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Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Interview & Giveaway! Dora Hiers ~ Author of Journey's Embrace!


Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Dora!! Will you tell us a little about yourself?
Sure! A few years back, I left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to our two sons. When our youngest didn’t want me hanging out at school with him anymore, I started writing what I call Heart racing, God-gracing books. I’m married to my real life hero, a fire chief, who likes to plot with me during our lunch dates. When I’m not writing, I enjoy reading, family gatherings, and mountain cabin getaways. I despise traffic, bad coffee, technological meltdowns, and a sad ending to a book.

What is your book, Journey's Embrace, about?
I’m so glad you asked, Melanie. Here’s the back cover:

After an injury forces Deputy U.S. Marshal Sage Michaelson off duty, he heads to his hometown with two things on his mind: recuperating and reevaluating, but Sage can’t refuse his best friend’s plea to keep a protective eye on his little sister after someone ransacks her house. But Delaney’s not so little anymore—and definitely not the young “Dane” Sage remembers. 


Flight Medic Delaney Hunt has loved Sage forever. But, he’s all about control and order while she embraces life and takes risks. As much as the idea appeals to her, she doesn’t need Sage looking over her shoulder. But when things go wrong and she finds herself hanging by her fingertips, who does she call to rescue her?



Will Delaney ever be the woman Sage wants by his side? Can Sage learn to live by grace, recognizing that God is in control? Can they overcome their fears to embrace life together?


What is something the average reader wouldn't know about you?
I’m a family room sports fan. Why should I leave the comforts of my air-conditioned (or heated) family room to enjoy NASCAR, football, and hockey?

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
I wasn’t born with a pen in my hand like most writers. My urge to write came later in life. After dropping out of the workforce to taxi my two sons around (and to make sure one of them actually attended school, he had a slight problem with that!), the writing seed dug in and took root around my heart with the idea for Journey’s End, the first book in my Marshals series.

How many books have you written/published and do you have a favorite?
3 published, 2 scheduled to release in March 2013, and 2 more contracted, all with Pelican Book Group/White Rose Publishing. I’m working on 3 more in various stages.
I don’t play favorites. It’s always tough to come to the end of each story, but my next hero and heroine desperately long for their happily-ever-after, too. :-)

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk?
Noise bothers me. I enjoy quiet while I write. No music or distractions, just the soft snores of my golden retriever behind me and the chattering of birds outside my window.

Where do you like to write?
My office. Occasionally our back deck, but I feel out of sync anywhere else.

What is the best and/or worst part about being a writer?
The best? Journeying with my characters as they come alive on the page, from that first spark of an idea, to their first zing of attraction, all the way to their happily-ever-after.  

The worst? Self-discipline. Forcing my rump to sit in the chair and write and not be distracted by overflowing laundry baskets, the grass that’s about six inches too high, personal phone calls, you name it. When you work from home, it’s tough to overlook household tasks and particularly difficult to say “no” to personal requests. But, one thing I can’t say no to: watching a sick grandchild.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Read. What else do writers do to relax? While my hubby’s watching his favorite television show, I read. In the summer, my hubby enjoys cranking up the smoker for family gatherings, guaranteeing a crowd around the table. I swear my youngest son catches a whiff of the finger-licking ribs two hours away. When the temperature cools, you’ll catch me flicking the fireplace switch on and kicking back under a blanket to cheer for the Carolina Panthers and the Tampa Bay Lightning. Just about any time of the year, we’re game for a quick jaunt to the mountains. And nothing beats spending time with our grandkids! See those cuties! >>> 

Is there a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet?
The Holy Land. Can you imagine walking where Jesus walked? Talk about standing on holy ground.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?
Psalms 19:14 (NIV) “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.”

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie?
I Can Only Imagine by Amy Grant and This Is Christmas by Kutless.
Any movie I see with my sweet granddaughter. Hubby falls asleep in the movie theater, so I don’t see too many adult movies.

What is your favorite holiday?
Christmas. Soft music plays in the background. A gigantic Fraser Fir tree, loaded with pinecones, cranberries, and sentimental ornaments, stands tall in the corner of our family room. Wassail simmers on the stove, the scents of cloves and cinnamon drifting through the house as family members start to arrive. There’s a lot of snuggling going on with hubby in front of the fireplace while we sip hot chocolate and cheer for our favorite football teams. And a lot of hollering from some of our competitive ping-pong players as they hammer out a game upstairs. A season full of faith and family. Mmmm…can’t wait!

A few this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms? Ooh, I love a good thunderstorm.

Tea or Coffee? Coffee in the mornings, iced tea from lunch on.

Call or Text? Text

Early-bird or Night-owl? Definitely early-bird! I wake up anywhere from 5-5:30, so I’m worth zilch around nine p.m. Good only for reclining in front of the television, watching a recording of Castle or Covert Affairs, or reading.

Cats or Dogs? Dog. Bruiser, our Golden Retriever, thinks he’s an only child.

Facebook or Twitter? Twitter.   

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint?
Of course. Rori’s Healing, the first book in my Harmon Heritage Series where three grieving siblings struggle to find healing and love. Here’s a peek:

Still stinging from the publicity surrounding her father's death, social phobic Rori Harmon prefers the solitude of her animal sanctuary, accepting that marriage isn’t in her future. Racecar Driver Graham Decker refuses to be wrangled into a relationship by another money-hungry female. On a philanthropy mission, he arrives just in time to assist Rori with a llama birthing, but his appearance thrusts her into the media spotlight again. Has Graham found a woman who doesn't care how deep his wallet extends? Has Rori finally met a man who will stick around when times get tough? Is healing for a hurting heart finally within Rori's reach?

Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?
Thank you, Melanie, for hosting me today. I’ve enjoyed visiting. I love to connect with my readers. They can find me all over the web, but here’s a list of places I hang out most.
Website: www.dorahiers.com
Blogs: http://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com/ & http://dorahiers.blogspot.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DoraHiers
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dorahiers/

Book Giveaway!


Enter to win a print copy of Journey's Embrace! US only. Ends 3/19

Enter via the Rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

38 comments:

  1. My sister would LOVE this book. She loves romance novels and great Christian books so this is for her. Thanks for the great giveaway. Keeping my fingers crossed

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    1. That's so sweet of you to think about your sister, Sandy. Thanks for entering!

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  2. Thank you for the lovely feature, Melanie. I so appreciate you for helping to get the word out about Journey's Embrace! Hugs and blessings!

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  3. Take your grandkids to Holy Land Experience theme park in Florida. That way, you can visit the Holy Land and spend time with your grandkids. Our kids loved it.

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  4. Thanks for the giveaway!

    mestith at gmail dot com

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  5. I don't think I am familiar with Dora's writing, I look forward to this book. And Rori's Healing sound very good too!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Thank you, Patty. I'm in the polish stage for Rori's Healing now. It's always tough to say goodbye to my characters, but Rori's brother is calling my name. :-)

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  6. Great interview. Love the synopsis. Looking forward to reading more

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  7. This book sounds awesome :)
    Thanks for the chance to win it!

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  8. Love that your a fellow Ice tea drinker...book look great...look forward to reading!

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  9. Thanks for the giveaway. I haven't read any thing by Dora Hiers but her books sound good.
    superstarsarah94(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. Enter me this book looks great!!
    Sharon Richmond
    Blanch,NC.
    sharonruth126@gmail.com

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  11. Journey's Embrace sounds like a good book. I'm sure I would enjoy read it. I enjoyed the interview and getting a chance to learn a bit about Dora. Aren't grandchildren a special gift? Thank you for the opportunity to win a copy of this book.
    may_dayzee (at) yahoo (dot) com

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    1. Thank you, Kay. Yes, indeed, grandchildren are precious. Love spending time with them. My 2-yr-old grandson is working on his ping pong game, practicing up to play his Uncle Scott. You can see pix on my Facebook. Soooo sweet, but I love that they go home to Mom & Dad. lol

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    2. Meghan, Amanda, Caitlyn, Eliza, Sarah, and Sharon: Thanks for the sweet, encouraging words about Journey's Embrace. Hugs and best wishes!

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    1. I think you'll find JOURNEY'S EMBRACE exciting, Rebekah. Thanks for entering!

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  13. Sounds like a good book:) I read the little bit about it on goodreads and it sounds interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!
    My email is purplefreak13(at)live(dot)com

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    1. Thank you, Salyna! Appreciate your kind words. Best wishes to win!

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  14. Your books sound interesting and exciting. Thanks for sharing about yourself. :)

    andrea2russia@hotmail.com

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    1. Thanks bunches, Andrea. Appreciate your interest in JOURNEY'S EMBRACE!

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  15. Looks very promising. Will add to my list of reads.

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  16. Sounds like a very interesting series!
    kandrajane at bellsouth dot net

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  17. This author is new to me and I would love to read her book!

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  18. What fun sounding books! I would love to read and review them.
    Thank you for the giveaway.

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  19. I love that Dora says that she despises a sad ending to a book!

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  20. @Cynthia, I hope you enjoy JOURNEY'S EMBRACE. Thanks for your kind words.

    @Kandra, you bet! A hunky Marshal, a strong heroine, action-packed, and sizzling with romance is the kind of book I'd like to curl up with every evening. Hope you enjoy!

    @Rebecca, thank you! I hope you read and love JOURNEY'S EMBRACE so much that you go back and pick up JOURNEY'S END and JOURNEY'S EDGE!

    @LAWonder, for upcoming releases, if you "follow" my blog (http://dorahiers.blogspot.com/) or "like" my author page (https://www.facebook.com/dorahiers), you'll get that chance. I usually broadcast a call for reviewers as soon as I receive my review copies. Thanks so much for your enthusiasm!

    @StuffSmart, oooh, sad endings are the worst! Makes me want to fling my kindle across the room!! My books always end with a happily-ever-after. Thanks so much for your tweet! Appreciate you!

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  21. Beautiful covers! The stories sound so good! This is a book I would share. Thanks so much for the giveaway!

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    1. Thank you, Lauren. That's so sweet of you! I hope you enjoy Sage and Delaney's journey to romance!

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  22. Great interview. I, too, like the song, Only Imagine. Ü

    Please enter me in the contest to win a copy of Journey's Embrace.
    Thanks!

    cindialtman(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thank you, Cindi. Appreciate your interest in JOURNEY'S EMBRACE. Hope you enjoy, and best of luck!

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  23. New author to me!! This is on my to read list!

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  24. Looking forward to becoming acquainted with your writing! Thanks for the opportunity to win a book.

    bonnieroof60@yahoo.com

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  25. Thanks for a wonderful synopsis of Journey's Embrace, and interview with Dora. Her books sounds great. I haven't read any of her books yet, but I will have to change that soon! Thank you for offering a giveaway of Journey's Embrace!
    Nancee
    quiltcat26[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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  26. Dora is a new author to our family as well. These sound like the types of books we enjoy reading.
    We would love to win a copy. Thank you for your generosity.
    worleybird10@live.com

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  27. Michelle, Bonnie, Nancee, and Worleybird10,

    Thanks so much for your kind words and for adding JOURNEY'S EMBRACE to your "tbr" list! Hope you enjoy! Much love and hugs!

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  28. Journey's Embrace reminds me of a time in my own life. Would love to read the book. Thanks for the giveaways.
    suzieqaa@yahoo.com

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