Talkshow Thursday: Julie Arduini and Daughter Hannah

Talkshow Thursday: Julie Arduini and Daughter Hannah

Linda:  Welcome back and thanks for joining me today. You’ve got a new book out which is always exciting. The first in the Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ series, it’s called You’re Beautiful. You co-authored the story with your daughter. How did this come about and what was it like to write with someone else?

Julie: This was a complete God idea. I was ready to start Book 1 in my new contemporary romance series, Surrendering Opinions. However, both our children were going through the worst adversity I’ve seen them experience. Circumstances beyond their control that I knew God was allowing for His greater purpose. It didn’t mean that we didn’t hurt, because their pain was heartbreaking. For Hannah, she was transitioning to junior high. There were bullying issues and instances where in her daily circle of influence, people were tearing down with words instead of building up. At the end of the year, we thought about what went well with our responses, and what we could have improved on. One thing she said was she wished she could do something to help encourage other girls so they would never feel like she did. She started sharing, and a story formed. I told her if she kept up, I’d write it. She plotted out a three book series!

LM: Research is an important part of writing any book. How do you go about doing research for

your stories?

Julie: My writing is character-driven, so I am an observer of people. That was a big part of You’re Beautiful, making sure I captured the heart of a tween girl and a young adult who served as a mentor in that story. In general, I try to use settings I am familiar with that I want to pay tribute to. I talk to people, and I go online. It is true what authors say that they hope “Big Brother” isn’t watching our Google Search. It would show interesting things that are for the sake of our story.

LM: How do you choose your character’s names?

Julie: That was all Hannah. She chose Hayley Atkinson because it was her own initials, and was a name she thought girls her age would like. She really thought about the names and personalities.

LM: What is your favorite childhood book?

Julie: Little House on the Prairie series.

LM: What is something you have always wanted to learn how to do?

Julie: Learn new languages. I’d love to speak Italian.

LM: Here are some quickies:

Favorite Color: Purple

Favorite Movie: Return to Me

Favorite place to visit: Speculator, NY, Adirondack Mountains. This is where Surrendering Time was set.

LM: What is your next project?

Julie: Anchored, Book 1 in Surrendering Opinions. I’m also working on a Christmas novella collection with nine other authors. This summer Hannah and I start Book 2 in Surrendering Stinkin’ Thinkin’ with You’re Amazing.

LM: Where can folks find you on the web?

Julie: 

Website: http://juliearduini.com

As well as across social media @JulieArduini, including Snapchat, Amazon, and Goodreads. I love to connect, so please do! Thank you, Linda!

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B078VK3JJB

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Tamera Kraft

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Tamera Kraft

Linda:  Thanks for joining me today. You’ve got a new book which is always exciting! This one is the first in a series called The Ladies of Oberlin. What made you choose this time period and location, and where did you find your inspiration for this story?

Tamera: I was researching women ministers and Christian women who made a difference in the 1800s for some blog posts. Oberlin College kept coming up. It was the first college that allowed women to get a college degree and one of the first that allowed blacks to attend before the Civil War. It also had Second Great Awakening Evangelist Charles Finney as its president for a number of years. I found out most to the women involved in the abolitionist movement, missionary movement, women's suffrage, and prohibition were connected to Oberlin in some way. I knew then I wanted to write a series of novels about women students at Oberlin.

LM: In addition to your work in children’s ministry, you also help other authors by running monthly group Facebook Parties. How did you get started in that?

Tamera: I was involved in a few FB parties, and I really enjoyed them. I also found that the parties that were more successful were the ones where multiple authors joined together around a theme. I decided to start having these parties to help other authors and also effectively promote my own books. I charge a small fee to go toward the grand prize and advertising. It's a win-win situation. For any authors interested, they can find out more at this link. 

http://tkrafty.wixsite.com/tameralynnkraft/themed-book-lovers-facebook-parties

LM: Lots of research goes into writing a book. Do you have an unusual research story to share…something you did or found?

Tamera: Every time I research a book, I find lots of research that surprises me in some way. Many times, critique partners and editors tag me for being too unbelievable when I include those historical facts. One such incident happened in Red Sky Over America. I was reading a journal written by an abolitionist preacher who went to the home of a slave owner pastor. The pastor introduced his slave mistress and slave family without any shame at all. He felt, as a slave owner, he had the right to commit adultery with his slave. He even used the Bible to justify it. I had to tone down the story to include it in my novel because nobody who critiqued it believed this could really happen. Truth is much stranger than fiction.

LM: What is the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

Tamera: I've done some pretty quirky things. I don't want to reveal all of them in a public forum though. LOL. One thing my husband thought was quirky was when I told him I couldn't stop writing now because I wanted to see what happened next. He looked at me in bewilderment and said, "But you're writing it." Another quirky and somewhat dangerous thing I did in the early days of children's ministry was to go door to door in the worst neighborhood in Akron inviting children to church. I didn't think about how dangerous it was until later. What I didn't know was the reason everybody was so nice to me was because one family put out the word I was under their protection. I believe God urged them to do that.

LM: Wow! God is good. Okay, here are some quickies:

Tamera:

Favorite color: Red

Favorite food: Yellow cake with chocolate buttercream icing.

Favorite time of year: Early summer before it gets too hot.

LM: What is your next project?

Tamera: My next project is Book 2 in the Ladies of Oberlin Series, Lost in the Storm, due to be release in November, 2018. Here's a blurb about it: 

During the Civil War, Lavena challenges a profession ruled by men to become a war correspondent, but will she keep her job by destroying the man she loves?

LM: Sounds intriguing! Where can folks find you on the web?

Tamera:

Website: http://www.tameralynnkraft.net

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cdybpb

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7334438.Tamera_Lynn_Kraft

Word Sharpeners Blog: http://tameralynnkraft.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/tameralynnkraft

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tamerakraft

Purchase link: www.amazon.com/dp/B079GQQ9KY

Mystery Monday: Who was Carolyn Wells?

Mystery Monday: Who was Carolyn Wells?

A prolific writer who penned over 150 books, Carolyn Wells has faded into obscurity for most readers. Raised in Rahway, New Jersey by her wealthy parents, she remained single and living at home until she married at age 55. However, well before that, she worked for the Rahway Library Association and had great success writing children’s books and “nonsense books.” (Defined as a broad categorization of literature that balances elements that make sense with some that do not. Alice in Wonderland falls into this category.)

In 1918, she married William Houghton (of the publishing family), but unfortunately her husband died less than two years later. She remained in their apartment located in the posh Hotel des Artistes that overlooked Central Park for the rest of her life.

She wrote in multiple genres: children’s books, humor, nonsense, poetry, anthologies, mystery, and detective fiction. According to her autobiography The Rest of My Life published in 1937, when she heard Anna Katharine Green’s mystery The Affair Next Door she was “captivated by unraveling the puzzle” and from then on wrote only mystery novels. An interesting aside is that she had published the nonfiction The Technique of the Mystery Story nearly twenty-five years earlier.

In addition to her books, Carolyn also wrote for newspapers and magazines, the last of which, Flossie Frills Helps Out, being published after her death 1942.

Many of her books have been republished in paperback and ebook versions. With any luck, perhaps your local library has a copy or two.

Talkshow Thursday: Linda Weaver Clarke

Talkshow Thursday: Linda Weaver Clarke

Linda Weaver Clarke is visiting again, and I'm thrilled to be discussing her latest release. Pull up a chair and get to know this fascinating lady!

LM: Congratulations on your most recent publication, The Fox of Cordovia, book 3 of your fabulous Rebel series. 

Here's the description: In this swashbuckling romance, a sinister plot has just been uncovered and it’s up to a former patriot and a young nurse to discover who is behind it. Caroline is engaged to the future mayor of Laketown, a man of influence and greatly respected. But all that changes when she overhears a conspiracy behind closed doors. After being discovered, she runs for her life. Caroline needs to report her findings, but whom can she trust? When she asks Jesse Conover for help, the adventure begins.

“Swashbuckling” is used in the description. I love that! What was your inspiration for this story?

Linda: This series was inspired by the stories of patriots who fought to be free from the dictatorship and tyranny of a king. Liberty is something that I cherish, so I decided to write about a small country that struggles to be free. The idea of a country that has to fight for its liberty stayed in my mind for a long time until I created The Rebel Series. In book 3, The Fox of Cordovia, the country has had its liberty for 3 years, but there is a plot that threatens their freedom.

LM: Did you set out to write a series or did that just happen?

Linda: No, I didn’t plan on it being a series. After receiving some wonderful reviews and encouragement from readers to continue the story, then I decided to write book 2 and 3.

LM: You write romance, mystery, non-fiction, and children’s books? Do you have a favorite genre?

Linda: My favorite genre to write is a mixture of romance, mystery, and adventure. I absolutely love stories that are page-turners, which have some mystery and suspense. To make a story that is a page-turner is a real challenge.

I love a romance where the man and woman know they are meant for one another, even though there are trials along the way. Since I don’t care for drama between a couple who is in love, I need to have enough drama in the main plot of the story.

My favorite time period is during the 18^th and 19^th centuries. It’s during a time when men defended a lady’s honor and treated women with respect. The women, on the other hand, were not pansies. I love the fact that many of the women fought for what they believed.

LM: What’s the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

Linda: I’m not sure if I’ve ever done anything quirky. I must be very dull. I can share a very

interesting childhood story, though.

When I was young, my father would tie six sleds together in a long line and then tie the first sled to the back of the car. We lived in the country and the roads were packed with snow, so it was perfect for sledding. He would pull our sleds down this country road and we had so much fun. The first sled was actually wide enough for two people to lay on and it was my favorite. The last sled was my least favorite. When we passed a home with a dog, it would chase after the last sled, barking as it ran after it. I remember hearing my brother, who was on the last sled, laughing and yelling at the dog, as it chased him.

LM: How fun! Here are some quickies:

Favorite Color: Yellow and mauve

Favorite Author: Serena Clarke who writes clean romantic fantasy

Favorite Food: Taco salad

LM: What are your passions outside of writing?

Linda: Music. I love listening to music. My family. I love playing games with my children. My husband. I enjoy being about him, just talking, watching movies, and going on short vacations together.

LM: What advice can you give to not-yet-published writers?

Linda: Make sure you do research on the subject you’re writing about. People notice if something isn’t quite right.

For example, I wanted to know if they danced the waltz in the late 1700s, since that was the time period for The Rebel Series. I couldn’t have my characters dance the waltz if it hadn’t been created.

When I did some research about the “waltz” for The Highwayman of Cordovia, I was surprised by what I found. The peasants were the first to dance the waltz. It was such fun that bored noblemen would sneak out and go to the country-dances. The Oxford English Dictionary back then called the waltz “riotous and indecent.”

In a 1771 German novel, someone complains about the “newly-introduced waltz” among the aristocrats. He wrote: “When he put his arm around her, pressed her to his breast, cavorted with her in the shameless, indecent whirling-dance of the Germans and engaged in a familiarity that broke all the bounds of good breeding—then my silent misery turned into burning rage.” I was so intrigued by this description and it made me laugh. The waltz finally became fashionable when the wife of a Russian ambassador endorsed it.

LM: Where can folks connect with you?

Linda: To read a sample chapter from each of my books in The Rebel Series, go to http://www.lindaweaverclarke.com/historicalromance.html and click on the title. To purchase a book, click on the book cover and it will take you directly to Amazon. My books are also available at Barnes and Noble.

I really like book trailers because they can help readers feel what a book is like and whether they’re interested in reading it. Here is a trailer for each of my books.

The Rebels of Cordovia

<iframewidth="560" height="315"src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Nd2vqNYqSA"frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media"allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Highwayman of Cordovia

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UtHY-DPjfFE" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Fox of Cordovia

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mCgwRF5nzQ8" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Traveling Tuesday: Occupied Paris

Traveling Tuesday: Occupied Paris

I’ve done some traveling and enjoy exploring the differences offered by other countries. I had an interesting experience I had a few years ago was when we visited Collingwood, Ontario, Canada. To my surprise, it looked exactly like the U.S. It didn’t feel like we were in a “foreign country.” The same restaurant and grocery store franchises peppered the streets, and we could purchase all the brands we knew. The architecture was similar as was the landscape. The only difference was that everywhere we looked hung the Canadian flag. It was a bit disconcerting – my mind struggled to reconcile the situation.

In that same vein, I wonder how frightening it was for the French to see the Nazi flag hanging within their capital city. They couldn’t “go home.” They were home, and yet their enemy’s flag flapped in the breeze above their heads.

As with any historical event, there are multiple viewpoints about what happened, even among eye witnesses. With governmental papers coming to light or being declassified, some scholars are now purporting that the French, and especially the Parisians, were active rather than reluctant collaborators. Statements such as “the Germans could not have succeeded as well as they did in rounding up…illegals if it hadn’t been for the local police force.”

Frankly, I’m not sure how I feel about that statement. It seems easy to opine about someone’s behavior when one has not walked in their shoes. I’d wager that if people had to choose between saving their family member over someone else’s, the decision would be a “no brainer.”

Life during the occupation was incredibly difficult. Rationing was in effect, and distribution of cards was done according to age and food needs. No meat was provided, and most food available had little nutritional value. Supply of coal to the general public was non-existent, and the black market flourished. Jews who had not been sent to concentration camps were required to wear the yellow Star of David on their clothing. (They may as well have had a target painted on their back.) Car travel was only allowed by those favored by the Germans. Propaganda posters, films, and leaflets were everywhere. Many young and middle-aged men were in prison, concentration camps, or underground.

For Paris, nicknamed “The City of Light,” the occupation was a dark time.

Blog Tour: Across the Blue

Blog Tour: Across the Blue

About the Book

  

Title: Across the Blue  
Author: Carrie Turansky  
Genre: Historical romance  
Release Date: February 20, 2018

Love soars to new heights in this Edwardian romance filled with adventure, faith, and inspiration, but how much will it cost Bella and James to follow their dreams? Isabella Grayson, the eldest daughter of a wealthy, English newspaper magnate, longs to become a journalist, but her parents don’t approve. They want her to marry well and help them gain a higher standing in society. After she writes an anonymous letter to the editor that impresses her father, her parents reluctantly agree she can write a series of articles about aviation and the race to be the first to fly across the English Channel, but only if she promises to accept a marriage proposal within the year. When James Drake, an aspiring aviator, crashes his flying machine at the Grayson’s new estate, Bella is intrigued. James is determined to win that race across the Channel and gain the prize Mr. Grayson’s newspaper is offering. He hopes it will help him secure a government contract to build airplanes and redeem a terrible family secret. James wants to win Bella’s heart, but his background and lack of social standing make it unlikely her parents would approve. If he fails to achieve his dream, how will he win the love and respect he is seeking? Will Bella’s faith and support help him find the strength and courage he needs when unexpected events turn their world upside down?

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Thoughts

Wrapped around the first attempt to cross the English Channel by airplane, Across the Blue is a fascinating account of the infancy of aviation and includes historical figures Louis Bleriot, Herbert Latham, and Count de Lambert which adds depth to this interesting novel. I enjoyed that the main protagonists each had a major plotline: James’ dream as a pilot and Bella’s to be a journalist. These goals would be challenging in any era, but are especially so in the early 1900s. Bella is feisty, and she struggles to balance her headstrong desires with accepted social mores. Extensive description gives the reader a look at the food, fashion, and hierarchy of Edwardian England. The story tied up a little too quickly for my taste, with Bella’s parents changing their attitudes somewhat suddenly. Themes of forgiveness and grace are woven into the story without being preachy or heavy-handed. A sweet story about likeable characters.

I received a copy of the book for free from CelebrateLit Publicity, and a positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Carrie Turansky has loved reading since she first visited the library as a young child and checked out a tall stack of picture books. Her love for writing began when she penned her first novel at age twelve. She is now the award-winning author of nineteen inspirational romance novels and novellas. Carrie and her husband, Scott, who is a pastor, author, and speaker, have been married for more than thirty years and make their home in New Jersey. They often travel together on ministry trips and to visit their five adult children and five grandchildren. Carrie leads women’s ministry at her church, and when she is not writing she enjoys spending time working in her flower gardens and cooking healthy meals for friends and family. She loves to connect with reading friends through her website, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter.

Guest Post from Carrie Turansky

Following your Dreams By Carrie Turansky In Across the Blue, Bella Grayson and James Drake both go to great lengths to pursue their dreams. Bella longs to become a journalist and write for one of her father’s newspapers, but in 1909 England, aristocratic young women did not work as journalists. A young woman’s path was set by the unwritten rules of society. At eighteen she was presented at court, and then she took part in the London social season and hoped for a marriage proposal from a young man from a wealthy family, with an estate and title. Marriage, having children, and taking part in social and charitable events was the prescribed course for their lives.


But Bella has a different future in mind. She wants to marry for love, and she won’t settle for anything less. She also wants to write articles about the important events of the day that will inform and inspire people. She wants to be a world changer, and that is a very unique role for a woman in England in the Edwardian Era. At that time women didn’t have the right to vote yet and very few pursued any kind of career.

James is an aviation pioneer, and his dream is to build an airplane that will allow him to be the first to fly across the English Channel. This is no easy accomplishment, and he faces many challenges as he pursues his dream. Aviation is brand new. Wilbur Wright demonstrated his airplane in France the year before and stunned Europeans with his skill. With the help of his mentor, Professor Steed, James conducts experiments, refines his design, and makes countless test flights. It takes great courage and determination to overcome setbacks and make it through near fatal crash landings, but James has his heart and mind set on perfecting his airplane and reaching his goal.

What about you? What hopes and dreams do you have for your future? What goals would you like to accomplish? As you think about your dreams and future plans I hope you’ll gain some insight from James and Bella’s experiences in Across the Blue. When they considered the cost of pursuing their dreams they realized their plans and choices impacted others as well as themselves. James and Bella believed striving for their dreams is important, but they learned it must be balanced with commitments to family and friends, and most of all a commitment to following the Lord on the path He has for them.

Following our dreams and working toward accomplishing our goals, especially those the Lord puts on our heart, is important. However, sometimes we may have to put our dreams on hold and wait for the right time and season. We don’t need to be discouraged when this happens. As we listen to the Lord and ask Him to guide and direct us He will show us the right path at the right time to follow it. 

Just like James and Bella I hope you’ll pursue your dreams but also hold them with an open hand, allowing the Lord to guide and direct you each step of the way. When you do I’m confident you’ll be headed toward seeing your dreams become reality in His time and in His way. “For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord; plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 With that wonderful promise in mind, I hope you’ll enjoy reading Across the Blue and joining Bella and James as they they pursue their dreams. You’re in for high-flying adventure, romance, and inspiration, and I can’t wait to share this new story with you. Happy reading to you!

Blog Stops

Here are Carrie's Remaining Blog Stops:

February 25: The Power of Words

February 25: D's Quilts and Books

February 26: Maureen's Musings

February 26: Rachel's Back Talk

February 26: Smiling Book Reviews

February 27: Radiant Light

February 27: Faithfully Bookish

February 27: The Fizzy Pop Collection

February 28: Bibliophile Reviews

February 28: Remembrancy

February 28: Two Points of Interest

March 1: Tell Tale Book Reviews

March 1: Book by Book

March 1: Big Reader Site

March 1: Proud to be an Autism Mom

March 2: Pause for Tales

March 2: Have a Wonderful Day

March 2 (interview): Margaret Kazmierczak

March 3: Pursuing Stacie

March 3: Neverending Stories

March 3: Debbie's Dusty Deliberations

March 4: Texas Book-aholic

March 4: Janice's Book Reviews

March 4: Jeanette's Thoughts

March 4: Simple Harvest Reads

March 5: Moments Dipped in Ink

March 5: My Writer's Life

March 5: Baker Kella

March 6: Kat's Corner Books

March 6: A Greater Yes

March 6: A Baker's Perspective

March 7: Romances of the Cross

March 7: Henry Happens

March 7: For the Love of Books

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away a grand prize of an autographed copy of Shine Like the Dawn and $30 gift card to Christianbooks.com!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c987

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Mary L. Ball

Talkshow Thursday: Meet Mary L. Ball

Linda:  Congratulation on your most recent publication, Sunny’s Dream. 

Here's the blurb: Sunny spends her week fighting cyber-crime and dreaming of her prince charming. When a man walks into Celestial Investigations and introduces himself as Trouble, she's sure he's not her prince and positive he lives up to his name. 

After Max Trouble finds an important document, his life gets complicated with the know-it-all PI hired to track down its owner. 

Sunny and Max's relationship grows. She's optimistic that he may be her Prince Charming, but after her car is sabotaged and she's almost killed, Max's chauvinistic ideas of a female investigator surface.

Will Sunny see God's perfect plan or a not-so-perfect relationship?

What was your inspiration for the story?

Mary:  One day on the way home, I glanced at the horizon. The inspiration came to do a series based on three sisters. Before I got home, I knew the character's names, the title to the series, Celestial Investigation, and parts of the plot for Sunny’s Dream, book one 1.

LM: What sort of research did you do about being a Private Investigator?

Mary: Google is my go-to library. I searched for P.I. requirements in North Carolina, and sought out various stories based on cases to get a perspective about the inner workings of an investigator. I have a Pinterest board titled “book research” where I try to keep my searches, but sometimes I’m too wrapped up in my story, and forget to add a page.  

 

LM: What writers influence you the most?

Mary: Nicholas Sparks and Terri Reed.

LM: What’s the quirkiest thing you’ve ever done?

Mary: I haven’t done it yet. At least, I don’t think so. Cheesy grinJ

LM: Here are some quickies:

Favorite Color: Green

Favorite Author: Nicholas Sparks

Favorite Food: Pepperoni and mushroom pizza

LM: What are your passions outside of writing? 

Mary: I enjoy singing at church and other places, by myself and with hubby. My singing ministry website is http://heirsofsalvation2.webs.com.

LM: What advice can you give to not-yet-published writers?

Mary: Never give up. Keep writing, editing and submitting to publishers. If you’re consistent with your goal, it will happen. 

LM: Can you tell us what writing projects are on your plate right now?

Mary: I’m working on Luna’s Treasure, the second book in the Celestial Investigation series. I also have an eBook manuscript titled Asheville Hearts that I’m polishing up for Pelican Book Group’s Destination Romance series.    

Linda: Where can folks connect with you?

Mary: Thanks for asking. You’ll find my cyber home at: http://www.marylball.com

Other places I frequent are:

https://www.facebook.com/gracefulbooks

https://twitter.com/inspires4mary
https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/8757890-mary-l-ball
https://www.pinterest.com/authormary/