Wednesday Writers–Interview with Mary Ann Diorio, author of Miracle in Milan

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author interview, Christian fiction, financial suspense, Italy setting, Mary Ann Diorio, Miracle in Milan, romantic suspense, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today we have an author interview with MaryAnn Diorio and an excerpt from her newest release Miracle in Milan. Thanks for being with us today, Mary Ann!

Please tell the readers about the book that is being showcased today.

Miracle in Milan is the story of a young, female auditor who discovers evidence that the man she loves is an embezzler and who must choose between ruining him or ruining herself.

Amy Torelli, Chief Auditor for New York City-based Enson Pharmaceuticals, is assigned to audit the books of Enson’s Italian branch in the enchanting city of Milan, Italy. Having made an inner vow never to trust a man again because of her father’s betrayal, Amy finds herself falling in love with Enson Italia’s American-born Vice-President, Ted McMasters. Will Ted be the one to cause her to break her inner vow?

Ted McMasters is on the run. A run from rejection. From himself. From God. Having been wounded by a father who made him feel worthless, and having been dumped by the woman he wanted to marry, Ted is determined to keep all women at bay. But will Amy be the reason he changes his mind?

How did you come up with the concept for this book?

The Lord gave me the idea for this story several years ago. Italy has always intrigued me, especially since my mother was born and raised there. Having lived and studied in Italy, I wanted to write a story set in that beautiful, romantic country. Interestingly, I ended up first writing my trilogy titled The Italian Chronicles, based on the life of my paternal great-great grandmother. But I knew that another story set in Italy lay dormant within my heart. That story was Miracle in Milan.

 Setting is important in books. I noticed that your story is in set in Milan, Italy. Were you inspired to set the book in Italy because of a visit to the country? If not, tell the reader why this setting inspired you.

As mentioned, I have close ties with Italy through my Italian mother. While a student there, I had occasion to visit Milan, the financial and business capital of Italy. When it came time to writing a novel based on financial intrigue, Milan seemed to be the natural choice.

What genre is this book, and why do you like to write in this genre?

Miracle in Milan is a novel of romantic suspense. Actually, this is the first novel I have written in this genre. My main character is a young American woman who works in New York City for a global pharmaceutical firm. The story flowed organically out of who she is and the lie she believes, a lie that has stood in the way of her fulfilling God’s call on her life. I enjoyed writing in this genre and look forward to writing more romantic suspense.

Do you write in more than one genre? If so, why?

Yes. I started out writing historical women’s fiction with an element of romance. Three of my novels–The Madonna of Pisano, A Sicilian Farewell, and Return to Bella Terra–are all historical women’s fiction set in Italy and America during the late 19th century and early 20th centuries. My novel titled In Black and White is a historical romance set in the 1950s, in the United States and Ghana. I also write fiction for children.

While I particularly enjoy writing historical fiction, I like to use the genre that best fits my character and story. When a character emerges in my heart, she emerges within a time period. I instantly know what century she lives in and, in most cases, what decade. The time period has a lot to do with making my character who she is in the natural and in the supernatural.

Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?

I am blessed to be able to write full-time. I used to have a day job as a university professor of foreign languages.

Name three interesting things most people don’t know about you.

• My mother tongue is Italian.
• I play the mandolin, an instrument my maternal grandfather used to play.
• I am also a visual artist and paint in oils and acrylics.

What’s next for you? Are you currently working on something new?

I’m working on a novella titled The Captain and Mrs. Vye. Summary: When a young widow inherits an oceanfront inn upon her husband’s death, she receives more than she bargained for as a whaling boat captain becomes her first tenant and disrupts her heretofore peaceful life.I am also writing a middle-grade novel titled Dixie Randolph and the Secret of Seabury Beach, the first novel in a six-book series for eight-to-twelve-year-old children.  

It’s been a pleasure having you here today. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy? (a quote, a Bible verse, a precept you live by or have tried to instill in your children?)

There is nothing more important in life than accepting Jesus Christ as one’s Savior and Lord and living for Him. This is what Jesus meant when He said in John 3: 3 that a person must be born again in order to experience eternal life. One may accomplish great things in the earth, but, ultimately, unless one knows Jesus, everything else is meaningless. While one’s name may be listed in many records of earthly accomplishments, all that matters in the end is that one’s name be listed in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

There are four quotes on which I have based my life:

1) John 8: 32 – “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”
2) Philippians 3: 10 – “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings….”

3. “Only one life; ’twill soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last.” ~ Charles Studd

4. “The true success of my life will not be judged by those who admire me for my accomplishments, but by those who attribute their wholeness to my having loved them, by those who have seen their true beauty and worth in my eyes.” ~ David Grant.

Years ago, I created a mission statement by which I have lived and written. It is this:
To create works of art that communicate Christ’s love and connect people to Him.
CREATE. COMMUNICATE. CONNECT. This is what I’m all about.

Thanks for being part of the blog, Mary Ann. It’s been a pleasure to host you. Good luck with your book. It sounds intriguing!

Thank you so much for featuring me, Catherine. I trust that I will bless your readers.

MaryAnn

Miracle in Milan

By Mary Ann Diorio

When young, female auditor Amy Torelli is assigned to audit the books of her company’s Italian branch in Milan, she discovers convincing evidence that the man she loves is an embezzler.

Excerpt:

      “This way, Ms. Torelli.” Giorgio led her into his private office and shut the door. It was a modest office, as far as offices go. Nothing like Mr. Conklin’s plush space in the downtown Manhattan headquarters. A medium-sized window overlooked a narrow street with another office building on the opposite side. In one corner of the office space stood a large plant about the size of a small fig tree. On a credenza behind the desk was a picture of two small children sitting on either side of a lovely woman who looked to be in her late thirties. Very likely Giorgio’s wife and children.

          “Please, sit down.” Giorgio pointed to a small sitting area in the opposite corner furnished with two barrel chairs and a small coffee table.”

          Amy took the chair to the right and sat down. Her muscles tensed.

          Bassetti sat down in the chair across from her, crossed his legs, and folded his hands in his lap. “First of all, I want to thank you for making the long trip to Italy to help us.”

          Dare she say she’d had no choice but to lose her job if she’d refused? “I’m glad to do what I can.”

          Bassetti cleared his throat. “I don’t know how much you know, but Enson Italia is on the verge of bankruptcy.”

          Amy nodded. “Yes, Mr. Conklin explained as much to me.”

          “Then you know that we are in a precarious situation. The future of our Italian operation depends on your discovering what is going on.”

          Amy stiffened. There it was again. The burden of responsibility resting squarely on her shoulders. A burden she didn’t like at all. She hated having the ball in her court “Yes, I understand.”  She squared her gaze on him. “So, what are your thoughts on the problem?” She loved to toss the ball back to where it belonged.

          Bassetti shifted in his chair. “Frankly, I don’t know.”

          Amy sensed he was lying. “But surely, from your perspective as president, you have some idea, do you not?” His dodging annoyed her.

          Bassetti squirmed. “All I can say is that we have discovered some expenses that do not align with our expenditure categories and that seem to have no correlation with our normal business expenses.”

          “Has anyone investigated those unusual expenses?”

          Bassetti’s eyes narrowed. “That is what you are here to do.” His voice was curt.

Want to read more? You can find Miracle in Milan at  My Book Table  Amazon (affiliate) Print:  EBook:  and Universal Link:

About the Author:

MaryAnn Diorio is a widely published, award-winning author of fiction for both adults and children. Her stories are powerfully moving and deal with the deepest issues of the human heart.
MaryAnn resides in New Jersey with her wonderful husband of 51 years. They are the blessed parents of two amazing daughters, a very smart son-in-law, and six rambunctious grandchildren. You can learn more about MaryAnn and her writing at maryanndiorio.com.

Connect with MaryAnn on her Website: Facebook: Amazon Author Central: BookBub

Wednesday Writers –Interview with Meghann Whistler author of Falling for the Innkeeper

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author interview, book excerpt from Falling for the Innkeeper, Christian romance, Meghann Whistler, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

Today’s Wednesday Writers is interviewing author Meghann Whistler. In addition to her interview Meghann is sharing an excerpt from her book Falling for the Innkeeper.  Welcome, Meghann!

 

Catherine: Please tell the readers about the release that is being showcased today.

Meghann: Falling for the Innkeeper is a sweet Christian romance novel set at a charming beachside inn on Cape Cod. It’s about a wary single mother who meets a workaholic lawyer intent on buying the only home she’s ever known.

Catherine: I love stories set in beachside communities. How did you come up with the concept for this book?

Meghann: I started with the hero—what drove him to put so much of himself into his work? And what would it take to make him reassess his values and priorities?

I’ll also admit that my grandparents owned an inn that’s a lot like the one in the book, and I wanted to visit it again on paper. So, the setting was another key piece of the puzzle when I first started thinking about this story.

Catherine: What a great way to honor your grandparents. Are you a pantser or a plotter? Linear or non-linear writer?

Meghann: I have a rough idea of where my stories are going when I start writing, but I lean heavily on the “pantser” side of the equation. I enjoy the process of discovery as I write. I’m usually a linear writer, but if I get stuck, I will occasionally jump ahead and then fill in the earlier scenes later.

Catherine: What does your revision process look like?

Meghann: I edit as I write. I know a lot of people who suggest writing straight through without stopping to revise until the first draft is done, but I can’t write forward if I know there’s a problem with an earlier scene. I have to correct it before I can move on.

Catherine: I always edit as I write, too. It gives me a chance to get back into the story. On to the next question:  What’s the first book, in the genre you write in, that you remember reading?

Meghann: I didn’t start reading Christian fiction until about three years ago. The first Christian romance novel I remember reading is Finding Her Way Home by Linda Goodnight, which was eye-opening for me. I’d always thought romance novels were racy and poorly written, but Finding Her Way Home was sweet rather than sexy, and I was so invested in the characters I couldn’t put it down!

Catherine: Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?

Meghann: I’m a full-time, stay-at-home mom to three little boys, and my job duties got way more intense this past spring when COVID-19 hit!

Catherine: I can’t imagine going through COVID with children. I’ll bet you’ll be ready for a vacation when this is over. Speaking of vacations, what is the farthest place from home that you’ve traveled?

Meghann: Hong Kong! What a great city! Part of the reason my heroine’s parents live in Hong Kong is because I couldn’t pass up a chance to write about what a fabulous place it is.

Catherine: It’s been a pleasure having you here today, Meghann. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy?

Meghann: I find a lot of comfort in Philippians 1:6, which reminds me that I don’t have to be perfect. As long as I’m willing to show up and do the best I can each day, God will continue to work in me and through me.

 

Thanks for joining us today. Keep reading for a peek at Meghann’s book.

 

FALLING FOR THE INNKEEPER

By Meghann Whistler

A battle for a charming Cape Cod inn… But what happens when romance checks in?

Single mom Laura Lessoway won’t accept her mother’s plan of selling her late grandmother’s inn without a fight. But when big-city attorney Jonathan Masters arrives to arrange an offer from a client, she’s drawn to him. And working together as he helps with repairs only brings them closer. With his career and her home on the line, can they ever find common ground?

 

EXCERPT

Jonathan had always had this idea that if he could just reach that brass ring, if he could just grab it and hold on, that would be the thing that would make everything in his life work the way it was supposed to, the thing that would make everything okay.

But would it? Would it really?

Making partner at the law firm wouldn’t magically fix his father’s illness. Making partner wouldn’t change the fact that he’d been a scared, bullied kid. Making partner wouldn’t mean that his father, who’d gone missing when Jonathan was just seventeen, would ever come home.

He gave his head a little shake. He knew his mentor, Mike Roe, wouldn’t like this train of thought.

But then he thought about Mike’s life: the penthouse apartment and the fancy sports cars, the top-rated restaurants and the best-tailored suits. Jonathan used to think Mike’s life was what success looked like—and maybe, for some people, it did—but what about Mike’s high-maintenance ex-wife? What about the kid he never saw? What about the fact that he had more money than he could spend in a lifetime and he still spent every waking moment at work?

Was this some kind of early midlife crisis? Jonathan wondered. What would he even do with himself if he didn’t have this job?

He drummed his fingers on the bedside table. What was with him tonight? He was wildly unfocused, and it was messing with his head.

It was the woman—Laura. She’d thrown him off balance with her beauty and her wit and her kind, gentle smile. Just thinking about her emerald green eyes—which could, by turns, be sharp, or playful, or kind—made him feel…strange. Whimsical.

And Jonathan never felt whimsical about women. He was more practical than romantic. Back when he’d started at Harvard Law, he’d made a decision not to get distracted by a serious relationship until he made partner, and he’d stuck to his resolution all these years.

He always kept his promises—to others and to himself. After growing up with his unpredictable father, he was very disciplined that way.

 

BUY LINKS

 AMAZON   CHRISTIANBOOK   TARGET   WALMART   BARNES & NOBLE

GOOGLE PLAY   APPLE BOOKS   INDIGO (Canada   AMAZON.CA (Canada)

BOOK DEPOSITORY (Free International Shipping)

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Meghann Whistler writes sweet Christian romance novels that won’t make your grandmother blush. A hopeless romantic who met her husband on a blind date, Meghann recently left her marketing career to pursue her lifelong passion of writing sweet, hopeful stories that demonstrate the power of love and grace. She loves to hear from her readers, who can reach her at www.meghannwhistler.com.

Meghann’s Social Media Links

Facebook:  Twitter: Instagram

 

Wednesday Writers Welcomes Katie Hamstead

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author interview, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Dancing in the Athenian Rain, Katie Hamstead, time travel YA romance, YA fiction

Today Wednesday Writers Welcomes Katie Hamstead. Katie, please tell the readers about the book that is being showcased today.

Dancing in the Athenian Rain was originally the first full length novel I wrote. I was a 12^th grader, and pieced it together while studying Athens… and during exams because I’m easily distracted. It’s developed significantly since then, but the raw base of the story remains the same; an 18 year old girl who’s been pretty down trodden gets a second chance in the most unlikely place; the home of a Classical Athenian soldier.

Sounds interesting. How did you come up with the concept for this book?

Fantasizing in Ancient History class! Not much more to it than that…

What are you working on now? Do you have a release date for this book?

Currently I’m working on a few things, but my biggest project is a seven book series that’s a futuristic fairytale spin. I have the first two books written, and the rest are in various stages. Piecing it together is interesting, as each story is independent of the others, but also entwined.

Do you write in more than one genre? If so, why?

I do. I write whatever comes to me. Usually I have strong female leads, and write new adult, but the genre jumps around to whatever talks to me. As long as the characters “sing” I’ll write it.

I’m a total non-techy when it come to computers and social media and have experienced a number of flubs, including wiped out discs, crashed computer drives where I lost 50 pages I’d just written, improper blog setups that caused me to lose my web name address. What’s the worst technical difficulty or disaster you’ve ever had as a writer?

I bought myself this beautiful laptop. Touch screen, large hard drive, all the bells and whistles. Then, one day I knocked over a cup of water beside it. All it took was a drop to get inside and it fried my mother board. I CRIED for a week over it. Thankfully we were able to recover my data from the hard drive so I didn’t lose anything… except my beautiful computer I’d bought from my saved up book royalties!

Ooh. I’m cringing as I read this. The mother board just got fried on my laptop and I’m fighting with a new computer now. I feel your pain.

Character names are important in writing. How do you choose your character’s name?

I do a combination of things. First, I pick a culture to derive the name from, then I’ll pick a general meaning of the name and finally, it has to sound nice and suit the character. I really love naming characters.

Setting is also important in books. Do you do anything special to create yours, like visiting the area, googling satellite maps, looking at books or pictures?

A fair few of my settings are where I grew up, or I’ve lived for a while. Although, my historical books there’s a lot of research goes into the settings, especially since they’ve changed over the centuries.

How have your reading (and writing) tastes evolved over the years? Do you still read the same genre of books you did as a teenager?

I read a lot more than what I did as a teenager. I think the compulsory readings bothered me enough to put me off picking out my own books. I hated being forced to read things like 1984. Why couldn’t I read Jane Austin? I didn’t mind Shakespeare though, but I was pretty alone on that one.

When I did pick my own books, they are still pretty similar to what I read now. I like books with romance, but also an interesting plot and great characters.

What’s the book you are reading now?

I am currently reading The Charge by Sharon Bayliss. I love this woman’s writing, and kept up with the December People, so needed to get onto her debut while waiting for book 3.

I love going to the movies. Do you? If so, what was the most recent movie you’ve seen?

I love going too! Unfortunately with small children, I don’t get to go as much as I’ like to anymore. The last movie I saw was Jurassic World. I am a Jurassic Park fanatic, so missing that as NOT an option. I loved it!

We saw that, but not in 3-D. Great movie. What about the small screen? What’s your favorite television show currently running? Favorite show of all time?

Currently running, I’ve been trying to keep up with Arrow and The Flash. Apparently now I also need to get onto Supergirl! But one of my all-time favorites is M*A*S*H. It’s an oldie, but a goodie. In 6^th grade we were studying Asia, and I was the only one to pick Korea, and was inspired by this show! Haha!

I love those shows, too!

I also love traveling. What is the farthest place from your home that you have visited? I used to live in Australia (Sydney) and after high school came to the USA as an exchange student. Now I live here, but it’s still a long trip between the two.

It’s been a pleasure having you here today. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy? (a quote, a Bible verse, a precept you live by or have tried to instill in your children?)

Proverbs 31:10 and 30

“Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies…

Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”

There’s a whole lot of good stuff in between, but those verses are what I live by.

Thanks for being with us today.

Dancing in the Athenian Rain 

by Katie Hamstead

When Donna is sent back in time to Classical Athens, she’s furious at Dr. Stephens for sending her against her wishes. Then a Greek soldier purchases her to be his wife. She’s forced to learn a new language and culture, and faces her fears of never returning to her own time. The society hates her, especially because they think she’s an Amazon, which forces her to confront her issues—being compared to her genius brother, borderline abusive friends, and a cheating boyfriend. But her husband, Peleus, is kind and patient. Although against her best judgment, she allows him into her heart. He counters all the negative voices from her past, but those voices drive a wedge between them. She must let go of her fears, her inhibitions, and insecurities, and admit her feelings, or she could lose him and the life they’ve built.

Goodreads

 

About the Author:

Born and raised in Australia, Katie’s early years of day dreaming in the “bush”, and having her father tell her wild bedtime stories, inspired her passion for writing. After graduating High School, she became a foreign exchange student where she met a young man who several years later she married. Now she lives in Arizona with her husband, daughter and their dog. She has a diploma in travel and tourism which helps inspire her writing. She currently works as an Acquisitions Editor with Curiosity Quills Press to help support her family. Katie loves to out sing her friends and family, play sports and be a good wife and mother. She loves to write, and takes the few spare moments in her day to work on her novels.

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Wednesday Writers Welcomes Angela Scavone

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A Journey Home, Angela Scavone, Author Catherine Castle's blog, author interview, book excerpt, contemporary romance, Military Romance, Wednesday Writers

 

 

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Angela Scavone. Angela, please tell us about the book being showcased today.

A Journey Home is a contemporary military romance about a female officer whose job it is to go overseas and pick up and return the bodies of fallen soldiers. She is then partnered up with her ex-husband and she has some issues with that … as you can imagine what that would be like 🙂 The couple must learn to work together professionally and at the same time repair their friendship.

How did you come up with the concept of this book?

Funny enough I had a dream one night that I was flying home in a military plane with the bodies of fallen soldiers and I hated the person I was working with. The dream played out like a movie, when I woke up I wrote it all down on paper 🙂

By the way, I love this cover. It’s so touching and patriotic. So, what are you working on now? Is there a release date?

I’m currently working on a Christmas story based on the poem ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas and a fictional possibility of who the true author of the poem was. In reality Clement Clarke Moore claimed ownership of the poem but only after twenty some odd years…why so long? What was he hiding? Who was the true author? Therefore my latest WIP dives into those questions and a possible secret romance that may or may not have been held as blackmail against the true author…

Unfortunately no release date yet.

Ooh. Sounds interesting. When you write are you a plotter or a pantser? 

I plot certain points of the story but the characters have to get themselves to those points. So I would say I’m half and half 🙂

Do you have a favorite book or books?

I love the Stephanie Plumb series. That girl has one heck of an interesting life! Janet Evanovich has done a great job with that series and to be twenty books in and still be entertaining and “a must read” worthy is quite the feat! I love the Harry Potter series as well.  Also I love anything by Jane Austen, she knew how to write romance 🙂

We know you have a job as a writer, but do you have a day job as well? If so, what is it?

During the day I work full-time as an IT analyst for the local school board here and love every minute of it (a person with OCD loves the organization that is project planning, ha!). I work on specific projects that bring new and interesting technologies to the classroom for teachers and students. It’s a very rewarding experience to see thousands of students using the technology you brought forward to them 🙂

Thanks for being with us today, Angela. As you leave would you give the readers a brief encapsulation of your life’s motto?

I have a wicked time with anxiety and worry. It sadly consumes a lot of my life which I am working on however part of working on it is trying to see the positive in everything. In every situation, good or bad, there is always something positive, a silver lining if you will. Therefore my life’s philosophy is to always find the positive…even when it’s raining there’s still beauty in the sound 🙂

Now let’s take a peek at Angela’s military romance.

A Journey Home

By Angela Scavone

Stephanie Tyler’s sole job is to fly overseas to war-torn areas of the world to retrieve and escort the bodies of fallen soldiers back home to the United States. It is a tough and emotional job but she is honored for the privilege. Her duty also helps her to escape her past and her failed marriage.                                                               

 But those flights have become increasingly more dangerous and she is forced to have a partner accompany her. Much to Stephanie’s surprise and dismay, she is partnered up with her ex-husband, Captain “D.A.” Douglas Aston.             

 From the moment Captain D.A. enters the scene, he irritates her. It could have something to do with the fact he slept with her best friend while they were married. As they go on several missions together, Stephanie is forced to be courteous and professional with D.A. even though the very sight of him irritates her beyond comprehension.         

 Then, Stephanie’s cheating, husband stealing, ex-best friend is killed in Afghanistan and Stephanie and D.A. must escort her body home. While executing this difficult duty, a myriad of conflicting emotions makes Stephanie ponder how short life really is . . . and to question her own ability to forgive. 

 Excerpt:

The Colonel spoke as I reached for the door handle. “I’m curious, off the record, of course. How did your marriage not continue on a positive note? I remember the wedding. You two seemed so compatible and so in love. What happened?”

DA and I looked at each other for the first time since his arrival.

“He cheated on me with a friend of mine,” I replied baldly.

“I did not cheat on you! How many times do I have to say it before you believe me?” he retorted, all vestiges of professionalism gone.

“Oh, here we go again!” I shouted back. “I came home early, I walked into the kitchen and there was Alex on top of you on the kitchen floor.”

“I told you it wasn’t what it looked like. I have said over and over again that I did not sleep with Alex!” His tone increased until he was shouting, too.

“You’re telling me that you two never slept together?” I demanded an answer.

“Well . . .” He looked away from me. “Not while we were married.”

“I knew it!”

“It was after we were separated and you had moved here! What did you want me to do? Never sleep with anyone again?”

“You can sleep with whomever or whatever you want for all I care—”

“Ahem.” The Colonel cut in. I jerked back, startled; in the heat of arguing with my frustrating ex, I had forgotten my boss was there.

“Sorry, Sir. Do you see why I can’t work with him?”

 

Interested in reading more? You can find A Journey Home Amazon.

About the Author:

Angela lives in Ontario, Canada sharing her home with her father and much-loved duo of pups (and one evil cat).  She currently works for the Board of Education behind the scenes supporting and analyzing student data, however, in her spare time, apart from her avid love of storytelling, she likes to read, spend time with family and friends and concoct dairy free recipes from scratch. Sometimes she wins some and sometimes she loses some – tofu, banana and peanut butter pudding we are looking at you.

Want to know more about Angela? You can connect with her here:

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Wednesday Writers Welcomes Christina Kirby

Tags

author interview, Catherine Castle blog, Christina Kirby, romance, Running Home, Warm Springs Trilogy, Wednesday Writers

 

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Christina Kirby to the blog. Christina, please tell the readers about the book that is being showcased today.

Running Home is the second book in my Warm Springs Trilogy and picks up one year after book one. It will allow readers to find out more about Jenny Fillmore and what happened to her after the traumatic events in book one, but unlike book one, Running Home is contemporary romance, not romantic suspense. You can read this one at night without leaving the light on. 😉

 

How did you come up with the concept for this book? As I was writing the first book in The Warm Springs Trilogy, I realized how much more I could do with the characters. I chose Jenny because she was fun and definitely deserved her happy ending after what I put her through in book one.

What are you working on now? Do you have a release date for this book?

I am working like crazy on the final book in The Warm Springs Trilogy. It’s set for release in October and I want more than anything to give the fans a satisfying ending.

Do you write in more than one genre? If so, why?

I do for the same reason I read different genres and watch movies from different genres. Sometimes I’m in the mood to go down a different path. It keeps life interesting. I never want to be pigeonholed into one type of writing. I like a good story, but I don’t need the same type of scenario every time. (Aside from the love story – all good stories need a little love.)

Some writers like quiet when they write, others want music. Which one are you?

I love music, but when I write in need quiet. Considering I live with two little boys, quiet is a rare thing in my house.

Do you revise on paper or on the computer?

I might be old-fashioned in the way I edit, but the truth is, I do a better job if I print it out to give it a once over. When I finish my first draft, I always print out the entire book and read all the way through it. After I reach the editing process with my editor, I only print out a section if it needs a fair amount of work. Typos and such I just fix on the computer.

What’s the worst technical difficulty or disaster you’ve ever had as a writer?

I’m a total non-techy when it comes to computers and social media and have experienced a number of flubs, including wiped out discs, crashed computer drives where I lost 50 pages I’d just written, improper blog setups that caused me to lose my web name address.

I can really identify with you on that. I’ve experienced some of the exact things!

What’s the first book you ever remember reading as a child?

The first book I remember from childhood is The Boxcar Children. My first grade teacher read it aloud to my class and I remember not being able to wait for it to be that time of day. It’s amazing how a great book can pull you in and set your imagination free. I will also say that The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe was a favorite from early on.

What’s the book you are reading now?

I’m usually reading a book for book club or critiquing a book for my CP, but lately I’ve had a chance to choose one off of my TBR (to be read) shelf. I’m a third of the way through The Book of Life – it’s the last book in the All Souls Trilogy. So far, so good.

What’s the first book, in the genre you write in, that you remember reading?

I distinctly remember reading Montana Sky by Nora Roberts. There’s something magical about the way she writes. It makes me wonder how many people she’s inspired over the course of her amazing career.

I love going to the movies. Do you? If so, what was the most recent movie you’ve seen?

I am a movie fanatic. There I said it. I love movies. The most recent one I’ve seen in the theater is Avengers: Age of Ultron, but Inside Out comes out in a week and I have two kids so…

Do you have an all-time favorite movie that has stuck in your mind or that you’d watch over and over?

There are too many movies to name that have stuck with me, but my favorite movie is      Ever After. I watch it every time it’s on. Every. Time. You can ask my husband. He’s     seen it more than a few times. (Oops!)

What’s your favorite television show currently running? Favorite show of all time?

The Walking Dead and Reign – two totally different shows, but I can’t choose between the two.

Quickies:

Favorite food? chocolate chip cookies or my mom’s spaghetti

Favorite singer or band? Bastille

Favorite season? Fall

Favorite flower? Tulip

Favorite color? Blue

Mug or teacup? Neither – water bottle

 

It’s been a pleasure having you here today. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy? (a quote, a Bible verse, a precept you live by or have tried to instill in your children?)

“She believed she could, so she did…” – I saw this on Pinterest and it spoke to me.   Believing in yourself is truly important.

 

 

Running Home

by

Christina Kirby

Small town beauty queen, Jenny Fillmore, is a survivor. In the wake of having been kidnapped by a madman, she’s managed to put her life back together, complete with a successful career and a serious boyfriend. But, when her first love returns and hires her as his real estate agent, old wounds are torn open, making Jenny question whether or not she has the life she wants. It turns out broken hearts don’t heal so easily and old desires don’t always fade with time.

Professional baseball player, Adam Hamilton, didn’t expect a career ending shoulder injury. Thrown a curveball in his prime, he returns home to Warm Springs and the one woman whose heart he broke to pursue his sports dream. But, earning Jenny’s forgiveness won’t be easy. What he and Jenny once shared was real, but she’s moved on. With the new man in her life, time isn’t on Adam’s side.

Excerpt

Jenny smoothed a hand over her navy skirt and tucked a loose hair behind her ear as she waited to meet her new client. After speaking with his assistant several times to setup a schedule that would work for everyone, it was finally time to meet the man himself.

She glanced around her office where they’d be meeting before she took him out in her freshly washed Lexus SUV. Everything was in place. There were no loose papers strewn around or files left open on the back counter.

A partially open drawer caught her attention at the bottom of one of her filing cabinets. She moved to close it and found it was stuck. She knelt down on the carpet and tried to push it again, but it still wouldn’t budge. “Close, you stupid–”

“That’s my Jennifer. Still talking to herself after all these years.”

Jenny’s hand froze at the same time a flush of heat surged through her body. A fire she hadn’t felt since the last time she’d been with him, the owner of the deep voice. A voice she’d know anywhere. Adam.

“Here,” he knelt beside her, “let me give you a hand.”

“I don’t need your help,” she shook her head, but he didn’t seem to care. He lifted the drawer and pushed, and it closed like the traitor it was. Damn drawer.

Adam took a step back from her, but it did nothing to dissipate his scent. His aftershave hung in the air and with it a flood of memories of the two of them, together, crashed down around her. Memories it had taken her years to repress because forgetting was impossible.

Keeping her back to him, she tugged her skirt back into place and did her best to calm her nerves. How dare he show up at her office out of the blue? It wasn’t fair and it hadn’t given her a chance to prepare a suitable insult.

She took a deep breath. There was no need to overact. All she needed to do was find out what he was doing there and get rid of him.

She turned. “So, are you just passing through?”

“Not exactly.” He sat down in one of her office chairs, his tall frame filling the space.

Unsure what else to do and not wanting to be rude in her place of business, she sat down, more than aware that three different people from the office had walked past her door in the last thirty seconds. Word must’ve gotten out the great Adam Hamilton was in the building.

Gritting her teeth, she smiled. “Why, exactly, are you here, Adam?”

“I’m your ten o’clock.” He grinned, held his hands out in a ‘here-I-am’ gesture, and laughed when her mouth fell open.

“You?”

“Yes, I believe we’re supposed to go see some houses this morning.”

She blinked twice. “Wait, why are you looking for a house here?”

“I like it here.” He said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world and smiled again, the same smile that had gotten her out of her clothes more than a few times when they’d been younger.

“But, you live in Atlanta.”

“Not for long.” He leaned the chair back on two legs, like he used to do when he was seventeen.

“Wait, but,” she pressed her palms flat on her desk, “does this mean you’re moving back here?”

“That’s my plan.”

Adam in Warm Springs, indefinitely. The words swirled around in her head like a tornado, tearing apart every other thought, until he was all she could think about. How was she supposed to live in the same town with him again? It was too small for the both of them.

If you enjoyed the excerpt you can get Christina’s book at Amazon

About the Author:

 Christina Kirby holds a degree in Public Relations from Auburn University. She worked in banking for four and a half years before deciding to become a stay at home mom to her two sons. Moving every couple of years because of her husband’s job, Christina has had the opportunity to meet all kinds of people and live in many different states. Fortunately, writing is something she can take with her no matter where she lives. Christina is an avid reader of romance, young adult and anything having to do with pop culture. She also knows a copy of Entertainment Weekly and a chocolate chip cookie can cure anything.

Find her on:

Twitter: @CKirbyWriter  FB  Goodreads  Pinterest

Sign up for her newsletter on her website

 

Wednesday Writers Welcomes Anita Higman

Tags

A Question of Destiny, Author Anita Higman, author interview, best selling author Anita Higman, rags to riches story, Wednesday Writers

 

Today, Wednesday Writers welcomes Anita Higman, best-selling and award-winning author of over 40 books. Today, we’ll get to know her a little bit, as well as learn about her novel A Question of Destiny. Anita, let’s start by talking about A Question of Destiny.

 

I’d be happy to. It’s basically a rags-to-riches story with a few surprises along the way.

Here’s a short blurb to give you a few more details.

Lucy O’Brien is about to be given ten millions dollars and a chance to live a life she never imagined. Will this new found wealth be Lucy’s undoing, or can she rise above the temptations within high society and choose to become a nobler version of herself? And will the solitary Andrew Whitfield—a man who watches over Lucy as she adapts to her new lifestyle—cause her to close the door on her dreams or be the key that opens the rest of Lucy’s destiny?

To read an excerpt from A Question of Destiny, click here.

How did you come up with this story?

I’ve always thought the rags-to-riches concept was fascinating. There’s so much ready-made conflict. Even though we’ve been told by the world that to receive a windfall would be an idyllic situation, in reality, a lot can go wrong. You can truly lose your way. In life, love, faith. Everything. Since a writer needs a lot of conflict to keep those loverly readers turning the pages, I thought this would be a good plot element to add to a love story.

In A Question of Destiny you have the hero loving the city while the heroine loves the country, and it becomes a sticky point between them. Where did you get your inspiration for this conflict?

I suppose both of these viewpoints are inside me. I grew up on a farm, but I now live near Houston. I love the city and the country equally, and so does my husband. So, we are building our retirement home in the country, but because of a soon-to-be-built freeway nearby, we will have access to the city. But I won’t tell you how my heroine and hero work out this intense disagreement!

What is the farthest place from home you’ve ever been?

Melbourne, Australia. I loved it there. It’s such a beautiful and fascinating city. So much so, I set part of a novel there, which was entitled, Winter in Full Bloom. I’d love to go back to Australia someday, but it’s expensive, and it’s a very, very long flight!

Want to share one of your dreams?

I would love to have one of my books made into a movie. Right now two of my novels are optioned for movies, so I’m hoping something exciting will transpire from that.

How long have you known that you wanted to be a writer?

Growing up I dreamed of telling stories. When I was very young I started working on a novel about a man from Mars who wanted to go to college in New York. I never finished that novel, but it left an impression on me. I knew deep down that writing was my dream, even though I didn’t get around to fulfilling it until I was in my thirties.

What do you hope your readers will come away with after reading one of your novels?

I would love for them to be inspired, challenged, and entertained. If I accomplish even one of those things I would feel my writing time wasn’t wasted.

If you could have dinner with two well-known people, who would they be?

Josh Groban, because his music inspires me and Leif Enger, because I love the way he writes.

Is there something about you most people wouldn’t know?

I love licorice ice cream, but it’s a rare find.

Any advice for new writers?

My advice would be, “Don’t rush the process. Take your time. Read and learn about the craft, network, and attend conferences. Start a blog, and find your own unique voice. Be faithful to your stories and write every day. If you really have a passion for writing, you won’t find my suggestions to be a punishment—but a pleasure.”

 

About the Author:

Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has forty books published. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA in the combined fields of speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, traveling to exotic places, and brunch with her friends.

Please check out Anita’s latest novel on Amazon, A Question of Destiny. Feel free to drop by her website at www.anitahigman.com or connect with her on her Facebook Reader Page at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnitaHigman. She would love to hear from you!

Wednesday Writers Welcomes Sarah Kohnle

Tags

Astraea Press, author interview, book excerpt, Inspirational fiction, Sarah Kohnle, Shifting Gears

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Sarah Kohnle, author of Shifting Gears. Sarah, please tell the readers about the book that is being showcased today and how you came up with the concept for this book.

It all started with a deathbed challenge in Minnesota. And when the summer is over, a middle-aged, sedentary housewife realizes those words no longer define her. Join Meg and her son n a ride filled with adventure, tears and laughter. If she can do, can you?

Shifting Gears is a novel that evolved over many years and many miles. I started writing it when I recalled a true character I met as a reporter. Strangely enough, that person plays a prominent role toward the end of the book. I never could have guessed that would have been the germ of an idea. It seems a lot of true life stuff makes it into my novels. I am very thankful for the experiences I had as a reporter across the Midwest. Lots of good stories in my bank!

But back to SG – the idea popped in my head and all of a sudden became a bicycling/road trip story. That meant I had to get back on my bike for some research. I had done a lot of long-distance cycling before our sons were born and the book brought me back to a former love on two wheels! I strive for authenticity, so I knew I had to log miles along with Meg, my lead character.

What are you working on now? Do you have a release date for this book?

I have several other manuscripts around, in various stages. Last month, I took another stab at NaNoWriMo, and although I didn’t finish this time, it made me realize I can complete a novel on my lunch hour. I don’t need to give up my day job.

Your various stages manuscripts leads me to another question. Are you a procrastinator or do-it-now person?

Procrastinator? Ha, if only your readers could hear me laughing! As a former journalist, I like to call it “deadline-driven.” Sometimes that may look like procrastination. I like to work under pressure and feel I do my best work at the last minute.

You mentioned the biking research for your book and the authenticity you created. What about setting. Do you do anything special to create yours, like visiting the area, googling satellite maps, looking at books or pictures?

Great question! Ideally, I visit the sites I write about because I love adding the little details that make it real and make readers say, “I know that spot!” If I am unable to see it for myself, I rely heavily on research and interviews.

What’s the first book you ever remember reading as a child?

I have loved books for as long as I can remember! There was a great little book called “Are You My Mother?” I recall reading that to my class when I was in first-grade because I loved it so much! Of course, I had to raise my children on that same book. One of my favorite drawings in it is a little bird, in clear distress with his little beak wide open. The page still has the slobber marks from the pacifier when one of my sons (now in his 20s) tried to comfort the bird.

Aw. How sweet is that. Do you have any favorite writing craft books?

In my bookcase, I have a whole shelf dedicated to books by Brett Lott and James Scott Bell and many others, to enhance my fiction. One of my go-to books is Self-Editing for Fiction Writers.

Are you a full-time writer or do you have a day job? If so, what is it?

I devour books and I am quite fortunate that I receive boxes of books almost daily as part of my job. As the managing editor for an association for educators in the state, I oversee a review committee. The committee reviews thousands of titles each year and we compile a booklet of annotations. It’s a tradition that goes back to the 1920s, and I am very proud to be a part of it.

In addition to managing publications, I recently returned to teaching at the college level. I am wrapping up the semester this week and getting ready to grade tons of final papers for my journalism students. I have really enjoyed it! I can say with assurance there is hope for the world of journalism — these students have been a lot of fun, and they can write!

I now get to host an annual weekend retreat for writers and photographers, via my day job. The spot is on a scenic river in the Ozarks and is a great time to create in the beauty and quiet of nature. Past faculty includes award-winner YA author Antony John and well-known author Deborah Raney. As the event continues to grow, I have been able to add to the faculty and now have a small-press publisher. This past fall, three participants were offered book contracts. All very exciting!

It’s been a pleasure having you here today. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy.

It’s been so fun chatting with you! Before we say good-bye, I want to share my most-recent favorite verse. Genesis 4:7, NLT: You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you.  But you must subdue it now and be its master.

Have a wonderful Christmas!

 

Shifting Gears

 

CHAPTER ONE

 

Step One: light a candle.

Meg Albertson smoothed out the folds in the hospice center’s typed instructions and reread the sheet, faded and fuzzy from a trip through the washing machine.

Light a candle. Say a prayer.

A box of matches sat on the mantle next to a ceramic jar, the size of her palm. Meg reached for the jar and matches then carried them over to the coffee table next to the candle. She sank down on the couch, her fingers curled around the matchbox. With her other hand, she caressed the smooth sides of the jar.

Light a candle. Say a prayer.

She struck a wooden matchstick. Wind rattling down the chimney snaked out the open flue and snuffed the flame. Another draft shivered across her neck. Meg didn’t budge. She sat and stared at the burnt match while the memory candle mocked her from the mantle. Perhaps she should get up and close the flue and light the candle.

Behind her house, pine trees dotted the edge of the frozen lake, a lake as silent as a dead man. The sky was like the gray film of dust that clung to the family room baseboards. Inside, yellowed newspapers, tightly bound with rubber bands, covered the coffee table. Fast-food wrappers stained with grease and splotches of catsup littered the floor.

Maybe a real fire in the fireplace would take the edge off the mess, make it seem festive. If she waited long enough, maybe someone would build one for her.

Loud pounding on the front door saved her from having to endure the obligatory candle ceremony and the rest of the steps.

“Meg Albertson, you home?”

Meg darted behind the draperies. The doorbell rang in three quick bursts. Nothing good ever came from an early morning visitor.

Pound, pound, pound. The visitor reverted to the original technique.

Meg peeked down the hall to the front door window. With relief she saw a friendly face, someone to light a fire for her. She swept a comforter from the back of the couch and draped it around herself. She pulled the door open and a gust of wind swirled in.

“Did I wake you?” Her husband’s old friend, Chip, stood on the front porch, stomping snow off his massive boots. The two men had been buddies since second grade in Lake Devine, tucked in the northern woods of Minnesota.

“Heavens no, up for hours. Since the sun rose.” Meg, bundled in the comforter, leaned against the doorframe.

“It sure is a cold one.” Chip rubbed his gloves together.

Then he stomped his boots again. “Um, can I come in?”

Meg flushed. “Excuse my brain lapse. Of course.” She waved him into the hallway.

“Before I forget Meg, Merry Christmas. Well, tomorrow I guess.” Chip hesitated and then reached out to hug her. The warmth of his embrace seemed to seep through his down parka straight through the comforter and into Meg’s thin robe. She needed his touch, anyone’s touch. Two bright patches of scarlet flashed across the frosty pink and white on Chip’s cheeks and he pulled away. He inched closer to the front door before he tugged off his wool cap and reached to scratch his head.

“Gee, sorry we haven’t stopped in to see you lately. It’s been busy down at the hardware store. Jean’s been busy too, all the holiday stuff.” Chip looked down at his feet.

“But here.” Chip thrust a small package into her hands. “Robert made me promise I’d deliver this for Christmas.”

“Robert?” Meg tossed the package back, like a game of hot potato.

Chip leaned over and forced the package back in her grasp. Meg stared at the object and began to sway ever so slightly to the cadence of the clock on the wall. The ticking grew louder. Meg squeezed her eyes shut to stop the noise.

Chip cleared his throat. “Meg? Meg?”

She opened one eye. Chip still stood there and she still held the package.

“But, Chip?” Her palm moved up to cradle her jaw as she stumbled over a response. “What’s this all about?”

“Beats me. I’m just the delivery boy, but call Jean if you need anything. Okay then, I’m off.” Chip scooted out the door. Meg watched him leap over a snow bank and jog to his truck. Dual plumes of exhaust puffed behind it as he tore out of the driveway.

When the truck was no longer visible, Meg turned away. Robert, what this time? Meg pulled the paper off as she walked back to the family room, leaving a trail of gold foil. With an index finger, she stroked the white label on the gift, a DVD. “For Meg, Merry Christmas.” It was Robert’s scrawl. She cradled the DVD in her hands and drew it to her chest. Maybe he transferred a copy of their wedding video. After a few minutes, she popped it into the player, unable to wait. Whatever was recorded, she had to see it.

Meg grabbed the remote and teetered inches away from the screen.

Robert looked at her, his face drawn and gray.

“Hi honey, I guess if you’re watching this, I must be dead.”

 

The book is available at Astraea Press – http://www.astraeapress.com/#!/Shifting-Gears-by-Sarah-Kohnle/p/34020382

And all the regular online outlets –

Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IID45OI/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb

 

About the Author:

As an award-winning journalist, Sarah Kohnle covered stories across the Midwest. She’s been a reporter/editor for several years and has multiple publishing credits to her name in newspapers, trade magazines, and corporate newsletters. Currently, she is managing editor for a state association for teachers. One of her passions is serving in Honduras as a short-term missionary with World Gospel Outreach in Tegucigalpa providing medical, dental and optical services.

Her roots were planted in North Dakota and she and her husband currently reside in Missouri.

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers Welcomes author Cindy Loven

Tags

Applachian book, author interview, book excerpt, Christian romance, Cindy Loven, Quilts of Love, Swept Away, Wednesday Writers

Today I’m welcoming author Cindy Loven to Wednesday Writers. Cindy will be giving away a copy of Swept Away to a lucky commentor. A print copy for a USA commentor, or an e-book outside the USA. The giveaway will run from today through noon December 2.

Cindy, please tell the readers about the book that is being showcased today.

Today I am sharing my co-authored book Swept Away, Quilts of Love. This book is a combination of a lot of research and conceptualizing by myself and the talented writing, of my co-author Laura Hilton. I had the pleasure of designing an appliqued quilt top for this story, and wrote about that design, in the book. It is a story of a grandmother wishing to pass on a family tradition. A grandmother with the what appears to be the on-set of dementia or Alzheimer’s. A young man who is broken-hearted over the death of his twin sister, and who is trying to find himself and God on the Appalachian Trail.

I love quilts! Although I’ve never done much appliqué. How did you come up with the concept for this book?

This is a fun question, my dear friend Laura mentioned that Quilts of Love had a call for proposals and wanted to know if I was interested in thinking up an idea, and I love the Appalachian setting, and this idea just blossomed.

What are you working on now? Do you have a release date for this book?

What am I working on now, I am actually more comfortable writing Children’s books, so I have several stories going at this time, none with a publishing date, but I am hoping to see one of them published in the next year.

Do you write in more than one genre? If so, why?

Yes, I do, I write children’s stories, that is my main genre, where I feel comfortable and relaxed. I do write some devotionals, and contemporary fiction, but I keep going back to my stories for kids.

Are you pen and paper writer, strictly computer, or some combo of the two?

This is a fun question, I mainly write on the computer, but I have a notebook called the Book of Lists, where I keep lists of ideas for stories. I also have a little journal I carry around where I am working on a rhyming story, those stretch my brain cells a lot, so it isn’t something I work on daily.

The Book of Lists. Interesting name. I stuff ideas in my phone and on scraps of paper, which I always plan to get around to putting in the computer. Speaking of getting around to it … are you a procrastinator or do-it-now person?

LOL, well it depends on what I am working on, with my PR work that I do, I am a do-it-now,   and do it as early as possible kind of person. When it comes to editing, ICK, procrastination is my middle name.

What’s the first book you ever remember reading as a child?

Probably The Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

One of my favorite childhood books, too. What’s the book you are reading now?

The Revealing by Suzanne Woods Fisher, I am a book-reviewer so that changes daily.

How often do you read non-fiction?

Well it is not my favorite genre, I have to say, but I do occasionally read and review non- fiction books. I am doing a study right now called A Wife After God’s Own Heart by Elizabeth George.

I’m always curious about people’s names. Do you know the meaning of your name? If so, does it fit you?

Yes, my name Cindy means light, and I do think it matches my personality.

Tell us a little bit about your hobbies outside of writing?

Which ones, I love to read, and I love to sew and crochet. Making cards is one thing I enjoy doing too. I am super active with a ladies group in my church called the Dorcas Ladies, we do crafts and projects, we just finished up making draw string bags for nursing home patients. I am nearly the youngest lady in the group, but we have so much fun.

You named a couple of my favorite hobbies. Watching movies is a pastime of mine, too. Do you have an all-time favorite movie that has stuck in your mind or that you’d watch over and over?

I adore The King and I with Yul Brenner, etc etc etc.

It’s been a pleasure having you here today. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy?

Live your life to the fullest, we are not promised tomorrow. We learned this 5 years ago with the death of our youngest son. Time is too short to fill it up doing things you don’t enjoy. Make the most of what God has given you!

 

Swept Away

He survived a life-altering event. She is facing one.

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her grandmother who doesn’t want to be cared for. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned.

Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but also as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between him and his new employer’s granddaughter.

It doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts online researching him. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.

 

Excerpt from Swept Away

Sara Jane Morgan gasped for breath, scanning the crowded pathways. Everyone showed up for the Heritage Festival, which was good for the artists and vendors, but bad for her.

Especially considering . . .

No. She couldn’t voice her concerns. At least not yet. But losing a loved one in this mob would cause anyone to panic. This was why mothers kept their toddlers locked securely in strollers and older children attached to harnesses with straps.

But one couldn’t exactly fasten a grandmother to a leash. And Sara Jane, being a grown woman, shouldn’t be having a panic attack.

She pulled in a shaking breath and forced herself to calm down. She could handle this. Stepping to the side of the paved walkway, she let a woman pushing a double stroller pass, then

a man driving a motorized wheelchair. She feigned interest in the open-air tent beside her. A display of corncob dolls. People still made them?

Well, this was the Appalachians. There were tourists here from all over the country who expected to find mountain handcrafts for sale.

She merged into the crowd and peeked into the next tent, making sure to get a look at the people inside. This one showcased CDs and DVDs by Appalachian musicians—or rather, one particular group. Pretending to shop while scanning the customers, she lifted a case off the rack by the entrance and looked at the picture. Banjos, played by guys in overalls. She

put it back.

Another booth held pocketknives, hunting, fishing, and utility knives. Grandma wouldn’t be here. Mostly men anyway.

She moved on.

The tent next to it held screen-printed t-shirts . . .

Panic filled her again. Grandma had wandered further than she expected. How long had she been missing before Sara Jane realized she’d gotten lost? She pushed her way past a few people

holding a conversation in the middle of the sidewalk. She caught a glimpse of a uniformed Boy Scout. Weren’t they supposed to help people? He disappeared into the throng before

she caught up to him.

Sara Jane went on to the next display. Oh. Wow. Brightly colored quilts. This was where she would have expected to find Grandma. She loved to quilt and belonged to the Christian Women’s group at church. But Grandma wasn’t with the women oohing and ahhing over the quilts.

Maybe. A gray-haired woman stood off to the back, head bowed as she studied the stitching. No, she wasn’t Grandma. Her hair was a different cut, and she wore a green t-shirt and a

blue jean skirt. Sara Jane would come back and check this tent again later, in case Grandma made her way here.

The next tent was completely enclosed; the canvas doors tied open with twine. Sara Jane poked her head in, ready to rush on. The tent was void of people except for two, a man and

Grandma.

Expelling a breath she hadn’t realized she held, Sara Jane grasped the edge of the tent door, and forced herself to look around.

Grandma was in here. With brooms. Whoever knew there were so many ways to make a broom?

The man behind the table looked as bushy as his wares. His shaggy brown beard hung down to his collar, and a rumpled button-up shirt draped over his blue jeans. His hair was

almost as long as his beard. He looked up as she entered. His eyes reminded her of dark chocolate.

Grandma stood beside the scruffy-looking man, holding a piece of paper, saying words Sara Jane couldn’t catch due to the sudden rush of blood in her ears.

She turned. “Oh, there you are, Sara Jane. I hired Andrew to do some odd jobs around my house since I’m thinking of selling. Doesn’t he have the cutest business card?” She held out the cardstock.

Sara Jane took it and gave it a cursory glance. Starving artist/ pay the bills handyman in bold, colorful print topped the card.

Andrew Stevenson. Followed by a phone number, and a picture of a bright red tool box. She handed it back to Grandma.

“Adorable.”

The adjective didn’t apply to the owner of the card.

“Grandma, don’t you think you’d rather hire someone we actually know to do the repairs?”

 

Buy Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Books.com

Deeper Shopping

Cokesbury

 

About the author:

Cindy Loven, an avid reader all her life, is seeing her dreams fulfilled, with the publication of her first novel, Swept Away Quilt of Love. She co-authored this novel with Laura V. Hilton. Born and raised in Arkansas, she loves her home state and is happy to live there with her husband of nearly twenty-nine years and her adult son. She and her family are very active in their local church, serving in many volunteer positions. She and her husband are very serious about informing parents about the dangers of the choking, after loosing their youngest son to this dreadful ‘game’ in 2009. When not busy with church or her job as a “pr gal” for another author, you can find Cindy in her craft room, ,sewing, crocheting or making cards.

Where to find me on the web:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorcindyloven

Twitter handle: @cndloven

Blog: http://cindylovenwrites.blogspot.com

Pinterest:http://www.pinterest.com/cndloven/

Amazon Page:http://www.amazon.com/Cindy-Loven/e/B00J54NEQY/ref=ntt_athr_dp_pel_1

Wednesday Writers Welcomes Teresa Pollard

Tags

author interview, Hopesprings Books, Inspirational romance, mystery, Not Guilty, Teresa Pollard

Today I’m welcoming Teresa Pollard to Wednesday Writers. Teresa, please tell the readers about the book that is being showcased today.

This book is called Not Guilty and was actually written by my friend Candi Pullen and me back in 1982, but was published for the first time by HopeSprings Books in 2013. It’s the story of a minister’s daughter named Carrie Shepherd, who’s raped by a masked intruder as she’s coming home from college one day. She’s so traumatized by the event, she doesn’t tell anyone until she realizes she’s pregnant. How can she face her family and fiancé? What about the church? Who was the rapist? Could he be a member of the congregation?

 

How did you come up with the concept for this book?

I was sitting in church one evening listening to a sermon on an entirely different topic when this plot came into my head whole cloth. I went home and wrote furiously for three days then showed an eighty page hand-written first draft to Candi. She had a lot of ideas for additions and sub-plots, so we put our heads together for the next year on it.

What are you working on now? Do you have a release date for this book?

I’d love to get everyone to read Not Guilty now, because the sequel, Not Ashamed, is    coming out in July, 2015. It’s the story of Charity Wright, Carrie’s daughter, as she comes home to confront her biological father, the man who raped her mother. Since both stories are written in a mystery format, the second one will spoil then end of the first if you don’t read them in sequence.

Tell the readers how you got started writing.

I started writing on a dare. I’ve always been a voracious reader. My friend had given me a large grocery bag of Harlequin Romances. After reading quite a few of them, I complained that they all had exactly the same plot. I said, “I could write a better novel than these.” So she dared me to do it. I’ve been writing ever since.

Do you write in more than one genre? If so, why?

Yes. I’ve always said I was a writer who hates to write. It’s not something that comes easily or naturally. It’s a compulsion that I believe is God given. When He gives me a story, I have to get it down on paper. I love mysteries, and a lot of my stories are in a mystery format, but I’ve also written several Biblical novels. My novel Tokens of Promise is an imagining of the story of Tamar and Judah from Genesis 38. It was also published in 2013 by HopeSprings, and Woman of Light, a story of Deborah will be released in October, 2015.

Some writers like quiet when they write, others want music. Which one are you?

I have to have quiet. It’s not because I don’t love music. It’s because I do. When I listen to music, I want to sing or dance, or both. I get very little writing done.

Are you pen and paper writer, strictly computer, or some combo of the two?

It’s definitely a combo. I have bunches of the small legal pads for when an idea comes into my head, so I can get it down on paper as quickly as possible. But then I enter it into the computer, and most of the revisions are done from there.

What is does your writing process look like?

I tend to write in stages: dialogue first, then go back and put in the different layers—sensory, visceral, emotional, settings.

What’s the worst technical difficulty or disaster you’ve ever had as a writer?

I’m a total non-techy when it come to computers and social media and have experienced a number of flubs, including wiped out discs, crashed computer drives where I lost 50 pages I’d just written, improper blog setups that caused me to lose my web name address.

Are you a morning writer, afternoon, evening, or midnight oil writer?

Because I’ve always had children (and now grandchildren) to take care of while I was writing, most of my writing has always been done after nine p.m. and late into the night.

What’s the first book you ever remember reading as a child?

You’re really asking me to go back a long ways. When I was little, we started learning to read with Fun with Dick and Jane. But I had a huge Grimm’s Fairy Tales long before that that I loved to have read to me, and I often read myself as soon as I could.

What’s the book you are reading now?

I just finished a light-hearted mystery called The Case of Moomah’s Moolah by Jim Stevens, and am getting ready to start on Picture Perfect by Janice Thompson.

How often do you read non-fiction?

Probably not as often as I should. I recently finished The Harbinger by Jonathan Cahn. Written in a fiction format, this is an amazing book that I highly recommend. Books on ancient Israel, its laws and customs, and histories of Biblical figures are also among my favorites.

What’s the first book, in the genre you write in, that you remember reading?

It would probably be one of the Trixie Belden or Nancy Drew mysteries. I loved those as a kid. But it’s also possible that it was a Hardy Boys mystery. My dad had a bookcase full of those, and I read all of them.

Do you know the meaning of your name? If so, does it fit you?

Teresa means Harvester. I’ve been a children’s Sunday School worker for most of the last forty years (I now teach Senior ladies) so I’d say, yes. My greatest joy is to lead someone to Christ. And that’s the greatest desire I have for my writing too.

I love going to the movies. Do you? If so, what was the most recent movie you’ve seen?

The last movie I saw was Heaven is for Real, and I’m going to see God’s Not Dead tonight. Can’t wait.

Tell us a little bit about your hobbies outside of writing?

I sang in the choir for most of my life. I’m not the least bit artistic, but I love art, so I do try my hand at photography. For the last seven years, my friend Krystal and I have taken up hiking through the woods to find waterfalls. We’ve chased waterfalls from Niagara to El Junque in Puerto Rico

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s been a pleasure having you here today. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy?

I guess my philosophy that I tried to instill in my children comes from Joshua 1:9. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord you God is with you whereever you go.”

It’s 1974 and Carrie Shepherd, daughter of the minister at Windspree Community Church, is a college senior with plans to be a missionary in Africa. Raped by a masked assailant, Carrie is so traumatized she tells no one until she realizes she’s pregnant. Refusing to have an abortion, she must find the courage to face her family, her fiancé, her friends, and a gossiping, angry congregation which may include her attacker.

 Can Carrie find a way to cope with the secrets, silence, and shame that threatens to tear apart her family and church?

 

“Ooh,” she mused dreamily as she put her wallet back into her purse, “If Easter is as pretty as this day, maybe we ought to have our wedding outdoors. The birds’ singing would make such a beautiful accompaniment to Andrew’s voice.” Even as the words came out of her mouth, she suddenly realized how quiet the birds had become. She was startled when a small group of sparrows flew from a bush into higher branches of a nearby tree. A few of the birds had been so close to her she felt the air moving as they darted past. It took her a second to catch her breath. “W-well, pardon me. I didn’t mean to come so close. I wouldn’t hurt you. You d-mmph.”

As one large hand encompassed her face, another grabbed her shoulder like a vice. Uselessly, she dropped her books, kicked and tried desperately to grab above and behind herself at the heat of her attacker. It was all happening so fast, her mind staggered. He threw her to the ground with the cool determination of one driven, not by malice, but by a job to be done. There was little anger evidenced in his onslaught, even as Carrie frantically grabbed for the gray knit ski mask that kept his identity hidden from her.

He calmly collected her hands and drew them into one of his and held them there as easily as a father holding back the hands of a toddler straying too near a flame. His grasp didn’t hurt her, he just possessed tremendous strength. In Carrie’s mind, he was huge. Her efforts were thwarted at every turn, as he had his way. He tore her clothes as if they were made of tissue paper. She screamed and yelled and kicked with all her might, jerking her tiny fists as if convinced she could actually free them. By now he had also restrained her legs so that the only weapons she had left to her were her mind and her mouth. “Satan, I rebuke you!” she cried, using what little strength she had left. His body tensed and he breathed in spurts, like a bull preparing for the charge. Her rebuke had angered him, and he became deliberately cruel. He was relentless in the pursuit of his goal, and Carrie was helpless to do more than just cry out, “No, No! Oh, my God help me, NO!” Mercifully, she fainted, and her torment was over. Or had it just begun?

Barnes and Noble

Tokens

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/tokens-of-promise-teresa-pollard/1115475023?ean=9781938708145

Not Guilty

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-guilty-teresa-pollard/1112801831?ean=9781938708060

Amazon

Token

http://www.amazon.com/Tokens-Promise-Teresa-Pollard/dp/1938708148/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1389905045&sr=8-7&keywords=teresa+Pollard

Not Guilty

http://www.amazon.com/Not-Guilty-Teresa-Pollard/dp/1938708067/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1389905045&sr=8-1&keywords=teresa+Pollard

GOODREADS

Tokens

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18027695-tokens-of-promise?from_search=true

Not Guilty

http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17329503-not-guilty?from_search=true

HopeSprings

http://www.hopespringsbooks.com/

 

About the Author:

Teresa Pollard is from Richmond, Virginia, and was saved at a young age.  She has a Masters degree in English and Creative Writing from Hollins College, and has served as a Sunday School teacher and children’s worker for most of the last forty years.  Married for forty years, she was devastated by divorce and the death of her youngest daughter, but God has blessed her with a new home and another grandson, and she now resides in Dacula, Georgia.  Her website is TeresaPollardWrites.com

 

 

Wednesday Writers Welcomes Tamara Lynn Kraft

Tags

A Christmas Promise, author interview, Christmas stories, historical fiction, Moravian Christmas, Schoenbrunn Village, Tamara Lynn Kraft

 

Today I’m welcoming Tamara Lynn Kraft, author of A Christmas Promise. Tamera, please tell the readers about the book that is being showcased today.

A Christmas Promise is a Moravian holiday story set in Schoenbrunn Village, Ohio in 1773. Here’s the blurb:

During colonial times, John and Anna settle in an Ohio village to become Moravian missionaries to the Lenape. When John is called away to help at another settlement two days before Christmas, he promises he’ll be back by Christmas Day.

When he doesn’t show up, Anna works hard to not fear the worst while she provides her children with a traditional Moravian Christmas.

Through it all, she discovers a Christmas promise that will give her the peace she craves.

How did you come up with the concept for this book?

I love studying about history, and I wanted to write a Christmas story. I live in Ohio, so I searched for the first settlement in Ohio and wanted to write a Christmas story set there. I found that Moravian missionaries had established a settlement in Schoenbrunn Village to evangelize Lenape Indians. When I researched further, I found out that even in 1773, Moravians loved to celebrate Christmas. Many of our Christmas traditions today go back to the Moravians. I knew I had to write this story.

What are you working on now? Do you have a release date for this book?

I’m writing a novella set in a small Ohio town post World War II about a married couple who are having difficulties when a tornado sweeps through their town. It’s called Resurrection of Hope but doesn’t have a release date yet.

Some writers like quiet when they write, others want music. Which one are you?

I like music when I’m writing, but it has to be soundtracks. If the songs have words, it distracts me. I like to choose music that has the historical and emotional feel for the stories I’m writing. I pretty much have a playlist for each writing project.

For instance, when I wrote my Civil War novella, Soldier’s Heart, I frequently played Legends of the Fall and Ashokan Farewell, both from The Civil War – Original Soundtrack.

While I was writing A Christmas Promise, I wanted the feel of Colonial America, so I played the Main Theme from The Patriot or some classical music such as Symphony No. 8 in B Minor, D. 759 “The Unfinished”.

 The novel I’m writing now is set in post World War I, so I have a playlist with some Piano Guys music including A Thousand Years and Rolling in the Deep along with a few songs from Joshua Redman.

Character names are important in writing. How do you choose your character’s name?

I also feel that names are important, so I have an exhaustive process for this. First I’ll check a list of 100 names that were common in the time period I’m writing. Then I’ll choose half a dozen names I like for the character. Finally I’ll check to see what the names mean. Usually at least one of the names will have a meaning that fits the character. If not, I start again.

For A Christmas Promise, I was looking for names that had a Slavic or German ancestry because Moravians came from that part of the world. But the Moravians also used a lot of Biblical names. John means gift from God and also has Germanic origins with the name Johann. So I named my main male character John. For the female character, I chose Anna. Anna is a Slavic and Biblical name meaning favored by God. For their last name, I chose Brunner, a good German surname.

Reviews are important to most writers. What review have you received that you most like, and why?

I’ve received a number of great reviews for A Christmas Promise that I’m grateful for. Here are a couple or 5 star reviews that meant the most to me.

“Revel in the spirit of a Colonial Christmas with this achingly tender love story that will warm both your heart and your faith. With rich historical detail and characters who live and breathe on the page, Tamera Lynn Kraft has penned a haunting tale of Moravian missionaries who selflessly bring the promise of Christ to the Lenape Indians. A beautiful way to set your season aglow, A Christmas Promise is truly a promise kept for a heartwarming holiday tale.” – Julie Lessman

This review touched my heart because Julie Lessman is such a great writer, so I was excited to hear what she thought of my story.

“Moravian missionaries in the 18th century experienced danger, hardships, and unexpected twists of “fate” as they witnessed to and mentored Indians in the Ohio territory. This is a work of fiction, but so true to what these brave and dedicated missionaries could easily have experienced. This is a book that is inspirational in every sense of the word. Anna and John Brunner are two such missionaries. When John had asked Anna to marry him, she stipulated he must promise to put the mission God had given them first, no matter what. But that was before having children, one of whom they had left behind in a cold grave. Now she lived in constant fear of losing one of them to hostile Indians, to disease, or to accidents. Her love became a suffocating passion to keep her family safe, leading John to leave out critical details of where he would be going, to whom, and why. He wanted to protect her from worry. Two days before Christmas he had to go with one of the new converts to visit his father, a chief with no friendly feelings for Christians. John promised her he would be home for Christmas Eve; and if not by Christmas Eve, at least by Christmas. Sometimes his promises had not been keepable. This might be another one.” — Anne Baxter Campbell

I liked this review because Anne really touched the heart of the story.

What’s the first book you ever remember reading as a child?

The first book I remember being read to me was Black Beauty. I remember crawling onto my grandmother’s lap and her reading it to me. The first book I remember reading other than Dr. Seuss was Encyclopedia Brown Mysteries. I bought them and some other books through the Scholastic Book Club. I also remember begging my mom for more money to buy books. I have loved books for as long as I can remember.

What’s the book you are reading now?

Currently I’m reading Julie Lessman’s new novel, Surprised by Love. I enjoy her stories because, unlike many Christian historicals, they don’t follow a set pattern. They’re not predictable.

Most writers love books—our walls are lined with them. Name 3 favorite writing craft books on your shelves, 3 fiction books (and the genre), and if you have them, 3 different magazines you read regularly.

My walls are certainly lined with books. Many of them I can’t bear to part with. They’re like old friends.

My three favorite writing books are Self-Editing for Fiction Writers, Writing From the Middle by James Scott Bell, and My Book Buddy by Susan May Warren.

My three favorite works of fiction on my shelves are Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers, The Pawn by Steven James, and The Good Guy by Dean Koontz. As you can see, my tastes in fiction are very eclectic.

Three magazines I always read are Writer’s Digest, Concealed Carry, and Historical Digest. My magazine tastes are varied also.

Do you know the meaning of your name? If so, does it fit you?

My name, Tamera, means palm tree in Russian and Hebrew. I think it fits me. Palm trees have deep roots and are very flexible. When storms come their way, the roots keep them grounded, and the flexibility helps them sway with the wind instead of breaking. My faith in God is deeply rooted, but I’m willing to be flexible when it comes to doing things a different way if that way is easier or more effective.

Do you have an all-time favorite movie that has stuck in your mind or that you’d watch over and over?

Just one? Seriously, I love classic movies, and there are many that have stuck with me and made a great impact on my life. A few of my favorites are Casablanca, To Have and Have Not, The Sound of Music, It’s a Wonderful Life, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and An Affair to Remember, but there are many more.

We like to travel. What’s the most historic place you’ve visited?

Schoenbrunn School

Schoenbrunn Village

This is difficult because I always love to check out the areas where my historicals are set. I’ve been to Schoenbrunn Village where A Christmas Promise takes place and Oberlin, Ohio, Maysville, Kentucky, and Chattanooga, Tennessee where my Civil War trilogy of unpublished novels are set. I’ve also been to Mount Vernon, Mystic Seaport, and Plymouth, Massachusetts. Next week, I’m going to Williamsburg, Virginia. I can’t choose just one. Everywhere I go, I see the history there.

It’s been a pleasure having you here today. As you say goodbye, can you leave the readers with an encapsulation of your life’s philosophy? (A quote, a Bible verse, a precept you live by or have tried to instill in your children.)

One of my favorite verses is how I try to live my life. Romans 12:1 says “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship.” When we offer our lives to God, everything else seems to fall into place.

Thanks for having me, Catherine. I enjoyed it.

 

About the Author:

Tamera Lynn Kraft has always loved adventures and writes Christian historical fiction set in America because there are so many adventures in American history. She is married to the love of her life, has two grown children, and lives in Akron, Ohio. She currently has two novellas traditionally published, A Christmas Promise and Soldier’s Heart.

Tamera is the leader of a ministry called Revival Fire For Kids where she mentors other children’s leaders, teaches workshops, and is a children’s ministry consultant and children’s evangelist. She has curriculum published and is a recipient of the 2007 National Children’s Leaders Association Shepherd’s Cup for lifetime achievement in children’s ministry.

You can reach her online at these sites:

Website: http://tameralynnkraft.net

Word Sharpeners Blog: http://tameralynnkraft.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/tameralynnkraft

Twitter: @tamerakraft