K. Dawn Byrd's Blog, page 52

Register to win Dina Sleiman's "Dance of the Dandelion"

[image error] There are four giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and check them all out! We're happy to have Dina Sleiman with us today talking about her book, "Dance of the Dandelion." To register to win a copy, leave Dia a comment with your email address and if you've not done so, place your email address in my feedburner box to the right to receive weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Dina and her book, read on!

 Title: Dance of the Dandelion
 Publisher: WhiteFire Publishing

Cover blurb: Love's quest leads her the world over.

Dandelion Dering was born a peasant in the English village of Arun, but her soul yearned for another life, another world. One filled with color and music, with adventure and passion  . . . with more. Haunted by childhood memories, Dandelion determines to find a better existence than the life every peasant in the village contents themselves with. Even if her sweetheart William's predictions prove true, and her journey leads straight to heartache.

From her sleepy hamlet to the intrigue of castle life, from the heart of London to the adventurous seas, Dandelion flees from the mistakes of her past, always seeking that something, that someone who will satisfy her longings.

Will Dandelion ever find the rhythm to her life's dance . . . or did she leave her chance for true love at home in Arun village?
1) How did this story come to you?
I first had the idea for this book in 2001. It was based roughly on a plot from an old Eugene O'Neil play where the heroine loses her true love in a war and spends the rest of the story looking for a man who can take his place. I combined this idea with the Biblical Greek definitions of love. Then I set it in medieval England to remove it from our current religious mindset and schisms. Et voila…Dance of the Dandelion was born.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
This book was a hard sell because of the medieval setting. Of course, when I wrote it I had no idea the time period would create a problem. Lots of agents and editors turned it down for this reason alone. However, they all seemed to agree that the writing was strong, so I didn't give up. WhiteFire Publishing is a small press that specializes in hard to market books, so it was a perfect fit.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) For one thing, my nose is pierced. I wear a small crystal stud and a lot of people don't even notice it.
2) My daughter is the cover model for my book. I had based the childhood version of the heroine on her years ago, so it was a wonderful blessing to get to use her for the photo shoot.
3) I've lead worship dance ministries for the better part of seventeen years.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Early next year I'll have an inspirational nonfiction book coming out with WhiteFire that will take a deeper look into many of the subjects I cover in Dandelion, including freedom in Christ, intimacy with Christ, worship, and inner healing. The book is an unconventional mix of memoir, essay, poetry, even some short stories.

Currently, my agent is shopping a contemporary series I've written. This one is women's fiction with a heaping helping of romance and a sprinkle of comedy. It features a veiled Muslim, a blonde ballerina, and a bi-racial hippie chick who search together for meaning and truth.
5) Parting comments?
I would say that while I'm still finding my genre niche as an author, there are some things you can always expect from me like authentic Christianity, inner healing themes, a focus on intimacy with Christ, and a lyrical style. My tagline is "Dance with Passion," and I hope that comes through in all my writing.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://dinasleiman.com – blog and website
http://inkwellinspirations.com – group website
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1573808600 - facebook

Lisa Lickel & Shellie Neumeier's "A Summer in Oakville"

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Title: A Summer in Oakville
Publisher: Black Lyon Publishing
Cover blurb:
One Magical Summer in Oakville, Wisconsin,
Love Finds its Way through Four Entwined Lives.

Meet Tessa, Lindsay, Art and Andy.

Tessa Hasmer Murphy has a secret. Estranged from her husband, will she let a past love and a fight to save the family farm destroy her marriage and daughter Lindsay's happiness?

Lindsay Murphy plans to live on her grandparents' farm until she can find a job, but developer Brandon Calloway has other plans for the property. As she wages war against him, will she lose her heart and the farm both?

Widower Arthur Hasmer's life and that of his son, Andy, spiral out of control. Then old friend, Dana London, reenters the picture with the power to help them all back to love, joy and faith.

Andy Hasmer has the ultimate bummer life. No mom, not much of a dad, no future. When he's sent to the farm and wrecks the truck, nothing could be worse than the lousy job he takes to pay Grampa back—except maybe putting up with the pastor's daughter, Ella.


1) How did this story come to you?
Lisa: I have to take the blame for coming up with the convoluted idea – four stories in one book was the theme of our original target publisher, romantic stories, but then we worked it out so that the stories worked with each other to tell one tale. The theme, trying to keep the rural life they are familiar with, can't bear to give up even though the adult children don't farm or live on the home place, is a very real problem in the US that few people understand. The way of the family farm has passed, and while we don't purposefully try to villainize anyone, not even the developers, I do want to draw attention to the fact that single families can't make a living, in general, from an 80-120-acre farm in the 21st century. We still grow our own food, but fewer urban children truly understand where it comes from, and it would be a shame if we lost that connection.


Shellie: Well said, Lisa! I was privileged to be a part of this collection, since it is so much more than four romantic tales. A Summer in Oakville epitomizes the difficulties rural Wisconsin—America—has experienced for generations, and it highlights the beautiful strength you find in family ties and homegrown roots. To answer your question, Dawn, the stories, Andy's and Lindsay's, came to me as I listened and watched my neighbors and friends…Lisa included.


2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Lisa: When I heard that Barbour Publishing (the publisher of my first novel, a mystery called The Gold Standard) offered one more opportunity for authors in the form of "Four-in-One" novels, I asked my new writing friend Shellie if she'd be interested in writing one with me. You can read more about that here. http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Summer-in-Oakville/200940583288468#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=202789583103568&id=200940583288468


Shellie: Not everything was as we imagined, but it was as God ordained. Fortunately, neither Lisa nor I could let this family's story sleep, and I'm so grateful it didn't sleep long! How's that for vague:D. **giggles** No really check the FB fan page.


3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Lisa: You mean, without scaring them away? Um…I'm probably the only woman in the world who wishes her hair would start thinning, I like science fiction and history, but not really at the same time, I would give up chocolate before bread.


Shellie: Oooh, can I tell Lisa's? :D. JK, though I'm sure she'd have fun telling a few of mine;). I bet readers don't know I've gone spelunking and loved it (no, really…crawled through tunnels and little caves, they have those in Wisconsin); I'm actually shy, but I work hard at overcoming that little trait (requires a lot of down time); and I have a wretched sense of humor that surfaces only when I'm tired.


4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Lisa: I'm working on a couple of projects; one is the rewrite (again) of a story I like about a couple trying to make their marriage work in today's busy-ness. He's a former medical missionary who was forced to return to the states and who never planned on getting married; she's a businesswoman who planned to marry her parent's choice for a husband and live quietly, boringly ever after. Then God laughed. I'm also teaching some more online and in person workshops and working with some other local authors on signing and panel talk events.


Shellie: I have a mid-grade chapter book, co-written with my youngest two kiddos, entitled The Wishing Ring which releases in February 2012. I'm also cleaning up a story near and dear to my heart. It's a story about an autistic seventeen year-old boy. Imagine Rainman meets Karate Kid, only this time a trophy isn't at stake, its Delaney's life.


5) Parting comments?
Lisa: thank you for having us! We love to chat with folks, and would enjoy visiting your bookclubs, too. For some fun recipes, visit our Summer in Oakville Facebook page.


Shellie: Yes, thank you! We'd love to hear your family's story too. Leave us a tale in the comments below and you'll be entered in a drawing for a copy of A Summer in Oakville. I don't know about your relatives, but I'm thinking not every family has just one black sheep…


6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Lisa: All my links can be found on my web site: http://www.lisalickel.com/

Shellie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001729933656
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/shellie_c
Website: http://shellieneumeier.com
Booktrailer: http://youtu.be/D0iUtvrC_PU
http://www.amazon.com/A-Summer-in-Oakville-ebook/dp/B005KF6I2E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1319498851&sr=8-2  

Register to win a PDF copy of Lisa Lickel & Shellie Neumeier's "A Summer in Oakville"

There are four giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and check them all out! We're happy to have Lisa J. Lickel and Shellie Neumeier with us today talking about their book, "A Summer in Oakville." To register to win a PDF copy, leave them a comment with your email address and if you've not done so, place your email address in my feedburner box to the right to receive weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Lisa and Shellie and their book, read on!
[image error] Title: A Summer in Oakville
Publisher: Black Lyon Publishing
Cover blurb:
One Magical Summer in Oakville, Wisconsin,
Love Finds its Way through Four Entwined Lives.

Meet Tessa, Lindsay, Art and Andy.

Tessa Hasmer Murphy has a secret. Estranged from her husband, will she let a past love and a fight to save the family farm destroy her marriage and daughter Lindsay's happiness?

Lindsay Murphy plans to live on her grandparents' farm until she can find a job, but developer Brandon Calloway has other plans for the property. As she wages war against him, will she lose her heart and the farm both?

Widower Arthur Hasmer's life and that of his son, Andy, spiral out of control. Then old friend, Dana London, reenters the picture with the power to help them all back to love, joy and faith.

Andy Hasmer has the ultimate bummer life. No mom, not much of a dad, no future. When he's sent to the farm and wrecks the truck, nothing could be worse than the lousy job he takes to pay Grampa back—except maybe putting up with the pastor's daughter, Ella.

1) How did this story come to you?
Lisa: I have to take the blame for coming up with the convoluted idea – four stories in one book was the theme of our original target publisher, romantic stories, but then we worked it out so that the stories worked with each other to tell one tale. The theme, trying to keep the rural life they are familiar with, can't bear to give up even though the adult children don't farm or live on the home place, is a very real problem in the US that few people understand. The way of the family farm has passed, and while we don't purposefully try to villainize anyone, not even the developers, I do want to draw attention to the fact that single families can't make a living, in general, from an 80-120-acre farm in the 21st century. We still grow our own food, but fewer urban children truly understand where it comes from, and it would be a shame if we lost that connection.

Shellie: Well said, Lisa! I was privileged to be a part of this collection, since it is so much more than four romantic tales. A Summer in Oakville epitomizes the difficulties rural Wisconsin—America—has experienced for generations, and it highlights the beautiful strength you find in family ties and homegrown roots. To answer your question, Dawn, the stories, Andy's and Lindsay's, came to me as I listened and watched my neighbors and friends…Lisa included.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Lisa: When I heard that Barbour Publishing (the publisher of my first novel, a mystery called The Gold Standard) offered one more opportunity for authors in the form of "Four-in-One" novels, I asked my new writing friend Shellie if she'd be interested in writing one with me. You can read more about that here. http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Summer-in-Oakville/200940583288468#!/permalink.php?story_fbid=202789583103568&id=200940583288468

Shellie: Not everything was as we imagined, but it was as God ordained. Fortunately, neither Lisa nor I could let this family's story sleep, and I'm so grateful it didn't sleep long! How's that for vague:D. **giggles** No really check the FB fan page.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Lisa: You mean, without scaring them away? Um…I'm probably the only woman in the world who wishes her hair would start thinning, I like science fiction and history, but not really at the same time, I would give up chocolate before bread.

Shellie: Oooh, can I tell Lisa's? :D. JK, though I'm sure she'd have fun telling a few of mine;). I bet readers don't know I've gone spelunking and loved it (no, really…crawled through tunnels and little caves, they have those in Wisconsin); I'm actually shy, but I work hard at overcoming that little trait (requires a lot of down time); and I have a wretched sense of humor that surfaces only when I'm tired.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
Lisa: I'm working on a couple of projects; one is the rewrite (again) of a story I like about a couple trying to make their marriage work in today's busy-ness. He's a former medical missionary who was forced to return to the states and who never planned on getting married; she's a businesswoman who planned to marry her parent's choice for a husband and live quietly, boringly ever after. Then God laughed. I'm also teaching some more online and in person workshops and working with some other local authors on signing and panel talk events.

Shellie: I have a mid-grade chapter book, co-written with my youngest two kiddos, entitled The Wishing Ring which releases in February 2012. I'm also cleaning up a story near and dear to my heart. It's a story about an autistic seventeen year-old boy. Imagine Rainman meets Karate Kid, only this time a trophy isn't at stake, its Delaney's life.

5) Parting comments?
Lisa: thank you for having us! We love to chat with folks, and would enjoy visiting your bookclubs, too. For some fun recipes, visit our Summer in Oakville Facebook page.

Shellie: Yes, thank you! We'd love to hear your family's story too. Leave us a tale in the comments below and you'll be entered in a drawing for a copy of A Summer in Oakville. I don't know about your relatives, but I'm thinking not every family has just one black sheep…

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Lisa: All my links can be found on my web site: http://www.lisalickel.com
Shellie: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100001729933656
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/shellie_c
Website: http://shellieneumeier.com
Booktrailer: http://youtu.be/D0iUtvrC_PU
http://www.amazon.com/A-Summer-in-Oakville-ebook/dp/B005KF6I2E/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1319498851&sr=8-2  

Cara Lynn James' "Love by the Book"

 Title: Love by the BookPublisher: Thomas Nelson


Cover blurb: Savor this sweeping love story set in a lavish seaside mansion in 1901 Rhode Island.

Melinda Hollister is a society lady, intent on finding a rich husband before her peers discover her quickly diminishing wealth. Nick Bryson is all business, focused on making a name for himself in his father's steamship line. Despite the marriage of their siblings, they rarely gave each other a second glance—until a tragic accident results in Melinda and Nick being appointed as co-guardians of their three-year-old niece Nell.

In order to get better acquainted with Nell and one another, Melinda and Nick agree to spend the summer in their own private quarters of the Bryson family vacation home, Summerhill. As their love for Nell grows, so does their attraction to each other. And for the first time in their lives, they sense that God has a bigger plan in motion.

Yet old habits die hard – and Melinda and Nick each find it difficult to resist the pull of their former worlds.

When the unthinkable happens, they find themselves faced with seemingly impossible choices and a new understanding of God's true love.

1) How did this story come to you?
My editor suggested I write a 'marriage of convenience' story because it would be really different from my first two books in the Ladies of Summerhill series, Love on a Dime and Love on Assignment. Right from the beginning the idea intrigued me, so it was fairly easy to develop characters and a plot. I already had the setting of Newport, Rhode Island during the Gilded Age. The plot turned out to be more complex than I'd initially envisioned, but lots of fun to write.


2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Since Love by the Book was the third novel in a contracted 3 book series, it wasn't difficult to get it published! It was harder to get the story just right for my editor. I'm glad she was so exacting because it made the story much stronger.


3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I don't take escalators unless I have no alternative, I could live on popcorn, and I can't carry a tune unless I'm singing with a group.


4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next book is called A Path toward Love. It'll be released in July 2012. It's set during the Gilded Age and it takes place in central Florida and Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. I'm working on revisions right now and they're keeping me very busy. Too busy.


5) Parting comments?
If you're a writer hoping to get published, I really encourage you to persevere. Don't get side tracked by discouragement, your inner critic or anything that keeps you from learning the craft.


9) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.caralynnjames.com and http://www.seekerville/.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/pages/Cara-Lynn-James

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Register to win Cara Lynn James' "Love by the Book"

 There are four giveaways this week. Be sure to scroll down and check them all out! We're happy to have Cara Lynn James with us today talking about her book, "Love by the Book." To register to win a copy, leave Cara a comment with your email address and if you've not done so, place your email address in my feedburner box to the right to receive weekly emails about giveaways. To learn more about Cara and her book, read on!
Title: Love by the BookPublisher: Thomas Nelson

Cover blurb: Savor this sweeping love story set in a lavish seaside mansion in 1901 Rhode Island.

Melinda Hollister is a society lady, intent on finding a rich husband before her peers discover her quickly diminishing wealth. Nick Bryson is all business, focused on making a name for himself in his father's steamship line. Despite the marriage of their siblings, they rarely gave each other a second glance—until a tragic accident results in Melinda and Nick being appointed as co-guardians of their three-year-old niece Nell.

In order to get better acquainted with Nell and one another, Melinda and Nick agree to spend the summer in their own private quarters of the Bryson family vacation home, Summerhill. As their love for Nell grows, so does their attraction to each other. And for the first time in their lives, they sense that God has a bigger plan in motion.

Yet old habits die hard – and Melinda and Nick each find it difficult to resist the pull of their former worlds.

When the unthinkable happens, they find themselves faced with seemingly impossible choices and a new understanding of God's true love.

1) How did this story come to you?
My editor suggested I write a 'marriage of convenience' story because it would be really different from my first two books in the Ladies of Summerhill series, Love on a Dime and Love on Assignment. Right from the beginning the idea intrigued me, so it was fairly easy to develop characters and a plot. I already had the setting of Newport, Rhode Island during the Gilded Age. The plot turned out to be more complex than I'd initially envisioned, but lots of fun to write.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Since Love by the Book was the third novel in a contracted 3 book series, it wasn't difficult to get it published! It was harder to get the story just right for my editor. I'm glad she was so exacting because it made the story much stronger.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I don't take escalators unless I have no alternative, I could live on popcorn, and I can't carry a tune unless I'm singing with a group.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
My next book is called A Path toward Love. It'll be released in July 2012. It's set during the Gilded Age and it takes place in central Florida and Raquette Lake in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. I'm working on revisions right now and they're keeping me very busy. Too busy.

5) Parting comments?
If you're a writer hoping to get published, I really encourage you to persevere. Don't get side tracked by discouragement, your inner critic or anything that keeps you from learning the craft.

9) Where can fans find you on the internet?
www.caralynnjames.com and www.seekerville.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/pages/Cara-Lynn-James

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Rose McCauley's "Christmas Belles of Georgia"

[image error] Title: Christmas Belles of Georgia
Publisher: Barbour

Cover blurb: Four letters are mailed from Monticello, a small antebellum town in Georgia. Sisters once, now heirs to a historic plantation, each young woman must come to terms with the circumstances of her birth…Will the sisters receive a traditional Christmas gift…of love?

1) How did this story come to you?
Jeanie Smith Cash developed the idea and asked me and Deb Ullrick and Jeri Odell to join her.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
We submitted a proposal to Barbour consisting of our four synopses and my first chapter, since I was the new author. Then I received my contract last September at the ACFW conference in front of 600 people! I wrote the rest of the book last November, and it is now in stores!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I took violin lessons in second grade, I have been married forty-three years, my husband is the romantic one, but I write romance stories!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have 4 more proposals waiting at Barbour, so I hope and pray one or more of them sells, so I get to enjoy doing all of this over again! I also have a women's fiction for which I hope to find interest from an agent and publisher.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for hosting me, K. Dawn. I'm glad we can visit each other's blogs.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.rosemccauley.com/ and http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

Register to win Rose McCauley's "Christmas Belles of Georgia"

[image error] There are a total of three book giveways this week. Please leave a comment at the end of each blog spot with your email address for your chance to win. If you've not signed up for weekly book giveaway updates, please place your email address in the feedburner box to the right. We're happy to have Rose McCauley with us this week talking about her book "Christmas Belles of Georgia." To learn more about Rose and her book, read on!

Title: Christmas Belles of Georgia
Publisher: Barbour

Cover blurb: Four letters are mailed from Monticello, a small antebellum town in Georgia. Sisters once, now heirs to a historic plantation, each young woman must come to terms with the circumstances of her birth…Will the sisters receive a traditional Christmas gift…of love?

1) How did this story come to you?
Jeanie Smith Cash developed the idea and asked me and Deb Ullrick and Jeri Odell to join her.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
We submitted a proposal to Barbour consisting of our four synopses and my first chapter, since I was the new author. Then I received my contract last September at the ACFW conference in front of 600 people! I wrote the rest of the book last November, and it is now in stores!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I took violin lessons in second grade, I have been married forty-three years, my husband is the romantic one, but I write romance stories!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have 4 more proposals waiting at Barbour, so I hope and pray one or more of them sells, so I get to enjoy doing all of this over again! I also have a women's fiction for which I hope to find interest from an agent and publisher.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for hosting me, K. Dawn. I'm glad we can visit each other's blogs.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.rosemccauley.com/ and http://www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com/

Register to win a Mistaken Identity t-shirt and a free download

This week I'm giving away a Mistaken Identity t-shirt and a free download of the book to two winners! I have only size medium and large in stock. When you leave your comment, please tell me what size just in case you win. Don't forget to leave your email address and if you've not signed up to receive weekly updates about book giveaways, please plug your email address into the feedburner box to the right!

Eden Morgan makes a list of six goals to accomplish in order to have the best summer ever. Getting a boyfriend, which is perhaps the most important goal, becomes complicated when she and her best friend, Lexi, fall for the same guy. Since Lexi is popular, gorgeous, and always gets her guy, Eden thinks she doesn't have a chance.


Channing Johnson is everything Eden's ever dreamed of and she can't believe he just moved in next door. When he starts showing interest in her, she's overjoyed...until she sees him out on a date with Lexi. He says Lexi talked him into it to repay her for tutoring him. Lexi says they're in love.
Eden doesn't know who to believe and is forced to choose between her best friend and the guy of her dreams. Nothing is as it seems and no matter who she chooses, someone will get hurt.

For your chance to win, please leave a a comment with at least one goal you'd like to accomplish in order to make your life even better, funner, or just easier.

"This Time for Keeps," a novel about second chances...

Have you ever wondered what would have happened if you'd married your first love?
India McGuire's peaceful life is shattered when on the night of her engagement to David Richards, she comes face to face with Chase Porter, a long lost love. India must come to terms with her overpowering feelings for Chase and choose between David, the neighbor who says he loves her, and Chase, the man who broke her heart.

Chase's plans of leaving quietly turn to disaster when he finds that it's impossible to disappear without seeing India one last time. Feelings begin to surface that he believed buried forever and he finds himself fighting to win her back even as David struggles to hold onto her.

India longs to follow her heart, but she's been hurt too deeply. Who will she choose? The neighbor who can provide stability or the man she vowed to love forever who may once again heed to the call of the open road?

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/This-Time-for-Keeps-ebook/dp/B005VKMQUG/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1318690937&sr=1-2
Desert Breeze: http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-218/This-Time-For-Keeps/Detail.bok
B & N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/this-time-for-keeps-k-dawn-byrd/1103372329

Coming soon to christianbook.com and other ebook outlets.

Clash of the Titles Kicks Off Tournament of Champions

COTT Kicks Off Tournament of Champions
Guest post by Jennifer Slattery
Last week, Clash of the Titles launched their first annual

Those finalists were Marianne Evans and Gail Pallotta.

Exciting stuff, and yet, the games weren't done. In the next round, COTT staff cast their votes, and once again, one writer rose to the top and will advance to the next round.

That author is…

Marianne Evans!

And here's a glimpse of what a COTT champion excerpt looks like:

"Collin Edwards stood before the funeral assembly. Heat crawled up his body. He clutched the edges of the podium where he stood and cleared his throat. The gesture was in vain. His throat constricted so much it hurt. Before the altar, just to the right, rested a flag-draped casket.

He looked down, at a piece of paper upon which he had crafted the words to a eulogy…" (
About the novel, Heart Crossing:

Collin Edwards, a former parishioner at Woodland Church, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.

Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God, and the community of Woodland . Lately though, she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.

A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists, but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better. Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.

Can Daveny trust in Collin's fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?

We'd also like to congratulate our prize-winning readers :

 Jessica R Patch! She won a $10 Amazon Gift card from Elaine Cooper .

  LoRee Peery ! She won a free bookmark design from Delia Latham .

  Larry Hammersley ! He won a $10 Amazon Gift card from Author Anne Patrick .


Join us this week for more fun and prizes as four more authors jump into the ring hoping not only to advance to the next round, but ultimately reign as the Clash of the Titles' champion of champions! Remember, every vote counts! Each vote gets your name thrown into the hat for our fab-tabulous grand prize give-away comprised of fourteen novels!

Visit our

***  Jennifer Slattery is the marketing manager for Clash of the Titles. She writes for Christ to the World Ministries, the Christian Pulse, and Samie Sisters and has written for numerous other publications. She also works for Tiffany Colter, the Writing Career Coach, as a professional manuscript evaluator and publicist. You can find out more about her and her writing at her devotional blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud. You can find out more about her critique and publicity services at Words That Keep.