#TuesdayTreasures with Kelly Goshorn!

Good Morning and Welcome to the Final Tuesday Treasures post of July 2018!

If you'e followed me long enough you know I absolutely LOVE to introduce to you new authors - especially those who are fellow Pelican Book Group or Bayou Writers Group authors!

Today is no exception.

Please welcome Kelly Goshorn as she shares something she treasures with us....

I’m thrilled to be on Pam’s blog today talking about something I treasure. Honestly, I thought writing this blog post would be fairly easy. I mean who doesn’t have something they treasure?
I treasure my family, friends, my pets and my health, who doesn’t? But it all seemed so cliché.

I have many knick knacks and adornments around my home that I dearly love, as well. So I decided to choose one of the many heirlooms I’ve inherited from my grandparents that I cherish. But how would I choose just one? And when it came to writing a blog post about one of them, it all seemed superficial. I
mean how much can one say about a pitcher and basin after all?

Then it hit me. What I really treasured about these items wasn’t the object itself, rather what they represented—roots.

According to the dictionary, roots are “the part of a plant that attaches it to the ground or to a support, typically underground, conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant via numerous branches and fibers.” Just as well-established roots anchor the plant to the ground, supplying sustenance and helping it to withstand drought and storms, these items that adorn my home, bring me joy not because of their monetary value but because they keep me connected to my family, my heritage.

That old pitcher and basin came from the Criste farm near Loretto, Pennsylvania, deep in the

Allegheny mountains. Although I’ve never been there, I remember my parents and grandparents talking about my grandfather’s homestead and the generations that lived there before him.

It’s chipped and cracked and the bowl was dropped once and split into three pieces. My husband super glued it back together for me. It holds artificial flowers most of the year, but when my hydrangeas bloom, it’s the perfect size for the large top-heavy flowers. As I arrange the blooms, I wonder how many generations used this set to freshen up after a long day of farm work. Did any of them dip their razor in the basin, trimming up their whiskers before calling on their girl? Would it please them to know that their great, great, great (you get the picture) grand-daughter put it in a place of prominence in her home for visitors to see?

Then there’s that crazy colorful afghan, my grandmother Criste crocheted. Nearly every one of my 26 first cousins have one just as bright. I can still remember, her stockinged feet propped up on the ottoman, diligently crocheting them as gifts for new babies, graduations and weddings, always with a smile on her face and a song in her heart.

The pink candy dish was also hers. Since money was tight you were more likely to find it on the shelf with matchbooks inside for pappy’s pipe than filled with chocolates, but you could drop in around suppertime any night and grandma would always feed you. One saying of hers I’ll never forget, “there’s always room for one more.”

These treasures and others like them, remind me of who I am and where I came from. The stories told around the supper table. The songs I’m sure no other family knows but ours that were sung loud and proud at family reunions. The laughter, love, and acceptance that graced the dinner table. These treasures remind me of the values our family stands for—hard work, honesty, faith and family.

Roots that are sure to anchor me through whatever droughts and storms come my way.

Your turn: What treasures do you possess that remind you of your family’s roots?

Wow...what wonderful things to treasure, Kelly! Thank you so much for sharing with us.

Kelly Goshorn weaves her affinity for history and her passion for God into uplifting stories of love, faith and family set in nineteenth century America. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. Kelly has been enjoying her own happily-ever-after with her husband and best friend, Mike, for 28 years. Together they have raised three children, four cats, two dogs, a turtle, a guinea pig, a gecko, and countless hamsters. Thankfully, not all at the same time. When she is not writing, Kelly enjoys spending time with her young adult children, scrapbooking with friends, board gaming with her husband, and spoiling her Welsh corgi, Levi.

You can connect with Kelly on: Her Website  Facebook  Twitter  Pinterest

 Instagram and Goodreads

Kelly's debut novel, A Love Restored is available on Amazon US, Amazon UK and Barnes & Noble .... but here's a sneak peek....

 She was nothing like the woman he’d envisioned for his bride, but he was everything she’d ever dreamed of—until a promise from his past threatened their future.

With pert opinions and a less-than-perfect figure, Ruth Ann Sutton doesn’t measure up to society’s vision of a perfect lady. When she accepts a position teaching in a Freedman’s School, it threatens the only marriage offer Ruth Ann is likely to receive. She’s forced to choose between life as a lonely spinster or reinventing herself to secure a respectable proposal.
Determined to rise above his meager beginnings, Benjamin Coulter’s reputation as a fast learner and hard worker earn him the opportunity to apprentice with a surveyor for the railroad—a position that will garner the respect of other men. After a chance encounter with Ruth Ann Sutton, Benjamin is smitten with her pretty face, quick wit, and feisty personality.

When others ridicule his choice, will Benjamin listen to his heart or put ambition first?

Sounds like a great book so check it out!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Sherry Derr-Wille & Mistaken Identity

Good Morning!

Welcome to another episode of Saturday Spotlight where you get a sneak peek into an author and his/her book!

Brought to you today from Class Act Books is author, Sherry Derr-Wille with her book, Mistaken Identity.....

A secluded cottage on a lake in Wisconsin sounds like the perfect spot to get away from everything—or is it?

Katelyn Devereaux needs a vacation. More than a vacation, she needs to put Denver behind her as well as the man who wants her as his wife and the birth family who is insisting on finding her.

Seth Miller knows the reason that he mistook Katelyn for Genean is his knowledge that his best friend’s wife was adopted by strangers at birth. Of course he can’t change the facts that Genean and Katelyn are sisters, especially after he learns that the company she wants to visit in Wisconsin is owned by Genean’s brother, Randy, and her husband, Brad.

Excerpt:

Sunlight shimmered across the lake and it glistened as though it had been scattered with diamonds. As she stood there in awe, taking in the beauty from the cottage, the dock invited her into the picture of beauty. Taking her sketch pad and pencil with her, Katelyn Devereaux walked across the lawn and sandy beach until she reached the pier. Settling into the deck chair, she gazed out across the water.

It was such a beautiful morning. She was so glad she’d taken the advice of her friends and accompanied Suzie Branch to this secluded Wisconsin lake. She certainly needed a vacation and could think of no place more relaxing than this quaint cottage hidden away in a different world.

In the distance a loon called to its mate, waited for a few moments for a reply and called again. This was the kind of peaceful exchange she had not taken the time to listen for in months. She knew nature was all around her back home, but there never seemed to be time to sit and listen for it. In Denver she was nothing more than a machine pumping out sketches for her clients, and on occasion, playing the gracious hostess for Martin.

No, I don’t want to think of the daily grind of running the Devereaux Agency, nor Martin Collier’s marriage proposal. I need this time to figure out just who Katelyn Devereaux really is.

Katelyn turned away from the peaceful scene before her. Why can’t my life be this peaceful?

You know why, Katie. The sound of her father’s voice within her head caused a tear to escape from the corner of her eyes. She’d lost both of her parents at Thanksgiving and never really gotten over their deaths. The only thing that kept her from going completely over the edge was work, work and more work.

I don’t think I can do this, Daddy. I don’t love Martin. I haven’t even given him an answer concerning his proposal. Maybe I’m not cut out for the wife thing. Even if I did marry Martin, I wouldn’t be a wife, not in the conventional way. With him gone so much, life as his wife would be no different than life by myself.

Katelyn’s thoughts came as a shock. Never before had she admitted her true feeling for Martin. More than anything else in the world, she wanted to be a little girl again without all the problems of being a responsible adult. Back home in Denver, her life had become too complicated to allow her to rest. For the past eight months she’d been running the Devereaux Advertising Agency, and then there was Martin Collier’s marriage proposal. The fact she had just learned of the fact she was adopted, only added to the crazy quilt her life had become over the past few months. Perhaps if her parents had told her the truth the shock wouldn’t have been so profound but they hadn’t. She’d learned of her adoption only days after their funeral.

Sounds intriguing don'tcha think?! Mistaken Identity has a heat rating of 1 meaning "sweet" and can be purchased at Class Act Books, Amazon, B&N and Smashwords.

Now let's meet Sherry....

Sherry lives in a mid-sized Southern Wisconsin with her husband of 46 years, Bob, whom she deems a saint for putting up with a crazy writer.

With three children, seven grandchildren, more book signings than she can sometimes handle, she puts out four to five books a year and loves writing in her hot pink office.

Find more information about Sherry at: her Blog: www.derr-wille.blogspot.com 

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Willis Abshire

Good Morning!

Well it's still morning where we're at - barely.

Several years ago I introduced you to Bayou Writers Group member, Willis Abshire when he shared with us his debut novel, The Curse, the Diary and the Cross: Book One: The Curse Begins. Today Willis returns to share some thoughts with us.

Take it away Willis.....

I thoroughly enjoy writing fiction though it appears my adventures delve a great deal into pain and suffering. My trilogy dealt with the choices we make in life and how far reaching those choices can take one. In the two novels I am doing research on dealing with the Holocaust and the Vietnam war I am again confronted with hurt and grief. Being a realist, I find it difficult at times to pursue something positive or uplifting but that is the beauty of this gift given to us. We’ve heard the old expression, “when life deals you lemons, make lemonade.” But sometimes the one holding the lemons can’t see beyond the bitter so we as writers can be the ones to help make the lemonade. Life is a myriad of highs, mundane and downright lows. Birth, living and death. But there is so much of God’s beauty to see in life, the sun making its faithful debut every morning, the lazy moon making its almost transparent unveiling then getting stronger as the sun’s rays fail. The mother dog laying restfully and lovingly as her children suckle—she gave them life and continues to care for them. The daddy teaching his son to play ball or the mother showing her daughter how to bake a pie for her daddy or siblings. We must look for them. So, in the midst of it all this it is my prayer that all writers can be gifted with the ability to add the sugar to make the lemonade sweet.

God bless.
W R Abshire

Willis R. Abshire is a retired Residential and Commercial Painting Contractor from a small rural community in south central Louisiana. A former Pastor he enjoys his writings and spending time with his wife Vickie along with their seven children, fourteen grandchildren and three great-grandchildren with one on the way expected in November 2018. Willis's trilogy, The Curse, the Diary and the Cross can be found at Amazon.

                 

 

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll stop by regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Carolyn Rae

Good Morning!

Last month I introduced you to Ms. Carolyn Rae when she shared some thoughts with us. Today she shares something she treasures....

Tempus Fugit Latin for time flies – How to make the best use of your valuable time.

Those words were originally written by the poet Virgil who lamented that time flees and it cannot be replaced.

What we generally regret is that time we want to spend doing something we enjoy can be taken up by other less enjoyable things or we have not been able to complete the important things we want to get done.

However, there are ways to improve your use of time by careful management. First, you must set priorities. Mine was to send out a cookbook proposal to an agent I met at a conference who requested it. While I have managed to condense the important elements of the book into the ten-page limit she specified, I admit, I have strayed to check out a few e-mails. However, while my phone has rung twice, I let the answering machine take messages and free me from sales calls.

For good time management as a writer, it is important to schedule work on your projects at a time when you are most alert and creative, and there are less likely to be distractions. If this time for you is morning, you should schedule only the most important duties before tackling your important work. Unless your mother-in-law is coming to visit, you don’t need to clean the kitchen or straighten your house before starting your important project. 

If your best time for your creative endeavors is at night, you’ll want to take care of the necessary things beforehand to free up time to work on your project.

Let’s talk about necessary things. Can you shorten the time you spend on them? Do you really need to clean the house that often? Are there some jobs you could do only once in a while? Does that closet or cupboard really need to be rearranged? Can you enlist children to do some things with perhaps a bump in their allowances? Maybe you can persuade your husband to do some chores. After all, he shares the house with you. If you can afford it, maybe you can pay for housecleaning or yard-work and free time to do what you enjoy.

Whichever time is best for your creativity, if you are writing a novel, you need to schedule time to work on it daily. That keeps your mind working on the story, so you will think of things to add when you sit down to write. When I had a full-time job, I scheduled an hour each morning to write, and managed to finish a novel each year. Now that I am published, I spend more time writing so that readers can buy more than one novel of mine each year.

Time IS something we treasure, Carolyn as well as our creative projects and these ideas are sure to be treasured by all who read them! Thanks for sharing.

Carolyn Rae is speaking on How to Write More and Faster on the Fun in the Sun Caribbean Cruise Conference on February 28, 2019, sponsored by the Florida Romance Writers.

Carolyn Rae’s latest book Romancing the Doctor, is a spicy romantic suspense where CDC Doctor Daniel Whistler and his girlfriend, Heather McKinley, hunt an elusive virus spreader to keep people from getting sick and perhaps sterile. They follow the population control fanatic from Atlanta, to New Orleans, to Dallas, and finally find him on a cruise ship in the Caribbean. Find our more by visiting Carolyn's website and Facebook page.

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Tracy Krauss & Three Strand Cord!

Good Morning Friends,

Over the last couple of month's today's guest has shared treasures and thoughts with us. Today we get a peek into Tracy's latest book, Three Strand Cord so please welcome her back.....

Tempest. Stella. Cherise. Fate brought them together, but can their friendship survive the tangled web of danger and deception that threatens their very lives? When Cherise convinces Tempest to pretend to be her so that she can sneak out of the country to be with her dashing Italian boyfriend, she is inadvertently implicated in an international drug ring. An unexpected complication forces Tempest to prolong the charade and she finds herself attracted to the very man who might be out to cause her harm. Meanwhile, Stella’s high ideals are met with suspicion and disdain at her father’s Texas ranch, until she uncovers a dangerous secret that could put all their lives in jeopardy. At the same time, her own errant emotions take over as she falls in love with two brothers at the same time. Things heat up when Cherise is kidnapped and the three friends must turn to one another – and God - to get out of harm’s way. Three Strand Cord is a story of intrigue and romance told from three different points of view, all coming together to prove that when it comes to true friendship, ‘a three strand cord is not easily broken’.

Excerpt:
A three strand cord is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4: 12)

Stately red brick, manicured lawns, and well kept flower beds – the perfect backdrop for Parkview Private Girls' Academy. Nature itself crowned all with a cobalt sky and warmth from the golden sun. All was exactly as it should be for an institution that prided itself on turning out well bred young ladies of means.

"Quick! This way!" A dark haired girl of about twelve gestured to her companions, her voice barely above a whisper. All three girls ducked around the sculpted hedge and squatted, peeping through the foliage.

The blonde one giggled. "This is sooo exciting!"

"What if we get in trouble?" The third girl pushed her glasses up on her nose with her forefinger. Her chestnut hair bobbed as she shook her head. "I'm not sure this is such a good idea."

"Sh!" The dark haired ringleader held a finger to her lips. "Here comes Casey Brinks."

The three waited, holding a collective breath as their arch nemesis, another twelve-year-old girl, neared the appointed spot under a tree. Suddenly, an explosion of water soaked her as a water balloon hit her dead on. "Ah!" The girl stood frozen while she tried to catch her breath.

"Come on," hissed the leader - and the one with the accurate aim. The threesome crept from the shadows as stealthily as twelve-year-old girls wearing uniforms were able, and made a break for it, letting their excited giggles burst from their lungs unfettered.

"I see you, Stella Crayton!" The enraged mini-diva called after them, hands on hips. "You and your little cronies! The headmistress is going to hear about this!"

Tracy Krauss is a multi-published novelist, playwright, and artist with several award winning and best selling novels, stage plays, devotionals and children’s books in print. Her work strikes a chord with those looking for thought provoking faith based fiction laced with romance, suspense and humor – no sugar added. She holds a B.Ed from the U of S and has lived in many remote and interesting places in Canada’s far north. She and her husband currently reside in beautiful BC where she continues to pursue all of her creative interests.  http://tracykrauss.com “Fiction on the edge – without crossing the line”

Three Strand Cord is available at Amazon.

Thanks for sharing our spotlight, Tracy! Good luck and God's blessings with your new book.

Hope you enjoyed the post, Friends and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Jessica Baker

Good Morning Friends!

As you know I utilize this feature to share thoughts with you myself and/or allow my guests (usually authors) to share theirs.

Today's guest, however, is not an author but a reader and book reviewer!

Please welcome Jessica Baker to our blog....

“I think I might have an interest in the missions field.”

Is it possible for a parent to be both proud and terrified at the same time? When my then fourteen year old daughter said those words to me, I was so proud. What teenager thinks about this – a life committed entirely to God and serving Him in a place unknown? I told her to pray that God would show her His will for her life. Little did I know that this was only the beginning. Over the past year and a half I have seen her excitement and interest in missions work grow.  She began dreaming of all the different places she could go to share God’s Word. And as her excitement grew, this mama’s heart started to crack just a little.

Caitlin is our one and only child. Our family happens to be very close, and she has really only been away from us long term for a week when she was in fourth grade. That’s it! Sure, there have been sleepovers and friend’s houses over the years, but nothing more than a day or two. So imagine my sudden need to keep her closer knowing what the future holds! My little girl could be going across the world, and then when would I see her? She could be going to dangerous places, and I’m not sure my heart can take that. Mothers tend to worry too much, but don’t mistake that for lack of faith. I know, trust, and love the Lord. It’s that fleshly, motherly instinct that worries!

In August Caitlin will be going on her first missions trip, at the age of fifteen. She’ll be traveling with our pastor and his wife to Zacatecas, Mexico.

The three of them will be staying with a missionary family our church supports. They will be working with children the entire time they are there – another passion my daughter has. The plan is to have VBS for the community, and to minister to the kids in the local children’s home. Caitlin is going to lead a bible study for a group of 18 young girls. She is both nervous and excited. She has purchased gifts for all the girls to teach them about bible journaling, something Caitlin loves to do. Caitlin does not like speaking in front of people, so that fact that she even agreed to this, tells me that this is what God would have her to do. Her prayer is that during this trip, God would give her a clear sign of what He wants for her future. My prayer is that while she’s away, He prepares my heart and mind for what the future brings for her as well. 

I couldn’t be more proud of this beautiful, young woman who has a heart for others and a heart for the Lord. Will you pray about her trip with me? For safe travels, a good time, the ability to minister to others, and listening for what God would place on her heart? And would you also pray for this scared mama? That the Lord would just give me a peace about Caitlin’s future, even if it does take her far away! I imagine this trip will be the first of many – this missions family has already invited her to come back next summer, for the entire summer! Lord, let me get through this trip first please!

Hooray for Caitlin! Isn't this a wonderful, inspiring story?!

Author Bio:

Jessica Baker lives Central NY with her husband, teenage daughter, beagle and cat. She loves Jesus, her family and her church. She is a wife, mother, church youth group leader, and avid reader.  She loves cooking and baking for family and friends in her spare time.

Jessica’s love for reading began as a young child when her grandmother read her the book Teeny Tiny Woman. In fact, most of the books she read as a child were given to Jessica by her grandmother, to whom she is eternally grateful for encouraging her to read. Today Jessica has a diverse taste in Christian books, ranging from Amish to dystopian, historic to contemporary, and everywhere in between.

Jessica loves sharing her passion for reading with others, and connecting readers with authors. In addition to her blog, she provides support in managing street teams, proofreading, beta reading, copy edits, and assisting authors in any way that she can. Find out more about Jessica and her author/reader connection services by visiting her website, A Baker's Perspective.  

So very nice to meet you, Jessica. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today. Good luck and God's blessings in your endeavors!

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back regularly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Bishop Ken & Pastor Sheila Giles!

Good Morning!

Today's guests shared some thoughts with us last month, today let's see what Bishop Ken & Pastor Sheila treasure......

Truth (The Word of God) is the greatest treasure. Psalm 119:105 reveals that the Word of God is a lamp to the feet of mankind and a light to our path. God's word guides our life to the peace,  prosperity and protection He has reserved for us in all of life. Prayer: May we apply the Word of God to every area of our lives, that we may be blessed in all of life, especially the foundational institutions of marriage and family, in the name of Jesus the Christ, amen. Learn more in the newly released book: Prayer, Marriage and the Leadership Roles of the Husband and Wife, which can be obtained via this link: http://www.lbchouston.org/store/ebooks/prayer-marriage-and-the-leadership-roles-of-the-husband-and-wife-2

So true! The Word of God is always something to treasure! Thanks for sharing with us today.

Bishop Ken Giles and his wife Pastor Sheila Giles have decades of combined experience in Ministry and Christian Counseling. They both did undergraduate work at Prairie View A&M University Texas and were active in evangelistic work. Pastor Sheila Giles has served in church leadership for over two decades. She has a Master of Divinity from Houston Graduate School of Theology and is in the process of completing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Texas Woman's University.

Bishop Ken Giles began full-time ministry in 1993 as an inner-city Missions Leader in Dallas, Texas, while at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship under Dr. Tony Evans. He later served there as Assistant Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 1998, he returned to his hometown of Beaumont, Texas, and served as Pastor of Outreach at Cathedral of Faith Baptist Church and Executive Director of their nonprofit corporation. In 2000, Lincoln Bible Church was planted in the Beaumont/Port Arthur area and is now located in the Greater Houston Texas area where Bishop Ken Giles and his wife, Pastor Sheila Giles provide servant leadership.

Bishop Giles has a Master of Education Administration from Prairie View A&M University and a Master of Theology from Southeast Texas Theological Seminary. He is in the process of completing a dual doctorate in Christian Education and Theology from Kingsway Theological Seminary.

Thank you so much Bishop & Pastor Giles for sharing your treasures with us today. We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on all you do!

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll drop by each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Kenneth Gordon and Dark City

Good Morning!

Today I welcome another new-to-me author to the blog brought to you by Class Act Books....

Kenneth Gordon lives in Milford, NH. When he isn’t writing SciFi-infused horror novels, he plays PC games, electric and acoustic guitars, and drums. He also holds a brown belt in Kung Fu.

Ken has written five SciFi/Horror novels for Class Act Books: Dark City, Cadre of Vampires, Harmonic Convergence, In My Blood, and Dirus Sonus.

Learn more about Ken at:

Web Site: http://kennethgordonnovelist.com/

FB page: https://www.facebook.com/KennethGordonNovelist/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KennethGordon69

Publisher’s website: http://www.classactbooks.com/index.php/our-authors/manufacturers/kenneth-gordon

What does it mean to be human? How can we explain evil in the world? What if an AI confronts you about a flaw in your programming?

Join Jeremiah Xidorn as he is taken from the world he thinks he knows into a place of decision. Will he side with his captors; will he fight back? Delve into these and other questions…

Excerpt:

“I’ve been promoted. I am now in my boss’ position.” Joe flailed his arms with glee.

“That’s great. Congratulations!” they all said in unison.

“Where’s Joe?”

“I don’t know. He just left. An appointment I guess,” Sarah responded.

“The ’droids are settin’ things up, so I’ll stay out of their hair for a bit.” Something was off, but he couldn’t pin it down. “I’ll find him,” he told himself and bolted for his new office.

The androids had done their work quicker than expected, and Jeremiah’s office was quiet when he got there. He had to use the scanner to get in. Immediately, he was taken aback. On his desk were pictures of his family that he didn’t put there. Setting that thought aside for the moment, he jacked into the phone system and sent the sequence to dial.

 He called Joe’s office. No answer. A moment later, he called the central office to see if Joe could be located.

The automated attendant replied, “We are sorry, that person is no longer employed at this company.”

A sense of panic raised the hair on the back of his neck. Immediately, he ran with every ounce of strength to his friend’s office. It was empty. No trace that Joe worked there or had ever worked there was found. It was swept clean.

“Maybe I went to the wrong place,” he thought. “All these offices look the same.”

To his own chagrin, he knew too well the location of his friend’s office. The paranoia built to a steady state when, upon finding his other compatriots, they had no knowledge

that Joe had ever been part of their group. Jeremiah’s heart sank. He even checked the payroll office and no trace of his friend could be found.

There was no mistake. Joe had been intentionally erased.

Uhhhh....OK...sounds intriguing! Dark City can be purchased from Class Act Books, Amazon (UK) and Smashwords!

Hope you enjoyed today's post and that you'll check back weekly to see what (if anything) is happening on Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts Guest post by Rebecca Wetzler

Good Morning Friends,

As always it is a great pleasure to introduce you to a new-to-me author and today's guest is no exception so please welcome Rebecca Wetzler to our blog.....

Rebecca Wetzler, originally a California girl, has lived in Alaska since she was eight years old.  The oldest of five children, she was often needed in the surrogate mother role; therefore, she matured quickly. From early in life she was an avid reader, and subsequently developed an interest in someday writing her own books. Her favorite school subject was English writing assignments. To support her two children, she completed an accounting degree, towing her interest in writing along by minoring in English. Her successful career included advancing from an accounts payable clerk to a financial analyst­—a far cry from the Christian author of her heartfelt dreams.    

She has been a believer from her earliest memories as a small child in Sunday School asking Jesus into her heart. As her life progressed, Rebecca has realized her faith gives her a steady spiritual regrounding to weather the drama of real life, and she wants to share the spiritual truths with others so they may also follow God’s light past the world’s darkness.  Bread Box for the Broken is her first book, and she has ideas for more devotionals, some Bible studies, maybe Christian romance fiction with mystery and suspense.  It is important for her to share that faith in Christ is her foundation for challenging and purposefully overcoming life-long struggles with loneliness, self-esteem, depression, chronic pain from migraines and a permanently injured neck, and finally unexplained heart failure. Forced to early retire, she really doesn’t know what the future holds, but she knows Who holds her future.

Rebecca J Wetzler

www.rebeccawetzler.net Holy Spirit Dove blog

https://www.linkedin.com/in/rebecca-j-wetzler-7b763a49/

https://www.facebook.com/authorrebeccajwetzler/?ref=bookmarks

https://twitter.com/rdove1919

So nice to meet you Rebecca! I'm anxious to hear your thoughts so please share.....

I live at the top of the world in the largest state in the union – Alaska.  With short seasons except for winter, summer is a very busy time for several industries including commercial and sport fishing, which are both dominant factors in Alaska’s economy. Thirty-five years ago I worked for the North Pacific Fishery Management Council, the federal agency tasked with managing fisheries within the 200 miles off the coast of Alaska.  While working there I learned first-hand about the local, national and international importance of our fishery resources. And besides family fishing outings, one of my brothers-in-law has operated a charter boat out of Seward, Alaska for years. Originally just for fishing, he has expanded to sightseeing, hunting, and surfing – uh, no, not me!  I have not surfed in warm water, let alone the frigid arctic waters of Resurrection Bay. But apparently there are plenty of people who do, much to my surprise, and my brother-in-law was one of the first out there in the North Gulf Coast.   Since I will not try arctic water surfing, it’s no surprise I much prefer summer to winter, though I know there is value in both. What I like most… its warmer! I have never gotten into Alaska’s winter activities such as skiing, snowboarding, snowmobiling, or ice fishing – I do not like being cold. Now that I think about it, though, I am not active in Alaska’s summer activities either, such as camping, fishing, hunting nor hiking. When I was young my family went camping and fishing, but I did not learn enough to attempt it on my own in these later years. I have neither the skills nor the funds to go on outdoor adventures, despite occasionally wishing I could experience it again.  I wish I wasn’t quite SO clueless about it; maybe it is time I purposefully look around for outdoor educational opportunities. 

However, for as long as I can remember, I have purposefully striven NOT to be clueless about our Creator, who spoke our unique Alaska great outdoors into being. Staying with the topic of fishing, just as it is important to Alaskans, it was also important to the people in Jesus’ time. Matthew 4:18-22 tells the story of Jesus walking along the Sea of Galilee where he called his first disciples, brothers Simon Peter and Andrew and the brothers James and John, all who were fishermen. He commissioned them by saying, “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” And the Bible records two separate instances where the Lord miraculously fed thousands of people with just a few loaves of bread and some small fish, because the people did not want him to stop teaching long enough for them to go into nearby villages for food. 


Reading these biblical accounts, it gives me pause to think, have I ever been so deep into His teaching I would not put down my Bible long enough to eat? Rather shamefully I say rarely if ever; rather once I realize I am hungry, my concentration is broken, and I am rummaging around in the kitchen. I thought it humbling to note that Jesus did not forget the people needed physical sustenance even as he fed them spiritually. The Lord cares about our healthy well-being – spiritually, physically, mentally and emotionally.   As you escape in to summer with camping, fishing, hunting or hiking, look at the outdoor beauty around you with the spiritual lens that it is God’s Creation, entrusted to us because he cares about our well-being. While entertaining yourself with the bounty our country is blessed with, thank Him for His provision and generosity. With the prophet Hosea (6:3), “Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he will appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth.”

Wow! I'll be visiting my brother in AK next month, Rebecca...on Willow Lake...not sure how far that is from you but I'd love to connect and perhaps visit. Email me and we'll see if it'll work out. Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.

Hope you enjoyed the post friends and that you'll check back weekly. 

Meanwhile, Rebecca's book, Breadbox for the Broken can be purchased at her website in print and Ebook as well as Amazon for Kindle and in print also!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Linda Yezak & Ride to the Altar!

Good Morning!

It's been a while since out guest today has visited. Years in fact so please welcome Linda back with her brand new release, Ride to the Altar, book 3 in her Circle Bar Ranch series!

Overwhelming hurdles block the path in Patricia and Talon’s ride to wedlock. A past love, murdered years ago and now only a file in an unsolved case, returns to haunt Talon. A long-held grudge demands release, yet Patricia has no idea how very deep it runs until she confronts her mother. An attack against the Circle Bar itself, leaving cattle dead and one of its hands injured.

Different from all the other novels in this series, Ride to the Altar forces the two characters to face their past individually before they can face the future together.

Excerpt:  

A handshake is the initial measure of a man. The grip provides the best and the worst first impressions. Impossible through Skype, so Talon Carlson determined to use the alternative: steady, eye-to-eye contact.

He scrubbed his hands down his jean-clad thighs. Funny how he could propose to Patricia Talbert in an arena of seventy-five thousand avid bull-riding fans, yet he shook like a wobble-kneed colt in front of the blank computer screen. But he was just old fashioned enough to want to do this the right way.

He poked a button, Skype connected, and Patricia's father, Dale McAllister, appeared on the monitor. At six o'clock in the morning eastern time, the U.S. Senator from New York wore a suit and tie and looked ready for his Monday commute to DC. The somber attire complemented his authoritarian expression. Gunmetal-gray hair held silver wisps at the temples, and dark eyes bore an intensity matching his profession—or matching a father who was meeting his only daughter's fiancé for the first time. Didn't matter that the daughter was over thirty and the new owner of a two-thousand-acre ranch in Texas.

"It's nice to finally meet you, sir," Talon said. "I've heard a lot about you."

"Believe me, I've heard a lot about you too." Mr. McAllister's voice sounded deep, gruff. Intimidating.

"Yes, sir. I'm sure you have." He gulped. "Sorry that we have to meet like this. We intended to fly to New York—"

"Yes, Patty told me. No need to apologize. I understand you have a responsibility to your church, and performing funeral ceremonies is part of it." The senator offered a sympathetic nod. "Sorry for your loss."

"Thank you." The funeral had been for one of the most beloved women in the county, Beth Griffith. Her husband, Griff, had asked Talon personally to perform the eulogy. As a bullfighter, Griff  had saved Talon's hide more than once, so there had been no question that Talon would say yes, even if it meant missing their flight to New York.

Mr. McAllister leaned back, though the distance between his face and the monitor didn't lessen the effect of his scrutiny. "I understand you have something to ask me."

"Yes, sir," Talon squeaked, then cleared his throat. He tried again, clasping his hands between his knees to stop their shaking. "Mr. McAllister, I love your daughter, and she loves me. I'd like your permission to marry her. Your permission and your blessing."

Pat's father tapped his fingers together. "You know  she's been married before."

"Yes, sir. I know."

"You know she was hurt."

"Pretty badly, yes."

"I never did like that boy."

Nothing Talon could say to that. Since the older man's gaze seemed distant, best to just wait him out. He would never hurt Pat the way Kent Talbert had, but proof accompanies action. Mr. McAllister would know the kind of stuff Talon was made of as time went on. His saying so now wouldn't be convincing.

"Sometimes I think if he hadn't died, heaven help me, I would've killed him myself." The senator focused on him again. "You know what was wrong with him?"

Besides the fact he was a no-good, opportunistic, cheatin' womanizer, no. "Got my thoughts. What do you think?"

"He was a city boy. City folks—especially rich city folks—have different ideas from those of us raised on farms and ranches. Different priorities."

This seemed strange from a man who divided his time between DC and New York, but Talon nodded. "Yes, sir." After all, Mr. McAllister had been raised on a ranch, and it was his brother, Jake, who'd willed this one to Pat.

"I want a man for Patty who would make her happiness his top priority."

"As it should be."

"Are you that man?"

He straightened in his seat. "Mr. McAllister, I don't fall in love easily. Only once before in my life, and she died before we could get married. I love your daughter. I have a lot of respect for her. She's a good woman, and I'm honored she agreed to be my wife. I'll do everything in my power to assure her happiness and well-being."

The senator rubbed his jaw, pensively eyeing Talon through the monitor. "Patty told me about your first fiancée. What was her name?"

"Janet Parsons."

"Losing her was pretty rough on you."

"Yes, sir." About killed him. Took him years to get over her death, an experience made worse because he'd been a suspect in her murder. "Not something I care to repeat."

"I don't imagine. But if you loved that deeply once, you can do it again. You've been given a second chance, son. That doesn't happen often."

"No sir, it doesn't. I've been mighty blessed."

"I want you to continue to consider Patty a blessing in your life. That's what she is, and she deserves to be honored as such."

Talon didn't need to be told.

"She's old enough to make up her own mind about who she'll marry, but I appreciate your asking me. That means something." He sat quietly a moment, his face inscrutable, then he nodded. "I'm going to trust you with my little girl, young man. Don't let me down."

Talon released his breath. "I won't, sir."

"Call me Dale."

The grin started in Talon's heart, then burst forth on his lips. "I won't let you down ... Dale."

"Good. Welcome to the family. We'll let the women handle all the details." He shifted in his seat, making the leather squeak. "Is Patty around? I'd like to talk to her."

"I'm sure she's close by. I'll get her."

As Talon rose from his chair, the senator said, "Nice speaking with you, son."

"And with you, sir—Dale."

As he strode to the door to find Pat, he allowed himself a full-fledged grin. That hadn't been too bad. The hard part had been reading the man. Her father bore two expressions— stern and not so stern. Probably a requirement for being a senator. But then, he'd called Talon son and said to call him Dale. Good start.

When he opened the door, Pat stumbled through it. She caught her balance with a hand against the doorframe. Standing in the hallway with a crimson blush accentuating her sheepish expression, she looked adorable.

He chuckled. "Were you able to hear good enough?"

She scowled and swatted his arm. "Did it go all right? What did he say?"

"He said he wanted to talk to you."

"Okay, but what did he say about your proposal?"

"He said—"

"Talon!" One of the ranch hands, Chance Davis, burst through the front door and caught sight of them in the hall. "We've got more cows down."

"Ours or Griff's? How many this time?" Talon reached for his coat and hat on the rack by the door and headed out with Chance. They couldn't afford to keep losing cattle. They'd already stretched themselves too thin.

 

Linda W. Yezak lives with her husband and their funky feline, PB, in a forest in deep East Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She has a deep and abiding love for her Lord, her family, and salted caramel. And coffee—with a caramel creamer. Author of award-winning books and short stories, she didn't begin writing professionally until she turned fifty. Taking on a new career every half century is a good thing.

Website: http://lindawyezak.com

Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda 

Facebook: Author Page

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/

Twitter: @LindaYezak

Amazon Page: http://dld.bz/LWYAmazonPage

Goodreads: Linda W Yezak

Ride to the Altar can be purchased at Amazon and for a limited time is only 99 cents so if you love Christian cowboy romances check out this series!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and that you'll check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Alice Duncan!

Hello and Welcome!

Today's guest is new to our blog so please give her a huge WELCOME!

We each probably have a place that’s near and dear to our heart. For me, that place is Pasadena, California—not as it is now, but as it was when I was a kid. I’m including Altadena, the unincorporated community just north of Pasadena, in my love affair.

My Daisy Gumm Majesty cozy historical mystery novels are set in Pasadena and Altadena in the 1920s. That’s many, many years (oh, all right, so it’s not all that many) years before I was born, but the charm was there then—in fact, it probably had more charm then than it had when I came along.

In the 1920s Pasadena was a haven for wealthy folks who wanted to get away from the frigid weather in New England, or for moving-picture people who wanted an escape from the crowds and clamor of the big city (Los Angeles). The folks in my novels fit into this fabulously wealthy community by being their worker bees and minions. In fact Daisy, my heroine, is a phony spiritualist-medium. There’s not a rich woman in Altadena or Pasadena who doesn’t use her services from time to time. Working-class folks like Daisy and her family don’t have time for nonsense like spiritualism, but Daisy is extremely happy to earn money pretending to talk to the dead relations of the wealthy. She’s not as cynical as that sounds.

In the historical era encompassing the 1920s, it seemed to folks that life was spinning out of control. Many (too many, according to some) young people no longer wanted to emulate their parents. They didn’t want to work on the family farm. They wanted make money. They wanted to work in a big city, where excitement lay (they thought). They wanted to be stars! Or they went out, unsupervised) in automobiles, went to the flickers, or actually wore short skirts, rolled their stockings down, rouged their knees and frequented speakeasies. Parents despaired of their children, and children despaired of pretty much everything. Nothing seemed worthwhile to them. Nothing made any sense anymore (to the parents or their kids). The world had just been through a horrific world war, the likes of which no one had ever seen before. Hot on the heels of the Great War came the Spanish Influenza pandemic (which began in Kansas, but I didn’t name it) that killed nearly a quarter of the world’s population in 1918 and 1919. Both of those things left thousands, if not millions, of people mourning deceased loved ones.
Daisy, who is a kindhearted young women even if she is a fraud, attempts in every way she can to comfort rich people who are reeling from the loss of husbands, children, fathers, cousins, friends, etc. She does this with her Ouija board through her spirit control, a Scottish chap named Rolly; reading palms; and with her tarot cards and crystal ball. Daisy doesn’t mess with ectoplasm which, to her mind, is merely icky. She began her spiritualistic biz when she was ten years old, and she was shocked to her core when people took her seriously. When the series starts, she’s a star in the spiritualist-medium-ing world of Pasadena.

In her day, solidly middle-class women like Daisy and her female kin were supposed to stay home and take care of the house while their men-folk were out earning a living for the family. Neither Daisy’s husband, Billy Majesty, nor her father, Joe Gumm, are able to work, however. Billy was shot and gassed during the war, and Daisy’s father has a bum ticker. Therefore, the women in the family bring home the bacon 

Daisy’s aunt, Viola, cooks the bacon for the family. This is a Very Good Thing for the Gumms and Majestys, since neither Daisy nor her mother can cook a lick. Daisy has managed to burn water in the past and, although Daisy’s mother did manage to make a raisin pie once, it was a traumatic experience for her. It didn’t help that neither Daisy nor her mother could figure out what the capital T in the recipe stood for. Fortunately, they decided the T was short for tablespoon, and things worked out. Although I didn’t say so in the book, I’m pretty sure Vi made the crust for that pie, since making pie crusts is a skill beyond either Daisy or her mom. According to Daisy (and pretty much everyone else in the Pasadena-Altadena area), her Aunt Vi is the best cook in the known universe. Vi has to work away from home, too, as cook for the ultra-wealthy Mrs. Pinkerton, Daisy’s most lucrative client. Mrs. Pinkerton lives on Orange Grove Boulevard, which in those days was nicknamed “Millionaire’s Row.” Daisy and her family live in a tidy little bungalow on South Marengo Avenue. In those days, Marengo was lined on each side with pepper trees that formed a kind of canopy over the street.

Because Vi is such a great cook, I’ve considered putting together a cookbook featuring some of her recipes. Unlike Daisy, I love to cook. Unlike Vi, I don’t cook fancy stuff, which requires more patience than I personally possess. I have the patience of a gnat on meth. However, in Daisy’s latest adventure, SPIRITS UNEARTHED, one of Vi’s recipes appears. It’s a recipe for Swedish-style smothered chicken and, in order to make it, you first have to haul out your Scotch kettle. Don’t know what a Scotch kettle is? Neither did I. So I did some research. Turns out, it’s a Dutch oven!

I have acquired quite a few vintage cookbooks over the years, and the main thing I’ve noticed as I’ve looked through them is that, way back then, folks cooked with milk, cream and butter without giving a thought to their waistlines. That’s probably because milk, cream and butter were believed to be good for a person. My mother’s mother owned a Jersey cow because Jerseys gave the richest milk with the highest cream content! Go figure. AND (this is a big and) there were no fast-food restaurants on every street corner back then, so it was more difficult for a person to get fat. Daisy’s Aunt Vi also makes her own bread (which Daisy can never cut straight. Her slices are always uneven—fat on one end and skinny on the other). Daisy gets teased a lot about her cooking catastrophes, and she considers herself a terrible failure in the kitchen. That’s because she is one, but don’t tell her that, please.

Anyway, if you’d like to read more about Daisy and the gang, please visit this page ( https://ebookdiscovery.lpages.co/aliceduncandaisygummbook12excerpt/ ), where you can read an excerpt from SPIRITS UNEARTHED and learn more about my Daisy books. If you’d like to visit my web page, here’s the link: http://aliceduncan.net/ . And if you’d like to be Facebook friends, please go here: https://www.facebook.com/alice.duncan.925

Thank you!

THANK You, Alice! What a cute and informative post!

Hope you enjoyed Alice's post as much as I did friends and that you check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT