What Makes A Hero?

2 Comments

Posted on July 6, 2015

Everyone love a hero, right? But what makes a hero? I’m sure there are many different ways to define or describe a hero, but I believe a hero is someone who puts themselves out for someone else without any expectation of getting a “reward” whatever it might be.

In Deception, Patti must unravel the disappearance of her twin sister, in spite of the fact that she feels her sister ruined her life. She chooses to do the right thing. That’s what makes a hero!

In Betrayed, Maria thinks her nightmare is over until her husband calls–her supposedly dead husband. Terrified for her daughter’s safety, she flees. Then she hears another child is missing. Thinking her “dead” husband could be responsible, she must make a choice to hide or to help. She chooses to do the right thing. That’s what make a hero!

In Redemption, Jamie puts her own life in danger to help a friend find her missing child in spite of the danger to herself. That’s what makes a hero!

In real life, we aren’t usually faced with these types of choices but…

We can choose to do the right thing when no one is looking.

We can choose to be kind in the face of another’s anger.

We can choose to do our best in whatever job we find ourselves.

That’s what makes a hero!

What about you–what do you think makes a hero?

UNTIL NEXT TIME…GOD BLESS & GOOD READING!

REDEMPTION—A DEVOTION

6 Comments

Posted on October 5, 2014

Romans 3: 22-24

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

The title of my newest book is REDEMPTION so it seemed to me a good topic to write about in a devotion. 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.

The title came about as a result of Jamie, the main character being ashamed of things she’s done in her past as a consultant to the FBI. 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.

That makes for a good plot in a suspense novel, but it’s important to know that we can’t save ourselves through good acts, through helping others, or even being really good people. There is only one way to receive redemption: meaning salvation; meaning going to heaven to live with God forever!

We are saved through our faith in Jesus—and only through our faith in Jesus.

No amount of good works can earn us a ticket to heaven! It doesn’t matter how “good” we are, how much money we give to good causes (including the church), or how kind we are to others.

Only our belief in Jesus as the Son of God can save us.

And the reverse is true as well as Jamie discovers in my novel, REDEMPTION. Your past doesn’t matter. God loves you just the way you are. He won’t turn his back on you because of your past, present, or even your future mistakes.

And that is more awesome than I can say, but 2 Corinthians 9:15 says it best:

“Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!”

REDEMPTION PROMO:

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.

All you need to do is leave a comment here or under any of the posts with REDEMPTION in the title. Contest ends on October 18!

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!

GIVEAWAY!!

51 Comments

Posted on September 29, 2014

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!!

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!!

16 Comments

Posted on September 19, 2014

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

33 Comments

Posted on September 11, 2014

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.

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!

Writing Tip Wednesday: EXPLOSIVE ENDINGS

Leave a comment

Posted on September 10, 2014

It’s been a few weeks since I posted writing tips so just as a reminder, I’ve been talking about my sure-fire way to publication: best beginnings + marvelous middles + explosive endings = PUBLICATION! We’ve gone over the first two and today we tackle explosive endings.

One of the keys to creating an explosive ending is to resolve all the story plots, not only the major one. Readers have invested time and emotion in your story. Don’t cheat them by not giving them the resolution they want. It’s not fair to leave them hanging and wondering. If it’s a series, it’s fine to give a hint to an upcoming story but it’s still important to finish the current story.

For example in my Sisters By Choice series, in BETRAYED there was a main character whose son was kidnapped by his father but it had nothing to do with the story plot. It was simply a fact of the character’s life. But at the end of the story readers just know that Jamie can’t resist helping her new friend. And that becomes the basis for my about to be released book, REDEMPTION.

In a Christian romantic suspense, there are usually three main areas that need an ending along with any subplots. First we have the suspense plot, then the romantic thread, and finally the spiritual arc.

A famous quote from Mickey Spillane says it all. The first chapter sells the book. The last chapter sells the next book.

Your ending will either give you a satisfied reader who will want to buy your next book and recommend it to others or one who won’t read another book you write—ever. The choice is yours.

Many books actually have two endings—mine usually do. Often the crucial resolution scene (stopping the murderer—rescuing the damsel in distress) happens in the next to the last chapter and the final chapter is used to tie up all the other story lines in a happy little bow. Nothing wrong with that. It’s a good plan.

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

Heaven’s Prey Blog Chase

3 Comments

Posted on October 31, 2013

Heaven's Prey Blog Chase graphic

Heaven’s Prey is a novel of suspense and redemption, so let’s have some fun with a “blog chase.” Follow the trail between Oct. 31 and Nov. 7, 2013 for a chance to win a print copy of Heaven’s Prey.

You’re at the fifth stop in the chase. Welcome! You’ll need to visit each stop so you’ll know the answers for the quiz at the end … that’s how you enter the prize draw. To start at the beginning, click the arrow:

Arrow to the beginning of the blog chase

Back to the start

Let’s peek into the story world:

Dreams of a dying man haunted Ruth’s sleep, sound-tracked with wild, abandoned wails. Waking, she’d hear an echo in her mind: Somebody had better pray for him…

She didn’t tell Tony.

Tonight the man was drowning. The water turned to quicksand. To fire. Hands of flame clutched him. Another figure plunged into the inferno, but the man twisted free of his rescuer and sank into a red-hot river of magma. The wailing started again, a haunting lament, the worst yet.

Ruth jolted awake. Somebody’d better pray for him…

Tony’s gentle snores didn’t break rhythm. Holding her breath, Ruth eased out from under the covers and sneaked from the bedroom into the den.

She sank to her knees in front of the recliner and cradled her head in her arms. Hopelessness flooded her, sorrow, grief on a level she’d never experienced. Not for her parents’ deaths, her miscarriages, even Susan’s tragedy. Dimly, she realized she was crying.

Was this what God felt when He looked at a lost soul? At that fiend, Silver? Her lungs fought for breath against the weight of mourning. The dark room closed in on her like a collapsed mine shaft. Oh, God, if it means that much to you—if You want him that badly—

She drew a shaky breath and wiped her eyes on the satin sleeve of her pajamas. Another breath, slower this time, then she forced the words out in a whisper. “I will pray for Harry Silver, Father. Because You ask.”

Stepping out of the story …

Did you know? In December, 1917, the city of Halifax, Nova Scotia, was devastated by the largest man-made explosion before Hiroshima. The Christmas tree the province sends to Boston each year is a gesture of thanks for that city’s help with the relief efforts. (Link: CBC’s Halifax Explosion site)

arrow to next stop

Next stop on the blog chase

Heaven’s Prey releases November 1, 2013. Visit Choose NOW Publishing to read a sample chapter … just don’t forget to come back to the chase! Preorder links are on the Choose NOW site as well.

%d bloggers like this: