Linda Brooks Davis's Blog, page 9
July 29, 2020
Norma Gail Holtman: Let’s Chat!
Welcome, Norma Gail Holtman & Guests
Norma Gail Holtman writes contemporary Christian romance and romantic suspense under the pen name Norma Gail. Her books feature strong women whose faith enables them to triumph over difficult circumstances. Her own mother-in-law was discipled by Christian fiction.
Norma was born and reared in New Mexico. She earned a BSN degree (Bachelor of Science in Nursing) and is married with two grown children. In addition to fiction, she has written devotionals and led Bible studies and currently writes devotionals on her blog and her church website.
Norma is offering a giveaway, Within Golden Bands, in either print or Kindle, so be sure to comment below. You’ll encourage Norma and me both, and you could add a new novel to your library.
Norma Gail: The Story of Her Heart
The story of my heart took a while to write. I grew up with a book in my hands. My mom often chased me outside to play. Otherwise, I would have sat in my dad’s big chair with a book all day. It wasn’t unusual for me to make up a story, talk the other kids into playing the parts, and keep it going for days. My parents constantly said, “Take your nose out of that book.”
My mother’s large extended family gathered at my grandparent’s house in Albuquerque’s North Valley every Sunday afternoon. Those experiences gave rise to my fascination with family history research and old family photos, part of the story of my heart. Whenever the out-of-town family came, they stayed with my grandparents. I spent many happy Sundays listening to older family members recount tales of long ago. Named after two childless aunts, I always went by Norma Gail, thus my pen name.
My best friends in school also loved to write. We critiqued each other’s stories and poems over lunch. Needless to say, we weren’t the most popular group in school but we had a lot of fun.
Norma Gail Holtman: Choosing a Career
The idea of a history or literature major went by the wayside early on. I didn’t want to grade papers or deal with unruly students. However, I loved anything medical, and decided to be a nurse when I was quite young.
I accepted Christ in the fourth grade and recommitted my life as a high school senior, after attending Young Life meetings. Throughout my college years at the University of New Mexico, Campus Crusade for Christ helped mature my faith. All the boys I dated were from church. In fact, I met my husband through my first boyfriend. Also active in Campus Crusade, the Friday night meetings constituted most of our dates.
Norma Gail Holtman: The Story of Her Heart Buds
Not only was I named for two women who never had children, I struggled with infertility. After four years, we adopted our son, and twenty-one months later, our daughter. Another part of the story of my heart. I didn’t write while pursuing my nursing career or when my children were young.
However, when my father was struck and killed by lightning, my desire to write was renewed. My kids, the oldest grandchildren, were in elementary school and I decided to write a biography for the grandchildren who would never know him. Also, I began to write poetry again.
Throughout my children’s growing up years, I served as a Discussion Leader in Bible Study Fellowship. For this reason, the pastor asked me to begin the first women’s Bible studies in our small church. I led Bible studies for over 21 years, another piece of the story of my heart. Eventually, I began to write weekly devotionals for our church website and started my own devotional blog.
Norma Gail, The Story of Her Heart Blossoms
As a result, I decided to see if I had what it took to become a traditionally published author. When I broke my right foot and landed in a wheelchair, writing filled hours of boredom. Soon, I spent my evenings on my laptop while my husband and son watched TV. My husband and I took a thirtieth anniversary trip to Scotland. I dreamed about a man in a kilt playing his bagpipes on a hillside surrounded by sheep. For this reason, I decided to set my novel in Scotland.
Land of My Dreams
I attended my first writer’s conference in 2011. One author who critiqued my book spent extra time explaining what was needed to make my book publishable. After my second writer’s conference, I received a contract for Land of My Dreams, a Christian romance published in 2014.
Within Golden Bands
However, it was to take six years before my second book, Within Golden Bands, was published. In hindsight, I experienced a bad case of nerves about being good enough. The editor who accepted my first book gave a lot of input on the second but no longer made the decisions. I wasn’t satisfied with what I wrote because I tried to please someone else. The book was rejected twice and I almost gave up.
Eventually, I returned to my original title and went back to the drawing board. As I wrote from my heart, the story came alive and I loved it. In 2019, someone who knew about Land of My Dreams offered to publish Within Golden Bands. I am now a hybrid author working on the third book in my A Home for My Heart series. Unlike most romances set in Scotland, these are contemporary, rather than historical. With the exception of the college, sheep farm, and churches, even the restaurants can be visited today.
Within Golden Bands is not my story but it is the story of my heart. It’s a tale of a newly married couple whose desires for a family are destroyed by a devastating miscarriage. At the same time, their lives are threatened by a ruthless villain, and a long-kept family secret comes to light. Neither can foresee the heartbreak and danger that awaits.
Norma Gail’s Themes
I don’t write light romance. As a Bible study leader, I met Christians who didn’t understand how to base life decisions on scripture. My mother-in-law, a Dutch immigrant, was discipled by the Christian fiction she read. I enjoy reading fiction with deep spiritual truths, so I write deep fiction. Even though romance is a major theme, I write about strong women whose faith enables them to triumph over difficult circumstances.
While the first book is romance, the second is romantic suspense. My children are adopted. I experienced infertility. It was natural to write from the perspective of a woman who struggled with infertility. However, adoption is also a spiritual concept. God adopts us into His family when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior.
Norma Gail’s Links
~ ~ ~
Lord, please bless each word Norma Gail writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake
The post Norma Gail Holtman: Let’s Chat! appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
July 15, 2020
Lana Christian: Let’s Chat!
Welcome, everyone.
Lana Christian is our honored guest for this chat. She has led a fascinating life filled with varied interests and accomplishments. Besides blogging, she is pitching to publishers a work of biblical fiction that follows the Wise Men after they find baby Jesus. Intriguing, huh?
Lana has earned several ACFW recognitions and awards for non-published authors:
2019:
Genesis semifinalist (Novella)
2020:
First Impressions double finalist (Historical fiction, Novella)
First Impressions winner (Novella)
Genesis semifinalist (Short Novel)
If you visit https://www.lanachristian.com/ and scroll down a tad on the Home page, you’ll see all this info, recent blogs, and more. Her weekly blogs include encouragement and life lessons grounded in the Bible–lightly sprinkled with the history and science of that biblical time period.
Leave a comment below and on the home page of Lana’s website (lanachristian.com) to receive her free e-short story. You’ll automatically be entered into a drawing for an Amazon gift card. She will announce the winner on Facebook and Twitter on July 31, 2020, and will also feature the winner in a future blog.
Something tells me we’ll be hearing more from this budding novelist. Here’s Lana Christian in her own words. Please join the conversation. You’ll encourage Lana, other readers, and me.
LANA CHRISTIAN: MY WRITING PAST
For reasons I can’t fully remember, fifth grade ignited my passion for writing. I entered a writing contest and won a bicycle. That summer, I wrote a book about my first experience at church camp. Throughout junior high and high school, I hated English classes but excelled at writing essays. During my senior year in high school, I was the yearbook editor. The yearbook won a couple of awards, but I chalk that up to the awesome guidance our teacher, Mrs. Bingham, gave the team.
Thanks to my incredible seventh-grade science teacher, Mrs. Ennis, I eventually chose a career path in science, in the clinical laboratory. But writing followed me. I worked in teaching hospitals, so my responsibilities always included writing: chemistry lectures, communications classes, corporate newsletters, and eventually a comprehensive career development program that became an integral part of the hospital’s culture.
Lana Christian: Freelance Writing
Then a string of family circumstances forced me into a hard decision to find a way to work from home. God had prepared me for that all those years I wrote for the hospital. So I became a freelance writer. A few years later, I narrowed that to medical writing and was blessed to write many peer-reviewed medical journal articles, medical textbook chapters, training materials, patient education pieces, and more.
But creative writing continued to simmer in my subconscious. One of my aunts was a very successful author of children’s books, published by Simon & Schuster and Orchard Books. (Most of her books are still in print today.) Aunt Peggy and I had wonderful conversations about writing. I’ll always remember her practical advice—especially, “Revise, revise, revise.”
Lana Christian: A New Direction
In 2016, my freelance work dropped dramatically. In the last three days of that year, I was deep in prayer, asking God for guidance for my work and life in general. I didn’t care if He wanted me to go in a completely different direction with either; I just wanted to do His will. He didn’t tell me to quit my day job. But He did say, “Study Lot.”
My first reaction was, “Seriously?” But God’s guidance was clear. So I dug into the story with fresh eyes. I learned so much that I decided to jot everything down. I thought our women’s group could use my notes as a short Bible study. Then God said my vision was too small; write a book. And here’s another God thing: all my years of writing for the medical industry had made me an ace at research—which I put to full use in researching the history, archaeological evidence, and biblical account of Lot. By September 2017, my nonfiction book with an accompanying Bible study was published.
Lana Christian: Lesson Learned
I hesitate to mention the book because it was hybrid published. Back then I was so naïve that I thought I was working with a traditional publisher. Live and learn! Also, my marketing plan went up in flames less than two weeks after the book was printed. I underwent what would become the first of four surgeries that fall, followed by an extensive recuperation.
So I pulled the book from the market. I have no regrets; it was an invaluable learning experience. I do have plans to repurpose the book—possibly as a freebie that would be available only to email subscribers.
LANA CHRISTIAN: DOUBLING DOWN ON WRITING
After that, I got serious about attending writers’ conferences, entering writing contests, and taking writing courses. I completed Jerry Jenkins’ Your Novel Blueprint program. I recently finished Your Book Launch Blueprint, which Thomas Umstattd Jr., Jim Rubart, and Mary DeMuth lead. I’ve also had wonderful one-on-one coaching from several industry giants.
All that has solidified my belief that many great stories are yet to be told and every great story changes you in some way. I want to do both. I want people to have a “go beyond” experience when they read my books—to go beyond what they thought they knew about a biblical character or event—and be transported and transformed by what they read.
LANA CHRISTIAN: BIBLICAL FICTION
My love of science, archaeology, and the Bible come together in the biblical fiction I write. I have a dozen ideas for books, but the one I’m sinking all my energies into is my first book of The Magi’s Encounters series, which chronicles what happened to the Wise Men. I believe the Wise Men crossed paths with Jesus more than once during their lives; and each time they did, their lives changed dramatically. The first book, New Star, is finished, edited, and is in the querying stage.
THE MAGI’S ENCOUNTERS SERIES: New Star, Book One
Akilah is at the peak of his Magi career as a priest-scholar, poised to assume a position of great power serving Persia’s king. Then Akilah discovers an elusive star. As two of his colleagues unearth astounding prophesies surrounding the star, Akilah’s academic interest becomes a passion, then belief—one that clashes with Persia’s official religion.
The Jews’ God and prophesied Savior are terrible threats to Magi society’s power over religion and government. Persia is waiting three thousand years for its three saviors. If the Jewish notion of a single Savior already born catches on in Persia, the country’s religion, Magi society, and the government it rests on could collapse.
Bent on keeping Persia’s religion pure, Akilah’s ruthless superior manipulates people and evidence from unrelated crimes to convince government officials that Akilah’s actions are a credible threat to Persia and Magi society. In the crosshairs of religious and governmental conflicts at home and abroad, Akilah must rely on unlikely allies, his wits, and his wobbly belief to protect what he knows about Jesus. Belief comes with a cost. But when does the risk become too great?
WHERE TO FIND LANA
Website: https://www.lanachristian.com
Twitter: @LanaCwrites
~ ~ ~
Dear Lord, we pray your blessing on each word Lana writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake
The post Lana Christian: Let’s Chat! appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
July 1, 2020
John M. Cunningham, Jr: Let’s Chat!
Welcome, everyone
John M. Cunningham, Jr visits with us today. John is a Southern boy, professional writer, and former history teacher. He writes both nonfiction and historical fiction. His articles have appeared in numerous publications. He’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
Gather ’round for a delightful chat with this intriguing author. John is offering a giveaway to someone who joins the chat below.
John M. Cunningham, Jr: Roots
John’s Past
I learned how to hunt and fish at an early age.My family roots are deeply Southern, and I do mean Deep South. I grew up in Mobile, Alabama. Like many Southern boys, I learned how to hunt and fish at an early age. My older sister and my father were the real athletes in the family, my father an avid golfer and my sister a tennis player.
Because I possessed no athletic gifts, I developed a love for reading. Dreams of becoming a writer often entered my thoughts.
One Christmas my parents gave me a present that changed my life’s trajectory: The American Heritage Picture History of the Civil War. Pulitzer-prize winning historian Bruce Catton wrote its narrative, and it sparked my interest in that conflict which soon broadened into other historical eras.
Though I’ve never served in the military, I have a military background that’s helped me with my novels.
John’s Youth
On my way to schoolIn the late 1960s and early 70s, I attended high school at Marion Military Institute, an ROTC-sponsored military academy in Marion, Alabama. At the time, it had both a high school and a junior college. Though it has since discontinued its high school program, its junior college continues. Many graduates go on to a military career.
Also during my high school years, I participated in the Naval Sea Cadet program sponsored by the Navy League of the United States. My father, a World War Two Navy veteran and dentist, served as our medical officer. This program gave me many
wonderful experiences. I spent two weeks at a Canadian Forces military base in Nova Scotia, two weeks at Navy boot camp in Orlando, Florida, went on a turnaround cruise in Boston Harbor aboard the USS Constitution, spent another two weeks on the training carrier USS Lexington (based in Pensacola, Florida), and even spent the day on patrol in the Gulf of Mexico aboard a Coast Guard cutter. Many a time, I’ve drawn on these memories when writing my historical novels.
John’s Professional Life
Upon graduation from the University of Alabama with a degree in history, I moved to the New Orleans area where I taught high school. Here, the Lord launched me into a professional writing career with my first published article, a devotional I sold to The Upper Room in 1983.
Book Signing in Gretna, LouisianaDuring my time in New Orleans, I taught a writing class, sold numerous articles to Christian magazines and Sunday school publications, and contributed to a men’s devotional series published by Broadman & Holman.
My devotional book, Reflections of a Southern Boy, was published in 2019 under the byline Jack Cunningham. My three Civil War novels are published under the byline John M. Cunningham, Jr. The third novel is a dog story set during the siege of Port Hudson, Louisiana (1863) titled Squire, A Mascot’s Tale.
John M. Cunningham, Jr: Present
Currently, I’m working on a novel set against the backdrop of Thoroughbred racing in antebellum Mobile. Horse racing was a huge sport in this era. I do not have a definite title for the book yet.
John’s Books
What do kudzu, fiddler crabs, and an undeserved trophy have in common? They’re all part of Mister Cunningham’s experiences growing up in the Deep South. He compiles these stories and others into a series of devotionals and Bible studies. A few stories, though, just have a Southern theme. Some are humorous and others more serious, but all teach life lessons readers can apply to their own faith journeys.
https://bit.ly/3eFGsMg or https://amzn.to/2Xl6vSU
John M. Cunningham, Jr.
At the outbreak of the Civil War and against his wife Rachel’s pleadings, Captain Jesse Webb takes his beloved dog Squire to war as his regiment’s mascot. Will Squire survive his ordeal and find his way home while the Union army battles the Rebel garrison? https://amzn.to/3gGXbAz John M. Cunningham, Jr.
Southern Sons ~ Dixie Daughters
A sweeping saga of the Civil War’s western naval campaigns, with a large cast of characters, Book 1 in the Southern Sons-Dixie Daughters series follows four Southern families living on the Gulf Coast—the Westcotts, the Jessups, the Soileaus, the indomitable and devout slave Danny who escapes bondage and finds service aboard a Union warship and his wife Nancy, cruelly whisked out of his life decades before the war. https://amzn.to/2XTH7CK John M. Cunningham, Jr.
While Moxley Westcott flees to Mobile to escape arrest by the Union army his brother Ben, a critically wounded prisoner, hovers at death’s door. Their parents and their sister Annie return to their plantation upriver, unaware that danger lurks very near in the person of the evil Xavier Locke, who plans their demise.
This second installment of Southern Sons-Dixie Daughters continues the triumphs, conflicts, and tragedies of these four Southern families against the sweeping saga of the Civil War’s western naval campaigns. Who will live to see the end of the war? Who will die? And who will choose change rather than a hardened heart?
https://amzn.to/36QQRlB John M. Cunningham, Jr.
John M. Cunningham, Jr: Links
Facebook John M. Cunningham, Jr, Author
Blog John M. Cunningham, Jr: The Author’s Cove
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Dear Lord, please bless each word John M. Cunningham, Jr. writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake
The post John M. Cunningham, Jr: Let’s Chat! appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
June 17, 2020
Mary Gant Bell: Let’s Chat
Welcome, everyone
Mary Gant Bell honors us with a chat this go-round. Mary began her writing career about fifteen years ago to give voice to the ideas rattling in her brain. She started with genealogy books and later Christian fiction romance novels.
Mary married a man who craves adventure. Together they parent one daughter and a gaggle of attention-seeking cats.
When Mary is not writing, she quilts or cleans seashells from her latest trip to the beach. She never learned to cook, so don’t show up at dinner time. She’d much rather chase her characters from chapter to chapter than preheat the oven.
Mary is offering a giveaway: an ebook of Tell Me It Was Just a Dream to someone who joins the chat below.
Mary Gant Bell: Let’s Chat
It seems strange to say this, but I never dreamed of being an author when I was a kid. As I got older, I thought it would be fun to be published, but still didn’t envision it as an on-going interest. After my first genealogy book was released, I put my pen down and figured that was the end of my writing career. One genealogy book led to seven more, and before I knew it, I was writing fiction, too.
My novels come from what I believe is missing in today’s marketplace. So many fiction books focus on a politically correct issue, in my opinion. I have nothing against authors using their platform to express their viewpoint, however. But as a reader, I want to be entertained in a thought-provoking and inspirational way. I crave a story that makes me think, challenges my brain, and uplifts my soul. That is what generates my characters and their stories.
Writing Dreams
Other books, however, come from dreams. Blame it on menopause or the full moon. All I know is – I have weird dreams. I wake up remembering every detail and emotion. One particular dream followed that pattern. Vivid colors. Clearly defined people. Pain. Suffering. Unity. And survival.
The only difference between this dream and the other visions I have had was that this one continued for four nights. Night two picked up where night one ended. Night three picked up where night two stopped. You get the idea. Each morning found me scribbling notes on the journal I keep in my nightstand.
https://amzn.to/2ZLNk6tIt was a disturbing dream. For days, I caught myself pondering its meaning. Was it just a dream or more like a prophecy? Did it predict the future or replay some past, long-forgotten event? Had God revealed His truth to me? I spent significant time trying to decipher what God wanted me to learn from these four – but really one – dreams.
Then it occurred to me that maybe God intended for me to be His messenger. Perhaps I was to tell the story in addition to learning from the story. It could be that’s just what my author’s brain assumed. But once I started putting the words on the page, the point of the dreams flowed like an avalanche down the side of a mountain. (Although at times it felt like blood pouring from a head wound, too.) It came together very quickly and effortlessly. Even though it had been months since the actual dream, I knew this was a story God wanted others to hear.
Mary Gant Bell: The Writer
Tell Me It Was Just A Dream is the story revealed to me in those dreams. The book is in four parts, as the dreams came to me. The book, like the dreams, ends with an important take-away for all ages to apply. The message is as timeless as it is important – and urgent – for our world. Order your copy today and begin changing the world. You won’t regret it.
https://amzn.to/2M9MTLbAfter this book, I wrote the Under the Garden Tree series. It was originally intended to be three books, but quickly turned into six. I am currently working on book three of my second series, The When Series. Those characters haven’t told me yet how many books will be in that collection! After that, I plan to write another devotional (the topic will surprise you, so watch my website for details as they develop.)
If you’ve ever considered being an author or believe you have a story to tell, I strongly encourage you to go for it. It’s challenging, rewarding, and tons of fun!
Tell Me It Was Just a Dream
https://amzn.to/2ZLNk6tIt’s been said that everything can change in an instant. Valerie Walker can testify to this. One day her idyllic life was consumed with the mundane tasks involved with being a mother of three active children and the wife of the mayor. From one breath to the next, all of that changed.
Now Valerie struggles to salvage the shattered pieces of her life. But where doe she begin? Her mother’s heart wants to comfort her husband and children. Unfortunately, their very survival must take precedence over luxury. If Valerie and her husband cannot keep everyone alive, there’s no point in soothing their souls.
Will they survive this tragedy, this shocking surprise? If they do, will they be able to rebuild the peaceful lifestyle they all enjoyed before the catastrophe uprooted them from their tranquility?
Or will this disaster tear them apart?
Other Books by Mary Gant Bell
https://bit.ly/36G83dr
https://bit.ly/2zI7UKm
https://bit.ly/3ddKsmQ
https://amzn.to/2Aop6UZ
https://amzn.to/3daFPK6
https://amzn.to/2M9mYTI
https://amzn.to/2ZPd0iH
https://amzn.to/3daFPK6
https://amzn.to/2TSxC5HMary Gant Bell Links:
Buy link:
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://bit.ly/2AhB9Un
Instagram: mary_gant_bell_author
Lulu Author Page: http://www.lulu.com/spotlight/mgbell86
The post Mary Gant Bell: Let’s Chat appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
June 3, 2020
Catherine Ulrich Brakefield: Let’s Chat!
Welcome, everyone!
Let’s welcome Catherine Ulrich Brakefield to our circle.
A longtime Michigan resident, Catherine lives with her husband of 45 years and their Arabian horses in the picturesque hills of Addison Township. She has two adult children and loves traveling the byroads across America and spoiling her two handsome grandsons and two beautiful granddaughters.
An award-winning author of inspirational historical romance, Catherine has also written two pictorial history books and numerous published articles. She loves “to tell America’s story one truth at a time.” Her four-book Destiny series is rising in popularity with nationwide book clubs. The series includes Swept into Destiny, Destiny’s Whirlwind, Destiny of Heart, and Waltz with Destiny.
Catherine Ulrich Brakefield: God’s Survival Manual
Have you ever noticed that people experience and react differently to the news on television and their everyday hardships? Take, for instance, the Coronavirus. This has swept through our country with a vengeance. President Trump often calls this the invisible enemy.
Coronavirus invaded our workplaces, homes, and killed our loved ones. This invisible enemy lurks in the shadows of the present. And it cripples the corridors of our future. No one knows what to expect.
Our way of life has drastically changed: Catherine Ulrich Brakefield
How long will this virus play havoc in our families, communities, and lifestyles? Do we know? Will life as we knew it five months ago, return to normalcy?
What we do know is this. We know what our parents, grandparents and their parents endured and victoriously survived to birth another American generation. How did they do it? Beneath the insurmountable odds of their circumstances, how did they survive?
One reader wrote me saying: “I keep remembering the issues and events from your novels.”
I do too! Especially those sicknesses and emotional and physical deprivations relatable to the pandemic we face today. So, how did my characters over a span of a hundred years manage to survive and thrive? Was it through political manipulation and complaining? Pilfering and hoarding? What would you do if the following hardships, political manipulations, and racial discrimination happened to you?
History binds us with one solitary cord of truth: Destiny Series by Catherine U. Brakefield
1857-1866. In Swept into Destiny, during the Antebellum Era, Ben McConnell is faced with two alternatives: starve or take a life-threatening job dredging out the snake-infested swampland at a plantation estate located in heart of Tennessee.
He left his home in Ireland in search of a new start, a new life, a little piece of land. Believing he’d find his dream in America, he got to America’s shores only to learn that he and his kindred weren’t wanted. “No Irish Need Apply.” Those signs were everywhere! What would you have done?
1898-1906. Destiny’s Whirlwind brings to culmination Ben’s life-long dream. Only, it is his daughter, a feisty brunette named Collina, who sees this to fruition.
During the Gibson Era, it will take the handsome Rough Rider Franklin Long to tame her. But Collina had a few lessons to learn along the way.
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1917-1932. In Destiny of Heart , Collina’s sister Ruby McConnell Meir leaves with her husband, Stephen, and son to the prairies of Colorado to homestead a section of land. They hoped that the drier climate might heal her husband’s strange illness.
That did not conclude the hardships for Ruby, Collina, or Maggie. In 1929 a new disaster plagued the land, the Great Depression. How did these women survive with no money or food? The flapper of the Roaring Twenties fell like a wounded eagle into the want Maggie remembered of the 1860s. She comforted her family with these words: “I have been young, and now am old; yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken.”
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Destiny of Heart won first place in The Maxwell Medal 2019 fiction category.
1941-1944. Waltz with Destiny “The jewel of the Destiny series.” The 1940s was a period in American history often referred to as the Big Band Era. It was also a time of grueling work with factories and workers scrambling for a piece of the American Dream. After the Great Depression, work was still hard to come by with little monetary compensation. Seeing Hitler and his Nazis marching across Europe, many a voice echoed the deep undercurrent and rumblings of anxiety.
No one knew what America’s fun-loving youths would have to endure in World War II or if they could even beat the Axis powers back. Japan thought Americans were too soft and not much more than playboys, and they wouldn’t be able to fight—at least not against their trained professionals.
Survival Techniques: Catherine Ulrich Brakefield
As you can see through a few of the characters in my stories, they lived, endured, fought and died during the pivotal years of our nation’s history. What survival techniques worked and what did not? You will be surprised to learn that through the pages of the Destiny Series, practical horse sense with a well-educated knowledge of God’s Survival Manual carried my characters through their sickness and deprivation, births and deaths—to the end of their destiny. Through the worst Satan can throw at you, keep faith—God will work His victorious victory.
“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” Romans 8:38,39 NKJV
Where to Find Catherine Ulrich Brakefield
Website: www.catherineulrichbrakefield.com/
Newsletter: https://bit.ly/2X5P0EZ Sign up for the latest news and giveaways.
Amazon Author Page: https://amzn.to/2X9r5nT
Author Facebook: https://bit.ly/2ZeJmD2
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3dVDx1j
BookBub: https://bit.ly/2Tk0zqO
YouTube: https://bit.ly/2X6LNoG
Blog: Hope, Hearts, and Hoofbeats: https://bit.ly/3fZABmg
Twitter: https://bit.ly/3cE1BFT
Linkedin: https://bit.ly/2WIKbCq
Other Works by Catherine Ulrich Brakefield
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Wilted Dandelions won Honorable Mention in the Eric Hoffer Book Award and Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year Award in 2016.
She has written two pictorial history books: Images of America: The Lapeer Area, and Images of America: Eastern Lapeer County.
Her short stories have been published in Guidepost Books True Stories of Extraordinary Answers to Prayer, Unexpected Answers and Desires of Your Heart. From Baker Books, Revell, The Dog Next Door, Horse of my Heart, Second-Chance DOGS, and Horse of my Dreams. From CrossRiver Media Publishers, The Benefit Package and Abba’s Promise. And from Bethany House Publishers, Jesus Talked to me Today.
Catherine has been featured in numerous periodicals over the last thirty years, Michigan History and Southern Writers Magazine to name two. She is a member of Heart of American Christian Writers Network (HACWN) and American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and is president of the ACFW Great Lakes Chapter. She loves to tell America’s story one truth at a time through her speaking engagements.
~ ~ ~
Dear Lord, please bless each word Catherine writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake
The post Catherine Ulrich Brakefield: Let’s Chat! appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
May 20, 2020
Jodie Wolfe: Let’s Chat!
Welcome, everyone
Jodie Wolfe is our honored author guest today.
Jodie writes historical Christian romance. She and her husband have been married for over 32 years. They have two grown, married sons who have given them six grandchildren. They live in south-central PA.
Readers can connect with Jodie Wolfe on her website, BookBub, Facebook, and Twitter.
Welcome, Jodie Wolfe. Tell us about your new book.
Here’s what the back cover for Taming Julia says:
In 1875, Kansas bachelor Drew Montgomery’s sole desire is to serve God, but his congregation’s ultimatum that he marry or leave, forces him to advertise for a wife by proxy.
Jules Walker strides into Drew’s life wearing breeches and toting a gun and saddle–more cowboy than bride. After years on the trail, she’s not exactly wife material, but she longs for home and family, and will do anything to ensure Drew never discovers what she really is.
How did you come up with the idea?
First of all, I’ve always been a fan of mail-order bride stories. There’s just something about that era in our Nation’s history. As I researched the topic I kept wondering what would happen if a man sent for a genteel bride and the woman who showed up was completely opposite of that. What would he do, especially if they were married by proxy before she arrived?
Is this your first book?
Chuckle. No, it’s actually my seventh release. I have four novellas that are out, another full length book as well as an etiquette book that goes along with it.
Can you give us a sneak peek into Taming Julia?
Here’s the opening scene:
Matrimony News, February 6, 1875 edition
Minister bachelor aged 27, height 5 feet 10 inches seeks genteel, honest and first-rate homemaker with a desire to serve God. Must be willing to marry by proxy and arrive in Burrton Springs, Kansas by May 1.
Burrton Springs, Kansas, Saturday, May 1, 1875
Dear Lord, please don’t let that creature be my new wife. Drew Montgomery swiped the sweat trickling a path down his neck and shoved the new hat back on his head. He squinted, taking in the lone passenger stepping from the stagecoach. At least, he thought it was a woman. He shielded his eyes from the sun, taking in the britches.
Britches? A gun belt strapped to a slim waist. He gulped. A rifle rested on her shoulder, and she wore a Stetson situated low on her brow. The figure shifted sideways, and Drew groaned, fearing his proxy mail-order bride had arrived by the look of all the curves. He squared his shoulders and crossed the street.
“Are you Montgomery?” Her coffee-brown gaze seared through him.
He snapped his gaping mouth shut and nodded. “Y-yes.”
“Name’s Jules Walker.”
She shoved her hand into his and shook it so hard his teeth clattered. “I reckon, Jules Montgomery since we’re hitched.” She waved a slip of paper in his face. “Got the paper here to prove it. So are you my husband or not?”
Drew caught a whiff of dirt. He coughed and cleared his throat.
She peered at him as if he were a chicken with one leg.
“I’m Drew.” He managed to choke the words out. “Isn’t your name Julia?”
She scrunched her face, pushed her Stetson from her head, and allowed it to dangle from the string around her neck. Her brown hair scattered in disarray, slipping from a shoulder-length braid. “I can’t remember the last time I’ve been called Julia. Like I said, name’s Jules.”
“But…” Drew let the word hang between them. No matter. “Where’re your things?”
“Got my knapsack and that there.” She pointed to the top of the stagecoach. He expected to see a trunk, but a saddle rested there instead. What kind of woman brought a saddle into a marriage? What kind of woman showed up dressed like a man? No. No. Something was terribly wrong.
Where can readers purchase your books?
Readers can purchase my books here.
Thanks again!
~ ~ ~
Dear Lord, please bless each word Jodie writes for you.
~ For Jesus’ sake
The post Jodie Wolfe: Let’s Chat! appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
May 6, 2020
Jenny Fulton: Let’s Chat!
Welcome, everyone.
Jenny Fulton, our current chat circle guest, is a multi-faceted author with a wide range of life experiences. She tells us about them and more below. Join in the conversation, and you’re in the running for her giveaway.
Now, here’s Jenny … (You’re in for a treat.)
Jenny Fulton: Small-Town Girl
I’m a citizen of a heavenly world, have traveled across the earth, and journeyed through a fantasy realm.
I was born and raised in Quinter – a small town on the plains of northwest Kansas. With a population of about 800 people, my childhood was filled with days of roaming freely about the town and countryside, climbing trees, and playing make-believe with anyone who would indulge the never-ending flow of my imagination.
My younger sister, Holly, and I in one of our tree-climbing adventures.
Jenny Fulton: World Traveler
With the arrival of my teenage years came also a deep yearning to travel and experience other parts of the world. After graduation, I made it as far as Omaha, Nebraska where I attended Grace University. My love for kids, cultures, and learning propelled me into the teacher education program. In addition to a degree in elementary education and the required Bible degree, I also pursued an endorsement in English as a Second Language (ESL).
Jenny: Mexico
One summer, in a collaborative effect between the Teacher Education department and the Intercultural Studies program, I traveled to Mexico with others from Grace. While there, we taught English at an elementary school in Puebla, studied Spanish at La Universidad International in Cuernavaca, vacationed on the beach in Acapulco, and took classes in Cultural Anthropology and World’s Living Religions while living in Cholula.
(L) Clesta and I (on the right) taught a group of students at an elementary school in Puebla.
(R) Our barrio in Cholula with a view of the neighborhood friendly volcano, Popo.
Jenny: China
I had tasted life abroad and longed for more. In my senior year at college, one of my advisors suggested I apply to teach in China. At the time, it was one of the few places I wasn’t interested in visiting. However, I agreed to consider and pray about it.
It’s truly incredible how God works in our hearts. He planted a love for that nation within me which grew stronger with each passing day. After a few months and two phone interviews, I accepted a position as an ESL teacher at an International school in southern China.
(L) Hanging out at one of the malls with some of my fellow teachers.
(R) Hiking in the Western Hills just outside the city.
I lived in China for three years and loved it. While there, God stretched my faith and perspective. He put me in positions of complete vulnerability and showed me His strength in carrying me through. I witnessed people in poverty praise God with all their heart, beheld the steadfast love of those who served them, and experienced the vitality of a Christian community committed to serving God and others each and every day of their life.
Jenny Fulton: Singapore, Thailand, South Korea, & Hawaii
In addition to the day-to-day cross-cultural living, being in China opened up other opportunities to travel. I went to Singapore with the volleyball teams, vacationed in Thailand, embarked upon a day-trip in South Korea, and visited my youngest sister in Hawaii. While there, I snorkeled in crystal clear waters, climbed and jumped off cliffs, and swam in the pool of a hidden waterfall.
(L) The waterfront in Singapore. (M) Koh Phi Phi Island in Thailand.
(R) A hidden waterfall in Hawaii.
My days in China ended when I came to the realization that my American debt made it unreasonable for me to continue working overseas.
Jenny Fulton: Navajo Reservation & More
I then pursued and achieved another dream: to live and teach on the Navajo Reservation – the land of my ancestors. Unfortunately, it turned out to be an extremely rough year. Every day felt as though I was immersed in a great spiritual battle. Although God was with me and sustained me, I was drained. I stayed only a year and then moved most of my belongings to Albuquerque. But first, I flew to Alaska with a friend to explore the state.
(L) Megan and I in front of Denali National Park. (M) Kayaking in the ocean near Seward.
(R) Deep-sea fishing hours away from the coast of Homer.
That trip was incredible, but I was tired. I’d had my fill of living and traveling alone. I had accomplished everything I’d set out to do. For the first time in my life, I didn’t have a goal.
Jenny & John Fulton
A month later, I met John. A mutual friend connected us after she learned I needed a guy with a truck to help me move the rest of my furniture from the Reservation. John happened to be available. We met in August, began dating in October, were engaged in January, and married in June.
I was given new life and with it, a new dream. Although I’d always enjoyed writing and had been posting short stories online, I’d come to believe that writing and publishing a book was too lofty a goal.
When our first child was a year old, I stopped teaching and began applying for freelance writing jobs.
Jenny & Writing
This is when God made my impossible possible by means of a young man named Eric. There was a story Eric had wanted to write for years but hadn’t been able to. After several conversations with me, he was convinced I was the person God had called to turn his vision into a reality.
It’s hard to say no to something like that, so, after discussing it with God and John, I said, yes.
And thus, our partnership began. Eric had developed the fantasy world, the types of creatures, and the overall concept. The story would allude to Biblical principles without using Christianese terms. That’s where I came in. Using the pieces Eric had in place, I developed the characters and plot necessary to bring his vision to life.
After months of writing and checking in to ensure the story aligned with Eric’s vision, it was finished. Several months later, after receiving input from beta readers and making significant revisions, it was published. By this time, the book had become as much a part of my heart as it was his. The characters and their struggles were as dear to me as the people in my life.
My endeavors to travel the natural world had ended, but my ventures through the world of writing had just begun.
Jenny Fulton Today
These days, I’m a blogger, author, freelance writer, and stay-at-home mom to my three beautiful daughters. I’m currently working on a non-fiction book, a children’s picture book series, keeping a sharp eye on my baby, and potty training my 3-year-old. I’m navigating through Coronavirus distance learning with my 6-year-old. Although she is enrolled in a Christian school, we’re back to doing school at home like everyone else right now, most of it online. In this way, the wonders and adventures of life continue, even if they’re more centered within my home than beyond it.
Invisible Battles: The Quest for Hope
Written by Jenny Fulton in collaboration with the vision of Eric Griffin
(under the inspiration of the High King).
In the newly created land of Novus, a powerful and immortal being known as the Dark One has all but succeeded in erasing the name of the High King from the hearts and minds of the people. The battle, however, is far from over. Unbeknownst to the Dark One and his minions of Chashaks, the High King has been at work among a loyal group of followers. Now he is ready to make his move.
Invisible crystalline beings known as Erela are being sent out across the land to seek out those who are willing to play a part in this unfolding story. Among them a young apprentice named Levi emerges. Although he never traveled beyond the borders of his own home, Levi sets out on an important and dangerous mission. In another part of the kingdom, Aliatta, a proud young royal, is about to have her safe and comfortable world turned upside down. Seemingly opposite in almost every regard, these two young people soon find their lives intertwined in a cosmic quest for hope and truth.
Purchase the Book: Amazon
Connect with Me
Facebook: facebook.com/JennyFultonWriter
Twitter: twitter.com/AuthorFulton
Webpage: https://heart-soul-mind.org/
Email: jennyannlitfin@gmail.com
~ ~ ~
Lord, please bless each word Jenny writes for You.
~ For Jesus’ sake
The post Jenny Fulton: Let’s Chat! appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
April 22, 2020
Terri Wangard: Let’s Chat!
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Welcome, everyone.
Terri Wangard is our honored guest this go-round. She grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, during the Lombardi Glory Years. Her first Girl Scout badge was the Writer.
These days Terri is writing historical fiction. She won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin.
Terri’s research has included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her busy as an associate editor.
Readers, join the chat below, and you’ll qualify for Terri’s giveaway: her latest historical novel, Roll Back the Clouds in Kindle format.
Now, here’s Terri Wangard.
Wouldn’t you like to go on a cruise? by Terri Wangard
Cruise ships fascinate me, whether currently afloat or sunken wrecks explored in documentaries. The Lusitania‘s my favorite. Imagine sailing in a ship grand enough for King Solomon and all his wives. Imagine sailing aboard it in May, 1915, when a German submarine hurtled a torpedo into it.
I love to cruise. My very first time aboard a ship was an Insight For Living Alaskan cruise. The ship was Holland America’s Westerdam, although not the ship presently carrying that name. I opted for the least expensive cabin, which was an interior room. Not having a window was disconcerting, but I didn’t plan on spending much time in the room. Other than the lack of a window, the room was more than adequate.
Terri Wangard: A seasoned traveler
So for my second cruise, I again requested the cheapest berth. That time, it reflected cheapness. More expensive rooms had windows and big walk-in closets. Although windowless rooms were common in 1915, even Lusitania’s first class would have been more spacious than my cubbyhole.
My last cruise featured my most luxurious accommodation. As a repeat customer, I received an upgrade. I had a balcony! I checked out a book from the ship’s library and sat out on my balcony, reading and watching the waves. Even Alfred Vanderbilt didn’t have a balcony on the Lusitania. Just thirty years ago, balconies were a rarity.
The passengers on the Lusitania cruised for transportation, not recreation. Business trips or family visits for the wealthier; immigration and the hope of a new life for others.
Third-class rooms had a bed and a sink. Not a toilet. Even in first class, bathrooms were found in only a handful of staterooms. Everyone else had to run down the hall to the lavatories. Sinks had cold running water. The room stewards brought hot water each day for washing. For a bath, an appointment was made with the bath steward.
Terri Wangard: Today’s cruise ships
Today’s cruise ships don’t have first, second, and third class. They have inside, outside, outside with balcony, mini-suites, and suites. Passengers pay for the amount of real estate they choose.
Everyone eats in the same dining room, although ships these days have specialty restaurants. (I ate in one once. The food wasn’t extra special.) Lusitania’s first-class passengers made selections off menus that are indecipherable to commoners. Today’s menus are equally unfathomable to those with simple tastes, but anyone can order escargot or pate de foie gras.
I’ve never been on a repositioning cruise, where the ship crosses the ocean. I’m used to frequently going ashore to explore a new location. Seeing the world was my intent. On transatlantic cruises, like the Lusitania sailed, every day offered the same scenery. Ocean in all directions. Any problems, and the bottom is a long way down. And help, as the Titanic discovered, can’t come fast enough.
I wouldn’t mind experiencing a transatlantic cruise. Who has been on one of those? All my immigrant ancestors did. I’d be much more comfortable than they were. I’d even be more comfortable than the Lusitania’s passengers. Just, no torpedoes, please.
Terri’s latest novel: Roll Back the Clouds
Geoff and Rosaleen Bonnard receive a once-in-a-lifetime voyage to England aboard the fabled Lusitania in 1915. Europe is embroiled in war, but that shouldn’t affect a passenger liner.
As they approach Ireland, a German submarine hurtles a torpedo into the grand ship. Rosaleen scrambles into a lifeboat, but where is her husband? She searches the morgues in Queenstown, heartsick at recognizing so many people. Geoff is finally located in a Cork hospital, alive but suffering a back injury.
While waiting for him to recover, Rosaleen is thrilled to meet her mother’s family, but a dark cloud hovers over her. The battered faces of dead babies haunt her. She sinks into depression, exasperated by Geoff’s new interest in religion. Her once happy life seems out of reach.
Roll Back the Clouds can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1659679842.
How to find Terri Wangard:
Twitter: @terriwangard
Instagram: @terriwangard
~ ~ ~
Lord, please bless each word Terri writes for You.
~For Jesus’ sake
The post Terri Wangard: Let’s Chat! appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
April 8, 2020
Darlene L Turner: Let’s Chat!
Welcome, everyone.
Darlene L Turner, an award-winning author of romantic suspense, blesses us today. Darlene lives with her husband, Jeff, in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book.
She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.
And she’s offering a giveaway: one copy of Border Breach to someone who joins the conversation below. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.
Darlene L Turner in her own words: “I’m a Writer?”
“Darlene Lynn, get your nose out of that book and vacuum!”
My mom often said these words when I put my books before my chores. Not that she didn’t want me to read, but I needed to also help out around the house. To this day, I’d rather read than do the dishes or laundry (but who doesn’t, right?!). 
March 25, 2020
Denise Weimer: Let’s Chat!
Welcome, everyone!
Denise Weimer joins our circle today. This author writes historical and contemporary romance and romantic suspense set in her home state of Georgia. She’s authored over ten novels and a number of novellas. As a managing editor for the historical imprints of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, she also helps others reach their publishing dreams.
Denise is offering Fall Flip, The Witness Tree, Spring Splash, or Traces in ebook format to someone who joins our chat circle below. You can find her and her books on Amazon at https://amzn.to/38CAo3w.
Now, here’s our honored guest, Denise Weimer.
A Historical Author and Editor Writing Contemporary Romance and Romantic Suspense? Why, yes!
It stands to reason that a girl who grew up steeped in Gone With the Wind, Eugenia Price, and Civil War living history and vintage dance would write historical romance. And for many years, that’s what I did. I had a number of historical novellas and novels published before my agent told me that contemporary romance was often easier to place with publishers. So … I wrote several contemporary stories, all set in my home state of Georgia.
Fall Flip was the first off the press in September 2019, gleaning reviews as warm and fuzzy as its Hallmarky/HGTV vibe. I’m hopeful its readers are eager for Spring Splash, releasing this month along with Traces. But some may wonder … why an athletic romance? And Traces, a romantic suspense techno-thriller? Boy, Denise has really gone off the deep end with these.
Allow me to explain.
Spring Splash
Spring Splash combines two great loves of mine. For almost fifteen years, writing and being a swim mom ran on courses that appeared would never intersect. My two daughters, Emily and Abigail, started their athletic journeys at ages six and four, respectively. The sport played a huge part in molding them into the confident and compassionate individuals they are today.
When my older daughter first participated in high school meets, a special competition hosted during intermission captured my attention. The coaches of a local organization named Extra Special People (ESP – extraspecialpeople.com) fielded two relay teams. ESP is a non-profit in the Athens, Georgia area that serves children and young adults with developmental disabilities and their families. The crowds went wild as those enthusiastic athletes stroked through the water, and the inspiration for Spring Splash was born—even though I didn’t realize it for about five more years. As I became aware my time in the stands was winding down, the idea came back to me.
And Traces?
As a writer, I look for the unique and the little-known—but the truthful or realistic—to inspire settings and plots. The idea for Traces began with a reality TV show that ran only one season in the U.S. (2017), but it captured my attention because I recognized many of the filming locations here in Georgia. The U.S. version of Hunted was an offshoot of the original, ongoing British version. In both shows, contestants seek to evade skilled investigators for a set amount of time in a set area in order to win a cash prize.
The second piece of Traces was The Eye, technology that may seem futuristic but for all intents and purposes already exists. Constant Hawk was developed in the early 2000s at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. The wide-area motion imagery (WAMI) system weighed around 1500 pounds and was flown on manned aircraft in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The technology from Constant Hawk has continued to evolve. Brazilian officials mounted four Simera cameras on weather balloons and small blimps to surveille the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Thirteen full-motion cameras capable of zoom captured real-time footage with sixty times the resolution of high definition at three frames per second.
From these examples of existing WAMI systems, it’s not hard to picture one being installed on a skyscraper. That type of surveillance makes some feel secure, but for others, it would represent a total loss of freedom. A perfect and unique setting for a suspense novel.
So will you genre hop with me? I hope you’ll find it worth the adventure. Bring along your happy-tears tissues for Spring Splash and your chamomile tea for after you read Traces.
Connect with Denise Weimer
~ ~ ~
Lord, please bless each word Denise Weimer writes for You.
For Jesus’ sake
The post Denise Weimer: Let’s Chat! appeared first on Linda Brooks Davis.
