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Saturday, July 19, 2025

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Delia Latham and Jaimie Engle & Crossing Cheyenne


Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of Saturday Spotlight!

One of our guests, has been here before, (you can see Delia's previous posts HERE). Jaimie Engle is brand new to our blog and these two ladies have coauthored Crossing Cheyenne. Before we get into the whys and wherefores of the book, please share with us a blurb and short excerpt.

Thanks Pam! Here you go....

When a fiercely independent woman and a charming adventurer are double-booked at a remote cabin, their clashing personalities—and beloved pets—lead to unexpected sparks. As they both seek closure from their pasts, a journey of healing and love unfolds, culminating in a powerful reunion with long-lost family and a chance at a new beginning.

Excerpt: “So…lemme get this straight.” The young man smiled, but Cheyenne’s sour attitude saw only the blinding glare of his braces. “You two don’t know each other?”

“Nope.” Cowboy Billy spoke first. Of course.

The guy’s lack of manners did not coincide well with the boots and Stetson he wore like a pro. Weren’t cowboys supposed to be gentlemen and live by a secret code of conduct? So much for looks. She hated to acknowledge his, but she’d be lying if she pretended not to notice.

“Not at all.” Being forced to agree with him upped her frustration to the nth degree.

“And neither of you knew you’d be sharing the cabin with a stranger?”

“You got it, pardner.”

Cheyenne rolled her eyes. “Do I look like I would have let that happen?”

The kid turned almost purple, but did not respond to her sarcastic and admittedly catty question. Blossom must be rubbing off on her more than she realized.

“Well, it’s not supposed to happen.” He frowned, no doubt wishing himself anywhere but at work on this particular day, at this exact time.

“That we can agree on.” Cheyenne tried to shake the frustration that made her less than Pooh-worthy. She pulled out a smile that almost always worked miracles. “I’m sure you can see there’s been a mistake. And you’re going to fix it for me, aren’t you?”

“You betcha.” The poor kid turned his gaze on his computer monitor as if the very essence of life lay therein. Within moments, a grin lit his face. “Aha. That’s it.” He raised a bright green gaze to Cheyenne. “You were supposed to be a party o’ two.”

“That’s correct. But my friend got sick.”

“That’s it,” the clerk said again. “That’s the problem.”

Cheyenne blinked. “My friend getting sick is the problem?”

“Naw, ’course not. But when you called to change the set-up ’cause yer friend bailed on ya—”

“My friend did not bail on me.” Cheyenne surprised even herself with the heated retort. “She got sick.”

“Yeah, okay. Well, whoever changed the reservation for ya assident’ly canceled it.”

“But I didn’t ask to cancel. I just changed my reservation to take advantage of the single-occupancy rate.”

“Same thing, ma’am. Clearly stated on the website.”

“Not clearly enough. That’s pretty obvious, don’t you think?”

The kid continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “So, what happened is, when Mr. Goddard here reached out to book a spot, we showed an opening.” He grinned as if he’d just solved the riddle of the Sphinx, and shrugged one skinny shoulder. “Just a glitch in our system. That’s how come you folks got double-booked.”

Cheyenne couldn’t bring herself to return the kid’s delighted grin.

“Glitch or not, this is not going to work for me. I booked my reservation months ago.”

“Look, my dad and I stayed in this very resort when I was a little boy,” Cowboy Billy interjected. “I booked here for a specific reason. Something personal, and…well, important. Guess I was lucky your friend bailed.”

“She did not bail!” Cheyenne glared. “And you’re just going to have to…” She huffed a sigh and fluttered one hand. “Unbook.”’

With that, the two of them went at it, arguing loudly and without restraint. Guests gathered in clusters, openly staring, and Cheyenne did not care. Apparently, neither did Billy Butt-in, who didn’t come across like a gentleman cowboy in the least.

The clerk managed to make himself heard over their little word-war. “Look, folks, I’d love to solve your problem on account’a y’all don’t seem to be gettin’ on too well, but there’s just one thing.”

“What?” Cheyenne and her cowboy nemesis snapped the word in unison, with greater volume than necessary.

The kid shrugged. “We don’t got no more rooms.”

Don’t got wha—? “Great, Cheyenne muttered.

“And when might you have something?” The cowboy clearly sought to bring about some sort of diplomacy. Wonderful. She was up against a non-gentleman-cowboy politician.

The clerk scrolled through a couple of screens. “Friday is our first opening.”

“Friday is when I check out,” Cheyenne informed him.

“Oh, yeah, you’re right. You are the Friday opening.”

And so it went. A manager showed up to try and help, but the long and short of the situation was that no other openings existed—neither here, nor at their sister resort, nearby. For that matter, not a single hotel, motel, or bed-and-breakfast for miles around had a room to offer.

I wonder if this is how Mary and Joseph felt when they couldn’t find a place to stay the night Jesus was born. The thought came and was gone like a flash of lightning. She couldn’t think about such things at the moment.

Cheyenne continued to appeal to the sympathies of the clerk and manager, but since they weren’t able to manufacture another cabin out of thin air, they could offer no solution. At last, the manager threw up his hands in frustration.

“I’m truly sorry, folks, but I’m afraid your paths have crossed for one reason or another.”

Cheyenne froze.

“Some paths are destined to cross.” A familiar voice—maybe too familiar—whispered the line right into her ear.

***
Wow! I'm hooked. Now please tell us why you wrote the book and a little more about yourselves.

JAIMIE'S WHY:
In 2020, my family vacationed in North Carolina, staying in a charming two-story cabin. I had my dog with me, but an unexpected case of COVID kept me indoors, giving me time to reflect and dream up a new romcom idea. Inspired by the cabin’s cozy setting, I imagined two strangers double-booked in the same space—one with a dog, the other with a cat. At first, it felt like a quirky meet-cute, but I quickly realized their paths weren’t just crossed by accident—something deeper was at play. What if they were both heartbroken, and their time together became a healing journey orchestrated by God?

Brandon, the dog lover, is mourning the loss of his estranged father, whose ashes he’s tasked with spreading in the breathtaking landscapes of Wyoming. Cheyenne, desperate to find the mother she never knew, sets out on a search that leads her to the Midwest. Two souls, each longing for closure, unknowingly find the missing pieces in one another—through laughter, companionship, and unexpected love.

This premise sparked Crossing Cheyenne, and after completing the script, I teamed up with the incredibly talented Delia Latham to bring the novel to life. With her wisdom and insight, she deepened the characters and enriched the story in ways I hadn’t imagined. I can’t wait for readers to experience the journey, and for audiences to see the film streaming in the years to come!

JAIMIE'S BIO:

Jaimie Engle is a multiple award-winning writer of stories with a magic touch. With over a dozen published books, she is an expert in all things storytelling, teaching at national conferences, state libraries, and local schools on writing, publishing, and marketing books. Jaimie’s YA novel “Metal Mouth” was a quarterfinalist in the Book to Film Award, a Kirkus Editor’s Choice book, and received the Publisher’s Book Life Prize in fiction. She was also a semifinalist in the Publisher’s Book Life Prize in non-fiction, a recipient of the Writers of the Future Award, and her screenplays have been semifinalists for Austin Film Festival and Screencraft, to name a few.

She has worked with hundreds of writers to tell their stories, write their books, and adapt their work for film and television development. Jaimie optioned her first feature film “Just Jake” with distribution deal through UPTV Faith & Family Network (2023) and has several of her award-winning tv shows and movies in development with major studios and networks. When not telling stories, Jaimie spends time with her family in Florida, and her two dogs, Ahsoka and Moofart. Fun fact? Jaimie danced at the halftime show of the Aloha Bowl! www.JaimieEngle.com

The Creation of Crossing Cheyenne
Crossing Cheyenne was my first experience writing a story based on an already-completed movie script. Still partially romance—that’s my genre—and still clean, but not faith-based, and not my original brainchild. Instead, I was turning a script, written by the talented and amazing Jaimie Engle, into a novel. 

How in the world did I find myself doing such a thing? (I think I heard someone ask that question…didn’t I? It was you, right?)

Well, funny you should ask, because I love sharing the “why” of this particular story. Here goes—because you asked, of course…

When I “met” Jaimie Engle, I was editing for Vinspire Publishing (no longer in business, but an excellent small publishing house in its day). The owner/editor-in-chief asked if I’d be interested in editing a book for one of her new authors. “It should be an easy edit,” she said. “The author is experienced and talented, with quite a few published books.” But the kicker was that I’d be editing a novel written around the script for a movie that was already released and available for viewing. (If you’re curious, the book and movie are both titled Just Jake.)

Yes, we all knew things were moving a bit in reverse, but what the heck—sure, I’d give it a go. And that’s how I first came in contact with Jaimie. I edited her beautifully written book, we enjoyed working with each other, and then the job was done. Bye, Jaimie, nice meeting you, have a blessed life.

But she contacted me a few months later, asking if I’d write a novel based on a script she’d already written and was in the process of marketing to the appropriate people in the film industry. This time, she hoped to get the book written and released before the movie. Would I do it? (Interesting fact: Jaimie had never read a single one of my 30+ novels/novellas. She asked me to write the book based solely on my editing style.)

Well, the rest is history. Of course I did it, and of course I loved the opportunity to work with Jaimie again. I tremendously enjoyed fleshing out the characters and creating “more” for the story—more scenes, more details, more background…just more. I also loved the humor that came so naturally to Cheyenne and Brandon’s story. Jaimie and I laughingly agreed that what we ended up with is a romcomdram…or something like that. It’s a romantic comedy with enough romance to curl your toes now and then, and that little touch of humor that provides the occasional laugh-out-loud moment. The thread of drama running throughout the book was a joy to write! 

The result, with the combination of our individual strengths, is an honestly strong story that readers will love. I love it too, and will be forever grateful that Jaimie trusted me enough to invite me on board. 

Hey, Jaimie…thank you…thank you very much!

I’d love to hear your take on our unconventionally created story. Grab a copy at Amazon or Other Online Retailers, give it a read, and then share your thoughts on your favorite bookseller and/or review website. I’ll just say thank you now, because trust me, it will be appreciated.

Happy reading!

Delia’s Bio:
A world of romance with a whisper of angels’ wings. You can count on a touch of the divine in DELIA LATHAM’S sweet, inspirational novels and novellas.

An award-winning, best-selling author, Delia has over thirty published novels/novellas and short stories to her credit. She offers editing/proofreading services, as well as book cover and marketing material design. 

Having moved from California to Texas over a decade ago, and there the old CaliTexan couple will live happily ever after.

Connect with Delia: 
Email:  delia@delialatham.com 
Amazon Author Page:  www.amazon.com/author/delialatham
Facebook Readers’ Room: www.facebook.com/delialatham 

Thank You, Both so much ladies for sharing your story and Crossing Cheyenne with us! Wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings with this and all of your projects!

Hope you enjoyed today's guests, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Saturday Spotlight and be sure to check out the books in our sidebar!

Until next time, ditto what Delia said, "Happy Reading!
PamT

Saturday, July 12, 2025

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Angie K Dilmore and Bedtime Lullabayou

Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of Saturday Spotlight. Our guest today is brand new to our blog so please give a round of applause to Angie K Dilmore, a hometown author I am blessed to call "Friend." Tell us more about Bedtime Lullabayou, Angie...

Thank you, Pam, I appreciate all you do for authors! Bedtime Lullabayou is a tale written in verse about a boy named Anton who visits his Cajun Nana on a Louisiana bayou. When it's time for bed, Anton has other plans and "hides away", embarking on a bayou adventure and encountering native animals who live on the bayou along the way. Beautifully illustrated by Sulphur artist Stacy Bearden, Anton "hides" on each spread and children are encouraged to "find" Anton, making the story gently interactive. 

The book spotlights a number of French words, phrases, and aspects of our Louisiana culture, such as Jean Lafitte and loup garou. For readers who may be visitors or newcomers to Louisiana and not familiar with the lingo, a glossary is included, as well as a paragraph on nocturnal animals, giving it an educational slant. The magic happens at the end of the story, when Nana sings Anton a bedtime song and the animals join her in a bayou chorus, hence the title, Bedtime Lullabayou.

Enjoy a short excerpt...

It’s bedtime on the bayou,
But Anton wants to play.
Nana says, “It’s time for sleep.”
Anton hides away.

“Come back,” calls Anton’s Nana.
“The bayou’s wide and deep.
Time for little boys to rest,
when sunset falls to sleep.”

Anton knows the bayou well,
From murky stream to lake.
When fireflies flicker yellow,
The bayou creatures wake.

SWEET, tell us more about yourself and why you wrote, Betime Lullabayou and where we can find a copy.

Sure, here is my "official" bio...

Angie Kay Dilmore relocated from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Lake Charles, Louisiana in 2007. Enchanted with the region’s waterways, flora, fauna, and unique French culture, Cajun muses inspired her to write Bedtime Lullabayou. 

Angie has been writing and editing for various magazine markets since 2000. More recently, this nature lover and award-winning author may be found creating stories from a small camper in a pristine park somewhere. She currently lives in Lake Charles with her husband and two cats.

Find Angie on Facebook, Angie Kay Dilmore, author; or on her website, angiekaydilmore.com

Bedtime Lullabayou is available for purchase at several Southwest Louisiana shops or online at:

Thank You, SO Much Angie for visiting today and sharing your beautiful book with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it and any other books in your future.

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Saturday Spotlight and watch the sidebar and navigation bar for special features!

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT

Saturday, July 5, 2025

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara M Britton & Defending David!

 

Good Morning and Welcome to the first Saturday Spotlight of July 2025!

Hope your Independence Day celebrations are safe and happy.

Today we bring Barbara Britton back with her book, Defending David, part of her "Tribes of Israel" series.

Thanks for visiting us again, Barbara. Tell us what makes Defending David so special...

Thank you for having me back on the blog, Pam.

King David is a popular Bible hero and recently people have taken a renewed interest in David’s life with the drama “House of David.” Amazon Prime takes a few licenses with Scripture, but viewers tune in to see how a shepherd boy rose to power and became king over Israel.

In my novel “Defending David,” I capture David’s life when it is in turmoil. David is older and his son Absalom is determined to kill his father and claim the throne. David flees Jerusalem like a criminal. David is not fighting with armies or even a sling. David retreats in weakness.

David is still the man after God’s own heart as we read in I Samuel 13:14, and God provides a helper for David. God has a sense of humor because He sends a Philistine exile to assist David. This enemy exile has hundreds of fighting men and is sold out to the One True God. Who is this unlikely hero to David? A man with a fun name—Ittai the Gittite.

I enjoyed shining a light on Ittai and showing how David trusted him during a tumultuous time. Ittai is front and center as the buff warrior who saves an aging king, and he also finds love along the way.

Defending David” covers a chunk of Scripture in II Samuel, chapters 15-19:8. 

Wonderful! Give us more please...

Sure here's the cover, blurb and an excerpt...

When a quiet journey to Jerusalem turns tragic, newly orphaned Rimona must flee a kinsman set on selling her as a slave. Racing into the rocky hills outside of Hebron, Rimona is rescued by a Philistine commander journeying to Jerusalem with six-hundred warriors.
 
Exiled commander, Ittai the Gittite, is seeking refuge in the City of David. Protecting a frantic Hebrew woman is not in his leadership plan. Although, having a nobleman's niece in his caravan might prove useful for finding shelter in a foreign land. Rimona and Ittai arrive in Jerusalem on the eve of a rebellion. In the chaos of an heir's betrayal, will they be separated forever, or can they defend King David and help the aging monarch control his rebellious son?

Excerpt:
Stifling a laugh, Ittai surveyed the approach of the closest stranger. Why was anyone traipsing over rock and crevices in the dark when sunlight wasn’t far off? Some men had no sense. How many fools had he encountered in battle? Too many and they were dead. Crouching near a tower of rocks and a spindly sapling, Ittai unsheathed his blade. He breathed in cool air untainted with kicked-up camel dust. His eyes overcame the darkness to rest on a form breeching the top of the hill. 

Sandal slaps. Wheezing. One fool had made it to the crest. Hamuran would cut off the others. 

Nearer and nearer the climber came. Ittai swallowed. The sour taste of bile pulled his jaw tight. 

Lord, give me victory. 

The man stumbled over a rock and whimpered. 

Ittai lunged. 

He grabbed the stranger and pulled the thin frame taut to his chest. His knife rested against the flesh of the prowler’s neck. 

“Stay silent, or I will send your head thumping to the dirt.” 

His captive turned to stone. Trembling stone. 

A swell of breast rose and fell beneath Ittai’s arm. No stench of sweat or body odor offended his nose. This quivering climber smelled of scented soap even after a trek up a hill. An abundance of soft curls tickled his chin. 

He’d caught a woman. 

What was a woman doing out at night? In the wilderness? In his arms? 

He eased his blade from her neck. “I mean you no harm. I am not a foe. I will release you if you keep your voice low.” 

She nodded ever so slightly. A tiny whine escaped from her lips as if she were agreeing to his demand in earnest. 

He loosened his hold but kept her upright with a commanding grasp of her arm. A crazed or enraged woman could do harm. He had learned that in the most difficult of ways. He gave her enough slack to turn and face him in the shadows. 

“Help me,” the woman rasped. “Men are chasing me.” 

Securing his weapon, he kept his gaze centered on the gleam in her dark eyes. 

“They mean to cut out my tongue.” Her chest rose and sunk like the sea. “And sell me as a slave. My father is not a thief.” 

The woman’s eyes blinked without rest. He had only seen someone so undone under two circumstances—when he told his mother he was going off to war, or in war, when a man was pleading for his life. His mind became a fog of memories. His calm, tranquil night had been set ablaze.


AMAZING! I remember how much I enjoyed reading Defending David. Get your copy on Amazon (FREE in KU), you won't regret it!



Hope you enjoyed Barbara's visit today folks and that you'll check back every week for another Saturday Spotlight. See Barbara's other spotlights HERE.

Until next time take care and God Bless.
PamT