#SaturdaySpotlight is on Jenelle Hovde & The Light of the Stars!

Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of Saturday Spotlight, 

Back in March I introduced you to Jenelle Hovde and I am so pleased to have her back in the spotlight with her brand new release, The Light of the Stars. 

Thanks for joining us again, Jenelle! Please tell us why you wrote this particular book.

Thanks for having me back, Pam. I appreciate the opportunity to tell your viewership about my new release.

I wrote The Light of Stars after learning about Katherine “Kitty” Kirkpatrick, a real girl of British and Indian heritage who was taken from her mother in Hyderabad under East India Company policies and carried to England to be raised as a British gentleman’s daughter. Her story opened my eyes to how Company rules—and the choices of British fathers and guardians—could tear families apart, especially when children of mixed heritage were removed from their Indian mothers, given new names, and brought up with little knowledge of their first home. The real Kitty never saw her mother again and was never allowed to return to India. I wanted to explore the human cost of those decisions through the lens of an arranged marriage: a woman searching for the mother she lost and a man tied to the very institution that helped take her away. By placing my characters, Katherine Grenville and Sebastian Sinclair at the crossroads of love, duty, and faith, I hoped to shed light on the real families who endured such hardships and to offer a story where courage, forgiveness, and God’s guiding hand bring healing even in the most complicated circumstances.

What a wonderful concept! Give us more please...

Sure... 

An arranged marriage. A powerful company tainted with corruption. Two souls caught between obligation and a longing to find their true calling in this Regency romance set in glittering London ballrooms and Calcutta street markets.

When Kitty Grenville’s grandfather announces her engagement to Sebastian Sinclair, she’s appalled. She barely remembers the boy she met once as a child―and now he’s a man tied to the East India Company, the very organization that tore Kitty and her brother from their mother and home in Hyderabad years ago. Unwilling to relinquish her dream of a love match or her passion for astronomy, Kitty is determined to refuse the marriage and find freedom in her own way.

Sebastian Sinclair carries the weight of duty and regret. To atone for past sins, he complies with his grandfather’s orders to return to England, fulfill a long-standing betrothal, and defend the maligned East India Company before Parliament. Though Kitty makes her disinterest clear, Sebastian is drawn to her intellect and spirit.

As Kitty navigates her first London season, her opinion of Sebastian begins to shift, especially when he shields her from scandal. When he’s abruptly called back to India, Kitty stuns everyone by marrying him and going with him, hoping to escape her grandfather’s control―and to find her mother.

But the challenges that await in India are greater than imagined. Together, Kitty and Sebastian must confront the legacy of family and empire―and discover if a marriage born of obligation can grow into a love strong enough to endure.

Enjoy this Excerpt...

Torchlight flickered across the marble arches and carved lattice screens, sending shadows skittering along the palace courtyard. I clutched Ghulam's hand so tightly my nails must have bitten into his skin, but my older brother did not flinch. His other arm wrapped around my sleeve, tugging me close to the shelter of the wall, as if he alone could drag me out of the open expanse and back into the safety of the harem. Somewhere beyond the colonnade, voices shouted, sharp and urgent.

"Stay with me, Noor," Ghulam whispered as a clash of boots echoed against the pavement.

Britishsoldiers and sepoys burst through the arched gateway, red coats blazing in the torchlight.

Perfect! Now tell us more about yourself...

Of course! Here is my "official" bio...

Jenelle Hovde writes regency romance, cozy mysteries, and Biblical era fiction. She especially loves antique stores and vintage books. Often found writing at the Florida beach, she navigates homeschooling with her family and manages two saucy cats who insist on interrupting her creative endeavors.

Stay updated with her latest works and musings by subscribing to her newsletter at jenellehovdeauthor.com.

The Light of the Stars can be found at Amazon in eBook, paperback, hardcover and audio book as well as wherever you get your favorite books.

Thanks, Jenelle! We appreciate your taking the time to drop by to our blog and wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on your endeavors.

Hope you enjoyed Jenelle's visit as much as I did, Friends and that you'll check back each week for another episode of Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Jenelle Hovde & No Stone Unturned!

Good Morning and Welcome to the last Saturday Spotlight for March 2026! 

My how time flies when you're having fun and 'fun' is what this blog is all about. After all, what can be more joyous than finding a brand new author/book?

Jenelle Hovde is just that! Brand-new-to-me and our blog and I'm delighted to introduce her to you! Thanks for visiting us, Jenelle, tell us about your book, No Stone Unturned, and why you wrote it...

Awww, Thanks Pam!

I wrote No Stone Unturned because I’ve always been drawn to the idea that the past still speaks—through broken tiles, buried stories, and the forgotten places that shape a community. When I learned about the real Roman mosaics discovered in the English countryside, I was captivated by what it would mean for a young woman like Bridget Littleton to uncover history in a world that rarely took her ambitions seriously. At the same time, Rafe’s journey grew out of my desire to write about a wounded hero determined to restore something—his home, his family legacy, and his own sense of worth. Placing these two strong-willed characters at odds over the same patch of earth let me explore themes of healing, courage, and calling. More than anything, it allowed me to write a fun enemies-to-lovers story within my Regency Bluestocking series—with The Light of Stars to follow.

Here's the Blurb: She wants to uncover the past. He wishes to build a future. In this Regency romance set in rolling hills of West Sussex, two opposing wills discover their fate may lie in the common ground.

Miss Bridget Littleton’s passion for history and antiquities defies most social conventions, even in her small village nestled in the beautiful English countryside. When a local farmer discovers an elaborate mosaic buried in his field, Bridget dreams of making a name and future for herself by excavating the Roman ruins. Unfortunately, her quest puts her at odds with the ambitious new lord who recently inherited the title and Hawthorn Abbey from his estranged uncle.

Recovering from wounds of both body and spirit, Captain Rafe Hawthorn is intent on restoring his long-neglected ancestral home. His plans to rebuild the abbey’s once thriving orchards require a road that will pass straight through Bridget’s potential trove of artifacts. He will not―cannot―fail again, even if he is moved by Bridget and her passion.

Yet this impasse might not be their greatest obstacle. A natural disaster and a series of suspicious accidents threaten both their plans, along with the livelihood of the nearby villagers dependent on their success. With their dreams in the balance, Bridget and Rafe must work together to fend off an unexpected enemy that may prove more dangerous than either could have imagined.

And a couple of teasers...

No Stone Unturned can be purchased at Amazon for Kindle, in Paperback, Hardcover and Audio, at B&N and through Tyndale.

Wonderful! Now give us the lowdown on you...

😂 Here you go...

Jenelle Hovde writes regency romance, cozy mysteries, and Biblical era fiction. She especially loves antique stores and vintage books. Often found writing at the Florida beach, she navigates homeschooling with her family and manages two saucy cats who insist on interrupting her creative endeavors.

Stay updated with her latest works and musings by subscribing to her newsletter at jenellehovdeauthor.com.

THANKS, Jenelle! We certainly wish you the best of luch and God's blessings with your writing and life.

Hope you enjoyed meeting Jenelle as much as I did friends, and that you'll check back weekly for another edition of Saturday Spotlight. 

Jenelle is giving away 1 paperback copy of No Stone Unturned to a lucky person so leave a comment to get your name in the drawing!

Until next time, take care, God bless and Happy Reading!

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes Sandra Byrd!

Good Morning Dear Friends,

I pray you're having a BLESSED week so far and that the blessings continue until they chase you down and run you over! Yesterday I shared some Good News/Bad News with my newletter readers. If you haven't subscribed please do so now. Meanwhile, you can check out the news HERE. 

Enough about me.

Today's guest was introduced to you back in July when we spotlighted her book Heirlooms, so please welcome Sandra Byrd back as she some Unforgetable Do's and Don'ts of a Second Chance Romance.....Take it away, Sandra!

My first novel—written as a young teenager—was about two people who had fallen in love but realized they could never be together. Why not? They were both from the North Pole and, like magnets, would always repel each other. Instead of trying to “connect” again, they went their separate ways to find a “South Pole” romance partner to whom they could attach instead.

But sometimes, in life and books, a second chance romance with an old love is a good thing. Reunited, the couple finds they click in ways they never could before. So what, then, are some of the dos and don’ts to consider before trying once more?

Let’s try again if

o We both have open hearts and are willing to discuss what went wrong before.

o Both of us are willing to forgive and rekindle.

o Both of us have grown in maturity—and maybe faith—from our first time around.

o Respect and the desire to see one another grow and be fulfilled mark our interactions. We’re growing together and growing, together.

o We feel like we’re better together than apart.

We need to stay apart if

o Trust was broken in any way.

o One of us feels owed a second chance.

o The first breakup would be a relationship weapon from now on.

o One of us is trying to control the other.

o The chemistry is gone—we’re just attracted to familiarity, not each other.

GREAT advice Sandra, thank you for sharing!

Sandra Byrd is the author of more than fifty published books, including the historical novels To Die For, Mist of Midnight, and her most recent, Lady of a Thousand Treasures. She has received many awards, nominations, and accolades for her work, including the Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice award, two Christy Award nominations, Library Journal Best Book selections, and inclusion on Booklist’s Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year list. Sandra lives in Seattle with her husband and with her grown children nearby. Heirlooms along with Sandra's other books can be found at Amazon and other places where great Christian fiction is available.

Find out more by visiting Sandra's Website and following her on Social Media.

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you're looking forward to Saturday Spotlight with Kathy Bailey this weekend!

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Chris Fabry & Lifemark!

Hello Again Friends,

Please help me welcome author, Chris Fabry back with a peek at his latest book, Lifemark.

For eighteen years, she tried to believe she had made the right decision—for him.

But if she never saw him again, how could she ever be sure?

Melissa had clung to the thin thread of hope given by the adoption agency that someday her newborn son might want to connect with her. When his eighteenth birthday arrived, she called the agency to simply update her contact information, not expecting a response.

Susan and Jimmy Colton had raised their boy with openness about his adoption. After the heartbreaking loss of two infant sons that marked their early years of marriage, they promised themselves they would try not to hold too tightly to David or hold back any information he wanted about his birth. And so they waited on him.

David was hesitant to talk about the questions and curiosities about his birth story that often haunted him. But as he neared adulthood, his need to know the full story of his life became something he couldn’t shake. Until the call came to the Coltons from the adoption agency, and the first tentative bits of communication and connection set in motion a story that would change all their lives forever.

From the team that brought you the movies Courageous and War Room comes Lifemark, the novelization of the new film inspired by a true story of adoption, redemption, and hope.

 In Lifemark, Chris Fabry explores:

Crafting the novelization of the new Kendrick brothers' movie Lifemark; inspired by a true story of adoption, redemption, and hope.

The storyline of a young man, adopted at birth, on a journey to find the birth parents he's never known.

The counter-cultural behaviors of unselfishness and loving well, as demonstrated by his characters in Lifemark.

How the decision to “choose life” presents opportunities for healing and reconciliation.

How adoptive parents must push through great loss and persevere in the adoption process.

Excerpt:

He looked at her, then back at the object in his hand. “You think you might be pregnant?”

“I’ve been sick to my stomach every morning for the past week.”

“What does it say?”

“Says you’re going to be a father.”

The air seemed to leave the room for both of them.

“Whoa.”

“Is that all you can think to say?”

He looked at her again. “I didn’t . . . I mean . . . I don’t know what to say. What do you want me to say?”

She saw him all blurry now, like in one of those hall-­of-­mirrors rooms at the county fair. She wiped her eyes and tried to stay in control, but her chin quivered and she couldn’t stop it, and she hated that. She’d sat in the bathroom for a half hour after the test turned positive while a wave of emotion and fear swept over her. What she hadn’t prepared for in all of that was the unexpected feeling that crept up on her. Something she couldn’t tell Brian.

“What are you going to do?” he said.

Melissa pulled her head back, then looked away. Her face felt hot all of a sudden and she clenched her fists. She’d had fights with Brian, but she’d never felt this way before. “What am I going to do? Is that your question?”

“Yeah, I mean, what do you want me to ask you?”

“How about, what are we going to do? You’re part of this, you know.”

“I know that.” His eyes got soft and he reached out to touch her shoulder, but she moved away. The couch cushions sagged. She grabbed the edge and pulled herself up, leaning against the wall with her arms crossed.

“We’re not ready, Melissa. I don’t have a job. I’m behind on the rent. There’s no food. I’m not going to my mom for help and I know you don’t want to go to your dad.”

He was right about all of that. And there were more reasons they weren’t ready and shouldn’t be having a baby. But Melissa couldn’t shake the feeling she’d had in the bathroom. Mixed in with all the fear and shame and feeling stupid for not being more careful and a hundred other bad thoughts was a single word that rose to the surface like a rainbow trout in her heart.

Mother.

She was going to be a mother. And there was something about that word, something about the concept, that made her feel alive. That tingle inside surprised her. On one hand, she felt like a million bricks had collapsed on top of her. She couldn’t breathe. And there was nobody she could tell because she knew what they’d think, what they’d say.

At the same ­time—­and it was the strangest thing to feel this ­way—­she sensed there was something good growing inside her. But every time she thought of that, another brick would fall and snap her back to reality.

“What do you think we should do, then?” Brian said.

“I don’t know.”

Adapted from Lifemark by Chris Fabry Copyright © 2022. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.  All rights reserved.

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. In 2020, he was inducted into the Marshall University School of Journalism and Mass Communications Hall of Fame. A native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris's novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and The Promise of Jesse Woods, have won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Awards of Merit from Christianity Today. He was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame in 2018. His books include movie novelizations, such as War Room and Overcomer, and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and the Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. He encourages those who dream of writing with his website heyyoucanwrite.com. Find out more about his books at chrisfabry.com.

Get your copy of Lifemark at Amazon or ChristianBook(dot)com. Check out the movie and check out Chris's previous visits to our blog HERE.

 

Wow, wow, wow....what an excerpt! Thanks for sharing Chris, sounds like an amazing book. Wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.

Until next time, friends, be sure to check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Sandra Byrd & Heirlooms!

Good Morning!

Can you believe July is half over already?!

Me either.

Alas, time marches on and we're in the middle of "Christmas in July" so please be sure and visit NN Light's Book Heaven's "Christmas in July Fete" and enter the rafflecopter giveaway for your chance to win a $75.00 Amazon gift card!

I'm off to Bayou Writers Group meeting so let me introduce to you, brand new-to-me-our-blog guest Sandra Byrd. Please give her a huge W-E-L-C-O-M-E as she gives us sneak peek into her brand new book, Heirlooms!

Answering a woman’s desperate call for help, young Navy widow Helen Devries opens her Whidbey Island home as a refuge to Choi Eunhee. As they bond over common losses and a delicate, potentially devastating secret, their friendship spans the remainder of their lives.

After losing her mother, Cassidy Quinn spent her childhood summers with her gran, Helen, at her farmhouse. Nourished by her grandmother’s love and encouragement, Cassidy discovers a passion that she hopes will bloom into a career. But after Helen passes, Cassidy learns that her home and garden have fallen into serious disrepair. Worse, a looming tax debt threatens her inheritance. Facing the loss of her legacy and in need of allies and ideas, Cassidy reaches out to Nick, her former love, despite the complicated emotions brought by having him back in her life.

Cassidy inherits not only the family home but a task, spoken with her grandmother’s final breaths: ask Grace Kim—Eunhee’s granddaughter—to help sort through the contents of the locked hope chest in the attic. As she and Grace dig into the past, they unearth their grandmothers’ long-held secret and more. Each startling revelation reshapes their understanding of their grandmothers and ultimately inspires the courage to take risks and make changes to own their lives.

Set in both modern-day and midcentury Whidbey Island, Washington, this dual-narrative story of four women—grandmothers and granddaughters—intertwines across generations to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit from a well-lived life.

In Heirlooms, Sandra Byrd . . .

• Tells a dual-narrative story of four women—grandmothers and granddaughters— intertwining across generations and cultures to explore the secrets we keep, the love we pass down, and the heirlooms we inherit.

• Encourages us to change views and responses to neurodiverse people in a world built for the neurotypical.

• Explores the American dream, the costs for the first generation, and the challenges of the generations that follow.

• Acknowledges that making a life is more important than making a living.

• Inspires the courage to take risks and make changes in a world built upon not disappointing others. 

Excerpt:  Two long rings, three short.

Helen hesitantly moved toward the phone. It sat upon a small table next to the window overlooking the unused canning shed, set in a field sleepy with wet weeds splayed against the ground like closed eyelashes. Licorice rope phone lines stretched toward the farmhouse. Four birds convened on the line, silhouetted by the outdoor lights she’d had installed for safety.

Two long rings, three short.

One bird cocked his head and looked directly at her. Are you going to answer?

Helen reached for the receiver. “Hello?”

“Hello. Is this Mrs. Helen Devries?” a lady’s voice queried, her tone undergirded by strain and slightly nasal, as if spoken by someone who’d been crying. “The wife of Lieutenant Bob Devries?”

“Yes, this is Mrs. Helen Devries.”

“I am sorry to bother you at this hour. I am Choi Eunhee. Wife of Chief James Roy.”

Helen shuffled through her memories. “Hello, Mrs. Roy. Am I right to think that your husband served with my husband?”

“Yes. In South Korea, where I am from and where we married. My husband told me that he served many years with your husband and that if I were ever in trouble, I should contact him, as he would help me.”

Helen’s fatigue lifted and the sound of the news in the background faded. “Are you in trouble?”

“Yes.”

Helen steadied herself. “I’m honored that Chief Roy thinks so highly of my husband. But my husband can’t help you. He was killed two years ago.”

“My husband is also dead.” Silence bled into the white space of the moment, and then she continued, “They whisper that I helped kill him. That I might help kill them, too.”

Taken from Heirlooms by Sandra Byrd. Copyright © 2022. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, a Division of Tyndale House Ministries.  All rights reserved.

Sandra Byrd is the author of more than fifty published books, including the historical novels To Die For, Mist of Midnight, and her most recent, Lady of a Thousand Treasures. She has received many awards, nominations, and accolades for her work, including the Historical Novel Society’s Editor’s Choice award, two Christy Award nominations, Library Journal Best Book selections, and inclusion on Booklist’s Top Ten Inspirational Books of the Year list. Sandra lives in Seattle with her husband and with her grown children nearby.

Find out more by visiting Sandra's Website and following her on Social Media.

Heirlooms sounds like a lovely novel, Sandra. Thank you for sharing with us today. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings.

Until next week friends, take care and God Bless you Also!

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes Chris Fabry & A Piece of the Moon

Good Morning from Nacogdoches, TX!

Yep, I'm here house/dog/duck sitting while my son is in FL with his dance and cheer teams for National competition. It's been an eventful couple of days. Two of my friends came to do some writing and my grandson is here also while on Spring Break from school. I've picked up a WIP that I started writing last year during a writer's retreat here in Nac. Hopefully you'll have another book by year's end. We'll see, but enough about me!

Our guest today has shared Treasures and Words with us before so please welcome Mr. Fabry back with some information on his latest book, A Piece of the Moon....

1. Is there anything in our culture today that inspired this story and its themes?

The original catalyst was the story of Forrest Fenn, who hid a fortune somewhere in the Rocky Mountains and gave clues to its whereabouts in a poem. He said the reason he did that was to make people go out and enjoy nature. I took that idea and wondered what would happen if a quirky, rich fellow hid a fortune with the desire to encourage people to read the Bible. That prospect engaged me as a fiction writer.

2. This story takes place in Emmaus, West Virginia. What inspired this setting for your novel?

I find my writing becomes more vivid when I set it in my home state of West Virginia, and I chose the fictional town of Emmaus since it has such rich, biblical meaning. The real treasure in West Virginia is its people, who often are caricatured and marginalized as “simpletons.” But the people I write about are complex people with lots of hurt and pain and struggle as well as grit and determination. I love writing about this area and the people who are part of me, even though I live a “fur piece” from there now.

3. In this story, the main characters come together in search of a treasure. Without giving too much away, can you give us a sense of what they are searching for?

Treasure is the right word. The man who hid it, Gideon Quidley, has never revealed exactly what is inside the treasure chest (which is a replica of the Ark of the Covenant). But conjecture runs wild up and down hollers. What would people do with a million dollars or more? How would that change their lives?

4. What key lessons or themes permeate this story?

One of the biggest themes is the “second chance.” The little radio station in town, Country 16, is populated with people who have been given another chance by the manager, Waite Evers. Waite is a kindly soul who has his own hurts and struggles, so he knows the value of a second chance. There’s also a theme of forgiveness and the power of that act in your own life as well as the lives of others. Of course, there’s a love story in town and I follow that trail with a person who doesn’t believe she’s worthy of love.

5. Who is your favorite character in this story and why?

Her name is Pidge Bledsoe. Pidge is her nickname because years earlier she adopted a wounded pigeon that hit a guy wire at the radio station and she brought the bird into the office at the junkyard where she works and lives. Pidge has had so many obstacles in life and little hope of finding lasting love. Because of her good heart, she’s also taken responsibility for her nephew. I love Pidge’s outlook on life and how it changes throughout the story.

6. What character was the most fun to write?

Gideon Quidley was the most fun because he’s a brilliant guy. He grew up in the hills and made his way to help in the space program. When he came to faith, he went whole hog. So I wed the brilliance of his mind with the faith of a child and I think readers will enjoy the outcome.

7. What character was the most challenging to write?

Antagonists/villains are always most difficult for me because it’s easy to paint an opposing force as only evil and not well-rounded. In this story, the character who opposes the treasure hunt is someone who believes he’s really the hero and is doing everyone a favor.

8. Did the story unfold in any way that surprised you?

Every story I write catches me off guard. With A Piece of the Moon, I began writing about Gideon and his desire to do something good and I knew the people at Country 16 would play a pivotal role in the unfolding. I didn’t know the depth of the backstories of those people, so as it came to me, I realized some of the complexities of the lives they led and the hurts they had experienced. Rick Bragg said the best stories are about people in trouble. And I was surprised by all the trouble these people had encountered. I’m hoping readers will see some of their own troubles represented in the story.

9. Could you relate to this story? How so?

I was surprised at how much I wrote about my own heart. One theme I didn’t mention is that struggle is a sign of life, not failure. So the struggle in this little town and at the little radio station is what propels people into real life. And I’ve seen that at work in my own heart through the years. I equate things going “smoothly” and “well” as success. But most of the really good things that have happened have come through a wilderness journey at some point. So I think anyone who reads it will find the same concept at work in their own lives.

10. How do you hope this story will resonate with your readers?

First, I hope it will draw you in and make you laugh at the faults and foibles in Emmaus. I also hope it grabs you so deep in the heart that you will shed a tear at some of the real struggles you encounter. But mostly I think the takeaway I received is that faith is allowing God to be who he is and letting him work in our lives at his own pace rather than making him conform to my idea of how he should act. Real faith in God hangs on to him in the flood instead of taking us out of the deep water. And then we’ll see that we weren’t really hanging on as tightly as he was hanging on to us.

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. A graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children

MY REVIEW.....

A Piece of the Moon grabbed me from the beginning and didn't turn loose until the conundrum of Gideon Quidley's hidden treasure was resolved. Endearing characters, interesting plotline, mystery and intrigue blend together in a story that is sure to satisfy the most eclectic reader. I give Mr. Fabry 4 stars for this wonderful and entertaining read.

Hope you enjoyed today's post, friends and that you'll check back each week for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends welcomes T.I. Lowe!

 Good Morning!

Well, we left home yesterday running from Hurricane Laura and praying everyone in her path is safe!

Today's guest has visited before with her Carolina Coast series. So far we've found the story behind the story of Driftwood Dreams and Beach Haven and read excerpts from both on Saturday Spotlight Here and Here. Today we get the scoop on book 3 Sea Glass Castle. Welcome Tonya, I love that title! Please tell us more about your book....

1. What inspired you to write Sea Glass Castle?

There is a double meaning in the title, and both meanings are what inspired this book. As you can imagine, a castle—aka life—made out of glass is considered extremely fragile, and if not enough care is taken, it will shatter. The beauty of sea glass is that it’s actually formed from broken pieces that have gone through a turbulent journey in the ocean. It’s perfectly symbolic for Sophia and Weston’s story.

2. What role does faith play in this story?

I honestly feel like my faith always plays an important part in every story I tell, whether I draw it from inspiration or struggles. I’m human and stumble a lot more than I let on. The stumble I drew inspiration from for this story is having the mind-set of trying to be everything to everyone. It’s not even feasible, and I’ve gotten lost a couple of times while trying to do it. I took that struggle and made it Sophia’s. She tries to maintain the facade of having a perfect marriage, home life, and career. Of course, fissures of truth get past her weakening facade and cause life as she knew it to shatter. She then has to brave rebuilding a new life, being mindful not to make the same mistakes again.

3. Did you face any challenges in writing this story?

Every story comes with its own challenges. The challenge with Sea Glass Castle was bringing two people together who were basically sworn enemies at the beginning of the story, making them agree to “fake” dating, and then figuring out how they stop pretending to be fake. You think you’re confused by my answer, try writing that! LOL. There was nothing smooth about their romance, but that’s the fun of the challenge!

4. What lessons or truths do you hope people take away from Sea Glass Castle? 

The Bible verse for this book holds a lot of the truths I wanted to share with people. “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed” (2 Corinthians 4:8-9).

5. As an author, what did you particularly enjoy about writing this story?

It had to be creating the zany characters: Doc Nelson and Weston’s brother, Seth. Those two cracked me up with the shenanigans they got into. They’re both a great contrast to Weston’s serious role of being a doctor and grown man. I cannot wait for the readers to meet them. Seth would so own it as the lead hero in a book . . .

6. What was the most difficult part of writing this story?

It was devastating to put Weston through tragedies that I never want to face myself. It broke my heart to have to break his, but it had to be done for the story. It was quite rewarding to give him a second chance at not only love but also career and family.

7. Can you tell us about your inspiration for the main character in this book, Sophia Prescott? What about Dr. Weston Sawyer?

Both characters gave me the opportunity to explore backgrounds that I had not done before now in a book: a divorcée and a widower. Sophia is prissy. Weston is prim and proper. Both of which I am not. So their characters were challenging all around, but in a good way. I pushed myself (and probably my editor) with my approach at telling their story in a way that felt realistic.

8. Do you have a favorite scene? If so, explain why.

Of course I have a favorite scene, and of course it includes the Knitting Club! Those spunky hens crash Weston and Sophia’s cooking class date night. And, well, you’ll have to read how they get so carried away that Weston has to drive them home. Funny stuff!

9. Is there any other relationship beside the romance you’d like to share about?

The most endearing relationship I’ve had the pleasure to develop in a story has to be the one between Weston and Collin, Sophia’s three-year-old son. The camaraderie and the bittersweet moments they privately share left me weepy at times. 

10. In what ways do you hope this story connects with contemporary Christian women?

Sophia is a contemporary Christian woman who has to face some pretty devastating trials, but she rises above them for the sake of her child. Her determination to do whatever it takes to support her child, which means humbling herself and accepting a new career path, is absolute inspiration. She shows Collin, and readers, that you can overcome obstacles through perseverance and standing firm in your faith.

Tonya “T. I.” Lowe is a native of coastal South Carolina. She attended Coastal Carolina University and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, where she majored in psychology but excelled in creative writing. In 2014, Tonya independently published her first novel, Lulu’s Café, which quickly became a bestseller. Now the author of twelve published novels with hundreds of thousands of copies sold, she knows she’s just getting started and has many more stories to tell. She resides near Myrtle Beach with her family

Sea Glass Castle can be purchased at Amazon in print and on Kindle and other online and brick & mortar stores where Christian Fiction is available.

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll stop by each week for more Wednesday Words with Friends as well as Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care, be safe and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends guest Chris Fabry

Good Morning!

Last January (2018) we featured Tyndale author Chris Fabry in our Tuesday Treasures spot. Today, Chris is providing us with an interview and talking about his newest release, so please welcome him back.....

You visited the set of Overcomer when it was being filmed. What did you take away from that experience?

A: I was amazed at the complexity of all the moving parts. I was also struck by the commitment the Kendricks and their team have to tell the story they’re given and not deviate. Their commitment to prayer on set was heartening and rich.

·       Can you tell us a little bit about the story line, without giving too much away?

A: The film focuses on a fifteen-year-old girl, Hannah Scott. She’s been through a lot of loss in her life and struggles with her identity, which is universal. As you watch her grapple with what life throws at her, you will be encouraged to run your own race. Her coach also has a big part in the film and novel because he’s struggling with some of the same questions.

·         This story suggests that we often let others, our culture, or the roles we play define us. What do you hope this story does inside readers?

A: First, I hope it captivates readers as simply a good story. I want you to turn the pages to see what will happen next. I was able to develop some of the story lines a little further and show a little more than the film can show in two hours. So my desire is for a satisfying read that takes you deeper into your own heart. Then, when you see the film, I hope you’ll be amazed at how the two versions of the story come together.

·         Is discovering our identity in Christ something you can do “mentally”? How do you get the knowledge to transform the way you live?

A: There is a sense that you can “know” this and not experience it. In other words, there are plenty of Christians who get this in the head but not the heart. It’s our hope that this story will bridge the gap between head and heart. Transformation doesn’t come with knowing facts. It comes when you participate with God in the change he is making on the inside. That’s always a painful process but a good one.

·         This book suggests that surrendering our lives to God is the only way to discover the life we were meant to live. Comment on that principle.

A: I once knew an old missionary to India who told me, “Your greatest mission in life is submission.” The best thing we can do with our lives is to fully surrender to God’s work. For those of us who like to control things (me being chief controller), this is a scary, vulnerable thing to do. But we find real, abundant life when we get to the point where we’re willing to allow God to do whatever he wants to do in and through us.

·         What do we risk when we surrender control and place our future in God’s hands? What do we gain?

A: Surrender is a huge risk because we lose control. We lose the ability to write our own story. But when you take that step of faith—and another and another—you begin the journey of entering the Bigger Story, the Larger Story of what God is doing in you and in the world. Look at the disciples before they fully entered that story and after they entered it. You’ll never reach your full potential until you submit to God’s working in your life.

·         This is your second novelization of a Kendrick brothers’ movie. What is your process for writing a movie novelization?

A: I love the fact that the Kendricks have drawn the boundary lines and have made all the hard choices. I call it the fence line—they’ve put up the barbed wire and I get to play in the pasture. I read the script, I watch the rough cut of the film about a thousand times, I ask questions about what’s on Hannah’s wall, for example. Why does she choose those images to put above her bed? Why does she wear that shirt on her first day of school? So I get to do things with words and answer questions that you can’t do in a film because of the limitations on-screen.

·         Are there similarities between this story and War Room?

A: Yes. I could almost feel Miss Clara praying for this little girl. And there’s a sense of an unseen hand at work behind the scenes. Things come together in a way that can’t be explained other than the work of God in hearts and lives.

·         What do you enjoy about this process?

A: I love the sense of exploring characters and their hearts. To me, these are real people. I like to put myself in the place of a coach who has defined himself by wins and losses. I like to run with Hannah and hear the struggle she has with asthma. And I enjoyed getting to know Hannah’s grandmother, Barbara. She’s a difficult character in the film, but in the book you learn some of the backstory of why she acts the way she acts. I just love that process.

·         What is challenging about this process?

A: The most challenging thing about writing someone else’s idea is that I have to stay consistent with something someone else invented. It’s easy for me to go in some direction or add some motivation that isn’t necessarily on target with the vision of the Kendricks. So I lean on Alex mostly to rein me in and keep me in the pasture.

·         What character will we learn more about in the book than we see in the movie?

A: Hannah’s grandmother, Barbara, has a tough, crusty exterior. And in the film you see a lot of her fear and how that motivates her life. Of course, you want to see her change by the end of the story, but we know that doesn’t always happen. So I found it challenging to tell more about what’s going on inside Barbara in the novel.

·         Who is your favorite character in this story and why?

A: How do you not answer with Hannah? She’s just so relatable and real to me. But I have to say that Thomas captured my heart. When you see the depth of his struggle, the guilt he has lived with, the way God has taken hold of him—but that he is still growing in grace when we meet him—his face, his heart all comes through so strongly.

·         How did you relate to this story personally?

A: I aspire to have my identity come from what God has done for me in Christ. In reality, I struggle with the same thing these characters are struggling with. Do I gauge my worth by my performance? Do I gauge my acceptability with God by some external thing, or do I really believe God accepts me as I am and that he sees the righteousness of Christ in me? Do I strive or rest? Those are questions that are huge in my life and I think will make a difference for anyone who reads or sees this story.

·         What goes on behind the scenes regarding the film and novelization process that you’d like people to know?

A: I wish you could see the e-mails that go back and forth. We get into such minute detail in some cases. Alex has the freedom to say, “I didn’t like this chapter.” And then I probe and find out how I missed the mark. It’s such a collaborative effort, but at the same time I feel a freedom to go certain directions that we might not eventually use. I have freedom to fail, which is important in any creative endeavor.

Chris Fabry is an award-winning author and radio personality who hosts the daily program Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio. He is also heard on Love Worth Finding, Building Relationships with Dr. Gary Chapman, and other radio programs. A 1982 graduate of the W. Page Pitt School of Journalism at Marshall University and a native of West Virginia, Chris and his wife, Andrea, now live in Arizona and are the parents of nine children.

Chris’s novels, which include Dogwood, June Bug, Almost Heaven, and The Promise of Jesse Woods, have won five Christy Awards, an ECPA Christian Book Award, and two Awards of Merit from Christianity Today. He was inducted into the Christy Award Hall of Fame in 2018. His eightieth published book, Under a Cloudless Sky, is a novel set in the coalfields of his home state of West Virginia. His books include movie novelizations, like the bestseller War Room; nonfiction; and novels for children and young adults. He coauthored the Left Behind: The Kids series with Jerry B. Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, as well as the Red Rock Mysteries and the Wormling series with Jerry B. Jenkins. Visit his website at www.chrisfabry.com.

Overcomer by Chris Fabry can be purchased from Tyndale by clicking on the link and at Amazon in Print and for Kindle also in Audio, Hardcover and on CD

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#TuesdayTreasures with Janice Cantore

Good Morning!

A couple of weeks ago, Janice Cantore returned to our blog to share thoughts with us. Today let's see what she treasures.....

When someone says treasure, I think dogs. My two dogs are my treasures. Tilly and Abbie are my companions, sometimes my inspiration, and always my special treasure. Abbie is the yellow Lab and Tilly is the chocolate Lab.

There’s something special about sitting with a sleeping dog’s head in your lap, gently stroking soft, floppy ears. Dogs are always a joy. No matter what is going on in the world, they wag happily when they see you, do goofy things when they play, and overall make life better. Yes, my dogs are my treasure.

I hear you, Janice! I treasured the dogs in my life. Now I treasure their memories. Thanks for sharing!

 Janice Cantore is a police officer turned writer. She retired from the Long Beach (California) Police Department after twenty-two years—sixteen in uniform, six as a noncareer employee. She is currently writing romantic suspense for Tyndale House, and her upcoming release, Lethal Target, second in the Line of Duty series following Crisis Shot, is set in a small town in Oregon.

Lethal Target and Crisis Shot as well as Janice's other bookscan be purchased from Amazon in various formats!

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

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Janice Cantore

Good Morning!

Please welcome today's guest, Janice Cantore as she returns to share some thoughts with us about Happy Places.....

I have a friend who is in her happy place when she’s cleaning. Yes, this strange life-form loves vacuuming, dusting, and straightening things up. That is not me. I can think of a hundred happier places to be than cleaning house. Recently I visited the Big Island of Hawaii. Now that, for me, is a happy place.

There’s a beach there called Hāpuna Beach, and it is one of the most beautiful places on earth. The feel of the sand on that beach is like walking on a feathery cloud, and the water temperature is always perfect, inviting a person to stay a while and float while cares and tension dissipate. Sitting on that beach, the trade winds gently caressing the sand, I can close my eyes and imagine that I’m in heaven.

I’m often amazed that I feel like this because I haven’t always liked the beach. I grew up in Southern California and frankly always saw the beach as a hassle: crowded, the sand too gritty, the water too kelp-choked. And sitting in the sun was tedious. But I’ve aged. I can now appreciate just sitting and soaking up the rays. Now, the beach, just about any beach on the Big Island, is my happy place. I just wish my happy place was a lot closer.

Janice Cantore is a police officer turned writer. She retired from the Long Beach (California) Police Department after twenty-two years—sixteen in uniform, six as a noncareer employee.

She is currently writing romantic suspense for Tyndale House, and her upcoming release, Lethal Target, second in the Line of Duty series following Crisis Shot, is set in a small town in Oregon.

Lethal Target and Crisis Shot as well as Janice's other bookscan be purchased from Amazon in various formats!

Wow, Janice I know a few people for whom cleaning also puts them in their happy place! Great post. Thanks for sharing!

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

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts with Matt Mikalatos

Good Morning Friends!

Whew! I finally feel as though I'm catching up after my Alaska vacation (8/12-21) and subsequent move into a new place. But enough about me...

Last month I introduced you to Tyndale author, Matt Mikalatos when he shared treasures with us. Please welcome Matt back as he shares some thoughts with us.

Take it away, Matt.....

It’s common in stories with teenagers to have them be brooding, angry creatures who hate each other and the world. I was thinking about this the other day while I was barbecuing in my back yard. 

I have two teenaged daughters, and while they certainly have moments where they are upset, angry, or broody, I don’t think it’s any more often than my nine-year-old or, for that matter, their 40-something parents. In fact, when I look at my kids I can’t help but notice that their main motivation in life seems to be to do the right thing. Sure, they miss cues and are lacking life experience in certain areas, but the fact is whether it’s at school or in extra-curricular activities, at home or in the culture at large, my kids want to do the right thing, and they want good things for the people around them. They want their friends to be well and cared for. They’re typically kind to strangers. 

Sure, I understand that might not make for compelling fiction a lot of times, which may be part of the reason we end up with snarky, angry characters in so many novels. Personally, I get a little tired of the cranky, overwrought teens in some YA books.

In my novel, The Crescent Stone, I wanted something different. In this book, the teen characters are passionate about doing the right thing, and taking care of each other. When Madeline Oliver faints in chemistry class, her friend Jason Wu jumps into action to help her. No complaints, no eye rolling, no hesitation. 

When Madeline is promised a healing of her terminal illness in exchange for a year of service in a fantasy land, Jason says he’s going with her to keep her safe, no arguments. When Madeline discovers injustice in the fantasy world, she sets out to fix it, regardless of the cost. 

Throughout the book the teen characters work for justice, are kind to each other, are generous in their relationships, and show loyalty and love for each other. They don’t only love their boyfriends or girlfriends, they love their friends, too, and with a deep commitment to friendship. 


That’s something we could use a lot more in this world, and it was, frankly, a relief to write a book where the strength of teen friendships is put front and center as a virtue, not a conflict. 

You are so right, Matt! We need to focus on the positive and the good our teenagers do and are capable of instead of their bad or negative behavior! 

About Matt:  Matt Mikalatos writes books (surprise!). In the past, Matt worked as a high school teacher and a comic book clerk, but currently focuses on nonprofit work devoted to helping people love one another despite their differences. He lives in Portland, Oregon, with his wife, three daughters, two unicorns, a gryphon, a dragon, and three brine shrimp. 

His latest book, The Crescent Stone can be purchased at Amazon and Tyndale.

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 Tessa Afshar

Good Morning!

We arrived home late last night from Alaska so you still may not hear too much from me until I recover and catch up after 10 full days with little/no computer access LOL!

No worries though, I've got a very special guest today.... Tyndale author Tessa Afshar shares some thoughts and her new release with us.

Welcome Tesa!

Love Never Fails

If you have ever attended a wedding in a church, chances are you have heard someone read 1 Corinthians 13. It is such a familiar passage that we sometimes forget to listen to it. But the words in that passage are remarkable. At the end of the section, Paul makes the most extraordinary claim of all: “Love never fails” 1 Corinthians 13: 8 (NIV).
     But those of us who have been touched by the wounds of wrecked relationships, strained marriages, broken friendships, divorce, and repeated disappointments have had a different experience. Love does fail. In spectacular, heart-wrenching ways. What are we to do with this discrepancy?
     This is the lesson that Ariadne, my new heroine in Thief of Corinth, has to learn. Ariadne lives in first century Corinth. After the wreckage of her parents’ divorce, she is very aware that other people’s love fails. By the end of the book, she becomes aware that her own love has failed as well. In the process of this transformation, of recognizing her own fractured love rather than focusing on how other people have failed her, she comes face to face with her need for God. She learns an important lesson.
     God covers our gaps.
     In his letter to the church in Ephesus, Paul prays something striking. He prays that the followers of Christ may have power “to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18-19).
     He prays for believers to have supernatural power, the Spirit’s power, in order to grasp the love of Christ. In other words, we need supernatural help from the Holy Spirit to receive love and hold on to it. Need the Spirit’s power merely to experience love. The kind of love God wants us to taste requires a move of God.
     The flesh that has never tasted such a love in this world is incapable of grasping it. We cannot live like beloved sons and daughters because we don’t know what the Father’s perfect love, offered to us through Christ, really feels like.
     But in Christ, we can learn to experience boundless love. And to give it.
     We will still fail to love perfectly. But like Ariadne, we learn two lessons: clinging to Jesus will mean we fail less often, and when we do, God’s perfect love covers our failures.
    One of the first things I learned about my husband was that he was an early morning person. By 9 PM his eyelids started growing heavy. While we were dating, I noticed a sweet tendency in him. He hated to say goodbye. Even though it was long past his bedtime, he would linger for one more word. One more minute with me. We didn’t spend the extra time on any life-shattering discussions or important chores. We merely enjoyed one another’s presence.
    He was willing to pay the price of sleeplessness, exhaustion, and mounting tasks left undone, just so he could be with me a little while longer. Now that I know him better, I realize how much those late nights cost him and am amazed by the sacrifice. It remains one of the sweetest memories of our courtship.
     I have come to realize that we need to linger with Jesus in the same way. To pay the price of staying with Him just a bit longer. Linger to enjoy one more moment with Him. To grasp how wide and long and high and deep His love really goes. His love never fails.

What a lovely thing Tesa....certainly some thoughts for us to ponder today. Thanks for sharing!

Tessa Afshar is the award-winning author of Bread of Angels, Land of Silence, and several other historical novels. Land of Silence won an Inspy Award in the general fiction category and was voted by Library Journal as one of the top five Christian fiction titles of 2016. Harvest of Gold won the prestigious Christy Award in the historical romance category, and Harvest of Rubies was a finalist for the 2013 ECPA Christian Book Award for fiction. In 2011, after publishing her first novel, Pearl in the Sand, Tessa was named New Author of the Year by the FamilyFiction-sponsored Reader's Choice Awards.
     Tessa was born in Iran and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She then moved to England, where she survived boarding school for girls and fell in love with Jane Austen and Charlotte Bronte, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever. Tessa holds an MDiv from Yale Divinity School, where she served as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship. She serves part-time on the staff of one of the oldest churches in America. But that has not cured her from being exceptionally fond of chocolate. Visit her online at www.tessaafshar.com. Her newest release, Thief of Corinth can be found at Tyndale and at Amazon.

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