Spotlight on Susan Meissner and Blue Heart Blessed

Today, I'm introducing an author with a standalone book that has already been set out to be a featured selection in a lot of bookstores across the country. Enjoy!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Susan Meissner is a multi-published author, speaker and writing workshop leader with a background in community journalism. A devotee of purposeful pre-writing, Susan encourages workshop audiences to maximize writing time by planning ahead, mapping the writing journey and beginning from a place of intimate knowledge. She is a contributing writer to the Christian Authors Network marketing blog and the leader/moderator of a local writer's group. When she's not writing, Susan directs the Small Groups and Connection Ministries program at her San Diego church.

BLUE HEART BLESSED
by Susan Meissner
Published by Harvest House

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Left standing at the altar, Daisy Murien, a wounded but hopeful romantic, opens a secondhand wedding dress boutique, hoping to soothe her broken heart while giving doomed wedding dresses a second chance at love. Her predictable days take a sharp turn, though, when the retired Episcopal priest who blesses the tiny, blue satin heart she sews into each dress falls ill.

When the priest’s brooding and recently divorced son arrives with plans to take his ailing father away, a contest of wills begins between two stubborn—and hurting—souls. While fighting to keep Father Laurent close by, Daisy finally begins to understand why she has routinely convinced potential buyers not to buy the one gown that started her business—her own: She doesn’t want to give up on the dream of a fairytale romance. This compelling story is about the magnificence of unconditional love and God’s impeccable timing in bringing it about.

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

A couple years ago I was talking with a college-age student while we were on our way to see someone in the hospital. She told me she had just seen her roommate's wedding dress and she described how beautiful it was. I said something like, "It's too bad a dress as beautiful as that is only worn once." The minute I said that, an idea popped in my head. What if someone opened a secondhand wedding dress shop? What if there was a place for wedding dresses to go so they would be worn again? What kind of person would open a shop like that? By the time we reached the hospital I had Daisy (my quirky main character) fairly fleshed out in my head and I knew why she had opened a used wedding dress shop. She had a dress to sell; the dress she never got to wear because her groom caved 10 days before the wedding. And I knew it would take her 350 pages to finally be able to part with it.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced the character of Daisy? What aspects became traits that were hers and hers alone?

I'm happy to say I married a great guy who loves being married to me so I never had to recover from the kind of disappointment Daisy did. But I did make tons of bridal paper dolls when I was little, just like Daisy did. And I did plan my wedding's every tiny detail, just like Daisy did. I love gelato like Daisy does, I play piano, and so does Daisy. And I love "He Shall Feed His Flock," from Handel's Messiah, just like Daisy does! But Daisy has a hard time letting go of her past and I am usually okay with saying goodbye to things that have hurt me.

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

The theme I wanted to weave in more than anything was don’t hurry true love. The real thing is worth waiting for. It's not something you make happen. It happens while you are concentrating on others, not yourself. The more subtle themes are: 1. Assumptions are dangerous critters – don't assume anything about anybody! – and 2. The love of God will always be there for you, when all other loves fail. Always.

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

It was kind of hard to keep the two people I want to have get together in this book apart. They were perfect for each other, but I had to keep them apart until the end otherwise it would've been a really short book! I loved writing the scene where Daisy realizes the one she loves loves her and they kiss. :)

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

My next release is also a book with a romantic thread but there are a lot of other threads that make up the fabric of the plot. It deals with a college lit major, a reclusive 83-year-old librarian and the 400-year-old diary of a victim of the Salem witch trials. The story in a nutshell is this: the lit major, an only child who grew up in a very affluent family and feels pressured to live up to the family dynasty, agrees to transcribe the diary, which belonged to an ancestor of the librarian. The librarian has her own reasons for having the diary transcribed, and of course the victim of the Salem witch trials was innocent, as nearly all the people executed in Salem in 1692 were. So there are some sad, some poignant moments in this book. But I think we can learn from the past. We have to or we're doomed to repeat it, so the saying goes. So even though I don't race backward through time to save a girl who was falsely accused and executed for witchcraft, we learn from her. And that’s the next best thing. The book is called The Shape of Mercy and it will be released by WaterBrook in the fall of 2008.

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Thanks, Susan, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Blue Heart Blessed. 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) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, insert your email when you leave a comment. 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.

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Spotlight on Anita Higman and The Love Song

Today, I have the privilege of introducing a fellow Heartsong Presents author who is new to the adult fiction scene after a string of successes in published books for other genres. Enjoy!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author, Anita Higman, has twenty books published for adults and children, and has five novels coming out. She has been honored in the past as a Barnes & Noble "Author of the Month" for Houston. Anita has a B.A. degree from SNU combining speech communication, psychology, and art. She lives with her family near Houston, Texas.Some of Anita’s favorite things are reading, going to the movies, public speaking, and cooking brunch for her friends. She’d love for you to visit her website at http://www.anitahigman.com/.

THE LOVE SONG
by Anita Higman & Janice A. Thompson
Published by Heartsong Presents / Barbour Publishing

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Clumsy. Invisible. Ugly. This is how Clair O'Neal would describe herself on a good day. Coming from an abusive childhood, she is painfully shy and sees herself as a misfit. So when she promises her boss she'll represent her company at a high-society event, she finds herself completely out of her element. Image coach Glenn Yves urges Clair to join the party, seeing something in her she cannot see herself. Musician Hudson Mandel rescues her from a moment of likely humiliation. Both men find themselves drawn to Clair's unassuming presence, her inner beauty, and maybe even her vulnerability. Can Clair trust their interest and their motives? After so many years without love, would God really bring two men into her life and maker her choose between them?

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is the second novel that you've cowritten with Janice. The first helped you earn the award of favorite new author with Heartsong Presents. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

In The Love Song, the heroine, Clair O'Neal feels ugly, clumsy, and invisible. Haven't we all felt that way from time to time? I know I have, which is probably how the character started to form in my head. For instance, those times when I wake up in the morning and wonder how in the world I'm supposed to make myself look presentable. Yet again. And those times when I've tripped in front of someone I was trying to impress, or worst of all, when I've been in a crowd and felt totally ignored. Totally Invisible. So when you put those passionate life-experiences together, you have one scared female. Perhaps a character like Clair O'Neal. I hope the readers enjoy her, laugh with her, and I hope they'll be inspired as she matures as a Christian.

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

The two main characters, Clair and Hudson, both have self-esteem issues. And since I've had my own similar struggles, it was easy to create these types of personalities. The traits that are theirs alone are their musical talents. Hudson plays the guitar and sings, and Clair has an amazing voice. I tried learning to play the guitar once and failed at it. Miserably. And I'm not a trained singer. So, when it comes to those particular qualities of my characters, I'm merely a Clair and Hudson wannabe.

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

The main theme is that God is watching over us, and He cares for us deeply. That even when we feel worthless and unworthy, He has a great plan for us. To help us and not to harm us. Even if a little of that theme trickles down to the reader then I’ll feel satisfied as a writer. A more subtle theme may have come about when the eclectic character, Mrs. Plow, suddenly showed up in my imagination. She encourages Clair on her journey. That seems to be the way God works in real life—He sends people across our paths when we need them—to encourage us and challenge us and love us.

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

I enjoyed writing the scenes every time Glenn Yves showed up. They weren't easy scenes to work out, but they were fun. Probably because Glenn became so real to me. Writers really can get attached to their characters. We take them seriously enough that sometimes we wish we could call them up and have them come over for dinner. But since that's impossible, the next best thing is to relish in their lives on the page—in their dialogue and action and internal thoughts. Unfortunately I never wrote from Glenn's point of view, but I did feel like I knew what was going on inside his head.

The most difficult parts to write are the scenes when the hero and heroine express their affections for one another with a kiss. I'd hate for the reader to skip those parts because they thought they were too flowery or hackneyed. My goal is to keep those scenes astonishing and affecting. And amusing too, if the scene calls for it.

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

The last Heartsong in the Arkansas series (also coauthored with the wonderful Janice A. Thompson) will be Castles in the Air, which will come out sometime this year. This novel isn't as dramatic as The Love Song, but it does deal with the heavy issues of divorce and obsessive compulsive disorder. However, Castles does have quite a few comedic moments, which I'm hoping will keep the reader turning the pages.

Castles in the Air is a story about a woman who has spent her life dreaming of the perfect wedding—hers. There's one problem. There's no groom, and she's not even dating anyone. The man next door, a geek, adores her, but the last thing on earth she wants to do is spend her life watching Star Trek Marathons and eating prunes alamode. Bottom line—could Nori actually fall in love with a nerd?

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Thanks, Anita, for being in the spotlight with us.

Readers, leave a comment for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of The Love Song. 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) or that it's available for viewing in your blogger profile. Wouldn't want you to miss out on winning a book. :)

And if you want to make certain you don't miss anything, subscribe to the posts on this blog. 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.

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Promises, Promises is Here!! Purchase Today!

I am so excited, I can hardly sit still.

I just received word that my book is now available through the Heartsong Presents web site.

If you are a Heartsong Club member, you will be receiving your February shipment shortly which will include my book with the other 3. If you are not a member and would like to join, just visit the web site for club information.

You can also purchase my book through this site using the Signed by the Author link below my book. The only 'drawback' to that option is that it does not count toward my total sales as I have to purchase the book myself through the publisher.

www.ambermiller.com/books.html

Look on this page for the updated information and both options for purchasing my first book. The first through Heartsong Presents will not provide you with an autographed copy. But you can send your book to me and request an autograph. I only ask that you include a postage-paid envelope for return shipping. Use the Contact Form to inquire about the address once you have a copy of my book that you would like signed.

The second option of SignedbytheAuthor.com provides you with an autographed copy. The cost of the book is higher because I have to provide the packaging.

So, 2 ways to order, and 2 easy ways to get an autographed copy of my book. Come May or June, the book will also be available on Amazon.com.

And now I have to figure out a way to get some sleep tonight while I finish working on my book 3 deadline. It won't be easy with my wanting to dance for joy and shout thanks to God for this dream come true!

It will only get better!

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CFBA Blog Tour - Rebeca Seitz and Sisters, Ink

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Sister's Ink
Broadman & Holman Books (February 1, 2008)
by
Rebeca Seitz

Today's spotlight is enjoying the release of the first novel in a series of four about scrapbookers, but she has made a significant name for herself in the publicity realm by starting a well-known publicity firm for authors -- GlassRoad Public Relations. It takes what CFBA does for authors a few steps further and offers an all-encompassing publicity package explicity for Christian worldview books.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rebeca Seitz is Founder and President of Glass Road Public Relations. An author for several years, PRINTS CHARMING was her first novel. Rebeca cut her publicity teeth as the first dedicated publicist for the fiction division of Thomas Nelson Publishers. In 2005, Rebeca resigned from WestBow and opened the doors of GRPR, the only publicity firm of its kind in the country dedicated solely to representing novelists writing from a Christian worldview. Rebeca makes her home in Kentucky with her husband, Charles, and their son, Anderson.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Sisters, Ink marks the first in a series of novels written by, for, and about scrapbookers. At the center of the creativity and humor are four unlikely young adult sisters, each separately adopted during early childhood into the loving home of Marilyn and Jack Sinclair.Ten years after their mother Marilyn has died, the multi-racial Sinclair sisters (Meg, Kendra, Tandy, and Joy) still return to her converted attic scrapping studio in the small town of Stars Hill, Tennessee, to encourage each other through life's highs and lows. Book one spotlights headstrong Tandy, a successful yet haunted attorney now living back in Orlando where she spent the first eight years of her life on the streets as a junkie's kid. When a suddenly enforced leave of absence at work leads her to an extended visit with her sisters in Stars Hill, a business oppor­tunity, rekindled romance, and fresh understanding of God's will soon follow.

Endorsements:

"What more can any woman want? Sisters, Ink weaves the love of sisters, the fun of scrapbooking, and a romance as sugary and tingling as Sweet Home Alabama. A must read for those who love southern fiction." --DiAnn Mills, author of Leather and Lace and When the Nile Runs Red

"Fun . . . funny . . . fantastic! Rebeca Seitz has brought together scrapbooking and sisterhood in a lively romp, with a love for going home again."--Eva Marie Everson, coauthor of The Potluck Club series

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Readers, leave a comment for your chance to be entered in a drawing for a FREE copy of this book. If you do not wish to be entered, say so when you post. Make sure your email is available or that you return next week to see if you've won. Would hate to see you miss out on winning a free book.

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

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I Sold Another Book! ~~ Read Chapter 1 of Promises, Promises

God is so awesome. Words can hardly describe it.

Most authors know you are only as good as your next book. Well, I have been approaching the deadline for book 3 (due Feb. 15th) in the Delaware Brides series, and that would bring me to the end of my contracted books. Although I put my career in God's hands long ago, that small 'fear' still lingers when you don't have another book waiting to be written when you finish the current one.

As usual, God proved His almighty grace and favor to me last week.

About a month ago, my editor asked me to send in proposals for up to 6 states she was still looking to contract. I selected 3 of those 6 and put together story sets for each one. Then, it was wait time while my editor reviewed the stories to see if she'd like more from any 1 of them.

A week and a half ago, she asked for a full synopsis for one story set in historical Michigan. So, I expanded on what I had previously sent and submitted it to her last week. Friday morning, I received an email from her saying she thought it was a great idea and if it's suitable for me, we'll proceed with the aforementioned contract schedule and book deadlines!

I couldn't have been more excited to receive that email! Now, as I put the finishing touches on book 3, I have the great opportunity to move into another series and jump forward over 100 years in American history. This time, the focus is Detroit during the Industrial Revolution following the Civil War and leading into what made Detroit the motor city that it is.

This means by the end of 2009, I'll have at least 7 books in print!! Woo-hoo!!

So, never doubt the calling God has on your life. If He called you to it, He'll also bring you through it. Time and time again, He's proven that to me...and He'll do the same for you.

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Now, for those who wish to read the first chapter of my book releasing this month, go to the Books page and click on the link below the synopsis. Enjoy and happy reading!

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