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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Dawn V. Cahill and "Sapphire Secrets"

2/23/2016

7 Comments

 
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About the Book:

Filled with mystery, romance, and unforgettable characters, Sapphire Secrets is the story of a Seattle woman’s relentless pursuit of truth and God’s power to heal and transform broken lives. 

Twins Livy and DeeDee McCreary open a dance studio in honor of their late mother, whom they lost when they were six. Problem is, Livy remembers nothing of the day her mother died. The more she questions her family about that awful day, the more she suspects she’s been lied to all her life. While she’s seeking answers to what really happened, she keeps crossing paths with handsome engineer Scott Lorenzo, who compels her to question the New Age philosophy she was raised on. What if there is a personal God out there who cares about her? 

Before Livy can discover answers, a brutal accident interrupts her search. Her life flips upside down as she faces a future she is not prepared for. Yet the unanswered questions continue to haunt her. Can she find the strength to keep on with her quest, even if it means losing the two people most dear to her—her twin, and the man she loves? 
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2015 Finalist, ACFW First Impressions Contest ​

Author Mini-view:

Hello, lovely blog readers! It's a beautiful Tuesday here in NW Florida and I'm excited to be bringing you another author feature and giveaway. Today, the lovely Dawn V. Cahill is joining us... Let's get this interview started!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

I'm fairly new to the author world, but already have two Kindle books published in my Seattle Trilogy series. I started my first novel in April 2013, joined writers' groups, and discovered real soon how much I still had to learn!

What is your favorite Bible verse?

My favorite verse: Psalm 16:11 - You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.(NKJV)

It's just a beautiful work of verbal art, don't you think? And belies the popular notion that a relationship with God is pure drudgery. Anything but!

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I've discovered a new author, Kate Morton, who writes dense, gritty fiction filled with twists, turns, and a surprise at the end. I recently finished Lake House, and now I aspire to write that well myself.

What book are you featuring today?

My latest release, Sapphire Secrets, is filled with romance and mystery - the story of a young woman's quest for truth. She must learn the truth about how her mother died. As her journey progresses, she begins questioning the New Age beliefs she was raised on. What if there is a personal God who cares about her? But a brutal accident interrupts her search and...oh wait, I better not say any more!

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?
​

Dear future readers: I write about the world as it is today, and not as it was 20 years ago. If you encounter strange, oddball characters in the pages of my books, well, it's only because they exist in real life too!


About the Author:

​Author Dawn V. Cahill pens “Stories of Victorious Faith for the 21st Century,” nearly always with a crossword puzzle, sudoku, or dark chocolate nearby. “The characters in my stories face situations that would have been unthinkable even 20 years ago. We live in a vastly different world than our parents did, and that’s the world I write about.”

Seeing an unfilled niche in the Christian fiction market, Ms Cahill birthed Hot Topic Fiction at an intensive four-day writers conference. HTF isn’t afraid to explore the question, how does God want us to live out our faith in this not-so-brave new world? Without insulting the reader by offering pat or easy answers–because there aren’t any–HTF tells stories of ordinary Christians following hard after Christ in a world of terror and violence, of upside-down morality, of hostility to Judeo-Christian values.

Ms. Cahill also blogs about puppies, substance abuse, and single parenting…sometimes all in the same day. She’s going to finish that novel she started at age 11 called Mitch and the Martians…someday. She has written several newspaper articles, two Christian contemporary novels, and more limericks than she can count. Email her at dawn@dawnvcahill.com, or find her on Facebook. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW).

Snippet:

From Chapter 1 -

As if the graveyard at midnight wasn’t eerie enough, Livy’s dad boomed out his annual recitation of Edgar Allan Poe.

“At midnight, in the month of June, I stand beneath the mystic moon—”

Tonight’s mystic moon glimmered around a cloud, through the tops of evergreens, trying in vain to cast a beam into the mild June night and Brighton Cemetery.

“Like ghosts the shadows rise and fall—”

Livy clutched a handful of flowers to her chest and focused on keeping her breath steady and even. Her feet snapped twigs as she and her twin, DeeDee, followed Dad’s flashlight arc along a row of oaks.

His baritone voice pierced the night. “My love, she sleeps! Oh may her sleep, as it is lasting, so be deep—”

A heavy wind sighed overhead. Branches creaked under the weight of the night. Livy dare not reach over and clasp her twin’s hand. If she did, her shaky grip would betray her. Gravel crunched behind her as the groundskeeper trailed them.

“Some sepulcher, remote, alone—”

Most people would never guess famed rocker Declan Decker quoted Edgar Allan Poe. Tonight he was plain old Dad, Howard McCreary, come to pay his respects on the twentieth anniversary of his late wife’s sudden passing.

“Oh to think, poor child of sin, It was the dead who groaned within.”

She ground her teeth to keep from telling him to shut up, he was spooking her. He’d only say twenty-six was far too old to let a midnight cemetery spook her. Still, at each nocturnal visit to Mom’s grave, a secret phobia gripped her. Coimetrophobia. Fear of cemeteries. Each year, she feigned indifference to the waving shadows and moaning wind. She forced herself to stroll with nonchalant strides like her no-nonsense twin.


Giveaway!

Dawn is generously giving one Kindle copy of "Sapphire Secrets" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 3/1. Thanks for participating and God bless! 
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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Julie Fugate and "Kings of Renown: Betrayal"

2/16/2016

8 Comments

 
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About the Book:

​A seraphim angel joins the fallen and uses his abilities to enhance the human race. After re-pledging his allegiance to God, centuries later his mission collides with the lives of three human-angel hybrid teens.

High school outcast Tara Cox hates her career criminal dad. Despite her reluctance she's as talented at deception and secrecy as him. When new friends, including the guy she has a crush on, shows her kindness, she dreams of a different life that doesn’t involve violence and solitude.

Sixteen year-old Inara Mason desires to break away from her controlling dad. She develops a supernatural bond with a real angel who shows her monstrous mermaids and offers the illusion of love.

Former juvenile delinquent Leo Price struggles with the stigma of being a killer and keeping his love for Inara secret. He takes comfort in his dedication to God and the support of his mentor, Inara’s father. As evil closes in, they will fight for their lives, love, and the future of their souls.

Author Mini-view:

Hello, blog friends! It's a new week, so it's time for a new author interview and giveaway! Joining us this week is the lovely Julie Fugate. Let's get this interview started!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

Thank you for having me, Anna. As an avid reader, writing became a hobby. I’ve always leaned toward young adult maybe because I’ve had a heart for them throughout the years. I’ve worked with youth in my local church and volunteered as a CASA which is an advocate for abused/neglected kids who find themselves involved in the legal system. In 2013 I joined the ACFW, which had a huge impact on helping me hone and develop my writing skills—especially how to get the stories out of my head and across to a reader. In 2015 I was offered a contract for one of those stories, and in November of that same year my debut novel was published, a young adult, Urban Fantasy about angels, humans, and human-angel hybrids. At this time I continue to write, my goal to always improve and glorify God in the process. 

What is your favorite Bible verse?

Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
I’ll probably always think of this as my favorite but different verses and parts of the Bible tend to rise to the surface throughout life.
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In Kings of Renown BETRAYAL, I’ve peppered in various Bible verses. The most important for one of those characters, Tara, being Joshua 24:15. …Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve.


What have you read lately that you would recommend?

There are so many wonderful books and writers out there. I always have more on my want to read list than I have time for. Two Christian/Inspirational Writers I’ve read recently and enjoyed are Jill Williamson’s Kinsman Chronicles, an epic fantasy and Monica Mynk’s Cavernous, a young adult dystopian.

What book are you featuring today?

My debut novel, Kings of Renown BETRAYAL. It’s a young adult, urban fantasy with romance, action and suspense.

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

I hope you enjoy and remember there is real hope through Jesus to overcome all the dark shadows in your life. Love and prayers.

About the Author:

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JULIE FUGATE writes young adult fiction where danger, suspense, romance and God collide. Her nicknames include Jay, Juju, Jules, Lizzie and Julio. A tomboy and girly-girl all wrapped into one. Growing up she would spend one hundred percent of her meager allowance on books. You could find her in the library, the porch swing, or in her room reading and listening to music. She fights off two German Shepherds and a snarky Maltese who try to take over her keyboard when she's writing.

Social Media Links:
Website: juliefugatebooks.com
Instagram: jfugatewrites
Twitter: @jfugatewrites
GoodReads: Julie Fugate
Facebook: julie.e.fugate

Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1YkskdB
Barnes&Noble: http://bit.ly/1jb6xVS
iTunes: http://apple.co/1MrGlku
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1Sl0N8f
​

Giveaway!

Julie is generously giving one e-book copy of "Kings of Renown: Betrayal" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 2/23. Thanks for participating and God bless!
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Author Mini-view, Review, and Giveaway: Lisa Orchard and "The Starlight Chronicles"

2/16/2016

1 Comment

 
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Genre: contemporary, young adult
Publisher: esKape Press
Publication Date: September 30, 2015
Number of pages: 289


​Lark Singer is seventeen years old and already on the way to a brilliant music career. But as she and her band, Starlight, gear up for a competition, life seems to be throwing her a few curve balls. The mysteries of her past seem to be unraveling, and she’s no longer certain she wants to know those answers or how knowing about her past will affect her difficult relationship with her mother. And when her best friend, Bean, changes things between them, all her plans for a musical future are placed in jeopardy. How can she balance her complicated personal life to keep her musical goals on track? 

Currently $0.99 on 
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Guys, I had great plans to finish this collection this weekend, but life got in the way, so I will be reviewing the first book of the collection today. I'll update this post after I finish it with a review of the whole series. 

The Starlight Chronicles is told through the eyes of Lark Singer, a teenager whose greatest dream is to become a star and get out of her small town for good. Talented, scrappy, and guarded, it's almost impossible not to empathize with her and grow to like her. Yo-yoing between a volatile relationship with her mother, who refuses to give her the information she desires, and attending a school where everyone knows her secret, Lark's one joy is music; playing with her band and preparing for a music competition that could change everything.

"Gideon Lee", the first book in the collection, is a good set up for the series. It definitely leaves you wanting to read the next one. While it can get slightly repetitive at times, Lark's story is compelling and told with real emotions and feelings slashed across the page. Her struggle with not knowing who her father is and dealing with the secrets of others, mainly her mother and her best friend, is difficult for her and makes it easy to empathize with her.

This is a contemporary YA book and there is mild language in this book but nothing that seemed to take away from the story. 

I give this book 4 stars.


FTC Disclosure ex.: A review copy of this book was provided via SLB Tours.
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Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

I’ve known I wanted to be a writer since fifth grade, but it wasn’t until I made the decision to stay home with my children that I was able to pursue my dream.
I started out with the Super Spies series. There are three books in the series, so far, and I’ve just come up with an idea for the fourth book. They’re mysteries/thrillers and I’ve received rave reviews on them.

My next series is The Starlight Chronicles. There are also three books in this series. This series is the coming of age story of Lark Singer and her quest to become a musician. It chronicles her journey through the twists and turns of her quest.


What is your favorite Bible verse?

Corinthians 13:4-8
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.  It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.  Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.  It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away.


What have you read lately that you would recommend?

I finished a great book a couple of months ago. It is titled “Untwine,” and it’s written by Edwidge Dantecicat. It’s a Young Adult Novel about dealing with loss.


What book are you featuring today?

I’m featuring the Starlight Chronicles Boxed Set today. All three books in the series are on sale for $.99! The ebook version.

​
If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?

Keep me on your radar. I’ve become a writing fiend and I’ve got more books on the way!

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Lisa Orchard grew up loving books. She was hooked on books by the fifth grade and even wrote a few of her own. She knew she wanted to be a writer even then. Her first published works are the “Super Spies Series.” These stories revolve around a group of friends who form their own detective squad and the cases they solve. “The Starlight Chronicles,” is the next series that Lisa created with musical misfit, Lark Singer as her main character.

Lisa resides in Michigan with her husband, Steve, and two wonderful boys. Currently, she’s working on the next book in the Starlight Chronicles Series along with a few new ideas that may turn into stand-alone novels. When she’s not writing she enjoys spending time with her family, running, hiking, and reading.

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February 15--Katie's Clean Book Collection | Mel's Shelves
February 16--Anna Weaver Hurtt, Inspirational Author
February 17--Singing Librarian Books
February 18--Toni Shiloh Prayerfully-Lifted Romance
February 19--Reading Is My SuperPower
February 20--
Just Commonly
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Author Mini-view and Giveaway:  Sheryl Marcoux and "Cowboy in the Moonlight"

2/9/2016

22 Comments

 
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Book Blurb:

​Sometimes Beauty is Better Seen with the Eyes Closed

Lillian Rauling is among four English women on a ship bound for matrimony. She’s the orphaned daughter of a once-famous opera singer, and her beauty has been nothing but a curse. This time that curse has driven her to flee the authorities and avoid prison by escaping to America. She daydreams that a rugged cowboy awaits her on the moonlit horizon, and that he’s able to see past her lovely face and into her lonely heart.

Little does she realize that true happiness lies in her willingness to look past a cowboy’s scarred face and into his godly heart—and that he has a voice so magnificent it will take her breath away.

Author Mini-view:

Happy Tuesday, friends! We're back with another author mini-view and giveaway! Joining us today is the lovely Sheryl Marcoux. Let's get this interview started!

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)

My writing career began with getting up at 5:00 am five days a week and writing for a couple hours before going to my day job. My day job involved an eight hour day and two hour commute, so it was a long day. I did this for twenty years. Fortunately I can write full time now—well, except that I’ve gone back to college.

My debut novel Cowboy in the Moonlight just released through the Pelican Book Group. I’m working on a sequel Divided Heart, in which I’ve challenged myself to make a hero out of the antagonist in Cowboy. 

What is your favorite Bible verse?

Offering a favorite Bible verse is a toughie. I read the Bible every morning and jot down in a journal verses that strike me and my insights. There is a Bible verse that inspires yet a third book in my Cowboy series—The Sinner and the Saint (in which I plan to use the antagonist from Divided Heart as the protagonist in that story): 

I am now giving you the choice between life and death, between God's blessing and God's curse, and I call heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Choose life. Deuteronomy 30:19 (GNT)

Those last two words really speak to me. God urges us to “Choose life.”

What have you read lately that you would recommend?

Since I’m back to college working on a BA in English/Fiction, those demands are guzzling down most of my reading time. 

What book are you featuring today?

The book I’m sharing today is my debut novel Cowboy in the Moonlight, which has a Beauty and the Beast plot, with a Christian twist:

An 1880s attempt at scientific matchmaking goes awry, and English fugitive Lillian Rauling is matched to scarred cowboy Zachariah Keene. Though she yearns to be loved for more than her beauty, can she, in turn, look beyond a man’s face and see the beautiful Godly heart within him? 

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?
​

If I could tell readers who’ve read or wish to read my book one thing, it would be, “Thank you.” I perceive writing as a relationship between writer and reader, a friendship in which we’ve shared something in common. When you read a book I’ve written, you’ve spend time with me, and that is a tremendous gift.


About the Author:

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​Sheryl Marcoux (pen name for Peggy Rychwa) is an award-winning author of inspirational romance. A veteran of the U.S. Army, she served as a Behavioral Science Specialist. An ever-growing love of writing led her to complete the Apprentice and Journeyman courses offered through the Christian Writers Guild, and then back to college to work on a B.A. in English/Fiction. She’s a member of Phi Theta Kappa and Who’s Who Among Students.

She recently retreated from New Hampshire, where there seemed to be only two seasons—nine months of great skiing and three months of lousy sledding. She moved to Southern Arizona where she now basks in the land of long summers.

You may visit Sheryl at http://sherylmarcoux.weebly.com/

You may purchase Cowboy in the Moonlight in paperback or as an ebook at http://www.amazon.com/Cowboy-The-Moonlight-Sheryl-Marcoux/dp/1611165008

Giveaway!

Sheryl is generously giving one paperback copy of "Cowboy in the Moonlight" to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 2/16. Thanks for participating and God bless!
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Author Mini-view, Review, and Giveaway: Camille Eide and "The Memoir of Johnny Devine"

2/9/2016

2 Comments

 
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Hello, blog friends! I'm participating in a blog tour with Singing Librarian Book Tours today and I'm featuring the lovely Camille Eide and her awesome book "The Memoir of Johnny Devine."
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Genre: Historical
Publisher: Ashberry Lane Publishing
Publication Date: December 1, 2015
Number of pages: 279
Awards/Honors:  RT Book Reviews (rare) 5 goldstar Top Pick, a Reviewers' Choice Award Nominee (of 5), ​and the December 2015 Seal of Excellence winner, which makes it a Book of the Year Nominee (1 of 12 out of thousands reviewed)

​The Memoir of Johnny Devine (RT Book Reviews 4.5 GOLD Star Top Pick): In 1953, desperation forces young war widow Eliza Saunderson to take a job writing the memoir of ex-Hollywood heartthrob Johnny Devine. Rumor has it Johnny can seduce anything in a skirt quicker than he can hail a cab. But now the notorious womanizer claims he’s been born again. Eliza soon finds herself falling for the humble, grace-filled man John has become—a man who shows no sign of returning her feelings. No sign, that is, until she discovers something John never meant for her to see.

​When Eliza’s articles on minority oppression land her on McCarthy’s Communist hit list, John and Eliza become entangled in an investigation that threatens both his book and her future. To clear her name, Eliza must solve a family mystery. Plus, she needs to convince John that real love—not the Hollywood illusion—can forgive a sordid past. Just when the hope of love becomes reality, a troubling discovery confirms Eliza’s worst fears. Like the happy façade many Americans cling to, had it all been empty lies? Is there a love she can truly believe in?
Available to purchase on
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I picked up this book on the recommendation of a friend and I am so very glad that I did. This is a beautiful, emotionally-charged story that grabs your attention from the very beginning. The author writes some beautiful turns of phrase and descriptions that are delightful and enjoyable. It moves at a steady pace with several well-placed conflicting events that keep the book from dragging along like some romances tend to do. The sympathetic characters, sweet romance, and intriguing mysteries make it an absolute delight to read.

“The Memoir of Johnny Devine” is a historical romance novel set in Hollywood in the 1950s. I can’t remember the last time I read something set in this time period, but I found the history and culture of the time to be fascinating. The story is told from the viewpoint of Eliza Saunderson, a talented but unknown writer who barely makes enough to survive and stay in her tiny, one-bedroom apartment, but who is spunky, likeable, and sympathetic from the very beginning. The other leading character is John Vincent, also known as Johnny Devine, a reformed heartthrob/ladies’ man/movie star with regrets and wounds much deeper than the shrapnel that crippled his leg during the war. While we don’t get to hear much from his point of view, the reader can’t help falling for the wounded, noble hero that we see through Eliza’s eyes. When hired to assist in writing his memoir, Eliza has no idea that her life (and his) will never be the same.

This book definitely falls under the inspirational/Christian fiction category because it is full of instances of redemption, grace, and forgiveness that were well-written without being too “preachy.” I really enjoyed it and I recommend it to anyone with a love of Christian fiction and/or historical romance. 5 stars!

FTC Disclosure ex.: A review copy of this book was provided via SLB Tours.
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Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)
I’ve been writing “stuff” all my life (plays, skits, short stories) but decided to get serious about writing a novel for publication in 2007 when a friend and I were discussing how the real-life, cross-continental romance between her sister and my brother would make a great novel. She twisted my arm, actually, and Like There’s No Tomorrow was conceived. From then on (or from 100 pages in when I discovered I had NO clue what I was doing), I dove headfirst into studying the craft of fiction and found that I possessed an inherent disease passion for it.


I’ve completed and published one Christmas novella (Savanna’s Gift - White Rose) and three full-length romantic dramas (Like There’s No Tomorrow, Like a Love Song, and The Memoir of Johnny Devine - Ashberry Lane). I am currently at work on my fourth novel while trying to catch up on the many highly recommended reads this year! I am always learning, a perpetual student of Story, and at peace with the reality that a good writer never truly “arrives.”
 
What is your favorite Bible verse?
As one who writes at length and in depth about Love, whether it be romantic, relational, or the love of God, it’s no surprise that Ephesians 3:16-19 resonates deeply with me:


"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."


I think you’ll find this theme at the root of pretty much everything I write.
 
What have you read lately that you would recommend?
Okay, I have a note from my publisher excusing me on this. Since I released two books this year, which was exciting, my leisure reading has been a bit neglected. Now that my latest book has launched, I'm working my way through a long-neglected TBR pile, so I'm looking forward to a number of great reads I'm hearing raves about. I'm currently reading Lizzy & Jane by Katherine Reay, and Kiss of the Jewel Bird by longtime favorite author, Dale Cramer. I recently read a sassy little mystery novella by Rachel McMillan called A Singular and Whimsical Problem, a feminine Sherlockian type of tale which was fun and engaging.


When refreshing the "ink well," I sometimes revisit past favorites, the kinds of stories that have left me floored, the kind whose characters linger years after meeting them. One of the titles on my re-read list is River Rising by Athol Dickson. He writes sheer beauty. A few authors whose latest works I won’t rest until I’ve read are Becky Wade, Kristin Hannah, Lori Benton, and Susan Meissner.
 
What book are you featuring today?
The Memoir of Johnny Devine. This novel is a “classic” 1950s romance, a story within a story of a Hollywood bad boy reformed and a good girl needing reform. It’s a powerful tale of love, redemption, intrigue, and the miracle of God’s deliberate grace. One professional reviewer says of this story, “The romantic tension sizzles nearly from the beginning, and readers will often find themselves breathless from the sheer delight of it (Carrie Townsend).” It is a breathless (chaste) romance, but much, much more.
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If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?
Fiction may be “make believe,” but as most storytellers will tell you, fiction and story come from the guts and glory of life and reality. My aim has always been to create very realistic, authentic characters with whom we can all connect in some way, whose stories resonate with our own through the sharing of pains and desires, hopes and dreams, trials and triumphs. The characters in my stories may be invented, but the faithful, awesome God they encounter on their journey is very real.
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Camille Eide writes romantic, inspirational dramas about love, faith, and family. She lives in Oregon with her husband and is a mom, grammy, bass guitarist, and a fan of muscle cars, tender romance, oldies Rock, and Peanut M&Ms.
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​Just fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter. Thanks for participating and God bless!
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Author Mini-view and Giveaway: Alice K. Arenz and "An American Gothic"

2/2/2016

3 Comments

 
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Hello, blog friends! Happy February! We're kicking this month off with another author mini-view and giveaway this week. Joining us today is the lovely Alice K. Arenz. Let's get this interview started!

Author Mini-view:

Tell us a bit about yourself and your writing. (How did you get started? How many books have you written? Where are you on your writing journey?)
I’ve always had a very active imagination, but didn’t really write much down until I was twelve or so. A lot of years went by before I took writing seriously. I devoured Writer’s Digest Magazine, took a creative writing course at the local university, and sent “over the transom” queries to editors and agents. In the early 90s I landed a contract with a New York literary agency. Though it didn’t produce the hoped-for results, it taught me a lot about how much discipline and determination were vital necessities in the writing world.
Years later I joined American Christian Fiction Writers, learned a lot from the group, and made some contacts that eventually earned me a contract with a small press.
In spite of a myriad of health issues—especially the hypersensitivity in my fingers and hands which makes typing a challenge, between 2008 and 2010, I managed to get three books written and published. Those books, The Case of the Bouncing Grandma (cozy mystery), The Case of the Mystified M.D. (cozy mystery), and Mirrored Image (classic romantic mystery/suspense), all finaled in ACFW’s Carol Awards, with The Case of the Mystified M.D. winning in 2010.
Now, after a five year absence from the writing scene because of even more challenging health issues, I’ve signed with a new publisher, Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications, published a new classic romantic suspense, An American Gothic, my fourth novel, and re-issued the previous three with wonderful new covers and changes. Talk about feeling God’s blessing with this second chance!

What is your favorite Bible verse?
John 3:16-17—I memorized it at a very young age and it has been my constant companion since.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved."

What have you read lately that you would recommend?
To be honest, I haven’t read anything in a very long time—unless you count my own work. Because of my latest health issues, I find it challenging to both read and write. I used to read three or more books a week, and it’s been very hard on me. But I’m working on it.
What book are you featuring today?
An American Gothic. Here’s the one-liner and back of the book blurb:
She came to Foxxemoor to write a mystery, not to become part of one.
    Devastated by the death of a child in her care, Lyssie's heart strings are tugged when she finds another child in danger. Amid past secrets, lies, and betrayals of an old college friend's family, she must choose a twin brother to trust. If she makes the wrong decision, she could not only lose her own life, but also the life of the child she's come to love.

If you could tell people who are going to read/have read your books one thing, what would it be?
Be prepared to be surprised.  ;)  Whether you read one of the cozies, mystery or suspense, I hope you will find a lot of surprises.

About the Author:

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An American Gothic, published August 2015, is the newest book of 2010 ACFW Carol Award winning author, Alice K. Arenz. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, her first three novels were honored by two finals and one win in ACFW’s Carol Award: cozy mysteries The Case of the Bouncing Grandma (a 2009 finalist), The Case of the Mystified M.D., (2010 winner), and mystery/suspense Mirrored Image (a 2011 finalist)—all re-released by Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications.  Visit her at her website www.akawriter.com .

Amazon Link to An American Gothic

http://www.amazon.com/American-Christian-Romantic-Mystery-Suspense-ebook/dp/B013J4599K/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1438922230&sr=1-1&keywords=Alice+K.+Arenz

Giveaway!

Alice is generously giving one Kindle e-copy of "An American Gothic" away to one of my blog subscribers! Just fill out the Giveaway Tools form below to enter. (If it doesn't show up in the email, click here http://www.annaweaverbooks.com/giveaways to enter from the website.) Giveaway ends 2/9. Thanks for participating and God bless!
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February Author Newsletter (2016)

2/2/2016

14 Comments

 
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Happy February!

Hello, blog friends! I hope this author newsletter finds you doing well. I hope everyone has survived the cold weather we had last month. It was even cold down here in north Florida for a few weeks! It's warmed up to the 60s and 70s lately, which I have been enjoying immensely. :) What's the weather like where you are?

Life and Writing Stuff:

Well, I was super busy with my new job last month, but in this economy, I'm really thankful to have one, especially one that lets me work from home... Saving gas $ and I can do it in my PJs if I want. ;) Thank you all for your prayers and well wishes. On the writing front, I didn't have much time to work on my edits last month, but here's hoping for better progress this month. 

How about you? How are you doing this month?

Reading Stuff:

Here's my reading list from last month. What did you get to read?


​And I'm currently reading:

Prayer Request Stuff:

Here is the list of prayer requests sent in since the last author newsletter:

Kathy A. - 
Thank you for praying for my pregnant daughter. She has improved greatly. Please pray for me. I have a couple of health concerns. Facing my third mammogram and breast ultrasound next week and my left eye is severely inflammed. Thank you.

Sonja N. - For the prayer list, my dad, Heinz that he will find the health care he needs.

Last Month's Requests:


Penny M. - Prayers for all in need this Thanksgiving and beyond. God Bless

Kathy A. - Asking prayer for my daughter who is pregnant. She has been sick so much and having a difficult time. 

Sally D. - My new baby granddaughter was born 10 weeks premature, weighed 2 lb 11 oz. After 4 months, she's over 10 lbs! I am very thankful for this miracle, praising the Lord!

Me - I requested prayer for Heidi T., who was battling cancer and in hospice.
 Heidi went to be with the Lord a week before Christmas. I was able to visit with her a few days before she passed and she was full of faith, hope, and peace. Please keep her family and friends in your prayers.

Thanks so much for your prayers, friends. 

Bible Reading Stuff:

Through December and January, I've spent most of my Bible reading time working through Beth Moore's Bible study "Children of the Day," which I've been enjoying a lot. :)

With the Bible app on my phone, I finished up 2nd Corinthians and am just about to start Song of Solomon. (Over the last year, I've been reading randomly selected books of the Bible using Random.org to pick a number. It's different, but I have been switching between the Old and New Testament regularly and I like that it keeps things fresh.) What have you been reading lately?

Last Month's Winners:

And the winners of last month's giveaways are:

A Reluctant Melody by Sandra Ardoin - Wenona*


Chapel Springs Survival by Ane Mulligan - Ellen Wycuff*

All winners have a month to reply to my emails or I will draw a new winner. * = winner has claimed her prize. Prizes will be mailed within a month. (Last month's prizes are going out this week!)

And don't forget to check out the author mini-view and giveaway from Debra E. Marvin, which is open until tomorrow! God bless and see y'all next week!
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    Author

    Inspirational author. Newbie Air Force wife. Jesus Follower. Recovering musician. Dachshund mama. Coffee addict. Book reviewer/giveaway-er.

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