If you're feeling stuck in your WIP (work in progress) or just want to shake things up a bit, here's something different to try today:
Write about someone you admire.
Wednesday, April 11, 2018
Monday, April 9, 2018
Monday Motivation
"Failure will never overtake me if my determination to succeed is strong enough."
— Og Mandino
Have a wonderful week!
Thursday, April 5, 2018
Takeover Thursday with Emily Conrad
Here's Emily with the "story behind the story"...
I started the very first draft of Justice over fifteen years ago. Fresh out of high school, I’m not
sure I ever envisioned publishing the story. At the time, I couldn’t even come
up with a satisfying ending for poor Jake and Brooklyn.
I gave up and wrote other manuscripts, including a YA novel
that interested my first literary agent. When the novel didn’t sell, the agent and
I parted ways—but amicably, and not before she supplied the idea of writing A)
for adults, and B) based on a classic storyline.
As I gravitated toward picking up Justice again, a group of
women from my church invited me to hear Liz Curtis Higgs speak. That was when I
learned Higgs has a way of taking Biblical storylines and using them as
inspiration for stories set in different time periods.
Justice deals with
the aftermath of a sexual assault, but also with an unwed couple facing with
the scandal of an unplanned pregnancy. Though their circumstances were
different, couldn’t I borrow inspiration from Mary and Joseph’s account to
rewrite Justice?
The short answer is, Yes. The more honest answer involves
multiple drafts, cuts, rewrites, and edits to fashion Justice into my debut novel.
So, in one sense, Mary and Joseph are the story behind the
story, but I didn’t start studying their account for ideas until over ten years
after starting that first draft.
The true story behind the story is this: the journey from A
to B is longer for some of us than for others, but through it all, God is
faithful. He patiently, lovingly, plays the long game, and He’s more interested
in our relationship with Him than in one dream come true or another. As His
children, we can always rest assured that wherever this sometimes very long
road leads, it’ll be for good.
Blurb...
Jake thought he was meant to marry Brooklyn, but now she's
pregnant, and he had nothing to do with it. Brooklyn can’t bring herself to
name the father as she wrestles with questions about what her pregnancy means
and how it will affect her relationship with Jake. If Harold Keen, the man who
owns the bookstore across from Jake's coffee shop, has anything to do with it,
the baby will ruin them both. Can Jake and Brooklyn overcome the obstacles
thrown in their path and finally find the truth in God's love and in each
other?
Excerpt...
Even wrapped in privacy, she stared toward the wall and
picked at her fingernails. “I planned what to say to you.” Her voice quieted.
“But I don’t think I can do it.”
His relief morphed into dread. What could be this bad? Father, don’t let me mess this up. “Just
tell me the script. What’d you plan to say?”
“I need a ride to a doctor’s appointment.” She spoke in
a flat tone.
He wanted to play along and say his lines, too, but all
this over an illness? If she’d been sick since her mood froze over in January
and couldn’t drive herself, it was serious. His dad’s problems had started this
way—an appointment followed by a cancer diagnosis, months of treatment and
supposed remission, and, finally, a funeral.
Brooklyn searched his eyes, tense sadness weighing down
her features.
He kept his gaze trained on her beautiful, worried face.
Maybe this appointment was something simple. He had to believe it, or he
couldn’t ask. “What kind of appointment?”
Brooklyn swallowed, neck ridged. “I’m three weeks late.”
“To the appointment?”
“My body. My body is three weeks late.”
“Your body…” Then it hit him. She thinks she’s pregnant. How had he not understood sooner?
“I took a test, but maybe it was wrong.”
She’d changed on that business trip. An image thundered to
mind, and he willed it away. But the question remained. “You and Caleb?”
“It’s not like you think, Jake.”
“No kidding.”
She taught Sunday school. She had worn a promise ring
for years, but her finger was bare now. Caleb went on the New Wilshire trip knowing
how Jake felt about Brooklyn, knowing he’d ended his last relationship to
pursue her. Would Caleb have slept with her anyway?
“I can explain. There’s not enough time right now, but I
will explain.”
He clenched his fist under the table. “I’m sure you could
summarize.” After all those years of pushing him away with the claim she’d
never marry, never fall in love, she’d let someone else in. If it was just Jake
she hadn’t wanted all this time, she could’ve saved him years of trouble by
being honest. “It’s none of my business.” He started away.
“Jake, please.”
He turned back.
“I can’t face this alone anymore.” Her grip on the table
turned her fingertips white.
The day Dad had died, when Jake reached home from the
hospital, he’d found her waiting in the driveway. He and his mom had been
together the whole time, but as soon as he held Brooklyn in his arms, he felt a
million times less alone. Later, when losing Dad prompted him to question God,
it had been Brooklyn who stood by him, her unshakable faith drawing him back to
faith of his own. She may have brought this on herself, but he owed her company
in her darkest hour. “Fine. When’s the appointment?”
“I sat in the parking lot for half an hour before I
worked up the nerve to come in.”
He crossed his arms.
“Ten.”
He checked his watch. “Fifteen minutes?”
She nodded, sighed, and stood. “I was going to talk to
you sooner.”
He trusted his managers, and he could leave with little
to no warning. As he led the way to the door, he braced for snowflakes. Since
he lived in the apartment above the shop and had no plans to go out, he’d worn
short sleeves, and there wasn’t time to run up for something warmer.
As they walked to the car, his peripheral vision caught
the line of Brooklyn’s dipped chin and the slant of her downcast eyes. He was
failing her. He put an arm around her shoulders but felt no warmth when she
leaned into him.
Purchase links...
About Emily...
Emily Conrad lives in Wisconsin with her husband and two
rescue dogs. She loves Jesus and enjoys road trips to the mountains, crafting
stories, and drinking coffee. (It’s no coincidence her debut novel is set
mostly in a coffee shop!) She offers free short stories on her website and
loves to connect with readers on social media.
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/justice-emily-conrad/1127841580
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Wednesday, April 4, 2018
"High Cotton" by Debby Mayne
My review...
It’s time for the Bucklin family reunion … again. They
have more in a year than many people have in five years. Shay Henke likes to
see her family, but she could do without all the associated drama. In fact, the
drama has already begun, from trying to keep her sister-in-law’s secret, to
trying to help out her twin cousins with their business and real estate
ventures, and, finally, being the only one without a significant other to take
to the reunion. However, the latter changes when her high school crush returns
to town and agrees to go with her. His attendance will certainly raise eyebrows
at the reunion. But, that’s par for the course in the Bucklin family. Shay sums
it all up quite nicely: “When someone mentions family, I think of unconditional
love, hearth, home, and all things safe and wonderful. That is, until the word ‘reunion’
is added to it.”
Let me start by saying I thoroughly enjoyed everything
about this book, starting with the cover. Mayne’s latest is Southern women’s
fiction at its finest! There is great characterization, with a little bit of
something for everyone in the cast; single, married, newlyweds, parents, and
all-around loveable. Rich dialogue combines with realistic family drama and
dynamics and small-town (even a bit of redneck) charm to create a story that
will stay with you after the final page (which comes way too soon!). The only
thing that could have made this book any better would have been a section for
the recipes mentioned throughout 😊
Thankfully, this is the first book in the “Bucklin Family Reunion” series, and
I can’t wait for the next installment!
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy as part of the LitFuse blog tour. I wasn’t
required to leave a positive review.
About Debby...
Debby Mayne is the author or more than 40 novels and novellas that have received the "Top Pick" award from Romantic Times Magazine and been among the "Top 10 Favorites" in the Heartsong Presents book club. She writes family and faith-based romances, cozy mysteries, and women's fiction. She has also written more than 1,000 short stories and articles as well as dozens of devotions for busy women. She has worked as managing editor of a national health publication, product information writer for a TV retailer, creative marketing instructor, and copy editor and proofreader for several book publishers. She is currently an etiquette writer for The Spruce, one of the DotDash (formerly About.com) companies.
Debby grew up in a military family, which mean moving every few years throughout her childhood. Debby was born in Alaska, and she has lived in Mississippi, Tennessee, Oregon, Florida, Hawaii, and Japan. Her parents were both from the Deep South, so she enjoys featuring characters with southern drawls, plenty of down-home cooking, and folks with quirky mannerisms.
To learn more about Debby:
website: debbymayne.net/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/DebbyMayneAuthor
Twitter: @debbymayne
Tuesday, April 3, 2018
Tuesday Tip: Hyphens with ages
When an age is used as an adjective that comes before a noun and modifies that noun, or if the age is a noun, it should be hyphenated. For instance:
- Sixteen-year-old Jayme is excited to get her license.
- The happy sixteen-year-old can't wait to legally drive a car.
- Jayme is a sixteen-year-old. (A hyphen is used because "girl" is implied.)
However, if the age is just a part of the adjective phrase following a noun, a hyphen isn't needed. Such as:
- Jayme is sixteen years old.
Monday, April 2, 2018
"First Love Forever" Blitz Tour (JustRead Publicity Tours)
Title: First Love Forever Romance CollectionAuthors: Suzanne Dietze, Cynthia Hickey, Marcia Gruver, Carrie Fancett Pagels, Martha Rogers, Lorna Seilstad, Connie Stevens and Jennifer Uhlarik
Publisher: Barbour Publishing
Release Date: April 1, 2018
Genre: Historical Romance Fiction
Links*: Amazon l Goodreads l Book Depository l CBD l Itunes
A first love is never easily forgotten…
and coming face to face with that person again can be awkward when the heartstrings are still holding on to the “what ifs.”
In settings from 1865 to 1910, nine couples are thrown back on the same path by life’s changes and challenges. A neighbor returns from law school. An heiress seeks a quick marriage. A soldier’s homecoming is painful. A family needs help. A prodigal son returns. A rogue aeronaut drops from the sky. A runaway bridegroom comes home. A letter for aid is sent. A doctor needs a nurse. Can love rekindle despite the separation of time and space?
SPOTLIGHT: After the Ball by Martha Rogers
1910 – Dallas, Texas: Chase Thornton, a wealthy oil man yearns for the life of a cowboy and his first love, Susannah King, but can she trust him to keep his word to leave the city and stay on the ranch?
Excerpt...
When Chase returned to the ranch for the afternoon siesta time, a strange car sat in the yard. He furrowed his brow. Who would be driving out here this time of day? No one except his family knew he was out here, and the car didn’t belong to them or any of his friends.
When he dismounted, a man jumped out of the car and ran toward Chase. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you.”
“How did you find me?” He recognized one of the reporters for the Dallas paper and gnashed his teeth.
“It wasn’t easy, but I have my sources. What I want to know is what you’re doing out here instead of being in Dallas.”
“I don’t think that’s really any of your business, but if you must know, this is my grandfather’s ranch. I spend several months every summer helping him.” That wasn’t common knowledge, but it would most likely be now. He’d never have any privacy if word got out where he spent his time away from home.
“I see. That’s very thoughtful of you, but I imagine all the pretty, unattached ladies in Dallas are sad you’re not there for the summer theater season and lawn parties.”
“That doesn’t concern me at all. Parties and socials don’t appeal to me like they do for some others I know.”
“That’s interesting and leads me to the other question I have for you.” He pushed his hat back on his head and crossed his arms over his chest. “Who are you planning to take to the awards gala for your father in August?”
Chase’s eyebrows shot up. “And what business is that of yours?”
At that moment, a buggy carrying his grandmother and Susannah rolled into the yard. His grandmother waved and stopped the buggy at the hitching post.
The reporter glanced from Chase to Susannah and back, but he made no comment.
Granny and Susannah alit from the buggy. Granny headed straight for him.
“And who is this visitor with us?” She extended her hand in greeting.
The newsman removed his hat and grasped her hand. “I’m Thad Cooper. It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mrs. Thornton.”
“And this is Susannah King. She lives here on the ranch, and we’ve just come from town. We’re going inside to have lunch. Would you care to join us?”
Chase opened his mouth to protest, but Mr. Cooper declined first. “Thank you, but I have to get back to Dallas.”
“Very well, but if you change your mind, you’re welcome. It was a pleasure to meet you.” She turned to Susannah. “Come, let’s take our purchases up to the house.”
They walked away, but Granny stopped at the foot of the steps leading up to the landing. “You are planning to join us, aren’t you, Chase?”
“Yes, and I’ll be right up as soon as say good-bye to Mr. Cooper.”
As soon as they were out of earshot, Thad let out a long, low whistle. He grinned and punched Chase on the arm. “Looks like a lot more than cows are your interest. Susannah King is one pretty little filly. She wouldn’t by any chance be the one you’re planning to take to the ball is she?”
“And what if she were?”
Thad slapped his thigh and laughed. “It’d make some pretty good news I’d say.”
“Then I suggest you don’t report it. I haven’t even asked her.” Chase gulped. Until this moment, the thought of asking Susannah to the gala had not occurred to him.
“I see.” He hopped into his car and turned on the motor. “You’re missing a good bet if you don’t.”
Chase didn’t move from his spot as the car backed from the yard and turned onto the road leading to Perryton. What had just happened? Had he told a reporter he’d be taking Susannah to the awards dinner for his father?
He’d like nothing more than to ask Susannah, but what would his mother say? She wouldn’t like it for certain, but he actually didn’t care what she thought. He’d rather have Susannah on his arm than any other women he could picture.
He gazed up toward the house where she had gone with his grandmother. The dinner might be the one thing to let her know how much he cared about her. If she said she’d go with him, he’d make the time very special and if the time was right and if Grandpa asked him to stay, he’d propose to Susannah. Then they could spend the rest of their lives here on the ranch.
With that thought filling his heart, Chase led Black Cloud to his stall. Soon as he finished taking care of his horse and cleaned himself up a bit, he’d be up at the house joining Susannah and his grandparents for lunch. Now he had to figure out a way to ask her and pray she would say yes.
About Martha...
Martha Rogers is a multi-published author and writes a weekly devotional for ACFW. Martha and her husband Rex live in Houston, Texas where they are active members of First Baptist Church. They are the parents of three sons and grandparents to eleven grandchildren and great-grandparents to four, soon to be five. Martha is a retired teacher with twenty-eight years teaching Home Economics and English at the secondary level and eight years at the college level supervising student teachers and teaching freshman English. She is the Director of the Texas Christian Writers Conference held in Houston in August each year, a member of ACFW, ACFW WOTS chapter in Houston, and a member of the writers’ group, Inspirational Writers Alive.
TO CONNECT WITH MARTHA: website
GIVEAWAY
(1) Winner will win a prize pack consisting of one print copy of First Love Forever Romance Collection, (1) Print copy of My Heart Belongs in Mackinac Island by Carrie Fancett Pagels (or any other one of her released titles), a pair of handmade earrings (*style subject to change from what is pictured), additional book swag and a $20 Barnes & Noble Gift Card. (Only Gift card open internationally. All items open to US mailing addresses.) To Enter, use the Rafflecopter below. Be sure to stop at every stop on the tour for additional entries.
TOUR SCHEDULE
April 2
April 3
April 4
Saturday, March 31, 2018
"Living a Life You Love" by Joyce Meyer
My review...
Meyer’s latest is encouraging and full of applicable
truths. Few people can truly say that they love their life, but they don’t
always do anything to change it, which is what Meyer want to help people do
with this book. Relevant quotes and Bible verses are woven throughout.
It’s divided into the following sections:
- Loving Life Begins with Loving God
- Love Yourself and You Will Love Your Life
- Love Other People and You Will Love Your Life
Some of the chapters that I found most relevant are:
- Chapter 2: This Moment is the Most Important One You Have: Meyer points out that each day contains 86,400 seconds. Yesterday is over, and tomorrow is not promised, so make the most of today—this moment.
- Chapter 3: Refuse to Let Fear Determine Your Destiny: Meyer reminds the reader to stay focused on God’s promises and decide to be a strong, confident, courageous person.
- Chapter 5: Don’t Poison the Present with the Past: With God’s help, it’s possible to not be defined by the choices in the past.
- Chapter 13: The Five-Minute Rule: In this chapter, Meyer implores the reader to not spend even five minutes obsessing about things that won’t matter in five years, five months, or five weeks from now.
- Chapter 15: Be the You God Created You to Be: This chapter is designed to remind the reader that the best way to love life is to be comfortable with yourself, and then you will find a greater peace of mind.
There are so many
practical tips that can be applied to daily living. I know this is a book I
will look to again when I’m feeling anxious or worried.
Some of my favorite
quotes:
- “When you realize God is in control, it takes all the pressure off.”
- “Fear is the opposite of faith.”
- “Grace is the power of God that enables us to do with ease what we could never do on our own.”
- “What we may see as a dead end, God sees as a new beginning!”
- “Don’t wait until everything is perfect before you decide to enjoy your life.”
- “We cannot continue allowing ourselves to be upset and disturbed and have peace at the same time.”
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy as part of the FirstWords
blogger program, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
Friday, March 30, 2018
"Sarah's Legacy" by Daisy Beiler Townsend ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Daisy has graciously offered to give away an electronic copy of this new release. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends April 6, 2018. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you and pass on your information.) Here's Daisy...
The story behind the story...
In 1998, we researched the history of our home in Sandy Lake, built around 1860. The husband of a ninety-year-old friend of mine had grown up in our house from the age of ten, and she added more information to the history we'd found. I was so intrigued that I decided to write a historical fiction novel based on the lives of some of the former residents. I wrote 21 1/2 chapters, and then put my manuscript away in a box when my counseling ministry became too busy. A few years later, God called us to Japan as missionaries. A few years after returning home in 2011, I published my first book, Homespun Faith, an autobiographical devotional. People began asking me what I would write next. I pulled out Sarah's Legacy to decide if I should finish it. After reading what I'd written sixteen years earlier, I told my husband, "I have to finish this book so I can find out what happens!" After three years of writing, critiques, and rewriting, Sarah's Legacy is finally finished.
My review...
Eighteen-year-old Polly Dye is struggling to find the
balance between pleasing her mother and keeping her boyfriend Garrett happy.
Things get even more challenging when her family moves into a new house that
chills Polly from the moment she first steps inside. She discovers a diary
which was apparently hidden by the previous owner. It belonged to someone named
Sarah Davis and is over one hundred years old. Polly hopes the diary will shed
some light on the many questions she has about the house. As life’s
circumstances unfold, Polly finds it hard to keep her faith intact, even though
Sarah seemed to stay strong in the storms she encountered. How will God use
Sarah’s journal in Polly’s life?
This is the first book in the “Sarah’s Legacy” series.
The author weaves the dual stories together in a way that has the events
unfolding in a natural manner. The characters demonstrate that life’s storms
can be survived with the help of God’s grace and lessons from the past. At the
beginning, there are a number of characters introduced in a short period of
time, making it a bit confusing to follow, but that balances out as the story
goes on. There are minor editing issues, but they do not significantly distract
from the overall enjoyment of the story. This is the first in the series, so it
will be interesting to see what happens to Polly and her family.
One for my favorite quotes from the story: “Will we
allow ourselves to be molded, shaped, and changed into the image of Christ by
our pain, or will we become brittle, hard, and easily shattered by the
tragedies we encounter?”
Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.
About Daisy...
Daisy Beiler Townsend has been writing and publishing in magazines and periodicals for more than thirty-five years. Researching the history of their home in Sandy Lake, Pennsylvania, in 1998 led to beginning a historical novel inspired by the lives of former residents of their home in the late 19th-early 20th century. In 2014, Daisy published her first book, Homespun Faith, an autobiographical devotional, and then completed Sarah's Legacy. She and her husband Donn live in Pennsylvania and have three children and six grandchildren.
Where you can find her online...
Website: http://www.homespunfaith.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DaisyDonaisy
Thursday, March 29, 2018
"Chasing the Wind" by Paula Scott (JustRead Blog Tour) ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Welcome to the Chasing the Wind blog blitz and giveaway, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Chasing the Wind
Author: Paula Scott
Publisher: West Butte Publishing
Release Date: March 20, 2018
Genre: Inspirational Historical Fiction
A beautiful, half-Indian girl raised by the Californios finds her fate intertwined with an American frontiersman haunted by his past in 1850 California.
As California comes to statehood amidst the madness of the gold rush, Isabella Vasquez must wed a buckskin-clad American who wins her in a card game. Though their union is passionate, Isabella soon finds herself abandoned in a brothel, where she rises to fame as a singer known as the Bluebird. Yet because of her Indian blood, the Bluebird will always be bought and sold in the white man’s world. When more is demanded of the Bluebird than just singing, Isabella flees to Fort Ross in search of her Russian father and her own race of people.
Peter Brondi has battled Indians all his life. The last thing he wants is a half-Indian wife. While taming the West with Kit Carson and John C. Fremont, Peter has fought the Mexican War and lost his beloved fiancée, Maggie, to his half-Indian brother, Paul. To satisfy his father’s dying wish, Peter vows to find his brother and put an end to the hate that’s between them. But when history repeats itself and Paul steals Isabella away, Peter must come to terms with his past and the animosity he holds against all Indians, including his half-brother and the wife he has forsaken.
*Chasing the Wind is the final story in the sweeping saga of California Rising, a tale of love, betrayal, and the ties that bind brothers together and California to the nation.
*Chasing the Wind is the final story in the sweeping saga of California Rising, a tale of love, betrayal, and the ties that bind brothers together and California to the nation.
PURCHASE A COPY: Goodreads | Amazon
Excerpt...
“I’m sorry for the man I’ve been. I feared and hated Indians all my life because of what I’ve seen them do. I treated you poorly on account of your Indian blood. I’d never have treated a white woman the way I treated you. I’m sorry.”
She was the first woman to see him shed a tear. It unleashed something in Peter he’d never felt before. Raw vulnerability. Never in his life had he been afraid of dying. But he was afraid of living honest and open this way before God and Belle.
“Dios will help us,” she said hopefully.
“Yes, God will help us,” he agreed.
A smile curved her lips even as she cried.
It was God who gave him the resolve to stand before Belle with tears on his face. His old self never would have stood for that. Never would he have let her or anyone else see that kind of softness in him. His heart swelled with gratitude. He knew something profound had just happened between God and them.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Paula began her writing career as a civilian contracted to write for the United States Air Force’s newspaper and magazines. Later, she wrote feature stories for a daily California newspaper. A fifth generation Californian, Paula’s great great grandmother came to California in a covered wagon and married a California farmer. Paula’s family has been farming ever since. Paula works on her family’s farm, writes historical fiction, and blogs about life, love, and farming at psbicknell.com
GIVEAWAY
March 28, 2018
March 29, 2018
March 30, 2018
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
Writing Prompt Wednesday
If you're feeling stuck in your WIP (work in progress) or just want to shake things up a bit, here's something different to try today:
He heard a knock on the door as he was locking up for the night.
Happy writing!
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