Homecoming Blessing

Jean C. Gordon here. No matter what my story, all of my books seem to have coming home or finding home as an underlying
theme. This week we have our own family homecoming theme. My daughter and son-in-law and family are returning home after working for a year in Guam -- she as a midwife at a public health clinic and he for a USDA/Guam Department of Agriculture program to encourage sustainability farming.

The younger generation has already arrived, tired but happy, along
with their lab mix Mr. Buttons. Our daughter and son-in-law are expected tomorrow. A new family member, Zori (pictured to the right) is coming with them. Then, on Thursday, yet another new family member, Appa (with Mr. Buttons on the beach) is coming. Stray dogs are a big problem on Guam, and our family has done their part to help relieve the problem.

So, I'm feeling very blessed that we'll soon all be back together at Tinhorn Farm.

What has you feeling blessed this week?

We at Love Inspired were Inspired by our Fathers

When it came to us kids, my dad, Herb Chelikowsky,  was a man ahead of the times. In an era when school award events, plays, etc. were presented during day because most mothers were at home and could easily come, Dad would also come whenever he could manage it. He worked a rotating shift-work schedule, so he was often able to come with Mom. Many times, he was the only father there. And he truly enjoyed the programs because he loved kids. He was a Boy Scout leader and Little League Football coach. I'm sure he would have volunteered to help with my Girl Scout troops, if they would have let him.

Jean C. Gordon 

My father often had a bunch of giggling girls in our station wagon.  He'd be driving us to Skateland.  Soon, he'd bring the whole vehicle to a stop.  My friends would say, "What are you doing, Mr. Tracy?"  He'd point to a sign on the side of the road.  He'd say, "That sign says Stop Ahead.  So…" and at this point, he'd look around before continuing, "...I'm looking for a head to stop."  
Albert Tracy always wanted to make my friends - and especially me - smile :)
Pamela  Tracy

Albert Tracy and Pamela

Bill Jacobs, on Diamond, 1970
Louise's Dad

One thing I remember about my father is that he learned how to ride a horse after he turned 65. He'd retired from the newspaper business and bought a photography studio in Colorado, where many of his pictures would be shot among cowboys doing their work, of tourists on guided camping trips, and in the rodeo arena. So why not learn to ride a horse? He even bought a horse of his own and took long rides that made my sweet mother a little nervous. I've always admired his never-say-die courage. I miss you, Dad. 
Louise M. Gouge
 

One of my favorite things about my father is his laugh. It's big and boisterous when he really gets going. So, Daddy, I'm thinking of you this Father's Day, hoping you're having lots of love and laughter!
Missy Tippens

I don’t think my dad ever said a bad word, nor did he talk bad about anyone. In fact, when he was in a group and someone started talking bad about a someone, he’d always bring up something good about that person. He was a trucker and my love of reading and writing came from him. He read my first story, which was about a trucker, for accuracy, and said I got it right—giving me the encouragement I needed to keep at it. I miss you daddy.                                                                                               Janet Lee Barton

My dad was a hard worker. He was a farmer so his day usually started before sunrise and ended at sunset. But dad was also a man who loved playing a board game call Wahoo with his family. In the evenings, after super and baths my family, dad, mom, my little brother and myself would play Wahoo. I can still see his smiling face and eyes dancing with merriment as we played. I miss you daddy but am so happy that I will see you again in Heaven.                                                                                   Rhonda Gibson

My father is amazing in his devotion to family and most of all our mother. One day I remember looking out from the second story window and seeing that dad was mowing my mom's name-Lisa- in great big block letters in the grass as he cut the lawn! Now that's a memory that I'll cherish always! 
Dana Mentink

My dad loved people and people loved him. He never knew a stranger. He worked as a salesman for years. He could sell anything because he related to people. Folks used to come into the store where he worked and ask for him because they’d heard about his effervescent personality. He was such a good salesman that he won a gold-plated derby and a cash prize for being the top sales person in his department. Even though he wasn’t a tall man, he was bigger than life to me. One of my favorite memories from my childhood is standing on his toes while he danced me around the room. He died when I was only twenty-four, so I’ve lived more than half my life without him. I still miss him, but I know I will see him in heaven one day.

 Merrillee Whren

  My father was a farmer. He worked hard for very few rewards. He'd sit on the front porch and stare out at the fields across from our house, his blue eyes vivid and as wide open as the sky. I often wondered when I saw him doing that if he was dreaming of things he'd never be able to attain. He raised seven children on a small salary. We lived off the land--vegetables, meat, chickens and eggs, whatever nature could supply. I didn't realize we were poor until the other children at school pointed it out. It took me a long time to appreciate all the sacrifices my father made for us. Now when I think about him, I can see him in that old rocking chair on the porch, his face as weathered and craggy as the plowed ground that sustained him. He's in heaven now. Probably farming the land up there. :)

 Lenora :)

My dad was the youngest of ten children, and probably because of that, he was a big tease. He loved making people laugh. He also had a servant's heart and
literally gave a man his suit coat once when the man complimented him on it. When he was in the navy, he sent his paychecks home to his elderly parents, who were 45 and 47 when he was born. He loved to buy us treats and cook meals for family and friends. He played the trumpet for over sixty years, including a time when he played on street corners with the Salvation Army. What we put on his gravestone sums him up pretty well: ornery, kindhearted, joyful servant. Dad's in heaven now, but that doesn't stop me from wishing him a happy Father's Day.
Vickie McDonough

Vickie's Dad

Friday Sisterhood with Terri Reed

Family Status: Married with two kids (21 and 17)

          What Is Your Favorite Beverage: Izzy's Tangerine 

What Is Your Favorite Food: Pizza-Marguarita style

What Is Your Favorite Thing to do During Free Time: hang out with my kids

Who Has Been the Most Influential Person in Your Life: Hmmm, that's a tough question. There have been so many influential people over the years.  The person that started me down the road of writing toward publication was my creative writing college professor who told me I should be writing for Harlequin.  I was twenty, and though I'd heard of Harlequin, I thought he was nuts.  Me a writer?  I never forgot his words and when I decided that I did want to become a writer I sought publication with Harlequin.  

First Book You Fell in Love With:The first book I remember falling in love with is A Tale of Two Cities by Dickens.

A Book You Wish You’d Written: Les Miserable by Victor Hugo

First Book Published: Perfect Love, a novella published by Barbour Publishing,  Love Comes Home my first full length Love Inspired

Most Recent Book:Undercover Marriage, book six in the Witness Protection continuity series

Out Next: Danger at the Border, book one of my own series titled Northern Border Patrol

How Many Have You Written: 31 

What Do You Know Now That You Wish You’d Known Then: That writing the book is only half of the job.  

What is Your Favorite Bible Story:The story of Esther

What is Your Favorite Bible Verse: Proverbs  3:5-6

What is Your Favorite Hymn: Amazing Grace 

What is an Ongoing Prayer Request You Have: That God would bless my writing and be a blessing to Him

Lessons from Dad

Christine Johnson here today. As Father’s Day approaches, my thoughts turn to my Dad. I’m blessed that he is still around and able to give me advice. He has always been a great role model with his strong work ethic, honesty and willingness to try what others would dismiss as too difficult. For instance, he began racing vintage cars when he was in his 70s. That’s him buckling into his race car.

Lately my Heavenly Father has been showing me that I have been limiting things unnecessarily. I thought a tight writing deadline could never be met. He showed me that with Him all things are possible. (paraphrased from Matthew 19:26) I didn’t think I could step into a helicopter even though my husband desperately wanted to go on the tour. God nudged me to do it. What a wonderful experience. My jaw literally dropped wide at the beauty of His creation from above. 

Some of the many lessons learned:

-          Don’t listen to naysayers (including that voice in my head)

-          Take a chance

-          Step out in faith

-          Love those God places in your life

-          Greet each day with a smile

I am blessed to have such great fatherly examples. What has the father figure in your life taught you?

In July’s Groom by Design, the first book in The Dressmaker’s Daughters series, three sisters are worried about their father’s failing health and the family’s floundering dress shop. They decide to take matters into their own hands by propelling one of them into marriage with a well-to-do gentleman who can rescue the family business and get their father the life-saving treatment he needs. First up is Ruth, the oldest and shyest sister, who for some reason has drawn the attention of the handsome—and clearly well-off—new man in town.

Christine Johnson

Groom by Design – LIH, July 2014

Suitor by Design – LIH, October 2014

http://christineelizabethjohnson.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChristineJohnsonAuthor

Twitter handle: ChristineJWrite

Old News is Good News

By Keli Gwyn

I'm a newly contracted Love Inspired Historical author smitten with the Victorian Era. I live in the heart of California's Gold Country, where I set my stories.

My historic town of Placerville is home to the state's oldest newspaper. The Mountain Democrat harkens back to 1854.

 
When I began writing my historical romances and delved into research of the area, I learned that our local library has the Mountain Democrat on microfilm dating back to the paper's earliest issues. The day I made that discovery, I felt like I'd hit the Mother Lode. 

 

After a quick refresher in how to use a microfilm reader--a skill I learned in the Dark Ages when I was in high school--I spent several blissful hours scrolling through issues from the 1870s. Time stood still as I jotted page after page of notes.

I set my stories in actual Gold Rush-era towns. By reading the advertisements, announcements and articles in the old issues of the paper, I'm able to add real people, places and events to my stories. 

 

My perusals of the paper have yielded some great finds. I've learned where businesses were located and what they sold; when special events such as balls, concerts and benefits took place and who provided the entertainment; and what first and last names people in this area had in that era.

I'm starting a new story, so guess where I'll be spending some time? Yes. Parked in front of the microfilm reader at the library reading the Mountain Democrat and learning even more about this wonderful area I'm blessed to call home.

❤❤❤

Have you ever used a microfilm (microfiche) reader?

What fun facts have you learned from reading old newspapers?

Something Different

I'm Vickie McDonough, and this is my first post to the Craftie Ladies blog. I'm very excited to be here. People who are familiar with my western romance novels will be surprised to learn that I have a contemporary suspense coming out. Of the thirty books I've had release to date, only two have been contemporaries, and while many of my books have some suspense in them, none of them fit the suspense genre.

Rancher Under Fire releases in September. I never planned for this novel to be a true suspense book, and as a result, I had to do major edits on the story for it to please my editor. I found it hard to keep the tension coiled tight and to keep the action moving. I came to truly appreciate writers who can pen suspense after suspense while keeping their stories fast-paced and interesting. Margaret Daley, one of my best friends and critique partner, is the queen of writing intriguing chapter hooks, which make you have to turn the page to see what's happened. I'm back working on a historical set during the Oklahoma land rush days and in my comfort zone once again.

As a reader, do you have a genre you prefer? Do you tend stick to that genre or do you read others too?

Rancher Under Fire - Jackson Durant would go to any lengths to protect his young daughter and his ranch. He knows the puzzling incidents on his

homestead are no accidents. Someone is after him…but who? And

why? Reporter Mariah Reyes is determined to find out. She never

expected her pursuit of a story on the reclusive rancher would

endanger her life—nor that she’d fall for the cowboy. But when

Jackson’s daughter is kidnapped, she’ll do anything to help save

the little girl—even if it means becoming a target herself.

It Started With Family

Hi everyone, Janet Lee Barton here.
Over the years I've found all my stories are about families or groups of friends who become family to each other. It's the same with my Boardinghouse Betrothal series for LIH. With Mrs. Heaton's guidance, her boarders become friends and family to each other.

My mother came from a large family. She was the oldest of seven children and the youngest of her siblings is only seven and a half years older than I am, born a year and a half before my older sister. The women in my family can all talk at once and keep track of all the conversations going on around us. I'm sure many of you can relate to that. It's something most women are good at.

So what a joy it was when my ninety-two year old aunt, her two daughters and their husbands, and one of their son's and his wife, came through on their way to a wedding to visit with us going and coming this past month. It reminded me once again why I love writing about families and friends. The closeness that is always there no matter how long we go between visits and the fun of it all. Sweet memories to share are such a blessing.

This is my sweet aunt on her great nephew's lap with five great nieces surrounding them--so  precious.

And we found that downsizing doesn't mean you can't have company. We had 24 over for supper on their last night, back through. All you have to do is let them help themselves, have an expanding dining table, a patio for the men to get away from all the noise of those conversations, and a living room to take the overflow!

What a blessing this family is to me! I love being able to  draw the closeness into my writing!

Look for the 3rd book in the Boardinghouse Betrothal series coming in September.

Elizabeth's story in: A Home for Her Heart

Undercover Marriage Interview

Craftie SUSPENSE interview:

Today we're welcoming US Marshal Josh McCall, the hero of Undercover Marriage, written by Terri Reed, a June 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 US Marshal out of the St. Louis office. About six months ago my current partner and I began investigating a series of kidnappings involving babies that are then sold through an adoption agency. We’re close to taking the kidnappers down, but they’ve escalated their efforts to thwart us.  

2.  So, during the book you met Serena Summers.  Tell us a bit about her. Serena’s brother, Daniel, was my partner until someone murdered him.  His killer has never been found.  Serena blames me for not being there to protect Daniel. I blame myself as well. 

What was your first impression? I liked Serena a lot when we met years ago. She’s fun to be around and very smart. But after Daniel’s death, she froze me out. When did you know it was love? Wow, that’s a good question. It didn’t really sink in that what I felt for her was love until I almost lost her.    

3.  What strengths/skills do you have? I’m good at my job. What is your greatest weakness? Blind loyalty.          

4.  What scares you? Losing someone I love.

5. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be? My childhood.  It was not good.  It left me feeling very ashamed.

6.  Where are you in your faith at the start of your story? I believe in God but am unsure if He loves me.    

7.  Where are you in your faith at the end of the story?  I know that God is with me always and will never abandon me.

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

Philippians 4: 12-13 speaks to learning how to be content no matter what the circumstances are and it is Christ’s strength within me that makes contentment possible. 

9. If you could be a dessert what would you be and why?  I would be my grandma’s version of Mississippi Mud Pie. Chocolaty mousse goodness with gooey marshmallow and a crumbly cookie crust, smothered in rich chocolate sauce. Why? Because it’s my favorite sweet treat.

FEATURED BOOK: UNDERCOVER MARRIAGE BY TERRI REED

THE BABY MISSION 

An illegal adoption ring—using kidnapped babies—has to be stopped. To gather the necessary evidence, U.S. marshal Serena Summers goes undercover—as a married woman desperate for a baby. Her "husband" is her own partner, U.S. marshal Josh McCall, whom Serena blames for her brother's death. How can she act like a loving wife when she has to constantly fight her feelings for a man she isn't sure she can trust? The closer they get to unraveling the dark web of deceit, though, the more being Josh's undercover wife means putting her life—and future—in his hands. 

Witness Protection: Hiding in plain sight

Friday Sisterhood with Winnie Griggs

Family Status: Married with 4 grown children

What Is Your Favorite Beverage: Hot spiced cinnamon tea with honey.  It not only has that comforting feel I always get from tea, but it has a little kick as well.

What Is Your Favorite Food: My momma's crawfish stew - nothing like it!

What Is Your Favorite Thing to do During Free Time: Read, of course!

Who Has Been the Most Influential Person in Your Life: My mother.  She's not only been a great role model in the way she's lived her own life, but she always encouraged her kids to follow their dreams, not matter how 'out there' they were.

First Book You Fell in Love With: Trixie Belden: The Secret Of The Mansion

A Book You Wish You’d Written: Simple Jess by Pamela Morsi

First Book Published:What Matters Most (published by Leisure Books) 

Most Recent Book: Lone Star Heiress (Love Inspired Historical June 2014) 

Out Next: Her Holiday Family (Love Inspired Historical, Nov 2014)

How Many Have You Written: Her Holiday Family will be number 17

What Do You Know Now That You Wish You’d Known Then: That it doesn't get any easier with subsequent books.  Pouring your heart onto a page is always hard work, but it's totally worth it.

What is Your Favorite Bible Story: The story of Ruth.

What is Your Favorite Bible Verse: Jeremiah 29:11  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future".  It is such a comforting, hopeful promise.

What is Your Favorite Hymn: It Is Well With My Soul.  Not only is it a beautiful hymn in and of itself, but the story behind it always touches something deep inside me. 

What is an Ongoing Prayer Request You Have: I always appreciate prayers on my children's behalf.

Scrivener groupie

My name is Carolyne Aarsen and I am disorganized. Very disorganized. In fact I came to the computer right now to print off some old phone bills because I'm doing bookwork I should have done over a month ago and when got here I remembered I had to do this blog post. So here I sit, typing when I should be printing and entering and balancing. My desk is a mishmash of notes and reminders and quotes that I like. I've got a wedding invitation I have to reply to, a book of passwords I have to update, my cameras that I have to load the pictures from onto my computer. Okay, I'm getting dizzy just writing this. Trouble is my writing has often been the same way. Pictures of characters would litter my computer's desktop along with clips of scenery. When I was working on a manuscript I would have a dictionary open in one corner, a stack of other documents holding pertinent information like my synopsis, character sketches, writing examples, notes for this particular story, story lines for the other stories if it was an ongoing series and a host of other related research documents. It was a disaster. I managed but always with an element of panic in the background.

Then I discovered Scrivener. It took a few courses and a few tries but this program became my lifesaver. All those bits and pieces of information are now right at my fingertips without leaving the program. Here's a screen capture of my most recent project - the third in a new series of books that will come out in 2015.

I have a closer view, in the picture below of the left side of the screen. All along this part of the program are all the chapters from my current book listed in order. Above those, are all the other books in the series, collapsed down. If I want to access them I just have to click the triangle beside it and they all show up like the manuscript I have now. Right now I'm on the second scene in Chapter Seven of the third book, it's highlighted in grey. I can get to any of the other scenes with a click of the mouse. 

On the opposite side of the manuscript, the yellow side I can make notes to myself for each scene that don't go into the manuscript. I can set up different colours for different points of view, I can access my research, my character sketches complete with photographs, my synopsis, the timeline for all the books or for this particular book all within Scrivener. I can make a snapshot of my work and, if I make a lot of changes and want to revert back to what I had, all I have to do is find the snapshot I made and all the work is right there, just as it was. I can add pictures of my characters and get a meter showing that tells me how far I am on my goal for the day and my total manuscript goal. I can do a word search for frequently used words. (my characters sigh a lot, and frown apparently) And I can open a window that will give me name suggestions for my characters. 

All this is only scratching the surface of what this program can do. Scrivenr has saved my bacon many a time with this new series. I love it and can't say enough good about it. And you don't need to use it just for writing novels. It also works well for papers and any type of writing that requires access to multiple files. When I'm done, I choose which documents I want to export, hit compile and all my files are now exported to a Word Document for me to finish editing and send off to my editor.

So if you'e the disorganized type, you might want to give it a try. There are numerous courses out there for Scrivener. The one I took was from Gwen Hernandez - here's a link to her next course - http://gwenhernandez.com/scrivener-corner/scrivener-training/scrivener-online-classes/

Here's where you can buy it: http://www.literatureandlatte.com/scrivener.php

I get nothing for doing this. And neither do the Craftie Ladies. I just want to share my enthusiasm for a program that has made such a difference for me in my writing. Has taken away a lot of frustration and saved me acres of time in terms of hunting for stuff that I Knew I Had Somewhere. You can try it for free or you can buy it and dive in. Either way, consider it. You'll be glad you did. 

And now, I have to go look for a phone bill so I can finish ...... um.....what was I doing again?