Catherine’s Comments–Five stars for Sally Brandle’s new book Sapphire Promises.

Tags

5 star book review, Catherine's Comments, enhanced memoir of a POW survivor, Japanese POW, Sally Brandle, Sapphire Promise, WWII romance

I recently had the pleasure of reading author Sally Brandle’s new book Sapphire Promise. I must admit I’m a fan of Sally’s writing and have read a couple of her Romantic Suspense books from her Love Thrives in Emma Springs series books. So when I got the chance to read her newest book, which is an enhanced memoir based on the true story of a coming-of-age Dutch girl whose homeland was taken over by the Japanese during WWII, I was all in, and, once  again,  Sally did not disappoint. She deftly switched from her Romantic Suspense based books to a memoir-based book that kept me engaged in the story and devouring the pages when I should have been doing other things. A job well done on a book you don’t want to miss!

Sapphire Promise is a sweet WWII romance set in exotic Batavia, Java, in the Dutch East Indies colonial era. The heroine Annika Wolter is a young woman from a well-to-do family with dreams of becoming a nurse—dreams that will serve her well when the war comes right to her doorstep and turns her life upside down. Most of the stories I’ve read and films I’ve seen about WWII focus around the European war arena and the atrocities of Hitler. I found Annika’s story of loyalty, love and courage in the WWII Pacific war arena to be unique and informative. The author Sally Brandle weaves a love story that transcends the years and is suitable for a young adult or a more mature reader. You will not want to miss this beautifully crafted, inspiring and uplifting enhanced memoir of the romance, courage, loyalty of WWII  Japanese POW survivor Annika Wolter.

Sapphire Promise

By Sally Brandle

Loyalty to family. Trusting instincts. The will to survive. These virtues are deeply embedded in a mature Dutch teenager, Annika Wolter. Her attributes prove useful as she navigates typical coming-of-age insecurities and a blossoming romance with a handsome lieutenant in 1939 Batavia, Java.

Nothing prepares her for the distress of Hitler’s attacks on European countries followed by Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor, toppling her idyllic life in the Dutch East Indies colonial society and separating her from the man she loves. Uplifting events from a true story showcase how determination, nursing basics, and language skills keep a young woman and her mother alive in the worst Japanese internment camp in the Pacific. If you admire clever women and unfailing love in a tropical wartime setting, you will be captivated by Sapphire Promise.

You can find Sally Brandle’s book Sapphire Promise on Amazon

About the author/reviewer Catherine Castle:

Multi-award-winning author Catherine Castle loves writing, reading, traveling, singing, theatre, and quilting. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances and both of her books have won awards. You can find her award-winning books The Nun and the Narc and  A Groom for Mama on Amazon. Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

A Writer’s Garden–Puppy Gardening 101 by M.K. Scott

Tags

A Writer’s Garden, amateur sleuth, cozy mystery, flowers, Free book limited time offer, Garden blog, garden safety for pets, Gardening with dogs, husband and wife writing team, MK Scott, Wedding Cake Blues, woman sleuth

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing. Today’s writer/gardener guest is husband and wife author team M.K. Scott, co-starring puppy Janeway, who was the inspiration for this garden blog.  Welcome, M.K.!

Thanks, Catherine.

Writers have to write, even if their work never gets published. Gardeners have to garden even if they decided to get a lab puppy during 2020. Welcome to Puppy Gardening 101. With a puppy, we opted for a new fence, which resulted in digging up all my irises along the fence row and transferring them to my gated gnome garden. An excellent decision because Iris are toxic to dogs. Here’s a complete list of what could be fatal to your pet courtesy to ASPCA.

I discovered many of my standbys were toxic to my four-legged chewing machine. She showed a partiality to roses, which aren’t toxic.

Janeway, named after Star Trek Captain Janeway, unearthed my transplanted rosebushes that I babied to keep alive. Fences only increase the challenge. So, what’s a gardener and puppy owner to do?

• 

• 

Most of my plants have moved to the front yard, gnome garden or on top of the picnic table. Hubby built four high gardens that are about three feet off the ground. Inside of those I planted marigolds and petunias.

Outside the gnome garden, but still fenced, I planted roses, sunflowers, and zinnias.  The list of safe flowers is considerably shorter than the toxic one.

Fortunately, the dog safe flowers grow well in our area. As puppy Janeway grows into her full size, I realize potentially toxic plants may not pose as much a danger to her as to a toy dog. Often, it is the root or bulbs that are toxic. Thinking back on our former dogs, most had no interest in the gardens or the flowers, except for Chance, a boxer mix. I used to watch with great interest a bud ready to bloom only to find the flower vanished after it bloomed. Once I peeped out my window and caught Chance in the act of snapping the blooms off my yellow rose bushes and eating them. Apparently, he loved flowers, too.

While dogs may not have the same appreciation for flowers as gardeners do, they love to interact with them. When Janeway greets me with the stem of a blossoming flower, I take it from her and thank her pretending she meant to pick it just for me. It works out better this way.  I tell myself she won’t always be this way. If not, I always have my gnome garden.

About M K Scott

M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind cozy mystery series, The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries, The Talking Dog Detective Agency, The Way Over the Hill Gang, and Cupid’s Catering Company.

 Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities.

The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B and B details require a more hands on approach. Morgan’s daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple’s dog, Jane, is the inspiration behind Jasper, Donna’s dog.

 Working together and still happily married.

MK Scott Social Media Links  Website Facebook Twitter Amazon

Wedding Cake Blues

By MK Scott

Della always dreamed of owning a bakery and catering service. But the fate of her dream come true rests on how well her business, Cupid’s Catering Company, pulls off the wedding of the decade.

As she and her team work their magic in the kitchen, the lavish affair takes a troubling turn. The bridegroom has vanished, but in a strange twist of events, she’s the only one who’s concerned about his disappearance.

As rumors that the groom-to-be caught a case of cold feet and whisperings about his ties to unsavory characters swirling, Della trades in her chef’s hat for a sleuth fedora and follows the clues.

Can she find the bridegroom, save her bakery, and fend off her mother’s matchmaking attempts before it’s too late?

Currently, Wedding Cakes Blues is free on Bookfunnel the month of June, Here is the link for the free book.  

It may also be purchased from Amazon for those who prefer that method.

Wednesday Writers–Snowbound in Winterberry Falls by Ann Brodeur

Tags

Ann Brodeur, book excerpt, Christian romance, Christmas Read, Snowbound in Winterberry Falls, sweet Christmas romance, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today it’s Christmas in June as I welcome author Ann Brodeur and her debut novel Snowbound in Winterberry Falls to the blog. In addition to talking about characters, Ann has an excerpt from her book.

Welcome, Ann!

When I started writing what would turn out to be my publishing debut novel, Snowbound in Winterberry Falls, I looked to friends and acquaintances for inspiration in developing characters.

My heroine, Stephanie is a Type 1 diabetic. Diabetes is a disease that many members of my extended family have so it was natural to write about. Tilly Miller is the cousin of the hero, and quite outspoken when it comes to caring about Jason. She is fashioned after my best friend – the salt of the earth and someone I can trust completely.

One character I had fun creating was Mrs. Sweeney. She’s a culmination of several women in my life, many of whom have passed. She’s a refreshing character who speaks her mind without being confrontational.

Have fictional characters reminded you of someone you know in real life?

 

Snowbound in Winterberry Falls

by Ann Brodeur

Unwrapping their past – one secret at a time.

Owning her own PR firm is all reporter Stephanie Clark wants for Christmas, but the idea of running a prestigious election campaign in the country’s capital throws her stomach into knots. A last minute vacation road trip to focus and seek God’s direction for her life ends up in disaster when she gets caught in the worst snowstorm to hit Vermont in over a decade, crashing her into a small town and the one person she’d rather forget.

Former photojournalist Jason Miller hadn’t planned on being solely responsible for saving his family business from financial ruin. He’s barely keeping the newspaper in print, his News Editor has gone AWOL during the town’s most celebrated holiday festival, and reports of missing Christmas decorations have everyone on edge.

When a desperate knock at the newsroom door brings a ghost from Christmas past back into his life, can Jason make up for his prior behavior without breaking his promise to Stephanie’s father? Will Stephanie’s quest to solve the town’s Christmas caper—and uncover the truth about Jason’s disappearance—cost her everything she’s ever wanted?

EXCERPT

Here’s a fun scene starring Mrs. Sweeney during her first visit with Stephanie:

 “Oh, dear. I fear I’ve made you uncomfortable.” She clicked her tongue and patted the back of Stephanie’s hand. The older woman reclined in her rocking chair, the rhythmic sway of the chair squeaking with every push of her feet. A walking cane clattered to the floor nearby, and Stephanie righted it again, earning a beaming smile.

“Like you, dear, I love a good story.” Her mouth relaxed, her clear blue eyes seeming to focus on a distant memory. “Do you know I was in love with a newspaper man once?” Her eyes twinkled. She rested her gray head against the back of the chair. “Of course, Mother didn’t approve. He was a nosy busybody who made it his business to report on every Tom, Dick, and Harry’s escapades and then charged people to read it.” The girlish laugh brought an image to Stephanie’s mind of a much younger woman.

“What happened?” Stephanie shifted on the edge of the bed where she sat.

“I listened to Mother. I didn’t marry Charlie. I married Matthias.” Her expression softened at the mention of her husband’s name. “Matthias was a good and kind man. He owned the bank, so Mother was pleased with the match.” Her face moved through a series of emotions Stephanie couldn’t quite decipher.

“Matthias and I had some good times together, but sometimes I wondered what my life would have been if I’d married Charlie.” Tenderness infused her voice at the mention of her long-gone newspaper man.

“Ach. Look at me. I’m such a ninny when it comes to sappy romance. Charlie could woo a pig.” Mrs. Sweeney paused her rocking and sipped from her cup once more. “God’s plan was for me to marry Matthias, not Charlie. God gave us such a beautiful life.”

She replaced her tea things on the small, round table next to her and leaned on her cane, wobbling to her feet. Stephanie stood and braced the older woman’s feeble arms and waited for her to steady. Mrs. Sweeney squeezed Stephanie’s arm and hobbled to the door. She shut it, clicked the lock, and stood with her back to Stephanie for a moment before shuffling around on her heel. Stephanie raised an eyebrow and focused on the curious woman.

“I’ve read your article, Ms. Clark, and there are some details missing that are essential to getting your story right.” Her face grew stern, the picture of a school Marm. “I have a confession to make, but you must promise to help me achieve my ends and to not print a word of truth until after Christmas Day.”

Want to read more?

You can find SNOWBOUND IN WINTERBERRY FALLS in Ebook or Paperback at Amazon

About the Author:

ANN BRODEUR is an award-winning novelist who writes inspirational and contemporary romances offering sweet hope and happy endings.

When she’s not reading, writing, chasing after her kids or enjoying long chats with her husband, Ann can be found drinking coffee. That’s been reheated several times throughout the day. She aspires to drink a hot beverage in one sitting.

Connect with Ann on  her BLOG/WEBSITE  FACEBOOK  BOOKBUB

Tasty Tuesdays–Iris’s Batavian favorite Gado-Gado from Sally Brandle

Tags

clean romance, enhanced memoir, food blog, Gado-gado, Indonesian recipe, peanut sauce, Sally Brandle, Sapphire Promise, Tasty Tuesdays, vegetable dish, WWII romance

Iris’s Batavian favorite: Gado-Gado (Mix-mix in Malayan)

My Dutch-American friend, Iris (Annika in the story), grew up in Indonesia in the 1930’s. Their Indonesian cook knew gado-gado was her favorite dish and cooked it frequently using vegetables from their garden behind Mansion Iris. We often went to a Thai restaurant in Seattle where Iris could order something similar. The aroma, texture, and taste of food takes us back to favorite (in her case) memories. Iris’s story, Sapphire Promise, begins eighty years ago, where Gado-gado is mentioned several times. I hope you find the recipe timelessly appealing!

Yummy Peanut SAUCE ingredients

2/3 cup natural peanut butter, smooth or crunchy

1 TBL Soy sauce

2 tsp honey

½ to 1 tsp chili paste or substitute ¼ to ½ tsp cayenne pepper mixed in 1 TBL catsup

2 large garlic cloves diced very fine

1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice 

1 cup water

2 TBL brown sugar

Veggies to steam/Blanch

2 bunches cleaned spinach-thoroughly washed and roots removed (reserve about ¼ of a bunch)

4 cups beansprouts*

2 cups green beans

3 red potatoes sliced thin (as if you were making fried potatoes) 

1 sweet potato sliced thin and cut into bite-sized pieces

Add ins from your refrigerator: sliced mushrooms, yellow snap beans, bok choy, Swiss chard

Fresh Garnish possibilities

4 or 5 boiled eggs, peeled and halved or quartered

1 cucumber, sliced thin on an angle

1 bunch of green onions, washed and diced from the white up an inch or so into the green stem.

Reserved fresh spinach, sliced radishes, tomato wedges or cherry tomatoes

Instructions for a meal that will serve four (ish)

PEANUT SAUCE made easy

Mix all the ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir regularly and don’t let it come to a boil or it will break. Cook for ten minutes while you clean, chop, and dice. You should be able to drizzle it, so if it thickens, add little dabs of water or coconut milk. Keep it warm on the lowest heat.

BLANCHED VEGETABLES with one pot

Fill a kettle of water big enough to put a six-inch-wide metal strainer/colander in it to a depth of four inches. Bring the water to a boil. You are going to blanche the veggies in it and the colander helps.

Cook the potatoes for about six minutes or until tender but not mushy. Lift them with the colander, shake off most of the water, and transfer them to a platter. Broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, and thinly sliced carrot will take about three minutes, green beans a bit less. Test them to not overcook.

Cook the beansprouts in the same manner for 3 minutes or until just wilted. While still in the colander, press out excess water. *Our local stores do not have sprouts at this time….hopefully in the future.

Add spinach and push the leaves under to submerge them – they will instantly wilt. Remove them, leave in the colander and press out excess water. Bok choy, swiss chard, cabbage, and other greens cook in the same manner.

Dumplings

I pan-fried and then steamed Tofu Vegetable Dumplings (Organic -Vegan). The packaged voluntarily appeared in my Imperfect Produce box. The two resident carnivores liked them alongside the above meal! My son wonders if peanut sauce is the ranch dressing in other parts of the world!   Enjoy a taste of Java!

Sapphire Promise

By Sally Brandle

Loyalty to family. Trusting instincts. The will to survive. These virtues are deeply embedded in a mature Dutch teenager, Annika Wolter. Her attributes prove useful as she navigates typical coming-of-age insecurities and a blossoming romance with a handsome lieutenant in 1939 Batavia, Java.

Nothing prepares her for the distress of Hitler’s attacks on European countries followed by Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor, toppling her idyllic life in the Dutch East Indies colonial society and separating her from the man she loves. Uplifting events from a true story showcase how determination, nursing basics, and language skills keep a young woman and her mother alive in the worst Japanese internment camp in the Pacific. If you admire clever women and unfailing love in a tropical wartime setting, you will be captivated by Sapphire Promise.

Available from Amazon in eBook, paperback, and Large Print  

About the Author:

Multiple-award winning author Sally Brandle weaves slow-burning romance into edgy suspense, motivating readers to trust their instincts. Growing up as a tomboy alongside brothers prepared her to work in a male-centric industry, raise sons, and create action-packed stories featuring strong women. She thrives on creating unintentional heroines who conquer their vulnerabilities and partner with heroes to outwit cunning villains. Penning Iris’s enhanced memoir presented a challenge to stay true to her life while portraying the colonial aspect of Sapphire Promise in a sensitive manner. Research and consultations with a variety of experts proved invaluable. Sally’s rescued Tuxedo cat, Shepherd dog, and Blue Heeler are her companions during long spells of writing or bouts of tormenting weeds in her garden. Afternoons she often spends riding on the wind with her thirty-one years young Quarter Horse.

Connect with Sally on her Website (EVENTS tab-offers for free Book Club zoom appearances): Facebook: Blog link

Musings from a Writer’s Brain–Moodling by Joanne Guidoccio

Tags

daydreaming, essay, firing up the imagination, Free book limited time offer, Joanne Guidoccio, moodling, Musings from a Writer’s Brain, No More Secrets, the writing process, writing tips

When I first heard the word moodling at a writing workshop, my thoughts gravitated toward zucchini noodles. A bit off base, but considering it was close to lunchtime, I assumed there might be some connection.

The facilitator quickly put an end to that line of thinking. A long-winded explanation followed with brief mentions of famous moodlers such as Isaac Newton, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Albert Einstein.

Intrigued, I decided to do my own research. Here’s what I discovered:

Moodling is primarily a solitary activity. You won’t find any university or college courses devoted to moodling. Nor will you find it in the Pocket Oxford English Dictionary (2013 edition).  

In her book, If You Want to Write (1938), Brenda Ueland offers the following description:

“The imagination needs moodling—long, inefficient happy idling, dawdling and puttering.”

Euland then goes on to say, “What you write today is the result of some span of idling yesterday, some fairly long period of protection from talking and busyness.”

Moodling worked for Isaac Newton when he sat under an apple tree in Woolsthorpe, England, circa 1666. While wondering why the moon didn’t obey the principle of centrifugal force and fly off into space, an apple fell upon him. Newton moodled and formulated his theory.

Napoleon Bonaparte moodled for months before making military decisions.

After the breakup of his marriage, Albert Einstein spent undisturbed days and nights in the quiet solitude of his Berlin apartment, following his mathematical hunches. This intense period allowed Einstein to finalize the general theory of relativity.

Sitting under a tree, lying on a beach, strolling in a park, soaking in a bathtub, listening to classical music, lingering in bed…these are ideal “moodling” environments. Give yourself permission to daydream and reflect without too many expectations. And don’t be disappointed if a spark or epiphany doesn’t emerge quickly.  

If you prefer a more structured approach to moodling, follow the method suggested by Eric Grunwald, a lecturer in MIT’s Department of Global Studies and Languages. (https://writingprocess.mit.edu/process/step-1-generate-ideas/instructions/moodling):

Set aside an hour or more.  

1. Sit in front of a window, with pen or pencil and paper (or computer).
2. Daydream. Don’t force any thoughts or ideas. Only write a word when you feel it must be written. If you are so moved, write more.
3. Do not worry about grammar, punctuation, or spelling.
4. Repeat the following day.

Happy moodling!

Special Notice!

Joanne is offering a free ebook of No More Secrets on the following dates: Monday, June 7 to Thursday, June 10.  So if you find her blurb intriguing head on over to Amazon on one of the above dates and download No More Secrets.

No More Secrets

By Joanne Guidoccio

Angelica Delfino takes a special interest in the lives of her three nieces, whom she affectionately calls the daughters of her heart. Sensing that each woman is harboring a troubling, possibly even toxic secret, Angelica decides to share her secrets—secrets she had planned to take to the grave. Spellbound, the nieces listen as Angelica travels back six decades to reveal an incredulous tale of forbidden love, tragic loss, and reinvention. It is the classic immigrant story upended: an Italian widow’s transformative journey amid the most unlikely of circumstances.

Inspired by Angelica’s example, the younger women share their “First World” problems and, in the process, set themselves free.  

But one heartbreaking secret remains untold…

Ebook for No More Secrets is free on Amazon – June 7 to June 10!

Buy Links Amazon (US) – Amazon (Canada) –Amazon (UK) –Amazon (Australia)

About the Author:

In 2008, Joanne Guidoccio took advantage of early retirement and launched a second act as a writer. Her articles and book reviews have been published in newspapers, magazines, and online. When she tried her hand at fiction, she made reinvention a recurring theme in her novels and short stories. A member of Crime Writers of Canada, Sisters in Crime, and Women’s Fiction Writers Association, Joanne writes paranormal romances, cozy mysteries, and inspirational literature from her home base of Guelph, Ontario.

Where to find Joanne…Website – Twitter – Goodreads – Pinterest

A Writer’s Garden—A Spring Harbinger Garden by Carole Brown

Tags

A Writer's Garden, books, Carole Brown, garden pictures, romantic mysteries, Spring garden. flowers, The Golden Touch

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing. Today’s writer/gardener guest is author Carole Brown, who has loads of spring garden pictures to share with us today! Welcome, Carol!

Let me be honest. I love flowers and gardens. All kinds, all shapes and sizes. They make me happy, infuse peacefulness in our busy lives and encourage me to relax and enjoy the life around me. I have a lot of Spring-type plants, and today I want to share with you a few that are Spring’s harbingers.

But they do take work. Plus we have lots and lots of trees around us, so I have to make sure to find the right spots for the plants. Right now, we’re remodeling several parts of our land and property. Our gardens will get some make-overs, and I plan on adding a few more.

Here are a few of my favorite late, late winter, early spring flowers and trees that never fail to give us a bit of sunshine even though the cold lingers.

The first one is an Irish Lenten Rose. Loves the shade and is always the first to bloom!

The second ones to burst into bloom, as if they can hardly wait, are the Ornamental Pear Trees and the Redbud Trees. Some of my favorites! It’s almost as if they’re promising that better (warmer) days are coming.

• 

• 

Soon after, the Lily of the Valleys show their stuff, shyly, of course, along with our Bleeding hearts.  They’re such a “hanging back” type of plant that you almost have to search them out amidst all the other more showy plants.

• 

• 

I’ve babied a rhododendrum that FINALLY bloomed this year. The blossoms are outstanding, and I’m so happy I finally was able to see it bloom so beautifully! I’ve bragged on it quite a bit because I want it to continue to do well, year after year! 🙂 

Finally, I’ll share a couple of pictures of things that give these flowers an extra touch of specialness. One is of an old wishing well that I inherited from my aunt. It sits comfortably among the overgrown Snow on the Mountain vines, never asking for much, but a reminder of how fragile life is and to enjoy every moment. 

Last is a sweet little girl sitting on a bench with her little basket. She’s adorable, and I love glancing at her when I pass by. A reminder that there’s always hope.

• 

• 

As Spring flows into summer, these flowers will be gone, but there’s a promise in them. That there will be another Spring, another year, if all goes well. Hold tight to that promise.

About the writer/gardener:

Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

 Connect with Carole on her Personal blog, Facebook Fan Page, Twitter, or Bookbub

The Golden Touch

By Carole Brown

Not again… Ryle Sadler stared down at the financial statement lying on his desk. His investment firm had just sent him another record of overwhelming success. Time to sell his share in this stock. Ryle came from the poor side of the tracks, but that had no bearing on his success in life—which he keeps hidden from everyone, especially those in Appleton. But when he buys the local, rundown bed and breakfast, mysterious revelations from beneath the site are suddenly threatening to ruin his good standing with the citizens. Then along comes Jazzi Sanderson. Jazzi has a reputation of being wild, but Ryle sees more than is on the top layer of this woman. Beneath that tough, wild streak lurks a woman who wants to be loved by the right person, a woman who is tender-hearted and who is just finding out that God is real. Are Ryle and Jazzi’s worlds too far apart or can their differences help them solve the mystery that lies beneath Ryle’s bed and breakfast? Will the evil person behind it all be able to silence them, or can Ryle’s golden touch prevail in this endeavor too?

Want to read more? You can find’s Carole’ Romantic Mystery The Golden Touch on Amazon

Wednesday Writers–Vigilante’s Light by Jake Tyson

Tags

books, Excerpt from Vigilante’s Light, Jake Tyson, Story Behind the Story, Superhero fantasy/Christian fantasy, Vigilante’s Light, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today’s guest, Jake Tyson, will be bringing us something different. I don’t know about you, but I love to read in different genres, and I must admit, Jake’s book is a genre I love in secular movies, but haven’t yet seen in Christian fiction. Jack is a lover of super heroes and author of Vigilante’s Light, which is his take on a Christian-based Superhero (Superhero fantasy/Christian fantasy) novel with a touch of romance. In addition to giving us the background on the book, Jake has included an excerpt for your reading pleasure. So without any further ado, here’s Jake!

Welcome, Jake!

Thanks, Catherine.

Vigilante’s Light first took shape in the summer of 2016. I was a big fan of the show Arrow, a TV adaptation of the DC Comics superhero Green Arrow. As I watched that show, I thought about what a Christian-based superhero story would look like. The only one I was aware of was Bibleman. Although that brought up fond childhood memories, it didn’t inspire the same epic mythos as Arrow.

I began to formulate an idea of a Christian superhero of my own. Taking inspiration from Arrow, I also looked to a couple of other sources: the movie Beyond the Mask, a Christian movie about a vigilante during the Revolutionary War, and the music video of the for King and Country song “Shoulders,” which featured a man (or angel) in a hooded white outfit saving people in need. In particular, I was inspired by the end of that music video, which had a shot of the hooded man up high, looking out over his city.

I didn’t finish writing Vigilante’s Light in 2016. In fact, I got stumped about 40 pages in and left it alone. In the fall of 2018, shortly after graduating college, I picked up the idea again. This time, I reshaped the story from the ground up, creating my own city, redefining some of the character roles, and forming my original outline into something that could be the first book in a series, rather than a standalone novel. By the time I pitched the novel to Ambassador International, barely five of the original 40 pages were included, but Vigilante’s Light had become a story I could be proud of: a grounded take on a modern superhero story that integrated the faith elements I had always intended.

Vigilante’s Light

By Jake Tyson

Gideon Turner—doctor—scientist—vigilante.

After being captured in Venezuela by guerrillas and used as a genetic engineering experiment, Gideon finds himself with strange super-abilities.

When he is rescued and returns home to Sojourn City, it is in shambles. The police are understaffed and the poorest area, The Brooks, is torn apart by crime.

Gideon decides the city needs a vigilante protector, but at what price?

Excerpt:

When Gideon woke up, the sun was shining through the window at his back and to the left of his bed. He inhaled, rolled onto his back, and slowly let the breath out. He felt…refreshed. He wondered how long he’d slept. It hadn’t been later than eight or nine o’ clock when he’d gotten home. What time it was now?

He’d dropped into bed as soon as he possibly could. He’d hardly waited for the car to stop before opening the door and trudging up the sidewalk toward the house. As his father had unlocked the door, Gideon had been tempted to just crash on the couch, but he ultimately decided that he needed his own bed. He forced himself upstairs, mumbling good night to everyone, and he barely remembered entering his room or collapsing onto his bed.

He tried to sit up–and pain racked his body. He grimaced. All the beatings and prodding he’d suffered had finally caught up to him. The adrenaline from running, followed by the relief of rescue, had dulled the pain. But now, it hit him full-force.

Slowly, he pushed himself upright. Every nerve in his body seemed to scream at him. He looked at the alarm clock beside his bed. It was just after noon. He took a breath to steady himself and swiveled to put his feet on the floor. The house was too big to call out and hope someone was nearby; he’d have to get downstairs himself.

Gideon grabbed the edge of his bed and pushed. When he was on his feet, he shuffled toward the door. He realized he hadn’t even taken off his shoes before he’d fallen asleep. He was still in the same raggedy clothes he’d been rescued in. But he didn’t feel like changing. Not right now.

He reached for the door. The brass knob was cool on his hand–cooler than pretty much anything else he’d touched in the past year. He opened the door, went out, down the hall, and to the stairway. His mother was in the living room below, sitting on the couch facing the fireplace, her back to him, talking to…

He steadied himself on the banister.

“Jolie.” He hardly recognized his own voice.

Her head swiveled around, and she beamed. “Gideon!”

“Are you okay?” Mom asked.

He gritted his teeth and nodded. “Yeah, but I…think I need a doctor.”

Jolie’s smile disappeared. Both women jumped off the couch and ran up the stairs to his side. Jolie got there first; as she reached him, he leaned into her for support.

“I’ll call Doctor Edwin right now to let him know we’re coming,” Mom said. “Let’s get you down to the car.”

Gideon looked at Jolie as they walked down the stairs. Her dark hair and almost-black eyes contrasted beautifully with her pale skin. She was everything he’d remembered, and despite the pain, he wanted to just stand there and relish being in her presence again.

“Hi,” he said.

“Hi.” She smiled again. “I’m so glad you’re home.”

“Me…too.”

The stairs were an agonizing affair, but finally, they reached the floor. Jolie helped Gideon out the door while his mother grabbed her cell phone and keys off one of the side tables. Gideon groaned as he stumbled out the door and to the car. Jolie sat beside him in the back seat, and he slumped against her.

“I love you,” she said.

“I love you, too.” He gingerly wrapped his arm around her and gave her the best hug he could manage. “I never thought I’d see you again.”

“I knew I would.” Jolie beamed. “I never doubted it.”

Gideon smiled. As they drove to the hospital, the two of them just sat there, resting in each other’s arms. Gideon tried to ignore the pain racking his body, but it seemed to keep reminding him, I’m still here.

It seemed like forever, but they finally reached East Regional Hospital, where Dr. Edwin worked–where Gideon himself had worked, before his trip. Carl Edwin was a member of Refuge Church, where Gideon’s father pastored, and he had assured them that he was on call for them whenever they needed him. Jolie helped Gideon out of the car, while his mother ran to get a wheelchair.

Edwin was waiting for them just inside the hospital, and he led them back to an examination room.

“Let him lie down,” Edwin said.

Gideon held out a hand, and Jolie helped him to his feet. She brought him over to the bed and he pulled himself up. Edwin stepped up beside Gideon and began his examination.

Suddenly, Gideon worried that somehow, Edwin would find out about the light that had come from Gideon’s hands. Would that be the kind of thing that would show up on any scans the doctor did? Even as a doctor himself, Gideon had no idea what had happened to his body, and no idea how it would manifest itself.

“He’s definitely sustained some serious bruising,” Edwin said. “Not surprising, all things considered. There are no signs of internal bleeding, though. I’d like to do an x-ray to make sure he doesn’t have any broken bones.”

Gideon hoped that was allEdwin found.

Want to read more? You can find Vigilante’s Light at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Ambassador International Books

About the Author:

Jake Tyson, a journalism graduate from Central Baptist College, has been writing creatively since he was nine years old and has been a fan of superheroes and Star Wars for as long as he can remember. He is a resident of Conway, Arkansas, where he lives with his wife Jessica and works for Lifeword Media Ministry. He has also written a flash fiction short story, Joining the Team, for gohavok.com.

Connect with Jake on his Website, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter

Tasty Tuesdays–Zucchini Spaghetti Carbonara ala Catherine from Catherine Castle

Tags

A Groom for Mama, Catherine Castle, Catherine Castle's Food blog Tasty Tuesdays, food recipe, Italian food, main entree, spaghetti carbonara, Sweet romantic comedy, Tasty Tuesdays

Traditional Carbonara has an egg and cheese sauce added to the spaghetti just before serving. I don’t care for eggs added to things at the last minute, so I eliminated the eggs and sauce and came up with my own version of Carbonara. I hope you’ll like it as much as we do.

Zucchini Spaghetti Carbonara ala Catherine

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces whole wheat spaghetti (or you can use edamame spaghetti for a dish with more fiber in it)
• 2.5 ounce can of sliced black olives, drained
• 1 cup diced or chunked  ham
• 1 medium zucchini, cut lengthwise and then thinly sliced
• ½ grated Parmesan cheese
• 6 slices thick bacon

Directions:

1. Divide bacon into 4 and 2 slices. Prepare 4 slices for microwaving by placing between 2 paper towels on a microwave safe plate. Microwave for 3 minutes until crisp. Remove from paper while still warm and crumble.
2. Dice remaining 2 slices and place in a large skillet, cooking until crisp.
3. While bacon is cooking, boil water for spaghetti and cook as directed on package until pasta is firm. Drain fully when cooked.
4. While pasta is cooking, sauté zucchini with diced bacon until zucchini is tender.
5. Drain any excess liquid from the pan.
6. Add olives and cooked drained spaghetti to zucchini and bacon, tossing to mix.
7. Remove from heat and add parmesan cheese, tossing quickly to keep cheese from clumping.
8. Top with crumbled bacon and serve.

Makes 2 generous main dish servings or 4 side dishes.

Note: additional cheese may be sprinkled on top of pasta after serving, if desired.

This dish makes up quick, so you won’t have time to read a book while it’s cooking, but after the dishes are done, check out Catherine’s sweet romantic comedy with a touch of drama, A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

A Groom for Mama

By Catherine Castle

Beverly Walters is dying, and before she goes she has one wish—to find a groom for her daughter. To get the deed done, Mama enlists the dating service of Jack Somerset, Allison’s former boyfriend.

The last thing corporate-climbing Allison wants is a husband. Furious with Mama’s meddling, and a bit more interested in Jack than she wants to admit, Allison agrees to the scheme as long as Mama promises to search for a cure for her terminal illness.

A cross-country trip from Nevada to Ohio ensues, with a string of disastrous dates along the way, as the trio hunts for treatment and A Groom For Mama.

About  the Author:

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

Musings from a Writer’s Brain—What’s Next by Linda Wood Rondeau

Tags

Bible Study, Christian growth non-fiction, Christian non-fiction, Essay about Writing, LInda Wood Rondeau, Musings from a Writer’s Brain, Who Put the Vinegar in the Salt?

This is the question I ask after each THE END I write on a manuscript. So, I’ve completed my book, edited it a gazillion times, sent it off to my publisher, more edits, galleys, and a note , “Your book is now live.”

Yes, there are a ton of marketing needs. But my creative spirit needs to be refueled with the next big project. So what should I write about now? I find myself facing the great unknown. Since all my contractual requirements are now met, how do I decide on what I should write next?

Do I work on unfinished concepts?

Or does God have something else for me to do?

Should I keep all my eggs in one basket or branch out?

Is now the time to try self-publishing?

Do I want to be a hybrid author?

Certainly, I’m not bored. I am also a freelance editor in addition to editing for my publisher. I’m also a Project Manager and my days are filled.

How do I predict what the market will need in a year and half from now?

Busyness is no excuse to starve the creative spirit.

Our pastor’s recent sermon was aimed at graduates: high school, college, postgraduate, and military. However, his message spoke to me, a woman in my seventies, as I thought on my next writing goal.

He reminded the grads to surrender their future to God. I believe this is true for writers as well.

Be Constantly in Prayer

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you (Matthew 7:7 KJV)

The Lord has promised to hear and answer. Most Christians agree with this. However, when the answer seems slow to come, we will fall back to seeking our own answers which may be contrary to what God has in mind. Seek him diligently, knock on heaven’s door for as long as it takes. Pastor Kevin also said to not be afraid to ask others to pray with you. As writers, our readers and colleagues may have ideas we had not even considered. Then go back and pray some more.

Trust God Completely

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5 – 6 KJV).

Abandoning our preconceived ideas of our next steps may be very difficult. We are anxious to get started. We hear our inner creative voice saying, “Now! Move on your idea or it will go away.” As I hear the words above, I’m reminded God’s idea may be different than mine.

Live Faithfully

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind (Ecclesiastes 12:13 NIV).

Said Pastor Kevin, “He wants you to say ‘yes’ before he will give you your ‘what.’”

God wants us to love him with all our heart, mind, and soul. Living faithfully and staying near to God allows us to align our will with his. He has a plan and wants to guide us in the right direction.

When we pray, trust, and walk with God, he not only leads us in our walk with him, but will center our desires with his. For the writer, this means, he will make clear our next big step in our careers.

WHO PUT THE VINEGAR IN THE SALT

By Linda Wood Rondeau

The world offers much beneficial self-help advice. Shouldn’t the Christian seek to be the best possible version of themselves? Aren’t we supposed to be good people?

Why not look to the world to solve life’s problems?

Because God has called us to be salt.

While there is much good to be found, like vinegar, the world’s best advice falls short of God’s recipe to live a victorious Christian life.

In a down-home, friendly manner, the author provides analogies, inspirational stories, anecdotes, a wealth of Scripture, and optional study guides for both individuals and groups, inviting the believer to discover God’s desires for his salt.

Buy Link

By the author of I Prayed for Patience, God Gave Me Children.

ABOUT LINDA WOOD RONDEAU

A veteran social worker, Linda Wood Rondeau’s varied church experience and professional career affords a unique perspective into the Christian life. When not writing or speaking, she enjoys the occasional round of golf, visiting museums, and taking walks with her best friend in life, her husband of over forty years. The couple resides in Hagerstown, Maryland where both are active in their local church. Readers may learn more about the author, read her blog, or sign up for her newsletter by visiting www.lindarondeau.com.

Connect with Linda on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads

A Writer’s Garden–Queen Mary’s Gardens by Linda Shenton Matchett

Tags

A Writer's Garden, British Garden tour, English Gardens, History of Queen Anne's Garden, Linda Shenton Matchett, Queen Mary's Garden, Regent's Park, Through the Garden Gates

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing. Today’s writer/gardener guest is author is Linda Shenton Matchett. Linda will be taking us across the pond to England to visit one of her favorite English Gardens. Welcome, Linda!

Six years ago, my husband and I had the opportunity to visit England. We scrimped and saved for this journey of a lifetime and spent ten glorious days split between London and Hastings. We went during the month of March and took plenty of foul-weather gear that we never used. The temperatures were unseasonably warm, and the sun shone every day we were there.

The reason for the trip (other than the fact I’m a huge anglophile) was research for my books, so we had quite a few sites to visit, two of which were Hyde Park and The Regent’s Park, part of the Royal Parks system. As much as I enjoyed Hyde Park, Queen Mary’s Garden in The Regent’s Park was my favorite.

• 

• 

Named for King George V’s wife, the garden opened to the public in 1932. However, the land’s history stretches back almost 850 years! From 1086 (20 years after the Norman conquest) until 1538, the site was home to a medieval manor. It became a royal deer park in 1538, but by 1649 had been converted to a source of timber for warships. The next one hundred and fifty years saw the area used as farms to produce dairy products and hay. In 1811, it became the intended site of a royal palace, but the plans didn’t materialize, and in 1824 was turned into a horticultural nursery. Fifteen years later, The Royal Botanic Society, a membership only society, took over until 1932.

During World War II, the park was the site of numerous bombings, and rubble from buildings destroyed in the blitz was dumped onto the lawns. Fortunately, the damage was repaired, and gardens brought back to their original beauty.

• 

• 

The rounded park, surrounded by terraces, a lake, a canal, and villas, was designed by John Nash, one of the foremost architects of the Regency and Georgian eras. His original plan included fifty-six villas and a second home for the Prince that were never constructed. In 1835, under the reign of King William IV, the public was allowed into sections of the park two days per week.

Local societies leased the space left by the unbuilt villas, and one of the first to move in was the Zoological Society. The Royal Botanic Society laid out the Inner Circle with lawns and a lake, and the Royal Toxophilite Society introduced archery. Between them, these societies created the mix of gardens and buildings that remain today.

With over 12,000 roses in eighty-five single variety beds, the rose garden is breathtaking. In addition, the Begonia Garden holds 9,000 begonias, and is planted twice a year with seasonal bedding. The Mediterranean Borders are a gorgeous highlight, and the Delphinium Border has been granted National Collection status. Shrubberies are strategically placed to add privacy to the gardens, creating a tranquil setting, and shutting out the noise and chaos of surrounding London.

A treasure to behold.

About the Writer/Gardener:

Linda Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who have done extraordinary things in days gone by. Despite being the granddaughter and great-granddaughter of farmers, her gardening skills are limited, instead she finds joy in the beauty created by others. Linda is the author of more than two dozen Christian historical novels. To learn more, visit her website. . Receive a free short story when you sign up for her newsletter. Follow her on Facebook or check out her YouTube channel Moments in History for intriguing tidbits and little known facts from our past at her YouTube Channel

Gold Rush Bride Hannah

(Christian Historical Romance)

By Linda Shenton Matchett

A brand-new widow, she doesn’t need another man in her life. He’s not looking for a wife. But

when danger thrusts them together, will they change their minds…and hearts?

Hannah Lauman’s husband has been murdered, but rather than grief, she feels…relief. She decides to remain in Georgia to work their gold claim, but a series of incidents makes it clear someone wants her gone…dead or alive. Is a chance at being a woman of means and independence worth risking her life?

Jess Vogel never breaks a promise, so when he receives a letter from a former platoon mate about being in danger, he drops everything to help his old friend. Unfortunately, he arrives just in time for the funeral. Can he convince the man’s widow he’s there for her protection not for her money?

Gold Rush Bride: Hannah is the first book in the exciting new series Gold Rush Brides. Steeped in romance, intrigue, and history, the story will keep you turning pages long into the night.

Purchase Link