Whispers for Whispers ♦ Ada Brownell

This guest post today really tickles me, and perhaps you can see why, given the title of this blog (big grin!)

Please welcome author Ada Brownell as she shares some thoughts about the subject, and talks about her new book, Peach Blossom Rancher

Also please note: FREE Books!

Ada Brownell’s book, Peach Blossom Rancher, an Inspirational Historical Romance, will be FREE from 11/20 to 11/24 on Amazon: A handsome young man inherits a ranch in ruin and hopes to bring it back to its former glory and also marry a beautiful young widow who is an attorney. But she takes up the case of a brilliant doctor committed to an asylum because of one seizure. Will the rancher, the attorney, and the asylum patient achieve their dreams?

Suspense, romance, humor, murder, insanity, hope, fun, wrapped in a Western you won’t forget.

http://amzn.to/2arRVgG                                                        

 https://www.amazon.com/author/adabrownell

Now, read on...

WHY WHISPER?

By Ada Brownell

We whisper for different reasons.

For instance, whispers can be romantic. Here a quote from my historical romance, Peach Blossom Rancher:

The next morning at the railroad station John disregarded Valerie’s black mourning dress, pulled her close and pressed his ready lips to her lightly painted ones. She blinked, and her eyes opened with surprise. Yet elegance radiated from her whole body.

“We didn’t have much time together,” he whispered near a small ear that held a diamond earring. A pleasing fragrance filled his nostrils. “I don’t want you to forget me when you get to Boston."

A whisper can also keep the wrong people from hearing what you say. This conversation occurs in an asylum for the insane in the same book.

Dillon, a physician committed because of one seizure, introduced them to Jimmy Cook, a former teacher paralyzed from the waist down, admitted only because of the paralysis.

A short distance from the other patients, Dillon told about Curly Hicks who had a thought disorder and Bobby Ward, who tried to kill his stepfather.

Archibald grasped Dillon’s shoulder. “Is there any way you can contact me?”

Dillon bent toward his ear, but Valerie could hear. “There is one really nice guard. I think he might mail a letter for me.”

“We anticipated that.” Archibald slid paper, two envelopes, and stamps from underneath his shirt.

Valerie turned her back, reached into her bosom, and brought out two pencils and handed them to Dillon. “Be careful,” she whispered. “The wrong person could use these as a weapon.”

The Bible talks about whisperers, who cause harm. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 47:1 “All who hate me whisper together against me; Against me they devise my hurt.”

Some of us whisper when we pray. Here’s another example from Peach Blossom Rancher:

Abe prayed a powerful prayer for each person around the table, and goose bumps raised over John as he whispered his own prayer before lifting his head. Tears pooled in Bellea’s eyes but didn’t spill onto her cheeks.

Another quote: The sheriff’s voice sounded like he’d been eating sauerkraut. He stared at John. “I’ll wait until after Doc examines him and talk to a few people, but if I don’t get some answers, I’ll have to put you in jail.”

“Jesus, help me,” John whispered. With all he had to do on the ranch, he didn’t have time to sit in jail and wait for an incompetent sheriff to decide how B.J. died.

Many times I’ve sent a heavenward prayer in a whisper.

“God carries a big stick, doesn’t he Ada?” a co-worker asked me in the midst of a debate I wasn’t even a part of. What could I say? I knew everyone in the newsroom could hear my answer.
“Help, Lord!” I whispered.

Immediately I said, “I don’t know how we can look at [the]cross and say that.”

Another time a young friend came to see me and told me her widowed dad had remarried.

“I hate her!” she said. “He does all sorts of nice things for her he never did for my mom.”

I didn’t want to encourage such feelings. “Help me, Lord,” I barely breathed.
Immediately I had the answer. “Your dad gives her those good things because he wishes he’d done them for you mother,”

The girl and the stepmother developed a loving relationship after that.

God even whispers.

Elijah ran for his life when Jezebel wanted to kill him. Thinking he was the only prophet left, he hid in a cave. When God first tried to get Elijah’s attention the Lord commanded, “Go out, and stand on the mountain.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore into the mountains and broke the rocks in pieces, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind, an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake; and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice. 
Elijah heard it, wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood in the entrance of the cave. God said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?” 1 Kings 19:11-13 (KJV)

That experience set Elijah’s feet back on the right path doing things for God.

Solomon wrote, “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” (Proverbs 25:11)

Ada Brownell, a devoted Bible student, has written for Christian publications since age 15 and spent much of her life as a reporter for The Pueblo Chieftain in Colo. She also is a veteran youth Christian education teacher. After moving to Missouri in her retirement, she continues to write books, free lance for Sunday school papers, Christian magazines, write op-ed pieces for newspapers, and blogs with stick-to-your-soul encouragement. She is the author of seven books and more than 350 articles and stories published in Christian magazines. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Ozarks Chapter of American Christian Writers. She and her husband have five children, one in heaven, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Her books: Read sample chapters on Amazon or listen to the first chapter of Imagine the Future You. Her Amazon author page is https://www.amazon.com/author/adabrownell

Connect with Ada at:

•  Twitter: @adabrownell
•  Amazon Ada Brownell author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B001KJ2C06
•   Google https://plus.google.com/u/0/+AdaBrownell/posts
•   Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1654534.Ada_Brownell
•   Blog: http://inkfromanearthenvessel.blogspot.com Stick-to-Your-Soul Encouragement

Questions, Answers, and Giveaway w/Author Gail Kittleson

Hi, Gail, welcome to my Whispers in Purple blog. You and I are neighbors in a kinda-sorta way . . . if you consider northern Iowa and northwestern Wisconsin neighborly. <Grin> And though we’ve never met in person, we’ve become fast friends. Or at least that’s the way I feel. We’re even writing a book together, but I’ll get to that in a bit.

Read on for details of a giveaway!

But first, a little about you:



Gail Kittleson taught college expository writing and ESL. Now she focuses on writing women’s fiction and facilitating writing workshops and women’s retreats. She also enjoys doing first edits for other authors. She and her husband enjoy family in northern Iowa, and the Arizona Ponderosa forest in winter.

WhiteFire Publishing released Gail’s memoir, Catching Up With Daylight, in 2013, and her debut women’s historical fiction, In This Together (Wild Rose Press/Vintage Imprint) released in 2015. She also contributed to the Little Cab Press 2015 Christmas Anthology,

The first novel in her World War II series has released, and the second is contracted with Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas for release in February, 2017. You can count on Gail’s heroines to make do with what life hands them, and to overcome great odds.

Meeting new reading and writing friends is the meringue on Gail’s pie, as her heroines would say.

 

Okay, now to the interrogation  er, interview ☺

How, and when, did you first come to writing?

Thanks for having me, Peg. I always loved reading, so writing came naturally. But junior high English assignments made me REALLY want to be a writer. The term junior high ages me right there—lol. But after that, a lack of confidence kept me hiding my written creations in drawers.

What book, or books, have you read recently that had a significant impact on your own writing?

Donald Maass’ The Break-out Novel, and The Moral Premise. These two clarified some questions for me and I emerged from studying them feeling as though I knew what I was doing...at least a little better.

If you could have lunch with one living, contemporary writer, who would it be, and why?

Oh boy. Can I say Annie Dillard AND Jane Kirkpatrick? Annie because I loved THE LIVING—one of the few really long books I’ve read more than once. And Jane because she’s so inspirational—her novels have touched me very personally. I’d like to thank her in person.

Good choices!

What kind of books do you like to read, and what are you reading now?

Right now, I’m reading a book that’s not out yet, by a Texas author who so nails the dialect and mannerisms of her characters...want to know who this is? Lee Carver.

I know of Lee. Sounds like an interesting read.

Fun question: If you’d been born into the animal kingdom instead of the human race, what would you be, and why?

I’ve answered this differently at various times in my life. But right now, I think I’d be a giraffe. They’re so unique—and their view of the world would be so different from, say, a mouse’s.

LOL!

Okay, I can’t wait any longer. Let’s talk about the book we’re co-authoring. The working title is: The Easter Bonnet Caper, a WWII cozy mystery set in your neck of the woods in 1944. I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun! I’m loving every minute of the writing. What about you?

I feel the same way, and am so glad we had this brilliant idea, Peg.

You wrote the first scene before we decided to join forces. Our main female lead is a 40-something woman named Madge Warrington. How did you come up with her?

She just popped into my head. Seriously.

What was your original intended genre before we switched it to “cozy mystery?”

Well, I write women’s fiction, but I didn’t really have an agenda. I just started writing.

You’re doing a lot of the background research, and I so appreciate that. Do you enjoy researching, seeking out facts or digging up some fascinating information that makes this book as authentic as possible?

I love research—I’m learning so much writing this book and my other World War II novels. I just can’t get enough of that amazing era.

Between you and me, I can’t wait to see this book published, but we’ve got a lot of writing yet to do, and some hurdles to navigate. But, if God wants this story told, it will happen.

Agreed. That’s what happened with my recent release, In Times Like These. My heroine simply wouldn’t not be published.

Are we going to spotlight one of your recent releases?

Yes, please!

• Title: In Times Like These


• Release Date: May 2016


• Genre: Women’s Fiction


• Single or series: First in a series


• Target audience: women, from thirty-something’s to Baby Boomers


• Purchase Link:  http://amzn.to/1VFEoYh

Back cover synopsis:

Pearl Harbor attacked! The United States is at war.

But Addie fights her own battles on the Iowa home front. Her controlling husband Harold vents his rage on her when his father's stroke prevents him from joining the military. He degrades Addie, ridicules her productive victory garden, and even labels her childlessness as God's punishment.

When he manipulates his way into a military unit bound for Normandy, Addie learns that her best friend Kate’s pilot husband has died on a mission, leaving her stranded in London in desperate straits.

Will Addie be able to help Kate, and find courage to trust God with her future?

Finally, please share your Social Media links: Facebook, Twitter, blog/website, email (your option) and so on.)

• http://www.gailkittleson.com/


• www.facebook.com/gail.kittleson


• author@gailkittleson.com


• http://www.amazon.com/Gail-Kittleson/e/B00J8U1GEC


• twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GailGkittleson @GailGkittleson

About the Giveaway:   Gail is offering a free eBook copy of In Times Like These (Kindle edition via Gift card) to one lucky commenter on this post. To enter, just leave a comment below with your contact info disguised like: you (at) 123xyz (dot) com – to keep those nasty little bots from finding you. In order to make the giveaway fair, I require a minimum of five (5) entries before the ‘contest’ becomes viable. So, if you want a chance to win this book, send your friends on over to enter, too. ☺ Contest runs from today, May 12, through next Thursday, May 19, at 11:59 PM, Central Time. Winner will be drawn via random.org on Friday, May 20, and notified by email.  

Thank you so much, Gail, for being my guest today. And I want you to know how thankful I am for this God-given chance to write with you! It’s been a blast so far.

Please, join the conversation!

The Story Behind the Story ♦ Ginger Solomon

· Book Title – Second Choice

· Publisher – Clean Reads

· Release date – 4/28/16

· Genre – contemporary romance

Book Synopsis:

Set to be married in less than a month, Princess Anaya Vallis’s intended runs away, leaving only a cryptic note behind. Her father insists the wedding go forth as planned with a new groom. She has days to make a second choice.

Titus Vasco is like a ship without a rudder, floating through life without purpose. Until she calls. He accepts her proposal without hesitation.

But wedded bliss does not come easily. Two virtual strangers brought together by unforeseen circumstances must learn to trust each other and God’s plan for their lives in order to achieve the happily-ever-after they both long for.

♦ ♦ ♦

The Story Behind the Story, by Ginger Solomon

I’ve shared in other blogs how difficult Second Choice was to write, or at least to begin, but I haven’t shared my thought process in creating this story.

First, you need to know that the basics were hinted at in One Choice, so I had to go with what was established there. Second, it couldn’t be simple. I had to shake things up for my characters. The story would be boring otherwise. If Princess Anaya, the heroine in Second Choice, married and lived happily ever after with her first choice then, well, there wouldn’t be a story. Nor would it be exciting to read. And finally, I had to find her perfect match.

But what would her perfect match look like? Anaya is a strong-willed character, to which I can attest, since she decided to be stubborn about telling me her story. To make a long story short, she refused to speak to me for months after One Choice released, despite my constant hounding. Some people just won’t be pushed, and she’s one of them. When I thought about the type of man/husband she would need, I realized he’d have to be pretty laid back, but he’d also have to be self-assured enough to take control if necessary. Titus Vasco is that man.

In Anaya’s own words, “This man would make her life interesting. One minute he acquiesced to her wishes, the next he took control and made decisions for himself. She found it rather confusing.”

So now I had her guy, how would I get him into her life? At first, I assumed her first choice, Peter, would decide that palace life was not something he wanted, but then later in the story, I found out the real reason for his disappearance (no spoilers, sorry).

So now that he’s out of the picture, I had to figure out how to get Titus into her life. In comes Baba—her father, the king. He’s not as hard-hearted as I sometimes made him out to be, but he does push his children to be everything that God has made them to be. In this case, he insists that the wedding go forward as planned, and that Anaya choose a new groom, immediately.

GASP!

As you can see, I have put Anaya in a very uncomfortable situation. Obviously, things work out for Titus to marry her, but not before she has to go through a few stressful days. Which turns into a few stressful weeks, but now I’m getting into the story, and that’s cheating.

I hope you enjoyed this brief look into my thought process as I began Second Choice.

About Ginger:

Ginger Solomon is a Christian, a wife, a mother to seven, and a writer — in that order (mostly). When not homeschooling her youngest four, doing laundry or fixing dinner, she writes or reads romance of any genre, some sci-fi/fantasy, and some suspense. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers [ACFW], president of her local writing group, and writes regularly for two blogs. In addition to all that, she loves animals, likes to do needlework (knitting, crocheting, and sometimes cross-stitch), and is a fan of Once Upon a Time and Dr. Who.

Click HERE to buy the book.

 

Author Links:

• Website
• Inspy Romance Blog
• Facebook Author Page
• Twitter @GingerS219
• Pinterest
• Amazon Author Page

JENNIE: A character interview by Terri Wangard

PLEASE WELCOME author Terri Wangard as my Guest Blogger today. All set? Let’s go!

Getting to know Jennie, by Terri Wangard

• Title: No Neutral Ground  (2012 Genesis finalist)
• Publisher: HopeSprings Books
• Release Date: May 3
• Genre: historical romance, according to the sub-title
• Stand alone or Series: Book 2 of Promise For Tomorrow, but can stand alone

Buy he Book: http://amzn.to/1q6LFTt

♦ ♦ ♦

No Neutral Ground is the newly released, second book of my Promise for Tomorrow series.

After his father divorces his mother because of her Jewish ancestry, Rafe and the rest of his family flee Germany. As a B-17 navigator, he returns to Europe. Flying missions against his former homeland arouses emotions that surprise Rafe. Despite being rejected, he is troubled by the destruction of Germany and his heart still cries for his father’s love.

Sweden may be neutral, but it’s full of intrigue. Jennie assists the OSS at the American legation in Sweden. She thought she’d be doing passive, behind-the-scenes work. Instead, she’s pushed into an active role to gain intelligence and frustrate the Germans.

How can Rafe and Jennie succeed in their dangerous roles when they are so conflicted?

♦ ♦ ♦

Get to know Jennie Lindquist in this interview.

You traveled overseas in 1944. What did you do in the war years before that?

I worked at the Chicago art museum where I put together special exhibits like “Art in War: American Artists’ Record of War and Defense.” I also conducted tours through the museum for school groups.

What prompted you to go overseas?

Rumors of layoffs swirled around the museum, with the understanding that the last hired would be the first fired. I don’t know how true the rumors were, but my dad saw them as an opportunity to spread my wings and go to Sweden, where he was a military attaché.

My boss at the museum thought that was a great idea. He said, “Sweden is one of very few countries escaping the destruction of war. It represents a unique opportunity to be near the conflict but not involved. Think of it. You could have a ringside seat.”

Being ringside to a vicious war didn’t sound appealing, but he also said I could scout out possible exhibitions for after the war. Other countries wouldn’t be able to take part in exchanges, what with the mess they were in and their art stolen or destroyed. The possibility of scouting for the museum was enticing, and a job would be waiting for me when I returned.

Were you aware of what was happening to museums in occupied Europe?

Yes. We knew works of art had been taken from France, Belgium, and other occupied countries to Germany for what the Germans called safekeeping. An anonymous French museum official says they were quite capable of caring for their artwork, and they had grave fears of ever seeing it again. The Germans just took whatever they wanted.

You traveled across the Atlantic on the Queen Mary. Were you concerned about submarines?

By 1944, the U-boats weren’t having the success they enjoyed earlier in the war. Both of the Queens were supposed to travel so fast, the U-boats couldn’t set up a shot. I never heard of either ship having a torpedo fired in their direction. That gave me confidence I wouldn’t have had if I’d traveled on a Liberty ship.

How did you like being one of few women among all the troops making the crossing?

Over twelve thousand servicemen packed in, plus the nurses in a few medical units. But you know, being so crowded made it safer for us. There was no privacy. No man could be improper toward us without someone to rescue us.

You managed to have a shipboard romance.

Oh, I wouldn’t call it a romance. Rafe and I did spend a lot of time together, and I hoped to see him again after the war. I wondered about him often. Being part of a B-17 crew was so dangerous. And then his plane crashed in Sweden and there he was, covered in blood. My heart stood still.

You had a brief but intense training course for the OSS. You saw no danger there?

I was convinced I’d work behind the scenes. And I was going to Sweden. That was hugely different from being an agent in Germany. Still, when I was assigned to leave the legation and meet with agents, I definitely had qualms. Not until Rafe joined me did I start to enjoy our outings. They could still be nerve-wracking, but Rafe made it fun. Of course, as a former German national, the war was very personal for him.

Did you have any misgivings about Rafe being from Germany?

Never. I knew the day we met that he was angry with the Germans and with his father for rejecting him and the rest of their family because of Jewish ancestry. It hurt him to see Germany being destroyed. By war’s end, he came to understand how his father had been unable to cope with the belligerence of the Nazis. How would any of us react if we’d with a government turned so vicious? I’m so glad we found Rafe’s father in Cologne after the war and their relationship began to heal. Remembering their embrace still brings tears to my eyes.

 

Terri Wangard’s first Girl Scout badge was the Writer. These days she is writing historical fiction, and won the 2013 Writers on the Storm contest and 2013 First Impressions, as well as being a 2012 Genesis finalist. Holder of a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in library science, she lives in Wisconsin. Her research included going for a ride in a WWII B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. Classic Boating Magazine, a family business since 1984, keeps her occupied as an associate editor.

Word Cloud for the Day

Let’s Research with author Rose Allen McCauley

Rose loves to travel and has posted pictures from several countries on her website/blog at www.rosemccauley.com .

A retired schoolteacher who has been happily married to her college sweetheart for over four decades, she is also mother to three grown children and their spouses and Mimi to five lovely, lively kids!

Although Rose has lived on a farm of almost four hundred acres for the past forty-two years, she recently moved to a small town in KY. She loves to read and write small town stories. If you have a small town story you’d like to share, please stop by her website and leave a comment. She would love to hear from you.

You can also reach her on twitter @RoseAMcCauley and Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1LrXNoS

 

Joy Worth runs away to Puerto Rico with a broken engagement, broken heart, and questions for the Lord. Can Benigno Cook earn her trust and love while helping her learn to hear God’s still, quiet voice again?

 

Research for Surrender to Peace set in Puerto Rico, by Rose Allen McCauley @RoseAMcCauley

My husband says we travel more than he wants to and less than I want to, but we both thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Puerto Rico to get first-hand research for my latest book, Surrender to Peace.

I did my beginning research on the Internet as I was writing this book, and I found lots of pictures and helpful sites. But, I still felt I needed to travel to some of the locations to make sure all the facts were right, and I was very glad I did as I found a major blooper. One of the restaurants listed as oceanfront was really over a block from the ocean, so I had to re-write that romantic scene!

Also, actually seeing the rainforest and going on the tour to La Mina Falls in El Yunque National Forest made it easier to describe the scenery and trails.

So, I do recommend going to all the places you can to do research or at least make some calls to ask questions from local people, which is what I try to do when I can’t visit the sites.

I hope you can travel to Puerto Rico someday, but until then I hope you will want to read this book. Several of my reviewers on Amazon and Goodreads wrote about how real the descriptions were, and they felt like they were traveling with my characters!

Happy reading, and happy travels whether in person on through the pages of a book!

• “Writing stories set in small towns with huge hearts”
• Available on Amazon and other locations:
• Christmas Belles of Georgia, Barbour
• Christmas Grace
• Surrrender to Peace, Olivia Kimbrell Press available for pre-order: Courageous Brides, Barbour

Thank you so much, Rose, for sharing what must have been a fun and fascinating research trip!

Behind the Stories w/Author Jo-Huddleston

I am pleased to once again welcome author Jo Huddleston to Whispers in Purple. Today, Jo will be sharing her research efforts in writing her current WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINS SERIES.

But first, lets meet Jo:

Jo Huddleston is an Amazon Bestselling author of books, articles, and short stories. Novels in her West Virginia Mountains series and her Caney Creek series are sweet Southern historical romances.

Her novels are endorsed by Amanda Cabot, Cara Lynn James, Sharlene MacLaren, and Ann Tatlock.

The redeeming story of God’s pursuing love is the foundation of her novels, and in them you will find inspiration, hope, and gentle stories that are intriguing and entertaining.

Jo is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN).

 

 

The Story Behind the Stories in the Recently Completed West Virginia Mountain Series, by Jo Huddleston

When I wrote Wait for Me, I had been to a real coal mine community one time. One memorable time. I went home from college with a friend for a weekend. Her home was in the coal mining region in southern West Virginia. Her daddy was the owner of the coal mine there.

When my friend took me around her small community, she didn’t show me the miners’ homes. What she knew and I didn’t was how the miners’ families lived—not in palatial dwellings!

Until I researched for my story did I learn about coal miners’ substandard housing. In the 1950s, the owner of a coal mine also owned the miners’ rental homes—

better described as shacks. All had only two bedrooms, no running water, and no bathrooms. The community had one well from which all the families drew water and carried back to their houses.

My research for this story was an eye-opener. Photos from coal communities swelled my compassion for the people who lived there and subsequently I was able to write passionately about their lives.

With Wait for Me, research became more than valuable. Without this research I could not have written authentically—my descriptions and dialog would have been cardboard imitations. When you read Wait for Me, please know that compassion oozed from my fingertips as I tapped my keyboard.

In book 1 when Julie and Robby enrolled at West Virginia University in the northern part of the state, an unexpected character walked into the story: the Dean of Women at the university—Dean Fletcher.

I gave Dean Fletcher sophistication I’d learned about from my seventh grade homeroom teacher. Dean Fletcher was reserved and a bit stand-offish, traits of my favorite female actor on a TV one hour drama. Dean Fletcher was a good person, always helpful to Julie with any request she had.

  ♦

But why was Dean Fletcher not married? Why did she never date anyone? Why was she reticent to reveal her emotions or feelings, always and only the professional? She was restrained in words and actions. Why? Her role in book 1, Wait for Me, was a minor one, with not much opportunity to dig for the answers to my questions.

These questions motivated me to give Dean Fletcher a larger character part in book 2, Trust Me. So, in Trust Me you’ll learn much about this elegant woman. You’ll learn why Dean Fletcher is reserved, reticent, a bit stand-offish, unmarried, restrained, and sophisticated.

And, a surprise to me, Dean Fletcher volunteered all this information about herself without anyone having to ask. Yes, characters do live, breathe, and speak to their authors. They share their secrets, doubts, and insecurities. Dean Fletcher did so, and I wrote it all down in Trust Me.

 

 

  ♦

As for the inspiration for the third and final book in the West Virginia Mountains series, Promise Me—as the series continued, the characters of Adriana and Patrick strengthened until they deserved a book of their own. This story opens in late 1960 in West Virginia. However, when the plot of Promise Me wove its way to the battlefields of the Vietnam War, I had to turn to research to make my story authentic and convincing.

For my research about the Vietnam War, I relied on encyclopedic references, photos taken on location, and testimonials of Vietnam War veterans. In addition, one of my most valuable resources was face-to-face accounts from American servicemen.

Although some of the personal accounts I was privileged to get were from veterans of wars other than the Vietnam War, war is war. As you read Patrick and Adriana’s story in Promise Me, I hope you will find Patrick’s experiences realistic. I wrote them based on facts and feelings I received from respected, reliable, and living resources.

Yes, Promise Me, is fiction. But to make historical fiction believable, an adequate amount of reality must be woven with the threads of fiction. That’s what I attempted to do when writing this new release. I hope you won’t doubt what you read about the historical situations and locations mentioned within its pages.

♦

The Box Set of the West Virginia Mountains Series

Now, all together in one volume, enjoy all three sweet Southern historical romances in the West Virginia Mountains series. Beginning in the simpler and more innocent times of the 1950s and continuing into the chaotic early 1960s, read about the journeys of Julie and Robby, Loreen and Claude, and Adriana and Patrick. You will develop strong feelings for these clear, true-to-life characters.

Their stories take you from the hardscrabble lifestyle of coal miners in West Virginia to the affluence of South Carolina coastal living. This volume includes three full-length novels: Wait for Me, Trust Me, and Promise Me.

 

 

Buy Links:

Wait for Me: http://tiny.cc/f2n95x

Trust Me: http://tiny.cc/4yph1x

Promise Me: http://amzn.to/1MWyAl1

Box Set: http://amzn.to/1VCnQAj

Where to find Jo on the Internet:

• Website and Blog (Read novel first chapters here): http://www.johuddleston.com
• Sign up for Jo’s mailing list: http://bit.ly/1ZFaZwG
• Inspirational blog, Lifelines: http://bit.ly/1QAPRnr
• Facebook author page: http://on.fb.me/1pvJQiQ
• Facebook personal page: http://on.fb.me/1Ubic69
• Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/1SxafIK
• Goodreads: http://bit.ly/1QAPtFv

March Release Clash Results!

 

The Votes have come in, and we've got a winner!

DRESSED FOR DEATH

by Julianna Deering

 

Congratulations, Julianna!!

About the Author

JULIANNA DEERING has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuted from Bethany House with Rules of Murder (2013) and is followed by Death by the Book and Murder at the Mikado (2014), Dressed for Death (2016) and Murder on the Moor (Coming 2017). Also, as DeAnna Julie Dodson, she has written a trilogy of medieval romances (In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered) and six contemporary mysteries for Annie’s Fiction. She is represented by Wendy Lawton of the Books & Such Literary Agency (www.booksandsuch.biz).

Find her On the web:
www.juliannadeering.com
www.deannajuliedodson.com

On Facebook:
https://business.facebook.com/AuthorJuliannaDeering/
https://www.facebook.com/julie.dodson.9659

On Twitter:
@DeAnnaJulDodson

On Goodreads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6565151.Julianna_Deering

Dressed for Death Back cover:

A Regency-Era Costume Party Should Have Been an Amusing Diversion, But it Seems Wherever Drew Farthering Goes, Mystery--and Murder--Are on the Guest List

Drew and Madeline Farthering arrive at a Regency-era house party at Winteroak House, excited to be reunited with old friends, including Drew's former Oxford classmate Talbot Cummins. Tal is there with his fiancée, Alice Henley, and though many present seem worried about the couple, nobody is prepared when Alice dies from an apparent overdose. Tal refuses to believe she'd taken the drugs intentionally, and a dark question arises of whether the death is an accident or murder.

The police have their own information though, and Drew is shocked when they arrest someone he's trusted and admired since his childhood--someone who's been smuggling drugs into the country for years. Stunned by what has happened, Tal begs Drew to get to the bottom of everything, but Drew has never felt more unsettled. Questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, Drew doesn't know whom to trust, and he's not ready for the secrets he's about to uncover--or the danger he'll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

Clash Comments:

• "Dressed for Death" is the best Drew Farthering mystery yet, and I'm really looking forward to the next one (and yes, even more after that)! Julianna Deering has a gift for storytelling that keeps me turning the pages long into the night, and her characters are always so vivid and lifelike! I love pulling out her books and re-reading them over and over again.

• Julianna Deering captured our hearts and attention with Drew Farthering mysteries....can't wait for more.

This sounds like such a FANTASTIC read! Ready to dive in? Want to peek at the sample? It's right here:

Buy Links:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
CBD

And don't Miss Drew's Upcoming Adventure:

Murder on the Moor

At the urgent request of Drew's old school friend, Hubert "Beaky" Bloodworth, Drew and Madeline Farthering come to Bloodworth Park Lodge in the midst of the Yorkshire moors, a place as moody and mysterious as a Brontë hero. According to Beaky, there have been several incidents of mischief making out on the moor, property destroyed, fires started, streams dammed up, sheep and cattle scattered and, if local gossip is to be believed, the sighting of the shadowy figure of a great black hound. Worst of all, the vicar has been found dead on the steps of the church, and no one can imagine who would want to kill him.

Beaky is obviously smitten with his wife of eight months, the gorgeous and vivacious Sabrina Bloodworth, though it's hard to imagine what she sees in a man as awkward and plain as he. Drew can't help wondering if Sabrina's affections lie more with Beaky's money than himself and, just perhaps, with the fiery Welsh gamekeeper, Rhys Delwyn. Delwyn says poachers are to blame for the recent trouble, Sabrina claims the moor is haunted, and Beaky suspects that Carter Gray, a neighboring landowner with a longstanding grudge against the Bloodworths, is behind the episodes. But when someone else is murdered and the troubling incidents grow more threatening, Drew begins to suspect local ne'er-do-well Jack Midgley of more than poaching. But just how does Midgley fit into the scheme and who is paying him? It's up to Drew to look past his own prejudices, determine what is really going on, and find the killer before it's too late.

>>Would you like to see the cover for Murder on the Moor? Sign up for Drew’s News at http://www.juliannadeering.com/newsletter.php for exclusive series information and giveaways.

Have a blessed week, everyone!

From your friends at Clash of the Titles!

The Heart of a Caregiver–Leanna Hollis ♦ Giveaway

 



Dr. Leanna Lindsey Hollis was born and has spent most of her life in Mississippi. She is a 1986 graduate of University of Mississippi School of Medicine and completed her Internal Medicine residency in 1989.

In addition to practicing medicine, she has worked as a potter and freelance writer. She raised cattle for a quarter-century. She maintains a small farm where she enjoys horses, chickens, and organic gardening. She is a third-term alderman in Blue Springs, MS and a Certified Municipal Official.

She has written three non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles. Dr. Hollis began writing fiction in November 2014. Her first novel and current work-in-progress was a finalist in the 2015 Cascade competition.



Welcome, Leanna! I’m so thrilled to have you as a guest here on Whispers in Purple. We’ve become acquainted through our connection with ACFW’s Novel Track Writing forum. Aside from your daily word-count reports to the e-loop, you’ve included some intriguing information about your life away from writing.

This is what I’d like to focus on for this interview. Ready?

As a physician, of course, caregiving comes with the job. But you took a break away from your medical practice for a season. Could you summarize here the reason for that? Also, in what field of medicine was your practice?

I’m an internist by training, and board-certified. I’ve practiced general internal medicine for most of my career, but for the last few years, my practice was limited to management of wounds.

I’ve left medicine twice. The first time, I was exhausted after being on call 24/7/365 for four years. They were hard years with many after-hours calls. When my young son cried every time the phone rang, I saw I needed to make a change. I was home with him during those all-important junior high and high school years. They were vital. I’m still surprised, but I supported us during that time as a potter, writer, and speaker.

My most recent break for medicine came when I took what I thought would be a sabbatical to write a non-fiction book or two. A month in, I found my place in fiction and I’ve written non-stop ever since. Every experience of my life comes together in my writing. It feels like home to me.

In a sense, you are a caregiver as a politician—a word some folks find distasteful (☺)—serving your community as an alderman. Tell us how that happened.

No one was more surprised than me when I became an alderman. Our town was a potential site for an automobile manufacturing plant. Things were about to change in big ways. Two women who were aldermen at the time came to me. A place on the board was about to open up because another alderman was retiring and they suggested I run. In fact, they gathered the names for my qualifying papers and left me no choice. I ran unopposed and was elected by acclamation. This is my third term.

What are some of your ‘duties’ as alderman?

We attend monthly meetings to handle the business of the town. During my three terms, we’ve completed a 25-year comprehensive plan, established zoning, building codes, ordinances, a court system, and a police department. We’ve hired a code enforcement officer, police officers, and a judge.

We have a lovely park, donated by the generosity of Toyota, and we host events there during pretty weather. We host the annual Blue Springs Day, Friday Night Jam in the park, and the annual Pi Day Pie in the Park event.

As elected officials, we have to know the law so we can uphold it. That means lots of training. I’m a Certified Municipal Official, which represents many hours of training.

Let’s talk about your beloved neighbor Sam, for whom you are also caregiver.

When I first bought my farm in 1989, the owner wanted to be sure Sam, who was in his 50’s, could remain on the land. As a condition of the sale, I gave my word to take care of Sam and allow him to live on my land until he died. I was much younger and had no idea what that would mean to the Leanna of today, but I have kept my word.

At the first, Sam took care of the farm and of me. In 2003, two months after I first took a break from medicine, he had a subdural hematoma. His recovery was long and hard. In an instant, the running of the farm and management of my cattle and horses fell to me. I was a prissy, entitled woman who was accustomed to affluence and comfort. Life changed dramatically and, though it was hard, it was for the better. I was transformed during the years that followed, and my relationship with Christ became deep and intimate.

At what point did you pick up your medical practice again?

I went back into medicine part-time in 2008 and gradually increased to a 40-hour a week practice. My son graduated from high school in 2010 and I could see that an empty nest might be a challenge for me. To head it off, I went back into medicine and bought a high-maintenance dog.

Now, the biggie . . . how do you balance all the above with your writing?

I get up at 4:00 am most days. Some days I sleep until 4:30. I’ve always been an early riser. I don’t watch TV, I don’t follow sporting events, I rarely eat out, and I enjoy everything I do. With all that said, my mind writes non-stop, which makes me a very fast writer.

My day starts with Bible study and quiet time. I ask God what He wants me to write for my blog and I write it, every day, in the moment. I post what is essentially a first draft. Sometimes I wish I wrote differently, but that’s how I do it. The blog is filled with what I’ve studied in Scripture, experiences I’ve had, hard times and good. It’s a little bit like “Life with Leanna”. (http://leannahollis.blogspot.com)

After the blog is posted, I go straight to writing fiction. When my goal for the day is done, I switch to writing for the new online Bible study on Hosea that begins May 1. It’s free and everyone is welcome. There’s a Facebook group for discussion (Lessons in Discipleship) and a website to access the lessons. The lessons for one chapter each week is posted on Sunday. It’s a 14-week study and I’m so excited about it. http://lessonsindiscipleship.blogspot.com

Sam visits throughout the day so we address his issues in between. I take breaks to deal with livestock and I exercise by going to the barn and working in my ridiculously large garden. In between all that, I think about what our town needs and how to accomplish it.

Leanna’s Featured Book:

• Title: The Clay Papers


• Publisher: Pinion Press


• Release Date: Kindle 2015/Paperback 2005


• Genre: Devotional


• Stand-alone or Series: Stand alone

Synopsis/Back cover blurb:

In the midst of the dust and mud of pottery class, Dr. Hollis learned much more than how to shape the clay. Those seeking to be molded by the Master's hands will find encouragement and direction in The Clay Papers. The unique devotional stories in this volume will challenge and equip you for a deeper walk in your Christian faith through lessons in dealing with stress, obedience, prevenient grace, pride, waiting for God's perfect plan, holiness, perseverance, priorities, purity, and recognizing miracles.

Purchase links:

•  Clay Papers for Kindle


• Leanna's online store for paperback version

 

Where can folks find you on the Internet?

• http://leannahollis.com


• http://leannahollis.blogspot.com


• http://lessonsindiscipleship.blogspot.com


• Facebook: leanna.l.hollis


• www.twitter.com/leannahollis.com @leannahollis


• Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Leanna-Lindsey-Hollis-M.D./e/B01AJTE3VIwww.leannahollis.com

 



 

ABOUT THE GIVEAWAY:

Leanna is giving away one copy of The Clay Papers in paperback (US Only). Giveaway runs from today, April 28, through Friday, May 6, at Midnight, Central Time. To enter, please leave a comment in the section below, including your email contact information- disguised such as: you (at) ABCxyz (dot) com, to keep those pesky bots from picking it up. A minimum of 5 entries are required to validate the giveaway. Winner will be drawn through random.org and notified via email on Saturday, May 7.

 

Thank you, Leanna, for being my guest on Whispers in Purple. I’ve really enjoyed getting to know you up-close-and-personal through this interview.

God bless you!

 

 

 

Crumbs: A Devotion by Cassandra Wessel

by Cassandra Wessel



Mark 7:28 – "Yes, Lord," she replied, "but even the dogs under the table eat the children's crumbs." (NIV)

This morning after breakfast, as I ran my finger around the plate "licking up" toast crumbs, my mind flew to my mother. You see, she grew up in extreme poverty. As a result of the deprivation, she had a true appreciation for the things we take for granted—things like food. At the end of her meal, she would lick her finger, wipe the plate with the damp digit then lick her finger clean. That was her way of "licking the platter clean". Naturally, I grew up thinking that I was supposed to "lick up" the crumbs. I wasn't to waste one crumb. Mother always said, "Waste not; want not."

This morning as I "licked up" the crumbs from the plate, my mind drifted to the movie, "Jesus", and a scene based on today's Scripture, where a Palestinian woman fell at his feet begging our Lord to heal her desperately sick daughter. His reply was that he had been sent to the Israelites, not to the Gentiles. Her reply stuck with me like crumbs to my damp finger: "Yes, Lord, but even the dogs lap up the crumbs beneath the table." Jesus responded that she had exhibited great faith and he told her to go home; her daughter was healed.

In the movie, Jesus' disciples objected to this healing. He replied that He had seen a dying child and asked them, "Did you want me to let her die?" The mother's situation had been hopeless, desperate. Jesus was her last and best hope. Thus he honored her crumbs of faith.

Just as Jesus honored the request of the Palestinian mother from long ago, crumbs on my plate remind me that Jesus still honors our smallest crumbs of faith.

Prayer: Father God, we find it hard to have faith when life throws impossible challenges our way. We ask you to increase our crumbs of faith so that we may face life's difficulties through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Thought: God will honor our smallest crumbs of faith.



Cass Wessel spends her time reading and crafting stories to win the heart. She has many published devotionals, contributions in denominational magazines, anthologies, and also in the books of other authors. She is currently editing her own Amish romance, Choices, and has written two other novels. In her role as Influencer, she edits, critiques, and promotes other works. She is a member of ACFW, ACFW Pennsylvania Group, ACFW NW PA group, and the DOGMA critique groups. In past years she attended ACFW Conferences and also Writing Success Conferences. In the latter event, she won awards in writing and poetry three years in a row. Cass lives in Tionesta, PA and is a retired elementary school teacher, minister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

http://www.wordsabouttheword.com

March 2016 Releases Duke it Out on COTT!

Welcome back to our arena! The following authors are stepping onto our sands, ready to wield their mighty pens. Please look at each of their covers and descriptions and choose a favorite. Which would go on the top of your to-be-read pile? Be sure to make your choice in the actual survey, as those in the comments section alone won't be calculated into the results. (web link provided below for those devices which don't display the embedded survey. We're thoughtful like that.)

Let the game... BEGIN!
~~~

The Gilded Curse by Marilyn Turk:
Responding to a cryptic telegram, Lexie Smithfield returns to Jekyll Island to sell her family's abandoned vacation cottage in the Millionaire's Club. Because tragic events in her family convinced her mother the island was cursed, it's been ten years since her last visit to the island. Lexie's trip is prolonged when suspicious incidents cause her to stay and discover the cottage's hidden secrets. Just offshore the presence of nearby Nazi U-boats threaten the coast and endanger the island's residents. While the management of the Millionaire's Club attempts to keep members unaware of the danger, Lexie discovers the real threat that lurks within this closed community and learns that her destiny is not determined by curses or her family's mistakes, but by the choices she makes.

Bitterroot Bride (American State Flower) by Angela Breidenbach:
No one knows the real Emmalee Warren, just what they want from the infamous prostitute. Men are coming out of the woodwork to stake a claim on the miner's widow. They wanted her body before. Now they want her money. Hiring a lawyer, Richard Lewis, to save her from financial ruin might let her start over where no one knows Miss Ellie. Becoming an unknown is the only way to freedom…or is it? Can she leave her past and build a new future?

Breaking Free by Jennifer Slattery:
Sometimes it takes losing everything to grab hold of what really matters. Women’s ministry leader and Seattle housewife, Alice Goddard, and her successful graphic-designer husband appear to have it all together. Until their credit and debit cards are denied, launching Alice into an investigation that only leads to the discovery of secrets. Meanwhile, her husband is trapped in a downward spiral of lies, shame, and self-destruction. Can they break free from their deception and turn to the only One who can save them? And will it be in time to save their marriage?

Dressed for Death (A Drew Farthering Mystery) by Julianna Deering:
A Regency-Era Costume Party Should Have Been an Amusing Diversion, But it Seems Wherever Drew Farthering Goes, Mystery--and Murder--Are on the Guest List.

Vote below or follow this link to vote if box is not displayed: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/VPNJMRX

 

Create your own user feedback survey

“The Ability to Soar” A Devotion from Sharon Rene

THE ABILITY TO SOAR

By: Sharon Rene

www.facebook.com/creativegraceSRD

Isaiah 40:28-31 (KJV)

I don’t know about you but sometimes I don’t want to face another day. I dread the sun rising and pouring its golden rays into my room. The alarm sounds or the cell phone beeps and I roll over in bed, pulling the covers over my head. Have you been there? Can you relate?

Thank God His strength never fails. Isaiah writes in verse 40:28, “Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of his understanding.” God never gets tired or runs out of strength. He’s never sad to see the morning sunrise. He doesn’t dread what the day will soon reveal. So we shouldn’t either. Not if we’re a child of God. We have the greatest power in the universe living inside of us. The precious Holy Spirit directs us and travels with us every step we take.

Isaiah goes on to tell us in verse 30, “Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall.” So it doesn’t matter if you’re nine or ninety, male or female. We all get tired, physically and spiritually. At times every one of us reaches the point where we just want to lay down and give up. It would be so easy to stay hidden under those blankets and let life pass us by.

But that’s not God’s plan for us. Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles, they shall run and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint.” God will give us the majestic grace and power of an eagle soaring through the morning sky. Most of the time I feel more like a squawking chicken than a soaring eagle, but God’s word clearly tells me that I have the ability to soar. But I have to lay aside my worries, fears and incessant sins so God can enable me to soar.

Look in the sky and watch the birds as they easily rise, dip and glide. They’re not carrying burdens on their backs. You’ll never see a hawk soaring with a pile of rubbish on her wings. We can’t soar if we hold onto the past, dwell on present problems or worry about the future. We will soar if we give all of these issues to our loving father.

Does this mean life will go smoothly and we’ll never face another problem? Of course not. We still have to go to work, deal with family problems and confront obstacles. The path isn’t always clear and sometimes our hopes and dreams seem to be nothing more than morning mist. But, God will be with us through every struggle. He will not leave or forsake us.

So tomorrow when you start your morning, take a deep breath, lay your burdens down and whisper a prayer to God. Ask Him to give you peace and strength and lift you up on wings like eagles. Then watch out, because you are about to soar!

 



Sharon Rene works as a legal secretary at a large corporation. She loves to write, and is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys writing young adult fiction, children’s short stories and devotions. Her short story StageFRIGHT was published in the September 2015 edition of the Kid’s Ark Magazine. Her Facebook page is entitled Creative Grace with Sharon Rene.

A Sense of Humor is Essential!

Have you ever laughed so hard it brought tears to your eyes and made you sides hurt? Yeah, me too. And it felt great, didn’t it?

Solomon wrote:

“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance . . .” ~ Proverbs 15:13a [KJV]

My guest today agrees wholeheartedly. Please welcome Max Elliot Anderson.

 

NEWS Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

by Max Elliot Anderson

CONTACT: Max Anderson

PHONE: (815) 877-1514 mander8813@aol.com

The Sense of Humor

Let Humor Fast Track You to Healthier, Happier Living

Rockford, IL - Max Elliot Anderson announces the release of his new book, The Sense of Humor - Let Humor Fast Track You to Healthier, Happier Living, from Elk Lake Publishing. ISBN: 9781942513971 | ASIN: 1942513976

“April is National Humor Month,” Anderson said, “and kicks off on April Fool’s Day. During these uncertain times, what people need most is a good laugh. Imagine what would happen if we understood there is an untapped force, contained within us, that has the power to totally change our lives. And what if we discovered, all we had to do in order to unlock this secret, is to simply start using it?”

The New England Journal of Medicine estimates that 85% of all human illnesses are curable by the body’s own healing system. Recent data suggests the more positive input we can include in our lives, the more we are supporting our body’s ability to tap into its natural healing process.

The Sense of Humor is divided into two sections. The first explores the benefits of incorporating humor in medicine, relationships, the classroom, families, the workplace, by youth workers, pastors, counselors, and more. 

“This project began as a simple joke book,” Anderson continued. “But through my video production work with clients, I began to discover the healing value of laughter and humor plus the benefits being found in business and industry where humor was used.”

The second part of The Sense of Humor contains hundreds of jokes and humor arranged in sections that relate to each of the major subjects found in the first. 

Studies reveal that humor aids in the healing process. And a personal sense of humor helps combat stress and depression. In business, one of the primary traits the human resources department looks for is a healthy sense of humor in job applicants. People without a sense of humor aren’t expected to go far. 

A pastor notes, “Humor is disarming. It makes us deal with issues we wouldn’t face otherwise. Humor is more than a joke at the end of a sermon.” As one youth pastor puts it, “The way to a student’s heart is through his funny bone.” 

Education professionals tell us laughter encourages learning. Humor leads to an increase in attention span and it can help both the students and the teacher. Educators find, when used in teaching, humor promotes better retention, better understanding, along with more attentiveness and alertness. 

Research also demonstrates how humor can make sense in the life of anyone who is willing to use it. Outside of this primary benefit, humor touches the lives of everyone around the user in positive ways.

Max Elliot Anderson is best known for his many action-adventures and mysteries written for middle grade readers. The Sense of Humor, with its clean content, is intended primarily for adults.

The Sense of Humor is available wherever books are sold.

Bio for Max Elliot Anderson

Max Elliot Anderson has spent most of his life in the production of documentary and dramatic films, client videos, and television commercials. Most of his previous writing includes adventures and mysteries that bring the same visual excitement, and heart-pounding action from those productions into his books for middle grade readers 8 and up.

While producing video programs and commercials for clients, he observed the important role humor played in many different situations. The Sense of Humor is a culmination of those experiences and observations, and is intended to help people understand the power a positive sense of humor offers.

Mr. Anderson is listed in Who’s Who in America and his productions have won multiple Telly Awards. He and his wife Claudia have two children and four grandchildren.

 

Some Links for You:

Amazon link http://ow.ly/Zlcca

The Sense of Humor Promo blog http://yourhumorsense.blogspot.com

The Sense of Humor Promo Video 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NcL0N9Vt5g

The Sense of Humor Promo Video 2 https://youtu.be/sa8dboA8IH4

A Chat with Christine Lindsay, Award-winning Author & Speaker ♦ Plus Giveaway

Christine Lindsay is the author of multi-award-winning Christian fiction. Tales of her Irish ancestors who served in the British Cavalry in Colonial India inspired her multi-award-winning series Twilight of the British Raj, Book 1 Shadowed in Silk, Book 2 Captured by Moonlight, and explosive finale Veiled at Midnight.

Christine’s Irish wit and her use of setting as a character is evident in her contemporary romance Londonderry Dreaming and her newest release Sofi’s Bridge.

Aside from being a busy writer and speaker, Christine and her husband live on the west coast of Canada. Coming August 2016 is the release of Christine’s non-fiction book Finding Sarah—Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story.

♦ ♦ ♦

This Giveaway is Now Closed

Welcome Christine!

I’ve been looking forward to this day for a chance to get to know you better. Ready to go?

If you were a book, what would the title be? (create one of your own) Any particular reason behind that?

Sweet Breeze of God in my Soul. I love a soft breeze, and so often God comes to us in a still, small voice, or a word as gentle as the mist or a breath of wind. I cannot live without the Lord. I learned that many years ago. No matter what struggles we go through in this life, when we trust in the Son of God, then Father God hold us in the palm of His hand. We are forever safe.

Share a few things most people don’t know about you.

When I was a baby I was patted on the head by Prince Philip (Queen Elizabeth’s husband) outside the Belfast City Hall.

My great-grandfather and my grandfather (yes father and son) were both riveters on the building of the Titanic in the Belfast shipyard. It was my grandfather’s very first ship when he started as an apprentice at 14 years old. But as a family we accept no responsibility for the 1912 sinking of that infamous vessel.

I use many of my ancestors as fodder for my novels. The soldiers on my mother’s side were the inspiration behind my multi-award-winning historical trilogy Twilight of the British Raj.

How do you start your day?

A cup of tea and then curl up on my living room couch to have my morning devotions. I especially enjoy reading a page from Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest. Then I pray.

What is the funniest, strangest, most interesting thing you’ve ever come across—or done?

Probably the most interesting is that I relinquished my first child to adoption in 1979. I was an unwed mother at the time and gave my little girl Sarah up so that she could have a daddy as well as a mommy. We were reunited 20 years later, and it was extremely traumatic but has taught me more about the Lord’s personality than any other life event.

Thinking back over some of the old literary classics, which character, from which book, would you most identify with, and why?

I cannot for the life of me remember any of the old literary classics which fit me best, but I can choose one from a current day story. That would be Lady Edith Crawley from Downtown Abby. When she gives up her little girl Marigold and can’t stay away from her, I totally relate. I know exactly how she feels.

OK, now let’s talk about the book we’re featuring today.

· Title: Sofi’s Bridge

· Publisher: WhiteRose

· Release Date: Digital April 15, Paper May 1, 2016

· Genre: Christian Historical Romance

· Series or Single Title: Single

Give us the back cover blurb:

Seattle Debutante Sofi Andersson will do everything in her power to protect her sister who is suffering from shock over their father’s death. Charles, the family busy-body, threatens to lock Trina in a sanatorium—a whitewashed term for an insane asylum—so Sofi will rescue her little sister, even if it means running away to the Cascade Mountains with only the new gardener Neil Macpherson to protect them. But in a cabin high in the Cascades, Sofi begins to recognize that the handsome immigrant from Ireland harbors secrets of his own. Can she trust this man whose gentle manner brings such peace to her traumatized sister and such tumult to her own emotions? And can Neil, the gardener, continue to hide from Sofi that he is really Dr. Neil Galloway, a man wanted for murder by the British police? Only an act of faith and love will bridge the distance that separates lies from truth and safety.

Read for free the first chapter of Sofi’s Bridge, Click HERE

Anything else you’d like to share about this book?

The spiritual theme of this book is about trying to save our loved ones when perhaps there are times when we should back off and leave them to God. This is especially hard if we are caring, nurturing types of people. But this personality trait can have a downside, when we step in to “fix” things for those we love when we shouldn’t.

Where can we buy this book in Paper and Ebook?

• Amazon.com for Sofi’s Bridge


• Pelican Book Group


• Barnes and Noble

Where can readers find you on the Internet?

www.ChristineLindsay.org or follow her on Amazon on Twitter. Subscribe to her quarterly newsletter, and be her friend on Pinterest , Facebook, Goodreads,

And on my writers’ blog that I share with Rachel Phifer Novel Renaissance.

What’s coming up next for/from Christine Lindsay?

I have a second book coming out this year, my non-fiction book Finding Sarah, Finding Me: A Birthmother’s Story, which is the true account of my experience in relinquishing my baby girl to adoption in 1979 and our reunion twenty years later. This book is not all about me though; it also includes my birthdaughter’s story in her own words, as well as her adoptive mom’s. Stories from other adoption reunions are woven in at the end of each chapter. I’m very excited about the release of this long awaited book. Being a birthmom is what started me writing in the first place.

That sounds exiting, Christine! I wish you great success with it.

 



Christine is giving away an Ebook copy of Sofi’s Bridge (no country restrictions!) to one lucky Whispers in Purple reader. To enter, just leave a comment below with your name and contact information (so we can notify you if you’re the winner). Giveaway ends next Friday (April 27) at Midnight, CDT. Winner will be drawn on Saturday and notified via email.

Thank you so much for being my guest today, Christine. It’s been great spending this time with you.