Write About Now

Spotlinght on Susan Sleeman

2012-02-18T20:35:00.000-05:00

A NEW LINE OF MYSTERIES FOR YOUR E-READERSusan Sleeman here. Do you have an e-reader or maybe an iPad? Then I'd like to tell you about a line of cozy mysteries that has recently released with most books retailing for only .99 for a limited time.Spyglass Lane Mysteries are published by a group of cozy mystery authors who have joined together to bring you a new cozy mystery every week. Currently, there are over 25 wonderful mysteries in this line.

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

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

NIPPED IN THE BUD

WHEN YOU FIND YOUR BOSS PUSHING UP DAISIES. . .

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

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

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

» Read an Excerpt »Order It Now

READ BETWEEN THE TINES

IF YOUR LIFE IS A BED OF ROSES. . .

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

YOU’LL HAVE TO SURVIVE THE THORNS. . .

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

» Read an Excerpt

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

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

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

The Winner of Hailee by Penny Zeller is ....

2011-11-02T22:19:00.001-04:00

Wow! What a time I have had in selecting a winner for the drawing for Hailee! A name was drawn on the closing day of the contest but, when I contacted the winner, she told me she had won the same book on another blog and asked that I award the book to another reader. I drew a second name, contacted her, and soon received a message from that person saying that she too had won the book in another blog drawing and asked, once again, that another winner be chosen in her place. So, I drew yet another winner, contacted her and waited with anticipation to hear back from her, fearing that I would again hear the same news that I had already heard twice.

However, such was not the case and I can now officially announce the winner of the drawing for Hailee, written by my special friend, Penny Zeller. And the winner is .......

MissKallie

Congratulations to MissKallie and thanks to all who of you who entered this giveaway.

Penny, it was so nice to have you visit Write About Now so faithfully these past few days. Thanks for all you do to uplift and encourage me and other bloggers. You are an extremely gifted writer and I am so thrilled to see you using your ability for the work of the Lord.

May God richly bless each one of you! Another giveaway will be coming up real soon so check back often so you don't miss out.

Jan Marie

Review and Giveaway: Hailee by Penny Zeller

2011-10-09T19:39:00.002-04:00

It is with great pleasure that I bring to you today a review of Hailee, written by the very gifted author, Penny Zeller. Hailee is book three in the Montana Skies series and includes many of the familiar characters that we have come to love from the first two books, McKenzie and Kaydie.

From the cover:

For years, orphan Hailee Annigan was just a ragamuffin in the Cincinnati streets, stealing food to keep her two younger brothers fed. Her thievery landed her in a home for delinquent youngsters, where her life was changed, thanks to her teachers. Now, nineteen-year-old Hailee excitedly heads to Montana to be a teacher, yet she's still plagued by her shameful past and the fear of never seeing her brothers again.

~~~

Based on his upbringing in high-society Boston, no one would have guessed that Maxwell Nathaniel Adams Jr. would attend seminary and become a church pastor in rugged Montana. Even now, Nate's parents refuse to put aside their own plans for his future and accept his calling.

~~~

When their paths converge, an immediate attraction draws Hailee and Nate together, even as the pressures and demands of others pull them apart. Can the unlikely pair come to terms with their pasts and face the future together?

My review:

There is always a feeling of great excitement and anticipation when I go to the Post Office and find the latest book by Penny Zeller waiting there for me. I was not disappointed when I picked up my copy of Hailee either. I could barely wait to drive home, crack open the cover, and begin reading. The pages flew by all too quickly and I reached the final page long before I was ready for it.

Once again, Penny has written an emotional and heart-warming story of love and adventure in the vast open spaces of the Montana frontier. The descriptions of life in in the late 1800s are so vivid that you feel as if you are one with the story. I became so engrossed in the plot that I ceased to feel like a spectator, but instead felt as if I were living the story right alongside Hailee.

Hailee and Nate are both such likeable characters that you can't help but desire for them to be together. Hailee, however, feels unworthy of Nate's love because she has a secret past. When that past is inadvertently revealed to the townspeople and the parents of her students, Hailee's chance of a future with Nate seems doomed. Can Hailee expect mercy from those whom she has deceived? Will Nate be able to forgive her for her wrong-doing?

What Hailee and the citizens of Pine Haven fail to take into consideration is that the misdeeds of her youth have long been forgiven and forgotten by the only One who truly matters. Since God has forgiven her, is it wrong for Hailee to hope that Nate will do likewise? Why won't the residents of the town that Hailee has already grown to love forgive her too?

Many years ago, the English poet Alexander Pope wrote the words, "To err is human, to forgive Divine." This is the truth that Penny Zeller has so ably portrayed in the pages of Hailee. God's forgiveness is easily obtained but it is the job of the Great Deceiver, the Father of Lies, to try to convince us that our sins are so vile that forgiveness is not possible. For a story that truly depicts the reality of Christ's mercy and forgiveness, I recommend that you read this excellent book.

Penny Zeller has generously offered to give a copy of her newest release to one lucky reader. In order to have your name entered in the drawing, please leave a comment, along with your email address in spam-proof format (yourname[at]provider[dot]com). I would also like to do something just a little bit different for this drawing. Instead of simply saying, "Please enter me in the drawing," I would like for you to tell me (and Penny) why you would like to win this book. It doesn't have to be a lengthy comment; just a few words will do the trick.

Only entries from the United States will be eligible for the drawing and only those who comply with the guidelines stated above will be entered. For an extra entry, please become a follower of Write About Now. If you are already a follower, please say so in a separate comment.

This contest will end on October 21st.

Thanks to Whitaker House for providing a copy of Hailee for review purposes. This is my honest review. I received no compensation for this review, nor was I obligated to give a positive review.

For those readers who do not win a copy of this book, you can purchase it at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Christian Book Distributors.

Just a word of advice for those who are experiencing problems in being able to leave a comment:

Many of us have found that it works much better to use a browser other than Internet Explorer to leave a comment on Blogger.

Congratulations ...

2011-09-18T19:25:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to ...

LadiJo

LadiJo is the winner of the drawing for The Prophetess One: At Risk by Linda Rohrbough. I have sent her an email requesting her address. If I do not hear from her within one week, a new winner will be chosen. Thanks to all those who entered. I will be posting several new giveaways within the next few weeks so be sure to check back for a chance to win another good book.

The Prophetess One: At Risk Review and Giveaway

2011-09-05T18:18:00.000-04:00

From the cover:

It's a very different kind of war. Why would God choose a pregnant computer programmer to fight it? All Anna McClintock wants is a peaceful stretch of beach she can walk to with her new husband, Jack, and her soon-to-be-born child. Jack is finishing his engineering degree this semester and the two plan to leave his Kansas home to build their new lives together.

But when Anna finds herself in jail for the murder of a preschool child she tried to save, she realizes she is alone, except for God. She has to rely on new-found spiritual gifts as well as her wits and skills in order to save herself, her unborn son, and her marriage.

And she has another decision to make. This one affects the entire nation.

The Prophetess One: At Risk
by Linda Rohrbough (www.LindaRohrbough.com)

Publication date: April 20, 2011
High Hill Inspirations, an imprint of High Hill Press, St. Charles, Missouri
ISBN: 978-1606530429
Retail: $17.95

Review:

Linda Rohrbough is the author of numerous non-fiction books and has won many awards for her writing. The Prophetess One:At Risk was written as a consequence of events following the Columbine shooting, of which her husband's nephew was, sadly, a victim. As she researched material related to this shooting and other similar events, she came to believe that this sort of horrible event could be prevented. She has stated that one of her goals with this book is to demonstrate the importance of fathers in their children's lives.

The Prophetess One: At Risk has already won some prestigious awards including The Global eBook Award and second place overall in the Millennium Star Publishing Awards.

In this book, the main character, Anna McClintock, becomes a vessel anointed by God to bring an important message to the people. Falsely accused, ridiculed, and rejected by others, including the members of the church she attends, Anna continues, in spite of all obstacles, to make known the message with which she has been charged by God. God sends Anna an ally in the form of nurse Theo Kline.

The Prophetess One: At Risk is Book One in The Prophetess Trilogy and is a fast-paced book with a strong message. There were a couple of times that I felt that the story skimmed over some pertinent facts and I had to backtrack to decipher what was taking place but, overall, I enjoyed reading this book and recommend it to you. Not only will you enjoy the writing style of Linda Rohrbough, you will come away with a deeper understanding of some serious societal issues and a desire to become a part of the solution.

I am offering my review copy of this book to some lucky reader. Please leave a comment, along with your email address in spam-proof format, in order to be included in the drawing which will take place on September 17th. For extra chances to win, become a follower of this blog and/or visit Linda's website and name one fact that you read there.

I received this book from the publisher for review purposes. This review is my honest opinion and I received no compensation for it.

McKenzie by Penny Zeller - A Review

2011-07-30T14:55:00.001-04:00

McKenzie, by author Penny Zeller, tells the story of the depth of one sister's love for another. McKenzie Worthington loves her younger sister, Kaydie, so much that she is willing to risk everything in order to rescue Kaydie from a disastrous marriage to an abusive and evil man. McKenzie goes so far as to enter into a marriage via the venue of becoming a mail-order bride as a means to travel to the Montana Territory in search of her younger sister.

Having come from a wealthy and privileged background in Boston, McKenzie was not prepared for the lifestyle that she encountered when she moved to Pine Haven to marry Zach Sawyer. Zach was looking for a wife and mother for his son; McKenzie was looking for a place to stay and a means of support while she attempted to rescue her sister. The master plan was to have her lawyer father annul the marriage, leave Zach behind, and return her life in Boston once Kaydie was found.

Penny Zeller has created a beautiful love story and shown how the best laid plans are often foiled when God steps into the picture and reveals His plan. In spite of all the obstacles that Kaydie, McKenzie and Zach had to overcome, the author has shown that, as the Bible states in Romans 8:28, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (KJV)

I have always been interested in the concept of mail-order brides and, in the story of McKenzie, Penny has revealed a realistic picture that vividly portrays this process. Her main male character, Zach Sawyer, is the same age as my middle son so, as I read, I could not help but compare Zach to my own son. This contrast helped the story to come alive in a very real way.

In the rapidly-growing field of extremely talented Christian fiction authors, Penny Zeller has excelled and has distinguished herself with her superb ability. She uses the tools of her trade with surgical precision to craft believable and captivating stories filled with a message of love and forgiveness.

McKenzie is the first book in The Montana Skies Series and is followed by Kaydie (see review in previous post dated April, 2011). In a few short weeks, Hailee, book three, will be released. Be sure to check back for a review of this book also.

McKenzie was provided to me by the publisher, Whitaker House, for review purposes. I was not obligated to give a positive review nor did I receive any other form of recompense for this review. McKenzie and Penny's other books can be purchased at Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite book seller.

Winner of Bound by Guilt

2011-07-19T17:54:00.003-04:00

Sigh! For those of you who read my previous post, I am sad to report that, once again, my plans have not gone as hoped. Last week I had a bicycle accident that has put me on complete, albeit temporary, disability. I am incapable of doing anything with my left arm, a big problem inasmuch as I am left-handed. I am typing this post with one hand, not an easy task. I cannot even hold a book because the weight of the book is more than my injured muscles can tolerate. Nothing is broken, there is no permanent damage, for which I am extremely thankful. However, the orthopedist said that there is major muscle injury and I am looking at four to six weeks of pretty intense pain. It looks as if I will most likely mend just in time to return to school, thus losing most of the summer and consequently failing to accomplish many of my personal and professional goals.

All of the above is just a brief explanation of why I am, once again, late in posting on my blog. I apologize to those people who have been patiently waiting for the promised results of the drawing for the giveaway of Bound by Guilt, by author C.J. Darlington. As always, I thank you for your patience. Without further delay, the winner of this exciting book is ....

MissKallie

Congratulations! I will be sending you an email shortly asking for your mailing address. MissKallie will have one week to respond to the email. If I do not hear from her within that time, I will draw another name.

Thanks to all who participated in this contest - may God richly bless each and every one of you!

New Giveaway: Bound by Guilt by C.J. Darlington

2011-07-02T20:53:00.001-04:00

OK, the vacation is over now and it is time to get back to work. Did I say vacation? Well, it was not really a vacation in the sense of how we normally think when we hear the word vacation. I have been on an entirely unwelcome but compulsory leave from posting on my blog for several weeks now.

What a year this has been thus far. First, there were the two severe sinus infections that kept me physically drained for weeks. Immediately following the recovery from the sinus infections came the whooping cough - that was no fun either and served to further deplete my physical reserves. It seemed that I had no sooner recovered from the whooping cough than I developed a chronic illness with some exceptionally unusual and debilitating symptoms. This time the doctors thought it was cancer. Several tests and many dollars later it was determined that, praise God, I didn't have cancer but instead had an acute bacterial infection that had completely invaded my body.

I was still on the mend from that particular bout of illness when my mother-in-law unexpectedly passed away, necessitating yet more time away from the computer.

I had determined that, just as soon as school was dismissed for summer break, my days would be spent seated at the computer in an effort to get caught up on the book reviews that I have committed to and am so very far behind on posting. (I apologize to the writers who are patiently waiting for me to post the reviews of their new releases). Fortunately, as one long-suffering individual put it, there is no firm deadline and it is never too late for a review to be posted. Perhaps there will be an added bonus for my not being able to post the reviews when I had intended to by prolonging the time frame in which the books are highlighted in the public's eyes.

The first few days after school was dismissed were occupied with traveling out of state to family graduation ceremonies and also the annual birthday gathering for the birthdays of both of my sons and myself, all of which take place within less than a week. Graduations were over, birthdays were in the past and, finally, I was ready to devote my time to writing book reviews.

What I didn't anticipate was waking up in the middle of the night in agony, suffering from a phantom pain that was indescribable in its ferocity. A trip to the podiatrist confirmed what I had suspected; I had developed my first, and I hope my last, case of gout. According to my doctor, it was not your ordinary gout either but, instead, a "classic" case that was unique enough to warrant taking pictures to share at a podiatrists' convention. Just what I always wanted - to have pictures of my foot shown on the screen at a medical convention. Had I but known, I could have at least gotten a pedicure beforehand. This case was so brutal that I spent nearly five days flat on my back in bed, foot elevated, fighting the pain, and unable to do anything but fret about the book reviews.

Now, at long last, I am physically on the mend and ready to tackle the stack of books awaiting my attention. I am fervently praying for no further maladies to attack me, my mind to be quick, and for my fingers to fly on the keyboard.

To begin what I hope will be a steady stream of book reviews and/or giveaways, I am offering a giveaway for a book for which I have already posted both a blog tour book review and an author interview. In order to be eligible for this giveaway, you must meet two requirements. First, you MUST be a follower of this blog and must say so in your comment. Second, you must refer to either the blog book tour or the author interview and comment on something that you read in one of the posts. Hint: both the author interview and the TitleTrakk blog tour post can be found in the sidebar at the right under the March posts in the Blog Archive.

The book that I am offering for giveaway is Bound by Guilt by C.J. Darlington. This is an excellent book that you are sure to enjoy. Please leave a comment which includes your email address in spam-proof format (username[at]provider[dot]com). If there is no email address, your entry will be discarded since I must have some way to contact you in the event that you are the winner. If you do not follow the directions for the contest, your entry will be invalid. The contest will be open to United States entries only and will conclude on July 16th.

Book Review: Tomorrow's Garden by Amanda Cabot

2011-06-07T19:30:00.003-04:00

From the cover:

Harriet Kirk is certain that becoming the new school teacher in Ladreville, Texas, is just what she needs--a chance to put the past behind her and give her younger siblings a brighter tomorrow. What she didn't count on was the presence of handsome former Texas Ranger Lawrence Wood-- or the way he affects her fragile heart. But can Harriet and Lawrence ever truly conquer the past in order to find happiness?

Tomorrow's Garden is Book #3 in the popular series, Texas Dreams, written by the talented and gifted author, Amanda Cabot (see previous post for author interview). I would like to preface my remarks by stating that I read this book without having first read the first two books in the series. I had no difficulty at all in following the story line and feel that this book can stand alone and be thoroughly enjoyed without the benefit of reading the first books. However, having read book 3, I am completely in love with the series and fully intend to read the other books also.

My Opinion:

There are two major components that I look for when reading a book. One component, of course, is that it must be enjoyable and entertaining. Tomorrow's Garden fulfills this need on many levels. The characters are well-developed and possess personalities that are believable, complete with very real flaws and redeeming attributes. The storyline is captivating and moves along at a pace that quickly grabs the reader and catches them up in the action in such a way that they feel as if they are a partner in the unfolding drama. A good story transports the reader to another reality, a time and place that exist only in the reader's mind and the words on the page. Based on these criteria, Tomorrow' Garden successfully accomplishes the objectives.

The second feature that I look for is "does the book help me to be a better person?" Most of the time I read Christian fiction because in it I find elements that minister to me and make me examine my life and attempt to become a better person/Christian as a result. This does not in any way mean that the book must preach or sermonize. The intent can be achieved quite readily without going to these lengths. Indeed, much of Jesus Christ's ministry consisted of telling stories in the form of parables in order to deliver His message. So too, can a book of Christian fiction minister in this manner.

Specifically, Tomorrow's Garden delivers a message of patience, of waiting upon the Lord for the answers which will be revealed in His time. Amanda Cabot has skillfully shown, through the simple act of having her students plant a garden, the lesson of patience found in James 5:7 (KJV) which states "the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it..." It also speaks a message of hope and reinforces the fact that through Christ we have hope of deliverance, both in this temporal life and also eternity.

Harriet and Lawrence both lived with a dreadful fear, a fear that, based on past events in their lives, was completely justified. Harriet's every action was governed by an emotional fear that was planted in her by her hypocritical parents and also by a physical fear based on the circumstances surrounding their death. To the observer, the actions and reactions of Harriet and Lawrence are seemingly irrational but, when the full picture is revealed, it is readily apparent why each of them responded in the manner that they did to events that transpired.

It was as I pondered this thought that the Lord began dealing with me regarding an acquaintance of mine. This person's behavior, like Harriet's, didn't seem appropriate based on known facts. Their conduct had begun to attract attention and people began to react to this person in a negative manner. It was only after I had read Tomorrow's Garden that I began to wonder if there was something going on in this person's life that no one was aware of but that was contributing to the unusual actions. Consequently, I began to pray for this person in a different manner than I had been previously. In a matter of only a few days, it was revealed to me that this individual was indeed going through some very severe trials and their behavior was directly a result of the situation. Had I not benefited from the message found in Tomorrow's Garden, it may never have occurred to me that this person was desperately in need of prayer, comfort, and support.

I know that I have digressed somewhat from providing a simple book review but I wanted to give you my personal testimony about the immediate influence this book had on me. I have taken a rather round-about way to let you know that this book fulfills my personal requirements to be qualified as an extremely good book. This is one that I will read more than once. I highly recommend this book to you and hope that you will waste no time in getting your own copy of Tomorrow's Garden. You won't be sorry you did!

Tomorrow's Garden was provided to me by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for review purposes. I was not obligated to give a positive review and received no other compensation for this review.

Interview with Amanda Cabot, author of Tomorrow's Garden

2011-05-30T18:00:00.000-04:00

Today I am blessed to have author Amanda Cabot as my guest on Write About Now.

Welcome, Amanda! It is so nice to have you with us today. Before we begin the interview, can you tell us a bit about yourself and your background.

The short version is, I’ve always wanted to be a writer and now I’m living out that dream, but here’s my official bio:

Amanda Cabot has always been a dreamer, and so it’s no coincidence that her first books for the CBA market are called Texas Dreams. Set in the Hill Country beginning in 1856, these deeply emotional historical romances showcase God’s love as well as that between a man and a woman. The first in the trilogy, Paper Roses, was a finalist for the Carol Award. Scattered Petals received critical acclaim, and the final Texas Dreams book, Tomorrow’s Garden, has just been released. A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She’s delighted to now be a full time writer living in Cheyenne, WY with her high school sweetheart/ husband of many years.

That's quite an impressive background! Let's talk about your writing. Why don't we begin with your least favorite part of the writing process?

Without a doubt, first drafts are my nemesis. I used to get halfway through one and be convinced that I had created the worst prose in the English language and that my editor would roll on the floor laughing just before she canceled my contract. Now I know that it’s not the worst prose – perhaps it’s the second worst – and that I can fix it during the second draft. The truth is, I’m always pleasantly surprised when I start the second draft and realize that that what I had written wasn’t awful. It simply wasn’t finished.

On the other side of the picture, what is your favorite part of the writing process?

Hearing from readers. There’s nothing better than that. But I think you’re asking about the actual writing process. Having told you how difficult I find first drafts, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that I enjoy second drafts. Perhaps I’m an editor at heart, but once I have the first draft completed, turning that ugly manuscript that I refer to as the skeleton into a flesh and blood, living thing is pure joy.

Tell us a bit about your typical, if there is such a thing as typical, day.

I’m one of those terribly organized people who needs a lot of structure, so I do have a typical day. It starts with exercise (essential for reducing stress, not to mention chasing cobwebs out of the brain), a shower and breakfast, and then the rest of the morning is spent writing. Afternoons are for fun, which might involve cooking or sewing or a simple walk around the block, and for the publicity-related part of writing, including email, Facebook, and web page updates.

It is kind of difficult to make the connection between being so organized and being a dreamer. Most dreamers that I have met are not terribly organized so that alone makes you very unique and interesting. Pretend that you just finished your book two days before deadline. How will you celebrate or reward yourself?

I’m cringing at the thought of getting within two days of a deadline and not having the manuscript finished. At that point, I’d be the proverbial nervous wreck, probably not sleeping, and drinking far too much caffeine to stay awake while my fingers flew over the keyboard. The truth is, I try to finish my books at least two months before deadline. I suspect that’s the result of all those years I spent in corporate America, juggling deadlines and trying – unsuccessfully, I might add – to convince my boss that he really could not give me a third Number One priority two days before it was due and expect it to be done on time. As for celebrations, I usually take a few days off between books so my husband and I can take a trip.

It does indeed sound as if you are an extremely organized person and I envy that. I used to be much more organized but lately it seems that any plans or schedules I develop are inevitably doomed to failure. I hope to be able to get some of those skills under better control while school is out for the summer. Do you focus on one project at a time or do you have multiple projects going simultaneously?

I have a lot of admiration for authors who can work on multiple projects, but that just doesn’t work for me. I get so deeply involved in my characters’ lives that it would be jarring to switch to another story.

What was your favorite subject, or subjects, in school?

I loved foreign languages. It started with Latin, which I learned in seventh grade. I found it exciting to be able to read classics in their original language, but there were some disadvantages to dealing with what everyone called a dead language. After all, how many people do you meet who actually speak Latin? All that changed when I started learning French. I really fell in love then. The language is so beautiful, and people actually speak it. After that, I was hooked on modern languages and studied Russian, German and Spanish as well as French. I wound up majoring in French in college and was fortunate enough to be able to study in France. I also lived in Germany while my husband was stationed there with the Army, so I’ve had a chance to put all those classes to use. Ironically – or perhaps not – my first job out of college was as a computer programmer, learning a couple new languages that no one speaks. I felt as if I’d come full circle.

I wish you could meet my daughter. She is studying to be a translator and is studying several different languages simultaneously. She lives in Paris and is attending the university there, so you would have much to share with her.

You and I have had previous discussions about things that we have in common. You have revealed even more with your remarks about Latin and computer programming. I too studied computer programming and also took four years of Latin and loved it, especially when we got to the point that it was all the translation of historical works such as Caesar's Commentaries on the Gallic Wars. I too wondered about the value of studying a dead language but the advantage of understanding root words in English vocabulary was extremely beneficial. Now I am teaching Latin to our students in fifth and sixth grades and loving every minute of it. I just received a letter from one of my students thanking me for the instruction and indicating how much it has helped her with her English.

Moving on with the interview, what is your favorite meal?

I used to travel a lot for business, and – though some might find it hard to believe – restaurant meals quickly lost their appeal. But I did develop a favorite meal and tried to have it once on every trip. It started with a tossed salad with lemon wedges instead of a dressing. That was followed by grilled salmon, a naked baked potato and green beans with no butter or spices. Are you frowning at this point, thinking that I must be some sort of weird person who’s afraid of fat? Not the case. All that virtuous eating was for a good reason: dessert. Yes, my perfect meal ended with something truly decadent. Sometimes it was French bread pudding, covered (of course) with a caramel sauce. Other times, it would be cheesecake. Still other times, a hot fudge sundae. And then there was my favorite – a restaurant that produced a dessert sampler. Half a dozen different treats, all waiting for me to eat them. I’m getting hungry, just thinking about it.

You are really making me hungry and it's a good thing I haven't been to the grocery yet. Otherwise, I would be walking away from this interview to go to the kitchen and gather the ingredients to concoct a dish of bread pudding but I think I would go with lemon sauce instead of caramel! I agree with you about restaurants not having much appeal. About the only thing I enjoy about eating in a restaurant is that I don't have to clean up after the meal.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

Joshua 1:9 – “Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”

I like that one! Too often we allow fear to govern our lives and need to be reminded that there is no need to fear for He will never leave us and never forsake us.

Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have a space that is all yours just for your writing? Can you describe your work area for us? If you don’t have a place of your own, can you describe what you would consider to be an ideal work area?
Although I’ve managed to write everywhere from hotel rooms and airport lounges to a friend’s guest room, since we moved to Cheyenne, I’ve been fortunate to have my own office. It’s wonderful to have all my research books close at hand, not to mention having framed copies of my book covers on the wall as inspiration. The best/ worst part is that I have sliding glass doors leading to the back yard, and sometimes the view from those windows, particularly the antics of birds at the birdbath, are distracting.

That sounds ideal to me. What’s up next for your readers?

The big news right now is the publication of Tomorrow’s Garden, the third of the Texas Dreams books. I’m very excited about its release and hope that readers enjoy it as much as they did the first two books. I know some readers have been frustrated with the fact that those books weren’t released as quickly as they would have liked. It was fourteen months between Paper Roses and Scattered Petals and thirteen months until Tomorrow’s Garden. The good news is, my publisher listened, and the wait for Summer of Promise will be shorter. It’s the first of my Westward Winds trilogy, and it’ll be out next January. For me, 2012 is going to be an exciting year, because in addition to that full-length book, I have a Christmas novella scheduled out in September. It’s a stand-alone story, also set in Wyoming.

I have to confess that Tomorrow's Garden is the first book of yours that I have read. However, I enjoyed it so much that I recently obtained Paper Roses and can't wait to find time to read it. Do you have any words of wisdom to share for those who are just starting out on the writing path?

I have three pieces of advice. The first is to read extensively in the genre you want to write. That’s the best way to learn what a publisher is buying. Secondly, join a writer’s group. ACFW is wonderful for writers in the Christian marketplace, and Romance Writers of America is excellent for anyone interested in writing romance. A writer’s group provides support, networking and so many other resources to the aspiring writer that I can’t over emphasize the importance of joining one. And lastly, never give up. Rejection is a fact of life. I won’t sugarcoat it: rejection hurts. But if you let it defeat you, if you stop sending out your manuscript just because it was rejected, you’ll never be published. Believe in your book and in yourself. Oh … that was four pieces of advice. Sorry!

All of those are excellent advice. Thanks for sharing the wisdom and lessons that you have learned with us. Is there anything else you would like to add before we say farewell?

Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog. I’ve enjoyed our time together.

Thank you, Amanda, for joining us today. It has been my pleasure to visit with you and introduce you to my followers. Readers, be sure to check back in a few days for my review of Amanda Cabot's recent release, Tomorrow's Garden. To learn more about Amanda and her books, visit her website at http://www.amandacabot.com.

Where Love Once Lived by Sidney W. Frost

2011-05-07T15:27:00.001-04:00

Where Love Once Lived is a well-written love story, a story about a love that has remained constant even though the lovers have been separated for thirty years.

From the cover:

She'd once loved a bookmobile driver. Memories of that time with him poured in so rapidly she caught her breath. It'd been long ago, but her heart remembered. At first she remembered the love she'd felt back then, but the good memories didn't last long. She'd gone to the bookmobile as usual that last day, but nothing was to be the same again. She went to Brian with love and exciting news. She left alone. Not just without him, but alone in the world and apart from God.

Is it ever too late to find happiness? "No," says Sidney W. Frost in his inspirational Christian novel, Where Love Once Lived. Brian Donelson returns to his hometown after a thirty-year absence to win back his beloved Karen. But Karen, who has grown closer to God than he has, harbors a secret that keeps her away from Brian at all costs. While driving the local bookmobile, Brian struggles to earn her trust, even as he grapples with secrets of his own. With God's help, can these two find happiness? Beautifully written and told with wit and grace, Where Love Once Lived is a moving love story filled with the glory of God.

About the author:

Sidney W. Frost is a Stephen Leader, a Stephen Minister, and a member of his church choir at First United Methodist Church in Georgetown, Texas. He has served on the session at a Presbyterian church, and has been on the vestry at Episcopal churches.

While singing with the Austin Lyric Opera Chorus, he was in 42 productions. He and his wife, Celeste, sing with the San Gabriel Chorale and have been in several Berkshire Festivals.

He is an Adjunct Professor at Austin Community College where he teaches computer courses. He received the adjunct teaching excellence award in 2005.

While attending the University of Texas in the 1960's he worked part-time at the Austin Public Library driving a bookmobile after completing service in the U.S. Marines.

He is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, the Writers League of Texas, and the San Gabriel Writers' League.

He has a Master of Science degree from the University of Houston and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California at Long Beach.

My opinion:

Most of the books that I read, and there are many (just ask my long-suffering husband), by male authors are books about mystery and suspense, filled with breath-taking action and adventure. Therefore, when I heard about this book, written by a male author, and learned it was not the usual fare but was, instead, a love story, I wondered how a love story might be presented by a male author. I was very interested to see if it would be very different from a love story written from a female perspective. I have to say that Mr. Frost has written a touching, heartfelt, romantic story. He has done an excellent job of portraying the love from the viewpoint of the male figure. In Brian, Mr. Frost has molded a character who portrays the attributes that Christ demands of a husband in Ephesians 5:25-33 (KJV) when He says, "Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church..."

This is not a story about the love of a young person who is discovering love for the first time. It is about a love that is seasoned, a love that endures the test of time and still burns just as brightly, if not more so, as it did in its youth. For anyone who has ever doubted the power of love, I recommend that you read this moving story of two people who made mistakes and consequently lost that first love and their subsequent journey to recover it. In a very realistic and heartfelt manner, we see how how each of the lovers dealt with those mistakes. One drew closer to God while the other turned away. Through it all, God remained constant and steadfast, never-changing, never failing. This is truly a story that demonstrates the truth of the scripture in 1 Corinthians 13:4 (KJV) that says, "Charity suffereth long, and is kind..." Since Cruden's Bible Concordance tells us that the word charity is also translated to mean love, then we could substitute the word love in this scripture to read that "Love suffereth long, and is kind..." Indeed, the love that Brian and Karen share and the love that Christ displays to them most definitely fit this description.

But, will love be enough to overcome all of the past mistakes? Will love endure when the secrets that both Karen and Brian have hidden from each other are revealed? Will it be enough to surmount all of the obstacles that stand in the way? Can love break down the barricades of hurt and bitterness that have been allowed to fester and flourish? Is it strong enough to bring about healing and forgiveness? For the answers to these and many other questions, you will have to read the book - I'm not telling!

Where Love Finds You can be purchased online at Amazon, and Barnes and Noble. It is also available in Kindle format.

I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. I was not obligated to provide a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Announcing the Winner:

2011-05-01T21:53:00.036-04:00

You know what they say about the best laid plans? Well, I am here to testify that you can make all the plans you want to, develop all the schedules you desire, set time-frames to complete certain tasks, and all of those detailed plans can come to a screeching halt when technology enters the picture. For example, it was my PLAN to announce the winner of the drawing for Kaydie, written by Penny Zeller, yesterday afternoon. What was not in my plans was for was for my Internet to go down for several hours, thus completely negating all of my carefully laid plans.

So, with my apologies once again (I seem to be doing that a lot lately), it is now time to announce that the winner of the drawing for Kaydie is:

Diana

Unfortunately, there were several comments submitted for this drawing which had no email address accompanying them. Therefore, I reluctantly had to disqualify those entries since I had no way to contact those people. Please accept this as a friendly reminder to always leave an email address when you enter a giveaway so that the blog host will be able to notify you if you win.

Diana, I will be sending you an email shortly requesting your address. Readers, Diana will have ten days to contact me. If I don't hear from her by May 11th, another name will be drawn and a new winner selected.

Thanks so much for all of the encouraging remarks that were left for Penny. I have grown to love Penny and consider her a dear friend. She has such a sweet, kind, and generous spirit; I feel honored to have had the opportunity to introduce her to so many of you.

A new giveaway will be posted very soon so check back again for the chance to win yet another good book.

May God richly bless each and every one of you!

Jan Marie

CSS People of the Book Blog Tour and Contest

2011-04-23T21:44:00.001-04:00

Interview with Kathi Macias

People of the Book is the fourth and final book in your Extreme Devotion series. Each book is set in a different country, with the theme of first devotion and commitment to Christ above all else running through all four. How is People of the Book different, and who/what inspired you to write this book?

People of the Book was the most difficult of the four Extreme Devotion series books to write, but it is also the strongest when it comes to a call to personal commitment to Christ and to the fulfillment of the Great Commission. With each of the books, I began drafting the manuscripts through Internet research, since I had never lived in any of the four countries and had only visited one of them. After the original draft, I worked with someone who either currently lived in the country or who had recently spent many years there. People of the Book was the toughest because the Saudi women I connected with via the Internet were understandably apprehensive about associating with me. Most, in fact, were terrified to do so. I was therefore quite pleased to meet a young woman named Dolly Dahdal here in the States who, until just a few years ago, had spent the majority of her life in Saudi Arabia and understood perfectly why I had chosen to write this book. We shared a passion to help expose the fallacy of “honor killings,” a horrific crime perpetrated primarily against women and girls who in some way bring “dishonor” on their Muslim families, and Dolly was a major contributor to the authenticity of this book.

Can you give us a brief synopsis of this story?

Eighteen-year-old Farah, who lives in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with her family, wants nothing more than to develop a deeper, more meaningful devotion to her Muslim faith. She sees the month of Ramadan as her chance to draw nearer to Allah, and she pursues that goal throughout the holiday. All goes well until the prophet Isa—Jesus—appears to her in a dream and calls her to Himself. At the same time, her only brother, Kareem, who has never liked Farah, actively seeks an opportunity to expose her for the sham he believes she is.

Meanwhile, Farah’s seventeen-year-old cousin, Nura, has begun to frequent an online chat room where former Muslims gather to discuss their new faith, based on their belief that Isa is much more than a Muslim prophet—He is actually the Son of God. While there, Nura becomes acquainted with an American girl of Muslim ancestry—now a devout Christian named Sara—and a friendship quickly develops. However, Sara has problems of her own due to her fifteen-year-old brother Emir’s involvement with a gang.

The lives of Farah, Nura, and Sara ultimately dovetail until each finds herself at a place where her faith is put to the test. Will they remain faithful to the end? Will God protect and keep them safe in the midst of persecution and treachery? Or will they be required to pay the ultimate price for their faith?

Kathi, how did you get into writing? Has it always been your passion, or is it something you came to later in life?

I’ve always wanted to write, for as long as I can remember. I was an avid reader even before I started kindergarten. I wrote a short story in third grade that the teacher liked so much she showed it to the principal, and they decided to turn it into a play for the entire PTA. I was hooked! One day when I was about 13, I was walking home from school with my then boyfriend (now husband), Al, and I told him I’d be a writer some day. He often reminds me how blessed I am to have been able to do what I dreamed of all my life.

I understand you’re running a special contest that has to do with this book. Can you tell us about it?

Not only are there several opportunities to win a copy of the book on various blog sites included in this tour, but I’m giving away the entire four-book series at the end of the tour to someone who leaves a comment on one of the blogs, so be sure to check them all out and leave comments on each one!

In addition to writing, you are a popular speaker at women’s event, writers’ conferences, and various venues around the country. How can people find out more about you, your writing and speaking, sign up for your weekly devotional newsletter (in English or Spanish), and/or just view your many book videos, etc.?

They can find me at one of my websites (http://www.kathimacias.com; http://www.theTitus2Women.com) or on my Easy Writer blog at http://kathieasywritermacias.blogspot.com. There is a “contact” button on my Kathi Macias website if they’d like to send me a message. I always respond to all my emails!

Please join me later this week for my personal review of this outstanding book by the very talented writer, Kathi Macia.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services (http://www.christianspeakerservices.com/).

Review and Giveaway: Kaydie by Penny Zeller

2011-04-17T18:15:00.002-04:00

This week Write About Now was graced by a visit from author Penny Zeller. Today, it is my pleasure to bring to you a review of her newest release, Kaydie, which is book #2 in the Montana Skies Series.

Penny Zeller has created a book whose pages leap into life as the extremely credible characters are thrust into situations that no one should ever be forced to face. Kaydie, widowed and pregnant, takes refuge with her sister and brother-in-law following the death of her abusive husband. Kaydie has determined that she will never again be in a situation where she and her as-yet-unborn child will be in danger of being abused. Deciding that love and marriage are only for others, she vows to remain single and raise her child alone.

Jonah Dickenson is a man who has vowed he will never marry. Deserted by his mother when he was just a small child and left with a bitter and drunken father, Jonah wants no part of a wife and family because he fears that he will turn out to be just like his father.

As we journey through the pages of this book we see Kaydie grow from a meek and cowering girl to a strong and brave young woman. Jonah has grown from the days of a wild and reckless youth into a kind, considerate, and compassionate man.

As Jonah and Kaydie are thrown together more and more often, feelings begin to grow between them. However, both of them are adamant that there will never be anything more than friendship between them. In spite of their dissimilarities, Kaydie and Jonah both share a love for God and gratitude for all that He has done for them.

Throughout the pages of Kaydie, you will experience laughter, fear, tears, sorrow, and joy. You will meet the self-proclaimed matchmaker, Lucille Granger, who declares that she is going to find the perfect wife for Jonah. You will also meet Kaydie's mother, who insists on arranging a more appropriate marriage for Kaydie. It sometimes seems as if Jonah and Kaydie have little control over their lives and will be forced into marriages of convenience by well-meaning individuals.

As I read this book, I was frequently reminded of the scripture in Proverbs 3:5 that says, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." (KJV) Kaydie and Jonah thought that they knew what they wanted for themselves but Penny Zeller has very capably shown us that, " ...all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28 - KJV)

Since Kaydie is the second book in the series, there were several occasions when I found myself wishing that I had read book one first simply because I felt that some portions of the story that were revealed from book one will make it rather anticlimactic to read the first book, which I most definitely plan to do. However, there was nothing in the story that I could not understand and Kaydie can easily stand on its own.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kaydie and now I am going to offer you an opportunity to read it also. I am certain that you will enjoy it and it gives me great pleasure to recommend it to you. For the chance to win this book, please leave a comment of encouragement for Penny.

In addition, please become a follower of Write About Now and tell me in your comment that you are a follower for a second chance to win. Be certain to leave your email address in spam-proof format (name[at]provider[dot]com) so that I will be able to notify you if you are the lucky winner. If you do not leave an email address, I will be forced to select another name.

As with all giveaways on this blog, this contest is open only to those who reside within the United States. The giveaway will run until April 29th and the winner will be chosen on April 30th.

A copy of Kaydie was provided to me by the author in exchange for reviewing the book. All statements and opinions are my own and I was not obligated to provide a favorable review.

You can purchase Kaydie and Penny's other books from the publisher, Whitaker House, Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite online or retail book store.

Interview with Penny Zeller

2011-04-15T23:09:00.008-04:00

We have a very special guest with us today but first, before I begin the interview with her, here is a brief biography about this lovely lady.

Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles in national and regional publications. She is also the author of the humor blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” (www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com). She is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women’s prayer group. Penny devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom. Kaydie follows McKenzie in Montana Skies, her first series with Whitaker House. When she’s not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball. She and her husband, Lon, reside in Wyoming with their two children. Penny loves to hear from her readers at her Website, www.pennyzeller.com.

And now, it is with great pleasure that I welcome a new found friend to my blog today. Please join with me in welcoming Penny Zeller, author of both Mandie and its sequel, Kaydie.

Hello, Jan Marie, it’s great to be a guest on your blog!

Hello, Penny! Your bio makes it sound as if you are an extremely busy and active person. It makes me wonder how you find time to write such outstanding books. What is your favorite part of the writing process?

I love the creation of characters. My books are character-driven, so I love being able to create situations and dialogue. I enjoy developing how the characters will respond to various situations throughout the book based on their personalities.

What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

That would be easy – editing.

Wow! I certainly didn't expect that quick response! Most writers do say that editing is their least favorite part of the entire process but you answered so succinctly and without hesitation that it is quite obvious just how little you enjoy it! Tell us a bit about your typical (if there is such a thing as typical) day.

I agree, Jan Marie, there really is no such thing as a typical day! Each day varies, but most of my weekdays follow this routine: When the alarm goes off in the morning, my young daughters come in for some snuggle time and morning prayers. Finally on the fourth or fifth alarm, we climb out of bed and prepare for our day. While my girls are getting ready for school, I spend time alone in God’s Word; then right before breakfast, we read Keys for Kids devotions together.

What a wonderful way to start the day! I work in an elementary school and see so many students come to school each morning with no breakfast, their parents have been yelling at them, or they have had to fend for themselves just to get to school at all. I wish more students could begin each day in such a positive manner. What a difference it would make!

After dropping my daughters off at school, I spend the first couple hours or so responding to emails and taking care of the marketing side of writing. Then I break for some exercise and to listen to David Jeremiah’s broadcast on the radio. After that, it’s time for lunch, then back to writing. I spend the latter half of the day working on my newest writing projects.

Because I do a lot of volunteer work, I also factor in time for that as well, which varies from day to day. (And I also fit in the housework too, LOL). Once I pick my girls up from school, writing work for the day is done, unless I’m on a tight deadline. Time for my “mom/wife life” to begin - soccer and piano practice, homework, and preparing dinner before my husband comes home become my focus.

It wears me out just thinking about that hectic schedule. You must have a lot more stamina than I do! Let's pretend that you just finished your book several days before your deadline. How will you celebrate or reward yourself?

My husband takes us out for a delicious dinner at this tiny Mexican restaurant in our town. I am quite fond of cheese enchiladas and Spanish rice.

That sounds good to me too. What genre do you enjoy reading the most?

My favorite is historical romance. There’s something neat about being able to pick up this genre and escape into a simpler time.

For many years, I was interested only in contemporary reading. It is only recently that I have begun reading more historical fiction and I wholeheartedly agree with the concept of escaping into a simpler time. What was your favorite subject, or subjects, in school?

English was my favorite subject (surprise, surprise) after recess, of course! I liked pretty much all of the subjects in school, with the exception of anything related to math. Math and I have never gotten along!

Ha! I loved both English and math but didn't care much for the science. Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

I love so many verses in the Bible that it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. However, Psalm 91 is high on the list of all-time favorites.

Good choice and I agree with you on that! That chapter thrills me anew each time I read it! Your most recent book is Kaydie, which is Book 2 in your Montana Skies Series, and is scheduled for release this month. Can you please give us a brief synopsis?

I am thrilled about the release of Kaydie. A short synopsis is as follows:

Since the death of her abusive husband, Kaydie Kraemer’s life has been easier, but she’s wary of men and builds a wall of protection around her, staying with her sister McKenzie as she awaits the birth of her baby. Haunted by her painful marriage, Kaydie is determined never to fall in love again, and it will take the grace of God to change her mind—the same grace that works in the heart of ranch hand Jonah Dickenson, a confirmed bachelor who has unhealed wounds of his own to overcome.

Cindy Sproles produced a fantastic book trailer for Kaydie, which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwihs6rsqDk

I was fortunate enough to be able to read an advance copy of Kaydie and I can promise everyone that they will fall in love with Kaydie and the other characters in this book. Where can readers purchase a copy of Kaydie?

Kaydie is available everywhere books are sold, including Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Kaydie-Montana-Skies-Penny-Zeller/dp/1603742174/ref=pd_sim_b_1

What’s up next for your readers?

I just finished the third book in the series, Hailee, which is scheduled for release in September. I'm also working on a second historical romance series that takes place in the Post-Civil War Era. I recently finished book one in the series and have started writing book two.

I will definitely be eagerly awaiting the arrival of the new books! Where can fans find you on the Internet?

I love to connect with my readers at my website www.pennyzeller.com, my blog www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com; on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pennyzeller; and on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts

It's been a real pleasure to have you join us today, Penny! Do you have any parting comments for our readers?

I would like to thank you, Jan Marie, for having me here, and also thank my readers for their support and encouragement. I couldn’t do it without you! Secondly, I would like to let everyone know that from April 1 – May 15 is my official blog tour for Kaydie. I will have all the details (including a chance to win Hailee, the third book in the series) on my FB author page, so be sure to stop by!

Be sure to visit again on Sunday when I will be posting a review of Kaydie and giving you the chance to win a copy of Penny Zeller's newest release!

The Secret is Out!

2011-04-05T23:41:00.000-04:00

Hear Ye,
Hear Ye ...

The lucky winner of Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy is none other than ....

Linda Kish!

Congratulations, Linda! You will be receiving an email from me soon requesting your address so I can mail the book to you.

Readers, Linda will have one week to respond. If I do not hear from her by next Monday, April 11, a new name will be drawn.

Thanks so much to all who participated in this contest. It has been so much fun to hear about all of your various musical experiences.

For those of you who would like another chance to win this exciting book, another giveaway is currently underway at:

http://www.susan-miura.blogspot.com/.

I'm not sure how long this contest will run so hurry on over and throw your name in the hat for a chance to win. Come back soon for a chance to win another wonderful book!

New Book Review and Giveaway

2011-03-24T18:23:00.007-04:00

The Rhythm of Secrets by Patti Lacy

The Rhythm of Secrets revolves around the story of Sheila Franklin, wife of the prominent and conservative pastor, Edward Franklin. Unbeknownst to everyone around her, Shelia has secrets; secrets that she has kept even from her husband for many years. However, it takes only one little phone call for the carefully woven fabric of her past life to begin to unravel. At the risk of losing all she has attained and becoming an outcast and a pariah, Sheila makes the decision to reveal her secret past to her husband and, at the same time, embrace a family member from her past. Not only is Sheila's status in the life she has created at risk, the life of a young girl in the country of Thailand is also at stake.

Sheila hasn't always been the refined, well-dressed, dignified, lady-of-the-manor that we meet in the early pages of this book. In fact, the truth is that she hasn't always been "Sheila." At different stages of her life, Sheila's name changes periodically throughout the book. While her life has been one of turmoil and upheaval, the constant throughout is her love of music. It is her music and love of it that sustains her in times of hardship.

When we first meet Sheila, the year is 1969. The place is Chicago, Illinois. From there, we take a leap back in time to the year 1942 and find ourselves in New Orleans, Louisiana. At this time, Sheila, who is actually named Sheba, is thirteen years old, already skilled at the piano and has a burning desire to learn to play the clarinet. Horrible and tragic events jerk Sheba from the comfort of her happy home and force her to live with a grandmother who neither loves nor understands her. Thus the stage is set for the events that mold Sheba into the woman that we met in the opening pages.

The book jumps back and forth in time, each time revealing a little bit more of Sheila's past. The more we learn, the more we are able to understand the decisions that Sheila makes and the reasons for her willingness to sacrifice the safety and security of her life as the minister's wife.

Along with the music which is always the center of Sheila's life, another constant throughout is God's grace, His love and mercy, His forgiveness and His compassionate intercession.

As a rule, I generally don't care for books that jump back and forth from present to past. However, in The Rhythm of Secrets, this is a very effective means of telling the story and I immensely enjoyed the way that the back and forth helped the reader to slowly come to understand Sheila's choices and how she has evolved into the person who is willing to risk all in order to save a young girl that she has never met.

When I first heard of this book I knew that I had to read it. I am a musician and can appreciate how Sheila's love of music became the one constant in her life when she was surrounded on all sides by turmoil, heartache, and confusion.

In the book of Psalms, chapter 150, verses 3 and 4, we are told to "praise Him with the sound of the trumpet...praise Him with the psaltery and harp...praise Him with stringed instruments and organs..." Indeed, it is through playing music that I worship God and commune with Him on a spiritual plane. So too, does Sheila use her musical talents to commune with God, relieve her anger or loneliness, and express her emotions.

In the pages of the Bible, we read much about King Saul. When an evil spirit was upon him, he called for David to play upon the harp and Saul was refreshed. There is much truth in the statement that music has the power to soothe the savage beast. The power of music cannot be denied and Patti Lacy skillfully demonstrates this truth in her book.

Is it a prerequisite that you must be a musician to enjoy The Rhythm of Secrets? Not at all! This is a strong story of faith, hope, and trust. All who read it will be captivated by the story and eagerly continue to turn the pages until they reach the satisfying conclusion. As I read this book, I was reminded on several occasions of the scripture in Romans 8:28 which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God..."

I have an autographed copy of this book that is going to be awarded to one lucky reader. Please leave a comment which includes your email address in spam-proof format (yourname[at]provider[dot]com). For a bit of extra fun and an extra chance to win, have you ever played a musical instrument? If so, what instrument did you play? If you don't play an instrument, tell about a time that music played an important role in your life. As always, this contest is limited to United States mailing addresses. The drawing will be held on April 3, 2011.

You can purchase The Rhythm of Secrets from the publisher, Kregel Publications, at Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Barnes and Noble, or other online book stores.

I received this book from the author. I was not obligated to give a positive review and received no compensation for this review. All opinions stated are my own honest and truthful thoughts.

Author Interview ... C.J. Darlington

2011-03-23T21:28:00.000-04:00

Please join me today in welcoming author C.J. Darlington to Write About Now. As you may be aware, a blog tour featuring her latest release, Bound by Guilt, is currently underway. (See previous post). Knowing how busy she must be, I appreciate her taking time out of her busy schedule to join us here.

Welcome, C.J.! Why don't you introduce yourself and tell us a bit about yourself before we leap into the Question and Answer portion of the interview?

I’ve been writing for over fifteen years. It’s been an exciting journey and one I’m very thankful to be on. My family’s my biggest support. If you read the acknowledgments in one of my novels, you’ll see why. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. I started writing my first novel Thicker than Blood when I was fifteen, but it wasn’t published for another fifteen years. I consider that time my apprenticeship. I learned so much and continue to learn things every day. My background in antiquarian bookselling is something I have fun writing about in my books. One of the main settings of both Thicker than Blood and Bound by Guilt is a used and rare bookstore that’s based on the very first one I scouted for as a teenager.

That bookselling background certainly made Bound by Guilt fascinating to read! What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

Plotting has always been a bit of a challenge, but it’s the kind of challenge that can be enjoyable too because you know there’s an answer. It’s just a matter of discovering it.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

The days when the words flow like water from my fingers and the picture I have in my head of a scene comes to fruition on the page exactly like I imagined it. These moments don’t usually happen everyday, so when they do it makes them extra special. I also love hearing from readers.

Tell us a bit about your typical (if there is such a thing as typical) day.

There really isn’t a typical day for me. I’m usually a night and weekend novelist due to my day job and other obligations, but it’s worked well for me. Ideally I will be at my writing desk five days a week at 7 pm writing until right before bed.

That sounds like a pretty rigorous schedule! Pretend you just finished your book several days before your deadline. How will you celebrate or reward yourself?

By picking up a good novel! I love to read. Or I might go out to the movies, something I really enjoy (if it’s a good movie). But really, I find the most satisfaction in writing. If I’m not writing I usually don’t know what to do with myself.

Lucky for us since that means another book will be on the shelves soon! What’s up next for your readers?

My novel Bound by Guilt has just released, so I’m very excited to begin hearing what folks think of it. I just finished the rough draft of a new novel, and I’m starting the next draft shortly. I can’t share much about the story yet, but if you liked Thicker than Blood and/or Bound by Guilt I think you’ll enjoy the next one too.

I'll be eagerly waiting for it! Do you focus on one project at a time or do you have multiple projects going simultaneously?

Usually only one book project, though sometimes while I’m writing one book I will be mulling ideas for another. However, generally I stick to one big project at a time. I do write articles, reviews and the like while I’m working on a manuscript.

What was your favorite subject(s) in school?

I loved creative writing! Surprise, surprise. Reading was huge for me as well. I also enjoyed science and astronomy. Surprisingly though, I hated grammar and was a horrible speller for many years.

Do you tend to turn to comfort food when on a deadline? Are you a nervous eater or do you become so engrossed in writing that you forget to eat? What would be your first choice of comfort food?

I can often be found with a cup of tea or a cappuccino by my side while I’m writing, but I don’t usually get the munchies when writing. I love to eat---just not while at my computer. That said, I love homemade macaroni and cheese, pasta, and junk food like chips and ice cream. I can chow down with the best of them but try to be good most of the time. My mom’s a personal fitness trainer, so she inspires me to be healthy!

What is your favorite meal?

A big, juicy hamburger with bacon, cheese, tomato and lettuce. French fries or home fries on the side. And a huge salad. I also love Italian food.

Ummm... my mouth is watering thinking about that hamburger! Do you have a favorite Bible verse?

Romans 5:6-8: You see, at just the right time, while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this---while we were still sinners Christ died for us.

Amen, we are so unworthy of His love! Who is your favorite Bible character, other than Jesus? And why?

I’m intrigued with Deborah, the Israeli judge. I sometimes wonder how she got there in a society where men were usually the ones in places of prominence. And yet she was an anointed judge who God used. She’s an inspiring role model for Christian women.

I've alwyas wondered about a female judge too, especially in that era. Can you briefly describe your approach to beginning a new book?

I’m smiling here to myself at this question because I’m only now figuring out what process works for me in starting a new book, and it will probably change next time we talk! The past two books I’ve written have followed a similar pattern. I mull about the story for months, labor over the first few chapters and plot directions . . . only to write a fast rough draft and discover the story I wanted to tell was the original idea I’d thought of months before. So next book I want to cut out some of the mulling and get right down to business writing a fast first draft. It’s usually during that writing process where I find the important elements of the story I want to tell.

Sometimes I think I mull to much too; by the time I finally get it written down, it often seems to lose something in the process. Do you like music or some other form of white noise when you are writing or do you prefer solitude?

Usually I’ll listen to music. Sometimes a CD or the radio. Right now I’m listening to a Pandora station I’ve been tweaking for the past few weeks. But there are times when I need quiet to really get into a scene. That’s when everything goes off, I close the door, and basically become the characters I’m writing.

Where is your favorite place to write? Do you have a space that is all yours just for your writing? Can you describe your work area for us? If you don’t have a place of your own, can you describe what you would consider to be an ideal work area?

My work area is anywhere I can find the space! I have a fold-up laptop table I slip beside my dresser. Often you’ll find me in the corner of my bedroom working. Or at the dining room table. Ideally, I’d love to have a small room with a permanent desk, lots of bookshelves, inspiring art on the walls, and no internet access! Maybe a cabin in the woods would be nice too . . .

It never hurts to dream, does it? What methods do you employ to overcome writer’s block? Or is that a foreign concept to you?

Early on in my writing I asked my writing mentor James Scott Bell what to do when the words got stuck. I was having a particularly challenging time comparing myself to others, and that made me feel blocked. He told me the best cure to the writing blues was to write. Wise advice. It takes pushing through more often than not to prime the pump. Sometimes getting out and doing something completely unrelated to writing helps as well. Then when I get back to the keyboard I actually have a full well to draw from. Writers need to live full lives to write well.

Sounds like you have had some excellent mentors and advice along the way. Who (or what) inspires you?

Going to a good movie, reading an exciting novel, going camping. There are so many things that have the potential to inspire. Sometimes it’ll just be a person I see driving down the road. Or a thought I have while out walking in my back yard. The inspiration for part of the main character in my novel Bound by Guilt came to me this way.

It's surprising how the least little thing can become an entire novel, isn't it? I watched a little guy standing in the breakfast line at school one morning and suddenly my entire book flashed before me. Now if I can only get it written! If not writing, what would you rather be doing?

Playing with my dogs, or playing with horses! I’ve recently taken up horseback riding again, and I’m loving how learning to ride better and communicate with horses is something you can never stop learning about. Kinda like writing.

Now you're taking me back to the days when I owned a horse. Nothing can compare to that sense of freedom as you gallop across the fields! If you could choose when you were born, in what era would you prefer to live and why?

I’m happy to live in this era!

That makes two of us! I don't think I would have done well in the days of the early settlers. If you could pick your own name, would you keep your name or would you change it? If you changed it, what would you change to?

I like my own name, but the fun thing about writing is I get to name people all the time. I always pick names for my characters, even the bad guys, that I personally like.

How did you come to be a writer? Was this something that you always knew you were destined to be or did you arrive at this point via another path?

Growing up I did not know writing was something I’d pursue professionally. But looking back now I can see the seeds of it early in my life. I always loved to write stories, and I always loved to read. I believe God often plants dreams in our hearts at an early age to lead us into our callings. That’s what I feel He’s done for me. When I’m writing I’m the happiest, so I also use that to gauge where I’m supposed to be. Why am I happy? I think it’s because when I’m writing I’m in God’s will for my life.

What is your favorite genre to read?

Character-driven suspense. Though I also enjoy a good YA novel or contemporary read.

Where would be your favorite place to live?

Colorado! I’m a Western girl in an Eastern girl’s body. Since for now I’m living in the East, I decided on the next best thing---setting my books in the West!

The West is my first choice too, but perhaps a little further south where the winters aren't quite as severe. What place(s) have you not been that you would like to visit?

Alaska, Australia, New Zealand. Any place with big mountains (that’s not in a war zone!) is a place I’d like to see.

Do you have an words of wisdom for those who are just starting out on the path?

As I get further along in my career, I’m realizing something that is enormously important for new writers, and that is this: Write the book of your heart. Don’t worry about publishers, marketing, editors or readers AT ALL in the beginning. You’ll paralyze yourself. Instead, search inside and listen to that still small voice leading you to the story only you can tell. If you aren’t passionate about your story, it will show on the page. Then, once you finish your first book, get moving onto the next! Then whenever you do receive interest from a publisher you’ll have more than one thing to show them.

That sounds like some very sound advice. Thank your for sharing that with us. Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thanks so much for having me here!

Thanks so much for joining us here today, C.J.! It has been my pleasure to have you here on my blog. May God richly bless you and your continued endeavors!

TitleTrakk.com Blog Tours Presents:

2011-03-22T19:18:00.000-04:00

Bound by Guilt
by C.J. Darlington
Published by Tyndale House

Shuttled between foster homes, Roxi Gold will do anything to fit in. Soon she’s traveling the country stealing rare books from unsuspecting bookstores. Police officer Abby Dawson has seen the worst of society—and not just at work. One fateful night, both their lives are changed forever. One searches for justice, the other finds herself on the run. Will the power of forgiveness set them free?

_______________________________________

I first heard of C.J. Darlington a few weeks ago when she asked for bloggers who were willing to post her book trailer on their blogs. I viewed the trailer, liked what I saw, and posted it here on Write About Now. Next came the opportunity to be a part of her blog tour. I had never participated in a blog tour prior to this but, since I liked her trailer, I agreed to be a part of her promotion. I am not sorry that I made this decision.

Bound by Guilt is an outstanding book. It is the story of Roxi, a young girl who has never known the love that most of us take for granted. She was deserted and rejected by her mother and bounced around from foster home to foster home, always seeking a love that continued to elude her. In a misguided effort to earn that love, she is taken in by a relative and made to be an accomplice in a monetarily profitable rare book stealing trio. When theft turns to something far more serious, Roxi flees. She is taken in by a husband and wife who own a ranch and it is there that she finally learns the true meaning of love - unconditional love that loves no matter what the circumstances may be. She learns too about Christ's love, a love that is granted not, as the saying goes, because of who we are, but in spite of who we are.

The Biblical principles of love and forgiveness are prevalent throughout the pages of this book. From its beautiful cover to the final page, this book will draw you in and keep you captivated. I highly recommend Bound by Guilt and I will definitely be watching for future books from C.J. Darlington.

_____________________________________________

Great job! You kept me turning the pages.

--Francine Rivers, Internationally best selling author

C.J. is a wonderful, talented writer . . . extraordinary . . .

--Bodie Thoene, best-selling author of the A.D. Chronicles

This one engages your senses and reaches your heart.

--Jerry B. Jenkins, NY Times best-selling author & owner of The Christian Writers Guild

Watch the book trailer:

About the Author:

C. J. Darlington won the 2008 Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Operation First Novel contest with her first novel, Thicker Than Blood. She has been in the antiquarian bookselling business for over twelve years, scouting for stores similar to the ones described in her novels before cofounding her own online bookstore. In 2006 C. J. started the Christian entertainment Web site http://www.titletrakk.com/ with her sister, Tracy, and has been actively promoting Christian fiction through book reviews and author interviews. A homeschool graduate, she makes her home in Pennsylvania with her family and their menagerie of dogs and cats. Visit her website http://www.cjdarlington.com/

QUICK LINKS:

Book Review: Digitalis by Ronie Kendig

2011-03-12T15:15:00.000-05:00

Digitalis, written by Ronie Kendig, is the second book in the Discarded Heroes series. Each book in the series revolves around a different character who has served time in the military, seen action in various conflicts around the globe, and returned home, worn out, damaged in some way, and unappreciated for the service that they have given for our country and its people. Each of the discarded heroes are recruited to serve as members of a very secret black ops group named Nightshade.

In Digitalis, we read about Colton Neeley who is an ex-marine and has left his military career to raise his precocious four-year-old daughter, Mickey. As a result of the events that he has lived through in the military, Colton suffers from terrible flashbacks; flashbacks that are so severe that they sometimes interfere with his ability to function in life's daily routines.

A shopping trip brings Colton in contact with Piper, a beautiful young woman with secrets of her own. Without giving away too much of the plot, I will just say that a romance begins to bloom between Colton and Piper until the day that both of their pasts collide with the present and they must either overcome the obstacles or go their separate ways.

My review:

Did you ever read books by an author whose writing immediately struck home with you and every word resonated and leaped off the pages to form a picture so vivid that the line of demarcation between fiction and reality became so thin that it was nearly nonexistent? This is the case with me and Ronie's books. Ronie Kendig is a writer with a phenomenal talent and ability to capture the reader's attention with the first sentence of her books and never let go until the final page is turned.

At the risk of sounding trite, I would add that the characters become real and are not mere cardboard cutouts. The reader can readily sympathize with their plight and feel the anguish along with Colton and Piper as they confront many precarious and hazardous trials. The author also very capably demonstrates that it is only through faith in God, trust in his omnipotent power, and love, both divine and human, that Colton and Piper are able to overcome their pasts and the obstacles that are thrown in their paths.

Digitalis is the first book that I have read by Ronie Kendig. However, I am currently reading book one of this series, Nightshade, and I am finding it to be every bit as mesmerizing and riveting as was Digitalis. While it is not essential to read the books in this series in sequential order, I would recommend that you begin with book one simply because it lays the groundwork for the Nightshade organization and gives a better understanding of the group's function in subsequent books. Ronie Kendig has earned her place at the top of my list of "must read" authors and I eagerly anticipate future books by this gifted and exceptional writer.

A copy of this book for review purposes was provided to me by Barbour Publishing. I received no compensation for this review nor was I under any obligation to provide a favorable review. All comments are my own true and unsolicited observations.

Little Star by Anthony DeStefano ... Book Review

2011-03-06T21:27:00.000-05:00

The book Little Star by Anthony DeStefano is a book that is destined to become a Christmas standard for me. The book, published by WaterBrook Press is a poignant story about a star who was the smallest star in the sky. The story of Little Star is told by a father to his young son about a star who was very sad. His sadness had its origin in the fact that Little Star was completely ignored by all of the other stars simply because he was so small and could add little to the night sky.

It quickly becomes apparent to the reader that Little Star became the star that shone to herald the birth of Jesus. He gave his all to shine for that one special night so that the baby Jesus would be warm. He worked so hard to shine that he gave his life, completely burned himself out, and was seen no more. However, each Christmas he is remembered as people all around the world place a star at the top of their Christmas trees.

The artwork in this story, while quite simplistic, is very appealing and will attract the attention of a small child. Even small children can readily see the lessons that are taught in this simple little tale. One lesson is that, no matter how small or insignificant we may feel, God can and will use us for His kingdom's work. Each of us has a gift of some sort that can be used for God's service. Another lesson that a young child can learn from Little Star is that God will richly reward those who are willing to dedicate themselves to Him .

This book is one that I look forward to sharing both with my grandsons and the kindergarten students at school next Christmas. While it is obvious that the book does not adhere to the Biblical account, it is also plain to see that it is a work of fiction and that does not detract in any way from the lessons that are demonstrated. It is a timeless tale that can be told anew each year and the story will remain fresh and its lessons will remain relevant.

I received this book from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing as part of their Blogging for Books program. I was not obligated to provide a positive review and I received no compensation in return for my review.

Announcing the giveaway winners ...

2011-03-06T18:24:00.000-05:00

Hear ye,

hear ye ...

The winner of the book by Kristen Heitzmann is ....

Nia for Jesus!

And the winner of Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce is ...

lgm52

Congratulations to both of these winners! I will be sending you an email shortly to request your mailing address so I can get these books to you. You will have one week, until March 13th, to respond. If I don't hear from you by this date, another winner will be drawn.

My apologies to all of you faithful followers for taking so long to announce the winners. Unfortunately, I have been quite ill for over two weeks now with the whooping cough and I ask your forgiveness and understanding for being so delinquent in posting these announcements.

More book reviews and new giveaways are coming in the near future. Don't forget to check back soon for a chance to win another good book!

Book Review ...

2011-02-24T23:29:00.003-05:00

Licensed for Trouble by Susan May Warren

Author Susan May Warren's recent release, Licensed for Trouble, is the third book in a series about PJ Sugar, the feisty young heiress to a questionable bequest and an aspiring private investigator.

From the cover:

PJ Sugar has no idea why she is the sole beneficiary of the town's wealthiest widow, a woman she barely even knew. But the timing couldn't be more perfect -- PJ has clearly worn out her welcome at her sister Connie's house. Even if there's barely enough in the inheritance to pay the real estate taxes on the Kellogg estate, at least it will be a roof over PJ's head.

Unfortunately, the place has seen better days, and PJ is short on cash to make the necessary repairs. Rescue comes in the form of Max Smith, a mysterious handyman who is willing to trade his skills for PJ's help in investigating his past.

But between trying to catch a bail jumper, working toward her PI license, and nurturing a budding romance with her boss, Jeremy Kane, PJ's caseload is full. If she's not careful, she'll inherit more trouble than she knows what to do with.

About the author:

Susan May Warren is an extremely prolific and versatile writer. A complete listing of her books can be found here. There you will see that she has written in many genres including romantic suspense, chic lit, and historical fiction.

Susan May Warren is the award-winning author of a number of novels and novellas with Tyndale, Steeple Hill and Barbour Publishing. Her first book, Happily Ever After won the American Fiction Christian Writers Book of the Year in 2003, and was a 2003 Christy Award finalist. In Sheep’s Clothing, a thriller set in Russia, was a 2006 Christy Award finalist and won the 2006 Inspirational Reader’s Choice award. A former missionary to Russia, Susan May Warren now writes Suspense/Romance and Chick Lit full time from her home in northern Minnesota.

My opinion:

Susan has a very engaging writing style that quickly draws the reader into the pages of her books. There is suspense and tension sprinkled with just the right amount of humor to let you relax and yet still keep you engrossed. The characters are well-contrived and likable. The plot is fairly basic but has enough twists and turns that you don't get from point A to point B without first following a very circuitous path.

Throughout the pages of the book, PJ, who was adopted by her family, often questions her roots and wonders about who she is and where she came from. When she becomes the heir to the Kellogg estate, questions whose answers have remained hidden for years begin coming to light. Even though PJ is unsure of her earthly origins, she is solid in her belief in the important fact; that she is an heir of Christ, and a child of the King. This Biblical principal is displayed in the book of Romans, chapter 8, verse 17: "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together." (KJV)

Even though this was the third book in the series and I haven't yet read the first two, I was easily able to follow along with the plot without feeling that I was missing anything. True, there were numerous references to events in the earlier books that would have perhaps given me a greater understanding of the characters and their role in PJ's life; however, the deficit was not sufficient to make me feel that I could not follow along with the story.

When I look at the impressive list of previous books by Susan, I am astounded that this is the first book of hers that I have been privileged to read. However, from my experience with Licensed for Trouble, I can promise that it will not be my last. I will be on the lookout for past and future books by Susan May Warren to add to my collection. I heartily recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun, yet suspenseful, experience.

I received this book as a Goodreads First Read book. I was in no way obligated to provide a positive review and all statements contained herein are my honest opinion. I received no compensation in any form for providing my review. The book was provided by Tyndale House Publishers.

Children of All Ages...

2011-02-22T11:36:00.001-05:00

Welcome to the Circus!

A review of G.W. Frog and the Circus Lion

by George W. Everett

Nearly everyone loves the circus and my initial reaction upon a first glance at this book was that everyone will love the book. Written for children between the ages of 4 and 8, it is an excellent story with several clearly defined lessons.

G.W. Frog and the Circus Lion begins with the sound of construction echoing through the confines of Frog Holler and Misty Meadow. At first I thought it was going to be another environmental story about how man is tearing up the forests and countryside for his own selfish motives. However, I was happy to be proven wrong and discovered that it is a story about the circus coming to town. Larry the Lion is distraught because he can no longer perform due to the fact that he has no teeth; thus, he is not frightening enough to be a part of the circus parade. The story is about how the animals work together to find a solution to Larry's dilemma.

There is a page where the children can count to see how many critters are on the page. The last page of the book tells the moral of the story and includes a scripture that coincides with it. All of this is excellent and pleasing for small children. I feel they will enjoy the story and it opens the door for several age-appropriate discussions.

As I flipped through the pages, the colorful and extremely well-done illustrations immediately captivated me. I quickly scanned the story and, while somewhat trite to an adult, I feel it will appeal to young children.

However, I was dismayed by several factors that I noticed when I read the text in a more comprehensive manner. The book is filled with misspelled words, incorrect word forms, grammatical and punctuation errors, and also contains vocabulary that is too advanced for the targeted age group. It was very disappointing to me to find these errors. I would think, from what I hear from published writers, that errors of this nature would be noticed and corrected long before the book was ever released for the retail market.

I had plans to read this book to kindergarten and first grade students at school. I planned to give a copy to my grandsons. However, I reluctantly concluded that, simply due to poor editing, I cannot feel comfortable in sharing this otherwise delightful book with others. Will I read it to the children? Perhaps. Will I purchase this book for others? Sadly, no. Can I recommend it to you? Again, no. This is sad because the book has so much potential. A little editing could have made this an excellent book for young children. Too bad someone didn't do their job a little more thoroughly.

I received this book from the author for review purposes. I was not obligated to give a favorable review and all opinions are my own. I received no compensation for this review.

Amy Inspired by Bethany Pierce (Review and Giveaway)

2011-02-20T21:14:00.003-05:00

From the cover: Amy Gallagher, aspiring writer, has an unabashed obsession with words. She gave up a steady, albeit unexciting, job to pursue a life of writing. However, two years and one master's degree later, she finds herself almost exactly right back where she started. Discouraged by the growing pile of rejections from publishers and afraid that she has settled, Amy knows something has to change.

Then she meets the mysterious, attractive, and unavailable Eli. Amy finds herself struggling to walk the fine line between friendship and something more with Eli, even as she tries to cope with the feeling that her friends and family are moving on without her. When the unexpected begins pouring in, Amy doubts the love and fulfillment she seeks will ever come her way. Forced to take a close look at who she has become, the state of her faith, and her aspirations for her life, she must make a choice: play it safe yet again or finally find the courage to follow her dreams.

About the author: After completing a master's in Creative Writing and working as a visiting instructor at Miami University in Ohio, Bethany Pierce now lives with her husband in Charlottesville, Virginia, where she is a member of the McGuffey art Center and continues to write. Her first book, Feeling for Bones, was one of Publishers Weekly's Best Books of 2007.

My opinion: I have to confess that I have struggled more with this book review than any other I have written thus far and, consequently, have dragged my feet about posting my review. I have read many glowing reviews of Amy Inspired, but I have to say that I just don't feel the same way. I really struggled to read and become engrossed in the story line. The characters just didn't seem to come alive to me and the interaction between them seemed artificial.

There were elements in this book that just don't coincide with my perception of right and wrong. Unmarried, unrelated, young men and women living in the same apartment goes against my sense of propriety. The Bible admonishes us, in 1 Thessalonians 5:22, to "abstain from all appearance of evil." (KJV) We are also cautioned, in Romans 14:16, to "let not then your good be evil spoken of." In light of these two scriptures, I felt conflict over some elements of the story and that detracted from my overall enjoyment of the book. Perhaps I must chalk it up to my advanced age and the fact that I am extremely conservative in my views.

I am vastly outnumbered in my opinion of Amy Inspired and that is fine because we all know that a book that one person loves, another will detest, and vice versa. Having given my honest opinion of the book, I am now offering you the opportunity to decide for yourself. I am running a giveaway of Amy Inspired that will expire on March 5th. Please leave a comment which includes your email address in spam-proof format; for example: name[at]emailprovider[dot]com. Don't forget to mention if you are a follower for an extra chance to win.

A copy of this book was provided to me for review purposes by Bethany House Publishers. I was in no way obligated to provide a positive review and all statements contained herein are my honest opinion. I received no compensation in any form for providing my review.

A Rush of Wings by Kristin Heitzmann (Book Review and Giveaway)

2011-02-13T01:07:00.005-05:00

A Rush of Wings by Kristen Heitzmann is a re-release of the book, originally published in 2003. The cover is new but the story is every bit as good as it was the first time I read it.

Noelle St. Clair is on the run. She has lost her memory and has no idea who or what she is fleeing from but she knows that there is danger and she must escape. In her flight, she leaves behind a loving but confused father and a frightened fiance. Her flight leads her from the pampered confines of a luxurious home, away from a doting father, and from an errant fiance to the small secluded horse ranch in the Rocky Mountains. It is here that she finds safety, respite, and refuge.

In her attempts to hide from a danger that she cannot identify, Noelle finds herself forming new relationships and friends of a totally different ilk than any she had ever known. Bit by bit, her memories return until the day that she is forced to face head-on the very source of her fears.

Kristen Heitzmann keeps the reader on pins and needles as she slowly reveals and unravels the tangled threads of Noelle's past. Just when you think you have it all figured out, another twist is revealed that makes you question all that you thought you knew and understood. Noelle slowly learns to trust, not only in her new-found friends, but she also learns to trust in a God who had been an utter stranger until Rick Spencer introduced Him to her through the Word.

I first read this book in April of 2004 and enjoyed it just as much when I read it again in December of 2010. Noelle's story is a story that tells of hope in the time of despair, peace in the time of turmoil, and safety in a time of peril. It was a pleasure to watch as Noelle grew from being afraid to trust anyone to learning to trust in both God and others. It was exciting to see how Noelle discovered the truths that are found in Psalms 91:2: "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust," and also in Psalms 46:1: "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble." (KJV)

For more information about A Rush of Wings and other books by Kristen Heitzmann, visit her web site at http://www.kristenheitzmannbooks.com/. You may also purchase her books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book Distributors, other online book dealers, or your favorite local bookstore.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers for review purposes. I received no compensation for this review nor was I under any obligation to provide a favorable review. All comments are my own true and unsolicited observations.

I am offering something just a little bit different than usual as a giveaway for this post. Instead of giving away a copy of A Rush of Wings, I am offering another book by Kristen Heitzmann. The book I am giving away is titled The Still of Night and is yet another good book by this author. Amazon has this book labeled as Book #2 in The Rush of Wings Series. However, on Kristen's web site, both of these books are listed as stand-alone novels, so I don't quite understand the Amazon label. At any rate, I think that you will enjoy it and derive much pleasure from the time spent reading.

As always, be sure to leave a comment which includes your email address in spam-proof format; i.e., yourname[at]emailprovider[dot]com. If you do not leave an email address, I have no way to contact you and another name will be drawn as the winner. You can earn extra chances to win by doing the following:

1) Become a follower of Write About Now. You MUST say you are a follower in your comment or you will not receive credit for the extra entry.

2) Visit Kristen Heitzmann's web site and tell me one thing you read on her site. This can all be put into one comment. It is not necessary to put all of the information in separate comments.

This contest will run until February 28th.

2011-01-30T19:06:00.000-05:00

Review ... A Man's Heart by Lori Copeland

2011-01-18T20:38:00.000-05:00

A Man's Heart, set in the potato-growing district of Washington state, is the story of Jules and her one true love, Cruz. Jules knows that she will never love another man the way that she loves Cruz. So why is it that, when the wedding day draws near, she calls it off -- not just one time, but two times? Certainly not because she doesn't love Cruz, but because she has goals that she has not yet attained and perhaps she is, quite simply, afraid to commit. Cruz, his heart bruised by her betrayal, vows that he will never again give Jules the opportunity to wound him. Can't say that I blame him, can you?

When, after a span of four long years, a chain of circumstances arises that throws Cruz and Jules into constant, nearly daily, contact with one another, they both put up barriers to protect themselves from being hurt once again. However, it seems that God has other plans if they are only willing to yield their futures and their hearts to His divine will.

The plots and subplots in this book are so intricately woven together that it is an emotional roller coaster ride from the first page to the satisfying conclusion. Lori Copeland has created characters who are real and who have true-to-life struggles. She has shown quite clearly that it is only when we are willing to surrender all to Him can we ever expect to attain the level of joy that is waiting for us. Only He has the answers to all of our questions, the solution to all of our problems, and only He can provide a way when there seems to be no way. As I read this book, I mourned with Jules and Cruz and happily rejoiced with them when God stepped in and proved His faithfulness.

The scripture that came to me as I read A Man's Heart is found in Psalms 31:7 (KJV): "I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities." Certainly there was an abundance of adversity that Jules, Cruz, and other family members had to combat throughout the course of the book. But, they ultimately learned the truth of Psalms 126:5 (KJV): "They that sow in tears shall reap in joy."

I first read a book by Lori Copeland in 2002. (I know this because I keep a log of every single book that I read, including the date that I read it and the number of pages in the book). It has, admittedlly, been a while since that I read that first book. However, one thing that I do remember is that from that day forward I was always on the lookout for a new release by her. Lori has the ability to create realistic characters and place them in situations that are also tenable. She will keep you engrossed until the last page and you will be blessed by what you read and the lessons depicted.

To learn more about Lori Copeland and her books, you can find her at her web site. Her books can be purchased at several locations including Zondervan, Christian Book Distributors, Amazon, and your favorite Christian book store.

A Man's Heart was given to me by Library Thing Early Reviewers for review purposes. I was not obligated in any way to give a positive review. All opinions and statements contained in this review are solely the opinion of the writer of the review. I received no compensation in any form for providing this review.

Sir Rowan & Sir Quinlan by Chuck Black

2011-01-16T19:15:00.001-05:00

Quite by coincidence, I received two books from the same series to review . Although they came from different sources, I have chosen to review both of them in this same post since they arrived at nearly the same time.

Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor is book 5 in The Knights of Arrethtrae series by author Chuck Black. Sir Quinlan, more commonly known as Twitch to his friends, responds to the call given by Sir Baylor to join him and the knights known as the Swords of Valor in their fight for the Prince and His kingdom. Twitch mistakenly believes that the true call was for his friend, Tav, who is everything that Twitch wishes he could be in order to be a true Knight of the Prince. However, as is often the case, the call is not to the one who seems to be the most qualified, but rather, to the one who is most willing to serve.

Tav, who enjoys the status, position, and comforts of being a Knight of the Prince, not to mention the attention of the ladies, declines the call to follow his uncle, Sir Baylor, choosing rather to stay at home and live a life of ease.

The writer takes us on a journey, a journey that requires the Knights 0f Valor to battle the evil forces of the Dark Knight, Lucius, and his minions. When Sir Baylor is killed in battle, Sir Quinlan blames himself and mistakenly believes the death also signifies the demise of the Swords of Valor; subsequently, he returns to his childhood home and friends. Dissatisfied with his former life, he roams about the kingdom, seeking redemption. Events transpire that bring about and encounter between Quinlan and the Silent Warrior who offers Quinlan a chance to redeem himself. Quinlan agrees to undergo extremely rigorous and grueling training in order to prepare himself to better serve the Prince. Then comes the day that Sir Quinlan is given a mission by the Prince Himself and he must reunite the Swords of Valor in order to succeed.

Sir Rowan and the Camerian Conquest is book 6 in The Knights of Arrethtrae series by Chuck Black. As a poor stable boy, Rowan dreams of becoming a swordsman and practices with his homemade wooden sword every opportunity he gets. He knows that his chances of ever achieving his dream are nearly impossible, but nothing can stop a boy from dreaming, can it? One day he crosses paths with Sir Aldwyn and begs to buy the chance to merely hold Sir Aldwyn's sword for a moment. Sir Aldwyn obliges and, in the process, recognizes the innate skill that Rowan possesses. Sir Aldwyn takes Rowan under his tutelage and begins to train him to serve as a warrior for the Prince.

However, seeking fame and fortune, Rowan becomes enamored of the glamour of the lifestyle that can be obtained as a tournament participant. Rowan goes on to become the champion of the tournament and amasses a huge fortune and many fans. On the way to the tournament that will prove him to be the champion of all Cameria, he encounters the mysterious knight who warns him that he is on the wrong path and that he should turn back. Turn back from fame, wealth, and all the power of the position? Not likely, Rowan thinks. Soon after, he and his party are attacked, his companions are killed, and Rowan is taken prisoner.

Held captive for many months and left to die by his captors, Rowan repents of his wrong choices and vows to serve the Prince if only he can escape his prison. Following his rescue, he learns that the entire realm has been overthrown by the Dark Knight's forces and people's eyes are blinded to reality. Rowan joins forces with a group of followers of the Prince and prepares for the battle to regain Cameria from the control of Lucius. In an allegorical portrayal of Biblical events found in the prophecies, the battle commences and Sir Rowan endeavors to prove his loyalty to the Prince.

My opinion:

I was afraid that, by not beginning with the first book of the series, I would not be able to follow the storyline. Happily, this was not the case. Each book is about a different knight of the Prince and, as such, their stories can easily stand alone. The allegory is an obvious one. The parallels between the Prince and the Dark Knight are very apparent. The stories are outstanding, extremely well written, and completely engaging. I can't say enough good things about these books. They are packed full of action and suspense and closely align with the battle that Christians are fighting on a daily basis. The violence is rampant and the clashing of swords quite vividly portrays the battle that is ongoing between good and evil. The books are written for youth but are so well-written and engaging that they will appeal to readers of all ages. I highly recommend this series. On a personal level, it is my intent to procure all previous and future books in this series and make them available to young people who desperately need to see the Battle portrayed in such a convincing manner. This is a Battle in which every one of us is a soldier. The question is, on which side are we fighting?

I received book 5, Sir Quinlan and the Swords of Valor, for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.

I received book 6, Sir Rowan and the Camerian Quest, as a GoodReads first reader book.

I am under no obligation to write a positive review and opinions expressed are my true and honest sentiments. I receive no compensation, whether monetary or otherwise, for any reviews written by me.

Review and giveaway of Mush by Clay Morgan Wilson IV

2011-01-16T00:00:00.000-05:00

I am going to begin with my review of Mush by Clay Morgan Wilson IV. The basic premise behind this book is initially quite intriguing. Seventy year old Clay Morgan has been instructed by his doctor that, due to some vaguely described physical ailment, he cannot fly from his home to his youngest son's wedding. His two older sons come up with the idea of renting an RV and making the three thousand mile trip to Washington, D.C. by way of the scenic and historic Route 66. The agreement is that the boys will drive and Dad will entertain them by telling stories. The only caveat is that they must keep him supplied with his favorite snack, which I will not reveal but will leave it to you to discover. No snack, no stories.

The three men set forth on their journey and the remainder of the book is interlaced with both the stories that Clay Morgan tells as they travel and the true life adventures of their journey. The stories that the senior Morgan tells are extremely humorous at times, filled with laugh-out-loud drama. They also display the handiwork of God as He works in the lives of the characters in the stories. This is a book of love between parents and children, love between siblings, and, most importantly, love between God and His people.


I would have enjoyed this book much better had it not been riddled throughout with grammatical errors. I realize that it is nearly impossible to catch every error when editing a book and always allow for some human error; however, the number of errors in this book was extreme to the point of being annoying.

Mush seemed almost anticlimactic in that partway through the trip the men discovered that they had dawdled too long and needed to hurry in order to reach their final destination in time for the wedding.   One minute we were in St. Louis and suddenly we are dropped in Washington with seemingly no time elapsed.   I say "we" because it truly seemed as if we were in the RV and traveling right along with Clay and his sons. In this respect, the book was very well-written.

While this book has many good features to recommend it, the presence of the copious grammatical errors  prevents me from giving it a high rating. I was not fully engaged in the story to the point that the 400 plus pages kept my undivided attention. Rather, I found myself repeatedly checking to see how many more pages I had left to read. If you are not overly disturbed by grammatical errors in a book, you will probably enjoy this book much more than I did. Another factor that prevented me from enjoying it was the fact that there were numerous detailed discussions about bodily functions and their accompanying sounds. Some people enjoy that type of humor; I don't. I won't discount the value of the story simply because there were elements in it that were somewhat objectionable to me because I know that not everyone feels as strongly about these matters as I do.

About the author:

Clay Morgan Wilson IV is a dentist, writer, and photographer. His college major was initially journalism but he changed to psychology because journalism required too much writing. Little did he know that psychology required even more! He entered the pre-dental program at Texas Southern University and his earned his dental degree at Howard university, graduating in 1983. His writing career began with the writing of a play for the singles group at the church he attended in Sacramento.

He is married to Linda White and has three sons, Clay V, Jonathan, and Sean. The sons of Clay Morgan in the book are named after his own sons. Clay has recently completed writing Mush II and is currently working on Mush III. In addition to continuing his dental practice, he is also a photographer and has several other books in the works. He recently earned a black belt in Martial Arts.

What a busy man he must be! His resume makes me wonder when he has time to sleep and eat!

You can purchase his book at Xulon Press Christian Bookstore.

Giveaway:

I am offering a giveaway of this book. In order to enter, you must leave a comment along with your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner. If you do not leave an email address, I will not be able to reach you and the book will be awarded to a different reader. Please be sure to leave your address in spam-proof format such as this: reader[at]email provider[dot]com. This contest will close on January 29th.

This book was provided to me by the author in exchange for my review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review and opinions expressed are my true and honest sentiments. I receive no compensation, whether monetary or otherwise, for any reviews written by me or for any other content on this blog.

Giveaways are either provided by the author or publisher or are my own personal property. I am not responsible for the content or for any comments made by the author or publisher. Giveaways are void where prohibited and, for now, are limited to the United States and Canada only. Chances of winning are dependent upon the number of valid entries. At the conclusion of every contest, a random winner is drawn and will be notified, providing they have met the giveaway stipulations. If the winner does not respond within one week, a second drawing will be held.

Coming up ... Lots of reviews and several free books too!

2011-01-15T16:03:00.002-05:00

As if the hustle and bustle of the holiday season weren't sufficient, I just had to go and get another respiratory infection. Now, as a result of not being able to do anything other than lounge around the house for several days, I have a stack of ten books waiting to have reviews written for them. In the next few days I hope to be able to post quite a few of the reviews and some, but not all, of them will have a giveaway to go along with the review. So, keep checking in at Write About Now over the next few weeks to see what is new and also to enter for a chance to win some good books.

Winners of Bonus Giveaway

2010-12-26T16:43:00.000-05:00

I am writing this post on the brand new laptop computer that was a very welcome Christmas gift from my husband who constantly worried about the fact that it was not healthy for me to sit at the computer desk for such long periods of time. He wanted me to be able to sit in a softer, more comfortable chair with my feet elevated and still be able to work on my writing. So, here I sit (recline) in comfort, all thanks to him. It may take a while to write this post because it isn't easy to get used to the difference in the keyboard after years of using a desktop computer. However, I promise to persevere long enough to announce the winners' names.

The winners of the bonus giveaway have just been drawn by my devoted husband, the same one who purchased this laptop for me. Actually, since I have just one husband, it only stands to reason that it is the same one. I know that I promised the drawing would be held on Christmas evening but it was so late by the time my two sons and their families left and then a visit had been paid to the 92-year-old matriarch of the Newby branch of the family that I felt you would all understand if I waited a few more hours. So, with no further delays, here are the latest winners:

1st place: Katy M

2nd place: karenk

3rd place: Julie

Here's how this will work:

I will send an email to each of the three winners. The first place winner will get her choice of three different books. Once she has made her choice, the second place winner will get her choice of the two remaining books. The third place winner will get the final book.

The choices are:

If by chance any of these winners fail to redeem their prize, another name(s) will be drawn until all three books are awarded. Ozark Weddings is, of course, the book around which this entire contest was centered. The copy being given away is an autographed copy signed by co-author Anita Higman. Denim and Lace is a non-fiction book about friendship and how it can be found in the most unexpected places. Field of Danger is a Steeple Hill Love-Inspired suspense story that was the discussion book several months ago by the ACFW online bookclub.

Congratulations to the winners! I only wish it were possible to award even more prizes so that I could let all of you know how much I appreciate your following my blog. Since that is not feasible, I will just ask you to stick around because another exciting giveaway will be posted very soon.

Happy New Year and God bless each and every one of you!

Bonus Giveaway ... One More Week to Enter!

2010-12-18T10:45:00.000-05:00

As I ponder the past five months and events that have transpired during that period of time, I feel very grateful and humble when I see how many followers this blog now has. It seems that it has been such a very short time since I first began to ponder the idea of creating a blog. For a long time, I was quite content to visit other writers' blogs and see what new books were being released and to read the reviews of others. The first giveaway that I won was a huge thrill because I had seldom before ever won any contests that I entered. To have someone mail me a copy of a book just for making a comment on their blog was a fascinating and exciting experience.

Then came the day when I posted my very first entry. That was on July 14th of 2010 - only five busy months ago. The number of followers of Write About Now has grown so quickly that I am astonished and overwhelmed. In order to express my deep and sincere appreciation to all of my faithful followers, I have decided to have a bonus giveaway.
For this giveaway, you can't simply say, "Please enter me in this giveaway." You will have to follow the directions in order for your entry to be valid. (Oh dear, I am in teacher mode now; I sound just like I do in the classroom when I tell the students that their answers will be marked wrong if they don't follow the directions).

In order to be entered, you will need to go to my past blog entries (shown in the right hand sidebar) and read the review of the very first book that I reviewed on Write About Now. In order to be eligible, you must first read my review of Ozark Weddings by Anita Higman and Janice Thompson. Then you must, in your comment, quote one sentence from that review. If you do not provide a quote with your entry, your name will not be put in the drawing. The drawing will be for an autographed copy of this book. Since the primary reason for this contest is to recognize the faithful followers, you MUST be a follower to be eligible to win.

In addition, a second and a third name will be drawn. It is also possible that a fourth name will be chosen, depending upon the number of entries. Those winners will receive a different book, the titles of which are as yet undetermined. One of them will be a copy of Denim and Lace, a non-fiction book about friendship by Lois Olmstead and Phyllis Rowe. However, the other title is still pending.

So there you have it. This contest will run until Christmas Day. The drawing will be held late in the day on December 25th and the winners will be notified promptly. As always, please be sure to leave your email address in spam-proof format (yourname[at]domain[dot]com) so that I can contact you if you win. If there is no email address, you cannot be entered.

Again, I would like to extend a big thanks to all of the followers of Write About Now. I am delighted to have so many new friends and I pray that each one of you will be blessed to the utmost. I hope that you leave here enriched and inspired by what you have read. If I don't 'see' you before then, have a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Winner of Love Remains...

2010-12-15T18:38:00.000-05:00

Another record has been set on Write About Now. The total number of entries for Love Remains came to a grand total of fifty-seven! From those fifty-seven entries, the winner is ...

Kait!

Congratulations, Kait! I'm sure you will enjoy reading this book. I have sent you an email and hope to hear from you soon. Kait will have one week, until Wednesday, December 22nd, to respond. If I haven't heard from her by then, another drawing will be held and a new winner selected.

In the meantime, don't forget to check out the blog posting for the latest giveaway. There will be at least three books, and possibly four, given out to express appreciation to all of you who have helped to make this blog a success. The newest giveaway will run until the evening of Christmas Day and will feature books by some really outstanding writers. Hurry and get your name added to the drawing. Be sure to read the rules as they are a little bit different from the typical giveaway.

Bonus Giveaway ... Multiple Books

2010-12-13T18:10:00.000-05:00

Today as I sit here at the computer to begin tallying the comments for the giveaway of Love Remains by Kaye Dacus, I feel very grateful and humble when see how many comments have been submitted and how many followers this blog now has. It seems that it has been such a very short time since I first began to ponder the idea of creating a blog. I was quite content to visit other writers' blogs and see what new books were being released and to read the reviews of others. The first giveaway that I won was a huge thrill because I had seldom before ever won any contests that I entered. To have someone mail me a copy of a book just for making a comment on their blog was a fascinating and exciting experience.

Then came the day when I posted my very first entry. That was on July 14th of 2010 - only five busy months ago. The number of followers of Write About Now has grown so quickly that I am astonished and overwhelmed. In order to express my deep and sincere appreciation to all of my faithful followers, I have decided to have a bonus giveaway.

For this giveaway, you can't simply say, "Please enter me in this giveaway." You will have to follow the directions in order for your entry to be valid. (Oh dear, I am in teacher mode now; I sound just like I do in the classroom when I tell the students that their answers will be marked wrong if they don't follow the directions).

In order to be entered, you will need to go to my past blog entries (shown in the right hand sidebar) and read the review of the very first book that I reviewed on Write About Now. In order to be eligible, you must first read my review of Ozark Weddings by Anita Higman and Janice Thompson. Then you must, in your comment, quote one sentence from that review. If you do not provide a quote with your entry, your name will not be put in the drawing. The drawing will be for an autographed copy of this book. Since the primary reason for this contest is to recognize the faithful followers, you MUST be a follower to be eligible to win.

In addition, a second and a third name will be drawn. It is also possible that a fourth name will be chosen, depending upon the number of entries. Those winners will receive a different book, the titles of which are as yet undetermined. One of them will be a copy of Denim and Lace, a non-fiction book about friendship by Lois Olmstead and Phyllis Rowe. However, the other title is still pending.

Again, a big thanks to all of the followers of Write About Now. I am delighted to have so many new friends and I pray that each one of you will be blessed to the utmost. I hope that you leave here enriched and inspired by what you have read. If I don't 'see' you before then, have a very merry Christmas and a blessed New Year!

Book Trailer for new book by C.J. Darlington

2010-12-09T19:00:00.000-05:00

Bound by Guilt by C.J. Darlington will release in March of 2011. I viewed the trailer for this book and immediately added it to my MUST READ list. I wanted to share it with you so you too can be watching for this book. Enjoy!

New Giveaway and Review: Love Remains

2010-12-05T15:08:00.000-05:00

Love Remains is the first book in the new Matchmaker series by author Kaye Dacus. When I think of matchmakers, I normally don't picture them as the type who are found in this series. The matchmakers in these books are a group of grandparents who are plotting to find suitable mates for their recalcitrant grandchildren.

As the grandparents of Zarah Mitchell (a long time employee of the Middle Tennessee Preservation Commission), and Bobby Patterson (who has just returned to Nashville after many years in order to work for the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit), plot to bring their grandchildren together, they are totally oblivious to the fact that Zarah and Bobby are not strangers; in fact, they have a secret past that few people are aware of - a past that could prevent them from ever being more than just members of the same singles group at their church.

To further complicate matters, Bobby's first assignment in his new position is to investigate a case of fraud in the very same Commission for which Zarah is employed. Even though the spark that has lain dormant for many years is quickly reignited when Zarah and Bobby come face to face, Bobby's hands are tied because he is being forced to include Zarah in his investigation.

I enjoyed reading Love Remains and also enjoyed the writing style of Kaye Dacus. This was the first book I have read by this author and I will be looking forward to reading many more. There were some elements of the story that I felt were too easily resolved and some elements that I felt were too vague and needed a bit more explanation. For fear of revealing too much of the plot, I won't give any more detail about those particular portions of the story. Overall however, I would recommend this book and I think you will find it to be both enjoyable and inspirational.

As I read a book, I always try to think of scriptures that are being depicted. It is my feeling that this book strongly portrays the message that can be found in Psalms 37:9: "For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." (KJV) The book of Matthew, chapter 7 and verse 7, tells us to "ask, and it shall be given you ...". Further down in that same chapter, in verse 11, we are told " ... how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask Him?'' (Once again, this scripture reference is taken from the KJV). All of these scriptures are vividly displayed in the pages of Love Remains. My apologies to the writer if this is not the message that she hoped to impart.

To read more about Kaye Dacus and her writing, visit her web site at http://kayedacus.com. Her books can be purchased at Christian Book Distributors, Barnes and Noble, Amazon, through her publisher, Barbour Publishing, or your favorite local book store.

To win a copy of this book, leave a comment below which includes your email address in spam proof format; i.e., yourname[at]domain[dot]com. For a second entry, please become a follower or tell me if you are already a follower. If you do not tell me you are a follower, even if you are, you will not receive the second chance to win. For a third chance to win, include the name of another book written by Kaye Dacus. This giveaway will run until midnight on December 18th.

A copy of this book was provided to me by Barbour Publishers for review purposes. I received no compensation for this review nor was I under any obligation to provide a favorable review. All comments are the true and unsolicited observations of this writer.

Book Review: Head in the Clouds by Karen WItemeyer

2010-12-05T00:45:00.008-05:00

I am delighted today to have the opportunity to review Karen Witemeyer's latest release, Head in the Clouds. Before I express my views, let me give you a brief synopsis of the book's plot.

Adelaide Proctor is a young school teacher who longs for a husband and a family of her own. Her teaching contract is quite explicit in stating that she cannot marry during the term of the contract. When circumstances bring a traveling book salesman, Henry Belcher, across her path, little does she realize that he is simply a worthless philanderer who already has a wife. Instead, she misinterprets his attentions and rashly resigns her position and sets off to follow him, hoping to become his bride. It matters not that Adelaide doesn't feel the spark of romance that she has always dreamed of; that will come with time, she decides.

The situation that Adelaide next finds herself in is humiliating and only her quick thinking saves her from being completely mortified. In an effort to save face and thinking that God has abandoned her, she applies for a position as governess to the daughter of rancher Gideon Wescott. Gideon has left a home of wealth and privilege in England to make it on his own as a sheep rancher in America. On his voyage to America, he aids and befriends the mother of young Isabella and becomes Isabella's guardian and adoptive father when the mother dies.

The adventures that await Miss Proctor as she assumes the role of governess to the ward of Gideon Wescott are filled with peril, adventure, excitement, humor, and, yes, with romance too. Gideon and Adelaide must unite forces to protect Isabella from her greedy and evil uncle who wants to obtain custody solely for the fortune attached.

This book is, without a doubt, one of the best books that I have read in a long while. This book of historical romance is not a book that I would normally pick up to read. As those of you who know me well know, I much prefer contemporary fiction filled with suspense and mystery. However, in giving this book a rating, I would definitely have to assign the highest marks possible. Head in the Clouds has something for everyone; the suspense and drama, interwoven with elements of rich humor, make it a book that demands that you keep turning the pages and allows no stopping point. In fact, I took the book with me to school to read on my lunch break and became so immersed in the story that I nearly forgot to stop in time for my afternoon classes. It was only the students peeking their cute little heads around the corner and asking, "Mrs. Newby, are you ready for us yet?" that brought me back to reality.

From the beautiful front cover to the final word in the text, this book captures the reader and takes them back in time on a journey fraught with peril and adventure. Through it all, Karen Witemeyer paints a picture with her words that show God's faithfulness to His own. She very adeptly depicts the premise that what man may mean for evil, God can take and use for good.

If you are looking for a good book to read, I highly recommend this book to you. If you are looking for a Christmas gift for a friend or loved one, you won't go wrong if you give them a copy of Head in the Clouds. This book can be purchased through the publisher, Bethany House, or at Amazon, Christian Book Distributors, Barnes and Noble, or your favorite local book store.

A copy of this book for review purposes was provided to me by Bethany House Publishers. I received no compensation for this review nor was I under any obligation to provide a favorable review. All comments are the true and unsolicited observations of this writer.

Congratulations to the newly elected ACFW officers!

2010-12-04T22:46:00.002-05:00

President: Margaret Daley

Vice President: Richard L. Mabry, MD

Publicity Officer: Kristin Billerbeck

Zone Officer: Eileen Key

I have been a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers for only a very short time. In that time, I have already learned that the ACFW is filled with some of the finest, most caring, and helpful people that I have ever been privileged to know. This election was the first since I became a member and I am looking forward to the coming months as these four outstanding writers assume the leadership of the organization.

Congratulations and best wishes for the coming year to our new leaders!

Congratulations to ...

2010-11-29T22:05:00.000-05:00

Charlotte Kay!

Charlotte Kay is the winner of the drawing for Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler. Charlotte, if you see this announcement, I will be sending you an email very soon.

She has one week to respond and give me her address. If I haven't heard from her by Monday, December 6th, another name will be drawn.

Thanks once again to all who participated in this giveaway drawing! It is always with mixed emotions that I announce the winner of a drawing because I wish that everyone could be the winner.

Just as soon as I can sit down at the computer long enough to write the reviews, there will be a review of Head in the Clouds by Karen Witemeyer (sorry, no giveaway with that one) and also a review AND giveaway of Love Remains by Kaye Dacus. Keep watching for these posts!

Until then, I pray God's richest blessings on each and every one of you.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

2010-11-25T13:40:00.001-05:00

Let me join in with bloggers all across the nation in wishing you a very blessed and happy Thanksgiving.

This year has brought some of the most trying and traumatic personal events I have ever been forced to face and it has been difficult at times to find the good in life. Tears have become a daily occurrence. Smiles and reasons to smile have been rare. Through it all though, God has been faithful, as always, and has given me the strength to carry on and face each new day. I am so thankful today that I know and serve a mighty God who is omnipotent, omniscient, and omnipresent. Without Him, I would not have survived recent events. With Him, I can do all things.

There Is Still Time!

2010-11-23T22:07:00.000-05:00

Don't forget to enter for the drawing for Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler. The contest will conclude on November 29th, so there are still a few more days to get your name added to the list.

New Giveaway ... Hatteras Girl by Alice J. Wisler

2010-11-13T19:08:00.007-05:00

Jackie Donovan dreams of just two things. One is a husband and the other, something she wants possibly even more than a husband, is to own and manage a bed and breakfast; but it can't be just any bed and breakfast. She has her sights set on the Bailey House Bed and Breakfast which is situated on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. This is the very same bed and breakfast that was owned by the Baileys; it was one of her favorite childhood hangouts and the place where she spent many happy hours.

While waiting for her prayers to be answered, Jackie earns her living as a writer for a magazine, Lighthouse Views. She goes on one disastrous blind date after another which are arranged by her well-meaning family members who only want to see her happily married. Then comes the day she is assigned to interview the handsome, up-and-coming young realtor, Davis Erickson. When a romance develops between Jackie and Davis and Jackie also learns that Davis is the grandson of the Baileys and current owner of Bailey House, she thinks that both of her dreams are going to be realized at once.

Hatteras Girl portrays the story of several different scriptural truths. For Jackie's friend, Minnie, the young widow and mother of the incorrigible Zane, it depicts the truth found in Psalms 30:5 (KJV) that "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning." For Jackie, it is the same lesson that King David spoke of when he said "I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined unto me, and heard my cry." (Psalms 40:1 KJV). Jackie also learned, once again in the words of King David, to "delight thyself in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart." (Psalms 37:4 KJV). Sometimes we pray and then continue to look for the answers on our own instead of giving it over to God and trusting in Him to supply our needs and wants. Sometimes, as Jackie learned, the answer is where we least expect to find it; and sometimes is right in front of us all along if we but open our hearts and minds to Him, for He always knows what is best.

This is an enjoyable and relaxing book. If you are looking for lots of tension, suspense, and excitement, this is not the book you want. If you want to sit back and relax with your favorite beverage and meet some funny, kind, and quirky characters while watching how God works in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform, then I recommend Hatteras Girl to you.

Hatteras Girl was written by Alice J. Wisler and is published by Bethany House. You can learn more about Alice and her previous books by going to her web site at www.alicewisler.com. If you have a book club and are looking for a book for discussion, there are some very nice discussion questions included in this book.

I am offering my copy of the book as a giveaway on this blog. Please leave a comment, along with your email address in spam-proof format (yourname[at]whatever[dot]com). As always, mention if you are a follower or become a follower of Write About Now for an extra chance to win. Please be sure to mention this fact in your comment. If you are a follower but do not say so in your comment, you will not receive the extra entry. This contest will run until November 28th and the winner will be announced on the blog on Monday, November 29.

Winner of "And the Beat Goes On" ...

2010-11-01T22:32:00.001-04:00

The lucky winner of the drawing for Tracy's book, And the Beat Goes On, is ...

Pixcess!

Congratulations, Pixcess! I will be contacting you for your mailing address. Readers, if Pixcess fails to respond within one week (or by Monday, November 8th), another winner will be drawn. Check back later to see if Pixcess has claimed her prize in time.

In the meantime, a new giveaway will begin later this week for yet another excellent book, Hatteras Girl, by Alice J. Wisler. Be sure to come back later in order to read the review of this book and enter for a chance to win.

Thanks to all who entered and made this giveaway successful. I am thrilled for all of the new followers and thankful for the faithful ones who returned once again.

Interview With Tracy Krauss

2010-10-23T16:25:00.002-04:00

Now that I have finally posted my review of Tracy's book, And the Beat Goes On, she has joined us today to tell us a bit more about herself. Welcome to Write About Now, Tracy! I truly enjoyed reading your book and it is a pleasure and a privilege to have you here today. Can you give us a bit of biographical background to get us started?

I am a teacher, writer, artist, theater director, worship leader – pretty much everything I do revolves around the creative process. I have three daughters and one son who are all grown up. My husband, a chronic adventurer, was also a pastor for ten years, so I have also worn the ‘Pastor’s Wife’ hat. I grew up in a small prairie town in Saskatchewan, Canada, but I have moved over thirty times in my life. Many of these moves were to remote northern locations where all kinds of improbable (and sometimes unbelievable) situations arose, usually to do with nature!

Wow! Over thirty times! And I thought that I had moved around a lot but you certainly have me beat! What were your favorite subjects in school?

I loved Art, History, English and Drama. I now teach Art, History, English and Drama. Coincidence? I don’t think so!

Do you have a favorite comfort food that you consume when you are under pressure to meet a deadline or are you one of those people who forgets about eating at such times?

I’m one of those people that forget to eat when ‘in the zone’, so I don’t have a writing comfort food. (Or any comfort food. I just like FOOD!)

I think a lot of us can agree with that statement! What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

If it counts, it is all the marketing and self promotion. Oh, for the days when someone else did it all and you could just sit back and be creative!

It counts all right! I am not yet to that point with my writing but, from all I hear from other writers, I am definitely NOT looking forward to it! How do you cope with writer's block?

I honestly don’t suffer from writer’s block. This is probably because I always have several projects on the go at once. If I get tired of one, or stall out, I just switch to something else. I’ve currently got three novels finished and in various stages of revision (this is not counting the two I either have published or in the production phase), eleven plays, three WIPs, and about 10 outlines.

That is quite an impressive resume! If you were not writing, what would you rather be doing?

Another easy question! As an artist, I often struggle to maintain some balance between my writing life and my painting and printmaking. I am also heavily involved in local theater, either directing or doing tech work. I love all of these creative pursuits.

How do you go about approaching the beginning process of a new book? Are you a plotter or a panster?

I usually start with a brief outline – kind of a rambling synopsis of the basic storyline. Then I get into characterization. I am really big on this aspect, perhaps because of my involvement in drama. I usually construct quite elaborate biographies for all my characters, even minor ones, which of course may change with the writing. Then I go back and do a more thorough plot map of the sequence of events. Sometimes I will insert bits of dialogue or description into this as I am inspired to do so. Then, it’s back to the beginning where I just start hammering out the story itself. Naturally, things evolve and change as I go along and often I need to go back and revise or change things many times. Once the first draft is finished, I’ve found it takes about five rewrites (approx) to get it where I want it before I will then give it to a critique partner for suggestions and editing. No wonder it takes me so long to finish anything!

What's up next for you, Tracy?

I am very excited about my soon to be released novel called MY MOTHER THE MAN EATER. It is a redemptive story about a forty-something cougar whose life is a mix up of men, mayhem and the mafia. The book is full of great characters and I am super pumped. I’ve already had quite a bit of interested feedback. I think the book is just as engaging as the title.

That sounds very interesting, Tracy. I will be watching for it, and I am sure that many of your fans are eagerly awaiting its release. On a parting note, do you have any words of wisdom for those of us who are still among the ranks of aspiring but as yet unpublished?

For people that are truly writers (ie: those of us that are driven to write no matter what) don’t get discouraged when it seems like nobody is listening. I have been writing for over twenty-five years, and the satisfaction I get from expressing myself through the written word is enough to keep me going, whether anyone actually reads it or not. Having said that, I believe that as a Christian my entire life (which includes my writing life) is in the sovereign care of God’s mighty hands. Therefore, I must also release that aspect of my life to Him, knowing that my success as a writer is not dependant on sales, but on obedience to what He has placed in my heart to write and on what He has gifted me to do.

There is so much wisdom in those remarks - thank you for sharing them with us. Thanks for joining us today, Tracy. It was a real pleasure to have you on Write About Now. Readers, don't forget to click on the review of Tracy's book to enter the giveaway that is currently ongoing. The giveaway will end on November 1st, so get your comments posted for a chance to win this terrific book.

Book Review and Giveaway ... And the Beat Goes On by Tracy Krauss

2010-10-21T23:40:00.004-04:00

At long last, here is the book review that I have been promising for about two weeks now. Thanks for your patience as I feverishly try to catch up on so many things that have been piling up. Did you ever have those times where you felt like you were behind on everything and, no matter which direction you turned, there was something else waiting on every side that should have been done a long time ago? Well, I am going through one of those periods in my life and I have to say that I just don't like it. The mental pressure of knowing that things are still pending that should have been done long ago is not a pleasant experience.

Enough about my problems; let us proceed to more pleasant topics.

About the book:

If you enjoy a book with lots of intrigue, hidden agendas, mystery, deceit, betrayal, and a bit of romance thrown in for good measure, then you will enjoy And the Beat Goes On by Tracy Krauss. Tracy told me that the book is officially categorized as "Romantic Suspense" but I felt that other elements of mystery and suspense were predominant and the romance was not the main element of the story.

The book begins in an ancient time in the heart of Africa in the area that is now known as Zimbabwe. (See map below for location).

Tracy certainly knows how to grab her reader and draws them in with her very first words. In her prologue, she portrays the enactment of a pagan ritual in extremely vivid detail and such gruesome acts of violence and depravity are committed that I felt unclean after reading it and felt the need to purify my mind.

She immediately jumps from this scene to the present day where Canadian-born archaeologist Mark Graham has uncovered artifacts which are the remains of the ancient civilization and proof of the existence of the mythical race of the Nephilim. His find is so startling and of such import to the scientific community that Mark is guaranteed a place in the annals of history for his discovery. Unfortunately for him, his find also places him at odds with members of governments, political factions, and even his fellow scientists. This discovery causes Mark and some of his crew to begin to rethink their stance on creation and other important Biblical events.

When Mark begins to document some of his data, the government of Zimbabwe steps in to take control of the site and suddenly Mark is not only desperately trying to salvage his research and his reputation, he is also fleeing for his life. Who is it that could possibly be so threatened by Mark's discovery that they want him dead? Who is it that will benefit from Mark's death? Tracy keeps the reader guessing throughout the book as to the answer to these questions. It is astonishing to discover the great lengths that scientists and politicians will go to in order to keep the Truth from being revealed.

Thus begins the chase and the race for Mark to reveal the results of his excavation before he is either arrested or killed. Through it all, God is dealing with Mark and showing him the truth about the reality of God's word; Mark is slowly being drawn back to a place with God that he had left behind years ago.

This book is a very well-written and suspense-filled tale and contains just enough factual material to make a plausible story; a story that will cause some people to think again about the various theories that are espoused in order to discredit the facts about the creation. I was not aware until after reading And the Beat Goes On that it is a prequel to Play It Again. I did not feel that there was anything that I could not understand due to not having read the first book and this book can stand alone quite nicely.

About the author:

Tracy Krauss grew up in Saskatchewan and has been writing stories, plays, and novels for over twenty years. She received her Bachelor of Education degree in Saskatoon and lives in British Colombia with her husband and four children. In addition to being a writer, Tracy also teaches high school English, drama, and art. To read more about Tracy, you can visit her at Expression Express.

Tracy has provided a signed copy of her book for a giveaway. This is a book that I am very reluctant to part with so whoever is the lucky winner of the giveaway will be getting an excellent prize. This is not just any book - it is a very nice hardback copy and will make a nice addition to your personal library. For a chance to win Tracy's book, leave a comment along with your email address in this format: jdoe[at]younameit[dot]com. For an extra chance to win, please let me know if you are a follower of my blog. The giveaway will run until November 1, 2010.

As stated, the book for this giveaway has been provided by the author. I am not responsible for the content or for any comments made by the author or publisher. Giveaways are void where prohibited and are limited to the United States only. Chances of winning are dependent upon the number of valid entries. At the conclusion of every contest, a random winner is drawn and will be notified, providing they have met the giveaway stipulations. If the winner does not respond within one week, a second drawing will be held.

My humble apologies ...

2010-10-13T21:04:00.000-04:00

I apologize to all of you who have been patiently waiting for the book review and giveaway that I promised was forthcoming. You know what they say about good intentions, don't you? Well, I had the best of intentions but somehow life has managed to interfere with those good intentions and has kept me away from the keyboard for far too long. I won't bore you with the mundane details but I just wanted to let you know that I am currently working on two book reviews/giveaways with two additional ones lined up to follow shortly after.

Thank you for your patience. Please keep watching because I really hope to be able to post the giveaways within the next couple of days.   That's a promise!

We had a bit of excitement at our house today. After weeks and weeks of practically no rain at all, we finally had a storm today. It was a real doozy too! One minute the skies were perfectly clear and the sun was relentlessly beating down on the dried earth. As I left the school this afternoon, I stood in the parking lot discussing with some coworkers about how hot it has been for mid-October. We were talking about the fact that it appeared as if the predicted rain was not going to happen. The newspaper today said that rain was coming but "would not be enough to make a difference." Ha! Less than a hour later the sky suddenly darkened, the wind became ferocious, and huge hailstones pelted down on the unfortunate vehicles. It was spectacular in its intensity.

Meanwhile, I had arrived home from work and gone to lay down for a minute before beginning dinner preparations. I heard the sound of heavy equipment outside the house but gave it little thought because it is, after all, harvest season and our house is surrounded by fields. Five minutes later, my husband walked in the door, calling out for me and asked me if I was unaware that there was a fire in our front yard! Yes, I was completely unaware! It seems that lightning struck one of our ancient and stately trees and, due to the fact that everything is completely bereft of moisture, it caught ablaze internally and flames were spouting quite a few feet into the air.

I am so thankful to God that the fire was no worse than it was. We live in the country, several miles from the volunteer fire station, and it could have been much worse if some Samaritan driving by had not seen the flames and called the fire department when they did.   There is a stand of trees near where the fire was that could easily have burst into flames too and the fire could have then spread to our four and a half acres of woods. Since the woods is an unofficial sanctuary for the local wildlife, that would have been a disaster.   Thankfully, all is well, the fire is out, and the rain assured that the last surviving embers were extinguished. We have lost another of the beautiful trees that were what initially attracted us to this house; but trees can, and will, be replaced and someone, many years down the road, will enjoy the tree that will be planted to replace the one that we lost today.

Coming up next ...

2010-09-23T22:06:00.000-04:00

Another book review and giveaway! Check back

next week for more details !

Great Blog Idea!

2010-09-19T12:26:00.001-04:00

I wanted to let you all know about a really fun blog that I recently learned about. It is called Christian Book Giveaways and is hosted by a very creative young lady by the name of Carman. On this blog Carman lists the current giveaways on many different blogs. It is a great place to visit for an overview of ongoing contests. She lists only Christian books, both fiction and non-fiction, so you can be assured that, if you visit a link for a book that is posted on her blog, it is a good, clean, wholesome book. You need not fear being surprised by the smut that is so prevalent in many books that are being published in this age of sin and depravity.

If you are a reader looking for a good book, I recommend that you pay a visit to Carman's blog. If you are a blogger with a book to give away, Carman's is a good place to list that contest and receive some free publicity. Everyone comes out a winner! I applaud Carman, who is a high school student, for coming up with this great idea. My latest giveaway was posted on Christian Book Giveaways and I now have several new friends and followers as a result. Check it out - I think you'll be glad you did!

Congratulations ...

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The winner of A Door County Christmas is ...

katychick

Congratulations! An email has been sent to her and she will have one week to respond with her address. If, by September 25th, I have not heard from katychick, another name will be chosen and a new winner selected.

Another giveaway is coming up real soon so stop by again for another exciting giveaway. Thanks to all who entered this contest and I hope to see you again real soon.

May God richly bless each one of you!

Jan Marie

Book Review with Giveaway ... A Door County Christmas

2010-09-11T15:03:00.004-04:00

This week has been a lot of fun with visits from each of the four authors of the Christmas collection, A Door County Christmas. Today we will wrap this series up with a review of the book and a chance to win a copy for your own reading pleasure.

The book opens with The Heart's Harbor By Cynthia Ruchti. Amanda Brooks simply wants to escape a cold, lonely Chicago Christmas and flees to Door County, Wisconsin, and the famous Heart's Harbor Victorian Inn. She gets much more than she bargained for when the owner, Lola Peterson, announces that she has been called for jury duty and is leaving Amanda in charge of preparations for the annual Christmas Tea.

Cynthia creates exceptionally interesting and realistic characters, including Harland, Lola's quirky and hilarious husband. Harland is so lovable that I found myself wishing that Cynthia would write an entire book about him.

Since I abhor reviews that reveal too much of the plot, I will say no more about this story other than the fact that it is delightful from beginning to end and paints a truly wonderful picture of how God has a plan for each of us if we will heed His calling and follow His leading.

Next, we move along to Ride With Me Into Christmas by Rachael Phillips. Rachael adroitly shows us that, just because a person is retired and has already raised a family, it doesn't mean that life is over for them. God still cares about them and understands their needs and desires. He understands their loneliness and hunger for love and companionship. Best of all, He will supply and provide for those needs, often in spite of seemingly insurmountable obstacles. You will fall in love with Joanna and Paul as they tiptoe around each other. You will laugh at the antics of their adult children who try to nip this growing romance in the bud. You will rejoice with them as love, coupled with faith, prevails.

Eileen Key introduces us to the enchanting Vestal and Hilde Grissom, who are still very much in love after many decades of marriage. In My Heart Still Beats, we follow the story of these two elderly lovebirds as they come to the realization that they must reluctantly sell their cottage. They hire Madison Tanner to drive and assist them as they go about making the necessary arrangements. It is up to Maddy to deal with the realtor and his precocious daughter when the Grissoms change their mind about selling. Through it all, the hand of God is at work to bring peace and fulfillment to those who are willing to follow His leading.

The book concludes with Christmas Crazy by Becky Melby. Jillian Galloway just thinks she is going on a Christmas vacation to Door County territory. Instead, it is up to her to rescue and salvage her uncle's dinner theater in time for the annual Christmas production. In one hilarious catastrophe and disaster after another, Jillian and the enigmatic, young, and extremely handsome Ricky rise to the occasion and overcome all obstacles so that the show can go on. Once again, we see the hand of God at work, drawing together those who are faithful in His service.

Four stories, each entirely different and unique, are bound together with the common threads of Lola Peterson's Christmas Tea and the legend of the Christmas cactus that Lola shares with the main character in each of these novellas. I enjoyed this collection so much that I read it in its entirety in one day. I recommend that you add this book to your Christmas list, both for your own pleasure and for gifts for those you love.

A copy of this book for review purposes was provided to me by the authors. I received no compensation for this review nor was I under any obligation to provide a favorable review. All comments are the true and unsolicited opinion of this writer.

For a chance to win a copy of A Door County Christmas, leave a comment along with your email address in this format: yourname[at]domain[dot]com. Become a follower for an extra chance to win. Be sure to tell me in your comment if you are a follower. This giveaway will run until September 18th, at which time a name will be randomly drawn. Who will be the lucky winner?

Interview With Rachael Phillips

2010-09-10T15:17:00.004-04:00

I am thrilled to have my friend, Rachael Phillips, with me today on Write About Now!  Rachael is the author of Ride With Me Into Christmas, one of the four novellas neatly tied together in the book A Door County Christmas. Rachael, thanks for stopping by to visit with me and my reader friends today. Can you tell us a bit about yourself for those who aren't lucky enough to know you?

I was a church music director when my unplanned writing career began. The church secretary demanded monthly newsletter articles at gunpoint. The pastors hated this task, but I loved writing humor articles based on Christian music and the Bible. From that, I began to write a column for my local newspaper and take writing classes in the adult program at Bethel College, Mishawaka, IN. There I made connections that resulted in my first biography in Barbour’s Heroes of the Faith series, Frederick Douglass. Since then, I’ve written three other biographies for Barbour (Billy Sunday, Saint Augustine, and Well with My Soul (four hymn writers), as well as more than 400 articles, newspaper columns, devotions, and stories. I’ve received the Erma Bombeck Global Award and the Genesis award for Young Adult Fiction, as well as others.   A Door County Christmas is my first published fiction.

I have been married 35 years to Steve Phillips, a country doctor, now also Taylor adjunct professor who teaches bioethics. We enjoy riding our tandem bike and have ridden almost 600 miles this summer. We have three grown married children: Beth (Frank), Christy (Bryan), and David (Janelle). We have four-going-on-five perfect grandchildren: Anabelle (6), Joey (4), Linus (2), and Jay (2). New grandbaby in January 2010.

The weekly column that you have recently begun writing for the local daily newspaper is certainly a welcome addition to that publication and your wonderful sense of humor is very evident in those articles. What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

Plowing through the second draft. The first draft is spontaneous and fun. In the third and later drafts, I can shape fascinating details on the already-established frame. The second draft involves lots of focus and choices as to what goes and what stays, and I often tremble as I chop, chop, chop what I hope is irrelevant or detrimental to the story.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, what is your favorite part of the writing process?

Playing with the story possibilities in the very early stages or polishing the shine on the final drafts.

Tell us a bit about your typical (if there is such a thing as typical) day.

Alarm goes off at 5:30. Pray with hubby for 15-30 minutes, up to study Bible and eat. Usually at my desk by 7:30 because my best writing time is in the morning. Work on the most urgent/difficult writing projects till noonish, lunch, a 30-45 minute nap, then work till hubby comes home. I tend to do easier writing, marketing, e-mail responses, most social networking in the afternoon. When I’m on deadline, I often work into the evening and beyond. I meet friends at noon to socialize and talk writing sometimes. Hubby and I take a tandem bike ride after supper or do yard/house work. Sometimes watch TV (often sports) or read together. Not a glamorous life, but I enjoy it.

Hmmm... I see nothing in your day that allows for those trips to Ivanhoe's for a sundae or a strawberry shortcake. When do you fit that into your schedule, I wonder? OK, let's play a game here and pretend that you just finished your book two days before deadline. How will you celebrate or reward yourself?

A Moose Tracks sundae at Ivanhoe’s! What else?

Aha! I knew we would get to Ivanhoe's at some point in this interview! For those of you who are clueless as to what we are talking about, I will let you in on a secret. Rachael lives in a small Indiana town that you would miss as you drive through if it were not for the fact that Taylor University is located there. Even more famous than Taylor to many people is the small restaurant/ice cream shop that is widely known for one hundred varieties of sundaes and shakes. People drive from miles around to visit Ivanhoe's and finding a parking spot in their lot is usually a major ordeal. (Rachael, do you suppose Ivanhoe's will pay me for this free advertisement?) I digress - let's get back to the interview. What’s up next for your readers?

I also just finished a women’s fiction, Kneady Women, about a lonely Boomer writer who finds fun, food and fellowship with a bread-baking group called the Loafers. I just sent it to my agent and, of course, hope it’s published! I also co-wrote a reference guide, Women in the Bible, which Barbour is publishing in February 2011.

You have certainly been busy! Don't forget that I want to be an influencer for Kneady Women; I am really looking forward to that. What were your favorite subjects in school?

English, reading courses, Spanish.

Do you tend to turn to comfort food when approaching a deadline? Are you a nervous eater or do you become so engrossed in writing that you forget to eat? What would be your first choice of comfort food?

Oh, definitely, I’m a comfort food/nervous eater! Forget to eat? If I do, you’d better worry! My first choice is ice cream sundaes—not good, since I live 3 blocks from Ivanhoe’s. Pizza’s a close second.

What is your favorite meal?

Ooh, that’s like asking me about my favorite book! WAY too many to count. I do love seafood and pasta, so it would probably be a shrimp/scallops/clams pasta dish.

Would you share with us a favorite Bible verse?

My life verse: Psalm 103:1. Above all, God has made me a worshipper.

Can you briefly describe your approach to beginning a new book?

Sitting and staring comprises a large part of it. I like to use notebook and pen to brainstorm rather than the computer. I also like to bounce ideas off other writers and my husband. I often will create characters before setting or plot. Those are often determined by how the characters act.

Do you like music when you are writing or do you prefer solitude?

Sometimes I need complete silence, but I enjoy playing classical instrumental music while I work. I rarely play vocal because I’ll sing along and lose my concentration.

How do you overcome writer’s block? Or is that a foreign concept to you?

I've struggled more with it this year—we moved from our hometown of 28 years—than I ever have. Usually it means I need to get up and do something physical, such as walking, riding our bike, working in the garden. Even doing laundry seems to help me escape the “freeze,” which is akin to a computer’s stall. If it continues, I pray, read Scripture, play the piano and sing worship songs, and/or talk with my husband and writer buds. Often I will write whatever comes to mind, even if it’s awful. I heard Anne LaMott say she often spent days filling pages with bad, bad writing, but that bad writing could be corrected. She couldn’t do anything with no writing. I try to follow her example.

All of those methods must work well for you to have been as prolific as you have been in such a short period of time. What (or who) inspires you?

Jesus, of course! And my parents, who have never stopped laughing, never stopped creating, despite hard lives and enormous obstacles.

You must have inherited your wonderful sense of humor from both of them. If not writing, what would you rather be doing?

Singing and composing. Reading. And definitely, eating.

Do you have any words of wisdom to share for those who are just starting out on the path?

Look to the Creator for creativity. And if you’re looking for an easy path, choose another.

One couldn't ask for any better advice than that! If you could choose in which you were born, what era would you prefer to live in and why?

Every era presents amazing challenges and opportunities. But if I could have followed Jesus during His ministry, I can’t imagine anything more moving.

I agree -- that would have been an amazing time to be alive! How did it transpire that you and the other three authors teamed up to write this book?

Cynthia and Becky were friends who lived in Wisconsin who loved the Door County area. I had worked with Cynthia as ACFW choir director and humor columnists for the ACFW e-zine Afictionado, and we’d known each other from earlier classes and contacts (we share the same agent). Cynthia and Becky wanted to write comic romances, and Cynthia suggested me because of my humor writing. They knew Eileen, who had already published a book, and our foursome was complete!

And what a foursome you are! I hope that you will all consider blessing us with another joint venture. Where would be your favorite place to live?

Indiana, except during March/April, when I’d rather be south. Second choice: Barcelona, Spain.

Following up on the last question, what place(s) have you not been that you would like to visit?

New England in the fall. I’d also love to visit more countries in Europe (I’ve gone to Spain, France and England).

Name three things that most people would be surprised to learn about you.

I’m far more shy than some people think. I love to watch sports live and on TV. I’ve ridden in the trunk of a 1969 Mustang going 65 mph.

You certainly surprised me just now; I never would have guessed that there is a shy bone in your body! I will definitely have to hear more later on about this wild ride in the Mustang! What was your most memorable moment from a conference.

Last year when I won my first fiction contract with Barbour!

I can readily understand why that would be a memorable event! When did you know that you were destined to become a writer?

I’m just now beginning to believe it.

How much of ‘you’ can be found in your characters?

Certainly a little in each one. But if one resembles me closely, I throw in some major curves to disassociate her with me.

Are you a plotter or do your characters tell you what direction to go?

My writing is definitely character-driven.

Rachael, it has been a real privilege to have you on my blog today. I hope that those of you who are reading this can sense what a wonderful lady Rachael is. I am lucky to be able to count her among my personal friends. I met her a few months ago when she joined a mutual friend for lunch at Ivanhoes' (of course!) and immediately I felt a special bond with her. The day we met was the beginning of one of the worst trials that I have ever had to endure and I was not my usual self. Normally I am a relatively quiet person and tend to let others take the conversational lead.   But that day I monopolized the conversation telling my lunch-mates about my woes. Rachael was so kind and supportive and didn't hesitate to pray with me right there over her empty ice cream dish. Words cannot express how appreciative I am of her friendship and I am glad to have her as a guest on my blog and to be able to provide my support for her newly released book. To learn more about Rachael and her writing, visit her web site or look her up on Facebook.

Be sure to come back tomorrow for the review of A Door County Christmas and a chance to win this wonderful collection!

Interview with Cynthia Ruchti

2010-09-09T16:00:00.001-04:00

Today's interview is the third in a series with the four writers of A Door County Christmas. Cynthia Ruchti is the author of The Heart's Harbor in this collection of four-in-one novellas. I feel very honored today to have Cynthia joining me on my blog. Cynthia, for those of you who may not be aware, is currently president of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) organization. With the national conference coming up just a week from now, I am extremely appreciative that she would take time our of her busy schedule to visit with us on Write About Now. Let's begin with some background and biographical information and then proceed to the actual interview. Cynthia, what would you like to share with us about your life to this point?

From my earliest days, I’ve had a fascination with words and stories, with their power to communicate, to heal, to bless, to press us to think. My mom spent her life caring for others, empathizing with their pain and meeting their needs as a career nurse. My father was an educator and a pastor. Learning of all forms was an important part of our family life. Dad taught music, but did not limit his curiosity to music education. He read encyclopedias and dictionaries for fun, most fulfilled if he’d learned something new. And his role as a pastor of small country churches (at one church, he “filled in” for a couple of months that turned into 22 years) encouraged me to early on to consider the truth that following Jesus is the meaning of life. I’ve had my share of opportunities to write on many subjects over the years, but writing stories that communicate that truth with compassion, empathy, and ardor makes my heart dance.

You and I have much in common - my father was a pastor and very noted teacher also. What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

I’m one of those authors who enjoys (or says she does) all parts of the process. One of the most challenging for me is creating a synopsis before I know how the story will end. I’m an intuitive, discovery-oriented writer who starts with a general idea where a story might be headed, but love to be surprised along the way.

What is your favorite part of the writing process?

Is it cheating if I say that connecting with readers who appreciate the book and are moved by the Hope hiding inside is my favorite part?

It's imperative that writers have terrific imaginations so, just for fun, let's pretend that you just finished your book two days before deadline. How will you celebrate or reward yourself?

This question made me realize that it’s an area in which I need to make significant improvement! Usually, another project is waiting for me. The “reward” is having the freedom to tackle that project. But if I could dream a little, I would say I’d like to develop a habit of celebrating a successful deadline with a weekend getaway with my husband, who is patient and pretty tolerant when deadlines loom. Usually as I hit “send” for a book or a proposal, the first words out of my mouth are, “Thank You, Lord!”

What’s up next for your readers?

I have characters and plots waiting for my attention. Faith-in-working-clothes and Hope-that-glows-in-the-dark stories that explore real life with real problems seen through the eyes of real faith. Whatever next hits the shelves will probably be that combo of heart-tugging emotions, a touch of stress-relieving humor, and word pictures that help draw readers into the story.

Everyone has to stop occasionally, even when creative juices are flowing, to replenish the natural body. What is your favorite meal?

Grilled scallops probably top the list of favorite meals. Let’s see—grilled asparagus, grilled baby Yukon gold potatoes, grape tomatoes, and may I add a few pieces of sushi? No one at my house can tolerate it, it it’s always a treat to find a great sushi place here in Wisconsin.

I'd have to agree with your family on the sushi although my daughter loves it. The first thing she did when she went off to college was to locate the nearest source of sushi. Would you care to share a favorite Bible verse?

A long time ago, someone challenged me to live out Psalm 37:4—to delight myself in the Lord (not just honor or appreciate Him, but DELIGHT) and He would mold my heart’s desires to match His. He proved the wonder of that truth many times in my life. Still does. I’ll be frustrated if I focus on the “heart’s desires” conclusion of that verse rather than on the most important part—delighting in Him.

A wonderful concept! If we delight in Him, He will delight in us! Can you briefly describe your approach to beginning a new book?

I find ideas poking their heads out of hiding and play with them as a kitten might bat around a ball of yarn. I wasn’t as organized in my early projects as I am now. I take advantage of the helps of brief outlines and character sketches, but often it’s a title, one scene, or a beginning line that sets me off and running.

Love that analogy! Do you like music when you are writing or do you prefer solitude?

I love music so much that it distracts me when writing. Silence and solitude sound sweet to my ear. Music is not white noise to my writing or even an enhancement because it teases my brain to go play with the music rather than with my characters.

How do you overcome writer’s block? Or is that a foreign concept to you?

I phone a friend who can help me push through. I reread what’s been written to that point. I just start writing, even if it’s garbage (Dumpster-diving writing) until a gem of a sentence pops out and gets me moving again. Sometimes all it takes is to immerse myself in beauty of creativity of others—nature, a great book from an author I admire, a visit to an art museum.

What (or who) inspires you?

I’m inspired by ordinary people acting heroically, by potent worship music, by the simple but profound wisdom of my grandkids, by the “aliveness” and utterly beautiful vitality of the Word of God.

If not writing, what would you rather be doing?

It’ll sound so sedentary if I say reading is my other favorite thing. I enjoy traveling. When not writing novels (and sometimes WHILE writing novels) I’m usually hard at work on other writing projects, including the radio ministry in which I’ve been involved for 31 years. I’m fascinated by the concept of home staging, too, helping homeowners stage their property to make is ready for resale. I don’t DO that sort of thing, but think I’d enjoy it.

Do you have any words of wisdom for those who are just starting out on the path?

We’re told in God’s Word to “count the cost” and to “take up (our) cross daily and follow (Him).” Although there are romantic moments in the writing life, most of it is hard work, a dying to self, agonizing over passages, whole-hearted devotion. If a writer comes into the writing life with unrealistic expectations—thinking it’s a great way to make an income, that it won’t require self-sacrifice, that a teachable spirit isn’t necessary, and they can skip over the parts they don’t like (marketing, editing, revising, learning about the industry)—that writer will soon face crippling disappointment and has little chance of success. And that’s the other word of wisdom. Writing success is less tied to sales numbers than it is tied to the joy of connecting with the heart of a reader.

Where would be your favorite place to live?

I’ve often fantasized about living in a beach cottage with wide French doors that open onto an ocean view. Door County—the setting for this current release—would make a lovely home address for me. It has that perfect mix of water, woods, rustic, classy, artistic, great restaurants, sweet harbors, charm, and culture. The older I get, the more minimalist is the dream house that lives in my imagination.

What place(s) have you not been that you would like to visit?

The less congested parts of Hawaii, if there are any. Short little four month tour of Tuscany. Glacier National Park. Nova Scotia. (This could get to be a very long answer!)

Name three things that most people would be surprised to learn about you.

I played bass drum in the marching band because they wouldn’t let me carry my bassoon. I used to sew a lot and once made my husband a powder blue leisure suit (It was the 70s. What can I say?). In the 80s I worked for a wool and knitting supply business just up the hill from our house…and rekindled a love for knitting. I was hired by the business to knit bulky v-neck sweater vests for a boutique in California. The other day I thought I saw someone wearing one of those vests!

Another thing we have in common - my bassoon teacher wouldn't even let me play in the marching band because he feared it would interfere with my embouchure and they were already top-heavy with percussion players. With conference coming up in just a few short days, can you tell us what was your most memorable moment from a conference?

Too many to mention! But one that held a strong lesson for me was while I led worship at a large writers conference near Chicago. Interior auditorium with no windows. In the middle of a worship song, the lights went out. We kept singing. No one in the large room panicked. We just kept singing until the lights came back on a short time later. What a life lesson! This is what we do to survive those times when the lights go out—we keep singing, keep worshiping—and we’ll get through by God’s grace.

That sounds like a very spiritual and blessed experience. Is there anything you would like to add before we say good-bye?

Thank you so much, Jan, for inviting me to connect with your readers this way. I’m looking forward to interacting with them.

People can find me on the Internet through Facebook, Twitter, and one of my websites: http://www.cynthiaruchti.com/ , http://www.hopethatglowsinthedark.com/ , or http://www.heartbeatofthehome.org/.

Thank you so much for joining us today, Cynthia. It has been a real pleasure. I will be praying that the conference will be a blessing and beneficial to all who attend.

Friends, join us tomorrow for the final interview in this series with Rachael Phillips.

Interview with Eileen Key ...

2010-09-08T18:03:00.000-04:00

Today we welcome Eileen Key, author of the novella My Heart Still Beats from the Christmas collection, A Door County Christmas. It's so good to have you with us today, Eileen! Here is an introduction for our readers.

Eileen Key, a retired teacher, taught middle school for thirty years and survived. She is now a freelance writer and editor. She has published eight anthology stories and numerous articles and devotionals and a cozy mystery, Dog Gone. A lifelong reader, Eileen has owned a library card from eight different cities. Eileen is an active member of Grace Community Church. Keeping up with her three grown children and their families is her delight. Any spare time is devoted to two amazing grandkids. Visit her Web site at http://www.eileenkey.com/.

What is your least favorite part of the writing process?

WAITING to see what the editor wants to cut/rewrite! Remember waiting on that pass/fail grade in school? What would the professor post? Same feeling….. I’ve been blessed with AMAZING editors that made the whole process easier.

Tell us a bit about your typical (if there is such a thing as typical) day.

I had to laugh. Typical? I work as a part-time church secretary---am at the whim of the needs of my grandchildren—love to lunch with friends—hate to shop! When do I write? Sandwiched in between any and all activities. Fortunately my office is very quiet and I get a lot done there.

I'm sure that, as a church secretary, there is not a lot of routine or boredeom in your day! Let's pretend that you just finished your book two days before deadline. How will you celebrate or reward yourself?

With my first book, I celebrated with the birth of my granddaughter. Not sure I’ll want to do that every time!   And dinner out with friends or family is always a treat!

What’s up next for your readers?

Come mid 2011 I have a cozy mystery releasing from Avalon. I really enjoy the mystery genre. My first book, Dog Gone, from Barbour was a joy.

I've always been a mystery lover too - especially on a cold winter's night when it is dark outside and the wind is howling. What is your favorite meal?

Sirloin steak from the grill and baked ‘taters. My daddy was a meat and potatoes kind of guy, so that’s what Mama made. I believe it’s my comfort food—takes me back a longgg way to childhood.

That's what my husband and I had for dinner last night! Unfortunately, it was not a very good steak and the dog ended up eating most of mine.  Would you share your favorite Bible verse?

Jeremiah 29:11. I’m so glad the LORD knows the plans he has for me. My life’s been full of unexpected turns and I’m not but what I’d been derailed without HIS guidance.

Do you like music when you are writing or do you prefer solitude?

Solitude. I’ve never been one for music while I work. I find myself caught up in the tune or listening for the words and lose my thread of concentration.

If you were not writing, what would you rather be doing?

Reading! As my bio said, I’ve carried many library cards. When I lived in one tiny Texas town with a tiny library, I started with the first fiction book on shelf A and read all the way to shelf M before we moved a year later. (Emphasis on TINY, but still…a lot of books!)

Do you have any words of wisdom for those who are just starting out on the path?

The publishing process takes TIME. And few of us love to wait. However, write/read/hone that craft/write/read/ and attend a conference or two so you might meet others. Keep at it. Articles, devotionals, letters, short stories. Whatever you can get on the page. The Lord knows the timing!

If you could choose when you were born, what era would you prefer to live in and why?

Right now. I’m afraid if I’d been a pioneer, we’d all still be in Boston… I’m a creature of comfort: air conditioning is my friend. When I get to heaven, I want to meet Mr. Carrier who invented a/c and thank him!

I'd have to agree with that! I don't think I could have made it without running water and electricity. How did it transpire that you and the other three authors teamed up to write this book?

Funny you should ask. The team approached my critique partner who was swamped with work. She pointed a finger in my direction. I said sure, why not!   When the contract came I explained to my new buddies that I’d never even been in snow! Writing about December in Wisconsin for a Texas gal? Thankfully they were up for a visit to Door County where I learned places are forced to close in winter because of that white powdery substance. Wow! Who knew? I had to be careful: my characters couldn’t pop in for a cup of coffee when a restaurant was boarded up.

I'd love to trade places with you - I am definitely NOT a snow lover! What was your most memorable moment from a conference?

Conference #2 in Houston - I met with Tracie Petersen. She held 10 pages I’d sent in for a crit.   AND didn’t laugh me out of the room. She was SO kind and encouraging, and I bless her for that.

That sounds wonderful! I was supposed to go to my first conference this year but some events transpired that changed my plans so I'm hoping that maybe I can go next year. When did you know that you were destined to become a writer?

So many people mention they knew as a child they would write.   I READ. My mother said I was born with a book in my hand. My dad predicted one day I’d write a book. But I don’t remember thinking that. In 2001, a friend asked me to edit a story she wrote. (I was an English teacher, so I should know, right?) Then she invited me to a critique group session. I went and was…taken aback to say the least… at what I heard. I went home Googled Christian+writers and found the American Christian Romance Writers. I joined, began to learn the craft and decided I’d try my hand at a book. (That was the one Tracie skimmed. Bless her heart!) Because of the friendships formed online, the encouragement, and the conferences I began this journey. God’s hand in my life, I think!

How much of ‘you’ can be found in your characters?

Quite a bit. They tend to have some “attitude” and a sense of humor.

I have to say that the humor was very much present in your novella! Are you a plotter or do your characters tell you what direction to go?

I begin with the idea, write a bit, then try to sketch out where I want to go. Not necessarily a carved in stone outline, but (especially with mysteries) an idea of where I’m going. Believe me, it’s very flexible.

It's been delightful to have you with us today, Eileen. Do you have any final thoughts you would like to add?

Thank you so much for this opportunity. It’s been fun to chat about what I love to do and get to meet some new readers. If you’ve never visited Door County, it’s amazingly beautiful! I was swept away and hope to return one day.

I'd really like to visit there. All four of you ladies have made it sound like a wonderful place to visit. However, I think I will try to plan my trip when the snow is not flying. You can read more about Eileen on her web site.

Don't forget to join us tomorrow for a visit with Cynthia Ruchti!

Interview with Becky Melby

2010-09-07T16:38:00.000-04:00

Please join me today in welcoming Becky Melby, the author of Christmas Crazy, one of four novellas in the delightful Christmas collection, A Door County Christmas. Becky, welcome to Write About Now. Would you please give us a brief biographical background for those who have never met you before?

I have been married for 38 years to Bill, my high school sweetheart. We have four married sons and eleven amazing grandchildren ranging from almost fifteen to five months. Two of our sons live close, so we have six of our grandkids near enough to see every week and thanks to Skype, we can pretend we’re in the same room with the others. I’ve co-authored nine books with my good friend of thirty-plus years, Cathy Wienke. I’m currently working on the first of a three-book contemporary series for Barbour Publishing. Tomorrow’s Sun will be released in the fall of 2011.

Sounds like a wonderful family. It must have been interesting living in a house filled with males!

Becky, I saw your tagline on your blog page and I really like it. For all of you readers, her tagline is "Warm fiction with dollops of faith and sprinkles of joy." Doesn't that sound delicious?

Tell us a bit about your typical (if there is such a thing as typical) day.

Bill is a chiropractor and he works three full days and two half days, so I try to keep similar hours. On my full days, I start out by fixing a cup of tea and a fruit smoothie, curl up in my prayer chair and do my Bible study (currently in a study on Jonah by Priscilla Shirer), spend some time talking, and hopefully listening, to the Lord, check email, read a bit of what I wrote the day before, and start writing. I’ll take breaks to throw clothes in the dryer, stretch on my exercise ball, or grab another cup of tea or a handful of almonds, but my full days are pretty much spent at the computer.

Pretend you just finished your book two days before deadline. How will you celebrate or reward yourself?

I’ll have what my oldest son and his family refer to as a “Jack Squat Day”—stay in your jammies, eat whatever you want, watch movies, read...do nothing that is not convenient. The next day I’ll start cleaning and organizing all the things that have been neglected.

Ah, that sounds like my kind of day! Everyone needs one of those every now and then. What is your favorite Bible verse?

John 15:4: “Abide in Me, and I in You.”

That verse says it all! Can you describe your approach to beginning a new book?

It’s like walking up to a gorgeous buffet table! So many possible choices for characters, conflicts, settings. I start with pencil and paper and scribble down ideas until I know my characters, the major conflicts, and where it’s going to end. Writing that first sentence has a Christmas-morning feel to it.

How do you overcome writer’s block? Or is that a foreign concept to you?

A mandatory weekly word count is essential for me because I’m not a self-starter. There are many mornings when the words crank out very slowly at first, but pick up as I get reacquainted with the original spark that started the story in motion.

What (or who) most inspires you?

I am in awe of the Creator of the Universe who gifts all of us broken and undeserving humans with creativity in so many forms. That he has allowed me to write words that I pray will please Him is so humbling and just makes me want to write more.

If not writing, what would you rather be doing?

Reading someone else’s writing. Can't wait to read another one from Cynthia Ruchti! I relished every word of They Almost Always Come Home. At the moment I'm reading Maid to Match by Deeanne Gist. I knew within the first few pages that I'd be buying the rest of her books. Besides the pile of recent releases by my bedside, I'd love to have time to read classics I should be familiar with but have never read.

Can you share some words of wisdom for those who are just starting out on the path?

Write. Lots. I was lamenting some time ago about all the unpublished stories collecting dust in drawers or taking up space in My Documents, and then I thought of my third son, who has an Art degree. The practice drawings that boy threw out could paper a small house. But the ones framed in my downstairs hall are beautiful. It’s all about practice. If you want to get good at something, do that thing, and then do it some more.

Where would be your favorite place to live?

I want to be a Gypsy! There are so many places I want to experience for a short time—longer than a vacation, but not long enough to get bored. A high-rise in Chicago, an adobe home in New Mexico, St. Augustine, San Francisco... My hubby and I dream of selling the house and upgrading our RV so we can hit the road (with frequent stops back in the Midwest to love on grandkids!)

That would be a fascinating way to live. I wonder if you would ever get tired of moving around so much. It seems to me that there is so much to see and do that there would never be enough time to see it all. What places have you not been that you would like to visit?

Alaska, Australia, the Pacific Northwest, and New England. Oh, and Italy, Ireland, Norway...

It sounds like you wouldn't run out of places to go for a long time! And just think of the material you could discover for use in future books. When did you know that you were destined to become a writer?

I’d been writing stories since I was eight, but in fifth grade my teacher put my poem about a bunny (cotton ball tail and all) on the hall bulletin board with a huge red A+ on it. At that moment I knew!

It was almost like that for me too, but I really got sidetracked along the way. How much of ‘you’ can be found in your characters?

According to my husband, all of my female main characters are me. I will agree that bits and pieces of me get woven into every character, but they are usually gutsier, more confident, and more out-spoken. Vicarious living is so therapeutic—I project my fears and short-comings onto my characters and they figure out ways to overcome!

Are you a plotter or do your characters tell you what direction to go?

I’m very much at the mercy of my characters. I have to know how the story will end before I can begin, but I leave a lot of the journey up to them. A big part of editing is lopping off rabbit trails.

Anything you would like to add?

Besides the obvious advice of write, write, write, the most essential thing for a Christian writer is to seek the Lord before you begin a project or the day. Make it your goal to please an audience of One first and foremost.

Thanks for visiting with us today, Becky. It has been a real pleasure to have you. For more infomation about Becky and her previous books, you can click here to go to her blog or her web page.

Be sure to join us tomorrow to meet Becky's fellow writer, Eileen Key.

Interview, Review, and Giveaway Coming Up ...

2010-09-06T18:06:00.001-04:00

Please join me throughout this week as I feature interviews from the four wonderful authors who collaborated on the four-in-one collection of Christmas novellas all neatly wrapped under the title of A Door County Christmas. The excitement will begin tomorrow with a visit with Becky Melby; on Wednesday Eileen Key will be featured; on Thursday I'll be joined by ACFW president Cynthia Ruchti; and on Friday Rachael Phillips will be here. The week will be wrapped up on Saturday with a review and a giveaway of their book - please stop in and join in a cup of tea (or cocoa or coffee or a Coke).

The final results are in!

2010-08-31T21:58:00.000-04:00

The winner of the drawing for Havah which, as everyone who entered the contest correctly answered, was written by Tosca Lee, is ...

Sarah!

Congratulations, Sarah! I will be sending you an email shortly and you have one week to respond.

If I don't hear from Sarah by September 6th, another drawing will be held and a new winner announced. Thanks to all who participated in the contest. I hope you enjoyed it. Of the entries that were submitted, all but one scored 100% correct on the matching quiz and one person missed only one question. Sure wish I could get those results on tests with my students at school!

Havah contest ends in two days ...

2010-08-29T14:30:00.000-04:00

The contest to win a copy of Havah will end on August 31st. Be sure to find the post in the blog archives which tells about the contest and submit your entry before it is too late. You still have an excellent chance to be the lucky winner!

Book Review

2010-08-28T23:14:00.000-04:00

Fatal Loyalty by Sue Duffy

Sue Duffy has written a book laced with tension, excitement, and subterfuge. Andie Ryborg is in danger because her father is running for governor of the state of Florida on a very strong anti-drug campaign and the drug lords are out to make certain that he is not elected. Consequently, Andie's life has been threatened and she has been forced into hiding. In spite of the fact that Andie has been assigned protection, she still senses that someone is watching her. Her home is invaded and her privacy becomes non-existent. For every move that Andie's father makes to ensure her safety, the members of the drug gang are right there to foil his efforts.

This is a very well written, generally fast-paced, and excitement-filled book. There were, however, several sections in the book where it really seemed to drag and I found my attention wandering. After a few pages, I would manage to get back into the story but there were times that I was sorely tempted to skip some pages. I persevered and did not do that for fear that I would miss some important element in the story. I later realized that I could easily have skimmed over some of those parts without losing a thing.

There were some parts of the story that I felt were weak. For example, the book kept emphasizing that Andie and other characters should trust no one; yet when a character showed up on the scene with no one to vouch for her credibility, in no time at all Andie, her father, and her father's staff were trusting this person completely and implicitly. It just seemed a bit too quick and easy for my acceptance factor, but other reviewers have not had a problem with this issue.

In spite of these minor flaws, I would still recommend this book for those who enjoy reading about drug abuse, dirty politicians, and God's omnipotence and mercy. The message of redemption and forgiveness is strong and well-done and it is for this reason that I feel this book is a worthwhile read.

Giveaway Scout

2010-08-24T21:47:00.003-04:00

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