Spotlight on Anita Higman and Another Hour to Kill

Today, we have not one, but TWO author spotlights. You get a bonus as we wrap up the year 2008 and get ready to ring in 2009. This is spotlight #2. Scroll a little further down for spotlight #1.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ANITA HIGMAN, an award-winning author, has twenty-three books published (several coauthored) for adults and children, and she has been honored as a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston. Anita has a B.A. degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Some of her favorite things are exotic teas, going to the movies, and all things Jane Austen. She'd love for you to visit her website at http://www.anitahigman.com/.

ANOTHER HOUR TO KILL
by Anita Higman
Published by Barbour Publishing/Heartsong Presents Mysteries

ABOUT THE BOOK

Bailey Walker has survived the mysteries of Volstead Manor, but the new threats are more ominous than ever. Did her neighbor B.J. die of natural causes or was he murdered? And why does the new neighbor, Vlad Tepes, seem to be ever watching her? While searching for a lost treasure and planning a wedding the size of an amusement part, Bailey must discover what monster is still lurking in the neighborhood. Will she unravel the puzzle in time, or will Bailey merely provide the villain with another hour to kill?

Buy Your Copy of Another Hour to Kill by contacting Anita through her web site today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for these stories?

All three novels in my Volstead Manor Series are cozy mysteries with a gothic tone. Volstead Manor is such an integral part of the story I'll explain what inspired me to write about this foreboding place. I'm sure the idea came from growing up in a slightly scary one-hundred-year-old farmhouse. We had bats in the attic, murky shadows and dank smells in the cellar, an old-fashioned, inferno-style floor furnace in the kitchen, and a snake that rose up like a cobra to corner me in the basement. There was also a secret place under the floorboards where the former owner of the house must have kept his money hidden. Or treasure. Or whatever else needed concealing. Funny thing, hiding places and secret passageways also show up in the old mansion that is featured in my mysteries.

By the way, just as a side note, the name of my fictional mansion comes from Prohibition—The Volstead Act of 1919—and even though this series is contemporary, the dark history of the house is connected to that era. I suppose I've always been intrigued with that period of time in American history, but more than that, I've always been fascinated with really old houses and their secrets.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

My heroine, Bailey, is spunky, but self-depreciating. I am that way. I leap out with a comment or an action, and then sometimes pull back horrified at my own audacity.

As far as traits that belong only to my heroine, I would say Bailey's sense of fearlessness goes far beyond mine. I would never be able to stay in an old mansion overnight by myself with a raging lightning storm outside. That's what Bailey did in book one. Also, in the beginning, Bailey has very little attachment to people and very little strong emotion. That also is not me. For instance, I am full of emotion. In fact, my husband would tell you that I am a hurricane of emotion. I used to even cry watching Mister Rogers and Hallmark commercials. Of course, Bailey did grow over the course of the three novels, so at the end of the last novel she cries much more freely than she did at the beginning of book one.

I guess you could say that I take pieces of myself and infuse them into my characters, but I also take attributes from folks I know, people I meet, and from the depths of my imagination.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

I think Bailey would be vanilla ice cream with toppings. Maybe she'd have some caramel and walnuts as a garnish and maybe a few other ingredients that would surprise even me. I think Bailey would be a vanilla kind of person because she is such a practical kind of gal, but then she'd make up for her prosaic existence by adding those jazzy toppings. In the end, she’d shake her head, laugh at herself, and just hope everyone else liked vanilla too. That's Bailey.

4. Are there any themes in Another Hour to Kill that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

I suppose two of the main themes in my novel are; living life with God is a safe place to be and that all things grow with love and patience. A secondary theme that might be a little less noticeable is that no good thing can come from obsession and greed.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

One of the hardest parts in writing any novel is to keep the middle from sagging. I not only have to prop it up, but keep those muscles taunt. I have to constantly keep asking myself if the scene is slowing down too much. If I were a reader, would I continue? Is this satisfying, compelling, and irresistible? If not, then I need to get out the weights and start toning up again.

My favorite part was writing about Vlad, who is one of the suspects. Vlad had an interesting delusion that he lived with, and that internal mirage was fascinating and bizarre enough to keep me interested in the character. I hope readers are intrigued too. His full name is Vlad Tepes. Maybe that will give you a hint as to his delusion.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

My next book comes out in February and is entitled, Love Finds You in Humble, Texas. It's about two sisters who fall in love with the same man. Talk about built-in conflict. You know there's going to be a lot of trouble before there's any joy.

* * * * *

Thank you, Anita, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Another Hour to Kill.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

* * * * *

Spotlight on Linore Rose Burkhard and Before the Season Ends

Today, we have not one, but TWO author spotlights. You get a bonus as we wrap up the year 2008 and get ready to ring in 2009. Praying you're all blessed as we move forward.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

LINORE ROSE BURKHARD creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the Regency England era (circa 1800 - 1830). Ms. Burkard's novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy a romance that reminds you happy endings are possible for everyone.

BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS
by Linore Rose Burkhard
Published by Harvest House

ABOUT THE BOOK

England, 1813: Romantic woes at home send Ariana Forsythe to her Aunt Bentley's town house in the fashionable Mayfair district of London. There she finds worse troubles than those that prompted her flight from home. Under her aunt's watchful eye, Ariana is soon steeped in high society--and at odds with Mr. Phillip Mornay, London's current darling rogue.

Then, unexpectedly, rumour of a scandal changes Ariana forever. Her faith and her future are at stake in an unexpected adventure that gains even the Prince Regent's attention.

Will Ariana's faith survive this test? And what about her heart? For it is Ariana's heart that most threatens to betray the truths she has always believed in. When she finds herself backed against a wall, betrothed to a man who cannot share her faith, how can it ever turn out right?

BOOK VIDEO TRAILER



Buy Your Copy of Before the Season Ends today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for these stories?

I'm not sure. I think Ariana and Phillip are both amalgamations of people I've read about and known. England in the 1800s is a world away from the 21st century.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

It's hard to say how much of oneself goes into a character. I don't know if anything in my experience influenced my characters except knowing now how I WISHED I could have behaved at times in my past! Meaning, I think I made my heroine smarter than I was, or would have been, at her age, in her place. I hope that answers your question.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Oh, my goodness--this is not the way I think, but I'll try! Let's see--Ariana Forsythe would likely be a rich, creamy Vanilla--pure, lovely, pulls no punches, is up front and dependably true to her nature. "Flavour." The hero, Mr. Phillip Mornay? When we first meet him in the book, he is definitely "Rocky Road!" (Hey, maybe I DO think this way!)

4. Are there any themes in Before the Season Ends that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

Readers come away from my book with the feeling that God is involved in everyday life, and that happy endings are possible for everyone. A less obvious theme could be that "God works in mysterious ways," in that He leads us down paths that are scary and surprising, but which ultimately fulfill his highest plans for us.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

I think for me the biggest challenge was to believe that I could write a novel in small increments. As a mom of five, four of whom are still home year-round (one is in college), having frequent interruptions is a fact of life. Writing takes a concentration so deep so that when I first started doing scenes, I would find myself getting woozy after standing up. I was shocked at the level of exertion it took to use my brain that hard, I guess! It happens less now--I guess I've grown accustomed to it. And I've learned to appreciate those small blocks of time. Ten minutes in a waiting room can yield a part of a scene I couldn't get done at home. Every little bit counts. I don't despise small beginnings. There are times when I'm in a deep level of involvement with a story or a character, and then getting interrupted can break the mood; but I'm getting better all the time at picking up where I left off, no matter how deeply I've got to dive to get back into the character or situation. For people like me with busy households, this is a must-have ability. I believe it can be the difference between making that deadline or not.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The House in Grosvenor Square will be out in April of 2009. It's a continuation (sequel) of Before the Season Ends. I don't want to give anything away, but Ariana gets in more scrapes, has two dastardly enemies, and there are strange goings-on in "The house in Grosvenor Square!"

Thanks so much, Tiff!

* * * * *

Thank you, Linore, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Before the Season Ends.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Baby Update -- Week 28, 12 Weeks to Go!

Well, it's week 28. I've got 12 weeks to go on the full estimate. But a friend recently reminded me that anything after 36 weeks is considered full term. So, if this baby decides to come early, I could have as little as 8 weeks left. YIKES! I think I prefer the 12.

This little one's kicks are getting stronger these days, but one of my books advises me to pay attention. If I notice a significant drop in the number of kicks experienced per hour, I should make a phone call to my physician. So far, no worries in that department. I know that during the final weeks of pregnancy this in-house-football player will be kicking significantly less as he/she will lack the space to move about as vigorously. I've got lots of pelvic room, or so my doctor says, but I know baby will still start feeling cramped before too long. At least that hasn't happened yet.

And now for a few words from wee baby Stockton...



"Wee"? Me? I'm not so little anymore. I weigh almost 3 pounds and measure about 16 inches long! I can see light, blink my eyes, taste and smell too. That means I've started dreaming, and the most common dream I have is when I'll finally get to see Mommy face to face. I've heard her talking about meeting me. It will be love at first sight, I'm sure.

Let's see what else is in my skills repertoire. Add coughing, sucking, hiccupping and taking practice breaths, and I've got the lung thing down! Oh, and I recognize Mommy's voice! I love it the best when she's singing. Of course, there's this other voice that's deeper. Once in a while, it sounds so bad, but most of the time, it's loud and strong. I'm thinking it's Daddy, and he likes to goof off or make Mommy laugh with funny voices. I have a feeling he's going to be so silly when I finally meet him. If Mommy is giggling, I know I will.

Mommy recently told Daddy she feels like a barn with legs. I'm not sure what a barn is, but it must mean she feels big. Well, I hope she realizes that feeling won't go away before...well, until she finally gives birth to me. For now, I'm busy collecting fat and lots of it! It might not be much fun for Mommy, but it's going to keep me warm and healthy after birth. If she figures that out, I'm sure she'll be happy to endure the extra weight.

Yeah, I've been doing a lot of blinking, and you know what? I saw this bright light shining in one spot and then another on Mommy's belly. I think Daddy had what he calls a flashlight or something. Well, Mommy told him I might be able to see it, so I gave a good kick just to prove her right. I'm sure they both smiled at that.

The only other thing happening with me this week is my bone marrow developing red blood cells, while my super-cute adrenal glands--whatever they are--are producing something called androgen and estrogen. I heard Mommy reading that this will stimulate her hormones to begin milk production. Oh boy! I'll have something to eat when I'm born. I wonder if Mommy can say, "Moo?" :)



Ok, that's enough from the little one. Getting just a bit silly, like his/her Daddy. It's me again, the mommy.

Hubby and I started nesting this past week after Christmas. We analyzed the baby's space in the office and made plans to reorganize. Thanks to my sister-in-law, who will be taking our futon, we were able to disassemble it and stow it on our deck until she and her husband can come get it. That freed up an entire wall almost. So, we moved my glider rocker in that area and put down a dog bed with a large pillow for Roxie, our border collie. She used to sleep on the futon, but she's adjusted to the new bed just fine.

Then, we received a white chest of drawers with 4 drawers which is now in the closet next to where the pack-n-play will go. We took a look at cribs and options yesterday and decided a pack-n-play is our best for now. It has a high level for the crib, a changing station that swings out of the way during sleep or over the crib for changing, plus a playpen below when the baby gets big enough to sit up. It will work for now.

Hubby also went out today to get a shelf for above the dresser as well as a hanging canvas shelf with 6 pockets for diapers, clothing, etc. It's hanging from the bar right next to the dresser and makes that half of the closet look so nice. Once we get our Christmas boxes off the high top shelves, we'll have ourselves a functional and organized little baby corner. All we need is to bring in our travel system which we received for Christmas and the pack-n-play. Of course, bringing the baby home will make it complete. :)

Well, I guess that's about all for now.

Tune in next week for the first update of the new year. :) And if you want to receive an email each time I post an update, subscribe using the form over there at the top right. Thanks for coming along this journey with me.

* * * * *

Book Giveaway and Interview -- Come Join Me!

Just wanted to let y'all know that I'm a guest on Kat's Logic this week. I know it's Christmas and everyone is likely quite busy. But if you get a chance, drop by and read the 3-part interview being posted today, Wednesday and Friday and feel free to ask any questions. I'll be doing my best to pop in and respond.

Also, I am a guest blogger at Bustles & Spurs, and there's a HUGE book giveaway contest happening this month over there. I posted a triva question with my post for a giveaway of one of my books, but if you post a comment anywhere, you will be entered in the BIG drawing of one copy of each guest blogger's books. One from each blogger.

Check out them both and get involved. Hope to see you there!

* * * * *

Baby Update -- Week 27, 13 Weeks to Go!

Well, it's week 27, and I've officially closed the 2nd trimester. I'm now just entering the 3rd and final trimester. Plus, I've completed 6 full months.

Let's see, I passed my 3-hour glucose test! Praise the Lord! Numbers came back just fine. So, it means my body takes a little longer for my body to metabolize sugars that I consume. Some folks have bodies that do that in under an hour. Me? It takes about 2 hours. But, the test last week (while long) went well. They drew a lot of blood at each hour, and I started to feel like a human pin-cushion. :)

Once it was done, I was starving. Hadn't eaten since 6pm the night before. So, it had been about 18 hours. My belly and the baby were happy to get some protein again and some sustenance.

Other than that, I've been battling a cold the past week and am just today seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Just a slight lingering cough and some minor sniffles. Last week, though, I wasn't all that great. Slept a lot, didn't have much energy and the only time I could breathe clearly was when I was walking around. SO glad it's over and I'll be back to my old self for Christmas.

The only setback once more is I get to say hello again to the familiar but not-so-lovable face of fatigue. Yep, the dratted third trimester is like a repeat of the 1st, only on a different level. My hormone factory is once again running at full-tilt. Fatigue stems from several factors, including the lovely weight gain, shortness of breath and sleep deprivation.

And of course, there will be a lot more pressure on my bladder, so I'll make even better friends with the bathroom. :) Other thrilling third-trimester symptoms include some possible swelling if I'm standing too long and feeling like I live in a sweat factory. I'm already hot now, especially at night, but with baby's body heat combining with mine, I'm going to be one hot mama! LOL!

And now for a few words from that hot baby Stockton...



Mommy isn't kidding. She was real sick last week. Every cough felt like an earthquake with all the jostling. I felt so bad for her, since I'm inside this nice, warm cushion with lots of padding. I might have been shaken a bit, but I faired just fine. Mommy, on the other hand, had to deal with everything else. Glad things have settled and she's feeling better.

Me? I'm not so tiny anymore. I weigh about 2 pounds and have grown to about 14.5 inches long! I'm also doing some slow rotations in preparation to "head out" on my upcoming birthday. Mommy and Daddy have no idea when that will be, but I know! :) I just won't tell them. They want to be surprised on whether I'm a boy or a girl. I'll let them have that *and* be surprised on when I decide to make my appearance. It's fun both ways!

So, let's see. It's the beginning of the third trimester, and my little lungs are already capable of breathing air while my heart and that palm vase system (or something like that) can provide sufficient gas exchange. My central nervous system can regulate a nice, rhythmic breathing and my body temperature. Yep. I'm getting warmer in here, and in turn, I'm making Mommy warmer. She's always been hot. I've heard her telling Daddy. He calls her his little space heater. Well, for the next few weeks, I get to help turn up the heat. At least it's winter, so she'll be nice and warm and help keep Daddy warm too.

For what it's worth, at this point, if I decided to come early, with intensive care, I could easily win on the show: "Survivor: The Early Years." I know Mommy doens't watch or even like that show, but you get the idea. :)





Ok, it's me again, and I'll wrap up things.

Hubby and I (and baby) will be going down to hubby's family for Christmas. They have about 100 acres of land with 4 homes sitting on it. Easy to get everyone together for some Christmas celebrating. About an hour's drive, and we're taking our dog as well for some run-around time. We'll also attend Christmas Eve service together, then everyone descends on one house for a buffet-style dinner. I'll be helping my mother-in-law with preparations for Christmas Day. It will be great to be involved again.

In the baby world, now is the time to kick our baby-on-the-outside preparations into high gear. I haven't "nested" a lot yet, but I'm starting to feel the pressure now. We'll be having our baby shower in early March so final baby area set-up won't be finished until then. In the meantime, we've got to dress up the nursery area with wall decor and clear out the closet for shelves to store the baby stuff, plan a space for diapering, keep mulling over the names we've picked and if we're going to stick with them, and try to enjoy this time.

When I'm not constipated, running to the toilet, or just plain wiped out, I have a lot yet to do! And I can't forget to get my sleep, be active, and eat well! Phewee! I get tired just thinking about it. But it's all good.

Well, I guess that's about all for now.

Tune in next week for the latest and final update of this year. :) And if you want to receive an email each time I post an update, subscribe using the form over there at the top right. Thanks for coming along this journey with me.

* * * * *

Spotlight on Rick Barry and Kiriath's Quest

Today, I'm spotlighting an author with a book geared for readers aged 13-18. So, for those who enjoy fantasy or with teens and even children who might enjoy this, today is for you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

RICK BARRY, formerly a textbook editor, has published well over 200 freelance articles and short stories with various organizations, including Focus on the Family, Regular Baptist Press, Scripture Press, Answers in Genesis, and others. His first novel, a WW II adventure titled Gunner's Run, appeared in July 2007. His next novel is a YA fantasy titled Kiriath's Quest, and is set for release in December 2008. Currently he is working on a third novel for adults.

Rick enjoys traveling internationally and speaks Russian, French, and Spanish. His travels—plus personal adventures that include skydiving, rock-climbing in Colorado, and canoeing—provide much of the background and inspiration for his fiction.
He and his wife Pam are active in their local church. They have two grown children.

KIRIATH'S QUEST
by Rick Barry
Published by JourneyForth

ABOUT THE BOOK

When King Jekoniah of Xandria is captured by evil Grishnaki, the royal family searches for a way to save him. The desired ransom is impossible, and outright war on the Grishnaki would end in disaster—so Prince Kiriath undertakes a secret mission into the Grishnaki's valley...

Buy Your Copy of Kiriath's Quest at Amazon.com Today!
Or Buy Your Copy direct from the publisher's web site.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

I guess you could say that, ultimately, J.R.R. Tolkien provided the inspiration. I discovered an old, 1950s edition of "The Hobbit" in our school library while in 5th grade. I loved the story, but it was such an old book that I figured he never wrote any others. Wrong! The summer after 6th grade I was browsing a bookstore and was astonished to stumble across a trilogy of 3 thick, shiny paperbacks called The Lord of the Rings by Tolkien. I bought them and loved them. Those books ignited my appreciation for the craft of fantasy. My own novel, Kiriath's Quest, is much shorter than LOTR and is quite a different story, but I never would have written it without the foundation of fantasy that Tolkien laid so many decades ago.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

I find that my own experiences definitely influence my characters, regardless of whether I'm penning a contemporary short story, or a World War II novel, or in this case a fantasy involving a mythical realm. Because my character Kiriath sneaks into the subterranean lair of the evil Grishnaki, I needed real-life inspiration so I could "feel" what such a cave would be like. So my wife and I visited the "Lost Sea," which is an underground lake and system of caves about 45 minutes south of Knoxville, Kentucky. The sights, sounds, smells, and the general feel of that underground cavern provided fodder for that chapter of Kiriath's adventure. I've also done some mountain climbing and rappelling in Colorado, and those experiences likewise helped to fertilize my imagination for such a tale.

Also, though, as a Christian, my own worldview affects my entire outlook on writing. In a fantasy story, you can't have a character like Frodo Baggins getting down on one knee and asking Jesus to save him from sin. But a writer can still utilize Biblical principles involving love, justice, mercy, grace, etc., for the connecting threads of the literary tapestry he weaves with words. So Kiriath and his companions may be good people, but they are not perfect. They too experience flaws, fatigue, fear, and temptations just like people in our own world, but they still recognize the difference between right and wrong, good and evil.

Concerning aspects that are theirs alone, Kiriath and his sister face circumstances that I have never encountered. For instance, they must risk torture and death if they hope to rescue their father from the Grishnaki. They could save themselves—but only by allowing their loved one to perish.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what he/she be and why?

Interesting question! If Kiriath were ice cream, he definitely would not be any of the standard chocolate, vanilla, strawberry flavors. But there is a special flavor that I recall from my childhood. In Michigan our family used to stop at a store called Richardson's Farm Dairy, and they had a long freezer case of fancy ice creams before Baskin Robbins came along. The one flavor they sold that might mirror Kiriath was called "Rocky Road" (because of the nuts and chocolate chips in it). Since Kiriath faces a rocky road in his quest, that is probably the ideal flavor for him.

4. What themes exist in Kiriath's Quest that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Several themes intertwine in this novel's pages. They include love, loyalty, faith, and family. Again, these are Biblical principles. A reader who is familiar with the Bible just might notice the Biblical parallels peeking out of some pages (in fact, in one or two passages, bits of dialogue paraphrase a couple proverbs). But I wanted to craft an adventure that would appeal to any young adult fan of fantasy, regardless of whether they attend church or not.

Probably each generation of teenagers in our real world takes its turn at being slightly embarrassed because of their "old-fashioned" parents. But Kiriath portrays a young man who loves his parents and is willing to risk all in order to save his father. I didn't realize it when I began writing, but I believe Kiriath provides a much-needed example in our society where so many people are increasingly wrapped up in themselves and self-centered ambitions.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Concerning difficulty, I discovered how tough it could be to create out of nothing a mythical world that has never existed before—but one that readers can still understand. I didn't need to do that in my WW II novel, Gunner's Run. In that book, the hard part was doing all the research about historical events that genuinely happened in order to paint the backdrop for the story realistically and factually. But in fantasy you don't want the fantasy world to be a mirror image of our own. You have to include enough overlap between reality and fantasy for readers to picture the places and events your pen describes, but you have to inject enough "other-worldly" elements to transport their minds to a time and place that has never existed. You can do this with bizarre plants, different foods, and different laws of physics. Some writers choose to emphasize magic as they fashion their imaginary world. So for me, this was the challenge.

My favorite chapter to write involves a battle scene between humans and the Grishnaki. In it, I didn't want simply to describe the sights and sounds of swinging swords and clashing shields. Today’s writers are more affected by television than they realize. However, TV presents only two senses: sights and sounds. I wanted readers of my battle scene to feel the sun's blazing heat as stinging sweat drips from their forehead into their eyes, to feel the sandpaper grittiness in their throat and to taste dust-laden air as they lunge forward or deflect sword strokes in an effort to survive the battle. I wanted them to feel the ache in weary limbs as they stumble, panting, to their knees and look up in time to see a leering enemy heft a spear pointed straight at them… In other words, I especially wanted this chapter to "come alive" in the reader’s brain using all senses, and not simply be a mental movie that they are watching and hearing.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The working title for my current project is "The Methuselah Experiment." It's a thriller aimed at adult readers. In World War II, a top Nazi scientist conducts life-extending experiments on captured Allied airmen. During a bombing, the scientist and most of the subjects perish. But one American pilot pulled from the rubble survives and heals amazingly quickly. The Methuselah process works, but the formula has been destroyed. Near the war's end, a group of Nazi officers establish a secret Organization and an underground lab in an effort to unlock the secret of Methuselah. The pilot, Roger Greene, finally manages to escape in our own 21st century, but he has escaped into a world he no longer understands and is on the run from Organization assassins assigned to kill him. The manuscript is done, and now I'm revising/polishing it, so there is no publication date yet. In other words, I need to get back to that job right now!


Thanks for the interview, Tiff! Again, if you think of anything else to ask, please feel free.

* * * * *

Thank you, Rick, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Kiriath's Quest.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *

Christmas Giveaway Contest -- CDs and a Book!

BIG BOOK AND CHRISTMAS CD GIVEAWAY!

Tina Forker is excited that her agents have given her a whole box of amazing products to give away to one lucky person! This is a short contest, so get the word out!

Leave your comments or email Tina atforkner@yahoo.com by Sunday, December 21st!

Receive Five Extra Entries if you post about this contest on your own blog and leave the link here.

The Gift Package Includes:

Amy Grant CD - The Christmas Collection http://www.amygrant.com
Travis Cottrell CD - Ring The Bells http://traviscottrell.com
Travis Cottrell CD - Found
Point of Grace CD - Tennessee Christmas http://pointofgrace.net
Point of Grace - How You Live Deluxe Edition
Michael W. Smith CD - It's a Wonderful Christmas http://www.michaelwsmith.com
Tina Ann Forkner's novel - Ruby Among Us

To post a comment follow this link below and let Tina know that you heard about the contest from my blog, A Fiction-Filled Life! Thanks!

Enter Tina's Big Holiday Giveaway HERE

* * * * *

Baby Update -- Week 26, 14 Weeks to Go!

Well, it's week 26, and all is well. I feel like the bell ringer in a small town, sounding the reassurance in the middle of the night. :)

Today, I'm 26 weeks and 1 day. I'm also closing in on the end of my 6th month. On December 23rd, I'll reach 2 landmarks. I'll be entering my 7th month AND my 3rd and final trimester. Wow! Where has the time gone?

So far, so good. I'm still feeling great...although at the moment, I'm battling a tickle in my throat that's causing those annoying little coughs. I think I might have some icky stuff stuck there that's refusing to budge. And of course, as long as I'm standing, my nose is all clear, but when I lay down, depending on the side on which I'm laying, one side clogs. Ugh!

Oh, and I had a 3-hour glucose test today because my 1-hour from last week came back with elevated numbers at 141. Just a shade over the line, so they wanted to test me again. Started out at fasting blood sugar level of 91, which the tech said is great. She also said she saw no reason why I wouldn't pass this time. Must just be my body's a bit slower metabolizing sugars. Btw, this test is for gestational diabetes. If you get diagnosed with it, you are at higher risk for developing Type II later in life. Praying I come back clean this time.

And now for a few words from the little angel inside me...



Mommy's right. She's been coughing quite a bit. With each one, I get a minor jolt. Sometimes I respond with a kick. Other times, I just settle back into a comfortable position. Really hope Mommy gets better soon. I keep her awake more than enough. She doesn't need anything else to add to what she already has to endure.

I'm 26 weeks old. And guess what? I can see my watery home!

My eyelids have finally separated (they were fused closed previously) and I've been loving my first few moments of sight. Of course, it is a bit dark in here most of the time. Once in a while, I can see pinpricks of light, but I guess Mommy is keeping me snug and warm under layers of clothing. And if what I hear is right, she's keeping herself warm too! It's frigid out there!

I've also acquired the ability to say "yes" and "no" with a shake of my head. This will come in handy when Mommy wants me to do something I don't want to do, especially before I can talk. :) Oh yeah, and my head hair is starting to grow! I can't quite tell, but I think I'm getting a cowlick or two. Guess I'll have to suffer from stubborn bed-head like everyone else. (sigh)

Let's see. What else has happened? Umm, my toenails have grown in and I'm slowly piling on the pounds beneath my rather loose skin. But most of all, my brain tissue and neurons are all zooming right along in their development. I just know it. I'm going to be a genius! And I still have 7 or 8 years to go before my brain activity will start slowing a bit. Wow! So much to learn and so little time. How will I ever manage?

*Yawn* You know, all this talk of this growth I'm achieving and what more there is for me, well, it's making me sleepy. I think I'll let Mommy speak again and curl up for a nice nap. Looks like Mommy likes letting me have my say, so I guess I'll be back next week.




Ok, my little one has drifted into dreamland, so I'll close.

Last week's ultrasound went great. They got the final measurements they needed and baby is measuring just 2 days behind my estimated due date. Baby's heartbeat was 153 this time and we even got a wave caught on film. I'm also 25 weeks in belly measurement, although I'm not quite sure how they have established a standard there since so many women carry their babies so differently. But, as long as everything translates well, I'll take whatever they tell me. I've gained 5 pounds overall and my doctor is quite pleased.

Tune in next week for the latest. And if you want to receive an email each time I post an update, subscribe using the form over there at the top right. Thanks for coming along this journey with me.

* * * * *

CFBA Blog Tour - Robin Jones Gunn and Engaging Father Christmas

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Engaging Father Christmas
FaithWords - October 30, 2008)
by Robin Jones Gunn

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

ROBIN JONES GUNN grew up in Orange County, California and has lived in all kinds of interesting places, including Reno and Hawaii.

She and her husband currently live near Portland, Oregon and have been married for over 30 years. They spent their first 22 years of marriage working together in youth ministry, and enjoying life with their son and daughter who are now both grown.

As a frequent speaker at local and international events, one of Robin's favorite topics is how God is the Relentless Lover and we are His first love. She delights in telling stories of how God uses fiction to change lives.

Robin is the recipient of the Christy Award, the Mt. Hermon Pacesetter Award, the Sherwood E. Wirt Award and is a Gold Medallion Finalist. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Media Associates International and the Board of Directors for Jerry Jenkins' Christian Writers' Guild.

LIVE AUTHOR CHAT

Robin will be doing a live chat online at Abunga.com on Dec. 17 from 2-3 p.m. EST. Gunn has written more than 60 books including the popular "Christy Miller," "Sierra Jensen" and "College Years" teen series and the "Glenbrooke" and "Sisterchicks" series. During the Abunga.com chat, she will be taking questions and talking about her new book, "Engaging Father Christmas." To join in that chat, log onto www.Abunga.com/AuthorsAtAbunga. You can submit pre-chat questions now at the log in page.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Miranda Carson can't wait to return to England for Christmas and to be with her boyfriend, Ian. She has spent a lifetime yearning for a place to call home, and she's sure Carlton Heath will be it, especially when a hinted-at engagement ring slips into the conversation.

But Miranda's high hopes for a jolly Christmas with the small circle of people she has come to love are toppled when Ian's father is hospitalized and the matriarch of the Whitcombe family withholds her blessing from Miranda. Questions run rampant in Miranda's mind about whether she really belongs in this cheery corner of the world. Then, when her true identity threatens all her relationships in unanticipated ways, Miranda is certain all is lost.

And yet...maybe Father Christmas has special gifts in store for her after all.

If you would like to read an excerpt, go HERE.

Buy your copy of Engaging Father Christmas Today!

AUTHOR SPOTLIGHT

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

A visit to England and a Muppet Christmas Carol.

How's that for a combination! The Christmas Carol came first. Years ago I was watching the Muppet version with our daughter and got all teary at the part where the spirit of Christmas Present opens the door to Scrooge and says, "Come in, come in and know me better, man!" Now every time I watch it I still get misty at that part. The reason is because I believe God, the Father of Christmas, extends that same invitation to all of us. He opens the door to salvation through Christ's birth (Christ-mas) and welcomes us to come in and know Him better.

The visit to England was while I was researching Sisterchicks Go Brit! I visited a few villages that proved to be great inspiration for the imaginary town of Carlton Heath in the Father Christmas books. While visiting Rochester and the last home of Charles Dickens I began formulating the story idea. It was there, in front of grand stone chapel that I thought about writing a Christmas novella and including all the charm of England.

Photos of all these places of inspiration are on my facebook in a photo album titled Father Christmas Tea Party. My name on facebook is Robin Jones Gunn. Come be my friend!

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

In both of the Father Christmas novellas just about everything is made up. The only similar experiences would be the visits I've made to England to soak up the inspiration of the setting. I'm not sure I share any traits with the characters. My husband's ancestors are from Scotland, just like Andrew and Ian. Does that count?

3. What themes exist in Engaging Father Christmas that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

I'm pretty much an organic writer. My strengths are in storytelling rather than in plot and theme and development. (Maybe I shouldn't be confessing this so openly. Are any of my editors reading this?) So the theme of God inviting us to come in and know Him better is definitely what got me motivated when I started writing. As I got into both the Father Christmas books I discovered that the concept of "belonging" kept surfacing. Belonging is really a gift, isn't it? Miranda was looking for a place where she belonged. She thought her longings would be settled when she found a way to fit in with the extended Whitcombe family, but ultimately, the longing she felt was for belonging to the family of God.

4. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

My favorite part of all in both books is in Finding Father Christmas when Miranda remembers swimming in a hotel pool at night as a child. I'll post a portion of it here. You can go to my website www.robingunn.com and hear the opening of Finding Father Christmas on the Radio feature. Here's the motel pool scene excerpt from Finding Father Christmas:

I followed my mother down the stairs, both of us in our thin, cotton pajamas. The motel pool was small and separated from the parking lot by a chain link fence lined with sheets of hard, green plastic. All the outside lights of the Swan Motel glowed with a pale weariness as if they, also, were too hot to shine their brightest and had turned themselves to dim.
"It's still hot out here," I whispered.
"Yes, it is," she murmured in the stillness. "Hot as dragon's breath."
My mother lifted the latch on the chain link gate that led into the pool area. She walked right in as if the "Pool Closed After 9pm" sign applied to everyone else but us.
"They'll be looking for a cool watering hole this night," she said, dipping her foot into the shallow end. "When they come, you will allow the dragons to drink as much as they like, undisturbed, won't you?"
I nodded.
"Your movements in the water must produce only the tiniest of ripples."
I nodded again and lowered my thin legs into the water.
That's when I saw him. The one eyed dragon.
In the darkness of the still waters the smoldering illumination of the light under the diving board appeared to be the halfway-opened yellow eye of a camouflaged dragon gazing back at us.
A shiver raced up my torso.
Ignoring the dragon, my mother demurely dipped her slender frame all the way under the water, submerging with barely a sound. I watched as her oversized T-shirt billowed around her like a jellyfish.
Bravely lowering myself into the water only up to my neck, I kept a watchful eye on the dragon in the deep end of the pool. He did not move. Neither did I. The gap between us remained a flat distance of undisturbed, watery space.
My mother swam about freely, silently. I bobbed and blinked only when I had to. Then she motioned for me to follow as she slipped out of the shallow end. We trotted as quickly as we could back to our room.
With a finger to her lips, she said, "We must hurry before one of them follows us into our room. Dragons are drawn in by the scent of chlorine."
She silently slid the key into the door and jiggled it once, twice, three times.
"Hurry!" my tiny voice begged. The legs of my cotton pajamas clung to me as the dripping pool water began to puddle at our doorstep, leaving more traceable chlorine with every drop.
"Open!" My mother commanded the door knob. Suddenly the key worked. We pressed through together, as I stifled my squeals.
My mother quickly slammed the door, locked it, bolted it with the chain and motioned for me to cautiously peek out the front window behind the closed curtain. I squinted at the submerged yellow eye that hadn't moved from the deep end of the pool. We stood together, barely breathing in the darkness, reeking of chlorine. My heart raced deliciously.

5. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

It's the last Sisterchicks(R) novel, Sisterchicks in Wooden Shoes!, where the midlife mamas are off to the Netherlands. After that it's the third Katie Weldon novel, Coming Attractions.

I'd love to invite your readers to sign up on my website http://www.robingunn.com/ to receive the Robin's Nest Newsletter. I often offer drawings for free books and give updates on what's next and where I'll be speaking or signing.

Thanks again, for the invitation to jump in here! Comfort and Joy in Jesus!

* * * * *

Thank you, Robin, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Engaging Father Christmas.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

* * * * *

Spotlight on Staci Stallings and Reunion

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

STACI STALLINGS is a stay-at-home mom with three kids, a husband, and a writing addiction. She has been featured in God's Way for Mothers; Soul Matters for Teens; From the Heart: Stories of Love and Friendship; and Chicken Soup for the Body and Soul. With her sixth novel coming out in print, four full-length e-novels, and two collections of short stories, Staci's writing addiction has reached epic proportions. She lives in Amarillo, Texas and owns her own publishing company, Spirit Light Books.

REUNION
by Staci Stallings
Published by Spirit Light Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

Camille Wright and Jaylon Quinn met in high school and fell in love, but their dreams under the stars took them in two different directions. Now an aerospace engineer, Camille is successful in her career but struggling in life. Jaylon's life had taken him where he never expected to be, and now he's building a life that looks perfect—from the outside. Both remember the love they shared but understand that love once lost hardly ever comes back around…

Ten years later. Lives have changed. Dreams have changed. Or have they?

Buy Your Copy of Reunion today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

"Reunion" had a strange path into my life. I got the idea for this story in 1999 but didn't start writing it right away (which is odd for me). It played around in my head with faceless characters for nearly three years. That, too, is odd because normally when a book comes this well-defined to me, I've got characters and details and everything. This one didn't. I knew it was about a high school reunion. I knew the main two characters had fallen in love in high school and then lost touch. I knew several pieces, but nothing really concrete formed in my soul around it. Meanwhile, I was busy writing other stories.

Along came "Dreams by Starlight." This story was one I'd had a dream about. The dream scene is featured in that book as Camille Wright stands on an empty stage in an empty auditorium, repeating lines she has long-ago memorized—only the point of view was not her but someone who had happened to walk in before school and saw her up there. That someone became Jaylon Quinn, Camille's love interest in "Dreams." The end of "Dreams" has had several readers in spasms because they have to find out what happened to the characters because "Dreams" ends with them deciding to follow their separate dreams even though they really care about each other.

Shortly after finishing "Dreams," all of a sudden "Reunion" came on full-force. I knew the characters, I could see them in the story, all the details fell into place. It was written in under six weeks. That's how I got the inspiration for "Reunion."

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

This book and the one before are probably some of the closest characters to me I've ever written. Camille is a studious bookworm who keeps her nose in books so she doesn't have to make too many friends or put herself out there too much. That was a lot my experience in high school. Because our school was so small and I enjoyed doing a lot of things, I was not someone who melted into the woodwork very easily. But in a bigger school, like Camille goes to, I totally would have. What Camille learns in "Dreams" and fully steps into in "Reunion" is to not apologize for who you are. Be who God made you to be. Others are naturally attracted to that. Camille is the part of me that writes my books—perfectly happy sitting at home, out of the limelight, using, but in a way, hiding my gifts and talents.

Jaylon Quinn is the part of me that publicizes my books. In truth, he's more an image than a person. He's the flashy guy who all the guys want to be and all the girls want to date—at least on the outside. On the inside is a very different story. He's been hurt by the loss of very close loved ones, and he even leads something of a parallel life to his at school image. Camille really forces him to stop trying to be someone he's not and start learning to be himself—which is a really cool person but not in a limelight kind of way. I think that's the person I am when I'm out doing signings and events. I try not to do that, but it's hard. The natural inclination is to "be impressive." Learning to be yourself and letting people judge that for themselves is really scary.

Each had traits that are theirs alone. Camille likes math. Enough said. Jaylon's family is a mess. His father is overbearing, and Jaylon really buys into the whole "impressive" thing. I don't so much—at least I see the trap and try not to.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what he/she be and why?

Camille would be vanilla. Plain vanilla that's kind of melted. Jaylon would be chocolate-pecan with hot fudge, caramel, nuts, whipped cream, and two cherries… yeah, he's THAT good.

4. Are there any themes in Reunion that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

BE YOURSELF. If you don’t know how, learn to be yourself. And never apologize for it or try to change because someone else thinks the real you is not good enough.

Actually this book and "Dreams" have inspired many people to go for dreams they thought were out of their reach or long gone. My good friend tells me every time the topic of one of these books comes up: "Those should be mandatory reading in every high school. I wish someone had told me that when I was growing up. It would have made so much difference."

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult part to write was actually not finished (though the book was) for about five years. The day I wrote it the first time, something had happened to me personally that just threw me under the table and threatened to keep me there. I had given my all to a project that wasn't even mine to help two people I really cared about out, and instead of getting any thanks, they first said I didn't do it right and then they said it wasn't a big deal anyway. I was SO MAD and FRUSTRATED because (Alert: recurring theme in my life to that point!): "I can never do enough to make them happy! No matter how much I do, they always want MORE!"

I remember that night I typed out my frustrations to a young friend of mine at midnight, and she, at the age of 15, came back the next morning with some of the most profound wisdom I've ever heard. "If someone requires you to be something other than who you really are in order to love you, they don't really love you at all. The people who really love you will love you no matter what you ever accomplish, and anything you accomplish can never add to their love because they already love you totally."

The gist of the conversation centered on the fact that the people who really love you, love you no matter what. If they don't, the love is not real in the first place. They will never be 'impressed" into loving you, and nothing you do can ever make them love you more.

That day I sat down and wrote that scene so fast that for five years it frustrated me because it was so abbreviated that I couldn't see the characters in the scene, I could just hear her words to me, and I wasn't sure it translated right. The words were right, but the emotional and physical layers were not there. When I got into understanding layers in writing, that was when that scene finally came together.

My favorite scene might be my favorite in all of my books. It literally makes me smile and melt when I think about it. It takes place on a bridge (thus the cover), and it has a very Cinderella feel to it, though it has no outright references or implications to that story. In that scene for the first time since they’ve been apart, Jaylon and Camille really connect again. Jaylon remembers how to make others important, and Camille remembers how to be honest about who she really is and knows once again that who she is, is okay.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Oh, boy! The next story will be out sometime in the first four months of '09 if God can find a place to put it on my schedule. This one is so intense, it will leave you breathless places. The book is called "To Protect & Serve," and it's about fire fighters who put their lives on the line, and the women they leave every day to protect us. Because fire fighting is something I've never really done (I'm terrified of fire, ironically), I did a lot of research and then sent the entire book to a friend of mine who is a professional fire fighter. He called me one night demanding to know how I could've been so crazy as to go to fires! (He's a little on the over-protective side.) When I assured him I hadn't, he couldn't believe it. "I don't know how you go it so real. It's like I was right there in those fires, in those situations. I don't know how you could write it that real without ever having been there."

Trust me, my readers will not be disappointed!

* * * * *

Thank you, Staci, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Reunion.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

* * * * *

CFBA Blog Tour -- ME! Follow the Tour!

Just a quick note to let y'all know that I'm being spotlighted on CFBA this week, December 8th-10th. The feature is my second book, Quills & Promises, and 54 other bloggers will be posting a spotlight on me and that book.

Some have interviews, some have book reviews, and some have book giveaway contests.

So, if you'd like to follow the tour, here's the list:

Stormi at Mystery, Suspense & God...Oh My!

Abi at lighter side
Amy at Simple Folk Schoolhouse
Andie at frommipov
Andrea at The Laughs Will Go On
Angela at One Baby, Seven Dogs, and a Mommy
April at Projecting A
Barbara at Victoria Hill Farm
Becky at Savvy Mom
Bonnie at Bonnie Writes
Brittanie at A Book Lover
Camille at There is a season
Carolyn at Serenity
Cheryl at Writing Remnants
Christy at Christy's Book Blog
Courtney at A Mom Speaks
Dave at The Plot Thickens
Dave at Novel Spotlight
Deborah at books, movies and chinese food
Deena at A Peek At My Bookshelf
Gina at Portrait Of A Writer
Janis at The Nearsighted Bookworm
Jendi at Jendi's Journal
Jeni at Allen Family Circus
Jenn at Adventures At Walden's Pond
Jennifer at Musings on This, That, & The Other Thing
Jenny at Come Meet AusJenny
Jill at Artistic Blogger
Kara at Ramblings-n-Writings
Karen at Mommy of Three
Kim at Window To My World
Kim at Rainy Day Diamonds
Krista at Welcome To Married Life
Kristy at I Need To Read
Laura at Laura William's Musings
Leah at Ponderings From My Heart
Linda at Mocha With Linda
Linda at Reading For His Glory
Lori at Noggin Bits
Michelle at Edgy Inspirational Author
Pam at Pam's Private Reflections
Pam at Daysong Reflections
Margaret at Creative Madness
Pattie at FreshBrewedWriter
Pepper at Great Christian Fiction
Ryan at loves to read
Sabrina at Hijinks From The Heartland
Shera at Froggy Reviews
Sherry at Everything Moms
Sunny at That Book Addiction
Takiela at Beauty 4 Ashes
Tara at Tara's View Of The World
Tiffany at Snapshots Of Life
Vanessa at Ramblings of A Texas Housewife
Victoria at Overlooked Orchid

Happy Touring!

* * * * *

Baby Update -- Week 25, 15 Weeks to Go!

All right, I confess. I missed the past 2 weeks since we were out of town back East visiting my family for Thanksgiving. We took weekly pictures to stay up to date, but I simply didn't have time to get here to post the reports. Back home, now, though, and going to get back into the swing of things. Good thing I had only done 1 week and hadn't yet set a precedent. :)

Today, I'm 25 weeks and 1 day. I'm also into my 6th month, which will finish on December 23rd. The Sunday before Christmas will mark the end of my 2nd trimester and the start of my 3rd. Hard to believe I'm so close to 2/3 of the way done. It's amazing to think in just 3-1/2 months, I'll be holding my very first baby and falling in love all over again. :)

As of week 25, here is the update:

I finally felt the baby move the evening after our first ultrasound on November 9th. Was a little concerned until then that everything was all right. Now, I feel movement daily, and it's comforting to know baby's alive and well. At the moment, I'm feeling a little odd, like there's another voice in my head wanting to get out. I keep hearing words in my mind and...



The words are not in your mind, Mommy. It's me, your baby talking. I didn't want to be left out of this reporting, and since you aren't in here, I figured a report from the inside might be fun. Besides, you can't talk for me forever. This way, I can get an early start.

Mommy's right. I'm 25 weeks old. My spine is growing stronger and stronger, and I'm about 9 inches from crown to rump, whatever that means. I feel longer, but I don't think they're measuring my legs. You know, those things I'm moving to kick Mommy? Yeah, if they measured from the top of my head to the tip of my toes, I'd be about 17 inches, but I'm all curled up, so I guess it's not easy to see that.

The good thing is that I finally feel like a real baby instead of a misproportioned alien or something. Most of my remaining development will be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development. I'm sure Mommy is so happy to hear that! I've heard her boasting that she hasn't really gained much with me yet. Ha! Well, that's about to change. I'll make sure of it!

Everything else is feeling good so far. My little breathing system is getting stronger and stronger, and I'm gearing up for that big scream once it's time for me to enter that outside world where y'all live. I'm already starting to turn a little and moving my feet up toward Mommy's ribs. That'll be fun to start kicking in that direction. Maybe Daddy will finally be able to feel me too. I know Mommy's been trying to catch me at the right moment. I have fun being a stinker, though.

I've still got a few weeks before I can kick hard enough to be seen. And there's not much room in here, so turning takes a while. I'm also never sure which way is up or down, so I guess I'm moving in the right direction.

Oh, and by the way. My ears are getting rather sensitive, so would you mind keeping it down a bit out there? There are times when I'm trying to sleep or would like to grow in some peace and quiet.

And speaking of sleep, I think I'm going to go get some. All this talking has tuckered me out. If Mommy lets me, I'll be back next week.




All right, now that my little one has drifted off to sleep again, I'm back. Baby provided you with most of the details, and other than that, we're doing great. I finally have a belly to show, but I can still somewhat conceal it beneath baggy clothes. The only problem is when I do, I look fat. :) So, I try to choose clothes that make it obvious, wearing my pregnant belly badge with pride!

Btw, the 3 belly pictures above are the past 3 weeks of growth for me. Weeks 23-25 with the bare belly shot being the most recent. The ultrasound pictures are from November. The first on the right is a footprint shot, and one of my favorites. The second on the left is of baby's leg and foot, getting ready to kick me. :) The third on the right is an overhead shot showing an arm near the top and both legs pointing toward the left. The fourth and final on the left is a profile shot with the head on the left.

We have a 2nd ultrasound tomorrow, so I'll have more pictures next week. Tune in then for the latest. And if you want to receive an email each time I post an update, subscribe using the form over there at the top right.

Thanks for coming along this journey with me.

* * * * *

Spotlight on Mary Connealy and her Nosy in Nebraska series

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

MARY CONNEALY is the author of Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and the soon-to-be-released Gingham Mountain. She has recently signed an exclusive contract to write for Barbour Publishing for the next three years.

She is also the author of four books for Heartsong Presents, a line of short, sweet romances from Barbour Publishing; Golden Days, Buffalo Gal, Clueless Cowboy and Bossy Bridegroom. And three books for Heartsong Presents Mysteries, a line of cozy mysteries from Barbour Publsihing; Of Mice…and Murder, Pride and Pestilence and The Miceman Cometh.

Mary's dream is to tell love stories that make people laugh. She lives on a farm in Nebraska with her husband, Ivan. She is the mother of four beautiful daughters Josie, married to Matt, Wendy, Shelly, married to Aaron, and Katy. She's got one granddaughter on the way. And later, if it turns out the doctor was wrong about Josie's baby being a girl, we will look at this bio and laugh.

Visit Mary's blog: http://mconnealy.blogspot.com/ or you can find out more and hang around with me and some writer friends here: http://seekerville.blogspot.com/ and http://www.petticoatsandpistols.com/.

NOSY IN NEBRASKA
by Mary Connealy
Published by Heartsong Presents Mysteries/Barbour Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOKS

OF MICE...AND MURDER
November 2008

Join the club here: www.heartsongmysteries.com

Being named in Great-grandma's will was like hitting bankrupt on Wheel of Fortune. The whole family held their breath while the wheel ticked around and around, or rather while the lawyer opened the envelope. Then they all heaved a sigh of relief when the wheel stopped on Carrie's name. Carrie the heiress. Great. Clean up the house. Clean up the yard. Clean up Great-grandma's rap sheet. Carrie hates mice and loves the big city. So why is she living in a huge mouse infested house in her dinky hometown? The dead guy in her pantry closet is the most interesting thing that's happened since she came home. Of course the carpenter who's helping her trap her mice and solve the crime is pretty interesting, too.

PRIDE AND PESTILENCE
Coming 2009

Joe Manning comes to town to finally meet his dead beat dad, only to find his father has been murdered. Bonnie is attacked while she's at work in the Melnik Historical Society Museum, proud home of Maxie the World's Largest Field Mouse. Only her attacker now claims it was an accident, and he claims he's never seen the guy before who's dead in Bonnie's store room. Bonnie wants to be suspicious but once he stopped attacking her he turns out to be pretty sweet. And lots of people had a motive to kill Sven Gunderson - including Bonnie herself. Gunderson, the true owner of Maxie, wanted his mouse back.
In Melnik, that means war!

THE MICEMAN COMETH
Coming 2009

Tyler Simpson is opening a new law office and he's home to stay. The very British Dr. Madeline Stuart is writing an anthropology doctoral thesis about a small town that worships an oversized rodent. Success with her project should lead to her dream job, a full professorship at Oxford... even better, a guest shot on Oprah. When a body falls out of a cupboard in Tyler's law office, clutching Maddy's necklace in his cold, dead fingers, Maddy gets arrested and Tyler is appointed her attorney. But once Tyler finds out Maddy's here to betray his beloved Melnik, he isn't giving her his best effort. And someone out there thinks blaming the murder on Maddy would be a perfect solution to his own problems. And Maddy's more likely to cooperate with being framed - if she's dead. Maxie the World's Largest Field Mouse must come through one more time to thwart the criminal in his peaceful, if someone mouse-obsessed, hometown.

Buy Your Copies of the books in the Nosy in Nebraska series by contacting Mary at her web site or pre-order the 3-book collection at Amazon.com today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for these stories?

The cozy mystery series should be called My Three Glitches.
I'm scared of mice like Carrie in Of Mice. . .and Murder.
I'm an insomniac like Bonnie in Pride and Pestilence.
I'm clumsy and tend to live inside my head too much like Maddy in The Miceman Cometh.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that are theirs and theirs alone?

You know, those traits I mentioned before are just jumping off points. I go in any direction the story takes me and although my own experiences influence my characters, I'm not bound by them.

3. If one of your characters were an ice cream flavor, what he/she be and why?

Carrie's Peppermint. Bonnie's vanilla. Maddy is mainly the ice cream that drips off your cone onto your shirt. So chocolate I guess because it stains. ON Maddy, every thing is a mess.

4. Are there any themes in the Nosy in Nebraska books that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the stories progressed?

What I really wanted to do was show how wonderful small town life is, while making gentle fun of the quirks of any (and probably every) small town. I think we’ve gotten so separated from each other these days. I see suburban neighborhoods in bigger cities filled with houses so big they qualify as mini-mansions...and they're all empty. All those expensive homes and the whole population empties out every day all day. Kids in school and/or day care. Mom and dad at work. Neighbors don't know each other, how can they with so little time.

A small town is just so different.

The best thing and the worst thing about a small town is the same thing. Everybody know your business. So if you have trouble, an illness, death, car trouble, anything, there are people lining up to help you out. And...If you do something stupid, get a ticket, flunk a test, have a fender bender, have a too-loud fight with your husband, everybody knows.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Action scenes and comedy scenes are hard work. They take a lot of tweaking to get them to move just right, flow just right. They're also my favorite, but I can feel myself dreading them when I'm coming up to one, And if it's a comedic action scene, well, it's pretty intimidating. But I love it when I get it right.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The cozy mysteries are in the Heartsong Presents Mysteries book club. That's the only place they're available for a while. The three books in this series will release as a collection in June called Nosy in Nebraska. That's listed on Amazon now-so you can buy it, but you'll be waitng a while for delivery. It will be in bookstores in June.

My next release into book stores will be Gingham Mountain. You can buy it on Amazon now, for later delivery and you can also find a pathway to it through my blog and my website.

Thanks for having me on, Amber.

* * * * *

Thank you, Mary, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of your choice of one of Mary's books.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to anyone worldwide.

* * * * *

CFBA Blog Tour - Brandilyn Collins and Dark Pursuit

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Dark Pursuit
Zondervan (December 1, 2008)
by Brandilyn Collins

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

BRANDILYN COLLINS is known for her trademark Seatbelt Suspense®. She is currently working on her 20th book. For chances to win free copies of her work, join her Fan Club on Facebook. Here's what Brandilyn has to say about why she wrote Dark Pursuit:

In John Milton's Paradise Lost Satan's followers, kicked out of heaven, boast about storming the gates and reclaiming their territory. Beelzebub scoffs at their boasting as merely "hatching vain empires" and suggests a different revengeful scheme: seduce mankind away from God. So Satan visits the Garden of Eden to teach humans the very thing he and his cohorts have learned to be futile—the dark pursuit of hatching their own vain empires instead of following God. He presented man with this "gift" of death, disguised as life. And man fell for it.

Upon this theme of man's fall and spiritual blindness, I created the characters and events in Dark Pursuit. The story clips along at a fast pace, with much symbolism running underneath.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Dark Pursuit—A twisting story of murder, betrayal, and eternal choices

Novelist Darell Brooke lived for his title as King of Suspense—until an auto accident left him unable to concentrate. Two years later, reclusive and bitter, he wants one thing: to plot a new novel and regain his reputation.

Kaitlan Sering, his twenty-two-year-old granddaughter, once lived for drugs. After she stole from Darell, he cut her off. Now she's rebuilding her life. But in Kaitlan's town two women have been murdered, and she's about to discover a third. She's even more shocked to realize the culprit—her boyfriend, Craig, the police chief's son.

Desperate, Kaitlan flees to her estranged grandfather. For over forty years, Darell Brooke has lived suspense. Surely he'll devise a plan to trap the cunning Craig.

But can Darell's muddled mind do it? And—if he tries—with what motivation? For Kaitlan's plight may be the stunning answer to the elusive plot he seeks...

If you would like to read an excerpt, go HERE.

Buy your copy of Dark Pursuit Today!

BOOK REVIEW

Ok, I confess. I am normally a proud proclaimer of my membership in Brandilyn's "Big Honkin' Chicken Club" in that I am not big for suspense and thriller stories. In fact, I get the willies just thinking about reading stories like that.

However, the premise of this story intrigued me and I decided to give it a shot. I wasn't disappointed or scared as much as I thought I'd be.

Of course, I made sure to read it in the broad light of day and never at night or in the dark. :) I'm not that brave...yet.

This book lives up to the "page-turner" description. In fact, I finished it in only 4 days. Normally, I'm a fast reader, but I had no idea how I'd get into this one. No worries. Brandilyn did a fantastic job keeping the story moving forward all the way to the end.

The omniscient POV and first-person POV of the killer was tough for me, as I'm a died-in-the-wool 3rd person POV reader, but I managed. And toward the end, it seemed some of the character threads fell flat. But, all in all, an excellent product from the skilled fingers of a well-known and award-winning suspense novelist.

There's even a touch of romance, a lot of drama, and a boatload of suspense. If you're a fan of this genre, you won't want to miss it!

* * * * *

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE copy of Dark Pursuit.

If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure you leave your email address (name [at] domainname [dot] com/net) or that there's a way to contact you. Otherwise, you won't be entered. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, check the box that says 'email follow-up comments to:' when you leave a comment and they'll be sent to the email address associated with your blogging account. That way you'll be notified of any comments and will know when I announce the winner.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

* * * * *