Tuesday, May 18, 2021

The Promise Tree Blog Tour: Author Interview + Giveaway

 

The Promise Tree JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Promise Tree by Janalyn Voigt, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!


The Promise Tree
Title: The Promise Tree 
Series: Montana Treasure #1 
Author: Janalyn Voigt 
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink 
Release Date: May 5, 2021 
Genre: Christian, Historical/Western Romance 

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. Read this heartwarming story to affirm your faith in love. 

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Janalyn Voigt

Janalyn Voigt fell in love with literature at an early age when her father read chapters from classics as bedtime stories. When Janalyn grew older, she put herself to sleep with tales "written" in her head.

Today Janalyn is a storyteller who writes in several genres. The same elements--romance, mystery, adventure, history, and whimsy--appear in all her novels, no matter what the genre. 

Learn more about Janalyn Voigt and the books she writes at http://janalynvoigt.com

CONNECT WITH JANALYN: WebsiteFacebook Twitter | Instagram




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.

 
When did you first discover that you had a passion and talent for writing?

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!

The Promise Tree JustRead Giveaway

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.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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12 Comments:

  1. This sounds like like a great read. Nice cover!

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  2. I love historical western romance, it’s one of my favorite genres.

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  3. Historical western romance is my favorite genre! Book sounds great!

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  4. Sounds like an exciting read.
    Marion

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  5. Thank you so much!

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  6. Thanks for hosting my book and its author today. :)

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  7. This cover is so pretty! Adding to my tbr!

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  8. Look forward to reading this book. Love the excerpt and the cover. Thank you!

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  9. The Promise Tree sounds like a must read. Thank you for sharing.

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  10. I like this genre.
    Thanks for the contest.

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