Book Drawing

When you leave a comment on THIS post by 6 p.m. CT Sunday, February 2, 2014 you'll be entered in the DRAWING for a copy of the book I mention below. If you mention in your comment that you’re a follower (see in the left column “Join This Site” and “Follow by Email”), I’ll add your name a second time in the drawing. You must be eighteen, have a U.S. mailing address, void where prohibited. You can read details about my book giveaways at Disclaimers.

Hearts Rekindled by Patty Smith Hall

Our guest blogger is Patty Smith Hall. Patty has been making up stories to keep herself occupied since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. Now she’s thrilled to share her love of history and storytelling with everyone, including her husband of thirty years, Danny; her beautiful and talented daughters, Jennifer and Carly, and her future son-in-law, Dan.

Welcome, Patty. What fun or unique things can you tell us about yourself?

1)  Unlike most writers, I don’t have a shy bone in my body so I’ve had to learn to be alone to write.

2)  I read six newspapers a day; five from all over the US and one from overseas. And I’m a magazine junkie!

Please describe yourself with three words.

Determined, patient and frugal

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I spend time with my family. Danny and I particularly love to watch shows on PBS like Downton Abbey or Call the Midwife. Right now, we’re catching up on episodes of The Paradise. Oh, I’m a HUGE Castle fan! I’m talking HUGE! And of course, I love to read--usually get through ten to fifteen books a month.

If you could have dinner with one person from today or history (except Jesus), who would it be? Why?

Probably my husband’s dad--I’ve heard stories about him for years and I’d like to see what he’s like for myself.

Please tell us about Hearts Rekindled.

This is the third book I’ve written for Love Inspired Historical that’s based in WWII Georgia. Merrilee Davenport is trying to find a way to get her daughter Claire to Warm Springs after a bout of polio has left her legs weakened, and finds herself spying on a person who means the world to her, her former husband’s adopted mother. And of course, just about this time, John Davenport shows up with a letter from Claire, wanting to get acquainted with the child he’d never known about. They’re thrown together helping Claire and the other physically and mentally disabled children John’s mother has taken in.

What takeaway value do you hope your readers receive after reading this book?

When I first started writing this book, I was sure it was going to be about how marriage, no matter who much you love a person, was HARD! But as I kept writing, I saw a pattern of abandonment in my characters that I could identify with at the time. I was struggling with physical pain which can be very lonely. But the one thing I learned is God never abandons us even when we may not feel His presence. That’s what I took from the story and I hope the readers see that too.

Please tell our readers where they can get your book.

You can find all my books at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CDB and Wal-Mart.

Please tell our readers where they can find you online.

Please drop by my webpage. You can also find me along with other historical authors here.

Any parting comment?

If you’re a writer, just remember to keep plugging away--you can’t eat an elephant in one day. Same goes for writing a book.

Patty, thank you for spending time with my readers and me. One of the commenters will win in a random drawing a copy of Hearts Rekindled that you’ve offered.

Remember: leave a comment on THIS post by 6 p.m. CT Sunday, February 2, 2014 and you'll be entered in the drawing for a copy of  Hearts Rekindled by Patty Hall. Please, please remember to leave your email address. I’ll need your email address so that should you be the winner I can get in touch with you. I’ll announce the winner in Monday’s blog.

Till next time … keep on smiling.

jo

         
Jo Huddleston, Author of the Caney Creek Series

Burdens

 God,

Thank you for helping me to carry my heavy load today. I couldn’t have accomplished anything without your strength. I was foolish for acting like the expert, trying to solve all my problems alone. But I can’t solve any of them without your help. Thank you for letting me share my burdens with you. When you shouldered my responsibilities today, relief washed over me like sunshine bursting through on a cloudy day. You never fail me. I can sleep well tonight, knowing I’ve turned everything over to you.

                                                Amen and Good Night, God

This prayer taken from

Amen and Good Night, God: A Book of Evening Prayers
by Jo Huddleston

The winner of last Thursday's blog post for a copy of The Last Detail by Lisa Lickel is Cheri. I'll email you. Thanks all for commenting. Watch for more book giveaways.

Till next time ... keep on smiling.

Book Drawing

When you leave a comment on THIS post by 6 p.m. CT Sunday, January 26, 2014 you'll be entered in the DRAWING for a copy of the book I mention below. If you mention in your comment that you’re a follower (see in the left column “Join This Site” and “Follow by Email”), I’ll add your name a second time in the drawing. You must be eighteen, have a U.S. mailing address, void where prohibited. You can read details about my book giveaways at Disclaimers.

The Last Detail by Lisa Lickel 

Our guest blogger today is Lisa Lickel. Lisa is a Wisconsin writer who lives with her husband in a hundred and sixty-year-old house built by a Great Lakes ship captain. Surrounded by books and dragons, she writes inspiring fiction. Her published novels include mystery and romance, all with a twist of grace. She has penned dozens of feature newspaper stories, short stories, magazine articles and radio theater. She is the editor in chief of Creative Wisconsin magazine. Lisa also is an avid book reviewer, a freelance editor, a writing mentor, a hostess at Clash of the Titles.com, and enjoys blogging at theBarnDoor.net and AuthorCulture.blogspot.com. She loves to encourage new authors. Find more about Lisa at her website.

Welcome, Lisa. What fun or unique things can you tell us about yourself?

I learned about the Native legends and stories when I visited these Illinois parks years ago. I was in a card club with a funeral director for a number of years and learned a lot (they’re not much like Hudson). I live in a house that’s a little bit like Uncle Bruce’s in the book.

Please describe yourself with three words.

detail-oriented, family-oriented, faith-based

What do you enjoy doing when you’re not writing?

I enjoy travel, camping, seeing the sights, learning about area attractions. That’s how I discovered Mattheissen and Starved Rock state parks in Illinois, and the story around them. I bought a book by a local author that told about the tragic murder in the 1950s, and that got me thinking in all kinds of crazy directions.

Please tell us about The Last Detail.

The Last Detail is contemporary inspirational fiction. I try to write for both male and female readers, so I hesitate to call this Women’s Fiction. I started writing this about the time my son and his future wife were dating. Oddly, I didn’t base the characters of Amalia and Merit on them, but they did seem to match a little bit what I had envisioned in my story, which was a missionary who was not interested in getting married but mostly in serving God on the foreign mission field, and someone who wanted to share his life, but let convention take over his sensibilities. The theme verse is from Genesis 2:18 (NIV) “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

God loves messing with the best-laid plans. Amalia is determined to honor her parents' business with her professionalism if not their choice of husband; Merit is dedicated to serving overseas as a confirmed bachelor missionary. When God throws them together, their obedience and faith are stretched…to the breaking point.

What takeaway value do you hope your readers receive after reading this book?

The Last Detail is more than courtship and romance; it’s a story about learning to live and deal with not only the choices we make, but about what happens to us that’s beyond our control. Who can we count on when things don’t go our way, when disaster or unexpected good news makes our plans change? I hope that those who are planning to marry and those married for a while come away with a new appreciation for relationships of faith.

Please tell our readers where they can get your book.

The Last Detail is available in print and e-versions, and you can order it from your local bookseller as well as find it online.

Amazon

ISBN: 978-1940099-446

$3.99 eBook/$14.99 Print

Please tell our readers where they can find you online.

Visit my website for an excerpt from the book, and discussion questions or points to ponder (which are included in the book), as well as the opportunity to virtually visit Starved Rock State Park and learn more about the area.

 

Any parting comment?

Thank you for hosting me, Jo. I enjoy virtual visits with book clubs or reader groups, too. Feel free to connect with me to set up a phone or Skype visit.

Lisa, thank you for your visit with my readers and me. One of my commenters will receive a copy of The Last Detail, which Lisa has offered.

Remember: leave a comment on THIS post by 6 p.m. CT Sunday, January 26, 2014 and you'll be entered in the drawing for a copy of  The Last Detail by Lisa Lickel.  Please, please remember to leave your email address. I’ll need your email address so that should you be the winner I can get in touch with you. I’ll announce the winner in Monday’s blog.

Till next time ... keep on smiling. 

jo
 

         
Jo Huddleston, Author of the Caney Creek Series