Introducing KM Daughters & Jewel of the Adriatic

We didn’t know what to expect when we entered the adoration chapel on the grounds of St. James Church. A strange little building with a copper turret atop a cinder block structure it didn’t fit any notions we had of a place of worship. But our guide had inspired us with an anecdote about “what to do in an adoration chapel”, so we were excited at the prospect of worshipping there.

We should backtrack a little. Needing a guide and translator while on a pilgrimage in the village of Medjugorje in Bosnia-Herzogovina – a long way from the suburbs of New York City and Chicago where each of us resides – we were especially grateful for her guidance that day. She related a story about Sister Elvira, the head religious at a resident rehabilitation center for alcohol and chemically addicted men. Working with one of her charges, Sister counseled him to spend time in the adoration chapel and he opposed the advice claiming he didn’t know what he was supposed to do to “adore” in the chapel.

Sister Elvira compared the prayerful time she wanted him to experience to sunbathing. “When you lie in the sun, you don’t do anything, the sun does all the work. I want you to go to the chapel and let the Son work on you.”

As we mentioned, we were excited to worship in the chapel. After a peaceful and prayerful time intent on hoping the Son would work on us, we emerged from the chapel into the glare of an early summer day. Kathie’s face was radiant, on fire with the spirit of the Lord. “I know what we’re supposed to do, Patti. Honestly, it was as if He spoke to me, the words were so clear in my mind. We’re supposed to write about what we’ve learned on our pilgrimages. I think we’re supposed to stop writing the book we’re working on and write an inspirational romance.” The Son had worked on Kathie in a profound way!

Our pilgrimage ended in late May 2007. By November we had completed our manuscript. Pat heard about The Wild Rose Press publishing company’s call for submissions in all genres and it seemed meant for us to submit a query. The talented and discerning Nicola Martinez rejected the book based on a partial manuscript submission for several good reasons. Normally we’d accept a rejection with grace and gratitude for the constructive criticism. This time we were compelled to act totally out of character. We “fixed” the flaws Nicola outlined and asked permission to resubmit to her. Once granted, we sent her the “prayed over” full manuscript.

On January 26, 2008 Nicola offered us a contract for Jewel of the Adriatic by K.M. Daughters. Our penname is dedicated to our parents (both gone to eternal life) Katherine and Michael. Thrilled, honored and blessed, we are privileged to be included with our fellow White Rose authors.

Jewel of the Adriatic is a story about a village in the Adriatic where millions believe the Mother of God appears daily to three visionaries. Here two souls find faith…and love. Historic and contemporary Marian apparitions around the world inspired our story. Places like church-approved shrines in Fatima, Portugal; Lourdes, France; and the yet to be approved Medjugorje, captured our imaginations and deepened our faith… as we listened in the chapel.

“For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:10-12

Visit us at our Website Or at The Wild Rose Press

Until next time, Be Blessed!

KM Daughters

Pilgrims Progress - A Summary by Janelle Ashley

One of my favorite stories of all times is John Bunyan's Pilgrim'sProgress. If you don't have time to read the book, try to go online and read the Sparknotes summary. The basic story is about a man named Christian living in the City of Destruction. He meets Evangelist who encourages him to go through the narrow gate to the cross and lay his burden down, then stay on the straight and narrow path until he reaches the Celestial City.

On his journey, Christian encounters many people. Obstinate refuses to accompany him, but Pliable decides to join him. However, when they fall into the Slough of Despond, Pliable gets discouraged and goes back to the City of Destruction.

Worldly Wiseman appears and tells Christian that he is stupid to embark on this journey. Christian almost listens, but thankfully he doesn't. He encounters the Cross and the burden of sin on his back falls away and he is given a certificate that he must keep with him to enter the Celestial City. On the Hill of Difficulty, Christian meets Simple, Sloth, and Presumption who only want to sleep and don't take the journey seriously. After Christian enters through the narrow gate, he encounters two men trying to climb the wall of Salvation—Formalist and Hypocrisy.

Christian explains that humbling themselves to walk through the narrow gate is the only true path to the Celestial City, but they ignore him. Along the journey, he meets Talkative, who does nothing but talk religion, but he has no substance and when the going gets tough, he falls away.

Christian encounters Vanity Fair, the city where pleasure rules. Evangelist warned him that many travelers get trapped in thisdangerous place. Christian escapes and on his journey he meets Easewho encourages him to take a short cut of gaining wealth to buy his way into the Celestial City. Christian is not fooled and continues on, but he falls into a pit and the Giant of Despair throws him into Doubting Castle. The horrible giant beats him for days on end, and Christian is despondent and ready to give up.

This is what I wanted to share with you—many of us can endure various obstacles on our journey, but often get trapped in Doubting Castle. Doubts beats us mercilessly, "You don't matter."
"God doesn't reallycare about you."
"You'll never make a difference in this world."

Christian found himself here, but he made an astonishing discovery. He had the key in his pocket all along so he could escape the dungeon.

And what is this key, you ask? The promise of the Word of God.

When we find ourselves trapped in the dungeon of the Castle of Doubt, we need to use the key in our pocket to escape. For every doubt we encounter, God's word gives us a promise to help us escape our despair. There are over seven thousand promises God gives us in his word. Martin Luther once said, "What greater insult can there be to God than not to believe his promises."

Here is a great doubtbuster.-- 2 Cor 4: 17-18 Therefore we do not lose heart…For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for usan eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

After escaping the Castle of Doubt, Christian encounters many other obstacles, and meets Hopeful and Ignorance who accompany him. Ignorance thinks being a good man will be enough to enter the Celestial City even though he doesn't have a certificate of entry. Finally, Christian and his friends make it to the Celestial City. The Shining Ones ask the king of the City to open the gate. The king announces that those who have kept God's truth may enter.

Ignorance is not allowed inside. (We cannot enter by thinking we are good, we need to realize we are a sinner who needs a savior.) The king commands the gate open for Christian and Hopeful and after they enter, they are clothed in garments of gold.

I read Pilgrim's Progress twenty years ago and many times since and it has helped me tremendously on my journey as a Christian to the Celestial City. I constantly need to remember to stay on the straight and narrow path, keep the light in my eyes, and one day the gates of the Celestial City will swing open wide for me. I can hardly wait!!!

Lots of Love,
Janelle Ashley

Introducing Wendy Davy

Hello! I’m Wendy Davy, a new member of the White Roses in Bloom blog, and I am thrilled to be here.

Let me first say, I feel incredibly blessed to be part of The Wild Rose Press family. When I received my first contract, about a year ago, I was ecstatic to have achieved my goal of being a published author, after twenty years of daring to dream. I walked around smiling for months. When I received my second contract, I was just as thrilled.

Of all the dreams I have had over the years, of all the plans I have made, nothing compares to what God has planned for me. Years ago, I never dreamed I would have three beautiful children. But I do. I never dreamed I’d have twins, after all, that’s something that happens to other people, right? Well, I used to think so… When my son was born, I never expected him to be diagnosed with Autism… but, he was.

Through all of life’s challenges there is no greater peace than knowing in my heart I’m following God’s will for my life. And I believe, by taking care of my little ones, and writing inspirational novels, I’m doing just that.

So far, I have two published novels, A Matter of Trust and Drake’s Retreat – both have a little adventure, and a lot of love. Stop by my website: www.wendydavy.com and check out the blurbs, excerpts and trailers. I also have two free reads available at www.thewildrosepress.com, and a short story due out in 2010.

Introducing Merry Stahel

Hi Ya’ll.

I’m Merry Stahel, a new bloom in the Garden of White Roses. My book, CHRISTMAS SANCTUARY, won’t be out until December 2009.

I began writing too many years ago to count – poetry, newsletters, articles for local publications, some short stories and even some unpublished songs. I self-published a few books with a co-author in the cozy mystery genre, but realized it wasn’t my forte. Back to the computer I went. And slowly, over time, as I studied my Bible and learned more and more, I realized that my talent was to write stories with hope, and a future. Stories where loss is a rocky path, but faith can make one whole again.

A sad event that happened when I was a child had a profound effect on me for the rest of my life. A child was lost. The plight of children, homeless, forgotten and alone made a huge impact. When I began writing more stories as an adult, many of my stories had a child in them, sometimes caught between the cross-hairs of larger events. I never really noticed until a friend pointed it out! Many of my stories touch on the plight of children everywhere – the inarticulate precious ones who have no voice, no advocate of their own.

IN CHRISTMAS SANCTUARY, a young woman does something terribly wrong, hoping to make things right. And caught between the old sin and the new sin, is a child whose life hangs in the balance. I hope when it comes out, that my readers will laugh, cry and feel peace with the unique solution.

In my real life, I am the happy wife of a retired military man and the mother of two of the best daughters a Mom could have. We also have two dogs who are my joyful companions and a cat who adores my husband for rescuing her. We built a house last year in the wilds of the Midwest. Yes, we live in the forest and are 32 miles from the nearest town with a population over 1000. A yard full of birds, squirrels and the occasional shy doe with fawn are daily visitors. I enjoy reading, quilting, writing, traveling and archeaology.

My life verse: "Now, faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things unseen." Hebrews 11:1

New Review Site

Hello All,
This is Cora Applebaum, from the Orchard Hill Highlights blog. Great news here. I've just heard through the grapevine that there's a new book review site going up on the web. I know what you're thinking - another review site, ho hum. But this site is different and I'm guessing it's just what some of you have been waiting for.

Novel Editions is a site that reviews inspirational and "clean" books - books that don't include large amounts of graphic sex and violence. And no foul language either. I don't understand why some authors have to do all that cussing to tell their story anyway.

While there are many great review sites out there, those of us with more delicate tastes find ourselves a bit overwhelmed by all those book covers and banners featuring, well, you know. Now those sites have reviews for some good books on them, but what if I were on the computer that my son bought for me and one of the neighbors came over and caught me visiting one of those sites? Well, there'd be no end of talk about it. Some people just can't help gossiping, you know. Pretty soon all of Orchard Hill would think Cora Applebaum is some kind of sex maniac. And then they'd ask Pastor Isaac to visit me to discuss my problem and...you can see how this all gets out of hand.

So I'll stick with Novel Editions. They're still getting set up over there, so be patient when you stop by. I hear that Kara will be doing some of the reviews. I wondered what she was going to do now that she's finished her Orchard Hill series.

Cora Applebaum

My Grace Is Sufficient

Hello bloggers. Welcome to the White Roses in Bloom. My name is Laurean Brooks. I would like to introduce myself with an intensely personal story.

When the plant where I had been employed for two decades closed its door, I opted to further my education. At forty-something, it was not easy to keep pace with the feisty, computer-savvy, youngsters in my classes. I worked that much harder to stay ahead. But I glitched so many programs, crashed so many computers, that at least three instructors swooned every time I swept into the classroom. Amazingly, even though the instructors were noticeably graying by the time I graduated, I did so with honors.

The next two years brought four jobs and the same number layoffs. It was the same story each time. I can still hear the attorneys' dismissal speeches. Always the same. "I am so sorry. You are a hard worker. But...I just don't have the overhead...blah, blah, blah... I will have to let you go."

Though my journey to writing began in fifth grade, I didn't begin to write seriously until the winter of 2002. After two essays were accepted by our local magazine, I was addicted. In the following year, I wrote twenty essays, adding them to a collection of family stories. Then as a New Year's resolution, on January 1, 2004, I began to write "Journey To Forgiveness." My critique partner and I met weekly for the next five months. I had completed seven chapters by May. In the fall I was forced back into the job world, and wondered how I could ever find the energy to finish my manuscript.

The sun rose to cast it golden rays across my bed the morning of October 21, 2004. But I dreaded the day. It would be like every other day of late. Hopelessness engulfed me as I reflected on my past. A nasty divorce, bad choices, a dead-end, low-paying job. Regrets for what I deemed a wasted life. Lying in bed, I asked God if there was any hope for me--if He could take this imperfect pot and make it into a vessel to be used for His purposes.

I dozed again...Clutching a quilt, I stood on the bank of a raging river before a huge boulder positioned in the river. Jesus sat atop the boulder, gazing intently upstream. Very calm, a smile on his face. I reached out to offfer Him the quilt, pleading, "Please take this from me." Multi-colored squares were stitched together, some soiled, others torn, only a few unflawed. I knew the quilt represented my mistakes and shattered dreams. He took it from me and placed it on the rock. Then He extended his hand to pull me up onto boulder where I sat beside him, our shoulders touching. Knees hugged to our chests, Jesus and I sat in contemplation. I was mesmerized by the swift current, in awe of the peace on Jesus' face and the knowledge that we were safe from the swift current.

Without a word, Jesus unfolded the tattered quilt. Would He perform a miracle? Make it perfect? No. Instead He gently placed it across my shoulders. What was He saying? That I would have to bear my burdens alone? That He had washed His hands of me? I hung my head in shame.

Suddenly I felt the quilt move. I lifted my head and looked at Jesus. With a warm smile and compassion in His eyes, He tugged on the quilt until one end rested on His shoulders. We sat side by side sharing the ragged covering. I broke into a smile when I realized what Jesus' gesture meant.

"My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness." II Corinthians:12:9.
"He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand." Psalm 40:2

Jesus loved me regardless of my mistakes and flaws. And He loves you, too. He may not remove the thorn in your flesh--regret, sorrow, a feeling of shame. But He stands closer than a brother to share your load, and to turn your weaknessess into strengths to be used for God's glory.

No matter where you have been or what you have done, Jesus waits with open arms. He will forgive you and make your life new. I am living proof.

Journey To Forgiveness is about love, forgiveness and hope for a future.

A Resolution & Recipe by Karen Cogan

I'd like to introduce myself and welcome you to this blog. My name is Karen Cogan and I've been writing since I was a child. After numerous articles and short stories, a few years ago, I began to publish books in my favorite genres. I love contemporary romance, inspirational romance and historical romance. I have a number of novels out with one inspirational from The Wild Rose Press and two more coming out soon. I hope you enjoy the following blog and the recipe.

I've never been one to make New Year's resolutions. It's too much trouble to make a list. Besides, if it's things I'm not already doing, I realize I probably won't do them anyway. However, as I thought about this at the beginning of January, I realized that I make resolutions each day. I keep a mental check list of all that I want to accomplish. Often, it is a ponderous list and I get frustrated trying to complete half of what is on it. There's simply too much to do and not enough time.

Does this sound familiar?

As I began to view my time stress in view of eternity, I wondered how I could manage a more realistic view of my time. Though I already prioritize, I need to cut more off the mental "to do". To enjoy accomplishing a few things well each day is my new goal. If I can't write an entire chapter, I can write 500 words. If I need to shop, clean, write and cook, all in one afternoon, I'll cut out whatever can wait (not writing, of course). I'm realizing that much of the stress in my life is self-imposed, put there by unreasonable goals.

In not making any sort of formal resolution, I left myself open to a tyranical daily schedule. So... my goal for 2009 is to enjoy life more and listen to my mental sargeant less. Each day only comes once. What a shame not to feel good about it when it's over!

MONKEY BREAD: 1 tbsp yeast,1tsp sugar, 1 cup milk, 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup shortening, 1 tsp. salt, 1 1/2 cup unsifted flour, 2 eggs, 2 1/2 cups unsifted flour, 1/2 cup butter, 1 1/3 cup sugar, 1/2 chopped nuts, 5 tsp. cinnamon,

Dissolve 1 tbsp yeast in 1/2 cup lukewarm water with 1 tsp. sugar.
Bring a cup of milk to the boiling point
Remove the heat and add 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 shortening, 1 tsp salt and 1 1/2 unsifted flour.
Mix well and add two beaten eggs.
Add 2 1/2 more unsifted flour and mix in well.
Place in ungreased towel covered bow and let rise until double in bulk. (hint: put a cup of water in the microwave, heat it, then put the bowl in the microwave with the cup; it keeps the dough moist and it rises faster)
Punch down and let rise again.
Knead the dough and mke into balls the size of walnuts.
Melt 1/2 cup butter and set aside.
Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, 1/4 chopped nuts and 5 tsps. cinnamon.
Dip the balls into the butter, then in the sugar mixture.
Drop in an ungreased tube pan.
Let rise till about 3/4 full.
Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes before removing from the pan.

Along with my new resolution, is my intent to take a little time out for sitting down with friends to share a cup of coffee or hot cocoa. This recipe goes well with either and is perfect for a cold winter day.

Much happiness in 2009!
Karen Cogan
Website: http://karencogan.com/
Blog: http://kecogan.blogspot.com/

Meet Carol Ann Erhardt

Hi ya'all,

I'm Carol Ann Erhardt, new to this blog, and very honored to be allowed to introduce myself. So here goes:

I am a wife to my soulmate, after surviving an abusive marriage.
I am a mother to my four children, and four step children.
I am a proud grandma.
I am a full time Executive Assistant.
I am a caregiver to fourteen feral cats.
I am owned by three cats named Charlotte, Wilbur, and Templeton.
I am a woman who loves God, ice cream, chocolate, people, animals, sunshine, snow, and good books.
I am a woman who is afraid of heights, spiders (eeek), and the dark.
I am a child who worries about her elderly mother, and misses her deceased father.
I am Carol Ann Erhardt, an inspirational romance novelist.

That's pretty much me in a nutshell. I began my career writing for Chicken Soup for the Soul and Cup of Comfort. My first two full-length published novels were romantic suspense, but not inspirational. After my second release, I just felt pulled to share my love of God in my writing. I did a lot of praying and the idea for Joshua's Hope began to emerge. Writing this book was a lot of fun and very rewardng. After the release of my first inspirational romantic suspense in August 2008, I knew I'd found my niche. Joshua's Hope has been nominated for an Eppie award (winners to be announced in March 2009) and for a CAPA award (winners to be announced on February 14, 2009). I feel God has richly blessed me.

I'll be popping back in here from time to time...so stayed tuned! Thanks for taking time to learn more about me.

Blessings,
Carol Ann Erhardt

Guest Blogger ~ Linore Rose Burkard

The White Roses would like to introduce to our readers Harvest House author, Linore Rose Burkard. We are very excited she has come to spend some time with us. Please leave her comments and questions. I'm sure she would love to answer them.

BIO-LINORE ROSE BURKARDLinore Rose Burkard creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the era of Regency England (circa 1800 - 1830). Fans of classic romances, such as Pride & Prejudice, Emma, and Sense & Sensibility, will enjoy meeting Ariana Forsythe, a feisty heroine who finds her heart and beliefs tested by high-society London.

Ms. Burkard's novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Her books and monthly newsletter captivate readers with little-known facts, exciting stories, and historical insights. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy romance that reminds us happy endings are possible for everyone.

Publisher's Weekly affirms, "Ms. Burkard's command of period detail is impressive, evident in material details, but also in dialogue. Her novels even help non-Regencyphiles learn the difference between ladies' pelisses and spencers...On the whole, it's a tasty confection."

Ms. Burkard began writing when she couldn't find a Regency romance with an inspirational twist. "There were Christian books that approached the genre," she says, "But, they fell short of being a genuine Regency. I knew that many women like me want stories that are historically authentic and offer glimpses of God's involvement in our lives. So, I finally gave up looking and decided to write one myself."

Ms. Burkard was raised in New York, where she graduated magna cum laude from the City University of New York with a Bachelor of Arts in English literature. She lives with her husband and five children in a town full of antique stores and gift shops in southwestern Ohio. Her hobbies include working on four new Regency novels, family movie nights, swimming, and gardening.

Watch the Trailer for Before the Season Ends!


Q&A with Linore

Linore, what drew you to writing Regency Romance novels? Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen books gave me a love for the period, and there weren't any Christian regencies to be found. I wanted to change that.

Where did you find your inspiration for Ariana and Phillip? I'm not sure. I think they're both amalgamations of people I've read about and known.

What do you think we could learn today from how society operated in the Regency period?England in the 1800s is a world away from the 21st century. Times have changed, but people haven't. Men and women of the time were concerned with their appearances, their finances, their futures, finding the right spouse, and so on, just as we are, today. How they went about pursuing these ends is where all the difference lies, however, and this is precisely where the interest and adventure opens up for writers. Bringing to life the means and methods of everyday life and timeless concerns from the regency. It is fun and enlightening as a glimpse into the past, but readers can also identify with the basic human need to be genuinely loved for oneself, no matter the setting or time period, and to be certain of one's convictions concerning life, eternity, and faith. Having said that, it is good to remind modern readers that valuing one's purity can be mainstream, as it was then; or that the struggle to find a true love and a sense that one's life has value, has always been a human issue.

What do you hope readers will take away from your books? I hope my readers will feel as though they've been transported to the Regency for a good, satisfying visit; While they're visiting, they'll be reminded that God is involved in their life, and that happy endings are possible for everyone.

Any Regency romance is going to be compared to Jane Austen's novels ~ how are your books similar / different?I don't think most regencies are written with this comparison in mind at all. However, other people say my book is "Austen-like." That is a huge compliment, and one I would love to live up to.

The sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square, is releasing in 2009. Do you have more Regency novels planned?My editor and I are tossing around ideas right now. I do have a few more regencies in mind.

What are you working on at the moment? A sneak peek, please.I'm exploring whether to do a third book in the Regency Series, which at present is comprised of Before the Season Ends, and The House in Grosvenor Square. Book three would begin about five years later (about 1818) and follow the lives of a number of people who were introduced in the first two books. I would also probably introduce one new couple.

Do you ever bang your head against the wall from the dreaded writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it? I do something else. If I can't write a scene for a book, I can always write an article. I can update my blog. I can't really force a scene when it isn't coming; I find that getting busy and doing something else is the best thing I can do for the book and for me (rather than beat myself up). One thing about having an online presence today is that there is never a shortage of tasks to be done, including a great many writing tasks. Since I write historical (regency) romance, there are always tons of subjects I can research and write about, putting them into articles for my ezine, or out there on the web.

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

How did (or do) you climb out (overcome it)?If I do get stuck at some point in the plot, I let it simmer in my mind. I also exercise--for some reason, when I am physically active, my brain gets going in a way that doesn't always happen when I'm sitting with my laptop before me. Swimming and doing the treadmill (walking) almost always result in wonderful new ideas I just can 't wait to get on paper. Sometimes, I've even had to stop walking and run to the pc just to get the idea down so I don't forget. By the way, I always pray for the right idea, too. There is no better writer than God.The second "nifty" way to solve a plot (or other) problem in a book is to let it sit awhile without reading it. When you come back to it after a long enough interval (as long as you can give it) solutions just present themselves. I find the same thing happens to me with crossword puzzles--if I'm stuck, I put it down and when I come back to it--even an hour later--the word is there. So the key is, give yourself permission to take a break.

Some authors report writing 5-10 thousand words a day. Do scenes flow freely from your veins, or do you have to tweeze each word out? In general, I write more than I need and later have to cut back. I don't use a word count, but I may set a goal of one chapter a day or two chapters for a busy week. Other times, I don't think in terms of chapters at all, just events. I may break an event down into four scenes, say, and so my goal for that day will be to get the whole event on paper. In other words, finish the four scenes. Life changes so rapidly with the children, that for me, a hard and fast writing goal just wouldn't work. And, I focus on results, not time spent. Instead of, "Now I'll write for three hours," I say, "Now I'll have this or that happen to a character, or, 'I'll show a different side to this person." When I have accomplished that goal, no matter how long it took, I feel satisfied, and only then.

Read an Excerpt from Before the Season Ends!

CHAPTER 1
Chesterton, Hertfordshire: England – 1813
Something would have to be done about Ariana.

All winter Miss Ariana Forsythe, aged nineteen, had been going about the house sighing.

"Mr. Hathaway is my lot in life!"

She spoke as though the prospect of that life was a great burden to bear, but one which she had properly reconciled herself to. When her declarations met with exasperation or reproach from her family--for no one else was convinced Mr. Hathaway, the rector, was her lot--she usually responded in a perplexed manner. Hadn't they understood for an age that her calling was to wed a man of the cloth? Was there another man of God, other than their rector, available to her? No. It only stood to reason, therefore, that Mr. Hathaway was her lot in life. Their cold reception to the thought of the marriage was unfathomable.

When she was seventeen, (a perfectly respectable marrying age) she had romantic hopes about a young and brilliant assistant to the rector, one Mr. Stresham. It was shortly after meeting him, in fact, that she had formed the opinion the Almighty was calling her to marry a man of God. Mr. Stresham even had the approval of her parents. But the man took a situation in another parish without asking Ariana to accompany him as his wife. She was disappointed, but not one to give up easily, continued to speak of "the calling," waiting in hope for another Mr. Stresham of sorts. But no man came. And now she had reached the conclusion that Mr. Hathaway--Mr. Hathaway, the rector, (approaching the age of sixty!) would have to do.

Her parents, Charles and Julia Forsythe, were sitting in their comfortably furnished morning room, Julia with a cup of tea before her, and Charles with his newspaper. A steady warmth was emanating from the hearth.

"What shall we do about Ariana?" Mrs. Forsythe, being an observant mama, had been growing in her conviction that the situation called for some action.

"What do you suggest, my dear?" Her husband reluctantly folded his paper; he knew his wife wanted a discussion of the matter and that he would get precious little reading done until she had got it.

She held up a folded piece of foolscap: the annual letter from Agatha Bentley, Charles's sister, asking for Alberta, the eldest Forsythe daughter, for the season in London. It had arrived the day before.

Aunt Bentley was a childless wealthy widow and a hopeless socialite. For the past three years she had written annually to tell her brother and his wife why they ought to let her sponsor their eldest daughter for a London season. She owned a house in Mayfair (could anything be more respectable than that?) and knew a great deal of the big-wigs in society. She had, in fact, that most important of commodities which the Forsythes completely lacked: connexions. And as Charles's family were her only living relatives, she was prepared--even anxious--to serve as chaperon for her niece.

Much to the lady's frustration, Julia and Charles had annually extinguished her hopes, replying to her letters graciously but with the inevitable, "We cannot countenance a separation from our child at this time," and so on. Charles was unflinching on this point, never doubting his girls would reap a greater benefit by remaining beneath his own roof. They knew full well, moreover, that Aunt Agatha could not hope, with all her money and connexions to find as suitable a husband for their offspring as was possible right in Chesterton.

Why not? For the profound reason that Aunt Bentley had no religion whatsoever.

And yet, due to the distressing state of affairs with Ariana, Julia wished to consider her latest offer. With the letter waving in her hand she said, "I think we ought to oblige your sister this year. She must be lonely, poor thing, and besides removing Ariana from the parish, a visit to the city could prove beneficial for her education."

Ariana's father silently considered the matter. His eldest daughter Alberta was as good as wed, having recently accepted an offer of marriage--to no one's surprise--from John Norledge. Ariana, his second eldest, had been irksome in regard to the rector, but to pack her off to London? Surely the situation was not so dire as to warrant such a move.

"I think there is nothing else for it," Mrs. Forsythe said emphatically. "Ariana is determined about Mr. Hathaway and, even though we can forbid her to speak to the man, she will pine and sigh and like as not drive me to distraction!"

Taking a pipe out of his waistcoat pocket (though he never smoked), Mr. Forsythe absently rubbed the polished wood in his fingers.

"I recall other fanciful notions of our daughter's," he said finally, "and they slipped away in time. Recall, if you will, when she was above certain her destiny was to be a missionary--to America. That desire faded. She fancies this, she fancies that; soon she will fancy another thing entirely, and we shan't hear another word about the 'wonderful rector' again."

Mrs. Forsythe's countenance, still attractive in her forties, became fretful.

"I grant that she has had strong...affections before. But this time, my dear, it is a complicated affection for in this case it is the heart of the ah, affected, which we must consider. It has ideas of its own."

"Of its own?"

Mrs. Forsythe looked about the room to be certain no one else had entered. The servants were so practiced at coming and going quietly, their presence might not be marked. But no, there was only the two of them. She lowered her voice anyway.

"The rector! I do not think he intends to lose her! What could delight him more than a young, healthy wife who might fill his table with offspring?"

Mr. Forsythe shook his head."Our rector is not the man to think only of himself; he must agree with us on the obvious unsuitability of the match."

The rector was Thaddeus Admonicus Hathaway, of the Church in the Village Square. Mr. Hathaway was a good man. His sermons were grounded in sound religion, which meant they were based on orthodox Christian teaching. He was clever, and a popular dinner guest of the gentry, including the Forsythes. If these had not been true of him, Mr. Forsythe might have been as concerned as his wife. Knowing Mr. Hathaway, however, Charles Forsythe did not think a drastic action such as sending his daughter to the bustling metropolis of London, was necessary.

Mrs. Forsythe chose not to argue with her spouse. She would simply commit the matter to prayer. If the Almighty decided that Ariana must be removed to Agatha's house, then He would make it clear to her husband. In her years of marriage she had discovered that God was the Great Communicator, and she had no right to try and usurp that power. Her part was to pray, sincerely and earnestly.

Mr. Forsythe gave his judgment: "I fear that rather than exerting a godly influence upon her aunt, Ariana would be drawn astray by the ungodliness of London society."

"Do you doubt her so much, Charles? This infatuation with Mr. Hathaway merely results from her youth, her admiration for his superior learning, and especially," she said, leaning forward and giving him a meaningful look, "for lack of a young man who has your approval! Have you not frowned upon every male who has approached her in the past? Why, Mr. Hathaway is the first whom you have failed to frighten off and only because he is our rector! 'Tis little wonder a young girl takes a fanciful notion into her head!"

When he made no answer, she added, while adjusting the frilly morning cap on her head, "Mr. Hathaway causes me concern!"

Mr. Forsythe's countenance was sober. "'Tis my sister who warrants the concern. She will wish to make a match for our daughter--and she will not be content with just any mister I assure you. In addition to which, a girl as pretty as our daughter will undoubtedly attract attention of the wrong sort."

Julia was flustered for a second, but countered, "Agatha is no threat to our child. We shall say we are sending Ariana to see the sights, take in the museums and so forth. Surely there is no harm in that. A dinner party here or there should not be of concern. And Ariana is too intelligent to allow herself to be foisted upon an unsuitable man for a fortune or title."

Too intelligent? He thought of the aging minister that no one had had to "foist" her upon. Aloud he merely said, "I shall speak with her tonight. She shall be brought to reason, depend upon it. There will be no need to pack her off to London."

Purchase links:

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Amazon.com
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BarnesandNoble.com
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Reading Resolution

Reading is my favorite pass time; I’m not sure how I let myself neglect it for so long. My keeper bookshelves are double and triple stacked. My TBR bookshelf is double stacked. I love e-books because they don’t take up any shelf space.
However, the more I write, the less time I take to actually read. I miss reading new stories and being so excited about a series I’m at the bookstore on the release date to get the newest book in the series. This year I’ve resolved to make myself take time to read again, to savor other people’s worlds, to fall in love with heroes and heroines.
Thanks to the Sony e-reader my hubby got me for Christmas, I am reading white rose novels and enjoying each and every one of them. What’s not to love, right?
If you are a reader, check out the white rose’s website, http://www.thewildrosepress.com If you are a writer, remember reading keeps the excitement of creating new worlds and stories alive.

Quotes From Michael Landon

I have always admired Michael Landon. He stood for family values, integrity, compassion, and could move the viewer from tears to laughter in a matter of minutes. My earnest prayer is for the gift to pen books with the same emotion with which Michael Landon wrote his scripts. Sadly, he lost his struggle with pancreatic cancer and left this world on July 1, 1991. We lost more than we may ever know on that tragic day.

Below are a few of Michael Landon's quotes.

"Every script I've written and every series I've produced have expressed the things I most deeply believe."

"I'm not the kind of person who gives up without a fight. I will beat this cancer or die trying."

"I believe in God, family, truth between people, and the power of love."

"I think all of us, in some ways, create our own miracles."

"I want people to laugh and cry, not just sit and stare at the TV. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think viewers are hungry for shows in which people say something meaningful."

"The only thing I leave behind is good memories. I've had a good life. Enough happiness, enough success."

(Following the news of his illness). "Life has been good to me. It's not like I missed an awful lot. I've had a pretty good lick here. Every moment gets a little more important."

And my Favorite:

"Whatever you want to do, I say, 'do it!' There are only so many tomorrows."

Quotes to inspire the writer in you

A favorite William Hamilton cartoon shows a young writer confiding to a friend over a glass of wine
”I haven’t actually been published or produced yet. But I have some things professionally typed.”

“To live in the hearts we leave behind is to never die.”
Thomas Campbell

“I write to discover what I know.”
Flannery O’Connor

“Writing free verse is like playing tennis with the net down.”
Robert Frost

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark by another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.”
Albert Schweitzer

“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, it turns chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”
Melody Beattie

“If the only prayer you ever say in your entire life is thank you, it will be enough.”
Meister Eckhardt

“There’s no winning without beginning.”
Bernie Wilt

“Just because you get something doesn’t mean you deserve it. And just because you deserve something doesn’t mean you will get it.”
Condoleezza Rice

“The things I want to express are so beautiful and pure.”
M.C. Escher

P.G. Wodehouse once dedicated a novel to his young children. “Without whose constant love and affection, this book would have been finished in half the time.”

“We will not cease from exploration. And the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.”
T. S. Eliot

“The work never matches the dream of perfection the artist has to start with.”
William Faulkner

“I’d rather be a could-be if I cannot be an are; because a could-be is a maybe who is reaching for a star. I’d rather be a has-been than a might-have-been by far; for because a might-have-been has never been, but a has-been was once an are.”
Milton Berle

“Even if you’re on the right track, you’ll get run over if you just sit there.”
Will Rogers

“Ecstatic is the soul when heart and mind in unison desires to write, to write for self, for others and above all for God, from whom this gift of writing indeed is.”
Vanita George

“Better to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self.”
Cyril Connolly

“Writing loves us. Did you know that? I didn’t! Writing wants to be written. First, though we must be willing to listen. We do not control the writing—the writing controls us. It moves us, frees us, becomes us. We have to be ready to hand the reigns over to it, though. Our job is to PAY ATTENTION and write what we HEAR. Are you LISTENING?”
Hope Wilbanks

“The role of the writer is not to say what we can all say but what we are unable to say.”
Anais Nin

“One of the easiest things in the world is not to write. If it were easy, everyone would do it.”
William Goldman

“Don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the sweaty things. Outside of a dog, a book is a man’s best friend. Inside a dog, it’s too dark to read”
Groucho Marx

“Talent is helpful in writing, but guts are absolutely necessary.”
Jessamyn West

“I am always interested in why young people become writers, and from talking to many, I have concluded that most do not want to be writers working eight and ten hours a day and accomplishing little; they want to have been writers, garnering the rewards of completing a best-seller. They aspire to the rewards of writing but not to the travail.”
James A. Michener

“It is not enough to merely love literature, if one wishes to spend one’s life as a writer. It is a dangerous undertaking on the most primitive level. For it seems to me, the act of writing with serious intent involves enormous personal risk. It entails the ongoing courage for self-discovery. It means one will walk forever on the tightrope, with each new step presenting the possibility of learning a truth about oneself that is too terrible to bear.”
Harlan Ellison

“I am enough of an artist to draw freely upon my imagination. Imagination is more important than knowledge. Knowledge is limited. Imagination encircles the world.”
Albert Einstein

“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambition. Small people always do that, but the really great make you feel that you, too, can become great.”
Mark Twain

“You are never given a wish without also being given the power to make it true. You may have to work for it, however.”
Richard Bach, “Illusions”

“Effort only fully releases its rewards after a person refuses to quit.”
Napolean Hill

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”
Eleanor Roosevelt

“Editing is human, free-writing is divine!”
Milli Thornton

“A year from now you’ll wished you had started today.”
Maureen Finn

“You may be disappointed if you fail, but you are doomed if you don’t try.”
Beverly Sills

“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.”
James Dean

“It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.”
Sarah Bernhardt

“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
George Eliot

“Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly.”
Anonymous

“If you do not tell the truth about yourself, you can’t tell it about other people.”
Virginia Woolf

“Every secret of a writer’s soul, every experience of his life, every quality of his mind is written large in his works.”
Virginia Woolf

“No one understands the writer like another writer.”
Anonymous

“If you don’t have the time to read, you don’t have the time or the tools to write.”
Stephen King

“I would rather be a failure at something I love doing than a success at something I hate to do.”
George Burns

“Wishes come true for those who believe. Dreams come true for those who follow their heart. May you find your happily-ever-after at the end of the rainbow. Never give up on your dreams. Keep dreaming until you ride off into the sunset to the sweet hereafter.”
Sharon Donovan

Wearing Your Faith on the Outside of Your Shirt

Some time ago I was having lunch with a colleague who I knew to be devout in her faith. I noticed the little gold cross around her neck was tangled in her collar. I reached out to help her straighten it until it hung on the outside of her sweater.

“Thanks,” she said and grabbed the delicate chain, “but I have to keep this on the inside of my clothes at work.”

Obviously she’d been told somewhere in her career that symbols of faith should not be worn in the workplace. Perhaps those who believed differently would find it distracting or inappropriate. Maybe she’d been flat-out instructed not to bring her faith to work. Whatever the case, I understood – but I didn’t have to like it.

The question is: Are you wearing your faith on the outside of your shirt whenever possible? Or are you keeping it hidden because it’s the easy thing to do?

It’s not hard to share your testimony or invite someone to hear a special speaker at your church when you’re safely within your own group of fellow believers. It becomes a lot harder to step out when you don’t know what or who you’re dealing with. But isn’t that exactly when God expects us to? Just remember that more than half the people you’ll cross paths with today are having a worse day than you are – and a lot of them have not experienced Christ-like love or encouragement.

The challenge: Wear your faith on the outside of your shirt in 2009. Invite someone to church, tell that struggling mother of teenagers about your awesome youth group, keep church brochures in your car for that new person in your neighborhood…you get the idea. What’s the worst that can happen? A blank stare? A polite or not-so-polite “no, thank you”?

Not all encounters will be met with a positive response, but the one that does is the one that makes a difference. And the difference depends on how you wear your faith.

Carla Rossi is the author of Limited Light and Almost Home.
Visit Carla at http://www.carlarossi.com/ or by e-mail at carla@carlarossi.com.

Make it a great Day

At the supermarket a few months ago, I accepted my meat from the young man at the deli counter and said, “Have a great day.” He grinned and said, “No, you make it a great day.”

 That thought hit me so hard that we made it our family theme. When my husband leaves for work or the boys go to school we say, “Make it a great day.”

 It’s a choice we all have to make each day. Am I going to smile, be positive, and make it a great day or am I going to let situations or people derail my happiness?

 The Lord wants us to be happy. Yes, we were sent here to be tried and tested, but I believe one of the things we need to learn through the trials is how to keep our smile intact even through the hard times.

Last year, I cut off three of my fingers in a lawnmower. Very dumb. Extremely gruesome. My sister couldn’t believe how upbeat I was in the emergency room. She thinks I have some kind of amazing attitude, but truly it was because I couldn’t stop thinking how grateful and very blessed I was. It wasn’t one of my three sons that got hurt. Sure, my hand looked funny and I had to learn to type again without my middle finger – the only one they couldn’t sew back on – but my babies were safe and healthy and every time I thought of that I would cry with gratitude.

So, that is my first tip for making it a great day – Thank the Lord for your blessings.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

Whenever I feel depressed, picked on, frustrated with my situation, I go into my bedroom, drop to my knees and start saying thank you. After several minutes and a lengthy list of my many blessings I usually feel ready to reattach my smile and handle life’s demands.

Another thing I’ve found that can make it a great day is to serve others.

“When you find yourselves a little gloomy, look around you and find somebody that is in a worse plight than yourself; go to him and find out what the trouble is, then try to remove it with the wisdom which the Lord bestows upon you; and the first thing you know, your gloom is gone, you feel light, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you, and everything seems illuminated.” President Lorenzo Snow

“Those who bring sunshine to the lives of others cannot keep it from themselves.” James Barrie

One last idea to help us make it a great day is to laugh. Life is so serious. Sometimes we just need to laugh and lighten it up a bit.

“The next time you’re tempted to groan, you might try to laugh instead. It will extend your life and make the lives of all those around you more enjoyable.” Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin

I want to testify to all of you that the Lord loves you and he wants you to be happy. In John 16:20, the Savior tells the disciples, “ . . . your sorrow shall be turned into joy.”

I know this life is hard, my prayer for you is that you can rise above the sorrow, smile, serve and love and allow the Lord to turn your sorrow to joy.

Cami Checketts is the author of “The Broken Path” and “The Fourth of July.” Please refer to her website www.camichecketts.com and her blog http://fitmommas.blogster.com for more articles and information.

 

 

Meet E.A. West

Hi, everyone! I’m E.A. West, a new author at The Wild Rose Press. I’m so excited and honored to be a part of White Roses in Bloom. In a future post, I’ll tell you all about my White Rosette, Dreams Do Come True, that’s coming in July. Today, however, I’ll tell you a little about my journey to becoming an author.

I’m sure you’ve all heard of countless authors who have been writing since they could hold a crayon. I’m not one of those authors. My story is a little weirder. I’ve always been a voracious reader, consuming books, magazines, and box labels when nothing else was handy. I learned to read at the ripe old age of three, and I still can’t get enough of the written word.

Storytelling is another love of mine that goes back to my childhood. I spent hours creating imaginary worlds and scenarios. Unfortunately, my friends couldn’t enjoy the stories because I couldn’t explain my imaginings well enough; I have learning disabilities in languages. I know you’re all thinking I could have written the stories down and worked to make them understandable, but there’s one problem: I hated writing. I did everything I could to avoid it most of the way through school.

Then my freshman year of high school, I took a writing class. I needed the English credit, and my parents insisted I needed to learn to write properly. I didn’t mind too much, since I had several friends in the class as well. As the class went on, I made a shocking discovery. I liked writing. It enabled me to communicate what I was thinking in a clear manner. My favorite assignments involved writing character sketches and other fiction writing.

That’s when I learned my love of books and storytelling extended into writing stories as well. During the course of high school English, I wrote my first novel. I learned a lot more about writing after I graduated, and I’m still learning new things today.

One thing that makes me like so many other authors is my current love of writing and the fact that I can’t not write. Writing is a major part of my life, and I’d go nuts if I didn’t write. My imagination still works overtime, just as it did when I was a kid, but now I have a medium that allows me to share what I’m thinking with others.

Have a blessed week!

E. A. West
Where Love and Faith Meet

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

My name is Sharon Donovan and I am a new White Rose author. Today is my turn to blog. Hmm. I feel like it’s the first day of school where we all had to stand up and spin a tale about our summer vacation. Well it isn’t the end of summer—and my school days are long behind me. But I guess some old habits die hard. When I’m asked to talk about myself, those old butterflies still stir in the pit of my stomach. But here goes.

I live in a small town in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. When I was six years old, I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic. With all the devastating complications associated with this disease, I grew up with an intense fear of losing my vision. And eight years ago, after a long bitter bout with progressive blindness, my worst nightmare became a reality.

Unable to cope, I entered a rehabilitation program for the blind and visually impaired. This was a bitter pill to swallow. Prior to losing my sight, I worked as a legal secretary in the Family Division of the Court of Common Pleas. But my true passion was art. I spent my weekends painting picturesque scenery, losing myself in the peaceful tranquility of another place and time.
Devastated and despondent when I could no longer paint, my spirit died. I had reached rock bottom and had to pull myself up by the boot strings. I had to find a reason to live, something to make my life worth while. And through my faith and the support of family and friends, I learned to accept my fate. Thanks to modern technology, I use a computer with adaptive software which converts text to synthesized speech.

Needing something to do with my time, I went to the local college for medical transcription. But my heart wasn’t in it. It did nothing to stir the creative muse in me. But when I started taking writing classes, hope soared for the first time in a long time. My prayers were answered. From the cobwebs of my mind, my creative muse resurrected. Today, instead of painting my pictures on canvas, I paint my pictures with words.

My very first white rosette goes on sale January 7th. Touched by an Angel is special to me because angels play a significant role in my life. I feel their presence constantly, whether it’s the gentle flutter of a butterfly’s wing, a songbird tweeting in a tree, or the sweet scent of roses in a garden. Angels sprinkle hope and blessings. I have two other White Rosettes coming to The Wild Rose Press in February and March. I hope you feel the presence of angels when you read them.

Love and blessings for 2009!
Sharon Donovan
http://www.sharonadonovan.com/
sharonad@comcast.net

TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL
COMING TO THE WILD ROSE PRESS
JANUARY 7, 2009

THE CLADDAGH RING
COMING FROM THE WILD ROSE PRESS
FEBRUARY 25, 2009

LASTING LOVE
COMING FROM THE WILD ROSE PRESS
MARCH 18, 2009

WRIB Authors Nominated for TRS CAPA & More!

WRIB Authors are celebrating the end of one year with a bang and beginning the new one with anticipation!

Three WRIB Authors (Carol Ann Erhardt, Cindy K Green & Kara Lynn Russell) were nominated for The Romance Studio's CAPA.

What are the CAPA's? They are awards given by The Romance Studio for excellence in romantic and erotic fiction. Categories includeinspirational, contemporary, fantasy, historical, mainstream,paranormal, romantic suspense, erotic contemporary, erotic fantasy,erotic historical, erotic paranormal, erotic anthology, BDSM, and theAriana Overton Award for Best Cover Art or the Ari.

Only books reviewed by The Romance Studio after November 25, 2007 and prior to November 26, 2008 with a publication date during that time will be considered for the awards.

Here are our authors and their titles:
Joshua's Hope by Carol Ann Erhardt (The Wild Rose Press)

Relationship Rescue by Cindy K. Green (The Wild Rose Press)

Saving Gracie by Kara Lynn Russell (The Wild Rose Press)
Entertaining Angel by Kara Lynn Russell (The Wild Rose Press)
Considering Lily by Kara Lynn Russell (The Wild Rose Press)
Keeping Faith by Kara Lynn Russell (The Wild Rose Press)
Accepting Charity by Kara Lynn Russell (The Wild Rose Press)
Disrupting Harmony by Kara Lynn Russell (The Wild Rose Press)
Losing Patience by Kara Lynn Russell (The Wild Rose Press)

With 7 titles nominated is it any wonder Kara was also nominated for favorite author of the year?!

Also, Cami Checketts received a nomination for a Psyche Award for herbook The Broken Path - (The Psyche Award is a category for romances that did not meet the nomination criteria but that TRS reviewers felt deserved special recognition.)

The final awards will be announced on February 14, 2009.

Good luck Ladies!

Happy New Year All.

Pamela S Thibodeaux
"Inspirational with an Edge!" (TM)