Lyn Cote's Blog, page 111

Book Monday-Author Lyn Cote & Her Healing Ways

Here's the cover my my Love Inspired Historical, the final book, Her Healing Ways, in my "Gabriel Sisters" series about three Quaker sisters. The tag line for the series is "In the wake of the Civil War, three women combat injustice and find true love."

I've always been fascinated by the Quakers, people who actually lived out their faith in their everyday life. I also admired that they spear-headed the crusades to end slavery and grant women equal rights with men. So I was happy when my editor greeted this series with enthusiasm.


Unconventional. Unafraid. Unwelcome.

A female physician with an adopted black daughter? The townsfolk of Idaho Bend will never accept Dr. Mercy Gabriel—even when faced with a deadly cholera epidemic. But all Mercy needs is one man willing to listen…and to trust.

Four years of war command turned Lon Mackey into a footloose gambler who can't abide attachments. Yet he can't help getting riled by the threats Mercy keeps receiving. Her trailblazing courage could reignite his faith and humanity. And his loyalty could make her dream—for the first time—of a family of her own….

And here's my family, a candid photo of my dh and daughter (whose birthday is tomorrow on Pearl Harbor Day).

I also have a son who was born in December. His birthday is on the 16th. So every 9 days in December starting with my daughter's birthday, we celebrated a birthday: daughter's, son's and then Jesus's! I really enjoyed my "Christmas babies." When I sat up late in the night feeding them, I turned on the Christmas tree lights and music.

Do any of you have a December birthday in your family or maybe your have one? Did that create problems or special joys?

Author Patricia Hickman & How to Handle Our Trying Times

Here's my friend best-selling author Patricia Hickman again and what she thinks about what America is suffering now and how we can face...

These Trying Times

By Patricia Hickman

A reader who read the Millwood Hollow series asked me if I thought that America was going to go through another Depression. She also asked me if I thought God would protect his children from disaster if another Great Depression did come. The answer to whether or not we will see another Depression is not one that any of us can know until we're in its throes. And who's to say the U.S. hasn't already entered a new dark chapter. But the second question is clearly answered when placed under the microscope of scripture.

I have to say that I've never suffered so much as when I surrendered all to Christ and followed him in full time service. I've never known so much disappointment, grief, and, at times, a strong sense of abandonment. While under the weight of loss and failure, there were those who would give us a "word from the Lord," yet nothing changed. I watched my bank account dwindle and then stood paralyzed as our daughter was lost to eternity following what should have been a little fender bender. So if surrendering your will and your pocketbook to God brings you prosperity and blessings, I must have missed class on that day. One thing was clear, that I had a choice. I could choose to fear and cower or place my confidence in the One who seemed to have abandoned me.

Confidence and fear are two polar opposites. We only have to go as far as the apostle Paul to understand that the riches of faith are tied to earthly trials.

God specifically sent Paul into Philippi knowing that it would be at great cost to Paul, but of rich value to Christ's higher purposes. Notice that the only "word from the Lord" is one that seemingly sent Paul into disaster. The Spirit of God blocked Paul from going into Asia and Bithynia. He sent Paul a vision of a man inviting him to bring the gospel into Macedonia. Confidence was filling Paul's heart; but not in whether or not he'd find support to build a flourishing mega-church. His confidence was in trusting God to lead and he obeyed no matter what the cost. What followed would be considered a miserable failure by today's standards of successful ministries. Paul arrived in Philippi to find only a small group of Jews praying at the city gate. There were not enough of them to form a synagogue. Paul then entered Philippi and wound up in jail.

It's curious then that there is a book of the Bible called Philippians. Why would a church birthed of a failed leader make it on the blip of Church history in Paul's epistles?

It is because that even in what should have been Paul's deepest apology for having humiliated them all by winding up in prison that he pens these famous words from his cell:
"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all, in view of your participation in the gospel from the first day until now.

For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus."

Paul continues to shower the Philippian believers with words of great love and affection for them and expressing his yearning to be with them. From a jail cell, he encourages them to pass on the love he has showered on them. Then he explains with great joy how he has shared his faith with the prison guards. He understood fully why God had sent him straight to jail, to show forth God's love in the midst of disaster.

The events of Paul's visit launched the church at Philippi. Paul's confidence was not in the Roman treasury or the affluence of the city. The richness that resonates in Paul's letter to Philippi comes from the Christ-empowered love that pours out of Paul. His genuine love for them returns to him as joy and that is his strength.

In looking back over our trial, those who we led to Christ and then equipped to serve him are the lives that shine back to us out of our dark season. The love God poured out on us was poured out on those whose path we crossed, and not by accident.

When we understand scripture, it becomes easy to tell the difference in these trying times in knowing what is false and what is true. Our confidence is in Christ and the love he pours through us so that it becomes a shower of love in our community. It returns to us as joy. So any economic downturn is a time for rejoicing as our neighbors can see the contrast in us while we all face the same hurdles. Our response, because of Christ in us, is love poured out on them.

There's not a Depression in the world that can stop that love feast once it is enacted through trust in God. I'm confident of that.

"For the LORD will be your confidence And will keep your foot from being caught." Prov. 3:26

That gives me hope, Patricia. We never walk alone.
How are you doing in these trying times? Is God providing?


http://www.patriciahickman.com

First Page-The Soldier's Mission by Author Lenora Worth

The first page today is From The Soldier's Mission by Author Lenora Worth.

Chapter One

"She couldn't get his voice out of her head.

Laura Walton thought about the man she'd come to the desert to find. The man everyone was worried about. The man who, a few weeks ago, had called the CHAIM hotline in the middle of the night.

"My father died in Vietnam," the grainy, low voice said over the phone line. "My brother was wounded in Desert Storm. He's in a wheelchair now. And I just got back from Afghanistan. Lost my whole unit. Lost everyone. I think I need to talk to somebody."

Laura had been on call that night, volunteering to man the hotline that CHAIM held open for all of its operatives. But only one call had come to the Phoenix hotline on that still fall night. One call from a man who was suffering a tremendous amount of survivor's guilt.

Laura understood this kind of guilt. She didn't have survivor's guilt, but her own guilt ate away at her just the same. She'd lost a patient recently. A young patient who'd taken his own life. She'd failed the teenager.

She didn't want to fail Luke Martinez.

The soldier's tormented words, spoken with such raw pain, had stayed with her long after the man had hung up.

Which he did, immediately after confessing that he needed to talk."

To read a longer excerpt, click here.
http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?itemid=22733&cid=416

A Gift for You!

Friends,
I've been planning to share something with you for the past few months and have been preparing for it.

In 1984, I began writing my first manuscript. I literally ran after my two toddlers with a clipboard in my hand and wrote whenever they paused. GRIN.

Anyway I wrote that story without knowing anything about the market. In fact, I told myself just to write the book and then I'd think about marketing it. The thought of that was overwhelming at that time.

It took me three years of writing to finish my first manuscript-1,000 handwritten pages. Whew!

I found out that while it garnered interest from agents and editors, it never found a publisher.

I think that's because there are "unwritten" rules for inspirational fiction and I didn't know them or follow them. I still think it's a good story and I've revised it and am revising and improving it once more. Also I don't want it to sit ignored on my shelf forever.

So I decided to post it here as a serially each week, starting in January. That's right.
I'll be posting my first manuscript here, a few scenes each week starting Thursday January 6, 2011.

On the next two Tuesdays, the 14th and 21st, I plan to post previews for you. So be sure to drop by! And tell your friends!

The titles is LaBelle Christiane. The tag line is: Can the beautiful daughter of a French courtesan find a love that will last forever in early America?

Does that catch your interest?

And the Winners Are!

Last week I asked for people to nominate someone to receive a free autographed copy of my December book (see right column). I said two would be chosen. My dh has been way too busy to sit down and do the choosing so my friend did it. She chose Flossysmom and beemama.

I want to say that I read all the entries and I'm glad I didn't have to do the choosing. I would have been tempted to give one to each lady! If you are on GoodReads, I have posted another giveaway copy there. Also go to the right column and go down to the other blogs I follow and you'll see that I am on Christian Fiction Review today and will be giving away a book there too!

I'll be contacting Flossysmom and beemama and asking for the names and mailing addresses of the ladies they nominated. I will get the books out before Christmas--promise!

Thanks for reading and leaving comments. I love to hear what you have to say!

BTW, drop by tomorrow. I have plans for a gift to all my readers!

Author Patricia Hickman & How to Handle the Holidays When Grieving

My guest today is best-selling Author Patricia Hickman, who lost her teen daughter. She will be sharing some of her thoughts and devotions today and on the next few Thursdays. If you have a friend who is grieving the loss of a loved one, you might want to direct her here. For comfort and to read how another person coped with loss. Here's Patricia.

Grief Recovery Through the Holidays

By Patricia Hickman

After the sudden loss of our daughter, Jessica, we were warned by other grieving parents of the "dreaded holiday season." Our family had always enjoyed our Christmas fanaticism, the neighborhood lights competitions, and the many annual traditions we practiced. Having loss thrust on us suddenly, we had to reconstruct Christmas. The old traditions were too painful so it became evident that we were going to have to create a new normalcy for the holidays. Because it had always been our tradition to hang the old handmade tree ornaments made by our children over the years, pulling those precious keepsakes out for me as a mom was devastating. We discussed the issue with our sons and agreed that for at least a couple of years, we were going to keep the tree in temporary retirement.

Whether it is a tree or some other family heirloom that reminds you of the loved one you have lost, thinking of putting those types of triggers out of sight in advance of the holiday season could help to alleviate some of the stressors that may negatively affect your raw emotions.

However, that didn't mean we were going to force our boys to sit around the house glum-faced. A friend passed along a timeshare that first Christmas so we visited an island in South Carolina, a new experience for us all that created a fresh memory. We were surprised at how a change of scenery lifted our hearts out of the doldrums. The condo came with a full kitchen and we all cooked something different and fun, but not laborious.

After several years, my holiday spirit did return, the ornaments were pulled out, and I was glad to return to our old Christmas traditions.

The best gift a grieving person can give to him/herself is permission--permission to change traditions, to create new normals, to kindly say "no" to social settings that place high expectations on you. The practice of reflecting and memorializing brings more comfort than you know. Personal memorials aid your recovery like a healing balm. Holding a candle lighting service in honor of your loved one can be a comfort and allow you to reflect positively about the one you are missing. Our youngest son and I collected miniature ornaments that we felt his sister would love. We found a miniature tree with battery operated lights. We decorated the little tree, took it to the cemetery, and gave it to our Jess for Christmas. We felt as though somehow she knew and was there with us. Just as we were leaving the cemetery, a soft winter rain let go and in the dim grayness, we could see Jess's tree shining out. It was a reminder of the light of Christ that had always shown forth from her heart. That is the power of memory-on-purpose. Purposeful memories bring comfort.

The best thing you can do for yourself and your family is to be certain that you don't fall into the denial patterns of trying to act like nothing has changed. Of course everything has changed from this time forth. By acknowledging that change, you fill that empty space with new memories and reflections; you grieve freely and positively.

"We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed and broken. We are perplexed, but we don't give up and quit. We are hunted down, but God never abandons us. We get knocked down, but we get up again and keep going. Through suffering, these bodies of ours constantly share in the death of Jesus so that the life of Jesus may also be seen in our bodies." 2 Cor. 4:8-10 NLT

Thanks, Patricia. I'm awed that you were able to face the grief and deal with it. I've seen families destroyed by the loss of a child. God bless you and your family.

Do any of you have any helpful hints about how to deal with loss at the holidays? Tell us your stories.

This is Patricia's latest book. Drop by http://patriciahickman.com/ for more info about her and her great books!

First Page-Facelift by Author Leanna Ellis

First page of Facelift by Author Leanna Ellis:

"Once upon a time implies a fairy tale is about to unfold, something lush and grand and mythical, something with a happy ending. But the brothers Grimm had a twisted sense of humor and, as it turns out, "once upon a time" is actually literary gobbledygook for "impending doom."

They weren't called Grimm for nothing.

In tale after tale, "once upon a time" invariably precedes certain disaster. Just ask Snow White, Cinderella, or Sleeping Beauty. They'll back me up on this. Those innocuous few words are the harbinger of cursing fairies, parental fatalities, and death marches into dark forests for the near perfect princesses. Not that I consider myself a fairy princess by any stretch of the warped imagination, or even remotely close to perfect, but like those fair, aforementioned ladies, my own story begins with "once upon a time."

If I'd only been given a five-minute warning.



Blessings,

Leanna
Leanna Ellis
http://www.leannaellis.com
FACELIFT October 2010

Author Andrea Boeshaar & Why Strong Women Never Get Any Sympathy

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Strong women never get any sympathy. Ever notice that? Who do strong women go to when they feel like whining? Hey, it's tough wearing the weight of the world on our shoulders. Maybe that's what blogs are for.

Seriously, I never considered myself a strong woman, and yet family members and friends tell me I possess that quality. I'm someone they don't have to worry about – which is good and bad, I guess. Good because I'm not a burden but bad because I get ignored when I do need a shoulder to cry on. And let's be honest; we all need a shoulder from time to time.

Personally, I constantly remind myself to run to the Lord when I feel like crumbling like an old brick. Whenever I try to carry emotional loads, whether my own or others', they're too heavy to bear. If I try to share them with family members or friends, they're blown away. I believe this is one way God keeps me dependent on Him.

And so it was with this paradox in mind that I set out to create Sarah, my main character in my story Uncertain Heart. I wanted to show her strength and determination while illustrating her weaknesses as well. Sarah longs to assert her independence and yet she's completely dependent on others. The contradiction between self and her situation gets Sarah into all kinds of mishaps and forces her to search her heart and become the woman God wants her to be.

Uncertain Heart contains some amusing scenes which I believe readers will enjoy and yet the book's theme of whether to marry for love or money is always a winsome one. It's the second book in my Seasons of Redemption series from Realms Fiction."--Andrea

To discover more about this author, drop by
www.andreaboeshaar.com Read my blog! http://everythingwriterly.blogspot.com/
Is Andrea right? Do strong women ever get sympathy? I'm a strong woman and I know sometimes I need it!

Book Monday-Author Leanna Ellis & Facelift!

FACELIFT
ISBN: 0805449892
B&H Publishing

A 'can do' kind of woman runs her own business, raises her teenage daughter, and takes care of her ex-mother-in-law after a botched facelift. But Kaye learns a facelift is more than skin deep. Joy is more than tacking on a happy face. It's relying on her sovereign God who has a plan for her life."

I've never been tempted to even think of a facelift in the distant future! However, I do like to take care of what God gave me. Do any of you have any beauty advice? Want to hear mine????--Lyn

About the author:
Winner of the National Readers Choice Award, Leanna Ellis writes women's fiction and is known for her quirky characters and wacky plots as in her current novel, FACELIFT. But don't let the quirkiness fool you, Ellis probes the heart and plucks at the heartstrings.

In 2011 FORSAKEN, the first of an Amish/vampire series, will debut. Now that is wacky!

Amazon Purchase Link:
http://www.amazon.com/Facelift-Novel-Leanna-Ellis/dp/0805449892/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287421547&sr=8-4

Excerpt Link:
http://leannaellis.com/facelift.html

Author website and blog:

www.leannaellis.com
www.leannaellis.com/news/

Nominate someone for a free copy of my December book

Today through Sunday the 28th, I'm asking for more nominees to win an autographed copy of my December book, Her Healing Ways. Please leave a comment with their first name, why you want to thank them, and your email address written thus:
l(dot)cote(at)juno(dot). OK?And here's some info about the book.--Lyn

Unafraid, Unconventional, Unwelcome

A female physician with an adopted black daughter? The townsfolk of Idaho Bend will never accept Dr. Mercy Gabriel—even when faced with a deadly cholera epidemic. But all Mercy needs is one man willing to listen…and to trust.

Four years of war command turned Lon Mackey into a footloose gambler who can't abide attachments. Yet he can't help getting riled by the threats Mercy keeps receiving. Her trailblazing courage could reignite his faith and humanity. And his loyalty could make her dream—for the first time—of a family of her own….