Friday, May 16, 2008

CONTEST ALERT: Scroll to the bottom of this post to find out how to enter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

D.C. Stewart grew up in a small town in Oklahoma, and spent most of her childhood getting into trouble with her younger brother on their ranch. She began writing short stories in high school, and won a writing competition at a nearby college at age 17. After graduating, she attended Northwestern Oklahoma State University and earned a degree in History, and also met her husband, Scott. She worked for a church in Maumelle, Arkansas as the Communications Coordinator for five years. After moving back to Oklahoma, she chose to stay home with their four year old twin boys, and six month old baby girl, and to pursue her dream of being a full-time writer. The Stewart’s live in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Where Would Cows Hide? is her first novel.


INTERVIEW:

Why did you become a writer? Was it a dream of yours since you were younger or did the desire to write happen later in your life?
I became a writer because it's all I've ever wanted to do, so I guesss that also answers the question about wanting to write when I was younger or later in life. Definitely since I was young, like in elementary school.

How do you balance your personal and writing time?
With divine intervention. Having three children under the age of five requires a lot of flexibility and patience, especially if I want to get any writing done. I steal moments during the day, like nap time or when my sons are in preschool, to write. But it also means I have to set the writing aside for a time, even when I don't want to, in order to care for my family.

Why do you write the stories that you write?
I guess because I don't know any other types of stories to write. I love adventures, and was inspired by my own children to write the kind of books I thought they might enjoy when they got older, and the kind of books I loved as a kid.

Out of all the characters that you've written, who is your favorite and why?
Oh, that's a hard question. As an ego-maniac, obsessive, perfectionist writer I would say ALL my characters are my favorite. But if I have to choose one, I'm going to go with...the bad guy! As a writer it's fun to write a horrible, mean, evil character because you know in the end he's going to get caught and justice will be served.

If you were writing a script for the big screen, who would you want to act in your movie?
No way! You couldn't drag me into the spotlight with a team of wild horses! I prefer working behind the scene.

What would you want readers to take away from your books?
Love your family, and if you're going to have an adventure, make sure to include God. The faith journey is the greatest adventure of all!

Do you have any advice for beginning writers in regards to writing a book?
Read, read, read, and write, write, write. Unlike riding a bike, you do get rusty and forget if you don't keep your writing skills sharpened every day.

Who are your favorite authors?
Another hard question. I have sooo many. Bill Wallace was my favorite author when I was in elementary school. In junior high and high school I loved R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. I also discovered Dean Koontz in junior high, and I would have to say he is still my favorite to this day. And in the CBA, too many to count...Kristen Billerbeck, Camy Tang, Brandilyn Collins, Mary Conneally, Margaret Daley. This list could go on and on.

What are you reading right now?
I have two books going right now: Buried Secrets by Margaret Daley and Leaper by Geoffrey Wood.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

BLURB:

The Parker twins, Brad and Charlie, didn't want to join their parents on vacation in Hawaii. A little sister can be annoying, but little sister, Zoey, was over the top. "The three of us aren't going to Hawaii," she told them. Her parents were shocked by her statement even though it was true. This was not the first time Zoey offered surprising knowledge of future events, nor would it be the last. Arriving at their grandparent's cattle ranch in Oklahoma, the twins learn of the disappearance of cattle from the ranch. This knowledge would set of a series of events that would challenge any detective. There were the mysterious neighbors, the strange lady at church, a psychic lazy dog, and a weird little sister to keep the twins totally confused in their efforts to solve this strange mystery.


Where Would Cows Hide? by by D. C. Stewart
ISBN-10: 0373896034
Publisher: Baker Trittin Press
Release Date: March 10, 2008
Genre: Tween Fiction
$9.65 from Amazon.com






Author D.C. Stewart is giving you a chance to win a copy of WHERE WOULD COWS HIDE?, and more! Here’s how to enter for a copy of WWCH and to enter the grand prize drawing:

1) leave a comment on this blog post (or on any of the blogs participating in the blog tour);

2) email the contest coordinator at contest@novelinspirations.com with subject line “WWCH ENTRY”;

3) join D.C. Stewart’s ezine list by either sending a blank email to: dcstewart_ezine-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dcstewart_ezine and subscribing through the yahoogroups page.

Book winners and the GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be drawn on or before May 31st, 2008 and will be notified by email. Please make sure you leave a valid email address on applicable blog posts.


Purchase Where Would Cows Hide? by by D. C. Stewart HERE!!!