Category: fiction

Behold, I Am Doing a New Thing …

On By Betty OwensIn A Dozen Apologies, Behold, contest, fiction, I Am Doing a New Thing, Love Boat Bachelor, Romance, Write Integrity Press

As this posts, I am in the midst of another book release. If you were part of last year’s Valentine’s Day release of A Dozen Apologies, you will be familiar with the process–Write Integrity Press releases a chapter a day. When all the chapters are released, we invite you (the reader) to vote on your favorite chapter. Last year, in A Dozen Apologies, you voted for a hero. This year, you’ll vote for your favorite heroine.

And you won’t know who the author is until the winner is announced.

Sound like fun? This year’s story, The Love Boat Bachelor, is a sequel to Mara’s story in A Dozen Apologies. Brent Teague didn’t win Mara’s heart. Remember him? He was the minister who met up with our repentant heroine while she was dressed in a turkey costume. Yes, you guessed it, he was her November apology.

This year, we catch up to Brent, dejected, disappointed, and ready for a change. When an offer comes from an old friend, Brent’s sister urges him to accept. Take a chance. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. Get out there! So Brent agrees to a two-week stint as a chaplain on board a cruise ship. But all is not as it seems, of course.

The adventure begins January 26, 2015. You can go to the website and read the first two chapters (see links below). Bookmark that website, so you can return there every week day (we take a break on weekends) until all eight chapters are posted … and then … you can vote for your favorite.


Shirley Kiger Connolly – Authorview

On By Betty OwensIn author, award-winning, civil war, fiction, mystery, RONE, RWA, Shirley Kiger Connolly - Authorview


Nickname or “wannabe” name If you don’t have a nickname, you can choose one you’d like, that tells us a little bit about who you are:
When my sister and I were young we used to trade pretend names: Mergatroyd Glutchensnable and Thusneld Burpsack (can you believe it). I don’t think I’d use one of them these days.
I am (what you do): Often scatterbrained (call those “Shirley-Days”)
My best trait: Hmm, there are so many (hardly)
My bad habit: Scratching
Qualities I admire: Humor over Criticism
What I like to read: Human Interest stories and feature stuff about people
What I write: words mostly
What I watch: Classic Movies and Nicholas Sparks movies. I could watch The Notebook a million times.
My family: My immediate family is very close
My favorite food, snack, or beverage: Mexican food, Good n Plenties, Icewater with lime and sugar (not all at the same time)
What I love to do: buy shoes, decorate, fix big fancy dinners (only occasionally)
What I admire: positive people
What makes me happy: being a Christian and having a family that loves me
What makes me sad: negative family members and people that make fun of the Lord
I believe: the Lord is coming soon for me and those who love Him

Shirley’s Bio:
Shirley Kiger Connolly, daughter of a 1940s mystery writer, enjoys penning historical fiction romances and books filled with lighthearted devotions and reflections. Shirley majored in English and Journalism, later joining the graduates of ICL. Shirley was blessed to discover her first Decisions historical romance, Say Goodbye to Yesterday, won 2ndplace in the RWA Ida Awards contest. Her second Decisions book, That Impossible Dream finaled in the Carolyn Readers Choice contest and was also selected as a RONE nominee. Her third Decisions book, Second Time Promise just recently won Fourth Place in This year’s OKRWA- IDA contest. She and her husband reside and minister together in Central-South Texas. Readers can visit her anytime on her blog, http://apenforyourthoughts.blogspot.com, at her Author Page on Facebook, http://facebook.com/shirleykigerconnollyauthoror over on Twitter http://twitter.com/shirleyhere
Shirley’s latest release:
Not Quite An Angel
Sir Geoffrey Wentworth thought he knew every alluring woman in San Francisco by now, until on the night before his return to England he meets and is mesmerized by the mysterious Lady Delphia, the daughter of a French Marquis. Not only has she appeared out of nowhere, she unwittingly steals his heart.

When Sir Geoffrey tries to learn more about this irresistible lady of the night, the two are caught in the middle of a severe San Francisco earthquake. Sir Geoffrey soon learns this woman of mystery is no daughter of a marquis, at all, but is the younger sister of a simple country parson, and already engaged to be married.

If there is anything the honorable Sir Geoffrey Wentworth, 2nd son to the Viscount of Salisbury cannot abide is being duped by a woman.

Any of Shirley’s books can be purchased at both online and print bookstores here or at her publisher’s website: here. Readers can also find Shirley’s Civil War romance here.

 

Jennifer Hallmark – Authorview

On By Betty OwensIn ACFW, author, fiction, Jennifer Hallmark - Authorview, Scribes, Southern, writer, Writing Prompts


I met Jennifer Hallmark on the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Scribes loop. After working together for a while, she invited me to become a co-writer on a blog she’d started with another member of the Scribes loop, Writing Prompts &Thoughts & Ideas…Oh My! She wanted to inspire writers with her blog. She’s done that and more. 
I hope you enjoy her answers to my “Authorview” questions…
 
Nickname or “wannabe” nameIf you don’t have a nickname, you can choose one you’d like, that tells us a little bit about who you are: Never really had a nickname, but how about Eowyn? I loved her in Lord of the Rings…
I am: Too serious.
My best trait:Persistence.
My bad habit: Overplanning.
Qualities I admire:Honesty, being real.
What I like to read:Fantasy, 1920’s mysteries.
What I write: Southern fiction, fantasy.
What I watch: Sports, competitive reality television, shows about geniuses like Elementary, Scorpion, and Numbers.
My family: loves me for who I am.
My favorite food, snack, or beverage: hot tea, pretzels, dark chocolate Milky Ways.
What I love to do:Read, enjoy time with family and friends.
What I admire: People who are real.
What makes me happy:God, family, music.
What makes me sad:Sickness, death.
I believe: That God has a plan and purpose for everyone, a hope and a future.

Jennifer’s Bio

Writer by nature, artist at heart, and daughter of God by His grace. Jennifer loves to read detective fiction from the Golden Age, watch movies like LOTR, and play with her two precious granddaughters. At times, she writes.With over 160 articles on the internet, her attention has moved to southern fiction.

Her first book was published in early 2014, a multi-authored Romantic Comedy novella, for Valentine’s Day called A Dozen Apologies. She is currently shopping her YA series, “Journey of Grace”, and a contemporary southern fiction novel, “When Wedding and Weather Collide.”

Jennifer’s website is Alabama-Inspired Fiction and she shares a writer’s reference blog, Writing Prompts & Thoughts & Ideas…Oh My! with several other writers. She and Christina Rich share an encouraging blog for readers called The Most Important Thing.
Jennifer and her husband, Danny, have spent their married life in Alabama and have a basset hound, Max.

Sweet Freedom A La Mode 
Buy Link

For some, the fourth of July is a celebration of freedom; for others it is a reminder of bondage. Of pain. Of fear. Of hopelessness. But there is a hope that is deeper, a love that is truer, and a freedom that no one can ever snatch away.
How can one take a step toward that freedom when the road appears shrouded with insecurities and doubts? These pages contain numerous stories: a woman longing to start again but bound by the failures of her past; a young man who, upon reaching adulthood, must face his fears of death; a woman offered a chance of true love but held back by crippling insecurities.
Is God even there? Does He care…enough to reach down and pull these men and women from the messes they’ve landed in, some of them by their own hand?
Freedom. Peace-saturated, joy-infusing freedom.
We pray our stories demonstrate what it looks like in the day-to-day…and provide a little insight into how one grabs hold of that treasured state of heart and mind.

Deanna Klingel – Authorview

On By Betty OwensIn author, biography, Deanna Klingel - Authorview, fiction, historical, Interview, literature, writer, YA
Deanna Klingel

 

I am: Deanna but you could call me Jan Karon if you’d like.

My best trait:I’m totally transparent.

My bad habit: I’m totally transparent.

Qualities I admire:Integrity

What I like to read:Good literature, especially historical fiction well-written

What I write:Everything; short stories, picture books, middle grade historical fiction, YA nonfiction biography and fiction

What I watch:You mean on TV? Uh, sometimes I watch the listings scrolling. The first of the year I’ll watch Downton Abbey.

My family: My husband Dave (married 52 years), our seven children and their spouses and our eleven grandchildren and one great grand, and my mom, 92 years.

My favorite food, snack, or beverage: I like eggs. I love Coke. 

What I love to do:be with my dog, write, read, walk

What I admire:Selfless acts and kindness

What makes me happy:Getting up each day, going to bed every night and everything in between.

What makes me sad:Some of what happens in between

I believe: the words I profess in the Nicene Creed 

Betty: Thanks, Deanna. Some of your answers left me giggling. 

For more information, keep reading!

Deanna’s Bio:
Deanna K. Klingel was raised in a small town in Michigan. She left for college, married, and spent the next twenty years moving every two years with her IBM husband Dave. Their family grew with each move. They eventually settled in Atlanta with their seven children where they put down roots for nineteen years. The children grew up, left home, and Dave retired. They moved to the quiet mountains of western North Carolina. It was here, in the quiet remote setting that Deanna returned to her love of writing, and began the life of a writer.

Her books include Beth’s Backyard Friends, and Rebecca & Heart, both eBooks on Storyrealm.com, and published award-winning short   stories that can be read on her website. Other published books are Just for the Moment: The Remarkable Gift of the Therapy Dog, (Dog Ear Publishing, Oct 2010); Avery’s Battlefield, (Journey Forth BJU Press, March 2011); Avery’s Crossroad, (Journey Forth BJU Press, Sept 2011; Bread Upon the Water, (Rafka Press, spring 2011.) Cracks   in the Ice, (Write Integrity, Oct. 2012.) Deanna writes primarily for young adults.


Discover more about Deanna here:
 http://www.booksbydeanna.com/
Cracks in the Ice, by Deanna Klingel

“We skate deliberately over the wide dangerous cracks, where lesser skaters might fall and never recover …”

Gina Mangalli, niece of a mafia don, has dreams of Olympic gold as a figure skater. When tragedy strikes, her life spins out of control, and then a rash decision changes Gina’s life forever.

The burden of guilt causes a spiral that carries her further from the life she had always dreamed for herself. Have things gone too far? Can her hopes and dreams be restored or is it too late? 

Ruth O’Neil – Authorview

On By Betty OwensIn fiction, freelance writer, Houghton College, publication, publishing, Ruth O'Neil - Authorview, Upstate New York2 Comments
Ruth O’Neil
I am: I have been a freelance writer for more than 20 years, publishing hundreds of articles in dozens of publications as well as a few books. I enjoy helping others of all ages make their publishing dreams come true. I was born and raised in upstate New York and attended Houghton College. When I’m not writing or homeschooling, I spend my spare time quilting, reading, scrapbooking, camping, and hiking with the family.

My best trait: Organized   

My bad habit: Oh, do I only have to mention one? Or any at all? Ok, if I have to mention one, it might be starting projects, but not finishing them. But, then there’s the sarcasm thing…

Qualities I admire: Punctuality, respect, prayer warriors, dependability

What I like to read: fiction, I like to escape to other worlds.

What I write: mainly fiction

What I watch: I don’t watch a lot of TV/movies, but I like the classics and shows on the retro channel.

My family: Husband of 23 years, 3 kids, a son-in-law, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, grandparents, parents…there’s a lot of us.

My favorite food, snack, or beverage: Chocolate is always good, but then I like something salty. Pepsi is my guilty pleasure. Then there are days I have to hit the “hard stuff” – CAFFEINATED Pepsi

What I love to do: Read, write, quilt, go camping

What I admire: People who are more disciplined than I am.

What makes me happy: Spending time with my family and hearing from my readers.

What makes me sad: Lack of sunshine

I believe: I believe God gave me the ability to write and that every experience I have is an opportunity for writing in some way, some day.

Thanks, Ruth! Here’s more about Ruth and her writing—

Ruth’s Bio:

Ruth O’Neil has been a freelance writer for more than 20 years. She sees everything as a writing opportunity in disguise, whether it is an interesting character, setting, or situation. When she’s not writing or homeschooling her kids, Ruth spends her time quilting, reading, scrapbooking, camping and hiking with her family.
Ruth’s Contact Links:


Belonging 
by Ruth O’Neil

After the death of her father, painfully shy and introverted Shelly finds her world turned upside down. She is forced to speak with people and she may even have to move from her comfortable apartment. Sorting through her father’s possessions at his house brings back many memories, including how they would research her mom’s genealogy so that in a way, she could get to know her mother’s family, who are all deceased. Shelly wonders why her dad never researched his own family and she never remembers any family events. Why? She begins a journey that takes her to places she never dreamed. Throughout the entire story, God nudges Shelly to get out of her comfort zone. That’s easy for some, but for Shelly it may almost be impossible.

Buy Links:               Amazon                    Ruth’s website link