Christians Read

When we authors create our characters, we try to make them likable and relatable. So, since most of us have more than one thing we’re interested in, I like to give my heroes and heroines extra pastimes readers might relate to or appreciate, such as hobbies or talents beyond their job or career.

In my latest release, Cowboy Lawman’s Christmas Reunion (October 2017), my hero is a no-nonsense small town sheriff who can cause outlaws to quake in their boots. But he also has a talent for carving. Having enjoyed a Grand Tour of Europe as a young man, he took particular notice of the German displays of toy Christmas villages. In my story, he sets out to delight the hearts of his hometown’s children by carving a similar village for them.

It’s quite an ambitious project, and all the while he’s working on it, he has an ongoing conflict with the beautiful widow lady who was once his fiancée. So, of course, I had to give her a talent for painting the delicate houses, church, trees, and people he has carved. The village must be finished by the annual Christmas pageant and party at the church, so this puts them together quite a bit, even though neither of them wants to be. Will they finish the project in time? And will they discover being together is not such a bad thing? I hope you’ll read Cowboy Lawman’s Christmas Reunion to find out.

In trying to find pictures of very old toy villages, I ran into the usual problem of copyrights, but I did find this lovely little village that offered free use. Isn’t it a delight?

(By Julian Colton: I, the copyright holder of this work, release this work into the public domain. This applies worldwide. In some countries this may not be legally possible; if so: I grant anyone the right to use this work for any purpose, without any conditions, unless such conditions are required by law.)

The lights that brighten this village would not have been available in 1887 when Sheriff Justice Gareau carved his small town, but I know the children and adults were just as delighted in their time. Perhaps if they were careful, they could use candles, as they did on Christmas trees back then.

And here’s our North Pole village and train that we enjoy as part of our Christmas decorations. This year we didn’t set up the train tracks, but you can see how the train would go around the town. If you can’t quite make out the signs on the houses, I’ll explain. From left to right, we have a house where Santa and Mrs. Claus live, the post office, the train depot, the elf dormitory and workshop, the sleigh barn, the reindeer barn, the cookie factory, and the candy factory. And of course the Christmas tree stands in the middle of the town square. BTW, the train cars represent the Twelve Days of Christmas, with appropriate pictures on each car to signify the gifts from the popular Christmas song.

Here are links to some other lovely villages: http://alfa-img.com/show/lemax-christmas-village.html and http://vitalsignsblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/perfect-place-for-christmas-village.html. If you click on the links, be sure to check out the details of these beautiful creations.

Finally, my daughter-in-law has this lovely carved church she sets out each Christmas. Notice the details inside. This was an inspiration to me as I wrote about my carving sheriff.

Here’s the story:

Sheriff Justice Gareau can make outlaws quake in their boots…yet coming face-to-face with Evangeline Benoit once again takes away all his composure. She broke their engagement, and his heart, to marry a wealthy older man. Despite his reluctance, Justice can’t avoid the widowed single mother of two when they’re collaborating on a Christmas village for the town’s children.

The loving boy Evangeline once knew has become an unyielding lawman. Forced to flee New Orleans over false allegations, Evie doubts Justice will take her side when the past follows her to Colorado. Especially when he and her troublesome son butt heads. But perhaps the spirit of Christmas will soften his heart and give them a second chance at love. Copyright © 2017 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited, Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises. ® and ™ Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.

I can’t leave you today without one final thought. While it may sound like a cliche these days, in truth, Jesus is the reason for this Christmas season. Don’t let the busyness of your life cloud this true, eternal meaning. We celebrate the baby born in Bethlehem, but he was born to grow up, live a sinless life, and die for you. His resurrection is the promise of eternal life for all who believe in Him. May you find your salvation, peace, and joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Merry Christmas!

As a Christian romantic suspense author, the love story plays a huge part in each of my books. That love can been seen from the beginning to the end. Just like God’s love for us can be seen from Genesis to Revelation.

Throughout the Old Testament, we can see God’s love for us shining through from the creation He made for us to the way He foretold His plan of salvation through the prophets of old,m right down to how Jesus birth would come about, to the lineage in which He would descend from, to the town in which He would be born.

Isaiah 7:14, Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Isaiah 9:6-7, For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Micah 5:2, But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

But God’s love story didn’t end with Jesus birth. Just like His birth, Jesus’ suffering and death was foretold as well.

In Psalm 41:9, we see that Jesus would be betrayed by a close friend.

Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me.

Isaiah 53:4-6 we see that He would suffer for us.

Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

There are so many more signs of God’s love written throughout the Bible, including the promise that one day we will be with Jesus in heaven.

John 14: 1-3, Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Our salvation came as a Babe in a stable. And that truly is the greatest gift even given.

Merry Christmas

Christmas In Delaney Mountain, A Christmas Romantic Suspense novella

Blurb: Kara Edwards has been looking over her shoulder for years. After being kidnapped and held hostage by a man who claimed to be her late husband’s friend, she’s no longer in the trusting business. She moves to Delaney Mountain with one expectation: to outrun her stalker. Never does she expect to meet a man like David Delaney—one who not only makes her want to trust again, but to love again, too. David Delaney is drawn to Kara from the first moment he meets her. There’s an attractive strength behind her no-nonsense caution and independence. He knows Kara is running from something, but nothing prepares him for what she has to say. When Eli Redford escapes from prison, Kara and David find themselves on one side of a Christmas Eve showdown that brings everything to a deadly head.

Mary Alford

www.maryalford.net

Sometimes Technology Can Drive Me Crazy

By Margaret Daley

I’ve never acclaimed I was a technology whiz, but usually I could hold my own, managing the various social media sites, self publishing my books, updating my website and other aspects that a writer needs to do in today’s world of publishing that have nothing to do with writing a story. But recently I’ve been wrestling with my spam program for my website. It’s not working, and I’m swamped with 3000 spam emails during a day. I was upset with the program because it wasn’t working.

Then I realized the real problem is the people who send spam over and over to our emails, websites, blogs, Facebook and anything else we have, especially when I start looking at some of these spam comments left on my website. If they were truly from the people of the merchandise being praised, then how in the world do they think I’ll buy their product when they flood my inbox with emails I never wanted?

And while I’m on a rant how about all the spam calls we get even though your name is on the Do Not Call List. I still get solicitations several times a day!

So other than pulling your hair out, how do you handle all the spam thrown at you all the time?

I wrote this on November 7, the 99^th birthday of the famed evangelist, Billy Graham, and looked back at how his life and words touched not only millions of people throughout the world – but changed my own life.

Decades ago, when I was led to the Billy Graham School of Christian Writing, the spoken words of faculty opened up a whole new world to me and resulted in my career of written words. Almost immediately, I wanted to put my ideas into novels, feeling that fiction was truth in living color.

But… nonfiction was not for me!

No? Look back through the years

1. What about the years in grade school English classes and writing essays? (learning)
2. What about later years of rewriting Sunday school lessons I taught because the writers didn’t verbalize or present the lesson “my way”? (learning about and expressing my voice and faith)

What about the writings I did while “typing” (I didn’t say writing!) my first novel?

1. The Poem – 8 rhyming lines of iambic pentameter published in a small magazine? (I learned I’m not a poet but more importantly expressed my belief about the power of prayer)
2. The Articles – for three months in a take-home publication? (eliminating the unimportant by paring down 2000 words into 500 each week – and seeing my four children’s “antics,” not with frustration, but as material for articles)

What about when that first novel was “returned”? (experienced devastation which led to renewed determination)

1. Began taking college literature classes, one at a time (accepting that the original idea is the beginning of a story, not the end. One doesn’t begin at the top of a profession, but puts in the time and effort and work which leads to success)
2. While revising, interviewed people for newspaper feature articles. (some of these led to their stories being material for characters in novels, i.e. the man who made violins in his basement – my novel in the collection, Music of the Heart)

Non-fiction a sideline? No! Our words are valuable, whatever form they take, whether teaching or reaching… ourselves or others. That has been confirmed more strongly since I was “led” (I hadn’t intended to compile non-fiction books) into stories for the Moments series. When it “happened” I intended only one book. Now there are ten Divine Moments books comprised of themed personal stories in each book, written by multi-published and first-time published authors.

You’re invited to send your stories. Who knows where it might lead? Maybe to an entire family coming to Christ (the result of a story). Or to a novel. Or simply your telling a story meaningful to you. God knows how to use our written words, whether it’s to reach the world or to tell us we need to learn a little more on how to write them. For information about the Moments books, contact me at yvonnelehman3@gmail.com (see www.yvonnelehman.com). 

Gigi Graham’s grandchildren are looking at the pictures in One Wintry Night, written by Gigi’s mother and the children’s great grandmother, Ruth Graham.

In the fourth Christmas Moments book, 41 writers with 51 articles are saying “Merry Christmas” to the world by, again, donating all their royalties to Samaritan’s Purse, an organization providing spiritual and physical aid to hurting people (www.samaritanspurse.org).

The writers of this book share some of their memories of Christmases past that include happiness, joy, lighthearted celebration, family traditions, singular occasions, happy times, trying times… and so much more. In its own way each story illustrates how, no matter what our circumstances, at Christmastime we will find happiness and joy when we decide not to focus on ourselves and instead choose to celebrate Christ’s birth.

If you love stories that express the wonder of Christmas, touch the heart, and stir the emotions, you will love Merry Christmas Moments.

When I was a college English and humanities professor, students sometimes asked questions about my writing life. Some hoped to become writers themselves and asked me how they could achieve their dreams. Here’s a sample of the answers I gave them. This young lady was dual enrolled in high school and college classes, and she was interested in both my writing and my editing work.

Dear Nicole,

Thank you for your nice letter. As a college professor, I love to see high school students thinking seriously about furthering their education in preparation for a career.

Writing books is an enjoyable career that requires four things: grammar and language skills, an active imagination, some life experience, and a broad world view. Add to that the discipline needed to sit alone in front of the computer and hammer out the story, and you can see it’s not an easy job. But the rewards can be tremendous. (At right you can see one of my latest manuscripts, a book in progress, along with Tigger the cat, who likes to edit my work.)

Your grammar in your email is quite good. Keep adding new words to your vocabulary and don’t fall into the bad habit some of my students have of using abbreviations in school papers that should be used only in emails and text messages.

Prime your imagination by jotting down story ideas as they come to you and save them all. Some will be good, some not. Some will inspire stories to write now, and some will be for future use.

Life experience is not limited to adults over 30. It can be anything from a kindergarten memory to a tour of duty in the military to a visit to a grandparent in a nursing home. Experiences give you something to say that will hold the interest of a reader. Write your memories of these meaningful experiences in a journal.

Developing a broad world view means you have studied humankind and learned what motivates people of various races, religions, and ethnicities. This sounds like a lot, but if you continue with your education, these things will come. Pursuing an English major will bring you into contact with many great authors of the past and present. A liberal studies degree will take you into many areas of knowledge. Journalism, history, psychology, and political science are also important areas of study.

In addition, you can begin now by reading great works of literature. My favorites are Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and anything by Jane Austen and Charles Dickens. Leo Tolstoy’s War and Peace, Herman Melville’s Moby Dick, and Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Scarlet Letter all provide windows into the past and inform us about the human condition. Popular fiction of today can be fun to read but might not provide the depth a serious aspiring writer should seek.

You also asked about a career as an editor, of which there are several kinds. If I understand correctly, you were asking about those who purchase authors’ books and guide them all the way to publication. For that career, you’ll need the same skills as an author because you’ll need to know at least as much if not more than the authors writing for you.

Another kind of editor is the copyeditor, which is what I am. That means people send their manuscripts to me to “correct” before they submit their work to editors. I polish the grammar and offer suggestions on characterization and story structure. One literary agent who refers clients to me calls me a book doctor. I like that.

I hope these thoughts are helpful to you. I remember long ago writing to a famous opera singer (I’m not at all famous!) about my aspirations to follow that same career. She wrote me the loveliest letter in response that greatly encouraged me. Although I didn’t become a professional singer, her kindness stayed with me, and I hope this response to you pays it forward just a little.

Blessings,

Professor Louise M. Gouge

If you love Christmas stories, take a look at Cowboy Lawman’s Christmas Reunion. Here’s the story:

Sheriff Justice Gareau can make outlaws quake in their boots…yet coming face-to-face with Evangeline Benoit once again takes away all his composure. She broke their engagement, and his heart, to marry a wealthy older man. Despite his reluctance, Justice can’t avoid the widowed single mother of two when they’re collaborating on a Christmas village for the town’s children.

The loving boy Evangeline once knew has become an unyielding lawman. Forced to flee New Orleans over false allegations, Evie doubts Justice will take her side when the past follows her to Colorado. Especially when he and her troublesome son butt heads. But perhaps the spirit of Christmas will soften his heart and give them a second chance at love. Copyright © 2017 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited, Cover art and cover copy text used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises. ® and ™ Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license