Cara C. Putman's Blog, page 86

Coming this week! A Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt + Bonus Review

In the coming days, I’m going to share some new historicals with you. The great thing is I have some giveaways to go with them! In addition starting this weekend, there’s a new Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt! See more below.

A New Scavenger Hunt is Coming Soon


Have you heard? A new Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt is coming.

Those who join the hunt will have a chance to win the grand prize of a Kindle Fire HDX or one of two runners-up prizes of over 30+ new novels by the participating authors.

Add to that all of the bonus giveaways that the authors are offering on their own web sites/blogs, and there are lots of opportunities to win.

The hunt will begin on Friday, October 17th, at Noon MDT Robin Lee Hatcher’s blog (Stop #1). It will end at one minute before midnight on Sunday, October 19th.

That gives everyone plenty of time to visit each site/blog, read the content, collect the clues, enter the bonus giveaways, and finally, submit the answers in the Rafflecopter form for the Scavenger Hunt giveaways.

No need to rush. Finishing first won’t give you an edge.

So mark your calendars. Tell your friends. Share this blog post on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, etc.

A Bonus Review: A Cry From The Dust

Because I’m trying to recover from whatever it is that’s stolen my voice and energy, I’ve been resting the last two days. When I wasn’t sleeping or driving kids around, I was reading and wanted to share one of those books with you.

A Cry From the Dust is the debut novel from forensic artist Carrie Stuart Parks. I flew through this novel  in about a day. It feels a bit like Brandilyn Collins’ Hidden Faces series with a cool historical twist. The pacing was really good and the writing intriguing. There were enough twists to keep me going — and I couldn’t anticipate them all. I love it when that happens! I commend it to you if you enjoy suspense novels with a flawed and believable protagonist. The supporting cast was interesting, and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series.

The Promised Land

The last week, I’ve been wiped out — had a cough that steals my sleep and a complete lack of voice. I don’t do sick well…life never seems to stop for it. But I’ve tried. Really I have.

I’ve also been thinking. God’s been pushing open doors in all areas of my life this month. It’s pretty exciting — if I were only well enough to do something about it! But it’s brought me back to a thought He’s had me meditating on for several years:

Have you ever thought about the fact that the Promised Land that God gave us in the past may not be today’s Promised Land?

Huh? Step back. Reread that.

If God has called us to move into something new, then what was the Promised Land just became our current Egypt. When I realized that a couple weeks ago, it hit me square between the eyes. How many times have I said, but this is where God wanted me…to keep from moving forward.

We get comfortable. We get complacent. We begin to believe the lie that the past is all God has for us. But what if the past was to test our accountability? To test our faithfulness? And now God wants to give us more?

But I keep holding on to the past. Refusing to move forward with Him. Yikes! That’s sin.

So, Father, please help me to have the vision to look for the Promised Land You have for me today. Help me to guard against complacency.

Collection Collaborations: 4 Tips to a Successful Book

With Where Treetops Glisten, I had the opportunity to do something I really enjoy: Work with other authors to make a family of characters come to life. This is so different from the “normal” way of writing when it’s me, my computer, and my imagination crafting a story. I love working with other writers on a collection. There’s such an energy that develops as we work together, bouncing ideas and details off each other, an energy that is hard to replicate in a solo project. So why did it work?

Discover the strengths of your collaborators. I quickly discovered that Sarah is the spreadsheet queen and would help us manage the details of timelines and characters. It was awesome! Tricia is a creative genius. I knew the setting. Together we found the best way we could work together.
Focus on the elements readers expect from each author and combine them. Once we agreed we wanted to work together, we hopped on a conference call to discuss what we believe each of our readers like in our books. It’s fun to see through reviews that our longtime readers are loving this collection.
Develop a theme that can tie the series together. Our initial theme started with Christmas carols. So many wonderful carols were  released during World War II, songs that we cherish today. Then we decided that our story would center on siblings and their experiences during the war – each in a different year. After that we decided their wise grandmother would hold the collection together through a prologue and epilogue in her point of view, as well as her presence in each of the novellas.
Organize your information. We created a pinterest board in addition to spreadsheets to capture the information that would be necessary throughout the collection. I drew a floor plan, we all posted photos — everything from character models to newspaper ads from the time.

Collaboration can be a delightful part of writing as an author. As a reader have you read a project where more than one author wrote the stories? Did you enjoy it? What worked well?

Before Amen: a Fresh Look at Prayer

My Review: I am a woman who knows she should pray more. The doing it is the challenge. Max Lucado brings a fresh perspective filled with child-like faith to the study of prayer in his new book before amen. That’s what struck me about the book. The way Max Lucado highlights the true father-child relationship of prayer. I read passages of this book to my husband because they so struck me. I also highlighted, underlined, and tweeted thoughts…not because they were so revolutionary. But because in their very simplicity, the concepts urge me to approach my Father God as a child. To curl up in His lap and share my days and concerns. Prayer doesn’t need to be complicated or pious. All that is needed is a heart ready for and seeking relationship.

We all pray . . . some.

We pray to stay sober, centered, or solvent. When the lump is deemed malignant. When the money runs out before the month does. When the marriage is falling apart. We pray.

But wouldn’t we like to pray more? Better? Stronger? With more fire, faith, and fervency?

Yet we have kids to feed, bills to pay, deadlines to meet. The calendar pounces on our good intentions like a tiger on a rabbit. And what about our checkered history with prayer? Uncertain words. Unmet expectations. Unanswered requests.

We aren’t the first to struggle with prayer. The first followers of Jesus needed prayer guidance too. In fact, prayer is the only tutorial they ever requested.

And Jesus gave them a prayer. Not a lecture on prayer. Not the doctrine of prayer. He gave them a quotable, repeatable, portable prayer. Couldn’t we use the same?

In Before Amen best-selling author Max Lucado joins readers on a journey to the very heart of biblical prayer, offering hope for doubts and confidence even for prayer wimps. Distilling prayers in the Bible down to one pocket-sized prayer, Max reminds readers that prayer is not a privilege for the pious nor the art of a chosen few. Prayer is simply a heartfelt conversation between God and his child. Let the conversation begin.

Learn more at Max’s website.

The Myth I will ever be Enough

I just got back from ACFW Sunday night…and have been diving back into life since then. As I focus on what happened at the conference, I come back to the reality that I am nothing without God.

My dreams…bankrupt without Him to breathe life into them.
My friendships…filled with self without Him to turn the focus to service.
My ambitions…meaningless without Him to direct.
My very presence…worthless without His light to shine through me to those around me.

Sometimes I need that reminder. Anyone else?

With my amazing roomie, Kristy Cambron!

I can walk into the hotel with the deep desire to serve others, and then slip into feeling invisible. Or I can walk into a coffee shop and spend time ministering to others on this journey. Maybe someday I’ll truly be able to serve others like Christ without a thought to where I am in comparison.

That comparison game can be brutal.

My kids aren’t as well-behaved as yours.
My kids are better smarter, dumber, nicer, more or less athletic than yours.
I wish I was kind and patient like XX.
I wish people looked at me and saw the light of Jesus like they do so effortlessly in Robin or Kristy.

I could pretend that I have it all together, but I don’t.

Instead, I’m just another woman walking the journey of faith and life. Wondering when the day will arrive that I’ll arrive. I’ll be enough.

Instead, I spend my days feeling pulled in so many directions I’d have to be Elasti-girl to not break. And I rip, I tear, I bleed, I cry, I wonder if I’ll ever get it all together and walk through life with the grace and poise I long to have. Even when I’m trying to be my most careful and considerate of others, I’ll unintentionally hurt someone.

And in the wondering, the waiting, the questioning, I’ve  come to realize, I never will be enough. Never. And maybe this people-pleasing, lifelong Type A isn’t supposed to be enough or do enough.

But with Christ, because of Christ, I can be enough in the moment to extend a hand, a word, a prayer. It’s in those spirit led moments where I stop looking at me, and look fully at the other, that I sense God’s smile. When I’m overwhelmed to tears by the reality that my Daddy loves me and is pleased. Oh to live in that place. I’m not there yet, but maybe one day I can live there in that space where this weak, broken women connects with the Holy Spirit to touch a world that so desperately needs Him.

I’m grateful…so very grateful. How about you?

ACFW Fun

Many of us are at ACFW this year. I thought I’d share the beginning of the experience with you. The conference officially starts today, but here are some photos last night. ACFW is a great conference for aspiring to multi-published authors. We spend several days in workshops, appointments, and hanging out. I hope you enjoy these photos with some of my friends.

A quick photo with the amazing Candice Calvert. She writes great medical romances.

With the amazing Sarah Ladd, Julie Klassen and Rachel McMillian.

The view from the hotel room…

With Traci Hilton, Bethany McManus, Ashley Clark. So fun to meet new friends and hang with mentees.

I love these gals! Ashley Clark and Casey Herringshaw

With Mary Vee, another fun lady and alley cat

Adore this woman! Pepper Basham.

My roommate for the week, the amazing Kristy Cambron.

 

Hidden in the Stars

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Hidden in the Stars

Abingdon Press (September 16, 2014)

by

Robin Caroll

Robin is one of my favorite writers; she is also prolific in many different genres. I’m excited to read this book because it’s one we did a bit of brainstorming on…and the cover is gorgeous. Lets face it, a cover can be the tipping point on deciding which book I read next. And this one is beautiful with the pointe shoes and gown. I hope to read it as soon as I get back from ACFW next week, but didn’t want to wait to tell you about it. Be sure to scan down to the link where you can read the first chapter…then you don’t have to take my word that she’s a great writer.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Following an attack that killed her mother and stole her ability to speak, 21-year-old Sophia Montgomery has no choice but to accept her estranged grandmother’s offer to return to their family home. Although detective Julian Frazier is working hard on the case, Sophia unknowingly frustrates him because her inability to speak thwarts her eyewitness evidence. The fact that Julian is undeniably attracted to Sophia doesn’t help either, so Julian hides his feelings as concern for a trauma victim and focuses instead on finding the killer.

Little do they know, the clues to solving the case may be right in front of them, displayed in Sophia’s mother’s “special” quilt design. Who will realize the secret Sophia’s unwittingly been hiding in plain sight? When the truth comes to light, will Sophia find her voice again? Or will the murderer—still at large—silence her forever?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hidden in the Stars, go HERE.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin Caroll is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. Robin’s mother, bless her heart, is a genealogist who instilled in Robin the deep love of family and pride of heritage—two aspects Robin weaves into each of her books.

When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-plus years, her 3 beautiful daughters, 2 precious grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

Four Books I Inhaled

This will shock you… I know it… but while on our trip to England last week, I read four novels. I even managed a nice chunk of a non-fiction. Three of the books were read on various flights, and all are quite different. I think you’ll enjoy at least a few of them!

Romantic Suspense is one of my favorite genres when I get to just relax with a book. As she’s written books, Lynette Eason has become an author I trust to give me a good read with an interesting plot. Somehow I had missed this book, so had to fix that, and I’m very glad I did.

No One to Trust is a wild race from the prologue and the first chapter. When the heroine wakes up to find a gun in her face, you know the book will be a page turner.

Lynette does what she does best…she creates characters that are compelling, a situation that is touch and go as the heroine realizes her husband is far from the man she believed him to be. At a few points the action almost goes too fast — especially at the end. But the characters and story kept me coming back even as I was on vacation in England. I had to know how it ended. Another enjoyable romantic suspense from Lynette Eason.

Mary Connealy is an author whose books I consistently enjoy. Some I delight in, others I savor, but I know her books will usually be a fun read with lots of great splashes of humor.

I loved Tried & True! It was such a fun read I laughed out loud multiple times — as I was trying to stifle my reaction since I was on a plane. In fact, it was so good, I couldn’t slow down and savor the read. Instead, I found myself flipping the pages faster and faster as I hurried to see what would happen to the characters.

The first in a series, Mary perfectly sets up the next two books, while writing a rich story set in Colorado shortly after the end of the Civil War. Kylie Wilde served in the Civil War (pretending to be a boy), and now she’s fighting to find out who she really is as she homesteads. The only problem is the land agent finds her, and realizes she can’t get the exemption for service during the war because she’s a woman. This sets up early friction between the hero and heroine that builds. A strong thread throughout the story is the heroine and her sisters struggle to accept that it’s okay and good to be women. Don’t roll your eyes, because it is woven wonderfully into a story of sisters who served in the Civil War as men at the behest of their father and continue the charade at his instruction.

This story has it all: delightful characters, a twisting plot with great romance and flashes of mystery, all tied up with a bow of humor that leaves me itching to get my hands on the next book!

I enjoy novels set in Regency England, so I decided Prelude for a Lord would be the perfect book to take with me on a recent trip to England. I loved this story about a young woman who was past her prime for marriage (at that time!), yet she was so secure in who she was…partly because she goes so counter to her times. An accomplished musician, she has to hide her best love (the violin) because it’s unseemly for a woman to play the instrument. However, when someone takes an inordinate interest in her violin, she seeks help from a man who scorned her interest in the violin years ago during her season.

This book has a compelling romance filled with insurmountable roadblocks. The mystery is rich — one I thoroughly enjoyed. And the setting is layered in such a way I felt like I was transported into the story world…and it’s one I want to return to again. There was something very fitting about reading this book while in England.

I highly recommend it for those who love regency novels and for those who love historical romances with a strong mystery. The best news is it’s on sale for $5.99 in ebook formats as I write (9/16).

Here’s the last one that I read on the flights home. Awakening by Tracy Higley struck me as an innovative book that felt like Percy Jackson for adults — with a deep questioning about religion and truth. A blending of contemporary and ancient storylines with a heroine I wanted to comfort. A teasing romance that leaves me longing for a sequel to see what happens next.

I wasn’t quite sure what to think of the book initially, but it kept tugging me back. This will be a great read for those who love books that combine contemporary and historical plots — and that enjoy a bit of suspense in their books.

Momentous Vote in Scotland

While we were in England last week, it didn’t take long to realize that a historic event will happen there tomorrow. After 300 years of being a part of the Commonwealth, Scottish citizens will be voting on whether to remain part of the United Kingdom. At first I was startled by the idea.

Scotland has “always” been part of the UK. Or at least it seems that way to an American, who’s total history as an independent country barely goes back 230 years. But then I started reading articles, watching the news, and talking to people. The perspectives were so interesting.

The English folks we talked to don’t want Scotland to leave. They can’t imagine why the Scottish would want to…and the thought of the Union breaking apart bothers the English deeply — at least the ones we talked with. At the same time, the couple Scots we talked to were PASSIONATE about why they should leave. Admittedly, this is a very small sample size, and the Scots were both young. However, it was quite enlightening to ask questions and listen.

In case you’re like me and hadn’t realized a vote was occuring tomorrow, here’s a link to an article in The Economist. As this article from the Wall Street Journal shows, the polls have the outcome too close to call. The Financial Times is covering the vote in great detail. In some ways, I think this would be like Texas or California trying to break away to be an independent country. While you might think it’s a good (or a bad) idea, there’s no question the United States would change.

Depending on the results of Thursday’s vote, there’s also no question that Scotland and the United Kingdom could change.

Author Chat with Betsy St. Amant

Today I’m delighted to introduce you to my friend Betsy St. Amant. She is delightful and her new book All’s Fair in Love & Cupcakes is a fun romantic comedy centered around a romance during a reality TV competition. I love her heart and I’m excited to share her with you.

Betsy, you’ve set this book around baking cupcakes.  What’s your favorite kind of cupcake?

This is a really tricky question…because, well, I’ve never met a cupcake I didn’t get along with :)  But I think my favorite right now is pink lemonade cupcakes.

I love that you included the recipe in the book and can’t wait to make them. The heroine in this story is a gal I would love to hang out with. Yet Kat doesn’t see where she fits. Why did that become her struggle? What would you tell women like her if you could share coffee with them? Kat struggled a lot with insecurity and her place in the world because of the dynamics of her relationship with her sister, and with her family, and even with her best friend Lucas. They all seemed to have figured out their lives and here she was, doing the same ol’ thing over and over, stifled, yet afraid to branch out for fear she didn’t have what it took to succeed. I think a lot of women end up there – comparing themselves to others around them, holding their story up to their neighbor’s story and seeing it as falling short. I would encourage those women the same way I have to encourage myself – it’s not about comparison. Your story is your story, and it doesn’t matter where someone else is, or what they’re doing, or even about what God did or didn’t do in their life – He has a good plan for You and is going to do a work in your life for His glory. An incomparable work.

Lucas is trying to show Kat that he loves her but she’s just not getting the message. What advice would you give Lucas?

Lucas needs to learn that sometimes subtlety isn’t the best play! He’s always getting on to Kat for holding back and not spreading her wings to fly…yet when it comes to the things most important to Lucas’s heart, he, too, needs to learn not to hold back. Go big or go home, Lucas. Go big or go home!

Football places a big role in this book. Are you a fan or did you have to learn about the game as you wrote the book? If you’re a fan what’s your favorite team?

I’m a fan of my local teams, which are the New Orleans Saints and the LSU Tigers. I have the T-shirts and love the fellowship of getting together for a game and the friendly banter from opposing fans. I wouldn’t say I am a hardcore football fan, though, because I do watch the Superbowl strictly for the commercials ;)  I had to check with a few hardcore fans to get some terms and plays right and really get in Lucas’s head in this area. It was fun research though!

Betsy, you’ve gone through a really hard season, yet you still write about finding true love. What advice would you give to other women who are struggling in marriages that are failing? What has gotten you through this season?

Sometimes I feel like I’m out of this dark season and have found the other side and have a lot of advice to offer; yet other days, it feels like I just started this journey a week ago and have nothing to offer but empathetic tears. Which goes to show there is no formula to divorce. My husband left exactly one and a half years ago and our divorce was final four months ago. Yet those are just numbers that truly mean nothing to anyone other than a judge or a courthouse clerk filing documents.

It sort of reminds me how the Bible teaches that with God, a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years is like a day. He’s there with me on the days that feel as if this journey just started, and He’s with me on the days that feel like I am fully healed and whole again. And that’s really all that matters. His presence. That’s what has gotten me through this seemingly endless valley, and it’s also what has shown me glimpses of the mountain top peaks I am headed toward.

That’s my advice to other women struggling in their marriages or dealing with the pain or aftermath of divorce – immerse yourself in the Lord’s presence, every day, regardless of your ever-changing emotions and hormones and feelings. He is steady, constant and unchanging, and is the Rock we can cling to when the waves threaten to overwhelm. So regardless of if you’re having a day-day or a thousand-years-day, remember, the One who created time is Timeless. Be real and honest with Him, process your day with Him, and keep moving forward through the valley. The peaks are coming.

How can readers connect with you? Betsy St. Amant – Author and Getting Real-Confessions From Behind the Mask and I am on FB and Twitter!

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