A Poison by Any Other Name Can Still Kill You

Ever wonder how easy it would be to poison someone?

While doing research for my upcoming release, Deadly Devotion, I read about many deaths by poison–some intentional, some not.

Did you know that Jane Austen may have died of arsenic poisoning?

Jane Austen died at the age of 41 and there have been many theories about what caused her early demise. Most recently crime writer Lindsay Ashford, after reading Austen’s journals in which she describes her complexion as “black and white and every wrong color”–much like the raindrop pigmentation caused by arsenic–theorized Austen died of arsenic poisoning. Digging deeper, Ashford learned that a lock of Austen’s hair had been tested and found to contain arsenic.

Of course, if she died of arsenic, it may not have been intentional. Doctor’s dispensed it often in a medicine called Fowler’s Solution for a wide variety of ailments, including rheumatism, an affliction Austen also mentions in her journals. Ashford entertains the idea that it was intentional in her novel, The Mysterious Death of Miss Jane Austen.

Elderberry

Did you know raw elderberries are poisonous?  

Every summer my neighbor treks through the fields to pick the elderberries that grow wild around the hydro towers. These berries are used to make delicious jams and pies, and are harmless once cooked. But don’t eat them raw!

They contain cyanogenic glycoside which causes cyanide poisoning. Definitely not a berry you want to send the kids out to pick for your pie!

Supposedly, if the berry is fully ripe, they are safe to eat and high in vitamin C. Some people juice them, but ensure they’re fully ripe.

Did you know that rhubarb leaves can kill you?

The leaves contain a variety of poisons including oxalic acid. I first read about oxalic acid after experiencing kidney stones. I began juicing and read that those with kidney stones should avoid rhubarb because the oxalic acid metabolizes with Vitamin C which can lead to more stones. Oxalic acid is found in much lower concentrations in the stalks and the levels are considered safe.

But beware of the cook who unwittingly stews the leaves with the stalks! If the meal is eaten, you may find yourself bleeding from the nose and eyes, vomiting, nauseous. Your throat and mouth may burn. You might have difficulty breathing. You could die of cardiac or respiratory failure. Puts a whole new perspective on eating healthy, huh?

Your Turn: Do you have any cautionary poison tales to tell?

Also happening this week:

 

On Thursday and Friday, I’ll be at The Barn Door Book Loft Stop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a copy of Deadly Devotion. And please, tell your friends. 😉

 

 

photo credit for elderberry pic: Liamfm . via photopin cc

Behind the Scenes – An Unusual Weapon

With less than three weeks until the release of Deadly Devotion, I thought it would be fun to give you a behind-the-scenes look. 

Ever wonder what weapon you’d grab to defend yourself if you were cornered?

Kate Adams, the main character of Deadly Devotion, is a researcher specializing in herbal medicine. She works with plants every day. She’s surrounded by plants. She knows things about plants you’d never have imagined.

She’s also driven to find out the truth about how her fellow researcher and dear friend really died. And more than one person wants to stop her. 

So what weapon would Kate grab if cornered in her lab?

cactus
A cactus?

 

stinging_nettle
Or maybe stinging nettle?

 

myrtle spurge
Or THIS?

If you guessed this last plant, you’re right. Do you know what it is?

Here’s the scenario:

She’s alone in her lab when no one should be in the building. She hears approaching footsteps, the scrape of a key in the lock to the only door in or out. She has no idea if the person about to come through the door is friend or foe. She  snaps off a runner of the pictured plant, and praying the juice doesn’t spurt on her fingers, brandishes it against her intruder, who responds:

“What did you plan to do? Whack me with that weed?”

She jabbed the air with it, trying to act playful. “You bet. This baby works way better than pepper spray. Not only will the sap make your eyes and skin sting horribly, it’ll make your face swell fatter than road kill on a hot summer day.” 

“Ni-i-ice.” He shuddered playfully. “Lucky for me I’m your friend.”

But is he???

And what is this strange-looking plant Kate brandishes as a weapon?

At the time I was writing this story, one of my daughter’s fellow horticultural students was thinning out this popular ornamental and got the sap on his hands, and face, and yes, it swelled and stung and was not pretty.

Unfortunately, my daughter didn’t learn from his mistake. The following weekend, while thinning out the same plant from our garden, she got sap squirted in her eyes. Oh yes, it stings!

After flushing them and calling poison control, she ended up going to the doctor’s for a salve to relieve the effects. And…

the scene above was born. 😉

Oh…and in case you were wondering, the plant is called myrtle spurge.

Your Turn: 
What’s the most unusual weapon you’ve read about or could imagine using if someone snuck up on your at work or home?

By the way…  Deadly Devotion is already available for preorder at many online stores at awesome sale prices–prices that often jump once the book releases. Click here for direct links to order Deadly Devotion.

Image of cactus courtesy of thaikrit at FreeDigitalPhotos.net   Image of stinging nettle courtesy of BrianHolm at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Introducing My New Publisher and a Goodreads Giveaway

As I eagerly await copies of my first book with Revell Publishing, I’d like to introduce you to a few of their recent releases. I’m sure many of you will recognize the names of these popular authors, and I feel honored to be in their company, and to have the opportunity to get to know them better.

According to their website, “Revell began over 125 years ago when D. L. Moody and his brother-in-law Fleming H. Revell saw the need for practical books that would help bring the Christian faith to everyday life. …This same vision for books that are both inspirational and practical continues to motivate the Revell publishing group today,” now a division of Baker Publishing.

In the Romantic Suspense genre, they’ve just released Lynette Eason’s When A Secret Kills

When a Secret Kills

She’s come home to put a killer behind bars.
But the killer plans to put her six feet under.

Investigative reporter Jillian Carter knows it’s time to put the past to rest. She’s tired of looking over her shoulder, letting a killer go free. She’s no longer the scared kid who changed her name and disappeared. Now, no matter what the cost, Jillian must do what she is trained to do–find the truth and expose it. And the truth is that Senator Frank Hoffman committed murder ten years ago–and Jillian watched it happen.

Didn’t she?

Get ready for the spine-tingling, nail-biting conclusion to this explosive series.

Here’s what others are saying:

“A fabulous read! Eason is a master at romantic suspense. I gobbled up the novel in two days and promptly ordered the first two books in the series. Highly recommended!”–Colleen Coble, author of the Rock Harbor and the Hope Beach series

In the Historical Romance genre, Lorna Seilstad’s May release When Love Calls

When Love Calls

When romance calls, will she choose to answer?

Hannah Gregory is good at many things, but that list does not include following rules. So when she must apply for a job as a switchboard operator to support her two sisters, she knows it won’t be easy. Hello Girls must conduct themselves according to strict-and often bewildering-rules, which include absolutely no consorting with gentlemen while in training.

Hannah doubts it will be difficult to keep that rule-until a handsome young lawyer starts getting under her skin.

With historic details that bring to life the exciting first decade of the twentieth century, Lorna Seilstad weaves a charming tale of companionship that blossoms into sweet romance.

 

And… Julie Lessman’s April release, Love At Any Cost.

Love At Any Cost

Fooled by a pretty boy once, shame on him.  Fooled by a pretty boy twice, shame on me.

Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassady McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who just as soon hogtie a man as look at him … until Jamie MacKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well lassoes her heart. But when Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than him, Cassie finds herself bucked by love a second time, sending her back to Texas to lick her wounds and heal her heart. In her absence, Jamie discovers money can’t buy love, but love built on faith can set a heart free, a truth he discovers a little too late … or is it?

In the General Fiction genre, Dan Walsh’s April release, The Dance, written with Gary Smalley

The Dance

Love’s recovery starts with a single step . . .

After 27 years of marriage, Marilyn Anderson is tired of playing the role of perfect wife. Her husband Jim is a successful businessman who gives her everything she needs-a beautiful home in an upscale neighborhood, the financial freedom to be a stay-at-home mom, an enviable collection of stuff. Everything, that is, except what really matters: love.

After years of trying to connect with Jim, Marilyn has had enough. She longs to experience some measure of happiness before she’s too old to enjoy it. Needing some time to herself to sort things out, Marilyn leaves to start a new job and take dancing lessons-something she has wanted to do for as long as she can remember.

Shocked to find his wife gone, Jim Anderson must sort through the past to save his marriage. With a little help from an unexpected ally, he begins a campaign to win Marilyn back. What he doesn’t anticipate is how his actions will affect everyone around him-starting with himself.

“I believe every person who reads The Dance will be deeply touched and changed for the better. This book is worth your time!”-Jimmy Evans, founder and CEO of MarriageToday and author of Lifelong Love Affair

And Dann A Stouten’s April release, The Gate

The Gate

Every life is a story. Schuyler Hunt is about to come face-to-face with the author of his.

When a planned getaway with his wife turns into a shopping trip for the girls, Schuyler Hunt finds himself looking for something else to do. An ad for a vacation cottage catches his eye, and he sets off in search of a much-needed break. When he arrives, he finds something far different from the typical summer home experience. In fact, he may have found a little slice of heaven.

The proprietor-along with a number of unexpected and yet familiar guests-welcomes him with food, rest, and conversation, until what started out as an escape from everyday life turns into something much, much more . . .

Your Turn: What piques your interest in any of these books? Cover art? Blurb? The endorsement? The topic? The author?

P.S. Revell is giving away 5 copies of Deadly Devotion on Goodreads this month. If you’re a member of Goodreads, here’s the link to enter the giveaway, and/or… to add Deadly Devotion to your “to be read” pile. 😉

 

Brenda Novak’s Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research

Brenda Novak’s Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research is gearing up for its biggest year yet. Thanks to all who have participated in the past — both donors and shoppers — the auction has raised a cumulative total of $1.6 million. This year they are hoping to surpass $2 million to help all those with diabetes.

The auction opens on May 1, 2013 and this year they’re doing something new. Each person who registers as a shopper for the 2013 auction will be entered to win a brand new iPad (Value $499).

Each year they also offer an amazing prize package to the person who places the most bids over all. This year it will consist of: A brand new MacBook Air ($1100 Value), a $200 Macy’s gift certificate and much more.

Browse the site to find lots of awesome packages for readers and writers and anyone–like a week at a timeshare in Hawaii!!!

My own contribution isn’t nearly as exotic, but I hope you’ll find it fun!

Spy_Kit_1

THE UNDERCOVER SPY KIT CONTAINS:

ONE of each of the following:

A Spy Pen – a working ink pen, with mini video camera and audio recording (not exactly as depicted)

A little black notebook –for recording those all important furtive moves

A blonde wig – so no one recognizes you

A pair of spy shades – unique sunglasses that will conceal where you’re looking, including the side mirrors that allow you to see behind you

One trade paperback copy of Sandra Orchard’s June 2013 romantic suspense/mystery Deadly Devotion

A black satchel to conceal the items when not in use

Approximate value over $65.00.

Click the picture or the kit name above to bid or tour the site. (Shipping within US is included for all items. For the spy kit shipping within both US and Canada is)

Your Turn: What are some causes you like to support and why? What’s the most unique or successful fundraiser you’ve ever seen?

A Healing Heart

I’m delighted at the opportunity to introduce you to Angela Breidenbach’s debut fiction book, A Healing Heart. with Abingdon Press’s Quilts of Love series.

A Healing Heart Cover

 

About A Healing Heart:

 What would you do if the one man who can help is the one man you can’t trust?
A heart attack has stopped Mara Keegan in her tracks, leaving her daughter’s unfinished photo memory quilt hanging by a thread.

Little does Mara know, this quilt—and the memories it bolsters—are the key to her rehabilitation. But Mara’s heart needs to be healed in more ways than one. And Joel Ryan is fraying her last nerve. With her daughter’s graduation fast approaching, even Mara starts to wonder if she—and her faith—can mend in time. Will Joel’s photo find a place on the quilt… and in Mara’s heart?

 I asked Angie to share with us what inspired her to tell this story.

Mara Keegan is really every mom to me. She’s a workaholic with her kids best interests on her heart, but it’s a very damaged heart. Mara gave up her dreams in order to provide for her family. Behind the scenes, I know so many women who have done exactly this sacrificial provision. Personally, I didn’t write for ten years in order to meet the needs of other people. But deep in my heart, I was miserable. I wasn’t doing what I was born to do.

In writing A Healing Heart, I wanted to heal the hearts of women like me who have given up their dreams. For the longest time I thought I’d never be able to write for publishing, my biggest dream, and be a public speaker. But God has a way of bringing people into our lives that opens the door to those dreams. After all, God put those dreams in us.

A Healing Heart is about helping women find a way back to their true purpose, the one God designed their dreams around. It’s about understanding it’s never too late to let God heal our hearts and lead us in the path He’s set before us.

That is so true. Thank you, Angie. 

Angela_Breidenbach

Angela Breidenbach is a speaker, coach, and author of A Healing Heart April 2013 from Abingdon Press in the Quilts of Love series. Her family tradition is to create the life story on a photo memory quilt for each graduating senior. She is certified in mentor/peer counseling as a CTA life coach, as a Stephen Minister, and a weight loss/nutrition coach.

 

You can connect with Angie at:

http://www.AngelaBreidenbach.com

Twitter/Pinterest: @AngBreidenbach

Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/AngelaBreidenbachInspirationalSpeakerAuthor

Get your copy of A Healing Heart

 Your Turn:

What dream have you set aside? Do you think God will provide a way to lead you back to it? Or if you’ve started on that path, what obstacle did you have to overcome to take the first step toward your inborn dream?

Here’s what others are saying about A Healing Heart:

A Healing Heart weaves tears, cheers, laughter and delightful moments to keep you saying, ‘this is my story, my own healing and my own victory.’”—Janet Perez Eckles, author of #1 best-selling Simply Salsa

“As beautifully woven as a keepsake quilt, A Healing Heart wraps itself around you, offering a cozy, heart-tugging story. This is definitely my kind of tale—one that pulls you in from the first page and keeps your emotions engaged throughout. Highly recommended.”—Janice Thompson, author of Queen of the Waves
 

Five Things to Love About Inspirational Fiction

I am thrilled to be able to share with you the exciting news that Critical Condition won the 2012 Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award for Love Inspired Suspense. Yee!!!

2012 RT Reviewer's Choice Award

If you’d like to see the list of RT Reviewers’ Choice Winners, click the link. Scrolling down brings you to the Love Inspired categories, scrolling up a ways brings you to the categories for trade-length inspirational books.

And with Reviewers’ Choice Awards topping the news, what a perfect day to chat about what we love most about inspirational fiction. To start us off, I’m delighted to introduce Amber Perry, founding blogger of  The Historical Christian Romance Review. She’s stopped by to share the top five things she loves most about inspirational fiction.

Amber Perry

 I first “met” Amber when she hired me to do a critique for her very first manuscript through last year’s ACFW conference. We quickly became good friends. She hails from Washington state, where she lives with her hubby and two adorable young daughters. She loves to read, and although she reads mostly historicals…I’m hoping that reading some of my current WIP has inspired her to try a little romantic suspense. 😉 

 

 Without further ado, here’s Amber… and please chime in at the end with the things you love!

I love Christian romance books (specifically historical) and even though there are gobs of reasons to like them, here are my top 5! Maybe your reasons are similar, maybe they are different—either way, you’ll have to comment and let me know. *grin *

 1.    Great Characters

What’s a story without great characters? That’s why I love this genre—I am rarely disappointed!

2.    Clean Romance

I love a great romance! But, I don’t want to read anything that would be inappropriate. That’s why I LOVE these stories. I can enjoy the romance without all the unnecessary stuff. You know what I mean. *wink *

3.    Good Christian message

Not only are these books entertaining, they are uplifting as well! I know I will come away with my faith in God stronger, in one way or another—and I love that.

4.    Fun settings (this is where the historical stuff comes in—for me anyway)

I love to be swept away to another place and time. These books take me to Boston in the 1920’s or Montana in the 1870’s. How fabulous is that? But the same thing can happen with contemporary stories as well—or any genre for that matter!

5.    Happy Endings

Believe it or not, there are some stories that don’t end happy! And there are some people who like those, and that’s great. For me, I gotta have a happy ending—and I can always count on that from a Christian romance.

 Your Turn: So what are your top 5, or top 3 or even your number 1 thing when reading these kinds of books?   God bless and Happy Reading!

 

Review of Scorned Justice by Margaret Daley

Scorned-Justice

I have enjoyed Margaret Daley’s books for years, and aspired to emulate them, so… you can imagine how thrilled I was to be asked to write an endorsement for Scorned Justice, the newest installment in The Men of the Texas Rangers series.

The book has now released from Abingdon Press, and if you enjoy romantic suspense, you won’t want to miss it.

Margaret Daley is a prolific writer who is probably best known for her many titles with Harlequin’s Love Inspired lines. But she is a master at romantic suspense. Scorned Justice  kept me glued to the page into the wee hours of the morning with its fast-paced action, wonderfully-developed characters and romance, and an explosive twist I didn’t see coming.

Romantic Times Magazine agrees, giving it 4 1/2 stars.

I asked Margaret why she wrote Scorned Justice, what theme prompted the story. Here’s what she had to say:

I wrote Scorned Justice because I wanted to explore what revenge does to a person. How far will a person go to get back at someone? How does that change the person? Why is it so hard to forgive someone who has wronged you? In the story the reader sees what revenge does to the person who exacts it as well as the person who is the object of the revenge.

Each novel in the series is a standalone story, so you won’t be left hanging at the end, or not know what’s going on if you haven’t read Saving Hope and Shattered Silence, but if you’re wondering, there is one more to come. Severed Trust releases in October.

Don’t you love those titles?

Here’s the book’s backcover blurb:

Texas Ranger Brody Calhoun is with his parents in west Texas when an unexpected attack injures the brother of Rebecca Morgan, Brody’s high school sweetheart. The local sheriff, a good friend, asks for Brody’s help. At first, it seems like an open-and-shut case.

As Brody digs deeper, he realizes the attack may be related to an organized crime trial Rebecca will be overseeing. With Rebecca’s help, he compiles evidence involving cattle rustling, bribery, and dirty payoffs that shatter the entire community and put Rebecca directly in the line of fire.

Brody expects to protect her. What he never expects is to fall for Rebecca all over again, or for a murder to throw the case wide open. Is Brody’s faith strong enough to withstand not only deep-rooted corruption and cattle rustling, but also love?

Your Turn: The link for the books in Margaret’s series is that all the heroes are Texas Rangers. What occupations would you like to see a hero or heroine have (or have enjoyed reading about) in a Christian romantic suspense?

 

Joy is a Decision

Joy is a decision. At least, that’s what our pastor said yesterday. I’ve heard it said of love–along the lines of act loving and the feelings will follow–but never of joy.

It’s a compelling thought. One I’ve been contemplating ever since.

The Apostle Paul prayed in his letter to the Romans (15:13) “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

The decision part is in the trusting–something the characters in my current work-in-progress are also learning.

Speaking of which…I need to get started. But I’m praying that verse for each of you today.

Have a joy-filled day!

5 Things I Love about Traveling South

I’m enjoying a working/writing holiday in sunny Florida for the next few weeks so while you’ll see new photos appear on my FB page (which feeds to the sidebar of this blog), I probably won’t write here again until April, unless…something really cool happens that I can’t wait to share. 😉

So here’s what I love about traveling from what was snowy Canada when I left:

1) Sunshine!

2) Hotels, nice hotels with refrigerators and microwaves and coffee makers and continental breakfasts, for under fifty dollars with the nifty coupons you pick up at the visitor’s centers.

3) While on the topic of money, the cost to eat on the road is super reasonable, too. I had a delicious rainbow trout dinner with a baked sweet potato and vegetable for ten dollars, including tax and tip! And via the fast food route, I ate for under five. Can’t do that back home.

4) Another thing we don’t see in restaurants back home are tea biscuits. I looove tea biscuits. 🙂

5) Did I mention sunshine?!! Yesterday, I was out in shorts and sandals and short-sleeved tops. Even went swimming.

Wherever you are, I hope all is well. Have a great day.

Your Turn: What have you liked about vacation spots you’ve visited?

Why Writers Need First Readers

Last week was a whirlwind of re-revising revisions to the second book in my Port Aster Secrets series debuting this June. The really scary thing is that I didn’t get further than chapter five!

I quickly realized that the story made perfect sense to my critiquers/first readers who’d read Deadly Devotion, but was perceived very differently by readers who weren’t familiar with the first book. Worse than that, they found the heroine unlikable and judgmental. Ouch.

Kate

Those readers who knew her from book 1 understood why she felt the way she did toward a particular person at the beginning of book 2 and had no problem with my opening chapters.

So…long story short. 🙄 I needed to fix that in a big way, and will be chatting with my editor this morning about the changes I’ve made and how to proceed.  Since I imagine that afterward I’ll be very busy with revisions of my re-revisions, I may be a little slow responding to comments or moderating those from first-time visitors. But please feel free to ask any questions or comment.

And have a blessed week, whatever your endeavors!