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

Interview with author Diana Dilcher ~There' s Plenty of Room at Haven Inn

Diana Dilcher, April 23, 2016, Graduation from Grand Canyon University, Arizona

 Hi, Diana, I’m so pleased to have you as my guest on Whispers in Purple today. Welcome. You’ve agreed to answer some interview questions, so let’s get to it. Most of all, have fun with this!

*Tell us a little about yourself. 

I was born in May of 1942 in the San Francisco Bay Area.  I am an only child but had lots of cousins who made up for the lack of siblings.  God blessed me with a Christian grandmother who was used by the Lord to bring me to Christ in my adult years.

Because the expense of living in California exceeded my income and I was single I moved to Reno, NV to be with relatives.  In 2011, the Lord opened the doors for me to fulfill a long-time dream … to get a BA Degree in Communications. Because I was living in Section 8 Housing and going to school full-time I moved to Phoenix, AZ and on April 23, 2016, I graduated as an online student from Grand Canyon University.  

God is opening opportunities for me despite the fact that I am living in a health care facility.  I praise God for this because I have inspired young people who work here to fulfill their life dreams, something I wasn't able to do until I was 74.  I am completing my short novel entitled “There's Plenty of Room at Haven Inn.” It will be appearing on Kindle on Wednesday, January 30^th, after delays with health care issues.  

*What is your typical day like?

In our health care facility, we have full-staffed services and activities.  Bingo, arts and crafts, and when the weather is nice, trips to local parks and other recreational sights.

Our rent, which is reasonable since it also includes meals, new wide-screen TVs with cable and Wi-Fi, phone service and transportation to medical appointments.  Our laundry and housekeeping are also provided.  Physical therapy has exercise equipment.  So I am kept very busy around here.

*Besides writing, what other hobbies/activities do you enjoy?

I love the old classic movies because of the plots and the acting.  I enjoy all kinds of music, especially classical.  But my favorite pastime is surfing YouTube.  Through their variety of categories, I have taken train and bus trips across the United States and Canada, watched the launching of some of the world’s greatest ocean liners, and watched past Oscar presentations in both black and white and color. 

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

Historical novels are my favorite.  At present they're keeping me busy with therapy, so I don't have much time to myself. 

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

I’d want to be a horse and run free with my mane and tail flying.

Oh, I like that image!

*Let’s talk about your book. (Sorry, readers, no book cover image available yet.)

• Title: There' s Plenty of Room at Haven Inn
• Author: Diana Louise Dilcher
• Publisher: Kindle
• Release Date: Jan 30, 2019
• Genre: Christmas Romance
• Stand-alone or part of a series? Stand-alone
• Target readership: Older Teens and Adults
• Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2WOWk71 

*Give us the back-cover blurb/synopsis.

When Joan Cameron and brother David Brandford inherit their parents’ bed and breakfast inn, their Haven in The Woods becomes a battleground involving a corporate takeover.  Can the inn become a symbol of healing?  And can Joan's civil engineer husband Philip prevent the collapse of a nearby dam as a major storm threatens Northern California with disaster? 

*Finally, how did you come up with the concept for this story?

Having grown up in Northern California and experienced torrential rainstorms, I witnessed what water can do.  I've fallen in love with Bed and Breakfast Inns and hope to stay in one someday.  I put a lot of hard work into this story, and hope that at least one person will be blessed by its message.

Peg here: About the B&B … I hope you get a chance to do that, Diana. About fifteen years ago my sister and I ‘ran away’ from our husbands and flew to San Antonio for five days and stayed in a converted old Victorian B&B right on the Riverwalk. What unforgettable fun.

Thank you so much for being my guest today, Diana. God bless your writing, and may He bless those who read it.

An Interview with author Mike Garrett ~ New Release ~ Innocence Denied ~ Giveaay

Please welcome newly published author Mike Garrett who has graciously consented to answer a few interview questions for us.

Welcome Mike!

Tell us about your Writing 

Have you been previously published?

Innocence Denied is my first attempt at Christian fiction. My secular novel, Keeper, was published almost thirty years ago. It sold out its initial printing and was optioned for a movie.

One of my early publishing experiences was with Dun’s Review, a business magazine. I wrote a short humor piece for them that was subsequently reprinted around the world.

How was writing a Christian novel different from your secular fiction?

With Keeper, I focused on establishing a career and building a name for myself. There was none of that this time; no profit motive and no desire to be in the spotlight. I did it solely to serve God through his spiritual gifts. This one is for Him, not me. He inspired me all along the way to such a degree that I don’t even feel comfortable taking credit for it. It was as if I was the keyboard and He was the typist.

I originally wrote Innocence Denied for self-publication because it went against the grain of most traditional publishers. It’s a love story but not a romance; it has elements of suspense but isn’t a suspense novel. It’s difficult to classify, and that’s a big no-no for virtually all traditional publishers.

When reading, what is your favorite genre?

For secular fiction, I enjoy Harlan Coben’s stand-alone suspense novels. He knows how to keep the pages turning, and I appreciate that in an author. I tried to do that in Innocence Denied. For Christian fiction, I prefer Terri Blackstock.

How similar are you to your hero/heroines?

There’s a lot of me in Derrick, though I’m not nearly as good a man as he. I’ve got a long way to go for that. To me he represents what I could be at my best, almost a role model, and I strive to keep moving toward that goal.

Let's talk about your book: 

Is there a theme verse that holds this story together?

Matthew 3:16: “Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (GNT)

I considered alternate titles, one of which was actually One Good Deed.

The purpose of Innocence Denied is to reach unbelievers and give fellow Christians an example of non-threatening witnessing that they may put to good use at some time. When I finished the novel,  I felt God urge me to investigate commercial publication because that could reach more people in need of its message, but I found little initial success. My own literary agent didn’t like it, and I couldn’t get any other agents to even look at it. I was about to give up when God led me to CrossLink, a Christian publisher with a more broad approach to publishing, and they saw the merit in what I was attempting to do.

What takeaway value do you want readers to gain from your novel?

Innocence Denied offers several messages, one of which is it’s often more difficult to accept God’s forgiveness than it is to forgive yourself. Another is an illustration of how, even when you’re facing dire circumstances of your own, it’s best to focus on the plight of others.

I pray readers will see the importance of living life selflessly.

Innocence Denied

Derrick Walton is a Christian on a mission, risking his own life to save an unbelieving woman in distress.

Larissa Baxter is a gorgeous socialite who has always relied on her striking beauty to get what she wants. After being falsely arrested for murder and posting bail, however, she faces life in prison. As a fugitive, she must do what, to her, is the unthinkable--de-emphasize her looks to appear as average as possible and avoid undue attention.

After their paths cross, they hide in isolation as a nationwide manhunt ensues, and Derrick realizes that the most important rescue of all still awaits--saving Larissa's soul.

God wanted him to save her if it was the last thing he did ... and it likely would be.

Releases February 21, 2019. Available for pre-order at

Amazon or
Barnes & Noble

MIKE'S BIO:

MIKE GARRETT is a devout Christian and life-long resident of Alabama. His world revolves around God, his wife Sharon, two adult children, five grandchildren, and one granddog. He has worked in an editorial capacity with best-selling authors, has served over 2500 international clients as an independent editor, and is recognized as Stephen King’s first editor and publisher. He has also taught writing workshops at colleges and universities across the nation. His editorial services website is

 https://manuscriptcritique.com Innocence Denied is his first Christian novel.

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

https://twitter.com/MGarrett49

https://www.facebook.com/InnocenceDenied/?modal=admin_todo_tour

http://innocencedeniedbook.com

About the Giveaway:

Mike is offering an eBook copy of Innocence Denied to one of this blog's readers. To enter, just leave a comment below with your name and contact information (e.g: you (at)123xyz(dot)com) so we can notify you if you're the winner. Very important. Giveaway runs for one week from today, ending January 30, at MIDNIGHT, CST.

Winner will be drawn through random.org and notified on Thursday via email.

Thanks, Mike, for spending some time with us today. Blessings ...