Becky Wade's Blog, page 24

Wedding Joy

Last Saturday my youngest son married his high school sweetheart. The Lord blessed us with beautiful weather for the outdoor venue. November in Texas can provide anything from summer heat to rain storms to snow and ice, but the day was absolutely perfect!

As a hope-filled romantic, I loved every minute of the day, despite the exhaustion and stress. Nothing makes a parent happier than seeing their children experiencing heartfelt joy.

It will be a while before we have the professional photos, but I played the role of family photographer and grabbed as many candids as I could to commemorate the day. It all started with getting my husband properly festooned.

One of my favorte little nooks at the venue was this table Katy set up with heirloom love stories–photos of the parents and grandparents of the bride and groom.

Next, Wes and I went in search of Peter, and snagged a few photos before the wedding began.

Then it was time for the service itself. Peter walked me to my seat and kissed my cheek. I love that boy! Then he circled back around for his entrance with the groomsmen. They came in to the tune of The Throne Room music from the end of Star Wars Episode 4. Peter had his heroic strut down pat. It was a hit! They had “flower guys” instead of the traditional little girl with a basket. Two of Peter’s college friends in sun glasses hammed it up in melodramatic fashion to Josh Groban’s You Lift Me Up as they scattered petals from their fanny packs.

The ladies were much more elegant and composed, and of course, the bride was radiant. Peter’s former youth minister performed the ceremony, and it was rich with spiritual significance.

When the couple made it to the reception, they shared a first dance, one Wes told me that Katy had made Peter practice ahead of time, since none of the Witemeyer men (or women for that matter) have much dance talent. He carried himself well, though, even with an entire hall of friends and family looking on.

After dinner, the cake came out . . .

No frosting was smeared. Yes, I raised him well.

By the end of the evening, it was fully dark outside, so we sent them on their way with sparklers celebrating the bright future stretching ahead of them.

I can’t say I got much writing done the past few days, but seeing true romance play out in the real world is much more satisfying anyway.

What was something fun, sweet, or unexpected that happened at the last wedding you attended?

Rendezvous Surprises

When my sister Debra retired from teaching in May, we wanted to plan a trip for just the two of us simply because we could. I brought up the Just Reads Rendezvous. Debra is a reader, too, and I’ve long wanted to introduce her in person to some of the wonderful authors whose books she has read. So we signed up, both of us attending as readers. When we discovered we could add on the Christy Awards dinner, too, we were beyond excited. 

All the things I thought would be wonderful about the weekend were: 

Time with my sisterReconnecting with author and reader friendsIntroducing my sister to authors she loves to readMeeting new-to-me authors as well as fellow readers

But as happened a couple of weeks ago at the writing retreat I attended, the Lord had some surprises in store, gifts I never would have even imagined to ask for!

Becky Wade’s keynote address on the book of Ruth essentially clarified what the Lord has been speaking to my heart lately concerning what I need to focus on in the coming year. I am so, so grateful for His words to me through Becky. Several people I met knew me from this blog! Let me tell you, that blew. Me. Away. Seriously, y’all. I was so humbled to know that y’all read not just everyone else’s posts but mine, too! Putting me in a place where I got to know that was such a gift from the Lord. I was able to encourage a long-time friend because I had experienced something similar and could understand. I’m always amazed when God redeems hard things in that way. And I love it when the hand of the Lord orchestrates such ministry between us as sisters in Christ. Finally, a precious young woman found me near the end of the day, pulled out a copy of my Bethany House version of Wings of a Dream, and asked me to sign it. She’d brought it from home on purpose when she’d seen my name as an attendee (not even an author!). She wanted me to know that my book sparked her love of reading.

James 1:17 tells us, “Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.”

Gift after gift after gift the Lord lavished on me this weekend, a weekend I expected nothing more than to make memories with my sister and do a little fan-girling over my favorite authors, which would have been more than enough. And yet God often delights in “doing far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think” as Ephesians 3:20 tells us. And when His goodness overwhelms me in such a way as it did this weekend, I can only fall to my knees in worship. 

Has God given you any surprise gifts recently? 

A trip with the grands to the pumpkin patch

The 3FarmGals (the name of the text thread that includes my daughter, my daughter-in-law, and me—story on that name below) took my two sweet grands to the pumpkin patch recently, and my daughter Kelsey made a quick video…

That I may have already watched 247 times.

If I haven’t said it lately, I ADORE being Gram Tam to Leo and Ari. It’s one of the biggest joys of my life—and I thought parenting was the best ever! But grand parenting . . . it’s such an amazing relationship, and I treasure them both.

As for the name 3FarmGals…

When Kellie, our daughter-in-law, was dating our son Kurt, she was side-eying his phone one day, trying to see who he was texting. She looked over and said, “What’s the Farm?” Kurt looked back. “It says the Fam, and it’s my family text thread.” They laughed, but after Kurt and Kellie were married, we were adding her to our family text thread and that’s when we heard that story. So we quickly changed the name from TheFam to AlexanderFarm.

Not to be outdone, Kellie then got us each a small “representative farm animal” for Christmas that year. LOL We have such fun together.

Is a trip to the pumpkin patch something on your annual list of things to do each fall? What other holiday traditions do you have that you look for to? And did you visit a pumpkin patch this year, too?

Happy Tuesday from Nashville,

Tammy

The squirrel in my garage

A squirrel has been living in my garage . . . apparently, for a long time.

I first noticed when I was cleaning out the garage. I had placed a large sheet of cardboard over a back window, hoping to keep the sun from fading some books I have stored in the garage. That’s when I noticed that the cardboard had been chewed away . . . and there were little bits of cardboard scattered all over the shelves beneath the window.

My first thought was roaches–we have roaches down here large enough to make NOISE when they walk, but we have an exterminator and I really don’t see roaches unless they’re belly up and already departed from this life. So what?

I knew I’ve had birds in my garage. There’s one spot–a little hollow in the right wall in which a bird’s nest routinely appears. Barn swallows, I think. But ever since I first found that nest, I’ve taken pains to keep the garage doors closed unless I’m actively working in there. Doesn’t help, apparently.

And that’s when I realized I have a squirrel–at least one. We keep our garbage cans not far from the garage, and the squirrels have chews huge holes into our vinyl garbage bins–at the top and at the bottom. Since it’s only a short distance from the garbage to the garage, I figured it was logical for a squirrel to realize that the garage was close, cozy, and had lots of little hiding places.

And then I saw her. I say HER because I’ve had experience with nesting squirrels before–a mama squirrel with a hidden nest isn’t going to leave it no matter how hard to try to entice her away. We had a squirrel make a nest in an outdoor ceiling, and we tried everything, but she persisted. I even caught her one day trying to teach her baby how to leap from a post into the ceiling–here’s a link to the video.

(I never did see if the baby made it back into the nest–but I checked on them later, and they were no longer trying, so I assumed all was well. Maybe the baby just decided to go live in a tree. Or in my garage.)

One day not long ago, one of my airbnb guests was using the laundry room, which is accessible only through the garage. She stopped and caught me. “What’s that noise?” she asked, crinking her nose. I had to think a minute. “You mean that loud cricket sound?”

She nodded. “I thought it was a weird car alarm.”

“It’s not,” I told her. “It’s supposed to repel rodents.”

“Does it work?” she asked.

Just then the squirrel who resides in my garage ran along a post and dove outside, heading to the garbage can.

“Clearly not,” I answered. “But I keep it turned on just in case they decide to listen.”

So far, they haven’t.

~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.

Something Delicious

On Monday, I finished writing my 94th book. To Capture a Mountain Man is the third book in The British Are Coming series, and it will release in February 2025. (To confuse things, my 93rd book doesn’t release until summer 2025.)

To celebrate typing “The End,” I went to see “The Best Christmas Pageant Ever” on Tuesday. I laughed. I happy-cried. It is a delight from start to finish and should definitely be seen in the theater if at all possible. Treat yourself. You don’t even have to have finished writing a book!! (And if you haven’t read the novel the film is based on, first published in 1972, you really should do that too.)

Although there is still a lot of work ahead of me to make To Capture a Mountain Man shine (revising and editing await), I did some preliminary work this week on my next project, a new novella in the Kings Meadow Romance series.

On a special arrangement with the publisher of that series, I am writing this new novella to be packaged with the only novella set in Kings Meadow, I Hope You Dance. I’ve been tossing around ideas for two or three months now, and the story I want to write finally came together. I’m not sharing the title of the collection or of this new novella. Too soon for that. But it isn’t too soon to share the graphic of my main characters. Meet Jesse, Willow, and Pastor Foster, residents of Kings Meadow, Idaho in 1932.

Beatrix Potter said, “There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story. You never quite know where they’ll take you.” That’s exactly how I feel when I begin a new story. I never know where those first words I write down will take me, but I’m ever so grateful that I have the privilege of writing them and then sharing my stories with others.

I hope you have something wonderful lined up to read this weekend. Please share!!

~robin

Six Books I’m Excited to Read

The rest of this month I have to be nose down, fingers on keyboard, every moment that I’m not teaching, grading or engaged in a most do activity with my family. Those include high school swim meets and Thanksgiving. While I’m being focused and diligent, I’m building quite the to-be-read pile for after I turn this book in. These books look sooooo good that it’s taking a lot of discipline to not grab them now and read every last page. What books are they? I’m so glad you asked. Here they are:

First, I’m going to start with I Think I was Murdered, which I have read, but that arrived in my mailbox this week. This book just released this week, and y’all I ADORED I Think I was Murdered. Okay, so I already read it. The plot is BRILLIANT. This writing duo is quickly becoming one of my favorites! This is a high concept book that pairs quickly evolving AI with bitcoins. The result is a twisty book that kept the pages turning late into the night. The romance is strong, the twist, fantastic, and the suspense solid. This is a novel I recommend to those who like romantic suspense.

I love Julie Klassen’s books, and I can’t wait to read her latest Regency novel, the Seaside Homecoming. This novel releases December 3rd, and I can’t wait to return to the picturesque Devonshire coast as the Summers sisters navigate romance, second chances, and the enduring strength of sisterhood in the face of adversity.

I have really enjoyed some of Michelle’s books, so I can’t wait to dive into this one. Isn’t the cover gorgeous? I loved talking with Michelle about Of Gold and Shadows on the podcast, and can’t wait to sink into the pages of this book. I love England, London, the Victorian timeperiod. So much to adore! And here’s the episode if you’re curious…

This series has been such a surprise to me. I have LOVED it. It’s so high concept and interesting, and Gabrielle keeps surprising me with the choices she makes. Other readers love it, too, because she gets to keep writing more books in the series. I can’t wait to travel to 1727 and 1927 in Across the Ages. And here’s a recent episode of Book Talk with Gabrielle:

Ten there’s this book. The Burning of Rosemont Abbey really intrigues me, and it’s killing me that I can’t just grab it and inhale it. I am so curious about it. We’re back in England, but this time in 1950s, post-war England, and I’m so pulled in by the cover. I haven’y read a book by Naomi Stephens yet, and I’m so excited to make this my first.

And the final book on my TBR pile is….

I am not usually steam punk, but I love Tricia, and this book looks like such fun. “Like flickering candles in the abyss, Kateřina and Josef work to protect the innocent and end the evil that plagues their world. Yet, in their quest to save the Jewish people, have they inadvertently created a new danger? Could the very entity they had forged to protect become their greatest enemy?” Isn’t this compelling? I’m looking forward to trying this one.

What are you reading? I’d love to know what you’ve read lately and what you’d recommend I add to my pile.

Top Ten Gifts

Hi friends!

Happy Wednesday. I am so happy to be back with you today. With the aftermath of the flood still consuming a lot of time and energy, I completely forgot about today’s post as of yesterday morning. Yikes! Then a sweet friend gave me the best idea. She said to make a list of things readers can give authors they are thankful for. I loved it! And, since she named several gifts that cost money and others that didn’t, I thought it would be fun to come up with ten ways you can support authors you love for free. Yes, free! I hope you’ll enjoy the list, and if you’re a reader or a writer (as we are readers, too), I would love it if you would pick one thing off this list and do it for an author you appreciate. Any or all of these would be greatly appreciated. The next post in two weeks will be about free gifts from writers to readers they appreciate, so stay tuned.

Sign up for their newsletter:

Signing up for their newsletter ensures you get the latest news about their releases and ways you can help spread the word. It lets you get to know the author and find ways to support them, such as those listed here. In my newsletter, for example, you’ll find book recommendations for other awesome authors, giveaways, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and occasionally yummy recipes. Authors have wonderful, entertaining newsletters, and publishers like to see newsletter numbers high, so by signing up, you’re directly helping the author.

Follow them on Bookbub:

Bookbub gets a lot of traffic from readers looking for their next read or a new-to-them author. Following them on Bookbub raises their number, allowing them to participate in more ways to get the news about the book’s release or sale.

Join their launch team: 

There are almost always more readers than slots on the launch team, but offering to be on it is huge. It’s giving a commitment that’ll help the author spread the word about their release. It’s sharing social media posts and so much more. Even if you don’t make the official launch team because of limited spots (we wish we could have you all on every launch team), you can still share the posts when the author shares them on their account. You can always reach out to the author via email or their website contact page and ask how you can help.

Follow their social media accounts:

This is easy if you’re on social media too. If not, pick something else off this list, and I envy you. LOL! If you are on social media, follow the author’s Facebook Page, Facebook Group if they have one, and Instagram. And any others they are on. It boosts their numbers, but, more importantly, it gives them a chance to interact with you!

Send them an email:

Yes, we read them. All of them. And, you know what…We cherish them. Truly. Receiving an email from a reader or a handwritten letter makes my day. There’s nothing like hearing from someone who liked my book, had it make a difference in their life, brought them enjoyment, or even raised a question. Taking the time to reach out is such a blessing. I know every author would agree, so shoot your favorite author a short email to let them know which of their books you enjoyed or how much you enjoy their stories. It will brighten their day.

Pray:

There’s nothing more an author needs than prayer—prayers for God to speak the story He has for them on their hearts. To encourage them during the hard times and to keep them humble and reliant on God during the good. Pray over the book they are working on, that it might touch lives for our Savior. Pray over their lives so they have good health, a strong family, and a deep walk with the Lord. Writing is hard. It pushes you past your limits so God can come in and carry you through. It means early mornings and late nights during deadlines; it means faithfully showing up to work each day, even when it’s wrestling every single word out. It’s marketing, traveling, newsletters, blog posts, interviews, and this list goes on. All things we love and are happy to do, but a lot goes into being an author in addition to writing. Praying for inspiration there, life balance, and joy in the journey. All prayers are such a blessing to us.  

And the final four are going to be short and sweet but just as helpful.

Write a review:

These are more helpful than you know. They increase the chance the book will be seen on bookseller sites such as Amazon and let unsure readers know how much you enjoyed the book. I often read reviews before picking up a new book.

Request the book from the library:

This helps get it into the library system.

Tell a friend, church member, or neighbor:

Bookstore sellers say books are sold by word of mouth, so we should share about them whenever the opportunity for genuine sharing pops up.

 Add their book to a list on Goodreads:

Goodreads is the powerhouse for readers. So many readers hang out there and look at lists and reviews to determine their next read. Adding a book you’re excited about to a Most Anticipated Reads list is a gift to an author.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read about all the ways you can help the authors you love. We deeply appreciate it—and YOU!

Blessings,

Dani

Gifts for Readers…or You!

My friend Michelle Griep has opened a new Etsy Shop. She is offering gifts that readers will love: T-shirts featuring cute readerly quotes, stickers, mugs, her fabulous Story Letters, Victorian Advent Letters, and more.

With Story Letters, you choose the subscription that intrigues you most. You’ll receive a letter twice a month with an intimate message from a historical character. But there’s more than that. Each letter includes special items related to the storyline such as a historical photo, an intriguing map, a charming sketch, or some other delightful surprise that makes history tangible. By the end of the 3 months, you’ll have a whole story!

And just in time for Christmas are the Victorian Advent Letters—25 beautifully crafted letters. Each day in December, discover the blossoming romance between Clara and her mysterious admirer, Daniel, set against the backdrop of festive Victorian traditions. Written in period style, these letters bring the charm of Christmas past into your home, with surprise items like Victorian ornaments, gift tags, and recipes hidden within select letters.

Take a peek at Michelle’s shop HERE. I hope you find a treat for yourself or a book-loving friend!

Writing “The End”

Today’s post will be short because I’ve been burning the midnight oil (which for me, is really the nine-o’clock oil ) trying to get a book ready to go to press. I finally, finally wrote “The End” on the first book in a new series and sent the final chapters off to my editors and proofreaders (who have already been working on the early chapters).

The idea for this series’ titles came (as many of my ideas do) while listening to our pastor’s sermons and noticing so many references in the Psalms and elsewhere to God being referred to as “the God who…” Who touches the mountains, who names the stars, who stirs up the sea, and so on. I hope this series will demonstrate what it looks like for ordinary people to live lives of faith, seeking God and His Word to know how to honor His name by the way they live. Here’s the back cover copy for Who Touches the Mountains.

Traveling all across the country is exciting…until it isn’t anymore. Liesl Bachman enjoys success as a travel writer, but that success comes at a price. Now she feels isolated and stuck in a way she never expected in the “cool” job she always wanted.

Zach Freylan is bound by an unspoken promise he made to his beloved wife before her death in a mysterious one-car crash. For two years, he’s run The Inn at Rosebud Lane that belonged to Jenny’s grandparents, but he finds little joy in maintaining what was always her dream.

From the moment Liesl checks in for an extended stay at the inn, something begins to shift inside Zach, letting him dare to hope that his life could be different. Liesl feels that same promise of hope, but the clock is ticking for them both as circumstances only grow more complicated. 

Is thirty-seven days enough to know for sure that this is God’s yes?

I don’t want to sign off today without saying a huge thank-you to all the veterans out there on this day set aside to honor you! America owes such a debt of gratitude to you, and on behalf of Inspired by Life…and Fiction, we are grateful from the bottom of our hearts for your service and sacrifice! May God bless and keep you.