Author Spotlight: Bettie Boswell

Hi friends! Today, our author spotlight is on Bettie Bowell! Everyone, say hello to Bettie! Without further ado, let's get to know Bettie and her book On Cue.

Author Bio:
Bettie Boswell has always loved to write. During her career as a teacher she has written everything from worksheets to musicals to articles in educational journals. Recently she stepped out of her classroom and into the world of publishing. She dipped her toe into the profession by contributing to several teacher education books and eventually wrote a leveled reader, "Side-tracked," relating the adventure of two boys as they work for the Erie and Kalamazoo Railroad. Those train tracks still run from Toledo, through Sylvania, (where Bettie teaches,) and into Michigan. As an active member of Ohio's SCBWI and ACFW, she is involved in critique/support groups from both organizations. She became aware of submission information for a short story collection through the Ohio ACFW group and contributed "Fred's Gift" (inspired by the memory of her father) to a collection of tales called "From the Lake to the River."

Her debut Christian Romance novel, "On Cue," will be released on November 1, 2020. Inspired by Northern Ohio history, her experience as a teacher, and her involvement as co-author of a local musical called "Just Around the Bend," (first produced in 2000) Bettie has penned a novel about a teacher, Ginny, who dreams of creating a musical to save a local historical museum. When her dreams begin to take shape she clashes with handsome drama professor, Scott. Sparks will fly as a cast of humorous characters and a couple of crazy pets keep them on their toes, while they deal with misunderstandings and seek forgiveness from their pasts.

Bettie is a graduate of the late Cincinnati Bible College (RIP) and holds a Master's degree in education from East Tennessee State University. As a teacher she has taken enough hours beyond those degrees to probably qualify for another couple of degrees, but that is the life of a teacher. She has taught both music and classroom for kindergarten through 8th grade students. She even spent a few years teaching at the University of Toledo as an adjunct instructor for the music and art departments. During most of her teaching career she taught music and wrote musicals for her school children to perform. For her last year of teaching she has ventured into the virtual world as a yearlong online 2nd grade teacher.

She is a minister's wife and she and her husband have served with the Village View Church of Christ in Bowling Green, Ohio since 1993. Before that she lived many places including Florida, Tennessee, Indiana, Alabama, and Virginia. She plays the piano and is the volunteer music director for the church. Each year, until Covid-19, she wrote two original musicals for her church choir.

When she isn't busy writing, composing, or keeping up with school or church, she writes, reads, watches a Hallmark movie here and there, takes pictures of flowers on her walks to post on Facebook, entertains grandchildren, posts drawings on Twitter, attempts gardening, visits relatives in the south, attends ACFW/SCBWI/Highlights Foundation workshops, falls asleep on the couch, and takes care of her tuxedo kitty. (In case you were wondering, she doesn't clean house very often...too busy or too tired or just doesn't like to clean or all of the above.) Before she was a cat person, she had several basset hounds and Chihuahuas who were the inspiration for some of the antics of the dogs in "On Cue." One of her dogs ate up a pair of leather sandals and a Bible and sat down in berries, gaining colorful spots.

Here's Bettie sharing interesting tidbits about On Cue!

It was inspired by my participation in the creation and production of a musical for Sylvania, Ohio--The town in the book is called Forest Glen. The word Sylvania actually means trees or forest.

Many of the basset hound antics of Jezebel in the story were taken from real experiences with our two bassets.

The Lathrop House in Sylvania, Ohio inspired the historical house mentioned in the book. That house was part of the Underground Railroad system. The Sylvania Heritage Museum and its former curator also played a big role in the inspiration of the story.

The book is a product of many years of work. I first wrote it having no idea what I was doing other than being an avid reader of Heartsong (RIP) and later Love Inspired books. After I crashed and burned at my first ACFW conference, I began taking workshops about 5 years ago. I think my brain finally figured out what was missing and I spent the last year revising and improving it before sending it to Mt. Zion Ridge Press where it was accepted. It still had to go through the revision process. Each revision made it a better story, which I hope people will enjoy reading.


On Cue Blurb

When a college sweetheart used Ginny Cline's dreams for his own glory, he stole her joy of composing music and her trust in men. Years later, encouraged by prayer and a chance to help the local historical museum, she dares to share her talents again. Forced to present her musical proposal in front of groups for financial support helps Ginny's self-confidence grow. As a teacher she knows how to deal with unruly fourth graders, but influential adults are another matter, until she finds herself seeking financial backing for the musical. Unfortunately an important financial backer forces her to place her music and trust into the hands of another man.

Theater professor Scott Hallmark's summer camp benefactor, Edmund Bradley coerces him into becoming the director of Ginny's musical. The last thing he needs is another woman who uses him to get what they want on the stage, especially an amateur who has no idea what they are doing. He has dealt with too many want-to-be divas during his experience in the world of theater. Adding to his pressure is the need to make a good impression as he seeks to ensure his tenure track position at a faith based college. Though he feels attracted to Ginny, he worries about securing his future.

After a few chance meetings Ginny and Scott begin reluctantly working together on the musical. They grow closer as they bumble through discovering their often conflicting roles of reluctant director and mistrusting author/composer. Gradually their interest in each other grows but Ginny resists as she hears more and more about a special woman in Scott's life named Honey. Not only is she a real sweetheart of a woman, she also wants to arrange Ginny's precious music.

Scott's interest deepens for the appealing woman, but he can't understand why Ginny seems to run hot and cold in their relationship. As he works with the praise band on arrangements, Honey encourages him to bring Ginny to church for the presentation of one of her faith inspired songs. Perhaps that might help him unravel the mystery.

Complications arise when auditions produce Ginny's worst nightmare from the past. The man who stole her dreams now wants to be part of her production. He promises that he is a changed man, but can Ginny forgive and trust the man? Not only is he Scott's acquaintance, he seems to be the only possibility for a leading man, unless Scott wants to take the part in addition to directing.

Scott wants to be Ginny's leading man in more than one way but knows they both need to work through their issues of trust. The show must go on and be the best it can be for the sake of the museum, his secure future, and Ginny's growing confidence.

Woven into the mix are a couple of dogs and some quirky cast members who provide fun and frustration for the couple as they work together to discover that forgiveness and trust produce perfect harmony in God's eyes.

Purchase Link:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Cue-Bettie-Boswell-ebook/dp/B08GL3JQDK/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=on+cue+bettie+boswell&qid=1604286566&sr=8-1

Connect with Bettie:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/BboswellB
Website: https://sites.google.com/view/bettieboswellauthorillustrator/home?authuser=0


Friends, I sure hope you enjoyed getting to know Bettie Boswell and On Cue.



Thank you so much for joining us, Bettie!


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/