Pamela S. Thibodeaux's Blog, page 82
June 18, 2016
#SaturdaySpotlight is on MJ Schiller & her FREE book!
Good Morning!
Today's spotlight guest is not a total stranger to our blog. MJ Schiller has shared some thoughts as well as treasures with us. But today we're spotlighting her new book which is FREE through today!
Sir Darius Lee is a Knight of the High Order.
But when Darius discovers a stranger in his room in the middle of the night, and the intruder turns out to be a beautiful woman, he begins to question how he is meant to live his life.
Princess Megan of Bethyea is being held captive.
But when two knights help her to escape and bring her back to her home planet, she finds the home she knew no longer exists.
When The Council of Twelve questions Darius about his relationship with Maggie, she tries to flee from The Academy of the High Order to prevent him from losing his knighthood.
Will Darius and Orion find Maggie before she leaves Albion? And if they do, how can they face the decision of The Council? And what about the feelings Orion has developed for the princess?
Excerpt ~Orion had blown it again. He reviewed his actions to determine where things had gone astray.
He’d been sleeping restlessly. A loud THUMP in the co-living quarters alerted him and his eyes flew open. He threw back his covers and was out of the bed in a flash. His sword was in his hands as he crossed to the threshold of his doorway in two long strides. Hoping to gain the advantage of surprise, he leapt through the doorway, his laser-sword held aloft. In seconds, he took in the situation. His master sat on the couch talking to a figure in a guard’s uniform. At first he didn’t get a good view because the stranger was partially blocked by Darius’s broad back, but when the guard jumped off the couch he saw it was a girl, close to his own age. She scurried away like a frightened animal, her long hair flying behind her. Wide eyes shined as she glanced behind at her pursuers. She was out the door in a matter of seconds.
It was painfully evident his master had the situation well in hand and wasn’t in any sort of danger. He chided himself for his rash actions.
This was only his second mission with his master and he wanted so badly to get things right. He‘d been thrilled when Darius Lee had chosen him to be his novice. The man was known throughout The Academy as good and wise, an exemplary Knight, whose fighting skills were legendary. Darius had advanced well beyond other Knights his age and was said to be more level-headed than most. Orion knew he could learn a lot from Darius. In the short time they had been together they had already grown quite close.
Orion’s peers had teased him about his admiration for his mentor, saying it verged on idolatry. He did feel a bond with Darius. Perhaps because he’d never formed relationships with an adult male before. Maybe he did allow himself to look at the Knight as a father figure. Who could blame him when he’d never had a father to call his own? He knew he was lucky to be here with Darius. The world outside The Academy could be intimidating, but with him in charge, Orion believed the two could take on the world and all other comers.
But tonight it was clear he had failed.
When would he learn to think before jumping?
Leap into the Knight can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Kobo & I-tunes ... BUT MJ is offering a FREE 3-copy to anyone who requests one! Simply email her at: mjschillerauthor@gmail . com and she will gift you a copy through Amazon!
And ....if you enjoyed LEAP INTO THE KNIGHT, you may want to follow the further adventures of Orion, Darius, and Princess Megan in Book Two-LADY OF THE KNIGHT, and Book Three-A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER!
M.J. Schiller is a lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others. In her mind everybody has a romance.
She is the mother of a twenty-year-old and three eighteen-year-olds. That's right, triplets! So having recently taught four children to drive, she likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon.
Connect MJ at the following places...
Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Schiller-Romance-Author/286382241460365?ref=hl
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller
Tumblr: http://mjschilz.tumblr.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/mjschiller
Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/110797684036386240402/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479377.M_J_Schiller
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.J.-Schiller/e/B009JOQFQQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Hope you enjoy today's spotlight! Check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time....take care and God Bless. PamT
Today's spotlight guest is not a total stranger to our blog. MJ Schiller has shared some thoughts as well as treasures with us. But today we're spotlighting her new book which is FREE through today!
Sir Darius Lee is a Knight of the High Order.
But when Darius discovers a stranger in his room in the middle of the night, and the intruder turns out to be a beautiful woman, he begins to question how he is meant to live his life.Princess Megan of Bethyea is being held captive.
But when two knights help her to escape and bring her back to her home planet, she finds the home she knew no longer exists.
When The Council of Twelve questions Darius about his relationship with Maggie, she tries to flee from The Academy of the High Order to prevent him from losing his knighthood.
Will Darius and Orion find Maggie before she leaves Albion? And if they do, how can they face the decision of The Council? And what about the feelings Orion has developed for the princess?
Excerpt ~Orion had blown it again. He reviewed his actions to determine where things had gone astray.
He’d been sleeping restlessly. A loud THUMP in the co-living quarters alerted him and his eyes flew open. He threw back his covers and was out of the bed in a flash. His sword was in his hands as he crossed to the threshold of his doorway in two long strides. Hoping to gain the advantage of surprise, he leapt through the doorway, his laser-sword held aloft. In seconds, he took in the situation. His master sat on the couch talking to a figure in a guard’s uniform. At first he didn’t get a good view because the stranger was partially blocked by Darius’s broad back, but when the guard jumped off the couch he saw it was a girl, close to his own age. She scurried away like a frightened animal, her long hair flying behind her. Wide eyes shined as she glanced behind at her pursuers. She was out the door in a matter of seconds.
It was painfully evident his master had the situation well in hand and wasn’t in any sort of danger. He chided himself for his rash actions.
This was only his second mission with his master and he wanted so badly to get things right. He‘d been thrilled when Darius Lee had chosen him to be his novice. The man was known throughout The Academy as good and wise, an exemplary Knight, whose fighting skills were legendary. Darius had advanced well beyond other Knights his age and was said to be more level-headed than most. Orion knew he could learn a lot from Darius. In the short time they had been together they had already grown quite close.
Orion’s peers had teased him about his admiration for his mentor, saying it verged on idolatry. He did feel a bond with Darius. Perhaps because he’d never formed relationships with an adult male before. Maybe he did allow himself to look at the Knight as a father figure. Who could blame him when he’d never had a father to call his own? He knew he was lucky to be here with Darius. The world outside The Academy could be intimidating, but with him in charge, Orion believed the two could take on the world and all other comers.
But tonight it was clear he had failed.
When would he learn to think before jumping?
Leap into the Knight can be purchased at Amazon, B&N, Kobo & I-tunes ... BUT MJ is offering a FREE 3-copy to anyone who requests one! Simply email her at: mjschillerauthor@gmail . com and she will gift you a copy through Amazon!
And ....if you enjoyed LEAP INTO THE KNIGHT, you may want to follow the further adventures of Orion, Darius, and Princess Megan in Book Two-LADY OF THE KNIGHT, and Book Three-A KNIGHT TO REMEMBER!
M.J. Schiller is a lunch lady/romance-romantic suspense writer. She enjoys writing novels whose characters include rock stars, desert princes, teachers, futuristic Knights, construction workers, cops, and a wide variety of others. In her mind everybody has a romance.She is the mother of a twenty-year-old and three eighteen-year-olds. That's right, triplets! So having recently taught four children to drive, she likes to escape from life on occasion by pretending to be a rock star at karaoke. However…you won’t be seeing her name on any record labels soon.
Connect MJ at the following places...
Website: www.mjschillerauthor.blogspot.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/MJ-Schiller-Romance-Author/286382241460365?ref=hl
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mjschiller/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/mjschiller
Tumblr: http://mjschilz.tumblr.com/
Instagram: http://instagram.com/mjschiller
Google + : https://plus.google.com/u/0/110797684036386240402/posts
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6479377.M_J_Schiller
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.J.-Schiller/e/B009JOQFQQ/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1
Hope you enjoy today's spotlight! Check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time....take care and God Bless. PamT
June 16, 2016
#ThursdayThoughts: Guest post by Katherine Fleet
Good Morning from soggy Panama City Beach, Florida!
Florida is known as the 'sunshine' state...well today it's a bit soggy out there. It rained, actually stormed last night and now the Gulf waters are a deep, roiling green and the wind is saturated with moisture. Should burn off later and we'll be scorching later but this morning it's really nice out.
Today we welcome Katherine Fleet back to our blog to share some thoughts with us....
Hi! I’m Katherine Fleet, debut author of the YA Contemporary, The Secret to Letting Go. Thanks so much to Pam for sharing my Thursday Thoughts today!
My novel is set in a fictional town on the Gulf Coast of Florida during that magical summer after high school graduation when the whole world is out there waiting for you. It’s the story of two teens – Clover, a mysterious girl who shows up in town lost in her secrets and fears, and Daniel, a boy who’s drawn into her troubled world despite his better judgment. Life keeps throwing them together, but their secrets keep them apart. Ultimately, it’s a story about living through tragedy and learning to forgive your self.
The tagline for my book is “One summer can change anything.” Since my story is set over one summer and the lives of Clover and Daniel are transformed during this period, the tag line made sense. But it called to me for another reason. As a teenager and young adult, I remember feeling that there was nothing more exciting than the idea of an entire summer ahead. As I finished those last days of school in June, summer felt like a promise of something great on the horizon.
I remember what my room felt like with the windows open and that warm, summer breeze lifting the lace curtains. I remember the sound of lawnmowers and the smell of fresh cut grass. Growing up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, summer was the only time of year where you could count on some warm, sunny days, but even then, hot days were rare. I used to sunbathe on my back porch lying on a blanket. This was before we knew about ozone layers and skin cancer. When the sun ducked behind a cloud, I’d wrap the ends of the blanket around me, so I wouldn’t freeze! I spent a lot of time walking the trails in the city, daydreaming about stories that I’d only get the nerve to try writing years later. But mostly, I remember the feeling of freedom, and I remember it like it was yesterday.
I now have three kids, two of which are teenagers. They are reaching the end of the school year and my oldest son is graduating! Sometimes I wonder how they will remember their summers. We live in the Caribbean, and for us, summer is travel time. We normally return to Canada and visit family and friends. We’ve also travelled throughout Europe and the US. I wonder which feelings and sensations will stand out to them decades from now.
I’d love to hear from you. What are your favorite memories of summers past?
Thanks again to Pam for hosting me and thanks for reading. J
Thank you, Katherine for sharing your story with us!
Katherine writes Young/New Adult fiction. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her at her Website (be sure and sign up for her newsletter!). Also be sure to like/follow/etc Katherine on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Good Reads. She was our Saturday Spotlight guest last month so be sure and check that out.
The Secret to Letting go can be found at Amazon, B&N, ITunes, Kobo, Amazon UK, Amazon CA and directly from the publisher.
Hope you enjoyed today's thoughts. Stay tuned weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time....take care and God Bless. PamT
Florida is known as the 'sunshine' state...well today it's a bit soggy out there. It rained, actually stormed last night and now the Gulf waters are a deep, roiling green and the wind is saturated with moisture. Should burn off later and we'll be scorching later but this morning it's really nice out.
Today we welcome Katherine Fleet back to our blog to share some thoughts with us....
Hi! I’m Katherine Fleet, debut author of the YA Contemporary, The Secret to Letting Go. Thanks so much to Pam for sharing my Thursday Thoughts today!
My novel is set in a fictional town on the Gulf Coast of Florida during that magical summer after high school graduation when the whole world is out there waiting for you. It’s the story of two teens – Clover, a mysterious girl who shows up in town lost in her secrets and fears, and Daniel, a boy who’s drawn into her troubled world despite his better judgment. Life keeps throwing them together, but their secrets keep them apart. Ultimately, it’s a story about living through tragedy and learning to forgive your self.
The tagline for my book is “One summer can change anything.” Since my story is set over one summer and the lives of Clover and Daniel are transformed during this period, the tag line made sense. But it called to me for another reason. As a teenager and young adult, I remember feeling that there was nothing more exciting than the idea of an entire summer ahead. As I finished those last days of school in June, summer felt like a promise of something great on the horizon.
I remember what my room felt like with the windows open and that warm, summer breeze lifting the lace curtains. I remember the sound of lawnmowers and the smell of fresh cut grass. Growing up in St. John’s, Newfoundland, summer was the only time of year where you could count on some warm, sunny days, but even then, hot days were rare. I used to sunbathe on my back porch lying on a blanket. This was before we knew about ozone layers and skin cancer. When the sun ducked behind a cloud, I’d wrap the ends of the blanket around me, so I wouldn’t freeze! I spent a lot of time walking the trails in the city, daydreaming about stories that I’d only get the nerve to try writing years later. But mostly, I remember the feeling of freedom, and I remember it like it was yesterday.I now have three kids, two of which are teenagers. They are reaching the end of the school year and my oldest son is graduating! Sometimes I wonder how they will remember their summers. We live in the Caribbean, and for us, summer is travel time. We normally return to Canada and visit family and friends. We’ve also travelled throughout Europe and the US. I wonder which feelings and sensations will stand out to them decades from now.
I’d love to hear from you. What are your favorite memories of summers past?
Thanks again to Pam for hosting me and thanks for reading. J
Thank you, Katherine for sharing your story with us!
Katherine writes Young/New Adult fiction. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her at her Website (be sure and sign up for her newsletter!). Also be sure to like/follow/etc Katherine on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Good Reads. She was our Saturday Spotlight guest last month so be sure and check that out.
The Secret to Letting go can be found at Amazon, B&N, ITunes, Kobo, Amazon UK, Amazon CA and directly from the publisher.
Hope you enjoyed today's thoughts. Stay tuned weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time....take care and God Bless. PamT
June 14, 2016
#TuesdayTreasure: Guest Post by Patricia Preston
Good Morning from sunny Panama City Beach, Florida!
We are here for my granddaughter's Platinum Dance National Competition. She won Gold in Solo yesterday and had Duet tomorrow then Team on Thursday.
Patricia Preston visited with us a little over a year ago, but today, she speaks of treasuring those long, summer days....
I truly treasure long summer days. I am day person and I love that we have longer days in the summer. It seems like I have more time in the summer, although I know I don’t. But I get much more done in the summer, especially when it doesn’t get dark until eight. I treasure going outside just before dark while it is warm and watching the lightning bugs in the woods behind my house.
Plus I love wearing shorts and sandals. I also treat myself to ice cream in summer. Besides shorts, sandals, and ice cream, I also usually have a yard sale. Over the years, I have had several yard sales. Most of the the time, the sales involved me and some friends or relatives who got together to have one. Despite the work involved, I always had a lot of fun when I had one and they inspired me to write a short funny story about a yard sale. Some of the things that happened in the story and some of the characters are actually based on the yard sales that I had and the people who showed up. If you’ve ever had a yard sale, I’m sure you’ll be familiar with the Early Birds, Tightwads, and Packrats featured in the short story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks Patricia! I believe most of us agree long, summer days are certainly something to treasure. I know I MUCH prefer summer to winter!
Patricia Preston is a Southern writer who spends more time than she should in her writing cave. Must haves are a glass of iced sweet tea and music ranging from the Piano Guys to Two Steps from Hell, depending on what she’s writing. She writes fast-paced, funny, feel-good reads. Her other interests include photography, bargain hunting, movies. She’s a fangirl of Supernatural and the Walking Dead. She is repped by the Seymour Agency and currently working on a contemporary romance series for Kensington.
Available titles include Amazon best sellers, “The Yard Sale” and “Laid to Rest,” as well as historical romances: To Save a Lady and Almost an Outlaw . Coming in September and available for pre-order is the first book in the Love Heals All series from Kensington Books, One Week in Your Arms . Also available for pre-order is the second book in the series, Everything His Heart Desires.
Author Links:WebpageFacebookTwitter
Goodreads
Hope you enjoyed today's treasure! Stay tuned weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God Bless... PamT
We are here for my granddaughter's Platinum Dance National Competition. She won Gold in Solo yesterday and had Duet tomorrow then Team on Thursday.
Patricia Preston visited with us a little over a year ago, but today, she speaks of treasuring those long, summer days....
I truly treasure long summer days. I am day person and I love that we have longer days in the summer. It seems like I have more time in the summer, although I know I don’t. But I get much more done in the summer, especially when it doesn’t get dark until eight. I treasure going outside just before dark while it is warm and watching the lightning bugs in the woods behind my house.
Plus I love wearing shorts and sandals. I also treat myself to ice cream in summer. Besides shorts, sandals, and ice cream, I also usually have a yard sale. Over the years, I have had several yard sales. Most of the the time, the sales involved me and some friends or relatives who got together to have one. Despite the work involved, I always had a lot of fun when I had one and they inspired me to write a short funny story about a yard sale. Some of the things that happened in the story and some of the characters are actually based on the yard sales that I had and the people who showed up. If you’ve ever had a yard sale, I’m sure you’ll be familiar with the Early Birds, Tightwads, and Packrats featured in the short story.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Thanks Patricia! I believe most of us agree long, summer days are certainly something to treasure. I know I MUCH prefer summer to winter!
Patricia Preston is a Southern writer who spends more time than she should in her writing cave. Must haves are a glass of iced sweet tea and music ranging from the Piano Guys to Two Steps from Hell, depending on what she’s writing. She writes fast-paced, funny, feel-good reads. Her other interests include photography, bargain hunting, movies. She’s a fangirl of Supernatural and the Walking Dead. She is repped by the Seymour Agency and currently working on a contemporary romance series for Kensington.Available titles include Amazon best sellers, “The Yard Sale” and “Laid to Rest,” as well as historical romances: To Save a Lady and Almost an Outlaw . Coming in September and available for pre-order is the first book in the Love Heals All series from Kensington Books, One Week in Your Arms . Also available for pre-order is the second book in the series, Everything His Heart Desires.
Author Links:WebpageFacebookTwitter
Goodreads
Hope you enjoyed today's treasure! Stay tuned weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God Bless... PamT
June 11, 2016
#SaturdaySpotlight: Cami Checketts and Running from the Cowboy
Hello and Welcome to Another Edition of Saturday Spotlight!
I have a family reunion today and leaving tomorrow for Panama City, FL for granddaughter's national dance competition (we'll be there a whole week!) so I don't have a lot of time to chit chat with you.
That said, it is with pleasure I welcome Cami Checketts back to our spotlight with her latest book, Running from the Cowboy.
Frankly I don't know why anyone would actually run from (instead of toward) a cowboy...guess we'll have to read the book to find out! And, since this is a romance, I'm guessing she doesn't run too far LOL! Anyway...without much further ado, here's the book...
Missy Horman escaped an abusive marriage and returns to Snow Valley to help her father deal with her emotionally disturbed mother. Volunteering to teach a youth Sunday school class seems like a good way to get out of her comfort zone—until she ends up kissing Porter Wilson in front of a bunch of teenagers. Embarrassed, and secretly thrilled, by the kiss, she writes Porter off as a playboy. But, Missy wasn't the only one affected and Porter's new mission in life is to prove that there's more to him than flirting and world-tilting kisses. He wants to show her that a true cowboy knows how to treat a lady and, if Missy can't keep her wits about her, she might just let him.
Excerpt:
Missy Horman darted into the back door of the stately church. She shouldn’t be so nervous about helping teach the youth Sunday School class. She’d been a teenager less than ten years ago. She should be able to relate to these young people and hopefully Pastor James was right and this would help her out of the funk she’d been in since her divorce. Her career as an online marital advice columnist was fulfilling, but she hungered for interaction with people outside of her family. Besides, getting away from her mother for an extra hour on Sunday morning was a huge bonus.
The confidence she felt when she walked out the door in her knee-length floral dress with wedge sandals giving her an extra inch of height and her blonde hair curled fled as she clung to the door handle. Pressing a hand to her stomach, she willed it to stop rolling.
Pasting on a smile, Missy forced herself to walk into the large room and immediately stuttered to a stop, digging her fingernails into her palms. Oh, no. Porter Wilson. He stood at the front of the class, talking with one of the teenage boys. No man had a right to look that good in Wranglers. With his wavy dark blond hair that hit the collar of his white shirt, those green eyes any woman would want to get lost in, and ruggedly tanned skin, he was like a poster man for Cowboys R Us. He could run the company singlehandedly and every woman would want stock in it.
She used to enjoy being around Porter, because he was a fun flirt and a cowboy, but those were two qualities she could not stomach now. Just looking at him with his tight black Wranglers and cowboy boots made her stomach fill up with butterflies. Ugh. She was done with men, but especially with flirtatious cowboy who were so much of a man they made her knees knock together.
******************
Sounds like my kind of story! Running from the Cowboy can be purchased at Amazon.
Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and driving boys to lacrosse practice, she gets the chance to write fiction.
Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. She and her family live in the beautiful Cache Valley of Northern Utah. During the two months of the year it isn't snowing, she enjoys swimming, hiking, biking, running, and water-skiing.
A portion of the proceeds from Cami's books will be donated to Humanitarian Aid.
Hope you enjoyed this week's spotlight.
Stay tuned next week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and another Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT
I have a family reunion today and leaving tomorrow for Panama City, FL for granddaughter's national dance competition (we'll be there a whole week!) so I don't have a lot of time to chit chat with you.
That said, it is with pleasure I welcome Cami Checketts back to our spotlight with her latest book, Running from the Cowboy.
Frankly I don't know why anyone would actually run from (instead of toward) a cowboy...guess we'll have to read the book to find out! And, since this is a romance, I'm guessing she doesn't run too far LOL! Anyway...without much further ado, here's the book...
Missy Horman escaped an abusive marriage and returns to Snow Valley to help her father deal with her emotionally disturbed mother. Volunteering to teach a youth Sunday school class seems like a good way to get out of her comfort zone—until she ends up kissing Porter Wilson in front of a bunch of teenagers. Embarrassed, and secretly thrilled, by the kiss, she writes Porter off as a playboy. But, Missy wasn't the only one affected and Porter's new mission in life is to prove that there's more to him than flirting and world-tilting kisses. He wants to show her that a true cowboy knows how to treat a lady and, if Missy can't keep her wits about her, she might just let him.Excerpt:
Missy Horman darted into the back door of the stately church. She shouldn’t be so nervous about helping teach the youth Sunday School class. She’d been a teenager less than ten years ago. She should be able to relate to these young people and hopefully Pastor James was right and this would help her out of the funk she’d been in since her divorce. Her career as an online marital advice columnist was fulfilling, but she hungered for interaction with people outside of her family. Besides, getting away from her mother for an extra hour on Sunday morning was a huge bonus.
The confidence she felt when she walked out the door in her knee-length floral dress with wedge sandals giving her an extra inch of height and her blonde hair curled fled as she clung to the door handle. Pressing a hand to her stomach, she willed it to stop rolling.
Pasting on a smile, Missy forced herself to walk into the large room and immediately stuttered to a stop, digging her fingernails into her palms. Oh, no. Porter Wilson. He stood at the front of the class, talking with one of the teenage boys. No man had a right to look that good in Wranglers. With his wavy dark blond hair that hit the collar of his white shirt, those green eyes any woman would want to get lost in, and ruggedly tanned skin, he was like a poster man for Cowboys R Us. He could run the company singlehandedly and every woman would want stock in it.
She used to enjoy being around Porter, because he was a fun flirt and a cowboy, but those were two qualities she could not stomach now. Just looking at him with his tight black Wranglers and cowboy boots made her stomach fill up with butterflies. Ugh. She was done with men, but especially with flirtatious cowboy who were so much of a man they made her knees knock together.******************
Sounds like my kind of story! Running from the Cowboy can be purchased at Amazon.
Cami Checketts is married and the proud mother of four future WWF champions. Sometimes between being a human horse, cleaning up magic potions, and driving boys to lacrosse practice, she gets the chance to write fiction.
Cami graduated from Utah State University with a degree in Exercise Science. She and her family live in the beautiful Cache Valley of Northern Utah. During the two months of the year it isn't snowing, she enjoys swimming, hiking, biking, running, and water-skiing.
A portion of the proceeds from Cami's books will be donated to Humanitarian Aid.
Hope you enjoyed this week's spotlight.
Stay tuned next week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and another Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time, take care and God bless. PamT
June 9, 2016
#ThursdayThoughts: Follow Up and Follow Through
Good Morning!
I pray this day finds you blessed and prosperous.
A recent conversation with a friend who has been dealing with a legal issue for over a year now and is aggravated because it's still not complete, brought to mind a motto I learned and benefited from time and again, especially in my years working in corporate positions.
Follow up and follow through.
This is especially important in a business environment!
As a licensed insurance sales staff and customer service representative, I was constantly amazed at the number of times a co-worker complained about missing an opportunity or putting a task away and it never getting completed.
Granted, things happen that throw a monkey wrench in the best laid plans, but for the most part the error was on behalf of the employee.
Many times I was asked how I excelled or exceeded my (or the company's) goal for the month. My response was always the same....
Follow up and follow through.
How did I reel in that new client or make a certain "grumpy" or "unreasonable" client happy?
Follow up and follow through.
How did I sell 31 policies in a month?
You guessed it.... Follow up and follow through.
I can't stress enough how important these steps are and many times it's as simple as a phone call to make sure everyone is satisfied once a situation is resolved. This also builds excellent customer relations.
Your life and/or job can be easier, more enjoyable and sometimes, more productive and more profitable if you follow this simple rule....
Follow up and follow through.
Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™
Hope you enjoyed today's post. If you'd like more information like this that will help improve your professional and/or personal life check out the articles on my website.
Check back weekly for more Thursday Thoughts, Tuesday Treasures and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time...take care and God bless!
PamT
I pray this day finds you blessed and prosperous.
A recent conversation with a friend who has been dealing with a legal issue for over a year now and is aggravated because it's still not complete, brought to mind a motto I learned and benefited from time and again, especially in my years working in corporate positions.
Follow up and follow through.
This is especially important in a business environment!
As a licensed insurance sales staff and customer service representative, I was constantly amazed at the number of times a co-worker complained about missing an opportunity or putting a task away and it never getting completed.
Granted, things happen that throw a monkey wrench in the best laid plans, but for the most part the error was on behalf of the employee.
Many times I was asked how I excelled or exceeded my (or the company's) goal for the month. My response was always the same....
Follow up and follow through.
How did I reel in that new client or make a certain "grumpy" or "unreasonable" client happy?
Follow up and follow through.
How did I sell 31 policies in a month?
You guessed it.... Follow up and follow through.
I can't stress enough how important these steps are and many times it's as simple as a phone call to make sure everyone is satisfied once a situation is resolved. This also builds excellent customer relations.
Your life and/or job can be easier, more enjoyable and sometimes, more productive and more profitable if you follow this simple rule....
Follow up and follow through.
Something to think about!
"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™
Hope you enjoyed today's post. If you'd like more information like this that will help improve your professional and/or personal life check out the articles on my website.
Check back weekly for more Thursday Thoughts, Tuesday Treasures and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time...take care and God bless!
PamT
June 7, 2016
#TuesdayTreasures: Guest post by Karen Pashley
Good Morning Friends,
It is with great pleasure I bring brand new author, Karen Pashley to share something she treasures with us....
Girlfriends—The lost Art of Healthy Female Relationships
"My friends are my estate." —Emily Dickinson
Ladies, if you’re like millions of women across America, doing their level best for their families, you know how it goes most days . . .
We nurture and we love, we kiss booboos, we juggle, and we pull our hair in a ponytail for the third straight day. We serve ourselves the last piece of chicken because it’s the ugly burnt one. We stay up later, get up earlier, drive across town and back, then across town again for our kids. We run as if our bodies have been issued a lifetime warranty and our souls can thrive even as they are continually depleted—and in the process of managing the lives of those we love, we are missing out on one of life’s most rewarding gifts.
Girlfriends.
I’m not talking about the women from the PTA or the football boosters, or our yoga class. I’m talking about deep, strong ties to other females—the kind of relationships that sustain us through the ups and downs of our crazy lives.
Girl talk. Laughter. Transparency. Shoulders to cry on, hands to clutch in prayer.
True friends are our cheerleaders, our mirrors, and our safe places. Ladies, we need each other!In my new novel, I explore what goes through the mind and heart of a Christian wife who discovers her prominent husband is having an affair. Set in an affluent Southern community, I can totally relate to the struggle she feels when she contemplates her family’s future if the scandalous secret were to become public.
What my character realizes, is that among her tennis league pals, her neighbors and fellow moms, and even her church friends, she finds no one she feels comfortable confiding in. While her situation may be extreme, the feedback I’m hearing from my readers is that this yearning for deep female connection strikes a chord with many of them.
The women who came before us had a lot of issues to contend with: equality, career limitations, protocol to adhere to, standards to aspire to. But what they suffered due to societal ignorance, they made up for through their bonding and support of one another in the most intimate ways. Childbirth, child rearing, the responsibilities of preparing food and making clothing for their families, and the wisdom imparted from the older women to the younger about marriage, parenting, housekeeping and the faith and strength of character they needed to do it all with grace and dignity.
These women knew the value of girlfriends. The Bible is full of examples of the importance female connections. We see examples throughout the scriptures. Naomi and Ruth, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, Esther and her precious fasting friends, and so many others.
Today we “bond” over soccer team meetings, snack duty, carpooling, office lunches, Facebook posts of our “amazing” lives and brilliant children, and the like.
No wonder so many women yearn for deeper, more meaningful friendships where they can be themselves—shortcomings and all, and be loved and accepted anyway.
As my fictional character discovers in Precious in His Sight, true relationships start with being vulnerable and willing. And meaningful friendships are often discovered in the most unlikely pairings when we open ourselves to the possibilities.
I thank God for the sweet sisterhood I enjoy with a diverse group of women. I might never have become close with any of them had I not been bold enough to be real and honest, and to allow my true self to be exposed.
Friendship is like a precious gem—a treasure of indescribable beauty and value. It is God-given, God-designed, and in my opinion, good friends are the nutrients needed in the starving souls of today’s multi-tasking women.
So make a point to call an old friend tonight. Get together for tea. Go for a walk in the park. Have some girls over for pizza and a movie. Be a friend to someone new. It’ll be good medicine for the both of you, and you’ll find that time spent with a good friend is an investment that yields the highest return!
You are so right, Karen! Friends, especially girlfriends are definitely something to treasure.
In addition to speaking and writing, Pashley is an accomplished foodie who founded “Girls Dine In,” a monthly gathering that is part supper club, part cooking class where she brings women together for great food and fellowship in the Nashville area. Whether cooking or writing or speaking, Pashley has her finger on the pulse of what women need, and she believes “Precious in His Sight” will resonate with women in a real way. Even before it was published, the novel was already garnering attention. The book was awarded first place in the unpublished novels competition at the 2014 Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference. The novel deals with some difficult moral issues that an unsuspecting wife must face. And the life-altering choices the book’s main character ultimately makes are already challenging a lot of Christians to think about their own personal beliefs.
“The life of a Christian is not all peaches and cream, nor should it be,” says Pashley. “But when we bend down and pick up the bricks of hardship, one by one, and apply the cement of the Holy Spirit to them, we are building an impenetrable wall of faith that cannot be constructed any other way. We must work with God rather than running from Him in our hardships. We must never lose our hope. Storms will come. We shouldn’t fear them. With God, we can persevere with dignity and joy.” For more information, visit www.KarenPashley.com.
Karen's debut novel, Precious in His Sight can be purchased at Amazon and other online retailers as well as your local bookstore. I've read this novel and it is definitely worth your time, energy and money! You can read my review here.
Hope you enjoyed today's treasure.
Until next time, take care and be blessed! PamT
It is with great pleasure I bring brand new author, Karen Pashley to share something she treasures with us....
Girlfriends—The lost Art of Healthy Female Relationships
"My friends are my estate." —Emily Dickinson
Ladies, if you’re like millions of women across America, doing their level best for their families, you know how it goes most days . . .
We nurture and we love, we kiss booboos, we juggle, and we pull our hair in a ponytail for the third straight day. We serve ourselves the last piece of chicken because it’s the ugly burnt one. We stay up later, get up earlier, drive across town and back, then across town again for our kids. We run as if our bodies have been issued a lifetime warranty and our souls can thrive even as they are continually depleted—and in the process of managing the lives of those we love, we are missing out on one of life’s most rewarding gifts.
Girlfriends.
I’m not talking about the women from the PTA or the football boosters, or our yoga class. I’m talking about deep, strong ties to other females—the kind of relationships that sustain us through the ups and downs of our crazy lives.
Girl talk. Laughter. Transparency. Shoulders to cry on, hands to clutch in prayer.
True friends are our cheerleaders, our mirrors, and our safe places. Ladies, we need each other!In my new novel, I explore what goes through the mind and heart of a Christian wife who discovers her prominent husband is having an affair. Set in an affluent Southern community, I can totally relate to the struggle she feels when she contemplates her family’s future if the scandalous secret were to become public.
What my character realizes, is that among her tennis league pals, her neighbors and fellow moms, and even her church friends, she finds no one she feels comfortable confiding in. While her situation may be extreme, the feedback I’m hearing from my readers is that this yearning for deep female connection strikes a chord with many of them.
The women who came before us had a lot of issues to contend with: equality, career limitations, protocol to adhere to, standards to aspire to. But what they suffered due to societal ignorance, they made up for through their bonding and support of one another in the most intimate ways. Childbirth, child rearing, the responsibilities of preparing food and making clothing for their families, and the wisdom imparted from the older women to the younger about marriage, parenting, housekeeping and the faith and strength of character they needed to do it all with grace and dignity.
These women knew the value of girlfriends. The Bible is full of examples of the importance female connections. We see examples throughout the scriptures. Naomi and Ruth, Mary and her cousin Elizabeth, Esther and her precious fasting friends, and so many others.
Today we “bond” over soccer team meetings, snack duty, carpooling, office lunches, Facebook posts of our “amazing” lives and brilliant children, and the like.
No wonder so many women yearn for deeper, more meaningful friendships where they can be themselves—shortcomings and all, and be loved and accepted anyway.
As my fictional character discovers in Precious in His Sight, true relationships start with being vulnerable and willing. And meaningful friendships are often discovered in the most unlikely pairings when we open ourselves to the possibilities.
I thank God for the sweet sisterhood I enjoy with a diverse group of women. I might never have become close with any of them had I not been bold enough to be real and honest, and to allow my true self to be exposed.
Friendship is like a precious gem—a treasure of indescribable beauty and value. It is God-given, God-designed, and in my opinion, good friends are the nutrients needed in the starving souls of today’s multi-tasking women.
So make a point to call an old friend tonight. Get together for tea. Go for a walk in the park. Have some girls over for pizza and a movie. Be a friend to someone new. It’ll be good medicine for the both of you, and you’ll find that time spent with a good friend is an investment that yields the highest return!
You are so right, Karen! Friends, especially girlfriends are definitely something to treasure.
In addition to speaking and writing, Pashley is an accomplished foodie who founded “Girls Dine In,” a monthly gathering that is part supper club, part cooking class where she brings women together for great food and fellowship in the Nashville area. Whether cooking or writing or speaking, Pashley has her finger on the pulse of what women need, and she believes “Precious in His Sight” will resonate with women in a real way. Even before it was published, the novel was already garnering attention. The book was awarded first place in the unpublished novels competition at the 2014 Blue Ridge Christian Writer’s Conference. The novel deals with some difficult moral issues that an unsuspecting wife must face. And the life-altering choices the book’s main character ultimately makes are already challenging a lot of Christians to think about their own personal beliefs.
“The life of a Christian is not all peaches and cream, nor should it be,” says Pashley. “But when we bend down and pick up the bricks of hardship, one by one, and apply the cement of the Holy Spirit to them, we are building an impenetrable wall of faith that cannot be constructed any other way. We must work with God rather than running from Him in our hardships. We must never lose our hope. Storms will come. We shouldn’t fear them. With God, we can persevere with dignity and joy.” For more information, visit www.KarenPashley.com.
Karen's debut novel, Precious in His Sight can be purchased at Amazon and other online retailers as well as your local bookstore. I've read this novel and it is definitely worth your time, energy and money! You can read my review here.
Hope you enjoyed today's treasure.
Until next time, take care and be blessed! PamT
June 4, 2016
#SaturdaySpotlight is on Dacry Flynn and Double Trouble!
Good Morning and Welcome to the first Saturday Spotlight of June, 2016!
Yeah, I can't believe either how fast this year is flying by. It's been a wet, raining week here in Louisiana....and Texas. Not sure where you are but whether rained in or out in the sunshine, this week's Saturday Spotlight is sure to be a fun read!
From the first moment coffee mogul, Will Carrington, gazes into the fiery, green eyes of Clare Sullivan, he’s hit with the feeling she does not like him. Not. One. Little. Bit. Used to being the proverbial prize by some gorgeous gold-digging fortune hunter, he’s learned to be careful. But with his hunter instincts now on high alert, he’s determined to find out the why behind her stormy-eyed glances.
Top home designer, Clare Sullivan, wants absolutely nothing to do with arrogant, self-assured Will Carrington, especially after he called her half-sister a gold digger. When she gets the opportunity to design his multi-million dollar Miami penthouse, she arrives at his office ready to decline his offer, and to tell him exactly what she thinks of his cruel and un-warranted comments.
While there, she overhears his one-sided phone conversation, which seems to further insult her sister. Assuming the worse, Clare makes the rash decision to accept the job and charge him a fortune in the process. Someone needs to teach him a lesson and what better way than with a swift kick in his wallet.
Since she and her sister have different surnames, Clare conveniently hides the connection to her sister. But while she works with Will, she discovers another side to this self-assured, woman-hater. A Jekyll to his Hyde. Charming and professional, he’s nothing like the man she’s heard about. What she doesn’t know is Will Carrington has a few secrets of his own.
Excerpt:“You look like you could use a drink.” Will splashed gold liquid into a glass and handed it to her.“No, thank you.”“Suit yourself.” He sat down opposite her and crossed one leg over the other. Sipping his whiskey, he gave her look for look. “You know, I can do this all day andnight.”“So what? Does that mean I’m not allowed to sleep while I’m here?”“Of course you’ll be allowed to sleep. As many nights here as it takes.” He grinned, knowing full well it would infuriate her even more.She raised her chin a fraction. “You’re hateful. But with your history, I shouldn’t be surprised.”“Finally, we seem to be getting somewhere. And we have a history?”She dropped her gaze from his and stared at his chest.“Please, enlighten me?” While he waited for a response, he swirled the tumbler in his hand, causing the ice cube to clink against the glass.Her long lashes fluttered against her cheek, making her appear nervous, which he highly doubted.“Why don’t you just spit it out?” he said. “While I’m in a listening mood.”She raised her eyes to his. “I have something to say to you, all right. But I will pick the time and the place to do it.”“Ah, a woman who takes control. I like that.”Her sparkling eyes clouded with doubt and uncertainty. She was finding him hard to read. For the moment, that suited him just fine. A woman with her designs needed to be kept on her toes. Poetic justice, as he’d had to learn the art of being unreadable because of women like her.“Okay,” he said. “I’ll start.” He set his tumbler on the side table, never taking his eyes from her face. “You’ve disliked me from the first day I met you. Like most men, I have the hunter instinct. And you, my dear Miss Sullivan, with your glittering, green, accusatory eyes, tossed me a dare I frankly couldn’t ignore. And whether you believe it or not, what you said to me was ‘come and get me.’”Her expressive eyes flared.“I did no such thing. I wanted nothing to do with you. You two-faced, arrogant...” She looked him up and down. “You and your hurtful, callous words.”Clare puffed up, reminding him of a threatened parrot.He stared at her, dumbfounded as to what she could be talking about. This was getting more and more interesting. He picked up his glass and eyed it. “To my recollection, I’ve seldom, if ever been the callous type.”“You know what they say.” She shrugged. “If the shoe fits.”Her sassy, bravado act came across purely as self-preservation, and there was something poignant in that. What was it about her that could both irritate and tug on his heartstrings all at the same time?She blinked and glanced toward the door.“Waiting for reinforcements?”Her eyes widened a fraction. “I thought so.” He shook his head. “No one’s coming. It’s just you and me.”
Sounds like a really cute story! Purchase Double Trouble at Amazon
Darcy Flynn is known for her heartwarming, sweet contemporary romances. Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive.
Darcy lives with her husband, son, two English Setters and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She raises rare breed chickens, stargazes on warm summer nights and indulges daily in afternoon tea.
Connect with Darcy through her Website/Blog, TwitterFacebookPage AmazonAuthor Page GoodreadsPinterest and/or Google+
Hope you enjoyed this week's Spotlight! Visit weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time...take care and God Bless. PamT
Yeah, I can't believe either how fast this year is flying by. It's been a wet, raining week here in Louisiana....and Texas. Not sure where you are but whether rained in or out in the sunshine, this week's Saturday Spotlight is sure to be a fun read!
From the first moment coffee mogul, Will Carrington, gazes into the fiery, green eyes of Clare Sullivan, he’s hit with the feeling she does not like him. Not. One. Little. Bit. Used to being the proverbial prize by some gorgeous gold-digging fortune hunter, he’s learned to be careful. But with his hunter instincts now on high alert, he’s determined to find out the why behind her stormy-eyed glances.Top home designer, Clare Sullivan, wants absolutely nothing to do with arrogant, self-assured Will Carrington, especially after he called her half-sister a gold digger. When she gets the opportunity to design his multi-million dollar Miami penthouse, she arrives at his office ready to decline his offer, and to tell him exactly what she thinks of his cruel and un-warranted comments.
While there, she overhears his one-sided phone conversation, which seems to further insult her sister. Assuming the worse, Clare makes the rash decision to accept the job and charge him a fortune in the process. Someone needs to teach him a lesson and what better way than with a swift kick in his wallet.
Since she and her sister have different surnames, Clare conveniently hides the connection to her sister. But while she works with Will, she discovers another side to this self-assured, woman-hater. A Jekyll to his Hyde. Charming and professional, he’s nothing like the man she’s heard about. What she doesn’t know is Will Carrington has a few secrets of his own.
Excerpt:“You look like you could use a drink.” Will splashed gold liquid into a glass and handed it to her.“No, thank you.”“Suit yourself.” He sat down opposite her and crossed one leg over the other. Sipping his whiskey, he gave her look for look. “You know, I can do this all day andnight.”“So what? Does that mean I’m not allowed to sleep while I’m here?”“Of course you’ll be allowed to sleep. As many nights here as it takes.” He grinned, knowing full well it would infuriate her even more.She raised her chin a fraction. “You’re hateful. But with your history, I shouldn’t be surprised.”“Finally, we seem to be getting somewhere. And we have a history?”She dropped her gaze from his and stared at his chest.“Please, enlighten me?” While he waited for a response, he swirled the tumbler in his hand, causing the ice cube to clink against the glass.Her long lashes fluttered against her cheek, making her appear nervous, which he highly doubted.“Why don’t you just spit it out?” he said. “While I’m in a listening mood.”She raised her eyes to his. “I have something to say to you, all right. But I will pick the time and the place to do it.”“Ah, a woman who takes control. I like that.”Her sparkling eyes clouded with doubt and uncertainty. She was finding him hard to read. For the moment, that suited him just fine. A woman with her designs needed to be kept on her toes. Poetic justice, as he’d had to learn the art of being unreadable because of women like her.“Okay,” he said. “I’ll start.” He set his tumbler on the side table, never taking his eyes from her face. “You’ve disliked me from the first day I met you. Like most men, I have the hunter instinct. And you, my dear Miss Sullivan, with your glittering, green, accusatory eyes, tossed me a dare I frankly couldn’t ignore. And whether you believe it or not, what you said to me was ‘come and get me.’”Her expressive eyes flared.“I did no such thing. I wanted nothing to do with you. You two-faced, arrogant...” She looked him up and down. “You and your hurtful, callous words.”Clare puffed up, reminding him of a threatened parrot.He stared at her, dumbfounded as to what she could be talking about. This was getting more and more interesting. He picked up his glass and eyed it. “To my recollection, I’ve seldom, if ever been the callous type.”“You know what they say.” She shrugged. “If the shoe fits.”Her sassy, bravado act came across purely as self-preservation, and there was something poignant in that. What was it about her that could both irritate and tug on his heartstrings all at the same time?She blinked and glanced toward the door.“Waiting for reinforcements?”Her eyes widened a fraction. “I thought so.” He shook his head. “No one’s coming. It’s just you and me.”
Sounds like a really cute story! Purchase Double Trouble at Amazon
Darcy Flynn is known for her heartwarming, sweet contemporary romances. Her refreshing storylines, irritatingly handsome heroes and feisty heroines will delight and entertain you from the first page to the last. Miss Flynn’s heroes and heroines have a tangible chemistry that is entertaining, humorous and competitive. Darcy lives with her husband, son, two English Setters and a menagerie of other living creatures on her horse farm in Franklin, Tennessee. She raises rare breed chickens, stargazes on warm summer nights and indulges daily in afternoon tea.
Connect with Darcy through her Website/Blog, TwitterFacebookPage AmazonAuthor Page GoodreadsPinterest and/or Google+
Hope you enjoyed this week's Spotlight! Visit weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time...take care and God Bless. PamT
June 2, 2016
#ThursdayThoughts: Guest Post by Michael Lush
Good Morning Friends,
Today's Thursday Thoughts is a bit different. Our guest, Michael Lush is an expert on paying off your mortgage early. Since the economy is the way it is, I thought his info would give us something to think about!
How To Pay Off Your Mortgage In Five To Seven Years On Your Current Income
When sharing with other homeowners that they can pay off their mortgage in five to seven years using just their present income, their guard typically goes up since this is all new to them. I can't blame them for that. Mine did too.
Before I begin sharing how this works, I want to assure you that I have real world knowledge on the topic of home financing. I call myself a "recovering" mortgage banker. I use that term because for 14 years I promoted 15-30 year mortgages before coming across using a home equity line of credit to pay a home off much quicker.
This whole business of teaching people how to pay off their home quicker came by pure accident. I had no intention of doing anything else but mortgages. I was making an incredible living helping lots of people buy a home. I was on a call with a mentor one day because I wanted him to introduce me to his wealthy clients. I got paid on loan volume so the bigger the loan the better. However, he informed me that his clients didn't get mortgages on their homes. They didn't pay cash either. What they did was they used a home equity line of credit instead.
The Problem With A 15-30 Year Mortgage
While on the surface this sounded like a crazy way to buy a house, after conducting a ton of research about this concept, it made sense. It was just math.
Interest on a mortgage is front loaded. In 18.5 years, most of the payments made will go towards interest. Banks are well aware that the average family will make a change every five to seven years so the cycle starts over again. If you are curious how loan originators are paid so well, all one needs to do is follow the money.
My wife and I wanted to put this concept to the test so we replaced our mortgage with a HELOC. It worked just like I calculated and as of this writing, we are 13 months away from having a paid off home.
How A HELOC Works
On a HELOC, the interest in calculated by the average daily balance. The more money that is deposited in the account, the lower balance goes and less interest paid out. Let's look at some of the benefits with a HELOC.
1. You can pull money out as needed with no penalties. With a mortgage, you can't do that. It is close ended.
Let me give you an example. Your transmission goes out and it is $1500. You really could of used the money from your mortgage payment to get it fixed but you don't have access to it anymore. With a HELOC, you simply use your debit card and pull the money out immediately.
2. With most HELOC's, closing costs as well as mortgage insurance do not com into play. A mortgage can have both.
3. With a HELOC, more money gets applied to the loan balance than with a mortgage.
Getting approved for an interest only HELOC is what we teach our clients. Of course we do not teach them to just make interest only payments though because they would never pay their home off. Let's use the example of a $142,000 HELOC. The interest only payment would be around $420 a month. Whatever income that is put into the account over the $420 is applied towards the principle. Compare that to a mortgage where most of the payment at the beginning is being applied towards interest.
Why Are HELOC's Not More Popular?
The truth? Money.
While reading through your loan documents when you apply for a traditional mortgage, you will notice that you are basically buying two homes. The banks gets one and you get one.
Also, loan originators rarely make commission on HELOC's and if they do, it might be up to $750. If they have a chance to sell a homeowner a mortgage and make a few thousand dollars instead of $750 for a HELOC, what do you think they will do? We know what they would do because millions of homeowners are unfortunately being sold a mortgage. If someone calculates the math between the two, a HELOC will win every time.
One last thing that I will add, and this is the biggest reason why we decided to start teaching homeowners how to pay off their home in 5-7 years. Most loan officers do not take the time to educate themselves on HELOC's because they don't plan on selling them which can lead to selling a homeowner the wrong type of loan. Some homeowners who decide not to take our class and just try to go get a HELOC themselves almost end up getting a home equity loan instead which is just as bad as a mortgage. It is unfortunate that this happens but it happens every day.
My partners dad was applying for a HELOC and we had to call and help him while he was in the office with the loan officer. The shocking thing was we had to educate the originator on her own product. It was sad because how many homeowners are losing tens of thousands of dollars by having inacccurate information?
Before I close out this article, I want to make sure that you know that this is just math. It isn't magic. After obtaining the correct home loan along with living their current lifestyle, most clients are shocked at how fast their balance goes down.
Michael Lush is co-author of the book Replace Your Mortgage. He teaches homeowners a Proven 6 Step Method For Paying Off Their Home In 5-7 Years Using Just Their Current Income . You can request a free copy of his book by visiting his website.
Well friends, I hope you enjoyed today's thoughts and found the information useful.
Stay tuned weekly for more Thursday Thoughts, Tuesday Treasures and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time...take care and God bless!
PamT
Today's Thursday Thoughts is a bit different. Our guest, Michael Lush is an expert on paying off your mortgage early. Since the economy is the way it is, I thought his info would give us something to think about!
How To Pay Off Your Mortgage In Five To Seven Years On Your Current Income
When sharing with other homeowners that they can pay off their mortgage in five to seven years using just their present income, their guard typically goes up since this is all new to them. I can't blame them for that. Mine did too.
Before I begin sharing how this works, I want to assure you that I have real world knowledge on the topic of home financing. I call myself a "recovering" mortgage banker. I use that term because for 14 years I promoted 15-30 year mortgages before coming across using a home equity line of credit to pay a home off much quicker.
This whole business of teaching people how to pay off their home quicker came by pure accident. I had no intention of doing anything else but mortgages. I was making an incredible living helping lots of people buy a home. I was on a call with a mentor one day because I wanted him to introduce me to his wealthy clients. I got paid on loan volume so the bigger the loan the better. However, he informed me that his clients didn't get mortgages on their homes. They didn't pay cash either. What they did was they used a home equity line of credit instead.
The Problem With A 15-30 Year Mortgage
While on the surface this sounded like a crazy way to buy a house, after conducting a ton of research about this concept, it made sense. It was just math.
Interest on a mortgage is front loaded. In 18.5 years, most of the payments made will go towards interest. Banks are well aware that the average family will make a change every five to seven years so the cycle starts over again. If you are curious how loan originators are paid so well, all one needs to do is follow the money.
My wife and I wanted to put this concept to the test so we replaced our mortgage with a HELOC. It worked just like I calculated and as of this writing, we are 13 months away from having a paid off home.
How A HELOC Works
On a HELOC, the interest in calculated by the average daily balance. The more money that is deposited in the account, the lower balance goes and less interest paid out. Let's look at some of the benefits with a HELOC.
1. You can pull money out as needed with no penalties. With a mortgage, you can't do that. It is close ended.
Let me give you an example. Your transmission goes out and it is $1500. You really could of used the money from your mortgage payment to get it fixed but you don't have access to it anymore. With a HELOC, you simply use your debit card and pull the money out immediately.
2. With most HELOC's, closing costs as well as mortgage insurance do not com into play. A mortgage can have both.
3. With a HELOC, more money gets applied to the loan balance than with a mortgage.
Getting approved for an interest only HELOC is what we teach our clients. Of course we do not teach them to just make interest only payments though because they would never pay their home off. Let's use the example of a $142,000 HELOC. The interest only payment would be around $420 a month. Whatever income that is put into the account over the $420 is applied towards the principle. Compare that to a mortgage where most of the payment at the beginning is being applied towards interest.
Why Are HELOC's Not More Popular?
The truth? Money.
While reading through your loan documents when you apply for a traditional mortgage, you will notice that you are basically buying two homes. The banks gets one and you get one.
Also, loan originators rarely make commission on HELOC's and if they do, it might be up to $750. If they have a chance to sell a homeowner a mortgage and make a few thousand dollars instead of $750 for a HELOC, what do you think they will do? We know what they would do because millions of homeowners are unfortunately being sold a mortgage. If someone calculates the math between the two, a HELOC will win every time.
One last thing that I will add, and this is the biggest reason why we decided to start teaching homeowners how to pay off their home in 5-7 years. Most loan officers do not take the time to educate themselves on HELOC's because they don't plan on selling them which can lead to selling a homeowner the wrong type of loan. Some homeowners who decide not to take our class and just try to go get a HELOC themselves almost end up getting a home equity loan instead which is just as bad as a mortgage. It is unfortunate that this happens but it happens every day.
My partners dad was applying for a HELOC and we had to call and help him while he was in the office with the loan officer. The shocking thing was we had to educate the originator on her own product. It was sad because how many homeowners are losing tens of thousands of dollars by having inacccurate information?
Before I close out this article, I want to make sure that you know that this is just math. It isn't magic. After obtaining the correct home loan along with living their current lifestyle, most clients are shocked at how fast their balance goes down.Michael Lush is co-author of the book Replace Your Mortgage. He teaches homeowners a Proven 6 Step Method For Paying Off Their Home In 5-7 Years Using Just Their Current Income . You can request a free copy of his book by visiting his website.
Well friends, I hope you enjoyed today's thoughts and found the information useful.
Stay tuned weekly for more Thursday Thoughts, Tuesday Treasures and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time...take care and God bless!
PamT
May 31, 2016
#TuesdayTreasures: Guest Post by Sarah Sundin
Good Morning!
I pray your Memorial Day weekend was blessed and in the midst of your relaxation, you took a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday.
With that in mind I am pleased to bring you today's Treasure with author, Sarah Sundin....
More Than a Letter Opener
Most people wouldn’t notice my letter opener, but it’s rich in meaning to me.
When my grandfather, Fred Stewart, retired from a long career in business, he wanted a new hobby. He took woodcarving classes, discovered he had a gift, and soon began winning awards. More importantly, he enjoyed the work and the joy it brought to others.
When I started pharmacy school, my grandfather was tickled. During World War II, he’d served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the US Navy in the Pacific. He’d always been fascinated by medicine and was delighted that his granddaughter shared his interest.
One Christmas he carved me this letter opener with the pharmacy symbol. I treasured it from the beginning.
My grandfather passed away in 1992, eight years before I began writing, but he is one of the main reasons I write novels set in World War II. You see, Fred Stewart was a storyteller. While so many veterans didn’t talk about their wartime experiences—for good reason—my grandfather did. He told harrowing stories. He told heartbreaking stories. And he told hilarious stories. My grandfather loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh.
Because of my grandfather, I decided to focus on the Navy for my third World War II series, Waves of Freedom. The heroine in Anchor in the Storm is a pharmacist, and she unravels a mystery—the pharmacist’s mate on the hero’s ship may or may not be involved. I like to think my grandfather would be tickled.
The letter opener on my desk reminds me of the grandpa I adored as a man of integrity who loved his family. It reminds me of my chosen profession. And it reminds of why I write novels set in World War II—to honor the real-life heroes who served.
Awww, Sarah your letter opener is definitely something to treasure!
Sarah Sundin is the author of eight historical novels, including Anchor in the Storm. Her novel Through Waters Deep was named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years,” and her novella “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” in Where Treetops Glisten was a finalist for the 2015 Carol Award. A mother of three, Sarah lives in California, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. http://www.sarahsundin.com
Here's a sneak peek into Sarah's latest novel, Anchor in the Storm!
For plucky Lillian Avery, America’s entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. She loves the wartime challenges of her new job but spurns the attention of society boy Ens. Archer Vandenberg. As Arch’s destroyer battles U-boats along the East Coast, Lillian uncovers a black market drug ring. Arch and Lillian work together on the investigation, but can he ever earn her trust and affection?
Anchor in the Storm can be purchased at Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback and for Kindle.
Hope you enjoyed today's Treasure! Tune in each week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time...take care and God Bless. PamT
I pray your Memorial Day weekend was blessed and in the midst of your relaxation, you took a moment to reflect on the true meaning of the holiday.
With that in mind I am pleased to bring you today's Treasure with author, Sarah Sundin....
More Than a Letter Opener
Most people wouldn’t notice my letter opener, but it’s rich in meaning to me. When my grandfather, Fred Stewart, retired from a long career in business, he wanted a new hobby. He took woodcarving classes, discovered he had a gift, and soon began winning awards. More importantly, he enjoyed the work and the joy it brought to others.
When I started pharmacy school, my grandfather was tickled. During World War II, he’d served as a pharmacist’s mate (medic) in the US Navy in the Pacific. He’d always been fascinated by medicine and was delighted that his granddaughter shared his interest.
One Christmas he carved me this letter opener with the pharmacy symbol. I treasured it from the beginning.My grandfather passed away in 1992, eight years before I began writing, but he is one of the main reasons I write novels set in World War II. You see, Fred Stewart was a storyteller. While so many veterans didn’t talk about their wartime experiences—for good reason—my grandfather did. He told harrowing stories. He told heartbreaking stories. And he told hilarious stories. My grandfather loved to laugh and he loved to make others laugh.
Because of my grandfather, I decided to focus on the Navy for my third World War II series, Waves of Freedom. The heroine in Anchor in the Storm is a pharmacist, and she unravels a mystery—the pharmacist’s mate on the hero’s ship may or may not be involved. I like to think my grandfather would be tickled.
The letter opener on my desk reminds me of the grandpa I adored as a man of integrity who loved his family. It reminds me of my chosen profession. And it reminds of why I write novels set in World War II—to honor the real-life heroes who served.
Awww, Sarah your letter opener is definitely something to treasure!
Sarah Sundin is the author of eight historical novels, including Anchor in the Storm. Her novel Through Waters Deep was named to Booklist’s “101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years,” and her novella “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” in Where Treetops Glisten was a finalist for the 2015 Carol Award. A mother of three, Sarah lives in California, works on-call as a hospital pharmacist, and teaches Sunday school. http://www.sarahsundin.com
Here's a sneak peek into Sarah's latest novel, Anchor in the Storm!
For plucky Lillian Avery, America’s entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. She loves the wartime challenges of her new job but spurns the attention of society boy Ens. Archer Vandenberg. As Arch’s destroyer battles U-boats along the East Coast, Lillian uncovers a black market drug ring. Arch and Lillian work together on the investigation, but can he ever earn her trust and affection?Anchor in the Storm can be purchased at Amazon in Hardcover, Paperback and for Kindle.
Hope you enjoyed today's Treasure! Tune in each week for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.
Until next time...take care and God Bless. PamT
May 28, 2016
#SaturdaySpotlight is on Katherine Fleet and The Secret to Letting go
Good Morning Friends!
I pray you've had a lovely week and are looking forward to a wonderful summer. Today's guest is new to our blog so I won't take up too much of your time rambling before I introduce her....
Originally from Newfoundland, Katherine Fleet gave up the cold winters of Eastern Canada for the year round warmth of the Caribbean. The slower pace of island life has given her time to pursue a long-time goal—becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her husband and wonderful friends in Curaçao.
She is also a very thankful breast cancer survivor. In 2007, she joined RWA and has enjoyed the support and camaraderie of the YARWA and OIRWA writing communities. She’s participated in NaNoWriMo since 2012 and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program.
Katherine writes Young/New Adult fiction. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her at her Website (be sure and sign up for her newsletter!). Also be sure to like/follow/etc Katherine on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Good Reads.
Now on to Katherine's novel....
One summer can change everything...
Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.
Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.
Excerpt:“So, I’ll see you tomorrow at noon?”She nodded so hard, her teeth probably rattled. “I’d like that.”It wasn’t like we were arranging a date, so why did her enthusiasm make me straighten up and puff out my chest? “We can meet at the beach next to the pier. My friends and I’ll be surfing. You bring the preserves, and I’ll bring the stove.”Uncertainty flickered across her face, and her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.I should have used her reluctance to back out, but instead I reassured her. “We won’t be hard to find. We’re just north of the pier, and this way we can meet on neutral territory.”Her expression turned blank.“You know…in case I’m secretly a serial killer. There’s always safety in numbers.”Her lips twitched upward, and she laughed. The sound tinkled through the air like wind chimes on a breezy day. “I already know you’re not a bad person.”“Oh yeah?”She nodded. Her unwavering stare made me want to squirm in my shoes. “True evil can never be hidden. It’s always there, if you know where to look. When I look at you, I see only good things.”I snatched my gaze away from hers and tugged at the collar of my shirt. I wanted to know how she could talk with such authority on the subject. I wanted to know what evil she’d seen, but I wanted even more to escape the narrow store aisle. Warning bells pealed in my brain. She’s crazy. Don’t get involved.
Purchase The Secret to Letting go at Amazon, B&N, ITunes, Kobo, Amazon UK, Amazon CA and directly from the publisher.
Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight as much as I did!
Check back each week for new Saturday Spotlight as well as Tuesday Treasures and Thursday Thoughts!
Until next time...Take care and God Bless. PamT
I pray you've had a lovely week and are looking forward to a wonderful summer. Today's guest is new to our blog so I won't take up too much of your time rambling before I introduce her....
Originally from Newfoundland, Katherine Fleet gave up the cold winters of Eastern Canada for the year round warmth of the Caribbean. The slower pace of island life has given her time to pursue a long-time goal—becoming an author. When she’s not writing, she spends her time baking, chauffeuring her three amazing, talented kids around, and having sun-filled adventures with her husband and wonderful friends in Curaçao. She is also a very thankful breast cancer survivor. In 2007, she joined RWA and has enjoyed the support and camaraderie of the YARWA and OIRWA writing communities. She’s participated in NaNoWriMo since 2012 and is an active supporter of the associated Young Writers Program.
Katherine writes Young/New Adult fiction. She is represented by super-agent Carrie Pestritto of Prospect Agency. The Secret to Letting Go is her debut novel. You can connect with her at her Website (be sure and sign up for her newsletter!). Also be sure to like/follow/etc Katherine on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Good Reads.
Now on to Katherine's novel....
One summer can change everything...
Haunted with guilt after his girlfriend’s death, Daniel Hudson has no interest in committing to anyone. At the end of the summer, he’ll be leaving Florida for a new start in college. If only he could avoid the mysterious new girl in town, who seems every bit as naive and eccentric as she looks. Trouble is, she’s hard to ignore, with her beautiful piercing eyes, pitiful-looking dog, and unsettling tendency of finding trouble.
Clover Scott lived her whole life off the grid and arrives on the Gulf coast in search of her grandparents. She never expected to nearly drown, or get caught in a hurricane, or fall in love with the boy who rescues her. Now, she has a chance to rewrite her life’s story, to finally fit in somewhere, but Daniel wants answers about her past. When the police start asking questions about the disappearance of her parents, she must make a choice: go to jail or confess her secrets—even if they might destroy her chance at a happily-ever-after.
Excerpt:“So, I’ll see you tomorrow at noon?”She nodded so hard, her teeth probably rattled. “I’d like that.”It wasn’t like we were arranging a date, so why did her enthusiasm make me straighten up and puff out my chest? “We can meet at the beach next to the pier. My friends and I’ll be surfing. You bring the preserves, and I’ll bring the stove.”Uncertainty flickered across her face, and her mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water.I should have used her reluctance to back out, but instead I reassured her. “We won’t be hard to find. We’re just north of the pier, and this way we can meet on neutral territory.”Her expression turned blank.“You know…in case I’m secretly a serial killer. There’s always safety in numbers.”Her lips twitched upward, and she laughed. The sound tinkled through the air like wind chimes on a breezy day. “I already know you’re not a bad person.”“Oh yeah?”She nodded. Her unwavering stare made me want to squirm in my shoes. “True evil can never be hidden. It’s always there, if you know where to look. When I look at you, I see only good things.”I snatched my gaze away from hers and tugged at the collar of my shirt. I wanted to know how she could talk with such authority on the subject. I wanted to know what evil she’d seen, but I wanted even more to escape the narrow store aisle. Warning bells pealed in my brain. She’s crazy. Don’t get involved.
Purchase The Secret to Letting go at Amazon, B&N, ITunes, Kobo, Amazon UK, Amazon CA and directly from the publisher.
Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight as much as I did!
Check back each week for new Saturday Spotlight as well as Tuesday Treasures and Thursday Thoughts!
Until next time...Take care and God Bless. PamT
