Interview with Lena Nelson Dooley about her book,
A Heart's Forgiveness (Love's Road Home Book 2):
Alexis: What is the premise for this story?
Lena: It’s a mail-order bride story with a twist. I always like to have an unexpected twist to my stories that enhance the expectations for the genre.
Alexis: What or who inspired you to write this book?
Lena: I wrote the proposal because of a request through my agent for a story set in another state. The publisher didn’t choose my proposal, but they liked the story and asked me to find another setting that would work for the story. I found another place where everything would fit this story.
Alexis: A Heart’s Forgiveness is the second book in your Love’s Road Home series. Tell me about this book and how it ties into your series. What is this Love’s Road Home series all about?
Lena: Love’s Road Home is a series about people losing something important from their lives and finding a way back to love. There is a minor character from book one, who appears in this story and ties it into the series. Later we’ll see him again as the hero in book four.
Alexis: Tell me about your story’s heroine, Madeleine Mercer. Describe her looks, personality and heart. What makes her happy? What makes her sad? What makes her mad? Explain.
Lena: Madeline (Maddy) Mercer is the heroine. She looks like a china doll, with brown hair and creamy skin. She’s petite with stormy gray eyes that can turn warm or stormy. She has had a very good and happy life until her father dies of a heart attack, which happens before the book opens. The everything changes.
Alexis: Why does Madeline believe that becoming a mail-order bride will solve her problems?
Lena: Her father’s partner is an evil man who tries to take over her life. She feels she must get away from. But she doesn’t know that he’s been lying to her.
Alexis: How did you research this story?
Lena: I always research the time, the settings, and everything I can find about the time period. All my characters and their stories are fiction, but I work really hard to make everything else in the book authentic to the time period.
Alexis: What is a nursemaid and why does Philip need one?
Lena: Actually, Philip wants to help a woman who has a deep need by having her come to take care of him. He figures any woman who would answer an ad for a mail-order bride has serious problems she needs to get away from.
Alexis: Who is Jeremiah and how does his presence in this story affect the plot?
Lena: Jeremiah is a young man who Philip took under his wings when he came to the gold field. He’s mentored him and helped him when mining became dangerous for him. He encouraged Jeremiah to change his vocation before the story begins.
Alexis: How do Philip and Madeline first see each other? Is it a good or bad impression?
Lena: Philip and Madeline form a strong friendship from the first minute they meet. Remember that Jeremiah is the hero, and at their first meeting, he thinks Madeline is a gold digger and he doesn’t trust her.
Alexis: What draws Jeremiah and Madeline to each other and what or who tries to pull them apart?
Lena: Their love for Philip is their only bond at the beginning. It’s interesting to see what changes that in the story.
Alexis: What is the theme of this story? Why?
Lena: Forgiveness. Madeline’s unmerited forgiveness for the man who was very evil is a catalyst for several people’s lives.
Alexis: How did you real-life faith in God play into your writing this book?
Lena: I accepted the Lord as my Savior when I was 7 years old. That’s over seven decades ago. I’ve walked with Him most of the rest of my life. I didn’t live close to Him when I was in college, but He never gave up on me. He watched over me and when I was ready to return to Him, He welcomed me with open arms. That’s why forgiveness if often a theme in my books.
Alexis: What do you want readers to remember most about this story?
Lena: That God’s plans for you are always better than any plans you can come up with.
Alexis: Thanks for the interview, Lena! Do you have closing comments?
Lena: I write my stories for the readers. I love to hear from them. Fans are what keep an author going.
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Author Bio:
She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW - DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.
Lena has experience in screenwriting, acting, directing, and voice-overs. She is on the Board of Directors for Higher Ground Films and is one of the screenwriters for their upcoming film Abducted to Kill. She has been featured in articles in Christian Retailing, ACFW Journal, Charisma Magazine, and Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Her article in CFOM was the cover story.
In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. She also wrote and teaches Dynamic Writing Workshops.
Lena has an active web presence on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books.
Her blog has a reach of over 65,000.
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Book Blurb for A Heart's Forgiveness:
Accepting an ad for a mail-order bride was supposed to solve her problems.
It’s 1890, and Golden, New Mexico is a booming mining town where men far outnumber women. So when a wealthy miner named Philip Smith finds himself in need of a nursemaid, he places an ad for a mail-order bride—despite the protests of his friend Jeremiah.
Hoping to escape a perilous situation back East, young Madeleine Mercer answers the ad and arrives in town under a cloud of suspicion. But just as she begins to win over Philip—and Jeremiah himself—the secrets she left behind threaten to follow her to Golden . . . and tarnish her character beyond redemption.
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Buy Lena’s book on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo or Barnes and Noble
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Connect with Lena:
Website: www.lenanelsondooley.com
Blog: http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/lenandooley/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/lena.nelson.dooley
Official Fan Page: www.facebook.com/pages/Lena-Nelson-Dooley/42960748768?ref=ts
Twitter: www.twitter.com/lenandooley
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmMImXr00OS8bO4FnT-yhVw?view_as=subscriber
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/333031.Lena_Nelson_Dooley
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lenanelsondooley/
Instagram: www.instagram.com/lenanelsondooley
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001JPAIDE
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/lena-nelson-dooley
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Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of Lena’s book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:
I would not, at least not if I could help it. I want to find love before marriage rather than taking the chance that love would never come in a marriage to the wrong man.
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