A Healing Heart

Posted on: April 22, 2013April 22, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

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.

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 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

Posted on: April 15, 2013April 15, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

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!!!

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.

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

Posted on: April 8, 2013April 8, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

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

Posted on: April 1, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

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

Posted on: March 11, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

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

Posted on: March 4, 2013March 4, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

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.

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!

What would you call it?

Posted on: February 25, 2013February 25, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

Every once in a while an editor will ask an author to change a word that is not commonly used in the US, at least not to their knowledge. This has happened to me a few times.

Recently a fellow Canadian author was asked what “squares” are, as in the woman put cookies and squares out on the table. The author’s NY editor had never heard the term, and I was amazed how many other American authors hadn’t either.

So… I thought it would be fun to find out what each of you call things in your neck of the woods. I hope you’ll chime in in the comments and be sure to let us know what state or province or country you’re from.

Here in most parts of Canada that I’m aware of, we typically call goodies that are baked in a 8 by 8 or 9 by 13 inch pan and cut into squares “squares”, unless of course it’s cake. How about you?

2) Image courtesy of chayathonwong2000 at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Where I live (Ontario) we call flavored carbonated drinks as pictured above “pop”. My editor asks me to change it to soda or soda pop. To me soda is plain carbonated water. Ick! Unless of course it’s cream soda…the pink pop. Mmm. I hear that Southerners call it all coke whether it’s coke or not. What do you call it?

3) In one of my manuscripts I called the shoes pictured above running shoes. My editor wasn’t familiar with the term and suggested tennis shoes as an alternative. To me, tennis shoes are those flat canvas shoes with no arch support that no runner would ever wear. At the time, the other word we commonly call them–runners–escaped me. I think I changed it to sneakers, which I’d never call decent running shoes. What do you call them?

4) Image courtesy of imagerymajestic at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I’ve never used this in a story, but here we’d call it a knapsack or backpack. My British parents would call it a rucksack. I’ve run across other names for bags women use in books that I have no idea what they are. What would you call this bag? Are there other “bags” that heroines in your area would more commonly carry?

5) I’d call this a couch, although in my novels I call it a sofa, because I thought that’s what my editor would prefer. Except I just thumbed through a book written by an author from Colorado and she calls it a couch. So…now I’m really curious. My grandma would call it a settee (at least the old fashioned, fancier kinds). In shows, I’ve also heard them called chesterfields and davenports, which I suspect were earlier manufacturers…haven’t taken the time to google it. 😉 What do you call it?

6) Image courtesy of sattva at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Lastly, how would you say the past tense of leap and of dive. Her heart leapt, or her heart leaped? I’d say leapt. Interestingly, it isn’t in the US dictionary on Word, however, it is in the British dictionary on Word. Likewise, would you say “He dove into a pool” or “He dived into a pool”? I’d say “dove”. But my most recent copy editor changed them to “dived”.

Your Turn: Please let us know where you’re from and what you’d call items 1 to 6. Feel free to share other things that you call something differently than you commonly see in American published books.

It’s a Holiday!

Posted on: February 18, 2013February 18, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

Today is Family Day here in Ontario, so… I’m taking the day off. 😉

Happy Presidents Day to my Southern neighbors.

Tomorrow, I’ll be posting at the Craftie Ladies of Love Inspired Romance Blog and… on The International Christian Fiction Writers’ Blog about a debut author from Australia.

Hope you’ll stop by!

P.S. I’m turning comments off for today’s post. Have a great day!

Introducing Debut Love Inspired Author Jessica Keller

Posted on: February 11, 2013February 11, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

It’s Valentine’s week. What better time to read some romances?!

This past week, I treated myself to Home for Good by debut author Jessica Keller. It was an extra special treat for me, because it has a bit of suspense, too. 🙂

Here’s the blurb:

“I made a promise to protect you.”

But pregnant Ali Silver’s husband broke his vow and walked away from her. After being injured in combat, Jericho has finally come home to Bitterroot Valley to make peace with his father and regain Ali’s trust. But the single mom’s keeping secrets of her own. And someone’s killing off Ali’s cattle and sabotaging her horse therapy business. Jericho will do whatever it takes to protect his wife and be a real father to his son. Because when it comes to love and second chances, he’s one determined cowboy.

I loved the therapeutic horseback-riding angle, as my daughter has volunteered in such a program, and I have two friends whose physically-challenged children use the program.

And… I loved the names Jessica chose for her characters and setting. They are very meaningful. So… I hunted her down to ask her if there’s a story behind the story.

I learned that, in addition to celebrating her debut novel, she’s celebrating a new baby, who, not to be outdone by the book, arrived about the same time the book was due to hit bookstore shelves! 😉

Congratulations, Jessica! (Btw, the pic isn’t of Jessica’s baby…Image courtesy of Clare Bloomfield at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

Here’s what Jessica shared about the story’s inspiration:

First about the horses:

I did volunteer at a therapeutic horseback-riding program! I feel the same passion that Ali Silver does for it. I’ve seen unspeaking children say first words through therapeutic riding and children locked in their own head come out and become social through it as well. The bond that God created between humanity and the animals He called us to rule over really amazes me.

And about the names:

When I set out to write Home for Good, I never intended to write it in a western setting. As I picked names for my characters I gave them each a name that meant something important to the story (some of which I can’t explain without giving away plot points!) and then I decided it could be fun to put the book in a setting that held meaning as well. I started looking up real names of towns all over the country and came upon–not a town–but a region called Bitterroot Valley. One of the main themes of the book is not letting bitterness take over. What better place to set a book with a theme of dealing with bitterness than in Bitteroot Valley?! Especially when I learned the meaning behind the name of the Bitteroot flower (how the valley gets its name), which I explain in the book, then I know the location was meant to be!

About the hero’s injury:

The injury that takes Jericho out of the Army really happened. Not to Jericho of course, but to my father. He’s now had two knee replacements and doing well, but before that, he had even more trouble getting around and knee pain than Jericho even experienced.

And…about Jessica:

As a child Jessica possessed the dangerous combination of too much energy coupled with an over-active imagination. This pairing led to more than seven broken bones and countless scars. She’s worked as a zookeeper, a librarian, camp counselor, horse wrangler, housekeeper, and finance clerk, but now loves her full-time work in law enforcement. Former editor of both her college newspaper and literary journal at Trinity International University, Jessica received degrees in both Communications and Biblical Studies. She lives in the Chicagoland suburbs with her amazing husband, beautiful daughter, and two annoyingly outgoing cats. Jessica writes Young Adult fiction and Romance.

Blog: www.jesskeller.wordpress.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/jessicakellerauthor
Twitter: @KellerAuthor

Thanks so much Jessica for answering my questions and joining us here today!

Your Turn: Any comments or questions for Jessica? What names have you come across in a book that seemed especially fitting?

Book with letters image courtesy of digitalart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

What Are You Waiting For?

Posted on: February 4, 2013February 4, 2013 by Sandra Orchard

Snapped this photo of our Alaskan Husky Saturday morning, which got me to thinking about the question in the title.

Our pup had her eyes fixed on the trees or perhaps the road beyond, waiting for something, and she wasn’t budging.

Her patience was admirable, considering how thick the snow was coming down. After half an hour of peeking out the window at her, every five minutes, it became clear to me that she’d sit there until whatever she was waiting for showed up, or she turned into a snow drift!

Which got me to thinking… What are you waiting for?

It turns out that our dog wasn’t waiting for my daughter to come home (as sweet as that sounded). She was patiently waiting for a black squirrel (yes, we have both black and gray squirrels in our neck of the woods) to come down from the tree so she could chase it.

Now we’ve been told over and over that patience is a virtue. And I definitely believe that waiting on the Lord is always a good thing.

But…she was turning into a snow drift!

Of course, unlike what we sometimes wait for, she was waiting for something she could reasonably expect to happen sooner or later. Emphasis on the later.

So here we are in February, and many folks are already frustrated with themselves for blowing their New Year’s resolutions or for appearing to be no closer to the “goals” they set for themselves Jan 1st or 13 months ago.

Are you one of them?

Make sure the goals you’ve set for yourself are really goals, that is things you actually have control over attaining. Not hopes and dreams such as Mr. Right pounding down your door begging you to marry him or your dream publisher pounding down your door begging to buy your manuscript?

Using my writing experience as an example… From day one, I knew selling a manuscript was not something I could make happen. It was beyond my control. But I could write the best manuscript I was capable of writing, and the next, and the next, and invite agents and editors to consider them. So finishing a manuscript became my goal.

Selling the manuscript was the dream that kept me working and waiting.

I was determined not to quit. I knew the journey to publication typically took many years and several manuscripts and many more rejections. I didn’t set any deadlines such as if I don’t sell by this time, I’ll quit. I wasn’t interested in self-publishing. I kept doing what was within my control–writing.

Anyway, I’ve rambled on. But I want to urge you to think about what you’re waiting for in whatever facet of life is dear to your heart these days. Don’t get snowed under by confusing dreams with goals while waiting for your dream squirrel to scurry down the tree toward you.

Work toward your goals as the Lord leads, and wait upon Him to make your dreams come true.

Your Turn: Do you have a “waiting”, “goal”, or “dream” experience you’d like to share?

“So do not throw away your confidence; it will be richly rewarded. you need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” Hebrews 10:35-36

A Valentine’s Read – Over at the Craftie Ladies of Love Inspired Romance blog, we’re telling a serialized romance from Feb 1 to Feb 14th. Click on the link and scroll down to the Feb 1 post to begin the story. Then stop by each day for the next installment. This is being written on the fly by 14 different authors–sure to be interesting. 😉