Ruth O'Neil's Blog, page 19
January 18, 2015
Wisdom
"I will instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths." Proverbs 4:11Years ago I prayed for wisdom about a certain situation. Now, praying for wisdom doesn’t have quite the same results as those who pray for faith or patience (which we should all do from time to time), but it definitely opened my eyes to see surprising things. Praying for wisdom has become almost a constant prayer as I have raised my children and have made daily decisions. If you make praying for wisdom a habit God will answer in ways you never expected.
One week, probably a year ago or more, the same book was mentioned (raved about) to me three times in one week. I figured this was a good book to add to my TBR pile. Finally I was able to pick up and read it, or at least start reading. With every page I turned a new question popped into my head.
“Will this book get any better?”
“Who thought this was a good book?”
“Who told this author he/she could write?”
Then there was the last question that popped into my head, “Wait, is that what the Bible really says?”
That was when I began to do a little research. I looked up the reviews on Amazon, and there were a lot of them. There were plenty of four and five star reviews, but I skipped over them and went right to the one star reviews. It was then I received confirmation of my thoughts while reading. I wasn’t alone in my beliefs. Some nice people had even taken the time to look up Scripture passages against what the author said.
Then, God gave me peace. I had my convictions and I stood by them.
You may have had similar circumstances. Sometimes standing on your convictions can put you in a very small minority; but we have to have faith that God has spoken to our hearts. Sometimes people get so caught up in the feel-good aspects of life that they don’t look any deeper or seek out God’s wisdom. They take everything at face value and don’t ever realize the repercussions could be damaging.
So, make it a point to day to ask for wisdom in everything you do. Even the smallest of choices can have the biggest consequences.
January 11, 2015
Song of the Week - Francesca Batistelli's "He Knows My Name"
I love music. While I don’t have any particular talents as far as music is concerned, it always comes with good memories attached. My mom often had music playing while she did her sewing work. My sisters and I often sand in the car – there was no need for a radio – and we often put on musical numbers in the living room when my parents weren’t home.
Now, I enjoy having music playing while I putter around the house. I turn the volume up and sing a little louder when no one is home.
I find music inspirational at times. As part of a series this year, I want to post a song of the week – at least try to. I’m not always very good at keeping up with things I set out to do.
This week my song by by Francesca Batistelli, “He Knows My Name.” In my line of work as a writer, people strive for name recognition. They are often looking for fame and fortune. I even have dreams that one of my books will make it to the big screen (Can’t hurt to dream, right?). But in the grand scheme of things, what’s really important? It’s important that I do everything I do, not just my job, to the best of my ability and to the glory of God. After all, He is the One who knows all about me. He created me, and I live for Him. I want Him to know my name.
Click below and really listen to the words of the song. This week let’s focus on getting our priorities straight, whether we are in the middle of writing the Great American Novel, negotiating movie rights, or just doing the laundry.
Now, I enjoy having music playing while I putter around the house. I turn the volume up and sing a little louder when no one is home.
I find music inspirational at times. As part of a series this year, I want to post a song of the week – at least try to. I’m not always very good at keeping up with things I set out to do.
This week my song by by Francesca Batistelli, “He Knows My Name.” In my line of work as a writer, people strive for name recognition. They are often looking for fame and fortune. I even have dreams that one of my books will make it to the big screen (Can’t hurt to dream, right?). But in the grand scheme of things, what’s really important? It’s important that I do everything I do, not just my job, to the best of my ability and to the glory of God. After all, He is the One who knows all about me. He created me, and I live for Him. I want Him to know my name.
Click below and really listen to the words of the song. This week let’s focus on getting our priorities straight, whether we are in the middle of writing the Great American Novel, negotiating movie rights, or just doing the laundry.
January 8, 2015
Common Bonds and Warm Memories
I know I’ve said this before, but it bears repeating: I love it when I can see the hand of God at work! Probably everyone knows that I do a lot of freelance work. One day I found an ad for an anthology. I had what I thought was the perfect story, so I sent it. A little while later I received a phone call from the woman heading it up, Nancy. We talked for a while, seeming to hit it off. Of course, with both of us being writers there was naturally a common bond.
A few months later the book came out. As I read through the other authors’ stories I realized mine was different. Mine was a little more on the humorous side than the serious. Nancy then sent me a message inviting me to like the book’s Facebook page and send a photo and an update to the story. She then sent me a friend request so she could tag me in the Facebook post.
It was after we were friends and she was looking at my Facebook page that she realized we had another common bond. We both attended Houghton College. Now this may not seem like much to you, but I’ve been to Houghton. And for anyone else who’s been there, they know that it’s a special type of common bond. You see Houghton is small, very, very small. There were only 1500 students there when I attended. Not to mention it’s in one of the remotest parts of New York State ever. Civilization is about an hour away. When two people realize they have both been there, it’s a big deal.
Houghton is where I learned a lot about writing. It was where I matured as a Christian. It was where I made some of my best friends with whom I am still in contact today.
While Nancy and I were separated by a few years at Houghton, we walked the same ground, we ate at the same cafeteria, and we worshiped the same chapel.
As Christians, we all have a common bond already, but when we can see that God has given us more commonalities it just proves to me how He is at work in our lives every day.
It’s the beginning of a new year and I challenge you to find common bonds between you and other Christians besides your faith. Have you had similar experiences? Do you like some of the same things? Your similarities may draw you into a friendship you never expected, leaving you blessed beyond belief.
If you’d like a copy of the book, just click on the cover to the right. It will make you cry and my story may make you laugh.
And…since it’s Thursday, here’s a few throwback pictures that some of you Houghton people may enjoy. Warm memories on this cold day!
A few months later the book came out. As I read through the other authors’ stories I realized mine was different. Mine was a little more on the humorous side than the serious. Nancy then sent me a message inviting me to like the book’s Facebook page and send a photo and an update to the story. She then sent me a friend request so she could tag me in the Facebook post.
It was after we were friends and she was looking at my Facebook page that she realized we had another common bond. We both attended Houghton College. Now this may not seem like much to you, but I’ve been to Houghton. And for anyone else who’s been there, they know that it’s a special type of common bond. You see Houghton is small, very, very small. There were only 1500 students there when I attended. Not to mention it’s in one of the remotest parts of New York State ever. Civilization is about an hour away. When two people realize they have both been there, it’s a big deal.
Houghton is where I learned a lot about writing. It was where I matured as a Christian. It was where I made some of my best friends with whom I am still in contact today.
While Nancy and I were separated by a few years at Houghton, we walked the same ground, we ate at the same cafeteria, and we worshiped the same chapel.
As Christians, we all have a common bond already, but when we can see that God has given us more commonalities it just proves to me how He is at work in our lives every day.It’s the beginning of a new year and I challenge you to find common bonds between you and other Christians besides your faith. Have you had similar experiences? Do you like some of the same things? Your similarities may draw you into a friendship you never expected, leaving you blessed beyond belief.
If you’d like a copy of the book, just click on the cover to the right. It will make you cry and my story may make you laugh.
And…since it’s Thursday, here’s a few throwback pictures that some of you Houghton people may enjoy. Warm memories on this cold day!
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December 17, 2014
Book of the Day with Author Norma Gail
Please welcome Author Norma Gail as my guest today. She is a writer of contemporary Christian romance. I am featuring her book Land of My Dreams today. Read the interview below and click on the cover to find out more information.
When and why did you begin writing?
I was in junior high when I first began writing, though I have been making up stories for as long as I can remember. When I married and was working full-time as an RN, I quit writing and didn’t start again for over 20 years. During that time I would write letters to the editor and letters about various issues, always believing in the power of the written word to communicate, but it took my father’s death in 1995 to start me writing poetry, then devotionals, and finally my long-time dream of fiction again.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Land of My Dreams is the story that wouldn’t go away. It began while preparing for a trip to Scotland to celebrate our 30thanniversary, but I didn’t begin writing it until I was sidelined by a broken foot in 2008. Along with the desire to tell the story was also a knowledge that I wasn’t getting any younger and if I was going to find out if I had what it took it was now or never.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I write from the seat of my pants. The words just flow as I sit at the computer. I can ignore hunger, darkness, timers, everything, when I am in the middle of an important scene. Then I revise, revise, and revise again. It may not be the most efficient way to write, but it’s how my mind works.
Can you tell us about your book?
Land of My Dreams is a contemporary Christian romance, about an American college professor struggling for faith and finding love when she lease expects it. When she accepts a position at a small college in Scotland, Bonny Bryant has no idea that she will find love with widowed Scottish sheep farmer, Kieran MacDonell, or the twists, turns, and matters of faith that will test them. Land of My Dreams travels from New Mexico’s high desert mountains to the misty Scottish Highlands with a story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling faith.
How did you come up with the title?
The title, Land of My Dreams, is the result of a dream about a Scottish man in his kilt, high on a misty mountain with his bagpipes and his sheep. Visiting Scotland had been a dream of mine since I was a child, and the trip was everything I hoped it would be. It is also symbolic of the dream of the heroine, Bonny Bryant, that she would find peace in place of the loss and heartbreak she has suffered.
Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 19 years. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 38 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma on the Internet at:
www.normagail.org
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail
https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pub
http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459.Norma_Gail
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2
https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail
When and why did you begin writing?
I was in junior high when I first began writing, though I have been making up stories for as long as I can remember. When I married and was working full-time as an RN, I quit writing and didn’t start again for over 20 years. During that time I would write letters to the editor and letters about various issues, always believing in the power of the written word to communicate, but it took my father’s death in 1995 to start me writing poetry, then devotionals, and finally my long-time dream of fiction again.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Land of My Dreams is the story that wouldn’t go away. It began while preparing for a trip to Scotland to celebrate our 30thanniversary, but I didn’t begin writing it until I was sidelined by a broken foot in 2008. Along with the desire to tell the story was also a knowledge that I wasn’t getting any younger and if I was going to find out if I had what it took it was now or never.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I write from the seat of my pants. The words just flow as I sit at the computer. I can ignore hunger, darkness, timers, everything, when I am in the middle of an important scene. Then I revise, revise, and revise again. It may not be the most efficient way to write, but it’s how my mind works.
Can you tell us about your book?
Land of My Dreams is a contemporary Christian romance, about an American college professor struggling for faith and finding love when she lease expects it. When she accepts a position at a small college in Scotland, Bonny Bryant has no idea that she will find love with widowed Scottish sheep farmer, Kieran MacDonell, or the twists, turns, and matters of faith that will test them. Land of My Dreams travels from New Mexico’s high desert mountains to the misty Scottish Highlands with a story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling faith.
How did you come up with the title?
The title, Land of My Dreams, is the result of a dream about a Scottish man in his kilt, high on a misty mountain with his bagpipes and his sheep. Visiting Scotland had been a dream of mine since I was a child, and the trip was everything I hoped it would be. It is also symbolic of the dream of the heroine, Bonny Bryant, that she would find peace in place of the loss and heartbreak she has suffered.
Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 19 years. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 38 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma on the Internet at:
www.normagail.org
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorNormaGail
https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pub
http://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459.Norma_Gail
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2
https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail
Book of the Day with Author Norma Holtman
Please welcome Author Norma Holtman as my guest today. She is a writer of contemporary Christian romance. I am featuring her book Land of My Dreams today. Read the interview below and click on the cover to find out more information.
When and why did you begin writing?
I was in junior high when I first began writing, though I have been making up stories for as long as I can remember. When I married and was working full-time as an RN, I quit writing and didn’t start again for over 20 years. During that time I would write letters to the editor and letters about various issues, always believing in the power of the written word to communicate, but it took my father’s death in 1995 to start me writing poetry, then devotionals, and finally my long-time dream of fiction again.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Land of My Dreams is the story that wouldn’t go away. It began while preparing for a trip to Scotland to celebrate our 30thanniversary, but I didn’t begin writing it until I was sidelined by a broken foot in 2008. Along with the desire to tell the story was also a knowledge that I wasn’t getting any younger and if I was going to find out if I had what it took it was now or never.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I write from the seat of my pants. The words just flow as I sit at the computer. I can ignore hunger, darkness, timers, everything, when I am in the middle of an important scene. Then I revise, revise, and revise again. It may not be the most efficient way to write, but it’s how my mind works.
Can you tell us about your book?
Land of My Dreams is a contemporary Christian romance, about an American college professor struggling for faith and finding love when she lease expects it. When she accepts a position at a small college in Scotland, Bonny Bryant has no idea that she will find love with widowed Scottish sheep farmer, Kieran MacDonell, or the twists, turns, and matters of faith that will test them. Land of My Dreams travels from New Mexico’s high desert mountains to the misty Scottish Highlands with a story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling faith.
How did you come up with the title?
The title, Land of My Dreams, is the result of a dream about a Scottish man in his kilt, high on a misty mountain with his bagpipes and his sheep. Visiting Scotland had been a dream of mine since I was a child, and the trip was everything I hoped it would be. It is also symbolic of the dream of the heroine, Bonny Bryant, that she would find peace in place of the loss and heartbreak she has suffered.
Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 19 years. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 38 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma on the Internet at:www.normagail.orghttps://www.facebook...https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pubhttp://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459.Norma_Gailhttp://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail
When and why did you begin writing?
I was in junior high when I first began writing, though I have been making up stories for as long as I can remember. When I married and was working full-time as an RN, I quit writing and didn’t start again for over 20 years. During that time I would write letters to the editor and letters about various issues, always believing in the power of the written word to communicate, but it took my father’s death in 1995 to start me writing poetry, then devotionals, and finally my long-time dream of fiction again.
What inspired you to write your first book?
Land of My Dreams is the story that wouldn’t go away. It began while preparing for a trip to Scotland to celebrate our 30thanniversary, but I didn’t begin writing it until I was sidelined by a broken foot in 2008. Along with the desire to tell the story was also a knowledge that I wasn’t getting any younger and if I was going to find out if I had what it took it was now or never.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I write from the seat of my pants. The words just flow as I sit at the computer. I can ignore hunger, darkness, timers, everything, when I am in the middle of an important scene. Then I revise, revise, and revise again. It may not be the most efficient way to write, but it’s how my mind works.
Can you tell us about your book?
Land of My Dreams is a contemporary Christian romance, about an American college professor struggling for faith and finding love when she lease expects it. When she accepts a position at a small college in Scotland, Bonny Bryant has no idea that she will find love with widowed Scottish sheep farmer, Kieran MacDonell, or the twists, turns, and matters of faith that will test them. Land of My Dreams travels from New Mexico’s high desert mountains to the misty Scottish Highlands with a story of overwhelming grief, undying love, and compelling faith.
How did you come up with the title?
The title, Land of My Dreams, is the result of a dream about a Scottish man in his kilt, high on a misty mountain with his bagpipes and his sheep. Visiting Scotland had been a dream of mine since I was a child, and the trip was everything I hoped it would be. It is also symbolic of the dream of the heroine, Bonny Bryant, that she would find peace in place of the loss and heartbreak she has suffered.
Norma Gail’s debut contemporary Christian romance, Land of My Dreams, set in Scotland and New Mexico released in April 2014. She has led weekly women’s Bible studies for 19 years. Her devotionals, poetry have appeared at ChristianDevotions.us, the Stitches Thru Time blog, and in “The Secret Place.” She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, FaithWriters, and the New Mexico Christian Novelists. She is a former RN who lives in the mountains of New Mexico with her husband of 38 years. They have two adult children.
Connect with Norma on the Internet at:www.normagail.orghttps://www.facebook...https://plus.google.com/b/102717101441594679714/+Normagail/about/p/pubhttp://pinterest.com/normagailth/boards/https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7874459.Norma_Gailhttp://www.linkedin.com/pub/norma-gail-thurston-holtman/42/71a/3b2https://twitter.com/Norma_Gail
December 16, 2014
Book of the Day with Author Marcy Dyer
My Book of the Day Author is suspense writer Marcy Dyer. Please welcome her. Keep reading to find out more about her and her books.
When and why did you begin writing?
I've been writing for as long as I can remember, but about ten years ago, I began to take it more seriously. As I grew more serious about writing, I began learning as much as I could about the craft.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book was written many, many years ago and to be honest, I don't remember the inspiration for it. My first published book was inspired by my wild imagination. I had a character in mind, then I thought about how she would react in various situations.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I'm a plotter. My books are all plotted out ahead of time. Often as I'm writing, the plot will morph and change, but I need the basic plot down before I begin.
Can you tell us about your book?
My most recent book, Blood & Lies, is the 3rd in the Desert Winds Series.
While JD Miller is chaperoning a group of teens on a mission trip to Kherson, Ukraine, one of the boys vanishes from the group without a trace.
Leandra Davis hasn't seen her father in over twenty years when he shows up and asks her to fly to Ukraine to join the search for a brother she's never met. Anger at her absentee father compels her to walk out and ignore his pleas, but anguish at the thought of her brother all alone in a foreign country, at the mercy of kidnappers, convinces her to abandon her life in Odessa, Texas and join the search.
When she and her best friend fly to Ukraine to search for the kidnapped teen, she meets the passionate paramedic, JD Miller. Together, they search for the missing young man and begin to uncover deadly secrets Leandra's father wants to keep hidden.
How did you come up with the title?
The titles of the Desert Winds Series play off each other. The titles are: Down & Out; Out for Blood, Blood & Lies and coming next November, Lies & Alibis.
To find out more about Marcy you can visit her at her website, Facebook, and Twitter. You can click on any one of her books covers to find out more about each one.
Thanks for coming today, Marcy! I enjoyed your visit.
When and why did you begin writing? I've been writing for as long as I can remember, but about ten years ago, I began to take it more seriously. As I grew more serious about writing, I began learning as much as I could about the craft.
What inspired you to write your first book?
My first book was written many, many years ago and to be honest, I don't remember the inspiration for it. My first published book was inspired by my wild imagination. I had a character in mind, then I thought about how she would react in various situations.
Do you have a specific writing style?
I'm a plotter. My books are all plotted out ahead of time. Often as I'm writing, the plot will morph and change, but I need the basic plot down before I begin.
Can you tell us about your book?
My most recent book, Blood & Lies, is the 3rd in the Desert Winds Series.
While JD Miller is chaperoning a group of teens on a mission trip to Kherson, Ukraine, one of the boys vanishes from the group without a trace.
Leandra Davis hasn't seen her father in over twenty years when he shows up and asks her to fly to Ukraine to join the search for a brother she's never met. Anger at her absentee father compels her to walk out and ignore his pleas, but anguish at the thought of her brother all alone in a foreign country, at the mercy of kidnappers, convinces her to abandon her life in Odessa, Texas and join the search.
When she and her best friend fly to Ukraine to search for the kidnapped teen, she meets the passionate paramedic, JD Miller. Together, they search for the missing young man and begin to uncover deadly secrets Leandra's father wants to keep hidden.
How did you come up with the title?
The titles of the Desert Winds Series play off each other. The titles are: Down & Out; Out for Blood, Blood & Lies and coming next November, Lies & Alibis.
To find out more about Marcy you can visit her at her website, Facebook, and Twitter. You can click on any one of her books covers to find out more about each one.
Thanks for coming today, Marcy! I enjoyed your visit.
December 15, 2014
Book of the Day with Author Parker J. Cole
My Book of the Day Guest Author to day is Parker J. Cole. If you like speculative fiction, you might want to give her books a read.
Thanks for joining me today, Parker. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a diehard Trekkie fan (TOS) sci-fi lover, off and on Mountain Dew recovering addict, knitter, reader, singer, and radio show host. I’ve been married for almost eight years.
What type of books do you write?
I have two great loves, speculative fiction (with an emphasis in horror) and romances. One may wonder, why those two? They’re opposites! Well, to be honest, I grew up reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz and other like-minded authors. Then I discovered romances one year when I found an Harlequin book under my cousin’s bed when I was fourteen. Over the years, I’ve found I can blend my faith with my love for speculative fiction and romance. Now, I have a happy medium.
What about your newest book?
Leah Westwood loves her husband Jacob with all her heart, even as the smoldering glances of her ex-flame Vincent Miller continue to affect her. What she once shared with Vincent threatens to rip apart the bonds she is trying to build with her husband.
Jacob's heart belongs to Leah, but his body refuses to accept that. Rachel is the one who has been his mainstay at the most difficult times in his life. How could he leave her alone?
Vincent wants Leah back and all he has to do is watch and wait as Jacob and Leah's relationship unravels.
Ultimately, Leah must make a choice . . . between fantasy and fidelity.
What gave you the idea/inspiration for this book?
The idea came to me a couple of years ago. The Other Man was the first book I worked on in the Sins of the Flesh series, but I set it aside when my main character’s sister and husband bopped me on the head and told me to tell their story first. Their book is entitled Many Strange Women. After I finished, Leah, Jacob, and Vincent all crowded around, looking down at me and so I have to finish their story.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The only thing challenging about my writing is the lack of clones to write down all my ideas.
I would love to include a little ditty about why you wrote this book, a funny story about something that happened while you were writing, a difficulty you had while writing, or simply a word to your readers.
A funny thing that happened with this story is that I had about a hundred pages of a subplot involving Celeste and Solomon from the first book included in this one. My agent, who read the first draft of it, suggested I remove it. At first, I didn’t want to but then I realized if I continued in this vein, the book would be over 500 pages long. Needless to say, I removed it.
I know you do a radio show. How did you get involved in that? Also give me info on when people can tune in.
The radio show idea was suggested by my agent and I simply went with it. I was surprised because I never thought I’d be doing something like this. A year prior to the show, I met the producer of the network at a business networking function. So when my agent gave me the idea, I contacted the producer and the rest as they say is history.
I have two shows. The first, called Write Stuff, is on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm Eastern time where I showcase Christian authors of fiction and non-fiction. The second is called The Parker J Cole show where I also interview guests, provide commentary, and talk about things in, out, and about the Church. It airs on Saturdays at 2:00 pm Eastern time.
If Parker's book sounds like something that would interest you, simply click on the cover.
You can find Parker on her website, her radio show, or send her an email writestuffradio@gmail.com.
Thanks for joining me today, Parker. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
I’m a diehard Trekkie fan (TOS) sci-fi lover, off and on Mountain Dew recovering addict, knitter, reader, singer, and radio show host. I’ve been married for almost eight years. What type of books do you write?
I have two great loves, speculative fiction (with an emphasis in horror) and romances. One may wonder, why those two? They’re opposites! Well, to be honest, I grew up reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz and other like-minded authors. Then I discovered romances one year when I found an Harlequin book under my cousin’s bed when I was fourteen. Over the years, I’ve found I can blend my faith with my love for speculative fiction and romance. Now, I have a happy medium.
What about your newest book?
Leah Westwood loves her husband Jacob with all her heart, even as the smoldering glances of her ex-flame Vincent Miller continue to affect her. What she once shared with Vincent threatens to rip apart the bonds she is trying to build with her husband.
Jacob's heart belongs to Leah, but his body refuses to accept that. Rachel is the one who has been his mainstay at the most difficult times in his life. How could he leave her alone?
Vincent wants Leah back and all he has to do is watch and wait as Jacob and Leah's relationship unravels.
Ultimately, Leah must make a choice . . . between fantasy and fidelity.What gave you the idea/inspiration for this book?
The idea came to me a couple of years ago. The Other Man was the first book I worked on in the Sins of the Flesh series, but I set it aside when my main character’s sister and husband bopped me on the head and told me to tell their story first. Their book is entitled Many Strange Women. After I finished, Leah, Jacob, and Vincent all crowded around, looking down at me and so I have to finish their story.
Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?
The only thing challenging about my writing is the lack of clones to write down all my ideas.
I would love to include a little ditty about why you wrote this book, a funny story about something that happened while you were writing, a difficulty you had while writing, or simply a word to your readers.
A funny thing that happened with this story is that I had about a hundred pages of a subplot involving Celeste and Solomon from the first book included in this one. My agent, who read the first draft of it, suggested I remove it. At first, I didn’t want to but then I realized if I continued in this vein, the book would be over 500 pages long. Needless to say, I removed it.
I know you do a radio show. How did you get involved in that? Also give me info on when people can tune in.
The radio show idea was suggested by my agent and I simply went with it. I was surprised because I never thought I’d be doing something like this. A year prior to the show, I met the producer of the network at a business networking function. So when my agent gave me the idea, I contacted the producer and the rest as they say is history.
I have two shows. The first, called Write Stuff, is on Tuesdays at 7:00 pm Eastern time where I showcase Christian authors of fiction and non-fiction. The second is called The Parker J Cole show where I also interview guests, provide commentary, and talk about things in, out, and about the Church. It airs on Saturdays at 2:00 pm Eastern time.
If Parker's book sounds like something that would interest you, simply click on the cover.
You can find Parker on her website, her radio show, or send her an email writestuffradio@gmail.com.
December 14, 2014
Book of the Day with Author Naomi Musch
My Book of the Day Author today is Naomi Musch. Naomi is an award winning author who writes from the pristine north woods of Wisconsin, where she and husband Jeff live as epically as God allows on a ramshackle farm where they spend quality time with their children and grandchildren. Amidst it, she writes novels about imperfect people who are finding hope and faith to overcome their struggles.
In non-fiction venues, Naomi spent five years as a staff writer for the EPA award-winning Midwestern Christian newspaper, Living Stones News, telling true-life stories of changed lives. She has also written dozens of magazine and internet articles for the purpose of encouraging homeschooling families and young writers, and she is currently serving on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Writers' Association.
Continue reading to find out more about her and her writing.
How long have you been writing?
I turned in my first story for critique to my 4th grade teacher when I was 10, so I've been writing for a long time. Writing for publication didn't start until I was in my later twenties, and I first published a novel in my 40s. I just recently signed a contract for my 8th novel, The Love Coward, which will be the 6th with Desert Breeze Publishing releasing in May '15.
What gave you the writing bug?
As a child, learning to read was so thrilling to me. Writing became the natural next step. I was born a story-teller. I first seriously tackled penning a novel in 1983 when I was in my early twenties. That novel is in a file somewhere, never published, but it sure felt great to write it! I'd just finished reading Great Expectations, and my first Christian romance, Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly. So I set out to write a prairie romance with the vastly intertwined plot structure of a Dickens novel. It was great training.
What type of books do your write?
Nowadays I mostly write historical fiction with a strong romantic element. The book I'm sharing here today is a step away from that. It's a full length, fantasy version of Beauty and the Beast called Trevelyan, but even that felt like writing historical fiction. I would classify most of my writing as Women's Fiction, because there are always issues of interest to women flowing through my work, and my work tends to be multi-point of view, and the hero and heroine don't always meet on page one. I sometimes also tag my work as "Wilderness Fiction", because most of my stories either take place in the wilderness or in some country setting. My next novel takes place largely on a farm in rural Wisconsin right after WWII. I only have one contemporary novel set in town, and that's a town on the shores of Lake Superior. That outdoor element plays strongly in the story (Paint Me Althena).
How do you come up with ideas?
I don't come up with ideas. Ideas come up to me. They leap in front and shout, "Ta-da! We're here!" That often happens if I read about something historical that intrigues me, or if someone I am close to is dealing with an issue that stirs me, or if a Scripture passage speaks to my heart in a special way that I know a character could convey in action.
The Empire in Pine series (The Green Veil, The Red Fury, The Black Rose) chronicles a great deal of lumberjack/railroad history in Wisconsin, while telling the romantic, adventuresome stories of three generations of women. Writing those stories was a thrill as I learned more about my own state.
Paint Me Althena came to me as a dream after thinking long thoughts about women I knew who were considering leaving their families to "find themselves".
As for Trevelyan, I'd always wanted to expand on the children's fairy tale, so I did.
I would love to include a little ditty about why you wrote this book, a funny story about something that happened while you were writing, a difficulty you had while writing, or simply a word to your readers.
I wrote Trevelyan - A Tale of Beauty and The Beast because it's the fairytale I loved reading over and over again as a child, but always felt there was more to the story. I wrote the first draft before Disney made their movie, and readdressed the work years later as a gift for my kids and grandkids. That made the story even more special. I read it aloud to them. What a delight to see how much they enjoyed it! I've since discovered that even though the book is listed as a Young Adult novel, readers of all ages have really loved it.
I hope readers will hop on over to my one of these social media sites and say hello. Check out all my novels while you're there. They're available as both paperback and ebook except for the novella Heart Not Taken, which is e-only.
Find me here:
Amazon
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
www.naomimusch.com
More Reason to Write (Blog)
Google+
Trevelyan:
Swashbuckling heroes and elven princes journey to rescue Belle from captivity. For the Beast of Trevelyan and Evensong's faeries, time for redemption is running out.
Five men and two elven princes have embarked upon a quest: to save a sister from the wasteland of the Great Winter where she is held in the clutches of a Monster Lord who all believe brought desecration and ruin to the once glorious kingdom of Trevelyan. It is a land where hideous creatures and madness prey upon the careless, a land where faerie magic has taken an evil turn. For fifty years, no man or ally of men has been safe beyond the Cranreuch Plain.
Until Belle's choice leads them all to discover the truth.
Now rescuing her might come at a cost no one expects -- and from an evil no one but a princely beast and the faeries of Evensong ever anticipated.
If you want to find out more about Naomi's books, click on the book cover or any one of her links.
Thanks for visiting, Naomi! It was a pleasure having you.
In non-fiction venues, Naomi spent five years as a staff writer for the EPA award-winning Midwestern Christian newspaper, Living Stones News, telling true-life stories of changed lives. She has also written dozens of magazine and internet articles for the purpose of encouraging homeschooling families and young writers, and she is currently serving on the board of directors for the Wisconsin Writers' Association.
Continue reading to find out more about her and her writing.
How long have you been writing?
I turned in my first story for critique to my 4th grade teacher when I was 10, so I've been writing for a long time. Writing for publication didn't start until I was in my later twenties, and I first published a novel in my 40s. I just recently signed a contract for my 8th novel, The Love Coward, which will be the 6th with Desert Breeze Publishing releasing in May '15.
What gave you the writing bug?
As a child, learning to read was so thrilling to me. Writing became the natural next step. I was born a story-teller. I first seriously tackled penning a novel in 1983 when I was in my early twenties. That novel is in a file somewhere, never published, but it sure felt great to write it! I'd just finished reading Great Expectations, and my first Christian romance, Janette Oke's Love Comes Softly. So I set out to write a prairie romance with the vastly intertwined plot structure of a Dickens novel. It was great training.
What type of books do your write?
Nowadays I mostly write historical fiction with a strong romantic element. The book I'm sharing here today is a step away from that. It's a full length, fantasy version of Beauty and the Beast called Trevelyan, but even that felt like writing historical fiction. I would classify most of my writing as Women's Fiction, because there are always issues of interest to women flowing through my work, and my work tends to be multi-point of view, and the hero and heroine don't always meet on page one. I sometimes also tag my work as "Wilderness Fiction", because most of my stories either take place in the wilderness or in some country setting. My next novel takes place largely on a farm in rural Wisconsin right after WWII. I only have one contemporary novel set in town, and that's a town on the shores of Lake Superior. That outdoor element plays strongly in the story (Paint Me Althena). How do you come up with ideas?
I don't come up with ideas. Ideas come up to me. They leap in front and shout, "Ta-da! We're here!" That often happens if I read about something historical that intrigues me, or if someone I am close to is dealing with an issue that stirs me, or if a Scripture passage speaks to my heart in a special way that I know a character could convey in action.
The Empire in Pine series (The Green Veil, The Red Fury, The Black Rose) chronicles a great deal of lumberjack/railroad history in Wisconsin, while telling the romantic, adventuresome stories of three generations of women. Writing those stories was a thrill as I learned more about my own state.
Paint Me Althena came to me as a dream after thinking long thoughts about women I knew who were considering leaving their families to "find themselves".
As for Trevelyan, I'd always wanted to expand on the children's fairy tale, so I did.
I would love to include a little ditty about why you wrote this book, a funny story about something that happened while you were writing, a difficulty you had while writing, or simply a word to your readers.
I wrote Trevelyan - A Tale of Beauty and The Beast because it's the fairytale I loved reading over and over again as a child, but always felt there was more to the story. I wrote the first draft before Disney made their movie, and readdressed the work years later as a gift for my kids and grandkids. That made the story even more special. I read it aloud to them. What a delight to see how much they enjoyed it! I've since discovered that even though the book is listed as a Young Adult novel, readers of all ages have really loved it.
I hope readers will hop on over to my one of these social media sites and say hello. Check out all my novels while you're there. They're available as both paperback and ebook except for the novella Heart Not Taken, which is e-only.
Find me here:
Amazon
Goodreads
www.naomimusch.com
More Reason to Write (Blog)
Google+
Trevelyan:
Swashbuckling heroes and elven princes journey to rescue Belle from captivity. For the Beast of Trevelyan and Evensong's faeries, time for redemption is running out.
Five men and two elven princes have embarked upon a quest: to save a sister from the wasteland of the Great Winter where she is held in the clutches of a Monster Lord who all believe brought desecration and ruin to the once glorious kingdom of Trevelyan. It is a land where hideous creatures and madness prey upon the careless, a land where faerie magic has taken an evil turn. For fifty years, no man or ally of men has been safe beyond the Cranreuch Plain.
Until Belle's choice leads them all to discover the truth.
Now rescuing her might come at a cost no one expects -- and from an evil no one but a princely beast and the faeries of Evensong ever anticipated.
If you want to find out more about Naomi's books, click on the book cover or any one of her links.
Thanks for visiting, Naomi! It was a pleasure having you.
December 9, 2014
Book of the Day with Author Tammy Doherty
If you enjoy reading inspirational romance, than today's Book of the Day Author, Tammy Doherty, is for you! I asked her a few questions about her book. See if it's one that you might like to add to your TBR pile.Tell us a little about your book.
She's Mine is an inspirational romantic suspense, set in a small town in central Massachusetts. It tells the story of Caitlin Harrington who has just moved back to her childhood home to take a new teaching job. Just in time to get away from Adam, the guy who has proven Caitlin was right when she vowed never to get married and therefore never to date. Now someone is leaving ominous notes on her door. Could it be Adam? Sean Taggart is attracted to Caitlin, but a failed engagement taught him to guard his heart. Despite Caitlin's aloof attitude, Sean's convinced she needs protecting. When he finds out the truth, can he rescue her before stalking turns to murder?What gave you the idea/inspiration for this book?
I started with the premise of a young woman who was an "ice princess" in school. What would make her aloof? Why would she not want to meet and marry the man of her dreams? I explored the possibilities related to growing up with parents whose hate for each other left no room for loving their children. So many children today are divided between parents and too many are nothing more than pawns or, worse, a nuisance, to their parents. Caitlin's childhood history grew from these observations. After that, her behavior came naturally in reaction to the situations I placed her in.
Once I created Caitlin, I knew the next logical step was to have her meet and fall in love with the man of her dreams. But there needed to be a big obstacle to overcome and since I don't write "just" romance, I knew there needed to be a mystery or suspense element that Caitlin and Sean would have to face. That's when the idea came to me: Caitlin only dated one guy who she thought of as just a friend but he thinks she belongs to him. And that's when the character of Adam took flight.
What do you hope your readers will get out of this book?
Caitlin struggles with the idea that God is always with her. She gets wrapped up in her own worries and fears, forgetting to rely on the Lord. It's such an easy thing to do. I hope my readers will see that when Caitlin turns to God, lays her anxiety at His feet and lets Him guide her, things are much better. Sean has a similar problem. He wants to be in control of his life. Yet it isn't until he lets God be in control that happiness can be reached.
There's also a double meaning to the title. Caitlin's stalker feels that she belongs to him. He warns Sean, "She's mine." In truth, Caitlin belongs to the Lord. As He orchestrates her life, he proclaims, "No, she's mine."
Are any of the characters like you or someone you know?
There is some of me in the characters. When I was younger, until senior year in high school in fact, I didn't date and never wanted to get married. Of course, my life went much differently than Caitlin's. I met my now husband during my senior year, we dated for two years then got married. Sometimes I get overwhelmed with worries and anxieties, fear about the future bashes at my faith. I've learned to fight back, to forcefully refocus on the Lord, in those times. I think we can all relate to that aspect of Caitlin.
I would love to include a little ditty about why you wrote this book, a funny story about something that happened while you were writing, a difficulty you had while writing, or simply a word to your readers.
"Claduia's"I wrote three historical novels before deciding to try contemporary romantic suspense. "They" say write what you know, so I decided to set my new stories right here in my back yard.Here's an interesting little tidbit about the restaurant Sean takes Caitlin to...it's named after my childhood babysitter! Claudia has become a friend now that I'm all grown up. She once owned and ran a pub-style restaurant here in town; it seemed natural to call the eatery in my story "Claudia's" in her honor.
Now...guess what? You can win a FREE copy of Tammy's new book. All you have to do is leave a comment and a random winner will be chosen. You have until Friday at midnight to enter.
You can find Tammy on Facebook, her website or her blog. You can purchase her book on Amazon by clicking on the cover.
December 8, 2014
Book of the Day with Author Katie Mettner
Today's Book of the Day Author is Katie Mettner. I "met" Katie through online sites geared to Christian writers wanting to help promote each other and good writing. She has some Christmas books with unique characters. You'll want to check them out. Just click on the covers to follow the links.
Welcome, Katie!
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi Ruth, thanks for having me today! My name is Katie Mettner and I live in Northern Wisconsin, where I’ve lived all my life. I’ve been married to my husband Dwayne for 15 years and have three kids, one girl and two boys. I also live with two leopard geckos and a fish, all named after Japanese Anime characters, thanks to my daughter! I’m a ballroom dancer turned amputee and I’m an advocate for amputee’s right to a well fitting prosthesis. I’m also an advocate of organ donation, because it has so closely touched my life.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
Hmmm, I guess the answer here is never. I’ve always loved to write, but up until a few years ago I didn’t even know you could self publish books. I always thought “Vanity Publishing” was a thing only rich people did. When I wrote Sugar’s Dance, my first novel (also centered around Christmas), I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I just wanted to write. When a friend read it she said, “You have to publish this!” I didn’t have a clue how. So after some investigating I found Amazon KDP and Createspace and the rest is history.
Can you tell us about your books?
I would love to! I write inspirational romance. I have several series, The Sugar Series, The Northern Lights Series, and the Snowberry Holiday series. There is some romantic suspense in the first two and the last series, Snowberry, is a new adult series. The stories are always centered around a particular Bible verse, though not Christian romance by any definition. They are real life journeys through pain and disappointment to find their true love. In each book one character has a disability they must overcome in order to find happiness. I think it is really important for people in special circumstances to see that they can find love and there is someone out there that will love them completely once they accept themselves. It isn’t easy, I know this from experience, but it’s worth it!
These particular books are centered around the Christmas season. What is it about Christmas that made you want to write them?
This is a funny story. The first in the Snowberry Series, Snow Daze, is a short novella I wrote last year for a contest. It was based loosely on my husband and mine’s relationship, which was as many romance readers call ‘instalove’. The whole book takes places in the span of a month, until the end where you get a prologue a year later. When I didn’t win the contest I published the story myself and was never more shocked to see how much people loved holiday stories! Snow Daze is a little bit spicier than the next few books in the series, but nothing graphic or outlandish. The sex in the story is there to help Snow get past her disability and accept the love Dully has to offer. Here’s where the funny part comes in, it was meant to be a standalone novella, end of story. However, there were two readers in particular who kept saying they wanted to know more about this town and these characters. “Please write another book! We want to know about Dully’s brother, Jason”, who was mentioned once in the story! So, this spring I sat down and wrote December Kiss, Noel’s Hart (January 2015) and I am currently working on April Melody, out for Easter 2015.
Can you tell us a little bit about your characters?
The characters in this series are all based around one family, The Alexanders. In the first book Dully Alexander is a special education teacher who meets Snow Daze, a physician at the local hospital where he was visiting a student. We don’t meet any other Alexanders specifically in the book, but he tells Snow about his brother, Jason, who was born with spina bifida and has been in a wheelchair his whole life. Snow is also in a wheelchair and was struggling to accept that a man like Dully could love her knowing she would always be in a chair.
Jason Alexander, Jay as he prefers to be called, was a college student when Snow Daze was written. December Kiss opens with him newly graduated and looking for a job in his hometown of Snowberry. He meets December Kiss in a rather uncomfortable situation and has to accept help from her to get back to his car when his wheelchair breaks down. Jay is a good guy, a social worker, who has seen his share of pain and disparagement. He loves his little niece, Sunny, Snow and Dully’s daughter, and Sunny plays a big role in helping him overcome his fears about being a husband and father. December is an all around awesome woman who is a nurse at the same hospital where Snow works. She slowly falls in love with Jay’s charm, but she’s been hurt deeply by her own family, including her twin, Noel. Jay stumbles upon a chance to bring the two of them together and takes it.
Noel Kiss owns and operates seven cafes in southern Minnesota. When you meet him in December Kiss he’s feeling the heaviness of not having his twin sister with him and really wants to reconcile, so when Jay shows up he takes the unexpected opportunity to do so. When he goes to Snowberry for Christmas he meets Snow’s best friend Savannah Hart. He doesn’t know why, but he instantly knows she is going to need something from him. Drawn by the need to be close to Snowberry he buys an old closed down restaurant next door to Savannah’s Flower Emporium, so he can keep an eye on the woman who has found a way into his heart, even though he still has no idea why. This is where the series diverts from the Alexanders and moves into the rest of the town as a whole.
April Melody is Noel Kiss’s right hand woman. She runs the front of the café and does the books for him, grateful to find a job where her disability can stay hidden. A child singing star God threw her the biggest curveball anyone has ever seen and she’s still trying to figure out why. When a kitchen accident sends her to the local hair salon she comes face-to-face with the man who just moved into Old Lady Lifton’s apartment next door to her, a man who just goes by ‘Crow’.
I would love to include a little ditty about why you wrote this book, a funny story about something that happened while you were writing, a difficulty you had while writing, or simply a word to your readers.
I’m sure you can see by the descriptions of the book that each book is a play on names. Snow Daze was written because I had an old patient who would come to the doctor I worked for, and her name was Snow. I always thought it was a great name for a character and finally took the plunge and based a story around it. When it came time for Jay’s story I knew it was going to end on Christmas Eve, so December Kiss was just the best name ever! Noel’s Hart, well Savannah Hart steals his, you get it. I try to find titles that will intrigue people and make them wonder how I got there with the name. The story of how the character got their name from their parents is always revealed inside the book, so the reader is never disappointed.
Where we can find out more about you and read even more of your books?
You can find me lots of places!
Amazon
Twitter
Facebook
Pinterest
www.katiemettnerbooks.blogspot.com
Welcome, Katie!
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi Ruth, thanks for having me today! My name is Katie Mettner and I live in Northern Wisconsin, where I’ve lived all my life. I’ve been married to my husband Dwayne for 15 years and have three kids, one girl and two boys. I also live with two leopard geckos and a fish, all named after Japanese Anime characters, thanks to my daughter! I’m a ballroom dancer turned amputee and I’m an advocate for amputee’s right to a well fitting prosthesis. I’m also an advocate of organ donation, because it has so closely touched my life.
When did you know you wanted to be an author?
Hmmm, I guess the answer here is never. I’ve always loved to write, but up until a few years ago I didn’t even know you could self publish books. I always thought “Vanity Publishing” was a thing only rich people did. When I wrote Sugar’s Dance, my first novel (also centered around Christmas), I had no idea what I was going to do with it, but I just wanted to write. When a friend read it she said, “You have to publish this!” I didn’t have a clue how. So after some investigating I found Amazon KDP and Createspace and the rest is history.
Can you tell us about your books?
I would love to! I write inspirational romance. I have several series, The Sugar Series, The Northern Lights Series, and the Snowberry Holiday series. There is some romantic suspense in the first two and the last series, Snowberry, is a new adult series. The stories are always centered around a particular Bible verse, though not Christian romance by any definition. They are real life journeys through pain and disappointment to find their true love. In each book one character has a disability they must overcome in order to find happiness. I think it is really important for people in special circumstances to see that they can find love and there is someone out there that will love them completely once they accept themselves. It isn’t easy, I know this from experience, but it’s worth it!
These particular books are centered around the Christmas season. What is it about Christmas that made you want to write them?
This is a funny story. The first in the Snowberry Series, Snow Daze, is a short novella I wrote last year for a contest. It was based loosely on my husband and mine’s relationship, which was as many romance readers call ‘instalove’. The whole book takes places in the span of a month, until the end where you get a prologue a year later. When I didn’t win the contest I published the story myself and was never more shocked to see how much people loved holiday stories! Snow Daze is a little bit spicier than the next few books in the series, but nothing graphic or outlandish. The sex in the story is there to help Snow get past her disability and accept the love Dully has to offer. Here’s where the funny part comes in, it was meant to be a standalone novella, end of story. However, there were two readers in particular who kept saying they wanted to know more about this town and these characters. “Please write another book! We want to know about Dully’s brother, Jason”, who was mentioned once in the story! So, this spring I sat down and wrote December Kiss, Noel’s Hart (January 2015) and I am currently working on April Melody, out for Easter 2015.Can you tell us a little bit about your characters?
The characters in this series are all based around one family, The Alexanders. In the first book Dully Alexander is a special education teacher who meets Snow Daze, a physician at the local hospital where he was visiting a student. We don’t meet any other Alexanders specifically in the book, but he tells Snow about his brother, Jason, who was born with spina bifida and has been in a wheelchair his whole life. Snow is also in a wheelchair and was struggling to accept that a man like Dully could love her knowing she would always be in a chair.
Jason Alexander, Jay as he prefers to be called, was a college student when Snow Daze was written. December Kiss opens with him newly graduated and looking for a job in his hometown of Snowberry. He meets December Kiss in a rather uncomfortable situation and has to accept help from her to get back to his car when his wheelchair breaks down. Jay is a good guy, a social worker, who has seen his share of pain and disparagement. He loves his little niece, Sunny, Snow and Dully’s daughter, and Sunny plays a big role in helping him overcome his fears about being a husband and father. December is an all around awesome woman who is a nurse at the same hospital where Snow works. She slowly falls in love with Jay’s charm, but she’s been hurt deeply by her own family, including her twin, Noel. Jay stumbles upon a chance to bring the two of them together and takes it.
Noel Kiss owns and operates seven cafes in southern Minnesota. When you meet him in December Kiss he’s feeling the heaviness of not having his twin sister with him and really wants to reconcile, so when Jay shows up he takes the unexpected opportunity to do so. When he goes to Snowberry for Christmas he meets Snow’s best friend Savannah Hart. He doesn’t know why, but he instantly knows she is going to need something from him. Drawn by the need to be close to Snowberry he buys an old closed down restaurant next door to Savannah’s Flower Emporium, so he can keep an eye on the woman who has found a way into his heart, even though he still has no idea why. This is where the series diverts from the Alexanders and moves into the rest of the town as a whole.
April Melody is Noel Kiss’s right hand woman. She runs the front of the café and does the books for him, grateful to find a job where her disability can stay hidden. A child singing star God threw her the biggest curveball anyone has ever seen and she’s still trying to figure out why. When a kitchen accident sends her to the local hair salon she comes face-to-face with the man who just moved into Old Lady Lifton’s apartment next door to her, a man who just goes by ‘Crow’.
I would love to include a little ditty about why you wrote this book, a funny story about something that happened while you were writing, a difficulty you had while writing, or simply a word to your readers.
I’m sure you can see by the descriptions of the book that each book is a play on names. Snow Daze was written because I had an old patient who would come to the doctor I worked for, and her name was Snow. I always thought it was a great name for a character and finally took the plunge and based a story around it. When it came time for Jay’s story I knew it was going to end on Christmas Eve, so December Kiss was just the best name ever! Noel’s Hart, well Savannah Hart steals his, you get it. I try to find titles that will intrigue people and make them wonder how I got there with the name. The story of how the character got their name from their parents is always revealed inside the book, so the reader is never disappointed.
Where we can find out more about you and read even more of your books?
You can find me lots of places!
Amazon
www.katiemettnerbooks.blogspot.com
