Janet Lee Barton's Blog, page 4

Writing about New York City-A time of Joy and Heartache

I am so excited that my first LIH, Somewhere To Call Home is available now. Should be in my Wal-Mart any day now and is available online both in print or e-book. I’ve wanted to write for Love Inspired Historicals since they first came out and that this story is the first in a series brings me such joy!

But there’s heartache today as we watch the news and see the devistation Sandy left behind. I’ve written about how my heart went out to New Yorker’s after 9/11, as I’m sure yours did too. And since then the city and it’s people have always had a special place in my heart–so much so that I felt called to set stories there.

And my heart goes out to them all now. My heart is heavy for my editor and all the other editors at Love Inspired and Harlequin in New York City, for all of the New Yorker’s and those in New Jersey and the other states who were in the path of Sandy.

I know how difficult this is in so many ways for all of them. My husband worked for the National Weather Service and we lived in south Mississippi, when Katrina hit. On my website is a page called Katrina–it’s a page I can’t bring myself to bring down. I  remember how it was and will never forget just as I know those dealing with the aftermath of Sandy will never be able to forget.

My heart aches to see the pictures, and hear the stories and know that they’ll be dealing with so much in the coming days, weeks, and months. Life is not going to be easy or normal for a while yet and going through it all is going to be difficult for everyone there. I wish I could help more, but I’ll do what I can. I’ll give to Red Cross or Salvation Army and most important of all, I’ll pray.  I ask that you join me in that effort and keep these people who are going through so much in your prayers.

Janet

 

ACFW Conference–getting to it

 

If my husband and I needed any proof that the Lord watches over us, we have only to look back at our trip to Dallas for the ACFW Conference last week. As anyone who drove there knows, the area around the airport is one huge mess. There are detours everywhere, exits closed–our navigation system wouldn’t even take the address of the hotel. And we were warned not to use them.

But I thought if I could just put in DFW Airport, it would get us there. And it did–kind of. We were right there. Planes were taking off and landing somewhere near us and we seemed to be getting closer to our destination. But when our sweet navigator told us to turn right into a “Do Not Enter” gate, I knew something had gone wrong.  We ended up at a United States Post Office and the Airport Financial building. What to do but go in and ask for directions?

So I did. I told the people in there that my navigation system brought me there, but that I really needed to be on Concourse C. One nice man started giving me directions. I’d have to go back out (to where?), make a loop and then another one to get back on the turnpike, (we never were on it to begin with), and then– I interrupted and told him that was all very confusing to me. He smiled and said, “I work at concourse C. If you wait until I get my boxes, I’ll lead you there. What relief! Of course I thanked him and went to tell my husband and we waited for him. When he came out, he asked, exactly where on Concourse C do you need to be? I said “I need to be at the Hyatt Regency.” He said, “I work there. Just follow me.”  His name is Alex.

Alex led us to the turnpike entrance and then right to the front door of the hotel. Then Alex spoke to the man who came to help us with our luggage and left us to go to work. The man who helped us with the luggage said he’d park our car while I checked in. But I didn’t want valet parking. No problem. He asked for my keys and once we’d checked in, he gave me back our keys and showed me that he’d parked our car in the parking garage right where we could see it from the front door. God took care of us in a big way that day–as he always does, especially when we’re lost, unsure of what to do next. We don’t always see it right away, but He is always there watching over us, there to guide us if we only let Him.

We didn’t much like  exactly where the hotel was, but its a beautiful hotel and the excellent service started at that postoffice, lasted for our stay. And anyone who was a conference will tell you that God is always at the ACFW conferences. I think a lot of believers work at the Hyatt Regency at DFW, too.  I’d love to hear how you’ve seen God at work helping you in some way.

Until next time,

Janet

 

 

 

A Day to Always Remember

Who can forget what happened in  our country on this day eleven years ago? What started as a beautiful September day turned to heartbreak in a matter of minutes. I was drinking second cup of coffee and watching the news when their coverage suddenly switched to the Twin Towers in New York City. When I saw the first Trade Tower hit by the plane, I wondered how someone could just run into it? Did the pilot have a stroke? How could it have happened? Then the second tower was hit.  As the day went on, with the attack on the Pentagon and the plane going down in that field near Shankstown, Pennsylvania– to keep it from doing the harm our enemies intended–we all knew our country was under attack.

In the days following, we all watched, cried and prayed as this country came together. We watched as the people in New York City reached out to one another and became an inspiration to us all. New Yorker’s became more than what we’d sometimes been led to believe by what we’d seen through the media–people hurrying from one place to another down busy streets, never making eye contact with one another,  appearing not to care about each other. What a lie. They became what they’d always been–people who care deeply, with families who lost loved ones, who lost friends, who’d had their city attacked in a horrible way. They became people we deeply cared about, wanted to help and prayed for.

I don’t think I can fully explain how much I began to care about the people of New York City during that time and wanted to know more about the city.  Wanted to know about its history in this country. And as a writer, I began to want to set stories there–historical ones–to show that people in this huge city have always been like people in small towns and large all across this county. They care deeply about one another, their families and friends, their city and this country.

It took a long while for the ideas to form and longer still to figure out the connection that would bring all kinds of people together, showing their care for others and their city,  but God is so good and in His time, He showed me the way. I feel so blessed that I am now writing a historical romance series about people in New York City in the late 1800′s. Many people at that time reached out to others, too. I pray that these stories will somehow serve as inspiration to others just as the people of  New York City have been to me ever since that day eleven years ago.

On this day, our thoughts and prayers remain with those who have suffered so much because of that day eleven years ago–the families who lost loved ones and friends, the first responders and our military families, and those who witnessed the horror of that day from nearby buildings and the streets of New York City.  May God bless them and this country we love.

Janet

 

Somewhere To Call Home

My very first LIH is coming out this November and I just received the cover for it. I think this is one of the prettiest covers I’ve ever had and I am so excited to show it to you! I hope you like it as much as I do!

Somewhere To Call Home gives Violet Burton an impossible choice. She can stay in Virginia and marry the corrupt banker who holds the mortage on her home, or she can take a family friend up on her offer to stay at her boarding house  in New York City and find work to help pay off the mortage. She hates to leave her family home, but in order to save it she must.

The young freckled faced friend Michael Heaton remembers no longer exists. In her place is a lovely young woman who is living in his mother’s boarding house. She brings out his protective instincts in a way no one else has.  Will he be able to keep her safe when the banker seems obsessed with finding her?  And will he ever convince her that her true home could well be in New York City–in the circle of his arms?

I loved wrting this story and am happy to say I’m busy working on a second book with  some of the same characters and setting.  It will be out next year. Stay tuned more on these stories.

Until next time,

Janet

Coming up for air

I’ve been writing, writing, writing since my last post, but thought I’d come up for air to share some more exciting news for me. Three of my HP’s are now e-books! So happy about this as they were going out of print and will now be available to ebook readers.  They are, A Love For Keeps, A Place Called Home, and With Open Arms. They are up on Amazon.com now and should be listed on other ebook retailer sites too. If not right now, then soon.  Hope to post more later, but back to work now.

Until next time,

Janet

 

Bursting with Joy

Well, I’ve been sitting on this news for over a week and have truly felt as if I might burst with happiness,  waiting for my agent to tell me I could announce my newest sale!

A dream of mine came true last Wednesday when my wonderful agent, Tamela Hancock Murray, of the Steve Laube Agency, called to tell me Tina James had made an offer for a historial to LIH! I am beyond excited and have been floating for days–and I still am.

The title could change, but right now it is Home for Her Heart, and will be a November release.

I’ve been excited since right after Thanksgiving when Tina said she liked it but as it was, it wasn’t quite an LIH, yet. She told Tamela I could rework it or send something else for her to consider. This story idea is close to my heart and I chose to rework. It was sent back to Tina before Christmas and then on the 25th of January, we got the call. I am feeling so blessed and totaly filled with joy!

For those of you still dreaming–you just keep at it. They can come true.

Janet

 

Love Inspired author, Merrillee Whren visits

Please join me in welcoming Merrillee Whren today! Thanks so much for agreeing to answer some questions for us, Merrillee!

How much of yourself do you write into your characters? I don’t know that I put much of myself into my characters, but I try to put myself into their shoes and feel what they are feeling in different situations.

When did you first discover that you were a writer? I don’t know that I have a specific time when I knew I was a writer. It was a gradual process that brought me to the point where I decided to write a novel for publication, not just for fun.

Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading. I mostly like to read romantic fiction because I like happy endings, but I also enjoy biography and some bestsellers like The Help.

How do you choose your characters’ names? Sometimes the names just come to me. Other times I search phone books and the social security website that lists the most popular names for a certain year. I also use a website called the “random name generator.”

 How has being published changed your life? Being published means getting used to deadlines, being able to juggle more than one project at a time and realizing that I don’t get to read as much as I would like. It also means gaining new friends through different writing organizations and sharing God’s truths with readers all over the world.

What are you reading right now? I’m always reading multiple books at the same time. On my Nook, I’m reading Lyn Cote’s Her Healing Ways. On my i-Touch, I’m reading a book by Vanessa Kelly, and the physical book I’m reading is Linda Goodnight’s The Nanny’s Homecoming.

How do you choose your settings for each book? When I started writing novels for publication, my goal was to write a book set in every state where I have lived. So far I have books set in Washington State, Texas, Florida, Georgia, South Dakota and Ohio. I plan to set future books in Illinois, Massachusetts and Tennessee. I have the ideas and the characters. Now I have to write the books.

What are your hobbies, besides writing and reading? I’m an avid tennis player and fan although I don’t get to play as often as I used to. I also enjoy playing bridge and walking on the beach near my home.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it? Since I mostly sell on proposal now, my biggest problem is plotting the book for the synopsis. I have a hard time knowing what is going to happen until I start writing the story. Building in all of the turning points and conflict can sometimes bring my thought processes to a standstill. I’m still working on that obstacle by reading some how-to books on writing and taking on-line writing courses.

What is your favorite food? I guess if I have to pick just one it would be chocolate.

Please tell us about the featured book: I wrote Montana Match because I wanted to tell the “grown-up” story of three teenagers, Brittany, Max and Amanda, who were secondary characters in three of my earlier books. Montana Match is Brittany’s story. The reader also meets Max again in this book, but his story comes later.

Here is the back cover blurb:

Nanny to six-year-old twin girls isn’t exactly the position Brittany Gorman is looking for. But she needs a job. And the twins’ struggling single dad, rancher Parker Watson, needs all the help he can get. Soon Brittany is not only assisting the girls, but also helping Parker make peace with his past. It seems Brittany’s finally found a place to belong. And with two little matchmakers on the loose, there’s no telling what the future holds. As her time on the ranch runs out, can Brittany and Parker find the strength to face that future—together?

Please give us the first page of the book.

 Chapter One

Thud. Thud. Thud. Books hit the floor all over the fifth-grade classroom, shattering the relative quiet. Brittany Gorman gathered her survival instincts and forced herself not to react. She tightened her grip on the chalk and continued to write the math homework assignment on the chalkboard. This bratty group of kids pulled some kind of stunt every time she substituted for their regular teacher. Today Brittany was determined not to let their misbehavior bother her.

Brittany wrote as slowly as she could. She didn’t want to turn around and see the feigned innocence on their faces until she was sure she could face them with a stoic mask in place. There was no doubt that the instigator of this little trick was the class clown who called her “Miss Carrot Top” or “Miss Freckle Face” under his breath, just loud enough that she couldn’t miss hearing his remarks. She always pretended not to notice.

Finally, she set the chalk in the tray and glanced at the clock before turning to the group. Some of the students had already retrieved their books, but other books still lay on the floor. She looked at the students, making eye contact with as many of them as she could before speaking. “You have twenty minutes to work on the assignment. If you have any problems, raise your hand, and I’ll be glad to help you.”

A few snickers drifted through the air, but Brittany chose to ignore those, too. Without making mention of the book incident, she roamed up and down the aisles between the desks. She breathed a sigh of relief as further conflict faded. Despite situations like this, substitute teaching was still the best of all the bad temp jobs she had tried since she’d lost her position as a financial planner. Glancing out the window at the snowy Montana landscape, she prayed that all would go well until the final bell. While she waited for that sound of freedom, she vowed to double her efforts to find a real job—one that didn’t involve kids.

 

You can find out more about Merrillee at her web site here

 

 

 

An Oklahoma Sooner Series

With the release of the thrid book, SOONER SUNSET  to the Heartsong Bookclub, the Oklahoma Sooner Series comes to  a close and as this year comes to a close, II wanted to take a moment to reflect on how the series came about.

I loved writing this series. Guthrie, OK is just down the highway from where I live and it was so much fun doing research there. The historic downtown area is a National Historic Landmark and it is like walking back in time to stroll up and down its streets. The idea for the series was born doing just that. 

It didn’t take long to come up with all kinds of ideas on what might have happened in this town that grew almost overnight into the Territorial Capitol and then the first state Capitol.

Settlers came from all over to  turn this town into one that equaled those back East in what it offered its’ citizens. There were restaurants, and all kinds of businesses from the very beginning. There were theatres and opera houses, hotels and boarding houses and streets of lovely homes–and many of these still exsist, preserved to bring the past to life.

First up was I’D SOONER HAVE LOVE,  a story of two of the first settlers in the area and how they fell in love with each other and their new city.

Unable to give her husband children, Faith Anderson watched his love change to dissappointment before he died in a riding accident. She’s determined never to marry again, and instead plans to build a new life in Gurthrie, Oklahoma along with thousands of other settlers who have rushed to the area.

But that was before she met Gabe Logan, a man whose simple presence maker her heart race and whose kindness to others beginst to warm her heart–in spite of her best efforts to remain cold. Gabe himself has secrets in his past that he’s convinced will keep any self-repectin woman from wanting to marry him. But that doesn’t stop his traitorous heart from falling for Faith.

If the past were different, Gabe and Faith would sooner have love. Will they let their freat of disappointment and rejection keep them from accepting the love God has placed in their paths?

That story led me to want to tell Faith’s brother’s story  in SOONER SUNRISE  about two lonely hearts who long for each other.

Once Ben Thompson finds out that the Sam Carter he saved from a burning tent is really a lovely young woman named Samantha, a tiny spark of love is ignited between them. But Sam is determined to keep it from growing into a flame. She has a past she’s running from and she’s determined never to trust her heart to a man. Not even one as dependable as Ben.

Ben is just as determined to convince Sam that God Brought them together for a reason. Just as she’s beginning to believe that might be true, her past catches up with her and she’s ready to run again. Can Ben convince Same that he and his family will not hold her accountable for the rumors sperading against her? She’d bring more hurt to them by laving than any rumor ever could. Will she run or stay and fight for the love they both long for?

But Guthrie wasn’t the only place settled during the land rush. Oklahoma City grew at a rapid pace and two decades later, in SOONER SUNSET,  this famiily finds the town it helped to settle is in a battle to keep the capitol right where it is.  Charity Logan likes her life just as it is. She has the best of both worlds, living and working in Guthrie during the week and spending her weekends in Oklahoma City with her parents most weekends. She’s always prided herself on hr ability to make decisions–but that was before the governor’s campaign to move Oklahoma’s capitol from hher hometown to the city. And it was before she met Luke Johnson, a reporter she’s falling in love with but can’t fine it in herself to trust.

From the moment Luke meets Charity, he is drawn toher inner and outer beauty. Cpmsi,ed bu jos career as a reporter working for one of Oklahoma’s influential nespapers, he’s never before been interested in courting a woman–until Charity. But no matter what he does to prove his love, Luke knows something is holding Charity back.

How will Charity find the courage to trust in the mindst of an uncertain world? And thous sunset appearst to be falling on the first Sooner capital, will Luke and Charity find a hope to unite them as they face a new day?

Because these books go first to the bookclub and then out to other retailers, at this time these stories are available at:

Rose Allen McCauley Visits

My First Booksigning Tour by Rose Allen McCauley

As I began this piece about our Georgia trip (Oct. 28-Nov.6, 2011), I was reminded of how well our trip turned out, in spite of the many changes along the way. I know that was because God had His Hand over our trip guiding our way much better than our TomTom did! (Althought it did get us where we wanted to go most of the time AFTER we read the directions!)

Besides doing booksignings for Christmas Belles of Georgia, another reason for our trip was to visit the town where the book is set—Monticello, GA, and meet with and give books to the people there who helped me online and by phone interviews with info for the story. My first change occurred about a month before we left when I received an email from Rod Perry, the man in Monticello who had helped me most of all. We had already made reservations at his Warren Bed and Breakfast where my heroine had stayed, but he informed me that they’d had to sell their own home, and would be moving into the B and B soon. He also informed me that Big Chics, the restaurant where my hero and heroine ate a couple meals had been sold to another owner.

So, we made arrangements to stay in another town, but still went to visit Monticello, and I am so glad we did. We did get to meet with Rod in the midst of his moving, and did get to take a picture with him and of the outside of the lovely Band B.

And he informed us that the original owner had taken Big Chics back so we met with the owner and his mom and even sampled some fried okra from their menu. So, we did get to experience the charm of the town and people of Monticello.

 

 

 

Another stop was in Buford, GA at the Lifeway where Nora St.Laurent works and also got to visit and eat with Ane Mulligan who lives close by.

 

 

 

 

And since my hubby wore a maroon shirt like the workers there, he got requests for help by several customers!

 

 

I also did a signing at the Lifeway in Macon. But Chester wore a different shirt that day!

In Warner-Robins, I met April Gardner at church and lunch, then she spent the afternoon with me at the Warner-Robins signing. We had plenty of time to chat and share. She had been a cyber-friend up to that time, but is now a close friend and Christian sister!

My next to last signing was at the Family Christian Store in Savannah, GA where I sold out all of my books they had in stock—all 4 of them!

At the other stores I sold about 2/3 of the copies they had and signed a few more, so hopefully there were more books sold in GA then there would have been if we hadn’t gone. And since the stores only wanted books signed on the weekends, my husband and I were forced to visit Savannah and Tybee Island from Monday through Friday! I even got an idea for a book I would like to write set in the beautiful, historical town of Savannah!

I thank God for His changes for this trip and in my life. To Him be the glory!

 

Elizabeth Goddard Author Interview

Please help me welcome author Beth Goddard to my blog. Beth has answered some questions for us and it giving us a peak at her upcoming LIS. Be sure to comment for a chance to win a copy of her book!

1)    Tell us the range of the kinds of books you enjoy reading.

I love to read fantasy—especially Christian fantasy and science fiction when it’s available, but I don’t get to spend as much time reading as I’d like. I also love suspense and romantic suspense, and historical.

2)    How do you keep your sanity in our run, run, run world?

I have a mental breakdown every now and then and that seems to help me get back on my feet! Mostly I have a to do list that I live by and I can see the progress I’m making when I get to scratch something off the list.

3) How do you choose your characters’ names?

I used to spend hours and days even, researching and trying to find the right name—the meaning had to correspond with the story in some way. While that’s great, it doesn’t always work and considering everything else that must go into a story, I don’t do that anymore. If the name’s meaning works out, that’s great. Mostly I have a list of names I love, and when I heard a name I like, I’ll add that to the list. Also, I have a couple a big city phone books that I collected and when in need, I find it’s quicker to browse through those pages, than to search the internet on name sites. I know the name I want to use for my character when I see it.

4)    What is the accomplishment that you are most proud of?

Recently, I won the Carol Award for my mystery, THE CAMERA NEVER LIES—I could never have dreamed or even hoped that would happen. I’m not sure why we as writers are such an insecure bunch, but even after nine plus books, I’m always concerned that my writing isn’t any good.  The Carol Award helped validate my writing for me and made me realize that someone besides my editor, my agent and my mother, enjoys my writing. Go figure!

5)    If you were an animal, which one would you be, and why?

I would be an eagle—I would love to be able to fly, to rise above it all in completely freedom and dance in the sky, if you will, with nothing holding me back.

6)    What is your favorite food? It’s a toss up between pizza and nachos.

7)    What is the problem with writing that was your greatest roadblock, and how did you overcome it?

  My greatest roadblock continues to be a roadblock for me and that is starting a story—where in the world do I start the story? Plenty joke about it that duh, you start at the beginning. But as writers we know that it’s not that simple—sure you start at the beginning but what is your character doing in that scene where you want to start he story? My process still remains painful and it can take me days and even weeks to get that first two or three chapters right.

Tell us about the featured book?                                                                                         

Here’s the blurb:

Secrets Under The Ice

Casey Wilkes didn’t realize her simple human-interest story would put her life at risk—again. After fleeing her home and journalism job in Portland, she wanted to live under the radar for a while. But when her interviewee starts dodging her questions, her reporter instincts kick in and she finds herself in over her head…

Homeland security agent Jesse Mitchell has been undercover as an ice sculptor for months, trying to infiltrate a smuggling ring. He wants to avoid trouble, and that’s just what Casey brings. Now someone has a target set on Casey. Saving her could blow his cover, but leaving her unprotected endangers him even more—especially his heart.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Beautiful…but dangerous.

Jesse finished shoving the last block of dry ice into the back of the specially designed truck—well insulated, yet ventilated to allow for sublimation—the melting that would give off deadly CO2 gas.

The solid form of carbon dioxide would be used to create the snow effect around the ice sculptures along with fog—a mysterious yet stunning display.

He tugged off the gloves used to protect his hands from ice burns or, worse, frostbite. Because his father was a chef and master ice sculptor, Jesse had learned a few techniques of his own, even entering competitions during his college days.

That’s what made him the perfect candidate for this covert operation, and the only reason Robert McCoffey, his superior, had pulled Jesse from the desk job and visits to the psychiatrist and put him back into the action. Working as an undercover agent for Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Jesse had nearly blown his last assignment and thought he’d never get the chance to restore his reputation and career.

But ICE’s bulk cash and smuggling division decided Helms Ice and Trucking Company was hot—laundering money for the Mexican cartel—and they wanted someone on the inside.

Sounds great Beth! Thanks so much for visiting with me!  If you’d like a chance to win a copy of Beth’s book, be sure to comment!

Janet