CHARACTER INTERVIEW: with Sabrina Wayson You’re Beautiful ~ Julie Arduini ~ Giveaway

CHARACTER INTERVIEW: Sabrina Wayson

You’re Beautiful (Timeless Thursday)

Julie Arduini

You’re Beautiful is the first of three books in the Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ series that I wrote with my teen daughter, Hannah. She had the idea after going through a hard time in middle school, and she wanted to encourage girls before similar things happened to them. We realized that women struggle with believing lies about themselves as much as girls and teens do. The series is for females for all ages revolving around a mentoring ministry in Youngstown, Ohio. The middle school character and the adult mentor from each book both have their own story but believe the same lie about themselves.

You’re Beautiful highlights Hayley Atkinson and Sabrina Wayson’s story. Sabrina is a recent college graduate with a unique upbringing. It’s my pleasure to introduce Sabrina through her character interview.

THE INTERVIEW: 

JULIE: Sabrina, you seem to have a passion to encourage girls. Where do you think it comes from?

SABRINA: Great question. I think it’s from the home I grew up in. My biological parents were not able to take care of me, so my uncle and aunt invited me to stay with them. They are my parents as far as I’m concerned, and they are the pastors at our church. Aunt Cheri’s a natural at reaching out and encouraging others, and it was her idea to start the Linked mentoring ministry. I jumped at the opportunity.

JULIE: How do you balance everything? You recently graduated from college, work at a coffee shop, serve with Linked.

SABRINA: A lot of caffeine! I also try to stay organized, and I have a lot of reminders on my phone, including texting the others in Linked so they know I’m praying for them.

JULIE: Tell me about Linked. What are the girls like?

SABRINA: So much fun. I don’t know why adults don’t want to be around teens. The girls are hilarious, and they just want to be loved and needed. Even the ones who aren’t always pleasant, I know at their core they also have a desire to be loved. It’s the least I can do to show them Christ and remind them there will be no regrets if they make Him number one in their lives.

JULIE: How often do you see your biological father?

SABRINA: That’s a work in progress. He has a lot of issues to work through, and I think he’s doing his best. I’m very thankful for Uncle Chet and Aunt Cheri. They keep my focus on Christ as we all navigate these waters.

JULIE: Are you spontaneous at all?

SABRINA: I can be. One thing I did after graduation was I went to the mall and got my nose pierced. I’m sure a few people at church weren’t happy, and my bio dad made a comment I haven’t forgotten, but it was fun.

JULIE: What’s next for you?

SABRINA: A job in my field. Growing my relationship with everyone at Linked. The rest I’m not sure about, but I know God’s in it all.

JULIE: You’re invited to check out You’re Beautiful and get to know Sabrina and Hayley. You’re Amazing has been released, and Jazmin and Lena have a powerful message to share. If you enjoy any of my books, please leave a review. It means so much!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Hayley Atkinson withdraws from her friends and new opportunities with the new mentoring group, Linked, after she is told a lie that she believes is true about herself. Sabrina Wayson is a mentor in Linked who feels she can’t help encourage girls because she’s struggling as much as they are. Can they surrender the lies and find freedom?

Purchase: eBook: https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Beautiful-Surrendering-Stinkin-Thinkin-ebook/dp/B078VK3JJB

Print: https://www.amazon.com/Youre-Beautiful-Surrendering-Stinkin-Thinkin/dp/0692056238

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to find freedom in Christ by surrendering the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of the contemporary romance series SURRENDERING TIME, (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged.) She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. Her latest release, YOU’RE AMAZING, is a book for girls ages 10-100, written with her teenaged daughter, Hannah, and is book 2 in their SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ series. She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read, as well as monthly with Inspy Romance. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini

G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts

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Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/

Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG

About Julie's Giveaway:

I’d love to give away a copy of You’re Beautiful. Leave a comment below with your name and email, and I’ll choose a random winner. US winner can choose print or eBook. The international winner automatically wins an eBook. Giveaway runs for one week, ending next Thursday, March 7 at MIDNIGHT, CST. Winner will be drawn on Friday, March 8 and notified via email.

The Inspiration Behind You’re Amazing ~ Julie Arduini ~ Giveaway

The Inspiration Behind You’re Amazing

by Julie Arduini

I remember getting dressed in the YMCA locker room, still wet from the pool and focused on hurrying so I could grab our daughter from childcare. A group of women was near me, about my age, maybe a little younger. I couldn’t help but hear their conversation.

One mom admitted her mother was coming for a visit and she was so anxious about it that she hired a cleaning company to come to the house. Another confessed she pays for her family to stay at a hotel because the stress of having in-laws and big events is too much. I didn’t know the ladies well, but I knew enough that these were professional women, wives, and moms. Yet when they talked about their parents visiting, their confidence vanished.

That memory stayed with me through the years and that toddler I needed to pick up in childcare is now a teen. Last year Hannah and I released You’re Beautiful, a novella for females of all ages to encourage them to surrender the lie they believe about their appearance. Hannah came up with the idea after overcoming adversity in middle school, and she wanted to encourage girls before they faced similar situations. She ended up plotting three books. You’re Amazing is the second book in the Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ series.

Hannah’s plot revolves around a mentoring ministry in Youngstown, Ohio where both a middle school character and an adult mentor both have stories revolving around believing the same lie about themselves. In You’re Amazing, Jazmin is a natural at dance until there are changes that make her question her worth. Lena is a mom of young children who feels overwhelmed and less than.

It was those locker room memories that helped me add to the plot and write out Lena’s story. I’ve been there, worrying if I was good enough as a wife and mom. Feeling overwhelmed and lacking confidence around family and other moms. Hannah could relate to Jazmin because she’s seen girls deflate after a well-meaning person says something that’s critical. Her heart has always been to encourage those friends because she knows what a broken spirit feels like.

You’re Amazing is now available. Hannah monitored my writing to make sure it stayed true to her vision. She also came up with character names and explained how she wanted the cover to look. I’m really proud of You’re Amazing because I believe God has a message for readers. It’s simple. You’re Amazing!

 Jazmin’s a natural at dance until a series of changes make her wonder if she should even keep up with her favorite hobby.

            Lena’s a mom with young children overwhelmed with her schedule when a woman remarks that what Lena does isn’t even important.

            Both Jazmin and Lena belong to Linked, a mentoring ministry where all ages encourage each other and build friendships.

            Can these two surrender the lies they are believing and realize they are amazing?

            A novella for tweens, teens, and women of all ages by mother and daughter team Julie Arduini and Hannah Arduini.

Julie Arduini loves to encourage readers to find freedom in Christ by surrendering the good, the bad, and ---maybe one day---the chocolate. She’s the author of the contemporary romance series SURRENDERING TIME, (Entrusted, Entangled, Engaged.) She also shares her story in the infertility devotional, A WALK IN THE VALLEY. Her latest release, YOU’RE AMAZING, is a book for girls ages 10-100, written with her teenaged daughter, Hannah, and is book 2 in their SURRENDERING STINKIN’ THINKIN’ series. She blogs every other Wednesday for Christians Read, as well as monthly with Inspy Romance. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two children. Learn more by visiting her at http://juliearduini.com, where she invites readers to subscribe to her monthly newsletter full of resources and giveaway opportunities.

Facebook: http://facebook.com/JulieArduini

Twitter: http://twitter.com/JulieArduini

G+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+JulieArduini/posts

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/JulieArduini

Instagram: http://instagram.com/JulieArduini

Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/add/JulieArduini

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/JulieArduini

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Julie-Arduini/e/B00PBKDRSQ/

Monthly Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/dCFG

  

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

Here's a Question from Julie for you to respond to:

Is there an area where you question your worth? Leave a comment and I’ll choose one winner to win a copy of You’re Amazing. US winner has the choice of eBook or print. The international winner automatically receives an eBook. 

To Enter: Just share your thoughts in the comment section below with your name and email (in case you're the winner) Giveaway ENDS one week from today, Wednesday, March 6, 2019, at Midnight, CST. Winner will be drawn Thursday, March 7, 2019, and notified via email.

Selling a House on Faith ~ Linda Shenton Matchett ~ A Devotion

Picture from Google images

Selling a House on Faith

By Linda Shenton Matchett

Our house has been on the market for nearly eighteen months. Eighteen. Months. We’ve had tons of prospective buyers come through, even during the holiday season and snowy days of winter. Granted, the property is unusual ... eight bedrooms and seven baths tucked into a one-hundred-and-sixty-nine-year-old 4,000 square foot building ... but I didn’t think it would take this long to sell.

For those of you who have walked this road, you know the emotional roller coaster associated with selling your home. Each showing brings trepidation and anticipation. Will this be the person who falls in love with your house and makes you an offer you can’t refuse? Or will this be yet another disappointment because your house isn’t quite what he or she is looking for? Then there’s the constant worry about keeping your place spotless and uncluttered because you never know when a showing will be scheduled. Everything about the process spells stress.

As I write this, we have a contracted offer in hand and are guardedly optimistic the house will pass inspection, prompting the buyer to move forward with the purchase. If so, we’ll pack and move by mid-April (with any luck after the piles of snow have melted!). However, there is always a chance the buyer will walk away, as had happened once already.

The blessing through this situation has been the lesson I’ve learned about God’s perfect timing. Did I wish the house sold immediately? Yes. But looking back, I know that for many reasons it hasn’t been the right time. Is it time now? Frankly, I don’t know. What I do know is that when it does sell, it will be at the exact right time because God is planning what is best for us.

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28 [NASB]

Love’s Rescue  (https://amzn.to/2GOMWe6)

A prostitute, a spy, and the liberation of Paris.

Sold by her parents to settle a debt, Rolande Bisset is forced into prostitution. Years later, shunned by her family and most of society, it’s the only way she knows how to subsist. When the Germans overrun Paris, she decides she’s had enough of evil men controlling her life and uses her wiles to obtain information for the Allied forces. Branded a collaborator, her life hangs in the balance. Then an American spy stumbles onto her doorstep. Is redemption within her grasp?

Simon Harlow is one of an elite corps of American soldiers. Regularly chosen for dangerous covert missions, he is tasked with infiltrating Paris to ascertain the Axis’s defenses. Nearly caught by German forces moments after arriving, he owes his life to the beautiful prostitute who claims she’s been waiting for the Allies to arrive. Her lifestyle goes against everything he believes in, but will she steal his heart during his quest to liberate her city?

Inspired by the biblical story of Rahab, Love’s Rescue is a tale of faith and hope during one of history’s darkest periods.

Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry and has lived in historic places all her life. Linda is a member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters in Crime. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a trustee for her local public library.

Social Media:

Website/Blog: http://www.LindaShentonMatchett.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/lindasmatchett

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Shenton-Matchett/e/B01DNB54S0

BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/linda-shenton-matchett

VANCOUVER ~ Gail Satt;er

Hello, Whispers in Purple readers. I am so tickled to bring you author GAIL SATTLER for "Timeless Thursday. Her delightful tagline is 'Serious Comedy - no kidding!'

    

I have met Gail, and yes she is a funny lady! So sit back and enjoy her visit. 

Take it away, Gail!

Vancouver, BC, Canada. Image courtesy pixabay.com

As I look back, I have the fondest memories of a series put together that were in the Heartsong Present line, four books that were a series, then put together under one cover …VANCOUVER.

The first book was inspired by my family’s purchase of an old, beat-up tent trailer, so we could try camping as a family but not sleep on the cold hard ground. The process of setting up the trailer was the inspiration for GONE CAMPING. My first time camping was an adventure.

The second book AT ARM’S LENGTH was inspired by my middle son, who was left-handed, and as a child, stereotypically clumsy. Only in this book, the hero, who is left-handed, falls victim to someone else who is clumsy.

The third book, ON THE ROAD AGAIN was inspired by my day job, which is in commercial trucking. Not many people appreciate all that truckers go through. A lot of the job is boring, but it’s always on a deadline, and often, that’s what makes it interesting.

The fourth book, MY NAME IS MIKE was inspired by a reader who sent me a letter and suggested I write a book about Mike, who was the bad guy in the first book. So I dug into the AA program, and wrote a book to get Mike, who did a lot of work, got to know God’s love, learned reliance on God, and got cleaned up and reformed from the bad guy to a good guy.

Vancouver:

What is the best thing about living in a beautiful, modern city--being surrounded by buildings, people, and activity? Or just getting away from it all? 

Meet four women who hold different views of life in Canada's jeweled city ... Roberta, desperate for some solitude in which to re-evaluate her life, has left downtown and Gone Camping. But as a novice in the great outdoors, she finds herself depending on the local park ranger's assistance - again and again. If she can't be alone, how will she find true peace? 

Molly works in Vancouver's business district. On her new boss's first day she accidentally breaks his arm - and soon is caught up in rumors of a "tawdry affair." Can she save her job by keeping romance At Arm's Length? 

Gwen's summer job - helping to drive her uncle's semi trucks - takes her away from the city, across the Canadian border, and On the Road Again. Reluctant to be paired with a handsome codriver, can Gwen maintain a friendly distance until they get the job done and return home? 

Patricia, helping at her father's Vancouver church, hears My Name Is Mike whenever she takes a recovering alcoholic to his mandated meetings. Can she give him guidance toward a better life without entangling her heart? Laugh and cry with these resourceful Canadian women and watch how faith and love uphold them on the drifting currents of life.

Amazon link  - https://www.amazon.com/Vancouver-Romancing-America-Gail-Sattler-ebook/dp/B00A73Q6Q2/ref=sr_1_fkmrnull_1?keywords=gail+sattler+vancouver&qid=1550638789&s=gateway&sr=8-1-fkmrnull

 

Gail Sattler lives in Vancouver BC Canada, where you don't have to shovel rain. When she's not madly writing (Gail Sattler has over 40 published novels and novellas, plus a few works of non-fiction) she plays bass for an Elton John tribute band as well as a community jazz band, plus she plays piano for a smaller private jazz band. When she's not writing or making music (or at her day job) Gail likes to sit back and read a book written by someone else, along with a good cup of hot coffee.

Visit Gail Sattler's website at www.gailsattler.com

Gail Sattler's blog - What Goes On In The Mind Of A Writer - http://www.gailsattler.com/category/new/

Facebook  - https://www.facebook.com/gail.sattler.3

Gail Sattler's Facebook author page at https://www.facebook.com/Gail-Sattler-author-568988573496833/?modal=admin_todo_tour

WHEN VALLEYS BLOOM AGAIN ~ Pat Jeanne Davis ~ Giveaway

Please welcome author Pat Jeanne Davis to Whispers in Purple. Pat has a new release out and is here to share about her story. There's a Giveaway, too. See below for details.

When Valleys Bloom Again   

As war approaches in 1939 Abby Stapleton’s safety is under threat. Her father, a British diplomat, insists she go back to America until the danger passes. Abby vows to return to her home in London—but where is home? With her family facing mortal danger so far away and feeling herself isolated, she finds it hard to pray or read the Bible. Did she leave God behind in war-torn London too? Abby becomes friendly with Jim, a gardener on her uncle’s estate.

Jim can’t get Abby out of his mind. Did she have a sweetheart in England? Was it foolish to think she’d consider him? He curses his poverty and the disgrace of his father’s desertion and drunkenness haunts him. Can he learn to believe in love for a lifetime and to hope for a happy marriage?

Abby couldn’t know the war would last a long time, nor that she would fall in love with Jim—soon to be drafted by the U.S. Army—or that she’d have to confront Henri, a rejected suitor, determined by his lies to ruin her reputation and destroy her faith in God’s providence. Will she discover the true meaning of home and find happiness with Jim?

Partial excerpt from Chapter Fifteen:

Jolie Fontaine

Main Line Philadelphia

Summer 1942

Abby sat in the middle of a group of children, reading aloud a favorite story. She looked up to see Carol at her side. “Jim’s on the telephone. I’ll fill in here,” she said, taking the storybook out of Abby’s hands. “He says it’s important.”

She rose from a stool, her heart beating faster. Jim wrote whenever possible and only called occasionally—but never in the middle of the day. It must be urgent.

When out of sight, she sprinted down the hall, dropping breathless into a wooden chair beside the telephone. “Hello, Jim,” she said, pressing the receiver tight to her ear, as if to draw him closer.

“Hello, Darling. I had to call. But I haven’t got long to talk.”

Silence.

“Jim ... Jim?” Leaning forward, she rapped the cradle switch. “Are you there?”

“I’m here. Sorry to call like this,” he said, his voice cracking. “They’re shipping me out.”

She slumped back in the seat. “When?”

“I board a train for New York next week. Then a troopship.” Abby attempted to speak, but a lump rose in her throat.

“Sweetheart, I’m sorry I won’t see you before I leave,” he said in a subdued voice. She swallowed hard. “Can’t I meet your train s-s-somewhere?”

“I looked into that. There’s nowhere.” The hopeless tone in his voice was unmistakable. “Then I’ll come to New York.”

“No time for that.”

Her eyes filled. “No time for us?”

“Besides, there’s no more furloughs or passes. Look. It’s not all bad. I’ll probably get to London. Maybe even see your parents when I get a pass.”

Abby sensed he was struggling for words.

“So, that’s at least a cheerful bit of news, isn’t it?”

“S-S-Some,” she said, trying to conceal disappointment in her voice. “Darling, there’s a line of men waiting to use this phone. I’ll have to go.”

She was losing the battle to stay calm and accepting. “Must you hang up so soon?”

He cleared his throat before speaking again. “I’m not so good at always saying what I feel. Still, you know how much I love you.” His voice carried a wealth of emotion. “I’ll be back.”

“I’ll be waiting for you,” she said, then mumbled a muted, “goodbye.” With a click, their connection was severed.

She replaced the receiver and closed her eyes, her lower lip trembling. She hadn’t reacted the right way to his disappointing news. After all, Jim was being sent off. He was the one at risk, not her.

When she got back to the room Carol and the children were gone. She cleaned the blackboard and tidied up before leaving. Then she strolled to the tower and sat there until the light faded. How much longer would this war go on? Scenes from the latest Pathé newsreel—devoted to the progress of the war— flashed before her eyes. Please, Lord, keep Jim safe.

© Pat Jeanne Davis 2019 – When Valleys Bloom Again – Elk Lake Publishing

When Valleys Bloom Again can be purchased here;

Amazon:   https://www.amazon.com/Valleys-Bloom-Again-Jeanne-Davis/dp/1948888920/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=154

Barnes & Noble:  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-valleys-bloom-again-pat-jeanne-davis/1130351044?ean=978194888892

   

PAT JEANNE DAVIS lives in Philadelphia, Pa with her British-born husband, John, and four cats. They have two grown sons. She enjoys flower gardening, genealogy research and traveling with her husband. She is a volunteer in the nursery at the church she attends and at the local chapter of MOP’s. 

Pat published essays, short stories and articles online and in print. She has a keen interest in mid-twentieth-century American and British history, particularly the period of World War II. Pat’s father-in-law served in the British Eighth Army during the war. When Valleys Bloom Again is her debut historical romance set in that era. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and the Historical Novel Society. Pat loves to hear from her readers. Subscribe to her newsletter here www.patjeannedavis.com

LINKS:

Website:  https://www.patjeannedavis.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/pat.j.davis.7

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43600391-when-valleys-bloom-again?from_search=true

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/pat-jeanne-davis-34290422/                   

Google+:  https://plus.google.com/115180148187668366845    

Pinterest:  https://www.pinterest.com/patjeannedavis/  

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

Pat is offering to give away a Print Copy of When Valleys Bloom Again to one of my blog readers. To enter, just leave a comment below including your name and contact information so we can notify you if you're the winner. This giveaway runs for one week from today, ending Wednesday, February 27 at MIDNIGHT, CST. Winner will be randomly drawn and notified via email on Thursday, Feb. 28. Be sure to check your INBOX.

Thanks, Pat, for being my guest today. God bless you and your writing.

 

Grandma's Apron

grandma’s apron

The following story is from something I found on the internet many years ago. It has no attribution, so if anyone knows to whom credit belongs, please let me know.

  

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath. Because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

Picture credit unknown. Found on Google Images.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to eat.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.

REMEMBER: Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the windowsill to cool. Her granddaughters set theirs on the windowsill to thaw. They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron. I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron.

 I don't know who that "Grandma" is in the picture, but it sure could be my paternal grandmother Blann. It's a dead-ringer, from the coil of hair at the top of her head to the long, long dress and sensible shoes. I can remember her in just such a pose so many times. She was a sweet, wonderful lady.

Peg