Book Monda-Author Gail Martin & Dad in Training

It's Book Monday again and my longtime friend Author Gail Martin has a new book out that I have every confidence in. I love Gail's books. They are tender and true to life. So check this one out!

DAD IN TRAINING
Steeple Hill Love Inspired
September 2009
Gail Gaymer Martin

How is Brent Runyan supposed to reach his troubled nephew? The workaholic businessman knows nothing about providing a real home to the orphaned boy who needs him so much. Special education teacher Molly Manning thinks the answer is threefold: love, time—and a dog. But Brent can barely let his nephew into his heart, let alone a golden retriever. With his tragic past, Brent knows what can happen when you love anything: you can lose it. Until Molly asks this dad-in-training to start with the basics by letting her stay…forever.

Gail Gaymer Martin is an award-winning novelist and freelance writer. She writes inspirational novels for Steeple Hill Love Inspired, Steeple Hill Women's Fiction and for Barbour Publishing. She has over 2-1/2 million books in print. Her books have received many national awards , including, ACRW 2002 Book of the Year in short inspirational, and Romantic Times 2002 Reviewers Choice for Best Love Inspired novel, National Readers' Choice Award, Holt Medallion and Booksellers Best. Her Barbour novellas have appeared in anthologies on the CBA best seller list. Gail has published numerous church worship/program books and has authored hundreds of freelance articles and short stories. She is a founding member of the American Christian Romance Writers (ACRW) and is a columnist for Spirit-Led Writer. Gail is also a speaker at conferences all over the U.S. and in England, and is a keynote speaker at women's church and civic organization events.

Drop by Gail's website and sign the guestbook. You might win a copy of her book!

My First Podcast--How to a Winning Synopsis

Shades of Romance http://www.sormag.blogspot.com hosted a Free Online Conference this week.

My workshop on blogging will be on Saturday, the last day of the conference. I hope you registered and attended this amazing online freebie. Anyway, I also did a podcast for this site and here is the link.

FYI-This is the example that I use in the podcast.


Harbor Intrigue Series
Synopsis of Book One, Dangerous Season
(Published as a Love Inspired Suspense 2007)

By Lyn Cote

Bible Verse: “Be angry and sin not…” Ephesians 4:26
“Speak the truth in love…” Ephesians 4:15

Premise:
Keir Harding, at thirty-five, finally achieves his lifelong goal. Last fall, he’d been narrowly elected county sheriff in his hometown of Winfield, WI. After his “wild” teen years, Keir has spent the last eighteen years working his way up the ladder from rookie, to deputy sheriff and now sheriff. Then a rash of mean-spirited booby traps endangers the community and its tourist trade. One man still doubts Keir was the man for the job and will use these crimes try to sway others against Keir.

Audra Blair, a twenty-six-year old single mother, launches her own cafe, her first step toward financial independence for her and her six-year-old daughter, Evie. As Winfield deals with the increasingly expensive and dangerous vandalism, Audra and Keir find themselves drawn more and more together. But self-doubt and old grudges work to push them apart. Can Keir with Audra’s help discover who is damaging property and endangering lives before someone they both love gets maimed or killed?

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them here.--Lyn

Author Maureen Lang & Loneliness

My guest today is Author Maureen Lang who writes about something that most authors and stay-at-home moms deal with, loneliness. Here's Mauree:

"Have you ever felt like an outside in your own hometown? Maybe all of us have, to some extent or at various times in our lives. Between my writing career and being mom to a handicapped child, isolation seems to be a natural byproduct. I’ve always joked that the two factors go hand-in-hand, that writing requires me to stay home but that’s just where I need to be anyway, with a son nearby who needs extra attention. While it’s convenient for me to stay at home, it’s not always wise to stay home as much as I do.

I learned my lesson earlier in the year at a school event where parents were invited to see their kids in a holiday parade. I made sure the event was on my calendar so I’d be there, and off I went. Once I arrived, I realized my lack of foresight. The occasion wasn’t just to see our children, it was also a social event for the parents. Parents who knew each other. So there I stood, off to the side by myself, observing various clusters of people who seemed to be the best of friends. That may not be the saddest moment of my life, but it was certainly a memorable one. It served to remind me that community doesn’t just happen. It must be cultivated. Without time devoted to others, isolation follows us even into the crowd.

I guess that memory helped me to write several of the early scenes of my newest book, set in France during World War One. In Look To The East, my heroine Julitte is an outsider in her own hometown. Part of the problem for her is the dynamics of the town itself: a feud has been going on for generations, making half the town practically an enemy to her anyway. But even those on her family’s side of the feud are sometimes cool toward her, and it’s because she’s perceived as “different.” Her differences are unlike my differences.

In my case I have a child with special needs, but nowadays that only means I have another community into which I can connect if I devoted more time to the matter. Julitte was born around the year 1900, on the Greek island of Lepers and adopted away when she was found free of the disease. Between her heritage and her faith, Julitte is considered different. Her only friend is a girl who was cast out of polite society, too.


When a world war breaks out, the first of its kind, Julitte uses her isolation to benefit a straggler caught behind enemy lines. Few people suspect she’s hiding someone from the occupying army—someone she’s fallen in love with.

While the source of my social isolation may be different from my characters’, the solution is the same. Depend on God; follow His example of community by serving others.

Take the time to enjoy the company of others. Limit the time spent in isolation, and use it to grow closer to our Creator (not farther away from people). Community may not be the answer to all of our problems, but it can make many of the problems we do face easier to bear.

Recipe: Fruit Salsa (from my friend JoAnn Nishimoto)
1/2 honeydew mellow, diced
1/2 cantaloupe, diced
1 papaya or mango, diced (this is optional, but delicious and adds a lot of flavor)
2 med. tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 med. cucumber, seeded and diced
1 cup Pace Picante Sauce, mild or medium
2 tablespoons sugar
Refrigerate 2 hours to mingle flavors, then drain the juices a bit for the salsa to be less watery. Enjoy!"--Maureen

Visit Maureen's website and blog for more info about her and her books. She has graciously offered to send a book for a drawing of those who comment this week.
So leave her a comment and you may be the fortunate one! Thanks so much, Maureen."--Lyn

Author Nicole Baart & Toddlers & Tiaras & Mango Salsa

My guest today is Nicole Baart, a young writer who though she says she didn't have much to say--says a lot. Here's Nicole:

"I have to admit that I have had a very hard time coming up with a topic for this guest post on Strong Women, Brave Stories. It’s not that I don’t know any strong women or that they don’t have stories that would fill your eyes with tears of empathy. But relating their experiences back to the heroine of my latest novel? Tying it all together in a palatable bundle? And doing it all in 250-500 words? I may write books, but I’m not that good. ;)

Anyway, over the last several days as I’ve pondered this post, I’ve been reminded again of a struggle that most women face. We try to be strong and brave, and sometimes we are, but more often I think we forget. I’d like to leave you today with an essay I wrote a few months ago near the release of The Moment Between. I’m in it, my main character, Abigail, is in it, many of my friends are in it. If you find yourself amid the lines of this article, too, I hope that you are encouraged.

Warmly,

Nicole

* * * * * * * * * * * *

I’m a Newsweek girl. Have been since… oh, I don’t know. Forever, I guess. I remember being really young and paging through the glossy magazine in search of photographs that would elicit a chill--either from the sheer beauty and truth they encapsulated or from the juxtaposition of the unexpected, like a child’s body floating facedown in a calm pool, white shift fanned out in a soft cloud. Can’t say I like those images, but they do have the power to show me the depth of my naiveté. It’s ponderous, I think.

Yesterday my mail bundle contained a fresh copy of Newsweek, and I (procrastinator that I am) promptly sat down and devoured it cover to cover. Back cover to front cover, of course. It’s the only way to read Newsweek--all the light, artsy articles are in the back, with the political and international hard-hitting sob stories near the front (I like to ease my way in). One of the final (first for me) articles was called “Generation Diva: How our obsession with beauty is changing our kids.” I was hooked after the first paragraph:

There's a scene in "Toddlers & Tiaras," the TLC reality series, where 2-year-old Marleigh is perched in front of a mirror, smothering her face with blush and lipstick. She giggles as her mother attempts to hold the squealing toddler still, lathering her legs with self-tanner. "Marleigh loves to get tan," her mom says, as the girl presses her face against the mirror.

Are you kidding me? I don’t have a daughter, but come on, that’s just not right. Jessica Bennett, the author of “Generation Diva”, goes on to catalog spa days for five-year-olds, laser hair removal instead of shaving, and Botox for girls barely out of training bras. In one staggering statistic she claims that by the time your ten-year-old daughter is fifty, she’ll have spent “nearly $300,000 on just her hair and face.” That’s no typo, there are five zeros in that staggering figure.

I’ll admit I was hyperventilating a bit at this point in the article, though what Jessica revealed next came as no big surprise: we’re priming our girls to be perpetually dissatisfied with themselves. More so, we're creating an entire generation whose identity is tied up in what they look like. I am nothing more than the sum of my clear skin, pouty lips, slender hips… Sigh.

Oh, it breaks my heart for a million different reasons. And yet, this morning I hopped on my computer, checked both of my email accounts, my blogger profile, and my Facebook pages (both personal and public), and felt a little stab of discontent when nothing interesting was going on. No emails from fans, agent, or publisher. Nothing new and noteworthy. Sigh. And all at once it struck me that right now my identity, my entire identity, is hopelessly wrapped up in my writing career. Part of this is because I have a book releasing in a couple weeks (things always get a little crazy around a book release), but I don't like the feeling all the same. I don't like believing that the worth of my existence is tied to my success (or lack thereof) as a writer. How is that any different from some poor tween believing that her beauty lies in the shade of her highlighted hair?

Yuck. The things we do to ourselves.

Anyway, I have a question for you today. What do you base your identity on? Where do you find your affirmation? I realize that this answer can change from day to day, but take a moment to ponder where you're at right now. And then remind yourself: I am so much more than this. I am not what I look like. I am not an extension of my job. I am not simply a wife/mother/daughter/sister or husband/father/son/brother. I am not just a friend of so-and-so. I am not what I do. I am not what I don't do. I am not always who you think I am...

But I am created for a purpose. I am significant. And I am beloved of God.

May you always know that. And may you be blessed, Beloved.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Mango Salsa

2 ripe mangos

1 small onion

1 green pepper

1 red pepper

1-2 jalapenos

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

fresh cilantro (to taste)

sea salt (to taste)

ground black pepper (to taste)

Dice mangos, onion, peppers and jalapenos. Combine in a medium-sized bowl. Sprinkle with lemon juice. Stir. Add chopped, fresh cilantro to taste. Sprinkle with sea salt and pepper. Eat with tortilla chips, or use on grilled fish or chicken."

Thanks, Nicole. Since I think I come from the generation before yours, I must say that I'm intrigued that women are still caught up in the "I'm only worth something if I'm pretty" trap. That's what women had been told for thousands of years. I thought we took care of that in the 1970's when we said, "No, I'm worth more than the image in the mirror." I suppose it comes from famous women who butcher their faces and whose every photograph is "fixed" so that they look like no human could look. It's sad. I always look at English actresses who are allowed to get wrinkled as opposed to American actresses who start botoxing at 20 and cutting at 40. Ugh. Just look at Judi Dench or Maggie Smith and you'll see what I mean. And thanks for the recipe. Hope you'll guest again.--Lyn

Hi from Lyn & Your Last Chance to Win

Mind if I share a bit?

It's been a rough 10 days. My mil's funeral was yesterday. She was the
last of our parents to leave. (I found myself re-mourning the other loved ones of that generation and was weepy much of the time.) My mil was on a ventilator for the last two weeks in a Chicago hospital. An ordeal for everyone.

And while she was failing more and more, my daughter and I opened and sorted
through nearly 90 years of accumulation. My mil and her sister who lived under the same roof for almost their whole lives never threw out a
greeting card or letter. Not even ones sent by their bank and
insurance companies!

Some of it was great stuff. My daughter found the box of
letters that my in-laws wrote to each other while he served on the USS
Bunker Hill in WWII.

Unfortunately, many other of the letters were in Slovenian. My dh's
grandparents immigrated from Slovenia (it was part of the
Austro-Hungarian Empire then and after WWII, it was a part of Yugoslavia) before WWI. I found Staramama's (Slovenian for grandma) brothers' two passports 1913 issued by Franz Joseph of Austria.

PLEASE EVERYONE write the names of people on the back of photographs!
I didn't throw any of the vintage ones out, but it was extremely
frustrating.

Fortunately for us, they had had a flooded basement a few years ago
and they lost half of what they had accumulated. But we still managed
to have 7 solid days of sorting.

We've spent 10 days here in the house in northern IL that will be sold
and today we get to drive home to our lake in the woods. I am so
homesick for WI.

Oh, and we inherited the cat. Mootzie (mutza is Slovenian for cat)
will be going home with us--to our 3 cats (one belongs to our
daughter). Oh, it's going to be a fun homecoming! HHHHIIIIISSSSSSS.

Just wanted to chat and remind you that your last chance to be entered into a drawing for a copy of Her Inheritance Forever is this week and through August 31, 2009. I have been distracted by all this, but I will go through the comments weeks 2-4 and have a drawing for a winner for each week. As you can understand, I've been a bit distracted this month. But I promised to give away 4 copies of my August book and I will! Please be patient.

Well, that's been my week. And it has been good to be with family. Hope you all have a lovely last week of summer!--Lyn

Author T L Higley & True Strength & Fajitas!

My guest today is a new writing acquaintance T L or Tracy Higley. Here's Tracy:

"What makes a woman strong? I’ve certainly tried to be a strong woman over the years, but I’ve learned a few things along the way. Self-sufficiency is not the same thing as strength. Control is not strength, either. One of the biggest challenges of my life has been to learn what true strength is, and to discover its source.

I’m a do-er. You know the type. Maybe you are the type! Always busy getting more done, always in control, never needing help. And enjoying the praise when people say “I don’t know how you do it all!” For many years, I believed that these qualities meant that I had strength. I was wrong.

It’s taken some tough years of failing to keep up with the demands, losing control, and questioning my self-worth to teach me that true strength lies in understanding your identity in Christ, and then being able to extend yourself authentically to the people around you, loving them without needing a response, and accepting their love without pushing it away as though it is unneeded. When we are so concerned about how people perceive us, and that they see us as in control, we send a false “I don’t need anyone” message. We think it is strength, but it is really pride. Because we do need others.

In my upcoming release, Guardian of the Flame: a Seven Wonders Novel, it turns out that there is quite a bit of me in my protagonist, Sophia. She’s been self-sufficient for many years, running the Lighthouse of Alexandria even as Julius Caesar and Cleopatra are warring over the future of her country. When Caesar sends his Roman legion to invade her lighthouse, she takes on the centurion in charge and never backs down. In the face of injustice, she protects the innocent and fights for their lives. But Sophia allows her strength to push people away, believing she can handle everything on her own. When the Roman centurion challenges her independence and calls it fear she realizes that she is not as strong as she believed. It will take a work of God for her to open her heart to others, including the Roman who will not let her go.

Look for Guardian of the Flame in October of this year. To pre-order, click here. If you’d like to get an email reminder when the book releases, or read more about the Seven Wonders Novels, click here to visit my website, and click on Books: I hope to hear from you!"--Tracy

And here is the Mexican-style recipe Tracy sent too. Thanks, Tracy!--Lyn

Chicken Fajitas

3 Tbsp veg or olive oil

1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 2 inch strips

1 red onion, sliced thin

1 red bell pepper, sliced thin

2 fresh jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tomato, diced

3 Tbsp lime juice

½ tsp cumin

2 Tbsp chopped fresh cilantro

Salt and peper

Tortillas

Fixings – shredded cheese, sour cream, salsa

Brown chicken in 2 Tbsp oil, remove. Add 1 Tbsp oil and onion.

Cook 1 minute.

Add red pepper and jalapeno.

Cook 5 min, stirring.

Add garlic and tomato.

Cook and stir 1 minute.

Add lime juice, cumin, cilantro, chicken

Bring to a boil and cook 1 minute

Add salt and pepper, and serve with tortillas and fixings.

Author Roxanne Rustand & Determination & Enchiladas and Cheesecake

One of my dearest personal friends is my guest today, Author Roxanne Rustand. I was so happy when she joined me writing for Steeple Hill. Here's Roxanne:

"What a beautiful day! Brilliant August sunshine, 80 degrees, bright blue sky. Here in the Midwest, it's so lush and green with all the rain we've gotten this year-a thousand different shades of green, fragrant with damp earth and just-cut alfalfa and lilacs. No matter where we travel, coming home to this verdant place fills me with such a sense of peace.

Eastern Iowa is one of the best-kept secrets in the US, with its peaceful, deeply rolling hills, timber and sparkling creeks. People mix up Iowa, Ohio, and Idaho all the time when I say where I'm from. But that's okay.

We live out in the country, and my office windows look out on our wood-fenced corrals and the pastures beyond, where the four horses are grazing, their summer-slick coats gleaming in the sunshine. Across the fence, a dozen beautiful, wildly marked paint foals are romping in the neighbor's pastures--providing no end of amusement to our border collies, who are safely contained on our deck.

Elmo, in particular, is a study in total concentration. Head low, ears pricked, body crouched, he stares at them for hours on end, his intensity deepening when they scatter (how dare they!) Our son Brian says we need to buy two sheep, so Elmo can spend his days keeping them together. He is a dog with a mission--but one without a job.

Which got me thinking, this morning. Elmo knows what he is and what he needs to do. He never loses sight of that, even though he can't get close to anything he can herd.

What about the rest of us...are we blessed with direction and determination from the beginning? Have we followed through? Or have some of us come across our true desires later in life? My daughter is already determined to be a writer. I have no doubt that she has the drive and ability, and that she can reach her goal if she stays on that course. I didn't start writing until we had grade-school aged children...and wish I'd started much, much sooner.


The heroines in my books are all strong women determined to pursue their goals. My August book, SAVE THE LAST DANCE, is an Everlasting, shelved at the bookstores with the Harlequin Superromances this month, or you can also find it at www.steeplehill.com. I'm now an inspirational author, and this one could've been published as an inspirational, too. I loved writing about Kate, a strong woman from rough beginnings who succeeds on her own merits to become a veterinarian, and then faces the biggest challenge of her life on one fateful afternoon. And Jared--a man who has to choose between his family destiny and the woman he loves.

How about you? What would you love to do? Have you followed your heart? Become what you want to be? Is there something you could do toward that goal now, even if it can't be achieved any time soon? This blog is about strong women, who achieve whatever their circumstances in life. I've been following Lyn's blog since its inception because I think these real-life stories about women are so empowering. And now, I'd love to hear about you!

BTW--if you have pets, love animals, or enjoy some fun reminiscence from the past, stop by the "All Creatures Great and Small Blog" my blog. I'm currently running stories from an old time horse trader, and I’d love to see you there!"

You can also visit Roxanne at her website.

Now for her Recipes--and let me tell you Roxanne is one of the best cooks I know! I've sat at her table often--with delight!

Sunday Night Enchiladas by Roxanne Rustand
1# ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
1 16 oz can refried beans
4 oz can chopped green chilies
3 cups mild cheddar cheese
Hot Sauce
1-1 ½ cups medium salsa
12+ tortillas
GARNISHES: More cheese Sour cream Sliced green onions Sliced black olives Chopped fresh tomato Extra Salsa--hot, medium, mild variety
Brown and season the meat and onions, Drain, rinse away fat under running hot water. Spread beans in 9x13 pan. Top with beef & onions. Sprinkles with hot sauce and chilies, Top with the 3 cups cheese, then drizzle well with salsa.
Bake uncovered 25 min at 400 degrees or until thoroughly heated and bubbly. Spoon mixture onto tortillas, roll up and serve with garnishes.
Or, roll them up, line them up in a single layer in a baking pan, sprinkle heavily with more cheese, and put back in the oven until cheese topping is nice and melty....then serve (this is our favorite!)

This was our Sunday night dinner for years, while the kids were growing up, because everyone loved it. I serve it with a nice, crispy lettuce salad garnished with tomatoes, green beans, and chips & salsa. For company, add a sopaipilla cheesecake and non-alcoholic slushy strawberry drinks.

SOPAIPILLA CHEESECAKE
2 pkg Pillsbury refrigerated crescent rolls (generics won’t be as good!)--or two pkg of their 9x13 sheets
2 - 8oz pkg reduced fat cream cheese
1 cup sugar ( or Splenda Sugar Blend)
1 tsp real vanilla
Topping layer: ½ cup chopped pecans
½ cup sugar
1 Tbsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg
½ cup butter, melted

1. Preheat oven : 350 degrees (important!) 2. Spread one pkg of crescent rolls in a 9x13 pan. Seal all the perforations together.... (or use 1 tube of a Pillsbury 9x13 sheet.) Put it in the heated oven 5-10 min while preparing the filling. 3. Microwave cream cheese for a minute to soften, then beat in the 1 cup sugar and vanilla. Pour over bottom crust in the 9x13 pan. 4. Top with another layer of Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough. 5. Sprinkle on the chopped pecans and a mixture of the cinnamon/nutmeg/sugar. Drizzle evenly with the butter. 6. Bake for 30 min at 350 degrees.
I just discovered other versions of this on the Internet, too--so you can google the title and find all sorts of variations!

Thanks so much, Rox!-Lyn

Book Monday--Author Lynette Eason & A Silent Fury

Today's guest is Lynette Eason, a newer Love Inspired Suspense author.
Lynette, you're a fairly new author, tell us about what's been going on since you got “THE CALL.”

"A Silent Fury releases September 2009 and A Silent Pursuit comes out in November 2009. I have two books releasing pretty close together so that should be interesting. A Silent Fury is book 2 in the series that really doesn't have a name. I call it the deaf family series and I think Amazon calls it The High Stakes Series. I'm not sure where they got that name as it was never officially named that. Anyway, I'm very excited about these two books and the two I've just sold to Steeple Hill will also have characters from the series. I decided I'd just continue it until I ran out of stories to tell. LOL.

The blurb on the back is: ONE DEAD. ONE TAKEN. Tragedy strikes Palmetto Deaf School--twice. With one student murdered and another missing, it's up to homicide detective Catelyn Clark to find the killer--and probable kidnapper--fast. She'll even work with her ex-boyfriend, FBI agent Joseph Santino, to solve the case…while keeping her distance. Relationships between cops never work; her parents taught her that. They also taught her that the only one she can rely on is herself. But when the killer starts targeting Catelyn, it's only by opening her heart to faith--and love--that she can finally bring the silent fury to an end."

Between the time you wrote that first novel that you've been known to call “awful,” and the traditional publishing of your first Love Inspired book, what did you do to make that come about? What made the difference?

"I can't say there was any one thing that made the difference. We're talking an eight year time period where I was learning every day, going to conferences, studying what agent and editors were looking for, honing my skills. That was the big one. Constantly writing and putting it out there for critiques, entering contests and implementing the feedback, etc. I think it was just a combination of all of that that made the difference."

Please tell us about yourself (What makes you unique?).

"I'm a writer, that makes me pretty unique. LOL. No, seriously, I don't guess I think I'm all that different than anyone else. I'm a mom, a wife, a writer and a child of God. I love the written word and I enjoy spending time with my family. I love the rain and hate the summer! (Bugs and bees just don't do it for me.) "

Of the books you've written, which is your favorite and why?

"I think it would be A Silent Fury, out in September. I'm not sure why it's my favorite, but I think it's because of the emotional depth I managed to achieve in my heroine. My life was nothing like hers, of course, but as I was writing her character and her angst, I FELT it. It was really strange, but I connected with her for some reason and as a result, I grew closer to God. That book will always hold a special place in my heart for that reason."


Anything else?

Thanks, Lyn, for having me on your blog. I appreciate it!!

To learn more about Lynette and her books, visit her website. Or her blog. You'll also find an article I shared on Lynette's blog about Characterization in the Inspirational.

Thanks, Lynette. The book sounds like another Love Inspired Suspense HIT!--Lyn

Author Cara Putnam & Her Unexpected Trial & Enchiladas

My guest today is a young, very pretty author whom I meant at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference last September. Cara had her youngest in attendance with her--a little cuddebug that we all fell in love with. But as I always say, we all have our sorrows and tests to cope with. The blessing is that God never leaves us or forsakes us--even if that's how it feels. Here's Cara:

"Strength. I’ve always thought of myself as a strong person. Ask anyone who knows me and they’d likely agree. I tend to take life and adapt it to the way I want things to go. Most of the time. But every once in awhile life throws me a curveball. The latest came in July. The day before I left for a writers retreat and extended family vacation. I started bleeding.

Normally, this isn’t any big deal, but four days earlier I’d learned I was pregnant. I have three amazing children, but I also have one in heaven from a miscarriage a couple years ago, so the bleeding scared me to death. My strength disappeared. And I’m struggling to re-find it after my doctor confirmed I miscarried. Again. I thought I was over the first miscarriage. I thought it was behind me. That I’d grieved, turned it over to God, moved on.

But the moment I started bleeding, it all flooded back. In a rush, I was overwhelmed, terrified, and felt so utterly alone. So now I get to choose again. Do I succumb to the horrible pit of emotions and questions….and I’ll be the first to admit how angry, sad and worn out I am. I don’t understand and don’t know that I will this side of heaven why God allowed it. I can’t see how He can use a second miscarriage in a way that one alone wouldn’t have covered. Yet, He is God. He is sovereign, and once again I find myself clinging to that amid the tears and grief.


The truly ironic thing is that in my June release from Heartsong Presents, A Promise Kept, the heroine deals with a miscarriage. It is part of the fruit of my first miscarriage. In it Josie experiences the pain of miscarriage and has to find the strength to move on while keeping the promise she made to her husband. It’s not an easy road for her, but it’s a real road. It’s a journey that too many women travel, often alone. Often without acknowledgment from others. Often with hidden grief. My prayer that is if you have experience that loss, you will find your strength by placing yourself in God’s hands."--Cara

Cara has very generously offered a free copy of A Promise Kept for a drawing of those who leave a comment today. So comment and be eligible to win a free copy.

Here's Cara's Recipe

Enchilada Casserole.

I love this because you use what you have in fridge and freezer

I can enchilada sauce
I pound hamburger cooked with taco seasoning
Grated cheese
Chopped tomatoes
Tortillas sliced
Refried or black beans
can also add black olives, chilies, or anything else you like

Spray a 8x8 or 9x 13 pan with pan spray. Then cover bottom with enchilada sauce. Sprinkle hamburger and cheese on top, top with layer of tortillas (like lasagna noodles. Repeat. Top layer should be enchilada sauce with cheese.

Again thanks Cara for your candor. I know this is not a subject that is easy to talk about. If you'd like to learn more about Cara and her lovely books, drop by her website and her blog

Till next time.--Lyn

Author Lynette Sowell & Her Friend & Salsa Recipe

My guest today is Author Lynette Sowell who shares the story of her friend Tabitha (name changed to protect her privacy). What a story. It reads like a novel. Here's Lynette:

"If you’re a mother, you might think Tabitha is a strong woman, just because she has seven children. Tabitha, however, faced perhaps the greatest challenge of her life in 1979. Her husband, a brilliant chess player, had driven to another city perhaps 100 miles away to compete in a chess tournament. Imagine how Tabitha felt when she received a phone call that they’d found her husband’s vehicle in a remote location, with blood staining the driver’s seat and keys still in the ignition. Her eldest child was sixteen, her youngest child five years old. But Tabitha mourned him and went to work, knowing she had seven children who depended on her. She raised them alone with all the drama and ups and downs that parenthood brings.

Fast forward to 1993, when West Coast authorities discovered a delirious man, wandering in a desert-like area. Their investigation revealed he was Tabitha’s long-missing husband. What a phone call that must have been for Tabitha, to learn her husband was still alive. Her husband had used his brilliant strategizing to concoct a plan to fake his death and start another life, not once, but twice. After leaving the tournament in 1979, he’d headed west, assumed another identity, and eventually remarried. Then things went sour, and he tried the same disappearing act again.

But my story comes back to Tabitha. Looking at the peace and joy on her face as she talks about the goodness of God, you’d never guess she experienced hardship and betrayal. I know she claims her strength from basking in her relationship with her Heavenly Father. Human strength falls short. Human wisdom would tell Tabitha that it’s natural to be bitter, to desire revenge on the man who abandoned not only her, but her children. But Tabitha walks in freedom and joy. That is true strength. When my own troubles threaten to drag me down, I look at Tabitha and smile. Her wisdom and gentle strength have often comforted me. One day, I hope to have the same strength.

I found the inspiration for my latest book, All That Glitters (Barbour Publishing), when reading about America’s Gilded Age. That time period has always fascinated me with its barons of industry and their lifestyles extravagant enough to make Donald Trump envy them. Women ran the households and spent money without a thought. The daughters of these families had very limited prospects and matches were often made with business in mind. What obstacles might a young Christian woman face in such a home? Like Tabitha, my heroine’s circumstances spiral out of her control during the summer of 1895 in Newport, Rhode Island, and no amount of money can rescue her.

(ordering link: CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=605596&item_code=WW&netp_id=647277&event=ESRCN&view=covers )

Thank you, Lyn, for having me as your guest today.

Award-winning author Lynette Sowell is a past secretary of American Christian Fiction Writers. Lynette is a Massachusetts Yankee by birth, but a Texan by choice, where she lives with her husband and two teenagers, plus five cats who have their humans well-trained. Readers can learn more about Lynette’s books at lynettesowell.com, visit her on Facebook, or read her blog at Slices Of Life, http://myslicesoflife.blogspot.com.

Recipe:

Thrown-together Salsa

1 large can diced tomatoes

½ onion, finely chopped

3-4 fresh jalapenos, finely chopped

½ c. to 1 c. fresh cilantro, finely chopped

½ c. to 1 c. green onion, chopped

Mix all the above ingredients in a large bowl and refrigerate. Enjoy with tortilla chips. Hints: use a mini-chopper or food processor for all the finely chopped ingredients. Also, for a milder salsa, clean the seeds from the jalapenos before chopping."--Lynette

Thanks for sharing that wonderful story, Lynette. But your phrase about wanting to have the same strength as your friend is one you should use with caution. We never find out how strong we are in the good time, such as "Summer time and the living is easy." We usually only find our strength when it's put to the test. As I always say, "Give me a boring life and exciting books to read."--Lyn

Book Monday-Author Cindy Woodsmall & The Hope of Refuge

The book I'm featuring today is one that will tempt those who love reading Amish stories. When living in Iowa, I ate dinner with friends in an Amish home. I was a little surprised and amused to see that the woman of the house was a fan of Amish novels. Here's the scoop:

The Hope of Refuge Raised in foster care and now the widowed mother of a little girl, Cara Moore struggles against poverty, fear, and a relentless stalker. When a trail of memories leads Cara and Lori out of New York City toward an Amish community, she follows every lead, eager for answers and a fresh start. She discovers that long-held secrets about her family history ripple beneath the surface of Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and it’s no place for an outsider.

But one Amish man, Ephraim Mast, dares to fulfill the command he believes that he received from God–“Be me to her”– despite how it threatens his way of life. Completely opposite of the hard, untrusting Cara, Ephraim’s sister Deborah also finds her dreams crumbling when the man she has pledged to build a life with begins withdrawing from Deborah and his community, including his mother, Ada Stoltzfus. Can the run-down house that Ada envisions transforming unite them toward a common purpose–or push Mahlon away forever? While Ephraim is trying to do what he believes is right, will he be shunned and lose everything–including the guarded single mother who simply longs for a better life?


About the Author ~ Cindy Woodsmall is the author of and the When the Heart Cries,New York Times best-sellers When the Morning Comes and When the Soul Mends. Her ability to authentically capture the heart of her characters comes from her real-life connections with Amish Mennonite and Old Order Amish families. A mother of three sons and two daughters-in-law, Cindy lives in Georgia with her husband of more than thirty years. Visit her website.

What others are saying ~ “Cindy Woodsmall’s The Hope of Refuge takes the reader on an emotional journey into the heart of Amish country and the heart of a very human heroine. A compelling novel…” –Karen Harper, New York Times bestselling author of Deep Down

I’m not a huge fan of Amish books, but Cindy Woodsmall’s novels are in a class by themselves. The Hope of Refuge is one of my top picks for 2009. Novel Reviews and I highly recommend it—a 5-star read. –Ane Mulligan of Novel Reviews

“What a beautiful story of hope and renewal! Cindy Woodsmall’s The Hope of Refuge is an honest and moving portrayal that rings with authenticity.” –Marlo Schalesky, award-winning author of If Tomorrow Never Comes and Beyond the Night

This book The Hope of Refuge was excellent!
It was so good that I couldn't put it down… –Cecelia Dowdy

Available August 11, at your local bookstores.
Also available at Amazon
Or Christian Book Distributors:

First Winner of a copy of Her Inheritance Forever is...

Happy Sunday! We attended church last night. (Since we live in a tourist area, our church holds an extra service during the summers.) So after a lovely breakfast with my dh and a pleasant time out on our porch, I decided I'd better find out who won the first free copy of my latest book. I let my dh choose the name.

And the winner is (drum roll) Vintage fan! She along with Edna, Aldriges, Abi, Sandee 61, and Laura's reviews made comments and thereby were entered into the drawing. Vintage Fan, you have till Friday to contact me. If I don't hear from you, I'll have to choose another name.

I'd also like to thank the authors and some readers for posting such delectable Mexican-style recipes, such as

Lenora Worth's Mexican Dressing

Laurie Kingery's Taco Casserole

Abi's Taco Bake

Sandee61's Bunuelos

Laura's Taco Dip

Frankly they all sound delicious. And I am going to be trying them when the opportunity presents itself. Remember I will be gathering these and the July recipes into a PDF cookbooklet that you will be able to download sometime in September.

On a personal note: My dh, daughter and I will be driving south to the Chicago area on Wednesday. My mother-in-law who is approaching 90 has failing health. I feel very sad about it but am trying to keep a good thought, hope. I don't know how long we will be there, so if you notice me missing a blog post, you will know why.

But on a happy note, the weather is warmer today and it feels like summer at last!

Please remember that I will be giving away a copy of Her Inheritance Forever again this week. To be entered in the weekly drawing, just comment or share a Mexican style Recipe this week.

Hope you're having a blessed Sunday!

Author Lenora Worth & Carly & Mexican Dressing

My guest today is Lenora Worth a long time dear friend. I visited Lenora earlier this year when my dh and I were coming home from Texas. She was a delightful hostess. Here's Lenora:

"I live in Louisiana, near the Texas border so Mexican food is like second nature to all of us around here. I rarely had Mexican food growing up back in Georgia. But when I discovered it after moving out here many years ago, I fell in love with it. And I've found that in spite of the basic ingredients of meat, cheese and beans and spices, not all Mexican dishes are the same. My recipe is original--a combination of dishes I've tried and liked with some Southern cooking thrown in for good measure.

My daughter Carly is the strong woman who helped me create this dish. She came home from a high school Spanish class one day, needing a recipe to translate from English to Spanish (or maybe it was the other way around.) Anyway, I gave her this recipe and I think the teacher had some questions regarding the long-drawn out version but if I remember correctly, Carly got a good grade anyway. Below is the short version. It's a cross between a tamale pie and southern cornbread dressing.

So this recipe is dedicated to my spicy, fiery, strong daughter who went after her dream of being a high school teacher. She's had many trials since pursuing that dream but now we're rejoicing that she is still able to be a teacher in spite of some set-backs. She's worked hard, learned some valuable lessons and continues to grow and mature as a strong, beautiful woman who knows her own heart. Here's to you, Carly! (Carlita in Spanish.)

Mexican Dressing Casserole:

1 pound of hamburger meat, cooked (Or chopped cooked chicken)
I recipe of cornbread (homemade or boxed)
1 can of Rotel (Mexican diced tomatoes with green chilies)
1 can of chicken broth
2 cups shredded mixed cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese (or more to taste)

Salsa for topping

Break cornbread into a big bowl
Pour chicken broth over broken cornbread
Add Rotel
Stir until cornbread is moist then add cooked meat and cheese. (A little salt and pepper or cilantro is good)
Mix everything until it's moist
Pour into a greased casserole dish and bake at 350 degrees until the top is golden brown.
Serve with salsa as gravy and enjoy. Add more cheese on top if you want.)

I hope this easy recipe spices up your dinner. We love it around here.

Lenora :-)"

I'm getting so many excellent Mexican-style recipes. I can't wait to try each one. My family will heartily approve! Here's a sneak peak at Lenora's next book The Gift of Wonder which comes out in October. And drop by her website and see ALL HER SHOES! Thanks again, Lenora!--Lyn

Author Laurie Kingery & Her Other Mother & Taco Casserole Recipe

Today my guest is Laurie Kingery whom I met last year at the American Christian Fiction Writers Conference in Minneapolis. She's a neat person. Here's Laurie:

"I'd like to tell you about my "other mother," Helene, not because my own mother wasn't wonderful, but because Helene was so unique.

Helene was born in Transylvania--no, she wasn't a vampire! J-- and more specifically, the German portion of Rumania, between World Wars I and II, for her family were culturally Germans and spoke German, not Rumanian. She married Gustav, an engineer, and the two settled down to live happily ever after. She gave birth to two sons. Then World War II struck, and though neither of them had any sympathy for the Nazi cause, Gustav was forced into the German army, and Helene was forced to cope alone with her two small sons. They endured many hardships while Gus was away.

But when the Germans were defeated, the Russian army overran eastern Europe, including the place where Helene and her sons lived. She and her sons had to flee, for the Russians were brutal conquerors and showed no mercy to the Germans. She feared for the lives of her sons and herself, and also for Gustav, whose whereabouts at the end of the war were unknown. Though it was difficult for her to talk about and she often held back tears with difficulty, she told me of this perilous journey.

Plagued by hunger, she had to use every bit of resourcefulness she had. At one point they ended up in a refugee camp, at another, she had to fend off rape. But the story ends happily—they made their way to West Germany and freedom, and eventually she and her sons were reunited with Gustav.

Because of Gustav's skills as an engineer, and despite serving in the German army, they were allowed to come to the United States where Gustav worked in the American defense industry. Their first residence in the United States was an apartment in Columbus, Ohio. Here they met my parents, who coincidentally had just returned from a posting in West Germany with the U.S. Army. My parents and Helene and Gustav hit it off right away. In part, because my father's heritage was German and they had just been living there, but also because of Helene's warm friendliness and willingness to babysit for my parent's toddler—me!

My grandparents lived far away, but Helene became like another grandparent to me, singing to me, telling me stories—and listening to me try to tell stories—and treating me to her delicious cooking. She became a staunch friend to my mother, who as an Army wife lived far from her old friends and family. Helene was a perfectionist at cooking, housekeeping and needlecraft. Helene and her husband became citizens as soon as possible and were filled with a fierce patriotism for their new country.

Helene was widowed fairly early in life, but she told me Gustav continued to visit her in her dreams. She supported herself into old age with her sewing, and after my parents passed on, Helene became my other mother, my "Mutti," as I called her, using the German word. She was very proud and supportive of my career as a writer. Helene died a few years ago, and I miss her. Though the details of her ordeals in World War II and postwar are somewhat sketchy in my mind, since it's been years since she told them to me, her brave life makes her a fitting addition, I think, to Lyn Cote's Strong Women, Brave Stories blog.

Now for my Mexican-style recipe:

TACO CASSEROLE

Nonstick cooking spray
1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion, chopped
½ t. garlic poweder
1 envelope (1.25 oz.) taco seasoning mix
8 oz. can tomato sauce
1 cup sour cream
1 cup cottage cheese
2 cups crushed tortilla chips
2 cups (8 oz.) shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Preheat oven to 350. cut a 2 ½ qt. baking dish with cooking spray
In a skillet, brown the beef. Drain off excess fat. Add onion, garlic powder, taco mix and tomato sauce. Mix and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine the sour cream and cottage cheese, Place half the crushed tortilla chips in the bottom of the prepared pan. Add enough meat to cover. Top with half the sour cream mixture and half the cheese. Repeat layers. Bake 30-35 mins. Or until the cheese melts and the casserole is heated through.--Laurie"

Now Laurie's latest Love Inspired Historical, The Outlaw's Lady, debuts in mid-August. For more info, drop by her website. Or to purchase it click here.

Thanks, Laurie, for the story and for the recipe.--Lyn

Book Monday-Lyn Cote's 2nd Texas Novel

Though Her Inheritance Forever will not be out until the 18th of this month, this is the day I have for it on my blog. I'm really excited about this book. The heroine Alandra was just a little girl in the first book The Desires of her Heart. Fifteen years have passed since Dorritt and Quinn married and began life southwest of San Antonio. And Alandra has finally come of age. This is her story.

In 1836 Texas, Alandra Sandoval is the Tejano lady of Rancho Sandoval. She is determined to show the world of men that she, a woman, can run the ranch successfully without a male by her side. Yet she still longs for future love and a family.

Scully Falconer, a loner, is the top hand on a nearby ranch. He has given his loyalty to the Quinn family and doesn’t ask more than honest pay for an honest day’s work.

Alandra, the lady of Mexican descent, and Scully, the American cowboy, think they have very different paths set before them. But greedy relatives burst onto the scene, threatening to change their way of life. And when General Santa Anna crosses the Rio Grande and marches north to keep his rendezvous with destiny at the Alamo, Alandra and Scully’s lives will never be the same.

The Library Journal says Lyn Cote “demonstrates her skill at creating strong female protagonists in compelling stories that will captivate historical romance readers.” HER INHERITANCE FOREVER attests to Cote’s ability to create page-turning, riveting romances with wonderful historical details that also allow readers to watch the forming of the Texas state."

If you wish to pre-order it, just click the cover to the right. If you can't find it at your local library, bookstore or Walmart, please ask for it. And let me know if you enjoy it! --Lyn

Book Monday & Lyn Cote's 2nd Texas Historical Romance

Though Her Inheritance Forever will not be out until the 18th of this month, this is the day I have for it on my blog. I'm really excited about this book. The heroine Alandra was just a little girl in the first book The Desires of her Heart. Fifteen years have passed since Dorritt and Quinn married and began life southwest of San Antonio. And Alandra has finally come of age. This is her story.

In 1836 Texas, Alandra Sandoval is the Tejano lady of Rancho Sandoval. She is determined to show the world of men that she, a woman, can run the ranch successfully without a male by her side. Yet she still longs for future love and a family.

Scully Falconer, a loner, is the top hand on a nearby ranch. He has given his loyalty to the Quinn family and doesn’t ask more than honest pay for an honest day’s work.

Alandra, the lady of Mexican descent, and Scully, the American cowboy, think they have very different paths set before them. But greedy relatives burst onto the scene, threatening to change their way of life. And when General Santa Anna crosses the Rio Grande and marches north to keep his rendezvous with destiny at the Alamo, Alandra and Scully’s lives will never be the same.

The Library Journal says Lyn Cote “demonstrates her skill at creating strong female protagonists in compelling stories that will captivate historical romance readers.” HER INHERITANCE FOREVER attests to Cote’s ability to create page-turning, riveting romances with wonderful historical details that also allow readers to watch the forming of the Texas state."

If you wish to pre-order it, just click the cover to the right. If you can't find it at your local library, bookstore or Walmart, please ask for it. And let me know if you enjoy it! --Lyn

August & Book Giveaways & More Mexican Recipes

Hi ! In case you didn't notice, we moved into August yesterday. August! Can you believe that? The summer is two-thirds gone. Well, nothing we can do about that--except have more summer fun while we can.

The second book in my Texas Star of Destiny series, Her Inheritance Forever, will come out on August 18th. I intend to celebrate this with some specials here on my blog:

1-I will be giving away a copy of Her Inheritance Forever each week to anyone who comments on the blog that week.

2-I'm going to continue the recipe collection which I launched in July. Now however, since my heroine is a Latina (of Mexican descent) I want Mexican-style recipes. If you have a good one, post it in a comment and become eligible for the book giveaway for the week.

So drop by anyday this month or several days this month and share a recipe & a comment. I'm interested in what you think and want to see on this blog.

Have a lovely August Sunday!