Author Thom Lemmons Pays Tribute to His Wife

My guest today is Thom Lemmons, a Christy Award winning author, has taken this opportunity to pay tribute to his wife's creativitiy and excellence in her medium-human lives, futures. Here's Thom:

"My wife thinks she isn't creative; I do my best to convince her that nothing could be farther from the truth.

She has read my books (bless her!) and even likes some of them (bless her even more!). But as a result of observing my literary and other efforts, she sometimes compares herself unfavorably, lamenting her own lack of creativity.

But my wife is an artist of dynamic impact, even though she sometimes doesn't recognize it. Her medium? Human lives. Her format? Teaching. Karla is a professional educator, and she creates masterpieces every single day.

In fact, I tell Karla that she is the Michaelangelo of teaching.

You don't even have to take my word for it. Back in the late 1980s, when she started her teaching career in a tough inner-city school in San Antonio, Karla received the Outstanding New Teacher award for her school system. A couple of years later, when she moved to a school system in a smaller community, she repeated her achievement, winning the Outstanding New Teacher award.

Karla moved on to higher education, where she now inspires college kids to go out and become the type of teacher she was when she was in public schools. Her passion and commitment comes through loud and clear; I can't even count the number of letters and emails Karla has gotten from her students who have gone into classrooms of their own and got back in touch to tell her how much she impacted their desire to teach and their child-centered philosophy of education.

Just a couple of days ago, Karla was notified by the college of education at the university where she now teaches that she was selected by her students as a recipient of the college's Excellence in Teaching award. I'm so proud of her I could burst. And I'm not surprised. As I said, she's a master... a genius... a Michaelangelo.--Thom

Thom, thanks for letting us share this tribute to your wife. I also want to feature your latest book:

--Thom Lemmons is the author of Blameless (2007, WaterBrook), a contemporary retelling of the biblical story of Job.

To learn more about Thom, visit his website.

First Page-Rachel's Garden-Author Marta Perry

RACHEL’S GARDEN

By Marta Perry

Chapter One

A flicker of movement from the lane beyond the kitchen window of the old farmhouse caught Rachel Brand’s eye as she leaned against the sink, washing up the bowl she’d used to make a batch of snickerdoodles. A buggy—ja, it must be Leah Glick, bringing Rachel’s two older kinder home from the birthday party for their teacher already.

Quickly she set the bowl down and splashed cold water on her eyes. It wouldn’t do to let her young ones suspect that their mamm had been crying while she baked. Smoothing her hair back under her kapp and arranging a smile on her lips, she went to the back door.

But the visitor was not Leah. It was a man, alone,

driving the buggy.

Shock shattered her curiosity when she recognized the strong face under the brim of the black Amish hat. Gideon Zook. Her fingers clenched, wrinkling the fabric of her dark apron. What did he want from her?

She stood motionless for a moment, her left hand tight on the door frame. Then she grabbed the black wool shawl that hung by the door, threw it around her shoulders, and stepped outside.

www.martaperry.com

Author & Medical Missionary Harry Kraus Thanks His Wife

My guest today is the best-selling author of The Six-Liter Club, a man of many talents and one who knows how fortunate he is. Here's Author Harry Kraus about his wife:

"Sisters, imagine your response if your husband came home one day and said, “Let’s move to Africa.”

Would you be scared? Angry at your husband?

Angry at God?

Perhaps my wife was a little of all three, but she prayerfully considered my enthusiasm and then helped sell the dream house (twelve acres on a hilltop in the country), pack up our three sons and moved to Kenya.

I was asked on a TV interview today, as I often am, “How do you do it all? Novelist, surgeon, father, husband, missionary…what gives?”

My answer is always the same: grace. And for me God’s grace has a name: Kris.

I am the visionary, always wanting to rocket off on some new project. My wife has seen many variations of this theme. During my surgical residency, I said, “I want to write a novel.” Later, after years in private practice, I sprang the above news on her: “I think we should serve in Africa.”

But rockets get no where without planning. I may be the rocket, but Kris has her feet planted on terra firma. She is the detail gal, counting the cost, paying the bills, figuring out the ins and outs of mechanics and logistics while I am playing with imaginary characters and reaching out across continents with a hope to bring God’s love to the sick.

My wife has learned flexibility and adaptability. She has laid aside her dreams for her children’s and mine (after being in Kenya for a few months all three of our boys agreed, “We don’t want to go home.”) She agreed, ditched her own ideas for the future and stayed in Africa, filling in, teaching, mothering other boarding students at Rift Valley Academy who needed a little (or a lot!) of extra help.

Now, while we are home from Africa and I am running around promoting my latest novel, The Six-Liter Club (which, by the way is another story of a very brave woman…wonder how I get my inspiration, huh?), she has taken another brave move and started back to school. Approaching fifty, she is old enough to have given birth to many of her fellow students. But she uses her experience to her advantage. She is focused, studies hard, and her grades reflect her diligence and maturity.

Next summer, we will pack up again and return to Africa, yet another transition that will test my wife’s metal.

Do I doubt she can thrive in spite of the change? Not for a minute.

She is my brave woman. Thanks for giving me a chance to tell you about her.

She is a channel of GRACE to me."--Harry Kraus, MD www.harrykraus.com

Author bio: Board-certified general surgeon and best-selling author, Harry Krau laces his fiction with medical realism. He began writing as a surgery resident and has authored twelve novels and three works of non-fiction. His book, "The Six-Liter Club" was just released by Simon and Schuster in April and his next non-fiction release "Domesticated Jesus" is happening next month. He and his family have served as missionaries in Kenya for four years. They are currently on furlough in Virginia.

Thanks, Harry. So happy you have a great wife and know it.

Author Terri Reed & The Difference between Strong & Foolhardy

My guest today is Love Inspired Author Terri Reed and a story about a friend who found out that sometimes it's good to seek help.

There are many strong women in my life; it's hard to pick just one to talk about. I firmly believe that God has called me into friendships with the women in my life because each brings a unique perspective that has helped me to become the woman I am. For most of my life I've felt alone. I didn't form close friendships with very many kids while in school. And during my adolescent years, though I had friends I didn't have a best friend. It wasn't until college that I formed a bond with a woman, who to this day, some twenty-odd years later, I consider to be my dearest friend. Anne and I grew close when we worked at the same department store and then took some college classes together. We were there for each through our weddings and our children's births. Whenever we get together it feels like no time has passed since the last time, even though we live thousands of miles apart now.

Several years ago my friend caught a cold that turned into pneumonia. Being a strong woman, wife and mother, she thought she could beat the sickness on her own, she could tough it out. She didn't go to the doctor right away. By the time she did, her body started to shut down. She fell into a coma and for five months the doctors didn't think she'd make it. But Anne's spirit was strong. With the aid of experimental drugs, she slowly began to recover. When she finally awoke from her coma, she could barely speak, couldn't walk or really move. But she was alive. And for the next couple of years, she worked hard to recover not only physically but emotionally as well. Her marriage faltered but she wouldn't give up. Through her ordeal I prayed continually for her and her family. As I have witnessed her will to live, and live fully, I am reminded what a precious gift life is.

This past April I caught a cold that started with a sore throat, then a cough. I most likely would have let it run its course if not for the lesson that Anne's illness taught me. By day five, I decided I'd see a doctor, even though I was convinced he'd tell me it was a cold virus and to rest. I was sure I was wasting his time and my money. However, the doctor was pleased I had come in, because I had pneumonia. Thankfully, we caught it in the early stages. The illness still knocked me flat for another fourteen days.

Thank God for the lessons we learn along the way in this crazy thing called life. I hope you too will head this lesson. Go to the doctor if you feel sick. Don't try to tough it out. Sometimes we need to be weak in order to be strong. Asking for help, relying on others isn't a sign of weakness, but of wisdom.

This was one of the lessons my heroine in Covert Pursuit needed to learn. She was a tough cop who wanted to prove herself and uncover the truth, but she couldn't do it alone. Seeking help grated but in the end she discovered not only the truth but love, a most precious gift, indeed.

to learn more about Author Terri Reed, drop by

http://ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/

www.loveinspiredauthors.com

http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com/

Thanks, Terri-Lyn

Author Elizabeth Johnson & Passionate Abandon!

My guest today is Author Elizabeth Johnson, a new Love Inspired Suspense Author. Here's Elizabeth:

"I’d like to tell you about my sister, one of the strongest women I know. She’s always been pretty amazing to me as my older sister and best friend. Like many sisters, while we were growing up, we fought and made up, battled and restored our relationship. By the time she got married at 21 and started a family shortly thereafter, our friendship had outgrown childish ways. But I didn’t have any idea how much I would admire the depth of her strength until very recently.

Four years ago my family eagerly anticipated the arrival of my first nephew, who was due on July 20. The nursery, adorned in fire trucks and Dalmatians, was ready for him to come home. My sister, the consummate planner, couldn’t have been more prepared with clothes washed and diapers stacked.

And then the unthinkable happened on June 17. The baby’s heart stopped beating. No explanations. No reasons. My sister gave birth to a perfect little boy, who weighed 5lbs, 5oz and had a full-head of dark brown hair. He was beautifully and wonderfully made. And gone.

I can’t even put into words the magnitude of pain that rocked our family. Sweet anticipation turned to heartbreaking agony, no one affected more than my sister.

Like it often does, time didn’t make us forget but rather helped to soothe the ache of such a great loss. Three years later, my sister found herself once again expecting a little boy and with that all the fear and anxiety from a pain still so fresh. While I wouldn’t have blamed her if she turned inside, focusing on her own fear and shutting the rest of the world out, she amazed me by opening her heart to others in need. Bringing together groups of people to reach out to those in need, she offered a level of compassion and kindness that could only come from knowing true loss.

As I thought about my sister, I began thinking about the heroines in my books The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorn and Vanishing Act, who also had to decide how they would move forward in the face of loss. I realized that strong, brave women, aren’t promised not to face pain. Rather, the Bible assures us all that trials will come. Strong women simply have the courage to let that trial mold them into women who love God and love others with passionate abandon.--Elizabeth Johnson

Thank you, Elizabeth, for this story of your sister, a truly amazing strong and brave woman. For more about Elizabeth's writing and life, drop by www.lizjohnsonbooks.com

First Page-A Father for Zach-Author Irene Hannon

A FATHER FOR ZACH by Irene Hannon
Book 4—Lighthouse Lane series
First Page

Nathan Clay gazed out over the sparkling blue waters off Nantucket, scanned the pristine white beach and took a long, slow breath. What a change from the tiny, windowless cell he’d left behind four days ago—his home for the past ten, long years.
The juxtaposition was surreal.
Settling back in the white folding chair, he tugged at his unaccustomed tie, surveyed the seventy-five wedding guests assembled on the lush, garden-rimmed lawn that abutted the beach, and tried not to feel out of place.
But it was a losing battle. He doubted anyone else in this high-class group had served time in prison. Especially the Supreme Court justice on the other side of the aisle, who was a longtime friend of the Morgan family.
The family his sister, Marci, would be marrying into in just a few minutes.
Talk about moving up in the world. She deserved it, though. Marci had worked hard to build a better life. To rise above their tough upbringing. He wished he could have done as well.

Then again, his childhood had been even rougher than Marci’s or his big brother’s had been. Thanks to the secret that had darkened his life for more years than he cared to recall. Bile rose in his throat, and he forced himself to swallow past it, to suppress the ugly memories. Those days were history. They couldn’t hurt him unless he let them. And he’d resolved never again to give his past that kind of power. www.irenehannon.com

Author Sharon Dunn & Her Intangible Inheritance

Today's guest author Sharon Dunn tells of the Intangible Inheritance her mother bequeathed her. Here's Sharon:

"If I close my eyes, one of the clearest pictures I have is of my mother bent over in her garden in the evening. She straightens and massages her lower back while she looks out toward the horizon. Another time, I buried my face in billowing sheets as she hung them on the line and explained to me that the larger sheets and towels were hung on the outside lines to conceal the underwear and unmentionables on the inner lines. It doesn’t take much to recall the fresh sun kissed smell of cotton hung on a clothesline. My mother loved being outside, but could only justify it if she combined it with a chore that contributed to the family well being.

A family day out involved a picnic by a river where my siblings and I (there were six of us) trailed through clear cold rivers and sandy bottomed eddies catching frogs while my father panned for gold. It was the outing that my mother loved best and one of the few times I remember seeing her sitting still.

I inherited my mother’s silver tea service, but this love for nature, for the feel of the sun on my face is a far greater inheritance. Though I can’t touch it, I know it was my mother’s appreciation for God’s creation that influenced me to love hiking, fishing and sitting by rivers soothed by the sound of water traveling over rock.

Even in my writing with the character of Lucy Kimbol in Dead Ringer, I see my mother’s influence on my life. Lucy Kimbol is a fly fishing guide who says that being out on the river is when she feels the closest to God. My mother died when I was in my early twenties, long before I had my first book published, but I see the power of her intangible inheritance in my writing."--Sharon

Thanks, Sharon--Lyn

For more about Sharon and her books, drop by www.sharondunnbooks.com