Torn By Emotions

Missy, here. I have to admit I'm behind on scheduling blog posts for Mondays! I've dropped the ball, thus no post today. I'm sorry.

I'm in the middle of getting my son ready to go off to college, and I've been very distracted. He's my middle "child" so I've been through this before. But it's no easier this time around. I'm overwhelmed at moments with the thought of him possibly never living at home again. I'm excited for him because he's going off to live his dream (studying aerospace engineering at Georgia Tech), yet I'm sad.

Have you had moments like that where you're torn by two very different emotions?

Interview Healing Hearts

Interview with the heroine from Healing Hearts by Margaret Daley an August Love Inspired release.

1.  Abbey Harris, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

I train dogs in my spare time when not working as a social worker at the hospital.

2.  What do you do for fun?

Train dogs. I love working with them. My father is a vet, and I've been around animals all my life.

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

Balancing my checkbook and getting it to come out right.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

Losing someone important in my life again. My daughter's death threw me into a depression and changed my life forever. If it hadn't been for the Lord, my parents and my dog, Gabe, I don't know how I would have gotten past it. She will always be in my heart but now I'm helping others, especially people grieving.

5.  What do you want out of life?

To help others—it takes me away from my own pain and loss.

6.  What is the most important thing to you?

The Lord. He was with me through my daughter's illness and death and my husband walking out on my marriage.

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

I love to read but haven't had much time lately. I enjoy uplifting stories of any kind.

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

Each thing that has happened to me has shaped me into the person I am today so that's a hard question to answer. If I took one experience or aspect of me away, would that change me for the better or worse? I don't know.

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

I have several dogs and cats. My father keeps asking me to take care of strays that are left at his animal hospital. But one of my dogs, Gabe, is special because I shared my pain and heartache with him and he was there to listen.

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

I don't want to go back. I am living for the present.

FEATURED BOOK:Healing Hearts by Margaret Daley

Love's Healing Power  

After surviving a tragic accident, little Madison Winters is in desperate need of comfort. And social worker Abbey Harris has the perfect solution. With the help of her cherished therapy dogs, Gabe and Cottonball, Abbey soon coaxes a smile from Madi—and her workaholic guardian. Dominic Winters is heartbreakingly handsome and is hurting just as much as Madi. But it might take more than wagging tails to get the brooding businessman to open his heart. With the help of a matchmaking little girl and two sweet dogs, Abbey and Dominic may get a second chance at love. 

Caring Canines: Loving and loyal, these dogs mend hearts.

Ask Elnora--About being a princess? Lenora Worth

Hello, princesses and divas! I'm in a very good mood this morning. Maybe because I had a good week, writing wise. I have a new batch of stories to create, new books to write, new ideas to play with--and of course, all of these characters in my head who won't let me alone until I tell their stories.

I'm also very excited about the upcoming September release of my next Love Inspired Suspense--In Pursuit of a Princess. It's about a widowed American princess who has a lot of secrets. But a handsome photojournalist follows her around and decides he needs to find out those secrets. I enjoyed writing this story because I think deep inside we all have a little bit of princess in us.

And who doesn't love a handsome photojournalist?

That got me to thinking--If you were a true princess, would you use your powers for good or evil? Would you buy princess shoes or would you hide in your castle and read books all day? Would you serve your friends cupcakes and coffee or ice cream and lemonade? Or would you be the kind of princess who shunned fluffy girly stuff and went out to fight important battles?

I believe we'd all fight the good fight, even wearing our tiaras and pink shoes. Let's discuss being princesses. Who is your favorite fairy tale princess? I like Cinderella of course ;)) One shoe can change a girl's life, after all!

The History around You

Naomi Rawlings here today, and I'm wondering if you've ever paused to consider the history around you?

Every area has history, the town where you grew up, the place where you currently live, and even the spot on the map where your parents or grandparents were raised. 

Growing up, you were busy going to school, playing, learning to drive, and having your first date. You might not have paid too much attention to the history surrounding you (except for a boring class period or two where your history teacher touched on local history). But everywhere has a history--including your home town. Sometimes you just have to go digging for it.

Your current town or county likely has a historical society and possibly even a small museum about the area's history. And archives (often located in the same building as the local library) are filled with old newspaper clippings, government documents, and even some handwritten notes.

So who first settled the area where you live? Why was it settled?

I live in northern Michigan near Lake Superior, and Native Americans were very active in our region, mining copper. That same copper then brought European settlers to the area in the mid 1800s as mines grew bigger and became more industrialized. The largest mass of copper ever to be discovered was pulled off the river that runs through my home town. The copper mass is currently at the Smithsonian, though no longer on display. Furthermore, the region where I live supplied almost all the copper that the Union Army used during the Civil War.

So my town has a lot of interesting local history, but I bet your town has a story that's equally as interesting. Have you visited any local historical sites? I'd be thrilled if you shared some of your local history in the comments below.

*****

A mother of two young boys, Naomi Rawlings spends her days picking up, cleaning, playing and, of course, writing. Her husband pastors a small church in Michigan’s rugged Upper Peninsula, where her family shares its ten wooded acres with black bears, wolves, coyotes, deer and bald eagles. Naomi and her family live only three miles from Lake Superior, where the scenery is beautiful and they average 200 inches of snow per winter, and she is looking forward to the release of her next book, The Wyoming Heir in January 2014. For more information about Naomi, please visit her website at www.NaomiRawlings.com.

I'm so excited!

Click to find out about my TWENTY-FIFTH book!

Fun Times with the Craftie Ladies at RWA 2013

HI Everyone!!! Debra Clopton here and I'm sharing photos of me and all the Craftie Ladies at RWA 2013 in Atlanta. We writers spend endless hours alone typing away with our imaginary friends and so it is always wonderful to go to conference and see our fellow writer friends. Even if its in small segments as we all scurry around meeting our appointments and keeping up with our individual schedules. I've been working non stop on several deadlines and so though I was working some while I was at conference it was a real blessing to replenish my well with good friends and laughter! You'll see me smiling a lot and using exclamation marks lol. Above is me and Debbie Kaufman we are at the Rita Award Ceremony. We are sitting in between our husbands and it was nice to hang out together.

Here I am after the Rita Awards with Allie Pleiter, Me, Lenora Worth, Debby Giusti, and Janet Dean we're all smiling. Don't they all look fantastic!

  We had to get our picture with Rita Nominee Missy Tippens--who was all smiles even though she didn't bring home the beautiful golden lady she's still looking like a gorgeous winner--which to be nominated makes her and all the nominees winners to me!

 And what great fun it was to hang out with Lisa Mondello who is no longer posting with us but who will always be a Craftie Lady!

And here I am with Winnie Griggs, loved seeing Winnie!

I saw many other Craftie Ladies but didn't get pictures so I hope you've enjoyed the ones I did end up with. If you'd like to see more of the Literacy Booksigning please hop over to my blog debraclopton.com here is the link to the post http://bit.ly/1cBtt9O While you're there sign up for my monthly contest and win a book! Also check out my latest book A Bride for All Seasons (a novella collection with Margaret Brownley, Mary Connealy and Robin Lee Hatcher) or pre-order my ebook novella An Ever After Summer

http://amzn.to/16tQyIF

Fatal Inheritance Interview

Today we're welcoming Joshua Rayne, the hero of Fatal Inheritance, written by Sandra Orchard, an August 2013 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.
My name is Joshua Rayne. My friends call me Josh. I live in the rural outskirts of Serenity in southern Ontario, Canada. I’m a police officer so it was only natural that I’d try to catch whoever is harassing my new neighbor.
2. Yes, tell us a bit about your new neighbor Becki Graw. What was your first impression? When did you know it was love?
First impression? I guess I’d have to say it was “wow”. She’s all grown up. As for love…I’m not so sure. The sparks, the attraction were definitely there from day one, but I’ve been burned before so I don’t give my heart away easily. I love simple rural living and didn’t want to fall for someone who didn’t share the same values. I knew Bec did as a kid, but a lot can change in fifteen years.
3. What strengths/skills do you have? What is your greatest weakness?
I’m a good cop, maybe care a little more than is wise sometimes.
4. What scares you?
At the moment, the thought of anyone getting to Becki Graw.
5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
I wouldn’t have run off to the military after my girl dumped after high school graduation. Not that I don’t appreciate what I learned there, and the friends I made, but I should never have left my dad like that. He needed me here on the farm. By the time I came back it was too late.
6. Where are you in your faith at the start of your story?
My faith is very important to me. I go to church. Help out wherever I can. Always try to do the right thing.
7. Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?
I came to realize that one area of my life I wasn’t ready to trust God in was finding a wife. I had this mental checklist that my future wife would meet, and didn’t give myself a chance to get too close to any woman who fell short. But as my sister pointed out, you don’t fall in love with a checklist of ideals. You fall in love with a person, with all her faults and differing opinions—the way God made her to be. And you trust God to help you make it work, because relationships get messy no matter how many boxes on your checklist you’ve ticked.
8. What is the one thing you would never do?
Live in the city. At least not if I could help it. I lived a lot of different places during my military stint, but my heart is in the country.
9. What’s your greatest fear?
Marrying the wrong woman. My mom left my dad when I was in high school. Couldn’t stand living out in the boonies any longer. It killed him to lose her.
10. What is the most unusual thing about you?
I guess it’s that I have a habit of taking in whatever stray comes my way. At the moment that includes a three-legged dog and a bird with a broken wing.
11. What do you hope people will learn from your experience in this story?
Men should learn that you can never figure out what a woman wants. I thought I was being respectful by not chasing after a woman who cuts out on me, but my sister told me that sometimes that’s exactly what they want, to prove we love them. Love them enough to risk rejection again! And I’m telling you, if you really love her, you’ll be glad you did.

FEATURED BOOK:FATAL INHERTIANCE by Sandra Orchard

“YOU DON’T BELONG HERE.” 

Someone wants to stop Becki Graw from claiming her inheritance. Police officer Joshua Rayne is just as determined to keep his beautiful neighbor safe. She may not be the tomboy Josh remembers, but she’s just as stubborn. Becki is intent on keeping her grandparents’ remote farmhouse-no matter the danger. Becki’s feelings for her childhood crush may be rekindled, but she’s seen too much to risk opening her heart. As the threats against Becki escalate, the list of suspects grows longer. Josh must convince Becki to trust him with her heart-and her life-before a madman ends their chance at happiness…permanently.

Ask Elnora--About climbing that mountain??? Lenora Worth

Hello, my craftie friends. Long time, no blog. But I'm back and ready to talk writing. I've scaled a few mountains since the last time we chatted. And almost fell off of one of them. The hike up another one in hiking boots with cement embedded in the leather. Okay. that's what it felt like to my two big toes which kept hitting the tip of my boots on both the going up and the coming down moves. I have bruised and battered toes to prove it and I'm not sure I'll ever wear real shoes again!

But all that climbing got me to thinking about how we climb mountains every day in our work and in our lives. We put one foot before the other one and we just go. One thing I've learned in this business--you have to learn to write through anything. You have to find that next breath to scale that hill that looks too high. You have to climb over the obstacles that hold you back, the rocks full of doubt and the deeply buried roots of frustration and fear. We have to push away any despair or weariness because we want to reach that summit. And when we do reach the top of the mountain, we find a sight so lovely we realize it was worth the effort after all.

Big D and I searched for waterfalls. We found several that took our breaths away. Hurt feet and all!

On our last day of mountain adventures, we took a long drive through a place called Roaring Fork. Ironically, we found the most beautiful spot I've ever seen in the quiet beauty of a deep-woods forest. We didn't have to climb to find that spot. We drove right through it. 

This is a good lesson for life. We fight to make that climb when sometimes all we have to do is push through and walk right into the spot God has placed there for us to find. I scaled lots of mountains a few weeks ago, both physically and in my head. One day, I'll explain how my adventures on the mountain mirrored my adventures in my work, too. Life is always full of amazing surprises. If we only wait to find them! Have you ever experienced a mountain-top moment?

Allie Pleiter on Discussion Questions

Questions about Discussion Questions?

These days, it seems you can’t open the back of a book without finding discussion questions.  It’s no doubt book groups are a big trend, and us authors are often asked to create discussion questions along with our manuscripts. I had to whip up a batch just today (gosh, they sound like brownies when I put it like that, don’t they??)

I have mixed feelings about these questions.  I have been in great conversations launched by discussion questions.  I have been in arguments...ahem...heated discussions sparked by discussion questions.  I have books where I never even glance at them.  

Now, some of this variation may stem from the fact that it takes very little to get me started talking about books.  I discuss books by nature; I don’t need a nudging list of inquiries.  Just this morning a friend and I had a long conversation about books that touched us.  But I spend a lot of time thinking about books.  Probably more than your average person.  Maybe not.

What about you?  Do you utilize discussion questions?  What do you think of such “added features”--especially in fiction works?

Oh, now, look at me--I just asked a “discussion question,” didn’t I?

Dogs Are Special

Dogs Are Special

By Margaret Daley

Actually more than dogs are special. I love animals, but today I'm going to write about dogs because I started a Love Inspired series called Caring Canines. The first book is out in August called Healing Hearts. The second book in the series will be out in December called Her Holiday Hero.

In Healing Hearts I use a black Lab and a bichon as therapy dogs. The black Lab, Gabe, helped the heroine, Abbey Harris, deal with the grief of losing her daughter and her husband divorcing her. The bichon, Cottonballs, helps Madi, the hero's little sister who had been in a place wreck and lost her parents. Not only does Cottonballs help her with her grief but also she is there to help the little girl focus on her physical therapy when she wants to retreat into her shell.

While researching this book and Her Holiday Hero about a vet with PTSD, I was in awe with the types tasks therapy and service dogs can be trained to do. With my vet with PTSD, trained service dogs can wake a person up before a nightmare gets into full swing. They can calm a person down with their presence and sharp sense something is wrong and step in right away. They can sense when a panic attack is going to occur and try to calm the person down.

Working as a teacher of students with special needs, I encountered a couple of service dogs. One named Franklin helped a student who was in a wheelchair while another was involved with a blind student. Have you ever encountered a therapy or service dog? Do you have a dog? What is your favorite breed? I used to have a bichon named Cottonballs. Wonderful, loving dog. Perfect to help a little girl, hurting.

Small-Town Mom Interview

How exciting to have Jamie Glasser, the heroine from Small-Town Mom by Jean C. Gordon, a July release from Love Inspired Romance.

1.  Jamie, tell me the most interesting thing about you.

My job, I guess. I’m a labor and delivery nurse for a midwifery practice in the Adirondack Mountains of Upstate NY that does a lot of home births.

2.  What do you do for fun?

Things with my kids. Sledding in the winter. Bike riding and swimming in the summer. For several summers, I was the camp nurse at a Christian camp on Paradox Lake that my kids go to. I really enjoyed and miss that now that I work full-time, year round. And, for myself, I bowl in a local mixed league. Although I’m not sure how much fun bowling will continue to be since Eli Payton, U.S. Air Force retired and my son’s guidance counselor joined our team.

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

Going through the rest of my husband’s things at the house. He was killed serving in Afghanistan. I did get rid of the Miata that he’d had since we were dating, which started another conflict between my teenage son and me, since he and his dad were going to restore it.

4.  What are you afraid of most in life?

Losing anyone else who I love.

5.  What is the most important thing to you?

My family. At one time, I would have said my family and my faith. That was before I lost my husband.

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

With work and the kids, and running back and forth to the school to meet with Eli about my son’s latest escapade, I don’t have much time to read. I used to like light, uplifting romance novels for their happily-ever-after endings. Now, they seem like a big lie to me.

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

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

We have a Golden Retriever named Scooby. I got him for protection since my late husband was deployed out of country so much of the time, and we live in a fairly secluded area. While he’d probably lick an intruder to death, a big dog of any type is often enough to make many people keep their distance.

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

I want to say, back to when I was 18, before my late husband joined the Army. But then, I wouldn’t have my kids. They’re the world to me. Nor all of my friends in Paradox Lake, including the often-irritating Eli Payton. So, I’ll say I don’t really know.