Becky Wade's Blog, page 26

Sheet Cake Reader Retreat

I spent last weekend at the Sheet Cake Reader Retreat in the countryside of Central Texas! Sweet rom com author Emma St Clair lives in Texas like I do and she’s the one who organized the retreat and invited me to attend. The only author I’d met in person beforehand was Pepper Basham, though Christian romance authors Mandi Blake and Liz Isaacson were also in attendance. The rest of the authors write closed-door romances. And every author present was either an indie author or an indie/traditional publishing hybrid author.

Authors: (L to R) Brittany Larsen, Savannah Scott, Elana Johnson/Liz Isaacson, Pepper Basham, Jenny Proctor, me, Carina TaylorAuthors (L to R): Emma St Clair, Bridget Baker, Sally Britton, Mandi Blake, Julie Christianson

These women were WONDERFUL! So kind and smart and funny.

Thankfully, Christian traditional publishers have been publishing inspirational romance for a long time. But very few closed-door romances have been made available by general market publishers in all my years of reading and writing romance. These women and others went out, published their books independently, and proved that there are readers who value this particular genre niche.

Preparing pre-ordered books for Saturday’s book signingOn the route between my sister’s house (where I stayed) and the event, we drove through the town of Independence and stopped by the original site of Baylor University, my alma mater.I had my mom with me (in the striped top) and one of the first people we saw when we arrived was Alysha of For the Love of Christian Fiction. She’s always a delight!The author panel was HILARIOUS!Several readers–like Brittany from Britt Reads Ficiton and her daughter–brought books of mine from their home libraries.I also met lots of people I’d never been introduced to before, like 17-year-old reader/writer Jenevieve HernandezI’m glad that this picture captured my mom! She’s a bookworm herself and thoroughly enjoyed talking with other bookworms.We had sheet cake but since I failed to take a picture of that, I’ll share the one I snapped of the sunset, instead.The Aggie Wranglers came to dance for us and also to teach us some line dances. S’mores were offered after the dancing but by then this introvert had done as much extrovert-ing as I could do.

One of the best parts of the Sheet Cake Retreat? The opportunity to talk face to face with so many friendly and supportive readers.

I’ll be heading to Chicago for Just Read Rendezvous on November 15th in Chicago! That will be my next reader/writer gathering and I can’t wait.

Are you planning to attend the Rendezvous? Have you attended events like this in the past? If so, what did you enjoy most?

AI and Managing Time

The other day I was on LinkedIn and saw a friend who teaches at Indiana Wesleyan University post about asking ChatGPT to tell her who she was. I had done something similar six months ago about my writing, and the results weren’t great (hers weren’t either six months ago). Yet, this time around she was pretty impressed with how the AI engine captured the essence of who she was. I decided to rerun a very simple prompt asking ChatGPT who I am. It initiated an interesting process of going back and forth. It pretty well understands who I am as a writer and why I teach.

It’s kind of eerie actually. Then it asked if I was interested in knowing how Cara (I) balanced everything. I have to admit I laughed. Why, yes, right now as I barrel toward a deadline and the busiest part of the semester along with family life, I am really curious how I keep it all going. The response it kicked back to me was spot on. I could tell it had pulled from years worth of blog posts I’ve written.

Here’s what i learned from ChatGPT but how I balance my roles as a professor, lawyer, and author. I maintain a structured approach to time management and prioritization, a common theme I discuss (I guess a lot!) in interviews and blog posts. Here are a few key strategies I employ:

Time Blocking and Schedules: Putman is known for using time blocks to manage her busy schedule. She sets aside dedicated time for writing, teaching, and family life, ensuring that each aspect of her work receives attention without overwhelming her. (Well, sometimes it does overwhelm me. I’m trying to get better at that, and having a driver again is helping a lot, but there are still moments of overwhel. Don’t kid yourselves, my life can be a lot!)Family Support: As a mother and wife, Putman often talks about the importance of a supportive family. Her husband and children help her maintain balance, allowing her to dedicate time to her various roles while still being present at home. (Yes, my family continue to be supportive and patient with me and the way my writing and teaching can intrude. I would say there were years I put all of that on the back-burner, but in this season it’s definitely taken a bigger role. I couldn’t do it if they weren’t willing and supportive.)Multitasking and Cross-Disciplinary Skills: Putman’s legal and academic background often inform her novels. This crossover allows her to work efficiently, as teaching law can inspire legal plots or themes in her fiction writing. Similarly, her legal research helps with the factual accuracy in her books, minimizing the need for extra research. (Well, the legal research part is a stretch…a real stretch. There’s still an immense amount of research. But I do think my teaching makes me a better writer, and my writing makes me a better teacher. Communication connects everything I do.)Prioritizing Faith and Purpose: As a person of faith, Putman emphasizes the importance of aligning her work with her values. She finds purpose in all that she does, which helps her stay motivated and focused. Writing, teaching, and law are all viewed as extensions of her calling, and she finds balance by seeing them as interconnected rather than separate burdens. (Agree with this wholeheartedly. Spot on accurate!)Delegation and Outsourcing: In addition to support from family, Putman delegates tasks that don’t need her direct involvement. For example, she may hire help with marketing or editing for her books, freeing up time to focus on her core responsibilities. (LOL I’m terrible at this, but I’m getting better all the time.)

By keeping a clear sense of purpose and a well-organized schedule, Putman is able to manage her diverse career roles while staying productive and grounded. Would you like to explore any specific time management tips or insights she might offer that could apply to your own work?

I love how the AI bot kept ending with questions. It really made the process entertaining and feel like an almost conversation.

I used AI on Canva to create the image that accompanies this post in about 30 seconds. I spent more time deciding on the color palette than prompting the website what I wanted the image to look like. It was a great time saver! Earlier today I was trying to come up with some general cover ideas for my publisher, and Canva can’t do that yet, but Microsoft Copilot created some generalized ideas for me in about five minutes. The spelling was horrid, but it helped generate some feelings and ideas that maybe will get us past a block we’re all having on what the cover for The Accused could look like.

Speaking of time management. I have to get back to writing the book due December 1st. It would be more fun to play with prompts and chats and things, but instead I want to leave you with a giveaway. I love sharing some of my favorite books from my friends with you. Right now, I have a stash of some great ones on my shelf. Use the form below to enter for a chance to receive one. It is the perfect time of year to curl up with a good book after all.

Now back to creating mayhem with Chloe and Dare in The Targeted!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Outpouring of Love

Hi friends,

It’s so good to be back with you. Many of you may not know but  Becky kindly covered my last blog post for me. My family and I moved from Maryland to Florida. We were there a couple of weeks, and Hurricane Helene hit and flooded our house with four feet of water.

Given we’d just moved, most of our belongings were still in boxes on the floor. Everything was in boxes, and all the furniture was ruined—soaking wet and quickly covered with mold. I lost my entire office, literally. The only things to survive were two binders and two pictures I had put on a bookcase—all my writing memories—book cover posters, books, and supplies that were still in boxes. And I loved my office. It was built with items collected over the years from family and friends.

In the end, we lost 95% of our belongings and two cars in one fell swoop.

Our home had to be stripped of all the walls and insulation from six feet down, all the tile ripped out of our showers, all the floors, except our tile, ripped up, and the list goes on. It’s a shell of the home we bought. Then, it will have to be put back together. 

It will be nice refurnishing and redecorating the home, and super sweet readers and friends are swooping in to buy us gifts from our Amazon wish list—everything from towels to pillows to sofas. Everyone has been so generous, readers and writer friends alike. The amazing thing is the readers that I don’t know personally who are still sending items from the list. Friends have started a donation fundraiser and gifted us meal gift cards. 

The outpouring of love has been an unbelievable blessing during such a difficult time. While putting our house back together will be fun, it doesn’t erase the memory of all that was lost. It’s funny the things that affect you the most. My mom’s recipes hit the hardest for me, and so were our pictures and photographs. Neither can be reproduced. However, thanks to two of my closest friends, some of my photographs were preserved, and my clothes were washed repeatedly, so they are actually clean and wearable now. I don’t wish a flood on anyone, especially with a second hurricane hitting just weeks later, evacuating us from our Airbnb. Thankfully, the damage from Hurricane Milton was minimal. However, I do wish you an outpouring of love when you need it the most. Writers and readers are an amazing group who go above and beyond in generosity and kindness. We are so grateful for you all. I wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart. 

Question for you: 

When have you experienced an outpouring of love during a good time in your life or a difficult one? 

Blessings, 

Dani

Research Challenges & A New Release | Guest Post by Erica Vetsch

Thank you to Julie Klassen for kindly inviting me to share about my newest release here and a little of the research that went into it.

A Thieving at Carlton House is the first book in the Of Cloaks & Daggers series. Here’s a bit about the book:

The Home Office has asked Sir Bertrand Thorndike to head an investigation into stolen royal jewels. It’s the perfect chance for Bertie to step out of his brother’s long shadow. His superior, The Duke of Haverly, has a plan that makes him balk: in order to sell his cover, Bertie must play the part of a man looking for love, ready to reform his rakish ways. The duke is willing to let Bertie name his own investigative team, but his recommendation that the team include Philippa Cashel has Bertie on his guard. Does the duke-known for his behind-the-scenes machinations-have an ulterior motive?

Philippa Cashel escaped her life as one of society’s best-known courtesans, devoting her life to helping other women in dire straits. So when Sir Bertrand Thorndike approaches her about joining his team as an agent of the Crown, she is skeptical. She’s focused on getting her school for underprivileged women up and running, not in cloak-and-dagger skullduggery. Her hope is that if she labors hard enough at her charity work, she might begin to feel worthy of God’s forgiveness. When one of Philippa’s rescued girls is arrested for stealing the royal jewels and another is murdered, Philippa will risk partnering with Bertie to find the loot and stop the killer. Two brilliant minds-with two wary hearts-and one cunning deceiver are on a collision course in Regency England.

One of the things I found most challenging about writing this book, is that I set the crimes in a real historical place…that no longer exists.

Carlton House was best known as the London residence of the Prince Regent, and was lavish in every extreme. The Prince Regent was granted the house (and a renovation budget of over 60K pounds – nearly 5.2 million pounds today) in 1783 and lived there until his ascension to the throne in 1820.

He considered Carlton House unacceptable as a royal residence for a king and moved to Buckingham palace. Carlton House was demolished in 1826.

I relied heavily on the book Carlton House: The Past Glories of George IV’s Palace published by The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace in 1991. This book is full of colored drawings of the most opulent rooms of Carlton House and some of the artifacts that still remain today. I used the floor plans from the book to map out my bad guy’s paths and escapes.

I stuck to the information I could find, but if I couldn’t find it, I tried to rely upon what I could find from houses that were contemporary to Carlton House during the Regency, and if that didn’t work, I used literary license and made something up! Such is the life of a writer.

Do you enjoy learning while you read? Do you ever investigate further something you’ve learned about reading fiction?

He Will Call You Home

The recent rains and flooding have really destroyed our largest chicken coop. Hubby and I were trying to support the sagging structure a couple of weeks ago when two hens escaped. (I won’t say who left the door open). One of the girls is friendly, so I caught her in no time. But the other one is skittish, and the more we tried to catch her, the more she ran–in fact, she ran into this tall stand of ginger that borders the ravine, and I knew we could never follow her in there. Finally we humans retreated to let the chickens do their thing.

But what followed was amazing. The chickens go into their coop at dusk, because that’s where it’s safest, so the rooster was inside the coop calling to the chicken who hadn’t made it home. She was outside, lost as could be, and she was tut-tutting, trying to find her way home. He called and she tutted for about half an hour. Realizing that I wouldn’t be able to catch her, I opened the door through which she had escaped, and finally, as the rooster called, she walked through the door and into the coop.

Well. During Hurricane Hellene, I moved those chickens to another coop on higher ground. Last night I decided to put them back in their home coop because the roosters weren’t getting alone. I managed to get all of them except that SAME chicken. This time, I tried to grab her with my net (because I knew she wouldn’t let me get close enough to grab her with my hands), and she flew right out of the first coop and was roaming around in the jungle.

I walked through jungle and trees and palms for nearly an hour, sweating like a mechanic under a hot car, tired, and a little cross. Then I remember what I’d done a couple of weeks before. So I opened the back door through which she had escaped, then I settled back to wait.

Lo and behold, she remembered the way home (chickens have good memories!). The rooster was calling her, and suddenly everything went silent. I hadn’t seen her go into the coop, so I opened the door and counted heads–seven. They were all present and accounted for.

That particular skittish chicken is an Ayam Cemani–a completely black chicken–black wattle, black skin, black organs, black bones. I’ve decided to name her Elvira, after the Queen of the Darkness on those Saturday afternoon creature features. I’m just glad I was able to catch her in daylight. And I’m glad that rooster was faithful to call her home.

Side view of a Ayam Cemani hen

I have often said that roosters are like Jesus–they will lay down their lives for the flock, they lead them to food, they warn of predators . . . and twice now I have seen that when chickens are lost, the rooster will call and guide them home.

Just like Jesus.

Thank you, Mr. Roo, for being so faithful and diligent. And thank you, Jesus, for taking care of your flock.

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.

Wanted: Women with Gumption (plus a giveaway)

On Tuesday, Tammy shared about the limited time release of Petticoat Gumption and how its title came about. I thought I would share how the collection came to be.

Awhile back, she and I were chatting about something, and she told me that she was getting ready to re-release three of her earlier historical romances. In an off-hand comment, I said, “We should get together with some other Christian historical romance authors and do a box set.” Tammy agreed that would be a great thing to do. And so I sent out a few emails. Boy, was I delighted with the responses!

The result is Petticoat Gumption, a box set with six full length novels by Robin Lee Hatcher, Tamera Alexander, Misty M. Beller, Lacy Williams, Jody Hedlund, and Kathleen Denly. These six heroines have plenty of gumption!

This limited time collection is regularly priced at $9.99, already a great deal. But until next Tuesday (10/22), this book is available for the Kindle and Kindle app for only 99¢. That’s less than 17¢ per novel!! So get your copy today before this deal goes away.

Get Petticoat Gumption for 99¢
And don’t miss the Historical Christian Romance Extravaganza!

Wouldn’t you know it? On Thursday, Karen shared about the Historical Christian Romance Extravaganza. But as above, I’m going ahead and sharing again (mostly because my post was written and ready to go on Monday).

Enter for a chance to win a bundle of 12 paperbacks from your favorite Historical Christian Romance authors. And there’s more! You could win a $125 Gift Card to Baker Book House (online Christian bookstore). Or you might win an Accessory Goodies Bundle. The Historical Christian Romance Extravaganza runs from Tuesday, 10/15, through Tuesday, 10/22. Three Prizes! Three Winners!

The participating authors are: Cindy Kay Stewart, Karen Witemeyer, Penny Zeller, Carrie Turansky, Misty M. Beller, Robin Lee Hatcher, Edwina Kiernan, Pegg Thomas, Naomi Rawlings, Lacy Williams, Lynnette Bonner, and Michelle Griep.

*This giveaway is for US residents only.

Enter the Extravaganza

Did you know that I give away two print books each month (US mailing addresses)? One of the books is by me and one by an author friend. All that’s needed to be entered in the giveaway is to subscribe to my newsletter, then to click a link in the newsletter when the giveaway is announced. My newsletter goes out monthly around the 1st. I also send occasional other emails when there is a new release, a fantastic sale, or a giveaway.

I would love to have you join me.

Subscribe to Robin’s Newsletter

~robin

Giveaways Gallore!

This week, I happen to be participating in two large-scale giveaways, and I wanted to be sure you didn’t miss the chance to participate. There are some fabulous books and other great bookish prizes available to win.

Giveaway # 1 – Historical Christian Romance Extravaganza (Oct 15-22)

You’ll notice that both Robin and I have books in this prize package. There are actually 3 prizes associated with this giveaway:

3 winners:

One winner will receive print copies of all the books pictured above.One winner will receive a $125 Gift Card to Baker Book HouseOne winner will receive a shower of author gifts including goodies like bookish socks, teas, & coasters; journals, note cards, & notebooks; totes; candles; wild huckleberry honey; a book-lover’s Christmas ornament; and a framed book lover’s print.

Enter Here

Giveaway # 2 – FaithBooks Christian Romance Reader Giveaway (Oct 15-19)

FaithBooks is like BookBub for Christian romance. They send out bi-weekly emails with new releases, sales, and freebies specifically curated for the Christian romance reader.

11 winners:

Grand Prize – $50 Amazon Gift Card, 5 paperbacks from FaithBooks authors pictured above, and a Kindle Paperwhite10 First Prizes – Prize packages include an assortment of goodies including Amazon gift cards, journals, Bible highlighters, paperback books from those pictured above, swag, and more.

Enter Here

(Both giveaways are open to US addresses only.)

Have you ever found a new favorite author through a contest?
Do you prefer autographed books, themed goodies, or gift cards as contest prizes?

Backyard Days

I’m not an outdoorsy girl by any means, but I love my backyard. Not becuase it’s beautiful. And not because there is any gardening to do—it’s just grass—I simpy the cozy space and the peace it provides. 

Because we are on a corner, we have a view on two sides. Straight out the back, there is a tree line, which is lovely. To my left is our community clubhouse and pool, separated from us by a green space. Beyond the clubhouse rise the treetops of our city park. 

The truth is, we don’t get to enjoy our backyard as much as we would like. We do live in Texas, after all. It’s mid-October, and today will be the first day (fingers crossed that the forecast is correct!) it will dip into the low 70s for the daily high temperature. And I intend to soak it up! 

On the few days a year it stays in the 70s—and doesn’t rain—you can find me in my backyard. I love that even as small as it is I have several different spots in which to work or read. 

There’s the comfy sectional that is shaded most of the day. 

The dining table with an umbrella to help block the sun at certain times.  

The small table to the side where I’m pretty much hidden (or was before we cut that tree back!) and shaded all day. (We want comfy chairs for this spot!)

And the seats beneath the roofed porch area, which get the morning sun. . 

In all the houses we’ve lived in, I’ve never had a backyard I’ve loved as much as this one. Nor one we’ve used as much either by ourselves or with friends and family. I’m particularly thankful for it in the spring and fall. And this week looks to be one where I’ll enjoy it a lot. 

Do you have an outdoor spot you love when the weather hits your sweet spot? Tell us about it! 

Petticoat Gumption — Releases Today

Does anyone else remember the TV show Petticoat Junction from the 1960s? If you do, no doubt, the theme song from that show is already playing in your head. LOL (You can thank me later.)

Well, when five other authors and I got together recently and decided to do a limited time ebook collection including SIX of our novels, we brainstormed a title for this six-book historical ebook collection. Someone mentioned petticoat—and I immediately thought of this old show from childhood. And since all of our heroines are strong, independent women full of—yep, you guessed it—gumption…

Well, it just seemed fitting…

Releases TODAY Thanks to author friend Lacy Williams for designing such a pretty cover.

Thanks, too, to our own Robin Lee Hatcher for being the series coordinator, for uploading Petticoat Gumption to Amazon, and for so much more!

And the best news…

Petticoat Gumption ebook is currently only $.99
for all 6 full-length novels

What novels are included you might ask?

A Vote of Confidence by Robin Lee Hatcher (The Sisters of Bethlehem Springs, Book 1)

From a Distance by Tamera Alexander (Timber Ridge Reflections, Book 1)

Freedom in the Mountain Wind by Misty M. Beller (Call of the Rockies, Book 1)

Marrying Miss Marshal by Lacy Williams (Wild River Hearts, Book 1)

Committing to the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund (Colorado Cowgirls, Book 1)

Waltz in the Wilderness by Kathleen Denly (Chaparral Hearts, Book 1)

I hope you’ll check out this collection releasing TODAY and see if it might be something you’d enjoy.

As always, we so appreciate you spreading the word!

Tell me more about this 6-book collection

Blessings from Nashville where I’m racing to finish my next book. I’m almost there and am so eager to tell you about it. It contains more real Tennessee history that actually intertwines with my own family history. Yep, some of my ancestors actually appear in the novel. Talk about a treasure to be able to write about my great-great-grandfather, Ballard Preston, and my great-grandmother, Agnes Preston Tripp Gattis.

Are you a fan of ebook collections like this? Any collections you’ve read lately that you want to recommend? Finally, by chance have you already read any of these novels?

Hugs from my corner of Nashville, friends,

Tammy