Not Your Typical Romance

MY STUBBORN HEART
by Becky Wade

This novel completely surprised me. When a novel is described as contemporary romance, I expect a nice, casual read, but this was so much more. I loved the unique prologue and epilogue (for those of you who skip prologues, don't! It even convinced my husband to read this book--which he enjoyed, by the way). The characters were quirky, but not over the top, and the prose was musical. Against the backdrop of redeeming an old  house, the message of redemption was demonstrated, not preached. I loved how real the characters were in this book as well. They were imperfect, messy, broken people any of us could identify with.

Debut author Becky Wade seems to have an innate understanding of the head/heart condition by seamlessly weaving head/heart issues together. You're a front-page witness to two people falling in love with their heads and their hearts. The reader can't help but be emotionally tugged into the story.

This is one of my favorite books this year. I look forward to reading more from Becky Wade.

Story Description: Burned out, Kate Donovan jumps at the chance to restore her grandmother's house in Redbud, Pennsylvania. But when she arrives, she becomes involved in a project she didn't expect. Handsome former hockey star and contractor Matt Jarreau is clearly wounded, hiding from people and God. Can Kate help him face his past---whether he likes it or not? 

THE SOUL SAVER
by Dineen Miller

I know they say (just who are *they* anyway?) that a novel about a married couple can't be labeled romance, but I heartily disagree, and Dineen Miller proves otherwise in her debut novel.

Lexie Baltimore is a sculptor whose husband is an atheist. Her greatest dream is for him to share her faith. Throw in a grieving widower pastor who is the epitome of what she wants in a husband and you have the makings of an intriguing story. But, the author takes this novel much deeper than that.

Spiritual warfare is at the center of the conflict between Lexie, her husband, and the pastor. The author handles it skillfully and creates a page-turning, emotional story.

Story Description: Lexie Baltimore is in the supernatural battle of her life. In obedience to God's calling, Lexie uses her art and dreams to help others. But will she have enough courage to help herself when she becomes torn between her atheist husband and a godly man? A widower and a father, Pastor Nate Winslow is drowning in darkness. Will he resist his treacherous assignment to win Lexie's heart or give in to the attraction between them? As events unfold, Lexie becomes entangled in a twisted plot. Will she overcome the evil assailing her or yield to the dark side?

Author Spotlight ... Shannon Taylor Vannatter

TAKING IT TO THE NEXT LEVEL

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

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

But, I got two rejection letters with handwritten notes saying I had a great plot, I just needed to attend conferences and learn to write. Learn to write? Why attend conferences when I can just write? So, I wrote two more books and actually got one Print on Demand published.

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

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

After the book came out, reality sank 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 a stay-at-home-mom, I couldn’t afford many copies. So, I sold a rousing 178 copies of my very badly written, unedited book. With those rousing numbers, the publisher rejected my sequel even though the book had a cliff-hanger ending.

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

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

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

The lawyer sent the publisher a cease and desist letter: requesting he stop publishing my book and pay me my cut. 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 finally admitted, “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 this was getting me nowhere fast. Maybe joining a writers’ group, attending more conferences, and learning to write might not be such a bad idea.

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

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

It was somewhere along that point when I began entering Romance Writers of America National contests and ACFW’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 started the story in the wrong place.

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

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

A mere three years later, which seems like at least ten, my fourth book, Rodeo Dust just released through Heartsong Presents.

What's next? Rodeo Hero, the second book in my Texas rodeo series releases in March 2012. I'm currently working on book 3, Rodeo Ashes set to release in June 2012.

RODEO DUST

by Shannon Taylor Vannatter

Heartsong Presents,October 2011

Ad exec, Rayna Landers meets bull rider, Clay Warren at the State Fair of Texas. While Rayna thinks she’s content solo, Clay longs for marriage and family. Though poised to win his third world championship, his ranch is in a slump. Clay convinces his publicist to hire her advertising firm in 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 through the trauma, but an injury and his stubborn determination to get back in the hypothetical saddle threatens their budding relationship. Can they rely on God to find their common ground or will they draw a line in the rodeo dust that neither will cross?

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

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

The first book in her Texas rodeo series, Rodeo Dust will be available through Heartsong Presents in October. Rodeo Hero and Rodeo Ashes release in 2012. Learn more about Shannon and her books at http://shannonvannatter.com and check out her real life romance blog at http://shannonvannatter.com/blog/.

Author Journey ... Nicole Petrino-Salter

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 about horse 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 industry when they hear the mantra, "God told me to write it." This little phrase makes the Top Ten Things of what not to say at conferences or in any communication with professionals, the reason being that the instruction itself does not insure the individual who speaks it can actually write. And my first novel is very much a first effort. A huge tome that took 8 and 1/2 years to write during seven days a week of working at the track, homeschooling our son some of those years, and lay ministry at church. There would be six to nine month periods of no writing whatsoever. All the writing I managed was longhand in spiral notebooks. When it came time to decipher my handwriting and transport the story to the new computer my son received from my parents for graduation from high school, the "editing" began. Obviously that process only refined Hope Of Glory (yes, the O in of was capitalized on purpose) to a point since the saga wound up being 744 pages in a very tight template. Lots of unnecessary words in there and sooo many horse names.

Then the search for publication ensued, thinking once the book was written it could get published. Uh-huh. Silly girl. And very unschooled in the "biz". I don't know how to describe the sense that lurked in the background about self-publishing. Now some of you are laughing out loud. How else could a 744 page Christian novel about horse racing ever get any kind of traction from a Christian publisher - or any publisher for that matter? You're right. Not gonna happen. So I found an outfit that advertised in a Christian publication and followed up on it. As I look back, I figure they'd publish just about anything. I'm sure they've grown in their business practices since then, but suffice it to say, the end result was much inferior (with the exception of the cover) to my two novels produced by WinePress (The Famous One and Breath of Life). I won't wave the pricey tag in your face for Hope Of Glory because I don't want anyone accusing me of giving them heart palpitations. And this was after I received 1000 novels with two critical errors in them which the Lord showed me the next morning after they were delivered. I can't describe the sick feeling after all the jubilation. Those 1000 novels ended up at a recycler and the book took years to pay off. Hope Of Glory holds some interesting testimonies for all its clumsy construction, 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 learned significantly more about the biz, I submitted it to a well known Christian literary agency and the story made it into their final process for acceptance or rejection. Since it eventually ended up self-published, you know what they decided. A few years later I inquired at WinePress and purchased a package for the book which I should mention exceeds the norm for CBA novels in length (word count) which is why it's more expensive than most. To participate closely in the process after having the work edited by a professional (and surprisingly left mostly intact) proved to be rewarding. The marketing factor is the only downside to the experience.

And so it happened that before WinePress changed their packages, my latest novel Breath of Life got locked into an inexpensive package, and the process began again. And also again I'm in the uncomfortable position of attempting to market my work. Believe me, by this time 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 than word 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's all about the road God has chosen for me. And don't expect me to tell you why because I can't. Marketing is not my best suit. In fact marketing makes me feel like I'm standing exposed in my underwear. I can tell you I love the stories I've been inspired to write. I can talk about why they don't fit comfortably into some of the current CBA publishers' requirements. I can discuss the characters with you because I love them. But push you to buy a copy of one of them? Not so easy for me.

So why do it? Because nothing in this life is incidental. The Lord has His reasons 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 three more in progress. I keep going because He gives me characters and words to accommodate 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.

Shameless Shout Out for New Releases

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 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.

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:

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.

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, 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. He is overwhelmed with her pristine beauty and is challenged to change everything about the way he’s lived his life so 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 the State Fair of Texas. While Rayna thinks she’s content solo, Clay longs for marriage and family. Though poised to win his third world championship, his ranch is in a slump. Clay convinces his publicist to hire her advertising firm in 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 through the trauma, but an injury and his stubborn determination to get back in the hypothetical saddle threatens their budding relationship. Can they rely on God to find their common ground or will they draw a line in the rodeo dust that neither 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

Debut Author Spotlight ... Christine Lindsay

MUSE TO FRONT-COVER MODEL

by Christine Lindsay

My writing journey was birthed through the sense of loss.

After a 20-year separation, my birth-daughter Sarah and I were reunited. But her adoptive parents were heart-broken that I wanted to be a part of their child’s life after all these years. They couldn’t bear to meet me.

As for me—seeing the beautiful grown-up woman Sarah had become brought back all the pain of relinquishing her in the first place.

For months after the reunion I cried when the friendship I’d prayed for seemed as far away as it had been all the years of our closed adoption.

My husband came to me one day with a brand new pen and journal, and said, “Write it.”

That journal grew into a book, and I felt the call to put the emotional healing I had received from God into fiction.

Back then I didn’t know there was such a thing as ‘purple prose’. And I had the disease bad. I started to learn the craft through courses, attending conferences, joining critique groups . . .  I took my non-fictional, birth-mother story and set it in a romantic suspense.

I thought it was wonderful . . . until I sent it to an agent.

The 4 years I’d spent on learning the craft were only the beginning. Thankfully this agent saw some promise in my writing, and after a 6 month re-write they signed me and my manuscript.

My family and I rejoiced. “Publication won’t be long now.”

I didn’t know then how slowly the world of literature turns as my agent shopped out my book. Molasses in January is an over-used metaphor, but accurate. Two years later my agent broke the news to me that my first manuscript needed to be shelved . . . for now.

But as my agent had been shopping out that first book I had been busy writing. My second book would be more like a novel I liked to read. Similar to those by my favorite secular author, MM Kaye, who wrote the block-buster novel Far Pavilions in the 70’s. But I wanted to write my ‘British Raj’ novel from a Christian viewpoint.  Three years of research later, while working full-time and writing at night, I had another completed manuscript.

Again, I thought it was wonderful. And again, my agent thought it needed work. At this discouraging time someone suggested I join the American Christian Fiction Writers.

Through ACFW I met the critique partner that is my dearest writing friend to this day. Over the next year Rachel Phyfer helped me polish my British Raj novel.

But by now I’d been writing close to 7 years, and battled frequently with the question—had I heard God’s call to write? I’d turned down promotions and dropped down to part-time work because I felt writing was my priority. But had all this been merely my vain imagination?

Each day during my prayer time I hold this desire to write out on my open palm. But in 2008 I asked the Lord to either take it away or send me something super clear to encourage me to persevere.

That’s the year I won a scholarship to the ACFW conference.

There I met other writers, and got to know Rachel better. She encouraged me to enter the Genesis contest the following year. I did, and to my utter shock won the Gold Genesis for historical novel for 2009. Golden Keyes Parsons accepted on my behalf.

I thought for sure winning the Genesis would ease my way into publication. And it did open up opportunities. Major houses read my novel, other agents were interested. But alas, my setting in India didn’t appeal, and some editors thought my story leaned slightly toward the edgy Christian category.

By the fall of 2010 I received my final rejection. I’d been writing seriously for 10 years, and thought that was the end.

But one October morning I opened up an email. WhiteFire Publishing, a small and new house felt I had written a powerful story of redemptive love, and they loved the setting of India.

This last year has been a whirlwind. I’ve seen the Lord arrange for my birth-daughter Sarah to be the model on the front cover of my book. My kids and family are delighted.

My husband just grins and says, “I told you so.”

It’s been a long journey. Twelve years since I was reunited with Sarah and wrote out my pain in a journal, to getting an email from Sarah the other day that she received her copy of Shadowed in Silk in the mail.

Just another of those sweet serendipitous things God does to encourage me to persevere. My birth-daughter got to hold my literary baby before I did.

He does make dreams come true. Don’t give up!


You can find out more about Christine's inspiring adoption story on her website: http://www.christinelindsay.com/about.html


Christine also visited Spire Reviews back in May and told the beautiful story behind her cover: http://spirereviews.blogspot.com/2011/05/debut-author-spotlight-shadowed-in-silk.html.
*Warning - you may need to have tissues handy*

SHADOWED IN SILK

by Christine Lindsay

WhiteFire Publishing
335 pages

She was invisible to those who should have loved her.

After the Great War, Abby Fraser returns to India with her small son, where her husband is stationed with the British Army. She has longed to go home to the land of glittering palaces and veiled women . . . but Nick has become a cruel stranger. it will take more than her American pluck to survive.

Major Geoff Richards, broken over the loss of so many of his men in the trenches of France, returns to his cavalry post in Amritsar. But his faith does little to help him understand the ruthlessness of his British peers toward the Indian people he loves. Nor does it explain how he is to protect Abby Fraser and her child from the husband who mistreats them.

Amid political unrest, inhospitable deserts, and Russian spies, tensions rise in India as the people cry for the freedom espoused by Gandhi. Caught between their own ideals and duty, Geoff and Abby stumble into sinister secrets . . . secrets that will thrust them out of the shadows and straight into the fire of revolution.

Click here for Amazon Reviews


Christine Lindsay is an award-winning writer of Christian Inspirational Historicals. Shadowed in Silk is her debut novel, which won the 2009 ACFW Genesis award in the historical category. Christine, her husband, and their grownup family live in British Columbia, Canada. She loves being Nana to her three little grandsons.
http://www.christinelindsay.com/

Debut Author Spotlight ... Rose McCauley

WAITING, PATIENCE, PRAYER ... and RECEIVING MY FIRST CONTRACT

by Rose Allen McCauley

I have been writing for over nine years and joined ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) 8 years ago. My writing has steadily improved since then, but the elusive first contract had remained out of reach until Friday evening, September 17, 2010.

God has taught me many things over the past nine years, the main things being patience and learning to wait. When I awoke that morning and read my chapter in Jeremiah, there was a devotion by Catherine Marshall on the facing page, so I read it, too. It was entitled "Waiting". I told my roommate, Jennifer Johnson, about my devotion, then we attended a class, ate lunch, shopped at the mall, and went to the opening worship session at 3:30.

The worship leader Rachel Hauck, chose the song "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller for us to sing at most of our sessions. It begins:

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait.

Are you getting the message with me? Wait with patience! And keep serving and worshipping while you are waiting!

Next our president, Cynthia Ruchti, read from Colossians chapter three, and verse 12 was very familiar since it is posted on my bedroom mirror: "Therefore as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." That last word jumped out at me and I leaned over to Jennifer and told her God was still telling me to wait and learn patience.

Then Becky Germany, editor at Barbour Publishing, took the stage and said she was ready to announce the 2 new authors who would receive their "first contract", something Barbour has done at each conference. When she announced the name of the first story as Nick's Christmas Carol, it sounded vaguely familiar but I still didn't realize it was a story I had written until she said my name! Then I went up on stage in front of over 600 people, amid cheers and shouts, and was handed an envelope with my name on it and a letter offering me a contract for my first fiction story.

The best part was later on when one of my dear friends and prayer-partners, Connie Stevens who had received her first contract from Barbour in 2009, told me that God had impressed on her heart to pray for the ones who would receive their first contract the following year. So, she prayed that prayer that whole year and didn't know she was praying for me (and Donna Rich)!

Later that evening at the Barbour dinner, I told Donna about the prayer cycle Connie began, and we both agreed to continue it by praying for the persons who will receive their first contract in September, 2011. Kind of paying it forward by praying the prayer that was prayed for us. So, my advice to any yet-unpubbed author and to all of us, is to keep waiting patiently and praying and worshiping the One who deserves all our praise.

CHRISTMAS BELLES OF GEORGIA

by Rose McCauley

Jeanie Smith Cash

Jeri Odell

Debra Ullrick

Barbour Novella

September 2011

352 pages

Nick Powers worked hard to earn his college degree and his dream job. He doesn’t know what to expect when he finds out new owners will be taking over Bellingham Plantation soon. When Carol Peterson comes to town, she and Nick get off to a rocky start, but soon combine forces to make Christmas a happier time for others. Can they find their own Christmas happiness?

Rose McCauley has been writing for over ten years and has been published in several non-fiction anthologies and devotionals. She is happy for this to be her first fiction anthology because Christmas books are her favorites. A retired schoolteacher who has been happily married to her college sweetheart for 43 years, she is also mother to three grown children and their spouses and grandmother to three lovely, lively kids! You can reach her through her website www.rosemccauley.com or blogsite at www.rosemccauley.blogspot.com

Debut Author Spotlight ... JoAnn Durgin

THE STORY OF MY HEART

by JoAnn Durgin

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

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

AWAKENING

Torn Veil Books, November 2010
262 pages

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

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

Debut Author Spotlight ... Eddie Snipes

THE GRAVEL ROAD TO PUBLICATION

by Eddie Snipes

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

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

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

I CALLED HIM DANCER
by Eddie Snipes

GES Book Publishing, April 2011
292 pages

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

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

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

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

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

Debut Author Spotlight ... Sherry Kyle

Delivering A Debut Novel

by Sherry Kyle

Delivered with Love is my first novel, but not my first published book. I’ve written a couple of children’s books, one being the newly released nonfiction book, The Christian Girl’s Guide to Style, for girls ages 8 - 12.

I've wanted to be a writer since taking my first writing course at the Institute of Children’s Literature in 1998, but I’ve always have had a vivid imagination. In the fourth grade, I won an award for a story I wrote titled, “Friends Can Be So Mean.”

I started writing women’s fiction in 2007. Surprisingly, Delivered with Love is my first novel. I’ve had some wonderful mentors along the way and I can’t say enough about Mount Hermon Christian Writers Conference and American Christian Fiction Writers. My agent called and left a message that Delivered with Love was going to be published. I listened to it several times to make sure I heard it correctly and ran around the house screaming. My poor kids didn’t know what was happening! Honestly, seeing my novel in print makes my faith stronger. Through Christ all things are possible!

DELIVERED WITH LOVE
by Sherry Kyle

Abingdon Press, April 2011
352 pages

An old love letter found in the glove compartment of a young woman's inherited 1972 Volkswagen propels her to leave her life in Los Angeles and go to the small town of Capitola, California. There her dream of finding the writer of the letter leads her on an unexpected journey that changes her life forever.

Claire James, age twenty-three, is ready to make it on her own. When she's fired from her job as a waitress and subsequently kicked out of her sister's home, she sees it as an opportunity to start over. But even before moving, a thirty-five-year-old love letter written to her mother keeps Claire stuck in the past. Michael Thompson, a middle-aged real estate agent, wants to keep the past where it belongs - at least until his grown daughter is married. But, then a young woman comes to town . . .

Sherry Kyle is a graduate of Biola University with a degree in Communications, and a minor in Bible. She is the author of two books, The Christian Girl's Guide to Style for Tween Girls, and a contemporary novel, Delivered with Love. Sherry and her husband have four children, three biological and one by adoption. When she isn't writing, she enjoys jazz concerts, watching movies, reading and spending time with her family and friends. She lives in California. You can find her on the web at: http://www.sherrykyle.com/.

Debut Author Spotlight ... Linda Yezak

Hitting the Publication Trail

by Linda Yezak

My trail ride toward publication is a bit different from other authors. Mine is more of a “right place at the right time” tale.

The ride started out the same as everyone else’s. I made a list of agents I’d like to work with and publishing companies I was interested in, researched them like crazy, sent out my query letters, and waited. And waited. And waited.

As with many other writers, I received my share of rejections. Most of them were form letters primarily along the lines of “not what we’re looking for at the moment,” or “we’re not accepting new clients a present.” I got a rejection from White Rose Publishing that was my favorite–once I licked my wounds. The publisher wrote and let me know the weaknesses of my novel, pointing out various things to improve upon. The fact she’d read the entire submission was a terrific sign. As busy as agents/editors/publishers are, they don’t usually read past the first few pages. This one had read the entire first five chapters (the required submission for her company). Good sign.

I made repairs based on her suggestions, then hit the trail again. Amazingly, the rejection letters I received left me with the warm fuzzies. They liked the book, just couldn’t use it. For most companies, it was too short, measuring less than 60,000 words. For others, my novel didn’t follow the format they preferred. My mistake for not realizing there was a format! Oops!

So, just like everyone else, I submitted, waited, received rejection letters, submitted again. But after I received my last rejection letter, and while I was strolling the slippery slope of giving up, I got involved in an interesting venture. And that’s where my fork in the road to publication occurred.

A few years ago, a new writer joined ChristianWriters.com, a free community site for Christian authors of all kinds. This lady wrote poetry. As a rule, I’m not overly fond of contemporary poetry. I have one favorite, a gnarly Brit with a heart for Christ, and other than his, I don’t generally read poetry. But she wrote a poem in the old style, instead of today’s free verse, that caught my attention, and the content made me laugh out loud long enough and hard enough, my husband had to see what was up. This woman, Chila (Maggie) Woychik, later bought Port Yonder Press and has been wrangling it from its sea of red ink ever since.

Over time, I’d critiqued some of Chila’s work, and she critiqued some of mine. She was fond of my writing style and was very supportive of me. In March or so of 2010, I asked her if she could use some editing help at PYP. She did, and took me on immediately.

While I waited for my rejection letters, I worked for Chila as a consulting editor. So when that last rejection letter came in, and I was inches away from giving up, I asked Chila if she’d be interested in publishing Give the Lady a Ride. She said something akin to, “Are you kidding me? Of course, I’d like to publish it!” Talk about pulling me from the precipice! Her reaction truly was uplifting and encouraging.

After that, it was a wait to get my publication date. The novel was supposed to come out in October of 2011, but something happened and Chila wrote me in late January of this year. “Do you think your book is ready to go?”

“It’s been ready since 2009.” (What was I gonna say--no? It was so ready!)

After a quick review by her other consulting editors, she set me up with a March publication date, and well–as the dreaded cliche goes, the rest is history.

The Lord creates opportunities and nudges us into them. I believe this was one of his nudges!

GIVE THE LADY A RIDE
by Linda Yezak

SkySail Books, March 2011
254 pages

Patricia Talbert is a high-class social coordinator from New York.

Talon Carlson is a rugged bull rider from Texas.

He thinks she's too polished.

She thinks he's insane.

Opposites aren't quick to attract when the lady who enters the cowboy's world is on a mission to sell the ranch. But a box of letters changes her mission--letters of unshakable faith and a love deeper than anything she's ever experienced.

Soon she finds his integrity appealing. Her spunk draws him in. He has the faith she craves; she may be the love he longs for. But faith and love aren't achieved in a single weekend.

To buy time to explore the possibilities between them, she issues a challenge: "Teach me to ride bulls."

From here on, they're in for the ride of their lives.

Introducing Linda

Two-time ACFW Genesis finalist Linda Yezak resides in the state of Texas where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. Aside from being a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), she also belongs to Women Writing the West (WWW) and The Christian PEN. She lives in the heart of a forest with her husband, three cats, four ducks, and a pond full of fish.

AuthorCulture
777 Peppermint Place

White Roses

debut novel by Shannon Taylor Vannatter
(White Rose Trilogy #1)

Heartsong Presents
174 pages

More Than Romance

Back cover:
Grayson can't seem to move on.

Pastor Grayson Sterling loves his wife. The problem is, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver two years ago. Grayson knows he needs to move on, that the continuing depth of his grief is not healthy for him or his young son. Desperate, he convinces his church to hire Mark Welch as associate pastor to relieve him of some of his load. When Adrea Welch arrives at his church with her brother, Grayson cannot deny his attraction to her.

For years, florist Adrea Welch has been artfully arranging white roses for Sara Sterling. Now those flowers are carried to the cemetery by a faithful, grieving husband. How can Adrea be so attracted to a man still devoted to his dead wife?

When secrets from Adrea's past collide with their budding relationship, both she and Grayson must learn to lean on God's abiding wisdom.

Review:

As a Literature major, I’ll be the first to admit that I tend to be snobbish in my literary tastes. While I love strong romantic elements in a story, I typically cringe at the thought of reading straight romance. Give me lyrical prose or action/adventure or messy contemporaries, but please no romance. I want more than that.

Well, God has a way of opening my eyes.

A few years back I was blessed to be placed in a critique group with two other excellent writers: Shannon Taylor Vannatter and Lorna Seilstad. (You can find my review of Lorna’s debut novel, Making Waves, in a previous posting.) Lorna writes historical romance, and Shannon, contemporary romance.  Both Shannon and Lorna proved to me that you can write a sweet romance AND include authentic, broken lives.

White Roses begins in Romance, Arkansas, on February 14. The heroine, Adrea Welch, is a floral designer who dreads this day every year as it's the anniversary of the day she and her ex-fiancé were to be married. A marriage called off when she caught him with another woman shortly before the wedding. Ouch.

As Adrea’s arranging flowers at a church for a wedding, she meets Pastor Grayson Sterling, a man who still grieves the death of his wife Sara. A few years back, Sara was killed by a hit-and-run driver. Grayson still remembers her every year with a bouquet of white roses. Unknowingly arranged by Adrea.

When reading a romance, you already know the basic storyline. Girl meets boy. They fall in love and live happily-ever-after. What you don’t know is how Girl gets to that fairy-tale ending, and it’s the journey that makes the story worthwhile. Shannon Vannatter is an engaging storyteller who isn’t afraid to take unexpected paths in her works; she isn’t afraid to include broken people. Her characters are real, their lives complex, their faith genuine.

Her stories are more than romance.

So, thank you Shannon, for educating this literary snob and teaching me the diversity of story.

Meet Shannon

Central Arkansas author, Shannon Taylor Vannatter is a stay-at-home mom/pastor’s wife/writer. Like Janette Oke, she views her work as a ministry and her books as paper missionaries. Vannatter hopes to entertain Christian women and plant seeds in the non-believer’s heart as her characters struggle with real-life issues. Their journeys, from ordinary lives to extraordinary romance through Christ-centered relationships, demonstrate that love doesn’t conquer all, Jesus does.

White Rose Trilogy
White Roses, now available in stores
White Doves, currently available through Heartsong Presents. In stores, April 2011.
White Pearls, available through Heartsong Presents, Jan 2011, in stores, July 2011

http://www.shannonvannatter.com
http://www.inkslingerblog.com
http://www.inkspirationalmessages.com