Guest Blogger author Carole Brown

What a Lovely Evening, by Carole Brown

Alex 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.

~♦~♦~

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

~♦~♦~

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?

• Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/browncarole212
• Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/
• Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=67381031
• Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts
• Stitches in Time: http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/
• Barn Door Book Loft: http://www.barndoorbookloft.net/

~♦~♦~

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!