Robin E. Mason's Blog: Robin's Book Shelf, page 107

BLOGWORDS – Thursday 9 May 2019 – CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW SEEKERVILLE BLITZ – MISSY TIPPENS – GIVEAWAY WINNER

BLOGWORDS – Thursday 9 May 2019 – CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW SEEKERVILLE BLITZ – MISSY TIPPENS – GIVEAWAY WINNER
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CHAT THURSDAY – AUTHOR INTERVIEW SEEKERVILLE BLITZ – MISSY TIPPENS – GIVEAWAY WINNER

“Inspirational Romance and Southern Fiction Author”

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“Excitement is contagious. If I’m excited about my books (which I am!), and I share that excitement (which I sometimes feel sheepish about doing), then my readers will be excited to hear from me.”

 

WINNER! WINNER!

 

Congratulations to

ROBBIE PINK

Missy will be in touch with you to send your gift!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

After more than 10 years of pursuing her dream of publication, Missy made her first sale to Harlequin Love Inspired in 2007. Her books have since been nominated for the Booksellers Best, Holt Medallion, ACFW Carol Award, Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Maggie Award, Beacon Contest, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the Romance Writers of America RITA® Award. Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com.

 

http://www.missytippens.com/

https://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers

https://twitter.com/MissyTippens

https://www.amazon.com/Missy-Tippens/e/B001IXO1NA

https://seekerville.blogspot.com/

http://yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com/

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/missy-tippens

 

 

“Let’s not insult our readers. Let’s trust them. I know as a reader, I really appreciate subtlety. I get a sort of thrill when I catch on to something quickly—like I’m an insider. I love being so in tune with a character that I understand a funny comment or chuckle at a thought (and gleefully think to myself that I’m really quick on the uptake because I got it).”

GIVEAWAY

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Missy is offering a Kindle copy of her three novellas in the Home to Dahlia series—His Summer Valentine, His Perfect Christmas, and Her Valentine Reunion.

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#Blogwords, Chat Thursday, Author Interview Seekerville Blitz, Missy Tippens, Giveaway Winner, #WINNER

BLOGWORDS – Thursday 9 May 2019 – CHAT THURSDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ– AUTHOR INTERVIEW – DEBBY GIUSTI

BLOGWORDS – Thursday 9 May 2019 – CHAT THURSDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ– AUTHOR INTERVIEW – DEBBY GIUSTI
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CHAT THURSDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – DEBBY GIUSTI

“ Faith with an edge . . . Cross my heart!”

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“ It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.  John 15:16 ”

Please give a feathered welcome to Debby Giusti.

FAST FAVES

Call or Text Call

Dogs or Cats  Dogs

Eggs or Pancakes Eggs

Facebook or Twitter  Facebook

Paperback or Kindle  Paperback

Yoga Pants or Jeans  Jeans

rem:  Hullo Debby, and welcome to my little nest. Tell us a little about yourself. Where were you raised? Where do you live now?

DEBBY:  Hi Robin! So glad I can be with you and your blog community today. I grew up as an Army brat and moved every two to three years. I married an Army guy so I continued that nomadic lifestyle until he retired and we settled in Georgia.

rem:  Guess Army life was in your blood! Tell us three random things about yourself no one knows.

DEBBY:  I’m an only child. I crossed the Pacific Ocean in a military troop ship when I was six years old and lived in Japan for three years when my father was stationed there. As an Army wife, my husband and I traveled throughout Europe with our three young children during the years we lived in Germany.

rem:  Them’s some great adventures!  What’s the most random thing on your desk?

DEBBY:  Clutter! I’m visual and like to keep a hard copy of everything! J

rem:  Meeeee tooooo!!!!! What’s your all-time favorite movie? Favorite TV show?

DEBBY:  I love the Hallmark channel. A Country Wedding is my all-time favorite Hallmark movie. I watch it whenever it comes on TV.

rem:  If you could go back in time, what era would you choose and why?

DEBBY:  Biblical times. I’d love to visit Lazarus’ home in Bethany and sit at Jesus’ feet with Lazarus’ sister Mary. Of course, I’d also help Martha as she prepared food for their special guest. J

rem:  Wouldn’t that be wonderful, to witness in person! Do you have a favorite Bible verse? And why is it a favorite?

DEBBY:  John 15:16. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.” The Scripture applies to my writing. God wants me to write, and He wants my stories to bear good fruit. I always keep that in mind as I pen my stories.

 

rem:  I love it when Father God touches us so personally with His Word. What do you think is significant about Christian fiction?  How has being a novelist impacted your relationship with Christ?

DEBBY:  I love writing Christian fiction and interacting with readers around the country. I pray for them each day and ask the Lord to bless them. Thanks to social media, I learn of their joys and sorrows and lift them up when they’re in need. Through my stories, we’re able to connect in a very personal way and that brings me joy.

rem:  Oh, the wonder of social media! Such a blessing indeed, to connect with readers we might not ever know about otherwise! When reading, what makes or breaks a story for you? Your fiction pet peeve?

DEBBY:  I enjoy reading, but I’m frustrated when a writer doesn’t have his or her work professionally edited. A man I know has a talent for writing, but he self-publishes his stories without getting editorial help. The many grammatical errors and lack of attention to detail pulls my focus away from the story he’s trying to tell.

rem:  Oh, ouch! Yes, it’s the little things that ruin the story. And so easily fixable! What would you do if you weren’t writing?

DEBBY:  I’ve always been heavily involved in church ministry so I’m sure I would be leading an organization in my church.

rem:  I used to be in the choir, and for a few years, directed the dance team—sure do miss those days! What are you reading right now?

DEBBY:  Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens. It’s my book club selection for this month.

rem:  That’s an enchanting title. What do you munch on while you write?

DEBBY:  My two staples when I write are Wrigley’s EXTRA Spearmint gum and a YETI filled with ice water!

rem:  Oh! Such discipline! LOL You were one of the original founding members in 2004. Tell us about the early days. What do you like best about it?

DEBBY:  The Seekerville blog, www.Seekerville.blogspot.com, has been such a blessing to me, and I’ve enjoyed every step of this journey. Our goal has always been to help others on the road to publication. We do that through our posts as well as our interactions with readers and writers in the comments section each day.

rem:  I love the interaction there, and the genuine interest y’all show your readers. Have you tried the recipes on the Yankee Belle Café? What was your favorite?

DEBBY:  I have too many favorites! The Yankee Belle Café is a fun place to grab a cup of coffee and a good recipe!

 

rem:  You are so right, Debby! So so many tasty recipes! Tell us a little about your writing journey.

DEBBY:  My debut novel, NOWHERE TO HIDE, was published in 2007. I’m currently working on my twenty-fifth story (rem: color me impressed!) for Love Inspired Suspense. I’ve also published a few stories independently.

rem:  What is your Writing Routine? Where do you write: In a cave, a coffeehouse, or a cozy nook?

DEBBY:  I have an office in my house that overlooks the lake behind our property.(rem: Oh, how lovely!)  I write in the afternoons from about 1PM until 5PM. Then I head to the gym or take a walk. After dinner, I often return to my computer.

rem:  I love going for walks! What do you enjoy most about being a writer?

DEBBY:  That I can share the love of Christ, one story at a time.

rem:  Such a personal way to share, too! What was the hardest thing about publishing? The easiest?

DEBBY:  At first, I struggled with never being “away from the office.” Also I worried about making my deadlines. I’ve always turned my manuscripts in on time and now trust the Lord to keep me on schedule. I’m struggling to answer the second part of your question. I’m not sure anything is easy about writing. It’s work but also a blessing.

rem:  So true, Debby! But nothing that’s really worth is comes easy. What are your top 3 recommendations for a new writer? What 3 things would recommend not doing?

DEBBY:

TO DO:

Write!
Don’t worry about rejections!
Join a critique group.

 DO NOT:

Don’t burn bridges. The publishing world is a small community.
Get discouraged!
Don’t give up.

rem:  Wise words. This is such a solitary career, it’s easy to get discouraged. You have penned the beautiful and inspired “A Writer’s Prayer.” How did that come about?

DEBBY:  God knew I needed that prayer and gave me the words soon after I sold my first story. I had it printed on cardstock with a stained glass border and distributed it at writing conferences. Over the years, so many folks have told me the prayer is meaningful to them, as well! A few years ago, I penned “A Reader’s Prayer,” which has also been well received.

rem:  Oh, that’s wonderful. I love how Father meets us in those intimidating moments and turns them into gold—and then uses them to bless others! Once upon a time you were a medical technologist. What does that mean in layman’s terms? What does a medical technologist do?

DEBBY: A medical technologist works and supervises testing within the clinical laboratory.  My specialty was blood banking. I was in charge of the transfusion centers in two Army medical centers. We drew units of blood from donors, maintained the blood bank and tested patients to ensure the blood and blood products they received were compatible with their own blood.

rem:  How did you switch to a writer? How much does your medical training appear in your stories?

DEBBY:  I worked in the clinical lab until my first child was born. Then I became a stay-at-home mom. I returned to the lab, working part-time, when my oldest child went to college. It was there that I started writing for laboratory magazines, then freelanced for ladies’ publications. All the while, I was writing full-length fiction and eventually sold my first story to Love Inspired Suspense. The next few stories I wrote were part of a medical series where I combined my lab expertise with fictional suspense.

rem:  Ahhh… Nice life-segue! Do you think of the entire story before you start writing?

DEBBY:  Yes! I’m a plotter and work out the entire story on a white board before I start writing.

rem:  #shockedface  LOL  #totalpantzerhere  What is your current project?

DEBBY:  I’m working on a Christian romantic suspense story that will be included in an anthology, releasing on AUG 6, entitled, SUMMER OF SUSPENSE. Readers can pre-order now. I’m also writing the second book in my new Amish suspense contract with Love Inspired Books. The story will release in February 2020. My most recent book was AMISH SAFE HOUSE. It was published in February of this year and is part of an Amish Witness Protection continuity series from Love Inspired.

rem:  Amish Witness Protection holds a particular mystery to it.  Tell us about why you wrote this book.

DEBBY:  My editor asked me to write the second story in the Amish WitSec series. I loved the premise and enjoyed working with the other two authors whose books were also part of the continuity.

rem:  What is YOUR favorite part about the book or why do you love this book? Why should we read it?

DEBBY:  Here’s a brief overview:  Amish Safe House features single-mom Julia Bradford and her two children. When Julia’s teenage son witnesses an inner-city gang killing, she and her children need protection from the street thugs who have them in their crosshairs. Abraham King left law enforcement after his wife and young daughter were murdered and returned to his peaceful, albeit lonely Amish roots riddled with guilt. Now three years later, a friend working as a U.S. Marshal asks Abraham to provide refuge for an Englisch family in the Witness Security Program. Abraham agrees, never suspecting the “family” consists of a down-on-her-luck mom and two fatherless kids who tug at his heart.

 

Julia and Abraham have to come to terms with their own internal conflict – mistakes they’ve each made in the past along with the guilt they carry that weighs heavily on their hearts. They believe God isn’t interested in them and in their problems when in reality they’ve closed the door and shut the Lord out of their lives. At the end of the story, Julia and Abraham see past mistakes through the Lord’s tender gaze of merciful forgiveness. AMISH SAFE HOUSE made the Publishers Weekly bestsellers list and readers continue to say how much they enjoyed the story.

rem:  Annnnddd, you’ve got me hooked! Please give us the first page of the book.

DEBBY:

Gunfire!

Julia Bradford’s pulse raced. “Kayla, where’s your brother?”

“He took out the trash.”

Julia rinsed the plate she was washing and glanced at the overflowing trash bag still on the floor by the kitchen counter, then peered through the window at the dumpster in the empty alleyway below.

Another round of gunshots. Her heart thumped a warning. She wiped her hands on a dish towel and hurried into the living area. “When did he leave?”

Her seven-year-old daughter clutched her doll and shrugged. Thankfully, Kayla seemed oblivious to the gang warfare that held this part of the inner city hostage.

“Come with me.” Julia reached for her daughter’s hand.

Kayla reluctantly rose from the floor, still holding her doll, and slipped her small hand into her mother’s. “Where are we going?”

“To Mrs. Fielding’s apartment.”

Kayla’s face broke into a wide smile. “Maybe she baked cookies today.”

If only all of life’s problems could be solved with a cookie.

 

rem:  Oh! That mother’s heart! Mine is racing with hers! What is one take-away from your book(s) that you hope readers identify with?

DEBBY:  Christ’s love is limitless and unconditional. I hope AMISH SAFE HOUSE drives home that truth to any reader who has been hurt or feels abandoned by God.

rem:  So very true, Debby. Where can we find you online?

DEBBY: I love to hear from readers. They can connect with me in the following ways:

 

Email: Debby@DebbyGiusti.com

OR

www.DebbyGiusti.com

www.seekerville.blogspot.com

https://www.facebook.com/debby.giusti.9

https://twitter.com/DebbyGiusti

 

rem:  Anything you’d like to add?

DEBBY:  Thank you for inviting me to your blog, Robin. I hope your visitors will leave a comment and share why they enjoy Christian fiction. I also hope they’ll friend me on Facebook so we can get to know each other better in the days ahead.

rem:  So glad to have you visit my little nest today, Debby.

 

“ Attitude—the Write Attitude—makes the difference between someone who wants to write and someone who does.”

 

 

GIVEAWAY

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Debby is offering a print copy of Amish Safe House. (Sorry, U.S. addresses only.)

Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway will begin at midnight on Thursday 9 May and end at 11:59 on Thursday 16 May. Giveaway is subject to the policies found on Robin’s Nest.

RAFFLECOPTER
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b485f64b21/?

 

A Writer’s Prayer

Lord, inspire me to write stories that touch readers’ hearts.  Breathe your spirit into my characters so they come alive on the written page.  Help me develop intriguing plots full of twists and turns that capture the imagination and move the story to a satisfying resolution.  Keep me focused and on schedule, and take away any fear or sense of inadequacy that blocks my progress.  Give me courage to step out in faith, to stretch and grow and to be the writer you have called me to be.   Amen.

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#Blogwords, Chat Thursday, Author Interview – Seekerville Blog Blitz, Debby Giusti

BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 8 May 2019 – WREADING WEDNESDAY – FEATURED BOOK and GIVEAWAY– ACROSS THE BRIDGE by KRISTIN NEVA

BLOGWORDS – Wednesday 8 May 2019 – WREADING WEDNESDAY – FEATURED BOOK and GIVEAWAY– ACROSS THE BRIDGE by KRISTIN NEVA
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WREADING WEDNESDAY – FEATURED BOOK and GIVEAWAY – ACROSS THE BRIDGE by KRISTIN NEVA

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Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Across the Bridge by Kristin Neva with JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

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Title: Across the Bridge

Series: Copper Island, Book 3

Author: Kristin Neva

Publisher: The Christmas Tree House

Release Date: November 4, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Fiction from the Ragged Edge of Faith 

 

THE BLURB

When Marcella Seppa meets her new tenant, widower Drew Smith, a spark ignites, but she won’t consider dating him. She doesn’t want his son, AJ, to experience the hurt she felt when her dad remarried shortly after her mom died. Her faith unraveled, and she threw herself into exercise and gardening instead of forming trusting relationships.

When Drew finds out he may not be AJ’s biological father, his first instinct is to leave Copper Island, but he wants to find out the truth. He seeks out Marcella’s support.

Is it possible their friendship could become more? But how would that affect AJ? Could love help make peace with the past?

Love weaves its way through the messiness of life on Copper Island.  

Across the Bridge is part of the Copper Island series, but it can be read as a stand-alone novel.

Across the Bridge will make you laugh and cry. Deep, meaningful themes are woven into a fast-paced storyline.

 

After Marcella Seppa lost her mother when she was fifteen years old, her father quickly remarried, and her stepmother pushed too hard to foster a relationship with Marcella. Well-meaning people used Christian clichés in an attempt to comfort her, but it resulted in Marcella having a faith crisis. Is love worth the risk of loss, and how can you hold on to faith when questioning the idea of a puppet-master God?

Drew Smith moves to the small town of Quincy so that his in-laws can help raise his son, and he plugs into a local church where the leader of a boys group — and his deceased wife’s high school boyfriend — looks strikingly like his son. Drew fears losing part of his son’s heart to a man who even he admires for his height, charm, and cool job as a State Trooper. What does it mean to be a father, and what is the balance between protecting and preparing your child?

Across the Bridge also contains a theme dealing with ALS, a terminal disease that requires a team of caregivers. Readers who’ve met Grandma Lou in Snow Country will want to be with her again.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository

 

EXCERPT

From Chapter 33, Drew:

“Dad, do you know what pigs and heat are?” Andy fiddled with a piece of paper.

Parenting win, Drew thought. He’d gotten through the sex talk, and now Andy was coming to him with more questions. “Well, when pig farmers are ready to breed more pigs, they need to wait for the sow to be in heat. That means she’s ready to get pregnant, and then they bring in a boy pig. I shouldn’t say boy pig. We talked about that. Wait until you’re a man, and married. But pigs don’t get married, so the farmer selects a man pig. A boar, whatever. Anyhow—”

Andy stared at Drew with a look of befuddlement. “No, Pigs-n-Heat is a hockey game. You know who the pigs are and who the heat are?”

“Oh, the cops and firefighters?”

“Yeah, there’s a game this weekend. Danny’s playing. The kids at school said he’s really good.”

“Of course he is.”

Andy held up a flyer. “Can we go?”

Drew let out a deep breath. “I don’t know.”

Andy crossed his arms. “So, you’re never going to let me see him again?”

“I didn’t say that.” He’d been trying his best to avoid the issue.

“We stopped going to Pinehurst. You won’t let me go to Trailblazers anymore.”

“I’m looking out for your best interests.”

“But you haven’t asked me what I’m interested in. You never asked me. You treat me like a kid.”

“You’re ten.”

“I’m almost eleven.”

“Okay, you’re eleven, but I’m the adult here, and I’m worried about you.”

“You’re worried about me? Or are you worried about you?” Andy stared him down.

“Fine, we can go.”

 

THE AUTHOR

[image error]Kristin Neva grew up in an old farmhouse on Copper Island in Michigan’s Keweenaw Peninsula where the hard-working, rugged residents persevere through harsh winter weather, sustained by friendship and family, surrounded by natural beauty. As an adult, she lived in the Chicago and Milwaukee areas for seventeen years before returning to the her hometown with her husband and two children.

Kristin’s first book, Heavy, co-authored with her husband, Todd, journeys through the first year after Todd’s ALS diagnosis as the Nevas struggle to find meaning, hold on to faith, and discover joy in the midst of pain.

It is this life experience that brings authenticity to Kristin’s fictional works as she explores themes of love, loss, and faith on Copper Island. Her quirky characters are endearing and wholesome. But they are also full of healthy grit, humor, flaws, and appetites.

Learn more about Kristin and explore Copper Island at KristinNeva.com.

CONNECT WITH KRISTIN: Website | Facebook | Twitter

 

 

TOUR GIVEAWAY

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(1) winner will win a Copper Island Gift Pack containing:

a Signed Copy of Across the Bridge
Scandinavian Dish Towel
Garden Note Cards
Locally Hand Crafted Bird’s Eye Maple Spatula
Rishi Loose Leaf Tea and Tea Ball
Keweenaw Mug

Most items are from Copper World, A Copper Island Gift Shop.

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight May 6, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm May 13, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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#Blogwords, Wreading Wednesday, Featured Book, Across the Bridge, Kristin Neva, #GIVEAWAY

BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 7 May 2019 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – PARHELION by LISA J. LICKEL

BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 7 May 2019 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – PARHELION by LISA J. LICKEL
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TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – PARHELION by LISA J. LICKEL

 

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THE BLURB

Parhelion—prisms dogging the sun. it’s a rainbow hope of reaching the stars for a small group of colonists preparing to preserve life.

If humanity wants to survive, there should be ground rules.

Maeve Michels hit earth hard, falling in love with a former Air Force test pilot. No longer in the military, Harry Kane’s mysterious work as a consultant for a space engineering company piques Maeve’s interest. Maeve’s sixth sense says there’s more to Harry than he’s telling her, but with the world about to fall apart, she must decide to trust him with her future. Harry is keeping a secret from Maeve—he has to, or his one chance at being a real hero goes up in flames with the rest of the planet. His assignment: get her to join the program, and him. Hopefully willingly.

With war no longer empty threats and posturing, Maeve and Harry are about to take part in the most important experiment in human history. Bigger secrets threaten not only their survival but their fragile co-existence with the cosmos.

If you could choose, what kind of a world do you want to live in?

 

THE AUTHOR

[image error]Lisa Lickel is an author, editor, and mentor who lives with her husband in the rolling hills of western Wisconsin. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction both short and full-length, including mysteries, romance and family drama, feature articles, and radio theater. She belongs to the Wisconsin Writers Association, the Chicago Writers Association and is a writing coach at Novel-in-Progress Bookcamp & Retreat. Lisa loves to encourage new authors through mentoring, speaking, and leading workshops. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer and blogger, and a freelance editor.

www.LisaLickel.com.

http://www.goodreads.com/lisalickel

http://www.twitter.com/lisajlickel

http://www.facebook.com/lisalickelauthor

 

 

MY REVIEW

Not my normal genre, and not what I was expecting, Ms. Lickel seals her series with a story, ultimately, of hope.

What started as a seeming sweet romance soon turned into a convoluted race for survival. Secrets tease and taunt, and keep the reader turning pages. There were some stretches that droned on for me, but otherwise the story was intense and challenging. Poor Maeve and Harry’s romance kept getting deferred and delayed and interrupted.

Ms. Lickel’s understanding of the subject matter (no spoilers) is through and impressive, and makes the story believable, and plausible even.

Now, to backtrack and read the first books in the series…

 

 

ROBIN’S FEATHERS

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I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.

 

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#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Parhelion, Lisa J. Lickel, Forces of Nature, Meander Scar, Centrifugal Force

BLOGWORDS – Monday 6 May 2019 – SPECIAL EDITION – REMMAYWRIMO 2019

BLOGWORDS – Monday 6 May 2019 – SPECIAL EDITION – REMMAYWRIMO 2019

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SPECIAL EDITION – REMMAYWRIMO 2019

“I’ve always had voices—er, stories in my head. I once said I should write them all down so someone could write them someday. I had no idea at the time that someone was me!”

 

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I have designated May as my personal writing challenge to get this new series off and running. After months of malaise and brain fog, I’m ready to tackle this and share my newest set of stories with you!

 

And, well… not off to such a great start! Floundered a bit on the first with 242 words, then 313 on Thursday.

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Then disaster struck. Well, what could have been a full-on disaster—my fridge went out. Died a rather dramatic death. Liquid leaked onto a bulb and into the socket! Created an arc flash, crackling sound, and quite the horrible electrical burning smell!

While I did not fall into full-on panic, I was TOTALLY freaked out! And TOTALLY thankful for Father’s protection—thinking of all the “what if’s.”

What if I hadn’t been in the kitchen—or home—when it happened? What if it had surged beyond just the fridge, and into the wiring in my house? What if it had happened at night, when I was asleep? Directly on the other side of the wall where the fridge sits, by the way!

Suffice to say I am refrigerator shopping. It’s not in my budget to shop for a new one, and a generous neighbor had one in his shed that I am using temporarily. Spent Saturday emptying out the deceased appliance, and replacing it all into the temporary one. I am happy to report that not all was lost; some items were even still partially frozen!

I saw Father’s hand in every moment, even the ones when I was shaking! Like He does every day.

Now the urgency is over, I can breathe easier, and focus on my writing. Like I meant to.

 

Welll… I thought I would dedicate today to writing. Instead, I dedicated today to walking! Walking like I haven’t been able to do in a very long time. Pre-knee surgery long time. Spent the better part of the afternoon to walk to an appliance store to look for a new-to-me fridge. The shopping was a bust, but the walking was exhilarating! And I may get some words in tonight yet…

 

 

“What.Did.You.Do?” Mere jabbed her own finger in Bethy’s chest.

“Nothing you didn’t do first.” Bethy smiled sweetly and shrugged… summarily dismissing her sister.

 

My new series, FourSquare, is a change-up for me—RomCom. The first story, One for the Price of Two, has been tumbling around in my mind for several years, and I can’t wait to move the story forward, and get to know Elizabeth and Meredith—and share their story with you.

 

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BLURB

Twin sisters Elizabeth and Meredith Elliott are so identical their own parents can’t even tell them apart. Two halves of a whole.

Elizabeth, the more cautious of the two, reining in her sister’s impetuous side. Meredith, the more daring, urging Elizabeth to step beyond her comfort zone.

They lived and breathed on pranking their family and friends. All in good fun, of course.

Until love waltzed in and turned their game on end. And Bethy and Mere—masters of the prank—get pranked.

 

“the battle for identity, one story at a time”

 

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#Blogwords, Special Edition, #RemMayWriMo, One for the Price of Two, FourSquare

BLOGWORDS – Monday 6 May 2019 – NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – BARBARA BRUTT – GIVEAWAY WINNER

BLOGWORDS – Monday 6 May 2019 – NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – BARBARA BRUTT – GIVEAWAY WINNER

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NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – BARBARA BRUTT – GIVEAWAY WINNER

 

WINNER! WINNER!

 

Congratulations to

JODI HASSEL

Barbara will be in touch with you to send your gift!

Thanks to everyone who entered!

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

[image error]Barbara Brutt, a born and raised Pittsburgher, spent her growing-up years with her nose in a book. After claiming her bachelor’s degree in English, she plunked down hard into a smattering of jobs from shop girl to communications director with a healthy dose of nanny and house-cleaner. Flying to new adventures is her favorite, especially on an airplane or aerial silk. Barbara adores ice cream and only buys purses that provide room for a book or two.

Barbara talks books, aerial silks, faith, and travel on her website and blog at barbarabrutt.com.

 

https://www.barbarabrutt.com/

https://www.facebook.com/BarbaraBruttWriter/

https://twitter.com/barbarabrutt

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY

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Barbara is offering a signed copy of Teal Paisley Tights.

 

 

#Blogwords, New Week New Face, Guest Post, Barbara Brutt, Giveaway Winner, #WINNER

BLOGWORDS – Monday 6 May 2019 – NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – SANDRA ARDOIN

BLOGWORDS – Monday 6 May 2019 – NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – SANDRA ARDOIN
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NEW WEEK NEW FACE – GUEST POST – SANDRA ARDOIN

 

 

COVER CREATION TIPS

 

I love book covers! I love to look at them. I love to study them. I love how some make me want to read the book in the future and how some make me want to read the book NOW.

 

But I never knew how hard it would be to decide on a cover until I was responsible for choosing one for my latest novella, A Love Most Worthy.

 

I’d hoped to find a premade and save a little money. This was my first indie-published book and, honestly, the budget was a little tight. I scoured the internet for cover designers, then scoured their sites for a premade that would be appropriate. No go.

 

I played around with doing something myself. Clearly, I am no graphic designer.

 

I considered hiring someone on Fiverr, but changed my mind. A book cover, like the story inside, is too important to take shortcuts.

 

Then, I found a designer who created book covers reminiscent of some of my favorites from Bethany House and Revell books. She also had premades! Unfortunately, none of them fit my book either. Knowing I wouldn’t be happy with anything else, I decided to splurge and hire her for a custom design, then gave her all the pertinent information I thought she needed.

 

Boy, I was on pins and needles, waiting to see what she would create from the descriptions I gave her. And then it came, the email that brought goosebumps. Was the design perfect? No. Was it what I had envisioned? Actually, I had no vision of what would be good. But she got it. She got Hallie and the setting. She got that I wanted well-blended images that looked like they were one. We went back and forth with the changes: colors, fonts, lighten it, enlarge this, full face or partial.

 

Those were tough decisions for someone who takes forever to make a decision! Turns out, the easiest choice I made was in the designer and to go with the custom order. Variations came to me, then went straight to my advisers (my crit partner, husband, and daughter).

 

But I learned some things:

 

Don’t scimp. Those in the know will always tell you to avoid the DIY approach and hire someone worthy of your book. Listen to them!

 

Take your time. Find that person whose work best suits what you have in mind for your book.

 

Don’t be afraid to ask for revisions. The designer wants you to be as happy with the work as you want your readers to be. Reputations are on the line.

 

Get input from others. Don’t be shy about asking someone else what they think. They might point out something you hadn’t noticed or even considered. I’m pretty sure not everyone will like your decisions, but in the end, it’s your book and your need to be satisfied.

Have you been responsible for making the decision about a book cover? What did you learn from it? What do you look for in a genre cover?

 

*This post originally appeared on the Seriously Write blog.

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

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As an author of heartwarming and award-winning historical romance, Sandra Ardoin engages readers with page-turning stories of love and faith. Rarely out of reach of a book, she’s also an armchair sports enthusiast, country music listener, and seldom says no to eating out.

 

Visit her at http://www.sandraardoin.com. Connect with her on BookBub, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

 

As a gift for her newsletter subscribers, Sandra wrote a short story to accompany A Love Most Worthy—a “prelude.” It provides some insight into Hallie’s story, something those who read only the novella won’t receive. So, join the Love and Faith in Fiction community and keep up with what’s new, discover what’s upcoming, and learn of specials and giveaways.

 

 

A LOVE MOST WORTHY

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She didn’t know which was colder, an Arctic winter or her new husband’s heart.

 

Hallie Russell believes life should be lived to the fullest. For that reason, she sails to the gold rush town of Nome, Alaska to take her cousin’s place as the mail-order bride of a respected shopkeeper. But when her aloof husband’s wedding-night announcement rocks her plans for their marriage, Hallie sees her desire for a family to call her own vanish as quickly as the dreams of hopeful miners.

 

Tragedy led Rance Preston to repent of his rowdy ways and open a general store for the miners in Nome. He’s content in his bachelorhood, but his two orphaned nephews deserve a proper and serious-minded mother. Duped once by a vivacious female, he’s determined to never again let his heart overrule his head…until the high spirits of his new bride threaten his resolve.

 

When a misunderstanding comes to light, will they allow the gale force winds of insecurity to destroy what they each need most?

 

 

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#Blogwords, New Week New Face, #NWNF, Guest Post, Sandra Ardoin

BLOGWORDS – Thursday Monday 6 May 2019 – CHAT THURSDAY MONDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – RUTH LOGAN HERNE – GIVEAWAY

BLOGWORDS – Thursday Monday 6 May 2019 – CHAT THURSDAY MONDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – RUTH LOGAN HERNE – GIVEAWAY
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CHAT THURSDAY MONDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ – AUTHOR INTERVIEW – RUTH LOGAN HERNE – GIVEAWAY

“Romancing the West… One lonely cowboy at a time.”

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“Endearing and enduring, fiction that talks to the heart… and soul.”

 

Sometimes those pesky little ducks just won’t line up. And between Ruthy and myself, we missed her giveaway with her interview. So, dear followers, I give you

 

GIVEAWAY

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Ruth is offering a Kindle OR print copy of Refuge of the Heart. (Print copy U.S. address only)

Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Sorry, U.S. addresses only.

Giveaway will begin at midnight on Monday 6 May and end at 11:59 on Monday 13 May. Giveaway is subject to the policies found on Robin’s Nest.

RAFFLECOPTER
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b485f64b20/?

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Best-selling, multi-published, award-winning author Ruth Logan Herne is the author of nearly fifty novels and novellas through traditional publishers and her own independent works. She loves God, her family, country, coffee, chocolate and dogs, and wishes possums would leave the cat food on the side porch alone. And yet… they don’t. With over a million books in print, Ruthy is living her dream of touching hearts and souls by writing the kind of books she likes to read.

She lives on a pumpkin farm in Western New York where they grow all kinds of cool things for fall from sumptuous squashes and veggies to gorgeous stacking pumpkins. Ruthy’s farm is quickly becoming the place to be every September and October!

She loves chatting with readers through her website blog http://ruthloganherne.com and hanging with readers and writers in Seekerville… http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com where coffee is always hot, fresh and good! She loves playing in the kitchen, too, with a wonderful group of regionally-inspired inspirational authors at the Yankee Belle Cafe http://www.yankeebellecafe.blogspot.com. On Goodreads, she’s (yes, you guessed it!) Ruth Logan Herne, and that’s how to find this prolific author on facebook, too!

 

http://ruthloganherne.com

https://facebook.com/ruthloganherne.3

https://twitter.com/ruthloganherne

https://www.pinterest.com/ruthyloganherne/

https://www.amazon.com/Ruth-Logan-Herne/e/B004KQJKW4

 

 

 

“The one thing we can probably all agree on is that things change… and our survival, that of any animal, depends on adaptation and adjustment.   And God gave us amazing brains and abilities, so I believe we’ve got this… eventually… and we’ll adjust and adapt as needed.”

 

 

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#Blogwords, Chat Thursday Monday Seekerville Blog Blitz, Author Interview, Ruth Logan Herne, Giveaway

BLOGWORDS – Saturday 4 May 2019 – CHAT THURSDAY-on-SATURDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ– AUTHOR MINI-INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY – PAM HILLMAN

BLOGWORDS – Saturday 4 May 2019 – CHAT THURSDAY-on-SATURDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ– AUTHOR MINI-INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY – PAM HILLMAN
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CHAT THURSDAY-on-SATURDAY SEEKERVILLE BLOG BLITZ – AUTHOR MINI-INTERVIEW and GIVEAWAY – PAM HILLMAN

“I spent my teenage years perched on the seat of a tractor. Raking hay doesn’t take much thought so I spent my time making up stories that are now books.”

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“Pam’s life in the country and her love of the old west bring authenticity to her work and depth to her characters”

 

Please give a feathered welcome to Pam Hillman.

 

FAST FAVES

Cake or Cookies – Cake

Call or Text – Text

Dogs or Cats  – Both

Eggs or Pancakes – Pancakes

Facebook or Twitter – Facebook

Paperback or Kindle – Paperback

Thornton or Darcy – Darcy (rem – meeee toooo)

Yoga Pants or Jeans – Skirts

 

rem:  Hullo Pam! So glad to have you visit my little nest today. You were one of the original founding members in 2004. Tell us about the early days. What do you like best about it?

PAM:  The early days were fun, frantic, and fantastic, and such a learning curve for some of us. At least it was for me. I’d never blogged or written “off the cuff” so to speak. Meeting a deadline, coming up with new content, going with your gut, interacting on the blog. It was all there. So, it was either sink or swim. I learned to swim. Or at least I can dog paddle with the best of them!

rem:  Seems you caught on quick and have done quite well! What was your first Seekerville post?

PAM:  Since the Seekers met on the contest circuit, my first Seekerville post had to do with contests of course. It was short. Really short… kind of like a nervous preacher delivering his first sermon. But I did it and gained a little more confidence with each blog and article along the way. For the curious, here’s my first Seekerville post from October 30th 2007.

https://seekervillearchives.blogspot.com/2007/10/work-those-finalsnicely-of-course.html

rem:  How fun is that! Thanks for the link! Isn’t that the way, though, in whatever we do?” Gain a little more confidence with each…” endeavor we take? Pam, thanks so much for being with us today!

 

http://www.pamhillman.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Pam-Hillman/e/B0058DAFAY

https://www.facebook.com/PamHillmanAuthor

https://twitter.com/PamHillman

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4994197.Pam_Hillman

https://www.pinterest.com/wrtnbyph/

 

GIVEAWAY

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Pam is hosting a giveaway running through 7 May.

https://wp.me/pa68pp-hM

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sailing and soldiering around the world has taken Caleb O’Shea far from his native Ireland, so he never imagined that a promise to see a fellow crewman safely home would practically land him on his brother’s doorstep. After spending years away from his family, Caleb isn’t certain what kind of reception he will receive when he steps foot in Natchez, Mississippi. The one thing he knows for sure is that he won’t stay long.

Since her sister was kidnapped by river pirates six months ago, Alanah Adams has taken special care to avoid drawing attention to herself. Those living in the rough-and-tumble settlement of Cypress Creek might even think she’s addled. But when she stumbles into Caleb and his friends in Natchez, she appears to be the picture-perfect lady.

Caleb only catches glimpses of the mysterious and beautiful Alanah before she disappears. But a chance encounter with her at his brother’s logging camp near Cypress Creek leaves him uncomfortable at the thought of the young woman traversing the dangerous area alone. At a crossroads in his life, Caleb must decide whether he wants to give up the worldly adventures he’s been seeking for one closer to home.

 

The Crossing at Cypress Creek is available 4 June.

 

“Born east of the Mississippi and a hundred years too late, Pam still boasts of wrangling calves, milking cows and putting up hay, first as a child, and later with her own personal hero, Iran, on their family farm in Mississippi.”

 

 

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#Blogwords, Chat Thursday-on-Saturday, Author Mini-Interview and Giveaway – Seekerville Blog Blitz, Pam Hillman

 

BLOGWORDS – Friday 3 May 2019 – FIRST LINE FRIDAY – TEN LITTLE INDIANS by AGATHA CHRISTIE

BLOGWORDS – Friday 3 May 2019 – FIRST LINE FRIDAY – TEN LITTLE INDIANS by AGATHA CHRISTIE
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FIRST LINE FRIDAY – TEN LITTLE INDIANS by AGATHA CHRISTIE

 

Welcome to First Line Fridays, hosted by Hoarding Books!!!

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Tell us your first line in the comments & then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!

 

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THE BLURB

Ten people, each with something to hide and something to fear, are invited to a isolated mansion on Indian Island by a host who, surprisingly, fails to appear. On the island they are cut off from everything but each other and the inescapable shadows of their own past lives. One by one, the guests share the darkest secrets of their wicked pasts. And one by one, they die…

 

Which among them is the killer and will any of them survive?

 

THE AUTHOR

Agatha Christie was born in 1890 and created the detective Hercule Poirot in her debut novel, The Mysterious Affair at Styles (1920). She achieved wide popularity with The Murder of Roger Ackroyd (1926) and produced a total of eighty novels and short-story collections over six decades.

THE FIRST LINE

In the corner of a first-class smoking carriage, Mr. Justice Wargrave, lately retired from the bench, puffed a cigar and ran an interested eye through the political news in The Times.

 

MY THOUGHTS

I am partial to this story, not only because it was my introduction to Dame Christie, but because when I was cast as Dr. Armstrong in my high school production when I was fifteen. NOTE: In Dame Christie’s writing, Dr. Armstrong was a man, but my convincing British accent earned me the role.

I have been a fan of her writing ever since. The twisting story, high suspicion, red herrings earned this story a place in my Hall of Favorites.

 

 

#Blogwords, First Line Friday, #FLF, And Then There Were None OR Ten Little Indians, Agatha Christie, Dr. Anne Armstrong