Between Sundays

It's "Samaritan" Day!

2012-02-10T09:26:00.001-05:00

Join me in celebrating today the re-release of my novella "Samaritan."

Tim Gardner has worked hard to rebuild the family business after his older brother nearly destroyed it. He’s restored the clientele base and the restaurant's reputation. But if Rachel Martin can’t get her act together, she won’t fulfill his orders for the Gardner’s Gazebo signature dessert, a gold-leaf cheese cake, which also happens to be Rachel’s secret recipe.

When Rachel Martin's partner abandons their bakery and catering business to study with the master chefs in Paris, she's left with nothing but bills and obligations-and no one in Portlandville seems able or willing to help her. No one except for Timothy Gardner, and she knows the handsome young man is only after one thing—her cheese cake. But as she gets to know him, during her time of need, she wonders if maybe there’s a little bit more in the mix. And as Tim gets to know Rachel, he finds himself wanting to be her Good Samaritan--permanently.

"Samaritan" is the prequel story to "Prodigal" and "Christmas Pearl."

Leave a Comment on any of my books you have read for a chance to win a hardcover copy of "Twilight's Last Gleaming."
This book is an interesting look at America's last days and how Christians can learn not to fear them.

If you can't comment for some reason, send me an email with your comment:

RLBayne(at)nbayne.com

Contest open through February 17th. Contest open only to US residents, all others may be considered for e-book prizes.

2012-02-08T18:31:00.002-05:00

Today's Verse for Wednesday, February 8, 2012 --heartlight.org

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith -- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast.

—Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)

Thoughts on Today's Verse...

As a child, I loved to receive gifts. In such a simple time of life, a gift meant I was loved. I didn't worry about the significance or hidden message in a gift. I wasn't concerned about the "strings attached" to the gift. It was just a gift -- a free expression of love I didn't deserve, given to me by someone who truly cared for me. Isn't it great to get to be God's child and receive his gift and know we can receive it as a child?!

2012-02-05T13:40:00.002-05:00

Stop by and comment at the Goddess Fish party today --chance to win a gift card.

Samaritan

2012-02-04T13:01:00.001-05:00

Tim Gardner has worked hard to rebuild the family business after his older brother nearly destroyed it. He’s restored the clientele base and the restaurant's reputation. But if Rachel Martin can’t get her act together, she won’t fulfill his orders for the Gardner’s Gazebo signature dessert, a gold-leaf cheese cake, which also happens to be Rachel’s secret recipe.

When Rachel Martin's partner abandons their bakery and catering business to study with the master chefs in Paris, she's left with nothing but bills and obligations-and no one in Portlandville seems able or willing to help her. No one except for Timothy Gardner, and she knows the handsome young man is only after one thing—her cheese cake.But as she gets to know him, during her time of need, she wonders if maybe there’s a little bit more in the mix. And as Tim gets to know Rachel, he finds himself wanting to be her Good Samaritan--permanently.

Order here Feb. 10th (or sign up to receive a notification)

***Note to my readers--If you read my 2008 story "The Good Samaritan," this is a revised re-release of that.

2012-01-27T16:19:00.002-05:00

My writing space, newly clean and rearranged thanks to my hubby.

Congrats Ravens

2012-01-23T09:12:00.003-05:00

Congratulations to the Baltimore Ravens on a wonderful and exciting season!!! Looking forward to next year.

No SOPA!

2012-01-18T09:09:00.000-05:00

If you are interested in learning more about SOPA and how it would forever change the free Internet, check out Paperback Writer's video here.

Piracy really is a huge problem, I've seen my own books being sold and/or given away illegally on pirate sites. But SOPA would lead to mass censorship. There must be a better solution!

Low Carb Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

2012-01-14T17:48:00.002-05:00

Just thought I'd share what I'm enjoying during the football game.

Human Trafficking Awareness Day-- January 11

2012-01-11T06:19:00.001-05:00

Deliver Me from Evil introduces readers to Mara, an eighteen-year-old girl who has been enslaved for nearly ten years, having been sold by her parents in Mexico and then smuggled across the border into San Diego where she was forced into sexual slavery. Readers will also meet 18-year-old, Bible-college-bound Jonathan and his 16-year-old sister, Leah, whose paths cross Mara’s and who become involved in her dramatic rescue.

Interwoven between the stories of Mara, Jonathan, and Leah is the heartbreaking story of another young woman in captivity in the Golden Triangle of Thailand, whose past life mysteriously connects to the young people in San Diego.

Kathi Macias is a multi-award winning writer who has authored more than 30 books and ghostwritten several others. A former newspaper columnist and string reporter, Kathi has taught creative and business writing in various venues and has been a guest on many radio and television programs. Kathi is a popular speaker at churches, women’s clubs and retreats, and writers’ conferences, and won the 2008 Member of the Year award from AWSA (Advanced Writers and Speakers Association). Kathi “Easy Writer” Macias lives in Homeland, CA, with her husband, Al.

Order here

http://www.kathimacias.com/

Unleashing the Writer in You

2012-01-09T10:59:00.001-05:00

Cecil Murphy has a new book for writers---

Although it’s difficult for me to say those words aloud, I believe I have an aptitude to communicate messages of encouragement on the page or screen. It’s difficult to say because I don’t want to come across as implying I have a special endowment that no one else does. Yet it’s part of my “divine equipping,” and I want to use it well.

I also have trouble expressing that God would favor me with such an endowment. Even now, after more than a hundred books, I’m still in awe that God would use my words to touch other people.
That sense of wonderment is the major reason I know it’s a gift. Calling it a gift means it’s not a possession I earned, nor is it an ability I produced by myself. It’s a knack given to me for myself and for others.

Order your copy here.

Read the first 2 chapters here.

A Goodbye to Stephen Bly

2012-01-06T19:08:00.002-05:00

Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot

By Stephen Bly, with Janet, Russell, Michael and Aaron Bly
Published by Center Point Large Print
Available March 1, 2012

Center Point Large Print is proud to present Stephen Bly’s latest (and sadly, his last) Western fiction title, Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot.

Thrilled to be given the opportunity to publish Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot, we at Center Point Large Print were saddened to learn that he had succumbed to illness before putting completing it. So when Janet, Steve’s widow and a published writer, asked if she and her three sons could complete the work as a tribute to Steve, I couldn’t say “yes” fast enough. I’m sure you’ll agree that Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot is a tribute to both the character, Stuart Brannon - and to his creator, Stephen Bly.

For those readers who would like to read the entire Stuart Brannon oeuvre, Greenbrier Book Company will reissue the six books that came before Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot in the spring and summer of 2012 (www.greenbrierbooks.com ).

Synopsis
In 1905, at 58 years old, legendary lawman Stuart Brannon - now a rancher and widower - had no intention of leaving his beloved Arizona Territory to attend the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition in Portland, Oregon, nor to participate in the celebrity golf tournament for the Willamette Orphan Farm. Even an emotional appeal for his longtime friend didn’t persuade him. His life no longer consisted of bloodthirsty men to track down . . . people trying to kill him . . . lawless gangs preying on the innocent.

Then the telegram came: Stuart, I need you in Portland. Tim Wiseman is missing. I think there’s a cover-up going on. Tell folks you’re going to the Exposition. Nose around. Find out how a U.S. Marshal can disappear and no one knows why. I’ll contact you there. T.R.

How could he refuse a request from the President of the United States?

Filled with humor and heart, adventure and romance, Stuart Brannon’s Last Shot is the story of a man who embodied the Code of the West. Christy Award-winning author Stephen Bly (August 17, 1944 - June 8, 2011) wrote 105 books including six Stuart Brannon novels. In Stuart Brannon’s Last Shot, we bid a fond farewell to the character - and to Stephen Bly, his creator.

Visit Stephen Bly’s website at http://www.blybooks.com

2012-01-01T11:25:00.000-05:00

/ TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

January 1, 2012

VERSE:
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
-- Genesis 1:1

THOUGHT:
We are creatures of the earth. Yes, we are much more than that, but occasionally we need to be reminded of that! We can't truly understand existence before time, yet before the beginning of time as we know it, God existed -- he has revealed himself as "I Am,"
the one who was and who is and who is to come. Before there was an ordered universe to provide the basis of our existence, God is "I Am." He had existence before, beyond, and without our created universe. We can't even truly comprehend this in its entirety.
That's why every new beginning -- whether it is a day, a week, a year, or a millennium -- should begin with God. He alone is the ultimate Genesis, our beginning.

New Year!!

2011-12-31T06:19:00.000-05:00

I wish you all a happy, healthy, safe and productive new year.

And the winner is. . .

2011-12-27T11:54:00.000-05:00

Thanks to all who visited during the Christmas Extravaganza! E.A. West managed to comment the most and so wins the book. Cheers!

It's Boxing Day

2011-12-26T12:09:00.001-05:00

Boxing Day (Dec 26)

Give With Good Cheer

You must each make up your own mind as to how much you should give. Don't give reluctantly or in response to pressure. For God loves the person who gives cheerfully.

2 Corinthians 9:7

When your decide to give to those in need, do it with a smile and much love.

Boxing Day was first observed in Queen Victoria’s England, in the mid-1800's, with servants and tradesmen receiving gifts and money. Children received small gifts from their parents, and the poor would go door-to-door hoping for treats to fill their boxes. The custom is still practiced today in England and Canada, but the concept of charitable giving is upheld in countries all over the world.

Jesus encouraged us to take care of the poor, to share our worldly possessions with those of us less fortunate. Throughout the holiday season, individuals and businesses donate what they can to ease the burdens of others. Make it a habit to think of the poor all year round. Share your material wealth and your spiritual wealth– the knowledge of God’s love. Un-box His word and share the joy.

Keep These Things

2011-12-24T19:00:00.000-05:00

The gifts were many, each a treasure

Some of wealth, more of the heart.

The greetings robust, yet hushed

And filled with awe.

The star shimmered still, even

As morning neared.

Her body drained, Mary sighed, breathing in scents

Of pungent hay, and sheep, and donkey.

Her pulse quickened again at the wonder—

Her new son, her Jesus, who would be Lord.

She knew the Scriptures and held them dear.

Her stomach clenched, overwhelmed at being chosen.

Her, a common girl, not worthy, not ready.

The baby fussed, and Mary hugged Him to her chest. A breeze

Tickled the hairs on her arm, and she smiled.

She thought of the Angel’s words, the shepherd’s words.

The voices lifted in praise.

Mary kept all these things, pondering them in her heart.

She held them dear.

Merry Christmas!

Let's Brag About This One

2011-12-23T06:55:00.001-05:00

Disowned by her family, Tiffany Vickers faces a lonely Christmas and takes great comfort in the baby boy in her care. Her faith in tatters, she guards her heart against the baby's uncle, handsome cowboy Bragg Martin, a man with baggage of his own. While Bragg longs to open his heart and family to the lovely nanny, he doesn't understand her interest in his arch enemy. Saving a man's life and saving Tiffany's faith bring the couple together…and home to Hearts Crossing Ranch.

Watch the trailer here!!
Order here!

Tanya Hanson is a California beach girl who love her cowboys. A former high school English teacher, she loves traveling with her firefighter hubby when she’s not working on her eight-book Ranch series. The two recently returned from a fantastic tour of the East Coast just in time to welcome their daughter’s first child, their second grandson. Their son’s little boy stole Tanya’s heart upon his arrival four years ago. God is good.

EXCERPT:

Tiffany got up for another cup of coffee, Matty’s eyes watching her every move.

“He sure notices you,” Bragg remarked as the baby drained the bottle.

“Yeah. We bonded right off. I’m so glad about it.” As she’d made a snap decision just then, she rushed on. “I left behind my precious nephew. I guess in my psyche somewhere I figured maybe nanny to Matty might help ease that hole in my heart.” Gently she rubbed her hand over Matty’s head, the edge of her hand tugging at Bragg’s shirt and causing a funny havoc. Mostly though he listened to her pain.

She sank back down into a kitchen chair, resting her cheek in her hand. “I was with Connor from the moment he was born. Paul and Diana wanted me there. Then things went haywire. It was my fault. You talk about forgiveness, but there isn’t any in this case. And I miss that little boy. Oh, I miss him so. I need him. His love was unconditional, you know. He’s three now. I can’t let him forget me.”

Bragg’s heart tugged at the agony on her face, and Matty’s little hand flailed. Tiffany took it at once. “It can’t be that bad, can it?”

“I’ve been disowned, so, yeah, Bragg. It’s that bad.”

Order here.

Everyone Wants A White Christmas!

2011-12-21T07:08:00.001-05:00

After his very public break-up from his fiancé, Chad Fletcher is convinced that a healthy marriage and his rising political career won’t mix. Christmas at his Aunt Nell’s home in White, Arizona is a great way to start fresh. Political watch dog Tessa Conway plans to spend her Christmas vacation enjoying her grandparents’ ranch before they must sell it. So she is not pleased with Grandma Sophie and Aunt Nell’s efforts to throw her and Chad together during White’s Christmas celebrations. Chad begins to believe Tessa may be the perfect antidote to his unhealthy relationships of the past. But when he decides to take support from a company with questionable ethics, his perfect bubble is burst. Fearing Chad is not the Godly man she believed him to be, Tessa ends their budding romance. Will Chad find the strength and courage to do what’s right even if it costs him his career?

My opinion? I was first pulled in by the lovely cover, and soon found myself enjoying Ms. Stowe's small town romance. Tessa and Chad are made for each other, but it takes the magic of the holiday season to bring them together.

Tanya has been a member of Romance Writers of America since 1992. She’s taught at writing conferences and numerous workshops. A popular guest speaker, Tanya is often featured on radio and television programs, as well as seminars and conferences throughout California. On her blog, Creative Writing Forces, she blogs about all things writing. Follow the workshops, authors and ups and downs of writing at Creative Writing Forces.

Order here!!

Sage and Sweetgrass

2011-12-18T07:04:00.001-05:00

Diagnosed with a chronic, debilitating illness, Lanae Petersen vows to pursue life to its fullest. When she discovers mysterious love letters hidden within an antique desk, she begins a quest to discover who the young lovers were. Little does she realize that in trying to bring closure to their lives, hers will be turned upside-down.

After the death of his wife, cowboy Sage Diamond wants to be left alone on his acreage in peace and anonymity. When Lanae approaches him with letters to a family member, she not only threatens to expose his family secrets, but also stirs something inside him that he neither expects, nor welcomes. Sage fights his attraction, determined not to fall for a woman whose health is so fragile.

Can Sage trust God's guiding hand, or will his fear of losing another love crush his chance for a future with Lanae?

A lifelong Nebraskan, LoRee has lived all but 11 years of her life in the country, where she feels grounded in her sense of place. She and her husband have five children and 11 grandchildren. She enjoys creativity in the many forms it takes, and loves color, especially the colors of autumn.

LoRee clings to the word overcomer and knows nothing in life is too big for God. She is thankful for all the writers who have helped her on her journey, and considers it a blessing to be part of the Pelican Book Group through White Rose Publishing.

Visit her here.

Excerpt:

The sky was clear and enormous where it met the horizon. The whinny of horses carried up from a pasture on the other side of the barn. The acreage represented everything she loved about being outside the city limits. Expanse, horses, a sprinkling of trees in the distance…God’s country.

When she caught sight of the cowboy, the vision was complete.

She sighed. Home. How crazy. She felt like she’d come home.

The cowboy rounded the corner of the wood-sided barn that she guessed to be sixty feet long. He loped in the loose way of a man comfortable on the back of a horse.

And she enjoyed every step as he approached.

He even tipped the brim of his hat. “Mornin’. You Lanae?”

Wow was the only thing she could think to say. But she kept it to herself.

Her mouth went dry.

His nose was bent, just off to the right of center. He had a full bottom lip, thinner upper, all accented by what she supposed was a year-round tan. Myriad facial lines gave testimony to a life lived outdoors.

She cleared her throat, mustered up some moisture for her vocal chords in order to answer, “That I am.”

“Sage Diamond.”

When he drew close enough, Lanae was dumbfounded at the impact of his eyes. They were an unbelievable piercing blue with a hint of lavender.

“Did you have any trouble finding the place?” Sage spoke in an unhurried manner.

Lanae wondered if he felt rushed about anything. She started to open the door.

“You always leave your car running?” A hint of amusement tugged at his mouth.

Oops. She turned the key. Great first impression.

He held the door.

Still caught in the lavender blue of his eyes, shadowed now from his hat,Lanae swallowed what felt like the chaff of an August hayfield.

No more singles ads for me.

Read about LoRee's stories here.

Thanks to All Who Voted!

2011-12-16T17:53:00.002-05:00

Thanks to Nicola Martinez of White Rose Publishing for creating the cover for "Christmas Pearl," which won the Clash of the Titles

cover art contest!

One reader commented:

I love the contrast of the “wintry scene” in the reflection on the necklace but yet the “real” scenery looks like a sunny beach Christmas. A true reflection of Christmas for all seasons!

Christmas Pearl makes me want to see what other reflections show up on it. It’s beautiful.

Christmas Pearl!

2011-12-15T10:21:00.001-05:00

Today "Christmas Pearl" is officially available!

Excerpt:

Joseph Gardner stared out at the clear night sky, wondering how the lawn had grown so frosty it down-right sparkled. It was still early after all, he thought, leaning against the wood railing of the Gazebo Café’s front porch, hoping it held. His family gathered inside, laughing and planning the upcoming holiday season.

He, however, felt like grinding his boots against the brick walkway in a quick getaway. If the holidays never arrived this year, that would be fine with him.

The front door squeaked behind him, his cousin Daniel had come out to check on him, no doubt.

Joe sighed, and rolled his shoulder muscles to ease the tension. “I’m about ready to take off.”

Silence. A truck passed on the road in front of the café, and Joe inhaled diesel exhaust. Even in a small town, trucks held a presence. Behind it, a white car turned into the drive and headed for them.

“Latecomer?” Joe asked, pushing his hat off his forehead.

“Guess so.” Daniel moved out onto the porch. “Looks like Liza’s Camry.”

The car stopped and a blonde woman got out, carrying a purse and what looked like a basket.

“Hey, it is Liza,” Daniel said, waving the woman over. He turned to Joe. “This is someone you should really meet. Single, an attorney. Good looking—and a Christian.”

The blonde reached the porch and stepped up, her heeled boots clicking on the wooden planks. Joe watched, appreciating her slim figure and long hair. There was something familiar about her. As she neared he inhaled a whiff of some sweet perfume, again, something he’d smelled before.

Daniel kissed her cheek and relieved her of the basket. “Glad you came!” He gestured toward Joe. “This is my cousin Joe.”

Their gazes locked. His heart thudded. Joe saw the silver flecks in her blue eyes glint when she recognized him. Probably ice crystals.

Her smiled faded. Shoulders rigid, she took a step back. “You’re Daniel’s cousin?”

After a few beats Joe nodded. “Elizabeth,” he said, wondering why he’d never heard her called by a nickname before. From the corner of his eye he saw Daniel staring at him, his arms folded across his chest.

“Mr. Gardner.”

Joe could hear the frost forming in the yard as they stood there.

“Well,” Daniel said, “why don’t you both come in for dessert?”

A few more seconds clicked by in the evening air.

“I was just leaving.” Joe kept his gazed locked on her.

“Sure, I’d love to,” Elizabeth said, stepping forward and flashing an almost defiant glance at Joe.

She hadn’t forgotten what went down, and that was OK because he hadn’t either. He felt a tug in his gut and almost wished he’d talked to her back then, cleared the air. OK, he’d change his mind and stay a while. Just to make Daniel happy. Yeah, that was it.

“Then again what’s the rush?” Joe forced a grin he didn’t feel.

Daniel held the door, and they both moved into the light spilling from the Café. Watching Elizabeth’s hair shine under the lobby chandelier, he wondered what she was thinking about him. When she disappeared into the crowd, he noticed Daniel studying him. Great, now he had to worry about Daniel too, which was interrupting his ability to think of something appropriate to say to Elizabeth. Of course, she might just avoid him for the rest of the evening, but that was OK. He deserved it.

Christmas With Miss Austen

2011-12-14T12:29:00.000-05:00

Julia Allen is a waitress by day, painter by night, and…a famous 1800s authoress on weekends?

Moonlighting as Jane Austen for a historical open house is a strange hobby for a contemporary artist, but Julia loves the role–until she falls asleep and gets locked inside after all the visitors are gone! Rushing home from the dark, historical mansion, she collides with a stranger in the snowy park, and discovers later her shortcut cost her the rare copy of Austen’s Northanger Abbey borrowed from a friend’s treasured collection.

Book historian Eliot Weston thinks he imagined the Regency-era figure, but the book he finds in her wake proves otherwise. The first edition of Jane Austen’s novel is authentic and incredibly rare, but he fails to find any trace of its owner. Reminders of the unusual encounter keep popping up, however, like the pretty modern artist eager to buy an identical volume. Coincidence? Or Divine intervention making it clear this is anything but an ordinary Christmas for these two hearts?

Read an excerpt and order here!!!

Laura Briggs graduated from a Missouri liberal arts college in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. Since then, she has pursued a career as a freelance writer. Her passion for literature has inspired her to produce a range of online articles on writing and classic authors, as well as her books with White Rose Publishing.

Travels in Time

2011-12-11T17:59:00.000-05:00

Touching a milestone, Joni Peterson is catapulted through time into a world both familiar and strange. Finding herself in Victorian England, she discovers love in the most unexpected place— at the feet of the man whose carriage knocked her down.

Lord Sebastian Tyler needs to remarry, but preferably not a woman of his mother’s choosing. The woman his carriage runs over both irritates and fascinates him. Could she be the answer to his prayers?

Will the arrow of love find them both before time runs out and the portal to the present reopens?

Order here!

Excerpt:

Jonni twisted her head to the left. A young girl of no more than fifteen, wearing a rag cap over her blonde hair, got up and ran from the room. She opened her mouth to speak, but before she could say anything, a girl with dark curls started speaking again.

"My name’s ‘Attie, miss. Now don’ yer go movin’ or nothin’ til t’master’s bin an’ sent for t’doctor. Yer took a nasty bang t’noggin under them ‘orses ‘ooves an’ been asleep for nigh on t’whole day."

Jonni rubbed her head, wishing the girl wasn’t speaking in such a broad dialect. "Horses? I don’t remember any horses."

"According to my driver you all but threw yourself under them, madam. He was hard pressed to stop." The distinctly suave male voice, haughty and disapproving, came from the doorway.

Jonni twisted to look toward the voice. Her eyes widened at the vision of perfect manhood that strode over to the bed, his hands clasped behind his back. His form fitting breeches, shirt, waistcoat, and tail coat showed off his slender figure to perfection. But, why was he in fancy dress? Had she missed a costume party?

Long black hair framed his face and fathomless brown eyes stared down at her as his baritone voice rang out again. "What did you think you were doing running out into the road like that, madam? You could have been killed."

Clare lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and her three children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, reading, sewing or keeping house or doing the many piles of laundry her children manage to make, she's working part time in the breakfast club at one of the local schools.

She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of three registrars.

Visit Clare here.

Christmas in Coyote County

2011-12-09T14:49:00.000-05:00

In Coyote County, Christmas means festive lights, the town parade, hot coffee and cinnamon rolls...not creatures from another planet. While a glowing green Peeping Tom with two antennae is a little hard to buy, Libby Hawkins doesn’t believe her former school teacher suffers from either dementia or a runaway imagination. There’s a logical explanation, and she intends to discover it before the older woman is placed in a nursing home.

After a twelve year absence, Sheriff Jackson Carter returns to Coyote County to clear his father’s name. He never expected to be waylaid in his quest by alien sightings, and it doesn’t help that stubborn Libby Hawkins--his former girlfriend--is determined to meddle in the investigation. He hurt Libby when he left town after his father’s death, but it was for her protection. Now Libby’s stumbled on something dangerous. Can he keep her from harm this time? He doesn’t know, but one thing is certain: Christmas in Coyote County has never been so interesting.

Order here!!

Mary L. Briggs is a wife, mother, and registered nurse. She enjoys writing inspirational fiction and is also a free-lance writer. She has had two romance stories and one mini-mystery published in Woman's World Magazine. She enjoys reading, writing, studying American history, cooking, quilting, herb gardening, and crafting. Mary lives in a cordwood home in the Ouachita Mountains with her husband and two daughters. She also enjoys the company of five cats, three dogs, and a flock of chickens

Christmas Sanctuary

2011-12-06T06:59:00.001-05:00

Dea Lacey is on the run. Scared and alone, she has to protect her endangered nephew. If she can find Garrett's father, perhaps he'll keep the boy safe and learn to love the child she'd trade her life to keep.

Jesse McTavish has lost his family. Abandoning his faith, the seeds of destruction are sown. As he struggles with grief, the last thing he needs is a woman showing up with a child who's the mirror image of his dead son. But he can neither ignore nor reject the woman and child who threaten to break through the protective shield he's built around his heart.

Through the ensuing storm of pain and loss, Christmas teaches Dea and Jesse about faith and forgiveness.

Sanctuary may be what we ask for, but God gives us so much more.

Order here!

Merry Stahel lives in a little house in the woods of the Midwest, surrounded by wild animals. Owned by three dogs and three cats, she sings for her church's Praise Team, and dabbles in quilting and sewing. Occasionally, she packs up and takes trips with her husband of thirty-three years to parts unknown, just for the adventure. You can reach her at merrystahel@gmail.com.

EXCERPT:

“Oh, no.” Dea felt the thud of her battered heart as it dropped into her empty stomach.

“What is it, Mommy?” Garrett struggled to unclip his seatbelt, sitting up to peek over the dashboard. “Oh. It’s a church.”

A church.

She peered at the address and matched it to the sign propped against a huge live oak. 1225 North Street. David, Oklahoma. A phone number and the last pastor’s name, Jesse McTavish, was printed beneath it. And underneath that, a Bible verse. Dea stared at the verse.

“Then have them make a sanctuary for me, and I will dwell among them. Exodus 25:8.”

Sanctuary.

She and Garrett definitely needed that.

When she’d stopped in town to get groceries and ask directions, the clerk hadn’t mentioned the building was a church—she had, however given Dea the scoop on the last occupant of their future home.

“A curmudgeonly hermit with a grudge. Been that way since his wife and son died a while back. Moved out. Never changed the mailbox or the sign...Lost his faith, that one.”

Dea hadn’t paid much attention. She hadn’t known what sign needed changing, but now it was clear. Still she had no intention of letting some bad-tempered old man influence her decision. He wasn’t the first to lose his faith or the last.

She’d come too far.

But, dear Lord, a church?

And it was out in the middle of nowhere. The parking lot next to it was paved, but weeds grew in cracks in the pavement.

An abandoned church.

What had Aunt Amelia been thinking to leave Dea a church? And the eighty acres surrounding it. Dea’s gaze settled on the little wrought iron fence off to one side…just great. A cemetery, too!

“If we fix it up, Mommy,”—Garrett’s small voice was placating—“and paint that top thing, maybe we can make it pretty again.”

She looked at the steeple. The church was made of brick, but the wooden eaves and the steeple did need a new coat of paint.

“And pull the weeds,” Dea muttered, feeling a sense of anger and betrayal. She didn’t have money to buy paint.

“And mow the grass. And fix the sign.” Garrett’s voice was warming to the theme.

“Oh, honey.”

Immediately, his face fell, and he huddled in. His beautiful blue eyes filled with the hopelessness that had dogged them for the last year.

She felt like a heel. Even if she had nothing left in her so-called heart, did she have the right to ruin it for Garrett?

“It will be a lot of work, honey.” She ruffled his hair. “We’ll have to slave to make it look nice.”

“But we can do it, Mommy.” Garrett straightened, the hope in his eyes shining bright.

Dea’s heart crumbled. She wondered how he could be so trusting. She’d done nothing to deserve his trust. How could he still hope? Was it the innocence only a child could feel? She strained to hide her dismal thoughts.

“The lady said the house was in back.” The excitement in his voice was almost catching.

Almost.

Dea turned the car and followed the weed-choked driveway to the back of the church. The now-familiar glimmer of fear rose again.

There was no house. Only a huge barn with a corral and the remains of a garden to the right of it. Another large building with broken windows looked like a dormitory. Was that the house?

To the right was another garden. This one had a wild tangle of flowers that needed pruning. A two-car garage bordered the final line of the L-shaped back yard. Above the garage was what looked like an apartment or attic. A shutter hung loose at one of the several broken windows. Was that the house? She looked over the rolling pasture and saw nothing else.

Her hand shook as she reached for the door handle. Garrett was already hopping out. He didn’t seem to notice there was no house.

“Look, Mommy! The church has back doors!” He giggled as he bounced up the three stone steps. “What kind of church needs a back door?”

One where the sinners could run out and hide from their fellow man. She knew too much about sin. And about hiding.

“Come on, Mommy!” Garrett was tugging at the door.

It took three tries to get the right key. Her mouth dropped open in surprise as she opened the door.

The house was behind the church.

Literally.

Attached to it.

No way to escape. No matter what she did, she would always be in church. Her aunt would get her way at last.

Oh, Lord, please don’t do this to me.

“Mommy! I want this bedroom!” Garrett’s voice snapped back her attention.

She forced her feet to move through the living room—Past the broken chair that was the only furniture, past the gleaming oak and tile fireplace that she would have admired in normal circumstances, and into a fully furnished little boy’s room. The border paper had tractors, backhoes and trucks on it. Bright blue walls set off the cheerful green of the furniture. Yellow accented the shelves. The bunk bed had red bedspreads and blue poles. Two bean bags were stationed in a corner, one red, and one blue. Crayon colors for a little boy.

Dea looked around in amazement.

While Garrett explored the closet she went quickly down the hall looking into the two other bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, great room and what was obviously meant to be the pastor’s study. No other furnishings besides the broken chair. And yet, this fully furnished room made for a little boy.

Dea wondered who her benefactor was. No one knew she was coming did they? The lawyer was from Stillwater, and he’d mailed Aunt Amelia’s Will, a letter and the keys. She pulled the letter out to re-read it. Maybe she’d missed something.

Dearest Dea,

If you’re reading this then it means I’ve passed on. There isn’t much left of anything. I sold what furniture I could, stored the rest in the barn, and came to live here at Cimarron Oaks. I kept the property though, and have passed it on to you since Laceys have lived on this land since the original Land Run.

All the buildings belong to the Laceys. The big one was originally an orphanage. Then it became a boarding house and later a bunkhouse when we used to run cattle and had a few cowboys around. The space over the garage was originally the ranch foreman’s apartment. It’s all empty now, Dea. Empty of the laughter, of the love that used to be here. Fill it again, my dear niece. Fill it with love and laughter.

Think of it as a second chance. That’s what I did. And I got your Uncle Owen because of it. This is where your mother and I met Owen and your Dad. We never got a chance to come back to live because Owen went ministering other places. But it has always been ours.

I know you’re troubled. I saw it in your eyes when you last came to visit. Oh, Dea, I wish for you…well, if wishes were horses, beggars would ride as they say. I’ll say a prayer for you. Take this place. Think of it as a Christmas present, this house. Make it mean something to you. Give Garrett roots. Bring him here and remember a lot of Laceys have lived and loved here. You’ll be safe here. And Dea…keep God and hope in your heart. Only good can come from it. God Bless you, always.

Love, Aunt Amelia

A second chance.

Aunt Amelia was aware of Dea’s life crumbling away. How had the woman known they weren’t safe? How many people had seen and known and felt pity?

And now Dea felt nothing. Well, almost nothing. Fear ate at her daily and was a constant companion. But with Aunt Amelia’s legacy, maybe the fear would go away.

Second Chances Are a Gift!

2011-12-04T18:14:00.000-05:00

Savanna's Gift, a Christmas Romance (White Rose Publishing, Dec 2011)

When she gets a second chance at the love of her life, will the dream that once divided them get in the way?

Just before Christmas, Savanna Holt returns to the ski lodge where she once worked hoping to deliver her goddaughter to the child’s grandparents and flee the mountain resort before memories of one special Christmas there reminds her how ambition led her to make the worst mistake of her life.

But Savanna is stunned to discover Luke, the man whose heart she broke three years ago, now manages the resort. Seeing him reminds her of what she lost, but Luke wants no reminders of his hurt. He’s changed, but so has she.

When a blizzard traps her at the beautiful rustic mountain lodge over Christmas, she sees the forced proximity as a gift from God and is determined to win Luke back. Can she convince Luke she has changed and her interest isn't because of his position? And when her dream job beckons, will she sacrifice her dream for a second chance at love?

Camille Eide writes contemporary romantic women’s fiction. She lives in Oregon with her husband of 28 years and is mom to three brilliant college-age kids. She’s grateful for the amazing grace of God, and either in spite of or thanks to that grace, she has a PhD in Learning Stuff the Hard Way. She’s also a church secretary, a bassist, and a passably devoted fan of classic rock, muscle cars, and Jane Austen.

Website: Camille Eide, Author (www.camilleeide.com)

Blog: Extreme Keyboarding (http://www.camilleeide.blogspot.com)

Read an excerpt and order here!

Have a Kindle?

2011-12-03T13:56:00.001-05:00

I'm happy to announce "Christmas Pearl" is available now for the Kindle! Check it out here.

If you don't have a Kindle unit, you can download a free application from Amazon that lets you download and store Kindle books on your computer.

Want a pdf file of the story? That will be available December 15th. Have a great weekend!

Mystery At Christmas Time!

2011-12-02T06:41:00.001-05:00

High school geometry teacher, Donna Russell likes her life well-ordered and logical, even if it is a tad solitary at times. But when a charming co-worker at the local food bank disappears just before Christmas, Donna is left with more questions than solutions.

After the missing man's neighbor, muscle-bound EMT Sam Holton, volunteers as Donna's crime-fighting sidekick, sparks fly between them. Donna wonders if Sam can be trusted, or if he's trying to throw an unknown into her calculations—and her life.

And when police recover a body from the icy Niagara River, Donna is faced with the most frustrating equation of all: can murder plus mayhem ever equal romance?

Order here now.

Visit Barbara here.
Watch a book trailer here.

Barbara Early grew up buried in the snowy suburbs of Buffalo, NY, where she developed a love for all things sedentary: reading, writing, classic movies, and Scrabble. She holds a degree in Electrical Engineering, but her penchant for the creative caused her to run away screaming from the pocket-protector set. She taught secondary English and science for several years in a Christian school before home schooling her daughter successfully through high school. Barbara cooks up cozy mysteries with a healthy dose of comedy and sometimes a splash of romance, and was a double finalist in the 2010 ACFW Genesis competition. When not reading or writing, she enjoys cooking, crafts, home-improvement projects, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Excerpt:

Food pantries are lousy places to meet men.

I slammed another dusty can of sauerkraut into the rough wood shelving to punctuate that thought, enjoying the reverberation through the brick storefront. Don’t get me wrong. That’s not why I volunteered. My days of pining after some testosterone-charged he-god passed a decade or so ago when all my friends married and started having kids. I’d officially become “Aunt Donna,” and I was pretty okay with that.

Most of the time.

I had my friends, my students, and my cat. Only my friends were all busy chauffeuring their kids to basketball practice and dance recitals, my students at the high school drove me up the wall, and my black cat was one of those independent sorts, content stalking birds from the window. He rubbed against my leg twice a day when I filled his food dish, and that was pretty much the extent of my physical contact with other living things.

Read more here!

This Time of Year

2011-11-30T18:44:00.002-05:00

Welcome guest blogger Dora Hiers!

Don’t you just love this time of the year?

Kids bundling up to play in the snow, then racing inside with rosy cheeks, flushed with excitement. Christmas music playing softly on the radio. Pumpkin pies baking in the oven, the scents of ginger and cinnamon drifting through the house. Whispers and giggles as children point out colorfully wrapped presents under a gigantic pine tree loaded with pinecones and sentimental ornaments. Snuggling in front of the fireplace with hubby while you cheer for football teams or watch your favorite movie. Loading up the car for road trips to visit family members you haven’t seen in awhile. Squirting whipped cream on a tall mug of hot chocolate for a late afternoon yummy. Watching the glow of a thousand candles light up a sanctuary, and songs of praise reaching toward heaven.

Christmas is a highlight of my year. Sure, it’s crazy busy with buying and wrapping gifts, attending school and church programs, making the rounds at holiday parties, school exams, visiting relatives. But, during this hectic season, I make a conscious effort to slow down, to thank God for the “ultimate” gift given to me.

What’s the ultimate gift? A chance for a fresh start. A giant eraser to wipe away the grunge. Paint bright enough to cover black walls. Spring-cleaning from the ceiling to the floor and all those dusty blinds in between.

It’s a gift given to you by a loving Father. No strings attached. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Eph 2:8-9, NIV)

Wow! Merry Christmas!

What about you? What’s your favorite time of the year and why?
************************************************************************

Thank you Dora!
Check out her exciting story- available here now!

JOURNEY’S END
Devastated after the brutal murder of her husband, Chelsea Hammond vows never to love another lawman. Intent on rebuilding her shattered life, she turns her focus to helping troubled teens. But when an angry father bent on retaliation, threatens her, Chelsea must turn to the one man she never thought to trust: Deputy U.S. Marshal Trey Colten.

Trey wants only to protect Chelsea, but she blames him for her husband’s death. Trey can relate. He blames himself, also. As danger lurks, Trey begs Chelsea to heed his warnings. He let down one Hammond. He won’t let down another—especially one who now holds his heart.

When Chelsea is snatched from her home, can she put aside her fear, and trust Trey with her life? Can she forgive him for destroying her past and let him help to rebuild her future?

Where one journey ends, another begins…

JOURNEY’S END Excerpt:

“I suppose I should have been a vet.” Chelsea stroked the dog’s fur from his head all the way down his back, careful not to touch his wounded leg.

“Maybe. But I don’t think you’ve wasted your energy or your talents as a guidance counselor. Teenagers can’t seem to resist you, either.”
That produced a full-fledged smile in his direction. Way to go, Colten!

“Remember that natural charm I warned you about?”
He threw back his head and laughed. “Yes. And after a few days in your presence, I’m inclined to agree with you.”

He pulled into the veterinarian’s parking lot and glanced her way, surprised to see her grinning. “What?”

“Saved by the vet.”

Her words hit him like a piano dropping ten stories. She was flirting with him.

He took his time walking around to her side of the truck. He opened the door and leaned in, planting his hand on the seat next to her shapely legs.

His face hovered inches from hers while he savored the way her wavy hair cascaded down her shoulders, the lips that curved in that always graceful way, and the eyes that spoke everything his heart wanted to hear.

Her eyes closed, and her lips parted slightly.

Trey snapped out of it. He couldn’t do this. He was on the job. She didn’t know the secrets he knew, the truth about her husband.

Her eyes startled open. As much as he wanted to partake and enjoy, he couldn’t. He touched a silky curl framing her face and ran it through his fingers. “You need to know that right now I’m working. But there will come a time, soon, when I’m not.”

She can’t bear to look at yesterday.
She has no strength to face today.
She won’t believe in tomorrow

meet Dora Hiers…

After a successful auditing career, Dora left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to her two sons. When her youngest son didn’t want her hanging out at school with him anymore, Dora started writing heart racing, God-gracing books. Dora belongs to the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Carolina Christian Writers. Dora and her husband make their home in North Carolina. When she’s not writing, Dora enjoys reading and family gatherings. She despises traffic, technological meltdowns, and a sad ending to a book. Her books always end with happily-ever-after’s.

Readers can connect with Dora:
Website: www.dorahiers.com
Blog: http://dorahiers.blogspot.com/
Facebook: Dora Hiers Author
Twitter: @DoraHiers

The Theme Is Hope

2011-11-27T10:19:00.000-05:00

/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

November 27, 2011

VERSE:
For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
-- Romans 15:4

THOUGHT:
If the Bible is a love story, then its theme is hope. No matter how dire the circumstances, no matter how big the enemy, no matter how deep the sin, no matter how lost the people, no matter how empty the cupboard, no matter how wide the river, no matter ... God repeatedly gives his people reason to hope in a brighter tomorrow.
Then God brought the assurance of that tomorrow in Jesus!

Texas, Christmas and Mystery!

2011-11-24T12:21:00.002-05:00

A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both. As Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne, sparks fly. She needs to solve her first case. But the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle. Derrick has worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When his past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves?

Want to be notified when this is available? Click here!

Award winning author ANNE GREENE delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. After falling in love with several countries and their people, Anne set a number of her books in exotic locations. She and her hero husband, Army Special Forces Colonel Larry Greene, have visited twenty-five countries, including three communist countries. A visit to Scotland resulted in her newest book release, Masquerade Marriage, published by White Rose Publishing. When she’s not deployed with her husband, Anne makes her home in McKinney, Texas. Two of her four children live nearby. Tim LaHaye led her to the Lord when she was twenty-one and Chuck Swindoll is her Pastor. In 1990, Anne graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor’s degree in Literary Studies from the University of Texas, Dallas. Her highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to an awesome new world and touch hearts to seek a deeper spiritual relationship with the Lord Jesus. To learn more of Anne and to view pictures from her extensive travel, visit her at AnneGreeneAuthor.com.

Excerpt--

CHAPTER ONE
Galveston, Texas
Only one thing scared Derrick Darbonne. He had no fear of fire, hurricane, sabotage, high seas, drunken roughnecks, reckless roustabouts, brawls, or hard work. But losing the job he’d slaved all his life to obtain terrified him.
He’d worked himself up from oaks draped with Spanish moss, murky alligator-filled water, and a tiny cabin on the banks of the bayou with no running water or electricity. He’d finally gotten to where he wanted to be. And now someone was trying to pin a murder on him. Some Christmas present.
Derrick crushed the schematics he’d been scanning and jammed them into his pocket. He braced his legs wide on the steel floor of the oil rig and raised the powerful navigational binoculars. A Coast Guard cutter slashed a white wedge through the sparkling Gulf waters straight toward his oil platform.
His jaw tightened, his spine stiffened, and he swallowed.
Standing beside him, Joe Bridges, the MIC, Man in Charge, swore.
If Derrick had been a swearing man, he would have joined Joe. Instead, he gripped the navigational binoculars tighter. “Third time this week. If I had anything to hide, I’d jump ship.” He smacked his hard hat so thoroughly his ears rang. “Thought so! That guardsman is a female.” Here was a Coastie bearing down on him with the authority to shut down the operation. The men would be out of work just in time for Christmas. What pretense to investigate the murder was the Coast Guard using this time?
Derrick lowered the binoculars and frowned. “She looks familiar.”
“Ever since you arrived for the routine inspection, Cajun, the Coast Guard’s been on our backs.” Scowling, Joe thrust out a hand for the glasses. “Then there was the murder. That’s the reason the big boss’s keeping you out here again, so long.”
“Don’t I know it! I’m looking for a saboteur as well. Probably the same guy.” Derrick slapped the binoculars into Joe’s hand and tried to lighten his foreboding with a jabbing tease. “Now I’ve got to get the Coast Guard environmental crew out of your hair.”
“Rib me, will ya?” Joe repositioned his yellow hard hat over his bald head and shook a work-hardened finger. “I’ll bet you I can get that Coastie to go for me and my shiny head before she goes for you and that Cajun accent of yours. Loser pays a hundred bucks.”
“You want us to distract her with our masculine charm so she won’t sniff out any violations that could shut us down?” Derrick surveyed the rig’s two-hundred-foot deck looking for any OSHA or EPA trouble the Coast Guard might use to give a citation. Sunlight slanted off the metal plates causing enough glare to hurt his eyes. He didn’t like Joe’s plan.
“You got it.” Joe grinned.
Derrick gave a tight smile. He slid his gaze to the roughneck inside the glass-enclosed room, jiggling the joy sticks and pushing the buttons that worked the rig’s floor. The big man hooking a new drill in place beneath the five-hundred-foot drilling tower wore his safety equipment. No problem there.
Derrick flicked his gaze over the new hire, the eighteen year old from Galveston. The kid’s long blond hair straggled from beneath his yellow hard hat. He was bent over washing sludge and mineral oil through sand to clean out the last drop of hydrocarbon before reusing the sand. Kid was a hard worker, already adept at his job. No laws broken. No environmental procedures shortcut.
The rest of the roughnecks and roustabouts worked steadily. None violated safety measures. No oil spills or pipe breaks had occurred. The hole drilled through the sea bottom was clean and not yet exceptionally deep. They should hit oil soon. Joe Bridges had a salty vocabulary, but the boss man ran a tight rig. So why suddenly all the anonymous phone calls about regulation problems? Had to be the murder.
Derrick needed to come up with answers.
“Alamo Oil pays you a hefty salary to make sure things run smooth on all two hundred of its rigs.” Joe’s voice sounded more than a little jealous.
“Don’t I know it.” Derrick ran a hand over the stubble already growing after his close morning shave.
“Alamo doesn’t want to fork out any stiff fines or lose any drill time because of environmental pollution, safety violations, mismanagement, or accidents. So make sure that Coastie’s distracted.” Joe winked. “And don’t mention the murder. We’ve trampled that ground too many times with the Coast Guard already.”
“Right.” Derrick rubbed the back of his neck. An uneasy feeling kept nagging him about the murder. Nothing he could put a handle to, but—too many clues led directly to him. Once the Coast Guard put the puzzle together, they’d come looking for him. He grunted. How had his personal helmet wound up grasped in the dead kid’s hand?
Joe swore loud enough that the crew cleaning sand looked up. He lowered his voice. “That Coastie’s gonna cause trouble. I feel it in my bones.” His eyes, shadowed under his hard hat, looked wary. “We gotta keep her thinking about us, not her job.” He handed the binoculars back.
Derrick frowned. “I think you’re just hard up for a date. You want a girl friend to share Christmas with.”
“Whatever!”
As the Coast Guard cutter pulled alongside their offshore rig, Derrick focused the binoculars on the trim figure in her blue uniform. He’d not seen many women in the Guard, and none that looked so curvy…wow, hotter than a Louisiana mudbug boil. He loved that spicy crawfish dish.
Dread inside his gut heightened. Sweat beaded his forehead. He got tongue-tied around women. “This can’t be good!”
“Yeah. The broad’s probably a—”
“It’s Amber Meredith!” Derrick fumbled the expensive binoculars, made a grab for them, and caught them just before they hit the deck.

Also by Anne Greene--

Check it out here!

News from Anne!! Congrats!!

My book, Masquerade Marriage,
won the 2011 Laurel Wreath Award. And for those of you who haven't heard,
Masquerade Marriage also won the 2011 New England Readers' Choice Award,
received the Heart of Excellence Award, placed 3rd in the Published Beacon
Award, and finaled in the Maggie for Published authors.

Being Thankful

2011-11-23T18:46:00.001-05:00

I hope you enjoy all the blessings of Thanksgiving!

The Visionary

2011-11-22T04:30:00.002-05:00

A visionary is someone who sees into the future Taylor Forrestier sees into the past but only as it pertains to her work. Hailed by her peers as “a visionary with an instinct for beauty and an eye for the unique” Taylor is undoubtedly a brilliant architect and gifted designer. But she and twin brother Trevor, share more than a successful business. The two share a childhood wrought with lies and deceit and the kind of abuse that’s disturbingly prevalent in today’s society.Can the love of God and the awesome healing power of His grace and mercy free the twins from their past and open their hearts to the good plan and the future He has for their lives?Find out in…The Visionary ~ Where the power of God's love heals the most wounded of souls.

Meet Pamela Thibodeaux!

Everyone who comments will have their name tossed in a hat to win a copy of The Visionary. And I'm sure Pam wouldn't mind answering questions if you have any.

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Question: What inspired this novel? How did it come about?

Answer: When I first wrote The Visionary in a 5-subject notebook (where most of my stuff began way back when) I had in mind a sweet romance featuring m/f twins and their love interests. When I first typed the novel, I thought, “this is my light romance!” which was a great relief after some of my other work which dealt with subjects like domestic violence, grief, and betrayal. However, one day I sent off the first 3 chapters to a friend and her response was, “these twins are awful close, you need to be careful.” Of course that made me wonder Why? What happened to them or between them to make them so close (I couldn’t seem to tone down their intense feelings for one another). Then one day I walked out of my office into the living room where my husband sat watching a popular talk show. In a heart-wrenching scene the young man on the show apologized to his sisters because he couldn’t stop the abuse they suffered at the hands of their father. I swear, every drop of blood drained from my body and I began to argue with God…. No! Not that! Anything but that! I can’t write this! I have no experience in this! I’m not qualified as a minister or therapist! God….PLEASE….no. Three days of wavering, three days of arguing, three days of not being able to sit down and write a single word and God finally confronted me with…. “Who are you writing for anyway?” I capitulated and wrote the entire story in 4 months during the busiest time of year for a bookkeeper/tax preparer (Jan - April).

My own thoughts on this story:There are many subjects that seem to be taboo in Christian fiction -- sexual abuse, especially against children, is one of them. Ms. Thibodeaux has handled this loathsome subject with class in her fictional tale of love, forgiveness and redemption.

Trevor and Taylor, twins with an unthinkable past, grow and find love in the course of this novel. They not only have to forgive their father, but also themselves, and learn to trust and be intimate with their new loved ones.

The author blends in secondary stories with ease, tying all the loose ends up easily. Their story is told with sensitivity against a rich, colorful background of southern style and history. This story was a journey I feel richer for taking.

Loved it, Pamela!

Kicking off The Season!

2011-11-17T12:36:00.001-05:00

White Rose Publishing and sister company, Harbourlight Books, are proud to host a Christmas Story Extravaganza. Over a dozen authors are included--most stories will be specially priced at $1 for the event!

Tessa, the youngest Spencer sister--and the most impulsive--rushes into the Mount Ridge crisis center bent on saving her brother-in-law. She's ready to handle Brent's abductor, with or without help. What she's not ready to handle is the effect policeman, Colin Phillips, has on her. Romance is the last thing on Tessa's mind. She longs for the adventure and fast-of New York City, not being tied to Mount Ridge and a man who insists she shouldn't be so impetuous. After all "independent spirit" is what Tessa does best!

Colin transferred from the police force in Atlanta in order to find closure after the brutal murder of his younger sister. He wants a nice, safe future, not one filled with caring and worrying about another impulsive woman. His sister was naïve and unpredictable, and while Colin is drawn to Tessa's spunk and vitality, her willingness to rush into danger scares him. No way could he cope with another devastating loss. His heart must remain closed where Tessa is concerned. But God has His own plans...and His own way of changing hearts and cultivating love.

Order this story here!

Excerpt:

A crowd gathered along the street in front of the center as rain began to spit. Suddenly the cruiser sirens stopped shrieking, unveiling the crowd’s chatter like a swarm of distressed bees in a damaged hive. Emergency lights continued to bathe the lawn surrounding the crisis center in flashing light. Max, the veteran police officer who had issued Tessa her fair share of speeding tickets over the past few years, motioned people back as a younger officer—tall and built like a star lineman with short-cropped hair and an edge to his dark gaze—ran neon-yellow caution tape along portable barriers.

Light cascaded from a second story window—Brent’s office. A shadow hovered as a man—taller than Brent and heavyset from the look of his silhouette—paced the room. Tessa gasped as he paused in front of the window and scratched his T-shirt-covered chest.

“Mattie—Jason Sloane’s up there with Brent.” Tessa stepped forward and dipped beneath the caution tape. “Remember the threats Jason made last week when Brent tried to help his wife?”

“Yes.” Mattie paused as she approached the caution tape. Blue and red light washed over her. “But, Tessa, wait! You can’t just go in there.”

Undaunted, Tessa wiggled from Mattie’s grasp and pressed forward. Her heart pounded, and she shivered as the wind picked up and the spill of rain grew from a spit to a shower. The caution tape fluttered and danced in cadence to her nerves. Jason Sloane had fumed when Brent offered Jason’s wife the childcare job at the center, had said he wanted her home with their kids, not raising someone else’s. If Jason Sloane was up there, Brent was in danger. She couldn’t just stand there and wait for something to happen—for someone to help him. “Of course I can go in there…and I will.”

“Hold up there.” The cop holding back the line of spectators planted himself like a gigantic boulder, shoulders back, palms clasped tight at his waist. “Move back.” He thrust his head toward the tape. “Get behind it.”

“No.” Tessa sidestepped to dart around him, but, despite his size, he was just as agile and blocked her path. His gaze speared her as she crossed her arms and stretched to her full height. The rain made it difficult to see, and she wiped moisture from her eyes with the back of her hand. “Let me through.”

A flash of shock brightened his eyes as his jaw clenched. A burst of light revealed a shadow of stubble that covered his chin, and Tessa imagined he couldn’t be much older than she was. His hand clasp tightened and his shoulders flexed. The outline of a bulletproof vest beneath his navy blue shirt made Tessa’s heart stutter. For a fleeting moment, she felt as if she’d been swept up into the movie set of the latest blockbuster thriller. Things like this—cruisers on the lawn of the town square, cops in bulletproof vests—just didn’t happen in Mount Ridge.

Mary Manners is an award-winning author of inspirational romance who lives in the beautiful foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee with her husband and teen-aged daughter. She is a member of the Romance Writers of America and Smoky Mountain Romance Writers.

During the school year, she teaches middle-schoolers reading and Algebra. In her free time, she likes to garden, take long walks with her husband, and read romance novels in a hammock beneath century-old shade trees

In Honor of Veteran's Day

2011-11-10T13:41:00.000-05:00

Publishers Weekly
Prolific novelist and nonfiction author Goyer (All Things Hidden) pens a contemporary story rooted in World War II, where several of her historicals have been set. TV producer Ava Ellington is suffering from heartbreak and making professional mistakes. An unexpected opportunity to go to Europe with her grandfather Jack, a WWII vet, to visit battle sites promises emotional escape and a set of great stories about vets returning to Europe. In Paris, a complication materializes: Ava’s first love, Dennis, is accompanying his grandfather Paul, Jack’s wartime buddy and family friend, on the same trip. Jack has ghosts to face as Ava is reminded of her own past pain. Goyer does well with the Greatest Generation, showing that war is more than nostalgia. Some might well wish for more information about the historical battle sites that frame the present action, but this is a light fictional treatment of a heavy subject. This novel has a sweet way of describing family relationships and will particularly speak to those closely connected to WWII veterans, who are taking their stories with them to the grave.

Order here.

Excerpt: Remembering You

Chapter One

Ava Ellington pulled the lid off the red sharpie with her teeth and drew a thick line from one corner of the clipboard page to the other.

As head producer of Mornings with Stacey and Clark, Seattle’s top morning news show, she had booked best-selling author Dean Trust to talk about his dad, a fisherman who’d died in 1981 while rescuing a drowning teenager—a heroic father who was said to have inspired Trust’s latest novel. Instead, as the cameras rolled, Trust had blabbered about the Seattle rain and an idea for a script that he was hoping to sell. Rubbish! 

Ava bit her bottom lip as she strode down the television studio hall and pushed open the door to her office, resisting the urge to slam it behind her. She scanned her stacks of files and notes and wondered if she should pack her things now. Returning the lid to the pen, she tossed it on her desk. It rolled off and onto the floor. With a swift motion, she kicked the pen under the bookshelf filled with travel guides of places she hoped to visit someday. Places rimmed with stories she would never hear. Heart-tugging segments she’d never produce.

If Ava prided herself on anything, it was that she knew how to turn seemingly small ideas into breakfast-time entertainment that refreshed people’s hearts. But all it took was one logjam to cause everything else to pile up—one babbling, unfocused guest—or at least that was her excuse today. But what about the last few weeks? Few months? It was hard to want to entertain and inspire people when her own heart was breaking.

Her cell phone buzzed in her pocket, and Ava hit Ignore. Yet another task-reminder.

She bent down to retrieve the pen, and her fingers brushed something else under the bookcase. A business card maybe? Pulling it out, her throat tightened. It was one of the photos of her and Jay that she used to have pinned on her bulletin board. She brushed the dust from his face with her thumb, and her heart clenched at his smile.

She blinked the tears from her eyes and before she could talk herself out of it, dropped the photo into the trash. It was the never-ending lists of tasks and calls that, perhaps, had cost her what she wanted most—a man who claimed to love her with all his heart.

Jay had seemed like the perfect guy. He was easy to talk to. He laughed at her jokes and e-mailed her funny YouTube videos. He encouraged her to find tales that would inspire people. He believed in her. Or at least she had thought he believed in her.

Ava refused to think about that now. Or about him. Right now she had to think about keeping her job. She’d moved to downtown Seattle to be close to Jay and had bought a condo she couldn’t afford, believing it would be their home together. If she lost her job too, everything would be gone. Then where would she go? More than that—who would she be?

A soft knock sounded, and Ava glanced up to see her boss Todd standing in the doorway. He didn’t say a word, but she noticed his tight-lipped grin and furrowed brow.

“I talked to Dean Trust last night,” she tried to explain. “He told me he was happy to talk about his dad and the inspiration for this novel...I...I don’t know what happened.”

Todd raised his hands. “Listen, I don’t want to burst your bubble, Ava, but even if he had talked about his novel, the critics are giving it a C− just to be kind.” He lifted his chin, which always seemed to have a five o’clock shadow. “You know what we need and what our viewers expect.”

Ava slumped into her leather chair. The pressure weighed on her shoulders.

“Obviously I don’t. Everything I’ve put together lately has been a fumble.” She glanced up at him under her eyelashes. “I have a worse record than the Seahawks this season.”

Todd nodded and ran his hand through his dark hair. He opened his mouth and then closed it again. From the pity in his gaze she expected the worst.

“Listen, even though we never want our personal life to affect our work, it always does. I tried to explain that to my boss—”

She stood, as if pushed from her seat by a spring. “I’m working on something. Something that’ll knock your socks off. Something viewers will love.”

Todd cocked an eyebrow. Then hecrossed his arms over his chest. “You want to tell me about it?” Even if he knew she was fibbing, he didn’t let on.

“Tomorrow.” She brushed her long blonde hair off her shoulder. “I have a few details I need to work out.” Ten minutes before, she’d assumed this would be her last day, but now she planned to stick around if she could come up with something good.

She glanced at the photo in the trash. You can’t take my work from me too. You’ve already crushed my self-confidence, not to men- tion my heart. You can’t have this too.

Waiting

2011-10-29T17:13:00.003-04:00

Wait Up
by sanewriter

The phrase “wait up” can be used in two contexts. When I have an evening speaking engagement to which I go without my husband, it’s always nice to come home because I find that James will “wait up” for me. He foregoes his comfort and stays awake so there will be someone to greet me when I get home. The second use of the phrase happens when I am walking along with my son Matthew. He is taller than I am so his legs are longer. Since his youth gives him more energy and vigor than I now possess, I often find myself lagging behind and imploring him to “wait up.” With this, I mean I need him to slow down so I can catch up to where he is and we can walk together.

God shows us that His people benefit when they “wait up” for Him. “Kings shall be your foster fathers, and their queens your nursing mothers; they shall bow down to you with their faces to the earth, and lick up the dust of your feet. Then you will know that I am the LORD, for they shall not be ashamed who wait for Me” Isaiah 49:23 (NKJ). If we as God’s children are patient, no matter what hardships we may be going through at the time, God will work everything out for our good, even if that means putting us in a position to be served by those much greater than we. We simply need to “wait up” because God is on His way. And when God shows up—as He definitely will—we will have nothing of which to be ashamed.

Why does it seem God has yet to show up in your situation? Think of the two uses of “wait up” once again. Maybe you’ve refused to “wait up” for God. Instead, you’ve given up or have gone to sleep thinking He’s not going to show up. Or maybe you feel it’s taking God too long, so you’ve rushed ahead without Him. Sooner or later, you’ll realize that when you outrun God, you arrive at places where He is not. Is that really what you want? Slow down; “wait up.” Once you are side-by-side with God again, match your pace with His so that when you get where you want to go, He’ll be there with you.

________________________

©2011 Sharon Norris Elliott. Feel free to forward this devotion in its entirety, including this copyright line. Leave comments, ask questions, read past devotions, or subscribe to
receive these devotions daily in your e-mail at www.sanewriter.wordpress.com. Also, periodically check in at www.LifeThatMatters.net to see what’s going on in the ministry.

And pick up a copy of Sharon’s new book, Power Suit: The Armor of God Fit for the Feminine Frame, available at Christian bookstores, online, from New Hope Publishers, and from the Life That Matters Ministries’ website

Write A Book Next Month?

2011-10-21T11:56:00.003-04:00

I saw over at Paperback Writer that she's planning on doing November's Book in a Month challenge again this year. I've never attempted it, being in the busy month of November. Who is trying it next month? Who has had success with it in the past?

Meet author Staci Stallings

2011-10-10T11:19:00.004-04:00

Some of you may remember Staci Stallings for her contributions to my collection of writer's devotionals, Words To Write By. Please join me today as I interview her.

1. Please tell us about your current project. What influenced or motivated you to start it?"

Well, I have a lot of current projects because I've recently put ten going on eleven books on Kindle and Nook. Some of these have been out in print. Others were serial-blogs. So I'll pick one of those.
Like many of my stories, "Deep in the Heart" started as a dream. I don't even remember too much about the original dream. All I know is I woke up one morning with a name. It was very clear in my head, and I knew exactly what the guy looked like though honestly, I do not remember ever having seen him before. I got up, went to the Internet, typed the name in, and there he was--the exact guy I was picturing. (Weird. I know!)
So I kind of started with him. I knew it was set in Texas, and I wanted the title to reflect Texas but not be overt. I'm sure you've heard the song "Deep in the Heart of Texas," right? Well, it fit.
"Deep in the Heart" is the story of Maggie Montgomery, a young woman who life has not played fair with. She's struggling to make it to her next meal and desperate for a job, she applies and gets the nanny position at the mansion of a Texas billionaire. On her first moments there she meets the handyman who turns out to be much more than she ever expected. It's a fun story, but one that will make you think about how you treat people when really, you know so very little about them.

2. How much of your own experiences influences your characters?
It's not so much my experiences that influence stories--as in, "Oh, I did this, I'll put that in." Rather it's more that I experience life differently as I write and that goes into the story. One of the ways that happened in this story was there was a Bible verse: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God. --Ephesians 2:8
I knew I wanted to use that verse somewhere in the book because it fit so well. I finally put it at the end. Just after finishing the book, a friend gave me a little journal. That verse was on the front. It was like confirmation that it was supposed to be in the book. Those kinds of things happen all the time with my writing. I will start having a verse or a theme follow me around, OR after I write it, I will get confirmation that that was supposed to be in there. It's more like my real life has a sort of existential conversation with my writing life if that makes any sense.

3. What themes exist in your stories that you hope the reader sees?
That broken isn't permanent if you will give all the pieces to God and let Him love you back into a new whole.
Broken comes in a lot of ways: Death of a loved one, addiction, past mistakes, not knowing God, disappointment, betrayal, abuse, and so many others. And there are so many broken, hurting people out there who don't know how to get out of the yuck they are in. I think my stories give them a glimmer of hope and maybe point them in a direction they had either abandoned or never knew was there.

4. What gives you the most difficulty in your writing? What comes easiest?
Marketing is hard. Not because it's hard, but because it takes so much time. Beyond that... What comes easiest is whatever I just finished. What comes hard is what I have to do next.
Seldom does God let me in on what comes next. It is literally almost always a step out into the darkness with Him saying, "Trust Me. Just trust Me." When I'm writing, I don't usually have a plan so every twist and turn has me as confused and as concerned about where this is headed as it does the reader. Many times I'm left going, "Okay, Holy Spirit, where is this going?" But I've found, whatever step He puts in front of me--whether that's writing the next scene, doing the next interview, publishing the next book, or whatever... as long as I take those steps, when I look back, I see the profound wisdom of why He had me do what when.
So, what's the hardest thing? Learning to trust God in this moment.

5. What will your next project be?
Right now, I'm working on a story about a dyslexic writer. Really. I didn't know he was dyslexic at first. I thought he was a loner, but about 50 pages into that story, life stopped me. During that writing pause, my own son was found to have dyslexia. When I went back to writing, I started noticing that with Jake (my character) although I could "see" the stories he was writing in his head, he was always very careful not to show me his computer screen. It was only after we found out my son's issues that I realized why. Jake was just like my son--incredibly creative and intelligent, but writing and particularly spelling was a huge challenge for him. It's been an interesting ride with that book ever since.

6. What do you do for fun, other than reading and writing?
I play the guitar, the piano, and the drums (although I play the drums badly!). I play with a couple of local choirs. I also volunteer for fundraisers at my kids' two schools as well as directing the VBS plays each year and teaching Sunday School. I also love to watch movies and listen to music. Oh, and my one "surprise" fun thing is playing Wii Snowboarding--don't ask... I don't understand that one either.

7. What advice would you give other authors?
Write your heart. Unless you are really only in it for the money, don't let anyone talk you out of your voice or your stories. It's really easy in this industry to be told that "right now they are only buying..." fill in the blank, historicals, contemporary, suspense, etc. But if that's not what you write, don't follow the crowd. I started writing Contemporary Christian Romance before there even WAS such a thing. About three years later that genre burst onto the scene. If I'd been trying to write to the market, I would've been writing things that were not me and then I would have completely missed the genre I really loved.
TRUST WHAT GOD IS TELLING YOU TO DO. Take the step He is asking you to take--whether that makes sense with what the world says or not. God doesn't do things the way the world does. He always does them better. Follow Him. Ask Him to guide you. Be willing to follow what He tells you. That is the best advice I can give.
Oh, and be nice to everyone. You never know where life is going or where your writing will take you. It's much better for people to remember you as the person who was nice to them when you had no idea who they were. :)
Thanks for the opportunity, Robin! It's been great!

A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe every week with her various Internet endeavors including:
Spirit Light Moments -- One moment with God each day
http://spiritlightmoments.com

Facebook Author Page at:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Spirit-Light-Author-Staci-Stallings/266593276699576

Staci's Bookshelf:
http://stacistallings.wordpress.com/

Spirit Light Books--The Blog
http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.com/

Or...

Follow Staci on Twitter @StaciStallings

Come on over for a visit…

You’ll feel better for the experience!

Under His Wings

2011-10-09T08:51:00.001-04:00

\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

October 9, 2011

VERSE:
He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge ...
-- Psalm 91:4
http://www.SearchGodsWord.org/desk/?query=Psalm+91:4

THOUGHT:
Life is filled with many uncertainties. You never know when something unexpected is going to happen. You have no idea when the next disaster will strike. In a world filled with hate and terrorism, none of us has a clue when the next horrible atrocity will take place. So what do we do when we can't be sure of our circumstances? We take shelter under the wing of the One who is above all circumstances! We take assurance in our Father who has promised to bring us to himself no matter what may happen today ...
in our world ... and to our bodies. Our lives are hidden with our Father because we've been joined to Christ. He is our Refuge! His wings are our shelter!

Happy Birthday White Rose!

2011-10-01T07:56:00.002-04:00

Join us to celebrate the second anniversary of White Rose Publishing and the launching of its sister company, Harbourlight Books.

Too Good To Be True?

2011-09-30T13:00:00.000-04:00

September 30, 2011

VERSE:
Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you
do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an
inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of
your faith, the salvation of your souls.
-- 1 Peter 1:8-9

THOUGHT:
Can you trust what you don't see? Of course! What kind of
question is that? Our lives depend on what we cannot see -- things
like gravity and the air we breathe, just to name two. Faith in
Jesus is as natural as faith in each of those things. The problem
is that our hearts are skeptical. We find it hard to believe that
anyone divine would love us so much. Our experience says, "If it
seems too good to be true, it is." That skepticism is just the
twisted form of the response God longs to see from us:
"inexpressible and glorious joy." I don't know about you, but I've
tasted both. I prefer joy over skepticism!

Golden Anniversary

2011-09-20T18:48:00.000-04:00

Happy 50th Anniversary, Mom and Dad.

1 Corinthians 13:
4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

Seek Not To Please Myself

2011-09-16T08:12:00.002-04:00

\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

September 16, 2011

VERSE:
[Jesus said,] "By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me."
-- John 5:30

THOUGHT:
"So who you tryin' to please, anyway?" These words of my dad still ring in my ears. His point? There are only two we MUST
please: (1) our Father in heaven, because all praise and honor is due to him, and (2) ourselves, because we want to know that we've done the best we could do and been the best we could be. But I guess I've learned over the years that I can't begin to do the second of those very well without seeking the first one. Don't you hope that someday you reach the place where you can join Jesus in saying with absolute assurance: "I seek not to please myself but him who sent me!" The closer we approach that reality, the more we realize that we can't do anything of eternal significance on our own. Only when we live to honor God do we find the significance and have the impact that our lives were made to have.

Q&A With Author Diana Brandmeyer

2011-09-11T08:10:00.004-04:00

I'm excited to get to know Diana Brandmeyer today, thanks to her interview with author Laura Hilton. Her latest release is: We're not Blended, We're Pureed, A Survivor's Guide- Concordia Publishing House

Why do you write the kind of books you do? I write Christian fiction/nonfiction because time I feel my time on this earth is too short to waste with writing books that don’t introduce Jesus or encourage believers. Besides when you came to know the Lord, what is the happiest day in your life? Every time I think ‘this’ is the happiest day of my life I get another moment. I don’t think there can be only one happiest day of your life.

How has being published changed your life? Now I feel pressured with the, “When’s the next book coming out?” question.

What are you reading right now? I just finished reading Deeply Devoted by Maggie Brendan, on kindle ap on my phone I’m reading Pride and Prejudice again. And on my nightstand waiting for tonight is Julie Lessman’s new book, A heart Reveled. I sure wish it was time for bed so I could start reading!

What is your current work in progress? I’m waiting for edits to come back for A Bride’s Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee which will be released in May 2012. What would be your dream vacation? Anywhere near a beach with my husband. How do you choose your settings for each book?

I don’t have a method. Something about the area intrigues me or a character that’s waiting for a starring role. If you could spend an evening with one person who is currently alive, who would it be and why? Nate Berkus because my house needs help! As an interior designer I find his style appealing. What three things about you would surprise readers?

I love black jelly beans, cotton candy and being driving places as I dislike driving. What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading?

Quilting, learning to cook new gluten free recipes and biking

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?

Doing it. Seriously, I find cleaning out the dust in corners easier to do than sitting down to start a new book. I overcome it by setting my timer for five minutes. Then when it goes off I picture my husband crawling on his knees to lay pavers in 100 degree weather. That usually keeps me in my chair writing. What advice would you give to a beginning author?

Learn the craft. Study, but give yourself permission to just write the first draft.

Tell us about the book. We’re Not Blended-We’re Pureed, A Survivor’s Guide is my personal journey of blending a family, but what makes in unique is the follow up from a licensed counselor. It’s like you can read about real life and get an answer on how to keep it from happening to you or maybe you’ll find you’re doing everything right.

What do you want readers to take away from the book?

Most important take away I’d like readers to get from this book is that your family may be blended but the family next door is having many of the same kind of issues you’re having. Don’t be afraid to reach out to other moms and dads and ask if they have any advice.

Thanks, Diana and Laura!

Labor Day

2011-09-04T12:05:00.000-04:00

Have a safe, restful and pleasant Labor Day weekend.

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Psalm 128:1-3

Want to Sell More Books?

2011-09-01T12:31:00.001-04:00

Wisdom Creek Press released a new book for authors titled Sell More Books! Book Marketing and Publishing for Low Profile and Debut Authors: Rethinking Book Publicity after the Digital Revolutions.

Sell More Books gives writers:

•
Insider tips on writing and publishing a marketable book.

•
The latest on publishing options, social networking, and "tried and true" book marketing tactics.

•
Hundreds of practical book-selling strategies that authors can implement immediately, whether they're self-published or traditionally published.

•
An analysis of which methods will most likely work for specific books, and which methods might be a complete waste of time.

•
Ideas for marketing on a low budget.

•
“Whether you’re traditionally published or self-published, the author must do the promotion. This book provides solid guidance and is full of valuable tips.” - Dan Poynter, best-selling author of over 125 books and revisions, recognized authority on book marketing, promoting and distributing, author of The Self-Publishing Manual

According to Dr. Robert E. McGinnis, author of 15 young adult novels, Sell More Books! is "filled with useful tips I don't find elsewhere. A masterpiece of research, wisdom, and encouragement."

Order here!

J. Steve Miller loves to write and sell his books. As founder and president of Legacy Educational Resources, he publishes resources that are used by educators in every state and over 30 countries. His book on contemporary church music was used as a text and translated into Dutch, German, Romanian, Spanish and Russian. His book on personal finance has won multiple awards. Steve has spoken from Atlanta to Moscow. Find him at www.jstevemiller.com or www.enjoyyourwriting.com.

Cherie K. Miller is the founder and president of Wisdom Creek Press and works with the Masters in American Studies program at Kennesaw State University. She is the current President of the Georgia Writers Association, a state-wide nonprofit organization promoting authorship in Georgia. She has published books, written for national magazines and written a newspaper column for a Chicago newspaper. She earned her MA in Professional Writing from Kennesaw State University in 2007. For more information on Cherie, visit www.cheriekmiller.com.

As Irene Approaches. . .

2011-08-26T19:44:00.000-04:00

Stay safe my friends!

Fracking?

2011-08-24T10:41:00.000-04:00

Remember the quake yesterday? Was it caused by fracking? Read this. It's been going on in the area of the quake's epicenter.

Winner Announced

2011-08-21T13:54:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Sheri Salatin, winner of JoAnn Carter's Gift Card Giveaway!

Thanks again to JoAnn for talking with us last week!

T.D. Jakes

2011-08-19T11:53:00.000-04:00

"64 Lessons For A Life Without Limits"

I didn't request this book for review, but found it in my mail a few weeks ago. I picked it up and starting thumbing through it, and was pleasantly surprised to find interesting life anecdotes and tidbits with spiritual meaning.

From Amazon:

New York Times bestselling books Reposition Yourself and Making Great Decisions are the basis for the 64 best bits of advice from T.D. Jakes, one of America’s most beloved and influential spiritual leaders.
So you’ve made adjustments and the important choices toward a better life, and now it’s time to stand firm. This treasure of a book is divided into 8 sections; each one includes 8 bits of advice, which add up to 64 Lessons for a Life Without Limits, the perfect inspiration tool for keeping you grounded with confidence and maximizing your potential.

About the Author
T.D. Jakes is the CEO of TDJ Enterprises, LLP; founder and senior pastor of The Potter's House of Dallas, Inc.; and the New York Times bestselling author of Making Great Decisions (previously titled Before You Do) and Reposition Yourself: Living Life Without Limits. He has won and been nominated for numerous awards, including Essence magazine’s President’s Award in 2007 for Reposition Yourself, A Grammy in 2004, and NAACP Image awards. He has been the host of national radio and television broadcasts, and is regularly featured on the highly rated Dr. Phil show. He lives in Dallas with his wife and five children.

Order here.

What's in a Title?

2011-08-16T19:25:00.001-04:00

Do you like coming up with titles for your work? Or do you struggle with every one? Are titles even important?

Check out a great article on titles today over at "From the Heart," the blog of my agent's company.

"Spine-Out Titles" by Andy Scheer

Three little words. Maybe five. Never more than seven.

No matter how much time you spent crafting your manuscript, the success of your project hinges on whether it has an effective title.

If you haven't done so already, get used to this idea. It will hold true until you work yourself up the ladder to A-list status. At which point your name becomes the drawing card for readers, and the publisher displays it on the cover even more prominently than your book's title. (And then, with your name in such huge type, there's no room for a rambling title.)

You have my permission to endulge for a moment in that A-list fantasy. Okay, just another minute. Now stop fantasizing. Remember, it's the struggle that readers most enjoy. So if you struggle to craft an effective title, keep struggling. In the end, you'll have more readers to enjoy what you struggled to create.

This past weekend I indulged one of my favorite pastimes: browsing through used book stores. Actually, thrift stores with excellent used book departments. (The book section of the Goodwill stores in Colorado Springs actually offers quality fresh coffee.)

Yet even with a pleasant, well-lighted environment, it's still retailing at the most basic. No end caps, no displays of the latest releases—not even separation by genre. (On good days, all the fiction's in one section, the nonfiction in another—mostly—paperbacks on one side, hardcovers on the other.)

And all the books are spine out. So everything rests on those three little words. Maybe five. Never more than seven.

Read the rest here.

2011-08-13T09:49:00.000-04:00

\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

August 13, 2011

VERSE:
By God's will I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
-- Romans 15:32

THOUGHT:
Our lives, our futures, and our plans are in God's hands. This inescapable reality is the basis of our existence. It is also the foundation of our joy and refreshment when we are with each other.
Think about it a second: our meetings with each other, and our ministry to each other, are not chance happenings. They are acts of God's grace that gives us a chance to share in God's blessing and joy.

Welcome JoAnn Carter

2011-08-10T16:30:00.003-04:00

The Floating Palace~ (Book One)

ELLIE DUNKLING’S life long dream has been to work on one of Lake Champlain’s steamboat, the Ticonderoga. There’s only one problem. Men, not women, are hired to work on ships. Ellie, however is determined to change that. After all, it is 1923 and far from the dark-ages.

Captain PHILIP LAWHORN is a man’s man. When Champlain Transportation Inc. informs him a woman has been hired to work on his ship as stewardess, he’s anything but pleased. First, he doesn’t appreciate the fact someone’s hired on his twenty-eight-member crew without his knowledge. Secondly, how is he supposed to handle this company mandated—sure to be—disaster?

---JoAnn Carter

EXCERPT

"Excuse me, captain?"

Philip whirled on his heel. A petite woman with a creamy complexion stared at him with wide, hazel eyes. "Yes?" The lady hesitated then put one foot into his room. She held out a gloved hand, which he took automatically. No matter how glad he might be for a distraction, passengers weren't supposed to be in his quarters. He made a mental note to have a word with his crew later. For now, he had to find an inoffensive way to get rid of this interloper.

"What can I do for you, miss?"

She withdrew her hand and lifted her chin. Determination sparked in her eyes, and Philip hoped what he'd heard about redheads wasn't true. The last thing he needed right now was a hot-tempered, stubborn woman -- however beautiful she may be -- to upset things even more. He took a step closer and held out his elbow. "Let me escort you back to the purser's desk to find someone to help you locate your stateroom."

The woman frowned as if he spoke a different language. Finally, she smiled. Her whole face radiated warmth that enveloped him. "I don't think you understand. I'm Ellie Dunkling, your new stewardess."

"My... my what?" So much for distracting him, she was the distraction.

"Your new--"

He cut her off with a wave of his hand. "I heard you, but I don't agree." He wheezed, "You are not a steward."

Her arched brows drew together. "There must be some misunderstanding. Mr. Trembley said you were expecting me."

Expecting her? Not hardly.

"Lady." He shook his head. "You have no idea." The situation was so ludicrous he was tempted to pinch himself. However, the only thing he was sure to wind up with was a bruise for his efforts. Before him stood an elegant woman in a long, drop-waist garment, insisting she had a place of employment... here.

If there had to be a stewardess, shouldn't it be a frumpy, gray-haired spinster with thick round glasses and a substantial waistline? At least then he wouldn't feel as uncomfortable about the dirty, difficult responsibilities she would need to carry. Nor would he have half the worry over the reputation of his crew and boat, or even the state of his heart for that matter.

Special Surprise from the Author:

If a reader posts a link to Facebook, Twitter, or their own web-page back to this post about THE FLOATING PALACE, they will be entered to win a $10.00 Visa gift card. Winner will be drawn 8/20/11.

A bit about the journey of writing this story~

If I've learned anything through the journey of writing it's that like in life, you never know what (or who) God will use. A few years ago, my husband's family came up for a visit and we went to the Shelburne museum for the first time. As soon as I stepped aboard the S. S. Ticonderoga, I fell in love with it. One fact totally captured my imagination. In 1923, the first female stewardess was hired. It didn't take long for seeds to be planted for The Floating Palace. (Book One of a three part series.)

Fast forward a few months...

Our family was invited to dinner at the a home of a couple in our church. I don't even think they realize what a blessing this was for me. We went downstairs to see some of their "toys" when a box caught my eye. Bob, the fellow said someone in the family had given it to him, it was a treasure chest of information about... can you guess? Yup, the Ticonderoga and 1923. He let me take this box home and I was able to look through headlines of newspapers and such. That box was like an energy drink for my story. It helped me get a clearer picture of the life and times.

Guess what else I discovered about 1923? Betti Dunkling, also a member of our church, was born this year. When I first started asking her questions about what she might know of this time period, I didn't realize this was the year of her birth. Isn't it just like God to give us sweet surprises like that? In honor of Betti, I used a derivative of her name, Ellie Dunkling. Betti is such a remarkable woman and tremendous role model for me. Although her life experiences varied greatly from the main charter in The Floating Palace, they both share the same spunk. With Betti's help, the rest of the cast was set in motion as I asked her what names were popular in Vermont when she was a girl. After our visit, I sat down with the list and chose the names according to the role they played in the story. It's a special memory for me and I enjoyed working with her on this project.

God's hand has guiding this story since the very beginning. I'm praying that He would continue to do so to accomplish His great purposes... in my life and in the lives of others.

Order here!
Also available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites.

Salsa Releases Today

2011-08-09T10:56:00.000-04:00

Update on yesterday's post:

When life is complicated and tough, Simply Salsa: Dancing Without Fear at God’s Fiesta shows you the simplicity of a life rich with joy. Find out the secret when you order Simply Salsa through Amazon.com. When you order on Tuesday, August 9, win valuable bonus gifts and a chance to win prizes such as a round-trip airline ticket. Get details here: http://simplysalsathebook.com.

Ordering today gets you an array of free online gifts.

John 3:16 Marketing Group Book Launch Today!

2011-08-08T00:41:00.000-04:00

Simply Salsa

Fear holds us back, worry steals our joy, and discouragement ushers bloom. But God points to the answer. Often through His Word, sometimes through a message or a simple book. My author friend Janet P. Eckles’ new release, Simply Salsa: Dancing Without Fear at God’s Fiesta promises to bring delicious inspiration with valuable insights to find the secret to live, really live a life free from fear.

"Few women have experienced a seemingly endless string of tragedies like those that shattered the life of Janet Perez Eckles. But in a lively tone that reflects her vivacious personality, Janet teaches us how to reclaim our joy through biblical principles and real life examples. In reading Simply Salsa and applying the scriptural lessons, everyone whose heart has been broken or whose body has been afflicted by devastating illness will find herself dancing to the music of our Heavenly Father."
---- Louise M. Gouge, author of At the Captain’s Command

Have you felt as if you’re dying inside?

Have you cried till you have no more tears?

Do you wonder whether your storm will ever calm? Whether you’ll find peace and happiness?

I asked those same questions. But rather than despair, I chose to dance even when life was ugly, painful and unfair. Let me tell you why…

Check out Janet's video here.

*This book has not been read/reviewed by this blogger.*

New Release from Dana Pratola

2011-08-05T05:23:00.000-04:00

"The Covering" by Dana Pratola

What do a Christian woman and a faithless biker have in common? The devil of course.

EXCERPT:

“Your pastor says I’m marked for death.”

The abruptness of the announcement left her momentarily speechless and quite unsure she’d heard correctly. “What?”

“He thinks the devil’s trying to kill me.”

She looked closely for any sign of humor, but Gunnar didn’t have a sense of humor she was aware of.

“Why does he think that?” she asked.

“I told you I have nightmares, right?” Tessa nodded. Gunnar ran his finger along the edge of his napkin. “Well it goes a little beyond that.”

Tessa listened, enthralled, as Gunnar described in terrifying detail what he suffered in the night. A few things made more sense – his hostility for one – and she now had a better grasp of what pushed him toward suicide. God, how had he coped so long with the torment?

“I’d say Pastor’s right,” Tessa said when he finished.
“Great.”

The waiter arrived with their plates then disappeared. “You said when you had the gun to your head,” she shivered inwardly, “it didn’t feel like you.
It felt like you were being driven.” Gunnar met her eyes across the table. “I believe you were.”

“Demons, right?” he asked. Tessa inclined her head. “Can they do that?”

“They can’t pick up your gun and shoot you with it,” she said. “But they can be persuasive.”

“Yeah,” he grumbled.

Tessa glanced around the small room. To an eavesdropper the conversation would seem like mumbo jumbo and ordinarily she wouldn’t care if strangers thought her “out there” or weird, but she kept her voice low in consideration for Gunnar’s privacy.

“When was the last time you had one of those dreams?” she asked.

“It’s been a while. Thank God.” He made a sound exactly between a chuckle and a snicker. “I mean that.”

This time when Tessa reached for his hand he left it under hers, turning it upward to lightly grip her fingers. “But you don’t think it’s the end,” Tessa said.

He topped her thumb with his and rubbed gently. “It’s like they’re constantly hovering. Waiting for the right time.”

Tessa refused to acknowledge the chill that swept through her.

“I know when they come for me, I won’t be able to stop it,” Gunnar said. “And one of these times they’ll pull me back there and I won’t come out.”

Ever Been There?

2011-08-03T18:17:00.000-04:00

There is a wonderful post by LoRee Peery over on White Roses in Bloom. Here's the beginning--

Curt, Convicted, Contrite

We’ve had one day in over two weeks when the heat index wasn’t above 100 degrees. Patience and tempers run short. People are testy. My DH had debilitating cluster headaches for three days. Wednesday it was 109, thanks to 98 on the thermometer, and the high dew point. Hubby went to bed at 8:30.

Not five minutes later, the phone rang. A woman asked for someone who doesn’t live in our home. We don’t have cells or caller ID (don’t ask), and we get a lot of unsolicited calls.

I admit I’ve never been a quick thinker (years ago a kid asked if my refrigerator was running and I went to look), so I didn’t even consider asking who she was or the last name of the individual she wanted. I was curt, and basically hung up.

The phone rang again and the same woman asked for the same person.

I said, “No one by that name has ever lived here.”

She verified our phone number, then offered, “You must get a lot of calls to be so irritated.”

“We do. And my husband just lay down with a horrid migraine.” I didn’t apologize.

She said, “The Lord be with you.”

I was convicted by her click. It sounded so final. It was too late to apologize or search for any more excuses.

Humble, regretful, guilty. That old sin nature can still raise its ugly head. My mind raced to the Lord.

Been there? Read more here.

Losing Words

2011-07-30T13:10:00.001-04:00

I try not to do two verse posts in a row, but this one just really grabbed me.

-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

July 30, 2011

VERSE:
The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.
-- 1 Samuel 3:19

THOUGHT:
Samuel began his ministry at such a young age and was so important in bridging the generations between the period of the Judges and the period of the Kings. During that whole time, God was with him and empowered his ministry, making his words true and effective. Let's pray that God does the same with his spokespeople today. May God use his servants effectively all their lives and not let any of their words fall to the ground.

I Ask This Question

2011-07-24T09:21:00.002-04:00

-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/

--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

July 24, 2011

VERSE:
Do not say, "Why were the old days better than these?" For it is not wise to ask such questions.
-- Ecclesiastes 7:10

THOUGHT:
The only thing we get by spending our time looking in the rear view mirror is a big disaster in our front windshield! Our best days as Christians are always ahead. Jesus has promised to return and take us home to God -- what better future could there be! So let's not get distracted with nostalgic cynicism. We can thank God for his past blessings, but let's not waste the present with pessimism. Let's make a commitment to redeem our time and trust that the same God who raised Jesus from the dead also holds our future in his hands.

News From Cec Murphey

2011-07-20T16:44:00.000-04:00

Cec says: Today I learned that the Kindle version of my book When a Man You Love Was Abused is available for $1.99 through Amazon. The special will run through next Wednesday, July 27. If you know someone who loves a man who was abused, or if you know a man who was abused, tell them about this offer.

This Saturday, July 23, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I will be involved in an important seminar to help those who have been abused and those who love people who have been abused.

Main sessions include: I Ought to Be Healed by Now and The Lies We Believe.

Breakout sessions include: When a Man You Love Was Abused, When a Woman You Love Was Abused, and Finding Hope in the Heartache.

For more details on the When Someone You Love Was Abused seminar, click here.

The Story on Backstory

2011-07-15T19:12:00.000-04:00

Creating: Making Your Reader Love Backstory

by Randy Ingermanson

If you want to kill your novel, the quickest, surest way to do it is to throw in a big lump of backstory on your first page. Or in your first chapter.

Yes, sure, I've seen published novelists start off with a boatload of backstory. I've seen jugglers juggling burning torches. I've seen an archer shoot an arrow through the balloon atop his wife's head. Blindfolded.

But all of these are risky behaviors. If you want to take risks, there needs to be a payoff somewhere. If you don't know the payoff, then you have no business taking risks.

Backstory, by the way is good. If you don't know your characters' backstory -- all the stuff that happened in their lives up till the time your story started, then odds are good that your story is going to be pretty shallow.

You want to know the backstory of your novel.

The trick here is to make your reader want to know that backstory too. The real trick is to make your reader beg for it.

You don't do that by piling it on in the first chapter, before your reader cares about your characters.

How do you make your reader beg? There are several ways, but they all come down to the same thing. You write a compelling story with strong characters and sharp plot twists.

A plot twist is an unexpected change in the story direction. Your reader thought she knew your character, thought she could predict what would happen next, and was delighted to learn she was wrong. That darned character zigged when he should have zagged. Why?

Most of the time, it's because of something in his past. There's a reason. And now your reader wants to know that reason. Now she's ready for backstory.

The rules for backstory are really pretty simple:
* Just in time.
* Just enough.

"Just in time" means only when the reader needs it and only when the reader wants it.

"Just enough" means that the reader doesn't need to know everything you do. Leave the reader wanting more, not wanting less.

Remember that at least one major category of fiction is all about discovering the backstory -- the mystery.
Once you've got a corpse in the picture, the whole story is about figuring out who did it, why he did it, and how he did it. That's backstory, pure and simple.
But until you've got a corpse, none of that is of any interest.

You have at least six good ways to give your reader backstory, when the time is ripe. Here they are:

* Interior monologue
* Dialogue
* Narrative summary
* Flashback
* A nonlinear timeline
* Research

Let's talk about each of these in turn.

Interior Monologue
__________________

Interior monologue is the sequence of thoughts that pass through a viewpoint character's mind. The reader can hear these, either as word-for-word thoughts or else as the gist of what the character is thinking.

Either way, this is a fine way to give your reader little snippets about your character's backstory.

The key thing here is to treat interior monologue backstory like salt. A little is good -- it makes you thirsty. A lot makes you gag.

If you're going to use interior monologue this way, make the backstory references necessary to the character's line of thinking, and keep them short.

Sign up for Randy's free newsletter for more on this topic.

Award-winning novelist Randy Ingermanson, "the Snowflake Guy," publishes the Advanced Fiction Writing E-zine, with more than 26,000 readers, every month. If you want to learn the craft and marketing of fiction, AND make your writing more valuable to editors, AND have FUN doing it, visit http://www.AdvancedFictionWriting.com.

Download your free Special Report on Tiger Marketing and get a free 5-Day Course in How To Publish a Novel.

How Do You Plan Your Stories?

2011-07-13T09:30:00.000-04:00

Interesting post today over at Paperback Writer. Here's the beginning--check it out and let me know if you plan your writing (or are a "panster?")

from Paperback Writer:

Yesterday I talked about working on several writing projects at the same time and preparations to make in order to try this. Today we'll discuss how to do the actual work without driving yourself batty.

For each of your projects you now have a one-page outline, a notebook, folder or file for the paperwork, and a dedicated space for all research and reference materials. From here you can go three ways, depending on how you like to work your writing plan:

1. Write a detailed synopsis for each project.
2. Write chapter summaries for each project.
3. Work off the one-page outline for each project.

I don't like guessing what to write, and there is no such thing as too much planning for me, so I always go with #1 and a modified version of #2 (once I have the synopsis written, I divide it into approximate chapters.) This also automatically generates my daily task list, which we'll get to after we cover the other options.

If you're not interested in writing a synopsis for the project, you can put together chapter summaries based on your one-page outline. You can get as detailed or keep it as simple as you like, but you're basically answering this question for each chapter: What happens now?

New Way to Read Writer's Devotionals

2011-07-12T18:08:00.000-04:00

Just learned that "Words To Write By" is available from Barnes & Noble as a Nook Book! Does anyone have the Nook e-book reader? Any input?

Here I Am!

2011-07-10T07:59:00.000-04:00

\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

July 10, 2011

VERSE:

Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send?
And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!"
-- Isaiah 6:8

THOUGHT:
Church worship on Sunday is not the goal of our life here on earth. As important as church worship and personal praise are, they are only part of our goal. We are here to glorify God with both our lips and our lives, with our hearts and our hands. With the world around us caught up in Satan's traps, God wants us to hear his call to us in our church and private worship and respond by saying, "Here am I. Use me!" Then he wants us to enter the world redemptively, making a difference in our "public worship" of ministry.

PRAYER:
Loving God, Rock and Refuge of my soul, thank you for giving me the experiences I've had in my life. Thank you for the abilities you placed in me while you fashioned me in my mother's womb. Thank you for the gifts your Spirit molded in me when I became your child. Now, dear Father, please help me to know how and where I am to use these gifts in your Kingdom and to bless those in the world, so that I can help bring others to you, help build up the Body of Christ, and bless your people. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

New Cover!

2011-07-07T18:38:00.002-04:00

The cover for the re-release of "Samaritan" (first published in 2007 as "The Good Samaritan.") Don't have the release date yet!

Verse of the Day

2011-07-04T10:15:00.001-04:00

It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
-- Galatians 5:1

Happy 4th!

2011-07-01T13:58:00.001-04:00

Have a safe and pleasant Independence Day!

Welcome Delia Latham!

2011-06-27T00:45:00.002-04:00

On a dare, Kylie Matthews lands smack in the middle of Solomon’s Gate—Castle Creek’s new Christian dating agency—and she finds herself revealing exactly what she’s waiting for in a relationship: “The kiss that steals my breath away.”

What she doesn’t reveal is her lack of self-esteem or her irrational reaction to facial disfigurement. Neither is applicable to her quest to find the perfect match. But that seemingly superficial malady becomes all-important when her first agency-arranged date is Rick Dale—a man who is everything Kylie is searching for. He’s handsome, smart, fun. Rick has it all…including an angelic six-year-old daughter with severe scarring on one side of her face.

Hard at work founding a therapy camp for young female victims of deformity or disfigurement, Rick wants Kylie to be a part of those plans. She’d love to say yes…but how can she, when every contact with the facility’s guests—and Rick’s own daughter—will make her violently ill?

Kylie is ready to admit their relationship doesn’t stand a chance, but she’s forgotten that God makes a way where there seems no way.

Delia's New Book and Contest!!

"I have a beautiful oil bottle necklace from The Master's Jewels. I want to give it away for my birthday. I’ll choose a first-prize winner from all the commenters across the Blog Blitz board, and also give away one pdf copy of either Kylie’s Kiss (Book Two, Solomon's Gate Series) or Destiny’s Dream (Book One, Solomon's Gate Series) for every half dozen participating blogs. (If twelve blogs participate, I’ll give away TWO pdf books, in addition to the necklace. If I visit twenty blogs, THREE commenters will receive their choice of Kylie’s Kiss or Destiny’s Dream.)"

Excerpt from Kylie's Kiss:

Rick settled into a seat across from Kylie and Clay and sat in silence for a moment, a slight frown drawing his dark brows together. Finally he looked up, first at Clay, then in her direction. “Kylie, I haven’t had a chance to share with you about Lea, though I believe Clay knows a little.”

Her heart sank and her gaze flew to her boss, who nodded. Yes, he knew about Lea, whoever she was. This didn’t sound good. “Who’s Lea?”

“She’s my little girl.” Kylie drew in a slow, deliberate breath, forcing herself to stay calm. So he had a daughter. As long as a wife wasn’t the next announcement, she could handle that.

“You have a child. How old is she?”

“She just turned six.” Rick’s expression softened as he spoke, and Kylie knew without a doubt that Lea was his life. His green eyes, startling against the olive of his skin, met hers without flinching. “She’s a special child, Kylie. Smart, beautiful, charming….” Kylie found herself fascinated by the adorable little self-derisive grin that played about his lips. “And sweet as cotton candy.”

Kylie couldn’t help smiling. “You don’t like her much, huh?”

“She is my heart and soul.” A little sheepish, but unrepentant.

“When do we get to meet this perfect child?” Clay’s grin lit up his craggy face. “Destiny’s already looking forward to it, but be warned—she’s going to try to keep her. My wife has a thing with kids, man. She loves ’em, and they always love her right back.”

Rick laughed a little, but his tone was serious. “I hope she still feels that way after she meets Lea.” He pulled a wallet from his pocket, then sat for a moment, saying nothing.

Puzzled, Kylie watched him run slender fingers through his thick black hair. Again and again he invaded the thick waves, managing to somehow leave them only slightly mussed. Finally he opened the billfold and pulled out a photo.

When he raised his head, revealing the torment in his eyes, her heart nearly stopped. What was wrong with Lea? Whatever it was, did Rick think it would make a difference in how she or Clay might feel about the child? If so, he certainly didn’t give them much credit.

“This is Lea.” He handed the photo to Clay, who smiled and passed it on to Kylie.

“She’s a cutie all right, my friend. You weren’t exaggerating. So what’s the problem?”

Kylie wondered the same thing. The photo showed a partial silhouette of an extraordinarily beautiful child. Unlike her olive-skinned father, Lea was a vision of light. Golden hair, porcelain skin, eyes the color of a robin’s egg. Kylie met Rick’s gaze, mystified by his obvious unease. “She’s lovely.”

“Thank you. I think so.” He pulled out another photo and handed it to Clay. “In spite of this.”

Kylie’s stomach clenched and threatened to revolt. Her boss’s flinch was slight, but unmistakable. Oh, dear God, please help me handle whatever this is with grace. How ironic that her first real prayer in years would be one of such a pitifully begging nature. Somehow she knew her reaction to this photo could mean life or death for her relationship with Rick. How strange that she’d be thinking in terms of a relationship now, when only moments before she’d been ready to concede defeat.

Clay nodded slowly, then met Kylie’s eyes. He held briefly to the picture even after her fingers closed on it. His words were directed to his friend, but his gaze held hers. “You’re right, my friend. Nothing could make this child anything less than perfect.”

He released the photo into Kylie’s grip. By now she did not want to look at it. Something in Rick’s eyes and Clay’s voice told her she could be in trouble. But what choice did she have?

Her eyes moved in slow, jerking movements from Clay’s face to the photo in her hands. She gasped, overwhelmed with sympathy—and total panic.

Another silhouette, shot from the opposite side of Lea’s face. Long, lumpy red welts stained her exquisite skin, puckering her cheek into an inhuman mask. Kylie had no idea she was crying until the tears tickled her face, even as her throat closed and her stomach lurched.

The photo fluttered to the floor as she leaped to her feet. Sending the two men a desperately apologetic look, she flew out of the room with a hand over her mouth.

Stop By and Visit Delia Today!

Perfect in Every Good Work

2011-06-23T19:20:00.000-04:00

From Heartlight:

Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

---Hebrews 13:20-21

Thought: A good shepherd equips his sheep to face the trials of life. But as Psalm 23 reminds us, no shepherd equips his sheep quite like the ultimate Shepherd. Let's unleash his power in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ by specifically praying for God to equip them with everything they need to do his good work!

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T10:58:00.002-04:00

To my dad and all of yours, Happy Father's Day!

A SolitaryJob

2011-06-15T18:34:00.000-04:00

Rachel Hauck has a thoughtful piece over at My Book Therapy.

Therapist Thought: A Writer’s Relationship with Routine
Writing is a solitary job that requires a community to help get it done.

Most writers don’t struggle with relationships. Not that I see anyway. Even introverts have people in their lives — if only the ones living in their head.

Writing is a solitary job that requires a community to help get it done. The most moving part of each novel for me is writing the acknowledgments.

I weep.

I laugh.

I sigh.

I worry I’ve forgotten someone.

Did I remember the girl at the coffee house who gave me barista information? Wasn’t there someone I called to get information on college athletes?

I want to thank everyone who said a kind word to me while writing the book because I couldn’t have done it without them.

A writer’s life is an odd life. We crave alone time. We crave people time. Every once in awhile we have to crawl out of our imaginary world to the real one in order to gain perspective and rebalance our emotional scales.

Read more here.

Sweet Blog Award

2011-06-12T08:43:00.001-04:00

I've been tagged for the Irresistably Sweet Blog Award. Thanks Joanne Tropello!

Be sure to stop by Joanne's blog to see her random facts!

The rules of this award are:

1) You link the person who sent it to you. Joanne Tropello

2) List seven random facts about yourself.
Okay, here goes:

a) I work with my husband at the "day job."

b) We have worked together for 25 years.

c) Guilty pleasures: "Legally Blonde" and "Star Gate."

d) I don't own a Kindle yet, but have the desktop version.

e) I don't really care for chocolate.

f) I won a P.T. Cruiser back in 2001.

g) I've been to Hawaii, Mexico, Canada and many islands, but have never been to Europe.

3) Now I'm passing the award on to 10 other awesome blog buddies who are listed below. Do take time to check everyone's answers.

Loree Lough---http://www.theloughdown.blogspot.com/
Laura Hamby---http://laurahamby.blogspot.com
Nell Dixon---http://nelldixonrw.blogspot.com/
Cecelia Dowdy---http://www.ceceliadowdy.blogspot.com/
Delia Latham - http://my-book-bag.blogspot.com
Marianne Evans - http://www.marianneevans.blogspot.com
Bruce Judisch---http://www.brucejudisch.blogspot.com/
Lauralee Bliss---http://blissfulwritingthoughts.blogspot.com/
Lorilyn Roberts---http://lorilynroberts.blogspot.com/
Nike Chillemi---http://crimefictionandfaith.blogspot.com/

Storms

2011-06-05T09:32:00.000-04:00

This is from a set of June devotionals I wrote a few years ago. The project was abandoned before the other authors finished their months, so I thought I'd post a few here.

When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved. ---Acts 27:20

Summer storms hit hard and often without warning in my area of the world. They can be severe, they can scare us into taking shelter, of feeling fear and sending prayer upward. I remember being caught in a sudden thunderstorm as a child, one with wild lightening strikes, loud booming thunder and thrashing bay water chopping at the sides of our small boat. I was out on our family’s powerboat on the Chesapeake Bay, but my mom was at a bridal shower that day. Mentally I called out for “mom” but depended on my dad, who knew exactly how to maneuver the boat to the safety of a strange pier. As an adult, I still love my parents very much, but I call on God to help me weather the storms of adult life.

2011-05-30T10:49:00.001-04:00

Memorial Day

2011-05-28T19:28:00.002-04:00

Thanks to our brave men and women for their service.

Thanks Joanne!

2011-05-26T17:51:00.000-04:00

Thanks to Joanne Tropello for this great review of The Artist's Granddaughter.

Here's part of her comments--

Ms. Bayne sets this story up perfectly and you are hooked right away. You wonder if Megan and Michael will patch up the past and move in to the present with a future together or continue living with broken hearts. This novella is short but sweet and so deliciously full of detail and complex character development. Without even realizing it you are swept into their sweet love story and root for them every step, willing these two delightful characters to find their way back to each other.

The attention to detail and the way the secondary characters are developed, leave you feeling satisfied with your experience in the small town setting. By the end of this novella, I found myself wanting to read more about Megan and Michael to see how their lives played out. I only met them for a short time, but they felt like good friends that I’ve known for ages. I’ve never read any of Ms. Bayne’s books before, but she is now definitely one of the authors on my favorites list.

Why We're Still Here

2011-05-22T07:48:00.001-04:00

Check out Eddie Snipe's great post on why May 21 was not the day of our Lord's return.

Why the rapture won’t happen today

Written By: Eddie Snipes - May• 21•11

The claim behind the prediction of the rapture:

Watching the followers of Pastor Camping explain the rapture is disheartening. Several of them have stated they quit their jobs and planned their finances to run out today, May 21st. As his people stated in an interview, “There is no plan B.”

According to Camping’s statements in an interview, the rapture is to occur exactly 7,000 years after the flood. Today is that date by Camping’s calculations.

His reasoning is that the Apostle Peter said, “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years.” Since God said, “I will send a flood in seven days”, the earth will end 7,000 years from the date of that statement. However, people seem to forget the rest of Peter’s statement, “and a thousand years is like a day.” Now if we apply the same logic to the second half of the verse, calculations suddenly don’t make sense. Perhaps the point of Peter’s statement isn’t a coded message, but a reminder that time is not a boundary to God. Whether it’s a thousand years, or a single day, God is there and unaffected by time. We are bound by time, He is not.

Read the rest here.

Meet Writer Sherri Salatin

2011-05-20T13:21:00.001-04:00

Hi Sherri! Tell me a little about yourself and your family.

I am Sheri Salatin from the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. I'm married to my best friend, Daniel and we have 3 kids - Travis 7, Andrew 5 and Lauryn 3. We are full time alternative farmers on our multi-generational family farm - Polyface (www.polyfacefarms.com). I'm passionate about farming as well as writing. We use creation as our template for raising clean healthy animals.
I'm active in our church, serving as nursery director and AWANA Sparks Director. When I'm not reading or writing, you can find me baking, sewing, gardening, canning, quilting, knitting and homeschooling.

1. What inspires you?
People inspire me. People who stand for what is right when no one else stands with them. And God's Word inspires me. A day that I feel like my creativity is stifled is the day that I missed my quiet time in God's Word.

2. Share 3 random facts about yourself.
I read magazines from back to front.
My mom always says that I was born in the wrong century. I love all of the old time crafts - canning, knitting, leather-work, long skirts, etc.
I'm the oldest of 6 children

3. What relaxes you after a long day?
Curling up in bed with good book or talking about the day with my hubby.

4. What do you like to read?
Fiction - any kind, any place. I love fiction. I love stories that take me to places I've never been and ones that visit places similar to my hometown.

5. What is your greatest asset?
I'm a fast reader and a good listener.

6. What are you working on right now? Tell us about your current book.
I'm working on my very first book - a contemporary romantic suspense currently titled The Gift's Secret. Here's the blurb:
Laura Taylor is desperate for answers to her past but her sister's life hangs in the balance if she tries to find them. Determined to save her sister and uncover what really happened to her parents, she will have to trust Matt Knight, a convicted felon and a cowboy who wants to lasso her heart. But he's not as dangerous as the Servant who will go to any length to keep the truth a secret.
Can Laura save her sister and discover the meaning of unconditional love before it's too late?

7. What one piece of advice would you give to other aspiring authors just like yourself?
Just do it. If you don't start, you'll never get anywhere. I am guilty of this. For years I said, "Before I die, I want to write a book." Then I realized that if I didn't start, I was never going to accomplish that goal. If you have a burning desire to do something, what is holding you back? You'll never learn if you don't start. And as my father-in-law always says, "Anything worth doing, is worth doing poorly at first."

8. What would you like to ask the readers of this post?
What is your favorite day of the week and why?

How can my readers find you?
My blog - http://sherisalatin.blogspot.com
Twitter - http://twitter.com/SheriSalatin

Thank you so much for having me, Robin. I'm excited to meet all of you! I'll stop by, so leave comments or questions and let's chat!

Self Promotion

2011-05-18T10:53:00.000-04:00

Sally Apokedak has a wonderful post on the problem of balancing writing with self promotion and marketing.

Self-promotion. Something must be in the air. Jonathan Rogers posted about it yesterday, linking to an article by Jeffrey Overstreet. And on the kidlit email loop a discussion flared about it also.

Jeffrey, in his article tells about the serendipitous way he came by his book contracts and he says, “I remain embarrassed by this grace, and burdened with a sense of responsibility.” But that is his disclaimer, it seems, in an article that is full of lament over the way the reality falls short of the dream.

Published authors, we learn from the article, must force their contemplative Mary souls into dark corners and train themselves to be mighty Marthas, blustering about, concerned with many things, from sending out bookmarks to guest blogging to tweeting it up with strangers who want to feel like friends.

Read the rest at Sally's blog.

Paradox

2011-05-16T05:55:00.002-04:00

From my good friend JoAnn Carter:

This morning while I was lying in bed in the early pre-dawn I heard a bird singing out a beautiful melody. Normally, this would make my heart happy, but then I'd just turn over and try to catch a few more moments of rest. But not today. Today was extra special. Why? Because crazy as this may sound, this little birdie was lifting it's sweet praises in the midst of a thunderstorm. Amazing! God used two rather "ordinary" things to create and extraordinary experience for me—God showed me something awesome and real—a perfect picture of peace. Thunderclouds rolled in, lighting flashed across the dark gray sky, and rain teamed down the windowpane yet this bird was secure. In fact, it was more than secure, it was full of joy, willing and wanting to sing.

This sends Goosebumps up my spine as I think about it. It's a paradox and truly a God thing. Especially since this word, paradox, has been near and dear to my heart. In fact, I kid you not; this is the very title of the book that I wanted to share with you today. Yet, perhaps paradox is not a word you're familiar with, so let me explain. Paradox is flowers on snow, joy in the midst of trials, compassion for others as your own heart breaks. It's what many of us just celebrated, Easter-- Jesus laying down his life for me, someone sinful and undeserving. It's victory and life born out of death and suffering.

Through this experience, God reminded me that He delights in using those ordinary things to accomplish His marvelous purposes. And that's super news! If He can use Fishermen, tax collectors, birds, and thunderstorms, I know He can use me—a very average, ordinary person to do extraordinary things for Him. Perhaps you're feeling "ordinary" today. Take heart, it's through that very thing that God can show His creativity, His power, and even His love just like He did for me in the midst of this early mornings storm.

A CONTEST TO HELP ME CELEBRATE THE RELEASE OF PARADOX:

Win a gift box filled with goodies! (A paperback copy of Teacher's Plans, a gift certificate, a mug filled with a package of Green Mountain Coffee, pen and a Tee-shirt.)

How? Help me spread the word about Paradox by sharing the link to this post on your FB, Twitter, blog, etc. then e-mail where you posted it to joannwrites@gmail.com with "Blog Blitz" in the subject line. A winner will be drawn 5/26/11.

--
JoAnn Carter writes stories that will encourage your faith through inspirational fiction novels and novellas. She resides in Vermont with her wonderful husband and four children.

JoAnn is available for speaking engagements to book clubs, reader groups, library groups, women's ministries events, school events, and church retreats.

Find her here:
Visit JoAnn's Web site
Connect with JoAnn on Facebook
JoAnn's Blog
--
I hope you'll be able to pick up a copy of Paradox today!

You can watch the trailer here ~

Book Launch!

2011-05-09T06:43:00.001-04:00

COMPLETELY WHOLE AMAZON BOOK LAUNCH : MONDAY, MAY 9

About the Book

In her well-written, resource-filled guide, Harper provides readers with practical and biblically-based solutions to overcome everyday problems. Completely Whole features prayers, meditations, and powerful scripture passages to allow readers to interact with the text and to apply it to their own lives. Harper uses personal experiences and biblical principles to place readers on a path to be in connection with God. This life-changing book will help readers to transform their spirit, soul, and body through Jesus Christ, so they can live a life of peace, joy, and fulfillment.

This book is inspiring, optimistic, hopeful and encouraging while providing a clear-cut, scriptural blueprint. Buy it May 9 only and in addition to this life-changing book receive access to Free Bonus Gifts. Follow the link in the title above.

(**Note-this book has not been read or reviewed by this blogger.)

Happy Mom's Day!

2011-05-08T08:15:00.000-04:00

-/\/\-----------------------------------------------------------------
\ / TODAY'S VERSE from HEARTLIGHT -- http://www.heartlight.org/
--\/------------------------------------------------------------------

May 8, 2011

VERSE:
I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations; I will sing of you among the peoples.
-- Psalm 108:3

THOUGHT:
Songs go where evangelism, witnessing, and planned outreach sometimes cannot go. Songs tell a story, offer praise, and deliver truth in a package that opens the heart and stirs the emotions.
Songs give life to the soul and stir something primal, buried deep inside by God. When you are around friends you are trying to reach with the Gospel, listen for the kind of music they like. Then when the time is right, point them to songs that share the message of the Gospel with a melody and beat that can stir their hearts. God wants us to praise him, not just in our sanctuaries and churches, but with our friends and across cultures. He wants us to sing in ways that help other people know the "heart song" of our Redeemer's love.

The Unforgivable

2011-05-04T05:46:00.006-04:00

Accused of the worst war crimes in the history of Argentina, Carlos Cornella is despised by a wounded nation…

“I’m in love with a monster. That’s what people call him anyway: monster, murderer, kidnapper, torturer, sociopath, even the devil. His crimes are so terrible that he may be unforgivable. But I have come to know him as something else. I know him as God’s Treasure. And I’m not sure what to do about that. So, here’s my story.”

Meet Tessa Stockton:
A former contemporary dancer of German and Jewish descent, Tessa Stockton—who has always had an interest in things of a debatable nature—now writes Christian political intrigue novels. The Unforgivable is her first book in the Wounds of South America series. Raised on the coast of Washington State, she currently lives in Tennessee with her husband and son. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), International Christian Fiction Writers (ICFW), and the Lost Genre Guild (LGG).

Excerpt: (please note, spacing problems are not the author's fault)

I don’t know how to explain it, but we connected. Right from the get-go we had an in with each other. I knew that this was a man I could understand—or wanted to understand more than anybody I have ever met.
Both our smiles faded and we stared at each other as if time stood still for us.
Then he pursed his lips and stood.
My heart sunk.

Glancing around him he took two slow steps and performed a smooth slide into the booth. My booth.

“Carlos.” He extended his hand. All business now, his brow had a slight furrow to it, the corners of his mouth tipped a bit downward.

“Genevieve.” I cleared my throat again. “Nice to meet you.”

“I was going to say the same.” This time he seemed to study me, his eyes like drills, burrowing to the core. For a second...for a second, I have to admit, I got a chill. I shook it off with an awkward smile. And then I realized his hand still held mine in a firm grip, as if he’d never let go. I wondered if he’d kiss it, because he kind of moved it side to side. I think he did that anyway.

The spell. That’s what I call it, whenever you’re so caught up in somebody’s gaze like Carlos and me. In some ways his eyes reminded me of a jaguar’s. Sleek and beautiful, mysterious, sly as in not entirely sure what he is thinking and—okay, I’ll say it—dangerous. We didn’t talk, just stared at each other. Er…well, we might have made some small talk but I can’t recall any of it, so I’m not positively sure those superfluous niceties took place.

Plates of food literally dropped onto the table with a harsh clang. That’s what broke the spell. One of my empanadas slid off the ceramic in reckless abandon. I gaped at it as it then sat lifeless on the tabletop, turned askew. And then I shifted my attention to Castel who hovered over us, seething under his breath.

“Castel, are you okay?” I asked.

He didn’t seem to hear me. If I didn’t know better I’d say he stared at Carlos with deep hatred in his gaze.

“Do you two know each other?” I gripped the table.

In a very careful, methodical manner, Carlos rose. He stood face to face with Castel who looked like he’d spring on him putting hands to throat. Man, if looks could kill!

Carlos delivered a gentle bow to me and stepped away. He wordlessly picked up his things—sunglasses, book and paper—and merely strolled out of the place like no unusual custom.

“Stay away from that man,” Castel said, his voice laced with acidity.

“W-what? Why?” I said, confused.

“Do not talk to him. I am warning you for your own benefit.” Castel delivered a stern glance at me and then returned to work.

Unbelievable—it seemed unbelievable. My heart sunk a second time. How do you prepare for picking your vital organs off the floor?

My line of sight pulled off of Castel who retreated to the kitchen, and roamed across the café until I found the valuable target outside the front window and locked on.

Carlos stood there, staring back in at me. He seemed to hesitate.

Should I go to him?
Would that set off Castel to the point that he’d wring my neck?

Do I need to heed Castel’s strong word of caution?

My glance returned to the kitchen. Then back to Carlos. Then to Castel who with plates of food moved about. And then, when I looked more deeply at Carlos there lingered something in his eyes that needed telling. I wasn’t sure if the expression he wore consisted of fury, or tragedy, or…maybe both.
Pushing my body up with my hands as if weighted, I began to rise. I wanted to go to him—to Carlos. But Castel had come to the table with the rest of the food right as Sally and Paloma plopped into the booth.

Celebrating with Marianne Evans!

2011-04-29T01:05:00.003-04:00

FROM WHITE ROSE PUBLISHING:
A FACE IN THE CLOUDS
A Woodland Church Bonus Short

Reporter Paul Hutchins is all about finding facts and uncovering the truth. Verification, authenticity and quantification are the fuel of his spirit…Until he falls in love with producer Sandy Pierson.

Sandy sees Christ alive in every aspect of her life. No need for quantified facts. Faith is the fuel of her spirit . But her love for Paul puts her at odds with God's call toward faith and all of its mysteries.

Paul considers Christianity to be well-meaning myth—hyperbole. To Sandy, it’s everything—and she can accept nothing less from the man she loves.
Can a miracle happen? Can the touch of God Himself keep their relationship from shattering?

Visit Marianne today!

Marianne Evans is a multi-published author of contemporary romance novels. Her professional career began when Kensington Publishing purchased her book, Friends & Lovers. Her second offering, Right Hand Man, followed shortly thereafter. Her third release from Kensington, Hannah’s Heart, won critical acclaim from reviewers and in the local media.

Her fourth book is her inspirational romance debut at White Rose Publishing – an award-winning novel entitled Hearts Crossing. Hearts Crossing led to the creation of a four-book Christian romance series: The Woodland Series. Book 2, Hearts Surrender, released in late 2010 with Books 3 and 4 – Hearts Communion and Hearts Key, slated for late 2011 and early 2012 release. A Woodland Series Bonus Story, A Face in the Clouds, is an Easter-themed short story, also from White Rose Publishing.

EXCERPT – A FACE IN THE CLOUDS

“I know how deeply you feel things, Paul. You have a wonderful heart. That’s part of why I love you so much. I’m torn in two about my feelings for you.” Sandy’s declaration would have filled him were it not chipped and cracked by the impact of her doubts.

“Your reporter’s instinct toward authenticity and revealing the truth is a big part of what I admire about you. There’s nothing wrong with facing the world honestly, but you need to make room for a few other truths.”

“Like God.”

“Yes, and the fact that life holds as much mystery, and as many intangibles, as it does realistic things you can hold tight with both hands.”

She wanted him to change. Right down to the soul. Paul continued to study her. She was hurt enough that she had almost stepped away from attending tonight’s event—out of a frustrated sense of love. Yet here they were—together—out of a frustrated sense of love.

And if he wasn’t mindful of her beliefs, she’d step away from him.

Paul navigated the rapidly-filling parking lot of Woodland Church. Once they stopped, he killed the car engine and used a restraining hand to keep Sandy in place. He closed the space between them and gave her a kiss that lingered and thoroughly tasted. He felt the gesture ease a bit of the tightness in her shoulders and back. “I’ll keep an open mind, OK?”

She touched his face, and there was yearning in her eyes. “Keep an open heart. That’s much more important.”

Spring Thoughts

2011-04-28T12:05:00.000-04:00

This is a post I contributed last week to the Long and Short Reviews website for their Spring series of blog posts.

Spring Warm-Ups

Robin Bayne
Proverbs 3:5

My darling husband is a golfer and he really enjoys the game. I, however, find it extremely frustrating. Every spring I watch him practice, hitting range balls and then working on his short game at the putting green. I will even join him at that, just for fun. After all, it’s exercise, right?

I like to think of writing practice as exercise, too. I can put any words I like on paper, but no one has to see them. Like a golfer preparing for a big tournament, I can “putt” across the page and warm up before writing anything important. I can write a chapter and send it off to my critique partners, and they will let me know if I’ve made any huge mistakes.

But the real trials begin out on the course, once practice is over. Much like life, once you’re out in the real writing world things become tougher. There are no “mulligans,” or Do-overs, in real life. And there’s no practice at getting out of the toughest sand traps. Rejections and manuscript problems can be just like those sand traps; you chip and swing and still end up stuck, unable to move in any direction. Perspiring more all the time. There’s only one way out, and it starts with prayer. Ask God to guide you out of life’s sand traps, and do as He suggests. It may not actually help your golf game, but it will help with life’s trials and tribulations. It won’t hurt your writing, either.

Night of the Cossack

2011-04-26T18:07:00.001-04:00

Tom Blubaugh has created an interesting fictional account of a young boy facing a series of tough life-or-death decisions when forced into the life of a Cossack soldier. Readers are sure to be entertained by this tale of Nathan Hertzfield’s life, his struggle to maintain the upstanding character and morality set forth by his mother, and his eventual escape to America. ----Michelle Buckman, Christy Award Finalist.

Read the first chapter here.

Tom Blubaugh has written non-fiction most of his adult life. The Night of the Cossack, published by Bound by Faith Publishers, is his first work of historical fiction. He co-authored The Great Adventure published by Barbour Publishing. He and his wife, Barbara, live in southwest Missouri. They have six children and fourteen grandchildren. Tom is on the board of Jericho Commission, Inc. and is their past president.

We Have A Winner!

2011-04-25T09:23:00.000-04:00

Good morning!~~ Pleased to announce today that Sherry Kyle has won my Easter month drawing. Sherry, please send me your mailing address, and your email address for the e-book.~~ I will be watching next week to see who wins the Nook/Kindle from Long and Short Reviews. Have a great week!

He is Risen!

2011-04-24T20:00:00.001-04:00

Comment to Win!

2011-04-23T10:41:00.001-04:00

Today's the day! Visit my guest blog spot at Long and Short Reviews, and your comment gets you an entry for a drawing. Winner gets her choice of Nook, Kindle or $ 150 gift card!

Maundy Thursday

2011-04-21T22:19:00.002-04:00

"The Living Last Supper" as presented by St. John's Lutheran Church. It was a dramatic, thought-provoking evening. Thanks to all who participated.

New Christian Read/Review Group Opening!

2011-04-16T10:40:00.002-04:00

Pelican Ventures Book Group is launching a new site to network
influencers. At Book Buzzin' readers can apply for a no-obligation, no
cost membership to receive free review copies. What's the catch? There
isn't one! All a Book Buzzin' member has to do is agree to Buzz about a
book--and only if he/she enjoys it! For more information and to apply
for membership, visit http://www.bookbuzz in.com

Permission to copy and distribute the following paragraph granted and
encouraged!

Heard About Pentalk?

2011-04-13T12:40:00.000-04:00

From the Hartline Literary Agency blog--

Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Interview with Linda Rondeau- Creator of Pentalk- an online community of writers

With authors seeking more ways to network and share information, diverse creative sites pop up. I would like to share one that is relatively new, created by author Linda Rondeau titled, Pentalk.

Linda , Thank you for being with us today. Can you share with our readers today just what Pentalk is and where you came up with the idea for it.
I noticed that there are myriad writing groups for various genres, beliefs, and age groups. The Lord seemed to ask me if I would start a writing group that would encompass all genres, ages, and belief systems, an arena where Christians could exemplify Christ as they worked together with other writers who may not be believers.

How has it's Growth been and the response on FB to it.
From an initial small group page, Pentalk now consists of a Facebook Community Page of over 200 members, a Facebook networking page of 121, a Yahoo group page for non-Facebook members and a blog, currently with 84 followers, some through Google and others through Facebook. We have a steering committee of four individuals in addition to myself. Carol McClain and Dale Langlois manage the author interviews, Carol Moncado is the editor-in-chief for the blog. Dan Waltz manages our book cover album in addition to art consultation.

Have you had to make any changes to it since you first began?
The group evolved through the needs of its members. Some wanted more than simply a "chat" forum. The community page offers a more professional setting and can be joined by simply "liking" the page. We soon learned that members wanted information and education so we formed the blog. We also wanted to have a communication avenue for non-facebook users. Pentalk is for and about writing by writers. We are committed to helping one another as writers. This includes sharing our blogs, giving encouragement, and posting our celebrations.

Pentalk Community Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pentalk/177705922240597?ref=ts

Pentalk Group (facebook) http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_138295856220115&ref=ts

Pentalk Community Blog: http://pentalkcommunity.blogspot.com/

Pentalk Community (Yahoo Groups): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/pentalkcommunity/

For more information, contact Linda Rondeau (lrondeau @westelcom.com).

---Thanks to Diana and Hartline!

Great Spring Read!

2011-04-08T16:17:00.000-04:00

Donna B. Snow makes her White Rose Publishing debut with a touching contemporary story of tragedy and love lost-and-found. Don't miss Daffodils--the perfect read on a sunny (or stormy) April afternoon.

Check it out now at White Rose Publishing!

Margaret Ellington is not only grief stricken after her husband dies, but guilt ridden as well. Her solution? To run away. Hoping to escape the memories of her failure as a wife, she vows never to marry again, not even if it's Lukas North, her first love who's now returned.

Lukas North is determined to reclaim the love he threw away ten years ago. He's willing to give Margaret time to recover from losing her husband, but letting her go is not an option.

Margaret is wary of another long-distance relationship with Lukas-after all, it didn't work the first time-and when she discovers he's been keeping a secret, she panics. After the mistakes they made in the past, can their relationship be rebuilt on anything less than complete honesty?

Can Lukas prove his devotion, and can Margaret learn to trust that both Lukas and God want only what's best for her?

Jealous Much?

2011-04-04T12:37:00.001-04:00

"The Rumpus" has a great article on writers and jealousy. (Language warning!)

Dear Sugar,

I’m jealous. I’m jealous of people who succeed at what I do (write literary fiction). I’m jealous of them even if I love them or like them or respect them. Even when I pretend to be happy when my writer friends get good news, the truth is I feel like I swallowed a spoonful of battery acid. For days afterwards I go around feeling queasy and sad, silently thinking why not me?

So why not, Sugar? I’m 31. I’ve written a novel that I’m currently revising while searching for an agent (which is turning out to be more difficult than I imagined). I received a first-rate education, holding a BA from a prestigious college and an MFA from another prestigious college. Several people in my social and literary orbit have gotten the sort of five and six-figure book deals that I dream of getting. A couple of these people are jerks, so I don’t feel guilty for resenting their good fortune, but a few of them are good people whom I like and respect and, worst of all, one is a woman I count among my very best friends.

It makes me sick that I don’t feel happy for them, especially when it comes to my close friend, but there it is. When I think of their successes, it only reminds me of what I don’t have. I want what they have, but it’s more than that: them having what I want pains me. When other writer friends are met with failure (rejections from agents or publishing houses, for example), I admit I feel a tiny lift inside. The feeling is more relief than glee—you know that old saying about misery enjoying company? I don’t truly wish others bad. But neither do I honestly wish them well.

Read the enlightening response here.

Get Hooked On "From Ashes to Honor"

2011-03-31T11:27:00.000-04:00

Excerpt from Loree's book "From Ashes to Honor." (any spacing issues were caused by me when pasting)

Prologue
They cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and He delivered them from their distress.
Psalms 107:6

New York City
8:40 A.M.
September 11, 2001

As on every morning, the sweet scents of cinnamon and
mocha mixed with drugstore aftershave and pricey cologne.
And, as on every morning, Austin ordered a large black coffee
with a shot of espresso.

A strange vibration rumbled above the whir of blenders,
busily whipping milk into froth for cappuccinos and lattes. A
New York City trash truck, or another fender bender? he wondered
as his cell phone chirped. It only took a quick glance at
the caller i.d. to inspire a low groan.
Eddy smirked. “Your brother?”

“Third time this week.”

“Sheesh. And it’s only Tuesday.”

Becky, the counter girl, held out one hand. “That’ll be a
buck fifty, cutie pie.”

Austin handed her two singles and told her to keep the
change.

“Let me guess,” Eddy said. “He wants you to get a safer job,
one with a more predictable schedule, so you can spend more
time with your mom.”

"Bingo. All I can say is, thank God for unlimited minutes.
The two messages he left yesterday?” Austin pocketed the
phone and cut loose with a two-note whistle. “To call ’em long
is an understatement.”

"You know what they say about paybacks.”

“What?”

“Well, all I can say is, rambling messages must be in the
Finley DNA.”

“Bite me,” Austin said, grinning as Becky handed him his
coffee.

“No, seriously, Finley.” He looked left and right and waved
Austin closer, as if preparing to divulge a state secret. “Listen
up, dude. There was a big story about birth order on the news
this morning.” He shrugged. “This stuff with Avery? It’s all
’cause he sees you as his baby brother.”

“Aw, gimme a break. He’s five stinkin’ minutes older than
me.”

“Big difference, five minutes. Made him ju-u-ust older and
wiser enough to become a hot shot Wall Street investment
banker.” He gave Austin the once-over, from close-cropped
blond hair to spit-polished black shoes. “And develop the opinion
that he needs to watch over you. Y’know, since you’re only
one of many tiny little cogs that make the City’s gears—”
Austin chuckled. “Yeah, well, you can both bite me.”

Becky wiggled a forefinger at Eddy. “Your turn, honey pot.”
He leaned a forearm on the counter and frowned. “Holy
moly, Beckster, you gotta quit partyin’ all night, ’cause—shooeee
and wowza, dudette—you are some kinda green around
the gills this mornin’!”

She blew a baseball-sized purple bubble and popped it with
her front teeth. “Some days it’s hard to believe you found a
woman willing to marry you.”

Eddy snickered, then ordered decaf with double cream, pretending
not to hear as Austin and the rest of his cop pals agreed
with Becky. The good-natured taunting came to a halt when
a second rumble shook the windows and rattled the mugs,
stacked pyramid fashion on glass shelves behind the counter.
For a blink in time, the West Street Coffee Shop fell completely
quiet. Then a chorus of buzzing cell phones, radio bleeps, and
the sputtering of dispatchers summoning all available personnel
to the World Trade Center ended the eerie silence.

Amid the clamor of cops and firefighters charging into the
street, Austin disregarded a second call from his twin. Tossing
Eddy the keys to their cruiser, he growled “You drive for a
change. I’m afraid I’ll take my bad mood out on some ‘Got my
license in a gumball machine’ sightseer at Battery Park.”
Siren blaring and lights flashing, they peeled away from the
curb. “Smart decision,” he said, honking and shaking a fist at
the slow-moving taxi that blocked him from the destination,
just half a mile away.

Emergency vehicles, city buses, cabs, and limos joined
the rows of cars and delivery vans that rolled to a dead stop.

“What’s the holdup?” Eddy demanded. “Can’t those clowns see
that the light is green?”

“I hate these stupid tests. It’d make a lot more sense for the
big shots at city hall to do stuff like this when the roads aren’t
clogged with traffic.” Austin shook his head. “But no-o-o, we’ve
gotta put on a good show for the tourists.”

“Guess we can’t complain about getting paid to sit on our
duffs.”

“Yeah? Well, I can complain, about these exhaust fumes for
starters.”The radio buzzed and hummed with steady static, and
Austin beat a fist on the dash. “Oh. Great. Now this piece of
junk decides to die, leaving us clueless about what’s going on
at WTC.”

“I hate to break it to ya, pard, but you were clueless before
we—” Eddy draped his upper body over the steering wheel
and looked up. “What—Is—That?”

Squinting, Austin scrubbed the inside of the windshield
with the heel of his hand. “Turn on the defogger, genius.”
But the murk was outside. Fierce, roiling white smoke
stained the blue early-autumn sky. “I have a feeling this is no
ordinary test,” he said grimly. “We’d better hot-foot it the rest
of the way.”

“You’re right. Ain’t like we’re gonna block traffic.”

Side by side, the partners jogged toward the Towers, and
the closer they got, the harder it became to see through the
smog.

“Must be one heckuva fire to make a mess like this.”
In his pocket, Austin’s cell phone buzzed, and he ignored
it for the third time in five minutes. When he got hold of his
twin later, man, was Avery gonna get a piece of his mind.

Great Story, Great Cause

2011-03-26T11:18:00.000-04:00

Check out Loree Lough's new book--and the great cause she's supporting with its sales!
A chance to win a free copy there too!

New Review!

2011-03-24T12:33:00.000-04:00

Years ago I received a review that began with, "Although I dislike and never read this subgenre, I decided to review such and such--" and then went on to trash the story. This time I am happily surprised to find a reviewer willing to try something new!
Thanks to The Romance Reviews for this lovely review! (excerpt)

Inspirational romance as a genre is quite a departure for me, but I was intrigued by the thought of a long-lost love returning to the town—and the woman—he left behind, and the journey both characters would have to make in order to find a future together. I am pleased to say that I wasn't disappointed—in fact, I was actually pleasantly surprised.

Megan Roberts has scrimped and saved ever since her parents' death so she can fulfill her father's last wish and purchase her grandfather's final painting at a local auction. Left without a family, the painting has taken on an enormous significance to Megan, and she is determined to take it home with her, even if it takes every cent of her savings. So when she loses the painting to a higher bidder, it doesn't seem that things can get much worse—until, that is, she sees the man who won.

Michael Kirk has changed in the fifteen years since Megan last saw him, but deep down, she knows he is the same man who she loved with all her heart, and the same man who walked out of her life and never looked back. Knowing that speaking with him again will only end in more heartbreak, Megan takes the risk in order to ask Michael to sell the painting to her. The Michael she remembered would do anything to make her happy.

But the Michael who has returned has different priorities. Concerned primarily with his career, Michael has purchased the painting for his boss, who is an avid collector of Megan's grandfather's work. Desperate to make partner in his law firm, Michael refuses to sell the painting, despite the fact that simply seeing Megan's face brings back memories and emotions that Michael thought himself no longer capable of feeling. With so much hurt and so many misunderstandings between them, can there ever be a future where Megan and Michael can find happiness together? Or will the legacy of her grandfather's artwork drive them apart forever?

There was a kind of literary magic that occurred when Michael and Megan were together. All the fear and the hurt and the worry each character felt individually faded to the background when they spoke and laughed and reminisced. It made the times when they were apart, when the petty jealousies of their hometown were brought to the forefront, that much more frustrating by contrast. But these emotions are what make for good romances, and I found myself eager for Megan's next meeting with Michael, when that spark between them could be seen again.

All in all, this was a charming story of love lost and found, and I was surprised by how much I came to care for the characters and the small town of Carrolton. The depth of feeling in this story made each character memorable, and the plot had a few twists that genuinely surprised me, making for a satisfying conclusion all around. Though I don't consider myself much of an expert in this particular genre, I can say that I will be keeping my eye out for any more of Ms Bayne's books in the future!

Thanks so much!!! Visit their main page for a chance to win many prizes while they celebrate a Grand Opening!

Great Prizes Coming Just Before Easter

2011-03-23T19:39:00.000-04:00

Check back on April 23 for a chance to win a Nook, Kindle or $150 gift card from Long and Short Romance Reviews. I'll be guest blogging there that day.

The Artist's Granddaughter Arrives!

2011-03-18T03:39:00.002-04:00

The Artist's Granddaughter

No, not a new baby, but a re-release of my 2002 novella which won the Carol Award for Best contemporary romance, e-book category. To celebrate, I'm holding a drawing. From now through Easter, everyone who "likes" my Facebook author page and comments on their traditions for Easter or another favorite holiday will be entered to win:

A silver plated heart shaped ring box, a print copy of my 2007 novella "From Now On," a print copy of "Fiction and Truth," (non fiction anthology compiled by Kathy Ide) and a Maryland style Ty Beanie Baby Crab. Also a pdf copy of my 2010 novella 'Prodigal."

Hope to hear from you on Facebook!

St Patrick's Day

2011-03-17T03:48:00.001-04:00

Top O' The Morning To Everyone!