Trivia by Leann Harris

Most authors are walking trivia experts. If you're setting a book in 1927, you better know what happened that year. My first book was set in Colorado in 1886. It's call the centennial state, since it joined the union 100 years after US declared it's independence. I've set a book in 1066. It was a bad week for Harold Godwinson, the Saxon king. He defeated the Vikings invaders, then turned around and fought the Norman invaders and lost. I know all sorts of trivia about Scotland in 1692. The Glencoe massacre occurred when the Campbells rose up one night and killed their MacDonald hosts at the king's order.

Of course with my modern stories, I've varied the years they happen and given my heroes and heroines various occupations. I had a boot-maker as a hero, lots of professional cowboys, and military men and women. The book I'm working on happens in 1972. "Hey Mikey! He likes it!" was the famous line from the Life cereal commercial. Miss Hawaii, Tanya Wilson, was Miss America that year. The Summer Olympics in Berlin was when the Israeli athletes were murdered by terrorist. Cell phones looked more like walkies-talkies and weren't in wide use. Leisure suits and polyester were popular. And it was my first year to teach. What do you remember about the year you graduated high school/college or am I the only person that needs to look it up on the internet?

Knowing Your Novel's Setting

Welcome to Love Inspired Author's Blog from Gail Gaymer Martin

I prefer to write about places I know or I've been, so one of my goals is to visit the settings of most of my novels and novellas. My Love Inspired novels have been set in Michigan for the most part. I've lived there all my life, but for the past seven years, I've enjoyed winter in Sedona, and spending time here has stimulated ideas for new plots in the beautiful red rock setting.

This town opens the door for many new ideas not as available in Michigan. We have mountains but not those multitude of amazing red rocks with names as these which we see from our front deck. The dessert landscape, rock climbing, Pink Jeep trips, hot air balloon rides, animals such as: javelinas, bobcats and coyotes are prevalent and I've seen them all near our townhouse here. Sedona holds the, International Film Festival,  and the town is known for it's artistic environment for artists, craftsman, jewelry making, poets and writers. The story opportunities are staggering and the aura and emotions the landscape brings twists through an author's heart and mind.

My newest novella, Lattes and Love Songs, is set in Sedona in a coffee house. It will become a coffee shop series, called A Mocha Marriage and will eventually become an anthology.

On our way west from Michigan, we travel Hwy 40 which is the old Rte#66, and I am presently working on a new short novel called A Trip To Remember that is set on the famous road in the town Tucumcari. This book will be part of the series Get Your Kiss on Route 66. My next short novel will be also be set in Tucumcari and will connect with the first book. I look forward to having you read about both the Littleton sisters.

I hope you enjoy books set in a series and in interesting settings, and I look forward to hearing from you on Facebook  or my website 

Snowbound!

click to learn more!

Hi everyone! Lee Tobin McClain here, writing about the romantic joys of being snowbound! Seriously, being stuck inside, by the fire, with your sweetheart... what could be more romantic? That's why I wrote HIS SECRET CHILD. Shy librarian Fern Easton thinks she's going to have a week to herself with her foster daughter, a bunch of rescue dogs, and time to write and paint. The sudden snowstorm that sweeps the Ohio countryside just ensures she'll have privacy... she thinks. And then there's a knock on the door....

Check out what happens when a rugged veteran invades Fern's world, bringing risk and love and a great big secret with him.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, I'm giving away a $10 gift card to a random commenter. Just comment on a time you were snowed in... or, if you live in a warm climate, tell us about what weather keeps you inside with your sweetheart.

What's in a cover?

Hi Everyone! Danica Favorite here, and today I'm talking about covers, and what's in a cover. I always have people ask if I get to design my covers, or how that happens, and today I want to share a little about that with you as I share the cover for my April release. :)

When it comes time to put together a cover, our editors ask us to fill out an Art Fact Sheet. In my opinion, it's just a few notches shy of torture, but it's necessary for the artists to come up with the concept. I give them three scenes that happened in the book, sending example pictures of what the area might look like, what the characters look like, and even the poses the characters might be in. I share a summary of the story and important themes. Then, the cover artists get together and look at what other books they have coming out that month, and they put it all together into the cover. Months later, they give me a peek, and I have the opportunity to tell them if there's something they need to change. However, at that point, it's really hard to get too much changed.

I've always been really pleased at how my covers come out. And, to be honest, the characters are always much better looking than I envisioned them. I'm really terrible about picking out people, what they look like, and deciding what they're going to wear. So I love that the art department does such a great job!

A reader commented that she thought it strange that it's a shotgun wedding, but they look so happy in the picture. Here's a little secret for you: they're happy in the end! That's what I love about writing for Love Inspired Historical. I hate sad endings, so I love that I know what I'm going to get!

Do you have more questions about the cover process? What do you find appealing about my latest cover? Share your thoughts in the comments to be entered to win a copy of Shotgun Marriage.

Here's a little more about the book:
 

Conveniently Wed 
Forced to wed to protect their reputations after being trapped overnight in a mine, Emma Jane and Jasper Jackson's marriage is one in name only. Resenting the choices taken from him, Jasper's determined not to lose his heart. But it's not so easy to stay distanced from his new bride when a gang of bandits abducts them both.

Other young women might be ecstatic to land Leadville's wealthiest bachelor. But Emma Jane would rather have Jasper's love than his family's money. A true bond with her handsome husband seems impossible…until their ordeal leaves Emma Jane caring for an orphaned baby. In reach now is the one thing neither expected—the chance to turn a convenient marriage into a forever family.

About Danica:

A self-professed crazy chicken lady, Danica Favorite loves the adventure of living a creative life. She and her family recently moved in to their dream home in the mountains above Denver, Colorado.  Danica loves to explore the depths of human nature and follow people on the journey to happily ever after. Though the journey is often bumpy, those bumps are what refine imperfect characters as they live the life God created them for. Oops, that just spoiled the ending of all of Danica’s stories. Then again, getting there is all the fun.

You can connect with Danica at the following places:

Website: http://www.danicafavorite.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/danicafavorite
Instagram: https://instagram.com/danicafavorite/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanicaFavoriteAuthor

 

jcp is the winner of our quarterly giveaway!

Congratulations to "jcp" for winning our quarterly giveaway basket! (jcp, I’ve emailed you so please contact me if you didn’t get it.)

Be sure to re-enter every quarter. Click here for the entry form.

Also, get extra entries by commenting on our blog! (One extra entry per person per blog post.)

Get a peek at the new giveaway basket here.

Thanks for reading and loving Love Inspired romances!

~The Love Inspired authors

New Release by Cheryl Wyatt! The Hero's Sweetheart

Hello friends! I am so excited to announce that I have a brand new Love Inspired book out (on shelves) now.

The Hero's Sweetheart is part of the Eagle Point Emergency series from Love Inspired, but can be read alone/apart from other books too.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

THE HERO'S SWEETHEART: Titanium-willed military commander Jack Sullenberger has his rules. Small town waitress Olivia Abbott is about to break them all. 

His Perfect Match 

Military commander Jack Sullenberger is used to saving the day. But when his father has a stroke in his beloved small-town diner, it's waitress and EMT student Olivia Abbott coming to the rescue. Jack rushes home to tend to his father and take over the business—running right into Olivia's very strong opinions. The steely military man and the waitress can't agree on what's best for the restaurant. When Jack sees something that shakes his growing trust in Olivia, their undeniable connection is put to the test. But if Jack's open to the truth, they'll have a chance at finding a future together.

The book is available online, wherever books are sold. It's also available at most online retailers, such as Christianbook.com, Barnes & Noble, Amazon, etc. 

Here are a couple purchase links: 

http://www.amazon.com/Heros-Sweetheart-Eagle-Point-Emergency-ebook/dp/B013BD9KNA

http://www.amazon.com/Heros-Sweetheart-Eagle-Point-Emergency/dp/037371937X

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

USA Today bestselling author and RN Cheryl Wyatt writes romance with virtue themed with rescue. She’s grateful to be a worshipper of Jesus, a mom, wife, orphan/troop advocate, plus wrangler of words and spoiled Yorkies.

I love readers and cherish interaction at: https://www.facebook.com/CherylWyattAuthor.

Join my newsletter for new release news, freebies and other goodies exclusive to subscribers at: http://bit.ly/CherylWyattNewsletterSignup

View my downloadable booklist at: www.cherylwyatt.com

Thank you SO much for stopping by. I hope you enjoy the story! Thanks also for all of your support, readership and encouragement through the years. It means a lot--YOU mean a lot! 

Blessings,

Cheryl Wyatt

My Type of Surprise!

Keli Gwyn here to talk about unexpected gifts.

As I entered the lobby on a sunny Sunday morning early in the new year, a fellow member of our church family stopped me and asked if I'd like an antique typewriter. It took me all of two seconds to say "yes!"

Little did our friend know that the historical writer in me had been pining after just such a typewriter since I began actively pursuing my writing career ten years ago. I would often stop in front of the antique stores in town and gaze longingly at the models in their front windows that would come and go over the years. The hefty prices being asked for them were well beyond my budget.

Lo and behold, God chose to give me this desire of my heart via the generosity of a friend. My husband helped the gentleman heft the 1920s typewriter into the trunk of our car after the service, and we took the beauty home, where it now occupies a place of honor in my office.

One look at this piece of history, and I'm swept back in time. I remember my days in typing class pounding out endless fjfjfj and jkljkl exercises. Although I didn't use a machine as old as this, seeing the typewriter helps transport me to my story world, as well.

When is the last time someone surprised you with an unexpected gift?

Do you have memories of typing class?