The Reluctant Runaway by Jill Elizabeth Nelson

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.

Free Copy of Coral Moon

Hey all, I waited a couple days to announce this because I was too busy absorbing all I could from Brandilyn's well crafted suspense, Coral Moon.

Now that I'm completely finished with the book, as much as I hate to part with it...I'm giving away my copy of Coral Moon. All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me why you want to read the book or mention a favorite Brandilyn book and I'll put your name in a hat and draw the winner Tuesday.

Warning...this is not a book for the faint of heart. Sigh. It's extremely suspenseful and delves into spiritual warfare. So if you're a member of the BHCC this is not the book for you. Otherwise, you're going to love it. ;)

Read the last post for a description of the book.

CORAL MOON BY BRANDILYN COLLINS

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Brandilyn Collins is the bestselling author of Violet Dawn, Web Of Lies, Dead of Night, Stain of Guilt, Brink of Death, and Eyes of Elisha just to name a few.

Brandilyn and her family divide their time between the California Bay Area and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho.

She also maintains an informative blog called Forensics and Faith where she daily dispenses wisdom on writing, life, and the Christian book industry.


THE BOOK:

The figure remained still as stone. Leslie couldn't even detect a breath.

Spider fingers teased the back of her neck.

Leslie's feet rooted to the pavement. She dropped her gaze to the driveway, seeking...what? Spatters of blood? Footprints? She saw nothing. Honed through her recent coverage of crime scene evidence, the testimony as last month's trial, the reporter in Leslie spewed warnings: Notice everything, touch nothing...


Leslie Brymes hurries out to her car on a typical workday morning...and discovers a dead body inside.

Why was the corpse left for her to find? And what is the meaning of the message pinned to its chest?

In Coral Moon, the senseless murder of a beloved Kanner Lake citizen spirals the small Idaho town into a terrifying glimpse of spiritual forces beyond our world. What appears true seems impossible.

OR IS IT?

And as Brandilyn would say...

Everyone knows I love a good suspense book. That's why Brandilyn has become one of my all-time favorite writers. Being a reviewer is fun, but when you get a book by a favorite writer, it's like setting down with an old friend.

In Coral Moon, Collins does exactly what's expected of a writer of her caliber. She writes a wonderfully crafted, suspenseful story that pulls you in from the first page. Look at this excerpt from the first chapter. I know this is a long post, but I wanted to show you how a suspense book should start.

Kill tonight—or die.

The words burned, hot acid eating through his eyes, his brain. Right down to his soul.

Only a crazy person would obey.

He slapped both hands to his ears, squeezed hard against his head. Screwed his eyes shut. He hung there, cut off from the world, snagged on the life sounds of his body. The whoosh of breath, the beat of his heart.

The words boiled.

His skull hurt. He pulled his hands away, let them fall. The kitchen spun. He dropped into a chair, bent forward, and breathed deeply until the dizziness passed.

He sat up, looked again to the table.

The note lay upon the unfolded Kanner Lake Times newspaper, each word horrific against the backdrop of a coral crescent moon.

How did they get in here?

What a stupid question. As if they lacked stealth, as if mere walls and locked entrances could keep them out. He’d been down the hall in the bedroom watching TV, door wide open, yet had heard nothing. Hadn’t even sensed their presence as he pushed off the bed and walked to the kitchen for some water.

A chill blew over his feet.

His eyes bugged, then scanned the room. Over white refrigerator and oak cabinets, wiped-down counters and empty sink. To the threshold of the kitchen and into the hallway. There his gaze lingered as the chill worked up to his ankles.

It had to be coming from the front of the house.

His skin oozed sweat, a web of sticky fear spinning down over him. Trembling, he pulled himself out of the chair. He clung to the smooth table edge, ensuring his balance. Then, heart beating in his throat, he forced himself across the floor, around the corner, and toward the front door.

It hung open a few inches.

They were taunting him.

He approached, hands up and fingers spread, as if pushing through phantoms. Sounds of the night wafted on the frigid air—the rustle of breeze through tree limbs, distant car tires singing against pavement. He reached the door, peered around it, knowing he was a fool to seek sign of them. The air smelled crisp, tanged with the purity of pine trees. The last vestiges of snow dusted his porch, bearing the tracks of his footprints alone.

He closed the door and locked it. As if that would do any good. He sagged against the wall, defeated and sick. How stupid to think they would leave him in peace. Hadn’t he seen this coming? All the events of the last few months . . .

Shoulders drawn, he made his way back to the kitchen and his inevitable fate. Each footstep drew him away from the life he’d built, reasoning and confidence seeping from him like blood from a fatal wound. His conscience pulsed at what he had to do.

The message sat on his table, an executioner beckoning victim to the noose. He fell into the chair, wiped his forehead with the back of his hand. He read the words, fresh nausea rising in his stomach. No misunderstanding their commands. They had a chess score to settle. He was their pawn.

He pushed back against the chair, arms crossed and hugging himself, the way he used to do as a boy. Dully, he stared at the window, seeing only his own pitiable reflection. For a long time he watched himself, first transfixed in fright, then with the evolving expression of self-preservation.

If he just did this one thing, his debt would be paid. They’d leave him alone.

For another hour...two…he sat, forcing down the queasiness as he thought through dozens of details. How he should do it. What could go wrong.

By the time he rose near midnight, he’d laid his plans.

Gathering the necessary items, shrugging on a coat, he slipped out into the cold and soulless night.

If you'd like to visit the folks from Kanner Lake, stop by Brandilyn's character blog... Scenes and Beans.

SOMETHING SO SIMPLE..

As Brandilyn Collins would say, my husband is a normal. Meaning he's not one of us. The writerly, imaginative, somewhat disturbed, LOL... He doesn't enjoy reading & he doesn't really "get" my writing. Now I'm not saying he's not proud when he sees my byline in the paper--and he's so encouraging with my fiction. (even though he doesn't read it) He simply doesn't have a lot of interest in the publishing world.

It bothers me a little, but then he has a hobby that I don't like and I don't have any interest in -- that's a story for another time. ;) So imagine my surprise when I came home the other day and he said, "Hey, I know it's not much, but I got you this." He pulled out a scrapbook. At first I'm thinking, "Does this man know me?" I hate scrapbooking. (more power to y'all that get into it...just not my thing) Anyway, I'm looking at it wondering. Then he says, "I noticed your articles are piling up in your keepsake box and I thought you might want to put them in a scrapbook for when Tanner is older."

Awww...how sweet was that? I realized that though we are so different and he sometimes seems like he isn't listening, I think he is. I think he's doing the best he can in a world he has very little interest in and I need to be more patient with him and find ways to include him in this crazy world.

I know most of my readers fairly well and I know your spouses are very supportive, but do they "get" it? And what was the last just for fun, sweet thing your spouse did for you? Something simple, but meaningful.

RECLAIMING NICK BY SUSAN MAY WARREN

It's time for another CFBA Blog tour and this week we're doing Reclaiming Nick by
Susan May Warren.

Award winning author SUSAN MAY WARREN recently returned home to her native Minnesota after serving for eight years with her husband and four children as missionaries with SEND International in Far East Russia. She now writes full time from Minnesota's north woods. Visit her Web site at http://www.susanmaywarren.com

RECLAIMING NICK is the first of The Noble Legacy series. Book Two, Taming Rafe, will be available January 2008.

A Modern Day Prodigal Comes Home...

NICK NOBLE HADN'T PLANNED ON BEING THE PRODIGAL SON.

But when his father dies and leaves half of Silver Buckle--the Noble family ranch--to Nick’s former best friend, he must return home to face his mistakes, and guarantee that the Silver Buckle stays in the Noble family.
Award-winning journalist Piper Sullivan believes Nick framed her brother for murder, and she’s determined to find justice. But following Nick to the Silver Buckle and posing as a ranch cook proves more challenging than she thinks. So does resisting his charming smile.
As Nick seeks to overturn his father’s will--and Piper digs for answers--family secrets surface that send Nick’s life into a tailspin. But there’s someone who’s out to take the Silver Buckle from the Noble family, and he’ll stop at nothing--even murder--to make it happen.

Endorsement:

“Susan May Warren once again delivers that perfect combination of heart-pumping suspense and heart-warming romance.”--Tracey Bateman, author of the Claire Everett series

If you would like to hear more about Nick, he has his own blog. Also, the first chapter is there...

I've been so behind on my reading because of my writing, that I'm not finished with this book, but I'm well enough into the story to say that I'm enjoying it immensely. From the first few pages you'll wonder what's going on. Who are these characters and what are they going to have to do with the plot?

Warren has made characters that I'm intrigued by and curious enough to keep turning the pages. What I'm finding strange is that I've only read one other book by this author. She's definitely going on my favorite author's list.

Okay, I have to confess, I'd have purchased this book just for the cover. LOL. I mean, come on!!!

Check back often, as I will be getting several reviews done in the next couple weeks.

Definitely A Crammer!

Hey, all! Look at me posting again. I also have a CFBA blog tour on Wednesday so I'll have 3 posts in less than a weeks time...go figure.

Anyway, I did it...I sent in Prescription for Murder. Sigh. As ready as I am to be done with it--it was kind of weird tonight when I didn't feel like I had to get on the computer and write. I have an assignment for the paper, but I had no fiction that had to be worked on tonight. I almost feel kinda restless.

Cara and I have talked about this and I've come to the conclusion that I work better under a little stress with a tight deadline. I'm not saying it's good to work that way, but it seems to work for me. I'm definitely a fly by the seat of my pants kinda girl. If I don't have that deadline looming over my head, I seem to just flounder around and never make any progress. On the flip side, I have found that I like outlining a little. I use to think I was a SOTP writer as far as plotting, but on this point I'm finding the outline to be a real help.

What about you? Planner or crammer?

This and That...

Hey, all. (If anybody is still reading this thing)I've been so busy with writing business that I have no "just for fun" writing time anymore. LOL. So here's what I've been up to.

This Friday I had lunch with good friend, Crystal Miller. We sat at the Cracker Barrell for like 4 1/2 hours. We joked about ordering the next meal, we'd been there so long. It was a fun time. We talked about life stuff but eventually the conversation turned to writing. Crystal and I are going to work very hard on our goals this year and we're going to keep each other accountable! (right, Crystal) ;) You heard that, Cara. So I give you permission to keep on us. LOL.

Last week I met with Jennifer Tiszai, Michelle Pendegrass and Cara Putman. It was fun to get to know Michelle as we'd never met before. She's a character. And her son was a cutie.

Jennifer is very dear to me and I was so tickled I got to see her while she was visiting our fair state. Her children were also very cute and were very good for having been in the car for the long drive. I can't wait until summer when we might get to visit again.

Cara, as always, was inspiring. I mean, really, where does the girl get her energy. I have to give Cara credit for keeping me on track. My competitive side works well with her personality. She makes me strive to do better.

I took a few days off this last week to finish some revisions on Prescription for Murder. I'm planning on sending it in on Monday. So if you're so inclined, I'd appreciate your prayers.

I've yet to decide if I'm going to enter Rock Bottom in the Genesis contest this year. I enjoyed the feedback last year, but not sure yet if there's a point to sending it in again. So I'll be needing to decide in the next few days.

Last week I got word from Rachel Hauck. I'll be interviewing her again and giving away a copy of her new book. I'm also going to have on Indiana's own, Ramona Cecil. I have a few others that I haven't actually scheduled so I hope you'll stop by often. And I'm planning on giving away a few books in the next couple weeks. The stacks are getting too tall. I'm afraid they're going to crash around me one of these days. LOL.

OH...I almost forgot. I received the new Brandilyn Collin's book Coral Moon this weekend to review. All I can say is WOW! I just started it and I can't wait to share it with you.

That's all for now. Leave a comment and let me know what you've all been up to. ;)

The Reliance by M.L. Tyndall

CFBA blog tour time...This week it's the Reliance by M.L. Tyndall

A YOUNG BRIDE separated from her husband just as a child has been conceived...

A GRIEVING HUSBAND tempted to take his anger out through the vices of his past...

A MARRIAGE AND A SHIP threatenend to be split apart by villainous Caribbean pirates...

In THE RELIANCE, Edmund Merrick tormented by the apparent demise of his pregnant wife Charlisse, sails away to drown his sorrows. He turns his back on God and reverts to a life of villainy, joining forces with the demented French pirate Collier. When his mind clears from its rum-induced haze, will Edmund find the will to escape?


Seemingly abandoned by her new husband, Charlisse battles her own insecurities as she is thrown into the clutches of the vengeful pirate Kent, who holds her and Lady Isabel captive.

Will she be swept away by the undertow of treachery and despair? Can Edmund and Charlisse battle the tempests that threaten to tear them apart and steer their way to the faith-filled haven they so desperately seek? Or will they ultimately lose their love and lives to the whirlpool of treachery and deceit?

Watch for my review of this in the coming days...you might be surprised!!! ;)

THE WATCHERS BY MARK ANDREW OLSEN

This week the CFBA is reviewing The Watchers by Mark Andrew Olsen.

Just below the surface among the family of God lives another family tree--one traced in spirit, invisible and ageless, known as the Watchers. For two thousand years they've seen beyond the veil separating this world from the next, passing on their gift through a lineage mostly overlooked. Throughout history they've scouted the borders of the supernatural frontier, but now their survival hangs by a thread. And their fate lies in the hands of a young woman, her would-be killer, and a mystery they must solve...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"Congratulations. You just reached my own little corner of cyberspace.

Who am I?

Abby Sherman, that's who.

Who are you? And why are you checking me out?

Drop me a few pixels, and let's find out!"

With that innocent invitation, Abby Sherman unwittingly steps in the crosshairs of history, and thus begins her harrowing tale--taking her from ocean-front Malibu to the streets of London, the jungles in West Africa, the Temple Mount, Jerusalem, and to the very gates of heaven itself!

A sneak preview of eternity becomes her one-way ticket to danger--and discovery….

Two lives collide in a globe-circling adventure involving both peril and discovery: Abby, a young woman whose visions of heaven turn her into a Web-celebrity; and Dylan, a troubled young man sent by an ancient foe to silence her. From California beachfronts to Nigerian rain forests to Jerusalem and back again, THE WATCHERS is high-octane blends of action, mystery, and spiritual battle spanning centuries.

A woman's awe-inspiring vision launches her on a quest through distant lands and ancient history, face-to-face with eternity and into the arms of a family line on the brink of annihilation...

A man who is hired to exterminate her discovers the folly of blind loyalty, then learns how to wage war in a realm he never believed had existed...

An extraordinary saga of the unseen war against evil, the reality of the supernatural, and the transforming power of forgiveness.


ENDORSEMENT:

"A writer who can take your breath away with a single sentence. A welcome, fresh voice that must be read!"--Ted Dekker

Original review posted by M. C. Pearson at 12:00 on the CFBA Blog

Tanner Snowman...

Don't you just love kids...I look at my child (Tanner)and am amazed at what I see there. He's accepting of my flaws and kindhearted. Even when I'm a grouch. Always eager to help even when I don't ask...and when I don't feel well he's always trying to cheer me up.

I have some kind of sinus thing going on and the other day he came in dressed as a Tanner Snowman to try and get me to smile. Since we got our new digital camera he's been a real ham. (my Dad bought it for me for work...thanks Dad)I often don't feel worthy of the unconditional love I get from him. I think most parents feel that way at some time or another. I am truly blessed to have him in my life. ;)

Now to put that in perspective...do I bless God. As a child of God am I continually trying to please Him with my actions? Is it my desire to make Him smile? Do I bring Him joy? Hmmm. Something to think about.

Wedgewood Grey

*** I'm going to go ahead and post the CFBA review because I'm not finished with the book yet, but when I'm done I will be posting my own review and opinion of both Wedgewood Grey and book one, Abiding Darkness. I'm into the first book and am eager to share my own thoughts about these books. For now, here's the CFBA...

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

John Aubrey Anderson
John was born five miles north of the setting for Abiding Darkness, a cotton country town within a rifle shot of two rivers, a bayou, a double handful of lakes, and endless acres of woods.
After graduating from Mississippi State, he flew six years in the Air Force then twenty-nine years for a major airline. And now he gets to write.

He and his wife have been married for forty some-odd years and live in Texas—about twenty miles south of the Red River. He spends the biggest part of his time writing; she’s immersed in leading a comprehensive, women’s Bible study.

They like greasy hamburgers and Dr. Peppers, most species of warm-blooded creatures (the kind that don’t normally bite), and spending July in the mountains.

ABOUT THE BOOK:


Wedgewood Grey is the second book in the Black and White Chronicles. The first was Abiding Darkness (August, 2006).Mississippi cotton country . . . in the spring of 1960.
The War At Cat Lake is fifteen years in the fading past . . . but the demonic beings who launched that first battle, are alive and well at Cat Lake. Waiting.
Late on a Friday night, on a muddy little road a mile east of Cat Lake, a ten-year-old black child is forced to watch while a gang of white men beat his mother to death. Aided by Mose Washington, an old black man, the boy exacts a measure of his own revenge. When the sun comes up on Saturday morning, Mose and the boy are fugitives.

Missy Parker Patterson, who as a child stood at the epicenter of the first war, is married and living in Texas. In the aftermath that follows Mose Washington’s disappearance, she goes back to Cat Lake to discover that the demonic beings have been anticipating her return . . . and so begins the second battle of The War At Cat Lake.

In 1962, an old black man and his grandson move into the country near Pilot Hill, Texas. The people in the local area are told that the old gentleman’s name is Mose Mann—his grandson introduces himself as Bill.

However, the lives of the new arrivals are not as peaceful as they seem. The unassuming old black man and his grandson are being pursued by a triad of formidable and unrelenting adversaries . . . a ruthless political leader, an enduring lie, and an invisible army allied beneath the banner of a hatred for God.

Wedgewood Grey is a story about the impact of choices that real people—people like you and me—are sometimes forced to make.

The Author's Website: http://www.johnaubreyanderson.com/
Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0446579505
Posted by M. C. Pearson at

2007 Christian Writers' Market Guide

Imagine my thrill when I arrived home to find the 2007 Christian Writers' Market guide on my doorstep. For more than twenty years, the Christian Writers’ Market Guide has offered indispensable help to Christian writers. This year, for the first time, this valuable resource comes with a CD-ROM of the full text, so you can search with ease for topics, publishers, and other specific names.

The 2007 edition also includes up-to-date listings of more than 1,200 markets for books, articles, stories, poetry, and greeting cards, including information on forty new book publishers, eighty-three new periodicals, and thirty-four new literary agents. Perfect for writers in every phase, this is the resource to get noticed–and get published.

It contains listings for: 695 periodicals, 228 poetry markets, 355 book publishers, 133 online publications, 29 print-on-demand publishers, 1185 markets for the written word, 321 photography markets, 31 e-book publishers, 122 foreign markets, 112 literary agents,and 59 newspapers.

It also gives you comprehensive lists of contests, writers groups and conferences, search engines, pay rates and submission guidelines, editorial services and websites.

Christian Writers’ Market Guide is a "must have' for any serious Christian writer that is looking to get published!

Sally E. Stuart is the author of thirty-four books and has sold more than one thousand articles and columns. Her long-term involvement with the Christian Writers' Market Guide as well as her marketing columns for the Christian Communicator, Oregon Christian Writers, and The Advanced Christian Writer, make her a sought-after speaker and a leading authority on Christian markets and the business of writing. Stuart is the mother of three and grandmother of eight.

Stuart has done a fabulous job compiling all the necessary information for the Christian writer. If you don't have this book--click the link above and purchase it today.

Interview and Book Give Away!!!

In 2005 I had the pleasure of meeting Cindy Woodsmall at the ACFW conference right after she received her first contract. Since then I've loved to keep up on Cindy's progress. I think by the time the interview is over you'll see Cindy is intelligent, kind, and very insightful. Welcome, Cindy. Please tell us about yourself. Anything you're comfortable sharing.

Hey, Sabrina, I'm so glad to get to do this interview. Thank you for asking. A little about me, hmmm, well, there are over six billion people on planet Earth and I'm one of them :-)

With that in mind, I'm not very unique or interesting. Are you pulling the plug on the interview yet?

As a young, married gal, I was walking through my living room when I had to stop mid step because I'd heard . . .

Choose you this day . . .

I looked around. Had that been audible? Was someone in the house with me? Is this what happens to people after they attend one of those in-home Bible studies like I'd gone to last week?

I decided it wasn't audible, no one was in the house but me, it was only a thought, and it was time to stop attending that Bible study thing. I shook the eeriness off and headed for the laundry room, but the words came again, only more of them.

Choose you this day whom you will serve.

This time I wasn't able to shake it off as easily. My feet seemed glued to the ground, but man alive, was my mind processing thoughts at the speed of a super computer and I realized a decision was being placed before me.

But I knew the plans my husband and I had for the weekend-plans that would have to be changed if I actually yielded to something higher than my own desires-and that change would be just the beginning.

Still, I realized I had to give an answer-one way or the other.

A snapshot of how temporary and fleeting my own ways were and how valuable and eternal God's ways were became very clear. I ran down a mental list of things, clearly deciding if I were truly willing to take on the changes. Then I walked into the bedroom and knelt beside the bed.

Here I am some *%*#*^* years later and I don't regret one day of saying no to me and yes to morals, ethics, and higher living.

My husband and I have been married close to thirty years; we have three sons, one daughter-in-law, and a mutt-just to keep things lively.

I read that you're a homeschool mom. Two of your sons away at college and one still at home. How has that affected your writing?

Our oldest son has now graduated and he's working full time in the Nuclear Med department of a hospital. Our second son was married last summer and he and his wife are both students at University Georgia. And the youngest son is settled into a routine at a public middle school.

What kind of writing schedule are you on?

I'm at my computer from eight until four during the work week, with very few breaks. Then if there's nothing family oriented happening after the homework and dinner hour, I return to the computer.

How long did it take you to write When the Heart Cries?

I had studied the craft of writing for several years and had years of Amish research under my belt when the idea for When the Heart Cries came to me during a sit down interview with an acquisitions editor. From that point it took right at a year to complete.

Are you one of those people who have always known you wanted to be a writer and if not, when did you start noticing an interest in writing?

Most days, I'm still not sure I want to write. It annoys me and yet I can't imagine wanting to do anything else.

But my first memories of life are me, lying in bed at night reworking stories my mother had read to me. What would the story be like if Cinderella hadn't been beautiful? What if she was mean and her step sisters were nice?

As an adult, the stories wouldn't stop. I blame Mom. She's the one who got all this started. She made my preschool time of her reading to me something that still stands out to me. When it was my turn to take over reading, she put a lot of effort into teaching me to love books.

Oddly enough, after decades of putting effort into ignoring the stories and going on with my daily routine, my mother died and my resolve to stand against the thief of time took a horrid blow.

Within a year I was writing, mostly to make the stories shut up!! It didn't quite work that way. After three months of writing eight of the worst novels you can imagine, one story held my interest-the Sister's of the Quilt story. Although the story as it's written today has very little in common with the original writing, the characters, relationships, foundations, and settings are the same.

So, I now want to write . . . I think.

What is one of the hardest parts of being a writer for you?

Time management, research, plotting, publicity, etc...Yes, next question? LOL

The hardest part is finding enough time to get everything done, but I'm not sure we can classify that as time management. There are only so many hours in a day, regardless of how well we manage what we have. Writers work for years and years before royalties come in. So there's all this work to be done and no money to hire help. To me, every other struggle, including research, falls under the one fight of finding enough time.

Take us back to the day you sold your series? What were you doing and how did you react?

Ewwww, after years of hard work, it was a bit of fun.

For several months the full manuscript of When the Heart Cries had been on the desk of three publishing houses and one agent.

It was the night before the 2005 ACFW Conference. I was packing my bags and looking forward to the meetings I had a fifteen minute time slot with one of the publishing houses that had the full on their desk and the prospective agent.

A phone call came in. When the caller ID screen had Colorado Springs written on it and I knew one of the publishing houses that had the manuscript was based there, my hopes immediately blasted to the ceiling. I drew a breath and tried to sound friendly and casual. It was from Shannon Hill of WaterBrook Press and she offered me a three-book contract.

I was sooooooo excited that I felt like I was soaring. I was soooooo terrified that I felt like I was suffocating.

Share with us your most favorite "author" moment. For example, the day you saw your book on the shelves, a book signing, someone emailed you a special note-anything that was special to you.

I've been a little weird about paying attention to the book, as if looking at it might be overwhelming. When the boxed books arrived here, I didn't open them. When it hit the shelves a few weeks later, I didn't go into a store for over a month. When someone e-mailed me, I felt unworthy and like I was waiting for them to change their minds. But before all that happened, I flew out to meet everyone at WaterBrook Press. I was standing somewhere for a few minutes by myself and I picked up a sales magazine that was lying on a table. It was filled with author names I knew and then I saw something totally unexpected-my book's cover (the ARC version), my photo, and blurbs about the book and me were in that magazine. That's a moment I never expected, one I'll never, ever forget.

Explain to us where your love for the Amish and Mennonite people come from?

As the new girl at school, I became friends with a Plain Mennonite girl. She wore the prayer Kapp and caped dresses. It was my first encounter with someone so separate from the mainstream. She was so kind and gentle, yet she was unyielding in her beliefs. I have fond memories of those days. She had a relative that lived near me, so when she went over there for family gatherings, I'd meet her there-sometimes without my family knowing or having been invited:- ) The women were amazing! Kindhearted, laughed easily. I loved them.

But neither set of parents really approved of our relationship. It made perfect sense to me that her parents weren't thrilled with some television watching, baton twirling, pants-wearing girl, yet they never made me feel the least bit unwelcome. My parents were harsher about it and when I talked to them about it they said they wanted me to desire the life I had been born into and not long for something that wasn't obtainable. But I also think they felt we didn't measure up and it was easier to try to wall me off from them rather than feel so "worldly."

When my friend came over, her rules came with her and we were careful to obey them-afraid that if we didn't, the adults would end the friendship. Although the regulations were much easier to keep when we spent the night at her house because her family didn't own any of the forbidden items, even a conversation about a television show or commercial could be enough cause for the parents to end the relationship. When my family moved some 700 miles away, the friendship eventually dissolved.

Years later, after working on my Amish books for a very long time, I prayed for an Amish contact. I had no idea how that would come about since I lived in Georgia, but within a month I had a contact who knew an Amish woman. From there I met the Amish woman, spent time in her home, and she reads my manuscripts for me. I cherish our friendship and truly wish we didn't live so far apart.

I ask every published author this question. What do you think is the most common misconception among unpublished writers?

That being published will validate their years of hard work.

I knew a man once who never enjoyed his children for where they were or who they were. When they were learning to talk, he held no joy, waiting on them to talk really well. When they could talk well, he held no value in them, waiting on them to read. When they could read, he held no value in them, waiting on them to prove themselves valuable to family members and friends. When they proved themselves to that group, he held no value in them, waiting on them to prove who they were in the workforce.

This isn't a made up story. The man is old now, fighting cancer, and still waiting.

But God's love validates us right where we are. If we can accept that, then wherever we are we are able to enjoy life as it comes at us and pass love on to others. And love is the only thing that validates us.

And on that same note, what has been the most surprising thing you've learned during your journey to publication?

That it's doable-from getting published to receiving in-house edits, to marketing, to all the stuff that sounds terrifying, it's doable.

What advice would you give to all of us unpublished writers?

Read Stein on Writing, by Sol Stein. (After a few months of that, definitely study Brandilyn Collins' Getting Into Character and James Scott Bell's Plot and Structure.)
Find a critique partner. A good critique partner needs to be a reader who is open minded. They need to be encouraging, yet painfully honest. And they need to like your subject matter and genre. And write some each day-even if it's just for twenty minutes.

Tell us a little bit about your upcoming books and what's next after the series?

My debut novel, When the Heart Cries, hit the shelves in September of '06. It made the CBA best-seller list and is a Books-a-Million FaithPoint Book Club choice for January.

The sequel, When the Morning Comes will be out September of '07.

My web site is www.cindywoodsmall.com and I'd love for anyone reading this to drop by.

I'm really excited about a year-long contest I have going on. It gives people multiple chances to win an Amish-made quilt. The money being made by the Amish women who are sewing the quilt will go to the yearly benefit for their community's school. So, feel free to swing by and enter it.

I also have a monthly drawing where the winner receives an autographed copy of both When the Heart Cries and, when available, When the Morning Comes.

Thank you, Cindy. I appreciate you stopping by and feel free to leave us with a thought.

I shared this on a friend's blog and it really spoke to her, so I'm going to share it again: We all have lives and responsibilities that do NOT have to fit anyone else's idea of what should be happening with our writing. It took me a decade to conceive my youngest son; he's no less important because he didn't arrive on mine and my husband's timetable. Think about it, if he was born ten years earlier, he might not be able to be in the right place at the right time to accomplish a set purpose. That may well be the case for some aspiring authors' work.

Now for the fun part. Go to Cindy's website and find out the name of her plain mennonite friend who inspired her love of the Mennonite & Amish people. Email me the name and I'll pull a name for the free book. Good luck and happy sleuthing.

Germ

** I'm having trouble with links for some reason... I wish I could load the author picture**

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducting GERM(WestBow Nov 1, 2006) by Robert Liparulo

ABOUT THE BOOK

If you breathe, it will find you...


The list of 10,000 names was created for maximum devastation. On it are business leaders, housewives, politicians, celebrities, janitors, children. None know what is about to happen...but all will be part of the most frightening brand of warfare the world has ever known.

The GERM...a more advanced form of the Ebola virus...has been genetically engineered to infect only those people whose DNA matches the codes embedded within it. If your DNA is not a match, you simply catch a cold. But if your DNA is a match, within days your internal organs liquefy and you die a most painful death. There is no cure.

The release of the virus would usher in a new era of power...one in which countries are left without any form of defense, where one person or millions could be killed with 100% accuracy yet result in no collateral damage to property or those not targeted.

That time isn't coming...It is now!

GERM is coming. Pray the assassins get you first.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Robert's novel paints a scenario so frighteningly real that six Hollywood producers were bidding on movie rights before the novel was completed. His acclaimed debut novel, Comes A Horseman, is being made into a major motion picture by producer Mace Neufeld and his short story "Kill Zone" was featured in the anthology Thriller, edited by James Patterson.

Robert is an award-winning author of over a thousand published articles and short stories. He is currently a contributing editor for New Man magazine. His work has appeared in Reader's Digest, Travel & Leisure, Modern Bride, Consumers Digest, Chief Executive, and The Arizona Daily Star, among other publications. In addition, he previously worked as a celebrity journalist, interviewing Stephen King, Tom Clancy, Charlton Heston, and others for magazines such as Rocky Road, Preview, and L.A. Weekly. He has sold or optioned three screenplays.

Robert is an avid scuba diver, swimmer, reader, traveler, and a law enforcement and military enthusiast. He lives in Colorado with his wife and four children.

He is currently working on his third novel.


Bob's website
The book link is: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0785261788

Generation Next Parenting and Interview with Tricia Goyer

As a fairly young mom, (hey, thirties are young) I sometimes feel inundated with information, advice, ideas and general busy body opinions of my parenting skills. Just when you think you have something figured out a specialist or expert doctor comes out and tells us we've been doing it wrong. I get frustrated and overwhelmed and I'm sure I'm not the only one.

A few weeks ago I picked up the book Generation Next Parenting to go through. Again, another parenting book. I'll be honest, I was leery to say the least. I didn't have a lot of time to read another non-fiction book on parenting or did I have a lot of interest. (again with the honesty) But because I'm a sucker for trying to improve my mothering skills, I figured I'd at least read through it.

Pleasantly surprised would describe how I felt as I flipped through the pages. Starting with the cover, the book caters to my generation. Tricia Goyer has the uncanny ability to make me want to turn the page. I wanted to see what music, gadget or fad from my youth she might incorporate into a parenting lesson. She made the book fun and easy to get through. Instead of clear cut advice, I came away with more of an understanding of who I am as a parent and what issues are important to me and the way that I'm raising my son.

I loved the little snippets from other real life parents throughout the book. I could relate to so many things they brought up. This book is nothing like the other parenting books you've read and I hope you'll pick up a copy.

After enjoying the book so much I asked the author, Tricia Goyer to stop by for a brief interview.

Tricia tell me a little bit about yourself and your family.


I live in Montana with my husband and three kids that I homeschool. I'm actively involved in our church, where we volunteer in children's church every week. I love spending time with my family and friends.

What's a typical night in the Goyer household?

Right now, during basketball season, I'd say basketball. Both my 17-year-old son and 14-year-old daughter pvarsityisty ball for a homeschool team. Their team travels all over the western part of the state, and our whole family travels together. It's fun! This is the only sport they play, so we really enjoy it.

Where did the idea for the book come from?

I got the idea for Generation NeXt Parenting after hearing a group of older mothers talk about "these younger moms" who want their kids to have everything and pour their lives into their kids. I thought, "That's me!" So, I started looking into the differences in generations, and how we raise our kids, and I was amazed by how our childhood shaped us as a whole. The whole book grew out of that.

What are some issues you face personally as a mother? Things you struggle with.

The thing I struggle with most is giving my kids enough time. Even though I homeschool them. Even though we take time to play games and hang out. Even though we watch movies together, have dinner together almost every night, and travel together, it never seems like enough. It's a Gen X thing. I realize how short this time with my kids is. I know how important the foundations I lay now will be for there for the rest of their lives.

How long did it take you to write the book? And did you have trouble selling it or did that come easy?

The book went amazingly fast. I got the idea in July, and I wrote the proposal and sample chapters. It just flowed out of me. By October Multnomah was interested in the book. By January the book was written. It was on the bookshelves the next October . . . and I felt God's hand on me the whole time. It was great.

One little quote in the book describes what being a Generation X parent means.
eX-cellent people, eX-celling to our potential, and eX-hausted most of the time! I love that. ;) Is there one specific nugget of truth in the book that really spoke to you?

Yes, that nugget would be: God chose us to parent our kids during this time in history. He CHOSE us. He also knows that, because of all the challenges, we would REQUIRE Him to succeed. We can do this parenting thing . . . with God's help.

How do you hope this book touches people? Or what do you want people to take away from this book?

I hope that people will realize God can help them in any parenting situation. There are tons of parenting books with great advice, yet it is truly God who can help any parent in any situation.

In one part of the book, you talk about being overloaded with advice. We get suggestions from everywhere on how to be better parents. And you mentioned how great the information is, but how our generation has very little time to do all the things we're told to do. Tell us how this book differs from just another self-help parenting book.

I really don't give people a list of things to do, or not to do. Instead, I talk about our issues and struggles as parents. I give Gen Xers a hint of why we, as a generation, have turned out this way. And then I talk about what God's Word says, and then I give Gen-Xers things to think about and consider with their own kids.

I enjoyed the My Take On It sections. A part of each chapter has quotes from real mothers and fathers. How did you compile your quotes or rather how did you come up with the contributors?
I emailed some of my Gen-X friends, I emailed MOPS groups, or other on-line groups-such as writer's forums-looking for volunteers. Then I emailed questions out and they responded. My biggest problem was choosing from all the great answers.

Finally, I know you also write fiction, do you want to take a minute to update us on your new projects?

My newest fiction novel, A Valley of Betrayal, hits store shelves mid-February. It is the first of a three-book-series on The Spanish Civil War. Book two, A Shadow of Treason, will be out this fall. I have four WWII novels published, but this is my first series. It will be three books total. And I love it!

Thanks so much for having me.

Thank you, Tricia, for being here. I look forward to reading more from you! I had planned on giving away my copy of the book, but I marked it up in a few places and I'm not ready to part with it. LOL. I hope you'll go out and get a copy today.

IF THE SHOE FITS...

No, you aren't seeing double. This month we are reviewing not one, but two books by Marilynn Griffith! This prolific writer has TWO books coming out this month! This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is posting about If the Shoe Fits (Steeple Hill Cafe', 2007) by Marilynn Griffith (fellow CFBA member, blogger, writer, and mother of seven)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Have Glass Slipper, Need Prince...
If the Shoe Fits is the second book in the Sassy Sistahood Novels. The first in the series was Made of Honor (Steeple Hill, Jan. 2006).

(BACK COVER BLURB)

In all my thirty-five years, I, shoe designer Rochelle Gardner, have never had so many men interested in me! My teen son's dad is back in my life after suffering from amnesia (yes, really). The church deacon has had his eye on me for years (and never said a word). And the young waiter (from the restaurant I've visited for singles' events) is trying to steal my heart. I've been struggling with my faith, trying to figure out which man God has chosen for me and wondering if I have the courage to step forward, on my not-so-pretty feet, to accept love. It's almost too much for the Sassy Sistahood to handle, but my girlfriends always have my back!
If you'd like to purchase this fab book, simply click the book to be directed to amazon.

In case you don't want to scroll down the page, here's a little info on Marilynn. ;) She is wife to a deacon, mom to a tribe and proof that God gives second chances. Her novels include Made of Honor (Steeple Hill, Jan. 2006), Pink (Revell, Feb. 2006), Jade (Revell, June 2006), and Tangerine (Revell, January 2007). Her other credits include Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul, Cup of Comfort Devotionals and her Shades of Style series (Revell, 2006). She lives in Florida with her husband and children. To book speaking engagements or just say hello send her an email. She loves to hear from her readers. ;)

I know I said something before, but Marilynn Griffith is one of my new favorite authors. Not only is she touching on a diverse ethnic background that's lacking in Christian book stores today, but she's also writing to people like myself. People who maybe haven't lived perfect cookie cutter Christian lives and yet, God loves us! I love that message. Thanks, Marilynn!

TANGERINE BY MARILYNN GRIFFITH

Todays book on the tour is Tangerine by Marilynn Griffith. Marilynn Griffith is a freelance writer and conference speaker whose online columns and blogs reach thousands of women each year. She is the author of Pink and Jade, and has contributed to Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman's Soul, Proverbs for the People, and For Better or for Worse. Marilynn lives in Tallahassee, Florida, with her husband and seven children.

Strangely enough, I’d never read anything by Marilynn Griffith when I received my advanced reader copy of Tangerine, her newest release. Tangerine is book 3 in the Shades of Style series. I was eager to see what kind of writer Marilynn was.

What will happen when outspoken designer Jean Guerra is assigned to work with her long estranged husband?

The story opens with Jean Guerra finding herself at an impasse. Her husband is in prison, she’s spent nearly every dime she has trying to help him win an appeal, and her teenage daughter is in desperate need of a strong parental role model. It doesn’t even matter that her husband swears he’s innocent. What matters is he’s okay with sitting in jail until God would see fit for him to be released. Jean makes a decision to move on with her life as a single mother. The story progresses into Jean’s forties or maybe fifties. A much neglected premise in today’s Christian fiction.

There’s also a definite ethnic spice to this book that is lacking from the majority of today’s most popular CBA books. It was refreshing to read about a heroine who had a strong vibrant heritage that she was proud to be a part of. While Jean struggles to raise her daughter on her own she does the very best she can and has a successful career in the fashion industry and friends who love her. The one thing her life is missing is a relationship with her husband.

This book takes a romantic turn when her husband ends up being her new partner on a line of clothing she must create for a major sports organization.

I enjoyed Marilyn’s simple forthright manner in which she told this story. It was a clean, well-written story of love lost and found. And dealing with the pain and aftermath from poorly made decisions. Overall, a great book! The first two books, Pink and Jade are now on my tbr list.

THE BEST OF THE BEST...

As promised, I wanted to start 2007 with a fond look back at some of my favorite books of 2006. I'm going to try and not give anything away in case you haven't read these books. So there shouldn't be any spoilers.

I wanted to include pictures for each of these books but it took the page so long to load I decided to just try links. I hope they all work. ;)

I admit I struggled with placement on a few of these, so let me just say that these books are 10 of MANY books I read this year. I loved all of these books and I could just about have a 3 or 4 way tie for 1st and 2nd.

Lets go ahead and start with book 10. Write Great Fiction/Plot and Structure by James Scott Bell. This is one of those books I had a hard time placing. For one, because this is not a book that was published in 2006, rather, I just finally got my own copy so I had to include it. Also, because it's my only non fiction book on the list, I decided to just put it at the end since it's hard to compare it with a fiction book I read for entertainment. This book has become invaluable to me. It's a fabulous book on the writing craft and a must have for all writers. If you don't have this book, do yourself a favor and get a copy now!

9. You might be surprised by this one. Miss Menace by Nancy Lavo. Again, this is not a book released in 2006, but I got my copy to judge for the ACFW Book of The Year this past spring. It was entered into the short contemporary fiction category. I believe it placed 2nd or 3rd. It's a Heartsong Presents book. The reason I liked this story is because it was well written. A simple, easy to read book that was very entertaining. I laughed out loud a few times. ;)

8. Dandelion Dust by Karen Kingsbury. I've long been a fan of Karen Kingsbury. As always with her writing, she does a great job of taking a situation and making it as bad as possible. Usually, the reader can't figure out how she will come up with a satisfying solution, but somehow she does. In this story, she takes a couple who have adopted this darling child and makes the unthinkable happen...the birth parents want the child back. Very good story. I admit I had tears in my eyes a few times.

7. Georgia on Her Mind by Rachel Hauck. I enjoyed this book because I had been looking for a fresh new chick lit style of book. Rachel didn't disappoint me. I'd never read anything of Rachel's and I wasn't sure what to expect. It was a very good book. I can see why Kristin Billerbeck gave it such a great review. (which might I add I regretfully didn't have a chance to read anything by Kristin this year)

6. Alaska Twilight by Colleen Coble. I've been a long time follower of Colleen's books and when I heard about her first women of faith book, I was very excited. I did a review of Alaska Twilight on Epinions last summer if you'd like to get a more in depth review of the book. The short version is simply well developed characters, fabulous setting and great conflict. I love that Coble's main character had to deal with a handicap. It made the story more believable and realistic. It's refreshing to read about a character who struggles with real life issues. Great read!

5. RV There Yet by Diann Hunt. I hesitated to put this one down just out of pure stubbornness. LOL. My mother read this book first and told me "Oh Sabrina you remind me of ________ in RV There Yet." I'm not going to tell you which one because I am only 33 years old and I did not like being compared to a character in a lady lit book. ;) I'm only kind of kidding. I really did love this book and I loved how I could see Diann evolve in her genre. She seemed to really come into her own with this book. It was well written and seemingly well researched. Great gift book for mom's or any "mature" lady friends.

4. Finding Faith by Denise Hunter. I'm one of those readers who breaks the traditional mold. I do not go into a bookstore and only choose from one section. I love suspense, historical, lits and women's fiction. Finding Faith was the best women's fiction I read all year. Period! She even added a touch of suspense to this one. Maybe her crit partner, Colleen Coble, is rubbing off on her.

3. The biggest fiction surprise of my year. The Reluctant Burglar, by Jill Elizabeth Nelson. I have a new favorite to add to my author list. Jill's story was so intriguing. I've always loved action/suspense/drama/intrigue. Jill's book has all that. I told her after my interview with her that I would love to see a show on TV based on this book. It was THAT good. The characters had great chemistry without being overtly romantic. If that makes sense. I can not wait for book two in this series due out this year. I think it's titled Reluctant Runaway.

2. Here's where I had trouble. I could hardly decide between one and two. I finally settled on Fire Dancer by Colleen Coble. This was, in my opinion, Colleen's best book. This story had more twists and turns than any of her other books. She led us on such a journey with a huge cast of characters. I pride myself on usually figuring out the culprit early on in the story. It took me close to the end to get this one. I can't wait for her new realeases this year. Abomination and Midnight Sea.

1. And the drum roll please... Violet Dawn by Brandilyn Collins. The determining factor between Violet Dawn and Fire Dancer for me was that Violet Dawn had this underlying element that spoke to me. Something from my own life that I saw mirrored in this book. It was a little less creepy than her other books. There was this one scene towards the end that I found myself holding my breath. Seriously. She did a great job creating panic in this book.

And there you have it folks, my favorites for 2006. I'm already excited about the books I've heard about for 2007. It should be an interesting year.

Feel free to comment on any or all of these books. Have a great day and thanks for stopping by.

Merry Christmas Everybody!!!

It's only days away and I still have several things to do. I think we're farther behind this year than ever before. Still have cookies to bake, buckeyes to dip in chocolate, presents to wrap (not to mention a few yet to buy) it just seems like it snuck up on me this year.

I think part of it has to do with the fact it's like 50 degrees here. That is way weird for Indiana. I need snow, people. There's just something about looking at the clean white snow on Christmas morning to put you in the holiday mood.

On a writing note, I heard back from the editor about my book Prescription for Murder. She liked the proposal. She gave me a few editorial suggestions and asked me to send her the complete. I'm currently working on those changes and hope to get it back to her in a couple weeks. It was so fun to hear from her. I fully expected to get a rejection, which I still might, but at least the story intrigues her enough at this point. That's something, I guess. ;)

Also, I had the chance to get together with two of my writer friends this week. We don't have as much time to do that as we'd like. It was a fun refreshing time to reflect on our writing accomplishments for 2006 and our goals for 2007. I came away feeling refreshed and ready to plow into those goals. Why do we keep ourselves so busy we don't have more time for these special moments?

Finally, I'm working on a top ten books for 2006 this week. I will be posting that next weekend. Hope you'll stop by to see if one of your favorite books might be on the list. Until then, have a very Merry Christmas!!!

IN CASE YOU MISSED ME!

Hi all! I just wanted to touch base with you all. I've been very sick. Between antibiotics, breathing treatments and decongestants...it's been a long couple weeks. I'm sorry for the lack of interesting tidbits lately. I hope to be back up and running in a few days. Blogging has been the last thing on my mind. LOL.

Talk to you all soon!