A Big Welcome to Lena Nelson Dooley!

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This guest has written over fifty Christian Historical Western Romances and is still going strong. We’re so happy to have Lena Nelson Dooley come to visit. She’s giving some books away so leave a comment to enter.

Thank you so much for having me. I love reading western novels set mostly in the late 1800s. That’s also what I love writing. Right now, I’m finishing book four in my 5-book Love’s Road Home series, A Heart’s Redemption, which releases in October.

I really enjoy researching to find an actual historical event for most of my books. I’m also careful to make all the details of my books authentic to the time period, the culture of the time, and the characters as they interact in the story. I also include news and other details I find, weaving them into the characters’ lives.

Last year here in Texas, we had a major ice and snow storm where almost all of the state froze over. Even Galveston Bay. That same thing happened in 1899, so I included it in this story which is set in that year.

I pray a lot while writing a story. God often drops things about the story into my mind. I love that. These ideas always make the stories more interesting.

 

 

Question 1: What is your favorite thing about western novels?

Question 2: Do you know of an interesting historic event that happened near where you live that would make a good story to use in a novel?

Giveaway: Two people who answer both of the questions will win a copy of my novel, Esther’s Temptation.

This novel is set in Denton, Texas, in 1896. If the winner is in the United States, the person will win a paperback.

If the winner is from outside the US, the copy will be a Kindle copy.

 

Saddle weary, former deputy US Marshal Jac Andrews rides into Denton, Texas. He’d hunted a swindler and his daughter—or identical twin daughters if Jac is right—and he feels he finally has caught up with this criminal gang. Unfortunately, He is immediately distracted by the lovely redhead, Esther Brians.
Esther, feeling like an old maid surrounded by all her close friends who are happy married couples, is drawn to the intense gaze, blue as the Texas sky, of an unknown cowboy. But several things cause her to become wary of his intentions—and his spiritual well-being. Has this unsaved lawman captured Esther’s heart or will the Lord deliver her from the temptation of Jac’s presence? What will it take for Jac to win this lovely lady and become Esther’s husband?
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Bio: Multi-published, award-winning author Lena Nelson Dooley has had more than 950,000 copies of her 50+ book releases. Her books have appeared on the CBA, Publisher’s Weekly, and ECPA bestseller lists, as well as Amazon bestseller lists. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW – DFW. She’s a member of Christian Authors’ Network, and Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. She has experience in screenwriting, acting, directing, and voice-overs. She is on the Board of Directors for Higher Ground Films and is one of the screenwriters for their upcoming film Abducted to Kill. She has been featured in articles in Christian Retailing, ACFW Journal, Charisma Magazine, and Christian Fiction Online Magazine. Her article in CFOM was the cover story.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a speaker at women’s groups, writer’s groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. Lena has an active web presence on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, LinkedIn and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books. She loves introducing her readers to authors they don’t know.

Website  |  Facebook  |  Amazon  |  BookBub  |  Goodreads

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22 thoughts on “A Big Welcome to Lena Nelson Dooley!”

  1. I love the setting and cowboys in Western romance.

    I live in the Mid-Atlantic, so there’s an abundance of historical events which have happened. Paring it down could make a series.

  2. I love westerns because of their unique culture and the usual determination of the characters. A little thought about historical event near me that would be good to include in a book is the first known Siamese twins lived in the county where I was born and married sisters.

  3. I love westerns because of the hard work and struggle that many went through to just survive. There was a yellow fever epidemic in our area that could be used in a book.

  4. I love westerns because it seems more clear cut and perhaps easier to understand. Life was harder without the modern conveniences, but you knew what was expected of you. I don’t know of any major events that happen near me other than my state was probably involved in the Underground Railroad as I live in Michigan.

  5. My favorite thing about westerns are the cowboys! Plus, I grew up watching Gunsmoke, Guns of Will Sonnet, Bonanza, Wagon Train, and have always loved westerns. I live in Florida, on the Space Coast. I can go outside and watch the launches from KSC and Cape Canaveral. It’d be hard to find something historical from the 1800’s to write about, but later, the explosions and liftoffs would be something, and some have been done about them.

  7. Thanks for posting today. 1) I love the simpler times from the old west. I love that hard work was just what one did. I love they they had to rely on each other as community should be. I love what the women did to keep their families safe and healthy to the best of their abilities. 2) 1871 The Chicago Fire – 1872: Montgomery Ward publishes the first mail-order catalog. – 1873: Chicago Public Library opens. – 1877: Railroad strike. – 1878: Telephone service begins in Chicago. these would all make wonderful stories
    quilting dash lady a t comcast dot net

  9. I was always a history person. I enjoyed reading and seeing movies on how the people meade our western stories. I especially loved westerns on Native American and the white man. Their is a mill pond where i live. As a youngster and teenager i didnt know till later that the pond was where Native Americans would all meet for their summer retreats.I live in Egg Harbor Twp,NJ

  10. Westerns are meaningful and profound since they give me insight into their lives and the strength, tenacity and principles which the individuals needed in order to survive and succeed. They are unique since the people have ethics and morals which are important to their lives and future.
    Where I live there is so much history that is fascinating and also intriguing. Roswell, and Los Alamos.

  11. I like westerns because it feels comforting, wholesome, and simpler. I grew up reading and watching Little House on the Prairie, so western historicals feel like a visit home.
    The WASP women’s airforce WWII training site, Avenger Field, is a few hours away from me. That would be a great novel!

    Also, I live in Denton county! I would love to read your book set in Denton.
    Thank you!

  12. As a female, my husband was very surprised at my interest into reading western novels, lots of them. My reasoning is the strong characters portrayed in many of them. One would suppose the word western presents a bunch of strong and feisty men, women being introduced just as a saloon girl. Many westerns can be built around a strong women in character as well as skills. Yes, we can match lots of the male skills. I love this in a novel.

    #2 – Being from Bowling Green, KY we are very close the the Mammoth Cave National park. Along with Mammoth Cave, there are several other smaller caves also with that area. In fact, a couple of the smaller caves started a ‘ cave war’ for the coin visiting the caves would bring. Such was two caves, Crystal and Sand cave. Floyd, the owner of Crystal decided he needed to tour Sand cave to see what his cave had over on Sand cave so he could get more customers to his cave. This led to an event of 18 days which occurred from him getting trapped with Sand cave in a very tight passage. Even after many efforts he was not able to be freed. After 18 days trapped within the cave he died from exposure. These types of events led the government to name Mammoth cave a National park which is the longest cave system in the known world.

  13. Hi, I love western novels because of how the men and women are portrayed, I love how strong the woman has to actually be and I love it when they don’t make a woman a helpless female. I love it also because of all the nature scenery they write about in them. I live in West Texas and this little town where live used to be a fort and we used to have running springs. Have a great weekend and stay safe.

  14. I enjoy western novels because its such an interesting little slice of history and those people had such gumption to head out west like they did.
    I do not know of any interesting historical facts to my area.

  15. I grew up watching westerns on TV because both my grandfather and father enjoyed them. I was delighted with the Little House on the Prairie books when I discovered them, and the TV show was my favorite of all time. The 1800s is my favorite time setting so books set during the 19th century are the ones I choose first.

  16. I love westerns because of the way life was with how neighbors looked out for each other. I remember devouring western shows while growing up and enjoying watching how cowboys saved the day against the villains. Pensacola has a historical lighthouse and is also rich in Naval history.

  17. I love westerns because of the cowboys and the way their life is. Its a rough life and they handle it so well. My father was into westerns so I always watch them with him.
    In 1862 The Battle of Perryville was near here, which was the most important civil war battle fought in Kentucky.

  19. #1 – My first love in romance novels was medieval Highland stories. Cowboys are much the same as those rugged, independent, loyal, Highland warriors. I now find I have two favorites.
    #2 – I have lived in many places where interesting historic things have happened. We currently live in NE TN. We are about 10 miles from the Davey Crocket birthplace. This area was once the American Frontier. There is a fort in the neighboring town that has a reproduction fort and cabins as part of a state park. It is the site of one of the original settlements and the fort was built due to the Indian raids. During the American Revolution, they sent a contingent of settlers to fight the British. They hiked from TN over the mountains in TN and NC and participated in the Battle of King’s Mountain. I had never heard of the Overmountain Men, as they were called, nor that particular battle. It seems it was one of the pivotal battles and turning point in the war. They have a group of reenactors that retrace the route every year. There is also a play at the fort weekend nights during June telling the story ion the early settlers.
    We live in the oldest town in the state and it has seen its own share of history and historic characters from Andrew Jackson to Andrew Johnson, whose National Park is located in the next town West. Our town is also the location of the first abolitionist paper in the States.
    On a more contemporary theme, it is home to the International Storytelling Center. They have a Storytelling Festival the first weekend in Oct. which draws tellers and and others from around the world.

  20. Question 1: What is your favorite thing about western novels?

    Finding an historically accurate novel that has some correct information that I learn from. I always check such details.

    Question 2: Do you know of an interesting historic event that happened near where you live that would make a good story to use in a novel?

    The Medicine Lodge peace treaty which I am told was signed on the old family ranch near Coffeeville, KS

  22. I like how strong the woman were. Life was harder without the modern conveniences. The Native Americans lived in the area were I live.

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