Sarah Holman's Blog, page 48

Christmas Comes Early

 
Rebekah Morris is one of my favorite authors. I've read and reviewed her books At the Christmas Lodge, Dylan's Story, and Unbroken to name a few. I'm excited about these new books coming out!

Christmas time is here! Okay, so not quite yet. It's still over a month away, but that doesn't mean we can't start celebrating early, right? So today, we're celebrating the release of not one, not four, but eight new Christmas books! All written by Rebekah A. Morris. I'll be spotlighting two of her books today and you can find out more about the others as you follow the tour.
About the Books
Three Christmas Stories from WWIIChristmas DelaysA doctor, called up for duty in the army, spends one more Christmas with his wife in an unexpected way after God's Christmas delays strand them in a small house with another family.

Peter's ChristmasVery mild weather might not feel like Christmas, but young, orphaned Peter and his older sister find the peace and love of the season with the Hampton family in spite of the sadness of war.

I'll be Home for ChristmasGrandpa recounts the memories of his first Christmas away from home during WWII.


First Christmas in AmericaKlara Ivanski arrives from the Old Country with her Papa, Mama and ten brothers and sisters. “All vill be vell,” Papa assures them, but Mama and several of her brothers and sisters must remain at their aunt and uncle’s because of sickness. With barely enough money for food, Klara is quick to assure her papa that they only need Mama and the other to make Christmas special. But will the family be together for their first Christmas in America?

About the Author Rebekah A. Morris is a homeschool graduate, an enthusiastic freelance author and a passionate writing teacher. Her books include, among others, Home Fires of the Great War, The Unexpected Request, Gift from the Storm, and her bestselling Triple Creek Ranch series. Some of her favorite pastimes, when she isn't’ writing, include reading and coming up with dramatic and original things to do. The Show-Me state is where she calls home.
Excerpt/Interview/Review
Tour Schedule
November 13 Bookish Orchestrations – Introductory PostRead Another Page – Book Spotlight from the authorKaylee's Kind of Writes – Book SpotlightResting Life – Review and ExcerptPerry Elisabeth – ExcerptRachel Rossano's Words – Book Spotlight and Excerpt
November 14 Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the authorOdelia's Blog – Author Interview and Book spotlightBryce’s Creative Writing Corner – Author Interview, Review, and ExcerptCounting Your Blessings One by One – Review and ExcerptPerpetual Indie Perspective – Book Spotlight
November 15 Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the authorWhimsical Writings for His Glory – Author, Review, and ExcerptMaidens for Modesty – Author Interview and ReviewThe Destiny of One – Book SpotlightRebekah Ashleigh – Book SpotlightOnce Upon an Ordinary – ReviewStephany's BLOG Snippets – Book Spotlight and Excerpt
November 16 Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the authorLaurel's Leaves – Author InterviewStories by Firefly – ReviewClaire Banschbach – Author InterviewKelsey's Notebook – Review and ExcerptJaye L. Knight – Book Spotlight and Excerpt
November 17 Read Another Page – Book Spotlight from the authorRuffles and Grace – Book SpotlightWith a Joyful Noise – Book SpotlightOrdinary Girl Extraordinary Father – Review  Bookish Orchestrations – Closing Post

Kate, Christmas, and Laughter

I'll be quite honest, these last two weeks have been full of the kind of work that is needed, but my least favorite: emails, information gathering for blog tours, and social media posts. Thankfully, I see an end in sight. I'm almost done with all of the promotions I'm part of this month, and I will be able to focus on projects that I really want to.

Kate #3 and Kate #4 are both what I hope to focus on for the last part of November. I want to get Kate #3 edited and ready for an early 2018 release (yeah, sadly it won't be happening this year). I also want to write the last part of #4 and maybe even start in on #5. I'm going for three Kate books next year!

There Was Always Laughter is going awesome. I am putting the final touches on the paperback copy so that it is ready to release the same time as the Kindle book. If you want to grab a copy for $2.99 (As the price will be going up to $4.99 soon), you can do so HERE.

As for the Christmas story....
Janet took a deep breath and let it out again, one hand brushing against her tan skirt, the other squeezing the keys in her pocket. The whole scene was picturesque and the opposite of how she was feeling. Another deep breath brought a sick feeling to her stomach. Instead of the scent of the oak trees, hay, and cows, her nostrils filled with a Christmas sent flowing out of a candle store as she passed through the mall doors.
She picked up her pace and plunged forward, her professional looking black flats slapping hard against the linoleum. She couldn’t be late for her job. She couldn’t give into these feelings right now. She didn’t want to be late for her job, did she? It may not have been the greatest, but it paid better than the minimum wage job she had been working before. She also remembered the countless stores she could have been working in. She was helping older ladies find a good blouse or a businesswoman find the right pantsuit, instead of having to blush her way through working at an underwear store or deal with screaming kids at the toy story. She needed this job, and she was lucky to have it.

This book is fun, and... Patrick and Brian make a cameo appearance!

Preorder There Was Always Laughter in Our House

I call him Grandpa Leroy.Although he’s not a blood relation, he and his spunky wife adopted us kids as their grandchildren when I was about eight years old. We had moved from my childhood home into a new area almost two hours away from my best friend. Relations with my own grandparents had been strained, and my siblings and I felt the loss. So, this feisty elderly couple had adopted us and we had adopted them.It was a pleasant day in January 2015 and we had come to pick up my sister Grace, who had been helping them clean their house. I sat on the floor telling them about my latest book projects and other little happenings in my life. When I finally paused, Grandpa Leroy looked down at me with a smile. “I know what your next book needs to be and what it should be called.”“Oh? What is that?” I asked, expecting an interesting fiction idea from this man who had fun stories to tell about his growing-up years, his time in Korea, or raising his children. But he surprised me. “You need to write a book about your family and the title needs to be There Was Always Laughter in Our House. I want to read that book, because I know that you have many wonderful stories to share.”“I just might do that,” I said.“Well, I would buy a copy,” Grandma Letha piped up. “I know a lot of other people who would.”As I left I wondered if people would buy the book because of how crazy our family sounded, because of the title, or because of their interest in funny stories about a homeschool family. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was all three. Some of you are reading this because you wondered what would possess anyone to have six children. Some of you picked this up hoping it would be about my escape from the restrictive lifestyle of a skirt-wearing homeschooler (you’re going to be very disappointed, I assure you). Some of you are homeschooling moms, wondering if this crazy life you’re living is worth it. You also might be a homeschool student or graduate wanting to compare stories. I hope you’ll enjoy this collection of memories.I actually was originally going to change the title of this book because I’m not a humorist. Oh, I can tell a funny story or two, but I can’t keep it going for page after page. To be honest, I get pensive after a while. This leads to some serious pondering, which then spills out in my writing. However, I decided that even if many of my stories aren’t funny, the title fits our family so well. No matter the obstacle we’ve faced, no matter what life throws at us, there are few days when you won’t hear laughter in our house.Read more about my family in my latest book.

The Vintage Jane Austen Blog Event!

I'm really excited to announce that Vintage Jane Austen books are on tour and on sale! Check out this series that I was blessed to be a part of.
What would it be like to see Elizabeth Bennet in 1930’s clothes? What if Emma Woodhouse was the daughter of a car dealership owner? What if Marianne Dashwood was seeking to become a movie star in the golden age of film? The Vintage Jane Austen series explores the world of Jane Austen, set in 1930’s America. Five authors took on Jane Austen’s five most popular novels and retold them set in the depression era, remaining faithful to the original plots. As an extra bonus to the series, there is a collection of short stories that were inspired by Jane Austen. Which of these books do you most want to read?
Emmeline by Sarah Holman (Emma): The talk of stock market crashes and depression isn’t going to keep Emmeline Wellington down. Born to wealth and privilege, Emmeline wants nothing more than to help her new friend, Catarina, find a husband. Emmeline sets her sights on one of the town’s most eligible bachelors, but nothing seems to go right. Even her friend and neighbor Fredrick Knight seems to question her at every turn.


Suit and Suitability by Kelsey Bryant (Sense and Sensibility): Canton, Ohio, 1935. Ellen and Marion Dashiell’s world crumbles when their father is sent to prison. Forced to relocate to a small town, what is left of their family faces a new reality where survival overshadows dreams. Sensible Ellen, struggling to hold the family together, is parted from the man she’s just learning to love, while headstrong Marion fears she will never be the actress she aspires to be. When a dashing hero enters the scene, things only grow more complicated. But could a third man hold the key to the restoration and happiness of the Dashiell family?
Bellevere House by Sarah Scheele (Mansfield Park): It's March, 1937 and Faye Powell couldn't be happier. After moving to live with her uncle, a wealthy banker, she's fallen into the swing of life with his exuberant children--including Ed. The one she'll never admit she's in love with. But she hadn't reckoned on the swanky Carters getting mixed up in that vow. Ed seems to be falling for charming, sweet Helene Carter. And when Faye's cousin BeBe trusts her with a secret about Horace Carter, Faye is in over her head. Will she betray the confidence BeBe's given her? Will she lose Ed to Helene? The days at Bellevere House are crowded with surprises and only time will tell how God plans to unravel Faye and Ed's hearts. Perception by Emily Benedict (Persuasion): Upstate New York, 1930. Thirteen years ago, Abbey Evans was persuaded to break off her engagement to a penniless soldier headed to the front lines of the Great War. A daughter of one of America’s wealthiest families could never be allowed to marry so far beneath herself. But Black Tuesday changed everything. With her family's prominence now little more than a facade, Abbey faces the loss of her childhood home. As if that weren’t enough, the only man she ever loved has returned after making his fortune – and he wants nothing to do with the young woman he courted before the war. With the past forever out of reach, the time has come for Abbey decide her own fate, before it is too late…

Presumption and Partiality by Rebekah Jones (Pride and Prejudice): Coming soon…A retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice… set in 1930s Arizona.





Second Impressions: Jane Austen's stories have inspired writers for generations...in this collection they inspire fiction across the genres!
From the English Regency to the American 1950s, in Houston or a space freighter, fairytale land or a retirement center...Austen's timeless characters come to life again.
Visit these blogs during this week to find interviews, book reviews, and much more!

November 5         Review of Emmeline - Once Upon the Ordinary Review of Bellevere House - Kaylee's Kind Of WritesSeries Spotlight - A Real Writer’s LifeInterview with Kelsey Bryant - Resting Life Series Spotlight - Kelsey’s Notebook

November 6 Interview with Sarah Holman - J. Grace PenningtonReview of Emmeline - Kaylee's Kind Of WritesMini-Reviews and interview with Sarah Scheele - Deborah O’CarrollInterview with Rebekah Jones - Livy Lynn BlogReview Suit and Suitability - Resting Life

November 7 Interview with Kelsey Bryant - J. Grace Pennington Review of Perception - Kaylee's Kind Of WritesReview and Interview of Perception - Purely by Faith ReviewsReview of Second Impressions - The Page Dreamer Series Spotlight - Finding the True FairytaleNovember 8Interview and Review Suit and Suitability - Once Upon the Ordinary Review of Suit and Suitability - Kaylee's Kind Of WritesReview of Perception - A Brighter Destiny November 9 Series Spotlight - God’s Peculiar Treasure         Review of Second Impressions and Suit and Suitability - Ordinary Girl, Extraordinary FatherInterview with Rebekah Jones - Kaylee's Kind Of WritesSeries Spotlight – Christian Bookshelf Reviews November 10 Review of Suit and Suitability - With a Joyful Noise Series Spotlight - Liv K. FisherReview of Second Impressions- Kaylee's Kind Of WritesReview of Perception - She Hearts FictionInterview with Sarah Holman – Rebekah Ashleigh November 11 Series Spotlight - Reveries Reviews Review of Suit and Suitability - Faith BlumInterview with Sarah Holman - Kaylee's Kind Of WritesInterview with Hannah Scheele - Peculiar on PurposeReview of Bellevere House - Seasons of Humility As part of this special blogging event, we are giving away a $25 Amazon gift Card.Enter to win below: a Rafflecopter giveaway

From I Have to, to I Get to

2017 started out with a lot of promise. January 1st was welcomed in with a party at the Holman house. I had big plans for my writing, hope for mending a broken friendship, renewed zeal to pray for what seemed impossible, and hope that my sister's new boyfriend would be the one for her. The months passed, and I struggled to do even the basics at my job as tension mounted from just about every front. By February, my writing was in shambles. By April, pressure mounted in our family from events both within and without. By July, my sister was left with a broken heart. In August, I saw the friendship I had wanted to save fall apart. By September, I realized that, somewhere along the way, I had stopped bothering to pray for impossible, as it seemed even further out of reach. It was then I realized I had lost something that was important to me: Finding joy in the little things.

Happiness is often at the mercy of my circumstances. Joy is something I choose. One of the most significant changes that I am working on making is from "I have to" to "I get to." What do I mean by this? So often I hear myself saying: "I have to work on this today."  "I have to go see this person." When I decided to start choosing to see the joy in the little things, this was one of the first things I decided to tackle. I am working on saying things like this:
"I get to write book reviews today."
"I get to drive my sister to work."
"I'm sick, so I get to take a day off."
Why this change? Because it reminds me that nothing is a given. I don't have to write book reviews, but I have been given the blessing of being able to do so. My sister's job, my driver's license, and working cars are not a given. All of them are gifts. When I am sick, I could be a job that demands me to keep working.
Yesterday, I had a huge amount of work, and my Mom and sisters invited me to go with them to the grocery store. This wasn't exciting in the least, but I took the offer. I made them all laugh for stopping to grab pictures.

Yet, this is the point. Taking joy in doing normal things. I could be working a job that didn't allow me time to just go to the grocery store. Or we could be like we were years ago: with little money to go shopping with. Yes, I remember the days when what the food pantry gave us is what we had to eat. It wasn't a horrible fate but sure made me grateful when my Dad got a job, and we could buy what we wanted again.
Besides, have you seen these two bag groceries? They get a job offer almost everytime we got into HEB. It is such a joy to watch them.
I want to start talking about finding joy more on my blog - of finding beauty in the broken places. It can be a challenge because you often have to stoop a little lower, be still in the midst of craziness, and take detours when it isn't convenient. However, it is in pursuing joy that we find purpose, peace, and the fingerprints of our Heavenly Father's love.

The Story Begins

The is an excerpt There Was Always Laughter in Our Hours:

I call him Grandpa Leroy.

Although he’s not a blood relation, he and his spunky wife adopted us kids as their grandchildren when I was about eight years old. We had moved from my childhood home into a new area almost two hours away from my best friend. Relations with my own grandparents had been strained, and my siblings and I felt the loss. So, this feisty elderly couple had adopted us and we had adopted them.
It was a pleasant day in January 2015 and we had come to pick up my sister Grace, who had been helping them clean their house. I sat on the floor telling them about my latest book projects and other little happenings in my life. When I finally paused, Grandpa Leroy looked down at me with a smile.

“I know what your next book needs to be and what it should be called.”

“Oh? What is that?” I asked, expecting an interesting fiction idea from this man who had fun stories to tell about his growing-up years, his time in Korea, or raising his children. But he surprised me.

“You need to write a book about your family and the title needs to be There Was Always Laughter in Our House. I want to read that book, because I know that you have many wonderful stories to share.”

“I just might do that,” I said.

“Well, I would buy a copy,” Grandma Letha piped up. “I know a lot of other people who would.”

As I left I wondered if people would buy the book because of how crazy our family sounded, because of the title, or because of their interest in funny stories about a homeschool family. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it was all three. Some of you are reading this because you wondered what would possess anyone to have six children. Some of you picked this up hoping it would be about my escape from the restrictive lifestyle of a skirt-wearing homeschooler (you’re going to be very disappointed, I assure you). Some of you are homeschooling moms, wondering if this crazy life you’re living is worth it. You also might be a homeschool student or graduate wanting to compare stories. I hope you’ll enjoy this collection of memories.


Pre-order your copy today!

I did it again, didn't I?

I have the best of intentions, but it seems that there are just times when this blog gets neglected. I would rather be blogging than doing some of the other necessities of life, but those things must be done. This weekend, we were privileged to have a visit from our favorite missionary family, The Jacobs. This time, it was just Mr. and Mrs. Jacob who visited, as their two sons are both grown and busy with their own lives.


They not only shared with us what had been going on in their lives, but they also wanted to know what we had been doing and ministered to us. They are two very wise people that were able to offer some wisdom and words of encouragement to our family. We were able to listen as Mrs. Jacob shared about her father's final days. There wasn't a dry eye among us as we head how God answered our prayers for her father's salvation in his last days and how God provided grace and peace in the final days.

One of the biggest blessings to me personally was a conversation I was able to have with Mrs. Jacob (who I call Aunt Sharon). A couple of months ago, a long time friend told me that we couldn't be friends anymore. I did something to hurt her, and she felt we couldn't work it out. It was a painful experience, and it is another reason I haven't been posting much. I have been spending a lot of time working through all the emotions of that. Aunt Sharon had been through something very similar and had words of advice, wisdom, and a hug of understanding.

Aunt Sharon felt like the final piece in my healing process about this friendship. There has been a lot of tears, a lot of seeking God about what has happened, and some anger. I had moved to a pace last week of true forgiveness, not only for the friend but of myself last week thanks to an incredible women's conference my mom and I attended with the ladies of our new church.


While I didn't give many details to Aunt Sharon, she shared about an experience that was so similar, it was comforting. Her godly wisdom helped me move to a place of true peace. I'm still sad that the friendship ended. I still pray that God will one day restore it, but I finally am trusting Him with it. It is no longer the burden on my heart it once was.

Last week, I was so blessed that God worked it out so that I could spend most of the day plotting, laughing, and fellowshipping with this beautiful writer:
Jessica Greyson and I have known each other for years, but this was the first year we were able to hug each other. We are now scheaming together, and I can't wait to tell you all about it. 
The other interesting thing of note? I got listeria. I highly recommend you avoid this horrible stomach bacteria. I had a mild case and I still only ate two meals in two days and then ate very carefully for the next three.


What have you been up to?

Holman Writing Adventure: Editing the Destiny Trilogy

I've talked for a few years about updating some of my books. Well, it has finally started. I'm going to work through my books from the earliest publication date. I am starting with the Destiny Trilogy. I'm really excited because not only will they be much nicer to read, they're going to have all new covers created by my very talented sister, Mikayla. She made up a concept cover! I was really excited! I can't wait to share the final product with all of you.
Editing books already written is proving as hard as I thought it would be. After all, I've improved so much, I almost feel like rewriting the books. However, these books are what they are. Despite their flaws, God has used them. I'm hoping that continues and the number of people touched only grows with the new, typo free version. A few minor style changes are also being made, to make the story more enjoyable.
Want more? You can friend me on Goodreads. As I'm editing, I'm posting tidbits online.

Adventure Between the Pages: How to Listen so People will Talk

Buy it Here
Find it on Goodreads Here
Age Appropriate For: 13 and up (for brief mention of hard things in author’s past)
Best for Ages: 18 and up
Description: How Listening Well Builds Stronger Communication and Deeper Connections 
No relationship is perfect--but it can be better. The secret to stronger relationships isn't to become more charming or funny or to solve the world's problems or to just try harder. All you have to do is listen. It's that simple.
Yet our noisy culture hasn't equipped us to do this. With warmth and a touch of humor, personal coach and expert communicator Becky Harling shares simple, practical listening tools that will help you become a person others are drawn to and want to spend time with, as well as how to: 
- be fully present
- offer understanding instead of advice
- ask great questions
- create a sense of safety and trust
- manage your body language
- and more!
When you learn to listen well, your marriage will grow stronger, your parenting will flourish, your friendships will thrive, and your influence at work will increase. You will be amazed at how one simple act can transform the hearts of others--as well as your own.

I love to talk, but the Bible clearly says that we are to be quick to listen and slow to speak. As I have trouble doing this, I was excited to read this book. It didn’t disappoint me. I found myself being convicted, encouraged, and given practical steps to become a better listener.

This is a small book, but it took me a while to go through it. Why? Because it was jammed packed with a lot of good material. I read a chapter and then did all the activities / answered all the questions. There were a few days I knew I wouldn’t have time, so I waited until I did. If you go through this book, I highly recommend doing all the stuff at the end of the chapter to really get the full impact.

The style in which this book is written is very engaging. I have loved books by Becky Harling since I read 30 Days of Praise. She is honest, funny at times, and kind. She doesn’t have a problem with telling it like it is, yet does it in a kind and gentle manner.

The only issue I had was that I felt that, in her chapter about giving advice, she made it sound as if it is never okay to confront people. While not the main point of the chapter, I think it is very clear from the scripture that there is a time and a place for Christians to confront fellow believers about their sin. Some people might also might want to know that she briefly mentions that she was sexually abused as a child.

I have a list that I am starting of books I wish every Christian would read. This has made that list (Connecting by Larry Crabb is also on the list). I think it is a powerful book on a topic that is much easier ignored. If that doesn’t tell you enough about how much I like it, know that this book WILL be on my top ten books for this year.

I highly recommend this book for every Christian, those that want to deepen their friendships, and anyone who wants to become a better listener.

I received this book for reviewing purposes. I was not required to give a positive review. 

Holman Writing Adventure: My end of year Planning

It happens about this time every year: I look over the projects I am working on and have to figure out how best to use my time for the reminder of the year. What books do I want to release in time for Christmas and what projects do I need to set aside to make that happen. As I take off the month of December, also want everything to be in a good place to be set aside for a time. A couple weeks ago, I did that planning.



I feel like, for the first time in a few year, I have a really good chance of meeting my goals. This year has been full have bumps, both in my writing and personally, but I feel like, through it, I have found my writing rhythm. I have found hoe much work I can plan so that I am challenged, but not overwhelmed if I end up needing to take a day off. Finding this will make me a better writer I think.
So, what are my plans for the next few months? I won’t bore you with all of it, but I will show you my publishing schedule. Lord willing, I will be able to keep to it.

October ~ The next Tales of Taelis short story.
November ~ There was Always Laughter in Our House
December ~ A Christmas short story/  Kate’s Case Files #3

Which one are you looking forward to the most?