Lynette Eason's Blog, page 2

SHE SPEAKS CONFERENCE

Happy Thursday!
I’m getting ready to head out to the Proverbs 31 SHE SPEAKSconference in just a little while. No, I’m not teaching for once. I’m going to soak in new stuff. I went to this conference last year and had a blast! I learned TONS and am looking forward to doing the same this year. One of the perks of this conference is that I get to see my Revell editor, Andrea Doering. In fact, she’s the reason I know about this conference. She Speaks had three tracks. Writing, Speaking and Women’s Ministry. I’m interested in the last two and will be flip flopping back and forth between them. I get asked to speak at a lot of women’s functions so figure the more I know, the better off I am. And yes, I’m even doing the speaking evaluations. Even though I do a lot of speaking now, getting feedback from a group of other speakers is invaluable and so helpful in improving my craft.
So, now I’m off. I’ll be sure to post an update about what I learned and will include pictures if I take any (I’m so bad about that! LOL)

Goodreads Giveaway! The Black Sheep's Redemption - Free Books!

Hi all, starting July 5th, on www.goodreads.com, I'll be giving away five copies of The Black Sheep's Redemption. This is Book #5 in the continuity series, Fitzgerald Bay. The book released May 10th and the last book in the series, book #6, The Deputy's Duty, by Terri Reed, released in June, so you can get ALL six books at one time and read them straight through.

The books are:
The Lawman's Legacy by Shirlee McCoy - January 2012
The Rookie's Assignment by Valerie Hansen - February 2012
The Detective's Secret Daughter by Rachelle McCalla - March 2012
The Widow's Protector by Stephanie Newton - April 2012
The Black Sheep's Redemption by Lynette Eason - May 2012
The Deputy's Duty by Terri Reed - June 2012

Hope you'll stop by to enter! Here's the link:



 
    .goodreadsGiveawayWidget { color: #555; font-family: georgia, serif; font-weight: normal; text-align: left; font-size: 14px;
      font-style: normal; background: white; }
    .goodreadsGiveawayWidget img { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0 !important; }
    .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a { padding: 0 !important; margin: 0; color: #660; text-decoration: none; }
    .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:visted { color: #660; text-decoration: none; }
    .goodreadsGiveawayWidget a:hover { color: #660; text-decoration: underline !important; }
    .goodreadsGiveawayWidget p { margin: 0 0 .5em !important; padding: 0; }
    .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink { display: block; width: 150px; margin: 10px auto 0 !important; padding: 0px 5px !important;
      text-align: center; line-height: 1.8em; color: #222; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold;
      border: 1px solid #6A6454; -moz-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; font-family:arial,verdana,helvetica,sans-serif;
      background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou... background-repeat: repeat-x; background-color:#BBB596;
      outline: 0; white-space: nowrap;
    }
    .goodreadsGiveawayWidgetEnterLink:hover { background-image:url(http://www.goodreads.com/images/layou...
      color: black; text-decoration: none; cursor: pointer;
    }
 
 
    Goodreads Book Giveaway
 

   
       
   

   
     
          The Black Sheep's Redemption (Fitzgerald Bay, #5).
     
     
          by Lynette Eason
     

     
         
            Giveaway ends July 22, 2012.
         

         
            See the giveaway details
            at Goodreads.
         

     
   
   

      Enter to win



Lynette

Carolina Christian Writers Conference

I had the most FUN at the Carolina Christian Writers Conference this past weekend. April 20-21 we met at First Baptist Church Spartanburg in the youth building they call the Hangar. I taught several classes on writing and while my silly projector wouldn't work, it didn't matter. The conference wasn't just for fiction. In fact, there were more people there about non-fiction and that was great. The blend of skill, talent, gifts, all of it was just amazing. Linda Gilden is the director of the conference and she did a fabulous job putting it all together. She didn't seem all that stressed about it either! If you're just starting out in the writing world, this is a great conference to start learning. And if you're a bit more advanced, there's still stuff you can learn! Next year, it will be held on April 19-20, 2013. Mark your calendars now and I'll see you there!

Susan Sleeman and her new e-books!

A NEW LINE OF MYSTERIES FOR YOUR E-READER

Susan S leeman here. Do you have an e-reader or maybe an iPad? Then I'd like to tell you about a line of cozy mysteries that has recently released with most books retailing for only .99 for a limited time.

Spyglass Lane Mysteries are published by a group of cozy mystery authors who have joined together to bring you a new cozy mystery every week. Currently, there are over 25 wonderful mysteries in this line.

Stop by the website to view all of the available books and while you're there, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter where we announce each new book that releases and our authors share behind the scenes stories about the books.

I'd also like to share a little bit about my Garden Gate Mystery Series that is releasing as part of this line. The first book, Nipped in the Bud has already released and book two, Read Between the Tines will release in February 23rd. Here's a little bit about both books.

NIPPED IN THE BUD

W HEN YOU FIND Y OUR BOSS PUSHING UP DAISIES. . .

Life in full bloom, landscape designer, Paige Turner, scores her first landscaping contract to spruce up the park, her radio talk show shoots to number one, and her retail shop is simply blossoming. Yes, her life is a bed of roses. Until she finds the city manager served up on the blade of her favorite shovel mere hours after she's threatened to have his head on a platter, then the thorns come out. And there is none thornier than the local police chief declaring Paige the one and only suspect and threatening to plow her under.

YOU'VE GOT TO FORMULATE A PLANT OF ATTACK . . .

Paige teams up with dashing attorney, Adam Hayes to weed through the list of suspects, and clear her soiled reputation. And along the way, discovers that Adam just may be the man of her dreams.

» Read an Excerpt          »Order It Now

READ BETWEEN THE TINES

IF YOUR LIFE IS A BED OF ROSES. . .

Recovered from her near death at the hand of a killer, landscape designer Paige Turner is certain her life will soon be a bed of roses. That is, until her employee, Daisy Rose Plante, finds a dead body, and the thorny police chief looks no further than Daisy for a suspect. Paige digs in and weeds through the list of potential killers, and before long, her sweet smelling rose of a life is soundly trampled.

YOU'LL HAVE TO SURVIVE THE THORNS. . .

Paige would be much happier working over-thyme on her budding relationship with handsome attorney, Adam Hayes, but it soon becomes clear she'll be in a hoe lot of trouble with him if she continues digging for the killer. Does Paige risk all and try to unearth the killer? Or does she settle down in peaceful bliss with the man of her dreams?

» Read an Excerpt

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan visit: Website, her Facebook page, or on Twitter

Story and THEME

Themes and the story.

Theme is what your story is about. Theme gives your story a below-the-surface deeper meaning.

Recently I've begun thinking about different themes that run through stories. I love it when I'm reading and the theme begins to emerge and by the end of the story, I get it. I go, "Wow." And the story stays with me even after I've reluctantly read the last word.

Have you read any stories like that lately? I'm reading one now. I was asked to read it and consider it for an endorsement. I'll definitely be endorsing this book. It's about helping others. Serving others even when it's not convenient for you. And it has a great murder mystery woven throughout. That's was a great book does. It has the reader examining his/her own life because the theme has touched her. It's made her go, "Oh, how am I doing in this area?" Or is has the reader saying, "Wow, my friend, Ann, needs to read this because she's struggling in this area." A book like this is much more than just a story. It's power. Power to change lives. The power to offer encouragement, to fill someone with determination, to offer hope.

And that's just amazing to me.

As a writer, sometimes I start with an idea for the theme. Other times, it comes to me as I write. It's absolutely possible to start a story with no theme in mind, but I've found that as I fill out my character sketches for the hero and heroine, and sometimes a secondary character, a theme will emerge. Because as I learn about my characters, get to know their pasts, their baggage, their likes and dislikes, their hurts and triumphs, the theme of the story is related to that. In my stories, theme is character driven. I might have a sketchy idea of the plot, a few scenes that I know I want to incorporate, who the villain is, and what's going to happen by the end of the book, but if I don't know my characters, I find I have no theme. I know a lot of authors write their stories around a theme they've already picked out, but I've never done this.

What about you? How do you decide on a theme for your story? Does it come as the story progresses or do you decide before you start writing? And if you're not a writer, but a reader, what kind of themes do you like to see in the stories you read?

Thanks for stopping by!

Made To Crave by Lysa TerKeurst Book Review

Made to Crave: Satisfying Your Deepest Desire With God, Not Food by Lysa TerKeurst

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Are you craving food more than God? This book is amazing, life changing and inspiring. As Lysa says, it's not a "how to" book on dieting, it's a "want to" book. Lysa tells her story of her battle with food. Not as an addiction or issues like anorexia or bulemia, but rather as food as her comfort, her reward for doing well, her pick me up when things go wrong. This type of mentality obviously will lead one down the road of unhealthy eating and weight gain. Instead, Lysa encourages you to turn to God. Every time she would crave something unhealthy, she would pray. As a result, she said she talked to God a LOT during those first few days of changing her eating habits. I could relate to what Lysa had to say on just about every page. I highly recommend this book if you need to make a change in your life.



View all my reviews

Irene Hannon - DEADLY PURSUIT

Deadly Pursuit: A Novel by Irene Hannon

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Another great read by Irene Hannon. I highly recommend it!



View all my reviews

The Craftie Ladies of Romance & A BASKET OF BOOKS

HI all, just wanted to let you know that the Craftie Ladies of Romance are giving away a basket of books. All you have to do is go on Goodreads to enter the contest.

Hope to see you there!

October New Releases!

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

A Wedding Invitation by Alice Wisler -- General Fiction from Bethany House; When Samantha Bravencourt receives an invitation to a wedding in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, she looks forward to reconnecting with her college friend. Instead her life collides with Carson, a fellow teacher and the man who broke her heart.

Attracted by Fire by DiAnn Mills -- A Thriller/Suspense from Tyndale. When a Secret Service Agent is assigned to the Vice President's rebellious daughter, danger lurks in every corner - and her heart.

Deeply Devoted: A Novel; The Blue Willow Brides Series by Maggie Brendan -- A Historical from Revell -- She is staking her future on a man she's never met. Can she learn to love him?

Freezing Point by Beth Goddard -- A Thriller/Suspense from Love Inspired. Casey Wilkes didn't realize her simple human-interest story would put her life at risk—again.

Lethal Remedy by Richard L. Mabry M.D. -- A Thriller/Suspense from Abingdon; A doctor discovers that the experimental "wonder drug" that offers the only hope of cure for a universally fatal infection can be attacking more than just bacteria.

Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist, -- Historical Romance from Bethany House. Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world ... which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Maggie's Journey by Lena Nelson Dooley -- A Historical from Realms (Charisma Media). Near her eighteenth birthday, Margaret Lenora Caine finds a chest hidden in the attic containing proof that she's adopted and her journey begins.

Recipe for Deceit by S. Dionne Moore -- Mystery from Barbour. The third LaTisha Barnhart mystery finds the sassy diner owner trying to figure out who put the hit on a hitman.

Rodeo Dust by Shannon Vanatter -- Romance from Barbour Heartsong; Can they rely on God to find their common ground or will they draw a line in the rodeo dust that neither will cross?

Southern Fried Sushi: A Novel by Jennifer Rogers Spinola -- General Fiction from Barbour; Ride the roller coaster of Shiloh Jacobs's life as her dreams derail, sending her on a downward spiral from the heights of an AP job in Tokyo to penniless in rural Virginia.

Ten Plagues by Mary Nealy-- Thriller/Suspense from Barbour; A demon possessed serial killer pits himself against a former ego driven cop, who's found peace as a mission pastor and a tough lady cop with the spiritual gift of discerning spirits.

The Baker's Wife by Erin Healy-- Thriller/Suspense from Thomas Nelson; To save her husband and son, Audrey Bofinger must rescue her enemy.

The Chair by James Rubart-- Thriller/Suspense from B and H Publishing; If you were given an ancient looking chair and told Jesus Christ made it, would you believe them?

The Christmas Child by Linda Goodnight-- Romance from Love Inspired; When a battle weary cop and a Christmas crazy teacher join forces to care for an abandoned, mute boy in a small town, neither is prepared for the shocking revelations waiting...just in time for Christmas.

The Lady's Maid by Susan Page Davis-- Romance from Barbour; As a lady's maid, Elise will follow her mistress anywhere, even into the Wild West.

The Wishing Pearl by Nicole O'Dell-- Young Adult from Barbour; Join conflicted sixteen-year-old Olivia Mansfield on her journey to hope and healing as she leaves her messed-up life behind and moves into home for troubled teens

There You'll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones-- Young Adult from Thomas Nelson; Grief brought Finley to Ireland. Love will lead her home.

When Love Gets in the Way by Janelle Mowery-- A Historical from Harvest House; Straight from the heart of the Old West, the Colorado Runaway series is full of adventure, humor, and romance.

When Two Hearts Meet by Janelle Mowery-- A Historical from Harvest House; Rachel Garrett finds that attaining her dream of becoming a nurse is fraught with peril, and a deputy sheriff with a wall around his heart doesn't help matters.

August ACFW New Releases

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 Marshal by Lacy Williams — Romance from Love Inspired Historical. 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.