British Mystery Author Veronica Heley & False Report

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This is the third time I’ve had the pleasure of hosting British Mystery Author Veronica Heley. If you missed her first two visits, here are the links to them.

http://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/uncategorized/british-author-veronica-heley-her-strong-heroines

http://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/uncategorized/british-author-veronica-heley-guests-today

Veronica never fails to share something interesting! And so without further chatter, here’s Veronica:

Strong Women…

I like to dress in positive colours; red, white and blue. Never in black. One of the few colours I know I can wear is lilac, but purple is beyond me.

In the old days purple was a colour reserved for the Imperial family in Rome and no ordinary person could wear it. The reason for this was its scarcity, and the fact that it became more, and not less stable when exposed to sunlight. The dye itself was  derived from a particular shellfish, and the process of extraction and then dying the cloth cost a lot in terms of both time and labour.

And when you’d finally achieved a decent result, you had to sell it. So who did you know who had the contacts and the no-how to sell it on to Rome? Someone well connected, and with a business head on his shoulders? Well connected, yes. Business head, yes. But it was a woman called Lydia who operated this trade in Philippi.

She was a woman who worshipped God on the Sabbath day, and when St Paul arrived in Philippi it wasn’t long before he came across her. He talked. She listened, and she understood that what he said came from God. She and her whole household were baptized, upon which she invited Paul and Silas to stay with her.

The modern heroine of the Bea Abbot stories is an older business woman who runs a successful domestic agency supplying the requirements of the high and mighty. She is a widow – I’ve always thought Lydia must have been a widow because of the freedom she exercised in a man’s world and because she was the head of her household. Bea reads her dead husband’s bible, prays and tries to live as a Christian in many a difficult situation. And although she has a grown up and important son – at least in his own estimation he’s important – she has also taken in a couple of dysfunctional youngsters who might otherwise fall through the cracks of society.

In FALSE REPORT she aims to clear the name of an eccentric little musician who has been falsely accused of murder. The girl concerned is also a victim, having been enticed into this country with a promise of marriage and then trafficked on into prostitution and into playing the temptress in the age-old Badger game. It takes a strong woman to sort that lot out, particularly when the players in the game come close to home.

Long live strong women.”–Veronica

Sounds like another winning mystery from Veronica.

I’m always interested in women in history who defied the conventions of their day and found a way to achieve their goals. Do you have a favorite heroine either in real history or in fictional story that did this? Who and how?

For more information about Veronica and her books, drop by:

http://www.veronicaheley.com/

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The Lady From Dry Creek Speaking to Family Heartache

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My guest today is my good friend Author Janet Tronstad of the Dry Creek series. If you haven’t read any of her books, you should! Fun and fast-paced and genuine. I love ficitonal Dry Creek, Montana! Today Janet tells us some about her characters and about her life. She also asks some poignant questions at the end that I hope you’ll comment about. Here’s Janet:

“Strong Mothers, Strong Sons

In my recent series, Return to Dry Creek, I tell the story of Gracie Stone and her three sons.  The series begins when Gracie returns to Dry Creek after serving a jail term for the murder of her abusive husband. Readers quickly learn in the series that Gracie did not kill her husband, but she believed one of her sons had done so.  She went to prison because she felt guilty for not taking her sons away from their father. She assumed that decision permitted the kind of violence that drove a young boy to murder.

This series has been so interesting for me to write because I know the difficulties that families can face. Verbal abuse, physical abuse – they are hard for children to understand.  And I had to think of how to show the grown sons processing their feelings about their father’s abuse as they, one by one, come home to work on the family ranch.

One way I showed their struggle throughout the four books was to have an ongoing task.  They needed to think of some words to put on a marker for their father’s grave.  One son wanted to only put the man’s name, the other wanted to disown the man through words, a third just wanted to say he wished things had been different.

I realized as the sons faced their dilemma that most of us need to find, at various times, words to describe a relationship that has been painful to us. Whether it’s a parent’s epitaph or something as simple as finding a birthday card for a sibling who is estranged from us.  It is all difficult.

I wouldn’t talk about this topic on all blogs, but I know Lyn specializes in strong women and coping with adversity is the first way we become strong

So I’ll be the first to raise my hand here and acknowledge that I have a brother who is not talking to me.  Every year I look for a birthday card that has words to suit our relationship.

I’ll wager that most people have a sibling, an old friend, an ex, or some person for whom they chose their words carefully (so as not to offend or seem naïve).  If you do, I’d love it if you’d share.

Also does anyone have some good tips on what to say when (like in these books) the abusive one is dead and the family still feels the need for an epitaph?

Does one just go with the truth or abstain from saying much? Any thoughts as to what the sons should say?”–Janet

A difficult problem, Janet. I faced a similar one when my mother began sinking into dementia and paranoia. What does one say to someone you love when they become irrational?

I hope you’ll take this opportunity to share how you have handled something like this. Perhaps you can help someone else. –Lyn

To find out more about Janet, drop by www.JanetTronstad.com

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Three Winners & The Lady from Dry Creek & The British Mystery Maven

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I have the pleasure of announcing the three winners of books from authors over the last two weeks!

Allie Pleiter offered a copy of FALLING FOR THE FIREMAN (great title BTW)

Julie Steele won the fireman! 🙂 I mean the book.

Ann H Gabhart shared about her latest book WORDS SPOKEN TRUE.

And her winner is Margie Mijares!

And third Elizabeth Goddard offered a copy of her Heartsong Presents SHELTERING HOPE.

Teri Metts won this book!

If you didn’t get a chance to read  these blogs, don’t cheat yourself! They were great guests.

Now this upcoming week, my two guest authors will be the two named in the title. Do you know who they might be? (And remember Agatha Christie is no longer able to visit blogs.)

Hope you enjoy this week’s guests!–Lyn

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Author Elizabeth Goddard & Sheltering Love

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Author Elizabeth Goddard is here to talk about her grandmother, Mimi. And she is offereing a signed copy of latest book Sheltering Love. Here’s Elizabeth:

“The last time I wrote a post for this blog, I had recently lost my maternal grandmother and I wrote about how strong she was. Well, guess what? Here I am again, and I’ve just lost a grandmother. This time, my paternal grandmother went to be with Jesus just a few weeks shy of her ninety-first birthday. This time last year, we gave her a special ninetieth celebration for her birthday.

My grandmother was as sharp at ninety as she’d been her entire life. How many ninety-year-olds do you know who enjoy connecting with people on Facebook, let alone have a Facebook page?

She had an uncanny zest for life which she conveyed until her last breath. She made plans for her future, even at ninety. I struggle to plan ahead for next week and I’m only in my forties.

Raising her four children and living her entire life in one little East Texas town, I can easily hear Mimi (as I called her) saying there’s no place like home.

Without realizing what I’d done, I created a sort of Wizard of Oz theme for my story, Sheltering Love. At least that’s what one editor told me. Alexa Westover went through some trauma in her childhood and she can’t wait to get as far away as she can from the place where she grew up. But her job sends her back to create a documentary and she has to face her past. She realizes that in leaving her home, she lost herself and who she really was. In coming back, she finds herself and she lets go of her Jimmy Choo’s—the shoes that kept her anchored to her new life because. . .there’s no place like home.”–Elizabeth

Here’s the blurb for Sheltering Love:

A scientist reveals his discoveries. . .unless his survival depends on hiding them.

Graeme has existed in a state of dread for far too long. Conducting research high in the crowns of ancient redwoods, he’s almost convinced that he’s not hiding like a coward from the demons of his past. That is, until the stunning Alexa discovers him and tips his world in the tree tops over. Then he’s torn between showing the world what he’s found. . . and disappearing altogether.

This is Alexa’s last chance to prove she’s capable of producing an award-winning documentary. But she never expected she’d have to return to the place she fled years ago. A place that still holds nightmares for her. When Graeme stands in the way of completing the documentary, Alexa wants to know why.

When their greatest fears collide in the heart of the wilderness, Alexa and Graeme both must learn to trust in the sovereignty of God’s plan, not only for the moment, but for the rest of their lives. Can they each bury the past long enough to nurture love?

To find Elizabeth Goddard on the web:

@bethgoddard on twitter

http://Facebook.com/elizabethgoddardauthor

http://Elizabethgoddard.com

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1295402.Elizabeth_Goddard

Well, Elizabeth, I don’t know if I should take offense at the idea that guesting on my blog might prove fatal to a loved one. I’m sure your grandmother is happy to in the Lord’s arms.

Now to be entered into a drawing for a copy of Sheltering Love, please leave a comment about this:

Shoes–do you love to shop for shoes? What Love Inspired author is known for her shoe collection? :-)–Lyn


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Author Ann H Gabhart & A Worthwhile Ride?

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My guest today is Author Ann H. Gabhart, who is offering an autographed copy of her latest book, Words Spoken True, and who often writes stories about Shakers. Today she will speak of love and….

A Worthwhile Ride

We’ve all heard that love makes the world go around. But Franklin P. Jones improved on Charles Dickens’ quote by saying, “Love isn’t what the world go ‘round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.” Most of us can agree with that. We want to love and be loved. Love makes life better.

Love can make the story better too. We embrace love stories. We sigh with contentment when the characters in the books we read find love. Even if the journey to love is difficult, maybe especially when the path to true love is strewn with obstacles, we want to feel as if love can conquer all. Lao Tzu says it like this. “Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage.”

That’s the kind of strength and courage I tried to give Adriane Darcy in Words Spoken True. I like strong female characters whether I’m writing their stories or reading their stories. And what can make a character stronger than fighting for love? Adriane Darcy lives in 1855 Louisville, a time when women didn’t have as many choices as they do in the modern days. Her father wants her to marry Stanley, the only son of a socially prominent man, but Adriane can’t bear the thought of what life will be like after she marries. Stanley will expect her to confine her writing to flowery bits of poetry or letters to friends. No more news stories. No rush to find the stories and get out the news. On top of that, she knows she will never really love Stanley. Not the way she has always hoped for love.

Then she meets Blake Garrett. While the attraction is immediate and mutual, Adriane knows her father will never accept him. Blake is the enemy, the editor of a competing paper that is threatening to woo readers away from her father’s paper and take over the position as top newspaper in Louisville. In one tragic, riot filled night, Adriane’s life is turned upside down, but love gives her the strength and courage to make the decisions she must.

This is the most romantic story I’ve written for a while. While my Shaker books do center around a romantic story, I have to sneak any romantic scenes in through a back door since the Shakers didn’t believe in romance. They thought all should live as brothers and sisters. Individual family love and love between a man and woman were forbidden. My other books are family stories with the love story only part of the whole. In Words Spoken True, the romance takes center stage and it’s my hope the quest for love makes the reading trip worthwhile.

You can keep up with what’s going on in my writing life on my website, www.annhgabhart.com; her blog, One Writer’s Journal, www.annhgabhart.blogspot.com; Facebook author page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ann-H-Gabhart/132862247566, or follow me on Twitter, user name @annhgabhart.”–Ann

Thanks, Ann. This sounds like a wonderful heartfelt romance. Here’s a question for readers to comment on:

Today parents rarely choose someone for us to marry, but did any of you find opposition to the one you chose to marry? How did you handle it? Or did your parents wholeheartedly approve?

Please leave a comment to be entered into the drawing for a copy of Words Spoken True.--Lyn

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Author Alllie Pleiter Shares You Never Know How Strong You Can Be…

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My guest today is Author Allie Pleiter, who has gone through a personal crisis over the past year. (BTW, she’s a knitter so she probably knit that scarf.) She is also offering a free copy of her latest Love Inspired Romance, Falling for the Fireman. Here’s Allie:

“You never know how strong you can be until strong is the only choice you have.”

This is a sign my heroine Jeannie Nelworth remembers from a hospital in FALLING FOR THE FIREMAN.  It’s also a real sign, taken from my own life.  This sign hangs in the Ronald McDonald House near the hospital where my son was treated for cancer.  The words have been so potent for me that I knew not only would I share them with Jeannie, but Jeannie would share them with the world.

Jeannie has been through a great deal, and life is about to hand her another enormous challenge.  She’s worried she can’t love her son through the emotional damage of the fire that took their home.   An eighth grade boy can only stand so much.



To purchase, click Falling for the Fireman (Love Inspired)

My family has been through a great deal, and my son’s cancer was life handing us a life-and-death challenge after two years of extended illness.  I was worried I couldn’t love my son through the medical and emotional challenges of cancer.  An eighth grade boy can only stand so much.

It’s true a writer writes the book she need to read, don’t you think?

Oprah always asks people “what do you know for sure?” This sign is one of those bone-deep “for sures” for me.  There are times in all our lives where strong is the only choice we have, and despite shaking in our shoes, we step up to the plate.  When strong is our only choice, the great blessing is that “God is our refuge and our strength.”

My son is healthy and strong, and I thank God every day for that blessing.  Jeannie’s son finds his healing too…but if I told you how, I’d spoil the book for you, wouldn’t I?”–Allie

Links:  “Ronald McDonald House” http://rmhc.org/

“Oprah” http://www.oprah.com/omagazine/What-I-Know-for-Sure-Oprah-Winfrey

Falling for the Firemam Back Cover Copy:

There’s something achingly familiar about the look in fire marshal Chad Owens’s eyes. Widowed mom Jeannie Nelworth knows firsthand what it is: loss, hurt and yes—bitterness. Ever since the fire that changed their lives, Jeannie’s young son has borne that same look, pushing everyone away. So she’s grateful when Chad tries to get through to the boy with the help of his trusty fire station dog.

But the man who’s all about safety and prevention keeps himself protected—from loving and losing again. Seems as if Jeannie will have to add his kind, guarded heart to her rebuilding efforts.

Author Bio: An avid knitter, coffee junkie, and devoted chocoholic, Allie Pleiter writes both fiction and non-fiction. The enthusiastic but slightly untidy mother of two, Allie spends her days writing books, buying yarn, and finding new ways to avoid housework. Allie hails from Connecticut, moved to the midwest to attend Northwestern University, and currently lives outside Chicago, Illinois. The “dare from a friend” to begin writing has produced two parenting books, fourteen novels, and various national speaking engagements on faith, women’s issues, and writing. Visit her website at www.alliepleiter.com or her knitting blog at www.DestiKNITions.blogspot.com

Allie, I’ve watched Oprah on and off but never heard her ask that. But the question certainly fits her and this situation.

Readers, remember to leave a comment to be entered in the drawing for Allie’s book. Have any of you found strength through crisis? Perhaps you’ll share a little in a comment. Or answer Oprah’s question: What do you know for sure?–Lyn

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2nd Fruit of the Spirit-The Joy of the Lord is My Strength?

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Last month I proposed discussing one fruit of the spirit each month. We discussed the 1st fruit of the spirit, love, last month & discussed the question, does love demand forgiveness. http://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/a-fruit-of-the-spirit/what-is-love ?

Now we approach the second fruit, joy.

I often hear discussions about how joy isn’t happiness so let’s not go over the well worked ground.

When I think of joy, the song I sang as a child plays in my mind. Do you remember singing: “The joy of the Lord is my strength”?

The video above is a different song than the one I sang as a child. Here are the first two verses of it:
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
The joy of the LORD is my strength
Oh, the joy of the LORD is my strength.

He gives me living water and I thrist no more
He gives me living water and I thrist no more
He gives me living water and I thrist no more
For the joy of the LORD is my strength”
(From http://gospelyrics.blogspot.com/2007/09/joy-of-lord-is-my-strength.html)

The scripture it’s taken from is Nehemiah 8: 9-10:

Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and teacher of the Law, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

10 Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

But what does that mean? What do you think “the joy of the Lord is your strength” means? Oh, and HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!

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Winner of Hometown Cinderella & Have You Seen this Video?

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Vera is the winner of Ruth Axtell Morren’s Hometown Cinderella. Thanks for everyone who left comments. You gave Ruth (& Missy Tippens) a warm welcome last week.

This Tuesday I’m going to post a question about the 2nd Fruit of the Spirit–joy. As you may recall, we discussed love and forgiveness. I hope you’ll stop by and give me your take on joy.

Finally, here’s something new from Love Inspired–Lyn

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Author Missy Tippens & Inspired by a Friend

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My guest today is Author Missy Tippens who shares about how she was Inspired by a Friend. Here’s Missy:

“Several years ago, I was shocked when, at a sports practice as we watched our kids play, a friend shared with me they thought her husband might have cancer. No way, I told her. He’s too young. They must be mistaken.

Soon after, the diagnosis was confirmed. And later, worse news…it had spread.

The next couple of years were awful for that poor family. But through it all, my friend had faith. She had strength that I knew came from God—and from her desire to be there for her two young children as their father battled cancer and ultimately died.

She inspired me with her grace, her quiet strength and her ability to keep going. She inspired me with her honesty and willingness to give God the credit for carrying her through times when she wasn’t sure she would make it.

So when I decided to write a new story about a secondary character from my earlier book, A Family for Faith—a story about a widow with four children, I decided to use my friend as a model.

In my new release from Love Inspired, A House Full of Hope, Hannah is struggling to provide for her children. She worries about spending time with each of them. She worries about providing a secure home. Though she struggles throughout the story, I tried to make sure she stayed strong and determined, leaning on God. Just like my friend. I also wanted the character to learn to forgive (another aspect of the story) and to trust God for the future.

Thanks to the inspiration of my friend, I think I was able to do that.

If my friend were to read this tribute, she either wouldn’t recognize herself or would try to deny being so strong. But I know with God’s help she has raised two wonderful children who are growing into the young adults God wants them to be. She’s stayed strong through her own battles with cancer and through other hardships and is moving on to make a happy life for herself and her family. She’ll always be an inspiration to me. “–Missy

Visit Missy at www.missytippens.com

www.lifewithmissy.blogspot.com

www.seekerville.blogspot.com

On Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/426209.Missy_Tippens

On Twitter: @MissyTippens

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/missy.tippens.readers

To see a Christian actually depend on God through a season of testing is an inspiration to us all. Thanks, Missy, for sharing this story. Have any of you watched a Christian bear up under great stress with grace?–Lyn

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Author Ruth Axtell Morren & The Heroine Named “Bitter”

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My guest today is Author Ruth Axtell Morren who writes for Love Inspired Historical and her latest book is Hometown Cinderella.

RUTH WILL BE GIVING ONE AWAY SO DON’T FORGET TO LEAVE A COMMENT!

Here’s Ruth on one of the Bible’s Cinderella stories:

“Naomi is an interesting figure in the Bible. She returns to her homeland embittered by what life has thrown her. Of course, in Biblical times, it was pretty tough to be widowed and to have lost both your grown sons. She was in effect with no means of support.

The heroine in my latest book, Hometown Cinderella, is a little like Naomi. I even named her Mara, which Naomi changed her name to when life soured. I chose the name Mara because I’ve always liked it, but it ended up being meaningful in the story, since the name means “bitterness.”

Mara returns home to a small Maine village after years away in Europe, living a life people would say was glamorous. The wife of a noted concert pianist, Mara would be the envy of many. What they don’t see are the internal scars she carries, from living with a self-centered, verbally abusive husband who drank and gambled all his money away. When he eventually dies of tuberculosis (the scourge of the nineteenth century), Mara is left penniless. But she has one immeasurable gift which the Biblical Naomi didn’t. Mara still has a son, though at six, he is too young to help her.

When Mara’s father dies, he leaves her half his house. Mara, too proud to return home before now, has no recourse but to come home and reside with a stepmother who made it clear to Mara when she was an adolescent that she wasn’t welcome in the household. But now, her father has passed away and left her half of his house. Mara has no recourse but to return to live with her stepmother.

The inner strength she shows and fortitude while living with her carping stepmother soon attract the attention and admiration of a neighboring farmer, Gideon Jakeman, though he would never presume to think himself good enough to court a lady like Mara.

I hope you, too, will come to admire Mara as a woman of strong inner strength.”–Ruth

For more info on Ruth & her books:

https://www.facebook.com/ruth.axtell.morren

http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1058551

http://www.ruthaxtellmorren.com

http://ruthaxtellmorren.blogspot.com

I had never considered that Ruth was a biblical Cinderella. Can you think of any other heroines in the Bible that were also Cinderella’s?–Lyn

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