WisRWA (Wisconsin Romance Writers of America) is using my painting for their 2013 conference logo. The original (minus the words) will be auctioned off for charity at their event. For more information follow this link.   http://www.wisrwa.org/conference.html 

To celebrate the official release of For the Love of David, my publisher (Storyteller Publishing) is offering three free copies. Click the link. The drawing is Jan. 1, so you'd best hurry.  http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/40651-for-the-love-of-david

I’ve had the pleasure of being tagged for “The Next Big Thing” Blog tour by a good friend and talented fellow author, Anne Parent.

She is working on an exciting project, so be sure to click on her name (the link back to her website) to see her Next Big Thing post after reading mine.  Here is my latest release.

Ten Interview Questions for “The Next Big Thing”:
What is the title of your next book?  For the Love of David

Where did the idea come from for the book? The plot was inspired by a story I heard on the radio years ago in which a woman found a newborn in a bag outside the bank where she worked. She, of course, turned it over to the authorities. But I couldn't help wondering: what if?

What genre does your book fall under? Women’s fiction.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition? This was really difficult for me to come up with since I'm not a big movie person. Libby—Anne Hathaway, Marissa—Dakota Fanning, Jeff—James Marsden.

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book? A college student abandons her baby then steals it from the woman who rescued it.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency? For the Love of David is published by Storyteller Publishing.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript? A year.

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre? Where the Heart Is by Billie Letts and The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards. They all concern a crisis revolving around a pregnancy or a child.

Who or What inspired you to write this book? This book was inspired by babies and the changes they bring. My youngest was a newborn when I started the first rough draft. Whether planned or a surprise, whether wanted or not, a baby changes everything. Children teach us so many things. David causes Marissa and Libby to learn a lot about themselves.                                                                                                           

What else about your book might pique the reader interest? Fun facts to know and tell… The cover art was done by the author’s daughter-in-law, Jamie Bradley,  the baby on the cover is the author’s great niece, Lainey Bradley, and the footprints are the author’s newborn prints. Other than that, I’m hoping the back of the book blurb will hook readers.


More questions answered from some of my author friends:
Renee Wildes
Goldie Browning
DelSheree Gladden

For the Love of David is available.

Is there anyone else out there who disregards ninety percent of the five stars reviews and scrolls to the one, two and three star ones?

I do it all the time.

I like to know what problems the book has, and if I’ll be able to stomach them.

I’ve gotten far harder to please over the years when it comes to books. I used to like anything that drew me into the story, and it didn’t take much. Unfortunately, it takes more to captivate me these days. I think you can say I’ve been ruined by writing. I see the mistakes other authors make. Sometimes the book is compelling enough for me to forget them, but more and more frequently it isn’t. So…I screen books differently.

What did someone else hate? Is that one of my pet peeves or something I can read around? Did it totally ruin the book for them or were there enough strong areas to make the book enjoyable as a whole?

Personally, I find the three star reviews the best. Those reviewers liked the book but the review itself contains no over-the-top rhetoric of why this is going to be “the next best thing.”

Of course, for my own books, I like five star reviews. Those reviews keep me writing. I love reading how someone LOVED the book, couldn’t put it down, and burned dinner because they couldn’t resist turning the page.

That’s what I strive for in my writing. I think I can safely say that’s what most writers strive for in their writing.

So…while I pick books by looking at the lower starred reviews, PLEASE keep writing those “I loved the book” reviews. Those reviews keep the author going, and authors need encouragement. Well…encouragement and sales. And the “most helpful” of that lot tend to be truly helpful.

But I’ll probably keep buying books based on three star reviews. Maybe I’m just contrary. Or maybe, by knowing the flaws to expect (and that I will need to overlook), I can dive into the story and enjoy. 

Would you like to win a free copy of Trust No One? Sign up at this link for one of three copies to be given away November 18, 2012. http://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/35697-trust-no-one

Joanne Bozik wrote a Fresh Review for Fresh Fiction calling Trust No One, "Explosive, dangerous and Fast Paced!"  http://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=33681

Elizabeth from Silver's Reviews wrote: "TRUST NO ONE was fast paced and kept you guessing until the end."  http://silversolara.blogspot.com/2012/09/trust-no-one-by-laurel-bradley.html 

I was reintroduced to ground cherries the other day. A beautiful, new friend gave me a small bag filled with the sweet fruit and shared a wonderful story that will forever change the way I look at ground cherries.

“I was as the ninth of twelve children growing up on a farm during the depression. There wasn’t money for candy, cookies or other sweets, but we had a garden.” She plucked a ground cherry from the bag and showed me the small gray covering looked like a tiny Chinese lantern.  “These are nature’s candy. Each in its own individually wrapped package.”

She  opened the paper covering on a ground cherry to reveal little the golden orb inside. She looked at for a moment before smiling at me and continuing. “I was a tender hearted child. When I was scolded, my feelings would be hurt. I’d hide in the garden and console myself with one of these.”

She handed me the ground cherry, and I ate it. It had a sweet, slightly musky flavor. I can see a little girl consoling her bruised feelings with one.

Sumiyati E Monoarfa won a copy of Trust No One in the contest that ended August 15.
Keep an eye out for future contests.
Congratulations, Sumiyati!
Thank you to everyone who entered.
Laurel