Don’t forget to stop by the next spot on THE NEXT BIG THING blog hop, Terri Nightswonger and you can find her blog at: http://terrinighswonger.blogspot.com/ Don’t forget ot check it out!
God Bless and Good Reading!
Monthly Archives: February 2013
THE NEXT BIG THING BLOG HOP
1 CommentToday’s post is part of an ongoing blog hop called THE NEXT BIG THING. The purpose is to talk about the NEXT project you’re working on rather than promoting a book already published. At the end of the post you will find the next blogs in the blog hop. Check them out now and next week when the post the answers to the questions.
What is the working title of your book?
BETRAYED.
Where did the idea come from for the book?
Actually, it’s the second in my Sisters By Choice series. The first was DECEPTION. This is a follow-up story with one of the characters from DECEPTION.
What genre does your book fall under?
Romantic suspense with more emphasis on the suspense but still plenty of romance as well.
Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?
Angelina Jolie would be great for Maria. For her love interest, I’m seeing Richard Gere or Mark Harmon.
What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?
All a terrified mother wants to do is give her daughter a happy normal childhood, but the nightmare
isn’t over–her dead husband just called from the grave
isn’t over–her dead husband just called from the grave
Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?
My publisher is HarbourLight Books, a division of Pelican Books.
How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?
It took longer than it should. I ended up with a 3-month writer’s block in the middle of writing it. Along with that my husband had a triple by-pass–maybe that’s where the writer’s block came from. Either way, I would say it took about 7 months–much longer than normal.
Who or What inspired you to write this book?
Maria is the wife of the terrorist from DECEPTION. As I wrote Deception, I kept wondering what kind of woman would be married to a terrorist and that was the beginning of the story.
The next stop on THE NEXT BIG THINK blog hop is Terri Nightswonger and you can find her blog at: http://terrinighswonger.blogspot.com/ Don’t forget to stop there next week!
God Bless and Good Reading!
Writer Of The Day–Cheri Swallell
Leave a commentMy writer of the day is Cheri Swalwell, a wife, mother, and avid reader, but first and foremost she is a Christ follower. She has a degree in Psychology and has been blessed to be a guest on a variety of blogs including Christiandevotions.us, Circle of Friends, and Crosswalk.com/family. She is a regular contributor to book fun magazine. If you want to hear more about the heart she has for marriage, parenting, and relationships from a Christian perspective, feel free to “like” her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/cheri-Swalwell. She loves to interact with her readers, so she would love to connect at clSwalwell99@gmail.com.
And without further ado, Here’s Cheri….
Thank you so much for the privilege of being a guest on Tiaras and Tennis Shoes. I would love to share with you today about my devotional, A 40 Day Habit Between Friends: Taking it to the Next Level, that released in November 2012 on Amazon.
This book originally began as various posts for a blog that I created in October 2011. When I started receiving such positive feedback and someone suggested I take the posts and turn them into a devotional, the idea was born and God graciously opened the doors to allow it to happen. Below is a portion of the very first post that was created for the blog while I was hanging out laundry, thinking about the suffering of some of my friends. I pray it will touch your life and you will want to read the whole devotional.
Give or Allow?
James 1:12: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
Quite a few of my friends lately have been going through some really rough times. I mean, real, gut-wrenching, ‘don’t want to get out of bed’ struggles.
I overheard someone tell one of them, “God doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” Even though that message was meant to encourage, I personally couldn’t agree with that statement, and here’s why. That implies that God is the one giving us the bad times, the hardships, the pain; and the God that I know and have come to believe in doesn’t do that.
Instead, I like to think in terms of this sentence, “God doesn’t allow more than we can handle.” That statement conjures up an image of God and Satan fighting head to head; Satan and his cronies being the ones that are trying to make life miserable and God only allowing them to go so far before He steps in and says, “Enough is enough.”
For the rest of Give or Allow, as well as thirty nine additional inspirational devotions, feel free to go to: http://www.amazon.com/40-Day-Habit-Between-Friends/dp/1481033069/ref=&tag= cheswaficfrot-20* for easy ordering.
*Affiliate Notice: If you purchase my book through the above link, I will receive a small commission. Thank you ahead of time
SHORT BLURB:
Do you ever feel like life is out of control and you just need a chance to stop and catch your breath? If you wrestle with questions such as fear versus faith or how to find balance in such a fast paced society, then A 40 Day Habit Between Friends: Taking it to the Next Level is a great solution. Get ready to relax with a series of forty devotionals taken from the author’s blogs where she just talks to you, friend to friend, about life’s challenges with a spiritual perspective. It’s small enough to fit in your purse or briefcase, great to give to a friend who needs some encouragement, and reasonably priced so you can pick one up for yourself at the same time. Available at amazon.com.
Talk about talented!
1 CommentThe very talented Christine Lindsay is my guest blogger today. Not only is she a published author but she also creates book covers, including her own. Let’s hear what she has to say…..
One of the advantages of working with a small and new press is that they often work with the authors to create the front covers. With writing and art fixed on the same side of the brain, writers are often visual artists as well, as I am and so is my publisher. But the MOST FUN I ever had in my life has been in helping WhiteFire create the front covers of my first two books with them.
It all started out when WhiteFire emailed me with pictures of models they thought would fit my character in Book 1 of my series, Twilight of the British Raj. Book 1 Shadowed in Silk had a character by the name of Abby Fraser.As I looked at the model’s photos, they reminded me of my birth-daughter, Sarah, the child I had relinquished to adoption when she was three days old and whom I was reunited with 20 years later. I sent them photos of Sarah, and WhiteFire thought she was beautiful, so that’s what started my deep involvement in my own covers.
This also allowed me to use the sari silk that I had purchased in India on a writing missions trip for the cover. So I hired a photographer and we did the photo-shoot in my home. My birth-daughter Sarah was delighted to help. I put together two costumes for that cover—a western one and an eastern sari. I borrowed the straw-boater hat from a lady at church, and bought the skirt and blouse at a thrift shop. The jewelry was handed down to me from a great-aunt, and was actually from the Titanic era.
Here are some of the photos we took that day.
I sent those photos to my publisher as well as photos taken in India during my missions trip which they used as backdrop. And here is the final result of that book cover, back and front.
Then Book 2 came along. And I asked if my daughter—the girl my husband and I have—could be the next model on Captured by Moonlight.
After seeing Lana’s photo, WhiteFire was delighted to have me do the front cover for that novel. Now the main character in Captured by Moonlight is Laine Harkness—who in no way is anything to do with my daughter, Lana. I just liked the names.
WhiteFire with my suggestions had a dress designed for the cover by Jordan Newhouse to fit the year 1922. My editor at WhiteFire, Roseanna White, chose the background which she purchased from iStock. The back cover was a photo I had purchased for the book trailer for Shadowed in Silk, and we used it for this book too by adjusting the color.
Here is the final results of that shoot.
I forgot to add the links to purchasing the books for any of your readers if you
would add that to the end of the post.
My website is www.christinelindsay.com
Book
Link for Shadowed in Silk Ebook is only $4.02
Book Link for Captured by Moonlight Ebook released Feb. 15, Printed paperback comes out May 15,
2013.
Thanks, Christine for sharing your creative process with the rest of us.
GIVEAWAY GALORE!
2 CommentsThis is an amazing giveaway with more than $2000 in prizes to celebrate the launch of Crossreads. Be sure to scroll to the end of this article to enter the Crossreads Rafflecopter Giveaway.
Crossreads is a new site that you will love whether you’re a writer or a reader! Staci Stallings is one of the brains behind the scenes and this isn’t her first project. She does numerous activities to promote Christian books and the people who write them. Staci follows God’s principle of doing good to tohers. In return, God has blessed her writing career.
Staci Stallings is a #1 Best Selling author and the co-founder CrossReads.com a new website that gives Christian readers and authors a place to meet and fellowship. With a newsletter, a blog, a forum, and other exciting, inspiring areas to visit, CrossReads visitors can find fabulous Christian books they never knew existed.
Come over on Feb. 12-14, and enter to win one of 169 virtual baskets of ebooks, gift cards, and other prizes!
An Attitude of Gratitude
2 Comments1st Thessalonians 5:18
give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Oh yeah, right? Easier said than done. God expects me to be grateful for the misfortunes, the tragedies, the hurts? For me personally, I’m supposed to be thankful for my brain tumors, the complications, the pain?
That’s a little hard to do. God doesn’t really expect me to do that, does He?
Mmm, but the above verse does say give thanks in all circumstances?
To answer the question, no I don’t think God expects me to be happy I have brain tumors, but I think He doesn’t expect me to forget all the blessings He has done for me in the past, is doing for me in the present, and will do for me in the future.
Little words can make a huge difference in meanings. Notice the verse doesn’t say give thanks FOR all circumstances, but rather IN all circumstances. And I think that’s what God wants.
When we focus on the negatives in our life, we end up with blinders on. Not being able to see or to enjoy the blessings we have in spite of our circumstances.
I’m not saying it’s easy to be thankful when life gets tough, it’s not!
But keeping a thankful attitude will keep you in God’s peace and joy. Biblical experts believe Paul wrote the above verse when he was in prison. I take comfort in knowing that fact. If Paul could do, then I can certainly make an attempt at being thankful in all circumstances, too.
I think praising God and be thankful in all circumstances go hand in hand. It’s a little hard not to be thankful when you’re praising God and it’s hard not to praise God when you’re thankful.
So, if you feel a pity party coming on and who doesn’t when life gets difficult, then put on your favorite praise music and sing of God’s great love.
And the winners are….
Leave a commentI’m sorry this is a week late posting but I’ve been sick. But I’m feeling better now and so the winners Amazon gift cards in my BLOG CRAZY CONTEST ARE:
$20 winner
Karen 5026
$10 winners:
readrand
Pat Dyer
$5 winners:
Supporting Godly Women
joeym11
Faithfulacreshomestead
Jackie Layton
Holly Michael
ekjerkyforthesoul
Robert daugherty
Lee Carver
To claim your prize, email me at lduncan512@aol.com. That way I have your valid email address to send the Amazon Gift card. Thanks for following my blogs.
God Bless and Good Reading.
And the winners are….
Leave a commentI’m sorry this is a week late posting but I’ve been sick. But I’m feeling better now and so the winners Amazon gift cards in my BLOG CRAZY CONTEST ARE:
$20 winner
Karen 5026
$10 winners:
readrand
Pat Dyer
$5 winners:
Supporting Godly Women
joeym11
Faithfulacreshomestead
Jackie Layton
Holly Michael
ekjerkyforthesoul
Robert daugherty
Lee Carver
To claim your prize, email me at lduncan512@aol.com. That way I have your valid email address to send the Amazon Gift card. Thanks for following my blogs.
God Bless and Good Reading.
WRITER OF THE DAY-Rebekah Lyn
Leave a commentTitle: Winter’s End (Seasons of Faith)
By Rebekah Lyn
Book Two of the Seasons of Faith Series
Musician Michelle Burton just had the best night of her life. Her band Tangled Web opened for Wonderland in downtown Orlando and the crowd loved them. Too excited to sleep she makes a fateful decision to go to work early. The best night of her life turns into the worst day of her life.
Nearby, at boutique Hotel Lago, Stephen Longbottom, acting concierge manager, is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the board of directors for Silken Pleasures, a multimillion dollar company based in New York and specializing in high end cosmetics, fragrances and lingerie. Their incessant demands before they even arrive are driving him to distraction. Meanwhile Lizzie Reynolds, his boss is on a romantic ski trip in Vermont leaving him to manage his first solo event.
Hope, forgiveness and love are an integral message throughout the book and like a fine tapestry the threads of God’s master plan for the character’s lives are woven into a fabric of great storytelling, conflict and humor.
Readers who came to know and love the characters of Summer Storms will enjoy catching up with Lizzie, Stephen, Michelle, Jeffrey and Ian.
Kindle
Rebekah is a Christian with a heart for new beginnings. She is a Florida native and a graduate of Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, Fl. A love of history, research and journaling led naturally to a passion for writing. She enjoys travel and has traveled extensively across the United States and Canada as well as Europe and the Caribbean. Her reading taste run from the classics to light fiction. When she is not working or writing, she enjoys cooking,baking and sharing recipes on her blog, http://rebekahlynskitchen.wordpress.com
Her current works include, Summer Storms and Winter’s End, books one and two in The Seasons of Faith series, and Julianne the first book in The Coastal Chronicle series. She is currently working on the, as yet untitled, second book in the Coastal Chronicles set in coastal Florida during the early years of the space program.
Rebekah currently resides in Florida along with her “attack” cat, Mia. They would enjoy meeting with you on her Facebook page.
Follow Rebekah Lyn Website | Facebook | Twitter
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