Kathryn has been a published writer since 1987. Her first piece, a
short article for a national magazine, got her on the publishing road. She
published many short pieces after that, and worked as a journalist for many
years. In 2002, her first book was published, but it wasn't until 2012, some 10
years later, that Kathryn decided to make book writing her profession.
Welcome back to my blog, Kathryn. Please tell
us about your new book: The Gift: A
Parable of the Key.
The gift is the
third and last book in the Parable series. Virginia and Richard have lost their
only daughter to crib death, and now must go on without her. But the going
isn't easy, and when Joy, a young homeless girl (now teen) comes back into
their life, they wonder if she's the answer to their emptiness.
What are the “five stones” mentioned in this
book?
The five stones represent Listening, Trust, Optimism,
Tenacity and Constancy, and were given to Virginia by God in book one
(Conquering Your Goliaths: A Parable of the Five Stones) to see her through her
difficulty of getting a new job. Virginia uses the five stones through each of
the 3 books as she journeys through pain and ultimate discovery.
Where did you get your inspiration for this series?
I was only going
to write the first book. It was to be a stand-alone book, but one day, the idea
came for book 2 (The Feast: A Parable of the Ring) and I had to write the story
of Virginia's marriage to Richard. As book 3 began, I realized that, for
Virginia, her journey wasn't over, she yet dreamed of having a child - no
matter how difficult having a child was. You could say the books are three
different levels of learning. God shows Virginia how to tackle the smaller
things in book 1 before the larger challenges come in book 3. And they do -
come.
Please tell us about one of the main characters
in this story and what you like about him or her.
I like Richard. He is the best husband for Virginia - oh,
she's all over the place 'emotion' wise, and he's the rock star. Sure, Richard
gets discouraged, but he is also there for Virginia. He loves her no matter
what. And he doesn't give up, at least not for long, because he sees that
things will always get better.
Your story sounds
wonderful. Where can my readers find you online?
Please visit me at: http://www.ariverofstones.com.
From there you'll be able to connect to all of my other fun haunts.
Thanks for this
awesome interview, Kathryn. I hope my readers will check out this series.
Audiobooks brings everything to life as you listen to the
dynamics of the narrator. You hear the anxiety, suspense, comedy, and romance
in the person’s voice as you sit and relax in an easy chair or
driving down the road to work. It’s entertainment at its best.
After listening to this audiobook, Janine
B. Taysom wrote: “In the past, listening to
another audio book by another author, I felt that one narrator failed at
delivering intriguing personalities for several characters, but Diane Lehman
was ingenious and succeeded in never losing my attention. Amelia's partner, Rick,
is quite the hunk and I keep wondering how long it will take before their
relationship takes an enticing turn. The audio is great, but I want to have
this book in my library, so I've ordered a printed copy.”
With narrator, Diane T. Lehman, she draws the listener in
and helps you feel part of the adventure as she narrates the character’s
feelings and conversations. She is a professional musician. A piano teacher and
vocal coach, she entertains us as she captivates the
listener with each character she portrays. Her inflections, intonations, and accents
are amazing.
“The narrator, Diane Lehman, does an impressive job
including different voices for the different characters. This gave the book a
lot of interest for the reader as well as helping to identify who was speaking
at the time.” --Sonja Nishimoto, Sunnie Reviews
Missing persons,
bucket lists, romance, and mystery!Amelia Moore, the founder of the Moore Detective Agency, specializes in
missing persons. When Mrs. Brody hires Amelia and Rick to find her missing
brother, they find themselves in Bali, Indonesia. They are mystified why her
brother quit his job, put his home up for sale, and ran off to this mysterious
and exotic island without telling a soul.
“As a fan of audio books, and particularly cozy mysteries, I
was looking for a new series and I found it! This first book in the Amelia
Moore series hooked me right from the start. Rick and Amelia are wonderful
characters that drew me into their mystery quickly. The location was
beautifully described... so much so that now I need to put it on my bucket list
to visit there. I am quite picky about the readers of audio books, but Diane
Lehman did not disappoint! She was easy to listen to with wonderful expression,
attitudes, and voices for the different characters. It only took me a chapter or
two to know the voices of the main characters (which makes the book so much
easier to listen to). I was actually disappointed when the book was over. Now I
am anxiously awaiting Book 2 on audio. Thanks to Linda Weaver Clarke for a
great book and Diane Lehman for the well-done audio!” – Nadine Hancey
Will this cozy have enough
action to keep your interest? Library of Clean Reads wrote: “This is a cozy
mystery, but there is also suspense, danger, and romance. Throw in two
mysterious men in black – complete with black suits and sunglasses and you have
all the makings of an exciting novel.”
Listen to a sample below!
-->
“I loved the pacing. I never lost interest in the story. I
also loved the descriptions of the places they visited. The plot kept me on the
edge of my seat. I wanted to know how the mystery would wrap up and I wanted
more of Rick and Amelia's relationship. It flowed so well that I wanted to keep
listening. This was an enjoyable performance to listen to and I highly recommend
this book and series!!” --Melanie Valderrama, Mel’s Shelves
By the way, to listen to an audiobook, you must have
an Audible.com account or log in
with your Amazon account so you can download an audiobook to your e-reader.
For those interested in listening to audiobooks, check this cozy mystery out at Amazon.
LEARN HOW TO GET A FREE AUDIO BOOK BELOW FROM AUDIBLE.COM!
A FREE AUDIO BOOK of my Cozy Mystery is available if you
join audible.com.
Brooke Williams is a former radio announcer turned stay at home
mom/freelance writer/author. She has two daughters and has been married since
2002. Brooke has written numerous novels including “Someone Always Loved You,”
“Beyond the Bars,” and the recent romantic comedies “Accept this Dandelion,”
and “Wrong Place, Right Time.” She looks forward to releasing her first
children’s book “Baby Sheep Gets a Haircut” in June 2016.
Welcome back to my blog, Brooke. Please tell
us about your new romantic comedy, Mamarazzi.
Mamarazzi asks the question: is the grass REALLY greener on the other side? In
the novel, a female paparazzo is thrown onto a TV show and quickly sees what
life is like on the other side of the camera. Since no one knows what she did
before appearing on the show, her secrets are plentiful.
This is an interesting plot. Where did you
get your inspiration for this story?
This is an idea
I’ve had since before college. When I was in a screenwriting class, I had to
write a small portion of a screenplay and I based it on this idea, which had
been in the back of my mind for a long time. At that time, I called it
Paparazzi and formed a male lead character. Once I began writing romantic
comedy, the idea started bugging me again. I thought, what if I changed it to a
female? Called it Mamarazzi? I realized how much better that idea was and ran
with it!
What a fantastic idea! What kind of research
did you do for this book?
Took pictures of celebrities. Ha! Not really. I live in the
Midwest. The news anchors are about as close as we get to fame around here. I
can’t say that I’m one to research all that much. My fiction is very much just
that…fiction! Made up from the deep creases in my mind. Scary as that is!
Ha. So funny! Please tell us about one of the
main characters in this story and what you like about him or her.
I really liked the male lead, Eliot Lane. He’s a huge star,
just coming into his own in the acting world. And yet he’s still humble and
knows what’s important in the world. He can have anything he wants at the snap
of a finger, but he doesn’t take advantage of that.
Where can my readers
find you online?
I have a website, www.authorbrookewilliams.com, where
I have all of my books listed and more information about anything and
everything you’ve ever wanted to know. I also run a blog at that site, www.authorbrookewilliams.com/blog.
I post my own stuff weekly and things for other authors as well. You can sign
up to receive email notifications. I don’t send emails out more than once a
week, if that. I am also very active on my author facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/authorbrookewilliams.
Love hearing from all of you!!!
Thank you, Brooke,
for this great interview. I love the humor you put in your books.
Bruce Judisch was born in Canton, Ohio. After serving over 21
years in the US Air Force, he settled with his family in San Antonio, Texas. He
and his wife, Jeannie, are parents of three, and grandparents of fourteen.
Bruce loves writing historical fiction, teaching, camping, and playing the
12-string guitar.
Welcome to my blog, Bruce. Please tell us
about your two novels, Katia and For Maria.
First of all,
thanks so much, Linda, for hosting me. I hope I’ll have something of value—and
fun—to leave with your readers. Both books are hybrid contemporary/historical
works, in that they have a modern-day storyline and a parallel mid-20th-century
storyline.
Katia centers on post-WWII and the Cold War
in East Berlin, Germany, and the sequel For
Maria deals with the “Kindertransport,” 1934-1945, during which thousands
of children were saved from concentration camps and fostered overseas to await
reunion with their families. The contemporary storylines in both novels feature
Madeline “Maddy” McAllister, an exchange student in Katia and young journalist in For
Maria. She is the prime driver of the crux events in both stories.
I love historical fiction because I learn so
much about history. Where did you get your inspiration for these books?
Katia was inspired by a scene I witnessed
in Berlin, Germany, in 1989 at the fall of the Berlin Wall. For Maria follows the story of twin
infant girls, briefly introduced in Katia,
as they transit Europe in the Kindertransport.
What kind of research did you do?
Both the
contemporary and historical settings for Katia
were driven by the circumstances surrounding the Berlin Wall, which, of
course, dictated their placement in Berlin. There was some academic research
involved; however, I was eyewitness to many of the events in the story—which
made it easier and a lot of fun to write.
The
historical setting of For Maria is
wide ranging, covering Poland, Austria, France, Spain, Portugal, and the United
States. The contemporary setting takes place in Madeline’s hometown:Saginaw, Michigan, and my hometown, San
Antonio, Texas. I have no idea why I chose Saginaw, other than it stuck with me
after hearing it many years ago in the Paul Simon song, America. Deep, huh?
Research on For Maria was both time intensive and
emotionally exhausting. The greatest joy was befriending some of the alumni of
the Kindertransport I interviewed, now in their 80s. It’s largely their story I
tell.
How long did it take
to write the book, including preliminary work?
Amazingly, I
wrote the first draft of Katia in 30
days (76.5K words). The story just flowed from the pen...er, the keyboard. Of
course, editing it into something readable took a year, but that’s not too bad
for a part-time author. The story was a joy to write and is still Jeannie’s
favorite.
For Maria was a different story, literally. It
took about a year and a half to complete a satisfactory first draft. The
research time and emotional investment from the historical subject matter contributed
to that sometimes heartbreaking journey. A few times I had to step away from
the manuscript for a couple of weeks just to clear my mind.
It sounds like it was emotionally exhausting.
Please tell us about the main character in this story and what you love about her.
I suppose Madeline would be the main-main character, as
she is central in both books. She’s a spunky redhead who tends to stick her
foot in her mouth more often than chocolate—which is saying something. I
absolutely love her for both her foibles and her strengths; in short, her humanity.
If Katia were to be made into a
movie—a suggestion more than one reader has made to me—think of Amy Adams. I
can think of no other.
The other main character in Katia is the title character. She’s a 60-year-old matron; stoic,
formal, and very set in her ways. I love her for her heart, her faith, and her grit
in the face of what life has dealt her. The change both she and Maddy undergo
during their association is heartwarming and humorous, but not without its
missteps. I’m less sure who would play Katia on the big screen (Meryl Streep,
perhaps, or Vanessa Redgrave?).
I would be remiss to leave out the other main character
in Katia, Oskar. A more lovable
character you’ll never meet, if I may say so. Quiet, unassuming, and harboring
a painful secret that threatens his whole existence—a secret the impetuous
Maddy wrestles from him, and then has no idea what to do with. For Oskar’s
part, think of Ernest Borgnine 30 years ago.
Awesome! You have definitely helped us imagine
what your characters are like with your examples. Now it’s time to tell us
something about the real you that we’ll never forget.
Oh my.
Compared to my characters, I’m quite forgettable. I do have fun with my writing
though, being mostly a seat-of-the-pants writer. If the characters don’t chime
in, the story doesn’t get written. I love the first (and last) lines from the
movie Miss Potter, in which Rene
Zellweger, as the title character Beatrix Potter utters, “There's something
delicious about writing those first few words of a story. You can never quite
tell where they will take you.”How
true!
You can see
more about me and my writing at www.brucejudisch.com and on
my FaceBook author page. Thanks again,
Linda, for the opportunity to reach out to your readers. It’s been fun!
Thank you, Bruce, for this wonderful
interview. I have enjoyed getting to know about your books and you. I hope my
readers will check out your books.
Gay N. Lewis has a background in video production and interior design.
She is a pastor’s wife and has three daughters and four grandchildren. Gay
lives in Fulshear, TX and is the author of seven books in the Sarah Series, with more to come. All of
the Sarah books are filled with humor and are on Amazon’s Best Seller’s List.
Sarah,
a dyslexic angel, arrives from The Heavenlies to unite couples into lasting
relationships.Problem? Well, Sarah is
always lost, loves red stilettos and falls down often.When she must appear as a mortal, she can’t
find a proper human disguise. Havoc and Mayhem should be her middle name. Sarah
is a combination of I Love Lucy, I Dream of Jeanie, and Touched
by an Angel rolled into one. The Sarah books are filled with humor and
Christian inspiration.Sarah’s
shortcomings make it easy for the reader to identify with her.
Welcome to my blog,
Gay. We are going to discuss your last four books in the Sarah Series. Sarah is an angel who helps humans in time of need. These books are available as ebooks, hard copies, and
as an audiobook. Where did you get your inspiration for this series?
I love this question and thanks
Linda for having me! I’ve written nonfiction for years, but when I ventured
into novels, I wrote a book which I’m still waiting for it to see daylight. Choices is a historical story and the
genre is Women’s Fiction. At the time, I didn’t understand the difference
between women’s fiction and romance and sent my book to the wrong agents.
Getting nowhere fast, a friend
told me about the local RWA chapter. I joined and discovered the difference
between the two genres. While at the meeting, I learned romance with vampires
and werewolves sold as hot commodities. Such stories were impossible for me,
but as I listened, the thought of a goofy, dyslexic angel came to mind.
I wrote the first book, Little Angel Screw Up and sent it to
Prism Book Group. Two days later, I received a contract. The publisher changed
the name to Sarah: A Mission of Love.
After the success of the first book, Prism Book Group now signs me to three
contracts at a time. I recently finished one—it is currently in the editing
stage. I have one to start and another book after that. I hope Sarah ideas keep
coming my way.
Please give us a description of Sarah
and the Internet Dating Service.
Thanks for asking. This book came
to mind from my personal lack of savvy in computer skills. Two of my daughters
and one nephew met through an Internet service, so I decided Sarah should try
her hand, and of course, she knows nothing of computers.
The Superiors
give Sarah a challenging assignment and send her to earth. She is to spur a
romantic relationship between Karen Newton and Jeremy Spencer. The dyslexic
angel has managed to unite couples previously, but never through the Internet!
Since the couple knows each other and work in a Houston oil company, Sarah
wonders why she must use that irksome computer gadget to trigger romance. The
Superiors should have dispatched one of the angel techy geeks instead of
her.After all, she is known in The
Heavenlies as “Little Miss Goof Up.”
When Karen
faces danger, Sarah realizes she must get a correct email message to Jeremy.
But how?She’s already created multiple
cyber fiascoes with her Internet attempts. Perhaps she should ignore orders and
find other means to alert Jeremy. Poopty doopty—it would mean a reprimand on
Cloud Five. Should she risk it? Uh-oh. Do angels get headaches?It looks as though Sarah is headed for one.
Please tell us about Sarah and the Scary Ferris Wheel.
The publisher gave me this theme.
Perhaps it came from a personal fear of Ferris wheels. I refuse to ride
rollercoasters. Sarah isn’t afraid of heights, but she is terrified of the
ocean.
Sarah is given a new mission—to link Robert Johnson and Brittany
Lee—two people she encountered while trying to bring a couple together on that
irksome computer Internet dating service. Oh sure, she’d done it. Not without
trial and a lot of error, but with this fresh assignment, trouble would come
again, she was positive.
If she hadn’t grumbled about the computer, maybe the Lieutenant
wouldn’t have ordered her to ride the Galveston Ferris wheel. She’d seen the
huge rotation device built over the Gulf of Mexico, and the very thought of a
ride on that monster made her nauseous.What if she threw up on the humans? Oh merciful heavens!Why did the Superiors give such tasks to
bumbling angels anyway?
The next book in
this series is called Sarah
and a Dad for Mandy. Please tell us about it.
I love writing about children.
Little Mandy captured my heart in Sarah
and the Internet Dating Service. She appears in Sarah and the Scary Ferris Wheel too.
Sarah receives instructions to find
a mate for Galena Maddox and a dad for six year old Mandy. Sarah is one angel
headed for trouble—again. Pesky human disguises cause distress, and at
one point, the earthlings think she’s a fugitive from a mental hospital. With
Galena’s shady past, will Matt Austin, a minister, consider Galena for
marriage? Will Matt’s hoity-toity church accept Galena? Angels
shouldn’t worry, but this task is daunting.
Tell us about the
newest book: Sarah and the Midnight
Cruise to Catalina Island.
In this latest book, Sarah and the Midnight Cruise to Catalina
Island, Carolyn travels by herself. The notion came from my own
familiarity. I actually sailed alone to Catalina. Many of Carolyn’s adventures
on the cruise were ones I experienced. Carolyn’s father had recently died, and
so had mine. The airline lost my luggage, so of course that happened to Carolyn too.
Carolyncan fly but can she swim? Dyslexic and
bumbling angel, Sarah, comes to earth to unite Carolyn with a mate. Poopty
doopty! She must do it on a ship while Carolyn cruises to Catalina Island.
Sarah fears falling into the ocean, and she’s horrified soggy wings will drown
her.On this mission, Talen, an evil spirit
is assigned to thwart Heaven’s Little Love Angel’s efforts. Tomas, the Warrior
Angel, must protect Sarah. Can Tomas succeed without Sarah goofing up the war
between the holy and unholy spirits? Will Talen succeed in spoiling Carolyn’s
romance?
How do you come up
with the humor in each story? Does it come naturally or do you use real-life
situations?
God gifted me with humor before my
birth, and I find hilarity in everyday situations. I can be writing when a
thought comes to me, and I laugh. My hubby shares our office and will say, “What’s
Sarah done now?”Crazy things happen to
me too, and they find their way into my books. Would you believe the first year
we lived in Houston I had nine car wrecks? Sarah can’t drive, and in the second
book, Sarah: Laney’s Angel, she
creates a disaster when she tries her hand at it.
Haha. Your books
sound so fun. Everyone loves to laugh.
Thanks Linda. I enjoy reading
Janet Evanovich and Ann B. Ross for their humor. I adore books that take stress away, and I
hope mine does the same for readers.
I hope my readers
will check out your books. I know they will enjoy them because of the humor you
add. Here is my review of Sarah and A Midnight Cruise:
This is an adorable story about a young angel, Sarah, who
makes one mistake after another. Even though she is assigned to guide and
protect her “charge” and find her a husband, being a guardian angel is a new
experience and she makes many mistakes along the way. This story is perfect for
teenagers and adults who enjoy a cute story. Teens would love this series because Sarah reminds me of a sweet
young teenager who sometimes forgets to think before she acts. –Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke
Eric Dodge’s albums are making waves
in the country music world! His album Why
Not Today became a huge international success and has sold all over the
world in over 15 countries and even topped the Amazon.com best selling albums
list. Eric has also been featured in Country Weekly magazine, KUTV 2 News at
Noon, and Good Things Utah, several times. Eric has released 8 albums and has
performed across the United States and Canada.
In 2012 he
was accepted into the Country Music association, the (CMA). In 2013 Eric became
an Author and entered the world of book writing. He released his debut book
titled Baby Steps To Music Industry Success. In 2015 Eric released his
second book Why Not Today? Face Your Fears and Chase Your Dreams!
He’s also shared the stage with many of country music's biggest names in front of over
50,000 people!
Welcome to my blog,
Eric. I have heard you sing in concerts and absolutely love your voice. It is
well-trained and sort of reminds me of a mixture between country and Broadway put
together. What inspired you to become a singer?
I was on a free cruise that I won on a local radio
station. The cruise sailed out on September 10th 2001. We were
quarantined in international waters while they searched our rooms with bomb
sniffing dogs. While sitting on the top deck scared out of our minds, my
brother dared me to do Karaoke for the first time. Singing was my biggest fear.
I always thought I could sing, but never tried.I was in my 20’s that day, and a full grown adult, when I found out at
the end of the song that I could sing. One of the passengers hugged me and she
told me if we all got home safely I needed to become a singer. I stopped pursuing
becoming a police officer and dedicated all my time to becoming a singer. Here
I am today.
Wow! That is so
interesting. Please tell us about your book: Why Not Today? Face Your Fears and Chase Your Dreams! What is it about?
This is a book about many of the trials I
faced growing up. Depression, anxiety, severe bullying and more. I am hoping to
inspire others to chase their dreams as well. The name Why Not Today? really says it all. I want others to know that it is
ok to break free from the past that may be holding them back. It was for me. I
was able to lose 80 pounds, get out of severe depression, and become a country
singer. If I can do this, so can others. I am just a normal guy.
Just a normal guy
with a fantastic voice!!! Where did you get your inspiration for this book?
There are a whole lot of things. My life is this book. I
wrote my first book about the Music industry in 2012. I mentioned some things
about my bullying from my younger school days. I mentioned my weight loss and
health challenges. Many people started asking me about those things. When they
heard about my September 11th story I started getting asked to speak
at different groups. I decided I needed to tell the full story. The bullying,
the weight loss, the September 11th story, and how I pulled myself
out of some pretty bad depression.
I know this book
will help many people, Eric. What kind of research did you do and did you give
real life experiences for the reader?
Most of this book is real-life experiences. As I was
combatting anxiety I studied it and even took some online courses and classes
on coping with it. I read books on Happiness and health. I studied the topics
that I needed help with at the time.
Thank you for a
wonderful interview, Eric. Now it’s time to tell us something about the real
you that we’ll never forget.
I am a terrible bowler. When I was younger I was bowling and
getting very frustrated that I could not get anything other than gutter balls.
I decided I was going to run all the way down the lane and throw the ball at
point blank at the pins so I could finally knock a few pins down. As I stepped
on to the lane at a full run I chickened out and decided to turn back so nobody
would see me doing this. As I went to stop, I quickly learned that the floor of
the lane was oiled and very slippery. I had no idea. I ended up falling on my
backside and dropping my bowling ball very loudly on the lane. The entire place
went silent and everyone was looking at me. I could not get up because of the
slippery floor. I had to roll into the gutter and stand up and walk back up the
lane in shame. This was a very embarrassing moment for me. Lots of people were
laughing at me.
No my goodness! That
is so sad, but yet it’s so funny. I tried to not laugh and be sympathetic, but it
was hard. I guess every one has their embarrassing moments, don’t they? I hope
all my readers will check out your awesome book.
My heart was pounding so hard in my chest that I thought it
was about to explode. The palms of my hands were cold and clammy, and the sweat
was beginning to run down the back of my neck and forehead. Every salty drop of
sweat that would run down from beneath the band of my black cowboy hat would
burn my eyes as I would try to wipe it away from my face. Trying to catch my
breath was the most important thing in my life right now, and concentration
seemed impossible.
There was a ringing in my ears
and my chest felt like it was being crushed by the weight of a 5-ton elephant
sitting on it. This was a panic attack. But who wouldn’t be falling apart? I
was about to walk out into a football stadium crowded with over 50,000 people,
and sing one of my songs.
There was a giant TV screen and
camera crews holding cameras right in my face. How was this possible for
someone who so desperately feared being in front of a crowd? Would this be the
end? Would this kill me? Even worse, would I forget the words?
My mind was so blurred,
how could I remember anything? What am I doing here? This was all a huge
mistake!
Those were some of the questions
that ran through my mind as the announcer loudly said “Please welcome Eric
Dodge to the stage,” and my band began to play a familiar song of mine. I began
to walk down the ramp towards the stage, just as I’d done on so many occasions
in the past.
My mind was now on autopilot.
Trying to calm down, I began to breathe slowly and deeply.
Everything is going to be OK,
Eric. Trust your preparation.
Once the first word of that song
came out of my mouth my mind began to free up. Everything became clear—the
green field, the audience, the blue sky, my great band—and the show went off
without a hitch.
I am not an expert on fear, nor
pretending to be an expert on anything. However, my fears at times have gotten
the best of me.
Let me be clear about something.
This book is not about my journey as a country music entertainer, but it has
everything to do with being able to achieve that dream. This book came to life
because of my overwhelming desire to help others who struggle with the same
issues that many of us have lived with, and still live with today. You
are the reason this book was written. Let me help you to achieve your dreams.
It starts by facing your fears.
We all have fears that control
us. It is my belief that if we can control our fears we can accomplish
anything. If we master our fears, we master our future. When we are born and
when we are little kids we are, for the most part, fearless. Outside
circumstances, introduced to us throughout our lives, begin the process of
developing fears. When we have a fear of something, we have a reason for it.
Something happened to us. Maybe it was something we saw, or a reaction we
witnessed from someone we loved. This is where our deepest, most strongly
rooted fears come from.
We can push past these fears.
Many years ago I started believing that we should face our fears instead of
running from them. As part of this hard-won knowledge, I’d like to share some
stories from my life that caused me to start living a life of fear. In
examining my life, I was able to trace some of my very deep-rooted fears back
to these stories.
Many of us struggle every day.
For me, there were many sleepless nights. Worry, frustration, doubt, fear,
sadness, depression, and anxiety are just some of the emotions I have felt and
dealt with at many times of my life. Because of these facts, what you read here
is going to be very honest. It will literally make my life an open book.
Yes, it will be very hard for me
to write—and hard for me to share. It may be hard for some to read, but I
believe it must be shared. It is very clear to me that my purpose is to
help others, as well as myself, to let go of our fears, let go of what is
holding us back, and just let go of what we cannot change.
We have one life to live. Why
not see what we can do with it? Why not face our fears! And, Why Not Today?
Are you ready to begin your journey with me? There is no better time to face
our fears and chase our dreams.
While the northern part of the world has a cold snowy
Christmas, the southern has a warm sunny Christmas because the seasons are in
reverse. Because of this, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina
have made it a tradition to celebrate Christmas in July in order to have
Christmas with a winter feeling, but they will still celebrate Christmas on
December 25. The first time Christmas in July was celebrated in the
states was in 1933 at Camp Keystone for a girl's summer camp in North Carolina.
Author Teresa Ives Lilly lives in Texas although she
was northern born. She has been writing Christian novellas for many years. She
has also authored over two hundred unit studies and written a variety of
magazine articles. Her true love is writing Christian romance novellas. Her
books can be seen at Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, Smashwords, and Lovely
Christian Romance Press.
Welcome back to my blog, Teresa. Please tell us about
your new Romantic Christmas novel, Christmas in Harbor Inn Maine.
When Penny Trent, Owner of Cake Time in Harbor Inn Maine,
meets Kyle London, a famous writer who has come to to close down his
Grandmother’s coffee shop Just a Cup, there is an immediate attraction between
them.
Penny, busy cooking for the Mayor’s Christmas party, the town’s annual Bake Off
and trying to persuade Kyle to keep Just a Cup open, doesn’t have time for
holiday traditions or to embark on a new relationship, even if it is with the
man of her dreams.
Will Kyle be able to convince Penny to enjoy the holidays and believe in his
desire to get to know her better? Will Kyle and Penny be able to save the
coffee shop by combining forces and find a lasting relationship by Christmas?
Where did you get your inspiration for this story?
This story was inspired when I took my 21-year-old daughter
on a trip to Maine, which had been her dream since she was five years old.
Several characters are based on real people we met along the way. Flo's Hot
Dogs is a real place and does have the best hotdogs in the world.
Hotdogs are one of my favorite foods. Yum! What kind of
research did you do for this book?
The trip to Maine was enough.I found that along the coast there are so
many quaint, small stores and squares.I
just had to write about one.
Please tell us about one of the main characters in this
story and what you like about him or her.
Well, honestly, I like my irritating character Allison
Benner who tries to come between Penny and Kyle the best.I enjoyed writing her parts the most.She is so blinded by her own self worth that she
can’t see what is going on around her until it’s too late.Sorry, Allison.Maybe I’ll write a follow up and get you
someone to love….
Haha. It sounds like you’re really close to your
characters. ahaHHere are some links where my
readers can find you online.
Serena Clarke is from sunny Southern Utah. She has loved
writing since she was young and has taken several writing classes. She
loves fantasy with a hint of romance and wishes to contribute to the genre.
Serena has a Bachelors Degree in Graphic Design and is a member
of the Red Mountain Shadows Publishing team. She is passionate about
learning, reading, art, and design. She enjoys designing her book covers
as much as writing her books.
Hello Everyone! Here is the
scoop about this new fantasy series.
Fantasy has become one of the
most popular genre, simply because you are taken into a completely new world… a
world of magic and mystery… where almost anything can happen. In this new
series by Serena Clarke, we have an enchanting kingdom and mystical creatures that
reside in the forests.
The Treasure of Isian is the first book in The Isian Series.Prince Garin is a brave, proud, adventure-seeking prince. Elani is
his most trusted servant and she would do anything for him. Their quest to
find the mystical Treasure of Isian is immediately interrupted and they find
themselves confronted by giants, elves, dragons, and a vengeful water-witch. Elani
must face her greatest fears to save her prince and her kingdom. Will they be
able to make a great sacrifice to save the kingdom?
“The Treasure of Isian
was a stirring tale of an enchanted servant and a handsome prince,” wrote
Author Charissa Stastny. “The adventures they face together as they search for the fabled
treasure of Isian that will grant the bearer any wish they desire. Once I
picked it up, I couldn’t put it down. The author did a wonderful job pacing the
story and connecting me to the characters. Superb story that brought a smile to
my face and helped me remember that sometimes, we can overlook the most
valuable treasures in life if we’re not careful.”
In The Alliance of Isian, Isian
decides to make an alliance with their long time enemies. Isian sends a
proposal, offering their daughter to the prince, in order to ensure an
alliance. Princess Gabrielle and Prince Alec must learn to work together and
trust each other in order to triumph in the approaching war. With a mysterious
beast attacking the kingdom, their lives in danger, and overcoming their vast
cultural differences, will love grow despite their trials?
“The Alliance of Isian
is an enchanting story and very difficult to put down. Gabrielle is a strong
character and I could feel the emotions she was experiencing. I could feel her
frustration in being forced to marry someone she did not know, and whose
background was totally so different from her own. Alec is likewise a strong
character and has his definite opinions, but he is also very sensitive to
Gabrielle's feelings of inadequacy in marrying a stranger. As time passes, I
could see the respect they gradually develop for each another and how they
learn to understand one another's differences. They learn to accept one
another's faults and failings. I noticed the change in both characters, a
change for the better, as Gabrielle and Alec fall in love. This is one of the
best fantasies I've read.” –Author Linda Weaver Clarke
After years of reading books and
watching movies with an element of romance, Deborah M. Piccurelli’s desire to
write romance novels came naturally. She is active in her church and is an
advocate for sanctity of life. Deborah is the author of two romantic suspense novels,
a romantic novella and several cause-related newspaper articles. She is a
member of American Christian Fiction Writers, and the New Jersey Society of
Christian Writers. Deborah lives in New Jersey with her husband and their two
sons.
“This is such a touching love story. I loved the way Derek was so compassionate
towards Charlotte, known as Charlie. His mannerisms toward her were so
touching, yet masculine. Even though his main purpose was to make things right
with her, their growing attraction for one another was the main focus of this
story. I would most definitely pick this book up and read it again.”
–Review by Author Linda Weaver Clarke
Welcome to
my blog, Deborah. I love your book cover. Please tell us about your Inspirational
Romance.
Here’s the back cover blurb for Love Comes Calling: The day new Christian, Derek Spencer, shows up on Charlie Parkes’s
doorstep to make up for what he’d done, is the very day he falls in love with
her. But Charlie’s sister mistakes him for a home improvement contractor, and
he decides to play along until he finds a way to tell her who he really is.
Charlie is
attracted to Derek, but knows the attention he pays her is only flattery. How
could such a great-looking guy fall for someone with a face like hers?
Nevertheless, the two form a relationship that brings a joy to Charlie that’s
way beyond her wildest dreams. But what will happen when Derek’s true identity
is revealed?
Where did
you get your inspiration for this book?
Well, I dislike saying this, because we writers always
want our readers to think we get our stories by some great inspiration, but,
for this novella, everything was strictly made up for a purpose. By that I mean
that some years ago, a well-known publisher had advertised that they would be
accepting submissions for four different anthologies. Each one had a specific
theme. I chose the one called, “A well-kept secret.” I had to come up with a
story to fit that theme, and I devised the plot for Love Comes Calling.
After somewhere from 3-6 months of writing it, I
submitted it on the first day they were accepting submissions. The next day, I
received an email from the publisher saying they had decided not to publish
that particular anthology. Shortly after that, I heard they had stopped doing
anthologies altogether. So this novella had been sitting around for a long,
long time until I heard that Prism was running a contest. I submitted, became
one of three winners, submitted the full manuscript and was ultimately offered
a contract. I praise God for Prism and for how it all came about!
I’m so glad
that you were accepted because I totally enjoyed your book. What kind of
research did you have to do?
Since I knew very little about ballet, I did some online
research on that. And if I remember correctly, I may have made a phone call to
a home improvement contractor with questions on the type of work Derek and Greg
were doing in Charlie’s basement.
Please tell
us about the main character in this story and what you love about him or her.
Charlotte Parkes, nicknamed Charlie, is a very strong
woman, yet, a little insecure, at times. But she is also strong in the Lord.
Derek doesn’t realize it, but she had already forgiven him for what he did to
her before they even met.
The story shows Charlie’s resourcefulness. Since she cannot
work in her chosen profession, she contributes to household finances through
other talents and skills she possesses.
The two things I like best about Charlie is her loyalty,
learned through growing up in a tight-knit family, and her determination.
Though, at times, she may allow herself a short pity party, she never lets what
happened to her keep her down.
Now it’s
time to tell us something about the real you that we’ll never forget.
I guess I
could say that, like Charlie, I am also loyal. If you tell me something in
confidence, it will never go farther than that. Many times, I still won’t
reveal a thing to anyone even if I wasn’t told it in confidence, because it’s
not my place to do so. My husband never has to worry that when I’m with
friends, I’ll talk about him the way some women do about their husbands. I just
can’t do that! Not that there is anything to complain about, anyway, but I
think you know what I mean.
That is so admirable. I also believe
it’s important to treat our spouses with respect. Thanks for this awesome
interview, Deborah.
