Author Interview*Dan Walsh*book giveaway

The Deepest Waters is one of my favorite books of the year. Here is the link to my review http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2011/04/deepest-waters-by-dan-walsha-review.html

I really urge you to buy this book you won’t be sorry.

Welcome Dan. So glad to have you back with us!

Glad to be with you and your readers again.

Tell us about “The Deepest Waters," the featured book.

Here’s a nice one-paragraph description the folks at Revell came up with:

For John and Laura Foster, what began as a fairytale honeymoon in 1857 aboard the steamship SS Vandervere soon becomes a nightmare. A terrible hurricane strikes and the grand ship is lost in the murky depths of the Atlantic. Laura is rescued by a small ship sailing by, but there’s only room for the women and children. Believing her John is lost but still daring to hope for a miracle, Laura must face the possibility of life alone in New York City with a family she has never met. The Deepest Waters tells an epic story of hope, faith, and love through an intimate lens. Inspired by real events.

Can you tell us how many books you have in print in the Christian market?

The Deepest Waters is my 3rd novel. My 4th is called “Remembering Christmas” and will be out in September. I’ve finished my 5th for Revell, which is due out next spring.

Is there a particular book among those you've written that you would especially recommend to our readers? If so, why?

Yes, this one. But it’s a challenging question. I like them all (like asking which of your kids is your favorite). But The Deepest Waters is a stand-alone. If they like it, I think they’d also like my first two, which go together.

The Christian fiction field has rapidly expanded over the past few years. What would you like to see happen in this field in the years to come?

Honestly, I’m not sure. In some ways, I feel like I’m part of this rapidly expanding thing. I’m very grateful for it, and I’ve been doing my best to listen, learn and try to understand the business side of publishing. But even the seasoned vets I’ve talked to seem unsure of where things are going. I don’t mean to say the future looks gloomy. If anything, as you’ve said, things are expanding. But it’s hard to paint something that won’t sit still.

How can readers and fans encourage you as you pursue what is sometimes a challenging and solitary job?

Almost daily I receive emails and FB messages from readers and fans. Many of them affect me deeply, precisely because they are SO encouraging. I love to hear how something I’ve written has stirred someone’s heart. So, my answer would be…keep expressing these kinds of things to the authors who bless you. It really is a way of imparting God’s grace to them. Encouragement means “to breathe courage into.” That’s certainly the affect it has on me.

Many writers are also avid readers. Do you have any favorite authors?

If so, could you name a few?

Jim Rubart, Sarah Sundin, Jason Wright, Richard Paul Evans, Athol Dickson (have read his last three). Jeff Shaara would be another (writes historical fiction, often with a military edge).

If you could only take five books with you on a journey of ten years, which ones would you take?

The Bible, Spurgeon’s Morning & Evening, Jeff Shaara’s Glorious Cause and Rise to Rebellion (two books about the Birth of our nation, written incredibly well) and Band of Brothers, by Steven Ambrose (hey, I’m a guy).

If you had 48 hours to hang out with any TWO people (besides Jesus), alive or dead in the history of the world who would you hang out with and what would you do?

Maybe Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill. I’d want to be alone, no cameras or recorders. I’d want to walk with Reagan around his ranch (couldn’t ride horses for more than an hour before my rear end would ache), and sit with Churchill at Chartwell, his country estate, as he smoked cigars and painted. I’d just want to ask them questions and let them tell me stories, one right after the other.

What three things are you most thankful for in your life?

1. The nearness of God (and that His mercies are new every morning)

2. The love of my wife

3. That my adult children like hanging out with me

4. My new grandson (sorry, I needed four).

What is the most fun thing you have ever done?

On our 25th wedding anniversary (now 9 years ago), my wife and I went on a 7 day cruise. We’ve been on a number of nice vacations, even some cruises, but this was the only 7-day period in the entirety of my life where every moment of every day, from morning till night, was filled with joy, and not a single thing went wrong. It was a gift from God.

What are you writing now?

I’m finishing up a book I’m writing for Guideposts, part of a new series called Miracles of Marble Cove. I’m working with a team of authors, including Melody Carlson and Leslie Gould. In May, I’ll begin writing my 6th novel for Revell (they’ve just signed me to write 3 more).

How can readers find you on the Internet?

Probably the easiest thing is to go to my website. At the bottom of my homepage are buttons for Twitter, Facebook and my Blog. It’s www.danwalshbooks.com

Dan doesn’t have any books of The Deepest Waters left to give out, but has graciously agreed to give away his book The Homecoming, which is also a fantastic book. Here is my review link on The Homecoming. http://thelifeandtimesofwanda.blogspot.com/2010/06/revell-blog-tour-homecoming-by-dan.html

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Contest is only open in the U.S. and void where prohibited. Chances of winning are based on the number of entries and winner is draw from a non-biased third party- Random.org. ENTRY DEADLINE April 28, 2011