Janice Cole Hopkins's Blog, page 18

99-Cent BooksI see a lot of books permanently listed for ...

99-Cent Books

I see a lot of books permanently listed for 99 cents, and I wonder how the authors can afford to do that since they'll only be making about thirty cents per book. This is not only true regarding the first book in a series, but it runs the gambit of genres and types of books published. Many times, it's not only one or two books but the author's entire book list. If they sell 300 books, they've only made less than a hundred dollars. How much is all the time and effort that goes into writing a book and delivering a good story worth?

Indie authors, which most of these are, can also have a lot of publishing costs. Most editors charge from $150 - $850 per project. The covers on just the ebook range from $30 and up with $60-$75 being the norm. Then, if the author wants print or Audible covers, that will be additional expenses. 
I think the talent and determination it takes to write a book makes it worth more than ninety-nine cents per book. If you don't value what you do, perhaps you shouldn't be writing and publishing. I, like most authors, mark a book down to a ninety-nine-cent sales price now and then for a special occasion, but it only stays that way for about a week, and I don't do it often. I just marked The Prodigal Pastor down for Valentine's Day, but it's the first sale I've done in quite a while. Click on the title in the previous sentence to get your copy and happy reading._____________________________

Troubled TimesMy brethren, count it all joy when ye fall...

 Troubled Times

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations" (James 1:2).

Most of us have adverse reactions to trouble, problems, and turmoil. They certainly aren't things we embrace or look forward to. But hard times do have benefits. It's through the difficulties that our faith grows and we move closer to God. We don't learn or grow as much when our paths are smooth and everything is going great. If we never had a problem, I imagine we'd be pretty shallow individuals.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).
Hudson Taylor reminds us of this when he wrote, "At the timberline where the storms strike with the most fury, the sturdiest trees are found." Those trees aren't easily broken or upended. The storms have made them strong. Our storms in life can make us strong as well if we turn to God and let him be our strength and guide our way. He promises to be with us through anything life can throw at us.
The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower (Psalm 18:2).
In a time when the world's values appear to be getting more and more away from biblical principles, and justice and fairness seem to be things of the past, we need to rely on God more than ever to see us through. We need to embrace Him, keep our focus on Him, and remind ourselves that He's faithful no matter our circumstances. When we find our joy in Him and not look for it in what is happening around us, the troubled times won't affect us as much, and we can grow and flourish in our faith, knowing what is truly important.

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A Match for SilasMy third book in The Matchmakers - Agath...

A Match for Silas
My third book in The Matchmakers - Agatha Returns series will publish on Thursday, February 1. For my readers, this will be a series within a series because all my books in this MAP are set in Pinyon Falls, Texas. A Match for Marshall and a Match for Cord have already published, and Marshall and Callie and Cord and Moriah will also appear in this new book. Then, there will be five more books to come, the last of mine being published in August of next year.
A Match for Silas will be about the blacksmith in Pinyon Falls. He appeared briefly in both A Match for Marshall and A Match for Cord, but now, he tells his own story. When even Vanessa, the town flirt, wants nothing to do with him, Silas decides to follow Marshall's and Cord's examples and write to the matchmaker. However, when his intended bride comes, she's exactly what he doesn't want, someone from high society, but her circumstances prevent Jacqueline from returning home, so what's he to do?
Doug Birk and EJ Lavery are hard at work to finish the Audible version of the book. They've narrated the first two books and have agreed to do the others as well. They're both talented narrators, and I always love to hear the story come to life as they read it as if it were an old-time radio drama. The next book they'll be doing for me is A Match for Merle. This will be Vanessa's story, so stay tuned for more to come about that.
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God BlessesRead Luke 5: 4-7.When God calls us to a task, ...

God Blesses
Read Luke 5: 4-7.
When God calls us to a task, he always has blessings prepared for those who follow. Sometimes, there may be struggles involved, but the peace and joy that come from being in God's will overshadow the problems. This happened in a tangible way when Jesus called Simon Peter to use his boat to back off from the crowds that were pressing in on Him. When he finished speaking from Peter's boat, He told the fisherman to let down his nets. Peter complained that he and his crew had been fishing all night and hadn't caught a thing, but because Jesus asked it, he would put down his nets. When he did so, he and the other boat with him hauled in so many fish that it almost sank their boats.
Something similar happened to me when I went to the Philippines as a missionary. I had no idea how much money I might need, so in case of an emergency, I set up a loan at my bank that would only transfer into my account if it were needed. Not only did I not need it, but my expenses in the Philippines turned out to be less than if I'd stayed home, and I went home to more in my bank account than I had when I'd left. But the real blessings came from my experiences in the island nation: teaching wonderful high school students of missionaries in a private Christian school, volunteering at a nearby orphanage, making new friends, seeing a different culture, experiencing new things, and viewing beautiful scenery.
So, when God calls you, don't hesitate to say yes. You won't regret it, and I imagine many of you can tell your own similar stories. Plus, God richly blesses us for no other reason than His deep love for us and that He is a God who likes to bless His children.
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God's BlessesRead Luke 5: 4-7.When God calls us to a task...

God's Blesses
Read Luke 5: 4-7.
When God calls us to a task, he always has blessings prepared for those who follow. Sometimes, there may be struggles involved, but the peace and joy that come from being in God's will overshadow the problems. This happened in a tangible way when Jesus called Simon Peter to use his boat to back off from the crowds that were pressing in on Him. When he finished speaking from Peter's boat, He told the fisherman to let down his nets. Peter complained that he and his crew had been fishing all night and hadn't caught a thing, but because Jesus asked it, he would put down his nets. When he did so, he and the other boat with him hauled in so many fish that it almost sank their boats.
Something similar happened to me when I went to the Philippines as a missionary. I had no idea how much money I might need, so in case of an emergency, I set up a loan at my bank that would only transfer into my account if it were needed. Not only did I not need it, but my expenses in the Philippines turned out to be less than if I'd stayed home, and I went home to more in my bank account than I had when I'd left. But the real blessings came from my experiences in the island nation: teaching wonderful high school students of missionaries in a private Christian school, volunteering at a nearby orphanage, making new friends, seeing a different culture, experiencing new things, and viewing beautiful scenery.
So, when God calls you, don't hesitate to say yes. You won't regret it, and I imagine many of you can tell your own similar stories. Plus, God richly blesses us for no other reason than His deep love for us and that He is a God who likes to bless His children.
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The W. H. Over MuseumTucked into a green spot not far fr...

 The W. H. Over Museum
Tucked into a green spot not far from the University of South Dakota campus in Vermillion is an interesting museum. The W. H. Over Museum, founded in 1883, is the oldest museum in the state. It's an eclectic mixture of South Dakota history and artifacts from around the world, but it's definitely worth a stop if you're ever in the area, and the admission is free. My husband and I visited it when we were on our way to Deadwood this summer for a book festival and doing research for an upcoming book, Beckett's Brides. 
Learning and research are something most authors enjoy, especially historical authors, and museums offer a good, visual way to do this. Jim and I took our time driving out to Deadwood, so we could see some of the sights along the way, and it also broke up the long trip. I expect some of what we found will find itself into other books in the future.







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Pearls from SandAll unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17a...

 Pearls from Sand

All unrighteousness is sin (1 John 5:17a).

Imagine all the grains of sand that exist in the world. Then, imagine that these represent the sins of people. There are many of them, and they grow and accumulate over time as erosion takes place, but remember that pearls first begin as grains of sand. From a mollusk trying to get rid of an irritant, something beautiful forms.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28).

God is in the business of making something beautiful out of the insignificant, undesirable, or annoying. He can take our mistakes and bring good from them when we turn to Him in repentance. When God looks at sinners, he sees the possibilities, the pearls they could be. Christians too often look at sinners with judgment and see trouble-causing grains of sand. Even if a sinner repents and comes to know Christ, he may still be considered that irritating grain of sand instead of the pearl he's becoming.

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus taught that we are to be kind and loving. When we do this, we come alongside God to help form pearls. Don't lock people into their past mistakes. Accept that God is in the business of changing people, of making pearls out of grains of sand. 

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My First Writing Project of 2024I am excited to have my ...

 My First Writing Project of 2024
I am excited to have my first writing project of 2024 ready and loaded onto KDP. Grandma's Match for Garrett will publish tomorrow, January 16th. When GarrettOliver’s grandmother requests help on her ranch after her husband dies, Garrett’sfather chooses him to leave Cades Cove, Tennessee, and go to Indian Territory which is now Oklahoma. Whenhe gets there, Garrett suspects his grandma wants to match him with herbeautiful half-Chickasaw friend, but the more he sees of Wren Hudson, the lesshe resists his grandmother’s efforts. He wants to protect the often-shunnedwoman from the community’s prejudice and discover who’s vandalizing her place.But he’s supposed to return to Cades Cove, and Wren doesn’t plan to ever marry,so the future looks about as unpredictable as the Appalachian weather back home.
Link to book

This book was fun to write, but it was unusual for me. For one thing, I didn't know what was going to happen at the end until I got there. Normally, I know my characters, the beginning of my story, and the ending by the time I start writing, but not in this case. It might have been better for the genre if it had ended another way, but I stayed true to my characters' hearts. All my novels are character-driven, so they dictate the story to me.

I had hoped that Jared Walters could narrate the Audible version of the book, but he was recovering from COVID, and with the lingering cough, he wasn't ready. His voice and style would have been a perfect fit; however, I found a new narrator that I'm very pleased with. She's from Tennessee, like Jared, but she has a more general American accent. I think she's done a fantastic job, and I believe listeners will be as pleased as I am. I'm hoping that Charity Spencer will agree to do other books for me and that you'll check out this sweet story. Perhaps you'll fall in love with Garrett and Wren the way I did.

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Are You Neglecting God?No man can serve two masters: for...

 Are You Neglecting God?
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon (Mathew 6:24).
When we think about the possibility of neglecting God, most probably think of church attendance, but attending church is only one factor. Praising, worshipping, and learning more about Him and how to live a godly life are important. The fact is that we need to attend church for our own well-being. It helps to keep us on track and builds our faith. It's the best place to find important fellowship with other believers and find the acceptance and support we need. Church attendance should be viewed as a joy, not a duty.Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:25).
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby" (1 Peter 2:2).
Another way we neglect God is by not reading our Bibles on a daily basis. Relationships don't develop if we don't get to know each other, and the Bible lets us get to know God. Much of it is His love letter to us. If you love someone, you want to spend time with them. God communicates with us mainly through His Word. I can't see why any true Christian wouldn't be eager to read their Bibles. The more I do, the more enticing it becomes. My husband often follows a one-year plan of reading through the entire Bible. I read a chapter or two each day. Whatever method you use, you need to make it a daily routine.Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalm 119:105).
Pray without ceasing (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
Prayer is another crucial element. It's where we talk directly with God. How amazing it is to be able to spend time communicating the the all-powerful Creator of the universe, have Him listen to us, and be able to hear from Him! It's where we get much of our strength and power, and it's where we're shown areas in which we need to improve. Prayer is the most powerful weapon we have, but most of us don't rely on it enough. We should set aside a dedicated time to pray at least once a day, and we should say short prayers all through the day. Paul tells us to pray constantly. Our whole lives should be lived in the power of prayer. When you don't pray, you're saying to God that you don't need Him; you can handle things on your own. That's a dangerous attitude. Don't neglect God. Attend church with a joyful heart, study His Word daily, and pray often. You won't regret it.The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth (Psalm 145:18)._______________________

A Look Back at Writing in 2023We've said goodbye to 2023...

 A Look Back at Writing in 2023

We've said goodbye to 2023. Looking back it's been both a good year and a hard year as far as my writing goes. I published 16 books, which made it a very busy, hectic year, but I love to write and miss it if I have too long a break, so I've also enjoyed it. Another added advantage is that publishing so many books meant I sold more and could offer more scholarships to needy missionary children since all my profits go to a scholarship fund for that purpose. Regardless, however, I don't plan to ever write 16 books in one year again. It was just too many, and I couldn't have kept up with the pace indefinitely. 

Another thing that made 2023 rather unusual is that all the books I wrote and published were MAPS or multiple-author projects. These are stand-alone books that are part of a themed series with several authors. MAPS also have the advantage of a shared fan base and gaining new readers. They've been good to me.

Of my 16 books in 2023, 14 were historical and 2 were contemporaries. Thirteen are set in the West, and the other 3 are set in Illinois, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Although I didn't start out to be a Western writer, it has turned out that way. Here is a list of the 2023 books:

Jan 23, 2023 – TheProdigal Pastor

Feb 1, 2023 – AMatch for Marshall

Feb 21, 2023 – Mason'sMemories

Mar 21, 2023 – Simon’sShane

Apr 18, 2023 – Ingrid'sIntention

May 1, 2023 – AMatch for Cord

May 30, 2023 – Boone’sBurden

Jun 12, 2023 – HurtingHero

Jul 18, 2023 – Inman’sImpersonation

Aug 1, 2023 – Solomon’sSecret

Aug 29, 2023 – Upside-DownCakes by Dana

Sep 19, 2023 – Bretta’sBusiness

Oct 16, 2023 – Annette’sAssignment

Nov 17, 2023 – Lily:Christmas Quilt Brides

Dec   5, 2023 –Fruitcake by Fran

Dec 26, 2023 – Tessa’s Time

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