Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Grace Greene's new release, Kincaid's Hope, with giveaway



Wow! Has it been seven months already since we celebrated the debut of Beach Rental? Well, good news! My good friend Grace Greene is back to share with us about her second novel, Kincaid’s Hope. Here is the blurb.

Beth Kincaid left her hot temper and unhappy childhood behind and created a life in the city free from untidy emotionalism, but even a tidy life has danger, especially when it falls apart. In the midst of her personal disasters, Beth is called back to her hometown of Preston, a small town in southwestern Virginia, to settle her guardian’s estate. There, she runs smack into the mess she’d left behind a decade earlier: her alcoholic father, the long-ago sweetheart, Michael, and the poor opinion of almost everyone in town. As she sorts through her guardian’s possessions, Beth discovers that the woman who saved her and raised her had secrets, and the truths revealed begin to chip away at her self-imposed control. Michael is warmly attentive and Stephen, her ex-fiancĂ©, follows her to Preston to win her back, but it is the man she doesn’t know who could forever end Beth’s chance to build a better, truer life.

Grace, welcome back! Tell us about how it feels to be a published author. What are the highs and lows of this past year for you?

Highs and lows? And everything in-between! I think I share this in common with many aspiring authors – the feeling that writing and publishing will be easier after we’ve passed the magical threshold of that first publication. Not true.

Don’t misunderstand. It’s a wonderful feeling, but the next book still needs to be written and sold – and the potential for highs and lows is ever-present. Some people like the roller coaster; some don’t. For some of us, the next story just needs to be told and so we continue writing and seeking publication.

The best ‘highs’ come from reader feedback. I love hearing from readers. They are amazing. I hit a new high a few days ago when I was notified that BEACH RENTAL is a finalist in the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence contest. That's amazing, too!

Congratulations! That's exciting. So how has this book been a different journey for you than Beach Rental?

With BEACH RENTAL it was all new – everything was scary and everything was exciting. With KINCAID’S HOPE, the new worry was that readers who enjoyed BEACH RENTAL might be disappointed in my second book. So far, the feedback is wonderful!

As it should be.
What message do you hope your readers come away with after reading Kincaid’s Hope?


The themes in KINCAID’S HOPE are forgiveness and trust – forgiving oneself and others and trusting oneself and others.
Forgiveness is a gift – one that we must accept for ourselves before we can give it to others. Without forgiveness we can’t move forward, but are forever trapped in our bitterness.

If we learn to trust ourselves, we may find our biggest flaws can also be turned into our greatest strengths.

What advice do you have for us starry-eyed literary wallflowers who are still waiting to be invited to dance?

I advise flexibility. Many of us have/had a mental picture of what publishing should look like and it usually involved an agent, a brick and mortar publishing company and a prominent place on the display tables at Barnes and Noble. But the industry is changing so quickly that, without flexibility, authors, both new and seasoned, may find themselves forever waiting for The Call.
The second piece of advice is to understand how much work you’re willing and able to take onto your own shoulders. Being flexible may mean you’ll consider less traditional modes of publishing, but be sure you have the time, skills and the will to do most of the work (both publishing and marketing) yourself.

Excellent advice, Grace. Thank you so much for being with us this week, and for giving us a glimpse into the published side of writing.

Grace has graciously agreed to give away a copy of her new book, Kincaid’s Hope, to one lucky commenter. Please leave a question or comment for Grace for a chance to enter. Be sure to leave your email addy with your comment like this: youremailaddy (at) server (dot) com
The deadline for entries is Saturday 10 PM eastern. Winner will be drawn at random and announced here Sunday.

24 comments:

  1. I just adored Beach Rental, and even my best friend bought a copy and already ordered Kincaid's Hope.

    What great advice on trusting ourselves.

    Grace, what is the theme of your next book ?

    I am anxious to read Kindcaids Hope, how Id love to win a copy since it isnt in our Library system.

    Kym
    flwrs4ever(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. I loved reading the book Beach Rental, even though I was told to have a box of tissues.
    I would love to win a copy of your next book.
    Margaret Dixon
    mkdixon1@verizon.net

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    1. Margaret - Thanks so much for stopping by! I'm so glad you enjoyed Beach Rental and I hope you'll enjoy Kincaid's Hope, too. It has its sad moments, but I don't think you'll need a box of tissues for it :-)

      Grace

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  3. Hi, Kym - Thanks for the kind words about Beach Rental! I hope your friend - and you! - will enjoy Kincaid's Hope. My next book (just finished) isn't contracted with a publisher yet, but honestly, it's my favorite so far. The main theme is about 'treasure' and what that means to different people. It's chock full of suspense and was a lot of fun to write.

    Grace

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  4. Great interview, Kathy and Grace. I must like rollercoasters or am a gluten for punishment. Because this industry certainly is full of them (rollercoasters that is)LOL. Great questions Kathy.

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  5. Hi, DebbieLynne - Rollercoasters and punishment, too, but we learn from them right? I hope they make me a better writer and it always seems, just about when my heart for writing is faltering, one of the high points give me the impetus to keep trying.

    Grace

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  6. You are actually a new author to me so I haven't read any of your books yet. Please enter me for this one as I check out your other. Thanks.
    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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  7. I enjoyed reading Beach Rental and would love to win Kincaid's Hope. Thanks for the opportunity!

    seventysevensusieq[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  8. would love to read this inspirational story about forgiveness and trust...two of my favourite subjects.

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  9. I loved both of these stories. Grace, you have a wonderful way with a story, plus those covers take me to my happy place :)

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  10. Amy - I'm always thrilled to meet potential new readers! If you have the opportunity to read Beach Rental I'd love to know what you think.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    Grace

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  11. Hi, Susieq - I'm so glad you enjoyed Beach Rental. I hope you'll enjoy Kincaid's Hope, too.

    Thanks for coming by and commenting - Grace

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  12. Hi, KarenK - Trust and forgiveness - we can never have, or give, too much of it. Beach Rental is about trust, too, but also love - in all it's different forms. Trust, love and learning to dream.

    Grace

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  13. Hi, Nancy - Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I love those covers, too. I think a cover should support the story - matching the tone and setting the stage for the reader even before he/she opens the book and begins to read.

    Grace

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  14. Sounds good. Love the cover. It looks like an area near where we live. Please enter me in the draw
    dharcombe(at)bigpond (dot)com

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  15. I also enjoyed Beach Rental and would love to be included in this giveaway. What a striking cover on this book. Glad you are receiving positive feedback.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  16. LindaMar 8, 2012 06:48 PM
    I'm hooked! Please enter me for Kinkaid's Hope. You are a new author for me, and hope to get a chance to read your book.

    desertrose5173 at gmail dot com

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  17. rubynreba - I'm so glad you enjoyed Beach Rental and I hope you'll get the chance to read Kincaid's Hope. Please let me know what you think!

    Grace

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  18. Dale - Thanks for the kind words about the cover. The two shares on the lakeshore feel symbolic to me. Empty, but two together implies hope for love to me.

    Grace

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  19. LindaMar - I hope you'll get a chance to read Kincaid's Hope and that you'll choose to continue with me as an author. If you do get to read Kincaid's Hope, or even Beach Rental, please let me know what you think.

    Grace

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  20. Congratulations, Karen! you have been selected at random to win Grace's book. We'll be contacting you by email shortly.

    Thank you so much everyone, for coming by and expressing so much support and interest for Grace's new release. I appreciate each and every one of your comments. Next week I hope to feature a debut author friend of mine, so be sure to sign up to receive this blog on your email.

    Blessings,
    Kathy

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  21. Dear All - Thanks so much for stopping by! Please visit me at my website: www.gracegreeneauthor.com and you'll find me on Twitter at @Grace_Greene

    Grace

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  22. So sad that I missed this. I must have misread the giveaway info. I thought it said "the deadline for entries is Saturday 10 PM eastern. Winner will be drawn at random and announced here Sunday." Oh well.

    Congrats Karen!

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  23. pwnmom, I thought the same thing. There is another giveaway, however.

    Congratulations, Karen!
    Nancee

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