Delia Latham's Blog, page 43

Treehouse

I'm excited and thrilled and delighted and ... oh, that's a lot of "ands"! :D But I really am happy to announce that I've signed a contract with White Rose Publishing for my first "short story." I don't have a release date yet (when I do, I'll be shoutin' it out right here!), but I do have a cover - and a blurb. :D




Hope you like it!




Here's the blurb:




Tim Kerschner’s attachment to a solitary aspen tree on
property he inherits goes much deeper than aesthetics. Can he make landscape
architect Ryann Dean understand his seemingly unreasonable refusal to let her
chop down one tree in a forest of them?

Ryann loves her job in Bliss, Oregon. Junior high teacher
Tim Kerschner, however, she’d be happy to have never met. The man’s handsome
face loses any appeal in light of his rudeness, arrogance, and obvious
inclination to violence—the latter of which Ryann despises for reasons close to
her heart.

A visit to what lies within the branches of the
controversial tree could give them both a whole new outlook on life…and on each
other.

Soul-gripping Heroines

*Guest post by Jennifer Slattery




When our daughter was young, I was very cautious of the
television shows and movies she watched. It wasn’t just the language or
violence that concerned me, but the image of women they portrayed. The media
seemed to convey a constant message: “Women’s value is only skin deep.” I was
probably overly cautious, but the discussion still holds merit. What do our
choice of heroine’s say about our values as a society?




At the risk of sounding cliché, we’ve come a long way … in
but a short period of time. The other day my daughter showed me a page from her
magazine. On it, there were five models, each with different skin tones and
body types.




Hurrah!




I believe the heroine’s in Christian fiction are changing,
too. I’ve read novels of women with disabilities, vices they need to overcome,
backgrounds they’re not fond of. I’ve read of women doctors, single moms, those
facing divorce. To me, a sinner saved by grace, it’s encouraging to read of
women just like me—imperfect, yet strong. Struggling, yet overcoming. Imperfect
women living in an imperfect world, embraced and loved by a perfect God.




I believe our cardboard heroines from the past arose out of
honorable intentions. There was a general desire to set forth perfection in the
hopes that we, as readers, would strive for it. And there is much wisdom to
that theory, and yet, the Bible presents a different kind of hero and heroine.




Those like Abraham, who lied, thus betraying his wife.




And Moses, a prince turned murderer turned liberator.




Those like Ruth, who had to beg, well, glean, for her next
meal.




Paul, a religious tyrant who watched as Stephen the first
martyr was stoned.




A sinful woman with an alabaster jar who was willing to
surrender something so costly when she found something of higher value—Jesus.




Each of these characters taught us something about grace and
something about ourselves. Through their struggles, God reveals our own. More
than that, through their triumphs, God stirs us toward victory.




I’d love to hear from you. Has there been a heroine—in a
novel, movie, or the Bible—that God used to tap deep into your heart, revealing
an area of weakness He wanted to change? Tell me about her, and what God
revealed through her.

 ***

*Clash of the Titles’ hostess, Jennifer Slattery, lives in
the Midwest with her husband and their teenage. She writes for the ACFW
Journal, Internet Café Devotions, Jewels of Encouragement, and the Christian
Pulse. Her work has placed in various contests and appeared in numerous
publications and compilation works. Visit her online at her devotional blog,
Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud (http://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com)
or on Facebook at “Living by Grace,” a modern-day meet-at-the-well
community. 

COTT: The Birth of Characters

This week, COTT is featuring a Clash of Leading Ladies. But just how are interesting characters born? Here's one author's experience. Welcome Carol Moncado.




Do you ever wonder how authors come up with their characters? I've heard of authors who fashion their main characters after a barista at their favorite coffee shop or some guy on the bus who looked interesting. The further I get into my writing journey, the more I find my characters often come from real life. For instance:





The weekend before Easter, I was diagnosed with Bell's Palsy - where half your face just stops working. Fun.

Not really, but it's great story fodder. That's me. The story is one I started recently.

She was wearing an eye patch.

At church.

On Easter.


It might have been what drew my attention to her, but it wasn't what kept it. She stood there, singing along with the praise and worship band, her hands raised. Worshiping her Maker with abandon. But only half of her face worked. The whole thing lit up but only half of it moved. The half with the eye patch seemed to be paralyzed, but it didn't bother her. A pink eye patch.

Now, to be fair, the heroine is younger, skinnier, with darker, straighter hair than me, but that's where the idea for her came from.

In February, Travis [one of the shift managers at my favorite Panera] informed me I needed to name a character after him. Travis-with-the-faux-hawk became the hero in a manuscript.

I flopped into the recliner and ran my hands over my face until my fingers furrowed rows in my faux-hawk. The one that made the kids think I was way cooler than I really was.

But Travis won't see his name in print. A week ago, he was in a car accident. At age 22, he left this life - leaving behind the love of his life and two children.



I'm deeply saddened by news of Travis' passing. To me he was more than 'just' a shift manager at the Panera I frequent. He was a nice guy I loved to chat with. Another manuscript I planned to work on is about a widow. That's all I knew until last week. Now, she's a widow with young children a few years after a senseless tragedy.

Twenty-two is too young to be a widow.

Bethany Sheer knew this with absolute certainty.

And even though twenty-two had passed her three years earlier – along with her husband, the love of her life and the father of her two children – she remembered all too clearly what the pain tearing through the heart of the young woman on the news felt like.

Someday, I hope to be able to share Travis-with-the-faux-hawk with his family. To let them know that he touched my life. That he inspired a character in a novel – and so did they.

Because the best inspiration is what we find all around us.







When she's not writing about her imaginary friends,Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of her southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. You can follow her ramblings on her blog .










 **Be sure to head over to Clash of the Titles and cast your vote today!

COTT Interview with Delia Latham (Yours Truly!)

I love those private moments when He cuddles me to His heart and reassures me that I am His, and that I'm special to Him.

~ Delia Latham





Welcome, Delia! It's a pleasure starting off our day off visiting with you. What did you have for breakfast this morning? 




Do I have to go directly to jail if I confess to rarely eating breakfast?  I've never been a fan of breakfast foods. To make it even worse, I usually get out of bed and feel my way to the refrigerator (instead of the coffee pot) for my wake-me-up Dr. Pepper. Oh, no! I think I just heard the clang of a slamming jail cell... 




Uh-oh, lol. I'll give you a place to hide when you go on the lam. So after that can of morning law-breaking, you must then head for the closet to get dressed. Would you consider yourself a skirt, jeans, or sweats kinda gal? 




Sweats when I'm home with no company expected and no errands to run. Jeans otherwise. And, although you didn't ask, bare feet.




 I'm addicted to socks personally. Preferably fuzzy ones. But besides our feet, we probably look a lot alike in the outfit department. Nice to know I can dress casual if I ever visit your house. Which makes me wonder... If you were having me over for dinner, what would you be serving?




Hmmm...good question, since I'm not the cook in my family. My husband does that, and loves it. (Am I blessed? Oh, yes, I am!) Off the top of my head, I'd say you might be dining on his famous chili verde burritos. They're mmm-mmm good! Dessert would be chocolate Heavenly Hash, which is a scrumptious concoction made of chocolate pudding, cool whip, and...I'm not even sure what else is in there, but you're going to love it! And, since it's you, it would all be served on a silver platter - my contribution to the meal. LOL 




Oh Yum! I think I'll bring the whole fam. They might get bored of our book talk though. Can you tell me, of the books you've had published, which is nearest and dearest to your heart?




Come now, darling...surely you wouldn't ask a mother which is her favorite child?  But, for the sake of cooperation, I'll just say that the new baby always gets the most attention. Of my older "children," however, I think Goldeneyes is probably the most "like" me. A vintage romance (set in 1936 and 1959), it is set partially in Weedpatch, the tiny, California farming community where I grew up. How could it not have a little of my own heart and soul written into its pages?




That sounds amazing! Can't wait to read it. =) COTT is lucky to have such a talented writer on staff. How long have you been on staff at Clash of the Titles and what do you envision for its future?




I don't think it's been quite a year yet. Seems like I started about the beginning of August 2011. As for its future, I see COTT becoming a very important cog in the wheel for helping authors get noticed. It's already becoming known within the writing field, and has enjoyed participation by some widely recognized authors. I can't help believing COTT will become one of the places on which authors look forward to claiming a spot, and the Laurel Award could easily become one of the sought-after crowns (ummm...laurels?) of achievement within the industry. I honestly believe we have the potential for that kind of success, because everyone on staff truly cares about our authors and their success. I'm so proud to play a small part behind the scenes!




Sounds like a bright future for COTT and we love you being a part of our family of staff. We love your sweet spirit and the way Jesus shines through you. When do you feel closest to God?




When I'm alone with Him...shut in with God, in a "secret place," as the old hymn goes. Just me and the Lover of my soul. I love those private moments when He cuddles me to His heart and reassures me that I am His, and that I'm special to Him. Even though I know He gives that same assurance to many others, it's absolutely true for each of us. He loves us all the most. 




Ah, that is so beautiful. Love it. Thank you, Delia, that was so wonderfully well-put. You have such a way with words. And on that note, tell us about the last book you had the pleasure of seeing reach reader's hands. 




That would be Gypsy's Game - Book Three in the Solomon's Gate series...and it reached reader's hands only last month, on March 16! I'm very excited about Gypsy's story, and can't wait to start hearing what readers think. Here's what it's about:

Gypsy Lovell stands to inherit an enormous amount of money from a father who never gave her anything but a ridiculous name. Even now, he doesn’t make it easy. A stipulation in the man’s will demands that Gypsy be married in order to claim what is hers.
Desperate for the monetary windfall that could save her ailing mother’s life, Gypsy visits a Christian dating agency, hoping to find a temporary husband. Someone easy to handle for the required six months, and easy to get rid of when she no longer needs him.
Jal Garridan is neither of those things, but he's willing to take on the challenge presented by the beautiful stranger—on his own terms.
What Gypsy doesn’t know is that Solomon’s Gate is a dating agency with a Divine connection. What she finds there may save more than her mother’s life. It may save Gypsy’s soul.

I must  admit, there's a certain melancholy that goes along with knowing this book will most likely be the last time I'll swing open the giant portals of Solomon's Gate. But then...only God knows the future...perhaps He hasn't thrown away the key.




The first in that series was one of our summer book club selections and it was a great read! I'm looking forward to continuing the series, and I hope our readers will head over to Amazon to check it out too. They won't be disappointed! 




Thank you so much for chatting with us this morning. Go grab another Dr. Pepper and have a wonderfully productive day. And readers, be sure to visit www.clashofthetitles.com for the latest Clash and giveaway. 
Have a blessed day!

Author Interview: Clare Revell

Clare Revell




Welcome to Living the Write Life, Clare! I am in awe of the concept
behind the Monday’s Child Series! How did you come up with such a unique idea?




One
rainy day, a rhyme popped into my head that we’d had on the wall at work – a
funny version of the poem Monday’s Child – Monday’s Child is red and
spotty…  I knew I had seven novel ideas
tucked away in a folder on my hard drive – including three finished ones—and
dragging them out, realized that each would fit a line of the original nursery
rhyme. I emailed Nicola Martinez, editor in chief at Pelican Books with the
idea and she loved it.



The
rewritten poem was based on a prose tagline version I sent my editor, Lisa. She
made it rhyme, Nicola made it scan and the rest, as they say, is history.




Monday’s Child must hide for protection,

Tuesday’s Child tenders direction

Wednesday’s Child grieves for his soul

Thursday’s Child chases the whole

Fridays Child is a man obsessed

Saturday’s Child might be possessed

And Sunday’s Child on life’s seas is tossed

Awaiting the Lifeboat that rescues the lost.




Well, I think it’s genius! Will
these be full-length novels, or shorter novellas?




They are
all full-length ones. The challenge with Monday’s Child was keeping it below
80k.




Oh, good – more to read! LOL Tell us
about the first book in the series, Monday’s
Child.




Monday’s
Child has had many titles since the first version was written in 2002. It’s
been Sara, The Beach, A Piece of Sky… It was started on the very beach in
Winterton in the story. We’ve stayed in that chalet park several times, walked
across those dunes… And as for Scotland, I could move there in a heartbeat. I
love the windswept beaches, the mountains… And Sara, being the person that she
is, has a very special way of pronouncing Luke’s title throughout the entire
book. I had to teach my computer to spell leftenant
correctly.  LOL.




Here's what it's about:




Monday’s Child must hide for protection...

This was
not the assignment Luke Nemec expected when he came to the UK—babysitting a
beautiful widow. It wouldn’t be so bad if Sara wasn’t such a hostile witness.
Despite her complaints and continued jibes, Luke finds himself falling for her.

When,
Sara Barnes is thrown into the witness protection programme, she becomes the
“wife” of Lt. Luke Nemec, an American cop on temporary assignment with the
British police. Despite Luke’s American bravado, she finds he’s kind and
considerate in ways her late husband never was.

But
things aren’t always what they seem, and Luke soon realizes he’s fighting a
battle of two fronts to keep Sara safe. Loyalties are called into question, and
he’s no longer certain who he can trust. Luke is way out of his depth. As the
threats against Sara escalate, it’s a race against time to find her husband’s
killer before Sara is silenced forever.




A sneak peek into Monday's Child:




Luke
smiled at her and offered his hand.

Sara
ignored it, staring aghast at Wilcox, shock resonating through her, and not
just at his abrupt tone. Was there something wrong with her hearing? There was
no rank of lootenant in the English
police force for one thing. For another, he didn’t look like a soldier, and—
Wait a minute, did he say marriage? “I’m sorry?”

“Lieutenant
Nemec will be with you on a full-time basis. As far as the world is concerned
you’ll be his wife. First name terms only.”

Furious,
Sara shook her head. Her eyes narrowed and her lips set. “Oh, no. There is
absolutely no way, either in this lifetime or the next, that—”

“Sara—”

“Don’t
you Sara me. I am not going to live with anyone, Inspector. Especially someone
I’ve only just met. And I am definitely not marrying him.” She glanced at Luke,
deliberately pronouncing his title the English way. “No offence, Leftenant
Nemec.”

Luke
slid his hands into his pockets. “None taken, but my name is Luke. If it helps
any, I was just told myself.”

Taken
aback by his accent, Sara did a double take. “You’re American.”

“And
you’re British.” He tilted his head, flashing his teeth in a broad smile.




Oh, yeah! Sounds amazing. How
different is it to write, knowing your work is already contracted? Does it make
any difference in your commitment, or your process of writing?




It’s
very different. I have a deadline for each book — still have two to write—and
it's no longer a case of, "Oh, I don’t want to write today, I’ll do something else
instead." I had a set amount of words I have to do if I’m going to make the deadline.
Some days are easier than others. Especially if Cade (my muse) decides to go
take a hike. Or if Evan (my inner editor) decides he hates the previous
section.

I
actually spend every day, apart from Sunday, writing at some point. I hand
write the first draft, usually in note form, then type up. For some reason my
notes are always in the present tense, no idea why. But sometimes these notes
are in the main manuscript, which then makes it harder when filling in the
gaps.




You’re from England, and I know some
of the differences in the meanings of words from there to here can be
challenging. Can you share something humorous that resulted from this kind of
thing?




(Blushes…) I had my
Thursday’s Child heroine chuck a rubber from her desk at her boss… Can I just
say a rubber is an eraser here before anyone says anything…? :P. Usually found
on the end of a pencil, but not always.

And then
there are pants and suspenders. Any Brit will give you a really weird look if
you insist on holding your pants up with suspenders. It’s not physically
possible, as what you (Americans) call pants are actually trousers. Pants are what you wear
under them, and suspenders the bits of lace and hooks we hold our stockings up
with.

But the
thing I find most hard is the spelling. You guys leave u’s out of almost
everything. And put s’s in instead of z’s. :D




ROFL! That’s hilarious. Yeah, the
eraser thing would have left a few chins hanging here in the U.S. (And, of
course, we think you Brits add u’s to
almost everything – and put z’s in instead of s’s. LOL)  




I always like to ask inspirational authors
about their favorite verse of scripture. Do you have one, and if so, why is
that verse special to you?




1Peter
5:7 -  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.











I’ve had
this picture of a small girl in red pj’s (that’s pyjama’s with a y ;-) with a
dog above my bed since I was tiny. Above it is written He careth for you. It’s a reminder that no matter what happens, God
cares, even when no one else does.




What a sweet picture! And what a
wonderful verse. Thank you for sharing.




But enough of the serious stuff! Let’s
have some fun.




A box of crayons has many color
choices. Which color are you? Why?




Depends
on my mood (LOL), but usually lilac. Because it’s the colour (with a u :D) of
bluebells and lavender and my bridesmaids' dresses. Because some days are blue
but not completely, if that makes any sense.




It makes perfect sense. (I’d be
purple – just because it’s my favorite color. And, of course, the color of passion...and the color of royalty. We’re at least in the same color
family! Ha.)




You’re stranded on a remote island.
What ONE item from home do you absolutely want with you?




Just
one? Ummm….my Kindle. Because it’s got over 200 books on it, including a Bible,
and has a keypad so I can still write.




Oh, great choice! I hope you have a
power supply on that island. And speaking of power…which super power would you
like to borrow for one day?




I’d like
to be able to do two things at once. So I can write and clean the house.




Good thinking – and so practical! :) Which cartoon character are you?











Little Miss Stubborn.  Not just ‘cos she’s lilac (LOL), but ‘cos
once she gets an idea in her head, nothing is going to shift it.




Very cute! She must be a British
cartoon...or am I just that far behind times? LOL Thanks
so much for allowing me to pick your brain…and your funny bone! :D






You’re
welcome. And thank you for having me here. :D

Talking life, love and other stuff at COTT!

I was interviewed by April Gardner and Michelle Massaro for Clash of the Titles some weeks ago, just about the time Gypsy's Game released. That interview is posted today. Come on by...and be sure to say hello! :D

Keven Newsome wins COTT clash

Clash of the Titles congratulates Keven Newsome, author of Winter and winner of the Comparable Cover/ Book Blurb Clash! One of the commenters at Clash of the Titles said, “Just finished Winter, loved it.”







About Winter:

We're all freaks. It's just a matter of perspective.

Winter Maessen didn’t ask for the gift of prophecy. She’s happy being a freak – but now everyone thinks she’s crazy. Or evil. Goths aren’t all the same, you know. Some are Christians…

Christians to whom God sends visions.

Students at her university are being attacked, and Winter knows there’s more than flesh and blood at work. Her gift means she’s the only one who can stop it – but at what price?



Keven talks about Winter.

Winter is a four book series. As the series progresses, Winter’s ability as a prophetess grows to rival Elijah. She does not just have a gift of prophecy, but is an Old Testament style prophet. I worked very hard to make sure everything she does is theologically and Biblically accurate. Everything she does has a corresponding Biblical example.



The story is not necessarily about Winter being a prophetess or her battle with a Satanic priest. It is more about her fall and redemption through Christ. That’s why the story is told in two parts. The flashback story shows how she fell to become unlovable and unwanted. The modern day story shows how God can take the most unlovable and unwanted person and transform them into something amazing.  I want this story to inspire all readers that even though they don’t think they’re good enough for God, God thinks otherwise.



About Keven:Keven Newsome is a graduate student at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where he is pursuing a Master of Arts in Theology specializing in Supernatural Theology. He writes stories that portray the supernatural and paranormal with a Biblical perspective. He's also the found and administrator of The New Author's Fellowship and produces music and videos through Newsome Creative. When asked about himself, he says, "I am a child of God, husband, father, and friend, in that order. I am a musician, novelist, and sometimes artist. I know the difference between Star Wars, Star Trek, and Firefly, but I prefer Lord of the Rings. My mp3 player contains a mix of Christian rock and movie soundtracks. I am more of a nerd at heart, but I am equally comfortable sleeping under the stars with a log for a pillow, playing Halo with a bunch of guys with cold pizza on standby, or playing intra-mural sports such as tennis or flag-football. In short...I am strange."

He currently lives in Louisiana with his wife and their two children.

Visit Keven's Web site here



Submitted by Clash Hostess: Gail Pallotta



Bio: Gail has published several hundred freelance articles and two books. While some of her articles are included in anthologies, two of her historical pieces ended up in museums. In 2004, the year she published her first book, Now Is the Time, the American Christian Writers Association named her a regional writer of the year. Gail’s first Christian romance, Love Turns the Tide, was published by Awe-struck E- books in their inspirational category. Learn more about Gail here Visit her blog here

Author LOVE TURNS THE TIDE

available from Awe-Struck E-Books

www.awe-struck.net

Web site: http://www.gailpallotta.com

Blog:www.gailpallotta.blogspot.com

Splickety magazine, issue 1.1

n>https://magcloud.com/account/downloads

New Release: K. Dawn Byrd's Shattered Identity

ABOUT THE BOOK

Nineteen-year-old Lexi Branson thinks she's found the guy of her dreams. He's hot, wealthy, and older. She soon finds out that sometimes the perfect guy turns out to be perfectly dangerous.



A SNEAK PEEK INSIDE SHATTERED IDENTITY

I rushed down Zack's driveway, anxiety pushing me forward even as my heart fell. If Zack saw Jeremy's car at the lake the other day, he'd know who I was leaving with, and he might not ever get over it. I wasn't sure I ready for the relationship to end for good, but this might do it.



I stepped into Jeremy's black Mustang, the scent of his cologne enveloping me like a warm, fuzzy blanket. Memories of us as a couple flooded my mind and made me happy and sad at the same time. "You okay?" Jeremy asked.



"Yeah. Just get me out of here. Hurry. He's coming down the hill."



Jeremy backed out of the driveway just as Zack reached the car. He moved until he was directly in front of the car. "Lexi, get out."



I shook my head even as the tears rolled down my cheeks. The crazed look in his eyes sealed the deal. He was either mad or high on something, maybe bath salts.



"Go, Jeremy. Just go."



"I can't run over him."



Jeremy rolled down his window. "Just get out of the way, man."



"She's not leaving with you."



Jeremy picked up his phone and shook it at Zack. "If you don't get out of the way, I'm calling the cops." Zack crossed his arms, standing his ground. "Lexi, get out of the car."



Afraid that they'd end up in a fight if I didn't, I reached for the door handle as Jeremy glanced sideways at me. "Don't do it. That guy is on something."



I rolled down my window. "Zack, go back to bed. Jeremy's just giving me a ride home. We'll talk about this tomorrow."



"No way. Get out of the car."



Jeremy leaned out of the window. "Man, you look like you're on something. If you don't get out of the road, I'm going to call the cops and tell them some doped up guy is in the middle of the road holding up traffic. Wanna cool it in a jail cell?"



Headlights came around the curve and tires squealed behind us. The driver yelled, "What's going on?" Zack shot us an obscene gesture and moved out of the road. He trudged up the hill, head down, shoulders slumped.



The thought of losing Zack was more than I could bear, but right now, something didn't feel right. We'd been so perfect together, and I'd probably never find that again, but I was too scared to think about that. Jeremy took his eyes off the road long enough to glance sideways at me. "What's going on?"



"I don't know."



"Did he hurt you?"

ABOUT THE AUTHOR K. Dawn Byrd is an author of many different inspirational genres, including romance and non-fiction. She is an avid blogger and gives away several books per week on her blog, most of which are signed by the authors. She's also the moderator of the popular facebook Christian Fiction Gathering group. 

When not reading or writing, K. Dawn enjoys spending time with her husband of 16 years while walking their dogs beside a gorgeous lake near her home and plotting the next story waiting to be told.



THE GIVEAWAY

K. Dawn Byrd is offering a gift card, good for a free download of Shattered Identity. Enter the drawing by leaving a comment. Comments are open today through midnight Sunday.

Cover Clash: Do they "go together"? And a giveaway too!

Your Clash Hostess:  Gail Pallotta









Clash of the Titles has a great selection of books in our giveaway this week. Shelley Adina will donate a copy of Lady of Devices, Keven Newsome offers a choice between a signed print copy of Winter OR two e-books, one of Winter and one of Aquasynthesis. James Rubart gives away a copy of The Chair. 



Wow! Vote in order to enter. You'll find the voting box below. You can also leave a comment on any COTT post or on our Facebook page. Multiple entries encouraged!



Many times we hear a word or phrase and another comes to mind. The two go together so well we can’t think of one without recalling the other. Some easily recognized pairs come from life experiences, others from songs, books or movies.



Here are a few to complete just for fun.



A  song:  “Love and Marriage.”

“Love and marriage, love and marriage go together like a  _____ and _____.”  According to Wikipedia, this tune was introduced by Frank Sinatra in the 1955 television rendition of “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder. It aired on Producers Showcase.



Something we eat. Hot apple pie and ____ _____. No one eats apple pie without it, do they?



Movie stars often cast together: Doris Day and _____ ______.

Three of their 1962 movies, “Pillow Talk,” “ Lover Come Back” and “Send Me No Flowers,” are available today in a romance collection.



From Books and Television:

The Hardy Boys / _____ ______. This series was based on two series published by Edward Stratemeyer.



A heroine in a book. Her name is in the title. ______ of Green Gables. This book was published in 1908 by Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery. Originally written for all ages, recently it’s been considered a  children’s book. Since publication it’s sold 50 million copies, and is taught to students  worldwide. It’s been adapted to film, television and stage.



The prey in a tale of the sea.  Captain Ahab and the great white_____. Published in 1851 by Herman Melville, this is  one of the great American novels. It tells the story of Ishmael, a sailor on a ship named Pequod.



A character in a novel.  Miss Scarlett in _____ _____ ___ _____. Margaret Mitchell won a Pulitzer prize for the  novel in 1936. The movie, considered a classic epic film today, premiered in 1939.



Answers: 1. Horse, carriage  2. Ice cream  3. Rock Hudson  4. Nancy Drew  5. Anne 6. Whale  7. Gone with the Wind



That was fun. Now vote for your pick in the cover and book blurb Clash.



When we read the blurbs, do the images on the front of the books come to mind and vice versa? If so, which of these go together best? Later when you think of what the book blurb has to say, will you see the cover in your mind’s eye?   



Please vote for one.

Cover and Blurb A We're all freaks. It's just a matter of perspective. Winter Maessen didn’t ask for the gift of prophecy. She’s happy being a freak – but now everyone thinks she’s crazy. Or evil. Goths aren’t all the same, you know. Some are Christians…Christians to whom God sends visions.

Students at her university are being attacked, and Winter knows there’s more than flesh and blood at work. Her gift means she’s the only one who can stop it – but at what price?



Cover and Blurb B                                                                

London, 1889. Victoria is Queen. Charles Darwin’s son is Prime Minister. And steam is the power that runs the world.

At 17, Claire Trevelyan, daughter of Viscount St. Ives, was expected to do nothing more than pour an elegant cup of tea, sew a fine seam, and catch a rich husband. Unfortunately, Claire’s talents lie not in the ballroom, but in the chemistry lab, where things have a regrettable habit of blowing up. When her father gambles the estate on the combustion engine and loses, Claire finds herself down and out on the mean streets of London. But being a young woman of resources and intellect, she turns fortune on its head.

It’s not long before a new leader rises in the underworld, known only as the Lady of Devices . . .

When she meets Andrew Malvern, a member of the Royal Society of Engineers, she realizes her talents may encompass more than the invention of explosive devices. They may help her realize her dreams and his . . . if they can both stay alive long enough to see that sometimes the closest friendships can trigger the greatest betrayals...



Cover and Blurb C                                                    If someone gave you a chair and said it was made by Jesus Christ, would you believe them? When an elderly lady shows up in Corin Roscoe's antiques store and gives him a chair she claims was crafted by Jesus, he scoffs. But when a young boy is miraculously healed two days after sitting in the chair, he stops laughing and starts wondering . . . could this chair heal the person whose life Corin destroyed twelve years ago?

As word spreads of the boy's healing, a mega-church pastor is determined to manipulate Corin into turning over the chair. And that mysterious woman who gave him the piece flits in and out of his life like a shadow, insinuating it's Corin’s destiny to guard the chair above everything else. But why?

Desperate, he turns to the one person he can trust, a college history professor who knows more about the legend of the chair than he'll reveal. Corin's life shatters as he searches for the truth about the artifact and the unexplained phenomena surrounding it. What’s more, he's not the only one willing do almost anything to possess the power seemingly connected to the chair.



Please vote below, and don't forget to enter to win one of these great books.





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April is Holy Humor Month

Holy Humor, Batman!

By Deborah DeArmond  The month of April is in fact, the time set aside to celebrate a good chuckle, a guffaw or a hearty laugh as part of a faith-filled life. It’s Holy Humor Month! The Bible is clear that God believes humor should be on the agenda as a healthy habit. Proverbs 17:22 NKJ “A merry heart does good, like medicine, But a broken spirit dries the bones.” The word “laugh” or “laughter” is mentioned in the Bible approximately 200 times. Much of that laughter falls into some categories that do not feed our hearts like medicine. Consider if you will:The laugh of unbelief. Sarah, who laughs at the idea of having a child in her 90’s. (Gen 18:11-12, 15)
The laughter of a fool. God compares the laughter of a fool to the thorns afire beneath a pot – he is so foolish he laughs and doesn’t even see his end coming. (Ecc 7:6)
The laughter of derision. Often this is related to God’s amusement at the foolishness of man in spiritual things. (Ps 2:1-4, Prov 1:24-26)
But the fourth type of laughter is a healthy expression and brings to our lives richness, like medicine. He has given us many reasons to laugh! Here are a few good examples of why God’s people can have a good laugh:Lack of fear. “She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future.” (Prov 31:25 NLT)
Happiness and connection. “Laugh with your happy friends when they're happy; share tears when they're down.” (Rom 12:15 MSG)
Joy. “God will let you laugh again; you'll raise the roof with shouts of joy.”  (Job 8:21 MSG)
Relief. “Good people will watch and worship. They’ll laugh in relief.” (Ps 52:6 MSG)
God is acting on our behalf. “When the righteous see God in action they'll laugh, they'll sing, they'll laugh and sing for joy.” (Psalm 68:3 MSG)
Good fortune. “We laughed, we sang, we couldn't believe our good fortune. We were the talk of the nations—'God was wonderful to them!' ” (Ps 126:2 MSG)
It is a gift to God. “Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence.” (Ps 100:2 MSG)
There is a time for laughter, according to the Ecclesiastes 3:4 “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.” In other words, while life here on this planet is no joke, there are times when laughter is appropriate, healthy and pleasing to God.   So tune up those vocal chords and let loose a giggle or guffaw, a chortle or chuckle, a snicker, a snort or a shout. Let it fly and exclaim to the world the JOY of the Lord!  Deborah DeArmond is an experienced and sought-after coach, trainer and speaker, having worked with audiences at all levels. She has 30 years of expertise, training and teaching in the areas of relationship, communication and conflict resolution. Known for her dynamic style and ability to engage her audiences with a sense of fun along with her direct style, Deborah mixes creativity, humor, and insight and delivers her message on point every time.  Deborah is co-founder and featured author at MyPurposeNow.org, an online site for Christian women 50+. Additionally she is a featured author for two online magazines, Destiny in Bloom and Living Better at 50. She is a CLASSEMINARS, Inc. graduate.



Guest article courtesy of Kathy Carlton Willis Communications