

Can she afford the cost of love?

Introducing... New Cover!

Once again, my cover artist, Sheri McGathy has gone far and beyond what I had imagined. She has created a masterpiece with my time-travel, "Love Lost in Time". Now I just need to finish writing the story!! lol  And YES, this WILL be in print!!

In the midst of a brutal attack on his home in 1848, Andrew Merrick finds himself plunged into the future. While the manor he finds himself in is indeed his family's ancestral home, all has changed, and this future generation believes he wickedly murdered his own family. Desperate to return to his true time and set right all that has gone awry, Andrew hopes the treasure his father hid will prove the key in returning to his rightful place. But he’s running out of time. When he meets a lovely woman in this strange time, he feels she is the one who will help him.

 

Halle Chapman has come to England to find her missing father. What she finds instead is a nice man who claims to be from the past. Although she doesn’t believe in time-travel, deep in her heart, she knows she must help Andrew. Halle quickly learns that the key to her future lies in the past and in a strange twist of events, Halle is thrust into the past! Now, to return to her own time she must solve the mystery surrounding Andrew Merrick and his family’s murder.

 

 

Interview with Mandi Tucker Slack

Mandi Tucker Slack grew up in Orangeville, UT, where her father worked as a coal miner for eighteen years. In 1987 the coal mines shut down for a time and her father joined the U.S. Army. They were stationed in Hanau, Germany, and she had the opportunity to explore Europe. Mandi’s family returned to Utah in 1992, and they settled in Orangeville once again, where she attended and completed High School. She then attended the College of Eastern Utah, where she studied Geology. Eventually Mandi changed her major and moved on to Utah State University while she completed a degree in Special Education. She then married her best friend, Charles Slack. They have three children, with one on the way, 6 chickens, and a lizard (sometimes several lizards).Their family loves to spend time together. They enjoy 4-wheeling, camping, and especially rock hounding. Her house is littered with rocks and fossils. As a child Mandi spent many weekends with her parents and sister exploring abandoned mining towns and searching for relics among the brick ruins. Her adventures with her family are often the inspiration for her stories. Mandi is also the author of romantic/ suspense title, The Alias, available at a bookstore near you.

Mandi, when did you first start writing? What inspired you?

 

I first started writing when I was around the age of 12. I was a very imaginative child, and it just seemed natural to create stories. My inspiration came mostly from my parents. As a child, we traveled a lot. We explored old ghost towns, visited ancient castles in Europe, and spent time together as often as we could. The trips we went on and the places we visited sent my imagination into overdrive.

What is your favorite thing about writing?

I am a story teller. I tend to focus entirely on the "story" as I write. Later, I go back and revise the "writing". I love telling the story.

What genre do you prefer - and why?

 

Suspense is my favorite. I like to feel like I'm in the thick of things. Toss in some romance, and I'm completely enthralled. I also really enjoy a good ghost story. I started reading Mary Downing Hahn when I was younger, and her ghost stories captivated me.

Tell us about your story and what inspired you to write it.

 

Tide Ever Rising is my latest published novel. It is a paranormal romantic/suspense. Kadence, the main character, is a junior high school history teacher who loves to explore old ghost towns. While exploring an old ruin near Eureka, Utah, she stumbles onto an old can. Inside the can she finds an antique pendant, a journal, and a few other personal items. She becomes unnaturally obsessed with this journal and is determined to find the owner. Her quest brings her and her sister, Maysha (Weird name, I know, but their mother was eccentric...lol) to Bremerton, WA, where she finds the still living relatives of the journal's keeper. As the story unravels, the secrets that had been buried with the journal so long ago reveal a dark past and unleashes a presence that Kadie feels certain is haunting her every step.

The inspiration for this story, oddly enough, started as a weird dream. I dreamed the main story line. When I woke up, I wrote it down, then promptly forgot about it. A year or so later, while cleaning under my bed, I found the dusty note I had written. Intrigued with the idea, I sat down and started the first chapter.

How do you juggle your writing time with raising a family?

 

It's not easy. Finding time to write is a challenge. During the summer months, we spend a lot of time at parks or camping. I'm inspired by nature, so my best writing happens outdoors while my kids are playing nearby. I don't usually get a lot of writing in at one time, but I get in what I can, when I can.

What stories do you see in your future?

I have a couple of manuscripts that are currently in the revision process. I hope to have those submitted within the next year or two. I always have new ideas, so I write them down, and when the mood strikes, I start a new story.

Where can readers find you?

I love interacting with my readers, and I'm always happy to have new followers on both FB and Twitter.

 

You can follow me here: https://www.facebook.com/MandiSlack

https://twitter.com/SlackMandi

Or visit my website:

http://www.mandituckerslack.com/

WINNERS!

I want to thank everyone who entered my contests.

The winner of the Valentine's Day oils / bath salt is - CONNIE BABE!  Enjoy your oil and salts!

The winner of "Falling In Love Again" -- Jolene and Family

The winner of "Love Me Always" -- Sarika Patkotwar

I will email / mail you your prizes!

Valentine's Day CONTEST!

I'm having a contest for all you wonderful women out there who wants to be pampered!  I have a friend who owns this cute little shop - http://www.grandmatilly.com/

She is offering one 4 oz bottle of Red Tiger's Eye Massage Lotion with Rose Essential Oil, and a bar of handmade bath salts with Lavender oil. Red Tiger's Eye is known for it's romantic properties to enhance senusality. Rose essential oil opens the heart spiritually and emotionally. Lavender is terrific for relaxing in a tub!

The value of this package is $25.00 - and substiutions to that dolloar amount can be made. So if my winner wants something else, my friend is more than happy to comply with their wishes up to $25.00.

The contest will last until Tues, and I'll pick a winner. All you have to do is leave a comment on this blog and tell me you favorite Valentine's Day! (don't forget to leave your name and email so I can contact you) Only open for those living in the United States...sorry!

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Romance is in the Air Giveaway Hop

It's that time again!  What a GREAT time to have a giveaway.  Romance writers LOVE Valentine's Day, so I'm giving away two prizes.  A PRINT copy of my historical "Falling In Love Again" (only open to the US) and an ebook (PDF copy) of "Love Me Always" (open to everyone).

The Giveaway Hop runs from Feb 8th to the 14th!

To enter, leave a comment with your name and email and which book you prefer.

Marcus Thorne wears several masks in his life, but the one that would have him hanged is the one he can never reveal. But after he kidnaps his enemy’s daughter, he’s captivated by her beauty and is nearly ready to give her his heart…until he discovers Isabelle is a spy with the power to endanger his life and the lives of his friends.

After her release, Isabelle can’t stop thinking about her masked abductor and how he’d stolen her heart before ridding her of his presence. Affianced to a man who strangely reminds her of the man whose kisses set her ablaze, she marries him, only to discover he’s not who he seemed to be. But then…neither is she.

No Way Out – Catherine Martin is trapped. Either she wed an elderly man and commit to a marriage without love, or continue living with the father who believes her guilty of murder and one foot outside the asylum. Catherine picks marriage to the Duke of Ashton, Grant Fielding. However, when she stays with the Fielding family before the wedding, she doesn’t plan on falling in love…with Grant’s nephew, Nicholas.

Destined for a lonely life – Nicholas Fielding loves his uncle’s soon-to-be bride, and has loved her since they were children. Now Nick must choose between his dying uncle's last wish to marry, and the woman who will make Nick happy for the rest of his life. No matter how hard Nick tries, he cannot stop his love for Catherine.

A flurry of accidents begins to happen around the Fielding estate and soon all accusing eyes turn to Catherine. When accidents escalate to murder, suspicions expound and even Catherine’s father believes she’s gone mad. Does Nick love her enough to discover the truth?

GO TO THIS LINK FOR OTHER GIVEAWAYS - http://www.iamareader.com/2012/11/romance-is-in-air-giveaway-hop-february.html