Monday, September 26, 2011

Southern-Style Meet & Greet with Lisa Bergren Plus Giveaway


Thank you so much for joining me for another Southern-Style Meet & Greet this week.  Our special guest today will be none other than the hottest Christian YA author this year...Lisa Bergren!  Betcha can't wait to get started, huh?  :o)

But first, gotta announce the winner of last week's giveaway for a copy of Dancing on Glass by Pamela Ewen.  Thanks to the awesome Random.org, our winner is:

Darlene (darlene@...)

Congrats on your win, Darlene!  I'll be in touch with you shortly for your mailing addy.  :o)

Now, it's time for our Meet & Greet!  I have been a fan of Lisa's since the good ole days...like when Christian fiction was really starting to take off about 15 years ago.  She started writing books for the Palisades romance line published by Multnomah in the mid-90's, and I *devoured* every single book of hers, as well as every other one that was available at my local library.  :o)  And if those books of hers weren't great enough, she had to go and write the Northern Lights series.  Oh.  My.  Gosh.  Let's just say if you haven't read those books yet, um...get busy.  *wink*  And it's an obvious given that the River of Time Series should be at the top of your TBR stack, also (speaking to myself here as I've only read book 1, Waterfall, so far...must get busy).  :o)

Hope y'all enjoy our chat today!
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When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?

This is hard to answer because it wasn't until I had five published books under my belt that I could even refer to myself as a writer. I think it'd always been my dream...

What genre do you most like to write?

Suspense/romance. I had a blast with the River of Time Series because those elements rose to the top.

Do your own personal experiences, or those of family and friends, ever find their way into one your stories?

Rarely personal experiences. Writing is largely an exercise of imagination for me! But I do incorporate key things that I've learned, or friends/family have had to learn. Those internal "ahas" are somewhat universal, I think, and help tie us to a character (even if she's time-travelling back to medieval Italy!)

What do you hope readers “take away” with them after they read one of your books?

I hope that first and foremost, they feel like their time was well spent--that it was not a waste of time! If they can say, "I learned something about myself/my world/my faith in reading that book," or even just "that was great entertainment," I'm happy.

What is your latest book release?

The latest is TORRENT, book 3 in the River of Time Series. You really want to read WATERFALL (book 1) and CASCADE (book 2) first, because TORRENT picks up where the last ended--with the girls going back in time to try and rescue their father. They're faced, then, with the tough decision as a family--to stay in medieval Italy forever, or return to their own time? The Love Interest, of course, is back in medieval Toscana...

Are you currently working on another novel, and if so, can you give us a snippet about it?

I'm currently working on the first book in the Grand Tour Series, and it's about a group of young people who are on a Summer tour of "the Continent" (i.e. Europe), as well as on a journey to discover themselves. My heroine is the illegitimate daughter of a copper king, who has to decipher her true identity when everything she's known about herself changes. GLAMOROUS ILLUSIONS, book 1, comes out in June 2012.

Sounds like another glorious series!  

What was the last Christian Fiction book that you read that you couldn’t put down?

Susan Meissner's THE SHAPE OF MERCY. Awesome. But to be fair, I feel like I've been called to write for the general market, and in particular, YA, to try and bring a little light into some pretty dark bookstore shelves...so I've been reading a ton of general market YA books. Looking forward to reading Sandra Byrd's TO DIE FOR, Mary Demuth's THE MUIR HOUSE and Erin Healy's THE PROMISES SHE KEEPS. They're in my stacks.

Sandra's book was positively wonderful!  I've been recommending it left and right to everyone I know!  Hope you'll be able to read it soon. 

Where can readers find you on the web?

LisaBergren.com and RiverofTime.mobi
Facebook: River of Time Series and Lisa Tawn Bergren
Twitter: @LisaTBergren

If you could visit anywhere down South, where would it be and why?

Oxford, MS for the literary roots; Charleston, SC for the romantic setting...Mmm. Would love to go!

Oxford is just down the road from this front porch, and it's also the home of Ole Miss.  Big deal for some of us sports people up here (not me necessarily, unless they're playing the University of Memphis Tigers...then, it's a big deal).  :o)

Iced Tea—sweet or unsweet?

Half and half. Better yet, unsweet w/lemonade.

BBQ Pork or BBQ Beef?

Pork.

Dolly Parton or Elvis Presley?

Elvis, baby.

Historical House—Plantation or Log Cabin?

Plantation. With servants. I'm not big on cleaning.

Me, neither...don't tell my hubby.  Shh...

Country gal or city gal

Country.

You, you all, or y’all?

My Southern friends have made this Yankee a y'all girl. But I don't say "all y'all" yet. That's just crazy talk.

Being Southern, I'm "y'all" all the way, but have been known to slip an "all y'all" from time to time.  :o)
__________________________________

Lisa, I had a blast getting to know you better, and I'm sure lots of other folks have, too.  Thank you so so much for stopping by this week!


Now, y'all are just not gonna believe this week's giveaway.  It's almost too good to be true, but I assure you that this is the real deal!  Up for grabs is the ENTIRE RIVER OF TIME SERIES!  Can you believe it?  :o)  WOW!  So, be sure to follow the directions for your mandatory and optional entries so that you don't miss out on your chance to win. 
  • Leave a comment with your email address disguised like "yourname at yourdomain dot com" or something similar. Many people are not following this rule for their mandatory entry, and I've not been able to include them.  Please leave your email addy so I can contact you.
  • All entry comments must be left by Sunday, October 2.
  • Contest is open to US residents only.
  • Become a follower/email subscriber for an additional entry, and let me know in your comment if you're a new one or an existing one. (No need to create a separate comment for this. Combining everything into one comment is much easier.)
Thank y'all so much for stopping by again this week!  I appreciate the comments that y'all leave in response to the interviews along with the occasional question for the authors.  You guys help me make these features a success, so thank you!!

50 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for the chance to win this. I have been wanting to read this series for a while. I would love to win these. Thanks again.

    agent_beckster(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  2. I have the entire series, so don't need to be entered, but I do want to say that this is really a good read, YA or adult. :) I know grownups who are anxious to read Torrent - since they fell in love with the first one and two.

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  3. Thank you for the giveaway!!
    I loved Waterfall and Cascade but haven't had the chance to read Torrent yet. Cant wait!!
    I would love to win these!!

    I am a new subscriber.
    015browneyes(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. I loved this series! I couldn't wait to finish Torrent. Now I hear that Lisa is writing a 4th book for the series which has me doing a happy dance! I would love to win so that I can give them to a friend. Great interview! I'm now a follower.

    Julie @ My Only Vice
    gravesok(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Yay! Thanks for the fun and unique interview, and for telling your readers about my books. Appreciate you!

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  6. Ive been seeing a lot of friends on goodreads lately reading and loving these books, so I've been curious about them and would love to win them!

    I am a new follower.
    bighornforestgirl(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  7. I have heard such a buzz surrounding these books and know that they are absolutely on my tbr list! Thanks for the great interview with Lisa and for tHe giveaway. The new Grand Tour series sounds great as well!

    I am a current follower of your blog

    Thanks! ihhcheryl(at)comcast(dot)net

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  8. I have heard such wonderful things about this series. I would love to win it. Great interview.

    I'm a old follower.

    crystalfulcher(at)ec.rr.com

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  9. Oh yah baby half and half sweet tea with a splash of lemonade is my favorite too. I call it the "not too sweet Arnold Palmer."

    Loved your answers, but I think I would choose Dolly ;)

    (not an entry)

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  10. This series sounds great!

    shoopettesbookreviews at gmail dot com

    (I am a follower of your blog, too.)

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  11. Hi Christy! Thanks for inviting me to your giveaway! I would love to win this series for my teenage sister! I've read the first book, and I know she'd love it :-) I am an existing follower via GFC, but I wasn't able to subscribe for some reason, and I couldn't use my Google Account or blog URL to post my comment :-(

    gwen dot gage at gmail dot com

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  12. Christy: What a fun interview! And Lisa, your TBR list is grand. I loved all those books, (still waiting to read The Muir House, however -- it's on my pile!)

    I already own both a paperback set and an e-set of this series, so I won't enter the contest; but, good luck, everyone!

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  13. Well, now I just hate to admit that "all y'all" has came out of mouth quite a few times! ;)

    I ordered Waterfall, and after waiting 3 weeks for it to arrive in my mailbox, I haven't gotten to read it yet. Horrible, I know!!

    I'd love a chance at winning the set...then I wouldn't have to wait to read the other ones.

    I'm an old follower.

    bluerosesheart at yahoo dot com

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  14. i have soooo luved the Waterfall Wednesdays group discussion online! FuN time =) so would definitely want to be in for this set's awesomeness!! my library doesn't even have 1 in the series!
    blstef1 at mts dot net
    and many thanks for the offer! luv you Lisa!!

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  15. i am an old/existing gfc follower
    blstef1 at mts dot net
    who forgot to add this to my previous comment =)

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  16. Thanks for sharing the interview and giveaway. What a great opportunity! Please include me. (I'm a follower.) reneeasmith61 [at] yahoo [dot] com

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  17. Fantastic interview! Thanks for the chance to win this series - that's incredible. :o) I've been interested for a while. I'm an old follower. margaretmetz_writer at yahoo dot com Thanks!

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  18. I have the first two books in this series, but I have not picked up the third book. I would love to win the entire series. Thank you so much.
    carlyberd[at]yahoo[dot]com

    And, I'm a new follower for this blog.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Nice interview. I have not read this series. It sounds so good. I would love to be entered in the giveaway. Thank you. (The Grand Tour Series sound great too!)

    I follow Southern Sassy Things with Google Reader.
    pamo321(at)comcast(dot)net

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  20. Hey Christy,
    I'd love to win this set - love Lisa's books.
    I think I am already a follower - please correct me if I'm wrong.

    pam [at] daysong [dot] com

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  21. Hey Christy & Lisa,
    That's a stupendous giveaway! I've been out of the loop (daughter is hospitalized with pneumonia and I've been just about living here for 7 days already), but would love an opportunity to read Lisa's books. And just one thing...don't y'all know that "all y'all" is plural for y'all ;)

    I'm an old follower :)

    homesteading[at]charter[dot]net

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  22. Loved the interview :) I've heard so many things about this series!

    I'm a follower who lives in the U.S.

    crazi.swans at gmail dot com

    Thanks :)

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  23. Wow! I just ordered books 1 & 2 of this series for my young people. I have a 14 year old boy with a bone disease that is my YA reader. I sent him home Sunday with book #1 and told him to call me when he finished it and tell me about the book. I would dearly love to have book#3.
    Candace Betts cbetts@windstream.net

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  24. Hello! I've never read this author before, but I'd love to. My e-mail is brendareviews at gmail dot com. I'm also a new follower.

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  25. WOW, amazing giveaway! I have heard so many great things about this series and I would LOVE to read it!

    kate [at] parchmentgirl [dot] com

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  26. Oops, forgot to include in my comment that I'm a GFC follower - old one. :)

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  27. This looks like a series my daughter would LOVE (and maybe me, too!!). Thank you for entering me!

    I am also and "old" follower and email subscriber. ;-)

    Michelle
    scraphappy71 at sbcglobal dot net

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  28. a fabulous giveaway...thanks for the opportunity to read these wonderful novels :)

    i'm a follower, too!

    karenk
    kmkuka at yahoo dot com

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  29. Oh, these would be great! Thanks for the giveaway.

    plhouston(at)bellsouth(dot)net

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  30. Heeey!! Gonna be a new subscriber as your blog is oodles of fun and I'm excited for the giveaway!

    theaterchik [at] gmail [dot] com

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  31. Thanks so much about this giveaway. I've heard great things about this series.
    juliecookies(at)gmail.com
    new follower

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  32. Lisa! Arnold Palmer (tea/lemonade) is my favorite. :) It's amusing when around here sometimes I'll order it and the waitress will ask for my id. *snicker*

    I love books from every genre Lisa has her pen in. :)

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  33. I would love to win this set of books! I read the first two on my Kindle but I haven't managed to get a copy of the third book yet, and I would LOVE to have an actual paper copy of the whole set!

    I am a new GFC follower and email subscriber :)

    jwitt33 at live dot com

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  34. Hi! I would love to read this series......Haven't read any books by Lisa.
    I am a new GFC Follower

    dowelljanet at hotmail dot com

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  35. I enjoyed the interview. I've only been a follower for a couple of weeks now. I enjoy your blog. It makes me miss the South more. :-)

    I'd love to read these books. Thanks for the opportunity.

    chalainam at gmail dot com

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  36. I'd love to read this series!

    laurelprincess12 at gmail dot com

    I follow you here through GFC. :)

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  37. Please Please Please put me in the drawing for Lisa's books. I loved her Novels of the Gifted adult fantasy series and this sounds like something I would enjoy also though I haven't had the opportunity to read them yet.

    forest_rose [at] yahoo [dot] com

    Subscribed via feedblitz email

    ReplyDelete
  38. oh, my teenage daughter would love it if I won these books she has seen them and wanted them.

    email subscriber/gfc follower

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Loved your interview with Lisa and her honesty. She sounds delightful. I've wanted to read these and offering the set as a giveaway is awesome.

    je2kids(at)gmail(dot)com

    I follow you in google reader!

    2 Kids and Tired Books

    ReplyDelete
  40. Love the interview. I want to read these books!
    ljldml@gmail.com
    new follower

    ReplyDelete
  41. Great southern sassy interview! I've heard nothing but good things about this series and would love to read it!
    Viajeradelmar at aol dot com
    Old GFC follower nikki

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  42. What an awesome meet and greet. These books sound awesome and I would love to win them. New follower on networked blogs

    Supagurlheather @ Gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Would love the series. Enjoyed the post. I am a follower.

    mylife.onestoryatatime (at) yahoo (dot) com

    I have a give away on my blog. Hope you have a moment to enter. Donna

    http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Fun interview, wonderful giveaway! Please include me, I'd love to travel back in time. Thanks.
    I'm a subscriber.
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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  45. So if I say "you all" does that mean I'm not quite southern? Makes sense since I grew up in the Midwest. :)

    rmjagears AT gmail DOT com

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  46. Came here through Book Mosters' giveaway post. Love the interview, would LOVE LOVE LOVE a chance to win these books. I've been wanting to get my hands on a copy since before Waterfall was released.

    And now I'm a new follower! :)

    shadyglade (AT) mail (DOT) com

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  47. This looks like a good series that both my daughter and I could enjoy.

    I am an existing follower of yours and really enjoy your blog.

    griperang at embarqmail dot com

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  48. Thank you for hosting the giveaway.

    wfnren(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  49. Hi! I'm a new subscriber. I love your blog :)
    Thanks for the great interview and hosting the giveaway.
    tmpr62 at myway dot com

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  50. Thank you for the giveaway! I'm a new follower! I've been really wanting to read this series! And I loved the interview! BBQ Pork -- I agree! Now I'm hungry! Aaaah! :)

    bookcrookliza at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete

I love your comments!! They make me happier than cold sweet tea on a hot summer day! :o)