Monday, November 04, 2013

Contest for Perfectly Matched

I'm dropping in this morning to let you know that I'm giving away a signed copy of Perfectly Matched as part of my interview with Southern Writers Magazine.

If you've already got your copy of the new book, you could give this one to a friend. :)


HERE'S THE LINK: http://www.southernwritersmagazine.com/

Happy Monday!

MAGGIE

Friday, November 01, 2013

INTERVIEW-SOUTHERN WRITERS MAGAZINE

Hi friends,

Fall has spread its beautiful mantel of color in Georgia with its usual spectacular red and gold, and sparkling blue skies. It's my favorite time of year, and I have much to be thankful for as we nudge closer to Thanksgiving. With the release of the last book in The Blue Willow Brides series, I sigh as I bring the three sisters in the series to a close. I loved writing it and they became my friends. I've been receiving good reviews, and if you haven't read Perfectly Matched, I hope you'll get a copy.

I was truly thrilled when asked by the editor of Southern Writers Magazine to do an interview for them. I've done lots of interviews over the years, but I think this is my favorite. It's not only an online magazine but a print magazine as well. They called me "Belle of the Books"--now I really liked that! :) Next week, they will have a contest to win an autographed copy of Perfectly Matched.

Here's a teaser for the article:

Have a great weekend with your family, watch your favorite football team, do a corn maize, baked some pumpkin bread, read, play with the kids or grandkids, or whatever it is you enjoy doing on your weekend. But whatever you do, choose to make each day count and don't waste one minute of enjoying your life to the fullest.

Happy Trails,

MAGGIE

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

5 Book Giveaway and an Up Close and Personal Interview on TBCN

Are you a member of The Book Club Network yet? It's a great place where readers and authors connect and book contest with giveaways from authors. Nora and Fred St.Laurent do a wonderful job keeping track of all the authors and readers comments. I've interview Nora before on my blog if you'd care to look back and check that one out.

Here's the good news--My publisher is giving away 5 books when you answer the questions posted on TCBN. The contest runs until the end of the month, so don't delay. Five people will win a copy of Perfectly Matched.

When you go to the link I provide you can join TBCN and join in the fun. There's always, books and prizes throughout the month. http://www.psalm516.blogspot.com/. You can post a comment to my interview but to enter the contest, you must join TBCN to win.

I hope you check them out. They love their readers and authors and I'm so grateful to them.

Happy Fall,

MAGGIE

Saturday, October 19, 2013

History behind Perfectly Matched and Book Giveaway



Popping in today to let you know that I'm the guest blogger over at one of my favorite sites-Petticoats and Pistols. I have a short article and historical pictures of the places mentioned in my new book, Perfectly Matched. Also, I'm giving away a copy of the book. To be entered, post me a comment and they will draw a winner and you'll be notified.

To enter to win click here: Petticoats & Pistols Blog. You'll enjoy some of the comments people have already posted. Have fun!

MAGGIE

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Happy Fall!

I hope your fall weather is as spectacular as Georgia's! It's my favorite time of year, and I'm especially happy that Perfectly Matched was released last week. The feedback for my new book, Perfectly Matched, has been good so far. This completes The Blue Willow Brides series.

I attended Georgia Romance Writers Conference and had a good time. I finaled for The Maggie Award of Excellence but sorry to say, I didn't win, but my good friend Eva Marie Everson did. Congratulations to Eva! I believe all the finalist are winners to make it this far.


Wouldn't you know the lights were out for nearly two hours in the hotel and surrounding Norcross! I was in a workshop that evening and the only light we had at first were flashlights from my cell phone and a few other attendees. Elevators of course were out. Very eerie to say the least. Finally, the emergency hall lights came on so we had to move to the hall to have the workshop. We all had to laugh since the conference is called Moonlight and Magnolias. :)

The speakers were great! Deborah Dixon and Deborah Smith. Deborah Smith was quite the comedian. I met new friends from GA as well as from states far away, and food was delicious!

I'm excited about a magazine interview in the Nov/Dec issue of Southern Writer's Magazine! What an honor! I'll be posting the link here and on my Facebook Author page when it's available.

I have fabulous new to share about a tea that will be given for me at the Historic Blue Willow Inn in Social Circle, GA. So mark your calendars for February 8th if you live in driving distance. More to come when details are ironed out. This is going to be so much fun! I'm thrilled that they have asked me, and they will be selling my series in their lovely gift shop. I can hardly wait to tell you all about it!

One last piece of good news--Amazon selected Twice Promised for Kindle Big Deal and will be available for $3.99 on Kindle Oct. 11-27th. Here's the link: http://tinyurl.com/nnee77w .

Come back soon, I have a giveaway coming up!

Happy Reading,

MAGGIE

Saturday, September 07, 2013

Special promotional for Deeply Devoted

Good news to share with you about a special promotional offer that my publisher is having for Deeply Devoted, book 1 in The Blue Willow Brides. This is to promote my upcoming release, Perfectly Matched in October. The e-book is only $2.99 at the sites, starting Sunday-9/8 through 9/10th. If you haven't had a chance to read it, here's your chance.




 

Please share with your friends who enjoy historical romance. For those of you that signed up for my newsletter, thank you! If you haven't, I hope you will. It's at the top right of my blog -"Newsletter Sign-up".

I'm planning on a couple of giveaways and contests soon for Perfectly Matched. I received my author copy of the new book this week and once again, I was excited to hold the finished copy in my hands. It's always a thrill and I hope the story will be one of your favorites and stay in your hearts for a long time to come.

I write for you!

Maggie

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Deeply Devoted Hot Deals

Dear readers,
I'm excited to tell you that Deeply Devoted is the e-reader Deal of the Day on these sites today August 24th. It's a promotion for my upcoming release Perfectly Matched. So here's your chance to grab your copy at a very low price if you don't have a copy.


B&N



CBD



Apple

 
When I receive my copies of the new book next month, I'll be running a contest for a chance to win the new book. so stay tuned.
 
I'm also very excited to be a finalist for The Maggie Award and the Heart of Excellence Reader's Choice Award. Wish me luck. The winners are announced in October.
 
I hope your summer is ending well. It seemed to fly past me, but I'm looking forward to fall and what it holds in store for me.
 
Maggie Brendan
 
 

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

MY NATIONAL ROMANCE WRITERS OF AMERICA CONFERENCE

Recently I attended my very first RWA conference in Atlanta. It was so much fun, but exhausting since I tried to squeeze in as many workshops as possible. I was particularly impressed with its professional level of workshops and how smoothly it was run with 2,000 authors congregating to further their careers. This picture is the literary book signing that RWA does each year. We raised $52,000 for literacy. Any books that weren't sold were donated to area libraries. There were 450 authors signing and readers were already lining up by 3 although it didn't start until 5:30. To top it off, we had the worst and longest thunderstorm in history with 3" of rain, but that didn't keep people away. Amazing!

This is how all the elevator doors were decorated at the Marriott Marquis. Each one had four different book covers. Isn't that neat? No, mine wasn't up there because my publisher wasn't a sponsor for this event.
One of the workshops that I enjoyed was given by the CDC on viruses, epidemics and everything you wanted to know about them for novel writing. I can see you raising an eyebrow but no, I'm not writing about epidemics, but every since my brother died of the Hantavirus I've been interested. I even stepped up to the microphone and told them they need to better inform the public about the deadly virus, most of whom have never heard of it. The panel shook their heads in agreement when I told them my loved one died from it. I never had to mention his name--they knew. They suited up some authors to demonstrate how they remove contaminated gloves and gowns after they had been called in to work with emerging contaminates.


I enjoyed the Faith, Hope and Love chapter meeting and met many of my fellow inspirational authors. I didn't final this year, but wow, so many talented people did. I enjoyed the Georgia Romance Writer's masquerade party and came away a winner of one of their gorgeous baskets!

While I was going down to for the literacy signing, I heard bad news about a family member's health and was feeling down as I took my seat in front of my stack of books. About 25 minutes later, my husband texted me that I had a message at home that I was a finalist for The Maggie Award! That really perked me up tremendously for a while. I'm truly honored to make the list. The winner isn't announced until October at the Moonlight and Magnolias Conference. Wish me luck!

I thought you might like to see my view of the atrium level from the 17th floor. (Their were 40 floors). A really fabulous hotel.
I really had a wonderful time meeting some authors I knew online and our late night chats with a few. I even met Rita Estrada, the namesake of the Rita Award. By the way-I've been nominated twice for the Rita but never finaled--at least not yet. :) I sat in on Nora Roberts chat too! She's a hoot! Our speakers were wonderful! I learned new lingo--like swag and the hybrid author, and felt honored that some authors were excited to meet me! Imagine that! Little ole me!

I'll close with one more  wonderful thing this summer we did before my conference. My granddaughter, Maggie, attended her 2nd Fox Broadway Camp in Atlanta and it was a delight to watch her perform  in Damn Yankees. She's a natural actress with a voice of an angel. I just have to share these pictures. She's the one with the red bandana and dark hair in the center of each pic. She's so beautiful! I hope to see her on Broadway one of these days!



Hope you're summer is turning out the way you hoped it would. As for me, I'm waiting for the autumn leaves, and sweaters...impatiently....

Happy Trails,

Maggie.

Monday, July 15, 2013

Come See Me!

I'm very excited to meet you this Wednesday at the Romance Writers of America Conference being held in Atlanta. I hope you can make it, I would love to meet you and sign your copy of Twice Promised! Here are the details:



Wednesday, July 17, 2013
5:30 - 7:30 pm

"Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing
RWA Conference
Atlanta Marriott Marquis


Please stop by and say hello!

Sunday, May 19, 2013

WINNERS OF TWICE PROMISED

Three winners have been drawn for a autographed copy of Twice Promised. Drum roll....Bonnie, Nancy and Vickie. I'll notify you by email for your physical address.

What a joy it was to read everyone's post and while I couldn't answer each one, I read them all and want to thank you for your heartfelt response about your mothers. I say we celebrate them every day, don't you think?

The last book in the series will debut in the fall with Perfectly Matched. I'm very excited about this title and if you're an dog or animal lover it's sure to please with a little laughter as Anna tries to handle being a new bride and protect abandoned animals. I'll be holding another giveaway in the fall, so stay tuned. In the meantime the book can be pre-ordered.

Pre-order your copy here:

Perfectly Matched



 
I'm working on my new series Virtues and Vices of the Old West currently and enjoying the research.
 
Thank you for participating! I wish I could give all of you a copy. I hope your Mother's Day was special.
 
MAGGIE
 
 

Friday, May 10, 2013

MOTHER'S DAY AND LEAVING A LEGACY


Every year when I would shop for a Mother’s Day card, I would cry right there in the store and try to hide my tears. Now that it’s been 15 years since Mama departed for Heaven, the void in my heart still lingers. I still get teary-eyed when I pass by and glimpse Mother’s Day cards. The red bird, Cardinal, next to her picture was her favorite bird.
I was the youngest in a family of eight and, of course, Mama and Daddy called me ‘Baby’. Even my oldest brother Sam did too. There’s so many memories I have of my mother but the legacy she left me to carry forward into my life was her strong faith in God. Now don’t go thinking this was forced on me or controlling my decision to follow Christ. It was not! She instructed us by Bible principles or we might have all ended up delinquents because of an absent father. Always struggling to make ends meet, she often quoted the scripture, “Why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin…” Matthew 6:28.
Although she had very little education, the daughter of a farmer, she was savvy in many ways. One of them was intuition and common sense. But she was also full of wisdom and wit. I have no doubt that if she’d been able to finish school and go to college, she would have excelled. Maybe written a book. She was usually cheerful and hardly ever complained about her health.
But Mother’s Day brings to mind something else—my mama’s hands.
Hands that were never idle, always finding work to do.
Hands that formed the best tastin’ biscuits, lemon pie, and fried chicken for Sunday dinner that you ever tasted. Her red beans and rice, cornbread were unsurpassed, made by those loving hands. Not to mention her teacakes that everyone loved.
Hands with a faint smell of garlic and onions when she would brush my hair.
Hands that tied on a clean apron, whipped up a delicious meal at the drop of a hat when family dropped by.
Hands that took a hot meal to a sick neighbor at the mere mention of illness.
Hands that ironed the perfect starched shirt-which by the way-hardly anyone ever does, but I like to when time permits.
Hands with long, pretty tapered nails that I filed and painted as she became too old to see well.
Hands that washed clothes with a ringer washer and hung them out on the clothes line to dry.
Hands that carefully counted every penny for household expenses.
Hands that wore pretty white gloves at Easter.
Hands folded in prayer, that I glimpsed unbeknownst to her.
I can only hope that I’m leaving my children a legacy that they will be proud of. What about you? Have you considered your own legacy? Whether you’re a mother or not, your legacy matters. In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ll give away 3 copies of Twice Promised when you leave me a comment on this blog post. Tell me why you’d like to win the book for your mother or if your mom has passed on, for yourself or friend. I’ll draw a winner a week from this Sunday.
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!
MAGGIE BRENDAN

Friday, March 01, 2013

PERFECTLY MATCHED

I'm so excited to share with you my new book cover for Perfectly Matched-book 3 in The Blue Willow Brides series. The model looks exactly how I envisioned Anna, the youngest of the three sisters, would look like. As usual, Revell creates beautiful covers and I'm glad to be able to share my ideas for what the cover should look like.
 


Here's a brief description:

Anna Olsen knows it's time to leave her sister's increasingly crowded house and start a life of her own. Following her sisters' examples, she becomes a mail-order bride, and after a short correspondence with clock maker and jeweler Edward Parker, she moves to Denver to become his wife. Almost immediately it's painfully apparent that Anna and Edward are very different. Anna is a free spirit who would rather be painting and enjoying the company of friends than cleaning house. Edward is a consummate perfectionist who, on their wedding day, hands Anna a list of chores that need to be done around the house daily.

Can this mismatched couple see past their differences to a harmonious future? Or will their disparate passions create obstacles neither is willing to surmount?

Maggie Brendan closes her Blue Willow Brides series with a heartwarming tale of true love despite misunderstanding, showing readers that God's timing is always perfect.

It's available for  preorder on CBD, Amazon, B&N or your nearest Christian Book store.

I enjoyed writing Anna's story and all her escapes and I hope you will too. Closer to the release, I'll be having a giveaway.

I'm currently working on The Arrangement, my 1st novel in my new series, Virtues and Vices of the Old West.

I hope you'll sign up for my newsletter or follow my blog. Spring is just around the corner. Yay! Now back to writing. Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!

MAGGIE

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

WINNER FOR TWICE PROMISED


I'm happy to announce that we've drawn a winner in honor of my birthday yesterday--Drumroll please. An the winner is ~~MISTY! I'll be contacting you to get your mailing address. I hope your enjoy Twice Promised and will tell your friends about my books.

Thanks to all of you who signed up for my blog or newsletter. I've only sent one out so far but hope to get working on a new one soon.

I appreciate you for taking time to talk about your resolutions and pray that you will be committed to carrying them out. That's the hardest part!

I have the new cover for Perfectly Matched and will share that when it's becomes official from my publisher.

Wishing you all well on all your endeavors in the New Year!

MAGGIE

Wednesday, January 09, 2013

FOCUS FOR 2013 AND BOOK GIVEAWAY



I thought it was high time that I checked in with my readers as the New Year gets underway. Now that the decorations are packed up and stored, and our toasts for those newly decided resolutions and commitments made, it’s time to actually begin putting them into motion. How many times have you made a resolution in January, but after a month or so, didn’t follow through? I’d hate to count them up personally. Many times for most of us, it’s the same thing—especially as we age—exercise more, eat less, take a vacation, finish a project or start a new one, etc. Isn’t it funny how we all have such good intentions but they’re so easily derailed? I raise my hand, I’m guilty as charged! You can’t start a new chapter in your life if you are re-reading the last one. So take heart and focus on what lies ahead because life is brief, and we should encourage each other to make the most of the time we have—forgetting the time we wasted.
Since my latest book, Twice Promised, was released in October, I’ve signed a new contract with my publisher for a new three book series. So I’ll have ‘new’ focus this year that must be kept, or I’ll sorely disappoint my editor and my readers. The series is Virtues and Vices of the Old West and I’ve already started book one and began my research. Each book is a standalone and not connected to the other two books. Only in their theme—virtues and vices. More on that topic in future posts.
Book three in The Blue Willow Brides, Perfectly Matched, is already with the publisher and will release this October. To kick off the New Year, I’m happy to give away a signed copy of Twice Promised if you will post me a comment, sign up for my newsletter, then tell me what your New Year’s resolution is, or whether or not you never make one! Don’t forget to leave your email with your comment. I’ll draw a winner on my birthday, the 22nd. For your email addy, but the @ and dot in paraenthesis instead of your actual address to keep the web crawlers away :)
I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and are looking to the future and what it holds. This flower is a Shooting Star Hydrangea that brightens my gloomy winter day and lifts my spirits. As I reflect back on 2012 with it challenges but happy times to recall too, I want to leave you what I’ve decided would be my scripture focus this year. It’s from The Promise Translation-Philippians 3:13: “My friends, I don’t feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for what is ahead. I run toward the goal, so that I can win the prize of being called to heaven. This is the prize that God offers because of what Christ Jesus has one.”
I can’t wait to hear what your New Year’s Resolutions are!
Happy Trails,
MAGGIE