Conversations about Characters

Talking about the Blame Game

2012-03-05T00:01:00.025-05:00

Since Shades of Truth has hit Ebook readers nationwide...

and I know this because it actually appeared in the top 20 on 2 Kindle bestseller lists on Friday, yee!!...

I've decided to ask a reader question from the back of my book, today.

The hero, Ethan Reed, is working undercover in a youth detention center to ferret out the person who's recruiting residents for a drug ring.

In his youth, Ethan did time in a similar facility, and based on that experience, he remarks that residents always claim incidents are never their fault.

We talked about this tendency in our Sunday School class yesterday morning. That is, we talked about how all sin begins with self-deception.

Self-deception such as:
~saying everyone is doing it or
~it can't be wrong when it feels so right or
~I'll just do it this once or
~I can always ask God to forgive me later or
~saying you can't help it, it's not your fault, because of A, B, or C

Whereas, true repentance is marked not only by an admission that yes, you did wrong, but an absence of rationalization for it, as well as a genuine sorrow about doing it (not just about getting caught!), and the desire to make restitution to any offended party.

So here's the question: When you make a mistake in your life, do you tend to blame someone else or do you take responsibility? Since this is an intensely personal question, perhaps share an example of how doing one or the other (in your younger days!) had positive or negative repercussions and what you learned from that experience.

NEWS:

If you'd like to read an interview with my hero, you'll find it here: http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/2012/03/shades-of-truth-interview.html

And there's a giveway going on this week for a signed copy of SoT here: http://www.anitamaedraper.com/author-memories.html

Jury Duty Anyone?

2012-03-02T00:01:00.027-05:00

It's finally happened. I figured it would one day.

Eventually the town had to work it's way through the alphabet, and now my turn to do my civic duty has arrived...maybe.

I've been summoned to appear for a jury panel, which means that I may or may not be chosen to sit on a jury. The suspense writer in me is intrigued by the possibility. The practical-can't-sit-for-more-than-an-hour-or-my-back-goes-into-spasms side of me is a tad apprehensive.

I can't complain about the timing. I have no looming deadlines, and despite all the crime I write about in my fictional town set in this region, we don't have any upcoming trials that would go on for weeks on end...at least none that I know about.

So...I'm excited about the opportunity to experience the process, watch the people and take lots of notes for future books!

Your Turn: Have you ever been called to jury duty? If so, how was it? If not, would you want to be?

P.S. I emailed my newsletter last night. If you're a subscriber and don't see it in your inbox, please check your spam. If you'd like to be added to my subscriber list, there's a link on the right side bar below the Goodreads giveaway (which btw ends early Sunday)

Today & Tomorrow's Book Tour Stops:

Fri Mar 2

www.loveinspiredauthors.blogspot.com

read an excerpt from Shades of Truth

http://www.lisajordanbooks.com/

talking about love & romance

Sat Mar 3

http://www.pinkheartsociety.blogspot.com

View my work space & process ~ pics

Image courtesy of: David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

10 Character Lessons from a Special Guest

2012-02-29T00:01:00.040-05:00

Hi Bella here. I'm the furry one.

My mistress is exhausted because she spent yesterday entertaining little miss, so... I volunteered to do this post.

I saw that my kissing cousin, Simba, did one for Kav last week, and have wanted to try my paw at it ever since.

Then I saw that a little dog was even at the Oscars, and actually spoke. People are finally realizing that we have lots of important lessons to teach!

Now you've probably read some version of these lessons around cyberspace before, but honest (cause I can't even cross my toes to tell a lie like all my mistress's heroes do in their undercover work) I really live this stuff.

#1 Eat with gusto and enthusiasm...rubber boots, hubcaps, vinyl siding...it's all good!

#2 No matter how often you're scolded, run right back and be friends. Guilt trips are for cats.

#3 When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.

#4 When a loved one comes home, run to greet them.

#5 Delight in the simple pleasure of a long walk.

#6 Be obedient...when it's in your best interest.

#7 Avoid biting when a growl will do.

#8 Romp and play daily and take plenty of naps.

#9 Never pass up the opportunity for a joyride.

#10 When someone is having a tough day, sit close by and nuzzle them gently...and offer to write their blog. "grin"

Your Turn: How'd I do?

Oops, my mistress said I need a better question than that. How about...

What have you learned from a dog, or cat (since I know not everyone likes my species, but c'mon...
my mistress's cat sits on the couch and waits for me to walk by so it can swat me. What's with that?

I'm a good dog. I don't lie on the couch. I, um, took a bite out of it once, but I've NEVER lied on it. lain? laideded? I can't figure out your grammar. Anyway, thanks for reading this far. Hope you have a woofing good day!

What's in your Heart?

2012-02-27T00:01:00.017-05:00

I'm blogging over on the International Christian Fiction Writers blog today.

I hope you'll stop by and say hi! Of course, because it's in a different time zone, it doesn't go live until 7 am EST.

A recipe from Shades of Truth is also being featured today on The Yankee Belle Cafe

AND...did you notice the new widget on my sidebar? This week I'm having a giveaway on Goodreads for my March release. It's open to residents of the US, Canada, Australia and Great Britain, although you have to join Goodreads to enter if you're not already a part of the community of readers.

Have a great day!

Fun Friday - What would you do...?

2012-02-24T00:01:00.035-05:00

Since reading Nipped in the Bud last weekend, a question has plagued me all week...

What would I do if someone threatened me with a gun?

We see this happen all the time in TV shows and movies. The person with the gun usually gives the victim some compelling reason to come along quietly. Often a loved one is threatened if they don't cooperate. Similarly the character in Nipped was presented with a couple of very compelling reasons to stall, but part of me was screaming at her to...well...SCREAM.

Unless there are other bad guys who have my loved ones this minute, I'm thinking this is between you and me, buddy. And I will not go gentle into that good night.

If there are people around, I'm going to scream, "Gun. Don't shoot. Don't shoot."

Then I'm going to run like a mad woman. Most people really aren't that good a shot. Chances are they're not going to hit me, let alone kill me. Chances are even better that they won't want to draw anymore attention to themselves so they'll slink away and wait for another opportunity.

Of course, that's where the being petrified for your loved ones ramps up to hyper mode.

But c'mon if I let him shoot me, how do I know he wouldn't then go off and shoot them anyway?

Your Turn: You're at an outdoor event, or a mall parking lot with other people around, and someone threatens you with a gun. What are you going to do?

A Rose by any other Name...

2012-02-22T00:01:00.011-05:00

Okay, getting back on track today with our "conversations about characters"!

Over the weekend, I read Susan Sleeman's cozy romantic mystery, Nipped in the Bud. I don't often read cozies, but Nipped's quirky humor was a fun change from my usual fare.

Since I've written a mystery/suspense series that features a herbal medicine researcher, I was particularly taken with the clever idiosyncrasy Susan gave her character of thinking of each person she meets as a flower.

Lots of questions we could discuss on that front, such as if you were a flower, what would you like to be? Or what kind of flower do you think others would say you are?

I'd like to think of myself as a sunflower. My hero in my October release gives the heroine sunflowers because they are bright and cheerful like her. And like sunflowers, I strive to keep my face looking toward the sun (son)!

On the flipside, sometimes in life we attach labels to people the minute we meet them, and treat them accordingly, only to find out later that we were wrong.

Now, for my undercover cops, snap judgments are a survival skill, but most of us need to be careful about unwittingly doing harm to others as the result of a less-than-stellar first impression.

Your Turn: If you were a flower or plant, what would you be...or like to be? Any suggestions for guarding against making snap judgments of those we meet.

A New Line of Mysteries for Your Ereader

2012-02-20T00:01:00.000-05:00

Today is a holiday here in Ontario, Canada--Family Day. So while I'm enjoying time with my family, I've invited my friend Susan Sleeman to introduce you to some great mysteries for those with Ereaders. Be sure to check out Susan's The Suspense Zone, too, where you'll discover listings of a vast array of Christian suspense, mysteries, romantic suspense and thrillers, plus author interviews and book reviews...including one of Deep Cover. *grin*

Susan Sleeman here. Do you have an e-reader or maybe an iPad? Then I'd like to tell you about a line of cozy mysteries that has recently released with most books retailing for only .99 for a limited time.Spyglass Lane Mysteries are published by a group of cozy mystery authors who have joined together to bring you a new cozy mystery every week. Currently, there are over 25 wonderful mysteries in this line.

Stop by the website to view all of the available books and while you're there, be sure to sign up for our email newsletter where we announce each new book that releases and our authors share behind the scenes stories about the books.

I'd also like to share a little bit about my Garden Gate Mystery Series that is releasing as part of this line. The first book, Nipped in the Bud has already released and book two, Read Between the Tines will release in February 23rd. Here's a little bit about both books.

NIPPED IN THE BUD

WHEN YOU FIND YOUR BOSS PUSHING UP DAISIES. . .

Life in full bloom, landscape designer, Paige Turner, scores her first landscaping contract to spruce up the park, her radio talk show shoots to number one, and her retail shop is simply blossoming. Yes, her life is a bed of roses. Until she finds the city manager served up on the blade of her favorite shovel mere hours after she’s threatened to have his head on a platter, then the thorns come out. And there is none thornier than the local police chief declaring Paige the one and only suspect and threatening to plow her under.

YOU’VE GOT TO FORMULATE A PLANT OF ATTACK . . .

Paige teams up with dashing attorney, Adam Hayes to weed through the list of suspects, and clear her soiled reputation. And along the way, discovers that Adam just may be the man of her dreams.

» Read an Excerpt »Order It Now

READ BETWEEN THE TINES

IF YOUR LIFE IS A BED OF ROSES. . .

Recovered from her near death at the hand of a killer, landscape designer Paige Turner is certain her life will soon be a bed of roses. That is, until her employee, Daisy Rose Plante, finds a dead body, and the thorny police chief looks no further than Daisy for a suspect. Paige digs in and weeds through the list of potential killers, and before long, her sweet smelling rose of a life is soundly trampled.

YOU’LL HAVE TO SURVIVE THE THORNS. . .

Paige would be much happier working over-thyme on her budding relationship with handsome attorney, Adam Hayes, but it soon becomes clear she’ll be in a hoe lot of trouble with him if she continues digging for the killer. Does Paige risk all and try to unearth the killer? Or does she settle down in peaceful bliss with the man of her dreams?

» Read an Excerpt

SUSAN SLEEMAN is a best-selling author of inspirational romantic suspense and mystery novels. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books. Today, she channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Susan currently lives in Florida, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. Her husband is a church music director and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan visit: Website, her Facebook page, or on Twitter

Fun Friday - The Plot Thickens

2012-02-17T00:01:00.018-05:00

Okay, before I start, let me just say, I'm cheating...

That is, I'm sharing a post I wrote for the Craftie Ladies blog a couple of weeks ago. But if you didn't see it, it is fun. This is the beginning of a long weekend for us, so that's my excuse. ~grin~

Once friends find out I writefor “Harlequin”, they like to tease my hubby with questions such as: So what’sit like to be married to a romance writer? ~Elbow. Elbow. Wink. Wink.~

Well, let me tell you. It’snot all fun and games. Sure hubby’s happy to help inspire me when I need to experimentwith a kiss to get all the details right.

But I’m an inspirationalwriter so it never gets any further than that, much to my hubby’sdisappointment I’m sure.

Besides,I’m not really a romance writer. I’ma romantic suspense writer.

So more often than not, I’mcontemplating means of killing people, and more importantly, how to get awaywith it.

This can be quiteuncomfortable for my family. Especially if they happen to notice my book ofpoisons sitting on the counter as they sit down to dinner.

Didyou know that too much…?

Hmm, never mind, I’d betternot reveal that. I’m planning to use the tidbit in my next book.

My family has learned to takemy quirky ways in stride. My hubby is quick to assure people that it’s not himI’m planning to do away with when after I ask, “How could someone in yourprofession get away with murder?”

Most of the time, people warmright up to the subject. After all, be honest, how many of you have nevercontemplated how you might kill someone?

I’vehad a lot of fun with this line of questioning.

One time on the way to theairport following a writer’s conference, I shared a cab with a forensicpathologist. I was working on a mystery in which I killed someone by… hmm,won’t give that one away either.

Let’sjust say by an ingenious means.

So I asked him, “If I killedsomeone by such and such a means, would you be able to detect that?”

The cabbie’s gaze shot to therearview mirror. After the pathologist said, “No,” and I rubbed my hands inglee, I think the cabbie spent more time eyeing the rearview mirror than theroad.

Wemade it to the airport in record time.

Then in the plane, I satbeside an aviation inspector. This was a divine meeting since I’d written a planecrash story that I wanted to tweak, and I had a two-hour flight to pick thisguy’s brain about the myriad of reasons a plane might go down, and how.

Let me tell you, if you knewthis stuff, you’d think twice before you got on a plane. I’m pretty sure thewoman in front of us clutching her armrests was.

I could go and on withexamples of ideas that have blossomed from the most innocuous situations.

Of course, there aredrawbacks to having such an active imagination. It makes relaxing difficult.

This past summer whilekayaking with the family, I couldn’t help but notice how easy it would be tosneak up on someone’s house from the water. My daughter who is also a writerlocked right onto the idea and before you knew it we were spinning a tale ofmystery and mayhem, and eyeing suspiciously every person who paddled by.

Of course, while I have a lotof fun writing my heroes and heroines into the worst situations imaginable, inthe end, with the love of God and a good woman, the good guys triumph.

Talked Out!

2012-02-15T00:01:00.006-05:00

Hi everyone. Yesterday, I spoke at two different libraries about my story ideas and on writing tips. It was a lot of fun. I met some wonderful readers and aspiring writers and a very nice young reporter who interviewed me afterward.

I love hearing from readers about what they enjoy reading, and I love encouraging new writers.

I'd planned to come home and write all about it...but I was "talked" out. Not to mention that I really wanted to spend time with my hubby, being Valentine's Day and all!

He had a lovely bouquet of flowers delivered to me a day ahead of time since he knew I wouldn't be around. What an inspiration he is for the romance writer in me. ~grin~

Your Turn: How did you spend your Valentine's Day?

Happy Valentine's Day!

2012-02-14T00:01:00.015-05:00

Sending you a big hug and a basket full of best wishes, to let you know how much I appreciate all of you!

And...

sharing this yummy treat I recently received from a fellow blogger:

Mmm, it seemed like a perfect Valentine's dessert. Cheryl from Life in Flip Flops gave it to me. I enjoy reading about her experiences in Hawaii as I dream of going one day. 'grin' This week she posted a yummy recipe for white chocolate bark with a Hawaiian twist.

Seeking Security

2012-02-13T00:01:00.015-05:00

As I struggled this past week to move forward in writing my next novel, I found myself re-evaluating my characters and digging deeper into their psyches to understand what really shapes their choices, their actions, their decisions.

One aspect of this that I had overlooked is what author Susan May Warren describes as the hero's teddy bear or security blanket. Ignoring the fact that my hero's name is Ted and the heroine likes to tease him about being a teddy bear, I sat down with my hero and had a little heart to heart.

Where do you turn, or who do you turn to when life broadsides you? I asked.

He arched an eyebrow as if to say, do I look like someone who could be broadsided.

To which I replied, "You will be. Trust me." Then added under my breath a devious little laugh. Okay, not really, on the laugh part. I love my heroes.

Now hopefully, we turn to God. But we don't always do that first. Just as a wounded child runs to his mother to mend his boo boo, we might call our mother or sister or friend. We might grab a chocolate bar or drown the voices in our head with a feel-good movie or upbeat song.

Or...as in my hero's case, which he finally, albeit reluctantly, admitted, we try to control our way out of the problem. Now...if I do my job right, by the end of the story, he'll be a changed man, but for now, he likes to commandeer the situation.

What about you?

Your Turn: What do you do after a particularly bad day to find your happy place?

My Life Reads Like a Novel

2012-02-10T00:01:00.042-05:00

I am so excited to have Roxanne here with me today to share her story. I first learned of Roxanne's loss through the Faith, Hope, Love writing group and sent her a card of condolence, but I didn't meet her until 2009 at an ACFW conference. As fellow writers and fellow homeschoolers and fellow matchmaking moms (we both had had children hitting that age *grin*), we hit it off immediately, exchanged emails, and yes, exchanged photos of our children. LOL.

When I saw her again this past fall at ACFW, she glowed as she shared her story of new love. Well, she glowed the entire weekend!

Take it away, Roxanne...

Sandra, thank you so much for letting me be your guest. I love sharing what God has done.

My life reads like a novel, complete with a diverse cast of characters and loads of conflict. My wonderful husband, Jack Sherwood, and I were homeschooling parents of seven children—ages 1, 8, 10, 17, 17, 18 and 20—all living at home. Life was crazy and chaotic at times but satisfying. Then, on our twin daughters’ 17^th birthday, Jack suffered a heart attack on the way home from work and didn’t survive. I had to remember to breathe.

I began a new, difficult chapter as a widow raising children alone. Besides normal home repairs, my house had three major incidents of water damage. On top of normal auto maintenance, four cars were totaled—two were not my children’s fault. One son developed Crohn’s Disease, while my preschooler was diagnosed with autism. And that’s the condensed version.

Even the happy occasions were difficult. My oldest son graduated from college and was awarded a scholarship for a Ph.D. One daughter earned her second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. But Jack wasn’t there to share our joy. Until God’s made two become one flesh, then ripped that apart, you can’t understand how alone someone can be in a crowd.

I heard that my high school classmate Steve’s wife had died, so I sent my condolences. A month later, he said thanks. After another month, I asked how he was coping. We sent seven emails back and forth that night. Then, he joined Facebook so we could chat. A couple of weeks later, he called me. I was attracted to his sexy voice, and he said I had him at “hello.” We began talking two and three hours every night, hating to hang up because we’d be alone again. God made us attracted to one another’s voices because for months that’s all we had—a voice in the dark, revealing the depths of our hearts as God knit our hearts together.

I wasn’t looking for a relationship with Steve, who lived 1200 miles away. I was lonely and wanted a friend to keep me company until God might bring someone local into my life. Steve only recently lost his wife after a long illness and had no plans to remarry—and risk loving—again. But we made each other laugh like giddy teenagers. Phone calls weren’t enough. We had to meet to see if our feelings were real.

Steve visited for three days in October. I’d already fallen in love with his heart. Now, I fell in love with the rest of him. J My children liked him immediately. Steve and I met again for a couple of days in November. By December, he’d hinted about proposing. I panicked. My college-age children were entrenched in San Antonio. To marry Steve, I’d break up the family, separating the younger boys from their older siblings. Yet, the boys would gain a father—and my youngest didn’t remember Jack at all, and I would gain everything. In some ways, it was a risk. We’d spent so few days together. But God had handpicked Steve for me—and my boys. We married in June and began living Happily Ever After.

Sandra again...doesn't Roxanne's story fill your heart with hope? Roxanne Gray, writes as Roxanne Sherwood, and her real-life hero husband is very supportive of her writing aspirations, which leads me to my question for you today...

Your Turn: What do you/did you or do you think you will value most about your spouse? If happily single, what do you value most in your relationships with friends?

P.S. Congratulations to Anna Lynne Redekop!!! You receive the copy of Missy Tippens' A House Full of Hope. Please email so I can get this off to you.

A House Full of Hope - Character Interview & Giveaway

2012-02-08T00:01:00.076-05:00

I first met author Missy Tippens at a conference a few years ago and she's as sweet as her book. In addition to being a wonderful writer, she's the mother of three, wife to her pastor husband and an adjunct instructor at a local technological college in Georgia.

I've invited Missy here today to share an interview with Hannah Hughes, the heroine of A House Full of Hope.

1. What’s the most important thing in your life?

Without a doubt, the thing most important to me is my four beautiful children. They're my pride and joy!

2. What do you like to do with your children?

I love to play hide-and-go-seek with the kids. And to read to them. I don't have much time for free time, but if I did, I'd love to take them for a day at the beach.

3. What are you afraid of most in life?

I fear not being able to provide well for my children. Since I'm a widow, it's tough to provide for them in the way I'd like. I want them to have a nice home with lots of room. I'm working toward owning a home to help give them a place to feel secure.

5. Beside your kids, what is the most important thing to you, personally?

Feeling secure and loved. Feeling like I'm important to someone. I guess it’s part of my “baggage” that I continually have to deal with. :)

6. Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

Who has time to read?! :) Right now, my favorites are the books I read to my children.

7. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I'd worry less and trust God more.

8. Do you have a pet?

We have a pet on our rental property that the kids have pretty much adopted. A black Labrador retriever named Blue. He's into everything and about drives me crazy! But I'm growing more and more attached to him.

9. What’s your favorite childhood memory?

I’d have to go way back to elementary school--before my parents started having trouble and my sister got involved in the wrong crowd. I have good memories of laughing a lot with my dad (teasing my mom about being so uptight). And great memories of family vacations at the beach.

Wow, I can so identify with Hannah, right down to the dog that drives me crazy. LOL. Is it any wonder I enjoyed the book so much? One of the things that drew me to Christian fiction in the first place and inspirational romance in particular was seeing the characters face similar circumstances to what I was facing or circumstances I feared (losing a spouse) and overcoming. They inspire and give hope.

Your Turn: How has a book inspired or given you hope in your circumstances or fears?

Btw, A House Full of Hope is now in stores or you can order it directly from Harlequin. Use this link and coupon code SAVE10AFFO to receive an extra 10% discount off its already discounted prices before 3/31/12.

I'm also giving away a copy on Friday to one of my commenters from Monday's or today's post. Be sure to check back on Friday.

Talking about A House Full of Hope

2012-02-06T00:01:00.109-05:00

This past weekend, I read Missy Tippens' newest Love Inspired release, A House Full of Hope. I became a fan of Missy's after reading her 2011 release, so I snatched this latest book up the day it hit the shelves. Best of all, it has lots of great questions for discussion. But first let me give you a description of the story:

From black sheep to father of four…

Before becoming a Christian, Mark Ryker ran with a bad crowd and broke hearts. Including his father's. Now a successful businessman, Mark has come home to Corinthia, Georgia, to make amends. But no one will forgive him. So when the widowed mother of four renting his dad's run-down house needs help fixing up the place, Mark gets to work. Pretty Hannah Hughes and her sweet kids have him longing to be part of the clan, but Hannah isn't ready to let go of the past. Still, they are working together on a house full of hope—and that's all Mark needs.

First off, I want to let readers know that writers don't usually get to write their own back cover blurbs. Moreover, the person who writes them has usually only read an early synopsis of the story and perhaps the first two or three chapters. I mention this, because although I've included the blurb above, I think it failed to nail the vast scope of the conflict, not to mention the first line gives away the ending! Of course, we always know the hero will get his HEA, but the hurdles in Mark's path seem utterly insurmountable.

First of all, he's returned to seek forgiveness for causing his brother's death and then walking out on the family, cutting off contact so that they couldn't even find him when his mother died. His father is not about to forgive him.

Mark starts fixing up the house, because he wants to stick around long enough to make sure his financially-struggling dad is okay, and because he wants his dad back in their family home, not renting it out to the heroine and her four kids while his dad lives above the garage.

If that weren't enough to worry the widowed heroine, as a youth, Mark destroyed her sister's life and as a consequence their family's, and while the heroine may come to realize he isn't a monster, her mother will never forgive him. As a single mom, the heroine relies on her mother to help with childcare and can't afford to alienate her. Moreover, Mark's home and business is three thousand miles away--not exactly condusive to an ongoing relationship.

I love getting half way through a book and wondering how the hero and heroine could possibly ever end up together. But...onto today's question...

Your Turn: Mark wanted to achieve success before coming home so he'd earn respect. What pitfalls do you see in striving for material success, or in striving for affirmation in other ways? Have you ever fallen into that trap?

Giveaway: I'll mail a copy of Missy's book to a randomly selected commenter from today and Wednesday's blog. You DO NOT have to leave your email address. I will announce the winner Friday along with a real-life romance story that you won't want to miss!

Fun Friday - The Lengths we'll go...

2012-02-03T00:01:00.003-05:00

Happy Friday everyone. I'd like to introduce you to my new best friend who spends his days sitting on my virtual desktop.

Isn't he cute?

Don't be fooled. He's a villainous task master. But he keeps me productive.

Don't worry. I haven't lost my mind. The orange is the icon for a Mac ap called Concentrate. When I turn it on, it locks out my internet and email account and anything else I don't have the self-control to avoid when I get stuck while writing. Or not just stuck. Sometimes while writing I'll want to search for a better word or research an element, so I'll log onto thesaurus.com or google the element and before I know it I've completely lost my train of thought.

Of course, I could just click the orange then click done, and voila, I'm back in, but I'm resisting the temptation.

In fact, I called the orange my friend, but I like to think of him as my arch nemesis. When you engage the ap, you can set it to silence or any number of sounds for a length of time of your choice. I set it to "tick, tick, tick" for 60 minutes.

I know, I know...I thought it would drive me crazy, but it doesn't.

It's like a ticking bomb, spurring me to rescue my heroine from danger before the bad guys get the upper hand. Then every fifteen minutes this male computer voice whispers, "You're doing great. Keep going!"

It sounds so creepy that it makes me laugh every time. I think of it as the villain goading me, laughing sarcastically.

Highly motivating when writing suspense. Ah the games we writers play!

Your Turn: Do you use any tricks or rewards to keep you on task?

P.S. If you missed my special post yesterday, and want to do some shopping for your Valentine's reading, scroll down or click older posts. I've included some valuable coupon codes for extra savings.

Breaking News!

2012-02-02T00:01:00.023-05:00

I know, I know, I usually don't post on Thursdays, but...it's just too exciting to wait.

Shades of Truth won't be in stores for another 40 days, but it is available NOW from the Harlequin website at 20% off the cover price!!! And I have special coupon codes to save you even more...

For regular or larger print copies, click here, choose the version you want and use coupon code SAVE10AFFO at checkout to save an additional 10%

if you'd rather stock up on your favorite titles, use coupon code BUY2AFFO to buy 2 titles and get one free. Shipping is always free for 1st time customers, or for purchases over a certain amount

For Adobe Epub version, click here, choose the Epub version and use coupon code SAVE10AFFO to save 10%

if you want to stock up on other titles, use SAVE5DOLLARS to save $5 when you spend $15 on Ebooks.

The Inspiration behind Novel Ruby Dawn

2012-02-01T00:01:00.026-05:00

I've invited Raquel Byrnes to share with us what inspired her to write Ruby Dawn (the book I introduced to you on Monday.

Take it away, Raquel...

Of the six children the Lord has blessed me with; four of them are adopted from the foster care system. During that journey to completing our family, I met some incredibly dedicated people and some that weren’t so great during the process of adopting.

What I noticed most of all was that a great many of the children become teens and then adults without ever being adopted. I wondered what God would do with someone who had been tossed about in the winds of this system. I know that many come in contact with loving, godly caretakers and workers and that seeds of hope and faith are planted in the hearts of these kids. How might the Lord bring them through this time and what kind of faith grows from trials at such a young age, I wondered.

The story of Ruby and Tom is close to my heart. Two souls who find each other in a dangerous place only to believe they’ve lost each other after a tragic accident. First loves, feeling that you’re alone in your faith, and seeing the amazing work God can do in the life of someone willing to surrender their heart and soul are subjects that really move me as a writer.

I have often found that when we feel most vulnerable and weak the Lord shows us how strong our hearts can be when fortified with faith.

Sometimes you have to trust in God’s promises, despite what it looks like at the moment.
–Ruby, age 16, Dresden Detention Center

Ruby Dawn explores the power of faith and the choice to trust God in the face of losing all that we love.

Thanks so much, for sharing with us today, Raquel. Wow, you must be one busy woman raising and homeschooling your brood in addition to carving out time to write.

Your Turn: Readers do you have any questions for Raquel?

I'll start...Raquel, when do you find time to write?

Ruby Dawn and Forgiveness

2012-01-30T00:01:00.007-05:00

I'm excited to share with you today a bit about Ruby Dawn, a new release from Raquel Byrnes, a fellow writer with Hartline Literary Agency.

The book just released so I haven't had a chance to read it yet, but I'm looking forward to seeing how Raquel handled some elements similar to those in my upcoming release. (i.e. forgiveness, a past in youth detention, and a drug sting).

Here's the back cover blurb:

A Painful Past.

A former streetkid, Ruby now reaches out to runaways through her medical clinic in the worstpart of the city, but her escalating battle with a gang leader puts that injeopardy.

A Love Returns.

Cavalier, arisk-taker, charming… Ruby’s first love is now on the right side of the law andthe center of a dangerous DEA sting involving her clinic. Tom’sdisappearance ten years ago broke her heart and rattled her faith. As their romance relights, memories of what it costs tolove him flood her with fear.

A Desperate Plan.

Ruby’s battle withthe gang ignites a firestorm of danger, and a pattern of lies from within herown camp emerges. With Tom’s life in the balance and her world cast in shadows,can Ruby trust God as she once did…or has she strayed too far, for too long toever return?

So... here's our discussion question for today...

Ruby once believed that God could make incredible changes in people, but when she encounters a dangerous person from her past, her faith is put to the test.

Your Turn: Has someone hurt you in the past returned and asked for forgiveness? Did you find it difficult to open your heart to them again? Is there a scripture verse that spoke to you?

Fun Friday - Five Top Reasons I Love Writing Romantic Suspense

2012-01-27T00:01:00.005-05:00

No matter how wonderful your job is, or how long you've dreamed of doing it, sometimes you wonder why you torture yourself day in and day out.

Yes, even writers feel this way. Quite often, actually.

I've created this list for just those kind of days.

1) I love writing romantic suspense because my heroine can zing those pithy comebacks at the hero that I never think of quickly enough in real life.

2) If someone bugs me, I can kill them off. Hee, hee, hee.

3) I can make the hero suffer for his idiocy!

4) I can thwart the bad guy's plan with a flick of my finger.

5) I can knock some sense into the hero and heroine so they'll find their happily ever after.

Your Turn: Why do you like to read (or write)?

Talking about Real-Life Characters...

2012-01-25T00:01:00.001-05:00

As a writer I'm always on the look out for interesting quirks that will make a character come alive on the page. Not so long ago, I met such a quirky character.

It was at a birthday party and she was serving the chocolate cake.

Now you know as well as I do that when there's a choice between chocolate and white cake, the chocolate always disappears more quickly.

Well, not at this birthday party!

This sweet, cheery, smiling woman didn't seem to realize that running her finger along the knife to clear off excess icing and then licking her finger and then using that licked finger to do it again and again was...uh, unappetizing. Oh, who am I kidding?

It was really gross. But too funny!

At one point the woman carried a piece of cake to a chair-bound guest and you never saw so many others swoop in to try to dish up their own piece of cake before she returned!

Your Turn: Any quirky characters in your life?

Hats Off to a Real Life Character

2012-01-23T00:01:00.039-05:00

Last Friday, I wanted to add a new feature to my blog--the ability to reply to comments individually. The feature has been available on Wordpress for awhile, but I'd only just heard that it was on Blogger, too.

Trouble was...I couldn't figure out how to make it happen. That's where this wonderful gal stepped in.

Meet Bonnie Calhoun, the American Christian Fiction Writer's 2011 Mentor of the year, and blogger guru extraordinaire! Not to mention, a woman with the patience of Job. An exchange of 20 emails later--yes, 20!--I finally had what I wanted.

I had to change 4 settings on two different screens. In the process I re-learned how to add the comment section box for clicking things like "interesting" or "funny".

Of course, my dunceness had Bonnie rolling on the floor laughing as she tried to help me!

Thankfully, she persevered.

I shouldn't have been surprised. Bonnie is a dynamo. I don't know how she finds time to write or to run her dressmaking business. She's the publisher of Christian Fiction Online Magazine, president of the Christian Authors Network, director of the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance, webmaster for Hartline Literary Agency (which happens to be my agent's agency) and the list goes on!

In April, "published author" will be added to the list with the release of her debut novel Cooking the Books: A Sloane Templeton Mystery which promises to be as fun and quirky as the author herself.

Given Bonnie's computer prowess, I wasn't surprised to discover that the heroine of her book is a computer forensics specialist!

All of that to say: Hats off to Bonnie for giving me personalized comments!

What do you say--will you help me test them?

Your Turn: Ask me a question. Please! I'm just dying to test this out :)

Fun Friday - The Truth

2012-01-20T00:01:00.004-05:00

The truth is I'm cheating. I've been so busy writing Q & As for my upcoming blog tour that I don't have a pithy thought left in my brain for a fun Friday post. So...

I'm sharing a fun post I wrote for Roxanne Rustand's blog back in December.

Roxanne had invited me to share a story about one of our animals, and I couldn’t decide on just one—animal or story!

Now any of you who have been with me for awhile have heard many stories about Bella, my hubcap-eating husky who, like a Houdini, can mysteriously escape from her crate without unlocking the door.

She likes people to think she’s a perfect angel, but don’t be fooled by the wings and stardust. We’ve lost count of how many shoes and collars she’s chewed through, not to mention plastic flowerpots.

We have no idea where she keeps finding those!

Yes, she causes us no end of anxiety. One day my daughter saw her standing on the far side of the hayfield at the edge of the woods. She called and called her to come, and naturally, got pretty frustrated when the dog just stood its ground and stared.

But what happened next chilled my daughter to the bone.

Bella loped happily up to her… from behind.

Did I mention Bella looks like a coyote?

Yup, my dear daughter was trying to coax one of the local coyotes to come home to us. Thank goodness, the animal didn’t oblige!

Is it any wonder we’ve earned a bit of an eccentric reputation around the neighborhood? It’s not every family who gives their chickens wheelbarrow rides.

Or who walk their horse and goat along with the dog.

Or who give the neighborhood cats pony rides.

But perhaps one has to be a tad eccentric to spend hours a day writing novels!

Your Turn: Please share a funny story with us!

BTW If you’d like to read that husky hubcap story, clickhere. It's my favorite. I'd love to see it become one of the top stories on my sidebar. *grin*

The Truth about Lying ~ Part 2

2012-01-18T00:01:00.156-05:00

Before we delve into examples of how my undercover cop hero (or you) might tell if someone is lying, I must warn you that it's not a good idea to tell others about their signs of deception.

An intelligent liar will merely use the information to throw you off the next time. Hmm, now that might be an interesting plot twist!

On to the examples:

1) Frequently pausing before answering questions (if this is not a normal speech pattern) can be a strong indicator of deception, while stuttering or mumbling are generally not reliable indicators.

2) Nervous laughter might be a sign of evasiveness, or it might simply be a release of stress. But a single deep sigh after a subject has been uncooperative, often signals a readiness to confess.

3) Hand movement to the mouth, nose, eyes, or ears while talking often indicates deception.

4) Contrary to popular opinion, using the eyes to identify deception is unreliable. There are a lot more variables at play in whether someone frequently breaks eye contact, or moves their eyes in a certain direction.

5) Of course...since #4 is a popular belief, a liar may go out of his way to maintain eye contact to convince you of the truth of what he's saying. An interesting observation I might use in my next cop story. *grin*

6) The movement of a person's body away from you (often toward the door) is a strong indicator of deception, especially if accompanied by other cues.

7) Bargaining. "I was keeping up with traffic, not speeding." Or a politician may have "misspoke" or been "quoted out of context." These are all examples of attempts to disguise reality.

8) Attempt to remake the interrogator's image of him, for example, by saying, "I'm a veteran." or "I'm a faithful husband." or "I'm a good employee."

9) Attempts to stall. Examples: answering a question with a question; pretending didn't hear; cough, repeating the question.

10) There are many more examples (and cautions) in the book, but I'll end with the use of blocking statements. Example: "Why would I lie about something like that?"

Your Turn: Can you think of a memorable line or action you've seen in movies or read in books where someone is lying?

Like Lie to Me when they'd point out a "tell" then flash clips of famous politicians who'd been caught doing that very thing, such as Clinton touching his nose during his testimony about Monica Lewinsky.

Giveaway Notice: Kav has posted a fabulous review of my March release and is giving away a copy to one commenter this week, plus a copy of a January LI book of their choice! Here's the link: http://bestreads-kav.blogspot.com/2012/01/shades-of-truth.html

The Truth about Lying

2012-01-16T00:01:00.031-05:00

Since the heroes of my Love Inspired Suspense series are undercover cops...

Lying is pretty much part of the job description. Whether they call it misleading, hedging, evading, fabricating, falsifying, distorting, misrepresenting, or spinning the truth, it's all deception.

Since I'm working on a fourth book in the series (fingers crossed), I thought I'd read The Truth about Lying by Stan B. Walters, a provider of interview and interrogation services, as well as, training to business, industry and law enforcement agencies throughout the U.S. (He's also known as The Lie Guy.)

I figured it would be a great resource from which to glean little "tells" that my cops can notice in suspects that are lying to them, not to mention, those my hero might exhibit while interacting with the heroine.

But the book has so much more--information you might like to know when that car salesman says this is the absolute best deal he can give you, or when your teenage son swears he's never touched drugs.

Wednesday I'll share some of the "tells". Today, I want to share the key factors that exist when lying takes place: choice, ability and opportunity.

Choice - The person chooses to lie to either gain reward or avoid punishment, or because he's unsure of the consequences of admitting the truth. The more that seems at stake, the more compelled he'll be to lie.

Ability - good communication skills and intellect enhance a liar's ability to lie well.

Opportunity - this is the only factor under the interrogator's (or parent's or shopper's) control. To avoid being lied to make it unrewarding. If you can spot and challenge lies as they occur, the liar may be less likely to try again, or he may show more signs of deceit, thereby exposing himself.

Which brings us to an interesting topic of discussion: What's our own role in encouraging deception?

As Mr. Walters says, no matter how good we get at detecting a lie, we'll set ourselves up to be lied to if people are afraid to tell us the truth.

Your Turn: These questions are from the book. Please share what you're comfortable with, perhaps examples from your own teen experiences or raising your children or buying that used car. *grin*

Do you make it difficult for people to tell you the truth as they see it because you react emotionally? Do you violently express hurt feelings? Are you easily offended? Do you punish your children if they admit they've done something wrong?

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...

2012-01-13T00:01:00.043-05:00

The Grocery Store.

Yup, earlier this week a writing friend and I did groceries together. What better way to kill two birds with one stone--brainstorm murder and mayhem, and okay, romance, too, AND stock the cupboards.

The trouble began as we were walking into the store, and I told my friend that I could kill her father. [meaning the heroine's father, of course]

My friend stopped dead in her tracks, turned to me and said, "You can't do that!"

The jaw of a woman exiting the store dropped to her chest. I kid you not.

Playing it up, I, of course go on to explain how easy it would be. We can lace the chili with the poison. He'll never know.

Okay, I'm just kidding about that last part.

But seriously, the woman started reaching for her cell phone. We're thinking 9-1-1. Cop cars swerving into the parking lot. "Honest, officer, we're writers."

Being a quick thinker, my friend says loudly, "I won't read another one of your books if you kill her father!"

After a good chuckle, my single friend muses, "What a great way for a heroine to meet the next cop hero!" LOL--I'm reading between the lines on that one! The heroine, huh? Hmmm.

As we strolled through the store it was very tempting to see how many others we could drag into our plot. A grocery store is a great place to dream up plot twists for a murder mystery. Hee, hee, hee.

Your Turn: Where did you meet your significant other? Or if you've yet to meet him, where might you imagine the meeting happening?

BTW: If you missed the news in my comments on Wednesday's post,
Linda Ford currently has a free read on the Harlequin site called A Cowboy's Promise. Happy reading!

Author Interview - Linda Ford

2012-01-11T00:01:00.089-05:00

I had the privilege of meeting fellow Canadian author, Linda Ford, a few years ago at an American Christian Fiction Writers' Conference. Then our paths crossed again in 2010 when her flight to another ACFW conference had a connection in Toronto, and we actually ended up on the same plane one seat in front of the other!

I remember that year well, because it was my first conference as a contracted author! Linda was already writing for Love Inspired Historicals so our paths crossed often that weekend at various meet and greets.

She's shared much writing wisdom with me since, and was an awesome supporter of my debut launch.

Since I used a question from her latest release, The Cowboy Tutor, on Monday's blog, I invited her to share how she came to write the series. Take it away Linda...

I’m not sure what got me started on the idea of these stories. My brainstorming file suggests I was concerned with the circumstances of young women during the Depression.

Here is a bit from that file:

Mrs. Morgan has 3 lovely daughters who seem destined to be spinsters due to the lack of suitable single men. Most of them have been whisked away to relief camps or ride the rails looking for something better than what the Depression offers. But Mrs. Morgan isn't about to stand by and see her daughters denied the joys of marriage and a family. So she devises a plan...

I’ve always had an interest in the Depression, partly because my parents and grandparents lived through it. I heard of the challenges they faced and saw how they’d learned to adapt. I also did human interest articles for a newspaper and interviewed a number of seniors. They all told stories of strength, heroism and inventiveness in dealing with the Depression. I know they probably didn’t look back at the time as ‘the good old days’. But I loved the feeling I got of people who faced incredible odds with humor and came out as victors.

I’ve learned some interesting tidbits in my research.

First, in Canada we also call it the Dirty 30s (because of the violent dust storms.) I thought everyone was familiar with the term but my editors weren’t.

Paper was expensive so used carefully and as many ways as possible. Letters were written across the page then the page given ¼ turn and more words written across the original. I found it almost impossible to read.

Groceries came wrapped in brown paper, tied with string. The paper was folded carefully and used over and over. The string was added to the ball kept in the kitchen drawer and rationed for use.

I grew up on the prairies and have lived most of my life in an area that was deeply affected by the Depression. In fact, we don’t have a county, we are called the Special Areas. Most of the land is owned by the government and leased to farmers and ranchers. Before the Thirties, many settlers came to the area and broke a few acres.

But then the rains failed to come. The land dried up and contributed to dreadful dust storms. The settlers walked away leaving the banks with unpaid mortgages and loans.

The government bailed them out and took over ownership of the land. The people of the area still face many of the same challenges of the Dirty Thirties.

As my family drove along the various roads there were many empty farm sites. Some were only an empty cellar but there were leaning barns and weather-worn houses. I never saw any of these without wondering what had happened to the people who once owned them.

I would get lost in imagining their struggles, their disappointment, and lost dreams.

Sandra again, thanks so much for visiting with us today, Linda. I enjoyed having a glimpse into your creative process, and the extensive background work and research that contributed to the story's realism.

Your turn: Do you have any questions for Linda?

Faith in Times of Crisis

2012-01-09T00:01:00.096-05:00


Title links to blurb

This past week I read The Cowboy Tutor, a Love Inspired Historical by fellow Canadian author Linda Ford. It's the first of a three book series, releasing January to March, about how a mother helps her three daughters find husbands during the Great Depression.

I have never read a Linda Ford book that I haven't liked, and this book was no exception. I read it in one sitting, staying up until 1:30 am to finish it!

From a family of three sisters myself, I enjoyed watching the interplay between the three vastly different personalities. But what resonated with me the most was how firmly the heroine believes that God will see her through every crisis in her life.

She works hard, extremely hard, to keep her family together and from losing their home. Considering the world's current economic situation, our faith is increasingly being challenged by similar crises.

Your Turn: These characters lived during the Great Depression. Times were tough. What similar challenges are you or people you know facing today? How have these strengthened, or made you question, your faith?

Did you live through the depression or hear stories passed down from parents and grandparents?

I remember many stories my grandmother used to tell, and to this day I have a difficult time parting with clothes or fabric that could be recycled into quilts for the day when we can't afford heat...of course, considering we live in a drafty old farmhouse and keep the thermostat at 63F most of the day, it's little wonder!

FUN FRIDAY - PROMISES, PROMISES

2012-01-06T00:01:00.024-05:00

This past week my mother-in-law dug out the greeting cards that my sweet hubby made for his parents when he was a little tike. My father-in-law took great pleasure in pointing out how his son had twice written that he wanted to buy his dear old dad a car.

Isn’t that sweet?

Those expressions of generosity were, of course, quickly followed by something like “but I hope being with me will do.”

LOL. This feeds my fiction-writer’s mind with all kinds of fodder for a hero’s backstory.

For myself, I can’t remember ever wishing to give my parents anything so grand as a car—it must be a guy thing. I always loved it when my children drew me pictures, or when they wrote about how much they appreciate the things I do for them.

Oh, and sometimes they'd give me coupons to redeem for vacuuming or washing dishes or some such chore. Of course, they were always really great about doing chores anyway, so I never actually had to redeem them. Hmm, now that they're getting busier and not able to help out so much, maybe I'll have to dig out some of those old coupons. I hope they didn't put an expiry date on them!!

Your Turn: Do you remember a special or humorous card you gave your folks as a child or that you’ve received from a child?

THE TIME IS not NOW

2012-01-04T00:01:00.032-05:00

Have you noticed that every January an epidemic of posts about how to organize your life and manage your time populates blogs?

I blame calendars.

How can we resist the urge to plan better when faced with a pristine new calendar filled with panoramas of places we’d love to visit, or with scrumptious images of dishes we’d love to try, or adorable pictures that make us smile every time we look at them?

These days…I use calendars for another reason—to plot my characters’ actions.

After all, as much as many of us would appreciate an eight-day week or an early Friday now and again, a writer can only take fiction so far.

By fitting the scenes of my book into corresponding days on a calendar, I ensure I don’t have a dreaded eight-day week or a Friday two days after a Monday.

Meticulous historical authors working with specific dates will go as far as to note the times of the full moons and new moons, sunrises and sunsets, high tides and low tides. I merely ensure I don’t have two full moons in the same month, although I pay special attention to those sunset times!

The current book I’m plotting features a heroine who is helping her folks with their flower shop, so I’m on the lookout for a floral calendar that will give me added inspiration. <grin>

Your Turn: What’s your favorite kind of calendar? Do you use calendars in less-than-usual ways?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012-01-02T00:05:00.025-05:00

I don’t know about you, but for me, this past year felt as though it zipped by. Even my youngest thinks so, although my eldest…not so much.

I guess not having the luxury of sleeping through the night in almost nine months would skew anyone’s perception.

When my children were young, I’d write a little note to my children each night to share something cute they’d done or said, or to tell of some milestone they’d reached, or to journal the special way we’d spent the day. I pasted these notes into scrapbooks with photos and gave them to each of my children on their twelfth birthday.

I believe that the exercise helped me to treasure each day, even when operating on only a few snatched hours of sleep. Through the years since, I’ve journaled off and on. It helps me gain perspective.

With the feeling that the years are racing away, I think it’s time to resume the habit—a new year’s resolution of sorts.

Your Turn: What about you? Have you made any new year’s resolutions? Do you journal? How has it impacted you?

Christmas Greetings!

2011-12-21T00:01:00.008-05:00

I couldn't resist sharing a picture of our very own Canadian (the birthplace of hockey, eh?) shepherd keeping watch over her fields. *grin*

I pray you all enjoy a blessed Christmas.

I am taking a break from blogging over the holidays and will be back to my regular Monday, Wednesday and Friday schedule beginning January 2nd. Hope to see you then.

In the meantime, I wanted to share a poem by William Ellery Channing entitled My Symphony.

To live content with small means.
To seek elegance rather than luxury,
     and refinement rather than fashion.
To be worthy not respectable,
     and wealthy not rich.
To study hard, think quietly, talk gently,
     act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes,
     and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully,
     do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never.
In a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious,
     grow up through the common.
This is to be my symphony.

Your Turn: The last word is yours! What do you think?

The Hero's Journey...Death & Rebirth

2011-12-19T00:01:00.033-05:00

This week my pup won a best actor award for her portrayal in my daughter's stunt video for a college course. (Not sure what that says about the rest of the actors in the video, but...Bella does tend to steal the show.) Click below to view a clip.

In the actual movie clip, she closed her eyes and didn't complain about being wounded while going down. But ah, these temperamental actors. This was the best I could get.

The portrayal got me thinking about the classic hero's journey as originally described by Joseph Campbell. He observed that in most classic tales and myths, the hero must come to a kind of death, also referred to as the abyss, or the belly of the whale.

According to Campbell, the belly of the whale represents the final separation from the hero's known world and self. By entering this stage, the hero shows willingness to undergo a metamorphosis.

The emphasis is mine, because it struck me in a fresh way as I read this. When I contemplate my hero's journey, I usually think of him as being thrust into this stage by circumstances and the consequences of the difficult choices he's been forced to make. Isn't that how most of us feel when suddenly confronting death or dire situations?

Yet, the hero inevitably has a choice as to how he or she will face, or refuse to face, the situation. By willingly entering the belly of the fish (so to speak) he or she shows a willingness to undergo a metamorphosis. Just as Christ willingly went to the cross that we might be reborn. (Okay, perhaps this would have been a more timely Easter post. *grin*)

Stanley Williams in his book The Moral Premise calls this turning point the moment of grace. That is the point where the hero realizes that the value he's clinging to leads only to physical detriment, and chooses to embrace the virtue that will lead to betterment. (Unless of course, the book is a tragedy!)

In my pup's case, she chooses to "die" because she has learned that she will be rewarded!

In life's journey we face many "deaths to self" or "moments of grace". These are the fodder of fiction.

Your Turn: Are you skirting the edge of an abyss in your life's journey? What choices do you see before you? Is there some way I can pray for you? Have you experienced a life-changing metamorphosis, a kind of epiphany, after journeying through a difficult valley?

Special Note to my Newsletter Subscribers: I emailed my newsletter on Friday with the link to Rick & Ginny's Christmas story. If you subscribed and haven't seen the email in your inbox, please check your spam/junk mail folder. I hope you enjoy the story!

And the Winners are...

2011-12-17T17:00:00.004-05:00

Congratulations to the winners of Stephanie Guerrero's debut novel Shades of the Orient.

The winner of the signed print copy is Loree Huebner!

The winner of the Ecopy is Victoria Dixon!

Please contact Stephanie at warriorranch@yahoo.com with your mailing information (or myself at the link near the top of right hand column) Thank you to all who visited.

If you have a Kindle, Shades of the Orient is currently only 99 cents at Amazon. (a $24 saving off the print copy! Stephanie is offering a 30% discount on signed print copies if you contact her directly)
The Ebook isn't up on B & N yet for Nook, but hopefully will be soon.

Woo hoo!!!

2011-12-16T00:05:00.006-05:00

I finished the quilt for my grand daughter!!!

What do you think? It's made of doubled flannelette squares so that both sides show the design. The back of the quilt (on the left) are smooth seams, while the front (right side of photo) have the seams and edges all clipped for a raggedy effect.

I just know my ever inquisitive little one is going to love fluttering her fingers through those frills.

I wish I could! After spending hours and hours clipping the edges of 72 squares, my fingers can barely move!!!

But I think it was worth it. I can't wait to cuddle up with my little grandbaby. ~big grin~

Your turn: Did you or your kids have a special "blankie" as a child?

Special Guest - Philip Montero & a Giveaway

2011-12-14T00:01:00.029-05:00

Last week I "met" a new author Stephanie Guerrero. I haven't had a chance to read her book, but the setting--the Orient--intrigued me so I invited her hero over for an interview.

But first let me tell you a little about Stephanie. She holds her bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies specializing in reading. A former middle school teacher, this pastor’s wife and home-school mom of 4 kids has a passion for the redemptive, life-changing impact of a great story. Her husband of 18 years is her delight and inspiration.

Her debut novel is titled Shades of the Orient and releases this week from Westbow Press, the new self-publishing division of Thomas Nelson. I suspect some of you may have questions for Stephanie about that process, and you're welcome to ask in the comments below.

Before we start with the interview, Stephanie has provided a little setup to orient us (pardon the pun) since in this action-packed suspense set in the exotic Orient, no one is who they seem… (sounds a little like my undercover cops!)

The Smuggler

Black Jade is many things… Hiding behind a prominent name by day and a Chinese mask by night, he can be anyone, just not the man he wants to be. Trapped in an ever tightening web of deceit, and pursued relentlessly by the White Dragon (Major Montero) he must choose which man he wants to be. When a way out is offered from a surprising source, will he choose power or let it go?

The Spy

A Spanish officer, a black market dealer, a shipping executive…

Intelligence officer Philip Montero is skilled at wearing masks to defeat the enemy, but this time he must face the enemy within. When his body betrays him with night terrors, he must unlock the past in order to survive, but time is running out and Black Jade has targeted the woman of his heart.

Betrayed by his family, his fiancé, and his fears, WHO can teach him how to trust again?

The Senorita

Shipping heiress turned missionary nurse, Francesca McRae is a target everywhere she turns. Desired as an heiress by power-hungry men and hated by the Chinese Boxers for her interference in the culture… she is surrounded by betrayal and hatred. None of her suitors are who they seem, yet one has stolen her heart. When loving others becomes more than she can handle, WHO can she trust?

The Interview: with Major Philip Montero

Major, thank you for joining us all the way from Shanghai. Please tell us a little about yourself and how a United States Marine ended up in China.

I was born in California in 1874 where my parents own a large hacienda and wheat fields in the San Joaquin Valley. We were very blessed. Upon hearing of all the famine in China from his brother-in-law, my father contacted the U.S. Embassy in China, bought a second house with a connecting warehouse on the river and began a humanitarian effort to distribute some of our wheat. It was quite an adventure for a ten year old boy, until the warehouse caught fire one night and both my parents were killed.

What happened to you?

Although I escaped the fire, I was apprehended by the Boxers. They are a secretive Chinese society that hates all things foreign. I was beaten, tortured and held for ransom. No one could find my uncle… a British shipping mogul. Finally, just as I was to be sold into slavery on the human trafficking market, my uncle’s business partner, Adam McRae, redeemed me, took me home and under his wing. By the time my uncle finally showed up, the raw wounds on my back and the hurt in my heart had begun to heal. I vowed I would become a godly man like the one who redeemed me. That’s why I joined the marines… to fight for the freedoms our country represents.

What an amazing story. Tell us about Adam’s daughter Francesca McRae.

Ah… the first time I met Francesca was when I opened my eyes after Adam took me home. I thought she was a black-haired angel. Her mother is Spanish and her father Irish-American which makes Francesca quite a spitfire with an amazingly gentle heart for the poor and hurting. She’s about five years my junior. I lost contact with her until I was on mission undercover in the Philippines and she on a missionary trip. When I stumbled across her, she was about to be accosted by a rogue Spanish soldier. I rescued her, completed the mission and to her surprise escorted her to China.

What did you think of the new grownup Francesca?

She takes my breath away. She is a gorgeous Spanish seniorita with emerald green eyes and a heart full of compassion, purity, faith and adventure. Actually, I’m a little shocked at the emotion she brings out in my heart. I had a fiancé betray me and I had sworn off relationships. Now… she makes me want everything I had buried deep. I’m just worried what Adam will say. Francesca is his most prized possession. I’m also worried that both of them have become a target of the man I am in China to hunt down… Black Jade. The man is a notorious smuggler and human trafficker. He’s also rumored to be part of Shanghai society. The last I heard was that his sights were set on McRae’s daughter. But not if I have anything to say about it.

Tell me about your mission?

Once I got back from undercover work in the Philippines, I was reassigned to go undercover in my uncle’s shipping agency to root out an international smuggler. I found evidence that he has been using McRae-Stafford shipping company for his nefarious purposes. This may be why he is targeting Francesca and her father. With Adam out of the way, he could marry Francesca and gain control of the company. The problem is there are a number of men who meet the profile and time is running out. Thanks to the Boxers, life for foreigners is getting more difficult every day. I believe things will come to a head soon between East and West.

Is there a future for you and Francesca?

I’m so afraid she’ll move on. That’s what happened to me before. Military life is so uncertain, but being the fiercely loyal woman she tells me I can trust her and God. I love her so much it hurts, but it’s hard to trust that love won’t betray me again. I’m doing my best to trust her and God for the future. That’s all I can say right now.

Where do you turn when life is too much to handle?

There is a God… Who is waiting to be your answer…

Thanks so much for visiting with us Stephanie and Philip. The story sounds very intriguing.

READERS: One commenter on today's blog will win a signed print copy of Shades of the Orient (must be North American mailing address) AND a second commenter (from anywhere) will receive a free Ecopy.

If live outside NA, please let us know in your comment. Winners names will be drawn and posted Saturday night. You do not need to leave your email address in the comment. Check back Sunday to see if you've won. If you did, then you can email me your contact information.

Your turn: Do you have any questions or comments for Stephanie or her story's hero?

Back to Conversations about Characters...

2011-12-12T00:05:00.006-05:00

After getting sidetracked last week by my Christmas going-ons, I want to get back to our character conversations.

Since Christmas is only two weeks away, I've drawn today's question from Hope White's November Love Inspired Suspense Christmas Haven.

It's a story about a woman who left her small hometown and high school sweetheart to become a social worker in the city. She knew her sweetheart's dream was to be a small town cop, but that he would follow her if she asked. So she didn't ask. She just left. There's also a deeper reason that drove her to the profession, but I won't give that away here.

The story begins with the heroine returning to her hometown--the only safe place she can turn--after witnessing a kidnapping. Of course, danger follows, and her former sweetheart, now the police captain, must protect her and his town.

But the heroine has a difficult time accepting his help.

Your turn: So here's the question I'd like to discuss:

Do you know someone (or are you someone) who has difficulty accepting help from friends? If so, how might you get through to her/him?

For myself, I've noticed that my husband has difficulty asking for help and accepting it when it's offered. I, on the other hand, welcome any help that's offered. My husband is an eldest child. I am a youngest. So I did an impromptu poll and came to the conclusion that generally speaking, eldest (or only) children have a more difficult time accepting help than youngest children.

What do you think? Has this been your experience

Been thinking about Phases...

2011-12-09T00:01:00.001-05:00

Do ever go through phases of doing things?

My Christmas decorations are a pictorial record of many of my "craft" phases.

There was the "needlepoint phase"

The cross-stitch phase

The applique phase

The painting phase

Not to mention, the dried flower arranging phase, the knitting phase, the crocheting phase, and probably a few more I've long forgotten.

My writing has gone through phases, too. The write-the-story-with-no-understanding-of-story-craft phase, the learning-to-craft-a-publishable-story phase, the edit-like-crazy phase, and on and on.

I'm thrilled to finally be in the writing-for-publication phase. And I plan to persevere so... hopefully, this phase proves to not be a phase at all!

Your Turn: What are some of the phases in your life or hobbies that you have fond memories of, or... are happy to be done?

It's Beginning to Look a Lot like Christmas...

2011-12-07T00:05:00.016-05:00

Snow is in the air. The fire is crackling. And the decorations are up.

The above picture is of nativity characters I painted when my children were younger. Each year I set them out arranging them a little differently. I find holiday decorating to be a bittersweet time as many of my decorations are cherished gifts from my mom who passed away when my children were babes, and from my dad who passed away more recently.

So I have to admit that I was having trouble getting into the Christmas spirit this year.

With our children grown, traditions are changing. This will be the first year that I don't share either Christmas or Boxing Day with my sisters and their families. Like my own eldest daughter who has married and had a child, my sisters' eldest children have also started families, which makes arranging a get together far more difficult.

But... we're looking forward to new traditions.

This will be my grand daughter's FIRST Christmas. And it will be so much fun to enjoy Christmas through the eyes of a child once again.

So these days I'm happily sewing a cuddly flannel quilt for her, while listening to Christmas carols, and dreaming of snuggling up with her to read Christmas stories.

Your Turn: What are some of your favorite "preparing for Christmas" traditions?

One thing I did with my children every year was bake and build gingerbread houses. This was a several day affair of shopping for the candy decorations, preparing the dough, rolling and shaping and baking it the next day, assembling and admiring, and then finally on Christmas Eve, nibbling. ~grin~

Deep Cover Extras are Here!!

2011-12-05T00:05:00.031-05:00

Well...not here on this blog...over at my website.

Think DVD extras, only they're extras for a book instead of a movie.

I've been a busy beaver for the past week and a half, working to get them done in time for a December unveiling. I'd love to hear what you think.

If you hop on over, you'll find:
~deleted scenes
~bloopers
~on location in Miller's Bay etc.
as well as some items you may have already seen here, such as the recipe book links and character interviews.

Still to come is Rick and Ginny's Christmas story. I'm planning to email an exclusive link to my newsletter subscribers in another week or so...when I get my quarterly newsletter written!! Please sign up if you'd like to read it.

Your Turn: What do you think of the extras? Any suggestions for more I might add?

Early Christmas Present!!!

2011-12-02T00:05:00.014-05:00

This week I got my first glimpse of the cover of the second book in my Undercover Cops series. It release in March 2012 and appeared on Amazon this week for preorder!

What do you think?

I'm thrilled. Love the colors.

The book centers around a youth detention center called Hope Manor that is surrounded by farmland. I like how the artist has captured the mood.

Now, any writers reading this...if you'd like an early Christmas present...

The final gift package on the fundraiser for Sandi Rog blog goes up today at noon Mountain Standard Time TODAY. And it's a doozy. For as little as a $5 donation, you could have a chance to win...

PACKAGE 15: Writing 3 ($125+249=)--Open to international participants!
A free Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild Webinar and a 2500 word critique by a guild member (http://www.christianwritersguild.com/) AND a Fiction Writing Master Course by Janice Thompson.

This is a gold mine of information! Ten lessons-- each presented in video, audio, and print format so you can interact with the material in whichever way suits you best--cover every imaginable facet of fiction writing, from plotting, point of view, and characterization to theme, genre, common mistakes, and what to do with that manuscript once you've typed "The End."

Don't dilly dally, because it closes Saturday noon.

Your Turn: What do you think of the cover? How does it make you feel? What does it make you think the book will be about?

How to Make the Most of Email Irritations

2011-11-30T00:05:00.001-05:00

This past weekend, I apparently sent myself an email about a great deal on Rolex watches.

Imagine my surprise!!!

When I've gotten this sort of junk mail from a real friend's email address, I've always told them that their email has been hacked. Well, this week I learned that's not necessarily so.

According to my internet provider, since the email didn't come from my computer. I don't have a virus.

I've been spoofed.

Now, here's the scary part. If someone gets such an email from me and blocks the sender because it's clearly spam...they could be blocking me from ever being able to email them from that address again!

These guys are deviously clever.

Why am I telling you all of this?

Well, first of all, I thought it was intriguing. Something one of my characters should have to deal with at some point. Don't you think?

Good fiction is all about conflict. Imagine the conflict if the heroine is sending the most important email of her life to her editor or agent or future hero, and doesn't realize they've blocked her address because some creep is tarnishing her good name selling watches or pharmaceuticals or who knows what else?!

Second, I wanted to warn you to be careful about blocking senders when you get spam. If someone you know is listed as the sender, even if you know he or she didn't really send it, s/he will be the one cut out of your email box, not the real sender.

Third, to protect yourself, discourage your friends from "forwarding" you jokes etc. Or urge them to use BCC, i.e. blind carbon copy so that your email address doesn't wind up on a bunch of computers of people you don't know. Eventually, the forwarded email will return to the originator, who is likely a spammer farming email addresses.

Oh, there is definitely a story in this...next book :)

Your Turn: What is the most bizarre or irritating or scary email, social media, or computer-related situation you've had to deal with?

Lakeside Reunion - Character Interview

2011-11-28T00:05:00.078-05:00

A couple of Mondays ago we talked about how the hero of Lakeside Reunion had to sacrifice a future with the woman he loved to do the honorable thing. Today, I'm excited to be able to bring him here to answer a few questions his choice raised for me.

But first allow me to introduce you to his creator, debut author, Lisa Jordan. I first met Lisa online through My Book Therapy and then later in person at ACFW conferences. What a thrill it has been for us to see our debut novels come out with Love Inspired within months of each other.

Heart, home and faith have always been important to Lisa Jordan, so writing stories that feature both comes naturally to her. Happily married for twenty-two years, Lisa and her husband have two young adult sons. When she isn’t writing or caring for children in her in-home childcare business, Lisa enjoys family time, romantic comedies, good books, crafting with friends and feeding her NCIS addiction. Visit her at www.lisajordanbooks.com to learn more about her writing.

Before we dive into the character questions, here's the back cover blurb for Lakeside Reunion:

Bed-and-breakfast owner Lindsey Porter prays she won’t run into Stephen Chase when she returns to Shelby Lake. Five years ago, the cop jilted her to marry another woman, and Lindsey fled town. But no sooner does she hit city limits than Stephen pulls her over for a broken taillight. Despite the past, he’s still able to stir up Lindsey’s old feelings for him. Now a widower and single dad, Stephen recognizes a second chance when he sees one. And he’ll do anything to make Lindsey trust in God and take a risk for love—again. Read an excerpt of Lakeside Reunion

Now, Stephen, you chose honor over love. Why?

I screwed up. Big time. I had to man up and face the consequences of my actions. What happened affected many people I loved, but I had to do the right thing, even if it meant giving up Lindsey.

What would you have missed out on if you had chosen Lindsey?

I missed the first two years of Ty’s life. If I had married Lindsey, I would have become a weekend dad, and I didn’t want that. Tyler didn’t deserve that either. He was already losing his mother. The poor guy needed some security in his life.

And Bethany … she was a great person who didn’t deserve what happened to her. She was one of the kindest, gentlest people I’ve had the privilege to know. She loved Ty with all her heart. He’s a great kid, mainly because of her.

How did you feel when you saw Lindsey for the first time?

Like someone had just stepped on my chest. Man, she looked amazing. She was so close, yet so far away, you know?

What regrets do you have over hurting Lindsey?

I loved Lindsey. That never changed. But I had to do what was right for Bethany and Tyler. I was all they had. Breaking my engagement was one of the toughest things I had to do, especially since she was grieving her father’s death.

How did you grow to care for Bethany?

Bethany’s gentle personality made it easy. We were strangers when we got married, but as we talked, our relationship grew into a deep friendship. She was my wife, and I loved her. I will always cherish her memory and honor it for Ty.

Why is your job so important?

I’m a cop. I catch bad guys. But it’s more than that. I screwed up in the past. Being a cop showed I could do something right and honorable. Lindsey’s father was my mentor and believed in me. I couldn’t let him down.

What’s the hardest thing about being a single parent?

What’s not hard about it? You have to do everything yourself. Thank God I had my family to lend a hand or else Ty and I may have lived on chicken nuggets or mac and cheese. He deserved so much more. I do my best, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like enough. I miss having a partner to share his accomplishments or cute stories with. I hate having to juggle work, his school events, and making sure someone is always there for him.

What life lesson would you share with someone else?

God’s grace is a free gift—it’s up to you to accept it or deny it. Plus, life’s hard, but you don’t have to go it alone. Lean on family and friends, but most of all, lean on God. His shoulders can take it and wants to walk alongside us every day.

Stephen and Lisa, thanks so much for joining us today and being so open with your answers. Lisa do you have anything you'd like to tell my readers?

Yes, for the past month-plus, I’ve been holding a scavenger hunt to promote my Lakeside Reunion release. Also, blog commenters on my blog hop (like today) will be put in a drawing for fun prizes—breakfast basket, Love Inspired Authors basket, autographed copies of Lakeside Reunion. (U.S. addresses only, I'm afraid.)

There are still a couple of days left to get in on the scavenger hunt. Visit my Lakeside Reunion Contest page for more information. For those participating...the token for this blog is a home-cooked meal.

Your Turn: Do you have any questions for Lisa or Stephen?

Special Notice: Tomorrow at noon Mountain Standard Time, the For Canadians Only gift basket will go up on the fundraiser for Sandi Rog blog. The basket open to International for the 2500 word critique from the Christian Writer's Guild will be on Friday. Be sure to stop in every day. These baskets are worth hundreds of dollars and feature everything from chocolates, crafts, hand-knitted items, jewellery, scrapbooking supplies to books.

Reach Out this Holiday Season

2011-11-25T00:01:00.089-05:00

Imagine you're a mom of four, living with MS, still readjusting to life in the states after years spent abroad, and finally seeing a dream come true. The book you've researched for years and poured your soul into is finally, today, being released into the world. After all the struggles of moving, of helping children acclimate, of learning a new city, of juggling motherhood and family and writing, you get to celebrate the realization of a dream.

And on that same day, your doctor tells you to come in right away--you you have stage 4 T-cell lymphoma, possibly caused by the medication you've been taking for MS.

This is what happened to Sandi Rog on November 1, 2010. For the last year, Sandi has endured chemo, radiation, and a bone marrow transplant, with the hope of destroying this aggressive cancer. And then, just a few weeks before the release of her second book, new tumors were discovered near her spine that show the cancer has not succumbed the way we had all hoped.

So now, in the face of the holiday season, the Rog family finds themselves settling in for another year of physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual battle as Sandi faces more treatments--one of which holds much promise but is not covered by insurance. As you can imagine, the financial cost of fighting cancer can be overwhelming, and that's why we're hosting this fundraiser.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:
Donated items such as books and ornaments and a wide assortment of other items have been added almost daily to the fundraiser site. These will be available for you to win starting today, November 25th at noon MST.

To purchase a raffle "ticket", donate $5 at GiveForward.com. (If you wish to enter the drawings for donated items, be sure NOT to mark your donation as anonymous or to hide your donated amount!) Every $5 you donate will purchase you one raffle ticket.

The fundraising site will post two awesome gift "baskets" per day. To enter the drawing for a basket, leave a comment on the post. Want to enter more than once on the basket you really want? In your comment, note how many "tickets" you're spending. They'll be able to track through GiveForward.com how many tickets you purchased.

They regret that most items are only able to be shipped to US addresses. HOWEVER, there will be a special for Canadians Only Gift Basket. As well, Aspiring Writers from anywhere in the world will not want to miss the opportunity to win a 2,500 word critique from the Jerry B Jenkins Christian Writer's Guild. I'll keep you posted on those important dates.

Note that, once your ticket has been spent, you won't get it back if you don't win. (Just like a raffle with physical tickets--once you enter it in a drawing, your ticket is gone.) The comments will close at noon the next day; comments left after that time will not be counted. We'll use Random.org to choose the winner and will post their name the next day. Read yesterday's post at the fundraiser site for more detailed instructions.

Your donation is not tax deductible. This is strictly a sacrificial, out-of-the-goodness-of-your-heart donation.

HOW TO PURCHASE A RAFFLE TICKET:
Be sure to have your credit card info available. Click the GiveForward.com button and enter your info there. (Note that if you want to purchase more tickets later, you will need to reenter your information at that time as GiveForward.com does not store payment info.) Donate as much or as little as you want, and every $5 increment will get you an entry toward the gift basket of your choice. GiveForward.com will keep track for us of names and email addresses, so we'll be able to contact you if you win.

We know times are hard for everyone. The economy is in the tank, folks are losing their jobs, and Christmas is probably going to be a lot less materially-focused this year for many people. But, for most of us, the Rogs fall under the "it could be a lot worse" category. Every donation helps. So please prayerfully consider how you might help, and help spread the word to help keep the Rogs afloat as Sandi fights for her life.

HOW TO BID WITHOUT A DONATION TO SANDI:
To keep things legal, they have to allow an option for people to enter the raffle at least once without making a purchase. If you wish to bid on a gift basket, leave a comment that states your name, email address so we can contact you if you win, and the phrase "entering without purchasing a bid".
~Alison

Happy American Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T08:36:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends. And a quote of the day from Monday's Walk Right In Ministry's blog post The Power of a Thanksgiving Love Story:

"He is teaching us that there is a privilege and grand adventure in how life unfolds when it is wrapped within the power, love and grace of Christ’s presence."

No matter whether you are in a valley or on a mountaintop or somewhere in between at this moment, may each of you feel wrapped in God's love in a special way today.

Please join me tomorrow for an extra-special post.

Blog Hoppers looking for...

2011-11-23T13:27:00.000-05:00

Lisa Jordan's Character Interview for Lakeside Reunion will be posted Monday, November 28th.

My apologies for the schedule change, I didn't realize that I was part of the official hop. You'll be able to find the token you're looking for here on Monday.

In the meantime, I invite you to read today's post from Suzanne Hartmann on choosing character names. You might also be interested on this earlier post based on Lisa's book: What-would-you-give-up-for-love?

Naming Characters in Peril: Fast Track Thriller #1

2011-11-23T00:01:00.004-05:00

Have you ever wondered where authors come up with names for their characters?

Suzanne Hartmann never really thought about it until she started writing fiction and had to name her own characters. Since her debut novel just released, and my daughter got us thinking about names on Monday, I invited Suzanne to share how she came up with the ones for her characters.

Before she does, let me tell you a little about Suzanne.

She’s a homeschool mom of three who lives in the St. Louis area. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Composition & Linguistics from Western Illinois University. To relax, she enjoys scrapbooking, reading, and Bible study. She began writing fiction when her children were young, and four of her short stories were published in a Milliken Publishing reading workbook. PERIL: Fast Track Thriller Bk. #1 is her debut novel.

On the editorial side, Suzanne is a contributing editor with Port Yonder Press and operates the Write This WayCritique Service. Through her blog, Write This Way, she has become known as an author who can explain writing rules and techniques in easy-to-understand terms. Her popular Top 10 series of articles formed the basis for her e-book on the craft of writing, Write This Way: Take Your Writing to a New Level

Take it away Suzanne…

Thanks for having me Sandra. First let me give you some background about the book so you can see how the characters fit in.

PERIL: Fast Track Thriller #1

A top secret agent with enhanced strength must use her extraordinary abilities during several high-profile assignments, from the White House to NASCAR tracks, while escorting the first Muslim king to convert to Christianity. When unwanted publicity threatens to expose her, she herself becomes a terrorist target, with danger surrounding her on all sides.

VIEW THE BOOK TRAILER

And now, how I created their names:
MAIN CHARACTERS

Lady Anne – For some reason, I just always knew what this character’s name was. I never really had to think about it.

Stuart Jackson – Like the character himself, his name is a compilation. I wanted the character to be an average NASCAR driver, so I gave him characteristics similar to a number of well-known drivers. I continued that by giving him first and last names that are similar to well-known drivers.

Joanne Van der Haas – When I first created the stories I eventually combined together to create The Race that Lies Before Us, they were "what if" stories about me. What if I were in this situation? What if I could do this? What if I had this type of job? So I came up with a name that is similar to my own name.

King Ahmad – I wanted a common Arabic name, one that wouldn’t necessarily be associated with a particular country since I made up a fictional postage-stamp country for him. So I did an on-line search for Arabic names and picked one.

OTHER CHARACTERS

Neil Van der Haas – I envisioned blue-eyed, blond-headed Neil to be of Dutch descent, so I gave him parents who came to the U.S. from the Netherlands. For his given name, I came up with a Dutch name, Nels, that could be easily converted to an English name. For his last name, I came up with a Dutch-sounding name that is similar to the Dutch last name of a penpal I wrote to for years.

Troy Collins – I combined the name of two towns I’ve lived in: Troy and Collinsville.

Ambassador Bainsworth – The ambassador is a self-centered person, so I wanted to give him a name that seemed like it needed “the third” or something like that added afterwards.

John Blaszczyk (blaschik) – John is Stuart’s pilot, and always good for a little humor. Since he has such a generic first name, I thought it would be funny to give him a last name that no one can pronounce. So I did a search for Slavic surnames

Stuart's sister – Although she’s not a character in this book, when I needed to mention Stuart’s sister, I wanted to give her a name. So I came up with a name that starts with "st" like Stuart’s does.

Please take a short hop to visit with the main characters from PERIL and see if their names fit them. I have created fictional interviews for each to introduce you to the characters and the brand new novel they star in. Click this link: CHARACTER INTERVIEWS

Your Turn: Writers, what techniques do you use to name your characters? Do you have any funny stories about how a character came to be named or “told” you what his or her name was?

To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Suzanne is giving away a Kindle to one lucky winner!

The contest runs through the end of her blog tour (Dec. 16). She will announce the winner on Sat. Dec. 17.

To enter, click here: WIN A KINDLE

What's in a Name?

2011-11-21T00:05:00.006-05:00

I'm delighted to share a guest post (geared to writers) from my youngest daughter Jennifer. She is a college-student, freelance writer, and aspiring novelist.

Whether it’s a person, place, thing or the title of your story, don’t underestimate the power of the name. The name can reveal.

Candy, the prostitute, is just that, a prostitute. Ashley is the young girl torn from innocence, forced into prostitution, and in search of true love.

A name can foreshadow. When your hero enters the city Sheol, translated to mean grave or hell, we know danger waits.

A well thought-out name rounds the hero and reveals something of their character or purpose.

Borrowing from an example in my screenwriting class, in the Hitchcock film Psycho, the sign of Bate’s Motel draws the heroine toward her murder. Likewise kind motel owner, Norman Bates is the worm on the hook – the bait.

Take a second look at your character and place names. What can they reveal about your hero? Can they up the suspense through foreshadowing? Trigger a reaction in your heroine? Or sign the death certificate of your villain? Show us your world through names.

Thank you, Jennifer. You've given the writers here lots to consider.

I spend a lot of time trying to get my characters' names just right. I try not to have them start with the same letter to avoid confusing the reader. I try not to have them all sound the same like Hayley, Bailey and Kayley, because, well, it's just too funny. I favor single syllable names for my heroes with G or K sounds. Not sure why!

I often look up the meanings of names. But I never thought of using a play on words such as Bate-bait. Although readers have pointed out some unintentional connections. Such as laud meaning to praise, and how Emile Laud is all about being esteemed.

Your Turn: Readers, what's the most memorable name you've come across in a story or movie and why? Writers, how do you choose names for your characters? Share your favorite and why.

Milestones!

2011-11-18T00:31:00.043-05:00

We celebrated my daughter's 19th birthday this past week.

In one more year, I won't have any teenagers left in my house, and I'm kind of sad about that. I've thoroughly enjoyed my kids' teen years.

Of course, my eat-everything-in-sight puppy will likely have graduated to the teenager stage by then!

Ugh, she's already baying come-hithers to all the local coyotes.

But I digress.

We've enjoyed a few fun milestones this past year, starting with the birth of our first grandchild. Children milestones come fast and furious...first smile, first belly laugh, first tooth, first word...

I'm still trying to coax my grand daughter to say that all-important "Nana". According to my baby book, I said it at 7 months so I'm thinking it'll happen any day now!!!

Of course, the release of my debut novel was a huge personal milestone for me this year. Next year I'm looking forward to another biggie--our 25th wedding anniversary!

We still haven't decided how to celebrate that one. Any suggestions?

Your Turn: Have you celebrated any milestones recently? How do you celebrate important milestones?

P.S. Please join me Monday, for my daughter's insightful guest post on what's in a name. Whether you're a writer or a reader or an expectant mom, it'll make you look at names in a whole new light!

A Change of Heart

2011-11-16T00:05:00.011-05:00

Monday we talked about what we'd give up for love.

Because of fear, both Ginny in Deep Cover, and Lindsey in Lakeside Reunion, ask the police officers they love to give up their jobs before they'll marry them.

Of course, every diehard romance reader longs for the hero to choose love over anything else. But what of the heroine?

She needs a change of heart, too. Right?

Your turn: Can you share an example of how you embraced God instead of clinging to fear? Are you struggling with this very thing, now? How might we pray for you?

GIVEAWAY OF DEEP COVER this week on Noelle Marchand's new blog Today features an interview of the heroine.

What would you give up for love?

2011-11-14T00:31:00.093-05:00

This past week I read the Love Inspired contemporary Lakeside Reunion by Lisa Jordan about a cop who jilted his bride-to-be mere weeks before their wedding after learning that a night of indiscretion three years earlier had led to the birth of his son.

He chose honor over love and married his son's mother, a woman he scarcely knew and who was battling cancer. The story begins five years later. Stephen has been widowed for a year, and Lindsey, the woman he'd jilted, and never stopped loving, is back in town.

And Stephen will do anything to make her trust in God and take a risk for love--again.

This story has a similar element to one in Deep Cover in that Lindsey's father died in the line of duty, and she doesn't think she can risk enduring that kind of loss ever again. But for Stephen being a cop and eventually becoming captain is his ticket to redeeming himself from his past mistakes and proving himself honorable to his family and community.

Stephen's friend asks Stephen what he's willing to give up to keep Lindsey.

I won't give away the ending by telling you what he decides. But I will share an interesting tidbit about the author. Twenty-three years ago, Lisa begged her then Marine husband to give up his dream of becoming a police officer like his dad. She admits that she was terrified of losing him and didn't trust God enough to protect him.

Lisa's husband honored her plea.

Your Turn: Have you had to make a sacrifice for someone you loved (spouse, child, parent)? How did you handle it? Has someone made such a sacrifice for you? Thank them, today.

Lest We Forget

2011-11-11T00:11:00.128-05:00

In commemoration of Remembrance Day, I've invited the heroine from Catherine West's novel, Yesterday's Tomorrow, to answer a few questions. But first let me tell you a bit about this 60s era romance that readers are raving about.

Vietnam, 1967.

Independent, career-driven journalist Kristin Taylor wants two things: to honor her father's memory by becoming an award-winning overseas correspondent and to keep tabs on her only brother, Teddy, who signed up for the war against their mother's wishes. Brilliant photographer Luke Maddox, silent and brooding, exudes mystery. Kristin is convinced he's hiding something.

Willing to risk it all for what they believe in, Kristin and Luke engage in their own tumultuous battle until, in an unexpected twist, they’re forced to work together. Ambushed by love, they must decide whether or not to set aside their own private agendas for the hope of tomorrow that has captured their hearts.

Hi Kristen, so glad you could join us. Could you start by telling us a little about yourself?

Thanks for having me! I’m Kristin Taylor, daughter of Malcolm and Valerie, sister to Teddy. From Boston, Mass. I was 24 when I decided to go to Vietnam. I’m a journalist. Always wanted to be one really, from the time I was very small. My father was one of the greatest wartime correspondents ever. He influenced this career choice in a major way. Actually I can’t even call it a choice. It’s what I was meant to be. Going to Vietnam seemed to be a calling rather than a career move. I have a younger brother Teddy, and after he enlisted, I knew I wasn’t going to be happy back in Boston waiting for that letter or phone call… I needed to be where the action was. To follow in my father’s footsteps and make a name for myself, even despite my mother’s opposition.

How did your father die?

My father died in 1957, in Vietnam. He was there on assignment. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I was twelve years old and I suppose my mother spared me the gory details. She said he died bravely, doing what he loved. Which was true. I found out later that he’d been following a platoon that walked right into an ambush. None of them stood a chance.

Weren't you afraid to go to a war-torn country?

I’m not sure I gave myself time to be afraid. I think if I’d really sat down and thought about it, thought about what I was going to see, hear, feel, I’m not sure…I probably would have gone anyway. I don’t give in to fear easily.

What's life like on the field as a foreign correspondent?

In a word, hell. You can’t imagine the things you see. The death. Destruction. You’re literally on your own the minute you step off the plane out there. Unless you’re lucky enough to be working with an established paper already, you need to find work. Get a visa. And then go where the stories are. And that’s out in the field. Most of the time I was able to get rides on Huey’s (helicopters), follow a platoon, get onto base camps, but some of the guys didn’t like having a girl around, know what I mean? They sort of felt responsible, like if something happened to me it was their fault. I had to earn their trust and respect. You don’t get much sleep. The food is awful. It’s hot and damp and sticky and exhausting. And some nights you don’t dare close your eyes because you’re not sure you’ll wake up in the morning. At the same time, it’s a rush. You’re always on, ready to run after the next story. You don’t want to miss a thing.

How did you meet Luke Maddox?

Meet? Ha. I would use that term rather loosely. Actually I fell asleep in his apartment by accident, and he pulled a gun on me. It was a rather memorable introduction. His sister and I ended up as roommates, and he lived in the same building, right next door, so he had to put up with me, like it or not, and I had to put up with him.

What attracts you to him? drives you crazy?

Oh dear. Laughing. When we first met I couldn’t wait to get away from him. He was probably the biggest jerk I’d ever met. And he wasn’t about to give me the time of day. But somehow we kept landing in the same places and…I realized there was a lot more going on behind those eyes than he wanted me to know. So of course I made it my business to find out. J Aside from the fact that he’s not that hard to look at once he’s cleaned up, I found him to be extremely intelligent.
That was a shocker.
But apart from my father, I think he’s one of the smartest men I’ve ever met. He’s brave, loyal and honest. But he’s stubborn and when you get on his bad side, you don’t want to be in the same room, trust me. The thing that really drives me nuts though, is that he knows me. Seriously sees right through me. I didn’t think anyone would be capable of getting past the shallow relationship stuff, you know? But Luke…he just strode right on through, grabbed my heart and laid claim to it like it was always his for the taking.

Did you ever run into your brother on the field? How did you find out where he was?

At first I couldn’t get a lead on Teddy. I knew my mother was worried sick of course, and I just tried not to think about what he’d be going through. Whenever I went to a new base camp I’d ask questions, try to find out where he was. It was actually Luke that found him. I learned later that his connections out there were a lot better than mine. It was probably one of my best days in Vietnam, seeing Teddy. Seeing that he was all right. It was a good day.

Why do they call your brother “Preacher”?

Yeah, that’s Teddy all right. He’s always had a strong faith. He seemed to have this relationship with God…I didn’t understand it. Not for a long time. But he’s…passionate I suppose…really excited about who God is and he just wants to share that with everyone. He got the name “Preacher” from the other GIs over there because wherever he went he’d somehow end up talking to them about God. But it was good. The guys listened for the most part. I’m sure some thought he was crazy, but I know he helped a lot of them get through their tours by pointing them toward a hope they didn’t know existed.

What did you want your readers to learn from the news reports you wrote?

I wanted them to learn the truth. There was so much confusion over there, so many conflicting stories. It was difficult not to take sides. I just wanted to show them back home what it was really like for those boys, for the men and women who served in Vietnam. I felt like we were fighting a forgotten war. While guys were getting killed in the jungles, everybody back in the States was just going about their normal everyday lives, like none of it mattered anymore. I wanted it to matter. I wanted them to know. To see. To feel. And to honor what those boys were doing for their country. For them.

Do you felt like you made a difference?

Oh, I don’t know. Does anybody really make a difference in this world? Martin Luther King made a difference. JFK made a difference. But me? I just told the truth. The guys out there, they made the real difference. People just didn’t know it. And now, back home, nobody wants to talk about it.

Did you see evidence of God in such a devastating place?

When I went to Vietnam, I was angry with God. Angry with Him for taking my father, just angry I guess. I definitely didn’t have the kind of faith my brother or even my mom did. I was also a bit of a control freak. There was no way I was about to give my life over to some being I couldn’t see or hear. I wasn’t even sure He existed.

The more atrocities I saw over there, the stronger my doubt grew. I found it very difficult to understand how a loving God could just sit back and do nothing in the face of such death and destruction. Yet I saw God in Vietnam. I saw him in the faces of the children. In the kindness of strangers. In the beauty of the countryside, the color of the ocean. Even in death. God was everywhere in Vietnam, even when I didn’t want Him to be. He was. It’s taken me a while to acknowledge that. I’m still growing, still learning. Still forgiving. But God is patient. He’s not going anywhere.

A lot of people came home with many issues to deal with. They suffered nightmares and found it difficult to assimilate, to function in the life they knew before Vietnam. Did you feel the same?

Oh, sure. Coming home was hard for a number of reasons. I lost so much over there. Luke and I talked a lot about what it would be like afterward. What it would be like to be home, to live a normal life. In the end you just kind of laugh and shake your head because really, what’s normal after Vietnam? But you go on. You push through the pain, you try to forget the nightmares and you put one foot in front of the other. You live. And that’s the point really. You live because you can.

Do you regret your time there?

No, not at all. I regret the choices I made. Some of the things I did and didn’t do, but I’ll never regret going to Vietnam. I met too many wonderful people. Made friends. Fell in love. If I hadn’t gone to Vietnam, I don’t think I’d be the person I am today. And while I’m not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, I think I’m someone my father would be proud of. Vietnam taught me so much, much of which I was totally unprepared for, but I think I learned a lot. I learned about love, friendship, trust and love. But most of all, I learned how to live.

Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine West holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. Catherine and her husband live on the beautiful island of Bermuda, with their two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of Romance Writers of America, and American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a founding member of International Christian FictionWriters. Catherine’s debut novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow, released in March 2011 through OakTara Publishers. Catherine’s next novel, Hidden in the Heart, will be available in the near future, also through OakTara.

You can find Tara online at http://www.catherinejwest.com

Your Turn: Do you have any questions for Catherine?

Giveaway: Catherine is giving away a copy of her book today at her blog. Click here to check it out.

NOVEL MORSELS - My Gift to You

2011-11-09T00:05:00.039-05:00

I'm excited to introduce

Novel Morsels

A collaborative recipe Ebook bringing your favorite Christian authors and their favorite foods together.

Sixty-five Christian fiction authors have come together in this first-of-its-kind e-book, sharing more than 120 recipes that connect to their books or their characters.

The book retails for $2.99, but as my gift to you, my blog readers, newsletter subscribers and Facebook fans may use this special coupon code [ SandraOrchard ] to download the book for free!!

You can purchase Novel Morsels RIGHT HERE.

Enter my coupon code in the bottom left hand corner and click apply. The book will then show a zero balance owing, and you can proceed to checkout.

Just so you know what to expect...
You will be asked for your name, email address and phone number. You can simply put your first name and n/a for phone number, but ensure you type your email address accurately as your receipt and download link will be emailed to you.

The receipt will appear in your inbox almost immediately, but I found that the email with the download link was delayed by a couple of hours. Rest assured that it will come. You may want to check your spam file if you don't see it after a few hours. The book itself is a 55.6 MB pdf file so if you're not on highspeed, it could take a while to download.

Soon, Novel Morsels will be available for Kindle and Nook. I’ll keep you posted.

P.S. Friday we have a special guest visiting in honor of Remembrance Day/Veteran's Day that you won't want to miss.

Your Turn: What's the most memorable or touching gift you've ever received...not counting God's most precious gift of his son?

Emotional Connections

2011-11-07T00:05:00.202-05:00

Have you ever read a story that a friend raved about and then been stumped at the attraction?

That's happened to me a few times lately, and I've been attempting to pinpoint why. Sometimes, of course, it can be chalked up to different tastes, or different life experiences that make a story resonate with one person and not another.

Lately, I've been hungering for stories in which I emotionally connect with the hero or heroine so much that my heart aches when theirs does.

This obsession seems to be spilling over into my people watching--an occupational hazard.

Sunday afternoon my husband and I and two youngest children went to a restaurant for lunch, and a young family caught my attention. There were four adorable blond children ranging in age from about four to eleven and a tired-looking dad. They were dressed like they'd come from church, well-behaved. The eleven-year-old girl was obviously used to mothering her younger siblings.

I wondered if the mom was trailing behind with a baby. Then when she didn't appear, I wondered if she was sick at home, or had just had a baby and hubby was giving her a few hours of peace and quiet.

Nosy writer that I am, I soon found myself trying to catch a glimpse of the father's left hand.

My heart sunk when I saw his ring finger was bare. I doubted he was divorced. He looked too melancholy, and I figured that if this was his weekend with the kids, he'd be more...alive.

So I naturally assumed he was widowed--every happily-married spouse's worst fear.

Instantly, I was emotionally connected.

My heart ached for that little family even as my mind began re-writing their happily ever after.

Hours later, I found myself wishing we'd introduced ourselves, perhaps invited the children to come out for a ride on our sweet old horse. That's the kind of person I want to be, and the kind of actions I yearn for my characters to inspire in readers.

Your turn: What kind of scenario squeezes your heart, or plays on your mind for hours after you've put a book down? Has a fictional story ever inspired you to change something about yourself or do something differently?

A Hook is like a Guard Dog

2011-11-04T00:11:00.036-04:00

This week I've been working on a Christmas bonus story for my Deep Cover readers--a what are Rick and Ginny doing for Christmas kind of story.

Not sure if it will ever see the light of day, because the process has impressed upon me why romances end at "They lived happily ever after."

Showing the happily ever after is boring. The fun is in the chase!

Of course, I like a challenge so I'm dreaming up ways to stir up some mischief. And the process got me thinking about hooks.

A hook is like a guard dog. It either lures in the unwitting reader or sends her running.

A guard dog?

Yup, a great suspense is going to have a teeth-baring rottweiler guarding the house. Fierce enough to make you shake in your boots, but impressive enough to make you curious about what's inside.

A light romance might have a tongue-lolling golden retriever sitting on the porch. Friendly enough to lure you to the step for a little pat and ready to win you over with a wet, sloppy kiss.

Then there's the quirky, cozy mysteries...I'm picturing a Vietnamese pot-bellied pig as the guard dog.

Yes, a little pot-bellied pig sitting on someone's porch is going to make you curious about what kind of character could possibly think the wee-little thing would scare anyone off the property.

You'll step closer.

It'll puff itself up, taking it's guarding duties very seriously. Snort. Snort.

Pot-belly pigs are intelligent. They'll wait until you're only a few feet away, laughing at them. And then...

Two-hundred-pound, Papa pig will lumber around the corner!
Gotcha ya.

Your turn: What kind of openings hook you into a story?

An International Feast

2011-11-02T00:31:00.003-04:00

I was recently invited to join the International Christian Fiction Writers blog. Written by authors of Christian fiction representing a variety of rich cultural traditions from Canada to the UK to Tasmania to Brazil to Mozambique, it's goal is to promote international Christian fiction.

In celebration of our second year of blogging, we've collaborated to create an International Recipe Ebook which we're giving away as a free download to our readers.

Travel with us around the world as we sample delicacies that uniquely represent our home countries or the settings of our books.

Try our exciting selection of entrees, sides, mains, desserts and snacks:

• Peanut soup from Bolivia.
• Chicken croquettes from Brazil.
• Cornbread from Tennessee, USA.
• Cranberry salad from Australia.
• Bobotie and Cape Lamb Pie from South Africa.
• Mennonite stew from Canada.
• Passionfruit and coconut cake from Mozambique.
• Pavlova from New Zealand.
• Scones from England.

And many more! Over 40 recipes in all.

Don't miss... the hero of Deep Cover, Rick Gray's delicious and oh-so-easy chili that he teaches the heroine's little sister how to make. Click here to download the book. You can choose from a variety of formats that can be read online or on popular Ereaders, or as a pdf for printing.

Your turn: What's your favorite international food and why?

P.S. Please take a moment to stop by the International Christian Fiction Writers blog and meet the authors.

P.S.S. I'll soon be giving away free downloads to another cool cookbook called Novel Morsels, which will feature favorite recipes of characters from books. Subscribe to my newsletter and/or Facebook page (links on the side bar) to be sure you don't miss the announcement.

Get that Plank out of my Eye!

2011-10-31T00:05:00.121-04:00

Since we talked about villains last week, these verses in Proverbs 24:17-18 caught my eye yesterday. "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when he stumbles, do not let your heart rejoice, or the Lord will see and disapprove and turn his wrath away from him."

Isn't that an eye-opener?

Yeah, the villain is a bad guy, but taking pleasure in his punishment isn't good either.

So...at the end of the book when the bad guy gets his just desserts, my hero better not gloat, or the next thing he knows his author will have to help him confront his pride issues!!!

As a writer I spend a lot of time contemplating the truths my characters need to learn. My understanding of these truths, and my need to embrace them in my own life often grows as a result.

Oftentimes, their complexities don't fully gel in my mind until I tackle crafting the study questions for the back of the book--like the ones we've been exploring here each Monday.

That's where I'm at right now with the third book in my undercover cops series. Originally titled Dose of Deception, the book, at the spiritual level, explores many levels of deception, but most importantly how we deceive ourselves.

In a romance, someone who has been burned by love may say they're not interested in dating again, but really they're afraid of being hurt again. Deep down they know they will be...

Even deeper than that, they don't trust God to be sufficient when the inevitable happens.

Your turn: Can you think of a time when you tried to convince yourself that you were doing the right thing and perhaps even offered noble reasons for your choice or decision, but deep down that choice was driven by fear?

No Toy Left Behind

2011-10-28T00:01:00.044-04:00

After a computer villain launched a cyber plot to consume all my time yesterday in trying to get my guest post on the Craftie Ladies of Romance blog to render properly, I decided I'd had enough of villains for one week!

It's Fun Friday. Time to smile!

One thing that makes me smile every time I witness it is...

When we leave the house, we crate our eat-everything-in-sight pup, Bella. We always supply her with all her favorite toys and a chew bone.

What's hilarious is that as soon as we let her out of the crate, she carries her toys one by one to the living room--far from view of that crate.

She's a true marine. No toy shall be left behind!

Your turn: What made you smile this week?

Join me...

2011-10-27T03:00:00.018-04:00

I'm guest posting today on The Craftie Ladies of Romance blog (a blog of Love Inspired romance writers--suspense, contemporary, and historical) on...
Celebrating Christian Fiction Readers.

Interviewing a Villain

2011-10-26T00:31:00.009-04:00

Since we talked about villains on Monday, I wanted to share here the interview Emile Laud did with blogger Suzanne Hartzman at the end of September. I hope you enjoy it as much as I enjoyed playing him.

Visiting with us today is Emile Laud a character from Sandra Orchard’s debut novel Deep Cover. To help you better follow my interview with Emile, allow me to first share a brief description of the other main characters.

Rick Gray (aka Duke Black) ~ Undercover cop working as a construction foreman on Emile Laud’s newest development—a group home for his mentally-challenged niece

Ginny Bryson ~ A web copywriter and the PR person for her Uncle Emile’s construction project. When not trying to raise funds for the project, or writing copy for her uncle or other clients, she cares for her dying mother and coaches a T-ball team of special needs players, including her sister.

Lori Bryson ~ Ginny’s eighteen year old sister who has a mental age of three to four and works in a supervised work placement during the day.

Suzanne: Your foreman Rick Gray, uh, I mean Duke, would have us believe you’re the villain of this story so I thought it only fair to give you a chance to defend yourself against these accusations. Could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Emile: I’d be happy to. I appreciate you having me here. I honestly have no idea why Duke would think such a thing of me, especially after I gave him a job. I’m a developer. I’ve done quite well over the years. I left Miller’s Bay almost twenty years ago, following the tragic death of my wife in a house fire. I simply couldn’t bear the reminders the town held of our happy years together. But I returned a few months back to re-establish my business in the community and to give back to the town that helped launch my career by building a group home for special needs adults.

Suzanne: Tell us a little more about the group home you're building.

Emile: Foremost, the home is for my niece Lori. With her mother dying, it’s the least I can do to ensure she has a stable home in the future.

Suzanne: Tell us what your niece Ginny is doing to help with the group home.

Emile: Her assistance has been invaluable. Thanks to her tenacious fundraising efforts and government lobbying, grants and donations toward the construction are pouring in. She is such a lovely girl, always helpful, never questions my decisions. I try to help her out however I can. She has a lot on her plate holding the family together. Her mother, my dear departed wife’s sister, was an alcoholic you know. She’s quit now, they say. I suppose with the cancer making her so sick, she had no choice.

Suzanne: Oh, I didn’t know that. No wonder Ginny thinks the world of you. In fact, most people in Miller’s Bay seem to think highly of you. Why is that?

Emile: Why because money talks my dear. Show compassion to the less fortunate, donate to a worthy cause, build a home for the needy, and everyone thinks you’re honorable. If only the insurance company was so easily persuaded. If they paid the settlement on the townhouse fire instead of dragging on a fruitless investigation, I’d be able to move forward with construction much more quickly.

Suzanne: I’ve noticed you always dress in expensive three-piece suits and eat at the best restaurants and even own a yacht. Appearances seem very important to you. Why is that?

Emile: I was poor once. Bullied by kids at school. Mocked for my secondhand clothes. Ignored by the girls. I never intend to go back to that life.

Suzanne: I see. And why doesn't Ginny’s mother, your sister-in-law, like you?

Emile: <sighs> She blames me for her sister’s death I’m afraid. It’s understandable. I blame myself. If I’d been there that night instead of working late at the office, I might’ve been able to save her.

Suzanne: What evidence does Ri—uh Duke have to make him suspect that you torch some of your buildings to collect the insurance money?

Emile: Come now, you look like a woman of the world. You know how these rumors get started. I was working late the night my wife died. And yes, so was my secretary. But that didn’t mean I was having an affair. And yes, perhaps my business endeavors have been victimized by arson attacks more than most. But any evidence he believes he has is pure conjecture I’m sure.

Suzanne: What threats are being leveled at Ginny?

Emile: < squirms, looking suddenly uncomfortable> There have been…shall we say, incidents. One nasty note she received said I know. And one way or the other, HE WILL PAY. Obviously, I’m concerned for her. Although it has occurred to me that Duke, not I, is the “he” to whom the note refers.

Suzanne: But—

Emile: <holds up his hand to stop her> I admit that a man doesn’t get to my position without creating a few enemies. That’s why I asked Duke to use his criminal connections to try to find out who’s behind the attacks on my dear niece and put a stop to them. Now, I ask you, if I were trying to hurt my niece, why would I ask Duke to protect her?

Suzanne: Hmm, good question. I guess I’ll have to read Deep Cover to find out who’s really telling the truth.

Your turn: If you read Deep Cover, were you surprised at the end to discover who was trying to hurt Ginny?

A Word about posts on RSS feed

2011-10-25T13:48:00.000-04:00

For those of you who subscribe to this blog via RSS feed, I apologize that about 25% of the time, the feed has shown nothing but formatting information. This happens when I copy and paste my post from a word document and don't remember to backspace at the beginning of the post to delete formatting.

I went back and republished those posts today so that they should now render properly in the feed. And I've subscribed to my own feed so that I'll catch it early if this happens again.

Fighting the Villain Inside

2011-10-24T00:11:00.004-04:00

I love writing villains.

Not the mustache-twirling villains of old that modern readers find laughable. Multi-faceted characters that I can exploit for good and evil, and in the process, surprise the reader. At his best, a villain will make the hero stop and take stock.

If the reader does too, all the better.

One trick writing books suggest for humanizing villains is to look at them through the eyes of someone who loves them.

In Deep Cover, the reader sees Emile Laud through the hero’s eyes as someone who would torch buildings for the insurance money without concern for who might be hurt as a result. We also see Laud through his niece’s eyes as someone who is generous and supportive.

The reader, of course, is left wondering who is right.

Laud is driven by ambition. He wants people to believe he’s wealthy and altruistic so they’ll admire him, because as a child he was scoffed at for being poor and unpopular.

By the end of the book, we see the consequences of his obsession. (no spoiler!)

Witnessing firsthand the villain that lurks inside each of us, the hero finds himself evaluating his own decisions.

Your turn: Is ambition a bad thing? Why or why not?

Food for Thought: Do you unconsciously try to fill a deep-rooted need in ways that might lead to unwelcome consequences?

Fun Friday - My Hero... swoon

2011-10-21T00:05:00.046-04:00

My husband is a real-life hero, and I'm not just saying that because I'm married to him and I'm a romance writer and that's what romance writers tend to say about their hubbies. Mine really is!

He proved it the day my daughter's long-dreamed-of horse arrived at our home. She was older and bomb-proof...we were told.

Well-trained, we were told.

Gentle, we were told.

Well, my daughter was suddenly a little shy about riding her so I volunteered to take the maiden voyage.

Bareback.

Dearest hubby gave me a boost up and I held onto Dancer's mane and urged her to walk on.

Come to think of it, the horse's name should've been the first clue that I was in trouble.

She pranced a little jig and the next thing I knew she was bucking for joy.

One... I bounced about a foot off her back.

Two... I bounced a little higher.

Three... I knew it was time to pull up my legs and bail. But I didn't have to. Dancer sent me sailing through the air.

Hero hubby saw it coming and caught me. Yes, caught me! Ahhh!

Is it any wonder I write romance?

Your turn: What's the most romantic or heroic or fun thing a guy has ever done for you? If you can't think of one, what do you dream of "your hero" doing for you?

Vertigo...

2011-10-19T05:00:00.001-04:00

Nope not the movie.

I've got the real thing. And wow, is it ever hard to get anything done.

With less than six weeks until my book three deadline, I'm hoping this won't last. Seems to be connected to a combination of sinus and ear issues.

I've even tried the Epley maneuver, hoping for a quick fix. That's a canalith repositioning procedure that works by moving rogue calcium crystals out of the sensing tubes and into another chamber of the inner ear, where they’re safely reabsorbed.

Jimmy Stewart seems to be trying it on his wife in the movie by the same name. Hmm... maybe there's a book idea in this.

I wish you all a happy Wednesday!

Your turn: Any ailments you've thought would be intriguing for an author to give a hero or heroine? Or one that an author has used that you thought interesting?

Why Don't You Like Me?

2011-10-17T00:05:00.021-04:00

Which character in the book do you most relate to and why?

A heroine you'd like?

That’s question number two at the back of Deep Cover, and it led to an interesting discussion recently among my writing friends.

We were trying to discern if there is a connection between our own personality types and the heroines in the books we enjoy most. Or if the heroines we admire have personalities we aspire to, but don’t necessarily have.

As a child of British parents, I learned that one should keep their emotions under wraps. I learned to esteem a stoic outlook of circumstances, and see crying as a weakness. Not necessarily healthy, and certainly not taught consciously, but that’s the way it was.

As a result, I don’t have much patience for weepy heroines.

That’s not to say, I don’t like women-in-jeopardy stories. I do. I love to read about a protective hero, rescuing and cherishing the woman he loves.

A Likable Heroine?

Similarly, I’m a highly task-oriented, type A personality. When I read the list of characteristics of that kind of personality, I see them as positive qualities. Others read those same characteristics and see many of them as negatives.

Likewise, when they see those characteristics in a heroine, they’ll see her as unlikable while other readers may admire her.

Then, of course, there's the influence of our first impression based on the cover are picture.

Interesting, isn’t it?

Your turn: What kind of hero or heroine do you most relate to and why? Do they share the same kind of personality as you, or attributes you aspire to have?

Smile!

2011-10-14T00:05:00.004-04:00

Have you ever noticed how people tend to watch babies?

I mean sit and stare at them, waiting for them to do something cute. I caught myself doing this to my six-month-old grand daughter this week and wondered how she felt about always being stared at.

After all if I sat in the living room and stared at my hubby or daughter that way, they’d get downright fidgety. In less than a minute, they’d be swiping at their noses, thinking they had something on their face, saying, “What? What?”

Think about it. It's a wonder babies don't get a complex from how people stare at them!

But I’ve decided that baby-watching is incredibly therapeutic…watching happy babies, anyways.

The experts say that smiling and laughing are good for your health. And when a baby smiles, who can help but smile back?

And when they laugh, I mean really belly laugh at the silliest of things, I defy anyone to hold back a chuckle.

So… when my uncooperative story has me pulling out my hair trying to figure out how to make it behave… which seems to be daily these days… I drop in on my daughter and get a baby-fix!!

Your turn: What do you do to help pick yourself up when you’re feeling out of sorts?

Unlawfully Wedded Bride - Character Interview

2011-10-12T00:05:00.061-04:00

I have the pleasure of introducing to you to a young debut author with Love Inspired Historicals, Noelle Marchand, and her endearing heroine.

Noelle Marchand’s love of literature began as a child when she would spend hours reading beneath the covers long after she was supposed to be asleep. Over the years, God began prompting her to write by placing ideas for stories in her head. Eventually, those stories became like “fire shut up in her bones” leading her to complete her first novel by her sixteenth birthday.

Now, at the age of twenty-two, that fire of inspiration continues to burn. Her first published novel, Unlawfully Wedded Bride, will be on store shelves October 2011. She is currently working on her fourth novel.

Noelle is a Houston-native who will graduate from Houston Baptist University. She is currently a senior double majoring in Mass Communication with a focus in journalism and Speech Communication. She has gained writing, editorial, and publishing experience by working for HBU’s student newspaper.

Kate O'Brien is the heroine of Unlawfully Wedded Bride and I've asked her a few questions...

1) Your younger siblings, Sean and Ellie, have hinted to me that you may be a bit of a workaholic. Is that true? What do you usually do for fun?

I think Sean and Ellie are exaggerating a bit. I just do what has to be done to keep our farm going. If that means I work hard then I work hard. As for fun...I guess I haven't thought about that much since my parents died. Although since Nathan Rutledge arrived I guess you could say things have become more fun if that means exciting and unpredictable.

2) When did you first realize someone is trying to kill you? Describe how you felt?
Someone’s trying to kill me? Don't be silly. Is this another rumor started by Mrs. Greene or Andrew Stolvins? If so, I can tell you it isn't true.

3) What made you choose Peppin, TX as your home? Can you tell us a little about the place?

Well, my family moved to Peppin from Illinois when I was just a child. It is a small town with a very close-knit community. Everyone knows what everyone else is doing almost before they do it. It can be a bit disconcerting at times but good because we all look out for each other.

4) How did you meet Nathan Rutledge? What did you think about him the first time you met?

I met Nathan Rutledge when he showed up at my farm claiming to be my husband. I admit I thought he was handsome. I also thought he was slightly delusional until he showed me the marriage certificate then I saw him in an entirely new light. After all, he gave up his former life as a rancher to marry me and help me with the farm. It was a nice if unnecessary gesture. I may miss him just a little after we get the annulment and he goes back to wherever he came from.

5) Showed you a marriage certificate?! How could you possibly think it was real? You'd have to sign it.

I had. In a moment of desperation when I realized that I needed a husband to get a loan from the bank and save the farm, I'd signed an absentee affidavit. But then I decided to try to find a less drastic way to go about things and never intended to send it. Except Sean found it and sent it off.

6) What are your strengths and weaknesses?

My strengths are that I am a strong, determined, independent woman. My weaknesses… well, some have said that I’m too strong, determined and independent for my own good.

7) What do you value above all else?

Family. My siblings mean everything to me. I’d do anything to keep us together and protect my parent’s legacy.

8) What do you admire about the hero?

He isn’t afraid of hard work. He makes Sean and Ellie laugh. He is also very kind.

9) Why could you never see yourself ending up with the hero?

I’m pretty sure I don’t need a hero. In fact, I’m positive I don’t. I’ve been doing pretty well by myself. I’m not interested in depending on a man so I guess that’s why I couldn’t see myself with him.

10) What's your greatest fear?

My greatest fear is letting my parents down by not taking care of my siblings. I’ve been doing my best to provide for them. If I’m honest, I’m afraid that won’t be enough.

11) What is the one thing you would never do?

Work at the Red Canteen Saloon. My former beau (if you can call Andrew Stolvins that) has offered me a position several times. I would never accept it.

12) If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I have a bit of a temper. I suppose it would be nice to be a bit more level-headed.

Thank you Kate for visiting with us today.

If you'd like to read Kate O'Brien's complete story, look for Noelle's book in stores this month.

Kate O'Brien can't believe her ears. She's been married, by proxy, to a man she's never met, thanks to her young siblings' meddling! Kate offers her "groom" room and board at her farm until the annulment is granted—nothing more. After all, what else could this predicament be but a blunder that needs fixing?

Nathan Rutledge arrives on Kate's doorstep, seeking a fresh start—with a family that needs his help more than Kate will admit. The shadows in both their pasts will be no match for a bright new beginning. But first, he has to convince a woman frightened of love to throw caution to the Texas wind…

If you'd like to learn more about Noelle and her books, visit her online at: http://www.noellemarchand.com

Click here and buy Unlawfully Wedded Bride directly from Harlequin at 20% off cover. Save an extra 10% with code SAVE10AFFO at checkout!

Your turn: Do you have any questions for Noelle or her heroine or hero?

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving!

2011-10-10T00:31:00.004-04:00

It's Thanksgiving Day in Canada and I'm celebrating!

We have much to be thankful for living in this country. The leaves beginning to show their glorious colors is yet one more example of God's faithfulness through the changing seasons of our lives.

This year we've celebrated the birth of a grandbaby and the debut of my first novel, we've mourned the loss of a dear friend, and continue to journey through some serious health concerns within our family, and through it all we have felt God's love and comfort and have been blessed with many friends who enfold us in their prayers.

My heart overflows with thankfulness. Thank you for stopping by today!

Your turn: What are you thankful for?

Rediscover the child inside...

2011-10-07T00:05:00.005-04:00

Lately I've been looking at characterization in an entirely new light. I've been watching my baby grand daughter discover the world.

She approaches every new experience with a sense of wonderment and awe, from lingering over the texture of carpet fibers to delighting in the sound of clanging one block against another.

And watching how a baby explores the world adds new meaning to the verse "taste and see that the Lord is good." Everything goes in the mouth!

As a writer, I've learned to linger over sensory details at key emotional turning points in my stories to draw the reader deeper into the moment. Because of that, I find myself spending more time modelling my grandbaby, and really noticing the sights and sounds and smells and textures around me.

One of the blessings of being a writer is having an excuse to stop and smell the flowers or pause long enough to feel the warmth of the sun on my cheeks or to listen to the patter of rain on the window pane.

It always amazes me how pausing to delight in the smallest of things awakens the child inside and refills the soul. And I'm reminded of Jesus' statement that we must become like little children.

Your turn: What have you delighted in this week?

Seeing God's Hand in Your Journey

2011-10-05T00:05:00.004-04:00

This summer my husband and I visited Algonquin National Park in Northern Ontario, a wilderness brimming with pristine lakes, winding rivers and spectacular views. Being avid hikers, we chose one of the more difficult climbs, and as we sweated our way up a very steep, very long incline, I began contemplating how very much like the writing journey this hike was becoming.

A few mosquitoes buzzed around taking chunks out of me, not unlike how I felt after reading the first few critiques of my writing.

The air was unusually humid and several times we were tempted to stop and turn back. Then we’d arrive at a plateau and feel the sweet cooling breezes and catch a glimpse of the spectacular view awaiting us at the top.

And once again I found myself contrasting the experience to my writing journey. How in a similar way, God had given me little glimpses of hope to refresh and to encourage and to spur me to keep moving forward.

As my husband and I pressed onward and upward, my mantra became you can’t see the view if you don’t climb the height. Sure I could experience it vicariously by listening to others rave about it, or by looking at photos, but part of what makes the view so very spectacular is the effort required to get there.

I honestly don’t think I would have appreciated it nearly as much if I’d simply been able to pull up in my car and snap the photo. And I wondered if I’d have felt the same way if getting published had been easy, if the first novel I’d written had immediately found a home and launched my writing career. Somehow, I don’t think I would have savored the accomplishment nearly as much.

In the same way, the photo doesn’t do the view justice. You can’t feel the breeze on your face, hear the cry of an eagle soaring overhead or the rustle of the leaves, or smell the heat on the rocks or the scent of pine. Neither do you feel your pounding heart begin to slow as you recover from the climb.

As I stood at the height soaking in the spectacular view, Psalm 121 came to mind:

¹I lift up my eyes to the hills—
where does my help come from?
² My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

And I was filled with a profound gratitude for the arduous journey toward publication, because it taught me to lean wholly on Him, to follow where he leads and trust in Him for the fruit.

Your Turn: We all face difficult journeys in our life whether they be dreams we aspire to, or are situations thrust upon us. What glimpses of God's hand have you seen in your journey?

Where Does Your Strength Come From?

2011-10-03T00:05:00.032-04:00

With the ACFW hoopla behind me, I’m finally returning to the primary focus of this blog—conversations about characters.

At the end of Deep Cover, the hero realizes that he’s been trusting in his own strength to protect the heroine, rather than God’s.

Believers often seek God’s help or guidance as a last resort, don't we?

Or, like me, we go to Him, but… sometimes we don't stay still long enough to hear His answer.

With so many things vying for our time and attention, oftentimes, it’s difficult to shut out the clatter and just rest in Him.

But how sweet the experience of that rest.

Your turn: Do you find yourself going to God first, or as a last resort?

And the Winner is...

2011-10-01T06:32:00.002-04:00

FB Fan Donna U.

Congratulations!!! You've won a $25 gift certificate to your favorite online book retailer.

Please email me to let me know which retailer you prefer.

Identities Revealed...

2011-09-30T23:55:00.005-04:00

For those who are wondering who all the smiling Love Inspired Authors were in Wednesday's Post ...

The answers are:

#1 Kathryn Springer and hubby

#2 Debra Clopton and hubby

#3 Kelly Anne Riley

#4 Merrillee Whren

#5 Betsy St. Amant

#6 Liz Johnson

#7 Naomi Rawlings
#8 Camy Tang
#9 Debbie Guisti

#10 Janet Dean

#11 Allie Plieter

#12 Irene Hannon
#13 Ruth Logan Herne

#14 Laurie Kingery

#15 Sherri Shackelford
#16 Lenora Worth

#17 Linda Goodnight

#18 Gail Gaymer Martin

#19 Roxanne Rustand

#20 Lyn Cote

#21 Terri Reed
#22 Leann Harris

Editor #1 Melissa Endlich

Editor #2 Elizabeth Mazer

Jackie Smith wins a signed copy of Deep Cover for guessing the most right first.

Thank you to all who participated!

Fun Friday - When Truth is Stranger than Fiction

2011-09-30T00:01:00.103-04:00

I like to watch people when I'm traveling. It's a wonderful opportunity to gain character ideas.

I struck gold on my flight home from the ACFW conference this past Sunday.

When the plane stopped, a six foot, broad-shouldered guy sitting in the seat in front of me jumped into the narrow aisle and began tugging his carry-on luggage out of the overhead compartment.

At the same time, the woman across the aisle from him rose to retrieve her bag.

The next thing we know she's gasping for air!

The man's shoulder has her face pinned to the overhead compartment. I'm talking her cheek smushed against the plastic, her body shoved halfway underneath.

And he doesn't realize it!

Neither does her husband who is still in his seat texting on his cell phone!!

My seatmate laughed so hard she cried. (After the woman was unpinned, of course. Then we were wishing we'd gotten it on video!)

This is definitely proof that broad-shouldered men do not necessarily a hero make. :D

Your Turn: Have you witnessed an unbelievably bizarre or comedic moment?

Love Inspired Authors at ACFW

2011-09-28T00:11:00.155-04:00

For those of you who read Love Inspired books, I thought it'd be fun to share some photos of LI authors.

How many you can name?

You get one point for each author you're the first to name correctly...yes, there's a prize. :D

Skip the guys, 'cause we're all gals.


Romance writers #1 and #2 with their real-life hero husbands

Hint: Couple #2 are newlyweds

Hint: writer #3 is a Golden Heart winner and Rita finalist

Left to Right are Writers #4 to 8

Hint: #7 is a newly-contracted author and Genesis finalist


Writers #9 and 10

Hint: #9 writes for LIS; #10 writes for LIH

Writer #11 is known for her sense of humor

Writer #12 walked away with a Carol Award

Writer #13 loves to tease

Writer #14 and 15

writer #15 is a newly contracted historical author

Writers #16-17

CHALLENGE PIC

Writers #18-22

BONUS PIC

Bonus Points if you can name Editors #1 and 2

Have fun!

I admit I'll have to bring in a couple of LI experts to help me out with judging because there are a few authors I'm not sure I know either!

So double points to anyone who gets those right.

ACFW Conference Highlights!!!

2011-09-26T15:42:00.000-04:00

St. Louis' famous arch--the gateway to the West

As always the 2011 ACFW conference was a wonderful celebration of the best in Christian fiction and a blessed opportunity to fellowship with, and encourage fellow authors and soon-to-be authors. The highlight of the weekend is the Awards Gala, and this year, many watched it streamed live.

Today, I'll share some photos and stories and then Wednesday, I'll focus specifically on Love Inspired authors and have a little name the LI authors contest.

The conference was an extra-special celebration for author Erica Vetsch who learned her book A Log Cabin Christmas Collection made the New York Times best sellers list!!!

Beloved author Tracie Peterson, pictured here with her editor Sarah Long was our keynote speaker, and winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award. Just before coming to the conference Tracie was diagnosed with MS. Your prayers for her health would be greatly appreciated.

Like at the Emmys, there are always a few attenders whose outfits steal the show. Jeff Gerke, of Marcher Lord Press, publisher of speculate Christian fiction was a hit in his historical costume. There were a number of female authors also arrayed in lovely gowns reminiscent of the heroine's attire in their historical novels.

And what would an ACFW gala be without agent Chip MacGregor sporting his kilt.

Then there were some like Randy Ingermanson who apparently couldn't behave himself, even while wearing a top hat and tails, after Terri Blackstock took home the Carol Award for Predator. I had the pleasure of sharing breakfast with Randy (otherwise known as The Snowflake Guy, or as I like to call him, Flakey) and he really is a nice guy...despite appearances to the contrary!

For those who read my Friday blog...I never lived down my moniker as "the one who forgot her roommate". But as you can see, my roomie, Elaine Stock, forgave me. The books we're holding are the door prize I won as "the person who forgot something really important". They weren't sure they should give it to me, considering what I forgot. But after I assured Brandilynn that I'd share them with Elaine, Brandilynn relented.

Brandilynn Collins also perpetuated my infamy by calling me up to the stage after breakfast the next morning. My table burst into fits of laughter when I exclaimed, "What'd I do now?" But Brandilynn just wanted to apologize for roasting me. I assured her that I was playing it up as a publicity stunt for my new release and handed her a bookmark. :D

This is Bonnie Calhoun, editor of the popular Christian Fiction Online Magazine and fellow author at Hartline Literary Agency. She won the Mentor of the Year Award.

I was very happy for Bonnie, but Margaret Daley remains my mentor of the year as she's been a wonderful encourager to me and offered invaluable help with the special needs character in my book Deep Cover.

Another of my mentors, Susan May Warren, received a Carol Award for her long Historical Sons of Thunder...which brings to mind another interesting story. You'll notice in the background of this picture, as well as in Chip's, there are scenes. The scenes changed to depict the story lines of each winner's novel. Music related to the title also played as the winner made his or her way to the podium. Susie thought the sound she was hearing was ocean waves and said so aloud, only to be answered with a crash of thunder. It wasn't until another couple of awards were handed out that she realized why "thunder" crashed during her walk to the front. :D

Thanks for vicariously sharing the conference with me. I'm posting a few more pics on my Facebook Page. Please come back Wednesday when I share some pictures and stories of favorite Love Inspired authors and... their real life heroes.

Your turn: If you watched the live feed of the Gala, what was your favorite part? If you attended, what's your favorite memory? If this is all new to you, do you have any questions?

If you'd like to see the list of winners of this year's Carol Awards, click here and scroll down. They're listed at the bottom of the center column.

Coming...

2011-09-26T10:10:00.000-04:00

A late good morning to everyone! I'm still recovering from yesterday's trip home from the ACFW conference in St. Louis and hope to post more pictures and fun stories a little later today.

American Christian Fiction Writers Conference - ACFW

2011-09-23T15:32:00.000-04:00

I've been having so much fun meeting old friends and making new ones that I'm afraid I haven't taken many photos. Internet access is also difficult, but here are a few that I've managed to download. Later, I want to add a cool photo I took of The Arch emerging from the fog behind the state building. Tracie Peterson gave the opening address yesterday...very entertaining. Hopefully, later I'll get a close-up picture. I've gained notoriety for locking my roommate out (long story), but Brandilynn Collins had fun roasting me from the platform. Now, just about everyone knows my name!! And my books in the conference bookstore have sold out!!!

View from the hotel window. It has 18 floors--massive.

I met Ashley online a few months ago and we've had a wonderful time getting to know each other in person.

If you visit my FB page, you've seen this pic of Patty Smith Hall , Ruth Logan Herne, and new Love Inspired Historical author Sherri Shackelford admiring my grand daughter's photo. :D

with Jessica Nelson whose Love Inspired Historical debuts in October

Kelly Ann Riley (LIS) Merrilee Whren (LI) Myself and my critique partner Vicki Talley McCollum sharing a quiet lunch between the early bird session Thursday and opening worship time

On the Road...

2011-09-21T00:05:00.007-04:00

I'm on my way to the American Christian Fiction Writers' Conference (ACFW), after a stressful day yesterday rebooking a flight that Air Canada cancelled in a pre-emptive measure in case their flight attendants went on strike...which they didn't!!!

I'm convinced God has a reason for that turn of events, but I hope it wasn't to improve my patience, or I failed miserably. Eileen suggested it's so I can write a stressed-out scene with more realism!

I'm just grateful to have a flight...

Hopefully, I'll be able to post a few pics over the course of the conference, and fun tidbits, if not here than on my Facebook page. The link is on the sidebar if you'd like to check in. My newest pic is of my infant grand daughter at Saturday's book signing. She thought the bookmarks were quite tasty. :D