Author Donita K Paul & The Vanishing Sculptor

My guest today is Donita K Paul, an author who writes amazing fantasy, not an easy thing to do!
Here's Donita:
"The heroine in the first two books of the Chiril Chronicles is Tipper Schope. In her early twenties, she has been in charge of a massive household for the many years following her father's disappearance. In her mind, she has not done a great job. At the time of the first scene, she has been reduced to selling her noted father's artwork in order to pay the bills. Her home is a deteriorating mansion. They have two servants left from the full staff. Her mother's mental health and stability has broken down. The failure of the mansion has caused hardship among those who depended on her father and this establishment. Tipper feels the weight of all the responsibility.

I see strong women face two types of situations those they chose and those that are thrust upon them. I know a young lady who worked hard to put herself through college to become an RN. She showed tremendous strength and determination to meet her goal, one she had chosen herself. But this same young lady had an abusive parent, an alcoholic spouse, and a relative with a debilitating disease. Obviously these burdens were not ones she chose. With each new obstacle that came her way, she continued on the path she knew God had ordained. And not only that, but she remained a cheerful, optimistic person. As a great mom, she has drilled into her kids, “Attitude is everything.”

The character in The Vanishing Sculptor is also challenged by adversity. Unfortunately, three of the statues she sold to acquire money for expenses, turned out to be the cornerstone of the world she lives in. With the statues separated, the countryside has bizarre eruptions that destroy property and life.


As in real life, with each new challenge, Tipper grows to meet the difficulty. That stretching to do the next thing, the thing we think is just beyond our ability, makes us grow stronger. Tipper's character deepens as she handles what I (the author) throw at her. And she also gains a perspective of herself that eliminates the false guilt. I think false guilt weighs us down more than the reality we face. Tipper does reach a happy ending, but the reader is aware that it is not happily ever after, because the road we travel will not smooth out and be bump-free until we reach Heaven. That's okay. We have the hope!"--Donita K Paul

For more about Donita and her books, drop by:

www.donitakpaul.com

www.dragonandturtle.com

http://donitakpaul.blogspot.com/ This one is the OLD Blog where I get a chance to share books by my fellow authors. Other Literary Dabblings.

http://awriterwritessometimes.blogspot.com/

First Page-Queen of Hearts by Author K Dawn Byrd

Chapter One

of Queen of Hearts by K Dawn Byrd

Daphne Dean traced the red hearts on the bottom of the calling card as a sense of foreboding rolled over her. She shrugged it off, hoping that there would be minimal danger in working stateside as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services. Her grandmother had been a spy during World War I and a good one at that. Daphne hoped to live up to her grandmother's reputation. Just thinking about carrying on the tradition excited her and made her feel closer to the woman she'd loved so much and who had died two years ago.

The letter that came with the calling cards stated that from there on out, she'd be known as the Queen of Hearts. She sighed and tossed a pencil on her desk. She hated her code name and considered it ill fitting for a woman who'd been in love only once in the past twenty-five years.

An image of Kenneth's handsome face invaded her mind. She squeezed her eyes shut, willing herself not to cry. She thought of him every day, but never with such intense sadness. God, when will it be my turn? All my friends back home are married.

Daphne reprimanded herself with a quick thought. Now was not the time for self-pity. Not when thousands of women were sick with worry while their precious husbands, boyfriends, or sons resided in some terror-filled foxhole overseas.

She closed the box and tossed the cards into the worn brown satchel with her camera and supplies. She'd give anything to have the men home even if it meant handing over the keys to her office, the small room that enveloped her in a warm cocoon at the start of each day. Daphne reminded herself often that she'd likely have to give up her career as a newspaper reporter and trade in the dream that had been as important to her as the air she breathed. As much as she loved it, she'd gladly swap it for a husband, a couple of kids and a house with a white picket fence.

The phone jingled and she reached for it, studying the contrast of pale pink nail polish against the black receiver. "Hello. Daphne Dean."

"This is Code Red of Twelve-Seven."

She sat up straight, desperately trying to recall her conversation with Tom. He'd said that Twelve-Seven was the code for December 7, the day the Japanese had bombed Pearl Harbor and it was the name of her group of O.S.S. operatives. "Go ahead."

"Listen carefully." His voice was deep and ominous, hinting of danger and intrigue. He cleared his throat. "Write this message down and then destroy the note. You'll type it on your calling card and deliver it to the club at eight o'clock tonight. The message is 'Emergency meeting Eight o'clock tomorrow morning. The usual place'. Now, read it back to me."

She finished scribbling and read it back to him, her voice trembling with anticipation.

"That's right, doll. A courier will be there in a few minutes with your attire for the evening. You'll be approached at the club by a woman in a red. Her code name is Scarlet. She's S.O.E. They're British Secret Intelligence. Give her the note and make sure no one sees you."

"When you say the club, do you mean the private club for officers?"

"That's the one, babe."

"How will I get in? As a member of the press?"

"No. You'll be undercover. Your ID will be in the box with your clothing. Your name for all Twelve-Seven assignments will be Rose Hart. Show your ID at the door. Got it?"

"Sure." She choked on the word.

"Don't let us down," said the stranger. The line clicked and went dead.

For more:

K.Dawn Byrd, Author
Queen of Hearts (April 2010) & Killing Time (August 2010)
http://stores.desertbreezepublishing.com/-strse-template/KDawnByrd/Page.bok
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/user/kdawnbyrd#p/a/u/0/grqPjGvfRa0
YOUTUBE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ncljBid61g
BLOG: http://kdawnbyrd.blogspot.com

First Page-Petra by Author T L Higley

Here's the first page of Petra by Author T L Higley.

Chapter 1

The streets of Rome lay barren and empty, sucked dry by the colossal Flavian Amphitheatre that had swallowed seventy-five thousand Roman citizens in a single gulp, and would hold each one captive until they had enjoyed the horrors that Julian now raced to prevent.

More time. He needed more time. Already the crowd inside the four-story rim of stone cheered for the first event.

Julian’s sandals smacked the black basalt road that led toward the amphitheatre. The blistering Roman sun pounded the moisture from his skin and left him panting. He had run most of way, since an old servant in Vita’s house had pointed a gnarled finger toward the east, toward the Forum, toward the arena of death.

Eighty arches ringed the outside of the theatre on each of its first three stories. The bottom arches provided access to the public, and the second story’s niches held statues of the gods and emperors, who now looked down on Julian as he sprinted across the large travertine slabs that paved the arena’s edge.

He ran toward one of the four main entrances and fumbled for the tessera, the stone tile he wore around his neck. The designatores at the entrance would insist on examining it, to see the sector, row and seat to which he was assigned.

Indeed, the usher at this entrance was full of his own importance, and held a palm to Julian’s oncoming rush as though he could stop him with only the force of his arm.

“Too long in your bed this morning, eh?” His smug smile took in Julian’s hastily-wrapped toga and sweat-dampened hair.

Julian thrust the tessera before the man’s eyes. “Here, here, look at it.”

Still the amused smile. The usher opened his mouth to speak again.

“Look at it!”

Daunted, the man let his eyes travel over the tile, then took a tiny breath and stepped back. His grin faded to a look of regret over his own impudence, and he bowed his head. As if that were not enough, he bowed at the waist and extended a hand to invite Julian to enter.

Julian did not wait for an apology. He pushed past the usher and under the vaulted entrance, then straight through the arena’s outer corridor and up a ramp that led to the cavea, the wedge-shaped sections of marble seats. This main entrance led directly to the central boxes reserved for the elite.

He exploded from the dimly lit ramp onto the terrace. The morning sun slashed across half the seats, the height of the amphitheatre leaving the other half in shade. The red canvas velarium, the awning used to shade the spectators, would be raised before it got much hotter, but for now, thousands of bleached togas on white marble blinded the eye and the smell of the masses assaulted the nose.

Julian crossed the terrace in two strides, slammed against the waist-high wall that separated him from the arena, and saw a figure dash at him from the shadows.

His mother’s hands were on his arms in an instant. “Julian, what are you doing?” Her words were frantic, as clipped and terror-filled as his every movement.

“They have Vita, Mother!”

From Petra by T L Higley www.TLHigley.com

The Seven Wonder Novels

Question: Do you enjoy reading stories set in ancient times? Why or why not?

Book Monday-Author DeAnna Julie Dodson & Letters in the Attic

Blurb for Letters in the Attic by Author DeAnna Julie Dodson!

"Up in her grandmother’s attic in Stony Point, Maine, Annie Dawson finds a stack of old letters from her childhood friend Susan Morris. Annie remembers Susan fondly and would like to get back in touch, but nobody seems to know what’s become of her. Her friends at The Hook and Needle Club aren’t much help either. All they remember is that Susan left town more than twenty years ago to marry a very wealthy man, but none of them is quite sure who he was. And Annie can find no record of any marriage.
The more Annie searches, the more she begins to wonder if something has happened to Susan. Something bad."

To read a review and excerpt drop by http://www.deannajuliedodson.com/letters.php

About DeAnna Julie Dodson

DeAnna Julie Dodson is the author of In Honor Bound, By Love Redeemed and To Grace Surrendered, a trilogy of medieval romances, and Letters in the Attic, a contemporary mystery in the Annie’s Attic series. She is currently working on The Drew Farthering Mysteries, a new series of books set in 1930s England. A graduate of the University of Texas at Dallas, she currently lives in North Texas with four spoiled cats and, when not writing, enjoys quilting, cross stitch and NHL hockey.

Interview:

Tell us about your latest book.

I’m very excited about the release of Letters in the Attic, an Annie’s Attic Mystery. Letters is the fourth book in this new series about Annie Dawson, a widow from Texas who goes up to clean out and sell her late grandmother’s Victorian house in Maine only to find a whole attic full of intriguing and sometimes mysterious objects. The series particularly interested me because Annie and her friends are all needleworkers – knitters, crocheters, quilters, cross-stitchers – and I’ve been interested in needlework for as long as I can remember.

Letters in the Attic came out this summer from DRG.

What's your favorite part of the story?

I think I enjoyed writing Officer Roy Hamilton the most. I actually didn’t think much about him at first. He was meant to be a very minor character who was there just to take fingerprints. Soon, though, he let me know that that was not going to be enough for him. He put on his mirrored sunglasses and sauntered up to me and said he just knew I had something more important for him to do. And darned if he wasn’t right!

What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?

I think the most important thing is that there is freedom in truth. Hiding from it only weighs you down and keeps you prisoner. Facing the truth breaks those chains and breaks the hold of those who would use the fear of that truth against you. Once it’s in the light of day, whatever it is you’re hiding from, it loses its power.

Tell us a little about your writing. Is there any one thing or reference you keep handy when writing? Anything you kept around for this particular book?

Of course, the greatest reference tool these days is the internet. It’s made research so much easier, though you do have to be careful of which sources you trust. Still, I like to have some actual reference books handy when I’m writing. I especially like The Well-Tempered Sentence by Karen Elizabeth Gordon and Eats, Shoots and Leaves by Lynne Truss for solving those thorny grammar and usage questions. They’re both extremely practical while appealing to my sometimes-off-the-wall sense of humor.

For Letters in the Attic, of course, my best friend was the packet of series information the publisher gave me so my book would mesh with the others in the series. Since writing this kind of book was new to me, this packet was really a life saver.

Who do you rely on for help when writing?

Writing can be a very lonely and isolated job. And the worst part of it is that, once you’ve written something, you can never see it the way a new reader will see it. Obviously, you know what you meant to say when you wrote it, but does it really say that? Really? You just have to have a pre-reader look it over, someone who will speak the truth in love and tell you honestly what works and what doesn’t.

I met author Robin Hardy (The Chataine’s Guardian and many, many more) when I took a “Writing Christian Fiction” class at the local community college. At that point, I didn’t imagine I would ever actually be published. She was so gracious and so kind to this very green wannabe writer. She actually read through my 250,000-word manuscript (the one that became In Honor Bound) and showed me how to improve it and, more importantly, how I could cut it down to a manageable length. Now, years later, she’s still my first and best pre-reader and a terrific friend. She catches inconsistencies and stupid mistakes and tells me when something just falls flat. I would so much rather hear it from her than from my editor or, worst of all, from my readers. I’m so blessed to know her!

Aside from writing, what takes up most of your time?

I’m addicted to cross-stitch and quilting. I have just a ton of projects yet to be done because I want to do everything. That’s one of the reasons I have enjoyed working on this series so much. I can relate to the ladies in the Annie’s Attic Mysteries who love to make beautiful things by hand.

What advice would you give to an unpublished writer?

I suppose there are writing prodigies out there, people who can just sit down and write perfection from word one, but I’ve never met anyone like that. The only way I know to succeed in writing is to write. And write. And write. And read a lot. And write more. I’ve heard it said that it takes about ten thousand hours to really master the craft of writing. Shortcuts don’t work. Put in your time. There’s really no other way to end up with a product that will make you proud.

But while you’re putting in your time, don’t get discouraged. Really learning to write is a long, arduous process. It’s usually a thankless job. Lots of people say they want to write. Very few stick with it long enough to actually become writers. Writing is a lonely business. It can be a very discouraging one. But if it’s something God has called you to do, there is nothing else as satisfying. Stay the course. Learn your craft. Write the book that’s on your heart. God will use it where He sees fit.

Website: http://www.deannajuliedodson.com

Blog: http://www.deannajuliedodson.com/blog/

Purchase Letters in the Attic: http://www.anniesmysteries.com

Sounds great, DeAnna!

Book Review-Author Roxanne Rustand's Final Exposure

Final Exposure by Roxanne Rustand

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I just finished Roxanne Rustand's Final Exposure, a Love Inspired Suspense novel. I loved her characters. It's the classic story of a wounded hero, a caring heroine and a little boy lost. Oh, and toss in a big white puppy! On the other side of the coin, a mystery from the past and red herrings abound in this story of romantic suspense that will keep you reading and pay off with a big surprise at the end!

Roxanne's Website is www.RoxanneRustand.com and on the lower right you can see her All Creatures blog.
View all my reviews

First Page-Shelter of Hope by Author Lyn Cote!

Today's first page is from my own September release, Shelter of Hope.

Out of the clear blue August morning, danger barreled onto New Friends Street--without warning. Glancing over his shoulder, Marc Chambers saw the cement truck take the corner a little fast. At the same moment, he glimpsed a boy running toward the street. Not looking.

Stop!

The cement truck brakes squealed like a trapped animal. Marc raced for the kid. Scooped him up. The wheels of the cement just feet away jumped, skipped—trying to stop in time.

People were screaming. Marc wrapped himself around the small body. Threw himself into a roll…

I can't stop in time. The horrible wrenching sound of metal chewing into metal churned through his flesh like the grinding of some vicious machine. His heart pounded in his ears--

"Marc," a familiar voice came through the din in Marc's head. "Marc, it's all right. You and the boy are safe. The truck missed you both."

Marc blinked. His mind repeated his grandmother's words, tried to grasp them and hold them. What had just happened to him?

---So did that catch your interest?

Author Renee Ryan & Rahab's Example--& a Giveaway Too!

My guest today is Author Renee Ryan who visited not long ago. She's back with another morsel of wisdom and another book to giveaway. Leave a comment and you will be entered in the drawing! Here's Renee:

"Lyn, thanks for having me again. I love writing strong heroines. In fact, when I started plotting my latest Love Inspired Historical novel, DANGEROUS ALLIES, I knew I wanted to write a story about female courage. But that was all I knew. Courage can mean different things to different people. To me, courage isn’t the absence of fear but rather action in spite of fear. Given that definition Nazi Germany immediately came to mind.

Next came the “what if” game. What if I set my entire novel in Nazi Germany? What would that require? What if I put my heroine in a situation that called for courage on a daily basis? What would her life be like? What if I make her a spy? Or better yet, what if I made her a mole (a person who works for the enemy from inside the country)? Now that job would require courage by my definition, especially in Nazi Germany.

Since I write Christian fiction I went to the Bible for my heroine’s role model. I immediately thought of Rahab. Often, we focus on Rahab’s chosen profession and how the Lord used her despite her sinful career. But as I started plotting DANGEROUS ALLIES, I began thinking about all Rahab risked to help the Israelites defeat her homeland.

Rahab wasn’t actually a spy, but she worked directly with spies. She put herself in danger and risked her entire way of life to help strangers who came from a foreign land. If caught, she would have been imprisoned. Or worse, maybe even executed. It’s important to remember that Rahab wasn’t an Israelite. She only knew them by reputation. She also knew their God by reputation, enough that she knew He was the real deal. Although she didn’t know much about God, she chose to obey Him. She chose rightly. Not only was her life saved, it was changed forever. But never forget, the choice to throw her lot in with the Israelites required incredible courage.

After thinking about Rahab from this angle I knew she was the kind of heroine I wanted to write. Enter Katia Kerensky, a Russian princess turned stage actress in 1939 Nazi Germany. Katia risks everything, even her life, to help the British defeat the Third Reich.

So, what about you? How do you define courage? What Bible characters come to mind? Leave a comment and we’ll enter you into a drawing to win a copy of DANGEROUS ALLIES."--Renee
For more info, drop by www.reneeryan.com

Book Monday-Author Camy Tang & Formula for Danger

Formula for Danger

by Camy Tang
Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense

Someone wants dermatologist Rachel Grant's latest research, and they'll do anything to get it. Including trashing the plants needed for her breakthrough scar-reducing cream—and trying to run Rachel down. Desperate for help, she turns to Edward Villa, the only man she trusts. But the greenhouse owner knows too much about Rachel's research, and now he's a target, too. Break-ins, muggings, murder…the would-be thief is getting desperate—and getting closer. Edward vows to protect Rachel at all costs. Yet with time ticking away, Edward knows they have to uncover the madman shadowing Rachel before their chance for a future is destroyed.

Camy Tang grew up in Wahiawa, Hawaii, a small town right in the center of the island of Oahu. Her family is still there, but they love to fly up to California to visit on the way to Las Vegas.

She majored in Psychology and took pre-med Biology and Chemistry classes at Stanford University. She decided not to go to medical school (well, she got an invitation to interview at a medical school, but turned it down), and instead worked as a biologist researcher for nine years. She did compound development studies for a major pharmaceutical company and product development and method-of-action studies for a smaller biotech company.

Recently, she's gotten into knitting! She loves it. She always has a sock project with her and she's been doing more lace knitting lately.

Camy and her husband are staff workers with their youth group at an Asian Christian church in the San Francisco Bay Area. They have one dog, Snickers, whom they adopted from the Santa Clara animal shelter.

She is an avid blogger and blogs on her own Web site, Camy's Loft, and at her Story Sensei writing blog. You can visit her Web site, where there are links to her blogs. She won the American Christian Fiction Writers award in the Debut Author category in 2008, and if she were an ice cream flavor, she'd be pistachio."--Camy Tang

I don't know how she chose pistachio as her ice cream flavor. I've met her and she's not green, a little nutty but not green. I've never thought of myself as an ice cream flavor. Have you? If so, which are you?--Lyn

Author Anita Higman & the Impossible

My guest today is Author Anita Higman who shares about forgiveness. Here's Anita:

"Over the years when people have wronged me sometimes forgiveness can feel impossible—as easy as crossing an ocean without a boat. One incident that comes to mind was when someone made a promise to me and then didn’t follow through. I will call her Jane. When she made the promise it was received with great rejoicing and expectation on my part, but in the end Jane let me down. I have forgiven Jane, but from time to time, I still think of that broken promise. I admit sometimes in my humanness that those thoughts of the past threaten to return again and again.

But I know the difference between something flitting through my brain and something settling in my spirit for some serious festering time. If I start that fretting routine then I give that piece of the past right back to God. Again. And he is faithful and merciful to help me. Is it easy to forgive Jane for what she did? Not at all. Is it necessary for my sanity, for living free, and staying right with God? Absolutely.--Anita

Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Anita Higman

Hollie Goodnight's store has just been voted best Christmas shop in America. All the new publicity draws flamboyant novelist Van Keaton to the cozy town of Noel, Missouri, demanding to write Hollie's story - a dramatic tale of misfortune and triumph. She is swept up in his world of beautiful words and fanciful interludes. . .until Owen Quigly, her lifelong best friend, launches a plan to win her back."

Drop by her website for more info about Anita and her books!--Lyn

First Page-Once Upon a Christmas Eve by Author Anita Higman

First Page of the novella, "Once Upon a Christmas Eve," from Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe by Author Anita Higman.

"The people of Noel always said Holly Goodnight was like a rock tumbler--that she had a gift for smoothing out the edges of other people's lives. Holly grinned at the thought. I probably have more in common with a rock hammer.

With a smile and a wave Holly breezed out of the post office and then darted across Main Street, just in time to grab Miss Flora's arm as she stumbled on the curb.

"Thanks, dearie." The older woman patted Holly's cheek.

"No problem." Once Miss Flora got her bearings, Holly kicked a ball back to a youngster before it rolled out in the street. The kid, little Perry somebody, didn't thank her. He never did. The little knave. Holly rolled her eyes at him and headed toward The Little Bethlehem Shoppe on Main.

A male tourist, a tolerably handsome one, ambled out of one of the shops, yanked out his earbuds, and stared at Holly as if she were wearing her raindeer antlers. "Hi."

"Hello." Holly felt one of those mysterious life moments coming on, when the casual gaze between two strangers takes a crucial turn. It goes like this: somewhere in the heavenlies an angel flips a switch, bathing the couple in a halo, suspending time while the two assess each other. For dating potential, love, marriage, children. Retirement. Term life insurance.

Get hold of yourself, Holly. The sweet alchemy between them, which may have been only in her imagination, vanished like a whirl of snow.

The stranger bowed slightly. "Good day, mademoiselle." He winked.

What do you think about this?

Best Buy to Sell Kindle In Stores, Enhance E-Reader Displays

Do you own an ebook reader?
If not, would you like one for Christmas? Why or why not?
And which ebook reader do you have or want?
Questions! Questions! Tell me what you think!

Who Named the Kitties?

Wow! I'm happy to find out that so many animal lovers--in particular kitten lovers-- read this blog. The winning names, suggested by two different women, have been chosen!

I loved all the names suggested even "Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer," names I'd never heard but which I was told are from the Rock Opera "Cats."

Now I (as in Lyn) didn't choose the winning names. My characters, twin sister, Cindy and Mimi, first graders, had to choose. Fortunately I know them very well, having known them since they were born (in my mind GRIN).

Mimi went first--because she always does! And she said, "My kitten looks like a Twinkie, my favorite dessert in my lunch bag at school."
And then Cindy said, "Oh, then I'll call mine Peanutbutter because that's my favorite part of lunch.And my kitty is that golden color too!"

My thanks to Sheree who suggested Twinkles which made me think of Twinkie! And to Terry who suggested the name peanutbutter. I have Terry's email address.
BUT SHEREE, I NEED YOU TO EMAIL ME AT l(dot)cote(at)juno(dot)com.
Send me your mailing address and I'll send you (and Terry) an autographed copy of

This is my latest book, out now at a Wal-Mart near you. And it's the first in a series about three Habitat for Humanity homes built for three families in Wisconsin. If you click the photo of the book cover in the right column, you will be taken to a page where the story and an excerpt are.

Some of the names on the list below which were suggested were utterly delightful and so clever! But I had to let Mimi and Cindy name them, right? (As the names came in, I put * near the ones that I thought little girls might pick).

See what you think of them. What ones are your favorites and what do you think of Mimi and Cindy's choices?

Kitten Names

Peaches and Pumpkin

Marmalade and Tigger

Peaches and Cream?

Squirt and Squeaker

Missy and Prissy

Ginger and Snap

faith and hope

Tough and Tougher

butter and cream

Samson and Delilah

Taffy and Punkin

fluffy and tuffy,

Pepsi and Chips.....
*Snickers and Reeses

Barnabas and Solomon
or
Solomon and Sheba

*Snickerdoodle and Gingersnap.

Percy and Penny

Sugar AND Spice

Nutmeg and Cinnamon

Peaches and Apricot

*Butterscotch and Honey

Jack & Jill

Candy & Randy

Heads and Tails.

Ruth and Naomi

Darla and Daisy

Nuzzle and Noodle

Lucy and Ethel

Andy and Barney

Amos and Charlie

*Sprinkles and Sugar or

Candie and Taffie

Mis & Chief = Mischief

Cassi & Nymph

Cotton & Candy = Cotton Candy

Cassi & Sassy

Spooky & Trixie

Summer & Autumn

Sasha & Tasha

*Pumpkin & Pie = Pumpkin Pie

Sheba & Esther

Lucky & Penny = Lucky Penny

David & Goliath

Adam & Eve

Leah & Rachel

Mary & Joseph

Cream & Sugar

Trixie and Pixie

Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer

Mango and Tango
*Peanut and Buttercup

Marmalade and Mustard.

champagne & wine

Butterscotch & Peaches n'cream

Channel and Tequi

Ginger meggs (its after a cartoon character in australia) Meggs and Fluff or fluffy after Ginger fluff (the sponge)

Charity and Chance

Tabitha and Tibby Taco

Belle and Gracie or Belle and Noel.

Payton Eli

Milo and Aslan, and for female cats Ginger and Peachfuzz.

Tom and Jerry
Or Sandy and Candy
Or Puss and Boots
Or Ebb and Flo (short for Floyd)

Honey and Harley
*Tater and Tot
*Skittles and Snuggles
Trixie and Belle
Skit and Skat

*Sunny and Tabby

Twinkles and Sparkles

Smoochie and Sweetie

Cookie and Cupcake

Daisy and Daffodil (Daffy)

Tutti and Frutti

Joy and Hope

Mercy and Glory

*KAT KAT & SKEEZIX OR CATSBY

RAGDOLL & BABYDOLL

MOUSER & MEWSETTE

RAGGEDY ANN & RAGGEDY ANDY

DAFFODIL & DAPHNE (Daffo & Daffy)

TOPAZ & ASHEY

BONNIE & CLYDE

TIGGER & POOH

MOXIE & ROXIE

ABIGAIL & AGATHA (Abby & Aggie)

ILA & DEKE

GUINEVERE & ARTHUR

SCAT CAT & ALLEY CAT

REBEL & FEARLESS

MINNIEPAWS & MAXIEPAWS

ROMEO JULIETTE

DUCHESS & DUKE

JACK & JILL

DIXIE & REBEL

IMA CAT & ITSA CAT

Jolie & Jolly
Goldie & Max
Skit & Scat

Molly and Polly.

Juice & Tabitha
Callie & Dusty

Butterscotch and Sunshine

Shirley

Butter Bean and Cantaloupe

*Butterscotch and Sunshine

Goldie and Ginger.

Pete and Repeat

Gayle and Lana

Mr. Mitz and Baby

Twinkles and Sparkles

Smoochie and Sweetie

Cookie and Cupcake

Daisy and Daffodil (Daffy)

Tutti and Frutti

Joy and Hope

Mercy and Glory

I hope you enjoyed this name quest as much as I did!!!--Lyn

Author Irene Brand & What is the Unloved Wife/Sister to Do?

Today my guest is Author Irene Brand who besides being a dear friend, is also an outstanding person. Oh, and she writes good too! GRIN (Be sure to read about the contest she's holding.)
Here's Irene:

"In my novella in 'An Appalachian Christmas,' my heroine Julia’s experience compares in several ways to Leah, the first wife of Jacob. Jacob loved Leah's younger sister who was more beautiful than Leah. Genesis 29:17 records, 'Leah was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well favored.' Laban, the father of the two girls, tricked Jacob into marrying Leah. A week later, Rachel also became Jacob’s wife. The scripture says, 'And Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her.'

When the Lord saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb, but Rachel was barren. Leah bore Jacob six sons and a daughter. Rachel was barren for several years. Although in those days a wife was valued with the progeny she could produce, Jacob still favored Rachel. As long as her beautiful sister lived, Leah took second place in her husband’s sight. Strife between the sisters seemed to continue as long as Rachel lived.

When Rachel died in childbirth, the Scripture indicates that the relationship between Jacob and Leah improved to the extent that he buried her with his parents and with his famous grandparents, Abraham and Sarah.


In my story, Julia Mayfield had always taken a “back seat” to her sister Margaret. Julia was a year older than Margaret, who had a lot of health problems. Julia didn’t mind that her sister received a larger portion of their love; however, she couldn’t understand why her parents couldn’t love her, too.

Julia's parents never praised her and asked her not to talk about her athletic achievements in front of her sister. When World War II started, still with an urge to excel, Julia joined the WACS. When her parents weren’t impressed with her achievements and medals, Julia finally conceded that her parents would always love her sister more. She returned from the war intending to make the best of a bad situation and do what she could to establish rapport with her sister.

In my story, Margaret died before Julia returned from Europe, leaving Bobby, a two-year-old boy, the son of a GI who was missing in action. Margaret had also left a note to Julia, asking her to take Bobby to visit his paternal grandparents, who lived in Mistletoe, Kentucky. Julia was annoyed that, even in death, Margaret was ordering her life.

But perhaps God has a hand in Julia's trip to Mistletoe? What do you think?"--Irene Brand

I think so! Here's Irene's website www.irenebrand.com if you'd like to watch her book video for her latest novella in the anthology, Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe"

and she's holding a contest so drop by a her website. Irene says:

"In September I will give four copies of the new book---one each week. Please join me in welcoming Summerside Press's first novella collection."

Thanks, Irene, for being my guest. Your story sounds like a winner! And here's a peek into Irene's life. That's her in the pink hat posing with her church's winning softball team. They insisted she be in the photo! That's Irene--always a good sport!

First Page-An Appalachian Christmas-Author Irene Brand

AN APPALACHIAN CHRISTMAS, novella

By Irene Brand from LOVE FINDS YOU IN MISTLETOE, KENTUCKY

Excerpt from Chapter One, page one:

Its driver whistling merrily, the antiquated bus climbed a hill into the small Kentucky town on a sunny September morning. With brakes squeaking and the engine groaning like a sick person gasping for a final breath, the bus eventually ground to a halt before a two-story building. Opening the door, the driver shouted, “Booneville. All passengers get off.”

Julia Mayfield gathered her bags, lifted her nephew, Bobby, into her arms, and exited the bus. In a voice harsh with frustration and fatigue, she asked the driver, “Is there any other public transportation available here?”

The driver pointed to a gasoline station across the street. “You might hire a taxi over there.”

Julia thanked the driver and walked toward the small building he’d indicated. She hadn’t wanted to take this trip. Now that the war had ended, she had plans for the future that didn’t include honoring her dying sister’s request.

Shifting Bobby to her left hip, Julia walked into the gasoline station. The only occupant of the building was bending over the engine of a car. When he became aware of Julia’s presence, the black-bearded man straightened, took off his cap, and spit a mouthful of tobacco into an oil drum. “Howdy, ma’am.” My name’s Alex. What can I do for you?”

“I need transportation to Mistletoe. The bus driver thought you could help me.”

Alex shook his head. “Fraid not, ma’am.”

“You have a sign in your window, ‘Taxi for hire.’”

“That’s a fact, ma’am,” he agreed. “I’ve got one taxi. A man rented it this morning and took off for Louisville. He won’t be back till day after tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait that long,” Julia persisted. “Is there another taxi stand?”

“Nope. Autos are scarcer than hen’s teeth around here.”

Click here to Irene's website to see her book video of Love Finds you in Mistletoe Kentucky

More from Irene tomorrow!--Lyn

Book Monday Review-Author Mindy Starns Clark & Shadows of Lancaster County

Shadows of Lancaster County by Mindy Starns Clark




Shadows of Lancaster County was the 2nd book I've read by Mindy Starns Clark. In both, she has woven a thread from the past with the mystery in the present. She also infuses her characters with life and vulnerability. She made me care very much about her heroine Anna. I enjoyed the surprise reveal at the end! I'm not one of those people who want to guess ahead of time who the villain is. I like surprises and Mindy Starns Clark wowwed me. I highly recommend this intriguing story.



View all my reviews

NAME the Kitties!

In the manuscript I just turned in, I have two golden tabby kittens that my heroine and her two little nieces adopt.
I need names for them. Will you help me?

These are all photos of the type of kittens. I always call these golden tabby. Maybe that's not their correct name but it will serve my purposes.

So what should I name them??? Please leave your suggestions through Sunday, the 12th.

I need to let my editor know no later than September 13th.
The person who comes up with the winning names for the orphaned, adopted kittens will receive a copy of my latest Love Inspired Romance, Shelter of Hope.




The book that these kittens are in is titled, DADDY IN THE MAKING and will be released in April 2011. I know it's hard to remember but I'm always writing a year ahead. So here's a cute kitten video to get your creative juices flowing. Please enter as many times as you come up with names! Invite your friends to offer their suggestions too! Thanks in advance!

The Other Side of the Coin--Why Sometimes I Wonder Why I Write

On Tuesday I shared a letter where my Women of Ivy Manor series had a deep impact on one of my readers, "B." Today I'm giving you the flip side.

Amazon has an “interesting” feature where readers can post reviews. One reader posted a review for each book in my series. Here are a few quotes from this flipside reader's reviews of each book:

“CHLOE: Lastly, there is not much religious/spiritual content in this book. That's fine, the story is not lacking because of it. The problem is that it is sold as being a "Christian" book, and God is only vaguely mentioned about 4 times….Despite its shortcomings, I am looking forward to the other books in the series, to see what happens to the other generations of Chloe's family….

BETTE: Once again, Lyn Cote did a wonderful job of illustrating the historical aspects of the story. She has a distinct talent for "transporting" her readers to another time and place. Just as with the first novel in this series, I don't feel that this book is necessarily a "Christian" novel, as it is often touted as being. However, I do think this book had more references to God than the last one did . . . .

LEIGH: Yes, I am still looking forward to the final book in the series. Even though I have complained about "Leigh" being poorly-written, something still keeps me drawn to these books: the great historical detail, and complicated plotlines.

CARLY: I recommend this book only if you love American history, and are willing to put up with a lot of cheesy writing... or if you got suckered into this series just like I did, and want to see it through to the end.”

You notice that she bought all four books, read them intently and wrote reviews of each.

AND THE QUESTION IS—WHY??? Why buy and read all 4 of Lyn Cote’s “cheesy” novels?

My final question today is what do you think was really bothering her? And why did she get so riled up about my books?

First Page-Nowhere Carolina-Author Tamara Leigh

First Page of Nowhere Carolina by Author Tamara Leigh

Despite the occasional whisper, glower, and slight, I need no one to remind me of my high school days. I was the stereotypical cheerleader—self-centered, superior, and more concerned with hair and makeup than the state of the world. Let alone Nowhere, North Carolina. Well, not really Nowhere, though that is what I called the town of Pickwick, certain my future lay in some exotic locale like Hollywood. Funny thing is, that’s where my introverted cousin, Piper, went when she up and left Pickwick after high school. But that’s another story.

Yes, I was the real deal—a pompom-pumping, short-skirt-wearing, belly-button-bearing guy magnet. Not a bad thing. After all, Queen Esther, who in my teenage opinion was the only interesting character in the Bible, made the most of her beauty. And look where it got her. Fortunately for the Israelites, not where it got me.

Once I started acting on the attraction that made guys shove their way to the head of my line, I was all in. Competition for my attention was headying, and though I never planned to “go all the way,” things progressed until…

Well, they progressed. And not just the one time. Which is why, when I ascended the stage over twelve years ago to accept my high school diploma, I did so with a basketball-sized bump that was further proof I was one girl whose vocabulary lacked a two-letter word that my boyfriends said was overrated—“no.”

As for the bump, her name is Devyn, though it wasn’t until I delivered my baby that I thought of her as much more than an inconvenience and a threat to my figure. But she soon became everything to me, and I thank God I didn’t give her up as planned. Even when she’s like this.

www.tamaraleigh.com