Becky Wade's Blog, page 53

Traveling through England and Wales

A few weeks ago I shared about our time in Paris on the first few days of our overseas trip. Ken and I traveled with his three brothers and sister and their spouses. I’ve known the Raney family for over 50 years now and these people truly feel like brothers and sisters to me. Even so, it’s pretty amazing when nine people can travel together for more than two weeks and actually miss each other when it’s time to part ways.

We traveled from Paris to London via the “Chunnel” on the posh, high-speed EuroStar train. It was so exciting to be in the Gare du Nord station in Paris, knowing I was just hours away from England, which has been a dream destination since I was a little girl.

Though we were barely in London for a day before we boarded our tour bus, we managed to see so many sights. I would have been disappointed if London had offered us any weather but rain, and the city did not disappoint. It was overcast and drizzly, and we were soaked by the time we got back to our hotel, but I loved every minute! We walked across Westminster Bridge and saw Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the London Eye (though we didn’t ride), and I got a photo in one of the iconic red phone boxes, which was on my bucket list.

The next day we drove through the gorgeous English countryside to Stonehenge. A dramatic sky showed off mysterious Stonehenge perfectly! From there, we traveled to Somerset and Bath on the edge of the Cotswolds, which was just magical! Musicians sang and played in the Bath Abbey courtyard and we toured the fascinating Roman baths that gave the town its name. Ken and I strolled through a Topping & Company bookshop before we traveled on to Wales, where we spent a night in Cardiff.

From Cardiff, we boarded an Irish Ferry and had an adventurous four-hour ride across the channel (that is, if you like roller coasters!) before we boarded our bus again. The bus was luxury and our tour guide was a wonderful storyteller, but it was sometimes frustrating to be limited to the bus. Still, there were very good things about it too, especially since there were nine of us together. But we drove right by so many places we would have loved to stop and visit. (I guess we’ll just have to go again!)

The nine of us sharing a meal at our hotel in London.

Well, I still haven’t made it through the entire trip. I promise I’ll wrap it up in one more post. It’s been fun to relive our trip in sharing it with you. So many ideas for books are swimming through my head. (You won’t be surprised to learn that I’m sending my current hero and heroine to Paris!) Thank you for coming along on our journey. Next time, I’ll take you to Ireland and Scotland.

Speaking of my heroes and heroines, I’ll close with an offer for you: Today only, the e-book of Almost Forever, the first novel in my Hanover Falls series, is free. I hope you’ll grab a copy and maybe pick up the other two books in the series while you’re there! Just click on the book cover for more info.

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.



Speed date my books!

Barnes & Noble sent me an email a few weeks back containing bite-sized summaries of books so that I could “speed date” them to decide which one was a fit for me and my current reading mood. Isn’t that a darling idea? Speed dating books sounded like my kind of speed dating.

I was inspired. So, over on Instagram, I’ve been providing super short summaries (10 words or less) of several of my novels. Here they are! Tiny plot snapshots.

Stay with Me: Genevieve investigates her parents’ secret while hiding her own secret.

Let It Be Me: Doctor Sebastian helps Leah uncover the facts of her birth.

Turn to Me: Luke protects Finley while they chase down treasure hunt clues.

True to You: Hero asks bookish genealogist to help find his birth mother.

Falling for You: Amateur sleuths (NFL star and model) research missing persons case.

Sweet on You: Untangling a family mystery causes friends to admit their love.

Undeniably Yours: Heiress falls for the humble cowboy who runs her ranch.

Meant to Be Mine: Heroine is betrayed by her crush, so keeps pregnancy secret.

A Love Like Ours: Injured hero has always loved his childhood friend.

Her One and Only: Female bodyguard meets her match in NFL client.

Which of those novels sounds like it might be “the one” for you? I challenge you to summarize a book you are reading/recently finished reading/writing in the comments in 10 words or less!

Greetings from the Netherlands

This week, I’m writing from Holland.

Yep, I’m on another continent.

There is sometihing about traveling that feeds my soul and this trip is reminding me of that in all the best ways. I just don’t get to see cathedrals like this walking around my town in the middle of cornfields in Indiana. Much as I’d like to imagine it, it’s not the case.

I also don’t see markers like this reminding us of the Jews who were taken from their homes and often killed. I found these in Amsterdam, but have also seen them in Germany and Italy. It means that when I’m strolling in cities in Europe I often keep an eye out to see if I will see them in new places. Each time I do, my heart is pinched again. We’re staying in Utrecht for a conference I’m presenting a paper at, and I haven’t seen the little squares, but I did find a larger memorial.

It was sobering to stand in front of the wall of 1200 names and read some of them and note the ages of the victims. I hope I never lose the solemnity that comes from being confronted with this and other atrocities. These are constant reminders of how much we all need the saving power and grace of God active in our lives. Saturday Eric and I will go to the Corrie ten Boom house in Haarlem. She and her family have been heroes of mine since the first time I read The Hiding Place. It didn’t look like we’d be able to get tickets, but we were able to get two for Saturday, and I am so excited. I know it will be impactful.

Today Eric and I took the train into Amsterdam for another museum I didn’t think we’d actually get to visit, the van Gogh museum. The buy ahead tickets are sold out for weeks, but I wanted to try and see if day of tickets were possible, and if not there’s another museum near that I thought we could go to. I was DELIGHTED to learn we could get tickets — basically walk up — when we arrived. It felt like a kiss from heaven. It was a wonderful museum. So, so glad we took the chance. Worth it!

As was the Rijksmuseum. It had a much broader array of art and was also wonderful. As our 20-year-old told us, it wouldn’t be a Putman adventure without plenty of art!

Do I have time to be away right now? No. But I need this time? Yes. My soul craves looking around corners and finding new things. It’s hard to explain, but hardwired into me. And in the day and a half of exploring bits of Amsterdam and Utrecht I can already feel fresh creativity. It’s a good thing, because I have so much writing to do in the next two months. But there’s something to getting out of routines and finding space for new explorations. I hope you’ve enjoyed this quick peek!

Life Together

Hi friends and happy Wednesday. Today I’m so excited to welcome my friend and mentee, Lisa Kelly. I’m so proud of her and asked her to share her story with you. I know you’ll enjoy her post and I’ll see you back next time.

One thing I’ve learned since embarking on my writing journey is the importance of community. I don’t believe anyone can survive going it alone. I imagine this could be a reason Jesus thought it was a good idea for there to be twelve men who would grow in the faith together. They would be ready to spread the word to the entire world once He was gone, and they’d need each other to persevere.

In August, I accomplished one of my writing dreams. I won the 2023 Romance category in the ACFW Genesis Award Contest.

I may have received the accolades but I didn’t get to this point in my life alone. I had a community.

To show how wild God works I’ll give a little history. In 2018, author Dani Pettrey advertised she was hosting a writer’s retreat in 2019 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. I’d been on a few launch teams for Dani and had this story I’d been working on for years. I sent her an email and asked if I could attend even though I wasn’t a published author. She said yes. 

I headed to Lancaster in March 2019 thinking I’d learn something that would help me in my writing endeavors then come home and go about my life as usual. That was not the case. At that retreat, I met seven beautiful women who have become my community. We dubbed ourselves Dani’s Darlings and almost six years later we are still writing together.

Living life as a writer can be very solitary. It’s a hard life, too. One that is filled with more obstacles and rejections than I ever imagined. You don’t know how difficult it is until you actually start doing it.

Through the friendship of the Darlings, I’ve learned about the craft, publishing ins and outs, and made contacts that I never would have made had it not been for these fabulous ladies. Since 2021, I’ve entered one contest after another. I’ve semi-finaled three years in a row in the Genesis contest, and for two years that’s as far as I got. It was disappointing to lose but I had my community to cheer me up and remind me that I could write.

In 2022, I signed with Tamela Hancock Murray and still think I must have dreamed it. My Darlings remind me often, Tamela wouldn’t have signed me if she didn’t see potential. These ladies believe in me when I don’t believe in myself.

If you’re a published author, you probably have your own community and would second everything I’ve said. If you’re not published, I encourage you to find other writers to travel this road together. 

The road is long and filled with many obstacles, twists, wrong turns, and detours. It’s also a narrow road to publication. Perseverance is necessary because at least at first there are far more losses than wins for most writers. Don’t give up. Find your own darlings and stick with them. They’ll get you through the hard times ahead and celebrate with you when you have a sweet victory.

The book I’ve wanted to write for over 15 years

A Million Little Choices, my first dual timeline story, releases TODAY and, friends, it’s been a long time coming!

I first had the idea for this story back in 2006, and I pitched it to the publisher I was writing with at the time. But they passed on the idea (very wisely in hindsight) and encouraged me instead to stay the course in writing historicals. To build my readership. Establish my brand. And so I did.

And so this book got tucked back inside me where it simmered and took shape through the years.

Then Jerry Jenkins came calling close to three years ago with the news that Focus on the Family was starting a new fiction line, and asked if I would be interested in being part of it, along with Chris Fabry and Angela Hunt. Jerry explained that he would serve as the editor on the project. I immediately signed on!

I’d never worked with a male editor before, so was interested to find out what that would be like. And I’ll have you know that Jerry and I only almost killed each other three times. Well, maybe four.

But seriously, after much writing and rewriting—and frankly, majorly struggling to get this book out of me—I’m thankful to share my first dual timeline story with you.

I share an inside look into A Million Little Choices, a story about two women from different centuries living in the same house who share strikingly similar journeys.

If you didn’t catch Angie’s blog yesterday, please do. She shared about these three releases as well. Click on the links below to read more about each book…

Read more about A Million Little Choices by moi

Read more about What a Wave Must Be by (our own) Angela Hunt

Read more about Saving Grayson by Chris Fabry

As always, thank you for reading and taking these journeys with me. I sincerely hope you enjoy this one!

BUY THE BOOK

Blessings from Nashville,

Tammy

Enter November’s Giveaway

TWO reader friends will each choose ONE of the many fabulous Raney Day Journals

The Topic We Never Want to Talk About

Several months ago, Jerry Jenkins and the folks at Focus on the Family approached three novelists to tackle important issues in our society. Those novelists were me, Tamera Alexander (yes, our Tammy!), and Chris Fabry. Those three books have just released, and all three of them are moving stories about issues that are affecting Christians and our society.

My book is about suicide, perhaps one of the most difficult subjects in the world. But you know what? We need to talk about it. We need to understand what a suicidal person is thinking and feeling, because often we know too little, too late. My husband, a youth pastor, has done more funerals of suicides than we want to think about . . .

(Yes, there’s a caboose in my front yard, and it’s also in the story. ‘Write what you know,’ they say.)

So I want to talk about this book, and I want you to read it. It’s not an easy story to read because yes, there are grieving people in it, but if you’ve ever considered suicide, you need to read it ALL THE WAY THROUGH. If you’ve NEVER thought about suicide, you should read it so you can better understand what others may be thinking. If you’re the parent of a teenager, you need to read it because you do not always know what your child is doing and thinking. If you’ve lost someone to suicide, you may want to wait a while before reading it . . . but when you’re ready, you’ll understand that you are not alone. And you may find ways to help yourself cope with the sorrow.

I chose this topic, not because it was easy, but because it was hard, and I know there’s a need to talk about it.

So I urge you to read this novel. Not because it’s entertaining (though I worked hard to make sure it was a good story), but because it’s important. Thank you.

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.

Guest Post: What Makes Dual-Time Novels Appealing to Readers?

Since on this day I should have been on an airplane or in an airport on my return from Israel when this post went live, I asked my friend Carrie Turansky to fill in for me. Of course, I am not on a plane or in an airport because the terrorist attack on Israel stopped my planned pilgrimage to the land. But this post is too good not to feature as planned. Enjoy!

~robin

My latest novel, The Legacy of Longdale Manor, releases this month, and it’s my first dual-time novel. People have asked why I switched from writing historical novels to dual-time stories, so I thought I’d share a bit about that decision and what I’m learning in the process. 

I’ve written almost thirty novels. Earlier in my career I wrote mostly contemporary novels and novellas, but for the last ten years I’ve focused on writing English  historical novels set in the early 1900s. I thought using what I’d learned writing those novels would equip me to write a dual-time novel. But I’ve discovered writing a dual-time novel is more challenging than I first imagined! Finding themes that can cross and connect two plots and discovering ways to weave that all together has really stretched me as a writer! 

Learning why people enjoy reading dual-time novels has helped me include some of the elements readers expect. I hope including these will make the Legacy of Longdale Manor and other dual-time novels I hope to write meaningful and intriguing for my readers.

Here are some of the reasons I think people enjoy reading dual-time novels:

The parallel storylines in a dual-time novel often give the story more complexity and depth. Readers enjoy finding the themes and connections between the two timelines. The alternating timelines create a sense of mystery. Readers want to keep reading to discover how the events in one timeline relate or impact the other. This adds an element of suspense that keeps the reader engaged and eager to unravel the connections. Dual-time novels often prompt readers to reflect on the passage of time, the impact of choices made in the past, and the way history repeats itself. This can make readers think more deeply about life, faith, and their own experiences.Themes of love, loss, family, and personal growth can be explored across time and generations. This can create a more powerful reading experience as readers see how these themes impact characters in both storylines.Dual-time novels offer a unique narrative structure that is a change from traditional linear storytelling. This variety in style appeals to readers who are looking for something fresh and different in the next book they read.

Have you read any dual-time novels? What do you enjoy about that type of storytelling? Here are a few dual-time novels I’ve enjoyed. Please comment and tell us about any you’ve enjoyed. 

Secrets She Kept by Cathy Gohlke

The Orchard House by Heidi Chiavaroli

Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham

Hidden Among the Stars by Melanie Dobson

Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate

The London House by Katherine Reay

Until Next Time
~ Happy Reading
Carrie

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of twenty-two inspirational novels and novellas and a winner of the ACFW Carol Award, the International Digital Award, and the Holt Medallion. Her novels have received stared reviews from Christianbooks.com and Library Journal, and they have been translated into several languages to be enjoyed by readers around the world. Visit: carrieturansky.com

We Have a Title!

When it comes to making a first impression on a new reader, the title comes second only to the cover art in making an impact. That’s why selecting a title should never come lightly. But what a huge challenge! To capture the essence of an entire story in less than 5 words (usually).

I’m currently writing Book 3 in my Texas Ever After series – 19th century western fairy tale retellings. The first, Fairest of Heart, reimagines the story of Snow White. Book 2, If The Boot Fits, releases in March and is a twist on the classic Cinderella story. Book 3 takes a slightly different approach and mashes up two fairy tales into the same story – Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty.

A woman in a red cape, raised in isolation by a doting grandmother. A pet wolf raised from a pup. A birthday that brings her out of hiding yet threatens her life. A dashing hero named Philip who rides a white horse sent to escort her safely to the home she left behind. And a villainous dragon plotting to destroy them both. As with the previous two books in this series, the plot will be original, but it will pay homage to the fairy tales that lent their inspiration, and there will be many subtle nods for readers to discover and enjoy.

Because this story is a road trip romance, I really fell in love with my working title of Riding with Miss Hood. It seemed so perfect for the journey-centered plot and a cute play on words with Riding Hood. However, as often happens, my publishing team decided that it didn’t quite create the best first impression. They wanted a title that would have a more romantic feel as well as something that brought to mind not only Little Red Riding Hood, but Sleeping Beauty as well.

So here it is. The official title of Book 3 . . .

Cloaked in Beauty

I have to admit that the title is really growing on me. I can’t wait to see the cover they come up with. I imagine it will be quite dramatic.

What do you think of my new title?
When you are unfamiliar with an author, are there certain titles that draw you in or turn you off?

Whenever I see a title with a pun, clever turn of phrase, or something humorous worked into the title, I’m immediately intrigued. Since I love books with humor, seeing that reflected in the title or cover really draws me in.