Friday, July 27, 2012

Spotlight on Author Karen Hoover

For episode 13, Sweet Peas in a Writer Podcast spotlights Karen Hoover and her fantasy novel, Two Souls Are Better Than One. Listen - and discover this delightful author and her motivation for reading and writing, as we read her biography and an excerpt from Two Souls Are Better Than One.





Karen E. Hoover has loved the written word for as long as she can remember. Her favorite memory of her dad is the time he spent with Karen on his lap, telling her stories for hours on end. Her dad promised he would have Karen reading on her own by the time she was four years old … and he very nearly did. Karen took the gift of words her dad gave her and ran with it. Since then, she’s written two novels and reams of poetry. Her head is fairly popping with ideas, so she plans to write until she’s ninety-four or maybe even a hundred and four.

One of the things we loved about Karen’s biography was that after her father passed away, she rejected reading because it was too painful to be reminded of her father. In her words: “Books reminded me of my father and that hurt, so I avoided them. When they were placing kids in their individual reading groups, they put me in the lowest one and I scraped by. One day, my mom pulled me aside at home when I expressed my displeasure at having to read, and she reminded me of all those times Daddy would read to me after working such a long day. She reminded me about how much he loved the written word and how badly he had wanted me to be a good reader. She also told me that if I could learn to read and read well, that it was like I was keeping a piece of him alive in me. That struck home more than anything else did, and from that moment on, I threw myself into reading. Within a month I had gone from the lowest reading level to the highest and I haven't looked back since.”


Inspiration is found everywhere, but Karen’s heart is fueled by her husband and two sons, the Rocky Mountains, her chronic addiction to pens and paper, and the smell of her laser printer in the morning.


Other awesome books by Karen Hoover:



To purchase Karen Hoover's books in paperback, Kindle or Nook visit Amazon or your local bookstore.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

Episode 12 A Discussion on Point of View



Here's last week's episode of Sweet Peas in a Writer Podcast where Theresa Sneed and Betsy Love discuss point of view and show examples of each. We hope you enjoy listening.



Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Episode 11, Author Reading with Amanda Sowards


Sweet Peas in a Writer Podcast 

Dedicated ... to promoting authors. 


Today's spotlight is Amanda Sowards, alias, A.L. Sowards.



Join Betsy Love and Theresa Sneed as they discuss her book,
Espionage and listen to an excerpt from it.

Espionage 

by Amanda Sowards




You can purchase Espionage from Deseret Book online. 

Visit Amanda on her website!

Tuesday, June 19, 2012

Author Spotlight-Angie Lofthouse


Dear Listeners, 
Today's podcast is a spotlight with Author Angie Lofthouse. Since this is our first podcast over 3000 miles apart please bear with us as we work through some audio and sound quality issues. 
Visit Angie Lofthouse at her website


Purchase her book here


Thursday, June 7, 2012

Episode 9-Interview with Sarah Waggoner


Sometimes life just gets crazy! And that's what's happened for the past several weeks as Theresa has packed up her home and headed off to Maine. Betsy helped her pack, but refuses to go to Maine with her to unpack. It's just too far away from her family. So, without our beloved Theresa this week, Betsy forged ahead and enlisted the help of her darling, talented daughter to post this week's podcast. We hope you enjoy listening to her thoughts on creativity. And she sings pretty spectacularly as well.


Where do you find your creativity?

You can find Sarah Waggoner on her blog or her website.

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Episode 8-On location at Bookworms

Welcome to this week's podcast. Betsy and Theresa had lots of fun signing their newly released books Soulfire-A Book of Mormon Novel and Earthbound-Prequel to No Angel at Bookworms in Thatcher, Arizona. Author interviews are Joanne Mortensen, Anna Arnett, Cindy R. Williams, and Kathy Atwood. In the background you'll hear such delightful sounds as the chatter of customers, the bell on the shop door and perhaps even a telephone ringing. That's what happens when you're in a public place. We hope that you enjoy today's episode.



Theresa Sneed-No Angel, Earthbound
Betsy Love Identity, Soulfire


Anna Arnett-Lolly's Yarn
Cindy Williams
Cindy Williams-Chase McKay Didn't Get Up Today
Kathy Atwood-Maybe It's a Zebra
Friend visiting with Joanne Mortensen
Lynda Matthews Roderick

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Episode 7, Author Interview with Marsha Ward, founder of ANWA

This week's episode is an interview with our dear friend and mentor Marsha Ward - truly a gift to hundreds of LDS women writers and thousands of their readers who have benefited from Marsha's tireless efforts in organizing and overseeing American Night Writers Association. 

For more information about ANWA visit anwa-lds.com.







Here are the first three novels in Marsha Ward's Owens family saga:


Carl Owen doesn't intend to lose anything—not his land, not his cattle, and certainly not his girl—ever again!


Review from WESTERN WRITER'S NEWSLETTER
This is a book to prize, and not only for its gritty realism, exciting action, and compelling characters. The story further engages us by examining the ties that hold family and community together. Not many Westerns do that. Heartily recommended! - C.K. Crigger















Thinking he's been treated unjustly by his father, James Owen leaves the family homestead to make a new life for himself.
Review from ROMANCE JUNKIES
I was enthralled, and sitting on the edge of my chair, as I read RIDE TO RATON. This is an exciting, quick paced, heartwarming, and heartrending story! James and Amparo are wonderfully "real" characters, with the emotions and interactions between them touching my heart. The secondary characters were fantastic: from mean and drunk, to kind and generous, they added extra life—and spice—to the story. The first one of Marsha Ward's books I've read, I am highly impressed. A western in the true sense of the word, yet with plenty of romance, this one is definitely worth your time if you are a lover of westerns or romances, or both. - Teresa Henson










Jessie Bingham put heartbreak away to tend to her sister's needs, but when she settled for second best in love, she didn't foresee that James Owen would come back into her life.
AMAZON REVIEW by K. Darrach
OMG
I really really liked this book. I liked the first two books in the series too, but this book seemed to flow beautifully and connect with me.
I must admit I usually have difficulty getting "into" a book. I think it's just me, sometimes it's hard to keep track of all the people right off the bat. Not this book, I was right there, submerged in 1867 and could even smell the hay in the barn!!!
This book starts with a BANG...(I was shocked and extremely impressed!) not to mention throughly entertained ALL the way through. It was intense, touching and heartwarming.
So, great Job Marsha Ward! And to everyone who hasn't read this book- GO GET IT!







Visit Marsha's website for purchase links 
and more information about her and her awesome novels.