Journeys of Love...Inspired by Faith

COTT Interview with April Gardner

2012-02-01T06:30:00.001-06:00

(Ms. Davy) was an amazing cheerleader and I lived to make her smile with my stories. Whether I really was or not at that point, she made me believe I was a good writer.

~ Sr. Editor April Gardner, on who inspired her writing.

***

Today we get to spend some time with COTT founder April Gardner. April is an amazing author, good friend, and an inspiration to me. She’s a sometime home school mom, a military wife, a talented writer, and a frugal do-it-yourselfer. So I was excited to get to pick her brain! Below are the questions that I always wanted to ask. I’m sure you will find them just as fascinating as I do.

Michelle: April, what was it like growing up with missionary parents?

April: We never lacked for excitement, that's for sure! Some MKs struggle with change, but I never minded it. I was shy and content merely to be with my family; wherever they were, I was happy, no matter the town or country! Growing up in Spain and learning Spanish was one of God's beautiful gifts to me.

Michelle: That's so cool! Some might be surprised to hear that you are dyslexic. What advice or encouragement would you give to others out there struggling with dyslexia?

April: I'd imagine that most reading this are adults, and by the time dyslexics reach adulthood, they've managed to cope quite well. Having a child with dyslexia, however, was something that took me completely by surprise, surprisingly. LOL From what I hear, it goes through the mother, so odds were pretty good one of my kids would struggle with it. When it comes to dealing with a dyslexic child I've learned three things. 1. Patience is the name of the game! 2. Don't be afraid to reach out for help. 3. There is no shame in being dyslexic or having another learning difficulty.

Michelle: You have now experienced both the public school world and the home school world. What are your observations comparing both?

April: My most important observation is that God's plan for our children's education is 1. God's plan for us in unique! I cannot compare how others chose to educate their children with our own choices. 2. God's plan for us is not set in stone, never to change. What might be His will one year, might not be the next. We must be flexible and keep our ears tuned to Him. He'll speak most loudly through our kids via their progress, contentment, discipline, and attitude.

Michelle: Great insights! Ok, so what began your fascination with history?

April: Laura Ingells Wilder and her Little House books! They were the first "big" books that held my attention well enough to make reading worth all the effort. I haven't looked back since!

Michelle: I love those books too! You are a military spouse--where have you lived, and which was your favorite place?

April: The military first moved us to Germany. We were 19 years old and newly married. Our tour lasted 7 years. Straight from there, we went to England for four years, and we've currently been in Georgia 2.5 years. Germany holds a very dear place in our hearts for many reasons, but I have felt most content and fulfilled right here in Georgia. God bless the USA!! Boy, it's good to be home. :-)

Michelle: Wow, that sounds so adventurous! And now you're a published author--another adventure! Who first inspired you to pursue publication and writing? Who inspires you today?

April: Several people along the path of my life worked together to inspire me to pick up the pen, but the first was my high school creative writing teacher, Ms. Davy. She was an amazing cheerleader and I lived to make her smile with my stories. Whether I really was or not at that point, she made me believe I was a good writer. Today, it's the drive to reach goals that inspires me. I do love a challenge!!

Michelle: Of the characters you've created, who is your favorite and why?

April: True Seeker, the budding Creek Indian warrior from my latest novel, Warring Spirits, is my favorite character so far. His heart is good and true to his name, he seeks wisdom, honor, and a personal relationship with the Giver and Taker of Breath.

Michelle: I like his character too. But of course, they're all good in my opinion! Besides writing excellent historical romance novels, you also have a lot to share on your blog about managing health issues with diet, frugality, and parenting. Any idea what's coming up in 2012?

April: Great question! LOL My blog is ever changing, but yes, I do tend to focus on those topics. Right now, I'm on an all-natural foods kick, so I'm sure my followers will see more of those tips in the future.

Michelle: Tell us about your recent book releases.

April: Warring Spirits is my latest adult fiction release. It's set in 1816 and is the story of a woman who might be able to hide her African heritage except for her hair, which is a dead give-away. Milly's escape from slavery leads her to the safety of Negro Fort where Major Phillip Bailey, believing her to be white, takes it upon himself to "free" her from the stronghold. At the same time, he's ordered to launch an attack against it. Accomplishing both is a virtual impossibility, especially when the beautiful woman doesn't want to be rescued. Where blood is shed, unexpected love may bloom!

Michelle: I've read it and it's awesome! Head to Amazon you guys, you won't regret it. April, thanks for answering all my hard-hitting questions today, lol.

Readers, check out COTT this week for some of our favorite Amish Excerpts!

COTT Winners

2012-01-25T06:30:00.001-06:00

**guest post by Michelle Massaro
For the last couple weeks, Clash of the Titles has been exploring two books delivering powerful death scenes. That's right, death scenes. The two books were The Vengeance Squad and The Redemption. We met authors Sidney Frost and MaryLu Tyndall and waited with bated breath to find out which title got the most votes. If you missed Friday's announcement, I won't keep you in suspense. Though the competition was stiff, the champion title is...

...

The Redemption, by MaryLu Tyndall

Congratulations!

About the book:

Lady Charlisse Bristol sets off on a voyage in search of a father she never knew, only to find herself shipwrecked on a deserted island. After weeks of combating the elements, her salvation comes in the form of a band of pirates and their fiercely handsome leader, Edmund Merrick. Will Charlisse free herself from the seductive lure of this pirate captain and find the father's love she so ardently craves?

While battling his attraction to this winsome lady and learning to walk a more godly path, Edmund offers to help Charlisse on her quest--until he discovers her father is none other than Edward the Terror, the cruelest pirate on the Caribbean. Can Edmund win this lady's love while shielding her from his lecherous crew and working to bring her father to justice?

Can the supernatural power of God rescue Charlisse and Edmund from the danger and treachery that await them as they ride upon the tumultuous waves of the Caribbean?

***

A few of the comments from readers:

I loved the Excerpt B.....I look forward to reading the book..it seemed more historical and the genre of books I enjoy reading. I am personally blessed by many of the Christian fiction authors and want to say thank you for all you for your readers. God bless you both!

Someone turning to Christ at the last moment is always a touching scene. It tugs at your heart to know that someone you would never see again, now you will. Very touching!

Keep writing as God leads you. You are bringing God's truth to readers; some who really need those truths in their lives.

About the author:

MaryLu Tyndall, a Christy Award finalist, and author of more than ten novels is known for her swashbuckling historical romances filled with deep spiritual themes.

MaryLu dreamt of tall ships and swashbuckling pirates during her childhood years on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. Unfortunately, instead of pursuing that dream, she worked as a miserable, landlocked software engineer for fifteen years. Only by the grace and providence of God, did she decide to answer His call to write a Christian Pirate series. Today, while writing her eleventh novel, she manages a home, husband, and six kids while battling three cats who have decided that her keyboard is the best place to sleep! She believes that without popcorn and chocolate, life would not be worth living, and her sole motivation is to bring others closer to God.

***

What fun! For a sneak peak at the book, check out the winning excerpt here. You might also enjoy her fascinating interview here.
Right now, COTT is in the middle of a brand new clash so be sure to head over there to cast your vote. You just might win a free book!

Happy reading!

Crazy Crust Pizza!

2012-01-20T07:28:00.000-06:00

Have you ever had one of those times when someone in your family is really craving pizza, but you just don't have the time to allow the dough to rise? Here's where Crazy Crust Pizza comes in. It's not your traditional pizza crust, but it's pretty tasty.

It's a batter crust instead of a dough crust. And it's yeast free! You could even substitute a gluten-free flour and make it a gluten-free pizza. I'm guessing you could even substitute gluten-free Bisquick, but it wouldn't be as thin of crust like this recipe. Gluten-free Bisquick or something similar is a self-rising mix, if I'm not mistaken, which means it probably has baking powder in it. This recipe doesn't actually call for that. But if you're up for a thicker more biscuit like crust, you could give it a try.

Anyway, I found this recipe on All-Recipes.com. The picture included with the recipe looks like someone put the batter in muffin tins for mini pizzas. That's not what the recipe instructs to do, but what a clever idea for appetizers or a party. I've personally only made this recipe in a jelly roll pan.

I have to say that I like my regular dough recipe the best, but this is a great "in a hurry" substitute when you have little time, but big cravings for pizza. =) I'm sorry I don't have my own picture to share with you from the last time I made this, but check out the link below for the recipe. It's Friday! Have some fun in the kitchen.

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/crazy-crust-pizza-dough/

Laurel Award-Winning Novel, Fairer Than Morning

2012-01-17T14:50:00.000-06:00

*by Sr. Editor, April W Gardner

“I knew that I had just been given an amazing true story that needed to be told.” –Rosslyn Elliott, Clash of the Titles 2011 Laurel Award Winner

Portions of that story—Fairer Than Morning—won the majority of COTT reader votes in June when it took the victory in the “Best Protagonist” ring. In November, it competed against a long list of other COTT champion novels then took home the Laurel. More hearty congratulations go to author Rosslyn Elliott for her win.

Read June’s winning excerpt (excerpt B).
Read the Laurel Award winning excerpt (excerpt A)

The Saddler's Legacy series is inspired by a real family in American history--the Hanby family, who are to this day the most celebrated citizens of Westerville, Ohio.

About Laurel Award-winning novel, Fairer Than Morning:
Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor, Eli—until Will Hanby shows her that nobility is more than fine words.

On a small farm in 19th century Ohio, young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominent family. Eli is the suitor of Ann’s dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautiful things and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.

When Ann travels to Pittsburgh, accompanying her minister father on business, she meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker’s apprentice. Will has spent years eking out an existence under a cruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. Anne’s compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul.
Through his encounters with Anne’s father, a master saddler, Will discovers new hope and courage even in the midst of tremendous adversity.

When the Millers must return to Ohio and their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will can make it back to Ann, will she be waiting?

Learn more about the book as Clash of the Titles staff interviews the author:

Hostess Raqul Byrnes asks, “What led you to use the inspirational Hanby family and how did you first come to know about them?”
Rosslyn: After I finished my doctoral dissertation, I decided to try my hand at writing my first historical novel. I was living in Westerville, Ohio at the time, so I decided to go visit a small local house museum so I could research all the kitchen artifacts and farm tools. Before the tour, a guide took me into an outbuilding and showed me a video about the Hanby family, who had lived in that house. By the time I stood up thirty minutes later, I knew that I had just been given an amazing true story that needed to be told. The Hanbys lived romantic, action-filled lives marked by courage, and most importantly, they served others out of faith and love.

Hostess Lisa Lickel asks,“Rosslyn, what does “nobility” mean to you and to the era of your story and today? What made you choose that character trait?”
Rosslyn: The origin of that word on the back jacket of the book is that when my publisher and I were creating jacket copy, I had to come up with a condensed way to describe what it means to find a man of true value. And both in Ann’s time and today, the words noble man mean a man of great worth and high virtue. It also made a nice contrast with the apparent gentility and breeding of one suitor, who would fit the other meaning of nobleman far more obviously than the ragged Will Hanby!

Assistant Editor Michelle Massaro asks, “What circumstances led up to Will Hanby's down-trodden situation?”
Rosslyn: In the novel, we learn that Will’s parents and his sisters all died of a virulent form of tuberculosis which killed much more quickly than ordinary TB. (The novel never reveals this in such specifics, but the TB was disseminated bovine TB, for those who care, acquired through milk ingested on a visit to a cattle farm, when Will and his brother were not with the others!). Their deaths left only Will and his younger brother, who were forced to indenture themselves to farmers to avoid infection and work in exchange for food and board. The farmers were kind, but Will ends up under a much harsher master when he signs a new indenture with Master Good. The historical facts behind what happened to the real William Hanby were somewhat different, but the effect was the same: out of dire poverty, he indentured himself in his youth to Master Good, and much of what followed was what also happens in the novel.

Talent Scout Katie McCurdy asks, “Which character, not counting Ann or Will, is your favorite? Did you have a certain character that kinda suddenly took a main role that you didn't forsee when you plotted Fairer Than Morning?”
Rosslyn: My favorite supporting character is Ann’s father, Mr. Miller, whom I admire so much that I honestly wonder how I wrote him sometimes. His was the part of the novel that seemed most spirit-led. But the characters who suddenly appeared onstage who weren’t part of the novel at all, in the original sketchy outline, were Mr. and Mrs. Holmes and their daughter Amelia! They showed up on that steamboat and began to take on a life of their own, and before I knew it they were a major subplot.

Listen to Another Interview:
After her Laurel Award win, Author Rosslyn Elliott was also interviewed by Christian Authors Guild board member, Cynthia L. Simmons. This is a podcast you won’t want to miss. You can listen to in our sidebar or find it by visiting this link.

The second in the series, Sweeter Than Birdsong, releases next month and promises to be just as compelling as the first. Below, in two short, yet intriguing excerpts, the author shares a taste of what’s to come.

But first, here’s a brief summary of Sweeter Than Birdsong, book two in the Saddler’s Legacy series.

Music offers Kate sweet refuge from her troubles… But real freedom is sweeter.

In Westerville, Ohio, 1855, Kate Winter’s dreams are almost within reach. As the first woman to graduate from Otterbein College, she’ll be guaranteed her deepest wish: escape from the dark secret haunting her family. But with her mother determined to marry her off to a wealthy man, Kate must face reality. She has to run. Now. And she has the perfect plan. Join the upcoming musical performance--and use it to mask her flight.

Ben Hanby, Otterbein College’s musical genius, sees Kate Winter as an enigmatic creature, notable for her beauty, yet painfully shy. Then he hears her sing—and the glory of her voice moves him as never before. He determines to cast her in his musical and uncover the mystery that is Kate. Still, he must keep his own secret to himself. Not even this intriguing woman can know that his passionate faith is driving him to aid fugitives on the Underground Railroad.
A terrifying accident brings Kate and Ben together, but threatens to shatter both their secrets and their dreams. Kate can no longer deny the need to find her courage—and her voice—if she is to sing a new song for their future.

Excerpts:

Chapter One

Westerville, Ohio 1855
Her customary walk across the college quadrangle had become an executioner’s march.
Kate’s heeled shoes clunked over the flagstones. Her full skirt and horsehair crinoline dragged from her waist, too warm even for this mild May morning.
She climbed the stone steps of the whitewashed college building and laid hold of the black iron door handle with a clammy palm. The dim foyer led to the lecture hall. Her breath came faster and her corset squeezed her lungs. It had not felt so tight when the maid laced it an hour ago. Up ahead loomed the dark rectangle of the hall’s oaken door, which stood ajar.
She paused on the threshold. Inside the hall, a baritone voice lifted in clear, well-balanced phrases. The speaker’s persuasive power carried even here. Ben Hanby. He was the best orator in the class. She laid a hand to her midsection to quell the pulsing nausea there. If she did not go in now, she would not go at all.
At her push, the door swung open to reveal rows of masculine shoulders in dark coats, all heads turned toward the speaker. Each gentleman’s neat coattails fell open over his knees, black against the polished wood floor. Each white collar rose to the sweep of hair worn according to the current vogue, longer than a Roman’s but never past the collar.
On the raised platform beyond them, Ben Hanby stood, as natural and poised as if he were alone in the room, his dark hair thick over his brow. His eyes were intent, his face alive with interest in his subject, but his words floated past Kate in a wash of sounds her jumping nerves could not interpret. Of course speaking came easily for him—his father was a minister.
He finished with a question to the audience, and even her disrupted attention caught the subtle humor in the lift of his eyebrow as he delivered his line straight-faced. A chuckle rose from the young men, echoed in the lighter laughter of the small party of young lady scholars seated with their chaperone on the end of the front row.
Ben Hanby descended the stairs, the barest smile appearing as he exchanged glances with his friends.
“Miss Winter.” Professor Hayworth’s bass rumbled across the hall.
Heads turned toward her. Her skin tingled in waves of heat, her heart kicked in an uneven cadence. Could it stop from such fright?—the thought made it worsen, like a stutter in her chest that could not move on to the next beat.
“I am glad you choose to join us today.” Professor Hayworth spoke to her from the dais, beside the podium, full bearded in his formal black robe. “You have arrived just in time to give the first of our ladies’ speeches.”
She avoided their curious stares as her pulse quickened and her mouth dried.
“Please proceed to the podium,” he said.

******

All was quiet and dark. The boat bobbed like a cradle soothing a baby to sleep.
It didn’t calm Kate, who sat immobile in the prow. She laced her hands together in her lap where John Parker could not see them and dug her fingers into the back of her knuckles. She couldn’t stop the faint tremble that had started inside her and traveled to her hands. He mustn’t see her shaking or he would think her unfit for the errand.
The chirp of crickets set a rhythm for little splashes from the oars as John rowed them toward the Kentucky side. They were quite close now.
She must shake off this dreamlike state. She peered at the riverbank as far as she could see to left and right. At least there was no sign of a lantern.
They bumped up against the reeds. John jumped out, heedless of the mud and several inches of water. He lashed the tow rope of the fishing boat to a birch tree.
She must move now. She clambered over the side and into the dark water.
The unfamiliar feeling of the breeches increased her sense of having traveled to some different life, some strange body. It could not be she, traipsing around the wild in men’s trousers. Someone else entirely had come on this errand—someone braver and stronger who just happened to resemble her on the outside.
A few waterlogged steps brought her to where John stood on the riverbank, like the shadow of a tree in the moonlight.
“This way.” He walked ahead of her, straight towards the thickest tangle of thorny bush.

****
If you would like to join the COTT Blog Alliance tour for this award-winning novel (Jan 14-18), please email us at contactcott(at)gmail(dot)com.

COTT Rings in the New Year!

2012-01-11T11:08:00.000-06:00

IS THERE A BOOK YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE COMPETE ON CLASH OF THE TITLES? PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO ENTER THE TITLE IN OUR QUICK SURVEY, BELOW!

*by COTT Sr. Editor, April W Gardner

January is in full swing, starting 2012 off with a bang. At Clash of the Titles, you can take that quite literally! For the next two weeks, we’re featuring Death. That’s right. Death.

Death has the power to intrigue and terrify, and it’s that power that a good book taps into, often leaving a permanent mark on the reader’s memory. Visit Clash of the Titles today, to read two Death excerpts and vote for the one that impacts you the most.

Remember that every book you send to the Champions Ring will have a shot at our Laurel Award, handed out at the end of our Tournament of Champions. Coming October 2012!

Between now and our October Tournament, we'll have a slew of exciting clashes—some, old reliables; others, brand new.

Here’s what's on the COTT calendar:

Almost Kiss--

(Feb, accepting submissions)

Unpublished Hooks--

(March, accepting submissions)

Here's a glimpse at clashes you might see in the future:

Good Guy

Bad Guy

Leading Lady

Back Cover Summary

Comparable Covers

Mayhem and Mishaps

Creepy Covers

Author’s Choice

Reader’s Choice

Tantalizing Titles

Young Adult

Childrens

Is there a specific book that comes to mind that you would like to see compete on Clash of the Titles in one of these clashes? We want to know!! Please enter the book title in the survey box below.

Also new in 2012, once a quarter, a specially selected COTT Champ will be featured in a podcast interview with Christian Authors Guild board member, Cynthia L. Simmons. You can hear our current podcast HERE.

Clash of the Titles thanks each of our readers and voters for making COTT such a fun hang-out during 2011. We look forward to another year of introducing you to amazing new books and giving you the opportunity to win them!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Meet and Greet the ladies behind Proof: see the evidence!

2012-01-09T08:26:00.005-06:00

Today, I'm excited to welcome Tanya Eavenson, Becky Dean and Shellie Neumeier....the dedicated women behind a new blog, Proof: see the evidence, especially for youth. Grab a cuppa' your favorite beverage and enjoy reading about what these lovely ladies are up to.

What inspired you ladies to do a blog for youth?

Tanya

Tanya: It started fifteen years ago when the Lord called my husband and me into the ministry, but it wasn’t until I started writing a youth Bible study series for Christ to the World ministries, that I felt a burden to reach youth for Christ in a very specific way. I had contacted Becky Dean and Shellie Neumeier about the site and they seemed to like the idea. We planned and met at the ACFW conference last September and discussed a vision for this site. As we were sitting there, I knew it was God’s hand who laid these desires on each one of our hearts in unison.

Becky

Becky: I had been wanting to start a blog for teens but hadn't gotten very far on my own. When Tanya contacted me, I was very excited about the vision she had. It's hard to be a teen who wants to live for Christ. Why not take advantage of all the technology that kids use to encourage them in their faith?

Shellie

Shellie: Tanya casts a mean vision which when coupled with God’s hand around every turn; the blog captured my attention immediately. There are a number of teens who can’t or won’t step into a traditional church building or youth group setting. It’s a hard age to break into a new group much less one that carries a new language (Christianese), a new belief system, and maybe even a few new concepts. Online youth blogging removes the need for teens to look the part and if you’re a lurker, blogging even removes the need to say the right stuff. That way, teens can dig into their faith, whether it’s new or not-so-new, and focus on what really matters.

How do you think this site will be effective?

Becky: I hope it will be a place for Christian teens to meet others who share their faith and encourage one another. I would love if it also spurred discussion on tough topics and helped teens know they're not alone in their struggles and their successes.

Shellie: I agree with Becky. The site is designed to be interactive so the teens and our guests will have the opportunity to meet and work through their faith. We won’t be shying away from the tough topics, so the site will be relevant and poignant for this generation. It will also be a safe place for teens to talk about what’s up in their lives with folks who will bring a Biblical perspective to the discussion.

Why Proof, see the evidence?

Tanya: I’d have to say, Proof, see the evidence is a place for Christians and non-Christians to find the truth of who they are in Christ and how He wants to have a relationship with them. To encourage and equip them to live a life pleasing to the Lord. I believe this site will also make them think but hopefully get them take a deeper look inside themselves about the way they are living. Are they really who they say they are and how can they tell? Is it by mere words or do actions play a role in their lives? It’s all about the relationship. A relationship with Christ.

Becky: For a lot of teens , the only way they'll hear about Christ is from a friend. We want to encourage Christian teens to be the proof of Christ in their worlds. To be the evidence that He exists and show their friends through their actions that He can change lives. And for non-Christians who visit the site, hopefully they will learn about God through their peers who live their faith.

Shellie: Well said, guys! =)

What piece of advice would you give to a teen who is searching for answers?

Tanya: I’d be honest, I do not have all the answers, though I wish I did, I know someone who does. Christ. That’s why God gave us the Bible so we can know Him better and understand how much He loves us. Honestly it took me years to truly understand God’s love. That no matter what I went through there was one person who would never leave me or forsake me. Who loved me for me and accepted me just the way I was. So my advice would be to let me introduce you to Jesus, the man who has loved me with all His heart even when I made mistakes, he stayed by my side. I found peace and acceptance and so can you.

Becky: I certainly don't have answers either, although I like to pretend I do! I would advise teens to remember that they aren't alone. It's so easy to feel that no one else understands, no one else is going through the same things we are. But that's not true. Not only are other teens searching, too, but Christ understands and wants to give us answers and guidance. He wants to be found. And He doesn't mind if we have questions or doubts, as long as we keep seeking.

Shellie: I’d add that I’m right there with them. I’m still searching, but in this journey I’ve found one image very helpful. Imagine you are standing sideways with your arms stretched out to the sides. In each hand you hold the hand of someone else. One person in front…someone a little further along in their faith…someone who’s willing to help pull you forward, answer a few questions, find the right Bible passages. And one person behind, maybe someone newer to Christianity and they’re looking to you to help answer a few of their questions. You’re never alone that way—always pulling, always being pulled. So if a teen is looking for answers, I’d say ‘grab a hand, and we’ll look together.’

Proof: see the evidence

Thank you, Susan, for having us on today. Here is a link to our site: Proof, see the evidence. http://proofseetheevidence.org/ Our blog isn’t officially up until February 11, but we’ve given you a teaser for what is yet to come. Have a blessed New Year!

COTT Christmas Cover Images Winners

2012-01-04T07:21:00.005-06:00

*by COTT Sr. Editor, April W Gardner

Cover Images Clashes are becoming hugely popular at the literary contest site, Clash of the Titles. Voters have been turning out by the droves to give their opinion about which cover they find most eye-catching.

Their latest Clash featured three Christmas cover images, all of which would have been worthy winners. There’s just something about holiday décor that warms the heart! A book cover with Christmas dressings is no different.

Here’s what hostess Gail Pallotta had to say about the three covers. “The mountain scene in A Log Cabin Christmas took away my breath and sent a peaceful feeling over me. The lovely smile on the young lady on the cover of Christmas Belles of Georgia brightened my day and spoke to me of Christmas joy. Christmas Pearl stood out and proclaimed this holy season.”

But the voters decided, and the winner of the

Christmas Cover Images Clash is:

A HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS TO BOTH THE

AUTHOR AND THE COVER ARTIST!

This is what voters said about Christmas Pearl:

*'Christmas Pearl' simply struck me as beautiful & I sank right in as I read the blurb.
*I think all three are charming, but 'Christmas Pearl' does it for me!
*"Christmas Pearl" is just plain lovely. I love the way the pearl imitates a tree ornament. Very well done cover and quite evocative of Christmas.

Well said!

COTT is currently taking a Christmas break, but please visit January 9 for a new clash that will – literally – take your breath away! If you're an author, don’t forget to check upcoming open clashes and submit.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from Clash of the Titles!!

Clash of the Titles -- Featuring members of the Blog Alliance!

2011-12-21T10:12:00.000-06:00

This week's article was written by *Gail Pallotta.

Thank you to our blog alliance partners

Jessica Keller works from an office her husband set up for her in their Chicago home. Using a bright orange laptop she posts five days a week. She blogged big-time in college, garnering a huge following. She says, “It got to the point where people I didn’t know would walk up to me and start talking…about my life because they were addicted to my blog.”
After graduation she ended that blog and went to work in the records department of law enforcement. She figured her blogging days were over, but she started writing novels. She thought about author blogs she loved and wanted to “create a place like that so…someday when a novel-length piece is published…” she’ll already have a blog.

Her blog reflects her love of baking, her communications and Biblical studies degree and her enthusiasm for books. She’ll read over one hundred this year. On Mondays she muses about life in general. Tasty Tuesdays give cooking advice and recipes. On Writing Wednesdays she shares her writing struggles and advice or hosts experts. Thick-of-it-Thursdays feature a spiritual message, and Fridays for Readers introduces new writers. At least once a month there’s a cookie give away. Yum.
During the past nine years she’s written articles, short stories and a novella and recently made the finals in three contests. When she isn’t writing she runs in 5K’s and mentors college-aged women. When asked for a random fact about herself she said, “I have two cats named for super heroes, Bruce Wayne and Clark Kent.”
Visit Jessica's blog here.

Carol Moncado blogs about life and writing from a big cushy chair in a basement in the Ozarks. She says the area “is slowly becoming my office/library.” She’s written on and off ever since she was a kid, seriously for the last two years. She blogs everyday attracting readers, other writers and friends who want to know a little more about her, her writing and the authors she likes. She says, “I try to have humor – and we all know laughter is the best medicine!I love to get comments.”

As for her writing, she’s currently blogging her way through NaNoWriMo. When she isn’t blogging or working on her own writing projects, she takes care of four children, reads and watches television. Her all time favorite show – NCIS.
When asked to share a random fact about herself she said, “When we moved into our first house, we moved on Friday the 13th to a house on Elm Street. We found and put an offer on our second [current] house on 06/06/06.”
Visit Carol’s blog here.

Marianne Evans started her blog, A Minute with Marianne, a little over two years ago. She says, “I loved the idea of chronicling my thoughts and expanding my writing platform…Call it ‘keeping up with the times.’” An added bonus. “It’s a blast…”

She posts almost once a week. A Minute with Marianne introduces readers to writers and books they may not otherwise hear about. Marianne says, “There are so many wonderful inspirational, Christian themed books out there. I love shining a light on them and getting the word out on new and exciting authors.” Her blog also covers writing inspirations, motivational tidbits, reviews and publishing news.
She keeps her blog casual with highlights on having fun, getting to know people and sharing a passion for great writing. When Marianne isn’t blogging, she writes. She’s A Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence winner for Hearts Crossing. She was a 2011 finalist for Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year for Hearts Surrender. Marianne says she made the jump from secular romance to Christian Inspirational romance/fiction when “the call on her heart matched the ideas in her head.” Visit her blog here.

Traditional Irish Soda Bread

2011-12-16T07:47:00.001-06:00

Yesterday, I wanted to try to make Irish Soda Bread. So, I did. =)

I'm going to share the link where I got the recipe for two reasons.

1. It's easy for you to go there and get the whole 411 on it.

2. It's got some fascinating history about Irish Soda Bread.

Who knew? Double score with that link. What a treat! Even the history of how recipes came to be can be interesting.

For those history buffs out there, even if you're not a big fan of Irish Soda Bread or even heard of it .... check out this link.http://www.sodabread.us/

I hope you have some fun in the kitchen today! Happy Baking!

Susan

Clash of the Titles -- Cover Winner!

2011-12-13T07:50:00.000-06:00

*by Michelle Massaro

Last week Clash of the Titles held their first ever Clash of the Covers. This fast-paced clash was different than their usual fare, because instead of judging the author's story, we judged how well their cover designs matched their theme or made us want to pick up the book. There were four books to vote on, from authors Cathy, Erica, Lacy, and Maggie. The books were Marrying Miss Marshal, Spring For Susannah, A Bride's Portrait, and Deeply Devoted.

It was a VERY CLOSE race and it saw enough voter participation to max out the scoreboards!

Some of the comments included:
Spring for Susannah - Susannah is aware of the man but she looks as though she could turn away, or turn towards him.
Marrying Miss Marshall seems to speak volumes about the heroine--just in her position.
The cover of A Brides Portrait, really sells the title by having the woman with a camera on it. Caught my attention.
I love cover C...looks like the "old west"!!!
Marrying Miss Marshal. Hmm, with that rifle laid across her lap, one wonders who's daring enough to approach her, much less marry her. Intriguing.
I loved A Bride's Portrait of Dodge City - it added so many components of the story into the cover besides just a profile :)
Love this (A) - it's intriguing. I'm not sure from the picture whether she's toting for justice, revenge, or protection. Makes me curious.

The Champion Book that was voted

BEST SETTING THAT CAPTURES THE MOOD OF THE TITLE:

Springtime For Susanna, by Catherine Richmond

This week, COTT is sporting a holiday/winter theme with host Gail Pallotta. We expect it to be another huge turn-out so please join us. We'll cozy up to the virtual fireplace, egg nog in hand, and browse for books. In this case, it's okay to judge the cover. =)

We’ll be taking a break December 26 – January 6

And then come right back on January 9 with a new clash that will – literally – take your breath away! If you're an author, don’t forget to check upcoming open clashes and submit.

Fun in the Kitchen with Katy McKenna and her Snowball Cookies!

2011-12-09T06:00:00.002-06:00

It's Friday and time for some fun in the kitchen! Katy McKenna is sharing a recipe with us today. Thank you, Katy!

****************

Here is my favorite Christmas cookie recipe, which my mother learned from her Girl Scout leader, circa 1940. The basic recipe makes a dozen cookies, but I typically quadruple the recipe.

Snowball Cookies

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 heaping tablespoons powdered sugar

Place softened (not melted) butter and all ingredients in mixing bowl. Remove your rings, as this is about to get messy! Use your hands to thoroughly mix the dough, which will seem a bit dry to the touch. Form into 1" balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and bake at 325 degrees for 10--12 minutes. If the dough is dry enough, the cookies should remain ball shaped, rather than spreading. While still warm, remove from cookie sheet and roll cookies in additional powdered sugar. These freeze well, so make as many as your heart desires! Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night.....

I am here today, because God chose to save me.

2011-12-08T10:51:00.002-06:00

Thirty-one years ago today, God saved my life--for the third time. The other two times are stories for another day. But about today's anniversary....

I was eighteen years old and traveling the 35 miles home from my job as a cord-board telephone operator. My mom had called me at work and cautioned me to be careful, as there was ice starting to build up on the roads. I ended my shift at 6:00 a.m.after having worked all night.The weather was clear and the roads were fine. But I was being very aware and taking heed of my mother's warnings.

After having met a car who failed to dim their high beam lights, I tapped my brakes as I adjusted my eyes. I came upon a bridge and blindly encountered black ice. I started to slide uncontrollably and I was meeting another vehicle. I literally cried out (screamed, actually) for God to help me. I hit both sides of the bridge and was in the wrong lane when a car slammed into me...right in the gas tank. My car finally came to a stand-still. I was in pain, but I knew I needed to get out of the car. My driver's side door was crushed and not able to be opened. Gas was leaking everywhere. I crawled over and got out the passenger side.

The people who hit me were an older couple and so nice. The accident was not their fault. Not knowing you weren't supposed to remove someone from the scene of an accident, their care-giving instincts kicked in and they took me to their home down the road. I was a bit "out of it," but I tried to protest. All I could imagine was my folks coming to look for me, driving over the hill, and looking down to see the accident scene. One of my best friends from high school stopped and was helping at the scene of the accident and I didn't even know it was him. The couple took took me home and called my parents and law enforcement.

My parents showed up to take me back to the scene and the highway patrolman was there. He is the one who took me to the hospital with my parents following. He was so nice to me.

The people who hit me told my parents they were amazed to see me alive when they came to the car. They did not expect to find me alive, much less able to walk. My light blue Buick Skylark was completely totaled and a blanket in the trunk was woven like an accordion in the crushed metal of my trunk.

To make a long story short, I ended up being in the local hospital in that area for a few days and then transferred to a bigger hospital for a grand total of eight days due to a head injury. My head had gotten caught in the steering wheel apparently after it broke the windshield. I wore a goose egg on my forehead for awhile and a red ring down and around my face. My knees were terribly bruised on the inside where the force of the accident bashed them together. But I survived...miraculously. There is no doubt in my mind that the Hand of God intervened that day.

Today, I am reminded of that day where I encountered an horrific accident and a miracle at the same time. I remember it every single year and praise God for saving my life. I later became an EMT and did that for about 9 years or so. In that time, I learned a lot about accidents, was a responder on many, and was shown even more how God saved my life and has a plan.

He has a plan for each of us. Do you know His plan for you? Do you know His Son, Jesus?

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16

"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."
John 14:6

May your day be blessed and you feel the presence of God as you go about your tasks today.
Because He Lives,
Susan

Clash of the Titles -- Featuring members of the Blog Alliance!

2011-12-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

by Delia Latham

Christine and Pamela!

A huge welcome to blogger and author Christine Lindsay! Christine is another extraordinary member of the COTT Blog Alliance. On Wednesdays she posts the COTT weekly article, and on Fridays she posts either an editorial/devotional or a review on a book.
What's her blog like? Christine wants her blog to be somewhere a reader can find a true inspirational story to encourage their faith. For example, on her blog she has in book-length the entire story of her experience as a birthmother. From the moment she found out she was pregnant, to the relinquishment of her child, and to their reunion 20 years later.

Do not miss this testimony. Her birth-daughter, Sarah, modeled for the cover of Shadowed in Silk. Take a look at how it all came together—it's well worth the read.

I asked Christine who she is outside the realm of writing and publication and all that jazz.
"I am so ordinary, it's hilarious. I used to be an administrative assistant, going off to work in suits, high heels and makeup. Now that I'm following the labor of my heart (writing) I work in my home office and wear the closest thing I can get to pajamas—sweat pants and a sweat shirt.

"But there are times I have to go out and leave my beloved laptop behind along with my cat. Then I slap on some mascara, whip a comb through my hair, put on some decent slacks and head out the door with a cup of tea in my hands. I can drive with one hand and drink my tea with the other."
What "ordinary"? That's multi-tasking!
Why is she willing to give COTT space on her blog every other week?

I find the COTT alliance an energetic group of writers that inspire me. I love the fun and camaraderie with the clashes," she said. "And it gets the word out to readers of all the great Christian fiction that's available. They are a great group of people to be affiliated with. I consider it an honor."
The feeling is entirely mutual!

Christine's blog

Christine's website

Book trailer

Meet Pamela S. Thibodeaux:

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com

Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com

Bayou Writers Group: http://bayouwritersgroup.com

A great big welcome to Blog Alliance Partner Pamela S. Thibodeau. We're so pleased to have her aboard.

I asked this author and blogger where she finds inspiration for her blog, Pamela S. Thibodeaux—Blog.

"I must admit that, personally, I'm pretty burned out on topics…but I love showcasing other authors on Saturday Spotlight and hosting their virtual book tours. This helps me fill in when I can think of nothing to talk about. LOL!"

Honesty…I love it! (Also really glad to know I'm not the only blogger with this kind of problem…)

I'm always interested in why our Blog Alliance members choose to be members. Here's Pam's reason:

"I believe in what COTT is doing and frankly, any website that helps promote Christian authors—especially those who are new, unknown, small press or independently published—is a place I try to support. Doing regular posts for COTT helps me do just that."

Pamela's newest release, The Visionary, is an absolutely wonderful book, one I can whole-heartedly recommend. Without being offensively graphic, it deals with some pretty heavy issues of child abuse and its aftermath.

What are some of the challenges you face as an author?

The biggest challenge I face is not having my work accepted by the “Christian” publishers. As one reviewer said, “Though undeniably Christian, it is never dogmatic or insular; offering faith rather than religion.” (From Elizabeth Burton's review of Tempered Dreams for Blue Iris Journal) My books deal with issues in a way that is unacceptable in the traditional CBA market. Now that is not saying that my books are better than those published through traditional CBA publishers, only different. As I’ve said many times, everything that gives God glory deserves to be praised!

So true. And all I can think to say in response is a very sincere, "Amen!"

Meet and Greet Katy McKenna!

2011-12-05T08:24:00.000-06:00

I can't think of a better way to start off a Monday morning than with a laugh, and this week's featured guest is guaranteed to provide just that. Please meet my friend, Katy McKenna. She's charming, witty, cute as a button, and downright hilarious!

She's written a goofy, side-splitting, totally tongue-in-cheek piece, depicting an open letter to literary agents. Welcome, Katy! You always make me smile.

*******************************

Katy McKenna revels in fictionalizing her true-life stories and, conversely, infusing genuine truth into her made-up stories. She loves it when a reader reports having laughed and cried, all in the same paragraph. Katy and her hubby empty-nest in Kansas City, which is home-base for three grown kids, two in-law kids, and two grandkids. They operate a web design firm, for which Katy provides copywriting, editing, bookkeeping, and coffee-making services. Katy is not, repeat NOT, a hoarder! However, she embraces the thrill of the thrift-store hunt with untethered enthusiasm. A dual citizen of America and Britain, Katy adores haunting her ancestral ruins and relatives in Scotland and Ireland, excavating stories galore.

Katy is a member of ACFW and blogs at www.fallible.com and also at www.wordservewatercooler.com. She is represented by WordServe Literary Agency.

An Open Letter To All The Remaining Literary Agents I’ve Not Yet Contacted

by Katy McKenna

Dear Literary Agent,

If you think I haven’t read your blog, you’re wrong. I thought I’d clear that up right away. I am so diligent, I’ve even delved into the archives, perusing entries from as long ago as two weeks. I know what you’re looking for in a client even better than you do. In fact, because I am such a devoted student of your career, writings, and personal life, I feel I can say without a doubt that I am your next dream author.

How am I so sure? I am glad you asked!

For one thing, you’ve very clearly expressed your preference for having “good writing” sent your way. I’m betting your definition of good writing is the same as my mom’s, which means I’m in luck. Attached is the only scene I’ve slapped together so far. After you read it (get a move on!) and I’ve agreed to be represented by you, I will gladly crank out the rest of the novel. It could take a while, though. I am currently in communication with many notable agents, and I feel certain you’ll realize that these relationships represent a considerable time commitment on my part.

In addition, submitting a proposal for a book I haven’t gotten around to writing would be a giant waste of my time, as I am sure you will agree.

Second, you have indicated you don’t want to sign any high-maintenance, best-seller wannabes. I can assure you that I’ve never personally obtained a pedicure (photos availble upon request). Also, I can produce yellowed postcards from both my dentist and OB/GYN verifying that I am nine years behind in my supposedly annual (ha!) check-ups. NO WAY am I high-maintenance! If you’ll either call me on my cell or email me within fourteen minutes of receiving this—as you should if you are truly the professional you profess yourself to be—we can discuss this point until I’m satisfied that you understand.

Third, you state that any client you take on must have a platform already in place. Bingo! We have a winner! I have been an active blogger for seven plus years, during which time I have chronicled with sterling clarity my aging mother’s propensity for swearing like a drunken Marine (no worn-out cliches here, baby!) as well as her advancing incontinence. Google my stats and you’ll see I now have six regular readers, half of whom have agreed to be sent free copies of my first book.

Finally, you say you are seeking authors who seem unlikely to end up one-hit wonders. While I’d prefer NOT to promise you the moon until my staggering work of heartbreaking genius reaches the top of the NYT list, I think it’s pretty safe to say there’s PLENTY more wherever that first scene came from.

In conclusion, I am absolutely brimming with potential, just the way you like ‘em.

I look forward to hearing from you soon. Very soon.

Best regards,

Katy McKenna

Sliced Baked Potatoes with Susan Mires

2011-12-02T06:00:00.003-06:00

I'm so excited that my featured guest this week, Susan Mires, wanted to share one of her favorite recipes with us. She's sharing her recipe for Sliced Baked Potatoes. Yum! What a clever idea, and it looks so elegant to serve to guests. Thanks, Susan, for sharing this recipe.

So with no further delay ... Take it away, Susan! Let's have some fun in the kitchen!
~Susan H

Sliced Baked Potatoes by Susan Mires

I enjoy cooking, but it can be difficult to find dishes designed for a Party of One instead of a Family of Six. This one is super easy and can be adjusted to any size. If you bake extras, the next day the potato can be heated in the microwave or sliced in a skillet and heated.

Sliced Baked Potato

-Choose a regular baking potato and wash thoroughly.

-Using a sharp knife, create slices through the potato. I try to go pretty thin, about a quarter-inch or less. Do not slice clear through, but leave the skin attached at the bottom. It may help to use a wooden spoon handle as a guide.

-Place the potato in an oven-safe dish and fan it out slightly. Melt about 2 tablespoons of butter in the microwave and poor very slowly over potato, making sure it goes in between slices. Or, if you prefer, use a knife to spread a dab of butter between each slice. Sprinkle with seasoning salt, or salt and pepper, or your favorite spices. I often use a Cajun blend I bought while on a mission trip to New Orleans.

-Bake about 45 minutes. It takes slightly less time than a traditional baked potato.

Do You Struggle During the Holidays? By Michelle Massaro

2011-11-29T07:54:00.001-06:00

*guest post by Michelle Massaro, Asst. Editor at COTT

Can you believe it's almost December? I love the holidays, but I always struggle this time of year. My heart aches for the Thomas Kinkade paintings, for smiles and laughter and goodwill toward man (especially between siblings in the house!), for snuggling by the fire, kisses under the mistletoe, all that good stuff.

Real life is not a painting. Or an old black-and-white movie. (That's often why we love escaping into our novels.)

Nope. Real life finds too many dust bunnies when it's time to move furniture to make room for the tree. Real life has pouting kids who don't want to help lug in the decoration box or be pulled away from their video games in order to just sit by the fire with mom. Husbands who tolerate, but don't enjoy, watching White Christmas, and who grimace and sweat--and possibly even swear--while wrestling with the Christmas lights.

Add to that the fact that I never got around to shedding that extra five pounds--and now feel it's too late to try--the constant pain in my neck, the myriad bills we aren't sure how to pay, a toddler in the throes of the "terrible two's" (to be fair, he's the sweetest boy in the world, just extremely rambunctious), and homeschool pressures...and each day starts to feel overwhelming. Beyond my ability. Sucking me under. Life does not meet my expectations. I'm failing.

And sometimes "failing" at something as simple and earthly as creating the "right" home atmosphere can lead to a depression that slips into spiritual darkness. Lies. All lies. But too often, I believe them.

Maybe you can relate. Or maybe your set of challenges lies elsewhere. Regardless, we all have seasons, or areas of our life, where we don't feel up to the task. And we grieve that ineptitude.

A dear friend recently gave me a gift--a daily devotional--and the first day's reading hit its mark in my heart. In essence, it reminded me that the measure of God's strength given to me on a daily basis is determined by two things:

The difficulty of my circumstances, and my willingness to depend on Him for help.
WOW.

This concept completely changed my thinking when it came to facing challenges. Demons. I don't need to assess the situation and measure it against my usual ability and strength. I need to depend on Him and believe that He can and will empower me that much more in order to handle the task. And tomorrow, when the challenge is not so great, He will give me just the strength I need for that day.
Today it might be preparing the house, encouraging generousity in my kids, and finding ways to trim the grocery budget so that we can get that tail light replaced. Tomorrow it could be the death of a loved one, a falling away of a brother or sister, or the loss of a job. But the degree of His power available to me will match whatever circumstance comes my way.

And the same goes for you, too. So if there's any chance that one of you share this struggle of mine at this time of year, I pray this truth shines like a beacon in your heart and gives you hope. It did for me.

If you're interested in the devotional I mentioned, it's called Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. The entry I referenced was November 11th. :-) And if you want some great Christian novels to dive into or pick up as gifts, you always know where to find some winners. (There's always a contest going on at COTT, so I hope you'll join us this week for a look at a couple great cover images.)
Have a blessed week!

Meet and Greet Susan Mires !

2011-11-28T07:00:00.000-06:00

The first time I read Huckleberry Finn was in third grade. If memory serves correctly, I had to get special permission from Mrs. Gates the librarian to check it out for an extra week so I could finish. She was good at encouraging kids to read that way.

Much of the symbolism was lost on my naive reading, but the story captivated me. Growing up playing on Mozingo Creek that ran through our family farm, I could just imagine hopping on a raft and floating away without a care in the world. I even fashioned a Halloween costume that year as Huck Finn. (I was a bit of nerd, yes.)

Mark Twain, Huck Finn, and Tom Sawyer having a conversation.

The second time I read the book was in high school, where any symbolism I may have missed the first time was analyzed in meticulous detail. The third time through was in a book club with co-workers. While they debated the themes of racism, gender identity and political motives as we dined in St. Joseph, I peered out at the Missouri River and wondered if it would be possible to construct a seaworthy raft of logs.

Last summer, a friend and I decided we would float away from the stress of life and headed east on Highway 36 to the home of Mark Twain. Hannibal, Mo., is a charming old town, built right on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi. For the affordable price of $9, we got to tour Twain’s boyhood home, an interpretive center, Judge Clemons’ courtroom, a Norman Rockwell art gallery and an interactive museum.
Walking out of the first building, a sign pointed up the hill to Huck Finn’s house. But Huck Finn isn’t real, he’s a fictional character; how could he have a house?

The sign announced that for as long as anyone could remember, the little wood home on a stone foundation had been identified as Huck Finn’s. It further explained that Twain had modeled the redheaded character after a childhood friend who was poor, unsupervised, routinely in trouble and forbidden for the other boys to play with. This made him the most popular boy in town.

"I'm on Huck Finn's raft!"

The slave Jim in the novel was similarly based on a black man that Twain knew as a child. The issues of race explored in the book arose from his own contemplations.

Near the end of our day in Hannibal, we sat down to the riverfront and gazed across the Mississippi River to Illinois. A massive barge chugged upstream and behind us, a train rolled by, its whistle echoing off the bluffs. On the drive home, we agreed this was the highlight of the trip.

It was 2011, but the river seemed to flow with a timeless current where a steamboat captain sounded the whistle, barefoot boys ran through a cave and Mrs. Clemons called young Sam home for supper.

Mark Twain wrote his novels years after he left Hannibal, but the stories are infused with such a sense of setting that the real Hannibal and the real Samuel Clemons are interwoven with Mark Twain and Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. Twain’s upbringing on the banks of the river shaped him. In turn, he formed impressions with his words that forever changed the town’s history and future.

Writers have a saying that nothing is ever wasted. Even the most painful experiences should be remembered and journaled about, to someday pull up those emotions to create a character or draft a how-to article.

Twain showed writers how to make the most of circumstances, by treasuring them in our memories and refining them over time. It’s been more than 25 years since I first read Huckleberry Finn and the book resonates deep within me.

On the Mark Twain Museum tour, as visitors move out of one building, a sign directing them to the next states, “The story continues inside.”

For Twain, and for all writers, that is certainly true.

Bio

Susan Mires lives in St. Joseph, Mo., a city rich in history. She was a reporter and editor at the St. Joseph News-Press for 10 years and now works in emergency management and as a freelance writer. She holds a degree in agriculture with a journalism minor from Northwest Missouri State University. Read more of her Reflections on the River columns at www.susanmires.com.

Clash of the Titles Winner in Amish Fictoin

2011-11-22T06:40:00.001-06:00

Guest post by Delia Latham

The Amish are known for their quiet, unassuming manner. Their love of all things peaceful…and shunning of competitive pastimes.

Well. I'm afraid that all flew out the window in the COTT Clash featuring Amish fiction. It was a fight to the finish.... a nose-to-nose race...a no-holds-barred dash to the finish line!

Contestants were:

Suzanne Woods Fisher

(Click on the cover to read Suzanne's Excerpt A)

and

Laura V. Hilton

(Click on the cover to read Laura's Excerpt B)

Both authors hit the ground running with sizzling teasers that presented a definite challenge to our readers. Both were super-fantastic! Both offered a tantalizing glimpse into an amazing read.

But only one of these fabulous excerpts could take the win.

When at last the dust died down…the crowd silenced in expectation…and the winner stood revealed…

LAURA V. HILTON

held the finish line ribbon firmly in hand!

CONGRATULATIONS, LAURA!

The choice was not an easy one, as our readers made perfectly clear in their comments:

"Both of these excerpts are immediately engaging—I think I'd like to read both books!"

"Both excerpts are winners. Can't wait to read them."

"I enjoy the Clash of the Titles!! Each author is fantastic!! And such a great place to hear of new authors that perhaps you haven't read before. Good luck!"

"I love to read stories of the Amish. Thank you for your hard work."

"The authors who write Amish fiction are doing a great job keeping true to the Amish ways while holding the reader's interest with wonderful story lines over and over again."

Heartfelt thanks and deep appreciation to both Suzanne and Laura. I wish we could call it a tie and put both in the winner's slot, because both authors truly are winners.

Meet and Greet Kent King -- Guest post!

2011-11-21T14:55:00.000-06:00

Kent King: Writer-Musician-Storyteller & Dabbler

Back in August, Susan made a gracious offer to feature an ACFW member on Mondays and after writing her back and telling her that I was willing…well, the rest is before you.

BEEN THERE: born in the "city of angels"; graduated from high school in Texas; parents were professional musicians and basically grew up on the road; played tennis & got a scholarship to college; graduated from college in 1970 with a BS (still all I've got...the BS I mean)

DONE THAT: tennis coach and pro (teaching); car salesman (got the checkered coat to prove it); Boy Scout Professional; teacher; association executive (Texas and Missouri); currently CEO of a state teacher association; motivational public speaker and columnist (25 years); former tea house/bistro co-owner (washed a lot of dishes)

LIKE THIS: musician (playing live & home recording studio); novelist (2 fiction novels completed and third half finished); reading; fishing (as long as it's from the bank of a good pond); cooking; living in Columbia, Missouri (the Show Me state)

LOVE 'EM: wife Becky (met her in college where she saved me from myself); 2 kids (Kellye & Christopher) and four grandkids; momma is still around and just turned 100);

LOOKIN' FORWARD: to retirement; more music; more readin', writin' and less 'rithmatic; more fishing; finally growin' up!

REMEMBERING GOD: deacon, Sunday teacher; small group leader; praise team musician and servant/shepherd when needed.

I hope that gave you a taste of who I am. I forgot to add that I’m retiring in June of 2012 to take up fulltime writing (books and music) while making myself available to speak, play, sing and generally share the gospel whenever and wherever God opens a door. My impending retirement led me to the decision to self-publish rather than take the slower traditional route of securing an agent and or an invitation to submit to a Christian publishing house. The three year cycle from submission to shelf means I would be sixty-six if I sent the manuscript in tomorrow.

One of the most positive aspects of being an ACFW member, I had an editor from a major publishing house ask for my manuscript at the 2009 ACFW conference in Denver, as well as several beneficial workshops. The networking was a major addition to my attendance.

Subsequently, I worked with a well known independent editorial group and they were a great help as I put the finishing touches to both books. Oddly enough, the enlightening process of truly publishing as compared to the vanity press alternative has been a major plus, as my books have received my total attention in every aspect. Book cover design, web site,e-book conversion, ISBN numbers, etc. It didn't dampen my spirits, it simply reinforced the fact that my writing was good enough to be published. Most importantly, it was the fleece that God wanted me to tell these stories.

Encouraged by not one, but two editors of our association’s quarterly magazine, one of them a published fiction author herself, I embarked on the journey of writing in 1994 and after dusting off a forgotten, finished manuscript (1995) updated to the present. Shadow Veil is a supernatural thriller featuring current world events that unfold to a dramatic conclusion that mirrors what is unfolding in the media today. It also reflects the spiritual protection and warfare that goes on out of human vision. I’ll admit that my inspiration for this style came from reading Frank Peretti’s This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness in the early 1990’s.

My second novel, West Of Eden, is a part one of an apocalyptic fantasy set 600 years in the future, featuring a half-breed Indian boy and a rumspringa Amish girl on a journey that brings them into contact with three surviving cultures of human society, American Indians, the Amish and city kingdoms. There is a fourth cast of mythical hybrid creatures (centaurs, gargoyles, lycanthropes, etc.) that were cloned from the cells of men. The storyline goes beyond the typical fantasy swashbuckling and adventure and ties in the critical importance of relationships and attitudes as we try to follow Christ’s command to love one another as we love Him.

Musically, I’ll be offering 30 years worth of songs that I produced from scratch in styles from rock, pop, salsa and my two favorites, jazz and R&B. All of these will be available online and downloadable from my website at kent-king.com. It is still under construction, but I hope to have this site up and running before the end of the year and both my finished novels available as an e-book online at Amazon and I-books. I’ll have paperbacks available as well from my website and at events where I’m presenting. The site features writer’s resources available to writers and musicians and I’m willing to share the tough task of doing all the trials and tribulations involved in self-publishing your own works (no vanity press or packages to choose from here). It has been tedious and awkward at times when you do everything, but you need to know that it is doable.

Thanks for sharing a few moments with me and thank you again Susan for letting me on you blog.

Kent

Some good country cookin'......

2011-11-18T06:00:00.002-06:00

This week, you're in for a real treat. I'm giving you a link to a blog that has some fabulous recipes. I've eaten a sample of her cooking on more than one occasion, and I'm tellin' you ... this woman can cook! And dessert? Oh yeah! So, drop on by her blog and check out her recipes. Then stop by her website and check out her books.

Good food and a good book ... pretty awesome combination!

Today is Friday -- have some fun in the kitchen!

Blessings,
Susan

Meet and Greet Angie G. Dicken -- Guest Post!

2011-11-16T06:00:00.004-06:00

Angie Dicken first began writing fiction as a creative outlet during the monotonous days of diapers and temper tantrums. She is an ACFW member and is quickly learning about the craft. She semi-finalled in the Genesis 2011 Contest, and won third place in her category in the Touched By Love 2011 Contest. She is passionate to impress God's love on women regardless of their background or belief. This desire serves as a catalyst for Angie's fiction, which weaves salvation and grace themes across cultures in historical settings. Angie is married to her Texas Aggie sweetheart, and is a stay-at-home mama of three rambunctious boys and one sweet baby girl.
******************************************************************************************
Over the past six years, I have come to realize how important it is to connect to the writing community. My first hint was when I received my feedback from my first ever Genesis contest entry (2010)...yes, I joined ACFW for Genesis! :) It was the absolute best thing I could have done, though. The critiques were kind but humbling, and I realized there was a lot more to this writing thing than I thought. I quickly joined a critique group and discovered the excitement of connecting with others who share my passion.

I'd like to share the three things that have anchored me to the community of ACFW writers:

Crit groups: The large critique group at ACFW was my first conversation with other writers. Terms like "show vs. tell" and "beware of adverbs" gave me the push to learn more about the writing craft. I found my present critique partner who has been amazing, and one of my biggest cheerleaders as I try and proceed down the publishing road. She was also the person who encouraged me to go to conference ...which brings me to my next point.

Conference: I was completely out of my element and thought it was a big mistake when I stepped through ACFW conference doors in 2010. Confidence was hard to find as a pregnant stay-at-home mom writer wanna-be fighting off morning sickness. But I soon discovered that ACFW members are the friendliest, most-encouraging group of professionals I had ever been around. The dream became reachable that weekend...not because I got a ton of interest in my work...I really didn't...but because I found friends that cheered me on and believed in me as a writer for the first time in my life.
After my second time at conference this year, it is amazing how much more comfortable I felt with pitching and talking with agents and editors. A year of being connected to the community did wonders!

Blogging: When I returned from that first conference, I had a handful of budding friendships, and a ton of faces to add to the names I had seen on the ACFW loop and the large critique group. It was from the divine appointments at conference that I connected with the women at The Writer's Alley, a blog of ACFW members encouraging other aspiring authors. I signed on as one of the ten contributors to the blog...as a complete writing newbie (in terms of craft), and over the past year they have become my "small group" within the ACFW community.We have prayed together, cried together, encouraged each other, and spent face to face time together at the conference. They have even talked me "off the ledge" when I was ready to throw in the writing towel.

Writing consists of a lot of alone time, hiding away in "the cave" to pound out the word count. I must give credit though, to the community of writers I have come to treasure. My "alone" time would never be nearly as productive if I kept to myself and didn't venture into the community.

If there is one piece of advice that this less-of-a-newbie could give to a budding writer, it is:

Get Connected!

Angie G. Dicken
Historical Romance Writer
Romance When Hearts & Cultures Collide

Meet Julie Arduini and Renee Chaw

2011-11-15T06:00:00.001-06:00

*guest post by Michelle Massaro

Today it is my pleasure to shine the spotlight on two more amazing women who are both members of the COTT Blog Alliance.

Julie Arduini was born on Good Friday with tornado warnings. A description that she says could not be more accurate!

She lives in NE Ohio with her husband and two children. She's also a step-mom to two adult children who live in out of state. Her writing is featured in ten books (learn more on her site!) She also blogs monthly for the marriage counter at the Internet Café. She loves serving in children’s and women’s ministries through her local church and Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS) chapter.

Julie says: "I love my strong coffee, lilacs, NCIS, and Beth Moore Bible studies (not in that order!)"
Her site has been up since December 31, 2006 and was her first act of surrendering fear of what others would think about her. That fear had kept her from doing what she loved since childhood but her baby step into blogging quickly led to many other writing opportunities—a true testament to listening to the whisperings of the Lord.
Julie's warm, transparent personality is woven throughout her blog posts. "I’m not a scholar, just a wife and mom trying to help anyone willing to read know that Jesus is close and intimate with arms open to receive, not turn away." Her focus is to encourage readers, mostly adult women, to find "freedom through surrender."
An avid reader, Julie provides book ideas on her site based on what she's reading. On Sundays you can take a peek at her amateur nature pictures with a few thoughts about God’s love. She posts 5-7 days per week so there's always something new! If you're looking for a blog-hostess gift, I hear she really really loves chocolate!
Surrendering the good, the bad, and---maybe one day---the chocolate
**********

Say hello to Renee Chaw (and her 3 year old dog, Coco.) Renee's blog features reviews of Christian fiction, romance and young adult fiction as well as posts about some of her favorite movies, TV shows, and Steelers football. Woot!
Black 'n Gold Girl's Book Spot is a fun place to gather. Renee is always looking for a way to make you chuckle or at least inform you about some great books and movies. She also sometimes posts about her other interests like vintage jewelry, TV, antiques, sports, pets etc. She always makes you feel welcome!
Another great reason to add her to your blog roll: she loves doing giveaways and hosting authors.
Renee says she's an avid reader of just about anything from the back of the cereal box to the back of a book. ^-^
"I love to blog. I've met so many great people through the blogging world and have had the opportunity to read so many wonderful books that I might not have otherwise had the chance to. I love being a member of FIRST Wild Card and this Blog Alliance, two other great groups that I wouldn't have had the chance to join if it wasn't for blogging. I'm loyal to the local sports teams, especially my Pittsburgh Steelers (LOVE those Black 'n Gold guys ;-)) and I'm a crazy car girl LOL! Take me to a car show over the mall any day of the week!"
She tries to post everyday but sometimes 'real life' limits her blogging to 3 times per week. If you want to bring her a blog-hostess gift, make sure you get a big box with holes in it. Renee loves big, furry dogs! =) Of course, it might be easier to just bring a treat for Coco.

Be sure to check out these two blogs and make a couple new friends!

* Michelle Massaro is Assistant Editor for Clash of the Titles. Find her on twitter @MLMassaro, and Facebook.

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Tournament of Champions: Week Four

2011-11-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

Week FOUR of COTT's Tournament of Champions saw four more authors compete and three more scavenger hunts played.

Here's a recap:

Becky R went to Gail Pallotta's Blog on Monday to find out when Love Turns theTide's Cammie sees a different side of Vic. She got the correct answer and walks away with a $10 Starbucks card from Lisa Lickel. Pumpkin Latte, anyone?
Megan D visited Marianne Evans' blog Tuesday to discover which of Marianne's books was a Christian Small Publisher's Book of the Year nominee. She won a $10 Amazon gift card from Amanda Stephan. Awesome!
Theresa M stopped by Margaret Brownley's Blog on Wednesday and found the name of the Christmas anthology which Margaret contributed to. She also received a $10 Amazon gift card donated by Raquel Byrnes.
Congrats ladies! Clash of the Titles has awarded over $125 worth of game prizes, thanks to its generous sponsors. Thanks, COTT--and another round of applause for all those game winners!

This was the last week of reader games, but fear not! There's still a chance to win the Grand Prize! I'll share how in a minute. But first...

Which Books Won the Clashes?

Rosslyn Elliot's "Fairer Than Morning" and Delia Latham's "Destiny's Dream" clashed last Monday. "Fairer Than Morning" came out the winner.
Shellie Neumeier's, Driven and Ann O'Barr's Singing in Babylon struck swords on Wednesday. Driven took the top spot.
These two victorious titles competed together on Friday to determine which would move on to the finals for a chance to win the Laurel Award. And that finalist is...

Rosslyn Elliot's "Fairer Than Morning"

She joins Marianne Evans' Hearts Crossing, Elaine Cooper's The Road To Deer Run, and Karen Witemeyer's A Tailor-Made Bride. We now have all four finalists vying for the ultimate COTT honor.
Voting for the Big Winner is going on RIGHT NOW, and continues all week long. The big announcement will be made on November 12th. Public vote determines the outcome, and one reader will receive a Grand Prize of 15 books!!! Want a shot at it? Enter by sharing links, putting up buttons and banners on your blog, becoming a follower of COTT (just make sure you tell them you've done so--they aren't psychics!) Details on the prize basket and full instructions on how to enter can be found here. To make it easy to grab n go, here are the banner and button codes.

Here's the button code:

Find me on twitter @MLMassaro, and Facebook.

Meet and Greet Sherri Shackelford -- Guest Post!

2011-11-07T08:14:00.004-06:00

A wife and mother of three, Sherri’s hobbies include collecting mismatched socks, discovering new ways to avoid cleaning, and standing in the middle of the room while thinking, “Why did I just come in here?” A reformed pessimist and recent hopeful romantic, Sherri has a passion for writing. Her books are fun and fast-paced, with plenty of heart and soul.

She is represented by Pam Hopkins, of Hopkins Literary Agency.

My first book (and hopefully not my last) releases in June from Harlequin Love Inspired Historical. Winning the Widow's Heart was my fifth completed manuscript. Let me tell you, if I can get published, anybody can! Of the ten writers who will read my book, nine of them will think they could write a better book. The tenth person will think they could write a WAY better book. And they're probably right.

I didn't step into writing with an English degree. I didn't write stories as a child. I was a stay-at-home mother of three when I decided to write a book. I loved to read, and I loved to read romance. That was my only qualification. Well, and I wrote good emails. My friends and family enjoyed my emails and said I should write. But a humorous accounting of my son's mishap with red nail polish isn't easy to parlay into a full length novel.
Then I picked up a book by Pam Crooks at my local paperback swap. Lo and behold, she was from my city, and she even mentioned the writers group she belonged to on the back cover. After weeks of vacillating, I finally screwed up my courage and sent her an email. In August of 2007, my knees shaking, I attended my first Heartland Writers Group meeting. Pages written thus far: 0.

Here's the thing: Writing a book is easy. Writing a good book is hard. My first book was a contemporary, because people told me not to write historicals because they required too much research. My contemporary was a mess. I had so much plot crammed into those 55k words, I could have written a series.
My second book was aimed at the historical market. I loved those sexy Victorian novels. Turns out, I don't write very sexy. My third book was a dark Victorian. I entered a few of these in contests, and received mixed, but not great, feedback. Then I had it!! I started writing a book that just clicked. It was funny, and fast-paced. My critique partner even gave me the name of her agent. I had arrived!!

No one else liked that book. I was crushed. I spent almost an entire year with fits and starts of new manuscripts. Revising old manuscripts. Toying with a sweet Regency. Quitting. Starting over. Then quitting. In December of 2010 Harlequin sponsored a contest called: So You Think You Can Write (SYTYCW). They didn't want anything you'd shopped around already. You had to write something completely new.
I had a scene in my head: I knew it was winter. The heroine was having a baby, and the hero was searching for an outlaw. SYTYCW gave me a pass. Except the characters wouldn't let go. In January 2011, I sat down and made a list of my strengths and weaknesses. Then I made a list of who was currently expanding their lines, or actively seeking new authors. I kept coming back to Harlequin Love Inspired Historical.
I was writing an inspirational, and I hadn't realized it. I revised the first scene, wrote a synopsis, and got down to work. In February, for my birthday, my critique partners gave me the registration fee for the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and the contest fee for the ACFW sponsored Genesis contest. I semi-finaled, then finaled.

In June, the contest coordinator wrote to say one of the judges, from Harlequin, wanted the full manuscript. Hallelujah! Then the contest coordinator wrote back to say it was a mistake. They wanted a different manuscript. I can't even tell the crushing weight of disappointment. I wanted to give up. I wanted to yell at the person who had made the mistake. Instead, I kept writing.

I'm glad I did. The following morning, a Senior Editor from Harlequin contacted me requesting the full from the Dixie First Chapter Contest. It turns out that editors talk to each other. From what can tell, the editors had divided up the requests, and that's why one editor withdrew her request. Four weeks later, exactly four years to the day after I joined HWG, Harlequin offered to buy the book.

I'm happy for every twist and turn in the road. (I've only given you a sampling here. Believe me, there were others!) I learned my process. I learned that knowing what you don't want is just as valuable as knowing what you do want. I learned that failure can be just as fleeting as success. I'm glad every day that I didn't sell that first book. And not just because my heroine cliff-dived to escape a killer in the last, pivotal moment.
I'm grateful because I appreciate every moment.

Sherri Shackelford
Journeys of faith, love and laughter.
sherrishackelford.com
Winning the Widow's Heart
June 2012, Harlequin Love Inspired Historical

Fun in the Kitchen with JoAnn Reno Wray and "All American Pizza"

2011-11-04T07:00:00.003-05:00

Guest Post by JoAnn Reno Wray

When fall comes with its cooler weather, football games, yellow mums, and marching bands, I hark back to eighth grade.

My girlfriend, Sandy, and I begged our parents to have a pre-game party. After much wheedling and countless promises to do housework, clean our rooms, and get better grades, they said yes. We immediately invited about twelve friends.

Sandy's mom and mine were in a dither about what to prepare that wouldn't break the bank with so many hungry teenagers.

Then my mother found a recipe in a magazine, modified it, tried it out on our guinea pig family of seven, and we had a winner. We dubbed it "All American Pizza." I can hardly believe that I've been making this recipe since 1965 and always to rave reviews.

If you like cheesy burgers and crusty bread, you'll love this. It's easy, inexpensive, fast, and serves a crowd. To round out the meal, just add fresh baby carrots and celery on the side, a salad, or our favorite, tangy Cole slaw, and your favorite chips, and you are good to go! And you can always add a big dish of baked beans, too. This will feed a party in no time.

All American Pizza

Preheat Oven to 375°

Cooking Time: 25 min. + 5 min.

NEEDS: Mixing Bowl, Stirring spoons, rubber spatula, measuring cups and spoons, aluminum foil, cookie or baking sheet, knife, chopping board, hot pads, oven mitts.

INGREDIENTS:

BASE:
   1 loaf French Bread

MEAT MIXTURE:
    1 to 1.25 lb. Lean Ground Beef (more for thicker meat)
    2 Jumbo Eggs
    4 oz. Evaporated Milk
   ¼ Cup Catsup
    1 Tablespoon Mustard (yellow, brown, your choice)
    3 slices bread made into crumbs in food processor
    ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese
    1½ tsp. Mrs. Dash
    1 tsp. Minced Garlic
    1 small or ½ medium onion-diced
    1 tsp. Dried Cilantro (optional)
    ¼ tsp. Pepper (or more if preferred)
    ½ tsp. Italian Seasoning

TOPPING:
    Parmesan cheese
    Mushrooms (Optional: add to top after Parmesan)
    1 Cup finely shredded Mozzarella
    1 Cup finely shredded Cheddar

Directions:

1.) Cut French Bread in half lengthwise. Wrap bottom half of each with aluminum foil so the bread sits in it cut side up. Place on cookie sheets, side by side.

2.) In Bowl mix ingredients for meat mixture in order, blending well.

3.) Using rubber Spatula, spread meat mixture on cut halves of French bread, evenly dividing it.

4.) Generously sprinkle top of meat with Parmesan. (Add mushrooms here, if desired.)

5.) Bake at 375° for 25 minutes. Slide pizza out of oven onto heat safe surface or hot pads.

6.) Top evenly with mozzarella and cheddar.

7.) Bake 5 minutes more until cheese melts.

8.) Cool for about 10 minutes.

9.) Fold back sides of foil and slice into 1" wide slices for serving.

I've also made this and added a layer of fresh, thinly sliced tomatoes to the top of the meat mixture about 15 minutes after putting it in the oven then added more Parmesan on top of those and topping with the other cheeses as listed. Yum!

When I have any left over (rare), after it is cooled, I put a layer of waxed paper on top, then wrap it in two layers of regular foil or one layer of heavy duty foil and freeze.

Allow to stand at room temperature after taking it from the freezer for at least 30 minutes. It can be reheated in an oven on a cookie sheet at 350° for about 30-40 minutes. Remove the foil from the top during the last 10 minutes. It will keep in the refrigerator wrapped in foil for several days.

Happy eating! Now pardon me while I go start on my Christmas cookie baking. I usually make between 200 and 400 dozen of 25 different kinds each year. My husband, Roger, our children, and grands are all eagerly waiting to be taste testers again.

Tournament of Champions: Third Week Recap

2011-11-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

*Guest post by Michelle Massaro

Week THREE of COTT's Tournament of Champions saw four more authors compete and three more scavenger hunts played.

Here's a recap:

On Monday, players were sent to Elaine Cooper's Blog with a mission: Find the full name of the girl Nathaniel Stearns falls in love with in the book trailer video on her home page. Renee C won a $10 Amazon gift card from Marianne Evans, author of Hearts Crossing.

Tuesday, the hunt was on at Shellie Neumeier's Blog. The question: What is the name of the book Shellie co-wrote with Lisa Lickel? Tammy G won a $10 Amazon gift card from April Gardner, author of Wounded Spirits.

Wednesday we were led to Naomi Musch's Blog. The question: In her new release, The Red Fury, Colette's daughter Lainey is seeking solace from tragic loss and two searing rejections by doing what 2 things? B.J. Robinson won a $10 CBD gift card donated by Ann Gaylia O'Barr, author of Singing in Babylon.

Want your own spending spree? Be sure to play in this week's hunts. Check Clash of the Titles for game info.

And what about the competing books? Who won?

Karen Witemeyer's A Tailor-Made Bride and Lena Nelson Dooley's Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico battled on Monday. A Tailor-Made Bride came out the winner.
Christine Lindsay's Shadowed in Silk and Naomi Musch's The Green Veil struck swords on Wednesday. The Green Veil took the top spot.
These two victorious titles competed together on Friday to determine which would move on to the finals for a chance to win the Laurel Award. And that finalist is...

Karen Witemeyer's A Tailor-Made Bride!

There are now three finalists vying for the ultimate COTT honor. In this final week they'll be joined by a fourth book, then all will be thrown into the ring until only ONE remains. Who will it be? It's up to readers to decide, so cast your votes!
The Laurel will be awarded on November 4th, along with the 15-book grand prize that will be given to one lucky reader. Want a shot at it? You can enter by sharing links, putting up buttons and banners on your blog, becoming a follower of COTT, etc. Details on the prize basket and full instructions on how to enter can be found here. To make it easy to grab n go, here are the banner and button codes (just don't forget to let them know if you put them up!)

Here's the button code:

* Michelle Massaro is the Assistant Editor for COTT. Find her on twitter @MLMassaro, Facebook, and Adventures In Writing.

Meet and Greet JoAnn Reno Wray !

2011-10-31T22:04:00.001-05:00

JoAnn Reno Wray particularly
enjoys writing inspirational,
personal experience, and humor.

Always a Passion for Words

© JoAnn Reno Wray

In 1986 my husband, Roger, and I were in Ohio visiting my parents. At thirty-seven, I still struggled to feel accepted by Mom in many ways.

The Lord began reconciling our often stormy relationship in late August 1979, the day Roger, our children, and I left Ohio for our new Oklahoma home. At age 30, for the first time in my life, I heard Mom say, “I love you so much. Please don’t go.” Those longed-for words were healing for both of us.

During that 1986 Ohio visit, I was ecstatic over a sale I’d made to a well-known magazine. Mom, legally blind, asked me to read it aloud. When I finished a long moment of silence followed as Mom and Dad brushed tears away. Feeling awkward in the quiet, and still amazed my article was in print, I said, “I can’t believe they bought this and published it!”

Mom, indignant, said, “Why? It’s a good story! Wait. I want to show you something.”

With that Mom, a large woman, set her rocker in motion, propelled herself upright, then gingerly climbed the stairs. She rattled around in the master bedroom closet and soon returned carrying a red-leather, spiral-bound book with fancy gold script on the cover that read, “Scrapbook.” She handed it to me and announced, “There. Look at that.” She plopped in her rocker, watching and waiting.


JoAnn at 8 months held in her mother's arms.	.

I looked at Dad who grinned, waving me to open the book. The pages creaked in protest, not opened in years. On page one was a poem I’d written in second grade about Ohio’s state bird the Cardinal, framed by childish drawings of two red birds on a tree branch. On the opposite page was a first prize certificate of award for my age group from the Ohio Department of Education for that poem. It had been entered into a competition by my teacher with my parents approval. A blue ribbon hung next to the certificate. I couldn’t remember writing it, let alone winning.

I leafed through more pages, discovering stories marked with bright red A pluses from various teachers through the years. Mom also saved articles published in the school and city newspapers. I stared at photos of me receiving prizes for writing or artwork. In one, I accepted first prize for posters I’d drawn and slogans I wrote for a safety campaign run by the power company. Poems were saved along with cards, letters, drawings, and more.

Now I teared up. Mom had failed to voice her love for my first thirty years. Praise was rare, but here was proof — she was proud of me!

Mom returned my gaze with a fierce glow. Then said, “Why is it so surprising you’re selling your writing? You’ve always been a writer. God gave you that gift. I didn’t understand it, but you’ve always been creative.” She paused, then added, “I think it’s wonderful.”

My journey into published writing began in 1974. I’d gone to Columbus College of Art and Design on scholarship, honing my skills with brush, pen and ink, chalks and more. For writing, I had no groups available, no teachers, and didn’t even know where to look for advice on writing or marketing. I discovered The Writer Magazine and Writer’s Digest. Through books, I learned from the best the writing community had to offer.

Today, it astonishes me to know that over 3000 of my articles, inspirational stories, poems, greeting cards, medical and technical articles, columns, and fillers published in newspapers, newsletters, magazines, literary journals, both in print and online. God’s grace also opened the door for my articles to be in multiple book compilations.

Along the way, I’ve enjoyed teaching and encouraging fellow writers in local writing groups, critique groups, online groups, at small conferences, and several national Christian writing conferences. It’s been an exciting journey that will continue throughout eternity.

JoAnn dressed as her alter-ego, Petunia Poppins, talks with Sarah Rhodes.

After battling congestive heart failure for eight years, Mom graduated to heaven in 1994. Countless times when writing seemed too hard, I heard Mom’s words reverberate in my heart to spur me on, “You’ve always been a writer.”

In God’s eyes, and Mom’s, I will always be a writer whether my words are published or not. More important, this writer must write. Just as breathing air, I must take in and give out the words I capture. How humbling to be allowed to handle the very substance with which God created the universe, that which frames the worlds and holds them in their assigned positions: Words.

God’s passion with words created us and everything that ever existed and ever will. Wonder of wonders, He allows those He calls to write the sacred privilege of working with that same powerful element. How dare we hesitate? Do what you are: Write.

============

JoAnn Reno Wray has been married to her favorite husband, Roger, for 42 years with two grown married children and five grandchildren. From her Broken Arrow, OK, home she runs her creative business, EpistleWorks Creations, (website being renovated) offering writing, editing, and graphic art services to clients. Her blog is Epistles from the Heart. Each Christmas, she dons her red apron to bake from 200 to 650 dozen cookies, creating trays as gifts for friends, family, and charities, while selling a few to cover ingredient costs. Her husband, children, and grandchildren happily volunteer for the Christmas baking frenzy as taste-testers.

How about a Hot Cocoa Mocha -- Sugar Free?

2011-10-28T11:06:00.000-05:00

I found this recipe on Spark People over a year ago. They no longer have the recipe listed where I could find it, but it's a great site and you can find some pretty yummy recipes over there. You can check it out at this website. www.sparkpeople.com

My teenage daughter LOVES this recipe. I don't like to use artificial sweeteners and this uses Stevia or Truvia.

Hot Cocoa Mocha - Sugar Free

Ingredients

1 rounded tsp Instant Decaf Coffee
1 tbsp Hershey's Cocoa Powder
1/8 cup Instant Nonfat Dry Milk
2 packets Stevia
8 to 12 oz Hot Water

Directions

Mix the ingredients with 8 to 12 ounces of hot water.

Number of Servings: 1

Nutrition Info

Calories: 45.5
Fat: 0.5g
Carbohydrates: 7.7g
Protein: 3.2g

Featuring Hailee by Penny Zeller - - Book Give Away!

2011-10-26T13:47:00.000-05:00

What I just read....

Hailee

by Penny Zeller

Publisher: Whitaker House

ISBN: 978-1-60374-218-4

Amazon

Christian Book

After losing both her parents at a young age, Hailee Annigan is solely responsible for caring for her two younger brothers. While living in an abandoned hotel, she resorts to stealing to feed her siblings when no one will give her work. One day, her life of crime comes to an end and she finds herself in a Christian home for delinquent youth. Even with the help of the home, she is unable to locate the only family she has left. After being trained as a teacher, she heads to Montana, plagued by her shameful past. She can only pray that her brothers will have found loving and safe homes and that God will reunite them someday. She heads out to Pine Haven, Montana, hopeful that her past will not ruin her future.

Nate Adams was raised in high-society Boston. His family has had his future planned out for him since he was born and it did not include becoming a pastor. His parents attend church as a social function and do not understand his calling. They refuse to accept his position of pastor of a church in rugged Montana as anything more than a lark and something he just needs to get out of his system. Will he be able to convince them that he’s there to stay and this is what the Lord has called him to do? Will he ever convince his parents that God is real and He loves them?

When Nate and Hailee meet, they are drawn to one another almost instantly. Their upbringings are about as different as one can imagine. Will their circumstances pull them apart? Can they overcome the obstacles of their past to create a future together?

This is the third and final book in the Montana Skies Series. Hailee is a sweet romance that shows that no matter where you come from or whatever life throws at you, you can overcome anything with the saving mercy and grace of Jesus Christ. God does indeed have a plan for each of us and amazing things can happen if we put our lives in His hands. This story definitely shows that. I have also read McKenzie (Book One) and Kaydie (Book Two) and enjoyed seeing the characters of those books return to have a part in Nate and Hailee’s story. I invite you to read this book and take a journey to a wonderful community and live alongside characters who will make you wish Pine Haven was a real place.

About the Author:

Penny Zeller is a Christ follower, wife to her wonderful husband, Lon, mother of two daughters, and a Christian author/speaker. She's the author of several books and numerous magazine articles. She also writes a humor blog A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author and is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader, co-organizing a women’s prayer group, and co-founding The Sisters in Christ Community Girls Night Out. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word to glorify God and to benefit His Kingdom. She devotes her time to assisting, encouraging, and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. When she's not dreaming up new characters for books, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and camping, hiking, canoeing, gardening, and playing volleyball.

Book Give-Away:

Please feel free to stop and chat with Penny -- via comments -- as she'll be stopping by a few times before next Wednesday to check in and answer any questions you might have about her book(s) and writing. By leaving a comment, you'll be automatically entered to win a copy of her book, Hailee, compliments of Penny. If you're a follower of my blog, please mention that in your comment, and you’ll be entered twice for a chance to win. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so I can contact the winner. Drawing to be held on Wednesday, November 2nd in the comments of this post.

Happy reading, everyone! Penny and I look forward to your comments.

Susan

Disclaimer: Give-aways are void where prohibited and are open to US residents only. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” You may also find more details on FTC compliance at the very bottom of my blog’s main page.

Rockin' the Party at COTT!

2011-10-25T07:36:00.000-05:00

*guest post by Delia Latham

It's been a bang-up bash all week at Clash of the Titles. We've been blog-hopping for treasure, and a couple gals found the loot!

LINDA won Game #1. She'll receive a
$10 Barnes & Noble Gift Certificate

from Gail Pallotta.

CLAUDIA RIZZI won Game #2. She'll receive a
$25 Partylite Gift Certificate
from Michelle Massaro.

Congratulations to our game winners!

And the fun continues all the way through Nov. 4th. Our doors are open and we have a whole pile of party hats just waiting to be worn. Bring your votes and come on down!

In the midst of all the fun and games this week, we had four authors at swordspoint with TWO Clashes. All four entries were outstanding, and each possessed strong winning qualities. But, as in any race or competition, not everyone makes the finals.

We chose a single winner from each Clash. These two went head-to-head on Saturday…and only one will proceed to the finals and duke it out for the COTT Laurel Award.

This week's Clash WINNERS are:

Clash #3:

Erin Rainwater with her excerpt from

The Arrow That Flieth by Day

Clash #4:

Elaine Marie Cooper and her excerpt from

The Road to Deer Run

CONGRATULATIONS, ladies!

These two went head-to-head on Saturday…with only one proceeding to the finals to duke it out for the COTT Laurel Award.

That one is....

Elaine Marie Cooper and her excerpt from

The Road to Deer Run

Cyber-hugs and sincere thanks to Anne Patrick and Margaret Brownley! These were tough decisions and difficult votes to make. You're ALL winners!

More games and more exerpts are up for grabs this week, so don't miss out. Stop by COTT and play.

*Delia Latham is the author of the Solomon's Gate Series and a Blog Alliance Correspondent for COTT

Meet and Greet April J. Young! Book Give-Away!

2011-10-24T09:21:00.002-05:00

Guest Post by April J. Young

To Be A Warrior, A Story of Battle, is a tale birthed from Ephesians 6 and from reading about Spiritual Warfare. I am a firm believer that unseen battles take place among us every day. And that scares me. But I know the One in charge, and I know that He will ultimately triumph!

This is something that has been near and dear to me for many years, and in college, I finally got the chance to put it all down on paper. I wrote a thrilling adventure fraught with peril, battles, and temptation. Two young knights, Darrin and Thane, are given two suits of armor and a quest that they must finish to join the ranks in the Undying City and to serve their liege lord, the Eternal One. Will they be able to prosper against the unseen enemies around them? Or will they fall prey to the Evil that stalks their lands, surrendering not only their vital armor, but their lives as well?

I wanted this to be a story that young children could understand. Spiritual Warfare is real, and it’s incredibly important to wear the armor God provides for us. When we don’t wear it and keep it in working order, that is when Evil moves in and wreaks havoc. To Be A Warrior is written for children 9-13 (give or take a few years) so that they can better understand what the armor is, and how to wear it.

Being a high school English teacher gives me a unique perspective on teens in today’s culture—and it’s one of the things that drives me to write. I want them to have information out there about spiritual matters. Hopefully before they get to high school! I so appreciate my fellow Christian writers and their passion for the Lord and for the written word. May it changes lives, one book at a time.

A Brief Bio…

My name is April J. Young as an author, but April J. Skelly as a newly married woman. Getting married this past summer has done nothing to diminish the love I have for the written word; indeed, it has only enhanced the experiences I have gained as a person and a writer to relate to in my characters and their happenings. I have always enjoyed the written word, devouring it at every opportunity. I currently have been once published, To Be A Warrior, A Story of Battle by Tate Publishing in June of 2007 and am excited to pursue further publications.

I grew up in Missouri in the home of two educators who encouraged my learning and reading at every opportunity. Frequent travel became a delight in education and fuel for my already over-active imagination, which my parents also encouraged. They saw to it that my mind was enriched with the possibilities of the world around me, and also the world I could create inside my own head. Their support in my writing has always been appreciated.

I completed high school in 2003 and went on to gain my Bachelor’s degree in English Education form Hannibal LaGrange College in Hannibal, Missouri. My love of the written word inspired my career as well. I teach high school English, currently in Cleveland, Ohio through K12 International Academy, but before that, for two years in a tiny town in mid-Missouri, which I very much enjoyed. I love teaching as much as I love writing. My students give me daily doses of humor, culture, and patience as well as the joy of building meaningful mentoring relationships with them.

My website is www.AprilJYoung.com.

Book Give-Away!

A Note from Susan

April has offered to give away a copy of her book -- Thank you, April! By leaving a comment on this post, you'll be automatically entered to win a copy of To Be A Warrior, A Story of Battle. If you're a follower of my blog, your comment will get you two entires for a chance to win. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so we can contact the winner. Example: janedoe (at) wherever (dot) com. Winner will be announced on Monday, October 31st in the comments of this post!

Happy Reading, everyone!

Susan

Disclaimer: This copy is provided by the author and will be shipped by the author. Give-aways are void where prohibited and are open to US residents only. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” You may also find more details on FTC compliance here on my blog http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com/p/misc-information.html

Laura's Amazing Soft Pretzels!

2011-10-21T13:26:00.001-05:00

So, it's once again time for my Fun in the Kitchen Friday post. And boy, do I have a wonderful recipe for you! These pretzels are delicious. SO worth the effort to make them. My daughter did great at the county and state fairs with these pretzels.

I found this recipe at Heavenly Homemakers website/blog. The author of this website has written out the recipe and included wonderful picture tutorials, so I'm giving you the link to go directly to her website. You can find the recipe here.

If you like cooking and baking, she has a lot of great information and this awesome recipe on her site. Please stop back by my blog and leave a comment and let me know how you liked the recipe. If you like pretzels -- you're gonna' LOVE these.

Happy baking!
Susan

Clash of the Titles -- Laurel Award

2011-10-20T07:00:00.005-05:00

IT HAS BEGUN!!

Over the last year, there have been

OVER FIFTY

Clashing author in twenty-four CLASHES,

but only ONE can win the

LAUREL AWARD.

YOU decide which!

In the process, we invite you to repeatedly enter to win
THREE GIFTS A WEEK,
including the GRAND PRIZE--
15 NOVELS

www.clashofthetitles.com

PROMO VIDEO CREATED BY COTT ASSISTANT EDITOR, MICHELLE MASSARO

COTT Kicks Off Tournament of Champions

2011-10-19T07:00:00.002-05:00

Guest post by Jennifer Slattery
Last week, Clash of the Titles launched their first annual Tournament of Champions with two clashes and four talented authors. In Clash one, CS Lakin, author of Someone to Blame, and Marianne Evans, author of Heart Crossing, went head-to-head in a nail-biting, literary duel. In Clash two, our very own Gail Pallotta, author of Love Turns the Tide, competed against Clare Revell, author of A Season for Miracles. All four excerpts rocked, and this was a tough call, but you, our faithful readers chose two Tournament of the Champions' finalists.

Those finalists were Marianne Evans and Gail Pallotta.

Exciting stuff, and yet, the games weren’t done. In the next round, COTT staff cast their votes, and once again, one writer rose to the top and will advance to the next round.
That author is…
Marianne Evans!
And here’s a glimpse of what a COTT champion excerpt looks like:
“Collin Edwards stood before the funeral assembly. Heat crawled up his body. He clutched the edges of the podium where he stood and cleared his throat. The gesture was in vain. His throat constricted so much it hurt. Before the altar, just to the right, rested a flag-draped casket.
He looked down, at a piece of paper upon which he had crafted the words to a eulogy…” (Read more of Excerpt B here.)
About the novel, Heart Crossing:
Collin Edwards, a former parishioner at Woodland Church, has renounced God without apology, his faith drained away in the face of a tragic loss.
Daveny Montgomery cares deeply about her relationship with God, and the community of Woodland . Lately though, she's been in a rut, longing for something to reignite her spiritual enthusiasm.
A beautification project at Woodland seems the answer for them both. Daveny spearheads the effort and Collin assists, but only with the renovations, and only because he wants to know Daveny better. Despite his deepening feelings for her, even stepping into the common areas of the church stirs tension and anger.
Can Daveny trust in Collin’s fledgling return to faith? And can Collin ever accept the fact that while he turned his back on God, God never turned his back on him?
We’d also like to congratulate our prize-winning readers:

Jessica R Patch! She won a $10 Amazon Gift card from Elaine Cooper.

LoRee Peery! She won a free bookmark design from Delia Latham.

Larry Hammersley! He won a $10 Amazon Gift card from Author Anne Patrick.

Join us this week for more fun and prizes as four more authors jump into the ring hoping not only to advance to the next round, but ultimately reign as the Clash of the Titles’ champion of champions! Remember, every vote counts! Each vote gets your name thrown into the hat for our fab-tabulous grand prize give-away comprised of fourteen novels!

Visit our Tournament of Champions page for a complete list of prizes.

***
Jennifer Slattery is the marketing manager for Clash of the Titles. She writes for Christ to the World Ministries, the Christian Pulse, and Samie Sisters and has written for numerous other publications. She also works for Tiffany Colter, the Writing Career Coach, as a professional manuscript evaluator and publicist. You can find out more about her and her writing at her devotional blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud. You can find out more about her critique and publicity services at Words That Keep.

Meet Ralene Burke -- My Featured Writer of the Week

2011-10-18T07:55:00.000-05:00

A Character By Any Other Name…

One of the perks of being a military wife is the opportunities I have to travel around and meet new people. In the last six years, I’ve lived in six different places in four different states. Craziness! But, oh, the wonderful people I’ve met!

From the wonderful women in the different PWOC (Protestant Women of the Chapel, basically a women’s fellowship group on post), to the “natives” in places like Hawaii, to the wacky neighbors (because you just never know who you’ll be living next to), I’ve met a wide variety of people. Some are quiet, some talk more than I do. Some enjoy being involved, some prefer to stick to themselves. Some are quirky or friendly or funny or hardworking or…well, the list goes on and on.

As a writer, I know that EVERYTHING is possible fodder for a story—well, so is EVERYONE. You’ve seen the t-shirt, right? CAREFUL OR YOU’LL END UP IN MY NOVEL!

God created us, each unique. We have our own quirks, our own fears and desires, our own pet peeves, our own beliefs. We have our own physical appearance as well—short, tall, thin, and curvaceous.

Why wouldn’t we make our characters just as unique?

I may not be much of a plotter, Lord knows I’ve tried! Still, the one thing I do sit down and do before I write a single word on a project is get to know the main characters. Yes, I scour the internet for photos. I fill our bios and answer questions. I explore their quirks and the backgrounds to figure out who they are today and why. By the time I get to the keyboard, I have enough information to fuel the brief idea of a plot I have.

The same goes for secondary characters. While they may not share the screen time with the main characters, their personalities—who they are—will carry some of the plot. While they may not need to be as fleshed out (depending on their importance to the story) as the main characters, they do need to be distinguishable.

So, how do we make our characters stand out? There are four great opportunities.

1. Dialogue: We all have unique speech patterns based on various aspects of who we are—education, where we’re from, personality. In most dialogue longer than a sentence, a reader should be able to tell who’s speaking, even without a tag.

2. Action: Just like speech, each person has their own quirks. Some people chew their finger nails when their nervous. Some people jiggle their leg when their bored. Some people have strange laughs or odd rituals. In Brandilyn Collins’ book on writing, she points out that every quirk started somewhere, and it will be more realistic if you can find out why your character insists on throwing her bejeweled hands around when she talks.

3. Inner Thought/Narration: We don’t always say what we think. We don’t always act on what we think, either. Sometimes we don’t show our emotions. The deeper your character’s POV, the more of an individual they’ll become. It adds a layer of dimension unique only to your character.

4. Conflict: Are you in agreement with yourself 100% of the time? Not likely. Everyone struggles with something. Much like an alcoholic struggles with the question of whether to drink or not, we may struggle with beliefs or fears. In my latest novel, Dividing Spirits, Graham struggles with his trust in the Lord because of how and why his mother died. Even though he is facing a war led by her killer, he still can’t reach beyond his own pain and fear. It shows in the way he acts, the things he says.

So for you writers out there, don’t be afraid to take the time to get to know your characters. I know writers who have character journals where they write “as their character”. Others interview their characters and keep asking “why” until they reach then end of that line of questioning (another suggestion from Brandilyn’s book). Whatever works. God didn’t create cookie-cutter people, neither should we.

Ralene Burke is a military wife, homeschooling mama of three, and aspiring writer/editor. She lives with her husband and young children in the beautiful state of Hawaii (for now). Her novel, Dividing Spirits, was a semi-finalist in the 2011 ACFW Genesis Contest. She’s also an assistant editor for Wives in Bloom, an online magazine for Christian military wives. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys time with her family or a good book. Often she finds herself the teacher and the student, the encourager and the fighter. And when He sees fit…a light piercing the darkness. Find out more at http://www.raleneburke.com.

Recipe for Spaghetti Vegetable Dish by Staci Stallings

2011-10-14T07:00:00.002-05:00

This week's featured author is Staci Stallings. When I asked Staci if she had a favorite recipe that she'd like to share for my Fun in the Kitchen Friday post, here's the email I received from her. (Used with permission.) I had to send the entire email and not just the recipe as it made me smile.

***

Although I'm not much of a cook (I use my creativity writing! :), I did come up with a recipe the other day that is really quite good. So here it is if you want to use it (fair warning, I cook like my grandmother--very few measurements involved!)

Spaghetti noodles

Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Garlic Salt

Your Choice of:

Onions
Zucchini Squash
Yellow Squash
Red Bell Peppers
Green Bell Peppers
Fresh Mushrooms

Cook the noodles as if you were making spaghetti.

Shred and thin cut all vegetables.

In a wok or large skillet saute the vegetables in the oil. Then sprinkle with garlic salt to taste.

(Around my house, we make three separate pans because one kid likes one set of vegetables, another likes another set.)

Saute vegetables until crisp-tender. Serve over a bed of spaghetti noodles.

You could also add chicken if you want this to be a main course.

It's easy, fast, and very good! This is one of only three dishes I make that the whole family will eat, no complaints, and be mad when it's all gone!

Peace,
Staci Stallings

***

Staci,

Thanks so much for sharing your recipe with me and my readers. I, for one, will be giving this recipe a try. It sounds yummy and not only easily adjustable to likes and dislikes of family members, but adaptable to whatever veggies you've got in the fridge.

Blessings,

Susan

Book Feature and Give-Away: Katy's Homecoming by Kim Vogel Sawyer

2011-10-13T08:37:00.004-05:00

What I'm Reading: Books and Blogs:

Today I'm featuring Kim Vogel Sawyer's book, Katy's Homecoming, Book 3 in the Katy Lambright Series.
Technically, my daughter is featuring it, she's just using my blog. =) Here's the scoop on the book with Emily's comments following:

Katy's Homecoming

Book 3 - Kathy Lambright Series

by Kim Vogel Sawyer

Publisher: Zondervan

ISBN: 978-0-310-72287-8 (softcover)

This book is also available as an ebook.

Amazon

Zondervan (ebook)

Christian Book

Back Cover Blurb:

Katy gets the chance of a lifetime--she's been elected to the homecoming court, and there are rumors her crush, Bryce, might ask her to go with him. What could be more perfect? For one unforgettable night she would be able to experience life as many other teenage girls do -- a stunning gown, gorgeous hair, jewelry, and makeup. Except Kathy's Mennonite community prohibits dancing as well as fancy dresses and makeup, and her father would not approve. When an opportunity arises that could allow her to attend without her father knowing, Kathy must decide: Will she hold tight to her convictions, or will she sacrifice her principles for one special night?

Emily's Comments:

I really enjoyed Katy’s Homecoming just as much as I enjoyed the other books in the Katy Lambright Series. The decisions that Katy must make in this book are very real decisions that affect many American teenagers today—pick the more popular choice or stand firm in what you believe in. I would highly recommend this book, as well as the entire Katy Lambright Series.

Find my posts for the first two books in this series: Katy's New World (Book 1) and Katy's Debate (Book 2).

I hope you'll enjoy this book as much as I did.
~~Emily

About the Author:

Kim Vogel Sawyer

Bestselling, award-winning author Kim Vogel Sawyer wears many hats besides "writer." As a wife, mother, grandmother, and active participant in her church, her life is happily full. But Kim's passion lies in writing stories of hope that encourage her readers to place their lives in God's capable hands. An active speaking ministry assists her with her desire. Kim and her husband make their home on the beautiful plains of Kansas, the setting for many of Kim's novels. You can find Kim at her web home here.

BOOK GIVE-AWAY!

By leaving a comment on this post, you'll be automatically entered to win my copy of Katy's Homecoming. If you're a follower of my mom's blog, your comment will get you two entires for a chance to win. Don't forget to leave your e-mail so we can contact the winner. Example: janedoe (at) wherever (dot) com. Winner will be announced on Thursday, October 20th!

Disclaimer: This copy was provided to me by the publisher. The winner's prize is my copy and will be shipped by my mom. Give-aways are void where prohibited and are open to US residents only. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” You may also find more details on FTC compliance here on my blog http://susanhollaway.blogspot.com/p/misc-information.html .

Can I learn to knit or am I missing the gene?

2011-10-12T14:46:00.000-05:00

Last Thursday, I attended a 4-H knitting project group with my daughter to get back into knitting. My daughter is now a sophomore in high school, but we actually "learned" to knit when she was in the 3rd grade. We were studying 1800's history and used a literature-based unit study with the Little House books. It was so much fun! We even made a ball out of a pig's bladder, just like Laura's Pa did for her. But that's another story for another day.

With her busy schedule, my daughter's only done a few knitting projects since then, but she remembers how to knit. It took me the better part of my time at this project meeting figuring out how to cast on. Sigh. I guess you might say my daughter learned to knit and I learned how to become frustrated when knitting. If there is such a thing as a knitting gene, I'm missing it. My Aunt Mary is an amazing knitter. She's my dad's sister and everyone says I take after that side of the family. I should have it. Just sayin'.

Some people say knitting is like therapy for them. At this stage for me, I'll probably need therapy if I continue knitting. =) But I'm taking the risk. That which does not kill us makes us stronger. Right?

Actually, I can crochet the basic stitches. Single, double, and triple crochet. Not anything fancier than that. But you can use crocheting to put an edge around a knitted project. Now that would be a win-win situation, if only I could get this knitting thing down pat.

A couple of years ago, I actually bought one of those inexpensive circular knitting loom kits and made a baby-sized hat as a trial project. It actually turned out okay -- if you happen to be a cone-head baby! Sheesh!

And my darling daughter brought that little tidbit of trivia up at the knitting meeting. "Mom made a baby hat once on a knitting loom and it looked like it'd fit a cone-head baby. Didn't you, mom?"

Uh...."Yes. Yes, I did. Thank you so much for mentioning that, dear." LOL But she was right. And it was funny!

So why do I want to put myself through this self-inflicted torture? I really love the way knitting looks. I'd like to be able to knit a prayer shawl -- a heartfelt gift, I think. I've heard that some knitters pray for the recipient of their gift while they're knitting (or crocheting). I like that idea.

Believe me, I'm doing lots of praying while I'm knitting. But if I can get this knitting thing down, I could actually pray for the person I'm making the item for instead of for my sanity. Now that would be cool!

I love 1800's history. And back then, women knew how to do things like knitting and crocheting, because they were taught those skills at a very young age. Today, we live more in a hurry up, we want it now, disposable society, and we've lost the many skills that women of yesteryear learned and used.

I'm in awe of those people who can knit and not even look at their project while they're doing it. I'm staring mine down and not getting very far. As our instructor says, it should be taunt, not tight. I think I have too much tension in my knitting. And yes, that sentence has a double meaning.

Any knitters out there? What is it about knitting that you love so much? Care to share any funny "first project" stories? Crocheters, your comments are most welcome as well.

Congrats to COTT Clash Winner Tanya Stowe!

2011-10-11T07:47:00.000-05:00

* Guest post by Delia Latham

Divine gifts have been a topic of much dissension down through the ages. Some folks believe God bestows certain gifts on his children others firmly believe He does not—or at least that He might have long ago but He certainly doesn't today.

We're not here to argue the point (although for the record I do believe in divine gifts!).

That said it has been proven time and time again that certain people have specific abilities that others do not. Not learned skills which is the ability to do something because one has deliberately set out to master that particular challenge. I'm talking about inherent abilities that one naturally possesses usually from birth.

That's the kind of mind-boggling gift Tanya Stowe tackles in Tender Touch, the excerpt from which won the most recent COTT Clash. Lacy Butler is graced with the gift of healing…but she refuses to use it because it didn't save her mother. Pretty common isn't it? We never seem to want the gifts God tries to bestow on us or we'll take the gift (Thank you very much Father!) but we want to use it in our own way for our own purposes. Tanya does a fantastic job of bringing Lacy around from total abandonment of her gift of healing to an acceptance of God's will and God's way to use…GOD'S gift.

Here's a snippet from Tanya's Tender Touch excerpt:

The sudden comfort overwhelmed him. He wanted to close his eyes and slip away. But his blurry gaze focused on his rescuer as he unwrapped the muffler. He wanted…needed to see this man’s face,the man who had saved his life. He forced himself to watch as he pulled off the floppy gray hat.

Royce blinked. His foggy mind was playing tricks on him. A long golden braid fell from beneath the hat and lay across the man’s shoulder. He slipped off the coat and beneath was the slender shape of a woman. His man...his midnight visitor was a woman! Shock filled Royce’s mindand his head flopped senselessly sideways.

We asked Tanya if she learned anything about God's character through Tender Touch. Here's what she said: “Instead of learning something about God through this book it is a reflection of something I learned about God from life. I’ve had some personal experience with faith healing and I wanted to write a story that reflected those truths. Of course, Lacy’s gift is highly dramatizedbut the basics about how God heals are true.” (Read Tanya's interview)

Of her experience on COTT, Tanya says: "This was the most fun I had in an interview in a longlong time. COTT does such a good job. I really appreciate this opportunity."

Readers loved the Tender Touch excerptas well—and we loved their comments:

“I feel like I’m already hooked on reading the book.”

“… made me want to find out more about the mysterious midnight visitor man who turned out to be a woman. Both of these were great and it was hard to choose one. Can they both win?? !!!”

"Know ye not that they which run in a race run allbut one receiveth the prize?"

Currently we're in the middle of the exciting Tournament of Champions which will be in high gear from Oct. 10 through Nov. 4. Don't miss it! Past Clash champs duke it out for the final prize with each of them offering an excerpt that will hopefully have you panting for more. Head on over and see what it's all about.

* Delia Latham is a Christian wife mother grandmother sister and friend as well as an author of inspirational romance and women's fiction. She wears each hat with pride but treasures most of all her role as a princess daughter to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.

Congrats to Tanya and a huge thank you also to her very worthy opponent Shawn Grady.

Meet and Greet Author Staci Stallings

2011-10-10T07:00:00.005-05:00

Hiding the Obvious

Kids are fascinating. If you watch them, they will teach you very profound lessons about life and yourself.
A couple weeks ago in Sunday School, we did the infamous puzzle day. On that day we are talking about the Holy Spirit and how, if you let Him, the Holy Spirit can put your life together in such a way as to make it fit perfectly--not just for you but for everyone else too.

I have this puzzle that's the picture of Jesus hugging the person who's just come to Heaven. In the sky is a rainbow representing the Father. Also above Jesus' head is a dove. The puzzle is like 560 pieces. Since I'm not good with puzzles and we have to put the thing together with 40 different kids in about 30 minutes, I have put nine pieces in each of 63 bags and numbered them.

The idea is that each kid gets a "day's" worth of pieces--nine. They are to put those pieces together and then as I call out the number of their bag, they bring them up and I put them together. Then they go and get a new bag of pieces. Of course this is the ultimate lesson in working together because everyone is putting their own pieces together and then helping others who are trying to get theirs together as well. It's quite the class.

At the end of putting the puzzle together, there is a "trick." The Holy Spirit played it on me first, so I don't take credit for thinking it up. See, the first time we put the puzzle together, we got the whole thing done--and we were missing one piece (which we later found and put in a separate bag). That piece is right up in the sky, part of the Holy Spirit's wings, and it is really obvious when you get the thing together that one piece is missing. So, of course, one bag has only 8 pieces in it. But I don't tell them that. They expect the puzzle to be whole when it's finished.

Every year the kids freak out about the missing piece. Most of the time they all go on scouting duty around the tables trying to find it. This year, they took a different tack.

Now, I know there is one piece missing. They just don't know that I know.

Well, this year, that pesky bag with only eight could not be solved. The poor girl working on it was really good at puzzles but because of the missing piece, she was having a really hard time getting it together. Therefore, that section was the last one to be put in. In fact, several of the boys tried to "help" by putting it in piece-by-piece rather than as a completed section. That was interesting.

The thing is, everyone was around the table when the last piece went in, and guess what... it wasn't the last piece!

I'm not sure which student figured it out first, but as I was standing there talking, all of a sudden like 8 students had their hand on the puzzle. They were all trying to cover the missing piece, looking up at me as if nothing in the world were wrong with this picture. Like... "Maybe if we stand here and act natural she won't notice." What they didn't know is that they hadn't lost the piece at all. It was missing for a reason.
But isn't that just like all of us? We perceive that we have a "missing piece," and so we do everything in our power to cover that thing up so maybe no one will notice--especially God. What ends up happening is instead of making it less noticeable, we draw attention to it!

What pieces are you trying to cover up in your puzzle? Maybe, just maybe, there's a reason the Holy Spirit hasn't filled that piece in yet. One thing is for sure... He knows better than you that there's a missing piece. He knows where it is, and He knows where it goes. If you will trust Him and stop trying to hide the obvious, maybe together, you and He can fill it in. Otherwise, frankly, you just look a bit silly standing there with your hand over the puzzle like no one's going to notice you're trying to hide that missing piece.
(Copyright 2011)

A stay-at-home mom with a husband, three kids and a writing addiction on the side, Staci Stallings has numerous titles for readers to choose from. Not content to stay in one genre and write it to death, Staci’s stories run the gamut from young adult to adult, from motivational and inspirational to full-out Christian and back again. Every title is a new adventure! That’s what keeps Staci writing and you reading. Although she lives in Amarillo, Texas and her main career right now is her family, Staci touches the lives of people across the globe every week with her various Internet endeavors including:

Books In Print, Kindle, & FREE on Spirit Light Works:

http://stacistallings.wordpress.com/

Spirit Light Books--The Blog
http://spiritlightbooks.wordpress.com/

And…

Staci’s website
http://www.stacistallings.com

Come on over for a visit…

You’ll feel better for the experience!

Kathleen L. Maher's Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread

2011-10-07T07:57:00.007-05:00

Susie's Thoughts:

Kathleen Maher is sharing her Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread recipe today. May I just say....YUM-O?

Autumn is my favorite weather season. As the temps turn cooler, the leaves turn color and eventually dance their way to the ground. I still love to hear the crunch under my feet as I run and stomp -- er, I mean sedately walk through --- the puddles they've formed on the ground. And well, there's just something special in the air. And no, I'm not talking about all the things that get my allergies revved up. Despite that, there's just something about the fall season that I've always loved, even as a small child. But I'm not technically posting about how much I love autumn, I just had to throw that in there. Today is Friday, so let's have some fun in the kitchen!

Remember, when you walk by the pumpkin displays or see the signs advertising pumpkin cappuccino (Really? Seriously? Cappuccino?), don't forget that pumpkins aren't just for pie, and... ahem, cappuccinos. There are all kinds of things you can make with pumpkin. And I think Kathleen's Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread should be at the top of the list. Sounds delicious!

Thanks, Kathleen, for sharing one of your fave recipes with us. With no further adieu, here's Kathleen's recipe.

Recipe for Pumpkin-Chocolate Chip Bread

1 C butter

1 C granulated Sugar

1 C dark brown sugar

4 eggs

1 C pumpkin

2 ¾ C flour

1 t salt

1 t baking soda

2 t baking powder

1 T pumpkin pie spice (or 1 t cinnamon, 1 t nutmeg, ½ t cloves, ¼ t ginger)

1 C chocolate chips

1 C walnuts (optional)

Cream butter and sugar. Add pumpkin and eggs one at at time, beating well. Add dry ingredients and chocolate chips. Bake in loaf pans @ 350 F for 1 hour 10 minutes. Cool on racks. Enjoy with your favorite tea or coffee. <3

P.S. If you have time, stop back by and let us know how you liked it.

You can catch up with Kathleen at the following places on the web.

Website: http://www.kathleenlmaher.webs.com/

Blog: www.fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com/

Happy autumn, everyone!
Susan

Clash of the Titles -- Featuring members of the Blog Alliance!

2011-10-04T12:58:00.000-05:00

Starting this week, Clash of the Titles is introducing readers to other members of their blog alliance. Show some love and visit their blogs. Up first are Joanne Troppello and Carrie Lewis!

* Guest post by Gail Pallotta

MEET OUR PARTNERS

After an early morning workout Joanne Troppello sits at her computer near two big windows. Working from an office in her home in the northeast, she “loves getting plenty of sunshine.” She munches on her breakfast as she starts one of five weekly blogs. Her focus is “to connect authors and readers.”
This prolific writer also schedules giveaways and one-time events. Past specialties include two internet festivities, The Royal Wedding and Summer Blog parties. On the books—a Christmas Blog Party. Get ready for the fun.

Joanne likes to spotlight newer, unknown authors in addition to networking with all authors. Writers’ opportunities include Monday interviews and mid-week guest blogs. Two Fridays out of the month she does book reviews. The other two she interviews guests in her Reader’s Corner. One of her favorite things is hearing from readers. She says, “They are who we write for, and we want to write stories that appeal to them with characters that stay with them for a long time.” Joanne says her readers “really like commenting on blog postings and hearing back from authors.”
An author of two books, All Romance ebooks best seller Mr. Shipley’s Governess and Shadowed Remembrances, Joanne writes in the mystery and inspirational genres. When she isn’t at her computer, she loves spending time with her husband and family.
To discover lots of fun activities for writers and readers visit Joanne at http://joannetroppello.weebly.com/

***********************

Artist, writer and blogger Carrie Lewis paints portraits for her day job and in her leisure time. Her favorite subject is horses. Easels, paintings and portraits-in-progress abound throughout her Kansas home, including some in her office.
She’s written for as long as she can remember, finishing her first complete manuscript in eighth grade. She says, “I’ve been dividing my time between the studio and the writing desk, and God has seen fit to keep me at home.”

Saving Grace, Carrie’s WIP, “…is a cross between speculative fiction, suspense and Old Testament prophecy.” As far as the WIP and what Carrie normally writes, she says, “It’s so far outside the box....I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to get back into that box.”

An active blogger, Carrie posts three times a week. Her topics include writing tips, reports on stories she’s working on, the way we write, and the things we write about. She recently started putting up a weekly writing prompt. It’s “been fun and uses images, colors, sounds, all sorts of things.” For her readers she hopes to share what she’s had to “learn the hard way so that those who follow might not have to learn the same way.” She wants to “encourage writers to heed the promptings of the Holy Spirit when deciding what to write, especially if the story they have to tell is outside what most of us think of as popular fiction.”

When we stop by Carrie’s blog, I imagine we’ll see some of her horse paintings as well as her writings! What a treat. Visit her at http://writing-well.carrie-lewis.com/

* A COTT Blog Alliance Correspondent, Gail Pallotta recently published her first romance, Love Turns the Tide. When she isn't writing she likes reading, swimming, and getting together with friends and family. Gail wants to write books of faith that show God's love.

***********************

Get ready ...

Meet Kathleen Maher, my featured author this week!

2011-10-03T10:32:00.007-05:00

Meet writer (and my friend) Kathleen L. Maher. Today, she is guest posting about her experience at the 2011 ACFW Conference. Welcome, Kathleen!

Author Bio: For over three years, Kathleen L. Maher has been an active member of ACFW, 19th Century Hiswriters, and Civil War HIStory, gleaning from the best historical romance writers in the business. She co-founded CROWN Fiction Marketing Network whose purpose is to promote CBA fiction set in the 19th Century America. She placed second in the inspirational category of RWA's 2009 and 2010 Launching a STAR contest and semi-finaled in this year's Genesis. She lives in a 100-year-old farmhouse with her hero, John, their three children, and two Newfoundland dogs.

Good morning from Upstate New York! Our leaves are changing and the autumn winds have brought a nip to the air. Thank you for inviting me in to your warm, cozy blog, and I have brought some cyber pumpkin-chocolate-chip bread and coffee for all of us to share. (Recipe to be posted on Friday on Susie's Fun in the Kitchen Friday post.)

Susie, I was so geeked out (an industry term, of course) to finally meet you last week at ACFW’s annual conference. Ha! Truly it was one of the highlights of a fabulous week. It was my first time attending, though I’ve been a member of ACFW since 2008.

Where do I begin? The workshops. Oh. My. Gosh. Julie Lessman and Ruth Axtell Morren initiated me into the joy and wonderment of writing workshops. They talked about building romantic tension in our manuscripts in their class A Kiss is Not Just a Kiss. They should have told us that a hand-fan and a fainting couch were prerequisites for the course, because I thought I would swoon at least five times as they read excerpts of their zesty romantic scenes. Talk about inspiration to write! They had me at Julie’s opening croon of Herman Hupfeld’s famous song from Casablanca.

My next mountain top experience was a stellar meeting with an agent. For the sake of anonymity, I will not mention her name, or the fact that she shares red hair and her surname with one of my favorite actresses and comediennes of all time. . . . But let’s say I am cautiously optimistic after she requested my proposal and told me to cancel my other agent appointments and to seek out editors, instead. Keeping fingers, toes and eyes crossed. . . .

Kathleen and Debbie Lynne

Another highlight was rooming with my BFF and critique partner Debbie Lynne Costello, and Christie-, Carol-, and Maggie Award finalist debut author Melanie Dickerson. They were so supportive and sweet and hilarious. How can you not be inspired after spending time with such great writers and wonderful human beings? I tried to absorb their attitude like a proper sponge.

God kept pouring out on me while there. I have to tell you I almost did not attend. Well, that is a minor understatement. It would have been impossible for me to attend if not for a series of miracles. Moses parting the Red Sea has nothing on Debbie Lynne Costello. She paved the road to St. Louis for me with Hobby Lobby canvas tote bags. She literally sold them to raise my funds. And when obstacles seemed insurmountable, she talked me through them like a professional counselor!

I got to meet the beautiful and ever-saintly Kim Vogel Sawyer, who I must admit, left me feeling a bit star-struck. It was like meeting one of my heroes, and she was so gracious and encouraging. If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t have come at all. After judging my Genesis entry this year, she encouraged me to come to conference with the incentive of meeting her in person. She introduced me to Susan Downs of Summerside, with whom I had a meeting later in the day. And then Kim prayed with me, and I can’t describe the hope that filled my heart. After a year of hardly being able to put words on the page God gave me exactly what I needed.

It was a week I will never forget. Hand-tailored to my needs and heart’s desires. Thank you, Jesus for meeting me at ACFW 2011. And thank you Susie for having me here today to share my experience with your readers. Miracles do happen! Don’t stop believing.

Website: http://www.kathleenlmaher.webs.com/

Blog: www.fictionaddictionfix.blogspot.com/

Moments from ACFW Conference

2011-09-30T08:39:00.000-05:00

Today's post is a little different than usual. It's typically my Fun in the Kitchen on Friday post. But I really want to share some pictures with you from the ACFW conference. Since I was having trouble getting my photos to resize and download yesterday, I'm posting them today. Next week, I'll be back to my normal schedule.

ACFW Conference rocked! It far exceeded my expectations. I learned much, met many people, and had blessings heaped up, pushed down, and overflowing! If I tried to share it all with you, this would be the longest blog post ever. So, I'm opting instead to share a few pics with you. One never gets all the pics they want, but I was so into living in the moment and trying to take it all in, that my camera never made it out of my purse for many "Kodak Moments." Sigh. But I'll hold the memories in my heart forever. Here's a little glimspe of some special moments I had at conference.

We're driving, we're driving.......the Arch! St. Louis! Yay!

That's my friend, Sara, at the wheel. She's an excellent driver.

And Susie M. (yep, another Susie) is in the front passenger seat.
Every great pilot has to have a great navigator and Susie M. is very directionally gifted.
Unlike me. I'm in the back taking the picture and being chauffeured. Ahhh, the life.

View from my hotel room. Beautiful sunrise!

One of my roomies that now lives in Hawaii! It was

so good to see her. We were laughing. Can you tell?

Here I am with some of my "buds" from our local ACFW group at breakfast.
Lora, me, Susie, and Donna!

The Gala!
From left to right:Ralene, Susie, me, Lora, Donna, and Barbara.

My critique partner, Delia Latham, and me.
She happens to be one of the best buds in the whole world!

And here I am with my FABULOUS roomies! They rock! We had so much fun.
Ralene came from Hawaii and gifted us with beautiful leis and hair clips.
We, of course, had to have our pic taken wearing them.
From left to right: Stephanie Morrill, me, Ralene Burke, and Susan Mires

I just praise God for giving me the opportunity to go to conference this year. It was my first time attending. It was amazing and something I'll never forget!

Every day is a gift. Be blessed!

Susan

COTT Winner's Post -- Delia Latham Takes the Crown

2011-09-27T16:29:00.001-05:00

Congratulations to Delia Latham for taking the crown in last week's Staff Clash. Two anonymous COTT staffers went into the ring and readers had another hard choice to make. Some said:

"This was a cruel choice!! LOL! They were both excellent."
(About Delia's excerpt): "Beautiful words expressing emotion and making the reader want more."
"Intense emotions on both excerpts! Great job!"
"Terrific excerpts!"
(About Katie's excerpt): "I need to know Wulf better! I have a feeling he's dreamy."
"Awesome clash with two well-written, emotion-packed scenes! Great job, authors!"

Of course, nobody knew at the time that those authors were Delia Latham and Katie McCurdy.
Both are recent additions to the staff. Delia has come on board as a Blog Alliance Correspondent, and Katie is the official Talent Scout. (Looks like COTT scouted some talent when they found these two gems.)
This fun excursion was a great interjection into the usual good times shared at Clash of the Titles. This week sees another fierce challenge with nameless authors nominated by COTT staff. Be sure to head over there and vote now!
And in just 2 weeks, the party begins! Mark your calendars for October 10th and be ready to play for extra prizes all month long as COTT celebrates it's first anniversary. Your vote will determine which of the year's winning authors will receive the ultimate honor: the Laurel Award.

* by Assistant Editor of COTT, Michelle Massaro

Fun in the Kitchen Friday -- YOU are my featured guest!

2011-09-23T07:00:00.011-05:00

So, if you've been following along this week at all, you know that I'm at ACFW Conference having a mahvelous time. The food is delicious, decadent, scrumptious, and simply divine, dahling. No PB&J sandwiches here.

So since I'm a bit occupado with the conference and all, I don't have a special recipe or a special guest with a special recipe to share with you this week

So, YOU are my featured guest. Here's your assignment, if you choose to accept it. (And please do, I think this will be such fun!)

Is there a special recipe that you just love, but haven't made in a reaaaaaally long time? Go dig it out and make it. Bless yourself and your family on this fabulous Friday.

Then, be sure to leave a comment. If it's half as good as you remembered....I'll bet your taste buds will be singing. Be sure to include in your comment what you made and how you enjoyed it, and your email addy. Example: janedoe (at) wherever (dot) com. I'll pick someone randomly (computerized selection) and feature their recipe here next week on September 30th. This could be so much fun and something I'd like to do every so often . Take pictures if you'd like. Everyone loves to see pictures with recipes. I'll contact the person whose comment came up on the draw via email to get your recipe, pics, etc. from you.

Okay, everyone, let's get cookin'!
Blessings for a wonderful weekend and fun in the kitchen!
Susan

ACFW Conference Officially Starts Today!

2011-09-22T07:00:00.006-05:00

Since I'm smack dab in the middle of the Early Bird session this morning and the rest of the conference gets underway later today......my mind is agog with all the new information I'm learning and all the awesome people I'm meeting. I'm beginning an experience I'll never forget and God is in the house! I'm being blessed heaped up, pushed down, and overflowing!

You can visit the ACFW website here to learn more about ACFW.

Have a great day, because you can know that all of us at conference are having an amazing time!

Blessings,
Susan

Today I'm Headed to ACFW Conference and Leaving Family to Hold down the Fort.

2011-09-21T07:00:00.018-05:00

Today my "Wednesday -- What I'm Reading Books and Blogs" has a little different spin.

I'll be reading road signs, maps, and directions as I head out to my very first ACFW conference. I'm carpooling with two wonderful women who know I'm directionally challenged and are letting me tag along anyway. Now that's friendship! I am filled with excitement, but I must admit....I'm also a bit nervous. A whole new experience awaits me, but I know it will be fabulous!

My hubby is manning the home front and will keep everything running smoothly. My daughter will be a big help to him. They both have encouraged me so much in attending this conference.   My heart is full. I will miss them greatly, but I know that they will have fun, take care of everything back home, and be praying for me to learn much and enjoy myself.

My plans ?

* To meet so many of those people whose names I've seen on the ACFW loop.

* Thank those who have offered up so much helpful advice and encouragement over that loop. Disclaimer: I'm sure I won't come close to remembering everyone.   So thank you, everyone, for all the ways you've blessed me.

* Meet in person and hug those that have become dear friends, despite the distance and geography.
Ain't technology wonderful!

* Meet more new people.

*Take good notes.

*Listen more than I talk.

* Soak up every tidbit of knowledge and wisdom that is shared. And learn, learn, learn how to become a better writer. I sure hope God adds some gigabytes to my memory, because I know there will be SO much information to absorb.

* Worship with people who have a heart for Jesus and writing like I do.

*Be honored to be a part of a wonderful time of prayer and thanksgiving.

Since I've never been, I don't really know what to expect. But I'm putting the whole thing in God's hands and hanging on for the ride.

There's two things I know for certain:

1. I'll be blessed because I'll be with people who have a heart for the Lord and are willing to share their knowledge and experience to help me and many others improve their craft.

2. They'll always be someone around to direct me if I get lost coming back from the bathroom. I've been told this conference is very organized.

Have a great day, everyone! I've already started on mine -- and it's fantastic so far!

Blessings,
Susan

Happy Anniversary Clash of the Titles!

2011-09-20T10:01:00.000-05:00

Happy Anniversary, Clash of the Titles!

It's been almost a year since COTT opened its voting-booth doors and invited everyone in. Over the past twelve months, readers have chosen 25 Clash winners and received 48 free books. And along the way, a family formed. That family consists of the voters, authors, staff, and the 25+ blogs who have banded together in mutual support with COTT.
This is cause for major celebration! So COTT is doing it up to the nines.
Clash of the Titles' first annual Tournament of Champions begins next month! Over the course of four weeks, past winners from the previous year will compete in a series of clashes for the ultimate prize: the Laurel Award. The Laurel, COTT's most prestigious honor, is awarded by public vote to a single author among the year's champions.
Voters are expected to turn out in droves to support their favorites and participate in games just for readers. Each week, COTT sponsors—consisting of various authors and staff—will issue fun challenges to readers along with the chance to win gift cards, critique services, a business card design, and more. A dozen sponsors are lined up for the event so far. That's a lot of prizes!
Throughout the month, details and updates on the Tournament of Champions will be shared on the COTT website and featured within the Blog Alliance. To help spread the word, please grab the special Tournament Button (below) to display on your site. Then send a link to your page to: contactcott at gmail dot com to enter the special COTT Shout-About drawing. The drawing will take place during the first week of the Tournament and the winner will receive a Clash of the Titles mug.

Please also consider Tweeting or sharing this article on your Facebook wall.

(it only takes a second--just click the share button.)

Mark your calendars and spread the word. This BYOV (Bring Your Own Vote) party begins on October 10th!

ACFW Conference Coming Up!

2011-09-19T09:00:00.004-05:00

Good morning, everyone!

I don't have a writer or author featured this week. You'll notice that picture is missing from my sidebar. But I have a good reason. Many are getting ready to attend the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) conference that's coming up! Excitement is in the air! It officially starts Thursday.

Please feel free to check out ACFW's Link here to learn more about this wonderful organization and info about the conference.

I also have a LINKS page on my blog that you can check out authors I've featured in the past. Please browse around. There's a FEATURED BOOKS page as well.

Be blessed!
Susan

Author Keli Gwyn's Recipe for Turkey Cookies!

2011-09-16T07:00:00.003-05:00

As thoughts turn to fall, I anticipate one my favorite culinary traditions. Each year my family and I prepare our traditional Thanksgiving dessert, one that puts a smile on many people's faces: turkey cookies. I wish I'd come up with this great idea, but that would be far beyond my culinary limitations. I did, however, write a recipe.

One of the neatest things about making these cookies is that there really is no cooking involved. I like to think of this as a craft, which sounds so much better to non-foodie me than cooking.

Turkey Cookies

Supplies:

12-14 oz. carton Whoppers

2 packages Keebler’s striped shortbread cookies (11 oz.- 32 cookies per package)

1 bag candy corn (approx 12 oz. bag–need 128 well-formed candy corns)

3 bags Reese’s miniature peanut butter cups (13 oz.)

Note: You can use York peppermint patties as bases for variety.

1 bag semi-sweet chocolate chips (12 oz.)

small bowls

plates

butter knives

2 cookie sheets

aluminum foil

Scotch tape

Preparation:

Empty Whopper bodies into one bowl and candy corn beaks into another.

Unwrap miniature Reese’s cup bases and arrange on plates upside down about 8-10 per plate so you have room for assembly.

Cut striped shortbread cookies in half, turning cookie so the stripes for the feathers will be diagonal if you like that look or vertical if you want them straight up and down. Note: A gentle sawing action with a serrated knife works best, otherwise the cookies can shatter. Sadly, the cookies have gotten thinner over the years, and you can expect a few to break.

Put about a half cup of the chocolate chips in a small bowl and heat in microwave for about one minute on low. Aim for a spreadable consistency but not too thin. There should be some lumps in the bowl. Stir the melted chocolate with a butter knife to work the lumps out. Melt more chips as needed.

Cover the cookie sheets in aluminum foil. Wrap excess over sides and tape to the bottom.

Assembly:

1) Mount body on base.

Spread a dollop of the chocolate on a malted milk ball using a butter knife. Mount the malted milk ball to one side on top of the upturned miniature Reese’s cup. As each batch is completed, set plate in the freezer a couple of minutes to help the chocolate set up.

2) Mount wings on body.

Spread chocolate in the curved opening of the cookie. Place the cookie with the flat part resting on the open portion of the top of the Reese’s cup, touching the malted milk body. Tilt backward at a slight angle. As each batch is completed, set the plate in the freezer a couple of minutes to help the chocolate set up.

3) Mount head/beak on body.

Spread chocolate on bottom back half of a candy corn—on the skinny side. Place on top of malted milk ball as far back as needed for balance. As each batch is completed, set the plate in the freezer a couple of minutes to help the chocolate set up.

Display:

After the cookies have set up, remove them from the plates and set them in rows on the cookie sheets. Place rows of eight across and six deep for a total of 48 cookies per tray. There will be 96 cookies on the trays with a few leftovers, which is helpful in the event that some cookies break during assembly—or you just have to perform a taste test. :-)

Eat and Enjoy!

• • •

Award-winning novelist Keli Gwyn writes inspirational historical romance and is represented by Rachelle Gardner of WordServe Literary. Keli is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America®. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication/Print Journalism. A California native, she lives in a historic Gold Rush-era town at the foot of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains. She enjoys her frequent time travels to the 1800s, where she spends countless hours with her characters while fueling her creativity with Taco Bell® and sweet tea.

Keli’s debut novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, will be released by Barbour Publishing in July 2012.

Blessings Abound. Are you Wearing Your God Glasses?

2011-09-15T12:02:00.001-05:00

Thursday's Thoughts:

I think we can all agree that sometimes life can become routine. Maybe even monotonous at times. It can range from busy to hectic to (gasp!) downright overwhelming. But even if "our plan" gets out of control -- you can rest assured that God's got a better one. Do you ever think your timing is less than ideal? I can testify to the fact that mine has been known to give "bad timing" new meaning. Well, God's timing is perfect. Isn't that exciting?

Sometimes when things don't seem to be going how I think they should and something seems out of kilter, I have to stop and ask myself, "Am I wearing my God glasses?" I might think I am, but do they need cleaned? Have I let the smudges of the world dirty up the lenses so I can't see clearly?

These glasses are technically invisible because they're worn in the heart. But they can drastically change your vision. And not only you will reap the benefits of these amazing lenses -- they're so strong, in fact, that when used properly, others around you can see God as well. You never need a new pair, because God continually changes the prescription for you. If they get dirtied up, God's provided a way to clean them.

Cleaning Instructions: Read God's Word and spend time in fellowship with Him through prayer.

Digging into God's Word and reading what He has to say, gives us so much clarity. It's our instruction manual for life. Do I always run to Him when life seems to put obstacles in my path? I'm ashamed to say that, on occasion, I think I can handle it myself. I'm not proud of that. But it's happened that I get so ferdoodled over the situation that I forget to run to Him immediately. I beat myself up or worry about it first, then I run to Him. Tsk. Tsk. Then I wonder "What was I thinking?"

I know that no problem is too big or too small to take to God. He wants to know the tiniest details of our life. And here's the big newsflash-- He already knows what's on our heart! But I happen to believe that He wants to hear it from us directly. That way we know that we need Him.

The fact that God has a plan just for me is amazing. He created me to be unique, special even, so I can do the things He's set before me. Sometimes when I'm in whiner mode and I'm not happy with how I've done something, how I look, or whatever -- I forget that He knew me in my mother's womb. I forget that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. I forget that He created me -- to be me!

We don't need to compare ourselves to others. We need to polish up those lenses -- get in God's Word, spend time with Him, and our vision will clear to see the path He's set before us.

Will we still have struggles and hardship? Absolutely. We live in a fallen world. But it's how we deal with those struggles and hardship that makes the difference. It's how God can mold us and make us into who He wants us to be - for His glory.

Today God showed me through someone that blessings abound. We just have to be willing to see them. If we're not wearing our God glasses, we might look right past them.

This new friend shared some insight with me today that I know was part of God's plan. You need to be who God wants you to be, not what someone else thinks you should be. Rejoice in how God made you! It's okay to make mistakes. It's what we do with the knowledge gained that's important.

This brother in Christ said, "I love Grace!" I'm so grateful he shared that bit of wisdom with me today. It made me focus on the really important stuff and out of it came many things. Including this blog post. (Thanks, Peter!)

God loves me so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross to forgive my sins, that I might have eternal life ... with Him in Heaven. His Grace is sufficient for thee. All things are possible through Christ Jesus. Compared to that, everything else pales. Now that's exciting!

So, polish up your God glasses and make sure you're wearing them, because you don't want to miss out on one single blessing that God might have in store for you. It saddens me to think of how many times I let the smudges of the world dim my vision of the beauty and blessings around me. And don't be too quick to judge -- sometimes blessings come in disguise. But through thoughtful contemplation, prayer, and getting in God's Word, you can see things as they really are -- not what the world wants you to believe.

Everyday is a new day. I hope that on this new day, you will be blessed.
Susan

Snappy Dialogue Champion, Sarah Sundin (COTT Article)

2011-09-13T10:13:00.003-05:00

The other day my daughter orally lamented a previous conversation. “I always think of my best come-backs too late.” I know how she feels, although I’m probably on the other end of the spectrum—I often wish I hadn’t said X or Y once the conversation is done. At least in writing we can carefully craft our words, which should make it easier, right? Not necessarily. Writing effective, authentic, snappy dialogue is a skill that must be honed. And yet, when done well, it plunges the reader deep into the story and provides vivid characterization.

This last week two authors threw their “chatty-keyboards” into the Clash of the Titles' ring and although both excerpts were phenomenal, Sarah Sundin, author of A Memory Between Us, wowed readers with her printed banter.

Here’s a snippet of her COTT competing excerpt:

Jack made out Ruth’s shapely figure coming down Northgate Street. She couldn’t afford the new olive drab uniforms some of the nurses wore, but she sure looked smart in the dark blue jacket and medium blue skirt.

Jack stepped back around the corner. He unzipped his lightweight leather flight jacket, made sure his shirt collar was open, and stuffed his hands into the pockets of his olive drab trousers. Had to look casual.

He let Ruth pass, then fell in behind her. “‘One misty moisty morning.’”

Ruth looked over her shoulder and smiled.

“‘When cloudy was the weather, I chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather. He began to compliment and I began to grin. How do you do? And how do you do? And how do you do again?’”

Amusement crinkled her eyes. “It’s afternoon.”

“Yeah, but it’s misty and moisty. Life in England has taught me what that means.”

“No misty moisty mornings in California?”

“In January, not August.” Jack proceeded down the flagstone sidewalk. “And look, you chanced to meet an old man clothed all in leather.”

***
Gotta love that phrase, “Misty, moisty morning,” an example of great dialogue and fun alliteration!

The story it came from is about a determined soldier on a mission to win a woman’s heart:

Major Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge--until he meets army nurse Lieutenant Ruth Doherty. When Jack lands in the army hospital after a plane crash, he makes winning Ruth's heart a top-priority mission. But he has his work cut out for him. Not only is Ruth focused on her work in order to support her orphaned siblings back home, she also is determined not to give her heart to any man.
As the danger and tension of World War II rise to a fever pitch, Jack and Ruth will need each other more than ever. Can Jack break down her defenses? Or are they destined to go their separate ways?
From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.

Sarah Sundin is the author of A Distant Melody. Her great-uncle flew with the US Eighth Air Force in England during WWII. Sarah lives in California with her husband and three children.

Romance, tough, rugged men, and rich history make this novel a must read!

Want to nibble on a few more COTT winning excerpts and win great prizes in the process? Make sure to join us for the ultimate literary challenge where COTT winners go head to head in our Tournament of Champions on October 10^th to November 4th! What better way to launch the Holiday season than with a stash of great books won in our tournament give-away?

*Jennifer Slattery writes for Christ to the World Ministries, Samie Sisters, Afictionado, the Christian Pulse, and is the marketing manager of the literary website, Clash of the Titles. She also co-hosts (with five other authors) the Facebook faith community, Living by Grace, a modern-day “meet at the well” experience where believers around the globe can unite, fellowship, and be refreshed. Visit her devotional blog, Jennifer Slattery Lives Out Loud to find out more about her, her writing, and the ministries she writes for.

And make sure to hop on over to Clash of the Titles to help determine our next literary champion!

3 Steps to Take Before You Dig into Your Revisions -- Guest Post by Author Keli Gwyn

2011-09-12T07:00:00.002-05:00

How do you approach revisions? With delight or dread?

I'm no stranger to rewrites and revisions. In fact, I've learned how rewarding they can be.

I wrote five stories and rewrote one of them once and another twice before I began to get good feedback from contest judges and requests from publishing pros.

When I received my offer of representation, I floated on Cloud 999 for six glorious weeks before receiving revision notes from my brand new agent. I'd unknowingly released the tension one-fourth of the way into my story. Talk about feeling deflated.

The fix? I had to delete the final three-fourths of the story and start over. My job was to make the end of the story match the beginning that had taken first place in several contests and garnered that offer of representation. I embarked on the third rewrite determined to make the story better and prove to my agent that her faith in me was justified.

With a hopeful heart, I sent the new version of the story to my critique partners six months later and learned that I wasn't done yet. I had a sagging middle on my hands, requiring me to perform a major revision.

Step One: Don't Do Anything

While I was eager to tear into the story, I didn’t.

I took the advice of Yosemite Sam instead. I backed off.

Yup! I set the story aside for two weeks to get some distance. I'd spent nine months on the rewrite and revisions and was too close to the story. I lacked the objectivity needed.

Step Two: Do Two Different Things

When I returned to the story, I didn't just fire up my Mac and dive in. I took a new approach.

I printed out a hard copy. I'd grown used to seeing the words on screen, but reading them on paper changed things for me. I changed the font from Courier to Times New Roman, which gave a whole new look.

I read the story out loud. I'd been used to letting my eyes do the work, but reading aloud enabled me to make use of another sense. Missing words, repetitions, and the overuse of proper names became evident. I noticed where dialogue or description dragged, where long sentences slowed the flow, where the action came to a halt and made me want to skim.

Because I worked on a hard copy, I jotted notes and kept reading. Had I been working on computer, I'd have been tempted to stop and fix things.

Step Three: Develop a Plan

Once I'd completed the read, I took a good look at the notes I'd made and figured out what needed to be done to eliminate the weaknesses and strengthen the story. I assessed each scene and listed the changes I wanted to make.

Only then was I ready to dive in and attack my revisions with a clear picture of what was needed and a renewed sense of enthusiasm.

• • •

Keli’s debut novel, A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California, will be released by Barbour Publishing in July 2012.

Suzanne Hartmann's Recipe for Light Easy Cheesecake

2011-09-09T09:28:00.000-05:00

I can't believe it's Friday already! Time for some fun in the kitchen. I'm so glad Suzanne stopped back by again to share one of her favorite recipes. Thanks, Suzanne! Enjoy! And have a great weekend, everyone!
-Susie
--------

Here's my recipe for Light Easy Cheesecake. It can't get much easier, AND it's low fat!

1 pkg. light powdered Dream Whip
1 small pkg. sugar-free instant vanilla pudding
8 oz. light or no-fat cream cheese
2 cups skim or 2% milk
1 graham cracker crust

Mix Dream Whip in a small bowl with 1/2 cup milk. Mix instant pudding in a large bowl with 1 1/2 cups milk. Add Dream Whip to pudding. Cut cream cheese into small cubes. Use mixer to blend a few cubes of cream cheese at a time into the Dream Whip/pudding mixture. Blend until all cream cheese is added and mixture is smooth. Pour mixture into graham cracker crust. Refrigerate for several hours.

YUM! Makes me want to go make some.

Thank you for featuring me this week, Susan.
Suzanne :o)

Dialogue--Snappy Dialogue, That Is

2011-09-06T06:43:00.000-05:00

Coming Up at Clash of the Titles, October 10-November 4, 2011

The first annual, Tournament of Champions!

Over a FOUR week period, SIXTEEN previous COTT champs will face-off in EIGHT different mini-Clashes.

Only ONE will take home The Laurel Award.

With Clashes, games, and prizes galore, you won't want to miss this month-long celebration!

********

*Guest post by Lisa Lickel

Dialogue lets your characters be heard. It’s their voice; their conversation amongst themselves. It’s how they tell their story. Dialogue is talk. Discussion. Arguments. Jokes. Questions and answers. Foibles. Mystery. Mesmerism. It’s the muscle on the skeleton of the story.

The writer’s ability to conquer natural dialogue comes out of how well we know our characters. The reader’s ability to hear natural-sounding dialogue comes from the depth from which he is drawn into the story.

Using dialogue in a book helps readers see that characters spend time with each other for a reason, even if they’re stranded on desert islands. Tom Hanks had Wilson in the move Cast Away, after all. Dialogue is more than internal mutterings or their revelations to the reader. It needs to be heard, not just read. The words need to translate immediately to sound in the reader’s inner ear, and thus be natural, no matter the setting.

What can we deduce from these two small pieces of the excerpts in this Clash? Are you in time, in story, in the character’s emotions? Can you cheer for them? Figure out exactly what will happen next, or are you eager to turn the page for more?

“Would you mind if I walked with you?”

“As long as we’re not together.”

“All right.” He strode into the street and spread his arms as wide as his grin. “There. We’re not together.”

“Jack!” she cried…. “Get back up here.” Ruth motioned frantically. “Don’t make me fix you up again.”

“Perhaps you cannot wait for the wedding night?”

Her brown eyes simmered. “Why you insufferable cad!” She raised her hand to slap him.

He caught it and lifted it to his lips for a kiss, eyeing her with delight.

She studied him then released a sigh. “You tease me, sir.” Snatching her hand from his, she stepped back. “But what would I expect from you?”

In a novel, talk must have a purpose. A conversation shouldn’t be talk for the sake of filling time or space. Readers have only until the last page to spend with people in a book, so writers must not waste time. Dialogue is meant to reveal something useful, important to the story line—passion, motive, or confession.

Why Snappy? Characters must speak true to their nature. While snappy it might not describe the personality, it implies action, tension, perhaps a slip of the tongue or a revelation that might even surprise the character, but certainly should surprise the reader.

Clash of the Titles hopes you are intrigued by these little snippets of story and want to find out more about the books and authors. Stop by and you’ll get that chance! Meet the authors and leave comments to enter the drawing for a free book.
*Lisa Lickel is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and fifty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she has written dozens of feature newspaper stories, magazine articles, radio theater, and several inspirational novels to date. She is also the senior editor at Reflections in Hindsight.