Wednesday Writers–War-Torn Heart by Allison Wells

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Allison Wells, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Clemson University, excerpt from War-Torn Heart, Historical Christian Romance, South Carolina, War-Torn Heart, WWII novel

Welcome to Wednesday Writers. Today’s guest is Allison Wells, author of War-Torn Heart. Allison will be sharing some background of the setting of this Historical Christian Romance as well as an excerpt from the book. Welcome, Allison!

 

Thanks, Catherine.

War-Torn Heart is more than just a Christian romance novel. It’s set in a very real time in our history and takes place in real locations in South Carolina.

As a Clemson alumni myself, the history of the school has always enthralled me. Hearing that the entire class of 1943 enlisted and went off to join the war effort really resonated with me. That sense of purpose, of community – it is something I would love to see come back to our country.

Before having children, I worked as a newspaper journalist. I covered a small town called Six Mile just a short ways away from Clemson University and I fell in love with the small town and pride this community took in their history. The town had dwindled, stores had closed, but the people remained friendly and positive. This is the inspiration for the unnamed town in which the main character of War-Torn Heart lives.

From there, I began to weave the story of Abby, her rocking chair front porch home filled with family, the white clapboard church her family had attended for generations, and the plantation ruins she and Harvey explore. All were inspired by real homes and churches I have had the pleasure of seeing while living in the Upstate.

South Carolina is a magical place. History comes alive when one can set foot in churches built in 1822 and sit in pews once occupied by US Vice Presidents. Where people can see the beautiful foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains from any hilltop. And where people are genuinely warm and welcoming.

I can only hope that the magic of South Carolina is felt in War-Torn Heart and that the story of an entire class who went off to fight for freedom, and the local families also affected by World War II, is palpable to the reader.

From my heart to yours, God bless.

 

 

War-Torn Heart

By Allison Wells

   Abigail Walker, a young woman from rural South Carolina, is on the cusp of womanhood, aching to be able to run wild as the younger children do, yet yearning for things she has yet to understand.

   Awkward and unsure of herself, Abby is flustered when she meets Harvey Nicholas, a cadet from Clemson College. As summer begins, Abby finds herself constantly in the company of Harvey and falling quickly in love with him.

   As rumors of war begin to reach the States, Abby begins to fear what may come for her older brother and Harvey.

   Once Pearl Harbor is bombed, the boys are eager to protect their home and the women they love. But will Abby and Harvey’s love be able to withstand distance, rumors, loss, and hurt? Or will the war be what tears apart Abby’s heart?

   War-Torn Heart is a kleenex-box book with a story of hope, of love, and of perseverance through World War II, which will make the reader cry, scream, and long for more.

Excerpt:

Through the tears, Abby watched Harvey pick up her left hand and slide the ring over her third finger. It fit perfectly, surely a sign from God. Abby had never felt happier and more afraid at the same time.

Then, reality came washing back over her. Harvey was leaving, and Abby didn’t know for how long. Tears rolled down her cheeks, and she prayed with all her might that he would return home to her. Harvey held her close and a few sniffs escaped from him as well. Wet tears fell onto Abby’s curls. Several yards away, men were starting to get on the buses, the engines rumbling. Abby knew it was time to say goodbye. She backed away from Harvey several steps, giving herself space. She looked at him; she memorized every piece of his face. His hair, starting to grow, brushed against his brow. His eyes, bold and green, studied her back. His high cheeks were proud and stern. His mouth was soft and warm.

Peter approached Abby again. “Tell everyone I love them?” he asked. “And keep an eye on Emme for me. I don’t have a fancy ring for her, but I think everyone knows she’s taken.” He smiled at his sister and hugged her. Abby didn’t say anything back, but her face spoke volumes.

Harvey again lifted Abby’s chin with his hand. “I told you not to look down, Abby,” he said. “You’re a strong, godly woman, who should always look up.”

“I will,” she said quietly.

“I love you with everything, Abigail,” Harvey told her as he hugged her close. He kissed her sweetly. “I’ll be home soon.”

“I’m counting on it,” she said, twirling the ring on her finger. “I love you, too.”

As the men stepped back, Emmeline’s hand slipped into Abby’s. They each squeezed with all their might as Peter and Harvey finally turned around and headed to the bus, shoulder to shoulder.

Harvey got on first; he turned and waved at the girls. Abby felt hot tears fall down her face and neck. Then he disappeared. Peter stepped up next. He blew his wife a kiss and waved. Emmeline’s grip tightened, and she began to wail. The door closed behind Peter, and the bus jerked forward, a puff of smoke billowing out as it rambled down the road. Abby and Emmeline stood motionless, holding hands until the bus was out of sight.

When they could see the bus no longer, Emmeline buckled and fell to the ground. Abby quickly gathered her sister-in-law into her lap, and the pair cried until they had no tears left. It seemed like hours before they got up. Tear-stained and dirty, they got into the car and drove home in silence.

Want to read more? You can find War-Torn Heart on Amazon

About the Author:

Allison Wells lives in the foothills of South Carolina’s Upstate, in the shadow of Clemson University. She’s a former newswriter and wedding photographer who is finally pursuing her dream of being a published author. Allison is married and has four children. When not writing or reading, she can be found trying to nap or shuttling her children from activity to activity – but not at the same time.

Social Media: Facebook   Instagram   Website

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Wednesday Writers–Innocence Denied by Mike Garrett

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Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Christian Romantic Suspense, excerpt from Innocence Denied, Innocence Denied, Mike Garrett

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Mike Garrett, author of Innocence Denied, here to tell us how this  Christian Romantic Suspense started and to share an excerpt. Welcome, Mike.

Thanks, Catherine.

Innocence Denied actually began as an idea for a secular novel many years ago. What if someone falsely accused of murder skips bail and flees prosecution? For some reason I could never get motivated enough to actually write it. I knew essentially who my characters were but just wasn’t sure what their purpose of interaction would be.

Everything changed at a church service a couple of years ago when the message urged serving God with our spiritual gifts. Our Father had blessed me with the knowledge to make a career of something that I loved, so shouldn’t I be doing something to honor Him in return?

I immediately knew that the focus of my secular idea could easily be changed. A Christian man and an unbelieving woman would be thrown together under extraordinary circumstances never to be the same again.

With God’s help along the way, I put together what I consider a page turner—I wanted to make it difficult for the reader to find a place to stop, and the results have been high praise from reviewers. This was a writing experience unlike any other for me.

My goal with the novel was two-fold. First, I wanted to provide examples of subtle witnessing that Christian readers could adapt as a blueprint to witnessing to others. Second, I wanted the witnessing aspect of the story to bring unbelieving readers closer to God.

Of course, unbelievers would never choose to read a Christian novel. On the last page of the novel I ask readers to give their copy of the book to someone who needs to receive its message. Perhaps with the endorsement of a dear friend, an unbeliever might be willing to at least give the novel a try.

Innocence Denied is written in such a way that the Christian theme of the novel is minimal in the beginning and slowly increases closer to the end. There’s an element of suspense as to everything may not be as it seems. My hope is that an unbelieving reader may be hooked enough by the characters and story developments to be more receptive to its message.

Writing this book has been an honor, and if at least one lost soul is brought closer to Jesus as a result, it will have been a success.

 

Innocence Denied

By Mike Garrett

He saved her from life in prison,

then freed her soul . . .

Innocence Denied

EXCERPT:

Relaxing behind the steering wheel as they entered Arkansas, Derrick yawned, then said, “Tell me something good.”

Larissa glared at him in the dim light and answered incredulously, “Are you kidding me?”

Derrick smiled at her, feeling more at ease now that their destination was clear. “No, I’m not. There’s always something good.”

Shaking her head, Larissa snapped, “I’m running for my life. Nothing’s good.”

“You’re not in jail, right? That’s good.”

Larissa sat silently, apparently distancing herself from the conversation.

“You’re beautiful, you’re healthy, and you have a long life ahead of you. That’s good, isn’t it?”

Larissa sat silently. “Humph,” she finally responded, flipping down the sun visor to stare at her reflection in the mirror behind it, her image barely visible in the low light. “Just look at me. You can’t possibly call this beautiful.”

With a laugh Derrick shot back, “I told you before that you can’t hide your looks. Besides, your hair will grow back and you’ll laugh at this conversation.”

Larissa groaned and snapped, “So what’s good for you, Mr. Glass Half Full?”

Another big grin spread across Derrick’s face. “That’s easy,” he said. “I’m going home!”

 

Want to read more? You can find Innocence Denied at Barnes and Noble

 

About the Author:

MIKE GARRETT is a devout Christian and life-long resident of Alabama. His world revolves around God, his wife Sharon, two adult children, five grandchildren, and one granddog. He is an internationally respected book editor and previously published author. Mike first ventured into Christian writing by drafting humorous scripts for church dramas, one of which was “The Thirteenth Disciple.” He also wrote and produced a short film, “Mysterious Ways,” in which he combined his life-long interest in the classic TV show, “The Twilight Zone,” with a biblical theme. Innocence Denied is his first Christian novel. Its official website is http://www.innocencedeniedbook.com

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

https://twitter.com/mgarrett49

https://www.facebook.com/InnocenceDenied/?modal=admin_todo_tour

http://innocencedeniedbook.com/

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers—Until I Met You Interview by Kimberly Rose Johnson

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A Christmas to Remember Collection, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Christian fiction, Christmas fiction, Clean read, excerpt from Until I Met You by Kimberly Rose Johnson, Kimberly Rose Johnson, Sweet read, Until I Met You

Today’s Wednesday Writers’ guest is Kimberly Rose Johnson. Kimberly is no stranger to Wednesday Writers, and I’m glad to have her back today talking about the Christmas collection A Christmas to Remember she’s put together just in time for the holidays, and specifically her novella Until I Met You. Welcome back, Kimberly!

 

 

 Thanks, Catherine.

In early 2018 I decided that I wanted to put together a Christmas collection so I posed the idea to several authors and all the spots were quickly taken. A Christmas to Remember has a total of eight Christmas novellas. My contribution to the collection is Until I Met You.

Until I Met You is the prequel to my Brides of Seattle series. There are two books that follow this one. As I wrote The Reluctant Groom (book 1) I realized Brandi needed her own book. Brandi is the best friend of the heroine in The Reluctant Groom.

Writing a prequel was quite a different experience since I had to back up and create the beginning of her love story. It was a fun process because when I wrote her in book one I hadn’t thought about how her romance how it had come about, I only knew the part of her backstory that related to Katie, the heroine in book one.

I thought it’d be fun to interview Brandi here.

 

Kimberly: Thanks for joining us today, Brandi. When you first met Ian you were taking a break from dating. What prompted you to do that?

Brandi: It seemed to me that I was always in a relationship—not that I bounced around from boyfriend to boyfriend, but for the most part I was the other half of a couple. Somewhere along the way I lost who I was and my relationship with the Lord had suffered. One of my small group leaders suggested I take a six-month hiatus from dating and spend that time digging into the Bible and getting to know God and myself again. It sounded like a great idea until I met Ian.

Kimberly: The two of you had an interesting meet cute.

Brandi: Yes. I for one will never forget it.

Kimberly: Speaking of your meet cute, I like to share it with the readers here today, if that’s okay with you.

Brandi: Sure.

Kimberly: Thanks, for taking the time to visit with us Brandi. Without further adieu here is the meet cute for Brandi and Ian.

Excerpt from Until I Met You

by Kimberly Rose Johnson

Early Saturday morning, Brandi Prescott held her latte in one hand and opened the door to leave her favorite coffee shop in the Green Lake neighborhood of Seattle. She raised her hood and tightened the belt of her trench coat as rain pounded the ground.

“Bring it on.” She tilted her head and spoke to the black cloud overhead. Nothing was going to ruin her good mood. It might be a dreary fall day, but it was the weekend, and she planned to spend it reading beside a cozy fire in her apartment a few blocks away.

She walked to the crosswalk and frowned at the huge puddle of water blocking her path. How had it rained that much in such a short time? When she’d crossed the street, ten minutes ago, it had been fine. No way could she use the crosswalk without soaking her feet. She should have worn rubber boots instead of sneakers.

A vehicle careened through the yellow light. “Oh no!” She ducked her head as a wave of water splashed over her, knocking her latte from her hand. She balled her fists at her sides and glared after the red SUV.

“Of all the nerve!” She wiped water from her face, which had managed to get her even though she’d ducked her head.

The car braked and pulled into a parking spot. A man with dark hair hopped out. He jogged toward her. “Are you okay? I didn’t notice the standing water until it was too late.”

She squared her shoulders and raised her chin. “My coffee is ruined, and I’m soaked. Otherwise, I’m fine.” She bent down and picked up the paper cup and the plastic lid that had popped off.

“I’m really sorry. Let me get you a new one.”

She studied the man a moment. His neatly trimmed beard and mustache framed a young face with kind brown eyes. “That would be nice. Thank you.”

“It’s the least I can do, considering I nearly drowned you.”

She chuckled. “Well, I don’t know if I’d go that far. My coat did a pretty good job of keeping me dry.”

He raised a brow. “Come on. Let’s get out of the rain.” He walked toward the coffee shop and pulled open the door. “After you.”

I hope you enjoyed the excerpt! You can pick this book up on Amazon for only 99¢ until December 30^th. The collection will no longer be available after that time. Here is the link to A Christmas to Remember.

Until I Met You

Graphic designer, Brandi Prescott hopes to work her way to the top at the Seattle ad agency where she’s employed. She’s dedicated and distraction-free since she’s taking a hiatus from men to focus on her relationship with the Lord and get to know herself without the influence of another person.

 Software engineer Ian Parker is in a good place. He loves his job, his social life and the direction his life is going. At least that is the case until one fateful rainy morning when he inadvertently drenches a woman standing on a street corner. He pulls over to apologize and is intrigued. The only problem is, she won’t go out with him because she made a pledge to not date for six months.

 Brandi’s six-month pledge ends on Christmas. Will Ian wait or will his scheming to get to know her destroy what might have been?

 

About the Author:

Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.

Connect with Kimberly at Kimberly’s Website: Facebook: Twitter

 

Wednesday Writers–On Angels’ Wings by Ginger Solomon

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Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Christmas romance, excerpt from On Angels' Wings, Ginger Solomon, Inspirational romance, On Angels' Wings, The Heart of Christmas Collenction

 

 

Today’s Wednesday writers’ guest is Ginger Solomon. Ginger’s been a guest before and today she’ll be sharing about her Christmas story On Angels’ Wings, which is part of the Christmas Collection The Heart of Christmas. Welcome, Ginger!

 

The First Holiday Season Without a Loved One

By Ginger Solomon

 

It’s always the hardest. You keep thinking that your loved one—whether a parent, sibling, or a spouse—would enjoy hearing about _________ (fill in the blank). You may even pick up the phone to call. And then the grief fills you all over again.

I’ve been there—a couple times. Both of my parents and one of my siblings have passed. Sadly, I wasn’t close to either of them, so my grief was not as great as it could have been, but I still felt their loss. I still missed their presence.

As does my character in my latest release, On Angels’ Wings. Jenna lost her twin sister and both of her parents in a freak car accident and will spend her first holiday season alone. Or so she thinks.

But her former neighbor—a woman who was like a second mother to her as she grew up—invites her to Thanksgiving dinner and won’t take no for an answer. She even sends her son, Thomas, to make sure Jenna comes.

Jenna isn’t sure she wants to spend so much time in Thomas’s presence. After all, the crush she had on him when she was a teen never quite went away, which she realizes the moment he walks into her bakery.

Thomas makes it his goal to give Jenna something else to think about besides missing her family. He doesn’t want her to forget her grief; he wants to help her through and to make her smile. And maybe a little more. With him.

Grief feels less burdensome when shared. Words are meaningless when a person grieves. Action, even just sitting with someone, means so much more. When my mother died, my sixth child was four days old. Friends and family congregated around me. They loved on me. Sometimes all they did was hold my baby while I cried. And that was enough.

Thomas came alongside Jenna, helped her decorate for Christmas, made her relax outside of her work, and took her mind off her problems by sharing his own.

As Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”(ESV)

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On Angels’ Wings

by Ginger Solomon

Bakery owner, Jenna Wing prepares to spend Thanksgiving alone—her first without her family. When her former neighbor, Thomas Hayes, invites her to dinner, she finds that she can’t say no. Their previous friendship turns to something more, but Thomas’s family issues threatens their new-found relationship.

The Heart of Christmas Collection

Announcing five new stories filled with faith, hope, forgiveness, and of course happily-ever-afters. Each story focuses on an element of the Nativity, from the angels to the wise men. Be swept up in the love of the season and the promise of forever that the Christ child, the true Heart of Christmas, brings.

 

Excerpt: from On Angels’ Wings

(scene with Jenna and Thomas)

He sat at the table across from her—the only other seat available in her small kitchen. “Tell me what you were thinking in the cafe.”

Jenna inhaled the steam from her tea cup and then took a sip. “I miss them. Mostly I miss Keira.”

“Understandable. I’ve heard twins have an uncanny connection to each other.”

“We did, but more than that, she was my best friend. We were so excited to …” Fresh tears cascaded down her face. “She couldn’t wait to marry Titus. It made me happy to see her so happy. And seeing Titus today … it was hard. I’m sure the reverse is also true. He doesn’t seem to be doing well.”

“He’s not. He gets up and goes to work, and then comes home and watches TV or plays video games. His church attendance is nil. He’s angry with God for taking Keira from him.”

A small smile crossed her lips. “Yeah. I wanted to blame God, too, but God didn’t take my family. A truckload of poorly strapped logs did. Could God have stopped it? Yeah. Could He have made it so they weren’t in that space at that time? Yeah, He could have. I may never understand why things happened the way they did, but my job is not to understand His ways. My job is to trust Him even when I don’t. But it’s so hard.”

“Wow. I feel humbled. I’ve taken a few minutes of my time to rant at God about how unfair life is. You put me to shame.”

She rested her hand on his for a millisecond before blushing and pulling it back. “Don’t feel bad. I’ve had my moments. Just a few minutes ago, actually. I didn’t rant, but I did ask why. A simple heartfelt question that will probably not get answered. But something Mom taught us from a young age has helped. Life isn’t fair. No one ever said it would be. God has promised that we will go through trials, but He also promised to always be with us. I’m not going to stop trusting Him just because my life isn’t going exactly as I planned. The Psalms are full of David’s anger and questions, but God still called him a man after His own heart. Why? Because David admonished himself to remember who God is, and then he turned his anger into praise. God can and will give me ‘joyous blessing instead of mourning’ and ‘festive praise instead of despair.’ And in the meantime, I’m praising Him for the time I had with my family.”

“I came here to comfort you. Instead, I am comforted by your faith. I’m … words fail me.”

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Want to read more? You can find Ginger’s book here

About the Author

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer—in that order (mostly). She writes or reads inspirational romance of any genre, and if she’s busy homeschooling, doing laundry, or fixing dinner, books are on her mind. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, president of her local writing group, and blogs regularly for InspyRomance.com and at gingersolomon.com.

Social Media:  Website  Facebook Author Page  Twitter @GingerS219

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–When the Geese Fly North by Tracey L. Dragon

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Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, dual-time romance, excerpt from When the Geese Fly North, Return to the Homefront series, Tracey L. Dragon, When the Geese Fly North

Today’s Wednesday Writers’ guest is Tracey L. Dragon. Tracey will be sharing her dual-time romance When The Geese Fly North – Book 2 of her Return to the Home Front Series. She’s also sharing an excerpt, so be sure to read to bottom of the post. Welcome, Tracey!

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks, Catherine,

When the Geese Fly North is Book 2 of my Return to the Home Front Series. Like my novel Cherished Wings – Book 1 (Fran’s story), When the Geese Fly North is a dual time romance that begins in the present but weaves in and out of the past. When the Geese Fly North returns you to the town of Albion, NY during the late 1940’s where you will once again meet the characters from Cherished Wings. This time it’s is Amy’s story being told.

After I finished writing my novel Cherished Wings which was inspired by my own mother’s story and the pair of Navy wings she’d kept hidden in her dresser drawer, I discovered that I liked Amy Lake, a secondary character in the book so well that I thought she deserved a story of her own, and thus, When The Geese Fly North was created.

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When The Geese Fly North

By Tracey L. Dragon

Callie Baldwin, former Army nurse suffering with PTSD from her tour in Afghanistan, takes on a safe, low-key, nursing job caring for Will and Amy Henderson, an elderly couple who are long-time friends of the family. The only fly in the ointment is their annoying grandson, Dr. Michael Henderson, who manages to get under her skin during his weekly visits.

In an attempt to help Callie come to terms with her war experience, Will and Amy share their poignant love story that began in 1948 when Will, an emotionally and physically scarred Marine, takes on the job of farmhand for a newly divorced and bitter Amy. As the story unfolds, its beauty and richness transforms Callie as she learns the healing power of love.

 

Excerpt:

March 1948

Now that Amy could see Mr. Henderson in the broad daylight, she trembled inwardly at his visage, not in fright but more with curious fascination. Beside the fact he stood a good foot taller than her, and outweighed her by a hundred pounds, there was something in the depth of his eyes—a deeply held pain maybe, but she wasn’t sure. His lids briefly shuttered and when he opened them again the dark emotion was gone, and an amiable expression spread across his face.

“How’s the head this morning?”

Amy felt her cheeks flush with heat. She tucked her head, embarrassed. “Not good and I have you to thank for it.”

Will chuckled. “Sorry little lady, don’t think I should shoulder the brunt of the blame. All I did was pay for what you ordered.”

“And that’s the point.” She jabbed her finger at him. “If you hadn’t been buying, I wouldn’t have drunk quite as much. I couldn’t have afforded to.” She bit down on her tongue, wishing she’d kept that tidbit to herself. She had some pride after all. Irked that she’d admitted her precarious financial position to a mere stranger, she proceeded to cram the rest of her foot in her mouth. “If you hadn’t been plying me with drinks all evening, I wouldn’t have needed a ride home, and hence, I wouldn’t be forced to drive you back to Albion this morning, now would I?”

Will’s steady gaze locked with hers then shifted back toward the road. His lips pursed as if he were pondering her choice of words then he gave her a curt nod and limped off the porch.

Amy stepped back into the house and slammed the door behind her. Fine, she thought with a pout. He could go sit in the truck until she was ready to leave. She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose, horrified at her own rudeness to a man who’d been nothing but kind, an injured Marine to boot. Geez, what next? Kick a puppy while it’s down. She couldn’t have been any ruder if she tried. Her mother would be ashamed. What on earth had come over her? Just because she was bitter about Rob, didn’t mean she needed to take it out on the rest of mankind.

She glanced at the clock. If she didn’t hurry she’d be late for work two days in a row. She only had fifteen minutes to spare before she needed to leave. The dang man would have to wait a little longer.

 

Want to read more? You can find Tracey’s book at Amazon. Warning to readers of sweet, clean romance: this novel contains some mild language.

 

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About the Author:

Tracey L. Dragon is a relocated New Yorker, former Navy wife, and retired educator who now lives in Florida with her husband. After seven military moves, raising two Navy brats, and twenty years teaching troubled youth, she is now able to put her full attention to publishing the children’s stories and romance novels she’s written over the years. She’s a member of Romance Writers of America and Florida Writers Association.

Look for Tracey on social media at http://traceyldragon.com/  and  https://facebook.com/traceyldragon

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–What Prayer Can Do by Ada Brownell

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author Ada Brownell, book about miracles, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Devotional book about miracles, excerpt from What Prayer Can Do, Miracles, What Prayer Can Do

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Ada Brownell back to the blog. Ada will be talking about her book What Prayer Can Do and the miracles she’s heard about and written about in the book. Welcome, Ada!

 

Thanks, Catherine

Miracles. I heard about them often in the churches I attended.

You see, our churches used to have testimony services where people stood up voluntarily and told about answers to prayer.

I believed every one of them. My family prayed when anyone faced a problem. My parents and brothers and sisters became born-again Christians about the time I came into the world—the eighth child.

A family of Christian achievers–Ada at lower right

They had just come through The Great Depression, the Kansas Dust Bowl, and were “pockets-empty-poor.” The only time I saw a doctor from my birth until I got married was when I had the croup and the doctor came to the house.

During my infancy, my two-year-old brother emptied a salt shaker into my eyes. I was a little older when my 10-year-old sister gave me a bath, and, not knowing they’d put a fire in the wood-burning cookstove, she sat me down on the hot surface.

The only lasting effects of the burns is scars, but I remember nothing about it. I’ve never had trouble with my eyesight from the salt.

When I was older, I froze my feet going ice skating too far from home. I put them hot water when I got home because I didn’t want my daddy to know I went skating on the river. My feet turned black, swelled so much I couldn’t wear my shoes, and I was caught. But praise God, I didn’t even lose a toe. Prayer made a difference.

When I was in my early teens, a friend, Velda Jean Bailey, was healed of leukemia.

So when I became a writer I began interviewing people about their miracles, and wrote them for The Pentecostal Evangel. Some I wrote for the newspaper where I worked, The Pueblo Chieftain.

Because of my husband’s railroad job we moved often, so we attended many different churches and heard amazing testimonies.

Now I’ve taken 55 articles that appeared in The Pentecostal Evangel over the years, and published them in my book What Prayer Can Do. The Evangel no longer exists, but Jesus still does, and I didn’t want these amazing testimonies to be lost.

Here’s the book summary:

What Prayer Can Do

Pray. God answers. True testimonies of events where God intervened.

Irene Hoselton found her missing kidnapped children after 38 years. Ennis Surratt, known as the “meanest man in town,” changed in a moment. John Feliciano, blinded in an industrial accident, sees instantly. Marjorie Eager’s family escapes death when God stops a forest fire. A mother prays on her deathbed for her sons to meet her in heaven, and years later God grabs Gary Hilgers out of sin and turns him around. More amazing chapters by Ada Nicholson Brownell originally published in The Pentecostal Evangel, and reprinted in this book–enough for every week of the year, with three bonuses.

 

MIRACLE SAVES A HOME

(Excerpt from What Prayer Can Do)

It was 4 a.m. Sunday. Gary Hilgers staggered into the house and got into bed. He knew a brief moment of loneliness when he remembered: Dona had taken the children and left last week.

“This is it. I’ve had all I can take,” she had said. “Don’t come crawling with a lot of promises this time, because I’m not coming back. You’ll never change.”

Gary turned over and tried to make himself comfortable in the bed that hadn’t been straightened since Dona left. “Oh, well,” he muttered stubbornly. “I don’t care. Dona wanted to run my life—always nagging.”

He put Dona out of his thoughts and began thinking of how he could win back the money he lost last night. Tomorrow would surely be his lucky day!

Late Sunday morning Gary dragged himself out of bed, still exhausted but anxious to get going. He had kept the same schedule for three years; going to work, getting off work; drinking and gambling until the morning hours; coming home to face Dona and his broken promises.

Dona had left him several other times, but he had always talked her into coming back. This time she seemed to mean it. “There’s no hope for you, Gary,” she had said. “You’re an alcoholic, even if you’re only 22.”

It was true. He couldn’t shake his thirst for liquor. At times he had delirium tremens. He was afraid of being alone. Yet he enjoyed the excitement of gambling and liquor helped him forget his family waited at home.

Later that Sunday morning he was playing poker when suddenly he turned his cards face down on the table and quickly laid his cigar on the ash tray. Sharp pains stabbed through his chest. A long drink from the bottle didn’t help. Something stirred inside him. What if you should die right now?

When his friends asked what was wrong, he tried to laugh, but the pain stayed. The thought kept pulsating through his brain: If you die right now, you will go to hell.

Gary had been reared in a Christian home but hadn’t thought of God or church for years. Now he had an irresistible urge to go to church!

From childhood he had an unusual desire for excitement. By the time he was 10 he had figured ways to avoid going to church, and he involved his eight-year-old brother John in his schemes.

When Gary was 11, his mother had a stroke and cerebral hemorrhage. The third day she seemed to rally. She talked to the children, then prayed aloud that each of them would meet her in heaven. Within an hour she went into a coma, and late that evening she died.

For the rest of the story, and other amazing testimonies, buy What Prayer Can Do, by Ada Niicholson Brownell.

Want to read more? You can find What Prayer Can Do at Amazon

 

About the Author:

Ada Brownell has been writing for Christian publications since age 15 and spent much of her life as a daily newspaper reporter. She has a B.S. degree in Mass Communications and worked most of her career at The Pueblo Chieftain in Colorado where she spent the last seven years as a medical writer. After moving to Springfield, MO in her retirement, she continues to freelance for Christian publications and write non-fiction and fiction books. She occasionally writes op-ed pieces for newspapers.

Connect with Ada on these social media outlets:  Facebook:

Twitter: @adabrownell  Blog:  Stick to Your Soul Encouragement

Book Fun Network:  Amazon Ada Brownell author page:

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–Camp Hope: Journey to Hope by Sara L. Foust

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Camp Hope: Journey to Hope, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, excerpt from Camp Hope: Journey to Hope, inspirational romantic suspense, kidnapping, Sara L. Foust

Today’s Wednesday Writers is welcoming back Sara L. Foust, a multi-published, award-winning author of Inspirational Romantic Suspense. She’ll be talking about hope and her book Camp Hope: Journey to Hope. She also has an excerpt of the book, so be sure to read to the bottom of the post.

 

Real Hope

Sara L. Foust

Hope. It’s a simple word we often overuse. “I hope I get to go out to eat on Friday.” “I hope it doesn’t rain.” “I hope we can make it.” We use the word hope in a lot of casual ways. My newest release is Camp Hope: Journey to Hope, and I hope (hehe) that I’ve done a good job projecting the truth of God’s hope, not the flippant, passing-by kind, with the words I’ve written.

The story’s faith journey is about two people, Amy and Jack, who have terrible scars from abusive childhoods. As grown-ups, Jack has found his faith in God, but Amy is still struggling to believe He cares for her. I wrote the storyline with some of my own struggles to find Jesus in the forefront of my mind. Though I had an idyllic childhood, I still struggled to believe Jesus would want a personal relationship with me. It wasn’t until nineteen I finally allowed His love to permeate and give me a new hope.

I think it’s easy to cling to “pretty” hopes sometimes. The ones we picture for our futures, with the shuttered house and the manicured lawn. Or the successful raising and flying the coop of our children. But sometimes it’s hard to look at the hope of death in a pleasant light. However, that’s exactly what we born-again Christians get to do. Yes, dying is scary and not something I want to do any time soon. But I know where my hope lies, in heaven with my Father. Amy and Jack’s stories aren’t always pretty. There’s some brutal ugliness in their pasts, but their futures are bright because of God, just like mine.

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

 

Camp Hope

By Sara L. Foust

AMY DAWSON directs a summer camp for foster children near Briceville, Tennessee. A foster mom for the first time, her responsibilities as mother to a traumatized child bring a whole new set of challenges and joys.

But when Amy’s four-year-old foster daughter is dragged into the mountains of Royal Blue by a former employee, parenting challenges are overshadowed by a new nightmare. The Sheriff’s department fails to procure viable leads, and Amy can’t sit idle. Her childhood friend and first love, JACK EVANS, returns to lend his skills as tracker. Problem is, he also stirs up romantic memories Amy would rather leave buried.

Jack struggles to let go of his past failures and prove his reliability by bringing Mattie home, but fears when he left camp nineteen years ago and failed to keep a promise to Amy he permanently lost her confidence.

As Amy plunges into the wilderness on horseback to search for Mattie, she must decide who she trusts, let go of her childhood traumas, and learn to rely on hope in God. Facing dehydration, starvation, and a convoluted kidnapper, will she succeed in recovering her precious foster daughter or get lost in the vast wilderness forever?

 

Excerpt:

Chapter 1

The long awaited call came in the pre-dawn hours. When the farmhouse sagged and dared not breathe. Amy Dawson dug herself out of a deep sleep to answer. “Hello?”

“This is Diane with Child Protective Services. Would you like to take a placement?”

She bolted upright. This was it. After all the terrifying training classes, the long weeknights worrying about her decision, the moment was finally here. What was she supposed to ask? Amy took a breath to calm her shaking hands. “Can you tell me about the child, please?”

“Mattie is a nonverbal four-year-old. She’ll be coming from another foster placement. They’ve decided they can no longer keep her.”

“In the middle of the night?”

Diane clicked her tongue. “It’s complicated. Would you like to take her?”

Amy took another deep breath. “Why doesn’t she talk?”

“Doctors believe she can speak but chooses not to. Oh, and one more thing. She’s a type I diabetic, so she needs a strict diet and insulin. Are you familiar with the disease?”

Was she ever. Memories like dark photographs flashed in her mind. Injections twice a day, every day, whether her mother was conscious or not. “I’m familiar with it. Anything else I should know?” Could she handle caring for a child with diabetes? The memories that would barrage her?

“There isn’t much information to go on.”

Amy expected that. They’d taught her as much in classes. Especially with a middle-of-the-night placement. What if she couldn’t keep Mattie safe once the summer campers arrived? What if she couldn’t adhere to a strict schedule with the medicine?

“Ms. Dawson?”

None of it mattered really. Not if she listened to what her flying heart was telling her. “How soon can you get here?”

“Great. Give me an hour.” A long pause and Diane shuffled papers. “Maybe longer considering where you live.”

Amy chuckled. “That’s what everyone says. I’ll be ready.”

How her life was about to change. The solitude she’d been fighting to build all these years was about to be penetrated by a sweet child in need of help. Though she was the same age as most of the other people in the Parents as Tender Healers classes, they had been mostly young couples with experience raising children of their own. She knew how to be a good camp counselor. She’d been doing that half her life. What if she failed miserably as an actual parent?

♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥

Want to read more? You can find Camp Hope at Amazon and Barnes and Noble

About the Author:

Sara is a multi-published, award-winning author who writes Inspirational Romantic Suspense from a mini-farm in East Tennessee, where she lives with her husband and their five homeschooled children. She earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Callum’s Compass won second place in Deep River Books’ 2017 Writer’s Contest.  Sara also has a story, “Leap of Faith,” in Chicken Soup for the Soul: Step Outside Your Comfort Zone. Gain access to a FREE digital scrapbook detailing some real-life places from Callum’s Compass by signing up for her newsletter: www.saralfoust.com.

Connect with Sara on her social media links.

• Website: http://www.saralfoust.com/
• Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/SaraLFoust/
• Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/author/saralfoust

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–For All the Brave Women by Gail Kittleson

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Brave women, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, Gail Kittleson, Historical author Gail Kittleson, Women of the Heartland series, WWII nurses, WWII research

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today, it’s my pleasure to welcome back to the blog Gail Kittleson, author of Women of the Heartland, World War II series. Today she’ll be talking about her research for another WWII book-in-progress featuring more brave women who helped win WWII. Welcome, Gail!

 

For All The Brave Women

By Gail Kittleson

 

This week marks the return of thousands of American young people to school. Life-long learners—this slogan, plastered on schoolroom doors and in hallways around the country, cites one goal of education. Some students, like my seventh grade granddaughter, can hardly wait…others would rather be doing just about anything else.

History was among my favorites during high school and college, and like most historical fiction authors, my research continues all year round. Right now, I’m wading through information about the invasions of Sicily, Italy, and Southern France in 1943-44.

Surrounded by texts on these topics, I’m always running into another “pocket.” That’s what WWII strategists called an area north of Geneva, Switzerland and south of Strasbourg.

German-born poet, novelist, and painter who authored Steppenwolf, Siddhartha, and The Glass Bead Game, which explore humankind’s search for authenticity, self-knowledge, and spirituality, said, “To study history means to submit to chaos and nevertheless retaining faith in order and meaning.”

I agree. Boy, did those WWII generals make some costly errors in their planning—the amount of suffering caused by those mistakes sickens me. From my viewpoint, even knowing very little about military tactics, it’s easy to see their blunders…but why couldn’t they?

Unfortunately, they were human. DRAT! And didn’t somebody say “to err is human…” Ah yes. Alexander Pope.

In the incidences I’ve been mulling, my heroine and her comrades might easily have lost their lives, all because a certain commander despised having women anywhere near combat. Even nurses. Seriously.

Well, it’s a free country, and he could have his opinion—our GIs were fighting for freedom, right? But he made decisions that endangered the nurses assigned to his command…on purpose. Most historians call him on that, and the drama he created—oh my! I certainly can’t deny the narrative potential of his deeply biased choices.

Besides that, I know that my heroine survived, because she was a real WWII nurse who lived until 2015. But she could easily have been killed because of this one powerful commander.

Well, it’s all in a day’s work, as they say. (Who is they, anyway?) I’ve moved on with my heroine up the boot of Italy and into Southern France. Together, we’ll soon cross the Rhine into Germany. Well, maybe not soon…there’s that little skirmish called the Battle of the Bulge left to consider.

She won a battle ribbon for that one, too.

My hat is off to the incredibly stalwart nurses who risked everything to care for the troops in harm’s way. How they survived is testimony to true grit, to borrow a great Western title. To courage and tenacity and humility and fortitude.

I can hardly wait to read this book, so I’d best get back to writing it!

 

About the Author:

Forever intrigued by the writing process, Gail researches ongoing World War II projects, including a co-written cozy mystery. She enjoys time with grandchildren, walking, and reading. Winters find her hiking with her husband under Arizona’s Mogollon Rim. She loves hearing from readers and facilitating writing workshops.

You can find Gail at:

http://www.gailkittleson.com/

www.facebook.com/GailKittlesonAuthor

www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson @GailGkittleson

 

 

Wednesday Writers–Apocalypse TV by Thomas Allbaugh

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American reality TV, Apocalypse TV, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, ecpcert from Apocalypse TV, literary mystery, satire, Thomas Allbaught

 

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today we’ll be taking another departure from romance as my guest blogger Thomas Allbaugh talks about how he came to write his debut book, Apocalypse TV, which Thomas describes as a literary mystery that moves toward satire.

 

 

Finding the Right Combination for a Fiction About a Reality TV Show

by Thomas Allbaugh

The premise for Apocalypse TV came from two different images: first, a scene I imagined of a character named Walter, an English professor, reflecting one night that he has never shot a gun; second, a religious reality show on BBC from ten years ago about people walking around England and trying to compel others to go to church.

That was it. Those two strands led me to tell the story of an English professor from a private American college who tries to be taken seriously on an American reality show.

As Sam Knight has observed, writing in the New Yorker last fall, we can learn a great deal about a culture by its reality shows. That the BBC would air a reality show about getting people into church says something significant. In contrast, American reality TV seems focused on talent, schemers, bachelorettes, winners, and survivors. Our dreams move us toward individual success and failure, not spiritual questions or ambitions.

I was interested in how “games” can take on realities of their own. Thinking about that old BBC production first got me onto the idea of writing about a religious reality show on which things go wrong. I should add that I don’t really watch reality shows myself.

But in the crossroads of these two notions, Walter’s story began to emerge—a man takes himself seriously in an increasingly trivial reality show production. Through about six revisions, the story ironies grew and deepened. Walter Terry begins naively thinking that in traveling across the country on this show, he will be taken seriously and be influential. Instead, the reality show engages in trivial matters. For starters, at the Plymouth Colony re-enactment site, the site of the Pilgrims’ first colony, Walter hopes to talk about grace and sin in the founding of this historical setting. Instead, the show producers have him involved in a trivial game that leads to real contention between him and his fellow show travelers. From that point on, the ironies deepen as bad things happen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Apocalypse TV

By Thomas Allbaugh

 

When a reality TV scout “discovers” Walter in a diner near the hospice where his father has been placed, his life has reached a low point. His father is dying, his college teaching career is under threat, and his life is adrift. The scout wants him for a reality show about religion. In a more self-assured period of his life, Walter would have rejected her offer, but now he wavers and allows himself to be drawn in. Maybe this is the jolt of energy his life needs. Maybe, if the show succeeds, his university will be so impressed that they’ll finally treat him with respect. Maybe the show will even be what the producers promise it will be, a serious inquiry into faith. Maybe he’ll become famous.

The show brings Walter attention, but for all the wrong reasons. He is misquoted, misinterpreted, misunderstood, and then shot after he has been dragged across the country in an increasingly frustrating and absurd series of challenges. Will his career and reputation survive the publish protests? Will his marriage survive the hints of affairs on the road? Will any kind of “reality” emerge to restore his self-respect?

 

Excerpt:

Minutes before his sister texted that she had moved their father to a hospice, Walter Terry listened behind half-empty rows of chairs in the Haskins Room as the new writer-in-residence read from her work. It was an early draft, she had announced, and it concerned a bride-to-be hunting elk in Wyoming, a part of the country Walter had never seen. And it came to him with sudden finality: he could never write a great American novel; he had never shot a gun.

Nothing was more American. Faulkner, Hemingway certainly, both knew guns. And Walter had never felt one kick back and ruin his shoulder. He had never had the gunpowder residue spotting his hands, his face, and his clothes.

Those details? They came from TV.

The writer had to feel it, not just hear about it.

His colleague’s writing signaled that she knew guns, and Walter had never shot a beer can. He couldn’t tell a Smith and Wesson from a Remington. He wouldn’t know if they were names for handguns or rifles. Sure, he could Google them. But how many others wouldn’t have to?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to read more? You can find Apocalypse TV here.

About the Author:

Thomas Allbaugh is an associate professor of English at Azusa Pacific University, where he has taught Composition and Creative Writing since 2001. Currently, he lives in Southern California with his wife and their four children.  Apocalypse TV is his first novel.

Connect with Thomas at: His website:  Facebook Page: Twitter: @tallbaugh1

 

Wednesday Writers –Launch by Jason C. Joyner

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Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, excerpt from Launch, Jason C. Joyner, Launch, superheroes, YA fiction

Today Wednesday Writers welcomes Jason C. Joyner to the blog as we introduce a new YA author and his book. Jason will be sharing the story behind his debut book Launch, a YA superhero story, and an excerpt today. Welcome to Wednesday Writers, Jason!

Thanks, Catherine.

Did you know that a lot of tourists visit the campus of Facebook and Google in Silicon Valley? I’m not aware of many companies that have interest like that.

I wrote a Young Adult superhero story with Biblically inspired powers and sent them to a social media conference. Because – why not let kids with Samson’s strength and the speed of Elijah (remember, he outran a chariot once) go to a conference with a ton of smart phones and a tech billionaire with an agenda?
The campuses of Facebook and Google did not disappoint in my research. Facebook has a huge billboard with the thumbs-up sign at 1 Facebook Way where many people (including my party) took pictures. There were tai chi classes being held outside. Bikes were conspicuously placed to allow workers to ride around. Electric cars and recycling bins dotted the landscape. I never found a rumored nap pod at Google. I was kinda disappointed with that.

Overall, there are neat things going on at these campuses. The creativity and engineering is pretty astounding. I hope that these technologies will be utilized for good – but in the meantime, I will gladly use them as the setting for my adventure story and let teens run amok there. Gotta get likes on my post somehow, right?

Hopefully my characters will learn and grow from this social media conference. They have gifts and they need to learn how to use them, but will it be for good or evil? That’s the fun part of writing.

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Launch

by Jason C. Joyner

Sixteen-year-olds Demarcus Bartlett and Lily Beausoliel are among a select group of youth invited to an exclusive, all-expenses-paid conference at social media giant Alturas’ California headquarters. Led by charismatic founder Simon Mazor, the world’s youngest billionaire, this isn’t the typical honors society. It seems that everyone here has some secret, untapped potential, some power that may not be entirely of this world. An ancient prophecy suggests that if these teens combine their abilities, they could change the course of history.

The only question is: Will it be for better or for worse?

Excerpt:

This might not be a great idea, but Demarcus Bartlett had to see if he could outrace a sports car.

He crouched behind a bush next to the on-ramp for the highway. His blue hoodie concealed his shoulder-length dreads, so it should be hard for any cars passing by on Santa Clara Street to see him. No Toyotas or Hondas would do. His prize would have some horses under the hood. He’d have to be patient. Not many cars out at 5 am would fit his needs.

He checked his shoelaces again, his fingers fumbling over the knots. Didn’t want to trip at highway speeds. That could get ugly. He glanced at his phone again. He had a job to go to, but the drive to see what he was capable of overwhelmed him.

Even with the risk of being discovered.

The light for the on-ramp turned red. In the soft rosy glow, a growling beast stopped at the white line. Its shiny black paint reflected the traffic light off of the hood. A rev of the Camaro’s engine. The owner was ready to try out his toy as well. The blinker flicked on, signaling a turn onto Highway 101.

This guy was the one.

Demarcus wiped his palms on his hoodie again and shook them out like a runner at the starter’s gate. His heart leapt at the thought of going through with this.

Mr. Camaro would blow right by his hiding place. A smile stretched across Demarcus’s face. Here’s hoping this guy knows how to use the accelerator.

Green light cut through the darkness, and the black car jumped forward, turning onto the ramp and surging by him. Demarcus gave him a few seconds’ head start to make it fair as he noted the time to track his speed.

Three. Two. One

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Want to read more? You can find Launch at Amazon

About the Author:

Jason C. Joyner is a physician assistant, a writer, a Jesus-lover, and a Star Wars geek. He’s traveled from the jungles of Thailand to the cities of Australia and the Bavarian Alps of Germany. He lives in Idaho with his lovely wife, three boys, and daughter managing the chaos of sports and superheroes in his own home. Launch, a YA superhero story, is his first published novel.

Social media links:
You can join my Facebook group, The Heroes’ Hangout

Or connect with Jason on: Twitter or Instagram