Writing conferences are like treasure chests filled with gems of inspiration, education, and fellowship. The Buildin’ the Dream conference held on May 29 and 30, 2014, in Scottsdale, Arizona, was indeed a treasure. The sold-out conference fulfilled its advertised agenda: “Authors Helping Authors” by “Equipping writers with the tools to build and live their dream.”
MY REVIEW
Inspiration: The Thursday night event started with keynote speaker, Diana Gabaldon. Attendees were impressed with her gracious manner and candid encouragement as she discussed her writing journey. Her wise advice to writers: READ, WRITE, DON’T STOP.
Diana Gabaldon
Education: Friday was filled with workshops in three areas to suit the needs of all attendees–Craft, Publishing, and Business. Scheduling allowed for participants to attend six session. The following are the valuable presentations I attended with a quick summary of what I learned.
Crafting the Dark Moment with Deena Remiel: What is your protagonist’s biggest fear? Show this confrontation and escalate this fear along the arc of your story.
Self-Publishing Pitfalls with Morgan Kearns: You need strength to survive the publishing process, and you need know when to seek professional help.
Adding Humor to a Manuscript with Kris Tualia: Use humor to make your characters believable and to relieve tension.
Covers to Get Attention with Anya Kelleye: Your cover needs a strong focal point which conveys the genre with emotion.
Carve Out Time to Build Your Dream with Camelia Skiba: Learn to use snippets of time effectively.
Sprinting-It’s All About Word Count with Virginia Nelson: Write as fast as you can for 15 minutes (no editing), take a 10 minute stretch/do chores break, then repeat as necessary. As a test exercise, I wrote 300 words in 15 mintes….longhand, without a computer!
Many other workshops were offered. I wish I could have attended ALL!
Goodie bag
Fellowship: It was good to find new-to-me authors and to connect with other writers…people who “get it”….”speak the same language” …. “understand me.”
Other information: We all got goodie bags with notebooks, pens, and promotional items, including a lip balm stick, a thoughtful item considering the location in the sunny desert of Arizona! I love the purple and yellow colors used as the theme colors—bright and cheerful for our successful writing journey! Arizona Dreamin’ is held after the writing conference. It is a romance reader event where attendees have the opportunity to chat with various romance authors. I wasn’t able to stay for the second conference, so regret I didn’t get to meet inspirational author Hallee Bridgeman, one of the featured authors at the reader event. There was a bookstore, a photographer offering professional author headshots, and publishers taking pitches. A yummy box lunch was provided by InD’tale, an online magazine serving self-publishers. http://www.indtale.com
Beautiful purple and yellow dessert table.
Highland Blend Tea from Scotland
Today, I’m serving Highland Blend tea from Scotland in honor of Diana Gabaldon’s new release in the Outlander series, Written in My Own Heart’s Blood, published on June 10, 2014. Help yourself to the imaginary dessert treats of chocolate brownies and cheesecake bites. (REAL ones were served at the conference, but my picture of the filled dessert table were too fuzzy.) I’d recommend the Buildin’ the Dream Conference scheduled for May 28-29, 2015, in Scottsdale, Arizona, if you live in the area. It is affordable, right-sized, and provides great opportunities to learn from other authors. Information about both events can be found at http://www.arizonadreaminevent.com. Thanks for joining me for #TuesdayTea!
Usually when I invite you to have TUESDAY TEA with me, we’ll share a pot of tea and a tea time treat. Today our treat is a bit different. I’ll explain. After attending the sunrise service at our church on Easter Sunday, my husband and I went hiking in the desert to refresh in God’s amazing creation of wilderness. The area of our hike, shown below, seems like an interesting contrast to the setting of the book I’m featuring today on TUESDAY TEA, Sandra Leesmith’s LOVE’S PROMISES. Sandra’s novel is filled with scenic mountains, sparkling water, glistening snow, and the scent of Ponderosa pine forests. Beautiful Lake Tahoe is where this love story unfolds as Monica and Greg experience the outdoor adventures the Lake Tahoe area offers. Therefore, I’m serving trail food, water and energy bars, as Sandra discusses the active environment of her inspirational romance, Love’s Promises. Please be sure to enter the giveaway (at the bottom of this post), featuring Lake Tahoe and Sandra’s favorite coffee.
Tuesday Tea-Hiking-This isn’t Lake Tahoe!
First, enjoy the beautiful cover of this book! When Sandra revealed the cover a few weeks ago, I was thrilled to learn there was a tea house on tiny Fannette Island, or as the locals call it, the Tea House Island. You can see the island on the cover. However, the Tea House is not a place to drop in for afternoon tea, as Sandra will explain below.
Love’s Promises by Sandra Leesmith
About the Book:
For Monica Scott, building her late father’s house at Lake Tahoe isn’t an option—it’s a necessary distraction from confusing memories and an uncertain future. But a handsome planner working for the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency (TRPA) is keeping Monica from moving forward with the project. Never mind that he’s young and charming with a great sense of humor. No one is going to stop Monica from making her father’s dream—and her own—a reality. All Greg Linsey wants is for his work to mean something. His job at TRPA gives him the opportunity to fight for the environment he loves and make a difference in his small corner of the world. But with the sophisticated Monica Scott’s arrival, his dedication is tested as never before, especially when Monica turns to his unscrupulous nemesis for assistance. As Greg and Monica’s animosity turns into something far sweeter, can they learn to accept each other’s promises and avoid the growing danger to their lives and hearts?
Now to chat with Sandra about the beautiful Lake Tahoe setting of Love’s Promises!
SHERIDA: What glimmer of an idea started your thoughts for Love’s Promises?
SANDRA: Two glimmers happened for me. My husband and I bought a house at Lake Tahoe, and it needed a lot of work done on it. The work needed permits, and that is when we ran into the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. My husband is a biologist and we both have deep concern and love of nature, so we were very impressed with the Agency’s plan to protect the natural beauty of Lake Tahoe in spite of the extensive use. The research was very rewarding.
The other thing that happened at that time is that I was involved in a class for women offered at church that pointed out God’s plan for women and their role as godly wives. Becoming an adult in the era when women’s lib started, I thought the precepts presented in my Bible class were refreshing, and I wanted to show those in my writing as well.
SHERIDA: Both of your inspirational experiences are developed so well in the book, the concern of preserving natural beauty and the reflections on God’s plan for being a wife.
As I mentioned, I love tea houses, but the Tea House mentioned in your book is not what I was thinking it would be. Please tell us a bit about the Tea House you describe in Love’s Promises.
SANDRA: No, the tea house located on Fannette Island in Emerald Bay is very unconventional, isn’t it? It was built by Lora Josephine Knight, who purchased the property on shore and the island in 1928 and built the house and teahouse according to Scandinavian architecture. She would take her lady friends out to the island for tea. The small structure included a fireplace and a table and chairs. I think she built it to protect them from the wind and cold that can come up while on the lake.
SHERIDA: I do hope to visit this tea house! My husband and I love travel. We have plans to see Lake Tahoe this summer for the first time. What would you suggest to add sparkle to our visit? (We like camping, hiking, and food. Any place for tea or coffee you enjoy?)
SANDRA: My recommendation would be to go to the tourist information centers. They are located in the major towns and also in the state parks and national monuments. You need to make reservations early as they book up fast for camping. Any of the campgrounds are fabulous. Take your bicycles, as you can ride to interesting places from all of the campgrounds. Hiking trails abound in the forest around the lake. There is also access to the Desolation Wilderness Area on the west side of the lake.
Every town has fabulous restaurants for coffee and tea. Just ask the campground hosts where you camp. I particularly love to have coffee on the deck at Sunnyside along the west shore. (Here is their website: http://www.sunnysidetahoe.com) Btw, they received a “best ambiance” award in 2014.
SHERIDA: Thank you for your trip-planning suggestions, Sandra. And thank you for your blog tour events and the giveaway featuring Lake Tahoe. I love Love’s Promises!
SANDRA: Thank you, Sherida. I am looking forward to the blog tour. I am delighted that you love the book.
Follow the Love’s Promises blog tour set up by Amber Stokes by clicking on the pretty button below. Visit with the other bloggers who present fun information about LOVE’S PROMISES!
MY THOUGHTS ABOUT LOVE’S PROMISES:
This is a story about Monica Scott’s determination to build a house, designed by her father, on an environmental sensitive plot of land in the Tahoe Basin area of California in the 1980’s. Her plans are thwarted by Greg Linsey, an agent with the organization charged with protecting the quality of life in the area. Well-motivated characters and the different ways love is expressed, fill this story with thoughtful inspiration. I enjoyed the sense of hiking and exploring the beautiful scenery of Lake Tahoe, so lovingly described by Sandra Leesmith.
Favorite quotes:
A slight breeze rushed through the trees. The cool air refreshed his exerted body. Birds sang. Squirrels scattered in front of him. Pleasure coursed through Greg as the stirrings of spring transferred from nature to him. He looked around and thanked God again for His wonderful creation, and thanked his forefathers for the wisdom to preserve it. For the first time in months, peace settled in his heart.
“That’s called love. It’s the way love works. You put someone else before yourself. In appreciation, that person does the same.”
About author Sandra Leesmith:
Sandra Leesmith
Sandra Leesmith loves to travel in her RV and explore all of nature’s beauty, discover America’s history, and fellowship with the wonderful people she meets while on the road. She enjoys reading, writing, hiking, swimming, and pickleball. Learn more about Sandra and her books at www.sandraleesmith.com.
Sandra is offering one reader a taste of Lake Tahoe with a sweet prize pack: a signed paperback copy of Love’s Promises, a journal, a Lake Tahoe coffee mug, a pound of Millstone Velvet Chocolate coffee, and a Hulet Glass chocolate drop! This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only. You can enter to win via the Rafflecopter form below: a Rafflecopter giveaway //d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js
Thanks to Sandra Leesmith and my readers for stopping by for TUESDAY TEA, even if we just had water and trail bars today, but so fitting for the beautiful hiking to be experience in Sandra Leesmith’s Love’s Promises! Be sure to enter the giveaway. Hope you enjoy Love’s Promises,as I did! May you always be blessed by the gift of our Savior’s love as celebrated at Easter! Blessings to you!
With an invitation from our son and DIL to visit Disneyland with them to celebrate Granddaughter’s 4th birthday, we excitedly traveled to Anaheim, California. The night before our son’s family was to leave on the trip, our DIL hurried to pack up baby items for one-year-old Grandson and princess dresses for Granddaughter. She noticed an off odor in their house, so as a precaution, she put batteries in their carbon monoxide detector. Awaken by the alarm in the early morning hours, they called the gas company. Her actions saved not only their precious family, but also the unconscious neighbors who had left their car running, filling both townhouses with deadly fumes.
Moving on pure adrenaline, they made their 9:00 am flight, arriving in Disneyland with Granddaughter and Grandson. Celebrations of being together and having birthday breakfast with the Disney princesses was even more treasured than we had planned. We know how quickly a moment can change lives.
Additionally, there were two earthquakes and many after-shocks while we were there. The first earthquake, a 5.1 magnitude, made our hotel creak and sway and woke Granddaughter who asked why her bed was shaking. Grandson slept through all the action. During that first earthquake, our son and DIL were in Disneyland. All the attractions were closed as a precaution. DIL took the oddly eerie picture shown below (which fits with my blog’s tea theme):
Disneyland teacup ride is empty after the earthquake. Photo courtesy of Kira Brady.
We even added a flat tire to the happenings! But we were so blessed to spend treasured time with our family enjoying the discoveries of Disneyland.
Then on to Las Vegas where we joined our other son and his fiancée while they looked at wedding venues for next year’s marriage. This was a special time with them. I even found two Inspirational Romance books that I hadn’t been able to find at my home stores: The Guardian’s Promise by Christina Rich and The Agent’s Secret Past by Debby Giusti.
Everyone arrived home safely, but I learned to check the carbon monoxide detectors, travel with an emergency kit, and thank God for each precious day spent with our family! Blessings to you! Please give your loved ones an extra hug!
“Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV
Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright (c) 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
WELCOME TO THE KIVATI HALL TEA ROOM LOCATED IN POST-APOCALYPTIC SEATTLE!
Tea in Kivati Hall
Please join my daughter-in-law, Kira Brady, and me for a special tea in the conservatory of Seattle’s Kivati Hall, as featured in her third book of the Deadglass series, Hearts of Chaos,releasing today.
“Inside, the air was humid. Flowering trees and exotic ferns crowded the tables. The roof and three walls were glass panels between a lattice of iron. Suspended from the ceiling was a miniature iron railroad track; a tea train, puffing peppermint steam, ran between the kitchens and the small round tables in a clover loop. The train stopped at each table to unload its fare. Each car held a different delicacy: cucumber and ginger sandwiches, cinnamon cookies, and scones with huckleberry preserves.” Hearts of Chaos, Chapter 2
We’re sipping peppermint tea. Please help yourself to buttermilk scones and triangle open-face sandwiches spread with gingered goat cheese, topped with cucumber slices. Then have a special Kivati Hall cinnamon and sunflower seed cookie. The recipe for the cookies is at the end of this post.
Now to tell you about Hearts of Chaos!
HEARTS OF CHAOS by Kira Brady
The thrilling finale to the Deadglass Trilogy.
Lucia and Corbette.
Death can’t stop their love.
To save her world, one woman’s fierce quest will put her up against an ancient evil–and a desire too dangerous to deny . . .
She is betrothed to Seattle’s most feared shifter clan leader. Still, the Lady Lucia can never be the dainty aristocratic wife Emory Corbette thinks he needs. And as a malevolent, all-consuming monster plots to take hold of their shattered world, Lucia will risk her untapped powers to defeat it–and challenge the Raven King’s seductive rule. No one in Emory’s many lifetimes has ever defied him. Lucia’s courage and strength are shaking his iron control to its core. . .and making him hungry for all she can give. But their only hope is a wrenching sacrifice that could unite humans and shifters in victory–or destroy everything Lucia and Emory desire most. . .
Praise for Hearts of Chaos
“Seamlessly weaving threads of Babylonian, Norse, and Northwest Native American fables, Brady creates a dark, rich tapestry. The trilogy ends as it began: with beautifully rendered prose and multidimensional characters who capture readers’ hearts.” – Publishers Weekly
“Brady has a talent for completely bringing the reader into a dark world in an alternate Seattle, full of shapeshifters and magic. The well-crafted world Brady has created is one of the things that sets this series apart in a very popular genre…. The characters are engaging and the mythos is unique, but the spark between Lucia and Corbette is what will really keep the pages turning.” – RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars
Praise for Kira Brady and the Deadglass Series
“Imaginative. . .this fast-paced, gritty story will thrill paranormal readers.” –BookPage
“The characters are fresh and exciting, and the story is fascinating.” –RT Book Reviews
MY THOUGHTS:
Review: Hearts of Chaos (Deadglass Novel) by Kira Brady
Brilliant conclusion to an unforgettable paranormal romance series.
Yes, brilliant writing! I felt I was walking among the mists and myths of a very different Seattle created by Kira Brady. Lucia and Emory are intriguing characters as they develop strength and courage during their story of saving their world and of finding faithful love.
My kind of hero: “We can’t afford to be selfish.” “I stand it because there is no other option.”
My kind of heroine: “If she never took great risks, how would she ever know how much she was capable of?”
My kind of theme: “There’s always hope.”
If you enjoy steamy, paranormal romance, with intricate world-building and complex characters, you will want to read the Deadglass Trilogy. I’d suggest starting with the Hearts of Fire prequel novella of Alice and Brand, then the story of Kayla and Hart in Hearts of Darkness, followed by Hearts of Shadow featuring Grace and Leif, then ending with Lucia and Emory in the amazing Hearts of Chaos. Each book is a separate, fulfilling romance, but it’s interesting to see the development of the alternate Seattle, with the blending of different, enchanting mythologies, as each book unfolds.
Watch for mention of the Deadglass (spyglass) in Hearts of Chaos…..intriguing to see who possesses it last. Hmmm……?
For more about Kira Brady and her Deadglass Trilogy, visit her at www.KiraBrady.com. There you will find links to her books, and some of the ebooks may be available at special prices.
Interesting photo: I took this picture on the shoreline of Puget Sound near Seattle. Now I’m wondering what stories these two eagles may be hiding.
Eagles on the beach near Seattle.
CINNAMON AND SUNFLOWER SEED COOKIES (SERVED AT THE TEA ROOM OF KIVATI HALL IN SEATTLE)
Ingredients:
½ cup shortening
2/3 cup white sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons molasses
1 1/3 cups flour
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/3 cup cinnamon chips
1/3 cup roasted sunflower nuts
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
Cream shortening and sugar together. Beat in egg. Stir in molasses. Add flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and stir until well combined. Mix in cinnamon chips and sunflower nuts. Roll dough into two 9-inch logs (about 1-inch in diameter). Refrigerate dough or freeze.
Cut logs into ¼ inch slices. Place slices two inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes. Let cool slightly before removing from the cookie sheets to a wire rack until completely cool. (This was adapted from a recipe found on allrecipes dot com.)
TEA ROOMS Kira Brady and I have enjoyed afternoon tea at many lovely tea rooms……The Brown Palace, the Jazz Bouquet Tea Cafe, The Georgian Restaurant, and the charming Wildflower Tea Room Café pictured below. We still have many more on our list to enjoy in the future. Do you have a suggestion of a favorite tea place?
Please join me for tea with Kira Brady who is talking about the second book in her Deadglass Trilogy, Hearts of Shadow. I’m serving Dragon Phoenix Pearl tea because of the book’s hero, dragon shapeshifter Leif, and pink cupcakes because of the pink cover of this book. (And the author’s daughter helped me make these cupcakes with icing in her favorite color-PINK!) This multi-talented author also crafted the tea pot and cups we are using today.
Dragon Pearl Tea with pink cupcakes.
Take a look at the cover of Hearts of Shadow. Yes, it is very PINK!
HEARTS OF SHADOW by Kira Brady
Book Blurb:
Grace Mercer’s unmatched wraith-killing ability made her the unofficial defender of a city shattered by supernatural catastrophe. So there’s no way she’ll allow the new regent of Seattle’s most powerful dragon shifter clan to “protect” her from a vicious evil stalking the ruined streets–and keep her from the freedom she’s risked everything to earn. Leif’s science-honed instincts tell him Grace is the key to keeping shifters and humans safe. But helping this wary fighter channel her untapped power is burning away the dragon’s sensual self-control and putting a crucial alliance at risk. Soon the only chance Leif and Grace will have to save their world will be a dangerously fragile link that could forever unite their souls…or consume all in a storm of destruction.
Chatting with Kira Brady:
Kira Brady with the Deadglass map.
SHERIDA: Kira, how did you get the glimmer of the idea for your book,Hearts of Shadow?
KIRA: I took a ghost tour of the Pike Place Market and was inspired by the tales of sin and supernatural hauntings. Seattle was founded as an open city: alcohol, gambling, and prostitution were legal. I liked the Wild West atmosphere of the nacent town at the farthest edge of the civilization, but wanted to set my story in the modern day and make the ghosts of the past haunt the present. On the Seattle Ghost Tour website I found a very inspiring quote attributed to Chief Seattle that I use at the beginning of the book: “These shores will swarm with the invisible Dead of my Tribe. The White Man will never be alone. Let him be kind and just to my People, for the Dead are not powerless. Dead, did I say? There is no death, only a Change of Worlds.”
I loved the idea of the ghosts swarming the streets of Seattle and people just to blind to the supernatural to see them. I started researching local mythology and found tales of Thunderbirds and Ravens and decided to throw them against the mythology of the Scandinavian immigrants who settled and build the city, dragons.
SHERIDA: Reviewers have mentioned your excellent ability to weave mythologies together in your storytelling. It is interesting you were able to blend the historical elements of Seattle’s many heritages into your books. What do you do to keep the sparkle while you are writing?
KIRA: It’s really hard to keep interested in a project once I reach the dreaded middle, but I know that it will get better if I can just power through to the climax. I give myself permission to make a mess during the first draft. The second draft is for cleaning it up. Having a contract helps, since I know I have to finish! I also try to make sure that I keep fresh in my mind the original idea I had for the story before I sit down to write each scene. The original vision, like the ghosts flooding the streets of Seattle for the Deadglass Trilogy, helps guide the tone of each scene.
SHERIDA: Knowing your busy family schedule, you are remarkable in your persistence to write and complete your novels while balancing (quite well) all your responsibilities. Receiving a contract for a three book series after your first attempt at pitching a book is equally amazing! Beyond family, friends and your writing career, what jewel of a moment has God placed in your path during your life’s journey that you would share with us?
KIRA: I have a lot of jewel moments from backpacking and hiking trips. In particular, I remember being in Yellowstone or Grand Teton with my family as a teenager. We were sitting next to a crystal blue lake with the gorgeous mountains right across from us. I remember thinking how peaceful I felt there, and years later I would recall that mountain scene whenever I felt stressed to try to help me find my center again.
SHERIDA: Thank you, Kira, for joining us today and talking about your inspiration for the Deadglass Trilogy. Fun to have you here!
MY THOUGHTS ABOUT HEARTS OF SHADOW:
Exciting place to be in Kira Brady’s world of shapeshifters!
I LOVE Hearts of Shadow, by Kira Brady! This second book in the Deadglass Trilogy could not come fast enough for me after reading the first book in the trilogy, Hearts of Darkness. After an epic battle, Seattle is being rebuilt by shapeshifters and humans trying to work together to restore the functions of the decimated city. To do this, they must use old technologies, evoking an interesting steampunk element. Dragon shapeshifter, Leif, is an admirable hero who takes on the responsibilities for correcting his brother’s actions. He falls in love with Grace, an emotionally scarred woman who fights bravely in the shadows to save the human race. Their love story is about self-sacrifice–and the true meaning of love. Hearts of Shadow is a steamy, paranormal romance with excellent storytelling, world building, and character creation! Kira tells of the battles of good versus evil while creating hope for the future. I expect to read many more books by award-winning author Kira Brady!
Publishers Weekly included these comments about Hearts of Shadow:
“Brady dazzles in this dark paranormal, a return to a fantasy Seattle introduced in Hearts of Darkness……Brady’s masterful world-building transports the reader to a grim but compelling future, seamlessly interweaving the real and the beautifully imagined.”
You can read more about Kira Brady, her Deadglass series, and see the map of the Kivati and Drekar worlds of the alternate Seattle at: www.KiraBrady.com.
Thank you for joining my amazing DAUGHTER-IN-LAW and me as we discussed HEARTS OF SHADOW. Please join us March 4 for a tea celebration at the impressive conservatory in Kivati Hall as Kira presents HEARTS OF CHAOS, the third book in the Deadglass trilogy……a tea celebration and book launch not to be missed! Hope you can join us!
Dragon Phoenix Pearl Tea from Arbuckles’ in Tucson, AZ.
Dragon Phoenix Pearl Tea from Arbuckles in Tucson, AZ.Pearls of Dragon Tea.
I’m delighted to welcome you to Amber Stokes’ Forget Me Not blog tour. Please enjoy a “hot cup of tea and some sugary cakes to munch on” while we chat about Forget Me Not. Please be sure to enter the giveaway described below.
Forget Me Not by Amber Stokes
ABOUT FORGET ME NOT
Prequel to Bleeding Heart
Old hurts, new betrayals, and a love that survives them all…
Summer 1885
A startling revelation sends Elizabeth Lawson escaping into a stormy night – and tosses her into the arms of a young mountain man with secrets of his own. When he offers to take her to the Nevada mining town where her long-lost brother lives, she accepts. Suspicions and uncertainties are pushed aside as she struggles to forge a future for herself by meeting her past.
David has been hiding from his painful memories for years. The solitude and wildness of the Rocky Mountains are challenge and comfort enough for him – until Elizabeth’s arrival. Fueled by anger and a sense of obligation, he strives to take control of his new situation…only to find control slipping from his grasp with each new emotion Elizabeth evokes in him.
When their journey leads them on unexpected paths, can two lonely hearts find the strength to remember the good amid the heartbreak?
In Forget Me Not, which is the prequel to Amber’s debut novel, Bleeding Hearts, David saves Elizabeth from a rushing Colorado creek and helps her travel to Nevada to find her brother. Their journey is a realistic tale of trials encountered along the way. Arriving in Virginia City, she learns about her brother and this leads to involvements which test the love developing between David and Elizabeth.
Amber writes intriguing stories which have the feel of western sagas. Recurring characters add to the delightful epic quality of her stories. There will be a third book in “The Heart’s Spring” series, Morning Glory, which will feature the much-loved Myghal. If you like Christian western romance with engaging characters struggling with realistic emotional issues, you will want to read Forget Me Not by Amber Stokes. I suggest reading Forget Me Not before Bleeding Hearts, but each book does provide a satisfying story and conclusion. I’m really looking forward to Amber’s next tale about Myghal, a Cornish miner. Amber creates characters who come alive in your heart.
My favorite take-away passage from Forget Me Not: “Should we ever forget those we’ve loved? Maybe our paths will never cross with them again, but can’t we still be grateful for the depth they added to our lives?” She shrugged. “Surely God allowed us to love them for a reason. Right?”
Please be sure to check “The Heart’s Spring” website (http://theheartsspringseries.blogspot.com/) because Amber is offering a free short story, Bellflower, with details on that site!
About the Author
Author Amber Stokes
Amber Stokes has a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a passion for the written word – from blogging to writing poetry, short stories, and novels. After her brief time at college in Oregon, she is now back home among the redwoods of Northern California, living life one day at a time and pursuing her passion via freelance editing and self-publishing.
Giveaway Information
An “Unforgettable Journey” Giveaway! Enter for the chance to win an epic entertainment package that includes a signed paperback copy of Forget Me Not, The Journey of Natty Gann on DVD, and “Barton Hollow” by The Civil Wars on CD. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Thank you for joining us on the blog tour. You may want to check the other stops on the tour http://seasonsofhumility.blogspot.com/p/forget-me-not-blog-tour.html for interviews with Amber and more insights into the book. We appreciate your thoughts! Please leave a comment!
In October, I attended my first romance writers’ conference, the EMERALD CITY WRITERS’ CONFERENCE, sponsored by the Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America chapter. It was FABULOUS! The experience far exceeded my expectations. I was blessed by my daughter-in-law, author Kira Brady, who accompanied me and was the helpful voice of conference experience.
ECWC with DIL Kira Brady.
We picked up our registration packets and tote bags FILLED with goodies–books, pens, notebooks, promotional items and motivational buttons, plus some candy. 🙂
Bag of goodies from ECWC.
Now, where to begin? Since this is TUESDAY TEA, I’ll start with the Cherry Adair Tea and First Timers Welcome Reception. Cherry Adair, an author from the sponsoring chapter, gives generous support to this conference and offers encouragement to writers. Her tea is a “meet and greet” time at the conference where tea sandwiches and scones were served amid lively conversation and charming autumn decorations–and there was chocolate. 🙂
Cherry Adair Tea at the ECWC.
Major take-away thoughts from the conference:
Self-Publishing is a way to go
Develop a series
Keep writing, never give up
Write a great book, then keep writing
Chocolate is a writer’s friend 🙂
It was such fun to be with a welcoming group of writers who understand the language of HEA, WIP and GMC. The keynote speakers were inspiring. The food served was delicious. The workshops presentations were informative, with chocolate available to snack on. 🙂
Here are highlights from some of the presentations:
Learn to Rewrite: Finishing the manuscript is just the beginning with Anna DeStefano–Print out your completed manuscript. Use Post-it notes to flag each character’s POV passages in a different color. Then read that character’s story from beginning to end. You should see the character evolve in each scene.
Craft of the Short Story with Anthea Lawson–The market for short stories is on the rise, ranging from flash fiction of 300 to 1000 words to anthologies ranging from 5K to 7K. Short fiction needs to give an emotional payoff to the reader.
Secondary characters with Pam Binder–Secondary characters should only be in the story if they have a purpose. This purpose can be to help the main character recognize and overcome flaws by mirroring these flaws or being the complete opposite. Look at the motivation of secondary characters–why are they in the hero or heroine’s life?
Writing Active Setting with Mary Buckham–Details of setting must matter to the story to be included in your writing. Setting can be used for characterization, to reveal emotion, foreshadow conflict, tell backstory, anchor the reader or act as a character. The primary goal for setting is to capture the reader’s attention.
Navigating the Wild West of Publishing with Marie Force and Shelli Stevens–The publishing world is changing and now may be a good time to enter into self-publishing. Timing is extremely important–along with some luck. It is suggested to have many projects ready to publish in quick succession to stay engaged with the reader.
Building a Successful Series with Robin Carr–Series are in the spotlight at this time. A series needs a running theme, then begin with a place which challenges the characters, giving plenty of sensory details. Be sure there is a reader payoff in each book and a hook to entice the reader into the next book. It is best to be authentic to your own personality when writing.
Christopher Keeslar of Boroughs Publishing Group offered wise advice: Spend time outside of your writing cave, living a life full of everyday activities because your writing will be enriched by all your experiences.
Next time, I’ll write about the Book Fair featuring many authors signing books (and giving away chocolate) and the amazing raffle baskets (many of which contained chocolate). (I won one, and, yes, it had chocolate!) 😀
THANK YOU to all the volunteers! Their hard work made the Emerald City Writers’ Conference simply AWESOME!
Today we’re having tea with Amber Stokes and talking about her debut novel, Bleeding Heart, an Inspirational Historical Romance. We’re sitting at a small wooden table amid the scents of cinnamon, butter and yeast in the Mended Heart Bakery. Please join us as we munch on heart-shaped cookies (with my homemade plum jam in the centers) and sip White Pomegranate tea from the Queen Mary Tea Shop. This tea seems fitting with the colors featured on the enchanting cover of Bleeding Heart, which was designed with Lena Goldfinch. The cover truly evokes the wistful feeling of this story. Please be sure to look for the charming giveaway items (and the entry form) near the end of my post.
About Bleeding Heart:
“Five bleeding hearts. One profound journey.
Summer 1886
Sally Clay’s livelihood has been snatched away, but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before.
But the road to revenge is far from smooth. Sally soon learns that the jagged pieces of a broken heart can far too easily wound the hearts of others – and hers isn’t the only heart that’s broken. Tragedy and fear dog her steps as she flees from the redwood forests to the high desert and back again. Will her bleeding heart ever find a way and a place to heal?
A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her.
All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves.
Many bloggers have included great interviews and reviews about Bleeding Heart. I think you’d enjoy visiting the other blogs. Each one is different, giving a bit more insight into the book.
Bleeding Heart, Amber Stokes’ debut historical novel, will take you on an epic journey. You will travel to the old west mining towns of Nevada, to the lumber camps of California and to the landscapes of Oregon. You will experience the journey of developing relationships, both enduring friendships and evolving love. This is not a light inspirational romance. It is a story with shattering heartache, but shows the maturing qualities of love and of faith. To me, this is a story of friendship—those people God puts in our paths to enrich our lives and to encourage our sacrifice for others. I cared for the characters as they struggled with the consequences of their decisions. I’m hoping for future stories of these characters’ continuing lives. Amber Stokes is an author who creates fascinating characters and will deliver more great stories with emotional depth. Wonderful debut novel!
NOW FOR MY CHAT WITH AMBER. I’LL POUR YOU ANOTHER CUP OF TEA AND PLEASE TAKE ANOTHER HEART COOKIE AS WE TALK ABOUT BLEEDING HEART.
SHERIDA: Amber, this is an amazing debut novel! How did you get the glimmer of the idea for Bleeding Heart?
AMBER: When I finished my first book (Forget Me Not – not yet published), I wasn’t ready to face edits, so I decided to just dive into a sequel. The “glimmer” came from a spurned suitor, a prostitute in a short but pivotal scene, and a secondary character who wanted to be involved in another story – all from book 1. I threw them together, tried to incorporate some advice given to me in the form of feedback for book 1 (from my dad and editor, namely), and then let the title I had chosen help guide the story. And that was the start of Bleeding Heart! It ended up taking some rather intense turns from there…
SHERIDA: Interesting that the “sequel” was published before the first book. (And Amber tells us that Forget Me Not will be published and is already listed on Goodreads. Yay!) Amber, you are a very busy person! So tell us, what do you do to keep the “sparkle” while you are writing?
AMBER: I suppose it varies, depending on the writing “season” I’m in! What helped me to keep the sparkle as I came to the end of the first draft of Bleeding Heart was being involved in a writing challenge (Seekerville’s “Speedbo” in March) and doing #1K1Hr sessions with other writers on Twitter (where we try to write 1,000 words in an hour).
What helped me when I was working on completing the first draft of Forget Me Not was sending e-mails to a dear blogging friend with writing updates. Her enthusiastic feedback and encouragement for new scenes truly helped to motivate me.
In both cases, it seems like having goals, both short-term and long-term, really have helped me get stuff done. Imagine that! *wink*
SHERIDA: I agree that writing friends really help keep us motivated. (Seekerville’s Speedbo was great encouragement for my WIP, also.) Beyond family, friends and your writing career, what jewel of a moment has God placed in your path during your life’s journey that you would share with us?
AMBER: My first semester of college, I did something very spontaneous. I was stressed with school work to do, practices for the musical I was in (just a small chorus part – but we still had to know all the group dances and such), and just the newness of being away from home for so long, on my own. So one Sunday night I bought a train ticket. It wasn’t for the destination – I just picked a spot in Washington state (I went to school in Salem, Oregon) that would allow me to have a day trip somewhere and back. While I probably could have been more responsible and picked a weekend date where I wouldn’t miss any classes or practices, I was still blessed by the experience – just me and God, on a train trip to nowhere that turned out to be refreshing, a jewel of a memory that I cherish. It was during that trip that I wrote the poem “Seasons of Humility,” which I ended up choosing as the title for my blog when I started it several months later. That poem has ended up shaping my blog and, to some degree, my business and my writing brand. It’s so cool that God can use little moments in big ways in a person’s life! And those little “jewels” God generously provides can really help us keep a proper perspective on it all, I believe.
SHERIDA: Amber, it is always interesting to hear of those “God moments” we have in our lives. Train travel seems perfect for quiet reflection when we need to enjoy the journey. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and blessings with us today! Bleeding Heart is an amazing debut book. I’m looking forward to Forget Me Not!
About Amber Stokes:
Amber Stokes has a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a passion for the written word – from blogging to writing poetry, short stories, and novels. After her brief time at college in Oregon, she is now back home among the redwoods of Northern California, living life one day at a time and pursuing her passion via freelance editing and self-publishing her debut novel, Bleeding Heart.
Amber is doing a fun giveaway with the charming items shown in the picture below (plus a signed copy of the print edition of her book when it is available-soon). She picked items representing scene locations mentioned in her book. (The giveaway is for one US resident only.)
Bleeding Heart Blog Tour Package
Giveaway Information
“Journey to the West” Giveaway! One U.S. resident (randomly drawn) will receive a signed copy of Bleeding Heart and a collection of items from the story’s settings, handpicked by the author. a Rafflecopter giveaway //d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/embed/rafl/cptr.js Thank you for joining Amber and me for tea today. Hope you enjoyed the additional information about Bleeding Heart. Please leave a comment with your thoughts.
And here is a “shout out” to my dear friend, HH. I’m so pleased you’re enjoying my TUESDAY TEA posts! 🙂
The cookie recipe can be found at www.allrecipes.com and then search for Easy Valentine Sandwich Cookies. (They are yummy cookies!)
The White Pomegranate tea is from www.QueenMaryTea.com. (It’s one of my favorite tea shops.)
I was generously given an e-ARC of Bleeding Heart for my honest review. (Thanks, Amber!)
Raspberry Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake via Valerie Comer
Today we’re having raspberry tea with Valerie Comer at the Valley Co-op Farm Shop, sitting outside on the deck with a view of their organic fields of ready-to-pick veggies. As we talk about her book, Raspberries and Vinegar-A Farm Fresh Romance, we’re snacking on Raspberry Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake, (Valerie has linked her recipe in the comments) which is perfect for our tea today to celebrate her newest book. Another time I’ll serve her Raspberry Vinegar punch. Valerie includes a recipe for this refreshing summer drink at the end of the book.
Here is some information about the series and the first book.
A FARM FRESH ROMANCE. This unique farm lit series follows the adventures, romantic and otherwise, of three college graduates who move onto a reclaimed farm where they plan to take the rural area by storm with their sustainable lifestyle and focus on local foods.
Raspberries and Vinegar: A Farm Fresh Romance (1) by Valerie Comer
Sweet and tart Josephine Shaw is on a mission to rid the world of junk food and chemicals by promoting local foods and sustainability.
Josephine Shaw: complex, yet singleminded. A tiny woman with big ideas and, some would say, a mouth to match. But what does she really know about sustainable living as it relates to the real world? After all, she and her two friends are new to farming.
Zachary Nemesek is back only until his dad recovers enough to work his own land again. When Zach discovers three helpless females have taken up residence at the old farm next door, he expects trouble. But a mouse invasion proves Jo has everything under control. Is there anything she can’t handle? And surely there’s something sweet beneath all that tart.
Breaking ground with the Farm Fresh Romance series, RASPBERRIES AND VINEGAR finds Josephine Shaw and her friends renovating a dilapidated farm with their sights set on more than just their own property. Transforming the town with their sustainable lifestyle and focus on local foods is met with more resistance than they expected, especially by temporary neighbor, Zachary Nemesek. Jo needs to learn that a little sweet makes the tart more tasty.
MY THOUGHTS: This is the first “farm lit” book I’ve read. Reading it brought back fond memories of spending time at my aunt and uncle’s farm in Kansas. Raspberries and Vinegar was fun to read as I dreamed of all the fresh produce we enjoyed when we belonged to Turkey Hill CSA in Colorado.
With believable characters, good pacing and a faith thread running throughout, Valerie has written an “opposites attract” romance, showing that every person and every issue is composed of multiple shades of positives and negatives. As in real life, there are sad moments in this story and joyful celebrations. If we let God direct us, our dreams can become something much more that we imagined.
The last line in this book is perfect, but please don’t peek ahead!
I’m looking forward to two more books in Valerie’s Farm Fresh series.
SHERIDA: Welcome, Valerie! This coffee cake is delicious. As is your book! How did you get the glimmer of the idea for Raspberries and Vinegar?
VALERIE: It came to me in a dream. Seriously! I pretty much never remember my dreams, but this was a noteworthy exception. My first few manuscripts were speculative fiction and I’d decided to make the jump to contemporary romance as fantasy was (and still is) such a hard sell in Christian circles.
But so many contemporary novels focused on city girls, and I live on a farm with no interest in urban life. I’d spent a few days mulling what angle I could offer that meshed my chosen genre with things I actually cared about and knew about as I prepared for my first writers’ conference and a pitch session with an editor. What could I present?
That morning as I was coming awake, I remembered sitting across from Tina James of Love Inspired, Harlequin’s inspirational imprint. I pitched her this three-book idea and she loved it! She bought it on the spot. Then I realized it was just a dream, but my eyes popped open wide when I realized I remembered the idea I’d pitched.
To make a long story short, I did, in fact, pitch the idea to Tina at the next ACFW conference. Instead of buying it (or even loving it) she told me Love Inspired readers don’t want issue-driven fiction—and what else could you call a story that pits an opinionated local-food advocate against a junk-food addict?
I’d already gotten a solid start on developing the story and still loved it, so I finished the novel and began sending it out. After a few close calls and a lot of waiting, it found a home, along with the other two books in the series, with a new small publishing house, Choose NOW Publishing.
SHERIDA: I love that you had a God-inspired dream, leading you to a perfect story! What do you do to keep the sparkle while you are writing?
VALERIE: It takes a long time to finish a novel, but I think you already know that. (Sherida: Yes, I do!) I set myself daily and weekly goals while I’m in writing mode (which I need to get back into soon, writing the third book in the Farm Fresh Romance series!) Little rewards include checking Facebook and chatting with writing friends on Yahoo Messenger. They’re quite likely to ask if I’ve achieved my goals for the day and if not, WHY NOT??
For added sparkle, a few minutes with my granddaughters, one of whom lives next door, reminds me why I write stories about foodie issues. I’m compelled to do what I can to make these little girls’ lives the best I can. This includes both helping to provide local, organic, seasonal food for them, and raising awareness to the public of the changes needed for a sustainable future for everyone’s grandchildren.
Oh, and a mocha helps with the sparkle, but I don’t need the calories or the caffeine so limit myself to one a day. I can savor those sips for a long time!
SHERIDA: We have two precious little grandchildren, so I completely understand your motivation of providing a good future for all little ones. Beyond family, friends and your writing career, what jewel of a moment has God placed in your path during your life’s journey that you would share with us?
VALERIE: My husband was raised on the West Coast of BC, Canada, but we currently live many hours’ drive inland so don’t get to visit all that often. On our first visit to Vancouver Island, we camped a couple of nights near Tofino along the Pacific Ocean. After parking the truck, we headed for the beach. I made a beeline for the sand and the waves, only to look around for Jim. He was already clambering over the rocks, searching out tidal pools for interesting flora and fauna.
We discovered that “going to the ocean” held different meanings for each of us and now make sure there’s time for both. Though he’s right: the tidal pools are much more fascinating than just plain sand!
That camping trip was an interlude when time stood still.
SHERIDA: Camping always brings us a sense of being surrounding by God’s majesty. The cover of Raspberries and Vinegar is charming. Please tell us the story behind the cover design of your book.
VALERIE: My daughter, Hanna Sandvig, is working toward a career in freelance illustration. She’s created the headers for both my blogs and has completed numerous commissions for other people, as well.
Once my novel had made the rounds of all the big Christian publishing houses and come home with some very nice rejections, I started toying around with self publishing it. Hanna asked to read the story then began sketching a cover. She just couldn’t help herself!
A few weeks later when I entered discussion with Choose NOW Publishing, I showed the initial sketch Hanna had done, and the publisher agreed to hire her to create the cover. This is a dream come true for both of us, and my daughter blogged about the process here.
It’s especially fun because we’ve both been published in book form before, but not as the feature. My novella “Topaz Treasure” is one of four novellas in Rainbow’s End. Hanna’s artwork of wedding cakes appeared in the pages of Sandra D. Bricker’s novel Always the Baker, Finally the Bride. It’s really cool for both of us to have our first solo novel—together.
I think she’s very talented!
SHERIDA: I agree! I’m looking forward to reading the next two books in your series with the stories of Sierra and Claire. Thank you for sharing your Raspberry Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake with us today.
ABOUT VALERIE COMER
Valerie Comer’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their creation-care-centric church. She only hopes her characters enjoy their happily ever afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
Valerie writes Farm Lit with the voice of experience laced with humor. Raspberries and Vinegar, first in her series A Farm Fresh Romance, released August 1, 2013. Visit her at http://valeriecomer.com.
You can buy Raspberries and Vinegar through www.Amazon.com or through Choose NOW Publishing at www.choosenowpublishing.com.
Connect with Valerie at her website: www.valeriecomer.com. You will find Valerie’s recipe for Raspberry Chocolate Chip Coffee Cake at her website if you click on “Kitchen” then “What’s Cooking” or look in the comment section for a link to this yummy (and easy) recipe. (Thanks, Valerie!) I didn’t have 1 cup of milk, so I used 1 cup of plain yogurt which worked just fine, but made the batter a bit thicker.
SHERIDA: It’s a delight to host Valerie today. I’m very hungry for farm fresh food, so I’m off to find the nearest farmers’ market!
I’m delighted to reveal the beautiful cover for Amber Stokes’ debut novel, Bleeding Heart. I “met” Amber in Seekerville (www.seekerville.net) and enjoy her enthusiasm and helpfulness. Amber has been writing her first book which I am looking forward to reading! First, the cover reveal! The heroine is sitting on the hillside with the sunset in the background….lovely! Then look at her dress and the flowers she holds….perfect! I was drawn to this story by its cover, but as I read about the book and then the excerpt (see below), I’m intrigued by Miss Clay and her future plans!
We’ll have a tea celebration and chat with Amber when Bleeding Heart is released in August 2013. But for now, enjoy the cover and a bit about her Inspirational Historical Romance, while you sip some iced tea with a touch of lemon sitting on the patio with me! Thank you for your visit!
GIVEAWAY: Please leave a comment with your thoughts about this cover, AND be sure to look at the end of this post to see the perfect Bleeding Heart gifts and enter the giveaway using the form.
About the Book
Five bleeding hearts. One profound journey.
Summer 1886
Sally Clay’s livelihood has been snatched away, but in its place arises an opportunity to escape from her sordid past and an unrelenting, unwanted suitor. Boarding a train with a heartsick rancher and an enigmatic miner, she leaves Virginia City behind and heads to Northern California, waiting for the chance to make right what went wrong three long years before.
But the road to revenge is far from smooth. Sally soon learns that the jagged pieces of a broken heart can far too easily wound the hearts of others – and hers isn’t the only heart that’s broken. Tragedy and fear dog her steps as she flees from the redwood forests to the high desert and back again. Will her bleeding heart ever find a way and a place to heal?
A desperate soiled dove. Three men who come to care for her. One man determined to claim her.
All on a journey that will show them what true love really involves.
Teaser from Bleeding Heart
Prologue
Breaking hearts should be considered a crime. That would make Elizabeth Lawson an outlaw and Joe Clifton the victim. And that wasn’t a far stretch in Joe’s mind. She had rounded up his heart, branded her name across it when it should never have belonged to her, and then left him high and dry. Still, he was getting sick of hanging around the scene of the crime. He just didn’t know where else to go.
Lake Tahoe had once been his favorite get-away destination, a place where he could go to just sit back and enjoy the view of water as clear as a shined-up mirror. Now those crystal depths and the unmoving boulders along the water’s edge taunted him, bringing back memories of a happy proposal and a less-than-happy scene where his heart was handed back to him on a silver platter – bruised, broken, and bleeding.
He didn’t want to make any more memories like that. So he made a promise to himself: He would never let anyone break his heart again.
About the Author
Amber Stokes has a Bachelor of Science degree in English and a passion for the written word – from blogging to writing poetry, short stories, and novels. After her brief time at college in Oregon, she is now back home among the redwoods of Northern California, living life one day at a time and pursuing her passion via freelance editing and self-publishing her debut novel, Bleeding Heart. You can connect with Amber on her blog, Seasons of Humility.
BTW, on Amber’s blog, www.seasonsofhumility.com, I think you’ll enjoy her thoughts on how this cover came to be while working with Lena Goldfinch.
About the Cover Designer
Lena lives in a scenic small town in Massachusetts with her husband, two kids, and a very spoiled Black Lab. She writes fiction for young adults, mostly light fantasy with a healthy dose of “sigh-worthy” romance. You can visit her online at www.lenagoldfinch.blogspot.com.
The Book’s Blog
In conjunction with the cover reveal, Amber’s doing a “blog reveal,” as well! You can find all the latest news about Bleeding Heart, along with book extras, at the Bleeding Heart blog.
And Amber has a giveaway with these beautiful gifts….see the form below.
Sherida Stewart 