Becky Wade's Blog, page 10

A First!

For the first time ever, a series of mine is available as an ebook “box set”! In other words, readers can purchase the whole series HERE on Amazon in one fell swoop.

To create the set, I began by combining all three books inside Vellum, the formatting software I use. Check out this cute title page I made using the illustrated couples from the three covers…

Stuff like this makes me happy! This page is only found in the box set (and on my computer desktop where I’ve been smiling at it for days). My three brothers and their heroines–together!

Then I went on the website Fiverr to find a graphic designer experienced in creating graphics of box sets. I provided him with the Sons of Scandal cover and the paperback wrap-around covers of all three books so that he could utilize the spines of those. A few days later, at a cost of $14.67, he provided this image.

Then I uploaded it to Amazon and–voila!

Why did I want to make a box set available?

Savings. The set is $8.99, which is a 35% savings over buying each of the three ebooks in the series individually. [Note: The box set is included in KU, so if you’re a KU member you can read it for zero additional dollars.]Convenience. The box set arrives on your e-reader as one product. Which means you can finish one book, turn the page, and seamlessly begin reading the next book in the series. Excellent for binge-reading!Advertising options. I’ve been learning how to run ads which has, admittedly, been challenging. I’ve run a bunch of ads to Memory Lane (book 1) over the past year and a half. But now that the Sons of Scandal series is complete, I can also now test running ads to the box set and the series page.More deals! This gives me an additional product that I can nominate for Kindle deals.Please share! Are you someone who regularly reads box sets? If so, what has been your experience?

Book Recommendations in Time for Summer and a Giveaway

It’s been a busy spring, and I’m getting ready for an active summer

Spring has been slow in coming to Indiana, but this week my lilac has exploded into blooms. The fragrance is amazing and reminds me of Mackinac Island and all things spring. But my thoughts are already turning to summer and some trips we have planned. I’ll be on study abroad with students followed by a trip with part of my family. That means I’m carefully curating books to read during the trip.

Do you have travel plans? In addition to my books that released this spring (with more information below!), I’ve been reading some great books from friends that I can recommend.

Everything’s Coming Up Rosie by Courtney WalshIt has been too long since I have read a Courtney Walsh book and I LOVED this one. I inhaled it on a flight back from Europe, and it had me loving this story of a girl coming home and rediscovering who she is. Rosie accepts a job without understanding what she’s walking into because she is desperate. What she finds is a place where she grows into more than she thought she could be. The supporting cast of characters is delightful, and I enjoyed seeing Courtney’s other life as the director at a youth theater come to life as Rosie puts on a show at a retirement community. Where Secrets Lie by Colleen Coble and Rick AckerI read this on a long flight and thoroughly enjoyed every page. Perfect for Romantic Suspense lovers. Uneasy Street by Becky Wade

This book will quickly pull you into a story that has large hints of enemies-to-lovers but I wondered if they really wanted to hate each other. There’s an unresolved past between Max and Sloane, and Max is determined to force closure. He goes about it in a pushy way — that involves Sloane’s niece Ivy. The three of them have a fun dynamic, but at first I didn’t love Max and Sloane together. I wasn’t really supposed to as each was hurt by what happened to blow up their business partnership.Have you read “The Accused”?It’s been such a blessing to see the wonderful response to my latest release! If you have read it, would you consider leaving an honest review? There are a few reasons why this is so helpful to authors.

They Help Other Readers
Your review helps fellow readers know what to expect—whether it’s a heart-pounding thriller, a tear-jerking romance, or a thought-provoking faith journey.

They Boost Visibility

Reviews tell online retailers, “Hey, people are reading this!” The more reviews a book has, the more likely it is to be seen by new readers. They Encourage the Author
Even a short “I loved this!” goes a long way. Reviews remind authors that their words made a difference—and that someone was listening. They Open Doors
Publishers, bookstores, and libraries often look at review numbers when deciding which books to stock or promote. Your words can help an author grow their career!I’m delighted that The Accused has a 4.7 rating on Amazon with 83 reviews 4.5 on Goodreads with 113.Did you know I have one more book to bring your way before we head into summer?

Pick up your copy of Justice , the first volume in the Long Hot Summer: Christian Romantic Suspense Anthology series. I am thrilled to be a part of this volume along with fellow authors:Lily HannMichelle AlecksonSara DavisonFrom terrorist plots, to secret babies, to kidnappings and forced proximity, this anthology volume promises to keep the pages turning.Here’s a little bit about my story!

Mistaken Justice – 

When Riley Collins is found dead, his brother Logan refuses to accept the suicide verdict. Determined to uncover the truth, Logan investigates Riley’s files and discovers a link to a dark event from his Navy past involving a high-ranking officer. With the help of Sydney Sims, the Assistant County Attorney, Logan faces increasing danger as they uncover more evidence. Amidst threats and break-ins, Logan and Sydney must unravel the mystery behind Tyler’s death before the killer strikes again.

If you’ve read Deadly Exposure and Trial by Fire , then you’ll enjoy the third book you’ve asked for. If you haven’t read them, it will read as a stand alone.Get Justice in eBook or paperback and kick off the summer reading!

To continue celebrating all the good things happening with The Accused, here’s another giveaway. It’s easy to enter. Just use the form below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Graduation Throwback

This month marks 40 years since I graduated from high school. How is that even possible? So in honor of the occasion, I thought I’d show all the young ones out there what the mid-1980s were really like, at least in Texas! (Forgive the photo quality. It was a long time ago and they’ve been in photo albums for 40 years!) 

Big Hair

Yep. Big hair was even bigger in Texas! And when your hair is naturally wavy and there are not yet straightening irons, it’s even bigger on many days. Now my hair wasn’t long, mind you, becuase I’d done a crazy thing a couple of years earlier and cut it all off. But it was finally growing out some by graduation! 

Graduation Teas

Are these still a thing? Most of the girls I ran with had one or sometimes two! It was a dress up affair, only girls, sometimes at a restaurant, sometimes at a home. Usually hosted by aunts or grandmothers or even close friends of the girl’s mom. Two of my friends had an Aloha party just for the girls. 

But life in the 1980s wasn’t just different in clothing, hair, and traditions. It amazes me to think back on technology—or lack therof!

Phones in the house with cords

No cell phones. Not even cordless phones. And only in the house! (Except for my aunt, who did have a phone in her Cadillac! But even that was built in withe a cord!) We did, however, have an answering machine. (Like voicemail, but you could only get the message when you were at home and pushed the button to hear it, in case you don’t know.) This was becoming crucial in our lives—leaving a message if we called someone who wasn’t home, because, of course, there was no caller id, either. 

Yep, we had the one with a chalkboard for messages–and an extra long cord for privacy! A vintage analogue answering machine from the 80’s made of wood and chrome on an isolated mustard yellow background – 3D render

Mapsco

I was a horror with directions in high school. (I’m not great with directions now, to be honest.) My only hope was someone in the passenger seat of my car with a Mapsco of our city. What was Mapsco? A grided map spiral bound. You could find the street number and name in the index.It would tell you what page and grid coordinates to go to. Of course, to find your current location, you might have to navigate several pages back or ahead. Needless to say, I’m so thankful for GPS on my phone! 

Pay phones

No cell phones meant you always needed to carry change in your purse or call in case you had trouble and needed to make a phone call. I remember the cost went up sometime between when I started driving and when I graduated from twenty cents to a quarter. 

Cash 

See above! I don’t ever remember carrying a credit card or debit card (was there even such a thing?). What I did have was an ATM card so I could get cash. We even paid cash (or check) for gas in those days. 

We carried ones and fives, maybe a ten or twenty. Not $100 bills!

Typewriters

No laptops. Few computers for home use. Although we did have one at our house for my dad’s business. (Texas Instruments brand, I believe.) So I was very lucky to receive from my parents a portable electric typewriter to take to college. That meant I could write my papers in my room instead of going to a typing lab. There was a computer labs on campus, but few people used them for word processing at that point.

Not the one I had. Mine was really sleek and easy to carry. I was just happy it was electric!

I can’t believe how much of life has changed in forty years. Of course, when I crossed the stage and accepted my high school diploma, I had no idea that the biggest change in my life would happen a couple weeks later when I went to Washgington D.C. to do a summer internship. There I met Jeff. Our summer romance is still going strong 40 years later. 

What has changed in the world since you graduated from high schoool? 

Someone should do something about this

Have you ever read a passage of Scripture or heard a sermon—and it just stays with you? This past Sunday’s lesson at Church of the City Franklin, where Joe and I attend, was that kind of lesson for me.

One of the phrases Darren repeated in this lesson was, “Someone should do something about this.” Meaning when you see a particular situation and you keep having this recurring thought, “Someone should do something about this,” perhaps God is nudging you to be the person to act.

Esther is a woman I’ve long admired and that I look forward to meeting in person one day. To hear from her own lips what she experienced, to learn what was in her thoughts when she approached the king, planned those banquets, when she stepped out in faith and trusted the Living God—no matter how the situation turned out for her personally.

If you have some time this week (and I’d encourage you to make some), either watch or listen to this message about Esther. I don’t know about you but I never tire of being reminded about the providence of God.

You likely already know this, but God is never mentioned in the book of Esther, yet he’s ever present and active at every turn.

Do you have a lesson, podcast, sermon, etc… that you’ve watched or listened to lately that has stayed with you? That’s still resonating with eternal truth from God? If yes, please share the link with us so we can be encouraged and challenged along with you.

And yes, God is nudging me to take a step into a ministry that’s long been on my heart. It’s called the Wrap Around Ministry, which comes alongside foster families to give them the additional support they need. I shared the idea with our COTC community group Sunday night and they’re “all in!” Talk about excited. More on that as this opportunity takes shape.

I’m still neck deep in final rewrites of my next book. It’s going well but gracious, the story has certainly grown! I love it when a story does that, but oy, the words are piling up and I need to wrap things up. Pronto!

To that end…

Much love from my corner of Nashville,

Tammy

Extra-biblical Sources

I’m currently writing a series on the matriarchs: Sarah, Rebekah, and Leah (Rachel is in Leah’s book). And, as always with biblical characters, I’ve had to search for any and all existing information because the Bible tends to remain silent about the women.

I have, however, discovered two extra-biblical books that have been passed down through history: The Book of Jasher and the Book of Jubilees, and they contain lots of information about these women and their families. These books don’t claim to be inspired Scripture (and occasionally they do contradict Scripture in little things like dates), but they are certainly interesting . . . and sometimes they explain biblical things I’ve always wondered about.

I have to admit that I’m a wee bit concerned, though–some folks think that historical fiction set in biblical times is suspect in itself, and that the authors are trying to “add to Scripture.” Let me assure you, that’s not what we’re doing. We freely acknowledge that we are writing fiction that is intended to “flesh out” the spare portrait that Scripture gives us. We want our readers to be able to smell, taste, touch, and experience life as it was for our characters . . . and if the story isn’t 100 percent accurate at the end of the day, as long as it doesn’t contradict Scripture, I’m okay with it. After all, one day I’ll sit down with Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel, and I’m hoping they’ll set me straight about what I got right and what I got wrong.

For instance–after Rebekah helps Jacob claim the firstborn’s blessing, he goes to Haran, where he falls in love with Rachel and begins working for Laban, remember? Well, the Bible says nothing about what was going on with Isaac and Rebecca while Jacob was in Haran, and I needed them to be doing something while he was away–after all, they are the stars of this book! But my extra-biblical books say that one morning they woke up and realized that Esau had taken most of Isaac’s servants and all his flocks and possessions during the night, leaving them impoverished. Now that was a story conflict I could work with! Then, the same books also say that Jacob learned what had happened, and began to send gifts–clothing, livestock, wine and oil–to his parents, three times a year.

I started this life as a nonfiction writer, and I am always glad when I find another source that gives me an event I can use in my story–I’d rather do that than invent something out of thin air. And if it’s accurate, so much the better.

I will be sure to ask Rebekah about what happened.

Have a wonderful week!

Angie

Cara’s Favorites

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We hope you are enjoying these weekly feature posts from the authors of Inspired by Life…and Fiction. We’re sharing some of our favorite things to help you get to know us a little better—and we’d love to hear your answers to these “favorites” questions in the comments below.

Favorite Beverage: I adore coffee. Especially in lattes. But they have to be plain. I don’t love extra sugar and flavoring in them. The other thing I love is sparkling water. I fell in love with that while we were in Italy over a couple summers. Soda was too expensive, so we all switched over to sparkling water. Now I can hardly drink soda. It’s just too sweet.

Favorite Color: I adore jewel tone colors, but my absolute favorite is purple. It’s the color of royalty and I have always loved it.

Favorite Thing You Collect: I struggled to answer this one, but I think the thing I collect is art from the places we’ve traveled in Europe. It’s harder to find than you would think. It was our third trip to London before I found a street gallery near the Globe Theater on a Saturday morning. We were able to buy some beautiful pieces from old books that I still need to frame. I also love to buy art from artists who are working on the street. They capture some of my favorite places, and I enjoy supporting their creative endeavors. It’s a wonderful way to remember our adventures.

God Made Us Creative

Earlier this week, the group of novelists who I meet with via Zoom for writing sprints got to talking about our various other creative pursuits, beyond writing. I can’t say for sure, but I think there were about 16 or 17 of us in the room that day.

Various creative pursuits included:

Knitting and/or crochetingPlaying instruments (piano, flute, trombone, saxophone )Bible art journalingPainting and drawingDecorative planning

But the one that had many of us asking, “What is that?” was when two of the writers mentioned Zentangle art.

Gemini defines it this way: “Zentangle art is a meditative drawing method that focuses on creating beautiful images using repetitive patterns called ‘tangles’. It’s a relaxing and fun way to create art, regardless of experience level, with a focus on mindful, creative expression.”

The two aforementioned writers shared some of their creations. One uses it in her planner and called it doodling. Trust me, it was unlike any doodling I’ve done before, but I plan to give it a try in the future.

I went to DepositPhotos and downloaded three zentangle graphics to share in this post (the rooster one is for Angie!!). Then I asked ChatGPT to do a Zentangle image of a horse in color.

So have you created any zentangle art? Or are you ready to give zentangle a try the next time you find yourself with pen, paper, and the time to doodle?

~robin

An Ode to Some Like It Scot

It is rare that reading a book inspires me to poetic whimsy, but my good friend Pepper Basham has accomplished that feat with her delightful rom com Some Like It Scot. You know, I really shouldn’t like this book. It’s contemporary, and 95% of what I read is historical. It’s told in first person, when I prefer third. Yet I adore all of Pepper’s books, so I wasn’t about to let any preconceived notions keep me from diving in, and folks . . . I couldn’t be happier about my decision. This book is a delight. In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I wrote some atrocious poetry in it’s honor.

An Ode to Some Like It Scot

On the Isle of Mull, the adventure began
Betwixt a redheaded writer and a grump of a man.
An Edwardian experience with a roll of a wrist
Spawned outlandish happenings with a romcom twist.

Parrots, weasels, and a child cyclist gone wild
Caused onslaughts of mayhem while the reader smiled.
Trouble hounded poor Katie like an outlaw with guns,
Yet she responded with cheer and a mouthful of puns.

Graeme came to her rescue whether he wanted or not
Thereby earning the nickname of Katie’s hot Scot.
A befitting moniker due to drool-worthy shoulders
And piercing blue eyes that gave Katie the smolders.

Their love seemed unlikely and doomed from the start,
But nothing’s impossible for those who have heart.
Good-natured kin and matchmaking knitters
Refused to give up on these star-crossed critters.

A hairy coo named Seamus gave Katie a shove
Pushing her over the edge and into true love.
With a kiss in a closet that’s too hot to be sappy,
The ending you’ll find is the epitome of happy.

If you enjoy a good laugh and braw Scotsman in a kilt, do yourself a favor and read this book!

What are some recent reads that you have loved?
Anyone brave enough to try a couple lines of bad poetry in honor of a favorite read?

Which Book World Would YOU Survive In?

Happy Wednesday, friends! I thought it would be a fun mid-week break to play a reader and writer’s game. 

It’s a quiz to see which book setting you’d survive best in. Here are the multiple-choice options. 

List your answers in the comments section, and I’ll hop on by Friday with the answers for each of you, and everyone who participates will randomly be entered to win a copy of Two Seconds Too Late and a $10 Starbucks e-gift card. Have fun! 

Which Book World Would YOU Survive In?

Take this fun quiz to see which fictional universe you’d thrive in—and which might eat you alive.

1. What’s your ideal weapon in a crisis?

A) A sword forged by elves
B) A bow and arrows
C) My mind—strategy over brute force
D) Poison, charm, or seduction
E) Whatever I can find—I’ll improvise

2. How do you react under pressure?

A) I lead the charge
B) I hide and plan
C) I get creative and adapt
D) I manipulate the situation
E) I panic, but somehow survive

3. Pick a survival snack:

A) Lembas bread
B) Wild berries (hopefully not poisonous)
C) A protein bar hidden in my gear
D) Something suspiciously delicious
E) Whatever’s available—beggars can’t be choosers

4. Who’s your sidekick?

A) A loyal warrior
B) A clever rebel
C) A hacker or tech genius
D) A seductive assassin
E) A talking animal (don’t ask how)

5. What scares you the most?

A) Losing a battle
B) Being hunted
C) Secrets you can’t control
D) Falling in love with the enemy
E) Everything, honestly

Have fun, and I’ll be back Friday and will post the answers below along with the giveaway winner’s name. And, you’ll get to collect a special badge to share your survival world on social media if you’d like. 

Best, 

Dani

The Power of Suggestion | Guest Post by T. Elizabeth Renich

True confessions, I was not an avid reader of books by English authors when I was in high school. In fact, it wasn’t until after college and because the books had been made into movies that I took a fledgling interest in Pride and Prejudice (1995 mini-series, of course!) and Jane Eyre (the Timothy Dalton as Mr. Rochester version). My limited knowledge pertaining to the Regency period initially came from reading Julie Klassen’s books. My own historical novels, on the other hand, were set in America, “across the pond.”

with Julie in Williamsburg, VA

I didn’t meet the definition of “anglophile,” but when I visited England, I felt an inexplicable draw—imagination piqued. Near St. Paul’s Cathedral, I remembered going to a sleepover at a friend’s house with the intent of getting up in the middle of the night to watch Princess Diana’s wedding, though I understood very little about traditions of the British monarchy. At Hyde Park, I remembered Roger and Anita meeting while walking their Dalmatians. When looking for Exmoor Ponies, I recalled how upon arrival Mary Lennox hated the moor, before she stumbled upon Misselthwaite Manor’s secrets and garden. At Oxford, I imagined a red Volvo zooming past, driven by a saintly-looking thief casting away his latest disguise. Many things about England intrigued me, but had I been told I’d write about England then, I wouldn’t have believed it.

with Julie in Bath, England

The power of suggestion is when someone says or does something—whether they realize it or not—that influences someone else to carry out an action or a deed. After spending time with Julie at a JASNA (Jane Austen Society of North America) event in Williamsburg, I asked her if she’d ever write about a character who gets banished from England for some mysterious crime and sails to Virginia. She replied, ever so politely, that she’s very fond of England—which, at the time, was where all her stories were set. She countered, suggesting that I should write something else, as it had been quite some time since my Shadowcreek Chronicles series had been traditionally published. Honestly, that suggestion irritated me. I was done writing, or at least that’s what I’d explained to God. Oddly enough, suggestion morphed into a blend of challenge and motivation, so I gave it a try. For fun.

Applying suggestion, I set my latest story in…England! Because, until 1776, we were all British. I simply needed a compelling reason to disrupt my characters’ lives and move them from one side of the Atlantic to the other. It takes a lot of homework to build a knowledge base in a completely different time period, but solid research is what makes stories seem real.

Recently, a reader contacted me, delighted to hear I was writing again. She grew up reading my Shadowcreek books and was so influenced by my historical fiction she became a middle school history teacher. I never dreamed my written words could have that depth of impact—amazing what God will do. I pray He will use my new stories to reach others, too!

A Worthy Risk releases June 24, 2025 and can be pre-ordered on Amazon. Please visit my website for more information about me and my books.

—T. Elizabeth Renich, author of the Shadowcreek Chronicles & Sovereign Liberty Series