It finally happened. After four years of authors giving each other prompts at the release of a story, I slammed up against a wall.  Melissa Wardwell posted this for the authors of the Suamalie Islands Series:

In All An Act, Lulu comes face to face with a part of her past that she thought was no longer an issue. That is, until she runs into André. The deep [seated] bitterness she held toward him affected more areas of her life than she would like to admit.
Authors: Was there ever a time that your past mistakes or situations jumped out from no where in the present? How did you handle that moment?

Okay, here’s the thing. I 100% have zero doubt that it has. In fact, if forced to gamble, I’d put everything I own and have ever owned on that being true. But I can’t recall a single instance. At first, I tried to force it–to turn minor things into a story that illustrated the point. So what if they were super minor?  Some of the biggest lessons I ever learned were from minor moments in my life. But then I remembered this Scripture:

Jeremiah 31:34 “No longer will each man teach his neighbor or his brother, saying, ‘Know the LORD,’ because they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD.

It started out innocently enough. Just silly playfulness between my mother and me.

Now, before I tell you the story, it’s kind of important to point out something. I had no-nonsense parents. In fact, I would never have even considered talking back to either of my parents. I valued life too much.  And that’s really not much of an exaggeration, okay?

So picture it. Noel, Missour. 1984. It was the house on Lorene across from the bait shop and just down from the river. Mom sat in her chair knitting. I lounged on the couch, reading a book. Mom said, “You need to put the dishes away.”

As I rose and set my book down (note that I was already in obedience mode; this is important), I quipped in a sassy falsetto, “You need to put the dishes away.”

We laughed.  Looking back, I can’t recall what made us think it was fun or funny.  But we did. I almost wonder if I wasn’t imitating something from a movie.  Anyway, it became a thing with us.  I’d ask what was for dinner, and she’d mimic me.  She’d tell me to put my clothes away, and I’d snap back with the same silliness.

It usually comes as a distress call. Six simple words that I zip to the woman who keeps me from looking like I’ve been hacked by a weed whacker. It goes something like this.

Me: “Zee hairs. Zey aire a dee-zas-taire.”

Poor Beth probably has no idea what book that’s from. Maybe you don’t, either. Hint: post-WWII, epistolary, fun cast of characters, impossibly long name, heartbreaking but oh, so inspiring story. I digress, though. You wanted Beth’s reply. It usually goes something like this:

Beth: Wednesday at 2:15?

Man, I love Beth. She, on the other hand, has a goal in life. It’s a simple one, but I fear she may be disappointed–that bucket list item that never gets checked off. What is it? To make my husband notice that she did something to my hair.

Why Romance Is a Hairy Proposition (or is that proposal?)

Look, my husband loves me. Far more than he should, actually. But as I told him before we got married, he said, “I do” so he’s stuck. (Okay, I said that if he SAID “I do” he’d be stuck, but you get the gist.

So we’re all sitting around in our Facebook group–the Suamalie authors, I mean–and talking about what our books have that we can share in our release celebration posts. Amanda says something like, “In Seashells Tell No Tales, we have a character with a fear of heights. So for mine, let’s talk fears.”

Can I just say that I wanted to crawl in a hole? Right there? Yeah. You know why? There is absolutely no way to say this without sounding arrogant. Because here’s the thing. I don’t have much in the way of fears. I have things I don’t LIKE… but fear? I mean… sigh. What do I say?

But then a memory came back. Look, this isn’t a big deal these days for reasons that’ll become very obvious very soon, but twenty years ago I walked out of a doctor’s office refusing to come back ever again because of an irrational fear (in general) I had back then and a very rational one in the moment.

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What do you get when mesh elements of Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, and National Treasure?  How about a YA Fantasy adventure that combines travel (especially in eastern countries and other worlds) with superpowers!  Put out through Tyndale’s Wander imprint, the Beacon Hill Series by D. J. Williams sounds crazy exciting, and I am rooting for a streaming series (but there are other possible options, too!) Listen in to learn more!

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You Can Never Have Enough Exciting YA Fantasy, Right?

The Beacon Hill series (or at least the school/friend group) was inspired by D. J. Williams’ own youth living in Hong Kong. Add to that extensive travel throughout the world (don’t miss his elephant story while on location in Zambia!) and you’ve got a background that can offer a thrilling ride!  I can’t wait to read these books and they’re on their way to my house as I type, so eeep!

One thing I noticed when I read the synopsis of Secrets of the Highlands (book two–available and book 3 comes out later this year) is that it reads a bit like a tabletop role-playing game come to life!

After loving 26 Below by Kimberley Woodhouse, I’ve been chomping at the bit to get my hands on 8 Down. Well, it’s almost here, and it promises to be even better.  I  mean come on! Serial killer using crosswords and the threat of exponentially upping the death toll?  EEEP  Listen in to learn about crossword research (and a few fun facts) and why the Luddite life might just start sounding good!

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Watch Out! You May Never Look at Crosswords the Same Again!

As I confessed to Kimberley, I was a bit irked when I saw the cover for 8 Down the first time I saw it, but after reading the synopsis and talking to her about this book, I confess to being a hundred percent wrong. It’s exactly right.

And the story sounds like something to keep you up until you’ve finished it. So don’t start at bedtime. You may regret it. Then again, you’ll have a great book under your belt and an excuse to sleep in.

Whenever I get to talk to Jennifer Deibel, I enjoy not only a great conversation, but I always learn something, and chatting about The Irish Matchmaker was no exception. Listen in to hear about the fascinating festival that prompted the story and the one we concocted as we chatted.  Not only that, but we got a peek at her next novel and another book you won’t want to miss next year. EEP!

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If You’re Looking for a Great Valentine Romance, Here You Go!

When I learned about The Irish Matchmaker last year, I knew it was the book for me. Yes, I’ve loved all of the books by Jennifer that I’ve read, but come on!  A matchmaking festival that still goes on today?  EEEP! Not only that, but a farmer with a motherless little girl?  Sign me up and take my money!  😀

But in addition to learning about the matchmaker who inspired the story (Willie Daly) and the BOOK of matches he carries around, we also learned that next up we’re going back to Donegal and… tweeds!

Whenever I get a chance to chat with Joanna Davidson Politano, I know I’m going to have a good time, and this time was no exception. With her new book, The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple releasing this April, she has a lot of fun preorder stuff going on that you won’t want to miss hearing about, but even better, she shared a lot of interesting information about the earliest days of silent films. Listen in to learn all about it

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Why Historical Research Creates Some of the Best Fiction Ever!

The Elusive Truth of Lily Temple takes place at the beginning of the Edwardian period and showcases England’s approach to the silent movie scene. From slapstick ridiculousness to the whole of Cinderella squeezed into three minutes, the shows weren’t what you’d expect, but they were exciting and innovative. Joanna has turned that scene into the story of a silent film star who isn’t known for telling the truth but does have a sapphire that some think she shouldn’t. Add in a rigid police inspector and a lot of mystery, and I think we can safely say that Joanna has done it again!

If you ask Christian fiction readers who their favorite suspense authors are, Dani Pettrey is sure to come up quickly. I’ve enjoyed her books for years, but I have to say, her new Jeopardy Falls series threatens to be my favorite. I mean… a family of con artists turned Christian private investigators… as THRILLERS?  Sign me up and take my money. Listen in to learn why I had to have this one yesterday (not that it got here that fast…)

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Who Can Wait Another Week for This New Series?

I guess we’ll have to, eh? While chatting with Dani Pettrey, I felt like I’d come across a new kindred spirit. Dani has written some great books, and this new series sounds exciting. I love private eye books, and One Wrong Move featuring a reformed family of con artists sounds right up my alley.  Add to that riddles and the tension of a thriller and… EEEP!  Sign me up again!  Not to mention FOUR books in the series?

I’m ready and waiting!

To celebrate the tenth anniversary of her first book, Patricia Bradley’s next book in the Pearl River series, Fatal Witness.  Not only that she has all kinds of fun stuff planned (in addition to a great new book that sounds a bit chilling. EEEP!  So, grab a hot drink and a cozy blanket, and listen in as we talk about Patricia’s latest book!

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Sometimes Ignorance Is More than Bliss—It’s Dangerous!

Patricia Bradley is known for her edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense. We chatted a couple of years ago about how she walked into a ranger station and asked the best place to stash a body, and those research questions keep coming!

From best chess moves for a serial killer to make to how to break the tie rod ends and send a car over a cliff to car tracing devices, she’s got us covered.  This time, that serial killer is going to come looking for a girl with no memory of her parents’ murders, despite having seen them. The killer has been looking for her for decades, and now… yep.