Becky Wade's Blog, page 90
August 4, 2022
Art for Book Lovers

Last month I shared some of my Colorado adventures with you. The ziplines my husband and I experienced offered a pulse-pounding thrill. However, I discovered another hidden gem that appealed to my imaginative side and made my bookish heart leap for joy.
One of the first places we visited in Durango was the Bar D Chuckwagon. This ranch located outside Durango included a western village with shops, a smithy, a chapel, a train, and a cowboy supper and western show that had me grinning and toe-tapping the night away.
However, the hidden gem I discovered was not the homemade biscuits or even the delectable chocolate shop. Before the dinner bell rang, I wandered into a small art gallery. I noticed works by Jack Sorenson on the wall, one of my favorite western artists, so I decided to peruse the shop.
In the back of the gallery hung a set of prints that immediately set my imagination on fire. Not because they highlighted cowboys and horses and gorgeous aspen trees, but because they highlighted little girls and books. Local Durango artist Lori Preusch captivated me with her whimsical, bookish art.
Here are a few of her amazing designs. Since I love reading with a big cup of tea, I adored how many featured tea parties with books.





Aren’t they wonderful?
You can find Lori’s full gallery at her online shop – Dandelion Press. You can purchase greeting cards, prints, and even bookplates of her designs. I purchased a greeting card with the Mother Goose design when I was in Durango and picked up a postcard with the Quill design. Love them!
Which design is your favorite?
August 3, 2022
Rewarding Myself
I really, really worried about making my Aug 1 deadline. The books for this publisher are a pretty quick turn around, and I knew going in that I had a busy summer to contend with. But the Lord is gracious and truly multiplied my work in both time and productivity. So much so that I turned the book in four whole days early!
Meeting a big deadline means rewarding myself for all the times I had to say no or stay up late or put down the compelling novel I wanted to read. Here are a few ways I’m doing that this week.
Time with People
When I got my first book contract, I determined not to let myself ignore people in favor of writing. And I believe the Lord has honored that. When I need to see people, I do, and I trust the Lord to make up the time. But there have been many times in the past few weeks that I have had to curtail time with people I love. Making up for that began this week. Time with my parents, my sisters, my granddaughters, my friends. I’ll soak it up in all the various ways it will happen and every moment will be sweeter for having had to limit my time with them while working.
2. Retail Rewards

The truth is, I started doing this as I saw the finish line in sight, because getting the packages is more exciting than clicking the order button! Nothing over-the-top, just a couple of new workout things, a swimsuit on clearance, some placemats, and pre-ordering some book releases for August. Even a few Christmas gifts to put back. Can’t wait for it all to arrive!
3. Reading

Not that I haven’t been reading, but when I’m nearing deadline my reading is all at night, and a bit frantic, to be honest. Now I’m looking forward to reading breaks during the day and hopefully getting to some of the titles that have been taunting me in my to read pile!
4. Pool Time

I’m not a huge sit at the pool girl, but on these hot Texas days there is sometimes truly relaxing about being in the water at the community pool or at my sister’s pool while reading or listening to a podcast or chatting with friends. I’m enjoying the opportunity to indulge.
5. Organizing my House

Whenever I’m in a time crunch, all the drawers and shelves in my house seem to scream at me to be organized. I resisted their siren call, but now that the book is done I will dive into those messy spaces and make them beautiful again. Organizing makes me happy. But living in an organized space makes me even happier.
6. No Alarm Week

While I hate waking up to an alarm, I do it nearly every day because I know that is the only way I’ll get anything done. But after I meet a big deadline, I always give myself an alarm-free week. I can’t go on too long this way or I’ll want to do it forever, but a few days is bliss, something I really look forward to at the end of a long haul.
These are my rewards for meeting my deadline. I definitely do this for writing deadlines, but sometimes smaller rewards come into play for finishing other kinds of projects, too.
What about you? Do you reward yourself for accomplishing or surviving something? Tell us what you reward yourself for and what rewards motivate you to keep going!
August 2, 2022
The Bible Project & more
I usually think most people have heard of resources I’m familiar with, but I was surprised to share The Bible Project with a friend recently, only to discover she’d never heard of it. What??

If you enjoy deep diving into the rich depths of God’s Word AND you love videos, then you’re going to go crazy for The Bible Project.
Some of my favorite videos are ones that overview books of the Bible. Take the video on Deuteronomy, for instance. It’s a favorite of mine that’s packed with Israelite history and foreshadowing of Jesus…

There’s also an app…

And did you know there’s a podcast? Jon and Tim’s discussions are fascinating…

Finally, if you have Alexa, all you have to do is say, “Hey Alexa, play The Bible Project.” So easy.
These are just a few of the tons of videos available, which are great to share with someone who wants to learn more about the Bible—and the God who is lovingly, faithfully pursuing us all!

So what’s a favorite resource you use to feast on God’s Word? To learn more about who God is? I always appreciate a personal recommendation!
Looking forward to hearing from you
Be sure to check out my August giveaway for a new Bible Video Feast from Kristi McLelland—The Gospel on the Ground. Highly recommended!
Much love from Nashville,
Tammy
AUGUST 2022 GIVEAWAY
Enter to win

August 1, 2022
New month, new project
I have JUST finished my submission draft of THE WOMAN FROM LYDIA, the first in my THE EMISSARIES series. (Today is my deadline. Nothing like writing-until-the-last-minute!) It’s a “based-on-biblical story” novel about what could have happened to Lydia after the Apostle Paul established the Philippian church.

I won’t spoil the story for you, but in every historical novel I’ve done recently, I include a Q&A section to answer readers’ questions and let them know how much of the story is fiction and how much is fact. I hope it’s helpful to them, and I know it helps me because I have to justify the fictional decisions I made. So, just to give you a taste, here are a few of the Q&A questions from the Author’s Note:
Q. Why would you think the “Lydia” mentioned in Acts 16 is actually named Euodia?
A. Scripture tells us that Paul (Paul is English, Saul/Sha’ul is Hebrew, and the Gentiles of his day would have known him as Paulos) met Lydia in Philippi, but her hometown was Thyatira, a city located in the Roman province of Lydia. When this “seller of purple” moved to Philippi, it follows that the Philippians might have called her “the Lydian woman” and then shortened it to “Lydia.” As a general rule in ancient days, most people were born, lived, and died in the same town, so this woman would have been considered an outsider.
Still unconvinced? Scripture tells us that Lydia was the first convert in Philippi (and in Europe!) , and Paul established the Philippian ecclesia in her home. This woman was baptized and became an active member of the fledgling community of believers. Paul and his companions lived with her in her home for some time.
So . . . since she was a pillar of the Philippian church, why doesn’t Paul mention her in his letter to the Philippians? He mentions Euodia, Syntyche, and Clement, who might have been the Philippian jailer mentioned in Acts 16:31.
I suppose it’s possible Lydia died between Paul’s visit to Philippi and his letter to the Philippian church, but I suspect Lydia was alive and well . . . and named Euodia. As to her squabble with Syntyche (Phil. 4:2), well, when we reach heaven, we can ask what they were fussing about.
Had Lydia/Euodia been attending a synagogue before she met Paul? Yes. Jews used the phrase “God-fearer” (your translation may use another term) to describe Gentiles who believed in HaShem (“The Name” of God, which was too holy to speak). Even during a time when most people worshipped false gods and idols, the Holy Spirit drew Gentiles and put them in situations where they could hear about Jehovah and the coming Messiah. Acts 16:14 tells us “the Lord opened her [Lydia’s] heart to respond to what Paul was saying.” The phrase “God-fearer” is used of other Gentiles in Acts 13:16, 26; 17:17; and 18:7.
The slave girl with the spirit of divination is not named in Scripture, nor does the Bible tells us what happened to her after her deliverance. I am certain, however, that believers in the Philippi ecclesia must have tried to reach her with the Gospel . . . which led me to write this story.
Paul traveled to Philippi on his second missionary journey, described in Acts 16-20, which took place around A.D. 50. This story is set in A.D. 51, when Paul was working in Corinth. He spent over eighteen months in that city, where he met Priscilla and Aquila.
And that community, Lord willing, is where the next novel in this series will take place.
Q. Euodia visited a fuller’s guild. What’s a fuller?
A. The fullers were professional launderers. Since few families had indoor plumbing (it was rare even in the first century, though the wealthy did have heated bathroom floors), most people had no way to wash their clothing or take a bath. Hence the need for public bathhouses, public toilets (and home chamber pots), and fullers. Fullers used urine to bleach clothing, and while society tended to look down on them, these launderers were among the highest-paid people in any city. Everyone who wanted clean clothing had to visit the ancient version of a laundry. Fullers also offered pleating for the stolas of married women, the “felting” of garments to make them waterproof, and dyeing of fabrics and shoes.
Incidentally, fullers are mentioned in the Bible. We find a reference to their work in Mark 9:2-3, but most modern translations don’t use the phrase. What the verse literally says is this: “And after six days doth Jesus take Peter, and James, and John, and bringeth them up to a high mount by themselves, alone, and he was transfigured before them, and his garments became glittering, white exceedingly, as snow, so as a fuller upon the earth is not able to whiten [them]” (Young’s Literal Translation). Mal. 3:2 speaks of “fuller’s soap,” and 2 Kings 18:17, Isaiah 7:3, and Isa. 36:2 refer to a “fullers’ field,” where laundry was cleaned and dried in the sun.
Q. The scriptures say the slave girl had a “spirit of divination.” Could the unclean spirit within her really tell the future? Do demons have that ability?
A. In short, no. Consider Isaiah 8:19-20:
“When they say to you: ‘Consult the mediums and necromancers who chirp and mutter,’ shouldn’t a people seek their God? Should a people consult the dead on behalf of the living? To Torah and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because they have no light.”
Unclean spirits have no light. They are not omniscient. They are not omnipresent. Neither are they omnipotent because they are not God. They cannot see the future, so they can only guess or make ambiguous statements in an attempt to confuse or flatter those who seek them. Modern day astrologers do the same thing.
Hope you enjoyed these! Have a LOVELY month of August!
~~Angie
July 31, 2022
Inspired by Scripture


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July 28, 2022
This or That, Sales & Giveaways

It’s summer time and that means road trips and long walks. I love both, but I also love redeeming the time. One way I love to do this is walking with a friend or loved one. But I also love walking with an audiobook or Kindle. Yep, I’m the crazy person walking through my neighborhood reading on my Kindle.

I love that with my Kindle, I’m literally walking around with hundreds of books in my hand, but there’s nothing like a good paperback. I love the feel of a book. I love the texture. The smell. The layout. All of it. And I love that it’s not plugge in.
But there are other elements that make audiobooks a nice addition.
The ability to listen while I’m driving and shouldn’t be using my eyes to read.It makes me slow down (even when I’m listening at 1.5 speed) and hear the story in a way that I might miss when I read — the speed reading course an employer sent me to means I can fly through a paperback at high speeds.I’m more likely to finish a non-fiction book in audio than in other formats. I’m not sure why, but it’s a quirk of mine.The thing I don’t love is how cost prohibitive many audiobooks are. Here are a few ways to inhale audiobooks without breaking the bank.
Utilize your library. Many will give access to apps like Hoopla and Libby. I have found that between these two apps I can get access to a lot of audiobooks that interest me.ChristianAudio.com: A couple times a year this site has a $7.49 audiobook sale. I’ve picked up many books through this site. It also gives away a book a month. There are often related books that are priced at $4.99 as well. A great way to pick up fiction and non-fiction.Chirp: This service lets you know about deep sales (like $3.99 an audiobook) and it’s a great way to acquire both fiction and nonfiction at a cost of about a cup of coffee.Which is your preferred way to read? I’d love to know.
And in the spirit of summer, I’m giving away a copy of one of my audiobooks. Just use the form below. You can also enter a giveaway for books from a romantic suspense Book Talk here. Finally, if you’re ready for cool weather, check out the Christmas in July sale for Christmas in Mistletoe Square.


Need to add a little more love to your TBR pile? Enter to win 20 new releases or a $130 Amazon gift card! You can enter this giveaway here. Good luck! Now use the form below to enter the audiobook giveaway.
July 26, 2022
Summertime Writing–the Chaos and the Glory
Hi, friends! Happy Wednesday. I’m super excited to have my friend and fellow Bethany House suspense author, Jaime Jo Wright, guest blogging today. Enjoy her lovely post.

A writer told me once they couldn’t wait until summer when they had more time to write. But if you’re like me, summer ushers in a massive amount of chaos. Frankly, I’m not a fan of writing during the summer. I have two kids who are not preoccupied with school and are all about being active, active, active! My husband is a teacher, so he is home the bulk of the summer. For them? It’s vacation time! For me? I want to scream “some of us still have a job to do!”
So how do I maintain a writing schedule and my sanity during the summer, enough to enjoy the glory of story while not committing crimes against humanity?
There’s a few key steps I’d love to throw your way and I hope they help you as they have me.
Set reasonable expectations. This may mean you step back and relook at your schedule for the summer months. You may need to decrease the word count for the week, or perhaps lump a full day of writing into a Monday so you’re free to gallivant with the kids on Tuesday. Regardless, if your expectations aren’t reasonable, you will stress out, and the chaos will get the better of you.Communicate with your family. This seems like a no-brainer, but I have a horrible habit of not communicating what I need to get done and then blowing a gasket when the pressure becomes too much to bear. Often, I find out if I’d just communicated to my spouse that I need five hours this week for writing, he’d make it happen. But instead, I try to please everyone and I don’t share my own needs and then in the end…well, let’s just say “when momma ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy”. So communicate your needs and don’t hide them.Drink water. This sounds so dumb. But did you know your productivity will actually increase with a proper water intake? Lots of us are walking around as dehydrated mummies and we don’t even know it. Think about it. A mummy? Imagine what their brains look like. So let’s not be dehydrated brains trying to create masterpieces while managing stress and summer chaos. Instead, have that water next to you at all times. Don’t be like Jaime who forgot to drink water today and now is trying to write a blog post that has some element of intelligence to it.Summertime can be a fun time to write, but it can provide it’s challenges. Be careful you don’t set yourself up to fail but being unrealistic, overpromising, under communicating, and so on. This is the season to step up your game—not in your writing, but in your life/work balance and communication with family. You’ll find it becomes a little bit more manageable and you can see a glimpse of story-glory shining through like sun beams!

Jaime Jo Wright
(www.jaimewrightbooks.com)
is the author of eight novels, including Christy Award winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. She’s also the Publishers Weekly and ECPA bestselling author of two novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her cat named Foo; her husband, Cap’n Hook; and their littles, Peter Pan and CoCo. To learn more, visit
www.jaimewrightbooks.com.

Final Proofs…and a Map!
Lately I’ve been busy reviewing the final galleys (page proofs) for my next novel, The Sisters of Sea View. Next time I see these pages, they will be in a printed book! I’m very eager for you to read it come December 2022 (U.S.) and hopefully soon after in other parts of the world.

In the meantime, I’m excited to share with you that The Sisters of Sea View will contain a map! I’ve had maps in The Tales From Ivy Hill novels and in The Bridge to Belle Island, and I’m delighted to have another in this, the first book in the On Devonshire Shores series.

All of these maps were created by Bek Cruddace, an illustrated map designer from England. I love her charming style and hope you do, too. I also hope you are looking forward to my new series. Book One is available for pre-order now.
Do you like having maps in novels?
July 25, 2022
Have You Discovered Pickleball?
Just before we moved to Missouri three years ago, we discovered a new sport called Pickleball. Last week, Parade Magazine did a whole feature on this game that has swept the country. A cross between tennis, ping-pong, and badminton, Pickleball is a sport that even unathletic “older” people like me can play!

Even while we were packing to move to Missouri, we played several times with both of our extended families in Kansas (and we discovered new muscles we didn’t know we had!)



After we moved, we played with our kids and grandkids. And I’m proud to say that these old fogies actually beat the young athletic coaches (our daughter and her husband) the first time they played. We won’t be asking for a rematch anytime soon though. They are still young and athletic and we’re three years older now!


It really is a great game for young and old! There are leagues in most towns, and many cities are turning tennis courts into pickleball courts to accommodate the demand. It’s a good trade since four pickleball courts will fit on a tennis court! Here are the basic rules in case you’re curious:

This 14-second video of Ken and his siblings playing when we were all just learning will give you the flavor of the game. (The game can be a little more cut-throat when these same people play now because everyone has improved greatly. In fact, Ken’s sister and her husband are in a league in California and have gotten really good!)
We hadn’t played for a long time, but we ran into some friends last week while we were biking and learned that they’d just discovered pickleball. So later that week, we met them early in the morning at an outdoor court and we had a blast playing again. We were pretty evenly matched, even though Ken and I ultimately lost 2 out of 3 games. We can’t wait to play again and get a chance to redeem ourselves!
Pickleball is a relatively new game, invented in my lifetime. But I have a feeling it will have some staying power. Have you played pickleball or watched it being played? Tell me about it in the comments below.
AND BEFORE YOU GO…I wanted to let you know that Yesterday’s Embers, the third and final book in the Clayburn Novels series is FREE today for ebook! You can order all three books by clicking on the image below:

July 24, 2022
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.