Debut Author Spotlight - Mary Moore

STORIES ORIGINALLY FOR ME ARE NOW FOR HIM!

by Mary Moore

My writing journey began with my reading journey!  I grew up on secular Regency novels, and could never get enough of the genre.  Jane Austen, Georgette Heyer, the Bronte sisters; they were all my “go to” when I wanted a good read.  I joined a book club where I received four new Regencies each month and I read them over and over until the next month’s batch arrived!

When I became a Christian in my early twenties, I began looking for Regencies with an inspirational message.  I could find the Westerns by Janette Oke and Amish fiction by Beverly Lewis, all of which I enjoyed, but Regencies seemed few and far between.

When my husband began working the midnight shift at the hospital (over 15 years ago!), I needed to let him sleep during the evenings.  That’s when I started writing my own stories.  They were for no one but me, but when a few friends asked to read them, they encouraged me to try to get them published.  I made a few half-hearted attempts, entered a Regency writing contest, and looked for an agent interested in promoting inspirational stories.  New York apparently was passing on its next best seller! ☺

Ten years later my husband and I relocated to southwestern Virginia in the Blue Ridge Mountains and the manuscripts were boxed up and put in the attic in our new home, pretty much forgotten.  It was then that we faced the most difficult time of our lives; I was diagnosed with breast cancer.  It was a long process and a long recovery, but during that time, I pulled those old manuscripts out and re-wrote them.  I injected them with some of the gems God had showed me and messages that I hoped might touch someone else’s heart; all with a romance set in Regency London.

God pretty much took it from there!  I prayed as I began my search for a Christian agent and He answered my prayers with Jenny Burke.  She has been a Regency fan, and when she got the story she ran with it, we both did; and that unbelievable journey ended with a published Love Inspired Historical.

There are now many wonderful Regency authors in the inspirational market of women’s fiction; I’m blessed to be among them.  My desire is that secular and Christian readers alike would begin a love for the era as well as discovering that God-based fiction doesn’t mean boring and stuffy.

But it is His desire that I am seeking, and wherever this wonderful journey takes me, I give God all of the glory.

THE ARISTOCRAT'S LADY

by Mary Moore

Love Inspired Historical, September 2011

230 pages

Amidst the glitz and glamour of a London Season, Lady Nicole Beaumont sees through the shallow excesses of her time. Convinced that a hidden disability has left her unfit for love, she determines to remain unmarried and live in quiet service to the Lord through the tenants on her father’s estate. But when Nicole unwittingly charms the cynical Lord Devlin on a garden terrace, her heart is awakened to his friendship…and the possibility of love. This story combines romance, inspiration, adversity, period details, and a shocking surprise in a spell-binding reminder that, in love, God's plan is the only one that really matters.

Mary Moore has been an avid student of the Regency era since the 1970’s and is a member of the ACFW’s historic fiction community. She has been writing historical fiction for over fifteen years. Mary had to put her writing on hold while undergoing health issues and breast cancer. She is now even more excited about her writing as she incorporates her struggles throughout her books; dedicated to encouraging others and using her talent for God’s glory. A native of the Washington, DC area, Mary and her husband now live in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of southwestern Virginia with their black lab, Darcy. When not writing, Mary enjoys time with her husband, watching BBC movies, reading and weekend get-a-ways.

www.marymooreauthor.com

facebook.com/mmooreauthor

Debut Author Spotlight ... Pam Hillman

OH. MY. LUCKY. STARS!

by Pam Hillman

With ebook sales rocketing skyward, established publishers, authors and readers alike are taking a second look at electronic publishing. Tyndale House Publishers' answer is the Digital First Program.

Tyndale House Publishers is a Christian publisher that publishes Bibles, fiction, and non-fiction. They’re probably best known for publishing the Left Behind series by Jerry Jenkins and Tim LaHaye, along with a host of amazingly talented and prolific authors. I am very blessed to have been picked up by them because they are one of the most established and well-respected publishing houses in the industry.

This past spring, Tyndale decided to offer a new model of publishing called “Digital First”, which is just what it implies, digital first with print books to (hopefully) follow. With ebooks quickly surpassing print books in sales, they asked a select group of agents to send proposals from their unpublished authors who had completed manuscripts ready to go. My agent sent one of mine, and I was offered a contract, along with 4 other unpublished authors: 3 fiction and one non-fiction. My book, titled Stealing Jake, released July 1, 2011 as an ebook. Generally, it takes 12-18 months for a print book to hit the shelves, but Tyndale put these ebooks on a fast track to publication and had them available in about six weeks.

Tyndale launched the program in July 2011 with four fiction titles and one non-fiction title. Digital First’s initial ebooks include Delivery by Diana Prusik, Cash Burn by Michael Berrier, Stealing Jake by Pam Hillman, The Reinvention of Leona Harper by Lynne Gentry and a non-fiction title, 40 Days without Food: Divine Goodness to a Starving Soul by Russ Masterson.

Right after the announcements came out, someone asked me this burning question, "Why did you go through Tyndale to do an ebook, when you could have gone directly to Amazon?"

Seriously?

 

First reason, because Tyndale launched a Digital First Initiative, and I was blessed enough to be one of the 5 debut authors chosen to launch the program.

Next, are you ready for this?

My publisher is Tyndale House Publishers!

Oh.My.Lucky.Stars!

I could stop right there, because that's reason enough in and of itself, but if you want more, here you go:

My book was edited by Tyndale editors. They were awesome! The entire process was as smooth as silk. My cover was designed by Tyndale cover designers. And I love it! My book is backed by Tyndale's good name. Whoa! Tyndale has marketing and publicity power. That I don't have... Tyndale did all the work to get my book listed on Amazon, CBD, B&N, and Mobipocket.

And finally, I am a Tyndale author, not just another name on Amazon.

How much is that worth to me? I can't even begin to measure that. I have no clout or pull with readers. Sure, some of my friends and family would have bought my book if I put it up on my own, but then that would have been the end of it, unless I got lucky as a few do. And more power to them!

And if this Digital First Initiative is as successful as it's shaping up to be, I might even see Stealing Jake in print next. This is a win-win situation for the Digital First authors and for Tyndale, and I'm over-the-moon excited to be partnering with one of the most respected publishing houses in the industry on this new venture.

Here are three wonderful articles that shed more light on Tyndale’s Digital First Initiative:

• http://www.christianpost.com/news/tyndale-house-launches-ebook-publishing-initiative-50771/
• http://writerinterrupted.com/2011/07/05/whats-direct-to-ebook-publishing/
• http://writerinterrupted.com/2011/07/07/direct-to-ebook-author-pam-hillman/

STEALING JAKE

by Pam Hillman

When Livy O'Brien spies a young boy jostling a man walking along the boardwalk, she recognizes the act for what it is. After all, she used to be known as Light-fingered Livy. But that was before she put her past behind her and moved to the growing town of Chestnut, Illinois, where she's helping to run an orphanage. Now she'll do almost anything to protect the street kids like herself.

Sheriff's deputy Jake Russell had no idea what he was in for when he ran into Livy--literally--while chasing down a pickpocket. With a rash of robberies and a growing number of street kids in town--as well as a loan on the family farm that needs to be paid off--Jake doesn't have time to pursue a girl. Still, he can't seem to get Livy out of his mind. He wants to get to know her better . . . but Livy isn't willing to trust any man, especially not a lawman.

Interwoven throughout is a group of street kids arrested in Chicago and sold as child labor. Leading this band of ragamuffins is young Luke, a scared, determined orphan intent on rescuing his little brother at any cost.

Stealing Jake is free for a limited time on Amazon, B&N & CBD. It was #1 on the top 100 Free Kindle list at Amazon for 7 days! Mind boggling and a testament to Tyndale’s clout as a publisher of quality fiction.

 

Amazon Link: http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Jake-ebook/dp/B0057Z87DK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1309377471&sr=8-1

Barnes and Noble Link: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-jake-pam-hillman/1103995167?ean=9781414366616&itm=1&usri=stealing%2bjake

To celebrate the release of Stealing Jake, Pam is giving away a Kindle. Deadline to enter the contest is September 30^th. 

Award-winning author Pam Hillman writes inspirational fiction set in the turbulent times of the American West and the Gilded Age. Her debut book, Stealing Jake, won the American Christian Fiction Writer’s Genesis contest and was a finalist in Romance Writers of America’s prestigious Golden Heart contest. She lives in Mississippi with her husband and family.

www.pamhillman.com, www.calicotrails.blogspot.com, www.seekerville.blogspot.com

 

Debut Author Spotlight ... Lacy Williams

THE TWISTS AND TURNS ON THE ROAD TO PUBLICATION

by Lacy Williams

My journey to publication definitely has had more twists and turns than I could have imagined, but I’ve felt God there with me the whole way—sometimes almost poking me to say, “this *is* what you’re supposed to be doing!”

Originally, I thought it would be so easy to get published—you write the book, an editor loves it, and BOOM you’re published.

Ha.

The first eye-opening thing for me was right after I joined the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in late 2006. I subscribed to their main email list and BAM—was inundated with all these emails asking and answering questions about passive voice, head-hopping and POV (what was that anyway?), developing a platform… I immediately knew that there was a lot I *didn’t* know. I needed to learn how to write a well-written book. So I joined a critique group.

Next eye-opening thing. Not everybody “got” my writing. My critique group liked the story, but boy were they picky about things like “your character doesn’t have enough motivation” and “why would your hero do that? it doesn’t make sense!” Hmm… maybe I needed to work a little more.

I attended my first writing conference in September 2007 and that’s where I really started to feel God was an active part of this journey with me. Not only was I uplifted by worshipping and chatting with all these other writers, not only did I receive excellent instruction, but I had my first editor and agent appointments. I visited with the editor first, with my onesheet (sell-sheet) in my shaking hands, and she LIKED the story! In fact, she asked for the full manuscript. I really felt like it was a confirmation from God that I was pursuing something He wanted me to be doing.

Then came what felt like a big mountain in my path. Called life. Overtime hours so I had less time at home to write. Other family responsibilities. And learning the craft of writing well enough to write a *good* book? Well, that didn’t come quickly to me either. I plodded through draft after draft of my story… and then finally decided I was trying to write in the wrong genre. That was another God moment for me. When I started writing historical romance and contemporary romance (instead of romantic suspense), the words started flying onto the pages.

Skip ahead a little. In 2009, I finaled and won in ACFW’s Genesis contest for unpublished writers. My future editor requested my full manuscript—and then in 2010, when I finally sent it in, she bought it. I also signed with my agent at that time.

I have to admit, those last few months between finaling in the contest and selling my book seemed to fly by compared to the time spent slogging through draft after draft of what turned out to be an un-sellable manuscript.

*BUT* I never would have been able to write and sell MARRYING MISS MARSHAL without having the experience of doing that. I learned so much about craft—how to create complete characters, how to write chapter ending hooks, how to keep the romance alive through a whole manuscript… Without that time of waiting and working, I wouldn’t be published today.

So. Moral of the story: don’t give up. Work hard, learn lots, write a lot. And keep your eyes open for those moments when God will show you you’re on the right path.

MARRYING MISS MARSHALL
by Lacy Williams

Love Inspired Historical, 2011
288 pages

Filling the shoes of her late husband as town marshal hasn't been easy for Danna Carpenter. She's not only fighting criminals, she's also fighting to earn the respect of the townspeople. So crossing paths with tenderfoot detective Chas O'Grady is the last thing she needs. He's hunting a band of cattle rustlers and isn't used to the rugged Wyoming landscape. Teaming up is their only option, but when circumstances place them in a compromising situation, the town forces a more permanent partnership—marriage. If they can let down their guards with each other they might find that love is the greatest catch of all.

RT Book Reviews says, "Williams’ debut is a great story with a twist, and it will keep readers riveted." (August)
Publisher's Weekly calls it "warmly romantic with a hint of adventure and an unconventional heroine" and "Williams's storytelling style is ... easy to follow to its cheery conclusion" (June)

Lacy Williams is a wife and mom from Oklahoma. Her debut novel won ACFW's Genesis award before being published. She promises readers happy endings guaranteed. Lacy combines her love of dogs with her passion for literacy by volunteering with her therapy dog Mr. Bingley in a local Kids Reading to Dogs program.

Lacy loves to hear from her readers at lacyjwilliams@gmail.com or via her website www.lacywilliams.net. ou can find her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/lacywilliamsbooks

Novel Anticipation ... August Releases

For readers, there's nothing quite as exciting as having a bedstand full of books begging to be read. It's like eating supper while that piece of French silk pie calls your name from the refrigerator. You're tempted to skip supper altogether.

My bedstand is always full, but there are a handful authors who put out only one book per year, thus testing my patience.

Two of my favorite authors release their books in late August, two very different authors. Regardless of your reading tastes, I recommend both highly.

THE COLONEL'S LADY
by Laura Frantz

Revell, August 2011

In 1779, when genteel Virginia spinster Roxanna Rowan arrives at the Kentucky fort commanded by Colonel Cassius McLinn, she finds that her officer father has died. Penniless and destitute, Roxanna is forced to take her father's place as scrivener. Before long, it's clear that the colonel himself is attracted to her. But she soon realizes the colonel has grave secrets of his own--some of which have to do with her father's sudden death. Can she ever truly love him?

Okay, I'm cheating a bit with this one as I've just finished reading The Colonel's Lady and no longer have to anticipate reading it, but I had to include Laura Frantz on this list. She writes historical romance, a genre I tend to stay away from, but Frantz's delivery is completely different from the majority of hist/rom writers. Her stories are neither cookie-cutter nor predicatable (elements that will often bore me) and her prose is lyrical (which I love). It's clear she spends much time listening to the cadence of her words. She also has a unique way of placing the reader in amidst the action, painting scenes in vivid color. My only disappointment, when it comes to Laura Frantz, is that I have to wait a year for her next work.


 

NORTHWEST ANGLE
by William Kent Krueger

Atria Books, August 2011

During a houseboat vacation on the remote Lake of the Woods, a violent gale sweeps through unexpectedly, stranding Corcoran O'Connor (Cork) and his daughter, Jenny, on a devastated island where the wind has ushered in a force far darker and more deadly than any storm.

Amid the wreckage, Cork and Jenny discover an old trapper’s cabin where they find the body of a teenage girl. She wasn’t killed by the storm, however; she’d been bound and tortured before she died. Whimpering sounds coming from outside the cabin lead them to a tangle of branches toppled by the vicious winds. Underneath the debris, they find a baby boy, hungry and dehydrated, but still very much alive. Powerful forces intent on securing the child pursue them to the isolated Northwest Angle, where it’s impossible to tell who among the residents is in league with the devil. Cork understands that to save his family he must solve the puzzle of this mysterious child whom death follows like a shadow.

For those of you who haven't discovered William Kent Krueger yet, I highly encourage you to pick up one of his Corcoran O'Connor (Cork) books. Cork, part Ojibwe-part Irish, is the former sheriff of a northern Minnesota county. His heritage alone creates conflict. While this probably isn't a book you'd place in your church library, Krueger respects faith issues and often includes faith elements in his novels.

His books stand alone and don't have to be read in order, but if you're like me, you'll want to pick up the first in the Corcoran O'Connor series, Iron Lake. Then you won't want to stop until you reach Northwest Angle.

I'm curious ...

Who are your favorite authors? Which authors do you anticipate reading every year? Do you have a favorite series?

Debut Author Spotlight ... Catherine Richmond

MY SCENIC ROUTE TO PUBLICATION

by Catherine Richmond

My publication journey involves an unexpected turn leading onto the scenic route. I was busy raising my family and working as an occupational therapist, when I heard a song about a mail order bride meeting her husband for the first time. Prairie grass waved dusty green in the wind. The hot sun released the smell of creosote from the railroad ties. A train whistle echoed in the distance. I knew these two people - where they’d come from, their hopes and dreams, and what happened next to them.

What I didn't know was how to write.

The newspaper said one of my neighbors had a novel out with Bantam Loveswept. So one afternoon, when everyone was out of the house, I called her. She recommended I join RWA. I took a non-credit class through the community college, then several on-line classes. I read the RWR and how-to books. I joined a Nebraska Novelists critique group. I wrote other stories. Rejection letters filled my mailbox. Contest judges slapped low scores on my entries.

I learned to revise. Again and again.

A year ago April, while vacationing in New York City, agent Sandra Bishop tracked me down. The manuscript had placed third in the Launching a Star contest, earning a read from a Thomas Nelson editor. Sandra said the publisher was interested if I could make a few changes. Being totally unprepared for this news, I did not have my laptop with me. So Sandra made the requested changes on her copy and sent the manuscript back. The next morning, I got The Call in Central Park, at John Lennon's memorial, a mosaic with the word "Imagine". Which shows God is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all we ask or think!

SPRING FOR SUSANNAH
by Catherine Richmond

Thomas Nelson, May 2011
356 pages

With no prospects for marriage and her parents recently deceased, Susannah Freemont agrees to go west to the Dakota territory to marry her minister's homesteading brother, Jesse. But Susannah is painfully shy, doesn't see herself as worthy of love from either a husband or from God, and lives in constant fear that Jesse is going to ship her back to Detroit.

In spite of her petite size and the fact that Susannah doesn't look like she could survive on the prairie, Jesse quickly discovers that his new wife is a greater blessing than he even hoped for. The years she spent as her father's veterinary assistant allow her to save Jesse's ox and twin calves and to help neighboring farmers with their animals.

But Susannah's feelings of unworthiness are deeply rooted, and she can't believe that Jesse's praise-or the tenderness and love he shows-could possibly last. The thawing of her heart seems almost as distant as Spring in the midst of the winter blanketing the Dakota prairie.

Catherine Richmond was busy raising a family, working as an occupational therapist, and trying to remember where she hid the chocolate, when a song sparked a story within her. The journey to publication was long, but full of blessings. She couldn't have done it without the ACFW, RWA, and FHL (the inspirational chapter of RWA) and lots of chocolate!

http://www.cathyrichmond.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 ... 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 ... Catherine West

When They Say No

by Catherine West

A few months ago, my agent Rachelle Gardner wrote this post on her blog: When An Agent Gives Up on a Project. I thought it might be helpful, even encouraging, to share my experience on this with you, and the truths I learned along the way.

When Rachelle first offered me representation, I had just completed a manuscript called Yesterday’s Tomorrow. Rachelle liked it because it was ‘different’. I agreed. I certainly hadn’t seen any books about a female journalist who travels to Vietnam during wartime. Not in CBA anyway. I was excited to finally have an agent who believed in my writing and loved my story as much as I did. After a rewrite and a few plot changes, we had a book that would sell quickly. Or so we thought.

Truth #1 - Just because your agent loves a project does not mean it will sell.

This was the fist lesson I learned. Just as Rachelle said in her post, some projects are hard sells. Looking back, I think there were numerous reasons it didn’t sell. Some editors assured us it wasn’t the writing, so we were left to assume it was the content. I had written a book that was, perhaps, a little too different.

Truth #2 – Listen to Good Advice.

Having a very wise agent is one thing, listening to and taking her advice is quite another. I’m sorry to say I was pretty set against putting this book on the shelf. I was in too deep, too emotionally invested, and I refused to accept that it just wasn’t going to happen. One of the hardest emails I’ve had to read from Rachelle was the one telling me she really felt we needed to stop pursuing publication for this particular project. (How’s that for alliteration?). I’m sure she was just as disappointed as I was, but she was looking at the big picture. I was too busy chomping sour grapes.

Truth #3 – Learn to Let Go.

This is where I get nauseatingly trite and throw the old if you love something let it go saying…in your face. But seriously. Letting that project sit on the shelf whilst working on other things was probably one of the hardest things I’ve done thus far into my writing career. But you know what? It was absolutely the right thing to do at the time. It may not always be the right thing for you, but I know it was for me. The past couple of years allowed me to grow as a writer. I’ve been fortunate to be able to go to conferences. I’ve been learning, writing new books and simply enjoying where I am on my writing journey.

Truth #4 – Sometimes You’ve Got to Go with the Gut.

They say there is a time and a season for everything under heaven. I believe that to be true. You see, that story I let go, well, it wouldn’t let me go. So I attempted one more major rewrite, and in fear and trembling approached my lovely agent with the idea of resubmitting. She agreed, and I’m happy to say my instinct on this one was right. And so was Rachelle’s. It was just a matter of timing, as she so firmly told me two years ago. I’m so glad I listened!

YESTERDAY'S TOMORROW

OakTara, March 2011
336 pages

Vietnam, 1967.

Independent, career-driven journalist Kristin Taylor wants two things: to honor her father's memory by becoming an award-winning overseas correspondent and to keep tabs on her only brother, Teddy, who signed up for the war against their mother's wishes. Brilliant photographer Luke Maddox, silent and brooding, exudes mystery. Kristin is convinced he's hiding something.

Willing to risk it all for what they believe in, Kristin and Luke engage in their own tumultuous battle until, in an unexpected twist, they’re forced to work together. Ambushed by love, they must decide whether or not to set aside their own private agendas for the hope of tomorrow that has captured their hearts.

Introducing Catherine

Educated in Bermuda, England and Canada, Catherine West holds a degree in English from the University of Toronto. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. Catherine and her husband live on the beautiful island of Bermuda, with their two college-aged children. Catherine is a member of Romance Writers of America, and American Christian Fiction Writers, and is a founding member of International Christian Fiction Writers. Catherine’s debut novel Yesterday’s Tomorrow, releases March 15th, through OakTara Publishers.

Website: http://www.catherinejwest.com/
OakTara Website: http://www.oaktara.com/
Blog: http://www.catherinewestblog.blogspot.com/
Trailer: http://youtu.be/vVQUMRlYhkM

Making Waves

As a writer as well as a reader, I’m blessed to have two incredible critique partners. We’ve been working together for two and a half years and, in that time, we’ve all seen our fiction writing skills grow exponentially. But more importantly, I’ve gained two beautiful, encouraging friends. I am thrilled to highlight their debut novels here. So yes, I’m admitting my bias up front and am gladly giving them shameless plugs.

Shannon Taylor Vannatter’s book, White Roses, was released by Heartsong Presents in May to their book club readers and will be in stores come this November, just in time for Christmas. I’ll be reviewing her book in October so keep watching for it.

____________________________________________



Making Waves
(Lake Manawa Summers Series #1)

debut novel by Lorna Seilstad

Published by Revell

363 pages

Romance Sprinkled with Humor

Lorna Seilstad’s Making Waves released this September and is already receiving rave reviews. The story begins in 1895 with spunky Marguerite Westing being courted by boring Roger Gordon, a very wealthy man chosen by her mother. The first paragraphs start you laughing with Marguerite’s sarcastic wit, and your smile doesn’t fade as you follow Marguerite’s journey. She falls in love with sailing--not a womanly thing to do in 1895--but more so, she falls for the handsome sailing instructor, Trip Andrews. Does she follow her heart and chose Trip? Or, to save her family’s fortune, will she be forced to marry Roger?

I absolutely love the subtle wit Lorna infuses throughout this story. Oftentimes when people write with humor, it’s evident they’re trying too hard. The laugh lines appear tacked on or forced. Not so with Making Waves. Wit flows naturally from the characters, particularly Marguerite, so keep a tissue handy.

One of my favorite parts of this novel is the setting. It takes place in Lake Manawa, Iowa a water resort community near Council Bluffs. Back in the late 1800’s and early 1900s, it was a real place where the wealthy tented for the summer. The resort area offered water shows and activities. It had dance and gambling halls. It even offered a water carnival that was modeled after the World’s Fair. Sadly, today you see no signs of this resort, but with Lorna’s multi-sensory descriptions she brings the area back to life so history can live on.

Award-winning author Lorna Seilstad has called Iowa home her whole life. She received her B.S. in Education from Lubbock Christian University. After her first child was born, she quit teaching and became a professional wiper. “I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby's bottoms, and counter tops every day. But at nap time, I wrote." Today, she writes historical fiction with a generous dash of humor. Making Waves is her debut novel and the first in the Lake Manawa Summers Series. She and her husband have three children.

http://lornaseilstad.com/
http://inkspirationalmessages.com/

Making Waves is the first novel in a three book series (Lake Manawa Summers series). A Great Catch comes out the summer of 2011, and Summer of Dreams (working title) releases the summer of 2012.