Saturday Spotlight - Joanna Aislinn

Good Morning Friends!

It's party time! Today is my grandson's birthday party - my Sugar Bear turned 1 on Thursday and today we're celebrating with cake & presents.

Just Look at this smile! (This is actually his Easter photo)

Also today we're welcoming to our Saturday Spotlight Joanna Aislinn with her debut title No Matter Why.

Joanna Aislinn is an avid reader whose writing roots stretch back to her early teenage days. Life got in the way until ten years ago, when the story playing out in her head insisted she put it down on virtual paper. She's been writing and honing her craft ever since. No Matter Why (The Wild Rose Press), Joanna's debut novel hits the virtual shelves on January 15, 2010. At present, she’s busy revising its sequel, learning all she can about promo, building her web presence and finding time to work a day job and manage a home along with everything else!

Trust and stability became empty words the day motherless, sixteen-year-old Carrie Norwell’s brothers were murdered and her father’s heart gave out at the scene. Five years later, her barricaded heart remains virtually impenetrable to anyone willing to get close and offer what she wants more than anything: a loving family of her own.

That’s exactly what Billy Jay Eldridge wants to offer the right girl. Operating on a heart and spirit rivaled only by his looks, he’s two years out of college, managing a store and on his way up the corporate ladder. Still, he toys daily with nobler--yet dangerous--career aspirations. Then shy, quiet Carrie joins his crew. Intrigued by her haunted eyes, he sets out to know her better, unaware his life’s calling will be the greatest obstacle to getting her to accept from him what she wants and needs most.

No Matter Why is available from The Wild Rose Press in Ebook and Print.

You can find more on Joanna and her life/writing by visiting her weblog.

Read excerpts of No Matter Why Here!



Well Friends, hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of Saturday Spotlight. Stay tuned each week for more great authors and their books.
 
Until next time....take care and Be Blessed! and remember....do your favorite author a favor - post a review for their book either on the publisher's website or Amazon (if available) - Good reviews DO help increase their exposure and that can increase sales. ~ THANKS FRIENDS!
PamT

New Title~New Cover!

Good Morning Friends!

Back in March I posted the good news that my short story, The Gift had been contracted for publication by White Rose Publishing.

Well today, I'd like to share with you more good news!

The title of the story has been changed from The Gift to In His Sight - a lot more appropriate for a romantic suspense right?

The edits have been done and the story should be in production - I'm waiting on a galley (final proof) - if all is well, we'll go to publication! Oh and get a gander at this cover...

...Isn't it Gorgeous!?!

All credit goes to the fabulous Nickola Martinez of White Rose Publishing ~ she does a beautiful job.

On another note, for all you Kindle readers out there, Tempered Hearts & Tempered Dreams are now available in the Kindle store for only $1.99 each!

I'll be uploading Tempered Fire & Tempered Joy soon.

Well that's about it for now folks. 

Be sure and check back Saturday to see who our spotlight is on!

Until later...take care and Be Blessed!

PamT

Saturday Spotlight - JoAnn Carter

Good Morning Friends,

Please join me in welcoming back to Saturday Spotlight, JoAnn Carter with her book Daniella.

JoAnn Carter lives in Vermont with her wonderful husband of 17 years, four children and Ginger, the best dog in the world. She enjoys being with her family & friends, writing, reading, and cooking. On the side she also writes book reviews for her local Christian radio station, THE LIGHT RADIO NETWORK.

In the past JoAnn has worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse, and as a substitute teacher. This year however, she is at home, to home school one of her children.

JoAnn is available for speaking engagements to book clubs, reader groups, library groups, women's ministry events, school events and church retreats. To contact her, please write jo.glenncarter@yahoo.com  or visit her web-site http://home.comcast.net/~jo.glenncarter/site/

When Harrison Beckman meets his father's secretary, Daniella Duncan, she's shy and self-conscious. Harrison, however, is determined to get to know her better. Before he gets to do that a rival comes along to steal Dani's heart as quickly and thoroughly as the company's contracts, which have been disappearing. As the mystery unfolds, Harrison has to fight for the woman he loves, even though this means crossing swords with his father and his determined adversary. Will Harrison be able to find the love that could await them or will it be too late?

Excerpt: (c)2009 by JoAnn Carter

Harrison watched this attractive but peculiar woman stand awkwardly by his door. It looked as if she wanted to hide behind the inter-personnel folder she was holding. "Come on in," he urged, as he left his desk to walk closer to her, hopefully to put her more at ease. "I promise not to bite."

That seemed to make it worse. Her rosy cheeks turned deathly pale.

Harrison resorted to grabbing for words, like a metal arm in a toy machine, hoping he’d come up with something. "You’re really quick. Thanks for dropping the minutes off. I always like to review them while the meeting is still fresh in my mind."

Dani held out the folder with the notes and spoke so softly, he had to bend down to catch her words. "I understand, Mr. Beckman."

Harrison took the folder from her extended hand. Her hand seemed so small and he had the strangest desire to protect her from whatever inner battle she was fighting. "I’m sorry, I know you’ve been with us for quite a while now, but until today I’ve never met you." He added with a smile, "Forgive me, I’m horrible with names. What’s yours again?"

Dani eyes grew wide. With a nervous catch she replied, "Daniella Duncan."

"I like that name. May I call you Daniella?"

She shrugged, "Everybody calls me Dani."

"I think I prefer Daniella." Still studying her face, Harrison added, "Somehow, Dani doesn't seem to fit you."

"Oh, Dani fits me all right. It sounds short and fat." Her hand clamped over her mouth and her eyes grew even wider. Harrison’s heart nearly broke when she asked, "Did I really say that out loud?"

It had been drilled into his head since he was a boy, never to talk to women about two things, their age and weight. Now what should he do with this hanging hot potato? Ignore it. "I didn’t hear anything if you didn’t." He tried to continue with the previous introductions. "Everyone calls my father Mr. Beckman, so I go by Harrison."

"Okay. I'll try to remember that." Dani seemed to have reached her limit; she looked like a cat being chased by a mouse, desperate for escape. "Umm, I really need to get back now…"

"Sure. Thanks again." Harrison didn’t even know if she heard him as she turned and left with quick steps.


Note from JoAnn  ~ White Rose Publishing recently learned how beneficial it is to have reviews up on Amazon.com. To this end, JoAnn is running a contest, from now through 8/15/10.


How do you enter? Simply place a review up for any of her stories which you'll find here: http://www.amazon.com/s?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=JoAnn%20Carter  and you will be entered to win a surpriserise gift package.

Winner will be announced Aug. 16th, 2010. So, get those reviews up!
 
Well Folks, hope you've enjoyed this week's edition of Saturday Spotlight - check back weekly for more great authors & their books!


Until later...take care and Be Blessed!
PamT

A Fitting Tribute

The week of May 15th is National Law Enforcement week and it is customary for police departments to honor their comrades who have died the previous year.

This year, the Iowa Police Department unveiled a memorial wall on which a plaque containing the name(s) of fallen officers has been placed.

My husband was one of the officers honored and today, my birthday, I'm proud to share a few photos from the memorial service held on 5/13/10.

The plaque I was given to honor my husband's time of service to the Iowa Police Department which states....

In Memory of

Terry L Thibodeaux, Sr

Iowa Police Department Service

09/13/2004 - 12/31/2005

In Recognition of the Service Provided to the Town, Citizens and Department

"The Lord is My Shepard: I Shall Not Want"

May 13, 2010

             Terry's name plate and DOB - DOD which is on the Memorial wall above another lovely plaque that tells of the honor and courage of those who wear "The Badge of Gold" 

There were balloons for every officer as well as military personnell, Calcasieu Parish Sheriff's Department, Louisiana State Police and a couple of surrounding law enforcement divisions. After the dedication of the wall, we were called up to receive the balloons and after a closing prayer, we turned them loose in a beautiful display of Red, White & Blue in honor of our loved ones.

The Memorial Wall itself is a work of art. The Archangel Michael "God's First Police Officer" and the Patron Saint of Police officers holds a fallen officer in his arms assuring us he watches over those who serve and protect and carries them into the arms of God when He calls them home. To the left is a plaque with The Policeman's Prayer and to the right is The Badge of Gold Plaque. A bench anchored by two planters filled with flags sits in front of the wall for those who wish to spend a few moments alone to honor the memory of the officer's whose names are on the wall. Thankfully NONE were killed in the line of duty!

Terry loved law enforcement and wore his badge with honor, pride and courage as I'm sure every officer has and does.

All-in-all the ceremony was a fitting tribute to my husband as well as every officer who has lost their life in service to the people of their community/state and country.

I am proud to have been a police officer's wife.

Have you THANKED a Law Enforcement Officer today?

Watch KPLC TV coverage of the dedication HERE!

Saturday Spotlight - DB Grady

Good Morning Friends!

It is with great pleasure I bring to you today's spotlight, DB Grady with his book Red Planet Noir.

D.B. Grady is a freelance writer and novelist. He is a graduate of Louisiana State University and lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana with his wife and family.


Grady is a former paratrooper with U.S. Army Special Operations Command and is a veteran of Afghanistan.

He is a member of the Authors Guild and Bayou Writers Group. He's been published everywhere from Boys' Life to The Atlantic, where he is a regular contributor, and his debut novel, Red Planet Noir, won the 2010 Indie Book Award for Science Fiction. The book is currently available in paperback and on Kindle.

 

Michael Sheppard was the best private eye in New Orleans, and then his wife left him. He finds solace in the bottle and his career in the toilet. Nights at the casino pay the bills, until they don’t, and leg breakers start knocking at the door, and knocking out his teeth.

When he’s hired by a bombshell heiress to check out a murder on Mars, it’s a chance for a new start. But as the case unfolds, he makes enemies of cops and gangsters alike in an investigation racing from stately mansions to smoke-filled speakeasies, from deserted ice colonies to mining towns on the asteroid belt.

All he wanted was a paycheck to clear some gambling debt. Now Michael is the key figure in a murder conspiracy that’s left a vacuum in the halls of power, with the labor union, mob and military vying for control of Mars.

Excerpt:

When the phone rang, I was half-drunk, half-dressed, half-asleep, and half expecting it to be the phone company reminding me that the bill was past due. I didn’t have any money because I didn’t have any clients, and I wouldn’t have any clients if they cut my line, which I had told them only last month and the month before that. They were becoming a nuisance.

So I pulled on a shirt that wasn’t very dirty, but smelled of Scotch and strippers, my signature cologne, and pressed the Answer button. A figure flickered on the telephone screen. The phone company only hired brunettes, because that’s what the owner liked to fool around with, and only hired men, for the same reason. She was neither, and carried her curves as if to prove the point.

“Mike speaking,” I said, fishing a lighter from my shirt pocket.

“Mike Sheppard, the private investigator?” she asked.

“That’s what they stenciled on my door,” I said, striking a Lucky, trying hard not to leer. Women like her didn’t call men like me for business and they certainly didn’t call for pleasure. She was either selling umbrellas or insurance; probably pretty good at it. I took a long drag. I bet she smelled great.

“My name is Sofia Reed.”

“I’m not interested in buying—”

“Do you still take cases?” she asked.

I sat up and ran a hand through my thinning hair, taming it. “Yes,” I said. “Yeah, all the time. You’re lucky you caught me. I was just—”

“I heard that you’re the best in the city. I need you.”

She must not have seen the news lately. “I need you, too,” I said. “I mean, yes, I’m the best in the city.”

“It’s about my father,” she said, her voice wavering. She blinked in hard repetition.

“Is he all right?” I asked.

“He’s dead,” she said.

He was still doing better than me. I nodded with empathy, and took an understanding drag on my cigarette. A teardrop rolled down her face, cutting a salty pink trail through her rouge-laden cheeks.

She continued. “You don’t recognize me, do you?”

I shook my head slowly and hunched into the telephone screen. I wouldn’t have forgotten her if I’d had a lobotomy. She had the kind of lips that could stop a prison riot.

“It happened three weeks ago. My father was the colonel on Mars who was murdered.” She dabbed an eye with a handkerchief. “Does any of this sound familiar?”

“I, well, no, I’ve been too busy, you know, with cases to follow the news.”

“I don’t expect Earth takes much interest in our affairs, anyway, with your war and all.”

It wasn’t that. I didn’t take interest in the war, either. “So your father was murdered and the police can’t solve the case?”

“The police aren’t trying,” she said. “They’re calling it suicide.”

***

Red Planet Noir is available for Kindle and in Print at Amazon and other online outlets as well as through your local independent book store.

D.B. Grady can be found on the Internet at http://www.dbgrady.com/ and reached by email at db@dbgrady.com


Well Friends, that's this week's Saturday Spotlight - check back every week for more great authors and their books!

Until later...take care & Be Blessed!
PamT

Virtual Blog Tour - Faith & Finance

Good Morning Friends!

As many of you know I have a background in accounting so when the opportunity to host this virutal book tour came from Nikki Leigh Promotions, I jumped at the chance. After all, managing your finances according to God's Word is the smartest thing anyone can do.

About the Book


Jesus spoke about money and material possessions more than he talked about heaven, hell, or prayer. He noted the relationship between a man's heart and his wallet, warning, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be." This contemporary retelling of the Rich Young Ruler brings a fresh look at the relationship between a person's faith and their finances.

Great faith calls us to trust God, not our wealth. Read how others have cast off the golden handcuffs and learned to live the abundant life Jesus promised in this contemporary retelling of the Rich Young Ruler. Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust, A Journey to Financial Dependence - turning the hearts of a nation back toward God one paycheck at a time.

About the Authors

Within the pages of Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust you'll find spiritual insight and practical advice from Christy award-winning writer Ann Tatlock, plus best-selling authors, Loree Lough, Yvonne Lehman, Virginia Smith, Irene Brand, DiAnn Mills, Miralee Ferrell, Shelby Rawson and many more.

Read an Excerpt: http://www.christiandevotions.us/pdfs/F&F-Chapter-One.pdf  

Take the Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust, A Journey to Financial Dependence Challenge. http://www.faithandfinances.us/challenge.html

Follow Faith & FINANCES on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Faith-FINANCES-In-God-We-Trust/262400030539


Share This Tour: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Faith-FINANCES-In-God-We-Trust/262400030539 
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing
ISBN: 978-0-9822065-4-6

From Amazon: $9.95 http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982206542

Special Price: $5.95 (From Lighthouse Publishing - during the book tour) http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/0982206542

Would you like to earn money promoting Faith & FINANCES: In God We Trust? Contact books@christiandevotions.us to learn how.

We invite you to learn more about Faith and Finances during April and May while they tour cyberspace. To find other tour stops, visit http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/03/02/faith-finances/ 

For other details about the book or to get more information about Christian Devotions visit http://www.faithandfinances.us/ 

The book is for sale at: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0982206542


Well Folks, hope you enjoyed this virtual book tour. Remember to check back Saturday for our spotlight.

Until later....take care, Be Blessed and remember....God loves a cheerful giver.
PamT

Saturday Spotlight - Linda Swift & Single Status

Good Morning Friends!

Well, I must say after attending The Wild Rose Press's "Saddle up & Write" retreat held at the Silver Spur Guest Ranch in Bandera, TX, being home this past week is a HUGE let down. Bandera has always owned a small piece of my heart - but now the beautiful hill country has a chunk of it. One thing is certain, I will go back!

IMW, please welcome this week's Saturday Spotlight guest, Linda Swift with her book, Single Status.

Linda Swift divides her time between her native state of Kentucky and Florida. She has been writing since she was ten and is an award winning author of published poetry, articles, short stories, and a TV play. Her first two books were published by Kensington.

Linda's Awe-Struck Publishing books include Single Status, available as an e-book and in print and The Twelve Days of Christmas, an ebook. Her first published historical will be available in 2010. Her contemporary books also include Circle of Love, available as an e-book and in print and Let Nothing You Dismay, an ebook, from The Wild Rose Press.

B.J. is a woman with a mission--to show that she can handle a start-up engineer's job as well as any man. Then maybe she can prove to her ex that she is not the helpless wife he left for another woman. Dana is a man grieving the deaths of his wife and young son in a terrorist plane crash. Through a mix-up at stateside headquarters, they are forced to share a villa in the single status job in St. Croix. B.J. is the scapegoat when things go wrong at work and Dana becomes her reluctant defender when he is not defending himself against her unjust conclusions about him. Despite their attempts to prove otherwise, the powerful attraction between them grows. B.J. is blamed for a bad accident at the plant and her job is on the line. When Dana is almost killed trying to find the real culprit, will B.J. finally admit that the love they have found together is the most important thing of all?

Excerpt: SINGLE STATUS

The tone of her mother's voice alerted B.J. that this was no ordinary chat and she prepared herself for the inevitable.

"Today when I was looking in your closet for a longer coverup for the pool, I saw…a man's things. Your dad said I should just keep out of it, but I'm your mother. And I know how vulnerable a woman in…your position can be." Matilda finished the celery and picked up a carrot. "Betty Jo, are you having an affair with that married man you play golf with?"

B.J. laughed, relieved at not being found out after all. "No, Mother. Absolutely not. I just--well, a guy I work with left some things here when he went home on emergency leave."

It was all true, just not all of the truth, but her mother looked skeptical. "I'll be giving them back as soon as he returns."

Matilda closed her eyes dramatically. "Only two daughters and both divorced. And your sister has already made the same mistake twice. I just hope you don't follow her example, Betty Jo."

"Not to worry, Mother, since I have no plans to marry again…ever." This time she spoke with the conviction of telling the whole truth.

"I can't see why both of you couldn't find a man like your father. All of them have been nice Atlanta boys from good families. I just don't understand it."

"Maybe that's our problem," B.J. said with mock seriousness. "Maybe Dad was the last good man in Atlanta."

Single Status is available now from Awe-Struck Publishing in Ebook & Print!

*Note* Linda is travelling today but will do her best to drop by and visit with anyone who comments.

Well Friends, that wraps up this week's edition of Saturday Spotlight. Stay tuned weekly for more great authors and their books!

Until next time....take care, Be Blessed and remember....when the going gets tough the tough go to God.

Virtual Blog Tour - Promises Kept by Cindy Bradford

Good Morning Friends!

I had a blast this past weekend in Bandera, TX! If you're looking for a great vacation spot, check out the Silver Spur Guest Ranch there.

Today I'm hosting a virtual blog tour for Cindy Bradford with her book, Promises Kept brought to you by Nikki Leigh Promotions.

Cindy Bradford, Ph.D., is also the author of Keeping Faith and Promises Kept. She lives at South Padre Island, Texas, and spends several months a year in Ruidoso, New Mexico. She is a retired public school educator and university professor. She often incorporates her knowledge of wine into her writings and shares the beautiful places she has visited with her readers. http://www.doccbradford.com/

Promises Kept is Faith’s story, an unforgettable young woman whose life’s journey has been filled with uncertainty, of searching for people and answers that others take for granted. Compassionate and courageous, she never gives up, showing strength and character beyond her years. It is also the story about the power of the human spirit, of family, friends and love.

For more details about Cindy Bradford, visit http://www.keepingfaiththenovel.com/  and www.DocCBradford.com/my-books

Excerpt: He knew that several years earlier she might have finished her sentence and gone a step further, but during the last few years, she had become more refined, softer around the edges. In law school she had learned cases, canons and codes, and she had acquired sophistication as well. Both made her more confident, determined, and firmer in her resolve. The refinement made her delivery poised and articulate, although she could still be brash and blunt with a comment. Undoubtedly, she was tough, but sensitive, a fighter with a heart. She cut no slack, yet she was generous in her compassion. It is the total package of complexity and contrasts that makes her a good lawyer already, before her first case, Patrick thought.


“When can you come to Maine?” Patrick asked.

“As soon as I get a ticket and pack. Where should I fly into?”

“Why don’t you see if you can get a ticket to Bangor? If not, then Portland. We’ll probably want a couple of days here to talk and plan.”

“Okay. I’ll call you back as soon as I know times and which airport.”

“Faith, hang on. How’s your mother?”

“Good,” she said. “She wants to come as soon as things begin.”

“Really? She really wants to do that?”

“Yes, she has a lot of vacation coming and she can stay with me.”

“Tell her that would be good and that I asked about her, will you?”

“Sure, Dad, but you could tell her yourself, you know.”

“Yes, maybe I will. We’ll see.”

But Faith knew he wouldn’t call Sue nor could she figure out why. She had asked him several times why he wouldn’t make the first move to mend the scars of their past, but he never had an answer. She wasn’t sure he knew.

Note from Nikki & Cindy:

We invite you to join us on the Promises Kept virtual tour and every comment you post on the tour posts – will get you an entry into a drawing for a copy of the first book in this series – Keeping Faith.
 
Visit http://bookpromotionservices.com/2010/03/02/promises-kept/  for the complete schedule.
 
We have a FREE gift for you – visit http://doccbradford.com/my-books/#excerpt  to download a preview of both Cindy’s book.
 
Well Friends, hope you enjoyed this virtual book tour.
 
Remember, to check back weekly for Saturday Spotlight.
 
Until later... Be BLESSED!
PamT

Saturday Spotlight - Robin Bayne!

Good Morning Friends,

While you're reading this I'm either in a workshop or having fun on the writer's retreat with Wild Rose Press staff & authors in Bandera, TX.

Today's guest is author, Robin Bayne with two of her titles, Words to Write by & Prodigal.

Robin Bayne is the award-winning author of five novels and four novellas, along with a variety of short stories. She has contributed to collections including God’s Way for Teens, God’s Way for Fathers and Cup of Comfort Devotionals; and published articles in Writer’s Journal and Christian Communicator. She has given workshops at regional and online romance writing conferences and the Writer’s Digest World’s Largest Writing Workshop. She lives in Maryland with her husband of nineteen years, and works a "day job" as a mortgage underwriter. Robin recently compiled a book of devotionals for writers titled “Words to Write By.” Visit her at http://www.robinbayne.com/.

Join a variety of well-known authors (including Pamela S Thibodeaux) as they share the Scripture or quotations they find inspiring to their writing. The devotionals they’ve contributed reflect all aspects of the writing life: basic motivation, rejection, publishing and succeeding. Spend some time with the writers you love and discover what words they write by.

Words to Write by is available now from Treble Heart Books!

 
 
 

Daniel Gardner is making a grand entrance at his brother’s wedding. The problem is, no one has seen him in years. Unsure of his welcome, this prodigal son needs the years and the hearts of his family to miraculously melt for a fresh start…but he may not be the only one needing to make amends.


Lane Taylor doesn’t realize how much she still loves Daniel until she’s standing face-to-face with him after so many years apart. Once upon a time, they’d dreamed of a life together. Now, when it seems they might get a second chance, she has to decide whether to divulge the secret she’s sure will shatter their happily-ever-after.

Prodigal is available now from White Rose Publishing!


Well Friends, hope you've enjoyed this edition of Saturday Spotlight. Come back every week for new authors with their books or familiar friends with their new releases!

Unitl next time....Be Blessed!
PamT