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Thursday, November 17

Golden Keyes Parsons ~ His Steadfast Love ~ Book Giveaway

Golden Keyes Parsons is a popular retreat and conference speaker and author of historical novels. Her book, In the Shadow of the Sun King (Darkness to Light Series, Book 1), (Thomas Nelson Publishing), first in a three-book series based on her family genealogy, released Fall 2008, and was named a finalist in the ACFW’s Book of the Year Debut Author category. Her second book, A Prisoner of Versailles (Darkness to Light Novels), was released September 2009 and was named a finalist in RWA’s prestigious Daphne contest and this year was a finalist for the AWSA Golden Scroll Novel of the Year. The concluding book in the series, Where Hearts Are Free (A Darkness to Light Novel)released September 2010 and is a Women of Faith Book Club selection. Her fourth novel, His Steadfast Love (Darkness to Light), a Civil War novel set in Texas, releases November 2011. Golden lives in Waco, TX, with her husband, Blaine. When she isn’t writing or speaking, she is busy with their three grown daughters, eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren or attending sporting and alumni events at Baylor University.

Welcome, Golden, has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how? 
I read more now than I used to.
Other than the Bible, what is your all time favorite book? 
The Scarlet Letter
What movie most impacted you as a kid? 
Without a doubt “The Red Shoes.” I was about 7 or 8 years old, and I came home from the movie, set up our kitchen chairs in a row and tried to leap from one to one. Of course, that resulted in quite a crash! 
Why? I’m not quite sure why it had such an impact on me. It is such a beautiful, tragic film. It planted a love for ballet in my heart that continues to this day. I never was a dancer, but one of our daughters has her degree in dance and taught dance for years.
What was the last movie you saw in a theater?“The Help” 
Did you like it?Loved it. 
Who was with you? My husband, our oldest daughter and one of our twin grandsons. What snacks did you eat? Nothing.
What are you currently reading? Ted Dekker’s Immanuel’s Veins 
What is your favorite genre for personal reading pleasure? Historical fiction
They say what a person would take from a burning building tells a lot about them. If you could only save one thing (nothing living) from your home, what would that be? 
We actually had to evacuate because of a forest fire when we lived in the southern Rockies in 1996. We grabbed photo albums, our Bibles, silver,  records, etc. If that happened today, I would grab my laptop. It has my life on it!
Please tell us five random things we might not know about you.
  I’m legally blind in my left eye.
2.   I have a secret desire to be a ballerina.
3.   I detest oysters.
4.   I alphabetize my canned goods in the pantry.
5.   I studied classical piano for 10 years.
What other books have you written, whether published or not? 
A Bible study book, “The Wise Woman Builds.” The Darkness To Light series: “In The Shadow Of The Sun King,” “Prisoner Of Versailles,” “Where Hearts Are Free.” 
How do you organize your writing day? 
I write in the mornings and work on marketing and other stuff in the afternoons. If I’m on deadline, I divide the word count between the days I have to accomplish the goal, and I discipline myself to get that amount done.
What facet of the writing craft comes easiest to you?
Creating story. It plays out in my mind’s eye, and I write it down.
What is the hardest thing about writing?
If you mean about writing itself, that would be adding depth to characters. If you mean what is the hardest thing about being a writer, it would be marketing.
If you were the casting director for the film version of your novel, who would play your lead roles?
For the heroine, Amanda Belle, I’ve chosen Clare Danes. 
The hero, Kent Littlefield – Jim Caviezel. 
For Amanda’s brother, Daniel, Ryan Gosling would be perfect.

Tell us about the story of His Steadfast Love (Darkness to Light)
A Civil War Novel Set in Texas, Thomas Nelson Publishing
     The Civil War—a defining time of great sacrifice, change, and betrayal which will determine the fate of the Nation. It isn’t until it comes into her very home that Amanda Belle must face impossible choices of love, loss, and loyalty.
     It's the spring of 1861 on the Gulf Coast of Texas. Although Amanda never thought she would marry because of a promise to her dying mother to take care of her siblings, her attraction to Captain Kent Littlefield is undeniable.
     When Texas secedes from the Union, her brother Daniel marches off to war to fight for the Confederate States, and Kent remains with the Union troops.
     Her heart is torn between the two men she loves and the two sides of the conflict. When she turns to God for help, Amanda expects direction and support, but hears nothing. Is God listening to her anymore? Where is God in the atrocities of war—and whose side is He on?
     Amanda senses her life is at a turning point. But she must trust God to bring her family through the chaos that threatens her home, her family, and the beloved state of Texas… with her heart, and her faith, intact.

Where can we find you on the web?
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Golden-Keyes-Parsons-Fan-Page/112456122123008
Twitter: twitter.com/Golden K Parsons

Golden, thank you for stopping by and sharing with us. To have the possibility to receive a copy of His Steadfast Love (Darkness to Light)
leave a comment with your email (name at domain name dot com). To make it a little more fun, go to Golden's or web site and find out something of interest that is different from all other comments about Golden or one of her characters. Giveaway closes Sunday, November 27, 2011 at midnight (CST). Only US postal codes.If you're reading this on Feedburner, Facebook, or Amazon please come to www.AJHawke.blogspot.com to leave your comments.