FEATURED BOOK: THE BRIDAL SWAP BY KAREN KIRST

The heiress Josh O'Malley has courted by mail is on her way to Gatlinburg, Tennessee, to become his wife. His dreams are coming true, and together, they'll create the family he's always wanted. But when the stagecoach arrives, it's not his intended who exits, but her sister, Kate!She came to end her sister's engagement, but with her duty completed, Kate Morgan is in no hurry to leave. She can't help but like the beautiful mountain town…and her sister's would-be groom. If only Josh would realize that his dream can still come true—and love can be found where least expected.

Ask Elnora--About that Blarney Stone??? Lenora Worth

Happy St. Patrick's Day Eve, my little leprechauns! I hope you enjoyed our Irish tale yesterday. Don't you love a good tale? Writers are supposed to be good storytellers and these off-the-cuff stories are so much fun, we can't resist diving right in to see what will happen next. That got me to thinking about why a writer becomes a writer. Does it begin with a love of reading, or does it begin with a love of spinning tales? Which came first, the book or the need to write a book? I remember clearly when I knew I wanted to be a writer. It was in the fourth grade back in Georgia. My teacher was stern and prim Mrs. Braswell. She scared me to death but I learned a lot from her. When she assigned a writing project, I gleefully worked on mine while the other students whined and moaned. I wrote about a little deer lost in the woods and then I added some poetry and a few pithy quotes. One of those Elnora quotes read "And all that jazz." Mrs. Braswell called me up to her desk and said, "You might make a good writer if you apply yourself." (This would be the quote I got from teachers every year after that.... "You might be ..... if you'd just apply yourself.") Could Elnora help it that I was more interested in shoes and boys than math and science and .... research papers??? But back to Mrs. Braswell. She then asked me where I'd heard "And all that jazz." I stared down at my hot pink loafers and scratched my teased hair. "I don't remember." I truly did not. Then she looked at me through her cat-eye glasses and said, "It's a bit too risque for a fourth grader. Please erase it." And so I did even though I had no idea what risque meant. But ... I love all that jazz. I still do. I love jazz music and the Delta blues, too. Never one to be sad for long, I wrote romantic short stories and promptly sold them one by one on the playground for a quarter per story. I always had extra milk money. And when Mrs. Braswell heard of my shenanigans, she just shook her head and kept walking. So I guess I have a bit of the blarney in me. But then, don't you think all writers should? We have the gift of words, the gift of spinning tales out of thin air. It's the gift of waking up and sitting straight up in bed with the best idea ever for a story!!! Until we try to execute that idea. But then, that's part of the fun and magic of writing. We truly have to find that pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. (Rainbows are kind of like a story arc, right??? So let's discuss. How and when did you know you wanted to be a writer? Do you have a bit of blarney in you??? In those beautiful lyrics by Eleanor Farjeon, we can find some of the answers we seek: Morning has broken, like the first morning, Blackbird has spoken, like the first bird, Praise for the singing, praise for the morning, Praise for the springing fresh from the word. Amen!

Reader and Author St. Patricks Day Round Robin Short Story

Hello from Lisa Mondello! It's been a while and I'm so happy to be here today to kick off what I hope will be a lot of fun for the Craftie Ladies AND for our Readers! Yes, that's you!! And to give one lucky commenter the chance to win a $15 gift certificate!

We get so much response from our readers about how much they love our short stories here on the Craftie Ladies blog. Last Christmas we had our first round robin story that included READER participation and we had a BLAST! We thought it was so much fun that we'd do it again for St. Patrick's Day so we could share some more fun.

Now, for this to go smoothly, we need a few ground rules to let you know exactly how this ROUND ROBIN STORY will work.

We are doing a 1 DAY short story where the Craftie Ladies AND our readers can each write a 140 character addition to a short St. Patrick's Day story that I will start at the end of this blogpost.

I will start the story at the bottom of the post to get you all started. It's up to the Craftie Ladies AND our readers to fill in the rest of the blanks. This story will start at Midnight and keep on going until we get our HEA (Happily Ever After) at Midnight on the 15th...or beyond since we're all in different time zones. We'll be having fun so it won't matter when it ends!

As a special thank you to our READERS who participate in the short story round robin, the Craftie Ladies will be giving away a $15 Amazon gift certificate. So don't be shy! We want you to jump in feet first and participate. We know there are a lot of fans who lurk on this blog, who read posts but don't comment. Well, today we want to hear from you!

Okay, back to rules. I will start the story at the bottom of the post. YOU will read my post and you can take the story from there by adding to it in THE COMMENTS AREA. Take the story in whichever direction you want to take it. Again, this will go on ALL DAY TODAY (And into the wee hours if you're posting from around the world) and by the end we'll have an entire story.

So...the rules!

1. Read the posts at the bottom of this blog AND in the comments area.
2. Add a few sentences about what happens next. (Just a few sentences will do.)
3. Keep coming back to see what everyone else adds so you get the whole story and keep adding to it!
4. Please, no comments about how much fun you're having or WOW what's going to happen next. Just add to the story so we call can all read the story straight down until the end.
5. At the end of it all, we can comment about how much fun we had.

It's meant to be fun. It's meant to make us all laugh in between all the hustle and bustle of daily life and book deadlines. Please join in. All are welcome to join in so make sure you post on Twitter and Facebook so your friends will come and join us!

Without further ado...

Deep in the heart of Boston, Eric O'Malley flicked the lights on to the pub that shared his name. The place was ready for the St. Patty's Day scavenger hunt. But there was only one Pot of Gold Eric was interested in finding by the end of the evening.

Book Trailers

As a reader, do you like watching them?

As a writer, do you like using them to show case your novel?

I would answer yes to both of those questions. I love the idea of having such a visual representation of a book. I find that if I watch the book trailer before I’ve read the book it can be a pretty powerful draw to get me to read the book and after I’ve read the book I find I have an even deeper appreciation for the book trailer. So today I thought I would discuss some of the imagery from my book trailer for Highland Hearts.

But first, I have to mention the music. Just like in any movie or television show, music sets the mood. It can take you on an emotional journey. Here is the link so you can watch my book trailer for Highland Hearts before we talk about it any further. As you’re watching it pay attention to how the music makes you feel and try to figure out what each picture means.

http://evamariahamilton.com/

Thanks for coming back J I’m not going to talk about every picture in detail because I don’t want to give too much away, but I will state that every picture has significance in the book.

The landscape pictures are all of Scotland. Most notably when you read the words “The Battle of Culloden is over” that picture was taken in the area where the famous Battle of Culloden took place in 1746 and the waterfalls are straight from the first scene of the book, Bracklinn Falls in Callander, Scotland.

Also, the pictures that look like an enormous old church are of Glasgow Cathedral. And therein the pictures of the blue stained glass windows and the one which reads “Just to lead me to the knowledge I gained tonight” are actual windows in Glasgow Cathedral.

So what do you think the rest of the pictures signify? I’ll leave you with one more – the picture of the thistle at the end – the thistle is Scotland’s national emblem. It has significance to the country’s history because as the legend goes it stopped barefooted invaders from sneakily attacking when they stepped on them :)

WHAT WILL YOUR LEGACY BE?

Sandra Orchard here

With the release this month of Shades of Truth, the second novel in my Undercover Cops series, I've been thinking about legacies. That's because the heroine in my book is battling to preserve her father's legacy at any cost.

Legacies can take many forms. It could be an example of a life well lived, of faith that remained steadfast through life's storms. Or as in the case of my novel, the faith-based youth detention center that the heroine's father founded.

My mom's lovingly knitted articles are part of the legacy she left her children and grandchildren.

Being a romantic suspense writer, I fondly refer to this pair as my hero and heroine mascots, and the cavalier fellow below is my dastardly villain.

In my March release, Shades of Truth, the heroine battles to save the youth center her father founded, and discovers villains aren't always what they seem.

Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan's mission: ferret out who's recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won't tell Ethan anything, even when she's threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.

Your Turn: What kind of legacy have your parents or grandparents left you, or are you leaving for your loved ones?

Check out my contest for readers HERE

25th Wedding Anniversary

Terri Reed here, in 2013 I'll be celebrating my 25th Wedding Anniversary. My husband asked me tonight if I'd given any thought to what or where we should go to celebrate. We've been saving up air miles and he's been accumulating hotel reward points. So with the whole world to choose from I'm having trouble narrowing it down. Do I want to go to Europe--Italy, France, Germany? Do I want to go to Scotland, Ireland and Whales? Do I want to go to Australia, Greece, or the Virgin Islands? Do I want to go exploring in castles and museums?Ride a bike through countryside? Or go to the outback, lay on a beach, hike a mountain? Do I want to scuba dive or relax by the pool? Help! There's too many choices.

Anyone have suggestions? Tips? Fun and exciting and romantic places you've been to that you can recommend?

My next book comes out in June. Here's the cover. Isn't great? The art department did a wonderful job of capturing my image of the hero and heroine and the lighthouse.

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.

Ask Elnora--About Oreos and Kraft Macaroni and Cheese??? Lenora Worth

Hello, my little cookies. Elnora has had a rough few weeks but I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Or rather the shoes at the end of the shopping aisle. No, I haven't even felt like shopping! The horror! I have, however, cruised the Internet and admired some of the new spring fashions. Even a bad back can't keep a girl down for long. Next week, it's more doctors and some injections and then we'll see if things improve. But enough about pain. Let's talk about Oreos. You know this year is the 100th anniversary of the Oreo cookie. And it's also the 75th anniversary of Kraft Macaroni and Cheese. Two of Elnora's major food groups. When I was much younger and didn't have such a bad back, I used to enjoy staying up with my husband and our friends all night, playing cards and eating Oreos. Yes, that was considered an appetizer in my house back then. I have been known to eat a whole bag of Oreos. And not gain a pound. Darlings, those days are so over. Now I don't dare bring an Oreo into the house for fear of gaining a pound by just having one of the tempting little things nearby. But I do so love to twist those cookies apart and ... I always eating the creamy one first and save the pure chocolate half for last. And who can resist macaroni and cheese? I know the boxed kind is not so healthy, but on a bad night when you're staring into that dark cave called a pantry and nothing is shoutiing out at you, a box of mac and cheese can save dinner! Maybe even save your marriage. So let's talk about comfort food! And have you tried those delicious fudge-covered Oreos? Or the white chocolate covered Oreos??? Really good on a regection or revision day!!!Really good when your back is hurting and you have a serious deadline. (Okay, Elnora does occasionally go to the store and buy a bag or two, even now.)How will you celebrate the marvelous Oreo? Do you eat it all at once, dip it in milk or coffee, or twist it in half and savor each bite? Or maybe all of the above? What is your favorite cookie? What is your favorite mac and cheese recipe??? Do you love your macaroni and cheese with black pepper on top? Or maybe a little nutmeg? Now I'm hungry again! Let's dish!

Write Off the Deep End

Sandra Orchard, here, filling in for your regularly scheduled program. ~grin~

Pay attention. There will be a test. There will be prizes.

Shades of Truth has officially released and it should be in stores by the weekend!!!

What does that have to do with writing off the deep end?!

Allow me to introduce my fellow Wodians. So named for our writing group: WODE--which stands for Write Off the Deep End.

Readers and writers alike often ask me about my writing process. These ladies are a big part of it. Once a month we get together to offer each other feedback on what we've written or to brainstorm new story ideas.

The group "found me" a few years ago after my RWA magazine was delivered to the wrong house. (Divine redirection!) The recipient was so excited to find another writer in our community that she hand-delivered the magazine and invited me to the next WODE meeting.

She has since become a treasured critique partner. On my own blog a few months ago I shared the grocery store murder discussion. That was with her. :)

In honor of the positive impact WODE has had on my writing career, I used the "word" WODE in Shades of Truth.

Your mission, if you choose to accept it, is to find the location and email me the page number (and book version) by midnight June 1st. :) In June, I will draw from a hat the name (of all correct answers) and they will receive a $25 gift certificate for their favorite book retailer.

Your Turn: Do you have a special friend or group with which you share a common interest or hobby or pursuit?

Allie Pleiter on Pen and Paper

I’m a gadget gal, no doubt about it.  I just got an iPhone, have had laptops and iPads and Kindles and all those good things.  I think technology is cool.

There are tasks, however, where only a pen and paper will do.  In some situations, a keyboard would feel wrong to me, prove cumbersome or distraction, or just seem out of place.  Here’s what I mean:

Interviews:  While I do admire the audio recording capability of many of today’s cell phones, I would never pull out a keyboard during an interview.  Most of my interviews involve meeting with experts to research my books or interviewing yarn shops for my DestiKNITions blog.  I feel like a keyboard ruins the conversational atmosphere.  I also tend to draw circles around things, star important points, or draw lines between bits of information when I interview, so pen and paper work for me.

Conference note-taking:  For many of the same reasons, I like to attend workshops with pen and paper even though I see lots of other people pulling out an iPad.  I draw a lot on learning documents--circles, lines, all kinds of things--to show relationships between information.  On a purely selfish note, I often knit while I listen and while I can write with one hand (while the other is holding the yarn and needles) I can’t type.  So, even if it means retyping my notes, I’d prefer the initial draft to be with pen and paper.

Journaling:  I’m a very fast typist.  My fingers can keep up with my brain on a keyboard much better than when I write long-hand.  I think, however, that such speed is the reason why I prefer to journal on paper. I want to go slow.  I want to think hard about my words, to ponder things rather than spit them out onto the page quickly.

In short, while I love technology, I’m not about to give up pen and paper.  What’s my choice of those?  I admit I’m rather picky about such things, and here are my favorites:

Staples ARC line or Levenger CIRCA line

Pilot Precise V5 Rolling Ball pen

How about you?  What are your favorite work tools and why? 

The Power of Three

Hi everyone!

I just loved the previous post about springtime. Such beautiful photos!  I'm looking out at beautiful sunshine, the temp here in eastern Iowa is an incredibly balmy sixty degrees, and all I want to do is grab my boots, go out to the barn and saddle a mare for a looooong ride. Usually, it's still cold and snowy this time of year! This is Tucker in the photo, though he is now in  Kentucky. I need some new photos of the gals out in the barn!

  But, I'm being a Good Girl,  sitting at my desk.  :)  And actually, it's fun to be inside as well, because thanks to my friends, I've got some ideas for my next books!

Have you ever found that a little extra brain power can make all the difference? Two of my writing friends and I meet at least once a year at a hotel for an intense brainstorming marathon.  The energy that flows between us, the evolution from a sketchy idea to a book idea that takes on form and substance, is exciting.  Each time we do this, we each come away with material for a series that can be developed more fully at home.  Whether during my life as a writer  or when I still held a day job, it has always helped so much to hear feedback and fresh ideas!  Finding the right mix of the personalities makes all the difference, too.

How about you?  Do you prefer to "fly solo" or do you like having a chance to "borrow a little brain power" from your co-workers or friends  when working on a new project?

Wishing all of you blessings this coming month!

Roxanne Rustand
www.roxannerustand.com
(The All Creatures Great and Small blog)

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/

Shades of Truth Interview

Today we're welcoming Ethan Reed, the hero of Shades of Truth, written by Sandra Orchard, a March 2012 release by Love Inspired Suspense.

Wow, you've just had quite an adventure.

1. Tell us a little about yourself and how you came to be in the midst of such suspense.

I’m a police detective from Toronto. The Niagara Regional police chief needed an officer to secretly come in from outside their force to work an undercover operation that might implicate one of their own. Since I’d recently been shot in the line of duty, it was easy to feign the desire to quit and move into a quieter line of work (i.e. a counselor at Hope Manor, a faith-based youth detention facility in Niagara).

2. So, during the book you met Kim Corbett. Tell us a bit about her. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?

Kim is an amazing woman. If I’d had someone like her championing me when I was a teen, I would have turned my life around a lot sooner. She’s as loyal as they come. She genuinely believes in people and wants the best for them and will do anything to help them reach their potential. I love how she isn’t afraid to stand up to me. I love her refusal to give up on the kids at the manor. I love that she trusted me enough to let me do my job even though it threatened everything she’d worked for. Early on I started wondering what it would be like to be loved by a woman like Kim, but it took me a long time to admit my feelings.

3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?

I’m good at my job as a cop, a quick thinker, but some would say I’m reckless. I guess that’s because I don’t value my own life over another’s.

4. What scares you?

Messing up. I don’t want to see another person get hurt because I didn’t do what I should. If only succeeding on this mission didn’t mean destroying everything Kim’s trying to protect.

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

My last day of school the year I was 16. My actions that day cost too much.

6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?

I believe in God. I’m happy enough working to get bad guys off the street. It’s the least I can do, considering what my mistake cost Joy. I’ll do whatever I have to do to deserve her forgiveness.

7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story? I finally believe that God can forgive me anything, does forgive me, and I’ve finally forgiven myself.

8. You've got a scripture at the end of the story. Tell us why this scripture is significant.

“The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.” Isaiah 65:17b reminds me that God doesn’t look back and neither should I.

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?

A Rice Krispie square. Easy to take anywhere. Never falls apart. Plain, but good. Never get tired of having them. Can fancy it up with Christmas sprinkles on top.

FEATURED BOOK: SHADES OF TRUTH BY SANDRA ORCHARD

Big-city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan's mission: ferret out who's recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won't tell Ethan anything—even when she's threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.

15 Years--Can You Believe It?

What do all three of these covers have in common? (See blog title above for clue:-)





Well, of course they all feature the logo, Celebrating 15 years. That's right, 15 years ago this fall, the first Love Inspired romances were released.

I wasn't among the authors that first year, but my first Love Inspired, titled Never Alone, debuted in June of 1998. It was #30. They've stopped numbering them evidently, but I feel privileged to have been part of this wonderful line's debut.

Can any of you remember what the first Love Inspired Romance you read was and by whom?

Or would you like to share the Love Inspired Romance that you remember the most?

I'm sure this September the Craftie Ladies will think of something to celebrate this milestone with you. If you have a suggestion, please let us hear it.

BTW, Lenora-Elnora is traveling so I filled in for her today.

And 2nd BTW, one of my E-books is free on Kindle this weekend.

Click http://amzn.to/yEcxwU to download Autumn's Shadow. (I would offer a Love Inspired romance but I don't have a new one out till November this year.)




So share what you love about Love Inspired Romances.--Lyn