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Thursday, March 30, 2017

#ThursdayThoughts Guest Post by Elizabeth Honaker

Good Morning Friends,

Whew, it is good to be home! I absolutely love to travel but it's always nice to return to the roost LOL!


Today's guest is another brand-new-to-me author brought to us by Prime Star Publicity, so please welcome Elizabeth Honaker.....


Elizabeth Golibart Honaker hails from Sparta, Tennessee, where she teaches writing support and English at Motlow Community College. Her undergraduate degree is in Liberal Arts, and her first MA is in Theology. This has given her the breadth and scope to write over fifteen full-length passion plays in the last twenty years – seven of which are in print with others being prepared for publication – as well as dozens of shorter scripts, short stories, and poems on Christian topics. Her first historical fiction novel, Come Before Winter, was published in 2014. In that same year, she completed her second MA in English and Creative Writing (Fiction) at Southern New Hampshire University.

When she is not writing or tutoring, she spends her time devising new home projects for Allen, her husband of 45 years. She also enjoys communicating with her two wonderful grown children and buying (and making) trinkets for her four lively grandchildren. She is passionate about sharing Christ, missional activities, and her local church. She also loves gardening, sewing, piano playing, and Star Trek as time permits.


You can connect with Elizabeth on her Facebook page, Bread of Life Facebook page, her blog The Interpreter's House and on LinkedIn

Now let's see what Elizabeth has to share with us today....

A Cup of Significance

            The very essence of Christian drama is action, and the vehicle for that action is the Word of God. Both are essential in trying to convey meaning to an audience that – perhaps – has heard the Gospel message numerous times. But there is a third component, which God, in His grace, bestows on the earnest performer: significance.
            By this, I do not mean a sort of spiritual “feel-good” mentality – although many, many performers under my direction have testified to it (and that is a good thing). I mean the little signs and wonders that God gives to affirm that He is present in the toil and sweat of the production – the equipment, the costumes, the scenery, the props, etc. I will offer you one example, though there are many.
            A remarkable thing happened the year that Mel Gibson showcased his The Passion of the Christ (2004). I had written a play entitled Truth and Light, focusing on Jesus and his interaction with  Pontius Pilate and Pilate’s wife Claudia Procula (this is her traditional name; the Bible does not mention it), and the pre-production tasks were going badly. There were seemingly-endless problems: not enough actors, weather-delayed rehearsals, costume issues. One Saturday, my husband and I spent an entire afternoon in a large crafts store searching for the right sort of material for Pilate and his missus; I have to confess that, though the props were still missing key items, I was more distracted by my upcoming sewing tasks. My forward-thinking husband, however, suggested that he explore the store for one item that we both considered crucial: Pilate’s cup (you’ll see why in a moment). As I was waiting in line for fabric cuts, he showed me a rather unique vase that we both agreed would be perfect as the aforementioned cup. We bought it and used it in rehearsals.
            Just before Easter, I was feeling extremely depressed: as soon as one problem was solved, another one arose to take its place. We had just finished one disastrous all-day dress rehearsal on a Saturday and we definitely needed another before the “big presentation.” To take my mind off of the potential “flop,” I bought us Sunday afternoon tickets for the Mel Gibson movie; soon, husband, daughter, and I were ensconced in theater seats on a Sunday afternoon. It sounds crazy, but I thought it would take my mind off my own troubles.
            But it didn’t. As soon as the opening credits started, I couldn’t help feeling envious of the resources and collateral that Gibson and his cast and crew obviously had, when I struggled to buy the simplest things for our troupe. I really shouldn’t have felt that way – because, deep down, I knew that this movie and my humble play were both offering people Christ’s life-giving Water – but I did. And then it happened: significance. For there, on the screen, was the very same “cup” (just a slightly different color) that Allen and I had bought just a few weeks previously – and it was being handled by Pilate and his wife in this big-budget production!! Suddenly, I caught a sense of God’s reassurance that all the work done in His Name is noticed – by Him, if not by humans. The Lord went to a great deal of trouble to help me see what all Christians who do His work have in common: approval by the Highest Judge in heaven and earth!!

Wow so true, Elizabeth! 

Elizabeth has graced us with the first act & scene of her play, Read it below....

Act IV, Scene 1 Cleopas and Bilhan face the awful truth and the possible dissolution of their hopes for the future.
Scripture references: Matthew 27: 32 – 51 / Mark 15: 21 – 37 Luke 23: 26 – 37 / John 19: 28
  The stage lights rise on the road to Calvary, Friday morning. The stage is bare, but a backdrop can show the city wall of Jerusalem. Some WOMEN enter downstage left, crying softly. They go to stand upstage center. Other bystanders enter from downstage right, including SIMON OF CYRENE. They line the pathway downstage right, but they remain silent. CLEOPAS and BILHAN enter downstage left and stop just left of center. They are fearful and sad.

BILHAN (looking down the center aisle): Do you see the crucifixion party yet?

CLEOPAS (also looking): There is a mob coming this way.

ANDRONICUS marches arrogantly down the center aisle, carrying a whip.

JESUS carries his cross slowly down the center aisle, followed by SOLDIER #1. He stumbles and falls half way. SOLDIER #1 catches the cross.

ANDRONICUS whips JESUS to get him to rise, but the soldier sees that it is no use and grabs SIMON OF CYRENE by the arm and shoves him towards the wooden cross.

ANDRONICUS (shoving him towards the cross): You! Carry that to the place of execution!

JESUS has gotten to his feet, breathing hard. SIMON stops, looks at JESUS’ face, then back to ANDRONICUS.

ANDRONICUS threatens to use his whip, and SIMON takes possession of the cross, shoulders it, and walks out downstage right. ANDRONICUS follows him.

JESUS walks to downstage center and stops.

SOLDIER #1 stands still downstage right, looking towards JESUS but saying nothing.

JESUS turns to look at the women, who cry louder. JESUS (weakly, struggling for breath): "Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for Me; weep for yourselves and your children. (The women quiet down.) For the time will come when you will say, "Fortunate are the barren women, the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!" You will call the mountains and the hills to cover you. For if the Righteous and Truthful One is condemned now, at the height of these people's power and strength, what do you think will happen when they are powerless to stop any evil at all?"

JESUS starts to move downstage right. CLEOPAS (reaching out to him, passionately): Jesus, if You are the king of Israel, the Christ, save yourself! Save Israel!!

There is a pause as JESUS looks at him for a long moment. Then he looks out over the audience.

JESUS: Father…

ANDRONICUS re-appears and pulls JESUS roughly after him off downstage right.

SOLDIER #1 marches behind him. The bystanders exit after them, followed by the weeping WOMEN.

BILHAN and CLEOPAS move to center stage. CLAUDIA starts to slowly walk down the center aisle, a covered chalice in her hand.

CLEOPAS (angrily): Is He just going to let them crucify Him?

BILHAN (turning towards stage left, very sad and confused): Maybe He has no power…

CLEOPAS (arguing): He has power to make the blind see! He has power to multiply loaves and fishes to feed five thousand men! How much more power does it take to knock down a few soldiers?

CLAUDIA: He has made Himself a prisoner of evil power so that we may be brought into truth and light.

BILHAN: My lady, this is no place for a refined woman like yourself. You are heading into a den of evil…

CLAUDIA (looking towards downstage right, as if seeing Jesus): It is nothing compared to the evil He faces.

CLEOPAS (putting out a hand to block her path): You must not go!

CLAUDIA (turning to look at him intently): You cannot block God's truth. I have paid much to learn this. Let me pass.

CLAUDIA reaches out and slowly lowers CLEOPAS’ hand so that she can pass. Then she walks off downstage right. BILHAN and CLEOPAS look off downstage right for a few moments. They cringe as the noise of hammer against nail is heard throughout the place, followed by human groans. BILHAN and CLEOPAS react to the following offstage dialogue, sometimes cringing, sometimes looking to "see" what is happening.

JESUS (offstage): Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing! The sound of an ugly crowd, shouting in mocking tones, is heard.

VOICE #1 (offstage): He said He was the Christ! Look at Him now!

VOICE #2 (offstage): Look at the crown the "King of the Jews" is wearing!

VOICE #3 (offstage): Come down, King! Come down and save Yourself! Then we will believe in You! Ha, ha!

VOICE #4 (offstage): Where are Your robes, King? You look pretty naked to me!!

CLAUDIA re-enters downstage right, still holding the chalice, but it is uncovered now. CLAUDIA (explaining to BILHAN and CLEOPAS): He refused it. He refused to dull the pain. I urged Him, and even tried to have the soldiers make Him drink it, but He just turned away. (Pause, looking out over the audience) And then there was that look! The same look I saw in my dream…!

BILHAN (walking over to her, to place a reassuring arm around her): What look was that, my lady?

CLAUDIA (looking back downstage right): The look Jesus gave as they started to crucify him. (Explaining to the others and to the audience) I stood right there as Jesus stretched out His hands for the nails. The soldiers tell me that usually the prisoners struggle, spit, scratch – anything to avoid the inevitable. But in the end, they do it. The nails split the skin in a moment, and then there is an awful moment of anguish and fear. Crucifixion is so final. (with tears) Jesus didn't struggle. He stretched out His hands, and in His eyes, I saw a tremendous resignation. And …love, the kind of love one feels for a poor, suffering child…

JESUS cries out. All three look intently downstage right.

JESUS (offstage): Eloi! Eloi! Lama sabacthani!

CLEOPAS: He is calling Elijah! Maybe He has chosen to reveal His power at last!

JESUS again calls out. JESUS (offstage): I thirst!

CLAUDIA (looking at the chalice thoughtfully): Maybe He will drink it now. She starts to move slowly towards downstage right, but BILHAN, looking right, grabs her arm to stop her.

BILHAN (gently): You're too late. The soldiers have stuck a sponge full of sour wine in His mouth. He's turning away His head. His face is gray. It's near the end.

Again, JESUS calls out. JESUS (offstage): It is finished! Father, into Your Hands I commit My Spirit. Earthquake sounds, lightning and thunder effects.

BILHAN puts a protective arm around CLAUDIA. They move as if shaken by an earthquake. Then there is calm.

CLEOPAS (with great disappointment in his voice): It's over. He's dead. There's nothing left to hope for.

ANDRONICUS marches in from downstage right. He approaches CLAUDIA and salutes her. ANDRONICUS: Mistress Claudia, you should not still be here. Let me escort you home.

CLAUDIA looks at BILHAN and CLEOPAS. CLAUDIA (handing them the chalice and looking back towards the "cross”): Remember Him. Remember me. Remember the price of Truth. CLAUDIA proceeds slowly up the center aisle, followed by ANDRONICUS.

 Lights fall to BLACKOUT.

Thank you so much, Elizabeth! As Easter approaches we are all more aware of the sacrifice our Lord and Savior made for mankind. Check out Elizabeth's novel, Come Before Winter on Amazon in Ebook and Print!

Well Friends, I certainly hope you enjoyed today's guest post and that you'll stop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight

Until next time, take care and God Bless. 
PamT

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

#TuesdayTreasures #EggcerptExchange with Iris Blobel!

Good Morning Friends, 

I am on the road today, heading back from SC to Louisiana. Prayers appreciated. THANKS!! 

Today's guest, Iris Blobel is a new-to-me and our blog author so please welcome Iris Blobel!

Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper has only emerged recently, but now her laptop is a constant companion.

Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her two beautiful daughters.

Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio. 


Social Media Links:


So nice to meet you, Iris! Now let's find out a little more about your book, Innocent Tears....

Becoming a parent can be daunting at the best of times, but for Flynn, a business lawyer in Melbourne, it almost pulls the feet from right underneath him. He’s become a father to six-year-old Nadine literally overnight! He had no idea about her existence, and the news throws him into chaos, even more so when he is asked to take over custody. 

With the help of Emma, an employee at the hotel where Nadine and her grandparents are staying, and his parents, Flynn tries to do the right thing. Yet, the right thing in his eyes differs from his parents’, and Emma is voicing her opinion as well. And right in the middle is little Nadine, still grieving the loss of her mother and finding a wonderful friend in Emma. There’s no doubt she’s afraid where and with whom she will settle. 

But in the end, it’s a letter Flynn receives that helps him figuring out what to do.

Excerpt: “My Mum is dead.”

Somewhat startled by this statement, Emma peeked over the reception desk into beautiful green eyes that belonged to a cute little girl with brown curly hair and a freckled button nose. She couldn’t help but smile. There was something in the girl’s eyes that held a hint of mischief and curiosity, as well as some sadness, and Emma was drawn to her instantly.

“Nadine!”

The stern voice of an elderly woman approaching the reception caused Emma to flinch. The girl stiffened with eyes wide open.

“My apologies for that,” the woman said to Emma, though her expression didn’t actually reveal any signs of apologies. The woman’s face reflected a life of bitterness, the lines appearing deep and weathered.

Emma smiled. “No need to.”

An elderly man joined them, and after a brief nod of acknowledgement she asked, “May
I help you?”

“Yes. We would like to check in. Gibbs. William and Teresa Gibbs,” the woman replied.
Emma typed the name on the keyboard, and while she waited for the details, she smiled at the girl, and asked, “Holidays?”

Nadine’s face spread into a small smile, but it was enough to show she had her two top teeth missing.
“And I see the tooth fairy has been to see you recently.”

“Excuse me–” Mrs. Gibbs glanced at Emma’s name badge. “–Emma. Can we proceed with the check-in please?”

“My apologies, ma’am.” Emma read the details on the screen, made a few notes and turned around to activate the automated door card in the back office. All the while, she felt Mrs. Gibbs’ glare on her and instinctively pulled on her navy uniform skirt feeling slightly uncomfortable.

Emma sighed inwardly. In her early twenties and she still lacked confidence in what other people thought of her. Tucking an escaping strand of her tawny hair behind her ear, she tried to keep a positive attitude because, after all, she loved working at the All Stars Hotel in Melbourne. It was something she always wanted to do—to greet people to this beautiful city and make their stay as comfortable as possible. And she was often told how popular she was with staff and guests alike for her positive attitude, her generous heart, and kind spirit.

“Ma’am, that’d be room five-o-two. If you go to the right over there, take the lift to the fifth floor and follow the hall to the near end, you will find room five-o-two on your right.”

Teresa Gibbs took the card from Emma and turned it in her hands.

“Ma’am, you slide that into the door instead of a key. I’m happy to ask someone to come with you and show–”

“I’ll be fine. Thank you.” And Mrs. Gibbs turned to go.

Emma leaned across the counter and smiled at Nadine. “Enjoy your holidays,” she said and winked. “And come see me sometime to tell me about the tooth fairy.”

“We’re not on a holiday,” the girl said in almost a whisper. “We’re here to meet my dad.” 

Oh Wow, Iris, you've hooked me! Where can we find Innocent Tears?

The book is available now at ....



Well friends, I hope you enjoyed meeting Iris and learning about her book which is part of the EggCerpt Exchange blog hop. I also hope you'll visit each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless!
PamT

Saturday, March 25, 2017

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Art Greenhaw!

Good Morning!

Art Greenhaw has shared Treasures and Thoughts with us and since I don't have much time to chit chat today so I'll just let him have the stage....

Creator/editor/co-writer Art Greenhaw's comicbook roots run deep, Art having enjoyed a 20-year friendship with Stan Lee and a lifetime apprenticeship studying the works of his biggest comicbook influences including Stan, Jack Kirby, Steve Ditko, Al Hartley, and Ben Dunn. Art was a National Council of Teachers of English literary competition award winner and was the Optimist Club's oratory contest winner. He has studied art at the Dallas Museum of Art and co-created and co-wrote stories and songs with pop culture icon Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, who proclaimed Art "The Voice of Rat Fink".

Art is a Grammy Award-Winning artist, producer, arranger, and mixing engineer and holds a Grammy record for most Grammy Nominations (eight) by a group in his particular category of Gospel-Christian music. Among the legendary artists who have recorded the songs and stories of Art include Ann-Margret, Engelbert Humperdinck, Trini Lopez, The Jordanaires, James Blackwood, The Light Crust Doughboys, The Ventures, the Southern Methodist University Mustang Band, and many more. It is Art's lifetime mission to bring much-needed messages of morality and spirituality to today's youth through his favorite literary medium: comicbooks. Art owns and manages the iconic #1 Texas legacy country band, The Light Crust Doughboys. www.artgreenhaw.com 

 During the years that creator Art Greenhaw produced and arranged Grammy Award-winning and 8-time Grammy Award-nominated albums in the Christian field, Art's record label built a core of thousands of devoted fans who found his songs and stories both entertaining and uplifting.

Now Art has formed Truthmonger Comics, a creative entity whose mission is to bring the much-needed messages of morality and spirituality to today's youth through the medium of comic books.

Joining creator/editor/writer Art Greenhaw for this new line of Truthmonger Comics and its flagship title, God's Silver Soldiers, are superstar comic book artist Ben Dunn, writer Rebecca Dunn, and graphic designer Josh Knight. Truthmonger Comics is additionally inspired by Art's friend of many years and biggest literary influence, Stan Lee.

Purchase at:

Website: www.GodsSilverSoldiers.com

Publisher's Site: www.Nordskogpublishing.com

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Gods-Silver-Soldiers-Origin-Issue/dp/1888092300

Prime Star Publicist was unable to extract an excerpt for us but visit the website for more information on this wonderful new comic book!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll drop by weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

Thursday, March 23, 2017

#ThursdayThoughts Guest Post & EggCerpt Exchange with Kathleen Rowland!

Good Morning!

I'm travelling to South Carolina for the weekend. Prayers appreciated!

Today's guest, Kathleen Rowland has visited before. She shared Fall Romantic Travel and EggCerpt Exchange with us last year, so please welcome Kathleen back for this year's EggCerpt Exchange with her newest release, Unholy Alliance.....

A decade ago, Tori Rourke, and her cousin, Vivienne, ran from the Irish mob after witnessing a brutal murder. Tori was framed by the mob, and while she served time in prison, she worried that the killer, Seamus McGinn, had kidnapped her missing cousin.

Attorney Grady D. Fletcher, defender of the wrongly condemned, appeals Tori’s case and wins her release. Now, going by Victoria Morningstar, she runs a food truck from a seedy waterfront neighborhood, hoping to find her cousin's kidnapper.

When Grady agrees to defend a new client, Samuel Peterson, who’s been accused of beating to death the wife of a noted professor, the evidence mounts. The professor is missing, as well as his laptop that contains data dangerous to national security.

And Seamus McGinn is back, and rumors of a massive annihilation is about to begin. As they race to assist the FBI, the bonds between Grady and Tori are about to be tested. It becomes clear Grady and Tori are falling fast for each other, but what to do about it is a different story. He’s a divorced dad who wants more time with his kid. She brings danger to his front door.

Grady has questions of his own; Is Vivienne at the center of the mob’s operation? How much will it cost Tori before she learns the truth? All Grady knows is the biggest danger is the one standing right behind you.

Excerpt—

“Don’t let the anxiety of freedom consume you.”  Attorney Grady Donahue Fletcher clenched his teeth and rehearsed what he’d say to his client, Victoria Morningstar. He’d won her appeal and drove to pick her up at Gladstone Penitentiary. “At least you won’t be placed in solitary.” That was worse.

Six months earlier Grady had phoned a reporter at the Los Angeles Globe. "Drew Barker. Grady Fletcher here.”

“Ah, the lawyer. Calling about a tip?”

“I am. Here's something you can investigate. Tori Morningstar, did she murder Irene Brennan?"

"I wrote that story many years back," the journalist had said. “I assume you have new discoveries.”

"Fraud, illegal testimony. Do you want the story first?" A second passed. "Otherwise, I'll call the Orange County Guardian."

"Okay, okay. We want it."

Three days later Grady had a hand in writing the first article in Drew Barker’s column. "The public labeled Tori Morningstar as an undesirable. Not black and poor, but disfavored, accused, incarcerated, and wrongly condemned. Her cellphone has been recovered. Her call to 911 identified her voice and substantiated screams of the victim in the background. Could she have beaten someone while speaking to dispatch at the same time?"

The reporter had written the second article. "People who get their ideas about criminal lawyers from TV probably would be disappointed in Grady Fletcher. He lacks flash but stands up straight, his posture neither ramrod nor slouched. He doesn't smoke, doesn't wear thousand dollar suits. His voice is soft and low, one of his assets. He speaks truth with a voice inviting confidences."

As nice as that was, Grady’s stomach cramped over pressure and strain from Drew Barker’s final article with the headline, Tori Morningstar, Released Today. Picked up by the online service, Newser, KTLA, and CBS Los Angeles, they planned to broadcast his arrival to escort his client from Gladstone.

Tori’s decade-long prison sentence ended today but with a sobering fear over tomorrow.
When was a July morning this hot? Grady balanced her release papers on his lap as he rolled up one sleeve then the other while gripping the damp steering wheel. Sweat blossomed on his throbbing forehead, wrapped like a python’s grip. He adjusted the dial for the AC and embraced the challenge of helping another client get back on track. Embrace and conquer. Or at least sound like it.

Pre-order 0.99 price is available on Amazon and Smashwords—find all lines here:


A little about Kathleen Rowland—


Book Buyers Best finalist Kathleen Rowland is devoted to giving her readers fast-paced, high-stakes suspense with a sizzling love story sure to melt their hearts.  Writing a romantic suspense Irish American series for Tirgearr Publishing, Deadly Alliance is followed by Unholy Alliance with a release date of March 29, 2017.  Keep an icy drink handy while reading these hot stories.

Other books are sweet new adult such as Lily’s Pad and the Intervenus Series: A Brand New Address and Betrayal at Crater’s Edge

Kathleen used to write computer programs but now writes novels.   She grew up in Iowa where she caught lightning bugs, ran barefoot, and raced her sailboat on Lake Okoboji.  Now she wears flip-flops and sails with her husband, Gerry, on Newport Harbor but wishes there were lightning bugs in California.

Kathleen exists happily with her witty CPA husband, Gerry, in their 70’s poolside retreat in Southern California where she adores time spent with visiting grandchildren, dogs, one bunny, and noisy neighbors.  While proud of their five children who’ve flown the coop, she appreciates the luxury of time to write.  If you’d enjoy news, sign up for Kathleen’s newsletter at http://www.kathleenrowland.com/









Sounds like another great book Kathleen! 


Hope you enjoyed today's eggcerpt echange folks. Just a few more weeks left in this years' exchanges so be sure and drop by regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

#TuesdayTreasures Guest Post by Kathy Neely

Good Morning Friends!

Yesterday marked the first day of Spring and yet, our temps were in the 80's....more like Summer here but still snow in other parts of the US. Crazy right? This past weekend we went camping and really got to enjoy the spring-like weather....cool evenings, warm days....definitely something to treasure! I pray you had a great weekend too.

Today's guest is brand new to me and our blog, but soon-to-be a fellow Pelican Book Group author, so please welcome Kathy Neely to share treasures with us!

Bookends
Mornings are a refuge, only the sound of birdsong amid the solitude. Sunrises paint the horizon shades of red, orange, and yellow, the promise of another day. It’s a time to reflect, meditate, worship, and pray. A time when ears are tuned to listen without the chaos that everyday life brings. A time to prepare your heart and soul for what’s ahead.

Evenings are a gift of rest, a time to raise the foot of the recliner and allow the respite to renew tired muscles, stressed nerves. A time for family, for prayer, and for sleep, for prayer. A time to read God’s word, even if the reading lulls you to sleep. How sweet to sleep with praise on your lips.

Morning and evening are like bookends, designed to support what’s in-between. Bookends hold the middle upright, allowing it to stand tall and straight, without sagging or falling over.

Can you imagine a day without the bookends that support it? Days filled with busyness, decisions to make, relationships to nurture. Days filled with ringing phones, news of terror attacks, and political manipulations. Days filled with happiness and laughter, hurtfulness and tears.

Mornings and evenings are a gift from God, a time to be Mary and sit at his feet. Don’t miss it. Don’t allow this gifted time to meld into the middle. Savor the mornings. Protect the evenings. They will give you strength to stand upright.

Wow, Kathy, I never really thought of mornings and evenings like bookends of our day and you're right, both are definitely something to treasure! 

Let's find out a little more about Kathy.....

Kathleen Neely is an author and former elementary school principal. After growing up in Pittsburgh, PA, she and her husband Vaughn moved to sunny South Carolina. Together they have three handsome sons, one lovely daughter-in-law, and two incredible grandsons. She is a member of Cross N Pens and ACFW.

Kathleen won first place in Almost an Author’s Fresh Voices contest, and is a second place winner in ACFW-VA’s short story contest. She has two novels coming soon through Pelican Book Group. You can find her at http://kathleenneelyauthor.com.

What an accomplishment, congrats Kathy! Thank you for sharing with us today. We're looking forward to hearing more about your PBG books.

Thank YOU, Friends for dropping by. Check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Saturday, March 18, 2017

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Toni V Sweeney and Sinbad’s Triumph

Good Morning from Nibblet's Bluff Park in Vinton/Starks Louisiana!

Today's guest has shared treasures with us before but she's still relatively new to our blog so please give Toni V Sweeney a great big welcome with her brand new book, Sinbad's Triumph.


Sinbad’s Triumph is Book 5 in the Adventures of Sinbad sci-fi series published by Class Act Books.

Blurb for Sinbad’s Triumph:

The most wanted smuggler in the Galaxy is now a Felidan businessman. Breaking his promise to his wife, Sinbad sh’en Sigh intended to again become a smuggler, but the Federation spoils his fun by declaring his efforts a legitimate enterprise.

Things are going smoothly until an old rival threatens to steal Sin's newly-acquired territories and the resulting war brings a terrible price. The House sh’en Singh is forced to witness the most difficult challenge to Andi’s love for their pride chief when Sin crashes his ship and doesn't walk away from the wreckage.      

Now  a disabled invalid, Sin must learn to depend on others with his own stubbornness and Andi’s love to keep him going.


Excerpt:

In perhaps the fastest ceremony ever performed, Adam and Shalimar found themselves husband and wife. When the priest asked for the ring, Sin had to loan his son his own marriage band because Adam had always refused to follow the Felidan custom of wearing a mate’s ring in his left earlobe. Once the ring was slipped onto Shali’s finger, they were ushered into the dining room where the cook had concocted a hasty wedding meal.

As Adam escorted his bride to her seat, Shali was deluged with hugs from Andi, N’Sagar and Andrea, while Kas, his uncle Allan, cousin Tran, and half-brother Andrew Tas again ave Adam good-natured slaps on the back. Extricating his wife from her new in-laws’ embraces, he pulled out Shali’s chair, made certain she was comfortable and sat beside her.

After the uproar and the haste of the ceremony itself, the meal was subdued.  To the men’s amusement, Adam ate his food as fast as he could, devouring whatever was offered to him as if he couldn’t clear his plate fast enough, while Shalimar picked delicately at her portions the way she generally did.

“God, Uncle Adam.” The exclamation burst from Andrea. “Don’t eat so fast. You’re going to get indigestion.”

“Yeah,” her twin agreed. “You can’t enjoy your wedding night if you’ve a bellyache.” Then, he blushed, studied his plate and mumbled, “Sorry.”

Wiping his mouth with his napkin, Adam dropped it to the table and got to his feet. He looked around the table. “I want to thank all of you for being here, especially on such short notice, and I don’t want to appear rude, but my bride and I have a number of items to discuss.”

Reaching for Shali’s hand, he pulled her to her feet, kissed her quickly, then swept her into his arms and ran through the door. The sound of his boots on the stairs floated back into the room, accompanied by a low feminine trill.

Andi looked surprised. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard Shalimar giggle before.”

“Perhaps she’s never had anything to giggle about,” Sin said mildly, standing also. He caught Andi’s hand. “Thank you all for coming. Stay and enjoy the dessert Cook’s prepared. Now, if you’ll excuse us, your grandmother and I have a few things of our own to talk about.”

Before anyone could speak, he caught Andi around the waist and swung her into his arms, copying Adam’s dash for the door.

Behind them, came Andrew Tas’ sarcastic comment, “Who are they kidding? Nobody’s going to be discussing anything tonight.”

This year, Toni V. Sweeney celebrated her 74th birthday and penned her 74th novel.

Toni has lived 30 years in the South, a score in the Middle West, and a decade on the Pacific Coast and now she’s trying for her second 30 on the Great Plains.

Since the publication of her first novel in 1989, Toni divides her time between writing SF/Fantasy under her own name and romances under her pseudonym Icy Snow Blackstone. Her novels have garnered awards from The National Writers Association, Preditors & Editors, The Maryland Writers Association, and The Paranormal Romance Guild. In March, 2013, she became publicity manager for Class Act Books. She is also on the review staff of the New York Journal of Books.  Recently she was named a professional reader by netgalley.com.

More about Toni at:

Amazon Author’s Page: https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B002BLQBB8
Twitter: @ToniVSweeney


Sinbad’s Triumph was released March 15, 2017 by Class Act BooksIt will be available later this week at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Smashwords, and Draft2Digital.

 Thank you so much Toni, for sharing your new release with us. Good luck and God's blessings wit it! AND, Thank You, Friends, for visiting and supporting Toni today, I pray you enjoyed the excerpt and that you'll stop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Thursday, March 16, 2017

#ThursdayThoughts Guest Post & #EggCerptExchange with Tina Gayle!

Hello Friends,

You may have noticed a change in the sidebar here on the blog. As you may recall, Jessica Ferguson interviewed me in 2014 for Southern Writers Magazine. Today I'm featured on their blog with my article, How to Write When You're Frozen Inside, and it's such an exciting thing for me! 

It's also great to bring you today's guest! Tina is no stranger to our blog, she's shared treasures and thoughts with us before. I'm sure she's been in the spotlight, but can't find that post LOL!  Anyway, today she shares some thoughts with us along with an EggCerpt Exchange from her novel, My Future Step Brother!

So let's see what thoughts Tina wants to share with us today. Take it away, Tina!


Women Helping Women
The Story Behind the Executives Wives’ Club Series 

When writing a new romance series, I like to think about what will make the stories different. What’s kernel of an ideal sets it apart from other stories? I realized I wanted a series about how important women are to women. No matter, how much we might enjoy the men in our lives. Women connect to other women in a unique way. Maybe, because we think alike or can share emotions men can’t understand, but women need women.

So then I asked, what type of situation would force four women together on an emotional level?

Okay, four women all lose their husband at one time in a car accident. These women are connected only by their husband’s jobs. They know each other, but are not what you call close until their husbands are killed. This forever alters their world. Each has their unique problem.

Jen Larson is a realtor, who has for years lived as a married single. Her husband, Craig was her college sweetheart. She believes they have a good life but less than a year after losing him, she’s ready to start dating again. This throws her relationship with the other executives’ wives into a tailspin. They don’t understand how she can do this, which makes for the first book in the series, The Marketing Exec’s Widow.

The truly fun part about a series like this is no one book is about only one woman. Each plays a part in the other book. They’re stories continue and you learn more about what each woman is facing in her life. The happy-ever-after continues, and the reader learns how these women have grown to depend on each other.

Wow, Tina, I know my girlfriends are definitely emotional as well as spiritual connections and this sounds like a great series! Now tell us a little about My Future Step Brother.....

My Future Step Brother is about the son of one of the Executive Wives.

Lyndsey Turner only wants to have fun.  She doesn’t care if her dad marries Travis Clark’s mother. Travis is super-hot and sets her body on fire every time he steps near her.

Travis has other ideas. He understands Lyndsey’s wild streak and wants her attention on him. All seems to be working according to his plan until his mother discovers she may have breast cancer.
Now, Travis wants to solidify his relationship with Lyndsey and start planning for their future.
Will Lyndsey commit to be his alone or does he have to play the dating game a while longer?

If you love romance, don’t miss this short story from the popular Executive Wives Club series

Excerpt:
“So what do you plan to say to my dad tomorrow night?” Lyndsey interrupted the on-screen monolog, hoping to find out why he’d insisted on having dinner with her father. Their families had been acquainted for years. Travis’ dad had been an executive at her father’s company, Mama Turner’s Logistics until Jack Clark and several other executives had died in a car wreck.
With the death of Lyndsey’s mother, her father had turned to Marianne Clark for support. The two of them had grieved together. Now, they were dating and the entire executives wives’ club had a stake in their affair, seeing as all of them had remarried except Marianne.
Travis toyed with her hair, his fingers lightly tugging on the strands. “Not sure, I’m hoping if he sees us together he’ll begin to accept us as a couple.”
Unhappy with how the evening was progressing, Lyndsey drew her sweatshirt further down over her jeans. Tonight, they had agreed to have an in-house date with items picked up from the supermarket’s deli and a rented DVD. She’d hoped with no interruptions that they might move their relationship into a more intimate arena. “He’s seen us together at Brie’s and Jason’s, and Sylvia’s party to celebrate her marriage to Vince. Why will this time be any different?”


Other books in the series
Marketing Exec’s Widow
IT Exec’s Baby
CFO’s Affair
CEO’s Widow

Read 1st Chapter at www.tinagayle.com

Tina Gayle’s Bio
Her first romantic novel published in 2008, Tina Gayle has written over thirty romantic books under two different pseudonyms. Her novels span several different genres from contemporary to fantasy and sweet to erotic. She enjoys the challenge of drawing a reader into a story and having them travel down the same road as her hero and heroine. Married thirty years, she enjoys spending time with her husband on the golf course. Find out more about Tina on her website www.tinagayle.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Tina-Gayle/214633841921560?ref=hl
Well, friends, hope you enjoyed today's EggCerpt Exchange and that you'll join me each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT