Category Archives: The Writing Life

IT’S HERE! AND A GIVEAWAY, TOO!

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My latest book will be releasing today. Like me, it’s sweet and short–okay not so sweet. It’s filled with heart-pounding suspense, but it is short. NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAY is a novella, meaning short novel. But don’t worry, you don’t get cheated. Because novellas are short, that means there’s action on every page!

Here’s what others are saying about No Home For The Holidays:

No Home for the Holidays is like curling up with a special cup of coffee and a pumpkin muffin–a warm break for a cool day. Enjoy this quick, feel-good read soon! No Home for the Holidays has winter’s glow mixed with suspense and like-able characters–a great read for the season!

–Linda Rondante, author of Looking For Justice

Not your average Christmas story, but the Gospel message still comes through. No Home for the Holidays is the perfect, quick read for the busy Christmas holidays.

– Ruth O’Neil, author of the What a Difference a Year Makes series.

“Lillian Duncan has done it again…. Penned yet another story which grabs the reader and speeds him along a road of story twists and turns.  With a background of Christmas touches, “No Home For the Holidays”  is a quick, suspenseful read with characters who make you care—from hiding secrets to finding  each other’s hearts– under God’s loving gaze.”

—Robin Bayne, author of the Gardner’s Gazebo series:  Prodigal, Samaritan and Christmas Pearl

This utterly absorbing story begins when a preacher’s path crosses that of a frightened woman who is in the midst of a desperate situation. There are engrossing twists and turns throughout and the mesmerizing suspense easily captured my interest. It was gratifying to discover the couple’s relationship with God along the way and to enjoy the thrilling ending.

— Nadine Hapaz, author of My Lord and I: Poems of Faith and Spirituality in Everyday Life

Lillian Duncan has outdone herself. “No Home For The Holidays” is a fast read but so enjoyable, I was sad when it ended. I loved the main characters, Chloe, and Colton, one a pastor on fire for His Lord and determined to remain celibate for the rest of his life, and Chloe is hiding from a past, her family, and equally determined to trust no one.

–Barbara Ann Derksen, author of Shadow Stalker

 

To celebrate the release, I’m giving away Amazon Gift Cards! Five lucky winners will receive $10 Gift cards. Be sure to leave a comment and you’ll be entered! That’s all there is to it. So don’t forget to leave a comment!

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

No Home For The Holidays!

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GIVEAWAY!! GIVEAWAY!! GIVEAWAY!!

My newest release will be available in a few days on December 1, but you can preorder it now! NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS is part of my publisher’s Christmas Extravaganza. It features a variety of novellas in a variety of genres that have Christmas as part of the story. Since they’re novellas that means they’re short–so you can read several of them or all of them this Christmas season.  To learn more about the CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA, go to PELICAN BOOKS.  NO HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS is available now as a PREORDER.

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AMAZON LINK

 

Here’s the blurb for No Home For The Holidays:

Unlike the Prodigal Son, Chloe Sullivan knows she can’t go home for the Christmas holidays or ever—not if she wants to stay alive.

She’s resigned to the fact she must stay in hiding to keep herself and her family safe. Lonely and desperate for God’s presence, she’s drawn to a nearby church.

Ex-FBI agent turned preacher, Colton Douglas, mistakenly identifies Chloe as the person breaking into local churches. A midnight chase ensues that ends with him snapping her photo. When the photo goes public he learns more about the mystery woman than he bargained for. . .

And that changes everything!

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

To celebrate the release of No Home For The Holidays, five lucky winners will receive a $10 Amazon Gift card. So leave a comment HERE so you’ll be entered to win one of the gift cards. Last day to enter will be December 22 with winners being picked on the 23rd. Just in time for Christmas!

Don’t forget to leave a comment! If your comment doesn’t show up right away, that means I have to approve it. Thanks

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

An Interview With Myself!

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When I have a new release I usually create several different posts as I take a book blog tour, which is a fancy way of saying I visit other people’s blogs to talk about my new book. I’m not doing that with The Christmas Angel Thief since I have another book releasing on December 1.

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AMAZON LINK

One of the types of post I do is an interview. So I thought it would be fun to interview myself. Along with that, I’d love to get some questions from you as well. They can be about me, about this book, or even questions about the writing process itself.  So, for the next few weeks, I’ll post a few questions for myself and then see if any of you have any questions for me.

 

What is your writing process?

I’m what they call a “pantser” meaning I write by the seat of the pants. I never know what’s going to happen in my story on any given writing day. It’s as if my mind is a movie screen and I watch that day’s events and then I write it.

When I start a new story I usually have a clear picture of the main character in mind and what obstacle he/she will face, but anything goes after that. If I’m writing and start to feel bored—then I kill someone, blow something up or do something that’s a complete surprise to me.

And that way it’s a surprise to me and to my readers.

How long does it take you to write a book?

That’s a questions that I get asked a lot and I still don’t have a good answer for it. Because I might work on a story for a few weeks or a  month, then move on to another project, then come back to it at a later time. Another thing I do is work on several writing projects at a time. That means I might spend 30 minutes on a story one day or 2-3 hours on it another day.

Once the first draft is finished, I always set it aside for a while, then come back to it to edit, revise, and polish. I do this several times before I send it to my publisher.

So as you can see, it’s really hard to estimate how long it takes me to “write” a book. But I can say that from start to finish, any full-length book is worked on for at least a few hundred hours.  My novellas would be a shorter time, of course.

 

So there you have it. Two questions that are often asked of me in a typical interview. Now it’s your turn! Post a question for me and I’ll answer it–probably!

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

 

 

THE CHRISTMAS ANGEL THIEF

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The Christmas Angel Thief is my latest book and it’s about Christmas–of course! Well…sort of…anyway.  Here’s the blurb:

Zoe Adams has a secret—one that’s worth killing for!

As the country’s most infamous PK (preacher’s kid), Zoe chose to rebel against her famous father and his beliefs. Instead, she lived the party lifestyle with the rich and famous of Hollywood until she disappeared after witnessing a crime.

After more than three years of running and hiding, all she wants is to go home for Christmas but knows that can never happen—if she wants to stay alive.

Ex-FBI agent, Marco Bernstein traded his gun in for a Bible. His path crosses with Zoe’s in a most unusual way.  When he recognizes her, he makes a promise to get her home for Christmas

Someone else is just as determined to make sure Zoe never gets home alive so keeping that promise turns out to be more difficult than Marco ever imagined—and even more dangerous!

 

As you can see, it’s a mixture of Christmas, romance, and suspense–three of my very favorite things! Hope you enjoy it–I know I enjoyed writing it!

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

 

 

 

Who Doesn’t Love Free?

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I know I do! And this week, my horror novel, BIRTHRIGHT is FREE on Amazon. AMAZON LINK  Now, I have to give a warning–this is not my normal style of writing; and it may not be for you. But if you love Stephen King, Frank Perretti, or Dean Koontz, then this is the book for you.

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AMAZON LINK

Up to now, this is my only foray into the supernatural–in my writing. As a reader, I enjoy a good spooky book from time to time. BIRTHRIGHT may be a horror novel, but it still contains a Chrstian message. The book tells the story of a family through three different generations to show how evil followed them through the ages.

The question the story asks is–can a man change his destiny?

And as a Christian the answer to that question is a resounding YES. I don’t believe this, think this or hope this. I know, I know, I know it to be true. Because after all–with God, all things are possible!

AMAZON LINK

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

Biblical Advice For Writers!

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1 Peter 1:13

Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled,

set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed.

 

Paul may not have written these words with a writer in mind, but I think it’s great advice. We can learn much when and where we least expect it. Let’s take a look at the verse part by part.

STEP 1: Prepare your minds .Being an excellent writer takes more than sitting down at a computer and writing. First, you must be a reader, and I don’t mean one or two books every year. One of the best ways to learn to write is to read, read, and read!

Second of all, as a Christian writer, you want to be excellent at what you do. And that means being good at the craft of writing. There are lots of ways to do that, such as classes, workshops, reading books on writing, joining writing groups and critique groups. Along with learning more about the writing craft, writers need to learn more about the business of writing as well. But whatever you do, you must prepare your mind.

STEP 2: Action. You can’t stay in step 1 forever. Some people talk about wanting to be a writer. Some people study writing.  But the only way to become a writer is to write.  So even as you continue to learn all you can about writing, you must write. Writers write!

STEP 3: Be self-controlled. So much to do and so little time to do it! We live in busy times. A multitude of people, activities, and responsibilities tug at us.  You can’t say yes to everything and still have time for writing. Being a writer takes a commitment, self-control, and self-discipline and time. Lots of time. If you can’t make a complete commitment to writing , this may not be the season for you to follow the dream as wholeheartedly as you want. You can still work on steps 1 & 2 so that you will be ready for step 3 when the time is right.

STEP 4: Set your hope fully on God’s grace. How long will it take you to reach your writing goals? I have no idea, but I can assure you it will be longer than you want or expect. Whether short or long, keep your eyes focused on God and His goodness, and know that He is faithful.

Paul’s words may not have been intended for writers, but when you consider the fact he wrote a majority of the New Testament, I believe he knew what he was talking about.

 UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

GIVEAWAY!!

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To celebrate the release of REDEMPTION, I’m giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card. But wait…there’s more! I always feel bad for the people who enter but don’t win. So I’m also going to pick FIVE more lucky names to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card. Just the right amount to buy REDEMPTION! Just kidding, the winners can use it to buy whatever they wish.

Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in the contest. Contest ends OCTOBER 18th!!

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AMAZON LINK

PELICAN BOOK GROUP LINK

 

BACK COVER BLURB:

Others may think Jamie Jakowski is a hero, but she knows differently.

Haunted by her past, she seeks redemption by helping others in spite of the danger to herself. However, after almost orphaning her daughter, Jamie opts to retire. When a friend needs her, Jamie agrees to one last undercover operation.

She is determined to reunite a heartbroken mother with her kidnapped son. Used to working alone, Jamie’s not happy when she’s assigned a partner. And after a failed operation and their failed romance, Enrique Rodriguez is the last person she wants to work with—ever.

To succeed, Jamie must confront her past as well as the people who want her dead.

 

Don’t forget to leave a comment!

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

REDEMPTION…it’s here!!

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AMAZON LINK

PELICAN BOOK GROUP LINK

 

Another action-packed Sisters By Choice book…REDEMPTION–releases today.

 

BACK COVER BLURB:

Others may think Jamie Jakowski is a hero, but she knows differently.

Haunted by her past, she seeks redemption by helping others in spite of the danger to herself. However, after almost orphaning her daughter, Jamie opts to retire. When a friend needs her, Jamie agrees to one last undercover operation.

She is determined to reunite a heartbroken mother with her kidnapped son. Used to working alone, Jamie’s not happy when she’s assigned a partner. And after a failed operation and their failed romance, Enrique Rodriguez is the last person she wants to work with—ever.

To succeed, Jamie must confront her past as well as the people who want her dead.

 

To celebrate the release of REDEMPTION, I’m giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card. But wait…there’s more! I always feel bad for the people who enter but don’t win. So I’m also going to pick FIVE more lucky names to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card. Just the right amount to buy REDEMPTION! Just kidding, the winners can use it to buy whatever they wish.

Leave a comment and you’ll be entered in the contest.

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

 

Coming soon…REDEMPTION

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I’m thrilled (and a little sad) to announce the release of the third and final book in my Sisters by Choice series—REDEMPTION on September 18.  Well, probably last. I do have an idea for a fourth and final book rattling around in my brain, but it’s only an idea at the moment. Who knows if it will grow into a book?

Anyway…back to REDEMPTION.

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Dictionary.com defines redemption as an act of atoning for a fault or a mistake; deliverance or rescue; deliverance from sin; salvation; atonement for guilt.

Wow! As I look at those definitions, I realize REDEMPTION is full of all sorts of redemption. No wonder that’s the title I chose.

The story begins with Patti not understanding why her twin, Jamie, continues to place herself in serious jeopardy time and time again. Jamie doesn’t understand either. Only that she needs to help others if and when she can no matter the danger to herself.

As the writer I know why, and I’ll share the secret with you. And don’t worry—I’m not spilling any secrets that will ruin the book for you!

Jamie is ashamed of things she’s done in her past. As a result she feels God can’t love her the way she is. So she seeks redemption by putting herself in dangerous situations to help other people.

But the redemption part of the story doesn’t stop there. Enrique, the tall, dark, and handsome FBI agent seeks redemption as well. From Jamie.

Then there’s the bartender Jamie meets on her quest to find a friend’s missing child. He’s trying to overcome a lifetime of criminal acts. More redemption.

And then there’s the father of the kidnapped child—who is the kidnapper! Talk about needing redemption.

Like I said, no wonder this book is named REDEMPTION.

To celebrate the release of REDEMPTION, I’m giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card. But wait…there’s more! I always feel bad for the people who enter the contest but don’t win. So I’m also going to pick FIVE more lucky names to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card. Just the right amount to buy REDEMPTION! Just kidding, the winners can use it to buy whatever they wish. Contest ends October 18th!

Leave a comment here and you’ll be entered in the contest! Easy Peasy!

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

just for fun!!

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Fridays are usually for my friends but I hate to get in a rut so… today is just for fun. In July, DEADLY COMMUNICATIONS was released. It features a speech pathologist who gets a little too involved with her clients! Anyway…I’ve been writing for 19 years and Deadly Communications was my first effort of blending my real life job with my writing.

Why is that?

Because I know just how boring being a speech pathologist can be. Now don’t get me wrong, I loved my job and I miss it– a lot! But the reality of the job is it can be a bit repetitious to say the least. I’ve listened to more Ss and Rs than you can even imagine.

So it was hard for me to imagine a story with a speech pathologist that could be exciting and interesting to readers. Sure I found it super exciting when I heard a child say “Sally sells seashells by the seashore.” perfectly–but that’s me.

Anyway, one day the story popped into my head. I now have 3 Deadly Communications mysteries written. The second will be released sometime next year.  So this was a long way of getting to my point.

There are jobs that lend themselves to suspense and mystery stories, such as police officers, private investigators, even reporters. But a speech pathologist? The thing is I’m not a police officer, a private investigator or a reporter. But I’m none of those things so when I use those characters I have to go light on the job aspect but I didn’t have to do that with DEADLY COMMUNICATIONS.

I was able to write my therapy scenses with complete confidence that it was realistic.

Let’s have some fun!

I’d love to hear your scenario for your job or someone else’s along with a suspense scenario for it.

Example: A speech pathologist who gets too involved with her clients finds herself  facing a kidnapper without any backup or a gun!

So, what’s your job and the suspense scenario to go with it?

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!