First Line Fridays — Father’s Day Edition + Prarie Sky Series (Mini-Interview & Giveaway)

Happy Friday!!

This week on Hoarding Books we are celebrating Fathers!

Today’s First Line comes from

Guess How Much I Love You

by Sam McBratney & illustrated by Anita Jeram.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

First Line:

“Little Nut Brown Hare, who was going to bed, held on tight to Big Nut Brown Hare’s very long ears.”

FLF Bonus

Today’s first bonus lines are from

The Prarie Sky Series

by Cynthia Roemer.

GOODREADS | AMAZON

First Line:

“Nothing could have prepared her for this. Nothing.”

GOODREADS | AMAZON

First Line:

“The sound of a spry whistle froze Charlotte Stanton in her tracks. She tightened her hold on her bucket of creek water, eyes narrowing.”

Mini-Interview

We’re also honored to have Cynthia Roemer stopping by for a chat today. Please join us in welcoming her to Hoarding Books!

What books/authors do YOU hoard?

I have a fetish for inspirational historical romance novels. I especially enjoy Laura Frantz, Kristi Ann Hunter, and Connilyn Cossette.

What is something interesting readers would like to know about you?

I wrote the rough draft for my first novel, Under This Same Sky, while in college–thirty years prior to its publication. As part of my degree requirements, I had to complete 300 hours of work related to my major (English/Creative Writing), so I petitioned to be allowed to fulfill my 300 hours researching and writing a novel. My petition was granted and during that time, Under This Same Sky was born, though a much different version from the one that was published. =)

What inspired the idea for your Prairie Sky Series?

Each of my novels begins with a take-away I feel the Lord would like readers to gain from the story. In Under This Same Sky, it’s that God loves and cares for us no matter what hardships we go through in life. Under Prairie Skies is more relational in nature, demonstrating how the Lord uses people to sharpen each other as “iron sharpens iron.” This second novel is a spin-off featuring one of the minor characters from Book 1 in the series and is best read after the first book. With my love of the 1800s’ and growing up in the Midwest, the Illinois prairie was the perfect backdrop for this series.

What is your current WIP?

Currently I’m working on Book 3 in the series, Under Moonlit Skies. Three years have passed since Under Prairie Skies ended. This is the story of Esther Stanton (another minor character from previous novels in the series). Set, in part, in historic Cincinnati, OH in1858, there’s a rising tide of prejudice and division brewing as the Civil War nears. It’s a tale of love and acceptance, of seeing past outer appearance and glimpsing another person’s heart. There’s a bit more intrigue in this third installment in the series, and I’m looking forward to delving more deeply into the story and its characters.

When you are not writing, what hobbies do you enjoy?

In the warmer months, I enjoy gardening, hiking, biking, an occasional motorcycle ride with my hubby, and riding side-saddle in the combine during harvest. In the cooler months, I enjoy baking, reading, and cozying up with my family for a movie.

Giveaway

For a chance to win a print copy of Under Prarie Skies,

(US addresses only for the giveaway).

Enter the giveaway HERE.

Giveaway is open until 11:59PM on June 22, 2018

FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS GIVEAWAY, SINGING LIBRARIAN BOOKS POLICIES APPLY.

What are you reading?  What is your first line?
Open the book nearest you and post the first line in the comments below…

Then join the fun in the Linky below, as well as to visit more FLF participants.

We also invite you to participate in First Line Fridays on your own blog!

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