Category Archives: UNCATEGORIZED

My Friend–Kimberly Rose Johnson

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Duh! I’m not sure how it happened but somehow Kimberly’s post showed up a few Fridays ago, but that was a mistake. MINE, of course. Here it is again with pictures of her great adventure. Thanks for sharing with us.

 

It’s Friday and that means you get to meet another one of my writer friends. Kimberly Rose Johnson holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, two teenage sons, and their yellow lab. She writes sweet Christian romance for Heartsong Presents and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She enjoys taking long walks with her husband and dog, reading, dark chocolate and time with friends. You may learn more about Kimberly and her books at http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/ 

Today she shares about a great adventure she took…mmm I wonder where she went!

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My Great Adventure

Have you ever done something big and then wonder what took you so long to actually do it? For me it was my decision to go to Disney World last December. I had wanted to go there since I was a little girl, but had never followed through with that dream until last year.

We planned the trip in August and my debut Novel, The Christmas Promise was set to release in November. God knew what He was doing when he prompted me to ask my husband about the idea, because I have never needed a vacation as desperately as I needed that one. I was stressed to my limit, and my health was paying the price.

With the help of my family and the understanding of my fantastic teenage boys, my hubby and I took off for “the happiest place on earth.” Three days into the trip I observed to my husband that I was no longer having chest pains and I found myself relaxing for the first time in months.

 

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I think my favorite part of the Magic Kingdom was Epcot. I loved the food and seeing all the countries. If I ever get to go there again, I’m planning to eat all my meals there.

My husband especially enjoyed Animal Kingdom. His favorite activity was the safari. If you ever get there it’s a must do attraction.

I’m a West Coast girl, and grew up going to Disneyland more times than I can remember, so the Magic Kingdom was only so-so for me. There were differences I couldn’t look past. Although that castle—wow!

What about you? Have you crossed anything off your bucket list lately? 

Thanks, Kimberly for sharing your great adventure with us.

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

 

 

 

Writing Tip Wednesday–Creating Characters

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Today we tackle the last of the BIG FIVE–creating characters.

There are books out there dedicated to the topic. So obviously I can’t do the topic justice in one short blog, and I’m not going to even try. But what I will do is tell you a bit about the process I use to develop my characters. But I’ve got a secret when it comes to creating great characters.

As a pantser, meaning I write by the seat of my pants instead of an outline, I don’t know much about my character when I first start writing. Sometimes I don’t even know their name!  I learn about the character as I write the first draft of my story. The first draft is always about the plot but the characters become more clearly defined as well.

For example in the story I’m writing now, one of the characters is an ex-FBI agent turned preacher. Yesterday as I was washing dishes, I was thinking about him and why he won’t be open to a romance with the other character. When you have romantic suspense, there always needs to be a subplot why the characters can’t be together at the beginning of the story.

Then it hit me–his wife was killed because of a case he was working on for the FBI. Now I didn’t know any of that before that very second. I didn’t know he was married. I didn’t know about the tragedy of his wife. I didn’t know why he gave up being an FBI agent.

Now I do, so as I go back to revise and edit as well as finish the story, that bit of information will add a new layer of depth to that character plus set up the reason why he doesn’t want to get romantically involved with the other main character.

So where do I get my characters? I admit that I might borrow a few characteristics from people I know or have known now and then. Sometimes they may be a composite of several different people. Other times, they may simply be created from my imagination.

OK, here comes my secret strategy for creating great characters. are you ready? I believe the key to creating a believable and memorable character is that they must be real to the writer. That means they aren’t characters in a  book, they’re people–at least in my mind! Characters in a book are two-dimensional. The people I create in my mind are not!

If you asked me about a character from one of my past books, I could probably give you an update on their current  life right now. That’s how real the characters in my books are to me.

And that is what will make them real to your readers as well!

So, you writers out there, do you have any tricks of the trade you want to share about creating characters? Or tell us about one of your favorite characters.

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING (AND HAPPY WRITING!)

My Writing Journey–Why Christian Fiction?

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I didn’t start out writing Christian fiction. My first bumbling efforts at writing novels were filled with all the things I now proudly tell people are NOT in my books–bad language and explicit sex scenes.  Anyway, I can tell you I am so thankful I wasn’t published until I made the switch to writing Christian Fiction.

So what exactly is Christian Fiction? The answer to that question is as varied as the books you’ll find when you search the genre Christian Fiction. A few years ago a preacher I was listening to gave this definition for a parable:

It’s an earthly story with a heavenly message.

As soon as I heard that definition, it resonated with me. That’s the way I view Christian fiction–an earthly story with a heavenly message. Or in the case of science fiction it might be an-out-of-this-world story but it still has that heavenly message!

So, what’s the heavenly message? Again, there are lots of choices. Most of my stories seem to focus on God’s love; forgiving others; and living out the Golden rule.  I don’t limit myself to those themes, it just seems to work out that way most of the time.

I’m not much for following rules, but I do have a few as I write. First absolutely NO bad language, NO explicit sex scenes; and NO premarital sex (though a character make reference to it but always as a regret or a mistake.) Most of my characters are Christians at various stages on their walk with God. Some may not be actively following their faith at the beginning of the story, but as the story progresses, so does their faith.

So, I’m not just a writer, I’m a Christian writer. And I’m not just a Christian writer, I’m a Christian Fiction writer, and for me that means something. Just as the title Christian means something.  Taking the title of Christian Fiction writer means I will write in such a way as to be God’s ambassador to my readers.

Sounds a bit lofty and even arrogant, doesn’t it?

As someone said (I think it was JFK) we’re either part of the problem or part of the solution. I choose to be part of the solution with the stories I write. There’s so much darkness in this world, I want to add some light. So even though I write mysteries and suspense stories, they have a message of faith, hope and love.

And that’s how I derived my tagline: Lillian Duncan…stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem!

 

 

FREE! FREE! FREE!

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Everybody loves free things, right?

So to celebrate the release of DEADLY COMMUNICATIONS next week, I’m giving away one of my other books on Amazon all weekend! How’s that for being nice?

The book is UNTIL DEATH DO US PART.

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And here’s a little blurb about it:

When Reggie vowed until death do us part, she had no idea how close she’d come.

Newlywed Reggie Monroe struggles to find her happily ever after. As much as she loves her husband, she finds life to be overwhelming as she attempts to be the perfect farmer’s wife in rural Ohio.

When Dylan receives a mysterious message from his best friend, he knows trouble is brewing. To keep Reggie safe, he encourages her to visit friends, but keeping secrets from Reggie is never a good idea. It only makes her more curious—and everyone knows that curiosity killed the cat! 

Until Death Do Us Part becomes more than words as Reggie struggles to stay alive and reunite with her husband.

 

So, I hope you’ll take a minute to download the book at Amazon, then share the news with your friends on your favorite social media site.

But what’s better than one free book? Two books of course! So besides the free book on Amazon this weekend, you can also get one of my books free simply by following my blog! Details at the right side of the page!

Now, back to DEADLY COMMUNICATIONS for a quick minute. I love this story. It’s  mystery series featuring a crime-fighting speech pathologist!  Like me, Maven is a speech pathologist. Unlike me, she manages to get into a lot of trouble. It’s a novella so it’s short, fun, and suspenseful. More about Deadly Communications next week!

 

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

 

 

BUSY! BUSY! BUSY!

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Lots going on these days.  So an update is in order.

On the health front, I’m in a holding pattern as I wait for my second brain tumor to be officially declared dead. I’ve been off the steroids for a few months. I still have a few symptoms from them, but it’s getting better every day. More energy and less pain! Both good things!

I’m on a new treatment that will hopefully preserve what hearing I still have in my left ear.  I’m completely deaf in my right ear so it’s important to save what hearing I still have.  I also have severe balance problems that probably won’t go away unless God intervenes with a miracle.

AND I’M ALL FOR A MIRACLE!

On the publishing front, things are great. Even as I struggle with my health, God is blessing me in my writing career.

On Saturday, I submitted a new novel to a major publishing house.  So, I’m holding my breath and would appreciate prayers that the editor likes it. If that’s not enough I have 3 more books scheduled to be published this year. How awesome is that! UNTIL DEATH DO US PART will be out sometime this week and I’ll do a separate post on that one tomorrow.

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Then the first in my new mystery novella series will be released July 18. DEADLY COMMUNICATIONS features a crime-fighting speech pathologist! Have you ever heard of such a thing? Neither had I, but after more than 30 years of being a speech pathologist I thought it was time to meld my two passions together into one great story!

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And the last scheduled book (at least at this time) is REDEMPTION. It’s the third book in my Sisters By Choice Series. Don’t worry, you’ll hear much more about this one as the scheduled date of September 18 gets closer!  And last but not least is my last release, BETRAYED. It’s the second in the Sisters by Choice series so if you haven’t read it yet, you might want to before REDEMPTION is released.

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UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

HOPE by Penny McGinnis Frost

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My guest writer today is Penny Frost McGinnis.  She writes contemporary romance as well as poetry. Read more about her writing at www.pennyfrostmcginnis.com Today, she shares a poem with us.  Thanks, Penny.

 

Hope

On days your blue skies
turn gray,
smiles fade,
and joy seems like a star flung
light years from earth…
reflect on hope~
I imagine hope as tiny rays of sunlight
that sneak through clouds
after a rainstorm.
The same magical rays that form a rainbow.
Perhaps you see it in the eyes of a child.
One who stumbles and balances
and stumbles again~
as he learns to put one foot in front of the other.
Or maybe you smell it
when you bury your nose in sweet honeysuckle.
I see hope in you, in your future,
in your dreams my friend.

© Penny Frost McGinnis

 

AND THE WINNER IS…

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The winner of my giveaway is…..JACKIE LAYTON.

Jackie is the winner of the $25 Amazon Gift Card, an e-copy of several of  my books along with an e-copy of  the following books:

Glass  by Suzanne Williams

Escape to Big Fork Lake by Mary L. Ball

 Cleansed by Fire, by James R. Callan

The Last Detail by Lisa J Lickel

Heaven’s Prey by Janet Sketchley

Imagine The Future You by Ada Brownell

Journey of Eleven Moons by Bonnie Leon

Because there was such a great response to the giveaway and so many people entered, I’ve decided to pick an additional 5 people to receive an ecopy of  one of my books. The choices are:  Dark Alleys; Geese Mate For Life; or Serenity Springs, Ohio.

The five lucky winners are:

Janet K. Brown

Suzy Moore

Loree Perry

Michelle Denise Evans

Britney Adams

 

I want to thank all my author friends who donated a copy of their book for the giveaway. It was very generous of each of you.

Until next time…God Bless & Good Reading!

Lillian

MORE TO LIFE THAN ROMANCE? REALLY?

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There’s more to life than romance.

An odd statement coming from someone who writes romantic suspense novels, but the truth is the truth. We can’t survive on romance alone. We all need connection with other people in all sorts of different relationships—not just romantic relationships.

BETRAYED, the second in my Sisters by Choice series, just released. So, why did I choose the name Sisters by Choice for the series, especially when they are romantic suspense? As in life, not everything is about the romance!

Friendships are important!

For many people, their friends are more important in their daily lives than their family. With families scattered from one end of the country to the other and even in other countries, the friendships we form often replace the family bonds from past eras.

Sure, we still love our families but if they aren’t nearby, it can make for loneliness and feelings of isolation—if we let it! But we don’t have to let it and that’s what I wanted to show in the Sisters by Choice series. Family isn’t just blood, it’s about the bonds we form.

Those bonds are formed as we go through life together and help each other. We can be there to help others during their crises and as we do emotional bonds will form. Those bonds can take strangers, acquaintances, and even friends, and transform them into family.

That’s what I want to show in my Sisters by Choice series. Women who are willing to help others in their time of crisis. Women who will go the extra mile—take the extra time—use the extra energy to help another woman in need.

BETRAYED, the second in my Sisters by Choice series, just released. The first in the series was DECEPTION, which is about a pair of estranged twins. As Patti searches for her twin, she forges an unlikely bond with the wife of a terrorist.

As they do, they become family to each other.

And we all need family—whether it’s by birth or by choice.

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To celebrate the release of BETRAYED, I’m giving away a virtual gift basket at Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com. The virtual gift basket includes e-copies of all my books. Along with the books, a $25 Amazon gift card is included plus a few books from some writer friends. To enter the contest, leave a comment on this post or any of the posts related to BETRAYED. To earn an extra entry, tweet this post,  share it on FB or any other social media site, then  let me know in the comment.

Winner will be chosen and announced on February 14.

Thanks so much for your support.

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

CrossReads Book Blast with Becca Fisher’s Amish Christmas Boxed Set

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Amish Christmas Boxed Set
By Becca Fisher

About the Book

Four different Amish Christmas stories, plus one bonus novella by Best Selling Amish author, Becca Fisher:

The Christmas Surprise

Joshua Zook and Sadie Miller have been dancing around their feelings for months. But just as Joshua works up the nerve to admit how much he cares for Sadie, he realizes that he may be too late to win Sadie’s heart.

The Christmas Miracle

William Bieler just wants a simple Amish Christmas. But with a newborn child at home, nothing is simple. When William’s wife falls ill however, it will take a miracle to save Christmas at the Bieler house.

The Christmas Performance

Emma Bieler is chosen to do a solo at the school holiday pageant. But a case of crippling stage fright strikes her just before she’s about to go onstage. What happens next will change Emma’s life forever.

The Christmas Gift

When Amish widow Hannah King remarries, her daughters do not take well to their new step father. But as the holidays approach, it’s make or break time to bring peace back into Hannah’s house.

Bonus novella: Clara Bieler’s Amish Christmas

LINK to KINDLE

becca fisherBecca Fisher

I’m Becca Fisher and I write sweet Amish romances featuring simple people with complex love lives. I’m devout in my faith, relish time with my family, and seek to bring joy to as many lives as possible. I would love to have you as a reader. God bless.

If you would like to be the first to know about my new books, join my mailing list here http://eepurl.com/s3WIT
Everyone that signs up for my mailing list will receive a Free copy of my “Complete Amish Romance Boxed Set.”

Follow Becca Fisher


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Enter to Win one of two prizes: A $50 Amazon Gift Card or a Nook 7″ tablet!

Enter below to enter a $50 Amazon gift card, sponsored by author Becca Fisher!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This book blast is hosted by Crossreads.

We would like to send out a special THANK YOU to all of the CrossReads book blast bloggers!

TREE # 2

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Tree number 2 is in our living room. It’s actually smaller than it looks in this picture but adds a festive touch to the evening!

 

UNTIL NEXT TIME….GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!