Diary of a Writer: Look Who Learned to Use iMovie?

Forever After by Deb Raney

I'm thrilled to have another good friend and acclaimed author on the site this week!

Please welcome Deborah Raney.

Forever After is the second book in Deborah Raney's Hanover Falls Novels series from Howard/Simon &

Schuster. The first novel in the series, Almost Forever, won the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and a

HOLT Medallion Award of Merit.

Synopsis: Lucas Vermontez was a proud firefighter like his father. Now, not only has he lost his father and his best friend, Zach, in the fire at the Grove Street Homeless Shelter, but the devoted rookie can no longer do the work he loves after being crippled in the tragic event.

When friendship with his buddy's beautiful widow turns into more, he wonders what he could possibly offer Jenna. Jenna Morgan is trying to grieve her husband's death like a proper widow, but the truth is, she never really loved Zach.

His death feels more like a relief to her. But that relief is short-lived when she loses her home and the financial support of her in-laws. Now the secrets of her past threaten to destroy her future. Almost Forever, Book 1 in the Hanover Falls Novels series, won the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence in 2011.

DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched her writing career after 20 happy years as a stay-at-home mom.

Her books have won numerous awards including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists.

Deb also serves on the Advisory Board of the 2500-member American Christian Fiction Writers. Her 20th novel released this month from Howard/Simon & Schuster.

She and her husband, Ken Raney, enjoy tending wildflowers and native grasses in the Kansas prairie garden in their large back yard. They also love traveling together to conferences, and to visit four children and three little grandsons who all live much too far away.

Dragons of Chiril by Donita K. Paul

It's an honor to have my good friend Donita Paul stopping by today to tell us about her new novel.

Before DragonSpell, on a different continent and a different time, a young emerlindian’s desperate decision threatens to disrupt the foundation of the world. Tipper has been caring for her family’s estate for years now, ever since her father disappeared, making a living by selling off his famous artwork. Then she learns that three statues she sold were carved from an ancient foundation stone, and the fabric of her reality is crumbling. She must find the three statues and reunite them, positioned exactly in the right form. She must free her father and save the world. But she can’t do it alone. Her ragtag band of adventurers includes Beccaroon, a giant parrot; Bealomondore, an aristocratic young artist; a handsome dragonkeeper prince; the Wizard Fenworth; and the tumanhofer librarian Librettowit. Together they travel through valleys and kingdoms and consort with purveyors of good and agents of evil to find and reunite the missing statues. Will they learn to rely on Wulder’s grace and guidance along the way?

Dragons of the Watch will be the last book in this series. It comes out in October.

From Donita:

"The heroine in the first two books of the Chiril Chronicles is Tipper Schope. In her early twenties, she has been in charge of a massive household for the many years following her father's disappearance. In her mind, she has not done a great job. At the time of the first scene, she has been reduced to selling her noted father's artwork in order to pay the bills. Her home is a deteriorating mansion. They have two servants left from the full staff. Her mother's mental health and stability has broken down. The failure of the mansion has caused hardship among those who depended on her father and this establishment. Tipper feels the weight of all the responsibility.

I see strong women face two types of situations those they chose and those that are thrust upon them. I know a young lady who worked hard to put herself through college to become an RN. She showed tremendous strength and determination to meet her goal, one she had chosen herself. But this same young lady had an abusive parent, an alcoholic spouse, and a relative with a debilitating disease. Obviously these burdens were not ones she chose. With each new obstacle that came her way, she continued on the path she knew God had ordained. And not only that, but she remained a cheerful, optimistic person. As a great mom, she has drilled into her kids, "Attitude is everything."

The character in Dragons of Chiril is also challenged by adversity. Unfortunately, three of the statues she sold to acquire money for expenses, turned out to be the cornerstone of the world she lives in. With the statues separated, the countryside has bizarre eruptions that destroy property and life.

As in real life, with each new challenge, Tipper grows to meet the difficulty. That stretching to do the next thing, the thing we think is just beyond our ability, makes us grow stronger. Tipper's character deepens as she handles what I (the author) throw at her. And she also gains a perspective of herself that eliminates the false guilt. I think false guilt weighs us down more than the reality we face. Tipper does reach a happy ending, but the reader is aware that it is not because the road we travel will not smooth out and be bump-free until we reach Heaven. That's okay. We have the hope!"


For more about Donita and her books, click here.

The Story Jar by Robin Lee Hatcher and Deborah Bedford

What a great honor to have these two prestigious authors on my blog today to tell us about a great Mother's Day gift!

THE STORY JAR

A lovely novel of three women, their stories threaded together through the concept of

The Story Jar…

The jar itself is most unusual -- not utilized in the ordinary way for canning or storing food, but as a collection point for memories. Some mementos in the jar -- hair ribbons, a ring, a medallion--are sorrowful, others tender, some bittersweet. But all those memories eventually bring their owners to a place of hope and redemption in spite of circumstances that seemingly have no solution.

Fresh, insightful, yet courageous in the face of difficult life issues, this collaboration by two talented writers first profiles a pastor’s wife with two young daughters who faces cancer just as her own mother did before her; and then a remarried mother working through a difficult relationship with a rebelliousrunaway daughter.

The third woman, alone with two teenaged boys who no longer pay much attention to her and seem headed for trouble, discovers the long-lost “story jar” and its significance. She comes to realize she can bring her own sorrows and frustrations to the feet of the Good Shepherd, the Great Physician, the Healer of the brokenhearted. She too will have memories for her own story jar.

“…It captures with surprising sensitivity…communion with God, and some excruciatingly exquisite moments of parental love…” Publishers Weekly

Included in the book are heart-warming tributes on motherhood fro novelists such as Jerry Jenkins, Francine, Rivers, Karen Ball, and Debbie Macomber.

************************

ABOUT THE Robin and Deborah:

Robin Lee Hatcher is known for her heartwarming and emotionally charged stories of faith, courage, and love. She makes her home in Idaho where she enjoys spending time with her family, her high-maintenance Papillon, Poppet, and Princess Pinky,

the kitten who currently terrorizes the household.

When Deborah Bedford isn't writing, she spends her time fly-fishing, cheering at American Legion baseball games, shopping with her daughter, singing praise songs while she walks along the banks of Flat Creek, and taking her dachshund Annie for hikes in the Tetons where they live.

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY JAR

by Robin Lee Hatcher

In September 1998, I received a story jar as a thank you gift after speaking at a writers’ conference in Nebraska.

The small mason jar, the lid covered with a pretty handkerchief, was filled with many odds and ends – a Gerber baby spoon, an empty thread spindle, a colorful pen, several buttons, a tiny American flag, an earring, and more.

The idea behind this gift was a simple one. When a writer can’t think of anything to write, she stares at one of the objects in the jar and lets her imagination play. Who did that belong to? How hold was he? What sort of person was he? What does the object represent in his life?

Writers love to play the “what if” game. It’s how most stories come into being. Something piques their interest, they start asking questions, and a book is born.

A week after receiving my story jar, I attended a retreat with several writer friends of mine, Deborah Bedford included. On the flight home, I told Deborah about the jar.

The next thing you know (after all, what better thing is there for writers to do on a plane than play “what if”?), we began brainstorming what would ultimately become The Story Jar. We decided very quickly that we wanted this to be a book that celebrates motherhood, that encourages mothers, that recognizes how much they should be loved and honored.

The Story Jar was first published by Multnomah in 2000, but eventually went out of print. Thus Deborah and I are delighted that Hendrickson wanted to bring it out in a new, revised version because we believe these stories can inspire others, just as it did this reader back in 2001:

"I am an avid book reader and have read thousands of books––maybe more––since the age of 5. I can honestly say that [The Story Jar] has touched me more than any other I have read. I cried, I laughed, and I relearned things that I had forgotten long ago as well as realizing things I never knew. Thank you for sharing your stories with your readers. They are truly inspiring. I plan on giving it to all the ‘mothers’ in my life for Mother's Day."

You don’t have to be a writer to want a story jar. It can be a family’s way of preserving memories. Consider having a family get-together where everybody brings an item to go into the jar, and as it drops in, they tell what it means to them, what it symbolizes. We can learn something new about our loved ones when we hear their memories in their own words.

Or do what my church did a number of years ago to create a memory for a retiring pastor. Inspired by The Story Jar, members of the congregation brought items to the retirement dinner to put into a story jar or they simply wrote their memories on a piece of paper to go into the jar. It was our way of saying thanks to a man and wife for all of the years they’d given in God’s service.

A story jar can be a tool for remembering all the wonderful things God has done in our own lives. As Mrs. Halley said, not all of God’s miracles are in the Bible. He is still performing them today in countless ways today, changing lives, healing hearts.

In the grip of His grace,

Robin Lee Hatcher

Welcome Kim Cash Tate, author of Faithful

Hey, Kim, welcome to my little ole web site! Your new book is out, Faithful, from Thomas Nelson. I’m excited for you. Tell us a little bit about the book and why you wrote this story.

KCT: Hey Rachel! Thanks for having me in your little ole corner of the web world! Faithful is about three female friends, each of whom finds herself in the midst of a struggle.

Cyd is turning 40 and wondering why God hasn’t sent her a husband, why her much younger sister is getting married on her 40^th birthday--in which she’s the maid of honor!--and why her life is suddenly complicated by the playboy best man who’s showing interest in her.

Her friend, Dana, discovers that her husband is having an affair--and they’re co-leaders of the church’s marriage ministry. And Phyllis is a fairly new believer whose husband is hostile to her newfound faith. When she attends a college reunion, she’s drawn to another man--because he’s a strong Christian.

I wrote this story because I wanted to explore real life trials and real life responses to those trials--the questioning, the doubt, the fear, the weariness--as we try to hang on and trust God.

The back of the book asks, will they trust God’s faithfulness...and find the strength to be faithful to Him? That’s really what it’s about--that two-sided dynamic. God is always faithful, but we will we trust that, and will we be faithful to Him?

RH: What do you hope readers will take away from this book?

KCT: I hope readers will walk away with an abiding sense of God’s faithfulness. It doesn’t mean that everything in life will go the way we want it, or that we won’t encounter struggles, but if we look for His faithfulness, we’ll find it—it’s always there. I also hope readers will be inspired to grow in faithfulness toward God. I’ve gotten a lot of feedback already from readers who’ve been touched in these ways, and I’ve been thanking God.

RH: Before writing and kids, you were a lawyer. Now you know I’m a closet lawyer like most lawyers are closet writers. Tell us about your legal work. Do you miss it? How do you stay in touch with your legal side?

KCT: Ah, yes, we writers do seem to have former lives, don’t we? After law school, I clerked for a federal judge in Wisconsin, then practiced civil litigation at a large law firm, ultimately making partner. I left when my kids were 1 and 3...and uh, no, can’t say I miss it. (smile) I came to know the Lord while at the firm, and I discovered that He had an entirely different plan for my life. Don’t you just love that He had a plan for us before time began? (RH: Yes! You and I've talked about this. We share this passion for people's destiny.)

But maybe one day, I’ll reconnect with my legal side...hmm, a contemporary romance that delves deep into issues of the heart, against the backdrop of a suspenseful courtroom drama… Wait, gotta jot down a story idea... (RH: Love that... jot fast!)

RH: How did you get started writing? Did you have a dream of being a published author?

KCT: Ha. Guess I’m one of the strange ones. I did not dream of being a published author. While on maternity leave with my firstborn, I was asking God what kind of home-based business I could start.

He was putting it in my heart to leave the firm, and I figured, “Okay, I’ll start a business from home.” But one day at church, I heard clearly in my heart that He wanted me to write about my spiritual journey.

I even had the title before I left the service, “More Christian than African-American.” But I had no idea how to go about it. I got a book on how to write a nonfiction book proposal, and a few months later, had an agent and a contract.

But fiction didn’t enter my world until years after that. A story began to weave itself in my mind, and I thought, “God, really? You want me to write fiction? But I can’t do a proposal; I have to write the whole book before I know whether it’ll go anywhere!” That story became “Heavenly Places,” which was published in 2008.

RH: What has been the biggest help to you in the journey to publication?

KCT: Prayer. When I started writing fiction, I was a homeschooling mom with little extra time on my hands. I didn’t know any authors personally, didn’t belong to any writing groups, and had never been to a writers’ conference. In other words, I didn’t have a clue! But I think God wanted it that way, for me to totally depend on Him. I had no idea that the journey would draw me so much closer to Him.

RH: Is the “writer’s life” what you thought it would be?

KCT: This is bad, but I don’t even know what I thought it would be. I just know my own writer’s life has always been crazy! (RH: I think they all are!) I continue to homeschool, so I don't get hours upon hours at the laptop like most writers. I get up early in the morning to write, and I kind of keep the laptop near during the day and keep index cards handy to catch ideas.

But I guess there’s one aspect of "writer's life" that has surprised me--I’m always doing something related to writing. I know, duh! But let me explain. (smile) I don’t think I realized I'd be working on three books at one time--drafting a new manuscript, editing a just-finished manuscript, and promoting a just-released novel. I’m learning to juggle, juggle, juggle! (RH: For me, it's that I'm always thinking of my book. Or being hit with a new idea and turning it over in my mind to see if it has any merit.)

RH: This year you joined the Women of Faith team. Tell us about that and how it's impacted your life.

KCT: Oh, yeah, I’m juggling that too. (RH: What a fun juggle!) It was a total God thing. Women of Faith was just about the farthest thing from my mind. But for the first time in 2010, they split the conference into an east coast and a west coast tour, thus needing more speakers.

The fiction team sort of threw my name into the mix, and I thought it was nice but that it wouldn’t go anywhere. But God used the process to truly grow my faith. When they gave me an opportunity to speak at four events this year, I knew it was all Him.

It’s impacted me greatly. I’ve never done anything like this in my life, so I’m depending on God all the more. The conferences themselves have impacted me as well, seeing the enthusiasm for God among the women who attend and the hearts for ministry among the Women of Faith team. I’ll be on the 2011 east coast tour, so if you think of me, I’d love your prayers! (RH: Always praying for you!)

RH: You’re married to Bill, a professor. Tell us about him and how you two met?

KCT: Bill and I started dating while I was in law school and he was in graduate school. He’s a professor at Washington University in St. Louis. His specialty is mathematics education, and he’s head of the Department of Education. We’re so blessed to have been married 17 years, with a boy and girl, 14 and 12. Both of us are children of divorced parents, so we’re very thankful that we love and enjoy one another. He still makes me laugh! (RH: My hubby makes me laugh too after knowing each other 22 years!)

RH: I know he supports your writing and speaking life, but with two children, how does this great thing God’s done effect the family?

KCT: That’s a good question because we have absolutely no family nearby for support. Thankfully, the academic life is very flexible. Bill often works from home, and when he needs to go into the office, we’re only five minutes away. My mother is always a huge blessing. She makes herself available to come and take care of the kids if need be...and they love their grandma!

RH: You’re a home school mom, and we’ve chatted some about your flexible writing schedule. How do you manage to make your deadline?

KCT: Ha. It wasn’t easy! (smile) This year was the first year I’ve had to write under a deadline. Faithful was already written when I got a contract with Thomas Nelson, so I only had to edit it.

But writing Cherished, my 2011 release, was an exercise in tons and tons of prayer (read, crying out to God). (RH: Been there, moved in, made it my permanent address.)

I told God that if the day finally comes when I have hours of uninterrupted time to write, it’ll seem too weird and I won’t know how to function. But I’ll tell you, God is faithful. The manuscript got done, and my editor loves it. Now ask me the same question this time next year. I’m starting from scratch again and hoping I’ll make that deadline! (RH: I'm sure it's fabulous!)

RH: Is there any one person who’s had a profound effect on your life?

KCT: Jesus. Seems a pat answer, but He’s the one who has had an amazingly profound, everlasting impact on my life. He’s the only one who could have changed my heart in the ways it’s been changed, renew my mind to see the world in an entirely different way, flip my goals and plans, and set my mind on things eternal. He has given me a desire to live, move, and have my being in Him. He is my life. That’s about as profound as it gets. (RH: I've had the same experience of just wanting do desperately for Him to by my all in all! I'd not live any other way now.)

RH: What is the Lord speaking to you today? Is there one thing He keeps highlighting to you?

KCT: At any given time, I seem to have several things the Lord is speaking to me, but for many months, one of them has been Colossians 3:12-14. I had been praying to have a right heart in the midst of all that’s happening in life, and these verses speak directly to that. They say to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other...and beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”

It’s become my specific prayer, to have that kind of heart. It’s not easy, especially when it’s not returned, but God’s been speaking that to me too--to maintain a right heart even if I don’t receive the same from others. (RH: I love praying the Word, especially those verses that stand out. I've had the issue with people not responding to me in a way I thought they should or was fair. God has worked on my heart, and I've come to realize, it's not usually intentional. And even if it was... so what? I'm really only a legend in my own mind. snort-snicker.)

RH: You wrote “More Christian Than African American.” I think the theme of finding our identity in Jesus is universal to all races, don’t you? What’s a take away for us?

KCT: It’s absolutely universal. It’s so easy to find our identity in earthly things, whether race or ethnicity, a career or calling, even hobbies, but all these things will pass away. God never intended for them to define us. From the foundation of the world, He had an identity reserved for us in Christ. This is the identity that makes us whole, that undergirds and empowers us. This is the only true identity, one that will last forever. (RH: Love, love, love this. This is the word of the day, the hour, the century!)

RH: What advice would you give to people trying to find their identity in culture, race, career title, looks, even family and marriage?

KCT: I would say first of all, that it’s natural. Even when we know that our identity should be fully in Christ, it’s easy to lose sight of that and begin to wrap ourselves in something else. In fact, the enemy wants us to clothe ourselves in these things because he knows they lack power.

We will never be fulfilled in any identity apart from Jesus. It will never fully satisfy. As Jesus told the woman at the well, “whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst” (John 4:14). He’s the only One who can complete us. (RH: Well said!)

RH: Any advice for a new writer?

KCT: My advice for new writers is to seek the Lord first and foremost. It can be overwhelming to read books and blogs and to attend seminars and conferences, and end up with umpteen different and often divergent strands of advice on writing and publishing.

Certainly, books, blogs, and conferences are needed, and serve an immensely useful purpose. But if you’re called to write, God already has a plan for you. Seeking Him is the first step. He will then lead you to the exact resources that you need on your journey. (RH: Okay, you keep reading my mind. I say the same thing to new writers!)

RH: What’s next on the golden horizon for you?

KCT: I like that -- “golden horizon”! I’m editing Cherished right now and really looking forward to its release next year. I’m praying it will minister greatly to women who may still be hurting from past sins and needing to walk in God’s forgiveness. I’m also excited about being part of the Women of Faith 2011 tour.

RH: Any final words of encouragement?

KCT: I want to encourage anyone who may be reading this to not give up on the desires God has put in your heart. Sometimes you’re thinking there’s no way it will happen because you just don’t see it. That was me.

After my nonfiction book was published in 1999, I just knew God was calling me to write, and I was raring to go! I thought I would do more nonfiction. But suddenly, nothing was happening. God planted me in a season for years when I was simply home with the kids, frustrated because I didn’t have time to write, and ultimately doubting that He had truly called me to write.

Nine years passed between the release of my nonfiction book and the release of my novel in 2008. But God had done so much in my heart during that interval, drawing me closer to Him. If you’re in a season of waiting, use the time to draw near to God and seek Him further. And don’t give up! Trust that what He’s put in your heart, He will establish in His time, for His glory. Blessings to you on your journey!

RH: Kim, such great words of advice about life, let alone writing. I'm encouraged by all you've said. It reminds me to look to the Lord, not people, for my destiny, approval and identity. He will bring the right words, people and things across my path when I need them. It's so vital to KNOW He loves us and has a purpose!

Thanks for stopping by, Kim! You are a joy in my life.

A Perfect Blend by Trish Perry

Please welcome my friend and fab author Trish Perry as she tells us about her new book.

The Perfect Blend
Steph Vandergrift left everything to elope with Middleburg attorney Rick Manfred, who then stood her up at the altar. Too embarrassed to return home, Steph hopes to earn enough to get by until she can decide what to do next. Tea Shop owner Milly Jewel hires her and appreciates the extra help at the tea shop.

Also appreciative of Steph is Kendall James, one of the kindest, most eligible bachelors in the area. But by the time Steph feels able to consider dating again, her run-away fiancé returns and tries to win her back. Steph is wary, but she and Rick always blended so well.

Christie Burnham, the frank-talking equestrian from whom Steph rents a room, and her frillier sister Liz become fast friends and confidantes to Steph. Between the two sisters there isn't much any man is going to pull over on Middleburg's newest bachelorette and tea shop employee.

A little about Trish

Award-winning novelist Trish Perry has written The Perfect Blend, Sunset Beach, Beach Dreams, Too Good to Be True, The Guy I’m Not Dating, all for Harvest House Publishers.

Her monthly column, “Real Life is Stranger,” appeared in Christian Fiction Online Magazine during its inaugural year.

She was editor of Ink and the Spirit, the newsletter of Washington D.C. ’s Capital Christian Writers organization (CCW), for seven years. Before her novels, Perry published numerous short stories, essays, devotionals, and poetry in Christian and general market media. She will release several new books in 2011.

Perry holds a B.A. in Psychology, was a 1980s stockbroker, and held positions at the Securities and Exchange Commission and in several Washington law firms. She serves on the Board of Directors of CCW and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America. She invites you to visit her web site.

The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall

The Bridge of Peace by Cindy Woodsmall
Coming Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Headstrong schoolteacher Lena Kauffman finds herself at the center of controversy in her Amish community when a young man in her classroom refuses to submit to her authority.

As her friends and family rally around her, especially longtime friend Grey Graber, things go from bad to worse when Grey’s wife, Elsie, becomes an accidental target in trouble meant for Lena. As the present unravels around them, each must find their own way through their private pain in order to find peace and a brighter future.

The Bridge of Peace is the second novel in the Ada’s House series and it returns to Dry Lake, Pennsylvania, and the beloved characters from The Hope of Refuge—Christy finalist, Inspirational Readers Choice Contest finalist, and a Carol Award finalist.

To read the first chapter of The Bridge of Peace or see a list of places to order it online, go here.

Cindy Woodsmall is a New York Times best-selling author whose connection with the Amish community has been featured on ABC Nightline and on the front page of the Wall Street Journal.

She’s coauthor of an upcoming spring release, Plain Wisdom, which is a nonfiction book of touching and humorous life events written with an Old Order Amish friend.

Weight of Shadows by Alison Strobel

Please welcome my friend and author fantabulous, Alison Strobel!

Her new book is The Weight of Shadows. As always, Alison does a great job of dealing with difficult topics.

After a difficult childhood, Kim has built a successful life for herself

... but she'd leave it all if it meant being rid of the guilt she harbors over a tragic mistake she made years ago.

When she meets Rick, she finds everything she needs---including a way to pay for her sins every time he hits her. Kim and Rick's new neighbor, Joshua, knows more than Kim realizes about Rick, but Joshua has battles of his own to fight.

Soon to intersect Kim's and Rick's lives is Debbie, who has saved countless women from abuse through the shelter she runs, but Debbie might be as desperate for love as the women she serves.

Meanwhile, as Rick's wrath extends to their baby, Kim must decide if her penance is more important than protecting that innocent life---and if she should dare leave Rick when he has the power to bring her hidden crime to light.

Here's a bit about Alison in her own words.

I started writing as soon as I got the hang of spelling and what made up a sentence. I can remember slaving over word choice in first grade! (RH: Me, too!) I distinctly remember knowing there was a word out there that meant what I wanted to write, but my vocabulary was too small for me to figure it out. Writer angst started early. (RH: Me, too!)

I was forever writing stories as a kid. I'd start a novel every summer (except for the year the neighborhood kids all got together to do a newspaper--which lasted all of four issues) and write in the tree in the front yard, or on the porch, or in the backyard, typically using my dad's old portable manual typewriter. (Yes, I lugged a typewriter--and paper!--up a tree.) I never finished them, because this was before I thought to outline first. Although I did write an entire novel in seventh grade. It was about what you'd expect from a twelve-year-old--nauseating amounts of melodrama interspersed with my attempts at being deep. I don't know what ever happened to it, but I can only pray it is long, long gone. :)

Besides singing in choir, creative writing was my "thing" up until college. All the research papers in college drained me of any desire to write, however, and it wasn't until a couple years after graduation that I attempted another story. This time I decided to try making an outline, and the result was Worlds Collide, which would eventually become my first published novel.

The basic plot of The Weight of Shadows floated around my head for a few years before I ever tried to write it. The idea began to form after a friend told me about a high school senior she knew who had been involved in a fatal car vs. bicycle wreck.

She was driving, and an off-duty police office was biking. I don't remember the details now, only that she was eventually found to be not at fault. But in the days leading up to that decision she was in limbo, wondering if she'd be charged with his death. But the most amazing part of the story is that, when she met the officer's widow, the woman pulled the girl into a hug and told her the family held no grudge and that they absolved her of any guilt she might be feeling.

When I heard that, my first thought was of the enormous relief that young woman must have felt. But then I started to wonder what would have happened if she'd had a reason to hold on to her guilt--say, because she knew that she really was responsible for the wreck.

How would that affect her self-image, her faith (she was a Christian), her future? That was the kernel from which the book eventually grew, after germinating in my imagination for about six years.

RH: Wow, so The Weight of Shadows deals with this! What an amazing book. Don't we all wonder about those close-calls we've encountered. Thanks for stopping by, Alison!

Y'all, get The Weight of Shadows.

Welcome my friend Jill Elizabeth Nelson

I'm happy today to feature Jill's latest release! Welcome, friend.

Calculated Revenge by Jill Elizabeth Nelson
Steeple Hill Romantic Suspense(c) 2010

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It’s been eighteen years since Laney Thompson’s sister was abducted and killed, but the pain Laney feels has never faded. And now the murderer is back, taunting Laney with mementos of her sister and threatening Laney’s young daughter. School principal Noah Ryder is her best hope for protecting her daughter—if she can convince the former investigator to take the case. As the threats accelerate, a string of clues leads Laney to uncover old secrets. Unless Noah steps in with his expertise, how can she piece together the puzzle before her child—like her sister—is lost to a killer’s revenge?

READER REVIEWS:
I just finished your book. I love Christian Suspense books and this one is the best one I have read in a while. I never figured out the solution until it was evident to all. Wonderful suspense weaving throughout the book. Thanks, I will look for more books by you. I could not put it down once I got started.
Excellent, excellent book! It caught my attention from the first page and was so hard to put down! Keep on sharing God's love and gospel thru your writing - it is important to those who need encouragement as well as need to know our precious Savior!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jill Elizabeth Nelson is an award-winning author of mystery and suspense. She writes what she likes to read—tales of adventure seasoned with romance, humor, and faith, earning her the tagline: Endless Adventure, Timeless Truth. Jill speaks at conferences, writer’s groups, library associations, and civic and church groups. She and her husband live in rural Minnesota where they raised four children and are currently enjoying their first grandchild.

Visit Jill Elizabeth Nelson’s website at http://www.jillelizabethnelson.com for excerpts, book giveaways, and contests.

You can order this book directly from your local bookstore, retail stores such as Walmart, or online here: