Summer Fun!

As I write this post, I’m taking a break from gathering my gear for my summer break. I’m so excited to be traveling and getting away from the Texas heat. My vacation this year is three weeks where I grew up, in the tiny state of Rhode Island. I’ll spend time with family, old friends and the current hero and heroine dancing in my brain. I’m also excited about being able to see the beaches and eat as much awesome seafood as I can.

When I’m on the beach I don’t swim in the water. Brrrr! (okay, I might put my feet in it) But nothing sounds as peaceful to me as the waves splashing up onto the beach. The rhythm fills my heart and slows my heartbeat. I feel free. Sometimes one of my best friends and I take our beach chairs and books to the beach when most families are heading home. Sometimes we read, sometimes we talk, sometimes we just listen to the sounds around us.

Another experience I enjoy when I visit Rhode Island is fishing. I’m not very good. My first two times out on the boat I caught… a Coke can and a bundle of seaweed. I didn’t even get the teeny tiny fish everyone throws back. This picture is only from a few years ago. The people around me couldn’t understand why I was so excited. When I shared that it was the 1^st first fish I ever caught, they actually clapped for me. (It was yummy!) But the point of the trip isn’t whether I catch something or not. For me, it’s about the soft roll of the ocean, the sounds of the birds flying by, the heat of a summer sun finding its way to me despite me hanging out in the shade.

Another thing I love about my summer trips to Rhode Island is getting time to devote to my writing. I enjoy sitting in the sun room of my parents’ place putting the pieces together of the current book. I love learning about my characters and the suspense angle of the manuscript. But I also love being able to stop mid-morning and have a cup of tea with my mom. These days I can spend as much or as little time writing as I want. Even though I sometimes take day trips for shopping (gotta have chocolates, right?) meet a friend for lunch, or have a cookout with family, the possibilities of my writing progress are open and welcome.

And now I’m here. I’ve probably already seen several family members, had my first serving of fried scallops and French fries, and I’m sure I’ve been plodding in the chilly beach water. But my mind is at ease and my heart is full.

Our Family’s Favorite Easter Resources + Love Inspired Suspense Cover Reveal

by Meghan Carver

When I was a child, Easter was a special time…of sorts.

My mother would usually make me a new dress. That was about the only time of the year she completed a sewing project, so it was extra special. J

We would usually spend the weekend at my grandparents’ house about two hours away. My grandmother would hide jelly beans all over her house for an egg hunt on Sunday morning…including in our shoes. Candy of any kind was such a rare treat for my brother and me that I apparently didn’t notice the slight taste of feet. J At my grandparents’ church, we would sit on the front pew. I don’t remember any of the sermons, but I remember my grandmother’s hats.

While these are nice memories, my husband (who didn’t have any Jesus in his childhood Easters) and I have decided to take advantage of the many resources available today to get more Jesus in our family’s Easter. Over the years, we’ve collected several books and videos…and a couple other things as well.

Books

Cute drawings and the basic story any child can understand.

 

Super adorable drawings and rhyming text.

 

We actually purchased this as an Abeka book for our homeschool curriculum, but I found it available for Kindle on Amazon. My two oldest girls have read it and thought it really brought the Bible to life, although the ending for Titus was surprising and sad. The story of the character Titus is fiction, but the setting, the society, and Jesus are based on the truth of the Bible. This one is shooting to the top of my to-be-read list, and in fact, I found two others by the same author on Amazon, a trilogy called Comrades of the Cross -- Stephen: A Soldier of the Cross and The Cross Triumphant.

Videos

Provides an entertaining contrast between plastic eggs and the resurrection. Try watching it and not singing about mechanical chickens. J

 

What an emotional experience! A couple of years ago, we let our older children watch it with us. We thought the two oldest were mature enough and knowledgeable enough to handle it. The visuals definitely made what they had only read about more real. In regard to your children, use your discretion.

Radio Theatre Drama

 

Specifically The Easter Story – Digger Digwillow travels back in the Imagination Station to witness the last week of Jesus’ life. The cover looks like it's just for children, but don't be fooled. Our teens and my husband and I love Adventures in Odyssey!

And don’t forget….

 

We always have a little egg hunt for our children at home after church. Scavenger hunts are just fun, and we take the opportunity to insert a little more teaching through the Resurrection Eggs. Our children usually end up competing to see who can find the most of these special eggs.

Isn't the cover of this adult coloring book fun and whimsical? So, my last item isn't terribly spiritual, but it can be stress-relieving.

What are your go-to resources for Easter?

~~~~~

Before you leave, may I share the cover of my Love Inspired Suspense coming this July? I love how pretty…worried the heroine looks!

Sign up for my author newsletter and be automatically entered into a giveaway with each issue. Soon, I’ll be giving away advance copies of Amish Covert Operation! You can sign up HERE, and thank you!

Four Non-Traditional Valentine’s Day Gifts for Husbands

By Meghan Carver

After twenty-six years of marriage, it can be a little difficult to figure out something interesting and appropriate to give my husband for Valentine’s Day. I know we have many authors on this blog who have been married many more years than I have, so you can either chuckle at my youth, commiserate with my plight, or share your advice in the comments. 😊 

I figure a lot of us who read Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense have this same predicament.

With Valentine’s Day later this week, I thought I would share with you all some gift ideas for the man in your life.

The problem is, to be perfectly honest, that for many years we haven’t even given gifts, not in the traditional sense.

So, I went to Google, the source of all answers. {I don’t recommend this….}

That didn’t help.

I’ve been decluttering like crazy, so I know that my husband does NOT need –

•          another power tool
•          a kitchen appliance
•          a red-and-white-striped dish for his popcorn
•          a tee-shirt that labels him as “Hot Stuff”
•          a piece of tree bark with our initials cut into it to sit as a keepsake on our side table in the living room.

I was back at the beginning.

I love words {obviously 😊}, so I went to the dictionary. Here are a few intangible {and free!} items we could give our husbands on Valentine’s Day…and every other day of the year.

•          Love: an intense feeling of deep affection; a great interest and pleasure in something.
•          Respect: a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements; due regard for the feelings, wishes, rights, or traditions of others.
•          Encouragement: the action of giving someone support, confidence, or hope.
•          Fun: enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

~~~~~

Speaking of Valentine’s Day, do you need a new romance to read…with a little bit of danger thrown in?

Amish Country Amnesia is still available online.

His past is a mystery to everyone…except for the men trying to kill him

When a snowmobile accident leaves a man injured and with no memory, Amish widow Sarah Burkholder and her young daughter rescue him. Even as Sarah’s feelings for him grow, they discover unknown assailants are after him—and Sarah and her little girl for helping him. But if he can remember who he is, he might just save all their lives.

You can order HERE.

And…Sarah’s friend Katie has her own story coming this July, Amish Covert Operation.

She witnessed a crime. Can an agent in disguise keep her safe?

After Amish widow Katie Schwartz’s search for her reclusive brother results in a shooting and her finding a cryptic message, she must rely on federal agent Adam Troyer to shield her. But, undercover as a Plain man, can Adam save her brother’s life and protect Katie? Trusting the handsome Englisch agent is already dangerous…but falling for him could risk everything Katie holds dear.

I can’t reveal the final cover yet, but if you’d like to be the first to know, I’d be honored if you sign up for my author newsletter. I give away books and prizes with every issue!

Sign up for my author newsletter HERE.

You can pre-order Amish Covert Operation HERE.

Thank you for reading! 😊

Our Scottish Adventure

Hi Terri Reed here. This year my husband and I celebrated our thirtieth wedding anniversary. We decided to take a trip to Scotland and Ireland.
Today I'll share some of our pictures from Scotland.  Next time I post I'll share some from Ireland.

We spent four wonderful days in Edinburgh. I love this town and the country. I really hope to go back to explore more of Scotland.

The train to Stirling 

One of the highlights was the Royal Military Tattoo. Military bands from around the world performed.
There were so many stairs to take, hills to walk and sights to see.  Here's a few pictures for you to enjoy.

Street in Edinburgh

The double decker red bus tour

statue of Robert the Bruce at Stirling Castle

The finale at the tattoo with all the performers

Edinburgh Castle

Prince Street Gardens-this is a monument to Sir Walter Scott

You can see Edinburgh Castle in the background at the top of the hill.

Loved all the bagpipers. 

Doorway to the chapel at Stirling Castle. I'm 5'7 and had to duck.

The USAF Honor Guard

And just in time for Christmas...

Take Time to Play by Christa Sinclair

Hello! This is my very first post and I’m so excited to join everyone here! So, let’s get started…  

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” This is my all-time favorite quote. I have this saying on my refrigerator and on the cork board in my office to remind me every day that if I want a well-rounded life, I need to engage in some silliness from time to time.

Of course, it doesn’t have to be anything major. Some examples of my silliness are rolling across the grocery store parking lot on the cart, riding on a swing while kids played nearby, getting up on a stage to learn dance moves from professionals, and playing hopscotch down the hallway with some students at work. See? Lots of silliness there, but also tons of fun.

Think about it. When we’re children, our lives usually revolve around church, family, school and playing. As we grow, many people do less playing. And by the time we’re adults, we’ve switched over to focusing on a job (or 2), our own families, bills, and many more responsibilities. We’re expected to behave a certain way and be an example of a mature, respectful adult for younger generations. But I say don’t forget your inner child and here’s why…

In August, I began a new school year with some challenging changes. Between that job, day-to-day living, and working on book revisions, I was neglecting my inner child. But I didn’t realize it at first. Instead, I found myself getting depressed, which led me to sleeping a lot, which led me to not getting work done, which added stress, and then the cycle continued. Yep, I was totally wrapped up in “adulting”.

Then, one day last week on my drive to work I heard a new-to-me song that shook some sense into me. ("Joy" from for KING & COUNTRY).  I soon realized how important it is to embrace my inner child because taking time to play makes me stronger. It reminds me not to take myself or life too seriously. It makes me remember who and what are important to me. And it re-energizes me so I can handle all the adult responsibilities in my life with confidence and a clear head.

So, treat yourself. Be a kid again, if only for an afternoon or even five minutes. The “adult you” will thank you for it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Christa Sinclair moved from New England to escape the harsh winters and settled in Texas once she received her Master’s degree in education. When she’s not teaching high school English or traveling around the world, she’s creating brave new characters who overcome danger to find love and to make sure the good guys win. Find out more about her at www.christasinclair.com, friend her on Facebook  or follow her on Twitter.

Five Fast and Easy Ways to Help an Author

with Meghan Carver

I came across this meme quite a while ago, and quite frankly, I can’t remember where. (I’m glad it has the url on the bottom. At least amarketingexpert.com can get the credit. 😊 )

It summarizes perfectly several fast and super-easy ways a reader can help an author. In this day of social media and online shopping, it isn’t just a matter of writing anymore.

As the image says, reviews really do matter. This past Sunday, a woman at church told me how much she had enjoyed Amish Country Amnesia and that she had stayed up way too late to finish it. (By the way, that’s one of the best compliments you can give an author. We love keeping you up late! 😊 ) But then we talked about reviews, and she stated quite emphatically that she always reads the reviews for anything that she is thinking of purchasing.

That started me thinking about all the reviews I read as I browse online. If I’m looking at a jacket online and reviewers say that the zipper doesn’t work well, I’m much less likely to follow through with the purchase. On the other hand, if several buyers rave about the soft fabric of a knit top I’m considering, then that will, most likely, seal the deal. Truly, though, I find reviews as simple as "I love it!" helpful.

On behalf of all the authors on this blog, thank you for reading our books! We appreciate you!

Q4U: How much do reviews influence your purchases?


Before you go, let's take a moment to remember what happened on this day seventeen years ago ~

May God bless the sacrifice of so many that day, the families left behind, and may He preserve and protect our freedoms!

~ Meghan

Amish Words of Wisdom + A Giveaway!

with Meghan Carver

One of the most loved books of the Bible is Proverbs. It’s full of little gold nuggets of wisdom ~ wisdom that could fill many, many books but is condensed into a handful of easy-to-remember pithy sayings.

The beauty of proverbs, or sayings, is that they tell us more about the values of those people who value those particular sayings. 

The language of the Amish is Pennsylvania German, an oral language. It does not have written words. It seems to me that this makes their cherished proverbs even more valuable since they are handed down through the generations as part of an oral tradition. This oral tradition then helps to maintain the cohesiveness of the community.

In my research on the Amish, I found a wonderful little book by Suzanne Woods Fisher ~ Amish Proverbs: Words of Wisdom from the Simple Life.  

The chapters are organized by virtues and include Time, Money, Faith, In Word & Deed, Work Ethic, Handling Adversity, Education, Community, Character, and Just for Fun.

Here’s a sampling ~~~

“To stay youthful, stay useful.” (p. 20)

“One thing you can learn by watching the clock is that it passes time by keeping its hands busy.” (p. 21)

“Things that steal our time are usually the easiest to do.” (p. 25)

“The debt that is paid is best.” (p. 31)

“An industrious wife is the best savings account.” (p. 32)

“Walk softly, speak tenderly, and pray fervently.” (p. 44)

“Do not ask the Lord to guide your footsteps if you are not willing to move your feet.” (p. 47)

“The right temperature at home is maintained by warm hearts, not hot heads.” (p. 60)

“An unkind remark is like a killing frost—no matter how much it warms up, the damage is already done.” (p. 67)

“The soundness of your ideas is more important than the sound of your words.” (p. 81)

“The trouble with doing nothing is it’s too hard to tell when you’re finished.” (p. 85)

“You’re never too old to learn.” (p. 108)

“If you won’t admit you’ve been wrong, you love yourself more than truth.” (p. 121)

“Apple butter, just like relationships, takes time to boil, time to cool, and time to turn out wonderfully.” (p. 122)

“Good character like good soup is usually homemade.” (p. 125)

“An honest cook serves her food with the burnt side up.” (p. 135)

There is so much wisdom in these sayings that I’ll be thinking on them for quite some time.

Which is your favorite?

Let’s end today’s post with a giveaway ~ one signed copy of my September release, Amish Country Amnesia!

Please leave a comment to be entered. US winners only. A winner will be chosen after midnight tonight.

Best wishes and many blessings!

~ Meghan

UPDATED: And the winner is...LELA W! Congratulations! Lela, please contact me at MeghanCCarver@gmail.com with your address, and I'll get your book to you right away. Thank you, everyone, for the comments!

When Characters Surprise You by Heather Woodhaven

Did you know that today is Scavenger Hunt Day? I love celebrating fun holidays and this seemed particularly relevant as I’ve been running around searching for various items for my daughter’s wedding, happening in twenty-five days! 

In Protected Secrets (click here), my main character, Deputy Marshal Delaney Patton, probably wouldn’t appreciate the holiday since her handsome witness, Bruce Walker, and his adorable daughter, Winnie, are the ones being hunted by a dangerous criminal organization.

My heroine struggles to accept that God would want to bless and heal her situation after she’s made so many mistakes. As a writer who has her own control issues, I can see the error in her faulty thinking, but in my day-to-day life I think I continually need the big picture reminder that He’s already paid the ultimate price for all our mistakes to give us the best blessing of all. And, often, I think my eyes are blind to the many blessings he gives me daily. 

Just this morning, I had just taken the kids to school and was about to start my workday. I started to pray, “Lord I could really use some encouragement today—” when a gentle knock sounded at the door. 

A friend I hadn’t seen in ages stood on my patio. “I can’t stay.” She handed me a card and a bar of chocolate and took off. 

After marveling at such a sweet gesture out of the blue, I texted her a thank you. But, she’d recently changed numbers, so I ended up texting it a stranger. Took me about ten minutes to realize it and send a second message. Hope I didn't cause a fight for someone!

After writing down similar situations as future fodder for a novel, I went back to finish my prayer when I realized he had literally just answered it. I'd almost been too focused on my own stress and tasks to realize it. 

As a writer, when my characters teach or remind me of things I had no intention of learning, I get annoyed…and eventually grateful. What about you? As a reader (or writer), are you ever taken off guard when a character’s struggles apply to your own life? 

How Do You Fit Reading into Your Day?

Hello! Meghan Carver here.

When I was a child, I read all the time.

Seriously.

All. The. Time.

When I was in middle school, I spent an entire day on summer break reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin. It hadn’t been assigned, since we were out of school. But I had heard of it and was curious. It was so good, I barely moved from the couch and read it in one day.

Now, decades later, I have six children, I homeschool, I write, I keep house {sort-of}. There are too many responsibilities to list. You know what I mean. J

I can no longer spend an entire day reading. Some days, I can barely find five minutes to read.

How’s a busy girl to fit it in?

{Shameless photo plug: 

My daughter reading my August Love Inspired Suspense, 

Deadly Disclosure, which is still available online.}

Of course, there’s always staying up late or getting up early. Too often, I stay up late. {Can I get an amen? J}

But I’ve found another few ways to fit in reading. Keep your book or kindle handy when you ~~

Cook. When I wait for something in the oven or I’m stirring something in the pot, I read. Of course, be mindful of your time or you might burn the Christmas caramels. Don’t ask me how I know.

Brush your teeth. If your book is really good, you’ll get in a few more minutes on your pearly whites.

Wait in line. At the pharmacy, in the grocery store, at the school.

Have to sit through a boring movie. Sometimes, there are movies that others in my family want to watch, but I just don’t. But movie-watching is sometimes a family activity, and that husband or that child just wants me to sit next to them. Why not read?

Shower. I haven’t actually tried this, and it may not work well with a print book. But with a neoprene, weather-proof, zip-up case for a kindle, reading can be done in the shower.

My kindle is always in my purse. ALWAYS. Any spare moment, out it comes.

I’m always on the lookout for more tips, though. How do you fit reading into your day?

You can find me at www.meghancarver.com or on Facebook. 

It's Classified, but I can tell you--Lenora Worth

So I love writing about K9 officer dogs. I've always admired them and one of my early Love Inspired books (A Tender Touch) was about a police officer and his K9 partner. They were on leave after an accident and my hero, Clay, went home to Sunset Island, Georgia, to heal. But when a child goes missing, Clay and Samson help to locate him. I did research back then but little did I know that things would go even deeper with my K9 fascination. As of now, I've written books for seven K9 continuities and I'm working on number eight. So my research has gone way beyond that first book.

I love the research and I love working on the continuities with the other talented LIS writers who are my friends. We brainstorm, bang our heads against the wall, laugh, sometimes cry!!, but always respect the writing. We want to get things right while keeping in mind this is first a romance but always suspenseful.

So I'm happy to say that my next K9 adventure comes out in September. It's the last book of the Classified K9 series about an elite FBI team in Montana who are searching for an agent who might have gone rogue. My book brings the rogue agent face to face with the mother of his son and his half-brother (my hero) to bring the whole series to a climatic end! (Of course.) But meantime, I wanted to show off the covers again. They are always wonderful and suspenseful and hey, we love the K9s!

I hope those of you who love suspense will comment on this series if you're reading it and for those who haven't read any of the LIS K9 series, give them a try. Our dogs will woof at you! Leave a comment and I'll draw a name and send you a free early copy of my September release Tracker! Check back here next week for the winner!

The first four books, available NOW online!!

The next book out in August:

And my story, out in September:

This is Cheetah. He's an Australian Shepherd!

Tell us what you think!

New for July from Our Love Inspired Suspense Authors

Jean C. Gordon here with new must buys from our Love Inspired Suspense authors. Just click on a cover to buy one. And to learn more about these talented ladies, click on their names.

Protective Measures
by Maggie K. Black 

UNDERCOVER BODYGUARD
After an attack at a military charity gala, navy commander Leo Darius learns someone wants to kill him—and kidnap his two daughters. And there's nothing the recently widowed single father won't do to protect his girls…even if it means asking a beautiful bodyguard to pose as his girlfriend. Though security expert Zoe Dean agrees to handle the threats and near-fatal assaults, she refuses to get attached to the handsome commander and his lovely daughters. But with the would-be kidnappers closing in, saving Leo and the little girls, while protecting her heart, may be one mission Zoe can't master.

Tracking Secrets
by Heather Woodhaven

CAUGHT IN THE CROSSHAIRS
A dog-sitting favor for a friend takes a terrifying twist when the police-dog-in-training runs off and leads Alexis Thompson into the middle of a drug drop. Only the quick thinking of a passing stranger gets them both out alive. Veterinarian Nick Kendrick, who's running for mayor, knows the race for survival is just beginning. As moving targets, he and Alexis must work together to learn the identity of the drug ring's murderous mastermind. But having killers on their tail isn't the only problem they face. Alexis's past as a disbarred lawyer could jeopardize Nick's political future. Only by putting their dreams and their safety on the line can they eliminate the threat to their town, and find a way forward together…