Braving the Elements...

My friend and I walk on our breaks at work. We started doing this last July and we have been faithful. We walked when the temps were in the high eighties and even nineties when sweat dripped from our armpits and people cleared the hallways when we returned. Now the weather has changed...drastically, but we have continued walking when it isn't raining and the wind isn't howling.

Today we bundled up and headed out the door to brave the elements. Snowflakes drifted around us. We wore winter jackets and matching knit hats bearing "Samuel Adams" on the earpieces (the emblem meaning the ale, not the man). Such cute little earflaps with knitted ends to tie under our chins. The end result meant our hair would be sculpted to our heads for the remainder of the day. We turned the corner and felt the wind blowing against our backs. We chatted and continued walking, enjoying the brisk weather and the glowing feeling in our cheeks. A half-mile later, we looped around and headed back...directly into the wind.

Even the ear flaps couldn't stop the fingers of cold from driving down into my ear canals. And my nose! Can we say icicles formed on the hairs inside? And those beautiful snowflakes now froze on my glasses and burned the exposed areas of my face. I looked at my friend and thought she'd turned into the headless horseman. All I saw was the collar of her coat, but then I noticed a bit of blue plaid...the top of that Sam Adams cap. I couldn't laugh for to do so would mean getting frostbite of the lungs. The last half-hour of that walk was equivalent to "dead man walking."

Needless to say, we did not go outdoors to walk in the afternoon. I suppose they'll find our frozen bodies sometime tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by.

Why I Hate Answering Machines...Or How To Stress Your Cat

First, before I start getting angry comments about cat abuse, let me state that I love my cats. They are part of the family and are probably more spoiled than our kids ever were (sorry, kids)!

When we returned home from an errand tonight, the red blinking light on the telephone indicated a message waiting. I dialed in to check and listened to the message, then listened again, and again, and again...I hate it when people talk so fast that the words slur together. Here's what I heard: "ADT Securities...Ro...Errrrha...test. If you have any questions call (phone number left out to protect the innocent). Well, yeah! I had a question. First, where did this guy learn phone etiquette, and second what the blinkety blank was he trying to tell me? So I called, listened to the three minute spiel of press this and press that (of which none of the numbers applied to "decipher a phone message") and finally "Hold for all other questions" So I held. And then heard a "busy signal". Oh, yeah. I'm feeling the pressure now. Dial, listen to the canned garbage, hold, finally...a voice of reason...maybe. So ADT wants to test our security system. We can do it now or you can call back in the morning at 9am. (No thanks, it took me fifteen minutes to get through this time). So I agreed to "test the alarm" now after assuring them I had no small children sleeping in the house. I set the alarm and was instructed to open one of the doors. A loud screech ensued...and my cats became acrobat artists. Their eyes grew large and they suddenly all had more hair than I realized any cat could own. Can we say armed porcupine? They ran in circles, stared at me like I should be doing something to stop the noise. And then...the alarm went off for real. The gal on the phone said it would have to go off for two minutes. She had set a timer and would let me know when the test was over. Then...I got a busy signal on the phone. NO!!! Now, what would I do? The cats would have shredded my legs if they had claws... Do you know how long two minutes are? When your eardrums are bursting, two minutes can seem like two hours! And...I had no lifelines left. ADT has hung up on me! The cats and I ran around in circles trying to avoid each other. They finally figured out how to stick their paws in their ears, but their eyes were about to burst from their sockets. Soon, I'd have to sue ADT for killing my cats. Then, the phone rang. It was ADT telling me the test was over. "Okay, so stop the noise!" She instructed me how to stop the alarm, and then hung up. Now I have a green ready light, and Zone 1 is orange and so is alarm. My fingers shook wondering if it would go off again. The cats have now climbed my back and are on each shoulder, while one is perched on my head just daring me to set that alarm off one more time. Let me tell you, cats can inflict a lot of damage even without claws. Have you seen their teeth? So, I tentatively pressed the code and armed the system. Then I pressed it again to unarm it...and breathed a sigh of relief. All was well.

My cats may not forgive me before Christmas.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Thanksgiving

Our world is facing many challenges. People are losing jobs, homes, health. The stock market is turned upside down. Our family has suffered losses this year, death of friends and family, family moving away, family members joining the military, declining health, loss of jobs.

But despite this, we have many things to be thankful for. We have a diverse family filled with love. We thank God for the blessings he gives...the comfort of knowing our loved ones who pass are with Him, being able to reach out to those who are far away through the telephone, internet, and snail mail, wonderful surgeons and doctors, church family.

We will sit together this Thanksgiving around the table and give thanks to the Lord.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING. Thanks you for stopping by.

Writing A Synopsis - Lesson Four

We're ready to finalize that synopsis. We've written the back page blurb, used it (or part of it) as the hook to the synopsis. We've introduced our characters, shown the conflict and what their goals are. We've picked out the turning points or high points of the novel and written these into the body of the synopsis. Now it's time for the climax and resolution. Again, keep it simple, don't overwrite, and most of all don't keep the editor guessing what happens.

Here is the final part of the synopsis for Foxfire:

Her trap works, and she faces her worst nightmare, for her ex-lover captures her and holds a knife against her throat. He leads her into the dark wooded mountainside where he plans to kill her, just as he has five other women. He's the serial killer the police are seeking, but they'll never find him. He's set up the perfect ruse.

By the time Tyler realizes Grace has lied to him, it's too late. She's been captured by a killer. The same man who killed Tyler's wife. He realizes that he could lose another woman he loves. He can't let Grace die, too.

Tyler and his boss catch up with them and Grace knows she has to do something or the man she loves will die. She drives her arm into her assailant's midsection and grabs the hand gripping the knife. Gunshots ring out, and she is pinned beneath a dead body. She's faced her worst fear and lived, but her enemy has been slain.

Tyler proposes to Grace. She accepts. Together they've found the strength to overcome the shadows in their past and open their hearts to true love.


Once you have put your entire synopsis together, don't forget to go back over it several times. Don't be afraid to make your sentences stronger, use active verbs, and most of all let your voice shine through.

Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by.

Drowning in an Ocean of Food

Friday we had a turkey potluck at work. I wanted to boycott it and go out to run errands and eat a sandwich, but I do enjoy spending time with my co-workers. Thus, I ate too much food, and went back later for second helpings of dessert. Sunday we had our Thanksgiving potluck at church. Yep, once again I sampled nearly everything. Came home feeling drugged and laid down on the bed to nap. For the rest of the evening I didn't feel like doing one thing. Finally gave up and went to bed at 9pm. Now I'm sitting here in my office and staring at....FOOD! I'm cooking our Thanksgiving dinner this year. I guess we'll have 16 people. Ugh. With no place to put all the extra canned goods and things, I stored them here in my office. I'm going to be glad when Thanksgiving is over...but, then comes Christmas. **sigh** No wonder I can't lose weight.

Sending warm wishes for a happy Thanksgiving to each and all of you. Thanks for stopping by.

Interview with Liana Laverentz

My first experience being interviewed on another blog happened yesterday. If you'd like to check it out:

Click Here

Interviewing with Liana was a lot of fun, especially since we met face to face last June at Lori Foster's Readers and Authors Get Together in Cincinnati.

Thanks for stopping by!

Writing A Synopsis - Lesson Three

Now that we've written the back page blurg and introduced the characters including their goals and what is keeping them from reaching that goal, we need to get into the "middle" of the synopsis. Don't get caught up in putting in too many details. This is the hard part. You must pick out the most important parts of your story and no matter how important each piece is to you...the editor doesn't want to know all the little details. Think "condensed" version.

The easiest way to decide which points to include is to write a high level outline. For each novel you will have three main turning points. The first comes about 1/4 of the way through the book. This is where the hero or heroine MAKES A DECISION to do something that takes the story in a new direction. The second comes at the half-way point. This is a MAJOR turning point and must be high stakes. The third comes about 3/4 of the way through the book. If you have identified these three major points, then you can easily write this part of the synopsis. Remember to keep it simple and to avoid telling every little detail.

Here is the beginning and middle of the synopsis for FOXFIRE.

GRACE WILKINS knows about disappointment, about guilt, and about fear. She's spent her life running away from all three until she finds the perfect hiding place in a small mountain community. At twenty-eight years of age, she's finally put down roots. The murdering mobster she once slept with will never find her here. Nothing bad ever happens in Foxfire, Tennessee.

TYLER SANDFORD is a thirty-five year old undercover agent who is soured on his current job. He's haunted by guilt over his wife's death at the hands of a convicted felon, who remains at large. Tyler wants to turn in his gun and utilize his veterinarian degree to begin a new life somewhere far away. Perhaps then he'll be able to sleep at night.

Then MAX CLAYTON, the man who killed Tyler's wife, resurfaces with a new face and begins picking off the people who testified against him. Tyler moves to Foxfire with a dual purpose--to set up his veterinary practice and use Grace to flush out Max. When Tyler finds Grace unemployed, he hires her to work in his clinic. Though he never mixes business and pleasure, he's having a difficult time keeping his hands off her. She's sexy, tough, and as vulnerable to their mutual attraction as he is.

Strange things begin to happen. A serial killer leaves his fifth victim's body behind the only restaurant in Foxfire. Grace's weird neighbor begins making veiled threats after seeing Tyler and Grace in a compromising embrace. Someone leaves roses on Grace's doorstep and she receives a package that sets her fear racing once again--Max has found her. Someone brutally stabs Grace's dog, and she turns to Tyler to save her canine friend. She spends the night on Tyler's couch and wakes to overhear him talking on the phone about the man she's been hiding from for three years. She barges into the bedroom and confronts Tyler who is pointing a gun straight at her.

A bitter argument turns into raging passion and the two find themselves tangled together in Tyler's bed sheets. Sated and basking in the afterglow, Grace is only amused when Tyler's boss, JAKE SCOTT walks in on them. He shows them a picture of Max's new face. Grace tells them she's seen Max in Foxfire. She convinces Tyler and Jake to let her work with them to capture Max.

Then her world is turned upside down. Her best friend's house is bombed and he is rushed to the hospital. Knowing Max is responsible, Grace fears for the other people she loves. At that point she realizes she's fallen in love with Tyler. She must work alone, setting herself up as bait to catch her nemesis.

Good luck and happy writing. Thanks for stopping by.

P.S. Apologies for posting this a day late.

Traffic Woes

Winter has come early to central Ohio. Yesterday we had snow squalls, huge snowflakes, icy snow pellets...and no accumulation. Last night we had a little snowfall, just a few patches remaining this morning, but icy patches on some roads and overpasses. Now I sound like the weather forecaster...but let me tell you, there are some really angry people driving this morning.

An SUV came roaring past me in my subdivision where the speed limit is 25mph. They had to stop in front of me and wait for the school bus to load. But I suppose that person relieved some anger by moving up one slot in the traffic line.

When the school bus stopped at the railroad tracks, I stopped at the intersection to let another vehicle turn from the left lane into a subdivision on my right. I feel so great! The person behind me blew the horn so loudly I can now hear despite my congested ear. I suppose they were angry at the school bus for stopping, and I'm sure they felt much better after releasing that hostility on the horn. After the vehicle made the turn, I inched up one car length to stop and wait for that school bus to clear the railroad tracks so traffic could once more move.

As the traffic moved toward the first major crossroads and traffic light, we merged into two lanes. The left becomes a turn left only lane...mine to go straight or turn. See, I learned something today. If you are angry and tired of waiting in line, you can move into that left lane and cut off the next person in the right hand lane going straight! Isn't that amazing.

Thanks for stopping by!

Living with Arthur is a Pain

Five reasons living with Arthur is a real bummer:

1. When I'm so exhausted I can't wait to crawl between the sheets, Arthur likes to keep me awake.

2. When I'd like to be alone and meditate, Arthur intrudes without an apology.

3. Arthur tags along with me everywhere I go.

4. When Arthur came to live with me, my entire life changed...for the worse.

5. Arthur's like that energizer bunny...relentless and annoying.

Living with Arthur Itis is a pain.

Thanks for stopping by!

Rain, Snow, and Weather Blues...

Ohio is gearing up for a nasty winter. We've already seen snow...not an accumulation...but it's been here. More is predicted. Ugh. Our furnace has been running off and on since October, unusual for this time of year. Typically temps stay mild through mid November and drop just a bit through December, with January and February being our coldest months.

Winter months mean too many hours spent indoors. I leave for work in the near dark, have no windows to the outdoors, and return home in the near dark. Depressing. At least when the weather is mild I can get outside during breaks and walk. Being cooped indoors with the same people tends to make people grumpy and I work with a lot of normally grumpy workers.

Not looking forward to the next months. How about you?

Thanks for stopping by.

Little Corner Grocery Stores....

Ah, yes. The little corner grocery stores. I used to live with my grandma and grandpa. What a great time. We knew all the neighbors and it was so cool. I could walk next door and sit on the porch and talk with the elderly couple living there. Now, mind you, I was only six. The corner grocery store was three blocks away...an eternity...but we walked there and bought our groceries. We had a running tab which was paid monthly. The store owner would give me a lollipop from time to time--a wonderful gift, greatly appreciated. I moved away two years later, but I returned for a two week visit every summer. Eventually, a R&W root beer stand came to that little community...across the street from the grocery. Again, we all knew the owners' names. They, too, were neighbors. "Champ" was a great guy. He wore a white hat and tended the outdoor "bar." For a treat, we'd take fifty cents and sit on stools under an overhang,eat a coney dog and drink an ice cold frosted mug of root beer. Back then, parents weren't afraid to let their kids walk the streets of the neighborhood, and if one of us got into trouble, there was no hiding it. The entire community knew.

Everyone worked hard, and no one had credit cards. There was no stigma to keep up with the neighbors. People had backyard gardens and shared/swapped their food. I'm all for progress, but I don't like what it's done to us on a personal level. Maybe that's why I write stories set in small rural communities.

We're on the verge of a new way of life. Time will tell what direction it takes. I worry for my grandchildren, but I suppose my grandparents worried for me. Hmmm, perhaps they were right to worry.

Thanks for stopping by.

Writing a Synopsis - Lesson Two

Assuming you've completed writing your blurb (see last Tuesday's blog Writing A Synopsis - Lesson One), your ready to introduce your characters. This is where goals, motivation, and conflict come into play. Keep it brief and simple. I usually do this in two paragraphs--one for the heroine and one for the hero. What you don't want to do is describe the physical characteristics of your characters. Save this for your manuscript. The goal here is to outline what is to be expected during the story.

Example from Hit and Run:

Beth Barrett's twin sister, Jilly, is killed by a hit and run driver and Beth knows who did it. Proving it is the problem. No one believes she is psychically connected with her deceased twin, and the man she accuses has an alibi. It doesn't help that she's attracted to the detective assigned to the case, especially when he's skeptical about her motives for accusing her brother-in-law. Faced with a cunning adversary, Beth must find a way to convince Detective Ryan Snider before she becomes the next victim.

Detective Ryan Snider wants to believe Beth is telling the truth, but in reality no one can talk to a dead person. He met the twins when Jilly was hospitalized after being brutally beaten by her husband, Keith Carson. He did his best to help, telling himself it was duty, not the physical attraction to Beth that kept him involved. But now Ryan has a murder to solve, and he has to put logic before heart, and doing so may destroy his relationship with Beth.

If you use your blurb, you can expand it to create these paragraphs. Good luck!

Thanks for stopping by.

Stop! No one is "One Size Fits All"

If you believe in the greatest marketing scheme ever created, One Size Fits All, you need to take a step back and look at reality. For instance, if you ask a woman who wears a size 2 and a woman who wears a size 20 to stand side by side wearing an identical "one size" article, you can easily see the problem. I mean a sheet is one size fits all!! Forget the myth. We are individuals. We are unique. Everyone is different. Even identical twins have one thing that distinguishes them from the other.

Writers easily get caught up in the one size myth. Especially beginning writers. It's easy to seek advice and learn the rules, but the hard part is retaining a unique voice. Yes, it is important to learn the craft. It is important to know the rules that shouldn't be broken. But...more important is to write your story. Forget the rules and write the story YOU want to write. Once you have poured out your heart on the page, you can go back and apply the rules WHERE YOU BELIEVE THEY WORK. That's important. Don't ruin your voice, your story, by over applying what you've learned along the way. Much easier said than done, but just like the vision of two people wearing one size articles, so our books should be different.

Thanks for stopping by.

Taking a Stand Against Bathroom Deficiencies

For those of us who work outside the home where we spend nine hours or more in the workplace, shouldn't we at least have decent toilet paper? I mean, come on! Wiping with a piece of paper with pieces of bark embedded in see-through single ply has to stop. I come home raw, bleeding and limping on days when I just can't hold it in for nine hours.

And then, there's the issue of hand soap. Does it contain lye? I mean, my hands are so dry they try to dive into my glass of water after my trip to the ladies room. I don't have to worry about dark spots on the backs of my hands. I can't find them anyway because they're hiding to avoid the torture of that dreaded paper hand towel, cousin to the bark based toilet paper.

Worse, before I can make my exit that "too high on the wall to reach" so-called air freshener spits out a smell strong enough to kill anyone who dares to stay long enough to be caught. Have you ever tried any of that over the counter tooth medicine? Or take a deep whiff of some prescription codeine-based cough medicine. Yep, I swear that's what's in that stupid air contaminator. In fact, I've never seen a bug strong enough to escape. From time to time, I see little insects upside down, legs stiff, two of them trying to stifle their nostrils.

I'm taking a stand today. I'm bringing in my own toilet paper, a small hand towel, a bar of creamy hand soap, and nose plugs. Bet I get somebody's attention when I come walking down the hall. Hmmm, our Director of Human Resources from corporate office is coming in today. Maybe I'll give him a tour of our Ladies Room. First, I'll offer nose plugs, though.

Thanks for stopping by!

"I Think I Can!"

Henry Ford said, "If you think you can or think you can't, you're right."

That quote is taped to my computer monitor. The intent was to make me remember to keep a positive attitude. Unfortunately, I forget to look at it. Like most writers, I do have those "terrible doubts" and times of inactivity. If that happens to you, perhaps you are subconsciously thinking you "can't."

Like the little train you need to repeat to yourself, "I think I can. I think I can!"

This applies to all aspects of life, whether you are a writer, a homemaker, a clerk, a mail deliverer, a teacher, an office worker... If you take time to reflect on what you want to achieve and "think you can do it," you'll soon find a determination in your heart, and a smile on your face.

I admit that I'm my own worst enemy. How about you? What are you thinking today?

Thanks for stopping by.

Writing A Synopsis - Lesson One

A good synopsis should begin with a hook. Just as your manuscript must grab the reader from the first page, so should your synopsis grab a potential editor in the first paragraph.

The best way to accomplish this is to create a back page blurb. Here an example from HIT AND RUN, my first novel:

Beth Barrett's twin sister, Jilly, has been killed by a hit and run driver. Beth knows who did it. Proving it is the problem. The twins are linked through a psychic connection that hasn't diminished with Jilly's death, but no one believes it, not even Ryan Snider, the sexy detective assigned to the case.

When a stalker targets Beth, she can't prove that either. Faced with a cunning adversary, she must depend on her own strength, and an unlikely bond with her dead sister, to unmask a killer before she becomes the next victim.

An example from FOXFIRE, my second novel:

Nothing bad ever happens in Foxifre. Then Grace Wilkins' fiance discovers her secret and calls off the wedding. Suddenly strange things begin to happen. An enamored neighbor makes veiled threats. Roses appear mysteriously on her doorstep. Her beloved dog is viciously stabbed, and the sexy veterinarian who saves her has a hidden agenda--and a gun. Now Grace must confront her past to reveal the identity of her stalker or become his next victim.

An example from JOSHUA's HOPE, my latest novel:

Hope Courtland escaped her marriage to save her life. Her only regret is leaving her four-year-old stepson, Joshua, behind. Though she wants custody, no attorney is willing to tackle her ex-husband in a custody battle. Hope’s faith begins to falter. She learns that Joshua is paying the consequences for her freedom, and in an act of desperation, she kidnaps him. Suddenly, she becomes a suspect in her ex-husband’s murder.

Zack Stone is content to be sheriff of Pine Cove, Tennessee, where the worst conflict he deals with is handing out speeding tickets. Though his faith is strong, he struggles with issues of forgiveness surrounding his wife’s death. When he rescues Hope in a rainstorm, the last thing he expects is to find a woman who stirs his heart. Being a small town sheriff shouldn’t involve kidnapping and murder, but Zack can’t turn his back on Hope and the little boy she loves.

Your tone must reflect the genre of your novel. The first two examples above are both romantic suspense. I know that a reader will expect to see the essence of the suspense and also a hook for the attraction to the hero. The last example I included is an inspirational romantic suspense. Not only must I include the suspense hook and the romantic anticipation, but also show that a faith journey will be included.

When you begin writing your synopsis, you can include the blurb as the beginning. So, go to your local bookstore and pick up some books in your genre. Study the back page blurbs.

Spend the week defining the back page blurb for your manuscript. When you begin to write yours, don't be discouraged. It takes time and a lot of revision to refine these paragraphs until they speak to you. Feel free to post your results here for feedback.

Next Tuesday, I'll post lesson two.

Thanks for stopping by.

What an Unsettling Weekend...

So, I posted about Powweb on Friday and since learned that Sprint and Cogent are in a legal battle and Sprint cut communication to Cogent. Thus separating me and countless others from many sites on the internet! My ISP uses Sprint and Powweb uses Cogent! Argh!! So I set up a new mail account with google and rerouted all my yahoo loops there. Settled all new incoming mail issues. However...

On Friday I had to take my hubby to the hospital emergency room. He has COPD and developed an infection in his lungs which dropped his oxygen level to dangerously low levels. Long story short, he was released on Sunday and is on meds and doing much better.

Top the hospital stay with the internet issues and you have one frustrated and mentally exhausted individual---me!!

While sitting here watching television, I opened my Outlook Express to check mail and...voila! Suddenly it started downloading the 578 messages from Powweb! I logged into my website and downloaded everything so I have a new copy. Never again will I redo my website and not keep a copy on my hard drive. Whew! I am not going to change my yahoo loops back to my old email address...at least not yet. This might be a temporary fix only.

Meantime, I'm trying to get hubby to behave and rest. Another monumental task. Wish me luck!

Thanks for stopping by.

Hosting Server Issues---What's Going On?

My internet hosting provider seems to have disappeared off the net. What's going on?

I haven't received emails since yesterday around 6AM. Tried to access my account and can't bring up the pages, nor the pages of other people I know are hosted there. So I tried to log into PowWeb direct...nope. Waited all night and tried again today. Nothing.

I'm concerned that they have gone belly up or something. Who knows with the economy the way it is. Sad thing...I updated my webpages and didn't download them to my computer. I'm praying the site will be back up sometime today, but who knows?

In the meantime, I'm going to look around for another host. I have five months left on my account with Powweb, so (crossing fingers) if they come back online, I'll try and wait before moving everything over.

My question of the day...if you know anything about Powweb, please leave me a comment. If you know of a reliable host that isn't too expensive, please leave me a comment.

Sorry for whining today, but I'm bummed out. Especially since this is my birthday and it's not supposed ot start out being ugly.

Thanks for stopping by!

Writing That Dreaded Synopsis

I am what most writers call a "seat of the pants" or "Panster." I prefer to call myself a "dream writer." I have never been able to outline a novel, or to write a synopsis prior to writing the entire story. That, however, poses the problem with writing my synopsis. What to include?

See, once the story is finished, everything is important! Every plot, every subplot, ever beloved character who makes an appearance. Editors don't care. They don't want to know every single thing that happens. It's boring reading a play-by-play condensation of "the great american novel."

So, what to do? How does one pick out the right thing to include in the synopsis? First and foremost, the genre dictates what should be included. But first you need to know your market. For which house are you writing your synopsis? Let's look at the inspirational romantic suspense. Tough. Three separate things that need to be included. I'm targeting the romance market, inspirational line, suspense category.
Romance should be number one. Bear in mind that number one doesn't mean romance should have the biggest percentage. But I need to focus on characters first, plot second. The characters are going to fall in love. They have a problem that prevents them from being together. That something might be a difference in faith. Aha! So I can grab two areas right away which are included in revealing the characters. Before the end of the book, these differences must be resolved. Danger to the heroine? The hero is devastated that he may lose the heroine before he confesses his true feelings. He realizes he cannot succeed alone. He needs God.

This simplifies the process in a broad way, but it is how a good synopsis should be written. Keep it simple. Don't include every single twist and turn; don't do a chapter by chapter revealing. Do include the characters, their problem, their internal conflict, the black moment when all seems lost, and the resolution wit the happily ever after.

Good luck. I'll work on breaking this down into simpler steps, wuth some examples. Each Tuesday through December will be focused on writing the synopsis. Looking forward to seeing you next Tuesday for lesson one.

Thanks for stopping by.

Spa Confessions

Saturday my daughter took me to a spa for a facial, manicure, and pedicure. Since it was my first time at a spa, I didn't know what to expect. I was a bit nervous and self-conscious. That all faded away as soon as I entered the room for the facial. If you've ever had one, this will be a boring blog, but I'm thinking there are tons of people who have never had this experience...like me.

Yes, I did undress down to my underwear and I wore this cute little terry robe which fit snugly with elastic above my breasts and hung to my knees. The bed I lay on was curved with my feet elevated slightly and my head a tad lower. The music reminded me of that I hear when I play Mah-Jong on my computer, slow, mysterious and relaxing. The room illumination equaled that of a small candle or a nighlight. How could I not relax? My technician...not sure if that was her title or not...first rubbed a lotion on my lower legs and feet. Then she encased my legs and feet in plastic bags. Yes, truly! Next came a warm, wonderful treat. Microwave warm booties that reached above my ankles. She proceeded then to wrap my lower body in the sheet like a mummy. Oh, and the bed was heated, too! Next she did the same thing to my arms and hands. Nice and toast warm and ready to stay there forever. **sigh** She explained everything before she did it. She asked me questions about my facial concerns. Let's see. She washed my face first. At some point she did a treatment like a microderm abrasion which I use at home. Extraction of any impurities, luscious creams, a facial mask to hydrate, a massage. I didn't realize there were so many pressure points in the face. I had a headache when I went in but it disappeared after that massage. I also received a foot and leg massage, hand and arm massage, shoulder and neck massage. It was divine. When my treatment was over, I didn't want to leave. But, alas, I had to get dressed and head off to wait for my pedicure and manicure. My daughter joined me in the pedicure room. Luxury again. My own remote control to control a heated massage chair! A glass of lemon water. A sea salt soak and scrub, followed by a cool shade of nail polish. My legs and feet felt like silk. Mmmmm. The problem came when our assigned technicians (again not sure of their titles) told us we couldn't put our socks and shoes back on for at least three hours! Okay, then. If you've never had a pedicure you probably haven't seen the paper thin disposable flip flops. And it wasn't exactly a warm day. But we didn't want to ruin our pedicures. After our manicures were complete (with another hand and arm massage) we sat under dryers for aobut twenty minutes before heading off to eat lunch...wearing our paper thin disposable flip-flops.

I felt like a queen, regardless of our footwear. Besides, our feet looked too good not have them on display. :)

It was a wonderful way to spend a day with my daughter. Thanks, hon!

Author Interview with Laurie Kingery

Good morning, Blog Studio!!! Isn't this a beautiful cover? This is the newest release by my dear friend, Laurie Kingery. I'm honored to be able to interview her here in the studio this morning. This will be my final interview of the year. I always take the last two months of the year to wrap myself around family and holidays. That's why I'm thrilled with Laurie's book. I had the pleasure to purchase this book at the Central Ohio Fiction Writer's conference in September. This book captured me from the first page and kept me turning the pages until the last sigh on page 279. This story has something for everyone: mystery, suspense, romance, and breathtaking scenery. With Laurie's vivid descriptions, you'll easily feel you are walking the streets of Llano Crossing, Texas in 1867. But I'd much rather have Laurie tell you about the book. Before I bring her onstage let me tell you a bit about Laurie.

Laurie Kingery makes her home in central Ohio where she is a "Texan-in-exile." Formerly writing as Laurie Grant for Harlequin Historicals and other publishers, she is the author of sixteen previous books and the 1994 winner of the "Readers' Choice Award" in the short historical category. She has been nominated for "Best first medieval" and "Career Achievement in Western Historical Romance" by "Romantic Times." When not writing her historicals, she loves to travel, read, read her email and write her blog on www.lauriekingery.com. Please put your hands together and welcome my special guest, Laurie Kingery!

**LAURIE WALKS ONSTAGE. SHE HUGS CAROL ANN AND TAKES THE CHAIR OPPOSITE HER IN THE STUDIO.**

CAROL ANN: Laurie, thanks for coming. It's a pleasure to have you in the blog studio today.

LAURIE: Thanks for having me. I've been excited about being interviewed.

CAROL ANN: I've been raving about your book, which I must tell you, I loved, loved, loved! The audience has been waiting to hear more from you. So, please tell us more about your book.

LAURIE: Hill Country Christmas is the story of Delia, a preacher's granddaughter in a small town in post-Civil War Texas, already poor, who faces destitution when her grandfather dies. Then a stranger appears in town bringing her news of her inherited fortune. She's attracted to him, but he claims not to be good enough for her. Very well, she thinks, at least now, as a rich woman, she is the equal of the mayor's son, for whom she has always had feelings. Now he returns those feelings, but is he really what he seems? Meanwhile, the mysterious stranger can't seem to make himself move on. Harboring a secret of his own, he's compelled to stay around to make sure Delia is all right. Will Delia and the stranger learn to trust one another, and God, to know what's best for them? I think I got the idea by wondering what would happen to a Christian who suddenly won the lottery--would sudden wealth destroy him or her? This is just a 19th-century version of that.


CAROL ANN: And, it truly is! I know that you also work full-time like me. Would you mind sharing with the audience what you feel is the hardest thing about being a writer?

LAURIE: Maintaining the discipline to put my derriere in the chair whether I'm feeling "inspired" or not. Actually, these days, inspiration follows a good session of writing rather than preceding it. Once I really get going, it's hard to stop. And that can take an hour or two, some days.


CAROL ANN: How did you realize the God was calling you to write?


LAURIE: I've been writing since I was old enough to string sentences together, and even before that, when I could only "draw" (I'm using that term VERY loosely) and tell the story of the sentences. Dad let me borrow an old typewriter, and I started out telling animal stories. In junior high, I wrote stories of the Beatles and my friends. This might have faded out as a childish hobby, but God allowed me success in selling my very first attempt. And then, after I had written 16 historical romances as Laurie Grant, I was ready to quit and the Lord essentially told me I wasn't to waste the talent He had given me. He had my agent urge me to submit to the newly-forming Love Inspired Historical line, and here I am.


CAROL ANN: What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

LAURIE: I sold my first book, but I've had other books I couldn't sell--such as a medical suspense I wrote. To date, I haven't sold this book, but I still have hope. I've gone three years without a book out, twice now. And I've seen the door close in my face in the ABA (secular) historical romance market. One overcomes these things just by keeping on keeping on. You only fail if you stop trying.


CAROL ANN: Do you collect anything?

LAURIE: Books, of course! After going through a blizzard in 1978 without anything to read (oh horrors!) I shook my fist a la Scarlet O'Hara and vowed never to be bookless again. Now, if I stopped buying books today, I'd still have a TBR pile when I died. I confess many books have been in that pile for years.

CAROL ANN: Oh, I hear you! Me, too. I think this is true for most authors. I have a question I pose to all the authors I interview, and you, my friend, will have to answer as well. Do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword?

LAURIE: I think more minds have been affected by words in a positive way than ever by force (a sword).


CAROL ANN: Very well put! The weather has turned really cool here in central Ohio. I love autumn. I love the color changes and the brisk air when the sun is shining. It insires me greatly. Which inspires you more? A brisk walk in the autumn with the leaves changing color, or in the spring when the flowers are and trees are budding? Why?

LAURIE: I love both seasons! Do I have to choose?

CAROL ANN: **LAUGH** No, of course not. Actually I enjoy both as well. All right, here's another question. No time to think of a response in advance. You are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone walks up to you and thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to tell the world something....what will it be?


LAURIE: "God loves you and wants to have a relationship with you."

CAROL ANN: You are great! Have you ever thought about hosting interviews? You'd be a great hostess.

LAURIE: Thanks, I think.

CAROL ANN: How do you balance your "real" life with your "writing" life?

LAURIE: Since I still must work outside of writing (as a full-time ER nurse) that's a challenge. Except when I'm on deadline, I pretty much write only in the afternoons, and there are whole days where I can't get to write at all. At deadline times, though, or when I have revisions to do, the balance shifts so that I am only writing, eating, and sleeping--and working my other job. Appointments and lunches will have to wait, and the dinners I cook are very, very basic.


CAROL ANN: Laurie, our time is finished already. I'm sorry to have to end here. But before we go please tell the audience where they can learn more about you and your books.

LAURIE: My website is www.LaurieKingery.com. You can write me via that. My blog is right there too. My books can be ordered through eHarlequin.com or through Barnes and Noble, Amazon, etc. If you want to check out my old books as Laurie Grant, go to www.sffnet/people/LaurieGrant

CAROL ANN: Wonderful. Thanks again, Laurie, for taking time out of your busy day to join me here in my studio.

LAURIE: It's been my pleasure, Carol Ann.

Even Funnier than Ralphie in The Christmas Story!!

Hey, don't be so surprised at the subject. Remember this blog is all about what is inside the writer's mind. Right now it's on something hilarious that I learned about one of my friends at work.

Who? Let's call her Kate just for kicks. She's a tiny woman who keeps me in stitches with her smart remarks and her ability to make fun of herself. I'm not even sure what triggered our talk that led to her sharing this bit of humor. This gal has to be one of the most naive people I've ever known.

The story: She was in grade school and standing at the bus stop on a cold icy winter day. Yep, you guessed it. Her little friends told her to "lick a truck bumper." "It's just like licking an ice cream cone. It's soooo good." Well, that's all it took...the mention of an ice cream cone. Kate loves to eat! And she wears a size 2!!! Okay, so she did it. She licked the truck bumper and, yep, just like Ralphie she's stuck to the back end of a truck. All her friends are laughing. When the bus arrives, they wave at her and start to climb on the bus. Not to be left behind, she yanks her tongue off and stands there in the snow, dripping blood. I know, I know. I shouldn't be laughing. Shame on me. But that there story is funny! Why? Because she couldn't eat for a week.

Um, so you aren't laughing like me? Well, maybe I should have told you this story first so you understand how Kate feels about food. She had a couple of rotten sisters. They knew Kate loved food. They were visiting grandma for a week during summer vacation. Grandma told them not to get into the refrigerator before dinner. Grandma was outside working in the garden and evil sisters tell Kate that grandma made meat patties for dinner and she "didn't count them!" They encouraged Kate to get into the refrigerator and check 'em out. Kate decided to eat one. Evil sisters said they weren't hungry and they weren't going to eat any of them at dinner either. So...Kate went ahead and ate two more. A total of three. A bit later Grandma came in and opened the refrigerator. She was furious! "Who fed the dog?" Yep, you got it. Kate ate three slices of dog food. Grandma had opened the top and bottom of the can, pushed out the dog food and sliced it. I mean, how dippy can you be!!!

Are you laughing yet? Hope so. Laughter is good for the soul. And I love Kate. No matter how much she likes to eat. Thanks for stopping by!

Coffee Time Break...And a Funny Thing Happened at Work Today...

No, I don't drink coffee, but I will be participating in a chat with my fellow Sweeter Romantic Notions authors at Coffee Time Romance yahoo loop on Wednesday at 6PM EST. My characters from Joshua's Hope will make an appearance as well...and, my sometimes elusive muse. Hope to see you all there.

Anyone who knows me realizes I despise Mondays. I always wish I had one more day to my weekend, especially when I have a busy weekend and no time to have R & R. So, I walked into my office and before I could sit down, my next door office mate walks in and sits in front of my desk. The conversation went something like this:

He: I have a favor to ask. You have two books published, right?

Me: I have three full length books, three short stories, and a fourth in an anthology.

He: Yeah, well. I wondered if you could help me.

Me: Sure, what is it?

He: My wife, who is an English teacher for middle school, is writing a book! How do you handle yours? Do you have an editor that helps you with your books?

Me: Um, well, in order to get an editor, you have to have a manuscript accepted by a publisher first.

He: Oh. Is that how it works?

Me: Yes. Your wife will need to research her market, find agents, editors, or publishing houses who accept that kind of manuscript. She'll need to query first.

He: Okay.

Me: She'll need to not get discouraged if she gets rejected. Most authors are rejected multiple times before being contracted.

He: Well, she's already checked the internet and the kind of book she's writing is really hot right now.

Me: Great! What kind of book is she writing?

He: Science Fiction. For twelve year olds.

Me: That's good.

He: Yeah, she's really good! I read what she's done and it blew my socks off!

Me: It's nice that you are supporting her.

He: Oh, I am. It's really a joint effort. She told me her idea and we brainstormed back and forth.

Me: How far along is she?

He: She's finished six pages already!

Me: Great. I wish you both luck. Um, I really have to get busy now. Let me know if I can be of further help.

He: I will! She's really good! I'm so proud of her.

**sigh** Maybe she'll get lucky and her book will be one of those overnight sensations. You think?

Thanks for stopping by!

Revised Website

I spent about three hours yesterday revamping my website. Moon and Back Graphics designed the actual web graphics and background. I haven't found any web designs that equal Bev's work. She is exceptional. It was great fun to put the pages together. Hope you enjoy them.

This coming week, I have to finish my fall newsletter. If you haven't signed up yet, you can visit my website and click on the link to sign up. You will only receive four newsletters each year. I do not post your email addresses to anyone and you will not receive spam emails from me.

Be sure to stop back in on Thursday. I'll be interviewing my dear friend, Laurie Kingery, about her newest release for Steeple Hill...HILL COUNTRY CHRISTMAS.

I'm also requesting prayers for my son-in-law, Bob, who is being treated for a serious medical condition. Please keep him and his family in your daily prayers.

Thank you for stopping by!

The Shack by William P. Young

A friend in a bible study group asked if I'd read "The Shack" yet. Truthfully, I hadn't heard about the book. This past weekend, while browsing in Moments of Majesty Christian store, I spied the paperback on a shelf and snagged it. Last night I finished it.

As my friend suggests, it makes one think about a lot of things, especially the Trinity and your own relationship with God, Jesus, and The Holy Spirit. Also, it researches deep grief, families, and forgiveness.

While a work of fiction, I found myself questioning at times whether it could be real. There are a number of issues and statements made by Young's fictional characterization of God that made me uncomfortable...especially about religion as we have been taught as Christians.

I don't want to spoil the book for anyone, but I would recommend it to anyone who is a Christian and struggling with how to let God live within you. If you've read the book, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks for stopping by!

March of Dimes...Marketing...Guilt

Yesterday I received an envelope from the March of Dimes. Clearly showing through a cellophane window was a dime. I could have thrown the envelope away, but I made a conscious decision to open it. I felt it would be sinful, especially in light of our economy, to throw the dime away.

Inside I found labels for Christmas presents and labels for mailing envelopes and packages. And a response card (on which is the dime) asking for a donation of $10, $12, $15, or Other $. Another dilemma. If I take the dime, and use the labels, does that make me a "bad" person? I think this must have been a carefully thought out "guilt" marketing plan.

Just below the response card is this message:

Mrs. Erhardt, I know I've taken a risk in sending you this dime....There's a chance you might not return it to me along with a few dollars of your own to help us reach out to the nearly 1,400 babies born prematurely and about 330 babies born with serious birth defects each day.

Okay, now take that guilt I already have and multiply it. **sigh**

I'll be like a lot of other people and I'll mail in a check to the March of Dimes. So, now I've spent $15.00 and a stamp and the cost of a check, for 72 mailing labels, 5 package labels, and a dime. But the March of Dimes will use my $15.00 wisely, right? Use it to help those babies born with birth defects?

What do you think? I'd sure like to hear from my readers on this one. If you don't have a Blogger accuont, you can still comment by using the anonymous choice below the comment. If you don't respond, nothing bad will happen to you or to me. How's that for relieving guilt?

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday - Book Clip from Joshua's Hope

Happy Tuesday Morning! Did I tell you all that I'm doing physical therapy twice a week to strengthen my neck and shoulder muscles? So far, so good. Guess this is supposed to help me with the neck and back pain from the arthritis. Hmmm. Time will tell.

I'm reading a book that I can't wait to tell you about. But I'll save that for another day. How about sharing a little clip from my latest release...Joshua's Hope. Enjoy!

~*~*~*~*~*~

Hope took a deep breath and eased open the
bedroom door inch by inch. Assured that no one was
in the hall, she stepped out and silently closed the
door behind her.

Loud voices drifted up the stairwell. She opened
Joshua’s door and slipped inside. His eyes were
open. He stared at her, silent tears carving paths
down his cheeks. She put a finger on her lips, urging
him not to say anything. She lifted him and he
wrapped himself around her like a small monkey.

“Mommy,” he whispered.

“It’s all right. Mommy is going to take you home
with her now. But you have to be very quiet. Can
you do that?”

He nodded against her neck. “I need white
doggie.”

Hope reached for the stuffed animal she’d given
him on his first birthday. The neck fur had been
rubbed off in two places from Joshua’s fingers.

“Mommy will carry white doggie for you. Don’t be
scared and don’t look up. Just hold on tight.”

He nodded again, his arms squeezing tighter.

She kept one arm firmly around him and eased
the door open. So far, so good. She only needed to get
downstairs without being seen.

She closed Joshua’s door and began a slow
descent.

The hairs prickled on the back of her neck,
alerting Hope someone was watching. Swiveling her
head, her gaze locked with Anna’s. For endless
moments, Hope’s heart stopped.

Writing Tip - Tapping into the Senses

Children are funny, smart, and always thinking. They know how to tap into creativity. Have you ever watched a child open a present, set aside the contents, and play with the box? As an adult, what could you imagine the box could be used for?

What if we could tap into that creative side of our brain? What if we could tune out the world around us and zero in on a make-believe moment? That's what we need to do as a writer. Writing isn't about sitting down and just slapping words onto a computer screen or a piece of paper. Oh, sure, you can do that. But if you haven't committed yourself into your make-believe world first, you won't be successful.

So...how do we tap into that creativity? Here's a tip that works for me. Look at the scene you are trying to create. What is your setting? Let's look at a scene where your character is outside on a sunny day. If you look out your window and see sunshine...walk outside and close your eyes. Experience what you see, what you feel, hear, smell...

Example from my book HIT AND RUN:

She sat on the dock, worn smooth from weather and age, and circled her legs with her arms. The sun warmed her back. She was at peace, wrapped in memories of happier times as she gazed across the water.

A fish jumped, creating ever-widening circles that ebbed toward shore. She turned her face up to the sky where fluffy white clouds billowed, moving and changing shape. When they were small, she and Jilly had been able to find shapes within the clouds. She could hear Jilly's juvenile voice callilng, "Look, Beth, a dragon. See his tail and the fire coming from his mouth?"

So many pleasant memories surrounded her, filling her with a calming peace. She fished until the sun rose higher. Slipping off her shirt, she applied sun lotion as best she could in the areas her bathing suit didn't cover. She stretched out on a towel. The quiet lapping of the lake against the dock supports lulled her into closing her eyes. Her body relaxed and she drifted in hypnotic half-awareness.

Happy writing...and thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday - Writing Tip..."Can't Put it Down Book"

When I first started writing, I formulated each chapter as a "day in the life of" scene. Guess what? I learned quickly how boring that can be. If you end your chapter at the "end" of the scene...day...whatever, how does that entice your reader to keep reading? It is too easy to stick in a bookmark and shut the book. Sometimes days will go by before they pick it up again.

So, how do you get reviews that say "I couldn't put the book down"? Easy. Stop the chapter in the middle of something or leave it with an unanswered question. Come on, you know you've read books like this.

For instance, I just finished reading Karen Harper's BELOW THE SURFACE. The last paragraph of Chapter One: "Bloodred colors exploded before her eyes, in her head. Something huge lunged at her. Then came only blackness."

Could you just close the book on that? I couldn't. Chapter Two ends: "But these sharks almost bumping the boat were no work of art--this race was life and death for real." You bet...I kept on reading...

I've had reviews for my books that said "real page turner", "couldn't put it down", "had to read it all the way through". Those are the kinds of reviews you want to receive. It's the kind of reviews that make your readers anxious to read your next book.

It's like a movie shown in serials. Each one leaves you hungry for the next. So, if you want to create a "can't put it down book", end each chapter with a cliff hanger!

Thanks for stopping by.

Monday - Daily Clip on Death and Dying

Last night my son-in-law's mother left her pain behind when God called her home. She put up a hard battle against the leukemia, lymphoma and congestive heart failure. Throughout her trial, she kept her wonderful sense of humor despite the pain.

Today we have one less angel on earth and one more angel singing in God's choir. I know she and her husband who went before her are both smiling down today and wishing their son a happy birthday. They would want him not to mourn but to celebrate. Wonderful warm memories will bring smiles, and they will live forever in the hearts of those who love them.

Thank you for stopping by. May God's blessings be with you today and always.

Weird Insects...Part II

Back again with pics. This first one is the grasshopper...see he looks just like a leaf. If you weren't looking closely, you'd miss him. Cute little fellow.




The pics of this guy didn't turn out as good as I'd hoped. One was very blurry when I tried to get close. He's laying on his side after we knocked him off, but I think you can see the long silky hair and the wings clearly. At the front where the dark part of the head is...he has black "pinchers" like a spider. Very lethal looking.



So does anybody know the name of these two insects? Curious minds want to know.

Thanks for stopping by!

Weird Insects...Part I

While we were camping, we saw a multitude of different colored caterpillars. Our site settled us in a very wooded area with acorn trees and walnut trees. The sound of falling nuts could become loud when they'd strike our gazebo or camper, sometimes creepy...especially at night.

Before we left, I snapped a picture of a strange, but cute, grasshopper of some kind. But while we were taking down the gazebo, we saw a "white caterpillar" and hubby started to lift it off. I stopped him before he touched it. It wasn't an ordinary caterpillar.

Instead it was furry white...with attached white wings with muted black striations. Additionally, it had fangs...big black fangs like a venomous spider. We knocked it to the ground with a stick and I took pictures. I've been searching the internet but I haven't found anything like it yet. Do you know what it might be?

Tomorrow I'll post pictures.

Thanks for stopping by.

UPDATE!!! -Joshua's Hope Featured on The Romance Studio

Thanks to all my fans who voted on Joshua's Hope! I'm happy to announce that I won the featured spot of the week on their front page!!

http://www.theromancestudio.com/

Check it out!!

Time for Change?

It's been two years since I started this blog and it has taken many different directions. Mostly it's been a rambling brain dump of whatever might be plaguing my mine at the moment.

I think it's time for change.

Look for new topics to begin in October...and a new posting schedule.

For those who are interested my new seasonal newsletter will be coming out this week. If you haven't signed up, please go to my website and sign up today. The only emails you'll receive are my newsletter, or special updates that might fall between newsletters. And you are free to unsubscribe at any time.

Thanks for stopping by!

Ten Days of Paradise...Slammed into Reality

Ugh. After a fabulous ten day vacation, I now have to go back to work...and an hour early! Until 5am this morning, I was so happy and felt at peace with the world despite many weighing family issues. Had a perfect four days of camping in a beautiful state park we'd never been to. The weather was gorgeous, the campsite ideal with complete shade and tons of trees! Managed to get quite a bit of writing done, read a book and started another, but...now it's back to reality.

Work will be stressful for another two weeks due to finalizing our annual holiday trade shows. Ugh!

*************

Our daughter's mother-in-law is in hospice care and they have only given her a few days to live. We've been praying for the entire family as this is extremely difficult to deal with. Caring for a loved one at home, with hospice care, is stressful. Saying goodbye is painful for both the loved one and the family being left behind.

************
I revamped my website yesterday afternoon. And...Joshua's Hope received another top rated review, this one from Fallen Angel Reviews. I was thrilled to see they made it a recommended read! You can check it out on my website.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Joshua's Hope Needs Your Vote!!

I came back from vacation and found that Joshua's Hope is up for a chance to have free advertising if it wins...

First place is on Jennette Green's Blog where she lists all four and five star reviews. I see that The Faded Photograph also received a four star review, but Joshua's Hope is the one I really want to win. Could you please vote for me before the end of September?

Click to Vote

Also there are only a couple of days left to vote (through Sunday September 28th) for Joshua's Hope as best five heart review on The Romance Studio! Here is the direct link to vote for me:

Click to Vote

Thanks for your support and thanks for dropping by!

ON VACATION....

Hubby and I are heading to a beautiful state park for a five day vacation. I will not have internet access while I'm gone, so I won't be posting on this blog again until Friday, September 26th.

In the meantime, I'll leave you with a little excerpt from JOSHUA'S HOPE. I hope you enjoy...

The old house felt empty tonight. But it wasn’t the house. Not really. The emptiness resided inside her—a kind of emptiness only those who lived alone could feel.
For the first time she questioned if moving to Pine Cove had been a good decision. People here were close—like family, yet she couldn’t be drawn into their circle. Not now, maybe not ever.
She changed into an oversized T-shirt and washed her face before turning down the comforter on the bed. Something peeped out from under the pillow. Trepidation tip-toed along her scalp. She reached out and pinched a corner of the pillowcase. She took a deep breath and lifted it, uncovering an oblong envelope. She opened it and saw a picture of her, Peter and Joshua, but her image had been slashed with a big red X. Terror caused her fingers to tremble. Peter had been inside her house. He knew where she lived. She glanced at the window, trying to penetrate the darkness beyond. Was he watching her now?

Talk to you soon. Stay safe and happy reading!

Carol Ann

Five Heart Review from The Romance Studio...

I can't begin to tell you how many times I doubt myself as a writer. I don't know it that will ever go away. I've come a long way from the loss of self-esteem due to an abusive marriage, but I still have moments when I'm sure every deragatory general remark to a group is targeted at me or at my writing. Each time I release a book, fear settles in. Yesterday I opened an email that brought me to tears. Not the email, though it did start a dreaded churning in my stomach. What kind of review would I get from The Romance Studio? I clicked the link and started to read the review by Dee Dailey, and by the time I got to the end, I was crying tears of relief and joy.

Here's the last paragraph: It’s not until she hits bottom and lets go to really let God into her life that real good happens in her life. This book with its superb storyline has all of the good things that a book can have to keep us reading. Characters, dialogue, suspense all are penned in a way that I think are excellent. The book just naturally flows to a fantastic conclusion. If you need a book to lift you up, this is the one to read. But make sure you have a lot of tissues handy for the tears of frustration and joy that are sure to flow as the story unfolds.

CLICK HERE TO READ FULL REVIEW ON JOSHUA'S HOPE

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Joshua's Hope Excerpt

It's Thursday and only two more days to work and I'll be off for nine days! I can't wait. I haven't taken a long vacation in years. At first we thought our camping trip would be lost. The state park called and they have no electric. I might be able to make it without electric, but hubby just can't handle it. So...we checked another state park about eighty miles east and found they had a fully shaded spot available. We were able to transfer everything successfully! Woo hoo!

Our grandson graduated from Tech School and was supposed to come home last night, but he called and said he had missed the briefing and wouldn't be able to leave until today. Bummer. Last night the phone rang...and it was Andrew (grandson). He was sitting in his mom's living room! The stinker had told her that in order to surprise her. I'm so relieved that he's home for a few days before heading to Arizona.

Okay, I promised you an exerpt, didn't I? I am hoping you are intrigued enough to go to The Wild Rose Press and purchase a download of the ebook for only $6.00! Just click inspirational on the sidebar and you'll go to the books. You'll find the information for purchase there. You don't need an ereader either...you can read it right on your computer screen. It's fun! I'm excited...Joshua's Hope is the number one inspirational full length novel!

Excerpt - Joshua's Hope

If it hadn’t been for her fear that Peter would do her extreme physical harm, she would have stayed in the marriage. Peter had a volatile temper, and when it exploded, Hope was always the target. He wanted to control her in every single way, but Hope had grown up so independent that she resisted. She’d watched Peter’s mother succumb to his father’s domineering nature time and time again. Hope didn’t want to end up like her.

As she drove down the winding drive to the house she’d always found intimidating, her heart began to beat faster. “Please, God, let Peter be out of town.” Her words floated in the air-conditioned expanse of the car.

Her chest constricted as she crested the hill and saw Peter’s sportscar parked in the driveway. She took a deep breath to compose herself before leaving the safety of the car.

As she walked toward the house, the door swung open.

Peter raked her with an intimidating glance. “You look pathetic.”

She bit back a smart retort.

Peter’s dark brown eyes held no warmth. He pushed the door wider and stepped aside. “We need to talk.”

Here we go again. Peter was geared for another bashing session meant to break her down. Control. He was all about control. She wouldn’t let him break her spirit.

“I’m here to visit Joshua. There’s nothing to say that hasn’t already been said. It’s over between us, Peter.”

She pushed past him, but he grabbed her arm. His fingers dug into her flesh and she bit back a cry of pain.

“It’s not over until I say it’s over.”

Their eyes locked in a visual battle.

He gave her a hard shake.

She pulled free.

“Mommy!” Joshua bounded down the stairs with all the exuberance of a typical four-year-old. He launched himself into her arms and clung tightly to her neck. “You came. I missed you, Mommy.”

“I missed you, too, peanut.”

Joshua giggled. “I’m not a peanut.”

She poked a finger into his tummy. “You’re my peanut.”

He wiggled free and slipped down to the floor.

“Joshua.” Peter’s voice sliced the air.

Joshua looked at his dad. The smile slid from Joshua’s face, and his chin touched his chest.

“Look at me, young man.”

Joshua did.

“Behave yourself. When your mother leaves, you are to take a nap and remain there until I come get you. Understand?”

Joshua nodded.

“Speak up!”

“Yes, Daddy.”

Hope took Joshua’s hand and glared at Peter.

“If you want to see him again, don’t leave without talking to me.” Peter’s hand closed around her arm, fingers digging deep into her flesh. His eyes narrowed as he pressed harder.

She didn’t flinch, didn’t blink, didn’t let him see the pain he caused. When Hope married him, she’d already been in love with his son. Peter paid no attention to Joshua, leaving his care to a nanny. It broke Hope’s heart whenever she saw the baby who didn’t know how to smile. “If you insist.”

“Don’t be smart. I’m being generous by allowing you to see my son.”

Hope didn’t fool herself. The only reason Peter allowed her to see Joshua each Saturday was to keep her under his thumb. “I know. Now may I please take Joshua to his room for our visit?”

He released her. Their eyes battled for a second, and then she lifted the boy into her arms, turned her back, and walked up the stairs.

“Daddy’s mad,” Joshua said.

“He’s not mad at you. He’s upset with Mommy.”

When she reached the hallway at the top of the stairway, she hurried into Joshua’s room, closed the door, and leaned against it.

Joshua looked at her with tear-filled eyes. “He said I been bad and couldn’t see you.”

Tears ran down his cheeks and Hope hugged him close to reassure him. “I won’t let that happen, peanut. I promise.”

“Daddy said you don’t love me.” He broke into quiet sobs that hurt more than Peter’s hands had.

Hope kissed his cheeks while forcing back her own tears. “Mommy loves you more than anything else in the whole wide world. I’ll always love you...always. No matter what anyone else says, you remember that. Okay?”

He nodded.

She ruffled his hair.

“Mommy?”

“What, sweetie?”

He ducked his head, making it difficult for her to hear. “Daddy hitted me for being bad.”

Rage lit a fire in her veins. She clutched Joshua to her chest and fought the desire to snatch him and drive fast and far, someplace where Peter would never find them. The reality was, though, that Joshua was not hers. She’d be arrested for kidnapping which would only make things worse for both of them, especially Joshua. “I’m sorry, sweetie.” She kissed the top of his head and sat on the twin bed, holding Joshua on her lap.

“Mommy, can I live with you? I don’t want to live with Daddy.”

“Mommy is trying real hard to fix things so you can live with me.” There had to be one attorney who wasn’t afraid of Peter Courtland and his henchmen. She’d do whatever it took to protect Joshua.

His tear-filled eyes drove a spike through her heart. His lips quivered. “Tomorrow?”

The Verdict Is....

...degenerative disc disease. My neck and upper vertebra have severe problems. And I have severe arthritis across my upper back. Doctor is recommending therapy and maybe a home traction machine.

My doctor helps train interns from OSU. Today Dr. Jones was in attendance with my doctor. While my doctor was waiting on some lab results, Dr. Jones used some manipulation on my upper rib by rotating my upper arms and shoulder. Amazing that the pain from the front collar bone was minimalized. But by the time I got home I was in exreme pain.

Back to the anti-inflammatories for the time being. Hopefully, therapy will be scheduled soon and I will get some relief.

Thanks for stopping by!

Remnants of Ike

I've never been tempted to live in line of a hurricane. My brother and his family live in La Porte and suffered the brunt of Ike's strength. Thankfully, they are all right and only suffered exterior wind damage. I can't imagine living through winds of that force. Last night Ike blew through the midwest and hit Columbus with winds up to 75 miles an hour. We are not used to that kind of wind force. The power lines to the streetlights are lying in the street, a tree blocks one end of our street from passage, and we only suffered a few shingles being damaged, some tree limbs down and my hubby's pretty gazing ball that sits by the pond blew off and broke. However, driving to work today was a real challenge. None of the streetlights are working. Ugh! It took me 45 minutes to drive six and a half miles. We have no phones at work, and since we are a distribution company, this has posed a huge challenge! We have no internet or intranet either, which impacts our email and with no phones, our entire warehouse has been stalled. The system for pulling orders is driven through the phone lines...yeah, big problem.

On the drive home I saw uprooted trees, trees that had fallen through roofs, smashed cars...

Our youngest daughter and family have been without electric since yesterday when a tree took out power lines in their neighborhood.

So...to live where the hurricane would hit full force? Uh, no thanks!

Hope you all fared better! Stay safe and thanks for stopping by.

Author Interview with Lena Nelson Dooley

Excitement runs high in The Blog Studio as the camera pans the audience. The curtain lifts and the audience applauds as Carol Ann walks onstage.

“Good morning! Can you believe this beautiful weather here in central Ohio? Great sleeping weather. In fact, I had a hard time getting up this morning.” Carol Ann looks over her clothing. “Yep, I remembered everything.” The audience laughs.

“I’m excited to introduce our author for today. Lena Nelson Dooley is a full-time writer, who loves to help new authors hone their skills. Multi-published and award-winning, Lena has had thirteen of the people she's mentored receive book contracts after working with her. This is a great joy to her. Several times a year, she speaks for writers groups or women’s groups both here in the US and internationally. Lena lives in Texas with her husband of over 40 years. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their family. James and Lena are active in Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas, where she volunteers in the bookstore. She's also on the altar ministry team and helps with Global Ministry and PrimeTime. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome our guest for the day…Lena Nelson Dooley!”

Audience applauds as Lena walks onstage.




CAROL ANN: Thanks for joining us today, Lena.

LENA: I’m happy to be here.

CAROL ANN: Tell me about this new anthology.

**Carol Ann holds up a book and the camera pans in closer**



LENA: I believe it was Tamela Hancock Murray who first contacted me about the book--Snowbound Colorado Christmas. There was a major blizzard in Colorado in 1913. It snowed for six days, leaving 48 inches behind. That became the setting for this novella collection. The collection contains these stories: Fires of Love by Tamela Hancock Murray, The Best Medicine by Lena Nelson Dooley, Dressed in Scarlet by Darlene Franklin, and Almost Home by Susan Page Davis.

The stories start at the first party of the Christmas season in the home of Tamela's heroine. In my story, my hero is the new doctor in town. He treats one of the guests at the party who gets sick after eating something he's allergic to. My heroine is the daughter of the owner of the ranch where the heros father had been the foreman.

One of the joys of writing this book, besides the story, was delving into the history of 1913. We worked really hard to make the setting and characters true to the times.

CAROL ANN: It sounds great. I’m anxious to get a copy. You have helped many writers with their careers. Tell me what you feel is the hardest thing about being a writer?

LENA: The whole process of selling novels to publishers is full of waiting times. I was not a patient person by nature, but God has refined patience in me through the selling process. Snowbound Colordo Christmas is my 18th book release, so I've had plenty of chances to practice patience.

CAROL ANN: How did you realize the God was calling you to write?

LENA: Several events happened in the first week of May in 1984. The whole story is in my writing testimony on the bottom of the main page of my web site. Your readers can check out the whole story there.

In addition, I believe that God created me to be a writer. He gives each one of us the abilities He wants to develop and use in our lives. Many people discover those abilities and let Him lead them. Others do not.

CAROL ANN: What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

LENA: My major stumbling block early on was that I wanted to write the stories I wanted to read, instead of letting God tell me which stories He wanted me to write. I also needed to hone my skills and learn good writing habits.

CAROL ANN: Do you collect anything?

LENA: I first started collecting crosses. I have several of those, both jewelry kinds and others. I later started collecting angels. I have a rather large collection of them. Many of my angels stay out all year around, but I also have many that only come out at Christmas. I have an angel mantel scarf, and I arrange angels on the mantel during the holiday season. I really like angels that are more masculine looking, but they're hard to find. I also have a wall hanging with all the scriptures about what the Bible says angels do. This is a very interesting subject.

CAROL ANN: Your collections sound very interesting. I really like the masculine looking angels. Tell me, do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword?

LENA: Yes. If you can get people to stop the fighting and listen to reason, it gives the Lord time to work on their hearts. The written word often leads to this.

CAROL ANN: Which inspires you more? A brisk walk in the autumn with the leaves changing color, or in the spring when the flowers are and trees are budding? Why?

LENA: Actually, you've mentioned my two favorite seasons. In Texas, summer gets way too hot for me, so I stay in air conditioning as much as possible, and when the weather is really cold, it bothers my asthma. Probably my favorite season is spring with everything budding and blooming. Spring symbolizes new life and a new chance to me. I also love the colors of autumn, the return of temperatures where I can feel comfortable being out in the sunshine.

CAROL ANN: Now, put on your creative hat. You are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone walks up to you and thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to tell the world something....what will it be?

LENA: I had that happen when I was interviewed by Steve Bonenberger for his syndicated radio show. He gave me one minute at the end to tell America whatever I wanted to. I used it to say that we need to go back to our foundations. Our country was founded on godly principles and we need to return to that.

If it's a word for the whole world, I would say: "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes on Him should not perish, but have eternal life." So often we as Christians think this scripture is only for those who eventually believe in Jesus. That is so far off. I recently found out about the protein laminin. This protein glues each of the cells in our body to the others. Laminin is shaped like a cross. God put his sign of redemption on every cell in every human who has ever lived. He did this in creation. Our God is the God of eternity, and He wants everyone to come to His Son so they can live eternally with Him. He loves the alcoholic on skid row, the prostitute and drug addict on the streets as much as He loves each Christian in church. Understanding that will change the way we look at those around us and give us an urgency to find a way to reach them with the truth.

Okay, maybe that took more than a minute, but it is important.

CAROL ANN: How do you balance your "real" life with your "writing" life?

LENA: It took me a lot of time to learn how to do that. I work at home, so I turned one of the bedrooms (after my daughters left home) into an office. I get up in the morning, do my exercises, eat breakfast, spend time with the Lord, then go to the office. When I'm on a deadline, I don't even answer the phone while I'm writing. However, if I'm not on a drop-dead deadline, James can come into my office any time he wants to and ask me to do something with him, and I'll stop what I'm doing and go. On his days off, he often takes me on long or short breaks out to eat, shopping, or to the movies.

I also plan days off to spend with friends. It took me quite a while for some people to understand that being a writer is a "real" job.

CAROL ANN: It looks like our time is up. Before they shut us off the air, where can readers learn more about you and your books?

LENA: You can see all my books on my web site www.lenanelsondooley.com . On my blog, I interview other authors about their recent releases, and they give away free copies of books. http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com . There are links to email me on both the web site and blog. I also have an Internet presence on Shoutlife: www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley If you're there, too, ask me to be your friend.

CAROL ANN: **Hugs Lena** Thank you so much for your time and for coming all the way from Texas to Ohio for our interview.

Wow...Another Five Star Review

Okay, so I was googling my name last night and ran across a link to a review by Fallen Angel Reviews for Foxfire. I didn't know this review existed! They gave it five stars (um, I mean angels). I've included some snippets below. You can check out the entire review by clicking here.

****
...From the sizzling chemistry between Grace and Tyler to the nail biting suspense of getting away from a madman Ms. Erhardt took me on a roller coaster ride of emotions. The addition of some very quirky characters only adds to an already engaging read...I found myself racing through to the end because if anyone deserves a happy ending it’s these two. I just couldn’t quite see how Ms. Erhardt was going to pull it off; there were so many things in the way. I needn’t have worried. Foxfire is an engaging tale, and Ms. Erhardt should be congratulated on a tale well told.

****
It doesn't get any better than that!

Thanks for stopping by!

First Review for Joshua's Hope

Sometimes reviews come out of the blue. It's amazing how they work. My publisher sends them out about a month before the books release to a huge list of review sites. I've had recent reviews come in for Foxfire which released in January of 2007. One never knows when to expect a review. The worst part about waiting is the self-doubt. I worry that my "baby" is horrible, that no one will like it, that I shouldn't even be writing. It never fails that I think of something I should have written differently in the book. **sigh** But then a review comes in and **gasp** the reader liked it! What a wonderful feeling. It's worth so much more than any amount of money (which is good because authors don't write to get rich...well, unless you are one of the favored few who constantly hit the New York Times list).

Here is the review.

Title: Joshua's Hope

Author: Carol Ann Erhardt

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

Inspirational White Rose

212 pages Sweet

8/29/2008

1-60154-321-2

Blurb:


Hope Courtland escaped her marriage to save her life. Her only regret is leaving her four-year-old stepson, Joshua, behind. Though she wants custody, no attorney is willing to tackle her ex-husband in a custody battle. Hope's faith begins to falter. She learns that Joshua is paying the consequences for her freedom, and in an act of desperation, she kidnaps him. Suddenly, she becomes a suspect in her ex-husband's murder.

Zack Stone is content to be sheriff of Pine Cove, Tennessee, where the worst conflict he deals with is handing out speeding tickets. Though his faith is strong, he struggles with issues of forgiveness surrounding his wife's death. When he rescues Hope in a rainstorm, the last thing he expects is to find a woman who stirs his heart. Being a small town sheriff shouldn't involve kidnapping and murder, but Zack can't turn his back on Hope and the little boy she loves.

Review:


Having never read anything by this writer before, I wondered what to expect – would I be happy or disappointed?


Well, I can honestly say that I really enjoyed Joshua's Hope. It has all the ingredients necessary for a good story: mystery, suspense and romance.

The book is very cleverly plotted, and bowls along at a fast pace. The characters are so clearly drawn you immediately have a rapport with them and feel you could be friends, should you meet, although there are a couple of characters I wouldn't want to meet on a dark night – or even in daylight, come to that.

I didn't intend to read the book in one sitting but I did – it was hard to put down – a real page turner.

I look forward to reading more of Carol Ann Erhardt's work.

Reviewed by Mawgana

The review was from Writers and Readers of Distinctive Fiction. Click here for the main site link. My review is posted on their blog "Between the Lines" blog under the WDRF Reviews. Be sure to check out the other great books that have been reviewed.

On Thursday, I'll be interviewing inspirational author Lena Dooley on my blog. And if you missed it, be sure to check out Patti Lacy's interview from last Thursday.

Thanks for stopping by!

Health Scare....

Wow, what a weird past few days. No blogging. Why? I've been in the hospital. I'll tell the story, but first to alleviate any questions, I'm home and I do not have any problems with my heart.

It all started with some chest discomfort on Tuesday night, followed by back pain on Wednesday, then pressure/pain in the chest on Thursday along with pain in my right shoulder, arm and hand. Went to Urgent Care on Thursday and they rushed me by squad to the hospital. Ugh. Spent the next few days visiting with a heart specialist and undergoing a barrage of tests. The worst was the medicated heart stress test. I thought I'd just get to walk on the treadmill like before, but no. This was horrible! I have never experienced anything so bad. I would even prefer childbirth again over this. I thought every vein in my neck and head were going to explode. I felt like I had a balloon in my throat that kept expanding larger and larger. I couldn't talk for about five minutes afterward. But, in a way, I'm glad I opted to have that first without going for the catharization.

My heart is fine. No malfunction. No blockage. So...what is the problem. My regular doctor ordered a gall bladder ultrasound and found no stones. But, that doesn't mean the gall bladder is functioning fully, so he's going to keep an eye on that. Also ordered x-rays of the neck area to determine if something there is causing the pain in shoulder and arm. In the meantime, he said I could come home and they could schedule other tests as outpatient. Yesterday I had worse chest pains, but my arm and shoulder pain lessened. Hmmm. Yesterday morning I took the medication the doctor had prescribed last Friday (before hospital) which was to see if it would help the arm pain. But my chest pain was back. Now I'm wondering if that medication is what has been causing all my problems. Going to stay off it for now and see what happens. I go see doctor next week.

So, my friends, I'll be back to blogging again...a lot poorer...not much wiser.

Thanks for stopping by.

Author Interview with Patti Lacy

The Blog Studio camera pans the audience as the band finishes playing. Slowly the curtain rises and Carol Ann walks onstage.

"Good morning! I'm so happy to be here today!"

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

"It's been a long time. A lot has been happening that has kept me away from the stage. I know, I know...some of you wish I'd stayed on it!"

LAUGHTER

"Sorry, that was a cheap joke. Seriously, I am happy to be back and I have a special guest that I know you are going to enjoy. I met Patti in ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and when her book released, I knew I had to have her in the studio. I had the pleasure of reading her book, which by the way, won a four star review in Romantic Times magazine October 2008 issue."

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

"Ladies and gentlemen, please help me welcome Patti Lacy!"

APPLAUSE APPLAUSE

Patti walks onstage and takes a seat on the chair opposite Carol Ann.




PCAROL ANN: Patti, thank you so much for stopping by the studio this morning.

PATTI: It's my pleasure, Carol Ann. Thank you for inviting me.

CAROL ANN: This is Patti's book, An Irishwoman's Tale. Isn't the cover beautiful?

CAMERA PANS IN


CAROL ANN: I really enjoyed your book, Patti, but I'll let you tell the audience all about it.

PATTI: In 1995, “Mary,” a red-haired woman in a book discussion group I formed stayed late after one of the meetings. I thought she just wanted to help me clean up and pick through the juicy Hors D’oeuvres I’d spent hours making, but she had something else in mind. As I chatted about my kids, she paced in the family room, finally plopping into a rocker.
“What is your first memory?” Mary asked me.
“I don’t know. I’ve never had to think about it,” I answered.
Her eyes took on a glint of steel. “How pretty. Not to have to think of it.”
Hours later, I’d been gifted a tragic yet majestic story of God’s forgiveness and sovereignty over even the most dysfunctional situations.

Four years later, my family moved away from Mary’s town, yet by now, Mary and I’d become close friends, and stayed in touch. During quiet times, Mary’s story often slipped into my thoughts, and I’d shake my head. Someone sure should write that story, I’d tell myself. One January morning, God told me to do it. I opened a computer file, titled it An Irishwoman’s Tale, and the journey started and didn’t end until Mary and I went back to Ireland two years later, and I’d signed a book contract.

Here’s a summary of Mary’s story: Her entire life, Mary’s struggled to understand why, as a precocious five-year-old, she was torn from her beloved Ireland. She remembers…“An oaken table, moon-shaped faces guzzling tea. Cup after cup of the steaming stuff. Asking what’s to be done with the little eejit.” And a few other dark and nasty things.

No matter how hard she tries, the memory stains Mary’s relationship with everyone—including God. It takes the crisis of her daughter’s substance abuse and the urging of a new chatty new Southern friend to propel her back to the rugged cliffs of County Clare. There, in spite of the secrets she uncovers, Mary experiences God’s healing and glimpses His sovereign plan.

CAROL ANN: Your visit to Ireland had to help tremendously with your ability to paint a perfect picture of the areas involved. As an author, what is the hardest thing you find about being a writer?

PATTI: Fighting through the self-doubt and lonely times when not even your family likes your work. Committing to writing for that Audience of One. A poster listing God’s names hangs near my computer, reminding me who I need to listen to when the path gets rocky.

CAROL ANN: How did you realize the God was calling you to write?

PATTI: Just that still, small Voice telling me to write this story, then the next and the next.

CAROL ANN: What stumbling blocks have you encountered and how have you overcome them?

PATTI: When we take family vacations related to air travel, my husband reminds everyone to “hurry up and wait.” The snail’s pace of the publishing industry brings out my impatient side. It’s also been a challenge to balance writing with editing with marketing.

CAROL ANN: Do you collect anything?

PATTI: My first major in college was geology, and I graduated from Baylor University with a degree in Education, English and Earth Science teaching fields. We’ve carted unbelievably heavy boxes of rocks from our attic in Texas to our attic in Indiana to their present resting place in our cramped Illinois basement. Sometimes I dig through the dusty plastic specimen boxes and haul them around for elementary school show-and-tell time. Mainly they gobble up space. I’ve given quite a few away but hold onto the gross coprolites, the shapely fluorite, the sparkling pyrite, to remind me of God’s intricate designs in every aspect of creation.

CAROL ANN: Do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword? Why?

PATTI: Ephesians 6:17 says, “Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.” In eternity-speak, God-inspired words will win more victories than even the most sophisticated nuclear weapons.

CAROL ANN: Very well said! Patti, which inspires you more? A brisk walk in the autumn with the leaves changing color, or in the spring when the flowers and trees are budding? Why?

PATTI: Even though I live in the Midwest, I’m a Southern girl at heart. The winter winds chill my bones and the lack of sunlight darkens my spirit. Brisk walks with The Stooges, a riotous trio of exercise pals, keep me going during the snow and below-freezing temperatures, but by March, I’m ready to see green shoots and pastel flowers.

CAROL ANN: You are sitting in a restaurant with several friends when someone walks up to you and thrusts a microphone in your hand. You have one minute to tell the world something....what will it be?

PATTI: I would do my best to paraphrase Romans 13, the love chapter.

CAROL ANN: How do you balance your "real" life with your "writing" life?

PATTI: It’s not too hard to do that, living in Normal, Illinois. I’m just a normal mom, trying to run a household and do my job. When my son gets up for work around five a.m., I stumble to the kitchen and make his lunch. Dawn is a great time for prayer and praise! Around 6:30, I write down the day’s tasks in a cool leather journal, then start pecking at the keyboard until I complete my daily allotment of WIP pages. By noon, it’s time to exercise, be a friend, a mom, a wife, and that includes shopping, cooking, cleaning and the million other things we women do. Sometimes I squeeze in a few more writing responsibilities; sometimes not.

CAROL ANN: Where can readers learn more about you and your books? Website address, blog, email???

PATTI: Come on over to www.pattilacy.com! There’s contests (prize, $15 Barnes & Noble gift card), writing updates, book reviews, and more. At the current time, I don’t have a blog, but I update my website at least once a month. My e-mail is patti@pattilacy.com.

CAROL ANN: Patti, thank you again for coming by and thanks for the gift of An Irishwoman's Tale. I couldn't put it down! I got so caught up in Mary's story and her life that sometimes I went to bed sad, sometimes prayerful. Thanks for a wonderful read. I recommmend this book to anyone who loves a good story.

Joshua's Hope - Bestseller

Joshua's Hope released on August 28th at The Wild Rose Press. I'm so excited to announce that it is number one on the Inspirational full length list and number two on the overall (includes short stories) Inspirational list! Woo hoo!!

Last night the winner for the Sony eReader was announced in the TWRP chat room. The chat was moving so rapidly that I missed capturing the last name of the winner, but congratulations to Dianne! For those who didn't win and for those who missed entering the summer giveaway, there is another one scheduled to begin on September 22nd. Stay tuned for details.

Tomorrow I'm interviewing Patti Lacy, author of An Irishwoman's Tale. I had the privilege of reading this wonderful novel. Be sure to stop in and read the interview and feel free to leave comments or ask questions. You don't have to have a blogger account to do that. All you need to do is post as "annonymous".

Sorry I've been so neglectful of the blog, but real life has a way of intruding on the best laid plans of a writer. Hope to do better this month.

Thanks for stopping by!