Cover Design Poll ... and a Chance to Win an Amazon Gift Card!

UPDATE:  GIFT CARD WINNER IS SHIRLEY STRAIT! Shirley, please contact me through my website with your email address and I will send you the Amazon gift card.

Hi there, all you artsy types! Lee Tobin McClain here, in dire need of help with cover design.

I’m very lucky to write for Love Inspired, whose cover artists are amazing. But I also write and publish an independent series, which means I have to create the cover concept myself. Oh, I have a wonderful cover artist who puts it all together, and lately, I get some professional help with finding the right cover model. But I’m still prone to this kind of disaster: 

The cover I liked....

The cover EVERYONE else liked

Right now, I’m working on a romantic suspense series. Book one, a Memorial Day stalker story, is here, and my readers already let me know I chose the wrong cover pose. They love heroic, protective Chad, but they don't like the turned back. 

On sale for 99 cents... just a few more days!

So, please vote:  which pose is better for my next romantic suspense novel? 

Let's call this "Man Striding"

And this is "Man with Axe"

A couple more optional things to comment on, if you have time, in relation to ROMANTIC SUSPENSE COVERS:  

(a) Hero on cover, or just a landscape?

(b) Smiling or serious?

(c) Beard or no beard? 

I'll choose a random commenter at the end of the month (which is Sunday!) and gift you a $10 Amazon gift card for your trouble. Thank you so much for your help! Remember, the main question is:  Man Striding vs. Man with an Axe.

Capitol K-9 Unit Series and Prayers for Houston

Terri Reed here on this gloomy day here in Oregon. I've been watching the news this morning with a heavy heart over the flooding of Houston. I'm praying that lives are not lost. This has been a strange year for weather.  Here in Oregon we didn't have a winter.  Usually we have a few days or weeks of freezing cold but this year the weather stayed mild while other parts of the country were hit with blizzards or droughts. We supposedly had record rains here in March but it didn't seem that much different to me than any other year.

On another note, the Love Inspired Suspense continuity Capitol K-9 Unit is doing well. The first three books have been released and the fourth will be released next week. If you haven't had a chance to read them, they are still available on the Harlequin website or on Amazon.  You can search the sites by author name or by title to find the books.


Protective Instincts, Shirlee McCoy, March 2015,

Duty Bound Guardian, Terri Reed, April 2015 

 Trail of Evidence, Lynette Eason, May 2015

 Security Breach, Margaret Daley, June 2015

 Detecting Danger, Valerie Hansen, July 2015

 

Proof of Innocence, Lenora Worth, August 2015

Crazy Days!

Allie Pleiter here.  This past week was a crazy/happy/busy one for me!

Last Friday I had the honor to accept the RT Reviewer’s Choice Award for Best Love Inspired Novel at the Romantic Times Booklovers Convention in Dallas TX.  My book A Heart to Heal earned the distinction.  

I love a celebration, so I made the most of it, getting all dressed up and having a splendid evening with my friend and fellow nominee Lenora Worth.  Often our lives as writers are quiet and solitary, so the chance to get out and celebrate with friends is a welcome event for this raging extrovert!  It’s always nice to have our work recognized, isn’t it?  Congrats also go to other LI author recipients Janet Lee Barton and Jodie Bailey.

From one extreme to the other—I spent the next night visiting my new friends (four-legged and otherwise) at the Lucky B Bison Ranch in Bryan, TX.  The owners and I have become friends since I started researching my upcoming Blue Thorn Ranch series which will debut next year.  From evening gown galas to bison ranch pastures—I have the best job ever, don’t I?

Then I shifted again, this time to Austin TX to help my son move out of his University of Texas freshman year dorm and come home for the summer.  A large, tedious job made better by outstanding meals upon our return to Dallas for the flight home: barbecue, fried chicken, and pie.  You know how I love pie.  Pie makes everything better (and yes, yes it did).

Now life has calmed down.  I’m back in Illinois working away on the Lone Star Cowboy League continuity series that comes out this fall and a second Blue Thorn Ranch book for next year.  My diet had better calm down, too, although turkey breast and rye crackers can’t compare to all the Texan goodies I enjoyed!

Gail Gaymer Martin's Small Town Series

Good morning from Gail Gaymer Martin on this lovely spring day. If you enjoy cooking and recipes stop by my website for Gail's Kitchen. If you're a writer, you can check out Writing Fiction blog, and I hope you are a reader since you can peruse my Books.

I've enjoyed writing for Love Inspired for the past fifteen years. They've A Mother To Love is now available at bookstores on the Internet and soon to be in bookstores and places like published many of my
 novels, some out of print so long that you've probably never read them. One was a seven book series. But this book if from a new a new series I call Lilac Circle, a fictitious cul de sac street in a real small town of Owosso, Michigan.

Each romance revolves around one of the residence of Lilac Circle so readers will get to know the neighbors and perhaps try to guess whose story will be next. In October (or the last of September) you'll be able to read A Husband For Christmas. 

I'm working on the proposal for the next books in the series, and I decided to let you tell me what you might enjoy experiencing in this little town which has many interesting features and yearly events to provide special places to set scenes.  Here are a few spots I haven't used in the novel.  Tell me what would be fun to read about:

This is a real castle once owned by James Oliver Curwood, an author in the 1920s. His books were popular and many were made into movies. He worked in his castle much of his life, and each year the town holds the Curwood Festival which is a fund raiser decided each year for various needs, and it can be rented for special occasions.

A popular event at Christmas time in the Corruna Parade of Lights and Festival of Trees. Corruna is another small town connected to Owosso. The parade begins early evening as it leads the people of both towns to the Community Center where they enjoy over forty amazing decorated Christmas Trees as well as other fun events for the family. Musical events are also offered during that time in both cities.

This town is filled with many other events and if you look up the tourist information about the town you will find more interesting events and locations to set scenes. Leave a comment with your ideas. We love to hear from you.

I'm Late for a Very Important Date by Leann Harris

Okay, Okay, I didn't look at the calendar and missed by date to post, which was yesterday, but as the White Rabbit in Alice in Wonderland said, "I'm late." It's been a busy week, combined with falling in love with my first granddaughter. I never thought I'd go so goofy over a grandbaby, but I was wrong. Having been a deaf educator, I know all the stages of how babies learn to speak. They start to babble and then hear themselves and repeat what they are hearing. Echo babble it's called and that's what my little girl is doing. I didn't appreciate it when my kids were young, but I was running as fast I could to keep up with them. Now, I can just visit and notice how she's changed. She wasn't smiling in the picture, but both sets of grandparents were.

Now, my hair is a bit short, but I had minor surgery to fix my scalp, but I'm well. After going through the cancer, I want to thank Heaven for this this new life and my health. On another note, I have a book out next month, with two little charming boys driving that book who want to be cowboys and love the rodeo cowboy who shows up at their ranch.

My Son the Author

Pamela Tracy here.  Or, you can call me Mike's Mom.  That's what Mike's classmates call me.
And I'm not the only author in the Tracy family.

Mike, my ten-year-old, wrote me a mother's day poem!

                                                  "I Love You the Reddest"

(That's what the outside said, but I opened the card)

I love you with all all my heart.  I love you as a red rose.  I love you as red as your heart.  I love you as red as blood.  I love you as red as a marker, crayon, colored pencil, paint, sharpie, and Expo marker.  I love you as much as red popcorn.  I love you more than a red shirt.  I love you red as a bike, scooter, skateboard, and I love you most when I'm in your arms.

He also drew me with only one chin!

And, note the plant can he made me at school.  I'm a SOUPER mom.

I'm so glad I decided not to be a super/souper hero or rock star (my other choices).
Mom is much better.

Last month, Mike's mom had an April Love Inspired romance on the shelf.
It's the first in a trilogy.

Next month, Mike's mom has a Harlequin Heartwarming on the shelf.
It's number four of five.

How was your Mother's Day?

Writing A Small Town Series

Hi!  Winnie Griggs here.  This month the sixth book in my Texas Grooms series hit the shelves.  When I wrote the first book in this series, Handpicked Husband, I hadn't really intended to go past four.  But as I wrote these first four books, some of the secondary characters that popped up really captured my imagination and made me itch to tell their stories.  At the moment I plan to have ten total books before I wrap it up.

These books are tied together by community - they are all set in the fictional town of Turnabout, Texas with, of course, a common set of secondary characters. They are standalone stories and can actually be read in any order.  But trying to set so many stories in the same town can become a nightmare from the perspective of keeping up with characters, landmarks and town layout.

And, since I'm a visual person, I came up with a couple of documents to help me do this.  The first is a town map I drew up, and that I update with each book as I reference new areas of town or different businesses.  Here is what it looks like.

The second document I created contains the main characters, by book, including important dates.  It looks like this:

Having both of these documents handy when I'm writing new books in the series has really saved me lots of time, and prevented potential mistakes, as I write.

So what do you think?  Would these documents be of interest to readers who follow this series?  Is there other information that you as a reader would like to see all in one place like this?

And in honor of the release of Second Chance Hero this week, I'd like to give away a copy to someone who leaves a comment on this post today.

Winning the Widow's Heart 

To help his dying sister, Nate Cooper once broke the law and paid a heavy price for his actions. Now the ex-con turned saddler hopes for a quiet life and new beginning in Turnabout, Texas. Being declared a hero for saving a child’s life, however,  leaves Nate feeling like a fraud. 

Since the violent death of her husband, single mom Verity Leggett has attempted to lead a safe life, avoiding danger and excitement at all costs. And her daughter's handsome rescuer Mr. Cooper seems like a perfectly responsible man, one she can finally rely on. 

When his secrets come to light, however, will Verity be able to get over his past and see Nate for the caring man he's become? 

Don't Forget Mother's Day May 10th

Terri Reed here gearing up for Mother's Day.  My mom lives several hundred miles away from me and I'm not able to make it to see her so I sent her one of her favorites, a Harry and David Chicken Pot Pie.
If you're looking for a nice Mother's Day gift check out this collection of 22 Inspirational stories and recipes by some of your favorite inspirational authors.

http://amzn.to/1GXezZY

Happy Mother's Day to all the mother's out there!  May God bless you and your family's.

Still on sale and would also make a lovely gift :-)

http://www.amazon.com/Duty-Bound-Guardian-Capitol-Unit/dp/0373446608

Love Inspired at the Library

My name is Keli Gwyn, and I love libraries. I have a hunch I'm not alone.

Since the author copies of my first Love Inspired Historical, Family of Her Dreams, arrived recently, I'm busy thinking of ways to spread the word about my story.

Promotion can be fun, especially when it involves giving away copies to eager readers. (Heads up! I'll be offering an autographed print copy two different times next month when I post here at Love Inspired Authors.)

Since Family of Her Dreams is set here in California's Gold Country where I live, I'm sure local folks would find it interesting. But how can I get the book into their hands?

I asked myself where avid readers hang out. The answer was easy: at the library.

When my debut novel released, our local library was happy to add copies of my book to their shelves. A Bride Opens Shop in El Dorado, California was a full-size trade paperback, so they had no trouble accepting it. I wasn't sure if they would accept copies of my LIH, though.

Having learned that it doesn't hurt to ask, I marched into the library with a copy of my shiny new book in hand. I asked the librarian who oversees their author events if they would shelve copies if I were to donate them.

To my surprise, the answer was yes! It turns out they have a new section just for the smaller mass-market paperbacks. Of course I had to visit the section and see if I could spot any Love Inspired titles

Sure enough I did! Sherri Shackleford's August 2014 release, The Cattleman Meets His Match, was on the shelf. There are several more Love Inspired titles in the collection, but they were all checked out.

Now that I know my library carries the LI titles, I'll be donating copies of those I've read so others can enjoy them as well. The more readers we can introduce to Love Inspired, the better, right?

Does your local library shelve books from the Love Inspired lines?

Copyright © 2015 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
Cover Art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited
® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited
or its affiliated companies, used under license.

Posting Late! (And Prom)

Missy Tippens, here. I'm sorry I missed my post day on Friday. But there's still one day left in the weekend! :)

It's been an exciting weekend. My daughter had her senior prom! Saturday night I got to go take photos of my daughter and her friends. I'm thankful they don't mind us moms (and dads) tagging along for pictures! Since she and a couple of her friends were also on prom court, we got to go to the dance to take photos. It was fun to get to see them all dancing. And since other parents were there as well, I guess I wasn't too much of an embarrassment. :)

It's hard to believe my "baby" (the youngest of three kids) is a senior. No more dances or dance photos. No more school field trips to chaperone. No more sleepovers with lots of girls giggling in the other room.

It's going to be a lot quieter around here for my husband and me. I'd love to hear suggestions on how to deal with an empty nest.

I shared this photo on one of my other blogs the other day. My daughter and I bought it. It'll be her morning reminder to call home! ;)

One thing to look forward to this fall will be more time to write! But for now, I'm excited to announce my new release that just came out from Love Inspired!

The Doctor's Second Chance

The Bachelor's Baby 

Jake West's troubled cousin leaves him with a most unusual parting gift—her newborn baby girl! And now the small-town contractor is forced to seek help from the very woman he resents—the new big-city pediatrician who practically stole his uncle's practice, Violet Crenshaw. Violet knows she shouldn't be consorting with the enemy. But she can't resist the adorable baby and her handsome new caretaker. Violet traded her chance at motherhood for her career years ago. But raising a family with Jake could be everything she's ever wanted.

Click here to read an excerpt!

www.missytippens.com

Summer . . . a time to READ!

Hey everyone! Lee Tobin McClain here to talk about summer reading . . . and to tell you about a great deal!

What's your favorite spot for summertime reading? Most people talk about beach reading, but for me, I love taking a book along on a camping trip. I can hang out for hours in a camp chair, just reading.

Because we love summer reading, some writer friends and I decided put together a collection of books with summertime themes. Our books are all very different, but they're all Christian romance novels and they are all set in summer. And we're selling them for a low price--only 99 cents!

Preorder now, get it May 19th!

Check out the book descriptions below, grab your favorite lawn chair, and kick back . . . it's (almost) summertime!

Come to Me Alive, a celebrity-meets-small-town-charm romance by Leah Atwood 
Bryce Landry and Sophie Thatcher are two strangers, opposite in every way, until a chance encounter brings them together. Neither can deny the pull between them, but as the weeks and months pass, they discover that finding each other was easy, but holding on will be a different story. 

Wild Mint Tea, a farm-living romance by Valerie Comer 
Local foods chef Claire Halford hosts weddings on Green Acres Farm, but the first bride comes with a ruggedly handsome brother. Noel Kenzie’s reforestation company provides him the means to enjoy a globe-trotting life... until he's captivated by a certain chef who's firmly rooted in one place. 

Catching Serenity, a beach romance with a twist by JoAnn Durgin 
Serenity McClaren's world collapsed five years ago and she returns to South Carolina to find the answers. Child psychologist Jackson Ross discovers the truth, but by telling her, he risks losing everything—including Serenity—in this heartwarming Christian romance novel. 

Marrying Kate, a marriage-of-convenience romance by Kimberly Rae Jordan 
When Jared proposes marriage to Kate, it’s for the sake of their orphaned nieces and nephew. Though Kate hopes for more, their chance at love is threatened when Jared’s past comes to call. 

The Bride's Broken Bond, a runaway-bride romance by Lee Tobin McClain 
Urban missionary Rock Anderson must rescue the woman he’s always found annoying but irresistible, spoiled rich girl Hope DeMille, from a wedding she doesn’t want. But when her domineering father disowns her, it’s up to Rock to help Hope overcome her dysfunctional past and find meaning in service, faith, and love. 

The Long Way Home, an opposites-attract romance by Staci Stallings 
Sent from Chicago to his grandfather’s backroads Kansas farm on family business, Jaxton Anderson is faced with culture shock and Ami Martin, and he’s not sure which one is worse. Ami hates him and so does most everyone else, so why can’t he just go back where he came from? 

Where Do You Get Your Ideas by Marta Perry

If there's one question writers dread, it's this one: Where do you get your ideas? The problem isn't that we don't know the answer--rather, that it's so difficult to explain the answer to someone who doesn't see the world in the same way we do. (I was tempted to say, "the same screwy way" but didn't!) I understand that Speculative Fiction authors get a even more difficult question--where do you get your crazy ideas?! One well-known author is rumored to answer that--"Why, from a crazy idea factory in Schenectady, of course!"

This weekend I had a terrific example of this from my ten-year-old granddaughter. We were having hot chocolate in Barnes and Noble after book browsing when she whispered, "Don't look around, but I think that man and lady just got bad news."

Exercising super-human effort not to look, I asked, "Why do you think so?"

Georgia answered, "Because he was looking at his e-mail, and his face got real tight, and then it turned red. And he said something to the lady, and she looked like she was going to cry."

Doesn't it raise questions in your mind? A writer friend, to whom I told this story, suggested that we write the story so we could find out what news the man received! Okay--that's how a writer looks at life, and I expect in a few years, the world will be hearing from our Georgia.

So that's the real answer to the question. There are story nuggets all around us every day, but only a writer notices them and starts weaving a story from them.

If you're not a writer and want to know what it feels like, I'd suggest spending a day just really noticing the people and events around you. Let yourself wonder, the way a child does. Give your imagination a chance to begin weaving a story. You'll surprise yourself with the results!

Blessings,
Marta (proud grandmother of six)

Barbara Vey's Reader Appreciation Luncheon 2015!

Debby Giusti (R) with Barbara Vey (L) at
her Fourth Annual Readers Appreciation
Luncheon

Anyone who knows Barbara Vey knows that she hosts wonderful events. This weekend was the Fourth Annual Barbara Vey Readers Appreciation Luncheon in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and Barbara outdid herself to ensure everyone had the time of their lives! 

Debby Giusti (L) with NY Times bestselling author Tess Gerritsen (R) 

of Rizzoli and Isles fame.

I flew in on Friday and roomed with fellow Love Inspired Suspense author and RITA finalist, Katy Lee. 

(L to R) Love Inspired Suspense Author Katy Lee,
Love Inspired Historical Author Winnie Griggs and
Love Inspired Suspense Author Debby Giusti
represented Love Inspired Books at the luncheon!

We enjoyed dinner that night at The Packing Company, compliments of the WisRWA Chapter who treated the 61 authors to a yummy dinner. After the meal, we bused back to the hotel for a fun Q&A with readers. 

My table.

Tote bags decorated the chairs at my table.

Saturday, the authors were in the ballroom early to set up their tables and get ready for the readers. Doors opened at 10:30 AM, and the readers scrambled to find their tables and connect with their favorite authors. I loved meeting and getting to know the delightful women who sat at my table. 

My wonderful table! Thanks, ladies, for making
the day so special!

Author baskets were given away during lunch with even more raffle drawings after lunch. A book signing followed. 

Lots of author giveaways!

 Thanks, Barbara, for a wonderful event and a chance to get to know so many readers. 

Happy Reading!

Wishing you an abundant blessings!
Debby Giusti

www.DebbyGiusti.com
www.seekerville.blogspot.com

STRANDED

BY DEBBY GIUSTI

AMISH COUNTRY REFUGE

Colleen Brennan has one goal—take down her sister’s killer.  But chasing after evidence leaves her in the path of a tornado and stranded in an Amish community. With the killer nearby, Colleen must depend on the kindness of Special Agent Frank Gallagher. Although the army officer is recuperating from a battlefield injury, he wants to help the beautiful woman he rescued from the tornado’s fury. He can tell she’s hiding something important. But getting her to reveal her secrets may be his most dangerous mission ever.

Order your copy in digital or print format: Amazon.

Allie Pleiter on a rich new era that has us fascinated

Have you noticed the 1910’s and 1920’s are catching our imaginations lately?  Shows like Downton Abbey and Mr. Selfridge explore how the world changed in the wake of the Great War, and now many novels are exploring the era.

And why not?  It’s rich with human growth and conflict, with musical and social innovations that changed the world forever.  The war moved women into jobs and and roles they never had before, and things could not go back to the way they were.  Battle’s ravages were wreaking havoc on men physically, emotionally, and economically.  If you want drama, the post WWI years had loads of it.

I’ve always been fascinated with the aftermath of great events.  I set my Great California Earthquake book MISSION OF HOPE not during the tragedy, but in the struggle to reconstruct after the devastation.  If we, as authors of inspirational romance, seek to show faith and hope, I can think of no greater time such gifts are needed.

I chose the aftermath of WWI for my newest historical, THE DOCTOR’S UNDOING, because I wanted to follow spunky Ida Lee Landway into her life after the war. Ida needed her own happy ending—and she wasn’t leaving me alone until I gave it to her.  When I learned about the huge demands placed on orphanages after the war, I knew I had the perfect setting for Ida to use her gifts for color and courage.

What about you?  What have you learned in the aftermath of tumult in your life?