August 2007 Newsletter

BLUE MOUNTAIN BACKROADS

Well, it's August. Hot and dry in the Ozarks. We had a lot of rain earlier, but it's slacked off now. The days are getting shorter, and it won't be long until summer will start winding down. I've had two cataract surgeries in July, and now I can see so well, it's rejoicing time. I am amazed at what I have been missing. I can see grass, I can see colors, and I can actually see to drive. Not that I haven't been driving all along, you understand, but now I can see what I'm doing. I have just realized that I really wasn't seeing the road all that well. Gives you a warm, fuzzy feeling doesn't it, to think you might have met me somewhere.

A lot of important people were born in August, namely me. I won't tell you the year, but I've been around a while. The phlox in my garden, both pink and white are putting on a show. Rosicat lies on the office back steps, sunning, the fox hound puppies are all long legs and floppy ears, and they are learning to run rabbits, and the occasional skunk.

I hope you are all rested up from vacation, you have a lot of ideas for new books, and that you all go on to win contests, make great sales, and hit the best seller lists.

Happy writing, and God bless

WRITING NEWS OF THE MONTH

Trish Berg was on The Harvest Show on Direct TV Channel 321 August 7th at 9 a.m.  replays 2 other times as well) discussing her book The Great American Supper Swap. It was her first national appearance and she says she was nervous but I'm betting she did a great job. If you haven't read The Great American Supper Swap, let me recommend it. Swapping meals is a great idea and recipes all sound delicious.

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Kathie Nolasco writes:

"I have a new blog up at http://takingastroll.blogspot.com and would love for you to stop by for a visit. Presently it features a slide show of this year´s Vacation Bible School, a post about the VBS, and a post in memory of my father. In the near future there will be pics of my ladies ministry, pics of Costa Rica, recipes from my 30 years of travels in Central America, and much more about ministry, family, and, of course, writing. Drop by anytime.

Blessings from Costa Rica.

Kathie Nolasco

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Got this from Susan Page Davis. Great, Susan, proud of you.

Hi, Barbara! I just received a call from Cheryl Wyatt telling me that two of my books, Feather and The Prisoner's Wife, are finalists in their categories for Book of the Year (Feather in general fiction and TPW in short historical). Thanks for all your encouragement!!

Susan
www.susanpagedavis.com

Now available:
Frasier Island, romantic suspense from Harvest House
Sarah's Long Ride, young adult, from JourneyForth
The Lumberjack's Lady, July, 2007, historical romance, Heartsong
Coming soon:
Finding Marie, Sept. 2007, romantic suspense from Harvest House
Just Cause, Jan., 2008, romantic suspense from Love Inspired Suspense

Visit the Website for Christian mystery and suspense: www.keepmeinsuspense.com

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Louise M. Gouge has the following announcement:

I'm happy to announce that my novel, Then Came Faith, was awarded the Road to Romance Reviewer's Choice Award.

Louise M. Gouge, Award-winning author
Website: www.Louisemgouge.com
Then Came Hope, Emerald Pointe Books, Now in bookstores!
Second Place, 2007 Word Weavers of Central Florida Award for Fiction
Then Came Faith, Emerald Pointe Books, 2006
Road to Romance Reviewer's Choice Award

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Here are the authors who will be featured in an interview on my blog in August. Remember we give away at least one copy of each author's book. Some one wins; it might as well be you.

Lorena McCortney

Sharon Hinck

Kathy Kovach

Louise Gouge

Deb Raney

Wanda Brunstetter

Susan May Warren

Linda Windsor

What a lineup!!

Lena Nelson Dooley - Characters who grip your heart

Author, Editor, SpeakerVice President - DFW Ready Writers (ACFW) Newsletter reviews: Meeting Her Match, Reluctant Runaway, Brothers of the Outlaw Trail, Golden Dawn, Golden Days, Picket Fence Pursuit, Shadow of Turning, Gone With the Groom, Veil of Fire, Revealed, Forget to Remember, Golden Twilight

http://www.LenaNelsonDooley.com - a free copy of one of my books every month to someone who signs my guest book--The June winner is Lynn Clark. http://www.shoutlife.com/lenanelsondooley

http://lenanelsondooley.blogspot.com - Latest Author's Interviews:

ACFW Conference Chatter

Janice Thompson - Gone With the Groom

Nancy Toback - Anna's Journey

Nikki Arana - As I Have Loved You

Latest winners: Cherie J - A Bigger Life by Annette Smith

Kimberlee - Love's Lie by Seye Oke

Upcoming Interviews—Robert Elmer, Kimberly Stuart, Kate Lloyd, the authors of Brothers of the Outlaw Trail

* * *

This from Bonnie Leon:

I have a new book, To Love Anew, being released on August 1st. It's book one in a series called Sydney Cove.

Hannah Talbot has no one. Rejected by her country, violated by her employer, unanswered by God. John Bradshaw has lost much. His business. His freedom. His wife. But on a ghastly 19th century prison ship bound for Australia John and Hannah will discover courage, hope, and a love stronger than sorrow.

"Vividly written. A powerful 5-star story!"Armchair Interviews

Unveiling Truth Through Fiction

www.bonnieleon.com

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Ramona K. Cecil's short story, Dateline. . .Afghanistan, won A Writer's Toolbox Spring Short Story Contest. The URL is http://www.awriterstoolbox.com/Contestwinners.html

~Ramona K. Cecil~
Romance. . .God's Way
www.ramonakcecil.com
Larkspur—Now Available!
Vintage Romance Publishing
Sweet Forever—Barbour Heartsong Presents, March 2008

* * *

Pamela Griffin's 2nd book of the contemporary Vermont series (a companion book to Dear Granny) comes out in Heartsong Presents - Long Trail to Love.

Carly Alden loses her faithless boyfriend, her job, and the respect of the people of Goosebury in one crazy moment. Looking for peace when his world turns upside-down, Nate Bigelow needs a retreat. Both of them join friends for a month-long hike on the peaceful and scenic Long Trail into Canada. But when they find themselves as "team mates", the trek doesn't allow for a smooth climb - in more ways than one!

Also, look for Pamela Griffin's recently contracted Nevada Silver Brides—a 3-book series of historical romances centering around one miner's family. Set in the Old West in the days of the silver strikes, from Heartsong Presents ...coming out next year.

* * *

Greetings from Kristy Dykes in sunny Florida!

Hi, Barbara. I saw your post requesting news. I finaled in the 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, Contemporary Novella Category. This is sponsored by Faith, Hope, & Love of Romance Writers of America. It's for my novella, "Angel Food", in Kiss the Bride. Other finalists are Robin Lee Hatcher and DiAnn Mills. Winners will be announced at RWA national conference.

Blessings!

Kristy Dykes

"Fiction you can feel...lights, camera, heart!"
Christian fiction author (10 titles); speaker; former newspaper columnist; freelance writer (600 articles)
Finalist! 2007 Inspirational Readers Choice Contest, FHL of Romance
Writers of America
3rd Place, 2006 Book of the Year, American Christian Fiction Writers,
contemporary novella "Reunited" in Wedded Bliss?
Read my blog: http://www.christianlovestories.blogspot.com

* * *

An announcement from Vanessa Ng:

A new fiction journal is about to launch, titled Coach's Midnight Diner. The blurb from the Web site reads: This anthology of horror, mystery, crime, and paranormal goodness is highlighted by works in the Jesus Vs. Cthulhu category, as well as That One That Happens In A Diner. If you are interested in this kind of reading material, you can preorder the anthology here: http://www.reliefjournal.com/. It will also be available on Amazon soon. Although this isn't a "baby" of mine, it feels like a distant relative. I was invited to help out and ended up playing contributing editor for this debut edition. It's kind of thrilling to see my name on the cover. *blush*

Blessings
May God keep you in His care,
Nessie

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If you love cheesecake as much as I do, you'll want to check out Deborah Vogts website. See her information below:

The recipe for August will be Easy Cherry Cheesecake. The books to give away, will be a children's book by Paula Miller - One-Eyed Jack; and a book from Melody Carlson's Notes From a Spinning Planet Series. These will both be given away the end of August. To sign up for the book give-away, please sign my guestbook found at the bottom of my site. Thanks!

Debbie
Deborah Vogts
Country at Heart
www.deborahvogts.com
To enter my gift drawing, please sign-up for my newsletter listed on my web site.
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men....It is the Lord you are serving." Col. 3:23-24

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Update from Tiffany Coulter. Way to go Tiff.

It's been an exciting few months with the launch of my Writing CareerCoach website and on Friday, July 13th I found out I won the RWA Kissof Death Chapter Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense Unpubbed division [inspirational category]. An agent has requested the full MS as a result. Hopefully I'll have another exciting announcement soon.

Holding on to the victory

God is ALWAYS so good!!
Tiff
Tiffany Colter
80% of people say they'd like to write a book. If you're one, or know someone who is, visit my site www.WritingCareerCoach.com for freebies to help you get on you way.

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Check out Michelle Hutchinson's Edgy Inspirational Author blog for articles, book reviews, and a lot more. Good stuff here.

Edgy Inspirational Author blog" - 1 new article

1. To Dance in the Desert by Kathleen Popa is up on CFBA!
2. More Recent Articles
3. Search Edgy Inspirational Author blog
To Dance in the Desert by Kathleen Popa is up on CFBA!

More recent articles:
· Cool Arizona monsoon sunset photos from my back porch...
· The first part of this week I'm giving away a non-fiction book!
· My review of When the Morning Comes by Cindy Woodsmall...
· More niece pictures with bubble thoughts.
· Tagged about writerly things....my answers.

"Edgy Inspirational Author blog" - 1 new article
1. Now I'm giving away Moon Over Tokyo by Siri Mitchell...
2. More Recent Articles
3. Search Edgy Inspirational Author blog
Now I'm giving away Moon Over Tokyo by Siri Mitchell...

Michelle Sutton (pen name)
ACFW Volunteer Officer - voloff@acfw.com
writer/book reviewer - check out my latest reviews!
www.acfw.com
www.michellesutton.net
www.edgyinspirationalauthor.blogspot.com
www.shoutlife.com/michellesutton

* * *

Sharon Hinck writes:

Just returned from 10 days, 16 cities, about 25 events and a marvelous experience on the road with the Christian Fantasy Fiction Tour of the east coast. Because of the cooperation of each of our publishers, four authors from four publishers were able to travel together promoting the genre. This show of support made a HUGE impact on people. We brought a videographer along on the tour, so brief video diaries are posted with my recap of each day at http://sharonswriting.blogspot.com/

Check out near the end of day 3 at the Nashville Borders when legendary guitarist Phil Keaggy holds up The Restorer and talks about it.... Or day 7 when Washington Post reporter Jackie Salmon greets the tour authors. A few of the other papers that covered the tour: A.P. Wire service "Everything Sacred" webcast Publisher's Weekly, San Diego Union-Times, Alexandria Gazette, Asheville Citizen-Times, The Salt Lake Tribune, and Baltimore Sun.

That's some of the tangible good news. But beyond that, the tour was full of God-moments. Praying and crying with a man who has committed his life to caring for his son with autism - and him saying my description of The Restorer IS his life. Prayer service at the Brooklyn tabernacle (we did an event for their bookstore). Hearing from readers how deeply they appreciate our efforts to write a genre that has been under-represented in CBA in the past. Bonding with three other authors who are deeply committed to sharing Christ through their books, but also in their conversations. Telling a group of homeschool families that their efforts for Christ matter. Sharing with a youth group at the National Presbyterian Church in Washington D.C. That they CAN be heroes for Christ as they follow Him. Hearing from book store owners and managers how The Restorer has impacted their lives. Or the woman who was reading it on a Manhattan subway and said her heart was beating so fast she had to stop to breathe before diving back in.

I was stretched and strengthened by the experience, and made friends for life.

--
Have a blessed day!

Sharon Hinck ...
...stories for the hero in all of us

The Secret Life of Becky Miller (Bethany House, June, 2006)
Renovating Becky Miller (Bethany House, February, 2007)
The Restorer (NavPress, May 2007)
www.sharonhinck.com
http://www.sharonswriting.blogspot.com/

* * *

From Jill Eileen Smith:

How is it possible that it is August already? Summer is in full swing here in Michigan, the perfect time to kick back with a good book on a hot, lazy day and read to our heart's content, right? Well, this month we have 11 new releases to help you do just that! And don't forget to check out my new Spotlight on author Brenda Minton!

August 2007 Releases

1. Abomination by Colleen Coble from Thomas Nelson. A young woman flees from a serial killer who leaves his victims at geocaching sites.

2. Family for Keeps and Sadie's Hero reissued as one book by Margaret Daley, from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. This Love Inspired Classic captures two touching stories that were favorites of readers.

3. Jacob's List by Stephanie Grace Whitson from Bethany House Publishers. Facing the challenge of their lives, the Nolans learn that their son's list is about a lot more than youthful adventure. Jacob's List: a story of reconciliation. . . against all odds.

4. In His Dreams from the Michigan Island Series by Gail Gaymer Martin from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Two widowed in-laws meet again on Beaver Island after a few years absence and find joy in the sense of family, especially the hero's emotionally impaired pre-teen daughter, but the familiar friendship goes far beyond what they expected.

5. Massachusetts Brides by Lisa Harris from Barbour Publishing. Three old-fashioned romances bloom in the heart of New England.

6. Missionary Daddy Book 4 of A Tiny Blessings Tale by Linda Goodnight from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A single missionary battles to adopt two boys from Africa and discovers the woman of his dreams is not who he thought she was.

7. Murder by Mushroom by Virginia Smith from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. A potluck on the lawn of Heritage Community Church brings out the usual pests: ants and flies, gossips and murderers.

8. Off the Record by Elizabeth White from Zondervan. A hidden past with journalist Cole McGaughan could end Laurel Kincade's judicial career...Or will the truth set them free to love again?

9. The Restitution 3rd book in The Legacy of the King's Pirates series by MaryLu Tyndall from Barbour Publishing. When Lady Isabel Ashton's only son is kidnapped, she is forced to enlist the aid of the boy's father, the pirate who ruined her life and stole her virtue.

10. To Love Anew Book One of Three by Bonnie Leon from Revell. When Hannah Talbot is banished from London and transported to Australia on a prison ship she's certain God has turned his back on her.

11. Trusting Him by Brenda Minton from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. A woman learning to trust, a man longing to be trusted, and a love that takes them by surprise...

Happy reading~

~ Jill ~
Jill Eileen Smith
www.jilleileensmith.com
http://favoritepastimes.blogspot.com
http://www.subject74.com
"..., for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:21b NIV

* * *

Rhonda Gibson has a new book coming out in September, and a new cover. You can see the cover at either her website or her blog. I've seen it and it's lovely.

Rhonda Gibson
glorifying God through fiction
TO TRUST AN OUTLAW--HeartSong Presents -- September 2007
http://www.RhondaGibson.com www.rhondagibson.blogspot.com
Sign up for my newsletter: Notes from a Gibson Girl
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Rhondagibsonsnewsletter

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WHACKY NEWS OF THE MONTH.
(News too weird to make up)

A British performance artist used a strange form of protest against animal cruelty. He doesn't like the Royal Family's fox hunting habits, so he ate a dog.

That's right, he ate a dish of meatballs made from a corgi, the queen's favorite canine breed. He pointed out that the dog died from natural causes, which leads to the question, how natural? Old age? Disease? For some reason that doesn't jump-start my appetite. For his next "artistic performance," he plans on being buried in a box underneath a meter of mashed potatoes. I have a good idea: let's don't dig him up.

WRITING TIP OF THE MONTH

AVOID LONG PASSIVE PARAGRAPHS OF DESCRIPTION

I see this a lot in beginning writer's manuscripts. Long detailed descriptions of how a character looks: She had blond hair and sapphire eyes. She wore a tan suit with a peach colored blouse and brown alligator shoes. Her nail polish matched her lipstick, and she carried a Gucci bag .

Or detailed descriptions of a setting: The room was large, with long narrow windows. A glass water globe holding a figurine of a girl with a kitten sat on a mahogany table. A blue carpet covered the floor. Several bookcases were crammed with novels and nonfiction books. And on and on.

You need to give the reader a sense of how the character looks, and a setting your reader can see, but you also need to break it up. Try to put your character in the setting using action: Vanessa stood at the long, narrow window, looking down at her sister, Grace, walking in the garden. They looked alike; same blond hair, same blue eyes, but there the comparison ended. Grace was sweet, always smiling, always agreeable. Vanessa hated her. She picked up the glass water globe with its figurine of a simpering girl holding a kitten. Tiny sparks of glitter swirled in the liquid. The silly thing had always reminded her of Grace. She hurled the globe against the far wall. It shattered, scattering fragments of glass over the blue carpet.

Keep the story active, moving. Leave out passive paragraphs of description. Instead think of how you can use action and the character's personality (which is more important than the way she looks) to engage the reader and move your story forward. Choose your
details caref ully.

QUOTE OF THE MONTH

Wisdom has two parts: Having a lot to say and not saying it.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH

WATERMELON SALAD

(It's August. Too hot to cook)

Cut top slice off watermelon, scoop out pulp, saving shell. remove seeds and cut into melon into chunks. Place in large bowl. Add two cans pineapple chunks with juice, two cups seedless grapes and refrigerate overnight. Next morning, peel and slice three medium
peaches, 3 nectarines and two bananas. Sprinkle with the juice of one lemon. Add sugar to taste. Let set until sugar dissolves. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Stir both fruit mixtures together, and pour into watermelon shell. Add cold ginger ale to fill watermelon shell. Stir gently.

Barbara

Blue Mountain Editorial Service

www.barbarawarrenbluemountainedit.com

 

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But they that wait upon the lord shall renew their strength: they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary: and they shall walk, and not faint.

    - Isaiah 40:31 KJV

 

 

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