Spring Has Sprung and the Boats are Back in Lake Geneva!

The boats are visible, lined up at the docks in this shot of the beach.

I posted on The Barn Door blog earlier this week about the Lake Geneva Cruise Line's boat returning
to their summer home at the Riviera docks in Lake Geneva. What a joy it was to see pics of their beautiful excursion boat moving through waters that were finally free of ice!

Below is the beginning of my blog post. Click on the link to go to the actual blog where you can see pictures of the fleet.

As most Barn Door contributors can attest to, we in the Midwest have never been so anxious for spring as we’ve been this year, and it was very late in coming. Here in the Chicago area, just a week ago, we had another bout of measurable snow. It was mostly gone by the next day but even so, we were not happy campers!

Finally, by Easter weekend, the temperatures had warmed, and one sure sign of spring for me was when I checked the webcam that overlooks my hometown of Lake Geneva, Wisconsin’s lake front and saw  the excursion boats had returned to start another season of tours of the lakeshore. 

Read more ....

I'm Coming Out of Hibernation!! -

It's been a long and cold winter around my parts and with the Polar Vortex bearing down, I kind of put this blog into hibernation. But now I'm back and intend bring this site back to life with posts I write on other sites, book reviews, author interviews--stay tuned!


I haven't been totally off the grid as I contribute to several other blogs on a monthly basis. I thought I'd start with cross posting an article I posted at Novel Rocket earlier this week that was written by Ramona Richards, Senior Acquisitions Editor at Abingdon Press.

The Reality of an Author’s Legacy – What 

We Will Leave Behind

By Ramona Richards

Julie L. Cannon

Julie L. Cannon cared, deeply, about many things. Her family. Her God. Her art. In fact, she cared so much for God and the depth of her faith that she refused to take them out of her art. This cost Julie far more than many people realized, as she turned from releasing best-selling books with mainstream publishers to books written from her heart for the Christian market.

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Diann Hunt - A Legacy in Grace, Humor, and Faith

I have been AWOL from this blog for about two months or so. Blame it on a packed schedule of editing my current WIP, preparing for the ACFW 2014 Genesis Writing Contest that I oversee, and life in general.

One very precious and important lady has drawn me out of hiding. Today, a number of ACFW members are paying tribute to fellow author, Diann Hunt, who recently passed away.

Diann was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer about five years ago. For a short while, she went into remission, and then it returned. I lost my best friend to the same cancer about ten years ago. Mary Ann died eleven months, almost to the day, after her diagnosis. I thought with Diann it would probably be about the same

But it wasn't.

God's timing is always what prevails, and He kept her alive for several more years. How long? I can't remember exactly, but during that roller coaster time of good and bad spells, she wrote several more books, including contributions to the Smitten novella anthologies, published by Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson. The other authors in that series are Di's nearest and dearest friends, Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, and Denise Hunter.

She also ministered to many, often writing emails to them from her sickbed, encouraging them in their own struggles with cancer and
other ills. Diann was not only an author and dear friend of many, but a wife, mother, and grandmother. Many are grieving, but none as much as her daughter Amber, son Aaron, and husband Jim. Please keep them all in your prayers. Christmas was Di's favorite time, and their loss will be strongly felt this Christmas.

The number of books Di wrote are too numerous to mention here but Ane Mulligan managed to list quite a few on her blog http://www.anemulligan.com/2013/12/diann-hunt-my-tribute.html .

The covers shown here are a couple of Di's books I've not read, but ordered after she died. For Better or Worse is being made into a Hallmark movie and will be on the Hallmark channel in July! Love Letters in the Sand is set during World War II, and then later in the 50s. 

Check them and other Diann Hunt books out for yourself and maybe pick up a few to read . You won't be disappointed.

Brandilyn Collins' New Release! Dark Justice!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Dark Justice B&H Books (October 1, 2013) by Brandilyn Collins


I have been a fan of Brandilyn Collins' suspense stories ever since I read Eyes of Elisha years ago. After that book Collins quickly became an "auto-buy" for me--and I've never been disappointed. Check out her newest release then run--don't walk--to your favorite book store and pick one up for yourself.

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 . . ."® Brandilyn's 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. Brandilyn's awards for her novels include the ACFW Carol Award (three times), Inspirational Readers' Choice, and Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice.

Brandilyn is also known for her distinctive book on fiction-writing techniques, Getting Into Character: Seven Secrets a Novelist Can Learn From Actors (John Wiley & Sons). The Writer magazine named Getting into Character one of the best books on writing published in 2002.

When she's not writing, Brandilyn can be found teaching the craft of fiction at writers' conferences.

ABOUT THE BOOK

If I’d had any idea what those words would mean to me, to my mother and daughter, I’d have fled California without looking back.

While driving a rural road, Hannah Shire and her aging mother, who suffers from dementia, stop to help a man at the scene of a car accident. The man whispers mysterious words in Hannah’s ear. Soon people want to kill Hannah and her mother for what they “know.” Even law enforcement may be involved.

The two women must flee for their lives. But how does Hannah hide her confused mother? Carol just wants to listen to her pop music, wear her favorite purple hat, and go home. And if they turn to Hannah’s twentyseven- year-old daughter, Emily, for help, will she fall into danger as well?

Pressed on all sides, Hannah must keep all three generations of women in her family alive. Only then does she learn the threat is not just to her loved ones, but the entire country . . .

If you'd like to read the first chapter of Dark Justice, HERE.

ACFW Conference 2013 -- Frank Peretti, James Scott Bell, and Robin Jones Gunn...Oh My!

The past week or so has been a huge blur to me. Before heading out to the ACFW Conference on September 12th, my good friend and writing buddy, Ane Mulligan flew into O'Hare on Tuesday and spent two nights with me.

We first went out for some Chicago style pizza at Lou Malnati's, and then on Wednesday I took her to Lake Geneva, WI, about an hour away, so she could see my hometown and setting for my book in person.

View of the Lobby from overhead ramp

We hit Indy on Thursday and got registered for the conference and settled in our room. A good part of that day was spent hanging out in the hotel lobby giving hugs, and having great conversations about writing.

Thursday night, we headed for P.F. Changs with several other authors for dinner. Dummy me, never brought out my camera

Robin Jones Gunn

The next day Robin Jones Gunn gave the first of her two keynote addresses. I have never heard Robin speak before, but I hope it won't be the last time I do. So encouraging, so insiteful, so uplifting. So transparent.

Me Dressed as my Character with Ane Mulligan

That night, people could dress as their character from their book. What a hoot to see all the different outfits from all times in history and even the future from the speculative gang. I dressed as Meg Alden, my heroine from my 1933 historical romance,  Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. Just two weeks earlier, I'd found the coolest hat from that time period in a consignment shop in downstate IL. That hat was the hit of the evening.

Saturday I spent the whole day in James Scott Bell's Quantum workshop on setting the plot for your story. An awesome instructor. I had to leave a couple times for editor or agent appointments, and I really hated to step out.

Saturday night my Penwrights critique group went to an Irish Pub that has been featured on the Food Network and had a great time.

Sunday was more editor and agent appointments, and I ended up playing hooky from the workshops I'd signed up for. I am getting the recordings and will listen to those. So much great teaching I can't wait to hear them all.

Another highlight for most everyone was meeting author Frank Peretti in person. Frank was the recipient of this year's ACFW Life Achievement Award. He spent the entire weekend hanging out and having his picture taken with just about everyone, including me!

Frank Peretti & Me at the Gala

Sunday night was the Awards Gala and my role as Genesis Head Coordinator gave me the huge blessing of being able to announce our nine category winners and give them their award plaques! What a joy to meet most of them in person and see their smiling faces when I announced their names.

Monday, I returned home exhausted, but praising God for yet another glorious ACFW conference.

Hopefully, in the near future I can report some news here, but for now it's all in God's hands. I can't think of a better place to be.