Heather B. Moore's Blog, page 13
February 25, 2013
Cover Reveal! ESTHER THE QUEEN
Coming April 2013:
Queen Esther… the legendary Jewish woman who became the Queen of Persia in the 4th century B.C., reaches across time and inspires as she teaches. Esther sacrifices living her religion in order to follow the Lord’s will and marry a man not of her faith. In turn, Esther becomes the greatest heroine of the ages, saving her people from destruction.
Queen Esther… the legendary Jewish woman who became the Queen of Persia in the 4th century B.C., reaches across time and inspires as she teaches. Esther sacrifices living her religion in order to follow the Lord’s will and marry a man not of her faith. In turn, Esther becomes the greatest heroine of the ages, saving her people from destruction.
January 31, 2013
Announcements!
Coming April 2013: Esther the Queen, a historical Biblical novel on the Queen of Persia
Just released. The next Timeless Romance Anthology! 6 Sweet Contemporary Romance Novellas. You can read samples chapters on the blog. Available on Ebook for $3.99.
Coming Valentines Day 2013: The Daisy Chain (An Aliso Creek Novella)
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January 14, 2013
HEART OF THE OCEAN blog tour in progress . . .
Tour Schedule
January 8th
Tour Kick Off - I Am A Reader, Not A Writer
January 9th
Book Blast - Multiple Blogs
January 10th
Min Reads & Reviews - Review & Guest Post
LDS Women's Book Review - Review
The View From My Window - Review
Reviewing Shelf - Review
MK McClinktock - Interview
January 11th
Cuzinlogic - Interview or Tens List
Karey White - Review
Literary Time Out - Review
Peace from Pieces - Interview
January 12th
Kaisy Daisy's Corner - Review & Excerpt
The Book Bug - Tens List & Review
My Devotional Thoughts - Guest Post & Review
January 13th
icefairy's Treasure Chest - Excerpt & Guest Post
Books, Books, the Magical Fruit - Interview & Excerpt
The Bunny's Review - Excerpt & Tens List
January 14th
Julie Coulter Bellon - Review
Clean Romance Reviews - Excerpt
Magical Manuscripts - Review & Interview
January 15th
Sarah Ballance - Guest Post or Tens List
LDS & Lovin' It - Review
Aspired Writer - Interview & Review
January 16th
Laurie's Thoughts & Reviews - Character Interview
Promiscuous Diva - Guest Post or Interview & Excerpt
Parsimonious Posh - Review & Interview
Hardcover Feedback - Review & Tens List
January 17th
Bookworm Lisa - Review & Excerpt
Scribbler's Sojourn - Review
Taking Time for Mommy - Excerpt
Maureen's Musings - Review
January 18th
Love. Pray. Read. - Review
Why Not? Because I Said So! - Review
Book Review Club - Review
Up in the Bibliosphere - Review
January 19th
Storeybook Reviews - Review & Excerpt
Vonnie's Reading Corner - Review & Excerpt
For the Love of Books - Review
January 20th
Debbie's Inkspection - Review & Excerpt
Literary Winner - Review
Book Worm Brandy - Review
January 21st
My Book a Day - Review
The Book Diva's Reads - Review & Excerpt
Ever and Ever Sight - Review
My Book a Day - Review
January 22nd
Writer in the Pines - Review & Interview
Getting Your Read On - Review & Excerpt
Fiction Playground - Review
My Escape - Guest Post & Review
January 23rd
RachelleWrites - Guest Post & Review
Westhoff Family - Review
Susan Heim on Writing - Excerpt
I Know that Book - Guest Post
January 24th
Fly High - Ten List
The Mod Podge Bookshelf - Excerpt
Lisa ~Moonshine Art Spot - Review & Guest Post
My Library in the Making - Review
January 25th
Four Sister & a Book - Review & Excerpt
Gamila's Review - Review
Beck Valley Books - Guest Post
Libby's Library - Review
December 2, 2012
A Christmas Message
As the 2012 Christmas Season approaches, I thought I'd share a message that is more spiritual in nature than my usual fare. Happy Holidays everyone!
In 2010, Angela Eschler, a former editor of mine approached me with the non-fiction book idea for Christ’s Gifts to Women. At first I was hesitant because co-authoring might sound like it would take half the time as doing a book on one’s own, but in reality, the time spent combining ideas and working out details with another person, can actually be more of a time investment.
From that perspective I knew I needed to be really passionate about the book idea. When I read the introduction that Angela had put together, I loved the idea and knew that I could help. This article is not about my co-authoring experience, but about something I learned along the way about the Savior.
Frequently we hear messages about the Savior—some of them have become buzz words or even car stickers—so much so that we may have stopped hearing the message that’s intended for us. I’ve certainly heard hundreds of tidbits about the Savior in my life. I’ve even lived in the Holy Land and read the New Testament while sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane. I don’t consider myself an expert by any means about the Savior’s life, but it seems that nothing I heard was “new.”
So it was quite astounding to me when I read something Angela wrote for one of the chapters. In fact, I read it more than once before and after publication. And it’s frequently on my mind. It’s nothing earth-shattering, and I knew it on at least one level, but I had never internalized it.
Recently an LDS author friend of mine was contacted by a reader who expressed her displeasure that one of the characters in the novel had dressed immodestly. My friend was dismayed to receive such critical feedback about her book—first because the character wasn’t LDS and the story wasn’t LDS fiction so she didn’t feel like she was condoning immodesty, and second, on a deeper level, she felt that she was being chastised for her own worthiness. This was probably not the intention of the reader, but it reminded me of how quick we can be to feel judged by another person, no matter how well-intentioned a comment might be.
My thoughts went again to what I had learned about the Savior.
We are familiar with the story of the woman taken into adultery. It is a heartbreaking story of cruelty (by the Pharisees) and humiliation (of the woman). In the day of Christ, it was common for an adulteress to be accused in a public setting, her sins announced to the world, then executed before any repentance or forgiveness could take place.
Apparently the Pharisees esteem Jesus enough that they ask Him if they should stone her, and His reply is: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7). We know what happens next. Without even meeting anyone’s gaze, Jesus “stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not” (v. 9). One by one the Pharisees leave, unable to justify casting the first stone. The Pharisees have realize they have no authority from God to judge this woman.
And Jesus is then left alone with her.
This fact is what struck me so powerfully. She is left alone with the Savior. She’s not standing in front of the Pharisees, in front of her church congregation, in front of her husband, in front of her children. She only faces the Savior. And only the Savior has the power to judge her.
Angela explains this idea in more detail: “Like our sister, who was left alone, no one stands with us in our daily courtrooms but Christ. In spite of the many self-appointed juries in our mortal sphere, who may heap harsh judgments upon us, we too are “left alone” with the only judge who matters. And He is a merciful judge. He, our only legitimate accuser, does not condemn.”
I take comfort in the thought that the Savior is a merciful judge. That He is our only legitimate accuser. And that He does not condemn.
What a balm to the soul.
Yet, we seem to listen to the accusers of the world, the ones who would condemn us publically and withhold forgiveness and mercy.
We’ve been counseled by our church leaders that not only are we to forgive others, but we need to forgive ourselves. It’s one thing to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11), and another to allow ourselves to heal from the pain of sin.
If we can remember in our moments of despair that the only One authorized to judge us is the Savior. His mercy does not have a limit; it is endless. And the One who judges us came “not . . . to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
It can still a hard thing to put our faith in the concept of mercy and becoming clean again, free from regrets, which is probably why I continue to study and read about the Savior and the Atonement. A times I feel as if I only grasp a small part of it. Other times, I am enveloped in a fuller understanding—but that soon becomes crowded out with the perpetual noises of the world.
So it is my job, and your job, to create those alone moments with the Savior, where it is just us alone with the Savior—feeling of His mercy, His understanding, His love, and seeing ourselves through His lens.
(This article was originally published in Meridian Magazine)
In 2010, Angela Eschler, a former editor of mine approached me with the non-fiction book idea for Christ’s Gifts to Women. At first I was hesitant because co-authoring might sound like it would take half the time as doing a book on one’s own, but in reality, the time spent combining ideas and working out details with another person, can actually be more of a time investment.
From that perspective I knew I needed to be really passionate about the book idea. When I read the introduction that Angela had put together, I loved the idea and knew that I could help. This article is not about my co-authoring experience, but about something I learned along the way about the Savior.
Frequently we hear messages about the Savior—some of them have become buzz words or even car stickers—so much so that we may have stopped hearing the message that’s intended for us. I’ve certainly heard hundreds of tidbits about the Savior in my life. I’ve even lived in the Holy Land and read the New Testament while sitting in the Garden of Gethsemane. I don’t consider myself an expert by any means about the Savior’s life, but it seems that nothing I heard was “new.”
So it was quite astounding to me when I read something Angela wrote for one of the chapters. In fact, I read it more than once before and after publication. And it’s frequently on my mind. It’s nothing earth-shattering, and I knew it on at least one level, but I had never internalized it.
Recently an LDS author friend of mine was contacted by a reader who expressed her displeasure that one of the characters in the novel had dressed immodestly. My friend was dismayed to receive such critical feedback about her book—first because the character wasn’t LDS and the story wasn’t LDS fiction so she didn’t feel like she was condoning immodesty, and second, on a deeper level, she felt that she was being chastised for her own worthiness. This was probably not the intention of the reader, but it reminded me of how quick we can be to feel judged by another person, no matter how well-intentioned a comment might be.
My thoughts went again to what I had learned about the Savior.
We are familiar with the story of the woman taken into adultery. It is a heartbreaking story of cruelty (by the Pharisees) and humiliation (of the woman). In the day of Christ, it was common for an adulteress to be accused in a public setting, her sins announced to the world, then executed before any repentance or forgiveness could take place.
Apparently the Pharisees esteem Jesus enough that they ask Him if they should stone her, and His reply is: “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her” (John 8:7). We know what happens next. Without even meeting anyone’s gaze, Jesus “stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not” (v. 9). One by one the Pharisees leave, unable to justify casting the first stone. The Pharisees have realize they have no authority from God to judge this woman.
And Jesus is then left alone with her.
This fact is what struck me so powerfully. She is left alone with the Savior. She’s not standing in front of the Pharisees, in front of her church congregation, in front of her husband, in front of her children. She only faces the Savior. And only the Savior has the power to judge her.
Angela explains this idea in more detail: “Like our sister, who was left alone, no one stands with us in our daily courtrooms but Christ. In spite of the many self-appointed juries in our mortal sphere, who may heap harsh judgments upon us, we too are “left alone” with the only judge who matters. And He is a merciful judge. He, our only legitimate accuser, does not condemn.”
I take comfort in the thought that the Savior is a merciful judge. That He is our only legitimate accuser. And that He does not condemn.
What a balm to the soul.
Yet, we seem to listen to the accusers of the world, the ones who would condemn us publically and withhold forgiveness and mercy.
We’ve been counseled by our church leaders that not only are we to forgive others, but we need to forgive ourselves. It’s one thing to “go and sin no more” (John 8:11), and another to allow ourselves to heal from the pain of sin.
If we can remember in our moments of despair that the only One authorized to judge us is the Savior. His mercy does not have a limit; it is endless. And the One who judges us came “not . . . to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).
It can still a hard thing to put our faith in the concept of mercy and becoming clean again, free from regrets, which is probably why I continue to study and read about the Savior and the Atonement. A times I feel as if I only grasp a small part of it. Other times, I am enveloped in a fuller understanding—but that soon becomes crowded out with the perpetual noises of the world.
So it is my job, and your job, to create those alone moments with the Savior, where it is just us alone with the Savior—feeling of His mercy, His understanding, His love, and seeing ourselves through His lens.
(This article was originally published in Meridian Magazine)
October 28, 2012
My 3 Friends: Breast Cancer Survivors
“Cancer” is a common household word in our world today—which is quite unfortunate. Last year, my father-in-law was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few months before my mother-in-law was diagnosed with stage 4 non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. My father-in-law put off his treatment decisions to care for his wife. She was so advanced that she was given only three weeks. She didn’t even make it one week. The last conversation we had was in her bedroom, as we watched one of those reality shows about cake decorating. She’d make comments about how beautiful the cake decorating was, and I’d agree. Every few minutes she’d fall asleep. Less than two days later she was gone.
My kids worry about cancer. It’s on both sides of their family. My grandmother had breast cancer, but it was a stroke that put her on life support. My parents have endured skin cancer several times. My father-in-law has now undergone surgery and is doing well.
In 2011, I found out that my good friend, Catherine, had been diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. She’s one year older than me and our kids are the same ages. When we both lived in California, we were neighbors and became fast friends—opposites in many ways—which just made it more fun. She’s Catholic, I’m Mormon. She’s Mexican, I’m Caucasian. I’m tall, she’s short. She’s outgoing, I’m quiet. She’s generous, I’m a bit stingy. I hadn’t seen Catherine for about ten years since I moved to Utah and she moved to Illinois. When I found out that she had been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer (from Facebook, of course!), I joined her blog and read her updates each day as she went through radiation, chemo, radical surgery, and then reconstruction. Catherine has always been the kind of friend I wished I could be. And reading about her ups, and very very low downs, and how this illness affected her children, her marriage, and all things physical made me realize how grateful I was for her. For our friendship so many years ago, and how, even today, she gives me strength and courage without even knowing it.
As a second grader, I lived in Egypt and attended the Cairo American College. My parents had good friends—another Utah family—and they had a daughter about my age. Nicole and I became inseparable buddies, and even after we both moved back to Utah, we spent weekends together up until our teenage years. Nicole was probably my most highly creative friend and was always coming up with new things to do. She had a contagious laugh and was spontaneous and enjoyed life. In her early 20’s Nicole was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her story was covered by the media, since it was unusual for a woman her age to suffer from this type of cancer. She has now beat breast cancer three times. Nicole continues to be upbeat, positive, and stays crazy-busy with her successful swimsuit company she co-owns with her two sisters. As of this blog post, Nicole’s older sister is currently fighting ovarian cancer. And Nicole is back at it again—encouraging, supporting, and loving as only she can do. A hero in my eyes.
My 15 year old daughter is a volleyball fanatic/player. When she tried out for the high school team this past August, her coaches held a parents meeting. The varsity coach, who was 8.5 months pregnant said, “You better not miss practice unless you have a really good excuse. I’m only missing two days when I have my baby, and the JV coach came to practice even during chemo.” The JV coach, Angie, had indeed coached through her breast cancer treatment. In 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and led a valiant fight for the next year. Watching her coach my daughter for the past three years, I’ve learned a few things about diligence, hard work, endurance, and persistence. Angie is all of these and more, and another hero to me.
To my friends, and all others out there who are facing breast cancer or any other cancer, know that you have my admiration and more importantly my prayers. I am truly amazed by the human spirit I see around me and the fortitude of those who face breast cancer—I feel as if I’m taught every day.
October 7, 2012
Book Launch for ATHENA!
(Originally posted on The Newport Ladies Book Club blog)
What a great night. We had the ATHENA launch at the Fort Union Deseret Book, which is the bookstore that has hosted all of the Newport Ladies Book Club launches. Josi wasn't able to come since she had booked a trip to see the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. (If you've read her mystery novel Tres Leches Cupcakes , you'll know the connection.)
Here are the pictures!
We all signed a collection of books (Josi did beforehand), and 3 sets were given away as prizes.
Because the Fort Union store agreed to let us have the launch on Oct 6, which is their semi-annual Ladies Night, the publisher had to send the book to press a month early. Copies are only available at this store until the official release month of November.
Our official launch picture--everyone holding ATHENA! (Heather, Julie, Annette)
Now we are holding the entire set! And just FYI, this first set of 4 covers the first 4 months of book club for Olivia, Daisy, Paige & Athena. The next set of 4 will cover the next 4 months and will contain Ilana, Ruby, Shannon & Victoria's stories.
It was great talking to readers. This is Diony George's mom visiting from Alaska.
I think people who love books are always drawn to each other.
Not sure how I feel about this one. My girls stopped to visit (Rose on left, Dana on right, who I dedicated ATHENA to) . . . but then Julie sneaked in and posed behind us.
Author Lisa Mangum was there for Ladies Night as well, signing her new YA love story, AFTER HELLO. (Annette, Julie, Heather, Lisa)
Notice the tin of baklava on the table (from my mom). In ATHENA, her mom is a great cook and one of Athena's favorite desserts is her mom's baklava. Recipe is at the back of the book.
And finally, photographer Heather Gardner took this lovely picture. She has come to our launches and several of my other book signings.
It was a great night and we're grateful for everyone's support and enthusiasm for this series! It wouldn't be successful without our readers!
What a great night. We had the ATHENA launch at the Fort Union Deseret Book, which is the bookstore that has hosted all of the Newport Ladies Book Club launches. Josi wasn't able to come since she had booked a trip to see the Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque. (If you've read her mystery novel Tres Leches Cupcakes , you'll know the connection.)
Here are the pictures!
We all signed a collection of books (Josi did beforehand), and 3 sets were given away as prizes.
Because the Fort Union store agreed to let us have the launch on Oct 6, which is their semi-annual Ladies Night, the publisher had to send the book to press a month early. Copies are only available at this store until the official release month of November.
Our official launch picture--everyone holding ATHENA! (Heather, Julie, Annette)
Now we are holding the entire set! And just FYI, this first set of 4 covers the first 4 months of book club for Olivia, Daisy, Paige & Athena. The next set of 4 will cover the next 4 months and will contain Ilana, Ruby, Shannon & Victoria's stories.
It was great talking to readers. This is Diony George's mom visiting from Alaska.
I think people who love books are always drawn to each other.
Not sure how I feel about this one. My girls stopped to visit (Rose on left, Dana on right, who I dedicated ATHENA to) . . . but then Julie sneaked in and posed behind us.
Author Lisa Mangum was there for Ladies Night as well, signing her new YA love story, AFTER HELLO. (Annette, Julie, Heather, Lisa)
Notice the tin of baklava on the table (from my mom). In ATHENA, her mom is a great cook and one of Athena's favorite desserts is her mom's baklava. Recipe is at the back of the book.
And finally, photographer Heather Gardner took this lovely picture. She has come to our launches and several of my other book signings.It was a great night and we're grateful for everyone's support and enthusiasm for this series! It wouldn't be successful without our readers!
October 1, 2012
Happy Release Day!
Today is the official release date of A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection
It's been an exciting journey to work on this project with other historical novelists, Sarah Eden, Heidi Ashworth, Annette Lyon, Joyce DiPastena & Donna Hatch. They are all excellent writers, so it was wonderful when everyone submitted their stories and I got to read them for the first time. I'd read books by all of the authors, except for Donna Hatch. I loved reading her story and now I have to go and get her other books :-)
I'm not a big short-story reader, or a short-story writer either. But over the summer, I've read several short stories and have really enjoyed the quick reads. The pacing seemed a bit faster and the plots less complex, but there are those days & weeks in which I don't have time to read a full book, yet, I still like to read something and have a quicker resolution.
We hope that readers will get a chance to read an author they haven't heard of before . . . discovering new authors is one of my favorite things!
This is an ebook release only and sells for $3.99 on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.
There will be many more anthologies coming, all with a different line up of authors (well, some of us might stay the same).
Here's the Timeless Romance Anthologies blog if you want to stay up-to-date:
It's been an exciting journey to work on this project with other historical novelists, Sarah Eden, Heidi Ashworth, Annette Lyon, Joyce DiPastena & Donna Hatch. They are all excellent writers, so it was wonderful when everyone submitted their stories and I got to read them for the first time. I'd read books by all of the authors, except for Donna Hatch. I loved reading her story and now I have to go and get her other books :-)
I'm not a big short-story reader, or a short-story writer either. But over the summer, I've read several short stories and have really enjoyed the quick reads. The pacing seemed a bit faster and the plots less complex, but there are those days & weeks in which I don't have time to read a full book, yet, I still like to read something and have a quicker resolution.
We hope that readers will get a chance to read an author they haven't heard of before . . . discovering new authors is one of my favorite things!
This is an ebook release only and sells for $3.99 on Amazon, Smashwords and Barnes & Noble.
There will be many more anthologies coming, all with a different line up of authors (well, some of us might stay the same).
Here's the Timeless Romance Anthologies blog if you want to stay up-to-date:
September 29, 2012
Seeking Reviewers for A Timeless Romance Anthology: Winter Collection
It's almost here! Official release is October 1, 2012, and I'm looking for reviewers for this great romance anthology.
Please contact me if you are interested! Word of mouth will be essential to making this a success! This book is only on ebook, so I can send you an ebook download or the PDF!
heather (at) hbmoore (dot) com
BLOG: http://timelessromanceanthologies.blo...
August 27, 2012
Cover Reveal: ATHENA
I'm really excited to show the cover for Athena because it's the fourth book in this series, and completes the parallel portion of the series with Paige (by Annette Lyon), Olivia (by Julie Wright), and Daisy (by Josi Kilpack). The next four books (Shannon, Ruby, Ilana, and Victoria) will move ahead in time to the next 4 book club meetings.
When we submitted Olivia, Athena, Daisy, and Paige to our publishers, we didn't know what order they'd be released. We didn't know if the publishers would do one a year, or maybe two a year. We were working with two publishers so it was tricky to get everything lined up. When they agreed to release all four books in 2012, we were really excited. Readers wouldn't have to wait too long between books and the parallel stories will feel more like real-time, how they are meant to be.
While writing Athena, I was trying to decide who Athena would fall in love with. I was about 30 pages into the story and hadn't decided. So I emailed Josi/Annette/Julie and they all had the same opinion of who the man should be--so that made it easy.
It was a lot of fun to write Athena (except for the not so fun parts of the story), and I realized that her personality is a lot like mine. My family life and situation are completely different, but we are similar in many ways. So it will be interesting to read the reviews :-)
Athena will be released in November, but you can get an early copy at the October 6th Book Launch (Fort Union Deseret Book, Ladies Night, 6:00-8:00 p.m.)
Newport Series blog is HERE.
When we submitted Olivia, Athena, Daisy, and Paige to our publishers, we didn't know what order they'd be released. We didn't know if the publishers would do one a year, or maybe two a year. We were working with two publishers so it was tricky to get everything lined up. When they agreed to release all four books in 2012, we were really excited. Readers wouldn't have to wait too long between books and the parallel stories will feel more like real-time, how they are meant to be.
While writing Athena, I was trying to decide who Athena would fall in love with. I was about 30 pages into the story and hadn't decided. So I emailed Josi/Annette/Julie and they all had the same opinion of who the man should be--so that made it easy.
It was a lot of fun to write Athena (except for the not so fun parts of the story), and I realized that her personality is a lot like mine. My family life and situation are completely different, but we are similar in many ways. So it will be interesting to read the reviews :-)
Athena will be released in November, but you can get an early copy at the October 6th Book Launch (Fort Union Deseret Book, Ladies Night, 6:00-8:00 p.m.)
Newport Series blog is HERE.
August 23, 2012
Cover Reveal: A Timeless Romance Anthology
I'm excited to show the cover for an upcoming anthology that I'll be part of. My short romance novella will be one of six with other award-winning authors, Sarah Eden, Annette Lyon, Heidi Ashworth, Joyce DiPastena, and Donna Hatch. They are all historical romances! I love all of these authors' other books, so it will be fun to be in something together.
Release will be October 2012
Release will be October 2012
