In my new release, Expert Witness, Sydney Berry is a
forensic sketch artist who is testifying as an expert in a murder trial. Unfortunately for
her, the defendant is a well-known businessman, but he also has ties to a dangerous gang. She puts her life on the line to testify because she refuses to back down to the threats.
I enjoyed writing the courtroom scenes and tried my best to
make them realistic but also entertaining. As a lawyer, a lot of my job is not
that glamorous. The mundane far outweighs the exciting. But have you ever noticed how exciting the law seems on TV? I
can’t help myself and love watching these shows even though I live the law
every single day. But I can tell you that the drama in the courtroom is much more prevalent on TV
than it is in real life. Which is one of the reasons I love writing legally themed books!
Do you enjoy legal TV shows? What are some of your
favorites?
Minutes after testifying in a murder trial, sketch artist Sydney Berry is almost killed in a drive-by shooting. United States Marshal Max Preston saves her life then whisks her away to safety. She's his first protected witness, and he'll do everything in his power to keep her safe. But Sydney doesn't want to hide from danger. She is determined to finish her testimony and put a killer away. With potential suspects coming from all corners, Sydney will have to trust Max with her deepest secrets—and her life.
Usually by September I'm ready for jeans, sweatshirts and cozy time on the couch. We had a rainy, mild summer, but the last few weeks have been hot and muggy. What can I say? Our weather gets confused. Anyway, I'm giddy for all things September, and yep, I've compiled a list in no particular order.
I took this photo last year in September--isn't the cardinal pretty?
1. My writing schedule evens out.
I write during the summer, but it's not as easy when the kids are out of school. Summer brings daily distractions in many forms. Fall and winter are great for my writing!
2. The leaves grow colorful.
I live in northern Ohio. The full color display really pops in October, but September hints at the yellows, oranges and reds on their way. So pretty!
3. Football!
I. Love. Football. Yes, I do. There's nothing better than a steaming mug of coffee while watching ESPN's College Game Day on Saturday morning. I root for University of Michigan's Wolverines, and I enjoy NFL, too. It's not easy being a Detroit Lions fan, but someone has to do it.
4. Fall sports.
We have two teens busy with fall sports. Saturdays usually mean cross country meets, and Sundays bring an afternoon baseball game. Fun times!
5. Sunday school.
I take turns with another woman teaching preschool Sunday school. The kids are so cute at that age, and I love spending an hour with them.
6. Birthdays.
My birthday and my son's birthday are in September. Double the cake. Ditto the ice cream. :)
7. Crisp nights.
When the weather starts to cool at night? Yes! I love that! But in another two months I'll be whining about winter...
8. Hearty food.
I enjoy cooking and baking. This is the time of year I cook chili all day in the slow cooker and bake an apple pie. Good stuff!
9. No holidays.
Yes, Christmas is my favorite time of the year, but it's really, really nice to get a break from holiday planning. No pressure to buy gifts, decorate, figure out costumes, fill a basket, etc... I'll take the mini-break.
10. My second book released this September.
This book is so dear to my heart. It's a reunion romance with a divorced couple, and the hero, Tom, finds out he has a child. The cover and blurb are below. It should be in stores all month, and it's available to order online.
*
His Surprise Daughter
After
five years apart, Tom Sheffield is shocked to find his ex-wife, Stephanie, on
his doorstep. The news that they share a child he's never met sends him
reeling. Four-year-old Macy has his eyes, his mouth and, from their first
encounter, his heart. Things with her mother are much more complicated. He
doesn't understand what went wrong between them or why she kept their daughter
a secret. And he's afraid of falling in love all over again. Yet he feels a
glimmer of hope that somehow he can convince Macy and Stephanie
to stay in Lake Endwell—and with him—for keeps.
Interested in purchasing Unexpected Family? Click HERE for purchase links!
*
About Jill ~
Jill
Kemerer writes contemporary romance novels with love, humor and faith. A full
time writer, she relies on coffee and chocolate to keep up with her kids’ busy
schedules. Besides spoiling her mini-dachshund, Jill adores magazines,
M&Ms, fluffy animals and long nature walks. She resides in Ohio with her
husband and two children. Jill loves
connecting with readers, so please visit her website, jillkemerer.com.
They are strange and beautiful creatures. Lady Amelia thinks she knows them well. After all, she's had no problems finding husbands for her clients and she prides herself on creating love matches. That means looking for attributes that will create a well-balanced, harmonious relationship.
Doesn't she look as though she's considering a husband-to-be right now?
It was fun thinking about what kind of man makes a good husband. While most of us agree a good man with a sense of humor, that can still be subjective. What one person finds funny, another finds boring.
I can't say I've ever matched anyone up, but I'd love to know if you have! Do you know anyone who played matchmaker? How did things turns out?
Listed below are the upcoming releases from
our talented Love Inspired Historical writers here at Craftie Ladies of
Romance. To purchase any of these wonderful books, just click on the book
covers. And to learn more about the authors, click on their names.
He has three months to find a wife-or lose his estate. Spencer, Lord Ashwhite, doubts he'll find a suitable bride among the ton, until the unconventional Lady Amelia Baxley agrees to provide a list of candidates. It should be an ideal arrangement, were Spencer not growing attached to the one woman Amelia refuses to consider as a prospect: herself.
Independence means everything to Amelia, who has been burned in love before. The charming marquis is quickly putting her entire life in turmoil, and controlling her stubborn heart has never been such a challenge.
But does the ever-practical Amelia dare to go from bride-finder to wife?
Minutes after testifying in a murder trial, sketch artist Sydney Berry is almost killed in a drive-by shooting. United States Marshal Max Preston saves her life then whisks her away to safety. She's his first protected witness, and he'll do everything in his power to keep her safe. But Sydney doesn't want to hide from danger. She is determined to finish her testimony and put a killer away. With potential suspects coming from all corners, Sydney will have to trust Max with her deepest secrets—and her life.
Interview:
Today we're
welcoming Sydney Berry, the heroine EXPERT WITNESS by Rachel Dylan, a September
book 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 am a forensic
sketch artist who is testifying in a murder trial against a well-known
businessman. He’s also got ties to a scary gang that is out to get me!
2. So,
during the book you met Max Preston. Tell us a bit about him. What was
your first impression? When did you know it was love?
Max left his
career as an FBI agent to become a U.S. Marshal and protecting me is his very
first assignment. My first impression was that he was smart, protective, and
handsome—maybe a bit too stubborn. I didn’t know for a while that it was love
because I was fighting it.
3. What
strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
As a sketch
artist, my strong suit is being able to draw. I love all forms of art. My greatest
weakness was the battle in my mind over my past.
4. What
scares you?
I used to be
scared about a lot of things, especially given my abusive past, but I
strengthened myself both physically and spiritually and it made all the
difference in the world.
5. If you
could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I’m finally happy
about who I am.
6.
Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?
I am strong
in my faith at the beginning of the story, but Max is not. I share my faith
with him, and it is a very meaningful experience.
7.
Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?
Even stronger
in my faith because even through all the threats on my life, the Lord was with
me through it all.
8. You've
got a scripture at the beginning of the story. Tell us why this scripture
is significant.
The LORD is my
light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the
strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1
This
scripture is significant because I’ve been through a lot of trying times in my
life, but I’ve learned that if God is with me, then I should not be afraid.
9. If you
could be a dessert what would you be and why?
A yummy
pumpkin pie. It’s the perfect fall dessert.
It's the end of summer and soon we'll be carving pumpkins and grabbing our fleece hoodie and warm boots. Let's have one last beach party! I'll provide the atmosphere and the sunshine if you bring whatever you'd like to eat and drink and your fun attitude. These last days of summer are shorter but still wonderful. Although I have to admit, I'm kind of ready for those crisp fall temperatures. But for today, come with me and let's enough the crash of the surf against the shore.
A nice walk in the wood near a swamp is always fun. Unless you hate bugs and spiders and snakes and gators, of course. :)
Nothing like the sky over water. It's always so soothing.
And who doesn't love a little romance on the beach. From Here to Eternity, anyone?
Or maybe just a hero who loves children :)
Gotta throw in some sand and sea oats and the sound of the surf.
And we can't forget palm trees. Hear the rustle of the fronds in that wonderful breeze from the water.
What about a nice stroll down an old street, the scent of jasmine wafting through the air.
A good summer read is mandatory for these last lazy days.
A great meal with a wonderful view. Can you smell those shrimp beginning to boil?
Tropical plants and cool drinks out on the deck.
And finally, the sun setting over the water. What a great day. Sleep peacefully and let your soul find rest.
This blog has been brought to you by God. His world is truly amazing and he doesn't mind sharing it with us at all. Hope you had fun. I sure did :)
My husband and I recently took a vacation in Europe. We visited Germany, Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. We flew into Munich where we spent two days. One of the highlights in Munich was hearing the Glockenspiel and watching the carved figures move around in the giant clock.
Notice the sounds of foreign languages mixing with the sound of the Glockenspiel.
From Munich we took a train to Passau, Germany, where we started out river cruise on the Danube. We did a lot of traveling by train, and most of the time it was a good experience, but the second leg of our trip to Passau was on a train without A/C. It was hot. We were expecting a relief from the hot Arizona temperatures, but the joke was on us as we encountered a heat wave. For the first dozen days of our trip, the temperatures ranged from 95 degrees to 102 degrees. The Cathedreal in Passau was my favorite church, and we saw a lot of churches.
Next we sailed from Passau to Linz, Austria. From there we took a bus tour to Salzburg, where we saw the place where Mozart once lived.
From there we stopped in two small towns along the river, Melk and Dürnstein. Melk has a beautiful Abbey that you see in the photo below.
Our next stop was Vienna. We were disappointed not to be able to go to an opera, even though I'm not a big opera fan, but we did tour the Opera House, that doesn't have performances in August.
Bratislava was next on our itinerary. It is the capital of Slovakia. Our guide gave us a very thought-provoking talk about the differences in life there after the fall of the Soviet Union. Here is an very interesting photo I took there. People actually got down on the ground to have their picture taken with this. Not me.
The last stop on our cruise was Budapest, my favorite city on our trip. We sailed in at night and had this spectacular view of the buildings all lit up. Here's a photo of the Parliament.
After the river cruise, we spent another week traveling on our own. We took the train from Budapest back to Vienna, where we spent another day checking out the things we missed. The heat wave finally broke, and we had a pleasant day. Here was an interesting sculpture that was right outside our hotel.
The next day we took a train to Prague. We spent two days in the rain there. It was not fun trying to sight see in the rain. St. Vitus church had magnificent stained glass windows. This is only one of the dozen photos I took there.
After two rain-soaked days in Prague, we made our way to sunny Berlin. We were there a day and a half. It's a big city and not nearly as interesting as the other places we visited, but it does have a few remains of the Berlin Wall, the most fascinating thing, for me, in the tour of the city. You can see there were actually two parts of the wall with a no-man's land in between.
Our final stop before heading back to Munich and our flight home was Fussen, Germany. The Neuschwanstein Castle is located near there. It is said to be the model for the castle at Disney World. What do you think?
The only disappointment was not being able to take photos inside. It has some beautiful painting on the walls and ceiling, and the woodwork was spectacular.
These photos are only a few of the over seven hundred that I took. We had an amazing trip. If you would like to look at more of my photos, you can see them on my Facebook page.
If you could take a trip to any place in the world, where would you go?
I'll be giving away a copy of my latest book, Nursing a Soldier's Heart, to one person who leaves a comment and an email address.
Does back cover copy play a role in your decision to buy a book?
If you're like me and many other readers, I have a hunch it does.
I'll pick up a book if its cover or title grabs me, but it's the blurb on the back that lets me know if the story is one I'd enjoy.
Writing copy is an important part of the publishing process. Some people have a real knack for it.
I think the team at Love Inspired does a super job with back cover copy. The copywriters know what readers are looking for in a story, and they focus on those elements in the blurbs they write.
As an author, I eagerly await the day the description of one of my books shows up on Amazon. That's generally the first time I see the copy.
Yesterday the back cover blurb for my March 2016 Love Inspired Historical, A Home of Her Own, appeared. I read it and cheered because the copywriters did a wonderful job capturing the essence of the story.
Here what they came up with:
A Blossoming Love
Becky
Martin knows that she can't stay at James O'Brien's apple farm forever,
but she wishes she could. After her brother framed her for arson, she
flees Chicago, traveling cross-country to California and finding work
caring for James's ailing mother. Beneath the apple blossoms, it's
almost as if she has a real family…but her secret won't stay buried
forever.
James, scarred from an explosion, didn't expect to
connect to the pretty young traveler. Could she really love someone
damaged like him? He knows she's hiding something. If only she'd trust
him. Can she let go of her past and believe in the possibility of a
future amid the apple trees?
Q4U: What back cover copy have you read recently that made you rush right out and get the book?
Can you believe that September has arrived already?!
This has been an eventful summer around our home, both personally and professionally.
In June my son proposed to the love of his life and they will wed this fall!
Also in June, two of my novels were recognized with The Word Award, one for romance, one for mysteries. And at that same conference, I had the privilege of rooming with and getting to know Kay Strom, former script writer for Murder She Wrote--super cool!
July brought the release of my 10th novel and my first visit to NYC and a Romance Writers of America conference. If that wasn't exciting enough, my new editor Giselle Regus joined me for the National Readers' Choice Awards, where Identity Withheld won the action/suspense category--against a slate of mainstream/non-inspy book--super cool!
I also got to attend my first...and second Broadway show. And...enjoy a ball at the Waldorf Astoria courtesy of Harlequin. Waaay cool!
August brought the COOLEST event of all...the birth of my 3rd grandson!
And I got the fun of having my four- and two-year-old grandchildren sleep over for a whole week. While the eventful summer didn't leave me a lot of time for writing, it definitely filled up my creative well and I'm looking forward to diving into a new story this very day!
...in between a trip to the pool with the grandkiddoes <wink>
How about you? What are your plans for the new month? Did you have an eventful summer?
Sandra Orchard is a multi-award-winning author of mysteries and romantic suspense with Revell Publishing and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense imprint. A mother of three grown children, she lives in Niagara, Canada with her real-life-hero husband and writes full time…when not doting on her young grandchildren. Subscribe to Sandra’s newsletter to receive a subscriber-exclusive mini-novella. Learn more about Sandra’s books and bonus features, as well as writer helps, at www.SandraOrchard.com or connect at www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard
Listed
below are the upcoming releases from our talented Love Inspired writers
here at Craftie Ladies of Romance. To purchase any of these
wonderful books, just click on the book covers. And to learn more about
the authors, click on their names.
After five years apart, Tom Sheffield is shocked to find his
ex-wife, Stephanie, on his doorstep. The news that they share a child he's
never met sends him reeling. Four-year-old Macy has his eyes, his mouth and,
from their first encounter, his heart.
Things with her mother are much more
complicated. He doesn't understand what went wrong between them or why she kept
their daughter a secret. And he's afraid of falling in love all over again.
Yet
he feels a glimmer of hope that somehow he can convince Macy and Stephanie to stay in
LakeEndwell—and with him—for keeps.
It's that time again, when we glimpse into the past of one of our Craftie Ladies. The first reader to correctly guess this month's author will receive a copy of said author's latest Love Inspired release.
Ready?
Here's your clue.
This is a picture of my son and me deep sea fishing in the Gulf on my stepfather's boat. Every summer Shaun and I would go to see Tony and my mother. A highlight of our vacation was always going out on the boat, fishing and spending time on the beach at Ship or Horn Island. My son still talks about those fishing trips. He loves to fish now and I think it is because of those times in Biloxi. Both Tony and my mother are dead, but I have such fond memories of time spent with them. Seeing this picture brings those memories to the foreground.
Yes, you may have seen this photo before. However, since we had no correct guesses, we're bringing it back. Do you know who this is? Watch for more clues throughout the day, then leave your guess in the comments to be entered in the contest.
It takes a certain personality type to be a writer. I sit at home all day by myself, spinning stories and drinking pot after pot of tea. I only have the internet for company most days, which isn't very balanced. I'm forced to get out and interact with real live people on a semi-regular basis, and I have to warn you: not a lot of social contact tends to breed a socially awkward woman.
I once spent a few weeks working on a deadline, and when I finally roused myself to go to the grocery store, I struck up a conversation with another woman at the egg case, which seemed entirely natural to me. I was starved for human contact. Who wouldn't want to discuss the chances of eggs being cracked in the carton? Then I caught the slightly panicked look on her face as she edged away. Oops. Sorry. I get like that when I've been cooped up for too long.
But then, like most socially awkward people, after chit-chatting with a friend or having a good visit with someone (an absolute necessity from time to time), I get this nervous feeling in my gut that I've said too much and sink back down into quiet solitude again. That's where novel writing comes in and soothes my soul. I can say as much as I like when I write a book, because it's fiction and a lot harder to nail down the vulnerable bits. ;) It's feels safer that way. People can buy their eggs un-accosted by lurking novelists.
It's okay to be different. My intense focus on things that interest me and mild social anxiety are actually an asset to my writing. The focus makes it possible for me to write entire novels in a matter of weeks. The social anxiety makes me more sensitive to the details in relationships around me. If I weren't as sensitive as a skinned grape in social circumstances, I doubt I'd notice half of it.
God put me together like this on purpose. I'm not a mistake. His hand didn't slip. I'm just... me. And you are put together the way you are for a reason, too. So be you with all the dignity and pride you can muster. And if you recognize yourself in me at all... maybe try writing book!
~~~~
A Hero for Her Son
When the baby he rescued seven years ago
returns—with his widowed adoptive mom—Deputy Fire Chief Matt Bailey
can't turn them away. Desperate to escape the reminders of his failure
in the line of duty, Matt is close to leaving town. But one look at
Rachel Carter and her son, Christopher, has him second-guessing his
plans. Rachel is a mom in need of a hero for her son. But as much as she
wants the two to bond, she's determined to keep her distance from Matt.
After losing her husband on the job, she promised never to love another
fireman. Yet somehow she finds herself drawn to the one man she should
avoid.
Deb Kastner here. If you read Love Inspired contemporaries on a regular basis, you'll know I enjoy writing cowboy heroes, cowgirl heroines--and all about their horses.I could go on and on about why I love
writing about horses in my books. In fact, horses often play large roles in the plot.
I’ve
been obsessed with them ever since I was a little girl. Every other year we
visited my grandfather’s ranch in Oregon (we live in Colorado.) You could
always find me out by the horses, and it was my greatest joy when I was allowed
to mount up and ride.I spent many summers at Camp Fire Girls camp in their trail riding
program. I even collected Breyer models. Horses are just so beautiful and
magnificent, not to mention intelligent.
We lived in the suburbs, which wasn’t conducive to owning a horse (not
that I didn’t beg…and beg…and beg…) so I read everything I could get my hands
on, both fiction like Black Beauty and Misty of Chincoteague and non-fiction
how-to-take-care-of-your-horse manuals.
By the time my younger sister Amy started begging for a horse, I guess
we’d worn my parents down enough. She was able to own a horse and boarded it
locally while participating as a member of the world-class Westernaires Drill
Team. She did everything from Roman riding (standing on two horses!) to trick
riding, eventually working her way into the coveted Red Team, the highest performance group of all.
Unfair, right?
Well, yes, but the Lord had special plans for Amy. She now runs a horse sanctuary (HappyHavenFarm.org)
for horses that would otherwise not stand a chance. I still don’t own a horse,
but I am blessed to be able to take trail rides with Amy.
And since I haven’t (yet!) been able to fulfill that lifelong dream--it's still on my bucket list--I do the next best thing. I write about them.
My next release, Yuletide Cowboys, which is a novella anthology with the wonderful Arlene James, will be available in stores October 20th. There are a team of beautiful black Percherons in the story--and a couple of mischievous reindeer.
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