Thursday, February 28, 2013

March's Author of the Month

Happy Friday!!

Can you believe we are already running headlong into the third month of the year?! WOW!

Well, February was wonderful and I hope you were able to become more acquainted with Amanda Cabot. She is so sweet, and fun and VERY talented! It was an honor to feature her last month.

As for March...drum roll, please. Ladies, hold on to your seats, because this month we are featuring the one, the only--
MARY CONNEALY!!! AHHHHH!!!!! I know!! Isn't it great?

I have read loads of Mary's books and every one of them has captured my imagination within the first few pages. There are still more I need to read, and I CAN'T WAIT!!

It's a thrill and an honor to have Mary on my blog this month! Here is the interview, ladies! Enjoy!!


Tell us about yourself! Please include something unique/funny that people may not already know. *big grin*

I just had my 24th book release, which is unbelievable to me. I write romantic comedy…with cowboys and the publishers seem to keep wanting more of them. I’m the mother of four adult daughters and grandma to two. I live on a farm/ranch in Nebraska with my very own romantic cowboy hero.
Unique and/or funny? I remember as a teenager a good friend of mine, Leslie and I used to always joke around about how AVERAGE we are. We were middle of the road grades, not bad just average. Moderately good at sports. Not awful, but we weren’t gonna start varsity. Medium popularity…everything was average. We weren’t even DEAD middle, because it would be odd to be THAT average, so a few A Grades. An occasional toe onto the volleyball court. We laughed about it, but we thought it was really true.
I’ve lost contact with her now, mostly but she’s got a doctorate and teaches at a university—after almost not going to college, and I’m a published author. So we did okay for a couple of average chicks.

The humor in your books is fabulous! Have you always had a "silly" side? 

I don’t know about silly, I think sarcastic is more like it. Which honestly, is pretty strange. I had a nice, quiet, decent life. Where did all the sarcasm come from?

Of all the characters in your books, which one do you relate to the most and why?

Wow, I’m not sure about relating to them. I think I mostly write characters that are how I’d LIKE to be, not how I really am. I’m a pretty quiet person. (you might even say AVERAGE). I’m pathologically non-confrontational.  So the heroines I write are always taking on anyone who gets in their way (including the heroes) and that’s not me at all.

What is your favorite scripture? 

I have so many I love, that this is a hard question, but the one I’ll share here is Psalm 27:1 because I think there is so much truth in it, and I use it in my books a lot. Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is my stronghold; Of whom shall I be afraid?
I think if we could just hang onto this verse and know that in life and in death, we have nothing to fear as long as we believe, we would all live different, bolder, more Christ-like lives. 


Wasn't that great?! Thank you, Mary, so much! You are such a talented author, and your stories have really inspired me to live a "different, bolder, more Christ-like" life. I'm so happy you are following God's path for you and blessing so many people's lives in the process. Thank you again, and God bless!

Mary has been gracious enough to offer to do a GIVEAWAY!! You KNOW you want to win a copy of her new release SWEPT AWAY, which is available THIS MONTH!!! 
So, here's the dilly-o. To enter, you must post a comment (with your email) and tell me what your favorite Connealy book is--unless you are new to her books, in which case tell me what you'll read first--and make sure you follow me on FB or on this blog and that's it! How easy, right? I will be doing the drawing on March 8th, so be sure to check back and see if you are the happy winner!!

Happy reading everyone, and happy March!!!





23 comments:

  1. Is it March already? Man oh man, time does fly! Great interview...Well, to be honest, I've never read any of Mary's books, so I guess this would be the first I read...if I win it. The whole reason for following this blog is to check out authors I am not too familiar with, and there are lot here! Mary's books sound very entertaining and the cover of Swept Away is gorgeous! I am definitely going to keep following you on this blog. God bless. debsbunch5[at]jesusanswers[dot]com

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    1. Debbie--you are so sweet! Thank you so much for stopping by and thank you also for entering!!! That's wonderful and good luck to you! ;)
      As for Mary's books, I am sure you will love them! There are so many fabulous ones its hard to know where to start, but any one you choose will be great!
      God bless you!
      Amber

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    2. Debbie, give my books a try. If you like them, I can keep you busy for a long, long time! And Swept Away would be a good place to start because it's book #1 of a new series.
      Or, right now, Out of Control, book #1 of my last series, The Kincaid Brides, is free on Amazon/Barnes and Noble and all other ebook distributors, as an ebook download, so you can try it for free.

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  2. YAY Mary Connealy!!!! I just love love love her books!!! My favorite is the Lassoed in Texas Trilogy and the Sophie's Daughter's Series! Super excite to read this new book!! I've read everything else she's written! :)

    cavinessemail@gmail.com
    cavinessemail[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. Hi Candy. I'm so glad you like my books, thank you. I had so much fun with this new series. This group of heroes are about the toughest guys ever and of course I had to come up with heroines to match them. I hope you enjoy Swept Away.
      btw, there is a lovely, fluffy snow this morning in Nebraska. Those huge, beautiful fat snowflakes that are so lovely. I HATE THEM!!!
      I'M SO SICK OF WINTER AND SNOW I COULD SCREAM. It's MARCH NOW, STOP IT!!!

      Sorry, needed to vent!

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    2. Thanks for the tidbits! Makes me even more anxious to read this new series. About the snow venting, I'm from Michigan so I know all about being ready for spring! I'm so over winter too!! So no worries about venting, lol.

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  3. My first Mary Connealy book was "Out of Control" and I just LOVED it. I have all the books in that series now.

    enter me please :D

    winterrose (at) comcast (dot) net

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    1. I'm glad you liked them, Winter Rose, thanks for tell me. I love hearing it.

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  4. Hard to pick just one favorite. I have enjoyed every one of her books that I have read and look forward to those still on my TBR shelf. I enjoy and APPRECIATE the humor (sarcasm). I think it/they are underrated. They add so much to a story. I think we could use a bit more humor in our everyday lives. If we didn't take everything so seriously, the little bumps fate throws us wouldn't be so upsetting and easier to deal with.
    If you haven't visited Petticoats and Pistols, please do so. Mary's posts are always interesting and enjoyable. Plus, she is in the company of some other fine authors.
    See you there, Mary. Patricia B

    librarypat AT comcast DOT net

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    1. Hi Library Pat, I love your name btw, anything to do with LIBRARIES!!! :) We have fun over there at P & P, no doubt about it.

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  5. I would love to win this book and add it to my collection after I read it. I haven't read any of Mary's books that I don't love so I can't pick a favorite!

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

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  6. Honestly, I am new to Mary's books but not for much longer!! Thanks for having a giveaway!

    bookwormgal2011(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. Michelle, if you want to try them out, go get the freebie, Out of Control, free on Kindle right now. A love risk way to sample an author! :)

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  7. Great interview!
    Montana Rose is probably my favourite. Red was such a great hero and it was great to see Cassie blossom. :)

    I liked your page on facebook!

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    Kim
    lonebanana(at)msn(dot)com

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    1. Kim, you liked Red Dawson? He is still the most perfect man I've ever written, but Cassie just needed a KIND MAN. I couldn't bear to have him have a lot of troubles, besides hers.

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  8. I've liked all the books by Mary that I've read, maybe 17 books (just trying to remember by counting them in my head, so I may be off a few), so it's hard to pick a favorite. Probably the favorite at the time is the one that I'm reading. However, the book with my favorite cover is Out of Control. Very swoonworthy. I'm looking forward to this new series and would love to win a copy of Swept Away.

    pmk56[at]sbcglobal[dot]net

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    1. I'm getting all these handsome, hunky heroes, now, Pam and I LOVE IT. :)

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  9. Mary I love your books & I would love to be the winner of " Swept Away " . Thanks for the give away.
    lizd225(at)gmail(dot)com

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  10. i would love to win a Mary Connealy book.
    i think my favorite of the few books of hers i have is Golden Days.
    i guess it's a novella, but I LOVED the heroine in that one.

    nm8r67 at hotmail dot com

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  11. I love reading and I love books by Mary Connealy. I think my favorite would be Petticoat Ranch. I really like the strong female characters you use. I enjoyed reading the struggle Sophie had between doing what she could and letting her husband take over some work. (I'm not married so I've yet to experience that.) :)I love the sarcasm and humor, but I also like how God drives points home while I read and I appreciate the spiritual view point your books have. Thank you so much for writing.



    elainakellymorris@gmail.com

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  12. I love her books! Thanks for sharing a great interview. My fave is Montana Rose- such a sweet story.
    colorvibrant@gmail.com

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  13. It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think I like the Montana Marriages Series the best! Loved Montana Rose! -- Although, Petticoat Ranch is really good too! Too hard to decide! Anyways, I would love to read your new book! Thanks for the chance to win!

    canapple7 (at) cox (dot) net

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