Robin Lee Hatcher's Write Thinking

Blog Tour: Healing Promises

Healing Promises by Amy Wallace

Facing a new threat.

When FBI Agent Clint Rollins takes a bullet during a standoff, it might just save his life. But not even the ugly things he’s seen during his years working in the Crimes Against Children Unit could prepare him for the overwhelming powerlessness of hospital tests revealing an unexpected diagnosis. If only Sara weren’t retreating into doctor mode…he needs his wife now more than ever.



Frozen in fear.

Sara Rollins is an oncologist with a mission–beating cancer when she can, easing her patients’ suffering at the very least. Now the life of her tall Texan husband is at stake. She never let the odds steal her hope before, but in this case, the question of God’s healing promises is personal. Can she hold on to the truth she claimed to believe?



Faith under fire.

As Clint continues to track down a serial kidnapper despite his illness, former investigations haunt his nightmares, pushing him beyond solving the case into risking his life and career. Clint struggles to believe God is still the God of miracles. Especially when he needs not one, but two. Everything in his life is reduced to one all-important question: Can God be trusted?

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Amy Wallace is the author of Ransomed Dreams, a homeschool mom, and a self-confessed chocoholic. She is a graduate of the Gwinnett County Citizens Police Academy and a contributing author of several books, including God Answers Moms’ Prayers and Chicken Soup for the Soul Healthy Living Series: Diabetes. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia.

Christian Fiction Monday

My good buddy Angela Hunt has a new book out that I'd like to tell you about. And this I know for sure — when it comes to books by Angela Hunt, expect the unexpected.

She Always Wore Red

Jennifer Graham—mother, student, and embalmer’s apprentice—could use a friend. She finds one in McLane Larson, a newcomer to Mt. Dora. While McLane’s soldier-husband serves overseas, Jen promises to support McLane, then learns that her tie to this woman goes far deeper than friendship. When a difference of opinion threatens their relationship, Jennifer discovers weaknesses in her own character . . . and a faith far stronger than she had imagined.

A Romantic Times Top Pick! “Be prepared to shed a few tears in Hunt’s emotionally gripping tale, the second in the Fairlawn series. With themes of family, friendship, and trusting God, the plot is enhanced by realistic and engaging characters. Jennifer’s growth as a character is evident, and the supporting cast enhances the story in a significant way. “ --Melissa Parcels, Romantic Times reviewer

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An Interview with Angela Hunt about She Always Wore Red, the second title in the Fairlawn series

Q:  What's up with the funky photo?

A:  Tee hee.  It's my "serious author" photo.  I snapped it myself, sitting at my computer.  Notice the funereal pose. 

Q:  The first book in this series is Doesn't She Look Natural?  Do people have to read the first book in order to understand the second?  (And congratulations on the Christy Award nomination for that title!)

A.  Thank you--I'm honored.  And no, people don't have to read the first book first, though it's always nice to read the books in order to get a sense of the story and background.  But all the books will work as single title reads. 

Q: The Fairlawn series is set in a funeral home. Did you observe the embalming process in your research? Or just read about it/interview morticians? It's fascinating. (Although I'm sure some folks with non-medical backgrounds are a bit grossed out by it!) Believe it or not, I had always wondered about getting the clothes on; that was an "aha" moment in the first book!

A. Unfortunately, with the advent of all the new privacy laws (HIPPA, anyone?), I was unable to observe an embalming--and believe me, I was ready and willing.  So most of my research came from books, photographs, and interviews (and once you announce that you're working on funeral homes, morticians seem to come out of the woodwork!)

It just so happens that one of my Tyndale editors grew up in a funeral home.  She has been a great asset--she gave me the idea for the funny flower arrangements and the funeral singers, plus I had written a scene in book three where Jen and Gerald sit down to eat a steak in the prep room.  My editor said that didn't feel right.  "Too weird?" I asked.  "No," she said. "There's always an odor in that room . . . not very appetizing." 

Ah.  That's the sort of thing you can't always get from a book.  :-/ 

I certainly hope the embalming stuff didn't gross anyone out, and I tried to ease my readers into it just as Jen is herself "eased" into it.  Book one--the barest trace, book two, a complete description of an arterial embalming, book three, the cavity embalming.  And frankly, that's as far as I want to take it.  Any more would be gross for grossness's sake. 

Q: Did you and your editors disagree over how much of the body preparation process was acceptable to include? I ask because I find all that sort of thing fascinating, and I think that I would include far more than most people would care to read, initially.

A. Actually, the embalming you "see" is the embalming I put in.  :-)  After 20 years in this business, I think I've developed a pretty good instinct for knowing how much is too much.  And you can be descriptive in a way that is clinical rather than gross (" She searched for the carotid artery" as opposed to "her stomach clenched as her gloved  fingers eased into the warm opening and she tried not to think of fish guts").    So actually, none of my editors ever remarked on the level of detail . . . and none of my readers have complained.  Yet.  :-)

Q. How has working on this series changed your attitude about death?

A.  I'm utterly at peace about it--not in a hurry to pass on, you understand, but very relaxed about the process and my final destination.  Doing research has also convinced me that I want to be buried, not cremated, and that I'd be better off buying my casket online. 

Q: Can you give us a hint about what happens in the third and final Fairlawn book?

A.  Sure. People die and Jennifer buries most of them. It's a funeral plot.

Q: Groan. That's not much of a hint.

A:  I don't like to give all the plot twists away!  Okay, here's a blurb from the back cover copy (yes, the book is finished and handed in):  In She's In a Better Place, the third book of the Fairlawn series, Jennifer Graham is now running the Fairlawn Funeral Home. Her work takes on a new dimension when Gerald Huffman, her assistant and mentor, reveals that he has a serious illness. When she learns that he and his daughter haven’t spoken in years, Jen decides to help them reconcile . . . but things don’t go exactly as she planned. Once again, the mortuary is a setting for lessons of laughter, love, and life.

Q: The setting--a funeral home--is unique, but these books are really about the typical challenges that face women today, right?

A: Oh, yes. Jennifer is a single mom juggling school, motherhood, and a career--and I think most modern women can relate to her. I certainly can.

Q: Anything else you want to add?

A. (whispering) I think you're supposed to ask where they can order it.

Q: Right--where can people order this book?

A: Thanks for asking! You can order it from your favorite online bookstore. Or, to make it simple, just click here.

For more information, visit www.angelahuntbooks.com.

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Enjoy!

-rlh-

of Henry and Anne and other Tudors

More than twenty years ago, big historical novels set in medieval England were easy to come by. I gobbled up a lot of them. I even wrote one myself. But after reading a few that were historically inaccurate with characters speaking like teenagers of the 1960's rather than people of that day, I lost my taste for them.

Recently, I decided to buy The Other Boleyn Girl in audiobook format. Oh, my. I have fallen in love with Philippa Gregory's storytelling and have also become fascinated with Mary and Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII. What a story. I've got The Other Boleyn Girl movie in my Netflix queue for when it releases in June. I have learned that the movies of great books rarely live up to their inspiration. Still I'm eager to see it.

I enjoyed The Other Boleyn Girl so much that I'm now listening to The Constant Princess , the story of the first wife of Henry VIII, Katherine of Aragon. I'm enjoying it a great deal, and I suspect that I will continue to listen to more of the books by Philippa Gregory that tell the stories of the Tudors.

I must add that the reader of an audiobook makes all the difference of whether or not it's an enjoyable experience. The readers of these two audiobooks are wonderful. They really pulled me into the stories. I have the books on my iPod and listen to them in the car when I'm driving and take the iPod with me into the chiropractor's to listen to while I'm in traction. Great way to make the time pass more quickly.

-rlh-

Christian Fiction Monday

CONTROLLING INTEREST
by Elizabeth White

THERE'S TROUBLE IN RIVER CITY...

Matt Hogan's Memphis detective agency has been on the skids since a recent attack of conscience cost him an important case.  When a wealthy investor steps in and saves River City Investigations, Matt thinks all his prayers have been answered-until he finds out that with the investor comes a new partner.

Fresh out of criminal justice school and a two-year stint in the Tunica County Sheriff's Department, Natalie Tubberville is out to prove she can cut it in the world of private investigations. But her reluctant partner is just as determined to have nothing to do with her--until Natalie makes him an offer he can't refuse!  If Matt solves the next case before she does, she will return her share of the company.

And the race is on. As two strong personalities compete, mutual attraction grows…while a simple case of a runaway bride threatens to become an international incident. Will Matt and Natalie call off the competition-or discover an entirely new arrangement?

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A little Q&A with Elizabeth:

What's the craziest thing you ever did in the name of research?

You mean besides get married?? JUST KIDDING! Once when I was working on "The Trouble With Tommy," I went on a coon hunt with my uncle and my son. I did not carry a gun--but my son did. He was about fourteen at the time and had never been hunting before. You coon hunt at night, so we all wore these helmet like hardhats with headlights on the front. We put the dogs in their carrier on the back of the four-wheeler and they're barking their heads off as we drive through the woods. Finally we stop and let the dogs out and follow them, listening for the change in their baying. When a dog trees a raccoon it's very distinct. Even an ignoramus like me can hear it. So my son was so excited he could hardly hold onto the bullets as he loaded them in the gun. I won't go into the details, but it was hilarious and gross and totally a South Mississippi experience.

Who's your favorite author?

(Click to read the rest of the interview)

Kindle photos

In answer to some questions from Rebecca on yesterday's post about the Kindle, I took a few more pictures. All can be enlarged by clicking on them. One is of the Kindle the day I received it compared to one of my trade size paperback novels.

There are two "next page" buttons, one on the upper right (long one) and one on the lower left (smaller one). On the upper left (longer one) is the "previous page" button. The very small button on the lower right, lower than the bottom of the screen, is the "back" button. The "back" does more than just go to a previous page in the book. It will take you back to a different screen or to a different book or whatever you were looking at previously. The small roller on the right side of the screen is how you select items. You pretty much do everything with your thumbs. Although if I'm looking for a book on the Kindle store, I usually type with my index finger. I'm not as good with my thumbs as some "texters" are.

As for the text size, I took a shot of the screen choices for text size. As you can see (I hope), I use the third from the smallest. It is similar to what I find in most trade paperbacks. I could go much larger or somewhat smaller.

I hope these photos help a little. It's not easy since I don't have someone else to ask to take the photos while I'm using the Kindle. Between my digital camera and my iMac camera, I think I may have managed it. Hope so anyway.

-rlh-

the Kindle after 2-plus weeks

It's been just over two weeks since my Amazon Kindle arrived on my doorstep, courtesy of the FedEx driver. A blog reader asked me how I was liking it, so I thought I would do a quick update.

First of all, I love my Kindle. Never did I think I would like it as much as I do. In fact, I like having it with me so much that I bought a bigger purse/tote just so I could drop the Kindle into the bag before I head out the door. Here's some pros and cons in no particular order (click on photos for larger views):

 
• The Kindle holds a charge for more than 30 hours. How much more, I don't know. I ran it for 17 hours straight before it showed that half the "juice" was used up. And it recharges fast. From a totally drained battery, it only takes two hours or less to charge.
 
• I love the adjustable print size. I can set it so that it is easy for me to read.
 
• You can get samples of the books before you buy them so you don't order something you really don't want. But what I use the samples for more than anything is as reminders of what I might want to buy in the future. When I read a book review that sounds interesting, if a Kindle version is available, I'll get the free sample. Then, a month from now when I want something new to read, my samples will serve as a reminder.
 
• Not every book I would like to buy is available for the Kindle, but there are still plenty of books to choose from. Over 119,000 at this point, up from 90,000 in November.
 
• The Kindle weighs about the same as many trade paperbacks and is lighter than regular hardcovers. Perfect for reading in bed.
 
• The cover that ships with the Kindle isn't very good at holding the reader nor does it fully protect the page turning buttons on the right side of the Kindle. Some have reported damage to their readers because the cover doesn't adequately protect. So I spent an additional sum to buy a better cover from m-edge. It is a huge improvement! To read in bed, I fold the front cover to the back and clip a Mighty Brite LED light to it.
 
• Some owners wish the Kindle was backlit. But not being backlit is one reason the Kindle is easy on the eyes. I already spend lots of hours looking at a computer screen. I don't want to feel like I'm still on a computer when I'm reading for pleasure.
 
• Oh, that's another thing I like. The Kindle experience for me has been that I forget I'm not reading a traditional book. Pushing the Next Page button has become as natural as flipping a paper page.
 
• When I leave a book, then open it again, it will open to the last page I was reading. However, if I want to flip back to see something I read earlier, that isn't as easy unless I bookmarked the page. I can't just go back to page 115. I have to go to it one page at a time.
 
• I installed a 1 GB SD card and between it and the built in memory, I'm told it can hold more than 300 books.
 
• I haven't played around with the basic web or email. Some literary agents, I've heard, are sending manuscripts to their Kindles for a small fee so they can read them on their Kindle when traveling rather than lugging along a lot of paper. Makes sense to me. I also haven't used the USB connection. Maybe in the future, but the Manage My Kindle on the Amazon web site works great. I currently have ten books on my Kindle including the Complete Works of Jane Austen (counted as one book) and the TNIV Bible. Plus I have five samples and the Kindle User's Guide. I haven't even used a fraction of the space available.
 
• The reduced price of books remains one of the greatest benefits!
 
• Someone asked me if I thought it was worth it if money was tight. Well, I suppose "tight" can be a relative term. Me, I "pre-spent" my tax incentive rebate that is due this month. With the reduced cost of the Kindle edition of books, I figure I'm saving $5 to $15 on each book I buy over the price I would pay for a print edition. So I don't think it will take more than two years (and probably less) for me to make up the difference.

FYI, I am currently reading Try Dying by James Scott Bell. It is a fabulous book. I don't like and can't read (due to nightmares) really scary suspense books or thrillers. But I can read Jim's books. They keep me guessing but don't scare me.

If you're interested in a Kindle, I'd love to have you buy it via my Amazon store. But none of the above has been a sales pitch. I just really love mine.

UNchristian

I wrote about UNchristian once before on my blog. I bought it as soon as I heard about it last fall, but I confess I haven't read it yet. Never enough time for everything I want to read. You know how it is.

Here is an excellent CNN interview with Gabe Lyons, one of the authors, that has convinced me I need to get this book off my shelf and get it read:

Gabe Lyons has also done a promo video for Chuck Colson's new book/small group study, The Faith. This also sounds like a must read. Anything that Chuck Colson does, in my humble opinion, is worth reading. I love what Lyons says about the true Christian faith being "winsome" when it's the real thing. That is so true but it is so not how we are viewed all too often.

-rlh-

hot off the press

Yesterday the cover for Bundle of Joy (Steeple Hill, Oct. 2008) arrived via USPS, and now, much to my surprise, a hot off the press copy of Wagered Heart (Zondervan, June 2008) was delivered by UPS. I was originally told Wagered Heart wouldn't go to press until May with a ship date of 5/18. Looks like the book could be in stores a week or two earlier than at first thought.

Pardon me for my excitement, but I'm so in love with this cover. Totally different from the adorable little baby on Bundle of Joy, of course, but perfect for the historical romance that it is. You can read an excerpt of Wagered Heart on my web site, but here's the blurb:

When Bethany Silverton left the genteel life of Miss Henderson’s School for Young Ladies back in Philadelphia for the raw frontier town of Sweetwater, Montana, she had no idea how much she would enjoy the freedom and danger of this wild country.

A conservative preacher’s daughter, Bethany can’t resist the challenge of charming the most attractive cowboy in town into attending her father’s new church. She never dreamed that the cowboy would charm the lady.

But Hawk Chandler isn't the only man vying for Bethany's affections. Ruthlessly ambitious Vince Richards thinks Bethany is perfect for him: attractive, gracious, just the woman to help him become governor. And he is determined to get what he wants at any cost.

Drawn to one man, an obsession of another, Bethany's quiet life is thrown into turmoil. She wagered her heart on love. Now she has gotten more than she bargained for—and the stakes are about to become life and death.

To top off both of these pleasures, the writing on MW is going well. Yea!!! At this stage, possibilities abound. The setting for the story is 1915 which is a fun period to write about. The one bad note in all this is that I wish I had back some of the research books I gave away prior to my move last year. I could use them now. C'est la vie!

-rlh-

Bundle of Joy

The mailman brought me a treat today. The cover flat for my October release, Bundle of Joy. (Click to see a slightly larger version.) Doesn't this little guy make you feel like giggling? He's so cute! I want to reach out and take him in my arms.

Bundle of Joy will be my final contemporary for a while, and I am so very fond of it. I hope readers will love it as much as I do. I'm convinced they'll love the cover.

What do you think?

-rlh-

Update: In case you can't tell (but I bet you can), Bundle of Joy is a Christmas romance. {{grin}} More about this book will be posted as the release date gets closer.

the Amazon Kindle

Yesterday at noon, I finished my next book and shot it off to my editor. (Yes!!!!!) As if in reward, FedEx delivered my latest toy ... er ... writer's research tool — the Amazon Kindle.

About six weeks ago, after hearing and reading lots of good feedback about the Kindle book reader, I watched the short video on Amazon's site, and I was finally convinced that the Kindle would be an excellent addition to my library. So I placed my order. Amazon has been running way behind on filling orders almost since the beginning (November 2007, I think). Supposedly that situation is already changing, but I had to wait five and a half weeks to receive mine. In the meantime, I joined a Yahoo Group of over 1000 members so that I could be learning tips from other users.

I have never been particularly interested in ebook readers. When I owned a Pocket PC, I read a little on it, but only in a pinch. It was nice to have the Bible on it, I admit. However, the ebook reader has come a long way over the years, and the idea that I could have a lot of books in one 10 oz machine that doesn't give me eye strain was too good to pass up. One thing I heard several times about the Kindle was that users are reading more books than before. I have fallen so far behind in reading over the last few years, so this was very encouraging to me. I want and need to read more. Research books, reference books, books on the craft of writing fiction, other writers' novels — they all are important in my life, both for pleasure and for work.

After plugging the Kindle in and letting it charge yesterday afternoon, I downloaded a number of books, some at very marked down prices. Much less than they would cost me in traditional book form. I have been meaning to read all of Jane Austen's books this year. It has been way, way too long since I actually read an Austen novel. Complete Illustrated Novels by Jane Austen for the Kindle cost me $4.79. You can't beat that except in a used bookstore.

The biggest danger I can see with the Kindle is the ease of ordering. I will have to watch my spending, and not buy a lot of new books before I've read what I have on the Kindle already.

I took the Kindle to bed with me last night and began reading 90 Minutes in Heaven: A True Story of Death & Life by Don Piper. It's been recommended to me a number of times. I found the Kindle easy to read as I lay in bed. I rested it on the book pillow I use and read for a long time before turning out the light.

The picture with this blog shows the size. The novel is a standard trade paperback. They're very comparable in size, as you can see.

I'll post about the Kindle again after it has had a longer test run.

-rlh-

Rhett Butler's People

I have a short list of books that I have read more than once. One of those books is Margaret Mitchell's Gone with the Wind. I love so many things about the story and the characters. And like thousands of romantic readers before me, I have imagined what happened after Rhett slammed the door of the Butler Atlanta home. In my heart, I've always known that the two were reunited and that Rhett was able to love away that stubborn, selfish streak in Scarlett's heart.

A number of years ago, a publisher tried to give us a sequel — Scarlett by Alexandria Ripley. What a dud! It was contrary to everything that made Scarlett and Rhett, Scarlett and Rhett. Whatever you do, skip this attempt. And it is sad, too, because Ripley has written at least one wonderful Civil War novel: Charleston.

Now comes Rhett Butler's People by Donald McCaig. I bought the book with some trepidation and half expected to be bitterly disappointed once again. Well, guess what? I wasn't disappointed. I loved it. I loved learning more about Rhett's past, what made him who he was. I loved all of the new characters I met and I loved getting to know other characters who had such small parts in the original. McCaig didn't try a major makeover of our dashing leads. I even think Margaret Mitchell would be pleased with this novel.

If you're a fan of Gone With the Wind, I think you'll like this book, too. And if you, like me, always imagined a more romantic ending to Rhett and Scarlett's story, you'll find it here.

-rlh-

Chapter a Week, part two

Click to join ChapteraWeek

In honor of their 1000^th member , Chapter-a-Week is celebrating with a book giveaway. The 1000^th subscriber has been notified that she'll receive a box of Chapter-a-Week's favorite new releases, including books by Traci DePree, Angie Hunt, Robin Lee Hatcher, Kim Sawyer, DeAnna Dodson, MaryLu Tyndall, Tamera Alexander, Hannah Alexander, Louise M. Gouge, DiAnn Mills, Camy Tang, Tricia Goyer and Judith Miller!

You just never know what surprises will come your way with Chapter-a-Week. So keep spreading the word so others can discover new, great reads at Chapter-a-Week. And in the future, if you forget which Write Thinking post tells you about this Yahoo Group, you can always find the Chapter-a-Week subscription box in the sidebar of my blog. Just scroll down to find it.

-rlh-

Experiencing the Resurrection

If you are a follower of Christ, then you know that we are in the midst of Holy Week, a time for reflection on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, our Savior. My mom's health hasn't been great this past weekend, so I may miss some of the events my church holds. I hope not. Thursday is communion and a reenactment of the washing of the disciples' feet. Good Friday takes us to the Old Penitentiary where we view three scenes: Gethsemane/Betrayal; Courtyard/Denial; and Golgotha/Death. And of course, Easter Sunday there's the Sunrise service followed by Celebration of the Risen Lord. It's a precious, meaningful time.

With the importance of this week in our minds and hearts, allow me to tell you about a new book that is just out: Experiencing the Resurrection: The Everyday Encounter That Changes Your Life by Henry and Melvin Blackaby. If you ever had the good fortune of doing the marvelous previous Blackaby study, Experiencing God, you'll know you want to read this small volume too.

Dr. Henry Blackaby, president emeritus of Blackaby Ministries, is the author of more than a dozen books, including the best-selling classic Experiencing God. He has spent his life in ministry, serving as a music director and as a senior pastor for churches in California and Canada. Today he provides consultative leadership on prayer for revival and spiritual awakening on a global level. He and his wife make their home in Atlanta, Georgia.

Dr. Melvin Blackaby coauthored with his father, Henry Blackaby, the Gold Medallion winner Experiencing God Together. He travels extensively as a conference speaker. He and his wife and their three children live in Cochrane, Alberta, Canada, where he serves as senior pastor of Bow Valley Baptist Church.

Leave a comment on this blog post, and your name will be included in a drawing to win a copy of Experiencing the Resurrection . Here's the blurb:

What does the resurrection of Christ really mean for us? What does it reveal about the heart and mind of God? And what real differences can the miracle of the resurrection make in your life today?  

Discover answers to those and other questions as you examine God’s Word with this companion study guide to the book Experiencing the Resurrection by Henry Blackaby and Melvin Blackaby.

Packed with practical notes, advice, and questions for reflection, this highly interactive guide—ideal for small group or individual use—shows you how to witness Christ’s resurrection in and through your life. Each chapter of the book is explored in a flexible one-week format with “life change objectives” that arise from applying the truth for each day to your life.

I've only had the time to review a small portion of Experiencing the Resurrection, but I know it will be a blessing to all who read it.

And may you experience the resurrection anew throughout this week.

In the grip of His grace,
Robin

Chapter-a-Week giveaway

It's hard enough to find books that are just right for everyone. Chapter-a-Week gives readers the opportunity to read sample excerpts from a broad range of Christian fiction every week without having to pay a cent! Plus it's a great way to discover new authors you might not have found otherwise. They don't fill your inbox with needless emails. Only one email per week is all it takes to discover great new titles.

Founded in February 2002 by beloved novelists Jane Orcutt and Angela Hunt, Chapter-a-Week has had a steadily growing readership. In honor of their 1000th member (which could happen at any time), Chapter-a-Week is giving away autographed books by your favorite Christian novelists! They'll send a box of books to their 1000th member. It could be you.

Chapter-a-Week is a Yahoo! Group, so simply sign on to be a subscriber of the list and you'll start receiving your excerpts every Friday. Just go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ChapteraWeek/ and click "join this group."

The Perfect Life blog tour

My latest novel, The Perfect Life , is the featured book this Monday through Wednesday on the CFBA. I guess I might as well participate, too. Yes?

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What Readers Have Said:

"The Perfect Life had a riveting beginning. I was dying to know what had actually happened. Then it looked like the mystery was over and I wasn't sure I wanted to finish the story. However, I decided to give it a chance and am glad I did because the story didn't shake out the way it seemed like it would at first. It's very hard to sustain tension and genuine spiritual struggles in a novel about marriage relationships without it getting annoying for the reader due to the harping and bitterness that tends to develop within a storyline where trust is broken in marriage. However, the author does a fabulous job with this novel and not once did I want to slap the heroine, as is often the case. The tension in The Perfect Life was realistically done and believable. The spiritual arc was fabulous and extremely honest. In short, I loved this story and highly recommend it, especially for couples who have discovered a lack of trust in their relationship." — via email 3/19/08 "I literally finished The Perfect Lifeon my lunch break at school this morning. Though Brad and Kat, along with their daughters faced incredible obstacles; I must confess I was glad that Brad was not unfaithful. Like many women, I've dealt with this on multiple levels with family, friends, colleagues, and personally. It was refreshing to read your latest work. I would have been content even if a divorce came into Brad and Kat's life; just knowing Brad had kept his vows. I hope that doesn't sound ludicrous. As always your work inspired and held me from word one. It's a shoo-in for my book club." — via email 3/3/08

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The Perfect Life: Katherine Clarkson has the perfect life. Married to Brad, a loving and handsome husband, respected in their church and the community. Two grown daughters on the verge of starting families of their own. A thriving ministry. Good friends. A comfortable life.
She has it all--until the day a reporter appears with shocking allegations. Splashed across the local news are accusations of Brad's financial impropriety at his foundation and worse, an affair with a former employee. Without warning, Katherine's marriage is shattered and her family torn apart. The reassuring words she's spoken to many brokenhearted women over the years offer little comfort now. Her world spinning, Katherine wonders if she can find the truth in the chaos that consumes her. How can she survive the loss of what she thought was the perfect life?

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My Bio:

Robin Lee Hatcher discovered her vocation as a novelist after many years of reading everything she could put her hands on, including the backs of cereal boxes and ketchup bottles. The winner of the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction (Whispers from Yesterday), the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance (Patterns of Love and The Shepherd's Voice), two RT Career Achievement Awards (Americana Romance and Inspirational Fiction), and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award, Robin is the author of over 50 novels, including Catching Katie, named one of the Best Books of 2004 by the Library Journal. Robin enjoys being with her family, spending time in the beautiful Idaho outdoors, reading books that make her cry, and watching romantic movies. She is passionate about the theater, and several nights every summer, she can be found at the outdoor amphitheater of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, enjoying Shakespeare under the stars. She makes her home outside of Boise, sharing it with Poppet the high-maintenance Papillon.

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If you are a blogger who has participated in The Perfect Lifeblog tour, please leave me a link to your blog in the comment section. I'd love to drop by for a visit.

-rlh-

Christian Fiction Monday

One of my dear buddies -- and a fellow member of the Big Honkin' Chicken Club (meaning we don't like scary books) -- has a new book out. I love Deborah Raney's books, and her many awards are well-deserved. So here's the scoop on her latest:

Leaving November is the second novel in the Clayburn Novels series from Howard/Simon & Schuster.

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

DEBORAH RANEY is at work on her seventeenth novel. Her books have won the RITA Award, the HOLT Medallion, National Readers' Choice Award and Silver Angel from Excellence in Media. Deborah's first novel, A Vow to Cherish , inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title. Deb serves on the advisory board of American Christian Fiction Writers. She and her husband, Ken Raney, have four children and enjoy small-town life in Kansas. Visit Deb on the web at www.deborahraney.com.

A Whisper of Freedom

Another of my brainstorming partners, Tricia Goyer, has a new book out. While I haven't read A Whisper of Freedom, I can guarantee you that this gal is one talented writer. Her historical novels are meticulously researched and always full of adventure.

A Whisper of Freedom is book three in The Chronicles of the Spanish Civil War series. Battles heat up…not only those being waged by the soldiers on both sides fighting for Spain, but in the hearts and minds of the men and women who must sacrifice more than their dreams to save the lives of their loved ones.

Brave and idealistic Sophie, Philip, Jose, and Deion realize their only hope for freedom is escaping Spain's borders. A Whisper of Freedom proves that there are whispers of hope and liberty that resonate through even the darkest night.

Read the except here (a Word document)

Watch the book trailer here

Buy the book here

more on intimacy with God

I've got to tell you, I love how the Lord works. As I have shared here before, I was given two words for this year: Intimacy and Devotion. So, you might ask, where am I on my journey into intimacy and devotion now that the year is nearly two-sixths gone?

First confirmation of my words for the year: Although I did not know it, my study of the Psalms of Assent with Beth Moore would be and is about intimacy with God. (No, I am not done yet. I fell behind in my studies while I read the study mentioned in the next paragraph.) Stepping Up is all about what God wants me to experience this year — deeper intimacy with Him.

Second confirmation: I had been asked sometime last year to read for endorsement a new Bible study by Lenya Heitzig and Penny Pierce Rose. I have done three of their previous studies and loved them, so I was delighted for the opportunity to read their latest and recommend it to others. I didn't pay attention to the name of the study when I agreed to look at it, so imagine what I felt when it arrived. Live Intimately, Lessons from the Upper Room. Yes, friends, it is all about intimacy with the Lord, and I plan to go through it much slower come its release this summer. A great study for small groups or for personal devotions.

Third confirmation: Fast forward a few weeks, and I'm asked if I would like to blog about a new book by Susan D. Hill called Closer Than Your Skin. Guess what the subtitle is: Unwrapping the Mystery of Intimacy with God. I'm not finished reading this book yet, but I have read enough to tell you that this is excellent. Do not miss it. It will spark your hunger to know God more intimately than ever before.

I believe with all of my heart that God is bringing these studies and books and people into my life because He wants me to be ever more intimate in my relationship with Him. It's why He gave me the word for this year and why He is dropping these tools into my hands so faithfully. But I know He desires intimacy with everyone reading this post and millions of others besides. So maybe some of these tools are for you too.

If so, if you hunger for more intimacy with God, a great way to start would be with this third book I mentioned above: Closer Than Your Skin. It's short (240 pages counting all of the notes and references and reading guide), and the writing is smooth. Here is a bit more about it:

Like the vast majority of Christians, author Susan Hill felt frustrated in her search for spiritual intimacy, unable to bridge the gap between knowing about God and personally knowing Him. Closer Than Your Skin traces her journey beyond the trappings of faith to an everyday companionship with God.

Through stories of her awe-inspiring experiences, Hill assures readers that knowing God is more than spiritual rhetoric; it’s a genuine, tangible reality when our eyes are open to his presence. With undeniable honesty, she vividly captures the experience of genuine intimacy with the Creator and reveals how to move beyond obstacles that stand in the way.

Readers will discover that divine encounters aren’t reserved for moments of crisis or the select few. Through these unforgettable insights and the interactive study guide, they will find that God is standing at the door, knocking, asking to be allowed in.

Susan Hill is an award-winning feature writer, whose work has appeared in The War Cry and Light & Life. A long-time leader of interdenominational women’s groups, she also serves on the board of the Uganda Orphans Fund, a non-profit Christian relief organization. Susan and her husband, Duncan, have three children and live in Montana.

*****

Come, join me on this adventure to hear the Shepherd's voice in our daily lives and to walk more intimately with Him.

-rlh-

Sharon Dunn's Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear

Okay, this isn't my regular day to blog about another author's book, but I forgot to do this yesterday in my Christian Fiction Monday post.

Sharon Dunn is a brainstorming buddy of mine. I get to spend a number of days with her every summer, and I really enjoy her humorous mysteries. You will too. Sharon has a fun and unique voice that make her stories a delight. So here is the skinny on her latest book, one of the Bargain Hunters Mystery series:

Death of a Six-Foot Teddy Bear

When a man turns up dead in a teddy bear costume, Ginger and the other ladies of the Bargain Hunters Network learn a lesson about trusting in God rather than in wealth as they try to solve the crime and clear one of their own.

Sharon Dunn

Sharon Dunn is the author of Death of a Garage Sale Newbie, book one in the Bargain Hunters Mysteries, and the Ruby Taylor mystery novels including Sassy Cinderella, which was voted Book of the Year by American Christian Fiction Writers. She earned a BA in television production and a master’s in history. Sharon lives in Bozeman, Montana, with her husband of twenty years, three children, two cats, and lots of dust bunnies.

Christian Fiction Monday

Monday has rolled around again, and so I'm featuring another book by one of my writing friends. I sure hope I'm helping some of you Write Thinking readers find some new authors and some great books. I love being part of word-of-mouth recommendations.

About Symphony of Secrets by Sharon Hinck:

Talented flutist Amy Johnson's dreams come true when she wins a spot with the Minneapolis Symphony. But this amateur sleuth has trouble concentrating on the notes as she begins to see devious motives behind her fellow musicians' many mishaps. Meanwhile, her musically talented daughter wants to give it all up for—gasp—the cheerleading squad! What's a musical mom to do? Can Amy fine-tune her investigation before the symphony is forced to close and she loses not only her dream job but her promising new relationship with its conductor?

Endorsement: “It’s official—if the book says Sharon Hinck on the spine, I’m buying it! Symphony of Secrets hits just the right tone, weaving harmonies of mystery, family, and the life of a symphonic musician—a topic I’ve not experienced in fiction before. The melody is God’s love, subtle yet persistent and so perfectly pitched that I’ll be humming that tune for a long time to come. This is a great read and a perfect gift for anyone who finds joy in music.” -- Kathryn Mackel, Vanished

Borders book club interviews

On Monday I received my content edits for my next historical. I have worked with this editor once before, and she is a gem. I have loved all of her suggestions and delighted in making this book better and better. I am hoping to finish up tomorrow, just before all the family begins arriving for this weekend's blow-out celebration for my mom and my aunt's birthdays (94 and 90, respectively).

But just so you won't think I'm ignoring you, here is a link to the Border's bookclub videos. Did you know about this site? I just learned of it from a friend and have already watched some of the Khaled Hosseini interview about A Thousand Splendid Suns (one of my top reads of 2007). Excellent and oh-so-interesting, for both writers and readers. I will be going back to this site again and again. Way to go, Borders.

-rlh-

win a Chevrolet

Here is a cool tidbit from CBA enews that I wanted to pass along to my readers post haste. If you win the car because you saw this contest here first, you need to bring it to Boise and take me for a spin. Well, okay. That might be too much to ask. At the very least, get a picture taken of you in the car and send it to me. Agreed?

Dekker partners with Chevrolet.

In a ground-breaking partnership between publishing and automotive industries, Thomas Nelson Publishers, best-selling author Ted Dekker, and brandWAVES will join forces with Chevrolet to present “The Search for the Lost Books of History,” a nationwide alternative reality treasure hunt based on Dekker’s young-adult fiction, “The Lost Book” series. Throughout the sweepstakes, participants may qualify to win a myriad of top-dollar prizes, including the grand prize of a 2008 Chevy Cobalt. Complete contest details are at www.booksofhistory.com. The official launch of the 10-week contest is Mar. 6.

Presentation of the grand prize will take place at the music festival, Icthus 2008 in Wilmore, KY.

The core focus of the contest is to reinforce the importance and fun of reading to young-adult students. During the course of the competition, Chevy will provide 10,000 free special-edition copies of Chosen, the first title in the series, to middle and high school students in the Southeast.

Christian Fiction Monday

My friend DiAnn Mills has a new book out, and along with a good book to read, you might also win something. Avon Inspire, an imprint of Harper Collins, is sponsoring a sweepstakes I believe you'll be excited about. The winner gets a free stay at a Bed & Breakfast of her/his choice!

About Awaken My Heart:

1803, The Colony of Texas

Journey back to the early days of southwest history  when the Spanish ruled the vast territory of Texas and padres instructed the  people in the ways of God. Step into the world of handsome vaqueros and brightly dressed dark-eyed maidens. 

The time is 1803. This is the era of Marianne Phillips and Armando Garcia, two people separated by race and culture but destined for love. Marianne is the daughter of a wealthy American rancher, a man who will do anything to please the Spanish and secure his land. Armando is a Mexican peasant, a rebel according to the Spanish. He has committed his life to helping the poor rise from poverty and the oppression of the ruling Spanish. Armando and Marianne . . . Two unlikely people who have little in common. Or do they?

Open this book to a romance that will live in your heart long after the story is told. Curl up in a serape and listen to the strum of a Spanish guitar. I invite you to read with your heart and become a part of a love story that only the hand of God could orchestrate.

Enjoy the book, and if you're fortunate enough to win the sweepstakes, enjoy the Bed & Breakfast.

-4lh-

taming rafe

What if Christian Fiction Monday happened on a Friday? Well, that's what's happening this Friday.

I'm woefully behind in my reading, especially since I have been and will be reading RITA contest entries. I cannot judge in the category in which I'm entered, so I don't get the added plus of catching up on my favorite books and authors. You know my problem. So many books, so little time. Anyway, Susan May Warren is among the many writers I know, and she has a new book out called Taming Rafe. Here is just a tidbit to whet your whistle:

Two-time world champion bull rider Rafe Noble had no idea how quickly his world could end.

In less than eight seconds, he lost his title, his career, and his best friend-all on the dirt floor of a noisy rodeo arena. Katherine Breckenridge just wants to make a difference by running her mother's charity foundation. But the mysterious disappearance of half a  million dollars has forced it to the brink of bankruptcy. Her last chance to save it is the annual fund-raiser, an event that's destroyed by an out-of-control Rafe Noble.

Desperate to rescue the foundation, Katherine heads to the Noble family ranch to enlist Rafe's help in raising the money he cost her in lost donations. What she doesn't know is that Rafe is broke-in cash and in spirit-and that helping her could end up costing him his life.

For those of you who don't know it, I'm a cowgirl at heart. Owned horses for years. Did a little competing, a little more trail riding. While I sold my last horse too many years ago and haven't worn a pair of Western boots in a long, long while, the cowgirl in me remains. Love those cowboys in those great hats. And love that shot of what looks to me like the Grand Tetons on this book cover. The Tetons are a part of my stompin' grounds.

-rlh-

Anne Rice's new novel

I caught this notice of a Starred Review in my latest Religion Bookline from PW:

Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana
Anne Rice. Knopf, $25.95 (256p) ISBN 978-1-400094352-1

In the New Testament, the miracle at the wedding at Cana—where Jesus turned water into wine—marks the commencement of his tumultuous three-year ministry. In Rice's beautifully observed novel (a sequel to 2005's Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt), however, the wedding miracle is in fact the culmination of an intimate family saga of love, sorrow and misunderstanding. As the novel opens, Yeshua (Jesus) struggles with a sense of restlessness of purpose and a deep love for a comely kinswoman. Waves of isolation sweep over him as he comes to understand that serving the Lord's will takes precedence over the desires of his own heart. Whereas the first novel in this series hewed so closely to Scripture and to the author's meticulous research as to be somewhat arid as fiction, this book imagining the "lost" young adulthood of Jesus offers wise and haunting speculation where the Bible is silent. And the final chapters, which pick up the story with the New Testament's accounts of Jesus' baptism, temptation, and early miracles, manage to be soulfully insightful even while faithfully tracking the Gospels. Rice undertakes a delicate balance here: How can a writer make a believably sensitive and wounded protagonist out of someone who is believed to be sinless? If it is possible to create a character that is simultaneously fully human and fully divine, as ancient Christian creeds assert, then Rice succeeds. (Mar. 4)

I own but haven't yet read Out of Egypt. Have any of you read it? What did you think? This one sounds like it will be good, and yet I remain somewhat reluctant to read fictionalized accounts of Jesus and His thoughts and actions, especially in regard to things that aren't actually in Scripture. Do any of you feel the same way? I don't have the same problem with other biblical characters (i.e. Francine Rivers's books about the five women who are named in the lineage of Christ).

-rlh-

romantic times on the perfect life

The Romantic Times Book Reviews magazine review of The Perfect Life arrived yesterday. Here's what the reviewer had to say:

Hatcher delivers a true-to-life look at a wife's reaction to accusations of her husband's infidelity and his part in a corporate scandal. Thought-provoking ideas will have readers questioning their own views on trust and fidelity. The conclusion is unique and faith building.
Compelling. A page-turner.

I always await my reviews with baited breath. It's encouraging whenever one of my books connects with a reader, whether she or he read it for a review or read it for personal enjoyment. Such was the case when I read this review. I especially appreciate that last line.

It's also gratifying that the reviews were good from both Romantic Times and Publishers Weekly. Each magazine is reviewing for a different demographic; RT is for readers/consumers, PW is for bookbuyers and booksellers.

-rlh-

Christian Fiction Monday

It's that time again. Time for me to mention a book by another friend of mine, Rachel Hauck. Her latest release is called Sweet Caroline, and it is sure to be another great read.

About the Author:

Rachel Hauck is a multi-published author living in sunny central Florida with her husband, Tony, a pastor. They have two ornery pets. She is a graduate of Ohio State University and a huge Buckeyes football fan.

Rachel is past President of American Christian Fiction Writers  and now serves the organization as an Advisor. Visit her blog and web site at www.rachelhauck.com.

About the Book:

For most of her life, Caroline Sweeney put the needs of others before herself. When her friends went off to college and exotic European cities, she stayed home in Beaufort to look after her Dad and brother, and whoever else needed her help.

At twenty-eight, she’s invited to embark on her own adventure when a friend offers Caroline an amazing job opportunity in Barcelona.

Meanwhile, her home town is calling her to stay. Unexpectedly, Caroline inherits the run-down, money-pit Frogmore Café.

Caroline must choose between a Beaufort treasure, the Frogmore Café, and the unusual Barcelona adventure. If that’s not enough, Caroline finds herself torn between two lovesa very hunky deputy Sheriff and a returning hometown boy, a country music star.

In the midst of her trials, Caroline shares a lot of laughter with her friends and discovers the sweet fragrance of Jesus as He pursues her heart.

Look for your copy of Sweet Caroline today!

my books and a book meme

Books, books, books.

The UPS guy filled my entry way with several boxes of books, and there they will remain until I can find a place for them in the garage. There are my author copies of my latest release, The Perfect Life, as well as a box of Beyond the Shadows which will all too soon be going out of print, much to my disappointment.

Then there are my books in their pre-published forms. There are the rewrites of When Love Blooms, my January 2009 release, spread all over my desk. I work best on hard copy so it makes for a real paper blizzard. The copy edits/preliminary proofs of Wagered Heart, my May 2008 release, are due to arrive tomorrow and thus will interrupt the rewrites for a week or so. I'm not sure how soon I'll see proofs of Bundle of Joy, December 2008, but it scares me to think they might hit right in the midst of intense work on the other two.

So in honor of the books I'm working on in various stages, I think I'll answer the book meme I found on Camy's Loft. Here goes:

One book that changed your life.
Not counting the Bible, which changed not only this life but the next life as well, I would have to say Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. Reading it played a part in me growing closer to God and also changed the type of books I write and the audience I write for.

One book that you have rea