Author: Betty Owens

Christian writer of historical fiction and general fiction.

Adrift In Open Water

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens4 Comments

My tenth novel–Open Water, Book Two of the HomeFound Suspense series–will be released March 12, 2024. You can preorder it right now.

Preorder Open Water

As much as Lisa Oliver wanted to believe that she could be safe in the small Kentucky village, she knew that wouldn’t be the case when Agent Farrow’s car pulled next to the school where she had been working. They’d found her again? Who was stalking her and why?

Jake Bradley uses his widely popular “Jake on the Road” articles to help him continue to follow leads into Lisa’s past, but he didn’t expect the people whom he spoke with to be attacked and killed. How could he possibly protect this woman who had become so important to him when he so miserably failed at learning about her past and why someone had killed her parents?

So many secrets whirl around in this second chronicle of the Home Found series. Lisa and Jake learn more about her past, and about each other, in this dramatic suspense.

Long Awaited. Yes, many of my readers have wondered, “When can we expect book two?” In fact, I was wondering, too. Confession time: I’m not a fast writer. I’m not really even a consistent writer. If the story is building and I have the entire thing ready to write, I can sit for long hours and type, type, type. I love those times. But there are other times, when I have to work things out, research facts, and rearrange timing for the best flow, etc. It’s time consuming. Distractions come to whisk me away.

What’s the story? If you have read Still Water (Book One), you will be happy to know book two continues the journey for Lisa Oliver and her handsome friend, Jake Bradley.

What’s with the water theme? In Still Water, we learn that Lisa is troubled by recurring nightmares. Not only that, but she has a deeply-rooted fear of water. She’s not sure why. The nightmare is her only clue.

Still Water

No spoilers here (not yet, anyway). If you have not read book one, now is a good time to do that. The Kindle version of Still Water is on sale for only 99 cents – for a limited time. You’ll find more information about the book and a handy buy link here.

You may have found this blog post in your email, if you are following my blog. Thanks so much for following, by the way. Or, maybe you’re on my newsletter list. However you found it, thank you so much for reading. I hope you will buy and enjoy the books. If you do enjoy reading them, please consider leaving a review. Good reviews help writers sell books. 🙂

All right, dear readers, if you made it this far, I’d like to ask you a question. Please leave a comment with your answer to be entered in a drawing for a $5 Amazon Gift Card. Here’s the question: In Open Water, what was Lisa doing when Agent Farrow found her?

Please stay in touch–I would like to invite you to my Facebook author page, Twitter, GoodReads, Pinterest, Instagram, Amazon Author Page

A Life Well Lived

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens2 Comments

Betty Joan Christy Thomason (known as Chris) died Friday, October 6, 2023, after an illness. She was 89 years old. Chris was born December 21, 1933, in Henrietta, Oklahoma, to parents, Henry Earl and Audrie Christy.

The family later moved to Seattle, Washington, where she grew up and later met a young sailor named Tom Thomason. They were married 55 years, had three children, and moved often. Chris worked for several years at ITT Kellogg in Milan, Tennessee, and held various other jobs in other cities along the way. She finally settled into a permanent position as her husband’s administrative assistant for his insurance agency.

An encourager who always put others before herself, Chris sent cards and letters over the years to friends and family. She was best known by her grandchildren for her excellent cookies. She always made sure there were plenty in advance of their visits. She loved animals, especially cats, and loved taking long walks in the woods.

She loved to read and frequented the local libraries wherever she lived. When she could no longer visit the libraries, books became her preferred gift. If you visited her small apartment, you would be surrounded by those books.

Most of all, Chris loved her family. When her hearing loss became profound and she had difficulty hearing on the phone, she learned to text so she could stay in touch. She never missed an opportunity to say, “I love you.”

Chris was preceded in death by her sister, Earlene Tallman, husband, Thomas Dean Thomason, and eldest granddaughter, Kristy. She is survived by a half-brother, Rick Alonzo, of Bonner’s Ferry, Idaho, her son, Michael (Marta) Thomason, daughter, Betty (Robert) Owens, and son, Edward (Phyllis) Thomason, along with five grandchildren, Philip (Yulanda), Matthew (Leigh Ann), and Todd (April) Owens, Crystal Thomason, and Erik (Cindy) Thomason, and great-grandchildren, Isabele, Emily, Sophie, Teghan, Thomas, Elijah, and Lily Owens. Also, her nieces and nephews, Norma, Judy, Teresa, David, and Elyce.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

1 Corinthians 13:7

There will be a memorial service held in her honor on Saturday, October 14, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., in the chapel at Eastside Praise, 6300 Billtown Road, Louisville KY 40291. 11-11:45 Visit with Family & Service at Noon.

The Visitor in Shelbyville, Kentucky

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens, The Visitor Mysteries, Write Integrity Press

We are just a day away from the release of The Visitor Has a Ball, set in the beautiful Saddlehorse Capital of the World–Shelbyville, Kentucky. Surrounded by rolling hills, beautiful rivers and streams, wide pastures dotted with gorgeous horses, Shelbyville is one of my favorite places to visit. It’s a bustling small town east of my home in Louisville.

Drew Lindner’s character eased into my imagination with a low, Kentucky drawl. He’s handsome, intelligent, good-humored, and strong (I was thinking a young Michael Weatherly, aka Anthony DiNozzo of NCIS fame). He’s polite. Ready to help with whatever needs to be done. So, who in their right mind would ever suspect him of committing a crime?

Who, indeed. You’ll need to read the book to find out for sure. It will be available tomorrow–Friday, July 14–on Kindle, and also in print. See details below.

Click to Order

Samantha Carr is still convicted, after nearly a year, for leaving her newly-widowed mother to live alone nearly an hour away. And now she’s also unsure of the handyman that Mom has hanging around the place.

So when her late father’s office is burgled and a valuable heirloom goes missing, Samantha enlists the help of her world-traveling Aunt Connie to help her set things right.

She didn’t realize what tensions that would cause and the secrets it would expose. Until someone wanted the snooping to stop . . .

Match wits with The Visitor as she unearths an unexpected thief.

The Visitor Has a Ball

On By Betty OwensIn Betty Thomason Owens, The Visitor Mysteries, Write Integrity Press

The latest installment in The Visitor Mysteries releases Friday, July 14. And the author is…me! Here’s a short introduction from my main character, Samantha Carr:

A churning sensation in my stomach threatened to steal my appetite. Nerves—it’s just nerves. That’s what Mom always used to say right before my piano recital in third grade, or ahead of the final game in the softball tournament. Nerves.

Mom had always calmed my nerves. Talked me through troubled waters. Until my dad passed. Suddenly. Mom spiraled down into a deep valley of grief. Now, it was my turn to offer emotional support. How goes it so far? Not well. Not well at all.

So, when I heard my Aunt Connie was planning a fundraising gala in our small town, I had a great idea. Why not invite her to stay at Mom’s? Mom loves her youngest sister. Although, she and most of her siblings initially balked when Aunt Connie took over as head of the family business. I never understood their objections, but perhaps I was too young. “There is a lot of history involved,” Mom said. And closed mouths, at least where the younger generation was concerned.

Read more tomorrow–right here!

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Just Kidding Around

On By Betty OwensIn novella, The Visitor Mysteries

The Visitor Series continues with a heartwarming suspense story that … well, here’s my recent review:

The moment I opened this book, I knew I was in trouble. It reminded me of a favorite short story by O. Henry–The Ransom of Red Chief, with a little “Home Alone” tossed in for good measure. I raised three sons, so maybe that’s the reason I enjoyed the story so much. Dena Netherton has a way with gripping suspense and quirky, mean characters. As a reader, you don’t like them (the bad guys). Don’t like their looks or what they’re doing, but can’t stop reading until justice is served. Netherton tied this one up in an oh, so satisfying way.

Yep. Loved it. Deliciously hateful bad guys dealt with in a satisfying manner. Altogether pleasant summertime read.

–Betty

How do baby goats, ugly graffiti, and a would-be hero add up to a kidnapping? Connie B. Wright intends to find out.

Skye Wright has been running Our Kids for several years and is delighted that her Aund Connie comes to attend the fundraiser that Skye and her volunteers have planned. This will create crucial funding to carry the children’s home for another year, not to mention some much-needed repairs.

The repair list grows when an unknown vandal paints mean comments along one wall. But the minor annoyance turns to deep concern as vandalism becomes accompanied by actual threats.

Why would someone target a children’s shelter?

Match wits with The Visitor as she works to uncover the person behind a series of dangerous crimes.

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