#ThursdayThoughts with Jessica Baker

Good Morning Friends!

As you know I utilize this feature to share thoughts with you myself and/or allow my guests (usually authors) to share theirs.

Today's guest, however, is not an author but a reader and book reviewer!

Please welcome Jessica Baker to our blog....

“I think I might have an interest in the missions field.”

Is it possible for a parent to be both proud and terrified at the same time? When my then fourteen year old daughter said those words to me, I was so proud. What teenager thinks about this – a life committed entirely to God and serving Him in a place unknown? I told her to pray that God would show her His will for her life. Little did I know that this was only the beginning. Over the past year and a half I have seen her excitement and interest in missions work grow.  She began dreaming of all the different places she could go to share God’s Word. And as her excitement grew, this mama’s heart started to crack just a little.

Caitlin is our one and only child. Our family happens to be very close, and she has really only been away from us long term for a week when she was in fourth grade. That’s it! Sure, there have been sleepovers and friend’s houses over the years, but nothing more than a day or two. So imagine my sudden need to keep her closer knowing what the future holds! My little girl could be going across the world, and then when would I see her? She could be going to dangerous places, and I’m not sure my heart can take that. Mothers tend to worry too much, but don’t mistake that for lack of faith. I know, trust, and love the Lord. It’s that fleshly, motherly instinct that worries!

In August Caitlin will be going on her first missions trip, at the age of fifteen. She’ll be traveling with our pastor and his wife to Zacatecas, Mexico.

The three of them will be staying with a missionary family our church supports. They will be working with children the entire time they are there – another passion my daughter has. The plan is to have VBS for the community, and to minister to the kids in the local children’s home. Caitlin is going to lead a bible study for a group of 18 young girls. She is both nervous and excited. She has purchased gifts for all the girls to teach them about bible journaling, something Caitlin loves to do. Caitlin does not like speaking in front of people, so that fact that she even agreed to this, tells me that this is what God would have her to do. Her prayer is that during this trip, God would give her a clear sign of what He wants for her future. My prayer is that while she’s away, He prepares my heart and mind for what the future brings for her as well. 

I couldn’t be more proud of this beautiful, young woman who has a heart for others and a heart for the Lord. Will you pray about her trip with me? For safe travels, a good time, the ability to minister to others, and listening for what God would place on her heart? And would you also pray for this scared mama? That the Lord would just give me a peace about Caitlin’s future, even if it does take her far away! I imagine this trip will be the first of many – this missions family has already invited her to come back next summer, for the entire summer! Lord, let me get through this trip first please!

Hooray for Caitlin! Isn't this a wonderful, inspiring story?!

Author Bio:

Jessica Baker lives Central NY with her husband, teenage daughter, beagle and cat. She loves Jesus, her family and her church. She is a wife, mother, church youth group leader, and avid reader.  She loves cooking and baking for family and friends in her spare time.

Jessica’s love for reading began as a young child when her grandmother read her the book Teeny Tiny Woman. In fact, most of the books she read as a child were given to Jessica by her grandmother, to whom she is eternally grateful for encouraging her to read. Today Jessica has a diverse taste in Christian books, ranging from Amish to dystopian, historic to contemporary, and everywhere in between.

Jessica loves sharing her passion for reading with others, and connecting readers with authors. In addition to her blog, she provides support in managing street teams, proofreading, beta reading, copy edits, and assisting authors in any way that she can. Find out more about Jessica and her author/reader connection services by visiting her website, A Baker's Perspective.  

So very nice to meet you, Jessica. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us today. Good luck and God's blessings in your endeavors!

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

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight: Picmonkey

Good Morning Friends,

Our scheduled guest was unable to make it today so I thought I'd spotlight a program #MyAHA (my authors helping authors) group friends shared with me.

If you're a twitter or Facebook fan, you see all the pictures with text designed to entice you into checking out the book advertised.

Well, these memes have a way of drawing a readers attention so naturally I wanted to know how to create one.

Fellow authors from a promo group I belong to told me about PicMonkey a free online photo editor and let me tell you something I'm loving this site!

The more I learn the more I enjoy creating memes for my books. So today, I'm sharing a couple with you.....

I've had a lot of fun creating these!

So if you just want to add text to a photo, edit your favorite pictures or create memes for your books or other art work, check out PicMonkey!

Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight!

Stay tuned weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless!

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: #EggcerptExchange with Linda K. Sienkiewicz

Good Morning and Welcome to the first Thursday Thoughts of March!

Today is another Eggcerpt Exchange post and a new-to-me author so I'll just hop right in and introduce her to you....

Author Linda K. Sienkiewicz attributes her creative drive to her artistic mother, who taught her to sew, and her father, who let her monkey around with the gadgets in his workshop. Her short stories and poetry have been published in more than fifty literary journals in print and online. She has a poetry chapbook award from Bottom Dog Press, a Pushcart Prize nomination, and an MFA from The University of Southern Maine.

Website http://lindaksienkiewicz.com
Twitter https://twitter.com/LindaKSienkwicz
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/lindaksienkwicz/
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/lindaksienkiewicz/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/linda.k.sienkiewicz 

What makes us step back to examine the events and people that have shaped our lives? And what happens when what we discover leads to more questions? In the Context of Love revolves around the journey of Angelica Schirrick as she reevaluates her life, and its direction.

Returning with her children from their first visit with her now imprisoned husband, she tries to figure out where it all went so wrong. Can she face the failures and secrets of her past and move forward? Can she find love and purpose again? Her future, which once held so much promise, crumbled like dust after the mysterious disappearance of her first love, and the shattering revelation that derailed her life, and divided her parents. Only when she finally learns to accept the violence of her beginning can she be open to life again, and maybe to a second chance at love.

Jacquelyn Mitchard, author of #1 NYTimes Bestseller, DEEP END OF THE OCEAN, says: “With humor and tenderness, but without blinking, Linda K. Sienkiewicz turns her eye on the predator-prey savannah of the young and still somehow hopeful.”

Bonnie Jo Campbell, author of Michigan Notable Book MOTHERS TELL YOUR DAUGHTERS, says “Sienkiewicz’s powerful and richly detailed debut novel is at once a love story, a cautionary tale, and an inspirational journey. It should be required reading for all wayward daughters, and their mothers, too.”

Excerpt from In the Context of Love:

I lay, stomach down, on my bed with my head hanging off the edge. I was an analytical person, a conscientious honor roll student, a quick learner. I’d studied literature, ancient history, read Shakespeare and Salinger, yet none of it, nothing, had given me the skills or words to make sense of this.

The following morning, I wouldn’t have been surprised if I had opened my curtains to an ash-filled sky, charred houses, trees burnt to stubs, the ground still smoking. Instead, the sun had risen like a relentless machine, and the sky wafted like a freshly-washed blue sheet above us. My house was the same house, with the same eggshell white ceilings, dark wooden floors and braided rugs. The only difference: I understood reality was a dark beast, capable of shifting under my feet.

I fingered the silk edge of my blanket, trying to reframe my past in light of what I now understood to be the truth. Everything I’d thought about myself had been a falsehood. In many ways, our family operated like any other family. Dad paid the bills, fertilized the lawn, and kept us free from foot pain. Mom knitted and purled, chased after flesh-eating germs, and smothered me until the sound of my own name made me cringe. We played Uncle Wiggly and Chutes and Ladders. I went trick-or-treating on Halloween. I had a sandbox. I pushed my plastic baby doll in her flimsy buggy back and forth along the sidewalk while squirrels scolded me from the trees. We had two cars, one and a half baths, and a color television. Hot and cold water. Electricity. We ate pot roast on Sunday, spaghetti on Wednesday, and tuna casserole every Friday and we weren’t even Catholic.

My friend Becca was terrified to stay in the house alone with her addled grandfather because he would forget who she was and try to kick her out. Lizzy was ashamed to be seen with her mother, who was so obese she couldn’t walk to their mailbox without wheezing. Jessica’s father owned a motel where a man was found shot in the head in room thirty-six. Paige suspected her parents were swingers who went to sex parties. Skip seemed to have been deserted by his folks…

 Yet, I was certain no one’s family had a secret as hideous as mine.

In the Context of Love won an Honorable Mention in the Great Midwest Book Festival. The book can be purchased in paperback or ebook on Amazon in Print and for Kindle. Also at Barnes and Noble http://bit.ly/1QFs340 

Here’s an interview with Angelica Schirrick, the heroine from In the Context of Love:

1. Do you have a nickname?
I’ve been called troublemaker, short stuff, hot stuff, cupcake, angel, and hure (by my German grandmother — don’t ask why), but most people call me Angie.

2. What do you do for a living?
I’m pleased to say I’m the marketing and community service director for Safe Harbor, a non-profit women’s domestic violence shelter in Cleveland, Ohio. I love the work I do.

3. What’s your most important goal?
To see my two children grow up to be happy and well-adjusted, despite having an activist for a mother and a felon for a father. 

4. What’s your worst fear or nightmare?
That my two children do not grow up to be happy and well-adjusted.

5. What’s your most embarrassing moment?
When I was a teen, I was furious with my parents and had this need to get away from them, so I snatched the keys to my dad’s Lincoln and took off. I don’t know what I was thinking because I didn’t have a license or much driving experience. I lost control and drove the car into a fir tree in the Brecksville Metropark. I was okay but the Lincoln was not.

Wow...sounds like an interesting book! Thanks for sharing with us Linda! 

Remember Friends, the Eggcerpt Exchange blog hop ends March 31st and there are a bunch of authors participating. You can check out each book on my Pinterest board.  Also, if you're new to this blog, check back each week for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Random Ramblings on Promotion

Good Morning!

Whew been B-U-S-Y gearing up for this year's Egg-Cerpt Exchange* with fellow authors. All the work and organization has got me wondering....

Is Promotion really worth the time and effort?

As writers we dream of writing...that's it...write. Of course writing isn't all that simple either...there are rewrites and revisions then submission, acceptance (or rejection) possibly more rewrites/revisions...once contracted there are edits (sometimes several rounds) So...writing isn't just sitting at the computer and cranking out stories.

After so many books, you'd think we'd get it right the first time out....not necessarily true though.

But then comes the promotion part and let me tell you, as an independent/small press published author AND Marketing Associate for Pelican Book Group, promotion is a huge time sucker!

But the question remains....Is it worth it?

I've yet to know beyond a shadow of a doubt whether or not it is. I do know this much though, after being totally trashed by some then mildly insulted by others, I've just about given up on reviews! 

Yeah back in October I shared with you that I'd received some very disappointing reviews. Well, more recently I received notice of another reviewer who, although not as vicious as the other, said about The Visionary, "Portraying religion is a cure-all for abuse victims is inaccurate and potentially harmful, in my opinion."....

 

To begin with I did no such thing! The twins had been through counseling, etc from early on but that just didn't work for Trevor....it took a major life incident for him to seek another means of counseling...with a Pastor for him to get past the anger and hatred and be healed.

UGGHHH ... whatever though.

Anyway, (told you it was a random rambling day LOL!)....back to the question, is all the promotion worth the time, energy and effort involved?

I don't know for sure but it can be fun! Besides, God has a way of using the most unusual means to get our books into the hands of those who need them most.

JMHO of course but something to think about...
"Inspirational with an Edge!" ™


*Note* the Egg-Cerpt Exchange blog hop will begin on Feb 1st and last through March 31st so watch for the hashtag #Egg-CerptExchange for a chance to catch some great authors and books!

#SaturdaySpotlight on Marissa Garner!

Good Morning Friends and Welcome to another edition of Saturday Spotlight!

I'm sure if you're like me, the Christmas parties have already begun. Today I'm in Baton Rouge for a family party. Never fear though, Saturday Spotlight is still going on.

This week, Marissa Garner joins us with her brand new release, Hunted.....FBI Heat Book 1 published by Grand Central/Forever Yours

Visit Facebook or website to enter $25 Amazon e-Gift Card giveaway

Hot agents on explosive cases in the FBI Heat series: For San Diego’s elite FBI agents, risking their lives is standard procedure when it comes to capturing the city’s most dangerous criminals—but falling in love is the greatest risk of all.  

Catching bad guys in San Diego’s underworld isn’t just FBI Special Agent Ben Alfren’s job, it’s his life. He doesn’t have time for a serious relationship, doesn’t want one either. So when he meets his sexy new neighbor, Amber Jollett, he has nothing more in mind than unwinding with a glass of wine, a romantic walk on the beach…and maybe a hot fling.

But Amber is more than he bargained for. Hunted by an obsessed ex-boyfriend, the fiercely independent nurse chooses fight over flight for the chance at a future with her hot, blue-eyed neighbor. When she gets caught up in Ben’s plans to rescue five kidnapped women, their lives get entangled and their attraction flares into passion. But they’ll learn that in this dangerous game of cat and mouse, real love can save—or doom—them . . .

EXCERPT:

The man in the gray hoodie was watching her. Amber Jollett couldn’t see his face, but he was the right height and build. Even from the opposite street corner, the intensity of his stare bored into her. She shivered despite the sunny morning.

Her focus never wavered as she slid behind two people. The man’s head turned with her movement.

The traffic light changed, and the crowd surged forward. Amber’s hand dug into her purse until it gripped reassuring metal. Weaving between bodies, she moved to the outside edge to put as much distance as possible between her and the man before the other pedestrians passed on the street. With each step, her heart beat faster.

Halfway across, the man reached up, pulled back the hood…and smiled. Straight black hair. Almond-shaped eyes. Asian features.

Not him.

Amber’s knees went weak with relief.

Not him. Not this time.

A car horn blared. She jumped and spun around to find a taxi idling a few feet away, its driver gesturing impatiently for her to get out of the way. Waving an apology, she scurried across the street. She found a spot out of the pedestrian flow next to the corner of a building. She needed a moment to quiet her nerves.

She braced her hands on the knees of her pastel pink nurse’s scrubs, inhaled deep breaths, and released them slowly. Fear began to fade as calm returned.

Damn you, Jeremy Nelson. I want my life back.

Amber grimaced and closed her eyes. It was starting all over again. Two years had passed since she’d broken up with her obsessed boyfriend, but he continued to stalk her. Restraining orders and calls to law enforcement had proved useless. Now she alone was responsible for her safety. She’d lived in Coronado, across the bay from San Diego, for only two months. But two or three months was the amount of time it normally took for Jeremy to find her. From now on, she would have to be on constant alert. The worst part was imagining him wearing every hoodie, hiding in every shadow, or following in every vehicle. Usually, she didn’t wait for an actual sighting—that would be too late. No, she couldn’t hesitate. Once her instincts told her he was closing in, she had to move on. She cringed. How much longer will I be hunted?

BUY LINKS:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1PjQLGK

B&N: http://bit.ly/1OnacNA

iTunes: http://apple.co/1SpIDSJ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/21m7Zao

 

Author Bio: Marissa Garner is a wife, writer, chocoholic, and animal lover, not necessarily in that order. As a little girl, she cut pictures of people out of her mother’s magazines and turned them into characters in her simple stories. Now she writes edgy romantic thrillers, steamy contemporary romance, and sexy paranormal romantic suspense. Her stories will titillate your mind as well as your libido. She lives in sunny Southern California with her husband, but enjoys traveling from Athens to Anchorage to Acapulco and many locations in between.

WHERE TO FIND MARISSA:

Newsletter:  http://bit.ly/1NTfT19

Website:  www.marissagarner.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MarissaGarnerAuthor

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/M_Garner_Author

Pinterest:  https://pinterest.com/garner1819/

Wow..sounds like a very good book!

Hope you enjoyed the spotlight. Check back weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time...take care and God Bless.
PamT

#TuesdayTreasures: Special Guest Post by Melanie Purifoy!

Good Morning Friends,

Today it is my great pleasure to introduce you to a very special friend of mine. Melanie and I met about ten years ago when we worked together to produce her book, One Touch: A Woman's Journey to Wholeness. Over the span of time, Melanie's life underwent many changes and like a lot of folks, the book rested on her hard drive and in the back of her mind.

Today, One Touch is available for your reading pleasure! I'll share more about the book in a little bit, but first Melanie shares with us something she treasures.....Relationships...

As I contemplate the topic of what I truly treasure, many things come to mind with a brief explosive element of excitement. As a cancer survivor, I feel I should humbly and gratefully say "life". However, my life is truly joyous because of my relationships. The one constant is my life has been the exploring, building, and healthy maintenance with the people in my life. I have studied boundaries and forgiveness. I have worked on my own codependency. And I have learned the importance of patience, compassion, and understanding.

I treasure my friendships, family, mentors, and students. And in each individual case I have come to understand that working to have the healthiest relationship possible is always my gift to myself. I become enlightened in new ways and my perspective shifts into a multi-dimensional view of the world and the people in it.

There was a time when I managed a large number of people in a Fortune 500 company. My strength was influencing people to get jobs completed and deadlines met. I was highly effective at this and prided myself on my ability to take a troubled project and turn it into a finished, fully functioning environment in a matter of a few short weeks. I would fly back home feeling proud and accomplished. However, I could not have told you one thing about any of those people's lives that I had just spent numerous hours with all working together to complete a goal. And once the feeling of pride and accomplishment dissolved, I felt lonely.
Today I treasure the brief visits with my busy children, the phone calls with my aging mother who lives over 800 miles away, and the quiet evenings my husband and I spend as empty-nesters. I cherish my visits with my grandson and share little pearls of insight about God, forgiveness, and loving one's self. He is a wise, old soul for such a young man.

I feel very proud that I have passed down the importance of relationship building to each one of my four children. They too cherish their relationships while maintaining healthy boundaries that nourish their souls.

My interaction with others strengthens my connection to God and enhances my personal relationship with Christ. I value the life lessons that have brought me here. And I will continue to always cherish the people in my life as precious treasures.

Melanie Purifoy draws from her own experience as a two-time cancer survivor bringing to life the character of Rebekah, the bleeding woman healed by Jesus in the New Testament. After being diagnosed with invasive cancer she began a one-day-at-a-time healing path to recovery. Her miracle brought into focus that healing one’s body, mind, and spirit can only be attributed to God’s grace and her willingness to reach out for the gifts He had bestowed upon her.

After training and becoming a certified Heal Your Life coach, a course developed from the methods and philosophy of Louise Hay, Melanie founded Conscious Creations, a support network for cancer survivors, their families, and physicians. Using the principles of forgiveness and acceptance as the basis of her teaching, Melanie conducts workshops and life coaching. One Touch A Woman's Journey to Wholeness is a result of her compassionate insight into the lives of minor characters of the Bible and can be found at Amazon (Kindle) and Smashwords.

Well, I'm sure we can all relate to Melanie treasuring the relationships in her life. Check back Thursday when she shares some thoughts with us on Transparency vs Invisible.

Until then, take care & God Bless!

PamT

#ThursdayThoughts: Special Guest Post by Lynne Gentry!

Good Morning Friends,

It is my pleasure to bring you this special guest post by Lynne Gentry & Litfuse Publicity Group....

Enjoy!

“The Story Within the Story”

Writing the words “The End” to an epic series is always tough for an author. We wonder, Will this conclusion satisfy readers? Reader concerns aside, for me, wrapping up this tale was especially bittersweet. I felt like I’d been on a long, hard personal journey of exploration and growth. The trip had challenged me at every hair-raising turn. I was exhausted.
For you see, my story is the story within this story.

Dr. Lisbeth Hastings’ determination to change the past had its roots in my own regrets. I’d been struggling with the desire to go back twenty years and make a couple of different decisions. Knowing that I couldn’t, I wondered why God would ask such an imperfect person to write a story about his perfect, unfailing love. The assignment was almost more than I could bear. I lifted prayers of deliverance from this task. All I heard in response was: WRITE.

So I did.

Word by word, Lisbeth’s story began to unfold. With each line I felt the burden I’d carried for so long lighten. But it wasn’t until I wrote the last page of this young doctor’s tale that I realized how changing anything in my past would be like pulling a thread in the tapestry of my own life. Removing even a single decision (my children, for example) would make me into a totally different person.

Like Lisbeth, I decided each of my decisions was a different colored thread. Woven together, they created shadows and light, added dimension and depth to the whole picture of who I am. I took a good, long look at myself and decided the consequences of my decisions had shaped me into a generous, loving, and kind person. I’m braver than I think, tenacious, and for the first time in years, very happy. I was surprised to discover that I liked who I’d become. I’m comfortable with who I am--an imperfect person who loves God and knows, without a doubt, that God loves me, even when I fail. Grasping this concept was so liberating.

I don’t believe I’m the first Christian to struggle with this truth. The early church was full of people just like us. Even my hero, Cyprianus Thascius, struggled with perfection and his intense desire to hold others to the high standard he had set.

We are so tempted to believe God loves only those who are perfect; that once we have everything together, THEN God can love us.

But the story within the story of Christ’s journey to this earth is this: We can never be good enough on our own – and we don’t have to.

Now that’s a happy ending I can live with.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.  He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.  He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.” –Psalm 40:1-3

Lynne Gentry has written for numerous publications and is a professional acting coach, theater director and playwright with several full-length musicals and a Chicago children’s theater curriculum to her credit. She likes to write stories that launch modern women into ancient adventures, such as The Carthage Chronicles series (Healer of Carthage, Return to Exile and Valley of Decision).

Gentry is also an inspirational speaker and dramatic performer who loves spending time with her family and medical therapy dog.

To keep up with Lynne Gentry, visit www.lynnegentry.com, become a fan on Facebook (Author-Lynne-Gentry) or follow her on Twitter (@Lynne_Gentry) and Pinterest (lynnegentry7).


Valley of Decision is available at Amazon in Print and on Kindle!

Hope you enjoyed today's Thursday Thoughts!

Have a Blessed and Prosperous day.
PamT

Tuesday Treasure: #RockingSummerRomance with @AuthorTinaGayle

Good Morning Friends and Welcome to the First installment of the Rocking Summer Romance blog hop!

Today I'm featuring CFO's Affair by Tina Gayle. 

3rd book in the Executive Wives' Club series

(strong women fiction elements)

Four women...

One fatal car wreck...

Everyone's lives changed...

Blurb: Sylvia Donovan is emotionally wounded from the unexpected death of her husband and still haunted by their last conversation: his request for a divorce and his confession of love for another woman. Her husband gone, her only daughter off to college, Sylvia faces the challenges of learning to live alone and move on with her life.

Vince Wilshire, enchanted with Sylvia, is more than willing to do what it takes to capture the heart of the hurting and untrusting Sylvia.

Can he help her forget the past and make her believe in love again?

Excerpt from book:

The door clicked open.

Wrapping his hand around the handle to keep from reaching for her, Vince Wilshire shoved the door wide. "Are you ready for this?"

Her face mere inches from his, he noticed a brief flash of panic in her eyes before Sylvia Donovan lifted her chin and stepped through the entrance. "Nothing I haven't seen before. Or probably won't see again."

He understood she meant the task of doing a job, but for some reason his brain registered the sexual implications of the comment. "Oh, man, you're brutal. Some things you know get better with age.”

Matching his steps to hers, he wrapped an arm around her shoulder and leaned in close. He whispered beside her ear, "It's all a matter of knowing how to use what you've got."

She shrugged and shifted away from him, eyeing him with a raised brow. "Yes and some people are amateurs, Mr. Wilshire. You, I take it, are an old pro who knows how to wield your sword with the best of them."

Laughter bubbled up into his throat. He marveled at her sassy tone and didn't relinquish his grip. "I must admit I’m very good at a few chosen tasks."

Now more about Tina, CFO's Affair and her books,,,,

Tina Gayle grew up a dreamer and loved to escape into the world of books.

After years of working in the business world doing a variety of jobs, she decided to try her hand at writing and hope to incorporate the joy of being a mother into her books.

Currently working on a series about four executive wives, she is excited about combining elements of women fiction with the passion of romance. The  first  three books, “Marketing Exec’s Widow”, “IT Exec’s Baby” and now “CFO’s Affair” have all been released. The last one will be out next year.

Married twenty-five years, she and her husband love to travel and play golf.  She can’t wait for Mike to retire so they can do more of both.

Read the first chapter of any of her books by visiting her website.

Tell us about your book:

Sylvia is a woman who has allowed life to beat her down. After her husband died, she reclaims herself by losing weight and trying new things. She’s brassy and harsh at time, but she deeply cares about her friends and family. I believe readers can related to all the heartache in her life and empathize with how she has to come to terms with the past and make a future for herself.

How long did it take to write the book?

Six months

What inspired you to write the book?

I’ve gone through the pain of sending my last child off to college and understand what it takes to let go.

Talk about the writing process. Did you have a writing routine? Did you do any research, and if so, what did that involve?

I work eight to ten hours a day. My writing schedule is to write three to four hours at the beginning of the day. Then I log onto the internet and write up blogs, twits, handle marketing demands and check email. In the afternoon, I return to my writing and edit my manuscript.

The main research I did for the book involved blood types.

What do you hope your readers come away with after reading your book?

The joy of letting go of the past and moving on to the future.

Where can we go to buy your book?

http://bit.ly/CFOaffair

Any other links or info you'd like to share?

Home - www.tinagayle.net

Blog - www.tinagayle.blogspot.com

Twitter - https://twitter.com/#!/AuthorTinaGayle

Goodread - http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1641826.Tina_Gayle

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/tina.gayle

Google + - https://plus.google.com

Linkin - http://www.linkedin.com/pub/tina-gayle/11/689/759

Well Friends, I hope you enjoy this Rocking Summer Romance! Stay tuned each week cause you never know what's coming next!

Until later... Take care & God Bless!

PamT

New Year - New Venture!

Well Friends, I've jumped off the deep end.

No, I haven't lost my mind yet - or maybe I have LOL!

What I've done is quit my job.

Now before you start worrying that I'm going to lie around and cry my life away, let me reassure you that is not the case.

I've taken a GIANT leap of faith and quit my job in order to pursue this whole writing business (writing/editing/promoting/signings/sales/speaking engagements/etc) and with God's grace, wisdom and direction move into a new level.

One thing that encouraged me to do this is - back in October - Jo Anne Vandermeulen of Premium Promotional Services contacted me about working as an associate for them. I said yes. Very excited with the results I had part time, I feel God is leading me to be available full time and that this is a good time to pursue my lifelong dream of working from home.

PPS's motto is "You Write, We Promote" and believe me, we stand on what we say. Jo Anne is wonderful about working with each individual author to design a promo package to fit his or her needs AND budget.

I am pleased to be a part of her team and you'll find a link to PPS in my sidebar under "Areas of Interest."

Oh and join me TONIGHT 8pm CST as a guest on Jo Anne's radio program “Authors Articulating with Jo-Anne Vandermeulen”

I'm also doing editing and writing on my own. Each project is different but if you need help with your manuscript contact me and let's see how I can help you!

Along with my work for PPS and writing/editing jobs I pick up, I plan to really focus on getting my own books out there through signings, speaking engagements and phone calls and visits to libraries and book stores.

I know this sounds like I'll be really busy, and I probably will but one thing - the most important reason behind this decision - is to take time to heal from the loss of my beloved AND grow in my relationship with God.

Your prayerful support is greatly appreciated as I embark on this new venture and I pray that each and every one of you have a BLESSED and Prosperous year!

Until later....take care, be Blessed and remember....Man plans his ways but God directs his steps.

Special Guest Spotlight - Mary Ricksen

Hello Friends,

Please issue a warm welcome to my special guest, Mary Ricksen.

I am a Vermonter. I was born in Burlington and the mountains and Lake Champlain are in my blood. I have lived in several places, from Vermont, to New York, Canada, Texas and finally Florida. I have lived here in Florida for the last twenty five years. Although it is a beautiful place, the hurricanes and the heat are hard to take.

I have been married forever to my husband Chris. He spends most of his time in front of his computer. A computer engineer by career, he is addicted to them. My dog Junior, a huge black German Shepherd, is my baby. One hundred and thirty pounds of adoring love, he is a beloved character in my first book. And he is very spoiled. My garden is a jungle of tropical plants, the sweet smell of their fragrances filled my yard and my nose! There's nothing at all like planting something and watching it grow. It's like writing in that way.

I have spent years trying to find my special ability. Finally, I think I have it. I love to write and I love to interact with other authors and I'm hoping to say the same thing about readers when my book is finally published.

Tripping Through Time is a time travel novel that takes place on the Islands in Lake Champlain, Vermont. It surrounds you in the imagery and story of a young woman who learns that love is truly timeless.

Excerpt

What the hell? She knew this wasn’t still in some part of that nightmare trip she’d taken. It was too real, the place too old fashioned. She heard crickets and saw lightning bugs twinkle outside the window. A fly buzzed over her head and she listened to a mosquito or two, droning in their search for the rich red blood beneath her skin.

She didn’t hear blast of car horns, the tire sounds on pavement, or the grinding noise from trucks changing gears, as they flew up and down the hilly countryside. It was so quiet, no music, no talking, nothing. Then she heard a latch lift, and one hundred and twenty pounds of fur jumped up onto the bed, knocking the breath out of her.

Anxiety left her speechless, as the light from the open door spilled into the room, and onto the bed, she lay in. The dog lay next to her warm and wild smelling, doing her no harm. The large figure approaching her now made her breathless, anxious. She knew it was a man; his silhouette outlined by the light behind him.

When he reached the bed, he bent toward her, only to pick up the tiny piece of candle still barely burning. He lit a stained glass-covered lantern placed on the bed stand beside it. Keealyn stared into a pair of green eyes that reminded her of misty mornings.

Clean-shaven, thick dark chestnut hair flowed past the collar of his navy muslin shirt opened halfway down the front, to reveal a smooth muscular chest. Very tall, lean, and brawny, well defined, biceps, triceps, and pecks filled his shirt. He had a slim waist and strong shoulders. His worn blue jeans were held up with a handmade leather belt, hung low on his hips. His skin seemed to glow in the lamplight in a warm bronzed tone.

He was gorgeous.

"Tripping Through Time" ISBN#1-60154-392-1
Available Through The Wild Rose Press

Saturday Spotlight - Keena Kincaid

Please join me in welcoming back, Keena Kincaid with her book, Art of Love!

Keena grew up on an Ohio farm slightly to the left of nowhere and learned to read by picking words out of an old history book that vividly recounted the past through short stories centered on children of the age: The Grecian slave boy. The girl from Pompeii. The knight’s squire in England.

The stories stayed with her. After honing her writing skills as a newspaper reporter and editor, she switched to public relations and began writing fiction. When not working or writing romance, Keena regales her niece and nephews with stories of quick-thinking ladies, mathematically challenged knights, and ill-mannered dragons that chew with their mouths open.

Abigail d'Alene has been sinfully in love with learning all her life. Now a widow, she has the means and freedom to indulge in her passion. Pretending to be Abelard, a fifteen-year-old boy from an outlying village, she heads to the Latin Quarter of Paris and the abbey schools that will one day change the world.

Shocked by her ineptitude at masquerading as a boy, Alain of Huntly Woods takes the young “Abelard” under his protection until she recovers her sense and goes home. But her audacity, intelligence and refusal to compromise spark enough friction between them to burn through his cold logic and carefully laid plans. In Paris as a spy for Henry II, Alain has sold his soul to the Angevin devil in exchange for the king's promise of an heiress, land and power.

As his good intentions bring him unexpected passion, he struggles to find a way to have it all. Then he discovers Abigail's uncle, confessor to King Louis VII of France, plots against the English king, and Alain must choose between protecting his king or the woman he loves beyond all reason.

Excerpt:
Abigail blinked against the cold, sickly morning that invaded the room. Frost coated the broken windowpane, and a draft eased its way inside, as unwanted as the dawn. The air that bit at her cheek smelled faintly of smoke. Pulling the blanket over her face, she burrowed into the solid warmth beside her. It shifted slightly, threw an arm around her waist and pulled her against hot skin and solid muscles.

Abigail jerked fully awake. Her stomach pitched as she remembered where she was, who she was with, and what they had done. Mon Dieu, what was I thinking? Lifting Alain’s hand from her waist, she edged away from his embrace and sat up. The frigid air rushed over her shoulders, shocking her skin. A sleepy groan sounded to her left, and the arm returned to her waist.

“Good morrow,”€ Alain said in a raw voice. He blinked at her with a warm, sleepy expression that invited her to repeat last night. “How did you sleep?”

“Well.”€
Something in her voice erased the easy smile. Slightly more awake, he propped himself up on an elbow. The left side of his face was bruised, marred by the cut and traces of blue paste.

She looked at the wall behind the headboard, then at him. His intense silver gaze never left her face. “Abigail?”

“Nothing. Everything.”€ Her stomach knotted and twisted. She had a lover. She’d never had a lover before, and now she had one. She had no idea what that meant or why her thoughts kept tripping over hidden fears that this would end badly. Maybe not banished to a convent badly, but badly all the same. “We should not have done this,” she whispered, barely aware that she spoke as her mind tried to catch the supple fright that congealed her blood. “What were we thinking?”

“Thinking does not accompany passion if you do it right.” He sat up and raked a hand through his tangles. The blanket pooled around his hips. He was naked. As was she, she realized. His gaze felt like a beam of light on her bare body, exposing legs, breasts, and belly. She reached for the blanket, still soaked with his heat. “Really, Abigail, there is no need to blush like a virgin.” His eyes went from warm to icy. “Obviously, we have both done this before.”

ART OF LOVE (ISBN: 1-60154-381-6) is available in both print and e-book formats from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon and other booksellers. €

Hope you've enjoyed this week's Spotlight - check back next week for another special guest!

Until later....take care, Be Blessed and remember.....the power of life and death are in the tongue....what are you saying?


Saturday Spotlight - Christy French

Hello Again!

Christy French joins us one more time with her book, The Bodyguard and the Rock Star

Born and raised in the South, award winning, internationally published author and poet Christy Tillery French loves to write about quirky Southern women and has published six books to date: Chasing Horses, Wayne's Dead, Chasing Demons, The Bodyguard, The Bodyguard and the Show Dog, Book 2 of the Bodyguard Series, and The Bodyguard and the Rock Star, Book 3 of the Bodyguard Series. Chasing Secrets will be published 10/08. French resides on a mini-farm in Powell, TN, with her husband, four dogs and two cats. Avid boaters, she and her husband are restoring a 1965 47’ wooden Trojan Cabin Cruiser. In addition, Christy enjoys working in her flowerbeds and vegetable gardens, horseback riding, camping and, of course, reading. She is a volunteer with Wolf Creek Weimaraner Rescue and donates proceeds from her book sales to this group as well as the local animal shelter. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, the Guppies and Tennessee Mountain Writers.

Protection specialist Natasha Chamberlain thinks guarding popular English rock star Giki during a tour of the Southern states will be easy and loads of fun, but she couldn’t be more wrong. In no time at all, she finds herself bogged down in Giki’s crazy world of sex, drugs, shoplifting and an uncontrollable sweet tooth. If that's not bad enough, Giki is being hunted by a ruthless cyber-stalker intent on putting an end to her career.
When Natasha is shot after the first concert, her fiancé, Jonce Striker, steps in. Determined to keep Natasha safe, he sends his best men, Pitt and Bigun, to watch over her. Striker wants Natasha to marry him and give up her dangerous line of work, but he's having trouble convincing her of that fact.

Natasha's torn between her love for Striker and her desire to do her job. Will she give in to Striker’s demands and forget about her profession? Or will she stay with Giki and do whatever it takes to protect her? The choice is obvious to Natasha, but will she live to regret it?

EXCERPT: Fragrant flowers pelted the clustered group as they made their way toward the idling bus. Behind wooden barriers, fans chanted, “Giki,” the name of the rock star they had paid precious dollars to watch perform that night’s concert. Natasha walked close to the rock star, her eyes scanning all directions in search of potential threats to her client. She fought the urge to duck her head, hoping any roses thrown would be thornless. Although the screaming voices conveyed frenzy, the crowd remained behind the posted barricade, and Natasha allowed herself a moment’s relief. So far, the concert had gone smoothly and it looked like this gig was going to be not only easy, but fun.

White, cottony fabric smacked into her face, entangled in her hair and around her neck. Natasha peeled it away, trying not to breathe in. What was that smell? Bile rose in her throat when she realized she held a large pair of men’s jockeys in her hands. With a shriek, she dropped the underwear and swiped her face with her jacket sleeve, making phhht noises with her mouth. She froze when she noticed the others stuttering to a halt—watching her. This was not how a professional bodyguard reacted. She should be ready for anything.

“Keep moving.” Natasha gestured for the group to close rank, continue onward. She thrust out one hand as she strode along. “Somebody give me some liquor.” A silver flask slapped into her palm. She unscrewed the top, tilted her head back, and splashed the contents of the phial over her face. She held her breath to keep from inhaling the fumes as the sour odor of whiskey wafted over her. Damn, as potent as this stuff smelled, it had to have some heavy alcohol content, should kill any living germs. She poured the brown liquid on her hands and scrubbed her lips with her fingers. She swallowed hard, her stomach churning at the thought of what might have been on the underwear. No way was she going to do such a sissy-ass thing as throw up. A bodyguard never displayed weakness in front of others. She shoved the flask in her jacket pocket and picked up her pace.

Heat pierced her thigh a fraction of a second before a loud pop sounded nearby. Her leg gave way beneath her and she lurched to the side. She reached out to steady herself, locked onto Giki’s arm. The rock star stumbled and both went down, Natasha landing on top.

Warm fluid trickled down Natasha’s leg, pain flared along her thigh. Her hand explored her jeans, where a jagged hole oozed blood. Shock surged through her body like a jolt of electricity. She needed to get Giki out of here—now! The hard, rigid feel of her firearm as she pulled it free helped calm her rising panic. She struggled to stand, forcing her leg to move, and bit down hard on the inside of her cheek when the world began to tilt beneath her. The coppery taste of blood filled her mouth, but it worked: images sharpened and her mind cleared. Using her body as a shield, she helped Giki to her feet.

One hand gripped her gun pointed at the ground, the other clutched Giki’s arm. “Move.” Cameras strobed in the darkness, fans converged on them in a rush. “Now!” She pushed Giki toward the bus.

Once inside, Natasha collapsed on the floor. Her eyes could not maintain focus—a buzzing sound filled her head. A man yelled, “Call 911,” his voice bleeding pitch, fading away. Blackness descended over her, as dark and impenetrable as an executioner’s hood.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Looks like another winning story from Christy! Find out more information about Christy and her writing at http://www.christytilleryfrench.com/ or www.authorsden.com/christytfrench

Well folks, that wraps up another Saturday Spotlight! Join me again next week when Keena Kincaid visits again!

Until later....take care and be Blessed!