In the Works!

It's been a long time since I updated you on my kids' quip book, Wit & Wisdom from the Wee Ones. After two major surgeries for my editor and several exciting events at OakTara, including restructuring our contract with Amazon to offer our Kindle books at lower prices, my editor tells me Wit & Wisdom will release some time in April. This fun compilation book would make a great gift for Mother's Day. 

Now that my grandson, Gabriel (3), is living with us while his family prepares for full-time ministry in Thailand, the cute quips flow frequently.

Here are a few one-liners Gabe's delivered lately to wet your appetite for Wit & Wisdom. Oh, and one from granddaughter, Kylie, too. :)

Gabriel (3) playing hide-n-seek sticks his head out of the tent: "Look, Grandma, I found Gabriel!"

Mama to Gabe: "Tell us your verse this week."
Gabe: "ACTS 9:36. A certain disciple name Betty-lou, was full of spaGHETTI and CHOCOLATE BALLS!

A black dog ran up to Gabe (3) and me. I rubbed the dog's head and said, "Well, what's your name, big fella?" Gabe looked at me and replied: "Grandma, he can't talk."

Gabriel (3) holding a golf club: "Grandma, sit on the floor and pretend you're a golf ball." 

Gabriel, with a glint in his eye: "Time for your honey whack, Grandma."

While playing in the snow the other day, granddaughter Kylie (7) said, "Grandma, let's draw pictures in the snow." We did and then Kylie said she wanted to make a face picture. I thought she was going to draw an image, but instead, she promptly stuck her face into the snow, leaving a nose, mouth, and eye sockets print. 

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 A devotional in the works . . .

Breathe Deeply God's Grace traces God's grace from Genesis to Revelation in short vignettes that include a scripture, helpful insights, and closing prayer with challenge to practice the concept. 

Stay tuned for more on this project. Below is a video excerpt.

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A contemporary romance in the works!

Seasons of Hope coauthored with Jennifer Slattery!

A blind woman seeks refuge at Camp Hope only to encounter the man who took her sight. 

On the verge of college graduation, Loni Parker seeks employment as a music teacher, but no one will hire her since she’s blind. Or so she thinks that’s the reason. To take her mind off her troubles, her roommate invites her to spring retreat at Camp Hope in the gorgeous North Carolina mountains. Unbeknown to Loni, Michael Ackerman, the director, is an ex-con responsible for the accident that caused her blindness. When Loni warms up to camp and wants to return as a summer counselor, Michael opposes the idea, which only makes Loni want to prove herself all the more. Though she doesn’t expect to fall for the guy. Still, her need for independence and dream of teaching win out, taking her far away from her beloved Camp Hope . . . and a certain director.

From the moment Loni Parker steps onto the camp ground, Michael knows who she is, and he doesn’t want anything to do with her. Yet, in spite of his guilt that drives him to push Loni away, he can’t deny his growing attraction to the determined woman. After all, she reminds him of himself. Beyond that, she seems to see more with her heart than the average person does with his eyes. But her presence also dredges up a long-buried anger toward his alcoholic father that he’d just as soon keep hidden. When circumstances spin out of control, Michael is forced to face a past that may destroy his present. 

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December Sunrise, a novella

A little girl’s Christmas wish comes at a high cost.

Emma’s Christmas list isn’t like other kids’. Instead of toys, she wants her mama’s cancer to go away, the town to stop arguing over the Ten Commandments, and nice Mr. Whitmire to reunite with his estranged daughter. Grandma Doreen holds the key to a family secret that just might fulfill some of Emma’s desires, but not before tragedy strikes.

A young girl’s heart for helping takes her to a dark place only the Light of Christmas can illuminate. 

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Please pray that the Lord will use these works to bring glory to Himself and share his grace and truth with others! Thanks so much!

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To check out my other books, visit my author page:

http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B003O405FO 

The Next Big Thing!

 

I’ve been tagged to take part in The Next Big Thing by Janet Brown, author of Victoria and the Ghost and Divine Dining http://www.janetkbrown.com/. I answer ten questions about my next book then pass the baton on to another author. Follow the fun, and discover what writing adventures these authors have been up to!

What is the working title of your next book?

Seasons of Hope, coauthored with Jennifer Slattery 

Where did the idea come from for the book?

I grew up in Christian camping ministry in East Tennessee, so I wanted to profile a similar fictional camp with colorful characters reminiscent of my adventures growing up. I typically like to highlight an issue passionate on my heart. While Seasons of Hope doesn’t deal with a specific challenge like trafficking or same-sex attraction, the story does encourage the reader to ponder what it means to really forgive someone for abuse, not merely past offenses, but hurts that are ongoing and pervasive. Alcoholism is so rampant in our world and affects so many people that I wanted to highlight that addiction. To add layers to the conflict I brainstormed until I came up with my blind character, Loni, who sees more with her heart than the average person does with his eyes. This is largely what attracts Michael to her, since he’s been blinded by his own bitterness toward his father for so long.

In what genre does your book fall?
Contemporary romance
What actors would you choose to play the part of your characters in a movie rendition?

Ben Affleck for Michael. Although Ben’s ten years older than my hero, his face kept coming to me when I visualized Michael. And for Loni, Bryce Dallas Howard, who’s also a few years older than my heroine. 

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

A blind woman seeks refuge at Camp Hope only to encounter the man who took her sight. 

Who is publishing your book?

Unconfirmed 

How long did it take you to write the first draft of the manuscript?

Four months. Since Jennifer and I are critique partners, I bounced the manuscript over to her. With such wonderful insights and skill, Jennifer spotted areas that required more depth and development. After prayer and thought, we decided to team up on this project. 

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?

Hmm . . . not sure

Who or what inspired you to write this book?

My love for Christian camping and my heart for the hurting. I like to build characters that, prayerfully, the reader can identify with in her/his healing journey.

What else about the book might pique the reader’s interest?

Prayerfully, readers will enjoy a good love story. But even more than that, I hope readers will understand that forgiveness is a choice. Regardless of the anger we might feel, we can by God’s grace choose to forgive. I often tell people, the ground is level at the foot of the cross. Jesus said to his abusers, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As Loni told Michael, “Sin often doesn’t make sense.” How true! We commit acts of sin because we are sinners. When someone commits a sin against us, we can ask “why?” ‘til the cows come home, but we may never receive an answer to that question. At some point, after we’ve told the truth about the offense, in all its ugliness, and grieved the loss, we must make a solid decision to let the perpetrator off the hook. Every time we experience anger, we once again surrender the person and the situation to the Lord. In our surrender, by faith, God will eventually reward us with positive feelings. Praying for our enemies is one of the best ways to realize this. 

Now, to select another author to take part who will post their next big thing today.

Hop on over to Paul Mowery’s blog to catch her interview!

www.paulamowery.blogspot.com

I Rode a Stunt Horse!

Riding Miss Dottie, one of the stunt horses in the movie, The Last of the Mohicans. The horses at this riding stable have been featured in quite a number of films, most recently two, one of them filmed in my hometown, Roanoke, Virginia.

 Enjoying the scenic ride looking out over Grandfather Mountain, Banner Elk, NC

In my current WIP, Seasons of Hope, central character Loni finds herself at fictional Camp Hope set in the gorgeous Blue Ridge mountains.

 Blind Loni's guide dog, John Thompson, looks very much like this little fellow we discovered at the riding stables. When Loni meets Michael, the camp director, and they begin to fall for one another, Loni holds back, using Thompson as an excuse not to commit. All along Michael believes Thompson is a rival suitor, until Loni invites him home to meet her family. :)

What's not to love about these picturesque Blue Ridge mountains! I couldn't resist setting my next novel in the midst of this refreshing scenery. Plus, I grew up in Christian camping ministry, so what fun to revisit the pranks, meaningful testimony times around a blazing campfire, swimming, horseback riding, zip line, and go carts!  What an array of adventure for my slate of characters!

 

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SEASONS OF HOPE

A blind woman seeks refuge at Camp Hope only to encounter the man who took her sight.

 

A contemporary romance . . . 

 

Stay tuned for more!

 

A Memorable Camp Story

Hello, Mauder. Hello, Fauder. Here I am, at Camp Granauder . . .

Almost every kid at some point in his life attends summer camp. How 'bout you? Were you one of those lucky kids?

I was. But then my situation might have been somewhat unique. I grew up in Christian camping ministry. Every summer, my home missionary father worked at the place he helped build--Camp Ta-Pa-Win-Go--in the lush mountains of East Tennessee.

Currently, I'm in a place in my writing that many authors love--brainstorming a new plot idea!

As I consider possible scenarios, it seems I keep working my way back through my life. If I keep this up, I'll be in the womb before long. Then, maybe I'll write a sci fi.

Not likely.

For now, my thoughts center around a contemporary romance four-book series set in fictional Camp Hope in the North Carolina mountains. Title: Seasons of Hope

Book one: Spring Awakening where I introduce my main characters, Loni and Michael.

Blurb: A blind woman seeks refuge at Camp Hope, only to encounter the man who took her sight.

I'm excited about the slate of characters I've imagined for this new series--from the geeky to the sage. And of course, there'll be horses, zip line, go-carts, swimming, and practical jokes . . .

That's where you come in, dear reader. If you have a memorable camp story that lingers in your mind years after the event, I want to hear from you!

A meaningful spiritual experience
A child you led to the Lord
A practical joke you played on someone, or someone played on you
A lesson you learned 
A friendship developed
An unusual experience

Who knows? Your story might appear in one of the books, with names changed and situation altered just a bit, most likely. And of course, with your permission.

So, if you'd like to share your most memorable camp experience with me, leave a comment.

I'll even sweeten the deal by awarding the three BEST entries with a book of your choice from the following selections:

Chosen Ones
Second Chance
Tranquil Moments

Can't wait to read your camp story!