My debut novel, In This Together, releases on November 18, 2015, and  Dottie, the heroine, has opened up a space in my heart. It’s 1946 and she’s the kind of gal you’d want for a friend – steady, reliable, a hard worker, and as loyal as thistles sticking to your pants.

The only splash Dottie makes when she walks into a room comes from her mop pail. World War II is over, but it took her only son. Still, comfort gradually comes to her as she faces each new day and makes do the best she can.

As she prepares nutritious meals and cleans at Helene’s boarding house in her little Iowa town, who would guess Dottie also yearns to hug her daughter Cora in California and hold those two grandbabies she has yet to meet?

But Al, the widower next door, watches Dottie trudge home exhausted each night, and schemes how he might befriend her. She has no idea how much she has in common with her lonely neighbor.

I hope Dottie finds a place in your heart, too! The Vintage Line of Wild Rose Press categorizes Dottie’s story as super sweet, which means there’s not even a reason to blush in this heartfelt midwestern tale. You can see more about the novel at:

http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=195&products_id=6492

I’m so glad to welcome Dora Hiers this week. Her recent release of Burk’s Surrender, the third novel in her Harmon Heritage Series, is reason to celebrate! So she’s doing an exciting giveaway to a commenter: a coupon redeemable for ELEVEN Christmas Extravaganza e-books. Wow – be thinking of some brilliant comments!

Title of Latest Release: Burk’s Surrender

Release Date: 9/18/15

Deputy City Manager Burk Harmon has always been the strong one for his family, but recently those responsibilities have dwindled. When Lacie Heatherton, Assistant Director for Parks and Recreation, ropes him into a city-sponsored trip to the mountains with fifty seniors, Burk has two things on his mind: considering a possible promotion and wooing Lacie past friendship and into a future. Lacie has emotional scars and a thirteen-year-old daughter to remind her that men can be cruel and unforgiving. Can Burk convince Lacie to relax her “no dating” policy or will he surrender his dreams of family and love?

When You Need to Recharge  By Dora Hiers

Struggling to find a job? Feeling stomped on by co-workers? Going through marital problems? Family discord. Rebellious children. Financial challenges. Medical issues. Or maybe you just lost a precious family member or friend.

You name it, and we’ve probably all faced it at some point. Pressure gains momentum as a culmination of events and issues take turns with their punches. Or it could be one major incident that knocks us until we’re staggering backward like a fighter in a boxing ring, squeezing the breath from our lungs until our vision blurs, the voices around us fading into oblivion.

We each handle stress differently. Some people thrive on it. Others tug the blanket back over their head and sleep. I tend to…

Run! Not run away because we all know that doesn’t solve any problems. But run to the mountains.

Peace speaks to my soul here. Whispers that everything’s going to be all right, that life is more than writing and books. That God is in control and that He’s infinitely greater than my paltry problems. Being here brings God more into focus, and the pressure lifts. I can breathe deep again, liberated from the chains of worry that squeeze my chest.

If we can’t break away for a weekend, then this is where I run…

Not quite the same, but it’s nice to escape my desk and the mountain of tasks demanding my attention and slip away for a few minutes.

This year has been crazy busy. While I’m beyond thrilled that four of my books released between May and September, that also meant long hours hunched over my laptop, trying to keep the momentum going with my current work-in-progress and the extra writing related to marketing four books. You know how, at times, events just keep piling on your calendar until suddenly you’ve lost control? That’s me this year, somewhere about April. I definitely needed a recharge, so we headed for the mountains over a long weekend.

It’s the same for hero Burk Harmon in Burk’s Surrender. As Deputy City Manager of fictional Harrison, NC, he deals with stress every day in his job, and as the oldest of the Harmon siblings, he’s been the glue that held his family together since their celebrity father’s tragic suicide. But he has a few weighty decisions to face. Like if he’s willing to risk his family’s emotional well-being with the increased visibility that accepting the City Manager’s position would demand, and moving beyond a decade of being “just friends” with Lacie. When she invites him to tag along with her and fifty elderly seniors to the mountains for a city event, he jumps on the chance to recharge. That, and spend time with her. 🙂
Where do you go to destress and recharge?

He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him,

whose thoughts turn often to the Lord! ~Isaiah 26:3 TLB

He’s my yesterday, my tomorrow, my today.

He’s my redeemer, my hiding place, my refuge.

He’s the grace who covers a multitude of wrongs, the beauty in my ugly, the bridge to forever.

He’s the restorer of my soul, the quiet in my storm, the still water of perfect peace.

He’s my champion, my hero, my rock.

He’s the sweet spot in my day, my reason for being,

my very next breath. ~Dora Hiers

A little about Dora…

After a successful auditing career, Dora left the corporate world to be a stay-at-home mom to her two sons. When her youngest son no longer wanted her hanging out at school with him anymore, Dora started writing Heart Racing, God-Gracing romance. She is a member of Romance Writers of America (RWA) and her local chapter, Carolina Romance Writers.

Dora and her real life hero make their home in North Carolina. When she takes a break from cranking out stories, she enjoys reading, family gatherings, and mountain cabin getaways. She despises traffic, bad coffee, technological meltdowns, and a sad ending to a book. Her books always end with a happily-ever-after!

Connect with her on Fiction Faith & Foodies, Seriously Write, Twitter, Facebook or Pinterest.

Purchase Link: http://bit.ly/17u3Im3

Welcome Bonnie!
Thank you for having me, Gail. This is such a treat.

Thanks for offering a print copy of Butterfly Dreams to one of our commenters. Now, please tell us the most intriguing fact about you.
I’m not sure how intriguing this is, but here goes. I am married to a clinical, Ph.D. psychologist with whom I celebrated fifty years of marriage in August. Probably most folks don’t know, but shrinks (as we jokingly call them) don’t have a good marriage track record. Only a very few whom Dave went to grad school with are still married. One of our oldest couple friends (he, Gary, is a psychiatrist) celebrate their anniversary the same day we do, and Peggy is one of my most faithful prayer warriors. God does put amazing people in our lives.

Could you share how your desire to write originated?
OMGosh! Ready for this? I had been a member on a huge prayer chain for several years, often prayed a few hours each day for needs. (Obviously, I was an empty-nester at that point.) I had started reading Christian novels, one of which was Deb Raney’s Playing By Heart and Stephanie Grace Whitson’s A Garden In Paris.

But, I had this desire, this vision, to share how the internet could influence lives. So, one evening I was tearing up lettuce for a salad, and I heard this voice. “Write my Word.” I truly heard it in my heart. I stopped the lettuce-tearing and ran to my computer. What I eventually produced was a non-fiction called Email Angels.

Never published, but still on my heart. That year at Mount Hermon I presented the idea to both a publisher and an editor. Neither had the concept of internet prayer chains. It was too soon.

So interesting – maybe someday, still! Which of your manuscripts excites you most, and why?
I didn’t think it would, but I love Butterfly Dreams the most. Betsy’s personality was so much fun to get into, as well as the quirky personality of her mentor, Bett. I had never written in first, deep POV before, so that was exciting. I am currently working on a sequel to Butterfly Dreams. Betsy deserves one.

How do you work the natural world into your latest work? (landscape, seasons, weather, etc.)
That is easy since I now live in Arizona, but lived for many years in Southern California. I use both venues in my writing. I truly love both locales. For instance, when I finished writing Butterfly Dreams, set in Scottsdale, we were having what we laughingly call “a cold snap”- in the nineties, down from 114 degrees.

My second published novel A Winning Recipe is set both in Newport Beach and Scottsdale. A Recipe for Romance, both a stand alone novella and included in a collection published by Forget Me Not Romances, is set totally in Newport Beach.

One of my next novellas is set in Pennsylvania, my home state, but Family Secret, which I hope will be published next year, takes place both in Scottsdale and Sweden.

How does your location affect your writing, if it does?
Heat in Arizona and opulence in Southern California both affect my writing. I really do try to write “what I know” as far as locality. I know the streets, I drive or have driven them for years, I know all the outskirts and fun things that happen in each. Hopefully, readers from those two states will relate, but I also hope readers from far and wide will enjoy learning about Fountain Hills and Scottsdale, Arizona and Newport Beach, California. Both great places I am blessed to have lived.

What authors have inspired or mentored you?

Inspired: Definitely Randy Alcorn and Deb Raney, both powerful writers whom I’ve been blessed to meet and establish a friendship with; Stephanie Grace Whitson (if she could write about Paris, I decided I could write about Sweden); Dan Walsh and Dr. Richard Mabry, both of whose novels are outstanding; and, sadly, posthumously, Christy Dykes whose personality was even more outstanding than her writing.

Mentored: Barbara Warren, A.K. (Alice) Arenz, Christina Berry Tarabochia, Cynthia Hickey. All have encouraged me to never give up and have become good friends. But my first mentor, Beverly Bush Smith, now deceased, pushed and shoved me to attend my first writing conference (where I met Joseph Bentz who convinced me to go to Mount Hermon). There are still two books of hers in print, and I encourage others to seek them. Look up Joseph’s, too.
Mentored AND Inspired: Gayle Roper who started the Fiction Mentoring Clinic at Mount Herman the first year I attended, and who accepted newbie me in it. She suggested I make a list for Betsy. (I believe I have collected all of Gayle’s novels.)

Thanks, Bonnie – keep writing!

Author Anita Higman visits us today, and answers some questions about her latest release, Summer’s List.

Life and love keep going awry for Summer Snow, until her grandmother sends her on an unexpected adventure with one Martin Langtree—a kind and quirky young man from Summer’s past. With Laney the Chihuahua along for the ride, a childhood friendship is rekindled, a romance is sparked, and mysteries are solved in one magical Texas summer. Will Summer strike out on love again, or will things finally go her way?

 You like fairytales, Anita. Tell us about that.

My mother read me fairytales when I was a kid, and I believe these stories had a profound effect on me. I have been told my stories read like modern-day fairytales, and I am hoping that Summer’s List will have that same fun feel to it.

 Tell us a bit about your writing journey.

I have been writing for thirty years, and I have forty books published. To be honest, it’s been a rough journey. I have known a great deal of failure before I ever knew any success. But then that is a common tale among writers. As far as where my journey will go, only God knows the answer to that question.

I have to admit, when I saw your photo, I thought, “NO WAY she’s been writing for thirty years!

Back to our questions: Do you have any pet peeves?

Sure. I suppose one of them is that occasionally we’ve forgotten how to be polite and kind when it comes to social media posts and emails. I think it would be lovely to go back in time to a simpler, gentler era when people had a deeper sense of the preciousness of humanity. Harsh words spoken in haste can really hurt—sometimes for a lifetime. I say this from having experience on both sides of this issue, so I’m not holding myself up as perfect. I’m far from perfect. But wouldn’t it be wonderful to care about each other in the same way Christ loves us?

Do you have a Bible verse that is particularly meaningful to you?

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 (NIV)

What is the hardest part of writing?

All of it. I’m not kidding. Sometimes I still can’t believe I write books. Yes, it’s about fun creative stuff, but it’s also about keeping my bum in the chair and writing even when I’m not inspired. It’s about getting the job done. No. Matter. What. And sometimes that’s not easy to do.

Where do get your ideas?

Everywhere. While I’m running errands. While I’m at church. While I’m talking to friends and family. With each story, colorful bits of life end up in my final piece of art—a little like the way a mosaic comes together, making a lovely picture.

What have you read recently?

Recently I read Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. It’s a masterwork—a true story about slavery in America—and a book that everyone should read.

 Anything else you’d like to tell us about your new novel, Summer’s List?

One of my characters is taken from real life—a sweet Chihuahua named Laney. This little dog was considered a love-gift from God since she helped my daughter-in-law get through a painful passage in her life. It was a true joy for me to add this beloved dog, Laney, to my story.

 How can your readers get in touch with you?

Here are two of my media links. I’d love to hear from you!

www.anitahigman.com https://www.facebook.com/AuthorAnitaHigman

Purchase link for Summer’s List:http://www.amazon.com/Summers-List-Anita-Higman/dp/0802412327/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1433986960&sr=8-3&keywords=Anita+Higman

How Old Is Too Old

Welcome, Pat!!!

I don’t know how many times I’ve heard someone younger than I am say, “I’d love to write a book, but I’m too old to do that.”

And it isn’t limited to writing a book. Mention learning anything new, and I hear the same response.

Is there an age limit to what we can do?

……………Bear with me a minute—I’m thinking. Part of me wants to say NO! But then I think about how I used to climb trees, and while in my mind, I think I could still do it, I’m not sure I want to, especially since there’s no bear chasing me.

Physically, we might not be able to do what we once did, but there are so many other things we can do. One year at Christmas my mother learned to text. She was ninety. She had a Facebook page when she passed away at ninety-three. She always wanted to be challenged.

So do I. And I think that’s the key. Desire to stretch ourselves.

I hear it now. But how would I start?

That’s the easy part. Be it writing a book or learning how to use a computer. Take a class. Did you know after age sixty, about 60% of accredited colleges offer a waiver for senior students? And at most colleges you can audit a class for free. Check it out here and here. Whatever you decide to do, be sure to learn the nuts and bolts of how to do it.

I believed God called me to write, and not just any old story, but suspense stories. Except I wasn’t having any luck with them. I was sixty-five when I went to my first writing retreat. I had been writing for almost thirty years with success in writing short pieces but had not gotten any results from my novels. I was making the same mistakes over and over because I didn’t have anyone to tell me what I was doing wrong…or right. But at the retreat I learned so much and went back four more years. After the third year, I got an agent and a publisher and my first book. Shadows of the Past was published after I turned 69.

So, you can do it! But you need a desire, discipline to do what it takes to learn whatever you desire…and then, you’ll be ready when God opens the door.

By the way, the fourth book in the Logan Point series comes out in July. And I just completed the second book for Harlequin Heartwarming—A Christmas Campaign, bringing my total books written since 2012 to six.

Patricia Bradley

Connect with me:

Twitter: @ptbradley1

FaceBook: www.facebook.com/patriciabradleyauthor

     www.patriciabradleyauthor.com

     http://mbtponderers.blogspot.com/

Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00FFR8T1U