Lyn Cote's Blog, page 91

Author Donita K Paul & Dragons of the Watch

My guest today is Author Donita K Paul, a woman who writes Christian romance AND FANTASY. I am a big supporter of fantasy for children. I think it feeds their imagination and helps them think creatively. I think our creativity is a reflection of the Creator. I mean our God thought up the platypus! That's creative! Here's Donita:

"With the final installment of the "Twilight" film series scheduled to be released in October, vampires and zombies are set to be among the year's most popular Halloween costumes.  Many parents feel torn between their child's love for imagination and not wanting to encourage the darker side of fantasy.

How can they encourage reading and wonder, but without all the junk?"–Donita

Answer: Meeting that precise need, popular and trusted author Donita K. Paul brings us her newest tale of dragons, adventure and faith in The Dragons of the Watch (October 4, 2011 from WaterBrook Press).

The Chronicles of Chiril continue as Ellie and Bealomondore find themselves trapped in an isolated city guarded by dragons and separated from everything they know and love. How can they escape? Along the way they meet a group of wild children and a very old man, whose needs they must meet before they can find their way home. With the help of the dragons of the watch, they discover that their fate depends upon their ability to recognize and step in line with the Creator's will.

Mrs. Paul has created a fascinating and detailed world where dragons and humans "mindspeak," tiny creatures are heroes, and gateways serve as doors to an entirely different place and experience. With a warm, accessible and humorous tone, lots of action, and avoidance of the heavy, dark elements found in much of today's fantasy fiction, The Dragons of the Watch is a great family read.

On a deeper level, it also encourages discussion of how to interact with those who do not share one's faith in a foreign culture or one's own city. The book includes a map and a glossary of characters and terms, and fans can go even deeper at DonitaKPaul.com with puzzles, recipes, resources for aspiring writers and links for homeschooling families.

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Being in the wrong place at the wrong time points the way to the right future for some beloved characters.

Ellie is a simple country girl living with her large family. Hungry for adventure, she eagerly accepts an invitation to attend the royal wedding in Chiril's bustling capital. En route, Ellie is separated from her traveling party. She finds herself lost in an enchanted city made by giants.

Unable to leave, her only companions are the wild children who roam the streets, and Bealomondore, the handsome artist and recently distinguished war hero.

Ellie and Bealomondore must solve the mystery of the city and its children in order to break the enchantment and escape the invisible walls which imprison them. Throughout their quest they learn about obedience, redemption, and love.

I know in many Christian circles fairy tales have been frowned upon. But witches, dragons, etc were put into those stories to teach children about the evil in this world–to warn them not to trust everyone. Hard lessons for a hard world. Do some child a favor and introduce them to dragons!–Lyn

Author Renee Ryan & Courting the Enemy (& #bookgiveaway)

My guest today is Author Renee Ryan who is going to tell us how to "strong" up a heroine! Here's Renee:

"Good morning, Lyn.  Thank you for having me today as your guest.  I always love stopping by and chatting.  Today, I'm going to talk about the heroine in my latest Love Inspired Historical release, COURTING THE ENEMY.  The book is set in 1943 Florida, when the United States was in the heat of WWII.  My heroine, Savannah Elliott, definitely qualifies as a strong woman.  But I'm embarrassed to say she didn't meet the necessary requirements in the first draft of this book.

COURTING THE ENEMY is about an American woman (Savannah) who finds her loyalties divided when a Nazi war plot to sabotage U.S. shipyards pits the man she calls father against the man she loves.  Neither is who he seems, but only one is guilty of treason.  Lots of conflict and tension, yes? Well, I certainly thought so.

You see, Savannah is the bookkeeper for one of the targeted shipyards.  Surely that was enough to make her a strong heroine.  After all, at the time very few women worked in the male-dominated field of accounting.  Unfortunately, my editor pointed out that Savannah appeared weak in the story.  She had no real purpose.  She was merely floating through life, allowing the events of the story to drive her actions.  After a second glance I realized my editor was right.  Once I gave Savannah a purpose beyond herself, she became a strong heroine.  She no longer reacted to the events of the story.  She took charge and even drove much of the action herself.

When I was rewriting Savannah's character, I came across the story of Peter's mother-in-law.  The text reads: Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them.  Okay, I don't know about you but this woman perplexes me.  She's on her death-bed, literally, and yet after one encounter with Jesus she's not only healed but she gets right out of bed and immediately begins waiting on Him.  Talk about a strong woman living the kind of victory meant for every one of us.   I could learn a thing of two from this woman.

All too often, I find myself more like my first version of Savannah instead a brave, modern-day version of Peter's mother-in-law.  I tend to let life happen to me instead of living every day to its fullest. I let life's hurts keep me from serving my Healer. Finger-pointing, excuse-making, playing the blame game, such easy choices when life gets hard.  The truth of the matter is that we live in a fallen world.  Life here on Earth will never be perfect.  But it took a revision letter and another look at Peter's mother-in-law for me to learn that Christ wants all of His children to live in victory on a daily basis.  Now if only I could remember that more often."–Renee

September 2011, the next in my WWII series Courting The Enemy

Mission Irresistible

His assignment: woo the beautiful widow. Savannah Elliott's father is a suspected Nazi sympathizer. Gaining her confidence could help undercover agent Trent Mueller derail a plot to sabotage the U.S. war machine. With so many lives at stake, the undercover agent can't afford to feel guilty at his deception. Nor should he find himself captivated by Savannah when her very allegiance is in question…

In war, trust is a luxury. Yet Savannah is appalled to learn that her own father is a suspected traitor. By working with Trent to discover the truth, Savannah hopes to prove her father's innocence. But if Trent's hunch is right, can love withstand the ultimate test of loyalty?

Yes, Renee, a good editor is worth her weight in gold! I count on my editor Tina James to help me see what I missed in my own stories. What do you think of Renee's chosen historical setting? Are WWII stories of interest? Why?–Lyn

Lyn Reviews Author Cheryl St John's Joe's Wife

A Little Bit of Christmas with Author Trish Perry (& a Recipe!)

My guest today for Book Monday is Trish Perry who is sharing about her Christmas novella, "Tis the Season" and giving us a recipe. Here's the scoop:

Love finds a home on Christmas morning in two heartwarming holiday stories.

Deck the Halls (Debby Mayne): In 1925, the wealthy William Tronnier becomes smitten with the lovely but penniless Lillian Pickard. Not one to give up easily, William pursues Lillian even though she does everything in her power to resist falling in love with a man from a completely different social class. As Christmas descends on the picturesque town of Cary, North Carolina, William plans to make Lillian a proposal she can't refuse.

'Tis the Season (Trish Perry): When personal chef Nikki Tronnier moves back home to Cary, North Carolina, she plans to fulfill a lifelong dream and buy back the family home built by her great-grandfather for his bride. But before she is able to make an offer, someone else buys the house. Just as she prepares for a fight, she learns that the very person who stole her dream is the man who has also stolen her heart. Unaware, handsome new owner, Drew Cornell, seeks Nikki's help in restoring the home to its historic beauty in time for Christmas.

Pickard-Tronnier Shortbread or Shortbread Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup softened butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 cups sifted flour

1 tsp. cornstarch

1 tsp. vanilla (optional)

Directions:

Mix the flour and cornstarch in a medium bowl

In a large bowl, mix softened butter with sugar and vanilla (optional) until you have a creamy consistency

Add the flour mixture to the butter and sugar.

Press the mixture into an 8″ by 8″ cake pan. (See below if you are making cookies.) Bake in a 325-degree oven for approximately 30 minutes.

Cool slightly but cut into 2-inch squares while still warm.

Directions for cookies:Follow 1-3 in the directions above.

Use a teaspoon to scoop the batter, roll it into balls, and flatten each one on a cookie sheet.For cookies, bake for approximately 15 to 20 minutes until brown around the edges.Cool before removing from the pan.

Bio: Award-winning novelist Trish Perry has written nine inspirational romances for Harvest House Publishers, Summerside Press, and Barbour Publishing, as well as two devotionals for Summerside Press. She has served as a columnist and as a newsletter editor over the years, as well as a 1980s stockbroker and a board member of the Capital Christian Writers organization in Washington, D.C. She holds a degree in Psychology.Trish just released Love Finds You on Christmas Morning, written with Debby Mayne. Her nostalgic romance novel, Unforgettable (Summerside Press), released in March and Tea for Two, Book Two in her Millicent's Tea Shop series (Harvest House), released in April. She invites you to visit her at

Winners Announced!

I'm always pleased when a guest author volunteers to give away a book to someone who leave a comment. Here are the 3 winners from this week. Authors Sandra Orchard and Barbara Phinney will be contacting you via email with the details.

For Deep Cover, desertrose5173 won.

For Glory in the Thorns, rowanwood won.

For Souvenirs, debbiemcla won.

Barbara and Sandra, thanks for being my guests! And thanks to those of you who left comments!–Lyn

Author Sandra Orchard & Finding Glory in the Thorns

My guest today is Author Sandra Orchard. She is sharing about a friend and her ministry and giving away two books! Here's Sandra:

The strongest woman I know is Lisa Jamieson.

I met her in high school when her family spent a few years in Canada for her father's work. She was always very talented with a beautiful singing voice, and at home speaking in front of a group. She married, had children, worked in a thriving home-based business with her hubby, and then with the blessing of their third child's arrival came unprecedented trials and heartache.

From the first hours after Carly's birth, the Jamiesons knew something was wrong, but had difficulty convincing doctors to be concerned. Carly couldn't coordinate her suck and swallow, screamed when touched, and rarely slept. They had to feed Carly from a special bottle while laying beside her on the floor. At nine months, Carly began to have various kinds of medication-resistant seizures. Despite daily therapies for almost two years, Carly made little developmental progress. "We were confused and overwhelmed," Lisa told me. "We kept hoping and expecting that Carly would soon catch up from her early traumas but doctors and therapists were expressing increasing hopelessness."

They soon learned their daughter had a rare, genetic disorder called Angelman Syndrome. Typically, children diagnosed with this disease never learn to talk.  Many never walk independently. But Lisa and her husband Larry were compelled to do everything they could to ensure Carly achieved her God-given potential. After much prayer, they humbly went before their church body and asked for volunteers to help them implement a developmental learning program for Carly. We're talking lots of volunteers—three at a time for one of the activities which involved moving Carly's arms, legs and head in a crawling motion—and many, many other activities under the guidance of the National Academy of Child Development.

Imagine trying to run a home-based business—the family's only source of income—while supervising a seemingly endless stream of wonderful volunteers, maintaining your home, giving your older girls some sort of family normalcy, and all while getting negligible sleep due to Carly's difficulties sleeping, not to mention frequent trips to the hospital ER.

Lisa surrounded their family with prayer warriors, many who couldn't help in person, but could uphold them in prayer. Each week she'd send out an email, celebrating God's answers to prayer, scripture verses that were speaking to them, and sharing requests. Eventually, they closed their business and her husband took a job outside the home. They remortgaged the house to raise funds to implement needed modifications to accommodate Carly's special needs.

Fast forward more than a decade. Carly is now 13 years old and is a delightful teen.  She still struggles with a lot of difficult issues that often leave her parents exhausted and sleep-deprived, but they've seen God move mightily over and over again in response to their fervent prayers.

Carly can walk, approximates a few words, feed herself, enjoys interacting with her sisters and friends, is extremely affectionate and has an infectious smile. She's been seizure free for over 5 years.

Through their challenges, Lisa and her husband Larry felt God tugging at their hearts to tell their story and reach out to help others connect in supportive, Christ-centered communities. They've written an inspiring book with accompanying small group Bible study guide, called Finding Glory in the Thorns: Hope and Purpose in Life's Painful Seasons.

They've also established a ministry called Walk Right In Ministries (http://www.walkrightin.org ) who's mission is to equip and connect people for growth in faith, obedience and hope in Jesus Christ particularly through the adverse circumstances of their lives. They speak at churches, conferences, and retreats offering hope and inspiration in the midst of their own ongoing challenges, which, in addition to Carly's needs, include Larry's job loss in the crumbling economy. Their optimism and anticipation of where God will lead them next never ceases to amaze me."–Sandra

Now about Sandra's new Love Inspired Suspense:

IDENTITY: GUARDED

Maintaining his cover cost undercover cop Rick Gray the woman he loved. Sweet Ginny Bryson never really knew Rick. He never gave her the chance. Not then, and not now, when he's back with a new alias to gather evidence against Ginny's uncle. The man's crimes led to Rick's partner's death, and Rick wants justice to be served. But his investigation is stirring up trouble, and Ginny is smack-dab in the middle. Someone wants Ginny to pay the price for what her uncle has done. But how can Rick protect her without blowing his cover, jeopardizing his assignment…and risking both their lives?

Deep Cover is the first book in the series, Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line.

Book 2 ~ Shades of Truth ~ March 2012

A compassionate youth worker fighting to preserve her dying father's legacy battles the justice-driven detective who threatens her mission and her heart.

Book 3 ~ Dose of Deception ~ TBA (title tentative)

A nurse. An undercover cop. A killer who'll stop at nothing to avoid being caught.

Bio:

Sandra Orchard lives in rural Ontario, Canada where inspiration abounds for her romantic suspense novels set in the fictional Niagara town she's created as their backdrop. Married with three grown children, when not writing, she enjoys hanging out with family, brainstorming new stories with fellow writers, and hiking or kayaking in God's beautiful creation. Her debut novel Deep Cover is in stores now, and ten percent of her book sale royalties go to support Walk Right In's sacrificial, hope-restoring ministry.

Connect with Sandra Online:

Author Barbara Phinney & Souvenirs

My guest today is Author Barbara Phinney who has written for Love Inspired and now has–just like me–dipped into the new possiblities in self-publishing with an ebook, Souvenirs. First Barbara wants to share her experience on short mission trips to Bolivia and then she'd like to give one of you a coupon for a copy of her ebook, Souvenirs. Here's Barbars:

"Strong Women! We all love to read about them, but you never fully know a truly strong woman until you minister to a woman in a third world country. I've been on 2 mission trips to Bolivia and met such women as this. The last time, we were blessed to work with a prison ministry. Some of these women are in conflict with the law, and some their husbands are so. But the children they invariably have make these women strong.

One woman I met on my first trip lived in a tiny shack, so small that she had to ask her neighbour to allow her 3 year old daughter to sleep in their equally small shack because the single bed in hers could only hold herself, her son and her infant daughter. She worked part time, and hadn't seen her husband in years. My thoughts wandered to her baby. How did she become pregnant? I don't know the truth, and would give the woman the privacy she deserves, but it spoke so clearly that this woman was indeed strong, brave, and trying her best to give her children what they needed and deserved. Thankfully, the last time I visited, I met up with her son, and they had moved into a bigger home, where they could all live together.  His mother had a steady income, now.

The other women I met lived in prison with their husbands, sent their children to the Casa De La Amistad, and each day, bravely faced the world around them.

My heroine in Souvenirs is not poor, nor does she live in a third world country, but Anna faces a similar situation. Her estranged husband has been murdered and she is the only suspect. Unless she learns to be brave, to trust God as many of the Bolivian women I met try to, she will crumble.  It's not easy for her, but when her mysterious neighbor, Brent, forces her to stand up for herself, and to remind herself that she's worth something in God's eyes, Anna learns she is brave.

Trust is hard, for third world women struggling under difficult circumstances, and even for you and me.

My heroine must learn it, and even my hero must learn to trust himself, too, if they are both to find the killer before he strikes again. We may not have dire circumstances, but we can still turn to God to help us. Ask Him and He will give. He promises that.

I've seen it work in women in Bolivia. In my own life, too. And I know it will work in yours. God's blessings!"–Barbara

Souvenirs

When Anna LaBonte's estranged husband is found murdered, she becomes the main suspect. Only one person is willing to help her, her mysterious neighbor, Brent Stirling. Brent knows the only reason he's helping Anna is to ease the festering guilt inside of him. But when the events turn personal, and he finds himself falling for Anna, Brent knows he can't walk away. But he may be risking their lives.

Bio

Barbara enjoys creative activities, and with her grown children about to leave the nest, she's anticipating getting even more creative.

Having written romance for over 10 years, mostly with Harlequin, Barbara enjoys writing suspenseful stories that inspire, uplift and entertain.

Barbara lives with her husband, some chickens and barn cats in Southern New Brunswick, Canada.

Note from Barbara: "I would love to donate a copy of Souvenirs to one of your readers."

Great, Barbara. My blog guests love free books! Now if you don't have an ereader, you can read the book on your computer in PDF version. So please leave a comment, encouraging Barbara in her writing and mission work. Have any of you taken part in a short term mission trip? Tell us about it too. I know one of my followers, Juanita, has a granddaughter serving in the far east right now. Alyssa was a guest on my blog this summer. Please pray for her. Do any of you have a missionary you'd like prayers for? If so, please tell us about them so we can say a prayer for them too.–Lyn

For more about Barbara and her books:

Lyn Reviews Author Susan Page Davis' Captive Trail

Author Sheila Lipsey & Little Copper Creatures

My guest today is Author Shelia E. Lipsey who is going to share her testimony and about a man who found blessings in "little copper creatures."  Here's Sheila:

"Stricken with polio at the age of two years old, I was left with not only pencil thin brace-clad legs but also a huge case of low self-esteem. Taunting, teasing and cruel name-calling from the kids at my school and in my neighborhood still manage to vividly interrupt my thoughts. Painfully I recall the stares and glares from curious adults who were worse than little children, gawking at my skinny legs and noticeable limp.

Godly parents who instilled in me a strong reverence for God raised me. "Shelia," my mother would say tenderly and with a voice full of compassion. "God loves you. He loves you just the way you are." However, getting me to accept and believe that was a long way off.

Instead of being all, that God designed me to be, I focused on my imperfections and became a woman who did not truly love and accept me for me. I allowed myself to go through years of physical abuse at the hands of low-lifers that only upheld my poor self-image of feeling like a nothing and a nobody. The anger I had inside about having polio would hit me full force repeatedly. It was only when I left the 2,000 member Disciples of Christ church that I had been a member of for over 10 years, and came to the little Community of Faith, that I found release and deliverance from the guilt and shame that had consumed my soul.

The doors of Community of Faith had been opened only a few months when I became a member. It was a small church of about 50-75 members. But it was a church that overflowed with love and acceptance.

I gave up on the dream of having someone in my life that would love me for me, other than my family. That is until the day I saw Rod's handsome frame standing in the doorway of our small, rented, church building. Rod appeared extremely self-assured, with an awe-catching smile that spread across his smooth, dark, handsome face. He had coal black, wavy hair with just a tinge of gray and he stood a little over six feet. His smile and his dark brown eyes seemed to envelop me when he asked me my name that beautiful Sunday morning. He had just moved back to Memphis and his mother had invited him to come to church. Even before she introduced us, my heart had begun to race wildly. I did not know what was happening inside. I only knew that there was something different, something extraordinary about him.

Right away, Rod and I began seeing each other every chance we got. Arriving at a restaurant one evening, Rod reached out his hand to help me from the car. Just as he was grabbing my crutches, he spotted an old, rusty penny lying on the pavement. He carefully reached down to pick it up and placed it in his pocket. I let out a giggle and said, "Now why on earth would you be picking up an old penny?"

"Well, these little copper creatures appear everywhere. When I spot one, I always pick it up. I take 'em home and put them in a jar. I've come to believe that God plants these pennies across my path to remind me that he loves me and that he is watching over me always." He turned the penny over and over again in his hand as if he had indeed found a treasure. I smiled but really thought no more about it. I was too excited and nervous about being on a real date with such a fine, respectable man.

Surprisingly, I told him all about my past, including my abusive relationships and marriages. He listened intently and without judgment.

"Shelia, you have to let go of the past, sweetheart. Forget about failed relationships, past mistakes, wrong choices and all of that. Remember to put God first and everything will be alright." He always spoke with such passion and strength. No wonder I had fallen in love with Rod.

He felt the same about me because after six months of dating he asked me to be his wife. By this time, I was picking up pennies myself. Rod was right; these little copper creatures, as he called them, just popped up at the most uncanny times in the strangest of places.

One evening, Rod's was preparing to take his cousin home.

I waved good-bye to the two of them. Just as I turned to go back in the house, I spotted a shiny, new penny lying at the entrance of the door. I knew it had not been there before. Surely, I would have seen it. I reached down to pick it up and added it to the overflowing jar of pennies we already had.

Rod took his cousin home and said his good-byes. Just as he was getting ready to step into his car, four men came from a breezeway leading from the apartment. They attacked Rod viciously and then shot him. They stole his life for the few dollars he had in his pocket.

As grief and anger consumed me, I cannot remember when I first noticed the pennies. I just know the copper creatures began to make their appearance in the most unusual places and at the most unusual times. One morning when I woke up, there was a shiny new copper penny lying on my bedroom floor. They appeared at the grocery store, on the parking lot, at church, at work, at home, at restaurants, everywhere! I found myself picking them up and bringing them home, placing them in an old jar. Within my spirit, I began to hear Rod say once more,  "Shelia, God plants these pennies across my path to remind me that he loves me and that he is watching over me always."

Since Rod's death, literally thousands of pennies have crossed my path. Each time one appears, it reminds me of the great love we shared and I know now that love does transcend.

It has been several years since Rod's death and I still long to have him with me. But just when loneliness hits me, just when the attacks of grief seem insurmountable, a penny, a copper creature appears, a penny from Heaven – and I know that everything will be all right. I know that Rod is with God and he is doing just fine.

God used the most tragic event I could ever experience, and through the devastation He opened new doors. Rod's death was the catalyst for my writing. At the advice of one of the ministers at church, I started journaling to keep from completely 'losing it' after Rod's murder. I always loved writing and reading, but I never imagined that by journaling I would rediscover my love for writing and reading. I am now a successful, published author of nine titles!

When I look back over the years, I never thought I would make it from that horrific day to this day. I never believed that the day would come where the hurt in my heart would be something I would learn to live with, and that God could ease that hurt through His grace and mercy.

I write today because God revealed my talents and gifts to me after going through a journey of grief that has led to doors opening for me, that I could never hope, think, or imagine.

Thank you, God for being truly omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. I love you, Lord, and I thank you for loving me."–God's Amazing Girl, Shelia

Here's the scoop on Sheila's latest book, My Son's Next Wife.

First Lady Audrey Graham is gone and her husband suffers from loneliness and the after-effects of his second stroke. Their son, Stiles, now minister of his father's church, is engaged to Detria and has found happiness at last—despite his heartbreaking divorce from Rena. Rena's now living in another state and has found a new love herself, Robert, though she resists his marriage proposals because she doesn't feel she could ever be completely forgiven for her past sins. Things take a turn for the worse when Stiles' father suffers another stroke and Detria has a miscarriage, and his faith is tested like never before. But who knows in whose arms he will land up in the page-turning conclusion to My Son's Wife series!

For more about Sheila and her books, drop by

Author Hannah Alexander & Her Latest Book & Her Latest Struggle

Today my guest is Author Hannah Alexander. This is a pen name for a married couple who write together! Neat. And they are a very neat couple–Cheryl and Mel. I am going to share about their latest book, a historical, The Wedding Kiss. They are a double threat in more ways than one. They write both historical and contemporary romantic suspense. Anyway, I always like to post more than just book info so I copied a recent blog Cheryl wrote on a group blog she participates in. Here's Hannah:

"Posted to the blog: