Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Amy Anguish

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Amy Anguish

What was your inspiration for the story?

Believe it or not, a news story on social media years ago. I can’t even remember who shared it or where. But the premise stuck with me. Basically, a man and woman were considering divorce and their family and friends refused to let it happen. And because of that, they helped the couple save their marriage. The very idea just made me so happy and I wanted to explore it ever since.

How do you develop your characters? (e.g. decide on their vocation, names, etc.)?

When I start contemplating the situation I want to write about, the characters start forming in my head. I play with names until one finally just “fits,” and then I stick with it. For their vocations, it depends. I draw on some I’ve had through the years, or some I’ve been able to witness enough to know how they work. Or sometimes, I pick one that fits my character’s personality and the flexibility they need. For instance, if a character needs to be able to take time during the day to help another character, their job needs to be one he can work when he/she wants to instead of one with set hours. That sometimes limits me, but sometimes it’s fun too.

How are your characters like you? Different?

Most of my characters have a bit of a snarky sense of humor. A deep faith in God, though it can

Pixabay/Uwe Baumann

sometimes be shaken. And quite a few of them have some artistic talent too. Because I love being crafty and dabbling in other arts besides writing and it comes through in my characters.

How has your book changed since your first draft?

When I first wrote it, I had it written solely in my heroine’s point of view. After letting it sit a while, I knew I needed to add in the hero’s as well. After all, it’s too skewed when you only get one point of view. Especially in a book that starts with the woman demanding a divorce. I needed him to tell his side of the story, too, and it’s so much stronger now.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?

Honestly, I rarely do spin-off stories, but if I did, I always tend to lean toward the “bad” character. Not that all of my stories have one of those, but this one definitely does. There’s just something satisfying about redeeming a character in his or her own story.

How do you come up with storylines?

Everywhere! I have come up with ideas listening to conversations. Reading articles. From real life (though by the time I’m done with it, you can’t tell which part is from my real life and which is fiction). Sometimes, a simple phrase or situation will inspire me. Mostly by asking, “What if?”

Why do you write in your particular genre?

I love a happy ending! Writing romance ensures I get one each and every time. I read to relax so I don’t want to have to worry too much about whether or not things will end well for my characters. And when I write, I feel the same way.

Pixabay/Pexels

What is your process for writing? (do you outline, have a special place or time of day you write, etc.) What is your favorite part of the process?

I don’t outline much. I am more of a “pantser,” where I basically start with an idea, a few scenes in my head, and just write to see what happens. I can do this because my stories are character-driven, meaning my characters develop and then take over, sometimes telling me what to write instead of the other way around. My favorite part of the writing process is the writing part. It’s so satisfying to see the story come together on a page. And I tend to write more in the afternoons and evenings right now. With several jobs and two elementary-aged kids, I have to steal moments when I can.

What is your next project?

I am writing a novella set at Valentine’s Day in a Kindergarten classroom. And there happens to be a hamster who comes to school, unexpectedly. And an uncle. It’s set to release next February. Then, I hope to tackle a Snow White retelling.

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About For Better or For Granted

Divorce was never in the plans for Genevieve Stewart. Only four years into marriage, and everything has gone wrong. Why stay where she’s never going to be happy? If only she could find her way back to the way things were before Scott’s job took all his time and energy, leaving nothing for her.

Scott Stewart achieved his goal of becoming a high school principal younger than most in the state. Everything in life seems to be going exactly as planned until Genevieve threatens to leave. Suddenly, his dreams aren’t as clear as they once were. He desperately wants to stay married, but he can’t let down his school, either.

Their friends and family remind them of their lifetime promises and urge them not to give up. But the way back to love isn’t easy when you’ve grown used to taking each other for granted.

About Amy

Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher's kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason-Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.

Follow her at http://abitofanguish.weebly.com or http://www.facebook.com/amyanguishauthor
Or https://twitter.com/amy_r_anguish

Learn more about her books at https://www.pinterest.com/msguish/my-books/

And check out the YouTube channel she does with two other authors, Once Upon a Page (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCEiu-jq-KE-VMIjbtmGLbJA)

Movie Monday: Mrs. Miniver

Movie Monday: Mrs. Miniver

Based on the 1939 Jan Struther book that had begun as a series of newspaper columns, Mrs. Miniver was the highest-grossing film of 1942 (and second highest of the decade behind Gone With the Wind) and won six of its twelve Oscar nominations, including Outstanding Motion Picture, Best Actress (Greer Garson), Best Director (William Wyler), Best Supporting Actress (Teresa Wright), and Best Screenplay.

Four years later, Wyler would win another Best Director Oscar for The Best Years of Our Lives, a film that told the story of American GIs adjusting to post-war life. According to one source, Mrs. Miniver was the first film centered on WWII to win Best Picture. Produced and distributed by MGM, the film was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

The film received notice around the globe with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill calling the

movie, “more powerful to the war effort than the combined work of six military divisions” in boosting US support for his weary nation. Hitler’s Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels gave the movie grudging praise: [Mrs. Miniver] shows the destiny of a family during the current war, and its refined powerful propagandistic tendency was up to now only been dreamed of. There is not a single angry word spoken against Germany; nevertheless, the anti-German tendency is perfectly accomplished.” President Franklin Roosevelt would later order the film’s final sermon to be broadcast over the Voice of America radio network, and leaflets printed with the speech air-dropped over Europe.

Born in Alsace, which at the time of his birth was part of the German empire, William Wyler was eventually sent by his parents to America to work with his cousin Carl Laemmle (founder of Universal Pictures). He started out as a member of the “swing gang,” employees responsible for cleaning the stages, moving sets, and other unskilled labor-type tasks. Filming for Mrs. Miniver began in November 1941, before Pearl Harbor was attacked.

When asked about the movie in an interview years later, Wyler commented, “I was a warmonger. I was concerned about Americans being isolationists. Mrs. Miniver was obviously a propaganda film.” Seven months later when it was released isolationism was a moot point, and the US was at war. Wyler entered the US Army Air Corps in England and made three documentaries about the bomber groups to which his was attached. During his service, he lost the hearing in one ear during a bombing run over Italy and was awarded a Medal of Valor.

Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon play a middle-class English couple whose family and village face difficulties and destruction during the early days of World War II. The film begins somewhat lightheartedly with Kay Miniver discussing inconsequential things such as the extravagance of a new hat, and a new breed of roses for the annual flower show. As the movie progresses, the plot darkens with Mr. Miniver helping with the Dunkirk evacuation, an air raid, a crashed German Pilot, and two of the characters trapped in a car during enemy fire.

Mrs. Miniver ends in the village’s bombed church with the vicar providing encouragement to his frightened congregation. As they sing "Onward, Christian Soldiers," the camera pans to the hole in the roof where RAF fighters in a “V for Victory” formation depart (ostensibly to face the enemy).

Have you seen this classic or its sequel The Miniver Story?

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A Love Not Forgotten

Allison White should be thrilled about her upcoming wedding. The problem? She's still in love with her fiance, Chaz, who was declared dead after being shot down over Germany in 1944. Can she put the past behind her and settle down to married life with the kindhearted man who loves her?

It's been nearly two years since Charles "Chaz" Powell was shot down over enemy territory. The war is officially over, but not for him. He has amnesia as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, and the only clue to his identity is a love letter with no return address. Will he ever regain his memories and discover who he is, or will he have to forge a new life with no connections to the past?

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/mv9xEJ

Talkshow Thursday: Welcome Back, Terri Wangard!

Welcome Back, Terri Wangard!

I'm pleased to welcome Terri Wangard back to my blog. I just finished Seashells in My Pocket, and it is a fantastic story. Grab a "cuppa," draw up a chair, and learn a bit about the book and Terri herself.

What was your inspiration for the story?

Gail Halvorsen was a Berlin Airlift pilot (the Candy bomber) who was based in Natal, Brazil, during WWII. I knew about the Brazil Expeditionary Force that fought in Italy, but what were Americans doing in Brazil during the war? I had to learn more.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

Researching Brazil is hard. Very few sources exist. It was nothing like researching the air war in Europe for my B-17 series. I picked up little tidbits here and there. I found a navy photographer’s book of photos that proved to be invaluable.

One tidbit I had to use came from a Gail Halvorsen interview. He talked about Dauntless dive bombers available for the pilots’ recreational use. That proved to be a big part in my story and I nearly had to take it out.

Have you ever considered writing under a pseudonym? Why or why not?

My surname isn’t common, so there was no need to. I do know of a Robert Wangard who wrote legal thrillers. He was probably a shirttail relative and is now deceased. Not likely to cause confusion.

How are your characters like you? Different?

I live vicariously through my heroines. They’re everything I’m not. They know multiple languages, are excellent seamstresses, artists, mathletes. I haven’t had a musician yet; I’ll have to keep that in mind. Many of them travel, which I used to do. Of course, I traveled during peacetime.

If your book is part of a series: Did you set out to write a series? Why did you decide to write a series?

This is book one of Unsung Stories of WWII. My original idea was war brides from unexpected

Pixabay/Stocksnap

places. In other words, not England or France. While I’m not emphasizing the war bride aspect so much, the first two books followed that idea. The third story fell apart before I started writing and no longer has a foreign bride.

How has your book changed since your first draft?

The biggest change came in the final edit. Remember those Dauntless dive bombers? The hero and his pals took some bombs to do a little hunting. My editor questioned whether bombs would be available for recreational flights. Um, probably not. I had to scramble for a plausible solution because that scene is pivotal for future events in the story.

If you were to write a spin-off book about one of your secondary characters, which one would you choose and why?

The series is based on three friends who enter the service as pilots of very different aircraft. Daniel mentions his friends Stefan and John. Stefan stars in book two and John in book three. While their names come up in each other’s books, their paths don’t cross in the novels.

How do you come up with storylines?

Pixabay/Bob Williams

With the men, it was easy. They’re military pilots in a war. For the women, I needed realistic reasons for them to meet the men. With Seashells, a Brazilian woman gets a job on the air base. Her German ancestry raises havoc. Daniel is a return character from my WWI book, The Storm Breaks Forth, where he was the main character’s baby nephew. His cousin Gloria returns in book three. I find it fun to revisit my characters.

What draws you to the time period about which you write?

My debut novel was inspired by a batch of letters written in the immediate postwar years by distant cousins in Germany who received care packages from the American family branches. I didn’t intend to write more WWII, but an editor said I’d probably need a series to be offered a contract. I took time out for my Lusitania/WWI books, but came back to WWII because there are aspects that haven’t been touched.

How does/did your job prepare you for being a novelist?

I was a librarian. I love books. I love research. I always have a book at hand. Writing my own books flowed out of that.

What was your favorite childhood book and why?

The Flicka, Ricka, Dicka series by Maj Lindman. Three little sisters have all kinds of adventures. I like series and revisiting beloved characters.

About Seashells in My Pocket

German-Brazilian Isabel Neumann delights in creating seashell art, but it’s her mathematical ability that lands her a job at the American air base in Natal, northern Brazil during World War II. She doesn’t need a calculator to determine the correct weights and balances for the Air Transport Command’s cargo planes.

Daniel Lambert, an American transport pilot based at Natal, endures the taunts of combat pilots that he is “allergic to combat.” His flying skills win him respect, however, and his friendship with Isabel deepens, even as a new source of trouble looms.

Isabel is caught in the crosshairs of a German saboteur who is obsessed with her. He insists that she belongs with him, and demands that she help him sabotage the Allied base. Her growing relationship with Daniel angers the Nazi, who will do anything to get of rid him. What will happen to Isabel if the madman captures her?

Social Media Links/Website:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorTerriWangard
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/terriwangard
Instagram: @terriwangard
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/terriwangard/
Website: http://www.terriwangard.com

Traveling Tuesday: The White House During WWII

 Traveling Tuesday: The White House During WWII

Courtesy: whitehouse.gov

Having lived in Maryland and then Northern Virginia for nearly thirty years, I often visited Washington, DC, and never tired of seeing the monuments and various government buildings scattered throughout the city. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, the White House has been the official residence and workplace of every U.S. president since John Adams in 1800 when the nation's capital was moved from Philadelphia. A competition was held to determine who the designer would be, and Irish-born James Hoban won. Other structures he designed include The Octagon House in Washington, DC, and the Charleston County Courthouse.

When President Franklin Roosevelt arrived in January 1933, repairs from the 1929 fire in the White House had long been completed. However, several changes and additions were made after he moved in:

• Air conditioning was added to the second-floor private quarters
• An indoor pool was installed featuring water circulation and therapy for his polio
• Broadcasting equipment was moved into the Diplomatic Reception Room for his fireside chats
• The electrical system was rewired
• The large and small kitchens were remodeled to include hotel-sized ranges and ovens, refrigerators and warming ovens, and electric dumbwaiters.
• After the war in Europe began, National Geographic provided special wall-mounted map cabinets that held maps on rollers that were organized by hemisphere, region, and theater of operation.

Visitors were not uncommon, and one of the first to arrive after the onset of WWII was British Prime

Public Domain
Photo

Minister Winston Churchill. He arrived on December 22, 1941, and his meetings with FDR were code-named the Arcadia Conference.  Staff were not told who was coming, but according to former White House usher J.B. West, they were prohibited from being in the corridors on the day. "It didn't take long for the cigar smoke to announce his {Churchill's} presence." That would be his first of five journeys to the U.S. to meet with FDR, staying at the White House four times, as well as Camp David (formerly Camp Shangri-La).

Even First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt was kept in the dark, recounting later in The Atlantic that she was told "we would be having some guests visit us" and that she "could not know who was coming, nor how many, but must be prepared for them to stay over for Christmas. He added as an afterthought that I must see to it that we had good champagne and brandy in the house and plenty of whiskey."

Courtesy White House
Historical Association

When Churchill would visit, the Monroe Room would be converted to a map room to display troop and ship movements. The prime minister's secretaries would work out of the Lincoln Study. During one visit in September 1943, FDR had to go to Hyde Park and according to General Hastings Ismay told Churchill, "please treat the White House as your home. Invite anyone you like to any meals, and do not hesitate to summon any of my advisors with whom you wish to confer at any time you wish." Ismay went on to comment that Churchill's decision to conduct business at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue without the president in residence is striking. I would have to agree.

___________________

A Love Not Forgotten

He can't remember. She can never forget.

Allison White should be thrilled about her upcoming wedding. The problem? She's still in love with her fiance, Chaz, who was declared dead after being shot down over Germany in 1944. Can she put the past behind her and settle down to married life with the kindhearted man who loves her?

It's been nearly two years since Charles "Chaz" Powell was shot down over enemy territory. The war is officially over, but not for him. He has amnesia as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, and the only clue to his identity is a love letter with no return address. Will he ever regain his memories and discover who he is, or will he have to forge a new life with no connections to the past?

A Love Not Forgotten was formerly published in the Let Love Spring collection that is no longer in print.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/mv9xEJ

Welcome back, Sherri Stewart!

Talkshow Thursday: 

Welcome Back, Sherri Stewart!

What was your inspiration for the story? 

Secrets Deep and Dark has been on my mind to write from way before I wrote my first book. Twenty years ago, the idea for the book came to me while I was sitting in a hotel room in Phoenix, where my husband was attending a conference. A few weeks later, I mentioned my idea to a senior-high student in my journalism class. She told me the book had already been written by Francine Rivers. Great! I set the story aside until 2023. It was time to write my story.

What sort of research did you do for your story, and was there an exceptionally interesting tidbit you knew you had to include?

My main character, Maddie Caldecott is a weekend anchor on the local news station, but I had no idea what an anchor or a reporter’s day-to-day work schedule was like. My only knowledge came from old Lou Grant episodes. So, I interviewed the morning anchor of the news in our town, and he was full of information for me. I like to visit the places in my books, so my son and I traveled to Zürich, stayed at the hotel Adler, where Brody stayed, walked the hill to Lindenhof Park, which is featured a lot in the book, attended the opera where Maddie’s grandmother worked, and of course, I ate wonderful Swiss food, such as raclette, cheese fondue, and rösti.

How are your characters like you? Different?

We authors write what we know, so Maddie and I share many experiences. In a way, writing is cathartic, so many of things Maddie dealt with, I’ve dealt with firsthand or have vicariously dealt with through close friends and relatives. Like Maddie, when I was in high school, something happened that I blocked. I still don’t remember what it is, but it was so bad that I told my parents I would not return to the same school again. By the next Monday, I was living with my grandparents in a different town. Unlike Maddie, I was never raped, but I have close friends who were, and they told me exactly what they went through. What Maddie experienced was what my friends experienced.

How do you come up with storylines?

I believe God gives me storylines. Something within compels me to write a story. Normally, I have a general idea what I’m going to write, but God takes me in directions I never could have conceived of on my own. That’s why I let Him lead me where He wants to.

Why do you write in your particular genre?

My favorite genre is romantic suspense. I like the fast pace of suspense, where a character is faced

Photo: Pixabay

with issues they’re ill-equipped to deal with. My characters always have some flaw that adds to the suspense because it impedes their ability to deal with the problem that besets them. They have to draw on the Lord’s help to make wise decisions. In Secrets, Maddie hates to share her private life with the public. She only trusts two people in the world: her grandmother and her best friend, both of whom live outside of the United States. Maddie learns to trust one other person—Police Officer Brody Messner, and later she overcomes her fear of sharing her private life with the public in the most surprising way.

What is your process for writing?

I’m a pantser, which means I don’t write an outline, but I have a general idea where the story is going. I write 500 words a day five times a week. Pantsers always have to spend more time revising than Plotters—those who do outlines. I spend at least a month or two revising and editing before I send my book to a professional editor. I’m also an editor, but no one can edit their own book. I’ve learned that the hard way.

What is your advice to fledgling writers?

Let the words flow every day. Don’t worry about the final product. Join a writers’ group. Word Weavers is a good one. That way new writers will learn the conventions of fiction that are not taught in school—things like point of view and show v. tell. Also, every writer should attend a writers’ conference.

What is your next project?

Right now, I’m writing a Christmas historical romance that occurs on an ocean liner in 1910. Later this year, I’ll write the third and final book of my series of World War II books. The series hasn’t been named yet, but the first books are A Song for her Enemies (2021) and What Hides behind the Walls (2022). The last book will also take place on an ocean liner, so I’ll be sailing across the Atlantic in May.

Secrets Dark and Deep

TV anchor, Maddie Caldecott, has a secret so deeply buried within that she doesn’t remember it. But the man called Absalom knows her secret, and his threats to exact his revenge are becoming more and more intrusive. As an investigative reporter, Maddie can dig out the truth of any story, but she can’t unearth the secret she’s blocked until it’s too late.

Police Detective, Brody Messner, is at his wits end. How can he protect Maddie if she resists his every suggestion? His need to protect her has become personal. From Orlando to Zürich, he follows her, trying to stay one step ahead of her assailant—all of his notes to her, and that song. https://bit.ly/49hKUNS

Bio

Sherri Stewart is woman of faith who loves all things foreign—whether it’s food, culture, or language. A former French teacher, her passion is traveling to the settings of her books, sampling the food, and visiting the sites. She savored boterkoeken in Amsterdam for A Song for Her Enemies, and crème brûlée in Paris for its sequel, What Hides beyond the Walls, and raclette in Zürich for Secrets Dark and Deep. A widow, Sherri lives in the Orlando area with her dog, Lily, and her son, Joshua, who always has to fix her computer. As an author, editor, blogger, speaker, and Bible teacher, she hopes her books will entertain and challenge readers to live large and connect with their Savior. Join, chat, and share with her on social media:

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gz-mv9
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Website: http://www.stewartwriting.com

Wartime Wednesday: Government Agencies Created During WWII

Wartime Wednesday: 

Government Agencies Created During WWII

Photo: Pixabay/Jacqui

Here in the U.S. dozens of governmental agencies were formed during World War II to handle the logistics of operating during wartime. Many were disbanded at the end of the war, while others merged into other departments or grew and took on new life. Here are just a few:

Applied Mathematical Panel: Who knew there was such a need? This organization was created near the end of 1942 and headquartered in Manhattan, New York as a division of the National Defense Research Committee. Workers' responsibilities were to solve mathematical problems associated with military efforts. According to the Defense Technical Center: Investigations include statistical studies of various bombing problems, a summary of principal results of probability and statistical aspects of three torpedo studies, three mine clearance investigations, and an extensive study of the performance of heat-homing devices. 

Public Domain
Photo

The Office of the Coordinator of Inter-American Affairs, (later known as the Office for Inter-American Affairs) was responsible for promoting inter-American cooperation during the 1940s, especially in commercial and economic areas. It was started in August 1940 with Nelson Rockefeller as its head, appointed by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  The agency's function was to counter Italian and German propaganda in the region. The FBI trained the secret police of friendly nations. By 1943, the OCIAA had a budget of $38 million and 1,500 employees.

The National War Labor Board was established on January 12, 1942, by an executive order ofPresident Franklin D. Roosevelt, to mediate labor disputes as part of the American home front during World War II. The twelve-member board had a tripartite structure and was comprised of four members from each of industry, labor, and the public. Acting as an arbitration tribunal, the board had the effect of replacing normal collective bargaining during the war, as it had the authority to intervene in any labor dispute that it saw as endangering "the effective prosecution of the war" and put into place a settlement. The Board also administered wage control in national industries such as automobiles, shipping, railways, airlines, telegraph lines, and mining.

Library of
Congress

Office of Strategic Services was the precursor to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and was founded in June 1942. The organization was based largely on Britain's Special Operations Executive, and William "Wild Bill" Donovan was appointed by President Roosevelt as head. Responsibilities included coordinating espionage behind enemy lines, propaganda, subversion, and post-war preparation. More than 35,000 individuals served in the OSS and included such notables as director John Ford, baseball great Moe Berg, actor Sterling Hayden, chef and author Julia Child, and historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr. 

Writers' War Board was the main domestic propaganda organization for the U.S. Interestingly, it was privately organized and run, using writers with government and quasi-government agencies. Author Rex Stout founded the organization two days after the attack on Pearl Harbor at the request of the United States Department of the Treasury. Originally part of the Section of Volunteer Talents of the Office of Civilian Defense, the WWB worked through the Office of War Information and primarily handled promoted government policy.

___________________________

A Love Not Forgotten

He can't remember. She can never forget. 

Allison White should be thrilled about her upcoming wedding. The problem? She's still in love with her fiance, Chaz, who was declared dead after being shot down over Germany in 1944. Can she put the past behind her and settle down to married life with the kindhearted man who loves her? 

It's been nearly two years since Charles "Chaz" Powell was shot down over enemy territory. The war is officially over, but not for him. He has amnesia as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, and the only clue to his identity is a love letter with no return address. Will he ever regain his memories and discover who he is, or will he have to forge a new life with no connections to the past? 

A Love Not Forgotten was formerly published in the Let Love Spring collection that is no longer in print.

Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/mv9xEJ

Fiction Friday: March New Releases

March 2024 New Releases More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website Contemporary Romance:

For Better or For Granted by Amy R. Anguish -- Divorce was never in the plans for Genevieve Stewart. Only four years into marriage, and everything has gone wrong. If only she could find her way back to the way things were before Scott’s job took all his time and energy, leaving nothing for her. Scott Stewart achieved his goal of becoming a high school principal younger than most in the state. Everything in life seems to be going exactly as planned until Genevieve threatens to leave. Suddenly, his dreams aren’t as clear as they once were. He desperately wants to stay married, but he can’t let down his school, either. The way back to love isn’t easy when you’ve grown used to taking each other for granted. (Contemporary Romance from Scrivenings Press)

A Slice of Paradise by Nancy Lavo -- Single mother and baker Eden Lambert arrives in quaint Village Green looking for a home for herself and her 18-month-old son, Jake. Her warm welcome by her elderly hostess is offset by the cold disdain of Mary Jo's self-appointed protector, Joe Wolfe. At first, the long-legged blonde and her kid look like trouble to Joe. Mary Jo saved the builder's life years ago, and he will do no less for the woman he considers a surrogate mother. But as he keeps an eye on the unwanted guests, Joe's suspicions soon become replaced by admiration and respect for Eden's resolve and dedication to her son. With his background of abuse and abandonment, Joe is aware of the dangers facing the vulnerable and wants better for Eden and Jake. He offers her a business arrangement--he'll build her a bakery, and she can run it. As they join forces to start the bakery, can they overcome the scars of the past to find a recipe for love? (Contemporary Romance from Iron Stream Media)

Tangled Up in Love by Carolyn Miller -- When Ellie Reilly returns from a dream overseas trip, a too-long hug from her best friend Jasper Cohen clues her in that his feelings might be more than what she suspected. He's unsure about pushing their friendship further, and doubly uncertain when her European friend, Sebastian, seeks her out in Trinity Lakes. Uncertainty is something Ellie knows all too well. Since returning from her vacation, Ellie feels like she doesn't fit at her family's ranch or in small town life. When she is asked to take on responsibility for reopening Trinity Lakes' historical museum - a dream she's always wanted - she can't help but wonder if settling for life in the familiar is all that God has for her, or can she dare trust Him for more? (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

Prestige of Hearts by R.F. Whong -- When Chicagoan Grace Feng, a recent college graduate and a devout Christian, delivers her late mother’s letter to a billionaire, Mr. Lam, in Hong Kong, she expects a quick exchange. Upon their meeting, he offers her a job and luxurious accommodations. She reluctantly stays and befriends Kevin Cheung, the butler’s atheist son, and a jobless unpublished author. Haunted by a tragic past, Kevin finds solace in Grace’s company, but a mystery troubles him: Grace resembles several movie stars who date Mr. Lam, the town’s most eligible bachelor. Can Kevin unravel the enigma? Meanwhile, Mr. Lam’s college-aged son and a fugitive who fled China after the Tiananmen Square Massacre also vie for Grace’s affections. Caught amid a love quadrangle, will she retain her Christian values and guide them toward true grace? (Contemporary Romance from Vidaysm Publishing)

General Contemporary and Women’s Fiction:

Between You and Us by Kendra Broekhuis -- When Leona Warlon heads across the city to meet her husband, David, for a rare dinner out, she hopes they can share a moment of relief after their year of loss. But Leona quickly realizes this is no ordinary date night. She hasn’t just stepped into an upscale ristorante; she’s stepped into a different version of her life. One in which her marriage is no longer tender, in which her days are pressured by her powerful in-laws, and in which her precious baby girl lived. Now Leona must weigh the bitter and sweet of both trajectories, facing an unimaginable choice: Stay in a world where tragedy hasn’t struck but where the meaningful life she built with David is gone? Or return to a reality that’s filled with struggle and sorrow but also deep and enduring love? (Contemporary from Waterbrook/Multnomah)

Chokecherry Valley Faith by Jean Rezab -- Alex Richmond is being released from prison after a two-year term for embezzlement. His former boss's cancer has returned, and the town blames Alex. His wife, Courtney, looks forward to his return but worries about how the community will react. Can Alex and Courtney work as a team after having been apart for two years and face the trials that will come with his return home? (Contemporary Women’s Fiction, Independently Published)

Cozy Mystery:

Saguaro, Snowflakes, and Murder by Jenna Hendricks -- Maisy Bransky’s life takes an unexpected turn when she inherits a quirky bookshop from her beloved great-aunt Jo. The giant saguaro cactus out front named Siggy, shelves filled with rare books, and the possibility of a small coffee shop inside seem like the perfect recipe for a peaceful life. However, tranquility is shattered when Jo’s archnemesis, the notorious local troublemaker Homer Kimball, is found dead near her bookshop. As the gossip mill starts churning, Maisy becomes the prime suspect. Determined to clear her name, Maisy embarks on a journey to unravel the mysteries hidden within the dusty shelves of Aunt Jo's bookshop. With the help of a rescued Frenchie named Ollie, a mysterious old cowboy, and unexpected allies like a quirky cactus enthusiast, Maisy discovers cryptic messages, hidden compartments, and a secret diary that hints at Aunt Jo's enigmatic past. As Maisy delves deeper, she uncovers a forged will, a lost treasure map, and a series of red herrings that lead her to suspect everyone from Aunt Jo's best friends, The Fearsome Foursome, to the local pirate. Can Maisy solve the mystery, unearth the secrets of the past, and prove her innocence? (Cozy Mystery, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

The Luck of the Irish by Kate Darroch, Kathleen Marple Kalb, C.A. Phipps, Amy Grundy, Jessica Brimer, Jessica Thomson, J.L. Lancaster, Jaclyn Weist, K. Rose, W. Jenkins-- Ten Tantalizing Cozy Mysteries and the authors' favorite Saint Patrick's Day Recipes - sure to make you chuckle, and to keep you guessing! (Cozy Mystery from Ad Astra Press Inc)

Historical Romance:

Streams of Courage by Sandra Merville Hart -- In a world turned upside down by war and betrayal...will his role as a spy bring them closer…or tear their future apart? The war that Julia Dodd prayed to avoid is now reality, and with it, her world has been turned on its head. Her fellow citizens, who stood with her in their support of the union, have crossed firmly to the side of the south. And her mother, lost in her grief over the loss of her husband and children, can think of nothing but protecting Julia’s brother’s inheritance. She insists that her daughter seek a wealthier husband than Ashburn Mitchell. Ash knows what his fellow citizens think of him when he refuses to fight for the confederacy. Shouldering the accusation of being a coward and refusing to hide behind his limp, Ash remains in Vicksburg to support his family as a saddler while his two best friends join the fight. Struggling to increase his business so he can marry the woman he loves, Ash becomes a spy in support of the Union. He can’t fight for the South but won’t raise a musket against them. As tragedy instigates Ash to risk greater danger to speed the end of the war, Julia can only pray it won’t cost them everything. She’s already lost her father and two siblings. Must she lose the man she loves too? (Historical Romance from Wild Heart Books)

To Speak His Name by Tara Johnson -- Avalina is a woman trapped in silence. Stolen from her home in Ireland and sold as a slave to a Barbados plantation owner, the trauma of her past has left her mute, wrapped in a prison of loneliness and isolation amid an island of beauty. Though she longs to be free from the cruelty of her overseer, her heart yearns for a greater freedom…something just beyond her grasp. Josiah Holland has been born into a South Carolina slave-holding family but all it takes is one trip to the island of Barbados to open his eyes to the ugly cruelty that abounds beyond the confines of his plantation. With the aid of fiery abolitionist Benjamin McGee, Josiah forges a new future, fighting the very ideals he was once a part of. When Avalina and Josiah’s lives entwine, will their spark engulf them in destruction, or ignite a revolution? (Historical Romance from Story Architect)

Uncharted Peace by Keely Brooke Keith -- Lena’s stay at The Inn at Falls Creek leaves her torn between loyalty to her family and marrying Philip for love. (Historical Romance, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

Seashells in My Pocket by Terri Wangard -- German-Brazilian Isabel Neumann delights in creating seashell art, but it’s her mathematical ability that lands her a job at the American air base in Natal, northern Brazil during World War II. She doesn’t need a calculator to determine the correct weights and balances for the Air Transport Command’s cargo planes. Daniel Lambert, an American transport pilot based at Natal, endures the taunts of combat pilots that he is “allergic to combat.” His flying skills win him respect, however, and his friendship with Isabel deepens, even as a new source of trouble looms. Isabel is caught in the crosshairs of a German saboteur who is obsessed with her. He insists that she belongs with him and demands that she help him sabotage the Allied base. Her growing relationship with Daniel angers the Nazi, who will do anything to get of rid him. What will happen to Isabel if the madman captures her? (Historical Romance from Scrivenings Press)

Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse -- From the time she was little, Martha Jankowski has been digging in the dirt, much to the dismay of her mother. Now, she dreams of being a paleontologist and is determined to make her parents proud by uncovering the next big discovery. When Martha finds what she hopes to be a fully intact dinosaur skeleton--one that that could win her an acclaimed exhibit--she learns another team is competing against her and could steal her chance at being recognized for this momentous discovery. Paleontology student Jacob Duncan has fulfilled his dream of digging for dinosaur bones at last. In a race against time, he and his team are bent on unearthing a complete skeleton to claim a museum exhibit with their names on it. But when Jacob meets their charming competitor Martha and uncovers foul play within his team, love and danger grow hand in hand until a menacing ruse threatens to destroy it all. (Historical Romance from Bethany House)

Levi’s Vow by Peny Zeller -- Wrongfully imprisoned for a crime and disowned by his family, Levi Callahan endeavors to put the past behind him. When he travels to the Idaho Territory and secures a job on a small farm, he has no idea he’ll once again be defending the vulnerable. Norah Hammett knows what it means to suffer loss. After her husband leaves her and their children for a “better” life and her hired hand steals from her, she is left to run the farm alone. When ruthless men attempt to steal Norah's Idaho farm, can Levi help her save it? Or will he prove to be disloyal like the rest of the men in her life? Will God use desperate circumstances to bring two hurting hearts together? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Love’s Promise by Penny Zeller -- Can one man's love win a fragile woman's heart? After Amaya Alvarado lost her fiancé to a senseless tragedy, she vows never to love again. Two years later, at her grandmother’s request, she travels to Poplar Springs to assist with the mercantile and help care for her ailing grandfather. During a stagecoach accident and a confrontation with nefarious outlaws, she crosses paths with a man named Silas McFadden who rescues her and the other passengers. Silas is not the man he once was. After a stint on the wrong side of the law, he’s now a respectable rancher in Poplar Springs, Wyoming. Amaya’s and Silas’s friendship soon grows, and she begins to trust him with everything but her heart. Can she push her growing feelings for him aside? When the past comes back to haunt him and revenge is sought, can Silas protect the woman he has come to love? (Historical Romance from Maplebrook Publishing)

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller:

Open Water by Betty Thomason Owens -- As much as Lisa Oliver wanted to believe that she could be safe in the small mountain community of Benning, Kentucky, she knew that wouldn't be the case when Agent Farrow's car pulled next to the school where she had been working. They'd found her again? Who was stalking her and why? Jake Bradley uses his widely popular "Jake on the Road" articles to help him continue to follow leads into Lisa's past, but he didn't expect the people whom he spoke with to be attacked and killed. How could he possibly protect this woman who had become so important to him when he so miserably failed at learning about her past and why someone had killed her parents? Lisa and Jake learn more about her past, and about each other, in this dramatic suspense. (Contemporary Mystery/Suspense from Write Integrity Press)

Romantic Suspense:

Never Fall Again by Lynn H Blackburn -- Landry Hutton has spent three years rebuilding her life behind the secure gates of The Haven, an exclusive resort on the outskirts of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina. As the artist-in-residence, and with her pottery prized by The Haven’s guests, she’s finally ready to settle in permanently. She wants to give her daughter, Eliza, a safe home to grow up in and hires former Marine Callum Shaw to handle the construction. Cal grew up in Gossamer Falls and always knew he would someday join his family’s business. He longs for a family of his own but has almost given up on that ever happening. Landry is funny, gifted, and everything Cal could ever want in a partner, but he vows to keep his distance. Landry has a daughter and a past. Cal has been down that road before and barely survived when the woman he loved left, taking her two sons with her. He can’t bear to lose like that again. Before construction on the house can begin, Landry’s pottery is destroyed in a suspicious fire. It soon becomes clear that Landry and Eliza are in grave danger—but from whom? Despite his best efforts to remain unattached and uninvolved, Cal knows that Landry needs him— and he fears he needs her just as much. (Romantic Suspense from Revell)

Even in Death by Rebecca Hemlock -- After receiving a note that her ninety-three-year-old great aunt is very sick, Emily Fredrickson assumes the worst. She's always known that she'd someday lose the only blood relative she has, but when she's met with a ghost story and a mysterious family keepsake, she must dive into the past to figure out how to get rid of the ghosts in Fredrickson Mansion and bring peace to her troubled aunt. (Romantic Suspense from Bluecap Publishing)

Cold Case Target by Jessica R Patch -- Caught in a serial killer’s deadly game with nowhere to turn… Interrupting an attempted murder—and leaving with incriminating evidence—makes Sissy Spencer a serial killer’s next target. With a flash drive in her possession containing disturbing proof of multiple murders, Sissy has no choice but to trust her ex-boyfriend, private investigator Beau Brighton, to keep her safe. But can they unravel the clues and track down a killer…before he catches them first? (Romantic Suspense from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Sweet Deceit by Sally Jo Pitts -- Someone will stop at nothing to keep the secrets of Sweet County hidden. Public Relations Consultant ANNIE MCAFEE hopes to spend a quiet summer in Sugarville waitressing, housesitting and job hunting. But her plans are upended after she’s run off the road and narrowly escapes with her life. Rookie state investigator WILL BRICE is looking forward to a bright future with the Florida Department of Law Enforcement until the governor removes the Sweet County Sheriff and appoints Will to take his place. Propelled into the middle of Sweet County’s dark secrets, Will and Annie find that deceit hides beneath its sugar-coated façade and the townspeople prefer to turn a blind eye to wrongdoing. Confronted with a web of mysterious threats, life threatening crises, and the death of a teenager, the two must work together with the help of an unusual sidekick to expose the corruption. Can this unlikely crime fighting trio crack the town’s sweet cover? (Romantic Mystery from Elk Lake Publishing)

Caught in the Crosshairs by Melanie D. Snitker -- For single mom Erica Keyes, a normal day swiftly changes to one of terror when someone intentionally runs her off the road, endangering her and her son’s life. Already unsettled by the encounter, strange things begin happening at the B&B she owns, leaving her watchful and on edge. Unable to find a connection between the events, Erica is grateful for a handsome guest who insists on helping. In town to scout a new location for his private security employer, Cole Shepherd rents a room at the Tranquil Bed & Breakfast. When he realizes someone is harassing the lovely owner and her son, he'll do whatever it takes to keep Erica and Peter safe. As the danger escalates and the suspects grow increasingly desperate, it's clear that Cole and Erica are missing a key piece of information. Can they stay one step ahead long enough to figure out who is behind it all and thwart their evil plans? (Romantic Suspense, Independently Published [ACFW QIP])

Young Adult:

Salvaged by Shanna M Heath -- Hadley, forced to relocate with her estranged father at age seventeen, searches for belonging. A cancer diagnosis threatens to take her beloved Nonny, and a looming senior project might just break her. Has God forgotten Hadley Edwards? (Young Adult, Independently Published)

  Plus check out these recent additions to Fiction Finder published within the past month:

Trust and Trickery-Hivites by Christine Dillon -- But what can a mere baker do to save his family, his city, and his people? (General Historical)

Dawn’s Hidden Threat by Elizabeth Goddard -- An unexpected search and rescue uncovers a hidden threat. Angie Harris doesn’t know whom to trust, except for the man who rescued her from a cold, dark cave and a grizzly bear. *Previously published in the Heroes in the Crossfire collection. (Romantic Suspense)

Guardian by Cathy McCrumb -- In order to save her allies, the Recorder must activate a drone, but her success might destroy any hope for freedom, a future, and a name. (Speculative Fiction)

Dysfunction Junction by Robin W Pearson -- At the junction of healed and hurting, broken and whole, and past and present, three women wrestle with their inability to forgive and forget in this riveting Southern family drama about sisterhood. (Contemporary Literary Fiction)

The Medici Quest by Jeff Raymond -- Highlighted by accurate locations and blending in factual historical characters and events, The Medici Quest touches on the real-life topics of faith, grace, and redemption. (Thriller/Suspense)

Who Brought the Dog to Church? by Tracy L Smoak -- God works in mysterious ways—and through ordinary people. The town of Prosper is about to experience some drama—and it all starts with a dog who comes to church. (Contemporary General)

Caleb’s Cross by Urcelia Teixeira -- A suspenseful true crime murder mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end. (Crime/Mystery)

Former Things Forgotten by Thomas Michael Trezise -- This intriguing and unforgettable story of love at the intersection of heaven and earth, where relationships are eternal and hard choices determine destinies, examines the questions, answers, and consequences of life lived for self or for God. (Contemporary Literary)

Rocky Road by Becky Wade -- Escape to Maine for this swoon-worthy "fake romance"! Banter, humor, perfume, and a mystery from the past intertwine in this sweet Sons of Scandal love story. (Contemporary Romance)

Talkshow Thursday: A Guest Post with Donna Wichelman

How A Rewrite of Your Manuscript 

Can Turn Your WIP into an A+ Novel 

by Donna Wichelman

In December, I received my first contract from a traditional publisher after three years of pitching my manuscript to agents and publishers. The book will come out in December 2024.

However, before I was offered a contract, two agents asked for a Rewrite and Resubmit (aka R& R) of the first chapters. I had never heard of an R&R the first time an agent asked for one, but I soon learned that it meant the agent had seen something worthy in my writing and liked my story, but they wanted a rewrite to enhance the story. In both cases, I strived for what they suggested would improve the manuscript but missed the mark.

Of course, I was disappointed the agents chose not to offer me a contract. But looking back at the process, I’m incredibly grateful for their insights. Last August, I attended the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Conference in St. Louis, Missouri. One of the workshops was appropriately titled “The Rewrite,” presented by NYT Best Selling author Rachel Hauck.

Paraphrasing Rachel, she said, “No matter whether you are a seasoned writer or a novice trying to getyour first contract, you will not escape the inevitable rewrite.” She held up the first page from one of her published manuscripts. It contained red editing marks throughout—rewrites the publisher wanted her to make before the book went to press.

It takes a humble and teachable spirit to become a writer of excellence. But followers of Christ know Scripture is replete with commands like we read in 1 Peter 5:6, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time …” (NASB).

Agents and editors are not gods, but they have the wisdom, knowledge, and experience to know what

Photo: Pixabay/reenablack

transforms our manuscripts into works of excellence. Sometimes, our pride can get in the way of allowing them to help us envision what can turn an A- manuscript into an A+.

For those of us working with a traditional publisher, it’s important to listen to our editors and agents to ensure our work is the best possible. If we are Christ’s followers, we should also aspire to represent Him with excellence. As Jesus said in Matthew 10:24 – 25, “A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. It is enough for the disciple that he becomes like his teacher …” (NASB).


A Rewritten Excerpt from my historical romance A Song of Deliverance

Stefan peered into her determined face and immediately adopted a languid pose, his lips slowly curving into a smile. “How do you do that?”

 
“Do what?”

“Remain so sanguine when the world around you is crashing before your eyes.”

“Ach, you give me more credit than I deserve, Mr. Maier. As you know, life has not always doled out circumstances in my favor.” Anna peered off to the western mountain denuded of trees. “The last year has tested the strength of my fortitude, and there have been plenty of times I would have given in to despair, or worse, to have become a bitter soul.”

“But you didn’t.” He was amazed she hadn’t, considering how he had initially treated her, evicting her from the miner’s cottage without mercy.

“Only by the grace of God.” A soft glow entered Anna’s eyes as she gazed at him. “If you’d have told me a month ago that I would have to face life here on my own without an uncle to support me and only strangers to comfort me, I would have run to my Irish hills a coward. But God didn’t afford me the luxury of knowing. And so, here I am, weak as my faith is, having to trust that God’s grace is sufficient for my daily needs and catching glimmers of hope in the journey whose end is still unknown.”

 
“All aboard for the stagecoach to Georgetown.”

Stefan twisted his head toward the driver. People were gathering around the door. When he’d first seen Anna, he had preferred not to face her. Now, there was nothing he wanted more—more time to talk, more time to gaze into eyes that spoke light and truth into his heart, and he was struck by how, in such a short time, she had utterly changed his life.

A Song of Deliverance Publishing Date: December 2024, Pre-Orders in November

Photo: Pixabay/
Ondrej Sponiar

Born into the Irish system of land-holding that favors the moneyed class, Anna Sullivan has no dowry and no chance of marrying the man she loves. Poor and heartbroken, she flees Ireland to tend to Uncle Liam’s house in Colorado and take on her deceased aunt’s sewing business.

But when Anna arrives in Georgetown, she discovers a mine disaster at the Singing Silver Mine has killed her uncle. Orphaned and destitute again, she gathers her faith, courage, and ingenuity to establish a life in the community. Only one person stands in her way—the mine’s owner.

A wealthy, grief-stricken widower of European nobility, Stefan Maier threw his energies into making his mark as a silver mining baron in Colorado when his wife and child died at sea, emigrating to America. Now, everyone blames him for the mine disaster that killed nine men. But how does he convince the lovely and opinionated Irish woman of his innocence?

Will Anna’s heart soften towards Stefan? Will Stefan prove himself worthy of Anna’s affection? Each will have to risk everything to attain what they want and need most—love.

About Donna:

Donna worked as a communications professional before turning to full-time writing. Her short stories, essays, and articles have appeared in various inspirational publications. She has two contemporary suspense novels in her Waldensian Series, Light Out of Darkness and Undaunted Valor on Amazon.com. Her historical romance, A Song of Deliverance, will come out in December, published by Scrivenings Press. She is also working on a World War Two historical slip-time project set in Libourne, France.

Weaving history and faith into stories of intrigue and redemption grew out of her love of history and English literature as a young adult while attending the United World College of the Atlantic--an international college in Wales, U.K. She loves to explore peoples and cultures of the world and enjoys developing plots that show how God’s love abounds even in the profoundly difficult circumstances of our lives. Her stories reflect the hunger in all of us for love, forgiveness, and redemption in a world that often withholds second chances.

Social Media Links:
Website: www.donnawichelman.com
Blog: www.donnawicchelman.com/blog
Historical Blog: www.hhhistory.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DonnaWichelmanAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DonnaWichelman