Blog Tour and Happy, Happy Birthday

Late last year, I had an opportunity to be a part of a series of Christmas stories. While I don't "comfortably" write short stories, I jumped at the chance because Kathi Macias was spearheading it, and I knew anything that had Kathi's name on it would be a success. Plus, this would be my first real chance to write Christian fiction and be published by a Christian publisher. How could I let this opportunity get by me?

Kathi said the theme would be 12 Days of Christmas and that we twelve writers (that includes her) could write anything we wanted--a historical, a mystery, a romance, Amish fiction--whatever. The catch was that the story had to take place on a single day. Our stories would be epublished first, then come out in an anthology. It all sounded good to me.

My story occurs ten days before Christmas. The title is If You Believe, and the theme is "trust God's will for your dreams." My theme meant something to me. I knew when I married my husband after being divorced for nine years, and moved to Louisiana almost immediately (after living in Texas all my life), I was trusting God's will.

Thirty-one years ago today, our daughter was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Here's a picture of when we stood before our pastor and dedicated her to God. Look how tiny she is. Just looking at this picture, I can hardly believe she's real.

Here's a picture of her "reading" her little picture book. We put books in her hands from the get-go. We definitely wanted a young reader!  A few weeks after she was born, she attended her first writer's meeting--at our house. Her first public appearance was to the Goodwood Library in Baton Rouge.

By the time she was three, she knew many of my author friends and was a Hemingway fan...through me, of course. We lived in New Iberia, Louisiana and started a writer's group there.

Our daughter has always been chatty and had a beautiful, happy personality. You can probably see that by these other two pictures. 

On May 29th, 12 Days of Christmas will release. If you're wondering what my daughter has to do with any of this ... it's simple. She's always my heroine. No matter what I write--mystery or romance--the heroine is always the young woman you see here. 

Happy birthday, Chaney. Thank you for being the perfect daughter for me and your father. The years went too fast.
I pray God's blessings on you, and that you'll always trust God's will for your life. I love you.


 Please visit the other authors in our 12 Days of Christmas anthology. Several are giving away a copy or you can purchase one HERE. We hope you enjoy our stories and above all, we hope they bless you.

May 19 - Ruth L. Snyder at http://ruthlsnyder.com/

May 20 - Anne Baxter Campbell at http://pewperspective.blogspot.ca/

May 21 - Marcia Lee Laycock at http://marcialeelaycock.com/

May 22 - Mishael Witty at http://bluebrownbooks.com/

May 23 - Christine Lindsay at www.christinelindsay.com/

May 24 - Sheila Lagrand at http://sheilalagrand.com/

May 26 - Jessica Ferguson at http://jessyferguson.blogspot.com

May 27 - Kathy Bruins at  http://www.kathybruins.com/writing-speaking-and-other-interests/

May 28 - Peg Phifer at http://www.whispersinpurple.com

May 29 - Jeanette Hanscome at http://jeanettehanscome.com/

Blog Tour

I volunteered to participate in a blog tour and answer the four questions below. I was supposed to find three other authors to answer the same questions on January 6th but I could only find one, so I hope you'll pop over to visit her too--next week. Caryl has a new book coming out in early 2014.

 

1. What are you working on right now?

I'm working on a career plan for 2014. These days, publishing is a little like walking down the detergent aisle. There are way too many choices. Should I try for an agent? A traditional publisher or a small press? Those are questions I wrestle with. I heard recently the chances of getting our digital rights back from a traditional publisher are pretty slim. That makes me want to investigate smaller presses and stick with the ebook market.  Then I confuse myself by asking... why should I care about digital rights? Aside from my career plan, I'm working on a couple of romantic suspense novels and a romantic comedy.

 

 

2. How does it differ from other works in its genre?

I don't know that my work differs in any way from what's out there. That's sad, isn't it? If it does differ, readers will have to tell me.

 

 

3. Why do you write what you do?

Do I have a choice? I write what comes to me--romantic comedy, romantic suspense, women's fiction. The other day I got an idea for a time travel. I have the beginning and the ending but no middle. The middle is always the hardest part for me. When ideas pop into my head, I start writing.

 

4. How does your writing process work?
I don't have a tried and true, real-to-me process. Each story dictates how I write it. The Groom Wore Blue Suede Shoes was outlined chapter by chapter. The Last Daughter was the easiest to write. It came to me all at once, pretty complete. I wrote the synopsis first. My short stories were taken from novels that didn't sell or are unfinished. There's no method to my madness.

I wish I could get organized in 2014 and actually learn how to 'churn' out books, novellas and all kinds of stories. All tips welcome.
 

Don't forget to visit Caryl McAdoo on January 6th.  

 

 

Surrendered Sleep, A Biblical Perspective by Charles W. Page, M.D.

I sleep like a log unless I have an early morning out-of-town appointment that causes me to worry about oversleeping. This title got my attention because my daughter has always had trouble sleeping through the night. I believe you'll admit, the theme of Surrendered Sleep is fascinating. Medical Doctor Charles W. Page "challenges you to wrap your mind around the concept of a God who is just as active during your sleep--or sleeplessness--as during your wakeful hours."

Surrendered Sleep is filled with interesting statistics and solutions, beautiful scriptures, and prayers. It's not a how-to book even though it's written workbook style. Surrendered Sleep guides the reader into "turning off" when we "turn in" -- clocking out and transfering all control to God.

Book Summary

Sleep Clinics. Sleeping Pills. Sleep Systems. With all the focus on sleep, it’s obvious to anyone breathing (or not—in the case of sleep apnea) that sleep disorders are on everyone’s minds. Can’t fall asleep. Can’t stay asleep. So many problems, but so few zzzs. Dr. Charles W. Page has been plagued with sleep deprivation his entire adult life. Whether from the rigorous unpredictable lifestyle of a general surgeon or dealing with obstructive sleep apnea, Dr. Page sees sleep as a precious commodity. Many of his surgical patients also report sleep problems on their medical histories. It’s certainly a widespread problem. Although there is extensive medical literature regarding sleep, insomnia and sleep disorders, there is little instruction about these issues from a Christian worldview. Sleep was God’s idea—why shouldn’t we go to the One who created rest in the first place for answers to our sleep problems. One of the reasons Dr. Page wrote Surrendered Sleep was to heighten people’s awareness of the spiritual side of sleep issues, which often goes neglected in health and medical literature. Author Bio: Dr. Charles W. Page is a sleep-deprived surgeon. He completed medical school and residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas and serves as surgeon in rural Texas. Dr. Page is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons and the Christian Medical and Dental Association. In addition to his involvement in the teaching ministry of his local church, he has participated in medical mission trips to Cameroon, Pakistan, Milawe, Niger, Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua. He and his wife Joanna live in Texas with their five children.  This book was provided by Kathy Carlton Willis Communications in exchange for my honest review or participation in a blog tour. No monetary compensation was exchanged.

Blog Tour: Holy Roller by Julie Lyons

My husband enjoys reading honest accounts about how the Holy Spirit moves in the lives of those in desperate need of deliverance so I passed this book on to him. He says:

Julie Lyons' description of her spiritual experiences in the Pentecostal church in south Dallas portrays not only the power of the Holy Spirit at work in people’s lives but also the false preachers who prey upon the congregation. This was an easy to read, honest account. The story moved smoothly with no dead spots. Julie Lyons obviously has no ax to grind since she still attends this church.


SUMMARY:

Julie Lyons was working as a crime reporter when she followed a hunch into the South Dallas ghetto. She wasn’t hunting drug dealers, but drug addicts who had been supernaturally healed of their addictions. Was there a church in the most violent part of the city that prayed for addicts and got results? At The Body of Christ Assembly, a rundown church on an out-of-the-way street, Lyons found the story she was looking for. The minister welcomed criminals, prostitutes, and street people–anyone who needed God. He prayed for the sick, the addicted, and the demon-possessed, and people were supernaturally healed. Lyons’s story landed on the front page of the Dallas Times Herald. But she got much more than just a great story, she found an unlikely spiritual home. Though the parishioners at The Body of Christ Assembly are black and Pentecostal, and Lyons is white and from a traditional church background, she embraced their spirituality–that of “the Holy Ghost and fire.” It’s all here in Holy Roller–the stories of people desperate for God’s help. And the actions of a God who doesn’t forget the people who need His power.


Author Bio:
Julie Lyons is an award-winning writer, editor and investigative reporter who for more than 11 years served as editor-in-chief of the Dallas Observer, an alternative weekly newspaper owned by Village Voice Media. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University and a B.A. in English from Seattle Pacific University. She and her husband, Larry Lyons Jr., live in Dallas with their son.

You can purchase this book from Amazon or from Random House.

Blog Tour: The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn by Liz Johnson

I'm a demanding reader. Or maybe the word I should use is spoiled. I want a book that yanks me into the story the moment I look at the cover and read the title. From there, I move on to the first sentence. If it doesn't grab me, doesn't make me read the entire first page, then I'm moving on to the next book on the shelf ... or in my stack. Take a look at this first sentence: Mackenzie Thorn looked up just in time to see two men walk into her classroom. Of course, what got my attention was 'the classroom.' Immediately, I'm curious to know why two men are entering this woman's classroom. She obviously doesn't know them. And so I read on...and on...and on.

Liz Johnson's debut novel is a story rich in plot with adventure and romance that will thrill her readers and have them watching for her next Love Inspired. I'm one who has no qualms about tossing a book if I don't like the author's writing style, but Johnson kept me turning pages because of her nice, easygoing way with words. Her characters are appealing (especially that hunk of a hero) and won my heart.

Your next trip to the bookstore or grocery story, be on the look out for The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn by Liz Johnson, on sale July 14th, 2009. This is a fast read, and you won't be disappointed.
Summary:.
Myles Parsons is just another inmate in Kenzie Thorn’s GED course until he kidnaps her, offering only a feeble explanation–that he’s actually FBI Special Agent Myles Borden. Terrified, Kenzie doesn’t want to believe his story of being undercover to protect her. Moreover, she can’t believe that someone might really want her dead. But just when Myles thinks he has her out of harm’s way, his plans start to fall apart. He attempts to take Kenzie to a safe house—but the stubborn woman won’t go! So together they must uncover the clues that will reveal a most shocking perpetrator. All the while Myles tries to keep his distance from Kenzie … but finds himself falling in love
About the Author:
Liz Johnson grew up reading Christian fiction, and always dreamed of being part of the publishing industry. After graduating from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff with a degree in public relations, she set out to fulfill her dream. In 2006 she got her wish when she accepted a publicity position at a major trade book publisher. While working as a publicist in the industry, she decided to pursue her other dream-becoming an author. Along the way to having her novel published, she completed the Christian Writers Guild apprentice course and wrote articles for several magazines. Liz lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she enjoys theater, ice skating, volunteering in her church's bookstore and making frequent trips to Arizona to dote on her nephew and three nieces. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn is her first novel. Keep up with Liz's adventures in writing by adding her website to your favorites.

Clutter-Free Christianity by Dr. Robert Jeffress

Summary


When did the Christian life become so complicated?
Your greatest desire is to please God, but with each passing week, your spiritual to-do list grows longer. As you strive to fulfill a never-ending inventory of requirements for being a godly parent, spouse, voter, employee, and more, you feel increasingly disconnected from the God you’re trying to serve.
It’s time to cut through the clutter and get to the heart of what it means to please God. In this liberating look at the core principles of faith, Dr. Robert Jeffress reveals the truth about what God really wants from you–and what He wants to do for you.
Through solid biblical teaching and practical insights, Dr. Jeffress points you toward a revitalized faith centered on becoming more like Jesus in action, attitude, and affection. You’ll learn how to partner with God in the process of spiritual transformation as you choose to follow Christ in forgiveness, obedience, trust, contentment, service, and prayer.
Through a renewed focus on experiencing the kingdom of God right now, you’ll find your to-do list shrinking and your spiritual life deepening. It all comes with embracing Clutter-Free Christianity. Includes a Bible study guide for personal growth and group discussion.

Author Bio:

Dr. Robert Jeffress is the senior pastor of First Baptist Dallas, one of the most historic churches in the Southern Baptist Convention. The author of sixteen books, he is a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. In addition, live broadcasts of Dr. Jeffress’ weekly messages reach millions of listeners and viewers each week, while his daily sermon series airs on 1,100 television stations and cable systems nationwide. Dr. Jeffress and his wife, Amy, are the parents of two adult daughters.