Linda Shenton Matchett's Blog, page 93
November 11, 2017
CelebrateLit Blog Tour: Into a Silent World
CelebrateLit Blog Tour: Into a Silent World
About the Book
Title: Into a Silent World
Author: Carmina Edwards
Genre: Biography, Memoir
Release Date: August 15, 2016
Following Amy’s adventures in A Door Cracked Open, she heads into a world which will test her faith and perseverance to the limit. Instead of settling into a simple, safe and unchanging life like she imagined, Amy is strongly drawn to a vocation with even higher requirements, prompting her to plan some seemingly impossible missions in order to reach her goal.
Click here to purchase your copy.My ThoughtsInto a Silent World takes the reader on the journey of discovery of a young woman who aspires to become a nun. The story was educational for me because as a Protestant, I know very little about the inner workings of the Catholic faith, especially that of priests and nuns. I’ve also never been to France so enjoyed reading about the area. This was the second book in the series, and I think it would have been better for me to have read the first book. I had trouble relating to Amy because she is timid, uncertain, and sometimes fearful, but I enjoyed watching how others interacted with her. Her sweetness had a way of drawing people to her. It saddened me that her family was not more supportive, but it made sense because they didn’t share her faith. I admired that despite her timidity, she often told others about her faith and desire to become a nun, even complete strangers. I would have preferred more dialogue and showing rather than telling.
I received a free copy of the book from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a favorable review was not required. All opinions are my own.About the Author
I am a mother of two wonderful grown up children and currently living in the UK, after living in Sweden for three years where I wrote my first book, “A Door Cracked Open.” I was blessed to be able to spend six months in USA before returning to the UK, my home country, to work with my editor in California on the edits of this book and visit friends. I am an avid reader and linguist, having also spent some years living in France and have been fortunate enough to have taught Swedish and French over twenty-five years and translate for businesses and manuscripts in both languages. Being unemployed the past few years, has led to me becoming homeless. However, I never give up hope. As I try to portray in my books, God has always had His hand on me. Once again, He has stepped in right at the last minute. I now have a new job in Sweden and will be moving back there. Because I feel passionately about helping the homeless, a large percentage of my royalties will go directly to them.
Guest Post from Carmina Edwards“Into a Silent World” follows on from Amy’s story in “A Door Cracked Open.” With a new beginning ahead of her, a long standing dream about to be realized, she was unprepared for the events which were about to unfold over the next two years. Why would God send her to this place of “absolute conviction” and allow her to remain there for that long, if He never meant for her to be there? Amy struggles to understand and seeks His will, but determined that it was His plan, she persevered in order for her dream to be fulfilled.
Blog StopsHere are the remaining stops on Carmina's Tour:
Reading is my Superpower, November 13 (Interview)The Power of Words, November 14 (Interview)Margaret Kazmierczak, November 15Splashes of Joy, November 16A Readers Brain, November 17Multifarious, November 18Artistic Nobody, November 19 (Karin Perry guest post)Texas Book-aholic, November 20Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Carmina is giving awayGrand Prize:Paperback copies of A Door Cracked Open & Into a Silent World1st – 3rd place:Ebook copy of A Door Cracked Open!!Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c3c4
About the Book
Title: Into a Silent World
Author: Carmina Edwards
Genre: Biography, Memoir
Release Date: August 15, 2016
Following Amy’s adventures in A Door Cracked Open, she heads into a world which will test her faith and perseverance to the limit. Instead of settling into a simple, safe and unchanging life like she imagined, Amy is strongly drawn to a vocation with even higher requirements, prompting her to plan some seemingly impossible missions in order to reach her goal.
Click here to purchase your copy.My ThoughtsInto a Silent World takes the reader on the journey of discovery of a young woman who aspires to become a nun. The story was educational for me because as a Protestant, I know very little about the inner workings of the Catholic faith, especially that of priests and nuns. I’ve also never been to France so enjoyed reading about the area. This was the second book in the series, and I think it would have been better for me to have read the first book. I had trouble relating to Amy because she is timid, uncertain, and sometimes fearful, but I enjoyed watching how others interacted with her. Her sweetness had a way of drawing people to her. It saddened me that her family was not more supportive, but it made sense because they didn’t share her faith. I admired that despite her timidity, she often told others about her faith and desire to become a nun, even complete strangers. I would have preferred more dialogue and showing rather than telling.
I received a free copy of the book from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a favorable review was not required. All opinions are my own.About the Author
I am a mother of two wonderful grown up children and currently living in the UK, after living in Sweden for three years where I wrote my first book, “A Door Cracked Open.” I was blessed to be able to spend six months in USA before returning to the UK, my home country, to work with my editor in California on the edits of this book and visit friends. I am an avid reader and linguist, having also spent some years living in France and have been fortunate enough to have taught Swedish and French over twenty-five years and translate for businesses and manuscripts in both languages. Being unemployed the past few years, has led to me becoming homeless. However, I never give up hope. As I try to portray in my books, God has always had His hand on me. Once again, He has stepped in right at the last minute. I now have a new job in Sweden and will be moving back there. Because I feel passionately about helping the homeless, a large percentage of my royalties will go directly to them.
Guest Post from Carmina Edwards“Into a Silent World” follows on from Amy’s story in “A Door Cracked Open.” With a new beginning ahead of her, a long standing dream about to be realized, she was unprepared for the events which were about to unfold over the next two years. Why would God send her to this place of “absolute conviction” and allow her to remain there for that long, if He never meant for her to be there? Amy struggles to understand and seeks His will, but determined that it was His plan, she persevered in order for her dream to be fulfilled.
Blog StopsHere are the remaining stops on Carmina's Tour:
Reading is my Superpower, November 13 (Interview)The Power of Words, November 14 (Interview)Margaret Kazmierczak, November 15Splashes of Joy, November 16A Readers Brain, November 17Multifarious, November 18Artistic Nobody, November 19 (Karin Perry guest post)Texas Book-aholic, November 20Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Carmina is giving awayGrand Prize:Paperback copies of A Door Cracked Open & Into a Silent World1st – 3rd place:Ebook copy of A Door Cracked Open!!Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c3c4
November 8, 2017
Talkshow Thursday: Sitting down with Angela Breidenbach
Talkshow Thursday: Sitting down with Angela Breidenbach
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. Your most recent release is His Indentured Bride which is set during the Revolutionary War period. I love the premise of the book: Leaving Scotland for a short indenture with her betrothed, Maire Greer’s contract is sold when disaster strikes her kindly owner, and then extended through cruel circumstances. Can Kirk Lachlan’s service in the American Revolution saver her or will she lose love and freedom forever?
What was your inspiration for that story?
Angela: Thank you for having me today, Linda :) My inspiration for His Indentured Bride came from doing my own family genealogy. I have a suspicion that one or more of my ancestors may have been an indentured servant that won his freedom by serving in the American Revolution. I haven't yet uncovered the document to prove it so that let me play with the "what-if" scenarios. The story emerged from the research about the indentured servant laws. They ranged so broadly and differently. The one that stumped me was that a child could be born into indentured servitude and be forced to serve up to 35 years even if their parent earned out the original contract!
LM: Wow! That’s hard to believe in today’s day and age. You’ve written a wide range of books from historical and contemporary fiction to non-fiction. What do you do differently in your writing to appeal to these very different audiences?
Angela: Oh boy, that's a huge question. But the simplest answer is the word usage and to some degree the way those words connect. There's an antiquity and cadence to historical writing that isn't in contemporary or non-fiction. My grandfather was born in 1883. He spoke English in a more formal style. I grew up with him and my grandmother (whose first language was Swedish) and so the more formal style of historicals comes easily to me. I had to learn how to speak more modern language to "fit in" with the world today. Writing contemporaries took more practice and thought than historicals. Non-fiction is more "how-to". When I write in non-fiction, I consider the logical sequence steps to achieving the goal. I think my style is a more straight forward narrative for that genre. Regardless, it's a mindset.
LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?
Angela: Funny, I do have different places in my house for different things. I write mostly in my upstairs office, but I work on my genealogical studies classes in my living room. I didn't notice I did that until the remodel started this summer. I had to move to completely different places in the house than normal. But then I had trouble getting myself into the mindset for the particular work.
LM: Writing about past eras and different cultures inside and outside the U.S. must involve a lot of research. Do you have an unusual or favorite research story to share?
Angela: I adore research. Adore it. I think the research for Captive Brides/His Indentured Bride was the most unusual story so far. Jason Sherman, the creator/producer for the movie The King's Highway, happened to friend me on Twitter. I followed the link and saw it was exactly the research I needed. So I emailed him and started a fun friendship. He sent me a prerelease link to the movie to watch online. I made notes and that's how Dr. Benjamin Rush, the Philadelphia hospital, the King's Highway, and several other pieces popped into my story. I strongly suggest watching The King's Highway. But how fun it will be to see if after watching the movie or reading my story readers tagged me on Facebook to tell me what unexpected connection between the movie and book were found? I'd adore that, too! I think this connection to real history and multimedia makes the deeper understanding even more special for readers. The King's Highway is on Amazon Prime or you can find out about an upcoming tour and the movie: http://kingshighwayfilm.com/
LM: How exciting! You live in Montana, a gorgeous area of the U.S., but if money were no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?
Angela: Ultimate vacations for me always involve learning something. My hubby and I are planning a trip to visit my daughter in Scotland. But, I plan to go back at another time to spend several weeks touring the country with an emphasis on finding the places my ancestors were from so I can continue to write their stories. Then, the next spot would be Sweden for the same thing :)
LM: What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?
Angela: Yikes, that's tough because I think I'm naturally quirky. I mean, I'm a creative, lol. I've gone with another writer friend to a ghost town and pretended to live there. I love ghost towns, ghost walks, any old historic anything. I prefer to walk into a place and just be there quietly because inside my head there's a roar of life happening as I imagine who did live there and what their lives were like.
LM: What is your next project?
Angela: I'm working on a contemporary romance that will come out in a boxed set with Robin Lee Hatcher, Vickie McDonough, and Deborah Raney in February 2018.
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?
Angela: Thanks for asking. My website is http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com and my weekly radio show where I interview creatives and pick their brains on air to reveal industry tips and secrets is https://toginet.com/shows/litup/. My social media "handle" is @AngBreidenbach.
LM: Thank you so much for stopping by. You are one interesting (and busy!) lady.
Here is the buy link for the collection that includes Angela's book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0713T3FTG
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. Your most recent release is His Indentured Bride which is set during the Revolutionary War period. I love the premise of the book: Leaving Scotland for a short indenture with her betrothed, Maire Greer’s contract is sold when disaster strikes her kindly owner, and then extended through cruel circumstances. Can Kirk Lachlan’s service in the American Revolution saver her or will she lose love and freedom forever? What was your inspiration for that story?
Angela: Thank you for having me today, Linda :) My inspiration for His Indentured Bride came from doing my own family genealogy. I have a suspicion that one or more of my ancestors may have been an indentured servant that won his freedom by serving in the American Revolution. I haven't yet uncovered the document to prove it so that let me play with the "what-if" scenarios. The story emerged from the research about the indentured servant laws. They ranged so broadly and differently. The one that stumped me was that a child could be born into indentured servitude and be forced to serve up to 35 years even if their parent earned out the original contract!
LM: Wow! That’s hard to believe in today’s day and age. You’ve written a wide range of books from historical and contemporary fiction to non-fiction. What do you do differently in your writing to appeal to these very different audiences?
Angela: Oh boy, that's a huge question. But the simplest answer is the word usage and to some degree the way those words connect. There's an antiquity and cadence to historical writing that isn't in contemporary or non-fiction. My grandfather was born in 1883. He spoke English in a more formal style. I grew up with him and my grandmother (whose first language was Swedish) and so the more formal style of historicals comes easily to me. I had to learn how to speak more modern language to "fit in" with the world today. Writing contemporaries took more practice and thought than historicals. Non-fiction is more "how-to". When I write in non-fiction, I consider the logical sequence steps to achieving the goal. I think my style is a more straight forward narrative for that genre. Regardless, it's a mindset.
LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?
Angela: Funny, I do have different places in my house for different things. I write mostly in my upstairs office, but I work on my genealogical studies classes in my living room. I didn't notice I did that until the remodel started this summer. I had to move to completely different places in the house than normal. But then I had trouble getting myself into the mindset for the particular work.
LM: Writing about past eras and different cultures inside and outside the U.S. must involve a lot of research. Do you have an unusual or favorite research story to share?
Angela: I adore research. Adore it. I think the research for Captive Brides/His Indentured Bride was the most unusual story so far. Jason Sherman, the creator/producer for the movie The King's Highway, happened to friend me on Twitter. I followed the link and saw it was exactly the research I needed. So I emailed him and started a fun friendship. He sent me a prerelease link to the movie to watch online. I made notes and that's how Dr. Benjamin Rush, the Philadelphia hospital, the King's Highway, and several other pieces popped into my story. I strongly suggest watching The King's Highway. But how fun it will be to see if after watching the movie or reading my story readers tagged me on Facebook to tell me what unexpected connection between the movie and book were found? I'd adore that, too! I think this connection to real history and multimedia makes the deeper understanding even more special for readers. The King's Highway is on Amazon Prime or you can find out about an upcoming tour and the movie: http://kingshighwayfilm.com/
LM: How exciting! You live in Montana, a gorgeous area of the U.S., but if money were no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?
Angela: Ultimate vacations for me always involve learning something. My hubby and I are planning a trip to visit my daughter in Scotland. But, I plan to go back at another time to spend several weeks touring the country with an emphasis on finding the places my ancestors were from so I can continue to write their stories. Then, the next spot would be Sweden for the same thing :)
LM: What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?
Angela: Yikes, that's tough because I think I'm naturally quirky. I mean, I'm a creative, lol. I've gone with another writer friend to a ghost town and pretended to live there. I love ghost towns, ghost walks, any old historic anything. I prefer to walk into a place and just be there quietly because inside my head there's a roar of life happening as I imagine who did live there and what their lives were like.
LM: What is your next project?
Angela: I'm working on a contemporary romance that will come out in a boxed set with Robin Lee Hatcher, Vickie McDonough, and Deborah Raney in February 2018.
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?
Angela: Thanks for asking. My website is http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com and my weekly radio show where I interview creatives and pick their brains on air to reveal industry tips and secrets is https://toginet.com/shows/litup/. My social media "handle" is @AngBreidenbach.
LM: Thank you so much for stopping by. You are one interesting (and busy!) lady.
Here is the buy link for the collection that includes Angela's book: www.amazon.com/dp/B0713T3FTG
November 5, 2017
Blog Tour: My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah
Blog Tour: My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah
About the Book
Name of book: My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah
Author: Angie Dicken
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: November 1, 2017
Schoolteacher Leanna McKee plans on leaving the coal mining town of Castle Gate, Utah, and never looking back. Good riddance to coal dust, rugged men, and the fatal mine that took her husband’s life. Until the widow meets a widower who awakens her heart…and she finds herself inexplicably falling for miner Alex Pappas which stirs up a whole heap of trouble. Alex’s Greek parents have arranged a more traditional match for him. When the schoolteacher’s association with the Greek family begins to anger the American miners, they threaten Alex and his family. Leanna has received an offer to teach elsewhere and feels she has no choice but to leave Castle Gate. . .though she will be leaving her heart behind.
Click here to purchase Angie’s amazing book!About the Author
Angie Dicken is a third generation Greek American, the granddaughter of strong men and women who endured hardship to grow American roots. My Heart Belongs In Castle Gate, Utah is set near the birthplace of her grandfather, a Greek coal miner’s son, and published 100 years after his birth. Angie is a contributor to The Writer’s Alley blog and an ACFW member since 2010. She lives with her husband and four children in the Midwest where she enjoys exploring eclectic new restaurants and chatting with friends over coffee. You can connect with Angie at www.angiedicken.com.
Guest Post from Angie DickenMy Publishing Story: A Journey of Perfect Timing“Wait for the LORD;Be strong and let your heart take courage;Yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
I wrote a story five years ago. My footing was finally solid on how to write, after a couple ACFW conferences and connecting with my bestie writing sister, Ashley. So in 2012, I poured my heart out within the parameters of what I’d learned. The story I wrote stemmed from my heritage. From a very young age, I’ve been inspired by my grandfather. He was the son of a Greek coal miner who came over from Greece in the 1910’s. My grandfather always had wonderful stories to tell–he stirred up my intrigue for WWII era as he was a Purple Heart recipient (twice), and spoke of freeing concentration camps and invading Hitler’s homes; my grandfather lived a rags to riches legacy, having been born in a tent in a coal town, and then becoming a successful home and commercial builder–I declared I’d be an architect at age eleven…even majoring in Landscape Architecture in college.
Papou was one of my greatest heroes. And my novel was a tribute to him, to my Greek roots, to an American legacy.
So, at ACFW 2012, I took my novel to conference with more confidence than I had before. This story caught the attention of an agent– and I signed a contract with the Steve Laube Agency in November of that year. That was amazing…I chuckle now because the name of the room that I interviewed with Tamela was the “McKee” room–the last name of my heroine. A sign? Maybe. When she sent my story out for all publishers to see that next month, I thought my time for that book was just around the corner. And… Now it’s 2017, and that story is under contract with a publisher as of Fall 2016. What timing, right? Why the heck did it take so long? Not for lack of trying. My agent and I took every possible measure. Why did I get rejection after rejection, and write two other books in the wait? What happened between then? Only in looking back, do I see why I had to wait for this book. And when I look back, I realize just how much Timing is His and there’s nothing I can do to speed it up or make it mine. All I can do is take courage, and wait. I’ll give you a quick recap of what happened between 2013–when the book was put in the proverbial drawer of unwanted manuscripts–and now, 2017, the year it will get published (um, after a few rewrites and edits–always learning…). In looking back, this is what I see:
My Community was Built. I fell in love with my writer friendships. A bit dramatic? Maybe, but it’s the truth. I connected with ladies who knew my heart as a writer, and allowed me into their lives in an authentic, Christ-loving way. I found hope in the writing journey because my friends held my hands and rubbed my back when all seemed lost. And in this, I grew not as a writer, but as a heart. My heart became soft for the needs of others and the value of authenticity in this short, precious life.
There was a Pride Monster, and He needed to kill it. Oh, Lord, if ever there was a pride monster, it was me. My gut reaction in every rejection, every criticism, every other person’s success was a measurement against them according to me. Yuck. Do you know what the best way to kill a Pride Monster? Starve it. Even though I had my sweet friends and my agent encouraging me along the way, my heart was set on publication and I was not getting that. I wanted it so badly that I turned ugly when it seemed to slip through my fingers with every rejection. And I spiraled and I came up for air to those authentic friendships speaking Truth in love. God knew what He was doing when He built my community, and He knew He would use it to lift me up and tear down my ugly.
The Darkest Valley Was Ahead. Everything stood still in 2014. My personal crisis gave me little room for any true focus on my writing success. If anything, it made the effort seem petty. When you go through your days wondering if you’ll make it to the next morning without a complete mental breakdown, you can’t really dream. My dream in those moments was to crawl out of my skin and run away. This was not about my writing, this was about God’s faithfulness to someone who was losing faith–in the person she loved, in the life she constructed, in the heart that was broken. Looking back (I did climb up and out of this valley), I needed this valley walk (or crawl) to happen when it did–without a book on the shelf, without confidence in something that I had accomplished. I needed brokenness to become stronger and know that my strength has nothing to do with me. There are several other moments and signs that I see as I look back, but I’m not going for the longest blog post of 2017, but I do want to share two sweet confirmations that the timing really is His.
First, I got a book contract! You know this, but, the contract came at a time when I had grown peaceful in the journey–the pride monster lay slain, and I picked up a pen and took an opportunity. My Oklahoma Land Run book with Love Inspired Historical won the Manuscript Matchmakers contest…and WAS coming out in Spring 2018. I had secretly told those closest to me, that it would’ve been nice for it to come out in September instead…just because that’s when the book opens–September, 1893–the historical date of the Land Run. So, what happens after I turn in my complete book a few days before its deadline? My editor tells me they bumped up my date to September of 2017. And I am sure, for them, it had nothing to do with the history, but for me, it was everything to do with the history–and His timing. Look for my debut novel, The Outlaw’s Second Chance this September! There’s more… My second contract came in! And this was a wonderful surprise. My agent and I had found out last spring that a new series was being launched based on geographical places around the U.S. I immediately thought of my Coal country story. So, I put together a proposal for a book I’d written long ago…and got a contract with Barbour this Fall for my novel, My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah. But, the timing? November 2017 is my release. God’s Timing in its finest…The book comes out during the centennial year of my grandfather’s birth. He was born in Dec. 1917 in Carbon County, Utah. My hero and my inspiration for this very book. I just can’t stop smiling at the chance to honor my late grandfather with a story written by his third generation Greek American granddaughter who was inspired by his roots grown a century ago. If only he could be here now. But I know he’s smiling, too. A century. It took a CENTURY. Only by God’s grace, and His perfect timing.
Blog StopsHere are Angie's remaining blog stops:
November 6: Chas Ray's Book Nerd CornerNovember 6: Texas Book-aholicNovember 7: Bab's Book BistroNovember 7: Kristin's Book ReviewsNovember 8: Singing LibrarianNovember 8: Connie's History ClassroomNovember 9: D's Quilts & BooksNovember 9: J E Grace Christian Author BlogNovember 9: Neverending StoriesNovember 10: Have a Wonderful DayNovember 10: Pause for TalesNovember 11: Tell Tale Book ReviewsNovember 11: Mary A. HakeNovember 11: Splashes of JoyNovember 12: BigreadersiteNovember 12: Blossoms and BlessingsNovember 12: Debbie's Dusty DeliberationsNovember 13: Vicki SluiterNovember 13: Bibliophile ReviewsGiveaway
To celebrate her tour, Angie is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of her book The Outlaw’s Second Chance!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c1ff
About the Book
Name of book: My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah
Author: Angie Dicken
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: November 1, 2017
Schoolteacher Leanna McKee plans on leaving the coal mining town of Castle Gate, Utah, and never looking back. Good riddance to coal dust, rugged men, and the fatal mine that took her husband’s life. Until the widow meets a widower who awakens her heart…and she finds herself inexplicably falling for miner Alex Pappas which stirs up a whole heap of trouble. Alex’s Greek parents have arranged a more traditional match for him. When the schoolteacher’s association with the Greek family begins to anger the American miners, they threaten Alex and his family. Leanna has received an offer to teach elsewhere and feels she has no choice but to leave Castle Gate. . .though she will be leaving her heart behind.Click here to purchase Angie’s amazing book!About the Author
Angie Dicken is a third generation Greek American, the granddaughter of strong men and women who endured hardship to grow American roots. My Heart Belongs In Castle Gate, Utah is set near the birthplace of her grandfather, a Greek coal miner’s son, and published 100 years after his birth. Angie is a contributor to The Writer’s Alley blog and an ACFW member since 2010. She lives with her husband and four children in the Midwest where she enjoys exploring eclectic new restaurants and chatting with friends over coffee. You can connect with Angie at www.angiedicken.com.
Guest Post from Angie DickenMy Publishing Story: A Journey of Perfect Timing“Wait for the LORD;Be strong and let your heart take courage;Yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
I wrote a story five years ago. My footing was finally solid on how to write, after a couple ACFW conferences and connecting with my bestie writing sister, Ashley. So in 2012, I poured my heart out within the parameters of what I’d learned. The story I wrote stemmed from my heritage. From a very young age, I’ve been inspired by my grandfather. He was the son of a Greek coal miner who came over from Greece in the 1910’s. My grandfather always had wonderful stories to tell–he stirred up my intrigue for WWII era as he was a Purple Heart recipient (twice), and spoke of freeing concentration camps and invading Hitler’s homes; my grandfather lived a rags to riches legacy, having been born in a tent in a coal town, and then becoming a successful home and commercial builder–I declared I’d be an architect at age eleven…even majoring in Landscape Architecture in college.
Papou was one of my greatest heroes. And my novel was a tribute to him, to my Greek roots, to an American legacy.
So, at ACFW 2012, I took my novel to conference with more confidence than I had before. This story caught the attention of an agent– and I signed a contract with the Steve Laube Agency in November of that year. That was amazing…I chuckle now because the name of the room that I interviewed with Tamela was the “McKee” room–the last name of my heroine. A sign? Maybe. When she sent my story out for all publishers to see that next month, I thought my time for that book was just around the corner. And… Now it’s 2017, and that story is under contract with a publisher as of Fall 2016. What timing, right? Why the heck did it take so long? Not for lack of trying. My agent and I took every possible measure. Why did I get rejection after rejection, and write two other books in the wait? What happened between then? Only in looking back, do I see why I had to wait for this book. And when I look back, I realize just how much Timing is His and there’s nothing I can do to speed it up or make it mine. All I can do is take courage, and wait. I’ll give you a quick recap of what happened between 2013–when the book was put in the proverbial drawer of unwanted manuscripts–and now, 2017, the year it will get published (um, after a few rewrites and edits–always learning…). In looking back, this is what I see:
My Community was Built. I fell in love with my writer friendships. A bit dramatic? Maybe, but it’s the truth. I connected with ladies who knew my heart as a writer, and allowed me into their lives in an authentic, Christ-loving way. I found hope in the writing journey because my friends held my hands and rubbed my back when all seemed lost. And in this, I grew not as a writer, but as a heart. My heart became soft for the needs of others and the value of authenticity in this short, precious life.
There was a Pride Monster, and He needed to kill it. Oh, Lord, if ever there was a pride monster, it was me. My gut reaction in every rejection, every criticism, every other person’s success was a measurement against them according to me. Yuck. Do you know what the best way to kill a Pride Monster? Starve it. Even though I had my sweet friends and my agent encouraging me along the way, my heart was set on publication and I was not getting that. I wanted it so badly that I turned ugly when it seemed to slip through my fingers with every rejection. And I spiraled and I came up for air to those authentic friendships speaking Truth in love. God knew what He was doing when He built my community, and He knew He would use it to lift me up and tear down my ugly.
The Darkest Valley Was Ahead. Everything stood still in 2014. My personal crisis gave me little room for any true focus on my writing success. If anything, it made the effort seem petty. When you go through your days wondering if you’ll make it to the next morning without a complete mental breakdown, you can’t really dream. My dream in those moments was to crawl out of my skin and run away. This was not about my writing, this was about God’s faithfulness to someone who was losing faith–in the person she loved, in the life she constructed, in the heart that was broken. Looking back (I did climb up and out of this valley), I needed this valley walk (or crawl) to happen when it did–without a book on the shelf, without confidence in something that I had accomplished. I needed brokenness to become stronger and know that my strength has nothing to do with me. There are several other moments and signs that I see as I look back, but I’m not going for the longest blog post of 2017, but I do want to share two sweet confirmations that the timing really is His.
First, I got a book contract! You know this, but, the contract came at a time when I had grown peaceful in the journey–the pride monster lay slain, and I picked up a pen and took an opportunity. My Oklahoma Land Run book with Love Inspired Historical won the Manuscript Matchmakers contest…and WAS coming out in Spring 2018. I had secretly told those closest to me, that it would’ve been nice for it to come out in September instead…just because that’s when the book opens–September, 1893–the historical date of the Land Run. So, what happens after I turn in my complete book a few days before its deadline? My editor tells me they bumped up my date to September of 2017. And I am sure, for them, it had nothing to do with the history, but for me, it was everything to do with the history–and His timing. Look for my debut novel, The Outlaw’s Second Chance this September! There’s more… My second contract came in! And this was a wonderful surprise. My agent and I had found out last spring that a new series was being launched based on geographical places around the U.S. I immediately thought of my Coal country story. So, I put together a proposal for a book I’d written long ago…and got a contract with Barbour this Fall for my novel, My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah. But, the timing? November 2017 is my release. God’s Timing in its finest…The book comes out during the centennial year of my grandfather’s birth. He was born in Dec. 1917 in Carbon County, Utah. My hero and my inspiration for this very book. I just can’t stop smiling at the chance to honor my late grandfather with a story written by his third generation Greek American granddaughter who was inspired by his roots grown a century ago. If only he could be here now. But I know he’s smiling, too. A century. It took a CENTURY. Only by God’s grace, and His perfect timing.
Blog StopsHere are Angie's remaining blog stops:
November 6: Chas Ray's Book Nerd CornerNovember 6: Texas Book-aholicNovember 7: Bab's Book BistroNovember 7: Kristin's Book ReviewsNovember 8: Singing LibrarianNovember 8: Connie's History ClassroomNovember 9: D's Quilts & BooksNovember 9: J E Grace Christian Author BlogNovember 9: Neverending StoriesNovember 10: Have a Wonderful DayNovember 10: Pause for TalesNovember 11: Tell Tale Book ReviewsNovember 11: Mary A. HakeNovember 11: Splashes of JoyNovember 12: BigreadersiteNovember 12: Blossoms and BlessingsNovember 12: Debbie's Dusty DeliberationsNovember 13: Vicki SluiterNovember 13: Bibliophile ReviewsGiveaway
To celebrate her tour, Angie is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of her book The Outlaw’s Second Chance!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c1ff
Blog Tour: The Bachelor Missions
Blog Tour: The Bachelor Missions
About the Book:
Name of book: The Bachelor Missions
Author: Jes Drew
Genre: Christian speculative spy fiction
Release Date: February 18, 2017
The good-guys, the bad-guys, and the wild card- it’s the ultimate game of cloak and dagger…
Kristian Clark, private eye, thought his days as a special agent were behind him, but when he’s drafted into action, he finds himself reunited with his old team- and painful memories of why they broke up in the first place. But as he plunges into mission after mission- from a ‘holy heist’ to babysitting a young hacker to going undercover in a cult- Kristian find that everything he tried to leave behind is coming back to haunt him with a vengeance, and then some. First there’s the mysterious woman who knows more about Kristian- and his past- than makes sense while using science fiction weapons that don’t make sense period. Then there are the shady powers-that-be who are responsible for drafting him back into this world to satisfy their own nefarious agendas. It’s all Kristian can do to keep from being pulled into their games as he tries to figure out who to trust and what to fight for, even as the trap put in place to destroy him is set with a ticking clock.When did espionage get so complicated?Click here to purchase your copy!About the Author:
Jes Drew lives with her mom, dad, younger sister (the illustrious Nicki Chapelway), four younger brothers (yes, four), and two dogs. She is the author of both the Ninja and Hunter trilogy and the Howling Twenty trilogy. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, daydreaming, and her day job. There is also a possibility that she may or may not be a secret agent, but that’s classified. Still, you can contact her at http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/Guest Post from Jes DrewI began writing at a very young age. I don’t think I even started school yet when I came out with my first children’s titles. The Swan Princess and Flamingo Queen was followed by a sequel The Duck Prince and Unicorn King (because I thought it was unfair that only the mom and sister had to go through transformations), and Julian and Juliette had many reprints- all carefully printed and illustrated by myself before moving to their final destination: safekeeping in my mom’s possession.Years later, I resumed my writing craft near the end of elementary school with two series of chapter books I wrote and then read aloud to my family. However, it was not until I watched Marvel’s Avengers that I found my true muse (Captain America, obviously). The story was so enthralling, I could do nothing but pick up the pen and compose my first published trilogy: The Ninja and Hunter Series published when I was sixteen. This was followed by the tree books of The Howling Twenties two years later.
But, no longer a ‘young adult’ I’ve moved on beyond that genre to the next age group: New Adult. That genre infamously known for its many vices and sins. However, we as Christians are called to “Take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b), and a genre targeted toward twenty-somethings should be no exception.
So this is my first release in the New Adult genre. Kristian Clark might be a secret-agent-turned-private-investigator-turned-secret-agent again, but he still deals with the same problems all twenty-somethings face: adapting to a career, longing for a soul mate, and searching for deeper meaning in all the noise. With a little intrigue and cool gadgets on the side because, well, he is a secret-agent-turned-private-investigator-turned-secret-agent after all.Blog StopsHere are Jes's remaining Blog Tour stops:
November 6: Aryan the LibraryanNovember 7: Reflections from My BookshelvesNovember 8: Blogging with CarolNovember 9: MultifariousNovember 10: Carpe DiemNovember 11: A Reader's BrainNovember 11: Karen Sue HadleyNovember 12: Never Ending StoriesNovember 12: Debbie's Dusty DeliberationsNovember 13: Mary HakeNovember 14: Daysong ReflectionsNovember 15: Ashley's BookshelfGiveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jes is giving away a Grand Prize of the Howling Twenties trilogy, signed, and a fifteen dollar Amazon gift card and a 1st Place Prize of The Time I Saved the Day, also signed, and a ten dollar Amazon gift card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c31b
About the Book:
Name of book: The Bachelor Missions
Author: Jes Drew
Genre: Christian speculative spy fiction
Release Date: February 18, 2017
The good-guys, the bad-guys, and the wild card- it’s the ultimate game of cloak and dagger…
Kristian Clark, private eye, thought his days as a special agent were behind him, but when he’s drafted into action, he finds himself reunited with his old team- and painful memories of why they broke up in the first place. But as he plunges into mission after mission- from a ‘holy heist’ to babysitting a young hacker to going undercover in a cult- Kristian find that everything he tried to leave behind is coming back to haunt him with a vengeance, and then some. First there’s the mysterious woman who knows more about Kristian- and his past- than makes sense while using science fiction weapons that don’t make sense period. Then there are the shady powers-that-be who are responsible for drafting him back into this world to satisfy their own nefarious agendas. It’s all Kristian can do to keep from being pulled into their games as he tries to figure out who to trust and what to fight for, even as the trap put in place to destroy him is set with a ticking clock.When did espionage get so complicated?Click here to purchase your copy!About the Author:
Jes Drew lives with her mom, dad, younger sister (the illustrious Nicki Chapelway), four younger brothers (yes, four), and two dogs. She is the author of both the Ninja and Hunter trilogy and the Howling Twenty trilogy. Besides writing, she enjoys reading, daydreaming, and her day job. There is also a possibility that she may or may not be a secret agent, but that’s classified. Still, you can contact her at http://pausefortales.blogspot.com/Guest Post from Jes DrewI began writing at a very young age. I don’t think I even started school yet when I came out with my first children’s titles. The Swan Princess and Flamingo Queen was followed by a sequel The Duck Prince and Unicorn King (because I thought it was unfair that only the mom and sister had to go through transformations), and Julian and Juliette had many reprints- all carefully printed and illustrated by myself before moving to their final destination: safekeeping in my mom’s possession.Years later, I resumed my writing craft near the end of elementary school with two series of chapter books I wrote and then read aloud to my family. However, it was not until I watched Marvel’s Avengers that I found my true muse (Captain America, obviously). The story was so enthralling, I could do nothing but pick up the pen and compose my first published trilogy: The Ninja and Hunter Series published when I was sixteen. This was followed by the tree books of The Howling Twenties two years later.
But, no longer a ‘young adult’ I’ve moved on beyond that genre to the next age group: New Adult. That genre infamously known for its many vices and sins. However, we as Christians are called to “Take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5b), and a genre targeted toward twenty-somethings should be no exception.
So this is my first release in the New Adult genre. Kristian Clark might be a secret-agent-turned-private-investigator-turned-secret-agent again, but he still deals with the same problems all twenty-somethings face: adapting to a career, longing for a soul mate, and searching for deeper meaning in all the noise. With a little intrigue and cool gadgets on the side because, well, he is a secret-agent-turned-private-investigator-turned-secret-agent after all.Blog StopsHere are Jes's remaining Blog Tour stops:
November 6: Aryan the LibraryanNovember 7: Reflections from My BookshelvesNovember 8: Blogging with CarolNovember 9: MultifariousNovember 10: Carpe DiemNovember 11: A Reader's BrainNovember 11: Karen Sue HadleyNovember 12: Never Ending StoriesNovember 12: Debbie's Dusty DeliberationsNovember 13: Mary HakeNovember 14: Daysong ReflectionsNovember 15: Ashley's BookshelfGiveaway
To celebrate her tour, Jes is giving away a Grand Prize of the Howling Twenties trilogy, signed, and a fifteen dollar Amazon gift card and a 1st Place Prize of The Time I Saved the Day, also signed, and a ten dollar Amazon gift card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c31b
November 2, 2017
Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Bitter Eyes No More
Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Bitter Eyes No More
About the Book
Name of book: Bitter Eyes No More
Author: April W Gardner
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: Feb, 2017
A man of abiding honor, tested by a woman of ruinous passion. A woman of unspeakable sins, pursued by a God of unquenchable mercy. Spanish Florida once sheltered Lillian McGirth from her fears. Now, it feeds them. Mercy is for the deserving; for Lillian, an unwed mother accused of treason, there is only battering and defeat, but her fall breaks softly in the arms of an unexpected arrival, a man too beautiful of soul to stain with her lost character. Captain Marcus Buck sails in on a pledge to save Miss McGirth from herself and from her child’s father, a ruthless don. All the while, he’s to regard her as virtuous and worthy of protection and to guard said virtue from pilfering. But the terms are flawed since he must first guard her from himself. Regardless, he is determined. He will free her, repair her name—simple labor compared to dodging the army’s noose, mending wounds three years deep, and navigating a host of rebel Natives bent on inflicting more. Through the steady crumble of his pledge, their friendship becomes a consolation, for she knows his pain as no other can or will. Their scars are one; their paths, however, might irrevocably become two… Click here to purchase your copy.My Thoughts:Bitter Eyes No More was the first of April Gardner’s books I’ve read. She has a masterful style of writing-descriptions so tight I was immersed into the setting to the point I could hear the waves or smell the dust. The dialogue was also well-written, giving insights into each character. I am not familiar with this time period, and Ms. Gardner effectively educated me of the issues, customs, prejudices, and events without the book feeling like a lecture or textbook. I loved Lillian and her knight-in-shining armor, Marcus-in fact, I had a bit of a crush on him. He is masculine yet sensitive, and his respect of care of Lillian was a joy to behold. What I didn’t like about the book was the emphasis on the physical attraction between the two. There was constant internal dialogue within Lillian and Marcus about how the other looked and how that made them feel. Marcus also seemed to care about protecting Lillian’s damaged reputation, yet there were several scenes where he put her in a situation that was inappropriate for the era. The more in-depth level of their relationship didn’t seem to develop until near the end of the book. Minor characters were well-developed, and there were a couple of plot twists I didn’t see coming. Because of the era and subject matter, there were quite a few scenes of violence and bloodshed.
I received this book for free from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
APRIL W GARDNER writes history with a Christian perspective and a little imagination. She is a copyeditor, military wife, and homeschooling mother of two who lives in Texas. She writes Christian historical romance with a focus on our Southeastern Native Tribes. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks. April loves to hear from her readers at: aprilgardnerwrites@gmail.com and at www.aprilgardner.com
Guest Post from April W. GardnerI’ve never needed one of those spiritual gifts tests to know I score a big, fat zero in the mercy department. When God impressed on me the themes of Bitter Eyes No More—mercy and justice—I figured I was the least qualified person to broach the topic. However, in His perfect way, He knew exactly where I needed to be stretched, and over the seven months He used me to craft the story, He poked and prodded at my flaws, making them large in my mind and reminding me that no one is deserving of any quantity of mercy, grace, or forgiveness, and that He alone is righteous enough to wield the gavel of justice. Captain Marcus Buck, the hero in Bitter Eyes No More, learns the same lesson. Because of a horrifying stint of slavery on a British frigate, he drives through life seeking justice—all in accordance with the law, of course, but swift, fierce justice nonetheless. Lillian, the same story’s female lead, knows beyond a doubt she deserves the most righteous justice there is—an eternity apart from God. Mercy is only for the deserving, she says, but there can surely be none for her, an unwed mother with the label “traitor” hovering over her head. Marcus, a surgeon and splendid swordsman, has engraved his sword with a passage from the prophet Zechariah. “This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” (Zech. 7:9) It’s a beautiful piece of advice, but Marcus is blind to the second half. What neither of these characters realizes at first is that God doles out mercy and justice as a packaged unit and in bountiful, equal measure. In our finite human minds, we tend to separate these two qualities, but God cannot give one without the other. More than that, He cannot be one without the other. He is all mercy and all justice in one perfect being. Aren’t you glad? I sure am!
Every subscriber instantly receives the first in the Creek Country Saga for FREE!Newsletter Sign-up: http://eepurl.com/vujA9
Blog StopsHere are the remaining stops on April's tour:
November 4: Simple Harvest ReadsNovember 5: New Horizone ReviewsNovember 6: Debbie's Dusty DeliberationsGiveaway
In honor of her tour, April is giving away a grand prize package of a $15 Amazon gift card and four of her books in paperback, signed by her! Click to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c0d2
About the Book
Name of book: Bitter Eyes No More
Author: April W Gardner
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: Feb, 2017
A man of abiding honor, tested by a woman of ruinous passion. A woman of unspeakable sins, pursued by a God of unquenchable mercy. Spanish Florida once sheltered Lillian McGirth from her fears. Now, it feeds them. Mercy is for the deserving; for Lillian, an unwed mother accused of treason, there is only battering and defeat, but her fall breaks softly in the arms of an unexpected arrival, a man too beautiful of soul to stain with her lost character. Captain Marcus Buck sails in on a pledge to save Miss McGirth from herself and from her child’s father, a ruthless don. All the while, he’s to regard her as virtuous and worthy of protection and to guard said virtue from pilfering. But the terms are flawed since he must first guard her from himself. Regardless, he is determined. He will free her, repair her name—simple labor compared to dodging the army’s noose, mending wounds three years deep, and navigating a host of rebel Natives bent on inflicting more. Through the steady crumble of his pledge, their friendship becomes a consolation, for she knows his pain as no other can or will. Their scars are one; their paths, however, might irrevocably become two… Click here to purchase your copy.My Thoughts:Bitter Eyes No More was the first of April Gardner’s books I’ve read. She has a masterful style of writing-descriptions so tight I was immersed into the setting to the point I could hear the waves or smell the dust. The dialogue was also well-written, giving insights into each character. I am not familiar with this time period, and Ms. Gardner effectively educated me of the issues, customs, prejudices, and events without the book feeling like a lecture or textbook. I loved Lillian and her knight-in-shining armor, Marcus-in fact, I had a bit of a crush on him. He is masculine yet sensitive, and his respect of care of Lillian was a joy to behold. What I didn’t like about the book was the emphasis on the physical attraction between the two. There was constant internal dialogue within Lillian and Marcus about how the other looked and how that made them feel. Marcus also seemed to care about protecting Lillian’s damaged reputation, yet there were several scenes where he put her in a situation that was inappropriate for the era. The more in-depth level of their relationship didn’t seem to develop until near the end of the book. Minor characters were well-developed, and there were a couple of plot twists I didn’t see coming. Because of the era and subject matter, there were quite a few scenes of violence and bloodshed.
I received this book for free from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
APRIL W GARDNER writes history with a Christian perspective and a little imagination. She is a copyeditor, military wife, and homeschooling mother of two who lives in Texas. She writes Christian historical romance with a focus on our Southeastern Native Tribes. In no particular order, April dreams of owning a horse, learning a third language, and visiting all the national parks. April loves to hear from her readers at: aprilgardnerwrites@gmail.com and at www.aprilgardner.com
Guest Post from April W. GardnerI’ve never needed one of those spiritual gifts tests to know I score a big, fat zero in the mercy department. When God impressed on me the themes of Bitter Eyes No More—mercy and justice—I figured I was the least qualified person to broach the topic. However, in His perfect way, He knew exactly where I needed to be stretched, and over the seven months He used me to craft the story, He poked and prodded at my flaws, making them large in my mind and reminding me that no one is deserving of any quantity of mercy, grace, or forgiveness, and that He alone is righteous enough to wield the gavel of justice. Captain Marcus Buck, the hero in Bitter Eyes No More, learns the same lesson. Because of a horrifying stint of slavery on a British frigate, he drives through life seeking justice—all in accordance with the law, of course, but swift, fierce justice nonetheless. Lillian, the same story’s female lead, knows beyond a doubt she deserves the most righteous justice there is—an eternity apart from God. Mercy is only for the deserving, she says, but there can surely be none for her, an unwed mother with the label “traitor” hovering over her head. Marcus, a surgeon and splendid swordsman, has engraved his sword with a passage from the prophet Zechariah. “This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’” (Zech. 7:9) It’s a beautiful piece of advice, but Marcus is blind to the second half. What neither of these characters realizes at first is that God doles out mercy and justice as a packaged unit and in bountiful, equal measure. In our finite human minds, we tend to separate these two qualities, but God cannot give one without the other. More than that, He cannot be one without the other. He is all mercy and all justice in one perfect being. Aren’t you glad? I sure am!
Every subscriber instantly receives the first in the Creek Country Saga for FREE!Newsletter Sign-up: http://eepurl.com/vujA9
Blog StopsHere are the remaining stops on April's tour:
November 4: Simple Harvest ReadsNovember 5: New Horizone ReviewsNovember 6: Debbie's Dusty DeliberationsGiveaway
In honor of her tour, April is giving away a grand prize package of a $15 Amazon gift card and four of her books in paperback, signed by her! Click to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c0d2
November 1, 2017
Talkshow Thursday: Sitting Down with Ann Gabhart
Talkshow Thursday: Sitting Down with Ann Gabhart
Today's guest is Ann H. Gabhart, author of twenty books, with more on the way! Settle in and get to know this interesting lady.
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your latest publication, These Healing Hills? What was your inspiration for the story?
Ann: Most of my historical novels have a Kentucky setting with some Kentucky history. So when I was rummaging around for a new idea, I came across information about Mary Breckinridge and how she established the Frontier Nursing Service in Hyden, Kentucky in 1926. So I imagined characters who might fit into that Appalachian Mountain setting and Frontier Nursing history.
LM: Research is a huge part of writing, whether historical or contemporary. Do you have a research tidbit you stumbled on that caused you to think “aha?”
Ann: Everything I found out about the Frontier Nursing Service was an “aha” moment. All the history and first person accounts were fascinating. But I did perhaps think aha when I stumbled upon the recruitment poster the Frontier Nursing Service used to entice nurses to come to the mountains to be midwives. That poster promised the women their own dog, their own horse and plenty of adventure as they saved children’s live. I knew my character wouldn’t be able to resist that.
LM: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Ann: I sometimes like having written. No, I really like to write but the process isn’t always a walk in the park. Getting from the beginning through the middle and to the end can be a tough writing journey that takes months, even years. Perhaps my favorite time is when I have finally written “the end” on the last page and then get to go back and read it with editing in mind. I like to edit when the edits are my idea. I find it a bit harder to get excited about those cuts and changes when the changes are suggested by others. J
LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?
Ann: I’ve never listened to music for inspiration. I simply sit down at my desk, put my fingers on my keyboard and order myself to get to work. If I am in the midst of writing a book, then I often reread the last several pages I wrote last writing session to get my head back into the story. As you may have gathered from my previous answer, reading what I’ve written is much easier than writing those new words. But you have to write the new words to get the story told.
LM: You live in a beautiful part of the country, a place many people would visit on holiday. If money were no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?
Ann: An interesting question. If money were no object, I think I would like to tour all over the USA in one of those nice campers, visiting every state, spending time in the beautiful National Parks. Then I might hole up for a month or two in a mountain cabin before spending another month on the beach – a southern beach if it’s winter and a northern beach if it’s summer. But I would have to head back home now and again. I’d miss my own place.
LM: What is your next project?
Ann: Next up is a book titled River to Redemption that will release next summer. It’s set in a little Kentucky town in 1833, then the story hops to 1845. While the story is a work of fiction, I did base it on a true incident that occurred during the 1833 cholera epidemic in Springfield, Kentucky. At that time, people thought bad air caused cholera. So all who had the resources to do so would desert their towns at the first mention of cholera in the area. That often left few to tend to those left who might be sick or who died from the disease. In Springfield, a hotel owner gave one of his slaves the hotel keys and told him to keep things going. Then the owner fled the town. That slave, Lewis Sansbury, was unaffected by the disease. He stayed in Springfield, caring for the sick and burying the fifty-five people who died. In 1845 when his owner died and it appeared Lewis was going to be sold, the townspeople collected money to buy his freedom and set Lewis up in a blacksmith shop. That’s the true bit of history. River to Redemption is about how that might have happened if you made up a story which I did.
LM: That sounds like a wonderful story. Where can folks find you on the web?
Ann: The best place to look for me is on my website, www.annhgabhart.com. You can see my social media links there and my blogs. I like it when friends and readers join the conversation on my Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/anngabhart. I tweet now and again on Twitter with a user name, AnnHGabhart. I’m out there on Goodreads. I post pictures on Pinterest under my name and have an Amazon author page. Plus, you can sign up for my occasional newsletter on my website. That way you can be the first to know about new books, giveaways or what’s going on down here on the farm.
Thanks so much, Linda, for letting me come over for a visit.
LM: It's been a pleasure to have her. These Healing Hills is available on Amazon, other book buying sites, and in your local bookstore.
Today's guest is Ann H. Gabhart, author of twenty books, with more on the way! Settle in and get to know this interesting lady.
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. Congratulations on your latest publication, These Healing Hills? What was your inspiration for the story?
Ann: Most of my historical novels have a Kentucky setting with some Kentucky history. So when I was rummaging around for a new idea, I came across information about Mary Breckinridge and how she established the Frontier Nursing Service in Hyden, Kentucky in 1926. So I imagined characters who might fit into that Appalachian Mountain setting and Frontier Nursing history.
LM: Research is a huge part of writing, whether historical or contemporary. Do you have a research tidbit you stumbled on that caused you to think “aha?”
Ann: Everything I found out about the Frontier Nursing Service was an “aha” moment. All the history and first person accounts were fascinating. But I did perhaps think aha when I stumbled upon the recruitment poster the Frontier Nursing Service used to entice nurses to come to the mountains to be midwives. That poster promised the women their own dog, their own horse and plenty of adventure as they saved children’s live. I knew my character wouldn’t be able to resist that.
LM: What is your favorite part of the writing process?
Ann: I sometimes like having written. No, I really like to write but the process isn’t always a walk in the park. Getting from the beginning through the middle and to the end can be a tough writing journey that takes months, even years. Perhaps my favorite time is when I have finally written “the end” on the last page and then get to go back and read it with editing in mind. I like to edit when the edits are my idea. I find it a bit harder to get excited about those cuts and changes when the changes are suggested by others. J
LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in a specific place?
Ann: I’ve never listened to music for inspiration. I simply sit down at my desk, put my fingers on my keyboard and order myself to get to work. If I am in the midst of writing a book, then I often reread the last several pages I wrote last writing session to get my head back into the story. As you may have gathered from my previous answer, reading what I’ve written is much easier than writing those new words. But you have to write the new words to get the story told.
LM: You live in a beautiful part of the country, a place many people would visit on holiday. If money were no object, what is your idea of the ultimate vacation?
Ann: An interesting question. If money were no object, I think I would like to tour all over the USA in one of those nice campers, visiting every state, spending time in the beautiful National Parks. Then I might hole up for a month or two in a mountain cabin before spending another month on the beach – a southern beach if it’s winter and a northern beach if it’s summer. But I would have to head back home now and again. I’d miss my own place.
LM: What is your next project?
Ann: Next up is a book titled River to Redemption that will release next summer. It’s set in a little Kentucky town in 1833, then the story hops to 1845. While the story is a work of fiction, I did base it on a true incident that occurred during the 1833 cholera epidemic in Springfield, Kentucky. At that time, people thought bad air caused cholera. So all who had the resources to do so would desert their towns at the first mention of cholera in the area. That often left few to tend to those left who might be sick or who died from the disease. In Springfield, a hotel owner gave one of his slaves the hotel keys and told him to keep things going. Then the owner fled the town. That slave, Lewis Sansbury, was unaffected by the disease. He stayed in Springfield, caring for the sick and burying the fifty-five people who died. In 1845 when his owner died and it appeared Lewis was going to be sold, the townspeople collected money to buy his freedom and set Lewis up in a blacksmith shop. That’s the true bit of history. River to Redemption is about how that might have happened if you made up a story which I did.
LM: That sounds like a wonderful story. Where can folks find you on the web?
Ann: The best place to look for me is on my website, www.annhgabhart.com. You can see my social media links there and my blogs. I like it when friends and readers join the conversation on my Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/anngabhart. I tweet now and again on Twitter with a user name, AnnHGabhart. I’m out there on Goodreads. I post pictures on Pinterest under my name and have an Amazon author page. Plus, you can sign up for my occasional newsletter on my website. That way you can be the first to know about new books, giveaways or what’s going on down here on the farm.
Thanks so much, Linda, for letting me come over for a visit.
LM: It's been a pleasure to have her. These Healing Hills is available on Amazon, other book buying sites, and in your local bookstore.
October 29, 2017
Mystery Monday: The Reilly Ladies
Mystery Monday: The Reilly Ladies
As an undergraduate Psychology major, I read more than my fair share of “nature vs. nurture” papers and textbooks (e.g. is a child an artist because he or she was born of artistic parents or did the parents nurture the skill?). Most experts agree that individuals are a mixture of both, and the Reilly family is a prime example.
Part of a literary family (her brother was an author), Helen Kieran Reilly was a prolific mystery writer who lived from 1891 to 1962. A graduate of Hunter College, she married artist Paul Reilly with whom she had four daughters. She published dozens of novels, at one point becoming the main breadwinner in the household. Her books were among the first police procedurals written, a result of conducting extensive research into the NYC Homicide squad. Inspector Christopher McKee is her most popular character.
Like their mother Ursula Reilly Curtiss and Mary Reilly Wilson (writing under the name Mary McMullen) became well-known mystery authors. Winner of the Red Badge Award for best first novel, Ursula tended to write neo-Gothic romantic suspense with an amateur sleuth as the protagonist. Initially a columnist for the “Fairfield Connecticut News, she moved into working as a fashion copy writer. Her career as an author began after she married John Curtiss in 1947. Winning the Zia award as New Mexico’s outstanding novelist in 1963, she published nearly two dozen books in her thirty-six year career before passing away of cancer in 1984.
Sister Mary also had a successful career. Winner of the Edgar award for best first novel in 1952, Mary took a twenty-two year hiatus before publishing an additional eighteen novels. Described as distinctive, elegant, and fast-paced, her books did not seem to follow any sort of pattern, however, many did draw from her experience in the fashion world. Highly descriptive, the books immerse readers into the setting which forms an integral part of each plot. She published her last book in 1986, the year she passed away.
Have you read any of these gals’ books?
As an undergraduate Psychology major, I read more than my fair share of “nature vs. nurture” papers and textbooks (e.g. is a child an artist because he or she was born of artistic parents or did the parents nurture the skill?). Most experts agree that individuals are a mixture of both, and the Reilly family is a prime example.Part of a literary family (her brother was an author), Helen Kieran Reilly was a prolific mystery writer who lived from 1891 to 1962. A graduate of Hunter College, she married artist Paul Reilly with whom she had four daughters. She published dozens of novels, at one point becoming the main breadwinner in the household. Her books were among the first police procedurals written, a result of conducting extensive research into the NYC Homicide squad. Inspector Christopher McKee is her most popular character.
Like their mother Ursula Reilly Curtiss and Mary Reilly Wilson (writing under the name Mary McMullen) became well-known mystery authors. Winner of the Red Badge Award for best first novel, Ursula tended to write neo-Gothic romantic suspense with an amateur sleuth as the protagonist. Initially a columnist for the “Fairfield Connecticut News, she moved into working as a fashion copy writer. Her career as an author began after she married John Curtiss in 1947. Winning the Zia award as New Mexico’s outstanding novelist in 1963, she published nearly two dozen books in her thirty-six year career before passing away of cancer in 1984.
Sister Mary also had a successful career. Winner of the Edgar award for best first novel in 1952, Mary took a twenty-two year hiatus before publishing an additional eighteen novels. Described as distinctive, elegant, and fast-paced, her books did not seem to follow any sort of pattern, however, many did draw from her experience in the fashion world. Highly descriptive, the books immerse readers into the setting which forms an integral part of each plot. She published her last book in 1986, the year she passed away.Have you read any of these gals’ books?
October 27, 2017
Selah Saturday: Book sales and Freebies
Selah Saturday: Book sales and Freebies
Here are today's book sales and freebies:
Amber Schamel's The Healer's Touch is FREE today.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0160TBJV8
Heather Day Gilbert's God's Daughter is free through the end of October:
http://amzn.to/2vnYk7G
Michelynn Christy's book A Bride for Christmas is
available for pre-order at the sale price of $0.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076HNQDYP
Here are today's book sales and freebies:
Amber Schamel's The Healer's Touch is FREE today.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0160TBJV8
Heather Day Gilbert's God's Daughter is free through the end of October:
http://amzn.to/2vnYk7G
Michelynn Christy's book A Bride for Christmas is
available for pre-order at the sale price of $0.99
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076HNQDYP
October 25, 2017
Talkshow Thursday: Victoria Kimble, YA Author
Talkshow Thursday: Victoria Kimble, YA Author
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. You recently published book four in your Choir Girls series? Where did you get your inspiration, and did you set out to write a series, or did that idea come later?
Victoria: Choir was a big part of my life from eighth grade all the way through college, so having a story revolve around friends in a choir just came out naturally. The first story, Soprano Trouble, follows Summer and how she responds to finding herself in the group with the bully. I didn’t set out to write a series, but after getting good feedback on Soprano Trouble, ideas just popped into my head about how Summer’s friends were feeling and responding to their seventh grade year as well.
LM: How do you come up with your characters? Are they based on any real people in your life?
Victoria: They’re not based on anyone I actually know. Summer is probably the most like I was back when I was in Junior High. Her friend Maddie (Alto Secrets) is someone I would have wanted to be friends with. Brittany (Harmony Blues) and Cammie (Solo Disaster) are simply girls that I imagine would be typical friends that Summer would have in choir.
LM: Why did you decide to write for kids, tweens, and teens rather than adults?
Victoria: Middle school is burned into my memory. There are a lot of things I've forgotten about my childhood, but I remember middle school vividly. So my heart goes out to every single kid who is entering the murky waters of seventh grade, especially the girls. I was not a popular kid during those years, so I spent a lot of time reading. Those books shaped much of my thoughts and beliefs about life. Because of that, I've always wanted to write stories for those kids who are deep in the trenches of middle school themselves.
LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in
a specific place?
Victoria: The very first thing I do is listen to a worship song. I know that my writing ability and creativity comes from the Lord, so I always want to connect with Him every time I start to write. Then I switch to my writing music, which is generally some soundtrack. My current favorite writing soundtrack is The Secret Life of Pets. That music is plucky and fun.
LM: What one thing would you like to learn how to do?
Victoria: Play the cello. I play the violin, but I would love to learn how to play the cello. I love the deep notes that come out of that instrument.
LM: What advice can you give to aspiring writers?
Victoria: A writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. If you desire to write, you should start now. They say it takes ten years to become an overnight success, so just start and keep going, especially when you don't see any success right away. I always think of it as planting seeds that will hopefully grow in the next five or ten years. If you have that mindset, then it's easier to keep working during the long dry spells of not seeing any fruits of your labor. It'll come, if you keep at it.
LM: What is your next project?
Victoria: I’ve been working on a story for a bit younger audience, probably ages 7=10. It’s about a fourth grader named Daisy who plans on being a chief meteorologist when she grows up. You know, the person on TV who tells about the weather. Her aunt is actually a chief meteorologist, and she wants to follow in her footsteps. But then her aunt says she is leaving the TV station, and Daisy’s fame and future are doomed.
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?
Victoria: www.victoriakimble.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriakimbleauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriakimble
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16329155.Victoria_Kimble
Linda: Thanks for joining me today. You recently published book four in your Choir Girls series? Where did you get your inspiration, and did you set out to write a series, or did that idea come later? Victoria: Choir was a big part of my life from eighth grade all the way through college, so having a story revolve around friends in a choir just came out naturally. The first story, Soprano Trouble, follows Summer and how she responds to finding herself in the group with the bully. I didn’t set out to write a series, but after getting good feedback on Soprano Trouble, ideas just popped into my head about how Summer’s friends were feeling and responding to their seventh grade year as well.
LM: How do you come up with your characters? Are they based on any real people in your life?
Victoria: They’re not based on anyone I actually know. Summer is probably the most like I was back when I was in Junior High. Her friend Maddie (Alto Secrets) is someone I would have wanted to be friends with. Brittany (Harmony Blues) and Cammie (Solo Disaster) are simply girls that I imagine would be typical friends that Summer would have in choir.
LM: Why did you decide to write for kids, tweens, and teens rather than adults?
Victoria: Middle school is burned into my memory. There are a lot of things I've forgotten about my childhood, but I remember middle school vividly. So my heart goes out to every single kid who is entering the murky waters of seventh grade, especially the girls. I was not a popular kid during those years, so I spent a lot of time reading. Those books shaped much of my thoughts and beliefs about life. Because of that, I've always wanted to write stories for those kids who are deep in the trenches of middle school themselves.
LM: What do you do to prepare yourself for writing? For example do you listen to music or set up in
a specific place?Victoria: The very first thing I do is listen to a worship song. I know that my writing ability and creativity comes from the Lord, so I always want to connect with Him every time I start to write. Then I switch to my writing music, which is generally some soundtrack. My current favorite writing soundtrack is The Secret Life of Pets. That music is plucky and fun.
LM: What one thing would you like to learn how to do?
Victoria: Play the cello. I play the violin, but I would love to learn how to play the cello. I love the deep notes that come out of that instrument.
LM: What advice can you give to aspiring writers?
Victoria: A writing career is a marathon, not a sprint. If you desire to write, you should start now. They say it takes ten years to become an overnight success, so just start and keep going, especially when you don't see any success right away. I always think of it as planting seeds that will hopefully grow in the next five or ten years. If you have that mindset, then it's easier to keep working during the long dry spells of not seeing any fruits of your labor. It'll come, if you keep at it.
LM: What is your next project?
Victoria: I’ve been working on a story for a bit younger audience, probably ages 7=10. It’s about a fourth grader named Daisy who plans on being a chief meteorologist when she grows up. You know, the person on TV who tells about the weather. Her aunt is actually a chief meteorologist, and she wants to follow in her footsteps. But then her aunt says she is leaving the TV station, and Daisy’s fame and future are doomed.
LM: Where can folks find you on the web?
Victoria: www.victoriakimble.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/victoriakimbleauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/victoriakimble
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16329155.Victoria_Kimble
October 23, 2017
Traveling Tuesday: St. Malo, France
Traveling Tuesday: St. Malo, France
Thanks to a big “oops” on the part of the military, Vogue war correspondent Lee Miller scored her first major scoop in St. Malo, France.
Located on the English Channel coastline of northwestern France in Brittany, St. Malo is a walled port city that was founded in the first century by the Romans. Filled with medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the city was notorious throughout its history for being the home of French privateers and pirates. Often referred to as the brightest jewel on the Emerald Coast of Brittany, a cultural region that was once its own independent then duchy before united with the Kingdom of France, St. Malo is now a major tourist destination.
But in 1944, it was decimated by American shelling and bombing and British naval gunfire. Inaccurate intelligence reports indicated there were thousands of Axis troops and countless armaments within the city walls. According to an interview with St. Malo resident, Heloise, two citizens found their way to the American commander and informed him there were approximately seventy-five Germans in the city. More importantly, there were hundreds of civilians who could not get out because the Germans had locked the gates.
However, the report was not believed, and the assault began. After two full weeks of attack, only 182 of the original 865 buildings still stood.
Women war correspondents were typically prohibited from the front line, and even if they received permission to go, very few military leaders would transport them into combat zones. However, Lee had been told the fighting was over, so she arrived in historical city only to find herself in the midst of the assault. Hiding in a German dugout under the ramparts, she escaped with her life to write about the “sordid ugly destruction they {the Germans} had conjured up in the once beautiful town.”
When she was discovered by the Allied commanders she was promptly arrested, but still managed to get her article submitted to Vogue. Filled with shocking photographs and copy, the piece was a gritty, realistic eyewitness to the war.
Have you ever heard of St. Malo?
Thanks to a big “oops” on the part of the military, Vogue war correspondent Lee Miller scored her first major scoop in St. Malo, France. Located on the English Channel coastline of northwestern France in Brittany, St. Malo is a walled port city that was founded in the first century by the Romans. Filled with medieval castles and Gothic cathedrals, the city was notorious throughout its history for being the home of French privateers and pirates. Often referred to as the brightest jewel on the Emerald Coast of Brittany, a cultural region that was once its own independent then duchy before united with the Kingdom of France, St. Malo is now a major tourist destination.
But in 1944, it was decimated by American shelling and bombing and British naval gunfire. Inaccurate intelligence reports indicated there were thousands of Axis troops and countless armaments within the city walls. According to an interview with St. Malo resident, Heloise, two citizens found their way to the American commander and informed him there were approximately seventy-five Germans in the city. More importantly, there were hundreds of civilians who could not get out because the Germans had locked the gates.However, the report was not believed, and the assault began. After two full weeks of attack, only 182 of the original 865 buildings still stood.
Women war correspondents were typically prohibited from the front line, and even if they received permission to go, very few military leaders would transport them into combat zones. However, Lee had been told the fighting was over, so she arrived in historical city only to find herself in the midst of the assault. Hiding in a German dugout under the ramparts, she escaped with her life to write about the “sordid ugly destruction they {the Germans} had conjured up in the once beautiful town.”When she was discovered by the Allied commanders she was promptly arrested, but still managed to get her article submitted to Vogue. Filled with shocking photographs and copy, the piece was a gritty, realistic eyewitness to the war.
Have you ever heard of St. Malo?
