Wednesday, September 16, 2020

JUDYTHE MORGAN ~ Seeing Clearly ~ Behind the Story

 

The Story Behind my newest release, Seeing Clearly

by Judythe Morgan

 The idea for Seeing Clearly began in 2003. That plot-line was more an inspirational women’s fiction with a grandmother raising her baby grandson after his parents died in a car accident and how she adjusted. The idea was loosely formed and even looser written.  

I started participating in ACFW craft courses. My writing improved as I worked with critique partners. A new romantic suspense story with the same characters began to take shape.

 Once I had a better developed story, I entered the manuscript in contests for additional feedback. My scores were all over the place. According to many contest critiques, the story still needed a lot of work. I reworked and entered more contests.

 In 2008 Seeing Clearly placed third in a Florida Romance Writers of America chapter. I was so excited and started to submit to editors and agents. The rejections rolled in.

 At that point, I accepted it was not God’s timing. I put the manuscript aside and worked on another story idea that had been bouncing around in my head and kinda forgot about Seeing Clearly.

 In 2019 I had an opportunity to attend a conference where Michael Hague was the speaker and participate in a one-on-one small group session to discuss our works-in-progress. I chose Seeing Clearly for the individual tutoring sessions.

After the conference, a small group of us who attended formed a critique group. Between Michael’s input and brainstorming with my new critique group Seeing Clearly finally evolved into a viable story and my characters came to life.

 Evie Parker is a forty-something grandmother raising her toddler grandson who is attracted to an ex-cop employee a decade younger. It was her story and I couldn’t bring myself to change it. Thanks to Michael and my critique group, my unconventional character became real.

 When I started writing Seeing Clearly, a story of later-in-life romance was a little too outside the box for a typical romantic suspense story. That probably explains the conflicting contest scores and so many rejections. Readers weren’t there.

 After months of rewriting, in February of 2020 I entered another contest and placed third. I knew then it was time to publish. Seeing Clearly released in May 2020. According to the reviews posted, readers love Evie and Dawson and their story. The timing was finally right.

 This book’s road to publication was indeed a long one. I worked hard, but it was so worth it. I learned so much. I hope sharing about Seeing Clearly’s journey with readers will help them enjoy the book more.

 And, writers who are reading Peg’s blog, I share to remind you never give up.

 About Your Book  

  • Title: Seeing Clearly
  • Author: Judythe Morgan
  • Publisher: The Danfield Press
  • Release Date: May 12, 2020
  • Genre: Romantic Suspense
  • Series/Stand-Alone: Stand-Alone
  • Target Audience: PG, Ages 12+

Seeing Clearly Back cover Blurb


Evie Parker is a widow and trusting to a fault. She’s raising her grandson after her only child and his wife die in a suspicious car accident.

 Dawson McKey is a divorced, overly cautious ex-cop, who now manages Evie’s shipping company. He trusts no one after his twin sons were killed by a cartel’s bomb.

 There’s undeniable attraction even though she’s twelve years his senior. But she’s convinced their age difference will haunt their relationship. Dawson’s vowed never to love again but being with Evie challenges his thinking.

 Drugs show up in a company shipment at the same time mysterious emails threaten Evie’s grandson. Then the nanny she hired against Dawson’s advice disappears with her grandson and Dawson suspects cartel involvement.

 Can their search for the toddler renew their trust and bring their hearts together?

 Seeing Clearly Buy links

  Excerpt from Seeing Clearly

 Darkness swirled in Evelyn Parker’s head. Dawson McKey’s voice drifted like a soft light through the blackness. “Evie.”

She heard her name, the drone of whispered words, and other sounds she couldn’t identify. It was like trying to thread a needle, blindfolded.

An antiseptic smell made her cough. She opened her eyes and reality came crashing through her haze. Hospital. Accident. David and Mandy dead.

She pushed upward from the hard, cold medical center floor. “No.”

“Lie still, Mrs. Parker.” A fresh-out-of-medical-school doctor lightly touched her wrist, checking his watch. “You fainted and gave yourself a nasty bump.”

Fainted? She snatched her hand from the doctor’s grip. She never fainted. Not even three years ago when her husband died in her arms. “I’m fine. Where’s my grandson?”

Tiny bumps pebbled across her neck. Did she already know that answer? Is that why she fainted?

The way-too-young-looking doctor pointed to a room adjacent to the busy ER waiting area. “Why don’t we go in there and talk? I can check that bump.”

His voice sounded soft and sympathetic. She searched his face for any sign of hope against the truth she feared.

Dawson, her friend and Parker Industry’s Director of Security, eased his arm behind her back. Her legs wobbled.

“Steady,” he whispered, tucking her into his side.

She leaned into the solace of his chest for a nanosecond then straightened her shoulders and followed the doctor to a closet-like room with an ancient metal desk and two chrome-armed chairs that had seen better days.

Evie sank into the nearest chair. The doctor gently rubbed the back of her head. She flinched.

“Everything looks fine. However, if you develop a headache, become nauseous or dizzy, you need to come back immediately. You don’t want to mess with a head injury.”

“I will. Now, what about my grandson, Dr.—” She glanced at his name badge. “Morrison. Is Michael okay?”

Dawson’s large, warm hand covered hers. She wanted to nestle into his heat, lean against his strong body, to hide until all of this went away. She stiffened her spine instead.

Dr. Morrison studied her face. “Your grandson’s doing okay. He appears to have only cuts and bruises. His seatbelt harness snapped when the SUV was hit, throwing him from the vehicle as it flipped. He escaped the fire, and the car seat protected him. We’ve done X-rays and MRIs to be sure. Results aren’t back yet.”

The room tilted. A fiery image flashed in her mind’s eye sending a cold chill down her spine. She swallowed. She couldn’t allow her brain to go there, wouldn’t go there. Doing well sounded a little iffy, but—thank you, Lord—not as final as dead.

She pressed her fist to her lips, pushed back the dizziness, and managed to connect with the doctor’s gaze. “When can I see him?”

The doctor opened the door. Clatter and chatter from the ER waiting area filled the room. “Follow me.”

Evie planted her flip-flops on the floor with a thud. The clip-clop of the rubber soles boomed in rhythm with her pounding heart as she followed.

~~

Dawson slowed his pace to Evie’s stride. He drew deep on years of training to keep his body language relaxed while his senses were on high alert after what the investigating officer told him. A witness reported another car clipped David’s SUV by accident, causing it to careen off the road.

By accident? Not likely. Not with the gambling debt David Parker had. More likely a deliberate act executed by someone he owed or the cartel. He’d bet the cartel.

Either way, it was one more question to add to his ever-growing list of unanswered questions about Evie’s son.

Parker had risked everything and lost. Traded his love of gambling for life and family. You don’t mess around with the cartel. How well Dawson knew.

He’d promised her dying husband he’d take care of her. If she knew what he was doing, she’d send him away. She thought she could take care of herself. He should explain his suspicions about her son. Pointless, she’d never believe David hadn’t reformed like he promised. Not without proof. Proof he didn’t have. Yet.

Dr. Morrison motioned them inside. Their hands still clasped, Dawson guided her to Michael’s crib side.

His vision blurred. A fire exploded in his gut. In that instant, he made another vow. Whoever had done this, he’d find them and make them pay.

Same as he’d vowed to find the cartel leader Marco Torres and make him pay for what he’d done to his boys.

~~

From the waiting room of Mercy Regional Medical Center, the man watched Parker’s Madre and McKey approach, trailing behind the doctor down the corridor. Anger stiffened his back and burned his eyes. Would he ever be rid of McKey?

His first plan to do away with the nuisance had bombed. Now this. Another big screwup. This one threatened their supply chain. Prickles of apprehension twined with his anger. Not good. Not good at all. Mistakes in a business with no margins for error made him look weak. Made the cartel bosses wonder why he was here. His papá was not going to be happy. And when papá was not happy, it was never a good thing.

 

Judythe’s BIO


Award-winning author Judythe Morgan was an Air Force daughter then an Army wife and a one time-Department of Army Civilian employee. She’s traveled a lot of this world.

An antiques dealer, teacher, former mayor's wife, and sometimes-church pianist, she's had some interesting experiences.

As mommy to an Old English sheepdog named Finnegan MacCool and a Maltese named Buster, there are always wild adventures in the works.

Her travel, experiences, and wild adventures always find their way into her award-winning stories. Check her website  https://judythemorgan.com for details.

Besides her fiction, she writes a weekly blog with her urban farmer daughter, Chicken Wrangler Sara. You can follow at www.judythewriter.com 

Sign up for her free newsletter to keep up with her latest news and subscriber-only sneak peaks.

And follow her on

 

Thursday, September 10, 2020

LEARNING TO LOVE YOURSELF ~ Cleo Lampos ~ Miss Bee and the Do Bees ~ Giveaway

 Hi, readers. It's Throwback Thursday and our guest blogger today is author Cleo Lampos. Welcome, Cleo. The stage is yours.


Learning to Love Yourself

By Cleo Lampos

Image provided by author

Ever stand in front of a mirror, then look away with dissatisfaction?

When a photographer is snapping pictures, a quick getaway is made?

Clothes are bought that fold and drape over the body?

These are signs of body image uneasiness. A condition that is characterized with how the appearance of the body interferes in the way a life is lived.  Most people can cope on the surface but suffer on the emotional level.

In the novel, Miss Bee and the Do Bees, Veronica (Roni) Bagedonas suffers from body dysmorphic disorder. Although known as the most successful teacher of children with emotional and behavioral problems, Roni cannot overcome her embarrassment of her large thighs. A colorful tee shirt tops the long skirts that hide her legs. Her work is her life.

Enter into the picture, “Sunny” Vanderpool. This former beauty queen will now be Roni’s classroom aide.  Perfect hair, manicured nails, flawless make up, and a coordinated wardrobe set her apart from Roni. The comparison is unsettling to Roni who does not know how hard it is for Sunny to keep up appearances.

What is more unsettling to Roni is Joe Milanchovich, who has been assigned to the school as the fire department’s educator for fire safety. Joe suffers from PTSD after serving as a medic in Afghanistan.  His wounds are all internal. But real. Although Joe admires Roni as a teacher, he feels inadequate to tell her how he feels.

The conflict between inner wounds and outer wounds is brought to a climax when Sunny’s  fiancé’ is sent back to the United States severely wounded.  As Sunny views him in massive bandages and hooked up to IVs, she must decide whether to walk away from the relationship, or stay.


Top of Form
Can’t Miss Novels
by Cleo A. Lampos
* * *
Contemporary Romance
TEACHERS OF THE DIAMOND PROJECTS SCHOOLS
Second Chances
Diamonds in the Tough
Miss Bee and the Do Bees
*
                              The Story Behind the Novel

This novel draws on the Chicago urban school system, so it includes the dangers of the neighborhood, foster care, gang activity in the community and fires. Author Cleo Lampos taught behavior disorder/emotionally disturbed students, which brings reality to the classroom plot line.  She is familiar with both body dysmorphic disorder and PTSD. The fire-fighting scenes reflect stories she gleaned from her fireman son-in-law. The shoot up of the school bus occurs all too often on the streets of Chicago.

Cleo Lampos has written three books in the series The Teachers of Diamond Project Schools. Each novel is a stand-alone, but occur in the same make believe building.  However, the conflicts in the book are based on events that happened in the urban areas of Chicago. Fiction and news events are melded into realistic fiction. The underlying emotions are personally from the author. The characters in Lampos’ books delve deep into their faith to find strength and integrity.

As a retired educator, Lampos lectures at adult extension classes at nearby colleges and at senior gatherings. She quilts and cans the food that her Urban Gardener husband grows on their suburban lot. Eleven grandchildren fill their lives with joy.  Lampos stays in touch with educators and their challenges.

Cleo is giving away a copy of this novel to one of the persons who comments on this blog. To enter, just leave a comment with your name and contact information (so we can notify you if you win) in the comment section below. Giveaway ends one week from today on Sept 17, 2020, at Midnight, Central Time. 

Wednesday, September 9, 2020

SOWN IN PEACE ~ Joy Avery Melville ~ The Story Behind the Story

SOWN IN PEACE

The Story Behind the Story

Joy Avery Melville

 

Sown In Peace would not be the story it is without some amazing input from two of America’s wounded warriors, but let me back up just a little. After God gave me the idea for this novel, and after I quit arguing with him about writing it, I did a mammoth amount of reading from non-fiction books I purchased at Amazon.com. I knew it wasn’t enough. There was a niggling within that had me sensing a need to dig deeper, which led me to pray for a human resource. Someone who’d been there and done the things I wanted to include in my novel. Someone who wouldn’t fear talking about their take away from their years of service.

 

Since I don’t believe in coincidences, I can say with all sincerity, God nudged two people to answer my prayers. Through an editing client, I met an extraordinary soldier… a wounded warrior. Then, God connected me with another outstanding, Army wounded warrior, through the editor of my books. These two men, Jeremy Rockstroph (Rock) of Indiana and Keith Youngblood (Big guy) of Texas have PTSD, and yet, were willing to open up and give me insight into that devastating result of their service to our country. They were able to share what no text book or reference source I’d been through had given me. These soldiers gave me what I needed so badly for the characters in the story.

 

When I first interviewed each of them, it was to gain information as to military terms, the types of vehicles and how they were used, base life, and the atmosphere. Then, as I spent time with them over the many months we talked, via email, FB Chats, by phone, email, and even in person with Rock, I learned they had so much more to say that would impact the novel. These men shared their very hearts with me, bringing so much more life to the novel and two very important characters.

 

I am grateful for the ideas God put in my head and heart, the strength He gave me to put them into book form, but my life has been changed for having known these men. I will be forever indebted to them… the heroes I am now privileged to call family!


Lest you think this story is all about military life and PTSD, I promise, there are emotional and romantic elements running through this novel. See below ~

 

From the back cover:

 


How much can one wounded soul take?

 

Victoria (Tori) Archer has the heart of a soldier. Taken down by an IED during her fourth deployment, she’s permanently separated from her military career and left with physical scars as well as PTSD. Moving back to her hometown of Three Rivers, Michigan, she’s forced by circumstances to live with an irascible and unsympathetic aunt. Tori’s battle with pain, horrific memories, and loss of independence creates a deep yearning for peace. Will God grant her even a small measure of it?

 

Retired Military Dog Handler Griffin (Griff) McKay turns to training dogs at his farm for wounded warrior therapy, desiring to bring former military men and women emotional and mental healing. Implementing his plan proves to be more difficult than visualized with the arrival of one stubborn soldier. Why has God placed that particular warrior in his path?

 

 

One thing God has allowed me, while writing the genre He nudged, pushed, and then affirmed I write, is a strong Romance thread and ultimately a sigh-worthy ending. Something my Advanced Readers have assured me, is there.

 

Keith Youngblood read the e-book format of Sown In Peace last week then left a comment on my Facebook page with five bright yellow stars. He said the following:

 

“Everyone needs to get a copy of this book!! It is a Faith Based Fictional, yet very realistic story about a Wounded Warrior (IED explosion) returning home after being medically retired from the Army. She has to learn to live with her physical and mental injuries.

I also have a personal connection to this book, as the author, Joy Avery Melville was initially put in contact with me in order for her to get technical info for the book. Well it turned in to much more than that. Throughout the process, I got to know Joy and got comfortable enough to start sharing stories about my life and my struggles in the Army and since retiring. We have now become life-long friends. I love you Ladybug.” (unedited)

 

Needless to say, my eyes leaked when I read that. I am indebted to both men, for their candor. I look forward to working with them each again as I begin Pursuit Of Peace in the next month or so.

 

About the author:

 


Fully intending to write Historical Romance—had in fact— Joy had no plans to deviate from that. God had something else in mind for that ‘call’ He’d made on her life back in 1967. A mere eighth grader at the time, she had no clue about the topics she’d be drawn to write about.

Surrendering to the genre God placed on her heart has given Joy new insight into the hearts and lives of those who too often hurt in silence.

The settings of Joy’s books are near where she lives in Schoolcraft, Michigan with her husband of nearly 47 + years and their 21 mo-old Yorkie, Is-A-Bella Bindi, (Is-a-beautiful little girl) who thinks she’s a much larger breed with tomboy tendencies.

Joy loves to hear from readers and will respond! 

 

 

 

 

 

Friday, September 4, 2020

HAPPY ENDINGS : Alexis A. Goring : Faithful Friday


Happy Endings: They’re not just for the movies!
A devotional by Alexis A. Goring




One of my favorite songs from the 1982 original version of the movie Annie is called “Let’s Go to the Movies!” It’s a beautiful, fanciful tune. Lately, it’s been on my mind.

I’ve been singing it often while listening to the replay on YouTube. But it wasn’t until one afternoon in late August 2020, that God showed me a spiritual parallel between the song lyrics and real-life. I realized that happy endings are not just for the movies. You can have a happy ending to the story of your life when you choose to follow Jesus Christ!

Best of all, it’s not really an ending, just happiness for all eternity! Through the sacrifice of His Son (Jesus Christ), God offers you the free gift of salvation. The Bible says that all who call upon the name of the Lord (Jesus Christ) will be saved (Acts 2:21).

What does it mean to be saved? Lovely, it means that God will save your soul in His Kingdom. It means that all of your pain and heartache that you experienced on this earth will end forever and God will restore you completely. It means that when Jesus Christ returns to Earth and takes His faithful followers home to Heaven, you will live forever! The Bible says that in the blink of an eye your body will be changed from mortal to immortal (1 Corinthians 15:52) and you will live in the Presence of God forever. This forever existence will be free from sin and all of its side effects: death, destruction, pain, sickness, trauma, drama, heartache, and so much more. You will live perfectly happy and feel completely loved by your Creator God.

But you don’t have wait until you get to Heaven to feel loved by God because He loved you before you were born (Jeremiah 1:5). We don’t have to work our way into God’s Heart nor do we need to continually impress Him to earn His favor because the Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8-9). So what are you waiting for? Who doesn’t want to enjoy a happy ending? Especially a happy ending that never ends! Open the door of your heart to Jesus Christ who loves you with His very life (John 3:16).

He stands outside the door of your heart, gently knocking, waiting for you to let Him in (Revelation 3:20). But here’s the catch: Only you have the ability to open the door. Yes, God can do anything but He chooses to not force a relationship with you because He wants you to choose Him out of your own free will.

He will never force you against your will to accept the free gift of salvation that He offers through His Son Jesus Christ. But oh, how He loves you! And oh, how much He wants you to be saved in His Kingdom. Therefore, He actively pursues you with His Love. God constantly works through people, situations, words, songs, Bible verses, and all of His Creation (including nature) to give us reasons to welcome Him in. God wants to spend eternity with You. Will you choose Him today? Remember, tomorrow is not promised (James 4:13-14) and you can have salvation today! Won’t you choose Jesus?

There are two beautiful songs that I’d like for you to listen to in closing: “Now Behold the Lamb” (as performed in “The Gospel” movie) and “Tomorrow” by The Winans.

Be encouraged, dear heart. The Creator for the Universe who is also your Maker, loves you. He’s waiting for you to believe in Him (if you don’t already) and He desperately wants you to be saved in His Kingdom.

God wants to bless you with a happily ever after that rivals every ending to a human-made book, story, or movie. Will you let Him?

Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.


Wednesday, September 2, 2020

KIMBERLY ROSE JOHNSON ~ The Sleuth's Surprise


It's What's New Wednesday with guest author Kimberly Rose Johnson and her new release
The Sleuth's Surprise

So sit back with your favorite beverage and enjoy!


I’m so excited to share about my new release The Sleuth’s Surprise. This is the fourth and final book in the Librarian Sleuth Series. Each of the books in the series stand alone, but it’s best to have read at least the first book to truly appreciate everything in the final book.

I’ve always wanted to write a story with characters that are a bit older, but I hesitated because I generally like to write about an age I’ve already experienced. That being said, I finally feel qualified to get into the head of older characters since I turn 50 at my next birthday.

Mary Daley is a character that I’ve enjoyed writing from the beginning of this series and knew she needed her own story. It was so much fun getting into this woman’s head to share her thoughts, rather than only showing what is on the surface like in the other books. Mary is a complicated woman!

Here’s the back cover description:
Mary Daley has been the sheriff of Tipton County for more than two decades, but someone wants her job. When it seems circumstances can’t get more complicated, a murder happens on her watch. Had she been the intended victim?
Deputy Chief Lyle Griffin only wants Mary to be happy, but when he asks her if she’d consider retiring, it sets off a string of events and emotions that muddy their friendship.  
Nancy Daley-Malone can’t believe anyone would run for sheriff against her mom. She is onboard to help run the best campaign Tipton County has ever seen until the sheriff’s opponent is murdered and Nancy’s husband joins the race. On top of that, it appears someone is out to kill her mother as well.
Can Nancy, along with the sheriff’s department, find the murderer before it’s too late? Will Lyle and Mary be able to admit their feelings for one another or will the status quo remain?
Here’s a short excerpt:
Still stunned that her position as sheriff was being challenged, Mary closed her eyes and took a cleansing breath. Lord, if you want me to stay on as sheriff, I’m going to need your help. Her phone rang. She checked the caller ID and sighed before answering and putting on her most chipper voice. “Good morning, Mayor Wallace.”
 “No need to be so formal, Mary. I’ve told you to call me Charlie at least a hundred times.”
 “And I’ve told you, I prefer to be addressed as Sheriff.”
 He cleared his throat. “About that. Have you read the morning paper?”
“I have. Thanks for the heads up.” Not.
 “It was a matter of public record. All you had to do was look to see who had filed.”
She rolled her eyes. She wasn’t in the mood to be talked down to. “Does he even have the right credentials? He’s a high school English teacher.”
 “Believe it or not, he does. Before Stan moved to Tipton, he was in law enforcement.”
 “How? He can’t be over thirty. He has a master’s in education, so how is it he had time to do both?”
 “Guess he’s an overachiever. I actually called to talk with you about the pie judging. You never said if you’re onboard or not.” “I’m looking forward to it.” Okay, so maybe that was a stretch, but she enjoyed pie. How much of a trial could it be?
 “That’s what I was hoping to hear.” He actually sounded gleeful.
 Mary narrowed her eyes. “You are way too happy about this. What’s gzoing on?”
 “I thought it’d be fun for the community to see you and Stan side-by-side at the fair.”


“Please tell me this is a joke.” It wasn’t that she minded sharing the job, it was the person she had to share it with that was the problem—her running mate.
 “Now, Mary.”
 “Sheriff.” She had no idea why it bothered her so much for him to use her given name, but it was like fingernails on a chalkboard on the annoyance level.
 “Sorry, Sheriff. This isn’t a joke. I realize Stan isn’t a celebrity, but he’s a popular teacher, and the high school students will eat this up. No pun intended.”
 “Then why not get another teacher to judge and leave me out of it?” She wanted to snatch the words back as soon as they popped out. She didn’t need her competition to have the upper hand in the eyes of the public.
 “That’s an option, but this would be much more interesting.”
 “Fine. Count me in.” She had a feeling she might regret agreeing to judge the pie-baking contest, but her instinct said it was the right thing to do.
 “Excellent.” Muffled voices sounded in the background on his end of the phone call. “I need to go. I’ll email you the specifics.


Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance and romantic mystery and suspense with a heart.

Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.


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