tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-20672238101881920162024-03-19T04:46:55.481-04:00Linda Shenton MatchettLinda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.comBlogger1029125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-66616037964587433172024-03-19T01:30:00.001-04:002024-03-19T01:30:00.253-04:00Traveling Tuesday: The White House During WWII<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: times; font-size: large;"><i> Traveling Tuesday: The White House During WWII</i></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPGBHSKdthAh8-WU8lMHkVxtnTw1xb3BT0x-ksyn4CCz-iAYqlH5rRdwWiN8yZw8xrQWqN9gvBy5tQJk7yrnhin5zMJYcifz66CmYSfBw4hiaN6FsoCp6axF7S2QI45dqbRPE7BVCn3Vx_ZWrbvCNPiKnQw0rFRhzEPlRnTB404PZYKr2LYLTzcbQjTC_/s780/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-02%20at%2011.06.26%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="780" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhPGBHSKdthAh8-WU8lMHkVxtnTw1xb3BT0x-ksyn4CCz-iAYqlH5rRdwWiN8yZw8xrQWqN9gvBy5tQJk7yrnhin5zMJYcifz66CmYSfBw4hiaN6FsoCp6axF7S2QI45dqbRPE7BVCn3Vx_ZWrbvCNPiKnQw0rFRhzEPlRnTB404PZYKr2LYLTzcbQjTC_/w200-h130/Screen%20Shot%202024-03-02%20at%2011.06.26%20AM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy: whitehouse.gov</td></tr></tbody></table>Having lived in Maryland and then Northern Virginia for nearly thirty years, I often visited Washington, DC, and never tired of seeing the monuments and various government buildings scattered throughout the city. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House has been the official residence and workplace of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800 when the nation's capital was moved from Philadelphia. A competition was held to determine who the designer would be, and Irish-born James Hoban won. Other structures he designed include The Octagon House in Washington, DC, and the Charleston County Courthouse.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">When President Franklin Roosevelt arrived in January 1933, repairs from the 1929 fire in the White House had long been completed. However, several changes and additions were made after he moved in:</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: times;">Air conditioning was added to the second-floor private quarters</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">An indoor pool was installed featuring water circulation and therapy for his polio</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">Broadcasting equipment was moved into the Diplomatic Reception Room for his fireside chats</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">The electrical system was rewired</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">The large and small kitchens were remodeled to include hotel-sized ranges and ovens, refrigerators and warming ovens, and electric dumbwaiters.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: times;">After the war in Europe began, National Geographic provided special wall-mounted map cabinets that held maps on rollers that were organized by hemisphere, region, and theater of operation.</span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: times;">Visitors were not uncommon, and one of the first to arrive after the onset of WWII was British Prime<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVlY_PH8UGy4W6yv5DogXdRSg03737Ius7w-bRnRAdVXIRd-Mq4K39MhpdP9HWOqA7wuYZcMVvY0MxkFlEuqd1wpDXeAE7hpX9H-ADHSrweVR1dV3OShmDRDuwjBKwIf6wm6SWzHzXnZh0VaUsPkiWRXHn8IC03_yxzdflaZ8aEzt7syLuuf156CNyduL/s253/Churchill.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="253" data-original-width="199" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHVlY_PH8UGy4W6yv5DogXdRSg03737Ius7w-bRnRAdVXIRd-Mq4K39MhpdP9HWOqA7wuYZcMVvY0MxkFlEuqd1wpDXeAE7hpX9H-ADHSrweVR1dV3OShmDRDuwjBKwIf6wm6SWzHzXnZh0VaUsPkiWRXHn8IC03_yxzdflaZ8aEzt7syLuuf156CNyduL/w157-h200/Churchill.jpeg" width="157" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Public Domain<br />Photo</td></tr></tbody></table>Minister Winston Churchill. He arrived on December 22, 1941, and his meetings with FDR were code-named the Arcadia Conference. Staff were not told who was coming, but according to former White House usher J.B. West, they were prohibited from being in the corridors on the day. "It didn't take long for the cigar smoke to announce his {Churchill's} presence." That would be his first of five journeys to the U.S. to meet with FDR, staying at the White House four times, as well as Camp David (formerly Camp Shangri-La).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;">Even First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was kept in the dark, recounting later in <i>The Atlantic </i>that she was told "we would be having some guests visit us" and that she "could not know who was coming, nor how many, but must be prepared for them to stay over for Christmas. He added as an afterthought that I must see to it that we had good champagne and brandy in the house and plenty of whiskey."</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9kTz_YZfq_pCJQHs0tM6xP2tttvXhHk9RQJRhHfuFvi_RFnpUJVlj7D2dmJITtfa1Br6WvEoMctIMwVic6DWBKJuXJKdjn3GgO6zRW42TgpHzWfXvgonwmVpIu1eCS-trlAa290UGzakVuR6n1ZjRTseKy3ziGSelpFCuH0vJAK0b0Vj0x62UkpUISVy/s1040/Monroe%20Room.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="578" data-original-width="1040" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil9kTz_YZfq_pCJQHs0tM6xP2tttvXhHk9RQJRhHfuFvi_RFnpUJVlj7D2dmJITtfa1Br6WvEoMctIMwVic6DWBKJuXJKdjn3GgO6zRW42TgpHzWfXvgonwmVpIu1eCS-trlAa290UGzakVuR6n1ZjRTseKy3ziGSelpFCuH0vJAK0b0Vj0x62UkpUISVy/w200-h111/Monroe%20Room.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy White House<br />Historical Association</td></tr></tbody></table>When Churchill would visit, the Monroe Room would be converted to a map room to display troop and ship movements. The prime minister's secretaries would work out of the Lincoln Study. During one visit in September 1943, FDR had to go to Hyde Park and according to General Hastings Ismay told Churchill, "please treat the White House as your home. Invite anyone you like to any meals, and do not hesitate to summon any of my advisors with whom you wish to confer at any time you wish." Ismay went on to comment that Churchill's decision to conduct business at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue without the president in residence is striking. I would have to agree.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;">___________________</span></div><p></p><p><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><b>A Love Not Forgotten</b></span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><i></i></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBp9EpuUp8jfm1eUUeISSATU2jXMHA8cyj0IiB_D53LVJxpg-BBTHp0prQ0U-tXsUVRk31-_dG7prgofeFnkdVnwMQTu0ez3-96RMVNdRqO24x9BfS5Nhxr_ALYRvUOi9Rti5yMA4r1uAJnVT_bqPZNFn74BbHwykYuw47NK-fMGDn-Wh8xksLrNo0cYl/s2777/A%20Love%20Not%20ForgottenNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2777" data-original-width="1835" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBp9EpuUp8jfm1eUUeISSATU2jXMHA8cyj0IiB_D53LVJxpg-BBTHp0prQ0U-tXsUVRk31-_dG7prgofeFnkdVnwMQTu0ez3-96RMVNdRqO24x9BfS5Nhxr_ALYRvUOi9Rti5yMA4r1uAJnVT_bqPZNFn74BbHwykYuw47NK-fMGDn-Wh8xksLrNo0cYl/w132-h200/A%20Love%20Not%20ForgottenNew.jpg" width="132" /></a></i></span></div><span style="font-family: times;"><i>He can't remember. She can never forget.</i><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Allison White should be thrilled about her upcoming wedding. The problem? She's still in love with her fiance, Chaz, who was declared dead after being shot down over Germany in 1944. Can she put the past behind her and settle down to married life with the kindhearted man who loves her?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">It's been nearly two years since Charles "Chaz" Powell was shot down over enemy territory. The war is officially over, but not for him. He has amnesia as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, and the only clue to his identity is a love letter with no return address. Will he ever regain his memories and discover who he is, or will he have to forge a new life with no connections to the past?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">A Love Not Forgotten was formerly published in the Let Love Spring collection that is no longer in print.</span></span><p></p><p><b>Purchase Link: <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mv9xEJ" target="_blank">https://books2read.com/u/mv9xEJ</a></b></p>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-22618413632917224932024-03-14T01:30:00.002-04:002024-03-14T01:30:00.320-04:00Welcome back, Sherri Stewart!<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Talkshow Thursday: </i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Welcome Back, Sherri Stewart!</i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqP3DwV6LoyHIPzG98o6AuJ0WplJMaZwk3tFLVCh1JZBY2vGa2uqwl5g39qBJbL9KP3tU9GOIo3FWuK-Ad9TnkVH3i4HuBFxFmZoAHjo8iYbTIKfCgaTJBfGyiZFcMSOnktE3hXrAv62Wtm463eBahSgTrqRIfFbBtgQidzuTT-0nNRBNUrx2H0YN2tir/s1054/Sherri%20Stewart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1054" data-original-width="789" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqP3DwV6LoyHIPzG98o6AuJ0WplJMaZwk3tFLVCh1JZBY2vGa2uqwl5g39qBJbL9KP3tU9GOIo3FWuK-Ad9TnkVH3i4HuBFxFmZoAHjo8iYbTIKfCgaTJBfGyiZFcMSOnktE3hXrAv62Wtm463eBahSgTrqRIfFbBtgQidzuTT-0nNRBNUrx2H0YN2tir/w150-h200/Sherri%20Stewart.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>What was your inspiration for the story? </b></div><div><br /></div><div><i>Secrets Deep and Dark</i> has been on my mind to write from way before I wrote my first book. Twenty years ago, the idea for the book came to me while I was sitting in a hotel room in Phoenix, where my husband was attending a conference. A few weeks later, I mentioned my idea to a senior-high student in my journalism class. She told me the book had already been written by Francine Rivers. Great! I set the story aside until 2023. It was time to write my story.<br />
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What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?</b><br />
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My main character, Maddie Caldecott is a weekend anchor on the local news station, but I had no idea what an anchor or a reporter’s day-to-day work schedule was like. My only knowledge came from old Lou Grant episodes. So, I interviewed the morning anchor of the news in our town, and he was full of information for me. I like to visit the places in my books, so my son and I traveled to Zürich, stayed at the hotel Adler, where Brody stayed, walked the hill to Lindenhof Park, which is featured a lot in the book, attended the opera where Maddie’s grandmother worked, and of course, I ate wonderful Swiss food, such as raclette, cheese fondue, and rösti.<br />
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How are your characters like you? Different? <br /></b>
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We authors write what we know, so Maddie and I share many experiences. In a way, writing is cathartic, so many of things Maddie dealt with, I’ve dealt with firsthand or have vicariously dealt with through close friends and relatives. Like Maddie, when I was in high school, something happened that I blocked. I still don’t remember what it is, but it was so bad that I told my parents I would not return to the same school again. By the next Monday, I was living with my grandparents in a different town. Unlike Maddie, I was never raped, but I have close friends who were, and they told me exactly what they went through. What Maddie experienced was what my friends experienced.<br />
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How do you come up with storylines?</b><br />
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I believe God gives me storylines. Something within compels me to write a story. Normally, I have a general idea what I’m going to write, but God takes me in directions I never could have conceived of on my own. That’s why I let Him lead me where He wants to. <br />
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Why do you write in your particular genre?</b><br />
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My favorite genre is romantic suspense. I like the fast pace of suspense, where a character is faced<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6UfoV1q2bRVfeuy8RT-e0SrL-tuvGFbhTBvuDRdYfRUWQVkTvRwCG4ET_03WOHVvTTJlcCXB-k1IKlZqk4q6-fflcoo5PcM6ToocrhHw0o3p3jzosR0jv2l_jM06RoD6tIi8Qb8gNRT9dgSFxNEJ6-ba0xM_NQd0EH9XQ8mHjQ65AXZ42-jVeAU_3v-1/s1280/tape-6248777_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI6UfoV1q2bRVfeuy8RT-e0SrL-tuvGFbhTBvuDRdYfRUWQVkTvRwCG4ET_03WOHVvTTJlcCXB-k1IKlZqk4q6-fflcoo5PcM6ToocrhHw0o3p3jzosR0jv2l_jM06RoD6tIi8Qb8gNRT9dgSFxNEJ6-ba0xM_NQd0EH9XQ8mHjQ65AXZ42-jVeAU_3v-1/w200-h133/tape-6248777_1280.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Pixabay</td></tr></tbody></table>with issues they’re ill-equipped to deal with. My characters always have some flaw that adds to the suspense because it impedes their ability to deal with the problem that besets them. They have to draw on the Lord’s help to make wise decisions. In Secrets, Maddie hates to share her private life with the public. She only trusts two people in the world: her grandmother and her best friend, both of whom live outside of the United States. Maddie learns to trust one other person—Police Officer Brody Messner, and later she overcomes her fear of sharing her private life with the public in the most surprising way. <br />
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What is your process for writing?</b></div><div><b><br /></b>
I’m a pantser, which means I don’t write an outline, but I have a general idea where the story is going. I write 500 words a day five times a week. Pantsers always have to spend more time revising than Plotters—those who do outlines. I spend at least a month or two revising and editing before I send my book to a professional editor. I’m also an editor, but no one can edit their own book. I’ve learned that the hard way. <br />
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What is your advice to fledgling writers? </b><br />
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Let the words flow every day. Don’t worry about the final product. Join a writers’ group. Word Weavers is a good one. That way new writers will learn the conventions of fiction that are not taught in school—things like point of view and show v. tell. Also, every writer should attend a writers’ conference.<br />
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What is your next project?</b><br />
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Right now, I’m writing a Christmas historical romance that occurs on an ocean liner in 1910. Later this year, I’ll write the third and final book of my series of World War II books. The series hasn’t been named yet, but the first books are <i>A Song for her Enemies</i> (2021) and<i> What Hides behind the Walls</i> (2022). The last book will also take place on an ocean liner, so I’ll be sailing across the Atlantic in May. <br />
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Secrets Dark and Deep</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXola2fMlZE2-OiZRulIoGz7O8pfYiY5jBh5hPff_aAmTSUHffttDNFNjoNnMJg4dm2Mr8ETpECwl28hE2KOHWyaBFhxjlCYw7CpI8AyAH0UGtNgGgKcdNedl45PeIRnuLHQck3C2pWdPPIsw4kaqhbETOGX0Qra_Ml4HU0_rAhjKWrpJ7I5n1Zd_a8IHp/s2500/httpsbit.ly44l056l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXola2fMlZE2-OiZRulIoGz7O8pfYiY5jBh5hPff_aAmTSUHffttDNFNjoNnMJg4dm2Mr8ETpECwl28hE2KOHWyaBFhxjlCYw7CpI8AyAH0UGtNgGgKcdNedl45PeIRnuLHQck3C2pWdPPIsw4kaqhbETOGX0Qra_Ml4HU0_rAhjKWrpJ7I5n1Zd_a8IHp/w144-h200/httpsbit.ly44l056l.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>TV anchor, Maddie Caldecott, has a secret so deeply buried within that she doesn’t remember it. But the man called Absalom knows her secret, and his threats to exact his revenge are becoming more and more intrusive. As an investigative reporter, Maddie can dig out the truth of any story, but she can’t unearth the secret she’s blocked until it’s too late. <br />
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Police Detective, Brody Messner, is at his wits end. How can he protect Maddie if she resists his every suggestion? His need to protect her has become personal. From Orlando to Zürich, he follows her, trying to stay one step ahead of her assailant—all of his notes to her, and that song. <a href="https://bit.ly/49hKUNS" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/49hKUNS</a></div><div><br />
Bio<br />
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Sherri Stewart is woman of faith who loves all things foreign—whether it’s food, culture, or language. A former French teacher, her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food, and visiting the sites. She savored boterkoeken in Amsterdam for <i>A Song for Her Enemies</i>, and crème brûlée in Paris for its sequel, <i>What Hides beyond the Walls</i>, and raclette in Zürich for <i>Secrets Dark and Deep</i>. A widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who always has to fix her computer. As an author, editor, blogger, speaker, and Bible teacher, she hopes her books will entertain and challenge readers to live large and connect with their Savior. Join, chat, and share with her on social media:</div><div><br /></div><div>Newsletter: <a href="http://eepurl.com/gz-mv9" target="_blank">http://eepurl.com/gz-mv9</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sherri.stewart.756/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/sherri.stewart.756/</a></div><div>Twitter: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/machere" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/machere</a> </div><div>Instagram: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/Stewart_Sherri/" target="_blank">http://www.instagram.com/Stewart_Sherri/</a></div><div>Website: <a href="http://www.stewartwriting.com" target="_blank">http://www.stewartwriting.com</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-53987462644621492002024-03-13T01:30:00.002-04:002024-03-13T01:30:00.309-04:00Wartime Wednesday: Government Agencies Created During WWII<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Wartime Wednesday: </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Government Agencies Created During WWII</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZAtvWbmuS7l6yQJ5-e9ZfNBxYiHoKHFtxG14UAuc_DsSYVVN2gCuGs2yKqppjlT_lnxzTBPGEsWfo98c1J9PorYfTf36ehfISxCp5pQTbJL-Uo2TQlW6G3Y3lJ0X_3jknRQjMdRZryu_1BwzDf7XDKMbfqPqBjqhp6XDnrNGZvyodyls-8sCiPX_W07x/s640/us-capitol-477987_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDZAtvWbmuS7l6yQJ5-e9ZfNBxYiHoKHFtxG14UAuc_DsSYVVN2gCuGs2yKqppjlT_lnxzTBPGEsWfo98c1J9PorYfTf36ehfISxCp5pQTbJL-Uo2TQlW6G3Y3lJ0X_3jknRQjMdRZryu_1BwzDf7XDKMbfqPqBjqhp6XDnrNGZvyodyls-8sCiPX_W07x/w200-h150/us-capitol-477987_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Pixabay/Jacqui</td></tr></tbody></table>Here in the U.S. dozens of governmental agencies were formed during World War II to handle the logistics of operating during wartime. Many were disbanded at the end of the war, while others merged into other departments or grew and took on new life. Here are just a few:</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><b>Applied Mathematical Panel:</b> Who knew there was such a need? This organization was created near the end of 1942 and headquartered in Manhattan, New York as a division of the National Defense Research Committee. Workers' responsibilities were to solve mathematical problems associated with military efforts. According to the Defense Technical Center: </span>Investigations include statistical studies of various bombing problems, a summary of principal results of probability and statistical aspects of three torpedo studies, three mine clearance investigations, and an extensive study of the performance of heat-homing devices. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehkJ_LfvjR5RtpYLQIdZEFp9dSnt3K1sTcCGuLJX565leZ7dXv9jEqHm_pbJAiJ3xB2ZMwBdeSiwE7cY15ydsBIua_iS-cnM1Z-75deVx10kDsFbgY9r9p0oYoZasti31rmO6OoHGkgpm0Z0Do_-Tw2kfu8imCFj3HXNP0XQZQmbp7uU_LQVDS04P-XGc/s634/FDR_1944_Color_Portrait.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="634" data-original-width="440" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhehkJ_LfvjR5RtpYLQIdZEFp9dSnt3K1sTcCGuLJX565leZ7dXv9jEqHm_pbJAiJ3xB2ZMwBdeSiwE7cY15ydsBIua_iS-cnM1Z-75deVx10kDsFbgY9r9p0oYoZasti31rmO6OoHGkgpm0Z0Do_-Tw2kfu8imCFj3HXNP0XQZQmbp7uU_LQVDS04P-XGc/w139-h200/FDR_1944_Color_Portrait.jpeg" width="139" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Public Domain<br />Photo</td></tr></tbody></table><b>The Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, (</b>later known as the Office for Inter-American Affairs) was responsible for promoting inter-American cooperation during the 1940s, especially in commercial and economic areas. It was started in August 1940 with Nelson Rockefeller as its head, appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt. The agency's function was to counter Italian and German propaganda in the region. The FBI trained the secret police of friendly nations. By 1943, the OCIAA had a budget of $38 million and 1,500 employees.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>The National War Labor Board </b>was established on January 12, 1942, by an executive order ofPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt, to mediate labor disputes as part of the American home front during World War II.
The twelve-member board had a tripartite structure and was comprised of four members from each of industry, labor, and the public. Acting as an arbitration tribunal, the board had the effect of replacing normal collective bargaining during the war, as it had the authority to intervene in any labor dispute that it saw as endangering "the effective prosecution of the war" and put into place a settlement. The Board also administered wage control in national industries such as automobiles, shipping, railways, airlines, telegraph lines, and mining.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLHcnshkGY_98ssZOTIpjG4QTBtbN7tQNaQPE2DyLrsr3rZytpbU9vqvXCbwlhCxn0_KRcmHNqtdhBwdQw-nFYQWe5ffURTAg0Z3OY4NCtBM5peUQbSvF_dKeNqrgxWpLtvwi87voRsAEP4mLbdghchobVIEzbTDbOSXWV1dtT1P84AQ6MsvOFwMvRzgj/s150/William%20Donovan.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="121" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisLHcnshkGY_98ssZOTIpjG4QTBtbN7tQNaQPE2DyLrsr3rZytpbU9vqvXCbwlhCxn0_KRcmHNqtdhBwdQw-nFYQWe5ffURTAg0Z3OY4NCtBM5peUQbSvF_dKeNqrgxWpLtvwi87voRsAEP4mLbdghchobVIEzbTDbOSXWV1dtT1P84AQ6MsvOFwMvRzgj/s1600/William%20Donovan.jpeg" width="121" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Library of<br />Congress</td></tr></tbody></table>Office of Strategic Services</b> was the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and was founded in June 1942. The organization was based largely on Britain's Special Operations Executive, and William "Wild Bill" Donovan was appointed by President Roosevelt as head. Responsibilities included coordinating espionage behind enemy lines, propaganda, subversion, and post-war preparation. More than 35,000 individuals served in the OSS and included such notables as director John Ford, baseball great Moe Berg, actor Sterling Hayden, chef and author Julia Child, and historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>Writers' War Board</b> was the main domestic propaganda organization for the U.S. Interestingly, it was privately organized and run, using writers with government and quasi-government agencies. Author Rex Stout founded the organization two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor at the request of the United States Department of the Treasury. Originally part of the Section of Volunteer Talents of the Office of Civilian Defense, the WWB worked through the Office of War Information and primarily handled promoted government policy.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">___________________________</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b>A Love Not Forgotten</b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCQOq5jEAAUm9UQWs0IpFZSkSA20fdJl3AMfqWtpLBuTiwp_Qy-aFtI3AWrgioOm93XXupgLpH-udCZS4hu24koIFyfViiT_ZttfOVAt7bQJLDWkchrR7q57_6xMseYF1hylFjSZ7OBwHMOBRKRbsLOeNVExvZYSGLfq3z5KM_q6yanPlKRsPMx8wzITZ/s2777/A%20Love%20Not%20ForgottenNew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2777" data-original-width="1835" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCQOq5jEAAUm9UQWs0IpFZSkSA20fdJl3AMfqWtpLBuTiwp_Qy-aFtI3AWrgioOm93XXupgLpH-udCZS4hu24koIFyfViiT_ZttfOVAt7bQJLDWkchrR7q57_6xMseYF1hylFjSZ7OBwHMOBRKRbsLOeNVExvZYSGLfq3z5KM_q6yanPlKRsPMx8wzITZ/w132-h200/A%20Love%20Not%20ForgottenNew.jpg" width="132" /></a></div>He can't remember. She can never forget.</i> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Allison White should be thrilled about her upcoming wedding. The problem? She's still in love with her fiance, Chaz, who was declared dead after being shot down over Germany in 1944. Can she put the past behind her and settle down to married life with the kindhearted man who loves her? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's been nearly two years since Charles "Chaz" Powell was shot down over enemy territory. The war is officially over, but not for him. He has amnesia as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, and the only clue to his identity is a love letter with no return address. Will he ever regain his memories and discover who he is, or will he have to forge a new life with no connections to the past? </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>A Love Not Forgotten</i> was formerly published in the Let Love Spring collection that is no longer in print.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Purchase Link: <a href="https://books2read.com/u/mv9xEJ" target="_blank">https://books2read.com/u/mv9xEJ</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-59244210676293465052024-03-08T01:30:00.002-05:002024-03-08T01:30:00.133-05:00Fiction Friday: March New Releases<span><center>March 2024 New Releases</span></center>
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ACFW Fiction Finder website</a>
<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Contemporary Romance:</span></b></center><br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10128"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10128/10128_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10128" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">For Better or For Granted</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1496" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Amy R. Anguish</a> -- Divorce was never in the plans for Genevieve Stewart. Only four years into marriage, and everything has gone wrong. If only she could find her way back to the way things were before Scott’s job took all his time and energy, leaving nothing for her. Scott Stewart achieved his goal of becoming a high school principal younger than most in the state. Everything in life seems to be going exactly as planned until Genevieve threatens to leave. Suddenly, his dreams aren’t as clear as they once were. He desperately wants to stay married, but he can’t let down his school, either. The way back to love isn’t easy when you’ve grown used to taking each other for granted. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10010"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10010/10010_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10010" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Slice of Paradise</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2483" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Nancy Lavo</a> -- Single mother and baker Eden Lambert arrives in quaint Village Green looking for a home for herself and her 18-month-old son, Jake. Her warm welcome by her elderly hostess is offset by the cold disdain of Mary Jo's self-appointed protector, Joe Wolfe. At first, the long-legged blonde and her kid look like trouble to Joe. Mary Jo saved the builder's life years ago, and he will do no less for the woman he considers a surrogate mother. But as he keeps an eye on the unwanted guests, Joe's suspicions soon become replaced by admiration and respect for Eden's resolve and dedication to her son. With his background of abuse and abandonment, Joe is aware of the dangers facing the vulnerable and wants better for Eden and Jake. He offers her a business arrangement--he'll build her a bakery, and she can run it. As they join forces to start the bakery, can they overcome the scars of the past to find a recipe for love? (Contemporary Romance from Iron Stream Media)<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9873"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9873/9873_250_400.jpeg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9873" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tangled Up in Love</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1261" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carolyn Miller</a> -- When Ellie Reilly returns from a dream overseas trip, a too-long hug from her best friend Jasper Cohen clues her in that his feelings might be more than what she suspected. He's unsure about pushing their friendship further, and doubly uncertain when her European friend, Sebastian, seeks her out in Trinity Lakes. Uncertainty is something Ellie knows all too well. Since returning from her vacation, Ellie feels like she doesn't fit at her family's ranch or in small town life. When she is asked to take on responsibility for reopening Trinity Lakes' historical museum - a dream she's always wanted - she can't help but wonder if settling for life in the familiar is all that God has for her, or can she dare trust Him for more? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])<br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10085"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10085/10085_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10085" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Prestige of Hearts</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2276" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">R.F. Whong</a> -- When Chicagoan Grace Feng, a recent college graduate and a devout Christian, delivers her late mother’s letter to a billionaire, Mr. Lam, in Hong Kong, she expects a quick exchange. Upon their meeting, he offers her a job and luxurious accommodations. She reluctantly stays and befriends Kevin Cheung, the butler’s atheist son, and a jobless unpublished author. Haunted by a tragic past, Kevin finds solace in Grace’s company, but a mystery troubles him: Grace resembles several movie stars who date Mr. Lam, the town’s most eligible bachelor. Can Kevin unravel the enigma? Meanwhile, Mr. Lam’s college-aged son and a fugitive who fled China after the Tiananmen Square Massacre also vie for Grace’s affections. Caught amid a love quadrangle, will she retain her Christian values and guide them toward true grace? (Contemporary Romance from Vidaysm Publishing)<br>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">General Contemporary and Women’s Fiction:</span></b></p><br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9853"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9853/9853_250_400.jpeg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9853" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Between You and Us</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2456" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kendra Broekhuis</a> -- When Leona Warlon heads across the city to meet her husband, David, for a rare dinner out, she hopes they can share a moment of relief after their year of loss. But Leona quickly realizes this is no ordinary date night. She hasn’t just stepped into an upscale ristorante; she’s stepped into a different version of her life. One in which her marriage is no longer tender, in which her days are pressured by her powerful in-laws, and in which her precious baby girl lived. Now Leona must weigh the bitter and sweet of both trajectories, facing an unimaginable choice: Stay in a world where tragedy hasn’t struck but where the meaningful life she built with David is gone? Or return to a reality that’s filled with struggle and sorrow but also deep and enduring love? (Contemporary from Waterbrook/Multnomah)<br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10050"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10050/10050_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10050" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chokecherry Valley Faith</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2214" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jean Rezab</a> -- Alex Richmond is being released from prison after a two-year term for embezzlement. His former boss's cancer has returned, and the town blames Alex.
His wife, Courtney, looks forward to his return but worries about how the community will react.
Can Alex and Courtney work as a team after having been apart for two years and face the trials that will come with his return home? (Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)<br>
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<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cozy Mystery:</span></b></center><br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10056"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10056/10056_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10056" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Saguaro, Snowflakes, and Murder</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2423" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jenna Hendricks</a> -- Maisy Bransky’s life takes an unexpected turn when she inherits a quirky bookshop from her beloved great-aunt Jo. The giant saguaro cactus out front named Siggy, shelves filled with rare books, and the possibility of a small coffee shop inside seem like the perfect recipe for a peaceful life. However, tranquility is shattered when Jo’s archnemesis, the notorious local troublemaker Homer Kimball, is found dead near her bookshop. As the gossip mill starts churning, Maisy becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her name, Maisy embarks on a journey to unravel the mysteries hidden within the dusty shelves of Aunt Jo's bookshop. With the help of a rescued Frenchie named Ollie, a mysterious old cowboy, and unexpected allies like a quirky cactus enthusiast, Maisy discovers cryptic messages, hidden compartments, and a secret diary that hints at Aunt Jo's enigmatic past. As Maisy delves deeper, she uncovers a forged will, a lost treasure map, and a series of red herrings that lead her to suspect everyone from Aunt Jo's best friends, The Fearsome Foursome, to the local pirate. Can Maisy solve the mystery, unearth the secrets of the past, and prove her innocence? (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10112"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10112/10112_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10112" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Luck of the Irish</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2303" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Kate Darroch</a>, Kathleen Marple Kalb, C.A. Phipps, Amy Grundy, Jessica Brimer, Jessica Thomson, J.L. Lancaster, Jaclyn Weist, K. Rose, W. Jenkins</a>-- Ten Tantalizing Cozy Mysteries and the authors' favorite Saint Patrick's Day Recipes - sure to make you chuckle, and to keep you guessing! (Cozy Mystery from Ad Astra Press Inc) <br>
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<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Historical Romance:</span></b></center><br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9981"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9981/9981_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9981" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Streams of Courage</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/847" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sandra Merville Hart</a> -- In a world turned upside down by war and betrayal...will his role as a spy bring them closer…or tear their future apart? The war that Julia Dodd prayed to avoid is now reality, and with it, her world has been turned on its head. Her fellow citizens, who stood with her in their support of the union, have crossed firmly to the side of the south. And her mother, lost in her grief over the loss of her husband and children, can think of nothing but protecting Julia’s brother’s inheritance. She insists that her daughter seek a wealthier husband than Ashburn Mitchell. Ash knows what his fellow citizens think of him when he refuses to fight for the confederacy. Shouldering the accusation of being a coward and refusing to hide behind his limp, Ash remains in Vicksburg to support his family as a saddler while his two best friends join the fight. Struggling to increase his business so he can marry the woman he loves, Ash becomes a spy in support of the Union. He can’t fight for the South but won’t raise a musket against them. As tragedy instigates Ash to risk greater danger to speed the end of the war, Julia can only pray it won’t cost them everything. She’s already lost her father and two siblings. Must she lose the man she loves too? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10075"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10075/10075_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10075" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">To Speak His Name</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1745" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tara Johnson</a> -- Avalina is a woman trapped in silence. Stolen from her home in Ireland and sold as a slave to a Barbados plantation owner, the trauma of her past has left her mute, wrapped in a prison of loneliness and isolation amid an island of beauty. Though she longs to be free from the cruelty of her overseer, her heart yearns for a greater freedom…something just beyond her grasp. Josiah Holland has been born into a South Carolina slave-holding family but all it takes is one trip to the island of Barbados to open his eyes to the ugly cruelty that abounds beyond the confines of his plantation. With the aid of fiery abolitionist Benjamin McGee, Josiah forges a new future, fighting the very ideals he was once a part of. When Avalina and Josiah’s lives entwine, will their spark engulf them in destruction, or ignite a revolution? (Historical Romance from Story Architect)<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9839"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9839/9839_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9839" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Uncharted Peace</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/902" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Keely Brooke Keith </a> -- Lena’s stay at The Inn at Falls Creek leaves her torn between loyalty to her family and marrying Philip for love. (Historical Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])<br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10059"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10059/10059_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10059" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Seashells in My Pocket</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1134" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Terri Wangard</a> -- German-Brazilian Isabel Neumann delights in creating seashell art, but it’s her mathematical ability that lands her a job at the American air base in Natal, northern Brazil during World War II. She doesn’t need a calculator to determine the correct weights and balances for the Air Transport Command’s cargo planes. Daniel Lambert, an American transport pilot based at Natal, endures the taunts of combat pilots that he is “allergic to combat.” His flying skills win him respect, however, and his friendship with Isabel deepens, even as a new source of trouble looms. Isabel is caught in the crosshairs of a German saboteur who is obsessed with her. He insists that she belongs with him and demands that she help him sabotage the Allied base. Her growing relationship with Daniel angers the Nazi, who will do anything to get of rid him. What will happen to Isabel if the madman captures her? (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9932"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9932/9932_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9932" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Set in Stone</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1579" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kimberley Woodhouse</a> -- From the time she was little, Martha Jankowski has been digging in the dirt, much to the dismay of her mother. Now, she dreams of being a paleontologist and is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery. When Martha finds what she hopes to be a fully intact dinosaur skeleton--one that that could win her an acclaimed exhibit--she learns another team is competing against her and could steal her chance at being recognized for this momentous discovery. Paleontology student Jacob Duncan has fulfilled his dream of digging for dinosaur bones at last. In a race against time, he and his team are bent on unearthing a complete skeleton to claim a museum exhibit with their names on it. But when Jacob meets their charming competitor Martha and uncovers foul play within his team, love and danger grow hand in hand until a menacing ruse threatens to destroy it all. (Historical Romance from Bethany House)<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9915"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9915/9915_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9915" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Levi’s Vow</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/354" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Peny Zeller </a> -- Wrongfully imprisoned for a crime and disowned by his family, Levi Callahan endeavors to put the past behind him. When he travels to the Idaho Territory and secures a job on a small farm, he has no idea he’ll once again be defending the vulnerable. Norah Hammett knows what it means to suffer loss. After her husband leaves her and their children for a “better” life and her hired hand steals from her, she is left to run the farm alone. When ruthless men attempt to steal Norah's Idaho farm, can Levi help her save it? Or will he prove to be disloyal like the rest of the men in her life? Will God use desperate circumstances to bring two hurting hearts together? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)<br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9489"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9489/9489_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9489" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Love’s Promise </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/354" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Penny Zeller</a> -- Can one man's love win a fragile woman's heart? After Amaya Alvarado lost her fiancé to a senseless tragedy, she vows never to love again. Two years later, at her grandmother’s request, she travels to Poplar Springs to assist with the mercantile and help care for her ailing grandfather. During a stagecoach accident and a confrontation with nefarious outlaws, she crosses paths with a man named Silas McFadden who rescues her and the other passengers. Silas is not the man he once was. After a stint on the wrong side of the law, he’s now a respectable rancher in Poplar Springs, Wyoming. Amaya’s and Silas’s friendship soon grows, and she begins to trust him with everything but her heart. Can she push her growing feelings for him aside? When the past comes back to haunt him and revenge is sought, can Silas protect the woman he has come to love? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)<br>
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<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Mystery/Suspense/Thriller: </span></b></center><br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10067"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10067/10067_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10067" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Open Water</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/932" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Betty Thomason Owens</a> -- As much as Lisa Oliver wanted to believe that she could be safe in the small mountain community of Benning, Kentucky, she knew that wouldn't be the case when Agent Farrow's car pulled next to the school where she had been working. They'd found her again? Who was stalking her and why? Jake Bradley uses his widely popular "Jake on the Road" articles to help him continue to follow leads into Lisa's past, but he didn't expect the people whom he spoke with to be attacked and killed. How could he possibly protect this woman who had become so important to him when he so miserably failed at learning about her past and why someone had killed her parents? Lisa and Jake learn more about her past, and about each other, in this dramatic suspense. (Contemporary Mystery/Suspense from Write Integrity Press)<br>
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<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Romantic Suspense:</span></b></center><br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10058"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10058/10058_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10058" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Never Fall Again</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1183" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lynn H Blackburn</a> -- Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven’s guests, she’s finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction. Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family’s business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can’t bear to lose like that again. Before construction on the house can begin, Landry’s pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger—but from whom? Despite his best efforts to remain unattached and uninvolved, Cal knows that Landry needs him— and he fears he needs her just as much. (Romantic Suspense from Revell)<br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9535"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9535/9535_250_400.jpeg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9535" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Even in Death</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2121" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rebecca Hemlock </a> -- After receiving a note that her ninety-three-year-old great aunt is very sick, Emily Fredrickson assumes the worst. She's always known that she'd someday lose the only blood relative she has, but when she's met with a ghost story and a mysterious family keepsake, she must dive into the past to figure out how to get rid of the ghosts in Fredrickson Mansion and bring peace to her troubled aunt. (Romantic Suspense from Bluecap Publishing)<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9693"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9693/9693_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9693" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cold Case Target</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1124" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jessica R Patch </a> -- Caught in a serial killer’s deadly game with nowhere to turn… Interrupting an attempted murder—and leaving with incriminating evidence—makes Sissy Spencer a serial killer’s next target. With a flash drive in her possession containing disturbing proof of multiple murders, Sissy has no choice but to trust her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Beau Brighton, to keep her safe. But can they unravel the clues and track down a killer…before he catches them first? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])<br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10104"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10104/10104_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10104" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sweet Deceit</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1638" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sally Jo Pitts</a> -- Someone will stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Sweet County hidden. Public Relations Consultant ANNIE MCAFEE hopes to spend a quiet summer in Sugarville waitressing, housesitting and job hunting. But her plans are upended after she’s run off the road and narrowly escapes with her life. Rookie state investigator WILL BRICE is looking forward to a bright future with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement until the governor removes the Sweet County Sheriff and appoints Will to take his place. Propelled into the middle of Sweet County’s dark secrets, Will and Annie find that deceit hides beneath its sugar-coated façade and the townspeople prefer to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. Confronted with a web of mysterious threats, life threatening crises, and the death of a teenager, the two must work together with the help of an unusual sidekick to expose the corruption. Can this unlikely crime fighting trio crack the town’s sweet cover? (Romantic Mystery from Elk Lake Publishing)<br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10142"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10142/10142_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10142" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Caught in the Crosshairs</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1208" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Melanie D. Snitker</a> -- For single mom Erica Keyes, a normal day swiftly changes to one of terror when someone intentionally runs her off the road, endangering her and her son’s life. Already unsettled by the encounter, strange things begin happening at the B&B she owns, leaving her watchful and on edge. Unable to find a connection between the events, Erica is grateful for a handsome guest who insists on helping. In town to scout a new location for his private security employer, Cole Shepherd rents a room at the Tranquil Bed & Breakfast. When he realizes someone is harassing the lovely owner and her son, he'll do whatever it takes to keep Erica and Peter safe. As the danger escalates and the suspects grow increasingly desperate, it's clear that Cole and Erica are missing a key piece of information. Can they stay one step ahead long enough to figure out who is behind it all and thwart their evil plans? (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])<br>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Young Adult:</span></b></p><br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10068"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10068/10068_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10068" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Salvaged</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2501" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shanna M Heath </a> -- Hadley, forced to relocate with her estranged father at age seventeen, searches for belonging. A cancer diagnosis threatens to take her beloved Nonny, and a looming senior project might just break her. Has God forgotten Hadley Edwards? (Young Adult, Independently Published)<br>
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<b><u>Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:</u></b><br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10109" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trust and Trickery-Hivites</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1481" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christine Dillon</a> -- But what can a mere baker do to save his family, his city, and his people? (General Historical)<br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10118" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dawn’s Hidden Threat</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/524" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elizabeth Goddard</a> -- An unexpected search and rescue uncovers a hidden threat. Angie Harris doesn’t know whom to trust, except for the man who rescued her from a cold, dark cave and a grizzly bear. *Previously published in the Heroes in the Crossfire collection. (Romantic Suspense)<br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10084" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Guardian</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2225" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Cathy McCrumb</a> -- In order to save her allies, the Recorder must activate a drone, but her success might destroy any hope for freedom, a future, and a name. (Speculative Fiction)<br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10065" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dysfunction Junction</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1768" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Robin W Pearson </a> -- At the junction of healed and hurting, broken and whole, and past and present, three women wrestle with their inability to forgive and forget in this riveting Southern family drama about sisterhood. (Contemporary Literary Fiction)<br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10088" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Medici Quest</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2507" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jeff Raymond</a> -- Highlighted by accurate locations and blending in factual historical characters and events, The Medici Quest touches on the real-life topics of faith, grace, and redemption. (Thriller/Suspense)<br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10066" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Who Brought the Dog to Church?</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2502" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Tracy L Smoak</a> -- God works in mysterious ways—and through ordinary people. The town of Prosper is about to experience some drama—and it all starts with a dog who comes to church. (Contemporary General)<br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10087" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Caleb’s Cross</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2046" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Urcelia Teixeira</a> -- A suspenseful true crime murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. (Crime/Mystery)<br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10071" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Former Things Forgotten</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2482" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Thomas Michael Trezise</a> -- This intriguing and unforgettable story of love at the intersection of heaven and earth, where relationships are eternal and hard choices determine destinies, examines the questions, answers, and consequences of life lived for self or for God. (Contemporary Literary)<br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10055" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rocky Road</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/519" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Becky Wade</a> -- Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy "fake romance"! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story. (Contemporary Romance)<br>
Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-74887359098560051442024-03-07T01:30:00.002-05:002024-03-07T01:30:00.144-05:00Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post with Donna Wichelman<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">How A Rewrite of Your Manuscript </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Can Turn Your WIP into an A+ Novel </i></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">by Donna Wichelman</i></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOSNGwjvL0QB709WMKiHcoxN2VBW1HV9sckuCUbNvUgM5VeIwTTaue5xSarML10oRpNQtkWfcY2aDOJjZwgS9m83QoKjyCVQFmx4UD3lKYz6ZRSyZ0Ek5CKLdRifIjDrGDtqBBUWRgkxE6qUNrXJLSraFGqs4CmSKvJx7YdwOO5xcGV0-KXZe2yzxvnj5/s2100/Wichelman,D-5%20digital.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2100" data-original-width="2100" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJOSNGwjvL0QB709WMKiHcoxN2VBW1HV9sckuCUbNvUgM5VeIwTTaue5xSarML10oRpNQtkWfcY2aDOJjZwgS9m83QoKjyCVQFmx4UD3lKYz6ZRSyZ0Ek5CKLdRifIjDrGDtqBBUWRgkxE6qUNrXJLSraFGqs4CmSKvJx7YdwOO5xcGV0-KXZe2yzxvnj5/w200-h200/Wichelman,D-5%20digital.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>In December, I received my first contract from a traditional publisher after three years of pitching my manuscript to agents and publishers. The book will come out in December 2024. <br />
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However, before I was offered a contract, two agents asked for a Rewrite and Resubmit (aka R& R) of the first chapters. I had never heard of an R&R the first time an agent asked for one, but I soon learned that it meant the agent had seen something worthy in my writing and liked my story, but they wanted a rewrite to enhance the story. In both cases, I strived for what they suggested would improve the manuscript but missed the mark.<br />
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Of course, I was disappointed the agents chose not to offer me a contract. But looking back at the process, I’m incredibly grateful for their insights. Last August, I attended the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. One of the workshops was appropriately titled “The Rewrite,” presented by NYT Best Selling author Rachel Hauck. <br />
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Paraphrasing Rachel, she said, “No matter whether you are a seasoned writer or a novice trying to getyour first contract, you will not escape the inevitable rewrite.” She held up the first page from one of her published manuscripts. It contained red editing marks throughout—rewrites the publisher wanted her to make before the book went to press. <br />
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It takes a humble and teachable spirit to become a writer of excellence. But followers of Christ know Scripture is replete with commands like we read in 1 Peter 5:6, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time …” (NASB).<br />
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Agents and editors are not gods, but they have the wisdom, knowledge, and experience to know what<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavFHwjGHvg9CHc47m5ExvTiP2_ALbf7NXHCdYfeV_Ayn69X_3H4hxX60MhHFj4GQryPlqxldoaoZTRKsU3PUoTNRH4eoLu7Cqj_hXsamJA5gDHZuulhw_kDG6X4O8IclBIFixg8mXKRxnG1yAcBYQ5ATy3KMBy-gK1lTJnRHN0r1vMvLu-rV92w76xS3g/s640/prayer-1308663_640%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiavFHwjGHvg9CHc47m5ExvTiP2_ALbf7NXHCdYfeV_Ayn69X_3H4hxX60MhHFj4GQryPlqxldoaoZTRKsU3PUoTNRH4eoLu7Cqj_hXsamJA5gDHZuulhw_kDG6X4O8IclBIFixg8mXKRxnG1yAcBYQ5ATy3KMBy-gK1lTJnRHN0r1vMvLu-rV92w76xS3g/s320/prayer-1308663_640%20(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Pixabay/reenablack</td></tr></tbody></table>transforms our manuscripts into works of excellence. Sometimes, our pride can get in the way of allowing them to help us envision what can turn an A- manuscript into an A+. <br />
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For those of us working with a traditional publisher, it’s important to listen to our editors and agents to ensure our work is the best possible. If we are Christ’s followers, we should also aspire to represent Him with excellence. As Jesus said in Matthew 10:24 – 25, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he becomes like his teacher …” (NASB).<br />
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<br /><i>
A Rewritten Excerpt from my historical romance A Song of Deliverance </i><br />
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Stefan peered into her determined face and immediately adopted a languid pose, his lips slowly curving into a smile. “How do you do that?”</div><div> <br />“Do what?”</div><div><br />
“Remain so sanguine when the world around you is crashing before your eyes.”</div><div><br />
“Ach, you give me more credit than I deserve, Mr. Maier. As you know, life has not always doled out circumstances in my favor.” Anna peered off to the western mountain denuded of trees. “The last year has tested the strength of my fortitude, and there have been plenty of times I would have given in to despair, or worse, to have become a bitter soul.”</div><div><br />
“But you didn’t.” He was amazed she hadn’t, considering how he had initially treated her, evicting her from the miner’s cottage without mercy.</div><div><br />
“Only by the grace of God.” A soft glow entered Anna’s eyes as she gazed at him. “If you’d have told me a month ago that I would have to face life here on my own without an uncle to support me and only strangers to comfort me, I would have run to my Irish hills a coward. But God didn’t afford me the luxury of knowing. And so, here I am, weak as my faith is, having to trust that God’s grace is sufficient for my daily needs and catching glimmers of hope in the journey whose end is still unknown.”</div><div> <br />“All aboard for the stagecoach to Georgetown.”</div><div><br />
Stefan twisted his head toward the driver. People were gathering around the door. When he’d first seen Anna, he had preferred not to face her. Now, there was nothing he wanted more—more time to talk, more time to gaze into eyes that spoke light and truth into his heart, and he was struck by how, in such a short time, she had utterly changed his life.</div><div><br /><b>
A Song of Deliverance Publishing Date: December 2024, Pre-Orders in November</b><br /><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwRTNOBXLnySKrX32HtLnnmwIdsEA7xM8jjAN4kxMwKi6Hs_bbT7UsANaa-Io9Y5XFHdYKO0FBm3Ua_IBte1zsImNAdn0rv1Bk-OKAqY-PRzmgWcPGQnPZ0QtGtpIEBz-ZulcSZBWQwADI0MEDew2b3FZOKmhJCQE6PCM-iGxY9cwPnmmbRKhskgFB_QW/s640/books-1862768_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrwRTNOBXLnySKrX32HtLnnmwIdsEA7xM8jjAN4kxMwKi6Hs_bbT7UsANaa-Io9Y5XFHdYKO0FBm3Ua_IBte1zsImNAdn0rv1Bk-OKAqY-PRzmgWcPGQnPZ0QtGtpIEBz-ZulcSZBWQwADI0MEDew2b3FZOKmhJCQE6PCM-iGxY9cwPnmmbRKhskgFB_QW/w200-h134/books-1862768_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Pixabay/<br />Ondrej Sponiar</td></tr></tbody></table>Born into the Irish system of land-holding that favors the moneyed class, Anna Sullivan has no dowry and no chance of marrying the man she loves. Poor and heartbroken, she flees Ireland to tend to Uncle Liam’s house in Colorado and take on her deceased aunt’s sewing business.<br />
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But when Anna arrives in Georgetown, she discovers a mine disaster at the Singing Silver Mine has killed her uncle. Orphaned and destitute again, she gathers her faith, courage, and ingenuity to establish a life in the community. Only one person stands in her way—the mine’s owner. <br />
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A wealthy, grief-stricken widower of European nobility, Stefan Maier threw his energies into making his mark as a silver mining baron in Colorado when his wife and child died at sea, emigrating to America. Now, everyone blames him for the mine disaster that killed nine men. But how does he convince the lovely and opinionated Irish woman of his innocence?<br />
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Will Anna’s heart soften towards Stefan? Will Stefan prove himself worthy of Anna’s affection? Each will have to risk everything to attain what they want and need most—love. <br />
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About Donna:</b><br />
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Donna worked as a communications professional before turning to full-time writing. Her short stories, essays, and articles have appeared in various inspirational publications. She has two contemporary suspense novels in her Waldensian Series, Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor on Amazon.com. Her historical romance, A Song of Deliverance, will come out in December, published by Scrivenings Press. She is also working on a World War Two historical slip-time project set in Libourne, France.<br />
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Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of her love of history and English literature as a young adult while attending the United World College of the Atlantic--an international college in Wales, U.K. She loves to explore peoples and cultures of the world and enjoys developing plots that show how God’s love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, forgiveness, and redemption in a world that often withholds second chances. <br />
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Social Media Links:</b><br />
Website: <a href="http://www.donnawichelman.com" target="_blank">www.donnawichelman.com</a><br />
Blog: <a href="http://www.donnawicchelman.com/blo" target="_blank">www.donnawicchelman.com/blo</a>g<br />
Historical Blog: <a href="http://www.hhhistory.com" target="_blank">www.hhhistory.com</a><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DonnaWichelmanAuthor" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/DonnaWichelmanAuthor</a><br />
Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/DonnaWichelman" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/DonnaWichelman</a><br />
</div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-66761883878285554892024-02-29T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-29T01:30:00.256-05:00Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Kaitlyn Clarkson! <div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">How does an Author find the Right Readers?</i></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By Kaitlynn Clarkson</i></div></span>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe0vL70QF-6lBLTmLESuWBP5AX2qqubLcaGmtR-y3OoP2cQw14YV-_dHHZwV6NH9aAc7eaR64kb8OZzR4xBNZmTaUfP0MNu6xr_nHBMIUw8lUo5h3oxXhD4Bl2lL8YzWtHT0hFYZa0i24ZTs-OP0sMZCg8iB8uBLdF95YQrPsOYfUbpeqhNTh0ulXyh8Y/s2326/Kaitlynn%20Clarkson%20bio%20photo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2326" data-original-width="2320" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSe0vL70QF-6lBLTmLESuWBP5AX2qqubLcaGmtR-y3OoP2cQw14YV-_dHHZwV6NH9aAc7eaR64kb8OZzR4xBNZmTaUfP0MNu6xr_nHBMIUw8lUo5h3oxXhD4Bl2lL8YzWtHT0hFYZa0i24ZTs-OP0sMZCg8iB8uBLdF95YQrPsOYfUbpeqhNTh0ulXyh8Y/w199-h200/Kaitlynn%20Clarkson%20bio%20photo1.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>We’ve all been there. We eagerly await the latest offering from a favorite author or pick up a book that looks interesting, only to discover that it’s not to our tastes at all. We experience a moment of disappointment or distaste and might hesitate to try that author again. As a reader, this is perfectly normal and expected. <br />
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For an author, it can be disappointing that a potential reader didn’t like that book, but there is a lot more work that an author can do to ensure the right readers find their books. <br />
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So, how does an author connect with the right readership? Here are a few things authors can try:<br />
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1. Identify the ideal reader<br />
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This is a crucial early step when planning a book. Who is going to be reading your book? Are you creating a character or setting that resonates with certain people? Who is in your tribe of super-fans who just love what you do?<br />
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If your story is a family saga with romance, the ideal reader is going to be different from someone who would enjoy a sci-fi romance. One helpful hint is to think about your main character and begin by creating a similar reader persona for your ideal reader. Then, write with the picture of that person in mind. Many authors find it helpful to imagine writing their story for a specific person who will absolutely love their work.<br />
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Some authors gather data about their ideal readers from advertising, while others use organic (unpaid) methods such as building an email list, being active on social media, or teaming up with other authors to run promotions. <br />
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2. Hang out where the ideal reader spends time<br />
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One way to get to know ideal readers is to hang out where they are. It’s important to spend your time<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBzk84HkVsXq_BmbXg4KUgBcH6AicAfIoQebAIXHijhmkdKlzr76D7DwGC-nIpNh1MEw6a45Kgp0H_-khn-T8EhGsQjaaSvmuISoRYbDGcH62P-3xPInqdyWqqmnbLwfYLdhDcBawrqvYsBkSSLvh9Xv5C2-WTH617WaJm3AC3NKXyrLfrhyphenhyphennEpy4kUlY/s640/books-985954_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="449" data-original-width="640" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXBzk84HkVsXq_BmbXg4KUgBcH6AicAfIoQebAIXHijhmkdKlzr76D7DwGC-nIpNh1MEw6a45Kgp0H_-khn-T8EhGsQjaaSvmuISoRYbDGcH62P-3xPInqdyWqqmnbLwfYLdhDcBawrqvYsBkSSLvh9Xv5C2-WTH617WaJm3AC3NKXyrLfrhyphenhyphennEpy4kUlY/w200-h141/books-985954_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/Lubos Houska</td></tr></tbody></table>wisely, so knowing where your ideal readers are on social media (and in the real world) helps to avoid wasting time on activities that don’t benefit your readers or you as the author. <br />
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When you find your readers’ favorite places to gather, spend time there too. Ask questions and get to know people and what matters to them. <br />
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3. Understand what’s important to an ideal reader<br />
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As you write, always keep your ideal readers in mind. What are their likes and dislikes? How do they choose what to read? Are you offering them something of value? Will they find it irresistible?
Romance is an especially tricky genre for meeting reader expectations. An author must adhere to the (often unwritten) rules that govern sub-genres and tropes or risk alienating fans, so understanding reader expectations is critical for success. <br />
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4. Build connections<br />
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Readers love to connect with authors and are more likely to become loyal fans when authors make an effort to engage. Chatting in Facebook groups, answering reader emails promptly, and responding to reader comments on social media are all great ways to show your readers that you’re a real human. <br />
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5. Learn from other authors<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdqMCUnAVuVzKGkDSz3g4bGGDHWI0-CusFXyal9dWO3_4N98x1I9RSLXHSQehC74AR-fFVWpkv23conMH0FH5zKLq3Ta5SeF9HR_f3BpfBqSeX9La-jGIaCANcSiKtQ6W7ETn9JPJqAWH7WICOMBwFXPWJ96EX2UgSkD8xQKEFqZst92l_yepdbl20lgS/s640/adult-education-2706977_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="640" height="89" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdqMCUnAVuVzKGkDSz3g4bGGDHWI0-CusFXyal9dWO3_4N98x1I9RSLXHSQehC74AR-fFVWpkv23conMH0FH5zKLq3Ta5SeF9HR_f3BpfBqSeX9La-jGIaCANcSiKtQ6W7ETn9JPJqAWH7WICOMBwFXPWJ96EX2UgSkD8xQKEFqZst92l_yepdbl20lgS/w200-h89/adult-education-2706977_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/Gerd Altmann</td></tr></tbody></table>One of the best ways to learn more about your ideal readers is to network with other authors who share the same readership. They often have handy tips about what is working for them, and it’s also helpful to follow them on social media so you can see how their fans interact with them. Newer authors can learn a lot from other authors, and even established authors will pick up new ideas or ways of doing things by observing other authors. <br />
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There are many more things authors can do to find their ideal readers, but these tips are something everyone can implement and expect results. The perfect reader is out there waiting for your book to land in their hands!<br />
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Kaitlynn Clarkson has written over forty novels and novellas across several genres. Her latest offering includes <i>Ezra’s Brides</i> from the Double Trouble multi-author series. <br />
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Ezra’s Brides</b><br /><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqkHJ9lvLU-INVAp6pDq1bQM98Kdg5lbPxBzGus7KlNNV6O_TG5XjnkB8D-tSvJ2aZo54jCFR9ulW97IZ0A5lPIgAM02NPh5cfAYQZxbeFtqv8PGXyq61Ojl1UfGGfH9G5aetk5ou8O9TBlNesV28iSxNHwVt0Kce5cShTZbqWlGtAshUMvfLyg_c12R2/s900/Ezra's%20Brides%20-%20Copy%20Sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqkHJ9lvLU-INVAp6pDq1bQM98Kdg5lbPxBzGus7KlNNV6O_TG5XjnkB8D-tSvJ2aZo54jCFR9ulW97IZ0A5lPIgAM02NPh5cfAYQZxbeFtqv8PGXyq61Ojl1UfGGfH9G5aetk5ou8O9TBlNesV28iSxNHwVt0Kce5cShTZbqWlGtAshUMvfLyg_c12R2/w133-h200/Ezra's%20Brides%20-%20Copy%20Sm.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Two brides. He makes his choice. And then the unthinkable happens …</i><br />
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When Ezra meets his mail-order bride at the station, he doesn’t expect a second woman to fall at his feet. Deeply shocked, he has no idea what to do until his mother steps in and takes the girls into her expert care. But he still has to make a choice, and each woman is worthy of his love. It’s an impossible situation. <br />
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He finally makes his choice … only to have the unthinkable happen. Saved from disaster at the last moment, Ezra is almost ready to give up on finding a bride as he questions his true identity.
But even as he grapples with events of the past, love sneaks up. Will he allow his heart to receive it? Or will he forever be known as the man who couldn’t find a bride even when one fell at his feet? <div><br /></div><div><i>Ezra’s Brides </i>is Book 6 of the multi-author series, Double Trouble. It is sweet and clean with hints of faith and is a standalone story that can be read in any order in the series. </div><div><br /></div><div>Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/4bfZ7MM" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4bfZ7MM</a><br /><div><br /></div><div><b>About Kaitlyn Clarkson</b>:
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Kaitlynn Clarkson loves writing sweet and clean, faith-friendly romance stories. She writes in contemporary and historical genres because she couldn’t decide which one she likes best! She’s dreamed of writing ever since she was a little girl when she would get into trouble for reading instead of doing her chores.
These days, Kaitlynn lives on a farm with her husband and children and a herd of cows. She loves to play the piano and trombone in her spare time and is certain there will never be enough time to read all the books she wants to. You can follow Kaitlynn on:</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Website: <a href="http://www.kaitlynnclarkson.com " target="_blank">http://www.kaitlynnclarkson.com </a></div><div>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053078803312" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053078803312</a></div><div>Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/kaitlynn-clarkson/e/B07ZM93LSR" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/kaitlynn-clarkson/e/B07ZM93LSR</a></div><div>BookBub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kaitlynn-clarkson" target="_blank">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kaitlynn-clarkson</a></div><div>Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19929313.Kaitlynn_Clarkson" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19929313.Kaitlynn_Clarkson</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-46732565474738954552024-02-27T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-27T01:30:00.294-05:00Traveling Tuesday: Life as a Military Family<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Traveling Tuesday: </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Life as a Military Family</i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWVO_kAvANUVMKg-z5bELilqxHaQ6aEY1z4cs3x_rAxQGxT3MRROctYRtlZPfsJbvYGfFYjXA2y3qJhNRZtcsd9Y3VP0l5YOpFDpHkImU04JzIw94F_Sbw7ySZxQGNMOjWaOzcp8gMEQGoDtPUahFaBu8dZTyU06_eyxI6oRPNZEOktYrwCEHrpcRzGni/s640/army-2679138_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWVO_kAvANUVMKg-z5bELilqxHaQ6aEY1z4cs3x_rAxQGxT3MRROctYRtlZPfsJbvYGfFYjXA2y3qJhNRZtcsd9Y3VP0l5YOpFDpHkImU04JzIw94F_Sbw7ySZxQGNMOjWaOzcp8gMEQGoDtPUahFaBu8dZTyU06_eyxI6oRPNZEOktYrwCEHrpcRzGni/w200-h133/army-2679138_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/Military Material</td></tr></tbody></table>I bit off a lot when I decided to write a story that featured a member of the U.S. armed forces. Interestingly, my college roommate attended school through the Army ROTC program and encouraged me often to consider applying. I replied with snarky comments such as “I don’t look good in green,” “I have problems with authority,” and my personal favorite, “I have too many phobias to qualify.” Can you see me trying to explain why I can’t scale a wall because of my acrophobia or refusing to crawl through a tunnel because of my claustrophobia? In actuality, I knew I didn’t have what it took. <br />
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When it came time to conduct research for <i>Dial V for Valentine</i>, I reached out to the writing<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IHC2Mmc9jM6hjNzDoWZ0hLlmfIdvpLxq7ujmAw0WWNHkdA4oH_gSHu95_RDXo9z3eGVA_x_l6tb1m-5wuC-wVQ9khJ0opoh-8BTIU4kmjRhi5pSQbZfk-BCxakmOGurMR3QpzCmMv75E2phakl2kWtKesY7FIr_UWVxp-EoVTTDSG_Kqq4uMdYBEV6et/s436/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-29%20at%2012.02.19%20PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="362" data-original-width="436" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8IHC2Mmc9jM6hjNzDoWZ0hLlmfIdvpLxq7ujmAw0WWNHkdA4oH_gSHu95_RDXo9z3eGVA_x_l6tb1m-5wuC-wVQ9khJ0opoh-8BTIU4kmjRhi5pSQbZfk-BCxakmOGurMR3QpzCmMv75E2phakl2kWtKesY7FIr_UWVxp-EoVTTDSG_Kqq4uMdYBEV6et/w200-h166/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-29%20at%2012.02.19%20PM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazon Author Photo</td></tr></tbody></table>community through a newsgroup and almost immediately heard from USA Today and Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author Jodie Bailey. Her husband, 1SG(R) Paul Bailey, is apparently quite used to being a resource, and the two were a gold mine of information. I should have realized like any industry the army has its own vocabulary. Here are a few tidbits of what I learned:<br />
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Mission cycle</b>: A soldier can be called in and have to report within two hours. They can’t be more than a certain distance from home and must be in reach at all times. When called they can be “wheels up” in less than 24-hours. Someone is always on a mission cycle.</li><li><b>
Wheels up</b>: Literally, in the airplane and on the way to your assignment. </li><li><b>Rapid deployment</b>: Doesn’t just happened to any old unit or soldier at any time. A rapid deployment typically happens to those on mission cycle. It’s unplanned and typically in response to a world event.</li><li><b>Regular deployment:</b> Military members often know about these months or even a year in advance. Departure and return dates are well-known. These are rotational. However, a regular deployment can be extended. </li><li><b>Transfers</b>: If a soldier is transferred into a new unit, and that unit is deployed, he’s going along. It’s not like, oh, you’re new, you can wait until the next round. 😁</li></ul>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3akpMoW_NlO0OJYxMvxYCrZ9JuinkWh72nLSv1MKzkyyzCmwD9MrZQfXLlyXhFjap_5zOFVl3omFD5dAEYpMKGxwQpxC_jL_MG3hAH5E5RTuHSRV7yGsb3KphLoh2mII8K3GM112M44Ev7LnN6aKzRpLgRzWoi8JPq58D4dSjOmHLkuynmyMoHEEZJ9W/s640/marines-6970907_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="508" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI3akpMoW_NlO0OJYxMvxYCrZ9JuinkWh72nLSv1MKzkyyzCmwD9MrZQfXLlyXhFjap_5zOFVl3omFD5dAEYpMKGxwQpxC_jL_MG3hAH5E5RTuHSRV7yGsb3KphLoh2mII8K3GM112M44Ev7LnN6aKzRpLgRzWoi8JPq58D4dSjOmHLkuynmyMoHEEZJ9W/w159-h200/marines-6970907_640.jpg" width="159" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/alavays</td></tr></tbody></table>These few terms gave me a tiny inkling (is that redundant?) about the countless sacrifices members of the military and their families make every day. I can’t imagine having to report to a who-knows-how-long assignment or having my heart leap into my throat because I’ve just been tapped for a rapid deployment. <br />
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I loved writing this book, and the research gave me an even greater appreciation for those serving in the armed forces. There’s no way I have what it takes to be part of this special group of people. I hope <i>Dial V for Valentine</i> honors them and brings to light their daily sacrifices.<br />
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Thank a veteran or currently serving member of the military today!</b><br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">________________</div>
<br /><b>Dial V for Valentine</b><div><b><br /></b><div>
<i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTa5-ycdIYHc5G1IUZyM3BpVYpQ0rgMadm7jMj-7ED-ntMtjmV1HkDKpROSVSAppOwC9vI8E8K_l9vN3eS06ZGmhDpJxLVCqZNzEaMMf2vN1eqAy6wf-q19E4sLd38pzj4O6QOuP631fyTZHG7I0o-tZZ1V2k6N-ubwsg6MMjZZezgccUgbt8NoKIMMDuj/s576/V-for-Valentine-Matchett-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTa5-ycdIYHc5G1IUZyM3BpVYpQ0rgMadm7jMj-7ED-ntMtjmV1HkDKpROSVSAppOwC9vI8E8K_l9vN3eS06ZGmhDpJxLVCqZNzEaMMf2vN1eqAy6wf-q19E4sLd38pzj4O6QOuP631fyTZHG7I0o-tZZ1V2k6N-ubwsg6MMjZZezgccUgbt8NoKIMMDuj/w125-h200/V-for-Valentine-Matchett-sm.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>Valentine’s Day is perfect for a wedding. If only the bride will agree.</i><br />
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Being part of the military is not just a job for Fergus Rafferty, it’s a calling. He’s worked his way up the ranks and doing what he loves best: flying Apache helicopters. The only thing that will make his life complete is marrying Celeste. After he transfers to a unit scheduled to deploy in three months, he’s thrilled at the idea of marrying before he leaves so they can start their new life. Except Celeste wants to wait until he returns. Can he convince her to wed before he leaves?<br />
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Celeste Hardwicke has just opened her law practice when she finally accepts Fergus’s marriage proposal. Not to worry. She has plenty of time to set a date, then plan the wedding. Until she doesn’t. But a quickie wedding isn’t what she has in mind. Besides, why get married when the groom will ship out after the ceremony? When she stumbles on her great-grandmother’s diary from World War II, she discovers the two of them share the same predicament. <br />
<br />
At an impasse, Celeste and Fergus agree to call into WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love. Will DJ Erin Orberg’s advice solve their dilemma or create a bigger divide? One they’ll both regret.<br />
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Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/4bicqfm" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4bicqfm</a></div></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-80542782781422372552024-02-22T01:30:00.003-05:002024-02-22T01:30:00.142-05:00Welcome back, Valerie Massey Goree!<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">The inspiration for: </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Meet Me Where the Windrush Flows</i></div><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>By Valerie Massey Goree</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4L2BX5Ytn_Bpx1vtiWiR7_MpmFO3_Yqkt_VyTWesVt1_A5B0ZDfcZUs-ybaGC4auXMa2wlEOveUHfmh1nMJmGVr2dcvwGaItE8J57itkJrJzjHpmpNyU3jGd75KzLfPy9PtQ7r4J7GxBWMDrA3Cxi0PYIO2LaErnlY7w-ACNG5xVrfLlvjsO4i-Q6GDk/s2268/Valerie%20Massey%20Goree.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2268" data-original-width="1492" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4L2BX5Ytn_Bpx1vtiWiR7_MpmFO3_Yqkt_VyTWesVt1_A5B0ZDfcZUs-ybaGC4auXMa2wlEOveUHfmh1nMJmGVr2dcvwGaItE8J57itkJrJzjHpmpNyU3jGd75KzLfPy9PtQ7r4J7GxBWMDrA3Cxi0PYIO2LaErnlY7w-ACNG5xVrfLlvjsO4i-Q6GDk/w132-h200/Valerie%20Massey%20Goree.png" width="132" /></a></div>This is the first time the setting for a story has been my inspiration. In February last year, I was visiting with the woman who does my income taxes. She knows about my novels and my love of traveling. I mentioned that I’d like to return to England and stay in a cottage in a little village, something my husband and I didn’t do when we visited in 2019. <br /><br />She replied, “Good idea. You can do research for a book you set there, and then use some expenses as a deduction on your taxes next year.”<br /><br />Aha! That started the wheels turning. I immediately checked out villages online and found so many cute places. I chose Bourton-on-the-Water and then located a cottage that fit our needs. (A friend traveled with me.)<br /><br />We also wanted to attend the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland which is only performed in August. Now, the month was set.<br /><br />During the plotting stage of the story, I researched the history of the village and its location online. I had to have a reason for my hero and heroine, both Americans, to be in Bourton for more than a few days. The research provided the perfect reason for my heroine, and then I created one for my hero.<br /><br />I began writing with the knowledge I’d have to make revisions after I stayed in the village. We spent <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrYkOk9IKu3nNScVp-IIRh0Q5knKBNi4d7ZIhml9s614Y0gkNs_qERbAg-AavoknAHVCh-k66Q7QpAcC6avCydbp_9JrlIl5YE-5bCjO6GomhydhUSvBUkU9OSZOV5ePHS_R4tCfCeaAFsOgy5jTe_CjnQl55tPffMysrgr6LjU_XAyy8s19RIzii4IQ/s1280/ancient-70996_1280.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJrYkOk9IKu3nNScVp-IIRh0Q5knKBNi4d7ZIhml9s614Y0gkNs_qERbAg-AavoknAHVCh-k66Q7QpAcC6avCydbp_9JrlIl5YE-5bCjO6GomhydhUSvBUkU9OSZOV5ePHS_R4tCfCeaAFsOgy5jTe_CjnQl55tPffMysrgr6LjU_XAyy8s19RIzii4IQ/w200-h133/ancient-70996_1280.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/PublicDomainPictures</td></tr></tbody></table>eight wonderful days in the cottage and also enjoyed trips to other villages in the Cotswolds. Although Bourton-on-the-Water was inundated with tourists, it was still a magical place. I loved researching locations to use in my story while I absorbed the peaceful idyllic atmosphere after the crowds left for the day. <br /><br />The owner of the cottage agreed for me to use it in my story. My hero stayed there for a week. But he left Bourton briefly and when he returned, he had to find a different cottage. So did I. The owner of the second cottage also agreed I could use the real place in my story. She asked for a signed copy of the book to keep in the cottage for her guests. Both cottages are great places to stay.<br /><br />I know I will be able to use some deductions on my income taxes, but the benefit I derived from living in my cottage in my village far outweighs any monetary benefit. The Windrush River runs through the village, and I love that name. Before I ever left Texas, I’d decided to title the novel, <i>Where the Windrush Flow</i>s. However, while doing research in the village library, I found a non-fiction book with that title. I didn’t want to risk alienating the local population by using the same title. <br /><br /><div>Hence my title: <i>Meet Me Where the Windrush Flows</i>. <br /><br /><b>About the book:</b><br /><br />She’s an anthropologist working as a visiting professor in England. He’s a pediatric surgeon taking his ill mother on her bucket list trip to England.<br /><br />Grace and Logan are instantly attracted when they meet in a small village in the Cotswolds. But will the threat to her life and accusations of malpractice against him encourage their romance or keep them apart?<br /><br /><b>Excerpt:</b><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaaf93Phc12X2-Ni47ImlhOMSFDOurQyODKVTG66wDvUaQSiPyqkc5apGKpbyKWYy6GuFzPOG_yxkhDrf7H4CEtOBOnUP4EEJA6-83pWN3igFZ0t4Dw6K7GbM7gyFFSDp4G3IlR-_4gLL3UryQl5boX15ay7BZk-US0l9kRju_jZNcBet2XRy2IndCx0/s2500/Meet%20Me%20Where%20the%20Windrush%20Flows%20copy.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2500" data-original-width="1800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDaaf93Phc12X2-Ni47ImlhOMSFDOurQyODKVTG66wDvUaQSiPyqkc5apGKpbyKWYy6GuFzPOG_yxkhDrf7H4CEtOBOnUP4EEJA6-83pWN3igFZ0t4Dw6K7GbM7gyFFSDp4G3IlR-_4gLL3UryQl5boX15ay7BZk-US0l9kRju_jZNcBet2XRy2IndCx0/w144-h200/Meet%20Me%20Where%20the%20Windrush%20Flows%20copy.jpg" width="144" /></a></div>About to leave, he (Logan) couldn’t help but overhear the conversation at the table behind him.<div><br />“Do you think the bones I found might be Roman?”</div><div> <br />Intrigue stopped him in his tracks. Roman as in Roman ruins? He had to ask. “Excuse me. I heard your question. What…where are these bones? I’m interested in Roman ruins of any kind. While we’ve been in England, I’ve visited many sites. Maybe I can help?”</div><div><br />“Are you an archeologist?” Grace asked.</div><div><br />“No, a doctor, a pediatric surgeon, but I’m taking a break to help my mother.”</div><div> <br />“Why?”</div><div> <br />If anyone but Grace had asked, he would have responded only with a shrug. “Staying in Bourton-on-the-Water is on her bucket list.”</div><div> <br />“What a nice son.”</div><div><br />Debatable. Grace’s reply ruffled his usual calm. His trip to the UK and away from Texas was as much for his benefit as Mother’s.<br /><br />Purchase link: <a href="https://amzn.to/48jE1KC" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/48jE1KC</a><br /><br />Newsletter signup: <a href="https://bit.ly/VGJoinMyCommunity" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/VGJoinMyCommunity</a><br />Website: <a href="https://www.valeriegoreeauthor.com" target="_blank">https://www.valeriegoreeauthor.com</a><br />Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/ValerieMasseyGoree" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/ValerieMasseyGoree</a><br />Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B004GI3UAY" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B004GI3UAY</a><br />Bookbub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/valerie-massey-goree " target="_blank">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/valerie-massey-gor</a><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/valerie-massey-goree " target="_blank">ee</a></div></div><div>Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4491248.Valerie_Massey_Goree" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4491248.Valerie_Massey_Goree</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-42439773557420679672024-02-19T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-19T01:30:00.138-05:00Mystery Monday: Raymond Chandler<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Mystery Monday: Raymond Chandler</i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhnW2AJnaC7vWdRqzcDCmFSTP9fny-YdscjkWW8NQq4pSIk9rPUwyma7UFIHNLJRK7G2fAF3-krenGY9WjjuWuggIr_YuKwpew56MHRetf0fsojiFPky58_NnIDrA37SuZ6zjK7qtrJbCi-LFE0lgsdVAhVPZRoMVGKblWLmLhCT7M5MtlFR7xAxSRgRM/s350/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-29%20at%2011.10.42%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="350" data-original-width="284" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglhnW2AJnaC7vWdRqzcDCmFSTP9fny-YdscjkWW8NQq4pSIk9rPUwyma7UFIHNLJRK7G2fAF3-krenGY9WjjuWuggIr_YuKwpew56MHRetf0fsojiFPky58_NnIDrA37SuZ6zjK7qtrJbCi-LFE0lgsdVAhVPZRoMVGKblWLmLhCT7M5MtlFR7xAxSRgRM/w163-h200/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-29%20at%2011.10.42%20AM.png" width="163" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Britannica</td></tr></tbody></table>I am always amazed when I read about authors from the past who turned to writing to earn a living during difficult circumstances. Grace Livingston Hill is one of those authors, and Raymond Chandler is another. As a way to immerse myself in the world of my characters, I read books they might have read. The “hard-boiled detective novel” was a popular choice during the 1940s, and Raymond Chandler published quite a few.<br />
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According to several sources, Chandler decided to become a writer after he lost his job as an oil company executive during the Great Depression. Another source indicated he was fired for his alcoholism, absenteeism, and “promiscuity with female employees.” Fortunately, he seemed to find success with his stories almost immediately. But he’d done his homework by teaching himself how to write in the manner of pulp fiction authors by studying and imitating Erle Stanley Gardner’s work (most famously his Perry Mason stories). Chandler’s first money-making story was “Blackmailers Don’t Shoot” published in <i>Black Mask</i> magazine in 1933.<br />
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By the mid-1930s, he began working on novels in addition to his short stories. Published in 1939, <i>The<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDYSB9IMCmWKXbszUjskxEQupneTkia_wOubH-5Fv8pKzmOq2tyzTSPADh0nGVDk1HVwdxrGPY_bx-aKgedlwXiOPjDW9En7OvP2DpRh1zMthghAmROpCMJvNE6CCKImFSS0RHtyw-7zJ631uRlRtyl2Aykbn25IdKk0sBwU_xvkwyy6ttN9w0EZDWOyS/s378/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-29%20at%2011.12.59%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="378" data-original-width="276" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWDYSB9IMCmWKXbszUjskxEQupneTkia_wOubH-5Fv8pKzmOq2tyzTSPADh0nGVDk1HVwdxrGPY_bx-aKgedlwXiOPjDW9En7OvP2DpRh1zMthghAmROpCMJvNE6CCKImFSS0RHtyw-7zJ631uRlRtyl2Aykbn25IdKk0sBwU_xvkwyy6ttN9w0EZDWOyS/w146-h200/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-29%20at%2011.12.59%20AM.png" width="146" /></a></div>Big Sleep</i>, featured detective Philip Marlowe and was an almost instant best-seller. The second Marlowe book, <i>Farewell, My Lovely</i>, was published the following year and became the basis for three different movie versions. This led to a successful screenplay career in addition to his novels. Marlowe was his most famous character, and he went on to write seven of them.<br />
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Enamored with California (where he set most of his books), Chandler and his wife moved to La Jolla in 1946. Sadly, he lost his wife to illness in 1954 which exacerbated Chandler’s drinking and his depression. His writing suffered, and he traveled to England, but the trip didn’t seem to do much for him. He returned to La Jolla where he passed away in 1959. In 1988, on the hundredth anniversary of Chandler’s birth, Author Robert B. Parker completed Chandler’s unfinished manuscript <i>Poodle Springs</i>. The book was published in October 1989.<br />
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<br /><b>Dial V for Valentine</b><div><b><i><br /></i></b><div>
<i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPqZhkKpFM3BRq7jVIE91mHmgC56jH5eH3Hh4X4tAQaEbAOqr6fAoCpPZJBu-o_l_itUMO_w8codkcZee1ehyphenhyphenoiV9aIgT92Jt5wRWJf1n3DU18t7zlJraUao1dT2vP9jSuqz0WxCC1cTrqObH3V9hZPLrIu53M1ZnShbKZ2mGOhablIZjUBiPDOCjhoJn/s576/V-for-Valentine-Matchett-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGPqZhkKpFM3BRq7jVIE91mHmgC56jH5eH3Hh4X4tAQaEbAOqr6fAoCpPZJBu-o_l_itUMO_w8codkcZee1ehyphenhyphenoiV9aIgT92Jt5wRWJf1n3DU18t7zlJraUao1dT2vP9jSuqz0WxCC1cTrqObH3V9hZPLrIu53M1ZnShbKZ2mGOhablIZjUBiPDOCjhoJn/w125-h200/V-for-Valentine-Matchett-sm.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>Valentine’s Day is perfect for a wedding. If only the bride will agree.</i><br />
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Being part of the military is not just a job for Fergus Rafferty, it’s a calling. He’s worked his way up the ranks and doing what he loves best: flying Apache helicopters. The only thing that will make his life complete is marrying Celeste. After he transfers to a unit scheduled to deploy in three months, he’s thrilled at the idea of marrying before he leaves so they can start their new life. Except Celeste wants to wait until he returns. Can he convince her to wed before he leaves?<br />
<br />
Celeste Hardwicke has just opened her law practice when she finally accepts Fergus’s marriage proposal. Not to worry. She has plenty of time to set a date, then plan the wedding. Until she doesn’t. But a quickie wedding isn’t what she has in mind. Besides, why get married when the groom will ship out after the ceremony? When she stumbles on her great-grandmother’s diary from World War II, she discovers the two of them share the same predicament. <br />
<br />
At an impasse, Celeste and Fergus agree to call into WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love. Will DJ Erin Orberg’s advice solve their dilemma or create a bigger divide? One they’ll both regret.<br />
<br />
</div></div><div>Purchase link: <a href="https://amzn.to/4bicqfm" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4bicqfm</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-71980452001700295572024-02-15T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-15T01:30:00.133-05:00Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back Barbara Britton! <div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>The Delight and Dilemmas of Writing Biblical Fiction</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>By Barbara M. Britton</i></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAKkHBPr2d8oUJ4wR3ZCCqWaD-_wMB0l5mx4rDZTaa5IKwXWo0UBlSX_MPDlEMWEV9YZlKkE2Vvx4Gy4856ktOvI1OtsTMccNIhGIRFOCjlR5fhOXGzZb5vExG5N9RvSVlxJgdK2fH8cw63RXD15mFN73KDVxghY9skcWrUu4Jbiz6HFbD3x2NLBnbI9j/s750/Britton-%20Head%20Shot%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAKkHBPr2d8oUJ4wR3ZCCqWaD-_wMB0l5mx4rDZTaa5IKwXWo0UBlSX_MPDlEMWEV9YZlKkE2Vvx4Gy4856ktOvI1OtsTMccNIhGIRFOCjlR5fhOXGzZb5vExG5N9RvSVlxJgdK2fH8cw63RXD15mFN73KDVxghY9skcWrUu4Jbiz6HFbD3x2NLBnbI9j/w160-h200/Britton-%20Head%20Shot%20(1).jpg" width="160" /></a></div>I love bringing little-known Bible stories to light. I spent many years teaching chapel where I taught stories from the Bible using drama and visuals. My teaching eventually morphed into writing Biblical Fiction. <br />
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When you write about history, sometimes you have to go against traditional writing rules.<br />
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Main characters should have names that are easy to pronounce, so the reader isn’t confused. Some of the heroes of the faith have names that are difficult to pronounce. Most readers are familiar with Noah and Abraham, but throw in Ittai and Micaiah, and readers are left wondering how to say the name of your character. Writers are also taught to avoid similar-sounding names. History is history, and families didn’t necessarily take writing rules into account when naming their kids.<br />
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When I wrote about the daughters of Zelophehad (Who?), all the sisters had names that ended in ‘ah.’ I tried to give the sisters personalities that eclipsed their similar names. Biblical Fiction readers deserve a star for wading through complicated names.<br />
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Romance is the bestselling genre of all time. But, in Biblical Fiction, the customs of the day prohibited men and women from casually associating with one another, let alone touching. Chaperones were plentiful to protect one’s reputation. There were no couples slipping off in the dark at a fancy ball. Biblical Fiction authors have to work extra hard to show a relationship budding without physical contact.<br />
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I’ve written contemporary romance stories, too. In a critique group, one of my friends asked me if I<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6EZgtn3e4oWfRSwXt3pLjSg53uWhZmhs4VYNGC8NVXUUGdym9Ssrq7YJt8UWplt7AVovGhHo39pvo-O3uTbBIVGSks_HWcRw2-EUCQaoMhPpijhad_LckXBihdAKidpzvuTmtFKwQd5swgJwMDsVmm_QRtQPWokoCKEoMHEPHqy-zj8ozQVOiiBL4r3W/s640/hands-63743_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="427" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6EZgtn3e4oWfRSwXt3pLjSg53uWhZmhs4VYNGC8NVXUUGdym9Ssrq7YJt8UWplt7AVovGhHo39pvo-O3uTbBIVGSks_HWcRw2-EUCQaoMhPpijhad_LckXBihdAKidpzvuTmtFKwQd5swgJwMDsVmm_QRtQPWokoCKEoMHEPHqy-zj8ozQVOiiBL4r3W/w134-h200/hands-63743_640.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/<br />Ichigo121212</td></tr></tbody></table>was writing a romance because my characters weren’t touching. Not even holding hands. I realized that I was staying in the Biblical Fiction groove, and I needed to change how I approached characters in the twenty-first century. For me, it was almost scandalous to have my characters kiss.<br />
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Research goes hand-in-hand with writing historical novels. While we have plenty of photographs and memorabilia from the WWII era, we have little, if anything from biblical times. Biblical Fiction writers have to cross-reference Bible passages and find relics near the time of their Bible story. Sometimes, we have to take an educated guess at how people in the Bible performed tasks. <br />
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You’ll find many writers delving into research to avoid getting words written on a page. That writing truth crosses every genre. Research can lead down rabbit trails and pretty soon the day has flown by.
Writers of historical fiction work to bring a time period to life for the reader. I enjoy diving into the Bible and learning something new. The Living Word never ceases to amaze me. Authoring Old Testament, and even New Testament stories, makes my job a challenge, yet it’s a delight. I may break a few writing rules when crafting a story set in Bible Times, or about a Bible hero, but without brave authors, we wouldn’t have Biblical Fiction. <br />
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Who is your favorite person from the Bible? Have you read any Biblical Fiction about their life?</i><br />
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David is easy to pronounce, but Ittai?<br />
<br /><b>About “Defending David” (Yes, there’s romance).</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAi7d52udYlNzjXqAItTo4Am6JoW7KptOFNkUt4LtuCTPhGmxkEq26hB3yz69ihJHFIH8jyQwDMKZjWQclQKGKjKbL4V7ykQ3GO63i6aYBhyPV1_tn2JzTwhy_1PJZa4Pibs_vSj9NBUhLo-J1PiD8v06NhAjlKmZGM3S-MYmxlM8JOLFOw1z-TGhds3x/s680/DefendingDavid_h13065_680%20(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="410" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEAi7d52udYlNzjXqAItTo4Am6JoW7KptOFNkUt4LtuCTPhGmxkEq26hB3yz69ihJHFIH8jyQwDMKZjWQclQKGKjKbL4V7ykQ3GO63i6aYBhyPV1_tn2JzTwhy_1PJZa4Pibs_vSj9NBUhLo-J1PiD8v06NhAjlKmZGM3S-MYmxlM8JOLFOw1z-TGhds3x/w121-h200/DefendingDavid_h13065_680%20(5).jpg" width="121" /></a></div>When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six hundred warriors.<br />
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Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land.<br />
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Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?<br />
<div><br /></div><div>Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/4bAtzky" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4bAtzky</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com4New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-55996759487984373362024-02-14T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-14T01:30:00.312-05:00Wayback Wednesday: In Memoriam<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Wayback Wednesday: In Memoriam</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhLxbKVPjpggFjQ-iJqabNF8hyiYav7E9jQil-HHoZugQKdXR0sj1I8OMP4RSo_R1t79Ehb3eB_hHGJVB1LfL7CRDlfa1mT1XlsRwkXpU_U_bjzIp7LURrNpIzMezgaUEhmu4LnjK1n05dpXmhO6MMt0fCq3RXz4I3MoybCI9EBljQQPazq1FPmki5lAe/s4032/20220413_082417.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVhLxbKVPjpggFjQ-iJqabNF8hyiYav7E9jQil-HHoZugQKdXR0sj1I8OMP4RSo_R1t79Ehb3eB_hHGJVB1LfL7CRDlfa1mT1XlsRwkXpU_U_bjzIp7LURrNpIzMezgaUEhmu4LnjK1n05dpXmhO6MMt0fCq3RXz4I3MoybCI9EBljQQPazq1FPmki5lAe/w150-h200/20220413_082417.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>This is a post from a couple of years ago in celebration of my mom whose birthday is today. It's been edited to reflect that she has since passed on, but I will always equate Valentine's Day with her instead of chocolates and flowers.</div><div><br /></div>Today is Valentine's Day, and for most people that means candy and flowers. However, the day has never been about romance for me because it's my mother's birthday. I'm blessed that she lived close by for almost twenty years and was in good health, something I don't take for granted. She was an intriguing mix of her parents: shy and an avid reader like her mother, and tenacious and independent like her dad.
Born in the middle of the Great Depression, she was raised on a farm in a small town in Maryland surrounded by lots of extended family where she was more comfortable with outside chores than being in the kitchen. As a result, she had an encyclopedic knowledge of plants and trees and could easily have had a career as a landscape architect. You should see her front yard! (Unfortunately, the new owners of her house aren't quite as gifted.)<div>
<br />By the time she started school, the country was at war, and several of her uncles and cousins went<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgnIm1YJFeJKtAFXjScXgepXc5NK-t64RApPdBVEp7D2jFPuucEYLcEk_Yo9qDspCmvp188ltklpd-R01Ji5W74Xbrp5bWxKVC-buNRr7DtLvTrS6Mw7wYB1Ubgjlqqp-OGw1DZS2nRXfDwrS7bI_HJ-j2gQteeSH7fQB28j00mJUG4MMJ47ZZ2f8BQSj/s4032/20240129_100450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOgnIm1YJFeJKtAFXjScXgepXc5NK-t64RApPdBVEp7D2jFPuucEYLcEk_Yo9qDspCmvp188ltklpd-R01Ji5W74Xbrp5bWxKVC-buNRr7DtLvTrS6Mw7wYB1Ubgjlqqp-OGw1DZS2nRXfDwrS7bI_HJ-j2gQteeSH7fQB28j00mJUG4MMJ47ZZ2f8BQSj/w150-h200/20240129_100450.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mom and her brother,<br />my Uncle Lawrence</td></tr></tbody></table>overseas to serve, some of whom didn't return. Despite being fairly young during WWII, she had strong memories of collecting scrap metal and looking at the maps on the front of the newspapers. She recalled her mother saving fat and mending the family's clothes rather than making new ones. Because of living on the farm, rationing didn't affect Mom or the family as much as it did my dad who lived in Baltimore City, although she did talk about gas rationing and the fact the family rarely went anywhere. She was eleven years old when the war ended.<br />
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Her folks scrimped and saved to purchase a piano and arrange lessons for her. She took to the instrument like the proverbial duck to water and by early high school was playing for the church choir. Further saving allowed her to attend Western Maryland College where she obtained her bachelor's degree in music and met my father. They married, and she followed him to various locations first with the Army, then Citgo, and finally IBM. At each location, she got involved in their church's music program, often serving as church pianist. Her love of books prompted her to start libraries in several of her churches.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl4igFsFS2v08jO-wDU18ZFU9nzuK4GdSO42n1H3jHRgq3AihC32Fo4lTa5KlEyan2dKvzyEkA7WHuKO7WosJBxv_pncd11jN8url-_eCNhp6XLw_4vq20ETjKKcaGDR6y-wu7Vc3eU_o6slmowqD4gG_Y7djWh3nDNej3h93Kbnk_oHmGmFMqrfeyanZ/s1768/MomCards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1328" data-original-width="1768" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDl4igFsFS2v08jO-wDU18ZFU9nzuK4GdSO42n1H3jHRgq3AihC32Fo4lTa5KlEyan2dKvzyEkA7WHuKO7WosJBxv_pncd11jN8url-_eCNhp6XLw_4vq20ETjKKcaGDR6y-wu7Vc3eU_o6slmowqD4gG_Y7djWh3nDNej3h93Kbnk_oHmGmFMqrfeyanZ/w200-h150/MomCards.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>She had friends all over the country and faithfully corresponded with them using the postal system. That's right - no email for her. She'd much rather handwrite a letter - a lost art. And folks didn't have to be far away for her to bless them with a card or letter - I've received quite a few myself (many of which I still have.)</div><div><br />
Happy birthday, Mom! I wish you were still here so I could say how much I love you! </div><div style="text-align: center;">_______________</div><div><br /></div><div><b>Dial V for Valentine</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0XN4gNfzqmonYp4JBmEHQbK-pHeMhZ-yqmtOs_9oW2G50At8-7e5TyJKtMJoTCyMX6Q7VJsh4OVFJra14cVUj449t4obbMhHd91SVxSNXgsG5sK327msbgIgqRNlfCPDKetSatGdvN8hdmU2oe3B8sFGMPOKyTjNdTvqEi8T-GhwQezm1RAXGqgV5OoW/s576/V-for-Valentine-Matchett-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="360" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0XN4gNfzqmonYp4JBmEHQbK-pHeMhZ-yqmtOs_9oW2G50At8-7e5TyJKtMJoTCyMX6Q7VJsh4OVFJra14cVUj449t4obbMhHd91SVxSNXgsG5sK327msbgIgqRNlfCPDKetSatGdvN8hdmU2oe3B8sFGMPOKyTjNdTvqEi8T-GhwQezm1RAXGqgV5OoW/w125-h200/V-for-Valentine-Matchett-sm.jpg" width="125" /></a></div>Valentine’s Day is perfect for a wedding. If only the bride will agree.<br /></i>
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Being part of the military is not just a job for Fergus Rafferty, it’s a calling. He’s worked his way up the ranks and doing what he loves best: flying Apache helicopters. The only thing that will make his life complete is marrying Celeste. After he transfers to a unit scheduled to deploy in three months, he’s thrilled at the idea of marrying before he leaves so they can start their new life. Except Celeste wants to wait until he returns. Can he convince her to wed before he leaves?<br />
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Celeste Hardwicke has just opened her law practice when she finally accepts Fergus’s marriage proposal. Not to worry. She has plenty of time to set a date, then plan the wedding. Until she doesn’t. But a quickie wedding isn’t what she has in mind. Besides, why get married when the groom will ship out after the ceremony? When she stumbles on her great-grandmother’s diary from World War II, she discovers the two of them share the same predicament. <br />
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At an impasse, Celeste and Fergus agree to call into WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love. Will DJ Erin Orberg’s advice solve their dilemma or create a bigger divide? One they’ll both regret.<div><br /></div><div>Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/4bicqfm" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/4bicqfm</a><br />
<br /></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-15233230993875425162024-02-13T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-13T01:30:00.155-05:00Traveling Tuesday: Military Bases<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Traveling Tuesday: Military Bases</i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmhw6bSdPDemHbRquSyxaq0qVtF7sfUVfTvWH5IzVmRBtP0JcTJZvSQ9Xq9eiUNe47iZIX61mabjmgoajY45h6Xy4vg1HE_Midq0Ur6zyjeej0JEnuzTuvKew-84nXFkSEEbsnboochkCJeD8eNQXvl1dU67Bk2oOyJ4coqA77MFEKP3IkVRyDK6WBz69/s640/humvee-2530700_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmhw6bSdPDemHbRquSyxaq0qVtF7sfUVfTvWH5IzVmRBtP0JcTJZvSQ9Xq9eiUNe47iZIX61mabjmgoajY45h6Xy4vg1HE_Midq0Ur6zyjeej0JEnuzTuvKew-84nXFkSEEbsnboochkCJeD8eNQXvl1dU67Bk2oOyJ4coqA77MFEKP3IkVRyDK6WBz69/w200-h134/humvee-2530700_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/Military Material</td></tr></tbody></table>My father served in the Army reserves when I was a small child, but I wouldn’t say I come from a military family. And despite having lots of friends who were part of the military and often driving past Fort Meade in Maryland and Fort Belvoir in Virginia, my knowledge of the life is limited, so when I decided to write Dial V for Valentine, I needed to do quite a bit of research.
I was surprised at what I discovered and now have a great appreciation for those who serve in the armed forces and their families. <br />
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According to one source,1 the U.S. has approximately 750 bases in at least eighty countries. Just in Japan, there are 120 active bases, with 119 in Germany, and seventy-three in Korea. The article goes on to say that the actual number is unknown and probably higher, because the Pentagon doesn’t “release all data.”<br />
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Large bases are defined as military installations with an area of more than ten acres or have a value of<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJbO8aPJd1IYLHAtRPHd7zJV6O1lOV0XecV4b4gzh7lomEqSPOS_ZfFB3F1nasGPxsX8xsVC8j-_3TbVQ-ZXjSkkC431clt5U7-AwoNmDyHl1MxIqaN2taZJRhiBhlXBbA6MreWEtrUXgOp4Ue-BSIsMNKgsYpTgcka4fyWz_tn0rjkGuuOAV7H9NCO4-/s1021/Map_Main_Post.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="782" data-original-width="1021" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYJbO8aPJd1IYLHAtRPHd7zJV6O1lOV0XecV4b4gzh7lomEqSPOS_ZfFB3F1nasGPxsX8xsVC8j-_3TbVQ-ZXjSkkC431clt5U7-AwoNmDyHl1MxIqaN2taZJRhiBhlXBbA6MreWEtrUXgOp4Ue-BSIsMNKgsYpTgcka4fyWz_tn0rjkGuuOAV7H9NCO4-/w200-h153/Map_Main_Post.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy Fort Meade</td></tr></tbody></table>more than $10 million. Typically, two hundred or more servicemen and women are stationed at a base of this size. Small bases are called lily pads and with an area of four acres or less. Some bases are branch-specific such as Belvoir and Meade which are both army bases. Others are joint bases such as Joint Base Pearl Harbor – Hickham which houses the Air Force and the Navy. Other bases have specific roles such as boot camps and training centers.<br />
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To give you an idea of what a large base encompasses, Fort Meade, which is featured in Dial V for Valentine, consists of 5,400 acres (or approximately 8.5 square miles) with more than sixty-five miles of paved roads and about 1,300 buildings. Fort Belvoir consists of more than 8,600 acres. The smallest active U.S. military base in the U.S. is Ammunition Depot Indian Island in Port Hadlock, Washington, a naval base that is staffed by only a dozen or fewer personnel.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolNpoEVF8acUePS4eJ8Vjtn-v4CJYIfXKyUgVA6GtbxQU1lAFZdg2R9EpExGpE4yzbnfcQM01enz5UoXq4605CxIKiqWtRlTm2A4DsJzwAbUNsiyB8ZR0CvLi7ehAX-bq8b-N_hyphenhyphenSPC89hpf4Nhg0RwIhHxlC0T0H0Er2Ipqx4vwGYrsXeJp4mKD-bn_J/s640/barracks-6061283_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiolNpoEVF8acUePS4eJ8Vjtn-v4CJYIfXKyUgVA6GtbxQU1lAFZdg2R9EpExGpE4yzbnfcQM01enz5UoXq4605CxIKiqWtRlTm2A4DsJzwAbUNsiyB8ZR0CvLi7ehAX-bq8b-N_hyphenhyphenSPC89hpf4Nhg0RwIhHxlC0T0H0Er2Ipqx4vwGYrsXeJp4mKD-bn_J/w200-h134/barracks-6061283_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/Ken Haines</td></tr></tbody></table>During basic training, all enlisted service members are required to live in the barracks. When they move to their permanent duty station, only single members are required to live in unaccompanied housing or barracks. During dependent-restricted assignments, non-commissioned and commissioned officers may also be required to live in barracks. Generally, housing is provided for active-duty individuals whether they are living on or off base. Unless designated as key or essential personnel, single officers are authorized to reside off-base. Outside the U.S., officer quarters are usually made available on base.<br />
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Have you been part of a military family? Thank you for your service!</i><br />
<br /><b>About Dial V for Valentine</b><div><b><br /></b><div>
<i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobbCZfYr9S73Ci2gJ6RC4AebUB8C5x84FQ8roGL3aDwr6k5rrwtdIfsrGrJ3k8V24IfAo0_XsEydPe-YpubPTxYWGVmsMuBlW1EmhVC1MnDpQwAD39TMIBTXxS4Rp89R0zE9o5ck9KSa-ILgwygfmtZgFCCNJM5IbaNh-iNJ-fl1KrK6aQZ2YQiQ2XiLl/s576/V-for-Valentine-Matchett-sm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobbCZfYr9S73Ci2gJ6RC4AebUB8C5x84FQ8roGL3aDwr6k5rrwtdIfsrGrJ3k8V24IfAo0_XsEydPe-YpubPTxYWGVmsMuBlW1EmhVC1MnDpQwAD39TMIBTXxS4Rp89R0zE9o5ck9KSa-ILgwygfmtZgFCCNJM5IbaNh-iNJ-fl1KrK6aQZ2YQiQ2XiLl/s320/V-for-Valentine-Matchett-sm.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Valentine’s Day is perfect for a wedding. If only the bride will agree.</i><br />
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Being part of the military is not just a job for Fergus Rafferty, it’s a calling. He’s worked his way up the ranks and doing what he loves best: flying Apache helicopters. The only thing that will make his life complete is marrying Celeste. After he transfers to a unit scheduled to deploy in three months, he’s thrilled at the idea of marrying before he leaves so they can start their new life. Except Celeste wants to wait until he returns. Can he convince her to wed before he leaves?<br />
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Celeste Hardwicke has just opened her law practice when she finally accepts Fergus’s marriage proposal. Not to worry. She has plenty of time to set a date, then plan the wedding. Until she doesn’t. But a quickie wedding isn’t what she has in mind. Besides, why get married when the groom will ship out after the ceremony? When she stumbles on her great-grandmother’s diary from World War II, she discovers the two of them share the same predicament. <br />
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At an impasse, Celeste and Fergus agree to call into WDES’s program No Errin’ for Love. Will DJ Erin Orberg’s advice solve their dilemma or create a bigger divide? One they’ll both regret.<br />
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Purchase link: <a href="https://amzn.to/3OIb8kv" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3OIb8kv</a><br />
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1 <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/10/infographic-us-military-presence-around-the-world-interactive" target="_blank">https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/9/10/infographic-us-military-presence-around-the-world-interactive</a></div></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-15433168324152525362024-02-08T01:30:00.019-05:002024-02-08T01:30:00.136-05:00Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Beth Wiseman!<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Beth Wiseman!</i></div>
<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3KKM_yy0oX-kQ_xUaI6wqZrZDMGRdjl8fcU4DfLcWXfHXYM_JtTtGn73QQLTR-nqW8gBmo6ThADvYpGX0ukIf0rhs4H0a-jQCGNc67BR8Ha0GM_t43L1qqqfXUaNSc3Czs6DDcoJZUQHLP1dsoXjWRX37cx4TzjoYwaRzsGZxnrnr46Ru02FWlj6PvJ0/s960/Beth%20Wiseman.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="960" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin3KKM_yy0oX-kQ_xUaI6wqZrZDMGRdjl8fcU4DfLcWXfHXYM_JtTtGn73QQLTR-nqW8gBmo6ThADvYpGX0ukIf0rhs4H0a-jQCGNc67BR8Ha0GM_t43L1qqqfXUaNSc3Czs6DDcoJZUQHLP1dsoXjWRX37cx4TzjoYwaRzsGZxnrnr46Ru02FWlj6PvJ0/w200-h200/Beth%20Wiseman.jpeg" width="200" /></a></div>Let's give award-winning and best-selling author Beth Wiseman a warm welcome as she chats about her writing journey and the inspiration for her story: <br /><div><br /></div><div>
<b>What was your inspiration for the story?</b><br />
<br /><i>
The Messenger</i> percolated in my mind for years following a profound event when I was speaking to a group of elderly people at an assisted living facility. After my presentation, an older gentleman by the name of Walter approached me with a rather spectacular story. He said that he had recently died, visited heaven, and was sent back by God to deliver messages to random people. Walter told me that he had a message for me.<br />
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Honestly, I smiled and kind of played along, skeptical that this kind man would really have any words of wisdom for me sent directly from God. But then, he provided me with an answer to a situation that had been heavy on my heart for a while, something personal that I hadn’t told anyone. I had to excuse myself and go to the restroom, where I began to cry. How could he know this? <br />
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Suddenly, Walter’s story had merit, and I knew it had to be told. And, while <i>The Messenger</i> is a fictional tale, I incorporated Walter’s experience into the book. I wish he had lived long enough to read the story, but I recently learned that he has passed.<br />
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Tell us about your road to publication.</b></div><div><b><br /></b>I’ve been writing in some capacity for decades, but it wasn’t until later in life when I finally had my ‘big break’. I had been told by those in the industry that I was a good writer, but I couldn’t seem to get an agent or sell to a traditional publisher. I finally admitted to myself that having a good story wasn’t enough, and I identified my problems. I had not mastered the craft of writing, which is like playing the piano or anything else that requires dedication and practice. So, I read every book I could get my hands on about the ‘correct’ way to write a book.<br />
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In 2007, my laborious efforts paid off, lol. I snagged an agent, and HarperCollins (Thomas Nelson back then) offered me a three-book contract for an Amish series based on three chapters they had read of my first book, <i>Plain Perfect.</i> I had always wanted to write just one book that would change one life, so to have the opportunity to write three books for a major publisher was a dream come true. Currently, I have penned sixty-plus books with three million in sales. I have been blessed beyond my wildest dreams, and I remind myself daily not to take that for granted.<br />
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How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist?</b><br />
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For almost five years, I was a reporter for a newspaper in Schulenburg, Texas. I covered feature stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-hetGNeahIXar6HOEJuVl4kIuAQ3xf8KWeGZ8djF8dYV8sn-jle-ji2lJA-oybquwDxSixPIw6FSc_KuWCUKtM61jLZiiLUeVUiWKD7AmgnwE73j0RT5uG6Op_tqwYQ8-Gno_998Ujsd49HwBAREXQUWYc_SZuOdhO6hMcqof3Afxyu_vir2VauMjy1G/s640/newspaper-943004_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="640" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP-hetGNeahIXar6HOEJuVl4kIuAQ3xf8KWeGZ8djF8dYV8sn-jle-ji2lJA-oybquwDxSixPIw6FSc_KuWCUKtM61jLZiiLUeVUiWKD7AmgnwE73j0RT5uG6Op_tqwYQ8-Gno_998Ujsd49HwBAREXQUWYc_SZuOdhO6hMcqof3Afxyu_vir2VauMjy1G/s320/newspaper-943004_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>and general news coverage. When it comes to newspapers, there are no deadline extensions, lol. The paper is going out whether you are happy or not with what you have presented to the editor. This type of mandatory deadline was instilled in me long before I published my first book, which was helpful since due dates are critical in the publishing industry. My newspaper experience also taught me a lot about editing. Although newspapers and book editing are very different, they meet at a crossroads along the way. But, despite the difference in requirements, I found my time at the newspaper helped prepare me for a life of writing books.<br />
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What is the one thing you wish you could do?</b><br />
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I wish I could maintain balance in my life. I’m able to do that sometimes but not as often as I would like. It’s been a constant struggle for me over the years . . . knowing when to say ‘yes’ and when to say ‘no’. With each passing year, I cherish my family and friends even more than I thought possible. Yet, I love to write. I’m happiest when I can balance those two things in a way that fulfills the author in me and allows time to spend time with those I love. <br />
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How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript?</b><br />
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I cry, lol. It’s true. I’m always relieved that I made it to the end of the story. Life, in general, can be challenging. It ebbs and flows with everything from illnesses to unexpected events. After I’m done crying, I give myself a gentle pat on the back, thank God for giving me the story to tell, then pray that readers will enjoy the book and hopefully move toward a closer relationship to God.<br />
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What is your advice to fledgling writers?</b><br />
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I firmly believe that anyone can publish a book, but most aspiring/fledgling writers won’t achieve that goal because they will give up somewhere within the process. It takes very thick skin to write a book. I could wallpaper my office with the rejection letters I received before signing with HarperCollins. My best advice would be . . . a good story is NOT enough. Don’t make the same mistake that I made for years. Study and work hard to master the craft of writing before you submit to agents and editors. <br />
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What are common traps for aspiring writers?</b></div><div><br /><ul style="text-align: left;"><li>In no specific order, here are what I believe to be common traps for aspiring writers:</li><li>The misconception that you have nothing else to learn. You’ve mastered the craft and published a book. Wonderful! Congrats! But, there is always more to learn—from other authors, leaders in the industry, and within the ever-changing landscape of publishing.</li><li>Beware of vanity and unscrupulous publishers who will promise you the world only to take your money and basically RUN. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.</li><li>Pray. Believe in yourself and your writing abilities. It is way too easy to let other people, situations, bad advice, and life, in general, strip you of your confidence. If you’re a writer, BE A WRITER. Resist discouragement. Tune out the negative noise. </li></ul>
<b>What is your next project?</b></div><div><b><br /></b><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInXParM7nkWvFYa9awDPNwpvjjx28IgKjcWPLmlpBmqwOk3_R9qDMhPo1bzOF8M8MxEjSPAMq-jQPVOHfrVC9gynoceIwi4yxDakwOMXR18ULSabgAcXdo6AkdB11aoCiX8p8PsKnEpFt1oYuwjehwuJUs7wEGcRq4cP-ThibZxRbYjvB8wM2ADUIWjOy/s640/amish-1728517_640%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgInXParM7nkWvFYa9awDPNwpvjjx28IgKjcWPLmlpBmqwOk3_R9qDMhPo1bzOF8M8MxEjSPAMq-jQPVOHfrVC9gynoceIwi4yxDakwOMXR18ULSabgAcXdo6AkdB11aoCiX8p8PsKnEpFt1oYuwjehwuJUs7wEGcRq4cP-ThibZxRbYjvB8wM2ADUIWjOy/w200-h134/amish-1728517_640%20(1).jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/12019</td></tr></tbody></table>I’m currently working on an Amish short story based on a real event that I witnessed when I was a reporter. I believed it to be a miracle at the time, and I still do. I am also working on another Amish book that I hope to have out in a few months. <i>The Messenger</i> was a shift from the Amish genre I normally write in, and I’m super pleased that that the book has been well-received, that readers trust me to still deliver even if it isn’t an Amish story.<br />
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Thank you so much for having me on your blog! You can find out more about me and my books at:<br /></i>
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My website –<a href=" https://bethwiseman.com" target="_blank"> https://bethwiseman.com</a> While you’re there, I hope you will sign up for my monthly newsletter where I post sneak peeks about my books, cover reveals, and opportunities to win free books.<br />
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Fans of Beth Wiseman on Facebook – <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethWiseman/" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/AuthorBethWiseman/</a><br />Instagram – <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bethwisemanauthor/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/bethwisemanauthor/</a><br />X (formerly Twitter) – <a href="https://twitter.com/bethwiseman" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/bethwiseman</a><br />Bookbub – <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/beth-wiseman" target="_blank">https://www.bookbub.com/profile/beth-wiseman</a><br />
<br /><b>
About The Messenger</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmV4LQQNGrx97XqD2_FcNQj5zn7yNsWe0U4CPaO2Ylef5P0xBcTfJb_xI_drbha8_KYphUiM0HEBbPRumHxemsH0qjBL13T45QgXtPC1WxqefehiUxDrRNDtHB9TJ9eIQxLXHH-FwqMGh2DekaXohPaPWIYdQO6PPcLoTvosz6knMohBTN6933VgtOf2j/s1280/The%20Messenger%201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="773" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEmV4LQQNGrx97XqD2_FcNQj5zn7yNsWe0U4CPaO2Ylef5P0xBcTfJb_xI_drbha8_KYphUiM0HEBbPRumHxemsH0qjBL13T45QgXtPC1WxqefehiUxDrRNDtHB9TJ9eIQxLXHH-FwqMGh2DekaXohPaPWIYdQO6PPcLoTvosz6knMohBTN6933VgtOf2j/w121-h200/The%20Messenger%201.jpeg" width="121" /></a></div>Walter was eighty-two when he died--the first time. His visit to Heaven was glorious as he reunited with his wife, daughter, and other family and friends, relationships that a full life had nourished. But God tells Walter that he can't stay in Heaven, that Walter has more to do on Earth before he returns Home for good. Leaving those he loves, as well as the love of God, seems unbearable.<br />
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The Lord tells Walter that he will return to his earthly existence right away with renewed health and pain-free. God explains to Walter that He will relay messages to him, words that he might not understand but that are intended for the betterment of the recipient.<br />
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Walter awakens in his hospital bed feeling like a man of twenty but wondering if he'd dreamed the entire ordeal. When he begins to hear God's messages for others, he follows through, although his own doubts and fears lead him to worry whether he is handling the callings correctly. As a series of events unfold, Walter is happy when things come together for the strangers he seems to have helped, but he starts to become bitter. The two most important people in his life are hurting, and God isn't helping either one of them.<br />
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As Walter's faith is tested, will his own bitterness block the voice of God that carries with it a special message for Walter's loved ones?<br />
</div><div><br /></div><div>Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/3HGsIkG" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3HGsIkG</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com1New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-62327389771084528212024-02-02T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-02T01:30:00.154-05:00Fiction Friday: February's New Releases!<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 2024 New Releases</span><br>
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More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ACFW Fiction Finder website</a><br>
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<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Contemporary Romance:</span></b></center><br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10040"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10040/10040_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10040" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Finally Forever</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1783" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Karin Beery</a> -- Former competitive dancer Caroline Novak dreams of leaving the corporate world to work with special needs women at the Pathways nonprofit, but the organization can’t afford a fulltime director. All-American defensive end Ben Allen was on his way to the NFL when a knee injury sent him home and into the same office as Caroline, his best friend’s older sister. When Pathways participates in a Dancing with the Stars-inspired fundraiser, Caroline quickly volunteers, and Ben joins her as the local “star.” It doesn’t take long for Ben to realize it’s more than a dance competition, and Caroline is more than his best friend’s sister, but after two failed engagements, she’s hesitant to trust her heart with another man. When the NFL calls Ben, it looks like his dream might finally come true—but it could cost them the championship and Caroline her heart. (Contemporary Romance from Elk Lake Publishing) <br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9849"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9849/9849_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9849" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Taylor’s Trek to Love</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1897" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elsie Davis</a> -- Escape to the Great Smoky Mountains…where fresh mountain air and love await! This is the fourth heartwarming Christian Inspirational Women's Fiction Romance that will take you to the Great Smoky Mountains for a vacation getaway that will change the lives of Taylor and Andrew in ways they would have never expected! (Contemporary Romance from Sweet Romance Publishing) <br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10019"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10019/10019_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10019" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Much Ado about Romance </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/15" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Susan Page Davis</a>, <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2490" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shannon Sue Dunlap</a>, <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2179" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Linda Fulkerson</a> -- A collection of novellas inspired by Shakespearen romantic comedies. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press) <br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9705"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9705/9705_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9705" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Mommy for Easter </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/527" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Linda Goodnight</a> -- Back in his hometown after a decade, Jake Colter and his adorable toddler are a reminder of everything Rachel Hamby lost. And working on the same Easter committee with her ex-husband makes avoidance impossible. Throw in a small town’s matchmaking scheme and Jake’s sweet dog, and soon Rachel’s falling for the little girl…and her father. But will Rachel risk a second chance with the painful secret she’s keeping? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])<br>
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<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Cozy Mystery:</span></b></center><br>
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"
href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10020"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10020/10020_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10020" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Birds Alive!</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2489" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jennifer Dodrill</a> -- Widow, mom blogger, and empty nester Peg forms the Empty Nesters Birding Group. On their first outing, a birder dies from an allergic reaction to peanuts from birdseed that should be peanut-free. Later, she finds another of her new birder friends wounded and dying. Peg recruits a fellow birder and her mother-in-law to help solve the crime. She teams up with the detective investigating the case, whose dimples draw her in a way she hasn’t experienced in years. (Cozy Mystery from Scrivenings Press) <br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10038"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10038/10038_250_400.png" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10038" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mardi Gras and Mayhem </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2303" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jann Franklin</a>-- Just a fun girls’ weekend in New Orleans during Mardi Gras...except for the murders. Chantilly Romero held an important place as a mover and a shaker within the New Orleans business world. But she had her secrets. Did she run an illegal high-stakes poker game out of her whiskey distillery? Had her bodyguard committed a few dastardly deeds, so Chantilly could profit? Did Chantilly’s husband die by his own hand, or did she help him along to the pearly gates? Regardless, the police never found proof of any wrong doing. Did someone take matters into their own hands? (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published from Rougarou Press) <br>
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<center>
<b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Historical Romance:</span></b></center><br>
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9990"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9990/9990_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9990" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Reluctant Melody</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/842" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sandra Ardoin</a> -- Kit Barnes’ drinking ruined more lives than his own. Now sober, he wants to make amends by opening a mission for drunkards. The most suitable location belongs to Joanna Cranston Stewart, a love from his sordid past and the person he hurt the most. A pariah among her peers, Joanna is all too eager to sell her property and flee the rumors that she sent her late husband to an early grave. But she will let the gossips talk and the walls of her rundown property crumble around her before she’ll allow Kit back into her life. When a blackmailer threatens to reveal her long-held secret, she must choose between trusting Kit or seeing her best friend trapped in an abusive marriage. (Historical Romance from Corner Room Books) <br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9968"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9968/9968_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9968" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Protecting the Mountain Man’s Treasure </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/875" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Misty M. Beller</a> -- Jude Coulter is far more comfortable in his family’s sapphire mine tucked in the Montana mountains than on the bustling streets of New York City, where he’s been sent to deliver a shipment of gems. His relief at boarding the train for the first leg of his journey home is short-lived when an accident renders him unconscious. Angela Larkin worked hard to earn this assignment for the Treasury—an undercover mission to determine the source of the sapphires brought each year for auction in the city. When an accident causes her target to lose his recent memory, Angela jumps at the opportunity to create the ideal ruse. Jude seems surprised to learn the two of them had married and were returning from a glorious wedding trip, but his severe head injury keeps him from protesting…for now. But the accident is far from the worst threat they face. When enemies close in, Angela and Jude must depend on each other to survive the treacherous journey home. (Historical Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP]) <br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9909"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9909/9909_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9909" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">An Uncertain Road</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1595" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Abbey Downey</a> -- When young widow Flora Montfort returns to America, she’s determined to use her training in auto racing to support herself and her French mother-in-law—even if female drivers are rare in 1905. When the owner of a successful sporting goods store hires her to drive in a ten-day race through New England, she jumps at the opportunity. Jensen Gable is not convinced that joining the team as the ride-along mechanic is worth the risk. After losing his best friend in a tragic racing accident, Jensen has vowed never to participate in the sport again. But a promise to protect his friend’s younger brother, also on the tour, outweighs his fear of the dangers. As they race through New England, Flora and Jensen find common ground that ignites their interest in each other, but doubts and old enemies come between them. As the race of a lifetime heats up, one question rises above all others…can their love find the road that leads to forever? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books) <br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9941"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9941/9941_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9941" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Relying on the Enemy</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2170" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Danielle Grandinetti</a> -- All widowed mother Marian Ward wants is to provide for her girls. However, she faces the dead of winter with no income and dwindling resources. Then she overhears a nefarious conversation, putting her life and that of her children in immediate danger. Aiming to make amends to the Wards, Gilbert steps in when the threat to Marian escalates. It costs him dearly. Either lose his career or marry her and be tied to his past until death do them part. He leaves the decision to Marian, who will do anything to protect her girls, even marry the son of the man who ruined her family. How will their fledgling trust prove strong enough to fulfill their vows as winter tightens its grip and desperation stalks at the door? (Historical Romance from Hearth Spot Press) <br>
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<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9859"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9859/9859_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9859" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">To Marry an English Lord</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/150" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Robin Lee Hatcher</a> -- Sebastian Whitcombe, Viscount Willowthorpe, comes to America to experience the great Wild West for himself before it disappears for good. The adventure comes with a convenient bonus—it postpones his father’s edict that he take a wife from the British aristocracy. Sebastian isn’t so much against marriage as he is an arranged marriage to the wrong woman. Jocelyn Overstreet hasn’t returned to her family’s eastern Idaho cattle ranch in six years. She’s far too busy managing the New York City offices of Overstreet Shipping. But when her older brother has a serious run-in with a bison, she returns to the ranch only to find the Overstreet home invaded by visitors from England, one of them a disturbingly handsome viscount who disarms her defenses at every turn. Sebastian’s future lies in England. New York City holds Jocelyn’s future. Amidst the clash of their worlds, Sebastian and Jocelyn find that the risk of love, against all odds, might just be a risk worth taking. (Historical Romance, Independently Published from RobinSong, Inc.) <br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9830"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9830/9830_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9830" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Embers in the London Sky</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/230" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sarah Sundin</a> -- After fleeing the German invasion of the Netherlands, Aleida Martens searches for her missing child in London—which sets her on a collision course with BBC radio correspondent Hugh Collingwood. During the London Blitz, they will risk their lives to discover the truth—and find a connection closer than they imagined. (Historical Romance from Revell – A division of Baker Publishing Group) <br>
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<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Mystery/Suspense/Thriller: </span></b></center><br>
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"
href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9948"><img class="alignlet size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9948/9948_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9948" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Day Ago </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1000" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Luana Ehrlich</a> -- As he prepares to defend his client of murder charges, not only does Attorney Mylas Grey receive unexpected news about his future, he discovers he has feelings for a former female acquaintance and uncovers evidence that points to the real killer, someone who’s determined to put an end to Mylas’s future. However, Mylas has other plans. (Crime/Mystery, Independently Published) <br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9931"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9931/9931_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9931" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">8 Down</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1579" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kimberley Woodhouse</a> -- Investigator Carrie Kintz is new blood with the Alaska Bureau of Investigation in Anchorage. But with a serial killer on the loose, there's no easing into the job. The only clues to stop this madman are the taunts he drops into crossword puzzles across the country--always in the same 8 DOWN position. Calling in security specialist Scott Patteson for his expertise seems like the right move--until Carrie realizes that he may be a dangerous distraction for her heart. With her faith fading in the face of horror and uncertainty and her career in danger of ending, this is no time for flirtation.But with a killer who is determined to prove that he's smarter than everyone else, it may be impossible to fight both the madman and their feelings for each other . . . (Contemporary Thriller/Suspense from Kregel Publications) <br>
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<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Romantic Suspense:</span></b></center><br>
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10007"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/10007/10007_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10007" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hidden Chance</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2373" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Shawna Coleing</a> -- Hannah spent her childhood on the mission field in Burma, but witnessing the tragic murder of her father propelled her into a life dedicated to making a difference. A specialized military team is carrying out a mission in Burma to stop a militant group that has been wreaking havoc on local villages. After breaking into a school that has been the militia’s base of operations, they uncover an elaborate plan to exploit those most vulnerable. Robby, the specialized military team leader, determined to expose the truth, discovers a company based in America may be behind the chilling acts of savagery. Robby and Hannah must find common ground to save the lives of countless children and bring an end to the threat at their front door. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published [ACFW QIP]) <br>
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<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9998"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9998/9998_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9998" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rebuilding Joy</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1383" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Regina Rudd Merrick</a> -- Single mom Darcy Emerson Sloan has enough to do raising twins and running a restaurant. She’s doing fine on her own and doesn’t need the complications of a man in her life. But when her café turns into a crime scene, putting her and her children in danger, she begins to take interest in the handsome young FBI agent that comes on the scene. Contractor Del Reno is as even-keeled as they come, but even he has his limits. And Darcy Sloan has pushed him too far. Every time he tries to help, it backfires. But now that Darcy and her kids are in trouble, he has no choice but to come to her aid and to protect her. She’s just going to have to deal with it. Secret tunnels, organized crime, adorable children, and a wedding. (Romantic Suspense from Scrivenings Press) <br>
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<p style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Western Romance:</span></b></p><br>
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9700"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://www.fictionfinder.com/uploads/book_images/9700/9700_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9700" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chasing the Horizon</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mary Connealy</a> -- Uncovering her tyrannical father's malevolent plot to commit her to an asylum, Beth Rutledge fabricates a plan of her own. She will rescue her mother, who had already been sent to the asylum, and escape together on a wagon train heading west. Posing as sisters, Beth and her mother travel with the pioneers in hopes of making it to Idaho before the others start asking too many questions. Wagon-train scout Jake Holt senses the mysterious women in his caravan are running from something. When rumors begin to spread of Pinkerton agents searching relentlessly for wanted criminals who match the description of those on his wagon train, including Beth, she begins to open up to him, and he learns something more sinister is at hand. Can they risk trusting each other with their lives--and their hearts--when danger threatens their every step? (Western Romance from Bethany House) <br>
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<b><u>Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:</u></b><br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9967" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Marrying the Mountain Man’s Best Friend </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/875" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Misty M. Beller </a> -- A marriage of convenience, desperate escape from danger, and the Christmas miracle of love that heals wounded hearts. (Historical Romance) <br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9978" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Silencing the Witness</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2479" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Laura Conaway</a> -- Can he keep both of them alive long enough for her to testify. (Romantic Suspense) <br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9953" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Meet Me Where the Windrush Flows</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/669" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Valerie Massey Goree</a> -- Will the threat to her life and accusations of malpractice against him aid their romance or keep them apart? (Romantic Suspense) <br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/10041" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Love or Lies</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2157" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Craig Hastings</a> -- Overcoming the lies of the past: A journey of self-discovery, faith, and love. (Contemporary Romance) <br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9944" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Testimony: The Fourteenth Codex</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2460" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christopher J. Mooney</a> -- Can a Coptic nun complete the quest and find relics of the founders of the church? (General Historical) <br>
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<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9911" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Rare Jewel of Everleigh Wheaton</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1968" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Susan L. Tuttle</a> -- In her search for a rare gem, will she end up uncovering the true treasure of her heart? (Contemporary Romance)
Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-63657173521384466782024-02-01T01:30:00.002-05:002024-02-01T01:30:00.132-05:00Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Chevron Ross!<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Chevron Ross</span></i></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia;"><span style="font-size: medium;">A Behind the Scenes Look at The Samaritan's Patient</span></i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGy7vdMX7b3l2Y1IOWdihSPZUPahcdzHnCs8fwxn4xNwwJvDL_rAqEFPsmVVXeE5B4ZRGUWEFRCyfwgbyWsnyvz-x28DGW66owyUdMBlSSKRMYyK3REX3kWo6ese6TXSiUL_cJskTOftMvBMeLrVhMCwqxKuu8tdTodwZ1XOvvG4suAeO4fnwSc6YW_Rj7/s230/Chevron%20Ross.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="230" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGy7vdMX7b3l2Y1IOWdihSPZUPahcdzHnCs8fwxn4xNwwJvDL_rAqEFPsmVVXeE5B4ZRGUWEFRCyfwgbyWsnyvz-x28DGW66owyUdMBlSSKRMYyK3REX3kWo6ese6TXSiUL_cJskTOftMvBMeLrVhMCwqxKuu8tdTodwZ1XOvvG4suAeO4fnwSc6YW_Rj7/w200-h200/Chevron%20Ross.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>This novel might never have been born had I not seen an interview on PBS with two <i>New York Times</i> writers, Megan Twohey and Gabriel Dance, on December 16, 2021.<br />
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These reporters did an extensive investigation into a website on which subscribers discussed committing suicide and shared methods for doing so. Most visitors to the site were thirty or younger. There were 1.2 million messages. At least forty-five suicides in multiple countries were linked to the site.<br />
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At the time of this broadcast, I had just completed my second novel,<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOPblQZSHjLS0Wg-_w0jx5Ozt2PTagh83nFGUBol35TBE-FNXdUCyyq1vnilpOF1UA9d3gdcRHp3lG0JIUiY2_JazGvyu8Paql0zut3qr6IPsmuzHXQFXJXIfP6Bbfa7R0izG7XqUhXjIDNo1rk_CrTFvI0JTDgNy8YhwzbEc_hDDRbQdZdBMThusYcmW/s640/office-594132_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeOPblQZSHjLS0Wg-_w0jx5Ozt2PTagh83nFGUBol35TBE-FNXdUCyyq1vnilpOF1UA9d3gdcRHp3lG0JIUiY2_JazGvyu8Paql0zut3qr6IPsmuzHXQFXJXIfP6Bbfa7R0izG7XqUhXjIDNo1rk_CrTFvI0JTDgNy8YhwzbEc_hDDRbQdZdBMThusYcmW/w200-h134/office-594132_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/<br />StartupStockPhotos</td></tr></tbody></table> <i>The Seven-Day Resurrection,</i> and was wondering what to do next. The PBS interview was so shocking that I could not stop thinking about it. What motive could a person have for encouraging strangers to kill themselves? What could one possibly gain from such an endeavor? And what could provoke someone to throw away the gift of life at such a youthful age?<br />
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The Samaritan’s Patient</i> is a blend of two stories: the famous parable of Jesus in the Bible, and a young person with good intentions who gets caught up in a social media nightmare.<br />
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I am amazed and grateful that God would choose someone so ordinary and unaccomplished as myself to do this work. Each novel God has written through me has been a great personal gift and a reaffirmation that God has a plan for each of us. I pray that <i>The Samaritan’s Patient</i> will be as great a blessing to its readers as it has been to me.<br />
<br />The link to the PBS Newshour broadcast that inspired the book: </div><div><a href="https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-a-website-with-explicit-directions-for-suicide-remains-active" target="_blank">https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/why-a-website-with-explicit-directions-for-suicide-remains-active</a><br /><br /><b>Let's Connect: </b><br />
Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/chevron.ross.3" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/chevron.ross.3</a>/<br />
Website: <a href="https://chevronross.net/" target="_blank">https://chevronross.net/</a><br />A sample chapter, book reviews, and purchase options: <a href="https://chevronross.net/the-samaritans-patient/" target="_blank">https://chevronross.net/the-samaritans-patient/</a><br />
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The Samaritan’s Patient: A Chevron Ross Novel</b></div><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycBmjNv_0TV-rqCUWTcMDeeE67ncZvFSoUkX7iuU5bx7n-RfSCr5tBMPoTL6BZjyiZiKL2D0TGGGuFxIwqNAKel20hEvdOiHlCZ24YyYHHMIsgtaJxmLwuBhZTQNkyO0qDm2J8WVQKgIpzSaNnGrqqI-lWLAIAcPVpnfNIVZgoODgdGEWEYF_G9WVRsTd/s2700/TSP_EbookWEB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycBmjNv_0TV-rqCUWTcMDeeE67ncZvFSoUkX7iuU5bx7n-RfSCr5tBMPoTL6BZjyiZiKL2D0TGGGuFxIwqNAKel20hEvdOiHlCZ24YyYHHMIsgtaJxmLwuBhZTQNkyO0qDm2J8WVQKgIpzSaNnGrqqI-lWLAIAcPVpnfNIVZgoODgdGEWEYF_G9WVRsTd/w133-h200/TSP_EbookWEB.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Teenager Paige Abernathy awakens after a severe beating to find that she suffers from amnesia and that everyone seems to hate her.<br />
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She has only flashes of memory until the night a grieving parent attacks her in her hospital room. Paige then remembers her role as the creator of an online group where members talk about ways to commit suicide.<br />
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After recovering from the beating, Paige embarks on a journey of penance to atone for a disaster born of good intentions. Her odyssey launches her on a mission of mercy and into new danger.<br />
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The Samaritan’s Patient</i> is a thought-provoking novel about navigating the treacherous waters of social media. </div><div><br /></div><div><b>Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/47U1iCL" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/47U1iCL</a></b></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-37433265777793871312024-01-29T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-29T01:30:00.171-05:00Movie Monday: Ladies Courageous<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Movie Monday: Ladies Courageous</i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEvcPtkkl8pGzC5UtQ011bYjhNABWHEaAhxuGPDvCRDr4npqZ9WhStyyI2OZ9UnB8pCWRF3NVZDRBdKrq-RriQ0ZRKm3wB8iSEmMJ78QuACoYdSCgiHKau6UrJjZMTUBYoRm0QJE12Ib461YV3hdIJK2YMdKzoHqxc-DgO4zElnfoG0wFF93xlMm9g-SR/s872/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%2010.11.08%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="872" data-original-width="592" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEvcPtkkl8pGzC5UtQ011bYjhNABWHEaAhxuGPDvCRDr4npqZ9WhStyyI2OZ9UnB8pCWRF3NVZDRBdKrq-RriQ0ZRKm3wB8iSEmMJ78QuACoYdSCgiHKau6UrJjZMTUBYoRm0QJE12Ib461YV3hdIJK2YMdKzoHqxc-DgO4zElnfoG0wFF93xlMm9g-SR/w136-h200/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%2010.11.08%20AM.png" width="136" /></a></div>When I’m researching an era, I immerse myself in the media that would have been available to my characters at the time. For my Old West books, I read novels, newspapers, magazines, and catalogs that were published before or during the year my stories are set. For my WWII books, I can expand my media to include movies and radio programs. <br />
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During my research for <i>Love at First Flight,</i> I stumbled on a 1944 war movie called <i>Ladies Courageous</i>, a fictionalized account of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferry Squadron (that would later be merged with the Women’s Flying Training Detachment to create the Women Air Service Pilots program. According to several sources, the film is based on Virginia Spencer Cowles’s 1941 novel <i>Looking for Trouble</i>. However, the WAFS didn’t go into operation until 1942. Other sources indicate the film is an á-clef story (a name describing a real person behind the façade of fiction) of Jacqueline Cochran and Nancy Harkness Love, the women behind the two organizations.<br />
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Born in Brattleboro, Vermont in 1910l, Virginia’s journalism career began as a gossip columnist for<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZYn0aDYenWQinfsy3SBY49PaDBpyR5o6YrD-XaDakttNXRJTCbJbxJgyu2Ce2twQxUjHkw4md-qmpLXzba53LjAS0adQMu2XzEr-Uah82ZLdyQVLwlOP6WNbpiJl2vcO-6R2Alo92d_mxMOHZ6iZDDD4DSh7fvB16AVDG7QpdBjPwYfq-URV6K6Al_6t/s342/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%2010.13.00%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZYn0aDYenWQinfsy3SBY49PaDBpyR5o6YrD-XaDakttNXRJTCbJbxJgyu2Ce2twQxUjHkw4md-qmpLXzba53LjAS0adQMu2XzEr-Uah82ZLdyQVLwlOP6WNbpiJl2vcO-6R2Alo92d_mxMOHZ6iZDDD4DSh7fvB16AVDG7QpdBjPwYfq-URV6K6Al_6t/w185-h200/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%2010.13.00%20AM.png" width="185" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Public Domain</td></tr></tbody></table>Boston and New York newspapers. She expanded into fashion and society, but when the Spanish Civil War began to bubble up, she packed her bags and headed for Spain in 1937, determined to make it as a war correspondent. <br />
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Different from most reporters covering the Civil War such as Ernest Hemingway and Martha Gelhorn, Virginia wrote articles from both sides for the <i>Daily Telegraph, Sunday Times</i>, and Hearst newspapers, including an interview with Pepe Quintanilla, the chief executioner of Madrid. She eventually left Spain and traversed Europe, moving between Russia, Germany, Czechoslovakia, Finland, and France. After the fall of France, she went to England where she landed on the first day of The Blitz, allowing her to report the entire Battle of Britain. She later covered the North African Campaign, then Italy and France in 1944 and 1945.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLll7YpSr-Sk7sARlxk6jO5EgB-WqFKmC31ARM8oEO320pMFMqloNAUkFBoGTgE-WmY5sbuL2ZqYl5H7dLVQ8pqG2SQrBEK5XQtt_iRFIrSuNrce1auL0Q-8qvEW1O1HWDUpZaeeEioQbsTz_zRgXDFpxgb3bT5mMGeLAY7yRnkezz8FKS0eNRKGyxjOq/s356/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%2010.14.06%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="356" data-original-width="340" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSLll7YpSr-Sk7sARlxk6jO5EgB-WqFKmC31ARM8oEO320pMFMqloNAUkFBoGTgE-WmY5sbuL2ZqYl5H7dLVQ8pqG2SQrBEK5XQtt_iRFIrSuNrce1auL0Q-8qvEW1O1HWDUpZaeeEioQbsTz_zRgXDFpxgb3bT5mMGeLAY7yRnkezz8FKS0eNRKGyxjOq/w191-h200/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%2010.14.06%20AM.png" width="191" /></a></div>Ladies Courageous</i> stars Loretta Young, Geraldine Fitzgerald, and Diana Barrymore (yes, those Barrymores) and tells the story of the Women’s Auxiliary Ferry Squadron. The plot seems more “Hollywood” than war propaganda with impetuous female characters, dashing male pilots, and intrigue. Toward the end of the movie, a general notifies the women about the merge that will create the WASPs, an event that didn’t occur until July, 1943. The dialogue is good, and the plot moved along at a good pace. It was interesting to watch the film thinking about people in the 1940s for whom commercial air travel would have been a luxury, let alone the opportunity to take flying lessons. Might be similar to us thinking about going to the moon.<br />
<br /><div style="text-align: center;">________________</div>
<br /><b>
Love at First Flight</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6I5axzD6IgTLZ4oyVNAtSAdupYNsWjS-7g5QZREeX9H4vbwfgHDCWC3vwwBCEJBv7Wrl_F2g_COuWBwzYDfla70QWC-MLv-V_PKIshFDlpSnVEE2_rEy3jgsRO4dewkQFOXEOxv-CUx6mPMlBRSwI3tIvWLUfzu2pNkwIm2y_Z-73wyvZSYijgviiY2Xo/s500/CoverSm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6I5axzD6IgTLZ4oyVNAtSAdupYNsWjS-7g5QZREeX9H4vbwfgHDCWC3vwwBCEJBv7Wrl_F2g_COuWBwzYDfla70QWC-MLv-V_PKIshFDlpSnVEE2_rEy3jgsRO4dewkQFOXEOxv-CUx6mPMlBRSwI3tIvWLUfzu2pNkwIm2y_Z-73wyvZSYijgviiY2Xo/w133-h200/CoverSm.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>Can two people emerge from the clouds of past hurt to find a silver lining of love?</i><br />
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Evelyn Reid would rather fly than do anything else, so when war engulfs the U.S., she joins the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. One of the program’s top pilots, she is tapped for pursuit plane training...the dream of a lifetime until she discovers the instructor is her ex-fiancé, Jasper MacPherson.<br />
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Collecting enough points to rotate stateside, fighter pilot Jasper MacPherson is assigned to teach the WAFS how to fly the army way. Bad enough to be training women, but things take a turn for the worse when his former fiancée shows up as one of his students.<br />
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Purchase Link: <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX" target="_blank">https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX</a><br />
Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-14635378843885068852024-01-25T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-25T01:30:00.305-05:00Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Denise Weimer!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Denise Weimer!</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qEH8uD3JKwRuaXWoLC3OI1NvV9ZFAlNZrpWAZVcdDo6wvGjQm8joSd3eVf65Lq2nYC-PAS6Gr_cp8K4cCw24TjxhevJ1yIPjYEeTlVHHKp8Uzt5uptihaE2UB5G0oVrjA6HTghKSaDMwDoDhyphenhyphenHjuYmGjBvWBcvFNcijy47-XJO_hhc-pZngVQhtEBkV0/s6000/Denise_Weimer_updated_headshot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6000" data-original-width="4000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2qEH8uD3JKwRuaXWoLC3OI1NvV9ZFAlNZrpWAZVcdDo6wvGjQm8joSd3eVf65Lq2nYC-PAS6Gr_cp8K4cCw24TjxhevJ1yIPjYEeTlVHHKp8Uzt5uptihaE2UB5G0oVrjA6HTghKSaDMwDoDhyphenhyphenHjuYmGjBvWBcvFNcijy47-XJO_hhc-pZngVQhtEBkV0/w133-h200/Denise_Weimer_updated_headshot.JPG" width="133" /></a></div>I'm pleased to be hosting fellow Heroes, Heroines, and History blogger, Denise Weimer. I love her books, and you will too. Grab a cup of your favorite beverage, draw up a chair, and get to know this interesting author!</div><div><br /></div><i>
What sort of research did you do for your story?</i><br />
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Oh, this story was so much fun to research. I love to research and write in the winter. For A Cherished Betrothal, after heavy online and book research, I set out on a road trip by myself, about five hours from my home in Georgia to South Carolina. I visited the national Ninety Six battlefield and drove to the remote site of the Long Canes Massacre (see below)—which included miles and miles of a narrow, one-lane dirt road with deep gullies on both sides. And a single-lane, 1930s wooden bridge over a flooded creek! I truly felt as though I’d gone back in time. My family was rather horrified when they learned about my adventures. LOL <br />
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Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not?</i><br />
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Yes, I have considered using a pseudonym or my maiden name since Weimer (“Why-muhr”) can be difficult to know how to pronounce. I get called all kinds of crazy things, especially here in the South, where my husband’s family name from Pennsylvania is not as common. But just to simplify matters, I’ve stuck with it.<br />
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If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series?</i><br />
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A Cherished Betrothal</i> is book three of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier, which will ultimately<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jxElzQzWTVH7dkU4cXH0_yCzMuY4wmQzbgD2DA-Q_7G3E-Qfgo9-va0Sdfx6gxLaZcjMX2KvWLVKhQanzxSg9u0TPqF_XwX18q-L4UdpfH1l8HBImHb-OCt77iYRm74CICrwAuKpX-vFSQAAUqliWMYvNEn1V5tqAYXWadQLu3BJl_JvHfP7qXwbUktG/s1280/georgia-3995061_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="784" data-original-width="1280" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3jxElzQzWTVH7dkU4cXH0_yCzMuY4wmQzbgD2DA-Q_7G3E-Qfgo9-va0Sdfx6gxLaZcjMX2KvWLVKhQanzxSg9u0TPqF_XwX18q-L4UdpfH1l8HBImHb-OCt77iYRm74CICrwAuKpX-vFSQAAUqliWMYvNEn1V5tqAYXWadQLu3BJl_JvHfP7qXwbUktG/w200-h122/georgia-3995061_1280.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/1778011</td></tr></tbody></table>include five novels. The series came about with a happy turn of circumstance. Originally, book one, A <i>Counterfeit Betrothal</i>, was a stand-alone. When I asked Misty Beller at Wild Heart Books if she would be interested, she shared that she only published series, so could I develop a series concept? In that novel, the hero is a scout out of Fort Daniel in middle Georgia during the War of 1812. After some pondering, I came up with the concept of a series where all the heroes are scouts or rangers defending Georgia’s boundaries in Federal or Colonial times. <br />
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After I learned about Fort Charlotte on the Savannah River, <i>A Cherished Betrothal </i>ended up sneaking across the line into South Carolina. The action in the Ninety Six District was so compelling in the beginning days of the American Revolution and so closely related to defending the border. The hero is a former Georgia Ranger impatient for action against the Loyalists and the Cherokees who joins the South Carolina Horse Regiment at the outbreak of hostilities.<br />
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Because of the immersive setting, from Fort Charlotte to the town of Ninety Six, the haunting backstory of the Indian attack the main characters survived, and the unique bond that experience formed between the hero and heroine, <i>A Cherished Betrothal </i>is my personal favorite in the Scouts series.<br />
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What was your inspiration for the story? How do you come up with storylines? </i><br />
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The potential backstory for this novel was what caught my interest. I try to find some unique incident in history and/or a little-known setting as the seed idea for my writing. I love the concept of bringing back to life that which has vanished. <br />
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In this case, I learned of an attack by Cherokee Indians on settlers in disputed territory in the South Carolina backcountry that occurred in 1760. Massacres on both sides might have been common in the Wild West, but they were not in Georgia and South Carolina. Fast-forward fifteen years, and the American Revolution is breaking out. This part of South Carolina became the cradle for rebellion in the South. And both the Loyalists and the Patriots were courting the Cherokees as allies. What would happen if the hero and heroine had lost family members in that attack during their childhoods but survived, only to be thrown into a volatile situation again so many years later? So much potential for angst, intrigue, action, romance, and especially, God to do His healing work!<br />
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What draws you to the time period about which you write? And why do you write in a particular genre?</i><br />
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Although I’m a genre-hopping author, and I enjoy the break provided by penning contemporary stories (especially seasonal ones), my heart is with historicals. I’ve written tales set from the mid-1700s through the early 1900s, mainly concentrating between the Revolution and the Civil War. I favor Eastern frontier romances because the challenges the early settlers faced offer such natural action and adventure. I’m amazed at how they made their way in an unsettled wilderness.<br />
<br /><i>How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist?</i><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEnf96xfAHyXGWM9d0QBo5j_7W0dTp5XSWmuZ7JRm14HTWLHaEaBAgLmdf71AkwW9ZDKb4BgHCZ-o1bqmdmHQoGxUDXpUPNZjin5yJFlQud2d8fzStH3TCLOTRJjqjZUWhcnWIjuJLza8nxBu0BrEXWUL-8zUP-VlYKMSB24-GenEvxrF3izKb6CF4J5U/s1280/paul-revere-1536168_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="853" data-original-width="1280" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDEnf96xfAHyXGWM9d0QBo5j_7W0dTp5XSWmuZ7JRm14HTWLHaEaBAgLmdf71AkwW9ZDKb4BgHCZ-o1bqmdmHQoGxUDXpUPNZjin5yJFlQud2d8fzStH3TCLOTRJjqjZUWhcnWIjuJLza8nxBu0BrEXWUL-8zUP-VlYKMSB24-GenEvxrF3izKb6CF4J5U/w200-h133/paul-revere-1536168_1280.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/Brian Fakhoury</td></tr></tbody></table>One of my two main jobs is being a novelist. The other one is being an editor, both independently and now, for Wild Heart Books. Naturally, the two work very well together. But I also have a rich background in vintage dance and living history that I draw upon for both pursuits. I’ve worked for and volunteered for local counties and historical organizations doing historical programming. I’m amazed at how it all dovetails and thankful to get to do what I love.<br />
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What writers or books have influenced you?</i><br />
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When I first started writing as a teen, I was a huge Civil War buff, so I’d say <i>Gone With the Wind</i> and the Eugenia Price novels. My first series, The Georgia Gold Series, which I just re-released on Amazon after my contract expired from my original publisher, reflects that Southern literary fiction style. Since then, I’ve been influenced by many writers, editors, and my agent. My writing now tends more to the currently preferred style for romances in deep point of view.<br />
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I have a busy year of book releases!<div> <br />• April - <i>The Curator’s Secret,</i> a contemporary romantic suspense set on Jekyll Island. <br />
• May - <i>When Hope Sank</i>, the third book in Barbour’s A Day to Remember Series about the sinking of the Sultana. <br />
• June - book four of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier, <i>A Conflicted Betrothal</i>, set in Savannah during the Stamp Act protests. <br />
• July - <i>A Summer at the Niagara of the South</i>, a novella of Wild Heart Books’ Romance at the Gilded Age Resorts.<br />
• October – book five of the Scouts of the Georgia Frontier, <i>A Calculated Betrothal</i>, set in South Georgia during the Revolution.<br />
<br /><b>
A Cherished Betrothal – Book Three</b><br />
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1775<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6GFzUWtIuWZsySqRZxtNBsT-sqYVE-Un5Xtsy1lSGg_BuGWHH5iF6v5Nu9x1j_WArLtLCA3BWCucVVJSkUeGstjUeyRWdVEZxdnRXXJmXQNdpsz17ItQBZQL3A4UDGC_cAI9_SKIk0hznTK2-0g9H8nWDJirff_GMQxG164wbSxnBv6FUOHw0L7uR3tm/s2700/ACherishedBetrothal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ6GFzUWtIuWZsySqRZxtNBsT-sqYVE-Un5Xtsy1lSGg_BuGWHH5iF6v5Nu9x1j_WArLtLCA3BWCucVVJSkUeGstjUeyRWdVEZxdnRXXJmXQNdpsz17ItQBZQL3A4UDGC_cAI9_SKIk0hznTK2-0g9H8nWDJirff_GMQxG164wbSxnBv6FUOHw0L7uR3tm/s320/ACherishedBetrothal.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>Alexander Morris bears the childhood scars of the Long Canes massacre that killed his brother and father. His dark past forces him into the lonely life of Georgia Ranger, and eventually, to join the bordering South Carolina Rangers that revolt against the Crown. When he’s posted to the fort erected to defend the community once decimated by the massacre, duty demands he court the loyalty of his sworn enemies, the fierce Cherokee warriors.<br />
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Elspeth Lawrence never forgot the boy who sacrificed himself for her at Long Canes—any more than she forgot the younger sister taken captive. She’s learned to not only forgive but help minister to the Cherokees at her father’s mission. Alex Morris’s arrival at nearby Fort Charlotte stirs Elsie’s memories and her emotions. He doesn’t even remember her…or the long-ago attack. But the bitterness that simmers just beneath his stoic exterior—as well as her courtship by a local landowner—challenge their undeniable bond.<br />
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When Alex uncovers a long-held secret and a plot to sabotage patriot talks with the Cherokees, he must choose between his desire for revenge and his love for the girl he saved long ago.<br />
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Denise Weimer</b> writes historical and contemporary romance from her home in North Georgia and also serves as a freelance editor and the Acquisitions & Editorial Liaison for Wild Heart Books. A wife and mother of two daughters, she always pauses for coffee, chocolate, and old houses.<br />
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Connect with Denise here:<br />
<a href="https://webs.us19.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=16c561f75e5036405879c9836&id=b58acc62a5" target="_blank">Newsletter Signup: </a></div><div><a href="http://www.deniseweimberbooks.com" target="_blank">Website</a><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.facebook.com/denise.weimer1" target="_blank">Facebook</a><br /></div><div><a href="http://www.twitter.com/denise_weimer" target="_blank">Twitter</a><br /></div><div><a href="https://www.bookbub.com/profile/denise-weimer" target="_blank">BookBub</a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-27690038208214648642024-01-24T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-24T01:30:00.134-05:00Wartime Wednesday: Aviation Terms<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Wartime Wednesday: Aviation Terms</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIMy_5FVfRCogNq3jSeS4d7ZWT1uZMCUPv5ThNO72yAkkXCiw38J7yyqYcRRUrxZCuf1BeKPIFk7Z6Cx7aOltmc1jPW5lYtOghgyXNPJnxLHXtqoxpFFl9TH-ec0gnpXmPmlwXt5rNpl2hQHxOT9_WLXxzSBeSm_Z8xh64DxTBBDhI-Ztes0He7tq3J0w/s364/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%208.46.07%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="292" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVIMy_5FVfRCogNq3jSeS4d7ZWT1uZMCUPv5ThNO72yAkkXCiw38J7yyqYcRRUrxZCuf1BeKPIFk7Z6Cx7aOltmc1jPW5lYtOghgyXNPJnxLHXtqoxpFFl9TH-ec0gnpXmPmlwXt5rNpl2hQHxOT9_WLXxzSBeSm_Z8xh64DxTBBDhI-Ztes0He7tq3J0w/w161-h200/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%208.46.07%20AM.png" width="161" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Public Domain</td></tr></tbody></table>Accuracy is important for any story, whether contemporary or historical, but I’d hazard a guess that readers of historical fiction “know their stuff” and have little use for a book with errors. I learned this early on when I was freelancing for <i>NHToDo</i> magazine. <br />
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While working on an article about some historical place (interestingly, I can’t remember where, but I remember the mistake), I had put a couple of “placeholder” sentences in the first paragraph including one about Abner Doubleday inventing baseball. I’d meant to fact-check the sentences, but in the rush to make the deadline failed to do so. <br />
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I got the year incorrect. <i>NHToDo</i> was a travel and lifestyle magazine; to me a casual periodical, yet several letters were written to the editor calling me out on the error. That incident happened over fifteen years ago, but the lesson stuck with me. Hence, some of the tedious research I conduct for my stories.<br />
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At the time I was writing <i>Love at First Flight</i>, I knew a retired Air Force pilot who has since passed<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorHvD9bQGFBqlLc84KfUcCFeFymveMBy2c1fex7As932lXUfqaX5wGL7A2doguJhK3lzjfu0mybINQGSrMFSXAO6qu0DUn84zqCG3cKgnscmBITt-XjppRExy7AjdE7HcOkWNoy21nj5lJzeb6SYFpCqaUE40MSPJDlXvaxbvoGRvyVQvk4DhZkf6dcjm/s640/us-air-force-77909_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorHvD9bQGFBqlLc84KfUcCFeFymveMBy2c1fex7As932lXUfqaX5wGL7A2doguJhK3lzjfu0mybINQGSrMFSXAO6qu0DUn84zqCG3cKgnscmBITt-XjppRExy7AjdE7HcOkWNoy21nj5lJzeb6SYFpCqaUE40MSPJDlXvaxbvoGRvyVQvk4DhZkf6dcjm/w200-h134/us-air-force-77909_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/12019</td></tr></tbody></table>away. He was a wealth of knowledge and information, most of which had to be gathered over the telephone because of Covid restrictions (I was researching the story just as the pandemic began.) It’s one thing to know industry terms, it’s something else to use them correctly. Here are just a few*:<br />
<br /><b>
Absolute Altitud</b>e – The vertical distance between the aircraft and ground level. <br />
<br /><b>
Absolute Ceiling</b> – The highest altitude an aircraft can fly at maximum throttle while maintaining level height and constant airspeed.<br />
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AGL</b> – (Above Ground Level) – The vertical distance measured between the aircraft and a specific land mass. Not to be confused with Absolute Altitude.<br />
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Air Speed Indicator</b> (ASI) – A flight instrument that indicates airspeed an aircraft through an air mass in miles per hour, knots, or both.<br />
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Apron</b> – The paved area at an airport where aircraft park, fuel, load, and unload.<br />
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Bleed Air </b>– Hot compressed air produced during the compressor stage of aircraft engine operation.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pK9nl5QPaZzTY-gKRCv9I_Ui3MJC_OHoQaKWYn5jQEAy3eWK-KhkCj5i6OaGtY7Sgd57PYmerS5l7br_n-riV8FtfisGeLItDzZHnGn513w4GX1gvJpZZyqbSC53SnykxHcS6picOK248nQKTz9mbdoN-wW8nZnZq3nT5bbl16mkP9Ij6Gpu_n5AWeAV/s640/plane-1108651_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3pK9nl5QPaZzTY-gKRCv9I_Ui3MJC_OHoQaKWYn5jQEAy3eWK-KhkCj5i6OaGtY7Sgd57PYmerS5l7br_n-riV8FtfisGeLItDzZHnGn513w4GX1gvJpZZyqbSC53SnykxHcS6picOK248nQKTz9mbdoN-wW8nZnZq3nT5bbl16mkP9Ij6Gpu_n5AWeAV/w200-h150/plane-1108651_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/imagii</td></tr></tbody></table>Checkride</b> – This is the more common name for the FAA Practical Test. Pilots must pass a checkride for each certification or rating.<br />
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Contrail</b> – A streak of condensed water vapor in the air due to the heat produced by aircraft engines at high altitudes.<br />
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Drag</b> – A parallel and opposing force to an aircraft’s motion through the air.<br />
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Feathering</b> – The act of adjusting variable pitch propellers so that the blades are in line with airflow and don’t create air resistance.<br />
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How many are you familiar with?<br />
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(*taken from<a href=" https://epicflightacademy.com/aviation-terminology/" target="_blank"> https://epicflightacademy.com/aviation-terminology/</a>)<br />
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________________<br />
<br /><b>
Love at First Flight</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJjY-3ymC3RWBauFQz1W8trD6KeToZgA4l2YnKUju9MjH3izCZzEWdXUwOEAlAcR978E_1KVz-vGjjSWj0L_Asd4KG2JCV8R1TcOxEbH2Qqex6BFyDkqiubAyVOvKG8hBFJz0gN9C9A9LlSno4J7_ISxYc-ykbrSkE_VOjYEI6mR7sHWZmw7Rj5ZtjOlk/s500/CoverSm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMJjY-3ymC3RWBauFQz1W8trD6KeToZgA4l2YnKUju9MjH3izCZzEWdXUwOEAlAcR978E_1KVz-vGjjSWj0L_Asd4KG2JCV8R1TcOxEbH2Qqex6BFyDkqiubAyVOvKG8hBFJz0gN9C9A9LlSno4J7_ISxYc-ykbrSkE_VOjYEI6mR7sHWZmw7Rj5ZtjOlk/w133-h200/CoverSm.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>Can two people emerge from the clouds of past hurt to find a silver lining of love?</i><br />
<br />
Evelyn Reid would rather fly than do anything else, so when war engulfs the U.S., she joins the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. One of the program’s top pilots, she is tapped for pursuit plane training...the dream of a lifetime until she discovers the instructor is her ex-fiancé, Jasper MacPherson.<br />
<br />
Collecting enough points to rotate stateside, fighter pilot Jasper MacPherson is assigned to teach the WAFS how to fly the army way. Bad enough to be training women, but things take a turn for the worse when his former fiancée shows up as one of his students.<br />
<div><br /></div><div>Purchase Link: <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX" target="_blank">https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-88726471511471491892024-01-19T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-19T01:30:00.305-05:00Fiction Friday: Research for Love at First Flight<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Fiction Friday: Research for Love at First Flight</i></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dt-cmzOSYbPIQ-DB6PSkWvpS-eX7DSR1JHap9Gs-LFomxN5eiHxQvECLNBwuceggaX_Itlm3FHB2bsKQa2A1l1F4d0axab51cgg0FPkYGzumYJFut8WI59Jg9wg7ur6PeSxJNlprOrYJRY604o4QtUubme-fzIru9hcZD7PAFkHfHnezOjt8gYBSS-P9/s640/smartphone-1894723_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5Dt-cmzOSYbPIQ-DB6PSkWvpS-eX7DSR1JHap9Gs-LFomxN5eiHxQvECLNBwuceggaX_Itlm3FHB2bsKQa2A1l1F4d0axab51cgg0FPkYGzumYJFut8WI59Jg9wg7ur6PeSxJNlprOrYJRY604o4QtUubme-fzIru9hcZD7PAFkHfHnezOjt8gYBSS-P9/w200-h134/smartphone-1894723_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/Steve Buissinne</td></tr></tbody></table>Long before I was a professional writer, I was a research nerd. I did and still do love looking up information and chasing rabbit trails. Before the invention of smartphones, I carried a notepad in my purse on which I could jot down names, places, events…anything I stumbled on when we were out. What I love best (after texting with my siblings) is using my phone on the fly to research something.<br />
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My husband rolls his eyes, but in a laughing manner, because he’s the one who usually prompts me when we’re somewhere and here about something we’re not familiar with. He’ll often use sports writer Warner Wolf’s catchphrase, “Let’s go to the videotape.” (Which is now digital in all probability!)<br />
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Anyway, <i>Love at First Flight</i> was published in September 2020 which meant I was conducting my<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CJ_3nB9GwROT5Bqy2QIFqGuiS9Fbxf2t5eRsVY9OdsG-dKi6u3g6Mmm6jej6zefEX4snL84dcaviVKW4P7Uf5TgLT5niP2trDqfKnWj9KlsuvD_4Zcs0uwVmVPyPYt0XTWuVu-8p2iDoG_XOxyKJ9GA1RnYufO72JFy1p9Kw6RHX7Av_5Rjg5ASkk0ht/s676/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%208.08.31%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="310" data-original-width="676" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6CJ_3nB9GwROT5Bqy2QIFqGuiS9Fbxf2t5eRsVY9OdsG-dKi6u3g6Mmm6jej6zefEX4snL84dcaviVKW4P7Uf5TgLT5niP2trDqfKnWj9KlsuvD_4Zcs0uwVmVPyPYt0XTWuVu-8p2iDoG_XOxyKJ9GA1RnYufO72JFy1p9Kw6RHX7Av_5Rjg5ASkk0ht/w200-h92/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%208.08.31%20AM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of <br />Texas Tech Univ.</td></tr></tbody></table>story research just as the pandemic surfaced. Definitely bad timing! As any student knows, primary sources are the best which include autobiographies or memoirs, letters or diaries, articles written by an individual who experienced the event, maps, and sound recordings, etc. As part of my research, I had planned to visit the National WASPS WWII Museum located in Sweetwater, Texas, but in March 2020 travel was heavily curtailed, so I was stuck researching from my desk.<br />
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Fortunately, there are quite a few autobiographies and memoirs written by former pilots of the Women Air Service Program, and I was able to get my hands on them. Another fantastic resource was a video I obtained from the Wright Museum of WWII called Women of Courage which featured interviews. I also found video clips of news interviews and documentaries that included interviews with these stalwart women.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vcVA5wUB8r813WON6SbwuXjsptuMJkR6LnF6WqJZATV_wm0bXJlpmHMH_niO0RIuc9BBHD8qCRiQn1YPqYKb-i5JXBzsdEWwbs_EzWCWDGSf52jvE5Mw6IIt1jUehjNd7vrMy2Kv_5qgUK3vc5-amnWLr4dLSoJ4pjt_5g__xPcetmoV4978qnF5htPj/s500/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%208.10.09%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="500" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_vcVA5wUB8r813WON6SbwuXjsptuMJkR6LnF6WqJZATV_wm0bXJlpmHMH_niO0RIuc9BBHD8qCRiQn1YPqYKb-i5JXBzsdEWwbs_EzWCWDGSf52jvE5Mw6IIt1jUehjNd7vrMy2Kv_5qgUK3vc5-amnWLr4dLSoJ4pjt_5g__xPcetmoV4978qnF5htPj/w200-h138/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-19%20at%208.10.09%20AM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">WikiImages</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Many years ago, a fellow writer managed to secure a ride in a B-25 (or was it a B-29?) while researching her book. I had hoped to do the same so I could experience the sights, sounds, smells, and rolling stomach (!) of my characters. Instead, I found a fabulous YouTube video
that took me into the air in a Vultee BT-13 Valiant that was lovingly (and sometimes not so lovingly) referred to by trainees as The Vultee Vibrator. <br />
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Maybe someday I’ll be able to hitch a ride in a vintage plane, but meanwhile, you and I can enjoy this virtual flight:<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/nQRPUxfCzvs" width="320" youtube-src-id="nQRPUxfCzvs"></iframe></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">________________ </div><div><b><br /></b></div><div><b>Love at First Flight </b></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbtMj-Yxe9B_iFAScenw_6sxYgJArweVRaanffYoFYKNKFoATVlCQfipmNiV0HEhCpQsUUxsQbRm4TDiVjuqZNUHtmQE1QnziUcnfA448b3TQUQjrdJXFZHSK-P_WYLrZhTT0ejVcBPqgpgG_QFq23iEkG-qEoG-8TzfYJdzR14u6RjxYjeG_V3s2z1Fw/s500/CoverSm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbtMj-Yxe9B_iFAScenw_6sxYgJArweVRaanffYoFYKNKFoATVlCQfipmNiV0HEhCpQsUUxsQbRm4TDiVjuqZNUHtmQE1QnziUcnfA448b3TQUQjrdJXFZHSK-P_WYLrZhTT0ejVcBPqgpgG_QFq23iEkG-qEoG-8TzfYJdzR14u6RjxYjeG_V3s2z1Fw/w133-h200/CoverSm.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>Can two people emerge from the clouds of past hurt to find a silver lining of love? </i></div><div><br /></div><div>Evelyn Reid would rather fly than do anything else, so when war engulfs the U.S., she joins the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. One of the program’s top pilots, she is tapped for pursuit plane training...the dream of a lifetime until she discovers the instructor is her ex-fiancé, Jasper MacPherson. </div><div><br /></div><div>Collecting enough points to rotate stateside, fighter pilot Jasper MacPherson is assigned to teach the WAFS how to fly the army way. Bad enough to be training women, but things take a turn for the worse when his former fiancée shows up as one of his students.</div><div><br /></div><div>Purchase Link: <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX" target="_blank">https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-7682841474544210472024-01-18T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-18T01:30:00.245-05:00Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Paula Peckham!<div style="text-align: center;"><i style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: x-large;">Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Paula Peckham!</i></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF0NOGb7a3yQHDhNgaxQE1sp9uDFMhOs8HtrD8HnYG24oGR1bJk4_aWKgricMjCaFYYvcKr_HyLDbs8gzgPXU6hli7ej_wmcD721iHLCpdnP1HNolVb_SGL-ui1Jw-0hkumba-Zm6upR-exgw-DtdyG7PRmc5GZoCB3rV1k48bZ97aSc0JpHWmzt0ijkj/s400/PaulaPeckham.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrF0NOGb7a3yQHDhNgaxQE1sp9uDFMhOs8HtrD8HnYG24oGR1bJk4_aWKgricMjCaFYYvcKr_HyLDbs8gzgPXU6hli7ej_wmcD721iHLCpdnP1HNolVb_SGL-ui1Jw-0hkumba-Zm6upR-exgw-DtdyG7PRmc5GZoCB3rV1k48bZ97aSc0JpHWmzt0ijkj/w200-h200/PaulaPeckham.png" width="200" /></a></div>My most recent book came out 10-24-2023 and is titled Accepted. It’s the third book in my historical San Antonio series (although each can be read as a standalone). The idea came when I learned a fact about Texas history that I did NOT learn in school (although I think I should have). I appreciated learning this fact, which led to the idea that others may also, so the story was built around it.<br />
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I love doing the research for my books (both historical and contemporary). For Accepted, my husband and I made a road trip to San Antonio and visited several museums along the way. I spoke with many people, which is always fun because you learn things you didn’t expect. I also read several books about the time period. The author of one of them spoke at the University of Texas in Arlington (UTA), my alma mater, and I was lucky enough to attend. I spoke with her, Alice Baumgartner, for several minutes afterward, and she ended up writing an endorsement for the novel, which was really cool.<br />
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Accepted</i> is book three in my series. Once I started writing the first book, <i>Protected</i>, I knew I would follow it up with a book about each of the characters introduced. There are eight other children, ranging in ages from fifteen to four, besides Abby (the main character in book one). Each could conceivably get their own story, although I only have ideas floating around for three more at this point. So the San Antonio series will probably stop at book six.<br />
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I fell in love with the kids from book one, and couldn’t bear to say goodbye to them just yet, so as<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQRh_d9qJZ1ChovWvfM3Z1SNGwCb_R2BVl1TDy_GqsW93kKIs9662v9a1V3PI6qMD1YTd9UAaguw8sv_skf4fQPhdEmmFrHghBMh-mC7S7l152yxe5AGlMyYqXd2VvpZW8xEO8f1btvKxzGbocxTgEJeaUF-sfWLWmEoVz3kLCStsRdaUXxW4cumhH7we/s1280/walk-292995_1280.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQRh_d9qJZ1ChovWvfM3Z1SNGwCb_R2BVl1TDy_GqsW93kKIs9662v9a1V3PI6qMD1YTd9UAaguw8sv_skf4fQPhdEmmFrHghBMh-mC7S7l152yxe5AGlMyYqXd2VvpZW8xEO8f1btvKxzGbocxTgEJeaUF-sfWLWmEoVz3kLCStsRdaUXxW4cumhH7we/w200-h150/walk-292995_1280.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/desmarsol</td></tr></tbody></table>ideas cropped up for their continuing story, I tucked them away in a file. My readers have asked me to tell the stories of Yaideli (introduced in book one) and Mrs. Lancaster (first appears in book three) because they want to know how their stories end. Maybe those will be novellas. We’ll see.<br />
<br />
As a fifth-generation Texan, the cowboy life and persona have always been a part of the landscape for me. The 1860s was an exciting time for Texas, and the cowboys played a huge role in helping to settle the frontier. It’s an easy setting to research and fun to write about.<br />
<br />
I use a modified outline process to plot out the main turning points in my books. I learned the process from a video class produced by Michael Hague. It’s called The Hero’s Journey and is available on Udemy.com. Best $20 I ever spent. It helps me stay focused on the main points in the story and avoid that sagging middle all authors dread. I don’t plan each detail before I start writing—those come as the story progresses—but I know where I’m headed.<br />
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My job prior to writing was teaching Geometry to 10th-graders. Teaching math didn’t help me in preparing me to be an author, but the nineteen years in the classroom has provided plenty of material for ideas!<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRVGaur8o00A1_-REvelMR8ON_e2AB8SOg2nq0lqmG6MuWk9j8ts4XbMUqWiqtqyYrk4lkzrpfMhOCb2MO5Wx3qyTVh1XSnuXVXyEYePyHOIjhhL398ilVPIwdQ5SVPz7CL5IiWXFcOTiJlMp_JzkKAgo3Tf0sLiFbsiuCwlu54ITKGzhCNu9u3qxNM4p/s640/piano-3505109_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="427" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRVGaur8o00A1_-REvelMR8ON_e2AB8SOg2nq0lqmG6MuWk9j8ts4XbMUqWiqtqyYrk4lkzrpfMhOCb2MO5Wx3qyTVh1XSnuXVXyEYePyHOIjhhL398ilVPIwdQ5SVPz7CL5IiWXFcOTiJlMp_JzkKAgo3Tf0sLiFbsiuCwlu54ITKGzhCNu9u3qxNM4p/w200-h134/piano-3505109_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: Pixabay/Mabel Amber</td></tr></tbody></table>I think the best thing a fledgling writer can do is find a critique group to join. They’ll help you hone your craft and will be an endless source of encouragement.<br />
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My next project is a contemporary romance. I’m pushing the pause button on the San Antonio series to write a story about a musician. It’s tentatively titled <i>Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For.</i> I love music, and it’s been a blast doing the research and writing the characters of my band. If it turns out the way I envision, it’ll be funny, sweet, and poignant. We’ll see if I can pull it off.<div><br /></div><div><br />
<br /><b>
About Accepted</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK4rmzcK9-uNGpagAsJI8Nwz7LD_BNfFGG3ooOYVGmxsqmLRC7QvMeA8jVDaG5CqizSG0kxkqMIiC-knQKmtg4kPHHQUTZngjgqcdJzKszL0cz1mCNyB1Esxvc2AdrXLR7VIVsYBIBVQeZ87-Ai3sWgZyk0UTg9QyS_BS_NlWS0PM-wsfyZfaDLGHY_Vc/s1500/Accepted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="994" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggK4rmzcK9-uNGpagAsJI8Nwz7LD_BNfFGG3ooOYVGmxsqmLRC7QvMeA8jVDaG5CqizSG0kxkqMIiC-knQKmtg4kPHHQUTZngjgqcdJzKszL0cz1mCNyB1Esxvc2AdrXLR7VIVsYBIBVQeZ87-Ai3sWgZyk0UTg9QyS_BS_NlWS0PM-wsfyZfaDLGHY_Vc/w133-h200/Accepted.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>Against the backdrop of the Civil War, spirited Quenby Martin despises the monotony and restrictions imposed on women. Then San Antonio’s most respectable widow befriends her. Unbeknownst to Quenby, her genteel companion harbors a life-risking secret.<div><br />
Soon after, Quenby meets Jonathan Campbell, a Texan farmer struggling to make ends meet, and eagerly offers her help. Despite Jonathan’s reservations about trusting his future livelihood to the pretty young know-it-all, he accepts. As their relationship develops, Quenby’s confidence and knowledge lures Jonathan in.<br />
<br />
Quen draws the attention of a bounty hunter, whose charms cannot hide his evil intentions. Danger puts Quen’s wavering belief in God to the test. With the hunter on her heels, she embarks on an important mission that inadvertently involves Jonathan in a web of kidnapping and murder. His efforts to keep her safe expose his growing feelings.<br />
<br />
Will Quenby have enough courage to face the perils of standing up for what she believes in? And at what cost?<br />
<br /><b>Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/474xxhY" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/474xxhY</a></b><br /><div style="text-align: center;">________________</div>
<div><br /></div>
A fifth-generation Texan, Paula Peckham graduated from the University of Texas in Arlington and taught math at Burleson High School for 19 years. She and her husband, John, divide their time between their home in Burleson and their casita in Rio Bravo, Mexico. They built their home in the colonia where they’ve served with their church, Pathway, for the past ten years. Paula leads a team of volunteers from Pathway on two trips each year, one at spring break, and one at Thanksgiving. <br />
<br />Her debut novel, <i>Protected</i>, was an ACFW Genesis semi-finalist in 2020. Book two in the series, A Father’s Gift, placed third in the 2023 Selah Award contest. Book three, <i>Accepted</i>, came out in October 2023. Several articles have appeared in The Journal and The Guide magazines. She has contributions in the 2021 releases <i>Christmas Love Through the Ages</i> and <i>Texas Heirloom Ornament</i>. <br />
<br />For more about Paula and her books, follow her at <a href="http://www.paulapeckham.com." target="_blank">http://www.paulapeckham.com.</a><br />Twitter: <a href="https://twitter.com/PaulaPeckham" target="_blank">https://twitter.com/PaulaPeckham</a><br />
Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/paulajopeckham/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/paulajopeckham/</a><br />
TikTok: <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@paulapeckham?lang=en" target="_blank">https://www.tiktok.com/@paulapeckham?lang=en</a><br />
Pinterest: <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/ppeckham/books/" target="_blank">https://www.pinterest.com/ppeckham/books/</a><br />
Website:<a href=" https://paulapeckham.com" target="_blank"> https://paulapeckham.com</a><br />
</div></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-28816415473302719452024-01-11T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-11T01:30:00.259-05:00Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Iris Lim!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Iris Lim!</i></span></div><div><br /></div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSV-BodsMWVBeQzTnBgiaMKoZtQqaIDqqZWy7Q5usxhyphenhyphenicRoSlaxL1QqH3WC7F_iFTvmXXvV5ICpaMZ6RnxPg0Bma9gdPGn2U-FDsD6329YUqHYgCxVG9Uf_fa-Z7wZVs667JaMFg92AG9zzRe4aQuvTwz86ZyA4Sy1161l4Ewc6MzSXUoHTz5ZERZGH88/s1332/Iris%20Lim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1332" data-original-width="1077" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSV-BodsMWVBeQzTnBgiaMKoZtQqaIDqqZWy7Q5usxhyphenhyphenicRoSlaxL1QqH3WC7F_iFTvmXXvV5ICpaMZ6RnxPg0Bma9gdPGn2U-FDsD6329YUqHYgCxVG9Uf_fa-Z7wZVs667JaMFg92AG9zzRe4aQuvTwz86ZyA4Sy1161l4Ewc6MzSXUoHTz5ZERZGH88/w162-h200/Iris%20Lim.jpg" width="162" /></a></div>What was your inspiration for the story?</b><br />
<br />
This particular story is special to me because it is inspired by my own love story with my husband. I’ve had to make a few adjustments for the time period and to employ some creative license, obviously, but the heart of the story remains the same. I also managed to schedule it to debut on the 12th anniversary of our first date, so that was extra special!<br />
<br /><b>
Tell us about your road to publication.</b><br />
<br />
My journey is a little unique because it actually started in fanfiction! I’ve always wanted to be a writer, but I never thought it could actually become my reality, so I just maintained a hobby writing and posting Pride and Prejudice fan variations online. Little did I know that about eight years ago, a small press would pick up three of my stories and publish them on Amazon. But that wasn’t the end of the story, because the small press, despite initial success, suddenly closed down a year later! I was very discouraged, but my husband encouraged me to try self-publishing via Amazon instead.<br />
<br />
I took that step by faith and submission and was able to build a bit of a following in the Jane Austen Fan Fiction world. Then, three years ago, with my husband’s incessant support (one can sort of sense a theme here), I ventured into writing original Regency fiction, and I have just fallen in love with both the writing and the publishing aspects of it all since then.<br />
<b><br />
How are your characters like you? Different?</b><br />
<br />
Since this book is based on a true story, I obviously had to base Melodia largely on a younger version of myself. I don’t know if I have been objective enough, but I do think the incessant talking, the clumsiness, and the dreaming and growing up she had to do were the most personal parts of the character for me.<br />
<br /><b>
What draws you to the time period about which you write?</b><br />
<br />
It always goes back to Jane Austen. I discovered her books serendipitously as a fourteen-year-old, and<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YIZYXZgTA4uBxJA-z1BWneyOOktKjO5VxI4l9D_vXaVmcNmQUx1lBHN0LYhQzZto6YWJRqraIVh7Z1PC81rmRyHufQlTA4SNG9zAaeMoJy8fr_rsrA7H25-tVNXW0RRws0_sOhbdarZw-wsimZtCv6ayMIFde4qndCv9erLxAMhyphenhyphenJU2TDAxRs1kXixKV/s530/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-06%20at%2010.19.38%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="446" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2YIZYXZgTA4uBxJA-z1BWneyOOktKjO5VxI4l9D_vXaVmcNmQUx1lBHN0LYhQzZto6YWJRqraIVh7Z1PC81rmRyHufQlTA4SNG9zAaeMoJy8fr_rsrA7H25-tVNXW0RRws0_sOhbdarZw-wsimZtCv6ayMIFde4qndCv9erLxAMhyphenhyphenJU2TDAxRs1kXixKV/w168-h200/Screen%20Shot%202024-01-06%20at%2010.19.38%20AM.png" width="168" /></a></div>she is still the only author whose entire catalog I have read, some of them twice or thrice over. I also relate to the things and people she would have encountered as a minister’s daughter, so I find it delightful to get to bring a version of Regency England to life through my stories.<br />
<br /><b>
What is your process for writing? (do you outline, have a special place or time of day you write, etc.) What is your favorite part of the process?<br /></b>
<br />
I have a hopeless Type A personality, so that translates to my writing as well. I always have an outline for my stories, which I need to produce in one sitting, and I try to draft or edit a scene or two every day. I stress out in real life when there’s no concrete plan for dinner, so I definitely need a plot to keep me anchored when it comes to my books!<br />
<br />
As for my favorite part, I would probably have to say it’s when I find the perfect cover. I know it doesn’t have to do with the actual writing, but it is sort of a reward for me to put a nice outfit on my book baby and to see it come to form!<br />
<br /><b>
How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist?</b><br />
<br />
I have worked in the education sector my whole adult life, and I was a high school English teacher for the first third of it. The chance to read and teach about books for a living really sharpened my sensitivity to what makes evocative writing, but it also gave me imposter syndrome and sometimes made me feel that I should never publish because I’ll never be the next William Shakespeare or Harper Lee anyway (or, you know, Jane Austen).<br />
<br />
I don’t think any classrooms will be studying my books anytime soon, but I do think that the love for literature that I always work so hard to pass onto my students is an essential part of who I am as a reader and a writer.<br />
<br /><b>
How do you celebrate when you finish a manuscript?</b><br />
<br />
I don’t. I stress about the next story instead. I really need to learn to chill. Haha.<br />
<br /><b>
What is your advice to fledgling writers?</b><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTZrwBVsDrIv11opnq5XjSNwtee4BAt8Y9XfzkgjkBdiSA-FBj33BzOX-rs6R-COnbTeYu4aF2SZTtHru-EX2Q3VAKW1OulX1mliszv1taZ_oOOeCK6QW7Ea-LEEWt8EF8-kH3vjsJGY43Y2hKCVSC_roqjPXfUWr9ZgOK5UeIwn-moG1t-gWfr_2vyop/s640/book-1421097_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="428" data-original-width="640" height="134" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJTZrwBVsDrIv11opnq5XjSNwtee4BAt8Y9XfzkgjkBdiSA-FBj33BzOX-rs6R-COnbTeYu4aF2SZTtHru-EX2Q3VAKW1OulX1mliszv1taZ_oOOeCK6QW7Ea-LEEWt8EF8-kH3vjsJGY43Y2hKCVSC_roqjPXfUWr9ZgOK5UeIwn-moG1t-gWfr_2vyop/w200-h134/book-1421097_640.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pixabay/Yerson Retamal</td></tr></tbody></table>I am a strong believer that a writer is a reader first. And the best way to improve your craft is to never stop reading and never stop learning.<br />
<br />
I would also encourage them to step out of their shell and connect with other readers and writers. Writing might seem like a solitary occupation at first glance, but it really doesn’t have to be. To have a sustainable career as a writer, one needs the support of loved ones as well as other people within the same field. <br />
<br /><b>
What books are on your nightstand right now?</b><br />
<br />
My Kindle Paperwhite is on my nightstand, so I guess that counts as a few hundred books. But I just finished reading Rosanne E. Lortz’s <i>The Vicar and the Village Scandal</i> last night, and it was wonderful!<br />
<br /><b>
What is your next project?</b><br />
<br />
Book 4 of my Beniton Hall series, <i>Mr. Avington’s Game of Hearts</i>, is debuting in April, so I need to get that final proof done as soon as I can. This book is lighthearted and all about the London Season. And because Alfred has been so hard-headed and selfish before, I look forward to humbling him and watching him turn into a lovesick fool when the right woman comes along. It’s the best kind of retribution!<br />
<br /><b>About Once Upon a Time in Millsbury</b><div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w76SyutpDPq0FMDENRV7uqEQm7HBXiDcnXFJQbzLon9bYJym4BNr6XVxIqyegnMWlhQ5I8RW5570LoN-95Wtt5tn0RK2nhKjcNyNWFOeMaNC54k5YsNCNx_BEXpGq2t9UWJi5jYBZGb3EiAWi-p6P6YzQHfYG9l6MPrK6dI4GgVq8nDJGrUbZg-V0Gsr/s2700/Once%20Upon%20a%20Time%20in%20Millsbury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2700" data-original-width="1800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3w76SyutpDPq0FMDENRV7uqEQm7HBXiDcnXFJQbzLon9bYJym4BNr6XVxIqyegnMWlhQ5I8RW5570LoN-95Wtt5tn0RK2nhKjcNyNWFOeMaNC54k5YsNCNx_BEXpGq2t9UWJi5jYBZGb3EiAWi-p6P6YzQHfYG9l6MPrK6dI4GgVq8nDJGrUbZg-V0Gsr/w133-h200/Once%20Upon%20a%20Time%20in%20Millsbury.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>He’s just come home to Millsbury. She is eager to outgrow it. But love just might have other plans. <br />
<br />
Lord Garrett Laurence, viscount and future earl, returns home to Millsbury jaded, world-weary, and decidedly unmarried. There are plenty of young ladies around, but no one catches his eye—no one, perhaps, except his younger sisters’ sweet, vivacious bosom friend.<br />
<br />
Raised all her life in one small town, Melodia Reese dreams of life beyond Millsbury every single day. When an unexpected chance to visit London comes along, she warms to the thrill and the dangers of Town. Yet she wonders if her heart ever did leave Millsbury at all.<br />
<br />
A heartfelt story of two neighbors discovering all they’ve ever wanted hidden in plain sight all along. A tale of family, dreams, discovery, forgiveness, and love.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Purchase Link: <a href="https://amzn.to/3HaKJY6" target="_blank">https://amzn.to/3HaKJY6</a></i><br />
<br /><b>
Connect with Iris!</b><br />
<br />
Facebook: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/booksbyirislim" target="_blank">www.facebook.com/booksbyirislim</a><br />
Instagram: <a href="http://www.instagram.com/booksbyirislim" target="_blank">www.instagram.com/booksbyirislim</a><br />
E-mail: <a href="mailto:author@booksbyirislim.com" target="_blank">author@booksbyirislim.com</a><br />
Website: <a href="http://www.booksbyirislim.com" target="_blank">www.booksbyirislim.com</a><br />
</div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com1New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-78068318245412924302024-01-09T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-09T01:30:00.143-05:00Traveling Tuesday: Sweetwater, Texas<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Traveling Tuesday: Sweetwater, Texas</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6C7L5okuS0Ej7mP03j_n2-LtUF7yfNShZeFwLWb6-ZPWI-texgs_0HV-40xStUwaZ1nSeTeUUllROxgz-h-q6JjFrq3LUPilQ-l1C-HSuorKEjklOuPVlxnam5sr8QFN6OfugtDCSMESiHcYznWZqG6Is5laqddAqjtk__vZ58DqgUwmh23a6QYTZDRi/s1088/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%2010.33.00%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="968" data-original-width="1088" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL6C7L5okuS0Ej7mP03j_n2-LtUF7yfNShZeFwLWb6-ZPWI-texgs_0HV-40xStUwaZ1nSeTeUUllROxgz-h-q6JjFrq3LUPilQ-l1C-HSuorKEjklOuPVlxnam5sr8QFN6OfugtDCSMESiHcYznWZqG6Is5laqddAqjtk__vZ58DqgUwmh23a6QYTZDRi/w200-h178/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%2010.33.00%20AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Located forty miles west of Abilene, Texas and almost “smack-dab” in the center of the state, Sweetwater, Texas became a hub in aviation only eight years after the industry began. According to a paper I found on the University of North Texas website, by the 1920s, the tiny town was regularly visited by many famous aviators. In 1928, seeing potential, local businessmen raised money to construct a municipal airport. Funds came quickly, and the airport was finished and dedicated in August 1929.<br />
<br />
In 1940, the town was notified that Sweetwater was being considered for use in the government’s expansion of defense efforts. Receiving nearly $200,000, the town purchased additional acreage and improved the facilities. The first trainees were fifty Canadian cadets headed for England’s RAF. In 1942, over 800 Americans arrived for training and graduated the following year.<br />
<br />
Jacqueline Cochran, a world-renowned pilot, had been working for months to create a women’s<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZzKkAvuWBGQh-UhAYCl3D4kKmx8BdgciTFVMvkNH1Xdd135Xr74m1aH9Pa5yMUxEw5wbyEZTu_ugBlNM2j1Ri8LItZcyWKjwLySX4PTz4GbDZk10qmy5bIZI_LvXoSgl81f5UGx351_Humk-DZqJqs2TaNk6mv7icyI1mMIZEx6VQO2UTTFIADLs-gH8/s526/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%2010.33.53%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="422" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqZzKkAvuWBGQh-UhAYCl3D4kKmx8BdgciTFVMvkNH1Xdd135Xr74m1aH9Pa5yMUxEw5wbyEZTu_ugBlNM2j1Ri8LItZcyWKjwLySX4PTz4GbDZk10qmy5bIZI_LvXoSgl81f5UGx351_Humk-DZqJqs2TaNk6mv7icyI1mMIZEx6VQO2UTTFIADLs-gH8/w161-h200/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%2010.33.53%20AM.png" width="161" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National WWII Museum</td></tr></tbody></table>program similar to that of Britain’s Air Transport Auxiliary. She initially tried to use Hughes Air Field in Houston, but for many reasons was unable to develop a school that met her requirements. Finding Sweetwater, she quickly made arrangements, and by February 1943 Avenger Field was an all-female installation except for a few male instructors and other officers.<br />
<br />
Slightly more than eleven square miles, Sweetwater is considered semi-arid, which is to say it’s a dry area, but not as dry as the desert. Average annual rainfall is thirty-five to forty days. Winter average temperatures are in the 60s, and summers are scorching with June, July, and August typically seeing temperatures in the mid- to high-nineties! I would imagine that many of the women who arrived had never experienced this kind of weather.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg133eCbTuA9BwH7zJUvqZgxYaHxzIgZzK7p9eBb4jRpg5A8NgMcTtaTAHuw5cTdL-gT5nstOMLqteCxf441LYG_AofC2RR61fKHlk6wWj8kwYRgSYDBXsYqAIfOngrVZoEt4DjPnIWb58-7wUmLvM0RgB2pBacG7zN4uBcZUty5YNG0CXH31dXObgeOik/s690/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%2010.35.21%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="302" data-original-width="690" height="88" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg133eCbTuA9BwH7zJUvqZgxYaHxzIgZzK7p9eBb4jRpg5A8NgMcTtaTAHuw5cTdL-gT5nstOMLqteCxf441LYG_AofC2RR61fKHlk6wWj8kwYRgSYDBXsYqAIfOngrVZoEt4DjPnIWb58-7wUmLvM0RgB2pBacG7zN4uBcZUty5YNG0CXH31dXObgeOik/w200-h88/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%2010.35.21%20AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>Thanks to the railroad and airfield, Sweetwater’s population exploded from just over 4,000 in the 1920 census to almost eleven thousand by the 1930 census. The women who arrived came from all walks of life. Some would be disappointed at the “small” size of the town, while others would be overwhelmed by its stretch of land and five-figure population. Of the 25,000 women who applied for flight training, 1,830 were accepted, 1,075 of whom earned their wings, which meant 756 women trudged to the train station and boarded a train for home, leaving the dusty town behind.<br />
<br />
________________________<br />
<br /><b>
Love at First Flight</b><br />
<br /><i>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEOmjiq8RSVPv4u3u6Rvr89UJgNhFGGhx7QBlh0oiMq5ZIBD5ZDP6QWqUm_eVY1OdG8j3mo5MeTR4c0_Dn87w-ySvNmKvV8WCstNrbjOVGGSmH7NXKGzhmUN_WFFArZZ26gR_iG_WVpxhAB4cavyzwykCt8EFR0akJ2RMQzBompLC3s7eI45tzkNGc5dZ/s500/CoverSm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZEOmjiq8RSVPv4u3u6Rvr89UJgNhFGGhx7QBlh0oiMq5ZIBD5ZDP6QWqUm_eVY1OdG8j3mo5MeTR4c0_Dn87w-ySvNmKvV8WCstNrbjOVGGSmH7NXKGzhmUN_WFFArZZ26gR_iG_WVpxhAB4cavyzwykCt8EFR0akJ2RMQzBompLC3s7eI45tzkNGc5dZ/w133-h200/CoverSm.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>Can two people emerge from the clouds of past hurt to find a silver lining of love?</i><br />
<br />
Evelyn Reid would rather fly than do anything else, so when war engulfs the U.S., she joins the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. One of the program’s top pilots, she is tapped for pursuit plane training...the dream of a lifetime until she discovers the instructor is her ex-fiancé, Jasper MacPherson.<br />
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Collecting enough points to rotate stateside, fighter pilot Jasper MacPherson is assigned to teach the WAFS how to fly the army way. Bad enough to be training women, but things take a turn for the worse when his former fiancée shows up as one of his students.<br />
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Purchase Link: <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX" target="_blank">https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX</a>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-48920110743329931692024-01-05T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-05T01:30:00.152-05:00Fiction Friday: New Releases in Christian Fiction<p style="text-align: center;"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">January 2024 New Releases</span></strong></p>
More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">ACFW Fiction Finder website</a>
<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Contemporary Romance:</span></b></center>
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9872"><img class="alignleft size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9872_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9872" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Love Penalty</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1261" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Carolyn Miller</a> -- With her fondness for tattoos and spider jewelry Sylvie Miles is used to being pre-judged and misunderstood. She has friends and connections but she still feels alone, and works several jobs while daydreaming about finding a guy who sees further than skin deep and won’t shy away from her battered heart. So when a hot pro hockey player with a smile as vast as his skills takes a shine to her what’s a poor girl to do but fall in love? Ryan Guillemette sure wasn’t looking for romance in a bookstore in his hometown but quickly becomes intrigued by the sassy Goth-like assistant with a snarky way with words. When an accidental kiss proves dangerously addictive, she soon becomes embedded in his heart. But even as the romance heats up he’s torn as she’s not following God. Can these two opposites make a match or should he call a permanent time out? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9869"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9869_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9869" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Yellow Roses</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/921" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Suzie Waltner</a> -- Mia Mason has always strived to meet others’ expectations. Her adoptive family, her fans, even her friends in the band. She works hard at pleasing everyone because she’s never felt like she truly belongs. After connecting with a cousin through a DNA website, she plans a covert road trip, hoping to find her biological mother and the answers she desires. During a music awards ceremony, Levi Sinclair receives two messages that ruin his night. One is a breakup text from his girlfriend of six weeks. The other is from the father who abandoned his family seventeen years ago and wants to reconnect. Then Levi discovers Mia’s secret mission and insists on going along to keep her safe. As the two friends pass the miles and see the sights, Levi’s true feelings for Mia rise to the surface. And her journey to the past might open the door to their future. Family issues and a shared career are just two of the hurdles they’ll have to jump if they want a shot at love. Could the end of the road lead these friends to a new beginning? (Contemporary Romance from Anaiah Press)
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9857"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9857_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9857" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Their Inseparable Bond</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1244" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jill Weatherholt</a> -- Training service dogs is single dad Jake Beckett’s calling. He’s determined to train rambunctious puppy Callie to help his ailing friend Myrna live independently with her growing blindness. Myrna’s granddaughter, Olivia Hart, isn’t easily convinced, but Jake, his twins and Callie are an incredibly persuasive team. If Olivia agrees to give Callie a chance, will working with Jake risk her lifelong dreams? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])
<center></center><center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">General Contemporary:</span></b></center>
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9901"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9901_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a> <i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9901" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chokecherry Valley Love</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2214" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jean Rezab</a> -- Ashley Richmond’s goal to become a psychologist becomes derailed by sudden doubts. She questions what direction her new career track should take. In her personal life, her brothers have become strangers, but she’s ready to try to forgive past mistakes and reconnect. While trying to decide on her career and figure out her sibling relationships, life takes another turn when she meets Jason. Their mutual attraction is complicated by his family obligations and her uncertainty over the future. (General Contemporary, Independently Published)
<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Historical Romance:</span></b></center>
<a href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9879" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img class="alignleft size-full" height="122" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9879_250_400.jpg" width="80" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9879" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Legacy of the Rocking K Ranch</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/4" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Mary Connealy</a>, D.J. Gudger, Becca Whitham, <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1579" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kimberley Woodhouse</a> -- Six Decades of History Unfurls on a Wyoming Ranch Journey to untamed Wyoming where four generations of women experience love, loss, grace, adoption, struggles with the law, relationships with natives, and through it all, family bonds. (Historical Romance Novella Collection from Barbour Publishing)
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9802"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9802_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9802" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Summer on Bellevue Avenue</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1891" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lorri Dudley</a> -- Wealthy heiress Amanda Mae Klein is set to marry the man she loves. Wesley Jansen-the only person she trusts to help ease her anxiety among the social climbers of high society. Until the daughter of a union boss falls down a flight of stairs at Wesley's office in the middle of the night...and the woman claims Wesley pushed her.
Seeking solace from the growing scandal. Amanda flees to the mansion-dotted seaside of Newport. Wesley follows to disprove the rumors and win back the trust of Amanda and her father. But soon, Amanda finds not only her social status but her life at risk. As dire events pit the two against each other, will their love find a way to survive? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9898"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9898_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9898" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Polly (Apron Series) </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1444" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Naomi Musch</a> -- The Great War has ended, but Polly Holloway’s heart is shattered when her fiancé finally returns home—with a French war bride. Now her future feels desolate, until she fastens onto the idea of using her skills and a special cookbook to turn her grandfather’s Victorian house into a fashionable ladies’ tearoom. Yet, how will she endure the patronage of the woman who stole her sweetheart? Moreover, the suave tavern owner down the block is interfering in her business, personal and otherwise. Heaven only knows what goes on behind his doors. Ross Dalton can no longer sell liquor in his establishment. With prohibition in force, it’s a mixed blessing. Ross met God on the battlefield, and he wants to start fresh, but he must earn a living. Converting his bar into a coffee house offers a partial solution. Still, bootleggers are pressing him to pedal their moonshine, and the girl up the street is convinced his place is a front for a speakeasy. She’s awfully cute when she turns up her pert little nose at his friendly overtures. How can he convince her he isn’t going to tarnish the neighborhood or ruin her business? And will she believe he’s a changed man when the bootleggers double down? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9793"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9793_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9793" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">When the Waters Came</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1165" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Candice Sue Patterson</a> -- Pastor Montgomery Childs has tended his flock in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, for two years. While his pews are full every Sunday, he most desires to see a reckoning between God and the kings of industry who recreate on Lake Conemaugh. Like Noah, Monty prays against the evil surrounding him, but he never expects God to send a flood. It takes five days for the Red Cross to respond to the Johnstown flood disaster, but when it does, Annamae Worthington is ready to help. Apprenticing under Clara Barton has prepared her for the job, but nothing can prepare her for the death and destruction that awaits. As if the survivors haven’t suffered enough, typhoid fever ravages the town, resurfacing suppressed emotions regarding her father’s death. Narrowly surviving the flood and the horrifying things he’s witnessed, Monty’s faith is floundering. Then a Red Cross nurse puts him to work helping with the typhoid fever victims arriving at the hospital tents every hour. Monty and Annamae work together distributing disinfectants and supplies, housing orphans, and serving those left behind. Slowly, his faith resurfaces. A kinship forms between them neither can ignore. But when an investigation into the collapsed dam points to the South Fork Fishing and Hunting Club, secrets emerge that may tear them apart. (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9174"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9174_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9174" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Redemption for the Cowboy</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2324" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Z Peabody</a> -- Remington Haylord is a preacher’s son. Instead of running with his biker buddies down in Texas, Remington ran with the horses. He feels a preacher’s life is not for him. Now, after a few years in the corporate arena, he’s found a peaceful life at the Sawyer Ranch. While standing at the head of a church, officiating his best-friend’s wedding, Remington looks down the aisle and in a vision of pastel-yellow, is the most beautiful woman he has ever seen. Phoebe Washington has never been to Montana, and if it wasn’t for her best friend’s wedding, she wouldn’t be there now. Despite any first impressions, Phoebe has a change of heart about staying on in Montana when she sees the big, handsome cowboy standing next to her best friend’s soon-to-be husband. He’s quiet, withdrawn, and yes, he’s grumpy. Yet on the rare occasions when he does smile, his face lights up like the big Montana sky. But to Phoebe’s chagrin, he avoids her whenever she gets within a few feet of him. How can she make Remington see that here, with him, is where he wants her to be—and where she needs to be? (Western Romance, Independently Published)
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9816"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9816_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9816" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Cherished Betrothal</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1205" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Denise Weimer</a> -- Alexander Morris bears the childhood scars of the Long Canes massacre that killed his brother and father. Forced by his dark past into the lonely life of Georgia Ranger, Alexander joins the bordering South Carolina Rangers in their revolt against the Crown. When he's posted to the fort erected to defend the community once decimated by the massacre, duty demands he court the loyalty of his sworn enemies, the fierce Cherokee warriors. Elspeth Lawrence never forgot the boy who sacrificed himself for her at Long Canes-any more than she forgot the younger sister taken captive. She's learned not only to forgive, but also to help minister to the Cherokees at her father's mission. When Alex Morris arrives at nearby Fort Charlotte, Elspeth finds her memories-and her emotions-stirred. When Alex uncovers a long-held secret and a plot to sabotage patriot talks with the Cherokees, he must choose between his desire for revenge and his love for the girl he rescued long ago. (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9905"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9905_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9905" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Independence Trail</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2217" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Betty Woods</a> -- To escape an arranged marriage, Heidi Schultz runs to the ranch owned by her sister, Lily, and brother-in-law, Toby. No one will ever run or ruin her life again. Jethro Bannister likes his life as foreman for Toby Grimes. Memories of the way his Georgia family turned on him don't plague him while living on a secluded Texas ranch. Until Heidi interrupts his carefully arranged, placid world of quiet. The too talkative woman could worry the horns off an entire herd of longhorns. Plus, her family problems remind him too much of what he left behind. Despite their misgivings, Heidi and Jethro form a tenuous friendship based on their common wish to be left alone. Confiding in one another deepens their friendship more than either intends. Will Heidi and Jethro's past wounds bond them together in an unexpected love or push them apart? (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)
<center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Romantic Suspense:</span></b></center>
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9841"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9841_250_400.png" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9841" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Offshore Ambush </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/564" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sherri Wilson Johnson</a> -- Gretchen Overton's world is shattered when someone murders her brother on a remote offshore platform in the Gulf of Mexico. As medicolegal death investigator for Baldwin County, Alabama, she vows to uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice. But little does she know, her path to finding answers requires the help of Everett Forrester, the rig's Drilling Foreman and her ex-boyfriend.
(Romantic Suspense, Independently Published)
<center></center><center><b><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Romantic Suspense:</span></b></center>
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9717"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9717_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;"> <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9717" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Rescuing You</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1014" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Robin Patchen</a> -- CIA agent Michael Wright's world crumbles when his girlfriend, Leila, is snatched off the street and later seen in the grasp of a terrorist he’s been tracking, Michael blames himself. Keeping his identity secret from her clearly didn’t protect her. Now he must defy the Agency and fly to Iraq to rescue her. Leila Amato escaped Iraq a decade earlier, only returning in her worst nightmares. But those nightmares have come true when she finds herself captive and all alone, or so she thought until she sees her identical twin sister. Michael tracks Leila to a desert compound, but his rescue mission goes awry when he discovers her sister needs to escape as well. His detailed strategy can only ensure one woman’s safety. Now they’re on the run, trying to get out of the country before their enemies track them down. (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])
<a style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9897"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9897_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9897" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Smoking Flax </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1041" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Jennifer Hallmark</a> -- Who Is He--Really?
Almost nineteen-year-old Reed Anderson wants to belong in a world where he hasn’t always fit. Three days after graduation, he decides to ride a bus back to Louisiana and deal with the events of his thirteenth summer once and for all. Back then, he’d stood up to his abusive Pa, protecting Momma and his sister, taking control of his life. But who was the faded image of the child he saw that day? Aunt Lula predicted his life would shift and change. Something about space-time-continuum and the fourth dimension? He tucks her words into his heart. If he survives the shift, this could be his chance to start over. But the ghost child haunts his dreams. Even though six years have passed, does he want to confront the lies he’s always believed? (Romantic Suspense from Elk Lake Publishing)
<a style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" href="https://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9852"><img class="alignright size-full" src="https://acfw.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/9852_250_400.jpg" width="80" height="122" /></a><i style="font-weight: bold;">
<a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9852" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Samaritan’s Patient </a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2395" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Chevron Ross</a> -- Teenager Paige Abernathy awakens after a severe beating to find that she suffers from amnesia, and that everyone seems to hate her. She has only flashes of memory until the night a grieving parent attacks her in her hospital room. Paige then remembers her role as creator of an online group where members talk about ways to commit suicide. After recovering from the beating, Paige embarks on a journey of penance to atone for a disaster born of good intentions. Her odyssey launches her on a mission of mercy and into new danger. (Romantic Suspense, AIA Publishing)
<b><u>Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:</u></b>
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9866" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Welcome to Bellechester</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2457" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Margaret A. Blenkush</a> - As Dr. Mary Elizabeth Senty and DCI William Donnelly adjust to life in Bellechester, they find themselves used as bait to catch jewel thieves. (General Historical)
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9850" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sundancer’s Star</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1897" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Elsie Davis</a> - "Sundancer's Star" is a tale of resilience, love, and the transformative power of second chances. (Contemporary Romance)
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9871" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kate by the Book</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/15" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Susan Page Davis</a> - Charlie's attracted to children’s librarian, Kate, but his job and his family situation make him keep his feelings in check. But a mystery keeps taking him back to the library, where Kate may be in danger. (Contemporary Romance)
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9882" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Daddy for Christmas</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/667" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">MaryAnn Diorio PhD, MFA</a> - Young widow Julie Melitto's ten-year-old daughter Laney needs a daddy. When Nick Carbone unexpectedly throws a monkey wrench into Julie's well-ordered life, she must choose between following her head or following her heart. (Contemporary Romance)
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9878" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Letters of Understanding</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2460" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Christopher J. Mooney</a> - Inspired by a true story, this is the sole surviving record of the paths of three generations involved in the growth of Britain's Secret Intelligence Service, Russia's KGB, and the Franciscan's Ordo Fratum Minorum, and the deadly consequences of their decisions. (General Historical)
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9902" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The King’s Ransom</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/1568" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Patti Jo Moore </a> - Kindergarten teacher Tina Ransom never imagined that her dream vacation to Italy would include an emergency landing on a small tropical island that would change her life forever. (Contemporary Romance)
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9851" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">The Cyrenian, Crossroads and a Cross</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2453 " target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Donovan Peterkin</a> - Two men, on two separate roads, betrayed and pursued by the same enemies, destined to carry one Cross. (Biblical)
<i style="font-weight: bold;"><a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/book/detail/9877" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">No Romancing the Passengers</a></i> by <a href="http://www.fictionfinder.com/author/detail/2295" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lee Wimmer</a> - God uses DR, even as he runs from faith and family, accomplishing great things, and a great life, with great love that he often overlooks—as he battles a demon, a dark secret from his youth. (Romantic Suspense)
Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-65600887344238257362024-01-04T01:30:00.002-05:002024-01-04T01:30:00.136-05:00Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Rosanne Lortz Spears<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Talkshow Thursday: </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Welcome Rosanne Lortz Spears</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld9Iu6b2r9wXFXiVx6xHnpA6eTh_ZRs44YD7JnwjY8WL68SrJUaivAdo9vejy-nOh1qTkR_ncxxJADozBTCSxMazAVV8WU0ZKlXaAIBe9cu7CpCPffjhLQX-PTM6UM12bs8VZ5SvxQ1QwtaKj3En6GKqpvy9JCZHzqkJn7p-Dj83P8bjs9Z69vc4f-wO4/s960/Rosanne%20E%20Lortz%20author%20pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="955" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgld9Iu6b2r9wXFXiVx6xHnpA6eTh_ZRs44YD7JnwjY8WL68SrJUaivAdo9vejy-nOh1qTkR_ncxxJADozBTCSxMazAVV8WU0ZKlXaAIBe9cu7CpCPffjhLQX-PTM6UM12bs8VZ5SvxQ1QwtaKj3En6GKqpvy9JCZHzqkJn7p-Dj83P8bjs9Z69vc4f-wO4/w199-h200/Rosanne%20E%20Lortz%20author%20pic.jpg" width="199" /></a></div>Thanks so much to Linda for hosting me today! My name is Rosanne E. Lortz, and I write Regency Romance. Like most Regency authors, two of my biggest influences are Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer—both very different writers, but both instrumental in setting the expectations for the genre. By combining Austen’s incisive characterization and moral principles and Heyer’s witty banter and hilarious situations, the genre of Regency Romance can be both humorous and heartfelt. <br />
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I’ve always been drawn to the Regency Era, mostly because the manners of the time create interesting scenarios for the characters to navigate as they find their own happily ever afters but also because of the fascinating research I get to do while creating a historically accurate romance. My most recent series, The Allen Abbey Romances (published individually on Kindle or altogether in one paperback called <i>The Heart of the Abbey</i>), provided me with dozens of fun facts about the time. Did you know that…<br />
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Many old manor houses had secret passageways called “priest holes” that were created during periods of Catholic persecution? (The perfect place to hide a lost inheritance…)</li><li>
Prosthetic hands began to be developed after the Napoleonic Wars to aid soldiers who were missing limbs? (A new lease on life for a soldier who lost his hand at Waterloo!)</li><li>
Curates were hired by vicars and rectors to fulfill their duties for them and barely made enough money to live off of and certainly not enough to marry; vicars received a stipend from whoever bestowed the “living” on them and were considered part of the gentry; rectors were entitled to receive all the tithes from the parish and sometimes held several livings at once.</li></ul>
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These are just some of the fun details I’ve been able to lace into my stories. I do hope you will check out the Allen Abbey Romances, clean and wholesome Regency Romance with humor and heart. Thanks again to Linda for hosting me, and have a wonderful New Year!<br />
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Series Description:<br /></b>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsTzPEr93_9LJ3qcZsH2H0NSUeRxE56NO0VUH-DmvS38aAUT5Nqwr9O49golmwje9yz8RZTNTi_jJDgq2aYqPUWwGRM7kaa6RBk5DG57GcROQhMlhQOU2IDGkIi1EoM-3PzEoPnOYe4R7YxBJOo8xA5ZbupNRAaEdICqW7IdYwmHyJ7gvB-fnu3PN1YAp/s1500/Gentleman%20in%20the%20Ash%20Tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="906" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPsTzPEr93_9LJ3qcZsH2H0NSUeRxE56NO0VUH-DmvS38aAUT5Nqwr9O49golmwje9yz8RZTNTi_jJDgq2aYqPUWwGRM7kaa6RBk5DG57GcROQhMlhQOU2IDGkIi1EoM-3PzEoPnOYe4R7YxBJOo8xA5ZbupNRAaEdICqW7IdYwmHyJ7gvB-fnu3PN1YAp/w121-h200/Gentleman%20in%20the%20Ash%20Tree.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>The Gentleman in the Ash Tree<br /></i>
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When Eloise Blackburn finds a strange gentleman perched in the leafy branches of an ash tree, she has strong suspicions he is not who he says he is. After all, the neighboring Allen family has never mentioned a cousin named Crispin from the West Indies. And what's this he's saying about a missing inheritance and a secret passageway in Allen Abbey? Despite Eloise's misgivings, her family finds Crispin Allen's story entirely plausible, and she is soon thrust into an adventure with a cheeky stranger who seems intent on winning more from her than just her help in his quest.<br />
<i><br />
The Lady in the Moneylender's Parlour</i><br />
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After losing a hand at Waterloo and selling out of the military, Captain William Allen has little to live for. But when he encounters the clever and exquisite Margaret Blackburn, the necessity of extricating her from a moneylender's clutches gives him a new purpose in life. If Margaret is to remain in London long enough to realise her goal of becoming a published author, William must convince Margaret's mother that he is a suitor in earnest. But navigating the shoals of an interfering aunt, a jealous rival, and their own growing affections for each other proves more difficult than either one of them expects.<br />
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The Vicar and the Village Scandal</i><br />
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Following the demise of the old rector, newly reformed Thomas Allen receives a position as vicar near<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuNilkWh45ij54YxbiFhPmOFy4kFz2_erAwPzLbm9vRBNZLgvgIj9gjxTQzrq1PLtlccotGk_gkr2iwIzbCZtqGc8AbJz_BhPRdgVrFhrgivBymjJqotYuNW6sckwjXtMMvacZ8cqfWCuEBvw5tTvp5hgOCEs5cdBVnmeddmQ-FI90rriugEij3T7bWDd/s1500/Vicar%20and%20the%20Village%20Scandal%20cover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="906" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmuNilkWh45ij54YxbiFhPmOFy4kFz2_erAwPzLbm9vRBNZLgvgIj9gjxTQzrq1PLtlccotGk_gkr2iwIzbCZtqGc8AbJz_BhPRdgVrFhrgivBymjJqotYuNW6sckwjXtMMvacZ8cqfWCuEBvw5tTvp5hgOCEs5cdBVnmeddmQ-FI90rriugEij3T7bWDd/w121-h200/Vicar%20and%20the%20Village%20Scandal%20cover.jpg" width="121" /></a></div>Allen Abbey, his boyhood home. But memories of Thomas’ wild youth cause both the gentry and the country folk to doubt his sanctity and sincerity. Only Mary Bates, the daughter of the Abbey’s steward, seems willing to believe that the leopard has truly changed his spots. When the appearance of a mysterious child threatens to completely blacken Thomas’ chequered reputation, he must decide whether doing the honourable thing is worth losing both his living and his chance at love.<br />
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All three books available in paperback collection as The Heart of the Abbey.</b><br />
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Rosanne E. Lortz (“Rose”) is a writer, editor, teacher, history-lover, and mom to four boys. She loves to read, sing, draw, compose, write, and create. Education is one of her passions, particularly a classical, liberal arts education. She has taught English composition and grammar, Latin, history, music, and various other subjects for fifteen years at both the elementary and secondary level and is currently an administrator at a classical Christian school.<br />
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Rose writes historical novels full of adventure, mystery, and romance. Her Pevensey Mysteries transpose stories from the Middle Ages into Regency Era romance/murder mysteries. Her newest series is the Allen Abbey Romances, three linked novellas set in Regency England.<br />
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Rose served on the board of the Historical Novel Society North America for four years and works to promote interest in historical novels. She enjoys reading and reviewing historical fiction, historical romance, historical mysteries, high fantasy, and some young adult and middle grade books.<div><br /></div><div><b>Connect!</b></div><div>Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rosanne-E.-Lortz/author/B002OW325M" target="_blank">https://www.amazon.com/stores/Rosanne-E.-Lortz/author/B002OW325M</a></div><div>Goodreads: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3002793.Rosanne_E_Lortz" target="_blank">https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3002793.Rosanne_E_Lortz</a></div><div>Bookbub: <a href="https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosanne-e-lortz" target="_blank">https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rosanne-e-lortz</a></div><div>Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/RosanneLortz" target="_blank">https://www.facebook.com/RosanneLortz</a></div><div>Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rosanne.lortz.reads/" target="_blank">https://www.instagram.com/rosanne.lortz.reads/</a></div><div>Twitter/X: <a href="http://www.twitter.com/Rosanne.Lortz" target="_blank">http://www.twitter.com/Rosanne.Lortz</a></div><div><br />
<br /></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com1New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2067223810188192016.post-86415165320169825212024-01-03T01:30:00.008-05:002024-01-03T01:30:00.228-05:00Wartime Wednesday: WASPs, but Not the Kind You Think<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>Wartime Wednesday: </i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #2b00fe; font-family: georgia; font-size: large;"><i>WASPs, but Not the Kind You Think</i></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsco8O4kPcNvjy1PHT3gU7_jGPR4GSvaRnPTH_mVtx4nteCAwmxnMy_WcZzJxtYKprdWPPTKspTlgOEPUOkc74i4bwtg-4ApCXeZpG9dxxP3fxQHUEdmQ2zPSud5bb_PkWEYF8jLMm_OXfB06rdn4zNVUpmwv1Bf-SQ2vyOrM6Ygd90a7Hofb76upkcOq/s1024/WASPS%20and%20plane.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="826" data-original-width="1024" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjsco8O4kPcNvjy1PHT3gU7_jGPR4GSvaRnPTH_mVtx4nteCAwmxnMy_WcZzJxtYKprdWPPTKspTlgOEPUOkc74i4bwtg-4ApCXeZpG9dxxP3fxQHUEdmQ2zPSud5bb_PkWEYF8jLMm_OXfB06rdn4zNVUpmwv1Bf-SQ2vyOrM6Ygd90a7Hofb76upkcOq/w200-h161/WASPS%20and%20plane.jpeg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">National Archives<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>By 1942, in just about every industry in the U.S., men were in short supply. They were either working in defense jobs or serving in one of the Armed Forces. In late September of that year, two civilian organizations formed that tried to fill the void in the aviation field. The Women’s Flying Training Detachment (WFTD) and the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron (WAFS) were employed to fly military aircraft under the direction of the U.S. Army Air Force. Members of these organizations were Federal civil service employees, not military personnel.<div> <br />The following year, the WFTD and WAFS were merged to form a<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECJGcxSbSVLcCtCAxBL1KVtYFVs_gNSavw3H-4kzt4dYI95zAM0PBMUxkoHeZYlL0UUaHSwDyAWalxMbApSOUSTPuR1K1hsMLuV_9d3A74bVc-OUS0OZdoeEEQTfY0jCih3oON6_whYSuyrtxFL4fvmdbT5cmozgutBmBPngALRGxkeaaLhZvCXphBZ0D/s708/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%209.36.10%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="542" data-original-width="708" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhECJGcxSbSVLcCtCAxBL1KVtYFVs_gNSavw3H-4kzt4dYI95zAM0PBMUxkoHeZYlL0UUaHSwDyAWalxMbApSOUSTPuR1K1hsMLuV_9d3A74bVc-OUS0OZdoeEEQTfY0jCih3oON6_whYSuyrtxFL4fvmdbT5cmozgutBmBPngALRGxkeaaLhZvCXphBZ0D/w200-h153/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%209.36.10%20AM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo: National Air and<br />Space Museum</td></tr></tbody></table>paramilitary organization called Women’s Air Service Pilots (WASP). By the end of 1944, when the WASP program was disbanded nearly 1,100 women had ferried planes, towed targets, transported equipment and non-flying personnel, and flight-tested aircraft. Thirty-eight of these pilots lost their lives (11 in training, 27 on active duty), but because they were not part of the military it was the family’s responsibility to pay to ship the victim home. Often members of the girl’s unit would collect money on behalf of the family. During their two years of service, the WASPs flew sixty million miles and delivered 12,650 aircraft of seventy-eight different types.</div><div> <br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZoP3DZI6QS4hV17BgI6WmiEmbXzba8I2sipIAzoRaDffyQI9-XuZWAPXdlDwUyV4shyD8DBlne3g0Kz_acZRDNf5A-p-xHE-B8QfJDXHQCTns9SLLHawAJkBuyowJ9uvI4H2GT15GrdxZ2woZJK00WaqVk0bJyCdIZnLLUzVpxo4DJc8k4K-YOLzBvht/s356/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%209.34.03%20AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="356" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZoP3DZI6QS4hV17BgI6WmiEmbXzba8I2sipIAzoRaDffyQI9-XuZWAPXdlDwUyV4shyD8DBlne3g0Kz_acZRDNf5A-p-xHE-B8QfJDXHQCTns9SLLHawAJkBuyowJ9uvI4H2GT15GrdxZ2woZJK00WaqVk0bJyCdIZnLLUzVpxo4DJc8k4K-YOLzBvht/w200-h193/Screen%20Shot%202023-12-18%20at%209.34.03%20AM.png" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Author Photo</td></tr></tbody></table>Early on, the WASPs decided they needed a mascot. They turned to Walt Disney and asked permission to use Roald Dahl’s (of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory fame) illustration from his first children’s book, The Gremlins. The book had been written as a promotional piece for a full-length Disney movie that was ultimately never produced. “Fifinella” was a female gremlin who wore yellow slacks and cap, red blouse, and high-top boots, black gloves, and blue goggles. She also sported a pair of wings. Patches were custom-made, and colors varied. <br />
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Fifinella showed up everywhere: WASPs jackets, their monthly newsletter, and in many variations on the nose of many a bomber. Dahl went on to draw other gremlins for Warner Bros. that were used in several WWII cartoons, some of which featured Bugs Bunny. <br />
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Have you ever seen Fifinella?</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">___________________ </div><div><b>Love At First Flight</b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmjWAJZKLJLGl4mokm16CxKxS55fJOVfzA2zL-jfltpHfEXNPESwozOALwicMm98n4X5a2Mkunr9vOkSBlVLWAsgEexa-psRhPxruSEY3B2yepKkd_OMq6BZ5FWEoIuCmq-BYFO6Gr_tKcNk4vTwBKYJHmXb_aMKKlSEOOsejuvx27N9AW_FA3STVceJU/s500/CoverSm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="331" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLmjWAJZKLJLGl4mokm16CxKxS55fJOVfzA2zL-jfltpHfEXNPESwozOALwicMm98n4X5a2Mkunr9vOkSBlVLWAsgEexa-psRhPxruSEY3B2yepKkd_OMq6BZ5FWEoIuCmq-BYFO6Gr_tKcNk4vTwBKYJHmXb_aMKKlSEOOsejuvx27N9AW_FA3STVceJU/w133-h200/CoverSm.jpeg" width="133" /></a></div>Can two people emerge from the clouds of past hurt to find a silver lining of love?</i><br />
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Evelyn Reid would rather fly than do anything else, so when war engulfs the U.S., she joins the Women’s Auxiliary Ferrying Squadron. One of the program’s top pilots, she is tapped for pursuit plane training...the dream of a lifetime until she discovers the instructor is her ex-fiancé, Jasper MacPherson.<br />
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Collecting enough points to rotate stateside, fighter pilot Jasper MacPherson is assigned to teach the WAFS how to fly the army way. Bad enough to be training women, but things take a turn for the worse when his former fiancée shows up as one of his students.<br />
</div><div><br /></div><div>Purchase Link: <a href="https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX" target="_blank">https://books2read.com/u/3JoYNX</a></div>Linda Matchetthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05921797723329487407noreply@blogger.com0New York, NY, USA40.7127753 -74.005972812.402541463821152 -109.1622228 69.023009136178842 -38.849722799999995