The Writer's Life - an author's exploration of the writing life

Janette Oke!

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 02:47:00 +0000

Here I am with Janette Oke at a retirement bash. Nice lady.

a couple romances for the summer

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:49:00 +0000

Here's a bit about this week's Chapter-a-Week selections:
Washington's Lady
by Nancy Moser

The Martha you never knew�

Who is this woman who captured the heart of our country's founder? While still a young woman, Martha Custis is a widow with two children. As the richest widow in Virginia she has many suitors. But one man, a striking French and Indian War hero, steps into her life and makes her realize she is ready to love again.
Yet will this man, George Washington, who is accustomed to courageous military exploits, settle down to a simple life of farming and being a father to her children? Even as Martha longs for domestic bliss, she realizes she will have to risk everything to find the courage to get behind a dream much larger than her own. United in their Glorious Cause, the love of the Washingtons deepens until he calls her "My other self."

It is said that without George Washington there would be no United States.
But without Martha there would be no George Washington.
BEYOND THE NIGHT
By Marlo Schalesky

They say love is blind.
This time, they�re right . . .

A poignant love story . . .
A shocking twist . . .
Come, experience a love that will not die.

A Nicolas Sparks (The Notebook) type love story meets a M. Night Shymalan (The Sixth Sense) twist in this moving story of two people trying to find love in the dark. A woman going blind, a man who loves her but can�t tell her so, a car crash, a hospital room, and an ending that has to be experienced to be believed.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week.

I'm heading to Ocean City, New Jersey, soon for a week on the beach so have fun without me!
Hugs,
Traci

Tamera Alexander and Robin Lee Hatcher

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:38:00 +0000

Two great authors have releases worth a mention:
From a Distance
by
Tamera Alexander

What happens when dreams aren�t what you imagined,
And secrets you�ve spent a lifetime guarding are finally laid bare?
Determined to become one of the country�s premier newspaper photographers, Elizabeth Westbrook travels to the Colorado Territory to capture the grandeur of the mountains surrounding the remote town of Timber Ridge. She hopes, too, that the cool, dry air of Colorado, and its renowned hot springs, will cure the mysterious illness that threatens her career, and her life.
Daniel Ranslett, a former Confederate sharpshooter, is a man shackled by his past, and he�ll do anything to protect his land and his solitude. When an outspoken Yankee photographer captures an image that appears key to solving a murder, putting herself in danger, Daniel is called upon to repay a debt. He�s a man of his word, but repaying that debt will bring secrets from his past to light.
Forced on a perilous journey together, Daniel and Elizabeth�s lives intertwine in ways neither could have imagined when first they met . . . from a distance.

WAGERED HEART
by Robin Lee Hatcher
Zondervan, June 2008

Bethany Silverton can�t resist the challenge of charming a rough cowboy. But when she makes an innocent wager, unexpected results could turn a little flirtation into a lifetime of love. A sheltered preacher�s daughter stakes her heart on love in this action-filled romance in the wild west of 1880s Montana.

"Hawk and Bethany's journey is fraught with misunderstandings, personal tragedy and the schemes of a treacherous man adding excitement to a tale that overflows with simmering attraction and blossoming love. Interspersed with humour and electrifying dialogue, Wagered Heart is a summer treat not to be missed."-- Relz Reviews

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion of these and other titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.
If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find books that fit each person�s particular taste.

Don't forget to sign up for free books!

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 11:19:00 +0000

Be sure to sign up for the Summer Reading Book Giveaway�all the details are on Chapter-a-Week! Today, June 6th, is the final day to sign up�

The Guardians
Jack Cavanaugh
David C. Cook, 2008

�Jack Cavanaugh, the acknowledged master of historical fiction, welcome to the present! The Guardians is a seat-belt-mandatory page-turning conclusion to the Morgan family series.�
�John Culea, Emmy-award winning news anchor

A cop on the wrong side of a crime scene, Ethan Morgan is left with nothing but his brother�s widow, a missing family heirloom, and a heart filled with rage. The search for his brother�s killer uncovers an evil that threatens the spiritual foundations of America.

Fatal Deduction
by Gayle Roper

Libby Keating is forced to share a Colonial era row house in Philadelphia with her estranged twin Tori. Instead of the renewed relationship she hopes for, she finds a body on the doorstep with a cryptic warning embedded in a crossword puzzle.

�Roper�s dialogue and character development are spot-on�this novel is a pleasure from start to finish.� -Publisher�s Weekly

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find books that fit each person�s particular taste.

Carolyne Aarsen and Athol Dickson

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:41:00 +0000

There's only one more week to sign up for the Chapter-a-Week Summer Reading Book Giveaway�check out all the details here.

Here's a bit about this week's selections on Chapter-a-Week:

Finally a Family
Carolyne Aarsen
Love Inspired � June, 2008

A Farm � A desire to atone for past wrongs � And two people caught in the middle.

This is MY Farm:
Arrogant Ethan Westerveld could scream that from the barn roof if he wanted, but half the place was now Hannah Kristoferson's. Not that she wanted one inch of the farm that reminded her of the only father she'd ever known- and his heartbreaking betrayal. Yet according to the terms of his will, she had to spend six months at Riverbend or forfeit the inheritance. Six months butting heads with too-handsome Ethan in order to make a quick sale and a new life far away? She'd do it. But Hannah didn't count on Ethan feeling like family�or that she'd want to stay forever.

Top Pick � Romantic Times:
. . .Carolyne Aarsen delivers a spunky heroine who keeps the story fun while a warm romance brews at just the right temperature. You'll be glad to read Finally A Family (4 �)"

WINTER HAVEN by Athol Dickson
Christy Award-winning author of River Rising and The Cure
Romantic Times: "Top Pick!"
Library Journal: Starred Review
Christian Fiction Review: Five Stars

Athol Dickson's writing has been favorably compared to the work of
Octavia Butler (by Publishers Weekly), Daphne du Maurier (by Cindy Crosby of FaithfulReader.com) and Flannery O'Connor (by the New York Times).

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.
If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find books that fit each person's particular taste.

Summer Reading Book Giveaway!

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 23 May 2008 11:13:00 +0000

At Chapter-a-Week we had such a great response to our last book giveaway that we�ve decided to make it a regular event! So we are giving away a ten-pound box of autographed Chapter-a-Week books to one Chapter-a-Week member for summer reading fun. All the details are at the Chapter-a-Week web site.

The deadline for signing up is June 6th and the winner will be announced June 13th. Get your entries in and be sure to tell your friends to sign up for Chapter-a-Week!

To qualify, the return email address must be on the Chapter-a-Week membership list. Continental U. S. residents only, please. Industry professionals should refrain from entering, and though we'd love you to share our books with your friends, these books are not for resale.
Thanks and happy reading!

Head over there to check it out!

Warmly,

Traci DePree

Colleen Coble and Terri Blackstock have new releases!

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 16 May 2008 13:54:00 +0000

Here they are, new titles by two great novelists:

Anathema
By Colleen Coble

Welcome to Parke County, Indiana,
land of peaceful farms and covered bridges,
Amish quilts and horse drawn buggies . . . and murder.

After years of running, Hannah Schwartz has finally built a life for herself. Far from the insecure husband who bullied and abused her. Far from the close-knit Amish community who raised her, then shunned her. Still haunted by nightmare memories of her parents� murder . . . and the guilty secret that made her an anathema�a true outcast�from her friends and family.

Only love can bring her home again. Love for a child she had feared was lost forever.
And love for the peaceful people who shaped her life. But can love heal old wounds . . . or keep the community safe from a deadly danger?

DAWN�S LIGHT
Restoration Series�Book 4
Terri Blackstock

Book 4 in Terri Blackstock's popular Restoration Series is in stores now!

As the Pulses that caused the massive global power outage are finally coming to an end, thirteen-year-old Beth Branning witnesses a murder. Threatened by the killer, she keeps the matter to herself. But her silence could cost her life. Will technology return to normal in time to save the Brannings from their worst crisis yet?

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find books that fit each person�s particular reading style.

Mindy Starns Clark and Maureen Lang--new titles!

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 13:05:00 +0000

Here are this week's picks:
Whispers of the Bayou by Mindy Starns Clark

What mysteries lie hidden beside the dark waters of the bayou?

Swept away from Louisiana bayou country as a child, Miranda Miller is a woman without a past. Now she has a husband and child of her own and a fulfilling job in a Manhattan museum. But she also has questions�about the tragedy that cut her off from family and caused her to be sent away, and about those first five years that were erased from her memory entirely. When she inherits her grandparents' antebellum estate, Miranda goes back to Louisiana for the first time as an adult. There, she soon finds herself plunged into a nightmare of unknown enemies, buried secrets, and priceless treasure.

RT Book Club Magazine says: "Top Pick! Intricately plotted and exquisitely detailed, Clark's latest novel is fantastic."

On Sparrow Hill
by Maureen Lang
Tyndale House Publishers

As the commercial manager for Quentin Hollinworth�s family estate, Rebecca Seabrooke is focused on just two things: making hers the most successful historic home in the country and forgetting the childhood crush she�s had on Quentin since her father worked as his family�s valet. After all, they don�t exactly run in the same social circles. But when she and Quentin uncover letters in the family vault written by Berrie Hamilton�one of Quentin�s ancestors�Rebecca discovers that Quentin isn�t the only one with a legacy to appreciate. Only Berrie�s words can prepare Rebecca for the dramatic turn her life is about to take.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week. To join our deeper discussion of each week�s titles go to Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

If you enjoy Chapter-a-Week take the time to tell a friend how to sign up. It's easy and free and a great way to find books that fit each person�s particular taste.

Two new titles to take a gander at...

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 10:28:00 +0000

A Bride So Fair
Book Three in A Fair to Remember
by Carol Cox

A young woman searching for independence and adventure.

A handsome Columbian Guard striving to protect and defend.

A little boy caught in a web of intrigue and deceit.

Emily Ralston is delighted when she lands a job at the Children's Building at the Chicago World�s Fair. And the White City seems to be living up to its promise of excitement when she meets Stephen Bridger, a handsome Columbian guardsman. Surely Emily isn�t the only one to sense the spark of electricity between them?

When Stephen finds a lost boy, he delivers him to the Children's Building to be cared for until his mother is located. But when a dead body believed to be little Adam�s mother is found, a mystery begins to unfold. While unraveling the truth, Emily and Stephen are drawn deeper into danger and closer to each other.

�Carol Cox has skillfully woven a heart-tugging romance and page-turning intrigue around a fascinating historical setting, bringing all three to life.� --Linda Windsor, author of Wedding Bell Blues and For Pete�s Sake

�This talented author�s sweet and charming love story�set during the Chicago World�s Fair of 1893�is a delightful diversion.� --Romantic Times BOOKReviews

Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear
Book Two in the Bargain Hunters mysteries
By Sharon Dunn

�A quirky �who done it,� Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear is the perfect mystery for women who love bargains and surprise endings.� --Melanie Dobson, author of Together for Good and Going for Broke

�If you enjoy whimsy, humor, and fun characters with your mystery, Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear is for you! But beware! Under the laughs are buried strong spiritual truths. A delightful, thoughtful read.� --Gayle Roper, award-winning author of Fatal Deduction

�The bargain hunter gals are at it again! Dunn�s riotous romp seamlessly tucks in truth and light and leaves us in stitches. A must-read for those who think living by faith is boring.� --Lois Richer, author of Healing Tides

Summary: Ginger and her bargain hunter friends head down the Wind-Up Hotel in Calamity, Nevada to outlet shop, attend the world�s largest garage sale and help Ginger�s husband Earl get his invention off the ground at the Inventor�s Expo. But their girlfriend time vacation doesn�t go quite how they had planned�

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion go to our new site Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

Chapter-a-Week

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 13:41:00 +0000

For those of you who don't already know, I run a little group called Chapter-a-Week. It's a Yahoo! group that sends out a free weekly chapter from two books so readers can find new great titles and authors they might not have otherwise discovered. Our membership has been growing like gangbusters, due in part to some new initiatives, like periodically sending out boxes of free books!

Chapter-a-Week has a new sister Yahoo! group called Chapter-a-Week Chat. If you'd like to talk to others about the great books featured on Chapter-a-Week or if you'd like the inside scoop on the book from the authors themselves this is an excellent place to start. Each week's featured authors will be on hand to answer questions and give readers an intimate look at the writing life that inspired their works and readers can discuss all the books. Check it out at Chapter-a-Week Chat .

Here are this week's featured books...

The Voice
By Bill Myers

"Bill Myers writes a crisp, express train read featuring 3D characters, cinematic settings and action, and, as usual, a premise I wish I'd thought of -- and succeeds splendidly! Two thumbs up!" -- Frank E. Peretti

Summary
Burned out Special Forces agent Charlie Madison has his reclusive life turned upside down when his thirteen-year-old niece barges into his empty world. Her parents have been kidnapped by religious radicals and he is the only one who can save them. While creating a computer program, they discovered and recorded the actual voice of God. But there is far more at stake than the parents' safety or even religion. If the voice of God created reality, it can destroy it. If it can be controlled, it will become a weapon of mass destruction making all others obsolete. IF it can be controlled.

When the Heart Cries
By Cindy Woodsmall

"Fans of Beverly Lewis and the Amish genre will be thrilled to discover this new author . . ." Tamera Alexander, author of the best-selling Rekindled and Revealed

When Hannah dares to love across the boundaries of tradition, will she lose everything?

Despite being raised in a traditional Old Order Amish family, seventeen-year-old Hannah Lapp desires to break with custom, forgo baptism into the faith, and marry outside the cloistered community. She's been in love with Mennonite Paul Waddell for three years, and before returning to college for his senior year, Paul asks Hannah to be his wife. On the evening of their engagement, tragedy strikes and in one unwelcome encounter, all that Hannah has known and believed is destroyed. As she finds herself entangled in questions that the Old Ways of her people cannot answer, Hannah faces the possibility of losing her place in her family, in her community�and in the heart of the man she loves.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week and to join our deeper discussion go to our new site Chapter-a-Week Chat at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CAWChat/ where authors and readers discuss new titles together.

Amber Morn by Brandilyn Collins and Awaken My Heart by DiAnn Mills

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 15:50:00 +0000

Amber Morn
By Brandilyn Collins
Just released--Amber Morn, the climactic conclusion to Brandilyn Collins� bestselling �Kanner Lake� series.

As the nationally read �Scenes and Beans� bloggers gather at Java Joint coffee shop for a special celebration�chaos erupts. Three gunmen burst in and take them all hostage, shooting one person and dumping the body outside. Police Chief Vince Edwards must negotiate with the desperate trio. What they demand, he can�t possibly provide. But if he doesn�t, over a dozen beloved Kanner Lake citizens will die�

�Best Christian suspense of 2007.� �Library Journal for Crimson Eve, previous release in the series
Awaken My Heart
By DiAnn Mills

AWAKEN MY HEART by DiAnn Mills tells the unlikely love story between 18-year-old Marianne, a wealthy rancher�s daughter, and the infamous Mexican rebel leader warring against her father.

--What Reviewers are saying:

"AWAKEN MY HEART is a terrific early nineteenth century Texas Colonial romance starring two caring protagonists who in many ways seem like a North American Romeo and Juliet. The story line is fast-paced and loaded with action . . . DiAnn Mills provides a delightful historical that brings to vivid life a time and place that rarely if ever has served as the background." - Harriet Klausner
"AWAKEN MY HEART is a colorful inspirational tale of romance and adventure! - Diana Risso
Romance Reviews Today

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week .

Kim Vogel Sawyer and Hannah Alexander

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 28 Mar 2008 20:34:00 +0000

Here are this week's picks. Take a looksee!

MY HEART REMEMBERS
By Kim Vogel Sawyer
Published by Bethany House Publishers, March 2008
Orphaned in a tenement fire, three Irish-immigrant children are sent to Missouri to be adopted. Despite eight-year-old Maelle's desperate attempts to keep her siblings together, each child is taken by a different family. Yet Maelle vows that she will never stop searching for her brother and sister...and that they will be together one day in the future.
Seventeen years later, Maelle is still searching. But the years have washed away her hope... and her memories. What are Mattie and Molly doing now? Where has life taken them? Will she ever see her brother and sister again?
Hideaway Home
A Hideaway Novel by Hannah Alexander

Has their love survived the ravages of war?

Throughout World War II, Second Lieutenant Red Meyer anticipated the day he could return to Hideaway, Missouri, and to his sweetheart, Bertie Moennig. His dreams are shattered, however, when he is wounded in the last stages of the war in Europe. Bertie is beautiful inside and out�she deserves a whole man. Red is determined to keep his distance until a tragedy on the home front brings the couple face to face for the first time in a year. Now a dangerous mystery threatens Bertie�s life. As they fight for survival in their tiny Ozark town, Red has to summon the faith and courage to protect the woman he has never stopped loving.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week .

A couple new titles to watch

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 10:49:00 +0000

Some of you may know that I'm a co-moderator with Angela Hunt for the Yahoo! group Chapter-a-Week. I'm very excited about some new things going on over there--excerpts from two new books every week, seeing over 1000 members join our little party!

In honor of our1000th member (actually we're past 1030!) Chapter-a-Week is having a celebration. The 1000th person to sign on has been notified that she will recieve a box of Chapter-a-Week's favorite new releases, including books by Traci DePree, Angie Hunt, Robin Lee Hatcher, Kim Sawyer, DeAnna Dodson, MaryLu Tyndall, Tamera Alexander, Hannah Alexander, Louise M. Gouge, DiAnn Mills, Camy Tang, Tricia Goyer and Judith Miller! You just never know what surprises will come your way with Chapter-a-Week. So keep spreading the word so others can discover new, great reads at Chapter-a-Week.

Here's a little bit about this week's installments:

Leaving November
(Howard Books/Simon & Schuster March 2008)
by Deborah Raney

Daughter of the town drunk, Vienne Kenney has escaped Clayburn for law school in California. But after failing the bar exam�twice��she's back home with her tail between her legs, managing Latte-dah, the Clayburn caf�-turned-upscale-coffee-shop. Jackson Linder runs the art gallery across the street and Vienne has had her eye on him since she was a skinny seventh grader and he was the hunky high school lifeguard who didn't know she existed. Now it's his turn to fall for her and suddenly Clayburn seems like a pretty nice place to be...until Vienne discovers that Jack is fresh out of rehab and still struggling with the same addiction that ultimately killed her father.

Only Uni
By Camy Tang

Will Trish Sakai be able to follow her three simple rules and hold out against two gorgeous guys?

Trish Sakai is ready for a change from her wild, flirtatious behavior. And her three cousins are anxious for her to change, too. Trish is always knocking something over, knocking herself out, and taking hard knocks in her perpetual confusion about men.

When Trish's ex-boyfriend, Kazuo the artist, keeps popping up at all the wrong moments, Trish decides to be firm with herself. She creates three simple rules from First and Second Corinthians and plans to follow them to the letter. No more looking at men! No more dating non-Christians! She will persevere in hardship by relying on God.

Except now Kazuo is claiming Trish is his muse, and he can't complete his major work of art without her. And a gorgeous coworker is reassigned, bringing him in daily contact with Trish. But her cousins are determined to hold her accountable to her plan. She thought three rules would be a cinch, but suddenly Trish's simple rules don't seem so simple after all.

To read an excerpt of these new titles go to Chapter-a-Week .

It's my birthday

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 17:16:00 +0000

I am forty-four years old today. Does that sound old? The year gone by has been a hard one--with challenges I would rather have not faced. Yet I continue to see God working all things for good. How does he do that? Take our poor choices and turn them into blessings?

I have much to be grateful for--five healthy children who are growing in their faith, a husband I still adore after 22 and a half years of marriage, a career that I love even when I hate it, a home messy as it is.

I'm in the midst of rewriting my third book for Mystery and the Minister's Wife entitled Open Arms. This one has a focus on adoption that is so dear to my heart. While I write I'm trying to maintain a balance in my life--not disappearing for months at a time but being available for friends and family, getting the exercise I need (I love tennis!) trying to keep up with the demands of a household. I know that even if I miss giving a boost to one of those spinning plates life will go on and we'll be okay. And maybe I shouldn't have been trying to spin that plate in the first place.

Have a wonderful February,

Traci

A new title to check out

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:40:00 +0000

I like to give a shout out for my author friends. Here's a good read:

The Oak Leaves by Maureen Lang

Talie Ingram has an ideal life: a successful, devotedhusband, a beautiful one-year-old son, and anotherchild on the way. But her world is shattered when shediscovers a shocking family secret in thenineteenth-century journal of her ancestor CosimaEscott. Only in reading Cosima's words can Talie makepeace with the legacy she's inherited and the oneshe's passed on to her son.From Library Journal: "A tender account ofunconditional love and the deeper joy that resultsfrom overcoming the odds, Lang's latest is recommendedfor all collections..."

To read a chapter of this triumphant new title go to ChapterAWeek.

This week's pick

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:20:00 +0000

Here's a fun read:
Let Them Eat Cake
By Sandra Byrd
Lexi Stuart is at a critical crossroads. She's done with college but still living at home, ready to launch a career but unable to find a job, and solidly stalled between boyfriends. A lighthearted conversation in French with the manager of her favorite bakery may turn into a job offer. But the actual glamour is minimal: the pay is less than generous, her co-workers are skeptical, her bank account remains vertically-challenged, and her parents are perpetually disappointed. Her only comfort comes from the flirtatious baker she has her eye on-but even may not be who he seems to be!So when a handsome young executive dashes into the bakery to pick up his high-profile company's special order for an important meeting-an order Lexi has flubbed- she finally gives up her compulsion to please. Instead of trying to fulfill everyone else's expectations for her life, Lexi embarks on an adventure in trusting God with her future-tr�s bon!

To read a sample chapter of this fun new title go to ChapterAWeek or order it at Amazon.com .

DiAnn Mills--another great read!

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:17:00 +0000

Here's another new title to check out. When the Nile Runs Red by DiAnn Mills.

Read on!

Paul Farid, who once persecuted the southern Sudanese, now loves the weary people whose lives have been destroyed by war.

Colonel Ben Alier has led his battle-hardened soldiers for two decades against the North, yet he pursues a relationship with his son even as his own demons pursue him.

Dr. Larson Kerr Farid works long hours caring for the sick, but fatigue and worry about her husband, are taking their toll. And she's just learned something that will make everything more complicated.

These three friends face constant danger as tensions escalate between the north and south, and as Paul's family schemes to kill him and Larson. Will Paul and Larson bridge the gap that seems to grow between them? And will Ben find peace as more than a soldier?

What reviewers are saying about When the Nile Runs Red:

"I cannot put into the appropriate words how truly amazing this novel was. I felt like my heart was being pulled in all different directions; I highly recommend this novel. You get to take a look into the current events in Sudan, see the love grow and flourish between Larson and Paul, and see the fate of Ben that will have you wipe a tear from your cheek. This book is an emotional rollercoaster that is worth reading again and again." - Ashley Denis for FrontPage Reviews

"Mills has created a masterpiece in the inspirational fiction, When the Nile Runs Red. Plenty of action scenes as well as twists and turns in the plot keep the reader engaged with the story. With real characters, real struggles, life-and-death situations and a present but not overwhelming inspirational theme, Mills has created a wonderful read." - Armchair Interviews says: Highly recommended. Lacy J. Williams

"The book is definitely hard to put down - I ended up reading it in one sitting because I couldn't walk away! Beautiful, wholesome, and educational, When the Nile Runs Red is definitely an eye-opening read! DiAnn Mills excels at bringing a very worth cause to light while still maintaining her reputation as a best-selling author of fiction. Absolutely fantastic!" - Vicki Landes for Reader Views

When the Nile Runs Red is full of action and its characters are unique and engaging. Even minor characters are carefully developed and Mills balances effectively description, back-story, action, dialogue and introspection. From its tense opening scene to its dramatic finish, the book's plot is well constructed. The momentum never falters and the various political, personal and spiritual conflicts all meet and resolve at the conclusion. Readers who enjoy Christian fiction and those who enjoy adventure stories will find plenty to like in this book and they will probably find it hard to put aside once they've begun reading." - Evelyn Sears

"With its apropos title When the Nile Runs Red is a deep look at the atrocities occurring in the Sudan. The three prime players are fully developed and feel heroically genuine so that their encounters provide a realistic graphic glimpse at humanity's darkened soul. Although there is a bias towards Christianity as the benevolent religion vs. the alleged harshness of Islam, readers will be stunned by the powerful vivid expos� of genocide." - Harriet Klausner

Endorsers:

When the Nile Runs Red has all the earmarks of a great novel-a hold-your-breath plot, larger-than-life characters, with a beautiful thread of hope and valor woven through-all handled with DiAnn Mills' accomplished voice. A victorious follow-up to When the Lion Roars."

--Deborah Raney, author of Remember to Forget and A Vow to Cherish

"DiAnn Mills is a masterful storyteller who's written a powerful tale of love, faith, and courage that could have been plucked from today's headlines. When the Nile Runs Red puts a human face and heart on the suffering in the Sudan. This book is a must-read."

-Mark Mynheir, author of The Void.

Q & A with the author - DiAnn Mills

1. What inspired you to write this novel?

I had previously written a nonfiction book about the Lost Boys of Sudan - Lost Boy No More. From that research, I wrote the novel When the Lion Roars, but the story would not let me go.

Through numerous interviews and extensive reading, I grew to love and admire the courageous Sudanese people and was burdened by their incredible needs. I had to bring them back in When the Nile Runs Red.

2. Why Sudan?

This country went through nearly two decades of civil war strife. In 1983, the northern government launched a holy war against the south. This grew out of the views of the Islamic north against the mostly Christian black African south. The war had three aspects: religion, politics, and oil. The atrocities committed against the southern people are too many to list, but the war was fought in the south through genocide.

3. How did you conduct your research?

I grabbed my backpack and sun screen and traveled to Juba, Sudan, the southern capital. There I stayed at a Christian compound and met with southern Sudanese from all walks of life: refugees, political leaders, and church leaders. I talked to as many people as I could, snapped pictures, and listened to what was being said.

4. Regarding your trip to Sudan, what touched you the most?

The incredible faith. I could look into a Sudanese's eyes and see the pain of persecution and the hope of Jesus. Here, we say we love Jesus while we live in our huge homes, drive our fancy cars, are well-fed, are not hunted down for our faith, or are concerned about medical care. The Sudanese understand that all they have and need is Jesus.

5. Can you give us a brief description of your characters?

Paul Farid was once a Muslim who actively persecuted the southern people, but now he's a Christian who flies dangerous missions into war-torn areas to deliver food and medical supplies.

Dr. Larson Kerr Farid risks her life to bring healing to the Sudanese. Just like her husband Paul, her life is often in danger. But there is a problem between her and Paul with no easy solution.

Colonel Ben Alier has been fighting and leading the southern army of Sudan for nearly two decades. Often referred to as a warlord, Ben fights his own demons.

The three are friends, an unlikely friendship forged by their love for Sudan.

6. How do you build your plots?

Always out of character with two simple words: what-if? John Gardner said to create the best possible characters and allow the worst possible things to happen to them. That says it all. It's easy to coat our darlings with easy trials and struggles, but the hard stuff, the struggles that define the character are what have to happen. I'm a huge fan of Donald Maass and wouldn't consider writing a paragraph without using techniques found in his books Writing the Breakout Novel and Writing the Breakout Novel Workbook.

7. What are you goals for this novel?

To increase awareness about the situation in Sudan and to share my passion for the Sudanese people through a compelling story.

The proceeds for this novel go back to aid the Sudanese.

8. What do you hope the readers will gain?

To lose themselves in the novel. That's every writer's goal. But I also want the reader to sense a call to action and support the Sudanese cause.

9. What is your next project?

I'm currently writing a romantic suspense series with a working series title of "Behind the Sunglasses".

10. How can readers learn more about what you are doing?

Check out my website at www.diannmills.com. I have sections about Sudan, and for readers, and writers. Those signing up for my newsletter get to download a chapter of an upcoming release.

11. Aside from your passion for writing, what else are you doing?

Speaking to groups about the situation in Sudan.

Teaching at writer's conferences.

Conducting Fiction Mentoring Clinics. These are small groups who work closely together for three work-filled days to develop their craft.

Author Bio:

Award-winning author, DiAnn Mills, launched her career in 1998 with the publication of her first book. Currently she has over forty books in print and has sold more than a million copies.

DiAnn believes her readers should "Expect an Adventure." Her desire is to show characters solving real problems of today from a Christian perspective through a compelling story.

Six of her anthologies have appeared on the CBA Best Seller List. Three of her books have won the distinction of Best Historical of the Year by Heartsong Presents. Five of her books have won placements through American Christian Fiction Writer's Book of the Year Awards 2003 - 2007. She is the recipient of the Inspirational Reader's Choice award for 2005 and 2007.

DiAnn is a founding board member for American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Inspirational Writers Alive, Romance Writers of America's Faith, Hope and Love, and Advanced Writers and Speakers Association. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. DiAnn is also a mentor for Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writer's Guild.

She lives in sunny Houston, Texas, the home of heat, humidity, and Harleys. In fact she'd own a Harley, but her legs are too short. DiAnn and her husband have four adult sons and are active members of Metropolitan Baptist Church.

Visit DiAnn's website at http://www.diannmills.com/

Use this link to view a Promo Video Clip for When the Nile Runs Red - http://www.diannmills.com/sudan/WNTRRPromoClip.html

When the Nile Runs Red is being used to raise awareness of the atrocities that are taking place in Sudan. Book sale proceeds will be donated to restore the Sudanese community.

Lisa Bergren Rocks

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 07 Sep 2007 13:47:00 +0000

Okay, she is one of my dearest friends so I admit to being biased. She encouraged me to become a writer--it was her nagging that really got me going! What would we do without such people in our lives? People who believe in us and encourage us.

Well, she's also a pretty amazing author too and she has a new book out! Check it out:

"The Betrayed [has] all the characteristics of a best-seller�good and evil, hate and love, politics and religion�Bergren's masterful plot and interesting characters hold the reader's attention, and although it is the second in the series, The Betrayed is entertaining as a stand-alone."
�Christian Retailing

The secret, a half a millennium old, has been revealed. An illuminated letter, long buried by the Church�prophesying a fellowship of men and women possessing powerful spiritual gifts�is the catalyst for a profound war that will bring either a new age of enlightenment or a darkness the world has never before seen. As the Gifted gather and gain strength, and find further clues as to where God is leading, their enemies grow more intent on controlling them�

If you're looking for a place to sample books to see if they're your cup of tea, you can read a chapter of this and other great new titles at ChapterAWeek. A weekly sampling of new titles is sent to subscribers--really cool for those avid readers!
I better get writing my next book!
Hugs to all,
Traci DePree

Doesn't She Look Natural by Angie Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 16:19:00 +0000

Angela Hunt is a friend and one of the best novelists I know. So, I thought I'd include an interview and a little about her latest title Doesn't She Look Natural?

How did you come up with the concept for Doesn't She Look Natural?

I read HEAVEN by Randy Alcorn and naturally began to think about the life to come. I've also lost several friends over the last couple of years, and I've come to realize that death, for the believer, is not to be feared. I thought a series about a funeral home might be a good way to address issues affecting the living and those who are facing death.

Is any part of Doesn't She Look Natural factual?

Jennifer Graham and her family are completely fictitious, but Mt. Dora is a real place.

How closely is this Doesn't She Look Natural based on your life and your practice?

There are bits of every author's life in every story he or she produces, but I am happily married with two older children. I've never been a mortician, but I've always been interested in all things medical.

How long did Doesn't She Look Natural take you to complete?

About the average length of time for me-four or five months.

What is the meaning behind the title: Doesn't She Look Natural?

When my editor and I were talking about titles, we were trying to think of things people always say at funerals. We've come up with three: Doesn't She Look Natural?, She Always Wore Red, and She's in a Better Place.

Do you have a favorite character? Why?

I'm a little partial to Bugs, Jennifer's five-year-old son. He says the cutest things.

How much research did Doesn't She Look Natural take?

Quite a bit, and this is just the beginning of the series. In the second book, Jen goes to mortuary school, and by the third book she is actively operating the funeral home. So I've had to learn quite a bit about funeral homes, caskets, supplies, embalming, burial versus cremation, etc.

What are some of the challenges you face as an author?

I think all authors face the same challenges-the need to place ourselves in a chair and stay there until the work is done, the challenge of staying fresh in the face of many revisions, and the challenge of wearing entertaining stories and spiritual truths. People looking for the former aren't always looking for the latter.

Are there any other new projects on the horizon?

Of course! I still have to write the third Fairlawn book, She's in a Better Place, and I'm working on another thriller called The Face.

Who has influenced you the most with your writing?

It'd be impossible to name one single person-I had a sixth grade teacher who complimented my writing before I had any inkling that I might be any good at it, and Pastor Derric Johnson suggested that I switch from music to writing as a career. And at Tyndale House, it was Ken Peterson who suggested that I move from children's books into adult fiction. You might say that God has frequently spoken to me through the voices of my friends.

What advice would you give to a person trying to become a novelist?

Read, read, read. And then get to a good writer's conference where you can learn from people who are actually doing the work.

What message would you like your readers to take away from Doesn't She Look Natural?

I would like readers to see that God is always leading us . . . even when we don't like the direction in which we're moving. And when God moves us, He supplies our needs . . . sometimes in the most unexpected ways. What is your goal or mission as a writer? My goal in life is simply to love and obey God. Right now I'm doing that by writing the stories He places on my heart. A blurb about Doesn't She Look Natural?

How do you live when God asks you to bury a dream?

Jennifer Graham, the no-nonsense chief of staff for a Virginia senator, quits her job after her divorce-and finds herself an unemployed single mom. Forced to live with her mother until she can find work on Capitol Hill that does not involve her gregarious ex-husband, her efforts are stymied until she learns that she has inherited a funeral home in picturesque Mt. Dora. Jennifer journeys to the small Florida town with her two sons and her mother, never dreaming that within a mortuary she will uncover mysteries of love and life.

Order Doesn't She Look Natural link: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1414311699/booksbyangelae0d

Tom Morrisey's latest

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:19:00 +0000

If you haven't read anything by Tom Morrisey it's about time. His newest title is In High Places and it looks like a good one.

Here's a little about it:

A Breath From Tragedy, a Whisper from GloryFor Patrick Nolan, every climb tells a story. And now maybe it's his own .. He's right at the rim, staring over the cliff's knife edge and wondering how things went wrong so quickly.

It all started after arriving home from a weekend climbing trip with his father, Kevin. That's when word reached them. In a silent moment, they'd lost the person most important to them--her death raising unanswerable questions and dangerous doubts.
Launching a new life in a new town to escape their pain, son and father find themselves in danger of being torn apart forever. As his father seeks a route to solace on the dangerous high face of the rock, Patrick finds a path to hope with the unlikeliest of allies-a pastor's daughter. Together they must discover the one answer that can bring Patrick and Kevin back from the brink of the precipice.

To read a chapter of this exciting new title go to ChapterAWeek or order it at Amazon.com .

The Art of Rejection

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 12:33:00 +0000

I've written five books and have never had a real rejection letter. That's pretty amazing. But now that I'm peddling a new series I'm learning what it's like and it's painful!

Of course, my proposal won't fit into every publishing house's agenda. Not all readers will like my books--so it is with editors.

Since I've sat on the other side of the desk I know what it's like. The slush pile can reach several feet high! So what do you do to make room? Send out rejection letters in mass. Impersonal, to the point, "We regret to inform you" letters. Even to people you know and have relationships with. It isn't personal. You just have to get down to what works for your particular publishing agenda. Sometimes you're just not in the mood for that particular project, though tomorrow it could catch your eye, so it hits the rejection brush-off. Sometimes the publishing house is in a money crunch and even though that proposal looks promising you just don't have the cash to buy it. Sometimes the editorial staff is reevaluating whether they want to do this or that to tweak their program.

Often it's about timing, the mood of the day, the circumstances in-house, so many variables. The likelihood of getting your project published is slim. But you keep pushing forward hoping for that perfect opportunity.

Even though it hurts like the dickens.

Traci

Traci's next coming very soon!

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:30:00 +0000

You've been asking about it and here it is! My next book A State of Grace book #2 in "Mystery and the Minister's Wife" is releasing soon!

Here's a little bit about it to whet your appetite:

Unveiling her deepest secret could save her daughter's life.

Minister's wife, stained-glass artist, and sometimes sleuth, Kate Hanlon discovers more than she bargained for when she visits a woman whose daughter is battling leukemia. Before she knows it she's on the road uncovering clues that could be the girl's very survival.

Book #2 in "Mystery and the Minister's Wife," A State of Grace picks up where Through the Fire (by Diane Noble) left off as Kate and Paul Hanlon learn about life in small town Tennessee. Follow Kate as she comes to know the town and its inhabitants. Admire her persistence, intelligence, and strength of character as she slowly, but surely, begins to unlock the town's secrets.

About the author: Traci DePree is the author of four novels, including the Lake Emily series by WaterBrook Press. She, her husband, and their five children make their home in a small town in rural Minnesota.

About the series: Each novel in the MYSTERY AND THE MINISTER'S WIFE series is a page-turner, a good old-fashioned "whodunit." They're books that bring truth to light, that reveal dreams, and that show that trust in God always trumps fear and anxiety.

Readers have two options for ordering this book or the series. They can join the series online from the following page: http://shopguideposts.com/product.asp?0=205&1=222&3=368 or they can call the customer service number, which is 1-800-431-2344. There, they can sign up for the series, in which case they will get every book (a new shipment every six weeks), or they can request specific books in the series (i.e. A State of Grace).

Jacob's List by Stephanie Grace Whitson

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 14:23:00 +0000

Here's my Friday pick for this week, if you're looking for a weekend read. Try JACOB'S LIST by Stephanie Grace Whitson (Bethany House Publishers )
When tragedy strikes, Jacob Nolan's estranged parents face the most difficult challenge of their lives. Their son's list of "things to accomplish before I settle down" won't be completed the way Jacob envisioned, but God has redemptive plans for Michael and Pamela Nolan, who come to realize that their son's list is about a lot more than youthful adventure. Jacob's List is a book about reconciliation against all odds.
To read a chapter from this exciting new title go to ChapterAWeek or to order the title go to Amazon.com

Enjoy your weekend!
Traci

All in One Place by Carolyne Aarsen

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Fri, 20 Jul 2007 12:18:00 +0000

If you're looking for a new read, here's one to consider.
All in One Place by Carolyne Aarsen
All In One Place picks up where The Only Best Place left off. Terra Froese had dropped out of her sister's life for nine months and suddenly shows up in Leslie's town - in jail. She has come to reconnect with her sister and then move on with her life, literally and figuratively. But events conspire to keep her in Harland and closer to Leslie's new found life and faith than Terra would like.

Read a full chapter from this interesting new title at ChapterAWeek.

Have a great weekend!
Traci

Return to Me by Robin Lee Hatcher

noreply@blogger.com (Traci DePree) — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 00:26:00 +0000

If you haven't discovered her yet, you need to! Robin Lee Hatcher has a new book out and I'm sure it'll be another amazing journey. Robin never fails to deliver! Here's a little bit about her and her newest:
RETURN TO ME
Zondervan, June 2007

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AUTHOR BIO:

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. However, she's certain there are better plots and fewer calories in her books than in puffed rice and hamburgers.

The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, two RITA Awards for Best Inspirational Romance, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal.

Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home in Idaho, which she shares with Poppet the Papillon.

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BACK COVER BLURB:

Discouraged and destitute, her dreams shattered, Roxy Burke is going home. But what lies beyond the front door? Rejection ... or a brighter future?

A lot has changed since Roxy escaped small town life to become a Nashville star. Her former boyfriend Wyatt has found Christ and plans to become a minister. Her sister Elena, who comforted Wyatt when Roxy ran away, is now his fianc�e. Her father Jonathan, a successful businessman, is heartbroken over the estrangement of Roxy from the family.

Now Roxy�her inheritance from her grandmother squandered, her hopes of stardom dashed�finds her way home ... not by choice but because it's her only option. Her father's love and forgiveness surprise her, but her very presence throws the contented Burke family into turmoil, filling Roxy with guilt and shame.

Elena is shocked to discover doubt and resentment in her heart after her father's easy acceptance of Roxy into the family circle. Wyatt wrestles with doubts about marrying Elena. And Roxy struggles to accept forgiveness. Isn't she more deserving of rejection? As the story of the prodigal plays out, each member of the Burke family must search for and accept God's grace.

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AN INTERVIEW QUESTION:

SO, DID YOU ALWAYS WANT TO BE A WRITER?

No, I didn't, although I loved books and stories even before I could read. In fact, I went to my first day of first grade with only one goal in mind � learn to read. When they didn't teach me how that very first day, I told my mom there was no point in going back. Fortunately, my mom knew who was boss, and I did go back to school.

When I was young, what I wanted to be most in all the world was a movie star. My closest friends all nod their heads, I'm sure, when I say this, knowing my theatrical nature. I took ballet for seven years, and I was in various theater productions, both in school and as a young adult.

My storytelling career began in grade school when I told my fifth grade friends that my mother was born in a covered wagon while coming west on the Oregon Trail. It seemed plausible. My mother was, after all, 47 years old at the time. My word! Had they even invented the wheel when she was born? [Sorry, Mom.]

Fast forward to high school. I was a compulsive writer, scribbling stories and poetry in notebooks and on binders. This wasn't work. This was fun! Writing could transport me to any place, any time. How cool. I also was a lover of horses and spent many years riding and competing and raising them.

Marriage and family filled the next decade. I read voraciously. I daydreamed. In my mind, I reworked the endings of both movies and books any time they didn't suit me. I performed with a Christian theater troupe. We raised a few horses. Then I got an idea for a story, a Gone With The Wind type saga. I talked about it with others for about six months. Finally, I sat down and began to write. I wrote long hand on yellow legal pads and typed the pages on the office Selectric typewriter during lunch hours and coffee breaks. Nine months later, I had a book, and two years after that, it was published.

The rest, as they say, is history. These days, the nest is empty. My daughters are grown with families of their own, and I am the ridiculously young grandmother of six. My mother (past her 93rd birthday � who was not born in a covered wagon) lives with me, as does Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon.