A Heartbeat Away by Harry Kraus

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingA Heartbeat AwayDavid C. Cook (September 1, 2012)byHarry Kraus

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from Harry:

I started writing my first novel during my last year of surgery training at UK. I was a chief resident, and started writing Stainless Steal Hearts in a call room at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lexington. It was a crazy time to write! I had a very demanding schedule, often spending days and nights in the hospital. I had two sons at that time, and I recognized the wisdom in my wife's urging: "Now doesn't seem the right time for this dream."

My experience as a writer is far from typical. Having received my formal training in biology and chemistry and medicine, my only preparation for a writing career was a love for reading. The longest thing I'd written before my first novel was a term paper in undergraduate school. My first novel was accepted by Crossway Books and published in 1994, and it wasn't until after I had FOUR published novels that I even opened a book of instruction about the craft of writing fiction. This is not what I recommend to others! Yes, I was successful, but I was bending the "rules" without knowing it. I had a natural talent for plotting, but I realize my initial success may have stunted my growth as a writer. I'd have made faster progress if I'd have gone to the fiction teachers sooner.

I have three sons: Joel, Evan, and Samuel. Look closely in all of my books and you'll see them there. My lovely wife, Kris, provides the basic composition for all those beautiful, athletic, dedicated women in my novels.


ABOUT THE BOOK

When a brilliant surgeon undergoes a heart transplant, her life transforms as she begins experiencing memories of a murder she never witnessed.

The residents worship her. Nurses step out of her way. Her colleagues respect and sometimes even fear her. But surgeon Tori Taylor never expected to end up on this side of the operating table.

Now she has a new heart. This life that was formerly controlled and predictable is now chaotic. Dr. Taylor had famously protected herself from love or commitment, but her walls are beginning to crumble.

And strangest of all, memories surface that will take her on a journey out of the operating room and into a murder investigation.

Where there once was a heart of stone, there is a heart of flesh. And there is no going back.


If you'd like to read the first chapter excerpt of A Heartbeat Away, go HERE.


Cut Here****************************************

Posting InformationThe book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/143470257X

Author's picture is: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BjnzNWNHvHrvhLSTtFnLKq4iRpW8PqfWxZVrBOviabbI04aB_yG1PbFE7BVAVKi1ZKb2eUP-VV-Hl5EO9qPX1Vi-tkjpcHWAtNWfFms9atNAxxF3GD0EnF-4w09URy5cBP5BIw/s1600/HarryKraus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BjnzNWNHvHrvhLSTtFnLKq4iRpW8PqfWxZVrBOviabbI04aB_yG1PbFE7BVAVKi1ZKb2eUP-VV-Hl5EO9qPX1Vi-tkjpcHWAtNWfFms9atNAxxF3GD0EnF-4w09URy5cBP5BIw/s200/HarryKraus.jpg" width="170" /></a></div>

The book cover photo is: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GEU_t-29X75wGIKnmXCfp152HlYWQV2MqljiShuHM3Q38Y5mBywoCZPJ-ecfHjyvgUPqY9vk-U1oCVG3ZCgbcz9P7kOcXP_G8hbVpFNLvdPonWhbp-HknYFRyoXWkaaneWaVXg/s1600/AHeartbeatAway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GEU_t-29X75wGIKnmXCfp152HlYWQV2MqljiShuHM3Q38Y5mBywoCZPJ-ecfHjyvgUPqY9vk-U1oCVG3ZCgbcz9P7kOcXP_G8hbVpFNLvdPonWhbp-HknYFRyoXWkaaneWaVXg/s200/AHeartbeatAway.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>

The code for this post is: <div align="center"><a href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5500/1432/1600/CFBAreviewer_gif.0.gif"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5500/1432/320/CFBAreviewer_gif.0.gif" style="cursor: hand; margin: 0px 10px 10px 0px;" /></a></div><center><span style="font-size: 130%;">This week, the</span></center><center><a href="http://www.christianfictionblogalliance.com/"><span style="font-size: 100%;">Christian Fiction Blog Alliance</span></a></center><center><span style="font-size: 100%;">is introducing</span></center><center><span style="color: #993300; font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/143470257X">A Heartbeat Away</a></span></center><center>David C. Cook (September 1, 2012)</center><center>by</center><center><span style="color: #006600; font-size: 130%;"><a href="http://www.harrykraus.com/">Harry Kraus</a></span></center><br /> <br /> <b><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 100%;">ABOUT THE AUTHOR:</span></b><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BjnzNWNHvHrvhLSTtFnLKq4iRpW8PqfWxZVrBOviabbI04aB_yG1PbFE7BVAVKi1ZKb2eUP-VV-Hl5EO9qPX1Vi-tkjpcHWAtNWfFms9atNAxxF3GD0EnF-4w09URy5cBP5BIw/s1600/HarryKraus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8BjnzNWNHvHrvhLSTtFnLKq4iRpW8PqfWxZVrBOviabbI04aB_yG1PbFE7BVAVKi1ZKb2eUP-VV-Hl5EO9qPX1Vi-tkjpcHWAtNWfFms9atNAxxF3GD0EnF-4w09URy5cBP5BIw/s200/HarryKraus.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><b>A Word from Harry:</b><br /> <br /> I started writing my first novel during my last year of surgery training at UK. I was a chief resident, and started writing Stainless Steal Hearts in a call room at the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Lexington. It was a crazy time to write! I had a very demanding schedule, often spending days and nights in the hospital. I had two sons at that time, and I recognized the wisdom in my wife's urging: "Now doesn't seem the right time for this dream." <br /> <br /> My experience as a writer is far from typical. Having received my formal training in biology and chemistry and medicine, my only preparation for a writing career was a love for reading. The longest thing I'd written before my first novel was a term paper in undergraduate school. My first novel was accepted by Crossway Books and published in 1994, and it wasn't until after I had FOUR published novels that I even opened a book of instruction about the craft of writing fiction. This is not what I recommend to others! Yes, I was successful, but I was bending the "rules" without knowing it. I had a natural talent for plotting, but I realize my initial success may have stunted my growth as a writer. I'd have made faster progress if I'd have gone to the fiction teachers sooner. <br /> <br /> I have three sons: Joel, Evan, and Samuel. Look closely in all of my books and you'll see them there. My lovely wife, Kris, provides the basic composition for all those beautiful, athletic, dedicated women in my novels. <br /> <br /> <br /> <b><span style="color: #ff6600; font-size: 100%;">ABOUT THE BOOK</span></b><br /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GEU_t-29X75wGIKnmXCfp152HlYWQV2MqljiShuHM3Q38Y5mBywoCZPJ-ecfHjyvgUPqY9vk-U1oCVG3ZCgbcz9P7kOcXP_G8hbVpFNLvdPonWhbp-HknYFRyoXWkaaneWaVXg/s1600/AHeartbeatAway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7GEU_t-29X75wGIKnmXCfp152HlYWQV2MqljiShuHM3Q38Y5mBywoCZPJ-ecfHjyvgUPqY9vk-U1oCVG3ZCgbcz9P7kOcXP_G8hbVpFNLvdPonWhbp-HknYFRyoXWkaaneWaVXg/s200/AHeartbeatAway.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>When a brilliant surgeon undergoes a heart transplant, her life transforms as she begins experiencing memories of a murder she never witnessed.<br /> <br /> The residents worship her. Nurses step out of her way. Her colleagues respect and sometimes even fear her. But surgeon Tori Taylor never expected to end up on this side of the operating table.<br /> <br /> Now she has a new heart. This life that was formerly controlled and predictable is now chaotic. Dr. Taylor had famously protected herself from love or commitment, but her walls are beginning to crumble.<br /> <br /> And strangest of all, memories surface that will take her on a journey out of the operating room and into a murder investigation.<br /> <br /> Where there once was a heart of stone, there is a heart of flesh. And there is no going back.<br /> <br /> <br /> If you'd like to read the first chapter excerpt of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/143470257X">A Heartbeat Away</a>, go <a href="http://thestorybeginnings.blogspot.com/2012/09/a-heartbeat-away.html">HERE</a>.<br />

Harry can be reached through the Contact link on his Website

Note: Most of these reviewers don't have this book at the time of the posting, so reviews will come later.

Sometimes you will find missing posts for bloggers. The main reason is that their book has been delayed. We do not expect a review if they haven't had the opportunity to read the book :-) Check the comments for additional posters and follow our list of bloggers for this tour:

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