Star Wars Quote of the Week

Princess Leia: This is some rescue! You came in here, but didn't you have a plan for getting out?
Han Solo: [pointing toward Luke] He's the brains, sweetheart!

Can you hear this conversation in your head? Are you smiling? I hope so.

Hop, hop, blog hop

My friend, LeAnne Bristow, invited me to participate in a blog hop. She said please three times, and I probably would have said yes after one please.

LeAnne and I are both writers, and we've both been to London.

Here's LeAnne in London.

And here's a picture of me in London.

I hope to go back one day when I have more time.





LeAnne asked me four questions.

1. What am I working on?

I'm working on The Bye Way Inn a romance set on the coast of North Carolina. I've written the story and am editing it now. I hope to have it ready to pitch at ACFW conference in September.

The day Rachel Grant discovers she has inherited her grandmother's inn, Matt Jackson shows up from Inn Possible to help improve the place. Rachel wasn't prepared to inherit The Bye Way, and she wasn't prepared to meet Matt. He can't believe she's not more excited to have such a great place. As they work together toward a common goal, they develop feelings for each other until Matt discovers a secret that could end their budding relationship.

2. How does my work different from others?

I usually have pets in my story and try to inject a little humor. I love romantic comedies, and the men in my family are pretty funny. I'd like to think my stories will make my readers smile. My stories also are Christian based. No bad words or scenes you'd be embarrassed to have your children read.

3.Why do I write what I do?

In January I was writing a story about heroin addiction, and the more I wrote the more down in the dumps I got. After a while I decided to write happier stories. God is the center of my life, so I can't imagine writing a story that did not focus on him in a good way.

4. How does my writing process work?

I'm still trying to figure out the best way. I create my characters first. I always need a picture of them to refer to, especially my heroes. Otherwise they all end up looking like my husband. (He's always my hero!)

After I create my characters, I come up with a basic plot that I try to follow. Sometimes it works, and sometimes it doesn't.



That's enough about me. I'd like to introduce you to a couple of friends of mine that I met through ACFW critique groups.

They both write great Christian suspense.

Heidi Glick is talented, young, and energetic. She and her husband came from Ohio to Kentucky one day so we could brainstorm ideas. Heidi and her husband, John, have an adorable son and are expecting another baby soon. Heidi's debut novel, Dog Tags is available now.
Heidi is working on a devotional book with a few other authors.





Another friend of mine is Marcy G. Dyer.

Marcy is a registered nurse and suspense author. She doesn't hold back in her stories, and you'll find yourself flipping through the pages. She currently has two novels from the Desert Winds Series available: Down & Out and Out for Blood Her newest novel, Blood and Lies will release in November.

Star Wars Quote of the Week

Who's the more foolish, the fool or the fool who follows him?

Obi Wan Kenobi asks this after hiding Stormtroopers on the Millennium Falcon.

Obi-Wan Kenobi was a legendary Jedi Master who played a major role in the fate of the galaxy during the waning days of the Galactic Republic. He trained both Anakin and Luke Skywalker in the ways of the force. He helped shape the fate of the entire galaxy during his career.

Twenty-five years and counting

Tim and I got married twenty-five years ago in Athens, Georgia at The First United Methodist Church. I met Tim there the first Sunday he arrived in Athens. I was a greeter, and he walked into the building at the door where I was to welcome him. I can still remember the sun streaming in behind him, and my heart raced. He wanted to meet the preacher, and I told him how to get to the office. A little later guess who walked into my Sunday School class? I was in the singles class, so now I knew he was single. Now my heart was really racing.

After class we talked and discovered we were both from Kentucky. I won't bore you with too many more details, but it's been a great ride. Our family has grown. We've survived Tim's brain surgery and two hip replacements. We've moved six times and survived ups and downs, but through it all God has been at the center of our marriage. I am so blessed, and I hope we get to enjoy twenty-five more years together.

Memorial Day

Memorial Day is celebrated on the last Monday of May. It started after the Civil War as a way to honor our dead. It was originally called Decoration Day, and was first celebrated in New York in 1873. Flowers were strewn over graves of comrades who died defending our country. The South chose separate days to honor their dead until after World War I. At this time it became a holiday to honor Americans who died fighting any war.

I am so proud to be an American. I'd like to once again thank those of you who have served our country and who continue to serve. Thanks for your protection and sacrifice.

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!

Introducing my friend Diane Tatum

I'd like to introduce a friend of mine, Diane Tatum.

I met Diane through a writing critique group. She writes historical fiction, and I've enjoyed reading through her stories.

Diane asked me to be part of a World Blog tour, but because of illness and vacation, I missed out. I still wanted to share a little bit about her today.

1.What is she working on?

I always have many ’irons in the fire’!

I am working on a series of novels I call “Faith Amidst the Crucible of American History”. My hero in each novel is a son of a blacksmith. (Get it, irons in the fire!)

The first book in the series is called Colonial Dream. The setting is the American Revolution. Two friends, Colin Browning and Ben Andrews, who want nothing more than to be Americans, find themselves fighting on opposites sides. Heroine Amanda Andrews Browning must learn to be a strong, independent woman as she supports herself and her child, Michael, as an embroiderer/seamstress in Colonial Williamsburg while the men are at war. I am editing it in response to a “not a rejection/not a contract” letter. Prayers are greatly appreciated as I groom this project to receive that coveted contract.

The second book in this series, Transforming Bitterness Into Joy, is the one I am actively creating/writing/critiquing on Scribes. This book is a Beauty and the Beast type story set in 1809-1810. Michael, son of Colonial Dream couple Amanda and Colin Browning, has had to raise his younger siblings after the death of his parents when he was 17. He has had to set aside any personal life for 12 years as a result, working his father’s forge to support them. Heroine Susannah, daughter of the new pastor at the church founded by his Uncle Ben Andrews, finds herself serving him after she encourages Michael’s youngest sister to elope. She is determined to play matchmaker for Michael, with her friend Rachel, to help him out of his bitter loneliness. Of course, Susannah becomes the perfect match for him.

The third book is the series, A Time to Choose, is set during the Civil War. Andrew Browning, blacksmith and officer in the Union Army, is assigned to protect and guide Lincoln. Maggie is an Northern abolitionist, Harvard-educated newspaper columnist. Terrors come into their lives as she writes about the war effort, runs a stop on the Underground Railroad, becomes a target for Andrews’s revengeful ex-fiancee, and teaches reading to emancipated refugees. The setting for this story is Lincoln’s White House and Washington, DC.

The fourth book in the series will involve Lincoln Browning, son of Andrew and Maggie, who takes his blacksmithing skills into the new industry as an inventor.


2) How does your work differ from others of its genre?

My series is reminiscent of John Jakes' Americans series. The big thing that sets it apart from other historical romance is that my characters are Christians who seek to live their faith amidst the struggles of life. How do Christians be involved in God’s plan for their lives? What happens when that plan seems to be falling apart? Like us, they must deal with the setbacks, heartaches, and dreams knowing that God is still present in their lives and works everything together for an ultimate good.

3) Why do you write what you do?

The first question should be “Why do I write?” I have always had an avid fascination with story. I began writing stories, a play, and a compendium of Dark Shadows supernatural beings in 6th grade. My friends and I spun imaginary tales with our teen idols, writing extensive notes to one another. My first published book is Gold Earrings. I wrote the short story that became the novel in high school. I constantly have ideas for new works. While I was teaching middle school, I would write the scenes that were playing in my head, all that I knew, and save them on the computer. I guess I write because I am compelled to write.

3 1/2)Why do you write Christian historical romance?

Again, I am compelled to write about characters who need and long for love. These characters have varying levels of relationship with God. I believe God meant for us to be in relationship, with Him, with friends, with family, and with a spouse who helps them both become what God wants them to be. I love history! Most of our vacations involve discovering the history of the place we visit.

4) How does your writing process work?

As I said previously, the story or characters appear in my brain almost like a movie that you need to write down as it happens so you don’t lose any precious part. Or I think of an intriguing question. In Colonial Dream, I was contemplating whether rebellion against the king is sin against God. After all, scripture says that we are to obey and pray for the king because God placed him in power. Once I have the initial ideas down, then the hard part starts. I ask myself, “What comes next?” Some days that’s easy. Other days, well, it doesn’t happen. On those days I research my time period, characters, dress, holiday traditions, etc. If you check my Pinterest boards, you’ll see that I have one for each of my novels where I pin maps, places, occupations, timelines, etc. Some days I create a timeline of events in my story with actual historical events. Eventually, the novel comes together like tying up loose ends.

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you have a great weekend!

Armed Forces Day

Today is Armed Forces Day in the United States. I'd like to take this time to thank all of the people who put on a uniform to serve and protect our country. Thank you!

Have a great day everybody, and go fly your flag!