Debut Author Spotlight ... Raquel Byrnes

A HEART FOR WRITING

by Raquel Byrnes

The Lord designed my heart to love writing. From my mother and father who fostered reading over television, to encouraging teachers, I grew up surrounded by people with a passion for the written word.

I’ve created stories for as far back I can remember. As a young child I’d draw out story scenes and act them out with my siblings and friends. One thing I do know is that they always had adventure and action in them.

A military brat, my family often moved every two years making me the perpetual new kid on the block. I was painfully shy and used stories I’d picked up from my many “hometowns” to break the ice. I shared tales from my years on Whidbey Island hunting for blue crabs on the stone shores and how I used to think Santa flew a helicopter because that is how he arrived for our Christmas party with my father’s Marine unit. Stories have always played a huge part of my life.

Throughout high school and college I continued to fill black and white composition books with whatever came to mind but it wasn’t until my husband encouraged me to take writing courses that I really fell in love with the craft. I dove in and found bliss. This was definitely my passion.

My husband and I felt led to homeschool our children and without understanding what the Lord was doing, I followed Him into the intimidating world of teaching. I loved it! Now, ten years later, my eldest is in high school and we are thriving in the homeschool lifestyle. An unexpected blessing was the time to write.

People often ask how I find the time to write with six children. Let me tell you, when we are all snuggling together on the couch reading, I get some great stuff written. Laptops are portable. Fencing lessons, swimming lessons, those hour-long wait times are golden writing opportunities. Have outline – will travel is my motto.

I began writing romantic suspense and found my calling. I love to create amazing stories of love and adventure with an edge-of-your-seat pace. This past year my Shades of Hope Series was picked up by White Rose Publishing. The first book in the series releases later this year. Purple Knot is a novel about a spunky private detective who teams up with her ex-fiancé to solve her best friend’s murder. It’s filled with Faith, Love and Adventure; the major ingredients in all of my stories.

I strive to create characters that highlight the trials and triumphs that we face in the real world. From helping a friend in a desperate situation to understanding the heartbreak of a child in foster care, I believe that inspirational fiction is a ministry. Sometimes taking a spiritual journey with a character you identify with can open up your eyes to the awesome generosity of the Lord.

PURPLE KNOT

by Raquel Byrnes

White Rose Publishing, June 2011
362 pages

A killer strikes.
A love rekindled.
A life-altering choice.

When her best friend is murdered, Reyna Cruz doesn't believe the police have the whole story. An investigator by trade, she has the talent to track Summer's killer, but when clues lead to a family connection and a vicious gang, she suddenly becomes the hunted. At the end of her rope, Reyna must decide to trust the God she believes abandoned her.

Wanting justice for his sister's murder, lawyer Jimmy Corbeau agrees to help Reyna-even though she's his ex-fiancé, and their break-up devastated him. Romance is reawakened, but so are memories of their tragic undoing. Jimmy must decide if he will fight for a future with Reyna or allow their past to derail the investigation and his second chance at love.

When the investigation goes awry and Summer's infant daughter is kidnapped, Reyna must put her life on the line. Will Jimmy and Reyna survive the desperate measures it takes to recover his niece, catch a killer, and secure a happily-ever-after for them all?

Raquel Byrnes lives in Southern, California with her husband of sixteen years and their six children. She considers inspirational fiction a wonderful way to minister to others. She writes romantic suspense with an edge-your-seat pace.

Visit her at www.raquelbyrnes.com or on her blog, Edge of Your Seat Romance, at http://www.nitewriter6.blogspot.com/.

Debut Author Spotlight ... Elizabeth Camden

A BUMPY, HUMBLING, AND EXHILARATING SLOG TOWARD PUBLICATION

by Elizabeth Camden

I daydreamed about my first manuscript for years before I got up the courage to start writing it. I put a lot of work into honing and polishing it to a diamond-bright shine. It was exactly the kind of novel I liked to read and I considered it to be a masterpiece. I sent it off to a handful of top agents and checked my mailbox daily, prepared to select from among the best who offered. When no offers came, I was stunned.

Was it possible my query was reviewed by a secretary? Or an intern too green to spot blazing talent? Or maybe you had to know someone to get your foot in the door. It wasn’t my writing that was holding me back, it was “the system.” To make a long story short….this kind of thinking went on for a couple of years.

After more rejections than I can count, I came to accept that these excuses were not getting me any closer to landing an agent. I swallowed hard, did a gut check, and started from scratch. I read voraciously. I read the classics, genre literature, memoirs, anything that exposed me to writing that was fresh, original, and sparkly. I also read dozens of books about the writing craft to learn the ropes and spot some of my problems.

And you know that manuscript I thought was a gleaming diamond? I realized it wasn’t that great. Not even worth revising. I ditched it, and when I completed a new manuscript there was a marked shift in the reactions I received from agents. My rejection notes got more flattering, but still no offer. Rewind and repeat this scenario for the next several manuscripts.

Then came phase three of my writing life. I was convinced I was awful. I was too blind to spot my problems and I needed to let go of this irrational dream to ever write a novel.

But the thing was, I liked writing. I liked everything about it and didn’t want to quit, even if no one ever read my work. That gave me the freedom to be a little more risky in the type of manuscript I submitted to agents. This was when I finally found my voice and things took off for me…. and it took off fast. I think it may have been a willingness to critically assess my work and take some strategic risks in stretching the genre that finally bumped me up to the next level.

The best advice I ever got was from a writer who told me to dump that first manuscript that wasn’t working and try something entirely different. Publishers don’t want to sign a writer with only one manuscript beneath their belt. They want someone who has a ton of stories ready to burst out and can reliably deliver a new novel year after year after year. The only way you know if you are up to the task is to complete those manuscripts. Set the ones that aren’t working aside and try something new. Be brave. Play with different styles, settings, maybe even genres. This is how you will find your voice. Good Luck!

My Stats:

• Manuscripts that will never see the light of day: Five
• Years from beginning to write until publication: Six
• Experience of seeing my first book in print: Priceless

THE LADY OF BOLTON HILL

Bethany House, June 2011
336 pages

Clara Endicott is beginning to make a name for herself as a journalist who is intent on exposing the dark side of industry. In the splendor of gilded age America, she soon finds herself face to face with the childhood sweetheart who is no longer the impoverished steel worker she once knew.

Daniel Tremain has risen to become a powerful industry giant. He always idolized Clara, but when she writes an exposé about his company, her words trigger a series of events that threaten to destroy them both.

A research librarian and associate professor, Elizabeth Camden has a master’s in history from the University of Virginia and a master’s in library science from Indiana University. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband in central Florida.

Elizabeth blogs at http://elizabethcamden.com/blog

Debut Author Spotlight ... Diane Moody

THE TEACHER, THE COUNSELOR, & A SERIOUS CASE OF HOT FLASHES

MY LONG JOURNEY TO PUBLICATION

By Diane Moody

My journey as an author came late in life. Years ago, I got a degree from college, got married, had a couple kids, they grew up, and I suddenly realized God surely had something more in store for me than just waiting around for grandkids.

Though there was that “a-ha” moment way back in high school when my Creative Writing teacher said something like "you have quite a gift." Really? Me? Gifted? For a freckle-faced redhead who'd never stood out in anything, I was thrilled.

So why did it take me so long to follow up on Mrs. Bullock's accolades? Self-confidence issues? Procrastination? Beats me. My forties were rather stormy (and who doesn't love menopausal hell?). I thought I was losing my mind. I started seeing a counselor who recommended I try my hand at writing again. “Therapeutic,” he advised. I followed his suggestion and watched a forgotten passion reignite into a full-blown dream. Who knew hot flashes could lead to a whole new career?

The result? My first novel, The Runaway Pastor's Wife. My husband had been in the ministry for fifteen years. Oh so therapeutic, that story. Then came Blue Christmas, a story that morphed out of my daughter's teen years and her boy band affections. Originally written as "fan fiction," when we posted the story online, it received more than 80,000 hits and stuffed more than a thousand fan letters in my email. We dropped the “boy band” for the novel version and created a more mainstream rock band. Just so you know. Watch for it this fall in time for Christmas.

I never dreamed I'd write non-fiction, but God apparently had other ideas. My first published book, Confessions of a Prayer Slacker, evolved out of a personal prayer journey God took me on, teaching me about the absolute joy of a disciplined, daily prayer time. Don’t Ever Look Down: Surviving Cancer Together came next—a book I co-authored with my good friends Dick & Debbie Church about their brave journey through Deb’s breast cancer.

I’m currently having a blast working on a new series, The Teacup Novellas. The first, Tea With Emma, is a loosely-written modern day version of Jane Austen’s Emma. Set in Austin, Texas, of course. Coming soon to a Kindle near you!

THE RUNAWAY PASTOR'S WIFE

OBT Bookz, March 2011
436 pages

What could possibly drive a pastor’s wife to run away from home? After years of frustration from life in a church fishbowl, Annie McGregor walks away from it all and boards a plane for Colorado. She has no way of knowing her college sweetheart is headed to the same cabin in the Rockies, terrified and gravely wounded. Their unexpected reunion couldn’t have come at a worse time. Or could it? Bewildered that God would allow Michael Dean to walk back into her life, Annie pleads with Him to keep her heart true to her husband and her family. God answers her prayer, but in a way she would never expect. Written by a former pastor’s wife, Annie’s story provides a rare look inside the family life of those in the ministry, particularly the unique pressures on those who marry men of God.

Born in Texas and raised in Oklahoma, Diane Moody writes both fiction and non-fiction. Her first book, Confessions of a Prayer Slacker, released from Journey Press in August 2010. Don’t Ever Look Down: Surviving Cancer Together, co-authored with friends Dick & Debbie Church, releases April 1, 2011, and her debut novel, The Runaway Pastor's Wife, released in March of 2011. A graduate of Oklahoma State University and a former pastor’s wife, she and husband Ken now live in the rolling hills just outside of Nashville. Celebrating over thirty years together, they are the proud parents of two grown and extraordinary children, Hannah and Ben. When she’s not reading or writing, Diane enjoys an eclectic taste in music, movies, great coffee, the company of good friends, and the adoration of a peculiar little puppy named Darby.
http://www.dianemoody.net/

Debut Author Spotlight ... JoAnn Durgin

THE STORY OF MY HEART

by JoAnn Durgin

Awakening is the story of my heart since it loosely parallels events in my life and is based on my love story with my husband, Jim (the inspiration for Sam Lewis to my Lexa Clarke, the core characters in my series). Awakening was also the last manuscript (after penning several stand alone novels) I wrote before putting my writing aside for a decade to raise our three children. When I unearthed it (literally from beneath the bed and blew off the dust bunnies) in late 2008, I only found half the story. When I read it with “fresh” eyes, I felt this was the story the Lord wanted me to pursue getting published. Jim and I prayed about it, and I knew He’d give the story back to me if it was His will. Not only did He give it back to me in a dramatic way, but the Lord confirmed it was the one. I hope you’ll read all about my writing journey on my website at http://www.joanndurgin.com./

Next, I tried getting an agent and captured the attention of one of the best – twice – with Awakening. He told me, “You’re good, you’re getting there, but work on it some more.” One night, I simply Googled “small Christian romance publishers.” I systematically went down the list until I found Torn Veil Books (Winnipeg, Canada). They were the first entity (agent, publisher or otherwise) to request the entire manuscript. I received my contract on May 1, 2010, and my book released in late November 2010. Although it didn’t happen overnight, it did happen. I still don’t have an agent, but the Lord always knows best, especially for one who’s patience-challenged like me. The Lord has been so gracious, and I am indeed blessed.

AWAKENING

Torn Veil Books, November 2010
262 pages

Lexa Clarke signs up for a short-term summer assignment in San Antonio with TeamWork Missions, hoping to make a difference in the world. TeamWork director Sam Lewis has a job to do and can’t afford to be distracted by the petite, feisty blonde. But when she tumbles into his arms from the top of a house they’re rebuilding, Sam suspects his life will never be the same. A God-fearing man. A God-seeking woman. A combustible combination.

JoAnn Durgin is a member of ACFW and its Indiana chapter. Awakening is her debut novel and the beginning of a series. She was a finalist in the long contemporary romance category of the 2010 RWA/FHL Touched by Love contest, and is a regular blog contributor with Hoosier Ink and Reflections in Hindsight. JoAnn is also an active member of the My Book Therapy Voices where she has either won or placed in four consecutive Flash Fiction contests. Above all, she loves to share the redeeming love of Christ through her stories.
http://www.joanndurgin.com/

Nick of Time

by Tim Downs

Thomas Nelson, 2011
336 pages

Page Turning Murder Mystery

As fiction readers, many of us know a fictional character or two we love seeing in action on an annual basis. After following their adventures for a few years, you feel you know the character intimately. Some of my personal favorites are Steven James' Patrick Bowers, Michael Connelly's Harry Bosch, William Kent Krueger's Corcoran O'Connor, and Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp. Each of these characters are highly defined. They have specific and unique traits, and they're all very human, not immune to mistakes, misjudgments, and failures.

One of my all-time favorite characters would be highly insulted if you called him human: Tim Downs' bug man, Nick Polchak. Nick is a forensic entomologist, which means he studies bugs on dead people. He finds bugs far more fascinating--and definitely more reliable--than the human species from which he likes to keep his distance.

But in Downs' latest, Nick of Time, things change. You see, Nick is engaged to be married (to another wonderfully quirky character, Alena) and his wedding is coming up within a week. Yet, even with his impending nuptials, Nick decides to attend an out-of-town meeting leaving Alena behind to finalize wedding plans.

The problem is, when he arrives at the meeting, his good friend, who would never miss the meeting, isn't there. Naturally, Nick has to go look for him. And finds him dead.

Now Nick completely disregards the fact that he's supposed to get married on Saturday and strikes out to find his friend's murderer. Add to that, Alena begins her own investigation as she searches for Nick, and you've got a page-turning mystery.

In Nick of Time, Polchak's sarcastic wit is back in full force. His dialogue is rife with tactless honesty and he says things that many of us probably want to say but are too nice. Even in the middle of a murder mystery I find myself chuckling out loud.

My one complaint about Downs' writing is that the dialogue sounds the same no matter who is speaking and each of his characters seem to have the same sardonic wit. If Downs could make his characters' voices unique and give them a disparate personality, his writing would greatly improve. But, I'm willing to forgive this one flaw since I enjoy Nick Polchak so much.

What I really liked in this book was seeing Nick "evolve" into a human. In a "lightbulb" moment, Nick finally realizes who is is ... and what he is not ...

And what is truly important in life.

The question is, does he realize that in the Nick of Time, or he is too late?

Tim Downs is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University. After graduation in 1976 he created a comic strip, Downstown, which was syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate until 1986. His cartooning has appeared in more than a hundred major newspapers worldwide.  His first book, a work of non-fiction, was awarded the Gold Medallion Award in 2000, and his third novel, PlagueMaker, was awarded the Christy Award for best CBA suspense novel of 2007. Tim lives in Cary, North Carolina, with his wife Joy.

Learn more about Tim Downs at http://www.timdowns.net/

Debut Author Spotlight ... Eddie Snipes

THE GRAVEL ROAD TO PUBLICATION

by Eddie Snipes

Writing may be a lonely endeavor, but publishing is a social world. I’ve been writing a long time, but have only been writing fiction for 2-3 years. To learn the craft of fiction, I read a dozen books on the craft and more than a hundred novels to get the feel for a good story. A bestselling author made the comment, “Everything I write is garbage. Then I have to shape it into something worth reading.”

I didn’t know it, but this would be a word of encouragement. It took three complete rewrites and countless revisions before my story would be worth publishing. I save every revision under a new file name. When victory was in sight, I named my file ‘final’. When I reached ‘final29’, I renamed it to something realistic. There are five-hundred revisions on my computer. Once I felt certain my work was nearly perfect, I had it edited. Almost every page bled with red marks. I wanted to toss my hands up and say, “I can’t do any better than this.” But I could. I had to. The truth is, bad writing is the gravel road everyone travels down to reach good writing.

My publishing journey was filled with inspiration, excitement, disappointment, and frustration. Writing is a great risk. My heart and soul is typed out on the page, and in order to succeed, I must present that work to those I know may reject it. Many will criticize it. But through perseverance, the lump of words shaped into something of value. When people began saying that they were moved by the characters and couldn’t put the book down, I breathed a sigh of relief, then felt encouraged. My efforts were not in vain. Each work is a long journey, but worth every frustrating minute.

I CALLED HIM DANCER
by Eddie Snipes

GES Book Publishing, April 2011
292 pages

For a moment, Michael danced on top of the world, but one bad choice turned his life upside down. The once promising Broadway star now washes windshields for tips and lives among the homeless. When his former dance partner recognizes him behind the fray of whiskers, shame drives him away from her. Angry at God and the world, the Dancer refuses to allow anyone into his life. When everything is stripped away, three things remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.

I Called Him Dancer is a story about how one woman's enduring faith and unconditional love drives her to reach out to a homeless man who has given up on life.

Eddie Snipes is president of the Christian Authors Guild (www.christianauthorsguild.org) and founder of Exchanged Life Discipleship (www.exchangedlife.com). His writing began as a ministry that produced Bible studies for a local prison. Over the last decade, he has written hundreds of studies and is a contributor to several online sites including OnePlace.com.

Eddie is a member of the Atlanta Writers Club, American Christian Fiction Writers, and the Christian Authors Guild. He has won five writing contests for flash fiction, short stories, and creative non-fiction.

In 2011 his first novel, I Called Him Dancer, was released. He has two other books in the process of being published. Watch for an upcoming release called Simple Faith.
http://www.eddiesnipes.com/

Debut Author Spotlight ... Julie Jarnagin

LEARNING TO LET GO

by Julie Jarnagin

I had strived for publication for years before I felt God calling me to stop writing and give my dreams to him. Stop writing? I couldn't fathom how I would let it go. After a few tears and a lot of questions about why God would ask me to let it go, I submitted to Him.

I was especially worried that my friends and family who had supported me on my journey would think I had given up. My need for approval was one reason my writing dream had become toxic. It was more about proving to everyone that I could do it than following God’s will for my life.

I had a single submission out to an editor, but I didn't give it much thought. I had truly handed it over to God, and He taught me so many lessons during that time.

About a year after I had surrendered my writing to God, I opened my inbox and there it was - an email from the editor with Barbour / Heartsong Presents asking if Canyon Walls was still available because she wanted to publish my book.

God had reopened the door for me to start writing again, and this time, I had a whole new outlook. Sometimes we cling to our dreams when we need to be clinging to the one who created them - God. Psalm 37:4 says, "Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart."

My writing journey taught me I had to put my life and my dreams in His hands, and I had to do that through actions, not through words or empty prayers. I'm so thankful for the journey.

CANYON WALLS
by Julie Jarnagin

Barbour / Heartsong Presents, April 2011
170 pages

Sunset Camp changed Cassie Langley’s life as a teen. A decade later she is the new director attempting to prevent the struggling Christian camp from closing. She is determined to show her overbearing mom, perfect sister, and nosey small-town residents she can do it on her own.

Charming Will Overman volunteers as a camp counselor, attracting Cassie’s attention–and her suspicions. Is he there to help the kids or scout out the camp as a possible development site for his family’s real estate business? With the camp in serious financial trouble, Cassie must fight her feelings for Will to protect the camp.

Julie Jarnagin grew up in a rural community where her family farmed and raised cattle, inspiring her to set much of her fiction in small towns. She earned a B.A. in Journalism/Professional Writing from the University of Oklahoma and is a member of America Christian Fiction Writers. Her articles have appeared in local and national publications. Through her writing, she hopes to share stories that reflect God’s love. She lives in Oklahoma with her husband and young son.
http://www.juliejarnagin.com/

Debut Author Spotlight ... Laura Hilton

A DREAM REALIZED

by Laura  Hilton

I’ve always dreamed of being a writer. I know I was “born” reading. I could read full-sized books in kindergarten. Unfortunately, I had a teacher who forced people to read “in their grade level” and she made me put older books back and pick out The Cat and the Hat and such. I was sooo happy when we were finally allowed to go into the rest of the library to pick out books. In third grade my teacher assigned a short story for us to write. I wrote and wrote and wrote. My story was not so short when I finished it! I’m sure it wasn’t worth reading, I was an eight or nine year old, but that fueled my love of writing.

I’d been married for a number of years and had three children when I decided it was time to get serious about my writing. I considered myself a good writer, and well, of course, publishers would be beating down doors to publish my books! I found a magazine in the library and read it and learned about American Christian Romance Writers and I joined at that point.

Well, I learned that publishers weren’t beating the doors down for my books! They sent form letter rejections. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with them—after all, my mother thought they were good. (Smile) But ACRW (now American Christian Fiction Writers) offered some writing classes and I think the best help, critique groups. I also discovered book reviewing which helped me study the craft, to see what worked and what didn’t.

I was able to find a great agent and she was really encouraging. My rejection letters turned from form letters to actual letters that explained why they were rejecting me…which I learned from. My agent said that is a good thing. And then she gently made a suggestion toward genre when my particular genre became unpopular. I considered it, knowing I have Amish blood in my ancestry and I love reading Amish stories, and I wrote a proposal—three chapters and a synopsis and short blurbs for two more books. Sent it off to my agent and didn’t think about it again until the phone rang. My agent said “I think its happening. These two publishers asked for the whole.” The next morning the phone rang again—my agent. “She said this other publisher asked for the whole, but Whitaker House offered a three book contract.” Okay, I was floored. But very blessed. God is good.

PATCHWORK DREAMS
by Laura V. Hilton

Whitaker House, April 2011
255 pages

Becky Troyer has committed the ultimate sin, and finds herself on the edge of her Amish community. Jacob Miller believes he was sent to the Old Order Community in Missouri to help out a distant cousin. Instead, he discovers he was part of an arranged swap--sending men from his Pennsylvania district to the Missouri district to bring new blood into the Amish community. Becky dreams of marriage, but doesn't dare hope that anyone would choose her--not with her history. Can God use the lies that have affected Becky and Jacob to bring them together? Or will Jacob rebel and head home to his first love?

Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and their five children make their home in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools her children. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Her publishing credits include Hot Chocolate and Shadows of the Past from Treble Heart Books; a devotional in a compilation from Zondervan; and the first book Patchwork Dreams in her Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House will be released in April 2011, the second book, A Harvest of Hearts in September 2011, and the third in April 2012. Laura has her business degree from Ozarka and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Laura is a professional book reviewer for the Christian market, with over a thousand book reviews published at various online review sites.

http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/

Debut Author Spotlight ... Tom Blubaugh

Inspired by Rock & Roll

by Tom Blubaugh

I started writing in the mid 1950’s when I was inspired by the introduction of rock & roll music. I started writing poems with the dream of them being converted to song lyrics and recorded. This never happened, but it introduced me to the world of writing. It wasn’t until 1971 that I started writing seriously.

My first published article was in a denominational magazine. In 1974 I self-published a book about the bus ministry. In the 1980’s I was published in an insurance publication.

All of my writing, until 2005, was nonfiction. This was when I started writing Night of the Cossack. I began with just a few facts about my maternal grandfather who died a year before I was born. I wrote mainly for myself, but later for my children and grandchildren.

A member of my family read my story and thought I should try to publish it. I joined a critique group and they agreed with my family member, so I then developed a website to try to make my name known. I placed a link to the first chapter on the home page. A person I knew asked me to help him develop a website for his new independent publishing company. I showed him my site—not to promote my book, but to show him some creative ideas. He went home and he and his wife read the first chapter. They asked me if they could read the whole manuscript and then asked me if I would allow them to publish the story—historical fiction. I agreed and it was released on April 5, 2011.

NIGHT OF THE COSSACK
by Tom Blubaugh

Bound by Faith Publishers, April 2011
256 pages

Night of the Cossack is a compelling adventure about a teenager who is forced to grow up quickly. The main character, Nathan Hertzfield faces many life or death situations during his saga.Join Nathan on his exhilarating journey through parts of Russia and Europe during the early 1900's. Don't miss the adventure and suspense in the riveting story.

Tom Blubaugh is a freelance writer. He has written nonfiction most of his adult life. He resides with his wife Barbara in Southwest Missouri where he is currently writing fiction. Tom and Barbara have six children and fourteen grandchildren. In addition to writing, Tom loves macro photography.
http://tomyblu.com/