Celebrate Lit Tours: “Forks In the Road” by Tamera Lynn Kraft Author Interview/Giveaway

By Ruth on March 20, 2020 in blog tour, book, giveaway
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About the Book

Book: Forks in the Road

Author: Tamera Lynn Kraft

Genre: Christian Western

Release Date: October 15, 2019

Orphans, Outlaws, and Redemption in the Old West!

(Looking for a prairie romance? Don’t look here!)

A classic Western tale of Joshua and Jonathan Jackson, brothers orphaned during the Civil War. They needed someone to give them a chance, but the war-torn countryside and people had little to spare.

After the war, the teen brothers headed West to find their fortunes and escape their past. Instead, they found a hard land and nobody willing to lend a hand. At every fork in the road, fear, grief, or pain prompted them to choose the wrong path.

By the time they were grown men, they had traveled so far into trouble, there was no way out except prison or death. They had one chance for redemption. Would they take it?

If you’ve read LOST IN THE STORM, you met Jed Jackson – this is the story of what happened to Jed and his brothers.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Award-winning author Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures. She loves to write historical fiction set in the United States because there are so many stories in American history. There are strong elements of faith, romance, suspense and adventure in her stories. Alice’s Notions, Red Sky Over America, Lost in the Storm, Resurrection of Hope, and Soldier’s Heart are among her published works.

Tamera been married for 40 years to the love of her life, Rick, and has two married adult children and three grandchildren. She has been a children’s pastor for over 20 years. She is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire for Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist and has written children’s church curriculum. She is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

Q:What was your first published work, and how was it received?

A: My first published work was a historical novella called A Christmas Promise about a family of Moravian Missionaries celebrating Christmas in the wilderness of Ohio in 1773. It was received pretty well, especially for a Christmas novella in eBook only.

Q: When writing a book of fiction, what kind of research do you normally have to do?

A: I have to do a ton of research. I strive to make my historicals accurate in every way. I want the reader to become immersed in the story and the history around it every time they read one of my books. I usually start with Googling what I can. I also like to visit the area I’m writing about and find museums and college libraries where I can find resources and people who know about the period. I also try to find reliable books to research the history, and I like to read journals written by real people during that time. Newspaper articles from the time and historic maps are also a great resource. I usually open up a OneNote notebook on my computer for each project to keep track of the research.

Q: Where do you get the ideas for your stories?

A: I think every author finds their stories in the question “what if?”. I’m no different. I love to read about history. When I stumble upon an interesting time period, I wonder what it would be like for ordinary people living through those events. Out of those wonderings, my story is formed.

Q: How do you insert the faith element into these stories so that it is woven naturally into the storyline?

I never force a faith element into my stories, but it always ends up being a strong element naturally woven in. I believe that is because Christ isn’t only a part of my life. He is my life. So, when I write, He is a natural part of my stories.

Q: Do you have aspirations of your book being turned into a film or TV series? Why or why not?

A: I think FORKS IN THE ROAD would make a wonderful movie. I love Westerns. To me, they come alive on the big screen.

More from Tamera

I have always loved westerns. As a child, I remember watching shows on television like Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Maverick, Big Valley, Alias Smith and Jones, and many others. I also loved the great western movies such as High Noon, The Quaker and the Bad Man, Three Godfathers, and Stagecoach. My favorite were the stories with an element of redemption in them. There is no better redemptive story than a man’s man out on the trail realizing he needs God.

Three Godfathers with John Wayne is my favorite movie. I first watched it when I came home from the hospital after giving birth to my first child. John Wayne plays an outlaw who, with his two friends, robs a bank and escapes into the desert. The outlaws happen on a wagon where a woman is giving birth. She dies shortly after. They have a choice. Either they risk their lives and freedom saving the child, or they leave the child to die and get away with the loot. I highly recommend it.

When I decided to write Forks in the Road, I wanted to capture that redemptive spirit in many western novels. Joshua and Jonathan are brothers who were orphaned at the ages of 10 and 12 when Quantrill’s raiders ravaged Lawrence, Kansas. They headed west to make it on their own, but at every fork in the road, they made wrong choices. They grew up and became outlaws, but they never became hardened or callous toward others. Even so, God had a plan of redemption for them. Would they take it?

Blog Stops

For the Love of Literature, March 9

Through the Fire Blogs, March 10

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 11

Stephanie’s Life of Determination, March 12

Wishful Endings, March 12 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, March 13

Inklings and notions, March 14

For Him and My Family, March 15

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, March 16

deb’s Book Review, March 17

Betti Mace, March 18

Bigreadersite, March 19

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, March 20

My Devotional Thoughts, March 20 (Author Interview)

Jeanette’s Thoughts, March 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 22

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Tamera is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card & copy of Forks in the Road!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f6d7/forks-in-the-road-celebration-tour-giveaway

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About the Author

RuthView all posts by Ruth
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” — Franz Kafka Ruth is an inspirational entertainment journalist who instinctively sees the best in all and seeks to share universal beauty, love and positivity. She is an artist who leads with her heart and gives readers a glimpse of the best of this world through the masterful use of the written word. Ruth was born in Tacoma, Washington but now calls Yelm, Washington her home. She lives on five acres with her parents, a dog, two miniature goats, cats and a teenage daughter who is a dynamic visual artist herself. Ruth interviews fellow artists both inside and outside of the film/television industry. At the core of all she does is the strength of her faith.

3 Comments

  1. James Robert March 22, 2020 Reply

    Hello! Thanks so much for sharing your book with us. Always fun reading about another book to enjoy.

  2. Caryl Kane March 21, 2020 Reply

    I enjoyed the Q&A! I’m looking forward to reading “Forks in the Road”. Thank you for participating in the tour.

  3. Marilyn March 20, 2020 Reply

    Sounds like an exciting book.
    Marilyn

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