Heidi McCahan's Blog, page 19

10 Gift Ideas for the Writer in Your Life

Tis the season to give and receive, right? I walked past this delightful book in the party supply section of Target the other day. 642 Things to Write About. Of course I had to pick it up and give it a quick perusal. What do you know, it inspired today’s gift-giving themed blog post. I guess there’s actually 643 things to write about.

We writers are a conflicted bunch. Although we spend a majority of our days talking to, thinking about and maybe even arguing with the complex cast of characters in our heads, the process of writing is a rather solitary and somewhat lonely endeavor. Many of us battle a crisis of confidence and need plenty of motivators/tools/enablers to help us stare down that blank page and blinking cursor. We don’t want to not write, because it is our passion, after all. Yet it truly takes a village (and by ‘village’ I mean coffee, chocolate, candles …) to sit still and pour out our souls on a regular basis.

So if your head isn’t spinning from that verbose intro … check out my list of clever gifts. Why not show the writer in your life a little love this Christmas with one (or more) of these fabulous items?

1. 642 Things to Write About: as pictured above, is a collection of strange and wonderful writing prompts. It’s available at many fine retailers, including Target and Anthropologie.

2. Candles: Writers are all about using our senses and smell evokes so many different  emotions. There are a gazillion options out there, but I’d like to shine the spotlight on frost beard studio and my personal favorite, a soy candle called … wait for it … “Trashy Romance Novel”. How fun is that?

3. Retro library card iPhone 5 case from fridgedoor.com

4. Platform is a word that can make even the most confident entrepreneur break out in hives. For practical wisdom and advice from one of the industry’s experts, I highly recommend giving a copy of Michael Hyatt’s book Platform: Get Noticed in a Noisy World to any writer or entrepreneur in your life. It’s widely available, but for your shopping convenience, here’s the link to Amazon.

5. Any Jane Austen fans in your life? How about a set of Jane Austen temporary tattoos? Guaranteed to get a good laugh and provide hours of endless amusement.

6. I’m convinced writers and artists play a significant role in fueling retail coffee sales. Caffeine gets those creative juices flowing and gets us out of our houses and into our neighborhood coffee shops. Then we can talk to our imaginary friends in the company of strangers. Ha! Enable your favorite writer with a gift card to his or her favorite coffee place. And believe me. We all have our favorite.

7. The Writer magazine is packed with tips, prompts, interviews and exercises to improve one’s craft. I look forward to reading my copy every month and I highly recommend giving a subscription as a gift.

8. Tablet cover and organizer: for the writer on the go, how about an electronic tablet cover that doubles as an organizer? I love mine from Thirty-One Gifts. It’s tri-fold, with a space for an electronic device, a separate pocket for a paper tablet and a small interior pocket, too. Many writers carve out space in their day to jot down ideas, work on a scene or conduct research. This organizer fits in a bag or tucks in the console of the car for easy access. More details and purchase options via Thirty-One Gifts.

9. For the gadget-loving word slinger, check out the new LiveScribe 3 Smartpen. It takes all of those handwritten notes and magically zings them to your iPhone or iPad. Clever, no?

10. Kate Spade New York All Typed Up Clyde Crossbody Satchel: just in case you have an extra $465 lying around that you’d like to drop on a gorgeous bag for your favorite writer.

A Word of Truth in the Midst of the Madness

I travel in a pretty repetitive circle as a stay-at-home mom: the school, the preschool, church, grocery stores and lately, the dentist and orthodontist. In the last forty-eight hours, I’ve hit every one of those places (except for the orthodontist, but he’s in the same building as the dentist, so that totally counts). There’s an almost palpable tension in the air and I wouldn’t call it excitement. And it’s a far cry from anything I’d label as ‘joy’.

No. It’s the slump of a woman’s shoulders, as she stares at her smartphone … her furrowed brow as she pushes her overloaded cart through the crowded store aisles… her frown as she undoubtedly ponders how she’ll pull it all off this week. While the magazines in the waiting room counsel me on how to have a ‘perfect’ Thanksgiving, followed closely by a Norman Rockwell-like Christmas extravaganza that my family will talk about for years to come, I felt the pressure to live up to these ridiculous expectations intensify.

Overwhelmed before I’d barely even started my day, I transported the first-born from the dentist to school, came home and fixed a second cup of coffee and settled on the couch to watch a few minutes of the Today show. Hoda and Kathie Lee were listing the destinations most traveled to this week as people made an effort to escape their families.

What?

Perhaps they were joking. Even Kathie Lee noted that this was the time of year that we should be thankful for our family and the many blessings in our lives. Why were people jetting off to exotic climates and sunny locales instead of gathering with people that were supposed to mean the most to them?

A friend prayed for the needs of our congregation yesterday at church, noting that this week we, as messy sinners, would gather with other messy sinners and that would undoubtedly lead to struggles and conflict. I get it. We’re a broken, fallen people trying to make our way in this crazy, hectic, complicated season.

Determined to procrastinate my to-do list yet a little longer, I surfed through my Facebook news feed and finished my coffee. There was the usual amusing quotes, adorable pictures, funny tidbits, etc. But the heartache was real and plainly shared, too. The struggles and challenges many in my life are facing seem heavy, too heavy to carry alone.

Then I saw this verse, posted by my husband. I was so touched by this encouraging word from Isaiah. In fact, I loved it so much, I paired it with a beautiful picture and blasted it all over social media. The word of the Lord is timeless, applicable in any season and meant to draw our focus back to him.

I hope, in the midst of your Thanksgiving preparations, your coming and going, and even in your burden-bearing, that you these words lighten your load just a bit.

Photo credit: Tony Shertila via Compfight and image design made possible by Canva.

 

Book Blitz for Coleen Lahr’s Accepted + a Giveaway

I’m participating in my first book blitz through Xpresso Book Tours today and shining the spotlight on Coleen Lahr’s new release, Accepted. Check out the sweet cover, read an excerpt, learn more about the author and, of course, enter the giveaway.

Book & Author Details:


Accepted by Coleen Lahr

Publication date: November 4th 2014

Genres: Contemporary, New Adult
Synopsis:



Ashley Smith spent her life being shipped from one family member to the next. When Ashley’s estranged father dies, she finally has the money to go to college and the chance to find a place where she belongs.

Within days, Ashley has found the one thing she’s always longed for – a family. She may have even found love. There’s only one problem. Ashley likes Colin…a lot, but so does Randi, and everyone likes Randi. Randi’s approval is the single easiest way to belong. Falling in love with Randi’s crush is the single easiest way to find oneself on the outside for the next three years.

When Ashley arrived at college, she never dreamed she’d find this kind of happiness. Will she allow herself to hold on to this happiness, and Colin, or will her fear of losing her friends, the only friends she’s ever known, dictate her actions?

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23496734-accepted


Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Accepted-Coleen-Lahr-ebook/dp/B00P72V8Z2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1416234854&sr=8-1&keywords=Accepted+by+Coleen+Lahr
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/accepted-coleen-lahr/1120679923?ean=2940150383920

An excerpt from Accepted:

As I sat next to Colin in Organic Chemistry, I wondered if having classes together was actually a good thing.

Unlike my first professor, the Organic Chemistry professor comprehensively explained the syllabus, including course requirements, objectives, policies and assignments. All things I was sure were going to be important in the grand scheme of the course.

And I didn’t hear a word she said.

Once again, I was completely distracted by the man sitting next to me.

We were in another massive classroom dominated by stadium seating. We would, over the course of the semester, split our time between this room and the chemistry lab. There were no spaces between the seats, just a thin metal arm rest jutting out from the spot where the seat backs met each other.

Every time Colin moved — to grab his notebook, to turn off his cell phone, to turn the pages of the syllabus we were reviewing — his body brushed some part of mine. By the time we were on the third page of the syllabus, he had brushed me three times with his arm and once with his leg.

And I was frozen.

Every time he touched me, albeit accidentally, my stomach dropped, and my cheeks flamed. My entire face was on fire within the first twenty minutes of class, and I couldn’t concentrate on anything but the boy to my left. I was afraid to move even a quarter of an inch for fear that I would inadvertently shift myself too far away for his unintentional brushes.

To make matters worse, my mind, which never wanders in class, began to drift away and I, the girl who rarely loses focus on a task, drifted with it.

As I sat frozen in my seat, waiting for the next time Colin brushed against me, I wondered what it would be like if his brushes weren’t accidental — if he was touching me on purpose…leaning his leg against mine casually as he relaxed in his seat, running his fingers down my arms, holding my hand in his, entwining our fingers together…

And as I imagined this, I felt myself smiling, my fantasy becoming so detailed that I could actually feel his warm hand, his long fingers, wrapping around my wrist. I could hear him saying my name again and again, the concern in his voice growing each time he repeated it…

Wait…what?

“Ashley?  Ashley?”

Oh no. I looked over at him. His face was filled with concern. I cringed.

“Sorry.” I smiled sheepishly. “I’m just…” I closed my eyes and rubbed my face, which was on fire, in my hands. “…You know, taking it all in. E-everything’s a little o-overwhelming,” I stuttered. I hoped that being overwhelmed was a good excuse for acting like a lunatic.

He smiled. “Don’t worry, Ash. I’ll help you.” And as he stood, he put his hand under my elbow to help me up.

Thank goodness next class is in the lab.

Coleen writes young adult novels, loves running, rock music, the shore, daisies and bread.

When Coleen’s not plotting or writing her next book, she can be found making sandwiches in her family’s restaurant, running (but mostly walking) Disney marathons, reading any book she can get her hands on and playing with her adorable kid. She lives in New Jersey with her husband, daughter, two dogs and lizard.

Author Links:
http://www.coleenlahr.com/
https://www.facebook.com/ColeenLahr
https://twitter.com/ColeenLahr

Giveaway:
In celebration of Accepted‘s release, there’s a blitz-wide Raffelcopter giveaway going on: a $15 Amazon gift card, an ebook copy of Accepted and an autographed bookmark. The giveaway closes December 2nd. International entries are welcome.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

A Christmas Chance + an Interview with Author Laura Hodges Poole

I had such a good time with my debut author series last month that I’m continuing on in November. Today I’m featuring author Laura Hodges Poole and her delightful, heartwarming novella, A Christmas Chance.

 

Back Cover:

“Laura Hodges Poole is a master storyteller who deftly captures the heart and yearnings of women. Readers will connect with the characters of A Christmas Chance as they strive to find God’s will for their lives.”

~Laura V. Hilton – author of The Snow Globe, and the popular series The Amish of Seymour, Amish of Webster County, and Amish of Jamesport, all published by Whitaker House.

“Growing a Family by Trusting in God – Laura Hodges Poole delivers a delightful and warm affirmation of love for the Christmas season, and a reminder that God can build a family in the most unusual ways.”

~Therese Travis – author of Annabelle’s Angel, A Fistful of God, Everybody Loves Mickey, and Keeper of My Heart.

Distraught that she and her husband are facing another childless Christmas, bakery owner Maddie Oliver tries to rescue every needy child who crosses her path. As the couple jumps each hurdle to adopt or become foster parents, there is always a setback. Then eight-year-old    Chance Simmons comes into Oliver’s Bakery with his elderly grandmother, and Maddie is immediately smitten. Chance’s impish personality draws her in. Determined to stop focusing on her own problems, Maddie sets out to make this the best Christmas ever for the little boy and his ailing grandmother. What she doesn’t count on is him capturing her heart in the process. Will God orchestrate an even bigger Christmas gift than Maddie could imagine, or will she lose Chance for good when the Simmons family is dealt a setback?

Five Questions with Laura:

What was the inspiration for your novel? First off, Heidi, thank you so much for hosting me today. The inspiration for “A Christmas Chance” came from the brokenness I see in the world around me. Many people go through the holiday season feeling depressed. Some of this comes from within, broken dreams, unfulfilled goals or desires, and loneliness for family. Some of this comes from never having a family of one’s own. The desire to have children is instilled in women by God, and like Hannah (Samuel’s mom) in the Bible, many women would do just about anything to become a mother. Their empty hearts become even bigger during Christmas when other families have children to celebrate with. On the other side are the children who lose parents or are in the foster care or adoption system, and often they don’t get a fair shake from the beginning of life. And then there is God. Ephesians 3:20 is woven in because in my own life, when I’ve let Him lead, He has shown that He can do more than I can imagine or even think to pray for. All of this inspired my writing “A Christmas Chance.”

If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead), who would you choose and why? Wow! I’ve never been asked that before…One would definitely be Laura Ingalls Wilder. I’ve been inspired by her story all my life. Even though I know her daughter played a large part in helping her write the “Little House” series, her story is no less compelling. As a young mother, I looked to her example of perseverance despite the trials she went through—her husband having a stroke and never quite recovering, her infant son dying, her house burning down, and then losing their homestead. I’d love to ask her questions to “fill in the blanks” of what the written account of her life left out. The other two would be Elisabeth Elliot because she is so wise and Mary, mother of Jesus, to learn more about her life. We know so little about her. Like Laura and Elisabeth, Mary must have been wise. She obviously had a unique relationship with God, yet like the rest of us, had to persevere through earthly trials.

In terms of writing a novel, are you a plotter or a pantser? Or a hybrid combo? I’m definitely a pantser. Outlines drive me crazy. They’re too confining. I like to start out with a general plot idea and what I know about my characters and then see where they take me. I have an idea of how to work through their story and how it will end up, but the journey they take me on often has twists and turns that I couldn’t have anticipated from the beginning.

What can your readers expect from you in the future? Prequel, sequel, novella, etc. While I still plan to pursue the path of traditional publication in the coming year, and currently have manuscripts under consideration, my next self-published work will be a devotional that will release in January 2015 entitled “While I’m Waiting,” which will delve into the trials we all walk through while waiting for God to answer prayer. Some of the devotions are anecdotal, sharing from my life experiences, and others are more the typical Bible study devotions.

Please share one piece of advice for aspiring writers you wish you’d known before you started this writing journey. That getting published really is a long process. There are no shortcuts or fast track to getting published. Getting an agent, which seems to be considered the golden ticket to becoming published is not necessarily the case in the current market. I don’t regret going that route because I learned so many things in the three years I had an agent, but I wish I’d focused more on my writing goals and not the path that seemed to be the right one by the traditional school of thought.

Laura Hodges Poole is a Christian writer with dozens of articles, devotions, and short stories in publication. She is a 2014 ACFW Genesis semi-finalist and a 2012 RWA Emily finalist in Christian fiction. Laura is also a non-fiction ghostwriter and collaborator. Her passion is encouraging others in their Christian walk through her blog, “A Word of Encouragement.” Her upcoming devotional, While I’m Waiting, will release on Amazon in January 2015. She lives in the upstate of South Carolina with her husband. They have a son and daughter.

Thank you very much for stopping by, Laura. I enjoyed reading your novella and learning more about you and your writing journey. Readers can connect with Laura through her website as well as Twitter and Facebook.

A Christmas Chance is available now. Click here to purchase. It’s the perfect read for the most wonderful time of the year.

Happy reading, friends!

 

 

Wordless Wednesday: Fall, You Amaze Me

I’m still completely giddy about the autumn leaves here. Every time I look outside or drive through the neighborhood, there’s a new shade to admire. My husband and I both look forward to the Gingko tree’s annual performance in our yard. It’s the last tree to showcase its vibrant colors when all the others have displayed their glory already. In fact, this picture is a few days old and already the tree behind it is now bare but the Gingko is awash in a brilliant shade of yellow.

By the way, I’m learning to use the Afterlight app on my phone. I highly recommend it.

I’m linking up with 5 Minutes for Mom and their weekly Wordless Wednesday post. There’s some great pics shared over there. Join us, won’t you?

31 Days of Debut Authors: The Grand Finale Featuring Author Patricia Bradley

I’m crossing the finish line of this Write 31 days challenge today … woot! I’m not gonna lie, it was harder than I thought it would be to build a post every day. But I’m so glad I did. I’ve discovered and shared so many new authors and their fabulous books. Some authors’ debuts are yet to come and I will feature those in the remaining weeks of this year. Thanks for following along and I hope your To-Be-Read pile has greatly increased.

Without further delay, I’d like to share one more fabulous author and her work with you. I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Patricia Bradley yet, but I hope our paths cross one day. Her journey to publication is an inspiration and I wanted to share a little bit about that with you, as well as introduce you to her novels, if you haven’t read them already.

Shadows of the Past, Book 1 in the Logan Point series released February 5, 2014. Click here for more details. Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD

A Promise to Protect, the 2nd book in the Logan Point Series, released September 1, 2014. Click here for more details. Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBD

Matthew’s Choice released September 1, 2014. Click here for Details. Available in paperback at Harlequin Heartwarming and for your Kindle via Amazon.

Five Questions with Patricia:

What was the inspiration for your novel?

A Promise to Protect, the second book in the Logan Point series, was the result of What if…I knew when I wrote Shadows of the Past Ben would have his own book. He was the hero of my very first book—that will never see the light of day.

What if Ben had an old flame he’d never gotten over and she came back to town. What if something happened that threw them together…what if that something was someone trying to kill her. And the story was born.

  If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead), who would you choose and why?

Jesus, the apostle Paul,  and my mother. As to why…can you imagine have dinner with Jesus? Of course we will one day, but I’d love to now. And Paul…I’d like to know what the thorn in his flesh was. J Besides hearing about all his travels in his missionary work. And my mom…just because.

In terms of writing a novel, are you a plotter or a pantser? Or a hybrid combo?

I’m a tweener. Except the book I’m working on right now—the fourth book in the Logan Point series. The characters just wouldn’t tell me enough, so I decided that due to a looming deadline, I better start writing. Which made me a definite panster for a while, until I got stuck. But now I’m back in plotter/tweener mode and moving on.

What can your readers expect from you in the future? Prequel, sequel, novella, etc.

Coming out next spring is the third book in the Logan Point series. It’s Livy Reynolds’ story. She’s the Memphis Police Detective, and she’s trying to find out what happened to her cousin Robyn.

And right now I’m working on the fourth Logan Point book. It’s about two characters you will meet in A Promise to Protect—Danny Maxwell and Bailey Adams. And I’ve finally gotten them out of Mexico. You see, there were these bad guys after Bailey and the four-year-old child in her care, and she has to turn to the one person she doesn’t want to ask for help—Danny Maxwell, her ex-fiancé. If a one day engagement counts.

Please share one piece of advice for aspiring writers you wish you’d known before you started this writing journey.

Connect with other writers, get in a writing group and learn the craft from authors you have gone before you. When I first started writing and for many years afterward, I had no way of getting these connections. No internet, no way to go to conferences or retreats. I did have Writer’s Digest and a couple of writing books, but no one to tell me how to break out of making the same mistakes over and over.

Honoring God through my writing is top priority for this Mississippi Writer. I am a Romantic Suspense writer living in the Deep South. My short-stories have been published in Woman’s World and my first book, Shadows of the Past, has won several awards…the 2008 Maggie (Inspirational Category)…1st Place in the 2012 Touched By Love and Daphne du Maurier contests…finaled in the 2012 Genesis…bronzed in the Frasier. I’m also an abstinence/healthy relationship speaker and have spoken to many students…and adults. When I’m not writing or speaking, I throw mud on a wheel and try to make something beautiful.

Readers can connect with Patricia via her website, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

31 Days of Debut Authors: Brandy Heineman’s Whispers in the Branches

Tis the season for a good haunted house tale and today I’m sharing a teaser for Brandy Heineman’s upcoming release, Whispers in the Branches. I read Brandy’s recent interview with Sarah Loudin Thomas featured in Book Fun magazine, which inspired me to reach out to Brandy and include her in my debut authors series. I enjoyed her responses to my questions and I hope you will, as well.

Book blurb:

Tending a void in her heart that demands to be filled, Abby Wells uproots her life in Ohio to move into the ancestral home in Georgia. Now that her mom is gone, it’s her best chance to connect with the last of her family, and she can’t deny the pull of the supposedly haunted house. The seductive comfort of believing that ghosts could be real drives her search, but Aunt Ruby’s plans for Abby don’t include revealing secrets kept for seventy years. Oh, there’s dirty laundry she’d like to air—just not her own.

Indulging in the attentions of the house’s handsome caretaker helps numb her pain, but Abby’s ex-boyfriend won’t let go of the past. He hounds her about his newfound religion in hopes of reconciling, but why reach for him or the God who couldn’t or wouldn’t spare her mom? In the stillness of the old house, the spirit world feels so close she can almost touch it.

But she doesn’t know yet that there’s more than one way to be haunted.

Mini-interview with Brandy Heineman:

If you could have dinner with 3 people (living or dead), who would you choose?
As a Christian, it’s probably cliched to say I’d want to have dinner with Jesus, but I’ll say it anyway. The Bible records a whole lot of incredible things happening when He shared a meal!
Are we all meeting at the same dinner table? Because if so, my second pick is my husband, Michael. Even though he and I can have dinner together any old time we want, I can tell you that if I was having dinner with Jesus and didn’t invite my hubby, he’d be super-bummed.
Lastly, I’d invite my great-grandmother, Orilla Wells Bergreen, and try to catch up with her afterwards to tell me the real story about our family legends . . . even if I had to promise not to put them into a book.

Please share one piece of advice you’d like to pass along to aspiring authors.

Well, assuming aspiring authors know the main pieces of advice (read a lot, write a lot, and show instead of tell), I would say this: Do what works. There are a lot of writing rules out there, and most of them contradict each other, so if you want to break a rule, know why you’re breaking it and go for it. If you get a critique that says, “This isn’t working,” listen to it. If a critiquer tells you that you’re breaking a rule, then it’s not working. If you know you’re breaking a rule and a critiquer says, “Wow!” then you’ll know it worked.
So, do what works.

What is your writing process like? (i.e. plotter, pantser, hybrid)

(laughs nervously) It’s very convoluted. I suppose I’m still refining anything that might be mistaken for a process, but it looks something like this: Whip out a draft in an all-fire burst of enthusiasm. Print it out and scribble all over it in longhand. Key in notes and rewrites. Rinse, repeat. Throw in (and out) plot lines. Get great ideas for things I should have included after announcing to my friends that the book is almost done. Make vague grumblings about being more organized next time. During nearly-final edits, research a minor point that ends up sparking an idea for the next book. Get so all-fire excited about it, I can hardly wait to start drafting it . . . As for as the plotter vs. pantser conversation goes, I prefer the term discovery writer. Much more flattering, eh?

What can your readers expect from you in the future (a sequel, a prequel, a novella, etc.?)

Ooh, that’s a tough one, but I would like to see about offering my readers a shorter work, maybe a Kindle single or novella, for a little fun between Whispers in the Branches and the new book I’m working on now. In general, readers can look for me to keep writing about surprising intersections of a messy present and a hidden past with an organic faith thread to the story.

 

BRANDY HEINEMAN is a novelist infusing her stories with family history and faith. She’s a graduate of Wesleyan College in Macon, Georgia with a degree in Business Administration and Communication. She spent a number of years working in the financial services industry, and now works in marketing.

If it’s true that there are only seven plots, hers is a “Voyage and Return” story. Whether the journey held far-off places or hard lessons learned, it has always circled back to north Georgia, the written word, and the love of Jesus.

Brandy writes stories seasoned with secrets from the past and mysteries of the heart. Her first novel is contracted with Elk Lake Publishing, and she is working hard on her second. She’s represented by Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency. When she’s not writing, she divides her free time between reading, scrapbooking, and genealogy sleuthing.

She is a member of ACFW and a Finalist in the 2014 Genesis contest. She has contributed articles to Writer… Interrupted, the ACFW Journal, and Book Fun Magazine.

Readers can connect with Brandy via her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you for participating in my blog series, Brandy. It’s fun to learn more about you and your work.

31 Days of Debut Authors: Helsinki Sunrise

I’ve really enjoyed the popularity of novellas and novelettes in Christian fiction lately. I love the pace, the tension that ramps up immediately and of course, the satisfying conclusion. Marion Ueckermann is one of my fabulous critique partners and Helsinki Sunrise is her first novelette which released in August as part of The Pelican Group’s Passport to Romance series, It was a privilege to read this wonderful story in advance and experience the beauty of Finland from afar.

Blurb:

Three weeks alone at a friend’s summer cottage on a Finnish lake to fast and pray. That was Adam Carter’s plan. But sometimes plans go awry. 

On an impromptu trip to her family’s secluded summer cottage, the last thing Eveliina Mikkola expected to find was a missionary from the other side of the world—in her sauna. 

Determined to stay, Eveliina will do whatever it takes—from shortcrust pastry to shorts—to send the man of God packing. This island’s too small for them both. 

Adam Carter, however, is not about to leave. 

Will he be able to resist her temptations? Can she withstand his prayers? 

MARION UECKERMANN’S passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she moved to Ireland with her husband and two sons. Since then she has published devotional articles and stories in Winners, The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter (Tyndale House Publishers), and Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven. Her debut novelette, Helsinki Sunrise, releases August 22, 2014 by White Rose Publishing, a Pelican Book Group imprint, Passport to Romance series. She has just signed a publishing contract for her second Passport to Romance novelette.

Marion blogs for International Christian Fiction Writers and Beauty for Ashes. She belongs to Christian Writers of South Africa and American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives in Pretoria East, South Africa in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.

Readers can connect with Marion via her website, as well as Facebook and Twitter.

Helsinki Sunrise is available for your Kindle and Nook.

31 Days of Debut Authors: Unraveled’s half-birthday and a Giveaway

My first book baby, Unraveled, celebrates a half-birthday today. Woot! I know what you’re thinking, it’s a little silly to acknowledge six months on the market, isn’t it? On the contrary, my friend. Much like a parent rejoices when his or her baby rolls over or begins to crawl, we authors jump at the chance to acknowledge benchmarks for our work.

Did you know there’s a number of ways you can help a debut author’s novel gain more readers?

1. Post a review: Once you’ve read the book, leave a review on one (or many) of the online retailers’ sites. Share your thoughts, favorite characters, details that stayed with you. By all means, if the story kept you reading well into the night, please share that in your review, as well.

2. Sing praises via Goodreads: Are you an avid reader who loves to talk about books you’ve read but can’t make a real-life book club work for you? Goodreads is the social media platform for you. Adding the book to your shelves, starting a discussion about it in one of the many groups, and recommending it to other readers are all ways to help a book gain a larger following.

3. Find the author online: authors are trying to figure out this social media thing just like you. I can’t speak for all, but I think debut authors are especially eager to connect with readers. One complimentary thought from a reader about Unraveled carries me for days. Many established authors offer the opportunity to name a character or fictional location through their online platforms or host giveaways and contests … There’s tons of ways to connect and help readers build lasting relationships with authors.

4. Invite the author to visit your book club: We are all more accessible in the age of FaceTime and Skype. While not all authors can make a personal appearance, many are willing to connect virtually. Check out their website and inquire. I know I’m quite flattered when a book club asks me to visit.

5. Give the book as a gift: As the season of giving approaches, consider buying paperback copies of your favorite books and giving them as gifts to the bookworms in your life.

To commemorate this fine occasion, I’m giving away a digital copy of Unraveled. In keeping with this month’s trend, leave a comment below and tell me which person, living or deceased, you’d like to have dinner with. Please include your name and a valid email address so I can contact you. I’ll close the contest Saturday, Nov 1 at 11:59pm EST and choose a winner on Sunday.

31 Days of Debut Authors: Zoe M. McCarthy and Calculated Risk

“Dating on the rebound, meddling parents, opposites fighting the attraction. . .with humor and tenderness, Zoe M. McCarthy puts fun, fresh spins on these favorite themes. No risk involved in picking up this romantic read!”    —Becky Melby, author of the Lost Sanctuary Series

Book Blurb:

What happens when an analytical numbers man meets a mercurial marketing Rep? Romance is a calculated risk.

Whoever said opposites attract was right, of course…but no one ever said what they attract.

Jilted by the latest of her father’s choices of “real men,” Cisney Baldwin rashly accepts an invitation to spend Thanksgiving weekend with a sympathetic colleague and his family. Nick LeCrone is a man too much her opposite to interest her and too mild-mannered to make her overbearing father’s “list.” Now, Cisney fears Nick wants to take advantage of her vulnerable state over the holiday. Boy, is she wrong.

Nick wants little to do with Cisney. She drives him crazy with all her sticky notes and quirks. He extended an invitation because he felt sorry for her. Now he’s stuck, and to make matters worse, his family thinks she’s his perfect match. He’ll do what he can to keep his distance, but there’s just one problem—he’s starting to believe Cisney’s magnetism is stronger than he can resist.

Five Questions with Zoe M. McCarthy:

What was the inspiration for your novel?

My husband and I are retired actuaries. We evaluated insurance companies’ financial risks. I wanted to introduce a numbers man from this little known profession as the hero. And the heroine had to be his extreme opposite. Having worked with social, expressive marketing reps, I knew Cisney would be such a woman. A romance between Cisney and Nick was highly improbable. At least at first. Because I always hammer this truth: opposites distract before they attract!

If you could have dinner with three people (living or dead), who would you choose and why? Hmm. At a writers conference, I already had time with the author I aspire to be like: Jenny B. Jones. I’m not sure munching on tacos would have made the moment any better. So how about:

Jesus. Unlike doubting Thomas, I already believe in the miracle of His resurrection. But like Thomas, I’d like to be with Jesus in the flesh for a hug before we sat down to break bread.
Eric Liddell, the Olympic runner who respectfully wouldn’t run heats on the Lord’s Day in the 1930s. The movie, Chariots of Fire, featured that part of his life. But he also encouraged teens while in a Chinese prison camp during WWII. He was my hero’s hero, in my recently finished manuscript. I’d love to have included a firsthand story from him in that novel.
George Mueller. This man from the 1800s ran an orphanage. He never asked for donations. He prayed for long periods of time each morning thanking and asking God to provide the children’s needs. They may have waited a half hour for a meal, but God always sent someone with money or food. I’d enjoy hearing what he was thinking when he and the children sat in front of empty plates—waiting.

In terms of writing a novel, are you a plotter or a pantser? Or a hybrid combo?

I’m finally a hybrid. I like to plot the cycle of the story—know the turning points. Working out a loose synopsis ahead of time is helpful. Then I have fun working my way into and out of disasters as I write however the characters lead me. Sometimes they lead me as planned. Other times, they lead me astray and I need to rewrite. (I may give them the cold shoulder for weeks.) But often they lead me in intriguing directions I never considered in my plotting moments.

What can your readers expect from you in the future? Prequel, sequel, novella, etc.

In writing Calculated Risk, I found my voice. I’m at home in being inside the heads of a sassy and funny heroine and the guy who has to deal with her. My tagline is: Distraction to Attraction, Magnetic Romances Between Opposites. Readers can expect such romances from my writing. I’m working on two standalone books whose commonality is golf backdrops. I rarely play golf but my analytical husband does. After he related every shot of his eighteen-hole games a few times, I found I could write what I “know.”

Please share one piece of advice for aspiring writers you wish you’d known before you started this writing journey.

Agent Chip MacGregor said in a workshop that a serious aspiring writer usually learns the craft while completing her first four books and then receives a contract on the fifth. I was writing my fifth when I heard that. And lo and behold, that novel received a contract. I’m glad the others didn’t. I’d be red-faced today if they did.

Zoe M. McCarthy believes the little known fact that opposites distract. Thus, she spins Christian contemporary romances entangling extreme opposites. Her tagline is “Distraction to Attraction, Magnetic Romances Between Opposites.” Calculated Risk, Zoe’s debut novel, will be available November 21, 2014. Christian Fiction Online Magazine published two of her short stories. Zoe enjoys leading workshops on the craft of writing, speaking about her faith, planning fun events for her 5 grandchildren, and exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains, where she lives with her husband, John.

Readers can connect with Zoe via her website, Pinterest, Twitter and Facebook.

Calculated Risk is available for pre-order here.