A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado

Author: Kathleen Denly

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: October 8, 2024

When death visits Coronado, will secrets of the past keep them from uncovering the truth?

Her entire life, Eleanore Wainright has been molded to fit the ideal society wife in the glittering world of New York’s elite. Her father’s aspirations for her are clear: marry a man of wealth and status, and secure their family’s future. But when she arrives at the Hotel del Coronado with intentions to do just that, Eleanore’s carefully laid plans are thrown into disarray when she comes face to face with Thomas Harding, the man who shattered her heart and disappeared without a trace.

Working as a bellboy at California’s newest and most prestigious resort, Thomas never imagined crossing paths with Eleanore again, let alone amidst the backdrop of a suspicious death.

As the investigation continues and tensions rise, Eleanore and Thomas are forced to confront not only the ghosts of their past but also the secrets that threaten to destroy their future and the futures of those they hold dear. With the eyes of New York’s elite upon them, they must choose between the responsibilities they’re expected to fulfill and the love they’ve always yearned for, risking everything in the process.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

 

About the Author

Kathleen Denly lives in sunny California with her loving husband, four young children, two dogs, and ten cats. As a member of the adoption and foster community, children in need are a cause dear to her heart and she finds they make frequent appearances in her stories. When she isn’t writing, researching, or caring for children, Kathleen spends her time reading, visiting historical sites, hiking, and crafting.

 

 

 

More from Kathleen

A Christmas at Hotel del Coronado was inspired first by the true events surrounding the tragic death of a mysterious woman that occurred at Coronado’s world famous hotel in November of 1892, and second by the fun antics of Miss Scarlet in the Masterpiece television show, Miss Scarlet and the Duke.

Although Miss Scarlet is a professional sleuth, I chose to make my heroine, Eleanore Wainright, an amateur sleuth who typically puts her keen observation skills to use when secretly writing her own mystery novels. That is, until an unexpected death compels her to use those skills to uncover the truth. Of course my hero, Thomas Harding, gets wrapped into helping her despite the tension of past heartbreak lying between them.

One of the most fun parts of writing this story was seeing Eleanore’s spunky Aunt Gladys support and encourage her niece. Aunt Gladys has an energy and sassiness that belies her years. And today, her curiosity has got the better of her. You see, Eleanore is being stubborn and won’t reveal the title of her current work in progress, so Aunt Glady is snooping through her niece’s room for clues.

To learn more about the true history behind this story, look for the author’s note at the back of the book!

Blog Stops

Holly’s Book Corner, October 29

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29

Texas Book-aholic, October 30

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2

Devoted To Hope, November 3

Pause for Tales, November 3

Connie’s History Classroom, November 4

She Lives To Read, November 5

Simple Harvest Reads, November 6 (Guest Review from Donna)

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 7

Stories By Gina, November 8 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 8

Hannahbandanarama, November 9

Cover Lover Book Review, November 10

Blossoms and Blessings, November 11

Bizwings Book Blog, November 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kathleen is giving away the grand prize of an enamel mug, scented candle, A6 journal notebook, ballpoint pen with black ink, and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5481

Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown

Author: Xochitl Dixon

Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Release date: October 1, 2024

Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown, follows a young boy on a joyously affirming adventure that celebrates all shades of brown, from the darkest to the lightest.

From new school desks to freckles and moles, from fresh pastries to cedar canoes, brown is everywhere around us. God created and used brown to color the giant California redwoods, the Grand Canyon walls, busy beavers building dams, great horned owls hoo-hooing, and his image-bearers.

Everywhere that I go
I’m searching to see
something wonderfully, marvelously
brown—just like you and like me!

Illustrated by Pura Belpré Honor Award artist Sara Palacios and written by Xochitl Dixon, Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown takes kids on a tour of the U.S. to seek and find all the brilliant and beautiful shades of brownfrom ivory to ebonythat God created. Readers will be encouraged to love the skin tone God chose for them as they observe how the spectacular shades of brown are reflected in their communities and the world around them.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Xochitl (So-Cheel) Dixon, author of Waiting for God: Trusting Him for the Answers to Your Prayers, is a regular contributor for Our Daily Bread, the bestselling God Hears Her compilations and blog, and Tyndale’s NLT Go Bible for Kids (September 2024). Equipping readers to grow closer to God while nurturing an authentic loving community, she shares biblical encouragement, celebrates ethnic diversity, and advocates for disability awareness with her beautifully diverse family and her service dog, Callie, featured in the 2021 ECPA Christian Book Award Children’s Book Finalist Different Like MeDiferente como yo, What Color is God’s Love? and Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown.

 

 

More from Xochitl

I’m a first-generation Mexican American raised by Spanish-speaking immigrant grandparents and parents, who taught me to be invisible and believed assimilation would lead to a better life for me. The racism and colorism I experienced throughout my life caused me to grapple with my identity, self-worth, and my sense of belonging. However, I was in third grade the first time I stood against injustice. In my teen years, my passion for celebrating ethnic diversity and standing against injustice while advocating for disability awareness and inclusion grew.

Then, in 1994, I married a man who shared my passions. As a first-generation Mexican American raised by immigrant parents and grandparents, a wife to a Black man, a stepmother to a Black son, and a mother of a biracial son, my commitment to stand against racial injustice became even more personal.

I submitted my life to Christ in 2001 and began asking the Holy Spirit to make me more like Jesus. That same year, after a student used a racial slur toward our biracial son, I wrote Different Like Me.

As God empowered me to love Him and my neighbors with a healthy and holy perspective, God began to grow our beautifully diverse family. My youngest granddaughter, whose father is Black, shared that kids teased her because she doesn’t look like her sisters, who share the same white father. I assured her that the melanin God uses to color all skin is brown, from the lightest to the darkest shades. Then, I told her that I would be writing Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown.

In 2020, Our Daily Bread published Different Like Me. As I edited What Color is God’s Love? and Wonderfully, Marvelously Brown, God continued affirming that He did not create the divisive and oppressive systems that label His image-bearers as “white” or “black” and feed the ignorance of racism or colorism. Instead, He designed melanin to include every spectacular shade of brown from the darkest ebony to the lightest ivory, even in those He created with birth marks, vitiligo, and albinism.

God intentionally selected every skin tone for every person He created and loves, His image-bearers. He calls every shade of brown good, including the shade of brown He used when He created you and me. As we celebrate our God-designed ethnic diversity, we can share the Good News of Jesus Christ as we love God and all our neighbors together.

Interview with the Author

1)What does success as an author look like to you?
Success as a Christ follower, which encompasses every aspect of my life including ministry as a writer and speaker, is fulfilling the Great Commission ̶ sharing the Gospel and making disciples of all nations ̶ while living out the Greatest Commandment ̶ loving God and others.

2)Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?
Researching the brown things, choosing which ones to use for the book, and writing meaningful rhymes were the most challenging things to do, though I enjoyed the process.

3)What inspired this book?
A fellow student told my granddaughter that she couldn’t be related to her sisters because she has a darker skin tone than them. I shared that I had been teased for being too light when I was a child. I explained that God made and uses melanin, which is brown, to design the perfect skin
color for each of his image-bearers. I assured her that every person God made is wonderfully, marvelously brown, from the darkest ebony to the lightest ivory. Then, I promised to write a book that celebrated every spectacular shade of brown God made.

4)What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse? What are you reading right now?
Choosing a favorite Bible verse is difficult because I love God’s whole story. I read through the Bible in a year and study Scripture deeper. I had the pleasure and privilege of writing the Choose to Change features in Tyndale’s NLT Go Bible for Kids. Right now, I’m focused on finishing my
devotional about walking in the power of the Holy Spirit, so I’m reading the Go Bible to study the Holy Spirit and will be using it for the Bible in a year in 2025.

5)If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?
The life-transforming, unerring and unchanging word of God ̶ the Bible.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, October 28 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 29

Lots of Helpers, October 30

Guild Master, October 31 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, November 1

Leslie’s Library Escape, November 1

Texas Book-aholic, November 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 3

Fiction Book Lover, November 4 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, November 4

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 6

A Reader’s Brain, November 7 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, November 8

Labor Not in Vain, November 9

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Xochitl is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5480/

The Time Door Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Time Door

Author: Shannon McDermott

Genre: Adult Science Fiction

Release date: October 8, 2024

A reckless last mission on Mars, a crusade for justice on Earth …

Reuben Jackson is the only one who still cares about Mars. In the shambles of the Great Collapse, Earth has abandoned the Mars explorers to their fate. But Reuben will make a stand for the Mars team—even against the powerfully united politicians and scientists.

In too deep, he discovers hidden conspiracies and unexpected allies.

As the conflict mounts on Earth, time runs down on Mars. Left to face Mars alone, Commander Donegan Moynihan and his team have no hope of surviving after their supplies are gone. Willing to accept a quicker death than starvation, the explorers strike out on a dangerous mission. They venture deep inside the ancient volcano of Arsia Mons, into perils and secrets long buried. What they discover would move mountains on Earth—but will it be enough to save themselves?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Shannon McDermott is an author of science fiction and has been occupied for years with constructing scenarios of the colonization of Mars. Always a fan of the genre, she reviews Christian speculative fiction with Lorehaven. Her interests include history, classic

literature, and lattes. She lives in the great Midwest, where she does her best to avoid icy weather, sweltering heat, and tornadoes, according to the season.

 

 

 

More from Shannon

There is a story of an abandoned space colony. Still young, still unsteady, and suddenly cut off from the mother planet—the colony will either learn fast to survive alone, or it will die altogether.

The story has been told again and again, a thousand variations on the old theme. When I was getting acquainted with it, through battered paperbacks and anthologies gathered from the old “scientifiction” magazines, I noticed that the colonies were usually abandoned because of a space plague, or aliens, or interplanetary war.

Exotic, exciting problems, the stuff of science fiction. But I had a thought: What if the reason for abandoning a space colony were a bit prosaic? What if there was just no more money?

The national debt is very much a thing (and an ever-growing thing, at an ever-increasing rate). We would be in trouble if that debt were ever called, or even if no more could be contracted. If it suddenly became time to pay the piper, if the money running off the press was no longer good enough—America couldn’t afford to support a colony on Mars. And we would have too many problems of our own to care very much about theirs.

A classic sci-fi story with a modern twist, something fantastic mixed with something prosaic. I liked it.

As I set to work on the idea, I soon made another variation to the theme. The abandoned colony did not take the whole stage. I gave equal space to those who had abandoned it. Good or bad, they had their reasons; they had their story, too. And as I began to write it, I realized that both stories were about survival. The struggle over whether they survived, and how, and what they would become on the other side.

These ideas grew into The Time Door—two parallel stories, separated by the distance between Mars and Earth, and yet united in the end. Whether abandoned on Mars, or caught in the collapse on Earth, they all need a way out; they all need to find a door.

Interview with the Author

1)What does success as an author look like to you?

Finding my niche in the huge world of books, both in terms of writing and of being read. I want to write the best books that I can, and reach those readers who will enjoy them. It’s not a matter of competition—which is good for me, because there are certainly better authors. It’s a matter of finding one’s own place and doing one’s own work.

I have to add, though—I would be flattered if people made fanart based on my books. I would have to take that as a sign of success, too.

2)Which character did you connect to best in this book?

My favorite character is Manasseh Cruz. He was always fun to write because he has so much boldness and conviction, and yet a strong sense of his own failings. Even a sense of shame. The complexity of that gave me a lot to work with.

3)What inspired this book?

Too much classic science-fiction. The premise of the novel is that the first explorers were marooned on Mars because Earth ran out of funds—the classic sci-fi trope of an abandoned space colony mixed with something modern, even a little banal.

4)What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

“ ‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the LORD, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

5)If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

My first thought is the Bible, because I would definitely be in need of spiritual sustenance. After that, I would choose How to Survive on a Deserted Island. Because I know nothing.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 17

Blossoms and Blessings, October 18 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, October 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 19

The Lofty Pages, October 20

Artistic Nobody, October 21 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 22

Guild Master, October 23 (Spotlight)

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 24

Blogging With Carol, October 25

A Reader’s Brain, October 26 (Author Interview)

Fiction Book Lover, October 27 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 27

Simple Harvest Reads, October 28 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 29

Lily’s Corner, October 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Shannon is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5470/

Mabel Goes to the Dogs Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Mabel Goes to the Dogs

Author: Susan Kimmel Wright

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release date: June 5, 2022

When Mabel finds herself sharing a thicket with a dead body while volunteering with canine search-and-rescue, her life has clearly once again gone to the dogs!

After losing her job at age forty-nine, Mabel thought she’d turned things around. Now, she’s doing good by volunteering and, surely, she’ll soon be a successful author, writing about her experiences. After solving two notorious, decades-old cold cases while serving as a historical society volunteer, she’s already getting invitations to appear on TV.

Her new assignment couldn’t be simpler. All she has to do is hide in the woods and let Millie the search dog practice finding her. But to her horror, Millie finds more than Mabel–there’s a dead body hiding in the same patch of brush. To make matters worse, Mabel’s maybe-boyfriend, suspended PI John Bigelow, has a dark history with the victim.

While struggling with maid-of-honor duties for best friend Lisa, a string of disasters created by handyman Acey, and a disagreeable new neighbor, can Mabel solve another murder in time to save John’s detective license–if not his neck?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Susan Kimmel Wright began her life of mystery in childhood, with reading. That led to writing kids’ mysteries and eventually to Medicine Spring with Mabel. A longtime member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime, Susan’s also a prolific writer of personal experience stories, many for Chicken Soup for the Soul. She shares an 1875 farmhouse in southwestern PA with her husband, several dogs and cats, and an allegedly excessive stockpile of coffee and tea mugs.

More from Susan

I got stuck. When I was outlining my story for Mabel Goes to the Dogs, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do next. This isn’t unusual for me, or, I’m sure, many other authors. When it happens, I have to go search for inspiration—or at least, step away from my project for a bit and do something else till a fresh idea lands in my brain.

Luckily, I soon stumbled upon the Empty Frames podcast, which explored what was, at that time at least, the single largest property theft in the world—the 1990 art heist at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in Boston. Thieves impersonating police subdued the guards and over the course of the next eighty-one minutes methodically removed thirteen pieces of art then estimated at $200 million. That dollar valuation quickly escalated to between $500-600 million. The stolen artwork including paintings by Rembrandt, Vermeer, Degas, and Manet, was never recovered and remains the highest-value museum robbery in history.

The museum has offered a $10 million reward and never stopped trying to find its missing art. Thirty-four years later, empty picture frames still occupy the walls where the irreplaceable, stolen paintings once hung.

The story was engrossing, and I soon started down a rabbit hole, learning more about art theft and art-theft detectives, such as Charley Hill, the subject of the book The Rescue Artist. Sadly, it’s been estimated that nine out of ten stolen artworks will never be recovered. But Hill defied the odds in managing to retrieve Edvard Munch’s famous work, The Scream, brazenly stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway on the eve of the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer. The Rescue Artist tells the story of the theft, as well as Hill’s wild quest to locate and retrieve The Scream.

After I resurfaced from my own odyssey through Empty Frames and The Rescue Artist, I felt re-energized and ready to write again. Every time I write a book, I learn new things, which I like to share with my readers. I always hope they’ll find them as fascinating as I do!

Interview with the Author

1. What does success look like to you as a writer?

I used to look at great literary authors like Louisa May Alcott whose work became classics—or mystery authors who’d be revered forever and influence generations after them, like Agatha Christie and Dorothy L Sayers. And that most certainly was the sort of lofty perch I aspired to. At least, I dreamed my books would become bestsellers and win awards. But I can honestly say, I no longer aspire to any of that and haven’t in a very long time. My reward is the readers who say they see themselves in Mabel, or tell me they were reading in bed and started laughing so hard they woke their husbands up. I would never trade my precious readers who say my books helped get them through chemo or a family crisis, or are even rereading the whole series for the third time(!). No prestigious award or number one bestseller could ever mean as much to me.

2. Which character did you connect to best in this book?

Like so many of my readers, I see a lot of myself in Mabel, especially her imperfection and insecurities. It’s been wonderful to see her grow as the series has continued.

3. Which author inspired you the most?

I started writing as a child, and when I was sixteen, I read Writing Juvenile Fiction by Phyllis A Whitney. It is a wonderful writing text, especially the parts about professional attitude, persistence, and hard work. I truly believe I might never have hung on through the years if I hadn’t had her encouraging words in my head. Though Whitney was a many-times bestseller and Mystery Writers of America Grandmaster, that little textbook is my favorite of all her works. I wrote to tell her so after I published my first novel in 1992, when she was about 90, and she wrote a long letter back to me, clearly typed on a manual typewriter!

4. What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, in all your ways acknowledge him, and He will make your paths straight.” (Prov. 3:5-6 Berean Standard)

5. Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.

I like to write in different places, but my favorite is the living room of my childhood home in the Laurel Highlands in Pennsylvania. My brother and I have kept the little house my dad built after the war, and it’s where my creativity was born, so it always feels special to write there. This time of year, I look out on huge old oaks, maples, and hemlocks. Great cinnamon ferns and lacy hay- scented fern carpet the woods floor in green waves, punctuated by boulders and goldenrod. Squirrels leap across the grass, rustling the fallen red and gold leaves as they gather acorns, and descendants of the birds my mother so loved fly up to perch on the wires and peer in at me.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 26

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 27

Simple Harvest Reads, October 28 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 30

Artistic Nobody, October 31 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, October 31

She Lives To Read, November 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 2

Guild Master, November 3 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 4

Holly’s Book Corner, November 5

Fiction Book Lover, November 6 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, November 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 7

Vicky Sluiter, November 8 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5478/

Unison Parenting Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Unison Parenting: The Comprehensive Guide to Navigating Christian Parenthood with One Voice

Author: Cecil Taylor

Genre: Parenting/Family, more specifically Christian Parenting

Release date: September 17, 2024

Singing in unison is when all voices sing the same note, at the same time, to emphasize the text. Similarly, families need to parent in unison to emphasize the message they want to send to their children.

Cecil Taylor uses his personal parenting experience, and those of the families he’s taught and ministered to over decades, to create unique foundational strategies for unison parenting within a Christian context. Learn how to stay on the same page throughout the trials of parenting, provide children with a solid faith foundation, and balance loving nature with firm boundaries to create a warm, stable environment where the child and parent can eventually collaborate to bring the child to full, responsible adulthood.

Whether in a traditional or nontraditional family structure, Unison Parenting leads parents through the ages and stages of childhood into mature adulthood. Additionally, Cecil lays out parenting fundamentals to manage your child’s growing need for independence during their teen years, while gradually building trust through incremental decision-making.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

With more than 30 years’ experience as an adult Sunday School teacher and as many in youth ministry, Cecil Taylor has impacted lives in local churches throughout his adult life. He founded Cecil Taylor Ministries to broaden that impact, teaching Christians to live a 7-day practical faith through books, video studies, and speaking engagements. His ministry is cross-denominational, focused on the common struggle Christians face in putting their faith into practice and applying scripture and faith principles to life situations.

Cecil has written three previous books, all of which have been awarded across international, national, and regional contests. For each book, Cecil has created a study guide, a video study, and downloadable free leader guides.

 

More from Cecil

Would you like to know the surefire, guaranteed way to get your teen to open up and talk to you? You’ll find it in my new book, Unison Parenting: The Comprehensive Guide to Navigating Christian Parenthood with One Voice.

Unison Parenting is the culmination of my fifteen years leading parenting classes in my church, my thirty years of youth ministry, and my raising of three children (one adopted) to adulthood. I taught and tested the parenting advice with seven hundred families that attended my classes, so I am convinced the structure and tips you’ll find in the book are well-proven.

One of those tips is how to get your teen to talk to you. I have never had anyone return to me to say that the technique doesn’t work; in fact, they laughingly complain that the technique works too well, and they can’t get their teen to stop talking!

An overarching theme of the book is, of course, getting and staying in unison as parents, but not only as parents – as a family. Another way to put it is a spirit of collaboration. You begin building this collaboration when the children are young, and as they grow, you expand the collaboration to partner with them on the common goal of helping them become mature adults who make good decisions.

I can tell you from experience that the collaborating spirit of such a family continues into adulthood, fostering solid on-going relationships and a desire for family community, even across distance.

This is not to say that my wife and I were perfect, nor that our children were perfect. We all made regrettable mistakes along the way. Our learnings, plus the positive and negative experiences of families I encountered over decades, will help you avoid pitfalls as you create a unison atmosphere among parenting partners and with your children.

Interview with the Author

What does success as an author look like to you?
Let me start with versions of success that aren’t as meaningful. Having a New York Times bestseller, becoming famous enough to be on talk shows, those kinds of things. My success is simply getting the message out to as many people as possible. I write Christian-based non-fiction, so I have a mission to help others. I can’t get too caught up in the numbers, because sometimes, the one person who reads it and is helped is the special one I wanted to reach. But I definitely would like to have a lot of special ones.

What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?
Most of my favorite verses revolve around dealing with stress and anxiety, such as Philippians 4:4-7. But these days, my favorite verse is 2 Chronicles 20:12, which in part reads, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you.” That is the internal slogan for my ministry, written on a sticky note and taped to the wall over my laptop: “I do not know what to do, but my eyes are on you.” I say that to God quite frequently.

What would you like your readers to get out of this book?
First, I would hope parents would come away with a sense of optimism that it is possible to parent in a well-conceived, consistent, loving but firm way that matures children into great adults. To that end, I also would like them to learn supporting strategies and tactics. Also, I would like them to be able to co-parent in unison, staying on the same page for the sake of the child.

Which chapter was the most difficult to write?
The first chapter in the Teen section is Collaborative Parenting. Its premise is that when you have those four high school years to grow a child into an adult, you can collaborate with the teen in a new way. It doesn’t have to be contentious; there is another way built on teamwork and mutual respect. The basics of the concept are not hard to understand.
However, the practice is more difficult. Some techniques in that chapter come from research into interpersonal communications. Some, which I used as a parent, actually come from human resource management in the business realm, techniques that allow you to analyze the child’s readiness to move to new stages of growth.

These techniques can be a little complicated. So the challenge was to make them as simple, understandable, and executable as possible. Hopefully I succeeded so that others can put these useful techniques into practice.

What is your most well-loved and well-used house appliance?

Oh, the air fryer! Our lives changed for the better when we purchased an air fryer. Dinner is so much simpler now, not to mention healthier. I’d get rid of my oven altogether if I didn’t need it for broiling and for baking desserts.

Blog Stops

Lots of Helpers, October 23

Simple Harvest Reads, October 24 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 24

Artistic Nobody, October 25 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, October 26 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 27

Fiction Book Lover, October 28 (Author Interview)

Vicky Sluiter, October 29 (Author Interview)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 30 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 30

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 31

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 1 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 2

Blossoms and Blessings, November 3 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, November 4 (Author Interview)

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 5 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Cecil is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5475/

Visible Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Visible

Author: Darlene Corbett

Genre: Romantic Women’s Fiction

Release date: May 15, 2024

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Therapist Rachel Karem is accustomed to helping emotionally wounded individuals navigate the murky waters of dealing with complicated family dynamics, relationship issues, and life transitions. When individual therapy hits a brick wall for five successful professionals, she persuades them to engage in a ten-week group therapy program. But working through these sessions with her clients reveals Rachel’s own brokenness.

Widowed, childless, and estranged from her family, Rachel wonders if she will ever have a second chance at love. She is amazed when her own therapist advocates for her to “get back in the game.” To her surprise, Rachel enrolls in dance classes where she learns the Tango. Romantic, passionate, intense, sensual, dramatic, the Tango embodies everything that is missing in Rachel’s life. As she grows more confident in her dance steps, her life becomes more entwined with her handsome dance partner, Michael. But past betrayals haunt Rachel’s emotions, and current rivals for Michael’s affections feed past rejections.

Even as her clients in the therapy group learn to support each other in their quest for personal wholeness, Rachel yearns for a deeper connection within herself to propel her into the next stage of her life. But will it be with or without Michael?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Darlene Corbett views herself as a lifelong learner, a pursuer of excellence, a work-in-progress, and a truth seeker.

Serving others as a licensed psychotherapist has been her primary professional position for over thirty years.

Now, she includes Author/Writer and Speaker.

Her wealth of experience in human behavior prompted Darlene to write her ideas on paper, which set the stage for her book, “Stop Depriving the World of You,” published by Sound Wisdom in 2018.

Darlene wrote her first novel, Visible, a women’s fiction about second chances, published by WordCrafts Press in the spring of 2024, and plans on writing two more books in this series.

And right now?

Also, she’s finishing a contemporary romance, the first in another series.

Besides being an avid reader, Darlene loves animals, especially dogs, which you’ll see in her novel. Also, she treasures learning another language, yoga, fitness, traveling, and connecting with her inner circle.

She belongs to many organizations, including the ACFW, FHL-CW, and AWSA.

She makes her home in Central Massachusetts with her beloved Shih Tzu and remains excited about the next chapter of her life.

More from Darlene

I created the protagonist, Rachel, with a Jordanian background. I’m half Syrian/Lebanese, so I thought I’d share an easy but delicious recipe given to me by my mother:

Hushwee:

1 lb. of ground lamb or lean beef

1 stick of butter

2 cups of white rice

5 cups of water and 5 chicken bouillons

1 tablespoon of cinnamon

1 table spoon of allspice

A handful or 2 of pinenuts

On medium heat, stir-fry the beef with the butter.

Once it’s browned, mix in the dry rice, cinnamon, allspice, and pinenuts

Put aside

Boil 5 cups of water with the bouillons.

Once water has boiled, spoon in the mixture, bring the heat to low or one above, and cover.

20-25 minutes and should be done.

You may adjust according to your preference and stovetop.

This can be a side dish or the main mean with a nice Syrian salad such as Tabouli or Fattoush.

Bon Appetit

Interview with the Author

1)What does success as an author look like to you?
Ensuring that the reader becomes immersed in the story, and although it’s a work of fiction, they recognize that everyone has the capacity to overcome the most difficult of challenges.

2)Which character did you connect to best in this book?
I love all my characters. However, because I’m a therapist, I connect the best with Rachel.

3)What inspired this book?
I’ve been wanting to write a novel for years, and my understanding of human behavior inspired me to create fictional but realistic characters dealing with issues, which I know well.

 

4)What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?
It’s tied with Joshua 1:9 – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”And Luke 12:48 – From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

5)What is your vacation spot?
I love Key West, a setting I use in my book.

Blog Stops

Simple Harvest Reads, October 24 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, October 25 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 26

Fiction Book Lover, October 27 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 28 (Author Interview)

Guild Master, October 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 30 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 30

Blossoms and Blessings, October 31 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, November 1

Stories By Gina, November 2 (Author Interview)

A Reader’s Brain, November 3 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 4

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 5 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 5

Pause for Tales, November 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Darlene is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a winner’s choice of a paperback or eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5476/

Here Lyeth Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Here Lyeth (A Lifeline Fantasy Series Book Three. It can be read as a stand alone)

Author: Johanna Frank

Genre: Religious Fantasy / Coming of Age Fantasy

Release date: November 1, 2024

Answers to her identity lie beneath a gravestone; her own.

Something was missing. It was easy for Lexxie to bury that niggling sense, she had all the love and protection a young woman needed. But when the man she thought to be her father spilled a fever-pitched confession, her content and isolated life ended. Angry and heartbroken, she left the people she loved on a mere hint—her true father lived in Vereiteln Dorf, two villages over. Once there, she’s drawn to an unconsecrated graveyard and patches shocking revelations and broken pieces together, and the more she does, the more her presence in this superstitious village becomes a threat. The perils of a noose amid a 1688 witch hunt lay heavy on her shoulders.

Years earlier, in the same village, young Meginhardt succumbs to a vicious attack. Ethereal beings take him on a time-traveling journey to resolve the lad’s deeply rooted struggles. When Meginhardt learns that some woman named Lexxie is the chosen one to carry forward his father’s line of descendants, fits of jealousy ensue—a dream shattered. It should have been him. He becomes frantic to ensure the demise of this undeserving woman. In apparitional form he delivers her a message, face to face.

Her future lyeth in his words.

STIRRING… EXTRAORDINARY… UPLIFTING

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Before she started writing, Johanna spent her days working with profit and non-profit organizations, while spending her evenings studying theology part-time. Now she spends her waking hours creating fantastical stories she hopes will touch the lives of her readers. Her goal—to deliver soulful, whimsical, and venturous reads.

 

 

 

 

More from Johanna

A little heavenly imagination can loosen the chains of life.

My ‘playground’ for creating Here Lyeth was far-reaching, though insulated with firm boundaries. From fictional Germanic villages in days of old in one corner, a low fantasy kingdom where the perished journey to the foot of a guarded gate, in the other.

Admittedly, I took many privileges with beloved values and symbolisms dear to my faith, daring to employ startling imagination for the purpose of enticing generosity of thought for the great …and small …mysteries in life. My favourite, where the waters of a supranatural river flows through time carrying with it various stones, each belonging to a life on Earth, often getting caught in stormy swirls or stuck in a bank of mud, representations of its owner’s personal trials and sufferings.

The story itself, though smattered with biblical senses, is not meant to be a teaching of ways, (I’m not qualified for such!) rather, to provide inklings of encouragement, to set within minds a sublime curiosity—what life might we find after this one?

My hope is you will enjoy the sparkles of divine happenstances, the pulls of faith and the eager wonder of ever-after capers to be pleasing.

Although the third instalment into A Lifeline Fantasy Series as far as publication dates go, Here Lyeth takes the position of first when it comes to the natural flow of time compared to its stand-alone novel-mates, The Gatekeeper’s Descendants and Jophiel’s Secret.

I promise you, Here Lyeth won’t leave you hanging, though it may unearth you a little 🙂

Johanna

Interview with the Author

What does success as an author look like to you?

For me, it’s that rewarding sense of accomplishment. Having a place for imagination, where creative thoughts and ideas can trickle and ooze, the end result being something tangible—a finished novel to hold in your hands (or read on your kindle lol). The ultimate satisfaction is when a reader reaches out and expresses how a novel touched them in a meaningful way. Of course, ending in the black and not the red when it comes to economics is a realistic goal many authors, me included, strive for.

Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

The historical setting! I never set out to be a historical fiction writer. I have great admiration for those who accept such an undertaking. It was a privilege to enter into another’s era (1670-1688) so that my characters could suitably journey within it, though it took considerable research. I beg forgiveness to avid historical readers—I did my best, allowed several misgivings, and I hope you will still enjoy the plot!

What inspired this book?

At the beginning of my first novel, The Gatekeeper’s Descendants, there exists a prologue to set the stage for the story. This prologue is narrated by an unnamed character 300 years prior to the book’s setting. Here Lyeth is the backstory to that prologue. Hence, although Here Lyeth is the third instalment into A Lifeline Fantasy Series, I’ve set it as the ideal first read for the series. Having said that, each instalment into this series is an absolute standalone read, so any order will do!

 What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

That’s easy. Isaiah 41:13. “For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” NIV

My teenaged daughter carried this verse on her flip phone for spiritual nourishment while going through treatment to challenge osteo-sarcoma. A shortened version is carved onto her gravestone.

Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.

I’ve attached a photo! Mind you, I have a few spots in our home I tend to be a regular at. I like to change things up, helps with inspiration. But mostly, I move about to avoid stiffness in back, shoulders, legs, etc. (An age thing perhaps?)

If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

Music and podcasts. Something instrumental and calming and spiritually edifying.

Blog Stops

By the Book, October 18

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 19

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 20 (Author Interview)

Back Porch Reads, October 20

Texas Book-aholic, October 21

Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 23

Inspired by Fiction, October 24

Holly’s Book Corner, October 25

Blogging With Carol, October 26

For the Love of Literature, October 27 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, October 28 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, October 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 30 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Johanna is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon card and copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5471

Glitter and the Grouch Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Glitter and the Grouch (Romance in Valiant Book Three. It can be read as a standalone.)

Author: Mary Pat Johns

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: September 3, 2024

Silas and Nat don’t get along. Neither can they leave each other alone. When a prank goes terribly wrong at their workplace, they face an impossible choice.

Either they compete in a canoe race to prove they can work together or forfeit their futures at Peeps. Quitting isn’t the norm for either of them. Good thing, because their boss isn’t backing down an inch. He assures them they can accomplish anything they set their minds to, even if it’s 3 days and 260 miles of river.

There’s only one catch—they’ll have to be in the same boat.

Will they reach deep inside to find out what they’re made of? Or will they succumb to the physical rigors of the event and the machinations of Nat’s controlling ex?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Mary Pat Johns’ writing career began once she retired from years of teaching speech and writing. She’s written devotions for an online publication and had short stories published by Chicken Soup for the Soul. She currently writes a weekly faith column for the local newspaper. Countin’ On Jesse, her first novel debuted in 2023, and book 2 of the Valiant series, Lovin’ On Red, released in release in 2024. God put it in her heart to tell stories of brave veterans and their reintegration into civilian life after suffering the traumas of war.

She lives in South Texas with her husband and their two dapple dachshunds. Her grown children and five grandchildren are useful sorts who keep her grounded with her reading/writing obsession. You can find her at the gym, at her computer, or reading a good book.

More from Mary

I wrote Glitter and the Grouch for two reasons. The first reason was peace of mind. LOL.  Two minor characters from Books 1 & 2 of the Valiant series INSISTED on having their own story. Rather, Nat insisted and Silas grudgingly followed. He hated the idea at first, but all’s well that ends well.

The second reason is I absolutely LOVE the Texas Water Safari and follow it every year. When I talked to a friend who competes, he wasn’t sure how I would write a book about it. When I explained it would be a story about two people who fall in love during the race, he grinned from ear to ear and said that scenario had happened a few times.

Interview with the Author

  • What does success as an author look like to you?

I always wanted to be published by a traditional publishing house, so that’s a dream come true for me. Having the ability to share my writing with others is a huge thrill, but paychecks are nice too.

  • Which character did you connect to best in this book?

For some strange reason, I usually connect better with my masculine characters, and Silas was no exception, though I had several lovely moments with Natalie. At the beginning of the story, Silas was closed and avoided issues he didn’t want to deal with. I can relate to those less than positive traits.

  • Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

Getting the story narrative aligned within the parameters of the river race was a challenge. The time on the river needed to be balanced with the checkpoints, which was hard because in the actual race, competitors spend far more time in the boats.

  • What inspired this book?

I absolutely adore the Texas Water Safari. It’s an annual river race that takes place in Texas and has the moniker of “the toughest boat race in the world.”

  • Which author influenced the you most?

There are several, but the most recent are Laurel Blount and Lynn Blackburn. And I’d love to write like Becky Wade when I grow up. LOL.

  • What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

Again, it’s hard to pick just one. Right now, it’s Job 19:25-27. “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, yet from my flesh I shall see God; whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes shall see and not another.”

  • What is your vacation spot?

I love the beach. We spend time there as a family, and my husband and I often slip away for a day to walk and watch the ocean.

  • What are you reading right now?

I’m rereading Firefly Diaries in anticipation of the sequel, Dragonfly Ashes, in C.C. Warrens’ Cherry Creek Mystery Series. She is one of my favorite authors.

  • Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.

I’m in my office on the second story of our house. There’s a huge oak tree outside the window where I often observe the antics of birds and squirrels. Below is my husband’s woodworking shop. It’s quiet today, but there’s often the noise of electrics saws and drills when he’s working. I can hear Lacey, our young dachshund, barking at a squirrel.

  • If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

There’s no question: I wouldn’t make it a day without my Bible. I read it to order my life according to Scripture. I desperately need the lessons, the wisdom, and the connection with God.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 11

Back Porch Reads, October 12 (Author Interview)

Holly’s Book Corner, October 12

For Him and My Family, October 13

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 14 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 15

Fiction Book Lover, October 16 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 17

Vicky Sluiter, October 18 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 19

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 20 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, October 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 21

Simple Harvest Reads, October 22 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 23

For the Love of Literature, October 24 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5465

An Arrangement with the Heiress Review and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: An Arrangement with the Heiress

Author: Lisa M. Prysock

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: September 24, 2024

She’s a wealthy debutante with the finest ancestry in Kentucky horseracing circles…

He’s a member of New York’s Gilded Age elite, yet on the brink of financial ruin…

Neither of them want an arranged marriage…or do they?

Veronica Lyndon has a plan for her life, and it doesn’t include being married off to a perfect stranger. After all, she is descended from generations of Kentucky horseracing royalty. She has no need for a marriage arranged solely to secure her place among the elite of Manhattan’s Gilded Age society. But that’s exactly what her parents expect of her. Determined to defy the arrangement, Veronica formulates a plan to drive her intended away. But when Edward arrives in anticipation of the match, she doesn’t expect to find him so attractive, nor can she deny the feelings he stirs in her heart, complicating her plans. Has true love galloped into her life by conventional means, or are her estimations mistaken?

Edward Beckett realizes the futility of avoiding the arranged marriage to Miss Lyndon. His family is already on the brink of financial ruin and Veronica’s dowry may be their best opportunity to recover. But he didn’t expect to fall for the Kentucky debutante so easily. He finds himself attracted to her natural beauty and vivacious spirit, free from the conventions of other ladies in his customary circles. In fact, he’s downright smitten after meeting Veronica. Unfortunately, Edward’s sisters don’t feel the same, and if their attempts to sabotage the relationship are successful, his whirlwind courtship to Veronica may be over before it’s really begun.

Saddle up for a clean romp filled with sweet romance, inspiration, and plenty of adventure along this course of obstacles and a glide through the splendor and opulence of the Gilded Age.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Guest Review from Donna

What I think you should know:

An Arrangement with the Heiress by Lisa M Prysock is an Christian Historical Fiction. It is the first book in the Kentucky Debutantes of the Gilded Age Series.  The book is set in 1901 Lexington, Kentucky and features Veronica Lyndon, daughter of Racing Royalty and Edward Beckett, New York Society Elite.

 

What I think about this book:

  When Veronica and Edward were told their parents had arranged a marriage between the families both were resistant for their own reasons.  It was very interesting to see Veronica change from a petulant young woman who wanted to avoid marriage at all cost to a woman seeking God’s will.  I was particularly touched when Edward said “The higher the dowry, the more esteemed and valuable the woman, It signals the man in pursuit of her that she is beloved, highly sought after, to be protected…”  While dowries are no longer normal practice and a dowry was not truly an indication of value. I love the thought that God gave us a dowry though Jesus and how we should all remember our Value in Him! It was interesting to see Edward evolve into a man that could stand on his own.  This was a wonderful story. I appreciate how the author developed the characters and the scenery. I could imagine learning to drive in the Runabout and all of the interesting things the author described. I look forward to reading more in the series and by the author.

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit, this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.

About the Author

Lisa M. Prysock is a USA Today Bestselling Author who writes both Christian Historical Romance and Contemporary Christian Romance books—”Romance with a Dash of Food, Fashion, Faith, & Fun.” She writes both traditionally and indie published novels.

Kentucky inspires her writing and is home. Happily married to her husband of more than 24 years, she homeschooled two of their five children, now grown. When she isn’t writing, she likes to cross stitch, crochet, sew, scrapbook, read, swim, dance, take walks, travel, explore historical homes, garden, cook for her family, learn to play the piano and violin, and read great books.

 

More from Lisa

Q & A with Lisa M. Prysock…Writing Gilded Age Kentucky Romance!

  1. What inspired you to write An Arrangement with the Heiress?
  2. Residing here in beautiful Kentucky near many of the world’s finest horse farms, rolling hills, and rich culture, for years, I have longed to grasp hold of the inspiration around me to pen a historical story that had been mulling around in my mind.

Hence, I reached out to a dear author friend, Chautona Havig, to brainstorm and build upon what was in my head and heart thus far. She ran a hypothetical scenario by me with some conflict arising because of hypocrisy about the horseracing world…something that could stem from some possible characters. This fit perfectly with some of my research about the Gilded Age era in the horseracing world. My immediate reaction: Ooo, yes girl, yes! Imagine squealing and much chatter at this point. We writers can get a bit on the gabby side if left to ourselves. And because, well, my hero had two sisters; ideal candidates to become antagonists. Chautona and I were chuckling and laughing…and I was off and running like a horse out of the gate.

  1. Were there any challenges you faced about including some history from horseracing in your writing process?
  2. Yes! For starters, how to do it all justice? How to get the feel of it onto paper without writing it wrong? There was so much that had been written about the Kentucky Derby, Keeneland, and horseracing history in general. My deep dive into the Kentucky Derby alone could have held me captive for many months in research.

Knee deep in taking notes, I landed on a thesis paper from the 1940s that was steeped with everything that had put the Kentucky Derby and horseracing in Kentucky on the map. By the time I finished wading through the thesis and all of my other research, I had gobs of notes and a goldmine of historical tidbits to bring my story to life with some degree of accuracy. My story also takes readers to Manhattan and South Carolina. Imagine me turning my laptop sideways to study ancient theater seating charts (okay, well maybe not ancient, but some theaters from the 1900s no longer exist…) and maps for street names from Gilded Age Lexington and Manhattan, and beaches on the Carolinian coastline. All my story needed now was my imagination and a tour of a local horse farm.

 

  1. Tell us about your tour of a local horse farm.
  2. Feeling a little shaky about my knowledge of horses, on an ultra-super-hot day in July of 2023, my husband—who behaved like a trooper in agreeing to escort me toward the end of getting my horse facts straight—and I, set out to drive to Lexington from our rural suburban home on the edge of Louisville.

We’d decided to make a day of it. We had a wonderful time and really enjoyed touring Gainsborough Farm. It was sweltering hot, but by the time the tour ended, despite melting from the heat before, during, and after, I felt as though I understood more about horse farming better than before the tour.

I had some knowledge of horses from growing up on a farm in Minnesota where my dad boarded horses for locals from time to time, but that had been a long time ago. I needed to brush up on the facts and try to imagine it as if I were living in the early 1900s. Unfortunately, there aren’t too many time machines around to satisfy my desire for temporary transportation to and from a working horseracing farm in 1908. My research, memories, books I’ve read, movies I’ve watched, and my own imagination would have to fill in the rest. It’s all part of being a fictional historical writer, right?

Hubby and me at Gainsborough Farm in 2023…it was so hot that day. My makeup was melting!

Blog Stops

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 15

Stories By Gina, October 16 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 16

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 17

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 18

Texas Book-aholic, October 19

Devoted To Hope, October 19

Simple Harvest Reads, October 20 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 21

For Him and My Family, October 22

lakesidelivingsite, October 23

Holly’s Book Corner, October 24

Pause for Tales, October 25

Karen Baney Reviews, October 26

Hannahbandanarama, October 26

Cover Lover Book Review, October 27

Labor Not in Vain, October 28

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 28

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lisa is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5468

Preach it, Grace Interview and Giveaway

About the Book

Book: Preach It, Grace  A Girl’s Testimony of Faith (Dream Pony Book 5)

Author: Susan Count

Genre: Middle-Grade

Release date: February, 2024

Sharing a pony worked perfectly, until it didn’t.

The pony share Grace worked out with her elderly neighbor was ideal—she thought. Mr. Harvey bought the buckskin gelding’s food and Grace fed him. The pony was important to both of them so it made no sense when the elderly man sent him away. And why won’t he tell her where?

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

 

About the Author

Susan Count is a Kingdom Scribe who has published nine books in two equestrian series. As a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Texas Association of Authors, she takes studying the craft of writing seriously. Revision is her super-power.

Susan is a life-long equestrian and owned by a Rocky Mountain Horse that is kind hearted enough to take her on long, forested trail rides. She says the only thing more fun than riding might be writing horse adventure stories and she invites you to saddle up and ride along.

 

 

Read an Excerpt

Saturday started early for Grace’s family. Serve Out Saturday was the church’s biggest outreach event all year, and everyone who could turned out to help. Grace manned the church’s front-door sign-in desk. After everyone got their work assignments, she ran with her clipboard for the van headed to the retirement home. When they arrived, many residents were already gathered.
She lined up with six other girls, and they sang the gospel songs the residents requested. She searched their faces until she found Mr. Harvey in the last row. Giving him a quick wave, she sang directly to him.

He didn’t sing along like many of the residents, but he stayed for the program. That counted as a victory. Did he recognize her? She couldn’t tell.

She stepped to the microphone. “Hello. I’m Grace. That means blessings from God.”

She grinned at the residents, and they smiled back at her. “Horses are my favorite thing, and they’re also blessings from God. If you’ve ever seen a horse, then you know they are magnificent, mighty creatures.”

Grace held a booklet high, then pointed with it to the residents. “This explains how we can know the God that blesses us. And how we can go to heaven to be with him someday. It says he sent his Son, Jesus, to teach us about eternal life.”

She placed her hands over the open Bible on the podium. “No matter how hard we try, we can’t be perfect, but because of Jesus, we are forgiven for all the things we do wrong. He suffered and died on the cross, was buried, then raised to life on the third day.” She looked into Mr. Harvey’s eyes. “He loves us that much.”

As she closed the Bible, she softened her voice. “Pray to your heavenly Father—ask him to help you believe in Jesus.”

Interview with the Author

1) What does success as an author look like to you?

Success looks like the note, quoted below, from a young reader. It encourages me to keep going when the process bogs down.

“To Mrs. Susan Count,

Your books have been so awesome. I adore all the descriptive words, and how I feel like I am a character in the book.

You are a very talented writer, and I admire that. Thank you for the books that you have written.

Have a FANSATIC day and may God bless you in many ways!

Sophy”

 

2) Which character did you connect to best in this book?

Since my goal is to understand what Grace is feeling about the situation she’s in, how she will react to what’s happened, and how she will overcome the obstacles keeping her from her heart’s desire; I would say I most connected with Grace.

3) Which part of the book was the most difficult to write?

What is difficult for me is to balance the character’s need to achieve her goal without her coming across as self-centered or bratty. That thread runs throughout the book and not in a particular scene.

4) What inspired this book?

Especially on my mind was my desire to unravel the relationship between Grace and her grumpy, elderly neighbor. While we normally expect an adult to enrich a child’s life, Grace’s character and kindness were revealed through her rocky relationship with Mr. Harvey.

5) Which author influenced you the most?

Multiple authors in my Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators critique group had the most influence over the development of my books. They taught me critical things like how to build tension and how to breathe life into the characters. They helped me develop my voice for middle-grade novels. I will be forever grateful and indebted to them.

6) What is your favorite Bible verse or life verse?

1Thessalonians 5:16-18

Be joyful always, pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

7) What is your vacation spot?

My soul longs for the peacefulness of the forest and draws me to eastern Kentucky and anywhere in Missouri. When a change of pace is in order, my beach of choice is Destin, Florida. The emerald waters are refreshing and invigorating.

8) What are you reading right now?

I just finished How To Know A Person by David Brooks. Since each book character constructs their own perception of reality, this non-fiction study helps authors learn to actively listen to their characters to develop a compassionate understanding of their deepest desires, hopes, and dreams.

9) Describe your view as you’re sitting in your writing chair.

Sliding glass doors to my writing room allow me a forest emersion experience. An expansive area thick with pine trees flows down a slight incline covered in knee-high grasses and beauty-berry bushes. It’s the favorite spot of a trio of fawns still covered in white spots. When the heat relents, an assortment of birds will visit the bird bath until the Blue Jay claims it as his personal spa. The sun is filtered by the tree canopy and its rays dance with joy on the forest floor.

10) If you could have one book or piece of art or music on a deserted island, what would it be and why?

May I have two? No. My practical side will show here then. May I have a wilderness survival guide? I will have to rely on my memorized scripture verses to keep me aligned with the Lord. Combined with prayer, I’m confident in his ability to keep me under his wings.

Blog Stops

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 12

Simple Harvest Reads, October 13 (Author Interview)

Artistic Nobody, October 14 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 14

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, October 15

Lots of Helpers, October 16

Vicky Sluiter, October 17 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, October 18

Guild Master, October 19 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, October 20

A Reader’s Brain, October 21 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 21

Blossoms and Blessings, October 22 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 23

Cover Lover Book Review, October 24

Book Zone Reviews, October 25

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Susan is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon card and a paperback copy of all five books in the series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5466