Author Spotlight: Julie Lessman

Hi friends! Today, our author spotlight is on Julie Lessman! Everyone, say hello to Julie! I am so excited Julie is here! She has graciously offered to do a giveaway! Three Winners! Without further ado, let's get to know Julie and her books A Wing and a Prayer and Love's Silver Bullet.

Author Bio:
Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-20, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner.

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.

Julie Lessman
“Passion with a Purpose"
Daughters of Boston Series
A Passion Most Pure--ACFW Debut Book of the Year, Holt Medallion Merit
A Passion Redeemed--Inspirational Reader’s Choice Finalist
A Passion Denied--Borders Best: Your Favorite Fiction
Winds of Change Series
A Hope Undaunted--Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction 2010
Family Fiction magazine 2011 and 2012 Readers Choice Awards
#1 Romance Author of the Year
Heart of San Francisco Series
Surprised by Love--Family Fiction magazine Top Ten Novels of 2014
A Light in the Window
2013 International Digital Award
2013 Readers' Crown Award
2013 Book Buyers Best Award
Isle of Hope Series
Isle of Hope: Unfailing Love--Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015
Family Fiction’s “Essential Christian Romance Authors" 2017


A Wing and a Prayer

A Wing and a Prayer Back Cover Blurb

A Wing and a Prayer is Julie's 8th novel in her continuing Irish family saga about the close-knit O’Connor clan from The Daughters of Boston and Winds of Change series, kicking off a new stand-alone series about the O’Connor Cousins during WW2. Here’s the jacket blurb:

She’s dead-set on giving everything to the war overseas …

Even if it means losing everything in a war of the heart.

A street orphan abused and abandoned by an alcoholic father at age five, Gabriella (Gabe) O’Connor has never let a man stand in her way yet. So when a handsome flight officer thwarts her plans to become a Women Airforce Service Pilot, she’s determined to join the war effort anyway she can. Her chance comes when she “borrows” foreign correspondent credentials from the Boston Herald—where her father is the editor—to stow away on a medical ship to the front.

Lieutenant Reece Kincaid pegs Gabe O’Connor as trouble the moment she steps foot on Avenger Field as a WASP cadet. As the eldest brother of a boy whose jaw Gabe broke in grade school, Reece is familiar with her reputation as both a charismatic ringleader and a headstrong hooligan who’s challenged every male and nun from grade school to college. As her WASP flight instructor, Reece eventually expels Gabe when she pulls a dangerous stunt. But when he is an evacuation pilot in France eight months later, their lives intertwine once again, exposing them to a danger as perilous as the German tanks roaming the Reichswald Forest: a love that neither expects.

A WING AND A PRAYER TRAILER/VIDEO: https://bit.ly/2Vg0qGr

A WING AND A PRAYER BUY LINK: https://amzn.to/2RR0Cud


ENDORSEMENTS:

“A Wing and a Prayer is set against a thrilling stretch of time. Two characters at odds with each other … with an attraction so powerful it can't be resisted, though they certainly try.” —Mary Connealy, award-winning author of Brides of Hope Mountain Series

“A Wing and a Prayer isn't just a great novel, it's an epic story that follows star-crossed lovers through the dangerous times of World War II” — MaryLu Tyndall, award-winning author of Legacy of the King's Pirates.

“Julie Lessman is a masterful author. A Wing And A Prayer … is a powerful Christian historical novel that explores love and trust in God in times of war.” –The Christian Bookaholic

A Wing and a Prayer is a well-researched, captivating glimpse into life during World War 2 ... a fun but meaningful romance from the Kissing Queen herself, A Wing and a Prayer is a must-read for fans of Sundin, Breslin, and Gohlke! –Reading is my SuperPower Blog

Love's Silver Bullet

Love's Silver Bullet Back Cover Blurb

Love’s Silver Bullet is book 3 in is Julie's Silver Lining Ranch series, which are historical western novels in the lighter vein of Mary Connealy, Karen Witemeyer, and Margaret Brownley. Set in Virginia City, Nevada from 1860-1880s on the heels of the Transcontinental Railroad and the Comstock Lode era, Love’s Silver Bullet continues the “Bonanza” style family saga of the O’Shea and McShane families in which suffragist heroines butt heads and hearts with stubborn cowboy heroes during a time when women didn’t yet have the right to vote. Here’s the jacket blurb:

She’s targeting his love. He’s aiming to steer clear.

Till true love picks them off in a bull’s-eye of the heart.

Eighteen-year-old Sheridan Donovan has been in love with Jake Sullivan since the age of four, when she used to tag after him and her big brothers on the Silver Lining Ranch. From little on, Jake has been her hero, convincing her brothers to play school and wedding with her whenever she’d begged and cried. From horsey rides and tickle fests to his sweet willingness to be her pretend groom, Jake’s gentleness and affection had nurtured two dreams in Sheridan’s heart—becoming both a teacher and Mrs. Jake Sullivan. Preferably not in that order.

At the age of thirty, Jake figures he pretty much has everything he needs at the moment. A good job as the Assistant Foreman for Silver Lining Ranch, great friends in Blaze and Dash Donovan, and a true mentor in their uncle and owner of the ranch, Finn McShane, the man who’d given him a family to replace the one he lost. But when Finn’s niece, Sheridan—Blaze’s and Dash’s little sister to whom Jake became a big brother as well—turns eighteen, Jake discovers there’s one more thing he needs: distance and lots of it. From pinafores and bows at age six to overalls and dirt till age fifteen, the grown-up Sheridan looks nothing like the little girl who’d once been his constant shadow, now transformed into a young woman who races his heart. Painfully aware that Sheridan is determined to win his love, Jake is equally determined to keep a promise to her uncle, a promise that not only shoots a hole in his well-ordered life, but in his heart as well.

LOVE’S SILVER BULLET TRAILER/VIDEO: https://bit.ly/2XA7VYC

LOVE’S SILVER BULLET BUY LINK: https://amzn.to/2TGE3JQ


ENDORSEMENTS:

“I have loved Julie Lessman's writing for years, but I can't believe how great she writes cowboys. I love westerns and reading Julie's version is pure fun.” —Mary Connealy, award-winning author of Brides of Hope Mountain Series

“JULIE LESSMAN + WESTERN ROMANCE = GOLD RUSH! You heard it here, folks. I think Julie Lessman was created to write westerns." —Reading is my SuperPower Blog

“Whoa, Whoa, Whoa! If you think sparks were flying between characters in Julie Lessman's Daughters of Boston novels, then you have GOT to get a load of her new Silver Lining Ranch” novels.” —My Favorite Pastime Blog

Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Julie Lessman and A Wing and a Prayer and Love's Silver Bullet. Julie is giving away an e-copy of A Wing and a Prayer or Love's Silver Bullet to 3 lucky winners! Winners will be selected Saturday night. Leave your comment and include your name and email address to be entered in the contest.


Below are links to buy A Wing and a Prayer and Love's Silver Bullet and to connect with Julie Lessman:

A Wing and a Prayer: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0848L5XLZ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=a+wing+and+prayer+lessman&qid=1580223365&s=digital-text&sr=1-1

Love’s Silver Bullet: https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Silver-Bullet-Lining-Ranch-ebook/dp/B083G9SKMW/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2HU4RGOAE2QH2&keywords=love%27s+silver+bullet&qid=1580223451&s=digital-text&sprefix=LOVE%27S+SILVER+%2Cdigital-text%2C172&sr=1-1

Connect with Julie: www.julielessman.com

Thank you so much for joining us, Julie!


If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
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Lean into the Storm! by Yvonne Weers

Today's post is by Yvonne Weers. Enjoy!

Do the storms of your writing career feel like a tornado of whirling emotions? Believe me, I’ve taken a direct hit or two. But God didn’t promise me smooth sailing. Instead, he taught me that even the most fragile person can find strength to weather a storm.

Some years ago, my husband and I, along with our two school-aged children, rented a beach-front condo at the Lake of the Ozarks. At the time I was suffering from a long undiagnosed illness and one symptom was chronic fatigue. So, I rarely explored vacation spots with my family, opting instead to stay behind and rest.

Alone at the condo, I’d pleaded with God to heal me, as I often did, or at least lead me to a doctor who could diagnose this mysterious illness. But it seemed his answers were always the same: “Focus on Me. Live each day in the moment. And trust my timing.” I wish I could say I took it well. But alas, many days I failed at waiting on God.

That night, sirens blared, so I turned on the news to learn a tornado was heading our way. As I closed the living room drapes, lightning flashed in continuous strobes illuminating the whitecaps on the bay. Boats rocked fiercely against their moorings, and the rain came down in horizontal sheets. But there on the shore stood a single blue Herron, bracing against the wind.

Fascinated, I lingered mesmerized by the scene, unable to tear myself away. I couldn’t help but think, “Scat, you dumb bird! Find some shelter! Don’t you know you’re in danger?” But he wouldn’t budge. Would he survive the tornado?

I watched in complete awe as something wholly unexpected happened. That magnificent creature stretched out its long neck and leaned into the wind. The harder it blew, the stronger he stood!

And then it hit me; if a fragile bird can endure such a battering, could I do it too? The answer dropped into my heart like a gentle whisper, “Lean into the storm like the Herron! You’re going to be okay.”

God instructed me to be tough and steadfast like a bird in a storm. He didn’t answer my prayer the way I wanted him to. Instead, he taught me how to endure my illness. What a valuable lesson for many things in life.

I’m happy to report that after forty years I have a diagnosis. Lyme Disease, the great mimicker of many diseases. Since then, I’ve finished treatments and gained a new lease on life through my arduous journey. As far as my writing career goes…well, let’s just say I’m amid the whirlwinds of the publishing world and still standing. I know now that God’s timing is perfect. One day I’ll be a published author. But until then, I’m leaning in.

Author Bio
Yvonne Weers is a California transplant who settled in the flyover country of Nebraska. She writes short mysteries for Woman’s World Magazine, and novels filled with suspense and inspirational romance. Connect with her on the Internet at: https://www.yvonneweers.com/.

Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed Yvonne's post!

Thank you so much for joining us here today, Yvonne!

If you'd like to submit a devotion or a writing related post or a post on another topic, just let me know.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Author Spotlight: Laura Kestner

Hi friends! Today, our author spotlight is on Laura Kestner! Everyone, say hello to Laura! She is a dear friend of mine. Without further ado, let's get to know Laura and her book A Texas Promise.

Author Bio:
Laura Conner Kestner spent 25 years in community journalism before deciding to pursue a career in fiction. Her first novel, Remember Texas, was published in 2018, and the sequel, A Texas Promise, in 2019.

Born in Fort Worth, Laura is a seventh-generation Texan. She is happily married to the “boy next door” and they have two children, and six grandchildren.

In her free time, Laura enjoys photography, researching and writing non-fiction articles about Texas history, watching old black-and-white movies, doing genealogy research, reading, and most of all, spending time with her family.

She’s thankful for God’s grace, her family, and an opportunity to do the work she loves.

Laura’s won several writing awards, including a Genesis Award from the American Christian Fiction Writers, a Daphne du Maurier award for excellence in mystery/suspense from the RWA Kiss of Death chapter, and an Emma Merritt award from RWA SARA. She’s a three-time GOLDEN HEART® finalist, a 2019 HOLT Medallion finalist, a 2019 WILL ROGERS MEDALLION AWARD finalist, and also a WILL ROGERS finalist for 2020.


A Texas Promise Back Cover Blurb

When Sheriff Eli Calhoun first sees Maggie Radford she’s just escaped from a burning insane asylum. The young woman is disoriented, disheveled and dressed in rags. Even after questioning her, Eli’s sure of only two things—she’s lying about something and she’s terrified.

Unjustly confined to an asylum, Maggie Radford did what was necessary to escape—and now it haunts her. She asks God for forgiveness, even as she continues to spin a web of lies and deceit. She wants to trust the Moccasin Rock sheriff, but she can’t tell anyone the truth. There are people searching for her, including the man who had her committed.
As Eli works to piece together Maggie’s story, he’s also dealing with his own troubles. As a young boy he witnessed a shooting and is now stunned to discover that the gunman is a powerful business owner with political ambitions. Eli wants to stop him, but the would-be politician has plans of his own.

Complicating matters is an old deputy with a hidden past, an orphan baby, a young boy with a secret, and a midwife with a tragic story of her own.

As the danger escalates for both Maggie and Eli, their faith is tested and their developing relationship is tried. They must work together to solve the mysteries of the past—before their future is cut short.


Interesting Tidbit

For many years I wrote for small-town newspapers, and that influenced my fiction. My favorite stories to research for the newspapers were the historical features—the stories of an area’s earliest settlers. Gun-toting preachers who presented the gospel in brush arbors and tabernacles, train-robbing outlaws, once-thriving towns where there’s nothing left but a cemetery. I didn’t want to use those specific stories, of course, (and most of the time there wasn’t much information available, anyway). So, I asked myself two questions when I’d find something interesting: What if? and What Now? Then I let my imagination run wild.

Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Laura Kestner and A Texas Promise.

Below are links to buy A Texas Promise and to connect with Laura Kestner:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Texas-Promise-Laura-Conner-Kestner-ebook/dp/B07YVNG9JW/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=a+texas+promise+laura+kestner&qid=1595892679&sr=8-1
Website: http://lauraconnerkestner.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauraconnerkestner/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraConnerKest


Thank you so much for joining us, Laura!


If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Author Spotlight: Meghann Whistler

Hi friends! Today, our author spotlight is on Meghann Whistler. Everyone, say hello to Meghann! Without further ado, let's get to know Meghann and her book Falling for the Innkeeper.

Author Bio:
Meghann Whistler writes sweet Christian romance novels that won’t make your grandmother blush.

A hopeless romantic who met her husband on a blind date, Meghann recently left her marketing career to pursue her lifelong passion of writing sweet, hopeful stories that demonstrate the power of love and grace.

Before settling down with her rocket scientist husband and raising three rambunctious boys, she earned a B.A. in English from Amherst College and an M.F.A. in creative writing from Emerson College. She loves to hear from her readers, who can reach her at https://www.meghannwhistler.com/.


Falling for the Innkeeper Back Cover Blurb

A battle for a charming Cape Cod inn… But what happens when romance checks in?

Single mom Laura Lessoway won’t accept her mother’s plan of selling her late grandmother’s inn without a fight. But when big-city attorney Jonathan Masters arrives to arrange an offer from a client, she’s drawn to him. And working together as he helps with repairs only brings them closer. With his career and her home on the line, can they ever find common ground?

Interesting Tidbit

My maternal grandparents owned a Cape Cod inn that’s a lot like the one in the book! I grew up spending my summers there, and I have many fond memories of playing hide-and-seek in the sand dunes with my siblings and cousins, collecting sea glass as I strolled along the shore, and walking out on the nearby jetty with my family.

The real-life inn never had a rat problem like the one in Falling for the Innkeeper, but a few months before I sold the book to my publisher, we had a rat loose in our house! This was a super-smart rat, too, because it eluded all of my husband’s carefully placed traps for weeks, and he had to resort to laying down a line of glue traps to finally catch the pesky rodent!

Suffice it to say that when I was thinking about something that would impress my heroine, Laura, a man who was willing and able to help her rid the inn of rats was the first thing that came to mind!



Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Meghann Whistler and Falling for the Innkeeper.

Below are links to buy Falling for the Innkeeper:

AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2Wvcc0a
CHRISTIANBOOK: https://bit.ly/2VRxkNN
TARGET: https://bit.ly/2SqXwwN
WALMART: https://bit.ly/2KQJqAq
BARNES & NOBLE: https://bit.ly/2Ynunq6
GOOGLE PLAY: https://bit.ly/3bTZDA9
APPLE BOOKS: https://apple.co/2Zsl8W9
INDIGO (Canada): https://bit.ly/3dGKRhm
AMAZON.CA (Canada): https://amzn.to/3bBApq9
BOOK DEPOSITORY (Free International Shipping): https://bit.ly/2XjZvoa

Meghann’s Social Media Links

Facebook: https://facebook.com/authormeghannwhistler
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeghannWhistler
Instagram: https://instagram.com/meghannwhistler/

Thank you so much for joining us, Meghann!


If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Don't Fret by Linda Yezak

Today's devotion post is by Linda Yezak. Enjoy!

Author Bio:
Linda W. Yezak lives with her husband and their funky feline, PB, in Texas, where tall tales abound and exaggeration is an art form. She has a deep and abiding love for her Lord, her family, and salted caramel. And coffee, with a caramel creamer. Author of award-winning books and short stories, she didn't begin writing professionally until she turned fifty. Taking on a new career every half century is a good thing.

Do Not Fret

Times are hard these days. News is seldom good. Horrible things are happening all over the country, all over the world. Knowing his time is short, the evil one is fiercer now than ever before. Gone are even the hint of subtleties—the father of lies has gone all-out in order to steal, kill, and destroy, making no secret of his mission. Illness. Civil unrest and anarchy. Economic hardships. We live in uncertainty, yet of one thing we are certain: we are living in the end times. We don’t know where we are in the overall spectrum or how soon we’ll be able to see every knee finally bow before our triumphant Savior, but we know that things don’t get easier from here. In fact, a reading of Daniel’s prophecies and a quick glimpse of Revelation are enough to let us know we’re in for some rough times.

In the face of everything going on, the phrase “do not fret” sounds trite, if not like an impossibility. How can we not fret? How can we not wring our hands in fear and worry? All over the world right now, believers are either clinging to the cross, seeking comfort in His presence, or they are developing plans to weather the hardship. Hoarding doesn’t sound like such a bad idea these days, does it? It gives us the sense that we’re doing something—anything—to safeguard ourselves and our families from the unknowns to come.

But it is God who tells us, “Do not fret.” He says it not once, but three times in Psalm 37:1-13. “Do not fret because of evildoers.” “Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way.” “Cease from anger and forsake wrath; do not fret—it only causes harm.”

He tells us instead: “Trust in the Lord and do good. Commit your way to the Lord. Rest in the Lord and wait patiently for Him.”

He says, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart ...Trust also in Him and He shall bring it to pass.”

He promises that “the meek shall inherit the earth and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.”

And He says, “Do not fret.”

It’s almost as if He doesn’t know us at all, isn’t it? How many times have we taken something to His throne only to snatch it back? If you know this to be true of yourself, then imagine yourself multiplied by thousands upon thousands of believers the world over who do the exact same thing. God should know by now that His children stink at surrendering our pains, problems, and fears to Him for any length of time. We’re all a bunch of Peters, clamoring to prove our faith by climbing out of the boat and onto the wave-tossed sea, only to take our eyes from the One who can keep us above the tumult.

Here’s why we should take our fears to Him and leave them there: He knows.

“For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more . . . The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him for He sees that his day is coming . . . The Lord knows the days of the upright and their inheritance shall be forever” (Ps. 37:10, 12-13, 18).

He already knows what is to come. He knows what is in store for us and what is in store for the enemy. He has already conquered. He is already victorious.

He’s God. And because He’s God, He is more than able to handle our fears. “The Lord upholds the righteous” (vs 17) and “does not foresake His saints” (vs 28).

Wait on the Lord and keep His way. And don’t fret. “It only causes harm.”


Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed Linda's post! He knows, says it all. Thank you so much for joining us, Linda!

Below are links to connect with Linda:
Website:https://www.lindawyezak.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LindaWYezak/
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Linda-Yezak/e/B004QX62BI
Newsletter: http://dld.bz/CoffeewithLinda
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/lyezak/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaYezak
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4688488.Linda_W_Yezak
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/linda-w-yezak


If you'd like to submit a devotion or a writing related post, just let me know.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Author Spotlight: Randall Dunn

Hi friends! Today, our author spotlight is on Randall Dunn. Everyone, say hello to Randall! He writes YA paranormal thrillers that build character through fiction, demonstrating courage, friendship, acceptance, faith, and self-sacrifice. Let's get to know Randall and The Red Rider Saga.

Author Bio:
D.A. Randall is the fantasy and paranormal thriller pen name of Randall Allen Dunn, who was raised on a steady diet of Star Trek and The Twilight Zone before pursuing his studies of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, Harry Potter, The Lunar Chronicles, and Doctor Who. He has taught writing, acting, and storytelling techniques to teens and adults. He now writes fantasy and paranormal thrillers that read like blockbuster movies. Action-packed, fast-paced & fun, with larger-than-life heroes wrestling with moral dilemmas and diabolical villains. He publishes Character Entertainment stories that build character through fiction, demonstrating courage, friendship, acceptance, faith, and self-sacrifice.

Overview of Randall's books:
The Red Rider Saga is a YA Paranormal Thriller series about a 16-year old scarfaced Red Riding Hood fighting a sinister cult of werewolves in a fairy tale French province. At age 7, Helena Basque was attacked by a large wolf that killed her Grand’Mere and left her with triple scars across her face. No one believed Helena when she said that the wolf stood upright and spoke to her. Her parents tried to protect her from further harm by limiting their travels and forbidding her to wear her bright red cloak, fearing it would draw too much attention. But as Helena grows older and sees no one stepping in to stop the wolf attacks, she determines to learn how to hunt down the wolves herself.

At age sixteen, she dons a red hooded cloak like the one she was once forbidden to wear, using it as a symbol of striking back at the wolves. Armed with a repeating crossbow and other unique weapons, she sets out to hunt down and destroy the wolves and free her province from their reign of fear.

The Red Rider Saga is an ongoing series, starting with The Red Rider and its sequel, Red Rider Rising, and continuing with the third book, Red Rider Redemption, releasing in August.
The series centers on several themes, all of which surround Helena. Feelings of isolation and ostracism, which are sometimes chosen for the sake of doing what is right. Fear of bullying, whether it is physical, psychological, or social. Questions of when and if it is right for a person of faith to kill. Questions of who to put your trust in, and how God often leads and provides for us in subtle ways. And above all, what makes someone truly beautiful or valuable – their appearance or social standing or power, or their bravery and kindness and self-sacrifice? Helena sees herself as ugly, and so do many people in the village of La Rue Sauvage. But those who know her well don’t see her facial scars, but the beautiful person underneath. It’s often easier for other people to see our true worth, which is hidden from us.

Information on books
When I first created the character, I was inspired by two things: the Red Riding Hood movie, which turned the Big, Bad Wolf into a werewolf, and the TV series, Once Upon a Time, which turned Snow White into a Robin Hood style hunter in the forest. I combined these ideas to create the Red Rider, a teenage Red Riding Hood who rises up to fight back against the wolves who terrorized her as a child.

I believe this story resonates with people in a deep way, because Little Red Riding Hood is literature’s greatest victim. An innocent little girl sent on a risky journey through the woods, who sees nothing wrong with telling a talking wolf where she’s headed, and later is duped into thinking the wolf is her grandmother. But in The Red Rider Saga, although Helena/Red Riding Hood grows up feeling terrified, she learns how to hunt the wolves and fight back. Seeing this horribly bullied little girl turn the tables and become a terror to her savage enemies, at great risk and personal sacrifice, makes us eager to see her win.

This is a paranormal action thriller, with a clear thread of faith throughout. Helena has a close relationship with her priest, Father Vestille, a longtime friend of the family. But her relationship with him becomes strained when she fears that he won’t take the necessary action to stop the wolf attacks. Still, Helena continues to seek out Father Vestille for guidance and prayer, and he encourages her to see her true worth, and to trust God to help her do what’s right.

Randall shares about his writing process:

When I start a new story idea, I write notes of action scenes and dialogue. I often listen to action movie soundtracks that fit those scenes and think through the details of the scene while I’m out driving, adding in details that fit the music score. Once I have enough story notes to organize them and create an outline, I start writing the story straight through. Once the first draft is done, I start a tedious process that I love and hate. I create detailed backstory for each major character, with physical description, dates of major personal events, the history of their relationships with family and friends, and significant life events. It’s frustrating because it takes forever, but it’s extremely freeing because it helps me catch plot holes I would have completely missed, and helps me discover new story details to make the story feel much more real and concrete. Then it’s a breeze to write the second draft, and needs very little revision. I then take beta readers’ feedback to catch any final errors, and it’s done.

Interesting tidbit about the books or yourself:

I published the original novel, The Red Rider, in 2013. Over the years, I’ve received high praise for the novel and its sequel, but very few people had discovered them. I decided to revise the storyline, to re-release it as more books that are shorter in length. The revised stories will also include some added details and scenes that previous readers will really enjoy, much like when the original Star Wars trilogy was re-released in theatres with extra scenes and surprises. The new version of The Red Rider is actually a brand new novella, that takes place during the events of the original novel. The story events of the original Red Rider book are reformatted in Book 2: Red Rider Rising, and the upcoming Book 3: Red Rider Redemption, which contains a lot of brand new material.

These are sketches of Helena Basque/The Red Rider, and her adversary, the werewolf Grenault.
















Below are links to connect with Randall and where you can buy his books:

Social media links:
https://www.randallallendunn.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RandallAllenDunn
https://twitter.com/randalladunn
https://www.instagram.com/dunnrandallallen/
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZGeMw_uI69dXkF6mBYTHMw
https://www.amazon.com/Randall-Allen-Dunn/e/B009BQGC6U

Thank you so much for joining us, Randall!


If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Grab a copy of Randall's books and enjoy your day!

Writers, Have You Heard About The Occupation Thesaurus?

Hi everyone! Today I have something fun to share...a special chance to win some help with your writing bills. Awesome, right?

Some of you may know Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi of Writers Helping Writers. Well, today they are releasing a new book, and I'm part of their street team. I'm handing the blog over to them so they can tell you a bit about their Writer's Showcase event, new book, and a great freebie to check out. Read on!

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Certain details can say a lot about who someone is, like a character's goals, desires, and backstory wound. But did you know there's another detail that can tie your character's arc to the plot, provide intense, multi-layered conflict, AND shorten the "get to know the character" curve for readers?

It's true. Your character's occupation is a GOLD MINE of storytelling potential.

Think about it: how much time do you spend on the job? Does it fulfill you or frustrate you? Can you separate work from home? Is it causing you challenges, creating obstacles, or helping you live your truth?

Just like us, most characters will have a job, and the work they do will impact their life. The ups and downs can serve us well in the story.

Maybe you haven't thought much about jobs in the past and how they act as a window into your character's personality, interests, and skills. It's okay, you aren't alone. The good news is that The Occupation Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide to Jobs, Vocations, and Careers is going to do all the heavy lifting for you. You'll be able to pick the perfect job for them and discover how to weave it into the very fabric of the story. (Here's one of the jobs profiled in this book: FIREFIGHTER.)

GIVEAWAY ALERT: THE WRITER'S SHOWCASE

To celebrate the release of a new book, Becca and Angela are running a giveaway from July 20th through July 23rd. You can win some great prizes, including gift certificates that can be spent on writing services within the Writer's Showcase. Stop by to enter if you like!

Resource Alert: A List of Additional Jobs Profiles For Your Characters!

Some of the amazing writers in our community have put together additional career profiles for you, based on jobs they have done in the past.

What a great way to get accurate information so you can better describe the roles and responsibilities that go with a specific job, right? To access this list, GO HERE.https://writershelpingwriters.net/contributed-occupations/

Happy writing to all!

To My Son on His Wedding Day

To My Son on His Wedding Day

I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday.

Your first steps, your first words, your first day of school.

I remember all your lasts. The last tooth you lost. Your last day of high school. Your last night at home. Your last day in Virginia.

Now, you are starting a whole new list of firsts. Your first day married. Sharing a life with your wife. Your new name: husband.

I love you so much, son. Here’s to all those upcoming firsts. And to giving me a beautiful, smart, loving daughter.


To My New Daughter on Her Wedding Day

I remember the day I met you for the first time.

We went to the covered bridge and toured campus. We then went to the Museum of Geosciences at Derring Hall and viewed the fossils, volcanoes, and rocks.

I said I didn't even know I had been missing you.

You filled a piece in my heart I didn't know was empty waiting for you to complete it.

Today, I give you my heart, my son.

Here's to your new life together. Your new names as husband and wife. Your new days together, praying together, loving together, making a life together. I pray God richly blesses your life.

I love you, my daughter!

Cory and Mercy, I love you both so much! Happy Wedding Day!!
July 18, 2020

The Gift of Grace: A Frontier Love Novella by Julie Lessman

Fun and laughter, hope and joy, that's what Grace brings to Pastor Cole. She thought she could never be good enough with her past, he thought he'd never find another woman to measure up as his wife and mother to his children. But sometimes God gives us what we need instead of what we think we want, the gift of grace. Such a powerful inspirational short story loosely tied to the Silver Lining Ranch series.

Julie Lessman's books take you for a ride. And since there is a whole series of these characters, you can start with this one, and get lost in the other books, one after the other! If you enjoy inspirational westerns, fun and romance, and real to life characters, pick up this book!

I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Julie Lessman will be here on Thursday, July 30 with a giveaway!

Follow my blog so you don't miss a post. I also post author spotlights on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Wednesdays are devotional posts or posts related to writing or another topic. If you'd like to submit a book review or an author spotlight, content must be for inspirational or clean stories, fiction or nonfiction. You can contact me through my website listed below. I also post the first Thursday of the month at https://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com/

Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/


https://www.amazon.com/Gift-Grace-Frontier-Love-Novella-ebook/dp/B0741Q1GYF/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=gift+of+grace+by+julie+lessman&qid=1591795229&sr=8-1

Author Spotlight: Kaye Schmitz

Hi friends! Today I have the pleasure of spotlighting author Kaye Schmitz. Everyone, say hello to Kaye! Without further ado, let's get to know Kaye and her new book On Deadly Grounds.

Author Bio:
Kaye Schmitz is the author of the award-winning novel, THE CONSORT CONSPIRACY, A Covington Family Mystery. Active in the writing community, she is a member of the Florida Writers’ Association, Sisters in Crime (national and local), and International Thriller Writers. She is also an active speaker and teaches a writers’ workshop titled, “We All Have a Story to Tell.” Ms. Schmitz makes her home in St. Augustine, FL where she lives with her husband, Michael.

Blurb:
My newest book is ON DEADLY GROUNDS and was released on May 8 by Lamplighter Suspense, an Imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, a division of Iron Stream Media. I have LOVED working with them. One of my favorite early readers was Steve Berry, International Bestselling author of nineteen novels, who even gave me a blurb for the cover. Here’s the book’s back cover copy to give readers a look at the story.

On the eve of an international G7 Summit, event coordinator Mattie Maguire discovers that the venue, a century-old estate close to Asheville, NC, is more than simply a picturesque setting. It is also the center of political conspiracies involving a ruthless Russian spy ring that will stop at nothing to steal the massive fortune they believe to be hidden there. The search intensifies and a rogue Russian agent attacks Mattie’s grandmother, still living on the estate. She hovers in a coma, barely clinging to life.

As Mattie struggles to protect her family and ensure a safe event for the most important leaders in the world, her discovery of a fraudulent heir to the estate puts her own life in danger as well. But when her eighty-five-year-old grandfather is kidnapped and held at gunpoint, her path becomes clear. Despite her fear, she must locate the only person who has the information the Russians seek—the estate’s rightful heir, hidden away for decades after the murder of his father. But will the true owner’s return to his childhood home put his life in danger, too?

Inspiration for ON DEADLY GROUNDS:
So far, my stories have been inspired by real life events in history and this one is no different. My inspiration was the 1929 Beverly Hills murder of Ned Doheny, supposedly by his male secretary, who then turned the gun on himself. Forensics at the crime scene didn’t match up with the story told by those in the house at the time, so to this day, there is still speculation about who did the actual shooting…or if a third person was involved who shot both of them. My husband and I visited the mansion grounds several years ago and the story intrigued me so much, I had to write about it.

Interestingly, when I visited Asheville again in December 2019, I learned that the architect for Biltmore, Henry Morris Hunt, the person I had put in my book as also designing and building Clairmont Place (the century-old mansion where a lot of the action takes place) died in 1895, prior to the actual opening of Biltmore. I got in touch with my editor immediately and let her know that I needed to change that section of my book to say he designed it only, since he had died before it was built. I have no idea how I missed that critical fact during my research. Fortunately, I was able to fix my story before the book was released.

A few tidbits about me:
• I have a lighted 75-house Christmas village that I assemble every October and take down every February.
• I am a former first place winner in a ballroom dance competition in, of all places, Asheville!! (That’s close to where ON DEADLY GROUNDS takes place).
• Prior to theaters closing, I had a standing Monday-night movie date with my husband.


Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Kaye Schmitz and her book On Deadly Grounds.

Other books:
My first book was THE CONSORT CONSPIRACY, a dual timeline that takes place two hundred years apart, where modern day Kate Covington solves not only a two-hundred-year-old murder, but also discovers who killed her own mother. And I recently finished my third book, THE ROAD REMEMBERED, which takes place mostly during World War II. I describe it as BAND OF BROTHERS meets THE NIGHTINGALE.

Currently working on:
The sequel to ON DEADLY GROUNDS, with a working title of FROM DEADLY TIES, in which Mattie and Daniel Scott, who has become important in her life, are featured.


Below are links to connect with Kaye and buy her book On Deadly Grounds:

Link to book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084CSYGNK/
Website: https://www.kayedschmitzauthor.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kayedschmitz/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kayeschmitzauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kayedschmitz


If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Grab a copy of Kaye's book and enjoy your day!

Author Spotlight: Laurie Wood

Hi friends! Today, our author spotlight is on Laurie Wood. Everyone, say hello to Laurie! Without further ado, let's get to know Laurie and her book Northern Hearts.

Author Bio:
Laurie Wood is a military wife who’s lived across Canada and visited six of its ten provinces. She and her husband have raised two wonderful children with Down Syndrome to adulthood, and their son and daughter are a wonderful blessing to their lives. Over the years, Laurie’s books have finaled in prestigious contests such as the Daphne du Maurier (twice), the TARA, the Jasmine, and the Genesis. Her family lives in central Canada with a menagerie of rescue dogs and cats. If the house were bigger, no doubt they’d have more.

Northern Hearts
Last July, my husband and I flew up to Churchill, Manitoba so I could research my second main book in my Heroes of the Tundra series. I wanted to see what the town and surrounding area were like in the summertime, as well as interview the local Royal Canadian Mounted Police, because book 2’s hero is an RCMP officer.

Churchill is a small town of 900 people and sits on the shores of Hudson Bay, that cut-out of water in the centre of Canada leading to the Arctic ocean. It’s out best deep-water port to the arctic and during the wintertime and polar bear season, it swells to thousands of tourists.

I wrote the Christmas novella, Northern Hearts, as a “fill-in” story between Book 1 and Book 2. Northern Deception, Book 1, ends in November with an Epilogue the following March. Northern Hearts is set during that Christmas immediately following the November ending of Northern Deception.

Its tone is more Hallmark than edgy suspense, but it still has a mystery and a lot of romance. It’s going to be FREE to download from July 17 to 20, 2020 on Amazon.com at https://amzn.to/2V2Tpsl

Book Blurb Northern Hearts

Wealthy socialite Kali McIntyre dreams of opening her own dessert bar, Sassy Sweets, in downtown Winnipeg—until her father crushes that dream when he cuts her off financially. He’s determined to get her to use her law degree to join the family’s high-powered law firm. She’s determined to do anything but that. And when an unknown-to-her aunt dies in Churchill, Manitoba, leaving her an unbelievable inheritance, Kali’s on the next flight up north to make her dreams a reality.

Chef Jake Miller has lived in Churchill for the past ten years, working hard to keep The Great Northern Lodge afloat through some tough times. But then his business partner dies unexpectedly, without telling him that she’d changed her will or that she had a niece who is set to inherit everything. Now, Jake and Kali have thirty days to work together and decide–who will stay and who will go–before Christmas rolls around. Secrets, attempted murder, and a new menu all add up to a Christmas unlike any other.


Here is a quick excerpt from Chapter 1 of Northern Hearts:

Wild and dangerous and the town has nothing of significance…

With that ringing in her ears, she grabbed her soft-sided hot pink suitcase and hauled it upright beside her. The clock read 9:45 a.m., so she was right on time. Her ride should be here any minute. Gazing around the tiny, one-room airport, she noticed a twelve-foot high polar bear skin hung spread out in a wooden display case. The sheer height and width of it gave her pause.

“It’s nothing but snow, ice, and polar bears,” her dad had said. She rolled her luggage over to the huge case and checked out the five-inch claws on the paws of the polar bear skin. Its teeth were three inches, at least, bared permanently in a snarl. The entire fur from side to side had to be four feet wide.

She drew in a breath to calm her nerves and turned to read the huge blue and white sign on the wall.
“Welcome to Churchill, Manitoba–Polar Bear Country,” it read.
“NEVER–
Go beyond a polar bear alert warning sign Approach or feed a bear for any reason
Walk at night after 10 p.m.

“Always be alert and aware of your surroundings,” said a deep voice from behind her left shoulder.

Adrenaline rippled through her veins. Kali gasped and jumped. “Excuse me?”

“Sorry.” The man who’d spoken loomed over her. His fur-lined green parka hood, which he shoved back out of the way, framed his brown hair and beard scruff. His brown, almost black, eyes didn’t look the least bit sorry. His thick, longish hair poked up in an unruly fashion and curled around his ears. He grinned, showing white, even teeth she couldn’t help but stare at for a second. Handsome. Unbelievably handsome.

“Sorry, that’s the next line on the sign—you are reading the sign, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I mean, I was… I just…” Kali stopped. Get a hold of yourself! You’re babbling.

“The most important thing to remember is that bears can be in town at any time of day or night,” he quoted from the sign. “I’m assuming you’re Miss Kali McIntyre?”

She drew herself up to her entire 5’ 1” height. “You can drop the Miss. And yes, I’m Kali McIntyre.” If this guy was her ride, she’d just hit the lottery.

He drew off his enormous fur-trimmed gauntlet and thrust his right-hand forwards to shake her hand. “Excellent. I’m Jake Miller, from The Great Northern Lodge.”
©Laurie Wood 2019

Get your FREE e-book copy here from July 17 to 20, 2020: https://amzn.to/2V2Tpsl



Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Laurie Wood!


Below are links to connect with Laurie:
Website: https://www.lauriewoodauthor.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lauriewoodreadersgroup
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/LaurieJeanWood

Thank you so much for joining us, Laurie!

If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Author Spotlight: Rhonda Starnes

Hi friends! Today I have the pleasure of spotlighting author Rhonda Starnes. Everyone, say hello to Rhonda! She is a great friend of mine. She writes for Harlequin Love Inspired. Without further ado, let's get to know Rhonda and her new book Rocky Mountain Revenge.

Author Bio:
Rhonda Starnes is a middle school language arts teacher who has dreamed of being a published author since she was in seventh grade. She lives in North Alabama with her husband, who she lovingly refers to as Mountain Man. They enjoy traveling and spending time with their children and grandchildren. Rhonda writes romantic suspense with rugged heroes and feisty heroines.

Blurb:
To survive her deadly homecoming, she’ll need to trust a man from her past…
Temporarily home to help at her family’s vet clinic, Grace Porter has no intentions of staying—but someone’s determined she won’t live long enough to leave. With both Grace and her sister in the crosshairs, her ex-boyfriend, Police Chief Evan Bradshaw, must protect them. But can the single dad lawman uncover the truth about why a killer’s out for vengeance before time runs out?

Excerpt:
A truck came speeding up behind them. He couldn’t be sure because they were out in the country and there weren’t any streetlights, but it looked a lot like the truck that had tried to push them into the oncoming train the night Chloe had been attacked. Evan sped up. He had to lose them before they reached the turnoff to the cabin.

Grace twisted in her seat to look out the rear window, but didn’t say a word.

Evan’s phone rang. He hit the answer button on the steering wheel. “Chief Bradshaw here.”

“We lost Avery Hebert.” Agent Ingalls’s voice sounded over the speaker.

Evan glanced at Grace, her eyes still focused on the vehicle tailing them. “I think we found him.”

“Where are you?” Ingalls asked.

“County Road 11. About fifteen miles north of the Flying V Ranch.”

Grace screamed, “He’s going to hit us!” She twisted around in her seat, facing the front as the truck rammed into the back of Evan’s vehicle. Metal crunched against metal, and his tires skidded on the wet pavement.

“Bradshaw, what’s happening?” Ingalls asked urgently.

“He’s trying to make us crash.” Tightening his grip on the steering wheel, Evan spared a brief glance at Grace. “Are you okay?”

“I’m fine. But how are we going to stop him?” She looked over her shoulder and then back to him again. “Can I hold the steering wheel, and you shoot his tires or something?”

“Don’t do anything reckless,” Ingalls yelled across the speakers. “We’ve notified the sheriff’s office, and I’m on my way.” The call went silent.

Evan sped up, putting a little distance between him and the truck, but the other driver soon closed the gap, ramming into them again. This time the impact shattered the back window, but Evan had been able to hold the Jeep steady without skidding.

Evan raced away again, driving dangerously fast on the wet road. His headlights flashed on a bright yellow diamond-shaped road sign, and an eerie, sinking feeling settled in the pit of his stomach. A quick glance in the rearview mirror showed the truck was still barreling down on them—and they were fast approaching the Hangman’s Noose curve.



I asked Rhonda to provide an interesting tidbit about Rocky Mountain Revenge. Here's what Rhonda had to say:

My husband, who I lovingly refer to as Mountain Man, and I lived in Colorado for two months when we were first married. Rocky Mountain Revenge is the first book I’ve ever written that was set in Colorado. I think it’s extra special that Rocky Mountain Revenge released just days after we celebrate our thirty-fifth wedding anniversary.

Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Rhonda Starnes and her book Rocky Mountain Revenge.

Below are links to connect with Rhonda and where you can buy Rocky Mountain Revenge:

Links to buy:
AMAZON: https://amzn.to/2Zgb4h7
TARGET: https://bit.ly/3eGFTSH
WALMART: https://bit.ly/3dK9skW
BARNES & NOBLE: https://bit.ly/3eLAyti


Social media links:
https://rhondastarnes.com/
https://www.facebook.com/RhondaStarnesAuthor/
https://www.instagram.com/rhonda_starnes/
https://twitter.com/Rhonda_Starnes



If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Grab a copy of Rhonda's book and enjoy your day!

Book Review: Writing Monsters by Philip Athans

I bought this book to help me write the story I am working on. My current story is an inspirational syfy romantic suspense about genetically altered spiders endangering a small, rural town. In order to make them an integral part of the story, I wanted to read a craft book about writing monsters to see what I could learn.

I learned so much from this book! I used a highlighter to mark major points in the book so I could go back and reread those sections. Needless to say, there are many highlighted passages. Some of the passages that will help me include:
-only showing a part of the monster at a time
-waiting for the big reveal
-showing the monster through other characters' dialogue and reactions

This book includes many books and movies as examples. Philip Athans goes into detail about how the monsters in these examples were made to be scary, endearing, misunderstood, etc. Jaws and Alien were two movies Philip used to talk about how the monsters were depicted and brought to life.

This book would be great for anyone wanting to write a monster and make it realistic, or even for someone just wanting to read how monsters are given personalities, attributes, etc. so the reader or movie watcher can learn more about the monster in question.

https://www.amazon.com/Writing-Monsters-Believably-Terrifying-Creatures/dp/1599638088/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=writing+monsters&qid=1594004455&sr=8-1

Thank you so much for being here today!


Be sure to leave a comment. Follow my blog so you don't miss a post. I also post author spotlights on Tuesdays. Wednesdays are devotional posts or posts related to writing or another topic. If you'd like to submit a book review or an author spotlight, content must be for inspirational or clean stories, fiction or nonfiction. You can contact me through my website listed below. I also post the first Thursday of the month at https://seriouslywrite.blogspot.com/

Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Author Spotlight: Toni Shiloh

Hi friends! Today, our author spotlight is on Toni Shiloh. Everyone, say hello to Toni! She is a member of ACFW and the Virginia chapter with me. Let's get to know Toni and her new book The Truth About Fame. Toni has also graciously offered to give away an ebook copy of The Truth About Fame to one commentor. Winner will be chosen from all comments between now and Sunday night. Just leave your email address with your comment so you can be contacted. Thanks, Toni!

Author Bio:
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring God glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist and Risking Love is a 2020 Selah Award finalist.
A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to help readers find authors. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at http://tonishiloh.com.

Back cover blurb:
My life has always been in the spotlight. Born to two famous parents and then quickly rising to "super" status in the modeling world ensured that I, Astoria "Tori" Bell, would always have my image plastered across newsstands. Unfortunately, adoring fans weren't always magnanimous and now I have a stalker on my hands.

Oddly enough, the tall, dark, and all-too handsome bodyguard hired to protect me seems more harmful than the threatening notes from the stalker. As well as his plan to flush out the danger by proposing a fake engagement.

The lines between pretend and reality blur and I have to shore up my resolves. Baggage from my past means I can't let myself be vulnerable. But the way Marcel Fox treats me has me thinking otherwise.
With a new rock on my finger and the man who put it there by my side, happily ever after seems like a possibility or is that as fake as my public persona?

The Truth About Fame is the second book in the Christian Chick Lit series: Faith & Fortune.

Below is an excerpt from Chapter One of The Truth About Fame:

I folded my arms. “What do you have to say?”

“I can offer you a place of refuge.”

“Say what now?” The irritation that chafed me every time he was around gave way to surprise.

“You’ve got flight written all over your face, Princess. Don’t act like you’re not planning to run away.”

Okay, maybe I was too quick to let go of my annoyance. Fox had a way of getting to me, making me feel like a porcupine poised for a fight. I tried to hold my face expressionless as I responded. “You do not know me.”

“Whatever, Princess.” He matched my stance. “Do you want a place to stay or not?”

Just because he was behaving like a Neanderthal, didn’t mean I had to respond in kind.

I took a breath. “Depends,” I said cautiously. "How far away is this place?” Like, did I need to grab my passport?

“Queens.”

My eyes started an arc, and I had to freeze them to keep them from rolling all the way. “That’s too close. I thought you were going to suggest the other side of the country or even out of the country.”

“I’m not a millionaire like some people I know.” He gave me a pointed look.

Fair enough. “What makes you think I’d be safe?”

“Do you really think someone would go looking for you in Queens?”

Okay, he had a point. “Is it a safe house?”

“In a sense.”

"Fox, you’re killing me with the cryptic talk.” I rolled my hand in a continue motion. “Break it down and just spit it out.”

“My grandmother lives in a two-bedroom apartment.”

I blanched. “You’d put your grandma in danger? You can stay with her.”

His jaw pulsed. “Do you seriously think she doesn’t already have a top-notch security system? I own a security company, for goodness’ sake.”

I sighed and flopped into a chair, rubbing the tension pounding the middle of my forehead. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

A rustle of movement caught my attention, and I watched as Fox grimaced, lowering himself into the chair opposite from me. He looked really uncomfortable, as if he were afraid he’d break the antique. If my head weren’t hurting so much, I’d find the situation amusing.

“Look, Princess. I can take better care of you at my grandmother’s. No one will think to look for you there. And I have a feeling you won’t be telling Ms. Brown or Ms. Ricci. It’ll help us know if the incident involving Ms. Brown and your brother was a fluke or…”

“Or all my fault.” I gulped, remembering how horrified I’d been to find out Emmett had been shot. He’d been at the concert to watch Holiday sing with her father at Madison Square Garden. Law enforcement thought Holiday was the intended target, but still I wondered, especially when Emmett—being Emmett—took a bullet for her.

Did he get hurt because of me?

“Are you sure your grandmother won’t mind?”

"She loves company. She’ll be delighted.”

I stared into his inky black eyes. “And you? You’ll continue to guard me?” Which hadn’t been my original idea, but I couldn’t help admitting the thought made me breathe a little easier.

“That’s what I agreed to do and what your father’s paying me for. This’ll make my job a lot easier.” He held up a hand. “But don’t let that make you stay here. No need to be difficult.”


Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Toni Shiloh and The Truth about Fame. And don't forget to comment and include your email address for your chance to win an ebook copy of The Truth About Fame.

Below are links to connect with Toni and where you can buy her book:

Social media links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authortonishiloh
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tonishilohwrite
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ToniShiloh/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tonishiloh/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13656663.Toni_Shiloh
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-shiloh
My BookCave: https://mybookcave.com/profile/toni-shiloh/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gcMfqT
Blogs I’m part of: https://www.inspyromance.com/, http://diversitybetweenthepages.wordpress.com


Links to buy :
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086H83FFJ
Shortlink: https://amzn.to/2JlCdaX
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52749966-the-truth-about-fame


Thank you so much for joining us, Toni!

If you're an author and you'd like to be showcased here, just let me know. Must be inspirational or clean, can be fiction or nonfiction.
Check out my website, connect with me, and sign up for my newsletter. https://sallyshupe.weebly.com/

Grab a copy of Toni's books and enjoy your day!

How to Grow Rhino Skin-Guest post by Josee Telfter

Hi friends! Today we have Josee Telfer sharing a writing craft post with us.

How do you deal with rejection? Does it just run off your back like water off a duck? Or do you curl up in the corner, never to write another word? Josee has a great post for us today on how to deal with rejection and how much control to let it have over our lives. Here's Josee!

How to Grow Rhino Skin

Every writer knows rejection is a given. At best, it’s a quick pinprick, without lasting pain. But a particular rejection at the wrong time, from an unexpected source can knock you down so hard, you seriously consider walking away from your writing for good.

In my native language of French, we have a proverb that states, “Tout nouveau, tout beau.” There’s no English equivalent but it means that whatever is new is beautiful. It can pertain to an object, a relationship, a job, anything really. After the newness wears off, we become disenchanted by the cracks and imperfections we see, maybe for the first time.

Several years ago, I attended a regional writer’s conference where I met some of the most generous, warm-hearted people because writers are truly some of the kindest out there. I was a fresh-faced newbie writer floating along in the honeymoon phase where everything is exciting and even the hard bits are wonderful because they’re character builders.

In one of the conference workshops, a New York Times Bestselling author opened her session with a story about meeting with her editor in a crowded Manhattan restaurant for lunch to discuss her most recent novel. She’d poured her heart and soul into her book, as writers do, and it had been an especially difficult story to write. She was thrilled with the finished product and felt very proud of her accomplishment. But over lunch, her editor took a deep breath, leaned forward and in a hushed voice informed her there were serious problems with the novel. It needed a lot of work. The author, who by this point had penned more than a dozen best-sellers, burst into tears. Right there at the table, in the middle of the restaurant.

This story shocked me. I thought to myself, if a talented, successful writer like her could still have her precious work decimated, there’d be no hope for me. On my drive home that weekend, I made the decision that no matter how many rejections I received, no matter how awful the critique, I wouldn’t let them get me down. I was going to develop rhino skin.

And I did. I queried nearly two-dozen agents and got rejected over and over. I didn’t shed a single tear. I lost contests and didn’t bat an eye. After I signed with my agent, she subbed out my novel only to be met with one “no” after another. I refused to let it get me down. I’m not saying it didn’t sting. Rejection is never fun. Some hurt more than others. The ones you really want can be especially painful, but still, I dug my heels in and told myself it was all part of the business. Sometimes I gave myself a day to feel dejected. But never more than that. After all, I had work to do. And besides, J.K. Rowling got rejected seventy-three times. Or something like that.

Fast forward to a couple of weeks ago. Excited about my new project, I sent away the first few chapters for a critique. I know this person doesn’t hold back, but I’ve always appreciated that level of intensity. I trust her, implicitly.

I opened the comments and only made it halfway through before I fell apart. As I sank to the carpeted floor of my bedroom, my positive outlook collapsed, and a gush of tears poured forth for the better part of the day.

An exceptionally busy week compounded by financial stresses and personal matters had softened my rhino skin. Unbeknownst to my astute critiquer, her comments unraveled me in a way I never saw coming.

For the first time in my writing journey, I seriously considered walking away. I’d given it a go, I told myself, and tried with all my might, but I couldn’t do it anymore. I pleaded with God to either open a door or remove the desire to write from my heart.

A funny thing happened. Later that evening, I found myself thinking about my story and my characters. Ideas ran through my head about how to fix the issues. Puffy-eyed and exhausted, I took out my pen and notebook and scribbled notes.

The next morning, I woke up and cried again. That was a first. Then a friend reminded me in a simple text that I was going to get rhino-tough skin. That was enough to snap me out of my funk. Because look, in this business, you’re either going to tough it out or you’re not.

So, what can you do to develop Rhino Skin?

• Separate yourself from your work.

As creatives, we pour ourselves into our art. Rejection feels personal because to a degree it is. However, you are more than what you write or create. Remind yourself of that. Maybe your book isn’t the right fit for that agent or editor, or maybe it needs a lot of work. Either way, it’s about your novel, not you as a person.

• Remind yourself you’re in good company.

Every success story leaves behind a trail of rejection. Successful people don’t back down. They meet rejection in the face and up the ante. Talk to fellow authors about their struggles. Google “famous author rejections.” That should make you feel better.

• Become solution-oriented.

Rather than allow the critique or rejection to crush you, turn it around and ask yourself how you can use it to your advantage. Successful people come back from rejections with new proposals. Maybe you need to look at things differently. That might mean writing in a different genre or word count or stylistically changing things up. Try first-person narration if you’ve always written in third. Think of rejections as calling cards moving you into the path you’re supposed to be on.

• Set a time limit.

When rejections come your way, decide how long you’ll allow yourself to wallow. Is it a few hours? A day? I recommend nothing more than twenty-four hours, or the following morning when you wake up, whatever comes first. If you allow yourself a limited amount of time to grieve or be sad about the “lost” opportunity, you’ll be surprised how much quicker you move on.

• Be grateful for the rejection.

“If it doesn’t open, it’s not your door.” I have that quote on my home screen. When rejections come, Thank God that he kept you from something that wasn’t meant for you, or wasn’t in your best interest. Rather than focus on what you’ve missed out on, tell yourself it’s only narrowing the field and bringing your target into sharper focus.

• Set small goals.

Nothing can deter action faster than a stinging rejection. Set small goals that you know you can tackle in a short amount of time. That sense of accomplishment will propel you forward and help get you out of the funk. Then stick with it. Consistency is key.

Lastly, press on. The most successful individuals aren’t necessarily the most talented, or the brightest, or the most educated. They’re the ones who persisted.



Author Bio:
BIO: Josee Telfer writes Contemporary Romantic Women’s Fiction. In addition, she is a free-lance editor and ghost writer whose work has appeared nationally. In her free time, she likes to challenge herself in the kitchen by cooking international foods from around the world. Currently, she’s on a Korean food kick which was likely triggered by her love of K-Dramas. Originally from Québec, Canada, she lives in Vermont with her husband and their three children. A 2018 Golden Heart Finalist, Josee is represented by Ann Rose of Prospect Agency.
Visit Josee’s website at https://www.joseetelfer.com/


Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed Josee's post! I've learned so much. Now, let's get to writing and submitting!

Thank you so much for joining us here today, Josee!

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