Welcome to my little bit of cyber-space. It is my prayer that all who enter here may be richly blessed by the God of all grace. All praise to the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Monday, July 30, 2012

Interview and book giveaway with Cecelia Dowdy

Happy Monday morning, everyone! I am so happy to have my former critique partner, Cecelia Dowdy, join us for an interview this morning. In fact, I helped critique these two books she is now bringing out as e-books, so I can assure you that you will enjoy them. And Cecilia has also offered to send a paperback copy of Milk Money to one person drawn from all those who leave a comment and their email info so she can contact you for your mailing info. We will give a week for all the entries to come in, so this giveaway closes next Sunday night with a winner posted on Monday morning.

Welcome, Cecelia! Tell us about your favorite book as a child and your favorite book as an adult. Can you see a connection between those books?

Actually, I've never had a favorite book as a child or as an adult. I have favorite genres and authors, but, not just one book. As a child, I was a big fan of the Nancy Drew mystery stories. I also loved reading The Boxcar Children series as well as classics like Heidi and The Secret Garden. I also was a huge fan of Laura Ingalls Wilder books. I read the entire Little House series at least a few times! As an adult, I've loved reading a lot of romance and women's fiction and I also read some suspense. If the story hooks me, then I'll read it, no matter what genre it is. I have noticed that I'm not a huge fan of fantasy and sci-fi. Occasionally, I'll read that type of story, but, not very often.

Cecelia, we are so much alike in our reading preferences both now and as children. What is your favorite Scripture? Do you also have a favorite Scripture that encourages you in your writing?
Favorite Scripture:
John 3:16: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I don't have a favorite scripture to encourage me in my writing. However, I find myself thinking about the Bible in general when I write. I think about how the Apostle Paul started the early Christian church. I think about the healings done in the name of Jesus in the New Testament. When I think of these things, for some reason, I feel encouraged in my writing, if that makes any sense. I guess I feel this way because those instances mentioned above remind me of the fact that the power of our Lord is truly awesome and amazing. Just remembering that helps me to get through my scene/book/writing.

If you could go to any place in the world to research/write a book, what setting would you choose?
I would definitely choose a tropical place. Which one? Not sure. I've traveled around the world (I used to work for a travel agency and was able to get free airline tickets and reduced/free hotel rooms). When I used to travel, I became acquainted with places that I'd never been. I found that I loved hot tropical places with nice beaches, beautiful clear blue water, water so clear that you can see the fish swimming around you! :-)

Another way we are so alike! I often wonder if I would write if I had to do it the old-fashioned way without computers and spell-checks and email. Is there anything about technology that you don't like? Or anything about it that you feel enhances your writing?
Technology enhances my writing very much!! I can't imagine writing a book in long-hand! I can type quickly, therefore, allowing me to write quickly, and I can then edit what I've written. Plus, I can change the story as needed. It's not as easy to do all of that when you're forced to re-write/re-type every page that needs to be changed.

I've even met people, non-writers, who are under the impression that I write a book in long-hand and then type it up on my computer! No, I'm not kidding. Some say they don't type fast enough and would have to write a book in long hand if they were a writer. I tell them they'd learn to type pretty quickly if they were writing a book for publication.

The only downfall to technology is, I'd think that writers may be lest apt to meet, face-to-face, as regularly as they did before the computer age? Now, everybody talks through email, chatting, social media, etc. I'm wondering if critique and writers group meetings are more or less prominent than before the days of the internet? It'd be interesting to research that statistic.

If I had to write the old-fashioned way, I'd do it. If computers and the internet were never invented, then, I'm sure I'd be writing everyday in long hand, before typing up the pages on a typewriter! When I first started writing, I didn't own a computer (this was about 18 years ago). I started writing in longhand after work - I'd go to the library to do this. Then go into work extremely early the following morning to type. Needless to say, I didn't do this for very long. I purchased a used computer so that I could type up my stories instead of writing them longhand.

What advice would you give to a beginning writer that you wish someone had given you?
Join a professional writers group as soon as you decide you want to be traditionally published! Also, find a good critique group or hire a good editor before submitting your work to publishers. It took me a few years before I stumbled onto a critique group and another several years before I sought out freelance editorial services on my own.

Do you want to add anything about your book such as how to order it?
I'd like to talk a little bit about the settings in both of my e-books. One is set on a dairy farm. I'm not really sure why I chose that setting. I've had readers to tell me that reading my writing makes them hungry, so, it's possible that I chose the dairy farm because it's food related. I just thought it'd be cool to have a story set on a small family dairy farm. I am acquainted with some people in my hometown who used to run their own dairy farm and they were extremely helpful with the research that I did for this novel.

My other e-book is partially set on a cruise ship. I used to travel a lot since I worked for a travel agency. I've gone on several cruises and loved all of them! The food is fantastic, plus they have awesome activities and socializing, plus, you get to stop at all those neat tropical places! Since I've enjoyed cruising so much, it just seemed natural to use that setting for my novel!

So, here are the descriptions for both of my e-books:

Milk Money is a heartwarming Christian romance that is set on a dairy farm. Here is the purchase link:

http://www.amazon.com/Milk-Money-ebook/dp/B007AV2KUU/ref=la_B001H6IYL8_1_6_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1341083728&sr=1-6

When you access this link, you can read a sample of the story on Amazon.

Here's a summary the story:
Running a dairy farm is a big job, but doing it alone is almost impossible.

When her dad dies, Emily must work hard to save the family farm, but she manages. Until the day the CPA pulls in her drive and announces he’s there to do an audit on the place.

Franklin Reese is appalled at the lack of interest the Cooper women have in the financial end of their livelihood, but he dives in, determined to help them learn. The further he looks into Mr. Cooper’s dealings, however, the more uncomfortable he becomes.

Can he uncover the truth of the situation and still earn the love of the amazing Emily Cooper? Will Franklin's addiction to alcohol keep them apart, even after the farm is taken care of? Only God can heal hurting hearts and repair broken lives. Will these two let Him in?

My second e-book is entitled First Mates. First Mates is sweet Christian romance that is partially set on a cruise ship. Here is the purchase link:

When you access this link, you can read a sample of the story on Amazon.
http://www.amazon.com/First-Mates-ebook/dp/B004R1QARU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1300232033&sr=8-3

Here's a summary of the story:
A cruise around the Caribbean offered just what Rainy Jackson needed to get over her faithless ex-fiancé--sun, swimming and solitude. As the heat sank into her bones, she began to feel interest in the world again...and in handsome fellow passenger Winston Michaels.

Winston had also hoped for time alone to reflect. But finding a friend in faith in the lovely Rainy Jackson helped him to deal with his twin sister’s death without relying on unhealthy means such as alcohol to deaden the pain. And Winston's outlook brightened further when dates back home in Miami brought him and Rainy even closer. Would Rainy be the one to share Winston's life voyage?

Friday, July 20, 2012

Guest blog and giveaway of The Gifted by Ann Gabhart

Welcome back to my friend and fellow KY author, Ann Gabhart. And all who leave a comment on this post by next Friday, with contact info, will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of The Gifted, her latest book based in Shakertown, KY. A delightful read by a very gifted and generous writer!

What is Your Gift? by Ann H. Gabhart

“We have different gifts, according to the grace given us.” Romans 12:6 (NIV)

The Shakers were very receptive to gifts of the spirit in their societies. One of their best known songs was “Tis a Gift to Be Simple.” That was the gift all Shaker believers were expected to seek to possess. Being simple meant they wouldn’t be distracted from the Shaker way of “hands to work and hearts to God.”

Of course, their idea of the distractions to avoid are what made them so different from the “world” they tried to block from the borders of their villages. They believed the family unit of mother, father, and children caused too much stress and conflict and thus, hindered proper worshipful living. That’s why they chose celibacy and kept the sexes strictly divided with all members living as brother and sister. Many other rules were handed down as well to keep their members in union one with another such as stepping with the right foot first each time they climbed a stairway or praying silently at specified times or pulling out their chair for sitting at the table with the same hand at the same time. They practiced orderly marching dances, but they also embraced gifts of whirling and gifts of song. The gift of sweeping where they swept away sin with imaginary brooms was so common that they wrote sweeping songs for worship.

But what happened when a Shaker sister or brother had a gift that was not embraced by the Ministry as a good and proper gift? That’s the dilemma of Jessamine Brady in The Gifted. Her “gifts” of imagination and curiosity continually land her in trouble in the Shaker village. She loves her sisters at Harmony Hill, but she’s always peering past the village borders wanting to know more. Her fingers itch to write down fanciful stories that have no place in a Shaker sister’s life. One of the things Jessamine must discover in the story is whether her gifts are a blessing from God or if they arise out of sinful worldly desires.

What is your gift? Or gifts? You certainly aren’t limited to one talent or gift by the Giver of all good gifts. But I’ve met people who didn’t believe they possessed any gifts that could be used for the Lord. That’s human thinking. The Lord hasn’t limited us that way. Paul in Romans 12 lists many gifts: prophesy, teaching, serving, encouraging, contributing, leading, showing mercy. Think of all the ways those gifts can be broken down and expanded. We may not all be preachers or we may not be able to teach, but who among us can’t encourage with a smile or kind word? Perhaps we can’t be the one who leads the church, but surely we can all show mercy even as we embrace God’s mercy to us.

Like Jessamine in my story, I do think I have been blessed with a gift for words. For that, I’m thankful because I love writing down stories. But not everybody has a gift of words. It would be a strange world if we all shared the same gift. Many have gifts of music or of art. No less important are those who have a gift for kindness. Some may have the gift of loving the unlovely. Others the less celebrated gifts of serving their churches and families by cooking nourishing meals or cleaning or praying for others. Spiritual gifts can be for teaching and spreading the Good News, but the gifts of seeing and meeting people’s needs are every bit as valuable. So celebrate your gifts and offer them up to the Lord with joy.

“Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more.” ~Anthony Robbins

Ann H. Gabhart bio

Living just thirty miles from a restored Shaker village in Kentucky, Ann H. Gabhart has walked the same paths her character might have walked in generations past. Her thorough research provides a colorful backdrop for her Shaker novels. Ann is the author of several bestselling novels, including The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and Angel Sister. The Gifted is the fifth book set in her Shaker village of Harmony Hill.
Ann lives on a farm with her husband, Darrell. They have three children, three in-law children, and nine grandchildren. To find out more about Ann or her books visit www.annhgabhart.com. Check out her blog, One Writer’s Journal, www.annhgabhart.blogspot.com or follow her on Facebook, www.facebook.com/AnnGabhart , Twitter (user name annhgabhart) or Pinterest, http://pinterest.com/annhgabhart/.

Saturday, July 14, 2012

Guestblog by Tracy Krauss on her newest novel, Wind over Marshdale

WIND OVER MARSHDALE by Tracy Krauss


Cover blurb: Marshdale. Just a small farming community where nothing special happens. A perfect place to start over… or get lost. There is definitely more to this prairie town than meets the eye. Once the meeting place of aboriginal tribes for miles around, some say the land itself was cursed because of the people’s sin. But its history goes farther back than even indigenous oral history can trace and there is still a direct descendant who has been handed the truth, like it or not. Exactly what ties does the land have to the medicine of the ancients? Is it cursed, or is it all superstition?

Wind Over Marshdale is the story of the struggles within a small prairie town when hidden evil and ancient medicine resurface. Caught in the crossfire, new teacher Rachel Bosworth finds herself in love with two men at once. First, there is Thomas Lone Wolf, a Cree man whose blood lines run back to the days of ancient medicine but who has chosen to live as a Christian and faces prejudice from every side as he tries to expose the truth. Then there is Con McKinley, local farmer who has to face some demons of his own. Add to the mix a wayward minister seeking anonymity in the obscurity of the town; eccentric twin sisters – one heavily involved in the occult and the other a fundamentalist zealot; and a host of other ‘characters’ whose lives weave together unexpectedly for the final climax. This suspenseful story is one of human frailty - prejudice, cowardice, jealousy, and greed – magnified by powerful spiritual forces that have remained hidden for centuries, only to be broken in triumph by grace.

Link to an excerpt: http://tracykrauss.yolasite.com/wind-over-marshdale-first-chapters.php
Other links:

Website: http://www.blogger.com/goog_1539099981

Blog: http://www.tracykraussexpressionexpress.com/

FB: http://tinyurl.com/Tracy-Krauss-Author-Fanpage

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/TracyKrausswrtr

Amazon: http://www.kraussamazon.com/

Purchase links:

Publisher : Astraea press http://www.blogger.com/goog_1539099993

Amazon - http://www.blogger.com/goog_1539099996

Barnes and Noble - http://www.blogger.com/goog_1539099999

Endorsements: (All endorsements were given with the permission of the authors and may be used in the publication of WIND OVER MARSHDALE as the publisher sees fit.)

Tracy Krauss has a deep talent. Her novel PLAY IT AGAIN was an extremely well written edgy story. The characters were well described and quickly took up residence in my mind and heart. I am looking forward to more from her. - Tom Blubaugh, Author of Night of the Cossack Tracy Krauss typifies all that is good in modern Christian authorship. She is consistently there for her readers and elevates her every effort. - Joyce Godwin Grubbs, Author From the Grassroots

Tracy’s characters are raw and real; her plots edgy and electric.- Lisa Lickel, award winning author of Meander Scar, A Summer in Oakville, The Map Quilt and other inspirational novels.

An engaging storyteller, Tracy Krauss isn't afraid to tell it like it is. I've been inspired by her realistic take on a number of scenarios she has written about. - Michelle Sutton, author of more than a dozen inspirational novels Tracy Krauss paints vivid pictures of real-life scenery and situations while upholding a very real, redemptive theme. - Teric Darken, author of several suspense thrillers Short bio:

Tracy Krauss is an author, artist, playwright, director, worship leader, and teacher. Originally from a small prairie town, she received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Saskatchewan. She has lived in many places in northern Canada with her husband, a pastor, and their children. They currently live in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada where she pursues all of her creative interests.

Published works include four romantic suspense novels: AND THE BEAT GOES ON, where archaeological evidence for creation comes at a heavy cost; MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER, the story of a ‘cougar’ who takes on more than she bargained for; PLAY IT AGAIN, about an unlikely match during the 1980s rock n’ roll scene; and WIND OVER MARSHDALE, where strong spiritual forces rock a seemingly peaceful prairie town. She also has several stage plays in print. Visit her website for more details. http://www.tracykrauss.com/

Sunday, July 08, 2012

Interview with Tracy Krauss, author of Wind over Marshdale

Tracy has visited here before, and I am happy to welcome her again with an excerpt from her latest novel: Wind over Marshdale. If you enjoy reading Frank Peretti like I do, then I think you will love this story. Read the first chapter below and see for yourself!
Q: Who is Tracy Krauss?
A: Besides an author, I am an artist, drama director, worship leader and teacher. I’m all about the creative process, so everything I do has that bent to it. When I’m ‘making’ something – be it a painting, directing my vision for a play on the stage, playing an instrument, or writing a book – I feel energized. Sometimes I tend to burn myself out because I don’t rest much, but I like to be busy and I love all my creative pursuits, so it’s hard to drop anything.

I currently live in beautiful Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, Canada, known for its many waterfalls. However, my husband and I have moved around a lot in our nearly thirty years of marriage, and many of the places we’ve lived have been in the far north. Places like Churchill, Manitoba - the ‘polar bear capital of the world’; the Yukon, which is next door to Alaska; and the North West Territories – all north of the 60th parallel. This has given me lots of fodder for my stories.

Q: When did you start writing?
A: I first started writing when my eldest was just a baby. I could hardly wait for her to go down for her nap so that I could pound away at my mother’s old typewriter. That was more than a quarter century ago. Four kids, plus homeschooling for nine years, plus going back to work as a public school teacher full time, and I finally signed my first contract in 2008. (This was after many, many rejections and a lot of hard work revising, querying, and revising some more.) My first book AND THE BEAT GOES ON released in 2009, followed by MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER in 2010, PLAY IT AGAIN in 2011, and now, WIND OVER MARSHDALE in 2012. I’ve also had five plays published or contracted in that time with various play publishing houses.

Q: What authors have inspired your own writing?
A: Frank Peretti is still my favourite author. To me he is a groundbreaker. He’s tackled subjects that were previously considered taboo within Christian circles in such a compelling and thought provoking way that his writing is almost revered as truth. For instance, THIS PRESENT DARKNESS has almost become a manual on spiritual warfare, even though it’s fiction. I try to include some of this ‘edge’ in my own writing. Francine Rivers is another that comes to mind. She has written about some pretty controversial topics as well, and her characters are always believable; they aren’t perfect in other words. Again, this is what I strive for with my characters.

Q: Tell us about your current novel.
A: WIND OVER MARSHDALE takes place in a small prairie town where, on the surface, everything seems quaint and happy. Underneath there are some serious issues, especially with racism, sexual promiscuity, and the occult. Thomas Lone Wolf is a Cree man on a mission to build a heritage site near the town based on some ancient archaeological evidence. He and his children aren’t prepared for the level of prejudice they begin to face. Rachel Bosworth is the new Kindergarten teacher, fresh from the big city and running away from a hurtful past. Con McKinley is a local farmer, who also happens to be single and good looking. A love triangle of sorts develops, with the two men unwitting participants. As well, eccentric twin sisters bombard the town; one with her legalistic religious views and the other as a practicing witch. The local pastor has little effect trying to keep his parishioners in line since he is involved in some unsavoury business of his own. The lives of these and many other unusual characters weave together into a surprising climax. Beneath it all is a thread linking everyone’s problems to the spirit realm; an ancient curse from the past that must be dealt with once and for all.

Q: What’s next?
A: I have two more finished novels and several works in progress. I’m just in the process of polishing up CZECH OUT, about a hockey player who defects to North America during the cold war, and THREE STRAND CORD, a romantic mystery about three friends. Once they’re ready for submission I’ll be pitching them to my agent. I’m also always pitching plays as well, since I write most of my own material for my drama troupe. Finally, I’m publishing an illustrated children’s book. I just finished all the artwork and it should be ready fairly soon.

Blurb:
Marshdale. Just a small farming community where nothing special happens. A perfect place to start over… or get lost. There is definitely more to this prairie town than meets the eye. Once the meeting place of aboriginal tribes for miles around, some say the land itself was cursed because of the people’s sin. But its history goes farther back than even indigenous oral history can trace and there is still a direct descendant who has been handed the truth, like it or not. Exactly what ties does the land have to the medicine of the ancients? Is it cursed, or is it all superstition?

Wind Over Marshdale is the story of the struggles within a small prairie town when hidden evil and ancient medicine resurface. Caught in the crossfire, new teacher Rachel Bosworth finds herself in love with two men at once. First, there is Thomas Lone Wolf, a Cree man whose blood lines run back to the days of ancient medicine but who has chosen to live as a Christian and faces prejudice from every side as he tries to expose the truth. Then there is Con McKinley, local farmer who has to face some demons of his own. Add to the mix a wayward minister seeking anonymity in the obscurity of the town; eccentric twin sisters – one heavily involved in the occult and the other a fundamentalist zealot; and a host of other ‘characters’ whose lives weave together unexpectedly for the final climax. This suspenseful story is one of human frailty - prejudice, cowardice, jealousy, and greed – magnified by powerful spiritual forces that have remained hidden for centuries, only to be broken in triumph by grace.

Purchase links:
Publisher : Astraea press
http://www.blogger.com/goog_24024181

Amazon - http://www.amazon.com/Wind-Over-Marshdale-ebook/dp/B008ARYQPA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1339803471&sr=8-1&keywords=wind+over+marshdale

Barnes and Noble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/wind-over-marshdale-tracy-krauss/1111512160?ean=2940014767682

Bio:
Tracy Krauss is an author, artist, playwright, director, worship leader, and teacher. Originally from a small prairie town, she received her Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Saskatchewan. She has lived in many places in northern Canada with her husband, a pastor, and their children. They currently live in Tumbler Ridge, BC.

Published works include four romantic suspense novels: AND THE BEAT GOES ON, where archeological evidence for creation comes at a heavy cost; MY MOTHER THE MAN-EATER, the story of a ‘cougar’ who takes on more than she bargained for; PLAY IT AGAIN, about an unlikely match during the 1980s rock n’ roll scene; and WIND OVER MARSHDALE, where strong spiritual forces rock a seemingly peaceful prairie town. She also has several stage plays in print. Visit her website for more details. http://www.tracykrauss.com/

Excerpt
WIND OVER MARSHDALE
By Tracy Krauss

Chapter One

A whispered breath skimmed across the long prairie grass like a
giant invisible hand stroking the fur of a silken feline. The screech of an
eagle echoed through the valley as it dipped and glided above the river. The
rounded slopes of the bank rose above the swiftly flowing water while
small clumps of trees clustered nearby but for the most part the land
stretched uninterrupted toward the horizon.

In the distance, a faint rumbling could be heard. It began to shake
the earth as it drew nearer. A cloud of dust accompanied the approaching
mass. Hooves pounded. Nostrils dilated. Eyes reddened with fear. The
musky stench of sweat mixed with the heat and dust.

The huge beasts moved en masse toward the precipice. Thousands
of shaggy heads bobbed in unison as the herd of bison stampeded forward.
As if in slow motion, they continued on, up and over the sharp bank of the
river into the ravine below. One by one, they hurtled forward, oblivious to
the fate that awaited them, as they toppled headlong to their deaths.

Thomas shot up in bed, panting. The T-shirt he wore clung
to his body with sweat. It was not the first time the dream had
come to wake him.

He took a deep breath, disentangled himself from the sheets,
and rose to get a drink of water. No point going back to bed now.
He wouldn’t sleep anyway. He padded down the narrow hallway,
passing the half closed doorways that sheltered his sleeping
children. Ducking to avoid hitting his head as he entered the tiny
kitchen, he paused for a moment to look at the expanse of
landscape beyond the window. Mostly flat, with a rise of gently
rolling hills in the distance, it was clothed with a carpet of rippling
grass except for the odd patch of dry fallow. Just like in the dream.

The early morning sunrise was just beginning to filter in,
reaching to shed some light in the shadowed corners of the room.
Thomas had managed to rent a house near the outskirts of town.
Correction. It wasn’t exactly a house. The realtor called it a “double
wide.” Okay, it was a trailer, but it was the only property for rent in
Marshdale at the moment. At least, that was what the realtor had
said. It wasn’t the nicest place—rather dingy if truth be told—and it
was farther from school than Thomas would have liked, but it was
still within walking distance. Better than the overcrowded and
dilapidated homes he’d been used to as a child.

But that was another time. Another life.

He was here now, for better or for worse, and the people of
Marshdale would just have to accept it. He was Thomas Lone Wolf,
proud of his Cree ancestry, and determined to do something about
it. As a community liaison, he’d worked with dozens of indigenous
groups all over the western provinces trying to set up business
propositions. This time was different, though. It was personal.

With practiced fingers he undid his nighttime braid and
shook out his hair, which fell well past his shoulders. Even at forty,
there was no sign of graying or hair loss. It was straight, coarse and
black, just like his ancestors’ - he was the perfect picture of a Cree
warrior.

Now that he was awake, he allowed himself to replay the
dream in his mind - at least the parts that he could remember. Like
most dreams, the initial clarity soon faded after just a few waking
moments. There were buffalo - always buffalo. And they seemed
bent on suicide, careening to their deaths before he could stop them
somehow.

He was going to start writing it down. The theme was too
familiar; the mixture of fear and power too real. Some people said
you dreamt in black and white. Thomas wasn’t sure about that. He
knew there was blood in his dream - and lots of it. The redness of it
stood out in stark contrast to the muted prairie landscape. And the
stench. That unmistakable metallic scent filled his nostrils to such a
degree that he could almost swear he still smelled it. Almost. But
that was ridiculous and he pushed the memory of the coagulating
stains out of his mind.

With a sigh he turned back to the cupboards and started
readying the coffee. It would soon be time to wake the children and
get ready for work himself. Another grueling day of lobbying for
something that should be rightfully his to begin with. Reality didn’t
stop for dreams.
****
Rachel Bosworth pulled her car over to the side of the road;
gravel crunching under her tires, and came to a rolling stop. She
put the car in park, pulled the emergency brake into place with a
jerk, and stepped out of the confined, yellow compact. She inhaled
a deep lungful of the late summer air, surveying the picture of
pastoral serenity below.

Marshdale. This was to be her new home. Surrounded by a
patchwork of gold and brown earth, it was an oasis of clustered
houses and well established trees cocooned in a desert of wide
open prairie landscape. Stretched out to the horizon, the summer
sky met with rounded hills.

“Not very big,” Rachel’s friend Sherri noted, joining her on
the outside of the vehicle. “You sure you’re going to manage way
out here all by yourself?”

“I think it’s perfect,” Rachel said with a satisfied smile. “Just
the change I needed.”
“Just the escape, you mean,” Sherri teased.

“Maybe.” Rachel turned to her friend. “Come on, Sherri. I’m
feeling scared enough as it is. This is a big move for me. Besides,
you’re the one who convinced me to move out west in the first
place.”

“Yeah, I know. But I meant for you to move to Regina with
Dan and me, not out to some backwoods hole in the wall. They
probably don’t even have cell service, for Pete’s sake!”

"It can’t be as bad as that. The hiring committee said
Marshdale was a totally modern town with all the basic amenities.”

“Yeah? Let’s hope so,” Sherri quipped, shading her eyes
with her hand as she surveyed the town below them.

“Come on, Sherri. You’re my best friend. I need you to be
excited for me. Tell me I made a good decision and that I won’t
regret it,” Rachel begged.

“You’re right, kiddo.” Sherri put on her most encouraging
smile. “It will be nice to see you more often, even if it is a two-hour
drive.”

Rachel nodded. “What’s a two-hour drive compared to
thousands of miles all the way back to Toronto?”

“Who knows? Maybe you’ll meet some cute farmer and end
up getting married or something.” Sherri shrugged.

“Not interested in men right now, remember? I am here to
become the best kindergarten teacher Marshdale has ever seen.”

“Sorry. That was insensitive of me. I know you’re still
hurting over Rotten Ronny.”

“Who?” Rachel asked, raising a brow.

“That’s the spirit!” Sherri laughed. “Who needs men,
anyway?”

“Better not let Dan hear you talking like that,” Rachel
warned with a chuckle of her own. “Come on. Let’s get going. I can
hardly wait to get my stuff unpacked.”

“I can’t believe you brought so little stuff with you,” Sherri
observed, climbing into the passenger seat.

“I wanted to start fresh.” Rachel put the small standard
vehicle in gear and rolled forward. “Besides, moving a whole lot of
furniture and stuff seemed pointless. I’ve rented this really nice
little basement suite. It’s fully furnished. And that’s what you’re
here for, remember? I need your expert advice on what stuff I need
to buy in the city before school starts next week.”

“Now, shopping is one thing I’m very good at.”

“I know.” Rachel nodded with a grin. “It’s why I brought
you along.”

“Thanks. I thought it was for the company.”
“Of course. That too.” Rachel laughed. She sobered quickly
and glanced over at her friend. “Thanks, Sherri. For everything.”

“What are you talking about?” Sherri waved a dismissive
hand. “I’d be some friend if I didn’t come to your rescue when
called.”

“I mean about Ronald. I don’t know how I would have
coped without you there.”

“I know, kid.” Sherri gave Rachel’s hand a squeeze. “That’s
what friends are for. Besides, I’ll expect pay back someday, you
know.”

They were nearing the outskirts of the village. A large
carved sign by the side of the road read, “Welcome to Marshdale.”

“I bet people live more freely here,” Rachel stated. “It’s what
I’m hoping for. The simple life.”

“People have problems wherever they go,” Sherri noted. “It
may look all peaceful right now, but I bet they have their share of
troubles, just like everybody else.”

“Yeah, like what? No cell service?” Rachel asked, the corner
of her mouth turning up.

“Now that would be tragic.”

I know my life isn’t suddenly going to become a bed of
roses,” Rachel admitted. “But it just seems to me that country
living - the slower pace - has to do something to calm people.
Make them less artificial and - you know - less selfish.”

“We can only hope,” Sherri shrugged. “Now come on,
girlfriend. Let’s find that basement suite of yours. If we’re going to
unpack, make a list, and get back to the city before dark, we better
get a move on.”

“Roger that.” Rachel nodded, glancing at the hand-­-- sketched
map that was on the dash. She made a left hand turn at the first
intersection.
****
The interior of the church was cool, quiet and dim. Just the
way Pastor Todd Bryant liked it. He sat on one of the upholstered
chairs in the sanctuary, allowing the viscosity of stillness to envelop
him like a silky smooth liquid.

Sometimes he wished he could stay in here forever, without
having to go out there. The recently refurbished sanctuary was a
peaceful place compared to the world just outside its double oak
doors. When he had come here just a year ago, he knew the
Marshdale Community Church would be a place of refuge; a place
to rest and strengthen his own weary spirit. A place to hide.

Modern and well kept, the Community Church had the
appearance of comfortable affluence - a testament to God’s favor.
The folks who attended were proud of their commitment to the
Lord’s work in Marshdale and God had blessed them with material
prosperity. They required little actual input from the pastor. Just
keep the ship running smoothly, as instructed by the board, and
everything should be just fine.

Perfect. His less than amiable departure from his last church
had left him feeling just a bit shell-shocked. He needed a place to
hide out for a while. As long as he followed the program…
****
Another soul sat alone, waiting. The room was dark, the
slatted shades drawn over the open window. The only light came
from three candles burning in their resting places on the pentagram
table top. The air was rich with the heady scent of incense
smoldering in the small, intricately designed brass burner. The
woman breathed deeply. Empty the mind. Allow the inner self to
emerge…

A sudden breeze whipped into the room, announcing its
entrance with a slap of the wooden slats on the window frame. It
caressed the chimes hanging nearby before darting to tease the
three flames into a flickering dance.
She smiled. Yes. There was so much to share, to enrich the
lives in this town. There were many paths to enlightenment, but
ultimately they all ended one way. It was up to her to release this
narrow-minded and stiff-necked people to accept that.

Friday, July 06, 2012

Book Review--A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

I loved this book by Kim Sawyer! Although not a typical prairie romance, it was definitely a romance! Just one set in Alaska at a mission post for the Athabascan Indian tribe. I fell in love with both the unique main characters from the start.

Lizzie Dawson is a very independent young woman who has lived on her own for years. Not a part of the tribe of her dead Indian mother or the white father who left them years ago, she has made her own way, using the skills of the Athabascans to survive.

Clay Selby has left the lower states to become a missionary like his own father. When he encounters the beautiful blue-eyed Indian girl, he wonders at her story. What he learns stuns him and leaves him in a quandry. Must he choose between befriending her or the people he came to minister to?

Lizzie is also attracted to Clay, but refuses to allow herself this weakness. Until the day she shoots him! How can God work good out of this accident? Read the book and find out, and give yourself a great read in the Yukon of Alaska in the late 1890s.

Below is a picture of me with Kim Sawyer who is a personal friend. This book was sent by her publisher, but this review is my honest opinion of A Whisper of Peace.

Monday, July 02, 2012

Book Review of Jennifer Johnson's new novel, A Wedding Song in Lexington, KY

Here is my review of Jennifer Johnson's latest novel--A Wedding Song in Lexington, KY, the book you will have a chance to win if you leave a comment on any post on this blog the month of July, so hope you leave a comment! All those with US mailing addresses are eligible.

Review: I have read all of Jennifer Johnson's shorter novels, so was thrilled to learn she had a longer novel out. Her writing is always easy to read with a fun perspective on people and their foibles. And that this story is set in the Bluegrass Region of KY, about an hour from where I live, made it even more special.

I immediately identified with the heroine, Megan McKinney, who has experienced a lot of pain in her life, but is making progress toward her dream of teaching music in the local school system. Her summer job at a law office puts her in the path of Justin Frasure, an attorney who has a reputation as a womanizer. When she finds out he has become a Christian, she isn't sure she can believe him or trust him. Females keep showing up in his office, but he insists they mean nothing to him.

Megan's twin sister is already teaching, and when Megan helps out on a field trip she meets Colt Baker. After an awkward start, he asks her to teach piano lessons to his niece. While at Colt's farm, she sees how good he is with his niece and finds out he is a long-time Christian. This sets up an interesting love triangle. Megan, who doesn't really want a guy in her life, now has two who want to win her. They even fight over her, literally, at her sister's wedding reception.
Megan has to learn to search her own heart and listen to what God is saying before she can make the right decision. This is a tale of grace and forgiveness on many levels. Treat yourself to this fun story with some subtle life lessons we all need to learn.

Sunday, July 01, 2012

Book contest info and winner

The winner of The Ride of Her life By Lorna Seilstad is April W. Gardner who will receive her book as soon as she emails me her snail mail address. And if you have a US mailing addy and leave a comment this month you will be entered in the drawing for a copy of A Wedding Song in Lexington, KY by my critique partner, Jennifer Johnson, so be sure to leave your email contact info. Again this month the first number my husband drew did not leave contact info so he had to pick again, so make sure you leave info if you want to have a chance to win!

I am posting a review of Jennifer's book tomorrow so check back then to read about it and leave another comment to be entered again!