A PEEK AT NINE GREAT BOOKS! - 99 CENT SALE

Nine Christian authors have joined together to offer you NINE ebooks, each for 99 cents for 99 hours. The sale runs from 12:01 a.m. EST Friday, October 4, 2013, through 11:59 p.m. PST Monday, October 7. Click the links below the graphic to "look inside" on Amazon and pick up your digital copies!

 

First Lines

 To Protect and Serve by Staci Stallings

“I promise concern for others, and a willingness to help those in need,” Jeff Taylor said as he stood, hands clasped behind his back, shoulder-to-shoulder with 28 of Houston’s finest. His chest swelled with the words he had committed to memory in anticipation of this very moment more than ten years before. “I promise strength… strength of heart to bear whatever burdens might be placed upon me…”

 Raspberries and Vinegar by Valerie Comer

 Josephine Shaw gritted her teeth as she jerked the harvest-gold range forward on worn linoleum. There it was again. That incessant scratching could only be from one source. Mice. Of course the old trailer would have the despicable creatures. It’d been vacant for how long? The beam of her flashlight found half a dozen naked newborns sheltered in a nest of insulation and wood chips. A full-grown rodent shot through the gap she’d created and scuttled right over her foot. Jo gasped, nearly dropping the light as she jerked back.

 A Time to Say Goodbye by J. M. Downey

 A lady should always have five minutes of peace. May Lynn Whitley pushed through the glass doors and made her way to the end of the porch, squeezing the rail. And she needed that peace.

 Something about Sam by Susette Williams

 Samantha Marlow had never held a job as a cook before but had always cooked for her family on their ranch. How much harder could it be to cook for a few extra men?

 A light tap on the window startled her, bringing her cascading back to reality. She was alarmed by the dark haired stranger’s sudden presence. As she rolled down the window she noticed a slightly amused look on his face.

 Patient Love by Rikki Strong

 Jasmine threw her phone across the room, sank down to the floor of the apartment she had moved into just days before, put her face in her hands, and cried. How could he have done this to her? Maybe if she crawled to bed and pulled the covers over her face, when she woke up the next morning, it would have never happened.

 Fudge Laced Felonies by Cynthia Hickey

 I marched into church on Sunday—not to search for God, but to find a killer. My prey stood in the corner of the foyer, lurking in the shadows. With narrowed eyes, I intended to face him. Instead, the delicious aroma of coffee wafted in the air, beckoning me like a siren’s song. I glared at the one I pursued long enough to let him know I meant business and switched my course across the tiled narthex of the large church to the fellowship wing. I needed caffeinated reinforcement before confronting the villain.

 The Road Home by Naty Matos

 When Desiree woke up that day, she talked to her lover as she used to do every morning. Talking to him used to set the tone for the rest of her day. He had something important to tell her that day. He revealed to her that He would come to take her home with him that day if the conditions were favorable, but she needed to make it happen.

 Out of a Dream by Rosemary Hines

 Michelle Baron’s heart raced, pounding in her ears. She panted, gasping for every breath. Her eyes searched for an escape. The passageway was dark, narrow. A faint beam of light flickered at the end. She fought the damp, suffocating air. Footsteps from behind made louder and louder slaps on the pavement. How much farther could her legs carry her?

 Rain Dance by Joy Dekok

 Jonica

Life as I knew it ended.

 Stacie

I wanted it to be over.

 

 

Contemporary Romance

 

Raspberries and Vinegar by Valerie Comer

 

Josephine Shaw: complex, yet singleminded. A tiny woman with big ideas and, some would say, a mouth to match. But what does she really know about sustainable living as it relates to the real world? After all, she and her two friends are new to farming.

 

Zachary Nemesek is back only until his dad recovers enough to work his own land again. When Zach discovers three helpless females have taken up residence at the old farm next door, he expects trouble. But a mouse invasion proves Jo has everything under control. Is there anything she can't handle? And surely there's something sweet beneath all that tart.

 

BUY Raspberries and Vinegar HERE

 

To Protect and Serve by Staci Stallings

 

Jeff Taylor is a fireman's fireman. No situation is too dangerous to keep him on the sideline if lives are at stake.

 

Lisa Matheson runs a semi-successful ad agency that's on the brink of falling apart. When she falls for a handsome but shy firefighter, it's possible that life might just be going her way for a change. The only problem is she can't control Jeff and the death wish he seems to have...

 

BUY To Protect and Serve HERE

Patient Love by R. M. Strong

 

Jasmine Williams is trying to put her life back together after her fiancé dumps her hours before their wedding. Returning home to her parents' beachfront B&B she begins to realize how much Philip had insisted on controlling--everything from her hairstyle to her opinions of her home church; even how she viewed God's love. Just as she regains her identity, a summons from Philip demands she take him back. Will this time be different?

 

BUY Patient Love HERE

 

Something about Sam by Susette Williams

 

Having lost the family ranch due her parents untimely death and their past debts, Samantha Marlow is forced to look for a job for the first time in her life. Accustomed to using her nickname, Sam, she is hired as a cook, based off of her resume, site-unseen.

 

Jake Dampier needs someone to manage his household while he manages his ranch. He never anticipated his foreman would hire someone without interviewing them in person, especially someone as young and beautiful as Sam. The last thing he wants is a distraction—but it may turn out to be just what he needs.

 

BUY Something About Sam HERE

 

Historical Romance

 

A Time to Say Goodbye by J. M. Downey

 

Cotton plantation daughter, May Lynn Whitley sees nothing wrong with owning others. After all how would they fend for themselves if it wasn't for gracious people like her family? But a handsome young preacher’s probing words and mesmerizing blue eyes unlock a new sense of justice and lead her on a journey that will change her life and soul. But she is betrothed and May Lynn’s controlling fiance’ will do anything to make sure they wed. Anything including destroying all that she holds dear. Set in Antebellum America, May Lynn’s adventure spans the Eastern Seaboard as she joins a movement she once scorned.

 

BUY A Time to Say Goodbye HERE

Mystery/Suspense

 

Fudge Laced Felonies by Cynthia Hickey

 

While transplanting the rosebush her church's handsome greeter, Ethan Banning, inadvertently killed, Summer and Ethan discover a hidden stash of diamonds, a rusty can full of cash, and a bloody-gardening glove. This discovery sets Summer and her candy-making aunt on a search for a killer.

 

As Summer gets closer to the truth-not only of the theft but of her true feelings for Ethan-the diamond thief hatches a plan to hush the feisty sleuth.

 

BUY Fudge Laced Felonies HERE

Out of a Dream by Rosemary Hines

 

Newlywed Michelle Baron should be enjoying life in the quaint coastal community of Sandy Cove, Oregon. Her husband has joined his uncle’s law firm, and they have a cozy new home ~ what more could she want? But a series of nightmares leads her on a spiritual journey that challenges her Christian heritage as well as her marriage. Where will she find answers to her disturbing dreams? And how will those answers impact her life?

 

BUY Out of a Dream HERE

 

Women's Fiction

 

Rain Dance by Joy Dekok

 

What happens when a Christian woman facing a childless future and a woman seeking an abortion are waiting to see the same doctor? What if after that "chance" encounter they are unable to forget each other? What if they find themselves drawn together in spite of their drastic differences by their surprising similarities? What if they somehow find the courage to become friends? Rain Dance takes the reader into the hearts of these two women as they journey closer to the heart of the One who offers hope and healing.

 

BUY Rain Dance HERE

The Road Home by Naty Matos

 

He was finally coming. He told Desiree that once her task was complete, he would be there to pick her up. And they could finally be together forever. Desiree was finally going to be with the one she loved. But what did she need to do? And how was she going to figure out what it was?

 

BUY The Road Home HERE

 

Enjoy!

ACFW Conference 2013

It's a very surreal experience when people you don't know, recognize your face and/or your name. When folks come up and say, "I read your book and loved it!" When fellow writers exchange business cards vowing to be friends for a very long time. When you hit it off with that one special someone! Oh, I made so many new friends. And there were many highlights this year.

Friday night was the genre dress up night. I went as a Harvey Girl with writer Sharon Lavy. She made the aprons, thank you so much. I'm not near the seamstress she is. One person actually recognized our characters.

 

Saturday night the Harlequin Heartsong authors in attendance went to dinner together and I got to meet my editor, Kathy Davis. What a sweetie, and a great sense of humor!

 

Best-selling author, Frank Peretti, was awarded the life-time achievement award, but the line was too long for me to get a picture with him. So here you go ... from a far.

It's always a special time to meet one-on-one with my agent, Chip MacGregor. Here he is with one of the other agents from his agency, Amanda Luedeke. I borrowed this off FB, hope Amanda doesn't mind.

 

I sat and talked with best-selling author, Brandilyn Collins for forty-five minutes. She truly has a heart for God. A very special woman.

I met so many wonderful people, but here are me with a few I could actually tie down. The gala was a riot with Gina Welborn and Bonnie Calhoun.

Here's me and Rachel Smith and new friend, author Beth Goddard.



Here is me and Michelle Ule, one of the other authors in the A Pioneer Christmas collection. So nice to meet her!

I finally got to hang with author Kaye Dacus, after hearing what a riot she is. All the rumors were true. Here's Rachel Smith and Kaye Dacus.

I met so many other wonderful people and made friends I'll treasure forever. Someone also told me that I'm one of the biggest ebook sellers in the CBA, but I'm not sure that's true. Either way, I'll thank the Lord and enjoy the experience. I can not wait until next year when conference will be in St. Louis.







12 Days of Pioneer Christmas: Uncommon Romance

A Pioneer Christmas is the third inspirational romance collection for which I’ve written a story. As is my custom, I’ve read the stories written by my co-writers to get a feel for the book. This beautiful fat book with nine tales feels just a little different from your average Christmas romance novella.

The romance genre has specific elements that make it a romance: the point of view alternates between the hero and the heroine; the couple traditionally meet in the first chapter and don’t like each other; the stories end with a wedding.

Wikipedia notes: “novels in this genre place their primary focus on the relationship and romantic love between two people, and must have an “emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.”
Most people translate that into a shorthand: boy meets girl; girl doesn’t like boy; boy loses girl; girl recognizes the boy’s finer qualities (perhaps he saves her); they marry and live happily ever after
But in A Pioneer Christmas, several writers–including me– tweaked the genre for a different angle on pioneer romance. I found them delightfully satisfying and a bit bemusing, wondering more than once, “how is this one going to end?”

Fully a third of these stories begin with a married couple–the romance is young and passionate, but the marriage already has been consummated.
So, where’s the romance in that?
I’m not giving away any spoilers . . .

It’s helpful to remember that life on the prairie was difficult and widow and widowerhood was a frequent occurrance. Marriages sometimes had to be made for convenience and “falling in love,” often was not practical when stock needed to be tended.

Cynthia Hickey’s A Christmas Castle is upfront about marital challenges between virtual strangers: her heroine is a mail order bride. Or, in this case, a mail order widow upon arrival in a small Arizona ranch town riven with controversy.

She takes to her inheritance with dash and aplomb, not to mention instant motherhood. She displays the deering-do necessary to survive, particularly when the neighbors are out to get you.

The Christmas Angel by Lauraine Snelling features an anxious pregnant woman whose husband is long overdue from town with the necessary supplies. What will happen to her out on that prairie they’ve fought so hard to “own up” if he does not return?

Her cheerful example in the face of tragedy, a determination not to give in to despair, resonated with me and I marveled at her strength.

Anna Urquhart’s A Silent Night begins with a young couple fully in love but facing a voyage across the Atlantic to a new life. When her husband goes missing with blood left on the ground, the heroine is forced to consider the unthinkable: marriage to an older neighbor.

But how else is she to survive in a half-built cabin with a small child to protect?

The Gold Rush Christmas displays tension between the heroine and the would-be hero–even though he doesn’t appear until chapter two. And what’s the deal with her brother seeming to like the guy better than his sister?

Even Margaret Brownley’s story A Pony Express Christmas features an unusual twist: the hero is rescued from certain death by the matter-of-fact heroine.

You can read more conventional genre challenges in Vickie McDonough’s Buckskin Bride; Shannon McNear’s Defending Truth; Kathleen Fuller’s The Calling; and  Marcia Gruver’s The Badlands Christmas.

Christmas, of course, is featured in each story and most include at least a promise of mariage to come, My take away, though, was honest admiration for characters who overcame their circumstance to make a –mostly–realistic life in harsh surroundings.

A Pioneer Christmas Collection is an unusual and satisfying read–perfect for the winter when the snow is howling, the rain pouring, or the animals just in need of a little tending. And each one provides a complete and interesting night’s read.
But I admit–I’m biased!

What do you look for in a good romance?

A GOOD PIONEER - Vickie McDonough

Vickie McDonough is the author of numerous novels and novellas, including the Texas Trails: Morgan Family and Texas Boardinghouse Brides. Vickie discusses “Buckskin Bride”, her novella in A Pioneer Christmas. For more information about Vickie and her books, visit her website: www.vickiemcdonough.com. 

 

 

What made you write about your period in time?

 

I love historical novels, and that’s mostly what I write. I chose 1889 because it was the year of the first Oklahoma land run, and I wanted my story to take place during the winter after that. My hero won land in the land run, and that’s the setting for my story, Buckskin Bride.

 

How is Christmas celebrated in your family and what effect did it have on your writing this story?

 

Even though our boys are all grown now, we still put up a tree and have lights and decorations all over the living room. I hang stockings on the mantel but we no longer fill them since our sons are grown. We eat cinnamon rolls for breakfast on Christmas morning, then open presents, and later, have a big dinner mid-afternoon with the whole family. Christmas has been even more fun the past seven years since my granddaughter was born. I don’t know that my personal Christmas celebrations had any bearing on my story, except that the families in my novella gather together for Christmas dinner.

 

What research did you do to authenticate Christmas celebrations in your story?

 

I didn’t do anything research since the Christmas celebration in my story focused mainly around the dinner and it’s set in Oklahoma, a place I’m very familiar with.

 

When you dreamed up your story idea, what came first, the time period, the story, the location?

 

I’d have to say the location because I wanted to set my story in the Oklahoma Territory.

 

What was the "germ" of your story idea and how did you flesh it out?

 

Actually, it was a tipi (teepee). One of the criteria for this novella collection was that your hero or heroine needed to live in an unusual type of home. I decided on a tipi and made up a story to fit with that.

 

Would you like to have been there?

 

I think it would have been exciting to have ridden in one of the land runs, just like Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman did in the movie, Far and Away. There was so much anticipation and expectations for the families hoping to win free land. Many did but thousands of people did not get land. I have friends who have family still living on the land their ancestors won in the land rush.

 

What aspects of your characters are reflected in yours?

 

My heroine, Maddie, has dressed in buckskins most of her life. She’s comfortable in them, and it makes riding horses, hunting, and doing chores easier. She has no desire to wear dresses—and neither do I, although I don’t wear buckskins. J I don’t care for dresses, and I only own two. One of them is the one I wore in my son’s wedding, thirteen years ago.

 

Have you been to the locations in which your story is set?

 

I was born and raised in Oklahoma, and have traveled much of the state. I don’t know that I’ve been to the exact spot where my story takes place, though, because I was rather vague about were it is located exactly.

 

What surprised you the most about your story?

 

That my heroine finally dons a dress. I had my doubts that she actually would.

 

Would you have made a good pioneer?

 

In some ways. I love horses and have always been a tomboy and even dreamed of growing up and marrying a rancher. But, I love my modern conveniences like my laptop, air conditioning, kitchen appliances, and indoor plumbing and would hate to leave them all behind.

 

Were any of your ancestors pioneers? If so, where and when?

 

My dad’s parents were born in 1874 & 1876. I know that’s hard to believe but it’s true. I’ve never been able to verify it, but my dad told me that my grandma rode in one of the Oklahoma land rushes with her parents. I do know that my grandparents left the Pennsylvania Dutch country and traveled to El Dorado, Kansas, where my dad—the youngest of their ten children—was born. Then my grandpa got a job with an oil company, and they moved the family to Oklahoma. I still have family in Pennsylvania.

 

What spiritual themes did you deliberately incorporate into your story?

 

Trusting God when times are hard is a common theme I write about and one I used for Buckskin Bride.  Which ones did you discover later?  I pretty much stuck to that theme and can’t think of anything that popped up later in the book.

 

 

 

THE DAY MY PARENTS GOT LOST By Susette Williams

 

 

The Day My Parents Got Lost

 

Has your child ever wandered off or gotten lost? When our oldest daughter was a toddler, she wandered off in a department store. Suddenly we were experiencing every parent's worst fear. Then when we found her, her tone was accusing, “You left me.”

 

Muttering in my own disbelief, “I… didn’t… leave you.” Then having to spend many years trying to convince her that the way she ‘pictured’ things was not what she thought. I’m not sure who needed therapy more. Our daughter, for feeling abandoned, or us for her making us feel like we were horrible parents. She was too young to realize the whole situation. Now that she’s older, and a school teacher, she’s thrilled to find out I wrote a book inspired by those events. Her students are anxious to read it, especially knowing it was inspired by their teacher. 

 

My newest picture book, The Day My Parents Got Lost, takes a look at getting lost through a child’s eyes. While in the story, his parents are having fun, that most likely wouldn’t be the case in real life. The story gives children the opportunity to see how parents feel. I wrote this as a humorous story because while getting lost is very real and scary, we don’t want to scare children. The book gives parents and teachers the opportunity to speak with children about what they should do if they get separated from parents or a group. If you haven’t developed a plan with your children, or even your grandchildren, discuss safety tips and who they should turn to if they have a problem. 

 

As a tool to help you lead into this conversation with discussing the topic and how to respond, I am offering The Day My Parents Got Lost for free August 20-22. Please download a free copy during these dates and leave a review on Amazon so that other readers know how much you enjoyed the story. 

 

Download a copy for free August 20-22 at: http://ow.ly/o2yom  

 

Feel free to contact me through my website and share if you have ever had a child wander off or get lost. You can also download free coloring pages for Wacky Wishes. We will be having free coloring pages coming soon for The Day My Parents Got Lost.  

 

Comments and coloring pages:

http://www.susettewilliams.com/childrens_book.html 

Follow me on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/SusetteWilliams  

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChildrensAuthorSusetteWilliams

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PIONEER LIVING

Back when this wonderful land of ours was being settled, brave pioneers lived in whatever type of dwelling they could slap together. Some above ground, some below.

When I heard of Barbour Publisher putting together a Christmas anthology collection of pioneers celebrating Christmas in usual types of abodes, I thought of a dugout around the area of Tucson, Arizona.

 

 

During my research I learned that it does occasionally snow in the desert, which I would have had a hard time believing if I hadn't seen it once with my own eyes. So, of course not only do my characters live in a dugout, but they deal with snow and a ruthless man who wants their land.

 

In a Pioneer Christmas collection, some of the unusual dwellings are a tavern, a stagecoach stop, etc. Join nine award-winning authors as they help you experience Christmas as our ancestors did, and discover the true meaning for the holiday.

 

Releasing September 1, 2013, Journey along with American settlers who learn that despite where the trail takes them or how primitive their lodgings may be Christmas is all about the heart. Determined to honor Christ's birth, these pioneers find a way to make Christmas happen in places like a cave, a tipi, and a dugout. Modern readers will enjoy a peek into life before commercialism took over the sacred day, distracting us from the true blessings of faith, hope, and love. Enjoy nine original novellas of Christmas romance as penned from many of today's leading Christian authors, including Lauraine Snelling, Margaret Brownley, Kathleen Fuller, and Vickie McDonough.

 

 

 



Quitting the Day Job

A word of encouragement here: Yes, it can be done. But it takes a lot of hard work and commitment. I received a contract for my first book in 2007 after winning a contest and obtaining an agent. Fudge-Laced Felonies and the other three books in the series are now released as ebooks and still my best sellers.

After their publication, I kept busy with other writing, some traditional contracts and others independently published ebooks. It's the ebooks that garner my monthly income, which allowed me to quit the day job, after nine years, in May. But...I must tell you, I wrote while at work, I wrote in the evenings, and I wrote on the weekends. I wrote whenever I had a spare minute. If you're called to the writing world, then you can make it. You might not be rich like J.K. Rowling, but you can, quite possibly, make a living. It takes hard work, dedication, perseverance, and God's grace. Good luck with your writing. My latest book, Cooking Up Love, has just released through Harlequin's Heartsong Presents line. Happy Reading. This is the first in a four-book series.

THREADS OF LOVE

Finally, we have a cover for the novella collection releasing March 1. Myself, and three other authors have compiled four stories of love and forgiveness.

LAX AGAIN

Well, once again, I've been lax about reporting on my writing journey. So, let's get caught up, shall we? I finished, COOKING UP LOVE, Finding Love the Harvey Girl Way, and sent the completed manuscript to Harlequin's Heartsong Presents line. I finished four proposals. Two for Harlequin's Heartsong Presents, One for Harlequin's Love Inspired Historical, and one for Love Inspired's romantic suspense line. In addition to that, I've done a bit of marketing, not nearly enough, and ran one of my ebook historical romances, A Love for Delicious, free over the past weekend. Not as many downloads as I would have liked, but haven't given up yet. Sales have slowed for the month of October but I'm hopeful that scores of people will run out and buy a Kindle for themselves and loved ones at Christmas then proceed to download ALL of my books. I'm optimistic :) And I was one of the nine authors chosen for Barbour's Christmas anthology, A Pioneer Christmas due out for the holidays in 2013. So far in 2013, I have releasing, Unraveling Love, a novella by Barbour, Cooking Up Love, Heartsong Presents, SugarPlum Dreams, a Christmas story through Heartsong Presents, and A Cowgirl Christmas, an anthology by Barbour. Whew! When I comment on how busy I am, my friends all say, "Well, you asked for it." And, yes, I did. Thank you, God.

ACFW Conference 2012

I don't have pictures yet, bummer, but didn't want to wait too long to tell you of my experiences at conference this year. If you are serious about writing, and have yet to make the commitment to attend writing conferences, I strongly urge you to do so. Attending a conference lets editors and agents know who is serious about their writing. On Thursday, I had the priviledge of riding the shuttle from the airport to the hotel with Tina James and Melissa Endlich, editors of Harlequin's Love Inspired Line, and hopefully soon editors of mine! :) Once at the hotel, I had the joy of meeting in the coffee bar with Gina Welborn and Laurie Alice Eakes. What fun they are! Then, later that afternoon, I met with my wonderful agent, Chip MacGregor, and we came up with a game plan for the rest of 2012 and 2013. On Friday, I attended Susie May Warren's wonderful class on writing, had professional headshots done, and had an editor appointment with Tina James of Harlequin in which she requested a proposal. Yay! That evening, I went into the cute little historical town of Grapevine with Rachel Fernandez and Melissa Smith to a seafood restaurant where I ordered fish tacos Texas style. Yum. Saturday was more classes and then the wonderful Gala. I arrived home on Sunday totally and completely exhausted but feeling as if I'd finally "arrived" as an author. After six conferences, people now recognize my name and my face. In a good way, too! God willing, I plan on attending conferences every year and maybe, sometime in the future, actually mentor up and coming authors. If you're serious about writing, save your money, attend conferences, network, make appointments, make friends, have fun, and keep writing!

HARLEQUIN HEARTSONG PRESENTS

Well, as usual, a few days have passed since my last blog. Hey, at least it wasn't months! But, my writing career just took a great big leap! I've signed a two-book contract with Harlequin's new Heartsong Presents line, with the option of signing for two more early 2013. The first book, COOKING UP LOVE, Finding Love the Harvey Girl way, is book one in a series focused on the Harvey Girls, women who served in restaurants along the Santa Fe Railroad, and is scheduled for a June 2013 release. The second book is SUGARPLUM DREAMS, a Christmas historical romance. This is scheduled for a November 2013 release.

DAILY LOG - DAY 1 CAPTAIN HICKEY

Don't get too excited, I seriously doubt I'll be able to keep up the post a day thingie. But, I did promise to give readers a view of my publishing journey. I have 9 books posted on ebook. Check them out here www.cynthiahickey.com that I pubbed myself, then have the three cozy mysteries that were put out through my agent. Then....shhh, it's a secret but some traditional pubbed books are in the works. I've been writing seriously since 2006. So, can't complain too much about my progress, I suppose. Except today, I've actually gone backward in word count. Yep, you heard me write, uh right. I did some editing and cut out words. Sigh. Good thing I'm ahead of my writing schedule overall.

BUBBLE BLASTER

Good thing writing isn't like Bubble Blaster where one wrong move and you lose. In writing, you can backspace, delete, undo, etc. I had all my plans laid out, one right after the other, and quite proud of the fact, thank you very much. I ebook pubbed all my poor manuscripts that couldn't find homes, put out a romantic suspense under my maiden name (for those of you who like just a little spice, but nothing too dirty). I had it all planned. Then WHAM! God gave me a delightful surprise regarding two stories I had all but given up on. I still can't give you all the details, just know that next year, my readers will have something new to read. And the year after that. All in a genre I was actually getting ready to wave good bye too. God has a way of pointing us in the right direction, doesn't He? Good thing my bubble didn't burst! And oh, yeah. One of these days, I'm still going to start vlogging. Need to get on that.

CHOCOLATE GRAVY RECIPE

3/4 cup of water 3/4 cup of milk 1 cup of flour 1 cup of sugar 2 Tb cocoa Heat water and milk (to touch, not boiling) must be careful not to scorch. Mix together dry ingredients. Add slowly into milk until thick, stirring the whole time. I use a whisk. If not thickening, slowly add small amounts of flour. Is delicious over fresh buttered biscuits or biscuits and peanut butter. Enjoy Southern food at it's finest!

New Romantic Suspense Release

Finally, a story written several years ago, has come to fruition. SHADES OF CRIMSON is now available on ebook form and in print. The beautiful model on the cover is my niece. I also think I may have decided on a course for my blog to travel. Since I am traditional published and indepent, I will blog about my decisions and progress in each. For now... enjoy my newest and visit my website at www.cynthiahickey.com to see my other books.

INTERVIEW WITH ANN LEE MILLER

Note: Anyone who leaves a comment with an e-mail address (JaneReader[at]msn[dot]com) will receive a free e-book copy of Kicking Eternity. Those who don’t want to leave an e-mail may contact Ann for their free book at AnnLeeMiller.com. Tell us about your book. Kicking Eternity, First Place Long Contemporary winner of the 2009 Romance Writers of America Faith, Hope, and Love Contest, is all about chasing dreams—our dreams, God’s dreams, and the mixed-up tangle of both. Stuck in sleepy New Smyrna Beach one last summer, Raine socks away her camp pay checks, worries about her druggy brother, and ignores trouble: Cal Koomer. She’s a plane ticket away from teaching orphans in Africa, and not even Cal’s surfer six-pack and the chinks she spies in his rebel armor will derail her. The artist in Cal begs to paint Raine’s ivory skin, high cheek bones, and internal sparklers behind her eyes, but falling for her would caterwaul him into his parents’ live. No thanks. The girl was self-righteous waiting to happen. Mom served sanctimony like vegetables, three servings a day, and he had a gut full. Rec Director Drew taunts her with “Rainey” and calls her an enabler. He is so infernally there like a horsefly—till he buzzes back to his ex. Can you give us a sneak peek at your new release? Cal looked up from the easel and caught her staring. Her gaze darted toward the window, her cheeks burning. When she looked back at Cal, she saw a small smile playing at the edges of his mouth and eyes. It reminded her of one she’d seen and dismissed earlier. “Why are you quizzing me on prayer?” “You think I have an ulterior motive?” “You tell me.” He sat on the table top behind him. “You were sitting there like you were afraid of your own skin. I wanted to paint your fire. Pretty much a no-brainer to get you going on a topic that lights your passion.” He shrugged and grinned at her. Raine turned her face toward the bulletin board covered with crosses her elementary students had colored. Stupidity for having fallen for Cal’s manipulation warred against something entirely different. Cal saw something she didn’t see in herself—passion. A board creaked nearby, and Cal squatted down in front of her. His hand cupped her face. “You moved.” He brought her head back into position. His palm stayed on her cheek a heartbeat too long, his fingers trailing down to her chin almost in a caress before he broke the contact. She met his steady gaze. “What button are you trying to push now?” Cal stood. “The one that turns your cheeks pink like they were a few minutes ago.” Cal wasn’t the only one who could manipulate. “Let’s talk about obeying God.” “Talk about whatever you want. I’m going to work on your shirt now.” What inspired this book? My daughter has had a passion to become a foreign missionary since she was in first grade. She just completed her junior year of college and is still headed for missions, probably to an orphanage in Peru. Also a close family friend fell in love with a young man and felt strongly that God told her to marry him. When the guy broke off the engagement, she was devastated on multiple levels. In Kicking Eternity the hero has to come to terms with the same dilemma. Are you a panster or do you outline? I detest plotting, but consider it a necessary evil. I plot every scene for the whole book before I actually write the book. It takes… forever. My first two books were written without plotting. Going back through whole books to fix plot lines felt counterproductive. I tried Randy Ingermanson’s Snowflake method of plotting for my third book and Karen Wiesner’s First Draft In 30 Days for my most recent book. I also use Jack Bickham’s Scene and Structure as I build scenes. To me, it feels so much easier to make changes to the book’s skeleton than to rewrite large portions. How long have you been writing? I always say I became a writer the year I discovered Sister Sheila had hair. I was in fifth grade at St. Hugh’s Catholic School in Miami, knee deep in nouns and verbs, when Sister Sheila walked through the door in a new habit that showed two inches of mouse brown hair threaded with silver. Thanks to Sister’s encouragement, I went on to earn a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University. I’ve been writing novels for the past fifteen years. Tell us something about you that would surprise your readers. My father spent several years building a forty-foot sailboat in our backyard. We launched it in the Miami River and lived aboard at Dinner Key Marina when I was eleven until I turned thirteen. At the time I didn’t realize how unusual it was to live on a boat and ride my bicycle down the dock each morning to attend school. All my friends at the marina did the same. After school every day, I tossed my books onto my bunk, shimmied into a swim suit, and jumped overboard. Sailboats show up in all my books thus far. What do you hope readers will take away from this book? I especially want to reach people with unhappy, dysfunctional families like the family I grew up in. I want to give them hope that God will provide love and healing for them. Tell us about the journey to getting published. I wrote my first novel fifteen years ago and have been writing full-time for ten years while trying to break in to traditional publishing. Last summer my agent let all her unpublished authors, including me, go. In the midst of my despair, God nudged me to indie e-publish. So, I swallowed a hairball of pride and walked down the self-publishing road. I feel a surge of joy and gratitude that my books are finally being read. The part of me that clamors for validation still hopes for a traditional publishing contract. But how can I go wrong obeying God? What project are you currently working on? In addition to Kicking Eternity, The Art of My Life debuts in September, Avra’s God in December, and Tattered Innocence next March. What is your Writing schedule like? Do you write only when inspired? Since I started my writing career in my forties, I feel fairly obsessed to accomplish what God created me to do. Think about how the hero in Sweet Home Alabama jammed lightning rods into the sand to make his beautiful glass. He did his work before the lightning struck. I jam a lot of words onto the page before lightning strikes and makes it beautiful. What is a fond childhood memory? As a kid, I adored stories about girls who went to boarding school and imagined their lives as oh-so-much-better than my own. Our Lady of the Hills Camp in Hendersonville, North Carolina, the closest I got to attending boarding school, turned out to be the “happy” in my childhood, spawned a lifelong affection for camp, and inspired the setting for Kicking Eternity. What book are you currently reading? I’m reading Ann Brashares’ (The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants) The Last Summer, one of her adult novels. I enjoy reading her because I think we have similar writing styles and grasp on the early twenties. What are your hobbies (besides writing)? Wedged in between my writing I manage to hike in the mountains with my husband, do Zumba, and go garage saling every Saturday morning with a friend. This year I mentored three teens from my youth group. I’ve guest lectured on plotting in Phoenix colleges for the past few years. Every summer you’ll find me at teen church camp. AnnLeeMiller.com Twitter @AnnLeeMiller Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-Lee-Miller/356653761022022 Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Kicking-Eternity-ebook/dp/B0082GF8CE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1337363292&sr=8-2 Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kicking-eternity-ann-lee-miller/1110908265?ean=2940014441759 Bio: Ann Lee Miller earned a BA in creative writing from Ashland (OH) University and writes full-time in Phoenix, but left her heart in New Smyrna Beach, Florida, where she grew up. She loves speaking to young adults and guest lectures on writing at several Arizona colleges. When she isn’t writing or muddling through some crisis—real or imagined—you’ll find her hiking in the Superstition Mountains with her husband or meddling in her kids’ lives. Book Blurb: Fresh from college, Raine scores a teaching job at New Smyrna Beach Surf and Sailing Camp. A crush on the camp rebel/art teacher threatens to derail her plans to teach orphans in Africa. The broody recreation director spots her brothers meth addiction and Raine's enabling. Raine believes she is helping her brother--until lives are threatened. Endorsements: “Ann Lee Miller writes stories straight from the heart with characters who'll become friends, remaining with you long after you turn that final page. You won't want to miss Kicking Eternity!” Jenny B. Jones, Author of the Katie Parker Production Series from Think and The Charmed Life Series, and other single titles from Thomas Nelson “In Kicking Eternity, Ann Lee Miller masterfully weaves the delicate web of emotions experienced in that turbulent ‘twenty-something’ stage of life. Powerful family dynamics, intense loyalty challenges, and tender new loves find their niche in your heart as this story unfolds layer by lovely layer.” Mesu Andrews, Author of Revell titles Love’s Sacred Song, and Love Amid the Ashes, which won the 2012 CBA Book of the Year, New Author Category