Do you want to be a woman of strength--physically, emotionally and especially spiritually? Then let Kimberley Payne guide you along the path to a stronger you as she shares her personal life-lessons, devotionals, and exercises with you.
This book takes you through the whole year with various suggestions for each season, so order it now, and get started whenever you want. Reading one segment a day will keep you encouraged to continue on with your exercise program.
You can order this ebook on Smashwords under her name and the title.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
Thursday, February 14, 2013
More Seed Stories and a giveaway by Staci Stallings
Staci is back again, and don't forget to read to the bottom to check out the great giveaway.
Seed Stories by Stack Stallings
Last time we talked about how important it is to plant a seed if you want something to grow. You not only have to plant a seed, you have to plant the right seed. Planting a corn seed and expecting wheat to grow isn’t any more logical than planting no seed and expecting something to grow.
So in our lives, we need to be conscious of planting the Jesus Seed at the center of everything we do–in our work, in our homes, in our lives. If we don’t plant it and then nurture it, why would we expect it to grow or even be there?
In fact, in Luke 8:11, God points this lesson out in very direct language: “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.”
And we know from the beginning of John WHO the Word of God is: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
The Word was/is Jesus. So the seed is Jesus as well.
Several stories in the Bible point to lessons about seeds, and if you take it a step further and recognize that JESUS Himself is the seed, they become even more powerful and thought-provoking.
Let’s take one such example from a Bible verse.
2 Corinthians 9:10
“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”
He refers to God and the seed to Jesus. You are the sower.
Now again, I don’t know how much you know about farming, but see if you can follow this line of thinking.
I want to plant a crop, let’s say it’s a wheat crop. If I plant “a” wheat seed, how much wheat will I have when my harvest happens?
One stalk of wheat, right?
So what do I do if I want a “large” harvest? Not just plant one seed, right? I have to plant a LOT of seeds if I want a big harvest!
So this verse says that God is going to supply a sower who is intent on spreading the Word of God with A LOT of seed, and He will seek to increase the harvest of your righteousness!
That means… “Dude, don’t be stingy with your Jesus seed! God’s going to give you A LOT of it!”
In the forgiveness realm this is akin to 70 X 7. Infinity times infinity times ten.
Luke 6:38 says: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Both verses are saying the same thing: Don’t be stingy with the seed (the Word of God, Jesus) that you have been given! Give it out! Use it! Plant it! Nurture it!
The more you plant, the more you will be given to plant.
In fact, if you know about things like wheat, you know that a plant will produce many seeds. So each seed you plant will produce more.
This is one of the things I think is so very cool about God–He is infinite, abundant, overflowing with good things, and He’s standing at the ready to put all those good things in your life, if you will just have enough faith to start planting some Jesus seeds!
Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a #1 Best Selling author and the co-founder CrossReads.com a new website that gives Christian readers and authors a place to meet and fellowship. With a newsletter, a blog, a forum, and other exciting, inspiring areas to visit, CrossReads visitors can find fabulous Christian books they never knew existed. Come over on Feb. 12-14, and enter to win one of 169 virtual baskets of ebooks, gift cards, and other prizes!
Seed Stories by Stack Stallings
Last time we talked about how important it is to plant a seed if you want something to grow. You not only have to plant a seed, you have to plant the right seed. Planting a corn seed and expecting wheat to grow isn’t any more logical than planting no seed and expecting something to grow.
So in our lives, we need to be conscious of planting the Jesus Seed at the center of everything we do–in our work, in our homes, in our lives. If we don’t plant it and then nurture it, why would we expect it to grow or even be there?
In fact, in Luke 8:11, God points this lesson out in very direct language: “Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God.”
And we know from the beginning of John WHO the Word of God is: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. 4 In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. 5 The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.”
The Word was/is Jesus. So the seed is Jesus as well.
Several stories in the Bible point to lessons about seeds, and if you take it a step further and recognize that JESUS Himself is the seed, they become even more powerful and thought-provoking.
Let’s take one such example from a Bible verse.
2 Corinthians 9:10
“Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness.”
He refers to God and the seed to Jesus. You are the sower.
Now again, I don’t know how much you know about farming, but see if you can follow this line of thinking.
I want to plant a crop, let’s say it’s a wheat crop. If I plant “a” wheat seed, how much wheat will I have when my harvest happens?
One stalk of wheat, right?
So what do I do if I want a “large” harvest? Not just plant one seed, right? I have to plant a LOT of seeds if I want a big harvest!
So this verse says that God is going to supply a sower who is intent on spreading the Word of God with A LOT of seed, and He will seek to increase the harvest of your righteousness!
That means… “Dude, don’t be stingy with your Jesus seed! God’s going to give you A LOT of it!”
In the forgiveness realm this is akin to 70 X 7. Infinity times infinity times ten.
Luke 6:38 says: “Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure—pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return.”
Both verses are saying the same thing: Don’t be stingy with the seed (the Word of God, Jesus) that you have been given! Give it out! Use it! Plant it! Nurture it!
The more you plant, the more you will be given to plant.
In fact, if you know about things like wheat, you know that a plant will produce many seeds. So each seed you plant will produce more.
This is one of the things I think is so very cool about God–He is infinite, abundant, overflowing with good things, and He’s standing at the ready to put all those good things in your life, if you will just have enough faith to start planting some Jesus seeds!
Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a #1 Best Selling author and the co-founder CrossReads.com a new website that gives Christian readers and authors a place to meet and fellowship. With a newsletter, a blog, a forum, and other exciting, inspiring areas to visit, CrossReads visitors can find fabulous Christian books they never knew existed. Come over on Feb. 12-14, and enter to win one of 169 virtual baskets of ebooks, gift cards, and other prizes!Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Ponderings and a giveaway by Staci Stallings
Welcome to Staci Stallings who is visiting with some words of wisdom and with a giveaway.
The Jesus Seed by Staci Stallings
Here is an interesting concept, but first, we’re going to look at a scenario you’re going to find humorous.
A farmer decides that he wants to grow corn. So he goes out into his field, and he forms all the furrows. He waters the field because he’s been told he must do so in order to yield a crop. He makes sure that he starts watering in the Spring because he’s heard that’s the best time to raise a crop. He fertilizes the soil because he’s heard you should do that if you want good corn. He waters it some more and puts on some bug killer because he doesn’t want the bugs to come and destroy his crop.
He waits, and soon something starts coming up–a bunch of weeds. Angry, he goes out and starts hoeing the weeds. He hoes from sun up to sun down, row after row after row. When he’s finished, he looks out over his field and is incredibly disappointed. He’s done everything right and still no corn!
So he increases the water and keeps chopping at the weeds. After all, that’s what the farmer down the road did and this worked great for him. The farmer keeps this up all summer, but when harvest time arrives, he is incredibly frustrated. Why didn’t his field produce any corn?
Go ahead. Answer the question.
Why did this farmer’s field not produce any corn?
Right.
Because he didn’t plant any!
Now this is going to sound ridiculously simple, but if you don’t plant a seed, I don’t care how much you work and tend that field, you are not going to get a crop.
So I’m going to ask you–have you ever worked to get a crop but forgotten to plant a Jesus Seed first?
In the book I’m reading, “How People Change” by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp, the idea of Jesus as seed is touched upon. Strangely maybe, I have never had cause to think of Jesus this way, but if you start with that metaphor and look at the Bible stories and parables about seed, it will illuminate many new insights.
You see, I don’t care what “crop” you are wanting to grow, without Jesus at the center of it, you’re watering and weeding a crop that is never going to show up. And if it does, it will feel very empty and will almost certainly lead you to death rather than life.
Really. Look at some of the news stories of the past couple years. Bernie Madoff for example. He wanted money, and he scammed and lied and cheated. Clearly he forgot to plant the Jesus Seed first. Instead, he did what the world said would give him what he wanted, and he ended up with a field full of weeds.
Look at some of the stars that have gone off the deep-end. They wanted fame and fortune. They watered their talent and let the sun shine on their careers, but when the weeds showed up and took over, they had no defense against them. The crop of fame and fortune turned to bitterness and regret.
If you want change, if you want a great crop, you have to start with a Jesus Seed. You must plant HIM in the middle of your field. The dreams with Him in the center may not bring you where you thought you wanted to go, but they will always bring you where you were always meant to be.
To plant your Jesus Seed, seek His will for your life, put your desires in His hands and take the steps He’s asking you to take when He asks you to take them. Yes, there will still be watering and weeding to do, but the Seed of Goodness is the key to having an abundant crop that will lead to a life you cannot even imagine right now!
Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a #1 Best Selling author and the co-founder CrossReads.com a new website that gives Christian readers and authors a place to meet and fellowship. With a newsletter, a blog, a forum, and other exciting, inspiring areas to visit, CrossReads visitors can find fabulous Christian books they never knew existed.
Come over on Feb. 12-14, and enter to win one of 169 virtual baskets of ebooks, gift cards, and other prizes!
The Jesus Seed by Staci Stallings
Here is an interesting concept, but first, we’re going to look at a scenario you’re going to find humorous.
A farmer decides that he wants to grow corn. So he goes out into his field, and he forms all the furrows. He waters the field because he’s been told he must do so in order to yield a crop. He makes sure that he starts watering in the Spring because he’s heard that’s the best time to raise a crop. He fertilizes the soil because he’s heard you should do that if you want good corn. He waters it some more and puts on some bug killer because he doesn’t want the bugs to come and destroy his crop.
He waits, and soon something starts coming up–a bunch of weeds. Angry, he goes out and starts hoeing the weeds. He hoes from sun up to sun down, row after row after row. When he’s finished, he looks out over his field and is incredibly disappointed. He’s done everything right and still no corn!
So he increases the water and keeps chopping at the weeds. After all, that’s what the farmer down the road did and this worked great for him. The farmer keeps this up all summer, but when harvest time arrives, he is incredibly frustrated. Why didn’t his field produce any corn?
Go ahead. Answer the question.
Why did this farmer’s field not produce any corn?
Right.
Because he didn’t plant any!
Now this is going to sound ridiculously simple, but if you don’t plant a seed, I don’t care how much you work and tend that field, you are not going to get a crop.
So I’m going to ask you–have you ever worked to get a crop but forgotten to plant a Jesus Seed first?
In the book I’m reading, “How People Change” by Timothy S. Lane and Paul David Tripp, the idea of Jesus as seed is touched upon. Strangely maybe, I have never had cause to think of Jesus this way, but if you start with that metaphor and look at the Bible stories and parables about seed, it will illuminate many new insights.
You see, I don’t care what “crop” you are wanting to grow, without Jesus at the center of it, you’re watering and weeding a crop that is never going to show up. And if it does, it will feel very empty and will almost certainly lead you to death rather than life.
Really. Look at some of the news stories of the past couple years. Bernie Madoff for example. He wanted money, and he scammed and lied and cheated. Clearly he forgot to plant the Jesus Seed first. Instead, he did what the world said would give him what he wanted, and he ended up with a field full of weeds.
Look at some of the stars that have gone off the deep-end. They wanted fame and fortune. They watered their talent and let the sun shine on their careers, but when the weeds showed up and took over, they had no defense against them. The crop of fame and fortune turned to bitterness and regret.
If you want change, if you want a great crop, you have to start with a Jesus Seed. You must plant HIM in the middle of your field. The dreams with Him in the center may not bring you where you thought you wanted to go, but they will always bring you where you were always meant to be.
To plant your Jesus Seed, seek His will for your life, put your desires in His hands and take the steps He’s asking you to take when He asks you to take them. Yes, there will still be watering and weeding to do, but the Seed of Goodness is the key to having an abundant crop that will lead to a life you cannot even imagine right now!
Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a #1 Best Selling author and the co-founder CrossReads.com a new website that gives Christian readers and authors a place to meet and fellowship. With a newsletter, a blog, a forum, and other exciting, inspiring areas to visit, CrossReads visitors can find fabulous Christian books they never knew existed.Come over on Feb. 12-14, and enter to win one of 169 virtual baskets of ebooks, gift cards, and other prizes!
Saturday, February 02, 2013
New Book Giveaway and winners from last month
I'm a day late in posting, but I was under the weather yesterday, but better today, so here goes.
This month's book giveaway for one of our commenters during the month of Feb. is Nightingale by Susan May Warren. I have read many of her books, and this is one of my favorites so far. It has a literary feel and is set during the last days of WWII, with many twists and turns and a heart-stopping happy ending, so do yourself a favor and leave a comment with contact info often this month. Every comment gives you one chance to win!
January had two giveaways--K Dawn Byrd's ebook goes to Cheri Swalwell and
my copy of Perfect by Harry Kraus MD goes to Jackie Layton.
Congrats to the winners and let's have some more!
This month's book giveaway for one of our commenters during the month of Feb. is Nightingale by Susan May Warren. I have read many of her books, and this is one of my favorites so far. It has a literary feel and is set during the last days of WWII, with many twists and turns and a heart-stopping happy ending, so do yourself a favor and leave a comment with contact info often this month. Every comment gives you one chance to win!
January had two giveaways--K Dawn Byrd's ebook goes to Cheri Swalwell and
my copy of Perfect by Harry Kraus MD goes to Jackie Layton.
Congrats to the winners and let's have some more!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Giveaway and More about K Dawn Byrd's new book Something Beautiful
Don't forget to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing on Feb 1st for this book.
Cover blurb:Something Beautiful
Lauren Milton has always followed the rules, but when she meets Antony Marcos, she discovers just how much fun it is to do her own thing. When Antony, the bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks, professes his love for her, her life is complete. He's her soul mate, but when she finds that he's harboring secrets, can she forgive him?
Antony is terrified that his secrets will destroy their relationship when Lauren finds out the truth. Does he tell the truth and face losing her or continue his activities, possibly placing her in danger? Can they make things work even though her family and friends are against him?
Lauren has PTSD from the car accident that killed her boyfriend and her mother. Can she face her greatest fears while risking everything for the guy she loves? Can they overcome the obstacles facing them to find their happily ever after?
Bio:
K. Dawn Byrd is an author of inspirational novels in several genres, including historical, suspense, romance, and young adult. Some of her favorite things are chocolate, cars, and her pets. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and riding down country roads in the passenger seat of her husband's Corvette Stingray. When asked why she writes, her response is, "For the simple joy of placing words on the page!"
Friday, January 25, 2013
Interview with K.Dawn Byrd and giveaway of Something Beautiful
Welcome back, K Dawn! What would you like readers to take away from your book?
God is with us and we need to learn to trust our hearts.
Why did you choose to write this book?
I thought it would be fun to explore what it would be like to have a guy and gal fall in love who are from very different backgrounds. She's a wealthy young woman who has always had everything she's ever wanted. He's a Hispanic bad boy from the wrong side of the tracks. Her friends and family don't approve, which adds tension to the story.
What did you learn while writing this book?
I learned that I really do love writing romance, especially romance that contains suspense passages.
What is the toughest test you've faced as a writer
Finding time to write. I work a full-time job and also a lot of weekends, which means that I have to be really devoted to my writing time. I set aside at least an hour every night, six days a week if possible. The fact that I start with a well-developed plot makes things move faster.
What kind of planning do you do before writing a novel?
I fill out character sketches in order to get to know my characters better. I ask myself what their goals are, what motivates them, and what's keeping them from reaching their goals. Sometimes, I start by writing a synopsis. This gives me information about the plot as it develops. I usually have a pretty strong plot before I actually begin the story.
What are your favorite writing conferences and why?
The ACFW conference is my favorite because I absolutely love the worship. It blesses my heart. It's also really nice to chat with like-minded people.
Why do you write?
I write because I can't stop. It's more than a hobby, it's a passion. It's the most fun I've ever had in my life! I like to say that I write for the simple joy of placing words on the page and it's true!
What's next for you?
I have three releases in 2012, all young adult. Something Beautiful in January. The Hot Line Girl in June. Luck of the Draw in November.
Tell us a little more about yourself , with three things not many people know
a) I have a masters degree in professional counseling from Liberty University.
b) I'm an animal lover. I have two hairless Chinese Crested dogs, an African Gray parrot, three ferrets, and several aquariums in my home, and somehow recently my niece ended up with a tiny fancy mouse who has found a home at my house.
c) I love sour foods. I'd rather have olives, pickles, or dilly beans than something sweet sometimes.
Tell us about your latest release and what you think readers will enjoy about it.
My latest release Something Beautiful, which is how I would describe the romance between my hero and heroine. Readers who enjoy Christian romance should enjoy this book.
Blog: www.kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com
Twitter: kdawnbyrd
Pinterist: kdawnbyrd
Facebook: kdawnbyrd
Monday, January 14, 2013
Pam Hillman on how to write a novel--one spreadsheet at a time!
Laying it on the Line One Spreadsheet at a Time by Pam Hillman
Even if you’re not a writer, I imagine you have ways of getting your work done. Do you work in an office? If so, you probably get settled in, check voice mail, click through email, look at the messages left by the receptionist, open the folder you left on your desk the day before. If you run a bakery, the first thing you do is turn on the ovens….well, right after you start the coffee. lol
We all have rituals and procedures to get our work done. I’m a writer, and I have my routine. Once an idea has taken root, I open a spreadsheet and start typing scene ideas. Sometimes I’ve already got a few of them on a notepad or as notes in my phone. I just keep brainstorming ideas until my head spins. I’ll also run the basic idea by my writing friends and the Seekers and let them throw stuff at me.
Anything goes at this point. It all gets added to the spreadsheet, one scene idea per cell, very brief, but enough that I can remember what I had in mind for that scene. Looking over the spreadsheets for my current release Claiming Mariah, and for Stealing Jake (Tyndale House, July 2011), each had about 150 scene ideas. And when I say scenes, I’m breaking it up by point of view as well. Three to five of my “scene ideas” might actually end up being a chapter with multiple points-of-view…but not too many POVs. Just enough to fully tell the story without overwhelming the reader.
Some ideas get moved to the bottom of the spreadsheet, but never deleted. Who knows what direction the story might take before it’s done, or even after it’s finished in the rewrite? Some of those ideas might cycle up again and become a pivotal point in the story. I have an overall idea of the major plot points, and a glimmer of the ending scenes, but just that I don’t know every little scene in detail until I get to that Act in the story.
Once I have a pretty good handle on the overall plot, I write the first few scenes, tweak them, all the time fine-tuning my spreadsheet to match the live document that’s written in Word. This spreadsheet is a living document. It grows and changes as the story does. I’m sure the thought of tweaking the spreadsheet makes some authors break out in hives, but I guess it’s my way of working through the story, building, thinking, planning.
I like the 3 act structure as described in James Scott Bell’s book Plot and Structure. This works for me because I’m a linear thinker.
Assume your novel has 360 pages, 32 chapters, give or take a few.
Act I is the first 8 chapters / 90 pages
Act II the next 16 chapters / 180 pages
Act III the final 8 chapters / 90 pages
And around every 45 pages or so, or every 4 chapters you have a major twist or explosion of some kind. It doesn’t have to be a real explosion, even though it can be. It might be something that throws the reader for a loop, a curve the reader didn’t see coming, something totally out of left field. It could be something physical as in your heroine is kidnapped, or it could be where the hero finds out that he’s not the street rat he thought he was, but the long-lost son of a king, or where a major plot point is revealed, like the hero admitting that he’s in love with the heroine even if it’s just to himself.
So, that’s the method to my madness. It’s not smooth, and it’s not pretty, but it works. Sometimes it’s like catching and pulling the eye teeth of a mountain lion…without anesthesia (for either of us!), but so far I’ve managed to wrestle that cat to the ground.
How do you get the job done whether it’s writing, pushing papers, bagging groceries, or digging ditches?
Pam is thrilled to announce the release of her second novel, Claiming Mariah
In light of her father’s death, Mariah Malone sends a letter that will forever alter the lives of her family. When Slade Donovan, strong willed and eager for vengeance, shows up on her front porch, Mariah is not ready to hear his truths: her father’s farm, the only home she’s ever known, was bought with stolen gold. With Slade ready to collect his father’s rightful claim and force Mariah and her family out on the streets, Mariah must turn to God for guidance. Though Mr. Fredrick Cooper, a local landowner, promises to answer her financial woes if she agrees to be his bride, Mariah finds herself drawn instead to the angry young man demanding her home.With the ranch now under Slade’s careful eye, he will unearth more than he ever imagined as a devious plot of thievery, betrayal and murder threatens more than the well-being of the ranch, endangering the lives of those who hold it dear. With days dwindling until the rest of the Donovan clan arrive to the Lazy M ranch, Mariah and Slade must rise above the resentment of their fathers and see their true feelings before greed alters their futures forever.
Claiming Mariah Amazon link: http://tinyurl.com/apnzl5n
Claiming Mariah B&N link: http://tinyurl.com/ays6fq7
Claiming Mariah CBD link: http://tinyurl.com/bvjx3m7
Claiming Mariah Goodreads link: http://tinyurl.com/d9u2k6j
Claiming Mariah 1st Chapter: http://tinyurl.com/ageh54r
To celebrate, Pam is giving away two eReaders
Facebook Drawing: Kindle/Nook Giveaway https://www.facebook.com/events/583454505015085/
Newsletter: Pam’s newsletter. http://pamhillman.blogspot.com/2007/11/mailing-list.html
A horn fountain pen handcrafted by Herbert Johnston https://www.facebook.com/events/583454505015085/
(choice of Kindle Wi-Fi, 6" Display, or Nook Simple Touch)
Two Winners: One on facebook. One through Pam’s Newsletter.
Facebook Drawing: Kindle/Nook Giveaway
Newsletter: Pam’s newsletter.
Registering both places is not required but will double your chances of winning. Also keep in mind that you will receive updates more often being connected on facebook than through the newsletter. Just sayin’
Contest runs from January 1st until March 31st, 2013.
And....that’s not all! There will be prizes offered randomly throughout the tour.
Pam is especially excited about this week’s giveaway:
A horn fountain pen handcrafted by Herbert Johnston
Clinton, MS
PREVIOUS STOP ON TOUR:
January 11th: Blogging with Catherine Terry
Daddy's Girl
http://athomewithchristianfiction.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/pam-hillman-daddys-girl/
NEXT STOP ON TOUR
January 15th: Blogging with Cheryl St. John
Wallflower Writer to the Rescue
http://cherylstjohn.blogspot.com/
Click for a Complete List of Stops Along the Tour
www.pamhillman.com
Wednesday, January 02, 2013
New book contest to win Perfect by Harry Kraus, MD
MaryAnn Diorio is the winner of last month's book by Karen Scalf Linamen.
And all of this month's commenters who leave contact info will be entered into the drawing for a copy of Perfect by Harry Kraus, MD.
Harry Kraus is a board-certified general surgeon, and he and his wife have served as missionaries in East Africa many years.
Just by reading the back cover blurb on this book caused me to move it up close to the top of my tottering TBR (to be read) pile! Read below and see if you feel the same way.
"Wendi Stratford's job as an accident reconstructionist is just one more enviable reflection of her ideal life. She's got it all--perfect career, perfect looks, perfect husband, perfect home, perfect faith. There's just one problem: it's all a sham right down to her bleached-blonde hair.
So Wendi hatches an impulsive and exhilarating plan to break free of the lie she's been living--only to watch her hopes die in a terrible accident. But as she sifts through the wreckage, Wendi comes to a shocking conclusion. this was no accident...With engaging characters swept into a millrace of mystery and suspense, Harry Kraus's new novel is...perfect."
And all of this month's commenters who leave contact info will be entered into the drawing for a copy of Perfect by Harry Kraus, MD.
Harry Kraus is a board-certified general surgeon, and he and his wife have served as missionaries in East Africa many years.
Just by reading the back cover blurb on this book caused me to move it up close to the top of my tottering TBR (to be read) pile! Read below and see if you feel the same way.
"Wendi Stratford's job as an accident reconstructionist is just one more enviable reflection of her ideal life. She's got it all--perfect career, perfect looks, perfect husband, perfect home, perfect faith. There's just one problem: it's all a sham right down to her bleached-blonde hair.
So Wendi hatches an impulsive and exhilarating plan to break free of the lie she's been living--only to watch her hopes die in a terrible accident. But as she sifts through the wreckage, Wendi comes to a shocking conclusion. this was no accident...With engaging characters swept into a millrace of mystery and suspense, Harry Kraus's new novel is...perfect."
Monday, December 10, 2012
Guest blog by Lena Nelson Dooley and giveaway
Lena Nelson Dooley
I’m very excited about the three Christmas ebooks I’ve uploaded to Kindle recently.
The newest is 24 Christmases. This book was 24 years in the making.
In 1985, as I was preparing to order Christmas cards from a Christian supplier, God told me that He had given me the gift of writing, and I should use it to bless people at Christmas. That year, I wrote my first Christmas story. The story of Mary as a dramatic monologue.
Five other monologues—of people who were involved with that event so long ago—followed. Joseph … the innkeeper … Mary’s mother … the youngest shepherd … the servant of a wise man.
The next story was a romance. One year I wrote a modern Christmas fable. Another year, I wrote a short play that was used to take Christmas to two local malls. Other stories contained different perspectives, but one focus—the impact that first Christmas has had on mankind through the ages.
Unfortunately, there were a few scattered years when I didn’t write a Christmas story. Life interfered with my plans
James and I have friends spread across several countries around the world. Many of them have contacted me to tell me how much the stories mean to them. They anxiously await their copy of the Christmas story and make it part of their family’s celebration. What a blessing that is to me.
I pray these stories will bless you as much as you have blessed me.
The other 2 Christmas ebooks are novellas.
Lori Compton, mayor of Mistletoe, needs ideas for ways to prop up the sagging economy. After having her heart broken by the former pastor, she doesn’t want to spend time with the new pastor. Rev. Russell Brown has plenty of ideas, even one that includes his spending the rest of his life with the beautiful mayor. Will Lori be able to move beyond her hurts and recognize God’s intentions for the future of the town – and for her own future?
When Thomas Stanton shows up at the holiday party of Rose Fletcher’s best friend, his appearance reminds Rose of the infatuation she felt for him when he worked on her father’s ranch. Although her heart wants to continue those long ago feelings, her mind reminds her that he doesn’t share her faith in God. Thomas can’t understand why Rose seems so standoffish. Will it take God’s intervention to show these two people just what He has planned all along?
I am offering one free copy of The Best Medicine to a winner chosen from those leaving comments on the blog. Please tell us where you live as well, at least what state or province.
You can find the books by going to my Kindle store page: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Ddigital-text&field-keywords=lena+nelson+dooley
Friday, December 07, 2012
Great Christmas Read by MaryAnn Diorio--A Christmas Homecoming
Dr. MaryAnn Diorio is passionate about writing compelling fiction that deals with the deepest issues of the human heart. An award-wining, widely published author of fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, she is Online Adjunct Professor of Fiction Writing at Regent University. MaryAnn makes her home with her awesome husband Dom in New Jersey. They are the blessed parents of two grown daughters and a wonderful son-in-law. MaryAnn loves oil painting, reading, walking, and playing the piano.
And to introduce her novella, A Christmas Homecoming, I will share with you the back cover copy:
When Sonia Pettit’s teenage daughter suddenly disappears for seven long years, Sonia faces losing her mind, her husband, and her son as she struggles to forgive her wayward daughter and trust God for her return.
Think of it as a Hallmark movie with so much conflict you are not sure how the author can pull it all together that then culminates with an ending so happy your eyes are filled with tears of joy. And all wrapped up in a nice holiday package on Christmas Day.
If that sounds like the kind of book you'd love to read this Christmas season, please go to the following places and get an e-book copy for yourself and also order some as gifts for others :
AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Homecoming-Holiday-Extravaganza-ebook/dp/B00
CHRISTIAN BOOK DISTRIBUTORS
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=34827EB&item_com
HARBOURLIGHT BOOKS
http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/a-christmas-homecoming
Purchase Link for Print Version:
The print copy is $12.99 plus $3.00 shipping. New Jersey
residents have to add $0.91 sales tax.
Write to:
maryann@maryanndiorio.com and place "Print Copy" in subject line.
For regular mail orders, please send check made out to MaryAnn Diorio Books
or Credit Card Information (number, expiration date, three-digit CVV code,
and Zip Code) to:
MaryAnn Diorio Books
PO Box 1185
Merchantville, NJ
Wednesday, December 05, 2012
Article by Staci Stallings and Special giveaway today
NOTE to my readers: This is an article I needed to read. Hope it blesses you as it did me. Rose
Being a Magi by Staci Stallings
A long time ago I read a book that said, “There is a reason you notice the things you notice. They come into your sight to tell you something.” (paraphrase) I took that to heart and began actively noticing. That is, I notice when I notice something. Rather than going through life oblivious to the signs God is putting in my path, I either actively seek them or at least I get it with only a couple of occurrences
Much like the man in the flood who was standing on his porch as a boat went by. The people in the boat told him he could come with them. He shook his head. “God will save me if He wants to save me.” Several hours past, and now he was hanging onto an upstairs window. A second boat came by. The people in it said, “Come on with us!” But the man replied, “No, I love God, and if He wants to save me, He will.”
Hours past, and it grew dark. A Coast Guard boat with a search light found the man clinging to his chimney. “Come on! Get on!” they yelled. But the man refused. “I love God, and if He wants to save me, He will.” An hour later the man appeared at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter looked at him incredulously. “What are you doing here?” The man shrugged. “I guess it was my time. God didn’t save me.” To which St. Peter said, “That’s weird. We sent three boats!”
After I heard this story, I once heard Oprah Winfrey say something similar. She said (paraphrase), “To get your attention, God will send a breath. Then He will send a pebble, then a brick, then a boulder, then the whole house will come crashing down!”
Let me just say, for myself, I prefer to catch what God’s telling me at the first boat, the breath, or at most the pebble. So, I am very conscious of the messages God sends to me. And they are everywhere!
In music, books, the Bible, conversations, on billboards, in magazines, sometimes even in dreams. Recently I’ve been preparing a project that is very close to my heart for which God has given many signs and messages since it was first conceived. For this one project I have received messages ranging from videos depicting the story, songs, email messages, and even a tour bus following me down the road!
The ultimate (so far) message was that just before I mailed the project in, I was praying over it in the Post Office, and my oldest daughter said, “Look, Mom.” When I opened my eyes, she was holding a piece of paper about five inches from me in my direct line of sight. It said, “Your talents will be recognized and suitably rewarded.” I just started laughing because I get signs and messages, but most of the time they take at least a little bit of interpretation.
As I was recounting these events to my sister, she laughed. “You are such a Magi.” To which I said the only logical thing, “Huh?”
She went on to explain. “The Magi were astronomers. They spent their time looking for signs in the sky, signs of a new king, signs of a shift on the earth begun in the heavens. That’s what you do!”
I’d never thought of it quite like that, but I’ve got to say, it’s great fun to be a Magi. You should try it sometime.
Copyright Staci Stallings 2006
Special note: The book Staci talks about in this piece, Cowboy, is Free on Kindle Dec. 4 & 5. Hope you enjoy it!
Timothy Ashton Raines is at the top of his game and the end of his rope until one night, he walks away from everything...
Available today as a free download from Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-The-Harmony-Series-ebook/dp/B0049B2E82/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t
A long time ago I read a book that said, “There is a reason you notice the things you notice. They come into your sight to tell you something.” (paraphrase) I took that to heart and began actively noticing. That is, I notice when I notice something. Rather than going through life oblivious to the signs God is putting in my path, I either actively seek them or at least I get it with only a couple of occurrences
Much like the man in the flood who was standing on his porch as a boat went by. The people in the boat told him he could come with them. He shook his head. “God will save me if He wants to save me.” Several hours past, and now he was hanging onto an upstairs window. A second boat came by. The people in it said, “Come on with us!” But the man replied, “No, I love God, and if He wants to save me, He will.”
Hours past, and it grew dark. A Coast Guard boat with a search light found the man clinging to his chimney. “Come on! Get on!” they yelled. But the man refused. “I love God, and if He wants to save me, He will.” An hour later the man appeared at the Pearly Gates.
St. Peter looked at him incredulously. “What are you doing here?” The man shrugged. “I guess it was my time. God didn’t save me.” To which St. Peter said, “That’s weird. We sent three boats!”
After I heard this story, I once heard Oprah Winfrey say something similar. She said (paraphrase), “To get your attention, God will send a breath. Then He will send a pebble, then a brick, then a boulder, then the whole house will come crashing down!”
Let me just say, for myself, I prefer to catch what God’s telling me at the first boat, the breath, or at most the pebble. So, I am very conscious of the messages God sends to me. And they are everywhere!
In music, books, the Bible, conversations, on billboards, in magazines, sometimes even in dreams. Recently I’ve been preparing a project that is very close to my heart for which God has given many signs and messages since it was first conceived. For this one project I have received messages ranging from videos depicting the story, songs, email messages, and even a tour bus following me down the road!
The ultimate (so far) message was that just before I mailed the project in, I was praying over it in the Post Office, and my oldest daughter said, “Look, Mom.” When I opened my eyes, she was holding a piece of paper about five inches from me in my direct line of sight. It said, “Your talents will be recognized and suitably rewarded.” I just started laughing because I get signs and messages, but most of the time they take at least a little bit of interpretation.
As I was recounting these events to my sister, she laughed. “You are such a Magi.” To which I said the only logical thing, “Huh?”
She went on to explain. “The Magi were astronomers. They spent their time looking for signs in the sky, signs of a new king, signs of a shift on the earth begun in the heavens. That’s what you do!”
I’d never thought of it quite like that, but I’ve got to say, it’s great fun to be a Magi. You should try it sometime.
Copyright Staci Stallings 2006
Timothy Ashton Raines is at the top of his game and the end of his rope until one night, he walks away from everything...
Available today as a free download from Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-The-Harmony-Series-ebook/dp/B0049B2E82/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t
Tuesday, December 04, 2012
Spotlight on Staci Stallings with an added Surprise!
Staci Stallings is running a special today and tomorrow--Dec. 4th and 5th so be sure to read below and check it out.
Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a #1 Best Selling Contemporary Christian Romance author and the founder of Grace & Faith Author Connection. Staci has a special surprise for you today and tomorrow only...
FREE ON KINDLE TWO DAYS ONLY!
December 4 & 5:
Cowboy
"One of the most gripping contemporary romances I've read in the past three years."
--Michelle Sutton, Amazon Top 1,000 Reviewer
Timothy Ashton Raines is at the top of his game and the end of his rope until one night, he walks away from everything...
Available today as a free download from Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-The-Harmony-Series-ebook/dp/B0049B2E82/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t
Now for our spotlight interview of Staci about her book.
Spotlight on Cowboy
by: Best Selling Christian Romance Author, Staci Stallings
Title: Cowboy
Author: Staci Stallings
ISBN: ASIN: B0049B2E82
Page count: 324
Genre: Christian Romance
Please, tell us about your book:
"Cowboy is a grace-filled story about the power of giving everything to God and how a simple act of compassion can change lives forever." Life has done its best to knock Beth McCasland to the ground, and the truth is: it’s done a pretty good job of keeping her there. Stuck in a minimum-wage job with a young daughter counting on her, Beth does her best to stay standing under the weight of it all because she knows God is on her side. Then one night she gets the chance to be an angel to another of life’s weary travelers. For once hope has never looked so real.
How long did it take to write the book?
I wrote "Cowboy" in 1998 in about five months.
What inspired you to write the book?
I had a dream one night, which is where I get many of my ideas. In the dream, I was in the company of a famous country music star, but it wasn't like I was in awe of him. Instead, there was this great sadness that permeated everything about him. When I tried to ask what was wrong, he was very reluctant to tell me as everyone else just wanted him to "go on with life." However, the sadness and depression felt so heavy around him that I knew he was in serious trouble emotionally, so I persisted. That's when the story of "Cowboy" began to be written.
Talk about the writing process. Did you have a writing routine? Did you do any research, and if so, what did that involve?
The thing I researched the most was venues for Asthon to sing in different cities. I'm not much of a traveler, nor have I been to many concerts. So the details on that aspect were difficult. Also, he travels so much in this book. I basically had to plan a country music tour--venues, time schedules, etc. so that it made sense as the reader traveled with him. Also, obviously, I couldn't use songs that had already been written, so I had to write all of the songs featured in this book--which ended up being about seven. That was a challenge, but a fun one!
So you are a songwriter too! What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?
In our world today, hope is an increasingly rare commodity. So many people are hanging on by such a small thread--and that's even many whom we all see as "successful." In one scene Ashton says, "It's amazing how much the top looks like the bottom when you have no one to share it with." I think that's what I want readers to see. #1 that they are not alone if they feel lonely and as if hope is for everyone else but has passed them by. And #2, that the greatest thing we can give someone else is the gift of hope and love.
Where can we go to buy your book?
Cowboy is FREE on Kindle Dec. 4 & 5
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-The-Harmony-Series-ebook/dp/B0049B2E82/ref=la_B005IDM6IS_1_6_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353605476&sr=1-6
Excerpt from book:
The burden of fatigue and heartbreak he’d been carrying for months pulled Ashton's gaze to the table just as the bells at the door jingled. Although he never looked up, he heard the waitress slide from the booth.
“Finish your breakfast.” She pointed to his plate. “If you need someone to listen, all you have to do is ask.”
And with that she left his booth to go help the other customers.
Let others help, he thought sarcastically. Yeah, right.
He couldn’t trust anyone with this pain. He couldn’t let them in. Besides, they didn’t want to listen—not really. They wanted him to say everything was fine and keep going as though nothing in the world had happened. They wanted him to be Ashton Raines, superstar, and as far as what happened to the real Ashton Raines, they couldn’t care less.
Loneliness descended on him again, and his whole body slumped toward the table with the weight of it. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep himself upright. All he wanted to do was lie down and go to sleep forever.
If he could just think of one friend. One real person he could call, one real person he could talk to.
“If you need someone to listen, I’m here,” he heard her words again in the depths of his soul, and he looked up to see if she was actually standing there. But she was across the restaurant helping someone else.
“I can’t tell her.” He shook his head and clutched the top of his cap, rolling it down around his face at the absurdity of the very thought. “I don’t even know her.”
Then his gaze lit on the all-but empty plate in front of him. She had given him a meal and asked for nothing in return. She had shared a piece of her heart with him and expected nothing. It was by far the greatest act of kindness he’d experienced in a long time. He looked down at the empty coffee cup, closed his eyes, and raised it off the table. “Miss, could I get a refill?”
Author Bio:
A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading.
Staci Stallings, the author of this article, is a #1 Best Selling Contemporary Christian Romance author and the founder of Grace & Faith Author Connection. Staci has a special surprise for you today and tomorrow only...
FREE ON KINDLE TWO DAYS ONLY!
Cowboy
"One of the most gripping contemporary romances I've read in the past three years."
--Michelle Sutton, Amazon Top 1,000 Reviewer
Timothy Ashton Raines is at the top of his game and the end of his rope until one night, he walks away from everything...
Available today as a free download from Amazon!
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-The-Harmony-Series-ebook/dp/B0049B2E82/ref=cm_cr_pr_sims_t
Now for our spotlight interview of Staci about her book.
Spotlight on Cowboy
by: Best Selling Christian Romance Author, Staci Stallings
Title: Cowboy
Author: Staci Stallings
ISBN: ASIN: B0049B2E82
Page count: 324
Genre: Christian Romance
Please, tell us about your book:
"Cowboy is a grace-filled story about the power of giving everything to God and how a simple act of compassion can change lives forever." Life has done its best to knock Beth McCasland to the ground, and the truth is: it’s done a pretty good job of keeping her there. Stuck in a minimum-wage job with a young daughter counting on her, Beth does her best to stay standing under the weight of it all because she knows God is on her side. Then one night she gets the chance to be an angel to another of life’s weary travelers. For once hope has never looked so real.
How long did it take to write the book?
I wrote "Cowboy" in 1998 in about five months.
What inspired you to write the book?
I had a dream one night, which is where I get many of my ideas. In the dream, I was in the company of a famous country music star, but it wasn't like I was in awe of him. Instead, there was this great sadness that permeated everything about him. When I tried to ask what was wrong, he was very reluctant to tell me as everyone else just wanted him to "go on with life." However, the sadness and depression felt so heavy around him that I knew he was in serious trouble emotionally, so I persisted. That's when the story of "Cowboy" began to be written.
Talk about the writing process. Did you have a writing routine? Did you do any research, and if so, what did that involve?
The thing I researched the most was venues for Asthon to sing in different cities. I'm not much of a traveler, nor have I been to many concerts. So the details on that aspect were difficult. Also, he travels so much in this book. I basically had to plan a country music tour--venues, time schedules, etc. so that it made sense as the reader traveled with him. Also, obviously, I couldn't use songs that had already been written, so I had to write all of the songs featured in this book--which ended up being about seven. That was a challenge, but a fun one!
So you are a songwriter too! What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?
In our world today, hope is an increasingly rare commodity. So many people are hanging on by such a small thread--and that's even many whom we all see as "successful." In one scene Ashton says, "It's amazing how much the top looks like the bottom when you have no one to share it with." I think that's what I want readers to see. #1 that they are not alone if they feel lonely and as if hope is for everyone else but has passed them by. And #2, that the greatest thing we can give someone else is the gift of hope and love.
Where can we go to buy your book?
Cowboy is FREE on Kindle Dec. 4 & 5
http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-The-Harmony-Series-ebook/dp/B0049B2E82/ref=la_B005IDM6IS_1_6_title_1_kin?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1353605476&sr=1-6
Excerpt from book:
The burden of fatigue and heartbreak he’d been carrying for months pulled Ashton's gaze to the table just as the bells at the door jingled. Although he never looked up, he heard the waitress slide from the booth.
“Finish your breakfast.” She pointed to his plate. “If you need someone to listen, all you have to do is ask.”
And with that she left his booth to go help the other customers.
Let others help, he thought sarcastically. Yeah, right.
He couldn’t trust anyone with this pain. He couldn’t let them in. Besides, they didn’t want to listen—not really. They wanted him to say everything was fine and keep going as though nothing in the world had happened. They wanted him to be Ashton Raines, superstar, and as far as what happened to the real Ashton Raines, they couldn’t care less.
Loneliness descended on him again, and his whole body slumped toward the table with the weight of it. It was becoming more and more difficult to keep himself upright. All he wanted to do was lie down and go to sleep forever.
If he could just think of one friend. One real person he could call, one real person he could talk to.
“If you need someone to listen, I’m here,” he heard her words again in the depths of his soul, and he looked up to see if she was actually standing there. But she was across the restaurant helping someone else.
“I can’t tell her.” He shook his head and clutched the top of his cap, rolling it down around his face at the absurdity of the very thought. “I don’t even know her.”
Then his gaze lit on the all-but empty plate in front of him. She had given him a meal and asked for nothing in return. She had shared a piece of her heart with him and expected nothing. It was by far the greatest act of kindness he’d experienced in a long time. He looked down at the empty coffee cup, closed his eyes, and raised it off the table. “Miss, could I get a refill?”
A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading.
Saturday, December 01, 2012
Book contest winner and new giveaway
The winner of my book Christmas Belles of Georgia is Cindy Martin so the book will be on its way to her as soon as she responds to my email with her mailing addy. And for anyone who doesn't have the book, it is still available on cbd.com and amazon.com.
The new giveaway for January is Just Hand over the Chocolate and No One will Get Hurt by Karen Scalf Linamen. Anyone with a US mailing addy who leaves a contact email in a post on any blog [post during the month of December will be eligible, so come back to comment often.
Although I primarily give away fiction books since I am primarily a fiction writer, I decided this book would be great to share with someone who like many of us (myself included) go on a diet in January. Here's a little blurb from the backcover to whet your appetite without adding any pounds: "Does chocolate call your name when you feel stressed, ovewhelmed, or a little down? If it does, then you need Karen Linamen's fifteen low-calorie ways to lift your spirits and pull you out of the dumps."
The new giveaway for January is Just Hand over the Chocolate and No One will Get Hurt by Karen Scalf Linamen. Anyone with a US mailing addy who leaves a contact email in a post on any blog [post during the month of December will be eligible, so come back to comment often.
Although I primarily give away fiction books since I am primarily a fiction writer, I decided this book would be great to share with someone who like many of us (myself included) go on a diet in January. Here's a little blurb from the backcover to whet your appetite without adding any pounds: "Does chocolate call your name when you feel stressed, ovewhelmed, or a little down? If it does, then you need Karen Linamen's fifteen low-calorie ways to lift your spirits and pull you out of the dumps."
Interview with Anita Higman and giveaway of A Merry Little Christmas
Welcome, Anita. Thanks for getting us in the holiday spirit with this interview and giveaway. What inspired you to incorporate Jim Crow laws and segregation into your book?
The farm scenes seem pretty realistic. Did you grow up in the country?
I did. While the small towns in the book are totally fictitious I did grow up on a wheat, cattle, pig, and chicken farm in Western Oklahoma, and it was pretty much identical to the one in the novel. If the farm scenes seem realistic it’s because I got to know farm life quite well before I moved off to college at eighteen.
Franny and Charlie come from very different backgrounds, but are both looking for something very different from the way they've grown up. Do you think as humans, we all just have a "grass is always greener on the other side" mentality?
Yes, that is a human frailty that is easy to succumb to, and I’ve been guilty of it as well. But God is good about reminding me that he’s placed me on my own unique life-road, and it may have little to do with anyone else’s journey. Besides, in many cases when we get a closer look at someone else’s “lush green grass” it usually turns out to be turf.
Do you think that sometimes we don't pray for what we want because we are afraid of getting what we pray for?
Perhaps that’s true, which would explain why Franny is equally nervous and excited about the sudden answer to her prayers.
Was there a reason you added the themes of Christmas and music to the story?
My editor asked me to add those elements, and it was a blessing, since Christmas is my favorite time of year, and I love music. Also, female readers in general love novels that are set during the holidays, and I’m hoping the music adds a cozy feel to the overall Christmas theme.
What is your favorite Christmas song?
“The Holly and the Ivy.” The song has a melancholy feel to it, but it’s also beautifully sweet. I love the “Currier and Ives” style pictures my imagination conjures up when I’m listening to it.
What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
I love to have my gal friends over for brunch around Christmastime. I have been collecting tea dishes for many years, and so when I do a brunch, I go all out. Women are usually in a service mode most of their lives so when they come to my house I want them to feel wonderfully pampered. And by the time they leave, I hope their hearts are a little merrier and they feel we’ve celebrated Christmas well!
Is Franny's character based on any "real life" person?
Franny is like me in some ways, but she has a lot more courage than I have and more laughter in her heart. So, really, I want to be Franny when I grow up.
Does the song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" have a special significance to you?
The song makes me swoon it’s so romantic and lovely. It makes me think of being snowed-in with the man I love. Of course, that scene also needs a mountain cabin with a crackling fire and two mugs of wassail.
You have written everything from romance to suspense/thrillers to nonfiction. What is your favorite genre to write?
I love inspirational romance. There’s just nothing else like it for writing and reading. It naturally makes you want to curl up on an overstuffed couch and read the day away.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Book Review of A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman
Reading A Merry Little Christmas by Anita Higman will put you in the holiday mood for sure! From the cover to the characters to the happy ending, this book delivers a cozy Christmas setting with a sweet story all tied up with a big red bow.
In a few short months, Franny Martin's life changes from one of solitude on the farm she inherited when her parents died, to an unhappy short stint in Oklahoma City, then back to the farm where she is no longer lonely.
The cause of this change is due to her meeting Charlie Landau, a man who has all the things money can buy, but none of the sweet life Anita experienced growing up.
What starts out as a simple romance soon builds into a story with twists and turns and mysteries not revealed til almost the end, making this a page-turner. Treat yourself to an early Christmas present by buying yourself a copy of this joyful book. And while you are at it, purchase a copy or two for a friend who likes Christmas stories. You'll both be glad you did!
And for a chance to win a copy of this book, check back on December 1st for a post by the author along with the opportunity to leave a comment to be in the drawing for this book.
In a few short months, Franny Martin's life changes from one of solitude on the farm she inherited when her parents died, to an unhappy short stint in Oklahoma City, then back to the farm where she is no longer lonely.
The cause of this change is due to her meeting Charlie Landau, a man who has all the things money can buy, but none of the sweet life Anita experienced growing up.
What starts out as a simple romance soon builds into a story with twists and turns and mysteries not revealed til almost the end, making this a page-turner. Treat yourself to an early Christmas present by buying yourself a copy of this joyful book. And while you are at it, purchase a copy or two for a friend who likes Christmas stories. You'll both be glad you did!
And for a chance to win a copy of this book, check back on December 1st for a post by the author along with the opportunity to leave a comment to be in the drawing for this book.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Book Review of Kim Vogel Sawyer's When Hope Blossoms
Kim Vogel Sawyer's books always give us hope, and with the title When Hope Blossoms, I knew this one would be no exception.
After the death of her husband, Amy Knackstedt is forced by a shadow over her husband's death to move from the Old Mennonite community she has lived in most of her life to a new town in the same state (Kansas) where another Mennonite group is forming a community. She is accompanied by her three very unique children. They move into a house next door to a former Mennonite who helps the family, but wants nothing to do with their religion.
Unlike many of Kim's books this story is contemporary which gives Amy a chance to live out her plain Mennonite lifestyle while using a machine to stitch parts of her quilt and to market her quilts with the help of a computer!
There are several very touching scenes with the children, and with Tim Roper, the neighbor who befriends them. The mystery of her husband's death hangs over Amy until almost the end of the book. Even that mystery ends with hope for a new life in their new home.
Another great inspiring read by Kim Vogel Sawyer. And if you have never read any of her books, I suggest you check them all out!
This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes, but this review is totally from my heart.
After the death of her husband, Amy Knackstedt is forced by a shadow over her husband's death to move from the Old Mennonite community she has lived in most of her life to a new town in the same state (Kansas) where another Mennonite group is forming a community. She is accompanied by her three very unique children. They move into a house next door to a former Mennonite who helps the family, but wants nothing to do with their religion.
Unlike many of Kim's books this story is contemporary which gives Amy a chance to live out her plain Mennonite lifestyle while using a machine to stitch parts of her quilt and to market her quilts with the help of a computer!
There are several very touching scenes with the children, and with Tim Roper, the neighbor who befriends them. The mystery of her husband's death hangs over Amy until almost the end of the book. Even that mystery ends with hope for a new life in their new home.
Another great inspiring read by Kim Vogel Sawyer. And if you have never read any of her books, I suggest you check them all out!
This book was provided by the publisher for review purposes, but this review is totally from my heart.
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Book Review of The Reunion by Dan Walsh
Dan Walsh's book The Reunion is an excellent one to review this week of Veteran's Day and the month before Christmas because this story of a Viet Nam vet who quietly helps out others culminates in a happy ending around Christmastime.
Aaron Miller, a decorated war hero, lives in obscurity as a handyman at a trailer park in Florida until he saves the life of one of the occupants. I love how the author interweaves Aaron's story with a love story involving Aaron's long-lost daughter and the man sent to find the war hero. It reminds me of how God is the "Author" of our lives and is working and planning all along how our stories will end.
I have read all of Walsh's books, and they just keep getting better and better! Buy yourself a copy of this heart-warming story and pick up a few copies as Christmas presents for friends and family, too.
Aaron Miller, a decorated war hero, lives in obscurity as a handyman at a trailer park in Florida until he saves the life of one of the occupants. I love how the author interweaves Aaron's story with a love story involving Aaron's long-lost daughter and the man sent to find the war hero. It reminds me of how God is the "Author" of our lives and is working and planning all along how our stories will end.
I have read all of Walsh's books, and they just keep getting better and better! Buy yourself a copy of this heart-warming story and pick up a few copies as Christmas presents for friends and family, too.
Sunday, November 04, 2012
Book drawing winner and chance to win my Christmas book!
The winner of Murder at Tapestry Court by Amy Barkman is Shannon Vannatter, so I will mail the book as soon as I hear back from her. Since the next book drawing will run until Dec. 1st, and will be sent out in time to read for Christmas, and since I still have copies of my book Christmas Belles of Georgia, I will be sending a copy of it to one of our commenters with a US address this month. So, if you didn't get the book last year, you have another chance! Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you for your mailing address.
Monday, October 08, 2012
Shannon Vannatter and book giveaway--Rodeo Ashes
Now, let's catch up with Shannon and her newest book. Please tell us about your favorite book as a child and your favorite book as an adult. Can you see a connection between those books?
Fun question. My favorite book was a Little Golden book, Baby Farm Animals. It had such cute pictures. As an adult, I can’t just pick one. I love Denise Hunter and Christine Lynxwiler books. They’re Inspirational romance, but there are horses and dogs in some of them.
I also love Denise H. and Christine L books. What is your favorite Scripture? Do you also have a favorite Scripture that encourages you in your writing?
“And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Colossians 3:23
If you could go to any place in the world to research/write a book, what setting would you choose?
Somewhere on the ocean. Arkansas is landlocked. We have lakes and rivers, but I’ve only been the ocean once and I loved it.
The ocean is my favorite place to vacation, too. The sound of the waves is so soothing and the vastness is so awe-inspiring!
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?
I’ll put it this way, I realized the story in my head was a book three years before I got a computer. I had a typewriter, but I’m not that great of a typist. I didn’t start writing until I got a computer.
The only thing I don’t like about technology is when my laptop has a virus and just suddenly won’t come on when I have a deadline. Luckily, a guy I went to high school with works on computers. He gave me a loaner while he fixed mine.
As a writer how have you had to grow and stretch out of your comfort zone?
When I started writing, I always heard write what you know. If I’d stuck with that, I wouldn’t have many books to write. I’ve had to research and learn about new things. I really don’t like sitting at my computer for research. A whole day can blow by without much progress. I love research trips though. There’s nothing like going there, but it’s much more expensive that way.
What advice would you give to a beginning writer that you wish someone had given you?
ACFW. I didn’t discover the group or conference until I’d been writing for 5 years. Without ACFW, I might not be published yet.
I agree wholeheartedly with Shannon on the importance of joining ACFW if you want to learn to write better and have hopes of publication! I think I had written for a couple years before joining ACFW then joined and learned how much I didn't know!
Do you want to add anything about your book such as where to order it?
Rodeo Ashes is available at Walmart, Kmart, & Meijers. All of the Heartsong Presents titles will be there for a test run. If they sell well, it becomes permanent. Everybody—help out an author—go buy HP titles. Under $5.00 for a book. What more can you ask for. You can also order online at christianbook.com, barnesandnoble.com, & amazon.com.
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Lacie Gentry, a young widow and mom, is struggling with the aftermath of her husband’s tragic death. When she bumps into former classmate Quinn Remington, her future is undecided. She accepts a job teaching kids to ride at Quinn’s neighboring ranch, hoping to revitalize her life with an old pastime but soon sees in Quinn a chance to move forward with new love. . .if she’s ready.
It’s been years since Quinn has seen lovely Lacie Gentry—the girl he always admired in high school but never came close to dating. By the time they met, Lacie was engaged to rodeo star Mel Gentry then happily married. Now Lacie’s closer than ever. The attraction is still there, but so is a secret that might end any chance of romance.
Can they rise from the rodeo ashes?
Author Bio: Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. Her debut novel won the 2011 Inspirational Readers’ Choice Award. She’s had 6 books released since 2010 with three more to come. Find her books at christianbook.com, amazon.com, barbourbooks.com, and readerservice.com. Her latest title, Rodeo Ashes will be available at Walmart, Kmart, and Meijers in Oct. Learn more at http://shannonvannatter.com/ and http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/.
Tuesday, October 02, 2012
Book drawing winner and chance to win Murder at Tapestry Court by Amy Barkman
This past month's winner of What the Wind Picked Up is Karen K. Be sure to leave a comment and contact info on any post the month of October if you have a US mailing addy and would like to win a copy of Murder at Tapestry Court by fellow Kentucky author, Amy Barkman.
I was an endorser for this novel, so will tease you with what I wrote about this Agatha Christie-like mystery: Murder at Tapestry Court is a place you want to visit and never leave. This cozy mystery has multiple characters and clues to keep you reading in an attempt to piece it all together before the heroine does. All wrapped up in a spiritual message of letting God speak to us and heal our souls." Sound good? Then leave a comment with info and you will be eligible for the drawing on November 1st.
I was an endorser for this novel, so will tease you with what I wrote about this Agatha Christie-like mystery: Murder at Tapestry Court is a place you want to visit and never leave. This cozy mystery has multiple characters and clues to keep you reading in an attempt to piece it all together before the heroine does. All wrapped up in a spiritual message of letting God speak to us and heal our souls." Sound good? Then leave a comment with info and you will be eligible for the drawing on November 1st.
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