Author Jane Myers Perrine & The Strongest Women She Ever Met

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My guest today is Author Jane Myers Perrine. Her latest books have taken a turn toward Jan Karon’s type of story–a small town of interesting and special characters. BE SURE TO LEAVE A COMMENT FOR THE BOOK GIVEWAY DRAWING. Here’s Jane:

“The Strongest woman I’ve ever met was Hazel Myers, my father’s younger sister.

My father was one of six children.  Their father died when they were all young.  One-hundred years ago, there were no safety nets.  All my grandfather left the family was a house he’d built.  No insurance, no company benefits for my grandmother to raise six children.

This was made even more difficult because Aunt Hazel had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.   She couldn’t go to school because all the buildings had many flights of stairs.  My grandmother Jennie—for whom I’m named—took a job cleaning a school so she could take her youngest daughter with her, but the cold concrete floor caused Aunt Hazel’s joints to ache terribly.

But with no education, a body filled with pain, and twisted fingers, she taught herself to type.  For many years as an adult, she worked as secretary at the Christian church the family attended.

I never noticed her handicap.  She had an odd little battery-powered vehicle she used to get around:  a three-wheeler with a bench seat.  She used to take her nieces and nephews on rides around the neighborhood.  She lived a life of caring for others and optimism even while in terrible pain all of her life.

After her death in her fifties, my father gave me her Bible in which he’d written, “She bore her thorns in the flesh bravely.”

When I want to complain about my back hurting or pain in my wrists from writing, I think of Hazel Myers.  She would have rejoiced to have a computer with soft keys instead of using a manual typewriter.

I never heard Aunt Hazel talk about her faith, but it shown from her every minute of her life and was the source of her strength.

The Welcome Committee of Butternut Creek is the interwoven story of many people.  One of the heroines is Birdie MacDowell, a pillar of the church who helped found the thrift shop and the food pantry.  At nearly seventy, she’s still working to support  her granddaughters.  She’s weathered storms in her life:  the death of her husband, the addiction of her daughter, and the rearing of two girls from their births.   She endures and serves because she knows her strength comes from her faith.”–Jane

Jane, it sounds to me like Hazel was the inspiration for your heroine, Birdie. (Love that name!)

Please leave a reply to this question to qualify for the book drawing.

Question: We have so many labor-saving devices today. Which one do you depend upon the most? Which one do you wish you could have “sent” into the past for your grandmother?–Lyn

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Author Janet Chester Bly & Do You Know What the Most American Thing in America Is?

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My guest today is Janet Chester Bly, the wife of late Western author Stephen Bly. She is offering a BOOK GIVEAWAY TO A COMMENTER. I love the photo of the two of them above since it shows Janet’s love for her husband shining through–also her sweet-nature. Janet is going to tell us about

Narcissa Kinney, Sponsor Of “The Most American Thing in America.” Here’s Janet:

“Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot is full of adventure and humor and most of it happens in or near Gearhart, Oregon in 1905.

The railroad opened up more tourists for the seacoast village of Gearhart, tucked between crashing surf and Pacific forests. Narcissa Kinney insisted that the city council proclaim this a ‘dry town,’ which it remained for more than seventy years after her death.

I was intrigued in my research with the Chautauqua movement of the times and Narcissa’s sponsorship that brought culture to Gearhart. She organized the forming of 200-acres of prime forest land set aside for Gearhart Park, that included an auditorium with arched entrance, belfry, double hip roof and clerestorey, used for traveling circuit speakers and entertainment. She made sure the development scheme protected the Ridge Path, a principal byway grande promenade through the area’s dune meadows, as well as many other natural features as possible.

Because of Narcissa, Gearhart became the first planned coastal resort community in the state of Oregon.

Gearhart residents and visitors enjoyed classic plays, Broadway hits, opera stars, glee clubs and bands such as John Philip Sousa’s. Fiery orators and activists, crusaders and preachers took advantage of this forum. More than four hundred other cities across the country sponsored these same events. President Theodore Roosevelt called them, “the most American thing in America.” This movement thrived in the day before movie theatres and TVs.

Narcissa is the background real-life character important to the setting of Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot. She inspires the fictional Lady Harriet Reed-Fletcher to sponsor her own benevolence project in the city of Gearhart. Lady Harriet and Narcissa compare in strong will, leadership and influencing the men in their lives to get involved in their causes.

Gearhart is where Stuart Brannon and his friends solve the mystery of finding his U.S. Marshal friend and the ‘whodunnit’ of several murders.

Not what Narcissa had in mind at all for Gearhart, I’m sure. But her husband, Marshall, founder of the local golf course, would approve the celebrity tournament Lady Harriet instigates and in which Brannon participates. And Narcissa would be pleased with the mission: raising money for the Willamette Orphan Farm.”–Janet

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

BIO:  Janet Chester Bly has authored 30 nonfiction and fiction books, 18 she co-authored with Christy Award winning author, Stephen Bly. Titles include The Hidden West Series, The Carson City Chronicles, Hope Lives Here, and The Heart of a Runaway. She resides at 4200 ft. elev. on the Idaho Nez Perce Indian Reservation. Her 3 married sons, Russell, Michael and Aaron, live down the mountain with their families.

“Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot delivers and reminds us what we’ll miss most about the beloved author.” Jerry B. Jenkins, NYT Bestselling novelist & biographer

“Bly throws his readers into the fray from the first page and never lets up….” Award-winning author Kathleen Y’Barbo

Michael Ehret, CWG editor-in-chief: “…unusual experience… I found it a fascinating look into the process (of the writing of Stuart Brannon’s Final Shot).”

website: http://www.BlyBooks.com
blog: http://BlyBooks.blogspot.com

I love when authors visit and tell me about strong women  like Narcissa Kennedy I’ve never heard of. WOW-Just think of a woman who had a vision of the future and wouldn’t let men talk her down. 1905 is 15 years before women won the right to vote and Miss Kennedy left a lasting treasure for the people of her town.

Janet is offering a copy of this book to a commenter. Here’s the question:

Question: What do you suppose some of the things people –male and female–said to her idea of how the town should prepare for the future. Can you hear the nay-sayers? Go ahead and post what they might have said to her.–Lyn

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Two Winners! And Special Guests this Week!

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Angie won Debbie Kaufman’s book!

And Rebecca won Winnie Griggs’ book!

Congratulations & those who didn’t win–I will be giving away more books this year when I post the reviews. So drop by when you see “Lyn Reviews…”

This week  I have two “J” guests–Author Janet Chester Bly and Author Jane Perrine.

Don’t miss their stories of strong women. You’ll love them–Lyn

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Lyn Reviews Author Winnie Griggs’ Second Chance Family

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Second Chance FamilySecond Chance Family by Winnie Griggs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Winnie Griggs has found her voice–a strong, sweet one, ready to find the humor in every situation and endearingly hopeful in her characters. I enjoyed meeting Cora Beth Collins, a charming widow who runs a boarding house in Texas and loves children (both hers and strays) and Mitch Hammond, the sheriff. Mitch doesn’t think he’s the marrying kind–we’ve heard that before! But Winnie uses such subtle changes that his transforming into a husband and father feels believable and very satisfying. If you enjoy a sweet historical romance written with deft charm, you’ll enjoy Second Chance Family!
To purchase on Amazon, click this link- Second Chance Family (Love Inspired Historical)
Leave a comment and enter a drawing for a once-read copy!–Lyn

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Lyn Reviews Author Debbie Kaufman’s The Doctor’s Mission

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The Doctor's Mission (Love Inspired Historical)The Doctor’s Mission by Debbie Kaufman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Cannibals? Not a usual factor in a romance. But in Africa that was still a fact of life in 1918. This is Debbie Kaufman’s debut novel and what a wonderful book! I loved the heroine Mary, a doctor who has just returned from serving the wounded in WWI. She runs smack into the hero’s determination NOT to take another woman into the very real and lethal dangers at his mission in interior of Liberia. The book shimmers with a rich cast of characters, both white and black. Ms. Kaufman gives a glimpse of what life was like not only for the missionaries but also the people of Africa. I enjoyed the battle of two strong but wounded people and the way each trial forces them to reevaluate themselves and each other. The Doctor’s Missionhighly unusual, highly recommended.

Leave a comment to enter a drawing for a once-read copy!–Lyn
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Best-Selling Author Linda Ford & What Kind of Strength Do You Have?

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What a pleasure to have Author Linda Ford as my guest again. Linda is one of those brave women who have raised extra children. Since I barely managed to raise two, I am in awe of women who are called to be the mother of many. Here’s Linda sharing a story of her daughter and the different kinds of strength:

“There are many kinds of strength. The loud, confrontational kind that says no to injustice. The stubborn kind that faces challenges. The quiet kind that does what needs to be done and says little about it. That’s the kind of strength Sally Morgan in THE COWBOY COMES HOME shows.

It’s the kind of strength my eldest daughter showed from a young age. She loved to help and as soon as she could push a chair to the sink would help peel potatoes and wash dishes. She was six where her little sister was born. By the time the baby was six months old, my six-year old would beg to be allowed to get her up and feed her breakfast on the weekend.

We especially appreciated her strength the year one of the younger children was in an accident and received a head injury. For a month, he was in a hospital 3 ½ hours from home. I was in constant attention which left 8 children home alone. My daughter had just finished her college year. She gave up her summer job and came home to care for the family. She had her hands full. A couple of the kids were new to our home and still challenging the boundaries. Having an older sister made them think they could ignore all we’d tried to teach them. Add to that a work crew on the farm who decided to take their meals with the family. To this day I can’t believe they were so ignorant especially given the circumstances. But my teenage daughter handled it all in her quiet way. She dealt with responsibility that would have left many a more experienced woman in distress.

Sally Morgan, in the third story of THREE BRIDES FOR THREE COWBOYS has had to deal with her share of challenges as well. It’s the Great Depression. Times are hard. Money is scarce.  Her father is dead. She’s the sort of woman who simply does what needs doing whether it’s baking cookies for a sick neighbor, making meals at home or taking over a household where the mother has died. However, Sally has to learn the true meaning of strength. And she does.”–Linda

Thanks for sharing such a personal and such a touching story, Linda. Sometimes the only way a person finds their strength is when it’s needed.  I’m sure God will bless your daughter for her faithfulness.–Lyn

PS-Drop by and visit her interesting website and tell me what her theme or brand is! (You never know what might happen.)

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Author Jill Elizabeth Nelson & What Is Deep POV?

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My guest today is Romantic Suspense Author Jill Elizabeth Nelson. She is going to tell us about the “Fire in the Bones” and how it led to publication. She is also showing off a new book that might be of interest to writers, title Rivet Your Readers With Deep Point of View. I know that’s what I try to do in my books. Well, here’s Jill:

“Passion to Publish

If I say, I will not make mention of [the Lord] or speak any more in His name, in my mind and heart it is as if there were a burning fire shut up in my bones. Jeremiah 20: 9 (Amplified)

Fire in the bones. That’s how I describe the irresistible passion that kept me writing and seeking publication until the dream came true. Without that “fire in the bones,” I don’t see how any writer perseveres through the hurdles and heartaches until they not only become published, but start to make a career out of their passion to write.

I believe this fire has to be an innate gift from God because it cannot be manufactured. The blaze can be stoked and fed, and skills can be trained and grown, but the fire itself cannot be worked up by the will of man. Without it, manuscripts molder in desk drawers or on hard drives. Without it, poems or journals may be started but never finished. With it, fruit comes to maturity in the completion and sharing of words that can make a difference in other people’s lives.

Every person has gifts and callings, whether they ever discover them or not, or whether they choose to use those gifts to serve the God who gave them. We’re offered the choice of who we will serve with the divine spark within us. I read once that Elvis Presley began his career singing Gospel, but then he received some enticing offers and chose the spotlight of the world’s fame. We see where that road ended for him, but the gift—the passion for music—did not dry up simply because he didn’t choose to serve God with it.

How can you tell if you have the passion? Take this simple test: Ask yourself if you can stop writing. If you can, then perhaps journaling or the occasional poem might satisfy the temporary, momentary itch. If you cannot lay writing aside without feeling as if you’ve put a cork on a volcano, then the passion is a force in your life. Yield to it, and yield that force to God.

His direction will make the most of the gift He has given you, and He will lead you to the outlets for your creativity that are best suited to His purposes for your life. Proverbs 16: 9 says in the Amplified: A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure. What a promise! Along His path is the most satisfaction and success possible.

These are the things I needed to believe even before I reached the milestone of my first published novel, or I never would have seen that book in print . . . or the others that followed. Even now, I encourage myself with these thoughts, because no matter where a writer is along the route of her career, there is still a long road ahead.

Lay hold on the passion inside, dear fellow travelers. It will carry you farther than you ever dreamed!”–Jill

BIO: Award-winning author and writing teacher, Jill Elizabeth Nelson, writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure seasoned with romance, humor, and faith. Jill is a popular speaker for conferences, writers groups, library associations, and civic and church groups. She delights to bring the “Ahah! Moment” to her students as they make new skills their own. Her handbook, Rivet Your Readers with Deep Point of View, is now available at https://www.createspace.com/3796162 .

Visit Jill on the web at: www.jillelizabethnelson.com or look her up on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/JillElizabethNelson.Author or Twitter @JillElizNelson

Okay-A QUESTION FOR YOU: What does an author mean by Point of View?–Lyn

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Two Winners!

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SMoore won Tracey Bateman’s book.

And Ausjenny won Sandra Orchard’s book!

Thanks to all those who commented!

I have 2 exciting guests again this week–Jill Elizabeth Nelson and Linda Ford–Don’t miss their stories!–Lyn

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Interview with Author Tracey Bateman & God’s Got This

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My guest today is Author Tracey Bateman. I got to know Tracey in the summer of 2006 when we were on a book tour together. She is one fun, lady! I was happy she agreed to an interview AND she is offering ONE FREE COPY of her latest book, Love Finds You in Wildrose, North Dakota. So be sure to leave a comment to be entered into the drawing.

Here’s Tracey:

LYN: Tell us a little about your writing and your real life.

TRACEY: My writing is my real life, part of it anyway. I’ve written 40 books for the Christian market, with genres spanning historical, chick-lit, suspense, vampire and paranormal. My agent just informed me I’ve reached the one-million books in print mark! I’ve recently chosen to stick with strictly historicals as I realized I enjoy writing those the best and most of my readers prefer them as well. It’s a win-win.

My husband and I just celebrated 23 years of marriage. We’ve raised two kids to adulthood and have two teenagers. I live in the Beauuutiful Missouri Ozarks and have for most of my life. I love it here. We attend a super church where my kids have grown up knowing God and now serve in various positions, which has always been a prayer of mine.

LYN: Was there a time in your life when you think God challenged you to become stronger? Please share.

TRACEY: Oh yeah. The past year my husband has been unemployed. We thought the year before was a challenge because he was deployed and I was holding down the fort in his absence. But a mix-up in the office messed up his job situation coming home. Every week we’d say, “He’ll get a job this week for sure.” Slowly our savings were eaten up, and my income was small and spotty. After ten months of leaning heavily on God for grace and to meet our needs, I finally settled myself and had a heart to heart with God. I realized how much I had grown to rely on our income in the years prior to the “tough times”. Instead of looking to God as my source, I looked to the next book contract or my husband to meet my needs, and while God does use our jobs, He truly showed me He wants to be my source. It’s been rough and I’ve had to cut back on a lot of expenses that I never even considered before. I’ve seen a strength in myself as I go through this trial and my kids are getting more independent of coming to us for every little thing they want or need. God has taught me a lot. We’re still not completely through the storm. But we definitely can say “peace” to the storms that sometimes blow up inside of us.

God’s got this.


LYN: In what ways does your heroine show strength? And where does she draw this strength?

TRACEY: Rosemary moved to North Dakota from Kansas expecting to live with her twin sister and her husband. Her father died and as a single woman in the late 1800s, she naturally thought she was going to be cared for by relatives. Instead, she arrives to find her expectations are not met and she’s forced to face her future on her own. She files a claim and moves to her own homestead. In the meantime, she’s struggling with her brother-in-law’s stubbornness as well as an evil man who tries everything he can to force her off the land. As she leans heavily on God’s wisdom, she grows in grace, in strength and truly discovers she’s much more valuable than she ever believed.

LYN: Share one fun fact about your life or books.

TRACEY: My life is pretty ordinary, to be honest. But we do have hilarious dogs. We live in the country and our dogs and the other dogs in the area are all buddies. They go back and forth between houses just to hang out and play. We know their names and have fun watching them play just like kids. Willie, a little wiener dog from a couple of country roads over, is our favorite. It’s really funny. Hey, dogs are people too.”–Tracey

I agree, Tracey. And cats too!

I wrote an endorsement for this book. Here it is:

“Tracey Bateman’s Love Finds You in Wildrose, ND takes the tried and true marriage of convenience plot and infuses it with new life. Rosemary is the spunky heroine who is definitely not going to marry her twin sister’s widowed husband. And is up to the challenges of frontier life and a scheming neighbor. If you enjoy a good romance of a generous heroine and a stubborn hero, this story doesn’t disappoint.”

Love Finds You in Wildrose, North Dakota

Thanks for sharing the challenges you have faced over the past year, Tracey. Unfortunately this is too common right now. But you’re right God’s got this.

Don’t forget to leave a comment to be entered into the drawing!

Questions: Have you or a loved one ever struggled with joblessness? Or how does one deal with a trying time that just doesn’t budge? Please share.–Lyn


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Author Sandra Orchard & What Inspired Shades of Truth

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My guest today is Author Sandra Orchard whose latest Love Inspired Suspense was inspired by someone in her life. Here’s Sandra:

“Lyn asked me to share a bit about the woman and ministry that inspired this story. Our pastor’s daughter works at a faith-based youth detention facility. Listening to her talk about her work, I was enthralled by the young woman’s passion for the youth. What really struck me though was her admission that she often learned more from the kids than the other way around. Her excitement about the positive impact she could have in residents’ lives became my heroine’s.

Since the real Hope Manor is run by a Christian organization, Ray of Hope, it’s only partially government funded. The organization’s mission is to demonstrate the love of God to those who are disadvantaged, marginalized or in trouble, with the vision of people investing in people, inspiring hope, and transforming lives. They also have many other activities within the community beyond the detention facility for which they recruit volunteers, fundraise and create partnerships. You can learn more at http://www.rayofhope.net/

While Beth and Hope Manor were the inspiration for my heroine’s character and career, and Beth graciously answered all my questions about her work, I hasten to add that my heroine is entirely fictional, as is the detention center where she works and the cast of characters who populate her world.

Shades of Truth Blurb:

Big city detective Ethan Reed is working deep undercover at a Christian youth detention center. The kind of place he spent some harrowing time in as a kid. Ethan’s mission: ferret out who’s recruiting resident teens for a drug ring. He expects help from the lovely, devoted director of Hope Manor. But Kim Corbett won’t tell Ethan anything— even when she’s threatened and attacked. When Ethan discovers what Kim is protecting, his guarded heart opens just a bit wider. Enough to make this the most dangerous assignment of his career.

Book 2 in Undercover Cops:? Fighting for justice puts their lives—and hearts—on the line.

The career and character of the heroine in Shades of Truth was inspired by the passion of Sandra’s pastor’s daughter’s for her work at a faith-based youth detention facility.

In this photo Sandra is posing with the editor we share–Tina James, Senior Editor.

Sandra Orchard lives in rural Ontario, Canada where inspiration abounds for her romantic suspense novels set in the fictional Niagara town she’s created as their backdrop. Married with three grown children, when not writing, she enjoys hanging out with family, brainstorming new stories with fellow writers, and walking her dog in God’s beautiful creation. She loves to connect with readers, and has created “novel extras” to enhance readers’ experience of her books.

Check out these and other resources for both readers and writers at her website: http://www.SandraOrchard.com.

For updates on new releases, special subscriber-only reads and giveaway opportunities, sign up for her newsletter at http://bit.ly/OrchardNews

She’d love for you to connect at: http://www.Facebook.com/SandraOrchard

And join in the conversations about characters on her blog at http://www.SandraOrchard.blogspot.com

Available in stores for month from March 13th or on Harlequin now at: http://bit.ly/SofTonHqn

Thanks for being my guest, Sandra. Do any of you have similar organizations near you or that you support? Please tell us about them.–Lyn

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