Becky Wade's Blog, page 61

Party Time!

You are cordially invited to join me in my reader group this week for our annual Posse Party.

My Posse was “born” on August 4, 2017 and we’ve been having all kinds of bookish fun over there ever since. Six years is a fabulous milestone, and we are celebrating with daily games and a ton of bookish prizes.

If you are not a member of my Posse yet, now is a great time to visit. We are a book-loving group who chat about characters and stories, play games, participate in reading challenges and homemade Christmas ornament exchanges, and pray for one another. My Posse Pals help me design my characters, generate plot ideas, and get behind-the-scene glances into my books and writing processes.

If you want to just come for the party, that’s fine too. Everyone is welcome.

Each day this week, there will be a new game to play and new prizes to win. I won’t draw names until Saturday, though, so you won’t miss out on anything by joining late. Just scroll back through the party posts and leave a comment any time before Saturday at noon, central time to be entered to win the goodies for that day.

I hope you’ll stop by and share in the fun!

What are some of your favorite online party games?

Boston Bookstore Fun

As you know, we love going to bookstores when we travel. On our last trip to Boston of the 4th of July, we went to one old favorite—Brattle Books—and one fun new one: Commonwealth Books. 

Perhaps like you, I judge a bookstore so many different ways. Especially a used bookstore, like these two. The main reason I love both of these is that their small spaces are filled with unusual books. In others words, no shelves of bestsellers. In fact, I’d say both of these shops have more non-fiction of every kind than fiction! Which is really fun when you love history and write historical fiction! 

Brattle also has an entire alley annex with bargain books—$5, $3, and $1 titles. Heaven! 

But Commonwealth has a unique and fun aspect, too! In fact, I’m not sure I’ve seen anything like it in any other hole-in-the-wall local bookshop. 

On the edges of bookshelves, on any free wall space, they have quotes. Quotes about books. Quotes about reading. Quotes pertaining to the subject of books on said shelf! 

Famous quotes. Obscure quotes. All on different scraps of paper. 

Here were some of my favorites: 

Which of theses quote do you like most? I confess I love the last one!

Do you have another favorite book/reading quote? 

And if you’ve been to either of these bookstores, let me know what you thought of them! 

#20 is in the books

For twenty years now, a group of writers has been meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, and I’m beyond grateful to be included in that number. These women are such a blessing and JOY in my life!

I just returned last night from our 20th retreat, and it was such a rich and fun time. Here are some glimpses…

We plot, play, and pray…and laugh like crazy.

Me and Brandilyn (Collins) during a plotting session. : )

Robin and Janet plotting in their pretty little hats!

It’s four days of sharing and praying and praising and singing and laughing and eating, and just incredible sister time.

One night we sat around the fire pit and talked and laughed—and made S’mores, of course. Delicious! Somehow I got voted to brown/burn/”completely annihilate” the marshmallows, and I happily fulfilled every one of those wishes. : )

I’m so grateful for our CdA time together every summer, and for these women in my life every day!

When’s the last time you’ve gotten together with friends and family for a fun evening or weekend? And have you sat around a fire pit and made S’mores lately?

As always, much love from Nashville,

Tammy

A Little Dose of Louisiana Christmas (in July)

My friend Morgan Tarpley Smith is filling in for me today while I’m on a 15-day writing marathon. Welcome, Morgan (and Betsy and Lenora). Thanks for this little preview of Christmas while the summer heat bears down!

By Morgan Tarpley Smith

In the spirit of this site, “Inspired by Life…and Fiction,” I’d love to share a little of the story behind the story about my upcoming release, “A Louisiana Christmas to Remember.”

First, let me tell you a bit about this three-novella collection, which will be published by Barbour on September 1. My fantastic co-authors are Lenora Worth and Betsy St. Amant, and we three are proud Louisiana girls who wanted to bring some of the warmth, humor, and spirit of our home state’s Southern culture to the page.

Our interconnected novellas are set in the fictional town of Moreau, which is loosely based off the lovely city of Natchitoches, the oldest European settlement in Louisiana. Our town of Moreau needed its own French connection and a historic chapel in need of restoration.

Natchitoches was founded by a French explorer in 1714, and in the late 1700s, my ancestors were actually married there. I love visiting this charming place adored by tourists for its gorgeous scenery, delicious food, and friendly people. It’s also known for being the setting of the hit 1989 film, “Steel Magnolias,” and for dazzling Christmas lights displays and decorations, which have drawn the masses each year for the Festival of Lights since 1927.

But going into the history of how this collection came to be, it began with a Facebook post in 2021. An Avid Reader of Christian fiction group member was compiling a list of Christmas books set in all fifty US states and hadn’t listed one for Louisiana yet. I was tagged in the post along with other Louisiana authors, but none of us could think of a single title. In the midst of this comment thread, someone commented, “Why don’t you write one?” and that set my mind in motion.

Not long afterward, Lenora and Betsy were graciously on board, and the characters of Mattie, Jolene, Adale, and Granny Eloise drifted into our lives like a Christmas snow. We had the best time planning and writing these stories and adding to our Pinterest boards too. And we hope readers will be as charmed as we were by these wonderful women during an equally wonderful time of year.

________________________

Deb here: Thank you again, Morgan! And friends, if you’d like to learn more or pre-order A Louisiana Christmas to Remember, click on the title or the book cover above!

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.

The Christmas Box

Say hello to debut author Jessica Wakefield! Jessica has been a supportive reader of Christian fiction for years, an aspiring writer, and now she’s adding “published author” to her resume with the release of The Christmas Box (a collection of three sweet romance novellas). “Christmas in July” isn’t over yet so be sure to leave a comment on this post for a chance to win Jessica’s festive book! -Becky

I’ve been asked where the idea for The Christmas Box came from. And in truth there wasn’t just one thing. But if you add in a dash of a movie, throw in a pinch of an Australian cold winter, add a splash of nostalgia and a large dose of ‘I personally need a win’ then you’ve got The Christmas Box. I’ll address each of my ingredients.

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was written by Ann Brashares. I’ve never read the book, but it was made into a movie in 2005 staring Alexis Bledel from Gilmore Girls (and other notable young stars, but Rory was my pull into this movie). I loved the idea of pants that fit all the girls with their various shapes, sizes and how there was fun and great lessons to be learned. I guess the idea has been percolating in my head for about 18 years or so then.

Many Aussies love the idea of a white Christmas—I’m not really sure we actually want one, but we like the idea. And when we’re toughing out our cold to us winter (June/July/August) we dream of a snowy Christmas. That was me last year. And it had to be romance, because, well it always must be romance.

And right now, isn’t the 90s back in a big way? I am a proud Millennial. I remember when Clueless came out at the cinemas (I was in Year 6 at school). The vernacular from that movie still makes its way into my everyday language. And Clueless was the birth of Paul Rudd, who by the way, I’m sure still hasn’t aged! I wore the leggings with the long jumpers (sweaters to my lovely US readers and friends), with the chunky boots. I listened to Mariah Carey, Boyz II Men, and The Back Street Boys. I watched Friends and wanted but thankfully never got ‘The Rachel’ cut. I thought, what if the Christmas box doesn’t just stay in 1995? What it if finds its way to other decades? Then the stories for 2005 and 2015 were born.

And finally, the last ingredient of ‘I really need a win.’ When I sat sown to write the first story, I had an aim of writing a 10K word story. Why? For months I sat in front of my computer, staring at the screen, knowing full well that I had a 90K word book to finish and I could not do it. I was still getting my anxiety under control and my kids were having their own issues that compounded with mine and I was sitting on the very edge of burn out. So, I thought, 10K is manageable. I got a lovely author friend to help me plan it and then I wrote it.

It turns out that I loved my little story and I was excited to write another one. The whole idea for the collection grew from there. I had finally given myself a win. I changed my then impossible goal posts and moved them to something that wasn’t going to break me. God walked me through it, slowly and carefully allowing me to find my footing in what was at the time a very uncertain world. And that’s the story of The Christmas Box and why I’m so proud to call it mine and why I love it so much.

Jessica will be gifting one of you with an ebook of The Christmas Box! Please leave a comment below to enter to win. Open internationally. Winner will be chosen on Monday.

Do you have a favorite 90s movie, hair style, clothing trend, or TV show?

As a kid, Jessica Wakefield penned really bad Anne of Green Gables fan fiction. Nowadays, she lives in Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia with her husband and two daughters.

Jessica has a lifelong love of Sweet Valley High books and is a recovering Gilmore Girls addict. When she’s not fawning over a fluffy dog you’ll find her baking in her kitchen.

Connect with Jessica on Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

A New Place

Happy Wednesday, friends! I have something exciting to share. I have a completely refreshed website. You can check it out at danipettrey.com 

I LOVE the new colors and the image in the background. There are so many fun touches. But, if you’ve visited my website before, you might be wondering why the change from the stormy beach theme. 

Well, it’s a first for me, but I’ve set my new series, Jeopardy Falls, in New Mexico. Why the change from coastal areas to the desert? Because I lived in Albuquerque, New Mexico for high school and part of college. 

It’s extra special to me because I met my husband there, we were married, expected our first daughter, and spent close to our first year of marriage there. This was taken on our 25th on a helicopter in Hawaii about to tour the Big Island. 

In addition to the very special memories of our marriage starting out in the southwest, there’s just something about New Mexico that anchors deep into your heart. There’s a reason it’s called The Land of Enchantment. 

One Wrong Move is my first novel set in the fictional town of Jeopardy Falls, New Mexico. And, I’m excited to announce it’s available for pre-order now. Here’s a little about it. 

TAUNTING RIDDLES.
A SHOCKING STRING OF HEISTS.
TWO BROKE HEARTS TRAPPED IN A KILLER’S GAME.

Christian Macleod was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country’s foremost security experts. 

When a string of Southwestern art heists captures the FBI’s attention, Christian is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.

Andi Forster was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until one of her colleagues destroyed her career, blaming her for mishandling evidence. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. 

Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator’s game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.

Want a sneak peek? Drop by my website and on the home page there’s a special excerpt of the first three chapters. Hope you enjoy it! 

Reader question: 

What town or state holds a special place in your heart and why? 

Thanks for spending today with me! 

Blessings, 

Dani

Please Join Us!

Have you joined Inspirational Regency Readers yet? If you enjoy inspirational romances set during the Regency (Jane Austen) era, I warmly invite you to join this fun online community on Facebook. Co-hosted by authors Erica Vetsch, Michelle Griep, and myself, we offer historical tidbits, new release information and sales, as well as fun videos, contests, and games. We also feature posts and new books by other Regency authors like Sarah Ladd, Kristi Ann Hunter, Abigail Wilson, and many more. Recently, we were asked to give a brief “commercial” for Inspirational Regency Readers at a reader retreat. So we asked our members to give us a few sentences about why they like IRR, or why a reader who hasn’t joined yet should check us out. I thought I would share a few of the comments here in hopes of convincing you to check us out, too!  

I have so much fun in this group interacting with the amazing authors and finding great books to read! I also of course love the historical aspects: teacups, Jane Austen, regency lingo and occupations, cool research knowledge and tidbits. —Heather M.

It’s like a fun book club meeting everyday of the week. —Jonathan D.

Love the book recommendations, author interaction and a non-political, argumentative group on Facebook. Like a breath of fresh meadow air!! —Heather C.

I enjoy learning historical aspects and details and then reading about them in the respective authors books Details make their stories come alive and I appreciate the way they share their fun research. —Tammy R.

If you love inspirational regency romance, you will learn more about the Era through photos and descriptions that make your reading come alive. You’ll also get great book suggestions!! —Angela W.

I like hearing from the authors about their books and interesting posts about the time period. Also like hearing from readers what books they are reading and enjoying. —Sue H. V.

I love learning about the regency period; the dresses, the customs, the traditions. I love learning about the different areas in England. And, I love the authors that are on here who are committed to clean regency romances. —Becky C. M.

I love interacting with authors and fellow readers. I feel like I’ve found “my people”! I’ve discovered some of my favorite books and authors through this group. Also enjoy all the historical tidbits from the regency era. —Stefanie B.

It is a positive group focused on the love of reading Regency literature. There is humor, heartfelt encouragement, and lots of recommendations from fellow readers. —Leesa C.

I’m always on the search for a great story to read or new authors. This Group is my first stop. Plus I really enjoy the opportunity to interact with my favorite authors! —Mary J.

It’s a positive, inviting group that allows us all to share our love for all things Regency and find great new books to read! —Erin R.

It is a joy to be a part of the Inspirational Regency Readers group where one feels at home among the kindred spirits who share a love of books, Regency Era stories and history, tea, and the United Kingdom. I am grateful for an entertaining place to visit with kind members and lovely hostesses who bring delight to my heart! —Laura W.

I enjoy the fun, positive, and even educational environment. I’ve also found many new authors that I might not have discovered any other way. It’s my favorite Facebook group! —Robyn D-R

One of the most interactive Facebook groups I’ve joined! A wonderful place to converse with both authors and readers of Inspirational Regency fiction! —Jennifer S.

I love the feeling of camaraderie with authors and fellow readers. I like learning about new releases and new authors and helping others with recommendations. The daily tidbits (Teacup Tuesday, etc.) are always fun and enlightening. —Teresa R. H.

The admins are full of new entertaining ideas, welcoming to other authors you feel like they are our friends. The research that the regency authors do is a fabulous glimpse into the era. And connecting with likeminded peeps full of good ideas and suggestions is great. Wish we could all get together. At least we have each other online —Carole H.

Have you ever wished to live in Jane Austen’s time, get to know other avid readers of Christian fiction, interact with some pretty amazing authors (and get upcoming book news firsthand from them!), and generally immerse yourself in all things Regency? If your answer to any of these is yes, then Inspirational Regency Readers is the community just for you! —Candice H.

Inspirational Regency Readers is a great way to learn more about the Regency period through pictures and interesting historical tidbits our author/hosts share. It’s also a wonderful place to get recommendations about delightful new inspirational Regency reads, and the giveaways and contests are entertaining. —Elaine C. P.

If you are intrigued by the above, please come on over and join the group here. Either way, thanks for reading the blog today!

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley

Deb Raney is traveling to attend a funeral and her sweet friend (and mine), Courtney Walsh, has stepped in to guest-blog today so that Deb can concentrate on time with family. Be sure to leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of Courtney’s amazing new book! -Becky

I have genuinely loved every book I’ve written. ⁠
⁠
That doesn’t mean I’ve loved WRITING every one of them. Some of them have given me major fits. ⁠
⁠
But I LOVED writing my new book, The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley. ⁠

I’m not great about keeping track of my story ideas, and one day I was cleaning and I found a note card in some random place.

On it, I’d written “a woman finds a list of 31 ways to be happy and decides to test them out.”

That’s how Isadora was born.

And when I say she was born, I mean she practically jumped into my head instantly. Yes, there was lots of brainstorming and research, but I knew immediately she was a quirky, socially awkward, introverted woman who is very smart and very misunderstood.
⁠
There’s something magical that happens when a character springs to life on the page. When she is the embodiment of your own insecurities and shares many of your thoughts, but in a socially awkward, quirky little package. ⁠

I think the very best part about writing this was going on a little treasure hunt to find the people Isadora needs most in her life and then creating those characters too. ⁠They are also so real to me.

I feel protective of Isadora. Like, if I knew her in my real life, I would stand up for her and keep her safe at all costs. She just has such a tenderness about her, and I’m so thankful for all the lessons she taught me.

I don’t tend to lean into finding happiness, so going on this journey with Isadora as she let herself out of her comfort zone. . .there was something healing about that for me. She reminded me that sometimes it’s okay to play. It’s okay to do things you’re not good at the first time. It’s okay to let other people in. And I’m grateful for those lessons and the way they changed me.

The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley is available now, and I’d love to give away a copy to one of you. Simply leave a comment letting me know what is one thing that makes you happy, and I’ll choose a winner in a week!

In the meantime, I’d love for you to join my Reader Room on Facebook or come be my friend on Instagram!

Courtney Walsh is a novelist, artist, theatre director, and playwright. She writes small town romance and women’s fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns and runs with her husband. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists and was a Carol Award finalist in the debut author category, and her contemporary romance Just Let Go won the Carol Award in 2019. A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.

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.