FREE eBook Giveaway-Interview With Author Elaine Cantrell

Welcome! I had the pleasure in interviewing author Elaine Cantrell.

After reading the below interview with Elaine, don't forget to leave a comment because one lucky person will win a FREE eBook copy of RETURN ENGAGEMENT. You do NOT need an ereader like Kindle or Nook to enter. The book will be emailed to you where you can read it on your PC. This event runs Thursday through Saturday morning.

BIO: Elaine Cantrell was born and raised in South Carolina. She holds a Master’s Degree in Personnel Services from Clemson University and is a member of Alpha Delta Kappa, an international honorary sorority for women educators. She is also a member of Romance Writers of America and EPIC authors. Her first novel, A New Leaf, was the 2003 winner of the Timeless Love Contest and was published in 2004 by Oak Tree Books. At present she teaches high school social studies. In her spare time she enjoys reading, collecting vintage Christmas ornaments, and playing with her grandchildren.

Thanks for being here, Elaine. It’s a pleasure.

#1- Tell us a little about yourself outside of your writing career…

Outside of my writing career I’m a social studies teacher. Right now I’m teaching world history and geography, but I have done sociology and American History. I have some really nice students this year. Two of them are taking a creative writing course, and I’ve promised them I’ll feature their short stories on my blog. I have a new dog, Rascal, who’s a rescue dog. They told us Rascal was retarded, he couldn’t be housebroken, and he was aggressive. We disagree with all three of those statements. He’s thriving with us, but he does like to chew on things. We have to be sure he has a steady supply of rawhide bones. I’m also anticipating the summer. My sister who lives in Alaska will be spending the summer with me. Since I live in South Carolina we don’t see each other very often.

#2- Can you tell us about your book in this giveaway, RETURN ENGAGEMENT?

I’d love to. Out of all the books I’ve written, I love Return Engagement the best. I’ll give you the long blurb of the book instead of the short one.

Elizabeth Lane has heard the call of the four most seductive words in the entire English language: what might have been. Would you risk everything you hold dear to find out what might have been? That’s the choice which Elizabeth has to make.
Elizabeth is lucky, for she has it all, money, fame, a satisfying career and a devoted fiancé. Her humble beginnings are all but obscured, but she isn’t the kind of woman Senator Henry Lovinggood wants for his son, Richard. Senator Lovinggood plans to make Richard the President of the United States; he’ll need a woman from a wealthy, powerful family by his side. Ten years ago he broke Richard and Elizabeth up, but this time it won’t be so easy, for Elizabeth wants to know what might have been. This time she’ll fight back, a struggle which ultimately leads to kidnapping and attempted murder and alienates her from the man of her dreams.

#3- How do you handle the negative reviews and critiques you receive?

I think about the critiques long and hard. Sometimes an author is just too close to the book to see weaknesses. If I think the criticism is valid, I’m happy to change my work. As far as negative reviews are concerned, I let them slide off my back. You can’t please everyone. I would like to brag, if I may. Romantic Times gave Return Engagement 4 ½ stars and said, This touching story is beautifully written and explores the emotions involved when two people who love each other are influenced by outside forces and their own doubts. Each character is fully developed and the plot is filled with interesting twists.

#4- You are also a teacher. Any plans to write for that market, like Young Adult?

No, probably not. I love my students, but it is nice to focus on adults once in awhile.

#5- Please tell us about your hobby collecting vintage Christmas ornaments. It sounds fascinating...

It is fascinating. The vintage ornaments don’t look like modern ornaments. I think they’re more exuberant, more joyful than modern ornaments. My own collection dates from the late thirties to 1970. I think the ones from the 1950’s are my favorites. The shapes please me, and so do the colors. I have two plastic Rudolphs that just scream 1950 when you see them. I also have some elves from Japan whose little faces will steal your heart. When I was a child, my mother had one pink ornament on our tree. I just loved it, but I had no idea pink was used so extensively for Christmas ornaments until I started collecting. Pink was huge! I now have several pink ornaments in my collection. If you’d like to see the collection on the tree, check out my Facebook page in the photos section. Look under the album Vintage Christmas Tree. That page is http://www.facebook.com/elainecantrell

#6- Are there any upcoming releases we would like to know about, and could you give us your web site so readers can check it out?

I have one book just out from Astraea Press. It’s called A New Dream, and it’s available at http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:category=662245&mode=product&product=2676585
I also have another release coming from Lachesis Press. By the time this interview airs it may be out. I think the name is Kara’s Second Choice. I say think because we’ve re-named that book a dozen times.

#7- This about concludes it. Thank you again for joining us. Is there anything else you would like to share?

Yes, I blog several times a week at http://www.elainepcantrell.blogspot.com, and I’d love for you to check it out. It would also be great if you’d subscribe to my newsletter. You can do that by going to my website at http://www.elainecantrell.com and clicking the Yahoo button. It’s near the bottom of the first page.

I’d also like to thank you, Kelly, for letting me come and talk to you and your readers.