Naomi Dawn Musch's Blog: NEW Discussion Guide, page 17

Grace Awards Showcase: Southern Superstitions by B.J. Robinson

I'm excited to welcome, B.J. Robinson to Write Reason as this week's featured Grace Awards showcase author. B.J. and I have some really common interests, even though she's a southerner and I'm a northerner. It's been great getting to know her, and now I get to introduce her and her inspirational suspense to you guys!

 

(B.J.) Hi, I'm thrilled to be a part of the Grace Awards Showcase. Southern
Superstitions is one of my favorite books out of the ones I've written
because it was developed from a first-prize-winning short story I wrote in
creative-writing class at Southeastern Louisiana University many years ago. The
short story was published in Gambit,
the university's literary magazine.

 

About the Book

Magnolia
June Russell is a small-town Louisiana strawberry farmer determined to have a
career besides the berry farm, despite her mother's advice that she doesn't
need more education to run a farm.

Andy Allen is a strawberry inspector at
the local bureau. He has to convince June's mother that he can be the son she's
never had, since she's decided a local strawberry inspector isn't good enough
for her daughter. Andy is going to have to change her
mother's mind in more ways than one if their relationship is to survive. Can he
persuade June that there is more to their relationship than friends?

Together, they both face the issue of
superstitions, an April flood, and conflict after conflict. Will
they ever convince Miss. Myrtle to let go of superstitions, or will she
stubbornly cling to them just like she vows she'll never fly on those
big-winged mechanical birds because man ain't got no business messing with
God's plans?

Can love survive the obstacle course placed in their
path--an accident, escaped convicts, Andy missing in a Louisiana swamp? Can two
determined young people overcome each obstacle with belief, faith, hard work
and the power of prayer?

Andy falls in love, but June's mother thinks her
daughter can do better than a strawberry inspector. Can Andy convince Mrs.
Myrtle he'll be the son she has never had and win her approval? He's going to
have to change her mother's mind in more ways than one if their relationship is
to survive. Can he persuade June that there is more to their relationship than
friends? He doesn't want to be the big brother she never had. It's going to
take more than Myrtle's superstitions to see them through an April flood, an
accident, and escaped convicts when Andy goes missing in a Louisiana swamp while
on a deer-hunting trip during Christmas season. Can love survive the obstacle
course placed in their path? Will June be able to give Andy a child? Can two
determined young people overcome each obstacle with belief, faith, hard work
and the power of prayer? Will they ever convince Mrs. Myrtle to let go of
superstitions, or will she stubbornly cling to them just like she vows she'll
never fly on those big-winged mechanical birds because man ain't got no
business messing with God's plans? June never gives up on Andy and clings to
hope that he'll return to her. It was faith in God that would bring her husband
home. Even a lucky penny or dime declared, "In God we trust."

June couldn't keep bittersweet memories at
bay. She remembered a New Orleans trip when Andy had convinced.

Buy Southern Superstitions

Endorsements

Shawn K. Williams says, "Southern Superstitions is
an inspirational story that's full of personality as well as intricacy in the
way it explores the complexities of family life and the conflict between faith
and luck. Barbara does a great job of pulling together the deeply rooted
superstitions of the South and entwining them into a suspenseful tale of faith,
romance, and endurance. I especially enjoyed the setting and the culture of the
deep South."

Kathy Boswell says, "Very good. She never gives
up hope that Andy will return to her someday. She puts it all in God's hands
like she's done every crisis in her life. She knows He will take care of this
for her."

Pam Cable says,
"When I read Barbara Robinson's Last Resort, I thought it can't get any
better than this. But, as a southern writer myself, I found myself caught up in
this book of supersitions and the power of God. With a strong hand, the writer
delivered the goods here. As good as a read from Eudora Welty. I was wrapped in
the "pages" from beginning to end. Captivating. Loved the character
of Andy ... Enjoyed the ride, BJ Robinson."

A review of Southern Superstitions from The Romance Studio. A four-star
review, and the reviewer says I have created a most unusual book with the most
intriguing suspense. Says she'd like to read more by me. I'm so honored to
receive a four-star review from The Romance Studio, should say four hearts... See More: The Romance Studio

 

  Read an excerpt and see the book trailer here.

A Favorite Line:

 It was faith in God that would bring her husband home. Even
a

lucky
penny or a dime declared, In God we trust.

About the Author

B. J. Robinson, an award-winning, multi-published author,
writes inspirational southern-fried romantic suspense from Florida, where she
lives with her husband, a cat named Frankie, a cocker spaniel named Sunflower,
and a golden retriever named Honi. She developed her love for mystery through
Nancy Drew books, her love for reading from her mother, who read fairytales to
her before she began school, and her fifth grade teacher, who read the entire
Laura Ingalls Wilder Little House series to the class. She promises to take her
readers on a continuous journey to another world. Reading and writing are her
passions, and Jesus is her best friend.

Find out more in an interview with southern romantic suspense
writer B.J. Robinson discussing her latest work Weeping Willows and Southern Superstitions.

B.J.'s blog and book reviews

Author Page on Facebook

Find my available titles on my Amazon AuthorPage.

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BJRobinson6

View the
book trailer for Southern Superstitions here

Grace Awards Showcase: The Lost Crown of Colonnade by Ken Winters

This
week the Grace Awards Launch is showcasing Ken Winters' Young Adult Fantasy The Lost Crown
of Colonnade. He was recently interviewed by fellow author and friend
Tammy Doherty. Transcripts of that interview follow the book and author information. Check it out!

About the Book

                Davey Johnsen
is a physically challenged fourteen-year-old from a wealthy community in
Connecticut. In a moment he exchanges the comfort of his beautiful home for the
rugged terrain of an unknown land.  

 

                There he
meets six faithful companions who join him in the perilous journey to reclaim
“The Lost Crown of Colonnade.”  One of
them is the most beautiful young lady he has ever met, the teenager, Princess
Alisande.

 

                Is it all a
dream, or are his new friends and the enemies he faces very real? Will this
band of seven accomplish their quest, or will they fall victim to the
overwhelming forces of the Evil King of Necrus and his Master, Dagron? The
answers can only be discovered between the covers of “The Lost Crown of
Colonnade.”  www.lostcrownofcolonnade.com

 

 

 

About the Author

            “The Lost Crown of Colonnade” is Ken Winters’ first novel. Ken resides with his
wife of 41 years, Connie, in North Brookfield, Massachusetts. Since
retiring  from the U.S. Navy Chaplain
Corps in 2004 he has served in that rural town as Associate Pastor at the First
Congregational Church(CCCC). They have two adult children and one joyful
grandson. Holding a deep concern for the youth of our nation, his goal is to
provide fun, wholesome adventures that both entertain and communicate hope in
the perilous world of today. Buy
The Lost Crown of Colonnade on AMAZON!

 

Interview with Ken (by Tammy Doherty)

 

I’m pleased to have
this opportunity to interview my friend and fellow author, Ken Winters. Be sure
to leave a comment for a chance to win a FREE copy of THE
LOST CROWN OF COLONNADE.

 

When I was a teen, Ken
Winters and his wife Connie played a big part in the foundation of my faith.
Back then, Ken was the Youth Minister at my church; he led a musical group
(made up of many of my friends) called True Direction. I did Ken the favor of
not singing. Later, Ken joined the Navy Chaplain service and we fell out
of touch for a number of years. When he retired and came back to my church as
Associate Pastor it was a great joy to learn that Ken had become an aspiring
novelist.

 

In the last few years, Ken and I have both grown in our writing
abilities, each helping the other. Now, Ken’s dream has reached fruition with
the publication of his young adult novel THE LOST CROWN OF COLONNADE. I LOVE this book!
It’s got action, adventure, a touch of romance, humor, and (most important?!)
talking bears.

 

Tammy: Seems like
youth ministry is near and dear to your heart. Can you touch on that?

 

Ken: Yes, Tammy. 
As you know, from 1976-83 I served as Youth Pastor in North Brookfield. Then
God led me into the Navy and for twenty years I primarily ministered to and
counseled young adults and young families. So, the societal changes that affect
them have been obvious and important to me.

 

Tammy: Is that what
led you to write a young adult novel?

 

Ken: It was a part of
it.  Of course, this book “developed” over many years. I don’t think it
would have ever been completed if it weren’t for the encouragement of the
Writers’ Group at our Church, and friends like you and Kay Combs. My hope was
that this book might get some teens or young adults to re-think their values
and beliefs. I have to mention that, while I did write this book with that
audience in mind, the book has been read and enjoyed by people from 11 to 92!
The 92-year-old, a dear friend named Mike, read it in a couple of days about 2
months before the Lord called him home.

 

Tammy: In THE
LOST CROWN OF COLONNADE,
Davey comes from a dysfunctional home where he has all the worldly goods a boy
could want but is missing the most important thing – love. Do you see this as a
common problem with today’s kids?

 

Ken: The American
family today is in big trouble. At least Davey’s parents are still together.
Unlike him, many of the teens and young adults I have met come from broken
homes. Sometimes there have been multiple relationships that parents have had
with multiple other spouses and/or “significant others” over the years. That
doesn’t create a very stable place to grow in and learn about what a family
should be. 

 

I do find that, even
among less affluent families, “THINGS” have become way too important. The
biggest HDTV, the newest cell phone or I-Pad bring a temporary thrill, but no
deep meaning. When obtaining and playing with things supplants building loving
relationships with others, or the God who created us, the results are emptiness
or hurt or both.

 

Tammy: Some of the characters and scenery in your novel are
reminiscent of JRR Tolkien and CS Lewis. I like the conversational voice of the
writing, almost as if I’m sitting by the fire in Bundiggle’s trading post,
listening to you tell the story. Your humorous author interjections are much
like Tolkien in THE HOBBIT. Were these authors an influence in your writing
style and/or the choice of setting

 

Ken: I love C.S. Lewis and Tolkien. Their books are very
different, yet pack a message that is deeper than just the story. I know that
the “rules of writing” discourage directly addressing your audience in the
first person.  However, after I submitted my book to XULON Press, I
happened to read Stephen Kings The Eyes of the Dragon. Actually,
I’ve never read any of his horror stories.  They are not my thing. But I
had heard that this book was a very different book for King. I was surprised to
find that he adopted that writing style. So at least I’m not alone. 

 

Tammy: Davey comes from Connecticut, where you were last
stationed with the Navy. Colonnade, however, is a fictitious land. Are there
any real-world influences on the setting? For example, Davey arrives in a cave
and crawls through a tunnel to exit, finding himself on the side of a dead (or
sleeping) volcano. Is that a bit of Hawaii?

Ken: No, it’s a bit of Colonnade’s Northern Reaches. 
Obviously, there are things I have used from my own personal travels to the
Rocky Mountains, Europe, the Dominican Republic and even Caverns here in the
Continental US.  But I did not consciously model Colonnade after any one
of those places. 

 

Tammy: THE LOST CROWN ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. I don’t
want to spoil it for anyone, but can you share a little about book 2? 

 

Ken: Hmmm. Book 2 is a work in progress. Many of the key
characters return to take their respective places in the next adventure. I
won’t tell you which characters. I believe there will be some surprises in
store for those who have enjoyed The Lost Crown.  The working
title right now is “The Enchanted Bride” Book II of the Journeys to Colonnade.

 

Tammy: Wrapping up on
a lighter note, my daughter wants me to ask this question – quoting from
the novel: Most of the talking bears I know prefer small quiet farm
villages, or just living in the woods like Snuffles. 



How many talking bears DO you know?

 

Ken: Well, since I first read, The Chronicles of
Narnia when I was about fourteen, in the land of my imagination I’ve
met many talking animals. Haven’t you? But remember, make sure you’ve heard
that bear talk before you try to make him or her your friend!

 

Tammy: Thank you, Ken, for sharing your time with us. Is there
anything you’d like to add?

 

Ken:  Like your own writing, your questions have been fun
and insightful.  I’ve really enjoyed this interview, which is no great
surprise.  Thanks for a great time and God bless!

 

The Lost Crown of Colonnade thrusts a
physically-challenged teen, Davey Johnsen, and readers into a new land where
dangers abound. There they meet the regent of the land, his daughter, Princess
Alisande, Snuffles the talking bear, and Captain William of Conklinton. While the regent and his vastly outnumbered
army faces hordes of Vulture Soldiers and the dreaded Werebane of Nethland,
Davey, Alisande and their faithful band take on the quest of recovering the
legendary Lost Crown of Colonnade. Adventure, a budding young romance, and a
journey of faith meld into a touching and unpredictable fantasy. The book has
received wonderful reviews from readers aged 12 to 92. Buy
The Lost Crown of Colonnade on AMAZON!

Grace Awards Showcase: DawnSinger by Janalyn Voigt

About DawnSinger 




A headstrong young princess and the guardian sworn to protect her fly on
winged horses to the Gate of Life above the Well of Light in a desperate bid to
release the DawnKing, and the salvation he offers, into a divided land. Will
they each learn in time that sometimes victory comes only through surrender? Janalyn
Voigt's unique blend of adventure, romance, suspense, and fantasy creates
worlds of beauty and danger for readers. Beginning with DawnSinger,
her epic fantasy series, Tales of Faeraven, carries the reader
into a land only imagined in dreams. Fantasy readers who enjoyed Chronicles
of Narnia by CS Lewis, The Chronicles of Pern by Anne
McCaffrey, or The Lord of the Rings trilogy by JRR Tolkien are sure to like DawnSinger.






About the author Janalyn Voigt




The story that became Tales of Faeraven, Janalyn Voigt’s epic
fantasy trilogy, began as a fairytale she made up for her bored young daughter
while on a car trip. Long after her daughter had forgotten the people and
places of Elderland, they lived on in Janalyn’s imagination.  Any writer might hope for such deep
inspiration, but there was a problem: 
after a series of disappointments (including a book contract that fell
through), Janalyn had given up writing. 

 

Years passed, during which
Janalyn attempted a hodgepodge of careers that were far removed from her
calling to write. She delivered mail, studied music and performed in operas, worked
in a real estate office, and even spent several years on the top floor of a
Seattle skyscraper as an assistant underwriter for an insurance company.
Although she was successful in every endeavor, nothing stuck and she always
moved on. 




Meanwhile, the world of Elderland
evolved along with Janalyn. The story simply would not let her go. It took a
recommitment to her Christian faith to make her see that nothing could
substitute for what she had been called to do. She needed to return to writing.
More specifically, she had to write DawnSinger,
book one of the Tales of Faeraven.
Her manuscript might never see publication, but that didn’t matter as much as taking
this step of faith and releasing the story that had haunted her thoughts for so
long.

DawnSinger’s journey to publication was
almost as rocky as its inception, but it released with Harbourlight Books
(Pelican Book Group) in 2012. WayFarer,
book two of the Tales of Faeraven,
will release January 3, 2014. Janalyn is currently writing DawnKing, book three in the series.




Interview with the Janalyn




What
is the world of Elderland like?




Immersing myself in the world of
Elderland is like returning to a childhood dream, the one where you can
fly. It is a place that should be, where wild wingabeasts roam the
farthest mountain reaches, long-tailed birds of fantasy roost in strongwood
trees, and fish in rainbow hues swim the streams. Curtain walls shelter castle
keeps, guardians man the barbican, and honor carries the day.

Of course, there’s another side
to Elderland. This is also the place where goblin-like monsters hunt fresh
kill, giant birds of prey spread their wings against the sky, and
spider-waevens inject poison into their victim’s souls.




Elderland’s beauty and its
beastliness both come from me, its author.




That sounds enchanting. Was
writing DawnSinger easy or difficult?




It takes sacrifice and what
old-timers called “sheer cussedness” to write a book.  You have to be bull-headed enough to believe
in yourself as a writer when no one else does. Your family may support you, and
that’s nice, but often they don’t understand your writing as a career until
after you sign your first contract. 




Writing a novel without a
contract does give you the freedom to take your time. That’s a plus and a
minus. It can mean good writing from time spent unleashing your creativity or
self-editing. It can also mean procrastination. Which it will be is up to the
writer.




Boy, can I relate to that! And you ventured into recently expanding territory when you decided to write the story too. When
you wrote DawnSinger, speculative fiction was accepted less than it is now. Did
you find that daunting?




I did, especially since I didn’t
know if I’d left the story waiting too long and missed my opportunity to bring
it to readers. This all took place at the advent of the e-book revolution, and
very few writers understood self-publishing as a viable option. This put stress
on me to find a publisher at a time when speculative fiction was more of a hard
sell than it is now. If I had it all to do today, I might have self-published
instead. That can be a good option for a speculative fiction author when done
well, but I’d have missed out on the benefits of working with my publisher.




With
such a lyrical writing style, did you find it hard to avoid purple prose?




I learned through the editing
process that I tend to wordiness. Edits were invaluable for teaching me how to
let fewer words do more work. Having editors help you identify and overcome your
particular writing flaws is a huge benefit of traditional publishing. It can be
a painful process but well worth the costs. I’m always grateful for anyone
willing to save me from myself.




How
does the heroine of DawnSinger’s journey echo your own?




Shae has to accept her true
identity if she is to embrace her calling. This, in a nutshell, was what I had
to do in order to write DawnSinger. I
accepted myself as I am and stopped trying to become something I’m not. This
gave me the freedom to pursue my calling to write. Only then could I sing my song.

DawnSinger is an eloquent, exciting story. Grab your copy today at Amazon!
 


Read an EXCERPT of DawnSinger!

10 Rules for Writing First Drafts

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Grace Awards Showcase: Victory by DeEtte Beckstead

Victory is the story
of a little girl, and the town where she lives. The town of Victory has a
history of patriotism, faith, and friendliness. The little girl, Brown Eyes,
orphaned when her missionary parents were killed in a fire, lives with her only
known relative who does not want the girl. When The Guest comes to town, the
people open their hearts and town to him, without knowing who he is or what is
motive is. Shortly after his arrival, The Stranger appears, much to the
discomfort of The Guest. Slowly, the town loses its freedoms as one of the men
takes over little by little. When they have a face to face showdown on the
mountain, the life of the child and the future of the town are at stake. Will
freedom be a thing of the past? Who will have the Victory?

 

Available at Amazon

Interview with DeEtte

Hi, DeEtte. I'm so happy to feature you here as part of the Grace Awards Showcase Tour. I know Victory is not your only novel. You've also written one called The Christmas Visitors. I've wondered, in which genre do you classify your books?

 

 

Both are Christian fiction, paranormal. There are no ghosts,
werewolves, or zombies, but there are demons and angels. 

What made you decide to write in your particular genre?

It just sort of happened that way. Once I started
writing, the story wrote itself. I am a Christian with strong faith, and it
came from that. 

What compelled you to write Victory?

When I was writing for NaNo in 2007, I started with a description of the
day. The story moved on to the scene with the pigeon. It was just a few days
after my real encounter with a pigeon who had crashed into the apartment roof,
so that was added. The rest just grew from there. 

So is Christian paranormal your favorite genre to read also, or do you have other favorites?

I like to read Christian fiction, historical fiction, and classics
mostly. There are some I have read by my fellow authors that I have really
enjoyed, even though I wouldn't have chosen that genre for myself.

What do you like to do when you're not writing?

Crocheting is one of my hobbies. All my grandchildren have toys
and clothes I have made for them. They will often ask me to make them something
special, and I will do it. I also crochet dog sweaters, afghans, shawls, and
doilies. Right now I am making a butterfly swag for one of my granddaughters
with over 30 different crocheted butterflies on a crocheted vine.

In my free time.... what is that? I always seem to have something
I need to be doing, but I like to read, watch old movies, play with my grandkidlings,
or crochet. I also love to visit historical sites!

Oh, visiting historical sites sounds like great fun to me! So with your experience, what advice would you
give to aspiring writers?

Write about what you
love. Don't worry about making it all work to start with; just write. There
will be time later to go back and make corrections, adjustments, deletions.
Write what you feel. There is that old saying “Strike while the iron is hot.”
When you know you have something to write, get it written then. Carry a
notebook and pen with you to make notes or write complete scenes if you are
away from the keyboard.

If a word count is
important, don't fill in with words that don't add to the story. Just write.
Once the first draft is finished, you can go back.

Don't be afraid of
editors; they are your friends, there to help you make your story the best it
can be.

Find the method that
works for you and stick with it, even though your best writing buddy may use a
different style. If you need to write an outline and character sketches first,
do so. If you write better just sitting down and writing, do that.

Whether or not you
ever get anything published, you are a writer if you write.

Visit DeEtte and find out more about her life and writing at her blog:

deetteanderton.wordpress.com

Grace Awards Showcase: Darkest Hour by Nike Chillemi

A petite widow, medical secretary and sole support of her
young son and grandparents, is framed for the murder of her boss. Wealthy
village residents conspire with the DA to indicte her and stop further
investigation. The medical examiner thinks the shooter was a tall individual.
When his report is shoved aside, he starts his own side-investigation trying to
clear her and in the process he falls in love with her.




Lucinda Byrne lost her husband and parents at sea. When she
discovers the body of her boss, his A-List society finacee, backed up by her
powerful family and a corrupt DA, acuses Lucinda of murder.  She struggles on shielding her five-year-old
son, her feisty grandfather and arthritic grandmother from the ugliness of her
situation. She mistrusts the dapper ME, thinking he's a ladies' man, but soon
realizes he may be the only one in her corner.




Hank Jansen, the county ME who's had his share of pain and
loss, doesn't know if this little widow was in on the murder, but he knows by
the trajectory of the bullet she's too short to have pulled the trigger. His
professional opinion ignored, he begins his own investigation and at least one
cop accuses him of an ethics violation. He certainly can't deny he's fallen
head over heals for the accused, and also is crazy about her son. A huge problem
is there's a leak inside the investigation and the murderer is always one step
ahead of them.

Interview







Q:  How did you develop the plot
for DARKEST HOUR and how did you come up with the name?




Nike: 
In my Sanctuary
Point series, one novel flows out of another.
Main characters in one novel will appear as subordinate characters
in the next one.  Hank
Jansen, the Nassau County Medical Examiner, first appeared in my Christmas/New
Year's novel in the series, GOODBYE NOEL. Then he popped up at the murder scene
in PERILOUS SHADOWS. I got to like him and thought he'd be a terrific hero. He
is the most flawed of my heroes, but like all my others, he seeks to right injustice. So, he needed a heroine, but I wanted a
gal who would be put off by him at first. So, I created a widow with a young
son who
is dignified and protective of her family. At
first she thinks Hank is a ladies' man and too cavalier for her taste. Then, of course, he grows on her. It helps that
he's practically the only one who thinks she's innocent of murder. The name DARKEST HOUR came to mind because things in this story get
so scary for the heroine.



 Q: In DARKEST HOUR, your heroine Lucinda Byrne
isn't as
feisty as your previous heroines have been. Can you comment on that?





A: Lucinda Byrne certainly is strong, but she doesn't shoot from the hip the way my
other heroines did. She's much more careful. I think a woman can show strength in many ways. Lucinda is a widow,
the mother of her five-year old son, and the sole support of her grandparents.
Her strength comes through as she handles her responsibilities with courage and
grace while powerful individuals in the village seek to destroy her. Don't get
me wrong, I enjoy writing spunky heroines, but in this story, I wanted Lucinda
to have poise and dignity, first and foremost. Still, she can and does stand up
for herself to the village detective and to Hank Jansen, the medical examiner,
who she's falling in love with in spite of the fact that she doesn't know if
she can trust him.




Q:
Is there anything that happened in the writing
of this novel that surprised you?




A: I thought my heroine Lucinda Byrne had two sweet grandparents who
would stay in the background and just...well look sweet. However, Nellie and
Daniel Walsh took me by surprise. I hadn't planned on Mrs. Walsh having
crippling arthritis and on that illness becoming a subtheme in the novel. So, I
had to research how severe arthritis was treated in the 1940s. As his wife's
role in the novel grew and blossomed, Mr. Walsh also made himself known as an
elderly gentleman of honor and dignity with quite a backbone. Then I began to
depict them engaging each other as a married couple. They weren't content to
remain in the background. They insisted on coming to life.

Excerpt

From
Chapter one…

A black coach
resembling an ambulance drove into the lot. An older man in overalls pulled a
collapsible gurney out of the back and raised its bed to hip level. Its chrome gleamed.



The night
orderly and two nurses getting off the night shift stopped to watch.



The brown-haired
man pointed to the gurney and his voice carried. "They finally allocated
some funds my way. Makes transporting much easier. Oscar
and I used to carry them on a stretcher. My back sure is grateful to the board
of supervisors."



The detective
laughed. "Don't you county guys have all the dough you want?"



"Who're you
kidding?"



The gurney's
wheels rumbled across the gravel parking lot. The older man pulled on the
straps of his overalls."Hank, you ready to move the body?"



The stylish man
nodded. "Let's do it." They lifted the body onto the gurney and the
man in overalls covered Dr. McCloud with a white sheet. Blood seeped through
and began spreading.



Lucinda gasped,
took another step back, stumbled, but managed to keep her footing. She
straightened her spine. She still had to go into that building and work a full
day. She had a son to support.



The detective
nodded toward the body. "By the size of the hole in his chest, I'd guess
he was shot with a pistol, maybe at close range. I need to have the bullet as
soon as you recover it."



"Then by
all means, you'll be my guest at the autopsy."



"Gee,
thanks." The detective shook his head.



The debonair man
chuckled, turned, and approached Lucinda.



A tremor ran
down her back. More questioning, and all she wanted to do was run and hide. She
sniffled and wiped her nose with the side of her index finger.



He reached into
his inside pocket and offered her a folded white handkerchief. "It's rough
if you've never seen anything like this. I'm Hank Jansen, the medical examiner,
by the way."



Lucinda's gaze
followed the gurney to the black coach. "He was my boss."



"You work
at the hospital for Dr. McCloud?"



"Yes. I...
I'm his secretary... was, I mean. And Dr. Hinsey's too." She couldn't
believe the doctor's life had ended this way.



Detective Daltry
barked, "Hank, can I speak with you?"



"Excuse
me." The medical examiner stepped away.



"Wait."
Lucinda quickly refolded the handkerchief and handed it back to him. She didn't
know this man. Wouldn't begin to know how to return the white cotton cloth.
"Don't forget this."



"Take it
with you. The day's not over. Things could still get rough." He smiled.



"No, I
can't take your hankie."



"Listen,
I'll pick it up the next time I'm at the hospital. You say you work for Dr.
Hinsey?"



"Hank,"
the detective called, impatience sharp in his tone.



"Yes, Dr.
Hinsey is the head of the maternity ward. I'll launder it and have it ready for
you."



The medical
examiner nodded and smiled. "It's a date. I mean, I'll stop by and pick it
up." He turned and trotted toward the detective.



Lucinda slipped
the handkerchief into her purse. She headed for the main entrance of the
hospital, bent and picked up a fountain pen in the gravel lot.



She pivoted and
advanced toward the two men.



The detective
made a chopping gesture with his hand and raised his voice. "I'm not
fooling, Hank. Don't go putting another notch in your belt. She's a
witness."



"Can't a
fellow do a simple act of kindness?"



"I'm
warning you, stay away from her." The detective spun around and nearly
collided with Lucinda.

Heat rushed to
her face, and she couldn't meet either man's gaze. If the ground would only
open and swallow her. She held the pen out to Detective Daltry.
"Uh...I…I'm sorry. I think you dropped this."




Purchase Links

Amazon/Kindle

Barnes and Noble/Nook








Author Bio

Like so many writers,
Nike Chillemi started writing at a very young age. She still has the Crayola,
fully illustrated book she penned (penciled might be more accurate) as a little
girl about her then off-the-chart love of horses. Today, you might call her a crime
fictionista. Her passion is crime fiction. She likes her bad guys really
bad and her good guys smarter and better.

She
is the founding board member of the Grace Awards and is its Chairman, a
reader's choice awards for excellence in Christian fiction. She writes
book reviews for The Christian Pulse online magazine. She was an Inspy
Awards 2010 judge in the Suspense/Thriller/Mystery category and a judge in the
2011 and 2012 Carol Awards in the suspense, mystery, and romantic suspense
categories. BURNING HEARTS, the first book in the crime wave that is sweeping
the south shore of Long Island in The Sanctuary Point series, finaled in
the Grace Awards 2011 in the Romance/Historical Romance category. GOODBYE NOEL,
the second book in the series released in December, 2011 won the Grace Award
2011 in the Mystery/Romantic Suspense/Thriller category. PERILOUS SHADOWS,
third in the series released July, 2012, and DARKEST HOUR, the fourth in the
series released in February, 2013.  She
is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the Edgy Christian
Fiction Lovers (Ning). http://nikechillemi.wordpress.com/

Grace Awards Showcase: Out for Blood by Marcy G. Dyer

Dialysis nurse,
Danielle Battershawn's, life is turned upside down when her identical twin is
murdered. As she strives to deal with yet another death, the killer sets his
sights on eliminating her. Can handsome security consultant, Tyler Covington,
keep her alive?

Excerpt

Under the cloak of
darkness, the man donned latex gloves. He picked the lock on the back door to
Janine's house and tiptoed over the threshold. The soft fragrance of her
perfume permeated the air. Such a shame. Inquisitive mongrel. They could've
shared an exciting time together, but she had to play buttinski and stick her
beak into his business, cutting short their love affair. Anger threatened to
engulf him, but he shook it off and turned his attention to his search.

In the living room,
he pulled books off the shelves, thumbed through them, and overturned the
bookcases. He slashed furniture cushions and dug through the foam, then ripped
up the corners of the carpeting. As small as the drive was, the witch could've
hidden it anywhere. He pulled her antique glassware off the fireplace and broke
them open. Empty.

After he pulled
pictures off the walls and slashed open the backs, he moved on to the air
vents. He unscrewed each one, stuck his hand inside the duct, and felt around.

Cursing, the man
moved from room to room, dumping out contents of cabinets, drawers, the
dresser, and desk. He turned over the furniture and checked the backsides and
underneath.

In the bathroom, he
checked under the cabinets and behind the mirror. Where did the conniving broad hide the flash drive?
He slashed her bed to ribbons, dug through the stuffing, and pulled out
handfuls of the cotton batting, but found nothing.

He slammed his fist
through the drywall. "Stupid witch." He composed himself and explored
the entire house once again.

Slipping out the
front door, he removed his latex gloves and stuffed them in his pocket. As he
wove through the sprawling subdivision, he hummed the tune to "Death's
Head."

Knowing Janine, she
gave it to her sister for preservation. He would search Dani's house and, after
he had the drive, he'd dispose of her. Doing away with both of the meddlesome
twins would solve two problems for him. He allowed himself a smile at the
thought of carousing with Dani before he got rid of her.

Dialysis nurse,
Danielle Battershawn's, life is turned upside down when her identical twin is
murdered. As she strives to deal with yet another death, the killer sets his
sights on eliminating her. Can handsome security consultant, Tyler Covington,
keep her alive?

Interview:

1.      Hi, Marcy; it can be pretty overwhelming to write a book. This is your second in the series. How do you find encouragement? Do
you belong to a critique group?

I
actually belong to three critique groups. A crit group is one of the most
important tools in an author's arsenal of tools. The Bible talks about iron
sharpening iron – a good crit group will help an author hone her craft and
sharpen her writing skills.

2.      What
is your favorite genre to write?

I love
to write suspense. It's my favorite genre to read and to write. I also read
other genres, but so I haven't ventured into writing in any other genre. 

3.      Were
you ever told to give it up that you would never make it as a writer?

When I
was first starting out, I had no experience writing and didn't understand the
craft of writing, I had a critique partner tell me that I would never make it
as writer, and I just needed to give up. She was part of a huge writing
critique group and most of the others had been very encouraging. Her assessment
of my writing skills, hurt, then made me a little angry, and I decided to prove
that I could become a writer. I learned everything I could for the next several
years, and honed my craft. The reviews to my first book, Down & Out, have
been quite good, so I hope that means I've been successful at learning the
craft. Of course I think, as writers, we must keep learning and honing our
craft.

4.      Where
do you find inspiration for your characters?

Actors,
friends, family members – all provide a little inspiration for the characters.
I can't say that any one person is an inspiration for any one character though. 

5.      How
do you develop your characters?

I have a
character interview chart from one of the classes I took. All of the major
characters in a book go through an extensive interview process and the minor
characters go through a truncated interview process. Of course, during the
course of writing the characters do morph.

Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Desert Breeze

Enter the drawing for a copy of Marcy's new book on her blog!

About the Author:

     Marcy G. Dyer is a
Registered Nurse and suspense author. Like so many other writers, she began writing
at a very young age, but never took herself seriously as a “real” writer until
about ten years ago when she began taking courses and learning the craft of
writing. She currently has two
books available: Down & Out, and Out for Blood.

     In addition to
writing, Marcy is a freelance editor. She does editing for individuals, Desert
Breeze Publishing, and Prism Book Group.

     Marcy is an alumnus
of the Christian Writer’s Guild and long-time member of American Christian
Fiction Writers. She hosts a small critique group for ACFW and is involved
in two other critique groups. For anyone seriously interested in becoming an
author, she recommends a strong, diverse critique group to help authors
hone crafts.

     In addition to
maintaining her website, http://www.marcydyer.com, Marcy
hosts a blog to help those with autoimmune diseases. While many autoimmune
diseases aren’t visible, they still cause chronic pain and disability. If you
would like more information, please visit http://ragimp.blogspot.com

     As followers of Jesus Christ, Marcy and her
family are active members of Crossroads Fellowship in Odessa, Texas. Sermons
are carried live via the web at our online campus – http://crossroadsodessa.tv/ at the following times on Sundays – 9:30
&; 11:00 and 5:00 &; 7:00 central time.

 

 Don't miss any of these great book showcases by participating authors in the Grace Awards book launch tour. Click on the author site links or find out details on each book on the Grace Awards site.

Mon. July 29 - Suzanne D. Williams - THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LUCAS McGILLEY

Mon. Aug 5 - Barbara Brink, ENTANGLED




Mon, Aug 12 ~ Naomi Musch,  PAINT ME ALTHENA

Mon, Aug 19 ~ Marcy Dyer,  OUT FOR BLOOD

Mon, Aug 26 ~ Nike Chillemi,  DARKEST HOUR

Mon, Sept 2 ~ DeEtteBeckstead,  VICTORY                          

Mon, Sept 9 ~ JanalynVoigt,  DAWNSINGER                           

Mon, Sept 16 ~ Kenneth Winters, THE LOST CROWN OF COLONNADE

Mon, Sept 23 ~ BJ Robinson, LAST RESORT

Mon, Sept 30 ~ Laura J.Marshall, A HEART'S HOME
Mon. Oct 7 - Tammy Doherty, CELTIC KNOT 

Paint Me Althena Book Release & Raffle

It's official. It's release week for

Paint Me Althena!












What's it all about?




When
still life artist Ethan Day discovers a fantasy painting by Althena Bell in a
consignment shop, he's sure he's found Ava, his wife who abandoned him and
their two little girls three years ago. Finding and rescuing her are one thing,
but forgiveness and second chances are impeded by outsiders, and conflict
between Ava's search for identity and Ethan's new faith might break the safety
net he offers. 







Excerpt




She needed to get away,
but there was no place to go. She leaned forward, longing to hug her friend,
but conscious of her wet clothes she pulled back. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't
have come here."

She turned for the
door. Anguish flooded her even as the rain let up outside. Light brightened the
window to a gentle gray.

"Thena!"
Ann pleaded, but Ava hurried to the door. She flung it open and rushed outside
-- and smack into a man's chest.

"Oh!" She
stepped back. "I'm sorry." Gushing her apology, she moved to pass
around him, but he didn't budge.

"Ava?"

She hadn't heard her
name spoken aloud in three years, and now it sounded like her subconscious come
to life. She looked up and swooned. Ethan grasped her shoulders as the bag
dropped from them. She blinked. "Please... please... I have to go."

"Can I give you
a ride?" 

She nodded, her
glance grazing up the street and down again. "Yes. Please."

She reached for her
bag but he swooped down and picked it up. The rain had gone from shower to
sprinkle, but he allowed her to hurry them down the walk. 

"This way."
He pointed at a small sedan. "It's not locked." He tossed her bag
into the back seat as she climbed into the passenger side.

"Wait. My
bike."

He glanced back at
the shop and nodded. "There's room. I'll get it."

She gnawed her lip.
Any moment now, Dan would come around the corner. Maybe on his cycle, maybe in
his truck. The car jerked as Ethan opened the trunk and lifted the bike inside.
He couldn't close it tight, but pushed it down as far as it would go. He opened
the door and ducked in beside her, tucking his long legs into the car. She
inwardly urged him to hurry. A moment later he turned the key and the motor
purred to life. "Which way?" he asked as he pulled from the curb.

She shook her head.
There was no answer.




In case you're wondering:

The idea for Paint Me Althena came in an unusual way -- at least for me.

You know how you sometimes have a dream that seems really
exciting, but when you wake up it doesn't make any sense? Well, I had a dream
about this story. It was one of those like-watching-a-movie kind of dreams, and
it was fraught with tension and romance. A scene of a young woman fleeing a
Victorian to get away from someone she cared about but feared -- that
especially got my heart beating. When I woke up, I thought, "Wow, that was
some dream." I expected it to fragment apart at any moment, but as I
thought about, I realized it made sense. It wasn't the jumbled mess that most
dreams seem to wind up being. It had a beginning, a middle, and an end -- a
real plot. So I grabbed a notebook and started writing the synopsis. I'd never
dreamed a story from beginning to end like that before. Of course I had to
flesh out a lot of the details, but it sure gave me an instant overview.

You might wonder why I would dream up such a
story.

I think I've figured that out, and it actually became the main
theme of the book. It seemed I'd been made aware of several women, some young,
some older, who were thinking of leaving their families. I think my dream
materialized out of my mind trying to process why they'd do such a thing. Ava,
the protagonist in Paint Me Althena,
ran away from her husband and children and lived for three years under the
alias Althena Bell. (She has a reason for the unusual name she chose.) In my
story, she had to come back and want a fresh start, but that would be quite a
hurdle to overcome for both her and her estranged husband, not to mention her
children's feelings. 




Plus, Ava/Althena still had to be likeable. I think it works. I
think readers will really care about Ava and understand her.






I had to ask myself why Ava would abandon her family. I mean, they were great. Here's what I figured out.




She had self-image issues mostly, which is another theme that
found its way into the story. She didn’t feel she deserved the life she had --
or rather -- she was made to feel that way by one of the antagonists in the
story.




Ava's husband felt greatly wronged, but that's not the only reason I think readers will care about him.




Readers might rightly wonder why she would ever
leave him. He's a great dad in the early stages of a growing career as a fine
artist, not to mention he's -- ahem
-- quite good looking. At least his young widow friend Jackie recognizes all
those traits...




 Yes, the
plot thickens.




Thickened twice over, because another man has
entered Ava's life too, and he has no idea about her past, that she's married, or
that her name isn't really Althena.




Here's why I veered here from my usual forte of historical fiction.




Readers might be familiar with Empire in Pine my 3-book historical/generational series. Paint Me Althena is my second
contemporary. I like to focus on writing romantic women's fiction in whatever
way the story needs to be told. I like to tell stories that deal with the
messes we make in our lives and the sorry outcomes that we sometimes have to
deal with. But the main point is that God can clean them up if we'll hand Him
the mop. Does that mean everything always works out for everyone in my books?
No, because characters, like real people, sometimes have to live with certain
consequences. But happy endings? Oh, yes. They have to be there, because I
believe the very best stories always inspire hope.







Here's where anyone can find Paint Me Althena as well as my other books:




Desert
Breeze Publishing - Naomi's Author Page

Amazon

B&N




Also
available at Sony, DeeperShopping, Christianbook, Koorong (Australia),

Wesley Owens,  Kobo, All Romance eBooks,
iTunes, Books on Board, Google eBook store.

 


Enter the PAINT ME ALTHENA Giveaway  

using the rafflecopter at the following link.

You can win an e-copy of the book, as well as some really cool local artisan gifts.




 CLICK HERE, SCROLL TO THE BOTTOM

Book and Artisan Gift Pack Giveaway!

Hey, everybody, I am completely psyched about my new novel Paint Me Althena releasing from Desert Breeze Publishing on August
11th! To celebrate, I'm hosting an Artisan Gift Pack Giveaway along with an e-copy of the new book. Keep reading to find out how to enter and what you'll win.

 

 

About the Book

When
still life artist Ethan Day discovers a fantasy painting by Althena Bell in a
consignment shop, he's sure he's found Ava, his wife who abandoned him and
their two little girls three years ago. Finding and rescuing her are one thing,
but forgiveness and second chances are impeded by outsiders, and conflict
between Ava's search for identity and Ethan's new faith might break the safety
net he offers.  

 

Winner's Artisan Gift Pack

Crocheted Hand Towel, Pure Maple Syrup from Wild Rivers Ranch in the the author's county on the shores of Lake Superior, and a Hand Painted Miniature Lighthouse Oil Painting by Wisconsin author, Linda Voelker. Can you guess that Paint Me Althena is set near beautiful Lake Superior, and a lighthouse plays a role in the story? 

The Gift Pack also includes

a signed paperback copy of Life's Moments by Wisconsin author Linda Voelker

 

From
the back -- "This is one person's story of trials and triumphs in
relationships and of God's transforming power. It is told with humor and
candor. The intent of this book is to bring a smile and a message of
encouragement." One reader says, "...this is one of the most beautiful
books I've ever read," and from another reader, "...this book put into
words what I have felt but couldn't say."

 

If you guessed that Paint Me Althena has a lot to do with forgiveness and reconciliation in relationships, you're right!
Meeting Linda and getting a copy of her book to add to the prize
package was a God thing. I hope that even if you don't win, you'll enjoy
Paint Me Althena as part of your end-of-summer reading!

The contest runs until Friday, August 16th, 6 pm central time.

I am having technical difficulties on this page - Ugh! - so just pop over here to enter following the directions on the rafflecopter at the bottom of the post. Sorry for the inconvenience!

 

Paint Me Althena will be available to purchase August 11th from

Desert Breeze Publishing

 Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Also
available at Sony, Deeper Shopping, Christian Book, Koorong (Australia),

Wesley Owens,  Kobo, All Romance eBooks,
iTunes, Books on Board, Google eBook store.

 

Grace Awards Showcase: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LUCAS MCGILLEY by Suzanne D. Williams

THE LIFE AND TIMES OF LUCAS MCGILLEY   [image error]

Suzanne D. Williams

Feel-Good Romance

 Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

About the Book:

“Go ahead and plan to leave,” Lucas said. “Hold onto your
ticket. I’ll even drive you to the train. But I’ll do it with Sam and John and
Charles and Will. With Marcus and James. Even with Jesse. And you’ll have to
look us all in the eye as you board and decide what’s more valuable to you.
Your plans in Atlanta. Your friend, Christine, who I’m sure is great. Or ten
people who love you.”

---

The second of eight boys, Lucas McGilley spent his youth
pulling pranks. Yet growing up comes hard, and he’s learned his lesson. Or so
he thinks.



Then Iris Willow shows up for the summer, and along comes love, strife, and a
terrible family secret. He needs her now, more than he’s ever thought possible.



But can he convince her to stay, or will she catch the train and be gone forever?



From the author of best-selling novella, ME & TIMOTHY COOPER, comes another
young adult romance of first love and the importance of family.

Welcome, Suzanne Williams!

1.       When I hear any title that begins with The Life and Times... I imagine a quirky, fun story. Can you tell me what inspired the title for you?

I woke up early one morning with that
title in my head. I saw it like a headline. I am a graphic artist as well as a
writer, so initially it came to me like the top of a newspaper. But when I made
the book cover later, I decided to use a couple instead and give the title an
old-fashioned headline effect.

2.      I sometimes begin with a title too. Since you did, then where did the storyline come from?

The storyline was originally a
historical fiction. But because contemporary YA sells so well, I changed it.
This enabled me to use a modern young couple on the cover and to include things
like trucks and cell phones. But it keeps it’s “country” feel somewhat. I am a
native Floridian and love to include descriptions of the landscape and
lifestyle I am so familiar with in my books. This was the first YA I’ve written
that I could really indulge myself in that and it still be contemporary.

3.      I understand there are a host of sibling brothers in this story. What was the most difficult part of creating your characters?

Remembering all those brothers –
Jesse, Lucas, Marcus, James, William, Charles, John, and Sam.

I try to make each story unique in
some way. Lucas being one of eight boys is definitely unique, but add in the
challenge of having so many names in the text, giving each of them a
personality, and the rapport brothers in a large family would have with each
other, and I had to stop and think…a lot. Sam’s my favorite brother next to
Lucas. Lucas, being the troublemaker, I needed a brother who’d continually stir the pot, so to speak, and he became
it.

Here’s an unusual fact about the
book, my editor is herself a mom of five boys, so she identified with the feel
of the family, and that was a huge help to me in finalizing the story.

4.      So the female lead is Iris Willow. Interesting name. What’s
her part in the story?

I love naming characters. As a mom, I
personally tried to give my daughter a normal name. After all, I grew up having
to explain “Suzanne.” But when it comes to books, I can indulge myself and
choose things outside of the box. In Iris’ case, I asked a friend to name a
flower, completely at random, and then a tree. I then put them together. It was
that simple.

It being a YA romance, I had to have
a girl in the story, and since the story is set in a small town way off the
road, it made sense to bring her in from the outside, where she’d be unfamiliar
with the area. It also seemed a good idea she not be used to a large family,
and that created the problems between she and Lucas, her reluctance to get
involved, and the mystery of why exactly she was there.

5.      What do you love about writing YA?

The innocence of it, two young people
first falling in love, and the thrill that brings to the heart and the mind.
The older I get, the more I appreciate this.

I never set out to be a YA writer,
and actually, write many other romance titles, but it’s the YA that I always
come back to, which brings me the most joy and feedback. As a Christian writer,
I add Bible morality into each story as well. Some have more of a Christian theme
than others, but all have foundational truths behind them.

No one person’s life is perfect, and
I try to reflect that in the mistakes and foibles of the characters, and write
what’s best for that particular tale because what works for one doesn’t work
for another. Yet when all is said and done, love always triumphs because that,
after all, is romance.

Suzanne D.
Williams is a native Floridian, wife, mother, photographer, and writer. She is
the author of both nonfiction and fiction books. She writes a monthly column
for Steves-Digicams.com on the subject of digital photography, as well as
devotionals and instructional articles for various blogs. She also does graphic
design for self-publishing authors.

To learn more about what she’s doing visit http://suzanne-williams-photography.blogspot.com/
or link with her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/suzannedwilliamsauthor.