2-Year Blogoversary Celebration: Day Three ~ Mary Connealy!!

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Mary!! Thank you so much for celebrating my blog's 2-year Blogoversary with me! What is your soon-to-be-released book, Swept Away, about? 

Ruthy MacNeil is swept away when her wagon train attempts a difficult river crossing. She isn't all that upset at being separated from the obnoxious family who raised her. All they've ever done is work her to the bone. She prayed for a chance to get away, and then came the raging flood. Alive but disoriented, she's rescued by Luke Stone...so unfortunately, there are more chances to die in her immediate future.

Luke is heading home to reclaim the ranch stolen from his family. But the men who killed his father are working hard to ensure Luke doesn't make it alive. He has no choice but to keep moving. Still, he can't just abandon Ruthy, so she'll have to come along.

His friends--a ragtag group of former Civil War soldiers--take an interest in the pretty gal. Luke thinks that's rather rude--he's the one who found her. For the first time in a long time, Luke is tempted to turn from his destructive path and be swept away by love.

Do you have a favorite birthday/party memory you like to share? 

I'm from a family with eight kids and no money. We got an angel food cake for our birthday and precious little else. We each got one real birthday party in our growing up years and mine was…I invited the whole school to come home with me. That sound really big but the whole school had about fifteen kids in eight grades, I attended a one room country school house. So I brought them all home and it was great. We played. I was the center of attention. I remember nothing else. Was there cake? Did I get presents? I have no idea. But I loved it.

What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you? 

Wow, what would it be, huh? I'm the third of eight kids. We grew up in a three bedroom farm house. It was a modest by fun life spent playing outdoors. I spent most of my time with my best friend Joani, who lived across the road from us in her four bedroom farm house with her six brothers and sister. I know now we were dirt poor but nobody had much and I don't remember going hungry so we were fine.

How many books have you written/published and do you have a favorite? 

My 24th book just released. I've got contracts for twelve more. I've got ten additional books on my computer that have never sold. It's hard to say if I've got a favorite because I tend to be so immersed in the book I'm doing right now that it's always my favorite. So I'm going to declare Swept Away, releasing March 1st, to be my favorite because for right now, it's the truth.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? 

I'm not really a quirky writer. I don't need a particular setting. I don't need the right soothing music or the perfect cup of tea or quiet. I can take a phone call for ten minutes then go right back to writing. Quirks? My whole life is quirks. I'm an insomniac and I turned to writing books at least in part to pass the hours of wakefulness in the night. So let's call that a quirk.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 

Sudoku puzzles. Read books. Snack. Yes, my thrilling life will excite all your blog readers almost beyond control. I have four daughters and two grandchildren and I love spending time with them.

I enjoy Sudoku puzzles, too, and of course reading. ;) Is there a place you like to visit, but haven't yet? 

I've got a bucket list. I want to go to Yellowstone. I'd like to hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon (note the sedentary life reference above, the hike ain't gonna happen!). I'd like to see a sequoia tree and a redwood. I've never been to Washington D.C. I'd love to spend time on a sailboat. I'd like to go to Carlsbad Cavern and cruise up the inside passage to Alaska. Okay, I've named off enough stuff to keep me busy until death (at the rate I'm going!) so I'll stop now.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? 

Yes, but I'm not telling because it's the password to all my accounts online. So, Instead I'll tell you a beloved verse that I try and hang onto. Psalm 27: 1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie? 

My favorite song of all time is Rich Mullins 'If I Stand'. And a very close second favorite is Chris Tomlin's 'How Great is Our God'.

A few this-or-that questions: 

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms? Thunderstorms. Snowstorms get very unpleasant when your husband has to spend them outside fighting for the life of his cattle.

Tea or Coffee? Tea, specifically Tetley's Earl Grey in the drawstring tea bag.

Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla, though I didn't get into my generally oval shape by being picky

Call or Text? Call, I'm seriously one of those people who is going to die texting and driving, I just can't handle the distraction, plus I live in a place with bad cell phone reception so, though I have a cell phone, it's turned off about 90% of the time.

Early-bird or Night-owl? Night owl's are long asleep before I go to bed. What stays up longer than a night owl? A bat? No, a vampire? Maybe the moonlight. I am the moonlight, that sounds nice, if you don't count how tired I am all the stinking time.

Cats or Dogs? We live on a farm/ranch and I'm sorry but for me animals are just animals. I don't get to attached. We had a dog for years I really loved and yet I rarely spent time with him. Dingo, an Australian Shepherd. I'll bet I didn't pet that dog once a month.

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint?

Swept Away is book one of a three book series called Trouble in Texas. I'm busy polishing up books two 'Fired Up' and finishing book three 'Stuck Together'.

Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web? 

All I can think of it say is, If you knew me, really knew me, you'd see I'm the most regular person ever. The fact that I'm a published author is still stunning to me. So, if I can do it, anyone can make their dreams come true. Strive for it, pray for it, believe in it. God bless you all and keep reading. Find me online: My Website My Blog Seekerville Petticoats & Pistols My Newsletter And I’m on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maryconnealy And Twitter: http://twitter.com/maryconnealy

Giveaway!

Mary Connealy is giving away a copy of her new book, Swept Away! Open Internationally! Enter via the Rafflecopter below.

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