Erica Vetsch's Blog, page 196

Guest Post & #Giveaway with Carla Laureano!

I'm totally stoked to have Carla with us today on the blog! Her book is the first book I ever read on my Kindle. I read it the week my husband was missioning it off in Guatemala. Perfect time for a romance about a hunky International hero. Made me excited to have Nate come home all tan and heroic for serving out of country. It was a relaxing, fun read, Five Days in Skye, and who doesn't like to be transported to Scotland? ME ME ME!!!
So we chatted with Carla this week and here's what she had to share:
1. What inspired your story idea?

The idea to write a celebrity chef came about because of too much time spent watching Food Network and a slight crush on Curtis Stone. I thought how strange it would be to go from being a somewhat anonymous chef who simply loved to cook to a household name (and face). The setting came afterward, once I established that my heroine was an overworked businesswoman who was reevaluating her life choices. I’d gone through much of the same transformation while my husband and I traveled through Scotland, and so it made sense to set her epiphany on the Isle of Skye, the same place I had mine.

2. What is your favorite characteristic about your story’s hero and heroine?
I love how loosely James holds his fame and fortune. He’s very driven and successful, but he possesses humility and a sense of wonder. He’s worked hard, but family is more important to him than success.

As for Andrea, I admire her perseverance. She’s gotten somewhat of a raw deal in her past, but she refuses to be a victim and has made a pretty incredible life for herself.

3. Please tell us about the spiritual theme of your story you hope every reader is challenged by:

No matter what you’ve done or how far you’ve strayed, God is always waiting for you with open arms. There is nowhere far enough to outrun his love.

4. Jaime & Anne are coffee addicts. Erica & Gabrielle are tea lovers. What about you? Coffee or Tea?

Both! I’m a recovering caffeine addict, though, so I have to keep my intake very low. I typically start my morning with a cup of decaf or half-caf, and then I drink herbal tea for the rest of the day. I have an entire cabinet devoted to my mugs, coffee, and tea. I guess that’s how you know you’re a real aficionado—when you keep drinking it, even without the caffeine!

5. Favorite historical movie? Or mini-series?

Oh, that’s so hard. Gone With the Wind, The Quiet Man, Lawrence of Arabia, Chariots of Fire, The Young Victoria… there’s so many, I couldn’t choose. I also have a secret love for not-quite-historical epics like Gladiator and King Arthur. I choose to overlook historical inaccuracies when it’s an engaging story.

6. While Jaime loves to take selfies, and Erica & Gabrielle love museums, Anne loves Pinterest and food pics. Share a food pic, a favorite family recipe, or link us to your latest pin on Pinterest.
I love Pinterest and food pics too! How about my favorite food-related pin? I adore Middle Eastern and North African flavors, and dishes like Moroccan Lentil Stew with Raisins are my go-to for quick and healthy weeknight meals. (This one also happens to be gluten-free.)

7. Always wanted to be an author? Or surprised your path led you to publish?

I’ve wanted to write for as long as I can remember. I wrote my first short story when I was seven, and my first (awful) novel at sixteen. I started writing seriously for publication in college, but it took another fifteen years to get an agent and a book contract. I’m a great example of what can happen if you work hard and stick to it. It’s still hard to believe that I’m about to release my fourth novel.

8. Favorite century to read? To write? To watch on TV or in a movie?
At this very moment, I prefer 20th and 21st century settings, but that hasn’t always been the case and it changes depending on my mood. Medieval and Renaissance Europe, Early America, 18th and 19th century China…I won’t turn down a great story, no matter where or when it’s set.

9. Favorite heroine of all time, and why?

Again with the hard questions! I’d have to say Jane Eyre. She was a revolutionary character for the time: an independent, strong-minded feminist in an age where women had few choices. I like to think she’s one of the templates for our current historical romance heroines who defy convention, and in doing so, earn their happily-ever-afters.


MAN! What a fun interview!! Carla's favorite all-time heroine is mine too: JANE EYRE! Love that woman. And Gladiator??? Carla, we need a weekend getaway. I'm so with you on that movie. 
So readers, here are some other great facts about Carla! She is the author of the RITA® award-winning romance Five Days in Skye as well as the Celtic fantasy series The Song of Seare (as C. E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons.

Connect with Carla: Web | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest 
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Jaime Wright -

Spirited and gritty turn-of-the-century romance stained with suspense. Youth leader. Professional

Coffee Drinker. Works in HR and specializes in sarcasm :) - Represented by: Books & Such Literary Agency

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Childhood Treasures #TBT

Winner of Last Week's book drawing: Abby Breuklander
My husband recently finished his office space. It was the last frontier of unofficial storage space in our house--all the boxes from our move four years ago have been unpacked and removed.

Well...almost all the boxes. There was one, tucked way into the back, that has been in storage now for almost fifteen years. And it's not an actual box, it's a barrel. A barrel filled with about thirty gowns from my childhood "dress-up" box.

When I was a little girl you couldn't find dress-up clothes at Wal Mart like you do now. My mom worked at growing our collection for many years at garage sales and thrift shops. And these weren't the cheap dresses you find now, these were prom dresses, bridesmaid dresses and wedding dresses. And let me tell you, my sister Andrea and I spent HOURS upon HOURS playing with these gowns.

My sister, Andrea, on the left and me on the right
somewhere around 1985. (Old Ladies??) :)
My cousin, Ryan (now a police officer!), on
the left and me on the right. Hobos??
Somewhere around 1989Now here's another admission on my part: we played with them well into our teen years. When we had friends over, we'd put on plays. When it was time to dress up for a school activity or Halloween dance, we had a treasure trove to choose from.

The time came for me to move out of my parents' home and my mom wanted to know what to do with the dresses. I told her to store them until I had a house of my own. So when my husband and I bought our first home twelve years ago, the barrel showed up at my front door.

My husband wasn't too excited to store a barrel of dress-up clothes in the house, considering we didn't have any little girls at the time to use them.

But I smiled and batted my eyes, and for twelve years he moved that barrel whenever he needed to reorganize his storage space. Four years ago we moved the barrel with us and it was tucked into the bedroom in the basement that would one day become his office.

Our girls are now ten and eight. I didn't want to pull the gowns out before they were ready, because they're made for teens and adults. But when the office was finished, and the barrel needed to come out, I decided to open it up, clean the gowns and let the girls at them.

It was a blast opening that barrel. A mixture of Christmas mornings and walking down memory lane. There were some in there I had totally forgotten about, but the moment I saw them, I was transported back to summer days with my sister and cousins and friends, and all the wonderful imaginations we had. I was transported back to the basement of my childhood home where my parents constructed a "dress shop" out of sheets hung from the rafters, where my sister and I played one winter, with all our dresses on racks and a "changing room" in one corner.

In those dresses I was a bride, a Southern Belle, a princess, a pioneer on the Oregon Trail, and so much more.

The best moment was watching my own girls discover the wonders of a barrel of make-believe. Already they've spent hours playing in those gowns, and I know they'll enjoy many more years of fun.

What about you? Have you saved something special from your childhood for your children to enjoy? Have you ever stored something, only to rediscover it many years later? What was your favorite toy or activity from your childhood?

Winston Churchill Quotes

Erica here: I am a huge fan of Winston Churchill. I'm fascinated by his career as a politician and statesman, his fierce loyalty, his quick wit, and his slightly-jaundiced view of the world. I have created a Pinterest Board with my favorite quotes and pictures of Churchill, (You can check out that board HERE.)  and I'm currently reading the 8 part biography of Winston Churchill available through Hillsdale College's Winston Churchill Project. (You can find the biography HERE.)



This past Christmas, I received a stocking-stuffer gift book that I just love from my daughter. (She is well aware of my affection for Winston.) She gave me a copy of "The Quotable Winston Churchill." This little tome is full of Churchill quotes and facts that make me smile, make me shake my head, and most of all, make me think. 
(To learn more about the book, or get your own copy, click HERE.)



Because I love Winston so much, I thought I'd share some of my favorite Churchill quotes with you. 








Which one of these Winston Churchill quotes resonates best with you? Or do you have another of his witticisms that you like best?




Erica Vetsch:Executive AssistantEarl Grey Aficionado Find me on PINTERESTFind me on GOODREADSFind me on AMAZON.COMFind me on FACEBOOKFind me on my WEBSITE

Just the Way You Are

Jaime here. I'm super happy to have my friend Jessica Patch guest posting today. She wanted to share a devo to help jump start our week and I think this one is perfecto!

Take it away, Jess ...

Where Do I Fit?
Remember that old Sesame Street Song: “Three of these kids are kinda the same but one of these kids is doin’ his own thing…



It’s catchy, right? I loved watching that as a kid. As I grew up, I realized how much I identified with that “one kid.”
As an adult inside the body of Christ, I really wondered where I fit. Not a total introvert but definitely not a complete extrovert, I had no clue where I meshed. At times, I wondered if I had a fit at all!
Maybe you wonder the same thing. You’re not exactly a social butterfly so it’s easy to slip into the background and watch as those with big personalities flutter through ministry with amazing grace. Maybe you don’t feel like you have any talent.
Let me reassure you: YOU DO.
“Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out;
    you formed me in my mother’s womb.
I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking!
    Body and soul, I am marvelously made!
    I worship in adoration—what a creation!
You know me inside and out,
    you know every bone in my body;
You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit,
    how I was sculpted from nothing into something.
Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth;
    all the stages of my life were spread out before you,
The days of my life all prepared
    before I’d even lived one day.” Psalm 139: 13-16 MSG
God didn’t take all that time and care with you to forego embedding talent and gifts within you. No. He didn’t. He spread out your days and created “good works beforehand that you should walk in them.” Those good works included you using the gifts and talents He created within you.
A sweet lady in our church loved flowers. She had a way with them. So each week she brought a new and amazing floral arrangement and placed it on the counter in the women’s bathroom. I don’t know how many times the chatter was on the beauty of the arrangement. It was a gift that she did “unto the glory of God” and it brought joy to every woman who walked into that bathroom.
You might love babies and you work at a child care center. Rocking babies might not seem like much to you. But think of that frazzled mom who is at her wits end and needs a word planted into her soul to get her recharged in Christ and up and running again. Those two hours were priceless to her. Your ability to make a child feel at peace, and keep from buzzing her number on the big screen is nothing short of a gift. Use it!
In my newest novella, Just the Way You Are, my heroine compares herself to other women in the body of Christ. She sees all their gifts and abilities but never sees her own. Maybe that’s you. And maybe you need the truth spoken in to your life as was spoken into hers.
God love you just the way you are.
If you’re interested in Audrey’s story, you can purchase it as an e-book on Amazon as well as the first story, Hope Under Mistletoe (which will be FREE on May 8th!) http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Under-Mistletoe-Seasons-Book-ebook/dp/B00U0IQRO0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8  Here’s the blurb:
When Pastor Gabe asks Audrey Gilbraith to use her mad florist skills to help him design a prayer garden, she’s all in, especially since it helps take her mind off the fact she’s about to lose her job and her apartment. But working closely with Gabe and not falling for him is complicated. She’s not pastor’s wife material, and she has the past to prove it.
Gabriel Brookson wants out of Audrey’s friend-zone, but when he pursues her romantically, he ruffles more than a few feathers in his congregation. How much is he willing to give up for this wonderful, quirky woman, and will Audrey accept him if he risks it all?
Your turn to share: Let’s be positive. Share one gift or talent God has blessed you with. It’s tough to say good things about ourselves, but go ahead and give it a try!
Sign up for my newsletter  http://www.jessicarpatch.com/p/blog-page.html and receive the 3rd novella in this series for FREE this fall! Connect with Jessica on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/jessicarpatch?ref=aymt_homepage_panel Twitter https://twitter.com/jessicarpatch and take a peek into life in Mistletoe and see who I case as Audrey and Gabe at the Just the Way You Are Pinterest page! https://www.pinterest.com/jessicarpatch/just-the-way-you-are/
Jessica R. Patch lives in the mid-south where she pens inspirational contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. When she's not hunched over her laptop or going on adventurous trips in the name of research with willing friends, you can find her sneaking off to movies with her husband, watching way too much Netflix with her daughter, dominating her son at board games, and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she'll probably never cook. Her debut novel with Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense will release in early 2016.






_________________________________

Jaime Wright -

Spirited and gritty turn-of-the-century romance stained with suspense. Youth leader. Professional Coffee Drinker. Works in HR and specializes in sarcasm :) - Represented by: Books & Such Literary Agency

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Monday's Devo: Place of Solitude

Life is full for just about everyone I know. There's no lack for events, meetings, and commitments cluttering our calendar. No lack of things cluttering our home, along with the tasks that come attached to things. And the date calendar and mental list of people I should get together with for coffee is ever in my mind.

My iPhone is buzzing in my pocket, reminding me of lunch meetings, birthday's, and notifications.

But it's that Still Small Voice I need more than anything.

Jesus knew his disciples had to be extracted from their lives to find that place of solitude where he taught them to listen to the heart of the Father. To fuel up. To commune.

Potato Creek State ParkJesus had crowds around him everywhere he went. People pressing in to touch the hem of his garment. People questioning him. Rulers testing him. Others curious about him. I'm thinking that when he went away for solitude, perhaps he had to just walk away. Perhaps sometimes he even left a crowd standing, staring at his retreating back.


But the thing is....he would have had nothing to give them if he didn't fill up with the Father in that place of solitude. He abided in the Father. He was ever-connected.

This is one reason we have taken up camping. My husband and I need to drive away. Just cut out. Bye. Leaving you now.

I need to go be with my Lord. My friends who make me laugh and smile. God's creation, that reminds me my notifications aren't all that important.


Work is good. Giving is good. Ministry is good. Writing is good. But, as I read this weekend in Strengthen Yourself in the Lord by Bill Johnson, unless we find a time and place to remain intimate with God, burnout and compromise are not far away, while "all true fruitfulness flows from that intimacy with Him."

So. Get alone. 
Chuck the date book. 
Pitch the planner. 
Cut out. 
And check in with the Father. 
Schedule it! Jesus did.

Matthew 14:22 Immediately He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. 23After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was evening, He was there alone.
-------------Blog post by Anne Love-




Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots. 



Nurse Practitioner by day. 



Wife, mother, writer by night. 



Coffee drinker--any time.


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Interview & Giveaway: Author Pepper Basham

We are so happy to host Pepper Basham on our blog this week! She is a new author at Coffee Cups and Camisoles, but for those of you who enjoy a good Edwardian Historical Fiction, this one will hook you!  

And, she will delight our CCC Blog readers with a great interview and book giveaway! 


I introduce to you, Pepper....
Pepper shares that she wrote her first story when she was a nine year- old, freckled-faced tomboy in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Coming from a long line of oral storytellers, weaving a good yarn seemed a typical part of her life. 

She lives with her husband and five children in the Blue Ridge Mountains, where her husband is a pastor of music. As a language-speech pathologist, she enjoys hanging out with kids who have Autism, which continually challenges her to think outside the box!

So, Pepper: 
1. What inspired your latest story idea?
I started Ashleigh’s story as a combination of a situation in my past and the overcoming story of a dear friend of mine.  The problem was – I had a strong character and a pretty solid premise, but no real plot ☺ So…one day I noticed a story about the Lusitania and that spearheaded a great idea of showing my heroine’s internal tragedy through the external tragedy of the Lusitania! I’m so thankful. I love bringing this era of history to life in this story. 

2. What is your favorite characteristic about your story’s hero and heroine?
I love Ashleigh’s compassion. I think what keeps her moving forward is an inner strength and an overwhelming sense of compassion.
For Sam? Oh gee, there are so many things to like about him. I particularly love his humor, gentleness, and faithfulness (is 3 okay ☺)

3. Please tell us about the spiritual theme of your story you hope challenges every reader:
I hope people will see the power of forgiveness, even when the person who inflicted the pain doesn’t ‘deserve’ forgiveness. That’s the hardest kind, but it is also the kind shown to us by Christ.

4. Jaime & I are coffee addicts. Erica & Gabrielle are tea lovers. What about you? Coffee, Tea?
Definitely tea! English Breakfast is my favorite!

5. Favorite historical movie? Or mini-series?
I love the BBC North & South, Pride and Prejudice, OR Jane Eyre. See, you have for a ‘favorite’ and I just can’t pick ONE! There are too many wonderful ones from which to choose

6. While Jaime loves to take selfies, and Erica loves museums, I love Pinterest and food pics. Share a food pic, a favorite family recipe, or link us to your latest pin on Pinterest.
When I went back to check what my latest pin was…um…this was it ☺


And I love to cook! And some time I’ll have to share my Dark Knight Chocolate Torte recipe. (Oh, please do share, Pepper!!)

7. Always wanted to be an author? Or surprised your path led you to publish?
Oh, I’ve been making up stories ever since I was a little girl. I’m sure I was inspired by my story-telling granny, because oral storytelling is definitely a part of the Appalachian culture. My granny called me a ‘writer’ for the first time when I was ten! Definitely a memorable moment for me.

8. Favorite century to read? To write? To watch on TV or in a movie?
Again, ‘favorite’ is a tough one! I have a particular fondness for contemp movies that have an ‘old’ feel OR movies that are anything 1800s to late 1910s (European, not American). Late Regency, Victorian, Edwardian.

9. Favorite heroine of all time, and why?

Some of the most memorable heroines for me are those that make me laugh or feel. I love the restrained intensity of Eleanor Dashwood’s personality in Sense and Sensibility, Elizabeth Bennet’s wit, or Jane Eyre’s subdued passions. I love Hermione Granger’s full personality and Morrow in Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz, but I equally fall in love with Sandra Bullock in While You Were Sleeping or Meg Ryan in You’ve Got Mail.

Thanks for sharing with us today, Pepper!!  
Readers, don't forget to sign up for a chance for a free copy of Pepper's Debut: The Thorn Bearer!






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-------------Blog post by Anne Love-




Writer of Historical Romance inspired by her family roots. 



Nurse Practitioner by day. 



Wife, mother, writer by night. 



Coffee drinker--any time.


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My First Book Signing

This past weekend another dream came true! I had my first book signing at the local Christian bookstore.


I thought it would be fun to share some pictures.




Two of my beta readers, good friends, and first people to read
my writing a couple years ago. Sarah Olson & Lindsay LeClair.
My proud mom and dad. :) I dedicated my first story to them. My twin boys
My mother-in-law
My sister and my grandma Erica drove four hours to come to my book signing!
I felt very special. :)I loved visiting with everyone who came out to my book signing. It was so much fun writing special notes to family and friends, and meeting new-to-me readers for the first time.

Your Turn: If you're a reader, have you been to a book signing? Who did you go out to see? If you're a writer, have you had a book signing? What was your favorite part of the experience?

Winner of Jaime's coffee from her book cover reveal: Abby Breuklander!

Gabrielle Meyer:
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What Happens at a Writer's Retreat?

First, I want to announce the winner of The Most Eligible Bachelor Gift Basket Giveaway.


Our winner is: Linsey Adair! Congratulations, Linsey!!!!
Thank you to everyone who entered. We appreciate your joining in the fun!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Last weekend I was privileged to attend a writer's retreat up in the wilds of central Minnesota. (Bonus: Gabrielle was there, too! Double Bonus: My daughter, Heather, got to come, too!)

Gabrielle hard at work...or playing solitaire...it looks a lot the same. :)So, what happens at a writer's retreat? More than you might imagine. :) I've been to several retreats, and the primary focus for me is the writing. I try to slay a big word-count when I attend a writer's retreat, mostly because I feel I need to have something to show for the time away from family and the expense of the retreat. This past weekend, we really only had one day to write, and I cranked out several thousand words on Saturday.

Other things that went on during the weekend included a meet and greet. Getting to know each other, learning about our writing journeys, forming new friendships.

In the chapel/meeting room of our lodge. There were also brainstorming sessions. Sometimes just a couple of people, sometimes several gathered around a table. (I hid out in a quiet room downstairs and wrote, so I missed most of the brainstorming sessions.)


Lots of food! The camp provided the meals, which were fabulous, but there were also a TON of snacks on offer!
Writers need brain food! This is only a little bit of the snack stuff!
There was a lot of silliness and laughter and game playing. Speed Scrabble was a favorite:

We were also party to bonfires, canoe rides, hikes, pontoon rides, and more. And some beautiful scenery.
The lovely lake.
Crystal clear water!
My daughter hard at work on her story.
A bunch of crazy writers!As you can see, we had a great time, lots of fun was had, and I understand we're already planning another go-round next spring. 
Have you ever been on a writer's retreat? 

____________________________________
Erica Vetsch:
Executive Assistant
Earl Grey Aficionado 
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Interview with Cara Luecht & #Giveaway

A fun impromptu, mid-week interview with Cara Luecht!! Enjoy learning about her books and her life as an author! :)

1. What inspired your latest story idea?

Gathered Waters is based on the true story of my family’s immigration to America in the late 1800s. I began writing when I found a transcript of my great, great, aunt’s memories about her childhood in Sweden. Her words detailed the religious persecution that spurred them on to search for freedom. In fact, I include a copy of this transcript at the end of the novel.

2. What is your favorite characteristic about your story’s hero and heroine?

When I first began speaking with publishers about this novel, I ran into a roadblock. Almost everyone I talked to asked my why this story was different than any of the other immigrant stories out there. I wrestled with this question, until one day I realized that it is not different. In a way it is all of our stories. It’s a shared history. One worth knowing and understanding, and one that is essential we do not forget.

My favorite characteristic about Anders and Breanna? It is that they are a part of me, and a part of my readers. They struggle, they make mistakes, and they question every step. They have no reassurance their decision to come to America will bring anything but hardship, but the chance to be free was worth every sacrifice. They lost everything, but gained a life that was theirs. Because of their sacrifices, I have a life where I can decide how I want to worship and live. My favorite characteristic is that they are the kind of people I hope I would have the strength to be if faced with their
challenges.

3. Please tell us about the spiritual theme of your story you hope every reader is challenged by:

I hope they walk away with a renewed sense of the importance of legacy. I hope my readers turn the last page with the understanding that how they handle even the tiny, everyday struggles, can inspire their children and grandchildren great grandchildren. I hope they understand how important they really are.

4. Jaime & Anne are coffee addicts. Erica & Gabrielle are tea lovers. What about you? Coffee or Tea?

Diet Pepsi. And chocolate. And I know there’s a zillion chemicals in Aspartame. If you are my friend, you will not mention it.

5. Favorite historical movie? Or mini-series?

This question is nearly impossible. I love anything historical. But the movie that comes to mind right now is To Kill a Mockingbird.

6. While Jaime loves to take selfies, and Erica loves museums, Anne loves Pinterest and food pics. Share a food pic, a favorite family recipe, or link us to your latest pin on Pinterest.

I love to cook—bake really. My husband is the one who loves to cook meat and the important stuff. There are some recipes that are so simple, but so amazing. Here is one of them. When I need to be the cool mom, this is what I make for my kids:

http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Peanut-Butter-Bars-I/ 

7. Always wanted to be an author? Or surprised your path led you to publish?

It never occurred to me that I wanted to write. I went back to college in my 30s, and one of my professors asked me what I was doing majoring in Sociology. She said I was a writer.

Seeing as how I loved every subject, and still lacked the direction that most seem to find in their 20s, I thought I might as well try it.

I’m so glad I did.

8. Favorite century to read? To write? To watch on TV or in a movie?

I love to read from just about any time period. I like to write about the late 1800s. And for movies, I actually prefer to watch films set in today, or even sci-fi future. When I sit down to watch film, I like to be completely engrossed. I want entertainment. If I am watching film set in a historical time period, I have trouble shutting down my brain. Instead of relaxing, I’m questioning the accuracy, or I worry that it will in some way influence a current project with an unrealistic setting.

9. Favorite heroine of all time, and why? 

My favorite heroines are women who do not let other’s ideas of who they should be dictate who they become. They are strong, decisive, and can lead if necessary. Women inventors, women explorers, and women who serve others without questioning if they “should” are all on my list of heroes.

But my favorite of all time? That’s hard, because I’ve recently read of a woman I’d never heard about, and I’ve become fascinated with her.

She was a WWII vet. A hero of the Russian Marines. A woman who, at 17, hid the fact that she was a woman so that she could lead on the front lines. A woman who earned so much respect from the men she led, that when she was injured (one of the many times) and discovered to be a woman, the men under her command still followed her into battle.

This is all amazing. But what amazes me even more is that fact that when the war was over, she became a wife, a mother, and a grocery store manager. Imagine, a woman who holds over four military orders and was awarded 40 metals managing a grocery store.

Besides the fact that I bet people thought twice before calling in sick to that store, the thing that amazes me about her story is something I’ve only recognized with age. It’s her ability to wage a battle when it was time to fight, and then fill a role as wife and mother with grace and courage.

That is the mark of a woman who is a true hero. In my eyes it is a woman who does what needs to be done when and where she is called.


Her name is Yevdokiya Zavaliy. http://englishrussia.com/2011/08/21/yevdokiya-zavaliy-the-woman-hero-of-wwii/

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Check out more about Cara here:

www.caraluecht.com

cara@caraluecht.com

https://www.facebook.com/author.cara.luecht?ref=hl

Twitter: @caraluecht

Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1939023300/ref=s9_psimh_gw_p14_d1_i1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=02EY0S5TNGYH16KAQXXR&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=2079475242&pf_rd_i=desktop

http://www.amazon.com/Soul-Painter-Cara-Luecht-ebook/dp/B00IXXKIXA/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1431314730&sr=1-1&keywords=Soul+Painter


Enter to win BOTH of Cara's books!!






https://www.facebook.com/author.cara....

Book Cover Reveal - The Cowboy's Bride Novella Collection @BarbourBuzz

It's here!!!

Forgive me while I revel in this moment and screech with excitement! :)

Last week, I was sent the book cover for the novella collection that The Cowgirl's Lasso (working title), will be published in. The Cowboy's Bride collection is filled with great authors and I'm so thrilled to be a part of them.

So without further adieu, I present to you ... the book cover :) :


I will admit that this is a bit surreal. I began dreaming of this when I was 13. My first novel was a historical. Written about a seventeen year old girl and her mute brother who were sent to live with a wealthy aunt and her secrets hidden in the mansion. I was always entranced with some suspense in my novels.
The Cowgirl's Lasso doesn't have suspense, but it does have a healthy dose of snark. CJ, my heroine, has a sass about her that will keep British rancher, Jonah Sparks on his toes and out of his saddle. 
To celebrate the book cover release, I already gave away my first ever autographed copy to a lucky newsletter subscriber. (they got to see this on Friday, bonus of being subscribers :)
But I always love to celebrate with coffee.
Leave a comment. Let me know if you've ever read a novella by one of my co-authors and you'll be entered to win! :)


_________________________________

Jaime Wright -

Spirited and gritty turn-of-the-century romance stained with suspense. Youth leader. Professional
Coffee Drinker. Works in HR and specializes in sarcasm :) - Represented by: Books & Such Literary Agency

Coming March 2016: The Cowgirl's Lasso, from the Cowboy Brides Novella Collection - Barbour
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