Becky Wade's Blog, page 22

Peace on Earth This Christmas

As I type this, my mailbox has filled with emails warning me of death and destruction, disruptions and decimations all over the world. Those who claim humans are evolving toward betterment don’t read much, do they? No, the nature of the humankind is to destroy. Even the second law of thermodynamics says that things break down, they don’t improve themselves. Energy dissipates.

So at Christmas and during the holiday season, as we sing of and pray for peace on earth, it’s easy to be disillusioned by the reality of the world we’re living in. Drones, drones, drones. War in Ukraine, in the Middle East, and people all around the world picking one side (usually the side against Israel–odd, isn’t it, how things usually break down like that?) against the other.

That’s why it’s so important to remember that Peace is a Person–it’s the baby in the manger, the One who sent His Spirit to give us peace in the most trying situations. He is Peace in the midst of strife, fear, want, poverty, and grief. He is Peace in all things, and through all things.

So cling to the Prince of Peace this season. As long as you have Jesus, you have Peace. You just have to rest in Him.

Angie

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

30 Year Writing Anniversary (And a Giveaway!)

Thirty years ago, I was a newlywed in my early twenties living on the Caribbean island of Anguilla.

In this house…

We’d moved to Anguilla because my husband was working as a tennis pro at a resort there. It had been our dream to live overseas and see the world during the early years of our marriage, and we were delighted that we were able to make that dream come true. I look back on those first four years (three in Anguilla, one in Australia) with tremendous fondness. Those were some of my favorite years of all!

However, there were challenges, too. I felt how very far away we were from all our friends and all our family. Living on a small island wasn’t convenient–I had to bump down a dirt road for twenty-five minutes to drop clothes off to be washed, we had no dishwasher, we had no movie theater or mall. The grocery stores weren’t at all what I was used to. And I had a lot of time to fill because I couldn’t work there. (My husband could do something–teach tennis to tourists–that no local person could do at that time. But I didn’t have skills that unique and so the government wasn’t going to let me take a job from a local person.)

Us back then

I’d always been a reader. But, because I had so much free time, for the first time ever I thought, “Maybe I could try to write a book?” That would give me something to do! I had an imagination. I had a computer. So, absolutely CLUELESS about the craft of writing, I sat down for two hours each weekday and started rattling off a romance novel.

It was terrible. So bad! I set it in the 1800s in Norway and England. It was incredibly long, as long as two books. As soon as I began using snail mail to send query letters and pages to agents and editors, I learned that I’d made every rookie mistake possible.

Nonetheless, a monumental thing happened during the writing of that book. It was never published (thank you, Lord) but it’s worth its weight in gold to me because, through it, I fell in love with writing.

And that changed everything that came after. The girl who’d received a degree in business and planned to become a career girl wanted to become a writer instead.

Me, at the age when I started writing. I now have children older than I was at this time. Och! So young!

I didn’t know when I started that first book how hard the writing road would be at times. I didn’t know that it would be so discouraging that I’d quit it for seven years. Or that I’d switch genres to Christian fiction. Or that crafting novels is as difficult as it is. Or that I’d still be writing in the year 2024. (Again, thank you Lord. For all the things I didn’t know. Because any one of them might have derailed me.)

We’ve lived in Dallas since the late 90’s. We’ve raised three children. We’ve had joys and difficulties.

And, after all that, I still love to write.

I still do.

I’m celebrating my thirty year writing anniversary with a giveaway! Is there a book of mine you’d like to add to your collection? Leave a comment on this post, letting me know which book you’d prefer, and I’ll randomly choose 2 Inspired by Life winners on Monday to receive signed paperbacks. USA only, please.

In a separate giveaway, I’m offering more free books as well as the prizes pictured below…

To enter to win these items, find me on Facebook at Author Becky Wade or Instagram at BeckyWadeWriter and look for the posts there about this giveaway.

Praise God, for knowing our path before we do and directing us on it. Merry Christmas, everyone!

Dreaming about what’s next…

Last week I got my book turned in!

Y’all, that is such a good feeling. As my husband put it, a monkey is off my back. I might even call it a gorilla.

But now it’s time to dream about what my next series and books are. I have some ideas, but they are glimmers. I might want to do something of a caper. I have some WWII ideas. I want to braid contemporary and historical together. There are so many ideas in my mind. So I come to you with proverbial hat in hand.

When you think of a Cara Putman book, what do you imagine?

I remember my friend Brandilyn Collins talking about how her readers told her her books were seatbelt suspense. That’s a great visual. Do y’all have something like that when you think of mine? I’d love to know and I’d be so grateful as I begin dreaming up what to write next…

Also, Silver Bell Secrets is now available on Amazon Kindle Unlimited. Merry Christmas!

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It’s That Time of Year

Hi friends! 

Happy Wednesday. I’m excited to spend a little bit of today with you. Thank you so much for stopping by. You’re what keeps this blog running. That, and copious amounts of coffee. Just joking…kind of. A girl loves her coffee. But, seriously, this blog exists because of YOU, and I’m so thankful for each and every one of you. To show my thanks, I’m sharing four fun holiday recipes with you. Some are from my home, and some are from the McKenna clan from my Alaskan Courage series. I hope you enjoy it! 

I don’t know about you, but for me, it’s so hard to believe we’re nearly halfway through December. With everything going on (see last month’s post and add in deadlines—yep, plural), this month is flying by, and the truth is, I don’t want it to be. 

I want December to be the month I slow down—the month of drinking hot chocolate in front of the fire. Given that we moved to Florida, and it’s a glorious 80 degrees today, it’s iced mochas on the beach. But the sentiment is the same. I want this month to be a time of family—nights spent playing games and enjoying Christmas movies. I am with my family, and I’m grateful, but it’s seriously all going by in a blur. 

So, with you as my accountability squad (I’ll report on the 25th when it’s my turn to blog), I will slow down, even if it’s for an hour to play a game. I’ll stop working earlier so I can enjoy at least one Christmas movie a week. I will not write on Sundays (this should be a yearly commitment on my part). I will order that iced mocha and go for a walk on the beach. And, most importantly, I will set aside extra time to read my Christmas Advent devotional during my Bible time. 

I know lots of us get an idyllic picture of what this Christmas will be like. Perfectly decorated and cleaned houses. Presents wrapped just right. A beautiful Christmas-morning breakfast display, and the list goes on. And, for those, it goes that way—that’s awesome. But for many of us, myself most definitely included, it ends up with bows askew, dog hair on the floor, the house decorated in a fun, kid flurry, throw-in spilled milk, and a burnt breakfast casserole. Okay, I just gave you a far too accurate glimpse into my life  

The point is, this month, I pray we all slow down. Not to be perfect and have everything just right, because I’m convinced there is no perfect. Other than our God, of course. I think, instead, it’s a balance of not letting Christmas pass us by but not getting consumed with making everything perfect either. Just taking time to thank God for the gift of His Son, the amazing gift of our blessings, and the time we get to spend with them this Christmas season. So, from my messy, somewhat chaotic house to yours, I wish you a wonderful Christmas. One filled with love, laughter, and joy. And maybe a little dog hair. 

Blessings, 

Dani

A Jane Austen Christmas

This past weekend I attended the annual Christmas event of the Jane Austen Society of North America’s Minnesota chapter. We gather every December to honor Jane Austen, whose birthday is December 16th.

This year we enjoyed a delicious brunch at an elegant country club, where we were entertained by a talented singer/songwriter named Monica Livorsi, who performed songs from her album, All About Jane, and who shared insights into the inspiration behind her compositions about Jane Austen’s characters.

Monica’s album features 12 songs written from the perspective of different female characters from Austen’s novels, like Lizzie: Pride, Emma: Stand Back, Elinor & Marianne: Undone, and my favorite, Anne (Elliot): Here. You can listen to Monica’s music online via Amazon music, Spotify, etc.

We also toasted Jane and ate delicious cakes, beautifully decorated in her honor.

It was a lovely event and I was glad to be there. What about you? Are you attending any special events this Christmas season?

Just When I Thought I Couldn’t Squeeze in One More Thing…

The month of December has found me in my office working on four different story projects. First of all is an edit for our own Robin Lee Hatcher. (You are going to love her next book, To Capture a Mountain Man!) This is the third in Robin’s The British Are Coming series, following these two, which I throughly enjoyed as well.

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Second, I’ve been listening to the audiobook files for my novel Yesterday’s Embers. My wonderful (sadly, soon-to-be-retired) narrator, Julie Lancelot, always makes my books come to life, and it’s so fun to hear my stories in her voice! The whole Clayburn Novels series will soon be available in audiobook with these beautiful covers designed by my husband, Ken Raney.

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Third, I’m beginning to research and play with ideas for the second novel in my The God Who series. This one is titled Who Stirs Up the Sea and it’s set on St. Simons Island, Georgia (probably in a fictional neighborhood on the island). I’m having so much fun coming up with interesting careers for my characters. And I wanted to let you know that the first book, Who Touches the Mountains, is now available to order in e-book and print! (Click on the cover to order your copy.)

And fourth, no matter what I’m working on, I’m always reading a book for fun. There are several on my to-be-read pile, but I’ve been especially enjoying a new one by author Michael Ehret called Beyond December. And isn’t this a gorgeous cover?

With all that said, would you believe, the title of this blog post doesn’t even actually refer to all the stories I’m juggling. Instead, it refers to my office decor. As I sat editing last week, I looked up from my computer and an idea popped into my head. I had room for one more chair in my office! (Those of you who know me well, know that I will never be a minimalist when it comes to decorating!)

But I just happened to have a comfy chair in our bedroom that we really didn’t need since we already have a loveseat in there. So I took a little break from editing, dragged some furniture across the hall, and now just look how cozy my office is with a chair by the window and a lovely seating area where Ken can plop down and visit a spell (and already has!) This is where we would sit if you ever came to visit me. And I’d make you a delicious cup of espresso (or English tea if you preferred.)

I hope you and your loved ones are ready for a blessed Christmas together. We are headed to Texas where all our kids and grandkids will gather—including a brand new little grandson who is due to make his appearance ANY day now! I can’t wait!

Inspired by Scripture

This Sunday feature is brought to you by ClashVerseoftheDay.com. You may sign up to receive a beautiful photo with Scripture in your inbox each morning or view the verse each day online.

Favorite Reads of 2024

Well, the year is winding down. Christmas is around the corner, and New Year’s Day is less than four weeks away. Can you believe it?

I know that many “rabid readers” will continue to read over the course of these last 25 days of 2024. However, today I’m going to ask what your favorite reads of the year (so far) were.

When my first book was published back in 1984, a paperback book had approximately six to eight weeks on the shelf of a brick and mortar bookstore. After that, they were stripped of the cover, the books destroyed, and the covers sent back to the publisher by the bookseller for a refund. Unless you were Stephen King, Nora Roberts, or another major bestselling author, that six to eight week window was the one chance for a book to sell. After that, your fans could only find your book in a used bookstore, if then.

No matter how you feel about ebook readers (I happen to love my Kindle), the truth is they have been a wonderful way for authors to have their books stay in print, year after year after year. There is no longer just a six to eight week window. My novel that was first published in 1999 can be easily purchased 25 years later—and that makes me happy.

Add to the above the improvements in print-on-demand options that have kept paperbacks available and the digital downloading that has made audiobooks more affordable to the masses. (I remember when an audiobook with 12 disks cost about $65 or more! Now, I can download to my phone for less than $10.)

I share the above information because it all means that when I share what my favorite books are with you, even if the books aren’t a major bestseller, even if they were published ten or fifteen or twenty years ago, chances are you can still purchase them if you want. And that is great news for readers as well as authors.

As for me, I’ve read some wonderful books this year. At this writing, I’ve finished 82 books for the year. Most books I love get 4 from me. That rating means, “Loved it. Will recommend to others.” I’ve got lots and lots of 4 reads in my list this year, books I would definitely recommend that you read.

For a book to get a rare 5 from me, it has to be “Out of this world. Amazing. Unforgettable. A personal favorite.” I gave a 5 rating to seven books this year, four of them were fiction and three non-fiction.

Here they are, along with links to my reviews on Goodreads:

FICTION:

Edenbrooke by Julianne DonaldsonThe Wednesday Wars by Gary D. SchmidtThe Little Liar by Mitch AlbomA Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

NON-FICTION:

How to Pray: A Simple Guide for Normal People by Pete GreigIt is Finished: A 40-Day Pilgrimage Back to the Cross by Charles MartinThe Grace and Truth Paradox: Responding with Christlike Balance by Randy Alcorn

Your turn. Please share your favorite reads of 2024 (so far).

~robin

PS If you like my reviews, feel free to follow or friend me on Goodreads. Just visit my profile and see the button under my picture (the friend option is next to the follow button by clicking the little down carrot).

Waiting for Gilbert with Tasha Hackett

When Tasha Hackett reached out to me about her new Christmas book, Waiting for Gilbert, I was eager to help her get the word out. I grew up with the Anne of Green Gables books, and I loved that they served as inspiration for Tasha’s story. So I invited her here to share about it with you. Take it away, Tasha . . .

Tasha Hackett here! A few years ago, I read and re-read all of Karen’s books and was in the middle of prom season with my sewing business, when my husband randomly dropped the question: “If you ever wrote a book, what would it be about?” Obviously I answered, “Historical romance.” He shrugged as if he expected that but was not impressed and replied, “I’d write a zombie apocalypse.” 

Too bad for him, I never wrote about zombies. Instead I now write with hope and humor specifically to encourage and entertain Christian women. My novels demonstrate an achievable vision of romance between flawed characters, who are loved by an unflawed God. 

I have to ask… did 2024 go the way you planned?Did you get angry about anything?If you’ve read my novels have you noticed that my characters get angry? 

Eloise… Hannah… Cordelia… they are all VERY different and yet, they all have their “I’m angry” scene. Hmm. 

You know what else these characters have? FRIENDS! 

When I’m writing I think about you, my readers, and I think about me, and I try to give my characters what I need and what you need. Hope. Oh, yes. I’m writing romance. They get the guy in the end, but he can’t fix everything. 

I give Eloise hope for her future, and I give her friends.I give Hannah hope, and I give her Eloise. I give Cordelia hope, and I give her Diana. 

But if 2024 hasn’t gone the way you planned, there are two things I want you to know: 

1. There is hope.  Jesus came so that we could have life and have it to the fullest (John 10:10).  I don’t know who first said this but if it’s not happily ever after, it’s not over. 

Psalm 91:1 “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” 

Friends, that’s a promise. 

2. You’re not alone. A LOT of women struggle with the same temptations you do, with the same fears, same anger, same sadness, same overwhelm. But just because it’s common doesn’t mean we get to shrug it off so easily. Instead, I invite you to open up and share that you’re feeling some hard feelings and invite others to be open with you. Then when they are… love them. 

I had a baby die in my womb when I was twenty-six. I had an eleven-month-old full of life and energy and I was a walking coffin for two weeks while I celebrated my first son’s birthday.

This was not something I could have done alone. This is not something I could have recovered from alone. I was swallowed in grief for years. That experience changed me. I still suffer after-shocks from it and limiting beliefs (lies) that it’s not safe for me to be happy. 

Years later with four kids now in the house I was dreadfully attacked by Satan in my home. I was seeing evil visions, I was not sleeping, I could hardly eat, I suffered migraines half of my days. I was having dreams where I planned my own suicide. 

This is something I tried to carry on my own because I wasn’t thinking clearly! I. Was. Not. Okay. And I didn’t get better until I told people. 

Once I was safe again, that’s when I was able to write Eloise’s hope in Bluebird on the Prairie–that first novel had been stuck for over a year. It’s almost like the devil didn’t want me to tell you the good news of Jesus.

I wasn’t planning to dump this on you. This isn’t a gimmick to get you to buy my books… But I honestly want you to understand that there is hope and you’re not alone. This is why I write. I write about realistic characters finding hope. Eloise needed to understand she could be happy again. Hannah needed love over fear. Cordelia needed to know that she was not broken, but chosen. 

My newest release, Waiting for Gilbert, is a small town holiday romance perfect for fans of Anne of Green Gables. It’s a first person love story of friendship growing into love. How beautiful is new love and finding out that person sees you as something extra special. It’s available wherever books are sold and on Audible. (Hop over to tashahackett.com for a signed copy.) 

Back cover copy:

“I’m just a girl, standing in front of her phone, asking her landlord to come for dinner.”

Cute and fun Cordelia is history. From now on, I’m serious and focused CJ Thompson. No more snappy one-liners. No more dance-parties-for-one in restaurant booths. Anne-girl is out. Marilla Cuthbert is in. It’s time to grow up! If only it were that easy. With less than two weeks until a massive work deadline, I signed a 12-month lease on a cottage sight-unseen because I couldn’t bear to stay in the city another day after my broken engagement. It’s all well and good until my landlord knocks on my door at two in the morning.

Who knew living next to a house-flipping, cello-playing, swooney-smiling, flesh-and-blood man named Gilbert would be so distracting?

17. Finish unpacking
18. Drink coffee
19. Ask Gilbert to marry me.“

Oh, what’s this? Contemporary romance isn’t your thing? Gotcha. Here’s a free copy of my historical novel Bluebird on the Prairie.

Giveaway

Tasha is graciously giving away an audio copy of Waiting for Gilbert to one person who leaves a comment.

How do your friends support you?
Do you have a special friendship that has been strong since childhood?