Suzanne Woods Fisher's Blog, page 19
March 26, 2018
Author Spotlight with Debra Whiting Alexander
Leave a comment and enter below for a chance to win a copy of Debra Whiting Alexander’s newest book, “Zetty.” Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Vera Wilson for winning Amanda Cabot’s book, “A Borrowed Dream.” Please email my assistant christenkrumm {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize.
Zetty is the powerful story of a mother lost to a rare form of schizophrenia, and a daughter’s quest to find her.
When Marjorie McGee suddenly disappears from her Southern California beach home, nine-year-old Zetty is left motherless and confused. Years later, Zetty finds herself in a circle of unconventional women—opinionated, endearing, courageous and keen-eyed women—who offer Zetty their heart and backbone. As unexpected friendships form, Zetty begins an emotional, psychological, and spiritual journey in search of her mother—never imagining the joy and tragedy yet to come, the undeniable power of early childhood bonds, and the secret that will change their lives forever.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I was raised on the warm sandy beaches of San Diego and grew up on a steady diet of western movies and musicals. My debut novel, Zetty, takes place along the coast of Windansea, California, inspired by many of my childhood memories. Like the main character in the story, I grew up with a love for the ocean, cowgirls, neighborhood dance shows, pianos, golden retrievers, and art. Friendship and motherhood are the central themes in my life, and in my characters’ lives as well. My husband and I currently live in Oregon with our black and white Labrador retrievers. Our daughter is grown and we have a granddaughter now who is our treasure. Life is full after 34 years of marriage. I miss the San Diego coast sometimes, but our home in Oregon backs up to lush green fields, horses, stunning sunsets, and hazelnut orchards. Southern California was the inspiration for my first novel, but it’s here in the landscapes of the Pacific Northwest that I’ve found my vision for the next one!
Do you have a day job as well? If so, what is it?
Yes, I love my day job as a mental health therapist and clinical supervisor. I hold a Ph.D. in Psychology and am a Licensed Marriage and Child Therapist. I’ve specialized in post-trauma treatment for more than 30 years and only recently cut back my hours to allow more time to write and care for my granddaughter. After years of writing nonfiction books related to post-trauma recovery, I finally gave birth to fiction. Zetty is the powerful story of a mother lost to a rare form of Schizophrenia, and a daughter’s quest to find her. Inspired by my grandmother who died in a psychiatric hospital at the age of 41, the novel is unique in that it blends personal history with my professional background.
When did you start writing your first book?
When I was nine, I read the poem, “I heard a Fly buzz—when I died”, by Emily Dickinson. That little poem stirred something in me—a desire to capture on paper compelling moments of life in a simple way. So I wrote little books of poetry from then on. It wasn’t until I was 31 that I woke up one morning with a book in mind that I wanted to write for the traumatized children I was working with. A publisher in New York and wonderful editors, Ed Werz and Sally Germaine, offered me a contract and my writing took off from there. I’ll never forget them.
How did you choose the genre you write in? Or did the genre choose you?
Both. My non-fiction genre chose me because of the work I was doing with children and families impacted by crime and trauma. Fiction was different because that was a choice. I couldn’t wait to make things up! I wanted to write about women, friendships, and motherhood, and do it with spiritual substance—matters of the heart and soul. It’s important to me to write about issues I care deeply about. Women’s fiction allows me to do that.
Does writing energize you or exhaust you?
It better energize me or I know I’m writing the wrong story! If I’m well rested but feeling exhausted while writing, it’s a red flag. It usually means I’m not passionate enough about what I’m writing. If a scene doesn’t energize me, it’s out. For example, several ideas kept me motivated while writing Zetty. It was important to me to shine a light on the stigma of mental illness, especially in the 1960’s and 70’s. My grandmother’s life experience was a powerful one; she suffered the consequences of a stigmatizing mental illness, too. And even though the story isn’t about her, she was important inspiration that kept me going. It was also important to me to write about the challenges of despair. Trauma is a part of life, but not all of it. The idea that joy can coexist alongside tragedy is a message we don’t often hear. I wanted Zetty to address this idea and other points of view that empower us. That’s what keeps me uplifted and excited about writing.
As I’ve written in Zetty, art and creativity can serve as an anchor in our lives; it can give us hope for something beautiful to emerge from the emotional wreckage around us. That’s what writing does for me. If it makes me tired, it’s usually because I’ve lost all track of time. In my novel, Zetty puts it this way, “Time took another day, like a disappearing act. I was immersed in concentrated pleasure; lost wholly in the satisfaction of doing what I loved.” I sleep well after a good day of writing.
Do you believe in writer’s block?
No. I’ve reframed the notion of “blocks” because for me it’s such a negative idea. Instead, I believe in “writer’s breaks”—those times I feel stuck and need to get up and move, refuel, contemplate, dissect, analyze, problem solve, or simply let my mind rest and go inward for a time. It might be minutes, days, months, even years. But I think it’s important to accept “breaks” as a natural part of writing, and let them unfold. Whether I’m walking, cleaning, playing with my granddaughter, in the pool, or traveling, I’m just as busy on my book during a break as I am when words are flying off the keyboard. Breaks always move my stories forward.
Do you create an outline before you begin? Do you have the end in mind, or do you just wait and see where the story takes you?
I wish I had a tried and true method. I think it makes sense to create outlines, but when I’ve done one for fiction I’ve never followed it. Non-fiction was different. Outlines were crucial and easy for me to stick to. But I’m not sure the exercise of trying to do an outline for fiction isn’t valuable. I just seem to write novels in a more disorganized fashion. In Zetty, the first and last sentences of the book were the first things I wrote, and those two sentences directed everything in-between. The novel I’m currently working on has been a little different. I have the opening scene and know what I want to experience from the story, but while I have an idea for a twist at the end, I haven’t revised enough yet to know for sure.
What kind of research do you do? How long do you spend researching before beginning a book?
I tend to research as I go. When things pop up by chance while I’m writing, or ideas form that I want to integrate into the story, I’ll stop and use that time to take a natural break and dig deeper into the time period or issue at hand. For example, in Zetty, I researched the correct terms for the building process of an airplane the father in the story works on in his garage. That was an easy one because that was inspired by my own father’s accomplishment. I also learned about swing dancing at the Savoy Ballroom in Harlem while researching the dance and music my characters loved. I don’t end up using all the information I learn, but it’s inspiring just the same. Revisiting the history of the 1960’s and 70’s when Zetty takes place was also enlightening. President Kennedy’s assassination, a stage director’s job description, hippies, Woodstock, the women’s movement, the Viet Nam war, and the black power movement were all things I touched on. I enjoy that aspect of writing because research often provides new inspiration or dialogue for a character that can’t help but add depth to the work.
Are you part of a community of authors? If so, how has it helped you?
I’m currently a member of the Pacific Northwest Writers Association and Women’s Fiction Writers Association. I participate in a community of local author events and have a number of close friends who are writers as well. Not only is it invaluable to have these connections for support and to gain critiques and feedback, it’s also a great way to learn about upcoming author events, writing contests, and opportunities for ongoing development of the art and craft of powerful prose.
Purchase a copy of Zetty:
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Powell’s
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Debra Whiting Alexander grew up on the beaches of San Diego, lived and worked in upstate New York, and settled in Oregon where she lives with her husband. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology, is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, and former professor and executive director of two local non-profit counseling agencies. She is the author of sixteen non-fiction books, including one of her most meaningful projects, THE EMOTIONAL RECOVERY RESOURCE KIT, written in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks for children in New York and Washington, D.C. In addition to working on her next novel, Debra continues to provide clinical supervision and training through a local non-profit agency in her community.
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March 21, 2018
Coffee Break: What’s in YOUR recipe box?
In my garage are some boxes of my mom’s that I’m going through slowly. Mom passed away, unexpectedly, in early February, and we cleaned out her apartment within a day of her death. That was not an easy task! To pack up a person’s life is no small thing.
The other day I found a recipe box that my mom had saved. It was filled with yellowed old recipes from her mother. Over the weekend, I went through each recipe. Fascinating for so many reasons!
The sentimental one–seeing my grandmother’s careful and feminine handwriting. Thinking of her copying down this recipe on an ordinary day in her life…without any thought that one day her granddaughter would be pondering it. How often she entertained–lots of company dishes. How generous she was to give credit to friends or family for each shared recipe.
And then discovering what kinds of food she cooked and served on a regular basis. So different from today’s fare!
Here’s an example (and I do NOT recommend trying this recipe!):
So what’s in your recipe box? Do you have an old family recipe that you still use? How old is it? Please share in comments!
March 19, 2018
Author Spotlight with Amanda Cabot
Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Amanda Cabot’s newest book, “A Borrowed Dream.” Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Carol Alscheff for winning Jill Eileen Smith’s book, “A Passionate Hope.” Please email my assistant christenkrumm {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize.
With insight and warmth, bestselling author Amanda Cabot entwines love, deception, and redemption in a charming tale where dreams are deferred and hopes become a reality.
Catherine Whitfield’s trust in the medical profession was shattered when her mother died due to the excessive bleeding treatments performed by the town’s doctor. Brokenhearted and lonely, Catherine forges ahead as the dutiful schoolteacher of Cimarron Creek, but she has resigned herself to a life without love or family. A life where dreams rarely come true.
Rancher Austin Goddard is a newcomer to town. He has managed to keep his past as a surgeon secret to protect his family. But when Catherine Whitfield captures his heart, he wonders how long he will be able to keep up the charade.
What part of the country do you consider home?
I’ve lived in Texas, western New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, but for the past thirteen years, I’ve called Wyoming home. And, if you’re like my former boss and wonder why anyone would move from the most-densely populated state (New Jersey) to the least-densely populated one (Wyoming), it’s because my husband and I fell in love with the sagebrush prairies the first time we visited Yellowstone.
Currently, how big (or small) is your household?
Small! It’s just my husband and me.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
My husband and I love traveling by car, even if it’s only for a day trip. It’s so much fun, not to mention a nice change of pace from writing, to explore new areas of the country.
In terms of stay-at-home activities, I enjoy sewing and knitting, and for many years I made all my own clothes. Now, most of my sewing is for dolls that I donate to the local women’s shelter each Christmas.
Is there any habit or hobby you have that might surprise readers?
I’ve always enjoyed cooking and used to be somewhat of a gourmet cook, but for the past ten years, my cooking has been super low-fat and low-cholesterol. The reason? My brother-in-law was diagnosed with heart disease, and I wanted to experiment with recipes that would be good for him. To my surprise (and delight) they turned out to be tasty enough for my husband and me to enjoy, not to mention that they’re healthy.
You’ve just turned in your manuscript, and your editor won’t return it with revisions for at least a week or two. Where would you go for a vacation?
Yellowstone, without a doubt. It’s my favorite place on Earth, a fabulous place to enjoy the beauty of God’s creation.
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Butter pecan, and no, it’s not low-fat!
Are you a dog or a cat person? What does that tell us about you?
I don’t have any pets, but when I visit a friend who has both, it’s her large dog that gravitates to me. My friend tells me that means I’m the alpha dog. Hmmm …
What was your favorite childhood book? What made it so beloved?
From the first time I read it, I loved Little Women. The Civil War time period is one that’s always appealed to me, but the reason Little Women became and remained my favorite book is that the characters and the situations they face are so realistic. Louisa May Alcott made me feel as if I were part of the March family while I was reading her books. What a marvelous talent!
How many unfinished book ideas or manuscripts do you currently have?
I have only one unfinished manuscript, but I haven’t even tried to count the number of book ideas that are in my “future projects” file. Sometimes the idea is nothing more than a possible title for the book; sometimes it’s a quotation that resonated with me; other times it’s a location. Will they ever become finished books? I don’t know.
What’s your favorite movie? Favorite TV show?
I’m definitely proving that I’m older than twenty-nine by admitting this, but my favorite movie is an old one, Charade with Audrey Hepburn and Cary Grant. I loved the Parisian setting, Hepburn’s designer clothes, and – most of all – the way the script balanced humor with suspense. I’ve never been a big TV watcher – I spend most of my free time reading – so I can’t say that I have a favorite show.
If you were casting yourself in a movie, which actor or actress would you pick? Why?
I had trouble with this question, mostly because I watch so few movies, so I asked friends whom they’d select. There were some intriguing answers including Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren, but the majority decided that Jane Seymour would be the right one. Why? I suspect it’s that she starred in Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and that the nineteenth-century timeframe reminded them of my books.
Purchase a copy of A Borrowed Dream
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD | AmandaCabot.com
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Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of A Stolen Heart, as well as the Texas Crossroads series, the Texas Dreams series, the Westward Winds series, and Christmas Roses. Her books have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Awards and the Booksellers’ Best Awards. She lives in Wyoming.
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March 12, 2018
Author Spotlight with Jill Eileen Smith
Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Jill Eileen Smith’s newest book, “A Passionate Hope.” Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Betti Mace for winning Lynn H. Blackburn’s book, “Beneath the Surface.” Please email my assistant christenkrumm {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize.
With her immaculate research and captivating writing, Jill Eileen Smith invites readers to travel back to the dusty streets of Shiloh, where they can experience the beloved story of Hannah.
Hannah and her husband, Elkanah, share a deep love for each other, for their God, and for His tabernacle at Shiloh. Yet years of barrenness have taken their toll. Pressured by his family to take another wife, Elkanah marries Peninnah, who quickly begins to bear children. Disgraced and taunted by her husband’s new wife, Hannah turns again to prayers that seem doomed to go unanswered.
To what length will Hannah go to find her heart’s desire? Will her attempts at kindness and her desperate prayers not only change her world but also affect Israel’s future?
A Passionate Hope is a story of faith, patience, and deliverance that shows that even the most broken of relationships can be restored.
What part of the country do you consider home?
The Midwest – Michigan.
Currently, how big (or small) is your household?
We are empty nesters, so we are a family of three—my hubby, me, and our kitty Tiger.
What do you do when you’re not writing?
I read a lot. I’m currently obsessed with non-fiction. Sometimes I’m reading two or three books at once and can get them confused if I’m not careful!
I like to shop online for things for our home or personal items like clothes. I have a healthy distaste for going into an actual store, especially for groceries, but that’s the kind of shopping I end up doing most.
I also try to spend time with my mom when I can.
Is there any habit or hobby you have that might surprise readers?
I have several that I never have enough time to do:
I just had my DNA tested and am trying to connect with relatives I didn’t know I had. Genealogy really interests me, especially as it has to do with our family history.
I play Words With Friends with my mom and a few friends every day.
I love to take pictures and especially enjoy family and scenic nature photos. Animals caught unaware make great pictures.
I want to learn Hebrew, but I simply don’t have the time or the money to invest in the course right now. The alphabet is about the best I can do.
I like to color pictures in my Inspire Bible and hubby and I have some favorite TV shows we like to unwind with at night.
I love to ride my bike, but my back and bumpy roads limit me more than they used to.
You’ve just turned in your manuscript, and your editor won’t return it with revisions for at least a week or two. Where would you go for a vacation?
Hard to say. I probably wouldn’t take a vacation right then because I turn a book in near Christmas. But I make time for vacations throughout the year. As an example, this year we went to Seattle, WA, Portland, OR, Orlando, FL, Charlotte, NC, and Traverse City, MI. I’m weary of travel for a while!
What’s your favorite ice cream flavor?
Vanilla with chocolate and bing cherry sauce and whipped cream. That’s not really a flavor though – it’s my favorite sundae.
Are you a dog or a cat person? What does that tell us about you?
100% Cat Person. I had a dog growing up, but my sister got the dog-loving genes, while I am the opposite. We’ve had a cat since the first year of our marriage and Tiger is our third. I like the ease of a cat, his “chill” attitude. I enjoy playing with him – and loved it when he and our previous cat Shadow played together. They were so entertaining. But as a cat ages, they slow down, and that fits with my need for peace.
What was your favorite childhood book? What made it so beloved?
Two From Galilee by Marjorie Holmes. If you want to go back to pre-teen childhood, then I would pick the Little House on the Prairie series or Little Women and other books by Louisa May Alcott. But Two From Galilee brought the Bible to life for me and it is still my favorite book to read at Christmas. I read it again when my dad died, and it brought much comfort and still held that emotional pull as it did when I was sixteen.
How many unfinished book ideas or manuscripts do you currently have?
I actually have at least three or four complete novels on my computer that have not sold. They are in a different genre. One is the first in an idea for a series of police procedural/mystery/suspense books. I love the 1920s-30s era and would enjoy writing (and have written) some books in that era someday. Maybe.
What’s your favorite movie? Favorite TV show?
Too hard to pick just one!
Movies – and not in any order but all my favorites:
The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Runaway Bride
Pride & Prejudice
Emma
War Room
TV Shows:
Madame Secretary
NCIS LA
Blue Bloods
This is Us
Chicago Fire, PD, and Med
Law and Order – except Criminal Intent
Designated Survivor
Bull
On Netflix:
Awake
Gilmore Girls
If you were casting yourself in a movie, which actor or actress would you pick? Why?
Hmm…I don’t see myself as a character in a movie, so I don’t think I can answer this one. Keira Knightly is one of my favorite actresses, but mainly for her role in Pride and Prejudice.
Purchase a copy of A Passionate Hope
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD | JillEileenSmith.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling and award-winning author of the Wives of King David, the Wives of the Patriarchs, the Loves of King Solomon, and the Daughters of the Promised Land series. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan.Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest
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March 7, 2018
Coffee Break
There’s a new author in Dodge!
Her name is Maria Furlough, a mom of five (5!), who wrote Breaking the Fear Cycle: How to Find Peace for Your Anxious Heart. (The title alone had me.) It’s a wonderful read, filled with thoughtful moments from Maria’s own journey to freedom from fear and anxiety. Keep a tissue handy! And prepare to feel empowered as you finish this memorable book.
Here’s the backstory: Maria Furlough is a wife, a mother of five, and the head of women’s ministry at Lake Forest Church in Huntersville, North Carolina. She has been writing and teaching Bible studies for 14 years and currently writes on the blog True Worthat www.mytrueworth.org.
Despite it being release week for Maria, she made time to answer a few questions for my blog. Read on!
Q: What’s something hard you’ve learned so we don’t have to?
A: I’ve learned that fear is an important habit to kick. I often thought that I did not have a problem with fear. I saw my fears as part of life, almost welcomed at times as feigned protectors. I allowed myself to be tricked into the thinking that if I feared something enough maybe God would not allow it to happen to me. Lies. Fear lies, it steals joy, and it impacts decisions. I wish I had known this all along. I wish I had mustered up the courage earlier to conquer it in my life once and for all. The freedom on the other side of fear is a magnificent thing, it is a joy that I pray that many will experience. Not only that, God has important work for us to do on the other side of fearful living.
Q: How has your own life changed since you broke your own fear cycle?
A: My life is wide open to God. Before, there were parts closed off. Parts of my life I said I trusted Him with, but deep down fear still gripped control. Things like my children, my marriage, my family decisions, travelling, work, ministry. It all wound up so tightly around what my fear of the day was. Now every morning I start palms open with a small prayer on my lips, “Lord may your will be done in this day and may I have the courage and strength to serve you in whatever way you most desire.” It doesn’t mean life is easy all the time. Pain is still pain and trials still come. But the in between moments of the sufferings live a joy that will no longer be stolen by the fear filled lies. I’ve said “yes” to things I never imagined I could. When fear takes a hike God has so much more room in you to work!
Q: Why are so many Christians constantly plagued with fear?
A: Because we are smart. We know the word of God never promises us “easy” and we know that we live in a pain-filled fallen world. It makes complete sense that we fear for the truth is we are not yet truly home. But in John 14:27 Jesus says, “I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” God left behind in us a super power called the Holy Spirit. This is what Jesus speaks of when he says, “I do not give to you as the world gives.” Yes, it is clear, the world around us quantifies all the things that we should fear. Yet we have been give this supernatural gift. It lives inside of us and it beckons us to not be afraid. We need to close our eyes to all the reasons to fear and instead trust fall into the presence of God within us.
Q: How can we put our trust in God when facing our fears?
A: Baby steps of faith. It doesn’t take much, but it does take our effort to make a change. When I was struggling through carrying my baby boy Gideon, whom I knew would soon be ushered into heaven, I did not have a whole ton of strength or faith. I had a little mustard sized seed within me, I just had to keep moving forward. Towards God, away from the fear, in small ways each day. By the end of the journey I looked back to see how far I had come! In Breaking the Fear Cycle I like to answer the question “how” in each chapter with a tangible step forward. For example in chapter 1 the call is hard but simple: write them all down. Each and every fear you have, in gruesome detail, bringing it all out into the light where God can minister to it fully. Baby steps, one chapter at a time, with my full fledged heart’s prayer that when you close the book you will stand free.
Readers: Leave an encouraging comment for Maria if you’d like a chance to win a copy of Breaking the Fear Cycle: How to Find Peace for Your Anxious Heart.
March 5, 2018
Author Spotlight with Lynn H. Blackburn
Leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Lynn H. Blackburn’s newest book, “Beneath the Surface.” Winner will be announced in the next Author Spotlight feature. Congratulations to Connie Bolick Lee for winning Jane Kirkpatrick’s book, “All She Left Behind.” Please email my assistant christenkrumm {at} gmail {dot} com to claim your prize.
Dive into the depths of fear with an exciting new romantic suspense novel, Beneath the Surface. This gripping tale from award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn will capture readers from the first page and won’t let them go until the final, heart-pounding scene.
After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston moves home to Carrington, North Carolina, to leave behind her troubled past. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present.
Homicide investigator Ryan Parker finds fulfillment in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff’s Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer—one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all.
Can you tell us about your newest release? Is it part of a series or a stand-alone?
Beneath the Surface introduces us to the Carrington County Sheriff’s Office Dive Team—a team made up of volunteers from all areas of the Sheriff’s office who are trained to perform underwater investigations. Ryan Parker is a homicide investigator who is second-in-command on the dive team. While on a training exercise, he discovers a body at the bottom of the lake. He has no way to know that when he asks to borrow the dock of Leigh Weston—a girl he’s known forever who recently returned to the area—that he’s dragging her straight into the crosshairs of a killer.
Leigh is a nurse practitioner who has returned to Carrington to start over after being stalked by a patient. She’s been struggling to understand how God could have allowed all the horrible things she’s endured in the past few years but she never imagined that the worst was yet to come.
The investigations into the murder of the businessman and the threats against Leigh draw in multiple members of the Dive Team and they work together to uncover the truth—and stop a killer—before it’s too late.
Beneath the Surface is the first book in my new Dive Team Investigations series. The second book releases in the Fall of 2018 and the third book will release Summer 2019. Each book features different members of the dive team and while the same group of characters will appear throughout the series, the storylines wrap up completely and each novel can stand alone.
Is anything or anyone in this book based on real-life experiences?
The idea for the series came from a real-life law enforcement dive team in North Carolina. I saw them give a demonstration of underwater evidence recovery and my brain started swirling with ideas.
Who was your favorite character in this story, and why?
I’m always partial to my main characters, but two secondary characters really stole my heart. Miss Edna (the emergency department secretary) and Mr. Cook (an older gentlemen in the community) had some fun dialogue. Their scenes were some of my favorite to write.
Compared to your other books, was this one easy to complete or challenging? Any idea why?
This was challenging in a new way because of the research required to get the diving/police/medical scenes right.
What was the hardest scene in this book to write? What made it difficult?
I have a scene where a character consumes something that has been laced with a drug. I rewrote that scene several times to get it just right.
What did you (or your editors) edit out of this book?
We really didn’t edit any scenes out of the book, which was kind of a shame. I like having a couple of deleted scenes to share with readers.
What’s the most difficult thing about writing from the point of view of the opposite sex?
I really enjoy writing my heroes. I was a chemical engineer before I had children. Most of my coworkers were men and they were a blast to work with. Now I get a kick out of writing male dialogue, especially when the hero is talking with his coworkers or buddies. I do try to be careful to make sure their responses and internal dialogue are a good match for their personalities—and that they don’t sound like the women.
Purchase a copy of Beneath the Surface
Amazon | Barnes and Noble | CBD | LynnBlackburn.com
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Hidden Legacy (Love Inspired, June 2017) and Covert Justice, winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.
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February 28, 2018
Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt Stop #9
Welcome to the Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt!
If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to start at Stop #1, and collect the clues through all 30 stops, in order, so you can enter to win one of our top 5 grand prizes!
• The hunt BEGINS on 3/1 at noon MST with Stop #1 at LisaTawnBergren.com.
• Hunt through our loop using Chrome or Firefox as your browser (not
Explorer).
• There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt—you have all weekend (until
Sunday, 3/4 at midnight MST)! So take your time to read the unique posts
along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books.
• Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each
author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter form at Stop #30. (Pssst….many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!)
It is my honor to host the multi-award winning author Jody Hedlund. The first book of Jody’s that I read was The Preacher’s Bride. I LOVED IT. She’s an excellent writer, and oh! her subjects! Awesome choices. Jody finds untold stories and brings heroes of the faith to live in a refreshing and relevant way. I mean this very genuinely: Jody Hedlund is an author for whom I have enormous admiration.
Here’s a summary of Together Forever, Jody’s newest release.
Marianne Neumann has one goal in life: to find her lost younger sister. When Marianne takes a job as a placing agent with the Children’s Aid Society in 1858 New York, she not only hopes to give children a better life but seeks her sister as well. As she teams up with Andrew Brady placing orphans amid small railroad towns in Illinois, they find themselves growing ever closer . . . until a shocking tragedy threatens to upend all their work and change one of their lives forever.
30,000 Abandoned Children by Jody Hedlund
Imagine a city where 30,000 abandoned and homeless children live on the streets.
Sounds like something from a futuristic dystopian novel, doesn’t it? Or something that might happen after a war or apocalypse or major disaster, right?
This exact thing actually happened in the 1850’s. And the city was New York City. It’s hard to believe, but an estimated 30,000 homeless children roamed the dirty city streets and alleys of New York City.
30,000. Children. Let that sink in for a minute. That’s the size of a town.
Historians look back on that time and try to make sense what led to such horrific conditions for children. Of course, the influx of immigrants was at an all time high. Jobs and housing were scarce. Diseases were rampant. Hunger and poverty became a norm. (Orphan Train Depot)
As more and more people became aware of the enormous problem within the crowded slums, courageous heroes rose up and attempted to do their part to make a difference.
While we may not always agree with the methods that were used to save the thousands of homeless children, we can admire the men and women who could no longer sit idly by.
The Children’s Aid Society was started by Charles Loring Brace as one such attempt to help the hordes of homeless children. His “Emigration Plan” is better known today by the term “Orphan Trains.”
My latest series tackles various elements of the orphan train movement. Together Forever, releasing in May, highlights the placing agents, those devoted people who rode the trains with the orphans. The agents spent weeks and months on the road caring for the children, all the while trying to place them in loving homes.
(If you’d like to try out the series, start with my FREE novella, An Awakened Heart.)
Like the brave men and women who came before us, may we always strive to do our part to make a difference!
Jody Hedlund is the best-selling author of over twenty historicals for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Award. When she’s not penning another of her page-turning stories, she loves to spend her time reading, especially when it also involves consuming coffee and chocolate.
Here’s the Stop #9 Skinny:
You can order Jody’s book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, CBD or at your local bookstore!
Clue to Write Down: to read
Link to Stop #10, the Next Stop on the Loop: Jody Hedlund’s own site!
February 27, 2018
Nantucket Trivia: Winners Announced!
Congratulations to all the winner’s from this week’s trivia:
Welcome: Jill Ivy
Day One: J.E. Grace
Day Two: Shaun Renee Paulsen
Day Three: Rebecca Carroll
Day Four: Amy Crockett Lowe
Day Five: John Signoreli Jr.
Day Six: Christine Kilner
Yesterday’s answer: Bonnet and skirt are made of silk, not cotton. The Quakers were staunch abolitionists.
And congratulations to Sonja Hoeke-Nishimoto who won our grand prize: iPad Mini + a copy of Phoebe’s Light + $5 Starbucks gift card!
Winners: If you have not already done so, please e-mail your mailing address to my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com).
More about Phoebe’s Light
Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Mitchell, a man whom she loathes.
Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way–just in time.
In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.
To learn more, and to purchase a copy, CLICK HERE
Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.
February 26, 2018
Nantucket Trivia: Day Six
Join us for the next week as we share trivia, fun, and giveaways to celebrate the release of Phoebe’s Light!
What do you notice about this Quaker clothing?
Think you know the answer? For a chance to win a copy of Phoebe’s Light and a $5 Starbucks gift card, fill out the answer in the Rafflecopter. Winner (and answer) will be announced on tomorrow’s post! Good luck!
Friday’s answer: The bars on the window belong to the town gaol (jail). A dark and dingy place!
Congratulation to Friday’s winner John Signoreli Jr. Please e-mail my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com) with your mailing address!
More about Phoebe’s Light
Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Mitchell, a man whom she loathes.
Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way–just in time.
In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.
To learn more, and to purchase a copy, CLICK HERE
Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.
February 23, 2018
Nantucket Trivia: Day Five
Join us for the next week as we share trivia, fun, and giveaways to celebrate the release of Phoebe’s Light!
Why do you think those bars are on the window?
Think you know the answer? For a chance to win a copy of Phoebe’s Light and a $5 Starbucks gift card, fill out the answer in the Rafflecopter. Winner (and answer) will be announced on tomorrow’s post! Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Yesterday’s answer: They’re called friendship steps, for neighbors to visit. Streets are narrow on Nantucket Island.Congratulation to yesterday’s winner Amy Crockett Lowe. Please e-mail my assistant Christen (christenkrumm@gmail.com) with your mailing address!
More about Phoebe’s Light
Phoebe Starbuck has always adjusted her sails and rudder to the whims of her father. Now, for the first time, she’s doing what she wants to do: marrying Captain Phineas Foulger and sailing far away from Nantucket. As she leaves on her grand adventure, her father gives her two gifts, both of which Phoebe sees little need for. The first is an old sheepskin journal from Great Mary, her highly revered great-grandmother. The other is a “minder” on the whaling ship in the form of cooper Matthew Mitchell, a man whom she loathes.
Soon Phoebe discovers that life at sea is no easier than life on land. Lonely, seasick, and disillusioned, she turns the pages of Great Mary’s journal and finds herself drawn into the life of this noble woman. To Phoebe’s shock, her great-grandmother has left a secret behind that carries repercussions for everyone aboard the ship, especially her husband the captain and her shadow the cooper. This story within a story catapults Phoebe into seeing her life in an entirely new way–just in time.
In this brand-new series, bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher brings her signature twists and turns to bear on a fascinating new faith community: the Quakers of colonial-era Nantucket Island.
To learn more, and to purchase a copy, CLICK HERE
Are you new here? You might want to subscribe to my email updates, or follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+, or Instagram.
