hope

Knight in Shining Apron ~ Carole Brown

/ Gail Johnson / 2 Comments

I am pleased to have Carole Brown visiting today. Carole has a new book, Knight in Shining Apron, and it’s available on Amazon. To help us get to know her better, I asked Carole to share a short bio with you.

Besides being an active participant of many writing groups, Carole enjoys mentoring beginning writers. She loves to weave suspense, tough topics, romance and whimsy into her books, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?

Thank you, Carole. What a lovely bio. It is obvious you love helping others. Tell us why you became a writer?

I’ve always loved reading, imagining stories and writing, so it was a natural thing to progress into becoming an author. I suppose it began way back when my mama read to us. We loved it so much, and I still love hearing my husband read aloud to me or to our grandsons.

I’ve always felt like a writer, as if it were a part of me like an arm or leg, eye or ear. It’s who I am, and I can’t imagine not writing.

You have a new book! Yay! Tell us about Knight in Shining Apron.

Here’s the blurb:

Knight in Shining Apron

Starli Cameron gave up her career plans to be a concert pianist to marry the man of her dreams. He turned out to be a nightmare. When he dies in a car accident, Starli takes the insurance money and builds a successful and upscale restaurant: Apple Blossoms in rural West Virginia.  Threats from someone determined to ruin her life and the suspicious romantic advances from her new chef force Starli to search her heart and finally turn to God for real healing.

Sir Joel Peterman-Blair, a top-notch chef from England, is roped by his uncle, into filling in as head Chef at Apple Blossoms. Joel, with his sanguine-personality, has always laughed and flirted his way through life. But now, confronted with and attracted to the most beautiful woman he’s ever met, Joel has to prove his sincerity and depth of character to his icy-cold employer. Can his love for God and for this woman reach out far enough to rescue her from her own mistrust and bitterness? Will he learn that life is not all play?

And can they both work together to find the source of threats that seem to be coming from Starli’s past?

I love reading stories with a second chance thread. We don’t always get one in this life, but when we do, it makes a happy ending. How does your faith affect your writing?

In real life, many people don’t have the opportunity of a second chance. But when a person is offered that, I think they need to grab hold and go with courage embracing the opportunity as a special blessing from God.

I don’t like in-your-face, pushy types of witnessing, but I’m also not ashamed to let others know I love God. In my writings, sometimes the “word” is stronger than in others, but there’s always a thread of the possibility of a “better life (with God).” It can be in the redemption a character needs and ends of realizing that, or it might be in my characters sharing their love by helping others or encouraging them to do their best. Sometimes it’s as simple as an apology or a dinner blessing. However the story progresses, I always want to share a positive outlook, an encouragement for those who need help to look to God for whatever their need might be.

Why did you choose to write about spousal abuse?

Abuse is prevalent in our world. It’s something that touches and angers me to the core of my being. I suppose that’s one of the reasons I was led to write about it in my debut novel, and now this one. If one of my novels can encourage an abused person to make the right choices or share light to others to help stop it, then it’s well worth the time it took to write the book.

I agree, Carole. Let’s talk about music. I love the musical element in your book. Do you play?

Smile. I play, but not at the level of Starli Cameron’s talent. She’s a professional, and I’m a down home, lightly trained pianist.

I love perusing the Pinterest boards with yummy recipes. I’m not an expert, but I do love to try new recipes. Your plot revolves around a restaurant. Do you like to cook?

Yes, I do, most times. I don’t always enjoy the day-to-day task of cooking, but I love creating menus for dinners, family celebrations and fun times. Some of my specialties include:

  • Homemade lasagna, bread, and cheesecake
  • Homemade chicken and noodles (and mashed potatoes, of course!)
  • Fun party foods
  • I enjoy trying new soups and experiencing my own personal touches to them to make them mine.

When researching a story, I often discover truth I needed for myself. I am always curious to know if while researching the spiritual thread, did the author come across something that made an impact on her?

Yes. When I first wrote the book, trust wasn’t as much of a detailed trait, but once I changed it from a romance to a romantic mystery, I realized it was one of the things that brought depth to the story line.

I know the past year, God has brought ME through some deep waters in facing five deaths in about that many months and the depression that went along with it. I’ve had to learn to trust him more fully.  He was faithful to encourage and strengthen me, and His word is always a powerful antidote against the enemy.

Any advice for newbies?

Never, never, never give up! Find the writing journey that is for you and stay with it, regardless of the directions your friends might have. We all have our own personal journey and must be true to that.

Carole BrownThank you, Carole, for sharing. Where can folks find out more about you and your books?

I LOVE connecting with new friends and fans of my books! Please do join me at one or more of these sites:

Personal blog: http://sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaroleBrown.author

Amazon Author Page:  http://www.amazon.com/Carole-Brown/e/B00EZV4RFY/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1427898838&sr=8-1

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/browncarole212

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/sunnywrtr/boards/

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/5237997-carole-brown

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-brown-79b6951a?trk=nav_responsive_tab_profile

Google+:    https://plus.google.com/u/0/113068871986311965415/posts

Word Sharpeners: https://wordsharpeners.wordpress.com/

Stitches in Time:  http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com/

Barn Door Book Loft: http://www.barndoorbookloft.net/

 

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He’s Not Finished Yet

/ Gail Johnson / 4 Comments

Disease. Unclean. Ostracized over a decade. Diagnosis: Incurable. With nowhere else to turn, she made her way to Jesus. When she touched His garment, she was healed. (Mark 5)

Question: “Who touched me?”

Answer: “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.”

Takeaway: Jesus is my Great Physician. He has the last word.

 

They had answered His call. Now, they were in a storm. The waves crashed around them unleashing fear and doubt. With nowhere else to turn, they came to Jesus. (Mark 4)

Question: “Why are ye so fearful? How is it that ye have no faith?”

Answer: “Peace, be still.”

Takeaway: Obedience doesn’t guarantee a storm-free life. Jesus can speak to my storm

He's Not Finished Yet

The charge, adultery. The penalty, death. To her accusers, she was a lost cause. With nowhere else to turn, she looked to Jesus. (John 8)

Question: “Woman, where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?”

Answer: “Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.”

Takeaway: When the world sees a throwaway, Jesus sees a soul in need.

 

He was a brother. Loved by two sisters. Death had claimed him. Four days in a grave. With nowhere else to turn, they waited for Jesus. (John 11)

Question: “I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?”

Answer: Lazarus, come forth.

Takeaway: Death will come. But I will rise again!

 

Whether we are facing disease, emotional trauma, a sin-sick soul, or death, one thing is sure. Until we stand face to face with Him, it’s not over. Have faith. He’s not finished, yet!

 

A Reluctant Melody ~ Sandra Ardoin

/ Gail Johnson / 2 Comments

ARM Cover

 

Gail: I’m excited to have with me today, Sandra Ardoin, author of The Yuletide Angel and her latest A Reluctant Melody. And let me take this moment to say if you haven’t read it you don’t know what you’re missing. I recommend picking up a copy today for your next summer read.

 Hello, Sandy. Glad you could stop by and talk with us. I loved A Reluctant Melody! It had everything you could want in a novel. History, Suspense, Romance, and the Gospel. I enjoyed watching your characters grow in their Christian walk.

For those who haven’t had the chance to read it, would you please take this moment and tell us a little about it.

Sandra: Thank you for your kind words, Gail, and thank you for having me on your blog.

A Reluctant Melody is set in North Carolina in 1892. It’s a story of two people with a shared and sorry past. Joanna is haunted by the consequences of her sins. Kit knows he’s been forgiven of his sins, but can’t give up the idea of atoning for them. It’s a story of grace, redemption, and second chances. Here’s the back cover copy, which explains a little more:

Kit Barnes’ alcoholism ruined more lives than his own. Now sober, he wants to make amends by opening a mission for drunkards. But the most suitable location belongs to Joanna Cranston Stewart, a love from his sordid past.

Friends of her late husband blame Joanna for his death. Although eager to flee from the rumors, she will let the walls of her rundown property crumble around her before she allows Kit back into her life.

When a blackmailer threatens to reveal Joanna’s long-held secret, will she risk losing everything she owns to Kit … including her heart?

Gail: Nothing like a second chance story. In fact, it’s the story of our lives. I absolutely love reading them. I would love to hear why you chose to write one.

This story began with the Christmas novella The Yuletide Angel. I needed a problem for my hero Hugh, so I created a drunken brother, a rift between them, and a need for forgiveness. I decided to reform that brother (spiritually and physically) and have him visit Hugh, forcing Hugh to either forgive Kit for once dallying with the woman he’d hoped to wed (the rift), or not. If so, the brothers are given a second chance at a relationship.

As I wrote the novella, I became curious about Kit’s relationship with Joanna, the woman who caused the estrangement between the brothers. I guess I’m just a romantic, but I saw them as needing to be together and knew I had to write her story. In A Reluctant Melody, Joanna is in dire need of a second chance at understanding salvation and living a good life, however, she can’t see Kit being part of either one. However…well, it is a love story.

Gail: I know when I’m researching a story, truths often fall into my lap that I wasn’t looking for, but somehow it was the very thing I needed for the story and for myself. While researching the spiritual thread, did you come across something that made an impact on you?

You’re so right when you say truths fall into your lap. I love it when I’m working on a manuscript and the pastor says something during a sermon or I read something in my daily reading that stands out and I know the gist of it has to be put into my story. To me, those are faith-building moments, times when I witness God as my writing partner.

For A Reluctant Melody, I think the spiritual thread that stands out to me is Kit’s thinking he has to make amends for his mistakes in order to make everything right. Yes, there are consequences for sin, but he can’t “make everything right” and neither can we. He can’t do something good and wash away the past. Only Jesus can do that.

Personally, I’ve found my faith and my Biblical knowledge has grown stronger as I’ve written of characters who find that God can bring them through their struggles.

Gail: Let’s talk about research. I love history. I could get lost in researching the past! Of course, I know you love old pictures. What else did you do to prepare for your story?

Ha! Yes, I think my Facebook page shows how much I love the old photographs.

In choosing my setting, I came across information about a community in Charlotte, NC, and its creation. It had some unique elements—a park and manmade lake with recreational activities, a variety of housing and businesses, stops on the trolley system. Then, I spent a while drawing a map of my fictional town so I’d have my directions right in the story and could picture the sights my characters saw as they traveled from one place to another.

I also used a business directory for my area. In it, businesses were listed (both types and names), churches, government and law enforcement offices/titles, products raised and made. It was a wealth of information and allowed me to add little historical tidbits to the story as well as choose to center things around a broom factory. I researched the industry and watched numerous videos about the craft of broom-making. That was fun.

Gail: I enjoyed getting to know all of your characters. Not just Kit and Joanna, but the supporting cast. What made you decide to incorporate a used up boxer?

Ah, Donovan “Dynamite” O’Connor. What a sweet guy…sort of. As a writer, you know you can be writing along, minding your own business, when bam!, an unplanned character pops up. As Kit walked through town, he came across a man sleeping in an alley. The next thing I knew, the man hit him—not through meanness, it was simply a reaction when Kit tried to wake him from a sound sleep after a night of drinking. I asked myself why someone would strike out like that at a total stranger for no reason. That’s when I realized Dynamite was a former fighter down on his luck. He turned into an important player in the story and one of my favorite characters. Don’t you love it when that kind of thing happens?

 Gail: I noticed Joanna’s love for music and her propensity to play an imaginary piano on her lap. Do you play?

I don’t play any instrument, but my daughter took piano lessons for years and we own a piano. However, I love music and will often surreptitiously “direct” the choir while seated in the pew. J Joanna has an amazing ability, but playing is also her way of escaping things that trouble her. So when she’s nervous or in the midst of some kind of difficulty, she plays the piano, even when one isn’t around.

Gail: Thank you, so much, for sharing your thoughts with us today, Sandy! Congratulations on the 5-star reviews. I’m looking forward to your next project.

 

Sandra Ardoin_HeadshotSandra Ardoin writes inspirational historical romance. She’s the author of The Yuletide Angel and A Reluctant Melody. A wife and mom, she’s also a reader, football fan, NASCAR watcher, garden planter, country music listener, and antique store prowler. Visit her at www.sandraardoin.com and on the Seriously Write blog. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Join her email community to receive occasional updates and a free short story.

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