Lyn Cote's Blog, page 89
November 9, 2011
Author Roxanne Rustand & An Adopted Heroine
My guest today is my very dear friend Author Roxanne Rustand. She has a Thanksgiving book out this month. Here's Roxanne:
"This book is part of the Rocky Mountain Heirs series, from Harlequin Love Inspired. I was so delighted to have a chance to work with the wonderful authors who wrote the other five books in the series: Linda Goodnight, Arlene James, Lenora Worth, Carolyne Aarsen, and Kathryn Springer. I also loved the Colorado setting, as many of my books are contemporaries set in the West.
But beyond that, The Loner's Thanksgiving Wish involved a heroine who had been adopted at a young age. I was adopted when I was nearly four, after spending my earlier years in foster care, so exploring Mei's emotional journey touched my own heart. I was luckier than Mei, though, as I was blessed with a set of wonderfully warm and loving parents!"–Roxanne
THE LONER'S THANKSGIVING WISH
Roxanne Rustand
Harlequin Love Inspired
November, 2011
BACKCOVER BLURB
Adopted as a baby, Mei Clayton never felt like she belonged in her family. She left tiny Clayton, Colorado, the moment she could. Now, to fulfill the terms of a will, she must move home for a year. But when she reunites with handsome Jack McCord—the mountain-rescue expert she once secretly loved—she has to keep her distance. Their relatives have feuded for years. She'll never fit in with the Claytons if she gives in to her feelings for Jack. Unless faith and love can help open hearts in time for Thanksgiving.
Find Roxanne on the web:
November 7, 2011
Author Cynthia Ruchti & "Devos for Women on the Go!"
My guest today Author Cynthia Ruchti is one of three authors who have written another devotional book in their series, "Devos for Women on the Go!" Here's Cynthia.
"Strong women? They were at the heart of our thoughts when we four novelists (Sandra D. Bricker, Loree Lough, Trish Perry, and me) created the third in the "Devos for Women on the Go" series—His Grace is Sufficient…Decaf is Not from Summerside Press. Women who care about discovering more layers to the wonders of God's grace grow stronger every day. The devotionals we wrote for this collection reveal the fingerprints of grace on the surfaces—and the depths—of everyday life. We lived the moments, both the exhilarating and the excruciating. We found His grace more than sufficient and decaf sorely lacking.
Strong women are at the heart of His Grace is Sufficient…Decaf is Not in another significant way. A portion of the proceeds from the book is donated to OCRF—Ovarian Cancer Research Fund—in honor of those who fight to find better early detection methods, those who fight the disease, and those who love them.
The book is dedicated to our friend, author Diann Hunt, a woman of incredible strength and faith who lives each day of her current battle against ovarian cancer and its aftereffects with a commendable grace that inspires us all.
You can purchase His Grace is Sufficient…Decaf is Not at your local bookstore or online sources such as
November 6, 2011
Author Penny Zeller Offers a Giveaway & 2 Book Videos!
I'm happy to host Author Penny Zeller on my blog again. She shares about her latest heroine PLUS offers a giveaway. Don't miss the question at the end and leave a comment to be entered into the contest which ends Sunday night. Winner announced next week! Here's Penny:
"Strong women, brave stories…from the courageous women of the Bible to real-life stories in nonfiction books, to characters in fiction, strong and brave women everywhere are providing inspiration to those around them.
In my Montana Skies Historical Romance trilogy, each heroine fits into the "strong and brave" category. Today, I focus on Kaydie Kraemer in the second book, and Hailee Annigan in the third book.
In the 1800s, there was nowhere for a woman to go if she found herself in an abusive marriage. Her choices were limited. Kaydie's story takes place in 1882. While Kaydie felt alone and helpless at times while being married to an abusive man, she sought the Lord through prayer. She had faith that God would hear those prayers and that He would help her. God is not unaware of what goes on in the world He created and His heart breaks at the painful experiences His children go through at the hands of another. Psalm 139 states, "before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." God knew Kaydie's choice in a husband had led her to a life of manipulation and abuse, and He loved her, cared for her, and protected her and her unborn child.
I wanted to show throughout the pages of Kaydie that wounds from an abusive marriage do not heal overnight and there is no "quick fix." Such painful scars from the physical, emotional, and mental turmoil take time to overcome. But with God's unconditional love and help, revealed through the people He placed in Kaydie's path, she would ultimately find peace and healing.
November 2, 2011
Author Marta Perry & Her Latest Amish Heroine Katie
My guest today, Author Marta Perry, has been a good friend for many years. We both write for Love Inspired and now Marta has branched out, writing the popular Amish stories. Whether you usually enjoy Amish romance or not, you will enjoy Marta Perry's ones! Here's Marta:
"I have long been fascinated by women's handwork and the stories that handwork tells about the woman who created it. I only need look at the quilts, dresser scarves and "fancy" towels in my cedar chest for examples of handwork from my own family. My mother, grandmother, aunts, and great-aunts were seldom seen at the end of a day's work without some type of handwork in their laps. Through wartime and the Depression era, they continued to create, and I can imagine that more than a few tears sometimes dropped on the handwork in those difficult days. I need only touch the Autumn Leaf quilt my mother made for me, or the tiny postage-stamp squares of a Double Wedding Ring quilt made by a great-aunt to feel close to them.
But women's crafts carry more of a story than the personal attachment owners may feel for them. Throughout history women have used the work of their hands to express their artistry and creativity even while making useful items for their families. In ages and cultures which didn't see women as artists, women still found socially acceptable outlets for their creativity in these humble items.
For Amish women, in particular, quilts have a long tradition, and so I've wanted to write about an Amish quilter in my Pleasant Valley series for some time. Finally I have my quilter—Katie Miller, the heroine of KATIE'S WAY, Book 5 in the Pleasant Valley series from Berkley Books, which came out Tuesday, November 1st.
After a devastating loss when the man she planned to marry jilted her to wed her best friend, Katie seeks to start a new life in Pleasant Valley, opening a quilt shop. Her shop quickly becomes a center for both Amish and Englisch women to meet, share their stories, and give each other strength and support, and Katie becomes acquainted with Caleb Brand, the reserved Amish furniture craftsman in the adjoining shop.
But when Katie's promising new life is threatened by gossip and then by vandals apparently intent on attacking what they don't understand, will Katie find the strength she needs to go on? Blessings, Marta Perry
November 1, 2011
October 30, 2011
Author Angela Benson & Her Time of Testing & Trusting
Last week my guest today Author Angela Benson hosted me on her blog (Scroll down for the link to it), so tit for tat–in the best possible way. Angela and I met online first when we were both Heartquest authors about a decade ago and have waved at each other over the decade. Today she is going to tell us about her latest reissue of two great books about women caught in crises and about her own time of testing & trial. Here's Angela:
"I am excited to share with you the first two books of my Genesis House series, Awakening Mercy and Abiding Hope, in eBook format. The books were originally published by Tyndale House, but they have never been published in electronic format. They are as dear to me today as they were when I first wrote them and for the same reasons. Awakening Mercy was the first book I wrote for the Christian market, after six years of writing secular romance. While my books were always considered tame, with Awakening Mercy I was able to explore a godly relationship and courtship that emphasized the role of faith in finding and sustaining a relationship. I call it my redemption book.
In Awakening Mercy, single mother CeCe Williams has to forgive herself for the sins of her past so that she can move forward with the new man God has placed in her life. What CeCe finds is that forgiving yourself is only possible when you can forgive the person who wronged you. Awakening Mercy is a highly emotional read that makes you think about what it really means to love God, yourself and your mate. I was gratified that Awakening Mercy was named a finalist for both the Christy Award for Excellence in Inspirational Romance and the Rita Award for Excellence in Inspirational Romance.
Abiding Hope, the second book in the series, is dear to me because it's a story of married love. I wasn't married at the time that I wrote it, so I couldn't base the story on my personal experience. All I had was a burning desire to tell the story that was on my heart. In Abiding Hope, Shay and Marvin Taylor, who were introduced in Awakening Mercy, try to re-build their lives and their ministries after the death of their four-year old son. The couple has to learn to trust God again after facing such a devastating loss. Of course, those trust issues manifest themselves in how they relate to each other. When Shay decides she wants to have another baby, their faith issues escalate and challenge their marriage in new ways.
In Abiding Hope, you see what it means to trust God, your spouse and the promises God has made to you.There are elements of Awakening Mercy and Abiding Hope in my life. You see, I've been married to my own real-life hero for two years now. I knew he was a hero before I married him, but I have been reminded often in the past year as three months before our first anniversary I was diagnosed with breast cancer.
I have always considered myself a strong woman, but in the past year I've learned that one of the reasons God sent my husband to me was so that I could share his strength. I often marvel at the timeliness of my marriage and the strength and compassion my husband has shown during this last year of tests, surgery and treatments. It's comforting to know that I have his strength and faith to lean on."–Angela
Bio
Angela Benson is the bestselling author of twelve novels, two novellas and a non-fiction writing book. She is active on the web at
October 26, 2011
October 25, 2011
Book Wednesday-Author Gail Martin & Christmas Gifts Anthology
It's another Book Monday and my guest is longtime friend Author Gail Gaymer Martin. This sounds like an excellent book to buy now and read during the holiday season (after shopping, decorating and baking are done!).
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
including Small Town Christmas
Love Inspired Duet – November 2011
Mini-Matchmakers And An Old Fashion Christmas
When the new second grade teacher, Amy Carroll, meets the precocious twin sisters, she knows she has her hands full, but when she learns they live on the street where she is staying with her grandmother and they have a single father who is handsome and needs help, Amy's hands are beyond full. But Amy's from Chicago and falling in love with a small town man is not part of her plan. Can God waylay Amy's desire to return to the big city? Can Mike Russett open his heart to love?
Martin's story contains strong characters and touching scenes – Romantic Times
Multi-award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin writes Christian fiction for Love Inspired and Barbour Publishing, where she was honored by Heartsong readers as their Favorite Author of 2008. Gail has forty-nine contracted novels with over three million books in print. She is the author of Writers Digest's Writing the Christian Romance. Gail is a co-founder of American Christian Fiction Writers, a keynote speaker at churches, libraries and civic organizations and presents workshops at conference across the US. She was recently named one of the four best novelists in the Detroit area by CBS local news.
This duet novel also includes Brenda Minton's Her Christmas Cowboy
Available in all stores where books are sold and online.
To Purchase online click link:
October 24, 2011
Debut Author Noelle Marchand-What's a Steel Magnolia?
My guest today is debut Author Noelle Marchand and she tells us why and how she's a Steel Magnolia!
Sometimes I like to think of myself as a "steel magnolia". A friend once asked what that term meant and my sister and I simultaneous drawled, "A sta-rong Suthun woman!" Or, as Urban dictionary.com defines it, a southern woman who is strong and independent yet very feminine.
Kate O'Brien, heroine of Unlawfully Wedded Bride, is definitely a steel magnolia. Her parents died in a wagon accident when she was eighteen. When we meet her she's been taking care of her little brother and sister, Sean and Ellie, while running their family farm on her own for two years. She thinks she's doing fine but her siblings decide it isn't fair for her to have to do it alone. Their solution is to "order a husband for her". I don't want to give too much away but over the course of the book we see her learn a valuable lesson. While no one should a wilting lily, we have to be careful not to become so strong on our own that we aren't amenable to God's will for our lives.
I generally don't use many of my own personality traits in my character but I've seen traces of that almost overly self-reliant, independent streak in myself. Sometimes I want so badly to be the steel magnolia that is never intimidated by anything because she has her life together, cute shoes and hair that is never out of place.
The problem with that is I've been there and I know how fake that persona can be because God made a point of showing me. There was a definite season in my life where God showed me what I could do on my own without Him. It wasn't pretty. I learned my lesson and more importantly I learned to recognize and accept my weaknesses.
As soon as I did that, things turned around. Oh, I was still weak but I loved it because each time I became weak God moved in me to provide the strength I needed to complete the tasks he'd set before me. Now it's become almost a habit. I know that I am where I am today only by God's grace and through his power not my own.
I, like Kate, needed to discover the real significance of the steel magnolia. You and I are the magnolia; beautiful by design, complicated, intricate, and cleansed white by God's grace. The steel? Well, that's all God. It may not be visible all the time, you may not sense it's there, but his strength is solid like steel. It's unmovable, unshakable and only accessible when we recognize its source.
My prayer for you today is found in Ephesians 4:6, "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!"–Noelle
Bio
Noelle Marchand's love of literature began as a child when she would spend hours reading beneath the covers long after she was supposed to be asleep. Over the years, God began prompting her to write. Eventually, those stories became like "fire shut up in her bones" leading her to complete her first novel by her sixteenth birthday.
Noelle is a Houston-native who is currently a senior double majoring in Mass Communication with a focus in journalism and Speech Communication.
Though life as a college student keeps her busy, God continues to use her talent for writing as a way to deepen her spiritual life and draw her closer to Him.
October 23, 2011
The Day for La Belle Christiane Has Come–At Last!
Many of you have followed the first story of my heart, La Belle Christiane. Earlier this year I posted it a scene at a time on this blog. I got great reader feedback and encouragement. Here's how and why I decided to go ahead and publish this myself.
The Story Behind Lyn Cote Self-Publishing La Belle Christiane
About La Belle Christiane, my very first manuscript never published till now!
When I began writing my first manuscript, I literally ran after my two toddlers with a clipboard in my hand and wrote whenever they paused! I wrote that story without knowing anything about writing or marketing fiction. In fact, I told myself just to write the book and then I'd think about polishing and 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 improved it once more. I did this because I didn't want it to sit ignored in my files forever.
Now at long last I can offer it to readers both in print and for ereaders. Here's how to get your copy.
For Print Edition
To buy a print copy https://www.createspace.com/3669135
For a limited time only I'm offering an introductory discount code for $3 off $15.99 print edition, go to up click Contact and email me for the discount code.
For Digital Editions
I'm offering also offering a limited time introductory price of 99 cents for the ebook only. (I'm sure you understand the price difference between ebook and paper editions. Print books just cost more to produce because of the cost of paper, ink, printing and postage.)
