Lynn Donovan's Blog, page 4

Secrets Kept is Released!

I am tickled to pieced to present Secrets Kept by J.L. Mbewe.
NOTE: be sure to scroll down and enter for a chance to win a lot of wonderful prizes! Including a signed copy of Secrets Kept.

Jennette is a friend, colleague, and an amazing woman!  We sat down and visited about this exciting release of her first full-length Novel. Here's what we said:





Jennette, Welcome to my porch!  I am so excited about this book. I loved the story and I cannot wait for the sequel. But enough about me. Tell me: I think Christian Fiction writers always have an amazing God moment or two when they write their stories. Did you have one? What was it?

It’s been going on 10 years since I started seriously writing and my memory isn’t want it used to be. Ha! But what comes to mind is the day I was reading through the parable of the talents. The one where they are supposed to do something with what they received from their master, and God asked me, what are you doing with what I gave you? And I was like, what did you give me? And the word writing popped into my mind, literally, I could see it. So I set out to write. Who knows where this will go, but I am writing. ;-)

What inspired you to write Secrets Kept?

My spiritual journey. When I started out, having no clue about the industry, I desired to create an allegory of how truth can set us free, but not obvious like Pilgrim’s Progress or Hind’s Feet on High Places. Yeah, that didn’t last long. I abandoned the idea of allegory after the second rewrite as the characters took on more life than chess pieces and the real story began to unfold.  Are any of your characters based on a real person? Can you tell us who?

None of my characters are based on real people. Sorry to disappoint! How much and what sources did you use for your research to get the time period right.

After I got the rough draft done, I spent a lot of time surfing the web and borrowing books from the library researching ancient history up through the 1600’s to get an idea of what life might be like during those times, but then I branched out from there. And I probably spent way too much time thinking about the lay of the land and how that would influence weather patterns. I did buy a Lord of the Ring’s Weapon and Warfare book. JThe made-up language seemed authentic, what was your secret to creating that?

Oh, I don’t know if I can reveal that yet. ;-)What are your hobbies, other interests besides writing?

Hmmm…parenting? I love playing board games/cards, etc., with friends. I love being creative whether it’s painting, drawing, sewing, cooking, baking, etc. I love outdoorsy type activities. I love collecting rocks, and it shows. You should see my kitchen! Oh, and reading!Can you tell us something interesting about you that most people do not know?

Um…hmmm… I have swords? Or is that just expected? Sorry, I’ve got nothing!

LOL, Jennette, I think having swords is unusual, but then again, who knows. I think you are an amazing woman, writer, and a wonderful mom and wife. Thank you so much for taking the time to share with me and my friends about this exciting season in your life. I love it that God asked you to articulate your stewardship and you stepped up and delivered!  Not everybody is so courageous! I pray many, many successes with this book and all the others that will follow!
Thank you so much for inviting me to your blog!  Of course!  Jennette, you are welcome on my porch any time!!!
Secrets Keptby J.L. Mbewe With a curse, she will build an army.
With the dagger, she will undo the last sacrifice.
But first the sorceress must find the secret keeper.Torn from her homeland and thrust into a betrothal against her wishes, Ayianna learns her family has a deadly secret that now has her on the run. She joins forces with Kael, an embittered half-elf, and Saeed, an elderly High Guardian, to seek answers to her father’s death, the destruction of Dagmar, and the plains people’s bizarre behavior.Ayianna discovers there is more at stake here than just her mother’s disappearance and her familial duty to her betrothed. The sorceress has cursed the plains people, and it is a race against time to release them before the sorceress resurrects an ancient evil.Find it at Amazon and Goodsreads.

More from J.L. Mbewe!  Here are three short stories which are related to Secrets Kept. Really good reads, I might add! 

[image error] Welcome to the World of Nälu!The Tales.

   Can a desert princess find love with a foreign king?

Johari lives in the shadow of her beautiful sister until a foreign king notices her, but in her haste to prove herself worthy of affection she finds herself compromised and on a difficult journey to make things right.
Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Smashwords, and Goodsread
  What if all you knew had been a lie?
The teaching of the Guardians has guided Semine's footsteps since her infancy. When her mentor shows up with information contrary to what she's been taught, she doubts her decision to follow in their footsteps. She must decide if there is life beyond what she has always known or embrace a new, mysterious path and reject the Guardians' legacy.
 Find it on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Smashwords

To what lengths would you go to save the world?
Elothryn keeps the darkest secret of Nälu: The cursed dagger of Raemoja. A weapon powerful enough to release the greatest evil from the underworld. For generations, his family has lived without incident until now. The hunters have his scent and will stop at nothing to reclaim the dagger. Elothryn and his son flee, seeking help, but will they find it?
Find it on Amazon and Smashwords


Coming soon: All three Tales of Nälu in paperback!










 Author: Jennette MbeweWriting as J. L. Mbewe, Jennette is an author, artist, mother, wife, but not always in that order. Born and raised in Minnesota, she now braves the heat of Texas, but pines for the Northern Lights and the lakes of home every autumn. She loves trying to capture the abstract and make it concrete. She has two short stories published in The Clockwork Dragon anthology, and is busily creating worlds inhabited by all sorts of fantasy creatures and characters, all questing about and discovering true love amid lots of peril. Her debut novel Secrets Kept and her short stories set in the world of Nälu: Desert Rose, Dragon Thief, and Indestructible are now available. She is currently living her second childhood with a wonderful husband and two precious children who don’t seem to mind her eclectic collections of rocks, shells, and books, among other things. For more information about her journey as a writer mama and all things creative please visit her at http://www.jlmbewe.com/

You are going to want to keep an eye on this author. Here's how:

Social Media  Connect with Jennette!Website/Blog  Facebook Twitter  Pinterest  Goodsreads  Google+


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Follow this Blog tour all this week:
October 16th
J. L. Mbewe: Release Day Kick-Off
The Writer’s Window: Meet the Characters Part 1
Sitting on the Porch with Lynn: Interview
In Darkness, There is Light: Excerpt
October 17th
The Wonderings of One Person: Meet the Villains
Lightly Salted: Guest Post
Aaron DeMott: Excerpt
Writing without Compromise, Clare Davidson: Top Ten favorite YA novels
October 18th
J. L. Mbewe: Top Secret Project Reveal
Anne Elisabeth Stengl: Meet the Characters part 2
Emerald Barnes’ Dreaming Awake Blog: Interview
Pauline Creeden: Dream Cast
Sheila Hollinghead’s Rise, Write, Shine: Review of Dragon Thief

Southern Writers Magazine Features

Southern Writers Magazine invited me to post a guest blog today, Friday, September 27, 2013.

Suite T


But wait! There's more! Saturday there is a feature at Southern Writers Magazine called Mic Night.


  You can hear me read 5 minutes of The Wishing Well Curse. And Must Read TV has the trailer for The Wishing Well Curse. I hope you will check it all out this weekend. And...Enjoy!

Buy it on Amazon.

It's My Birthday!

  September 14, 1957  3:22 pm Martha Lynn was born in Amarillo, Texas. I was such a surprise to my dad, 'cause he wanted and expected a boy. Ha! I fooled him!  His first words were, "Put it back, it's not done cooking yet!"  That's okay, because later he told me the first time I crawled up in his lap and kissed him on the cheek, he didn't care if I was an alien, a boy or a girl, he was so in love with me!  hehe!  We girls do have a way of wrapping our daddies around our little fingers!  Huh? Why do I go by my middle name?  Well, because I was named after my father's mother, Martha Mary. She came over to see me when I came home from the hospital. They were calling me Martha and Martha Lynn. Grandma asked my mother to call me Lynn so there wouldn't be confusion between the two of us. Mom, naturally, said "Okay."  (Lynn was my mom's mother's maiden name.) I've been called Lynn ever since...except when I was in trouble, of course!   So, today I want to give rather than receive!  You, my friends, fans, and followers will have several opportunities through out the day to win e-books published by AltWitPress, a paper back copy of my book, The Wishing Well Curse (US only),     and a $10 Amazon.com gift card.
       Be sure to follow me on Facebook all day Saturday, September 14 ML Donovan Facebook Page and like my Author page Lynn Donovan Author Page so that you will catch the flash giveaways, and other opportunities to WIN WIN WIN. Now, have you counted up my years?       Can you guess how old I am today?

Any idea?   Come on you can give it a try!!!
This is why we WON'T use candles on my cake!  HaHa!!! Leave a comment and you will be included in a final drawing on September 15 at 3:22 pm for a Grand Prize.    

Women's Role as Helper

 What is our role as women?A joke: In the beginning, God created man. At the end of the day, He stood back and looked upon man and said, "This is good, but I can do better." Then he created woman.   {cue laugh track}

The bible tells us in Genesis 2:18, "The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.” (emphasis mine).

So we are to be a helper. And we are to be suitable for him.  What does that mean?

If I were to walk up to you and you were trying to work in your garden, but you didn't have any tools. You were digging with your hands. I could hand you my tools, a rake, a shovel, gloves, etc. and that would help you very much. Right? Well, I'm going to give you some tools to help you be the helper God would have you be.

As Christians, we are told in Galatians 5:22, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control." 
Okay, we know we are to strive to be all these things at all times. But what are we, as women, supposed to do to be what God intended us to be for our husbands?

1 Peter 3:1 says, "Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives."


Again, I ask: What does that mean?  Well, I think there are two things we woman are called to do by God for our husbands.

1. Be the best Christian we possibly can be. We do that be reading the word of god. The Bible. Do you read your Bible every day? It's an excellent habit to have. For one it puts the Word in you and allows the Word to work from within you. Then when a situation merits, the Word will come to your mind and you will be able to apply it, quote it, make a valid , Godly point. But another advantage is internal. By getting God's word inside of you, it will nurture you when you are at your wits end. And we all know we women get at our wits end a lot! God's word will give you guidance to handle all things appropriately. Even if that means simply closing our mouths and not saying a word! A tool to begin reading the Bible is a one-year reading plan.  This is one put together by a local radio station KJIL here in SW Kansas. There are others, but if you don't have one, you may borrow mine!

2. Prayer. I believe our role as women and helpers who are suitable for our husbands means we pray for them. We pray for ourselves, our husbands, our children, and then for others. We pray and pray and pray. How long do we pray?

Remember this: PUSH.  Pray Until Something Happens.
I'm reminded of the lyrics by John Waller: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc7orBfhEmk 
While I'm Waiting by John Waller
I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Takeing every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord

What I did, while I waited for God to do what God does:
I joined teams at the church, Hospitality, Prayer Warriors, Breakfast Committee, and Praise and Worship.  At work, (I managed a Car Rental Company) I made a commitment to help Church rentals by setting a reduced price for their rentals and never charged them mileage.

These things were my seeds. I planted these seeds with high expectations that my harvest would be the answers to my prayers.

Now. Here's a tool for prayer. If you aren't sure what to pray or how to pray, here's a place to start.  Ephesians 3:14-21. But here's the key!  Every time the passage says "you" or some form of it, substitute the name of the person you are praying for. Even if it's yourself, use your name instead. 
Ephesians 3:14-21: "For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen {insert name} with power through his Spirit in {insert name}'s inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in {insert name}'s hearts through faith. And I pray that {insert name}, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that {insert name} may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

This is such a powerful prayer. Pray it over your husband daily, for 30 days and see for yourself. It will move mountains and change hearts and minds. Pray it over yourself. Pray it over your children. Other prayers in the Bible work the same way, but this is a good place to start.

So these are your tools. This is my interpretation of being a Helper and Suitable for him.
1. Read the word of God daily, from now on until the end of your days.
2. Pray. Pray until something happens.
3. Plant seeds while you wait on the Lord to answer your prayer (reap a harvest).

What do you think? Have you experienced any of these things and seen remarkable results? Tell me about it. I love to hear what God has done.

Juniper Grove Book Solutions Book Tour

Welcome! I am so honored to have Urania Sarri as a guest on my blog today. First let me tell you a little about her novel.



Title: BeguiledAuthor: Urania SarriPublished: May 13th, 2013Word Count: approx. 66,800 wordsGenre: Paranormal, Time-Travel, RomanceContent Warning: Subtle Sensuality
~ Synopsis ~
The war between the present and the future has started. Compelled to cooperate with the forces of the future in order to gain Christopher back, Emma has taken on a new mission. The portal that connects the two worlds must be relocated otherwise there is no hope for humanity. But there are so many obstacles she has to overcome; Christopher has given up on their love, her best friend has been kidnapped and the life-changing truth about her family is revealed. Worst of all, a new, unexpected menace under the name Frederick, Christopher’s evil double, threatens their lives.

Will she be able to secure the future of mankind and claim the love she has fought so hard for? What if Christopher has decided to sacrifice himself again in order to save her?

In Beguiled, the second book of the Gate Deadlock series, love knows no deadlocks.

~ About the Author ~Urania Sarri lives in Korinthia, Greece with her husband and sons.

She holds a BA in English Language and Literature and an Msc in Teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL). She specializes in teaching English to young adults and she totally adores her job. While doing so, she takes any opportunity to convey to her students the passion of reading. She is fascinated by paranormal stories and appreciates good romance whenever she gets her hands on it!



And now, with out further ado...  Urania!


Welcome Urania and thank you for letting me talk with you today.  

 

How awesome is it to live in Greece?
Well, my husband and I have often talked about how blessed we are to have been born in such a beautiful country. My hometown is only an hour away from the capital of Greece, Athens, and it combines the beautiful beaches with the snow-white mountain tops in winter. I wouldn’t change it for any place in the world. Having said that, I should also add that life in Greece is not always perfect. We Greeks are warm-hearted and hospitable people and we’d go out of our way for the people we like but some still refuse to conform to rules and regulations. Someone might say this isn’t necessarily bad and the rebel spirit should be conserved wherever it can still be found. But our daily routine would be much easier if certain things changed and we stopped living for today without worrying about consequences. My country is suffering from a severe crisis in economy at the moment and it will take years to recover but we Greeks, poorer than we were after the 2nd World War, will never stop enjoying life to its fullest. Because this is who we are.
What inspires you when you develop a story such as Beguiled?
A lot of things. A book I’ve read, a song, or something I’ve read in the newspaper. Most of the scenes I describe, even though they are part of a paranormal story, are based on real life.
Are your characters truly fictional, or are they based on someone you know?
I believe that writers always put something of their personality and the people they’ve met in their stories although we either don’t want to admit it or not realize it. My heroines, Emma in Gate Deadlock and Madisson in my new book, are both orphans like me. I didn’t think about it when I first wrote about them. It just came up. But it can’t be a coincidence. In the same way, Christopher reminds me of my husband quite often. In the book I’m currently writing, I have decided to base most of my secondary characters on people I’ve met during the three years I spent in Cyprus. I said goodbye a couple of weeks ago and I already miss them. This way I can make their memory last forever.
      How do you find time to write with the demands of a family and teacher?

            In fact there’s more than that. I’m a PhD student in a part-time program in       

            Linguistics at Aston University in UK because it is my strong belief that a teacher  

            should never stop learning. But if I could say I have a talent, it’s my ability to work  

            on many different  things at the same time. It’s stressing and I can’t tell you I’m         

            good at everything. But it’s my way of doing things. Of course, family always comes 

            first. And now that my two boys have just left home to start university, I have more 

            free time. Besides, I really need to keep my self occupied since separation from       

            them is taking its toll on me.

What do you like best about being an author: First draft, edits, publication, marketing, or something else?
Sharing my story with my readers. When I find out that someone has read my book and shares my feelings about my story and my characters is an incredible experience.
What author do you feel influences your writing style?
I am influenced by every author I read. From Stephenie Meyer and Suzanne Collins to the indie authors I absolutely adore.
Will there be a sequel?
Of course. Half of it is stored in my hard disc but two more books came up in the meanwhile so it’ll have to wait a little. Book three will be closure. The ending scene is already finished in my mind.
When did you first know you were a writer?
It’s funny but it took me too long to realize what were those voices doing in my head. As a teenager I used to make up stories in my mind just about every single day but I was afraid there was something wrong with me so I kept them for myself. At some point in my life I had to overcome the loss of a very important person and I needed to unburden myself from the depression that was threatening me. I tried to write my thoughts in Greek but nothing happened. Then I tried English and it took me hours to put the pen down.
 Do any of your sons show an interest in writing?
You could say that some kind of artistic nature runs in the family as both of them are musicians in rock bands. My older one writes lyrics and I think he’s just one step before starting to write his first story. I just hope he doesn’t need a tragedy to trigger it as it happened with me.
How do you relax when you are not writing?
I love watching TV shows and films with suspense or paranormal and supernatural elements.  I also read a lot and I go for long walks on the beach. This last one is a very inspiring activity. It’s when all the good ideas show up!
Thank you Urania. It was wonderful talking to you today!  I relate to your need to keep busy to deal with the empty nest.  I have four children, three are out and making a life of their own. One is still at home and I relish every minute I still get with him, even though he stays pretty busy himself. Still I am amazed your are working on a PhD and teaching AND writing!  You are an amazing person, and I thank you for taking the time to let me get to know you better. 



Amazon Author Page | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads| Website
 
Giveaway Details:
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
$15 Electronic Amazon Gift Card Two Kindle eBooks of Beguiled
Giveaway is International.
 
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 Excerpt from Beguiled by Urania Sarri: "Good morning. I have an appointment with Mr. Mavropoulos,” I said to the gray-haired woman who opened the door of the old, neo-classic house in Rodon Street, just two blocks away from the impressive ruins of the Roman marketplace, below the shade of the sacred hill where the Acropolis has stood for centuries.“Are you Miss Ioannou?” she asked in Greek.I nodded and she showed me in. “Come with me, please. He should be resting right now, but he’s changed his schedule for you.”“Oh! I’m sorry.”“Don’t be. He’s really looking forward to seeing you. I can’t remember when I last saw such a sparkle in his eyes.”She opened the door to a huge study, the walls of which were hidden behind floor-to-ceiling shelves, filled with hundreds of thick, old books. Silver-gray, velvet curtains kept the sunlight away from the place and a faint smell of mould, suffused with the odour of paper, made me hold my breath. The old man was sitting in an armchair, his legs covered with a soft blanket. His snow-white hair was longer than it should be for a man of his age and his long beard seemed unkempt, making his face look even thinner. Behind his round glasses, two sparkling eyes revealed his emotion at seeing me.“My dear child, come here. Forgive me for not standing up to greet you but time, I’m afraid, has been ruthless to me,” he said.“It’s a pleasure meeting you, professor. Your English is perfect.”He held my hand tight in his.“A remnant of the years I spent in Oxford, my dear. That was where I met your father.” He scrutinized my face. “You look very much like him. Your eyes mostly. Dimitris would be very proud of you.” He turned to his wife. “Katerina, treat our guest to that wonderful karidopita of yours. You’ve met my wife,” he said, with unconcealed pride. “She’s the most tolerant person in the whole world, my Katerina.” His wife bent beside him to pick up the blanket that was slipping from the professor’s legs to the floor. She asked me if I’d like a cup of tea and I took the offer with gratitude. I hadn’t had a bite since early that morning and my stomach started rumbling hours ago. All of a sudden, I realized I had spoken to her in Greek, although not deliberately, bringing about a smile of satisfaction on the old man’s face. I decided to let him keep it up a little longer, doing my best to exhibit what I thought closer to the perfect Greek accent. “So, were you and my father close?”“Not as much as I wanted to. After Oxford where we had both attended a conference…I believe it was Professor Johnston who introduced us or…was it…I’m sorry, my child. My memory’s failing me.”“It’s all right. Take your time.”“We discovered then that we had a lot to talk about. He loved talking about Greece. He was interested in some articles I’d published and we arranged to meet in Greece to share ideas. We didn’t meet very often but soon we both knew we were part of something big. Something that no human mind can conceive easily without the risk of crossing the thin line between reality and illusion.” His calculating look searched my face for traces of consent.“That’s why I’m here,” I whispered, switching to English.“What are you looking for, my child?”“He’d found something…in Pylos.”“I heard you gave up that place.”“It’s true. I was forced to.”“Hmm.” He nodded. “Believe me, I understand. They have their ways, don’t they?”It was obvious he was referring to the League, but I had strict orders from Christopher not to give the professor any details about them, and of course, not to name the League.“But now they’ve asked me to go there and search the place.”He raised his brows, profoundly surprised. “Do you know what they want you to find?”I leaned towards him and whispered, “The Gate.”I was afraid he had stopped breathing. But then his eyes reflected the triumph born from years of anticipating something to be said by someone. Someone else besides himself. Inside those walls that had been waiting…for years…a lifetime. He suddenly took a deep breath.His wife came into the room holding a tray with two cups of tea and one huge piece of fluffy karidopita, garnished with homemade cherry jam.“No karidopita for me, woman?”“Stop complaining, Stavros. You had your share earlier.” She smiled to me. “Doctor’s orders.” Then she walked out of the room.“Will you be so kind as to get me that brown photo album from the second shelf, Emma?”I was surprised to find that the thick photo album wasn’t covered with a layer of dust or mould, like someone regularly went through it. I put it in his fragile hands. All of a sudden, it seemed too heavy a burden for them. He opened it slowly on a page marked by a page-marker in the shape of the Parthenon.“Look! This is you!” He pointed to a photo of a little girl in a white dress, holding a colourful ball. I recognized myself. My image in that dress evoked the memory of a strange, obscure feeling. Like grief for a possible loss or some kind of misfortune. “He wanted me to take photos on that day. Do you recognize the place?” he asked. “It’s the dig site.” He turned the page. “See? This is your father holding with you in his arms. Do you remember anything about that day, Emma?”I shook my head. The tall, strong man smiling in the photo was exactly like I remembered him. I’d missed him so much, it broke my heart to see his face in the photo. I tried to focus on the reasons for my visit. Another huge bite of karidopita helped.I told professor Mavropoulos how they had told me that the location of the portal had changed and how vital it was for me to find it in order to get my friend Alex back. I thought it would be wise to omit the trip to the League’s time, as I was certain he couldn’t deal with so many revelations in one day. ......He was speaking fast, making the impression that he had lost touch with reality, like he was in his own world, lost in absolute trance. As if he had guessed my thoughts, he swiftly composed himself.“I’m afraid that is all I can tell you, my child. I wish your father had told you more about it. He left you his archives and his notes and everything probably because he expected you to finish what he had started. But I’m afraid he’d underestimated the risk for you too.”“I have to do it. Otherwise, I won’t get Alex back.”“Love is a very powerful motive, my child. Truly the be all and end all in life. Do you know that in the Greek language the verb love, “agapo,” starts with the first letter of the alphabet and ends with the last? The alpha and the omega. The beginning and the end. Such great meaning in a simple word.”“I’m not so sure anymore. People like you and me tend to overestimate feelings.” The last question came to my mind. “Professor, did my father ever mention to you anyone referred to as E? It’s probably an initial for a name. ” “E?” He looked puzzled. “Other than you, Emma, no. He never mentioned anyone else to me.”I gasped. “Me? Are you saying…I’m E?”“I’m just an old fool. I have nothing more to provide but the prolixity of an old man who’s been left on the side-lines for too long.” He smiled sadly and I knew my work there was done. I took his hands in mine.“Thank you. I have to go now. I’ll try to put everything together and see what I can make out of this.”He nodded. “Good luck, my child.”I got up. “We’ll be in touch,” I said, but I couldn’t help wondering whether I would be ever able to visit him again with any good news about my mission. I walked out of the room with moist eyes, thanked Katerina who showed me out, and left.

I LOVE Indie Books Blog Hop

In this leg of the hop, I'm giving away 6 prizes!A grand prize of a $5 Amazon Gift Card + an ebook copy of The Wishing Well Curse
and 5 more winners will get an eBook copy of The Wishing Well Curse!

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An Interview with Author Emerald Barnes

Emerald Barnes is my guest today. She is the author of two amazing books. Read Me Dead and Piercing Through the Darkness. Below you will have an opportunity to win a fun give away pack, so be sure to read all the way down!!!

 

With out further ado...Emerald, Welcome! I think Christian Fiction writers always have an amazing God moment or two when they write their stories. Did you have one? What was it?I agree.  And yes, I did.  While I was writing Read Me Dead, I totally freaked out.  I began doubting myself and my work.  Honestly, I spent a lot of time in tears.  And then one day, I kind of had a revelation.  God wouldn’t have put me on this path if He didn’t have plans for me.  After that, I stayed in prayer and persevered through it. 

Why did you choose to write Read Me Dead in first person, present tense point of view?
 Well, I had originally written it in third person, past tense.  It wasn’t working because I felt like I had too many points of view, and I needed to strongly dismiss those.  I wanted it to be more mysterious, especially since I didn’t want people figuring out who the killer was too early in the book.  So, I took all of that out and wrote it in first person.  It worked better to me, and I felt like that was what the reader needed to see.  I wanted people to understand why Alex was the way she was.  As far as present tense, I thought it would help with the suspense.  If the reader feels like s/he’s right there, reading it in present tense, I thought it would help the tension.  The decision wasn’t taken lightly.  I can promise you that.    Are any of your characters based on a real person? Can you tell us who? They aren’t.  I don’t really draw from real-life inspiration.  Unless you count me writing my guys as someone I wish was real. ;)   Your dialog was spot-on for the age of your characters. How did you do that? Thank you.  I read a lot of young adult fiction, and that helped.  But, I have friends who are teens and talking to them really helped out.  It’s easier to keep up with what the kids say these days when you’re texting or talking to them all the time.  J
 What inspired you to write this story? It seems like something that could have really happened.  Read Me Dead was inspired by a dream that I had.  All I dreamed about at the time was a young girl being chased by a killer because of something that she’d said.  I had written this story a few times before my finished product, focusing on a robbery gone wrong, but it just never worked out.  Until, I had a new idea.  Alex saw the murder of her parents, and she had this terrible secret about who the killer is.  I tried to keep it as realistic as possible.  I didn’t want it to seem like it couldn’t really happen.  It just didn’t seem right to me to write it that way.   What are your hobbies, other interests besides writing?
I’m a huge fan of TV.  I love watching it and movies.  I read, which is probably obvious. ;)  And, I like to crochet, believe it or not.  I’m not a very creative person (outside of writing that is), but this is one thing that I like to do.  It keeps me focused on that instead of my mind racing with editing ideas or new stories.  Sometimes, I need that break.  Can you tell us something interesting about you that most people do not know?
It may not be interesting, but I sing.  I used to sing in church all of the time, but I quit that when we changed churches.  However, now, I believe God is calling me back to singing.  So, I’ll probably be picking that back up soon-ish. 
Thanks for hosting me, Lynn!  It’s been a pleasure being on your blog! J
 My Pleasure! I enjoyed having you here today and I can't wait to hear back from you when you do start singing in church again. I sign with singers. Because my sister is deaf and I can't carry a tune. So I love it when people use their God-given talents to bless the church with their voice!  You and I have a lot in common.  I love TV and movies too and I crochet!  HA!!!  How about that?

I love it that this story, Read Me Dead, started with a dream. I believe dreams are how God contacts us sometimes.

Check out Emerald's other book: Piercing Through The Darkness.  It is excellent.  I have read both and recommend them to any body who loves a good story.




Here's a little peek into Read Me Dead and Piercing Through The Darkness. And how to buy them online. 




Alexia Wheaton’s problems go far beyond picking a dress and a date for the homecoming dance.

For seven years, Alex has lived with a painful memory - the memory of her parents' horrific murder. As the sole witness, she has kept quiet about the identity of the murderer to protect herself and her family and friends, but when a journalist over hears her secret and writes about it in the local newspaper, Alex is plagued with fear that her parents' murderer will soon find her - and silence her forever.

Alex is catapulted into a race against time to save her own life and bring her parents' murderer to justice. She will face many secrets, lies, and betrayals before the truth about their murder is revealed.
 
"Read Me Dead" by Emerald Barnes on Ganxy

It’s on the edge of her memory like a word on the tip of her tongue, but Kandi can’t remember what it is to save her life.

Despite being a cop, Jimmy can’t protect Kandi from the one thing that haunts her. She’s in danger and doesn’t even know it. After it happened, her brain repressed her memories of the accident, and now, she’s taking a Biology class under a man who wants to see her dead. The memories have started coming back, and it feels like she’s miles away from him. How can he protect her when she doesn’t even know she needs protecting?

Can these characters pierce their way through the darkness?
 
"Piercing Through the Darkness" by Emerald Barnes on Ganxy
 
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About Emerald Barnes:


Emerald Barnes graduated with a B.A. in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing at Mississippi University for Women.  She resides in a small town in Mississippi and has the accent to prove it.  


She mainly writes suspense/thrillers in the YA genre, but she dabbles in other genres and her books are enjoyed by all ages!  She's constantly working on new novels and has more ideas than she knows what to do with.  She blogs at  emeraldbarnes.blogspot.com  
and  ebarnes23.wordpress.com  which takes up more of her time than she anticipates but loves it so very much!  She's also a volunteer at the World Literary Cafe which is so amazing!

She's an auntie to two beautiful nieces and two handsome nephews (and another unknown gender coming by the end of 2013) who take up the other half of her time, but she couldn't imagine spending her time in any other way!  

She's a Whovian, a little bit of a nerd, a reader, a writer, and a family-oriented person.  God is number one in her life, and she thanks Him continuously for His love and favor.  
 
Stay up to date with her at her Website , Twitter , and Facebook .  You can also find her on Goodreads , Google+, and stay up to date with her releases on her Amazon Author Page. 


For more stops on the tour visit: http://www.emeraldbarnes.us/on-tour.html




***Author’s note: If the ganxy html code doesn’t work for the buy links, here are my links without the html code.***
Read Me Dead
Amazon UK
Amazon US

Createspace                    
Nook
Kobo
Smashwords
 
Piercing Through the Darkness
 
Amazon UK
Amazon US

Createspace
Kobo
Nook
Smashwords

God Magnifies the Little Things You Do.

Several years ago, the Lord downloaded this message to me. I was sitting in church listening to the sermon about Jesus dividing the five loaves and two fishes. We've heard this story so many times that it's almost boring to us. But, suddenly the Lord gave me a thought.

What if the mother of that little boy had not made that lunch?
What if she had said to her son, "When  you get home, I'll serve you dinner. So, be home before dark."

Let's look at the story in the book of John:
John 6:5-9 (NIV)5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.7 Philip answered him, “It would take more than half a year’s wages to buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!”8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?”(Emphasis are mine). Jesus took a small lunch, two fishes and five loaves, and fed five thousand men plus an unknown number of others (women, servants, children). This small lunch fed the same number of people that it would have taken more than half a year's wages to purchase enough food to give each person A BITE.  The mother of this boy thought nothing of the lunch she packed for her son that day. It was a routine, ordinary thing for her to do.  BUT if she had not made that lunch, Jesus would NOT have had anything to multiply.  However, because she did make this small, ordinary lunch for her son, Jesus was able to bless it and multiply it to feed thousands of people. PLUS! the bible goes on to tell us... John 6:5-12-13 "12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.” 13 So they gathered them and filled twelve baskets with the pieces of the five barley loaves left over by those who had eaten." (Emphasis are mine). Twelve baskets of leftovers were gathered and sent home with the boy.  This mother's routine, ordinary act of love, a lunch for her son, was blessed by God and came back to her multiplied beyond measure. The bible says in Matthew 16:40 "The king will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me." What ordinary, routine thing do you do everyday, every week, every once in a while, that God blesses and multiplies to bless others? And then returns it to you in an immeasurable amount? It's just something to think about.   

Happy Fourth of July

Today would have been my mother and father's 49th wedding anniversary. My father passed away April 2006. However, on their 40th anniversary, we threw them a huge party in our backyard. My children who had drivers license acted as valets and the younger one acted as hosts. We served BBQ from Dyers and had a sound system set up for entertainment. We played Jim Reeves CDs and a young lady with a beautiful voice sang some of my parents' favorite songs by Patsy Cline.

I wrote them a poem and my youngest daughter read it for them. (Because I couldn't get past the first line without bawling.) When I read over the poem today I realize it was hoaky, but you know, it was written from my heart! So here it is. Besides, y'all know I'm a bit hoaky!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!


One of Those MomentsBy Lynn Donovan
I climb into the pickup truckAnd on the seat I sawA pop gun!I knew it was for me. 
It’s one of those momentsA girl looks forward toWhen she knows her mom said, “Yes”And she’s going to get a dad.
 We walk from store to storeMom kept talking about it too. 
It’s one of those momentsA girl looks forward toWhen she gets her first new bed. 
 I couldn’t wait to get home from schoolGrandma had talked about it all night. 
Its one of those momentsA girl looks forward to When she meets her new born sister.  My teacher requested we introduce ourselvesWe had to circle the roomI knew exactly what I would say,“I have a sister whose blind and deaf and she has a hole in her heart.”
 It’s one of those moments A girl looks forward toWhen she gets to brag about her incredible life and unique family. 
We drove forever and ever,But we made it finally,We unpacked her bags and settled her favorite things.They hugged us all asWe tried to say goodbye. 
It’s one of those momentsA girl does NOT look forward toWhen we leave her little sister in Austin so she has a chance to learnAnd the first time she sees her daddy cry. 
The organ played grandlyMy best friends started slowly down the isle.“Oh Daddy, this is it!” I whispered.He just patted my hand and smiled. 
It’s one of those momentsA girl looks forward toThe day she is the bride. 
We drove up the drivewayMom and dad piled out the door.They hug my son and see his shirt and look at me with joy. 
It’s one of those momentsA girl looks forward toWhen she surprises her parents in a clever way His shirt said, “I’m gonna be a brother.”

It took two days to drive a rental truck the same road which takes one.But freedom waited for me there and so did Mom and Dad. 
It’s one of those momentsA girl looks forward toWhen she stand up for herselfAnd starts all over with school and workAnd for her children—a better life. 
I sat in black from head to toeCould barely hear the speechMy ears were ringingFrom angels singing,At least its what it seemed. 
It’s one of those momentsA girl looks forward toWhen she walks across the stage and takes her Bachelor’s degreeAnd hears her family cheer. 
So here we are today,With family and friends.To celebrate your forty years and I marvel just to think: 
It’s one of those momentsA girl looks forward toWhen she can tell her mom and dadHow proud she is that they made it this farAnd I wish you forty more. 
I love you both.

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