Have you ever had one of those days?

Have you had ever one of those days when everything goes wrong? I had a day like that in early December. I was to do a library conference and hand out books. I thought it was on Wednesday. I substitute taught on Tuesday, then when I got home, I called the friend I was to do the signing with the next day. She informed me it was that day, Tuesday. I was floored.

That news was combined with the news from my editor she wanted to buy my newest proposal. I had a couple of minutes to digest before I rushed off to see Debbie Macomber. She was in our town signing books and giving a talk. I got my mother one of her books. If you've never heard Debbie, it's a treat. But I digress.

What's my point? Sometimes there is a silver lining in that thundercloud.
Leann

Groom In Training - by Gail Gaymer Martin

When an author sets upon the task of writing a series, so many things come to mind. First she wants a thread that holds the stories together, then plots filled with emotion and some humor, and always with Christian fiction, elements that touch the reader's faith. I hope I succeeded in doing just that with the three novels--each independent stories but with a connected thread of three women involved in a shelter for dogs.

Groom In Training is the second novel in the series and can stand alone or be enjoyed as part of the series. This story is about Steph, Molly's best friend, who runs a doggie day care in the back of the shelter. She is not a believer though Mollly has shared her faith openly, but with loving persistence, the Lord finds a crack in our armor and works his will on us as He does with Steph. And along with God's plan, love arrives on Steph's doorstep.

As happens,I submitted the first two novels with titles that weren't used. The first novel, Teacher's Pet became Dad In Training and was Mollly's story. The second, A Path Home, became Groom In Training. Obviously at this point, the title of the final book becames clear. I named it Bride In Training, and guess what? They kept the title. This will be Emily's story, a part-time employee at the shelter as well as a dog walker and sitter, who struggles with past sins that nearly ruin her life.

This series was written in memory of our daughter Brenda who died nearly 3-1/2 years ago from ovarian cancer at age 37. She provided obedience training for dogs, fostered many abused and abandoned dogs, and finally adopted two border collies (the kind of dog pictured above) who participated in flyball and agility. Brenda would have loved these novels.

By the way, Groom In Training should hit the stores about January 21, and I also want to send out a disclaimer. In this book, Fred (the border collie) is wearing a white bow tie for the outdoor wedding. The Christmas bow was the idea of the artist and marketing department. I did grumble but you see where grumbling got me. (grinning).

Friends, Four-legged Friends and Love.

A widow with a sad past, Steph Wright, finds comfort in her adorable Border Collie, Fred. When Fred becomes enamored with the neighbor's pedigreed Bouvier, Steph meets Nick. With a broken engagement and a busy job, Nick isn't open to love and romance. But when Nick steps in to defend Steph, long talks ensue during dog walking, and both begin to learn that God has plans for each of them, especially Steph who sees some unexpected "groom-in-training" going on.

Endorsements from readers:
Had a hard time putting this book down. I highly recommend Groom In Training, and look forward to reading more from Gail Gaymer Martin.
Rikki Lee Howland, Reader

A delightful story of two hearts discovering where they belong.
Jo Huddleston, Reader

Groom in Training can be purchased at Walmart, KMart, Target, some grocery stores and, as always, good bookstores everywhere between January 22 and February 22. Otherwise they are still available at on-line bookstores.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0373875794?ie=UTF8&tag=novgaigaymar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0373875794

Prayer

Camy here!

Lately I’ve been getting more into prayer.

I don’t know if I’m actually starting to mature as a Christian or what, but I’ve been seeing the importance of prayer in my life more and more the past few years. This is partly due to authors Cheryl Wyatt and Brandilyn Collins, who are both incredible prayer warriors. Seeing them in action made me see the dynamic power of prayer for the first time.

But then God started working in my own life. I started feeling prayer should be more important in all aspects of my life. I started being more consistent in writing down requests from friends and family in my prayer journal and praying for them all during my daily quiet times.

I also have started getting into the monthly prayer meetings at church to pray for the worship service. I kind of “have” to go because I’m one of the worship leaders, but I’ve been finding that I enjoy going, and that I really believe that it’s important.

Though it all, I feel more comfortable praying than I ever have before. I am not as self-conscious about what I pray about out loud, and I don’t worry that what I pray about is stupid or that I’m not eloquent. I also don’t worry about not knowing what to pray about when it’s my turn, because God has been giving me the prayers to say—they just come out of nowhere.

Well, not nowhere, but you know what I mean (Camy fist-bumps the Holy Spirit).

So I want to encourage all of you to start this year and spend more time in prayer, to focus more on prayer in your daily lives. It’s something we could all use more of, right? And I fully believe God is calling all of us to be a people who prays.

Pray on!

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Her novels Single Sashimi and Deadly Intent are out now. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels and ponders frivolous things. Sign up for her newsletter YahooGroup for giveaways!

Why the popularity of Amish books?

Patricia Davids here.

Why the popularity of Amish books?

My advance copies of my March release arrived yesterday. Katie’s Redemption is the first book in my new Brides of Amish Country series. It wasn’t until I started doing research for these books that I realized how popular Amish stories had become. Why is that? What is it about that culture that intrigues people?

I will admit the research is fascinating. I had no idea there were such differences among Amish churches. Some don’t allow indoor toilets while some allow members to own automobiles. That’s quite a difference in attitude. For some, cell phones are okay, but land lines are not, or the phone can only be in the barn or in a shack to be shared with other families.

My favorite story was about a busload of tourists who asked an Amish man what it meant to be Amish. He asked who had a TV in their homes. Every hand went up. He asked who thought their families spent too much time watching TV and that it was bad for them. Every hand went up. He then asked, who was going to go home and get rid of their TV. No one held up their hand. He said, that what it was to be Amish.

I get it. To see that a thing is bad and say no, we will not allow it. That’s a hard thing to sell in modern America where every freedom must be protected.

Why do you think Amish stories are gaining popularity? Because the Amish are devout? Because they are quaint? Or because we all long for a simpler time when home and family was the focus of our lives?

Books and Movies

Pamela Tracy here. There's an old tale about six blind men and an elephant. Each blind man, separately and without knowing what was in front of them, touched a different part of the elephant. Later, they discussed what they felt and figured out the kind of animal.

I've always like the story because of the way it dissects the human mind and how working as a group should work.

Last year a group of my friends and I went to see Julia and Julie. We all agreed we loved it. The rest of my friends, though, added the word BUT after I loved it... They all loved the Julia part and wanted the film to hurry through the Julie part. Me, I loved both. It's taking me a few months (and a couple of movies with the same friends) for their adding BUT to make sense.

For Christmas, I received the book My Life in France by Julia Child. I devoured the book. I told my husband, "Now that I've read this book..." He looked hopeful, like maybe I'd take up cooking as a hobby. "...I want to go to France," I finished.

It's taking me too long to tell you what I figured out. All my friends had read My Life in France before they saw Julia and Julie. After reading the book, I wanted to watch the DVD, and yes, I'd have fast forwarded through the Julie scenes.

Reading the book certainly makes one's approach to movie enjoyment different. Personally, I've thought every single Harry Potter movie good, and I've always read the book first. BUT... you knew that was coming... because I read These Lovely Bones, I don't think I can watch the movie. As a matter of fact, my friends and I were walking away from New Moon and discussing it (the old six blind men and elephant approach... we all thought differently about the movie) when we realized we'd all read the book and it affected how we judged the movie.

1. What movies have made you want to run out and read the book?

2. What book has made you want the movie?

3. What book has made you think a movie could never do it justice?

1. I ran out and bought the book Witness (Harrison Ford, Amish) after seeing the movie. Movie much better.

2. The Clan of Cave Bear. Book much better.

3. The Kite Runner, and I couldn't go see the movie becuase there was a scene in the book I skipped and I didn't know how'd I'd skip it in the movie.

There you have it. My strange and wondering thoughts this morning on movies. This week, if I can find time, I'm going to see Have You Heard About the Morgans. Hmmm, is there a book?

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

Well, I'm posting late today. My kids went back to school on Wednesday, and it has thrown me totally off schedule. I hardly know what day it is! :)

Being late reminded me of an expression my mom often uses: I'm a day late and a dollar short.

So I wondered if you'd share some of your favorite expressions you've picked up from your parents, grandparents, friends, other family (maybe even your own kids!). Please share! I'm always looking for fun expressions to use in my books.
********

Missy's recent release, A Forever Christmas, is still available. Why not snuggle up during this terribly cold weather and extend the holiday season!

January Hibernation by Marta Perry

It's the first week in January, can you believe it? Christmas is just a memory by now for most of us. For me, it passed in a blur of presents and grandkids, church services and cooking. Mostly cooking, it seems in retrospect. Every year I plan to take the easy way to all those holiday meals, and every year I do too much. At one point, when the house was at its fullest, I had gone upstairs for something. On my way back down I heard my four-year-old granddaughter, who had apparently been looking for me, announce in tones of complete astonishment, "Grammy's NOT in the kitchen!" Okay, I'll try again next year!

Much as I love the holidays, I find I'm loving the turn into the quietest part of the year, at least for me. My husband and I are comfortably settled into our second home on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. It's small and easy to maintain, so there are few chores staring me in the face. I can settle down in my writing loft, open my work in progress, and immerse myself in writing. Like a bear, curling up in his cave, I'm ready for winter.

What does January mean to you? The kids headed back to school? Snow and boots and shovels? Time to think and read? I hope some of the latter! If you're here, it must be because you love books, so won't you turn to some of the great Love Inspired books listed on the blog this month? We've all been working hard to bring you stories we hope will become favorites, and we hope you'll let us know what you think of our books.

So get the kids to bed, settle down in your favorite chair with a mug of hot tea or cocoa, and open up a Love Inspired novel. We promise you won't be disappointed.

Blessings,
Marta Perry

God’s Timing for Your Dreams

I’ve been thinking a lot about what Cheryl said yesterday. In fact, I only have two resolutions here at the turn of the decade – to listen to God more and trust His timing . . . and to give up sodas. You can guess which one is the easiest.

As a writer and one of the few single women who writes for Love Inspired, I’ve had to learn a lot about God’s timing for our dreams . . . and I can’t say I’ve always been patient or particularly understanding. I’m a very flawed human, and, yes, I’ve had a few tantrums straight out of the terrible twos: “Will you hurry UP already?”

After all, there was an enormous gap between my first published article (I was 18) and my first book (I was 42). 2009 was a year of horrible lows for me, but I also saw the publication of two books (The Taking of Carly Bradford and Field of Danger).

Although writing is my gift and the call I feel from the Lord, every day I struggle to focus. I’m a little ADD, so discipline isn’t easy for me. Nor is waiting. Even though I’ve gotten fairly decent at the waiting part.

After all, I’ve been single (again) for sixteen years. Sixteen and a half. Almost seventeen.

Not that I’m counting, you understand…

So when my impatience freezes me in this chair (or on the couch), and doubts about my life, my loves, and my career creep in from the dark, I try to remember that He does know me best and knows WHAT’S best. And I try to listen.

Although I do still wish He’d hurry up. At least a little bit.

New Year, New Release, New Goals

Cheryl Wyatt here. First I want to let you know that I have a new book out. It's ON SHELVES NOW and titled A Soldier's Devotion in case you're interested. If you're familiar with my Wings of Refuge series, this is Vince's story. He and his goals are a LOT different at the end of the book than the beginning. Hope you enjoy it.

For some reason, I don't like stating that I have made a New Year's resolution. I guess it's because I tended to be a perfectionist and put impossible expectations on myself. Sure, all things are possible with God but sometimes we want to work on one thing and He wants to work on another.

So this year, before making a resolution I asked Him what HE wanted for me as far as a personal goal. His answer was that He wants me to start believing the absolute best about people again. Somewhere along the way I have become jaded I guess. LOL! But I do remember a time when I more easily gave people the benefit of the doubt and believed and stated the best about people. It's also an antidote to gossip of any sort.

Last year my goal was to listen more than talk. Not sure I'm there yet, so that one will carry over too.

My spiritual goal is to immerse myself back in the Bible, like--serious study time--every day.

I'd love to know if you make resolutions and why or why not. Also, I'd love to hear your personal, spiritual and business goals aka resolutions for 2010. Don't be shy...talk away!

Cheryl Wyatt
15 author blog: www.seekerville.blogspot.com

Happy New Year

Hey y'all! Stephanie Newton here...like Camy yesterday, I'm thinking about the New Year. I love new stuff! I especially love getting a fresh, shiny notebook, all those clean pages filled with possibility. The new year is like that--365 blank pages that hold the promise of adventure, creativity, heartbreak, love, and contentment (and more).

I'm excited about turning the page of my--new :)--datebook and beginning 2010. I have some goals for 2010, goals like lose weight and be better at time management. I have a plan to make those more likely to happen...but my biggest goal is not to lose sight of what really matters in the busyness of life. To take the time to laugh with my kids, to enjoy my husband, and to grow deeper in relationship with my Lord. These are the things that really bring me joy.

Best wishes to all of you for a joy-filled 2010!
With love,
Steph


Smoke Screen, Stephanie Newton's newest book in the Emerald coast 911 series will be in retail stores January 12. For more information about Stephanie or her other books, check out her website at www.stephanienewtonbooks.com.

New Years Resolutions

Camy here! What are your New Years resolutions?

I was talking to a friend who said that it’s better to have only one resolution. Apparently, having too many makes our minds unfocused and we end up not keeping any of them, but if we have only one, we can focus and are more likely to keep it. That makes sense to me.

I want to go one step further and make my resolution specific and concrete. All the articles on weight loss I’ve read say to make your goals very specific and doable, and then you’ll be more likely to keep them. So I’m going to apply this to my New Years resolution:

30 minutes of exercise every day. It doesn’t have be strenuous—it’s most likely to be a walk with the dog in the afternoon—but I have to do it. I can also break it up into 15 and 15 minutes twice a day if need be.

What’s your New Years resolution?

Camy Tang writes romance with a kick of wasabi. Her novels Single Sashimi and Deadly Intent are out now. She runs the Story Sensei critique service, is a staff worker for her church youth group, and leads one of the worship teams for Sunday service. On her blog, she gives away Christian novels and ponders frivolous things. Sign up for her newsletter YahooGroup for giveaways!

Christmas Memories

Hello from Sandra Robbins!

It’s the Monday after Christmas, and I’m trying to figure out where the time went. For weeks I’ve been getting ready for the big day, and all too soon it was over. I have to say, though, that I don’t know when I’ve enjoyed Christmas as much as I did this year.

Christmas morning was hectic with eighteen family members descending on my house for breakfast and exchanging of gifts. The laughter of my loved ones filled my ears, and I was so thankful we could be together.

Of course a big part of Christmas is gift giving, but we always emphasize the true meaning of Christmas before we tear into the packages under the tree. As my family gathered in the living room after breakfast, we followed the tradition that my father started many years ago. We read the story of Jesus birth to remind us all that on that first Christmas God gave us the greatest gift of all—His son.

After a prayer of thanks, it was time to open the brightly colored packages piled underneath the tree. During this time, I like to watch everyone open their gifts, but I couldn’t have guessed how I would react when I opened one of mine.

My oldest daughter gave me a gift this year that I will treasure. This past summer my Yorkshire terrier Belle died. She had been my constant companion for the past fourteen years, and I miss her every day. She followed me everywhere and lay at my feet any time I was writing. To my surprise on Christmas morning my daughter gave me a painting of Belle, and of course I cried. But I’ve decided the only place to hang it is over my desk so that I can glance at her from time to time just as I used to do.

As the day drew to a close, I was filled with a warm glow as I tucked away the events of that day for memories in the future. Now it’s time for a new year and a chance to make new memories. My prayer is that each one of you will have a wonderful 2010.

Merry Christmas, happy recycling and Hilda One

Hi. It's Lenora. We've opened all the presents (and I got a new purse from my daughter!). We've eaten and eaten and eaten until we all had to take long naps by the fire. It snowed just a bit here last night, something rare for our part of the country.

Everyone is content. Couldn't ask for much more for a lovely peaceful Christmas Day. Now it's all over and we'll tuck away the Christmas decorations until next year. That includes saving some of the boxes and bags we had presents in this year to use again. My friends used to tease me about recycling gift bags. But I grew up on a farm and watched my mother tuck bags and boxes away to use again. That was just a way of life for us. But I tell my friends I do it not because I'm cheap or tacky, but because reusing a gift bag saves trees and helps the environment. Now it's become a tradition amongst my friends to see who winds up with one of the best bags next year. We like to see how far a reused, reissued bag can go before we have to throw it away.

The other day, my good friend Elaine pictured above with her mother Hilda Marie, gave me a gift and she said she had to explain about the cute bag she'd used. It was recycled but it still had a gift tag from her brother and his wife to her sweet mother. (From another Christmas.) I told her I didn't mind seeing her mother's name on the bag. You see, her mother passed away earlier this year and seeing that name tag reminded me of how much I loved her. So now I have something that Hilda One smiled over and enjoyed. What a nice gift.

I think we're like recycled bags sometimes. We're tossed around, tucked away, crushed and forgotten and then someone finds us and bring us out, fluffs us up and makes us pretty and useful again. God does that with us all the time. What better time to remember that than at Christmas? Next year, I'll pull out that Hilda One bag and I will pass it on with pride to another person, knowing that an angel in heaven is smiling down on us and clapping her hands in glee. Merry Christmas, Hilda Marie. I love you still.

Christmas Greetings!

Carrie Turansky here wishing you and your family a very Merry Christmas. We still have several inches on snow on the ground here in New Jersey from a storm last weekend, so we have a white Christmas for the first time in many years. It's beautiful to look outside and see the sparking blanket covering everything.

I wish you could stop in for a cup of Christmas tea. I'd enjoy hearing about your Christmas traditions and memories. One tradition we enjoy is sharing a special breakfast before we open our presents on Christmas morning. This morning we had homemade cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, turkey bacon, fresh fruit, and potato cheese casserole. Delicious!

This year we had most of our family here with us, including our son who is in the Marines. Last year he was in Iraq at Christmas time, so it is very special to have him here with us this year.

I hope you have enjoyed time with your family and friends this Christmas!

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas.
It snowed. That may not be unusual where you live, but where I am, it's a miracle.
This is a day of rejoicing. God gave us a wonderful gift, which I marvel at each Christmas. Merry Christmas to your families and friends.

Leann

Merrry Christmas

God bless you all on this wonderful day!
Barbara Phinney

Cherishing Those Christmas Dreams

Merry Christmas! Ramona (and Rachel, in her Who socks) here, hoping you are blessed by the love, hope, and joy of this most glorious of times. I'm traveling Christmas Eve and Day, so my time will be one of introspection and prayer for all of my LI sisters and our amazing readers. God bless y'all!

Blessed Christmas - Valerie Hansen

I had a post written. Honest, I did. But it was just as well that it went into computer-land limbo because I said a lot of the same things that I'd said early in Dec. I find that amazing and very enlightening because it shows me that I have a lot more work to do forgiving the people in my past. Perhaps that's why, no matter how my stories start out, they always end up featuring a facet of forgiveness. God knows exactly what He's doing! And another interesting thing is that I can get letters from readers, citing the same book, and find that they've gotten different impressions from the text. That's all the Lord. Not me.

We who write for Love Inspired are doubly blessed. Once, when we write the books, and again when we hear from readers who have been entertained and brought closer to Jesus while enjoying a good story. It's what we do. And in a way it's who we are. Because we are so different as Christians and human beings, we can reach out to a widely divergent audience and share with them our Christian walk as well as the lessons we've already learned, sometimes the hard way.

And it all started with the birth of Jesus.

Merry Christmas,

Valerie Hansen

Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas. This is Leann. I wanted to share with you some of the funny memories I have of Christmas. When my children were young, my daughter could not wait for Christmas morning to see the gifts that Santa brought. She would manage to hide a flashlight in her room and once we were asleep, she scope out what gifts were under the tree. Several times she got my son, who is younger, to help her with her scouting missions.

Then she'd show up in mom and dad's bedroom about 5 AM. We could put her off until maybe about 6:30, but that was the latest we could get away with.

She's grown now, but in her teen she found a recipe for pumpkin pancakes. This was something we had to have on Christmas morning. (She's big on tradition.) Now that she'd married, she serves pumpkin pancakes on Christmas morning to her husband. This year pumpkin is in short supply. (Have you tried to find canned pumpkin?) But you can bet, she found pumpkin. The can bug was enough for pancakes and a pie.

Here's wishing you the best Christmas.

Christmas Reads

by

Debby Giusti

The days before Christmas are always busy and filled with last minute holiday preparations. In contrast, the week following Christmas is a refreshing pause in the routine of my daily life. I plan to relax in a comfy chair, cup of cappuccino in hand, and read the wonderful Steeple Hill Christmas books out this month.

Margaret Daley and I have a Love Inspired Suspense titled CHRISTMAS PERIL, which features two suspense stories in one book. Margaret’s Merry Mayhem hooked me from the first line. I couldn’t put the book down. Margaret is a delightful writer who has published 66 books, and I know you’ll enjoy her story. Yule Die is the tale I enjoyed telling about two strong-willed characters caught up in a hostage situation that changes their lives forever. Still on sale at your favorite bookstores or wherever you buy books, I hope you’ll consider reading both stories over the holiday.

If you’ve been good, maybe Santa will stuff your stocking with books for your New Year’s reading pleasure!

Wishing you a joyous Christmas!
Debby Giusti

http://www.debbygiusti.com/
http://www.seekerville.blogspot.com/
http://www.ladiesofsuspense.blogspot.com/

KILLER HEADLINE

Book 2 in the Protecting the Witnesses

Love Inspired Suspense Continuity Series

February 2010