My Four-legged Babies

Missy Tippens here. I was blogging on Wednesday at Novel Journey, and I talked about my writing partner, Duke. He's the black and white spotted baby sitting by my feet in this photo. He always sits curled up beside me while I work on my laptop in the family room. And when it's cool, he likes to sit right on top of my feet! It's so nice to have a writing buddy. It's also nice to have warm feet. :)

I also have a chocolate lab, Libby. She's not as clingy as Duke but makes an appearance when she's hungry.

I adore being able to work at home. I hang out in my p.j.'s and pray no one rings the doorbell! :) I can also eat at my computer during lunch if I like. And I have flexibility in my schedule if my kids have appointments or events at school. This career is my dream come true! I think the dogs like it, too.

Speaking of career... I have a new book out now! A Forever Christmas. Here's a back cover blurb:

Sarah Radcliffe’s quiet Christmas back in her hometown will be lost if she agrees to direct the church’s Christmas pageant. But when she meets two little boys determined to gain their father’s attention, Sarah agrees to help. Then she discovers that the dad in question is Gregory Jones, the man she loved and lost.

The single dad is working himself to the bone to give his boys the Christmas of their dreams, when all they want is some family time. Time that includes a new mommy. If Sarah can learn to open her heart, she may receive the most wonderful present of all—a family of her own.



Okay, your turn! Do any of you work at home? If you're retired, do you have pets who keep you company?

WHAT IS IT ABOUT THAT BOOK COVER?

Linda Goodnight here. I’ve been thinking about book covers. One of the tasks of Love Inspired authors is to give the art department ideas about what to put on our covers. So far, I’m batting zero. They never use my ideas so obviously I need some help! What kind of cover appeals the most to you as a reader? What is it about a book sitting on a shelf amidst dozens of other perfectly lovely books that catches your eye? Is it something in particular, like a dog or a baby? Or are you captivated by a certain color or a pretty scene? Do you like people on a cover? Or are you drawn to still life covers? I'd love to know your opinion.

Lyn Cote-How to Win 10lbs of Books before Christmas!

Lyn Cote here-
Chapter A Week is a free email subscription. Members receive a chapter a week from two different Christian author's new books each week--a great way to find new authors to read!

If you're not already a member of Chapter A Week, now's the time to join and invite a friend! Here's the link to join. Then read on about one of the periodic book giveaways and how to be included.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChapteraWeek/join

Christmas is just around the corner! So we're giving away another ten-pound box of autographed Chapter-a-Week books to one Chapter-a-Week member. If you get a friend to sign up (and they mention your name in their email) you'll be entered twice! The more friends you sign up the more times you'll be entered!

Simply send an email with "Chapter-a-Week Christmas Giveaway" in the subject line to cawcontest(at)gmail(dot)com and you'll be entered in the drawing. We'll draw the winner November 27th, the day after Thanksgiving so the books will arrive in plenty of time for Christmas!

Get your entries in and be sure to tell your friends to sign up for Chapter-a-Week!

To qualify, the return email address must be on the Chapter-a-Week membership list. Continental U. S. residents only, please. Industry professionals should refrain from entering, and though we'd love you to share our books with your friends, these books are not for resale.

Thanks and happy reading!
Your friends at Chapter-a-Week
And I won't be the only Love Inspired Romance author who will be donating books to Chapter A Week!

Fall is a time for charity - in Janet Tronstad's books

Janet Tronstad here, feeling warm and well-fed. Fall is the time when animals and people look around and see if they have made any provisions for the winter. This fall many things in our economy are uncertain and those look-around times may be disheartening for many.

I just recently realized that some of the concern for our economic times has drifted into my recent books. In 'A Silent Night for Dry Creek," my hero is adamant that he doesn't want charity from the little town of Dry Creek even though he needs it. In my novella in "Mistletoe Courtship," it is my heroine who is reluctantly receiving charity. I am amazed because I had no intent of writing about the need to help each other out in hard times, but there it is. Once I realized it, I decided to follow through and ask myself what extra things I am going to do this fall to help people. Our church has a food closet that gives food to hundreds of families. I have brought things to the closet for years, but this fall I am determined to do more. My friend, Kaylene, runs the food closet and she says the lines are longer and longer. I also have a couple of friends who are unemployed and I'm planning to find ways to send some extra money their way. In the midst of all this, I am reminded to be grateful. What things are you planning to help others during this season?

Heroine Interview for A Family for Thanksgiving

Interview with the heroine for A Family for Thanksgiving by Patricia Davids:

1. Nicki Appleton, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
I’m a preschool teacher and a foster mom. I guess you can tell that I love kids.

2. What do you do for fun?
These days, playing with my foster daughter, Kasey, is fun everyday.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Updating my mother on my current dating status. She thinks she’ll never be a grandmother, following that, dusting. It’s very low on my list of priorities.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?
You don’t ask easy questions, do you? Right now, I’m afraid something will happen to stop my adoption of Kasey. I’ve been her foster mother for five months. In that time I’ve come to love her like my own child.

5. What do you want out of life?
To be useful and to know that I’m living the life God wants for me.

6. What is the most important thing to you?
Loyalty. Hands down.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
I’m a romance fan. I love books where things turn out happily ever after.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
The one thing I’d change is this irrational hang up I have about Clay Logan. I don’t know why I can’t get him out of my mind once and for all.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
I don’t have a pet. I like animals. I’ve just never had time for one.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
Now this is an easy question. I’d travel back to my freshman year in high school, the year before my father died and I’d spend way more time with him. I know he’s with God in heaven, but I miss him everyday.

Heroine Interview for Together for the Holidays

Interview with the heroine for Together for the Holidays by Margaret Daley:

1. Lisa Morgan, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
The only reason I’m writing this interview right now is because the Lord saved me from self-destruction. I nearly lost everything, but now I have my life on track.

2. What do you do for fun?
I volunteer at Stone’s Refuge and I love to ride horses and work with different animals.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Housework—dull and boring.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?
Taking drugs again—I know what happens when you do and I never want to go to that place again.

5. What do you want out of life?
To be a good mother above all else.

6. What is the most important thing to you?
My son, Andy. He is my life.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
I don’t have a lot of time to read—I’m going to school so I can get a better job. Just recently I was promoted to manager of the restaurant where I work.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I would love to go back into my past and change my teenage years. I made some bad choices. I know it’s not possible, but it would have been great if I’d had a normal childhood.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
I help with the abandoned animals at Stone’s Refuge—so that way I have a lot of different pets from fainting goats, pot bellied pigs, horses, dogs, cats.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
To when I made the first choice to take a drug because I would love to change what I did.

Farewell from Carol Steward, Welcome Carolyne Aarson

Hi and Bye. It's been great fun to participate in the Craftie Ladies. I want to thank you for stopping in and chatting and invite anyone who does need to reach me to do so at carol@carolsteward.com. It's been a very exhausting time at my day job trying to learn what work that my friend who passed away used to do, and now hopefully, we'll be training others to do the work. I mostly wanted to open up this slot for a Love Inspired author with more current releases to have this chance to visit with our wonderful readers and friends. So please welcome Carolyne Aarsen every third Friday in my place. We've "written together" as Love Inspired authors since the early years of the line. I know you'll love her and her books as much as I do!

God Bless, and keep in touch.

Carol

November Beauty, Leaves and Fun-Cheryl Wyatt

Cheryl Wyatt here.

All of the leaves were blown off the trees this week from wind, but days prior, the trees were so gorgeous. Now there is a huge pile of raked leaves in the yard and I am so tempted to run out there and kick them around for the fun of it. I had the urge to run and jump as high as I could and just land right in the middle of them. I'm a 40 year old woman though and neighbors were watching...LOL! So I just looked at the leaves and remembered when I was little. How my sister and I would play outside in the leaves forever. One never forgets that swoosh and crunch sound.

I'm not sure what it is about fall and leaves that brings out the fun in us. That pulls that child forth who we used to be.

I went to rake the leaves into a bag but my teen niece who lives with us begged me to leave them in a pile so she could play like when she was little.

I smiled.

Put the rake away and left the leaves. And thought about joining her.

Maybe tomorrow....I will.

Enjoy fall and the beauty around you. We only live once.

Warmly,

Cheryl

Readers, we want you!

Something writers are always trying to do is create not only believable, three-dimensional, and relatable characters but also romantic ones. We want our hereos to be the kind every woman wants to sweep her off her feet, and we want our heroines to be a strong, self-sufficient woman that every reader wants to be.

Whew! That's a lot of pressure!

But think about it. What was the last book you read? Was the heroine strong and independent, someone you as a female reader could relate to, admire, even wish to imitate a little? Was the hero a tough yet sensitive kind of guy, romantic and protective even if he had his own issues? More than likely, yes, because if he was a total jerk, he wouldn't be much of a hero. If he was a bum with no motivations, he wouldn't be very interesting to read about. And if she was weak and helpless, the stereotypical damstel in distress, you wouldn't want to relate to her.

I'd like to hear from our readers on this! What is your idea of the perfect man to read about? The perfect heroine? What qualities or character traits would personally turn you off from the story? Which ones do you enjoy reading about? Are any character quirks or goals overly done and you're tired of seeing them?

Chime in here. It's your chance to give us authors feedback! =)

Fall in Oregon

I love this time of the year because the trees are turning the most amazing shades of color. Greens, golds, oranges, yellows, reds, and even purples. I love the way the air gets misty and the smell of the earth rises on the breeze. I love to bundle up in sweaters, coats, hats, gloves and scarves. I love the way the crisp air tingles against my skin. I especially love this time of year because I get so much more writing done when its cold outside.
I'm currently working on two porjects for Love Inspired Suspense. My next Love Inspired Romance will be out in August 2010.




I have a Love Inspired Suspense book out this month titled Chasing Shadows. This book is a little bit suspense, a little bit mystery and a little bit cozy entwined with faith and a sweet romance.

NOW YOU SEE THEM, NOW YOU DON’T
When senior citizens start disappearing from a Boston retirement home, heiress Kristina Worthington is suspicious. Especially when she fears her beloved grandmother is next. Without solid evidence, she’s forced to turn to the one police officer who might listen—her former love, Gabe Burke. Now a seasoned cop, Gabe still sees her as the rich girl whose family thought he wasn’t good enough.
And though he takes the case, Gabe seems convinced he’s chasing shadows.
Until they start dodging threats, bullets...and their own rekindled feelings.

Turn Offs

Pamela Tracy here, talking about things in books that turn me off. You probably need a little history. I usually have three books going at one time: purse book (Usually one that isn't grabbing me but there's hope for); bathroom book (Usually a loser, last ditch effort. If it gets wet from the shower, I'm not depressed); and last, the book (I'm into this book, going to finish it soon, wish I had more time to read, and I take it wherever I go).

So, at the end of last week, my purse book suddenly took a turn for the better and became the book. I'm moving along. Suddenly, comes a scene where the heroine is in the wrong place at the wrong time. (She's found a secluded place to read during a party). I'm okay with this; I often wish I could find a corner and just read when I'm at a party. Then, a male and female enter the secluded place. Now, I'm okay with eavesdropping. But the male and female aren't coming to the secluded place to talk. (BTW, this is a sweet book). The heroine doesn't make her presence known.She doesn't make her presence known!

I stopped reading.

Now, the book is good; I want to know what happens, but to me, this scene was a deal breaker. It went into the eck factor. I take book to bathroom. Remember, now I no longer care if the shower warps this book. But, as the day goes on, I make it past the scene (which had her being discovered before eck).

I do know I'll finish the book, but I'm wondering... Will I buy another book by this author? See, I bought this one because I liked her last one. Also, I have very few eck factors (in sweet books... I feel like I have to keep saying that because there are lots of 'eck' factors out there, they just don't usually show up in my books).

So, what does it for you? Makes you say "Eck!"

Heroine Interview for Close to Home

Interview with the heroine from Close to Home by Carolyn Aarsen:

1. Dodie, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
I have a streak of pink in my hair, I like wearing glittery nail polish and . . . I like to wear clothes that other people consider cast off.

2. What do you do for fun?
My life is fun. I sell eggs at the Farmer’s Market. I hang around with my Farmer’s Market friends and help out my sister at her coffee shop. I like meeting people and talking to them.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Everything!! Actually, Jace is back in town. Old boyfriend. I’d just as soon not talk to him. Makes things easier.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?
I’m not overly impressed with mice. Bats give me the heebie jeebies. I guess I have bigger fears, but, you know, I don’t want to talk about that. It’s in the past. Over. Done with.

5. What do you want out of life?
I want to have fun. I want to be a good daughter. A good Christian. I want to be able to just live without shadows. I want to be important to someone.

6. What is the most important thing to you?
My family and my faith. But it seems like, at times, there’s something hanging between me and them. Not sure what it is and I don’t think I want to explore it too deeply.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
I love reading, but I did so much for college that I’ve been giving myself a bit of a break from that. Of course, college was a few years ago and I suppose I should go back, though I’m taking some community college courses in social work. I once thought I could be a lawyer, but I think my heart, lately, is more toward helping people. Making them feel significant.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’m always trying to change myself. That’s mostly on the outside. Sometimes, when I dare look back, I’d like to change my past. But hey, who can do that? No one. It is what it is.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
No pets. My sister and her husband, Luke, have a golden lab so I get my vicarious pet thrills from them. I don’t like to be tied down to the responsibility.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
I don’t like to look back too much. I kind of prefer to leave the past where it is. It’s much safer that way. Even to travel back in time means I would have to go back to where I was . . . one time. I can’t.

Featured Book: Close to Home by Carolyne Aarsen

Jace Scholte used to be the town bad boy, a rebel who thought he had a cause. But when Jace fell for Dodie Westerveld, he changed and became a Christian. Instead of marrying him, though, Dodie ran away without a word, taking his heart with her. Now they're both back in town. But Dodie still won't talk about the past. When they're paired together on a fundraiser for a new crisis center, Jace is reminded of how much she meant to him. Helping Dodie trust him—and herself—will take all the faith she once helped him find.

Procrastination

Merrillee here, thinking about how easy it is to procrastinate. The time ticks away, and I still haven't made that phone call, written that letter or worked in my yard. Sometimes there are legitimate reasons why I haven't completed a project or started one, but other times I have no excuse. I have just found it easier to put things off.

Occasionally, that happens with writing. I have a a "Shoe" comic strip by Jeff MacNelly taped near my computer to remind me that I shouldn't procrastinate. In the first panel we see a little sign that says, "Quiet Author At Work." In the next four panels of the strip we first see Perfesser Cosmo Fishhawk turning off the phone and sitting down to write his novel. In the sixth panel, he asks, "What's the theme?" In the following three panels, he wonders about conflict, character motivation and plot. In the final panel, we see him sitting in front of the TV. He asks, "Where's the remote."

As writers, sometimes it is easier to watch TV, read e-mails or surf the Web than it is to sit down and tackle the important elements in our stories. I'm working hard not to become a Perfesser Fishhawk.

What about you? What causes you to procrastinate?

What's your newest toy?

I don't really like change. I wish I never had to update my computer, reprogram the DVR, buy a new phone, or suffer a fate worse than death by purchasing a new printer. And have you seen the new washing machines? They scare me to death.

Okay, the things I really don't like to see change are the things that require some understanding of technology. Knowing that, would you be surprised to learn that this entire post was written by talking to my computer?

I have a new toy, a new toy, a new toy.

Speech recognition writing is something I have wanted to do for a long time. I suffer from arthritis in both my hands. Typing is downright painful. When I'm on deadline it's not unusual to see me with strips of white tape wrapped around my fingers like a boxer getting ready for a fight. Making the transition to voice activated typing has become a must for me. The physical need to adjust has outweighed my reluctance to allow change in my life. Hey, I’ve had the same husband for 35 years and the same winter coat for 5 years. I’m a in-a-rut kind of gal.

It hasn’t been easy to make the transition. It required a new attitude about the way I write. I constantly revise as I write. I didn't believe it would be possible for me to dictate and like what I saw. I was so wrong. It may take me a few weeks or a few months to become proficient with this new program, but I intend to persevere. I have so many stories in my heart I need to tell. Now I don't have to type them. I only have to tell them.

Change can be hard, but it can also be wonderful. I'll let you know how I'm getting along the next time I have to speak to our blog.

Okay, what new toy do you have your eye on? Do tell.

Fun time in Shreveport

This past weekend I went to Shreveport to speak to the local American Christian Fiction Writers' group. They were so gracious and welcoming. I felt right at home with them. I spoke on digging deep with your characters.

Saturday was a glorious day with not a cloud in the sky. The whole way down on Friday it was cloudy and the whole way back it was cloudy but while I was in Shreveport the temperature was nice and it was sunny. After spending the last week with a lot of clouds and rain, that was wonderful.

We went to a tearoom for lunch after the meeting. The food was great but the tea was even better. I ended up buying four different teas and I'm enjoying them now.

The top picture is of part of the members with me standing in front. The bottom picture is of Lenora Worth, me in the middle and Vickie McDonough who went down to Shreveport with me. We stayed at Lenora's. She is a great host.

November Rain--Lenora Worth

I grew up in Georgia so the song "A Rainy Night in Georgia" is one of my favorites. And lately, it's been raining ... all over the world ... it seems. We've had a very wet fall in the South. Around Louisiana, there has been a lot of flooding. We're used to this in the spring but the fall? A little different. Of course, it always seems to rain a bit when we have two major events--a fall arts festival and the state fair. Both of these big outdoor productions sure do suffer when the weather is wet and cold. But there is something about a cool rainy day that just begs for a good book, some chocolate and a pot of hot tea or coffee. So I try to look for the blessings in this rain--the lush green of my potted plants before they get stored in a warm spot for the winter, the thankfulness of being warm and dry when I know others suffer all year long, and the ability to be able to read a good book on a day when no one wants to be outside. We know the sun will return and while this rain has caused many to suffer and lose property and crops, we know God sends the sun after the clouds are spent. And even though we're still in October, the dreariness of this rainy season makes me remember November and the changing of the seasons. Change is never easy and sometimes, even Mother Nature has a hard time accepting it, I think.

What is your favorite time of the year?

Heroine Interview from Bluegrass Christmas

Heroine Interview from Bluegrass Christmas by Allie Pleiter:

1. Mary, tell me the most interesting thing about you.
I can’t. Really, no one can know--you’ll all hate me, I’m sure of it.

2. What do you do for fun?
I’m just finding that out. I haven’t had time to have any fun in my old jobs, so the whole concept of free time is sort of new to me. It’s why I came to Middleburg, to find out who I am away from what I used to do.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?
Funny you should ask that, because I think I just did it by moving to Middleburg. I walked away from something I wasn’t sure I could live without. Do all new Christians have to go through this? Because it’s much harder than I was expecting.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?
See question #1!

5. What do you want out of life?
I want simplicity. I want to be that calm, serene person of faith I keep reading about. I want to walk away from the messed up old me with the messed up old life and find a peaceful Christmas. Middleburg seems the perfect place to do that, don’t you think?

6. What is the most important thing to you?
A fresh start. This is my first Christmas as a believer, and I want to get it right. I’ve got this new job as the Drama Director at the sweet little small town church, and I want to give them the best Christmas Pageant ever.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?
You know, I never had time to read before now. I’m thinking a nice, cozy love story would be just the ticket. And maybe a little humor. I’ve heard there’s this author named Allie Pleiter, but she strikes me as a bit odd, so maybe not.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wouldn’t let stuff get to me so easily. Things get under my skin way too fast. But then again, maybe that’s what let Jesus under my skin so I’m not sure I’d change that. I think, by ditching my old life, that I just changed a really big thing about myself.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?
No pets, but if I did, it certainly wouldn’t be that loudmouth cockatoo of Mac MacCarthy’s downstairs!

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?
I’d go back to visit with Bach and Beethoven, or Mozart, to hear them play their own masterpieces. That’d be amazing for a music person like me.

FEATURED BOOK: BLUEGRASS CHRISTMAS BY ALLIE PLEITER

An old-fashioned Christmas: That's what led new believer Mary Thorpe to start over in quaint Middleburg, Kentucky. As director of the church's Christmas pageant, Mary's job is to bring the townspeople together, to remind them what the season is really about. But everyone is all riled up over one very handsome man: the man daring to run against Middleburg's popular long-standing mayor. Mac MacCarthy wants change. Mary wants things to stay as they are. Is there a happy medium? Both Mac and Mary are in for one very big Christmas surprise.

Val reporting

Good morning all. It's raining in Arkansas. Again. And the road to town is under water. Again.

This is what it looks like from my front porch. That wide, horizontal band is WATER. Fast-moving water. I am not leaving the house today.

It occurred to me recently that although I write for all 3 Love Inspired lines, I don't have a straight LI romance coming out for the rest of this year - or next. I do have at least 3 books but they're either historical or suspense and therefore don't technically fit this blog. So, if you don't see me here for a while, just jump over to my website and see what I'm up to from that. Okay? I wouldn't want anyone to think I was neglecting my fellow craftie ladies but I do think it's silly and unfair to take up this space when I have nothing to say about the line.

I'm going to ask to be take out of the list of regular posters and I will miss y'all, but it's the sensible thing to do. And I do seem to make a habit of showing up about an hour late every time!

Blessings,

Valerie Hansen

The Great Smoky Mountains

Missy Tippens here...

I wanted to share with you some photos from our wonderful fall break trip last week. We went to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and had a blast. We also celebrated my parents' 50th wedding anniversary while there!

Here are some photos of the gorgeous Smoky Mountains (from while we were driving across the mountain in the national park).


And below is also some of the wildlife we experienced! The raccoon nearly came inside the hotel room. And the bear lumbered down the mountainside into our motel parking lot and checked out cars--and us! He got within about 5-6 feet of us. :)

I hope you enjoy the mini-tour of the Smokies. Have you ever been there?

Also! My new release is now available! A Forever Christmas. Here's a back cover blurb:

Sarah Radcliffe’s quiet Christmas back in her hometown will be lost if she agrees to direct the church’s Christmas pageant. But when she meets two little boys determined to gain their father’s attention, Sarah agrees to help. Then she discovers that the dad in question is Gregory Jones, the man she loved and lost.

The single dad is working himself to the bone to give his boys the Christmas of their dreams, when all they want is some family time. Time that includes a new mommy. If Sarah can learn to open her heart, she may receive the most wonderful present of all—a family of her own.

New Wine in Old Skins

Linda Goodnight here, marveling at God.

Remember that scripture in the Bible about putting new wine in old skins? Well, we have a rather convulted metaphor of that going on at our house. The old skins are my husband Gene and me. The new, fresh, sweet and delightful wine is Maria, a beautiful 13 year old Ukarinian child that we are adopting! The story of just how God brought Maria into our family is long, but it was clearly His doing and His will. She is revitalizing these old skins, giving us great joy, and we just couldn't be more delighted - or stunned - at what the Lord has done.

Right now, we are debating home school or a Christian school instead of the public school where I teach. Do any of you home school? Anyone attend or have their kids attend a Christian school? Both are new arenas for me, so all advice is appreciated!