Ooops, I Did It Again…

Ever have one of those moments where you react before thinking? I do. A lot. And a lot of the time, I do it online. Something pricks and burrows deep under my skin and I react, slapping it away like a wasp who dared bite me.  I want retaliation for that particular bite. I might be able to kill the wasp, but the bite will still be there, red and ugly. Then it’ll get itchy. Eventually it will fade away to nothing, but I’ll be a little more wary when I see a wasp coming my way.

I was absolutely mesmerized by Friday’s opening ceremonies of the London Olympics. I was born and raised on a British Colony, I have many British friends. My Dad is from Belfast. I spent two years in England along with many vacations. I have been accused of having a ‘dry’ sense of humor, which we attribute to my British upbringing, such as it was. I ‘get’ the Brits. Their humor, their literature, their music. So of course I was extremely proud of the show they put on for the world on Friday.

And then the comments started popping up on Facebook. Other people didn’t quite appreciate the things I did. And some of them were downright nasty about it.

Truth be told, I was offended. Actually, in the words of Tabitha Twitchett, I was ‘highly affronted’. Go look that one up if you need to. And, truth be told, I didn’t handle it well. I probably should have just walked away from the computer and come to the conclusion that we’re all different, and that’s okay. But no. I made a few comments on my Facebook page that I probably shouldn’t have. Most people got my comments and understood the underlying sarcasm that I tend to be prone to – but unfortunately one person did not. And that person blasted me all over my Facebook page. Probably not the way I would have handled it had I been highly offended, as this person was, but then again I might have.

I didn’t care to respond. I don’t know this person and we’re no longer Facebook friends. If you have an issue with me, take it to a personal message. I didn’t appreciate the personal attack. But then again, I’m pretty sure she felt like I was attacking her, her country and every American who has never been exposed to British humor, literature or music and just doesn’t get it.

Maybe I was. But tell me this – why is it okay for people to throw insults left right and center at another country or person, but then when a few get thrown back at them, they cry foul and scream and yell at the unfairness of it all?

People are just plain strange.

So that was my weekend fun. (That and watching the guys chase a squirrel out of the house).

Mulling all this over in my head, I’ll not be so quick to react next time something stings. It’ll take some work on my part, I’m sure. But I will try to be nice. I’m sorry that some people just don’t get me. That’s easy enough to fix. I’m not begging people to friend me on Facebook or read my blog or follow me on Twitter. If you do, that’s great. I am a nice person most of the time, and I have been told I write pretty good books. But every once in a while, well, I’m human.

So sue me. Or just de-friend me.

On another note – my next book, Hidden in the Heart, is COMING!! I promise. It is. I will post more on this just as soon as I can, but I hope you’re excited as I am. The birth of a book never gets old.

Thanks for reading and happy summer!

Introducing Author Sherrie Hansen Decker!

It’s my pleasure to have romance author Sherrie Hansen Decker on the blog today!

 

Who Are You?

… a very complicated question that requires a complex answer. Twenty years ago, I bought a dilapidated Victorian house in northern Iowa so I could move home and be nearer my extended family (nieces and nephews, because I didn’t have kids of my own). I rescued an amazing but very run-down old house from the bulldozer’s grips and turned it into a bed and breakfast and tea house, the Blue Belle Inn. Welcoming guests, running the business and cooking wonderful food has consumed the largest chunk of my life ever since.

Before that, I lived in Colorado Springs, CO, and before that, Augsburg, Germany. Before that, I attended Wheaton College, Wheaton, IL and spent one life-changing summer in Bar Harbor, Maine. I grew up on a farm in southern Minnesota.

After 12 years of writing romance novels late at night when I couldn’t sleep (mostly because I was so keyed up from working 12 hour days at my B&B), I met and married my real-life, romantic hero, Mark Decker, a pastor. I enjoy playing the piano with the worship team at church, needlepointing, photography, renovating and decorating historic houses, traveling, and going on weekly adventures with my nieces and nephews.
I live in 2 different houses, 85 miles apart, and still write on the run, whenever I have a spare minute. “Love Notes” is my fifth book to be published by Second Wind Publishing, a mid-sized, independent press out of Kernersville, NC, and my debut Christian Inspirational novel.

Where Are You Now?

Right now, I’m a juggler living in a circus tent, hoping I don’t drop too many balls when (if?) the big top blows its… top. Seriously, my life is crazy right now… in a good way for the most part, but way too busy. I’m promoting my new release (Love Notes) and working on my next book (Wild Rose of Scotland), and trying to keep my head above water in all aspects of my life.  The highlight of my week, and the thing that most helps me refocus, is my Wednesday outings with my 8 and almost 11 year old nieces.

Where Are You Going?

What a great question. I have no idea. Really. I do have faith that God will lead me where he wants me to go, but what he has in store for me next, I don’t know. I have 3 or 4 more books charted out in my head and or partially written – I can’t wait to get started on them. I want the Blue Belle Inn to be better than ever (I celebrated 20 years this winter). And, I want to see the parts of the world I’ve never seen, and revisit the places I love one more time. I want to have more time for the important things and fewer encumbrances. So, I’m forging ahead and hoping things all come together. Hope, joy, peace, love and of course, faith. Easy, right?

About Love Notes:

Hope Anderson’s heart is finally starting to thaw. Tommy Love is treading on thin ice. They both want Rainbow Lake Lodge. Only one of them can have it.

For Hope, recreating the past – reopening the lodge and seeing it bubbling with families, children, and laughter again – means new life. It’s the only way she can honor her late husband’s legacy.

For Tommy Lubinski of Tommy Love and the Love Notes fame, Rainbow Lake means coming home – peace, quiet, seclusion – and a second chance at stardom. Once he’s bulldozed the lodge and built his dream house overlooking the lake, everything will be perfect.
Hope is sinking fast, but she’ll be fine if she can just keep her head above water until spring. Tommy’s troubles run a little deeper, but there’s no need to worry for now… Rainbow Lake is frozen solid. Or is it?

Endorsement by Author Lyn Cote:
“I would subtitle Sherrie Hansen Decker’s inspirational romance, *Love Notes*, ‘When Dreams Collide.’ The hero, a famous pop singer-songwriter, and the heroine, an owner of a failing MN resort are both burdened with the “dead” past. But neither see it that way–until forced to. A cast of interesting and very alive characters and plenty of intriguing plot twists make for a satisfying read.” Lyn Cote, author of the Women of Ivy Manor series.

Connect With Sherrie! 
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Meet Lena Nelson Dooley!

Meeting and chatting with Lena for the first time is like reuniting with an old friend. Seriously. She makes you feel like you’ve known each other forever! And her writing is pretty amazing too, so if you don’t yet know this wonderful author, hang out a while and then go check out her books! It is my pleasure to have Lena with us today!

Who are you?

First and foremost, I’m a follower of Jesus Christ. I don’t think I could live without Him in my life. Everything that comes into my life comes through Him, and I praise Him for walking with me through the highs and lows, never leaving my side.

Then I’ve been the wife of the love of my life for almost 48 years. So I’m also a mother of two daughters and two sons-in-law, the grandmother of two grandsons, two granddaughters, and now one grandson-in-law, and the great grandmother of a very bright almost 5 year old.

And lastly, I write novels. This is what God created me to be at this season in my life. I praise Him for it.

Where are you now?

Most of my family live near us in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex—all except my Army grandson, who is serving in South Korea right now.

I’ve finished writing book three of my McKenna’s Daughters series, published by Realms, the fiction line from Charisma Media. Book two of the series just released. We’re featuring it here. The last book will release in January. Right now, I’m writing book one of my Restored Hearts series for Realms.

In addition to being active in my church, I’m also actively involved in American Christian Fiction Writers. Sometimes I speak to writing groups or women’s groups.

Where are you going?

I’m as anxious as you to see where God is going to take me next.

About Mary’s Blessing: 

When her mother dies, Mary Lenora must grow up quickly to take care of her brothers and sisters. Can love help her to shoulder the burden?

 Mary Lenora Murray knows she is adopted. As she was growing up, her mother called her “God’s blessing.” But now that she’s gone, Mary no longer feels like any kind of blessing. Her father, in his grief, has cut himself off from the family, leaving the running of the home entirely in Mary’s hands.

 As she nears her eighteenth birthday, Mary can’t see anything in her future but drudgery. Then her childhood friend Daniel begins to court her, promising her a life of riches and ease. But her fairy-tale dreams turn to dust when her family becomes too much for Daniel, and he abandons her in her time of deepest need.

 Will Daniel come to grips with God’s plan for him? And if he does return, can Mary trust that this time he will really follow through?

About Lena: 

Award-winning author, Lena Nelson Dooley, has more than 690,000 books in print. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers http://www.acfw.com/ and the local chapter, DFW Ready Writers. She’s a member of Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas.

Lena loves James, her children, grandchildren, and great grandson. She loves chocolate, cherries, chocolate-covered cherries, and spending time with friends. Travel is always on her horizon. Cruising, Galveston, the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas, Mexico. One day it will be Hawaii and Australia, but probably not the same year. Helping other authors become published really floats her boat, with eighteen signing their first book contract after her mentoring. Three of her books have been awarded the Carol Award silver pins from American Christian Fiction Writers, and she has received the ACFW Mentor of the Year award at their national conference. The high point of her day is receiving feedback from her readers, especially people whose lives have been changed by her books.

Her 2010 release was Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico, from Summerside Press which recently won the Will Rogers Medallion Award for excellence in publishing Western literature for fiction. Lena is currently under two 3-book contracts with Charisma House/Realms. The first book released in October 2011. Maggie’s Journey appeared on a reviewers Top Books of 2011 list. It also won the 2012 Selah award for historical fiction. The second is Mary’s Blessing, which released in May 2012. Catherine’s Pursuit is coming in January 2013.

In addition to her writing, Lena is a frequent speaker at women’s groups, writers groups, and at both regional and national conferences. She has spoken in six states and internationally. She is also one of the co-hosts of the Gate Beautiful blog radio show.

Lena has an active web presence on Shoutlife, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Linkedin and with her internationally connected blog where she interviews other authors and promotes their books.

 Connect with Lena!

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Titanic – Legacy of Betrayal – Paula Moldenhauer and Kathleen Kovach

This book was AWESOME! I’m so excited to have these two wonderful ladies to interview on the blog today!

Kathy Kovach

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paula Moldenhauer

 

First of all, I have to say, I LOVED this book! I’m a sucker for history, and I loved the way you wove the past with the present. Just the right balance of intrigue and suspense, drama and romance. Beautifully done!

So how did this come to be – tell us about your relationship with each other and how/why you decided to become co-authors.

Paula says: Kathy and I met soon after my first writer’s conference, about ten years ago. I was invited to a critique group run by a delightful grandma type, Neva Andrews. I felt safe with her and was excited to join her critique group. The first time I attended she handed the baton to Kathy. I freaked out! But in the end Neva gave me a best friend and writing buddy. Some of my favorite memories are of Kathy, Neva, and me sharing a room at writing conferences. We were like teenagers—telling stories and laughing all hours of the night. From this firm foundation Kathy and I grew together, the most loyal of friendships. Ugh. Getting that lump in my throat.

Kathy says: Paula and I have known each other for ten years. Eventually we became prayer partners and that morphed into best friends. One drizzly evening a few years ago, while driving home from a writing event across town, we started talking about the Titanic. Realizing we both had an interest in it, we kicked around the idea of co-authoring a book. The concept finally caught hold, we ran it by our critique group, and suddenly there was flesh on the sparse skeleton of an idea that wouldn’t let us go. And finally, the week of the 100^th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, our book went live on Amazon.

What inspired you to write a book about the Titanic?

Kathy says: I must admit, it was nothing in the history books that caught my eye, but rather a little musical called The Unsinkable Mollie Brown starring Debbie Reynolds and Harve Presnell. Even though the movie is grossly negligent in its research, just the idea that this woman from Colorado history was a survivor piqued my interest. I’ve visited her house/museum a couple of times. Then, another little movie, Titanic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet (perhaps you’ve heard of it?) hit the big screen, and I was hooked. Now I’m not a historical writer, so the thought of writing a story about the Titanic seemed daunting. But once Paula and I began kicking around ideas, we realized we could get both historical and contemporary elements in.

Paula says: For me, it was happening upon the story of John Harper. I think it was in our homeschool curriculum and I read it to our children years ago. I was deeply impacted by the thought of this man swimming person to person, asking them if they knew Jesus, even as he was freezing to death. It was this story of faith that drew my interest into the history of the Titanic. And yes, I included it in our book!

Tell us a bit about this wonderful book’s journey to publication – I gather it was not an easy one.

Paula says: We almost didn’t write it. Wheels turn slowly in traditional publication, and we knew there wasn’t time to write the book, sell the book, and then wait for it to come out if we were going to tell our story for the 100^th anniversary of the Titanic. The story wouldn’t go away, though. At our local ACFW chapter meeting a manager from Barnes and Noble talked to us about the changing face of publishing, and we decided we could release the story as an e-book by the anniversary. (We did eventually release a paperback as well.) We were determined to do it right—a well-written story with a great cover and professional edit. The learning curve was greater than we expected.

Kathy says: We had a blast writing together. We met at Daz Bog coffee house at first until I moved into a new home closer to Paula’s neighborhood. Then, she would come over before our critique group, and we would write until everyone got there. It started out that she wrote the contemporary heroine’s point of view and the historical storyline, while I wrote the contemporary hero’s pov. When we saw that the historical part was going to be a lot bigger than we’d planned, I took over the heroine and Paula wrote solely the historical portion. Once we had a good, edited copy thanks to Marjorie Vawter and Lynnette Horner, we hired Kim Liddiard of Creative Pixel to design the cover. She used Paula’s daughter and elderly neighbor who performed beautifully as hand models. Then, we had to negotiate through the eBook formatting process which was challenging for me, but I learned some things that I hope I don’t forget should I write another eBook. And on April 14, 2012, our book was born.

Paula says: There were also some outside things that slowed us down—good and bad. Kathy and I were both contracted with Barbour books. We stopped writing Titanic to write those stories and meet our deadline. It was a good problem to have! Then we both taught at a writer’s conference.

The not so good? I’ve been in two car wrecks since January! The first slowed my ability to write, the second my ability to market. I’m definitely growing up as a writer—and as a person—as I learn to push forward despite the set-backs.

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Paula says: Collaborating with Kathy was a dream. We laughed and created together, delighting in the story and in friendship. That was the best part. I also had no idea I would love historical research as much as I do. Finding nuggets of beauty, of faith, of courage and then weaving them into the story was fascinating. I also really loved writing in Olive’s voice. Because she was an older, well-educated woman living in 1912, I was able to indulge in a higher vocabulary and slower cadence when in her point of view. That, and the fascination with the opulence of Titanic, allowed me to write with more description in a style slightly different than required by more modern story lines.

Kathy says: I loved working with the amazing Paula Moldenhauer. Anyone who has gotten swirled up in her creative energy knows what I mean. Once we recover. . .er. . .are ready to move on from Titanic: Legacy of Betrayal, there may be a sequel. I’d love to continue writing with Paula beyond Titanic. Up until this experience, I had a note in my mental “letter from school” that read: DOES NOT PLAY WELL WITH OTHERS. I’ve tried collaborating before, but it just resulted in tears. Okay, I was twelve, but still. . . Paula truly does practice what she preaches and whenever we wrote together, grace reigned.

Paula says: No fair! Kathy’s making me cry again!

You obviously enjoy working together. Can you give us a hint about the sequel?

Paula says: Charles, one of our historical characters who was on the Titanic, won Kathy’s heart. We can’t help but dream of giving him his own book.

Kathy says: Oh, Charles. How I love the bad boys. I don’t know why, but he came alive to me through a photo I found of a young man of that era.

We both have strengths to bring to the table. We joke about sharing a brain, but in our case, it’s true. Where I lack in one area, Paula excels, and vice-versa. We’ve found this even beyond the actual writing. I’m fine doing the detail work of formatting and administration while Paula loves connecting with people in the marketing process. We truly do make a good team.

Yup . . . maybe it’s time to start brainstorming that sequel . . .

What’s next for both of you?

Kathy says: We are both in a four-book novella anthology, titled Postmark: Christmas. My story is “A Blessed Angel Came” about a shy woman with an important message who meets a photographer bent on helping her find her voice—if his past doesn’t silence it completely.

Paula says: Mine is called, “You’re a Charmer, Mr. Grinch.” It’s pure fun! I’m also working on a non-fiction prayer book proposal I’m really excited about. My goal for the summer is to write a romance novel I have brewing. Unfortunately, I lost more than a month to the car wreck. I hope I get my concentration back and that sweet romance flows quickly! If it doesn’t, I’ll content myself with the joys of helping my newly engaged daughter, Sarah, plan her wedding!

About Kathy:

Kathleen E. Kovach lives in northeast Colorado where she leads a critique group and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, serving as Rocky Mountain Zone Director. An award winning author of Christian romance, she presents spiritual truths with a giggle, proving herself as one of God’s peculiar people. Visit her at www.KathleenEKovach.com

About Paula:

Author, speaker, and mom of four, Paula Moldenhauer has published over 300 times. Her first two novels release in 2012. She serves as Colorado Coordinator for the American Christian Fiction Writers and homeschools. Paula loves peppermint ice cream and walking barefoot. Her greatest desire is to be close enough to Jesus to breathe His fragrance. Visit www.paulamoldenhauer.com for devotionals, parenting articles and book info.

 

April 1912 - Olive Stanford boarded the Titanic determined to protect all she held dear. Her secret will go with her to the grave—but how can she face the afterlife carrying the burden of her actions?

 

April 2012 - Portland real estate agent, Ember Keaton-Jones distrusts men, with good reason. Ever since her great-great-grandfather, Thomas, deserted the family after the fateful sinking of the Titanic, every Keaton male has disappointed. Ember is on the brink of a huge sale when a stranger shows up with a key to a century-old secret challenging everything she believes. She meets forward-thinking Jeff Dawson who is working in the family’s musty antique shop and finds an unexpected ally in unlocking the mystery of her past. But can they undo the legacy of Thomas Keaton’s betrayal?

Where to find Titanic – Legacy of Betrayal

Website

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Guest Author, Peggy Blann Phifer!

How many writers, if any, have ever had a work in progress (WIP) for, oh, twenty years? When I go through my file drawer and see all the partial drafts, critiques, contest entries and subsequent losses . . . makes me wonder why I persisted. The easy answer is I’m stubborn. Tenacious. Hate to quit.  I’m with Prime Minister Winston Churchill: Nevah, nevah, nevah give up!

The deeper answer is . . . God wouldn’t let me give up. He had a lot to teach me, not to mention how much I had to learn. This book went through so many changes in title, characters, settings, that I’m really surprised it endured. Again, it turned out to be a God-thing.

They say “write what you know.” That’s good advice for the beginning writer, and I followed that mantra. As I look through past files and prints of manuscripts, some on a dot-matrix printer, I see how much I’ve grown as a writer. It’s really dramatic! But I learned through all those efforts. Through a number of location settings to numerous female lead characters names and personalities and title changes . . . my writing grew stronger, my voice solidified.

And now, I’m a published author! Stunning. Almost unbelievable. Yet I have a box of these finished books to tell me it’s all true. I had not given up . . . I hung in there.

Oh, I wanted to give up, even tried a time or two, but God said “No.” Sometimes He does that. And along with the “no” He said “Wait.” So I set it aside a time or two and worked on something else . . . a historical romantic suspense. This one grabbed me and I found the writing easier. Maybe because it took me back to my old stomping grounds, albeit a few years before I was born. It was fun writing and fun researching, but all the while my simmering manuscript kept calling and I’d get back on it.

This teeter-totter writing got to me finally, and the historical is now languishing in a file. But not forgotten.

One thing I learned along the way is that I am a Christian writer, not necessarily a Christian writer who writes “Christian.” No matter how hard I tried, it wasn’t working. Oh, it’s written from a Christian Worldview but you won’t find “in-your-face” religion. No Bible-thumping Scripture. But I’m hoping readers will feel my heart, and that my faith, grounded in God, shines through. THAT is what I hope will be their takeaway.

About Peggy:

Peggy Blann Phifer is an author and columnist, book reviewer and author interviewer, whose work has appeared on various Web sites and writer periodicals both in print and online. She is also an avid reader who loves to escape by diving between the covers of a good book. Peg enjoys handcrafts of all kinds and her home shows off some of her work, though most end up as gifts for friends and family. A retired executive assistant, Peg now makes her home in southern Nevada with husband of 25 years, Jim.

TO SEE THE SUN is her debut novel, released January 2012

Pregnant and widowed hadn’t been part of her “happily ever after” dream. And now, someone was trying to kill her . . .

Erin Macintyre never expected to be a widow and a new mother in the same year, anymore than she expected mysterious notes, threatening phone calls, and a strange homeless man who seems to know all about her. The thought of raising a child without a father is daunting enough—worse when you have no idea who might want to harm you. Put an old flame into the mix, and her life begins a tailspin into a world she never knew existed.

When P.I. Clay Buchanan, stumbles upon Erin at her husband’s gravesite, he’s totally unprepared for her advanced pregnancy. Her venomous reaction at seeing him, however, was predictable. But Clay can’t let her distrust, or his guilt, get in the way—not when he has evidence that proves Erin’s life is in danger.

With few options left, Erin begrudgingly accepts Clay’s help . . . and it just might be her undoing.

Contact Peggy

Contact her at her website at: http://peggyblannphifer.com

Visit her blog “Whispers in Purple” at http://www.whispersinpurple.com

Facebook.com/pegphifer

Twitter.com/pegphifer

Buy Links:

• Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/See-Sun-Desert-Faith-Book/dp/1468121081/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327193258&sr=1-3
• Kindle: http://www.amazon.com/See-Sun-Desert-Faith-ebook/dp/B006US56MI/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1327193258&sr=1-1
• B&N Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/to-see-the-sun-peggy-blann-phifer/1108167699?ean=2940013729612&itm=1&usri=peggy+blann+phifer

Buy Links (embeded)

• Amazon.com
• Amazon Kindle
• B&N (nook)

 

Meet Author Deborah Raney!

If I start talking about this amazing author, I won’t be able to stop. I’m sure most of you reading this have read at least ONE of Deb’s wonderful novels. I remember reading A Vow To Cherish many years ago, and thought, wow, so this is what this Christian fiction stuff is all about. I can do that. I want to do that. And so began a very long journey to my becoming a writer, and finally seeing my work in print. Deb’s been such an inspiration to me in so many ways, especially as an encourager as I ventured forth to write Yesterday’s Tomorrow. I definitely credit her in large part for that book finally finding a publishing home, because she kept telling me not to give up on it!

With her involvement in ACFW and the way she mentors other writers, Deb is truly a shining example to all of us as she gives back to our writing community. And yes, if you haven’t met her in person yet, she really IS as sweet as she looks!

I’m absolutely thrilled to have her on the blog today, and I hope you enjoy her visit as much as I will!

Who Are You?

In this order, I am: a child of God, a wife, a mom, “Mimi” to four precious grandchildren, a daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. And I am a full-time novelist. I also love to teach writing and mentor new writers at conferences from California to North Carolina. It seems odd to list “novelist” at the end of that long string of titles, especially when sometimes the hours I spend writing are so much greater than the time I get to spend in those other, vastly-more-important roles. But I hope I always treasure people above things. The truth is, I love every one of the roles God has given me, and have found immense blessing in each one. My dream as a young girl was to be a stay-at-home mom (I wanted a dozen children, but when we got to 4, it seemed like 12 and I am perfectly content with our two sons, two daughters, and the four grandchildren (so far) who have blessed our lives.

Where Are You Now?

My husband Ken and I live in the beautiful, bountiful, friendly state of Kansas, and every chance I get, I spend time in the lovely prairie garden Ken has created

in our backyard. This is my favorite view of the garden from the back deck

(For more photos, check out my garden blog: www.kansasprairiegarden.blogspot.com.)

Where Are You Going?

I hope I’m always only going exactly where God directs me to go. Three and-a-half years ago, my husband was laid off from his job after twenty-five loyal years with the same company. Since that frightening day, we have learned so much about following God one step, one day at a time. I’ve always been a person who liked to have her ducks in a row and a neat check-list to follow each day. But I’m learning that God doesn’t necessarily work that way, and what a HUGE adventure it has been to toss our lists and dreams and goals aside for a season, and just run with Him. Though there have been some rough patches, we have both recently decided that the layoff was the best thing that could have happened to us at this time in our lives. Our trust in God has grown in amazing ways, and He has provided every single one of our needs (which are a LOT less than we might have thought <g>). He’s also provided many, many things that we now realize are luxuries and blessings from His hand. And though we are technically poorer than we’ve been in many years, we are richer in so many––far more important––ways.

DEBORAH RANEY’s first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched her writing career after 20 happy years as a stay-at-home mom. Her books have won numerous awards including the RITA, the Carol Award, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. Deb’s newest novel released from Howard/Simon & Schuster in May. She and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy the wildflowers and native grasses in the Kansas prairie garden in their backyard. They also love traveling together to teach at conferences, and to visit four children and four small grandchildren who all live much too far away. Visit Deb on the Web at www.deborahraney.com.

 

AFTER ALL (Book 3 in the Hanover Falls Novels series from Howard/Simon & Schuster) Eighteen months after the tragic Grove Street Fire took the life of her husband, David, and four other heroic firefighters, Susan Marlowe thinks she’s finally beginning to heal. But then she discovers that David carried a secret to his grave. A secret that changes everything she thought their marriage had been. For the sake of their sons, can Susan forgive the unforgivable?Andrea Morley lost her closest friend in the fire. But she has no right to mourn him. Instead, she must forever grieve in silence—because her dearest friend was someone else’s husband. Peter Brennan carries the weight of the world on his shoulders. As Hanover Falls’ fire chief, he was responsible for the brave firefighters who lost their lives that awful November night. Can he ever shake the feeling that he should have somehow prevented the tragedy? As he tries to rebuild the team at Clemens County’s Station 2, it seems he might find comfort in the arms of the woman he least expected.

 

Celebrating Life’s Little Victories…

While it is hard to believe this picture was taken over a year ago, I still smile when I look at it. Because, if you can’t really figure it out, that’s me, signing a copy of my book, Yesterday’s Tomorrow. My book. For a “wannabe published” author, I have to say, yes, it’s everything you dreamed it would be. And then it’s not.

It’s not immediate fame and fortune.

It’s not the phone ringing off the hook with your agent presenting you with ten different movie deals and a bazillion dollar check if you write five more books just like that first one.

It’s not the end of all your hard work, blood, sweat and tears.

It IS humbling.

It IS exciting.

It IS validating.

BUT…and I hesitate here, because I know I’ve written so much about this before and I hate to bore you to death…but I do believe this needs to be said again. So my BUT here is simply this:

Having one book published does not mean you’ve made it.

The sad thing is, I was really hoping it did.

I was hoping that as soon as one book got out there, people would be clamouring for the next. Publishers would be hounding my agent for my next book, asking for sequels from the first, the movies deals…you know. All the regular Joe Schmo stuff we all dream about every night.

None of that happened.

As much as I can wholeheartedly say I believe Yesterday’s Tomorrow was meant to be published, I’m still trying to figure out why. Because if I worried about my sales figures, let’s just say right now I’d be wearing a very form fitting white jacket, in a lovely padded cell. And I doubt I’d be offered any wine to calm me down.

Yeah. I kind of let the whole Amazon rankings thing fall by the wayside a while ago. The funny thing is, as much as my sales figures suck, people still seem to like the book. I’ve done well in the contests I’ve entered, in fact I’ve just been told that my book finaled in The 2012 Reader’s Favorite Awards, in the Christian Historical category. That’s pretty cool. It’s not a place on the NYT’s Bestseller List, but hey…it’s a little victory. And I’m okay with that.

So do figures matter when I know people are enjoying the story? Maybe even getting a message from it?

I would love to say they don’t. But I know that isn’t true. If I was with a big publisher and my book bombed, I doubt they’d be taking me on to write another one.

A year ago, honestly, I probably had much bigger hopes and dreams for my book. Today, I’m learning to be satisfied with my here and now. Because I don’t know what tomorrow will bring.

I’m not sure what the future holds for me, Catherine West – Author. I pray I can continue to do this thing that I love – but I don’t know if that is my reality. Truthfully, I don’t know that in a year from now I will have another book with my name on it. And I don’t know that I won’t.

So for now, my choice is simple.

I celebrate the here and now.

I celebrate that I finaled in a contest that, at the end of the day, probably won’t mean that much. But for me, tonight, it does. Because it says that out of fifty or whatever books, mine was one of five that readers enjoyed most. And really, if I’m not writing books that readers enjoy, then I better stop writing.

This whole being published thing is an interesting journey, one I’m still trying to figure out as I go.

When I read about and look at pictures of the devastation in Colorado over the past week, my heart grieves. Who am I to even worry about my future as an author when my friends out there are worrying about homes, loved ones and where they are going to sleep tomorrow night?

They are faced with choices too. Grieve and cry “Woe is Me!” or stand tall and proclaim, “Blessed Be The Name of The Lord.” I am proud to say the latter is exactly their choice.

Blessed Be The Name of The Lord. 

So for now, for today, these are my thoughts.

I choose to celebrate the little things. Even when the world around me makes no sense.

I, like my wonderful brave friends in Colorado, choose to trust my God.

Blessed Be Your Name.