Infinite Suspense from Lynette Eason

Susan Sleeman and her new e-books!

2012-02-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

A NEW LINE OF MYSTERIES FOR YOUR E-READER

Susan Sleeman here. Do you have an e-reader or maybe an iPad? Then I'd like to tell you about a line of cozy mysteries that has recently released with most books retailing for only .99 for a limited time.

Spyglass Lane Mysteries are published by a group of cozy mystery authors who have joined together to bring you a new cozy mystery every week. Currently, there are over 25 wonderful mysteries in this line.

Stop by the website to view all of the available books and while you're there, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter where we announce each new book that releases and our authors share behind the scenes stories about the books.

I'd also like to share a little bit about my Garden Gate Mystery Series that is releasing as part of this line. The first book, Nipped in the Bud has already released and book two, Read Between the Tines will release in February 23rd. Here's a little bit about both books.

NIPPED IN THE BUD

WHEN YOU FIND YOUR BOSS PUSHING UP DAISIES. . .

Life in full bloom, landscape designer, Paige Turner, scores her first landscaping contract to spruce up the park, her radio talk show shoots to number one, and her retail shop is simply blossoming. Yes, her life is a bed of roses. Until she finds the city manager served up on the blade of her favorite shovel mere hours after she’s threatened to have his head on a platter, then the thorns come out. And there is none thornier than the local police chief declaring Paige the one and only suspect and threatening to plow her under.

YOU’VE GOT TO FORMULATE A PLANT OF ATTACK . . .

Paige teams up with dashing attorney, Adam Hayes to weed through the list of suspects, and clear her soiled reputation. And along the way, discovers that Adam just may be the man of her dreams.

» Read an Excerpt »Order It Now

READ BETWEEN THE TINES

IF YOUR LIFE IS A BED OF ROSES. . .

Recovered from her near death at the hand of a killer, landscape designer Paige Turner is certain her life will soon be a bed of roses. That is, until her employee, Daisy Rose Plante, finds a dead body, and the thorny police chief looks no further than Daisy for a suspect. Paige digs in and weeds through the list of potential killers, and before long, her sweet smelling rose of a life is soundly trampled.

YOU’LL HAVE TO SURVIVE THE THORNS. . .

Paige would be much happier working over-thyme on her budding relationship with handsome attorney, Adam Hayes, but it soon becomes clear she’ll be in a hoe lot of trouble with him if she continues digging for the killer. Does Paige risk all and try to unearth the killer? Or does she settle down in peaceful bliss with the man of her dreams?

» Read an Excerpt

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan visit: Website, her Facebook page, or on Twitter

Story and THEME

2012-01-09T00:05:00.003-05:00

Themes and the story.

Theme is what your story is about. Theme gives your story a below-the-surface deeper meaning.

Recently I’ve begun thinking about different themes that run through stories. I love it when I’m reading and the theme begins to emerge and by the end of the story, I get it. I go, “Wow.” And the story stays with me even after I’ve reluctantly read the last word.

Have you read any stories like that lately? I’m reading one now. I was asked to read it and consider it for an endorsement. I’ll definitely be endorsing this book. It’s about helping others. Serving others even when it’s not convenient for you. And it has a great murder mystery woven throughout. That’s was a great book does. It has the reader examining his/her own life because the theme has touched her. It’s made her go, “Oh, how am I doing in this area?” Or is has the reader saying, “Wow, my friend, Ann, needs to read this because she’s struggling in this area.” A book like this is much more than just a story. It’s power. Power to change lives. The power to offer encouragement, to fill someone with determination, to offer hope.

And that’s just amazing to me.

As a writer, sometimes I start with an idea for the theme. Other times, it comes to me as I write. It’s absolutely possible to start a story with no theme in mind, but I’ve found that as I fill out my character sketches for the hero and heroine, and sometimes a secondary character, a theme will emerge. Because as I learn about my characters, get to know their pasts, their baggage, their likes and dislikes, their hurts and triumphs, the theme of the story is related to that. In my stories, theme is character driven. I might have a sketchy idea of the plot, a few scenes that I know I want to incorporate, who the villain is, and what’s going to happen by the end of the book, but if I don’t know my characters, I find I have no theme. I know a lot of authors write their stories around a theme they’ve already picked out, but I’ve never done this.

What about you? How do you decide on a theme for your story? Does it come as the story progresses or do you decide before you start writing? And if you’re not a writer, but a reader, what kind of themes do you like to see in the stories you read?

Thanks for stopping by!

Made To Crave by Lysa TerKeurst Book Review

2012-01-07T16:42:00.000-05:00

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Are you craving food more than God? This book is amazing, life changing and inspiring. As Lysa says, it's not a "how to" book on dieting, it's a "want to" book. Lysa tells her story of her battle with food. Not as an addiction or issues like anorexia or bulemia, but rather as food as her comfort, her reward for doing well, her pick me up when things go wrong. This type of mentality obviously will lead one down the road of unhealthy eating and weight gain. Instead, Lysa encourages you to turn to God. Every time she would crave something unhealthy, she would pray. As a result, she said she talked to God a LOT during those first few days of changing her eating habits. I could relate to what Lysa had to say on just about every page. I highly recommend this book if you need to make a change in your life.

View all my reviews

Irene Hannon - DEADLY PURSUIT

2011-11-03T00:01:00.000-04:00

Deadly Pursuit: A Novel by Irene Hannon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great read by Irene Hannon. I highly recommend it!

View all my reviews

The Craftie Ladies of Romance & A BASKET OF BOOKS

2011-11-02T13:37:00.004-04:00

HI all, just wanted to let you know that the Craftie Ladies of Romance are giving away a basket of books. All you have to do is go on Goodreads to enter the contest.

Hope to see you there!

October New Releases!

2011-10-03T08:35:00.000-04:00

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW FictionFinder website.

A Wedding Invitation by Alice Wisler -- General Fiction from Bethany House; When Samantha Bravencourt receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart.

Attracted by Fire by DiAnn Mills -- A Thriller/Suspense from Tyndale. When a Secret Service Agent is assigned to the Vice President's rebellious daughter, danger lurks in every corner - and her heart.

Deeply Devoted: A Novel; The Blue Willow Brides Series by Maggie Brendan -- A Historical from Revell -- She is staking her future on a man she's never met. Can she learn to love him?

Freezing Point by Beth Goddard -- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired. Casey Wilkes didn't realize her simple human-interest story would put her life at risk—again.

Lethal Remedy by Richard L. Mabry M.D. -- A Thriller/Suspense from Abingdon; A doctor discovers that the experimental "wonder drug" that offers the only hope of cure for a universally fatal infection can be attacking more than just bacteria.

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist, -- Historical Romance from Bethany House. Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world ... which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Maggie's Journey by Lena Nelson Dooley -- A Historical from Realms (Charisma Media). Near her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she's adopted and her journey begins.

Recipe for Deceit by S. Dionne Moore -- Mystery from Barbour. The third LaTisha Barnhart mystery finds the sassy diner owner trying to figure out who put the hit on a hitman.

Rodeo Dust by Shannon Vanatter -- Romance from Barbour Heartsong; Can they rely on God to find their common ground or will they draw a line in the rodeo dust that neither will cross?

Southern Fried Sushi: A Novel by Jennifer Rogers Spinola -- General Fiction from Barbour; Ride the roller coaster of Shiloh Jacobs’s life as her dreams derail, sending her on a downward spiral from the heights of an AP job in Tokyo to penniless in rural Virginia.

Ten Plagues by Mary Nealy-- Thriller/Suspense from Barbour; A demon possessed serial killer pits himself against a former ego driven cop, who's found peace as a mission pastor and a tough lady cop with the spiritual gift of discerning spirits.

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy-- Thriller/Suspense from Thomas Nelson; To save her husband and son, Audrey Bofinger must rescue her enemy.

The Chair by James Rubart-- Thriller/Suspense from B and H Publishing; If you were given an ancient looking chair and told Jesus Christ made it, would you believe them?

The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight-- Romance from Love Inspired; When a battle weary cop and a Christmas crazy teacher join forces to care for an abandoned, mute boy in a small town, neither is prepared for the shocking revelations waiting...just in time for Christmas.

The Lady's Maid by Susan Page Davis-- Romance from Barbour; As a lady's maid, Elise will follow her mistress anywhere, even into the Wild West.

The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell-- Young Adult from Barbour; Join conflicted sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield on her journey to hope and healing as she leaves her messed-up life behind and moves into home for troubled teens

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones-- Young Adult from Thomas Nelson; Grief brought Finley to Ireland. Love will lead her home.

When Love Gets in the Way by Janelle Mowery-- A Historical from Harvest House; Straight from the heart of the Old West, the Colorado Runaway series is full of adventure, humor, and romance.

When Two Hearts Meet by Janelle Mowery-- A Historical from Harvest House; Rachel Garrett finds that attaining her dream of becoming a nurse is fraught with peril, and a deputy sheriff with a wall around his heart doesn’t help matters.

August ACFW New Releases

2011-08-03T11:50:00.002-04:00

A Horseman’s Heart by Myra Johnson — Romance from Barbour/Heartsong. When Kip Lorimer shows up with a horse to donate to the family’s equine therapy program, Sheridan Cross can’t help but be suspicious. A cowboy a thousand miles from home and living out of a horse trailer? What’s wrong with this picture?

A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Whitson — A Historical from Bethany House. They are opposites in every way. . . except how neither one can stop thinking about the other.

Agent Undercover by Lynette Eason — Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired. A little boy with a secret, a killer with a vendetta, and a man and a woman who will stop at nothing to protect the child while catching the killer.

Aquasynthesis by Grace Bridges, Fred Warren, Caprice Hokstad, P.A. Baines, Adam Graham, R.L. Copple, Travis Perry, Mike Lynch, Keven Newsome, Kat Heckenbach, and Ryan Grabow. — Fantasy from Splashdown Books. From classic-style fantasy and science fiction stories, through speculative tales that delve deeper into motivations and meanings, we move from humor to sacrifice by a linking story that connects many very different themes.

Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin — General Fiction Historical from Revell. In a time of peril, can they find the courage to confront their fears and embrace a love that lasts?

Edge of Grace by Christa Allan — General Fiction from Abingdon. Unable to cope with her brother’s news that he is gay, Caryn Becker rejects him. But when he is attacked and nearly killed, she is forced to make hard choices that take her to the very edge of grace.

Lost in Dreams, Book Two; Altered Heart Series by Roger Bruner and Kristi Rae Bruner — Young Adult from Barbour. Eighteen-year-old Kim Hartlinger discovers the victory Jesus provides during the most trying of circumstances as she learns to lean on other Christians.

Marrying Miss Marshal by Lacy Williams — Romance from Love Inspired Historical. Her job is to protect the town… but who will protect her heart?

Out of Control by Mary Connealy — Romance from Bethany House. Rafe Kincaid controls everything in his life … until he meets Julia.

Ransome’s Quest by Kaye Dacus — Historical Romance from Harvest House. Romance, intrigue, and swashbuckling leaps of faith create a wonderfully heroic close to this beloved series.

Something Old by Dianne Christner — Romance from Barbour. Love is rarely plain and simple.

Surrender the Dawn by Mary Lu Tyndall — A Historical from Barbour. You’ll be swept away in this seafaring romance between a plucky damsel-in-distress and a nefarious rake who’s selling out his country amid the War of 1812.

The Matrimony Plan by Christine Johnson — Historical Romance from Love Inspired. A rich girl falls in love with a poor boy — until the tables are turned.

Sandra Orchard is here - and I'm giving away her new book

2011-08-01T09:09:00.000-04:00

Bio: Sandra Orchard lives in rural Ontario, Canada where inspiration abounds for her romantic suspense novels set in the fictional Niagara town she's created as their backdrop. Married with three grown children, when not writing, she enjoys hanging out with family, brainstorming new stories with fellow writers, and hiking or kayaking in God's beautiful creation. Her debut novel Deep Cover is now available on eHarlequin and hits bookstore shelves in September.

This week on Goodreads.com Sandra is giving away a signed copy of her novel. If you’re a member of Goodreads, visit Goodreads to enter.

Book Blurb:

IDENTITY: GUARDED
Maintaining his cover cost undercover cop Rick Gray the woman he loved. Sweet Ginny Bryson never really knew Rick. He never gave her the chance. Not then, and not now, when he's back with a new alias to gather evidence against Ginny's uncle. The man's crimes led to Rick's partner's death, and Rick wants justice to be served. But his investigation is stirring up trouble, and Ginny is smack-dab in the middle. Someone wants Ginny to pay the price for what her uncle has done. But how can Rick protect her without blowing his cover, jeopardizing his assignment...and risking both their lives?

Deep Cover is the first book in the series, Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line.

Book 2 ~ Shades of Truth ~ March 2012
A compassionate youth worker fighting to preserve her dying father’s legacy battles the justice-driven detective who threatens her mission and her heart.

Book 3 ~ Dose of Deception ~ TBA (title tentative)
A nurse. An undercover cop. A killer who’ll stop at nothing to avoid being caught.

What reviewers are saying about Deep Cover:
“4 Stars. Great job…a good mystery, interesting characters and a satisfying ending.” ~ Romantic Times

“5 stars. A fast-paced, exciting, romantic story and awesome, fresh writing…” ~ Goodreads reader

Connect with Sandra Online:

Visit her website ~ www.SandraOrchard.com

Visit her personal blog ~ http://www.SandraOrchard.blogspot.com

Like her Facebook Page ~ www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard

Join her at Goodreads ~ bit.ly/Goodreads_SandraO

Teaser from the front of the book:

Rick took her face in his hands. “I only care about keeping you safe.”
His soft words turned her inside out.

His intense drive to protect her was one of the things she’d loved most about him, because all her life she’d been the one doing the protecting.

It had felt good to lean on someone else.

Then he’d left, and the dove hanging from her rearview mirror became her reminder that she needed to lean on God alone. Except Rick had come back and wanted to be her protector.

Unspoken regrets shadowed his eyes. “I honestly don’t know whether some psychotic protestor or one of your uncle’s enemies or one of mine has targeted you. But I promise you I’ll figure it out and put a stop to him.”

“I? Uh, uh. Whether you like it or not, we’re in this together. No more secrets.”

Lynette here: If you'd like to win a copy of this fabulous book, leave a comment for Sandra telling her why you'd like to read her newest release.

God Bless to you all!

Carol Award Finalists!

2011-07-12T15:36:00.001-04:00

2011 Carol Awards Finalists

Debut Novel:
The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund (Bethany House - Dave Long/Sharon Asmus, Editors)
Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers - Kathryn Olson, Editor)
Rooms by James L. Rubart (B&H Publishing - Julee Schwarzburg, Editor)

Long Contemporary:
The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)
Red Ink by Kathi Macias (New Hope Publishers - Randy Bishop, Editor)
Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House - Dave Long, Editor)

Long Contemporary Romance:
Plain Jayne by Hilary Manton Lodge (Harvest House - Kim Moore, Editor)
Anna's Return by Marta Perry (Berkley - Ellen Edwards, Editor)
Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson - Natalie Hanemann, Editor)

Long Historical:
Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs (Waterbrook Press - Laura Barker, Editor)
Petra: City in Stone by T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing - Karen Ball, Editor)
Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press – Susan Downs, Editor)

Long Historical Romance:
The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy (Barbour - Rebecca Germany, Editor)
Love Finds You In Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside - Rachel Meisel/Connie Troyer, Editors)
Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)
Mystery:
Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz (Sheaf House - Joan M. Shoup, Editor)
Muslin Mystery by Vera Dodge (Guideposts - Beth Adams, Editor)
The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)

Novellas:
The Prodigal Groom by Vickie McDonough (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)
Ride With Me Into Christmas by Rachael Phillips (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)
A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)

Romantic Suspense:
The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Susan Downs, Editors)
Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)
Pursuit of Justice by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale Publishers - Karen Watson, Editor)

Short Contemporary:
The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight (Love Inspired - Allison Lyons)
A Father for Zach by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, Editor)
Winter's End by Ruth Logan Herne (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, Editor)

Short Contemporary Suspense:
Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, Editor)
Legacy of Lies by Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, Editor)
Firestorm by Kelly Ann Riley (Love Inspired Suspense - Tina James, Editor)

Short Historical:
Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired Historical - Tina James, Editor)
Promise of Tomorrow by S. Dionne Moore (Barbour - JoAnne Simmons, Editor)
The Columns of Cottonwood by Sandra Robbins (Barbour - JoAnne Simmons, Editor)

Speculative Fiction:
The Wolf of Tebron by C. S. Lakin (AMG Publishers - Rick Steele, Editor)
Rooms by James L. Rubart (B&H Publishing - Julee Schwarzburg, Editor)
König's Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press – Jeff Gerke, Editor)

Suspense/Thriller:
Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan - Sue Brower/Dave Lambert, Editors)
Fear No Evil by Robin Caroll (B&H Publishing – Karen Ball, Editor)
Medical Error by Richard L. Mabry (Abingdon Press – Barbara Scott, Editor)

Women's Fiction:
Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers - Jan Stob/Lorie Popp, Editors)
They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti (Abingdon – Barbara Scott, Editor)
Beyond Summer by Lisa Wingate (NAL - Ellen Edwards, Editor)

Young Adult:
Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell - Lonnie Hull Dupont, Editor)
Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Zonderkidz - Jacque Alberta, Editor)
Katy's New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Zonderkidz - Jacque Alberta, Editor)

Welcome Sharon Dunn!

2011-07-04T09:02:00.007-04:00

Just a little about Sharon:

BIO
Sharon Dunn is an award winning romance and mystery author. Her Guardian is her third romantic suspense for Love Inspired. When she is not writing, Sharon divides her time between three kids, her husband of twenty four years, a very nervous border collie and three cats. You can read more about Sharon and her books at www.sharondunnbooks.net.

I'm so thrilled to have Sharon Dunn as my guest today! First Happy Fourth of July! I was supposed to post this on the 2nd, but due to family stuff, weekend stuff and life in general, it just didn't get done for which I apologize. However, I think it's very appropriate to post about about this book today. Today is about FREEDOM, our freedom, bought and paid for by American lives. Sharon's book is about a girl whose freedom was taken away from her at the age of 13 and she doesn't get it back until the age of 20. And yes, this freedom comes at a cost. So, I hope you enjoy reading about this book and will enter the contest to win this fantastic book!

Inspiration for the Story

The inspiration for Her Guardian came from a number of news stories about kidnappings, the Jaycee Dugard and Elizabeth Smart cases, along with a case in Europe where a woman was kept locked away in her father’s house for years and the neighbors never knew. I didn’t want to explore the grittier elements of those cases like the rape and having children by your abductor. What was interesting to me was how a whole chunk of someone’s life could be lost. My heroine Julia is held captive from the time she is 13 to age 20. She has missed out on all the “normal” growing up stuff that happens during those years: graduation, learning to driving, starting to date, first kiss, prom, having friends, going to college. I wanted to explore how someone comes to terms with that loss. How do you find hope and not give into bitterness? Julia’s bodyguard and the hero of the story Gavin helps her with that process in addition to keeping her save from the cult leader Elijah True. Gavin is Julia’s guardian not only for her physical safety but also for her heart, for her emotional well being.

Thank you so much, Sharon, for sharing about Her Guardian. I can't wait to get my own copy!

All right, readers, if you want to enter, just leave a post and tell us about your feelings on FREEDOM. Freedom as a country, freedom in Christ, just freedom in general.

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL 4th of July!

God Bless!
Lynette

Welcome Margaret Daley

2011-06-08T00:04:00.001-04:00

Happy Wednesday Book Lovers,

Today, I'm very honored to introduce my friend and fellow author, Margaret Daley.

Margaret Daley is an award winning, multi-published author in the romance genre. One of her romantic suspense books, Hearts on the Line, won the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Contest. Recently she has won the Golden Quill Contest, FHL’s Inspirational Readers’ Choice Contest, Winter Rose Contest, Holt Medallion and the Barclay Gold Contest. She wrote for various secular publishers before the Lord led her to the Christian romance market. She currently writes inspirational romance and romantic suspense books for the Steeple Hill Love Inspired lines, romantic suspense for Abingdon Press and historical romance for Summerside Press. She has sold seventy-five books to date.
Margaret is currently the President for American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization of over 2300 members. She was one of the founding members of the first ACFW local chapter, WIN in Oklahoma. She has taught numerous classes for online groups, ACFW and RWA chapters. She enjoys mentoring other authors.

Until she retired a few years ago, she was a teacher of students with special needs for twenty-seven years and volunteered with Special Olympics as a coach. She currently is on the Outreach committee at her church, working on several projects in her community as well as serving on her church’s vestry.

On a more personal note, she has been married for over forty years to Mike and has one son and four granddaughters. She treasures her time with her family and friends.

Margaret graciously agreed to answer a few questions about a couple of her books.

Questions for author interviews for Lynette’s blog

1. We read your bio and learned a little about you. Anything you want to share in addition to that? When I retired from teaching three years ago, I wasn’t sure how it would go. I thought I might get bored or not have enough to do. NOT. I have been busier now writing full-time than when I was teaching and writing.

2. You’ve been writing a long time. How many books do you have published now? I sold my seventy-fifth book last September to Summerside Press. That historical romance called From This Day Forward will be out this September.

3. I know you’ve written a book in the recent Love Inspired Suspense continuity series, Texas Ranger Justice. Was it difficult to write about an idea created by someone else?

My book, Trail of Lies, was the fourth book (out April 2011) in the series. This has been my seventh continuity series and each one is a challenge coordinating with five other awesome authors and writing a story that has loosely been plotted by Love Inspired Suspense. They give us the broad plot points we need to address in our story, but we have to come up with all the scenes in between and make it all work.

4. I know you did a lot of research for Trail of Lies, including visiting with a Texas Ranger. Do you always “go all out” with your research? I try to get my research as accurate as I can. Some books require more than others. I have interviewed some interesting people for a book.

5. What are you working on now or going to write next? I am working on Saving Grace, my second book in the Men of the Texas Rangers, a romantic suspense series for Abingdon Press. This book will be out next August 2012. The first in the series called Saving Hope will be out in February 2012.

6. What do you like to do for fun? Do something with my family, especially my granddaughters. I also love to go to lunch and a movie with a friend.

7. How can readers get in contact with you? http://www.margaretdaley.com is the address of my new website. I just got through redoing it and moving my blog to the website. Check it out and leave a comment on my guestbook for a chance to win a book in the monthly contest.

8. What is the book you have out in June? I have the second book in Guardians, Inc. Series for Love Inspired. It is called Protecting Her Own. The third will be out in September called Hidden in the Everglades.

Blurb for Protecting Her Own: Nothing short of her dad’s stroke could bring professional bodyguard Cara Madison back to Virginia. But her homecoming turns explosive with a pipe bomb package addressed to her father. Cara knows two things for sure. First, someone’s after either her father or her…or both. And second, this job is too big to handle on her own. Unexpected help comes from Virginia state police detective Connor Fitzgerald. Years ago she’d walked away from him…and love. Now, despite their unresolved feelings, they must join forces—and settle their scarred differences.

9. Any parting comments? Wise advice for pre-published authors? Keep writing and submitting your work. Don’t give up. Also don’t forget to read a lot in the area you want to write.

You are a very busy lady! Thank you so much for stopping by and spending some time with us.

Readers, if you would like to win a copy of Margaret's newest release, PROTECTING HER OWN, please leave a comment saying you want to be entered in the drawing. You might leave Margaret a little note, too. :)

God Bless and until we meet again...

June ACFW New Releases

2011-06-02T07:58:00.000-04:00

A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley -- Romance from Thomas Nelson. Trouble may follow Lucy wherever she goes, but with the help of God and the rugged, reclusive David Wolf, she'll never face adversity alone.

Behind the Badge by Susan Sleeman -- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. Can a rookie sheriff's deputy find a killer before the killer takes the lives of the people she loves?

Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love -- General Fiction from Thomas Nelson. Unless she can let go of her fears and learn to trust again, Ada may lose the heart of a good man.

Broken Wings: A Novel by Carla Stewart -- General Fiction from Faith Words (Hachette). One woman clings to her memories. The other wants to erase hers. A story of an unlikely friendship birthed in providence and bathed in grace.

Forever After (A Hanover Falls Novel) by Deborah Raney -- General Fiction from Howard (Simon & Schuster). A series of arson fires at Hanover Falls rebuilt homeless shelter threatens its residents and casts new suspicions about the original fire.

Home Sweet Home by Kim Watters -- Romance from Love Inspired. Finding a home is all Abby dreamed about, until she discovers the man she falls in love with has a less permanent agenda.

Idaho Brides by Erica Vetsch -- Romance from Barbour. Experience the Wild West through the eyes of the three McConnell brothers who long to overcome their troubled childhood as drunkard’s sons.

Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa by Melanie Dobson -- Romance from Summerside Press. As the rest of the nation is embroiled in the Civil War, the Amana Colonies have remained at peace—until now.

Protecting Her Own by Margaret Daley -- Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. Protecting her own father when an assailant targets him, bodyguard Cara Madison with Connor Fitzgerald, an ex-boyfriend, searches for a would be killer while fighting her feelings toward Connor.

Purple Knot by Raquel Byrnes -- Romance from White Rose. With her faith shaken and her world cast in shadows, can Reyna trust the God she believes abandoned her?

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond -- Romance from Thomas Nelson. How could a marriage possibly work when the couple has only exchanged a few letters?

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo -- Romance from Waterbrook/Multnomah (Random House). Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away

The Irresistible Earl by Regina Scott -- A Romance from Love Inspired Historical. If Chase Dearborn, the powerful Earl of Allyndale, found Meredee Price's family in Scarborough, surely he'd continue his quest to challenge Meredee's stepbrother to a duel. Meredee is determined to avoid the earl at all costs.

The Story in the Stars, Gateway to Gannah, Book 1 by Yvonne Anderson -- Fantasy from Risen Books. The inhabitants of the planet Gannah are known as bloodthirsty savages who once tried to conquer the galaxy. Now a plague has ravaged the planet and only one survivor remains.

The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Musser -- General Fiction from Bethany House. The Sweetest Thing is the story of two girls--opposites in every way--fighting for the same thing: survival amidst tumultuous change.

The Wedding Season: The Gentleman Takes a Bride by Louise M. Gouge -- Romance from Love Inspired Historical. Surely Elizabeth Moberly was born to be a nobleman's bride. She can't possibly be attracted to the untitled stranger who interrupts her cousin's wedding.

Under a Desert Sky by DiAnn Mills -- General Fiction from Summerside Press. A race from danger...straight into the arms of love.

RWA - Who will be there

2011-05-26T08:41:00.004-04:00

Sorry it's been awhile. Blogger was messing with EVERYTHING and I couldn't get a post up. So, anyway, I will be at RWA this year. That's the Romance Writers Conference in New York City. I will be one of MANY signing at the Literacy booksigning on June 28th from 5:30-7:30. Check this out.

Information taken from the RWA website.

2011 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing

The "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing has become one of the most popular events at RWA's Annual Conference. More than 400 romance authors participate in this two-hour autographing event, and each year we raise thousands of dollars, which are donated to ProLiteracy Worldwide and local literacy organizations. Since 1990, RWA has donated more than $670,000 to literacy charities.

The 2011 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing will take place on Tuesday, June 28, from 5:30–7:30 p.m. at the New York Marriott Marquis in Times Square, Broadway Ballroom. This event is open to the public; there is no admittance fee. Proceeds from book sales go to local NYC and worldwide literacy organizations.

Authors signing at the 2011 "Readers for Life" Literacy Autographing:

Shana Abé
Cherry Adair
Shelley Adina
C.H. Admirand
Lara Adrian
Ann Aguirre
Jami Alden
Rochelle Alers
Cassie Alexander
Victoria Alexander
Laura Marie Altom
Donna Alward
Karen Anders
Jessica Andersen
Susan Andersen
Bella Andre
Beth Andrews
Vivi Andrews
Janice Angelique
Alex Archer
Jennifer Archer
Zoe Archer
Gina Ardito
Vivian Arend
Keri Arthur
Katharine Ashe
Sharon Ashwood
Sidney Ayers
Maya Banks
C.J. Barry
Gerry Bartlett
Jenna Bayley-Burke
Michelle Beattie
Jo Beverley
Laura Bickle
Jenna Black
Shayla Black
Toni Blake
Mary Blayney
Karina Bliss
Stephanie Bond
Joanna Bourne
Elizabeth Boyle
Celeste Bradley
Leah Braemel
Katherine Brandon
Kylie Brant
Marilyn Brant
Jackie Braun
Helen Brenna
Adrianne Brennan
Allison Brennan
Terri Brisbin
Suzanne Brockmann
Connie Brockway
Christina Brooke
Cheryl Brooks
Carolyn Brown
Sherri Browning Erwin
Nina Bruhns
Diane Burke
Marcella Burnard
Niki Burnham
Monica Burns
Grace Burrowes
Jaci Burton
Mary Burton
Shannon K. Butcher
Christyne Butler
Rhyannon Byrd
Meg Cabot
Gayle Callen
Stella Cameron
Kate Carlisle
Isobel Carr
Robyn Carr
Kathryn Caskie
Linda Castillo
Jayne Castle
Kendra Leigh Castle
Victoria Chancellor
Janet Chapman
Lara Chapman
Tera Lynn Childs
Ann Christopher
Beth Ciotta
Tiffany Clare
Rosemary Clement-Moore
CC Coburn
Mary Connealy
Stacy Connelly
Ellen Connor
Linda Conrad
Deborah Coonts
Karina Cooper
Dana Corbit
Nicola Cornick
Lecia Cornwall
Wendy Corsi Staub
Susan Crandall
Carolyn Crane
Megan Crane
Kathleen Creighton
Caitlin Crews
Sydney Croft
Jennifer Crusie
Jacquie D'Alessandro
Teresa D'Amario
Margaret Daley
Lauren Dane
B.J. Daniels
Lydia Dare
Tessa Dare
Patricia Davids
Heather Davis
Jo Davis
Alyssa Day
Sylvia Day
Janet Dean
Cindy Dees
Robyn DeHart
Roni Denholtz
Anna DePalo
Virna DePaul
Kimberly Derting
Anna DeStefano
Thea Devine
Leslie Dicken
Helenkay Dimon
Lila DiPasqua
Christina Dodd
Susan Donovan
Kate Douglas
Marissa Doyle
Ella Drake
Stephanie Draven
Stephanie Dray
Vicky Dreiling
Eileen Dreyer
Judy Duarte
Leigh Duncan
Nikki Duncan
Barbara Dunlop
Lynette Eason
Jennifer Echols
Cynthia Eden
Louisa Edwards
Anne Elizabeth
Simone Elkeles
Cara Elliott
Leanna Ellis
Suzanne Enoch
Karen Erickson
Jennifer Estep
Wendy Etherington
Alyssa Everett
Judi Fennell
Suzanne Ferrell
Caridad Ferrer
Marie Force
Gwynne Forster
Delores Fossen
Lori Foster
Addison Fox
Angie Fox
Susan Fox
Jacqueline Frank
Barbara Freethy
Jeaniene Frost
Diana Gabaldon
Tina Gabrielle
Abby Gaines
Shana Galen
Shelley Galloway
Lina Gardiner
Diane Gaston
Olivia Gates
Susan Gee Heino
Lexi George
Cindy Gerard
Tess Gerritsen
Rachel Gibson
Nancy Gideon
Blythe Gifford
Deeanne Gist
Debby Giusti
Seressia Glass
Colleen Gleason
Linda Goodnight
Anne Gracie
Donna Grant
Jane Graves
Ava Gray
Abby Green
Jennifer Greene
Leigh Greenwood
L.B. Gregg
Amelia Grey
Laura Griffin
Laura Lee Guhrke
Sophie Gunn
Shirley Hailstock
Traci E. Hall
Lynnette Hallberg
Jan Hambright
Lori Handeland
Darci Hannah
Kristin Hannah
Fiona Harper
Karen Harper
Molly Harper
Lynn Raye Harris
Kim Harrison
Thea Harrison
Megan Hart
Regina Hart
Michele Hauf
Candace Havens
Alexandra Hawkins
Karen Hawkins
J.C. Hay
Gwen Hayes
Jennifer Haymore
Pamela Hearon
Lorraine Heath
Meg Hennessy
Ann Herendeen
Rachael Herron
Kate Hewitt
Kristan Higgins
Tamara Hogan
Hannah Howell
Elizabeth Hoyt
Coralie Hughes Jensen
C.C. Hunter
Madeline Hunter
Sandra Hyatt
Larissa Ione
Jenna Ives
Jackie Ivie
Alexandra Ivy
Brenda Jackson
Maggie Jaimeson
Elle James
Eloisa James
Julie James
Silver James
Victoria Janssen
Hannah Jayne
Sabrina Jeffries
Elizabeth Jennings
Carolyn Jewel
Laura Joh Rowland
Christine Johnson
Kate Johnson
Kathryn Johnson
Linda O. Johnston
Darynda Jones
Crystal Jordan
Sophie Jordan
Wayne Jordan
Autumn Jordon
Stephanie Julian
Julia Justiss
Andrea Kane
Bethany Kane
Mallory Kane
Virginia Kantra
Laura Kaye
Robin Kaye
Susanna Kearsley
Taylor Keating
Erin Kellison
Leslie Kelly
Megan Kelly
Vanessa Kelly
Sharon Kendrick
Joanne Kennedy
Kris Kennedy
Janette Kenny
Lavinia Kent
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Beth Kery
Laurie Kingery
Cindy Kirk
Angela Knight
Deidre Knight
Amy Knupp
Kieran Kramer
Jayne Ann Krentz
Kathy Kulig
Joyce Lamb
Jill Marie Landis
Katie Lane
Emma Lang
Kimberly Lang
Michele Lang
Julia Latham
Sharon Lathan
Rosalind Lauer
Stephanie Laurens
Day Leclaire
Emery Lee
Jade Lee
Sandra Leesmith
Kara Lennox
Rose Lerner
Ann Lethbridge
Vicki Lewis Thompson
Jeannie Lin
Caroline Linden
Sara Lindsey
Marjorie Liu
Nikki Logan
Christine London
Julia London
Laurie London
Dianna Love
Jennie Lucas
Kathy Lyons
Susan Lyons
Heather MacAllister
Sally MacKenzie
Julianne MacLean
Sarah MacLean
Stella MacLean
Katy Madison
Tracy Madison
Margo Maguire
Margaret Mallory
Josie Malone
Lissa Manley
Catherine Mann
Ashley March
Emily March
Wendy S. Marcus
Juliet Marillier
Lorelle Marinello
Shirley Marks
Mia Marlowe
Cat Marsters
Kat Martin
Sandra Marton
Delilah Marvelle
Jessica Matthews
Cathy Maxwell
Melissa Mayhue
Amanda McCabe
Melissa McClone
Judi McCoy
Cathy McDavid
Maureen McGowan
Mackenzie McKade
Emily McKay
Laurel McKee
Shannon McKenna
Lee McKenzie
Kristina McMorris
Teresa Medeiros
Susan Meier
Christine Merrill
Courtney Milan
Melanie Milburne
Mima
Jenna Mindel
K.A. Mitchell
Kate Moore
Laura Moore
Angi Morgan
Carole Mortimer
Janet Mullany
Debra Mullins
Cindi Myers
Sophia Nash
Laura Navarre
Carla Neggers
Diane Nelson
Rhonda Nelson
Miranda Neville
Kate Noble
Deborah Nolan
Rosalind Noonan
Barbara O'Neal
Kathleen O'Reilly
Kaitlin O'Riley
Erica O'Rourke
Jana Oliver
Robin D. Owens
Sharon Page
Pamela Palmer
Allison Pang
Sarah Parr
Leslie Parrish
Beth Pattillo
Kate Pearce
Marta Perry
Vicki Pettersson
Susan Elizabeth Phillips
Caridad Pineiro
Allie Pleiter
Jane Porter
Mary Jo Putney
Erin Quinn
Julia Quinn
L.L. Raand
Radclyffe
Hope Ramsay
Francis Ray
Deanna Raybourn
Christy Reece
Eileen Rendahl
Heidi Rice
Lisa Marie Rice
Christie Ridgway
Maggie Robinson
Farrah Rochon
Joanne Rock
Maya Rodale
Karen Rose
Margaret Rowe
Stephanie Rowe
Michelle Rowen
Diana Rubino
Gerri Russell
Roxanne Rustand
Cristal Ryder
Sharon Sala
Patricia Sargeant
Cat Schield
Anna Schmidt
Ericka Scott
Inara Scott
Laura Scott
Regina Scott
Susan Sey
Jill Shalvis
Maggie Shayne
Lynn Sheene
Shelley Shepard Gray
Kandy Shepherd
Eve Silver
Gianna Simone
Kira Sinclair
Nalini Singh
Arianna Skye
Stefanie Sloane
Bertrice Small
Cheryl Ann Smith
Annie Solomon
Teresa Southwick
Kerrelyn Sparks
Roxanne St. Claire
Shannon Stacey
Marianne Stephens
Susan Stephens
Amanda Stevens
Shelli Stevens
Juliana Stone
Michelle Styles
Cara Summers
Karin Tabke
Liz Talley
Karen Templeton
Leslie Tentler
RaeAnne Thayne
Jodi Thomas
Sherry Thomas
Colleen Thompson
Missy Tippens
Christine Trent
Janet Tronstad
Stephanie Tyler
Maggie Van Well
Lisa Verge Higgins
Carol Voss
Ann Voss Peterson
Barbara Wallace
Joss Ware
Tracy Anne Warren
Jeannie Watt
Wendy Wax
Heather Webber
Robin Wells
Christine Wenger
Karen White
Liia Ann White
Barbara White Daille
Karen White-Owens
Merrillee Whren
Lori Wilde
Kit Wilkinson
Alayna Williams
Beth Williamson
Lauren Willig
Michelle Willingham
C.L. Wilson
Lois Winston
Pearl Wolf
Veronica Wolff
Lenora Worth
Maisey Yates
Rebecca York
Rebecca Zanetti

2011-05-06T10:58:00.002-04:00

Congratulations to the 2011 Christy Award Nominees!!

Contemporary Romance
Blood Ransom
by Lisa Harris (Zondervan)

Indivisible
by Kristin Heitzmann (WaterBrook Press)

Sworn to Protect
by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas

The Reluctant Prophet
by Nancy Rue (David C. Cook)

The Thorn
by Beverly Lewis (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Waiting
by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell Books,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Standalone

Almost Heaven
by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

Lady in Waiting
by Susan Meissner (WaterBrook Press)

A Season of Miracles
by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)

First Novel

Crossing Oceans
by Gina Holmes (Tyndale House Publishers)

Heartless
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

A Season of Miracles
by Rusty Whitener (Kregel Publications)

Historical

Chosen: The Lost Diaries of Queen Esther
by Ginger Garrett (David C. Cook)

For Time & Eternity
by Allison Pitman (Tyndale House Publishers)

While We’re Far Apart
by Lynn Austin (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Historical Romance

The Girl in the Gatehouse
by Julie Klassen (Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

She Walks in Beauty
by Siri Mitchell (Bethany House Publishers,
a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Within My Heart
by Tamera Alexander (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense

The Bishop
by Steven James (Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Bride Collector
by Ted Dekker (Center Street)

Predator
by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan)

Visionary

To Darkness Fled
by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press)

Konig’s Fire
by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press)

The Last Christian
by David Gregory (WaterBrook Press)

Young Adult

The Charlatan’s Boy
by Jonathan Rogers (WaterBrook Press)

The Healer’s Apprentice
by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)

Motorcycles, Sushi, and One Strange Book
by Nancy Rue (Zondervan)

May New Releases from ACFW authors

2011-05-03T00:01:00.000-04:00

A Great Catch by Lorna Seilstad — General Fiction from Revell. She wants to change the world. He wants to change her mind.

A Killer Among Us by Lynette Eason — A Thriller/Suspense from Revell. Kit Kenyon is a first-rate hostage negotiator. Noah Lambert is a good detective with excellent instincts. The new partners have hardly had time to get used to each other when they are thrown into a grisly murder case.

Deep Trouble by Mary Connealy — A Romance from Barbour. Gabe Lasley finds Shannon Dysart stranded in a mountaintop cave and saves her. She is on a quest to prove her father’s research isn’t the work of a madman, that he really did find a treasure in the wild west.

Died in the Wool by Elizabeth Ludwig — A Mystery from Barbour. Can Monah and proven sleuth Casey Alexander find the real killer before this librarian is booked for murder?

Fade to Blue by Julie Carobini — A Romance from B and H Publishing. When confronted with her most painful, past decisions, will Suz Mitchell second guess herself? Or will she learn to let God restore all that once seemed lost?

Journey’s End by Dora Hiers — A Romance from White Rose. When Chelsea Hammond is snatched from her home, can she put aside her fear, and trust Trey Colten with her life? Can she forgive him for destroying her past and let him help to rebuild her future?

Montana Marriages Trilogy by Mary Connealy — Romance from Barbour. The complete Montana Marriages series all under one cover. One volume encases three acclaimed novels by Mary Connealy.

Over The Edge by Brandilyn Collins — Thriller/Suspense from B and H Publishing. Torn from the front lines of medical debate and the author’s own experience with Lyme Disease, Over the Edge is riveting fiction, full of twists and turns—and powerful truths about today’s medical field.

Promise of Time by S. Dionne Moore — A Romance from Barbour/Heartsong. Time promises to heal all wounds, but will Ellie and Theo allow God to work His timing in their lives and bring a new promise of love?

Revealing Fire by Connie Stevens — A Romance from Barbour/Heartsong. Two people in their September years are blessed with a second chance at happiness, but unexpected arrivals of a long-estranged son and a long-forgotten former admirer threaten to unravel the cords that bind two hearts.

Secrets of the Heart; Ravensmoore Chronicles, Book One by Jillian Kent — A Romance from Rhelms. When Lady Madeline Whittington rescues a runaway from a nearby lunatic asylum her life will be forever changed.

The Art of Romance by Kaye Dacus — A Romance from Barbour. Two artists are drawn together by matchmaking matriarchs.

The Unexpected Bride by Debra Ullrick — A Romance from Love Inspired. Haydon Bowen has no intention of marrying. Unfortunately, his brother has other plans. Even when beautiful, cultured Rainelle Devonwood learns she’s a mistakenly ordered bride, she won’t let Haydon drive her away.

Threat of Exposure by Lynette Eason — A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired. In book 5 of the Texas Ranger Justice series, DEA Brock Martin and Texas Ranger Gisella Hernandez must work together to decipher codes, uncover clues and protect themselves from a killer who doesn’t want his secrets known.

To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer — A Romance from Bethany House. A blacksmith with a criminal past. A librarian with pacifist ideals. Do they have a fighting chance at finding love?

Undercurrent by Michelle Griep — A Science Fiction/Time Travel from Risen Books. People go missing every day–many meet with foul play, some leave the social grid by choice, but others are never accounted for…where do they go?

When Sparrows Fall by Meg Moseley — A Romance from Waterbrook/Multnomah. When an isolated home-schooling widow makes a stealthy bid to escape a cultic group, an outspoken professor encourages her to stand up to her abuser but brings his own set of complications.

Wyoming Weddings by Vickie McDonough, Susan Page Davis, and Diana Brandmeyer — Romance from Barbour. Three modern Wyoming women face mountains on the road to love.

Guest blogger Hope White

2011-05-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

Accused of being an eternal optimist, I began spinning tales of intrigue and adventure when I was in grade school, and wrote my first book when I was eleven — a thriller that ended with a mysterious phone call the reader never heard!
My college sweetheart and I have been married for over 20 years and are blessed with two wonderful sons, two feisty cats, and a bossy border collie. When not dreaming up inspirational tales, I’m usually out walking the many trails here in Washington, enjoying a fine cup of tea with friends, or hiding out in a movie theatre. I love to hear from readers: hopewhiteauthor@gmail.com

1. We read your bio and learned a little about you. Anything you want to share in addition to that?
My next book, “Christmas Haven” is out in November and it also takes place in the fictional town of Port Whisper. Julie Burns witnesses a kidnapping and someone’s after her. She retreats back to the small town she ran from 10 years ago where the love of her life is now police chief. Chief Morgan Wright never fully recovered from Julie breaking his heart when she chose a career as a social worker in the big city over their love. Now he has to protect both his one true love, and his own heart because she will surely leave him again.

2. How long have you been writing? How many books do you have published?
I’ve been writing forever! LOL “Witness on the Run” is my second book for Love Inspired Suspense. My first was “Hidden in Shadows” (Nov. 2010).

3. Who are some of your favorite authors?
Shelley Bates, Heather Davis, Maggie Steifvater, Suzanne Brockman, Harlan Coben – I’m all over the map!

4. Is there anyone who had a big influence on your writing?
My husband for being so patient and supportive! He’s a story teller in his own right. Then there’s my friend, Karen, who continued to tell me “you can do it” when the rejections came flooding in.

5. Tell us about your new release. A summary or back cover blurb would be great.
Okay, here it is:
A gun firing. A man killed. Running for her life. That's all Robin Strand remembers of the shooting she saw. With fear-induced amnesia, she can't identify the killer, no matter what the police say. The only one who believes her is private investigator Jake Walters. And he's the one who steps in to rescue her when her safe house is discovered. As they struggle to stay one step ahead of danger, Robin needs Jake more than ever. With his faith and training as a guide, they work together to bring back her memory. Before the killer can ensure that she never remembers.

6. What made you want to write this story?
I always wondered what it would be like to get a do-over. In other words, if you didn’t know who you were or where you came from, would you be a different person? Would you make different choices? “Witness on the Run” is also about trust: trusting in other people and trusting in God. Robin has to rely on and trust others in order to survive the killer who’s after her.

7. What research did you have to do for this book?
I had the pleasure of visiting a wonderful town in Washington called Port Townsend that inspired my fictional town of Port Whisper. It’s a charming town on the Olympic Peninsula – it’s so gorgeous out there! I also connected with a private detective and learned a lot about the P.I. business. Fascinating stuff!

8. What are you working on now?
Another book set in Port Whisper featuring FBI agent Aaron Monroe, who’s the biological father of Sketch, the teenager who appears in “Witness on the Run”. Aaron is tracking a killer and has no idea his son is living in the small town with his grandmother, Aaron’s former mother-in-law.

9. How can readers get in contact with you?
E-mail: hopewhiteauthor@gmail.com
Facebook: hopewhiteauthor (friend me!)

10. Any parting comments?
Thanks for giving me the chance to meet new readers!

All right everyone, now is the chance to win this awesome book! Leave a comment telling why you want to read this book and be entered into the drawing to win.
Thanks so much! And thanks to Hope for being on my blog!

Missy Tippens guesting today! Enter to win a free book!

2011-04-28T08:47:00.004-04:00

Hi Missy, so glad you're here!

Missy's bio:

Bio:
Missy Tippens is a pastor’s wife and mom of three who lives near Atlanta. After ten years of pursuing her dream, she made her first sale of a full-length novel to Love Inspired in 2007. She still pinches herself to see if it really happened! Her novels have been finalists in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Contest, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the Bookseller's Best Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com.

1. We read your bio and learned a little about you. Anything you want to share in addition to that?

Well, I’m a former microbiologist, turned stay-at-home mom, turned adjunct instructor at the local technical college. So I’ve had a variety of careers!

2. How long have you been writing? I started writing in 1995 when we got our first computer. :)
How many books do you have published? My 4th just came out.
How long did it take you to get published? Almost 12 years!

3. If you compared your writing style to any other Christian Fiction author, who would it be?

Oh, gosh, that’s too hard to answer! It could probably be compared to several of the other Love Inspired authors who write small towns stories with lots of emotion and a touch of humor.

Here's the back cover blurb:

When Faith Hagin sees widower cop Gabe Reynolds every day in her coffee shop, she can’t help but feel for the struggling single dad. She’s raised a teenager of her own—and sadly, knows what not to do. But thanks to his matchmaking preteen daughter, Chelsea, the whole town’s praying for Gabe to find a wife!

Even though Faith thinks she’s content being just friends, spending time with him and Chelsea starts to feel like a fresh start at having a family. And their love may be the answer to everyone’s prayers.

4. What made you want to write this story?

A Family for Faith is inspired by a man I watched on a flight from D.C. to Atlanta! I actually thank him in the acknowledgments. :) The man was a single dad across the aisle and up a row on the plane. I watched as he tried desperately to put a hair bow in his little daughter’s hair and just couldn’t get it in right. I knew I wanted to write a story about a single man with a young daughter who was hitting an age where she would need a mother’s influence. I had so much fun writing it!

5. What research did you have to do for this book?
I did some research about small town cops using Debra Dixon’s Dad’s book, When You’re the Only Cop in Town by Jack Berry and Debra Dixon. I also double-checked facts with friends who have cop husbands. Since it’s contemporary small town, I’m mainly writing what I know. :)

6. What are you working on now or going to write next?

I just turned in A House Full of Hope which will be out from Love Inspired in Feb. 2012. And now I’m working on another proposal.

7. I know you like to teach at writing conferences. What are some of the topics you teach on?

Yes, I enjoy teaching! I like to speak about persistence, The Moral Premise, the journey to publication, the first year after the first sale, and basic plotting.

8. What do you like to do for fun besides meet other writers for marathon writing sessions?

Oh, I do love to get away with writers! :) I also love shopping with my daughter, watching my favorite shows on TV, reading (of course!), date night with hubby, movies with friends, girls’ night out, and eating out every chance I get!

9. How can readers get in contact with you?

www.missytippens.com, and on Facebook (Missy Tippens Readers) and Twitter (MissyTippens).

10. Any parting comments? Wise advice for pre-published authors?

Keep writing! Don’t re-work the same story over and over. Just plow ahead. You’ll learn more with each story. Then when you do sell, you’ll have several stories to offer your editor for that second book contract!

Lynette, thanks for having me!

Thank YOU for being here. Sounds like a great story. Can't wait until I can sit down and read it.

All right, bloggers, now's your chance. Leave a comment to be placed in a drawing to win a copy of this fabulous book!

God Bless!

Winner of Renee Ryan's book!

2011-04-27T20:31:00.004-04:00

Hi everyone, just wanted to say thanks for stopping by and entering to win Renee's book. And the winner is....

Courtney!

Thanks so much!
Lynette

Renee Ryan guest blogger today - come win a book!

2011-04-20T00:01:00.003-04:00

Renee grew up in a small Florida beach town. To entertain herself during countless hours of "laying-out" she read all the classics. It wasn’t until the summer between her sophomore and junior years at Florida State University that she read her first romance novel. Hooked from page one, she spent hours consuming one book after another while working on the best (and last!) tan of her life.

Two years later, armed with a degree in Economics and Religion, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park, a modeling agency, and a cosmetic conglomerate. She moved on to teach high school Economics, American Government and Latin while coaching award-winning cheerleading teams. Several years later, with an eclectic cast of characters swimming around in her head, she began seriously pursuing a writing career.

Renee sold her first book, EXTREME MEASURES, to Dorchester Publishing by winning the inaugural New Historical Voice Contest in 2002. She eventually reconciled her writing with her faith and began writing Inspirational Romances in 2006. She sold her first Inspirational manuscript to Love Inspired Historical in December 2006. Her first Love Inspired Historical will arrive in stores February or March of 2009.

When she’s not writing for Love Inspired Historical, Renee works part time as a regional makeup artist for an international cosmetic company. She lives with her husband, two children and one ornery cat in Nebraska.

Thanks, Lynette, for inviting me to blog with you today.

I’m here to talk about my latest release, Book Four in the Charity House series, THE LAWMAN CLAIMS HIS BRIDE.

Charity House is no ordinary orphanage, but rather a unique home for the by-blows/mistakes of prostitutes and gunslingers. By its very nature, Charity House lends itself to unique stories.

THE LAWMAN CLAIMS HIS BRIDE is no exception. The book reintroduces two familiar characters, Logan and Megan. Both have been along for the ride since Book One, THE MARSHAL TAKES A BRIDE.

Because my hero and heroine had been around from the beginning of the series I found myself faced with a large problem. Logan and Megan met and fell in love back in Book Two, HANNAH’S BEAU. But Megan was too young and Logan wasn’t ready to be a family man. Well, that’s what everyone said anyway. But no matter what they’re told, they can’t help loving one another.

The reader finds out in Book 3, LOVING BELLA, that Logan has taken a job in San Francisco to make a living worthy of his beloved. He plans to marry Megan as soon as he returns home. There is no doubt these two will end up together.

But therein lays the heart of the problem.

What fun is a romance novel where the hero and heroine are already in love before the book even begins? More importantly, how was I supposed to accomplish the daunting task of writing a full-length novel with zero romantic conflict? Can you say: Boring?
Under the circumstances, I did what any self-respecting writer would do. I started playing the “what if” game.

What if one or both of them is only in love with the idea of being in love? What if they’ve each built up the other in their minds to impossible proportions? What if a newly appointed US Marshal comes home to marry his one true love, only to find her in jail for murder?

Now I had the makings of a story.

But wait. There’s more. Another issue I wanted to tackle was the touchy subject of intimacy between newly married Christians. We in the church tell our youth that a strong physical attraction will translate into a strong sexual connection once vows are spoken, but not before. Never before. Christians, especially Christian women, are taught from a very early age that intimacy is bad, bad, bad. Unless, of course, inside the sanctity of marriage.

But isn’t that sending our girls a confusing, dare-I-say mixed message? For a bride’s entire life she’s taught that intimacy with a man is something to be avoided at all costs. “Don’t even think about it, much less do it,” she’s told. But then, on the night of her wedding, she’s supposed to flip some invisible switch and suddenly intimacy is a good thing.

Want to know how I, as a believing Christian and a mother of a teenage girl, addressed this very touchy issue in THE LAWMAN CLAIMS HIS BRIDE? You’ll have to read the book to find out. ☺

Renee Ryan writes for Love Inspired Historical and Love Inspired. Her fabulous editor is Melissa Endlich. For more information, you can visit Renee at renee@reneeryan.com

THANK YOU, Rene, for being here today. Readers, run out and get this book! It's awesome! Leave a comment and a way to get in touch with you and you might find yourself a winner of this fabulous story.

An Easter Mystery!

2011-04-18T10:12:00.002-04:00

Come on over to the Craftie Ladies of Suspense blog where I posted part eight of our Easter mystery story. Come read about The Great Easter Bunny Heist!

www.ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com

And Karen Kirst is the winner of Diane Burke's book!

Congratulations Karen!

Winner of Beth Goddard's book!

2011-04-15T23:04:00.002-04:00

Hi all, the winner of Beth Goddard's book is Anne Payne! Congratulations, Anne! Beth will be in touch with you soon!

Everyone have a fabulous Saturday!

I'm at Dollywood, what are you doing this weekend?

Work Ethic and what do you do with it?

2011-04-15T08:07:00.003-04:00

Okay, this has nothing really to do with writing, but I'm curious. We (my family) go out to eat quite a bit. Yesterday, we went to my favorite restaurant, had a great waitress, excellent service, the food was out quickly, etc. It was a most enjoyable experience. And I gave a tip that reflected that. I'll also be back to that restaurant probably next week.

But then there's the other restaurant that we like. Only, 95% of our past experiences with this restaurant have been bad. Seriously. So, why do we keep going back? Mainly I think it's because we really do enjoy the food when it's done right. So anyway, when the service is bad, the food is either wrong or cold by the time we get it, or whatever, I don't tip--or I leave a really small one. Now, of course, if I can tell that the server is really trying and it's not his/her fault, I don't scrimp on the tip, but otherwise...

And I get that people have bad days, I mean, I sure do, but aren't we supposed to push past that or at least attempt to cover it up when we're on the job? Aren't we actually supposed to do the job we're being paid for? Some days I don't really feel like writing. Some days, I'd like to say, I'll do it later. And it's nice that I have that option, but I also know that later might bring some kind of crisis. Illness, an unexpected errand, anything can throw off the writing time. So, I don't procrastinate (usually) when it comes to getting in the word count. Isn't that what I'm supposed to do? Because if I'm late, I throw off the whole process of getting the book released on time.

Because if I'm late, I throw off the whole process of getting the book released on time. And that would NOT be good.

Anyway, I'm just curious. When you're working, do you wear your feelings on your sleeve? Do you have a good work ethic or a bad one? And why do you think you have whichever work ethic you have?

Just curious.

Hope you have a fabulous weekend!

Diane Burke is giving away a free book!

2011-04-12T00:01:00.000-04:00

Award-winning author, Diane Burke, writes for Love Inspired Books. She loves to read all of the lines and writes for the romantic suspense division. She lives in Florida and when she's not writing, she's reading, walking the beach, visiting with her grandchildren or playing with her dogs.

Welcome, Diane!

Thanks, for having me, Lynette.

So, tell us how you came up with the idea for Double Identity.

The original idea began as the wispy remnants of a dream. I woke up and remembered dreaming about a woman who picked up a letter from her kitchen table. The letter began, “By the time you read this letter I’ll be dead.” Of course, that caught my interest. That’s probably why the dream stuck with me. I don’t usually remember my dreams.

I started asking myself questions. Who was this woman? Who was the person who left the note? When she goes in search of answers and discovers that her name, her identity, is all false, what would she do? And soon a plot was born.

However, plotting is only half the battle. I had to try and put myself in my characters shoes and answer the all important question---what is going on emotionally within this woman and how is she going to cope?

That made me think about teenagers. So many teens get angry at their parents and have moments that they wish they belonged to some other family. Or they sometimes don’t feel like they belong in the one they have and wonder if they’ve been adopted.
So how would it feel if you found out the family and life you felt belonged to you wasn’t real?

We all wear masks. We’re wives, mothers, daughters, sisters, employees, friends. But who are we really? If every title, if every mask was stripped away, what would be left behind? Who really is the person in the mirror?

I’d love to hear from your readers and see how they’d answer that question. I’m still trying to answer it for myself.

All right readers. I hope you'll give Diane an answer to her question. I know I'm going to have to think about this one a bit.

Louise Gouge is here. Win her book!

2011-04-11T06:00:00.001-04:00

Bio:
Award-winning Florida author Louise M. Gouge writes historical fiction, calling her stories “threads of grace woven through time.” In addition to numerous other awards, Louise is the recipient of the prestigious Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. Married to David Gouge for forty-six years, Louise is a mother of four and grandmother of six children. In addition to writing, she teaches English and humanities at Valencia Community College in Kissimmee , Florida.

1. Tell us about your current release. A summary or back cover blurb will do nicely.
In At the Captain’s Command, a heroic British naval captain, son of an influential earl, dares to fall in love with a provincial American girl. Then he discovers her family's devastating secret.

Loyal to the British Crown, orphaned Dinah Templeton has vowed never to marry a seafaring man, for her father died at sea and her merchant captain brother is always away. But when Captain Thomas Moberly sails into St. Augustine to defend the East Florida shores from American pirates, Dinah finds that her heart may overrule her head regarding this seafarer. Captain Thomas Moberly, captain of HMS Dauntless, has been assigned to capture the notorious American pirate Nighthawk, who plagues the Atlantic coast of East Florida. War-weary and hoping for a refreshing visit with his brother and sister, who live near St. Augustine, Thomas never expects to find love. But how can he resist the lovely Miss Templeton, even though she is what his father, Lord Bennington, would call a common American?

2. When did you decide you wanted to be a writer?
I’ve always had an active imagination, so it was a natural step to start writing down my stories. I didn’t have time to do it until my children were pretty much grown (they were in middle school and high school). But once I got started writing back in 1984 at the encouragement of a friend, I didn’t stop. I even went back to college and grad school so I could learn to write better.

3. How/where do you come up with ideas for your stories?
Stories are all around us. Sometimes a story can come from reading some historical detail or watching a documentary on television. My very first story was inspired by watching a father and son toss a football in a field outside my window. That story grew into my first two publishing credits. I look for the human element in any situation and try to choose a compelling story that will show my readers how God moves in our lives.

4. Writing historicals means tons of research. How do you do your research? Do you have all your facts ready before you sit down to write the story? Or do you research as you go along?
I love the research process, but story or research first? It’s different for each book. Sometimes I find that wonderful historical detail that sparks my imagination, and I rough out a story. I check online about the era and begin to flesh out the plot and setting details. Other times, I have a character in mind and try to discover what time period in which to set her or him. Yes, I definitely continue to research details as I go along. When I make an actual research trip to someplace like Boston, Nantucket, Annapolis, or St. Augustine, I prepare my questions carefully and contact the local historical societies beforehand. Historians are wonderful in sharing information to help authors make our stories historically accurate.

5. Who are some of your favorite authors?
Laurie Alice Eakes (Lady in the Mist), MaryLu Tyndall (Surrender the Night), and Ramona Cecil (Freedom’s Crossroad) not only are my favorite living authors but my former critique partners. Each of these ladies has a gift for bringing her characters to life and describing settings so subtly that readers feel as if they are there. My favorite authors of previous eras are Charlotte Bronte, Jane Austen, and Charles Dickens. Funny thing is that we consider them historical writers, but they were writing contemporary novels of their own times.

6. Did you have someone who really made a difference in your writing? A mentor that helped you get to where you are now?
How about a whole organization? American Christian Fiction Writers has made all the difference in my writing career. This is the place where I met and networked with agents, editors, and other writers. Before that, I had published two novels with a major publisher, but had only modest success. After joining ACFW, I saw a whole different world.

7. Where do you get your ideas for your characters? Are they based on people you know?
Just like my stories, my characters are all around me. Sometimes people inspire characters. Sometimes my character is a composite of more than one person. I always add my own touches. And like most authors, I’m always on the lookout for that one special character whose journey will have a huge impact on my readers. Someone like Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird or Jane Eyre in her self-named novel, characters whose person strength and core values are something we all can admire and hope to emulate.

8. What are your goals as a writer? Where do you see yourself five years from now?
I want to keep writing stories that inspire people to walk closer to Jesus Christ. I hope to still be doing that in five years.

9. What are you working on now or going to write next?
I’ve begun to write in the Regency period in England. It’s a delightful era that provides opportunity for both comedy and serious drama. But I also love to write Americana, especially post-Civil War stories. I’m waiting on the Lord for His direction.

10. How can your readers get in touch with you?
I love to hear from readers and always answer them. My website/blog is http://blog.Louisemgouge.com. Please write!

Thank you so much for stopping by, Louise! Love your answers and your books! I was in my local Christian bookstore just last night and saw it sitting proudly on the shelf. So, glad to have you.

All right, lovely readers, if you want a copy of this book, leave a comment and maybe tell us why you love to read historical books.

Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference

2011-04-09T06:04:00.003-04:00

I just wanted to tell you about a great writers conference coming up. If you're a beginner or an advanced writer, this conference is for you. Agents, editors, freelance writers are all there to answer your questions, listen to your pitch and encourage you in your writing journey.

Place: Ridgecrest Conference Center in Black Mountain, NC
Dates: May 9-13, 2011 That's a Monday through a Friday

I plan to take a couple of classes myself. One of those being Mike Dellosso. If you're a suspense writer, you might want to consider signing up for his class. Here is his bio and the class descriptions.

Mike Dellosso writes novels of suspense for both the mind and the soul. He writes to both entertain and challenge. In addition to his novels, Mike is also an adjunct professor at Lancaster Bible College and a faculty member at the Greater Philadelphia Christian Writer's Conference.

Writing the Supernatural/Suspense/Thriller/Mystery Novel (Continuing Class)

We'll discuss the differences in the genres, how they look in the CBA, pacing, mood, protagonists and villains, theme, and other intricacies of creating a story that thrills, entertains, and moves the reader.

Is Christian Horror an Oxymoron? (Workshop)

What do you think of when someone says Christian horror? In this workshop we'll be looking at this unique genre and discussing why it's important, why it's misunderstood, and how to effectively write the horror novel but "keep it Christian."

Writing a Novel on a Shoestring Budget (Workshop)

No, we won't be talking about finances. In this workshop we'll look at how to write a novel on a tight budget . . . of time. We'll discuss things that rob our time, how to find time and then prioritize it, and how to budget your time to writing a full-length novel in three months.

Sound interesting?

Then hurry and sign up. I would love to see you there!

Elizabeth Goddard is giving away a free book!

2011-04-08T13:40:00.013-04:00

Hi Bloggers, I have a special guest today. Beth Goddard is a fantastic writer and I'm really excited she decided to stop by today. I hope you'll read about her and leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for her latest book, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES. I know you don't want to miss this opportunity!

Elizabeth Goddard is a 7th generation Texan who grew up in a small oil town in East Texas. Surrounded by Christian family and friends, coupled with her love of reading, writing Christian fiction seemed like a natural outcome. Elizabeth attended the University of North Texas where she received her degree in computer science. She spent the next seven years working in high-level sales for a software company located in Dallas, and traveling throughout the United States and Canada. At 25, she finally met the man of
her dreams and married him a few weeks later. When she had her first child, she moved back to East Texas with her husband and daughter and worked for a pharmaceutical company. But then, more children came along and it was time to focus on family. Elizabeth loves that she gets to do her favorite things every day-read, write novels, and stay at home with her four beautiful
children and wonderful husband.

1.Plug Time: Tell us about your latest book and/or share with us the back cover blurb.
Back Cover Blurb: Photographer extraordinaire, Polly Perkins, runs her business in a small town on the Oregon coast. Though it is her primary source of income, there are limits to how many mismatched jackets, earrings and shoes she can take. Still, people fascinate her—their smiles might brighten with the flash of the camera, but their eyes never lie. When Polly is hired to photograph a wedding at Caldera National Park, she captures a murder victim instead. Will her uncanny ability to read emotions through a camera lens help her prevent another murder—and find romance for herself?

2.What do you hope readers take away from the book and think about long after they've finished the story?
That’s an interesting question because I didn’t write the story with a take-away in mind, but there are several spiritual nuggets. The one that stayed with me after the book, and I hope others will pick up on it, is more a question. Have you ever in the darkest corner of your heart wished ill-will upon someone? Polly has to face the music when her ill-will comes to pass, but not by her hands, then she wonders if she is still guilty. Of course, this all has to do with forgiveness, but what if it’s only a crime of the heart?

3. Are there any particular spiritual themes you like to write about?

Years ago when I began crafting stories (none of those I submitted for publication) I wanted my themes to center around treasures in heaven, and putting emphasis on what is really important in life. Now, looking at the books that have been published, they all have something in common—my characters are looking for purpose and direction, something they can only find through a relationship with God.

4. How did you learn to write? Did you have a mentor? Do you have a specific way that you write? For example, are you a plotter or a pantser? Do you use a spreadsheet? Storyboarding? Or do you just sit down and start writing?

I have to credit the critique group I joined in 2001 when I joined ACFW. I read voraciously, but I didn’t have a clue how to write a novel. Joining the group, I had to send in a chapter a week and through that process, I learned the craft, along with books and attending conferences. But that got me started. Because I started out by writing for Heartsong Presents, and they require a chapter synopsis, I learned early on to plot out my story. Now, I find that to be an invaluable tool so I’m not staring at the page wondering where the story is going. Of course, it’s a loose outline, because I’ll often change things around, or add a different element, but for the most part the story follows the synopsis. I’ve purchased several programs, including Scrivener, and the Snowflake, thinking these could help make my lfie easier. But I haven’t found the time to go through the learning curve, plus I’m not sure changing the system that works for me is a good thing in the middle of deadlines!

5. What are your goals for the future when it comes to your writing career? Where do you see yourself in five years?

I love writing category romance and I hope to always write for Heartsong and Love Inspired Suspense, but in addition to writing those, I’d love to add bigger books. I enjoy the fast pace of romantic suspense so I would hope in five years, I could be writing category and romantic suspense.

6. Is there a particular Scripture verse that’s made a big difference for you?

Psalm 45:1 My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the king; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer. This is the verse the Lord continued to bring to me repeatedly during those years he was calling me to write. This verse speaks to my heart and says that my voice can be heard through writing.

7. How can readers find you online? (i.e. website, facebook, twitter, etc.)

Please stop by my website and join my newsletter at www.elizabethgoddard.com and follow me daily at my facebook author page, www.facebook.com/elizabethgoddardauthor and twitter, twitter.com/bethgoddard

8. Anything else you’d like to share?

The Camera Never Lies released in December 2010, as well as Praying for Rayne. In October 2011, I have two books releasing. Under the Redwood Tree (Heartsong Presents) and Freezing Point (Love Inspired Suspense)

Thanks for having me Lynette!

Thanks for being here, Beth. Winner will be announced one week from today, so check back to see if you won. God Bless and happy reading!

Craftie Ladies of Suspense blog time

2011-04-04T17:03:00.000-04:00

Hey, have y’all ever stopped by www.ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com? If not, you’re missing out. There’s a whole group of suspense authors over there who’d love for you to drop in. We talk about writing suspense, sometimes we talk about new releases and sometimes we just talk about life. But we always have a great time and would love for you to join in. If you get over there, just tell them Lynette sent you. Oh! And sometimes we have contests! You might even win a book or two. ☺

One last thing, I’m blogging today about blogtalk radio. What is that, you ask? Well stop by and find out! God Bless!

April new releases from your favorite ACFW Authors

2011-04-03T20:15:00.001-04:00

A Family for Faith by Missy Tippens -- A Romance from Love Inspired. Even though Faith Hagin thinks she’s content being just friends with Gabe Reynolds, spending time with him and his daughter Chelsea starts to feel like a fresh start at having a family. And their love may be the answer to everyone’s prayers.

A Place to Belong by Linda Goodnight -- Romance from Love Inspired. Faith and warm memories have helped widow Kitty Wainwright endure the loss of her husband. That's all she's ever needed…until she hires contractor Jace Carter to repair her motel.

Abigail's New Hope by Mary Ellis -- A Romance from Harvest House. As an Amish midwife, Abigail Graber loves bringing babies into the world. But when a difficult delivery takes a devastating turn, she's is faced with some hard choices.

At the Captain's Command by Louise M. Gouge -- A Historical from Love Inspired. A heroic British naval captain, son of an influential earl, dares to fall in love with a provincial American girl. Then he discovers her family's devastating secret.

Canyon Walls by Julie Jarnagin -- A Romance from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Sunset Camp changed Cassie’s life, and she is determined to keep it alive.

Chosen Ones by Eileen Rife -- General Fiction from Oak Tara. While Maggie and Gavin Munsfield adjust to a new baby, missionary friends, Dan and Yvonne Pratt, experience the heartbreak of infertility and miscarriage. Will they find it in their hearts to accept an outcome so different than what they expected and hoped for?

Dare to be Different; From the Scenarios Series by Nicole O'Dell -- Young Adult from Barbour. Each book in the series follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending?

Delivered With Love by Sherry Kyle -- General Fiction from Abingdon. An old love letter found in the glove compartment of a young woman's inherited 1972 Volkswagen propels her to leave her life in Los Angeles and go to the small town of Capitola, California. There her dream of finding the writer of the letter leads her on an unexpected journey that changes her life forever.

Diagnosis Death by Richard Mabry M.D. -- A Thriller/Suspense from Abingdon. When Dr. Elena Gardner's comatose husband dies in the ICU while on life support, the whispers begin. More deaths turn the whispers into a shout: "Mercy killing." What is the dark secret that keeps Elena's lips sealed when she should be defending herself?

Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott -- A Romance from Thomas Nelson. A young woman and man haunted by the past seek love and freedom as they assist fugitives on the Underground Railroad.

Finally a Bride by Vickie McDonough -- A Romance from Barbour. Will reporter Jacqueline Davis uncover his secrets before Noah Jeffers can capture her heart?

From Darkness Won; Blood of Kings Book 3 by Jill Williamson -- A Fantasy from Marcher Lord Press. Achan and Vrell seek out their place in the coming war to push back Darkness for good.

Griselda Takes Flight by Joyce Magnin -- General Fiction from Abingdon. Now that her sister, Agnes Sparrow, is comfortably dieting at the Greenbrier Nursing home, Griselda has time to fly—literally.

Kaydie by Penny Zeller -- A Romance from Whitaker House. Kaydie Worthington builds a protective wall around herself that won't be easy to tear down. There's something about Kaydie that draws Jonah Dickenson to her and makes him question his decision to remain a bachelor.

Love Finds You on Prince Edward Island by Susan Page Davis -- A Romance from Summerside Press. Molly Orlund is honored to serve as a maid where the Prince of Wales will be a guest. Peter Stark, an understeward in the royal party, is attracted to Molly, but an uncovered secret could change everything.

Oregon Weddings by Kathleen Kovach -- A Romance from Barbour. An alpaca, a lost family treasure, and an ornithophobic actress all take center stage in these three stories of love and faith that are as eclectic as the state of Oregon itself.

Patchwork Dreams by Laura V. Hilton -- Romance from Whitaker House.Becky Troyer has committed the ultimate sin, and finds herself on the edge of her Amish community; Jacob Miller believes he was sent to the Old Order Community in Missouri to help out a distant cousin--instead, he discovers he was part of an arranged swap.

People of the Book; Book 4 in the Extreme Devotion Series by Kathi Machias -- General Fiction from New Hope. Farah lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her family, and wants nothing more than to develop a deeper devotion to her Muslim faith. All goes well until the prophet Isa—Jesus—appears to her in a dream and calls her to Himself.

Risky Business; From the Scenarios Series by Nicole O'Dell -- Young Adult from Barbour. Each book in the series follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending?

Swept Away; From the Scenarios Series by Nicole O'Dell -- Young Adult from Barbour. Each book in the series follows a character up to the point where she has to make an important, life-changing decision—then it’s your turn to choose. Will your choices lead to a happy ending?

Tea for Two, Book 2 of the Tea With Millicent Series by Trish Perry -- Romance from Harvest House. Zack Cooper tries his best to raise his children, but he's losing his grip on them. Tea Shop owner Milly Jewel has the perfect woman in mind to help Zack.

The Daughter's Walk by Jane Ann Kirkpatrick -- General Fiction from Waterbrook/Multnomah. Based on a true story of a mother and daughter who walk across the country in 1896 and the consequences of the journey to both of their lives.

The Dawn of a Dream by Ann Shorey -- General Fiction from Revell. She’s embarking on a new life—but can the past truly be left behind?

The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh -- General Fiction from Revell. Inspired by a true story, The story weaves a tale full of action and suspense, and yet it is also an amazing love story that could only happen if miracles do come true.

The Lightkeeper's Ball by Colleen Coble -- Olivia Stewart’s sister, Eleanor, was engaged to Harrison Bennett, one of the nation’s wealthiest men, who has since died. Now the pressure is on Olivia to take her place, despite her suspicions about Eleanor’s fiancé.

The Sheriff's Sweetheart by Laurie Kingery -- A Romance from Love Inspired. A down-on-his-luck gambler on the run from a dangerous enemy meets the richest girl in a small Texas town and turns his life around to become worthy of her.

The Unforgivable; Wounds of South America, Book 1 by Tessa Stockton -- A Thriller/Suspense from Risen Books. Accused of the worst war crimes in the history of Argentina, Carlos Cornella is despised by a wounded nation…

Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot -- Romance from Revell. Can Harriet Kirk and Lawrence Wood ever truly put the past behind them in order to find happiness?

Trail of Lies by Margaret Daley -- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired. As the mother of a beautiful daughter and the wife of a wealthy entrepreneur, Melora Hudson seemed happy. No one knew about the secrets hidden behind closed doors—secrets Melora was forced to keep.

Yukon Wedding; Book 1, Alaskan Bride Series by Allie Pleiter -- A Romance from Love Inspired. Widow Lana Bristow won’t abandon the only home her son has ever known, even if it means wedding Mack Tanner, the man she blames for her husband’s death.

Vacation time?

2011-03-28T19:11:00.002-04:00

Hi all,

Sitting up here at the beach working. Supposed to be on vacation, but I my brain never stops working and my fingers always itch to type, so...thought I would give you a shout out and say hello from North Myrtle. We ate at the Boundary House for supper. Just me and the hubby. It was quite nice. If you like a great steak or an awesome flounder, this is the place to go.

http://boundaryhouserestaurant.com/home.html

I'll be back soon with some writing tips. If you have anything you'd like to discuss, writing, books, etc., send me an email or leave a comment and I'll try to address it.

Have a great week!

Lynette

A Killer Among Us - Romantic Times Review

2011-03-23T12:54:00.003-04:00

I love to get a good review. Who doesn't? Just thought I'd share this one with you. Can't wait for you to get your hands on this last book in the Women of Justice Series!

"The third book in Eason’s Women of Justice series is a nail-biter from start to finish. It’s not easy to pinpoint the truly evil villain from the cast of characters, which adds to the suspense. The romance is believable and sweet, just the right balance with the rest of the novel." - RT Magazine

Hostage negotiator Kit Kenyon is good at her job, but Noah Lambert doesn’t want another female partner after his last one was killed. Soon, the two are thrown into a frightening case involving a serial killer, and that person seems to be targeting Kit. Can Noah and Kit work together to find the identity of the villain before it’s too late? (REVELL, May, 352 pp., $14.99)

I would love to hear what you think about this story. Also, stay tuned for something exciting happening related to this series. I really think you're going to love it.

Conferences, Retreats and Fun! Oh MY!

2011-03-08T08:24:00.001-05:00

It seems like now is the time to advertise conferences. I have a couple of more to tell you about. If you like the mountains in the fall, October is the perfect time to join us for the Novel Retreat. There is a wonderful line up of staff who are more than willing to sit down with you and make sure the retreat is exactly what you wanted it to be.

The staff are:

Ray Blackston
Lynette Eason
Deborah Raney
Bill Myers
Jeff Gerke
Angela Hunt
Janet Roller
Andrea Boeshaar
Eva Marie Everson
Rene Gutteridge
Dennis Hensley
Rebeca Seitz
Ann Tatlock

Our website for the October Retreat www.lifeway.com/novelretreat

If you’re into screenwriting, acting, writing novels or movie making, then this August conference is the one for you. And they even have a teen track. If you want to be an intern, now’s the time to sign up!

August Retreat on the Gideon site www.gideonfilmfestival.com and click on Novel Retreat. I attended both of these conferences last year and I honestly can NOT say enough good things about them.

Hope to see you there!

Lynette

Carolina Christian Writers Workshop

2011-03-07T08:53:00.002-05:00

I just want to announce the CCWW (Carolina Christian Writers Workshop) that will be held in Anderson, SC on March 18-19. This is going to be a wonderful opportunity for many writers seeking to take the next step in their career. Click on the link to learn all about it.

http://www.upstatescchristianwriters.com/CCWW-March-18-19-2011.html

I will be teaching the suspense workshop and would love to see you there!

God Bless

Gotta love the good review. Latest for Don't Look Back.

2010-10-06T14:12:00.004-04:00

Casey, I think you're my new favorite reader! Hope you don't mind that I posted your review here. :)

Thanks,
Lynette

Oh. My. Goodness.
Talk about a wild ride! Breathless does not even begin to describe this book!
I wasn't really sure what to expect when I started DON'T LOOK BACK, I certainly did not expect to be up late and awake early, hungry for the next turn and high stakes drama. This has to be hands down the fastest paced, nerve wracking and can't-put-it-down suspense book I think I have ever read.

Jamie Cash is being stalked. What ensues is not a story for the faint of heart. I must admit I was a bit surprised at the physical description of some of the crime scenes, but I wouldn't go so far as to say it was gory, just very gripping!

Chilling is definitely a word I would use to describe this book. What a villain! I felt every single emotion Jamie went through. My blood ran cold and my heart beat stilled. The anguish, the high stakes that constantly got higher, I admit there were times I wanted it all to slow down! I literally could not put this book down. It is a masterful romantic suspense. A satisfying story from beginning to end, I HIGHLY recommend it. THIS is what romantic suspense is all about. A must read!

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to the publishers for my copy to review.
Available October 2010 from Revell, a division of Baker publishers.

The Novelist Retreat

2010-10-03T08:26:00.003-04:00

So, I'm getting ready to go to Black Mountain, NC where I'll teach some classes on writing. I can't wait. Do you know how gorgeous the mountains are this time of year? I'll try to post some pictures. Plus I get to hang out with Deborah Raney, Yvonne Lehman, Ray Blackston, Dennis Hensley, Angela Hunt and lots of other neat people. Check back soon for the pictures.

July New Releases

2010-07-10T06:59:00.001-04:00

1. A Shore Thing; Otter Bay, Book 2 by Julie Carobini-- A Romance from B&H. A fiery, eco-friendly young woman leads the fight against a large development in her beachfront hometown while falling for the architect assigned to the job.

2. Back on Murder; A Roland March Mystery, Book 1 by J. Mark Bertrand -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Bethany House. Homicide cop Roland March attempts a comeback as corruption and a high profile case threaten to sink him.

3. Beautiful Bandit; The Lone Star Legends Series by Loree Lough -- An Historical from Whitaker House. When rancher Josh Neville rescues a terrified woman who calls herself Dinah, she unwittingly leads notorious killers to his door, putting him and everyone at the Lazy N in jeopardy.

4. Beyond Summer; Blue Sky Hills Series, Book 3 by Lisa Wingate -- Women's Fiction from Peguin Group/NAL. Tam Williams discovers the blessings of community when her father is jailed, and the family moves to downscale Blue Sky Hill where her new friend, Shasta might lose her home to her father's shady mortgage company.

5. Bride in Training; Man's Best Friend Series by Gail Gaymer Martin -- A Romance from Love Inspired. Troubled lives lead to loneliness, Emily and Martin learn, until the Lord teaches them he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we would ever dare to ask or hope.

6. Cattleman's Courtship by Carolyn Aarsen -- A Romance from Love Inspired. Cara Morrison has to fix the past before she can face the future.

7. Doctor in Petticoats; Sophie's Daughters Series, Book #1 by Mary Connealy -- A Romance from Barbour. A burned out doctor is called in because he's a man, while the town's lady doctor does all the work and keeps the doctor from cracking up.

8. Driftwood Lane; 3rd in Series of Stand Alones by Denise Hunter -- A Romance from Thomas Nelson. A love story set on Nantucket Island.

9. Firestorm by Kelly Ann Riley -- A Romance from Steeple Hill. A firefighter falls in love while trying to find her father's killer.

10. Flash Point; Emerald Coast 911 by Stephanie Newtonr -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Love Inspired Suspense. Courage Under Fire.

11. Heart of a Cowboy; 2nd book in the Helping Hands Homeschooling by Margaret Daley -- A Romance from Love Inspired. Zachary Rutgers is perfectly happy with being a loner until he discovers he has a son and must deal with buried feelings concerning Jordan Masterson.

12. Love Finds You in Calico, California by Elizabeth Ludwig -- An Historical from Summerside Press. A young seamstress struggling to survive in a booming mining town is pressed into a marriage of convenience with the local livery owner.

13. Minnesota Moonlight 3-in-1 Collection by Becky Melby & Cathy Wienke -- Romance from Barbour. An ex-con, a storm chaser, and a footloose musician˜three unlikely heroes for three women learning to trust God...and the men He's brought into their lives.

14. Nightshade; Book #1 of the Discarded Heroes series by Ronie Kendig -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Barbour. This Former Navy SEAL is fighting a new battle--the home front!

15. Prodigal Patriot; Vermont #1 by Darlene Franklin -- A Romance from Barbour Heartsong. How can Sally and Josiah battle through the barriers separating Tory and Patriot to find love and forgiveness?

16. Ransome's Crossing; The Ransome Trilogy, Book 2 by Kaye Dacus -- A Romance from Harvest House. Disguising herself as a midshipman to get to her secret fiance, Charlotte Ransome faces danger--and love--crossing the Atlantic.

17. Rodeo Redemption; The Rodeo Royalty Series, Book 1 by Teri Wilson -- A Romance from White Rose Publishing. Josie Turner would rather forget she was ever crowned Rodeo Queen. Can former rodeo cowboy Luke Anderson mend Josie's heart and can one rodeo weekend help them both find redemption?

18. Seeds of Summer; Seasons of the Tallgrass - Book #2 by Deborah Vogts -- A Romance from Zondervan. When a former Miss Rodeo Kansas queen returns home after her father's death to care for the family ranch and her two younger siblings, what follows is a summer full of change, life-lessons and an unexpected romance with the new minister in Diamond Falls.

19. So Over It; Book 3 in The Reinvention of Skylar Hoyt series by Stephanie Morrill -- General Fiction from Revell. Senior year is over and Skylar Hoyt is ready to forgive and forget. Or at least forget.

20. Song of Solomon by Kendra Norman Bellamy -- A Romance from Urban Books. How can he convince her that she's his God-given mate when she's already wearing a wedding ring?

21. Stars in the Night by Cara Putman -- An Historical from Summerside Press. Step back to 1942 Hollywood as Audra Schaeffer tries to find her sister and a killer before it is too late.

22. The Crimson Cipher by Susan Page Davis -- An Historical from Summerside Press. When Emma's father is murdered, she's hired to do the job he could have had--helping track them down by breaking their ciphers.

23. The Engineered Engagement; Book Three in the Kennebrae Brides Series by Erica Vetsch -- An Historical from Barbour Heartsong. Sparks fly when a shipbuilder finds himself engaged to the wrong girl.

24. The Seeker; The Shaker Series # 3 by Ann H. Gabhart -- An Historical from Revell. The story brings alive the strikingly different worlds of the Southern gentry, the simple Shakers and the ravages of war in 1860s Kentucky.

25. The Way to a Man's Heart; The Miller Family Series, Book 3 by Mary Ellis -- A Romance from Harvest House. When all the men beat a path to Leah's diner, her parents don't breathe a sigh of relief until she narrows her suitors from half a dozen down to one.

26. Where the Dogwoods Bloom by Myra Johnson -- A Romance from Barbour Heartsong. Jilly Gardner left Blossom Hills ten years ago, determined never to return, but when Cam Lane calls to ask for her help, she finds she can't say no.

Christy Award Winners!

2010-06-27T16:08:00.001-04:00

Christy Award Winners!
Congratulations to all of the winners! You guys rock! I can't wait to buy the winning books. And now, without further ado, here are the winners:

CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Breach of Trust by DiAnn Mills • Tyndale House Publishers

CONTEMPORARY SERIES
Who Do I Talk To? by Neta Jackson • Thomas Nelson

CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
The Passion of Mary-Margaret by Lisa Samson • Thomas Nelson

FIRST NOVEL
Fireflies in December by Jennifer Erin Valent • Tyndale House Publishers

HISTORICAL
Though Waters Roar by Lynn Austin • Bethany House Publishers: a
Division of Baker Publishing Group

HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Silent Governess by Julie Klassen • Bethany House Publishers: a
Division of Baker Publishing Group

SUSPENSE
Lost Mission by Athol Dickson • Howard Books: a Division of Simon &
Schuster

VISIONARY
By Darkness Hid by Jill Williamson • Marcher Lord Press

YOUNG ADULT
North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson • WaterBrook Multnomah
Publishing Group

Congratulations!

The Gideon Film Festival

2010-05-23T22:24:00.002-04:00

Are you coming?

Welcome to the Gideon...

where cutting-edge media arts are combined with one of the most unique Christian conferences and Christian film festivals in the country.

LifeWay Conference Center, Ridgecrest, NC

KEYNOTE ON OPENING NIGHT

Producer and Director, David Nixon will open the Gideon on Thursday night with a keynote address before he shows his newest film, Letters to God. You may know Nixon through his work with Sherwood Pictures, like Facing the Giants and Fireproof. To learn more about David, check out his bio on the Faculty page.

AND...

ACTOR MUSE WATSON TO DELIVER BANQUET SPEECH

Character actor and veteran of over 40 films and numerous television shows, Muse Watson will deliver the Gideon Media Arts Conference & Film Festival banquet keynote address. Watson, who just completed the Trost Moving Pictures' film, A Christmas Snow, is known for his roles as Charles Westmoreland in Fox's Prison Break and retired federal agent, Mike Franks in CBS' NCIS.

Muse Watson is an actor whose passion and excitement for his craft is evident. Whether he is performing for stage, screen, or television, each role is meticulously studied until the character comes to life. With characters this real, it is amazing to see the variety in his body of work.

The Gideon banquet is scheduled for 6 PM on June 6, 2010 in the Johnson Spring Convention Center.

AND Last, but definitely not least...
My very own hubby is going to be there...

Jack has also written numerous songs, his latest recorded by Newsong which is on their Rescue album. He's also the lead singer of the band Jupiter Wind and is working with Dale Oliver (Nashville) who is the producer for Casting Crowns and other top name groups. Recently, Christianity Today gave their three song CD a 4 star review. Jupiter Wind and Dale Oliver recently had a new CD released and their song He's Alive was chosen to be one of the tracks for the new movie called 33HOPE (www.33hope.com), the "sequel" to Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ. 33HOPE picks up where the Passion left off (the resurrection) and goes through the ascension. You can watch the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDA9izY94Tw&feature=player_embedded

Beauty and the Beast

2010-04-05T08:11:00.002-04:00

Spring has sprung along with the beauty of the flowers, the warmth of the sunshine on my face-and pollen in my nose. Achoo! How in the world can something that's supposed to be so wonderful cause absolute misery for some? Send us into hibernation mode at the first sight of the dreaded yellow stuff?

When God created the world, it was perfect. Then man came along and messed it up. So, now, we take the good with the bad. Because God loved us so much that when sin entered the world bringing all the bad stuff with it, God still left the good stuff. His beauty, his marvelous creation.

After this Easter weekend, it just hit home how much I long for the Creator's triumphant return. And when I picture heaven, I see it as a place of deep breaths, no coughing, no sneezing, and no need for inhalers! Along with much, much more! A perfect place with no tears, beautiful music-and a loving father who is waiting for me to run into His outstretched arms.

Seriously, I'm so thankful for the beautiful God who loved me enough to die for me, to take my place on a cross so long ago. And conquered that beast we call sin and death.

I love you, Jesus. Thank you for loving me in spite of me.

ACFW New releases for January!

2010-01-01T06:30:00.014-05:00

1. A Stray Drop of Blood, by Roseanna M. White from Whitefire Publishing. Born free, made a slave, married out of her bonds, Abigail never knows freedom until she feels the fire of a stray drop of blood from a Jewish carpenter.

2. A Deadly Wilderness, by Kelly Irvin from Five Star/Gale/Cengage. A family that will stop at nothing to protect its secrets and a drug cartel hit man are just two of the pieces to the puzzle Homicide Detective Ray Johnson must solve to find a murderer—and save his own life.

3. Becoming Lucy - The Winds Across the Prairie Series, by Martha Rogers from Realms Division of Strang Communications. An alleged murderer reclaims his life, but can he reclaim his beloved?

4. Burn, by Erin Healy and Ted Dekker from Thomas Nelson. A supernatural thriller about a woman who gets an unwanted chance to extinguish her fiery past.

5. First Impressions , by Michelle Sutton from Desert Breeze Publishing, Inc. Playing the role of a saloon girl taught her how to flirt, but it makes a lousy first impression on the man whose heart she longs to win.

6. Jenna's Cowboy- Callahans of Texas, 1, by Sharon Gillenwater from Baker/Revell. Will Jenna's love enable Nate to put the horrors of war behind him and become the man she deserves?

7. Never Far from Home- 2nd in the Miller Family Series, by Mary Ellis from Harvest House Publishers. Emma's rebellious Rumschpringe may lead to her banishment as friendship turns to love with the English sheepfarmer.

8. Plain Jane, by Hillary Manton Lodge from Harvest House Publishers. Girl reporter Jayne Tate finds more than she bargained for when she goes to Amish Country to research a story.

9. Sworn to Protect, by Diann Mills from Tyndale. Danika Morales has sworn to protect our nation's borders. But that oath has come with a price.

10. The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth - All About Us #6, by Shelley Adina from Hatchette FaithWords. At exclusive Spencer Academy, Lissa Mansfield gains popularity when she replaces her nemesis, Vanessa, on the senior Cotillion committee, but graduation and major decisions about the future loom.

11. The Choice - Lancaster County Secrets, Book 1, by Suzanne Woods Fisher from Revell. A tender story of love and forgiveness, "The Choice" uncovers the sweet simplicity of the Amish world--and shows it's never too late to find your way back to God.

12. The Husband Tree - Montana Marriages, by Mary Connealy from Barbour. A tough lady rancher drags a reluctant cowhand on a cattledrive, along with her four daughters.

ACFW launches FictionFinder.com Press Release

2009-12-19T07:37:00.003-05:00

Hey all, check out this great new resource for Christian fiction readers! I'm really excited about this. I still have to upload some of my stuff, but there's already a ton of wonderful reading available at your fingertips! MERRY CHRISTMAS!

ACFW, the nation’s leading Christian fiction writers’ organization, is launching FictionFinder.com, a new free resource for retailers, readers, media and other Christian fiction fans to search for authors and books. The search engine allows users to sort by author, title, genre, topic, publication date, and target audience.

Cynthia Ruchti, president of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), believes this trusted, easy-to-use resource is a significant development in the search for Christian fiction authors and new titles.

”The idea rose from a roundtable discussion between the ACFW leadership team and Christian booksellers looking for a better way to connect their customers with great Christian fiction,” says Ruchti. “ACFW responded by rolling up our sleeves and creating a comprehensive database to serve readers, booksellers, publishers, authors, book club coordinators, librarians and others on the hunt for information and inspiration.”

The site also allows readers to learn about the nature of the content of each book. Each title is rated for action, conflict, humor, mystery, romance, spirituality and suspense, in addition to more sensitive issues like language, sensuality and violence. Users can also post reviews to the site and learn more about soon-to-be-released titles.

The database is the first of its kind and is not limited to books written by ACFW members. The organization is also working with publishers to ensure Christian novels by other authors are incorporated as well.

ACFW’s presence as the voice of Christian fiction and its industry prowess has long been recognized, and its authors are a mainstay on bestseller lists. FictionFinder.com is the organization’s latest effort to make finding the best in Christian fiction as easy as possible for fans around the world.

Quick facts about fictionfinder.com:

* Book information pages include facts about the publisher, main themes, setting and the author’s other titles.

* A special “similar books” section offers other titles the user may be interested in reading.

* Users can create an account with their preferences, making it easier to find new favorites.

Go check it out!

2009-11-30T22:18:00.004-05:00

1. A Bouquet for Iris, by Diane Ashley & Aaron McCarver from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Iris Landon travels to Daisy, Tennessee, to care for two Cherokee children and finds romance and danger while aiding one family in the struggle to keep their land.

2. A Lady Like Sarah, Rocky Creek Romance, by Margaret Brownley from Thomas Nelson. He's a preacher. She's an outlaw. Both are in need of a miracle.

3. ANGEL WITH A BACKHOE, by Deb Kinnard from Desert
Breeze Publishing. A small-town widower and a spunky suburban transplant match wits over a church construction project, finding true love can mix with blueprints and concrete footings.

4. Child Finder: Resurrection series: Child Finder Trilogy, 2nd book, by Mike Angley from Total Recall Publications, Inc. Child Finder: Resurrection…the highly-anticipated sequel to the award-winning debut novel, Child Finder, which Library Journal placed on its 2009 Summer Reads list for Christian fiction!

5. Christmas Peril, by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Christmas themed, romantic suspense stories.

6. Cup of Joe, by Teri Wilson from White Rose Publishing. A grieving oman resists the cups of comfort offered by the shy, but handsome, owner of the neighborhood coffee shop.

7. Field of Danger, by Ramona Richards from Love Inspired Suspense. When April Presley can’t remember details of the murder she witnessed, deputy Daniel Rivers must help her recall the event and protect her from the killer determined to silence her.

8. Her Patchwork Family series: The Gabriel Sisters, by Lyn Cote from Love Inspired. In spite of opposition from the rich and influential, can Felicity Gabriel establish a home for children orphaned by the Civil War and heal two wounded hearts?

9. Patterns and Progress series: Michigan historical, book 3, by Amber Stockton from Barbour Publishing. A farmer's daughter would rather turn back the hands of time than accept the fact that advancement in technology could be in God's plan.

10. The Sheriff's Surrender series: #1 of The Ladies' Shooting Club Series, by Susan Page Davis from Barbour Publishing. The men of Fergus aren’t keeping the town safe, so a group of feisty women take matters into their own hands.

11. The Glassblower series: First book in the New Jersey Historical Series, by Laurie Alice Eakes from Barbour Publishing. Colin Grassick moves from Edinburgh, Scotland to Salem county New jersey to take a position as a master glassblower. He loves his work and hopes of bringing his family to America for a better life. But his love for Meg, the daughter of the owner of the glassworks, threatens his job...and then his life.

Quiz for Smart People -- I must be dumb.

2009-11-12T10:42:00.003-05:00

I got this from Brandilyn Collins' blog today. If you don't read her blog, you should! Have a good laugh.

The following short quiz consists of 4 questions and will tell you whether you are qualified to be a professional. Scroll down for each answer. The questions are NOT that difficult. But don't scroll down UNTIL you have answered the question!

1. How do you put a giraffe into a refrigerator?

The correct answer is: Open the refrigerator, put in the giraffe, and close the door. This question tests whether you tend to do simple things in an overly complicated way.

2 . How do you put an elephant into a refrigerator?

Did you say, Open the refrigerator, put in the elephant, and close the refrigerator? Wrong Answer.

Correct Answer: Open the refrigerator, take out the giraffe put in the elephant and close the door. This tests your ability to think through the repercussions of your previous actions.

3. The Lion King is hosting an animal conference. All the animals attend...except one. Which animal does not attend?

Correct Answer: The Elephant. The elephant is in the refrigerator. You just put him in there.

This tests your memory. Okay even if you did not answer the first three questions correctly, you still have one more chance to show your true abilities.

4. There is a river you must cross but it is inhabited by crocodiles, and you do not have a boat How do you manage it?

Correct Answer: You jump into the river and swim across. Have you not been listening? All the crocodiles are attending the Animal Meeting. This tests whether you learn quickly from your mistakes.

According to Anderson Consulting Worldwide, around 90% of the professionals they tested got all questions wrong, but many preschoolers got several correct answers. Anderson Consulting says this conclusively disproves the theory that most professionals have the brains of a four- year-old.

ACFW November New Releases!

2009-11-01T12:55:00.005-05:00

ACFW November New Releases:

1. A SILENT PURSUIT, by Lynette Eason from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Gina Santino has something someone desperately wants. Now, she's on the hunt to find it. Her deceased fiance's best friend, US Ranger, Ian Masterson is her only hope of staying alive while they race to be the first to discover the treasure her fiance left behind.

2. Chasing Shadows, by Terri Reed from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. An heiress turns to her former love, a cop, for help when she fears for her grandmother's life.

3. Close to Home, by Carolyn Aarsen from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A reunion of old lovers brings up the shadows of past tragedy.

4. Fit To Be Tied, The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Book #2, by Robin Lee Hatcher from Zondervan. Who says a woman can't do a man's job?

5. I'm So Sure, A Charmed Life, Book 2, by Jenny B. Jones from Thomas Nelson. Its prom time and someone is trying to sabotage the queen contest. Can Bella solve the mystery in time AND keep it together as her life goes public on a wrestling reality show?

6. The Bartered Bride, by Erica Vetsch from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Tempests rage, in the board room, the ball room, and on treacherous Lake Superior as two hearts set sail on a collision course.

7. Together for the Holidays, Fostered by Love series-book 5, by Margaret Daley from Love Inspired. Can the true meaning of Christmas bring two loners together?

October New Releases

2009-10-01T10:45:00.004-04:00

1. A Star Curiously Singing, The DarkTrench Saga, Book 1, by Kerry Nietz from Marcher Lord Press. An augmented human programmer is sent to space to solve the mystery of a bot’s destruction.

2. Double Take, by Jenness Walker from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When a stalker becomes obsessed with a woman, the key to stopping him lies in a best-selling thriller…until he stops going by the book.

3. Dreaming of Home, by Glenna Kaye from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Two wounded hearts must learn to trust that God's dreams for them far exceed any they may have for themselves.

4. Eternity Falls - A Rick Macey Cyberthriller, Book 1 of the Rick Macey Cyberthriller series, by Kirk Outerbridge from Marcher Lord Press. A cyber-enhanced detective must stop a religious zealot from destroying a serum for eternal life.

5. Gripped By Fear, Chicago Warrior Thriller Series, 2nd book, by John M. Wills from Total Recall. Chgo Detectives hunt a serial rapist in the mean streets of Chicago in the midst of personal struggles.

6. Leaving Yesterday, by Kathryn Cushman from Bethany House. A mother rejoices at the return of her prodigal, but is faced with an impossible decision as evidence from his past refuses to stay buried.

7. Loves Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire, by Lauralee Bliss from Summerside Press. Set in the Guilded Age within the beauty of New
Hampshire's White Mountains, successful artist Tom Haskins and penniless Sara McGee discover through their circumstances that the most precious gifts of life and love don't always come as they're expected.

8. Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska, by Loree Lough from Summerside Press. A story that's sure to warm your heart, despite the icy Alaskan setting!

9. Love is a Battlefield, Book One in the Walk in the Park series, by Annalisa Daughety from Barbour Publishing. War rages again at Shiloh, but this time it’s a battle of the heart.

10. Seaside Letters, by Denise Hunter from Thomas Nelson. Sabrina Kincaid didn't intend to fall for Nantucket native Tucker McCabe, the man she serves coffee to every morning-a man tied deeply to a past she
deeply regrets. But she has. And she's fallen hard. But she's kept this a secret from her handsome customer. And now Tucker wants to hire Sabrina to help locate his friend "Sweetpea"-the mysterious woman he's falling in love with online. Sabrina is not inclined to help, but if Tucker hires someone else, it could spell disaster. Because if someone else sifts through the emails and figures out the truth-then Tucker will discover that the person he's trying to find is . . . her.

11. Soldier Daddy, Wings of Refuge Series-book 5-all standalones, by Cheryl Wyatt from Steeple Hill. A USAF Pararescue Jumper searches for a nanny for his twins and instead finds a future with a woman harboring a secret tied to his past.

12. The Case of the Mystified M.D., Book 2, Bouncing Grandma Mysteries, by A.K. Arenz from Sheaf House. First a foot, now a hand--what body part is next?

13. The Christmas Journey, by Winnie Griggs from Steeple Hill Love Inspired.

14. The Jewel of his Heart, Heart of the West Series, by Maggie Brendan from Revell. Discover the classic struggle between the world's wealth and the lure of eternal love in this Western story of elegance and survival.

15. The Matchmaking Pact, After the Storm #4 , by Carolyn Aarsen from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A single father and a single mother have to deal with matchmaking children.

16. Thirsty, by Tracey Bateman from Waterbrook. “Deep, cutting, an intoxicating blend of human and supernatural, of characters scarred by the past, drained by life. This is the book I’ve waited for.”

17. Trial By Fire, by Cara Putman from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. When an arsonist targets her family, Tricia has to find him before harm is done without losing her heart to a fireman.

September ACFW New Releases

2009-09-01T00:00:00.014-04:00

1. A Blue and Gray Christmas, by Carrie Turansky, Vickie McDonough, Lauralee Bliss Tamela Hancock Murray from Barbour Publishing. A Blue and Gray Christmas highlights the faith and courage of four couples who remained true to their convictions and found lasting love despite the hardships of the Civil War.

2. A Man of His Word, Book 1 in the Hearts of Middlefield Series, by Kathleen Fuller from Thomas Nelson. Moriah's heart will only be safe with a man of his word.

3. A Passion Redeemed , by Julie Lessman from Revell. Depth of beauty ... shallow of heart, Charity O'Connor is a woman who gets what she wants. She sets her sights on a man who wants nothing to do with her. Although the sparks are there, he refuses to fan the coals of a potential relationship with a woman who ruined his life. Charity burned him once, destroying his engagement to the only woman he ever truly loved. He won't play with matches again. But Charity has a plan to turn up the heat, hoping to ignite the heart of the man she loves. And she always gets what she wants-one way or another.

4. A Silent Fury, by Lynette Eason from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Detective Catelyn Clark and her ex-boyfriend, FBI agent Joseph Santino, must overcome their rocky past while working to solve the murder of a deaf student and find the friend who's still missing.

5. Always Ready, Book 1, by Susan Page Davis from Heartsong. Two Coast Guard officers find danger and romance in the hostile seas of Alaska.

6. An Amish Christmas, by Kathleen Fuller, , Beth Wiseman, from Thomas Nelson. Follow the lives of three Amish families through the Christmas season.

7. Beautiful Ugly, by Shelia Lipsey from Kensington Publishing Corp. Three friends need plenty of faith in God and support from each other to see their real beauty lies within.

8. Christmas at Lake Tahoe, by Jeanie Smith Cash, Lena Nelson Dooley, Jean Kincaid from Barbour Publishing. Will four young women fresh out of college, find love at Christmas as they persue their careers at a new ski lodge at Lake Tahoe's Incline Village?

9. Cowboy Christmas, by Mary Connealy from Barbour. A secretive singer with trouble following her, and a cowboy who hates liars, especially female liars, need a Christmas miracle to take a chance on love.

10. Fields of Grace, by Kim Vogel Sawyer from Bethany House. A Russian Mennonite family fights to survive and maintain their faith in a new land.

11. Finally Home and Finally Found, by Lyn Cote from Heartsong Presents. Two stories in one book. Finally Home-After her wedding that wasn't, Hannah Kirkland hides in her parent's small WI town But hiding is hard in a house that's under construction! As friendship with carpenter Guthrie Thomas, Hannah learns how to build a home--and love--of her own. In Finally Found-Ten years ago Marco da Palma left Spring Kirkland behind. What did a poor scholarship student have to offer her anyway? But when Marco, now a successful doctor, finds Spring again, the pair have a second chance. If only Marco can release his fears, and see the happiness that has been waiting all along...

12. Hearts and Harvest, by Amber Stockton from Heartsong Presents. A destitute young man fights society's mores to win the hand of his privileged sweetheart.

13. It's Not about Him, Second Glance Series, Book #2, by Michelle Sutton from Sheaf House. Two young Christians with an unplanned pregnancy where she wants to place her child in a good home but he wants to marry her so she'll keep her child even though it's not his.

14. Just Between You and Me, by Jenny B. Jones from Thomas Nelson. A family emergency pulls Maggie Montgomery back home to a town full of painful secrets and people she left behind. Sometimes the only thing scarier than living on the edge is stepping off it.

15. Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio, by Annalisa Daughety from Summerside Press. A summer in Charm, Ohio, gives Emma Miller the chance to decide once and for all what she wants from life--but soon finds herself pulled between two worlds.

16. One Imperfect Christmas, by Myra Johnson from Abingdon Press. Christmas is the season of miracles, but when blame and guilt keep people apart, a miracle needs a helping hand.

17. Painted Desert, by Nancy Farrier from Barbour. As modern life takes unexpected turns, love comes knocking on the doors of three Arizona women's lives.

18. Protector's Honor, by Kit Wilkinson from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Rory Farrell searches for the link between Tabitha Beaumont and his ongoing murder investigation, but to protect her, he'll have to her trust as well.

19. Raising Rain, by Debbie Fuller Thomas from Moody Publishers. A single woman desperate for a child and the 3 college roommates who raised her meet her terminally ill mother on a stormy weekend and confront the past.

20. The Familiar Stranger, by Christina Berry from Moody Publishers. Secrets from Craig Littleton's past threaten to undue his troubled marriage, but if he literally can't remember the damage he's done, can he ever be trusted?

21. The Transformation, Project Restoration Series Book 3, by Terri Kraus from David C. Cook. Can a good, hard-working Christian man disregard his cultural and religious admonitions--as well as his mother's plans for his life--for the love of a woman and an historic church building?

22. The Unfinished Gift, by Dan Walsh from Revell, Division of Baker Publishing Group. Set at Christmastime in 1943, The Unfinished Gift is an engaging story of reconciliation between a father and son, and how God uses an unexpected gift from the past to mend this broken family.

23. Tidings of Great Boys, All About Us #5, by Shelley Adina from Hatchette FaithWords. Lady Lindsay (Mac) MacPhail invites her classmates home to her castle in Scotland for an unforgettable Christmas.

24. Wild West Christmas, by Lena Nelson Dooley, Kathleen Y'Barbo, Vickie McDonough, Darlene Franklin from Barbour. Christmas courtships corral four sisters in Texas.

Lyn Cote is here with me today talking characterization

2009-08-07T08:53:00.008-04:00

Characterization in the Inspirational Romance
By Lyn Cote

Characterization is the basic building block of all fiction and especially for romance, which concentrates so heavily on emotion. So in preparing for this article, I polled other Christian authors for their insight. Gail Martin who writes for Love Inspired and also her 2008 release Writing the Inspirational Romance offered this:
"Characterization begins with backstory, digging deep into the past and pulling out the hurts, sorrows, guilts, shames, successes, failures, experiences, education, family morals and values. The backstory triggers the elements of personality, actions/reactions, present values and morals of the character. All of these elements create character…."

As useful and basic as that information is, I realized that any writing teacher would say that about characterization in any type of fiction. So how does characterization in inspirational novels differ from in secular ones?
Cheryl Wolverton, a past RWA Rita finalist, who has written over twenty books replied: "Characterization in Inspirational Romance is no different than in any other book or genre. It has to be strong [and] well developed, [but] the author must develop the characters' spiritual elements as well as everything else."
Ah, the spiritual element—yes, that's the difference. The Christian novel must have a strong spiritual aspect reflected in the characters.

Lenora Worth made this clear: "Characters need depth in order to make the faith journey that is required in our books. That added journey allows for compelling, multi-layered characters, who really do go through emotional struggles as they fall in love and resolve their life issues."

The faith journey is an integral part of the inspirational romance. The hero and heroine can't merely fall in love in spite of themselves (internal conflict) and cope with their circumstances (external conflict). Each also has a spiritual journey. They are not only in conflict with each other, but also with themselves about their relationship to others and to God. Over the course of the novel, the hero and heroine must come to a point of decision about this.

It is common misconception that in every novel of faith, someone must search for and find God. Most publishers don’t want a "conversion" scene in every romance. Tyndale House, for example, tells aspiring authors that they don't want either the hero or heroine to be in the process of finding faith. They don't want a romance to hinge on a person finding God—as if that would solve all the character's problems and they would become perfect. So what is a faith journey if it's not that?

Every person of faith must work out what she believes and why. She also must integrate that belief into her real life, her everyday life. Thus, there are an endless variety of spiritual quests.

In my own romances, the hero and heroine often are at the opposite ends of the same spiritual struggle. This adds another layer of conflict to the novel. In my romantic suspense, Autumn’s Shadow, (Tyndale), the spiritual theme is "Am I my brother's keeper?" My heroine's spiritual conflict centers on her continual efforts to help her teen-aged brother who has been over-indulged by their parents. This comes to a head when her parents transfer the boy to the school where she is the principal. The parents reason that with their daughter as principal, the son will be sure to graduate. Then they can send him off to college and get on with their lives. But the boy is a danger to himself and finally, to others. My heroine is at her wit’s end and about to give up trying to help her brother.

At the same time, the hero is also struggling with family ties. After years of distancing himself from his family, he becomes guardian to his troubled nephew who attends the same school. As the heroine is ready to cut family ties, the hero is trying to reconnect with his nephew. In the end, both the hero and heroine, as people of faith, must accept that they can only do so much for those they love. God can change hearts; they can't. And they finally realize they have a right to a life and love of their own.

That is a sample of a faith plot, which is a requirement in each inspirational romance. Because plot derives from character, inspirational characters must have unfinished business in their lives with God. That faith journey sets the inspirational romance apart from the secular.

Deborah Raney, RITA winner 2002 for Beneath a Southern Sky, summed it up this way: "In the inspirational novel, the main characters generally come from one of two places. Either they are already people of faith and the story is a showcase for how their faith enables them to overcome the conflict and dilemma of the plot, or they have not yet come to faith and the novel is the story of their journey from unbelief to faith, darkness into light.”

This discussion is for the romance writer, so the faith journey will end with victory: the hero and heroine will overcome the conflict, just as the hero and heroine will find committed love at the end of the romance. Seeking and finding spiritual wholeness is part of the necessary satisfying ending to the inspirational romance.

The trick to including the spiritual dimension in characterization is to ensure that the romance doesn't turn into a "sermon in dialogue." Show the conflict; don't tell it. Again, all plot derives from character. The inspirational romance succeeds when it focuses on first creating realistic and compelling characters, and then on letting the spiritual dimension flow from the depth and substance of these multi-faceted characters. Not vice versa.

Lyn Cote's first novel, Never Alone, was published in 1998. Her seventeenth, Blessed Bouquets, and her eighteenth Chloe, the first in her "Women of Ivy Manor" series were released in June 2005. The second in her newest series which is “Texas Star of Destiny” is Her Inheritance Forever. She's written articles on the inspirational market and does an annual update. The 2009 market update, including an agent list link is on her site now. She has also had numerous articles on the craft of writing published. An award winning author and speaker, Lyn writes both historical and contemporary fiction.

Visit her at www.LynCote.net and her contributors:

Gail Martin-www.gailmartin.com
Deborah Raney- www.deborahraney.com
Cheryl Wolverton- www.cherylwolverton.com
Lenora Worth- www.lenoraworth.com
Copyright 2005 Lyn Cote

More Lyn Cote books:

2009 Releases—Lyn Cote
February 2009
Historical Romance
The Desires of Her Heart
1st Texas Star of Destiny series
Avon Inspire
ISBN#:978-0061373411
Blurb:
In 1821, Dorritt Mott is a woman ahead of her time. When her family is forced to leave New Orleans, she meets Quinn. The New Orleans lady and the half-breed scout, become unlikely allies on the trek to the Austin settlement in Texas. Two armies, marauding Comanche and a traitor in their midst stand between them and their destination. All Dorritt thinks she wants is her own independence, but is it possible that she will gain the unrecognized desires of her heart? And teach Quinn to enlarge his vision also?

August 2009
Historical Romance
Her Inheritance Forever
2nd in Texas Star of Destiny series
Avon Inspire
ISBN # 9780061373435
Blurb: In 1836 Texas, Alandra Sandoval is the lady of Rancho Sandoval, determined to prove to a doubting world that a woman alone can run a ranch as well as any man. But when Comanches attack her ranch and kidnap her, Alandra must admit she needs protection. A top hand at a nearby ranch, Scully Falconer, is chosen for the task and though Alandra tries to pretend she doesn't need his help, he quietly stays by her side.
Though they believe their paths to be worlds apart, the rugged American cowboy with a troubled past and the proud lady of Mexican descent are united when Alandra's greedy relatives burst into their lives. And when General Santa Anna's army crosses the Rio Grande—marching toward a rendezvous with destiny at the Alamo—Alandra and Scully are swept up together in the tide of history...and their world will never be the same.

One sentence blurb: Forced from her vast ranch into the heart of the Texas Revolution, will this proud senorita find the faith to withstand these troubling times?

September 2009
Contemporary Romance
Finally Home/Finally Found
Love Inspired Classic (reissue)
ISBN: 978-0373651320
Blurb: After their mother develops leukemia, three sisters decide that they must discover their mother's birth parents so that they will have another pool for bone marrow transplants if it reoccurs. In the meantime, one falls in love with a carpenter in WI while the other falls in love with a Latino MD in FL. Both stories are filled with tears and laughter.

December 2009
Historical Romance
Her Patchwork Family
2nd in Gabriel Sisters series
Love Inspired Historical
ISBN 978-0373828258
Blurb: In spite of opposition from the rich and influential, can Felicity Gabriel establish a home for children orphaned by the Civil War and heal two wounded hearts?

Thanks for joining us today, Lyn!

August New Releases from ACFW

2009-08-01T00:00:00.001-04:00

1. All That Glitters, Scenarios for Girls, book 2, by Nicole O’Dell from Barbour Publishing. The reader will decide if Drew Daniels does the right thing when sudden popularity causes her to forget about things that were once important to her.

2. Forgiven, Sisters of the Heart Series, Book 3, by Shelley Shepard Gray from Avon Inspire, a division of Harper Collins Publishing. Tragedy strikes when a brother and sister find themselves facing two difficult situations.

3. Surrender the Wind, by Rita Gerlach from Abingdon Press. When a patriot of the American Revolution inherits his grandfather's estate in England, he inherits more than a crumbling manor house.

4. Sweet Waters, Otter Bay Series Book 1, by Julie Carobini from B&H Publishing Group. Sweet Waters is the story of a newly-jilted woman who talks her sisters into moving back to their hometown only to discover family secrets that threaten the fairy tale image she'd always had.

5. The Blue Enchantress, the Charles Towne Belles Series book 2, by MaryLu Tyndall from Barbour. An adventure-seeking woman and a security-minded captain are shipwrecked together.

6. The Last Woman Standing, by Tia McCollors from Moody. A man, his woman, and his ex-wife search for love again.

7. Truth or Dare, Senarios for Girls Book 1, by Nicole O’Dell from Barbour. Peer pressure threatens to drive Lindsay Martin to doing something she doesn't want to do; the reader will decide.

8. Under the Tulip Poplar, by Diane Ashley and Aaron McCarver from Heartsong Presents. When Rebekah Taylor and Asher Landon struggle to find their ways to the other, will they allow God to direct bring their separate dreams together as one?

9. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Book #1 in the VA VA VA BOOM series, by Allison Bottke from David C. Cook. When life is a dance and Disco is a state of mind, it’s Mamma Mia goes Vegas!

Two more books sold to Steeple Hill

2009-07-31T16:56:00.011-04:00

Hi all, just wanted to let you know that I got the call from my agent today informing me that Steeple Hill is purchasing the two books I proposed a couple of weeks ago. I'm really excited about this as I'm continuing to use characters from the latest series that's been releasing.

Just to refresh your memory, A Silent Terror released in March, 2009.

A Silent Fury releases September 2009:

And A Silent Pursuit will release November 2009.

I'm giving away the first two. Leave me a comment and I'll send you a copy of A Silent Terror and A Silent Fury.

Also, do you have any writing questions you'd like answered? Leave those and I'll answer as well as I can.

Thanks!

Maggie Contest Finalist!

2009-07-24T10:50:00.002-04:00

I got a phone call yesterday! Okay, usually I just ignore numbers I don't recognize, but for some reason I answered this one. The 770 area code threw me because normally the 888 or 8-- numbers that are telemarketer stuff...and yes, I listed my number with www.donotcall.gov and still get those stupid phone calls. Anyhow, I answered this one. Thank goodness!

It was a very nice lady calling to tell me I'd finalled in the Maggie Contest! Whoo hoo! My first contest to final in. I'm so excited. So, Snoopy dance with me and then check back on October 4th to see if I win the whole thing or not.

Happy Friday!

Review of Too Close to Home

2009-07-23T11:08:00.006-04:00

I had a great review of my upcoming Revell book. I'm so excited that this LONG process finally has an end in sight. True, April 2010 seems like it will take forever to get here, but time is moving so fast that I'm sure I'll blink and it'll be here. I'll be giving away quite a few copies so I hope you'll check back for contests. I'll also announce contests in my newsletter. Go to my website to sign up at www.lynetteeason.com.

Click on the link above to see it.

Happy reading to all!

ACFW New Releases

2009-07-02T16:12:00.001-04:00

1. A Promise Kept, Heartsong Presents Historical Ohio Book 1 , by Cara C. Putman from Heartsong Present. Newleyweds Josie & Art must choose whether to honor the promises they've made when their relationship experiences the fire of pain.

2. Blackmail, sixth and final book in the Bayou Series, by Robin Carroll from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. The sixth and final book in Robin Carroll's romantic suspense bayou series.

3. Cranberry Hearts, by Lena Nelson Dooley, Beth Goddard and Lisa Harris from Barbour Publishing. What will happen when three Massachusetts women find their journeys home lead them down dangerous paths?

4. Deadly Intent, by Camy Tang from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Massage therapist Naomi Grant must prove her innocence when her client is murdered in her family's Sonoma day spa.

5. Gripped By Fear, The Chicago Warriors Series, by John M. Wills from TotalRecall. Two Chicago Detectives struggle to capture a serial rapist.

6. Hometown Courtship, by Diann Hunt from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A carpenter and a hair stylist work to build a house together--but are they building much more?

7. Lonestar Secrets, Lonestar Series Book 2, by Colleen Coble from Thomas Nelson. A young veterinarian returns to her childhood home and finds the man who humiliated her may be in custody of a daughter she thought had died.

8. Love's Rescue, The Sierra Chronicles Book One, by Tammy Barley from Whitaker House. A headstrong Southern woman falls for her kidnapper, a Western cattleman she blames for the loss of her family.

9. Maggie Rose, Second in The Daughters of Jacob Kane series , by Sharlene MacLaren from Whitaker House. Mission-minded Maggie Rose takes a job at an orphanage in New York City, never expecting to fall in love with a hardnosed newspaper reporter.

10. Menu for Romance, Brides of Bonneterre Series Book #2, by Kaye Dacus from Barbour Publishing. The Chef and the Party Planner Each Seek the Kind of Love that Requires No Reservations.

11. Montana Rose, by Mary Connealy from Barbour Publishing. Love Comes Softy, with mayhem, comedy and gunfire.

12. Ransome's Honor, Book 1 The Ransome Trilogy, by Kaye Dacus from Harvest House PUblishers. Once Youthful Sweethearts—Can Their Love Be Renewed?

13. Rose of the Adriatic, Sequel to Jewel of the Adriatic , by K.M. Daughters from The Wild Rose Press. Messages of hope and peace for the world from Our Lady of Medjugorje woven into a prayerful, fictional love story.

14. Second Chance Family, Fostered by Love Series Book 4, by Margaret Daley from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Whitney and Shane, two wounded people, come together to try and help each other heal from their past through the appeal of a little boy who is autistic.

15. The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn, by Liz Johnson from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Kenzie Thorn is surprised when she's kidnapped from the prison where she teaches a GED course, and even more shocking is that someone wants her dead.

16. The Last Resort, The Wanderlust Mysteries Book 2, by April Star from Five Star Gale I Cengage Learning. One woman's murder and a bottle washed ashore on the St. Anastasia beach open a Pandora's box and unleash secrets pursued by an entire camping resort . . . and the truth proves as elusive as the killer in their midst.

17. The Sacred Cipher, by Terry Brennan from Kregel Publications. An ancient, secret scroll could trigger nuclear war or world peace, four Americans are caught in the crossfire, and opposing radicals will stop at nothing to silence The Sacred Cipher.

Welcome Cheryl Wyatt! Win a free book

2009-04-21T06:00:00.005-04:00

Cheryl Wyatt's closest friends would never dream the mayhem she plots during announcements at church. An RN-turned-SAHM, joyful chaos rules her home and she delights in the stealth moments God gives her to write. She stays active in her church and in her laundry room. She's convinced that having been born on a Naval base on Valentine's Day destined her to write military romance. Prior to publication, Cheryl took courses through Christian Writers Guild. An active member of RWA, FHL and ACFW, she won numerous awards with multiple manuscripts. Visit her on the Web or here. Sign up for her newsletter for news and chances to enter contests with great prizes. You can also find her skittering around Steeple Hill's message boards as "Squirl" at www.SteepleHill.com.

Welcome Cheryl,

I'm so glad you were able to stop by and say hello.
Tell us about your new book that's now out on the shelves? (I just bought it last night at Target!) And how you came up with the ideas for your Refuge stories.

Thank you for buying the book! I give away your books frequently on my Free Book Fridays on my blog.
Ready-Made family is the third book in Wings of Refuge. Each book is its own story and a person need not have read the previous books to jump right in. Each WOR book features one man from a fictional Pararescue Jumper (PJ) team.

Ready-Made Family
April 2009-Steeple Hill Love Inspired--IN STORES NOW!
(Received 4.5 Stars from Romantic Times)

Wings of Refuge Series
This is Ben's story.

Back cover blurb:

A PLACE TO CALL HOME
Amelia North needs refuge, and finds it--in Refuge, Illinois. Stranded there after a car wreck, the single mother expects to be cold-shouldered. After all, she’s already been rejected by her parents, her church and her daughter’s father. Instead, she finds a town full of people with open hands and hearts…including pararescue jumper Ben Dillinger.
Ben wants to help Amelia and her daughter find safety and stability. Instead, he finds himself freefalling—right into love with the ready-made family.

I come up with ideas many different ways. I love to eavesdrop on conversations and sometimes all it takes to spark an idea is hearing something say something original that sparks a story premise.
I don't really have to (thankfully!) try very hard to think of stories. Ideas come to me in droves...they stalk me really. I have to fend them off. I get countless story ideas every single day. Other aspects of writing don't come so easily though. LOL!

I want to hear the story (abbreviated is fine) about how you detained an ambulance while driving a stick shift!
HE HE! WHO TOLD? My sister was trying to teach me how to drive a five speed car. I had learned to drive on a stick shift pick-up, but for some reason I could NOT seem to keep from grinding the gears in her little car. I kept getting the clutch timing off and the car kept stalling in traffic. So in a panic, I swerved the car into the next available parking lot. Unfortunately that was a hospital. And more unfortunately, when I swerved in the car stalled at an angle that blocked an entire row of the lot. An ambulance with lights and sirens quickly approached (not for the car! LOL) and I could NOT get the car to GO! My sister was shrieking at me, "GO!" And laughing hysterically. I was sobbing and yelling, "I'M TRYING!" And the ambulance driver was jabbing fingers at the windshield and yelling what looked suspiciously like, "Move that stupid car!" And I think there were a few #&@!* words in there somewhere too! I finally jumped out and my sister crawled across the consol and moved the car. I felt HORRIBLE for the poor patient having to wait on that ambulance.

Why in the world is Cricket your favorite sport?

I think because it's so different than any sport we play in the U.S. I became addicted to it when I went to India on a media/humanitarian mission after the big tsunami. We watched it constantly. I brought a real Cricket bat back to the U.S. but it was so huge (like a boat oar) that it would NOT fit in my luggage. So I tried to carry it on.
I was accosted by security who said I could technically use it as a weapon if I wanted. Of course I had no intentions of trying to hijack a plane but they didn't know that. So they would not let me get the bat on the plane in India. This was after 9-11 of course and security was uber tight.
Security in India seemed even more daunting than in the U.S. The Indian security guards have an automatic weapon strapped to one side of them plus another rifle plus belts of ammo criss crossed over their chests. They all look like Rambo. Most of them also carried at least one sidearm or other handgun plus these wicked looking machete swords. I mean these guys were STRAPPED with weapons. At least at this particular airport.
Trust me, I did NOT want to tick them off.
So I bid goodbye to the Cricket bat which was to be my souvenier to my husband. They confiscated the bat and I burst into tears. Part of it was because I'd walked so many miles to get that bat and had wanted to bring it home more than anything.
Security must have felt sorry for me because they chased me down and told me they could try to send it through along with the checked luggage, but they doubted it would ever make it to the U.S. much less past Paris. They tied this itty bitty rubber band and a two inche tag that had my name on it and the destination.
I never thought that bat would make it home...but it DID!
My husband terrorized my children (kidding) by telling them it was a paddle for when they didn't obey me and Time-Out didn't work. LOL! They were a little worried for a few seconds until he started laughing. Because that bat is about five feet long and flat like a paddle or a boat oar.

What are you working on now?

Wrapping up A Soldier's Devotion (Vince's story which releases in January 2010) and mailing influencer copies out of A Soldier's Reunion (Nolan's story which is will be in stores June 1 and is available for preorder now). Then I'll finish writing Chance's story (title pending) which releases in Fall 2010.

How long does it take you to write a novel?

Rough draft: 4-7 days. All the other stuff that goes with it? 2-3 months.

What do you do when you're not writing?

Read! Spend time with family and friends. Worship. Go to NASCAR races and sound gigs with my hubby who runs sound for just about every major Christian band out there.

Do you have a certain process when it comes to writing? For example, do you create your characters first or do you come up with the story idea first? And so on.

It varies. I might have a premise first then create characters around the premise. But more often I have an idea for a character first and create a story around that character. I do extensive research on the character's career. Then comes the characterization then I brainstorm the story structure with friends like Camy Tang, who is an ace at sensing sound story structure. I also love brainstorming with my editor and agent. And getting their feedback before really diving into the story. Then I do a brief and scantily clad scene index and I'm off and running.

Any advice for new writers out there?

For authors targeting CBA:
Write as worship.
Be willing to hear hard things about your writing yet never let anyone discourage you into giving up.
Remain teachable and join supportive groups such as the eharlequin community www.steeplehill.com , American Christian Fiction Writers www.acfw.com and Faith, Hope and Love http://www.faithhopelove-rwa.org/ the Inspirational Chapter of Romance Writers of America. http://www.rwanational.org/

What are your goals for your writing/career?

I hope I can always write category romance and especially for Steeple Hill. I love working with them. But I'd also like to branch out into single title romance and also so I can focus more on the more complex/longer action-driven stories. Romance that is high-action where I have room for subplots.

Are you driving yet? LOL!

LOL! YES! Finally. (For those of you who don't know, I was in a car accident last year that resulted in several surgeries. The accident broke my right foot and ankle so I was unable to drive for a few months.) I tell you, have a new respect for shut-ins and those homebound.

What's your favorite food?

Grilled chicken caesar salad, ribeye steak salad, baked potatoes, McD's sweet tea, my husband's chicken and my daughters' famous chocolate. Well, famous in our household anyway.

Any parting comments?

Thank you for having me here on your blog! It's an honor. And thanks to those of you who drop by and take time to read it.
Blessings everyone!
Cheryl

Cheryl! What great answers. Thanks so much for stopping by to visit.

All right, people, leave those comments and tell Cheryl what you think about her books and I'll enter your name to be drawn on Saturday for a copy of Ready Made Family. Thanks for stopping by!

Bonnie Leon is here today...leave a comment to win a free book

2009-04-07T06:00:00.001-04:00

Storytelling has always been an integral part of Bonnie Leon’s life. From childhood, she cherished the legends and family history handed down through her Aleut ancestors.

Throughout the ensuing years, Bonnie dabbled at writing but didn’t seriously consider becoming a professional author. Instead, as a young woman, she happily stepped into the full-time profession of homemaker and mother. Pollywog hunting, finger-painting, blackberry picking, and creating fun messes in the kitchen with her children are some of her most precious and irreplaceable memories.

When her youngest child was nine years old, Bonnie decided it was time to return to the working world. She took a position in her hometown of Glide, Oregon, working with the elderly and handicapped.

Then on June 11, 1991, her world was shattered when a log truck hit the van she was driving. The accident left her unable to work, and after months of rehabilitation she was told by physicians that she would never return to a normal life. Facing a daunting fight to reclaim her life and feeling as if she had nothing to offer the world, she asked God to give her something to do that mattered.

His answer came when she received a scholarship to attend the Oregon Christian Writer’s Summer Conference. That conference ignited Bonnie’s passion for literature and for writing, and she has been writing ever since.

Her first book, The Journey of Eleven Moons was released by Thomas Nelson in 1994 and made the CBA bestsellers list.

Since that time, she has written and published thirteen historical novels. Her most recent series, The Queensland Chronicles, published by Revell, has been contracted for a Dutch-language edition by Ultgeverij De Banier bv, an organization based in The Netherlands. Her books are truly being read across the globe!

And with each book she writes, her love for the craft and the challenges of writing grows. “The learning never ends,” she says, “But I relish the challenge of becoming a writer known for quality storytelling.”

In addition to her work as a writer, Bonnie has a passion for teaching of all kinds, especially on the art and intricacies of storytelling. She teaches at conferences and workshops and says, “There’s nothing more thrilling than to see a student’s eyes light up with understanding as she grasps the concepts of the writing craft and begins to believe she can tell stories someone else will want to read.”

Hi Bonnie! Welcome to my blog. Thanks so much for joining us.

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.
“Enduring Love”, book three in the Sydney Cove Series, will release on May 1st. I’m very excited about this book. It’s a great ending to the series and will keep readers wondering how even God can fix the mess my characters have gotten themselves into.

How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold? And how many have you written to date?
My path to publication is not typical. I sold the first book I’d ever written to the first editor who looked at it. In 1992 I attended the Oregon Christian Writers Summer Conference. The coaching conference is fabulous and provides endless opportunities for learning. That first year I learned enough to write my first book, which I sold the following summer.

In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing?
I’m still surprised by the process of story development. I never know exactly how it’s all going to work out, but it falls together, somehow. Although I outline before I begin I’m always surprised by unexpected plot twists and new and interesting characters who jump into my stories.
At this stage in my career I’ve written enough books to have confidence in the process. Ideas for foreshadowing often just seem to appear, characters become real and their lives intertwine with one another and the story makes sense. I’m fascinated at how it all just seems to work and it’s always great fun.

What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know?
I’m a very open person and there’s little people don’t know about me. But readers might be surprised to know that at one time I was addicted to drugs. It was a very long time ago. Back in the late 60’s I fell into the “drug scene” and amphetamines were my drug of choice. With the help of a friend (who is now my husband) I kicked the habit. At the time I was very unhappy and could never have imagined the wonderful life that waited for me. I’ve been blessed beyond measure.

Wow, thanks for sharing such a personal issue. Your husband must be an incredible man.

When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out?
In 1992 I started to imagine that one day I might publish my writing. I kept it a secret for a long while because I was embarrassed. After all, who did I think I was? Only extremely intelligent and incredibly creative people wrote books—right?
My family was very supportive. My mother got real excited and bought me a computer, and my husband made sure I had a good desk and chair. My children were a little miffed because instead of being a full-time mother I was working. However, they adjusted and are very proud of their writing mom.
Friends were surprised. They had no idea what I’d been up to. I remember a long-time friend read my first book when it released and she admitted that she was surprised that the book was good. I guess she’d never imagined me as a writer. I’ve heard from other friends, who read my books, that while they’re reading they sometimes stop and think, “I can’t believe Bonnie wrote this.” I take that as a compliment. :- ]

What is your favorite food?
I’m a pasta lover. And of course there’s always chocolate.

Tell us a little about your family.
I grew up in a large family—there were five of us kids. My parents were married twenty-eight years and then my father died at an early age. My mother remarried and is now in her 31st year of her second marriage.
I met my husband when I was seventeen. We married two years later and are still together thirty-eight years later. We have three children Paul, the oldest, Kristi, our middle child and Sarah our youngest.
Paul has his mind on his career so children are not on his radar yet, but Kristi has a little boy—Gabe. Sarah has three children—Corey, Ezra and Olivia. Her husband, Fernest, is in the army. Please keep him in your prayers.
My husband and I decided early on that I should stay home with the kids and that’s what I did. Those years as a full-time mom were my very best. Now I get to be a grandma and I adore my grandchildren. They are so cute and smart and . . . well I really have no clear perspective—they’re nearly perfect. 

LOL! Funny, that's what my parents think about MY children. What is it with you grandparents?? HA!

Who are your favorite authors?
In the Christian market I have two favorites—Francine Rivers and Ann Shorey. They write beautiful stories. I like a book with characters who feel real, people that I care about.
In the general market I’d have to stick with some of the classic writers, such as John Steinbeck and James Michener. Their writing styles are very different from one another. Steinbeck is a magician with words and Michener writes great stories.
Now, if you asked about favorite novels that’s easier—Redeeming Love, The Thorn Birds, The Girl With the Pearl Earring, Hawaii, The Kite Runner, and The Last Sin Eater to name a few.

What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile?
Presently I’m reading the book of the month for the ACFW Readers Group—Suspicious Minds by Christy Barritt. I’ve never read one of her books, but so far it’s great fun. And the next book in my to-be-read pile is Secrets on the Wind by Stephanie Grace Whitson. I can’t wait to begin. Historical fiction is my favorite genre to read and write.

Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does?
I always begin with a theme, but occasionally the theme changes as I discover the story. When I write I want to say something of significance and I hope what I pen will make a positive difference in a reader’s life. That, however, does not mean characters and plot are not important. Careful plotting and creating characters who feel like real people are imperative. After all, what good is a noteworthy theme without a great story?

Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this?
I use a time line for every book. It may look a little complicated to someone seeing it for the first time, but it really isn’t. I use a chart. Across the top I divide the book into months because my books usually span a year or more. Along the left hand column I write in different geographical areas that matter to my story, usually it’s world history plus state and regional history. Also on the left hand column I include the main characters names and the plot lines of my story and fill in events in the date columns.
Using this method helps me connect the events of the time period with the story my characters are living. The world’s events have an effect on how my characters live and think. Knowing what was going on at any given time adds realism to the story. Sometimes I find incidents in history that fit perfectly with my story, and also some that drive home the message of my theme. I love it when that happens.
The written description of this may be confusing. I’d be happy to send an example to any of your readers who’d like more clarification. They can contact me at www.bonnieleon.com.

Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life?
The most influential person in my life has to be Jesus Christ. He took a sad, empty person and filled me with love and gave me hope. He’s my inspiration for every book I write. When I’m working I always keep Him in mind. I want to honor Him in everything I do and say.
In my persona l life, my husband is my greatest influence. He’s a fine man who loves me just as I am. I know he prays for me and always supports me. He’s forever patient and works hard without complaint. He’s a wonderful example of living sacrificially.

Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after?
Presently Wendy Lawton is my agent. She’s wonderful to work with and has been a great help to me. However, when I signed for my first book I was unagented. Back in the early nineties most writers didn’t use agents. But things have changed a great deal since then. Most publishing houses prefer to work through an agent and unless a writer can get their manuscript in front of an editor at a conference they’ll have a difficult time finding a home for their work.

What advice do you have for a beginning author?
Most budding authors don’t understand how much work lies ahead of them. The process of learning to write for publication is a long road. There are highs and lows and lots to learn.
I was one of the few who sold right off. However that’s not all good. I had a great deal to learn about the art of writing. I was truly a newbie. I’m certain there are readers who tried my early work who didn’t stay with me.
Having time to mature as a writer is a gift. I know it doesn’t feel like that when writers work hard year after year, hoping to publish and find themselves waiting. But the time and the work will pay off. It’s wonderful to explode on the writing stage already tested and tried and able to present a great read right from the beginning.

Any parting comments?
Stepping into the writing world takes courage. It means people will know who we are. We always show up in our books in one way or another, at least our views do.
Writers need to develop thick skins. There will be those who adore every word we write and others who will be unimpressed. We mustn’t be afraid of growth, but we must also sift out the voices we should listen to and those we need to shut out.
Relish the gift and the joy and fulfillment found in serving God in this creative and surprising life. It is a fabulous, frightening and unforgettable journey.

Thank you Bonnie! What a wonderfully inspiring interview. I so appreciate you taking the time to answer the questions as it's always fun to learn a little more about a fellow writing buddy.

All right everyone, it's time to tell Bonnie how much you want to read her book! Leave a comment for the possibility to win. The winner will be announced on Saturday, so check your email. God Bless!

Susan Davis is back! Win a free book...

2009-02-12T06:00:00.001-05:00

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.

On A Killer’s Trail

This book has the down home charm of Maine, great characters, and a puzzling mystery with a good dash of suspense. Kate Richards is a rookie reporter at a daily newspaper, determined to make good. She’s assigned to be “on call” to cover local news on Christmas Day, when everyone else takes the day off. She plans to spend the day with her sister and brother-in-law—who happens to be a police captain.
When the captain is called to investigate an elderly woman’s murder, Kate tags along, which brings her face-to-face with Detective Neil Alexander, the man Kate broke up with six months ago. Neil was too wild then, and she did what she knew was right. But everyone says he’s changed now. Kate is resolved not to go there. Her new job eclipses everything else. Neil is still attracted to Kate, but his boss warns him to leave her alone. He has good intentions. Really. When a second murder occurs, Neil and Kate are in the thick of it together. Can they set aside the past to catch the killer?

If you’re like me, you’re always writing something whether on the computer, in your head, scratch pieces of paper, etc. Where do you get your ideas? What triggers a story idea for you?

Ideas are everywhere. News stories, overheard comments, TV commercials, a photo that doesn’t look quite right. My question is, how can people NOT have ideas for stories?

In your opinion, what’s the toughest thing you find about writing? The easiest?

The toughest is making sure all the details match up so that the whole thing hangs together without ends of threads sticking out. The easiest for me used to be writing dialogue, but I find I like writing action very much, too.

When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out?

I started writing fiction in 1999. Most people were encouraging, if a little dubious.

How long did it take you to get published?

I began selling short stories in 2001. My first book was published in 2004, so five years.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Some ideas come complete with setting. If not, I either choose a setting I’m familiar with or research to find out where the story would best unfold.

What would you be doing with all the time you spend writing if you weren’t writing?

Probably working a part time job.

Where’s your favorite place to write?

Here at my desk at home.

How do you make time for God in the craziness of life?

I like to start out the day with prayer and reading. Our family reads the Bible together and has a time of prayer after lunch. This seems to be our best time of day to have everyone together, as we home school and my husband works late and gets up late.

Tell us a little about your family.

My husband is an editor for a daily newspaper. We have six children, three of whom are married, and five grandchildren. The three children still living at home are 23, 16, and 14. The two younger ones are still being schooled at home. We live in Maine, and right now that means I have a lovely snowscape out my study window—firs, maples, and beeches dusted in snow, and about 18 inches on the ground. The woodstove is cranking, and it’s quiet here today. Oh, did I mention the dog? Monte Cristo is my bane, but the kids love him.

Who are your favorite authors?

It’s hard to choose, but for true history, Nathaniel Philbrick rules! I do love Dick Francis and Alexander McCall Smith. I like mysteries. Dorothy L. Sayers is a perennial favorite of mine, along with Ellis Peters’s Brother Cadfaels (not so much for her other books).

What’s next for you in the world of publishing?

I am working on my first “long historical.” The Sheriff’s Surrender is to be the first in a series titled The Ladies’ Shooting Club. I love the characters. This book is set for release in December. After that I’ll finish off my second Alaska book for Heartsong. Writing three Alaskan stories is an adventure in itself.

What do you hope people take away from when they finish reading your book?

The power of forgiveness. Kate and Neil have issues between them to deal with, but each also has some self-forgiving to do. It’s part of the spiritual maturity their struggle toward.

How many books have you written? List them for us so we can be sure to find them in the bookstore or online! 

Hm, more than 20.
Romantic suspense: Frasier Island, Finding Marie, Inside Story, Just Cause, Witness, and On a Killer’s Trail (upcoming—Hearts in the Crosshairs from LIS).
Historicals: Protecting Amy, The Oregon Escort, Wyoming Hoofbeats (repackaged in Wyoming Brides); Weaving a Future (repackaged in Virginia Brides); The Prisoner’s Wife, The Castaway’s Bride, The Lumberjack’s Lady (repackaged in Maine Brides); Return to Love, A New Joy, Abiding Peace (to be repackaged as White Mountain Brides in the fall); novella “Almost Home” in the Snowbound Colorado Christmas collection; and the upcoming Ladies’ Shooting Club series.
Cozy Mysteries with my daughter Megan: the Mainely Murders series—titles are Homicide at Blue Heron Lake, Treasure at Blue Heron Lake, and the upcoming Impostors at Blue Heron Lake.
And two book for young people: Feather (fantasy); and Sarah’s Long Ride (horse story).

What advice do you have for a beginning author?

Write a lot. Read a lot. Listen to people who know what they are doing. Don’t listen to people who don’t. And if you can figure out the difference, you’re a genius. Now go read some more and write some more.

Any parting comments?

Come visit me on my Web site: www.susanpagedavis.com . I love to hear from readers, and I give away a free book each month. Thanks for this opportunity, Lynette!

Thank you, Susan! So glad to learn a little more about you. I can't wait to read this book.

Rene Ryan is here! Win a free copy of her latest book.

2009-02-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

Renee Halverson w/a Renee Ryan Bio:

Renee grew up in a small Florida beach town. To entertain herself during countless hours of "laying-out" she read all the classics. It wasn’t until the summer between her sophomore and junior years at Florida State University that she read her first romance novel. Hooked from page one, she spent hours consuming one book after another while working on the best (and last!) tan of her life.

Two years later, armed with a degree in Economics and Religion, she explored various career opportunities, including stints at a Florida theme park, a modeling agency, and a cosmetic conglomerate. She moved on to teach high school Economics, American Government and Latin while coaching award-winning cheerleading teams. Several years later, with an eclectic cast of characters swimming around in her head, she began seriously pursuing a writing career.

Renee sold her first book, EXTREME MEASURES, to Dorchester Publishing by winning the inaugural New Historical Voice Contest in 2002. She eventually reconciled her writing with her faith and began writing Inspirational Romances in 2006. She sold her first Inspirational manuscript to Love Inspired Historical in December 2006 and has since sold three more. Her first book in the Charity House series, The Marshall Takes a Bride was a February 2009 release. Her next book in the series, Hannah’s Beau, hit the shelves July 2009.

For further information check out www.ReneeRyan.com

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.

The Marshal Takes a Bride is a Love Inspired Historical February 2009 release. Why buy it? Well, for one, it’s a Western. Who doesn’t love Western’s? Add into the mix a wounded hero, a determined heroine, and her lively 5-year-old sister and now you have a story of hope, redemption and the healing love of family.

How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold? Or if you’re pre-pubbed, how many have you written to date?

I completed five manuscripts before selling. The first three were total shots in the dark. I was utterly clueless. But I proved to myself that I could start and finish a novel, so I consider the time well spent. Then I joined my local RWA chapter and my real education began. Three years after joining, I sold my first book.

In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing?

I am consistently amazed at the process of discovering new characters that previously didn’t exist. I fall in love with them every time, and I mean every time. So I set out to make sure they get their happy ending. If only real life could have such closure.

What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know?

I’ve been skydiving several times. That’s right. I have jumped out of a perfectly good airplane on more than one occasion!

When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out?

I started writing seriously in 1997. From day one, I received the same question I still get today. Are you published? I hated that question before I sold. I’m not crazy about it now. The assumption that we’re only “real” writers if we’ve published a novel is absurd. It’s about the journey, not the destination! Chasing the sale never works in the long run. Sadly, I know this from experience.

What is your favorite food?

Steak! Medium-rare. I love, love, love steak. LOVE IT. The best I’ve ever had was at Ruth’s Crist. Unbelievable seasoning. I could gush all day about this particular food item. Suffice it to say, I’m a bona fide carnivore.

Tell us a little about your family.

We’re a blended family. I married my husband when my daughter was three and his son was nine. The four of us lived happily together in the same house for thirteen years. However, now that our son has graduated college (sniff, sniff) it’s just the three of us left in the home. My daughter is a junior in high school (and all that that implies). My husband is in radio, and has the magnificent voice to prove it. We also have a large, fluffy cat that my husband is convinced is part bear. He will not believe me when I say I saw BOTH her mother and father at the pound where I found her. And they were, indeed, cats. It’s our only on-going argument to date.

Who are your favorite authors?

I love Francine Rivers, Liz Curtis Higgs, Beth Moore, Susan Elizabeth Phillips and all the Love Inspired Historical (LIH) authors. Honestly, I’ve enjoyed every one of the LIH releases this past year. Steeple Hill has done an excellent job with the launch of this new line.

What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile?

Right now, I’m reading WWII research books—mostly ones about Nazi Germany (where my current WIP is set). I’m fascinated with tales of the German Resistance. It took great courage to fight the Nazi Regime from the inside. Such heroism is inspiring.

Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does?

I find I have recurring themes that show up no matter what story I set out to write, themes such as the condition of our hearts, first impressions, courage in the face of fear, shame and, a big favorite, forgiveness coupled with grace.

Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this?

I’m a plotter, but not in the traditional sense. I plot my characters before I worry about the “events” of the story. Once I know who the hero and heroine are, what they’ll struggle to overcome, why they need the other person in their life and why that other person is also their worst nightmare, I start thinking about the actual events that will mess with their status quo. By then I have a good idea of the story’s theme, which is simply what the characters need to learn. I pick a Scripture that reflects that theme and sit down to write a detailed synopsis. If I know where I’m starting and where I’m going, the getting there becomes the easy part. In other words, if I know how my h/h will meet, what will lead them to their black moment and what will be the resolution then all the other scenes grow organically out of these three major plot points.

Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life?

Hands down, the most influential person in my life is my husband. I have never met anyone with his level of integrity. He once lost a job because he refused to sacrifice his employees and their welfare for his own sake. He is a true spiritual leader, both in the home and out. Best of all, he makes me feel beautiful, loved and forgiven on a daily basis. Every woman deserves a man like him in her life. My heroes tend to be a lot like the man I married. Go figure. In terms of my writing, I would have to say my critique partners, Cindy Kirk and Teryl Oswald. They are the hardest working writers I know. Both have a commitment to the craft that inspires me. Their insights and comments always help me take my stories to the next level. I value them both dearly.

Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after?

I have an agent now, but I didn’t have one when I sold my first book. I sold my second book with the help of my agent at the time. I appreciate having an agent to negotiate the business end of my career. I focus on the writing; my agent focuses on the business aspects. It’s really that simple for me.

What advice do you have for a beginning author?

Finish manuscripts! I can’t stress this enough. If you aren’t finishing manuscripts you aren’t learning how to work through the tough spots (and there are ALWAYS tough spots). You won’t know what your strengths are as a writer, or your weaknesses. Finishing manuscripts also provides the perfect avenue for developing your own unique style and command of the language, or what some call “voice”.

Any parting comments?

One of the best pieces of advice I can give is this: Choose your words carefully, whether you’re speaking, writing, blogging or emailing. You will always have editors, agents, readers, marketing departments, family, friends, co-workers and many others making requests on your time and talent. Either give them what they want or give them a kind, courteous reason why you can’t do what they ask at that time. You will never go wrong in this business by being nice.

Rene, thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to join us today. We appreciate it and it's been so much fun learning more about you. I'm so impressed with the skydiving!

Shirley Connolly is here with her new book...win a free copy!

2009-01-29T08:11:00.004-05:00

Hi all, Shirley Connolly is here today introducing us to her new book. I hope you enjoy the interview! Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a free copy.

Shirley Kiger Connolly, born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, now lives on the Southern Coast of Oregon with her husband. Their three children are now grown. When not writing, Shirley is with her animals, doing stitchery, or reading, or watching classics with her husband. Shirley attended college in Northern California.
She later became a graduate of Institute of Children’s Literature. A Christian for over forty years, it was through her relationship with the Lord, she developed a passion for women’s ministry and teaching. This blossomed further when her husband went into pastoral ministry. While teaching, Shirley’s love for research led to the publishing of two historical fiction novels. Shirley also wears another hat, penning light-hearted devotional books . The first in a series of three: I See God in the Simple Things is scheduled to release this month. Shirley’s goal is to keep her fiction as true to life as possible, and focus her devotionals on simple everyday living to encourage her readers to enjoy life to the fullest regardless of its difficulties.

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.

I’ll be talking about my new light-hearted devotional coming out in February. It’s called I See God in the Simple Things and it’s about those things in life you and I experience every day through simple daily living. God is so wonderful the way He shows us more about ourselves simply by having us look at life as it really is. He also shows us through those basic experiences where we truly are in our walks with Him. Have you ever noticed that? It’s sad how so many of us get caught up in making things difficult for ourselves, especially during a trial. God tries to urge us back in the sweetest sort of way. We oftentimes don’t take the time to open our eyes. I See God in the Simple Things takes the reader behind the eyes of maybe a chicken, or a goat, or it might show us a word of wisdom from a child’s response to something we are doing. In the book, after each reflection, is an area for the reader to journal her own thoughts about what God has shown her that day. I think women of all ages who are ready to take a little moment out of their day with God, will be blessed and encouraged through the reading of this book. I See God in the Simple Things is the first in a three-book series I’m doing.

In your opinion, what’s the toughest thing you find about writing? The easiest?

The toughest in my fiction stories is the beginning. The easiest in my fiction work is working out my characters and their dialogues. For my devotionals doing the index I guess is the most difficult or at least time consuming. I like to index the scriptures that can be used for various subject matter for my readers. The easiest? Probably coming up with the subject matter.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

For my fiction work, I like to write what I know, so it could have been someplace I have been before, or someplace I have done research on. As far as the time to go with the place, I love books written about the 1800s most of all. That, too, helps me determine where my setting might be. For my devotionals, the setting for each reflection is right where I am at the moment: in the chicken coup, out in the barn, in the garden, at my kitchen window. You name it.

How do you make time for God in the craziness of life?

God is first and foremost, Lynette, so I don’t even start my day without Him going before me. I find, if I don’t do that, my day never goes quite right.

What’s next for you in the world of publishing?

Right now, I am working on my third fiction book, and also getting my second devotional ready for release in November. I am pretty excited about all the Lord is doing, even though my work is not yet well known to the public.

Any parting comments?

Simply a great big thank you and hug for allowing me to share about my new book. I hope you all get a chance to read it. I think you will really be encouraged by it.

Where can we find you online?

You can find me at http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com/ and http://shirleykoinonia.tripod.com/ At A Pen for Your Thoughts I usually have a contest going on, and I’m always interviewing old and new authors, whether published or not. I love to get to know people and tell others about them. Come on by, please, and sign up to be a follower. Then you can stay up to date with what I’m doing.

Thanks so much for being here, Shirley, it was great getting to know you a little better. God Bless!

Randy Singer, a unique opportunity - and a free book!

2009-01-25T09:05:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone, I have just been told of a great opportunity. YOU can influence the ending of Randy Singer's next book.

If you’ve ever read a legal thriller or watched an episode of Law & Order and thought you would have rendered a different verdict—step into the jury box.

You have the unique opportunity to participate in helping determine the verdict of a court case in an upcoming legal thriller by critically-acclaimed author, Randy Singer. Here’s a bit about what Randy is doing:

Beginning January 12, readers will have an opportunity to determine the verdict in Randy’s upcoming legal thriller, The Justice Game (Tyndale House, July 2009), which features a court case centered on the gun debate. The verdict voted on by the readers will be written into the story and kept under wraps until the book’s release. This is the first time in recent memory that an author has taken reader involvement and feedback to this level.

“I wanted to do something different and get my readers really involved in the story,” said Singer. “This gives them an opportunity to hear both sides of the national gun debate and gets them thinking. Plus, it adds an element of fun to the book.”

Taking a new approach to the popular book trailer, Singer has produced a short, online video that mimics a cable news report. Featuring real-life talk show host Lorri Allen as the lead news anchor, the video shares the latest updates on the trial at the center of the book interspersed with segments of the closing arguments direct from the courtroom. At the end of the video, viewers are directed to a special section on Singer’s Web site to render their verdict.

You can access the video at: www.randysinger.net.

Randy, who is a practicing veteran trial attorney as well as a teaching pastor in Virginia Beach, VA, has written seven critically-acclaimed legal thrillers. Publishers Weekly has said he, “is as enjoyable as John Grisham,” and his work has received several noteworthy reviews. His latest book, By Reason of Insanity (Tyndale), debuted in hardcover last summer and releases this month in softcover.

Tell us how you voted and why. Your name will be placed in a drawing for a copy of Randy's By Reason of Insanity. When The Justice Game becomes available, I'll come back to this post and choose another winner for a copy of that!

God Bless!

Lynette

Merrillee Whren is here today... enter the drawing to win a free book!

2009-01-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

Welcome Merrillee! I'm so glad you're here. Thank you for taking the time out of your schedule to join us. I've had a time getting everything posted due to internet outages, but I think we're good to go now!

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.

My latest release is MOMMY’S HOMETOWN HERO, which comes out in January 2009. The story is the middle book of a three-book series about the Dalton brothers. The first book is FOUR LITTLE BLESSINGS (Feb. 2008), Wade Dalton’s story. MOMMY’S HOMETOWN HERO is Matt Dalton’s story. The third book, HOMECOMING BLESSING, comes out in April 2009 and is the story of Peter Dalton.

MOMMY’S HOMETOWN HERO is very close to my heart because it is set in South Dakota, where I was born. Although my life little resembles that on my characters, the setting takes me back to my roots. Here is a blurb:
His objective: marriage.
His opponent: a stubborn single mom.
After ten years, Rachel Charbonneau is finally back in South Dakota. But she intends to sell her family's farm and hurry back "home" to the city. Ex-soldier Matt Dalton won't let her go without a fight.
So his strategy: arm himself with all the faith and love necessary to be her hometown hero.

2. How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold?

I wrote eighhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gift full manuscripts before I sold.
3. In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing?

The most fascinating thing is how characters can take you on an unexpected journey.
4. What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know?

In high school I played the piccolo in the marching band.

5. When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out?

I started writing for publication in 1984. People didn’t say much. I think they thought it was a nice hobby, especially since it took me twenty years to sell something to a publisher.

6. What is your favorite food?

That’s a hard question. I like too many foods. Maybe we should go with categories.
Sweet: Chocolate and lots of it.
Salty: Popcorn with lots of butter
Fruit: Strawberries
Meat: Filet Mignon medium rare
Vegetable: broccoli

7. Tell us a little about your family.

I will be married to my husband for 33 years on Feb. 14, 2009. We have two grown daughters who are both married. The older one just got married this past October. The younger one just had a baby girl, my first grandchild.

A Valentine's Anniversary! No wonder you write romance. And congratulations the grandbaby, what a sweet blessing.

8. Who are your favorite authors?
I can’t pick favorite authors. There are too many. That’s why my TBR pile is so high.

9. What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile?

I’m reading Pursuit of Justice by Pamela Tracy. I plan to read all the RITA finalists and ACFW Book of the Year finalists for 2008. I have nearly 2 dozen Love Inspired novels in my TBR pile along with about the same number of books by the member of the Wet Noodle Posse, the 2003 Golden Heart finalists. One day I will get them read.

9. Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does?

I’d say the theme develops as I write. I usually start with a set of characters, a setting and a problem facing one or more of the characters and go from there. A theme may develop from those circumstances.

10. Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this?

I’m not a particularly organized person, so my methods are haphazard. I often print out a calendar from an online calendar site that projects calendars for years to come. Then I start a timeline of events and write them on the calendar print out. I have a pocket folder where I keep that calendar and any research items that I collect from newspapers or from things I find on the Web. Sometimes, I do e-mail interviews with folks and print those out and put them in the folder, too.

11. Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life?

Other than God, my husband has the most influence on my life. I value his advice and support. In my writing life, I trust the Lord to give me the story that someone needs to read. I finally figured out, after years of trying to get published, that I needed to let God rule my writing life. I do love having other writers to share writing ups and downs with, but I know the best source for inspiration is the Lord.

12. Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after?

Yes, I have an agent, but I didn’t have an agent when I made my first sale to Steeple Hill. I got an agent in between my first and second sales. Although a writer doesn’t need an agent to sell to Steeple Hill, I like having an agent to deal with contracts and other issues that might come up from time to time and to give me advice on the writing business.
13. What advice do you have for a beginning author?

Expect rejection but keep writing. Never give up.

14. Any parting comments?

I love to hear from readers. Their notes make my day. Readers can write to me through my Web site at www.merrilleewhren.com or at PO Box 16461, Fernandina Beach, FL 32035.

Thank you so much for stopping by! What great answers. It's so much fun to learn more about some of my favorite authors and this time has bee no exception.

All right, bloggers, leave a comment and get put in the drawing for Merilee's newest release MOMMY'S HOMETOWN HERO.

Ann Kirk Shorey is here today...win a free book!

2009-01-14T06:00:00.008-05:00

Hi all! Let's give Ann a warm welcome. Be sure to leave a comment and get in the drawing for a freebie.

Bio: Ann Shorey has been writing for over fifteen years. She’s been published in the Adams Media Cup of Comfort series, and in Chicken Soup for the Grandma’s Soul. Ann has also written articles for various local and regional publications. After completing a nonfiction historical narrative in 1998, she realized she had uncovered a treasure trove of inspiration, and turned to fiction as a way to put that inspiration to good use.
Ann teaches classes on historical research, story arc, and other fiction fundamentals at writers conferences. She works in Sutherlin, Oregon, where she lives with her husband, Richard. The Edge of Light is her first novel.

1. Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves. The Edge of Light is set in 1838 in what was then frontier Missouri and Illinois. When Molly McGarvie’s husband, Samuel, succumbs to cholera, her unscrupulous brother-in-law takes over the family business and leaves Molly to fend for herself. She knows she must head out on her own, but it’s a dangerous journey and soon she faces the loss of another family member. Somehow she must find a way to earn a living, restore her family, and fend off some unusual suitors. There are enough plot twists to keep readers up past their bedtimes!

2. How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold? Or if you’re pre-pubbed, how many have you written to date? I wrote two other full manuscripts, and re-wrote this one several times.

3. In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing? I write historical fiction, and am continually fascinated by the way women lived in earlier times. In fact, learning more about these women’s lives if what prompted me to write fiction in the first place.

4. What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know? In my dream life, I’d own at least five or six rescue dogs. I love dogs, and we have one that we did rescue, but we don’t have space for more.

5. When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out? I started with nonfiction back in the 1990’s, and had a few things published. I think until this book deal happened, most people thought of it as my “hobby.”

6. What is your favorite food? Chocolate.

7. Tell us a little about your family. My husband, Richard, and I are empty-nesters. Our daughters have fledged and flown, although they all live close enough to allow for frequent visits.

8. Who are your favorite authors? Way too many to list them all. Barbara Kingsolver is at the top of my list, but I also like mystery writers Elizabeth George and Tony Hillerman. Bonnie Leon and Rachel Hauck are two wonderful ACFW-member writers.

9. What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile? Right now I’m reading “Longings of the Heart,” by Bonnie Leon. “Shade,” by John B. Olson, “A Passion Most Pure,” by Julie Lessman, and “Love Starts With Elle,” by Rachel Hauck, are at the top of my “to be read” pile.

10. Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does? I find the theme develops as the story progresses. If I start with a fixed idea it’s too limiting for me.

11. Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this? I keep a chapter-by-chapter log as I write. Nothing fancy. I use a yellow legal-size pad and jot down the highlights of the chapter, date (in the story), and POV character. Details of the characters are spelled out on the character sheets that I prepare before beginning to write. I’ll go back to these sheets and add information if something happens in the story that I need to remember.

12. Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life? Becoming a Christian 30+ years ago has had the greatest influence on my life. Humanly speaking, my mother shaped the person I am today. In my writing life, I’ve been blessed with a wonderful mentor and friend, Bonnie Leon. She cheers me on every step of the way.

13. Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after? If you are yet to be published, you can skip the second part of the question. Yes. My book was in committee at the publisher when my agent responded to my proposal, so in a way I had the sale and the agent at the same time. She was a tremendous help through the contract process.

14. What advice do you have for a beginning author? Follow your dreams. Don’t get discouraged and quit. If the book you’re working on gets rejected over and over, take what you’ve learned from rejections start another one. We get better with every book, as long as we don’t stop learning.

15. Any parting comments? “The Edge of Light” was inspired by the life of one of my female ancestors. Some of it is true, most of it isn’t. I’d love to hear reader’s guesses as to which parts are which. I can be contacted through my website, www.annshorey.com

Ann, thanks so much for a fantastic interview and congratulations on your book. I look forward to reading it.

Cecelia Dowdy is here today...win a free book

2009-01-07T06:00:00.000-05:00

Welcome back everyone!

Today, I'd like to welcome Cecelia Dowdy to my blog. Be sure to leave a comment to be placed in the drawing. You might just win a free copy of her book!

Cecelia Dowdy is a world traveler who has been an avid reader for as long as she can remember. When she first read Christian fiction, she felt called to write for the genre.She loves to read, write, and bake desserts in her spare time. Currently she resides with her husband and young son in Maryland.

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.
Here’s a short summary of Milk Money: Running a dairy farm alone is a big job. When her dad dies, Emily works hard to save the family farm. Her world turns upside down the day Franklin Reese, CPA, pulls in her driveway, announcing he’s there to do an audit. Frank is appalled at the lack of interest Emily has in her farm’s finances, but he’s determined to help her learn. The further he looks into Mr. Cooper’s dealings, the more uncomfortable he becomes. As he uncovers the truth about Mr. Cooper’s finances, he struggles with his own issues. Can Emily love Frank since he’s an unsaved alcoholic?
Readers should run out and buy my book because it’s a good story that shows how we can lean on God to overcome alcoholic addiction.

How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold? Or if you’re pre-pubbed, how many have you written to date? I lost track of how many books I’d written before I sold. However, I was writing for five and a half years before I sold my first novel.

In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing? Being able to use my imagination to create stories that others will read. Just knowing that thousands of people will be reading the words on the final printed page gives me a euphoric feeling!

What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know? Growing up, I used to get a majority of my reading material from the bookmobile that came through my neighborhood every two weeks.

Me too! I had the schedule memorized and would run out to get the next Nancy Drew book! LOL.

When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out? I started seriously writing for publication in 1994. I heard a wide range of reactions from friends. Some said I needed to be friends with people at the publishing house in order to get a contract. Others said I needed a lot of money to publish a book, so I’d never be able to afford to put my work in print. I had to patiently explain that I wasn’t trying to self publish, and they were shocked that publishers actually paid advances and royalties, with the author never paying a dime toward the publication expenses for their novels! I was glad to educate some people about the publishing process!

What is your favorite food? I like tomato-based foods like spaghetti, lasagna, and pizza. I also enjoy desserts. My favorite desserts are chocolate chip cookies, peanut butter cookies, and lemon pound cake.

Tell us a little about your family.
I’ve been married for five years! We have a three-year-old son. Our life has really changed since we had our son. Currently we’re just raising our bright, inquisitive son while we work full-time. My husband is a computer programmer for the IRS and we met on an online dating service!

Who are your favorite authors?
Too many favorites to name! I love veteran author Janette Oake, and I also enjoy Robin Lee Hatcher, Brandilyn Collins, and the late Jane Peart. These are just a few of my favorites! I love a lot of authors!

What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile?
Believe it or not, I’m reading a secular novel right now: Twilight. I kept hearing about this book and movie, and whenever I hear a lot of buzz about a book, I have to read it! My to-be-read pile includes lots of titles: Love Finds You In Valentine Nebraska by Irene Brand
Showdown by Ted Dekker
Before The Season Ends by Linore Rose Burkand
My Soul To Keep by Davis Bunn
The Making of Isaac Hunt and Loving Cee Cee Johnson (that’s two novels) by Linda Leigh Hargrove
I also have just about every Heartsong Presents and Heartsong Presents cozy mystery novel published within the last year. I probably won’t read them all, but I will pick and choose which ones I’ll read.
Plus an ever-growing pile of more books that I don’t have the time to list!
10. Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does? The theme develops as the story does.

Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this? I’ll use a timeline or a wall calendar to be sure things are in sequence. Also, if I have to research details, I’ll use the internet a lot. Since Milk Money takes place on a dairy farm, me, my husband, and our son went to a small family dairy farm in Maryland during their evening milking. I assisted in the milking process and I also asked the farmer a plethora of questions about his farming routine. He was a wealth of information and my son loved seeing those cows!

Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life?
If I had to pick someone, it would be my Mom who’s had the greatest influence in my life! As far as writing, I think about authors I read growing up, which probably influenced my decision to become a writer. I recall reading the Nancy Drew mystery series and Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House On the Prairie Series. Rosemary Rogers was the first romance author I read when I was in high school. Later, not long after I’d started my own writing, I read Janette Oake’s novels and loved them!

Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after?
No, I don’t have an agent. I’ve sold five books without an agent, but, I’m currently searching for an agent now.

What advice do you have for a beginning author?
Learn the craft and fellowship and learn from published authors via writers organizations like Romance Writers of America (RWA) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW)

Any parting comments?
Thanks for hosting me on your blog! It’s been fun!

Thanks for being here. It's been fun getting to know you a little better.

Susan Page Davis is my guest today...leave a comment and enter win a free book!

2009-01-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

Susan Page Davis is my guest today! Thanks for stopping by, Susan.

Leave a comment and be put in the drawing for her latest release.

Susan Page Davis is a Maine native. She writes romantic suspense and mysteries. Her historical romances have won several awards. The daughter of a naval officer turned law enforcement officer, she grew up loving horses and books and took a degree in history. It all comes together in the stories she writes.

1. Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.

Inside Story is an exciting, military-themed suspense book that will keep you turning the pages. Claudia Gillette is a high-powered journalist who will go to any lengths to get a story. Bill White is a Navy Lieutenant on a secret operation. If they could stay in the same hemisphere long enough for a date, things might go more smoothly for them. As it is, Claudia drops in unexpectedly on Bill’s clandestine mission. They’ll be lucky to get out of it alive, let alone speaking to each other.

2. How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold?
Oh, about twenty, I’d say. I know you’re laughing when you read that, but it’s true. First I wrote several police procedural mystery-suspense books. I had no idea what I was doing, but it was fun and I began to learn the craft. Then I wrote several contemporary romances. I tried a few novellas and a children’s book. Finally I turned to historical romance, and got a hit. And, in case you’re wondering, a few of those earlier attempts were later resurrected and sold. Book four in my police series, for instance. After a complete overhaul, it became a Love Inspired Suspense book. One of the novellas was lengthened into a full-length book. A few others have also found their way into print.

3. In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing?
The way it transports you into a totally different world.

4. What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know?
I had a major stroke on January 8, 1997. For about 24 hours, I couldn’t read or write. The “language” area of my brain was affected. I could talk, but I had trouble finding the right words. Through God’s grace, within 48 hours I was well on the way to recovery, and have no residual effects. Despite 9 days of testing and observation, my doctors never found a cause. I’m rejoicing in the gift that has been the last 11 years.

Wow, that's incredible! Isn't God amazing?

5. When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out?
I started writing fiction in the summer of 1999. I’d been writing nonfiction articles for newspapers and magazines before that, so I don’t think they were shocked. But when my first short story was published in Woman’s World, some folks sat up and took notice. A couple of years later I sold my first book. For the most part, people I knew were thrilled and excited for me. It’s funny, but with 19 books in print, I’m still bumping into people I’ve known for years who don’t know I’m a published author.

6. What is your favorite food?
Fruit of just about any type.

7. Tell us a little about your family.
My husband, Jim, is a news editor. We have six children (four college grads, three of whom are married, and two still in the home schooling process). We also have five grandchildren, all of whom live at least 1,200 miles from our home in Maine.

8. Who are your favorite authors?
I keep going back to Dick Francis, Ellis Peters, and Alexander McCall Smith for mystery. I read lots of genres and enjoy discovering new authors, but old friends are the best.

9. What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile?
Right now I’m reading an older Dick Francis book I somehow missed: Driving Force. It’s good. My TBR pile includes a Martha Grimes novel and a Patricia Cornwell. I recently read Nancy Mehl’s cozy mysteries and loved them (Cozy in Kansas series). A few other books I recently polished off: novella collection A Bride by Christmas; John Olson’s Fossil Hunter; Marcia Gruver’s Diamond Duo; Smith’s The Good Husband of Zebra Drive; and DiAnn Mills’s A Texas Legacy Christmas.

10. Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does?
I set out to write a story, not a theme. Usually a theme runs through it, but I haven’t worked hard to plant it there.

11. Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this?
I’m low tech about this. I keep a manila folder for each work in progress. I write the main characters’ names and basic information (relationships, physical characteristics) on the outside. In the folder go the synopsis and any other aids I construct for that story, such as timelines, calendars, or character sketches, as well as any pertinent articles I clip, interview notes, or other research aids. When the contract comes, I start a three-ring binder and move everything over there. If I do research on line, I print what I use and file it in the binder, too, along with correspondence and rough drafts.

12. Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life?
After the Lord, that would definitely be my husband, Jim. Every aspect of my life is affected by him. He also plays a big part in my writing. He reads through every manuscript before I submit it. He’s great at catching inconsistencies and typos. We’re now thinking of writing a book together.

13. Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after?
Yes, I have an agent I’ve worked with for two years now. I did not have an agent when I sold my first book. I connected with my first agent shortly after that sale, and we worked together for three years. Then I found my present agent. It seems to be a good fit for both of us.

14. What advice do you have for a beginning author?

Read. Write. Listen. Repeat.
15. Any parting comments?

Come visit me on my Website: www.susanpagedavis.com. You can view a book trailer there for Inside Story, enter a contest, and see my daughter (and mystery co-author) Megan’s wedding picture, among other things.

Thanks so much, Susan for stopping by. I look forward to what readers have to say and to drawing a winner from the comments!

Lyn Cote is my guest today - leave a comment and maybe win a book!

2008-12-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone, Lyn Cote is my guest today. I'm so excited she's agreed to answer a few questions so we can get to know her better. Please leave a comment and possibly win a copy of her newest release, Her Captain's Heart.

1. Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves. I’m very excited about Her Captain’s Heart, the first in my “Gabriel Sisters” series, which follows each sister as she tries to help the US heal after the Civil War. Verity Hardy is a Civil War widow and goes to VA to teach at a Freedman’s School. And finds that the Civil War hasn’t really ended in the hearts of the people.

2. If you’re like me, you’re always writing something whether on the computer, in your head, scratch pieces of paper, etc. Where do you get your ideas? What triggers a story idea for you? I always start with setting and a time period. I like to watch my characters “brave the storms of history.” In my own life, I survived the assassination of JFK, Watergate, the Cold War, Vietnam War, two Gulf Wars, recessions, 9/11 and what we’re experiencing now. History impacts every life. And often pushes us and my characters to our limit of bravery, endurance and phileo or brotherly love. I also focus on women who were what I call “passionate participants of their times.” Women who took the Great Commission and the Golden Rule to heart and then tried to take them into the world.

3. In your opinion, what’s the toughest thing you find about writing? The easiest? The hardest is trying to choose and arrange words so that what I am seeing, hearing, touching in my mind go down on the page so that a reader GETS it all. The easiest is coming up with a new story “bud.”

4. When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out? I had kept it pretty quiet. Some people were thrilled; others were tart. I took both with salt. God gave me a gift and as long as He’s happy, I am.

5. How long did it take you to get published? 1984 to 1997

6. How do you choose your settings for each book? I look for an area that experienced “exciting” history. Usually that means a lot of turmoil and conflict and change—not comfortable periods.

7. What would you be doing with all the time you spend writing if you weren’t writing? I’d keep my house clean! And make gourmet meals. And lose weight. And take up ballet. Ah, strike that last one.

8. Where’s your favorite place to write? On the front porch overlooking the lake in the summers; in the winters, in my recliner looking out at the snowy pines and frozen lake.

9. How do you make time for God in the craziness of life? My dh and I use Our Daily Bread devotional and I have a special prayer journal and a book “Praying God’s Will for My Daughter.” I read a page a day of scriptures about God’s promises for my son and daughter (I make the book work for both.) and then pray for them, their future mates and children.

10. Tell us a little about your family. My dh and I have been married 34 years and raised two children. We are grateful that “our anchor” has held. I call him my real life hero. And he is!

11. Who are your favorite authors? Georgette Heyer’s class Regency romances, Phyllis Whitney, Mary Stewart, Francine Rivers, Kathy Herman’s mysteries, Sharon Dunn’s funny mysteries and Sandra Byrd’s chicklit.

12. What’s next for you in the world of publishing? In February 2009, the first book in my Texas Star of Destiny series The Desires of Her Heart will debut. I did a lot of research on Texas history 1821-1847 and was amazed at the changes and unbelievable true stories that took place there. I often say that I use authentic history in my stories because what actually happened can often be more wild or interesting than anything I could make up!

13. What do you hope people take away from when they finish reading your book? Hope and love for others.

14. How many books have you written? List them for us so we can be sure to find them in the bookstore or online!  Well, why don’t you just drop by my website and click Lyn’s Books. Her Captain’s Heart is #25.

15. What advice do you have for a beginning author? Again, drop by my website. I have a page about Christian Publishers and advice.

16. Any parting comments? Please drop by www.LynCote.net and see what I have for readers, who are some of my favorite people!

Inspirational Suspense Author Barbara Phinney - Win a Book!

2008-12-05T08:24:00.005-05:00

I am so pleased to have Barbara on my blog today. She has graciously agreed to pop in occasionally and answer any questions not already answered in her interview. Be sure to give her a warm welcome and leave a comment so you can be entered in the drawing to win her latest release, Deadly Homecoming. Welcome Barbara!

A little bit about Barbara:

After she retired early from the military, Barbara decided to turn her creativity toward writing. Romance was a natural choice for her, because she likes happy endings, but she was actually scared that inspirational romance would be too hard and confining. That changed when she put pen to paper. Everything came together easily, and wasn’t the least bit confining. She thanks God for that. Now she writes for Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired Suspense line of books, with Desperate Rescue out in September 07, and Keeping Her Safe in June 08 and Deadly Homecoming in December 08.Barbara spends some days volunteering at her children's school, some days writing, and every day feeding a muse that seems to be working all the time. She and her retired husband live in rural New Brunswick, Canada, and when they aren’t volunteering, they enjoy a little camping, and traveling and hanging out with family and friends.

Interview Questions:

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.
Deadly Homecoming is the story we all need to read. We’ve all done things we regret and in this story, my heroine must learn to face her past and accept it. Another interesting fact about this story is that the back cover blurb reflects the original story idea and not the story that was finally published. Everyone should read it to find out what the differences are!

How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold? Or if you’re pre-pubbed, how many have you written to date?
Too many really bad ones. Ones that had ‘cliched’ scrawled along the top when I got them back! Ahh, live and learn.

In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing?
It’s exciting for me to just sit and let the (sometimes bad) words flow. It’s great when odd things that have popped into your work become important foreshadowing later on in the novel.

What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know?
You mean a skeleton? Well, without disclosing those, I think that most people don’t know that I am really afraid of promotion and going to conferences. It’s a vicious circle, actually. I won’t go because I’m scared, and because I don’t go, I can’t conquer that fear.

When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out?
I started to write for publication shortly after I retired from the military, because I wanted to make a little money. (Little being the word here) But I knew absolutely nothing about writing, except how to string words into a sentence. People have always supported me. I can’t remember anyone criticizing my choice of genre.

What is your favorite food?
Shepherd’s Pie with either custard tart or cheesecake for dessert. It’s hard for me to resist those foods.

Tell us a little about your family.
My husband and I have two teens, a girl aged 18 and a boy aged 16. We live in a very rural area of New Brunswick, Canada, on land that was my husband’s grandfather’s. All my in laws live close by, so we see each other frequently.

Who are your favorite authors?
Tough choice! I enjoy Linda Hall’s books and Rick Warren’s, too. It’s not so much about favourite authors, but favourite settings, plots and suspense. Give me a good book set in South America, or a plot like ‘on the run’, with lots of suspense, and I know I’ll enjoy it.

What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile?
I’ve just finished off The Fruitful Life by Jerry Bridges. I hope to delve back inot my LIS books now, especially those with exotic settings.

Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does?
I set out writing a story with a particular setting and conflict in mind, then very shortly after, I have a theme, mostly because I need to know my ending before I finish. That’s because editors want to know it too. That must really irk ‘pantser’ writers, but I’m not one of them.

Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this?
I have a couple of methods. First up, I will, if possible, fill out the art facts sheets on my characters. But I’ve started using index cards because I need a detailed synopsis anyway for submitting proposals. Index cards are handy and can be stuck up on the walls of my office. They’re handy for lists and scene blurbs.

Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life?
The Lord. He has helped me tremendously. Next in line is my family. They put things in perspective and keep me writing. Probably as an escape!

Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after? If you are yet to be published, you can skip the second part of the question.
No. I always tell people that I couldn’t even buy an agent!

What advice do you have for a beginning author?
Keep writing. Keep submitting. Don’t be put off by rejection. Deepen your emotional conflict by reading things like the Bible and self help books. They show themes and character depth if you study them. You don’t have to just have ‘purple prose’ or lots of fancy words to be published. Just tell a gripping story.

Any parting comments?
To the unpublished authors – never give up! Write those bad stories and learn form them. Try not to be slighted by rejections. They hurt, but move on.
To the readers – take the time to read and savour the books you enjoy. Share them and promote reading. It’s a way to stimulate our aging brains and relax our tired bodies. Tell the author how you feel about her books, but more importantly, tell the editor! They need to feel the pulse of readers in order to keep giving you what you want in great reads.

Thank you so much for being here, Barbara! It was a pleasure getting to you a little bit better.

All righty everyone, leave those comments so you can be entered in the drawing to win Deadly Homecoming.

You can find Barbara at www.barbaraphinney.com

December already??

2008-12-02T10:47:00.003-05:00

How can this be? I haven't even taken my kids' Christmas picture to send out to the bazillion folks who are expecting it. I haven't gotten the tree skirt under the tree yet. Of course I have been a little busy with homeschooling and writing and laundry and co-ops and getting a new dishwasher (yay!) and piano lessons, karate lessons, acting lessons, drum lessons, a little more writing, and and and....

Okay, so maybe the Christmas letter won't get out this year. Is it really that important? I'm trying to decide. On the one hand, I've heard that a one-page dissertation on the happenings of your family is egotistical and boring to some people. On the other hand, I know of some who will be greatly offended if I don't send it out. And the list of "receivers" has grown so long, it actually costs about a paycheck to mail it to every one, not to mention the cost of printing the pictures that accompany the letter. Bah humbug? No, just wondering....If anyone has any comments on this, please feel free to let me know.

And be sure to stop by on December 5th for an interview with Barbara Phinney and the chance to win a copy of her latest Steeple Hill Suspense release Deadly Homecoming.

LE

Don't stop stopping by

2008-11-21T12:29:00.002-05:00

Some of you keep checking to see if I have any new posts about authors up. Well, don't stop dropping by. More posts are coming soon, I promise! And some of you have asked me where's my newsletter. I know, I know, it's coming too. The months of October and November have been super incredibly busy. Just crazy with family stuff and writing to meet deadlines. So, please be patient, I'll be back up and running soon.

Hugs to all,
LE

We have a winner of Megan's book

2008-11-11T07:58:00.002-05:00

Hi all, Cathy, congratulations, you're the winner! If you'll send me your snail mail addy to lynetteeason@lynetteeason.com, I'll get your copy sent to you. Thanks so much!

Lynette

Winner of Michelle Sutton's Book

2008-11-08T17:56:00.002-05:00

Hi all,

Jessica! You're the winner of Michelle's book. I'll send you a private email, but wanted to post it here.

Thanks so much for entering the drawing.

Hope you guys will come back. I've got a lot of great interviews coming up in the near future with lots of fun giveaways.

Thanks again,
Lynette

Author Megan DiMaria - win a book!

2008-11-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

Hello everyone, today I'd like to welcome Megan DiMaria to my blog. Please leave a comment if you'd like to be entered in the drawing to win a copy of this book!

BIO:
Megan DiMaria loves to be an encouragement to women as they live out their faith in today’s busy world. Her upbeat personality and deep appreciation for the humor in ordinary moments creates a bond with other women as they laugh and learn that life is an adventure, one not for the weak of heart.
Searching for Spice, Megan’s debut novel about a long-married woman who wants to have an affair—with her husband, released in April 2008. Her second novel, Out of Her Hands, released in October 2008. Out of Her Hands is about taking life as it comes with all its surprises and challenges. Her son’s dream girl isn’t what she had in mind. Between her family, her job, and her friends, life is moving at warp speed. How will Linda manage when she realizes it’s all out of her hands?
Megan and her husband live in suburban Denver near their adult children. They often travel back to their roots in Long Island, NY to visit family and get their fill of delicious Italian food.

All right, Megan. Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves. Have you ever heard the expression, “When our children are little they’re on our feet and when they’re big they’re on our hearts?”

Yes, I have.

That’s how my character feels in Out of Her Hands. Linda learns how to deal with unpleasant choices made by adult children, she helps her father-in-law mourn the loss of his wife, and has to contend with the fact that her best friend is moving across the country. My early feedback says that I write what many women are currently living though. One reviewer said, “This is a great read for a quiet afternoon or in those times when you feel your own life spinning out of control and need the reality check of knowing you're not in it alone.”

Oh, wow, this sounds great. I can already think of several people who might like a copy of this book.

How many full manuscripts did you write before you sold? I wrote two full manuscripts before I got my first contract. My first manuscript doesn’t deserve to see the light of day, but it proved to me that I could write a novel-length piece of fiction. I began writing Searching for Spice, my first published novel, to enter it into the ACFW Genesis contest. It didn’t score well, but I hung in there and worked on it for a year before it was acceptable.

In your opinion, what’s the most fascinating thing about writing? I love to discover the story highlights along with my characters. I’m not a plotter, I’m an intuitive writer. I know the beginning and end of the story as well as the main plot points. I find it very exciting the see the plot unfold as the story continues.

What’s something you can tell us about yourself that most people don’t know? I’m never bored and almost always have a goal that I’m pushing toward.

LOL! I know that feeling.

When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out? Following college graduation, I was a radio and television reporter. I started writing for publication in magazines and newspapers in the early 1990s when I was a stay-at-home mom. Writing is a natural extension of who I am. When I started writing novels, it wasn’t much of a shock to those who know me.

What is your favorite food? I love Italian food and vegetables.

Tell us a little about your family. I’m blessed because I have a wonderful marriage—we’ll celebrate our 30th anniversary this January. We have three great young adult children that live nearby, and we spend a lot of time together enjoying each other’s company. Occasionally we’ll make to the trip to Long Island, NY to spend time with the entire DiMaria clan, and that’s always a fantastic visit.

Who are your favorite authors? I would hate to pin myself down to a few favorite authors because I read voraciously and enjoy many different genres.

What are you reading now and what’s in your “to be read” pile? This past week I’ve read Dark Pursuit by Brandilyn Collins and Enoch by Alton Gansky. My to-be-read list includes Quills & Promises by Amber Miller, Riven by Jerry Jenkins, Beloved Castaway by Kathleen Y’Barbo, Rhythms of Grace by Marilynn Griffith, Where the Heart Leads by Kim Vogel Sawyer, and The Perfect Life by Robin Lee Hatcher.

Sounds like a pile I might like to raid!

Do you set out to write each story with a particular theme or does the theme develop as the story does? When I write, the theme develops along with the story.

Do you have a particular method for tracking the details in your story? Can you tell us a little about this? I always have a word document that has the details about each character listed.

Who has had the most influence on your life in general? In your writing life? I think I’m greatly influenced by the times in which I grew up. My generation was the last generation to enjoy a lazy, carefree childhood and at the same time I grew up watching huge events unfold: the civil rights movement, the deaths of JFK, RFK, MLK, the Viet Nam war, peace marches, Woodstock, the women’s movement, Roe V Wade, the rise of the religious right, etc. Forget about all the technological changes that have occurred. I’m blessed to be living during interesting times. As far as my writing life goes, the authors of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) have had the biggest impact. If it weren’t for that organization, I don’t know if I would have persevered until I was published.

Do you have an agent? If yes, did you have the agent before you sold your first book or after? My first contract was a direct result of meeting Jan Stob, Tyndale’s acquisition editor, at the 2006 ACFW conference. Since then, I’ve come to be represented by Beth Jusino of Alive Communications.

What advice do you have for a beginning author? Continually strive to improve your craft by studying books on writing, attending conferences and writers groups, and writing and submitting.

Any parting comments? Yes, accept that there is a process to becoming a published author; it’s usually something that doesn’t occur overnight. Pray about the direction of your writing and be open to the Lord’s leading, even if it leads you in a direction you had not anticipated.

Megan, thanks so much for being here today.

Readers, if you'd like to contact Megan, here is the link to her website and the link to her blog.

www.megandimaria.com
www.megandimaria.blogspot.com

Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing to win a copy of this fantastic book on Sunday, November 9th.

Author Michelle Sutton talks about her new book and answers a few other questions. Win a free copy!

2008-11-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

Michelle Sutton is here today to talk about her newest release, It's NOT About ME. Please be sure to leave a comment so you can be put in the drawing to win a copy of this awesome book.

Welcome Michelle, it's good to have you here.

BIO: Michelle Sutton is a member of ACFW, Volunteer Officer on the ACFW Operating Board, Editor-in-chief for Christian Fiction Online Magazine, Sheaf House Marketing Director, edgy fiction writer, book reviewer, avid blogger/alliance member, CWOW blog mistress, mother of two teenagers, wife, pet owner, social worker by trade, and follower of Jesus Christ.

Plug time! Please tell us a little about your latest release and why readers should run out and buy it as soon as it hits the shelves.

It’s a fast paced story with characters who are very much like real people. It’s also edgy, so if you like a nice sweet prairie romance you won’t want to read my story. However, if you love angst, drama, and tension in a story you’ll probably like mine. Just don’t read it during a weeknight if you have to go to work the next day. I’ve been accused of keeping people up too late at night.

If you’re like me, you’re always writing something whether on the computer, in your head, scratch pieces of paper, etc. Where do you get your ideas? What triggers a story idea for you?

I may see someone in a situation and think, “what a great premise that would make.” But I’d say nine times out of ten I just feel like the idea came from the Lord. He’ll pull to mind some experiences I’d had either through work or my personal life and prompt me to create a tale using those scenarios or something very similar in order to bring the reader to a place where they will glean something from it.

In your opinion, what’s the toughest thing you find about writing? The easiest?

The toughest thing? I don’t know. Never had writer’s block. Maybe just sitting down and doing it. The easiest is actually writing the story. It’s like a movie reel is rolling in my head while my fingers type the story as I see it.

When did you start writing for publication and what did people say when they found out?

I started writing in August 2003 with the intention of selling to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired line. I hadn’t a clue how to write so it was rejected, but considering that I had no experience at all, it was still a pretty good story. From that point on I’d be asked by everyone who knew me if I’d sold a manuscript yet. Then after my book came out in print people constantly ask how my book is doing in regards to sales. They seem to want to see me do well as an author rather than just being nosey. It’s funny how people just assume you’ll be quitting your day job in the future, like selling a novel will make you rich or something. They have no idea.

Tell me about it! (Although, I did quit my day job, but not just to write! LOL)

How long did it take you to get published?
Exactly five years and one month from the day I started my book was in print and for sale.

How do you choose your settings for each book?

Depends on the story. If it’s a story that I don’t want people to associate with my job or me as a state employee, then I’ll locate it in another state. Otherwise I will place it in Arizona.

What would you be doing with all the time you spend writing if you weren’t writing?

Reading, of course. I have been an avid reader all of my life.

Where’s your favorite place to write?

Smack dab in the middle of my living room.

How do you make time for God in the craziness of life?

I pray when I am walking or driving or just singing. I try to read my Bible regularly. I’m in a weekly Bible study and I never miss church. This all helps.

Tell us a little about your family.

I’ve been married for 18 years to a great guy. He graduated from high school before I was born so there is a big age difference, but we are very compatible. I have two sons who are sixteen and fifteen. One is a junior and the other is a sophomore in high school.

Who are your favorite authors?

Do you have all day? Sheesh, I love so many authors I’ll just list some right now off the top of my head. Siri Mitchell, Tosca Lee, Susan Meissner, Sherri Lewis, Melanie Dobson, Virginia Smith, Francine Rivers, Robin Lee Hatcher, Deb Raney, Rachel Hauck, Susan Page Davis, Julie Lessman, Kristin Billerbeck, Karen Kingsbury, Kathi Macias, J. M. Hochstetler, Victoria Christopher Murray, Michelle McKinney Hammond, Claudia Burney, Melody Carlson, Maureen Lang, Marlo Schalesky, Bonnie Leon, Sandra Glahn, Nancy Jo Jenkins, Tracie Peterson, Cindy Woodsmall, Kristin Heitzmann, Nancy Rue, Chris Fabry, Christa Banister, Tamera Leigh, Julie Klassen, Tracey Bateman, Deanna Dodson, Michelle Moran, Jenny B. Jones, Tricia Goyer, Allison Pittman, etc.

Wow! And I'm right there with you on the favorites. Just about everyone you listed is in my to-be-read pile right now...ha.

What’s next for you in the world of publishing?

The sequel to “It’s Not About Me” releases in Sept. 2009. It’s called “It’s Not About Him.”

What do you hope people take away from when they finish reading your book?

Examples of true love, real faith, and boundless joy for Christians and non-Christians alike.

How many books have you written? List them for us so we can be sure to find them in the bookstore or online!

For now you can only buy It’s Not About Me. Look for the sequel next year. The others are listed on my website and have not been sold yet.

What advice do you have for a beginning author?

Learn the craft and join a legitimate writer’s organization like ACFW where you can learn about the business and become a better writer before you try to sell something.

Any parting comments?

Thanks for the opportunity. Peace, everyone!

Thanks so much, Michelle.

Thanks for stopping by and chatting with us.

Readers can find Michelle online at:

http://edgychristianfictionlovers.ning.com
http://www.michellesutton.net
http://edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com
http://christianfictiononlinemagazine.com

Just a reminder: Leave a comment and I'll enter you in the drawing for a free book. Winner will be announced on Saturday, November 8th!

I suppose it's time to catch up here

2008-10-31T09:23:00.002-04:00

Hi all, I've been a little slack lately, wouldn't you say? But all that's about to change. I've been hit with requests to blog, so I'm going to give it my best shot. Pretty soon, I'll have author interviews up and going and will be running contests for you to win. Just wanted to let you know. Also, Holiday Illusion, the third in my Amazon Adventure series is just about to be released to stores. I hope you'll pick it up!

God Bless,
Lynette

RIVER OF SECRETS

2008-06-25T23:02:00.002-04:00

Hi all, River of Secrets will be out in August of 2008. This is Book 2 in the Amazon Adventure Series. Be sure to check your local Christian bookstore or favorite online shopping site.

And please drop by to tell me what you think about it after you read it. I'm pleased to announce that the Romantic Times Review magazine gave it a 4.5 star rating! How cool is that??

Again, thanks for stopping by.

Has it been that long?

2008-05-05T11:19:00.000-04:00

Oh my goodness, I didn't realize it had been so long since I'd last posted. Well, I don't really have a whole lot to say other than the fact that my family has been besieged with illness over the last four and a half weeks, and to top it all off, I broke my toe this past Saturday!

Anyway, the writing is going well, I'm busy, busy, writing during every spare minute I can find. Soon, it'll be summer and the kids will want to have me chasing all over the place, so gotta write while I can.

I just finished up A SILENT TERROR and will be shipping it off to my editor in about a week or so. It is the first in the new series I've started and will be released March 2009.

Hope things are going well for everyone.

Until next time,

Lynette

Missy Tippens is here...win her latest book!

2008-02-06T19:44:00.000-05:00

Hi Missy! I'm so glad you are able to join us today. Thanks so much for the privilege to learn a little more about you. I was so excited to see Her Unlikely Family in Wal Mart the other day. I snatched it right up! What a fantastic story. You did a wonderful job with the plotting, the characters, and the setting. It was a wonderful read.

LE: When did you first start writing and what led you to write Christian Fiction?
MT: I started writing about 13 years ago . I know that because my now 13-year-old son was a baby. I would hold him in one arm and type with the other hand! I didn’t start writing toward publication until 1997 after I joined Romance Writers of America and Georgia Romance Writers. While at GRW, I met Sandra Chastain and went to work for her one day a week. She was the first to read my new book idea summary and said, “You’re writing an inspirational!” I had no idea until that moment. But as I thought about it, I realized I couldn’t write books without God in them because my faith is so integral to my life and to who I am. I knew God would be important to at least one of my characters in my books. After realizing I was called to write inspirational fiction, I joined the Faith, Hope and Love Chapter of RWA. Then years later, I joined ACFW. These organizations have been a huge support and source of information.

LE: Who has influenced your writing the most?
MT: Wow, that’s hard. I don’t think anyone has asked me that before. I’d have to say that I’ve been most influenced by all the authors I’ve read over a lifetime. I’ve learned what I like in stories and what I don’t like. I’ve learned, subconsciously, how a story should flow. I think that internalization has been the biggest influence.
I guess I’d also have to say my parents, because they instilled the idea that I can do anything I set my mind to doing. And of course, I’ve inherited their stubborn genes, the ones that kept me trying to publish for the last 10 years!

LE: How do you plot out your novel? Can you take us through it step by step?
MT: I usually have a what if scenario which involves characters who are opposites in some way. Then I start thinking of their backstory. I’ve found two how-to workbooks that have helped me take it from there. One is Alicia Rasley’s The Story Within Guidebook. The other is Carolyn Green’s Prescription for Plotting workbook. These have really helped me stay on track, especially Alicia’s chapters on conflict. Once I’ve filled a legal pad with character info, sequences for how the characters will change and grow, scene ideas, etc., I start writing. I usually plow through the first 3 chapters, then struggle a little to do chapter 4. Then for some reason I hit a wall at chapter 5. At that point, I take some time to re-read what I’ve written and to revise it. Then I move on. Once I get to the last few chapters, the writing flies by. I love to get to that happy ending! No more torture of my poor characters.

After that, I begin a long revision process. I go through the book several times on paper. Then enter changes, send to my critique partner, and then make changes according to her feedback. Now that I finally have an editor, this is the point where she would get the book. And then the revisions start over again with her input. It’s been wonderful to work with an editor! You and I are extremely lucky to work with Emily. I feel it made my first book so much better.

LE: You are so right. Emily is fantastic. So, what are you working on now?
MT: I’m working on a story set in a small town in Georgia about a man who comes home to move his grandmother back to Boston with him. But the girl he secretly loved in high school is very close to Granny, and they have a ministry together. She doesn’t want Granny to move. And Granny doesn’t want to move. Will he harden his heart and move Granny up to Boston anyway? Or will he fall in love with the heroine all over again and stay in Georgia?
Hmm. Sounds like a romance, doesn’t it?

LE: LOL. Well, of course! How has having a critique partner helped or hindered your writing?
MT: I wouldn’t be where I am today without my critique group—Belinda (Lindi) Peterson, Meg Moseley and Maureen Hardegree. I never finaled in a contest until after they got hold of my manuscript. The first time I entered after they worked with it, I finaled and won. They critiqued the book that sold, too. We don’t work together as much as a group now (we met in person weekly back then). But we do email things off occasionally. I always pass my manuscripts by Lindi, though, before sending them off. (She also rooms with me at all conferences and manages to sleep through my snoring!)

LE: Ha. LOL. Isn't it great how God puts just the people we need into our lives right when we need them? SO, tell us about your new release and what sparked the story?
MT: Way, way back, many years ago, I thought what if? What if a stuffy blue-blooded bank owner gets together with a spunky waitress who is from a poor family? But then while Lindi and I were brainstorming, she said, “What if you put a twist on it, and the waitress is actually from a wealthy family but doesn’t want to have anything to do with the wealth?” So I took her advice! Then I had to figure out how to throw the characters together. And I thought it might be fun if the hero was guardian of a runaway teenaged niece, and maybe the waitress was hiding her.

Here’s a blurb: Her Unlikely Family Steeple Hill Love Inspired Feb. 2008

Opposites attract when an uptight banker encounters a free-spirited waitress during the search for his runaway teenaged niece. As they work together to heal the young girl’s damaged spirit, an unlikely family begins to form….

LE: Anything else you want to tell us?
MT: That I can’t wait to read your book! I looked for it at Wal-Mart today, and they still had the January LI Suspense books. I’ll keep checking! Or maybe I’ll order it.
LE: Aw, thanks, Missy. And thanks again for stopping by to chat with us. I can't wait to read the next one!

Okay, everyone, leave us a comment and we'll put your name in the hat for a drawing of Missy's new book Her Unlikely Family. It's a great read!

Cheryl Wyatt is here today! Win an i-pod, too!

2008-01-07T07:55:00.000-05:00

Hi everyone! Cheryl Wyatt is my guest today and I just want to tell you a little bit about Cheryl and her new book that’s out now.

I had the privilege of meeting Cheryl back in November when she came all the way from Illinois to North Carolina for a writer’s brainstorming weekend. There were six of us and we had so much fun hanging out!

It was just a pleasure to get to know her and share laughter, prayers and brainstorming. She was one of the crazy people who stayed up until 4:00 in the morning working. I have to admit that I missed that part as I slipped off to bed around 11:00 each night! (The joys of getting old. Hehehe.)

Just so you know, Cheryl is an awesome prayer warrior. I know that if I ask her pray for something, she’s storming the gates for me. Thank you for that, Cheryl.

Now, if you readers want to win a copy of A Soldier’s Promise, Romantic Times TOP PICK, just sign the guest book and leave a comment. We’ll put all the names in a hat and draw one at the end of the day.

Lynette: Cheryl, I read A Soldier’s Promise and absolutely LOVED it. You have a wickedly clever sense of humor. Your book was laugh-out-loud funny in some places. And quite the tear-jerker in others. You did a fabulous job and I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a love story…but is so much more, too. Tell us a little bit about the process. Give us a little background on your story, A Soldier's Promise. How did you come up with the idea, the characters, etc.?

Cheryl: I love to write about characters who have very unique careers. I also love to read and write anything high-action. I'd heard about PJs some years ago and became enthralled with them. You hear quite a bit about Navy SEALs but hardly anything about PJs. I wanted to do a series about them, so I plotted it out. The stories were originally romantic suspense. But the suspense I write is more the action/adventure-driven suspense rather than mystery/murder/mayhem type of suspense. Steeple Hill was interested in the story, but it needed serious help. LOL! They gave me the option of either repairing the ailing suspense thread, or stripping it out and deepening the emotion to aim it more toward Love Inspired than Love Inspired Suspense. I stripped the suspense and focused on the romance, and executed all the changes in their revision suggestions and it sold. I chose my heroine to be a teacher, but I gave her a specialty in that she taught children with special needs. I did this to honor my author mentor, Margaret Daley, who spent a lot of time encouraging me and answering questions and critiquing my work until it improved to the point of being publishable.

Lynette: I’m so impressed. Stripping your story like that had to be a lot of work. Obviously, it paid off for you. How does your faith influence your writing?

Cheryl: It influences every aspect of my writing but especially the faith thread in the story. I try to give my characters a faith struggle and triumph that comes from something God has taught me in my own struggles. The situations in the book are entirely different than my real life situations, but often, the way God responds to the character reflects God's dealings with me on a lot of things.

Lynette: Do you do anything special to plot out your books? Do you have a system or are you a Seat of the Pants writer?

Cheryl:I'm in between. I used to fly by the seat of my pants but since I have to turn in a proposal before the book is finished now, I have to have an idea of where the story will go. So I do a loose scene index and a very detailed, in-depth character analysis and charts.

Lynette: And I know you have three little ones and a husband at home. When you write?

Cheryl: I'm very creative with time management and fiercely protective over family time. I always strive to put my children and husband first. As a result, they're mostly understanding and considerate of my writing time. I try to write while my children are in school so I can focus on them when they're home.

Lynette: What's one thing you want your readers to know about you? One kinda crazy, quirky thing, and one serious kind of thing.

Cheryl: One crazy quirky thing is I really do have a phobia of Popsicle sticks. The wooden kind that, when I see someone's teeth touch them, I flee the room and shudder. It makes my skin crawl like someone is scratching on a chalk board with a nail. The thought of them touching my teeth makes me cringe and my teeth physically hurt. It agitates me to write about it in fact, I'm pursing my lips and pinching my face as I type this. Really strange. So my poor children are deprived of ice cream bars. I'm the only mom in town who runs from the ice cream truck when it jingles through town. But who can blame me? I know that thing is FULL to the roof of all kinds of evil wooden Popsicle sticks.

Lynette: Oh. My. Goodness. I am seriously rolling on the floor laughing. I can so see you putting that into one of your books. And the serious thing?

Cheryl: One serious thing is I know my main gift is intercessory prayer and the one thing I love to do more than write and create, is worship the living God, and pray for people. The one thing that struck me as I started getting reader letters, is as I widen my readership base, that's all the more people I can pray for. Especially when some of them really open up about their life circumstances if something in your book has surfaced stuff in them or ministered to them in some way. I consider it a blessing and an honor to pray for people. In addition, I consider prayer from others for me and my loved ones the best gift ever.

Lynette: Cheryl, thanks so much for stopping by and answering these questions. I’m sure readers will have tons more. So, readers, if you didn’t get enough of Cheryl here, she'll be on Jill Elizabeth Nelson's blog tomorrow. Hop on over to visit:

http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/artisticblogger.shtml.
Cheryl is the guest there on Jan. 8th!

To purchase Cheryl’s book online, follow this link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0373874669

Okay, one more thing I need to mention. Cheryl is having this ***cool contest***.

I’ll let her explain it in her own words.

First, to celebrate the release of my debut novel (A Soldier's Promise) I'm holding a contest for a chance to win great prizes. The main prize is your choice between an 8 GB iPod Nano, an AlphaSmart Neo (www.alphasmart.com) or a six-month subscription to any Steeple Hill line of your choice.

Other prizes include ten 128mb flash drives, ten $10.00 certificates to Barnes and Noble, autographed books from me and pens.

And one lucky person will win the chance to name a character in one of my upcoming books.

Only my newsletter subscribers will be able to enter.

To sign up for my newsletter, go to the homepage of my Web site www.CherylWyatt.com and type your e-mail address in the space provided that says "Join Cheryl Wyatt's Author Mailing List". Once signed up for my newsletter, send an e-mail to

Cheryl@CherylWyatt.com and be sure to put "CONTEST" in the header.

Deadline entry for the contest is Midnight, Central Standard Time the night of February 14, 2008. I will draw winners' names February 15, 2008 and notify them that week, so be sure to leave a valid e-mail address when you sign up. Also, for every person you send to sign up for my newsletter, you will receive another entry in the hat. So be sure to tell them they need to sign up for my newsletter on my Web site and remind them to mention who sent them to sign up.

Second thing...
My blog tour is happening right now. There are tons of chances to win a free, autographed copy of my debut novel, which is a Romantic Times TOP PICK! for January.
Visit the link for a list of where I was/am/will be the month of January. http://scrollsquirrel.blogspot.com/2007/12/my-blog-tour-schedule.html
Thanks so much for your support!

1 Corinthians 13 - The Christmas version

2007-12-18T09:20:00.000-05:00

I got this from a devotional I read this morning. It was off of a friend's website. Someone had emailed it to her and she posted it. I thought it was so great, I wanted to share it here. I hope it blesses your day.

I CORINTHIANS 13 – A CHRISTMAS VERSION
If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love, I’m just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but not show love, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails.

Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Merry Christmas and lots of love to all of you!

Roller Coasters and Life

2007-12-06T23:14:00.000-05:00

Am I the only person who needs a vacation to recover from a vacation? Aw, we had fun, but I'm exhausted! My parents generously took us to Dollywood this week located in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee. Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg. Absolutely beautiful this time of year.

So, we braved the weather (which was nice for the most part if you discounted the frost bite after the sun went down) and did the amusement park deal. Which is the perfect time for homeschoolers to go because we basically had the park to ourselves. No lines, no crowds, no blazing hot heat stroke weather.

My kids (and 60+ year old mother) LOVE the roller coaster rides. Their favorite was Thunderhead, a totally wooden roller coaster. There are only two like it in the world, one in Dollywood and one in Germany.

As I was watching my daughter’s sheer enjoyment of the ride, I thought to myself, “I want her to grow up enjoying life as much as she’s enjoying that ride. I want her to treat life like that roller coaster.”

You see, they sit you in the seat then pull a safety bar down around you. As you go around the track, swerving up, down and all around, you hang on for dear life on some parts, on others, you throw your hands up to the mercy of the ride, screaming with laughter, sometimes a little fear, but with the assurance you’ll arrive at the finish line in one piece. I thought that was awesome.

What if we treated life like a roller coaster ride?

What if we got in the seat (ready for what life throws at us), pulled our safety bar down around us (God), and as we race around the track (life) knowing we’ll have ups and downs, bumps and swerves, sometimes winding upside down and desperate to find ourselves right side up, what if we grab tight to that safety bar (God), the one thing that can keep us safe and right where we need to be when troubles come our way, then when those pass, throw our hands up high and say, “I’m at your mercy, God, do what you will with me.” Then scream with joy and laughter as God takes us on the ride of our lives. And throughout the ride, all the ups and downs, twists and swerves, know with peaceful assurance, we’re going to land at the finish line (heaven) in one piece.

How awesome would that be?

Just my thought for the day…

My Book Link - LETHAL DECEPTION

2007-11-17T12:26:00.000-05:00

If you want to find my books online, just click on the link (the title of the blog where it says, "My Book Link" and it will take you to Barnes and Noble. I finally got permission from my publisher to post the cover of my book (yay!) isn't it great? I plan to have a couple of contests for freebies and giveaways! Be sure to check back soon...

"A beautiful romance and a solid mystery. I highly recommend this book." --Dee Henderson, bestselling author of the O'Malley family series

Have a great weekend!

Lynette

Writer's Retreat Weekend

2007-11-13T18:54:00.000-05:00

Okay, I know it's been awhile, but I sold a book to Steeple Hill on proposal, so that means some serious writing to live up to their faith in me...and so they'll buy more! But, I just wanted to share this really cool weekend I just got back from. A group of us got together for some brainstorming and boy, did we storm! We stayed in a gorgeous house up in the mountains of Franklin, NC. We were so far up, I got altitude sickness. No, I'm not kidding. I started feeling much better about the time we had to leave, of course. We were 4,000 feet up there! But it was fantabulous and we sincerely thank http://www.staugvacations.com/ and the Hartley family for allowing us to enjoy their home.

Some silly people tried to enjoy it 24/7 by staying up until 3:00 and 4:00 in the morning working!!! Steeple Hill and Zondervan editors, you should be proud! No, I'm not mentioning any names, Camy Tang, Missy Tippens, Jennifer Hudson, Cheryl Wyatt and Pammer James! I was the only one with any sense, obviously. No, I think Pammer had some, too. I remember her going to bed around midnight one night.
For example:

Anyway, all kidding aside, we had a blast and plan to do it again next year! Here's some pics. Enjoy!

The fun part of stopping in the local Christian bookstore in Franklin, NC and watching Camy very humbly sign her newest release, Sushi for One? The bookstore staff were so sweet and...I think, bemused with the whole thing...

This is the six of us trying to get in the picture before the timer on the camera went off!

A God Kind of Pride

2007-08-22T16:43:00.000-04:00

A God Kind of Pride

No, I didn’t misspell “good”. I don’t know how many of you have children, but it seems to me mine are always teaching me a lesson – whether I want to learn it or not.

Today, we were in Chick Fil A. The owner of this particular store is on my husband’s Board of Directors of his ministry, so my children know Mr. Matt pretty well. (Believe me, we’re in that restaurant enough that we should be on a first name basis with every single employee!)

Anyway, last night, my husband, Jack, had made up some business cards for me. My daughter, Lauryn, just thought they were the coolest. She was dying to give one to somebody and to tell that person that her mother was the author of the book listed on the card.

She found them in my purse and without my knowledge, went up to Mr. Matt and gave him a card, explaining that, “My mom is an author. She wrote that book and it’s going to be out in February of next year. This is her card. You can keep it so you know what to look for when you go buy her book.”

She is soooooo proud of me and wants to tell anyone and everyone who will listen all about her mom, the author. (Yes, she’s eight, so right now, I’m cool. Ask me in a few years if my status has changed.) But her pride in me and my work fills me with delight. It just makes me feel so good that my child is proud of me.

I started thinking about this and just the wonderful feelings it gave me to know that she was proud of her mom. And then I thought, I bet God feels this way (times about a zillion) when His children brag on Him! Brag on Him to others and also to Him.

When was the last time you told God you were proud of Him? When was the last time you told someone else about the wonderful work God does? After watching my daughter this morning and thanking God for blessing me by allowing this beautiful child to be born to me, I just wanted to brag on God for His AWESOME work! (I believe that's known as worship...ha.)

So, I encourage you, as God’s child, go ahead and make His day…Tell someone how wonderful He is, then tell God. (Yeah, He knows you think so, but I bet He’d delight in hearing you tell him anyway.)

Have a blessed day woshipping the King of Kings!

Until next time…

The Tree

2007-07-15T00:25:00.001-04:00

I really don’t understand why I can’t just have a quiet, normal life. I guess, for some reason, God thinks I can handle crazy better than sane. Honestly, at this point, I just try to go with the flow. I admit it, I’m a little weird. I have issues. One of those issues is travelling. I HATE, LOATHE, ABHOR travelling. Oh, don’t get me wrong, I like to BE THERE. I just don’t like what it takes to actually GET THERE. So, I endure. Today, I was driving home from the beach. Just my children and myself. I get 20 minutes from my next turn off and I get stuck. Literally. Up ahead, there’s this horrid wreck that must have just happened only seconds before I entered the highway. Of course, the entire one side of the interstate was shut down. The police came screaming up the side, the fire trucks and ambulances came down the wrong side of the street, and the medical helicopter came from above.

I thought for sure someone had died, but word filtered back that the two gentlemen were still alive, although badly injured. The driver had been going too fast, lost control and slammed into a tree on the side of the road.

God was good, though. He knows my fear of travelling and being stuck in traffic, so if it had to happen, at least I could see what was going on. I know, that’s silly, but it helped. My children were wonderful. We had a working DVD player and my son was engrossed in the movie. My daughter, being the more dramatic one, was really involved in what was going on up ahead. However, as we couldn’t see much, she soon grew bored. Then she got to meet Jesse, the wonder dog. He was in the car diagonal to ours in the other lane. The owner let him out and Jessie started doing tricks. Oh my goodness, my animal lover daughter was in her element. Thank you, God for the little things.

Of course, I was concerned about the men involved in the accident and I did take the time to pray for them. But I couldn’t help thinking that maybe God wanted me to learn something from this.

Sometimes we get going so fast that we don’t pay attention to the things that are passing us by. We speed right on our merry way thinking everything is hunky dory then, “wham”, we hit a tree. And it’s totally unexpected. But why wouldn’t it happen? We don’t stop to ask God directions, we don’t follow his “speed limits”, we think we’re doing just fine on our own and don’t need to listen to authority or obey His law and yet we’re surprised when our world comes to a screeching, crashing halt.

Hm…it made me stop and think. What about you? How fast are you going in life right now?

Personally, I guess I need to slow down and reassess.

WOW!

2007-07-02T12:08:00.000-04:00

I haven’t posted in a while, but couldn’t wait a moment longer to share this with you.

Have you ever had God do something so amazing that all you can do is sit there and go, “Wow!”?

That happened to me today. I’ve been struggling with some issues in my life, things that have developed slowly over time and have recently come to a head. I’d been feeling a little “low”, and just needed a boost from God. So, I left my house and went up to the local Panera to do some writing and just have some time alone with God—which, I must confess, I haven’t done much of lately. Anyway, I wasn’t looking for anything specific, just for God to calm my spirit and show Himself to me. And He did. In a truly amazing way.

I write fiction. Created stories that come from my imagination. Yes, I pray over my written words, I want them to touch readers in a way that can only come from God. I ask Him to give me the words because nothing I write can compare to the ultimate author. Right now, I’m working on a story where a man has been in a coma for a long time. When he wakes up, he remembers nothing about himself. To build his strength back, the doctor suggests working construction at an orphanage. A young woman arrives on the scene and recognizes him due to a birthmark. At the time I was creating the story, the idea for this particular birthmark just kind of popped in my head. I had no clue why, but I went with it.

My mother even asked me the other day where I got the idea. I just shrugged and said, “I don’t know, it just came to me.”

The birthmark looks like a belt around his waist, buckle and all. It only goes about halfway around, and growing up, this particular female character used to tease him about getting a tattoo to finish the belt. She even gave him suspenders for Christmas as a joke several years before.

Unfortunately, this man was betrayed by a member of her family and she agonizes over telling him the truth. About who he is and how he came to be in a place where he was almost killed. She wrestles with God, not wanting to be the one to tell him. God continues to press upon her the need to reveal the truth to him and she resists until she can no longer go against God. She must tell him the truth and accept that he may hate her as a result--and have faith that God will get her through it.

Telling the truth. How hard is that sometimes? Especially when we know it's going to hurt--the other person or ourselves!

Today while reading on Beth Moore’s website, I came across a weekly devotional section with several devotionals listed. I just picked one and began to read the scripture part. It was about David killing Goliath, a story I’ve read and heard numerous times. After reading the scripture, I read on to see what Beth had to say.

God obviously had this in mind for me today. One of the things I needed to hear was, “We’re often intimidated in battle because we are uncertain of our faith. But we must remember we don’t stand in victory because of our faith. We stand in victory because of our God. Faith in faith is pointless, but faith in a living, active God moves mountains.”

How true! My faith in God wasn’t uncertain, but I was feeling a little weary of all the “battles” that I seemed to be in the midst of lately. God reminded me that even if my faith gets shaken, or tossed about, He still remains solid, a rock, and that my faith in Him is what will make the difference in the outcome of the “battle.”

But that’s not all!

This is the verse that ended the devotional.

"Lord God, I desire no other protection than that which You have promised to give me: truth like a belt around my waist, righteousness like armor on my chest, the gospel of peace like sandals on my feet, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, Your very Word. With these, I know that I can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one (Eph. 6:14-17).

Can you just see my stunned reaction? How like God to take that verse and give it to me today! “TRUTH like a belt around my waist”. God connected it to my writing! I didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Talk about a God moment. What a loving, sweet, wonderful God to infuse me with hope, peace, and confidence that my writing is really what He has called me to do. I knew, but we all like confirmation, right? I’m still just praising Him and thanking Him.

And yes, I got my boost from God today.

I also know where the idea for the birthmark came from now!

Blessings,
Lynette

Low Points in Life -- Don't Have to be!

2007-04-23T08:54:00.000-04:00

Low Points in Life

Often I get down, even downright depressed, when my husband travels. Oh, I don’t mind what he’s doing, he does great stuff and I admire him for it. It’s just that I hate being left behind. No, I don’t necessarily want to go with him, I just don’t want to be left alone. Ha. Yeah, I want my cake and to eat it too. I’ve noticed a pattern. If he’s gone just for a couple of days, I can usually deal with it pretty well. However, when it’s for an extended period of time, I notice my temper is shorter, my patience limited and my frustration level higher. It’s amazing how my mood directly affects my children. This morning was one of those mornings of everyone yelling at each other and everyone being short-tempered—because that’s how I started out. Before dropping the kids at school, we did all make peace, but I just hate starting the day that way. So, as soon as I could, I pulled out my Bible and the Lord led me to Psalm 42. It’s also a favorite worship song of mine.

1. As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. 2. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? 3. My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 4. These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I used to go with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God, among the festive throng. 5. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and 6. my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you from the land of Jordan, the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar. 7. Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. 8. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me—a prayer to the God of my life. 9. I say to God my Rock, “Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?” 10. My bones suffer mortal agony as my foes taunt me, saying to me all day long, “Where is your God?” 11. Why are you so downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.

This tells me that I’m not alone. The psalmist himself felt separated from God, depressed. And when this happens, we are to run to God to restore that relationship with him. To focus on his goodness and the blessings he’s given to us, not the things that cause our depression. God is good, he is faithful to meet all our needs—and beyond. When I can focus on that, my sadness lifts, hope is there and I thank God for his blessings. At least my husband is coming home. Some wives can’t say that.

Trials of Faith

2007-04-18T11:23:00.000-04:00

Two days ago, I got word that we would owe a little over $3,000 to the IRS. $3,231, to be exact. I thought to myself, okay, now I can be depressed.

Then I opened the mail and opened a bill from the hospital and it was for approximately $3,000.

$6,000 worth of bills in the same day. Can you say, “I’m going to be sick?”
Okay, I decided, NOW I can be depressed.

And I fussed and fumed for a while, wondering where in the world we would find $6,000 when we have only a little in checking and only a little more in savings.

After a while, I calmed down and decided that it might be a good idea to pray about it. Duh. I know. So, I did.

Honestly, I didn’t feel a whole lot better, but I knew God heard my prayer and would answer it in whatever way he felt would be best. Hopefully, by allowing us to come up with $6,000. And guess, what? He did. He came through. By using family and common sense. The IRS bill got paid and I set up a payment plan through the hospital.

But the whole situation just made me question, Why? Why is it so hard sometimes? It seems like a struggle all the time. And then I read an entry in James.

“James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations, greetings! Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord – he is a double minded mind, unstable in all his ways. . .
v. 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”

I have to say that our financial situation is often a trial, but I just pray that God will allow me to face it with joy, and when I ask His help, I pray that I will continue to believe in His unending goodness. For He has promised to provide and has come through every time.

So, I don’t think I will be depressed. Instead, I will praise His name in every way. “Blessed be the name of the Lord, Blessed be Your glorious name,” the song says. That’s my praise today. Thank you, Jesus, for your care even in the small things—and keep working on my attitude.

CORAL MOON by Brandilyn Collins

2007-04-05T10:52:00.000-04:00

Hey ya'll, I just read an awesome book by Brandilyn. This is the 2nd in the Kanner Lake series and she's outdone herself.

Here's the review, enjoy!

In CORAL MOON, Brandilyn Collins brings us spiritual warfare at its deadliest—and the power of prayer at its strongest. The power of one name, Jesus. A name above all names, the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, the light in a dark world. Ephesians 6:12 tells us, “For we are not fighting against flesh and blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” (NLT)

Brandilyn launches the reader into a spiritual battle where séances and dabbling in the occult have serious consequences, not only for the two people who turn up dead, but for a whole town. CORAL MOON holds the reader spellbound for full eighty-one chapters. Ace reporter, Leslie Brymes, goes out to her car—and finds a dead body sitting in her front seat. This incident drops the reader full swing into the life of small town Kanner Lake and its battery of intriguingly unique characters. Be prepared to go up and down and all around as you follow in Leslie’s footsteps tracking down a killer. You’ll find yourself praying her though spiritual attacks and sleepless nights. How is evidence from a dead man turning up at the crime scenes? Is a ghost really responsible for the deaths of two Kanner Lake citizens? The Chief of Police is stumped—and scared. Only those prayers from the faithful can defeat the evil forces invading Kanner Lake.

I have to say that I can normally spot the “bad guy” in a suspense/mystery novel. However, Brandilyn managed to keep me guessing right up to the very end. Get this book and read it. You’ll keep thinking about it long after you, regretfully, turn the last page. Oh, and just a reminder…Before reading the first page, strap on your seatbelt and Don’t Forget to B-R-E-A-T-H-E!

The Call!

2007-02-28T09:23:00.000-05:00

Krista Stroever, editor for Steeple Hill books, called me about two weeks ago to tell me that they wanted to buy my book! Whoo hoo! I feel like I'm sitting on top of the world. This is soooo exciting and what I've been working for for the last eight years. The book's title is LETHAL DECEPTION and will be released February 2008.

Check out Brandilyn Collins' blog today. Bless her sweet heart, she made the announcement for me today on her blog. How cool is that! http://www.forensicsandfaith.blogspot.com/

And if you haven't read any of her books, you need to check them out...but not if you're a member of the Big Honkin' Chicken Club!