More Than Christmas Lights

When I was a little girl I always looked forward to the night our family would pile in the car to go for a drive to see the Christmas lights. We’d wander all over SE Portland, but we would always end up at one particular street near Mt Tabor just a few miles from our house. I don’t remember the name of the street, but we called it Candy Cane Lane. This cul-de-sac included about 20 houses all on one side of the street with a park on the other, and it ended with a large turnaround. Every house on Candy Cane Lane was decked out with twinkling lights and Christmas figures in the yard. One house even had Santa’s sleigh and eight reindeer on the roof. Sometimes residents dressed up in elf costumes and passed out candy to the kids in the cars. We always loved that!

But my favorite part came when we reached the turnaround where a live nativity had been set up. All the cars would slow down as they drove past to look into the stable and see Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus in the manger. We’d roll down our windows and listen to Away in the Manger or Silent Night playing in the background.

I loved visiting Candy Cane Lane…because even amid all the colorful decorations and twinkling lights the true meaning of the holiday was not forgotten. Looking into the manger and seeing the baby there made a deep impression on my heart, and I still cherish Him today. . . Jesus the True Light of the World.

“Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.” John 8:12

Carrie Turansky is the author of ten inspirational romance novels and novellas, including her latest, Snowflake Sweethearts. www.carrieturansky.com

Snowflake Sweethearts Interview

How exciting to have Annie Romano the heroine from Snowflake Sweethearts written by Carrie Turansky, a December 2012 release from Love Inspired Romance.

1. Annie, tell me one of the most interesting thing about you.

I love to cook for friends and family, and that’s one reason I decided to become a personal chef and start my own business in Fairhaven, Washington. Experimenting with new recipes and serving a special meal to friends brings me a lot of joy.

2.  What do you do for fun?

I enjoy spending time with my six-year-old daughter Emma. We like reading aloud in front of the fire, baking cookies, and taking walks to the park. Recently I’ve been learning to ice skate. That’s been a fun adventure, because I’m not too athletic, but the special man in my life, Alex Jameson, has been teaching me, and that makes it fun. I can’t wait to try it again with Emma.

3.  What do you put off doing because you dread it?

Balancing my checkbook and working on taxes rank up there right next to having a headache and stomach flu. I do not have a head for numbers, so I am very thankful to share that side of the bakery business with Alex.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

I’m afraid that I may not be able to give my daughter the safe and happy childhood that she deserves. Being a single mother is often challenging and I’m tempted to worry about the future. I’m thankful that I’m learning more about trusting God and opening my heart and life to others so they can become the family and friends that we need.

5.  What is the most important thing to you?

Taking care of Emma and making sure she has everything she needs emotionally, physically, and spiritually is very important to me. Being her mom is a blessing, but some days I feel like I might not have what it takes to be a good mother. But since I’ve been staying with Irene, she has really boosted my confidence and been like mom to me and a grandma to Emma. I am very thankful for Irene’s friendship and encouragement.

 

6.  Do you read books? If so, what is your favorite type of book?

Oh, yes! I love to read cookbooks and also inspirational historical romance.

7.  If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

Sometimes I wish that my family situation growing up could have been different. My father left my mom and me when I was young, and that has always been a painful reality for me. But that longing for a father was one of the reasons I became a believer in Jesus when I was in college. Knowing my Heavenly Father loves me has been a balm to my heart and met some of my deepest needs.

8.  Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

Emma and I would love to have a pet. I hope when we get our own home we will adopt a cat or dog that needs a home and a lot of love. That would be fun for Emma and help her learn more about responsibility.  

9. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I’d love to travel back in time and meet my grandparents and other family members in Italy. I’ve heard so many wonderful stories about them, and I wish I’d had a chance to get to know them. Maybe I’d learn some secret family recipes I could use at the new Jameson’s Bakery Café too!

Featured Book: Snowflake Sweethearts

Bringing her daughter to the one place she feels safe, single mother Annie Romano returns to Fairhaven, Washington. Though hoping to start a new life as a personal chef, Annie accepts a different job. Alex Jameson, the handsome man she secretly loved as a teenager, needs a live-in caregiver for his ailing grandmother. A big-city workaholic in town temporarily, Alex doesn't seem to realize how much he needs family—or love. But the holiday season, his grandmother's matchmaking friends and one fatherless little girl start pulling at both Annie's and Alex's heartstrings. Just in time for the most special Christmas ever.

Visiting Downton Abbey - Beautiful Highclere Castle

Hi Friends, Carrie Turansky here, sharing some fun memories from our recent trip to England!

My husband Scott and I spent a wonderful week touring country villages and back roads in Oxfordshire, the Cotsowlds, and the Peaks District. We rented a car and my brave husband drove over 400 miles sitting in the driver's seat on the wrong side of the car and driving on the wrong side of the road! But he considered it a challenge and handled it all very well. What a great sport!

Touring Highclere Castle where the TV series Downton Abbey is filmed was the highlight of the trip for me. Walking through the front door and into the double library where so many scenes have been shot was so exciting! I almost expected to see Carson and hear him announce me to Lord and Lady Grantham. We toured all through the ground floor and the next floor up, which is called the first floor there, peeking in the bedrooms and wandering down the hallways. My favorite room was the great hall, which is called the saloon. The high arched celiling with the carvings and large fireplace are so lovely. I felt like I was stepping back in time to the Edwardian Period.

This was a research trip for me. My next book, The Governess of Highland Hall, is set in England during the Edwardian Period. It's the first of a three-book series that will follow the Ramsey family of Oxfordshire from the years 1910 to 1919 including WWI. Like Downton Abbey, the story captures the viewpoint of both the hard-working servants downstairs, and the wealthy, distinguished family upstairs. Of course it includes romance, faith, family struggles, and a delightful dash of history.

Until next fall when the Governess of Highland Hall releases, I hope you will be looking for my latest Love Inspired title, Snowflake Sweethearts! It's a sweet and inspiring holiday romance set in Fairhaven, Washington and inclues the four senior-age ladies known as the Bayside Treasures who love to play matchmakers for their friends and family. Snowflake Sweethearts is available in eBook format now here: http://bit.ly/OUjGB.  It will be available as a paperback in stores and online after November 13th.

For more info about my books please stop by my website:  http://www.carrieturansky.com

Are you a Downton Abbey fan? If so, are you eager for Season 3 to start in January? Who is your favorite Downton Abbey character? 

Honoring Dad:

Hi Friends, Carrie Turansky here, wishing you a belated happy Father’s Day. For some of you I’m sure it was a fun, family day, celebrating with the dads and granddads in your life. But for others it may have been a bittersweet day as you look back and wish for a better relationship with your father. None of us had a perfect father. Our dads are human and no matter how much they loved us, they still made mistakes, just like we do. I hope you will extend grace and forgiveness toward your dad, and then focus on those special memories that highlight his love and unique place in your life.

I’m blessed with many happy memories of my father, Bob Swain. Dad was born in 1920 in a small town in Oregon and grew up during the Great Depression. His parents taught him how to be thrifty and work hard. He got his first job at age 12, cleaning classrooms at his elementary school. He went on to graduate from high school and join the Army, fighting in the Pacific during WW2. From those years he learned to appreciate his friends, family and life back home. After the war he married my mother and took on the role of husband, father, and faithful provider for our family. My dad always made me feel safe and loved. I know I had a special place in his heart, and I enjoyed being his little girl.

No matter what your relationship was like with your dad, you can enjoy a deep and satisfying relationship with your Heavenly Father. He loves you deeply, and He invites you to be part of his forever family. He is always available to you—only a prayer away. His commitment to watch over you and care for you never changes. What a blessing to have a Father like that!

Here’s a cake I made for my husband, Scott, in honor of Father’s Day and his birthday which was also this week. It’s an angel food cake, sliced horizontally, filled with white chocolate pudding and sliced strawberries and blueberries. It was delicious and enjoyed by all.

How did you spend Father's Day? Can you share a special memory you have of your father? 

New Kid on the Block: Carrie Turansky

Hi Friends, Carrie Turansky, here.

Pamela asked me to share a little about my writing journey and how I came to join the Craftie Ladies Blog….So here it goes.

I started writing fiction in 1997 after our family returned from spending a year in Kenya. We had some fantastic experiences, and I thought I could relieve those by writing a story set there. I poured out my first novel in just a few months. It was sort of an international romantic adventure suspense missionary story. I had written articles and devotionals and papers in college, but I’d never written fiction…so I had a lot to learn.

I worked on my writing alone for about three years and completed three novels. Then I emailed an author I admired, Elizabeth White, and asked her for some advice. She encouraged me to join a new group, American Christian Romance Writers. That was in 2000, and they had just started their email loop. I was one of the first 100 members, and there are now over 2500 aspiring and published authors in ACFW.

Becoming a member of ACFW opened many wonderful doors for me. I found a mentor, met my agent, and future editors there and best of all I met many other authors who have become dear friends. My first book was published in 2005 with Barbour, and my first Love Inspired was published in 2006. I’ve written four more LI novels and have also continued writing for Barbour. I’ve had nine books published and one more is contracted with Love Inspired. I’ve written by historical and contemporary.

This year I’ve really stepped up my efforts to reach out and connect with readers. I started an email newsletter last April. I wanted to team up with some other authors to do some more blogging, so I asked Missy about joining Craftie Ladies, and she helped connect with everyone here. I love the variety of posts and the fun connections I’ve made already.

Thanks for welcoming me. I look forward to blogging and commenting and joining in the fun here!

I love to connect with other authors and readers through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and my website: http://www.carrieturansky.com/.

A Man To Trust Interview

How exciting to have Adrienne Chandler, the heroine from A Man To Trust, written by Carrie Turansky, a March 2012 release from Love Inspired Romance.

1. Adrienne Chandler, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

My parents are missionaries in Kenya, and I was raised there. I don’t usually tell people that because they ask me crazy questions like, “Did you live in a grass hut?” Or, “Are the people there really cannibals?” I get tired of that, so we have to be good friends before I share that part of my past. The other thing that’s interesting about me is that I’ve played the flute since I was eight, and I hope to play with a symphony orchestra sometime soon. I had to put that dream on hold while I helped my grandmother manager her Christian bookstore. But I’m training a new manager, Ross Peterson, so I hope to find and open position and audition soon. Say a prayer for me!

2. What do you do for fun?

I work full-time at Bayside Books, and I spend time practicing my flute each day. But I do enjoy going out to dinner, movies and concerts with friends. I also like to shop in downtown Fairhaven, Washington. That’s the lovely historic section of Bellingham. All the shops are locally own and very unique. I love living in Fairhaven.

3. What do you put off doing because you dread it?

I put off calling my parents in Kenya, even though I know I should call them more often. Sometimes it’s just too painful because it reminds me that we are oceans apart. It’s easier to exchange emails and not have to hear their voices. I came to the US to attend college over six years ago, but I still miss them very much. Isn’t that weird. You’d think since I miss them I’d want to call, but I put it off and try not to think about how homesick that makes me feel.

4. What are you afraid of most in life?

I suppose I’m most afraid that after all the time and effort I’ve put into developing my skills as a flutist I won’t be good enough to secure a position with a symphony orchestra. What will I do then? Who will I be if I don’t play professionally?

5. What do you want out of life?

I’d like to live a meaningful life, one that pleases God and helps others. And I’d like to find a man who is truly worthy of my trust and love to share that life with me.

6. What is the most important thing to you?

I used to think the most important thing in life was pursuing my music career, but I’ve discovered that my relationships with my friends, family, and Ross, mean more to me than my music. Not that my music isn’t important, it is. But it’s a gift from God that He’s given to me to enjoy and share with others. My relationship with Him is becoming more important too, and that’s bringing a lot of peace and joy to my heart.

7. Do you read? If so, what is your favorite type of book to read?

Yes! My grandparents opened Bayside Books over twenty years ago. Since my grandfather died, I’ve helped my grandmother manage the store. I love Christian fiction, especially historical romance, women’s fiction, and contemporary romance.

8. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I wish I had more courage so I could let go of the past and not be afraid to try new things in the future. That would also help me have more confidence to reach out to others and use my gifts in new ways.

9. Do you have a pet? If so, what is it and why that pet?

I don’t have a pet now, but when I was younger I had several soft and loveable bunnies. They make great pets and are sweet and cuddly.

10. If you could travel back in time, where would you go and why?

I would go back to my high school days when I lived in Kenya. I’d take Ross with me so he could see Africa, meet my family, enjoy the beautiful people and the amazing wildlife, and hike through the Rift Valley with me.

FEATURED BOOK: A MAN TO TRUST BY CARRIE TURANSKY

After years spent helping run her family's Christian bookstore, it's time for Adrie Chandler to give her own dream a chance. But can she really trust the beloved shop to new manager Ross Peterson? The man is too handsome, too charming…too much a reminder of another dream Adrie had to let go of—marriage.Yet Ross surprises her by knowing a thing or two about making sacrifices. Suddenly, Adrie's questioning what she really wants. And whether the dreams she once thought unlikely are within reach after all.

Signs of Spring!

Hi Friends, Carrie Turansky here, writing to you from chilly New Jersey.

When I'm not writing I love to work in my flower gardens. I've been watching the bare trees and brown grass, longing to see them start to turn green again. I have seen a few signs of spring in our yard, and I thought I’d share those with you. We’ve had a mild winter here. And our early spring flowers have popped up and bloomed two or three weeks earlier than usual.

The first to bloom are the snowdrops. These perky little white and green flowers made their appearance in late February, and we still have a few blooming by our back door.

Next come the daffodils and then the tulips. I love these signs of spring. They always remind me that God is in the business of bringing new life. And after a long cold winter we can look forward to warmth, sunshine, and beautiful color again. I know in just a few weeks my whole garden will be bursting with blooms and I can't wait to see it. Take a look at the photo below left from last spring.

One of the other signs of spring is the arrival of my new Love Inspired novel, A Man To Trust, which arrived in stores just a few days ago. The pretty peach toned cover looks like spring, and I think it will give readers a hint of the promise of spring for my hero and heroine.

What’s blooming in your garden? Tell us where you live and what signs of spring you’ve seen in your neck of the woods.

_______________

Carrie Turansky is the award-winning author of 9 novels and novellas. She loves to connect with readers through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and her website: http://www.carrieturansky.com/

FEATURED BOOK: SEEKING HIS LOVE BY CARRIE TURANSKY

Since losing his wife and child, widower Cam McKenna has tried to avoid children. But when he must temporarily care for his niece, Cam opens his home. With no idea how to relate to a fourteen-year-old girl, he seeks the advice of the new Christian Youth theater director. He's touched when Rachel Clark gives his niece a scholarship—and teaches him a thing or two about teens…and love. But why is Rachel so secretive about her past? The truth threatens their fragile relationship yet promises to bring them closer to each other—and the Lord— than either dreamed possible.