Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Interview with Deborah Hemstreet, all the way from Haifa, Israel: Part II

 

Welcome back! Debbie and I have been waiting for you Smile  If you missed Part I of this interview you can read it HERE.
Debbie_today

Today, Debbie and I are going to share some of the great photos Debbie sent along, with their location, and an explanation to go along with each one. We hope you’ll enjoy the tour. Click on each picture to enlarge.

marrying_Rich_on_Mount_Carmel north_near_Mount_Hermon

Rich and I were married outdoors on Mount Carmel. One of the happiest days of my life.

Banias has a great deal of water that feeds into the Jordan River. This picture was taken there. Banias is at the foot of Mount Hermon in the North.

 
court_of_pan_and_nymphs Saint Peter's in Gallicantu

In the north of Israel is a site many like to visit called Banias, the location of Biblical Caesarea Philippi. This site is traditionally thought to have been where Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people way that the Son of Man is?” Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” People miss the significance of this statement, since they don’t know where Caesarea Philippi was. This photo is of the remains of shrines to idols that were in use at the time of Jesus.

In the face of a Judaism that did not want a non-political Messiah, and the idolatry all around, Peter’s answer was truly one of faith!

Many pilgrims to Israel miss this amazing site in Jerusalem near the Old City. It is my favorite place to visit.

Called Saint Peter’s in Gallicantu, it marks the archeological site of the home of the High Priest, and a court yard—most likely the courtyard where Peter denied knowing Jesus.

This statue commemorates that site.

Also very special is the excavation of the original stairs that climbed up from the Kidron valley to the High Priest’s house. Every time I visit, I like to walk on these stairs… literally the stairs that Jesus walked on…

 

Debbie, those last few words you wrote on the right, ‘the stairs that Jesus walked on,’ brought back to my mind a solo I dared to sing once–when I still had a voice. The title was I Walked Today Where Jesus Walked. A dynamic piece of music and words that give one goose bumps. The closing words of the song are: […] and felt Him close to me.’ What an experience that would be! You are blessed, my friend.

And so ends Part II of this  fascinating interview with Debbie Hemstreet. It has been wonderful – to see these pictures of today and then try to visualize what they looked like back in Jesus’ time.

Thanks again, Debbie. I’m enjoying every minute, every word, and every picture.

Friends and readers, there are three more photos to share, AND, the story of Debbie’s song and the video recording of it . . . on MONDAY, October 5. Be sure to mark you calendars to read the rest of the story!

 

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

Interview with Deborah Hemstreet, all the way from Haifa, Israel: Part I

I invited a friend from across the sea to answer some interview questions for my blog…and, boy did she deliver! 

Please welcome Deborah Hemstreet. Debbie is another one of the ‘friends I’ve never met’.  Not only did she answer all my questions, but she sent additional, interesting information, along with some accompanying pictures.

The content is so rich, full and fascinating (at least to me!) I’ve decided to post it in THREE segments. Part II will continue on Thursday, October 1, and Part III on Monday, October 5.

I hope you’ll enjoy this International conversation!

First: About Debbie

Debbie_today

Deborah (Shapiro) Hemstreet has spent more than half of her life in Israel. She has dual citizenship. Her father was a Jewish believer in Jesus (Yeshua in Hebrew), her mother was a non-Jewish believer. Deborah likes to identify herself as a follower of Jesus—with no denominational affiliation other than a member of the Body of Christ.

Professionally, Deborah has been a nurse (LPN), and holds a BA in Special Education and an MA in Technical Communication. Currently she is the English Communications Specialist at Rambam Hospital in Haifa, Israel—the largest hospital in northern Israel. She is actively involved in representing the hospital to the Christian community.

Deborah came to Israel in 1982, and other than for a brief period of time (2007–2011) has lived there ever since. She married for the first time in 2007 and relocated to the USA, she thought forever. However, God had different plans and in 2010 her husband Rich died, and in 2011 she returned to Israel to live.

Deborah has loved creative writing since childhood. She has written a number of poems and short stories, most of which are unpublished. A few have appeared in Israeli publications. She is currently working on her autobiography, and recently published a YouTube video of one of her poems which she set to music, and recorded, and prepared as a YouTube video clip. The poem, “Kotel” (Hebrew for the Western Wall) tells the story of Israel through poetry. Her prayer is that the song will inspire others to see Israel with new eyes and pray earnestly for the peace of Jerusalem in our time.

(More about the song and the video later. Yeah, I’m a tease Smile )

Now for some questions:

Welcome, my friend from across the sea! So wonderful to have you visit. How do you wish to be addressed? Deb, Debbie, Deborah or Dvora?

Debbie is fine, my name in Hebrew is Dvora. For my full name in English, Deborah.

What is the most interesting thing about you?

Chinese_Church_2003I have been involved in a Chinese Church in Haifa, Israel for almost 20 years. I teach English using the Bible as a textbook. I love working with Chinese university students!

I have a cousin who was missionary for most of her adult life in Taiwan and China. She, too, taught English!

You live in Israel. Where, and how long have you lived there?

I live in Haifa, Israel, quite close to the Mediterranean Sea. Haifa is the third largest city in Israel. I came to Israel in 1982. I left in 2007 when I got married, and returned in 2011 after the death of my husband.

Give us an overview of what it’s like to live on that tiny strip of land.

Well, quite truthfully, I don’t feel like I live in a small country. I love it though. From the scenery to the culture, there is so much I like here. The music of language that surrounds us: Hebrew, Arabic, English, Russian, Amharic, French, Spanish, and many other languages. People from a variety of cultures all live together, for the most part peacefully. I’ve met more people from around the world than I ever did in America, and visited more nations as well. I like the markets, shopping, scenery, visiting the Holy Sites, and being able to live in the land of my ancestors. Israel is like any other nation and is by no means perfect, but I like it here.

You’ve taken numerous vacations to Norway, I believe. What’s the draw? Do you have family there?

Actually, my friends from Norway have visited Israel dozens of times—I’ve only visited Norway once—so far. I have a dear friend whom I met when I first came to Israel. Her name is Solvejg. Long story short, she has been begging me for years to visit Norway. When I agreed to visit another friend in Moscow, I could hardly NOT visit Norway, since the two nations are so close to each other.

I love to travel. My first love, before Israel,  was China. I had the opportunity to go to China in 1995 for 6 weeks. I worked as an English consultant for 4 weeks and then backpacked on my own for two weeks. I’ve been to Istanbul three times, Cyprus, Barcelona and England twice, France, Greece, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Egypt, Jordan, and visited Canada several times.

WOW! I am GREEN with envy! What great opportunities you’ve had!

Let’s talk about your writing journey. What are you working on now?

I’ve loved to write since I was a child. I wish I still had those early writings—they would help me better map out my journey. I went through a long period where I wrote only poetry. I have literally hundreds of poems, most of them unpublished. I’ve posted a few on my blog. Interspersed I’ve worked on different short stories, and started writing a few longer ones… I still have the outlines in my head and the initial drafts. Somehow life keeps interfering with my being able to sit and really write.

Last November, for NANO month, I wrote the first 100 pages of my autobiography. I think there are many people who are lot more interesting than me, but I’ve had so many friends ask me to write my story that I thought this might be something worth working on. I’ve prayed about it a lot, and I do believe this is what I should do. Time and distractions can really get in the way though. With my many activities, sometimes I find it hard to just sit and write. However, a recent conversation with a friend made me realize I need to forge ahead. This is a deeply emotional and spiritual effort as well, since I’ve made a commitment to be completely honest in my writing. I believe it is the only way I can really encourage others. If I were to give the message and goal of my writing in a sentence or two, it would be this: Jesus is absolutely and utterly faithful and will never give up on those who are His. If He can work through me for His good purposes, He can work through anyone!

Then I definitely believe you should go for it! You certainly have something to share!

Tell us about the church you attend.

I attend a non-denominational Messianic congregation that is quite similar to the open Brethren style of worship. I like to call myself a Catholic charismatic Brethren Nun Smile

Oh, that’s funny!

Well, folks, are you intrigued? There’s more to come tomorrow with Part II.

Be sure to come back and learn more about Deborah, Israel . . . and that song she wrote, not to mention some great pictures.

Same station Smile

Thursday, September 24, 2015

A Short, short, short, short . . .

short-story

Two years ago, my daughter and I went to the Green Lake Christian Writers Conference in Green Lake, Wisconsin. I took an ongoing session with Cynthia Ruchti on “Fun With Fiction.” There were about eight of us in this class. I won’t go into all the details of the class, but it was fun with exercises to do.  We we were given an assignment to write a short story of no more than 500 words, with a time limit of three minutes. The title we all voted on was: FOUR DOWN, THREE TO GO. Our stories could be anything we wanted to write, but they all had to have the same title, a complete story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

As we worked our way through this prompt, we read them aloud, critiqued each other, and finally it was the last full day of the conference,and we were to read our assignments aloud at the Writer’s Showcase on Thursday evening, along with similar assignments from the other classes.

So, all that being said, I thought it would be fun to share mine here. Ready or not, here we go Smile

~♦~♦~          ~♦~♦~

FOUR DOWN, THREE TO GO

by Peggy Blann Phifer

© August 22, 2013

How did I let this happen? I’d volunteered for this project a week ago. Plenty of time to get it done. But here it was, crunch time, and I wasn’t even close to ready.

I’d had everything all planned out. I should have been done by now.

I checked my list. Only four of the seven items had been crossed off.

Who are you kidding, Marcy Kinkaid? You know exactly how this happened. Your penchant for procrastination has pitched you into this pickle.

Panic hit the back of my jaws as if I’d just bitten into an unripe plum.

“Mom, where are my white shorts?”

I swallowed a groan. Another interruption.

“Try checking the stack of clean clothes on the stairs you’re supposed to have already put away.”

My sarcasm was wasted on my twelve-year-old daughter with her head in the clouds, or nose buried in the pages of a book. It thrilled me she loved to read, but…while walking? I often pictured her at the top of the stairs with a book in front of her face  . . .

I shook off the image. Back to the panic at hand. I looked again…no change. Still only four.

Better get with it, Marcy. You’re wasting time.

The phone rang.

Oh, please, God. Not now!

I tried to ignore it, but couldn’t. What if it was important? I checked the clock. What if Jeff had been in an accident on the way home from work? What if—?

I snatched the phone. “What?!”

“Marcy, dear, how—?”

“Mother?” I cringed, realizing I’d all but barked at her, but her timing, as usual, was lousy.

“Mom, I can’t talk now. I’m up to my earlobes in this project and I’m late. Can I call you back?”

“I’m sorry, Marcy, but you know—”

I ground my teeth. “Don’t go there, Mother. Not today. Please.”

She emitted her typical resigned sigh, but dropped the subject. “Can I help? How far behind are you? Why isn’t Shellie helping you?”

I ignored the remark about my daughter and instantly regretted letting my mother know my predicament. But still . . .

“I’ve got four done, Mom. Three more to go, and,” I gulped, “I’d love your help.”

“I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” The audible pleasure in her voice made me…smile. I’d done the right thing and I did need the help.

I stared at the bowls of taco fixings I’d promised to provide for the church picnic this afternoon…just a few hours away.

Seven giant bowls.

Four down, three to go.

I grabbed the knife and…picked up another onion.

~♦~♦~          ~♦~♦~

And there you have it.  A fun exercise in fast, tight writing. Are you itching to critique it? Have at it Smile

Wednesday, September 23, 2015

Author Bonnie Engstrom: An Interview, Giveaway…and a fun little contest

my-cozy-purple-den

I’M HAVING A LITTLE CHAT IN MY COZY DEN WITH AUTHOR BONNIE ENGSTROM. COME ON IN, MAKE YOURSELVES COMFORTABLE AND JOIN THE CONVERSATION.


Welcome, Bonnie. You and I go back a ways, don’t we? Let’s visit a while so we can get to know you a little better. Ready?


If you were a book, what would the title be?



That’s a tough one. Either God’s Girl or Blessed Grammy. I am both.

How do you start your day?
Half decaf coffee with tons of flavored Italian creamer, 5-7 devotional books, take dogs for walk with hubby. Oh, and major texting with my daughter. What did we ever do without IPhones? Real phones, I guess.

Tell us something about yourself most people don’t know about you.
Hey, Peg, that’s cheating! If they don’t already know, why tell them now? Ok, I’ll play. How about my compulsion for entering online contests? Especially ones where I could win a fabulous trip? And, I don’t even like to travel any more.

Also, I hate TV. Only watch Sunday nights, and only when Downtown Abbey and Mr. Selfridge are on. Read the newspaper every day instead. But, most people know that.

What is the funniest, strangest, most interesting thing you’ve come across?
Life.

You have a point! What is your favorite material item you own? Why?
It’s a toss-up between my computer and my cell phone. My computer is a wonderful social outlet. In addition to writing professionally, because of email I have made many wonderful friends and faithful prayer partners and keep in touch with old friends as far back as high school. I hate to admit it, but I carry my phone almost everywhere, even sometimes to the bathroom. Texting is my main connection to my daughter, especially when she is at work. We are very close, obviously.



That is so very special, Bonnie. You mentioned walking your dogs. Any other pets? Tell us about it/them.
We used to have 3 cats, a bird and a dog when we lived in California. Since we have moved to Arizona we just have two dogs. All of our animals have been rescues, even Luciano Pavarotti our masked lovebird who flew onto my car’s side view mirror one day.

Now we have Sam and Lola (the world’s silliest looking dog). Ancestry unknown for both. We are pretty sure we saved Sam from being put in a dog-fighting situation (long story for another time), and we adopted Lola because after three weeks with a rescue organization at PetSmart, no one else took her. Even our vet when he first saw her said, “WHAT are you?”

We are major animal lovers – you think? Every one of my stories has at least a cat or dog in it. Oops, one has a horse. But, it isn’t published yet.

BULLETEN! Just in from Bonnie: Lola, the cute goofy looking dog, is in hospital having surgery on her back. Yesterday, her hind legs stopped working. Apparently, she IS part Dachshund, and this is a problem with wiener dogs. We didn't know. PLEASE PRAY.

Plotter, pantser, or hybrid?
Definitely pantser. Probably why I get the old ‘stuck in the middle’ syndrome. But, when that passes, I’m off again. Kristy Dykes gave a great tip many moons ago. She said “Have an explosion in chapter eight.” So, I did, and I was off again in my story.

When is your most productive time to write?
Usually between 3 and 5:30 p.m., or when a grandchild is not on my computer playing Animal Jam.

What have you learned recently about yourself and how has it affected your writing?
I love writing in deep first POV. I have no idea what inspired me to write Butterfly Dreams that way, but I had so much fun ‘being’ Betsy. I think it gave me the opportunity to be my sassy, sarcastic inner self.

If you could be any character in any literary book, who would it be, and why?
Probably Claire in Ane Mulligan’s Chapel Springs Revival. Claire is such a bumbler, always making a mess of things, yet she is always forgiven and can laugh at herself.

 I haven’t read that yet, but it’s on my Kindle. Smile What sparks your creativity when feeling drained?
I get inspired by people and the funny things they do. For instance, the other day at the Hallmark store post office, two bumbling old ladies packed and re-packed the books I was sending. They were so funny and so sweet. They will definitely be in a scene in the sequel to Butterfly Dreams.

Tell us about your book.
butterflydreams_cover-214x300Betsy is a fifty-eight year old once widowed, once divorced personal chef. A client and friend, Bett, practically pushes her into the chiropractor arms of handsome Noel. While trying to decide if she should succumb to his charms, especially because he has numerous incidents that send him to the hospital, her daughter Brie shares she is pregnant and abandoned by her husband Derek. This is déjà vu for Betsy whose last husband, The Jerk, left her when she was pregnant with Brie.

Betsy rises to the occasion and transforms Brie from fat and sloppy into a lovely, and loving, woman. When Brie does a turnabout, Betsy is shocked, and scared. Nose wax? Teeth whitening? Yikes!

Are there any new projects you’re working on?

I’m about a fourth of the way through the sequel (as yet unnamed) for Butterfly Dreams; I have several completed novellas that I plan to re-edit and submit and at least three novellas half-way or almost finished. I also have a women’s fiction that will be the first in a series and a family saga partially set in Sweden.

My second book, A Winning Recipe, was released a few months ago, and my novella, A Cup of Love, is both a standalone and in a collection. All available on Amazon.

Do you have any parting thoughts you’d like to share?
Writers are always asked to encourage other writers. My mother, who passed on before I even had children, had two mantra-type phrases I always remember: “Let go and let God” and “Never give up.” I have added another one I learned from a Bible study partner. “God’s got it!” It’s a wonderful affirmation, because He does – always.

Also, PLEASE, rescue, i.e. adopt, an abandoned animal. Give one a forever home in exchange for the forever love you will get.

~♦~♦~      ♦      ~♦~♦~


Now for a little contest. I will let Bonnie explain.
Bonnie, here. I hope many of you will leave comments to win a FREE print book copy of Butterfly Dreams. 

When you do, please take a stab at naming the sequel to Butterfly Dreams. It’s not nearly completed yet, and since I’m a seat of the pants writer, even I don’t know where it’s going. But, just to give you a taste, here is Bett’s comment at the beginning:

I pretended to not notice Betsy’s smirk and her dramatically raised eyebrows. I really don’t want to be deceptive, Lord, now that I’m committed to You. But, as much as I adore Betsy and Noel, as much as I played a major role in their romance and even planned their wedding, I don’t want them questioning my motives. I truly believe You guided me, maybe even set me up (hee, hee) to be a matchmaker. Is that my new persona … Matchmaker for Jesus? I love it, and I know I’ll have fun doing it, or my name isn’t Bettina Bethany. Thanks, Sir, for being on my side. Thanks for Your wonderful sense of Holy Humor.

The winner of the free book will still be chosen randomly, but … if I use the title you suggest, you will be acknowledged in the book and maybe even be a character. It’s fun to see your name in print. Do be sure to keep either the word butterfly or the word dreams in your suggested title. Have fun! Giveaway AND contest ends at Midnight (Central Time) Friday, October 16. Free book winner will be selected and notified via email on Saturday.  Suggested titles selection will be up to Bonnie Smile


About Bonnie:

bonnie_headshot-150x150Bonnie Engstrom loves to write and she loves food, especially salad and sashimi. She used to love to cook, but since her husband semi-retired he took over as resident chef. She grew up in Pittsburgh, he in Chicago, and they met in Washington, D.C when they attended George Washington University. They raised their children in Southern California (that is a separate state from Northern California, isn’t it?), so several of her stories are set in Newport Beach. (Not Butterfly Dreams, though.)

She and psychologist husband Dave of fifty years now live in Arizona. They are the parents of three grown children and the proud grandparents of six grandchildren, four of whom live in Scottsdale and two in Costa Rica on the beach! Pura Vida! Surf’s up!

The couple’s eldest son is an IT expert who taught his mother everything she knows about computer literacy. Unfortunately, he and his wife Sandra live in Maryland, too far to fly home for a weekend to help Mom as he used to when she lived in California and he in Arizona.

Butterfly Dreams, a Lady Lit contemporary Christian romance, was released May, 2015 by Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications. Check out www.forgetmenotromances.com to see all the wonderful authors I am in company with. <Oops! Dangling preposition.

It can be purchased in both Kindle and print form at:

http://www.amazon.com/Butterfly-Dreams-Christian-Contemporary-Romance-ebook/dp/B00XZVOYKS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1432212771&sr=8-1&keywords=butterfly+dreams+engstrom

 

Thanks, Bonnie, for being a guest here on Whispers in Purple. It’s been a pleasure hosting you.
It’s been my pleasure, Peg. Even though you tossed me some tough questions, it was fun! Thank you. 

But that’s my job! Mwaaaaahhhhhaaaa!

Monday, September 21, 2015

Writing Talk Tuesday with Jeanne Marie Leach

ooops_2


A Slip of the Tongue:


Using Malapropisms, Spoonerisms, and Hyperbole in Your Writing


By Jeanne Marie Leach


Happiness lies in the joy of achievement and the thrill of creative effort.


---Franklin D. Roosevelt


Why is it that the simplest day-to-day speech mannerisms never find their way into our writing? Why do all characters tend to sound just like all other characters when they speak?

We are taught to give each of our characters something that differentiates each of them from the others. It’s easy to do that with their physical appearances, little habits and tics, but how do we do it in speech without them sounding the same as the characters from other books we’ve written or read?

Simple answer: give them some “normalcy” when they speak. You will create more believable characters if you use these familiar, yet forgotten slips of the tongue.

1. Malapropisms --- This is when the author misuses words or phrases ridiculously, especially by confusing words that sound similar. The word or phrase means something different from the word the writer intended to use. The result is usually nonsensical, but entertaining.

Shakespeare used malapropisms in several of his works. Just a few examples of this are:

  • · "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended two auspicious persons." (i.e., apprehended, suspicious; Much Ado About Nothing, Act 3, Scene V)

  • · "That is the very defect of the matter, sir." (i.e., effect; The Merchant of Venice Act 2, Scene II)

  • · "I will tell her, sir, that you do protest, which, as I take it, is a gentlemanlike offer." (i.e., propose; Romeo and Juliet, Act 2, Scene IV)


One thing to remember about malapropisms in fiction writing is that they don’t belong in the narrative portion of the story, but characters can get away with saying most anything. If a character uses clichés or malapropisms because that’s a part of who she or he is, then it works. Don’t try to have every character in your book speak this way every time they open their mouth. But one particular character who does this fairly regularly would definitely add depth to who they are.

If a character is excited, frustrated, or fearful, a malapropism would help show this. I grew up in the 60’s and 70’s, and watched the Archie Bunker TV show regularly. His non-politically correct, bigoted attitude aside, he used malapropisms in some of the funniest ways.

The most recent well-known character who uses these little gems often is Uncle Si on Duck Dynasty. He uses a dozen of them per show, and it’s hilarious, yet endears us to this older gentleman. If you’ve never watched the show, I suggest you do. Just one 30-minute episode will give you a great example of how to use these little gems.

Bubble_slips_of_the_tongue


2. Spoonerisms – These are more commonly known as a “slip of the tongue.” This is when someone gets the first letter of a couple words mixed around. They usually happen unintentionally, but an author can intentionally have one of their characters make a spoonerism that would be most appropriate for the moment. They are obviously used in humorous situations.

Examples:

  • · "Three cheers for our queer old dean!" (dear old queen)

  • · "Is it kisstomary to cuss the bride?" (customary to kiss)

  • · "Is the bean dizzy?" (dean busy)


Spoonerisms only work in dialogue, and could show up when a character gets overly excited, such as a heroine meeting the hero for the first time and he’s drop-dead gorgeous. Or if someone is caught in a lie. These add an element of fun to your story, but should be used sparingly. After all, we’ve all had this sort of slipup before, so why not give ‘em to our characters? It makes them more human, rather than cookie cutter.

3. Hyperbole – A hyperbole is an obvious and intentional exaggeration. While it may be used to create a strong impression, it is definitely not to be taken literally. Some examples are:

  • · The bag weighed a ton.

  • · She walked toward the front of the class as if her feet were made of lead.

  • · He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders.

  • · The tabby cat’s lion-like growl startled her.


Hyperbole can be used in narration as well as dialogue, but isn’t seen as much in adult fiction as it used to because we are taught to SHOW and not TELL. In our attempt to do so, we’ve forgotten to do that with hyperbole. The above examples are great ways to show and not tell.

Teenagers regularly use hyperbole in their casual speech, so you’ll see these in the young adult genres more than anywhere else. They say things like, “My dad is going to kill me when he finds out I got a dent in the car.” This is an obvious overstatement.

Have you noticed, though, that adults use these exaggerations too? Of course you have. I exaggerate all the time to get my point across. Why not develop a character who has this tendency? Perhaps it gets her or him into trouble.

I hope you can see how adding a few average, everyday mannerisms to your character’s speech can create more unique and interesting people your readers will love.

~♦~♦~


About Jeanne Marie Leach

JeanneMarieLeach

Jeanne Marie Leach is a multi-published author and freelance editor specializing in fiction and teaches courses on editing fiction. She is coordinator of The Christian PEN, a member of the Christian Editor Network, and member #46 of The American Christian Fiction Writers, where she received the 2012 Member Service Award. She teaches 32 weeks per year to editors on how to edit fiction and continually keeps abreast of current market trends and hones her knowledge of fiction writing and editing through classes and conferences.

Visit Jeanne’s website and check out the editing services she offers: www.jeannemarieleach.com

~♦~♦~


Now, I have a challenge–a fun one, trust me––– in the comments section below, share some of the funniest slips of the tongue you’ve experienced yourself, or heard from others. If I get enough, I’ll post them in a separate blog next week. I have made MY share of them over the years, and I’ll share, too. C’mon, join the conversation…and the fun. Oh, and I’ll keep you anonymous if you request me to.


MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Jeanne will be back here on Writing Talk Tuesday in December. The dates are: December 1, 15, 22, and 29.


Thanks, Jeanne, for taking part in my new venture. I’ve ‘known’ you for a number of years and I’ve always respected your writing talent, sense of humor, and edititing acumen.


Here's a TWEETABLE for you:


[bctt tweet="How to use malapropisms, spoonerisims and hyperbole in your writing with Jeanne Marie Leach. A fun & interesting blog post."]

Sunday, September 20, 2015

ABORTION IS NOT THE UNPARDONABLE SIN, Linda Wood Rondeau

fiddler2 (1) third attempt

In my upcoming release, Fiddler’s Fling, by Elk Lake Publishing, the subject of abortion is addressed.

My heroine, Jolene was raised in a loving church environment. Yet, when she thought herself in trouble, looked for solutions from secular resources rather than go to the people who should be the first to help her find the way back to God…to forgiveness and healing.

It is unfortunate that our young people are given all kinds of scripture and wisdom regarding the dangers of pre-marital sex; yet, the church refuses to acknowledge that hormones can and will get the better of a young person’s judgment and out-of-wedlock pregnancies happen to church kids, even those who are strong Christians.

We sin. And there are consequences to that sin.

Yet, young people are too ashamed and guilt ridden to come to the church for advice on how to cope with the consequence of an unwanted pregnancy. And so they seek advice from the world. Scared and uninformed…not sure of other alternatives…they are counseled that abortion is the only reasonable “out.” And so guilt is added upon guilt and it drives them further from the very source that could bring them spiritual healing.

What can and should the church do? Is it reasonable to teach birth control other than abstinence? Many church leaders fear that arming their young people with this information is tantamount to permissiveness. Is it reasonable to teach young people what to do if they do find themselves in the predicament of an unwanted pregnancy? Or again, do leaders fear this knowledge would give the wrong impression?

Some churches do reach out to the community and offer assistance to unwed mothers…providing counseling after the fact. Then why do our young people fear contacting their Sunday School teachers and pastors? And if they do make the mistake of getting an abortion, guilt drives them even further from the church?

If we confess our sin, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9 NIV).

Sin is disobedience against God. That is why we are all sinners and all of us are in need of grace. The problem comes when churches, consciously or unconsciously, grade sin on a bell curve. We fail to recognize that a lie is as grievous a sin to the Lord as murder. Yet, God will forgive us any sin except the failure to ask for forgiveness…He cannot forgive if we are unwilling to receive His forgiveness.

Perhaps the message we most need to give our young people is that: we all fall short of perfection but God does not fall short on His ability to forgive.

♦My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One (1 John 1 John 2:1 NIV).

When we teach abstinence without reinforcing grace we deter our young people from seeking help from the very people who will love them through the failure.

♦What can you do?

Talk to your church leaders. Inquire as to how they manage sex education in their youth curriculum. Do they only teach abstinence? Do they encourage young people to seek counseling when confronted with a situation that has gotten out of control?

Only through awareness, openness, and forgiveness, can we help our young people afford making the abortion mistake. And if they do, the church must provide an aura of Grace and let them know that they can find healing and forgiveness within the church family.

Christians sin. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of sin and urges us to seek God’s face in our contrition.

~♦~♦~


ABOUT FIDDLER’S FLING:

Will be released within a few days by http://www.elklakepublishing.com/about.html

Engaged to a wealthy rising political star, a driven social worker returns to her small-town roots.

With her wedding to Robert Ashworth weeks away, Jolene Murdock receives a call from Dwight Etting, her estranged father’s junior partner and her former boyfriend. The business is crumbling and her father is dying.

Compelled to visit in spite of Robert’s objections, Jolene wonders if reconciliation is possible given her father’s hatred of all things Ashworth. And there was Dwight. How could she work side-by-side with him and not reveal her secret sin?

To complicate matters her father wants her to play a duet with him in the upcoming Essex County Fiddlers Fling; however, her fiddle was among the many things she left behind when she abandoned Brookside.

More than a romance.

Set in the beautiful Adirondack Mountains, Fiddlers Fling depicts the struggle of the human spirit to find absolution in good deeds rather than accept the unconditional forgiveness God offers the repentant heart.

~♦~♦~


IMG_3793ABOUT LINDA WOOD RONDEAU

Winner of the 2012 Selah Award for best first novel, LINDA WOOD RONDEAU, writes blended contemporary fiction that speaks to the heart and offers hope to those with damaged lives. After a long career in human services, Linda now resides in Jacksonville, Florida. A Christmas Prayer, (aka A Father’s Prayer) was a finalist for both the 2014 Selah and Carol Awards.

The gorgeous Adirondack Mountains are a frequent setting for Rondeau’s books.

Readers may visit her web site at www.lindarondeau.com, her blog, Salt and Light, or email her at lindarondeau@gmail.com or find her on Facebook, Twitter, PInterest, Google Plus and Goodreads.

Tweetable:

[bctt tweet="Is #abortion the ultimate sin? See what Linda Wood Rondeau @lwrondeau has to say about it and how the church can help our young people deal with it."]

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Unconditional: Behind the Story By: Tanya Eavenson

Unconditional_1400x2100


He will fight for her at any cost...

Elizabeth Roberts can't remember her past, and the present is too painful. She turns to nightclubs and drinking to forget her infant daughter's death, her husband's affair.
When his wife's coma wiped out the memory of their marriage, Chris Roberts found comfort elsewhere. He can't erase his betrayal, but with God's help he’s determined to fight for Elizabeth at any cost.
She wants to forget. He wants to save his marriage. Can they trust God with their future and find a love that’s unconditional?

~♥~♥~



Unconditional: Behind the Story


                     By: Tanya Eavenson



Most little girls grow up believing in happily-ever-after and fairy tales of an unconditional love story. But I grew up in a family were divorce was common, with the idea once you “fall out” of love and you can’t get along anymore, it’s time to get a divorce. The proof was watching family members bounce from spouse to spouse. At a young age, I learned to believe love was fleeting. I began to protect myself with walls of preservation no one could penetrate.

Until one day when I visited a church and met a certain guy. It had been years since I’d been to a church, but I felt drawn to go. Soon afterward, the guy and I started dating, and for the first time in my life, I believed in happily-ever-after. I believed it throughout high school and right after college when we married.

But months later, I held divorce papers in my hands. To this day, I recall the emptiness in that moment, the hurt and pain and the reasons why I’d left my husband. Once again, I experienced the same feelings I felt when I was a child--love was fleeting, and happily-ever-after didn’t exist.

As I picked up the pen from the desk to sign the divorce papers, I never counted on the Holy Spirit urging me to call my husband. We spoke, barely, more like grunted at each other, but on that day we decided to meet, and shortly after, to fight for our marriage.

I didn’t plan to write Unconditional, but a desire took hold to tell a story of a husband and wife lost in their marriage. Although Unconditional isn’t the story my husband and I faced, there were similarities. We were at the brink of divorce and no one could stop it from happening—except for God.
Psalms 103:2-5 says, Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all His benefits—
3 who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
4 who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
5 who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagles.

Yes, God kept His promises. He forgave our sins, redeemed our marriage, and the life to which He’d called us. But most importantly, God revealed His passion and love for me like no one ever had, will, or could. I was His and He would never be willing to give me up, regardless of the circumstance. And though humanly speaking, there’s no such thing as happily-ever-after, in Christ, I would be happy for all eternity.

My husband and I celebrated nineteen years of marriage; the same month I held Unconditional in my hands for the first time. I cried seeing my name scrolled across the backdrop of a woman ever so gently kissing her husband at their wedding. It was surreal. Unconditional was a gift, a reminder of God’s love for me and for my readers. It’s an unconditional love story of a woman, a man, and an amazing God.

~♥~♥~


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~ Tanya Eavenson enjoys spending time with her husband, and their three children. Her favorite pastime is grabbing a cup of coffee, eating chocolate, and reading a good book. Tanya is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Word Weavers International, and writes for Christ to the World Ministries. You can find her at her website http://www.tanyaeavenson.com/ on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Google, or on Amazon.

Buy Links:

~♥~♥~


Thank you so much, Tanya, for being my guest here today, and for your wonderful, heartfelt story. God Bless You!


Join the conversation!


TWEETABLE:


[bctt tweet="Is there such a thing as 'happily ever after?' See what Tanya Eavenson @Tan_eave has to say. #whispersinpurple #divorce #marriage #unconditional"]

Meet Rozene Gentry Carson

SR-CoverRozene is the main character in my Sweetwater River Series.

I was honored to be asked to write a post for my publisher’s blog this week. It went live today, so I thought I’d tease you a bit with part of my interview with her.

~♦~♦~

Q: Rozene Gentry Carson, what is the most interesting thing about you?
A: I’m at least half Cherokee. I was raised from infancy by my grandmother Chenoa, a full-blooded Cherokee. I don’t know whether she was my maternal or paternal grandmother, and I know nothing about my parents. She never talked about them. In fact, she rarely talked at all. Mostly she just grunted. But she loved me, in her own way.

You can read the rest of the interview HERE

I hope you can find the time to check it out…and leave a comment.

THANKS!

Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Guest Blogger author Carole Brown

What a Lovely Evening, by Carole Brown

shooting_star_by_kuramachan5-d68nfovAlex hurried inside dragging Kayla with her, but I paused outside, taking in the sky that seemed to stretch forever. Out west, the sky did that. It took a fella down a little to face up to the fact of his own insignificance in the grand scheme of things. It was so easy to get caught up in one’s own little world, letting it go to your head and thinking a mite bigger of yourself than one should.

Tonight I wondered. Did I matter? -- Excerpt from Bat Crazy, Book 2 of the Denton and Alex Davies Mysteries

Do I matter?

“Come on, Grandma. Lay down here and watch the stars with us.”

How could I resist such a sweet plea? I couldn’t. Clambering onto a pile of boards my son and daughter-in-law had stacked to save for another day, banging my ankle against a particularly rough edge, I joined my two grandsons (10 year old Wes and 3 year old Jonathan) on their “bed.”

“Lay back, Grandma.”

Groan. Edging backward, I finally settled into an uncomfortable position (propping my head up with my clenched hands) and joined my younger companions in star-gazing.

“Look at that shooting star.” This was from Wes and since he was older I expected to see a lit-trail of glory blossoming across the dark heavens.

I didn’t. But again and again I was urged to look.

Until . . .

I got caught up in the moment, that beautiful time when reality and thought become enchanted with the glory of God. No matter if my grandsons were imagining their sights or if their more perfect vision was seeing what I at first hadn’t. I finally let myself stare at the sky with them and let myself be wrapped in their magical moment.

And I saw it . . .

Tiny, and lightning quick, I saw a tail of something. I like to think it WAS a shooting star. A moment in time where anything can happen. A moment in time when a person realizes their insignificance and then, just as quickly, knows that God is real and big and cares.

It only took a few minutes to make and share an outstandingly lovely memory with my grandsons. Uncomfortable as it was, I think God gave me a nudge of encouragement in that brief glimpse of his glory.

Like Denton, in my BAT CRAZY novel, I was reassured of God’s ever and ongoing love for me and that what I do--simple as it is--is important to him.

What a lovely evening.

~♦~♦~

Please welcome my guest, author Carole Brown. Carole and I were part of an e-mail critique group about ten years ago, and about a year later I got to meet her in person at the 2006 ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference in Dallas. TX. So it is my particular pleasure to have her here today.

I posted her sweet story above before anything else,  because I thought it charming, and it starts with a line from the book we’re featuring here.

~♦~♦~

Book Cover Centered-small

Monster Bats with red eyes that attack humans?

Denton doesn’t think so and Alex hopes not, but who are they to quibble with the local gossip?

Transmission problems and a blown tire land Denton and Alex Davies right in the middle of a dilapidated, unfriendly town that’s welcoming no strangers, least of all nosy ones with a bent toward solving mysteries.

But with support from the town detective--an admirer of the Davies--and their own tenacious personalities, Denton and Alex aren’t easily scared off. Not when warnings in the form of painted bats show up on the porch of their rented cabin, not when the mayor threatens to run them out of town and not even when Denton finds the bones . . .

An ancient story, a bit of a map, a lost jewel and even a bat clan serve to provide the Davies and their sidekick, Taffy, the dog, their hardest case so far.

Available on Amazon and other online stores:

http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

~♦~♦~

Bro. & Sis. Brown 019

Carole Brown not only has her award winning (Winner of the 2015 Christian Small Publisher Award in General Fiction, nominated for an Epic Award, RWA International Digital Awards finalist in Inspiration, Laurel Award finalist, Selah finalist; Genesis semi-finalist) debut novel, The Redemption of Caralynne Hayman, available for purchase now, but a companion book called West Virginia Scrapbook: From the Life of Caralynne Hayman, filled with tidbits of information about West Virginia.

A fun, lighthearted mystery series began with the first book: Hog Insane, introducing Denton and Alex Davies and now her second book in this series, Bat Crazy. Her WWII romantic suspense Spies series began with With Music In Their Hearts, featuring three red-headed sisters, three spies, and three stories.

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

~♦~♦~

Carole, thanks so much for being my guest today. It’s been an honor and a pleasure to host you. Please come back again . . . any time!

Monday, September 14, 2015

Author Janet K Brown visits My Cozy Den and offers a giveaway

As Fall creeps in, and Winter approaches, we’ll be be chatting in My Cozy Den from time to time.Come on in and make yourselves at home. The refreshment bar is through the door on your left. Now, let’s get started.


my-cozy-purple-den

Janet, Welcome to Whispers in Purple, and My Cozy Den.
I’m honored to be your guest, Peg.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.
My husband and I live in Wichita Falls, TX. We love to travel with our RV. I write wherever we roam. We have three daughters, 2 sons-in-law, and three perfect grandchildren. With God’s help, I lost a hundred pounds and have kept it off for nineteen years. I teach a weight controlling class at my church based on my devotion book, Divine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness. I love line dancing to keep down my weight.

What do you say to people who ask you how you come up with ideas for a book?
Ideas are everywhere; our own experiences, others’ experiences, newspaper and magazine articles, but mostly asking the question, “what if.”

How do you choose the settings for your books?
I mostly write about North Texas which I know. Others evolved from places I’ve visited. In my YA ghost series, I use real places with real ghost legends.

Do you have a speaking ministry? Tell us something about that.
As I said, I teach a weekly weight class. I have also spoken for other weight classes. I do workshops on writing, weight loss, and the history of my settings for libraries, book clubs, and women’s clubs.

What is your most difficult writing obstacle, and how do you overcome it?
Hands down, the promotion. I’m tech-challenged, so find all the online promotion time consuming and difficult. I’d much rather stick with in-person events. I like people.

What keeps you the most humble as a writer?
When I weighed 250 lbs, my self esteem was lower than a worm, but I learned that putting myself down is pride, not humility. Humility comes from gratitude. I’m so thankful to the Lord for what He’s done for me. Without Him, I’m nothing.

If you’d been born into the animal kingdom instead of the human race, what would you be, and why?
A bear. I like the idea of hibernating through the winter, and I think I get angry too easily.

What gives you the most satisfaction in your writing, besides THE END, that is?
There’s nothing I like better than facing a blank page with a story sparking through my mind. Sometimes, the fingers tap so fast across the keyboard that I don’t remember writing it.

Which author would you never get tired of reading, and why?
There’s a lot of them, but here’s a few: Tracie Peterson, DiAne Mills, Linda Goodnight, Bonnie Langthripe, James Scott Bell. I’m sure I’ve left out a bunch that don’t come to mind right now. I like books that delve into relationships and tug on my emotions.

What project are you working on at the moment? Tell us about it.
WHW_cover_11-26-14 (2)Pen-L Publishing released my first women’s fiction in January of this year. The title is Worth Her Weight. My work in progress is the sequel to this book.

How can a woman who gives to everyone but herself accept God’s love and healing when she believes she’s fat, unworthy, and unfixable? Can she be Worth Her Weight?

Here’s the trailer for the book:

The book can be purchased on the Pen-L catalog store -


About Janet:

janet (3)

Janet K. Brown lives in Wichita Falls, Texas with her husband, Charles. Writing became her second career after retiring from medical coding.

Worth Her Weight is the author’s first inspirational women’s fiction, but it makes a perfect companion to her previously released, Divine Dining: 365 Devotions to Guide You to Healthier Weight and Abundant Wellness. Both books encompass her passion for diet, fitness, and God’s Word.

Worth Her Weight marks Brown’s third book. Who knew she had a penchant for teens and ghosts? She released her debut novel, an inspirational young adult, Victoria and the Ghost, in July, 2012.

Janet and her husband love to travel with their RV, work in their church, and visit their three daughters, two sons-in-law and three perfect grandchildren.

Janet teaches workshops on writing, weight loss, and the historical settings of her teen books.

Janet is offering a Kindle copy of Worth Her Weight. Entering is easy. Just leave a comment below and tell Janet why you’d like to win this book. You have until Midnight (Central) Wednesday, September 23. All commenters will be entered in a drawing through random.org and drawn on Thursday, the 24th. Watch your email for notification if you turn out to be the winner Smile

Thank you so much, Janet, it’s been a pleasure having you on my blog this week.
And, thank you, Peg,  for having me.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Interview with author Teresa Lilly

Hi, Teresa. Welcome to Whispers in Purple. I’m so happy to have you here. Let’s get acquainted.

What was your first job?

I taught gymnastics when I was in high school.

What’s the first thing you do when waking up in the morning?

Pray for my sister and stretch my feet..

What is your favorite color?

Black, and like Johnny Cash I usually dress in black as well.

Ah, the Man in Black Smile Do you have a pet, or pets? Tell us about it/them

Unfortunatly, no. I love animals but at this time in life do not have time to care for any.

That’s too bad. I don’t know what I’d do without my dog these days. If you weren’t a writer, what would you most likely be doing instead?

Teaching, however, I’ve always thought it would be fun to be a waitress in a truck stop.

Why did you become a writer?

I dreamt of doing it since I was a young girl, and after reading Janette Oke…I knew I had to.

When reading, what is your favorite genre? What are you reading right now?

I love Christian Romance Novellas, however, I also love all of Grace Livingston Hill Books. I am currently rereading all 100 of her books.

Where do you get your ideas?

Most of the time they just appear in my mind.

What is your Book about?

cover for create

Cooking Up Christmas is about a woman who comes to Angel Vale as one of about 9 mail order brides. She intends to marry, but in the meantime will work at the Angel Vale Eatery as a cook. She can’t seem to find out what her intended does for a living and who owns the eatery. It’s full of fun collisions. I’m actually very proud of this novella, I believe it is some of my best writing.

Here’s the back cover blurb:

When Henrietta agrees to become a mail order angel for Benjamin Capel, she moves to Angel Vale Wyoming eager to begin working in the town’s eatery. Although happy with her job and attracted to her husband-to-be, she discovers that Benjamin has several secrets. What does he do for a living, why does talking about money upset him so much and who actually owns the Angel Vale Eatery. Will these questions be answered so she can freely say I Do or does God have a different plan for her life in Angel Vale?

Check out the book HERE

What is your next project?

I am currently writing a story called Wild Prairie Rose, about a mail order bride coming to Iowa. The main thing is she isn’t a true beauty and wants to find someone who is plain like herself.

About Teresa:

new teresa

Teresa Ives Lilly lives in Texas with her husband, near her grown children. She loves to write Christian Historical Novellas, although she dabbles in contemporary as well. You can see all her books at www.teresalilly.wordpress.com. She loves to hear from her readers at teresaiveslilly@yahoo.com

 

Thank you so much for being my guest here today, Teresa. Wishing you the very best with your next project. AND . . . we’ll be seeing you back here on October 12! Looking forward to that.

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Thoughts from an Award-Winning Author: Q and A with Sylvia Bambola

This week we're proud to introduce Sylvia Bambola and her beautiful book, The Daughters of Jim Farrell! With a wonderfully unique background and several published novels to her name, see the advice she offers other writers.

First, a peek at her latest book:

The Daughters of Jim Farrell by Sylvia Bambola


Pennsylvania 1873: When, in the harsh world of Pennsylvania coal country, Jim Farrell is hanged for murder, his wife and three daughters must turn their beautiful home into a boarding house in order to survive. But struggling beneath the shadow of shame becomes too much for eldest daughter, Kate, who resolves to clear her father’s name, and in spite of her mother’s admonition to “let it go,” convinces her sisters to help. All too soon their dangerous quest rips the family apart. Will it also cost them the men they love?



Q&A with Sylvia:


Q. What are the main themes in your new historical novel, The Daughters of Jim Farrell?


A. There are a few but I’ll mention only three. The first, and I believe the most important, is the issue of forgiveness even in the face of the ultimate sin—that of having a loved one killed unjustly. All of us will have opportunities in our lives to forgive wrongs. And the importance of doing so cannot be understated. Jesus says in Luke 6:37 “Forgive and ye shall be forgiven.” That’s a stunner. And means what it says. So we cannot afford to harbor unforgiveness of any kind. And forgiveness isn’t a feeling, it’s an act of will.Another theme is the tension between labor and management. And this tension seems to be intensifying as politicians seek to divide us by income and pit us against each other. The Bible cautions us that “if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand.” Labor needs management (and entrepreneurs, etc) to create jobs and management needs labor in order to make their companies successful. We are ONE nation under God. We need each other to succeed.

Finally, what family hasn’t seen its share of sibling rivalry? The Daughters of Jim Farrell touches on this as the three sisters struggle to find their identity and place in the family.

Q. What is the one thing that influences your writing the most?


A. In a word—Scripture. The thing I love about writing fiction is that it’s a nonthreatening way to share spiritual truths. Like the parables in the Bible, story and characters can bring these truths to life.

Q. You now have eight published novels. What would you say to those writers just starting out?



A. I would make these four recommendations:1) Get connected. That means join a critique group, go to writing conferences and become an on-line member of associations like ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and others.

2) Learn your craft. Take no short cuts here. Learn and employ good writing techniques and understand that good writing means LOTS of rewriting.

3) Learn about marketing. You the author will be required to do most of it even if you are fortunate enough to be picked up by one of the Big-5 traditional publishers.

4) And finally, NEVER give up. This is generally a long and bumpy road full of ups and downs. I personally don’t know any “overnight wonders” those who have taken about a year to write their first book which then becomes an over night success. Most published authors have written for years before getting published. Remember, the spoils go to those who persevere.




Meet the author:


Born in Romania, Sylvia Bambola lived her early years in Germany. At seven she relocated with her adopted family and saw the Statue of Liberty and America for the first time. But the memory of those years in post World War Germany inspired her to write Refiner’s Fire, which won a Silver Angel Award, and was a Christy Finalist. Her frequent moves as an “army brat” gave her an opportunity to see America and fall in love with her new country. Bambola has authored eight novels, has two grown children, and teaches women’s Bible studies.

Connect with Sylvia Bambola:


website: http://www.sylviabambola.com/books
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/83706.Sylvia_Bambola
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sylvia-Bambola/78754640991
twitter: https://twitter.com/sylviabambola
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Daughters-Jim-Farrell-Sylvia-Bambola/dp/0989970787/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1435785514&sr=1-1&keywords=the+daughters+of+jim+farrell
Barnsandnoble.com:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-daughters-of-jim-farrell-sylvia-bambola/1122239437?ean=9780989970785

Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Guest Blogger Author Beth Wiseman w/Giveaway

For years, I wrote Amish fiction exclusively. Then I opened the lid on the box and wrote Texas contemporaries (Need You Now and The House that Love Built). Following those ventures, I jumped way out of the box and wrote a story inspired by actual events, about a woman being held captive in Pakistan (The Promise).

ATWT cover finalMy new release—A Tide Worth Turning—is another new venture for me, my first non-Amish novella and first Indie project. This novella is a romance, but like my other books, the story is relationship driven. I explore the mother/daughter relationship in A Tide Worth Turning, and as secrets are revealed, my characters are able to come to terms with their past while also finding hope for the future. I always try to sprinkle in a little humor along the way too. In an effort to make this story as strong as possible, I used the same editor I’ve used for years and mirrored the traditional publishing process in an effort to provide a quality work of fiction. A Tide Worth Turning is a fun and romantic beach read that I hope readers will enjoy in any season.

Fun fact – I took the photograph for the cover, then turned it over to a graphics artist to finalize. This story starts out in Galveston, Texas, and for those familiar with Galveston, you’ll know right away that the beach on the cover isn’t Galveston. Correct! This story takes my readers to another beach far across the world. To say more would be a spoiler. Smile

I’ve had an amazing publishing journey so far, and I hope and pray that God will continue to bless me with stories to tell. I’m grateful beyond words to readers also. I hope you’ll add A Tide Worth Turning to your reading list. I loved writing the story.

About the book:

Addison Burke is a successful real estate agent who specializes in high-end closings and who enjoys an elite lifestyle not often afforded someone her age (27). But following a stroke and a recent fall, Addison is forced to hire a caregiver for her estranged mother, Lee Ann, a job Addison chooses not to take on, despite her financial freedom to do so. She hires an agency to fill the position, and to her surprise, they send a man for the job.

Logan has somehow managed to keep his act together despite a past that is slowly catching up with him. If he can make enough money over the next couple of months by tending to Lee Ann Burke, he should be able to flee the country before his world comes crashing down around him. But when Lee Ann’s beautiful daughter, Addison, begins to awaken feelings in him that he thought died long ago, he begins to question whether or not fleeing from the past is worth leaving Addison forever.

Will Addison let down her guard for love and renew her relationship with her mother? Can Logan face his past, come out unscathed, and act on his feelings for Addison? And why is Lee Ann selling everything she owns on EBay and Craig’s List?

About the Author:

Headshot2014

Beth Wiseman is the best-selling author of the Daughters of the Promise series and the Land of Canaan series.  Having sold over 1.5 million books, her novels have held spots on the ECPA (Evangelical Christian Publishers Association) Bestseller List and the CBA (Christian Book Association) Bestseller List.  She was the recipient of the prestigious Carol Award in 2011 and 2013.  She is a three-time winner of the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award, and an Inspy Award winner.  In 2013, she took home the coveted Holt Medallion.  Her first book in the Land of Canaan series--Seek Me With All Your Heart--was selected as the 2011 Women of Faith Book of the Year.  

Beth is contracted with HarperCollins Christian Publishing into the year 2019, and she has published thirteen novels and thirteen novellas to date.

As a former newspaper reporter, Beth was honored by her peers with eleven journalism awards, including first place news writing for The Texas Press Association. She has been a humor columnist for The 1960 Sun in Houston and published articles in various publications. However, writing novels is where her heart is. She left her job as a journalist in 2008 to write novels fulltime.

Beth has a deep affection for the Amish and their simpler way of life, and while she plans to continue writing Amish love stories, she is also branching out into other areas. Her first non-Amish, contemporary—Need You Now—released in April 2012 and landed on the CBA Bestseller List. She enjoyed writing the story based in a town near where she lives, and she chose another small Texas town for her next non-Amish contemporary—The House that Love Built—which is based in Smithville, the same quaint town where movies such as Hope Floats and Tree of Life were filmed. Beth continued to spread her wings when she released The Promise in October 2014. Inspired by actual events, The Promise follows Beth’s characters all the way to Pakistan. Beth was involved in the real-life rescue when her friend was held captive in Pakistan. Beth is currently working on book #2 in her new Amish Secrets series, tentatively titled Jacob’s Ladder. Book #1—Her Brother’s Keeper—recently released and was chosen as a Top Pick by RT Reviews Magazine.

Beth and her husband are empty nesters enjoying the country life in Texas with three dogs and a rooster. When she’s not writing, she loves to travel, paint, and enjoy time with friends and family. You can find Beth at Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook where she interacts with readers and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/bethwiseman.

About the Giveaway:

Beth is offering one digital copy of A Tide Worth Turning after it releases on September 12. Entering is easy: just leave a comment below and your name will be entered into a random drawing on random.org. Giveaway ends at Midnight (Central Time) on Friday, September18.

Thank you, Beth, for sharing your time with us here on Whispers in Purple. It’s been a real pleasure learning about you and your writing journey. Or should I say journeys?

Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Drawing a Blank

I got nothing.

So, I thought I’d share a little something to make you smile.

a minute

 

However, I do have a guest blogger scheduled for tomorrow…author Beth Wiseman.

Do join us then on Whispers in Purple, and thanks for visitng today. Oh, comments welcome :)