Artistic Nobody

Persuade Me Not Interview and Giveaway

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About the Book

Book: Persuade Me Not

Author: Joanne Markey

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: April 4, 2023

Forgiveness is only a prayer away… or is it?

As the oldest daughter at Kellynch Station, Elizabeth Elliot prides herself on her exemplary public image. In fact, women could learn a thing or two by following her example—her public example.

There are things Liz doesn’t want known, and she guards them closely. In fact, keeping everyone except her best friend from ever seeing the truth behind her impenetrable facade is the only thing she can control.

Enter Michael Page. Unassuming and too stubborn for his own good, Mick bucks trend by bringing sheep back to cattle country. Just a small flock at first, but their numbers are growing. There’s just one problem to deal with now. Liz Elliot.

With all her airs and fancy ways, and the unreasonable demands she makes of the town and its people, Liz is a walking antagonism. Maybe he should’ve stayed home after that first meeting, but something keeps bringing him back. If nothing else, someone has to foil her outrageous attempts to do who-knows-what with the town.

Then a carefully worded slip of the tongue hints at a mystery that might be worth digging into.

As the truth comes to light, and Liz’s carefully crafted world comes crashing down, who can either of them trust?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Originally from Australia, Joanne Markey now lives in Ohio with her husband and seven children. When she’s not reading or writing, you might find her wandering the property with her kids in search of whatever seasonal treasure they’re trying to find.

 

More from Joanne

I don’t remember exactly when it was that I first started thinking about writing Persuade Me Not. I know I was still writing Persuade Me, the first book in the Daughters of the Bush series. At the time I started writing, I only planned to write one book in that setting. However, the more I wrote, the more I thought about the other characters. And somewhere along the way, I started thinking that, if Liz ever got her happily-ever-after, it would have to be with someone unexpected.

 

That idea slowly took hold. It would have to be a man as unlike her father as it was possible to be. Someone humble and down-to-earth. Someone with both the integrity to dig deeper to find the truth, and the stubbornness to knock down all the walls Liz had put up.

 

Right about then I came across an interesting coffee table book about old shearing sheds in Australia. Being an Aussie living in the US and finding that book on the shelves in a store here meant I instantly bought it. And after flicking through the pages, another idea started to form…

 

At one point in time, Clermont—the town where my book is set—had a substantial wool industry. Which meant sheep. Which meant it could theoretically be possible for there to be a run-down shearing shed on one of the cattle stations in that area. And, to Walter Elliot, what could be worse than running sheep in cattle country?

 

As far as Walter Elliott is concerned, he is a cattleman with a long and illustrious heritage. Therefore, only those who emulated his lifestyle would be worthy of the attention of his daughter. (Obviously, no other man would rise to the heights of perfection as he, but they could try.)

 

I don’t know if there are any sheep in the Clermont area now, but if there are, they’re not a big thing. I don’t remember ever seeing any when I lived there as a kid. It was cattle country, and sheep were something we saw when we were driving to visit my grandparents in Victoria (south of the dingo fence, in other words).

 

With all of that in mind, if, for the sake of the story, one man brought sheep back… and that one man ended up being stubborn and determined to uncover the truth… we’d have a book.

 

And that is how Persuade Me Not came to be.

Interview with Joanne

  1. How do you select the names of your characters?

It’s a matter of elimination. I usually have the idea for the story in my head before I think about the leading characters. After that it depends. Sometimes I happen upon a name that sticks in my head, like I did with Cassie from Confusing Cassie. Other times I have the face and then spend ages scrolling through lists of names trying to find something that fits. When that happens I usually end up with a list of possibilities that get narrowed down until I reach the one that feels right.

  1. What is your favorite childhood book?

That’s a hard one to answer. The first book I ever read by myself was Little Black, a Pony by Walter Farley. The first book I remember reading that sparked my imagination was Anne of Green Gables. The first book I reread at least once every year was Pride and Prejudice. All contributed to my love of reading.

  1. If you had to do something differently as a child or teenager to become a better writer as an adult, what would you do?

I’d pay better attention in school. I coasted through doing as little as I could, and some of the knowledge I either didn’t learn or have forgotten may have helped my editor all these years later.

  1. What comes first, the plot or characters?

I’d have to say it depends. Sometimes an idea will form. A question such as, “If this thing happened to this person, what would happen after that?” Off on a Whim started with a question… What would happen if a girl showed up claiming to be a certain person’s daughter? From there, the story built itself. However, in the case of Confusing Cassie, the character came first. I was reminded of the constellation Cassiopeia one night, and a sentence kept coming to mind. “My name is Cassie Brand and…” When I sat down and started writing, the story simply flowed and that book was written in just 8 days.

  1. What do you like to do when you are not writing?

I like to read. Sometimes I read a lot and practically. Have a book in my hand at all times. Other times I barely pick up a book for weeks on end. Always though, I come back to reading even after a long break. My favorite genres are contemporary romance, romcom, regency, and romantic suspense, but I also enjoy westerns and spy thrillers. It depends on the story, the characters, the author, and how well the book is written.

I also enjoy cross-stitching, although that is something I do more of during the fall and winter. When it gets warm out, my desire to stitch seems to wane. Possibly in part because I don’t want to get sweat stains on the fabric. Also because there is so much to do outside.

Because… as a family we also like to spend a lot of time outside, going on walks, playing sport (or watching—I don’t typically join in), or just being outside.

Thank you for letting us get to know you better!

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 6

Simple Harvest Reads, May 7 (Author Interview)

Christina’s Corner, May 7

Texas Book-aholic, May 8

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, May 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 10

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 11

Artistic Nobody, May 12 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, May 12

Guild Master, May 13 (Author Interview)

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, May 14 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, May 15 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, May 16

Blossoms and Blessings, May 17 (Author Interview)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, May 18

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Joanne is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

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/25ca5/persuade-me-not-celebration-tour-giveaway