SPIRE REVIEWS

2011 Novel Analysis

2012-01-24T09:59:00.002-06:00

I read 110 books in 2011. To some people, that may sound like a very large number, but compared to the 138 I read in 2010, it was a little disappointing. This year, though, I plan on scaling back my reading even more, aiming for more books that I know I'll love, and eliminating series' and authors that don't wow me.

Out of curiosity, I've analyzed those 110 books to see if there were any surprises, and to see where I need improvement.

Of the 110 read, I ranked (10) books as Favorites, (17) with 5*, and (24) with 4*. So (41) out of 110 read ranked 4* or above, a higher percentage than I anticipated. (Note: My 5* ranking means Exceptional, and a 4* ranking means Excellent.)

Of the ten book marked as favorites, (3) were contemporary, (2) mystery/suspense, (2) historical, and (3) speculative. Considering I only read (11) speculative, having (3) rank as favorites speaks well for the quality coming from spec authors.

I read the most books from Bethany House (13). B&H Publishing Group, Revell Books, and Tyndale House Publishers tied with (10). But, only (3) books from Bethany House merited a 4* or more, while B&H scored (7), Tyndale House (6), and Revell (4). I only read (3) books from Realms, but each of their novels ranked a 4* or higher and (2) were favorites. Faith Words scored 100%. I only read (2) of their novels, but both ranked 4*. Kregel Publications also scored 100% with a 5* and a 4*. With Multnomah, (2) out (3) books read ranked 4*.

I read the most contemporary (26), followed closely by mystery/suspense with (24), making nearly half of the books I read from those two categories. No surprise there. I don't anticipate that changing.

I read (10) books by debut authors, (2) of which I ranked as Favorite. Hopefully this year will bring the same success as I love endorsing and encouraging debut authors.

Judging by the above statistics, I'll pay closer attention to books coming out from B&H Publishing, Realms, Faith Words, Kregel, and Multnomah. Tyndale House and Zondervan also scored well.

The first bit of improvement I need to address is to add more non-fiction to my reading habits, having read only (3) last year. I've never cared for what I term Christian "self-help" books. To be honest, I learn more from fiction, which I frequently label "Applied Non-Fiction." I do need to read more books on the craft of writing. Several sit on my shelves, unread or half read.

I'm also committed to reading through the entire Bible this year again. It's been a few years since I've done so. I like to read different versions so I don't skim over the verses I know so well that their meaning becomes lost. This year I've chosen the NLT One Year Bible for Women. I'm loving the new perspective.

I'm curious, did any books surprise you last year? Has a genre surprised you with their quality? What do you anticipate reading this year?

Happy National Reading Day!

2012-01-23T08:51:00.001-06:00

I know this isn't my regular day to post, but I couldn't let National Reading Day pass without a quick mention.

I'm in the middle of Jerri Ledford's debut novel, Biloxi Sunrise, and don't want to put it down. It's a police procedural, suspense novel that truly has me spinning through the pages. I love her characters. You root for the deeply-drawn protagonists and her antagonist is chillingly evil. I'm thoroughly impressed with this novel.

If you're looking for an excellent read--and at an unreal price: just 99 cents--download Biloxi Sunrise. You won't be disappointed.

I'd love to know what you're reading today.

*~*~*

BILOXI SUNRISE
by Jerri Lynn Ledford
Deep South Press

He hadn’t protected them.

When Homicide Special Investigator Jack Roe’s daughter is killed in an auto accident and his wife dies from a drug overdose, he abandons a promising career as a Military Police Officer. If only he’d been there when they needed him, he could have saved them both.

He didn’t protect her.

Six years later, Jack is in Biloxi, Mississippi to be close to his sister and her daughter, Lisa. As long as he’s around, nothing can happen to them. But then he’s called to the hospital in the middle of the night and learns that Lisa has been abused by her mother’s boyfriend. Jack must confront old wounds that never healed, and a burning anger that’s been buried for far too long.

She can’t protect him.

The same night, a woman’s body turns up on the beach. A few days later, so does another one. Jack must deal with his past and his present while he and his partner, Kate Giveans, race to find a killer before another woman dies. But Kate harbors a secret that just might get Jack killed.

Jerri Ledford has been a freelance business technology writer for more than 13 years. During that time, over 700 of her articles, profiles, news stories and reports have appeared online and in print. Her publishing credits include: Intelligent Enterprise, Network World, Information Security Magazine, DCM Magazine, CRM Magazine, IT Manager's Journal.

She develops and teaches technology training courses for both consumer and business users including courses on security, customer service, career skills, and various technologies for companies such as: IBT Financial, Writer's Village University, You Don't Say, LLC., Hewlett Packard, Sony, Gateway, Forbes and CNET.

When she's not writing for a consumer audience, Jerri writes suspense fiction. Her first novel, Biloxi Sunrise, is now available.

www.BiloxiSunrise.com
www.JerriLedford.com
*Like* Jerri Ledford on Facebook

(In the interest of full-disclosure, Jerri Ledford is a friend and critique partner, but I wouldn't brag on this book if I didn't completely believe in it. As you know, I'm a picky reader and will not recommend a novel that is substandard.)

Novel Anticipation - January 2012

2012-01-17T01:00:00.000-06:00

My January book wish list is a bit light, but that's okay. The kids have had more days off of school than they've had on, plus I'd really like to complete my current work-in-progress by mid-February. So, that leaves little time for reading.

That said, a couple of my favorite authors release novels this month: Chris Fabry and Dale Cramer. If you enjoy stories told with a lyrical quality, ones that bend toward literary writing, then I highly recommend by Fabry and Cramer. Both authors also know how to knit stories that speak to the heart.

Now, admittedly, I don't read Amish novels, but Cramer comes from a different angle. His Levi's Will is a phenomenal book. So, even if you're not an Amish reader, I'd recommend giving The Captive Heart a try.

NOT IN THE HEART

by Chris Fabry

TrumanWiley used to report news stories from around the world, but now the mosttroubling headlines are his own. He's out of work, out of touch with hisfamily, out of his home. But nothing dogs him more than his son's failingheart.

With mounting hospital bills and Truman'spenchant for gambling his savings, the situation seems hopeless . . . until hisestranged wife throws him a lifeline-the chance to write the story of a deathrow inmate, a man convicted of murder who wants to donate his heart to Truman'sson.

As the execution clock ticks down, Trumanuncovers disturbing evidence that points to a different killer. For his son tolive, must an innocent man die? Truman's investigation draws him down a paththat will change his life, his family, and the destinies of two men forever.

THE CAPTIVE HEART

The Daughters of Caleb Bender Series #2

by DaleCramer

Bandit troubles intensifyas Caleb Bender's family tries to settle into their new life in 1920s ParadiseValley.

When El Pantera kidnaps Rachel and leaves her brother, Aaron, for dead,Jake Weaver and the Mexican native Domingo pursue the bandit leader to hismountain stronghold in a hopeless rescue attempt. Jake and Domingo manage toescape with Rachel, with the bandits hot on their trail.

In a desperate attemptto avoid recapture, Domingo puts himself squarely in harm's way, giving Jakeand Rachel time to get away. This is not the quiet life Caleb Bender envisionedwhen he led his family out of Ohio.

What is a father to make of his daughter'sobvious affection for a man outside the fold? And how will a pacifist Amishmanlike Caleb respond to the events that threaten his family and their way of life?

The End of the Debut Novels Page

2012-01-10T01:00:00.000-06:00

Over this past year I've really enjoyed maintaining the Debut Novels page on Spire Reviews. I met so many wonderful authors, and I loved hearing about each of their journeys, all of which were inspiring.

One thing that truly amazed me was the high number of inspirational authors/novels debuting in a single year. I listed 54 on this page and I know I missed some. I've read several of the books, and many more sit in my to-be-read file on my Kindle. Two of these novels were awarded Favorite status from me (Words by Ginny Yttrup and The Resurrection by Mike Duran)--not an easy achievement for any book, as I'm very picky, let alone a novel written by a debut author.

I wish to thank all the authors who gave time and shared a piece of their heart with Spire Reviews. I loved getting to know you. Your Publication Journeys compel me to persevere. It was a privilege working with you!

That being said, I have decided not to continue the Debut Novel page into 2012. The research, while rewarding, can be very time-consuming and, at times, frustrating, so I've decided my time is better spent writing.

That does not mean the end of Spire Reviews, though. I plan on posting regularly, likely Tuesday of every week, so I'd love it if you would stop by and visit. I love talking books, especially those that stand above the rest.

I'm even open for suggestions if you've read a novel from a Christian worldview that you believe needs to be highlighted. It does not have to be published for the CBA market. City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell, the recent winner of an INSPY, is an excellent example. Send me your suggestions and, if I also find the book to be exceptional, I'll spotlight it.

I look forward to our future conversations.

Brenda

The Best of 2011 - Favorite Fiction

2012-01-03T01:00:00.000-06:00

It's always fun looking back over the year at the books I've read. Out of 110 completed, I marked ten as favorites, ten that have found permanent residence on my bookshelves, ten I would recommend to others. It's even a fairly diverse grouping. Three of the novels are contemporary, three are speculative, two suspense, and two historical.

If you're a picky reader looking for quality fiction, here are my favorites in no particular order:

Words by Ginny Yttrup
B&H Books 2011

The Resurrection by Mike Duran
Realms 2011

Nick of Time by Tim Downs
Thomas Nelson 2011

Darkness Follows by Mike Dellosso
Realms 2011

Desert Gift by Sally John
Tyndale House 2011

Vigilante by Robin Parrish
Bethany House 2011

The Colonel's Lady by Laura Frantz
Revell 2011

The First Gardener
by Denise Hildreth Jones
Tyndale House 2011

The Queen by Steven James
Revell 2011

City of Tranquil Light
by Bo Caldwell
Henry Hold & Company 2010

Debut Author Spotlight ... Carey Jane Clark

2011-12-22T01:00:00.000-06:00

A SEVEN-YEAR OVERNIGHT SUCCESS

by Carey Jane Clark

I have wanted to be a writeralmost as long as I can remember—since I first read Anne of Green Gables. But, although I won some writing awards in high school and continued to enjoyfiction, I never really found time to give to writing until I was in college.

As part of an assignment for one of the courses I took as part of my degree inEnglish literature, I wrote the beginning of a novel. It was a speculativefiction. When the first three chapters were complete and the rest outlined, I submittedto a publisher. I had no idea at the time that you were supposed to have amanuscript finished before you sent it to a publisher. The editor sent back aletter saying the novel wasn’t suitable for that publishing house, but gave methe name and the direct line to another editor at another press. I made it asfar as calling that number and when a voice answered on the other line, I hungup. I never called again.

I knew in my heart I wasn’treally ready—that I hadn’t learned the craft of writing well enough to finishthe novel I was writing and to do it well. And, at that time, I didn’t knowwhere to turn to learn more.

Ten years later, my son was born.I made the decision to stay at home with him, and it felt like a new beginning.I decided to take a writing course from Writer’s Digest online. The instructorand students in that course were very encouraging, and I subsequently enrolledin another course focusing on the novel. I had begun working on After the Snow Falls when I attended asmall writer’s conference and met authors Cec Murphey and Randy Ingermanson.

I learned so much from thatconference, and took notes that I continued to refer to for months afterward. Icame home and started all over again with my novel. The things I learned at theconference made it clear to me that what I had written to that point weren’tmaking good use of conflict. I persevered through that draft. It was better,but I still wasn’t happy with the results. The climax fell flat.

After taking some time to analyzethe story as I’d written it, I decided it needed another complete rewrite. Atthat point, the story was written entirely from the perspective of Celia (themain character). I realized that there wasn’t enough invested in the characterof Alfie (her father) for the reader to care about him. I rewrote the story inalternating viewpoints, as it is now. There was one further rewrite, when Ichanged the portions written in Celia’s viewpoint from first person to thirdperson. I was almost finished writing when we decided to move to China.

During the two years we spent inChina, we were really busy learning the language and settling into life in adifferent country and culture. I didn’t do much writing at all during thatperiod. When we returned home I determined to finish, which I did just prior toattending another writer’s conference this past summer. I received a lot ofpositive feedback about my manuscript and met a lot of wonderful writerfriends. One of those friends was Karen Anna Vogel, fellow writer at TrestlePress, and author of the best-selling Amish Knitting Circle series. Sheintroduced me to Giovanni Gelati of Trestle Press, and very soon after that, After the Snow Falls was published.

So, my journey to publication isreally a story of a seven-year overnight success. When I began writing, mychildren were small, and now my oldest son is the same age as Caleb, Celia’sson in my novel. But I cut my writing teeth on this story, and I’m humbled by thepositive reviews that After the SnowFalls has received since its release December 15^th.

Afterthe Snow Falls

byCarey Jane Clark

TrestlePress, 2011

In the middle of a soccer drill, in an awful,awkward moment, Celia Bennett's eight-year-old son Caleb lands on his face andchest in the grass. The diagnosis blindsides her, bringing her face-to-facewith every parent's worst nightmare.

Desperate to save her son’s life, Celia pursues acure through alternative medicine, but her quest ends in frustration anddisappointment. Facing despair, hope walks in on the most unlikely set of legs,when her father returns after a 30-year absence. Can she release pain toembrace hope? Will it make a difference, or is it too late?

Trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=53xOcF0u1c8

CareyJane Clark writes to instill courage, hope andconviction in her readers. She is a homeschool mother by day, writer by night.The writing bug afflicted her early in life. She has been writing in one formor another for more than twenty years. Afterthe Snow Falls is her first novel.

Carey shares the adventure of her life with her husband Brian and threechildren, whom she homeschools. She blogs at www.careyjaneclark.com/enCouragement . You canfind out more about her novel at www.afterthesnowfalls.com.

What People areSaying

Carey'swriting has been compared to that of Karen Kingsbury and Jodi Picoult.

"Her picturesque prose and compellingcharacters make After the Snow Falls a riveting story, one that will remainwith readers long after...the final page." - Kathi Macias, author DeliverMe From Evil

Available for $4.99 from Trestle Press via: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Smashwords
ISBN: 978-1-4524-6857-0

2011 INSPY Award Winners

2011-12-12T22:50:00.000-06:00

I was privileged this year to be a judge for the 2011 INSPY Awards in the General Fiction category. I never imagined what a difficult job it would be as all the novels merited praise.

One thing I really appreciate about the INSPYs is that they pull nominees from outside the normal Christian literature box, drawing them from the general market as well. It proves that faith-driven literature can reach beyond the Christian market. The winner of the General Fiction category, City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell, is firm proof of that. It's a book I would recommend to anyone, Christian or not. I'm certain the winners (and nominees) in the other categories share the same outreach.

So, congratulations, INSPY Award Winners, on your well-deserved victory! And thank you, INSPY Awards, for introducing all these great books to us.

Creative Nonfiction: Passport Through Darkness by Kimberly L. Smith (David C. Cook, January 2011)

General Fiction: City of Tranquil Light by Bo Caldwell (Henry Holt & Co, September 2010)

Literature for Young People: Saint Training by Elizabeth Fixmer (Zondervan, 2010)

Mystery/Thriller: The Bishop by Steven James (Revell, July 2010)

Romance: Yesterday's Tomorrow by Cathy West (OakTara, March 2011)

Speculative Fiction: The Falling Away by T.L. Hines (Thomas Nelson, September 2010)

Debut Author Spotlight ... Ryan Grabow

2011-12-06T01:00:00.000-06:00

WRITE A NOVEL? ARE YOU KIDDING?

by Ryan Grabow

If you'd told me tenyears ago that I would write a novel, I'd have known you were kidding. I wasn'tin college as an English major and avoided taking writing classes my degreedidn't require. Regardless, there was an assignment I enjoyed: The New YorkTrilogy by Paul Auster. I didn't know exactly why, just that it messed with myhead and defied my expectations. I had other assignments to deal with and theNew York Trilogy was forgotten, but I now realize it was the first book thatmade me feel like writing.

I wouldn't become abibliophile for more than five years. After a childhood full of Star Trek,Stargate, and Sliders, I would discover anime and it would expand my tastesbeyond sci-fi into fantasy. As with books, it was the deeper stories whichdefied my expectations that held my attention. Finally came the spark that gotme fully into reading: Dragons, of all things. Ads for the movie Eragon wereshowing everywhere and I realized that every time something dragon-related cameout, my eye had been drawn to it. I prayerfully set out to understand why. Theitch for writing soon returned.

Metafiction would bethe bridge, taking me back from straight fantasy to the deep and mind-bending.An analysis of fiction within fictional framework. The question "why aredragon characters interesting?" set off a room full of dominoes, spreadingfrom fantasy to spec-fic in general. The resulting favorites list wasdisappointingly un-Christian, however, the works lukewarm or hostile to faith.My attempt to correct this trend only seemed to draw from an empty well. Itoccurred to me that I found a gap the Lord was leading me to fill.

I can only give Godcredit here, because the malvirai-seeking-Him idea came out of the clear bluesky. The seed that would become my first novel sprouted quickly. A year after Istarted, the book was typed and its gaps filled in. Then began the typos andtest readers. By early 2009, I was confident enough to start querying agents.

Major publisherswanted me to go through agents and the list of (reputable) agents who representChristian sci-fi turned out to be extremely short. When their responses alsoended up being short I was left wondering where else to go. I didn't want someDarwinist coming up with the idea and planting the "FIRST!" flag onit (Their author yawns. "Oh look, we have so many."). If nothingelse, I knew my story was original: a black eye to those who say Christians canonly rip off the ideas of others.

With the Internet anda growing number of e-book readers, I knew I could make my appeal to thereaders themselves and roll a little popularity into future queries. I releasedCaffeine under a Creative Commons license (as far as I know, the firstChristian novel under CC), which allowed the e-book to be shared by anyone aslong as it was free and unaltered. As downloads zoomed into the thousands, Iqueried a more inclusive list: including secular agents, especially thosewho've handled CC-licensed work. Still no dice.

As timing would haveit, I'd received an invitation to enter Marcher Lord Press's Premise Contestthe week after Caffeine went up. I had submitted to them months earlier andloved the contest idea. Caffeine ended up being a finalist and Grace Bridgestook notice. Here was my introduction to Splashdown Books and a community ofChristian writers.

More editing. Thepermanence of the 2009 release imposed a few limits, but 2011's manuscript wasa solid improvement on it. God has blessed this offering (from a non-writerlike me) and I know He will continue to bless it. I plan to write a filmtreatment to see if it can get a special effects budget and make it to the bigscreen. Exciting times.

Work has begun on mysecond novel, which is independent of Caffeine. I'm not ruling out shortstories or serial-type works, but for the moment my interest remains firmly instand-alone novels.

CAFFEINE

by Ryan Grabow

Splashdown Books, November 2011

Brandon Dauphin feelslike a dying ember. He’s jobless and feels worthless, and falling in love hasonly made his problem worse. In an authoritarian and over stimulated22nd-century America, all he can do to relieve his pain is indulge in thecomputer-simulated fantasies of a network called Dynamic Reality, until a virustakes control of the simulation. Unable to return to the real world, Brandonfinds that the virus shares his questions about existence, and that she will stopat nothing for her answers.

Ryan Grabow graduated from Long Island University in2004, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Electronic Media, and currently works intelevision production in Fort Myers, Florida. Caffeine is his first novel, combining his Christian faith withobservations on how communications technology has impacted the reality of ourlives, and drawing from his experience as a webmaster, programmer, andspiritual geek as points of speculation.

www.egrabow.com

Links for Caffeine:
Official page: http://www.egrabow.com/caffeine

Splashdown page: http://www.splashdownbooks.com/science-fiction/caffeine

Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/DoomIsALie

Debut Author Spotlight ... Michael Berrier

2011-12-01T03:00:00.000-06:00

FROM JUNIOR WALTER MITTY TO PUBLISHED!

by Michael Berrier

My dreams at first had nothing to do with writing books. Iwanted to be a secret agent making the world safe for democracy. Or a cowboyintent on living a quiet life on the range, roped into a struggle againstoutlaws or greedy ranchers. Or a downed fighter pilot in enemy territory.

You get the picture.Like a lot of other kids, I was a daydreamer. A junior Walter Mitty, for youfilm buffs. If other kids wanted to be outside running around tackling oneanother, maybe I’d join them, but while I did I was imagining what might happenbetween tackles.

By the time I got to college, I’d written up a few of mydaydreams. At USC I met my first real live author (T.C. Boyle), and after working with him fora few semesters I was pretty sure I knew what I wanted my life’s work to be. Andfor me, the path would be easy. It would go like this: I would write a novel,send it off to universal acclaim as a work of poetic genius, and then I would settleinto a quiet life of luxury, fame, and the rewarding toil of the world of letters—inthat order.

As you can see, the junior Walter Mitty lived on.

What actually happened was, I finished my first novel beforegraduating from college (check), and sent it off (check), and nothing came ofit (no check!). Since I needed a check from someone, I interviewed for a bank jobcalled “technical writer” and was hired to write policies, procedures, andofficial memoranda. As enthralling as that work was, the career path was goingto peter out quickly, so I entered the bank’s management training program and emergedeighteen months later as a banker ready to take my spot in the great machine ofAmerican capitalism. Also working that machine in Beverly Hills was my dreamgirl, and a few years later I married her, so life was good.

I didn’t start writing again until the recession of theearly ’90s, when Citibank decided I wasn’t needed by their Private Bank anymore.I had some time before my money ran out so I wrote another novel. I’d read alot of them since college, so surely this one would do the trick. I checked theboxes of finishing the manuscript and sending it off, but again, nothing cameof it (no check!). Since our family now included a newborn who was probablygoing to need braces if his screaming mouth ever sprouted teeth, I interviewedfor another banking job and set aside writing again. When my son was old enoughto like stories, I wrote a few for him and his friends and got good reviewsfrom the honest little listeners, so the old dream of being a novelist came onagain.

I began working on a series of novels for kids and attendedmy first MountHermon Christian Writers Conference in the early 2000s. There I learnedthat getting published involved more than sitting at your desk picking theright verbs. You had to actually talk to people. You had to find out about themarket. You had to know who published what, how editors wanted to be approachedif you could approach them at all, and what they were looking for in a writer.And it didn’t hurt if you weren’t completely wrapped up in yourself and yourown fame and fortune.

Imagine my surprise.

Over the years attending the annual conference at MountHermon I moved on from children’s stories into novels for grown-ups—suspense. Imade friends at the conferences, cheered them on and was more delighted bytheir success than I ever imagined I could be. I also paid close attention to theteachers and did everything I could to grow as a writer. James Scott Bell was on faculty, and Randy Ingermanson, Angela Hunt, and Brandilyn Collins. Rounding out thefaculty were editors representing publishing houses that might consider puttingmy words into print. To get to these editors at the conference you didn’t haveto go through a gatekeeper and your manuscript didn’t have to rise to the topof a slush pile. You could sit at a table and break bread with them, look themin the eye if you dared, and sometimes… most of the time… they would come rightout and—get this—ask you about your writing. And they expected an answer!

But it wasn’t a conversation at a table in the dining hall atMount Hermon where I got together with Tyndale House. Here’s whathappened. A good friend I met at Mount Hermon is author Shawn Grady. Shawn and Kathryn Cushman and I had beensharing drafts of our work for a few years, and when Shawn read the firstchapters of my Cash Burn manuscript he got the wild idea of sending it to hisagent without telling me. He didn’t even tell me afterward until he heard fromher that she was interested in reading more. Then he fessed up to what he’ddone and asked if I wanted to be introduced to Janet Grant.

From Mount Hermon I had a sense for Janet’s reputation. Icouldn’t answer Shawn’s e-mail fast enough with a yes. The only problem was, Ihadn’t finished the Cash Burn manuscript. I sent Janet as much as I had, and sheresponded that she liked what she read but needed to see the complete manuscriptbefore she could sign me as a client.

It took me a few months to check the box of completing and polishingthe manuscript. Janet liked the way I ended the story, and soon I was the newestclient of the Books & Such LiteraryAgency.

Another surprise e-mail came out of the blue this year.Janet informed me that Tyndale House was looking for new authors to publishelectronically, and the editor at Tyndale, Jan Stob, wanted to launch Cash Burnas an e-book. This would bypass the typical delays of print runs and acceleratethe launch process. CashBurn could be released in only about 90 days with theendorsement of a venerable publisher, versus a launch date more like eighteenmonths out for a book released through the typical paper & ink process.

So suddenly, thirty years after completion of my firstnovel, I had a contract.

I’ll wrap this up with something I heard Ted Dekker say atthe first writers’ conference I attended. It kept me going many times. I hopeit strikes a chord with someone who has the calling to write, and inspires themto keep writing:

“Writers don’t fail, they quit.”

CASH BURN
by Michael Berrier
Tyndale House, June 2011
eBook

Billions of dollars flow through Jason Dunn’s banking office each year. When he suffers a series of career setbacks and his marriage begins to crumble, he and his attractive new assistant devise a plan to disappear with a slice of the bank’s cash flow. The unwelcome appearance of his brother on the scene, just released from prison, threatens to sidetrack Jason’s plans. But Jason’s brother “Flip” has his own problems with a parole officer who isn’t fooled by this dangerous parolee. In the race to the jackpot between Jason and Flip, and the unwinding of their troubled history, the question soon becomes, Who will get burned?

Michael Berrier is a novelist and businessman with a specialinterest in ethical capitalism. To learn more about him, visit his website andblog here.

Christmas List for Readers

2011-11-22T03:00:00.000-06:00

Okay, I'll admit it: I'm one of the crazies who hits the stores the day after Thanksgiving. (No, not Walmart. I'm not THAT crazy.) But for me, this day is about so much more than shopping. it's about spending memorable times with family. You see, I get to spend the day with my mom, sisters, sisters-in-law, and now our daughters.

We're usually at the mall by six a.m. At that time, it's pretty quiet yet. We shop for three to four hours then go out to eat where we often laugh ourselves to tears. I'm so blessed to have this close family. I can't wait till this Friday!

Of course one of those stores I'll be shopping in is the local bookstore. Needless to say, I love giving books! ... If you love to give books too, I have a few suggestions, some of my top reads of this past year.

Contemporary:

DESERT GIFT
by Sally John

WORDS
by Ginny L. Yttrup

BREATH OF LIFE
by Nicole Petrino-Salter

Romance:

A GREAT CATCH
by Lorna Seilstad

THE COLONEL'S LADY
by Laura Frantz

RODEO DUST
by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Literary:

BENEATH THE NIGHT TREE
by Nicole Baart

THE FIRST GARDENER
by Denise Hildreth Jones

THE OPPOSITE OF ART
by Athol Dickson

Speculative:

THE RESURRECTION
by Mike Duran

VIGILANTE
by Robin Parrish

DARKNESS FOLLOWS
by Mike Dellosso

Suspense:

NICK OF TIME
by Tim Downs

THE QUEEN
by Steven James

BILOXI SUNRISE
by Jerri Lynn Ledford

Biblical Fiction:

DAY OF WAR
by Cliff Graham

Happy Shopping & Happy Reading Everyone!

Preaching to the Choir

2011-11-15T03:00:00.000-06:00

When a book or movie is labeled as "Preaching to the choir" we all know that's not a compliment. My question is, Why Not?

I've been a member of "the choir" since grade school and, frankly, I need to hear the preacher's message too. Sometimes I need that message drummed home. I don't want it hidden among metaphor. I don't want the preacher to hold back out of fear of turning someone off. He needs to proclaim his message truthfully and loudly. Unashamed.

Just like sometimes, I need to read that preachy book. I need to have the message broadcasted billboard-like across its pages.

The success of the recent movie release, Courageous, is proof that I'm not the only one who doesn't mind preachy. That movie defines message media. The sermon is blatant and unapologetic.

And viewers love it.

A recent look at Rotten Tomatoes shows a 37% reviewer approval on its Tomatometer, yet 94% of viewers liked it. After six weeks in theaters, Courageous ranked #12 in its weekly gross (per Box Office Mojo), amazing for a movie that shows in 2/3 fewer theaters than wide releases.

I've seen it twice. Once as a pre-screening with my teenage son and two friends who DO NOT go to "religious" movies. They liked it. I saw it with my husband, son, and daughter later. My husband will deny it, but he shed a few tears as he held our teen daughter close. Yeah, the acting isn't the greatest, and some of the dialogue is stilted, but that didn't take away from the story or the message--a message that is drastically needed today.

I know this is just one example, but in my opinion, sometimes a sermon mixed in our stories is exactly what we want.

What do you think about preachy books? Movies? Can you think of any overtly sermonizing novels/movies you would recommend? Or that you can't stand? Why?

Author Spotlight ... Shannon Taylor Vannatter

2011-11-10T03:01:00.000-06:00

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

In 1999, I decided to write abook, so I just did. Afterward, my local librarian steered me toward a marketguide. From there, I learned how to write queries and proposals--well, I thoughtI’d learned. I’m certain it gave at least fifty-two editors a good laugh.

But, I got two rejection letterswith handwritten notes saying I had a great plot, I just needed to attendconferences and learn to write. Learn to write? Why attend conferences when Ican just write? So, I wrote two more books and actually got one Print on Demandpublished.

I thought I had made it. And inall honesty, I finally attended my first conference so I could be a big dog. Abig published dog. And sure enough, I was a big dog. No one else at theconference was published, other than the speakers.

I was queen for a day and to topit off, the conference hosted several contests for essays and short stories. Iwon two first place awards. Oh, I’m telling you, I had arrived and was certainpublishers would fight over my books.

After the book came out, realitysank in. Bookstores didn’t buy my 171 page, $21.95 paperback book. I had to pay$15.95 for each copy and since I’d just had a baby and quit my job to be astay-at-home-mom, I couldn’t afford many copies. So, I sold a rousing 178copies of my very badly written, unedited book. With those rousing numbers, thepublisher rejected my sequel even though the book had a cliff-hanger ending.

About that time, myhusband/preacher decided to do something shifty. He only does shifty things forme, mind you. He went to a bookstore, which of course did not carry my book, andordered it. The shifty part: he had no intention of buying it. Knowing the bookwould eventually be put on the shelf, he hoped eventually somebody would shellout big bucks to buy it.

But my book wasn’t even in theirsystem. However, the clerk told him they had another title by that author. Huh?

This is how we found out thatanother Print on Demand company had published the first very badly written bookI ever wrote. We got a lawyer, who mentioned plagiarism and big money. But Ididn’t want big money, I just wanted the publisher to stop publishing my bookand pay me the piddly royalties he owed me from the piddly three books he sold.

The lawyer sent the publisher acease and desist letter: requesting he stop publishing my book and pay me mycut. It got really ugly with the publisher, who sent me a really nasty,un-Christian-like e-mail, swore he didn’t publish the book, and finallyadmitted, “It accidentally got loose in his system.” Huh?

I never did get my royalties,but the book is out of print, unless Amazon digs it up for the Kindle.

Finally, I decided all of thiswas getting me nowhere fast. Maybe joining a writers’ group, attending moreconferences, and learning to write might not be such a bad idea.

Through local groups andconferences, I learned the basics. Finally in 2005, I discovered American Christian Fiction Writers. The first time I attended the conference, I learned that Iknew nothing about publishable writing. ACFW took me to the next level and I’veattended every year since, but didn’t join until 2008.

Once I finally joined, I alsojoined a critique group, which took me to the next level.

It was somewhere along thatpoint when I began entering Romance Writers of America National contests andACFW’s Genesis. In all, I entered five contests and placed second in two RWA’s.One second place finalist even went to a big-time editor, who said I’d startedthe story in the wrong place.

The feedback I received from thejudges in these contests was invaluable. And though I can’t say that a contestgot me published, I can say the judge’s comments got me to the next level andpublishers really started to take notice after my two second place wins.

In 2008, I attended the ACFW conference inMinneapolis where Heartsong Presents acquisitions editor JoAnne Simmons' eyes lit up over my story.

A mere three years later, whichseems like at least ten, my fourth book, Rodeo Dust just released throughHeartsong Presents.

What's next? Rodeo Hero, thesecond book in my Texasrodeo series releases in March 2012. I'm currently working on book 3, RodeoAshes set to release in June 2012.

RODEO DUST

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Heartsong Presents,October 2011

Soon the city girl is on theride of her life, until the rodeo unearths buried memories from her past. Claysees her through the trauma, but an injury and his stubborn determination toget back in the hypothetical saddle threatens their budding relationship. Canthey rely on God to find their common ground or will they draw a line in therodeo dust that neither will cross?

Central Arkansas author, Shannon TaylorVannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife. Her debut novel, White Roses won the 2011 Inspirational Readers Choice Award in the short contemporarycategory. The 18^thAnnual Heartsong Awards named Vannatter 3rd Favorite New Author. At the same awards White Roses was voted #1 and White Doves #8 in the contemporarycategory. TheArkansas Democrat Three Rivers Edition voted Vannatter one of 20 to Watch in 2011.

She has taught fiction workshops at TheAmerican Christian Fiction Writers Conference in St. Louis, MO, Life PressChristian Writers Conference in Memphis, TN, and Ozark Romance Authors Conferencein Springfield, MO plus a ten session writing class as a continuing adulteducation course at Arkansas State University.

The first book in her Texas rodeo series, Rodeo Dust will be available throughHeartsong Presents in October. Rodeo Hero and Rodeo Ashes release in 2012. Learnmore about Shannon and her books at http://shannonvannatter.com and check out her reallife romance blog at http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/.

Novel Anticipation ... The Drop

2011-11-08T03:01:00.000-06:00

Finally, thisNovember, Michael Connelly's next Harry Bosch mystery is coming out! Can youtell I'm excited?

For those ofyou who haven't read any of the Bosch series (17 books with a minor appearancein another Connelly novel), you're missing out.

Bosch is anLAPD officer who's a bit curmudgeonly and slightly maverick. Plus, he's got animpressionable teenage daughter at home so you know his stories will have moredepth than the average mystery. The author, Connelly, always does an excellentjob at blending plot and character, something I always look for inmystery/suspense.

No, youwill not find any Michael Connelly works in your church library, (he does do afair amount of swearing and periodically has sexual situations) but, his worksare typically a fight of good vs. evil in addition to dealing with the shadesof grey in between. I've read all of Connelly's novels and, unlike so manyother authors in the general market, he does not denigrate Christians. He's occasionally had religious figures in his novels, andthey've always been treated with respect. So, maybe it's not church library material, but I have no qualms recommending his books to Christians.

So, if you enjoy a good police procedural,if you're a fan of J. Mark Bertrand, Mark Mynheir, or Brandt Dodson, Irecommend you pick up a Harry Bosch mystery from Michael Connelly. You can findhis complete list of works on his website: http://www.michaelconnelly.com/extras/series/.

THE DROP

by Michael Connelly

Little, Brown and Company, November 2011

Harry Bosch has been given three yearsbefore he must retire from the LAPD, and he wants cases more fiercely thanever. In one morning, he gets two.

DNA from a1989 rape and murder matches a 29-year-old convicted rapist. Was he aneight-year-old killer or has something gone terribly wrong in the new RegionalCrime Lab? The latter possibility could compromise all of the lab's DNA casescurrently in court.

Then Boschand his partner are called to a death scene fraught with internal politics.Councilman Irvin Irving's son jumped or was pushed from a window at the ChateauMarmont. Irving, Bosch's longtime nemesis, has demanded that Harry handle theinvestigation.

Relentlesslypursuing both cases, Bosch makes two chilling discoveries: a killer operatingunknown in the city for as many as three decades, and a political conspiracythat goes back into the dark history of the police department.

Michael Connelly is the author of the recent #1 New York Times bestsellers The Fifth Witness, The Reversal, TheScarecrow, The Brass Verdict, and The Lincoln Lawyer, aswell as the bestselling Harry Bosch series of novels. He is a former newspaperreporter who has won numerous awards for his journalism and his novels. Hespends his time in California and Florida.

http://www.michaelconnelly.com/

Author Journey ... Nicole Petrino-Salter

2011-11-03T03:01:00.000-05:00

ALONG FOR THE RIDE ...

by Nicole Petrino-Salter

Let's face it, there's still very little "respect" associated with self-publishing. If a writer proclaims--sheepishly or proudly--that they're self-published, most royalty published authors (and wannabes) form a condescending smile and their immediate thoughts rush to "She's impatient" and/or "No one would publish her work because it's inferior." The success of The Shack stunned some writers because it's no secret the little story that sold millions demonstrated that less-than-perfect writing sometimes has little to do with selling novels.

I wrote my first novel because God told me to write a Christian novel abouthorse racing, the industry in which my husband and I worked for over 30 years.It's a not-so-inside joke to professionals in the Christian publishing industrywhen they hear the mantra, "God told me to write it." This littlephrase makes the Top Ten Things of what not to say at conferences or in anycommunication with professionals, the reason being that the instruction itselfdoes not insure the individual who speaks it can actually write. And my firstnovel is very much a first effort. A huge tome that took 8 and 1/2 years towrite during seven days a week of working at the track, homeschooling our sonsome of those years, and lay ministry at church. There would be six to ninemonth periods of no writing whatsoever. All the writing I managed was longhandin spiral notebooks. When it came time to decipher my handwriting and transportthe story to the new computer my son received from my parents for graduationfrom high school, the "editing" began. Obviously that process onlyrefined Hope Of Glory (yes,the O in of was capitalized on purpose) to a point since the saga wound upbeing 744 pages in a very tight template. Lots of unnecessary words in thereand sooo many horse names.

Then the search for publication ensued, thinking once the book was written itcould get published. Uh-huh. Silly girl. And very unschooled in the"biz". I don't know how to describe the sense that lurked in thebackground about self-publishing. Now some of you are laughing out loud. Howelse could a 744 page Christian novel about horse racing ever get any kind oftraction from a Christian publisher - or anypublisher for that matter? You're right. Not gonna happen. So I foundan outfit that advertised in a Christian publication and followed up on it. AsI look back, I figure they'd publish just about anything. I'm sure they'vegrown in their business practices since then, but suffice it to say, the endresult was much inferior (with the exception of the cover) to my two novelsproduced by WinePress(The Famous One andBreath of Life).I won't wave the pricey tag in your face for Hope Of Glory because I don't wantanyone accusing me of giving them heart palpitations. And this was after Ireceived 1000 novels with two critical errors in them which the Lord showed methe next morning after they were delivered. I can't describe the sick feelingafter all the jubilation. Those 1000 novels ended up at a recycler and the booktook years to pay off. HopeOf Glory holds some interesting testimonies for all its clumsyconstruction, and I give away copies as ministry novels to racetrackers,friends, and strangers.

My second novel came as a result of a powerful prayer burden for an actor.Simultaneously with that heavy prayer for his salvation, The Famous One formed. When I'd learnedsignificantly more about the biz, I submitted it to a well known Christianliterary agency and the story made it into their final process for acceptanceor rejection. Since it eventually ended up self-published, you know what theydecided. A few years later I inquired at WinePressand purchased a package for the book which I should mention exceeds the normfor CBA novels in length (word count) which is why it's more expensive thanmost. To participate closely in the process after having the work edited by aprofessional (and surprisingly left mostly intact) proved to be rewarding. Themarketing factor is the only downside to the experience.

And so it happened that before WinePresschanged their packages, my latest novel Breath of Life gotlocked into an inexpensive package, and the process began again. And also again I'm in theuncomfortable position of attempting to market my work. Believe me, by thistime I've heard all the positive reasoning for selling one's books. However,I've never heard any concrete facts given for what truly works - other thanword of mouth which can take a very long time if you write a niche novel.

My journey in self-publishing satisfies my independent spirit but really it'sall about the road God has chosen for me. And don't expect me to tell you whybecause I can't. Marketing is not my best suit. In fact marketing makes me feellike I'm standing exposed in my underwear. I can tell you I love the storiesI've been inspired to write. I can talk about why they don't fit comfortablyinto some of the current CBA publishers' requirements. I can discuss thecharacters with you because I love them. But push you to buy a copy of one ofthem? Not so easy for me.

So why do it? Because nothing in this life is incidental. The Lord has Hisreasons for our directions even when they don't necessarily make sense to us.Apart from Him, I can do nothing. I've completed seven novels and have threemore in progress. I keep going because He gives me characters and words toaccommodate their lives. This is my journey. For what it's worth.

Nicole Petrino-Salter

BREATH OF LIFE

WinePress Publishing 2011

Breath of Life tells the story of embittered, wounded, and divorced Michael Jamison, who, after a prolonged period as the casual observer of a lovely woman, discovers his attraction to her supersedes remaining a stranger. With a smarting ego and nothing to lose, he figures out a non-threatening way to introduce himself and is overwhelmed with her pristine beauty and is challenged to change everything about the way he's lived his life so far.

Praise for Breath of Life:

A bestselling novelist hiding her loneliness behind a pen name, Shay is more of an innocent than her stories let on with only two vices: shoes and cigarettes. When one of them attracts the attention of another lost soul looking for love, Shay's story takes an unforeseen turn. In Breath of Life, Nicole Petrino-Salter proves to be a minute chronicler of the human heart. She imbues her tale of second chances with a quiet emotional intensity that builds page after page." J. Mark Bertrand, author of Back on Murder and Pattern of Wounds.

Nicole Petrino-Salter writes love stories with a passion. She's devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, her family, friends, and her pets. You can find her most days on her blog: hopeofglory.typepad.com where she welcomes your visit.

Debut Author Spotlight ... Jerri Lynn Ledford

2011-11-01T03:01:00.000-05:00

A CAREER IN WRITING ... AND I'M NOT STEPHEN KING!

by Jerri Lynn Ledford

I guess I’vealways wanted to be a full time writer. It just wasn’t always clear to me that it was a viable career path.

“Choose a realcareer. Unless you’re Stephen King, you can’t make a living as a writer.”

Ok. I droppedout of high school out of sheer boredom and tried on a few different careers. Droppedout of college. And wrote stories when I had time. I didn’t really trypublishing until I was in my mid-20s. Even then I didn’t try real hard.

My thirties werefast approaching before I decided I wanted get serious about writing. I hadsold my first non-fiction article a few years before. It didn’t count. At $25,it sure couldn’t be considered a viable way to make a living.

Besides, Ireally wanted to write fiction. I spent a couple of years writing, rewriting,and submitting short stories. I attended online classes, joined a local writinggroup and met a couple of great writing mentors. But my career went nowhere.

I also wrote myfirst novel. Then I spent some time polishing it and put it in front of aneditor from Rutledge House at a conference. He loved the writing, but thesubject matter of the book was “too intense.”

So, I put it onthe shelf and went to work for a temp agency. They put me in a position workinga call center job that I despised. I had two young kids that I wanted to be athome with but we needed the money. Even if most of what I made went to pay fordaycare.

That Christmasseason, my son came home from school the last day before Christmas Break withChicken Pox. I had to take off work. About the time he cleared up, my daughtergot them. More time off.

By the time thekids got better, I’d spent some serious time trying to find places to sell mywriting. My desire to be a “real writer” was strong.

When I called tolet my bosses know I was coming back to work I was told, “Come on in on Mondayand we’ll let you know if you still have a job.” Uh, really?

I talked it overwith my husband and we decided I would stay home and try to make a living writing.Non-fiction. Articles.

It took a couplemore years and a lot of determination, but I was bringing in enough along theway to give us the little bump that we needed to keep our heads above water. Wewere used to living paycheck to paycheck. My income was a bonus.

Then a friendthat I knew though an online message group needed help. She had more work than she could possiblyfinish and she needed a strong writer that could write accurately and fast.About technology. Could I help her?

Wow. Um. No.

I didn’t knowthe first thing about technology. My computer skills were self-taught. And Ihad no idea what she was talking about.

“Just do theresearch. Call these people,” she named off a list of experts. “Ask questions.They’ll explain it to you. Then write what you learn.”

I could do that.I could learn anything. And that one little fact led me to a career with anincome that very quickly exceeded my husband’s. I’d done it. I’d become a “realwriter” with hundreds of articles published, and I was bored out of my mind,and burning out very quickly.

Then I gotanother call. “Jerri Lynn, I’ve signed a book contract and I don’t think I canwrite the book. Will you co-author itwith me.”

Wow. Um. No.

I’d neverwritten a full-length book. I had no idea how to go about.

“The outline iswritten. It’s like writing a collection of articles that all fit together. Andthe money is pretty darned good for a first book.”

I could do that.Three years later I’d written more than a dozen books, most of them withoutco-authors.

During all ofthis lots of “life stuff” was happening. My kids were growing up. Ihomeschooled for a while. Got a divorce. Moved halfway across the country andthen moved a little further. Started a new life. And spent a lot of timewriting fiction that never saw the light of day.

Another of those“and then” moments came along. I got a call, because my name was associatedwith many articles and books related to Google. “Jerri Lynn, we’re redesigningsome training, can you do some work for us and what’s your hourly rate?”

I quoted high,impressed them with my ability to write and understand what they needed, and Ilanded the corporate contract of a lifetime. But the best part? It freed me upto write fiction again. I was making enough money that I didn’t have to workmyself into the ground (most of the time). I had time to figure out where Iwanted my career to go next and how I planned to get there.

I dusted off theold novel, read through it, scrapped the biggest part of it, and started over.That novel ended up being Biloxi Sunrise,the first in a trilogy. And by command decision (command being me), it wasreleased in digital format, self-published, in early October.

The next twobooks in the trilogy are in the works. BiloxiSunrise will be out in print at the beginning of 2012. And I’m stillworking the corporate contract.

The plan is tobe self-sufficient with fiction before that contract goes away. It’s been along journey, and one that I wouldn’t necessarily recommend for everyone. Idon’t even know yet what the outcome will be. But I know a few things for certain. I’m not Stephen King. And it’scompletely possible to make a very nice living as a writer. If you’re willingto do the hard work.

BILOXI SUNRISE
The BiloxiSeries
DebutNovel by Jerri Lynn Ledford

Deep SouthPress 2011

He hadn’t protected them.

WhenHomicide Special Investigator Jack Roe’s daughter is killed in an auto accidentand his wife dies from a drug overdose, he abandons a promising career as aMilitary Police Officer. If only he’d been there when they needed him, he couldhave saved them both.

He didn’t protect her.

Sixyears later, Jack is in Biloxi, Mississippi to be close to his sister and herdaughter, Lisa. As long as he’s around, nothing can happen to them. But thenhe’s called to the hospital in the middle of the night and learns that Lisa hasbeen abused by her mother’s boyfriend. Jack must confront old wounds that neverhealed, and a burning anger that’s been buried for far too long.

She can’t protect him.

Thesame night, a woman’s body turns up on the beach. A few days later, so doesanother one. Jack must deal with his past and his present while he and hispartner, Kate Giveans, race to find a killer before another woman dies. ButKate harbors a secret that just might get Jack killed.

Jerri Ledford has been afreelance business technology writer for nearly 20 years. During thattime, over 1500 of her articles, profiles, news stories and reports haveappeared online and in print. Her publishing credits include: IntelligentEnterprise, Network World, Information Security Magazine, DCM Magazine, CRMMagazine, IT Manager’s Journal.

Shedevelops and teaches technology training courses for both consumer and businessusers including courses on security, customer service, career skills, andvarious technologies for companies such as: Franklin Covey, IBT Financial,Writer’s Village University, You Don’t Say, LLC., Hewlett Packard, Sony,Gateway, Forbes and CNET.

Whenshe’s not writing for a consumer audience, Jerri also produces corporatecollateral–white papers, case studies, web content, templates, help documents,and presentations. Her corporate clients include Franklin Covey,Microsoft, Switch & Data, The World Health Organization, FujiFilm,Coca-Cola, and NaviSite.

Fictionis Jerri’s first love. Her first novel, BiloxiSunrise, released in most digital formats in October 2011, and will releasein paperback in early 2012. BiloxiSunrise is the first in the Biloxi series. The second book, Biloxi Blues, is due out in Spring 2012.

Important Note from Jerri:

I'm embarrassed to admit that there has been some kind of formatting glitch with Biloxi Sunrise. At this time, there are numerous typos and errors in the book. However, I'm working furiously to correct them and will re-upload the book as soon as all of the corrections are made. These errors are entirely my fault and were NOT introduced by the wonderful people that edited the manuscript.

Biloxi Sunrise is available at the following retailers:

You can learn more about Jerri or read her blog at: http://www.JerriLedford.com

Shameless Shout Out for New Releases

2011-10-25T03:01:00.000-05:00

One of the great privileges of being a writer is making so many new friends who happen to be authors. There's little I enjoy more than encouraging these friends in their writing endeavors and giving a shameless shout-out for their successes.

Three friends have novels releasing this month. While I've read them all in pre-edited form (and they're all fabulous, of course), I can't wait to read the final product.

BILOXI SUNRISE
The Biloxi Series
Debut Novel by Jerri Lynn Ledford

Deep South Press 2011

He hadn’t protected them.

When Homicide Special Investigator Jack Roe’s daughter iskilled in an auto accident and his wife dies from a drug overdose, he abandonsa promising career as a Military Police Officer. If only he’d been there whenthey needed him, he could have saved them both.

He didn’t protect her.

Six years later, Jack is in Biloxi, Mississippi to be closeto his sister and her daughter, Lisa. As long as he’s around, nothing canhappen to them. But then he’s called to the hospital in the middle of the nightand learns that Lisa has been abused by her mother’s boyfriend. Jack mustconfront old wounds that never healed, and a burning anger that’s been buriedfor far too long.

She can’t protect him.

The same night, a woman’s body turns up on the beach. A fewdays later, so does another one. Jack must deal with his past and his presentwhile he and his partner, Kate Giveans, race to find a killer before anotherwoman dies. But Kate harbors a secret that just might get Jack killed.

I met Jerri a few years back through ACFW when we were assigned into the same critique group. We currently blog on the same group blog, Inkspirational Messages.

Although this is Jerri's debut novel, she is no stranger to writing. She's got a zillion books out there on Google Analytics and SEO and all those technical aspects of working the internet, the kind that make my head spin.

I had the honor of working with Jerri these past months on Biloxi Sunrise. She's woven together a very engaging story melding plot and character with just the right blend. I highly recommend giving this novel a try.

Check out Jerri's website: http://www.jerriledford.com/
Also find her at: http://inkspirationalmessages.com/
Don't forget to *like* her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jerri-Lynn-Ledford/147815135313371

Note from Jerri:

Click here to purchase Biloxi Sunrise through Amazon
Click here to purchase Biloxi Sunrise through Barnes and Noble

BREATH OF LIFE
by Nicole Petrino-Salter

WinePress Publishing 2011

Breath of Life tells the story of embittered, wounded, anddivorced Michael Jamison who, after a prolonged period as the casual observerof a lovely woman, discovers his attraction to her supersedes remaining astranger. With a smarting ego and nothing to lose, he figures out anon-threatening way to introduce himself. He is overwhelmed with her pristinebeauty and is challenged to change everything about the way he’s lived his lifeso far.

In Nicole Petrino-Salter, I've found a kindred reading spirit. We're both avid fans of Vince Flynn, Steven James, & Lisa Samson, to name a few. I LOVE talking books with Nicole. We typically have the same opinion regarding books and often share insights that will never make the printed page.

Breath of Life is Nicole's third release--she offered me the privilege of reading it several months ago. I love how she gets inside Michael Jamison's head and heart. She really makes him come alive. I enjoy thought-provoking, character-driven novels, and Nicole delivers that with Breath of Life.

Check out Nicole's excellent blog: http://hopeofglory.typepad.com/into_the_fire/
Click here to purchase Breath of Life

RODEO DUST
by Shannon Taylor-Vannatter

Heartsong Presents 2011

Ad exec, Rayna Landers meets bull rider, Clay Warren at theState Fair of Texas. While Rayna thinks she’s content solo, Clay longs formarriage and family. Though poised to win his third world championship, hisranch is in a slump. Clay convinces his publicist to hire her advertising firmin a last-ditch effort to keep his employees and lasso her heart.

Soon the city girl is on the ride of her life,until the rodeo unearths buried memories from her past. Clay sees her throughthe trauma, but an injury and his stubborn determination to get back in thehypothetical saddle threatens their budding relationship. Can they rely on Godto find their common ground or will they draw a line in the rodeo dust thatneither will cross?

I met Shannon a few years back when, just like with Jerri, we were assigned into the same critique group through ACFW. (Our other critique partner is Lorna Seilstad, author of the popular Lake Manawa Summers series. Yes, I'm in very good company). Anyway, Shannon introduced me to romance fiction. Being somewhat of a literary snob, it's a genre I used to avoid, but Shannon convinced me that there are quality romance authors out there, Shannon being one of them. Since meeting her I've even made my own attempt at writing romance in order to appeal to the market (read Shannon's very kind endorsement here).

Rodeo Dust is Shannon's fourth novel released through Heartsong Presents, and the first of a second series. I had the honor of critiquing this book as well. Her male lead Clay Warren, who has a unique and fascinating rodeo job, is definitely a hero to root for. If you love romance, you have to read Shannon's books.

Find Shannon on her website: http://shannonvannatter.com/
at her Inkslinger blog: http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/
at Inkspirational Messages: http://inkspirationalmessages.com/
and on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shannontaylorvannatter