#SaturdaySpotlight is on Carol Nichols & A Different Season

Good Morning from Red Bluff, CA!

We're heading to Eureka, CA & Redwood National Park today so I may not be around much but please welcome Carol Nichols back to our blog with her debut release, A Different Season....

A Different Season opens in Oklahoma’s oil-rich countryside. The story finds Constance Sinclair, after the death of her husband by dubious circumstances, on the trail of his assailant which throws her into a murder. A stranger dupes Connie into thinking their chance meeting was all by happenstance and leads to romance and the final realization that she may be in love with a murderer.

Rosie Redmond, a co-worker, adds a comic interlude to the story as everyone tries to ascertain the workings of her mind.

The succession of different seasons, of Connie’s life, begins with first love, death, murder, romance and the outcome of circumstances of her dead husband’s hidden past. This topsy-turvy love-hate encounter keeps readers engaged with every turn of the page.

A Different Season’s sequel, Mist of the Moment, is planned for fall of 2017.

Excerpt: 
Connie jumps while placing her hand over her mouth to stifle the urge to scream as the all too familiar rap tap tap can be heard from the other side of the door.  Her mind races back through her thoughts and her previous feelings, which has consumed her every moment since leaving the police department. The thought that JJ has murdered that girl, and even if he hasn't he certainly knows something more.  Then, as the thunder increases in intensity and frequency, so do her fears.  She can hear the wind fiercely blowing as it tosses trees and limbs around beside her windows leaving ghostly shadows on her floor.

Once more, the rap tap tap that used to send her heart racing, as she could hardly wait to get to the door, now makes her release a small, but still audible, gasp.

"Connie, open the door.  I’m sorry I left so unexpectedly the other evening.  Please let me in.  I know you must be confused.  Please let me explain.  I need to have you understand."

Connie tries desperately to control her now shallow breath.  What to do?  She grabs her phone to call 911, as she just can’t open her door to a possible criminal.

GREAT Excerpt, Carol! A Different Season at Amazon in Ebook and Print!

Carol has worked in the legal profession since her Junior year of High school where she was a legal secretary at an El Reno law firm.

Carol continued her career in law enforcement with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office and worked under four different administrations before accepting a position with the District Attorney’s Office.

After a move to Southern Illinois, she worked for a criminal defense attorney before moving to Pennsylvania.  In Pennsylvania, Carol started writing through journals.  Upon moving back to El Reno in 1992, she was employed by USDA, Ft. Reno before retiring.

Carol’s journey continued with family illness thus heightening her awareness of life's fragility and resumed in-depth writing to move things from her mind to paper after the loss of her husband, Glen.
Carol has found release and expresses her feelings about life, marriage and faith which is well realized in her writings.

She resides in El Reno with her Jack Russell terrier, Patches. Find out more about Carol by visiting her website.

Check out Carol's previous visits on Tuesday Treasures and Thursday Thoughts.

Hope you enjoyed today's post 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

#ThursdayThoughts Guest post by Carol Nichols!

Good Morning!

Well, tomorrow is D-Day...I'm departing for a 2 month RV trip along the West Coast then across the Midwest and back down south! Follow me here and on Facebook for updates and pics and don't forget the Multi-Author Rafflecopter giveaway which ends on 12:01 am July 1st!

I'm excited to bring Carol Nichols back to our blog to share some thoughts with us so please give her a warm welcome.....

Do you have a mantra?  You know something that you can call upon during a time of need. I do.  It’s “Count all things joy” and “Only good comes from God.”

Sometimes that’s hard to wrap your head around especially if you are stressed, feeling inadequate to find a solution to a loved one’s problem or just overwhelmed.

Are there times when you feel like the donkey that has fallen into the ditch on the Sabbath and not completely sure if anyone is going to come pull you out?

We have numerous feelings brought on by all sorts of circumstances, and I don’t know about you, but when my heart is overwhelmed, I want to do anything but think about joy.  I want to escape from what feels too large and out of control.

I try not to have a pity party, and I certainly don’t want to do it alone if I do, so I usually try to pull friends into it with me by sending text messages bemoaning my circumstances in life.  But thankfully they don’t let me get far. They tell me, God is there for me and wants us when I’m feeling this way, to turn to him. To run to His Word which calms me and comforts me, so they send scripture.

Most times, you can’t change the happenings in your life that feel so monumental.  The happenings that swirl around you day by day. But, whatever feels bigger than you and I is nothing for our Lord and Savior who can handle all things.

When I want to escape, which seems to be quite often, and sometimes even want to hit the road so that I may be released from whatever powers that be, I’ve learned to first turn to God.

The kindergarten and first grade on Wednesday night that my friend and I are so privileged to teach in the worship session, are a fine example of this.  All are well on their way, as you can already see there open-hearted trust in the Lord.

We tell them that when they open the Bible that what’s inside is not only God’s word but God’s living word.  We tell them they can read God’s word over and over and then on that one certain day God speaks to us through that same scripture we have repeatedly read.  Yes, repeatedly read, but until now, until this particular situation, we have never read in this way with this need.

James tells us to Count all things joy.  So, when we are deep into it, we better get our joy going and always praise Him whether in the sunshine or the rain.

For with the Lord, you can find yourselves covered in the truth of His Word and in the security of His presence.  For in Him all the day to day pressures, which mount against you, can quickly be brought in to the size of the Almighty.  For our God is a big God.

God’s living Word gives us the safety we need.  And if God’s word is living then we, being in his presence, can give us the love and peace we need.  Then when you feel the need to escape, please turn to Jesus who’s waiting to envelop you in his arms.

Wow, Carol so TRUE! Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us!

Carol has worked in the legal profession since her Junior year of High school where she was a legal secretary at an El Reno law firm.

Carol continued her career in law enforcement with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office and worked under four different administrations before accepting a position with the District Attorney’s Office.

After a move to Southern Illinois, she worked for a criminal defense attorney before moving to Pennsylvania.  In Pennsylvania, Carol started writing through journals.  Upon moving back to El Reno in 1992, she was employed by USDA, Ft. Reno before retiring.

Carol’s journey continued with family illness thus heightening her awareness of life's fragility and resumed in-depth writing to move things from her mind to paper after the loss of her husband, Glen.
Carol has found release and expresses her feelings about life, marriage and faith which is well realized in her writings.

She resides in El Reno with her Jack Russell terrier, Patches. Find out more about Carol by visiting her website.

Beautiful clocks, Carol and I understand exactly how you feel. My own sweet husband died in 2009 and it's been a long journey from then until now. Treasure each moment you shared, but don't forget to treasure yourself and the opportunities to grow and bless others from your experiences.

Friends you can find Carol's debut novel, A Different Season at Amazon in Ebook and Print!

Hope you enjoyed today's post 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

#TuesdayTreasures Guest Post by Carol Nichols

Good Morning Friends,

If you've ever met someone and instantly connected with them then you'll understand why I'm excited to bring you today's guest! Carol is a new author and new to our blog so please extend her a warm welcome....

I want to thank Pam for allowing me some time and space on her blog.  I find it interesting, though, that the first column available was Tuesday Treasures.  Don’t get me wrong, I am old enough to be considered a treasure, but that would be if you ever found me in an antique store.  I then thought that she might have a column with some type of ‘ramblings’ in its name as I’m also well known for that.

 From the title ‘Treasures’ I thought of writing about the Grandfather Clock that has been in our family for many years and also a mantle clock that my Grandpa Brady gave to his bride on their first anniversary.  I could really get into that with the love aspect because you see I love ‘love’.  I love everything about it.  The first accidental brush of a hand which leads to eye contact where you realize you may have a connection or the first date when the two of you are oblivious to your surroundings and feel that you are the only two people in the world.

Cherish those moments my friends, whether you are yet to experience love or you have been privileged enough to have known love but now only in your memories.

It was the loss of this love that put me in a tailspin.

Those moments in time that can never be returned to you but also, in the same manner, can never be taken.  How you spend your time, I find as I have gotten older, can be complicated.  The days can slowly drag by in a mundane sort of way, or you can let your mind swirl with thoughts you have no control over, especially in times where you have experienced a deep hurt.

That was my life.  I wanted to stick my head in the sand or climb into bed and pull the covers way up.

Day after day I relived the event as it had happened and couldn’t get the endless circle of thoughts to stop or even subside.  I would go to bed at night to only get up again as sleep would evade me.  How I longed for a purpose.  Something that would occupy my mind in hopes of wearing me smooth so I could fall in bed at night welcoming the opportunity of sleep for a tired body and mind.

A friend invited me to a grief counseling meeting she attended, and they had us write about our situation and then read it aloud.  It tore me to shreds.  I literally felt kicked in the gut.

That’s when I started journaling.  I had journaled before and even written a little, but this time it was different.  This time I wrote to permanently get thoughts out of my head and on paper where I could leave them.

I started a blog, but was told I made everyone cry so I backed off and then I saw a small ad in the local paper that said, “Have you ever thought about writing?”

Well, yes I have, thank you very much.  I will see you Tuesday.  (You see I was talking aloud to the printed word but by now the dog is used to it.)

Long story short, I was embraced by the Creative Quills group at our local Carnegie Library, and in a few short weeks, a book was born.  I thank God for this opportunity he has given me and also for the purpose I have found for my life for truly this is my treasure and not just on Tuesdays.

Have you ever felt the need to put pen to paper?  Do you have something to say and a need to leave it somewhere except in your mind?  Well, if your answer is yes, I invite you, dear reader, to pick up a pen and paper and see what the recesses of your mind’s memory have to say.
Love and hugs,
Carol

Carol has worked in the legal profession since her Junior year of High school where she was a legal secretary at an El Reno law firm.

Carol continued her career in law enforcement with the Canadian County Sheriff’s Office and worked under four different administrations before accepting a position with the District Attorney’s Office.

After a move to Southern Illinois, she worked for a criminal defense attorney before moving to Pennsylvania.  In Pennsylvania, Carol started writing through journals.  Upon moving back to El Reno in 1992, she was employed by USDA, Ft. Reno before retiring.

Carol’s journey continued with family illness thus heightening her awareness of life's fragility and resumed in-depth writing to move things from her mind to paper after the loss of her husband, Glen.
Carol has found release and expresses her feelings about life, marriage and faith which is well realized in her writings.


She resides in El Reno with her Jack Russell terrier, Patches. Find out more about Carol by visiting her website.

Beautiful clocks, Carol and I understand exactly how you feel. My own sweet husband died in 2009 and it's been a long journey from then until now. Treasure each moment you shared, but don't forget to treasure yourself and the opportunities to grow and bless others from your experiences.

Friends you can find Carol's debut novel, A Different Season at Amazon in Ebook and Print!

Hope you enjoyed today's post 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