Laura V. Hilton's Blog, page 194

Carol Award Winners

Congratulations to all the winners!


Carol Awards:

Novella: A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour - Rebecca Germany, Editor)

Short Contemporary: A Father for Zach By Irene Hannon (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, Editor)

Short Contemporary Suspense: Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, Editor)

Short Historical: Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired Historical - Tina James, Editor)

Young Adult: Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell - Lonnie Hull DuPont, Editor)

Long Contemporary: Never say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House - Dave Long, Editor)

Long Contemporary Romance: Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson - Natalie Hanemann, Editor)

Mystery: The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour - Rebecca Germany, Editor)

Romantic Suspense: The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Susan Downs/Ellen Tarver, Editors)

Speculative Fiction: Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan - Sue Brower/Dave Lambert, Editors)

Long Historical: Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press - Susan Downs, Editor)

Long Historical Romance: Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Connie Troyer, Editors

Speculative: König's Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press - Jeff Gerke/C.L. Dyck, Editor

Women's Fiction: Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers - Jan Stob/Lorie Popp, Editors)

Debut Author: Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers - Kathryn Olson, Editor)

New September releases

September brings a feast for fiction fans. Survey this buffet and choose what tempts you. There are a number of Christmas-themed novella collections which are always popular for gifting and getting yourself into the spirit. They might even help cool you down from this late summer heat! Enjoy!



More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW FictionFinder website.



A Biltmore Christmas by Diane Ashley and Rhonda Gibson -- A Historical Romance from Barbour; Explore the luxuries of America's largest home through the eyes of the fictional Bradford sisters



A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City, Kansas by Erica Vetsch -- A Romance from Barbour. Hoping to leave the shadows of her shady yesteryears behind, Adeline Reid is focusing on her photography career. But when her ex-boyfriend's compatriot in crime shows up in Dodge City her entire past is threatened by exposure.



A Harvest of Hearts by Laura V. Hilton -- Shanna Stoltzfus thought nothing could make her return home to her Amish family. She was wrong. But can anything make her give up her dreams and stay?



A Heart Revealed by Julie Lessman -- A Historical Romance from Revell. Her heart is tied to a youthful vow . . . but can true love set it free?



A Log Cabin Christmas Collection by Margaret Brownley, Wanda Brunstetter, Jane Kirkpatrick, Kelly Eileen Hake, Liz Johnson, Liz Tolsma, Michelle Ule, Debra Ullrick, and Erica Vetsch-- General Fiction Historical from Revell. In a time of peril, can they find the courage to confront their fears and embrace a love that lasts?



A Marriage for Meghan by Mary Ellis -- Romance from Harvest House; An engaging story of one girl's quest for independence and true love as social prejudice tests a community's faith in a simpler world.



A Quaker Christmas by Laura Lee Bliss, Rachael Phillips Ramona Cecil, and Claire Sanders -- Romance from Barbour. Christmas is a simple matter among the Quakers of the historic Ohio River Valley, but can it be a a special time to welcome love into four households?



A Whisper of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer -- Historical Romance from Bethany House. Will Clay Selby be forced to choose between his desire to minister to the natives and the quiet nudging of his heart to spend his life with a quiet, independent Indian woman who is not a part of the tribe?



Ashes to Honor by Loree Lough -- General Fiction from Abingdon. If only he'd answered that last call from the World Trade Center....



Belonging; Where the Heart Lives Series by Robin Lee Hatcher -- Historical Romance from Zondervan; Can two bitter pasts make one sweet future?.



Captive Trail by Susan Page Davis-- Historical General Fiction from Moody Publishers; A girl has become a woman while in captivity, and a stagecoach driver longs to take her to the home she barely remembers.



Christmas at Barncastle Inn by Lynette Sowell, Susan Page Davis, Darlene Franklin, and Janelle Mowery -- Romance from Barbour; Each Christmas the Barncastle family transforms its sprawling Victorian bed and breakfast into a fantasy world through time. Will its guests also discover that forgiveness is timeless?



Deadly Pursuit by Irene Hannon-- Thriller/Suspense from Revell; A woman who protects children. An ex-Navy SEAL turned police detective. A stalker with deadly intent.



Deep Cover by Sandra Orchard-- Romance from Love Inspired; Undercover Cops: Fighting for justice puts their lives--and hearts--on the line.



Dry As Rain by Gina Holmes-- General Fiction from Tyndale; Undercover Cops: Behind every broken vow lies a broken heart. A richly engaging story of betrayal and redemption, Dry as Rain illuminates with striking emotional intensity the surprising truth of what it means to forgive.



Falling to Pieces; A Quilt Shop Murder by Vanetta Chapman-- A Cozy Mystery from Zondervan; Not your usual Amish buggy ride!



Finding Angel by Kat Heckenback-- Speculative Fiction from Splashdown Books; Angel doesn't remember her magical heritage…but it remembers her.



From This Day Forward; American Tapestries by Margaret Daley-- Historical Romance from Summerside Press; Following the War of 1812, an Englishwoman, stranded in South Carolina, pregnant and recently widowed, struggles to make a life for herself. Can a disenchanted American physician heal her wounded heart?



Hailee by Penny Zeller-- Historical Romance from Whitaker House; Can this unlikely pair come to terms with their pasts and face the future together?



Hidden in the Everglades by Margaret Daley-- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired; Michael Hunt needs Kyra Morgan's help to keep his sister safe. It will take everything they have to escape the Everglades alive.



Love Finds You on Christmas Morning by Debby Mayne and Trish Perry -- Romance from Summerside Press; Two women receive marriage proposals in the same house— 85 years apart. Love finds a home on Christmas morning in two heartwarming holiday stories.



Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming by Miralee Ferrell-- Romance from Summerside Press; While war rages in Europe, Rebekah Hendricks dreams of life far beyond the family farm in Oklahoma. And when a telegram arrives in October of 1918, she believes God has provided her way of escape.



Naomi's Gift-An Amish Christmas Story by Amy Clipston-- Romance from Zondervan; Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you'll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County.



Pirate of My Heart by Jamie Carie-- Historical Fiction from B and H Publishing; Forced to flee the only home she's ever known, Lady Kendra Townsend risks everything for a chance at finding true love in the wilds of a new America.



Remembering Christmas: A Novel by Dan Walsh-- General Fiction from Revell; Can one Christmas change a person's life forever?



Shadowed in Silk by Christine Lindsay-- Historical Romance from Whitefire Publishing; Neglected by family, Abby travels to India after WWI with her small son, only to be abandoned by her husband, a cruel stranger, and to fall in love with a man who can never return her love without offending God.



Surrender the Dawn by Mary Lu Tyndall-- Historical Romance from Barbour; You'll be swept away in this seafaring romance between a plucky damsel-in-distress and a nefarious rake who's selling out his country amid the War of 1812.



The Aristocrat's Lady by Mary Moore -- Historical from Love Inspired; She was resigned to a life without love-until she met him...



The Christmas Belles of Georgia by Debra Ullrick, Jeanie Smith Cash, Rose Allen McCauley, and Jeri Odell -- Romance from Barbour; They were sisters once—identical quadruplets—given up for adoption at birth. Now each receives a letter advising her to claim her inheritance and the family she never knew. . .at Christmas.



The Doctor's Lady by Jody Hedlund-- Historical Romance from Bethany House; Priscilla White knew God wanted her to be a missionary, not a wife. But the only way she can serve is to be married. Married in name only, her new journey will test her spirit. . . and the new longings of her heart.



The Healing; Kentucky Brothers Series by Wanda Brunstetter-- Romance from Barbour; Can Esther Beiler win Samuel Fisher's heart, or has she already lost it to an English woman? How will God untangle star-crossed lovers when jealousies and misconceptions threaten to tear them apart?



The Wounded Heart; An Amish Quilt Novel by Adina Senft-- General Fiction from Faith Words (Hachette); When she's diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a young Amish mother must choose between obedience or following her heart.



To Have and To Hold; Bridal Veil Island Series by Tracie Peterson and Judith Miller -- Historical Romance from Bethany House; Amid a time of growth and change for Bridal Veil, can Marshall and Audrey find a foundation on which to build a love to last forever?



Wings of a Dream by Anne Mateer-- General Fiction from Bethany House; While war rages in Europe, Rebekah Hendricks dreams of life far beyond the family farm in Oklahoma. And when a telegram arrives in October of 1918, she believes God has provided her way of escape.

Excerpt from Patchwork Dreams

Patchwork Dreams

by Laura V. Hilton

Whitaker House, April 2011



Chapter 1



Could he say, 'I quit?'



Could he say, 'Stop this ride, I want to get off?'



The white van passed a McDonalds on the right, then pulled off the southbound lane of Highway 60, turned left at the light, and continued down a mostly ice-covered road. The ice-laden trees, while beautiful to behold, nonetheless reflected Jacob Miller's inner turmoil. He was thankful for the heat coming from the vents. He leaned forward, his black felt hat clutched in his hands, as the vehicle lurched over a bump. Or something. Seymour, Missouri, wasn't too far from Springfield, referred to by the driver as "the Queen City of the Ozarks." But the trip dragged by in slow motion. Maybe because he'd been dreading it for so long.



Fearing it.



Having nightmares about it.



Mama's fourth cousin twice removed lived somewhere in this rural Missouri town. Jake grimaced as the van rumbled past several small businesses and then turned down a narrow dirt road.



"Not too far now. A bit anxious, are you?" The driver glanced at Jake through the rearview mirror, then reached forward and adjusted the heat. "Getting a mite warm in here."



Jake made a non-committal grunt and looked away. The driver had made a couple of attempts at conversation since picking Jake up at the bus station, but with nausea clogging his throat, he didn't trust opening his mouth to speak.



How could Daed do this to him? It seemed wrong in so many ways.



Instead of building his farm in Pennsylvania, Jake would be working the rocky red clay in southern Missouri.



Instead of marrying sweet Susie during wedding season, he'd be spending a year helping out an unknown distant cousin.



Well, if Daed thought this would destroy Jake and Susie's love for each other, he had another think coming.



Bare trees dotted the edges of someone's property, and in the distance the rolling hills made a rather hazy mountainous background picture. Pretty, though not at all like home.



Would he be able to get past the homesickness—and this streak of bitterness toward Daed—to embrace this as an adventure? A chance to learn about his country, expand his boundaries, and, more importantly, minister to this needy family member.



Too bad his pep-talk wasn't working. He didn't like the bad attitude he sported.



All too soon, the van arrived in the gravel driveway of a larger two-story farm house. The trees surrounding the haus would provide plenty of shade during the hot summer months, though now they were decorated with dripping icicles from a recent ice storm. Jacob imagined the wide front porch would be a gut place for shelling peas or shucking corn for the women folk during the harvest. A porch swing hung on one end, possibly a silent testimony to a courtship from days gone by.



A whitewashed barn stood sentry several yards away, and with a casual glance around, Jacob noted cows, horses, chickens, goats and pigs, plus the usual array of dogs and cats.



The driver pulled to a stop in front of the house. Almost immediately, the front door opened, and a woman with honey blond hair pulled back into a bun and tucked under a prayer kapp appeared.



She peered out at the van, then disappeared behind the door, before reappearing with a wrap tossed over her slim shoulders.



Jacob opened the sliding vehicle door, and clambered out as the driver went around to the back to get the baggage.



"Hello, Tony." The woman stopped in the doorway. She spoke to the driver, but her blue eyes were fixed on Jacob.



"Miz Becky." The driver bumped his hat, in what Jacob took as a greeting. "Brought your cousin by."



Becky nodded. "Jah. That I see. Welkum, Jacob."



She didn't smile, and her eyes remained somber. Distant. As cold as the wind that howled around the corner of the house. Maybe she wanted him here as much he wanted to be here.



Not so much.



Jake straightened his shoulders. Like it or not, he was here. Might as well turn on the charm and start making the best of a bad situation.



***



Want to read more? http://www.amazon.com/Patchwork-Dream...

booksigning in Melbourne AR

August new book releases

These late summer releases promise some good reading from ACFW authors. Check out the list. There's bound to be something to meet anyone's taste in reading.


More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW FictionFinder website.

A Horseman's Heart by Myra Johnson -- Romance from Barbour/Heartsong. When Kip Lorimer shows up with a horse to donate to the family's equine therapy program, Sheridan Cross can't help but be suspicious. A cowboy a thousand miles from home and living out of a horse trailer? What's wrong with this picture?

A Most Unsuitable Match by Stephanie Whitson -- A Historical from Bethany House. They are opposites in every way. . . except how neither one can stop thinking about the other.

Agent Undercover by Lynette Eason -- Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired. A little boy with a secret, a killer with a vendetta, and a man and a woman who will stop at nothing to protect the child while catching the killer.

Aquasynthesis by Grace Bridges, Fred Warren, Caprice Hokstad, P.A. Baines, Adam Graham, R.L. Copple, Travis Perry, Mike Lynch, Keven Newsome, Kat Heckenbach, and Ryan Grabow. -- Fantasy from Splashdown Books. From classic-style fantasy and science fiction stories, through speculative tales that delve deeper into motivations and meanings, we move from humor to sacrifice by a linking story that connects many very different themes.

Blue Skies Tomorrow by Sarah Sundin -- General Fiction Historical from Revell. In a time of peril, can they find the courage to confront their fears and embrace a love that lasts?

Edge of Grace by Christa Allan -- General Fiction from Abingdon. Unable to cope with her brother's news that he is gay, Caryn Becker rejects him. But when he is attacked and nearly killed, she is forced to make hard choices that take her to the very edge of grace.

Lost in Dreams, Book Two; Altered Heart Series by Roger Bruner and Kristi Rae Bruner -- Young Adult from Barbour. Eighteen-year-old Kim Hartlinger discovers the victory Jesus provides during the most trying of circumstances as she learns to lean on other Christians.

Marrying Miss Marshall by Lacy Williams -- Romance from Bethany House. Her job is to protect the town... but who will protect her heart?

Out of Control by Mary Connealy -- Romance from Bethany House. Rafe Kincaid controls everything in his life . . . until he meets Julia.

Ransome's Quest by Kaye Dacus -- Historical Romance from Harvest House. Romance, intrigue, and swashbuckling leaps of faith create a wonderfully heroic close to this beloved series.

Something Old by Dianne Christner -- Romance from Barbour. Love is rarely plain and simple.

Surrender the Dawn by Mary Lu Tyndall -- A Historical from Barbour. You'll be swept away in this seafaring romance between a plucky damsel-in-distress and a nefarious rake who's selling out his country amid the War of 1812.

The Matrimony Plan by Christine Johnson -- Historical Romance from Love Inspired. A rich girl falls in love with a poor boy -- until the tables are turned.

2011 Carol Award Finalists

2011 Carol Awards Finalists

Debut Novel:
The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund (Bethany House - Dave Long/Sharon Asmus, Editors)Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale Publishers - Kathryn Olson, Editor)Rooms by James L. Rubart (B&H Publishing - Julee Schwarzburg, Editor)



Long Contemporary:
The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)Red Ink by Kathi Macias (New Hope Publishers - Randy Bishop, Editor)Never Say Never by Lisa Wingate (Bethany House - Dave Long, Editor)


Long Contemporary Romance: Plain Jayne by Hillary Manton Lodge (Harvest House - Kim Moore, Editor)Anna's Return by Marta Perry (Berkley - Ellen Edwards, Editor)Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson - Natalie Hanemann, Editor)


Long Historical:
Here Burns My Candle by Liz Curtis Higgs (Waterbrook Press - Laura Barker, Editor)Petra: City in Stone by T.L. Higley (B&H Publishing - Karen Ball, Editor)Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren (Summerside Press – Susan Downs, Editor)


Long Historical Romance:
The Husband Tree by Mary Connealy (Barbour - Rebecca Germany, Editor)Love Finds You In Homestead, Iowa by Melanie Dobson (Summerside - Rachel Meisel/Connie Troyer, Editors)Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)


Mystery:
Mirrored Image by Alice K. Arenz (Sheaf House - Joan M. Shoup, Editor)Muslin Mystery by Vera Dodge (Guideposts - Beth Adams, Editor)The Camera Never Lies by Elizabeth Goddard (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)


Novellas:
The Prodigal Groom by Vickie McDonough (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)Ride With Me Into Christmas by Rachael Phillips (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)A Trusting Heart by Carrie Turansky (Barbour – Rebecca Germany, Editor)


Romantic Suspense:
The Silent Order by Melanie Dobson (Summerside Press - Rachel Meisel/Susan Downs/Ellen Tarver, Editors)Don't Look Back by Lynette Eason (Revell - Andrea Doering, Editor)Pursuit of Justice by DiAnn Mills (Tyndale Publishers - Karen Watson, Editor)


Short Contemporary:
The Wedding Garden by Linda Goodnight (Love Inspired - Allison Lyons)A Father for Zach by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, Editor)Winter's End by Ruth Logan Herne (Love Inspired - Melissa Endlich, Editor)


Short Contemporary Suspense:
Night Prey by Sharon Dunn (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, Editor)Legacy of Lies by Jill Elizabeth Nelson (Love Inspired Suspense - Emily Rodmell, Editor)Firestorm by Kelly Ann Riley (Love Inspired Suspense - Tina James, Editor)


Short Historical:
Her Healing Ways by Lyn Cote (Love Inspired Historical - Tina James, Editor)Promise of Tomorrow by S. Dionne Moore (Barbour - JoAnne Simmons, Editor)The Columns of Cottonwood by Sandra Robbins (Barbour - JoAnne Simmons, Editor)


Speculative Fiction:
The Wolf of Tebron by C. S. Lakin (AMG Publishers - Rick Steele, Editor)Rooms by James L. Rubart (B&H Publishing - Julee Schwarzburg, Editor)König's Fire by Marc Schooley (Marcher Lord Press – Jeff Gerke, Editor)


Suspense/Thriller:
Predator by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan - Sue Brower/Dave Lambert, Editors)Fear No Evil by Robin Caroll (B&H Publishing – Karen Ball, Editor)Medical Error by Richard L. Mabry (Abingdon Press – Barbara Scott, Editor)


Women's Fiction:
Beaded Hope by Cathy Liggett (Tyndale Publishers - Jan Stob/Lorie Popp, Editors)They Almost Always Come Home by Cynthia Ruchti (Abingdon – Barbara Scott, Editor)Beyond Summer by Lisa Wingate (NAL - Ellen Edwards, Editor)


Young Adult:
Anything But Normal by Melody Carlson (Revell - Lonnie Hull Dupont, Editor)The Healer's Apprentice by Melanie Dickerson (Zonderkidz - Jacque Alberta, Editor)Katy's New World by Kim Vogel Sawyer (Zonderkidz - Jacque Alberta, Editor)

July book releases

Below is the list of July new releases from ACFW members as reported to ACFW's Fiction Finder site. Congrats to all the authors who have books coming out this month!


More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW FictionFinder website.

Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate -- General Fiction from Penguin Praise. J. Norman, recently widowed, aging and a retired space program engineer, eventually warms up to part-time caretaker Epie, an at-risk teen, as they search for his long forgotten roots when old, buried memories of a different home, a fire, red-headed children, and a black housekeeper surface.

Dangerous Reunion by Sandra Robbins -- Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. A woman deputy sheriff on a small barrier island off the coast of North Carolina struggles to stop a crazed killer's vendetta while battling her renewed attraction to the man who broke her heart years ago.

Love Finds You in Lancaster County by Annalisa Daughety -- Romance from Summerside Press. When Amish-born Lydia Ann Raber and Southern belle Caroline DeMarco discover a shared history of loss, the unlikely duo decides to open a gift shop in beautiful Lancaster County. There each woman finds friendship, a fresh start, and a second chance at love.

Odd Little Miracles by Fred Warren -- Fantasy from Splashdown Books. Follow the twists and turns of twenty-two bizarre tales, where odd is commonplace, little things make all the difference, and miracles are everywhere, if you know where to look...

Pursued by Lillian Duncan -- Thriller/Suspense from White Rose. Reggie Meyers has spent her life pursing the American Dream, but now she's the one being pursued— by an unknown killer. Putting her trust in Dylan Monroe, a man she barely knows, will either be the best decision she ever made or the last.

Reinventing Leona by Lynne Gentry -- General Fiction from Tyndale. Residing in a parsonage is not for sissies, but living anywhere else scares the pastor's widow spitless.

The Blessed by Ann Gabhart -- General Fiction from Revell. After being pushed into marriage to her preacher husband, Lacey Bishop follows her husband to a Shaker village. A community that believes marriage is a sin. And to make matters worse, she finds herself drawn to Isaac Kingston, a man who came to the Shakers after his young bride died. But of course any notion of love between them is only a forbidden dream. How will Lacey ever find true happiness?

The Nanny's Homecoming by Linda Goodnight -- Romance from Love Inspired. After her fiancé calls off their wedding, Brooke Clayton has nowhere to go but home.

Wolfsbane by Ronie Kendig -- Thriller/Suspense from Barbour. Former Green Beret Captain Canyon Metcalfe is unnerved when Nightshade is sent to a South American jungle that holds an eerie similarity to a dark tragedy from his past.

2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award Winners

Many congratulations to the winners of the 2011 Inspirational Reader's Choice Award Winners! We're so excited for each of you!

*Long Contemporary*

1) Crossing Oceans by Gina Holmes (Tyndale)

2) Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio by Serena Miller (Summerside)

3) The Six-Liter Club by Harry Kraus (Howard)

*Short Contemporary*

1) White Roses by Shannon Taylor Vannatter (Barbour ˆ Heartsong Presents)

2) Rodeo Redemption by Teri Wilson (White Rose)

3) Tender Mercies by Mary Manners (White Rose)

*Long Historical*

1) The Preacher's Bride by Jody Hedlund (Bethany House)

2) A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin (Revell)

3) Abbie Ann by Sharlene MacLaren (Whitaker House)

*Short Historical*

1) A Matter of Character by Robin Lee Hatcher (Zondervan)

2) Walker's Wedding by Lori Copeland (Harvest)

3) The Substitute Bride by Janet Dean (Steeple Hill)

*Women's Fiction*

1) Plain Paradise by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson)

2) Chasing Lilacs by Carla Stewart (FaithWords)

3) The House on Sugar Plum Lane by Judy Duarte (Kensington)

*Romantic Suspense*

1) Too Close to Home by Lynette Eason (Revell)

2) Forget Me Not by Vicki Hinze (Waterbrook)

3) Nightshade by Ronie Kendig (Barbour)

*Novella*

1) Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Anita Higman (Summerside)

2) A Bodine Family Christmas by Marta Perry (Steeple Hill)

3) The Snowflake by Jamie Carie (Broadman and Holman)

June book releases

As we roll into June, the month holds a lot of good reads coming our way from authors. Check them out. There's something here for every taste.




More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW FictionFinder website.

A Vision of Lucy by Margaret Brownley -- Romance from Thomas Nelson. Trouble may follow Lucy wherever she goes, but with the help of God and the rugged, reclusive David Wolf, she'll never face adversity alone.

Behind the Badge by Susan Sleeman -- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. Can a rookie sheriff's deputy find a killer before the killer takes the lives of the people she loves?

Beyond All Measure by Dorothy Love -- General Fiction from Thomas Nelson. Unless she can let go of her fears and learn to trust again, Ada may lose the heart of a good man.

Broken Wings: A Novel by Carla Stewart -- General Fiction from Faith Words (Hachette). One woman clings to her memories. The other wants to erase hers. A story of an unlikely friendship birthed in providence and bathed in grace.

Forever After (A Hanover Falls Novel) by Deborah Raney -- General Fiction from Howard (Simon & Schuster). A series of arson fires at Hanover Falls rebuilt homeless shelter threatens its residents and casts new suspicions about the original fire.

Home Sweet Home by Kim Watters -- Romance from Love Inspired. Finding a home is all Abby dreamed about, until she discovers the man she falls in love with has a less permanent agenda.

Idaho Brides by Erica Vetsch -- Romance from Barbour. Experience the Wild West through the eyes of the three McConnell brothers who long to overcome their troubled childhood as drunkard's sons.

Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa by Melanie Dobson -- Romance from Summerside Press. As the rest of the nation is embroiled in the Civil War, the Amana Colonies have remained at peace—until now.

Protecting Her Own by Margaret Daley -- Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired Suspense. Protecting her own father when an assailant targets him, bodyguard Cara Madison with Connor Fitzgerald, an ex-boyfriend, searches for a would be killer while fighting her feelings toward Connor.

Purple Knot by Raquel Byrnes -- Romance from White Rose. With her faith shaken and her world cast in shadows, can Reyna trust the God she believes abandoned her?

Spring for Susannah by Catherine Richmond -- Romance from Thomas Nelson. How could a marriage possibly work when the couple has only exchanged a few letters?

The Inconvenient Marriage of Charlotte Beck by Kathleen Y'Barbo -- Romance from Waterbrook/Multnomah (Random House). Unlikely romance is sometimes just an inconvenient marriage away

The Irresistible Earl by Regina Scott -- A Romance from Love Inspired Historical. If Chase Dearborn, the powerful Earl of Allyndale, found Meredee Price's family in Scarborough, surely he'd continue his quest to challenge Meredee's stepbrother to a duel. Meredee is determined to avoid the earl at all costs.

The Story in the Stars, Gateway to Gannah, Book 1 by Yvonne Anderson -- Fantasy from Risen Books. The inhabitants of the planet Gannah are known as bloodthirsty savages who once tried to conquer the galaxy. Now a plague has ravaged the planet and only one survivor remains.

The Sweetest Thing by Elizabeth Musser -- General Fiction from Bethany House. The Sweetest Thing is the story of two girls--opposites in every way--fighting for the same thing: survival amidst tumultuous change.

The Wedding Season: The Gentleman Takes a Bride by Louise M. Gouge -- Romance from Love Inspired Historical. Surely Elizabeth Moberly was born to be a nobleman's bride. She can't possibly be attracted to the untitled stranger who interrupts her cousin's wedding.

Under a Desert Sky by DiAnn Mills -- General Fiction from Summerside Press. A race from danger...straight into the arms of love.

A Day in the Life of a Writer

A day in the life of a writer….

Did you ever wonder how some of your favorite authors spend their writing days? So did I. So, I asked. And these are the responses I got.

Maureen Lang says: My writing day begins the moment I see my two sons off to school in the morning. Since one of my boys has a disability (Fragile X Syndrome) it's a little more difficult for me to work at home when he's here. So the minute I have a quiet house, I sit down at the computer to write. If I'm just beginning a project I may spend time doing research, but once I'm into one of my story ideas I usually write from about 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., then break for lunch. I may return to the computer after that, but it isn't long before my son returns so my writing day is pretty much over. If I'm writing a first draft I usually re-read what I wrote the day before, do a bit of polishing, then continue from there. A good day for me brings as many as fifteen to twenty new pages, but when I'm just getting to know my characters it might be as few as three to six. It usually takes me about one hundred pages before I know my characters well enough for the story to flow consistently (I'm more of seat-of-the-pants writer than extensive plotter). But I will say that no matter how my writing day goes, at some point either at the beginning or the end I say a prayer of complete and utter gratitude to have a job so satisfying.


Look for the newly re-released Look to the East to complete your set of my Great War Series! This is the book that started it all, set in France just as the First World War began. Available any day now from Tyndale House Publishers, along with Whisper on the Wind and Springtime of the Spirit already on the shelves.



Maureen Lang
My website
My blog
Connect with me on Facebook
Whisper On The Wind, September 2010
Springtime of the Spirit, March 2011

***

Laura V. Hilton says: I wake up around 5:45. I spend time in prayer, then usually fall back asleep until 8 or 9. I homeschool my three girls (ages 15, 9, and 6), check email, do household chores and errands, and then I write in the afternoons. Around 10 p.m. or so, I close the computer and read recent releases until I go to bed around midnight. http://laurav.hilton.blogspot.com/ and http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Auth... Author of Patchwork Dreams (available now) and A Harvest of Hearts (coming 9-2011)

***

Linda Ford says: I awaken with my plans firmly in place. I'm going to write all day. I'm going to achieve tons. I'm enthused about the story and can't wait to get at it. First I write in my journal and have my devotions. Grab a bite to eat and check the email. Then I'm ready. Whoops. My live-in client needs me. I tend to him. Back to the computer. Open my document and begin where I started yesterday in order to connect again with the story. The phone rings. My husband is severely hearing impaired and can't hear a telephone conversation so I have to take care of incoming calls which half the time end up being annoying telemarketers who, by now, barely make a bump in my busy brain. Back to the screen. Read over what I wrote yesterday and do some editing. Crack my fingers, stretch my neck and I'm ready to begin. Suddenly I hit an invisible wall. Mentally I start to whine. I don't know what to write. I don't feel like it. I'm tired. Maybe another cup of coffee will help. This happens every morning. Yup, every morning. One way I get through it is set the little timer I keep handy for 15 or 20 minutes and force myself to write anything. But why waste my time? I might as well write about the story. Most times this gets me going. I sort of know why I balk every morning. I think it's because once I'm in the story I'm in another world and getting there takes effort. Also, writing emotional stuff is draining. But I succeed and sometimes, despite the phone and the needs of my client, I manage to get a good amount done. (5000 words is a good amount.) The ironic thing is at the close of the day (and that hour depends on other tasks requiring my attention) I hate to shut down the computer. Coming back out of the fictional world is not hard but it is a jolt.

Linda Ford's website is www.lindaford.org

Her latest book is Klondike Medicine Woman (Love Inspired Historical) available now. (May 2011)

***

Max Elliot Anderson says: For nearly 4 years, I wrote straight through until 36 manuscripts were finished. In the beginning, I had no agent and no publisher, but I kept on writing. Then my first publisher went bankrupt, but I kept on writing. Today I spend most of my time in promotion, marketing, and platform building. By the end of this year, 8 or 9 of my books will be published. The next book to be released is When the Lights Go Out. It's for readers 8 and up, especially boys, to release in time for the 10th anniversary of 9/11, so we never forget. http://max-whenlightsgoout.blogspot.com I'm looking forward to writing again in the future.

***

David C. Marx says: I am retired. I write when my wife is away. She is involved in a number of civic events. When she is attending a meeting, i have a quiet setting. I am able to jot notes of scenes, finish episodes of a character, do research, begin a new chapter, etc. Oh yes, I am able to revise and even read aloud revisions.

David C Marx

Heather Young (2011)

***

Rosanna M. White says: My life is pretty much the same from day-to-day, so be prepare to be wowed. Ready? Here it goes. Somewhere between 6 and 7, one or both of my kids (ages 3 and 5) come bounding up the stairs. The wake-up varies from "Mwaaaaaaaa!" to "Mommy! Mommy, yake up! Is it morning? Mommy! Can we play?" (I prefer the second, LOL.) After pulling myself out of bed and down the stairs, I get them both breakfast, check my email, post my blog, get them some other breakfast usually, or a drink, indulge in a cup of coffee, force myself to suffer through a workout, shower, cajole my daughter to her desk for school, try in vain to squeeze some writing in, and pray for
naptime to come SOON. ;-)

First, though, I must feed them lunch. At which point I realize I haven't
yet eaten breakfast. I manage both, then get the boy-o into bed. I finish
up school with my daughter, then finally, FINALLY get to open my
work-in-progress. I write frantically until naptime is over (parrying
requests from the girl-o for ice cream every five minutes), and when my
son's up again I realize that, oops, I haven't planned dinner. After trying
to get out of it for half an hour, I finally give in and go to the kitchen,
where I put together a usually-pathetic-excuse for dinner, then look around
and realize my house exploded while I was lost in novel-land.

So after dinner is often spent trying to pick up the wreckage, while the
kids follow behind me pulling out everything I put away. We have a nightly
book-reading ritual, I wrestle them into their jammies, hubby joins us for
the pre-sleep hide-and-seek game and helps with tucking in, then I get my
cuddle time with the man of my dreams. Unless a hockey game is on, in which
case I get time to read or write some more. =)
--
Roseanna M. White
LOVE FINDS YOU IN ANNAPOLIS, MARYLAND coming December 2011
JEWEL OF PERSIA, ebook available now, print coming June 2011

***

Roger Brunner says: I normally get up at 6:30 when my wife has to be up. I fix breakfast and then check email, news, Facebook, and Twitter. Usually, by the time she leaves at 7:45, I'm ready to start writing. I do my writing from the living room loveseat, using either my Dell Vostro laptop or my new Toshiba netbook, which is considerably lighter and more comfortable. I usually get up and stretch at least five minutes every hour, and at some point I have a mid-morning snack and go to 7/11 to get my daily fountain drink refill. That may take up to thirty minutes. So by the time my wife comes home for lunch (around 12:45), I am apt to have put in three to three-and-a-half good writing hours. I'm forming a new afternoon habit: taking the Toshiba to the wi-fi cafeteria area at the grocery store about a mile up the road. It's a nice break to actually be working at a table. I usually stay there about two hours. Whether I do additional writing later at home (during the evening specifically) depends, but I frequently do marketing-related activities then--after supper and exercise time. As a full-time writer who doesn't have a current deadline, I have to admit that this "typical" day is subject to tremendous variations. (For example, I play at a nursing home on Wednesday mornings and seldom attempt any writing Wednesday afternoon.)

Young Adult Christian fiction rippling with laughter, tears, and YES! moments
Found in Translation (Barbour, January 2011); Lost in Dreams (Barbour, August 2011)
RogerBruner.com<>Facebook.com/Roger.Bruner

***

Margeret Browley turned on computer and hit the coffeepot at a little after four this morning. Ready to work. Today the goal is to write 5000 words—or bust.

Five a.m. Five hundred words miraculously appeared on my screen—kept two.

Checked email.

Six a.m. Wrote another five hundred words—kept three. I'm on a roll. I now have one beautifully composed sentence.

Checked email.

Seven a.m. Wrote five hundred words—dumped everything I'd written so far today.

Checked email.

Eight a.m. Made another pot of coffee. Rewrote goal: 100 words or bust.

Coming in June: A Vision of Lucy

Coming in September: A Log Cabin Christmas Collection/Snow Angel



***

Thomas Smith says: I usually get up about 6 a.m., take the new puppy out, hang out with my wife while she gets ready for work, then I hit the gym about 7 a.m. By 8:30 I have cleaned up, poured the first cup of coffee, grabbed a bagel, and head upstairs to my office. I spend a little time updating social media, then I start sending out queries and working on proposals. After I hit my target number for the day, I edit what I did the day before and work on whatever project/projects are on deadline. Then I spend the rest of the time working on my new novel (Stranger). I usually break for lunch sometime between noon and 2:00, depending on how much I have going on. Sometimes I bring a sandwich upstairs and eat while I work. I answer emails and give the social media another quick check, then back to the new book. I work until my wife gets home around 6 p.m. I love what I do.

My supernatural suspense novel, Something Stirs, should be released next month. (Some houses are only haunted ... this one is worse).

***

Delia Latham author of Kylie's Kiss says: I am blessed to be able to write "full time" - which doesn't mean I write eight hours a day, although I would produce a whole lot more if I did! I'm not a morning person, so my day starts slowly, but consistently - with a glass of Dr. Pepper. (Hey, that's my coffee!) I do what needs to be done around the house in the morning...or not. Most of my networking/promotion/marketing efforts take place in the afternoon. I take a break to have dinner with husband (who is the cook our family...yay, Johnny!), and spend some time with him - watching our ever-growing DVR list, taking a drive, visiting a relative, whatever we decide. Serious writing starts at about 8 p.m., and usually lasts well into the wee hours. My best writing is done late at night, when the rest of the world is sleeping, and I have no interruptions. It's not a set-in-stone schedule, but it's definitely set in Jello consistency!

***

If there's such a thing as a typical writing day for Susan Page Davis:

First check email and wrap up loose ends from yesterday. Do new writing on WIP. Do revisions on other WIP. If I have galleys or other requests from editors (such as art sheets, influencer lists, back cover copy, whatever), work on those. If not, work on interviews and other promotional tasks. Today my writing day includes: Trip to the post office to mail some books to the Southern Festival of Books coordinator; writing at least 2,000 on WIPS; doing at least ten pages of revisions. Somewhere in there I'll also pick up my new glasses, do laundry, and wave at my family at meals. www.susanpagedavis.com

***

Donna Crows says: My day starts with morning tea and devotions on the sofa in my office. I do yoga exercises while my computer boots, then I set to: Check e-mail first and usually spend about an hour on marketing— writing a blog, replying to a listserve or an Amazon discussion group, something like that. Then the real work. Right now I'm in the research phase for book 3 in my Monastery Murders series. Felicity and Fr. Antony are leading a youth walk along an ancient pilgrimage trail in Wales— which means I'm going cross-eyed reading ordnance Survey Explorer maps trying to plot their route. I'll stay with it until about 3:00 when I break for afternoon tea with my husband (whose office is also at home). If you're thinking there's a tea theme here, you're absolutely right. Then I do another round of e-mail and promo and a bit more research until Stan says it's time to go for a walk before dinner which tends to be late. A spot of relaxing with Stan and the telly (right now we're watching "Downton Abbey") before I fall asleep over my current reading (Connie Willis' BLACKOUT).

A VERY PRIVATE GRAVE, book 1 in the Monastery Murders came out last fall, A DARKLY HIDDEN TRUTH will be out this fall.

***

Staci Stallings says: My "style" of writing is chaotic at best. With three kids, a husband, two businesses, a house, a yard, and two schools, my writing "day" may happen or it may not. When I'm not at the computer writing, editing, or publishing something however, I'm always thinking. I'm either plotting in my head (i.e. running through what could happen) or I'm keeping an eye out for the piece God is having me wait for. It never fails--when I have hit a road block that may last an hour or literal a few years, there is always a piece of the puzzle God has yet to reveal. That can get frustrating because my tendency is to want to FORCE it to work. But my ideas, agenda, and plans never work out as well if I go when God's fire has stopped. If I can discipline myself to just wait and be patient, when the fire takes off again, it is ALWAYS worth it. Here's my level best advice to all writers... become best friends with God, trust Him to guide all of your writing--whether that means you are called to write 2,000 words every single day or nothing for a month and then 9 or 10,000 in a day like me. You will never, ever regret it!

Staci Stallings Newest release "A Light in the Darkness" can be found at Staci's blog http://spiritlightworks.wordpress.com (for free) or at the Amazon Kindle store.

***

JoAnn Durgin says: My favorite day of the week to write is Sunday. We observe the Lord's day by resting as much as possible, and it's a quiet household (a rarity). My family understands that's my time to work on my manuscript. I work a full-time job Monday-Friday, and my lunch hour is usually spent writing, editing or marketing. I also try to spend at least an hour writing or editing each evening. I used to carve out 11 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. to write, but my brain and body are currently rebelling against that practice.

JoAnn Durgin

Author of Awakening: A Christian Romance Novel

Second Time Around coming Summer 2011

****

Jo Walker says: My day of writing may be very different because I work the night shift, 10pm to 6:30am at the local long term care center. This means, of course, I sleep days. I am so happy when I actually get to sleep at least seven hours. That said, I am new to writing. I finished my first book of 100,000 words last October and have been learning how to write ever since. I had been struggling through the process, reading recommended books and trying to apply what I learned. I felt like I was bouncing around a lot. Throwing a lot of mud on the wall hoping some correct writing would stick. It was pretty hectic. It was recommended that I look for an online writing group. I searched and joined American Christian Fiction Writers, that changed everything. I have been sitting in front of my computer almost non-stop, due to the fact I now feel like I'm in college learning how to write instead of kindergarten. I realize I need to bring some balance but for this newbie to writing, I am going at high speed. Yes, I cook for my husband, do the wash and sometimes make the bed. The rest waits and waits and waits, until finally I am drug from my computer to plug in the vacuum. Look for my book HOPE, a mystery with a dash of romance to be published by years end.

And there you have it. Everyone is different, unique, and just like the books they write.