Laurie L.C. Lewis's Blog: Bloggin' It Up Here, page 3

"LOVE ON A LIMB" has a new all-season cover!

I'm very pleased to unveil "Love on a Limb's" new all-season cover! The book launched in November with a Christmas-themed cover, but readers have taken this powerful "marriage of necessity" story into their hearts with 92% of readers giving it a 5 star rating! Click the cover to pick up a copy. Paperbacks are also available.

Matthew Grayken is young, successful, and dying, which is why he’s about to propose to a total stranger. He isn’t interested in love. He needs a caregiver, a companion, and someone to be his legal voice when he can no longer speak for himself.

Lonely, compassionate nurse Mikaela Compton is intrigued by Matt Grayken’s tender request, but when their friendly marriage turns into love, she rejects the inevitability of Matt’s death and prays for a miracle instead.

Mikaela succeeds in reigniting Matt’s will to fight, but his body is losing the battle and he is suffering. She recognizes that her urgent need to save Matt has caused her to betray the fundamental promise she made him--to help him die peaceably. 

Matt needs a miracle, and Mikaela believes one is attainable, but she will need to leave him at the hour of his greatest need. She's about to learn that while love sometimes draws you close, it sometimes requires you to go out on a limb.
Copyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

SWEPT AWAY WITH ROMANCE PROMO--ALL eBOOKS FREE or $0.99!!!

There are two days left in the "SWEPT  AWAY with ROMANCE" Promo. Forty-six titles by award-winning and best-selling authors are being offered for free or $0.99. 
My award-winning, "The Dragons of Alsace Farm," is up for free, and "Love on a Limb" is available for $0.99. 

You can also pick up "The Dragons of Alsace Farm" for free and get in on regular free and discounted books by joining my VIP Readers' Club!  https://www.laurielclewis.com/newsletterCopyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

So Much More Than Just A Christmas Tree.

 I've been a blog slug the past few months. Work, family, holiday . . . you know. I'm going to try to do better at keeping in touch. 

The real blog killer is probably my VIP Readers Club. If you want to get all the free and discounted offers, that's where to head. I'll post here too, but as you've seen, I'm not always on top pf things over here.

I finally took the Christmas tree down. It's always a poignant moment for me, a marker that divides years and eras--(the years of paper and macaroni ornaments, the year I discovered the Pier One After-Christmas ornament sale and stocked up on a few elegant pieces, the year Tom's father passed away and we inherited some heirloom glass balls, and growing family years where the new ornaments reflected marriages, births, and developments in children's lives. Our new ornaments reflect our empty-nester period as we collect one new item from each place we visit--a silver Capitol from our nights in D.C., a silly beachcomber from a cruise, things from Niagara Falls, and Chicago's Tower.
The day I pack everything away is really my New Years beginning, when I evaluate all the previous year provided and taught, and losses we suffered through--of friends who've passed, of family members who may not be with us the next time we trim the tree. And then I imagine all the new year may bring. I wonder what changes will come to our family, friends, and nation, what adventures we'll have, and what trials, My thoughts move on to goals, some immediate, some more long term, and on to curiosity over what new adventures and memories will bring new ornaments to our tree in the coming year.


It's a big day. A slightly sad day that marks the final end of the holidays, when the sparkling tree no longer brightens the long winters' nights. With faith in God, we trust that hope and love and anticipation will bring their brightness instead, as we make each day meaningful, moving forward to the day when we open the Christmas ornament boxes and bins once more.Wishing you a merry and bright year going forward.   
LaurieCopyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

$0.99 Holiday Clean Read eBook Sale!

My newest release, "LOVE ON A LIMB" launched last week. It's featured in this wonderful EBOOK sale!  It's the most wonderful time of the year! Pull out the hot cocoa and light the fire. It's time to snuggle up with your Kindle and enjoy some holiday reading. Choose titles from 67 bestselling and award-winning authors! December 4-10!

Click the pic to see the covers!Copyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

DO YOU LOVE ROMANTIC SUSPENSE????

I’ve teamed up with 60 fantastic authors to give away a huge collection of Romantic Suspense novels to 2 lucky winners, PLUS a brand new eReader to the Grand Prize winner! 
You can win my award-winning novel, "The Dragons of Alsace Farm," plus books from authors like Maggie Shayne and Laurelin Paige.
Enter the giveaway by clicking here: http://bit.ly/2xvkwCe
Good luck, and enjoy!
Laurie

Copyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

MICHELLE NAGET ROGERS, A LIVING "AGNES"

I met with my friend Michelle again to interview her for the upcoming biography I'm writing about her life. She is a real survivor of the bombing of France, much like my character Agnes from "The Dragons of Alsace Farm." Today, we documented her memories of the evacuation of her French town, Braquis, as the German invasion began. The memories became a bit overwhelming as she told of the planes bombing and shooting at the lines of refugees, so we switched things up, and talked about what the children likely did on their four-day exodus from home.She showed me that they sang as they walked, and when she broke into the French National Anthem, "La Marseillaise," I felt her patriotism and love for her native land:Allons enfants de la Patrie
Le jour de gloire est arrivé !
Contre nous de la tyrannie
L'étendard sanglant est levé
Entendez-vous dans nos campagnes
Mugir ces féroces soldats?
Ils viennent jusque dans vos bras.
Égorger vos fils, vos compagnes!

(ENGLISH TRANSLATION)
Arise children of the fatherland
The day of glory has arrived
Against us tyranny's
Bloody standard is raised
Listen to the sound in the fields
The howling of these fearsome soldiers
They are coming into our midst
To cut the throats of your sons and consortsTo arms citizens
Form your battalions
March, march
Let impure blood
Water our furrowsI sang this song in high school French class, but the words were so terribly poignant as I imagined little children singing them as tyrants were literally attempting to cut them down.A moment later, she then began singing this little ditty. I asked her what it meant. The tune was much happier than the lyrics, about children looking for bread and finding their pantry bare, then noting that the neighbor had bread, but it wasn't for them. Another reminder of the toll war and its deprivations had on children who saw this simply as "life."She teared up several times during our interview, and I told her what an example she was of faith, that she held on with the hope that tomorrow would be better.She reminds me of this quote I love by Hugh B. Brown: “Night never had the last word. The dawn is always invincible.”Copyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

Josh Groban - Bring Him Home [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

Today's writing, fueled by the magical voice of Josh Groban. This tune is my fav.Copyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

FIFTEEN FREE HISTORICAL NOVELS

Every book lover has found a few authors, (hopefully me included) whose books speak personally to them, either easing them away from their current cares, or tackling hard topics with characters whose perspective or courage or humor inspires or challenges them in new ways. These are authors and books we cherish.

But what happens when we've read through that author's catalog and seek out new books and new voices? It can be tricky. And costly. We've all read a book we've wanted to toss across the room, or set on a cafe table and walk away from.  That's a big financial ouch if we've bought it.

Here's a risk-free promo for HISTORICAL FICTION lovers. My Book Cave Promos has gathered 15 authors, myself included, who are offering one of their historical e-books for free in exchange for a chance to put their work in front of you and hopefully add you to their list of loyal readers. Click the pic above to peruse the titles and select books. You can also enter to win a $25 gift card!

I'm offering "In God is Out Trust," volume 5 of Free Men and Dreamers. Readers can also pick up volume three for free as well at https://mybookcave.com/d/ce3e0f00/. Now you're on your way to owning a much beloved series set against the back drop of the War of 1812.

Try out these other wonderful authors' books for free!




Copyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

"The Dragons of Alsace Farm" gets a new cover in time for a Free E-book EXTRAVAGANZA!

"The Dragons of Alsace Farm" has had a great year, amassing great reviews and several national awards, but I kept hearing that readers didn't like the cover, so we've given it a face lift. Here's it is!

If you haven't read it yet, here's a great opportunity to download it and up to fifty fine books in a variety of genres onto your e-reader for lazy fall reading--all for FREE.

I'm excited to join My Book Cave's free promo. Fifty authors have teamed up to provide some of their favorite novels for FREE just for the chance to introduce new readers to their work.


This massive book giveaway also provides a chance for readers to enter to win a $50 gift card! 

Think about it. Enough free books to fill a family's e-readers, a chance to meet new authors and sample their work, and a giveaway with a $50 gift card as a prize!

Click the image to see the beautiful array of books available. Learn about each author's VIP readers club and join to continue to receive great book offers and be part of a reading community!Copyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)

An Essay on Civility

I have been reluctant to write this post because everything seems to stir up powerful feelings that frequently turn to finger pointing and ugly rhetoric. But here goes.
Life and travel have provided opportunities for interactions with diverse people the past few weeks--health care workers, servers, travelers, customers, store clerks, and more.
We're out in California where news reports of protests and unrest made me brace for rude or uncaring treatment. Not so. Not one time.
A few of these multicultural interactions led to a conversation about what we see and hear in the news. One such conversation included a Black sales clerk, a liberal psychologist, a Latino man, and myself. The consensus? None of them felt the media conveyed their opinions or life experience.
They were clearly not fans of the president, but their comments were not angry or hate-filled.
We laughed, worried, and listened to one another. A retail service transaction turned to hugs and handshakes of friendship as we shared the relief of knowing that for most Americans, regardless of color, race, or gender, we are on the same page. We want the same things. We are working for the same things.
I've been conducting a little experiment, following President Uchtdorf's counsel to smile more. I've slowed down in retail lines, and in parking lots, not worrying as much about MY turn, My slot, My place, and what I've noticed is other people do the same.
I've seen greater courtesy, more humor, and more conversation lately among relative strangers, and I wonder if recent, sad events have made civil society more aware of being kind, of breaking the ice with a smile instead of a scowl, of simply being civil.
I;m reminded of the story of the men meeting an elephant for the first time, and how each man's interpretation of that event was so completely singular. The media can build a false reality from a single photo, from one person's perspective.
We live in a time when we can't always believe what is placed before our eyes. The heart and spirit are the true barometers of humanity, and I have confidence that most people are good, and honest, and more likely to help than we realize.
Like in Texas. Amazing. Civility still reigns.Copyright 2009 Laurie LC Lewis, (To obtain permission to copy or reprint any portion of this post, please contact the author at lclewis2007@gmail.com)