Cathe Swanson's Blog, page 4

ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ March 2021

March 2021 Preorders and New Releases Do you enjoy Christian Fiction?  Check out these new books from American Christian Fiction Writers  (ACFW) members!  More in-depth descriptions of these ACFW Christian Fiction books can be found at fictionfinder.com –   a searchable website for the best in ACFW Christian Fiction of every genre. Biblical Miriam’s Song by Jill Eileen Smith — In her eventful lifetime, Miriam was many things to many people: protective older sister, song leader, prophetess, leper. But between the highs and the lows, she was a girl who dreamed of freedom, a woman who longed for love, a leader who made mistakes, and a friend who valued connection. (Biblical from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)   Contemporary Romance Amish Midwives by Amy Clipston — From bestselling authors of Amish Fiction come three sweet stories about new life, hope, and romance. (Contemporary Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing) A Brother’s Promise by Mindy Obenhaus — He didn’t realize he wanted a family… Until he suddenly became a single dad. After his sister’s death, rancher Mick Ashford’s determined to ensure his orphaned niece, Sadie, feels at home. And accepting guidance from Christa Slocum is his first step. But just Read More

The post ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ March 2021 appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

Murder at the Empire ~ the cover reveal!

When I was invited to participate in The Ever After Mysteries, a Celebrate Lit collection of 1920’s mysteries inspired by fairy tales, I couldn’t resist. I’m a great fan of mysteries from the Golden Age of Detective Fiction, and I read at least a thousand fairy tales as a child. To be honest… I set about it backward. I knew I wanted to write about a young woman who plays the organ for silent films at a movie palace, so I pulled out some of my old books (yes, the fairy tales books from my childhood) and looked for one that could serve as a basis for my story. It didn’t take me long to realize that The Nightingale was the perfect choice. The Nightingale is set in China, where an Emperor has a palace filled with beautiful and very fragile treasures. It’s so full of these things that no one can move through it easily, but he wants it all on display. In his gardens, he has gardeners tie bells on the prettiest flowers, so no one misses them. One day, he hears a nightingale singing, and he has it brought to the palace. He’s surprised to learn that Read More

The post Murder at the Empire ~ the cover reveal! appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

Hope Again ~ New Covers, Preorders and a Sale

The past couple months have been busy for me. I’ve been writing, of course, but I also started a Quilt Block of the Month class that’s keeping me busy (it has a fun and active Facebook group!) In addition, I’ve been working on various “bookish” tasks, because my 2021 is dedicated to cleaning up my backlist, finishing series, updating covers and book descriptions, and generally getting things organized. As a beginning author, I made most of the available mistakes, and it’s time to fix them and move forward in the right direction. Excelsior! Hope Again! The first and most exciting news is that I’ve rebranded the formerly-known-as Great Lakes series as the Hope Again series. It’s a much more fitting series title, because these books all have elements of restoration and healing. I have brand new covers, too, and the last two books in the series are available for preorder! SALE! Right now, to celebrate, you can buy Christmas at the Unity Plenkiss for just 99 cents! That’s the two-book set – Snow Angels and Hope for the Holidays. (It’s also in Kindle Unlimited, if you are a subscriber.) These are the shorter Christmas books in the Hope Again series. Read More

The post Hope Again ~ New Covers, Preorders and a Sale appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ February 2021

February 2021 Preorders and New Releases Do you enjoy Christian Fiction?  Check out these new books from American Christian Fiction Writers  (ACFW) members!  More in-depth descriptions of these ACFW Christian Fiction books can be found at fictionfinder.com –   a searchable website for the best in ACFW Christian Fiction of every genre. Historical Romance The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron — From fashion to desperation and haute couture to the perils of humanity, The Paris Dressmaker weaves a story of two worlds colliding years apart—where satin and lace stand between life and death in the brutal underbelly of a war-torn world. (Historical Romance from HarperCollins Christian Publishing (Thomas Nelson and Zondervan)) A Change of Scenery by Davalynn Spencer — A motorcar accident on a rainy Chicago night steals Ella Canaday’s fiancé as well as her ability to ride. Clinging to the remnants of her independence, she cuts her hair and her ties with her wealthy father and takes a train west as the seamstress with a moving-picture company. Colorado offers the change of scenery she needs. But she doesn’t expect the bold cowboy who challenges her to reclaim both the loves she thought she’d lost forever. (Historical Romance from Wilson Creek Read More

The post ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ February 2021 appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ January 2021

January 2021 Preorders and New Releases Do you enjoy Christian Fiction?  Check out these new books from American Christian Fiction Writers  (ACFW) members!  More in-depth descriptions of these ACFW Christian Fiction books can be found at fictionfinder.com –   a searchable website for the best in ACFW Christian Fiction of every genre. Contemporary: A Future for His Twins by Susanne Dietze — Will these children get their greatest wish? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin]) For the Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson — When she’s suddenly injured with not a soul to help her or her son, Joy is forced to rely on the man who has the most reasons to hate her. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published) An Unexpected Arrangement by Heidi McCahan — He needed a fresh start, but twin babies weren’t part of the plan… (Contemporary Romance, Love Inspired [Harlequin]) An Unlikely Proposal by Toni Shiloh — For these two best friends, marriage could be their greatest test yet. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin]) Historical: All Through the Night by Tara Johnson — When Joshua and Cadence unearth the workings of a secret society so vile, the course of their lives, and the war, could be Read More

The post ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ January 2021 appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

The Creative Life – Because We are Made in the Image of the Creator

I love to write. Like most of my writer friends, I have more stories inside of me than I can ever hope to write.  But I can only take so much computer time before my eyes start to cross and my stashes of fabric and paper start calling my name. (In the summer, the garden calls, too, but not so much in December.) As Christians created in the image of God – the ultimate creator – I think we are supposed to live a creative life. You are creative! It doesn’t have to be BIG creativity.  You don’t even have to be talented or trained. You don’t have to be “craftsy.” Just think outside the box (yes, I know a creative writer shouldn’t use cliches like that, but it fits.) A creative life doesn’t necessarily involve arts and crafts at all. It might just be a matter of rearranging things you already have. Cooking a new meal. Reorganizing your bookshelves.  It doesn’t have to be expensive. I’ve always liked dressing up my house for the changing seasons, but I seldom spend money on it. I just pull out quilts, dishes, linens, and anything else I could find in the right Read More

The post The Creative Life – Because We are Made in the Image of the Creator appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

A Christmas Fiction Scavenger Hunt Round Robin

  Merry Christmas! Thanks for visiting my website and participating in the 2020 Christmas Round Robin Scavenger Hunt! This year, 37 authors of Christian fiction have teamed up to offer three outstanding Amazon gift card prizes: 1st Prize is $350, 2nd Prize is $250 and 3rd Prize is $150.  Wow! Here’s how it works:  In each participating author’s blog post, you’ll find a question that can be answered by checking out the book description or free sample of her book on Amazon. Provide the answer in this Google Form.  At the end of each post is a link to the next blog, which will provide a link to the next blog, etc., to the very end. You must answer the questions for every author correctly in the round robin to be eligible for the giveaway.   Snow Angels I’m pleased to feature Snow Angels for this  event. It was my first published book and is still my favorite story. In a way, it was inspired by my own family. I raised three sons, you see, and No Shave November was “a thing” where we lived in Wisconsin. In their teens and early twenties, they couldn’t grow much facial hair. It Read More

The post A Christmas Fiction Scavenger Hunt Round Robin appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ December 2020

December 2020 Preorders and New Releases Do you enjoy Christian Fiction?  Check out these new books from American Christian Fiction Writers  (ACFW) members!  More in-depth descriptions of these ACFW Christian Fiction books can be found at fictionfinder.com –   a searchable website for the best in ACFW Christian Fiction of every genre. Contemporary Romance: A Prayer Quilt Christmas by Nancy J. Farrier — Meg’s ex-husband took her boys away for the holidays, and she’s lost her heart to celebrate, but Wade is determined to make this Christmas special for her. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)   His Holiday Prayer by Tina Radcliffe — After receiving an unexpected job offer in Texas, widower Tucker Rainbolt decides he and his twins need a fresh start. But moving on means leaving his best friend, Jena Harper, and their vet clinic behind. For the first time, Tucker sees Jena as more than a buddy. What if leaving isn’t the answer? Maybe what he’s been missing has been right beside him the whole time… (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin]) Christmas on Ocracoke by Christina Sinisi — Reeling from the upheaval of a failed marriage, Annie Hanahan is desperate for a new start—and when she inherits a Read More

The post ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ December 2020 appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

I’m reading Christmas books. Are you?

Is this weather crazy or WHAT? It’s definitely a season for reading Christmas books! We had a beautiful September, a cold October (including a 9” snowfall here in Minnesota), and then it was in the 70’s again this past weekend, and now we have another winter storm watch. Like I said… Minnesota. But I think this kind of fickle weather is a pattern for most midwestern states.  The nice weather was a blessing as we visited our Wisconsin kids and grandkids over the weekend. We met our newest grandson, 4-day-old Fynnigan! Christmas books are here again! I have five of them now, including Potato Flake Christmas in the 2020 Christmas Lights Collection, Hearts Aglow. Have you read it yet?  All my Christmas books are available in paperback and for Kindle.  The Kindle books are just $2.99 – less than the price of a peppermint mocha latte! – or you can read them free with a Kindle Unlimited subscription! Speaking of Kindle Unlimited (as I so often do), be sure to check out this super collection of Christian Christmas books. You can read ALL of them through your Kindle Unlimited Subscription! Some are novellas, some are big collections – enough that Read More

The post I’m reading Christmas books. Are you? appeared first on Cathe Swanson.

ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ November 2020

  November 2020 Preorders and New Releases Do you enjoy Christian Fiction?  Check out these new books from American Christian Fiction Writers  (ACFW) members!  More in-depth descriptions of these ACFW Christian Fiction books can be found at fictionfinder.com –   a searchable website for the best in ACFW Christian Fiction of every genre. Contemporary Romance: Snowbound in Winterberry Falls by Ann Brodeur — Owning her own PR firm is all reporter Stephanie Clark wants for Christmas, but the idea of running a prestigious election campaign in the country’s capital throws her stomach into knots. A last minute vacation road trip to focus and to seek God’s direction for her life ends up in disaster when she gets caught in the worst snowstorm to hit Vermont in over a decade, crashing her into a small town and the one person she’d rather forget. Former photojournalist Jason Miller hadn’t planned on being solely responsible for saving his family business from financial ruin. He’s barely keeping the newspaper in print, his News Editor has gone AWOL during the town’s most celebrated holiday festival, and reports of missing Christmas decorations have everyone on edge. When a desperate knock at the newsroom door brings a ghost Read More

The post ACFW Christian Fiction ~ New Releases ~ November 2020 appeared first on Cathe Swanson.