Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Promise Tree by Janalyn Voigt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
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Welcome Janalyn! Thank you
for taking the time to answer my questions and allow my readers a chance to get
to know you and your newest book The Promise Tree.
I always like to start these interviews the same way with something fun to
break the ice: can you share 5 random facts about yourself that we will NOT
find in your bio?
Thanks for giving me the
chance to introduce myself to your readers. Okay, here goes. Random facts about
me include the following:
1. I am classically-trained as a vocalist and performed in several operas before deciding to pursue a writing career. It was a tough call, since I love singing nearly as much as writing. My love for music remains with me, regardless. Worship leading in church has at times provided an outlet. When reviewers speak of my writing as lyrical, I smile.
2. The Australian outback was my home for three years. When my serviceman husband was assigned to a tour at a remote communications station in Australia, I went with him. I could write books about my experiences in Madman’s Corner, which was what the cape where we lived was once called. Isolation brings quirks out in people, and the local history notes that especially for an early explorer. I knew I was in for an interesting time when I woke up in my new home and encountered a snake, a lizard, and a giant cockroach. Later, there would be a wild emu episode.
3. I’m a sinker, not a floater. My swimming teachers despaired of me. I could never quite get the hang of keeping my feet up. I can swim but never could tread water, I think due to the same phenomenon.
4. My husband and I both have a yen to restore a historic home of consequence. Who knows? Maybe that’s our destiny. We’re starting with our current home to find out if we can work together and remain married. So far, so good.
5. I enjoy growing a garden and cooking from scratch.
My father read chapters from
classic children’s novels to me at bedtime. I might have been four. After he
tucked me in, I’d lie awake imagining what might happen next in the stories.
That was my early training in storytelling. When my sixth-grade teacher
encouraged me to become a published author, I acknowledged my own desire.
The Promise Tree is a Historical Western Romance. What drew you to
that genre?
As a teen, I lived close to
Niles, the California town where Charlie Chaplin made movies. When the wind
blew, it whistled and tumbleweeds rolled across the road. Add an active
imagination to that scenario and a western-movie marathon with my father every
Sunday afternoon. It wasn’t a far jump to want to write western romance novels.
What are the most challenging aspects of bringing a story like this to life?
The first western historical
novel I wrote took a long time. I didn’t know how to research quickly and well.
I was, perhaps because of this, terrified of making a mistake. I wanted to
present the West as it really was, apart from the mythos. I’ve since learned
that the complete truth of that lies in the grave. All those of us who live now
can do is make educated guesses. That knowledge is hard for me. I feel a deep
call to preserve history, but much of it is lost forever.
In addition to your western stories, you have also published medieval fantasy
and romantic suspense novels as well. Does your writing process change at all
between the various genres?
I follow the same outlining
method and apply the identical seat-of-the-pants-to-the-seat-of-the-chair
technique to turn out drafts for any book I write, no matter what it’s genre.
My writing voice changes a bit between genres, though. I don’t do this on
purpose. It’s just the way the stories come out. For fantasy books, my writing
voice is more lyrical. My western historical romance novels still contain
description, but they lean more toward dialogue. That’s true for my romantic
suspense writing also, along with a certain pathos.
What is the best writing advice that you have been given, or that you would
give to aspiring writers?
Follow the story, even when
its direction doesn’t at first make sense. This is different from going down
bunny trails. Trust your storytelling instincts, and you’ll know the difference.
Can
you tell us a little bit more about The Promise Tree?
The Promise Tree is the first book in Montana Treasure, a spin-off series
from Montana Gold. The Montana Treasure series explores the lives
and loves of some of the Irish-American children, now grown, from the Montana
Gold books. The Promise Tree tells the story of Liberty Hayes, a preacher’s
daughter who takes her responsibilities seriously
The Promise Tree
A preacher’s daughter shouldn’t encourage a troublemaker, no
matter what her wayward heart desires.
Liberty
has always believed she should marry a man of God, but Jake doesn’t qualify.
The promises they’d made at age twelve can’t change that. If only Jake would
stop pursuing her, she might keep from falling in love with him.
Jake
fears he’ll lose Liberty to Beau, the new man in town. He doesn’t trust the
smooth-talker—and certainly not with Liberty. Expressing his opinion sounds
jealous and pushes Liberty further away. Jake’s efforts to forget the woman he
loves lands him in jail for a crime he didn’t commit.
A
bounty hunter on the trail of a notorious outlaw gallops into town, and Liberty
finds herself in unexpected peril. When Jake rides after her, he faces a test
of faith. Jake and Liberty must each overcome their own false beliefs. Only
then can they experience the truth of God’s redeeming love.
Set during a troubled time in America, the Montana Treasure
series explores faith, courage, and love in the Wild West.
What do you hope readers will take away from the book?
The Promise Tree is an inspirational book that explores love in many of its
forms—between a mother and daughter, the love of a father for a child, the
bonds of friendship, and of course romantic love. This book affirms the
reader’s faith in love.
Thank you again for taking the time to answer these questions. Before you go,
are there any other projects you are currently working on that you can share?
You’re most welcome. Thanks for hosting me. I’m currently
working on two projects.
Deceptive Tide, my
first romantic suspense novel, is set on Orcas Island in the San Juan
archipelago off the coast of Washington state. Piper Harrington is a young
widow who is researching to write her first solo book after her famous-author
husband’s death. She meets a young girl, a large dog, and a mysterious man at
the center of a mystery. When a killer stalks Piper, she doesn’t know who to
trust. Although Deceptive Tide is book three of the Islands of
Intrigue—San Juans series, friends and fellow authors wrote the first two
books.
I’m also in the research stage for the second installment in
the Montana Treasure series, which will feature Liberty’s cousin as its
sprightly heroine. Phoebe is so beautiful that she could take her pick of
beaus, but her refusal to court has left her a spinster. She applies to become
a ranch hand, never expecting her uncle to hire her. She finds herself in the constant
company of her uncle’s ranch manager, Will—the one man who could make her
change her mind about falling in love.
(1) winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 18, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 25, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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This sounds like like a great read. Nice cover!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read.
ReplyDeleteI love historical western romance, it’s one of my favorite genres.
ReplyDeleteHistorical western romance is my favorite genre! Book sounds great!
ReplyDeleteSounds like an exciting read.
ReplyDeleteMarion
Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting my book and its author today. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for a fun interview!
ReplyDeleteThis cover is so pretty! Adding to my tbr!
ReplyDeleteLook forward to reading this book. Love the excerpt and the cover. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThe Promise Tree sounds like a must read. Thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI like this genre.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the contest.