#SaturdaySpotlight: Paula Mowery and The Crux of Honor

Hello Again Friends and Welcome.....

Well it goes without saying we are already on the first Saturday of May....SERIOUSLY?

Today is the Kentucky Derby...wonder if we'll have another Triple Crown Winner this year or if it'll be 37 more years until the next one?

Guess we'll find out soon enough!    

Meanwhile, enjoy this week's Saturday Spotlight with fellow Pelican Book Group author, Paula Mowery and her newest release, The Crux of Honor.

Chelsea Wilson’s life is a constant reminder of what living dishonorably looks like. At every turn she continues to prove her mother’s shunning must be deserved.

Dr. Kevin Alley returns to the old home place to establish his medical practice. After running into Chelsea, he knows his love for her is still strong.

Chelsea is ousted from her small rented room when her mother bursts in, proclaiming Chelsea’s pregnancy.

Kevin takes Chelsea in, giving her space to live on the upper level of his house.

When Chelsea’s baby displays life-threatening symptoms, Chelsea must face her mother. Secrets unfold about Chelsea’s parents. Can Chelsea and Kevin uncover the secrets linked to Amish heritage in time to save the baby? Can the two find love together despite their history? 

Excerpt:

Chelsea Wilson stared at Samuel’s face as he repeated his apology. The small town campus bustled in the background.

“Chelsea, I’m sorry. I’m ready to go back and join the Amish church and be baptized.”

She nodded as tears slid down her cheeks. Her pulse strummed in her ears.

He grasped her hand and leaned closer. “But that doesn’t mean we can’t be together. Come back with me. It’s not unheard of...”

“No.” Her voice was low, almost a whisper. She studied his plain clothes. “Samuel, I think down deep we both knew this day would come. You never fit here, and I would never fit there.”

“You will hate me, ja?” His Amish accent crooned.

“No. I respect your heart-felt decision. I can see it in your eyes. It’s what’s right for you.”

“And you? What is right for you?” Honesty poured from his big brown eyes.

“I’m not sure.”

“You will find your way. Trust God.” He pulled her head to his chest and wrapped his arms around her back. She leaned into his embrace for a moment and then backed away. He replaced his black felt hat atop his head, nodded, and marched toward the junior college parking lot.

A stream of tears blurred his silhouette. Chelsea planted her face in her hands, thankful for the concrete bench under her to keep her from sinking to the ground. How could she be so stupid? Her mother had warned her to stop fraternizing with a young man on Rumpspringa. When she refused, her mother had kicked her out of the family home. Chelsea couldn’t help chuckling at her mother’s rich vocabulary. Fraternizing and banished. Why did her mother have to be right? As small as the town of Integrity, Tennessee, was, Mother would discover the news of her break-up by nightfall.

She wrapped her arms around her waist. I can’t sit here feeling sorry for myself. She swiped her cheeks with the backs of her hands and rose to her feet. Draping her book bag over her shoulder, she shuffled toward the library. She would focus on studying for her final exam. There was plenty of time to cry her eyes out later, alone, in her tiny rented room. 

The Crux of Honor can be found at Amazon.

Paula Mowery is a published author, acquisitions editor, and speaker. Her first two published works were The Blessing Seer and Be The Blessing from Pelican Book Group. Both are women’s fiction, and their themes have been the topics of speaking engagements. Be The Blessing won the Selah Award in 2014 in the novella category. In November of 2013 her first romance released in the anthology, Brave New Century, from Prism Book Group. This book went to number five on Amazon’s bestseller category, historical Christian romance. Legacy and Love was her first solo romance and was a finalist in the Carolyn Readers Choice Awards in 2015. Her other titles include a Christian romantic suspense called For Our Good, a Christmas romance called Love Again, and a romance inspired from the Love Chapter called The Crux of Honor. 

Reviewers of her writing characterize it as “thundering with emotion.” Her articles have appeared in Woman’s World, The Christian Online Magazine, and the multi-author devotional blogs, Full Flavored Living and Putting on the New. She wrote a section for Join the Insanity by Rhonda Rhea. She has devotionals included in several collaborative books.

Having been an avid reader of Christian fiction, she now puts that love to use by writing book reviews. She is a member of ACFW and also on the faculty for the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Paula is a pastor’s wife and mom to a college student. She homeschooled her daughter through all twelve years, and they both lived to tell about it. Before educating her daughter at home, she was an English teacher in public school.

Learn more about Paula at her blog as well as find other links to connect with her at www.paulamowery.blogspot.com.

Sounds like another great book, don't you think friends?

Hope to see you next week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and another Saturday Spotlight!

Until later...take care and God Bless.
PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight: Paula Mowery and her book, For Our Good

Good Morning and Hello from Santee, South Carolina!

I mentioned on Thursday I was travelling and here we are, in Santee, SC with today's special guest, Paula Mowery with her latest book, For Our Good

Charlie Jarvis is haunted by loss that fuels her desire to rid the world of drug traffickers. When her next assignment takes her back to her hometown, she has to confront her painful past. She has no interest in a relationship since God seems to kill everyone she loves. 

Colton Thomas appreciates material things and the status of being a corporate pilot. When someone approaches him to deliver a package for a large sum of money that could wipe out his debts, temptation knocks loud on his door even as his partner, Marshall, slams it shut. Meeting Charlie challenges his non-committal stance with women. As he considers who he has become and the kind of man he would want to be for Charlie, he confronts his own shallow lifestyle and the fear that he would never be able to help her heal her wounds. 

As Charlie pursues the man causing young boys to die of overdoses, she struggles with the secrets she keeps from Colton. With people around them shining the light of God and encouraging their courtship, both Charlie and Colton have to face hard truths about life, death, love, and faith. And maybe find a fresh start for them both. 

EXCERPT: Though returning to her hometown might take an extra measure of gumption, the assignment whetted her appetite for taking down drug traffickers. “I’m in.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes, sir. I can handle it.” She forced her tone to be firm and even.

“There’s a private plane scheduled to come in on Friday that the captain wants to arrange for you to catch. He’s arranging for a furnished apartment there. If you could pack up any additional clothes, linens, and such, we will ship that to you. I will see what kind of agreement we need to get from your current landlord to hold your apartment here.”

“Okay. That works for me.” Holding her home here in Florida was like a guarantee she would return and erased some of the reluctance building in the pit of her stomach.

Captain Roland stood and slid around to the front of his desk. Charlie jumped to her feet. 

“You go on home and start packing. I’ll call you with further details as I get them.”

“Yes, sir. Thank you.”

“I just worry we’re throwing you back out there before you’re ready.” Captain Roland massaged the back of his neck. 

She shook her head. “No, I’m ready.” Ready for the job, perhaps, not the location. But she would handle that when the time came. Nabbing drug dealers was her obsession, even more now than ever before.

Paula Mowery is a published author, acquisitions editor, and speaker. Her first two published works were The Blessing Seer and Be The Blessing from Pelican Book Group. Both are women’s fiction, and their themes have been the topics of speaking engagements. Be The Blessing won the Selah Award in 2014 in the novella category. In November of 2013, her first romance released in the anthology, Brave New Century, from Prism Book Group. This book went to number five on Amazon’s bestseller category, historical Christian romance. Legacy and Love was her first solo romance and was a finalist in the Carolyn Readers Choice Awards in 2015.

Reviewers of her writing characterize it as “thundering with emotion.” Her articles have appeared in Woman’s World, The Christian Online Magazine, and the multi-author devotional blog, Full Flavored Living. She wrote a section for Join the Insanity by Rhonda Rhea. She has devotionals included in several collaborative books.

As an acquisitions editor for Prism Book Group, Paula particularly looks for romance stories with Christian values at its core. She’s especially attracted to those manuscripts that leave the reader mulling over the story long after turning the last page.

Having been an avid reader of Christian fiction, she now puts that love to use by writing book reviews. She is a member of ACFW and is on the author interview team. She was a member of the 2014 and 2015 Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference faculty.

Paula is a pastor’s wife and mom to a college student. She homeschooled her daughter through all twelve years, and they both lived to tell about it. Before educating her daughter at home, she was an English teacher in public school.

You can follow Paula at www.facebook.com/pages/Paula-Mowery/175869562589187. Learn more about Paula at her blog at www.paulamowery.blogspot.com or enjoy her monthly columns on www.christianonlinemagazine.com. You can also check out her blog for Christian writers at www.ccwcu.blogspot.com.

For Our Good can be purchased at Amazon for Kindle.

Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this week's spotlight. Stay tuned weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course, Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God Bless!
PamT

Saturday Spotlight: Paula Mowery & Legacy and Love

Good Morning Friends!

Well today we're on our way to Houston, TX for my Angel Girl's 2nd dance competition so without a lot of fanfare, I'm happy to bring to you my guest, Paula Mowery with her brand new anthology, Legacy and Love.

Legacy and Love contains two stories and is available @ Amazon

The Prayer Shawl

Sean Holland is a magazine reporter always looking for the next story. Hope Weaver is a pediatric nurse who shares Christ through making prayer shawls. The shawls are just the touchy-feely story Sean needs, even though he’ll have to endure Hope’s strong Christian beliefs to get it. An unexpected connection brings them together as a couple. But, can they find love if they don’t share their faith?

Inheritance

Alex Lyndon’s life has been a series of fits and starts with no finishes. She finds herself jobless and divorced. Now her only family, Granny Olivia, is critically ill.

Chase Carson had to step into running the family business when his father died. The time is past due to visit Miss Olivia.

Alex and Chase must go on a treasure hunt. Will each find purpose and love for their lives in the process?

Paula Mowery is a pastor’s wife and a homeschool mom. She has always been an avid reader of Christian fiction. She began writing in the area of nonfiction creating three Bible studies which were self-published. However, she crafted fiction stories which she shared with friends and family. When one of her readers encouraged her to pursue publication, she joined American Christian Fiction Writers, learning more about the world of fiction. Her debut work of fiction is a novella published by Harbourlight, a division of Pelican Book Group – THE BLESSING SEER.

Learn more about Paula at her blog http://paulamowery.blogspot.com/
Read more of her writing in her monthly columns on ChristianMagazine.org.

Thursday Thoughts: Writing

I know, I know it's Friday not Thursday but since I actually got some writing done yesterday then was away from the computer all day I figured it's better late than never LOL!

A few of Pelican Book Group authors put together a min-blog-hop on "The Ten Commandments of Writing"  each sharing theirs on their personal blog.

I hadn't thought of these before reading some of theirs but here's a shot at it....

#1: Write - you can't "find" time to write, you have to make it.

#2: Revise & Resubmit - your non fiction articles and essays.

#3: Pray -- this should actually be first but sometimes when the work isn't going well all you can do is PRAY!

#4: Read - Sometimes when the words won't flow, reading something from your favorite author or a new author helps get your juices going.

#5: Journal - If the WIP just isn't flowing, sit down with a pen and pad and write whatever comes to your mind. This can help clear your head from the chatter and unblock your creativity.

#6: Carry a notebook and pen with you always or utilize the voice recorder or note option on your phone. You never know when an idea will hit or the solution to your characters' latest conflict will come to you.

#7: Write: Yeah I know I said this before but it bears repeating....You can't find time to write you have to make it! Here's another thought...Write the book of YOUR heart! Sometimes we get so caught up in the "rules of writing" we ignore the call of our heart. You can always edit or toss that particular work, but get it out of your head/heart and make room for more!

#8: Word Count counts! Don't discount blog posts, articles, essays, interviews, tweets, etc.. too many times we beat ourselves up because we haven't worked on our WIP not realizing that Writing is Writing! 

#9: Give yourself a break. If your day is not as productive as you anticipated or you get only a few words in remember....that's one sentence, paragraph or page closer.

#10: Write: Yeah I'm saying it again but another thought...if your WIP isn't working for you, write something different. You'll amaze yourself at what can happen!

Here are links to the other authors sharing their writing commandments!

Delia Latham on Write Right!

Paula Mowery on Creative Christian Writers Crank Up

Clare Revell on The World Can Wait

Jayna Morrow on JaynaMorrow.com

Julia M. Toto on JuliaMToto.com

Brooksie on Groovie Brooksie 

Lilly Maytree at Lilly Maytree Blog

Linda Yezak at 777 Peppermint Place

Therese M. Travis at Paperfaces

Enjoy and learn then get busy!

PamT

Saturday Spotlight: Paula Mowery & Brave New Century

Good Morning and welcome to the first Saturday Spotlight of 2014!

Today's guest, Paula Mowery is a pastor's wife and former home school mom. She is a Christian writer whose articles have appeared in Woman's World and her ongoing column on The Christian Online Magazine. Paula also debuted into Christian fiction with her novella, The Blessing Seer, and it's sequel, Be the Blessing, both through Pelican Book Group.   Today, we are spotlighting her story, Forgiven, in the anthology Brave New Century.

BRAVE NEW CENTURY

Four young women each brave challenges at the dawn of the 20th century. Will they overcome their hardships and find love? Three Rings for Alice Love and respect in 1899 Milwaukee is as close as a phone call. Forgiven When Henry and Jessie meet, it seems to be love at first sight until a shocking revelation tears them apart. The Pocket Watch Looking for the past, an orphan and a young doctor find love and hope for the future. Flames of Hope Love ignites in the midst of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake.

Excerpt for Forgiven:
Father’s brow wrinkled in apparent confusion. “Whatever is the trouble, Jarnigan?” His father joined the man near the saloon entrance, gesturing to his three sons to stay put. Words were exchanged, but Henry couldn’t understand any until Jarnigan’s voice raised. He swore. “… liar and a rascal.” He shook a pointed finger in Father’s face.

John Smith would never stand for a person questioning his honesty. Father reared his fist back and punched Jarnigan square in the nose. Jarnigan stumbled backwards but quickly righted himself. He rubbed his nose and then studied it. Henry supposed he was checking for blood. In a flash he pulled a Derringer pistol and shot. Henry had no chance to warn his father in time. Father winced and grabbed his shoulder. Jarnigan spun around and ran toward the hotel.

Father sprinted to the car, threw open the driver-side door, and ducked out of sight for a split second. He reappeared handing a gun to Taylor and one to Jake. He waved for them to follow with his own weapon. The foursome jogged toward hotel, Father leading and Henry bringing up the rear.

Henry’s heart pounded not from their sprint but from fear of how this would play out. Before he could raise his voice in protest; His father, Jake, and Taylor had disappeared through the hotel’s entrance.

Henry had barely slid through the entrance behind them when bullets began to fly. He ducked low to the floor and slipped behind a chair. He peeked out in time to see Jarnigan peer over the tall wooden check-in counter across the room. As the man aimed his Derringer toward a set of stairs on the other side of the lobby, Henry spotted Taylor racing his way, gun waving in his hand. Taylor’s eyes were wide, filled with fear, and trained on the hotel doors when Henry stood and caught his brother’s shoulder. “Taylor.” His brother glanced at him for a split second. The weapon trembled in his grasp. Henry snatched the weapon from him. Taylor burst through the front doors and outside.

Henry followed, standing on the sidewalk watching Taylor’s retreating form head toward their motorcar. Out of nowhere, he saw a man wearing a light brown uniform chased after Taylor. The man screamed, but Henry couldn’t make out his words. Taylor continued to run and threw his arms above his head.

A gun fired and Taylor fell face-down to the ground. Henry’s legs wouldn’t budge.

His breath came in gasps. A bystander rushed to his brother’s side and slowly flipped him over. “He’s dead.”

Brave New Century is available now through Amazon in Paperback & on Kindle!

Well friends, hope you enjoyed this spotlight. Stay tuned for more Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlights!

Saturday Spotlight - Paula Mowrey

Hello Friends!

Well a lot has happened in the last week and I promise to give you an update soon. I'm trying to get back on a regular blogging schedule, but until I do, please welcome White Rose Author, Paula Mowrey with her debut novel, The Blessing Seer!

Paula Mowery is a pastor’s wife and a homeschool mom. She has always been an avid reader of Christian fiction. She began writing in the area of nonfiction creating three Bible studies which were self-published. However, she crafted fiction stories which she shared with friends and family. When one of her readers encouraged her to pursue publication, she joined American Christian Fiction Writers, learning more about the world of fiction. Her debut work of fiction is a novella published by Harbourlight, a division of Pelican Book Group – THE BLESSING SEER.

Learn more about Paula at her blog – www.paulamowery.blogpost.com.
Read more of her writing in her monthly columns on ChristianMagazine.org.

When God sends Addy a special messenger who challenges her to step from her comfort zone, she isn’t sure she’s up to the job. She feels inadequate to take on the task of encouraging others, and when she starts seeing visions, she worries she’s losing her mind.



Yet, Addy wants only to be used by God, even if that means seeing visions and risking relationship with family and friends. By stepping out on a limb, can Addy really accomplish something significant for God? What affect will her surrender to His will have on those around her? And, what affect will it have on her own life?

Excerpt: 
I hesitated, then I extended my hand.

“I’m sorry I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure. I’m Addy Townsend.” I was actually “fishing” when I said this. I didn’t know who this man was or where he had come from. He didn’t favor the man I had seen earlier in the car. I definitely had no idea why he had immediately begun to discuss the very topic that buzzed in my head. And in this day and time, should I be running from him?

When he placed his hand in my outstretched one, words failed to express the feeling. As odd as it may sound to even my ears, his touch radiated peace like a warmth that rushed from his hand throughout my body and calmed my restlessness. I sensed no need to flee.

“Name’s Conrad.”

“Nice to meet you, Conrad. I’ve never seen you around here. Have you recently moved into the neighborhood?”

“No, just passing through.”

“I see.”

He began to stroll once again, and I fell into step beside him. It felt familiar, as if I had taken this walk with him on numerous occasions. I started to engage in friendly conversation by commenting on the weather or leaves, but I never had the opportunity.He launched the conversation himself.

“Blessings are often contingent on obedience.”

I contemplated that a moment. I considered what I knew from Scripture about the topic of blessing.
“I suppose you’re right, at least historically speaking. I mean, God promised blessing to the Israelites if they would obey.”

“That’s right, Addy, He did.”

His face beamed as if he were proud I had answered correctly, and I smiled for his words to me brimmed with compliment. The ease of conversation with a stranger surprised me. Normally, I would only engage in such dialogue with those closest to me, and admittedly, possibly not even then.

“There are blessings God gives because He is a gracious God.” Conrad continued. “However, there are blessings He waits to give if only the person will obey or follow His will.”

“Yes, He definitely blesses us with much we don’t deserve.”

“It is His very nature.” He stated this in a most matter-of-fact manner.

“But, if there are blessings we could receive based on obeying or following His will, then what you said must be true—there are blessings we never receive because we aren’t obedient or devoted to following His way.”

He stopped and looked at me. His eyes brimmed with compassion. His expression and posture exuded sorrow. “Yes.” His voice was low, and I thought a tear might emerge for the deep emotion I sensed from him.

Silence ensued. I felt the need to cease the intensity of the moment.

“It’s a shame that we would miss out on God’s blessings. If only we knew what God was up to.”

Now Conrad’s eyes seemed to look to my very soul. My pulse quickened. I bit my lip and began to fidget.

“If you knew the blessings God had in store for others, would you tell them?”

“I suppose I would….yes.”


Wow, sounds like my kind of read! Get your copy of The Blessing Seer for only $2.99 @ Pelican Book Group or Amazon.com!