Steena Holmes, author of Finding Emma, launches her book tour

& giveaway contest!

Have you ever turned to find a child gone? She was just there . . . Unable to breath, silently pleading, you call her name only to find . . . she is lost in her own world busily studying the dandelions in the grass. This is what happened to Megan, only Emma had vanished.

That was two years ago and still Megan sees her daughter Emma everywhere. She’s the little girl standing in the supermarket, the child waiting for the swings at the playground, the girl with ice cream dripping down her face. But it’s never Emma . . . or is it?

Finding Emma is a tribute to one mother’s devotion and unending hope of finding her daughter. Her family struggles to move on, her marriage is crumbling, but Megan can’t give up her search for Emma.

When Megan takes a photo of a little girl with an elderly couple at the town fair, she believes it to be her missing daughter. Unable to let go, she sets in motion a sequence of events that could destroy both families’ lives.

Paperback: 276 pages
Publisher: Steena Holmes (April 8, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0987856863
ISBN-13: 978-0987856869
Twitter Hashtag: #FindingEmma

Finding Emma is available at in both paperback and Kindle Edition at Amazon. A portion of every book sale goes The Missing Children's Society of Canada—an organization dedicated to reuniting families. Visit http://www.mcsc.ca/ for more information.

Book Giveaway Contest: We’re giving away a signed copy of Finding Emma plus a basket of candy! Please leave a comment at the end of this post to be entered in the random drawing. The giveaway contest closes this Thursday, June 7 at 11:59 PM PST. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #FindingEmma, then come back and leave us a link to your tweet. We will announce the winner the following day—Friday, June 8. Good luck!

 About the author:

Steena is a woman who believes that 'in the end, all things succumb . . . to the passions of your heart'. Steena's life revolves around her family, friends and fiction. Add some chocolate into the mix and she's living the good life. She took those passions and made them a dream come true by pouring her heart into each of her stories.

Find the author online:

Website: http://www.steenaholmes.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/steenaholmes
Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/SteenaHolmes.Author


---------Interview by Robyn Chausse

WOW: You are a mom, work as a virtual assistant, and you write. In fact, you’ve written almost a dozen books! How do you manage to do all of that?

Steena: Multiple pots of coffee, chocolate, a fabulous husband and children. ;) Did I mention the required coffee and chocolate?

WOW: How did you begin your writing career?

Steena: Telling this story always makes me smile. In 2005, I was working at an admin job where I had plenty of time on my hands. My husband forwarded me a contest for Word Alive publishing where the prize was a pub contract. I’m an avid reader and always wanted to write, so I thought why not. It took me 6 months to write the story. I had one person read it and then I sent it into the contest on the day it ended. I wasn’t really too worried about winning it—I was just so happy to have actually finished the story! A few months later I get a phone call that I was the winner. NO WAY! I was flabbergasted (ha, love that word!). I’ve since re-edited it and put a new name/cover on that story and self pubbed it a few months ago. It was “Once Upon a Dream” but it’s now called Chocolate Reality.

WOW: That’s one of your contemporary romance novels! Now, several romance novels later (some of them quite steamy), this is your first contemporary fiction. What inspired Finding Emma?

Steena: This is my ‘heart’ story. I actually wrote this story before all the steamy ones. I had Finding Emma out with agents and editors for almost 2 years, and I had a friend encourage me to try writing a steamy novella while I continued to wait. Emma was inspired by my daughters. There was a huge story in the news about a kidnapped girl who was recently found. My heart broke and I thought about how I would feel as that mother. Then I noticed that while my three girls were outside playing, one disappeared. My heart stopped. Thankfully she was only around the bush—out of my sight, but it was at that moment that Emma’s story started for me.

WOW: A portion of the proceeds go to the Missing Children Society of Canada. Tell us a little about this organization.

Steena: I’m so honored to be partnering with MCSC.ca. “Since 1986, the Missing Children Society of Canada has been reuniting missing children with their searching families through professional investigations, public awareness and family support programs. MCSC’s team of former police detectives and trained investigators work closely with law enforcement while conducting frontline, hands-on investigative and search activities.” I knew from the very beginning that I wanted this book to matter. And I knew that by myself there was little I could do, but my goal is that with proceeds from every book sold, together with my readers, we can make a difference.

WOW: That’s wonderful—it feels good to support such a worthwhile organization!

You’ve self-published several books now. How did you decide that self-publishing was the right way for you to get your work into the hands of your readers?

Steena: The one thing I love about this publication journey is that there are so many options now available to authors. While Finding Emma was out with agents, I knew that I didn’t want to sit back and just wait. I’m not a patient person. So instead of getting frustrated despite the numerous agents interested in my story, I decided to just keep writing. I like to experiment with my stories. So I tried my hand at steamy romance—first under a pen name, then when I realized how fun this journey was, under my own name. After e-publishing three stories and self-publishing eight, I knew that I was ready to publish Emma’s story on my own. I believe it was after I put up Hot for Cowboy and then Cabin Fever that I knew self publishing was the right journey for me--at this time. And the success with Finding Emma has only proved that! Within two weeks it made the bestseller list and maintained #1 for eight weeks! I’m so excited about this story!

WOW: Plus, Finding Emma just won the National Indie Excellence Award for Fiction! Congratulations on that, Steena!

In addition to writing, you create book covers! Finding Emma is one beautiful example of your work. How did you get involved with creating book covers?

Steena: Call me crazy. I like to be busy and I like to be creative. Covers can be expensive for an indie author especially if you put out one novella a month—so I knew that I either needed to empty my pockets or learn how to do it myself. I’m the type who wants to know how to do something and then decide if it’s too much work for me. Fortunately, covers are fun. I had some friends who had me make theirs—willing to be guinea pigs per say until I got it right. Then I had someone recommend a NY author who wanted me to work on some covers for her . . . And here I am. I now design covers for The Author’s Red Room—http://www.authorsredroom.com/ and I enjoy it.

WOW: So, a confessed chocoholic mom with three daughters—I’m betting there is a lot of baking going on! Do you have a favorite baking story to share?

Steena: Hmmm, chocolate! Yes, there is a lot. And it’s bad. I have a tendency to crave something and then once I make it—not eat it. So I tend to try out a lot of recipes and give them away to friends—sometimes. LOL

WOW: What are you working on now?

Steena: I’m so glad you asked! I’m actually writing Emma’s Secret and hope to have it out by September. There’s been such an overwhelming response from readers wanting to know more about . . . (once you read the book, you’ll understand . . . lol). As I write it I’ve been keeping readers up to date and asking for their input on scenes in the story. If you’d like to be involved, visit me on my FaceBook page at www.facebook.com/SteenaHolmes.Author.

WOW: What fun! Thanks for the invitation.

Speaking of fun, we have a wonderful tour planned so please invite your friends to join in the fun. We start with today’s contest . . . who can pass up a good book and a basket of candy, followed by a tour-long scavenger hunt! Details below!

---------Blog Tour Dates

Tuesday, June 5 @ Writer Inspired
Have you ever thought of leaving a journal of letters for your child? What about sharing a journal with a child? Today we’re talking about letter writing and we’re also giving away an electronic copy of Finding Emma!
http://writerinspired.wordpress.com/

Wednesday, June 6 @ Jennifer Greenleaf: Maine Author
What secrets about you lie waiting to be discovered? Find them through journaling!
Also, this Maine Author treats us to her review of Finding Emma.
http://jennifergreenleaf.com/

Friday, June 8 @ The Guilty Parent
Do you know what to do if your child is missing? Steena shares some tips. Also, Nichole shares her review of Finding Emma.
http://www.theguiltyparent.com/

Monday, June 11 @ All Things Jill Elizabeth
Ah, the sting of rejection. As writers we know this well, but how can we make it work to our advantage?
http://www.jill-elizabeth.com/

Tuesday, June 12 @ Words from the Heart
Today Steena talks about taking the fear out of danger with kids and Linda treats us to her review of Finding Emma. Come on over!
http://contemplativeed.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, June 13 @ Books, Books, the Magical Fruit
Get to know Steena Holmes! Sue is hosting an interview and giveaway today!
http://booksbooksthemagicalfruit.blogspot.com/

Thursday, June 14 @ Lisa M. Buske
Get the scoop on Finding Emma—Lisa shares her review!
http://lisabuske.weebly.com/blog.html

Friday, June 15 @ Thoughts in Progress
We all know they do but…just why do chocolate and writing go hand in hand? We’re giving away an eCopy of Finding Emma so come join the fun!
http://www.masoncanyon.blogspot.com/

Saturday, June 16 @ A Tattered Past
Is there a family meal that takes you back in time? Steena talks about favorite childhood recipes that somehow define us!
http://www.tatteredpast.blogspot.com/

Monday, June 18 @ CMash Loves to Read
Come join Steena for a talk about finding passion in your everyday life. Enter to win a copy of Finding Emma and read Mason Canyon’s review of Finding Emma!
http://cmashlovestoread.com/

Tuesday, June 19 @ Workaday Reads
Come on over and learn the story behind the story. There will be a book review and giveaway too so come join the fun!
http://www.workadayreads.com/

Wednesday, June 20 @ Dianna’s Writing Den
Come over to the Writing Den for an interview with Steena Holmes! Enter to win a copy of Finding Emma.
http://diannaswritingden.com/

Saturday, June 23 @ Barbara Conelli’s Chique Show
Join us for a live interview!! Call in or text your comments and questions. It all happens at Noon EST.
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/barbaraconelli

Thursday, June 28 @ Crazy for Books
Join us for one of Jennifer’s fun book reviews! Enter to win a copy of Finding Emma.
http://crazy-for-books.com/

To view all of our touring authors, check out our Events Calendar here.

Get Involved!
If you have a website or blog and would like to host one of our touring authors or schedule a tour of your own, please email Robyn or Jodi at blogtour@wow-womenonwriting.com.

Book Giveaway Contest:

Enter to win a print copy of Finding Emma by Steena Holmes plus a basket of candy! Here's how you enter:

1. For your first entry, just leave a comment on this post! Just leave Steena a comment or ask a question to be entered in the random drawing.

2. For an extra entry, link to this post on Twitter with the hashtag #FindingEmma then come back and leave us a link to your tweet.

The giveaway contest closes Thursday, June 7 at 11:59 PM PST. We will announce the winner in the comments section of this post the following day—Friday, June 8, and if we have the winner's email from the comments section, we will also notify them via email.

Good luck!