THE TROPHY WIVES CLUB...CFBA BLOG TOUR

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing
THE TROPHY WIVES CLUB
Avon Inspire (September 4, 2007)

by

Kristin Billerbeck

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Haley Cutler is the consummate trophy wife. Perhaps "was" is the more accurate term. Haley married Prince Charming when she was only twenty years old – back in the day when highlights came from an afternoon at the beach, not three hours in the salon.

When Jay first turned his eye to Haley, she was putty in his slender, graceful hands. No one ever treated her like she was important, and on the arm of Jay Cutler, she became someone people listened to and admired. Unfortunately, after seven years of marriage, her Prince Charming seems to belong to the Henry the XIII line of royalty. When Haley loses Jay, she not only loses her husband, she loses her identity.

With her first independent decision, Haley leaves LA and moves home to Northern California. Feeling freedom just within her grasp, Haley learns that her settlement payments must go through one of Jay's financial advisers, Hamilton Lowe. Haley believes he's nothing more than a spy. And the feelings of distrust are mutual. Yet, somehow, Hamilton finds himself handing over the monthly checks in person, and Haley can't deny that there's a kind of tenderness and protectiveness in Hamilton that she's never experienced in a man before.

But before Haley can even consider another relationship, she must learn to accept her inherent worth, and what it is to be loved for who she is, not what's on the outside.

****************************************
Q & A with Kristin Billerbeck

1. Does the Trophy Wives Club represent a departure in any way from your past books?

It does and it doesn’t. There’s romance, humor and a feisty heroine – which is normal for my books, but in this one, there are also some serious issues: a neglectful husband, an emotionally battered wife, and the fear of the unknown.

2. How did you go about creating the character of Haley?

I watched a husband take his wife for granted as though she were a plotted plant, and I thought, what would happen when that wife wakes up to her life? What might happen if she never did wake up and her life crumbles around her? I thought about the type of wife who tries to do everything right, but still can’t keep her marriage together, since it ultimately consists of two people.

3. Haley is able to draw strength she didn’t know she had from the refreshing example of a group of independent, professional women friends. What made you decide to focus in this way on the importance of female friendship?

Now that I’m older, I’ve watched marriages flourish, fail and flounder. One thing remains constant and that is your girlfriends. They will support you no matter what the situation is, and I wanted to pay homage to that.

4. Haley isn’t a committed Christian at the beginning of the book – she’s actually a skeptic. What do you think are the advantages to portraying a character who initially has no spiritual or religious leanings?

I don’t really think of it in terms of advantages, or crossing over. I just thought it went with Haley’s character. She was walking through life asleep and one day she’s forced to think about her actual opinions. Someone else has been telling her what they were and she was too weak to realize it. The stronger one person gets in a relationship, the more unbalanced, and the weaker the other person feels. That seemed to be where Haley was in her life. I wanted to be true to her, not preach a message. I write for women and I try to look at the harder questions in life and provide a humorous, lighthearted read at the same time. To me, story comes first.

5. The Trophy Wives Club has a clear inspirational message but isn’t heavy-handed in its use of religion. How do you think this helps the crossover appeal of the book?

I think this is indicative of my faith in general. I believe God meets us where we are. Some of us live godly, straight-and-narrow lives and some of us have to mess life up fantastically for Him to get our attention, but really, God doesn’t send floods or whales very often. He’s subtle.


I ended with this question because this is one of the reasons I loved the book so much. Kristin is right when she says God meets us where we are. Even among other Christians, we can be so different. We are so similar, yet so different. Something I allow my son to do a friend of mine might think I’m horrible. Then again, I may not agree with something she does with her children. I liked that Kristin’s heroine, Haley, was real. She spoke and acted like I would have acted. She was angry, and rightly so. Her scumbag ex-husband kicked her to the curb and she had no say over her situation whatsoever. I think the way Kristin had Haley progress from victimized wife to strong single woman was not only fabulous, it was believable.

If you love quick witted, snappy dialog, along with a great character driven plot, then be sure to pick up The Trophy Wives Club. I’d go so far as to say, if you know someone who’s been through divorce recently, even if they weren’t considered a “trophy wife”, they would enjoy this book. :)

CFBA BLOG TOUR...REMEMBERED BY TAMERA ALEXANDER

This week the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
REMEMBERED

(Fountain Creek Chronicles, Book 3)
(Bethany House, 2007)

by

Tamera Alexander

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tamera Alexander is a bestselling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Alexander’s books have won multiple awards, including Romance Writers of America’s 2007 RITA® for Best Inspirational Romance, the 2007 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, 2007 Bookseller’s Best, and Library Journal’s Top Christian Fiction of 2006.
Her books have received acclaim from Library Journal, True West Magazine and Historical Novels Review, and Rekindled debuted on the CBA fiction bestseller list. She has a professional background in business management and conference coordination. A leader of women's ministries for over twelve years, she is currently active in music ministry, facilitating small groups, and mentoring other women. A graduate of Harding University, Tamera lives with her husband and their two teenagers in Greeley, Colorado.
Her other two books in the Fountain Creek Chronicles are Rekindled (Book 1) and Revealed (Book 2)

To celebrate the release of Remembered, as well as the 3-volume boxed set of Fountain Creek Chronicles (Rekindled, Revealed, and Remembered), Tamera is currently giving away boxed sets in a contest on her website. Check out the contest at http://www.tameraalexander.com/ .

From a Distance, the first book in Tamera’s next historical series (Timber Ridge Reflections) releases in spring 2008.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Though loss is often marked
in a single moment,
letting go of someone you love
can take a lifetime...

The threat of war--and a final request--send Véronique Girard from France to a distant and uninviting country. In the Colorado Territory, she searches for the man who has held her heart since childhood--her father. Pierre Girard left Paris for the Americas to seek his fortune in fur trading, vowing to send for his wife and daughter. But twenty-five years have passed and his vow remains unfulfilled. Sifting through shards of broken promises, Véronique embarks on a dangerous search for a man she scarcely remembers.

His grief finally healed, Jack Brennan is moving on with life. After years of guiding families west, he is now working as a freighter to the mining towns surrounding Willow Springs. What he doesn't count on is an unexpected traveling companion on his trips up into the mountains, and how one woman's search will cause havoc with his plans... and his life.

WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING:
"Alexander again delivers a most amazing story. The characters are more than words on the page; they become real people. Though there are French words sprinkled throughout the story, they enhance the emotions rather than distract the reader." --Romantic Times

"...a rich historical romance by possibly the best new writer in this subgenre." --Library Journal

"Alexander has done it again with Remembered, third in the FOUNTAIN CREEK CHRONICLES. She's fashioned characters that are as rich and deep as the mountains and valleys they explore throughout the pages, coloring the story as adeptly as the heroine does her canvas. I was drawn immediately into the ages-old heartaches of both of the main characters, understanding at once Veronique's reticence to make a place for herself in the unknown wilds of America and Jack's uncompromising love for this land that he’s cut a swath through time and again. They both have a series of mountains to overcome in the search for Veronique’s father, but I enjoyed watching their faith and appreciation grow with each turn of the page. And woven adeptly through it all is the encompassing truth of the Lord's sovereignty—that sometimes He takes away, and sometimes He gives us what we need, not what we're looking for.
Anyone who's read the other Fountain Creek books won't want to miss this one, but it easily stands alone. The characters will take you by the hand and lead you heart-first into their stories, and by the time they release you at the end, you'll feel as though you've taken up residence just across the Creek from them, as surely as they have in your heart." --Roseanna White, christianreviewofbooks.com

"Remembered, the third book in the FOUNTAIN CREEK CHRONICLES, takes us back to Willow Creek and revisits beloved characters from the previous two books in the series, Rekindled and Revealed. Tamera Alexander has the remarkable ability to create places, and characters who endear themselves to us, even those just briefly mentioned. If I had lived in the late 1800s, I would love to have met these people and would surely have been inspired by the way they lived out their faith.

Remembered is a delightful read, well-researched and well-written. I expect to see great things from this author in the future." --Lindsey Freitas, bookloons.com

"Remembered is an absolutely wonderful continuation of the FOUNTAIN CREEK CHRONICLES." --Amanda Schafer, armchairinterviews.com

The book link is: www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764201107

Tamera can be reached through the Contact link on her Website

ACFW Conference Recap...friends and connections made!

Okay, so Georgiana mentioned she's waiting for my conference memories post. LOL. Well, here it is. I'll start by saying, I'm not a photo taker, I'm not a scrapbooker, and I'm not one to take note of things. Hmmm, not great for a newspaper correspondent. LOL. Anyway, I don't have photos to share, but I have lots of memories.

The conference started off with a sweet card from my roommate, Cara Putman. She's the most considerate friend. She had a little card on my pillow welcoming me to the conference and just started my day off with a smile. Cara has moved from "writing" friend to just friend over the course of the last year or two and I felt blessed to have her as a roommate.

Thursday evening I met Kaye Dacus. I'd been to the 2005 ACFW conference but never had a chance to meet her so I was pleased to check that off my to do list. :) Waving at Kaye.

The food at the conference was fab! We had so many great entrees and let's not even talk about the dessert. Sheesh, that was good carrot cake.

Friday I had an editor meeting with Krista and an agent meeting with Kelly Mortimer. Both meetings went well. Krista requested I change Rock Bottom to third person--pray for me--but overall she acted like she really liked the concept of Rock Bottom and my romance, Inn For A Penny. Kelly Mortimer started off the meeting grabbing me and hugging me. (which for a non-touchy person, I was a little caught off guard) Her gregarious personality put me right at ease. She's friendly and kind and seemingly really in it to helping the unpublished writer.

I also got to meet one of my favorite authors, Rachel Hauck. I adore her writing and now I even adore her. She's such a doll and she has this really cool vibe. Especially when she's worshipping. When she led worship she was clearly in His presence and therefore took us with her on the journey as you lose yourself in the music. The prayer and worship alone were enough to go to the conference for.

Oh, and I got to meet up with Lynette Sowell. Lynette and I have been email friends for a little while since we both wrote for Carla Raddling on the Scenes and Beans Blog for Brandilyn Collins. It was so fun getting to know her and I feel like I came away with a new friend.

The conference ended with the awards banquet and while I didn't place in my category, I did get some great feedback from one of the judges so all was not lost. I feel like the direction I got will help make the story better so it's all good.

Oh and big congrats to Georgiana for placing second in the Lit category. I think Georgiana is the sweetest thing and I'm so happy for her.

Finally, I came away from the conference feeling a little refreshed and ready to tackle these works in progress. I was starting to feel slightly defeated and ready to take some time off. Now I'm actually looking forward to making the changes to my work and seeing the improvement that comes with learning and growth.

Blessed Assurance by Lyn Cote

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing



BLESSED ASSURANCE

Avon Inspire (October 1, 2007)

by

Lyn Cote

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lyn Cote's journey to becoming a published author was a long one - she started her first book when her daughter was 13 months old and her first novel was published when her daughter was about to enter high school. But Lyn was writing for a market that hadn't taken shape yet - the inspirational fiction market.

In 1996, Lyn Cote's first inspirational historical manuscript was a finalist in the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Contest. This became her first historical novel, Whispers Of Love, in her BLESSED ASSURANCE series.

Most recently, Chloe, the first novel in Lyn's "Women of Ivy Manor" historical series was a 2006 RWA Rita Award finalist for Best Inspirational, as well as a finalist for the Holt Medallion and the National Readers Choice Contest.

Lyn also writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense. She lives in the lovely northwoods of Wisconsin with her husband and three cats. Aside from writing, she also likes to knit, crochet, read, and do lunch with friends.


ABOUT THE BOOK:

Now available for the first time in one edition--All three novels from Lyn Cote's beloved Blessed Assurance series

In Whispers of Love, Civil War widow Jessie Wagstaff must fend for herself and her son. When a stranger, Lee Smith, befriends Jessie's son, even though she recognizes nine-year-old Linc's need for a father figure, she's reluctant to let a new man into their life. When the Great Chicago Fire blazes, every heart is pushed to its limits.

In Lost In His Love, Jessie's son Linc, a social activist and reporter, charms his way through the upper class of San Francisco to build much-needed support for his fight against child labor. His main target is Cecilia Jackson, a beautiful heiress who doesn't recognize the crucial part she plays in this dangerous exploitation. As the secrets of her family's dark past are exposed, Cecilia must revive her own wounded spirit and find the strength to lean on the never-failing love of Christ. But when the 1906 earthquake hits, everyone's faith will be put to the test.

In Echoes of Mercy, Meg Wagstaff challenges the racial barriers of 1920s New Orleans in order to prove that her childhood friend did not commit murder. The stubborn lawyer prosecuting the case, Gabriel St. Clair, is an authentic Southern gentleman who makes the mistake of underestimating Meg, both her tenacity and her charm. Despite their many differences, sparks begin to fly. But when Meg discovers the truth, will Gabe be able to protect her from those who can't afford to have justice prevail?

"A beautiful tale of love, forgiveness, and acceptance."

~CBA Marketplace

THE EX FILES BY VICTORIA CHRISTOPHER MURRAY

CFBA BLOG TOUR TIME ;)

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Ex Files
(Touchstone June 19, 2007)
by
Victoria Christopher Murray
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Victoria Christopher Murray always knew she would become an author, even as she was taking quite an unlikely path to that destination. A native of Queens, New York, Victoria first left New York to attend Hampton Institute in Virginia where she majored in Communication Disorders. After graduating from Hampton, Victoria attended New York University where she received her MBA.Victoria spent ten years in Corporate America before she decided to test her entrepreneurial spirit. She opened a Financial Services Agency for Aegon, USA where she managed the number one division for nine consecutive years. However, Victoria never lost the dream to write and when the “bug” hit her again in 1997, she answered the call.Victoria originally self published Temptation. “I wanted to write a book as entertaining and compelling as any of the books on the market, put God in the middle, and have the book still be a page-turner. I wasn’t writing to any particular genre – I didn’t even know Christian fiction existed. I just wanted to write about people I knew and characters I could relate to.”In 2000, Time Warner published Temptation. Temptation made numerous best sellers list across the nation and remained on the Essence bestsellers list for nine consecutive months. In 2001, Temptation was nominated for an NAACP Image Award in Outstanding Literature.Since Temptation, Victoria has written four other novels: JOY, Truth Be Told, Grown Folks Business, and A Sin and a Shame. All of her novels have continued to be Essence bestsellers; her last three each reaching #1. In addition, Victoria has received numerous awards including the Golden Pen Award for Best Inspirational Fiction and in 2006, she was awarded the Phyllis Wheatley Trailblazer Award for being the pioneer in African American Christian Fiction.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Ex Files:
A Novel About Four Women and Faith...
There are four ways a woman can handle heartbreak. She can fall apart, seek revenge, turn cold, or move on. The Ex Files is the story of these four women:When Kendall Stewart finds her husband and her sister in bed together, she vows to never let anyone get that close again. But when she is faced with saving the life of the woman who destroyed hers, will she be able to forgive?When an NBA superstar tells his mistress, Asia Ingrum, that he's decided to honor his marriage vows, her shock quickly gives way to revenge...but her decision may come back to haunt their five-year-old daughter.Every night Vanessa Martin wonders why her husband committed suicide. Even worse, she contemplates joining him in eternity. Will Vanessa be able to gather the strength to live again?Sheridan Hart is finally finding her way after a lie destroyed her seventeen-year marriage. Her new love is ready to get married, but will she commit to this younger man or is her ex-husband taking up too much space in her heart?When their pastor asks Kendall, Asia, Vanessa, and Sheridan to meet weekly for prayer, they can't imagine they will have anything in common. But then a devastating tragedy strikes and these strangers are forced to reexamine their choices. Will they find true friendship, or will prayer -- and their union -- fail them?

I can't wait to dive into this book. Once I finish it I'm going to post an author interview and do a book giveaway. . . stay tuned. ;)

DALLAS BOUND...WOOHOO!!!

This time tomorrow I'll be in Dallas. Yeehaw! I'm so excited. I've been looking forward to the ACFW conference for such a long time. I'm eager to sharpen my skills as a writer and learn all kinds of great stuff from writers I admire so much. I'm especially looking forward to Rachel Hauck's continuing session on writing Lits. That should be packed full of valuable information. And I can't wait for Gayle Roper's workshop. She's been one of my favorite authors for years.

The one bummer is that I'm going to miss my husband and son. This is only the second time I've been away from home since I've been married. Sniff Sniff...okay, maybe it's time I cut the strings. LOL.

Anyway, I'll post when I can. (and for my three friends not making it this year, you know who you are, it won't be the same without you)

AHHH...ACFW CONFERENCE IS LESS THAN 6 DAYS AWAY!!!

Let me start by apologizing for not being a responsible Blog hostess. Sigh. I've slipped in my blog responsibilities of late, but I'm not entirely to blame...see I'm trying to finish up my rough draft of Rock Bottom so I can at least say I'm finished with the rough draft when I pitch it at ACFW conference next week.

Something occurred to me yesterday about said book. Since RB is a finalist in the Genesis contest, the editor I had planned to pitch to is also the second round judge for my category. So here's the predicament. I haven't received my comments for the second round yet (we get them a couple weeks after conference, per Camy Tang) so what if I pitch this book to this woman who's read the first three chapters and she's sitting there, familiar with the book, and little do I know... she hated it...what a waste of both of our time not to mention how stupid I'll feel when I get her comments back.

So I think I'm going to pitch something else I'm working on. So if any of you have an opinion...I'd be glad to hear it. Like Georgiana, if you read this, what are you going to do? Are you pitching your finalist entry to Krista or someone else? Or are you pitching it at all? Just curious. ;)

Life, Libby, and the Pursuit of Happiness by Hope Lyda

This week on the CFBA blog tour we're introducing LIFE, LIBBY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
(Harvest House Publishers March 1, 2007) by Hope Lyda

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Hope Lyda has always wanted to write. Ever since she was a young tyke with a spiral notebook in hand, she had the urge to fill it. Sadly, Peggy Meets the Midgets did not cause Hope to be deemed a child prodigy, so she continued her path of education. She was grade-obsessed but also truly enjoyed sharing laughs with her circle of creative friends.

Hope attended the University of Oregon and graduated with a double major in Journalism: Advertising and Telecommunications and Film. With aspirations to write screenplays or teleplays, she of course ended up doing public relations for non-profits until she entered the publishing field in which she has worked for 10 years.

Her passions are quiet ones—she loves a good read, an afternoon of free thinking time, writing, journaling, road trips, travel, and pondering life from her back yard pergola. She loiters in bookstores frequently, though has never been arrested for such. Her big hope is to encourage others to embrace their dreams and understand their faith journeys through the practice of journaling and the art of creative living. She hopes to also inspire such things through the themes in her fiction including Hip to Be Square and Altar Call. (There are also visions of a nice Casita with a hammock in Mexico—but one thing at a time.)

When not living in her head, she resides with her husband, Marc, in the Pacific Northwest.


ABOUT THE BOOK:
Libby Hawthorne makes exotic trip itineraries but never leaves Seattle. She’d like to attend church but winds up at a bookstore. She longs for love—but who has the time? Delayed happiness has been worth it, because she’s about to get her dream promotion...

Or not.

So now what?

When a corporate merger leaves her demoted and disillusioned, Libby realizes she needs to start living authentically...and soon. But just as she tries to uncover her purposed life, her cruel and unusual boss, Cecilia, demands that Libby hide Seattle’s most famous homegrown rock star in order to keep her new, bad job. For the first time in years, Libby doesn’t have a step by step plan to guide her. She must trust her faith and her heart. But what is she supposed to do with her growing admiration for Blaine Slater, a new VP from Chicago, or the surprising kindness of the rock star living incognito in her Seattle apartment? Through the humorous twist and turns, Libby uncovers a big life truth—the detours we are afraid of might just be the perfect path to happiness.

After I read this book, I'll post my own review. If you've read any of Hope's books, feel free to leave a comment. ;)

Introducing Sushi for One? By Camy Tang

Hey everybody, here's the book blurb for Sushi for One along with an author interview with Camy Tang. To save space, I'm going to post my review of the book next week. I loved the book and look forward to sharing my opinion of her writing style. Now, about the book:


Lex Sakai’s family, big, nosy, and marriage-minded, is ruled by a crafty grandmother. When her cousin Mariko gets married, Lex will become the OLDEST SINGLE COUSIN in the clan, a loathed position by all single female family members.

Lex has not dated for years.

Grandma homes in on this fact and demands, bribes, and threatens Lex to bring a boyfriend (not just a date) to her cousin’s wedding.

Lex does not want to date ... not since that terrible incident a few years back ... but, Grandma doesn't give her that choice.

Lex's options are slim because she has used her Bible study class on Ephesians to compile a huge list of traits for the PERFECT man (and the more she dates, the more she adds to the list).

The one man she keeps running into (and is completely attracted to) doesn’t seem to have a single quality on her list. It’s only when the always-in-control Lex loses control and lets God take over that all the pieces of this hilarious romance finally fall into place.

The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0310273986

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Camy Tang is a member of CFBA and is a loud Asian chick who writes loud Asian chick-lit. She grew up in Hawaii, but now lives in San Jose, California, with her engineer husband and rambunctious poi-dog. In a previous life she was a biologist researcher, but these days she is surgically attached to her computer, writing full-time. In her spare time, she is a staff worker for her church youth group, and she leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service.

Sushi for One? (Sushi Series, Book One is her first novel. Her second, Only Uni (Sushi Series, Book Two) comes out in February 2008!

To celebrate the launch of her debut novel, she's got a huge contest going on. Camy is giving away baskets of Christian novels and an iPod Nano! Only her newsletter YahooGroup subscribers are eligible to enter, so join today.

For more information about the contest, visit her website.

Contest ends October 31, 2007!

Now let's meet Camy (as if there's anyone left who doesn't know the most well known blogger on the web...LOL)
Sabrina: Hi, Camy, congratulations on your fab new release, and welcome. Now, a lot of your bloggees and fellow ACFW members know the story about how Brandilyn prayed over you and you realized you were to write about your heritage. But what about your family? How did they perceive the book? Did they laugh with you, cry with you, try to find themselves in the book, etc... LOL.

Camy: It's kind of funny, because I purposefully made an announcement at a family party earlier this year: "NONE OF YOU GUYS ARE IN MY BOOK!" LOL

Seriously, none of my family is in my book. The characters are purely
from my rather scary head.

However, my family is SO proud of me. My mom especially is very proud because she was a high school English teacher and always encouraged me to write. She never once told me, "It's not really very likely you'll actually become published." She always just told me to keep writing,
and she even proofread my first manuscript.

Sabrina: Man, what a great mom. ;) I'm sure she's bursting with pride. Now, without giving too much away, what scene did you have the most fun writing?

Camy: The funnest scene was actually the first one in the Chinese restaurant at the Red Egg and Ginger party. For one, it involved lots of really good Chinese food--always a wonderful thing--and for another, it was so true to life about how a real Red Egg and Ginger party is like:
tables packed in a restaurant, people scrambling for food, waiters sliding in between chairs, the younger folk jammed into the back of the room and fighting for space.

Sabrina: That scene really drew us in right away. You did a great job helping us to see the scene.

Having read your blog, quite often, I know you are actively involved with the youth at your church and very involved in the lives of the kids you mentor. You could tell in the book, you have a handle on the young adult scene and how they live/talk/believe, so what did the girls you mentor think of the book?

Camy: Not many of the girls in my youth group read romance, but the ones who have read the book have liked it a lot. It's a little hard for them to relate to the protagonist, Lex, because she's a lot older than they are and dealing with different issues related to her stage of life, but they like the humor and the scenes with Lex's family, because they mirror their own families to an extent.

Sabrina: Some writers say they never use real life people for the idea of a certain character, I'm not one of those people. LOL. I have all kinds of people I've seen or known in my book, never the same as the real life people, but I know where they got their traits from. All that to ask, is there any Camy in the book? Though I think I might know this answer, I'm curious to see if I'm right. ;)

Camy: I do have a camy-o appearance in the book, it's a volleyball player who's not very good whose name is, incidentally, Camy. She gets beamed by a spiked volleyball and lands flat on her back. That actually happened to me. My volleyball friends call me the ball-magnet.

Sabrina: I thought that was so cute using your name. Now, tell us a little about book two.

Camy: Here's the blurb:

Will Trish Sakai be able to follow her three simple rules and hold out
against two gorgeous guys?

Trish Sakai is ready for a change from her wild, flirtatious behavior.
And her three cousins are anxious for her to change, too. Trish is
always knocking something over, knocking herself out, and taking hard
knocks in her perpetual confusion about men.

When Trish's ex-boyfriend, Kazuo the artist, keeps popping up at all
the wrong moments, Trish decides to be firm with herself. She creates
three simple rules from First and Second Corinthians and plans to
follow them to the letter. No more looking at men! No more dating
non-Christians! She will persevere in hardship by relying on God.

Except now Kazuo is claiming Trish is his muse, and he can't complete
his major work of art without her. And a gorgeous coworker is
reassigned, bringing him in daily contact with Trish. But her cousins
are determined to hold her accountable to her plan. She thought three
rules would be a cinch, but suddenly Trish's simple rules don't seem
so simple after all.

Sabrina: Man, I can hardly wait. I'm already ready for it...can't you write any faster, woman. ;) Actually that leads into my next question. Now that you have raving fans to think of, what's your writing day like?

Camy: I'm a night owl, so I tend to get up later in the morning and work late into the evening. I try to get some exercise done first thing (although that doesn't always happen) and I also spend time with God. (Right now I'm going through a lectio divina book that's totally fabulous, and I've done the Bible in 90 Days a couple times.) That time with God is the most important part of my day, because if I don't work to develop that relationship with Him, then He won't be in my stories, and if that happens, what's the point of writing?

I spend about 1-3 hours on email--it depends on what I have going on, for instance when the Genesis contest is running, I'll be spending time doing emails for that--and then the rest of the day is writing. Sometimes I'm plotting, sometimes I'm working on character, sometimes
I'm editing, sometimes I'm writing the manuscript. It depends on what
my next deadline is.

Sabrina: How long do your books take from concept to end?

Camy: Six months, although I'm trying to cut that down. That includes several months of planning and plotting, about 6 weeks of writing, a couple weeks for my crit partners to get the manuscript back to me, and a few days to incorporate their suggestions before turning it into
my editor. Then I get macro edits and after that line edits.

Sabrina: You left us wanting more at the end of Sushi. Will we see more of Aiden and Lexi in book two?

Camy: A little. They're minor characters in Only Uni, but they do play a significant role in Trish's story.

Sabrina: What's the take away for this book? What do you want people to feel or know by the end of the book?

Camy: While I hope the story encourages Christians in their spiritual walks, I won't lie--first and foremost, I hope they just enjoy the read.

Sushi for One is the kind of book I like to read--clean, funny, romantic, light, spiritual. It's not Oswald Chambers or Lee Strobel--it's a flirty, fluffy, entertaining novel with a message of
encouragement for women struggling with some of the same issues Lex is struggling with--identity, career, the shadows of her past, her relationship with God.

Sabrina: Thanks, Camy. I appreciate you taking the time to be here, and I look forward to all those fabulous books in your future. ;)

Camy: Thanks, Sabrina! I also want to remind everyone that I have a huge website
contest going on right now where I'm giving away baskets of Christian fiction and an iPod Nano! Only my newsletter YahooGroup subscribers are eligible to enter, so join today! (and mention you heard it here!)

As I Have Loved You, by Nikki Arana

Hey all, I'm sorry I've been MIA lately, I've been trying to get ready for conference and still keep up with the day job along with the freelance job I do. I'm behind on the Love Inspired Wednesday review but I should have one posted for Murder by Mushroom tomorrow at the latest and then Sushi for One by Camy Tang will be up next. ;)

Now for As I Have Loved You. I did the CFBA blog tour when this was one of our chosen books, but I wanted to take the time to do my own post about this book. It was quite interesting and also the first book I've read by Nikki Arana.

Here's the blurb:

Leigh Scott is a widowed, single mother who wants the best for her son Jeff. She would like him to graduate from college, land a secure job, and start a family. However, Jeff, who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) at a young age, has a God-given compassion for people. And his non-judgemental acceptance of all has unintended consequences.

Jeff starts dating Jessica, a girl with a questionable past and seemingly non-existent future. Soon, Jeff's grades drop as quickly as his sober determination to achieve the goals he's worked toward all his life, and Leigh finds herself caught in a relational tornado

To complicate matters further, Leigh is an author with a looming book deadline, a father battling cancer, and her former boyfriend and first love, a strong Christian Native American, coming back in her life.

Sabrina Here: As I said, this is the first book I've read by this author. I didn't know what to expect and was pleasantly surprised. Arana does a great job with her characterization by making us really feel for her characters. She makes them human with real flawes and yet showing their redeeming values.

Her character, Jessica, (I won't give too much away) anyway, Jessica has lived a less than stellar life, she's making a mess of Leigh's son's life and to put it honestly, sucking the life out of him and dragging him into a life of despair. What Arana does so well is make us feel for the girl, even though she's a mess, and she never quits being a mess, we still see her redeeming value and find ourselves praying the girl gets the help she deserves.

By the end of the book, Leigh realizes her own flaws as a Christian and sees herself for the judgmental person she's become. How many times in our own walk with God do we find ourselves feeling self-righteous and as much as I hate saying it...better than others? I'll confess it right here, I judge people all the time, only to be convicted by God with that little still voice saying "Sabrina, isn't my grace sufficient for them too?"

I think that's what I loved about this book, it was full of flawed people doing the best they could. Both Christians and non-Christians. And that's real life folks.

If I had to find a fault with the book I'd say they didn't do justice to her cover. There was so many neat things they could have done to incorporate the story line that I admit I might not have picked it up by cover alone if I'd have seen it in the bookstore. If you get the chance, pick up your copy today. And if you go to Nikki's website and find and email me a title of one of Nikki's other books I'll put you in a drawing for a copy of As I Have Loved You. ;)

Go check it out...

Hey, new friend, and overall great gal, Georgiana Daniels, has a picture of her new book cover, Table for One. It's a darling cover and I'm excited for her. Go check it out and congratulate her on her first sale. ;)

A McKaslin Homecoming by Jillian Hart

When contacted by her long-lost grandmother, Lauren McKaslin wanted to reconnect- with all the warmhearted Montana McKaslins. For too long, she'd relied solely on herself and her faith. But mistrustful lawman Caleb Stone stood in her way, and his questions about her were intimidating. Was his attention more than a protective instinct? Now that she believed in family again, perhaps this was also the time to believe in true love...

* * * * *

Sabrina here: This is actually my first Jillian Hart book and I can't imagine why. I'm loving the opportunity to read all these great authors for the first time. It makes me eagerly anticipate all those stories out there that I missed and that are to come.

In this book, Lauren McKaslin has lived with her mother all her life (at least for the life she can remember) Now after all these years she finds there's this whole family that has missed her. They've wanted her to be a part of their life. Not at all what she's been led to believe. She's nervous and timid and so afraid to hope for a future with the new family.

This story was so sweet and moving. Being a girl who has a family out there somewhere that I've never met, this story was particularly moving for me. I felt such compassion for Lauren as she watched the family interact together and struggled with feelings of being a stranger and not really having a place in the family.

Her new found sisters did a tremendous job of including her and added charm and laughter to the book.

The love interest, Caleb Stone, was a solid, steady, hunk of a man, that most women would love to meet. LOL. He was encouraging to her when she needed it and gave her a little push when she needed that too. I think if you have a chance to purchase this book, you won't be disappointed. I can't wait to go back and read the McKaslin books I've missed. Overall great read. Click here to purchase.

VANISHED BY MARGARET DALEY

Without a Trace
As a detective in Chicago, J.T. Logan had put away a lot of criminals--and had made a lot of enemies. However, the last thing the widowed father and current small-town sheriff expected was crime in his own backyard. Until his young daughter was kidnapped.

FBI agent Madison Spencer found herself working with J. T. again on a case painfully different from their previous one. She could only watch as he struggled to remain coldly professional while his heart was in anguish. And what of her own heart? Romance should be the furthest thing from their minds. All she could do was hope--and pray--for them all.

Sabrina Here: I recently "found" this book on my bookshelf. I had put it there and when I got another shipment of books for review I must have temporarily missed this one. This is a May 2007 book by Steeple Hill. It is still available to purchase here.

This book was actually a great read, but it was not a lighthearted fun read for a lot of reasons. First it dealt with a tough subject--the kidnapping of a child. Daley did a good job making us fear for the child. She also made it easy to relate with the father and his feelings of inadequacy. I hurt for J.T. and even felt myself almost praying along with him that his daughter would be returned safe and sound. Isn't that a great feeling when the book becomes real enough to you that you want to pray for the characters? ;)

Another thing I found a little hard was I wanted so much to know the backstory with these characters. Sometimes reading one book out of a series isn't a big deal, but with this book I could tell that I have to at some point read the other books in this series of Daley's. I felt like there was some "good" stuff that I apparently missed. That's not really a negative more that I cared enough about the characters to find out more about them. I was sad to leave their small town. The romance was believable and very well written. I loved Madison's character and could easily see her in J.T.'s life.

It was a great read and I'd highly recommend this book. I myself am eager to catch up on some of Margaret's other books. I'll let you know when I do.

In the next few days I'll be reviewing Nikki Arana's As I Have Loved You. It was a very interesting book. I may even give a copy away. ;)

LOVE INSPIRED WEDNESDAY... Valley of Shadows by Shirlee McCoy

Since I'm targeting the LI line of Steeple Hill I thought it would be a wise decision to read as much of their current line as possible to not only see what the published authors did right, but to get a feel for what the editors are obviously looking for. Therefore, I'm going to try and post a review of an LI book every Wednesday. If you've never read an LI book you're in for a treat. The books are small enough that you can read them in one sitting or come back to over a couple days time. There's always a good balance between the romance and spiritual thread and in the suspense line there is always a fast paced energetic plot to keep you interested.

This week I'm reviewing Valley of Shadows by Shirlee McCoy. I've long been a fan of Shirlee's not just because of her writing. She's a kind hearted woman who is willing to share her personal experience in the publishing world and offer advice when needed. I've made her blog one of my must read blogs just because she's always sharing stuff about the industry or the writing process.

I took Valley of Shadows with me on our vacation along with about 4 other books thinking I'd have all kinds of time to read. Ha Ha. Ever been on vacation with an 8 year old boy who doesn't understand the concept of relaxation? LOL. We were too busy to even sit and read around the pool. So on Sunday evening with my son and husband already asleep I sat up and read the entire book until about 2:00 a.m. I kept thinking, one more page, just one more page. LOL. It was that good.

Here's the back cover blurb:

UNMASKING THE TRUTH

Working deep undercover was dangerous. Mercenary turned DEA agent Hawke Morran found out just how dangerous when his cover was suddenly blown. His life hung in the balance--until a mysterious woman saved him from certain death.

Hawke was a lone wolf--used to bringing down the bad guys by himself. Without a partner. Yet now he and Miranda Shelton were running for their lives, desperate to uncover the identity of Hawke's betrayor. Journeying from the mountains of Lakeview, Virginia, to the valleys of Thailand, Hawke vowed to protect the lovely Christian woman in his care.

Sabrina here, the story starts out with Miranda grieving the loss of a loved one. As she's contemplating her life and how things will change, she's drawn into a murderous plot to kill a masked and bound man that she's never met. She doesn't even hesitate to help him without thought or worry for herself.

Once she helps him she finds herself unable to go home and lead the "normal" life she's lived. She's on the run and the only one she can trust is Hawke Morran.

Shirlee does well writing living breathing characters. I felt drawn to Miranda immediately. I could sympathize with her loss and even her questioning her purpose in life. I also liked Hawke quit a bit. (who wouldn't?) LOL. He came across as strong both physically and morally. I especially enjoyed the traveling to another country and could visualize the scenes as they played out. I won't give anymore away because it would spoil the story for you, but it was a well written book that kept me interested until the last page. Overall, I felt like I had been along for the journey.

Readers of McCoy will find this as enjoyable as all her other books. They'll also enjoy the cameo appearance of Noah Stone from Even in the Darkness. Overall, two thumbs up! ;) Pick up Valley of Shadows by Shirlee McCoy today.

Character Flaws...

So most of you know my current work in progress is titled Rock Bottom. I don't know that I've ever really talked about the book itself much, but I figure most of you know the basic storyline as a lot of my friends have read at least the first 3 or 4 chapters.

For the few that haven't read it it's about a woman, a sarcastic, quirky woman, named Kate, who's sister, Paige, is an alcoholic. During the beginning of the story the reader will presumably believe it's Paige who is hitting rock bottom because of a drinking and driving accident at the end of the third chapter. However, Kate is like many of us "Christians" who believes she has it all together and she's not nearly the "sinner" her sister is--but throughout the story she realizes her own self-righteous attitude and finally sees the sin in her own life.

I was working this week on making the story even more twisted by giving the hero in the story a very unique flaw. I won't give that away right now so that when my critters read it they can find out for themselves, but anyway, I give him this flaw and wonder, hmmm, is it too much? I read a book this weekend for the ACFW Book of the Year contest and when I found out something the hero had done I was sickened. I couldn't believe the hero had done this and he was still going to be the hero, LOL. So this brings me to my question, how much is too much when it comes to character flaws? I'd be interested in hearing the flaws of your characters and if you struggled with giving them those traits.

Writing Related Meme...

I was tagged by my close friend and fellow Hoosier, Crystal Miller , and thought the concept of this meme was too cool to pass up. ;) Hope you’ll join in and share some of your writing/reading experiences.

1. What's the one book or writing project you haven't yet written but still hope to?


I don’t know if it counts since I’m actually writing it but not finished with it, but I’d have to say my current work in progress, Rock Bottom, would be the story of my heart. Because of my own personal upbringing and things in my own life that I’ve experienced, the storyline is very close to my heart. It’s a story that I want to do right and use to bring glory to God. It’s also a story that I feel is helping me to heal and move past some of the hurts of my own childhood. I know…deep, but honest. LOL.

2. If you had one entire day in which to do nothing but read, what book would you start with?

Oh, man. I have a shelf full of books I need to read. I never thought I’d have a never ending supply of new books, but I’m finding that it’s almost a curse as much as a blessing. It’s so hard to know which one to pick. I really, really, want to get into Jerome Teel’s Divine Appointment. I love politics. Or rather, the idea/concept of politics. I’m also excited to get to Colleen Coble’s new book, Abomination and I have a stack of Love Inspired’s that I’m excited to read, mainly because I find them to be very easy reads that are just a nice way to relax and enjoy good clean Christian Fiction.

3. What was your first writing "instrument" (besides pen and paper)?

LOL. I had this archaic computer, I think it was called a TS80 or something. My grandpa gave it to me. He’s a computer nut. ;) Back then it was so cool.

4. What's your best guess as to how many books you read in a month?

This depends on how busy I am with the reviews and now the first reader gig, but I’d guess maybe 10-15 depending on the size of the books. :-/

5. What's your most favorite writing "machine" you've ever owned?

Actually, my work computer (that I don’t own) I love how fast it is, it’s a custom built computer, flat panel monitor, DSL Internet, laser printer. It’s awesome. I go in sometimes on the weekend just to use that computer.

6. Think historical fiction: what's your favorite time period in which to read? (And if you don't read historical fiction--shame on you.)

You know I first read Janette Oke and Lori Wick. They were THE Christian authors when I started reading Christian fiction, and though my tastes have changed a lot, I still love a good prairie romance or anything set in the 1800’s in England or Scotland.

7. What's the one book you remember most clearly from your youth (childhood or teens)?

I can’t do one. LOL. I have two distinct books that made a huge impact on me. One was Don’t Hurt Laurie by Willo Davis Roberts, and the second was The Chronicles of Narnia. Those two books took me directly into the story. I remember looking forward to reading time after lunch so much. I couldn’t wait to see what happened next in the stories. Of all the books I read back then, those were the ones I’ll never forget. I’d love to write something that touched someone so much they remember the story 20-25 years later.

Now I tag, Jennifer Tiszai, Malia Spencer, Georgiana Daniels and Rachel Hauck. Copy the questions above and fill in your own answers. Then, tag someone else!

SAY IT WITH ME...REJECTION STINKS!!!

So I got my first rejection the other day and it was a bummer day for sure. Sigh. I had submitted my suspense, Prescription for Murder to Steeple Hill for the Love Inspired Suspense line. I have a small confession in that I'm not surprised it was rejected. Every day I feel like I learn a little more and a little more, so even since last winter when I finished it I know there are a million things I'd change now. :-/ I've started reading for Steeple Hill on a freelance basis and if I'd have received my book I'd have probably suggested a rejection, so there you go...I'm nothing if not honest.

I'm sad, because I love the Love Inspired lines and really had hoped for the book to be a part of the suspense line, but for now I'm putting Prescription for Murder away and pursuing my other projects. I have Rock Bottom well under way and I've started another book targeted for the Love Inspired line too. It was really hard just tossing something I've put a lot of time into, but I think it's time to just move on and keep trying to improve my writing.

I will say that at the 2005 ACFW conference in Nashville I remember one woman saying she had received 19 rejections in one year. I thought then and still do that she's a better woman than me because I'd have given up after maybe 5. One about did me in. LOL. What about you? Any rejection stories you're up to sharing?

Oh and one last thing...thank you to my dear friend, Cara Putman for sending the Rockin' Girl Blogger my way. ;) I don't know if my friends will see this but I'm passing it on to:

Jennifer Tisza
Malia Spencer
Shirlee McCoy
Georgiana D
Crystal Miller

I know a couple of these girls might have been tagged already but I have to include them, they're my favorite girl blogs. ;)

Okay, how will this bring glory to Christ?

Quote from Rachel Hauck's blog this week "As for my legacy, how can I really say? To be known in heaven more than I'm known on earth?

I thought of a hundred things but this is what I want my legacy to be: that some day people will say, "I met a woman once. I don't remember her name or even what she looks like, she might have been a writer, but every time I was around her, I could see Jesus. I wanted to be more like Him. I knew He loved me."Rachel Hauck


Sabrina here: I think sometimes it's easy for an artistic person to lose themselves in their art form and to forget why it is they have the passion for their craft. Or what brought them to that craft in the first place. I know I've had that problem lately. You know I'm not one of these writers that will say "I write because I have to" Or "It's like breathing to me--I have to do it" No I write simply because I enjoy it. I truly do. I enjoy stretching my mind and learning new things. I enjoy feeling like I'm not becoming stale and lethargic mentally. I like creating a written piece and having people be pleased with it. Whether that's wrong or not, that's how I'm made. LOL.

Anyway, I've been thinking lately about why I write Christian fiction as opposed to secular when everyone says there's better money in the ABA. But it's simple really, I write Christian fiction because I ultimately want to please God. I want to create something that my Father in heaven finds pleasure in. Just like we love when our earthly parents say "Wow, I'm so proud of you." I crave that same glorious response from Him. So lately as I write these books and my articles I've realized, I haven't implemented that into my work as much as I did at first. I haven't sat down and said, "Okay, how will this bring glory to Christ or how will this lead someone to God?" I haven't done that and I have to wonder if that's why I'm having such a hard time lately.

I think I haven't felt like writing because I'm not impressed with the end result. Sigh. It makes me sad that I'm going through this spiritual drought, so to speak, but it happens. I hear it all the time with other writer friends. And even non-writers...we as Christians all go through it. We have moments when our faith and our ministry is the most important thing in our life and we're passionate about it. Then we go through tough times or challenging circumstances and we fizzle out. But see I don't want to fizzle out. I want to continue to be on fire for Christ. I want to love the Lord so much that when people are around me they wonder if I'm some kind of freak. LOL. I want my passion back.

Can you tell I've had a setback lately? I sound all deep and depressing. LOL. But really, I'm going through a tough time and I've decided I'm done with it. I'm committing to change. Both in my personal life and my writing life. I'm going to reevaluate my projects and focus on the spiritual thread more. I'll let you know how it goes and maybe when I'm through this little desert I'm traveling through, I'll share some of what's been going on. For now I just needed to make myself accountable to some of my writing friends.

On a similar thread, one of the reasons for this post is because I frequent Rachel Hauck's Blog, not just because as a writer she rocks, LOL, but mainly because I never know what Rachel will have posted. One day she'll make me laugh and the next she will make me cry feeling convicted with some spiritual truth or biblical principal she's written about. This week I was particularly moved by the quote at the beginning of this post and I thought, "That's where I want to be Lord--I want people to see Jesus in me...in my writing, to feel Your love through me and my written words."

CFBA Blog Tour of the Divine Appointment

I haven't received my book yet, but I'm eagerly awaiting this one. ;)

THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT
(Howard Books June 5, 2007)

"They aren't hiding just one something, but a bunch of somethings..."
Small town southern lawyer, Elijah Faulkner is a dying breed...an attorney that actually takes pleasure in fighting injustice by working hard for the little guy. But when he takes on a case to defend a philandering doctor with a pregnant wife in a seemingly open-and-shut murder trial, Eli is not so sure he is on the 'right' side.

Back in Washington D.C., supreme Court Justice Martha Robinson has died, presenting an unprecedented opportunity for conservative President Richard Wallace to impact the direction of the highest court in the land. He believes God put him in the presidency for just such a time as this...to make a Divine Appointment. Not everyone is thrilled with the president's nominee, however. And some will stop at nothing, including murder, to prevent his confirmation by the Senate.

A lobbyist with a vendetta, a small-time Mafioso, an investigative reporter with a Watergate complex, and a powerful Washington political machine combine to create a fast-paced suspense novel that explores the anatomy of a murder, and the ripple effect that it creates across the country.

"Jerome Teel has crafted an intriguing political thriller...nice twists and turns to keep you reading. he paints vivid mental pictures that bring characters and locales to life."--Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee's 7th District


The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1416543384


ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jerome Teel



Jerome Teel is a graduate of Union University, where he received his JD, cum laude, from the Ole Miss School of Law. He is actively involved in his church, local charities, and youth sports.He has always loved legal-suspense novels and is a political junkie. He is also the author of The Election, another political thriller that we reviewed November of '06.Jerome and his wife, Jennifer, have three children...Brittney, Trey, and Matthew...and they reside in Tennessee where he practices law and is at work on a new novel.You could visit Jerome at his Website, or at his blog Christian Political Blog.

The Reluctant Runaway by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

This week on the CFBA blog tour we're featuring Jill Elizabeth Nelson's new book, Reluctant Runaway, I had the privilege of having Jill on a while back so I'm reposting that interview. I love Jill's writing and hope you'll go out to purchase the book as soon as you can. ;) The drawing at the end of the blog is still current, so leave those comments. ;)



Stolen Indian artifacts. . .

A dead museum guard. . .

A missing wife and mom. . .

A baby in mortal danger. . .

Museum security expert Desiree Jacobs and FBI agent Tony Lucano scramble to unearth the horrifying secret that links every incident. The investigation thrusts them into the path of something dark and sinister.

Something that craves blood sacrifice.

From the high society of the U.S. capital to the streets of Desi's beloved Boston to the mountain desert of New Mexico, Desi and Tony must thwart forces of darkness—relying on God’s guidance and strength—to save a young woman and her baby from a villain more desperate than they can imagine.


I received The Reluctant Runaway several weeks ago and have been dying to do this interview with the author Jill Elizabeth Nelson. Some of you will remember that I loved Jill's debut novel Reluctant Burglar. I thought it had a little bit of everything. Intrigue, suspense, romance, drama. I would have been hard pressed to find any fault at all with the book. So when I heard about the second book I wondered if it would hold up to the praise of book one. You know how sequel movies are never as good as the original and almost always leave you feeling dissatisfied???

I can honestly say Jill blew that theory out of the water. Again, her book has it all. This time she even threw in some cult like behavior for good measure. ;) She obviously did her homework and researched the locations in the book very well. I felt like I could feel the desert rock under foot as Desi made her way through the rough terrain.

The romance between Desi and Tony doesn't leave me disappointed either. I love the chemistry of these characters. I still stand by my first opinion of this series and say that these characters could do justice to a T.V. series. I know I'd watch it.

After you read the short interview with Jill, please leave me a comment about what you thought of the first book or why you'd like to read this book and I'll draw from the names for a free copy of The Reluctant Runaway. ;)

Hey, Jill. I thought we’d go for a more fun, quirky interview…since we already did the mature/serious one. back in October. LOL.

I have to reiterate how much I enjoyed both the Reluctant Burglar and the Reluctant Runaway. Last year I thought RB was one of the best books I read and I mean that. (I still say it would make a killer TV. series)You can bet Reluctant Runaway will make the top ten list next year. ;)

Anyway, tell me something about yourself that readers or even friends might be surprised to learn about you.

JN: When I get to laughing really hard, I start a high-pitched squeak sound like Mutley from those old Dastardly and Mutley cartoons. My family thinks it’s so funny they laugh at me . . . not with me.

Isn't family fabulous? LOL. Is there any of “Jill” in your main character Desi?

JN: Only a smidgeon. Desi can be an I’ll-do-it-myself control freak, and I have to admit I can be somewhat the same way. All right. A lot the same way. The Lord and I are working on this. You could say I’m a “recovering Desiree.” LOL.

On the other hand, I only wish I could invent the clever repartee that she does on the fly. Generally, the smooth response doesn’t occur to me until after the fact. At least, we both love classic films.

I, too, would love to be as smooth and efficient as Desi. Now, if you could be doing anything right now…what would it be?

JN: Sitting in a lawn chair in a wooded area on a sunny, warm day, feeling the breeze on my face, and listening to the birds sing while I invent stories on my laptop. Nothing compares to that peaceful environment to facilitate concentration and creativity.

Sounds relaxing. What’s something you’ve always wanted to do? Any skydiving or bungee jumping in your future?

JN: My daughter bungee jumps. She can have it! Gill Grissom (CSI) rides roller coasters. He can keep those. And I prefer to stay in my seat in an airplane, thank you very much. But I would like to have unlimited funds and endless vacation time to travel the world on mission trips. Last year, my husband and I were in Thailand for a couple of weeks. Next year, we hope to go to the Philippines and Thailand. I’d like to do lots more.

What would be the perfect date night with your husband…pizza…fine dining…walk in the park…etc…

JN: A delicious meal at a fine seafood restaurant, followed by an exciting action movie. (I’m not a chic flick kind of gal.) On the other hand, a nice walk on a balmy day then dill pickle chips and a movie at home is just great, too. Of course, my husband doesn’t care for my kind of chips. He eats Lays au gratin.

Are you still working full time? Or are you writing full time now?

JN: When I’m not at my laptop, I work forty plus hour weeks as a housing manager at a senior housing complex. So you could easily say I hold down two full time jobs. Good thing I love them both!

Share something new that you’ve learned recently about the writing/publishing world.

JN: The more things change, the more things stay the same. Multnomah just went through a major change in being purchased by Random House. The absorption into a larger company and merger with Waterbrook (RH’s other inspie imprint) had its bumpy moments, but not as much as one might think. A number of processes changed as a result, and yet I find preparing a manuscript for publication the same hurry-up-and-wait business it’s always been—flurries of activity, followed by waiting for someone else to get their part done.

I adore your book covers. Very appealing and eye catching. Did you have input on the final design?

JN: I love my publisher. They give me input on everything. Their in-house cover designer came up with several options—using live models, by the way—then I got to pick what I liked best. With Reluctant Runaway, I selected my favorite and made a suggestion for a slight change, which they went with right away. I’m thrilled with my covers! I’m double-thrilled with the preview I’ve already had of the cover for my January release, Reluctant Smuggler.

Feel free to share anything about the book or future projects.

JN: Reluctant Runaway was such a fun book to write because I got to actually visit Albuquerque, where much of the action takes place. I so enjoyed the high desert topography and climate. The upcoming January release, Reluctant Smuggler, is special because . . . well, let’s just say we have some pretty awesome developments for Desi and Tony.

Be sure to stop by my web site for lots of great changes and updates since the release of Reluctant Runaway. My Stealth and Wealth page has a new art IQ contest posted for a monthly chance to win a signed copy. Also, my books page not only has excerpts to read, but a book trailer to view. I’ve also added a whole new page of speaking topics. Check ‘em out! http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com/

Thanks, Jill. I appreciate you taking the time for this. And I can’t wait for book three. ;)

JN: THANKS, SABRINA!

There you have it folks. Now leave those comments for a chance to win a gently used copy of this fab book. ;)

HUGE CONGRATS...

Good friend and writing partner, Cara Putman, just sold her first contemporary suspense, Deadly Exposure, to Steeple Hill for their Love Inspired Suspense line. Cara has had a whirlwind year since receiving her first contract at the 2006 ACFW Conference for her Heartsong Presents book, Canteen Dreams. Since then she's sold two more books to Heartsong and now this one will make her fourth contracted book in less than a year. Please stop by her blog to congratulate her and learn about her upcoming releases.

CFBA Book Tours

This week we have two books on the CFBA Book Tour. Please check out their site for a review and links to purchase the books.

I already interviewed Rachel Hauck about her newest release, Diva Nash Vegas, read my interview posted Sunday May 20th.

You'll find Rachel is one of my favorite Chick Lit writers and I know you won't be disappointed with this fun read.

Sadly, with the contest I'm working on I haven't had time to read Nikki Arana's As I Have Loved You yet, but as soon as I do I'll post my own review and hopefully an interview with the author, for now, check out the CFBA blog to learn about these fascinating authors.

Meet Ramona Cecil

Hey, folks, please welcome fellow Indiana Hoosier, Ramona Cecil. I've known Ramona for a couple years now and one thing I've learned about her in that time is she's passionate about her writing. She has a great desire to create a well crafted story and take the reader on a journey with the characters. I've had the pleasure of reading her book, Larkspur, and loved it. I thought it was wonderful and you can check out her website for my review.

So, Ramona, tell me about yourself...family...former jobs...anything you'd like your readers to know.

I'm a wife, mother, and grandmother and live in a small, Indiana town. I grew up in a rural area with parents who both had an interest in writing. Sadly, life intruded and neither enjoyed any real writing success. But they noticed my interest in writing early on and always encouraged me. I've written poetry since I was small. Between the mid-1980's and 1990's, over eighty of my inspirational verses were published by Dicksons Inc., a major producer of inspirational and Christian gift items.

I have worked many jobs including keypunch operator(remember the old punch cards that had to be fed into a giant computer?)to accounts payable clerk, to working at Wal-Mart in the toy department. My young grandson loved that one! LOL

What do you do in your free time? Hobbies or fun things you like to do with your family...

Our two grown daughters live away, so we don't get to see them as much as we would like. My husband and I like to take long drive(getting more expensive with the high gas prices),try out new restaurants, and visit places of historical interest. That works well, since I write mostly historicals.

I know you wrote poetry for years. Tell me about the experience that led you to write your first novel.

In the mid 1980's when our daughters were small, we took them to Conner Prairie, a living history museum near Indianapolis, Indiana. It was there, while visiting the "doctor's" house, that the idea for Larkspur was first planted in my imagination. In the kitchen, the "doctor's wife" introduced us to her hired-girl, a teen-aged girl working at the family's new-fangled iron stove. We were then invited to visit the surgery, then a separate log building behind the house. There, we were met by a young man who introduced himself as the doctor's apprentice. Well. . .my romantic imagination took off, and I thought "There's a story here!"


See that's why I'm not a historical writer. I visited the same place and thought, sheesh, can you imagine not having running water and indoor plumbing. LOL. I'm such a wimp. ;) Tell us about Larkspur and how it has changed over the years.

I had no idea what the craft of writing involved. All my life, I'd been a voracious
reader. I'd always made up stories in my mind, so assumed I could write one. But banging away on an electric typewriter was tedious and the pressing duties of motherhood and occasional jobs dragged me away from my story. I think I did a couple of rewrites(still having no idea of the proper way to craft a story)before I shoved it into a drawer somewhere to languish for years. It was about 1999 when our youngest daughter left home and I got a computer that I began to seriously consider trying to write again. For a long time, I didn't even get online. I just used my computer as a word processor. I continued to work on my own for a couple of years. I rewrote Larkspur again, a medieval that will never see the light of day, and several novellas. Knowing I needed help, I finally got online and found American Christian Romance Writers. I couldn't believe I'd found an entire group of people who did what I wanted to do. I quickly joined a critique group and began the process of actually learning the craft of writing. I took advantage of the wonderful writing courses offered by great, multi-published Christian writers. In 2003, I entered Larkspur in the Northeastern Indiana Opening Gambit Contest and it won third place. Encouraged, I submitted it to a publisher. It was rejected. That was a real blow, but great suggestions came along with the rejection. I had already begun writing Sweet Forever, a sequel to Larkspur. I put Larkspur away and didn't plan to do anything more with it. Then, I noticed a contest posted to the ACFW loop. A small publishing company that just published historicals was sponsoring a contest for inspirational stories. I decided to dust off Larkspur, rewrite it implementing some of the suggestions I'd gotten along with the rejection. I thought it would be a good way for to get my work looked at by another publishing company. I never seriously thought I'd win. But I did! Part of first place prize was a contract to have my story published. It was more than I could take in. At long last, Larkspur was actually going to be a published book I could hold in my hands! Oh, it had gone through many rewrites, but it was basically the same love story I'd envisioned twenty-three years earlier!

Twenty-three years!!! Oh you give me hope, Ramona. ;) What has been the hardest thing you've learned on your writing journey?

That no matter what happens or how discouraged I might get from time to time, I can never give up.

What do you think is the biggest misconception for new writers?

Probably the same one I had----that reading great writing is all the instruction one needs to author their own story.

And what was the most valuable advice you ever received about your writing?

Never give in. Never, never never, never give in! And it's just as true now as when Winston Churchill first said it. I've heard that from many writers during the six years I've seriously been working at the craft. Just as important, was the advice to turn my writing over to God, believing that there are no limits to what He can do. I did. And every time my heart cried out to Him to show me if I was still supposed to do this, he brought another encouragement.

With my last post about the Genesis contest, I have to ask, how do you feel about contests and how they help or hinder a writer?

Hmm. That is a tough one. They can be so subjective. But I've entered several contests and have learned something from each one. I do think they can be beneficial if you remember that they are subjective. But if you notice the same comment repeated by several judges, know that is something you need to work on.

I agree! Now tell us about your new Heartsong.

Sweet Forever picks up with the younger brother of the heroine from Larkspur. Ten years later, in 1845, Jacob Hale is a young minister in Madison, Indiana, a bustling town on the banks of the Ohio River. The heroine is Rosaleen Maguire Archer, a troubled young woman deposited on the banks of the Ohio at Madison after a steamboat explosion. Believing God hates her because she was born illegitimate, Rosaleen rebuffs Jacobs efforts to bring her to Christ. Always looking over her shoulder for the sinister gambler that killed her husband, Rosaleen longs to travel to New York where she hopes to become a concert pianist. But a growing attachment to Jacob, involvement in the Underground Railroad, and a burgeoning desire to make herself acceptable in God's eyes, keep delaying her plans.

What else are you writing now?

I just finished Charity's Heart, which is, I think, the last in the saga of the Hale/Morgan family. Set in 1866 in the towns of Vernon and Madison, Indiana, it deals with forgiveness in the context of lingering animosities following the Civil War. The hero, Daniel Morgan, is a veteran of the Union Army and survivor of Andersonville prisoner of war camp and the Sultana steamboat explosion. The heroine, Charity Langdon, is a refugee of the war-torn South, forced to flee north during Sherman's march through Georgia.

I'm also working on a long women's historical, The Heritage, set in my own southern Indiana county during the War of 1812.

You're a busy woman! Who has helped you on your journey...people or organizations?

First, I must say, God. I asked Him to put people in my way to help me, and He did---and still does. I must thank my parents for encouraging my writing from my earliest days. I thank my husband who has always believed in me and makes what I do, possible, and my daughters, who are my constant cheer-leaders. There are many, many writers and critique partners I've come to know and love dearly since joining ACFW who have encouraged me and taught me so much. I cannot name them all, but must mention a few. Colleen Coble, Diann Hunt, Staci Wilder, Pat Loomis, Kim Sawyer, and Louise Gouge are some of the wonderful, selfless Christian writers God has placed in my way to help me along on my journey.

Finally, thank you, Ramona, for taking the time to answer these questions, I know you're a busy woman.

Sabrina, thank you for allowing me to tell the story of my writing journey. I pray that my testimony will encourage others who write the words God lays on their hearts and dare to dream they might one day see their stories in print.

Now, for anyone who'd like to win a copy of Ramona's book, Larkspur, go to her website and find the answer to this question: Name three of Ramona's books listed on her website that are Germinating in her Story Garden. ;) Then email me at least three titles and I'll draw for a winner. ;) Happy sleuthing.