Pamela S. Thibodeaux's Blog, page 41
April 20, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight is on Kimberly Miller & Forgiving Tess!
Happy Easter!
I want to Thank You for taking a few minutes out of your celebrations to support my Saturday Spotlight guest.
Kimberly has shared treasures and thought with us and today she find out a little more about her novel, Forgiving Tess .
WELCOME, Kimberly!
My second novel, Forgiving Tess, released on February 1, 2019. As the title indicates, this is a story about forgiveness, but maybe not exactly as you might initially think. Sure, Tess needs the forgiveness of friends, family, and an entire town—but the biggest offender to holding onto the past might just be Tess herself. Until she can forgive herself, moving ahead in her life might just be impossible.
Blurb: Tess turnedand ran back to the bus where several membersof the team were divvyingup their luggage.She hung back, waiting for a chance to grab her bag. She wasn’t likely to make friends with many of the people on the trip, which was better anyway.Tess burned a lot of bridges in the last few years, and making amends was difficult. Besides, if she didn’t make friends,there would be no problem keeping them.
“Need a hand?” a deep voice asked behind her.
Tessturned and found herselffacing a broad chest. She raised her head and was stunnedto find the familiar blue eyes of her childhood friend,Joshua Thorne, a man she hadn’t seen in over twelveyears. What was he doing here? Tess blinked rapidlyas her knees went weak. She drew a breath in an effortto find strength.Inwardly she groaned.Those distracting dimples were even sweeternow.
Forgiving Tess can be purchased at Amazon and you can find out more about Kimberly by connecting with her on Facebook and visiting her website.
Again, I pray your Easter is Blessed and Happy Friends.
Until next time, take care and God Bless. PamT
I want to Thank You for taking a few minutes out of your celebrations to support my Saturday Spotlight guest.
Kimberly has shared treasures and thought with us and today she find out a little more about her novel, Forgiving Tess .
WELCOME, Kimberly!
My second novel, Forgiving Tess, released on February 1, 2019. As the title indicates, this is a story about forgiveness, but maybe not exactly as you might initially think. Sure, Tess needs the forgiveness of friends, family, and an entire town—but the biggest offender to holding onto the past might just be Tess herself. Until she can forgive herself, moving ahead in her life might just be impossible.
Blurb: Tess turnedand ran back to the bus where several membersof the team were divvyingup their luggage.She hung back, waiting for a chance to grab her bag. She wasn’t likely to make friends with many of the people on the trip, which was better anyway.Tess burned a lot of bridges in the last few years, and making amends was difficult. Besides, if she didn’t make friends,there would be no problem keeping them.
“Need a hand?” a deep voice asked behind her.
Tessturned and found herselffacing a broad chest. She raised her head and was stunnedto find the familiar blue eyes of her childhood friend,Joshua Thorne, a man she hadn’t seen in over twelveyears. What was he doing here? Tess blinked rapidlyas her knees went weak. She drew a breath in an effortto find strength.Inwardly she groaned.Those distracting dimples were even sweeternow.
Forgiving Tess can be purchased at Amazon and you can find out more about Kimberly by connecting with her on Facebook and visiting her website.
Again, I pray your Easter is Blessed and Happy Friends.
Until next time, take care and God Bless. PamT
April 16, 2019
#TuesdayTreasures with Diane Burton!
Good Morning and Welcome!
Lot's of things going on but it is always my pleasure to bring a guest back to share treasures with us! Although it has been a while, Diane shared treasures and thoughts and been in our spotlight with her romantic suspense novels but today she shares treasures and a peek into her first YA novel!
Take it away Diane....
One of the things I treasure is my mother’s ceramic nativity set. Like many women of a certain age, my mom decided to sign up for a ceramics’ class. At first, she did little things, for example, Easter “eggs” and chicks. Then, she decided to make a nativity set for each of her children. She asked how I would like it decorated. I told her, and this is what she made.
The set is a reminder of the importance of Christmas, the true meaning. Each year, as I set it up, I’m reminded of all the work that went into the making of each piece. Mom died in November twelve years ago, close enough to Christmas that the first holiday without her was very difficult. The nativity set is a small part of her that’s with us each Christmas.
In my new release, Rescuing Mara’s Father, the main character never knew her mother who died at her birth. Mara would’ve given anything to have her mother with her.
RESCUING MARA’S FATHER A Middle Grade Science Fiction AdventureBy D.M. BurtonApprox. 75,000 words
3 friends, a hidden starship, a quest
Blurb:
Her father is gone! Taken by the Queen of Compara’s agents. Mara has to rescue him before the Queen tortures and kills him.Instead of the kind, loving father she’s always known, he’s become demanding, critical, with impossible expectations—not just as Father but also as the only teacher in their frontier outpost. Mara would rather scoop zircan poop than listen to another boring lecture about governments on Central Planets. Give her a starship engine to take apart or, better yet, fly, and she’s happy. Now, he’s gone.Never mind, they’ve had a rocky road lately. Never mind, Father promised she could go off planet to Tech Institute next month when she turns fifteen, where she’ll learn to fly starships. Never mind, she ran away because she’s furious with him because he reneged on that promise. Father is her only parent. She has to save him.Along with her best friend, eleven-year-old Jako, and his brother 15-year-old Lukus, Mara sets off to find her father. Her mentor, old spaceport mechanic, seems to know why the Queen captured Father. In fact, he seems to know her father well. But, does he tell her everything? Of course not. He dribbles out info like a mush-eating baby. Worse, he indicates he’ll be leaving them soon. And Lukus can’t wait to get off their planet. Mara’s afraid they will all leave, and she’ll be on her own. Despite her fears, Mara has to rescue her father.
Excerpt:
[When three bullies tried to beat up her friend, Mara jumped into the fray. Together they trounce the bullies. Then, her father takes her home.]Father makes me sit on a chair in the kitchen because the light’s better in there. He is gentle as he cleans my scrapes and bruises. He’s almost finished when I see his lips thin and his eyes harden. He tilts my chin and pulls aside the neck of the old shirt I’m wearing.“You have bruises on your throat. That—” He calls the bully a filthy name. I’m surprised. He never swears or calls anyone bad names.What he does next surprises me even more. He kneels next to me and pulls me into his arms. I can’t remember the last time he hugged me. He strokes my hair, and I think this is how it used to be . . . when he loved me. Tears prickle my eyes, and my throat thickens.Abruptly, he pushes me away and stands. I want him to come back, to hold me again. To be the warm, loving Father he used to be. He doesn’t. “I concur with your little friend. You did well. However, you could have been killed. Those Dunpus boys are mean, the father meaner. Stay away from them.”“But they were beating up Jako. It wasn’t fair.”Father walks over to the stove and lifts the lid of the large pot. “You have a good heart.” He stirs the stew. “You are very much like your mother. She would have been proud of you.”He rarely talks about my mother, who died giving me birth. When I used to ask about her, he would get such a pained look in his eyes I always backed off. This time, I can’t let the opportunity pass. “Please, Father, tell me about her.”He continues to stir the stew. He doesn’t say anything, and disappointment settles over me. Just like before. Then, he turns around. “She was tall and slender with hair as dark as midnight and eyes as green as a mountain meadow. You look very much like her. Your skin is not as fair as hers, though. She would not go outdoors without covering up for fear of burning.” He smiles, warmth and love shining from his eyes. “She hated freckles.”“I hate them, too.”He chuckles. “Not enough to stay indoors. Your mother cared deeply for others, as you do. But she would not have risked her life in combat. Learning was important to her. She would not have been pleased with your attitude in the classroom.”
Ebooks: Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ B&N ~ Smashwords
Print: Amazon
About the Author:
The first time D.M. Burton saw Star Wars IV: A New Hope, she was hooked on science fiction and space travel. The Star Trek movies made her want to travel to other planets. Alas, she is still Earth-bound. D.M. and her husband live in Michigan, close to their two children and five grandchildren.
Join D.M. Burton's readers’ group on Facebook.For more info and excerpts, visit D.M.’s website: http://www.dmburton.com
She writes adult fiction as Diane Burton, where she combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides writing science fiction romance, she writes romantic suspense, and cozy mysteries.
For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com
Connect with Diane Burton online.
Blog: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmburton72Facebook: http://facebook.com/dianeburtonauthorGoodreads: Diane Burton AuthorPinterest: http://pinterest.com/dmburton72/Sign up for Diane’s new release alert: http://eepurl.com/bdHtYf
GIVEAWAY
A $10 AMAZON e-GIFT CARD
Many chances to win.
Enter HERE!
What a lovely treasure, Diane! I love nativity scenes too of all kinds! Thanks for sharing.
Good luck and God's blessings with your new book and good luck to everyone who enters the contest!
Hope you enjoyed Diane's treasures, friends and that you'll drop by each week to see who's doing what on our blog.
Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT
Lot's of things going on but it is always my pleasure to bring a guest back to share treasures with us! Although it has been a while, Diane shared treasures and thoughts and been in our spotlight with her romantic suspense novels but today she shares treasures and a peek into her first YA novel!
Take it away Diane....
One of the things I treasure is my mother’s ceramic nativity set. Like many women of a certain age, my mom decided to sign up for a ceramics’ class. At first, she did little things, for example, Easter “eggs” and chicks. Then, she decided to make a nativity set for each of her children. She asked how I would like it decorated. I told her, and this is what she made.
The set is a reminder of the importance of Christmas, the true meaning. Each year, as I set it up, I’m reminded of all the work that went into the making of each piece. Mom died in November twelve years ago, close enough to Christmas that the first holiday without her was very difficult. The nativity set is a small part of her that’s with us each Christmas.
In my new release, Rescuing Mara’s Father, the main character never knew her mother who died at her birth. Mara would’ve given anything to have her mother with her.
RESCUING MARA’S FATHER A Middle Grade Science Fiction AdventureBy D.M. BurtonApprox. 75,000 words
3 friends, a hidden starship, a quest
Blurb:
Her father is gone! Taken by the Queen of Compara’s agents. Mara has to rescue him before the Queen tortures and kills him.Instead of the kind, loving father she’s always known, he’s become demanding, critical, with impossible expectations—not just as Father but also as the only teacher in their frontier outpost. Mara would rather scoop zircan poop than listen to another boring lecture about governments on Central Planets. Give her a starship engine to take apart or, better yet, fly, and she’s happy. Now, he’s gone.Never mind, they’ve had a rocky road lately. Never mind, Father promised she could go off planet to Tech Institute next month when she turns fifteen, where she’ll learn to fly starships. Never mind, she ran away because she’s furious with him because he reneged on that promise. Father is her only parent. She has to save him.Along with her best friend, eleven-year-old Jako, and his brother 15-year-old Lukus, Mara sets off to find her father. Her mentor, old spaceport mechanic, seems to know why the Queen captured Father. In fact, he seems to know her father well. But, does he tell her everything? Of course not. He dribbles out info like a mush-eating baby. Worse, he indicates he’ll be leaving them soon. And Lukus can’t wait to get off their planet. Mara’s afraid they will all leave, and she’ll be on her own. Despite her fears, Mara has to rescue her father.
Excerpt:
[When three bullies tried to beat up her friend, Mara jumped into the fray. Together they trounce the bullies. Then, her father takes her home.]Father makes me sit on a chair in the kitchen because the light’s better in there. He is gentle as he cleans my scrapes and bruises. He’s almost finished when I see his lips thin and his eyes harden. He tilts my chin and pulls aside the neck of the old shirt I’m wearing.“You have bruises on your throat. That—” He calls the bully a filthy name. I’m surprised. He never swears or calls anyone bad names.What he does next surprises me even more. He kneels next to me and pulls me into his arms. I can’t remember the last time he hugged me. He strokes my hair, and I think this is how it used to be . . . when he loved me. Tears prickle my eyes, and my throat thickens.Abruptly, he pushes me away and stands. I want him to come back, to hold me again. To be the warm, loving Father he used to be. He doesn’t. “I concur with your little friend. You did well. However, you could have been killed. Those Dunpus boys are mean, the father meaner. Stay away from them.”“But they were beating up Jako. It wasn’t fair.”Father walks over to the stove and lifts the lid of the large pot. “You have a good heart.” He stirs the stew. “You are very much like your mother. She would have been proud of you.”He rarely talks about my mother, who died giving me birth. When I used to ask about her, he would get such a pained look in his eyes I always backed off. This time, I can’t let the opportunity pass. “Please, Father, tell me about her.”He continues to stir the stew. He doesn’t say anything, and disappointment settles over me. Just like before. Then, he turns around. “She was tall and slender with hair as dark as midnight and eyes as green as a mountain meadow. You look very much like her. Your skin is not as fair as hers, though. She would not go outdoors without covering up for fear of burning.” He smiles, warmth and love shining from his eyes. “She hated freckles.”“I hate them, too.”He chuckles. “Not enough to stay indoors. Your mother cared deeply for others, as you do. But she would not have risked her life in combat. Learning was important to her. She would not have been pleased with your attitude in the classroom.”
Ebooks: Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ Kobo ~ B&N ~ Smashwords
Print: Amazon
About the Author:
The first time D.M. Burton saw Star Wars IV: A New Hope, she was hooked on science fiction and space travel. The Star Trek movies made her want to travel to other planets. Alas, she is still Earth-bound. D.M. and her husband live in Michigan, close to their two children and five grandchildren.
Join D.M. Burton's readers’ group on Facebook.For more info and excerpts, visit D.M.’s website: http://www.dmburton.com
She writes adult fiction as Diane Burton, where she combines her love of mystery, adventure, science fiction and romance into writing romantic fiction. Besides writing science fiction romance, she writes romantic suspense, and cozy mysteries.
For more info and excerpts from her books, visit Diane’s website: http://www.dianeburton.com
Connect with Diane Burton online.
Blog: http://dianeburton.blogspot.com/Twitter: http://twitter.com/dmburton72Facebook: http://facebook.com/dianeburtonauthorGoodreads: Diane Burton AuthorPinterest: http://pinterest.com/dmburton72/Sign up for Diane’s new release alert: http://eepurl.com/bdHtYf
GIVEAWAY
A $10 AMAZON e-GIFT CARD
Many chances to win.
Enter HERE!
What a lovely treasure, Diane! I love nativity scenes too of all kinds! Thanks for sharing.
Good luck and God's blessings with your new book and good luck to everyone who enters the contest!
Hope you enjoyed Diane's treasures, friends and that you'll drop by each week to see who's doing what on our blog.
Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT
April 13, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight Gulf Coast Writers Conference!
Good Morning,
Today's spotlight is a little different. I'm teaching Self Editing Tips today at the Gulf Coast Writers Conference and would love to see you there....
Conference Location
The Apostolic Church3333 Eastex Frwy,Beaumont, TX
Conference Contact
Dianne Ellis409-790-6619
Cost is only $45 at the door Registration begins at 8:30 and includes Lunch!
Speakers and Topics
Planting Beginner Writers - Dr. Carol Weishampel
Weeding through the Editing - Pamela Thibodeaux
Sorting your Publishing - Linda Hawkins
Reaping your Marketing - David Hearne
Sowing Telling vs Showing - Merrilyn Williams
Blooming with Screen Writing - Gordon Williams
Digging your Characters - Dianne Ellis
Composting -Submitting Your Work - Jessica Ferguson
Flowering - Poetry - Dorothy Clover
Hope to see you there!Until next week, take care and God Bless. PamT
PS: Find out more about the Gulf Coast Writers group HERE.
Today's spotlight is a little different. I'm teaching Self Editing Tips today at the Gulf Coast Writers Conference and would love to see you there....
Conference Location
The Apostolic Church3333 Eastex Frwy,Beaumont, TX
Conference Contact
Dianne Ellis409-790-6619
Cost is only $45 at the door Registration begins at 8:30 and includes Lunch!
Speakers and Topics
Planting Beginner Writers - Dr. Carol Weishampel
Weeding through the Editing - Pamela Thibodeaux
Sorting your Publishing - Linda Hawkins
Reaping your Marketing - David Hearne
Sowing Telling vs Showing - Merrilyn Williams
Blooming with Screen Writing - Gordon Williams
Digging your Characters - Dianne Ellis
Composting -Submitting Your Work - Jessica Ferguson
Flowering - Poetry - Dorothy Clover
Hope to see you there!Until next week, take care and God Bless. PamT
PS: Find out more about the Gulf Coast Writers group HERE.
April 6, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight is on M. E. Bakos & Deadly Flip!
Good Morning!
A busy day today here in SW Louisiana with Bayou Writers Group meetings and Angel Girl's dance competition but as they say...the show (or in our case, spotlight) must go on!
I introduced M. E. Bakos back in Feb when she shared treasures with us and again in last month when she shared some thoughts so please welcome her back with a peek into her book, Deadly Flip .
Flipping houses can be deadly!
Katelyn takes on a home renovation in Hiptown, Minnesota, that “has history . . . a murder” at BFF Myra’s urging. What was she thinking? Besides the young woman being killed by the home’s prior owner, she learns the girl didn’t get the justice she deserved. Because of a double jeopardy ruling, the killer got away with murder!
Katelyn finds a hidden diary, foils an intruder, and discovers more secrets while delays and expenses escalate as she renovates the house. Could the victim’s restless spirit be haunting the house, making it the rehab from hell? Can she find peace and justice for the dead woman? To get the renovation back on track, Katelyn, Myra, ex-hubby Eddy (it’s complicated), and handyman Wayne hold a séance and bring in paranormal investigators. Will this finally rid the house of bad karma?
To top it off, Eddy is acting just plain weird, and hunky Sheriff Don Williams is a puzzle. Nosy neighbor, Mrs. Gilman, and Boots, the rescue cat, add to the fun in the second Home Renovator Mystery.
Enjoy a short excerpt from DEADLY FLIP:
What the heck!” I tugged at the edge of a board in the bottom of the window seat in the
second-floor bedroom of my home renovation project. This was my third project in my new
profession as a Home Rehab Specialist. I had bought the house at auction a couple of weeks
earlier and was in the midst of the remodel.
“What?” Myra Alexandria Payten asked, and poked her head out of the closet she’d been dusting. She wore a blue denim shirt with sleeves rolled at the cuffs and matching jeans and sported the kind of casual work shoes that cost a fortune. Her highlighted hair was freshly styled. She was humoring me with cleaning.
The house was a couple of blocks from where Myra lived. She was a staunch supporter of my new occupation. It was with her encouragement, I’d decided to become a home flipper after I was canned. Myra had a passion for home improvement projects and renewing houses. She had her projects done. Me, not so much. She lived in one of the stately mansions facing the “couples” lake in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was one of three lakes in the Hiptown area. One lake was known as the “singles” lake, another known as the “family” lake.
She had been over-the-top thrilled when I told her about the house.
“It’s a wonderful house, Katelyn! A great opportunity,” she’d gushed.
“But, I do renovations in Crocus Heights.”
“This is a perfect opportunity to expand your horizon. Besides, it’s a great deal.”
“How do you know?”
“My brother told me the house was up for sale.”
“Really? The chief of police follows foreclosures at auction?”
“This one is special. It has a history.”
“History?”
“There was an incident, a murder....” As her voice trailed off, she coughed and avoided my stare.
“Myra, I don’t need bad karma.”
“The actual murder took place in the garage. The body is gone. No body. No bad karma.” She sounded evasive and a little flip. My guard was up.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” I said, my eyes narrowed, considering Myra.
“I’d like you to renovate the house, Katelyn.” She studied me, her gaze steady, serious.
“Why don’t you renovate the house?” I countered. It wasn’t like Myra to push a project. It was weird, especially after my experience with a dead body in my first renovation.
“I’m not the expert that you are in home renovation,” she said firmly.
What could I say?
My name is Katelyn Baxter. Most people call me Kate or Katie. I am a Home Rehabilitation Specialist, or a house flipper. It is my passion.
Wow, M. E., sounds like the makings of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries series! Good luck and God's blessings with your books.
Deadly Flip and Fatal Flip can be purchased at Amazon and you can find out more about M. E by visiting her website and friending her on Facebook, M. E. Bakos, Author or Email her at: mebakos@yahoo.com.
Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and will check back weekly for more great books and authors!
Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT
A busy day today here in SW Louisiana with Bayou Writers Group meetings and Angel Girl's dance competition but as they say...the show (or in our case, spotlight) must go on!
I introduced M. E. Bakos back in Feb when she shared treasures with us and again in last month when she shared some thoughts so please welcome her back with a peek into her book, Deadly Flip .
Flipping houses can be deadly!Katelyn takes on a home renovation in Hiptown, Minnesota, that “has history . . . a murder” at BFF Myra’s urging. What was she thinking? Besides the young woman being killed by the home’s prior owner, she learns the girl didn’t get the justice she deserved. Because of a double jeopardy ruling, the killer got away with murder!
Katelyn finds a hidden diary, foils an intruder, and discovers more secrets while delays and expenses escalate as she renovates the house. Could the victim’s restless spirit be haunting the house, making it the rehab from hell? Can she find peace and justice for the dead woman? To get the renovation back on track, Katelyn, Myra, ex-hubby Eddy (it’s complicated), and handyman Wayne hold a séance and bring in paranormal investigators. Will this finally rid the house of bad karma?
To top it off, Eddy is acting just plain weird, and hunky Sheriff Don Williams is a puzzle. Nosy neighbor, Mrs. Gilman, and Boots, the rescue cat, add to the fun in the second Home Renovator Mystery.
Enjoy a short excerpt from DEADLY FLIP:
What the heck!” I tugged at the edge of a board in the bottom of the window seat in the
second-floor bedroom of my home renovation project. This was my third project in my new
profession as a Home Rehab Specialist. I had bought the house at auction a couple of weeks
earlier and was in the midst of the remodel.
“What?” Myra Alexandria Payten asked, and poked her head out of the closet she’d been dusting. She wore a blue denim shirt with sleeves rolled at the cuffs and matching jeans and sported the kind of casual work shoes that cost a fortune. Her highlighted hair was freshly styled. She was humoring me with cleaning.
The house was a couple of blocks from where Myra lived. She was a staunch supporter of my new occupation. It was with her encouragement, I’d decided to become a home flipper after I was canned. Myra had a passion for home improvement projects and renewing houses. She had her projects done. Me, not so much. She lived in one of the stately mansions facing the “couples” lake in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was one of three lakes in the Hiptown area. One lake was known as the “singles” lake, another known as the “family” lake.
She had been over-the-top thrilled when I told her about the house.
“It’s a wonderful house, Katelyn! A great opportunity,” she’d gushed.
“But, I do renovations in Crocus Heights.”
“This is a perfect opportunity to expand your horizon. Besides, it’s a great deal.”
“How do you know?”
“My brother told me the house was up for sale.”
“Really? The chief of police follows foreclosures at auction?”
“This one is special. It has a history.”
“History?”
“There was an incident, a murder....” As her voice trailed off, she coughed and avoided my stare.
“Myra, I don’t need bad karma.”
“The actual murder took place in the garage. The body is gone. No body. No bad karma.” She sounded evasive and a little flip. My guard was up.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that,” I said, my eyes narrowed, considering Myra.
“I’d like you to renovate the house, Katelyn.” She studied me, her gaze steady, serious.
“Why don’t you renovate the house?” I countered. It wasn’t like Myra to push a project. It was weird, especially after my experience with a dead body in my first renovation.
“I’m not the expert that you are in home renovation,” she said firmly.
What could I say?
My name is Katelyn Baxter. Most people call me Kate or Katie. I am a Home Rehabilitation Specialist, or a house flipper. It is my passion.
Wow, M. E., sounds like the makings of Hallmark Movies and Mysteries series! Good luck and God's blessings with your books. Deadly Flip and Fatal Flip can be purchased at Amazon and you can find out more about M. E by visiting her website and friending her on Facebook, M. E. Bakos, Author or Email her at: mebakos@yahoo.com.
Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and will check back weekly for more great books and authors!
Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT
April 4, 2019
#ThursdayThoughts with David Arp
Good Morning!
Dave is not a stranger to our blog. He visited back in 2017 with VB Tenery and their book, Against the Odds, shared thoughts and the spotlight as Boo Riley about his book Me and Jake and shared treasures again last month, so please welcome him back once again! Take it away Dave....
Pamela, again, thanks for having me.
When I was a kid, my dad would walk out of the house and I would ask him where he was going. He’d say, “Crazy. Want to go?” I always did, but to him that was a figure of speech, or a way to be humorous. I never got to go crazy with him.
Before long I had my own family, and one day, when my oldest daughter was four of five, she asked me where I was going, and I said, “Crazy. You want to go?”
“Yep,” she said.
We lived in Montana, in the mountains, so she tagged along as I went outside and cut firewood or changed the oil in my pickup or mended fence or whatever, I forget. When I finished, I headed inside, and she stopped me and said, “Dad, I thought we were going crazy.”
“Honey, that’s just an expression.”
“Dad, I want to go crazy,” she cried.
Well, you told her you were going somewhere, but you never left the house. To her, crazy is a place. She feels like you did when you were a kid. I loaded her inside my pickup and we drove around. So happened that I had a bag of Smarties. I love them. I gave her some. She stood on the seat next to me—yes, this was back when a kid could do that in the mountains, even ride in back—and ate her candy.
“Is this going crazy?” she asked.
“This is going crazy,” I said.
She nodded and smiled and held out her hand for another little roll of candies. We drove around aimlessly for 20 minutes or so and returned home. She told her mom that she went crazy.
We went crazy a lot in the coming years. Whether driving or walking or horseback riding or camping, and we always had Smarties to hold us over while we were gone. Sooner than I expected, this young lady was in high school in Switzerland. She graduated and joined the Marine Corps, married a Marine and had two little girls of her own. When they got out of the Corps, she and her husband bought a house nearby.
One thing she and I really looked forward to was hunting season. We go horseback. I took her the first year she was old enough, and we couldn’t wait to go again now that they lived closer.
Opening morning dawned cold and windy. Horses were fed and saddled. We checked our gear, placed our rifles into their scabbards and mounted. I had a packhorse in tow and led the way out of camp, into a large meadow. Wind makes the horses flighty. They were fresh, ready to go. My packhorse was being a knucklehead. We finally lined out and my daughter rode up next to me. I looked at her. She looked at me, grinned, and handed me a Smartie.
I love to go crazy.
How funny, David and what a precious memory. Thanks for sharing.
David Arp was born in Arizona, raised in Texas, and lives in Colorado with his wife of 32 years. He’s 61, but has only spent half of the past 40 years at home. The other half he traveled and worked the oilfields of the world, from the deserts of the Middle East to the vast oceans offshore. He has three children and six grandchildren.
His new release, ORB is available from Pelican Book Group and Amazon.
Find out more by visiting his website and connecting with him on Facebook.
Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll drop by regularly to see who's doing what on our blog!
Until next time, take care and God Bless. PamT
Dave is not a stranger to our blog. He visited back in 2017 with VB Tenery and their book, Against the Odds, shared thoughts and the spotlight as Boo Riley about his book Me and Jake and shared treasures again last month, so please welcome him back once again! Take it away Dave....
Pamela, again, thanks for having me.When I was a kid, my dad would walk out of the house and I would ask him where he was going. He’d say, “Crazy. Want to go?” I always did, but to him that was a figure of speech, or a way to be humorous. I never got to go crazy with him.
Before long I had my own family, and one day, when my oldest daughter was four of five, she asked me where I was going, and I said, “Crazy. You want to go?”
“Yep,” she said.
We lived in Montana, in the mountains, so she tagged along as I went outside and cut firewood or changed the oil in my pickup or mended fence or whatever, I forget. When I finished, I headed inside, and she stopped me and said, “Dad, I thought we were going crazy.”
“Honey, that’s just an expression.”
“Dad, I want to go crazy,” she cried.
Well, you told her you were going somewhere, but you never left the house. To her, crazy is a place. She feels like you did when you were a kid. I loaded her inside my pickup and we drove around. So happened that I had a bag of Smarties. I love them. I gave her some. She stood on the seat next to me—yes, this was back when a kid could do that in the mountains, even ride in back—and ate her candy.
“Is this going crazy?” she asked.
“This is going crazy,” I said.
She nodded and smiled and held out her hand for another little roll of candies. We drove around aimlessly for 20 minutes or so and returned home. She told her mom that she went crazy.
We went crazy a lot in the coming years. Whether driving or walking or horseback riding or camping, and we always had Smarties to hold us over while we were gone. Sooner than I expected, this young lady was in high school in Switzerland. She graduated and joined the Marine Corps, married a Marine and had two little girls of her own. When they got out of the Corps, she and her husband bought a house nearby.
One thing she and I really looked forward to was hunting season. We go horseback. I took her the first year she was old enough, and we couldn’t wait to go again now that they lived closer.
Opening morning dawned cold and windy. Horses were fed and saddled. We checked our gear, placed our rifles into their scabbards and mounted. I had a packhorse in tow and led the way out of camp, into a large meadow. Wind makes the horses flighty. They were fresh, ready to go. My packhorse was being a knucklehead. We finally lined out and my daughter rode up next to me. I looked at her. She looked at me, grinned, and handed me a Smartie.
I love to go crazy.
How funny, David and what a precious memory. Thanks for sharing.
David Arp was born in Arizona, raised in Texas, and lives in Colorado with his wife of 32 years. He’s 61, but has only spent half of the past 40 years at home. The other half he traveled and worked the oilfields of the world, from the deserts of the Middle East to the vast oceans offshore. He has three children and six grandchildren.
His new release, ORB is available from Pelican Book Group and Amazon.
Find out more by visiting his website and connecting with him on Facebook.
Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll drop by regularly to see who's doing what on our blog!
Until next time, take care and God Bless. PamT
April 2, 2019
#TuesdayTreasures with Kathleen Neely
Good Morning!
Today's guest has shared treasures with us, been in our spotlight and shared thoughts with us twice so please welcome Kathleen Neely back once again with something she treasures....
Joy in the Journey
I was married in 1972, and raised three sons in the age before digital photography. That explains why I have photo albums with clear pages that contain years of photographs, sticky pages that loosen if you peel them back to rearrange the photos. Before digital photography, we took rolls of film to the pharmacy to have pictures sent away to be developed. No one-hour pick up. There was no option to peek and select the best of the roll. The result of that is multiple photos of the same pose, just to ensure that we’d get a good one. I never could bring myself to discard photos, so the extras ended up in a box, often with the negatives in an envelope, just in case.
Then came digital photography. The advent of photo books. No more sticky pages with pictures falling out. The first one that I created was my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding pictures. I knew that I wanted the same beautiful tribute to the years of raising my sons. The problem was, I had no digital photos. I had a disorganized mess of a dozen haphazard books and two boxes of jumbled pictures.
My sister and I set ourselves to the enormous task of creating three photo books, one for each of my sons. The book would highlight their lives from birth to adulthood. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. We spread photos over a long table and began sorting, selecting, scanning, and downloading. Then we set ourselves to the task of creating.
Another wonderful perk a photo book is the opportunity for creativity—adding quotes, embellishments, borders. I scanned and included newspaper birth announcements, scriptures, and some snippets of things they had written.
The joy of creating the books was topped by their pleasure when they opened them at Christmas. This little story contains so many things that I cherish. The years of memories when my boys were young, the time spent with my sister working and reminiscing, the fun creating, and the joy of giving. At the onset, the project felt overwhelming, but the journey became my treasure.
How precious, Kathleen! I've got a ton of photos that need to be in albums and a ton more on computer, phone and CD's that need to be printed and put in albums. I think we can all agree pictures are something to treasure. Thanks for sharing.
Kathleen Neely
is the author of The Street Singer, Beauty for Ashes (4-26-19), and The Least of These (5-30-19). She is a former elementary teacher. Following her years in the classroom, she moved into administration, serving as an elementary principal. Kathleen is an alumnus of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and Regent University in Virginia. She held certifications in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Principal. As a long-time member of the Association of Christian Schools International, she attended numerous leadership conferences. In addition to teaching children, Kathleen taught staff development workshops and led forums for teachers.
Among her writing accomplishments, Kathleen won second place in a short story contest through ACFW-VA for her short story “The Missing Piece” and an honorable mention for her story “The Dance”. Both were published in a Christmas anthology. Her novel, The Least of These, was awarded first place in the 2015 Fresh Voices contest through Almost an Author. She has numerous devotions published through Christian Devotions. She continues to speak to students about writing. Kathleen is a member of Association of Christian Fiction Writers.
She resides in Greenville, SC with her husband, two cats, and one dog. She enjoys time with family, visiting her two grandsons, traveling, and reading.
Website – www.KathleenNeely.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/kathy.neely.98Twitter - https://twitter.com/NeelyKneely3628
The Street Singer is available at: AmazonBarnes and Noble PBG
Beauty for Ashes will be released on April 26th. Watch for the presale coming soon.
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll drop by often to see who's sharing what!
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
Today's guest has shared treasures with us, been in our spotlight and shared thoughts with us twice so please welcome Kathleen Neely back once again with something she treasures....
Joy in the Journey
I was married in 1972, and raised three sons in the age before digital photography. That explains why I have photo albums with clear pages that contain years of photographs, sticky pages that loosen if you peel them back to rearrange the photos. Before digital photography, we took rolls of film to the pharmacy to have pictures sent away to be developed. No one-hour pick up. There was no option to peek and select the best of the roll. The result of that is multiple photos of the same pose, just to ensure that we’d get a good one. I never could bring myself to discard photos, so the extras ended up in a box, often with the negatives in an envelope, just in case. Then came digital photography. The advent of photo books. No more sticky pages with pictures falling out. The first one that I created was my son and daughter-in-law’s wedding pictures. I knew that I wanted the same beautiful tribute to the years of raising my sons. The problem was, I had no digital photos. I had a disorganized mess of a dozen haphazard books and two boxes of jumbled pictures.
My sister and I set ourselves to the enormous task of creating three photo books, one for each of my sons. The book would highlight their lives from birth to adulthood. Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. We spread photos over a long table and began sorting, selecting, scanning, and downloading. Then we set ourselves to the task of creating.
Another wonderful perk a photo book is the opportunity for creativity—adding quotes, embellishments, borders. I scanned and included newspaper birth announcements, scriptures, and some snippets of things they had written.
The joy of creating the books was topped by their pleasure when they opened them at Christmas. This little story contains so many things that I cherish. The years of memories when my boys were young, the time spent with my sister working and reminiscing, the fun creating, and the joy of giving. At the onset, the project felt overwhelming, but the journey became my treasure.
How precious, Kathleen! I've got a ton of photos that need to be in albums and a ton more on computer, phone and CD's that need to be printed and put in albums. I think we can all agree pictures are something to treasure. Thanks for sharing.
Kathleen Neely
is the author of The Street Singer, Beauty for Ashes (4-26-19), and The Least of These (5-30-19). She is a former elementary teacher. Following her years in the classroom, she moved into administration, serving as an elementary principal. Kathleen is an alumnus of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania and Regent University in Virginia. She held certifications in Early Childhood, Elementary, and Principal. As a long-time member of the Association of Christian Schools International, she attended numerous leadership conferences. In addition to teaching children, Kathleen taught staff development workshops and led forums for teachers.Among her writing accomplishments, Kathleen won second place in a short story contest through ACFW-VA for her short story “The Missing Piece” and an honorable mention for her story “The Dance”. Both were published in a Christmas anthology. Her novel, The Least of These, was awarded first place in the 2015 Fresh Voices contest through Almost an Author. She has numerous devotions published through Christian Devotions. She continues to speak to students about writing. Kathleen is a member of Association of Christian Fiction Writers.
She resides in Greenville, SC with her husband, two cats, and one dog. She enjoys time with family, visiting her two grandsons, traveling, and reading. Website – www.KathleenNeely.com Facebook – www.facebook.com/kathy.neely.98Twitter - https://twitter.com/NeelyKneely3628
The Street Singer is available at: AmazonBarnes and Noble PBG
Beauty for Ashes will be released on April 26th. Watch for the presale coming soon.
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll drop by often to see who's sharing what!
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
March 30, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight is on Jolina Petersheim
Good Morning!
Whew! It's always lovely to go on vacation but it's great to get home too!
Today's guest is new to me and our blog so please welcome Tyndale author, Jolina Petersheim!
Jolina Petersheim is the bestselling author of The Alliance, The Midwife, and The Outcast, which Library Journal called “outstanding . . . fresh and inspirational” in a starred review and named one of the best books of 2013. That book also became an ECPA, CBA, and Amazon bestseller and was featured in Huffington Post’s Fall Picks, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and the Tennessean. CBA Retailers + Resources called her second book, The Midwife, “an excellent read [that] will be hard to put down,” and Romantic Times declared, “Petersheim is an amazing new author.” Her third book, The Alliance, was selected as one of Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction titles of 2016. Jolina’s nonfiction writing has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Writer’s Digest, and Today’s Christian Woman. She and her husband share the same unique Amish and Mennonite heritage that originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but they now live in the mountains of Tennessee with their two young daughters. Jolina blogs regularly at www.jolinapetersheim.com.
1. What inspired you to write How the Light Gets In? When my firstborn daughter, now six, was a year old, we took a walk in Wisconsin on a cold fall day. Afterward, I envisioned a young mother coming there with almost nothing and how she would survive. Two years later, my husband’s uncle shared a newspaper article with me about a Wisconsin cranberry farmer who used old-fashioned equipment; that was when I knew the twist for the modern retelling of Ruth.
2. How do you expect the novel to resonate with your audience? What are you most excited for your readers to experience through reading this story?How the Light Gets In will resonate with readers who find themselves struggling to maintain a healthy marital relationship in the wake of transition. And what life is exempt from transition? Ruth and Chandler’s journey, of choosing love even when the person they have chosen to marry has changed, will encourage readers to choose love as well. My utmost dream for this story is to strengthen marriages by offering an intimate look at both sides of that union. Also, being in the throes of young motherhood with three girls under six, I am passionate about encouraging women to pursue their creative gifts, so they can continue pouring back into their spirits, and from this refilling, they can continue to pour out.
3. What role does faith play in this story? At the story’s opening, Ruth and Chandler have spent the past five years so focused on making a temporal difference in the world, their eternal perspectives have become opaque. After Ruth receives news of Chandler’s death, her world is turned upside down, and she understands how desperately she needs faith—the faith she’s neglected—to help her and her daughters survive such loss. Ruth’s heart finds healing while working the cranberry harvest with Elam, her husband’s cousin, who has a simple, steadfast faith that encourages her own.
4. What lessons or truths do you hope people take away from How the Light Gets In?I want readers to see that Jesus is the only one who can offer lasting fulfillment and peace. Marital frustration often stems from the fact that husbands and wives expect their spouses to fulfill that longing. But when you both begin to pursue Jesus and understand your identity in him, it releases your spouse from that unattainable expectation, and you can both pull together toward wholeness and joy.
5. You say this story is both cautionary and redemptive. Can you explain that a bit, without giving too much away?How the Light Gets In is a cautionary tale because it tells the story of two people who have lost sight of each other in the day-to-day demands of parenthood and obligation. I want readers to see how they might be falling into a similar pattern—for instance, reaching for their smart phones at the end of the day rather than reconnecting with their husband or wife—and inspire them to incorporate simple ways to reconnect hearts. This story is a redemptive one as well because Ruth and Chandler are given a second chance to love each other better. As long as we have breath, I believe we can learn to love each other better. This story challenged me even as I wrote it. At this point in the publishing process, How the Light Gets In challenges me still.
6. As an author, what did you particularly enjoy about writing this story? I wrote How the Light Gets Induring a particularly challenging season in our marriage—we had just moved home to Tennessee from Wisconsin, leaving our farm and my husband’s homesteading dreams—and the process of understanding Ruth’s and Chandler’s martial journey helped me have a deeper appreciation for ours. Life isn’t always as linear as we would like, and we have to learn to love each other in the midst of transition, extending grace and empathy when one partner might be feeling that transition at a deeper level, because our time will come, and we will want them to extend grace to us as well.
7. How do you hope Ruth’s story will encourage readers? I hope Ruth’s story will encourage readers to make their marriages a priority, even during the challenging young parenting years when it’s so hard to have the time and energy to reconnect. Ironically, it’s 6:30 in the morning, and I’m writing this on a plane bound for Colorado for our tenth anniversary trip. It’s been a challenging season while we’re building our house, raising our daughters, and working to eliminate some health issues, and therefore it’s even more necessary for us to get away and find each other again as husband and wife, not just mom and dad.
8. What is it about Ruth’s story that women will relate to?
I am passionate about women taking time to pursue creative outlets that pour back into their souls. Our society places a lot of demands on women that can often leave us physically, emotionally, and spiritually parched. I would love if women would read Ruth’s story, of taking time to pursue her artistry even while juggling young motherhood, and find the courage to pursue their artistry as well. Since we are all created in the Artist’s image, is it any wonder that our hearts come most alive while we’re creating? Discover what you love—painting, singing, knitting, writing, baking—and pursue it. You have a gift.
9. How do you hope this book brings healing and refreshment to marriages?I hope How the Light Gets In brings healing and refreshment to marriages by helping them see they are worthy of love, just as they are. Insecurity can erect defenses in marriage, but once we’re aware that Jesus loves us where we are, it pushes us toward that love; and that understanding of love helps us love each other perfectly, the way it was meant to be since the beginning of time.
10. What is one thing you learned about yourself through writing this book?Ruth, at the beginning of the story, has these defenses in place to protect her heart. Only once she steps into her identity as a beloved daughter of God can she find healing and wholeness. I didn’t know I had erected defenses around my own heart as well until this novel brought them to light. I am so grateful for the ability to understand my own heart by processing life and love through my characters.
Get your copy of How the Light Gets In at Tyndale or Amazon!
Thanks for joining us for Saturday Spotlight! Hope you'll come again soon.
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT
Whew! It's always lovely to go on vacation but it's great to get home too!
Today's guest is new to me and our blog so please welcome Tyndale author, Jolina Petersheim!
Jolina Petersheim is the bestselling author of The Alliance, The Midwife, and The Outcast, which Library Journal called “outstanding . . . fresh and inspirational” in a starred review and named one of the best books of 2013. That book also became an ECPA, CBA, and Amazon bestseller and was featured in Huffington Post’s Fall Picks, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and the Tennessean. CBA Retailers + Resources called her second book, The Midwife, “an excellent read [that] will be hard to put down,” and Romantic Times declared, “Petersheim is an amazing new author.” Her third book, The Alliance, was selected as one of Booklist’s Top 10 Inspirational Fiction titles of 2016. Jolina’s nonfiction writing has been featured in Reader’s Digest, Writer’s Digest, and Today’s Christian Woman. She and her husband share the same unique Amish and Mennonite heritage that originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but they now live in the mountains of Tennessee with their two young daughters. Jolina blogs regularly at www.jolinapetersheim.com.1. What inspired you to write How the Light Gets In? When my firstborn daughter, now six, was a year old, we took a walk in Wisconsin on a cold fall day. Afterward, I envisioned a young mother coming there with almost nothing and how she would survive. Two years later, my husband’s uncle shared a newspaper article with me about a Wisconsin cranberry farmer who used old-fashioned equipment; that was when I knew the twist for the modern retelling of Ruth.
2. How do you expect the novel to resonate with your audience? What are you most excited for your readers to experience through reading this story?How the Light Gets In will resonate with readers who find themselves struggling to maintain a healthy marital relationship in the wake of transition. And what life is exempt from transition? Ruth and Chandler’s journey, of choosing love even when the person they have chosen to marry has changed, will encourage readers to choose love as well. My utmost dream for this story is to strengthen marriages by offering an intimate look at both sides of that union. Also, being in the throes of young motherhood with three girls under six, I am passionate about encouraging women to pursue their creative gifts, so they can continue pouring back into their spirits, and from this refilling, they can continue to pour out.
3. What role does faith play in this story? At the story’s opening, Ruth and Chandler have spent the past five years so focused on making a temporal difference in the world, their eternal perspectives have become opaque. After Ruth receives news of Chandler’s death, her world is turned upside down, and she understands how desperately she needs faith—the faith she’s neglected—to help her and her daughters survive such loss. Ruth’s heart finds healing while working the cranberry harvest with Elam, her husband’s cousin, who has a simple, steadfast faith that encourages her own.
4. What lessons or truths do you hope people take away from How the Light Gets In?I want readers to see that Jesus is the only one who can offer lasting fulfillment and peace. Marital frustration often stems from the fact that husbands and wives expect their spouses to fulfill that longing. But when you both begin to pursue Jesus and understand your identity in him, it releases your spouse from that unattainable expectation, and you can both pull together toward wholeness and joy.
5. You say this story is both cautionary and redemptive. Can you explain that a bit, without giving too much away?How the Light Gets In is a cautionary tale because it tells the story of two people who have lost sight of each other in the day-to-day demands of parenthood and obligation. I want readers to see how they might be falling into a similar pattern—for instance, reaching for their smart phones at the end of the day rather than reconnecting with their husband or wife—and inspire them to incorporate simple ways to reconnect hearts. This story is a redemptive one as well because Ruth and Chandler are given a second chance to love each other better. As long as we have breath, I believe we can learn to love each other better. This story challenged me even as I wrote it. At this point in the publishing process, How the Light Gets In challenges me still.
6. As an author, what did you particularly enjoy about writing this story? I wrote How the Light Gets Induring a particularly challenging season in our marriage—we had just moved home to Tennessee from Wisconsin, leaving our farm and my husband’s homesteading dreams—and the process of understanding Ruth’s and Chandler’s martial journey helped me have a deeper appreciation for ours. Life isn’t always as linear as we would like, and we have to learn to love each other in the midst of transition, extending grace and empathy when one partner might be feeling that transition at a deeper level, because our time will come, and we will want them to extend grace to us as well.
7. How do you hope Ruth’s story will encourage readers? I hope Ruth’s story will encourage readers to make their marriages a priority, even during the challenging young parenting years when it’s so hard to have the time and energy to reconnect. Ironically, it’s 6:30 in the morning, and I’m writing this on a plane bound for Colorado for our tenth anniversary trip. It’s been a challenging season while we’re building our house, raising our daughters, and working to eliminate some health issues, and therefore it’s even more necessary for us to get away and find each other again as husband and wife, not just mom and dad.
8. What is it about Ruth’s story that women will relate to?
I am passionate about women taking time to pursue creative outlets that pour back into their souls. Our society places a lot of demands on women that can often leave us physically, emotionally, and spiritually parched. I would love if women would read Ruth’s story, of taking time to pursue her artistry even while juggling young motherhood, and find the courage to pursue their artistry as well. Since we are all created in the Artist’s image, is it any wonder that our hearts come most alive while we’re creating? Discover what you love—painting, singing, knitting, writing, baking—and pursue it. You have a gift.
9. How do you hope this book brings healing and refreshment to marriages?I hope How the Light Gets In brings healing and refreshment to marriages by helping them see they are worthy of love, just as they are. Insecurity can erect defenses in marriage, but once we’re aware that Jesus loves us where we are, it pushes us toward that love; and that understanding of love helps us love each other perfectly, the way it was meant to be since the beginning of time.
10. What is one thing you learned about yourself through writing this book?Ruth, at the beginning of the story, has these defenses in place to protect her heart. Only once she steps into her identity as a beloved daughter of God can she find healing and wholeness. I didn’t know I had erected defenses around my own heart as well until this novel brought them to light. I am so grateful for the ability to understand my own heart by processing life and love through my characters.
Get your copy of How the Light Gets In at Tyndale or Amazon!
Thanks for joining us for Saturday Spotlight! Hope you'll come again soon.
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT
March 28, 2019
#ThursdayThoughts with Diana Rubino!
Good Morning,
Well my vacation to SC & S FL is coming to a close. Should be back home tomorrow afternoon and back to my normal routine.
Today's guest has been in our spotlight and shared thoughts with us before so please welcome Diana back!
FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET Now on Audio with the soothing voice of narrator Nina Price
Read About FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET and how Vita Found Love and Success Against All Odds
It's 1894 on New York's Lower East Side. Irish cop Tom McGlory and Italian immigrant Vita Caputo fall in love despite their different upbringings. Vita goes from sweatshop laborer to respected bank clerk to reformer, helping elect a mayor to beat the Tammany machine. While Tom works undercover to help Ted Roosevelt purge police corruption, Vita's father arranges a marriage between her and a man she despises. As Vita and Tom work together against time and prejudice to clear her brother and father of a murder they didn't commit, they know their love can survive poverty, hatred, and corruption. Vita is based on my great grandmother, Josephine Calabrese, “Josie Red” who left grade school to become a self-made businesswoman and politician, wife and mother.
An Excerpt:
As Vita gathered her soap and towel, Madame Branchard tapped on her door. "You have a gentleman caller, Vita. A policeman.""Tom?" His name lingered on her lips as she repeated it. She dropped her things and crossed the room."No, hon, not him. Another policeman. Theodore something, I think he said." No. There can't be anything wrong. "Thanks," she whispered, nudging Madame Branchard aside. She descended the steps, gripping the banister to support her wobbly legs. Stay calm! she warned herself. But of course it was no use; staying calm just wasn't her nature.“Theodore something” stood before the closed parlor door. He’s a policeman? Tall and hefty, a bold pink shirt peeking out of a buttoned waistcoat and fitted jacket, he looked way out of place against the dainty patterned wallpaper. He removed his hat. "Miss Caputo." He strained to keep his voice soft as he held out a piece of paper. “I’m police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt.”"Yes?" Her voice shook."I have a summons for you, Miss Caputo." He held it out to her. But she stood rooted to that spot. He stepped closer and she took it from him, unfolding it with icy fingers. Why would she be served with a summons? Was someone arresting her now for something she didn't do? A shot of anger tore through her at this system, at everything she wanted to change. She flipped it open and saw the word "Summons" in fancy script at the top. Her eyes widened with each sentence as she read. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing.”I hereby order Miss Vita Caputo to enter into holy matrimony with Mr. Thomas McGlory immediately following service of this summons.
How FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET Was Born
New York City’s history always fascinated me—how it became the most powerful hub in the world from a sprawling wilderness in exchange for $24 with Native Americans by the Dutch in 1626.
Growing up in Jersey City, I could see the Statue of Liberty from our living room window if I leaned way over (luckily I didn’t lean too far over). As a child model, I spent many an afternoon on job interviews and modeling assignments in the city, and got hooked on Nedick’s, a fast food chain whose orange drinks were every kid’s dream. Even better than the vanilla egg creams. We never drove to the city—we either took the PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) train (‘the tube’ in those days) or the bus through the Lincoln Tunnel to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
My great grandmother, Josephine Arnone, “Josie Red” to her friends, because of her abundant head of red hair, was way ahead of her time. Born in 1895 (but it could’ve been sooner, as she was known to lie about her age), she left grade school, became a successful businesswoman and a Jersey City committewoman, as well as a wife and mother of four. She owned apartment buildings, parking garages, a summer home, did a bit of Prohibition-era bootlegging, small-time loan-sharking, and paid cash for everything. When I began outlining From Here to Fourteenth Street, I modeled my heroine, Vita Caputo, after her. Although the story is set in New York the year before Grandma was born, I was able to bring Vita to life by calling on the family legends and stories, all word of mouth, for she never kept a journal.
Vita’s hero Tom McGlory isn’t based on any real person, but I did a lot of reading about Metropolitan Policemen and made sure he was the complete opposite! He’s trustworthy and would never take a bribe or graft. I always liked the name McGlory—then, years after the book first came out, I remembered that was the name of my first car mechanic—Ronnie McGlory.
I completed the book in 1995, and my then-publisher, Domhan Books, published it under the title I Love You Because. The Wild Rose Press picked it up after I gave it many revisions and overhauls. My editor Nan Swanson did a fabulous job making the prose sparkle.
ABOUT ME:
My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. I live on Cape Cod with my husband Chris. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano and devour books of any genre. Visit me at www.dianarubino.com, www.DianaRubinoAuthor.blogspot.com, https://www.facebook.com/DianaRubinoAuthor, and on Twitter @DianaLRubino.
Purchase FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paperback
getbook.at/FromHereTo14Audio
Wow, congratulations Diana on your new Audio release of From Here to Fourteenth Street! Thanks for joining us friends and please check back on Saturday when we have a new guest in our spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT
Well my vacation to SC & S FL is coming to a close. Should be back home tomorrow afternoon and back to my normal routine.
Today's guest has been in our spotlight and shared thoughts with us before so please welcome Diana back!
FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET Now on Audio with the soothing voice of narrator Nina Price
Read About FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET and how Vita Found Love and Success Against All Odds
It's 1894 on New York's Lower East Side. Irish cop Tom McGlory and Italian immigrant Vita Caputo fall in love despite their different upbringings. Vita goes from sweatshop laborer to respected bank clerk to reformer, helping elect a mayor to beat the Tammany machine. While Tom works undercover to help Ted Roosevelt purge police corruption, Vita's father arranges a marriage between her and a man she despises. As Vita and Tom work together against time and prejudice to clear her brother and father of a murder they didn't commit, they know their love can survive poverty, hatred, and corruption. Vita is based on my great grandmother, Josephine Calabrese, “Josie Red” who left grade school to become a self-made businesswoman and politician, wife and mother.
An Excerpt:
As Vita gathered her soap and towel, Madame Branchard tapped on her door. "You have a gentleman caller, Vita. A policeman.""Tom?" His name lingered on her lips as she repeated it. She dropped her things and crossed the room."No, hon, not him. Another policeman. Theodore something, I think he said." No. There can't be anything wrong. "Thanks," she whispered, nudging Madame Branchard aside. She descended the steps, gripping the banister to support her wobbly legs. Stay calm! she warned herself. But of course it was no use; staying calm just wasn't her nature.“Theodore something” stood before the closed parlor door. He’s a policeman? Tall and hefty, a bold pink shirt peeking out of a buttoned waistcoat and fitted jacket, he looked way out of place against the dainty patterned wallpaper. He removed his hat. "Miss Caputo." He strained to keep his voice soft as he held out a piece of paper. “I’m police commissioner Theodore Roosevelt.”"Yes?" Her voice shook."I have a summons for you, Miss Caputo." He held it out to her. But she stood rooted to that spot. He stepped closer and she took it from him, unfolding it with icy fingers. Why would she be served with a summons? Was someone arresting her now for something she didn't do? A shot of anger tore through her at this system, at everything she wanted to change. She flipped it open and saw the word "Summons" in fancy script at the top. Her eyes widened with each sentence as she read. “I can’t believe what I’m seeing.”I hereby order Miss Vita Caputo to enter into holy matrimony with Mr. Thomas McGlory immediately following service of this summons.
How FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET Was Born
New York City’s history always fascinated me—how it became the most powerful hub in the world from a sprawling wilderness in exchange for $24 with Native Americans by the Dutch in 1626.
Growing up in Jersey City, I could see the Statue of Liberty from our living room window if I leaned way over (luckily I didn’t lean too far over). As a child model, I spent many an afternoon on job interviews and modeling assignments in the city, and got hooked on Nedick’s, a fast food chain whose orange drinks were every kid’s dream. Even better than the vanilla egg creams. We never drove to the city—we either took the PATH (Port Authority Trans Hudson) train (‘the tube’ in those days) or the bus through the Lincoln Tunnel to the Port Authority Bus Terminal.
My great grandmother, Josephine Arnone, “Josie Red” to her friends, because of her abundant head of red hair, was way ahead of her time. Born in 1895 (but it could’ve been sooner, as she was known to lie about her age), she left grade school, became a successful businesswoman and a Jersey City committewoman, as well as a wife and mother of four. She owned apartment buildings, parking garages, a summer home, did a bit of Prohibition-era bootlegging, small-time loan-sharking, and paid cash for everything. When I began outlining From Here to Fourteenth Street, I modeled my heroine, Vita Caputo, after her. Although the story is set in New York the year before Grandma was born, I was able to bring Vita to life by calling on the family legends and stories, all word of mouth, for she never kept a journal.
Vita’s hero Tom McGlory isn’t based on any real person, but I did a lot of reading about Metropolitan Policemen and made sure he was the complete opposite! He’s trustworthy and would never take a bribe or graft. I always liked the name McGlory—then, years after the book first came out, I remembered that was the name of my first car mechanic—Ronnie McGlory.
I completed the book in 1995, and my then-publisher, Domhan Books, published it under the title I Love You Because. The Wild Rose Press picked it up after I gave it many revisions and overhauls. My editor Nan Swanson did a fabulous job making the prose sparkle.
ABOUT ME:
My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. I live on Cape Cod with my husband Chris. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano and devour books of any genre. Visit me at www.dianarubino.com, www.DianaRubinoAuthor.blogspot.com, https://www.facebook.com/DianaRubinoAuthor, and on Twitter @DianaLRubino.
Purchase FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET
Amazon Kindle
Amazon Paperback
getbook.at/FromHereTo14Audio
Wow, congratulations Diana on your new Audio release of From Here to Fourteenth Street! Thanks for joining us friends and please check back on Saturday when we have a new guest in our spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT
March 26, 2019
#TuesdayTreasures with C Hope Clark!
Good Morning!
Please help me welcome C. Hope Clark as she shares some treasures with us....
Why Write Mysteries on a Beach?By C. Hope Clark
I never realized until I wrote my own mysteries that setting is intensely important when I crack a book’s spine. Upon entering a story, I want to sink into the environment. I mean…on page one, the author needs to acclimate me.
Don’t tell me a small town. . . name it, describe it, let me smell and hear it. Don’t tell me an old house. Let me feel the ghosts of past residents and see their impact on having lived there. Give me the old dusty scent. Make me squint when the sun comes in glaring just right from that window in the corner of the dining room.
So when my publisher asked me to create a new series, and place it in one setting that I loved, it took me seconds to settle on Edisto Beach, my favorite getaway at almost the tippy end of my home state of South Carolina. However, I write mysteries, and this had to be a series. Edisto Beach only has a population of 500 people, and in 16 years, no murders, one rape, and two robberies. A few summer thefts by kids.
But to me, that sounded perfect and helped me sculpt my protagonist. Being from South Carolina, she escaped suffocating, political parents and married a Yankee only to move to Boston where he became a US Marshall and she became a homicide detective. But a criminal she finally nabbed arranged a hit on her husband, leading her to obsess over it. . . and lose her job. Limping home to South Carolina, her father, recognizing her need to be alone, deeded her the family’s vacation cottage at Edisto Beach. She moved for just what a beach is supposed to do. . . soothe and heal. Never wanting to be a law enforcement officer again.
The perfect setup for conflict. A juxtaposition of opposites in so many ways.
Dying on Edisto is the most recent release, book 5 in the Edisto Island Mysteries. In the previous books Callie Morgan evolved to become police chief of the beach, and has spotted and solved numerous crimes that nobody would’ve seen, much less solved, without her skills. They don’t believe in crime on their beach. She does, and pays a hefty price for her efforts.
Enter the Edisto River leading to the ocean, a plantation home renovated into a bed and breakfast, and a dead travel blogger who was bent on ruining the plantation’s reputation before it ever gets off the ground. Dying on Edisto oozes with setting, and one cannot navigate the mystery without drinking the humidity, smelling the restaurant, and feeling the gnats and trickling sweat.
Yeah, this is how I like my stories. Practically three dimensional. Hopefully you do, too.
C. Hope Clark is the award-winning author of the Carolina Slade Mysteries and the Edisto Island Mysteries. During her career with the US Department of Agriculture, she met and married a federal agent-now a private investigator. She plots murder mysteries at their lakeside home in South Carolina, when she isn’t strolling Edisto Beach.
She founded FundsforWriters.com, selected by Writer’s Digest for its 101 Best Websites for Writers for 18 years. Her newsletter reaches 35,000 readers. www.fundsforwriters.com / Find our more about her at www.chopeclark.com
Her latest release is Dying on Edisto , Book 5 of the Edisto Island Mysteries and can be purchased at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Find out more about the series HERE.
Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back often.
Until next time take care and God bless. PamT
Please help me welcome C. Hope Clark as she shares some treasures with us....
Why Write Mysteries on a Beach?By C. Hope Clark
I never realized until I wrote my own mysteries that setting is intensely important when I crack a book’s spine. Upon entering a story, I want to sink into the environment. I mean…on page one, the author needs to acclimate me.
Don’t tell me a small town. . . name it, describe it, let me smell and hear it. Don’t tell me an old house. Let me feel the ghosts of past residents and see their impact on having lived there. Give me the old dusty scent. Make me squint when the sun comes in glaring just right from that window in the corner of the dining room.
So when my publisher asked me to create a new series, and place it in one setting that I loved, it took me seconds to settle on Edisto Beach, my favorite getaway at almost the tippy end of my home state of South Carolina. However, I write mysteries, and this had to be a series. Edisto Beach only has a population of 500 people, and in 16 years, no murders, one rape, and two robberies. A few summer thefts by kids.
But to me, that sounded perfect and helped me sculpt my protagonist. Being from South Carolina, she escaped suffocating, political parents and married a Yankee only to move to Boston where he became a US Marshall and she became a homicide detective. But a criminal she finally nabbed arranged a hit on her husband, leading her to obsess over it. . . and lose her job. Limping home to South Carolina, her father, recognizing her need to be alone, deeded her the family’s vacation cottage at Edisto Beach. She moved for just what a beach is supposed to do. . . soothe and heal. Never wanting to be a law enforcement officer again.
The perfect setup for conflict. A juxtaposition of opposites in so many ways.
Dying on Edisto is the most recent release, book 5 in the Edisto Island Mysteries. In the previous books Callie Morgan evolved to become police chief of the beach, and has spotted and solved numerous crimes that nobody would’ve seen, much less solved, without her skills. They don’t believe in crime on their beach. She does, and pays a hefty price for her efforts.
Enter the Edisto River leading to the ocean, a plantation home renovated into a bed and breakfast, and a dead travel blogger who was bent on ruining the plantation’s reputation before it ever gets off the ground. Dying on Edisto oozes with setting, and one cannot navigate the mystery without drinking the humidity, smelling the restaurant, and feeling the gnats and trickling sweat.
Yeah, this is how I like my stories. Practically three dimensional. Hopefully you do, too.
C. Hope Clark is the award-winning author of the Carolina Slade Mysteries and the Edisto Island Mysteries. During her career with the US Department of Agriculture, she met and married a federal agent-now a private investigator. She plots murder mysteries at their lakeside home in South Carolina, when she isn’t strolling Edisto Beach. She founded FundsforWriters.com, selected by Writer’s Digest for its 101 Best Websites for Writers for 18 years. Her newsletter reaches 35,000 readers. www.fundsforwriters.com / Find our more about her at www.chopeclark.com
Her latest release is Dying on Edisto , Book 5 of the Edisto Island Mysteries and can be purchased at Amazon or Barnes and Noble. Find out more about the series HERE.
Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back often.
Until next time take care and God bless. PamT
March 23, 2019
#SaturdaySpotlight is on Tom Donnan & One Door Between Us!
Good Morning from Homestead, FL!
Yep been travelling again and for now, visiting National Parks in Florida. Should be headed back toward Louisiana Monday or Tuesday, but today please welcome Tom Donnan back with a peek into his book, One Door Between Us.
Hot off the press, as it is said for new books, One Door Between Us is the Saturday Spotlight. It is more than a love story, it is what happens when Jesus enters into a family and blesses their lives. The story is written about real people in a fictional way. For this family, the supernatural side of our Christian God is displayed time and time again. Because of my experience in Revival, and person experience with God, I allow the reader to visualize what happens behind the veil and into the workings of the spiritual realm.
As an author, I would love to talk about my baby, this book. But then it would ruin it for you the reader. The twists and turns of living in the providence of God is truly an exciting story. Arielle, the main character, opens one door to love and one door to destiny.
Wow, Tom this sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing.
Tom Donnan, Author of:Healing the NationSpiritual House CleaningPastors and the Presence of God7:14 Angels on AssignmentOne Door Between Us
Facebook Page: Healing the Nation MinistriesHealingthenation1776@gmail.com
Find all of my books at Amazon
Check out Tom's Tuesday Treasures and Thursday Thoughts posts and check back often for more!
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
Yep been travelling again and for now, visiting National Parks in Florida. Should be headed back toward Louisiana Monday or Tuesday, but today please welcome Tom Donnan back with a peek into his book, One Door Between Us.
Hot off the press, as it is said for new books, One Door Between Us is the Saturday Spotlight. It is more than a love story, it is what happens when Jesus enters into a family and blesses their lives. The story is written about real people in a fictional way. For this family, the supernatural side of our Christian God is displayed time and time again. Because of my experience in Revival, and person experience with God, I allow the reader to visualize what happens behind the veil and into the workings of the spiritual realm.As an author, I would love to talk about my baby, this book. But then it would ruin it for you the reader. The twists and turns of living in the providence of God is truly an exciting story. Arielle, the main character, opens one door to love and one door to destiny.
Wow, Tom this sounds like a great book! Thanks for sharing.
Tom Donnan, Author of:Healing the NationSpiritual House CleaningPastors and the Presence of God7:14 Angels on AssignmentOne Door Between Us
Facebook Page: Healing the Nation MinistriesHealingthenation1776@gmail.com
Find all of my books at Amazon
Check out Tom's Tuesday Treasures and Thursday Thoughts posts and check back often for more!
Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT
