Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Connie Kallback

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Connie Kallback

How did you learn how to write?

By reading. The magic of recognizing words as they popped from the page when I was learning to read has never left me. A warning: I’ve been on the earth since my favorite era, WWII, earning me the label of historical, regardless of what era I write about. On my first trip to the library, circa 1946, I came home clutching, This is a Watchbird Watching You. Each page described a bad habit such as not cleaning your plate. At the bottom of the page, the Watchbird, a funny, gawky bird with an elongated beak asked, “Were you a dirty plate today?” I was forever hooked on books. As I went through school, I became rapt with anything related to words - not only literature, but grammar as well. Back in the day, we diagrammed sentences. It’s not a surprise that I went off to college to become an English teacher.

What was your favorite childhood book and why?

Despite the influence of the Watchbird book, The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame stayed with me through stages of added curiosity and development. In my preschool days, my mother read it to my brother and me, sitting on either side of Mom in our wide rocker. By the time she finished an evening’s chapter, I would often be asleep, and she would carry me to bed. I’m sure that comfortable feeling of nodding off was attached to the book in some way. Years later, the personalities of Ratty and Mole, the wisdom of Badger, the wild antics of Toad, who would no doubt have been stamped with the ADHD label today, made them come alive for me. I think of them still with great fondness. I was also intrigued by the range of unfamiliar words that prompted me to take the book and a dictionary with me when I began babysitting to earn money. While the children slept, my vocabulary grew.

What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your book?

Because I write to see what happens, completely without an outline, I waited for a plot to eventually

reveal itself for Chasing the Blue Boat. One short incident described two main characters in shock at seeing their toy boat suddenly disappear down a storm drain. I wasn’t sure I would keep it. My first reader, who happens to be my husband, read it and said, “They have to find that boat.” I argued about the impossibility of it until he added, “Dogs and cats have been dragged out of those drains.” After much thought and a return to the keyboard, I was amazed at what happened. A small change suddenly shaped the trajectory of the novel! As it evolved, that seemingly insignificant scene became the novel’s symbolic focus and naturally had to become the title.

How has your book changed since your first draft?

The most significant change came as a suggestion from a wonderful copyeditor who worked with me through Ambassador International. She could easily sympathize with Dana, Luke, and their parents, but when she got to 14-year-old Seth and his grandmother in the last part of the book, she felt they were too perfect to be believable. They didn’t yearn for anything. Her advice hit hard at first because they were among my favorites. I especially loved Seth. Although I never knew anyone like him in real life, I just loved that kid. In spite of that, as I reread his conversations with Dana, he sometimes sounded too wise for his age. One of my personal readers agreed Seth seemed older than 14 but added that books often portray people that way, making it unlikely readers would question it. Still, I slept on it and awoke with the realization that the copyeditor was quite right and set about to fix it.

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

God is my writing partner. If you’re stuck, I recommend that you have a talk with Him and keep writing. I also urge everyone to read, read, read, and then write, be it a letter (the art is dying), text, or blog. A note to your spouse or children counts if you give it that extra piece of flair that connects with them. And don’t forget to jot down overheard conversations, dreams, or the phraseology of your grandparents or people from all over. You never know when they’ll come in handy. My dad and his sister sometimes sat over coffee in the kitchen and told some of the most outlandish tales anyone could imagine. Some of their unique phrases became utterances from my characters. My aunt once described the rain as falling a little but drying on the way down. The words fit perfectly with Gram’s manner of speaking in the mountains of North Carolina.

About Chasing the Blue Boat

Nine-year-old Dana follows her brother, Luke, wherever he goes. From climbing on ledges, jumping in a fish pond, and causing general mischief, Luke is fearless. But when tragedy strikes the Foster family, everything Dana has ever known turns upside down. When the storms of life come, will the Foster family stand firm in their faith? Or will they shatter under the pressure? Suddenly, a blue boat that Dana and Luke received from their uncle leads Dana on a journey of faith, hope, and love that she will not soon forget.

Purchase Links

Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3ZR6Ts9

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/mdewJl

Ambassador International: https://ambassador-international.com/books/chasing-the-blue-boat-a-novel-of-longing/

About Connie

Connie Kallback grew up on the plains of Wyoming, migrated to the Pacific Coast, and settled in New Jersey where she transitioned from English teacher to publishing with McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall, and CPP, Inc, in positions from writer to acquisitions and managing editor. Her early writing, penned while teaching, appeared in magazines, newspapers, and literary journals. No longer wearing the hats of Mary Poppins or Sherlock Holmes, necessities of raising six children in two separate families, she writes in South Carolina where she lives with her husband.

Social Media Links

Website: https://www.chasingtheblueboat.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/connie.kallback

Instagram: http://www.instagram/connie.kallback

Movie Monday: Conflict

Movie Monday: Conflict

Filmed in 1943 but not released until 1945, Warner Brothers’ film noir Conflict starred Humphrey Bogart, Sydney Greenstreet, and Alexis Smith (an actress who made quite a few movies, but I’d not heard of). A cameo appearance is also made by the Maltese Falcon statue. The movie is based on The Pentacle by Alfred Neumann and Robert Siodmak. Despite the “heavy-hitting” cast, the movie didn’t do well.

Bogart and Greenstreet starred in several movies together, but Conflict is the only one in which Bogart played the villain. And played it he did even though he was somewhat blackmailed to take the role. Several sources quote the actor telling Jack Warner “I’m sorry, Jack. I just can’t do it. My stomach will not let me. I am an honest man, and I have to be honest with myself in this manner. If you want to get tough with me…I will feel that I have lots a friend.” However, he accepted after Warner threatened to block production of Passage to Marseille or cast a different actor in the lead role.

On the surface, the plot is a good one and fairly straightforward: Richard and Kathryn Mason appear to

be a happily married couple. Unfortunately, Richard has fallen in love with Kathryn’s younger sister, but he’s resigned to the fact that his wife won’t grant him a divorce. Kathryn derides him every chance she gets, and a series of events occur prompts him to murder her. After the police determine that he “did the deed,” they set him up with a bit of gaslighting to catch him. A pawn shop ticket is mailed to him, and the envelope appears to be addressed in Kathryn’s writing. When he goes to the shop, he finds her locket and what appears to be her signature in the register. He takes the police to the shop, but the locket is gone, and the register is different. Then on the street, he sees a woman who looks and dresses like Kathryn, so he follows her to her apartment, but it’s vacant and no one is inside.

Now convinced Kathryn is still alive, he returns to the crime scene to see if her body is still in the car where he left her. Bad news for Richard: the police are waiting for him.

Bogart and Greenstreet were both lauded for their performances, however, more than one critic commented that neither actor was “good enough to save the film.” Complaints of too many artificial devices and plot holes litter most of the reviews of the time. Since then, critics have been a bit more forgiving.

Personally, I thought the movie’s suspense, cinematography, and psychological aspects make it very watchable, especially for those who enjoy “noir” films.

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A Lesson in Love

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Pre-order link: https://amzn.to/3YHgUb0

Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction

June 2025 New ReleasesMore in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website

Children’s/ Picture Book:

If Jesus Came To My School by April Graney -- A young girl learns how Jesus’s love can shine at school through her compassion, kindness, and inclusion. (Children’s Picture Book from Waterbrook/Multnomah [Penguin Random House])

Phooey Kerflooey vs the Battle Squirrel by Kristen Joy Wilks -- Phooey Kerflooey has finally found a home of her own. Too bad a raging squirrel found it first! (Children’s, Independently Published)

Cozy Mystery:

Something Wicked This Way Hums by Jennifer Lamont Leo -- Return to charming Timber Coulee, Idaho, where amateur sleuth Amanda Parrish is about to discover that murder can strike a sour note even in the most harmonious of places. (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published)

Historical Romance:

Angel from the East by Barbara A. Curtis -- Caleb Morgan has had everything stolen from him-his strength, the job he loved, even his good name. He's determined to even the score with the man responsible, until he meets the captivating new owner of the Double E Ranch. Though he's drawn to her compassion, he fears she may never see beyond his supposed wrongdoings, unless he can prove his innocence and reclaim his honor. Eliza Roberts is a teacher, not a rancher. But if she has any hope of selling the ranch she inherited from her grandfather and continuing on to her new life in California, she needs to restore it to some semblance of order. If only the man her grandfather advised her to trust wasn't refusing to help her. When an offer of courtship arises from the current foreman, Eliza sees the practicality in the offer. So why does her heart keep wandering back to Caleb? And why can't she shake the feeling that something's not right at the Double E Ranch? Will she have the courage to follow the clues behind the strange mishaps at the Double E-and possibly embrace a different life than she imagined? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

Of Silver and Secrets by Michelle Griep -- Buried underneath are truths bent on keeping them apart. . . . In 1889 Victorian England, Eva Inman is haunted by guilt over her parents' deaths while struggling to care for her blind sister and manage her family's crumbling estate. With the tax deadline looming, Eva's situation looks dire until an ancient silver ring is unearthed on the property. Despite superstitions warning against disturbing the supposedly cursed acres, Eva's need for funds ignites her curiosity about the potential of finding more buried relics. Cambridge professor Bram Webb must prove a legendary Christian Roman settlement exists, or he'll risk exposing his uncle's deteriorating memory and they'll both lose their positions. Then Eva steps into his office with the prospect of an archaeological dig that might lead to the very evidence Bram requires--provided he and Eva can set aside painful memories of a time they would rather forget. As the dig forces the two to confront their pasts, the work becomes fraught with challenges that threaten Eva's and Bram's hopes, as well as the growing attraction between them. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker Publishing Group])

Heart’s Promise Heart’s Desire by Linda Hoover -- Welcome back to Jacob and Julia's Iowa farm. The year is 1893. Their son Justin is now eleven. and daughter Annaliese is ten. When Jacob and Julia adopted Annaliese as an infant, they were told God had a special plan for her. As Annaliese grows up, she can't help but wonder if her purpose will be world-changing. Julia's old friend, Edward Harrington, comes to visit from England, along with his wife and son, Robbie. Their time at the farm is the beginning of a like/hate relationship and later something more between Robbie and Annaliese. When the families travel to San Francisco in 1900, a shocking revelation from Edward's wife could change everything, beginning with taking Annaliese back to England with them. If this is God's plan, Annaliese is disappointed. It's nothing like she imagined, and her heart's desire is to go to veterinary college. She must consider if this is truly God's calling for her because her decision could mean a very different future. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Heart of Hope by Kimberly Keagan -- One Philadelphia socialite, one man who broke her heart, and a town called Victory that might live up to its name. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Madison’s Mission by Susan G. Mathis -- Madison Murray, the devoted maid to the legendary Louise Boldt, harbors a singular mission—to care for her ailing mistress while hiding her own painful past. Her life takes an unexpected turn when she meets Emmett O’Connor, the distinguished foreman overseeing Boldt Castle’s extravagant construction. Their connection sparks with promise, yet the chasm of class difference and hidden secrets loom large. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Secrets of the Revolution by Megan Soja -- Hannah Pierce is determined to keep her father‘s apothecary shop running, despite his failing health, the heavy burden of her mother’s recent death, and the mysterious disappearance of her brother. She’ll do whatever it takes to preserve her family’s legacy, including joining a dangerous ring of patriot spies...and falling for a revolutionary printer with a brave heart. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz -- Canada, 1837. In a British colony on the brink of rebellion, widower and lawyer James Kinney bands together with laundress Sara O’Connor to save the life of his lonely little girl. (Historical Romance from Tyndale House)

To Love a Beast by Karen Witemeyer -- Once known among New York's elite as the American Adonis, Everett Griffin now lives as a recluse in the wilds of Texas. Locals whisper of the beastly man who lives in the gloomy manor outside of town and his tendency to attack anyone who dares approach. Everett relishes his fearsome reputation and uses it as a shield to guard his privacy. Until a young woman as stubborn as she is beautiful infiltrates his sanctum and lays siege to his defenses. Beauty & the Beast story in 1800's Texas. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

Romantic Suspense:

Rescued by Jerusha Agen -- As the nanny of twin two-year-olds who lost their mother, Valena Greer wants to create a happy and safe home for the children. The kids must know they’re loved and protected—the opposite of her own unstable childhood. But when danger comes to her door, the illusion of safety is shattered. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Romeo by Jessica Ashley -- A deadly secret, an unexpected love that could cost everything. Riley "Romeo" Hunt is an expert at finding those who don’t want to be found. When he's hired to catch a notorious jewel thief responsible for a brutal murder, he never expects to find a beautiful woman caught in the middle. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Reframing Trust by Regina Rudd Merrick -- FBI Special Agent Julia Rossi returns to Clementville to investigate signs of criminal activity linked to a case she’s struggling to leave behind. After losing her fiancé to infidelity and her partner to prison, trust has become a foreign concept. Can she trust her job, her instincts, or even her faith? Carpenter Eli Reno isn’t thrilled when his exploration of the tunnels underneath Clementville not only uncovers evidence of recent criminal activity but also forces him to work alongside the woman who broke his friend’s heart. As the two explore the dark tunnels, Eli battles his anger over his friend’s betrayal, while Julia fights to regain her footing in a world full of broken trust. But in the depths below, can they learn to rely on one another—and on God—to uncover the truth and find healing in each other’s hearts? (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press)

Capturing You by Robin Patchen -- In a town shrouded by secrets, a photographer and the reclusive heir of the Ballentine fortune join forces to unravel a deadly conspiracy. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)

Trinity Sands Beach Club by Deborah Sprinkle, Jen Dodrill, and Sharon H. Carpenter -- What do a widow, a newly divorced woman, and a retired professor of art history have in common? They all came to Trinity Sands Island to find a simple life without any entanglements. But instead, they are each confronted with a mystery and another chance at romance. Will they be brave enough to face the possible dangers of solving a mystery and losing their hearts? This collection includes three novellas. (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press)

Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner -- The sleepy community of Kenorapeake Falls in northern Ontario seems like somewhere Constable Oaklynn Brock can finally outrun her violent past. That is, until she’s assigned to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. She can’t reveal that she knows how serial killers think because she grew up with one. Yet the eerie similarities between these murders and those committed by her father, known as the Suicide Slayer, hint at a copycat in their midst. (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Speculative Fiction/Fantasy:

Haunting of Time by Demi Griffin -- In the Age of Augury, Kairos, also known as Time, had grown weary of her role in playing both sides. With the departure of the Enchantress, she saw an opportunity to strengthen her alliance with Mortality. Possessing the ability to manipulate time, she would haunt Everlasting, siphoning time by stealing it from the citizens. As Kairos pieced together her plan, the King summoned his chosen Harbingers. This group of eleven seemingly unrelated individuals had been brought together by a divine entity known as Portent. They accepted the calling under one condition. They were explicitly instructed not to engage directly with Time. Their sole objective was to deliver the King's message. If they succeeded in doing so, the Age of Augury would reach its anticipated conclusion. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy, Independently Published)

 
Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Felling Fury by F.D. Adkins -- As Ray vows to protect the woman he is falling for, it may be Ray who is in danger. Will he allow his anger and resentment to destroy him, or will he heed God’s voice calling to him from the light of Sandy’s faith? (General Suspense)

The Memory Garden by Jessica Brodie -- In the small Southern town she vowed to escape forever, a shattered journalist discovers that protecting a boy with secrets as haunting as her own might be her last chance at redemption. (General Contemporary)

Keepsake by Susan Page Davis -- Stanna Waverly is cleaning out her grandmother's attic when she finds an old love letter. It's to Emma, her grandma, all right, and the writer is urging her to elope with him. But at the end of the letter, she stares at the signature. That's not her grandfather's name. (Contemporary Romance)

The Ties That Loose by Felicia Ferguson -- Can you really trust God when life plummets out of your control? As she searches for a way to bring Chris home and he strives to stay alive, they each battle their family histories desperate to find God’s future for them both. (Military Suspense)

Portent by Demi Griffin -- Short interactions that led to beautiful moments captured more than Traveler’s heart. They were the bridge to the discovery of his name. Once he found that, he realized his decision to be a part of the King’s plan or not had already been made for him. (Speculative Fiction/Fantasy)

Across the Crying Sands by Jane Kirkpatrick -- Based on a true story of the life of Mary Gerritse, wife, mother of four and the first woman to deliver the mail on the treacherous Oregon Coast in the late 1890s. (General Historical)

Judging Athena by Perrin Lovett -- Judging Athena is an exciting foray into innocent, pure, and productive love. It is also a clarion call to return to the traditions of marriage, large families, and genteel society. (General Romance)

Sweet Double-Cross by Sally Jo Pitts -- As bullets fly and bodies pile up, Trudy discovers Kirt is hiding his own secret. Amidst unexpected attraction and lethal betrayal, can the two survive this double-cross? (Romantic Suspense)

Surviving the Storm by Melanie D. Snitker -- At an accident scene, Paramedic Curtis Whitman and EMT Aurora "Rory" Graham discover a gunshot victim and an absent driver. Rory's unease intensifies when she spots a man watching her from the woods, followed by a barrage of gunfire. Now, a sinister stalker lurks, convinced Rory has witnessed too much. (Romantic Suspense)

His Liberating Flame by Ashley Thompson -- She grew up in church and has never been in a relationship, he's a prestigious model with a scarlet past in search of redemption. (Contemporary Romance)

The Oasis by Lorisa D. Wiedenheft -- Ten-year-old Charly Harding has had a rough life. Her parents died in a car accident when she was five. She and her younger brother Matty moved three hours away to live with Granny, who is always strapped for cash. Then the unthinkable happens. One night, their double-wide trailer catches on fire and burns to the ground. (Children’s)

Shattered Peace by Julie McDonald Zander -- A forgotten diary. A century-old secret. A town still haunted by its past when a peaceful parade turned deadly. A gripping time-slip novel inspired by true events. (Dual Time)

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome JA Webb

 Talkshow Thursday: Welcome J.A. Webb

Grab your favorite beverage and get to know author J.A. Webb, his writing journey, and his latest release Inheritance!

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

My heroes have always been writers, and I’ve always had the desire . . . and have always dabbled. But never really believed I could be an author. I have no formal training, and regular people can’t be authors, can they?

How did you learn how to write?

First, I read many thousands of books. Many thousands. Over the course of those years, I made several abortive attempts at writing, but nothing ever clicked. Then, I sat down to write in earnest. After having written my first novel, I submitted it to a contest at which time I discovered I had a lot to learn. I poured through craft books, podcasts, and courses. Then I found a wonderful friend, mentor, and editor who met me where I was and patiently helped me improve my craft- to the point that one year later one of my books won the ACFW Genesis award. It’s been a lot of fun, but without that faithful mentor, none of it would have been possible.

Do you hear from your readers? What do they say?

 It’s funny. I originally wrote The Seekers Series for adult men and teen guys. I never expected readers

outside that demographic to enjoy the books, but have been pleasantly surprised that it’s had wide appeal. From the guys I often hear “I loved the book and couldn’t put it down – when does the next one come out?” Which is exactly what I’d hoped for. A number of women who don’t ordinarily read speculative fiction have contacted me to let me know “This is not the kind of thing I ordinarily read, but I enjoyed it and want to read the next book.” Which is both surprising and gratifying.

Most gratifying has been the number of letters I’ve gotten from non-believers, who are reading through the books a second time, their interest in things eternal having been piqued. Wow. Who could ask for more than that?

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

My heroes have always been writers, and I’ve always had the desire . . . and have always dabbled. But never really believed I could be an author. I have no formal training, and regular people can’t be authors, can they?

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I’ve got seven books in various stages of completion, and my favorite is always the one I’ve not started writing yet but is percolating in my head. Which can change from day to day. (I have a lot of unstarted projects in my notebooks. I think it’s a common malady amongst us writers)

What was your inspiration for the story?

I spent decades of my adult life as an atheist. I turned my back on God at a very young age and didn’t look back until all other means of finding truth and meaning had been exhausted. What I learned was without Him, there is not truth, no meaning, no peace.

After I’d been saved it struck me how many times and how quickly the people of God forgot Him. When reading the story in 2 Kings in which the priest Hilkiah found the book of the law while cleaning the temple, I was struck. God’s word - forgotten for how many years? I asked myself what it would be like to live in such a world . . . where the Bible has been forgotten to living memory. In such darkness. And how would God move in such a world? 

And then I realized I had lived in that very same darkness, with no knowledge of God. That had been my state as a lost seeker. And how would God move? That question motivated me to write the Seekers Series, to tell a thrilling tale set in such a dark world, and reveling in the exciting way God has always pursued His own. Made Himself known to them. That, and my own frustration with the lack of exciting Christian fiction for men- especially speculative fiction- was my motivation for writing these books. Both to thrill the hearts of believers, and hopefully, to light a fire in the heart of the unbeliever, for His Kingdom and His Glory!

About Inheritance:

The Order has been betrayed. The hunters have been loosed.

Father Curtis has forsaken his vows. He has left the Order and joined the Seekers, a hidden rebellion dedicated to uncovering the truth long buried by the global church. But walking away from the Order does not mean escaping its reach.

When word spreads that a copy of the True Text — the original thirty-nine books of the Creator — has surfaced on the far side of the world, Curtis, Professor Reuel, and Phillip embark on a desperate mission. If they can retrieve the artifact, it could change everything. If they fail, the truth will be lost forever. But the Eye of the Eternal, the secret police of the Order, has already mobilized. Their assassins are relentless. Their power is absolute. And they will stop at nothing to silence the truth. Outnumbered and hunted, Curtis and his allies must risk everything to defy an empire built on deception. But against such overwhelming darkness, is faith enough? Or will their inheritance — humanity’s true past — be erased from history once and for all?

The war for truth has begun. And the Order will not suffer heretics to live. 

A Dystopian Thriller of Deception, Faith, and the Fight for Truth 🔥 Perfect for fans of dystopian thrillers like 1984, Brave New World, and The Da Vinci Code—but with a Christian twist! ⚡ A suspense-filled journey into a world where illusion is law and questioning it means death. 📖 If you love stories of faith, defiance, and the battle against unseen tyranny, this is the book for you. The Order has ruled from the shadows long enough. Are you ready to see the truth?

Connect! http://www.jawebbauthor.com

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Photo Credits:

Mailbox: Pixabay/Kat_Pulse

Scroll: Pixabay/joduma

Welcome back, Amanda Cabot!

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Amanda Cabot

Amanda Cabot is one of my favorite authors, and I'm honored to have her back on my blog today. Grab your favorite beverage and get to know this prolific author.

When did you know you wanted to be an author?

I’m tempted to say “forever,” but it wasn’t quite that long ago. It actually happened when I was seven years old. My family had moved from Texas to Western New York, which meant leaving everything familiar behind and learning to deal with such foreign things as snow and ice while adjusting to being the new kid in school. There were times when all I wanted to do was escape, and so I did – into books. Reading transported me to different times and places and helped me cope with the changes in my life. Books became such an important part of my life that it seemed only natural that I wanted to write one.

How many books have you written, and which is your favorite?

I stopped counting after forty, but it’s somewhere around forty-five right now. As for my favorite, writers aren’t supposed to have favorites. It’s like parents being told not to have a favorite child. But – and this is a big but – I do have a favorite. It used to be A Stolen Heart, the first of the Cimarron Creek trilogy, but now I have a new favorite. Although I’m usually so close to my stories that I can’t judge them impartially, when I finished Echoes of Sunrise, I felt that it was my best book yet. I’ve been delighted – more than delighted, I’ve been thrilled – that readers have agreed with me.

What was the best money you spent as a writer?

Attending the 2004 Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers conference. I can’t tell you about any of the

workshops I attended, but one thing the keynote speaker said turned out to be one of those “aha!” moments. She asked us to answer one question: Is writing what we do or who we are? My answer to that made a lot of things fall into place. It told me why I’d been able to walk away from my day job, even though it had been a very rewarding one. You see, that was “what I did.” And it explained why even when I’d tried to stop writing during the period when I was collecting more than my share of rejection letters, I couldn’t. After a few weeks, I’d feel as if something vital was missing in my life. That’s because writing is “who I am.”

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series?

Echoes of Sunrise is the first book in the Sisters of the Heart trilogy. With the exception of the novella Christmas Roses, all of my books have been written as trilogies. I LOVE writing trilogies! It’s so much fun to have books that can be read as standalones but that have connections between them. There’s only one problem: once I create my fictional town and the cast of characters who live there, I don’t want to leave. Readers seem to agree with me and often ask for “just one more” book in a series. That’s why I wrote One Special Christmas, which extends the Sweetwater Crossing series. And since that was such a hit with readers, I’m planning to write another Christmas story set in Sweetwater Crossing. Assuming all goes as planned, that’ll be available in the fall of 2026.

What is your next project?

I’m currently writing the first draft of Whispers in the Valley, the second of the Sisters of the Heart trilogy, which will be released next spring. And since I received rights back on The Sagebrush Bride, a novella that was published in 2015, I’m going to release it as an e-book short this fall.

_______________________  

About Echoes of Sunrise

A baby to protect. A town to save. Is a marriage of convenience the only answer?

Sophia Carr knows her recurring dreams of an identical twin sister are just that - dreams. She also knows that eventually she will inherit the hotel her grandfather built. When a fire at the hotel kills her mother, Sophia returns to Carr Valley to rebuild and ensure that a planned railroad line chooses a route that will keep the town alive. But her grandfather’s will states that she must be married to inherit, and the only man she can imagine marrying seems to have forgotten her.

Up-and-coming architect Gideon Spencer couldn’t say no when his dying friend begged him to marry his widow and raise their baby as his own rather than let a cruel grandfather gain custody. But when the young mother dies, leaving Gideon a single parent, the grandfather poses a new threat unless Gideon manages to marry again. Sadly, the only woman he’s interested in is the one he’s ignored for six months: Sophia. Knowing he needs to protect the baby, Gideon heads to Carr Valley. When he discovers that Sophia needs a husband as much as he needs a wife, he proposes a six-month marriage of convenience. Sophia agrees but adds a stipulation of her own, one that will test his resolve, even as their wedding day reveals that Sophia’s dreams of a twin sister might be more than dreams.

As Sophia and Gideon join forces, the stakes couldn’t be higher: a baby’s life, a town’s future, and love.

Purchase Link: Amazon https://bit.ly/3CG0Xd5

About Amanda
From the age of seven, Amanda Cabot dreamed of becoming a published author, but it was only when she set herself the goal of selling a book by her thirtieth birthday that the dream came true. A former director of Information Technology, Amanda has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. She is now the bestselling author of more than forty novels and a variety of novellas. Her books have been honored with starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal and have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers’ Best. For her, a day is incomplete unless it includes books and at least one pot of tea.

Social Media Links
Website: https://www.amandacabot.com/
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Movie Monday: The Clock

Movie Monday: The Clock

Released on May 25, 1945, The Clock was actress Judy Garland’s first starring role in which she didn’t sing. It was also her last black and white film. Fred Zinneman was the initial director when production began in August 1944, but he was soon replaced by Vincente Minnelli, after both Zinneman and Judy went to producer Arthur Freed and indicated they couldn’t work together. By the end of the film, Minnelli and Judy were in love and would head to the altar on June 15, 1945. The movie had a production cost of just over one million dollars, and more than recouped the investment with initial box office earnings of $2.8 million.

Reportedly, Judy approached the executives at MGM and asked that she be cast in a straight dramatic role. Once source commented that “musical stars of the era were not considered to be on the same par as dramatic stars because most musicals made were light, fluffy entertainment.” Did Judy decide it was time to be taken seriously, or did she want to see if she had what it took to be a dramatic actress? No matter the reason, the studio agreed, and she was given the script for The Clock by Freed who had purchased the rights to the short unpublished story written by Paulione and Paul Gallico.

Robert Walker tried his hand in Hollywood in 1939 and managed to get a contract with MGM, securing

a few bit parts. He finally got his chance at stardom in 1944 when he was given the main role in Since You Went Away, one of the most financially successful films that year. His next movie, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, was also box-office hit, and he was quickly cast in The Clock.

The plot is simplistic (from IMDB): Joe Allen (Robert Walker) is on a two-day leave in New York City and meets secretary, Alice Mayberry (Judy Garland) when she trips over him and breaks the heel on her shoe. They hit it off, and she decides to show him around the city. As they tour the sights, they begin to fall in love. The pair meet a milk deliveryman whom they befriend and help finish his route. The next morning, Joe and Alice decide to marry before he must return to duty.

Interestingly, all the scenes with Judy and Robert were filmed on MGM soundstages and backlots, not on the actual streets of New York. The most famous set in the film is the meticulous recreation of Penn Station including escalators. Despite the relative success of the movie and Judy playing a dramatic role, it would be sixteen years before she would make another non-musical drama with Judgment at Nuremburg (1961).

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A Lesson in Love

He thinks he’s too old. She thinks she’s too young. Can these teachers learn that love defies all boundaries?

Born and raised in London, Isobel Turvine knows nothing about farming, but after most of the students in her school evacuate during Operation Pied Piper, she’s left with little to do. Then her friend Margery talks her into joining the Women’s Land Army, and she finds herself working the land at a manor home in Yorkshire that’s been converted to a boys’ school. A teacher at heart, she is drawn to the lads, but the handsome yet stiff-necked headmaster wants her to stick to farming.

Left with an arm that barely works from the last “war to end all wars,” Gavin Emerson agrees to take on the job of headmaster when his school moves from London to Yorkshire, but he’s saddled with the quirky manor owner, bickering among his teachers, and a gaggle of Land Army girls who have turned the grounds into a farm. When the group’s blue-eyed, raven-haired leader nearly runs him down in a car, he admonishes her to stay in the fields, but they are thrown together at every turn. Can he trust her not to break his heart?

Pre-order Link: https://amzn.to/3YHgUb0

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Donna Schlachter!

The Story Behind the Story of 

The Mystery of Christmas Inn, Colorado

This romantic suspense is set in Colorado in 1921 at Christmas time. My hero is re-visiting the hotel where he spent his honeymoon 40 years before, while my heroine is seeking a refuge from her haranguing family while she makes some difficult choices. Matthew cannot find a reason to go on, and Edith refuses to give up.

I chose this setting because of some research I did into a famous hotel in Colorado Springs, The Antlers, as well as research about other buildings in that city which were razed in the 60’s to make room for urban expansion. I was horrified at the way the downtown core lost its history and its personality, and wanted to write a story where that didn’t happen.

I chose older characters because, well, I’m getting older, and I find my tastes turning to older characters

who are more set in their ways, less likely to jump out of moving vehicles or parachute from perfectly good airplanes. The time period seemed perfect because the train had just started coming to Colorado Springs from Denver, and the original Antlers hotel was slated for destruction early in 1922. I wanted to change that history.

Matthew and Edith team up to find a way to save the old hotel, and in the process, they uncover more than they bargained for: a body in a wall; a decades-old murder mystery; a secret somebody wants to keep; and a love that will carry them through the coming years.

About The Mystery of Christmas Inn, Colorado:

Matthew returns to Christmas Inn to celebrate his fortieth anniversary alone, intending to take his own life so he can join his beloved Sarah, who passed on to glory the previous January. Not certain how—or if—he will go on without her, Matthew learns on his arrival that the old inn will close its doors on New Year’s Eve. A developer has purchased the building and intends to tear it down and put up a chain hotel. Determined to keep his memories and his connection to Sarah alive, Matthew embarks on a harebrained scheme to keep the inn open.

Edith Cochrane, a widow, comes to Christmas Inn because she has nowhere else to spend the holidays. Her children are angry with her because she refuses to choose to live with one of them. Edith and her husband enjoyed a long marriage and a long mission-field ministry, but ever since his passing the previous year, Edith has found herself at loose ends. She comes to Christmas Inn to spend some time thinking about her options.

Can Matthew and Edith save the old hotel—and themselves—or will they run out of time?

Buy link: https://amzn.to/43jVAJY

About Donna: A hybrid author, Donna writes squeaky clean historical and contemporary suspense. She has been published more than 60 times in books; is a member of several writers' groups; facilitates a critique group; teaches writing classes; and judges in writing contests. She loves history and research, traveling extensively for both, and is an avid oil painter. She is taking all the information she’s learned along the way about the writing and publishing process, and is coaching committed writers eager to tell their story. Learn more at https://www.donnaschlachter.com/the-purpose-full-writer-coaching-programs Check out her coaching group on FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/604220861766651

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Photo credit: Antlers Hotel/courtesy of Antlers.com