Sleep Interrupted

Two weeks ago it was writer interrupted because of life getting in the way. This week it's writer interrupted because of a cat getting in the way of a good night's sleep.

Years ago, when I adopted Chessie the breeder cautioned me that female Siamese are talkers. At the time I already had Chessie's half-brother, Max, who wasn't too much of a Chatty Cathy and I thought surely it won't be too bad. Well, the breeder, of course, was right. She was always more talkative than Max, but not to the point that it drove me crazy.

It will be two years in February that Max developed kidney disease and had to be put down. From the get-go I don't think Chessie missed him much. She was too excited at the prospect of now being queen of the house. Of course, she was wrong. Most of the time. But the one thing I've noticed is that without Max here, her verbal skills have become finely tuned. I've learned to put up with it during the day. But the night is another story.

Chessie has recently developed a very bad habit of deciding it's time for me to wake up at four a.m. or thereabouts. Who needs a rooster with her around? She meows. I yell at her. She meows again. I yell more. And on it goes. Then I finally drift back to sleep and ten minutes later my radio goes on. Time to write, and I've missed an hour's sleep. I drag out of bed. Picture the guy on the old commercial saying "Time to make the donuts," only I'm saying "Time to make the story."

Today most of my morning was taken up with my volunteer job teaching reading and writing English to non-English speakers. I came home at noon full of intentions to write, if only I could see the computer screen through my drooping eyelids. I'd type a few words and yawn. I'd make a few corrections and yawn again. Finally, I gave up and laid down for a snooze. I no sooner did I do that and what did I hear?

MEEEEEEEOW.

I've had Chessie for over twelve years. I don't know if getting another cat at this point is the answer. Would she be so territorial that I'd never have any peace? Maybe I just need to pray a lot.

God silenced Zechariah. Do you think He might silence a cat?

CFBA Blog Tour - The Return by Austin Boyd

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

THE RETURN

(Navpress Publishing Group July 13, 2007)

by
Austin Boyd

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Austin Boyd writes from his experience as a decorated Navy pilot, spacecraft engineer and an astronaut candidate finalist. Austin lives with his wife Cindy and four children in America’s “Rocket City”--Huntsville, Alabama, where he directs business development for a large NASA and defense contractor. His creative talents include inspirational fiction and poetry, finely crafted reproduction colonial furniture, archery and long distance cycling. He serves his community as an advocate for a crisis pregnancy center and as a motivational speaker in the area of lifestyle evangelism.THE RETURN is part of the Mars Hill Classified Series with The Evidence and The Proof

ABOUT THE BOOK:
IS SEEING BELIEVING?Six years after completing a manned mission to the Red Planet, Admiral John Wells is set to make another journey to Mars. But this time his crew is not alone, as John's team encounters a secret colony comprised of individuals pursuing John Raines' strange religion, the "Father Race."While John begins to uncover a web of lies on Mars, his wife and daughter are struggling for survival on earth. Now John must survive his dangerous mission and find a way back home, even as a shocking plan begins to unfold millions of miles away on earth.Austin Boyd is back with his third thrilling novel in the Mars Hill Classified series, full of high-tech intrigue, memorable characters, and adventure that transports readers to another world.From the Back Cover:With nothing left for him on Earth, Rear Admiral John Wells didn't hesitate to lead a third NASA team to Mars, but he never dreamed that one day they'd look out their laboratory module into the lights of a slow-moving vehicle not their own. In the third installment of the Mars Hill Classified series, life on Mars becomes increasingly more unpredictable as the past collides with the future and nothing, not even the dead, is as it seems.Meanwhile, back on Earth, the fate of hundreds, including John Wells' family--presumed dead these last six years--rests precariously in the hands of Malcolm Raines, self-proclaimed Guardian of the Mother Seed and Principal Cleric of Saint Michael's Remnant, and his insidious plans for the Father Race.Wells will find himself in a race against time and all odds to expose the truth: about Mars, about Malcolm Raines, and, if he's very brave, about himself.

"Austin Boyd is one of the brightest new voices in Christian fiction. His long association with the space program lends authenticity as he reveals the turmoil in the minds and hearts of those who are willing to risk everything by making
that journey. In The Return, we learn that both human emotions and God's presence reach far beyond the pull of Earth's gravity."--Richard L Mabry, author of The Tender Scar

Buy it at Amazon!

DSL is Rockin'!!!

Yesterday turned out to not be DSL Day at all. Everytime I checked the recording at AT&T, I was told my account wasn't activated yet. Fine by me. I was busy anyway.

This morning the recording said the same thing so I waited for a technician. He took me through the paces and suddenly I was on DSL. And, I must say, I was very pleasantly surprised at the speed Internet pages downloaded and my email came in. That was the easy part. Next came the extra stuff like arranging for my old email address to be forwarded to the new one and getting virus protection from my new ISP. Trial and error proved the best method. What a great way to eat up the better part of the day.

I only got a couple hours of good writing in during the wee hours of the morning, but I can't complain. I've made great strides this week. Four good days of writing is a good note to end the week on.

It's D-Day!

D-Day as in DSL. I've decided to switch to DSL and cut my costs. That is if I like it. I won't tell my cable company to cut off the cable modem until I try out the new service. I know it's going to be somewhat slower because for whatever reason AT&T hasn't wired my area for the highest of their DSL speeds. Go figure. I'm so afraid I'm not going to like it. I'm so spoiled with the cable modem and have had it forever. But, being early retired and on a budget I can't help but give it a try. The DSL monthly charge is more than half the charge of cable broadband!

My new work schedule is going great! I've been waking up to the alarm everyday (except one when the radio got off the station and there was dead air!) and sticking to the agenda. I'm up to Chapter Nine in my story edits.

As I type this, I'm past the time I should be working so I'd better hop to it. See y'all later!

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing

Illuminated

(Thomas Nelson August 7, 2007)
by
Matt Bronleewe

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


Matt Bronleewe is a recognized producer, songwriter and author. The former member of the band Jars of Clay, has earned numerous awards producing and co-writing albums that have sold a combined total of over 20 million copies. His songs have recently been recorded by Disney pop sensations Aly & AJ, American Idol finalist Kimberley Locke, and more. Bronleewe has worked with Grammy Award-winning artists such as Michael W. Smith, International pop singer Natalie Imbruglia and Heroes star Hayden Panettiere.Born in Dallas, Texas, Bronleewe was raised on a farm in Kansas, where he lived until he left for college in 1992. At Greenville College in Illinois, Bronleewe formed the band Jars of Clay with his dorm roommate and two neighbors, and the group soon found success. Though Bronleewe opted to leave Jars of Clay early on to pursue an academic career, he soon found himself in Nashville, co-writing, producing, and playing music professionally.To add to his list of accomplishments, Bronleewe has expanded his love of story telling beyond music into authorship. He is currently penning a 5 book series for Thomas Nelson Fiction. Illuminated, in stores now, begins the adventurous series about rare manuscripts and the mysteries within.Bronleewe currently resides in Brentwood, Tenn., with his wife and three children. He continues to write and produce music, and he also volunteers through his church to help disadvantaged youth in the community. Bronleewe enjoys reading, taste-testing good food and watching sports, as well as indulging his interests in art, architecture, design and science.

ABOUT THE BOOK:


IT'S BEEN 500 YEARS IN THE MAKING...PREPARE TO BE ILLUMINATED...August Adams has failed his family before. He's sacrificed relationships in pursuit of adventure, fame, and money. Now the very lives of those he loves depend on his ability to decipher a centuries-old puzzle encrypted in the colorful hand-painted illuminations that adorn three rare Gutenberg Bibles.It's a secret that could yield unimaginable wealth, undermine two major religions, and change the course of Western civilization. Two ruthless, ancient organizations are willing to do anything to get their hands on it. And August has the span of one transatlantic flight to figure it out.If he fails, those he holds most dear will die. If he succeeds, he'll destroy a national treasure.The clock ticks, the suspense mounts, and the body count rises as August pits his knowledge and his love for his family against the clock, secret societies, and even Johannes Gutenberg himself.

"...this rare breed of suspense thriller combines mysterious hidden clues,secret societies, buried treasure, double agents, and the Knights Templar...if you turned National Treasure into international treasure, traded DaVinci codes for Gutenberg Bibles, married it to Indiana Jones, and added the pacing of 24you'd be in the neighborhood of Illuminated...on a scale of one to 10, this onegoes to 11."- Aspiring Retail Magazine

Buy it at Amazon!

When Best Laid Plans Get Interrupted

There's a blog group called Writer Interrupted and I think I need to join it! Life totally got in my way last week and I got little done in the writing department. One interruption was planned and that was getting my carpet cleaned. Along with that came time to get as much off the floor as possible and then put everything back after the carpet cleaner left.

What I didn't ask for was not being able turn the water off after I finished my shower on Thursday. Then, to add to my frustration, it was stuck on hot. What's more, the faucet is a 40-plus-year-old Delta brand contraption that no handyman wanted to touch. Apparently older Delta faucets are a bear to repair. So I had no choice but to call in the professional -- the dreaded expensive plumber. $400 later, the faucet was fixed Friday afternoon. By the time the guy left, I had no brain power to put two words together.

That evening, my local ACFW chapter had a wonderful time with literary agent Chip MacGregor who talked to us for about three hours. He shared about his life as an agent and what it takes to get the job done as a writer. He left me with a couple impressions, one of which is to set a schedule for writing just like a job and stick to it. He told of a writer who actually would get up to the alarm every morning, shower and dress in a suit. He would then walk outside, return to the house and head for his spare bedroom which doubled as his office. There, he sat down and wrote for the morning. At noon he took a break for errands and lunch and then returned and wrote until late afternoon. He treated writing as the job it was.

Did that ever hit home with me. Since I retired from my day job almost two years ago I've struggled with finding a balance. I don't have trouble waking up early, but I am distracted by the Internet and email. It's easy for me to spend a good hour or more each morning just reading email along with different websites and blogs. Before I know it, I've done nothing more than read other peoples' words when I should be writing my own!

Then there's the other distractions of working at home. A table that needs dusting or a counter wiped. Or maybe a phone call from a friend. Not to mention the ping that alerts me to a new email. I realized after hearing Chip talk about this, that I've really slackened in my ability to stay focused on story and writing during the day. So, this weekend I set down a schedule. I'm going to start setting my alarm just like I used to do when I did commute to work. And I'm going to limit my time reading blogs and articles on the Internet. I'm determined by this week's end, I will have the made great advances on my story as well as searched out possible opportunities for articles to be queried.

Sounds like a plan. Now I need to pray another faucet doesn't break!

Blog Tour for Sandra Glahn and Informed Consent

Today, on the third of three book tours through this busy blog, I'm honored to be part of author Sandra Glahn's blog tour for her new book "Informed Consent." I just received this book in the mail and I can't wait to start reading it. I love medical stories and this one sounds like it's right up my alley. Sandra answers a few questions for us:

What’s Informed Consent about?
Jeremy Cramer, the next Einstein of research, is a medical resident specializing in infectious diseases. While working on a way to revive water submersion victims, he makes surprising discoveries, while also living with massive guilt over incidental infections that occur (which he could have prevented). Even as his marriage teeters, his career continues to skyrocket. Then, with a few twists along the way, he finds everything he has fought for threatened by the most personal, most heart-wrenching, choices of all.

I love exploring bioethics, and this book allowed me to consider end-of-life issues, patient rights, a compassionate response to HIV-AIDS…lots of edutainment.

How did you come up with this story? Was there a specific 'what if' moment?The story had a thousand or more “what if” moments. I’m pursuing a PhD in Aesthetic Studies, and I worked on the setting, characters, a lot of the plot, as well as my narrative voice during three novel-writing classes taught by a novelist who writes fiction reviews for Publishers Weekly. And I got some great feedback from fellow students who don’t believe in Christ about ways to address faith issues more naturally. I also took a Dante class, which influenced my choice to give my characters five of the seven deadly sins. (I’m saving the other two for a future work.)But the elements in the plot designed to keep readers up at night came through a brainstorming session with medical doctor, William Cutrer, with whom I’ve coauthored three medical novels.

Who is your favorite character in the book and why?
Dr. Nate Barlow. He’s imperfect, but he cares so much for his patients. And he’s a good friend. He has every reason to be arrogant, but he’s oblivious to his own greatness.


Tell us about your writing environment--do you listen to music? Do you have a writing space or wherever you land? Candles? Incense? Belly dancers?
No music. No dancers. I’m an audio learner as much as a visual one, so I have trouble tuning out any noise. I need it absolutely silent. As for the “where,” I have an office in my house, but I never write there. I prefer the bedroom, where I have a big, stuffed chair with matching ottoman. I sit there with my laptop, which is linked to the network. My husband calls my corner “mission control,” because I have a TV remote, a VCR remote, a DVD remote (I need a universal remote!), a CD remote, and my laptop. Oh, and the cordless phone and my cell.

How did you get started in the writing world?
After I graduated from college, I worked for a 700-employee financial services company where my boss thought I had some writing talent. I got my start twenty years ago working as the editor of employee publications. When the company sold, everybody got laid off. I mourned over leaving a job I loved, but it was the best thing ever for my career. Suddenly I had 700 business contacts all over Dallas.I started a free-lance writing business, and one of my first clients was the music producer for Barney and Friends. Another client was Dallas Theological Seminary (DTS). I edited (and still edit) their magazine, Kindred Spirit. I dabbled in some classes in DTS’s media arts program, and I learned about Joseph Campbell and myth and about Hebrew narrative and Gospel storytelling. I figured if I could tell better stories, I’d write more engaging non-fiction. I had no aspirations ever to write a book, certainly not a novel!


Author Bio:
Sandra Glahn, ThM, teaches in the media arts program at Dallas Theological Seminary, where she edits the award-winning magazine Kindred Spirit. The author of six books and co-author of seven others, she is pursuing a PhD in Aesthetic Studies (Arts and Humanities) at the University of Texas at Dallas . She recently released her first solo medical suspense novel, Informed Consent (Cook). She is the co-author of three other such novels, which include the Christy Award finalist, Lethal Harvest.

(For a more extended bio, you can go to http://www.aspire2.com/aboutsandi.htm.)

Sandi's blog site:
http://aspire2.blogspot.com/

Sandi's website:
http://www.aspire2.com/index.html
or you can go to http://www.aspire2.com/books%20fiction.htm for more on Informed Consent

CFBA Blog Tour - Crimson Eve by Brandilyn Collins

It's day two on this busy blog tour week that features three great reads. Today the CFBA blog tour features my friend and fellow ACFW member, Brandilyn Collins and her latest release "Crimson Eve." Brandilyn is a prolific writer of action-packed suspense thrillers. You pick up one of her books and you can't put it down. The pages almost seem to turn by themselves.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Brandilyn Collins is a best-selling novelist known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense™. These harrowing crime thrillers have earned her the tagline “Don’t forget to b r e a t h e…® ” She’s so well known in the industry there’s actually a club for her non-readers. That’s right. The Big Honkin’ Chickens Club (BHCC) members are proud of the fact that they’re too wimpy to read Brandilyn’s intense fiction. Now and then one of them tries. Bribing works pretty well. (Just ask Deb Raney.) Somehow they live to tell the tale.Brandilyn writes for Zondervan, the Christian division of HarperCollins Publishers, and is currently at work on her 17th book. Her first book, A Question of Innocence, was a true crime published by Avon in 1995. Its promotion landed her on local and national TV and radio, including the Phil Donahue and Leeza talk shows.She’s also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons), and often teaches at writers conferences. Brandilyn blogs at Forensics and Faith.Visit her website to read the first chapters of all her books.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Carla stared at the gun and David Thornby—or whatever his name was. Her mind
split in two, one side pleading this was some sick joke, the other screaming it
was all too real.“Please. You must have the wrong person. There’s no reason for
someone to want me dead. I don’t have any enemies.”

“Then you’d best rethink your friends.”

Realtor Carla Radling shows an “English gentleman” a lakeside estate—and finds herself facing a gun. Who has hired this assassin to kill her, and why?Forced on the run, Carla must uncover the scathing secrets of her past. Secrets that could destroy some very powerful people...Brandilyn Collins fans and reviewers are saying Crimson Eve is her best book yet:

“Collins tops herself by creating a suspenseful nonstop thrill ride … Truly the
best Christian Fiction suspense title so far this year.”– Library Journal,
starred review

“Crimson Eve is Collins at her very best. It left me feeling as if I’d climbed
Mount Everest without oxygen … I didn’t think Brandilyn could outdo herself
after reading Coral Moon. She did.”–TitleTrakk.com

“I’ve never edited a more tightly crafted, deftly woven, compellingly
written book.” –a Crimson Eve editor, with 20 years experience“This is your best
book! I could not stop reading!” – one of many readers with similar
responses.

Read about Violet Dawn and Coral Moon, books one and two in the Kanner Lake series.Do you know someone who’s never read a Brandilyn Collins novel? Surely no such person exists. However, should you scrounge up such a friend—someone who enjoys suspense—here’s a special offer from Brandilyn. Be among the first 50 people between now and October 21, 2007 to e-mail her assistant at gayle.brandilyncollins@gmail.com with the person’s name, e-mail address and street address. (Due to exorbitant overseas mailing costs, United States residents only, please).

A signed copy of Crimson Eve will be sent to your friend—free—along with an e-mail from Brandilyn announcing the book is on its way, courtesy of you. (Don’t worry. Brandilyn won’t spam these email addresses. She just wants your friend to know who to thank.) No worries that this story is third in the Kanner Lake series. Each book stands alone. Brandilyn is convinced your friend will so love Crimson Eve, he/she will surely reciprocate with expensive chocolate.

Order it from Amazon!

Kathy Herman Blog Tour for Never Look Back

Wow, this week is a busy week. Several authors will be stopping by on their blog tours. Today I host Kathy Herman and her new book, Never Look Back. Kathy never fails to entertain and keep me turning the pages.

Summary:
The day Ivy Griffith walks out of jail after serving her sentence for withholding evidence in the Joe Hadley murder case, she is ready to put her years of pain and drug abuse behind her. A new job at her parents’ Christian camp in Colorado promises stability in this new season, but she is unprepared for her brother’s indifference toward her and her son, Montana. When camp worker Rue Kessler takes an interest in Montana, Ivy hopes the attention will make up for the rejection her son is feeling—and she doesn’t mind the attention Rue directs her way either.
Then a rash of crimes turns deadly, and Ivy suspects that Rue isn’t all he appears to be. But how can she condemn another when she knows the pain of accusation? The mysteries increase as Ivy struggles to move beyond the secrets of her past. Along the way, she discovers that the hardest person to forgive might be herself.
This fast-paced suspense novel continues the Phantom Hollow series with a rich exploration of the risks and possibilities of starting over.


Author Bio:

Award-winning author Kathy Herman has been on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) and at Better Books Christian Center in Texas. She has conducted educational seminars at CBA conventions in the U.S. and Canada, served as a judge for the Gold Medallion Book Awards, and worked as an independent product/marketing consultant to the CBA market. She is the author of twelve novels, including the bestsellers Tested by Fire and All Things Hidden. Kathy and her husband, Paul, live in Tyler, Texas.

Order it from Amazon!

Lunchboxes and Hardboiled Eggs

Yesterday was my Back to the Future day. I drove an hour or so north to Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and attended my high school reunion. Some people amazingly hadn't changed too much in spite of many years since I'd last seen them, while others had changed a lot!

Back when my class entered Badger High School as freshman, we entered a brand new high school. The first class to go all four years in the building. But, our reunion wasn't at the school. We met at the Riviera. A pre-WWII art deco-like building that hugs the lakeshore. That's it in the picture, next to the beach. The second floor ballroom where we gathered has seen many big bands in it's heyday.

I set Murder for Breakfast in this area. The town of Canoga Lake is fictional, but is only a few miles from Lake Geneva and I mention many of the landmarks, including the "Riv," in the story. It was great fun to go back.

We laughed at old memories, rejoiced at major accomplishments, and shared what we were up to these days. What really struck me is how each of us seemed to have very clear memories of certain things while others didn't remember the situation or event at all.

I was surprised when two women both said they remembered my special lunch box from when we were in grammar school. They both described it as oval and the top opened out to both sides. You'd think I'd have a clear memory of such a wonderful thing, but I don't! Yet two people remember distinctly that I owned such a treasure. I've searched the Internet, thinking Ebay would surely have such a wonderful thing, but not exactly as they described. Only like the one shown here. At least no top like that. This is the closest that I could find. It's making me crazy that I can't remember it. One woman said she recalled my mom always packed hard boiled eggs in my lunch and she thought that was so cool.

If I'd known she liked them so much I'd have been glad to share. I never did like plain hard boiled eggs.

Mom's Overture by Anita Renfroe

I "stole this from Cara Putman's blog. It's hilarious and a good way to end the week on a laugh.

Blog Tour Day Featuring Author Robin Caroll and Her New Release Bayou Justice

Woo hoo! The morning is more than half gone and we have a blog tour goin' on here.

Today, my good friend, Robin Caroll, is hanging around these parts and was good enough to answer a few questions. Robin's debut novel "Bayou Justice" is receiving rave reviews as well it should. I've been reading it every chance I've had since I got my copy a few days ago. Unfortunately, life has gotten in the way and I have yet to know who done it! It's not because of Robin's super writing skills, but because of my goofy schedule.

Without further adeu I introduce to you, Robin Caroll.

Robin, I’m about a third of the way through Bayou Justice and I’m loving it. I want to ask you a couple questions on how the story came together and the characters fleshed out.

Thanks, Pam. I'm glad to hear you're enjoying it. The book--the whole series, actually, has been really fun to write!

I know you are from Louisiana, but what I am curious about is did you actually grow up in the same area that the story is set?

I was actually born and raised in north Louisiana, which isn't cajun country. I do, however, have family that lives in south Louisiana and always have, so we visited quite a bit. After my husband and I married and then had our first daughter, we moved to south Louisiana and lived there for several years. The culture stayed with me, as did all the weight I gained eating the amazing food. Then again, my family's always had awesome cooks! LOL

How did you decided on CoCo’s career? Was this a job you are familiar with having grown up there.

Actually, I had my setting first when writing, because southern is my personal "hook" that sets me apart from so many other wonderful RS writers. So, I was looking for a career for my heroine that she could ONLY have in such a setting. I began calling some folks and doing a bit of research and that one hit me! :D

How much research did you have to do in spite of being familiar with the area?

For the setting, none. I can close my eyes and picture the bayou, along with the feel and smell of the area, with no problem. I did research CoCo's career, as well as talk to several who were "in the know" about voodoo and their beliefs. It was an eye-opener! LOL

You and I have talked a lot about deep POV and I’m digging it as I read, seeing you are a woman who practices what she preaches. As you are writing do you find it easy to deepen POV on the first draft or do you go back later and layer it in? On the second and third read-throughs what do you look for to deepen the POV?

Hmmm...I do mine a little different. I write a chapter as if I'm that character. I started doing this long ago when my mentor called me down on not having tight pov. So before I write a scene, I imagine I AM that character and that's how I write it. I normally don't touch that scene again until I finish the chapter. I do a quick read-through of the chapter before I send it to my cps. Once I get the chapter back from them, I'm usually up by 3 or so chapters, so I read it again, incorporate crits, and I don't read it again until I'm doing a final read-through just to polish.

Along with that question, with so many deadlines facing you in this series, do you still pass your stories through your crit partners? How do you manage all of that and still make deadline?

Yes, I pass everything through my cps. I manage all that because my cps are AMAZING. When I finally get on the roll to write, I normally write really fast. And they're awesome. They know my deadline and work to get my chapters critted before then. I don't think I could turn in anything without their input. They continue to awe me with their insight! :D (Waving to Dineen, Ronie, and Heather) Then, after I get my revision letter and do the rewrites, I send it to others who haven't read the first version for their thoughts. They're awesome because they read the entire thing and give me immediate feedback. (Waving at Camy, Cheryl, and Pammer)

What’s next on your writing horizon once this series is over?

Well, I'm finishing up book 4 and then I'll turn in the proposal for book 5, and final book, in the series to my editor. I have another series I have burning in the back of my mind to get a proposal on it together and to my editor. And my agent is actively shopping my single title at present. It's a fun journey, that's for sure.


Thanks, friend!

Thanks for having me! It's fun! :D

Bayou Justice can be purchased from Amazon or on the eHarliquin website. You can also pick up a copy at your local Wal-Mart if they aren't sold out and in other locations such as Borders and Barnes and Noble.

Get yourself a copy. You won't be disappointed!

You can keep up with Robin at her blog: http://www.robinswritingworld.blogspot.com/

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
NOBODY
(Multnomah Fiction September 11, 2007)
by

Creston Mapes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Creston Mapes is a talented storyteller whose first two novels, Dark Star and Full Tilt, made him a finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year awards and the Inspirational Readers Choice awards. Creston has written for major corporations, colleges, and ministries, including Coca-Cola, TNT Sports, Oracle, Focus on the Family, and In Touch Ministries. Committed to his craft and his family, Creston makes his home in Georgia with his wife, Patty, and their four children.He's been married for twenty-one years to the girl he first loved way back in fourth grade. They have three lovely girls and a boy in a very close-knit family, spending a lot of time together - watching old classic movies, going on outings, and taking in various school and community events and activities. Creston loves to go for morning walks with his dog, read, paint watercolors, meet friends for coffee and Bible study, watch hockey, take his wife on dates, and spend time in God's Word.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Not everything that happens in Vegas has to stay in Vegas!They said, “He’s a nobody.”They were dead wrong.When reporter Hudson Ambrose hears an early morning call on his police scanner about an injured person at a bus stop on Las Vegas Boulevard, he rushes to the scene to get the scoop.His world is blown off its axis when he discovers a murdered homeless man with a bankbook in his pocket showing a balance of almost one million dollars. Should he wait for the police, knowing the case will get lost in reams of red tape, or swipe the bankbook and take the investigation–and perhaps a chunk of the money–into his own hands?With sirens bearing down on the scene, Hudson makes an impulse decision that whisks him on a frantic search for answers, not only about the mysterious dead man, but about the lost soul lurking within himself.Uncovering bizarre links between a plane crash, a Las Vegas pit boss, a dirty cop, and a widowed Atlanta business mogul, Hudson is forced to find out: who was Chester Holte, what was he doing on the streets, and why are his homeless friends convinced he was an angel in disguise?
“Nobody was absolutely riveting from the opening scene to the final page. With compelling characters, a plot that surprised me at every turn, and a subtle, yet profound message that moved me to tears, this book goes straight to the top of my highly recommended list.”- Deborah Raney, author of Remember to Forget and Within This Circle“A taut, entertaining novel of mystery, intrigue, and spiritual truth. Creston Mapes delivers a winner in Nobody.”- James Scott Bell, bestselling author of No Legal Grounds and Try Dying“Nobody had me fascinated from the first paragraph and kept the surprises coming to the very end. Somehow, as the pages flew by, it also managed to convey a beautiful picture of faith the size of a mustard seed. From now on I’ll read anything by Creston Mapes the instant it hits the shelves.”- Athol Dickson, Christy Award—winning author of River Rising and The Cure

Buy it at Amazon!

Isn't This Supposed to be Autumn?

Let's see. Two days ago was my birthday, October 6th. Check

We had the autumnal equinox a couple weeks ago. Check.

Some leaves on the trees are already changing to orange and gold. Check

I stepped through yellow leaves strewn about the sidewalk on my morning walk. Check.

The sound of leaf blowers has been disturbing my silence for days now. Check.

It must be fall . . . but . . .

For the fourth day in a row Chicago has had temperatures in the upper eighties. My air conditioning has been on day and night. The humidity feels more like Houston in July than Chicago in October. What's wrong with this picture?

Yesterday a man died trying to run the Chicago marathon and the race was curtailed after just over a couple hours. The top winners had already crossed the line, but the water stations were out of water and firemen were hosing down the participants and telling them to walk. Over 300 needed medical attention. Usually the runners are fighting early morning chill, not heat exhaustion.

Give me a chill in the air, a new fall sweater and a cozy fireplace this time of year. You know what they say in Chicago. Don't like the weather. Give it a minute and it will change.

I can't wait :-).

It's My Birthday!

Yep. Exactly--cough, cough--years ago, I made an appearance into this world.

Birthdays aren't like they were when we were kids. Back then, I excitedly planned my birthday party with my mom, and all my friends came over for games, cake, and, of course, presents. I shared my birthday with another classmate, so we had to take turns with having our parties on the exact day. One year she'd have the party on the 6th, and the next year I would. An early lesson in sharing for this only child.

Tonight, two of my girlfriends will take me out for dinner at the restaurant of my choice. This year I chose Max and Erma's. I always like their food and I know it's within their budgets. My friend Ed is knee deep--correction, up to his ears--preparing for a conference where he works, so we'll be celebrating after his conference is over. I told him, fine with me. That way I won't turn older until then. Yeah right.

That's another thing. When we were kids, we couldn't wait to grow older. I remember turning ten, and being so excited that I'd reached double-digits. That's one over-the-hill birthday I enjoyed LOL. I guess it was about thirty when those birthdays started to bother me.

But, now I look at it this way. I'm only a day older than I was yesterday, and each day is the first day of the rest of my life. My earthly life as well as my eternal life. Because I know Jesus and have made Him my Lord and Savior, my spiritual birthday actually means more to me than my physical one. Good Friday, 1981 was the day I was born again into God's family. So in reality I am only 26 years old :-).

That sounds pretty good to me. Thank you, Jesus.

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
THE TROPHY WIVES CLUB
Avon Inspire (September 4, 2007)

by

Kristin Billerbeck

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kristin Billerbeck was born in Redwood City, California. She went to San Jose State University and majored in Advertising, then worked at the Fairmont Hotel in PR, a small ad agency as an account exec, and then,she was thrust into the exciting world of shopping mall marketing. She got married, had four kids, and started writing romance novels until she found her passion: Chick Lit. She is a CBA bestselling author and two-time winner of the ACFW Book of the Year. Featured in the New York Times and USA Today, Kristin has appeared on the Today Show for her pioneering role in Christian chick lit. Her last three books were:Split Ends: Sometimes the End is Really the Beginning (April 17, 2007)She's Out of Control (Ashley Stockingdale Series #1) (Nov 13, 2007)Calm, Cool & Adjusted (Spa Girls Series #3) (Oct 1, 2006)

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Haley Cutler is the consummate trophy wife. Perhaps "was" is the more accurate term. Haley married Prince Charming when she was only twenty years old – back in the day when highlights came from an afternoon at the beach, not three hours in the salon.When Jay first turned his eye to Haley, she was putty in his slender, graceful hands. No one ever treated her like she was important, and on the arm of Jay Cutler, she became someone people listened to and admired. Unfortunately, after seven years of marriage, her Prince Charming seems to belong to the Henry the XIII line of royalty. When Haley loses Jay, she not only loses her husband, she loses her identity.With her first independent decision, Haley leaves LA and moves home to Northern California. Feeling freedom just within her grasp, Haley learns that her settlement payments must go through one of Jay's financial advisors, Hamilton Lowe. Haley believes he's nothing more than a spy. And the feelings of distrust are mutual. Yet somehow, Hamilton finds himself handing over the monthly checks in person, and Haley can't deny that there's a kind of tenderness and protectiveness in Hamilton that she's never experienced in a man before.But before Haley can even consider another relationship, she must learn to accept her inherent worth, and what it is to be loved for who she is, not what's on the outside.

Buy it at Amazon!