Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Jill Elizabeth Nelson is in the spotlight! Win her new novel!

I just finished reading Evidence of Murder and have the chewed up nails to prove it. Jill's writing keeps you turning the pages and I have to say after the description of the first crime I was a little leery to go to sleep but then I am a little chicken. LOL. I don't read a lot of suspense novel but I have to say it is fun to switch up what you read now and then. I am glad I was able to read Evidence of Murder and if you like suspense I think this one is a great choice. Jill has agreed to send a free copy of her book to a reader so be sure to post a comment but be sure to read the instructions at the end of this post.


WBF: Jill please, tell us a little about yourself.
JN: By day, I'm a full time housing manager/administrative assistant at my local health care complex, but by night, I morph into a wild and crazy writer, itching to share with my readers the exciting things my characters are telling me. My tagline conveys the essence of what I write: Endless Adventure~Timeless Truth. The stories that fill my head and spill out onto the page are full of adventure seasoned with humor, romance, and faith.


The To Catch a Thief series--Reluctant Burgler, Reluctant Runaway, and Reluctant Smuggler--are in print and currently available. These are about a daring museum security expert and a dashing (can I use that old-fashioned word?) FBI agent on the trail of murderous art thieves. Loads of fun!


My February release, Evidence of Murder, is a romantic suspense with the Steeple Hill Love Inspired line, which will be followed by Witness to Murder in June. In October, I will have an untitled book in the Mystery and the Minister's Wife series coming out with Guideposts books. Yes, they do novels now!


My first and only husband and I have been married for over 27 years now and still going strong. We've raised four children, two boys and two girls, in rural Minnesota, and we're expecting our first grandchild in February. Exciting times!More information about me, my books, my appearance schedule, and my speaking topics, as well as opportunities to win books, can be found on my web site. http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/

WBF: It sounds as if you are pretty busy. Thanks for taking timeout to visit with us.




Here is a blurb about Evidence of Murder by Jill Elizabeth NelsonThe photographs Samantha Reid uncovers in her new store are shocking. Horrifying. And dangerous. This new evidence could reopen a decade-old multiple homicide case that someone wants desperately to keep closed. And when the evidence comes out, a reluctant Samantha is drawn straight into the spotlight. All the attention is wrecking her business--and drawing the killer's eye straight to her. Then she meets Ryan Davidson, the last surviving member of the murdered family. In spite of herself, she's drawn in by his need to find the truth. Together, they work to unravel the mystery, while the killer works to keep the secrets buried--forever. Evidence of Murder should be available in any bookstore, on or off-line, and will also be stocked in Walmart stores.

WBF: Who is the most important influence in your life besides God?

JN: Probably my husband. He's my best friend. We do lots of things together and enjoy many of the same activities. He even loves to go with me to my speaking engagements and writers conferences. If you want to read what he thinks about being around those kinds of things, he wrote a post about it for my blog. Here's the link: http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/blogarchives/2006_10_01_archive.shtml. He's got a gift for mentoring people one-on-one. Everybody who works very closely with him for any length of time gets to to hear the Gospel and see it in action. I could list people who've come to the Lord because of his casual, everyday witness. People on the job seek him out with prayer requests. How cool is that!?





WBF: Let’s pretend money is not a factor, if you could go anywhere is the world where would you go?
JN: A country in the Far East to share the gospel and help in practical ways. My husband and I went to Thailand with a missions crew in 2006, and we're discussing a trip to Cambodia. Did you know that three out of every five people in the world live in the Far East, and only one penny out of every missions dollar spent in the US goes to reach these people? The number of Christians there are only 2 or 3% of the vast population. Many have never heard that Jesus has opened the way to God for them. Money and workers are badly needed to get the message out! I made a slide show about our Thailand trip. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWM4oveAnao.

WBF: What book are you reading now? What books are found lying around your home?
JN: I just finished reading an earlier book in the Mystery and the Minister's Wife series called Dog Days by Carol Cox. This was "homework" for writing the book for Guideposts. The series presents an interesting challenge in that different writers pen the consecutive books, but they are all about the same characters in the same community. Remember those writing exercises where each person would write a part of a story and then pass it on to the next person to add whatever comes next? Well, this is the practical application of that exercise, though in this case, each of us writes a complete story using the same criteria. Next, I plan to dive into Gallimore, the new romantic fantasy by Michelle Griep. I've been waiting for this one to come out, so grabbed one as soon as they became available. An unfortunate fact of my two full time jobs is that they leave me little time for pleasure reading, so it's a real treat when I can, and I'm very choosy about what it is.
WBF: I liked Gallimore. I read it as a pdf galley but it was wonderful.

WBF: If your book was being discussed at a book club what do you think the focus of the discussion would be on?
JN: I suspect there would be a lot of talk about the perennial question of why terrible things happen to apparently innocent people and where God is in the midst of tragedy. I don't pretend to present a pat answer to that question, merely the insistence that, despite anything that happens, God is good, and He loves us. A secondary topic would likely be fears that keep us from fulfilling our potential, and how we can overcome them through faith.


WBF: I always am trying to learn new ways to be organized in the office, what is your favorite organizational tool?
JN: Calendars! They're lifesavers so I don't forget what needs to be done when -- like answering interviews! LOL. I have a book-style calendar on which I keep track of all my engagements and times when this or that are due. I'm also a list-maker. It gives me a feeling of accomplishment when I can check something off. Eventually, any given list gets finished, and I throw it away and make a new one.

WBF: I love old black and white movies and the old musicals. What is your all time favorite movie?
JN: Like you, I love the old flicks. Ben Hur would have to be right up there. It's got everything--adventure, tragedy, heroism, love, the triumph of good over evil, and an incredibly powerful and unpreachy presentation of the Savior, Jesus Christ. I bought the DVD version right before Christmas, but I'm saving it to watch when the kids come to visit around Easter time. I'm not sure they've all seen it, and I want them to.


WBF: What do you enjoy doing when you are not slaving over the computer creating another wonderful novel?
JN: Any time one of my children comes home, and I can spend time with them, I'm a happy camper. And speaking of campers, that's what we all like to do together in the summer time. My husband and I have a venerable old motorhome in good condition (our idea of roughing it) that we take around to various state parks for relaxing outings. Otherwise, when it's just me and hubby, we like to watch movies together. Rarely, do we go to the theater, but that's usually because there are so few new releases we care to see. Probably the last one we went out to see was the most recent Narnia movie, Prince Caspian. That was excellent. We would have gone to see Fireproof, but the timing of when it came to our community didn't work for us.

WBF: What do you want your readers to take away from your novel?
JN: Hope. I could say that about any of my novels. I put my characters through horrendous trials that most of us, thankfully, never have to experience, but a consistent theme of my writing is that there is always hope in God. Where the world offers no hope or false hope, faith offers the ultimate hope. In many secular books, the theme is hopelessness or that life is pointless. I always want to say to the writer or reader, why write it or read it then? Hee-hee!
WBF: You do put them through some aweful experiences but your writing does leave the reader with hope at the end.

If you want to win copy of Evidence Of Murder please leave a way for me to contact you if you win. Disguise your email like this: writebyfaith[at]sbcglobal[dot]net. You have to answer the Daily question in order to be part of the drawing.

Daily Question: What book are you reading now?

For extra entries:
1 extra entry be an email subscriber
1 extra entry Follow me on twitter (writebyfaith)
2 extra entries Blog about this post on your own blog and then come back and give me the link.
3 extra entries: send a friend over and have them mention your name in their comment. You will both get 3 extra entries.

30 comments:

Sandee61 said...

I enjoy your blogs alot, and the interviews and reviews of new books. I love to read, and really glad I found all these interesting new Christian authors. Thank you!

I'm reading "A Promise for Spring" by Kim Vogel Sawyer and its very good.

Blessings,
Sandy

Muzzley56[at]aol[dot]com

Merry said...

I am reading Cozy in Kansas by Nancy Mehl, great book!

I am an e-mail subscriber too.

worthy2bpraised{at}gmail{dot}com

Anonymous said...

Evidence of Murder sounds really good. I am excited to see books I might not have heard of, or in a genre I might not pick up. I would appreciate being entered.

Jo said...

Evidence of Murder sounds like a great book to read. Right now I am reading "Harry Bentley's Second Chance".

Blessings,
Jo
ladijo40(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

Another new author I need to read! I follow you on twitter and came over from there :-).

Holly Magnuson said...

This sounds like a great book. I follow this blog and enjoy it very much! Blessings!

Kathy Carlton Willis said...

I'm currently reading Age Before Beauty by Virginia Smith. Great series! This book by Jill Elizabeth Nelson looks great as well. If I win you can contact me at WillisWay (at) aol (dot) com. Thanks!

Martha A. said...

She is such a fun author!
I would love to win!
I am reading right now, The Reluctant Bridegroom

I am also a follower
martha(at)lclink(dot)com

Hoarders Extraordinaire said...

this was a great interview...

I follow you and we twitter ;)

http://martasmeanderings.blogspot.com

Delia Latham said...

Always enjoy Jill's interviews - and always love her books! Haven't read this newest one yet, but sure would like to! Right now I'm reading Outlaw Marshal by Al & JoAnna Lacy, for review.
dlathambooks[@}gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I am trying to decide between House by Ted Dekker or Restless by Robin Parrish. Any ideas which I should read first?

I like the look of your blog. I am now on as a blog follower. Check for the frog.

Thanks for the drawing.

b (.) werts (at) sbcglobal .net

Bethany said...

Jill's books are so much fun!
Right now I am reading the book of II Chronicles, and Loving God With All Your Mind by Elizabeth George.

I'm also an email subscriber.

Thank you for the giveaways!

momofjimmy [at] yahoo [dot] com

Janna said...

I love Jill's Reluctant Series and would love to read this one!

I finished Tender Grace by Jackina Stark last night and started Red, White and Blue by Laura Hayden today. I have been reading Fixing Abraham by Chris Tiegreen over the last few days, but it is non-fic so it takes me a little longer.

ryanx6 at msn dot com

Anita Yancey said...

I am reading Left To Die by Lisa Jackson.

I am a email subscriber.

ayancey(at)dishmail(dot)net

Sherrinda Ketchersid said...

This book sounds great and I would love a chance to win a copy!

Right now I am reading Before the Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkard.

sherrinda(at)gmail(dot)come

Donna said...

I love finding out what others are reading. Such a large variety. Some I have read that have been mentioned and few I have on my nightstand.

Ashley E said...

Currently I'm reading a soon-to-be-published YA novel called Green Light, Red Light. I've barely started, but it's got the makings of a good book!

Evidence of Murden sounds like a good one too. I loved the To Catch a Thief books. Enter me in the drawing please. Thanks!

ashley.vanburen[at]gmail[dot]com

Kaye said...

OOh I just love romantic suspense. Please enter me in the drawing. I am already a follower and I am posting your contest on my sidebar contest links.

Thanks for the chance.

Kaye said...

Sorry, forgot I am now reading Irreplaceable by Steven Lovely

florida982002[at]yahoo dot com

cathikin said...

Right now I'm reading Tuck by Stephen Lawhead and Eretzel by William McGrath. They are both fantasies but very, very different. I would so love to read Jill's Evidence of Murder. I did get a peek at the first chapter, and it sounds so good. I have her other books; she's a wonderful writer.

Cathi H.

chassan2 [at] hotmail [dot]com

Pamela J said...

It always amazes me when I see authors' list of books they are reading or have read recently. Take into account the time to dedicate to writing, to the reading they do, to simply living, when do you get to sleep??
I have already read Jill's book, Evidence of Murder, so please don't enter me. I just wanted to stop by and say the book was just EXCELLENT! I was spellbound for the whole book. With all the action and twists and turns I'm surprised Jill isn't still WORN OUT from writing it. Great job, Jill!!
Pam Williams
cepjwms at wb4me dot com

Anonymous said...

I've read some of Jill's work and liked it very much! Please enter me in this drawing. Thanks!

I'm reading an out-of-print book called OXYGEN, by John B. Olson and Randy Ingermanson. Good stuff!

Donna, I follow you on Twitter, and I thought I might be a subscriber, but not sure, so I just registered again.

DebPiccurelli[at]verizon[dot]net

sharon54220 said...

Please enter me in this contest.
Thanks

sharon54220@gmail.com

Suzanne said...

Currently reading Roxanne Henke's "On A Someday"

clickingherheels at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I'm reading Age before Beauty by Virginia Smith

stampedwithgrace at cox dot net

darbyscloset said...

I am reading John Grisham's newest book "The Associate". I'd love to win this mystery!!!
Thanks so much,
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

darbyscloset said...

I am a newsletter subscriber too!
Thanks!
Darby
darbyscloset at yahoo dot com

peachykath said...

I just finished reading a book called "Fireworks" and love it. I'm now moving on to the February book, Suspicous minds". I love suspence books and this one sounds very interesting. Please enter me in the drawing.

peachykath79[at]yahoo[dot]com

Karin said...

The Prisoner's Wife by Susan Page Davis...

Debs Desk said...

Please include me in your drawing. I am a follower. I am currently reading Peony In Love by Lisa See.
Thanks
Debbie
debdesk9@verizon.net