Shannon Taylor Vannatter's "Rodeo Dust"

|Title: Rodeo Dust
Publisher: Heartsong Presents

Cover blurb: Ad exec, Rayna Landers meets bull rider, Clay Warren at the State Fair of Texas. While Rayna thinks she’s content solo, Clay longs for marriage and family. Though poised to win his third world championship, his ranch is in a slump. Clay convinces his publicist to hire her advertising firm in a last-ditch effort to keep his employees and lasso her heart.

Soon the city girl is on the ride of her life, until the rodeo unearths buried memories from her past. Clay sees her through the trauma, but an injury and his stubborn determination to get back in the hypothetical saddle threatens their budding relationship. Can they rely on God to find their common ground or will they draw a line in the rodeo dust that neither will cross?

1) How did this story come to you?
My husband and I took our son to the Arkansas State Fair several years ago. I saw a cowboy to the bone, dressed in typical hat, boots, and Wranglers holding hands with a city girl in a business suit and suede boots. I wondered how they got together and what they had in common. The story sprang from my wondering.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I’d had my 1st three book series published with Heartsong Presents. I submitted Rodeo Dust with an idea for a series based on Texas rodeos. My editor initially rejected it because she thought the story was too heavy for Heartsongs. I changed one thread of the story, lightened it up, and my editor changed her mind. She liked the rest of the series.

In fact, book 2 was her idea. When I pitched my story about a bull rider and a city girl, she said, “Why is it always the cowboy? Why not the rodeo clown?” Book 2, Rodeo Hero is about a rodeo clown, known professionally as bull fighters.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I love to do jigsaw puzzles. But I don’t do them often because when I have one going, I don’t want to do anything else.

My husband and I met as children at my grandmother’s. He remembers a bunch of little girls being there and I remember a bunch of little boys being there. We remember playing the same games, but we don’t remember each other specifically.

For the last three years, I’ve been house dogless for the first time in thirty-seven years. After my last weinie dog died, I decided my heart couldn’t take anymore.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m knee deep in edits from my editor on book three in my rodeo series. My agent currently has a couple of proposals and we’re in waiting mode.

5) Parting comments?
I have a blog where I feature inspirational author’s real life and fictional romances with weekly book giveaways: http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/. Dawn has been a guest several times and I appreciate her hosting me again.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://shannonvannatter.com/, Facebook: facebook.com/shannontaylorvannatter, and Twitter: @stvauthor

Margaret Daley's "Saving Hope"

Title: Saving Hope, 1st book in Men of the Texas Rangers Series
Publisher: Abingdon Press

Cover blurb: When a teenager goes missing from the Beacon of Hope School, Texas Ranger Wyatt Sheridan and school director Kate Winslow are forced into a dangerous struggle against a human trafficking organization. But the battle brings dire consequences as Wyatt's daughter is terrorized and Kate is kidnapped. Now it's personal, and Wyatt finds both his faith and investigative skills challenged as he fights to discover the mastermind behind the ring before evil destroys everyone he loves.

1) How did this story come to you?
I wanted to do a story that would have an emotional and social impact--something that was a problem today. I took a seed of an idea and started building on it. Over time it developed into what I wrote. Sometimes I don't even know where the story comes from.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
My agent sent it out to various publishers--Abingdon Press brought it along with two other books in this series. Shattered Silence, the second book in Men of Texas Rangers will be out in October 2012.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I rarely cook anymore. I don't have a favorite color--I like a lot of different colors, depending on my mood. When I first went to college, I was studying to be a nurse, but I had a fear of shots. I knew I couldn't be a nurse when I couldn't give someone a shot.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just finished writing my fourth book in Guardians, Inc. called Christmas Stalking (Love Inspired Suspense, November 2012). My next project is the second book (Detection Mission) in the Love Inspired Suspense Continuity Series for 2013 called Texas K-9 Unit.

5) Parting comments?
I enjoy hearing from readers. You are the reason I write.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.margaretdaley.com/

S. Dionne Moore's "Promise Brides"

Title: Promise Brides
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb: Life and love in historic Pennsylvania is challenging. Theodore risks enemy lines for Ellie, but can their hope of a future together be realized? Marylu wants to trust Chester, but one broken heart is enough. Alaina and Jack battle flood waters that threaten any future they might have.

1) How did this story come to you?
Promise Brides is a compilation of three historical romances all set in historic Pennsylvania. Promise of Tomorrow, a 2011 Carol Award finalist, is set in Johnstown, PA, and takes place before, during, and after the devastating Johnstown Flood of 1889. Promise of Yesterday takes place in Greencastle and Mercersburg, PA, and Promise of Time in Gettysburg. The series came to me after visiting Johnstown, Pennsylvania. It occurred to me that I had never read a fiction book with that setting. Being that Barbour was doing sets based on a single state at the time, I sat down and wrote out a plausible plot for the story that became Promise of Tomorrow. I really, really wanted to highlight locations within my home state. I’m surrounded by history! And I don’t mean my husband. :)

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
After the close of Barbour's cozy mystery line, one thing was clear, I would have to set aside the character of LaTisha Barnhart, but I still wanted to stay with Barbour. When I proposed the idea of Promise of Tomorrow to JoAnne Simmons, she liked it. To date, I've written 9 books for Barbour. But now that the Heartsong line has sold and I'm finished with my contracts there, I've turned my attention to Abingdon's new Quilts of Love series and my next book, A Heartbeat Away.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I hate editing. Like, with a passion. Most authors love that phase and hate the actual writing process, I'm the opposite, I love the writing and hate the editing. Let’s see. . .Your readers might be interested to know that I'm really 30, but look much older so that pride won’t be able to work on me, and, three, aging has made me dumber. I never thought that would happen, but now I must rely on my sixteen year old for wisdom and advice--she knows it all!

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
A Heartbeat Away, part of Abingdon Press's Quilts of Love series, is set in Sharpsburg, MD, During the Battle of Antietam and releases May of 2013. One woman's journey to find rest from heart ache, a shattered man’s memory of a betrayal, and the quilt that binds their hearts together and makes them whole.

5) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://www.sdionnemoore.com/
Twitter: @sdionnemoore
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sdionnemoore/
Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/sdionnemoore
The Borrowed Book: http://www.theborrowedbook.blogspot.com/

Fay Lamb's "Because of Me"

Title: Because of Me.
Publisher: Treble Heart Books/Mountainview Publishing.

Cover blurb: Issie Putnam’s life took a detour the night she was raped at gunpoint in front of her fiancé, Michael Hayes. Instead of marrying Michael, a promising young investigative reporter, Michael, along with the man who attacked her, and the man who held the gun on Michael, are imprisoned for conspiracy to assassinate the local district attorney—a crime Michael was trying to expose but had no intention of committing. Issie’s name is ruined, she lost her perfectly-planned future, but she gained Cole, her son—born of that rape.

On the eve of her attacker’s parole, Michael, already released from prison, follows through on his plan to return to the small town of Amazing Grace and protect Issie from the madman who promised to seek revenge. There, he meets Issie’s seven-year-old son for the first time.

Can Michael learn to love the child Issie holds so close to her heart? Will Michael be able to protect the woman he loves from the man who will stop at nothing to destroy them all?

1) How did this story come to you?
Because of Me was birthed when the hero, Michael Hayes, came onto the stage of my imagination and said, “There’s a young boy, Cole. I’m not his father, but he’s definitely on this earth because of me. I allowed something horrible to happen to his mother, but I still love her. I despise the kid, though. I’ve forgiven another for so much more, and Cole’s only fault is that his father is the man who took everything from me. How can I learn to love this child and protect his mother from the man who can again take her from me?”

Michael’s story captivated me, and when it was all said and done, I realized that Romans 8:28 permeates the pages of this story. All things, both the good and the bad, are used by God for our good.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
From the start I realized Because of Me was going to be a different type of story, one that doesn’t fit the mold of formula Christian fiction. I believed in this story of a young man and woman separated by more than time, who fight to regain what had been torn from them years earlier. I believed in it so much that I would not be deterred by those who told me I needed to fit it into a mold to sell to a certain publisher. The message that God is in the details of every aspect of our lives is much too important to lose within a mold.

When I met the editor-in-chief of Treble Heart Books, I knew I’d met someone who thinks outside the box. She asked for a full manuscript and after being scrutinizedby two reviewers for Treble House, I got the contract. When the editor completed the galley edits, she contacted me and said, “Fay, this book has grit.” And I agree. Because of Me isn’t your typical Christian fiction.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1. While I consider myself pretty social online, I’m pretty much a hermit. I enjoy long periods of alone time, preferably spent in the mountains where I can write, walk around beautiful Lake Junaluska, and meditate.
2. I love to work with and to encourage other authors. American Christian Fiction Writers’ Scribes’ online critique group, which I co-moderate, and my work as an editor with Pelican Ventures, Inc., are both ministries I thank the Lord for daily.
3. I’m a salt and pepper shaker enthusiast. I collect all kinds. I’ve never met a pair I didn’t like. Currently, I have more than 500 pairs, which led my dear mother-in-law to remark one day when she asked for salt, and I handed her the Morton’s container, “You mean, with all of these salt and pepper shakers in your house, not one of them has salt and pepper inside?”

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I have completed a second romantic suspense, Willow’s Path, and two contemporary romances, Charisse and Liberty. Currently, I’m working on two other romantic suspense novels and the last story in the contemporary romance series while editing a contemporary fiction entitled, Storms in Serenity. Beyond that I am excitedly looking forward to delving into a novel that includes the intriguing world of professional surfing.

5) Parting comments?

Thank you for having me on your blog. I appreciate the opportunity to share my novel, Because of Me. I truly feel this book has a message or hurting people. It doesn’t matter if your problems are a result of your own mistakes or the mistakes of others. God tells us that all things work for good to those who love Him. God is in the details of every part of our life. Look for Him there, and you will find Him.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
My website is www.faylamb.com (where you can purchase an autographed copy of the novel) and I love making new friends on Facebook and Twitter at www.facebook.com/fay.lamb  and www.twitter.com/@faylamb

Because of Me is also available at Amazon.com and at my publisher’s site: www.trebleheartbooks.com/MVLamb.

Peggy Blann Phifer's "To See the Sun"

Title: TO SEE THE SUN
Cover blurb:  Pregnant and widowed hadn’t been part of her “happily ever after” dream. And now, someone was trying to kill her . . .

Erin Macintyre never expected to be a widow and a new mother in the same year, anymore than she expected mysterious notes, threatening phone calls, and a strange homeless man who seems to know all about her. The thought of raising a child without a father is daunting enough—worse when you have no idea who might want to harm you. Put an old flame into the mix, and her life begins a tailspin into a world she never knew existed.

When P.I. Clay Buchanan, stumbles upon Erin at her husband's gravesite, he’s totally unprepared for her advanced pregnancy. Her venomous reaction at seeing him, however, was predictable. But Clay can’t let her distrust, or his guilt, get in the way—not when he has evidence that proves Erin’s life is in danger.

With few options left, Erin begrudgingly accepts Clay’s help . . . and it just might be her undoing.

1) How did this story come to you?
That’s the right phrase . . . it came to me. I knew I wanted my female lead to be either widowed or divorced, the latter of which was basically anathema to the Christian market. But I was newly divorced and the wounds had not yet scabbed over, let alone heal. I wanted to write it out so I could deal with the pain and feeling of betrayal instead of bottling it all up inside. (It was an unwanted divorce.) Thus began the story that evolved into what is now TO SEE THE SUN.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
How much time do you have? LOL Actually, it was a long, tortuous trip with multiple setting and basic plot changes, character personality shifts, etc. And trying to follow all those so-called rules just about did me in, until I realized this was MY story to write, and it was MY assignment to write the story God gave me. After that, the last two years of this journey have been the best ride ever.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I never went to college, much to my regret. I weighed 98 pounds at age 40 and wore a size 3. I killed a 6-foot pine snake with an axe.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m working on Book 2 of the Desert Faith series, and hoping to get back to a historical romantic suspense that’s collecting dust in the bottom file cabinet drawer.

5) Parting comments?
Write from your heart, not for the market. Chances are that by the time you’ve finished your book the market will have changed.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Website: http://peggyblannphifer.com/
Blog: http://www.whispersinpurple.com/
Facebook.com/pegphifer
Twitter.com/pegphifer

Kelly Irvin's "To Love and To Cherish"

Title: To Love and To Cherish
Publisher: Harvest House Publishing

Cover blurb: How Do You Forgive When Your Heart Is Broken?

It’s been four years since Carl left. Four years since he left the safety of the small Amish community for the Englisch world. And in four years, Emma’s heart has only begun to heal.

Now, with the unexpected death of her parents, Emma is plunged back into a world of despair and confusion. It’s a confusion only compounded by Carl’s return. She’s supposed to be in love with him…so why can’t she keep her mind off Thomas, the strong, quiet widower who always seems to be underfoot? Could the man she knew only as a friend be the one to help her to heal?

In a world that seems to be changing no matter how tightly she clings to the past, one woman must see beyond her pain, find strength in God, and open her heart to trust once again.

1) How did this story come to you?
I came across a newspaper article about buggy accidents and how it hard it is for law enforcement to keep roads safe for buggies and cars at the same time. It made me think about the clash between the two ways of life. Then I started thinking about how hard it must be to forgive someone who has killed your loved one, even though it was an accident. The Amish believe in forgiveness, but they are human, so it must be very difficult at times. I know I struggle with the concept of forgiveness on a regular basis. All this musing translated into a story called To Love and to Cherish.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I had published a romantic suspense novel and had another one under contract when my agent Mary Sue Seymour challenged me to try something new and different. So I wrote a proposal and 50 pages for To Love and to Cherish and she pitched it for me. I continued to work on the novel, but before I could complete it, Harvest House asked to see the rest of it. I submitted what I could and they ended up buying it before I finished it.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
• I speak Spanish after having spent a year and a half in Costa Rica as an exchange student in college.
• I started my career as a newspaper reporter and worked in the border towns of Laredo and El Paso covering everything from zoning cases to Miss Texas pageants to federal drug smuggling cases.
• I once ate rattlesnake meat at the Rattlesnake Roundup in Laredo. (This would be even more surprising if they knew what a phobia I have about snakes!)

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
The second book in the Bliss Creek Amish series is scheduled for release in September and I’m currently working on a third book in the series for Harvest House’s consideration.

5) Parting comments?
I hope readers enjoy reading To Love and to Cherish as much as I enjoyed writing it.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.kellyirvin.com/

Anne Greene's "Texas Christmas Mystery"

TITLE:  A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY

PUBLISHER: PelicanBookGroup.com.

COVER BLURB: A lady Coastguardsman searches for a killer. An oil rig troubleshooter accused of murder races to clear his name. The murderer strives to silence them both.

Sparks fly as Amber Meredith seeks to arrest Derrick Darbonne. She needs to solve her first case. But the handsome Cajun suspect makes her heart race and her toes tingle.

Derrick worked all his life for his high-paying, adventurous job. When his past threatens his future, will he endanger the woman he loves?

HOW DID THIS STORY COME TO YOU:
I was visiting the historic town of Galveston, Texas with its sea port and off-shore oil rigs and lovely streets of Victorian homes and fell in love with the place. The off-shore oil rig I toured intrigued me, and the old homes had to house lots of mysteries. Throw a romantic Cajun in the mix with the Coast Guard and a story bubbled to the surface. The concept wouldn’t let me go until I wrote it.

TELL US ABOUT THE JOURNEY TO GETTING THIS BOOK PUBLISHED:
This journey was short and sweet. Pelican Book Groups, and my publisher there loved my first award-winning book, Masquerade Marriage, so when they wanted a Christmas story, they eagerly accepted A Texas Christmas Mystery. This book released December 2011 in a Christmas Extravaganza.

TELL ME THREE THINGS ABOUT YOURSELF THAT WOULD SURPRISE YOUR READERS.
I’m a world traveler and have lived in and visited twenty-five foreign countries with three additional ones coming this spring. I paint. You can see some of my pictures on my website. And, I sing in two choirs, but writing is my passion.

WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON NOW AND WHAT IS NEXT FOR YOU?
I’m working on the second book in my Scottish historical romance series with the working title Marriage By Arrangement. I’m about half finished with the first draft. I then want to finish my WWII book about women pilots and want to write a Regency romance. I have so many ideas and books I want to write that’s I find it difficult to decide which to work on next.

PARTING COMMENTS: I love visiting with fans. And I excited to choose a winner and send an ebook of A Texas Christmas Mystery. I’ve had really good feedback on this book and know if a fan likes romance and mystery, she will love this book. Also I enjoy having people visit me at my website http://www.AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Everyone can purchase my books at http://www.pelicanbookgrou.com. Or any on-line bookstore such as Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Ada Brownell's "Swallowed by LIFE"

LOVE IS DYNAMITE!

By Ada Brownell

I grew up observing love demonstrated among family. One of the most amazing was a relative who was a new Christian, and she showed love to her husband beyond what I, even as a child, thought was necessary.

Her husband, with training in the finer etiquettes of his heritage, expected men to be served before women.

My aunt, who I know had some fire somewhere in her bones, acted as if she were made to serve her husband, and she did it with joy. We were guests at their home after church one Sunday and boys near my age were allowed to eat with the men, while I remember thinking I would starve before girls and women were served.

I don’t think my aunt was so subservient before she became a Christian, but she did what Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7, 13:14: “And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband.” As the years passed, my uncle accepted the Lord and treated his wife with kindness and respect. Not many years before he died, he sang his wife’s praises and wasn’t afraid to tell others about what a great woman she was. No longer did the men eat alone, but sat at the table enjoying the chatter of ladies.

My idea when he was such a pompous husband would be to “throw the bum out.” But God has better ways.

I’ve thought of Jesus when John the Baptist was beheaded. John was a relative and close friend. He baptized Jesus. Now the earthlings Jesus had come to save not only killed John, but brought his head on a platter.

No wonder when the disciples brought the news, Jesus immediately jumped on a ship and went to a desert place. He knew humankind could be cruel, but I imagine it was different when he took on human flesh to be one of us.

I’d have said, “Father, they’re too wicked. Let’s forget the whole redemption plan.”

Instead, when Jesus saw a crowd followed him to the desert, He had compassion on them and healed the sick. That evening he fed the multitude with five loaves and two fish. When the disciples departed in a boat the night, a storm blew in. Jesus walked on water, calmed the seas, and even invited Peter to step out onto the liquid.

What love is that?

The type He asks us to work for.

How can I be a more loving person? It’s explained in 1 Corinthians 13-3-5NLT: “If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it, but if I didn’t love others, I would be of no value whatsoever. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way.”

“Let the faith and love of Christ Jesus be your model” from 2 Timothy 1:13 CEV.

When we study the Word we learn love is as powerful as dynamite and will take us through life more easily, just as dynamite can open a highway tunnel through a mountain.

Love is important to our happiness, both the love we receive and the love we give. God loves us no matter what, and some people love us because God put it in their hearts. But to be a complete, we must return that love and put love into action.

The greatest love of all is God’s love for us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
© Ada Brownell Feb. 13, 2012

***
Eternal life is at the heart of my book, Swallowed by LIFE: Mysteries of Death, Resurrection and the Eternal.

From the back of the book: Do you know you are more than a physical body? An award-winning medical and religion writer, Ada Brownell—through her research after the death of her daughter—shows why we have hope of eternal life, not only from a Christian point of view, but because of physical evidence.

The paperback book is available at http://www.barnesandnoble.com/  and http://www.amazon.com/  or from ada@adabrownell.com  The e-book should be out shortly on Amazon.

BIO :Of her 17 years as a journalist, the author spent seven on the medical beat at The Pueblo Chieftain in Colorado, reporting on discoveries about the human genome, neurology, mental illness, cancer, disease prevention, treatments, medications and more.

As a free lance writer she has sold 275 articles and stories to 45 religion magazines. She also is author of a book, Confessions of a Pentecostal, published by the Assemblies of God (1978) and her writing is included in “Cup of Comfort for Cat Lovers” and “Cup of Comfort for Christians” (Adams Media 2008 and 2006); “What I Learned from God While Cooking,” (edited by Cristine Bolley; Barbour Publishing, 2006); and “50 Tough Questions”, (Pentecostal Evangel Books, 2002).

Donna Fletcher Crow's "A Darkly Hidden Truth, The Monastery Myrders 2"

Title: A Darkly Hidden Truth, The Monastery Murders 2
Publisher: Monarch Books, an imprint of Lion Hudson in the UK. My American publisher is Kregel Books.

Cover blurb: Felicity can’t possibly help Father Antony find the valuable missing icon. She’s off to become a nun. Then her impossible mother turns up unexpectedly. And a good friend turns up murdered. . .

Breathtaking chase scenes, mystical worship services, dashes through remote waterlogged landscapes, the wisdom of ancient holy women, and the arcane rites of the Knights Hospitaller keep the pages turning. Will Felicity choose the veil— or Antony?

1) How did this story come to you?
I have wanted to tell the stories of the mystical medieval women writers Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe for years. When my daughter, whose experiences studying in a monastery in Yorkshire provided the background for The Monastery Murders, told me about visiting an ancient abbey in Norfolk in an area so soggy the ruins were said to have sunk into the ooze and a beautiful church that survived Cromwell’s destruction because it was so wet his soldiers’ horses sank in the marsh I knew I had my setting. Then I visited the church myself and experienced climbing the bell tower. I knew I’d found the perfect spot for a chase scene.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
The real journey was getting A Very Private Grave, the first book in the series published because, although I had published 30 books in the 1980’s and ‘90’s, I had been out of the publishing loop for 10 years. I found Janet Benrey in a listing of agents online, but it wasn’t until I spoke to her on the telephone that I realized she is English. She was able to sell the book to an English publisher who appreciated the English background. Each book is a challenge, though, because they wait to contract a new book based on the American sales record of the current title.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Although my favorite activities are growing roses, drinking tea and reading Jane Austen, I was a tomboy growing up. As an only child I was my father’s son, which led to many adventures on horseback and becoming Miss Rodeo Idaho and runner-up to Miss Rodeo America. I am also an intrepid researcher and will do whatever I have to do for a book. One of the biggest challenges was rappelling into a lava cave even though I’m claustrophobic.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
An Unholy Communion, The Monastery Murders 3, is almost complete. It’s based on a research trip I took to Wales and England last spring which included walking 126 miles from London to Walsingham. I’m also looking for the perfect Victorian murder to use in book 4 of my Lord Danvers true-crime series and planning book 3 in the Elizabeth & Richard Murders which will have Jane Austen as the background literary figure.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for inviting me to visit today, Kdawn. I love meeting readers. If anyone has any questions for me please leave them below and I’ll drop by to answer. Can’t wait to see who wins the free copy of A Darkly Hidden Truth!

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
Please visit my website at http://www.donnafletchercrow.com/. I have trailers for both of the Monastery Murders on my homepage, an album of photos from each of my research trips, a lot of information about all of my books and a slideshow of my garden.

Nicole O'Dell's "Girl Talk"

Q: I recently lost a lot of weight and started high school at the same time. I'm getting all sorts of attention from boys, and I just don't know what to do about it because it's so new to me. I kind of like it. . .but I'm nervous. What should I do?

That's a question I would have asked if I'd written to Girl Talk at the start of my freshman year of high school. But, I didn't know to ask. I didn't know I was facing a challenge. I simply reacted to things as I faced them. And I made mistakes. Many of them.

Each of us has a set of experiences and circumstances, some within our control, and some not, that shapes the way we look at choices, temptation, sin, peer pressure, and everything that comes up along the way. If we can help prepare girls before they find themselves staring peer pressure in the face, they'll feel more equipped to stand strong. To say NO to whatever life throws at them.

Why girls?
Hmm. What is it about girls? That's a great question. I guess I relate to them because I am one. But, more than that, I have an ache in my heart that wants to help 'em out. I've said it 1000 times, but I'll say it 1000 more, I'm sure. It's the memory of the poor choices I made as a teen, and the results of those choices, that motivates me to help today's teenagers avoid those same mistakes.

And bad decisions are one thing, but there's also the stuff girls deal with that they have no control over: Divorce, Abuse, Loss, Grief, Illness, financial strain, etc. . .etc. . . Those life-altering circumstances make it even more difficult for girls to stand against the pressure when all they want is friendship, acceptance, and love.

It takes pro-active, intentional effort to make the necessary preparations to help teens combat peer pressure.
That's why my daughters and I started the Girl Talk Column on my blog. We wanted to give girls a place they could go with those tough questions about life. The column grew and the questions built up to the point when we, along with Barbour Publishing, decided to put 180 questions from readers and our answers into a book. But it's not just any book--the vibrant, trendy format has a scrapbook-y feel as each page is full color with graphics galore. Take a look at the trailer to get a better feel for what it looks like:





And here's some info right from the back cover:
Q: My mom is always on me about what I wear. I just don’t see why it should matter to her. I mean, she got to wear the things she wanted to wear when she was young–the styles are different now, though. She won’t let me wear any shirts that show even a fraction of my stomach, and I have to actually bend over in jeans to prove to her that nothing shows in the back—if you know what I mean. She even says there’s stuff in the Bible about the way to dress right. Is that true? What should I do to change her mind?

Q: I have a friend who is pretty skinny, but she thinks she’s fat. . . . I actually heard her make herself throw up in the school bathroom a couple of times. What should I do about it? Or is it none of my business?

It’s Time for Some Girl Talk! . . .

Popular blogging trio—mother, Nicole O’Dell, along with daughters, Emily and Natalie—offer trustworthy, biblically-based advice for all your ups, downs, and in-betweens. Culled from actual questions they’ve encountered on their blog site, this fabulous resource offers real-life helps for issues including relationships, character, body image, fashion, gossip, and more. You’ll find 180 questions along with answers and related scripture selections that will both encourage and challenge you in your faith walk.

Nat, Em, and I hope you'll pass this resource along to the teens in your life. Also, the Girl Talk column is ongoing. You can write to us with your questions anytime! Contact us here.

And if you'd like to win a copy of Girl Talk, signed by all three of us, just leave a comment here. Tweeting about this post will earn you another entry if you let us know you did. I'd also love it if you signed up for my Choices e-Zine/newsletter, too--that will earn you a third entry!

Remember, it's all about choices!
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Nicole O'Dell, founder of Choose NOW Ministries and host of Teen Talk Radio, is a mom of six—ranging from 20 all the way down to a set of toddler triplets. She writes fiction for teens including the popular Scenarios for Girls interactive fiction series and the Diamond Estates Series. Her nonfiction focuses on helping teens make good choices and bridging the gap in parent/teen communication. On Teen Talk Radio, Nicole talks with teens and special guests about the real issues young people face today, and she loves getting out among teens and parents when speaking at youth groups and conferences. Visit http://www.nicoleodell.com/ or www.facebook.com/nicoleodell.

Emily is a straight-A fifth grader at Eastlawn School in Paxton, IL. She lives with her mom, stepdad, three sisters, and two broth- ers. Never found without her iPod, Emily loves to dance and sing. She’s a busy girl who enjoys swimming, skateboarding, and hanging out with friends. She’s active in her community and local church, and plans to be a teacher when she grows up.

Natalie is an honor student in the eighth grade at PBL Middle School in Paxton, IL. The oldest daughter of six kids, Natalie is a very loving and hands-on big sister. She’s passionate about her walk with Christ, and almost as passionate about the game of volleyball. She holds first- chair clarinet in the school band and looks forward to high school marching band. At this point, Natalie aspires to a career in the culinary arts, but is open to other possibilities.

Sexual content? Say what? Register to win a $10 Amazon gift card

When I began plotting the Zoe Mack Mystery Series, I wanted to write a mystery story that was heavy on the romance. My characters are college age, which means this series could easily be a cross-over between young adult and adult. Zoe is 19 and a virgin. She is a Christian and helps her grandmother teach Sunday School. She faces the same temptations of all dating teens, but is determined to save herself until marriage. Zoe and her boyfried, Nate, kiss, but that's as far as it goes. All of my books are clean. I do address sex in that Zoe is abstaining and makes it clear to Nate that she's holding onto her convictions. Maybe some readers would call this book "edgy" because it deals with problems that teenagers face. Zoe is a good role model, one I wouldn't mind hanging out with my teenage daughter if I had one.

Just to show how different perspectives can be, check out the email below from a lady I provided a copy so she could read and review it. She's a nice lady and I have nothing against her. I'm just amazed at our difference in perspective.

Dear K. Dawn,
I finished reading this book today but don’t feel I can endorse it. I’m sorry, but my constituents are conservative and I cannot recommend this to homeschool families, etc. who don’t want such sexual content. It doesn’t seem YA with a MC 19.

And, now on to a different perspective that came from the Women of Faith blog at http://todayswomanoffaith.blogspot.com/2012/01/zoe-mack-mystery-of-love-letters-todays.html

Today's Fiction Spotlight is with author K.Dawn Byrd, whose latest release, The Secret of the Love Letters introduces endearing characters that you'll want to see more of. The heroine, Zoe, is 19 and in love and she doesn't let the reader forget it for more than a page or two at a time. Fortunately, there's a whole lot more going on and it all happens at a smart pace. At only 97 pages, there's no time to waste, but enough character development to make us want to see more of the main characters in a next installment.

Ratings:
Genre: Romantic Suspense/Mystery
Profanity: No profanity, gore, or sex (a little more going weak in the knees than was necessary, but then again some readers will probably love that).
Christian Element: Low, but there.
Fun Element: Yes.
Recommended? Yes, boyfriend-obsessed heroine notwithstanding!

The Zoe Mack Series was written for those who like mystery and love romance. Yes, it is a little weak in the knees because I'm a sap for romance and let's face it, teenagers live for the next wink, the next smile, the next kiss from whoever they happen to be in love with. That said, please leave me a comment in response to this post for your chance to win your choice of my books. And, don't forget to check out the reviews that are starting to come in on Amazon.



To register to win a $10 Amazon gift card, leave me a comment. Thanks!

Becky Melby's "Tomorrow's Sun"

Title: Tomorrow’s Sun
Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Cover blurb:  One house. Two loves. A century and half apart.

Her fractures have mended, her scars faded, but Emily Foster can’t move on until she makes restitution for a past mistake. Flipping houses seems like the path to her goal. Yet, instead of finding a door to the future, the 1840s house she plans to remodel opens windows to the past.

Contractor Jake Braden hates Emily’s plan to modernize the old house, but the cost of fighting for guardianship of his late sister’s twelve-year-old twins forces him to take the job anyway. When a hidden door and faded love letters connect the house with the Underground Railroad, he and Emily embark on a mission to uncover the fate of young lovers.

As Emily and Jake unravel the long-forgotten love story, words of faith in the face of fear inspire, convict, and draw them to each other. . .but will they be prepared when faced with the greatest test yet?

1) How did this story come to you?
My husband and I were having lunch at a restaurant in Rochester, Wisconsin, not far from where we live. As I read the history of the building, built in 1843 and originally called the Union House, its possible connection to the Underground Railroad sparked an idea. I looked at my husband and said, “There’s a story here.”

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
I’ve written for Barbour for many years and I was blessed when two of the editors approached me at an ACFW conference and asked if I would consider writing for their full-length fiction line. Later, when Rebecca Germany requested a proposal, the idea for Tomorrow’s Sun and two other books containing hidden rooms and long-forgotten writings was already cooking in my head.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) My husband and I have backpacked in the Tetons, Smokies, and Rockies—carrying all we need for four or five days on our backs.
2) As of January 19, I am the proud grandmother of an even dozen amazing kids.
3) I’m planning a road trip on the old Route 66 for my next series.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I just finished Today’s Shadows, the third book in the Lost Sanctuary series. Right now I’m working on a proposal for another contemporary series with historical elements.

5) Parting comments?
Thank you so much for the opportunity to share with your readers.

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.beckymelby.com/. Stop by and click on the link to my blog if you enjoy “spiritual Cinderella stories.” My tag line is “stories of tarnished dreams refinished by grace.” I’ve had some fascinating guests who share their real-life journeys from tragedy, disappointment, and shattered dreams to finding hope and joy through the grace of God.

Molly Noble Bull's "The Overcomers"

Title: The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities by Ginny Aiken, Margaret Daley, Jane Myers Perrine, Ruth Scofield and me, Molly Noble Bull.
Publisher: Westbow Press published The Overcomers.

Cover blurb: Did you ever try to push a one hundred-pound rock up a hill with nothing but a toothpick? If you can image what that might be like, you have some idea how difficult it is for a child with a learning problem to read or spell ten simple words.

Five published Christian authors with learning disabilities wrote this book from their own experiences. It is their hope that others will be encouraged from reading how they overcame.

1) How did this story come to you?
I was on an Internet loop made up of Love Inspired authors. One day the Lord led me to tell everyone on that loop that I had a learning problem. I didn’t want to tell my long held secret to a group of published novelists I respected. Nevertheless, I told them in an email message, and as soon as I clicked send, I regretted it.

How could I have guessed that seven of the women in that group would write to say that they had learning problems, too? From that small group, The Overcomers was born.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
In 2007 The Overcomers was accepted for publication by a small press. However, the publisher went out of business before the book came out. In 2011 we paid Westbow Press to publish it, and now it’s available in paperback and as an e-book.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
I’ve never had a sense of smell. Yes, I can taste, but things might taste differently to me than they do to you.
As a teenager, I planned to be a professional singer when I grew up or a journalist.
I taught third grade, second grade and kinder for a total of eleven years before becoming a novelist.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I am waiting to hear from an editor that took one of my novels to committee. If the book sells, I will polish it, and God willing, I will start on something else.

5) Parting comments.
To find all my books, write Molly Noble Bull in the search slot at online and walk-in bookstores.
Click below to see The Overcomers at Amazon right now and look inside for free.



6) Were can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.mollynoblebull.com/
http://writersrest.blogspot.com/
http://www.bustlesandspurs.com/

Roseanna White's "Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland"

Title: Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland
Publisher: Summerside Press

Cover blurb: In 1784 peace has been declared, but war still rages in the heart of Lark Benton.

Never did Lark think she’d want to escape Emerson Fielding, the man she’s loved all her life. But when he betrays her, she flees to Annapolis, Maryland, the country’s capital. There Lark throws herself into a new circle of friends who force her to examine all she believes.

Emerson follows, determined to reclaim his betrothed. Surprised when she refuses to return with him, he realizes that in this new country he has come to call his own, duty is no longer enough. He must learn to open his heart and soul to something greater … before he loses all he should have been fighting to hold.

1) How did this story come to you?
In a couple parts, actually. I first got the idea for a story revolving around a betrothed couple who had a falling out of prodigious proportions right after graduating from college. It was nearly five years later that I decided it would be fun to incorporate historic Annapolis into the story by making my heroine flee there. Still, the story just sat on a back burner until Summerside asked if I had any historical ideas set in Maryland for their Love Finds You line.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
Well, as already mentioned above, Summerside asked if I had an idea for a Maryland title—this was after a contemporary I’d submitted was penciled into their schedule but then declined because they wanted more historicals. I whipped up a proposal for them in a week, but then went 9 months without hearing anything back—at which point they asked if I could get the full to them round about March. I got to serious work on it in January, and it’s a good thing I did—two weeks later my editor emailed to ask if I could rush it to them because they had a sudden opening. In March I got the call that it had been accepted—and 9 short months later, it hit the shelves!

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
Apparently quite a few are surprised when they go to Facebook and see that I’m young—only 29. And while I intend to stay 29 for a while, right this moment I’m in my first year of being 29. ;-) Next, I’m not very good about eating my vegetables—which is especially bad because my family owns a produce farm, LOL. And finally, I’m a morning person—I can bounce out of bed at 5, but don’t ask me to put a coherent sentence together after 9 p.m.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
At the moment I’m working on a Civil War era novel set in Savannah, about a whimsical heroine determined to write her perfect romance, and the disillusioned, injured sailor who isn’t so sure he’s up for being her hero anymore. And while I have nothing releasing in 2012, 2013 will be a busy year full of releases for me!

5) Parting comments?
In addition to the giveaway here, anyone who comments is also entered into my Great ANNAPOLIS Giveaway, which includes not only a book but a quill and ink set, a leatherbound journal, a Colonial doll, a Colonial mug, and two packs of gourmet hot chocolate. To read about other ways to get more entrees, check out my page on the giveaway at http://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/p/great-annapolis-giveaway.html

6) Where can fans find you on the internet?
http://www.roseannamwhite.com/
http://www.roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/
www.facebook.com/roseanna.white

Martha Rogers' "Winter Promise"

Title: Winter Promise
Publisher: Realms Fiction of Charisma House.

Cover blurb: A young doctor bound by a tragedy in his past finds forgiveness through a determined librarian and a baby he delivers at Christmas.

1) How did this story come to you?
The heroine is Rachel’s best friend from the first book and I wanted her to join Rachel in Portersfield. I decided the town needed a library and Abigail would be the best one to open it. I used the doctor’s story from the second book for the hero’s story and there I had the plot.

2) Tell us about the journey to getting this book published.
It is the third book in the contract for the series Seasons of the Heart.

3) Tell me three things about yourself that would surprise your readers.
1) I was a complete tomboy as child. I climbed trees and played football with the neighborhood boys.
2) I learned to cook at the age of 5 when my grandmother let me help her make cookies. She also taught me to sew.
3) I graduated from Baylor University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Home Economics, but ended up teaching English for half of my career in teaching.

4) What are you working on now and what's next for you?
I’m almost finished with a Christmas book for 2012. The title of it is Christmas in Holly Hill. I have a new series that will begin in 2013. It will be three books based on the years following the Armistice with Lee and Grant in 1865. I’m excited about writing it because it includes a lot of my own family history based on letters and journals of my Great-grandfather and grandfather.

5) Parting Comments:
I’m excited that my books are available for Kindle, Nook, and other E-Readers. It’s a whole new way of obtaining books. You can find me on the internet at http://www.marthawrogers.com/.

Barnes and Noble:   http://tinyurl.com/7y5gcya

Amazon: