WELCOME, MARYLU TYNDALL ~ "SURRENDER the DAWN" ~

 INTRODUCING: 

~ MaryLu Tyndall, a Christy Award Finalist, and best-selling author of the Legacy of the King’s Pirates series is known for her swashbuckling historical romances filled with deep spiritual themes. She holds a degree in Math and worked as a software engineer for fifteen years before testing the waters as a writer. MaryLu currently writes full time and makes her home on the California coast with her husband, six kids, and four cats. Her passion is to write page-turning, romantic adventures that not only entertain but expose Christians to their full potential in Christ. For more information on MaryLu and her upcoming releases, please visit her website at http://www.marylutyndall.com or her blog at http://crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/
So glad you could come by today, MaryLu -
 Bringing:             "SURRENDER the DAWN"  

Another in the Surrender to Destiny Series

I've read and thoroughly enjoyed this terrific book! Thank you for allowing me to share it with my followers.

I also want to thank you for agreeing to this interview 

~ Please allow me to jump in with the first question here.

Can you explain what your author tag line, Swashbuckling Romances, anchored in faith, means?

When people hear the word swashbuckling they normally picture a pirate or sailor wielding a sword, but a swashbuckler is actually defined as a swaggering swordsman, soldier, or adventurer; a daredevil.  And that’s a fair description of all the heroes in my books.  Though my stories take place on both land and sea, they are set during the age of sail when tall ships ruled the sea. Filled with suspense, adventure, and a few sword fights thrown in for good measure, they are also highly romantic and have very strong spiritual themes.

Tell us a bit about yourself

I grew up on the shores of South Florida where I fell in love with the sea and with sea-faring adventures. After years of drifting from God and searching for meaning in life, I finally came to my senses and began to put Him first in all things. Eight years ago, God told me to write a story about a Christian Pirate. I thought I was hearing things, but I obeyed. Now, ten books later, I’m still writing to glorify Him!  Currently, I live in California with my husband, six kids and three cats.

What new lessons do you believe the Lord is teaching you right now?

He’s always teaching me so much! But at the moment, I’d have to say that He’s teaching me to trust Him with every tiny detail of my life. You see, I’m a bit of a control freak. It stems from a very insecure, turbulent childhood, so I try to fit my life into lists and neat little boxes in an effort to control the outcome. But recently, God is telling me to live second by second in His presence, to relinquish my lists and my desired outcomes into His capable hands. It is a hard lesson for me, but I know when I learn it, I will have the peace in my life that I’m seeking.

Do you know ahead of time how your books are going to end or what you are going to write about next with the book in a series? Or, do you just go with the flow and hope it all comes together in the end?

I am somewhere in between a plotter and a seat-of-the-pants writer. I have a general idea of the beginning and end of each book and the main crises or turning points, but I fill in the rest as I go. Regarding a series, I usually have no idea what the other books will be about until I’m writing the first book. Secondary characters usually pop out at me, screaming for their own story. Demanding is more like it!

What is the ultimate dream you want to conquer with your writing

To reveal the presence, the reality, the love, and the power of Almighty God in ordinary people’s lives. And in doing so, to bring people closer to Him.

What inspired you to write you Surrender to Destiny series?

I meet so many people who have no idea what God’s purpose is for them. They flounder about doing this and that and finally conclude they are not useful in the Kingdom of God. I believe from Scripture that we are each here on earth for a reason, and that God will reveal that reason to us in His time. But we must be open to it, and we must get rid of the things that keep us from that destiny. I attempt to show in my Surrender to Destiny series some of the things that can inhibit us from fulfilling our God-given purpose: insecurity (Surrender the Heart, book 1); fear (Surrender the Night, book 2) and unbelief (Surrender the Dawn, book 3). Then once you cast away all these entanglements, I show how to discover that purpose.

What did you find interesting about the war of 1812

Everything! The more I researched this war, the more I fell in love with it. America was a new nation. We didn’t have much of an army and a very small navy, yet we took on the most powerful empire in the world at that time—Britain. The British were intent on regaining the colonies as their own. Arrogant and boastful, they had no doubt they would win. Yet by the Divine Providence of God, America defeated them and remained the one bastion of freedom in the world. You cannot read about the War of 1812 and not see the hand of God all over each event and each battle, and over those who fought.

Tell us about your new release, Surrender the Dawn.

When the war of 1812 robs Cassandra Channing of her father and brothers, she must find a way to support her mother and younger siblings without being forced to marry a man she does not love. Determined to remain independent, she hires a privateer, captained by the town rogue.

Tortured by guilt for his parents’ death, Luke Heaton spends his time drinking and gambling. When Cassandra offers him enough money to fix up his ship, he sees an opportunity to redeem his reputation and help the lady he has loved from afar. Things go well until the British blackmail him into selling supplies to their ships. Still Luke cannot allow Cassandra’s family to be tossed on the streets. 

Cassandra has fallen in love with Luke. When she begins to suspect his nefarious activities, she is heartbroken. Hoping to prove her suspicions wrong, she sets out to catch him in the act. But what she doesn’t expect is to get caught up in a massive British invasion.

When the entire British fleet heads toward Baltimore and begins to bombard Fort McHenry, lives, liberty, and the future of a nation are at stake. What destiny awaits the couple in one of the most decisive battles of the war?

Where can readers find you on the web?

http://www.marylutyndall.com/

http://www.crossandcutlass.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/MaryLu-Tyndall-Swashbuckling-Romance/175344859169475




I appreciate your candor and the interview you've granted me for the sake of my followers.
May God richly bless you in your writing efforts and the sale of this terrific book, MaryLu.


A MUST-READ for you historical lovers!!!

Andrea Boeshaar - UNDAUNTED FAITH - from SEASONS of REDEMPTION - wonderful new release!

Joy's Joy~Ful Journal owes Andrea a huge apology. Yes, I have to begin a perfectly wonderful blog post with an apology - every English teacher will tell you to NEVER, EVER write an apology at the beginning of a letter - Hmmm - good thing this isn't a letter, then?

Andrea was very generous to me. She asked if I would feature her and her latest release - Undaunted Faith  
I was so honored and so blessed to have been considered by this tremendous author. To be honest - she's the first historical genre author I'd read and my love for her grew as her books began to multiply on my personal book shelves.

Here's the apology> After her most generous request for me to feature her I told her how excited I was and how she would fit right into the Spring~Blog~Fest here on Joy's Joy~Ful Journal in the middle of May - the last month of the Fest. She agreed - sending me the information I requested of her almost immediately. THEN, I went back to her and asked if I could move her week due to the scheduling problem with another author. She, in her sweet way, told me whatever would work for my blog was fine.

I am not sure who was being tested, Andrea's graciousness or my willingness to change MY plans for God's.
Yes, I had to go back to Andrea this last weekend and ask her to change back to the original week due to a glitch with the other poor author's deadline.
Andrea has earned my undying devotion and if it wasn't there before, well, it certainly is now.

My hat is off to you, Andrea Boeshaar. You are one very classey lady author.

Let me introduce you to this wonderful writer who's giving us the fourth in her series: SEASONS OF REDEMPTION

Tell us a little something about your personal life. Everyone loves to read about an author's 'personal' things. ;)

 I'm married and have three grown sons, one daughter-in-law, four grandchildren. I also have a fine church family.

What outside interests do you have, Andrea?

I love to take walks. I recently underwent a total knee replacement and I"m healing up just great. I can't wait to take regular walks out side later this Spring. My husband and I also enjoy seeing our grandchildren. We make that a regular practice.

What new lessons do you believe the Lord is teaching you right now?

God has shown Himself faithful in so many ways. He takes good care of me. One of the lessons I'm learning is that because my Heavenly Father is the King of Kings and I am His child, then that makes me . . . a princess! So, I ought to act like royalty, not in a snotty manner, but a manner in which I treat myself with respect and take care of myself. The Bible says that we should love others as ourselves, But if we don't love and respect ourselves, we cannot love our neighbors.

That said, I have to ask - hasn't God been really moving in your writing life? What do you see on your horizon?

I just handed in the manuscript to my editors for a book called - Threads of Hope. It's book 1 in my new series called - Fabric of Time - 

What are you working on since doing that?

I'm writing a short contemporary Christian Romance novel and I'm hoping to get a proposal for it to my agent Steve Laube soon so he can shop it around.

Andrea, what is the one thing you wish you'd known before you started writing novels?   

I wish I would have learned more about self-editing. Sometimes I'm embarrassed to read my older works, even if they're published. I suppose that means I'm growing as a writer - and that's good!    :D

 Has your writing changed your reading habits? If so, how?

I'm afraid I don't read as often as I'd like. With researching my historical novels and all he time spent writing them, I barely have time to clean my house and see the grandkids, let alone read. Still, I try to read a book every couple of months and I love to read my friend's books. Right now I'm reading Louise Gouge's - At The Captain's Command. And then I'll begin Karen Witemeyer's To Win Her Heart.

I'm curious as to how you choose your settings for your books, Andrea.

Somehow certain areas just grab me, like the Arizona Territory in 1867. You'll read about it in Undaunted Faith, Book 4 in my Seasons of Redemption series.

I'm also interested in local history. Book 2 in my series takes place here in Milwaukee. Book 3 is set in Chicago and hen in Milwaukee again. I love to research my hometown and my State. 

My next series, -Fabric of Time, - will take place in Wisconsin.

What are the three best things you can tell other authors to do to be successful?

1.) Don't give up!

2.) Learn all you can about writing and hone your skills!

3.) Trust God to open the doors to your success. Then don't be afraid to walk through them.

I really needed to hear/read that, Andrea. Your timing couldn't have been better.

Andrea - please tell us about your book: The featured release for this month>

The McCabe brothers have their hands full. Trouble on the range and trouble in town. But they never expected their sweet school teacher, Bethany Stafford, to j join their mix of woe. 

When her reputation is unfairly tarnished, Pastor Luke McCabe is quick to propose marriage. But Bethany wants better than a marriage of necessity to save her good name. Could Luke ever come to love a plain "little field mouse" like her?

Dr. Annetta Cavanaugh has her own questions about men and their intentions. While Pastor Jake  McCabe seems sincere, she still has her doubts about him. But after he accompanies her on a medical call, she sees a whole new side of him and can't help but admit her attraction to the handsome pastor.

However, there's evil brewing in town - a lawlessness that even the sheriff cannot tamp down.

Finally, it comes face-to-face with both Luke and Jake and it threatens the lives of the women they love. Are the McCabe brothers ready for the fight of their lives?

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I invite readers to my website:  www.andreaboeshaar.com

Once there, readers can find my blog and a lot of other information.

They can also find me on                                                          Facebook.

   

Andrea, I'm going to share portions from your book that I found to be very telling as to the kind of author you are:

~~~~~~~~~

Hours later, Bethany awoke. Instead of darkness, shafts of sunlight streamed in through the crevices of the barn's roof and walls. Many times on the farm where I grew up I saw this exact scene - the light streaming in through the cracks.

Alerted by the gunshot Luke rose from the breakfast table and strode to the door. Even squinting into the bright sunshine, Luke recognized Dirk Crawford in the distance. He rode fast toward the ranch with two other men in tow.

She wrapped her skinny arms around his midsection, and together they followed Jake into the barn. I had no problem picturing this character - a child.

A host of emotions gripped Luke, but righteous anger won out. What a guy!

This is just a small taste of the writing expertise of  Andrea Boeshaar. Her words evoke a sense of being in the presence of the characters she writes about.

Thank you, Andrea, for being such a gracious guest. For allowing me to move you back and forth across the Tuesdays in the month of May.
You've been very generous in your patience with me.

Readers;
   Please be sure to visit Andrea Boeshaar at her website and find her on Facebook.