Character Interview with Patrick Bowers | Plus a giveaway of Checkmate!

 Happy Book Release Day to Checkmate! Today is the final day of the Patrick Bowers' Week and what better way to end the week than with an interview with Patrick! There's also a giveaway of the just-released book, so be sure to enter. ;)

Now on to the character interview with Patrick Bowers!

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Patrick Bowers! What's an average day in your life like?  

My work at the Bureau doesn’t tend to be nine to five, so I’m not sure I have a good sense of what an average day is. Early mornings. Late nights. I enjoy my teaching at the Academy, but, honestly, I prefer being out in the field. I’d rather be tracking killers than grading exams any day. I like it when the game is afoot.

What's your biggest pet peeve? 

Profilers—which doesn’t work out that great, necessarily, since I’m married to one. But it always leads to interesting dinner conversation. People looking for motives is a close second: way overrated. Law enforcement should be about facts, logic, reason and not guessing games about what someone might or might not have been thinking. 

What are three non-essential things you wouldn't want to be without?  

My lock pick set, my Mini Maglite and apple cinnamon oatmeal. Actually, now that I think about it, those are all pretty essential. Maybe spatulas, cup holders in my Jeep, and yellow legal-sized notepads.

What's your favorite comfort food? 

Mac and cheese with the melty, gooey cheese. My teenage daughter, Tessa, got me hooked on it. We throw a little salsa on it. Stellar.

Do you have a favorite season? If so, which one and why is it your favorite?  

That would have to be autumn. It’s the best time to get out rock climbing here in the east where I live. When I was in Denver my favorite season was spring, just after the snow was melting and the peaks were calling to me.

Some this or that questions:

Call or Text? Call. You can catch the inflection, read the pauses, understand more of the subtext in a conversation. Tessa is all about texting, hardly even answers the phone anymore. Drives me crazy.

Coffee or Tea? Coffee all the way. Ideally, Sumatra: full-bodied and smooth. Low-toned with expansive acidity. Complex flavor. Slightly earthy, a hint of dried figs and a deep, velvety complexion. Not that I’m particular, but I prefer shade-grown in the Jagong region along the northern tip of the island.

Sunrise or Sunset? For workouts, sunrise. For romance, sunsets. 

Jeans or Shorts? The Bureau’s not excited about us wearing either of them while we’re on duty, but I usually do get away with jeans and running shoes. I’m not really the shorts and flip flops kind of guy.

Books or Movies? Nonfiction books—environmental criminology, geospatial investigation, work related texts, things like that. But when I want to relax I go for a movie. I’m really into stories with a good twist—endings that no one would ever guess. The bigger the twist the better.

Early bird or Night owl? As I mentioned earlier, I tend to work late and get up early, which doesn’t do much for my sleep cycles. Given the choice, I’d get up early and go for a run or a swim before work. 

Cats or Dogs? I can deal with cats. I’d have to say I don’t hate dogs as much as Tessa does, but pets in general aren’t my thing. Just more work, more expense, more distraction. Anything with fur just makes a mess. Maybe some fish would be alright. Or a turtle. I could deal with owning a reptile.

Chocolate or Vanilla? Both. Sort of. When you’re talking ice cream, go with vanilla bean and then add some Nutella to it and you’ve got a dessert worth writing about. 

Thanks so much for being here, Patrick! Is there anything else you'd like to share, maybe a life lesson you've learned?

Life is short, death is certain, and hope is a gift. Open it whenever you get the chance.

 ~

Author Bio:

Steven James is the bestselling author of nine novels that have received wide critical acclaim from Publishers Weekly, New York Journal of Books, RT Book Reviews, Booklist, Library Journal and many others. He has won three Christy Awards for best suspense and was a finalist for an International Thriller Award for best original paperback. His psychological thriller The Bishop was named Suspense Magazine’s book of the year. Publishers Weekly calls him "[A] master storyteller at the peak of his game."

Steven is an active member of International Thriller Writers, the Authors Guild, Mystery Writers of America, and International Association of Crime Writers. He is also a contributing editor for Writer's Digest. He has a master's degree in storytelling and has taught writing and creative communication around the world. When he's not writing or speaking, you'll find him trail running, rock climbing, or drinking a dark roast coffee near his home in eastern Tennessee.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of Checkmate by Steven James! Giveaway is open to the US and Canada. Ends 12/16

How to enter: Sign into the Giveaway Tools form below (it might take a moment to load) and submit each entry you complete. Commenting alone will not get you entered – you must click enter on the form. Happy entering!

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Open only to those who can legally enter. Winning entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Giveaway Tools and announced here as well as emailed and will have up to one week to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Giveaway Tools or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. I am not responsible for any packages lost or damaged in the mail. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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A Chat With Gage McKenna ~ Character Interview & Giveaway!

I'm super excited to share with you today this chat I had with Gage McKenna (the main character in Dani Pettrey's new book, Stranded) and I hope you have fun reading it! :) Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of this post.

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Gage McKenna! Will you tell us a little bit about what’s been going on in your life recently? 

Everything can be summed up in a name—Darcy St. James. I met Darcy several months back in my hometown of Yancey, Alaska. It wasn't the easiest meeting, but what can I say, the lady grew on me quickly. Now she's been gone for months and I can't stop thinking about her. It's driving me crazy. I've decided I need a change of scenery so I've taken a stint about the Bering cruise ship as leading adventure excursions. Maybe it'll be what I finally need to put Darcy St. James out of my mind.

When you think of summer, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
Family bbq's. I love firing up the grill and time spent with my family.

What’s your favorite party food?
Guacamole and chips.

What’s your favorite summer activity?
Kayak. What else?

Do you play any instruments?
The trumpet and the piano.

What do you do to relax after a stressful day?
Take the kayak for a spin out in the ocean. There's nothing like the crisp sea spray in your face, the burn in your muscles, the momentum of the paddle cutting through the waves. It's invigorating!

What’s your greatest fear?
Now you know guys never talk about that sort of thing ;)

In the McKenna family, who is the:
Best dressed? Me. No question there ;)
Worst dressed? Reef. He's got the extreme sports look going. Not exactly Dolce if you know what I mean.
Jokester? Me. I like keeping it fun.
Best cook? Me. No one can flame up the bbq or the stove like I can.
Worst cook? Kayden. Seriously. Do not eat anything she cooks or bakes or boils… You get the idea. Scary bad.
Best planner? Kayden. She's always keeping us in line. Though, Piper's pretty good at the planning thing too.
Pickiest eater? Piper. She won't eat anything with eyes still on it. Sure leaves off a lot of fresh caught seafood.
Leader? Cole. He's the oldest and a natural born leader.

What is something about the McKenna family that isn’t well known?
When we rebranded our adventure excursion shop Last Frontier Adventures the girls decided we needed a theme song. Ridiculous, but when they chose Vacation by the Go-Go's, we men stepped in and picked a decent one-- For the Love of the Game by Pillar. At least it's a rocking song.

Who’s the matchmaker in the McKenna family? Has he/she ever tried to match you up with someone?
Piper. Who hasn't she tried matching me up with.

What’s your idea of the perfect day?
A day spent riding the rapids and then dinner by campfire on the beach.

Do you have a favorite birthday memory? If so, please share.  
The year I turned ten. My parents got me my very own kayak. It was blue and covered with Captain America stickers. I loved that thing. Still have it in a shed somewhere.

Thanks so much for visiting with us today, Gage!  It’s been a pleasure getting to know more about you and the McKenna clan.  
It was my pleasure.

~❀~

About the author:

Dani Pettrey is a wife, homeschooling mom, and author of the acclaimed Alaskan Courage series. She feels blessed to write inspirational romantic suspense because it incorporates so many things she loves--the thrill of adventure, nail biting suspense, the deepening of her characters' faith, and plenty of romance. She and her husband reside in Maryland with their two teenage daughters. Visit her website at www.danipettrey.com.

Book Giveaway!

Giveaway details: Dani is giving away an autographed copy of Submerged, Shattered, and Stranded!! Giveaway is only open to residents of the US and Canada. Ends 9/29

How to enter: Sign into the Rafflecopter form below (it might take a moment to load) and click “enter” on each of the entries you complete. Commenting alone will not get you entered – you must click enter on the form. Happy entering!

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Character Interview! Sir Luca Forelli from Lisa T. Bergren's River of Time series!

Today I am super excited to interview Luca Forellia (my favorite character) from Lisa T. Bergren's River of Time series! If you haven't read the series yet, well, what are you waiting for? Because if you love YA I'm sure you'll enjoy this series!

Waterfall (#1) / Cascade (#2) / Torrent (#3) / Bourne (#3.1) / Tributary (#3.2)

Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Sir Luca Forelli! Will you tell us a little about yourself?

I am the captain of the Forelli guard, at Castello Forelli, Toscana, Italy. My cousin is more a brother to me, Lord Marcello Forelli, and I strive to be the same for him.

What is the most exciting part of your life right now?

The pursuit of Lady Evangelia Betarrini. *smiles impishly*

Are you happy to be on the cover of Mrs. Bergren’s new book, Tributary?

I am a bit taken aback. 'Tis quite the honor.

Are you open and friendly to newcomers?

In portion. 'Tis my responsibility to be wary, cautious, as well as welcoming. M'lord relies upon me to be so.

What is your overall goal in life?

To live fully, laugh every day, and love all those dear to me, with everything in me.

How are you and Lord Greco getting along now?

We have made our peace. He's always been a brother to me. He simply had some difficulties to overcome that made it a trial, for a time.

How are things between you and Lia? Do I hear wedding bells in the future? (LOL! Had to ask!)

If I have my way, there shall be. Lady Evangelia, however, is yet to be convinced.

Thank you very much, Sir Luca, for this honor! Where can we find you and Mrs. Bergren on the web?

I know not of what you speak, when you say "web." But Lady Bergren tells me to pass along these:
www.LisaBergren.com
www.Facebook.com/RiverofTimeSeries
www.Facebook.com/LucaForelli

Giveaway!

Here is another chance to win your choice of one of the River of Time books - Waterfall (Print or eBook), Cascade (Print or eBook), Torrent (Print or eBook), Bourne (eBook only), or Tributary (eBook only).

This giveaway is only open to the US.

Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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