Oh MY!

Posted on August 12, 2016 by Gail

Tonight when my husband and I returned from a walk at the close of this rainy Iowa day, we were looking up at the roof for some reason, and I spotted something that looked like a bird…sort of. But bigger.

Lance is nothing if he’s not persevering. He hung out until he captured an image of the creature…I can’t believe it! We have cardinals, house wrens, hummingbirds, and of course, crows in our yard. But this…never thought I’d see the like. Not here in our yard.

Isn’t this the cutest baby owl? I’ve never spied one before, and this one added excitement to a rather gloomy, although productive day here in the Midwest. I’m a lot like my fiction characters, I guess – it doesn’t take a whole lot to make my day.

And this experience also goes to show that you can enjoy someone else’s hobby almost as much as you enjoy your own. Barn owls have made appearances in my historical fiction, and this little one…oh yes, you can bet she (or he) will pop up somewhere in a future story.

A Steeple and a Rainbow

Posted on August 5, 2016 by Gail

It really doesn’t get much better than that for a photographer. My husband, a patient guy, has become a walker, after years of running. And on his walks, he captures some amazing shots. So I’m sharing them here today, just because I can – and because they may brighten someone’s day or week.

Behold an Iowa evening sky at its finest. My heroines would take heart from such a vision, especially during their worst times, when all seems lost and futile.

Here’s another – words fail me, as they often do at something truly beautiful. And it’s good to note that this was actually quite a stormy night.

Adjectives… gorgeous, spectacular, stellar. Heartening to remember that in life’s storms, there’s light, though we may have to wait for it to peep through the clouds.

Way to go, Lance. Thanks for the beauty.

An Adirondack Historical Romance Author

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Gail

I’d like to introduce the Amazon Top Ten bestselling historical romance author of the Women of Surprise series. Tracey Lyon sold her first book on 9/9/99! Her books have been translated into several languages and are available in print, digital and audio formats.

Tracey lives with her husband in New York’s Hudson Valley region. She has appeared on the award winning Cox Cable Television show, Page One and on the stage of Lady Jane’s reading salon in New York City. She holds membership in Romance Writers of America and American Fiction Christian Writers and Novelists Inc.

A true upstate New Yorker, Tracey believes you should write what you know. Her historical romances are all set in the New York State area. Tracey considers herself a small town gal who writes small town romances. You can learn more about Tracey and her books by visiting her website at www.traceylyons.com.

So, Tracey, tell us a bit about the Adirondacks.

I love this area of New York State. We used to vacation there when our children were little. It’s a place that’s far away from the maddening crowds of downstate NY!

When you arrive it’s like all of your troubles disappear. I love setting my books in the mountain regions of my home state. Did you know the Adirondack park is the largest National park?

I didn’t – fun to learn something new. Tell us about your latest release, please.

When schoolteacher Elsie Mitchell meets rugged William Benton on a train platform in Albany, it appears they have nothing in common. He isn’t the sort of fellow a proper young woman of the 1890s would ever speak to, much less become involved with. But when she arrives at her small town in the Adirondack Mountains, Elsie is offered a job as caregiver for this mysterious out-of-towner’s niece and nephew, who’ve been tragically orphaned. Heartbroken for them, she accepts.
Unknown to her, William is an undercover Pinkerton agent posing as a lumber-company foreman. He’s never wanted family—his work is too dangerous. Yet as Elsie transforms his house into a home and he spends time with the children, he feels drawn to family life—and to Elsie.
As a good Christian, Elsie is troubled by William’s secrets…though she does find him intriguing. And when a sinister figure from her past arrives, Elsie and William will have to trust in faith and newfound love to protect their unlikely family from danger.

Buy link https://www.amazon.com/Changed-Agent-Tracey-J-Lyons-ebook/dp/B01AI1UUIM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1467816680&sr=1-1&keywords=a+changed+agent#navbar

Social Media links
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/TraceyJLyonsAuthor/
Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/traceyjlyons/
Amazon author page http://www.amazon.com/Tracey-J.-Lyons
Twitter: @traceyjlyons

Tracey’s giving away one commenter’s choice of print (US only) or Kindle edition of A Changed Agent. The winner of this novel will be notified in one week.

Amazon best selling historical romance author
http://www.traceylyons.com/
Small town sweet historical romance
A Changed Agent Waterfall Press July 2016

Mid-July Days

Posted on July 21, 2016 by Gail

July – a time for butterflies … and humidity. Ah, how does one describe such a phenomenon? In In Times Like These, Addie’s worst times occurred in winter, and in spite of Iowa’s sticky July and August, her garden and friendship carried her through.

December through March, though, the weather forced her husband Harold inside more often, increasing the chances of him having a temper tantrum.

We have a cute five-year-old visiting us right now, with as much energy as corn has kernels. Interesting how a child can make you feel young again as you share his three-foot view of the world. But at the same time, you realize how creaky your joints have become and how desperate you are for a real live nap.

Back in 1942, Addie adored her rural mailman’s little grandson Willie–the sweetest little guy ever. Ahhh…..what enormous brown eyes and that precocious smile! But one day, he wandered away and ended up in the cornfield, a true farm danger.

It all worked out, but today, with a sauna just outside our door, even at six in the morning, I can almost feel the corn leaves rustling against Willie’s face, And so it is, July in Iowa.

Through Raging Waters

Posted on July 8, 2016 by Gail

This week, I’m delighted to introduce Renee Blare, author of The Snowy River Chronicles.

Raised in Louisiana and Wyoming, Renee started writing poetry in junior high school. After having her son, a desire to attend pharmacy school sent her small family to the University of Wyoming in Laramie, and she’s been counting pills ever since. While writing’s her first love, well, after the Lord and her husband, she also likes to fish and hunt as well as pick away on her classical guitar.

Nestled in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains with her husband, crazy dogs and ornery cat, she continues to serve her community as a pharmacist while penning her Christian stories any chance she can get.

Reading some comments about Renee Blare’s novel entices me:

Raging Waters is indeed a wonderful read and I also highly recommend To Soar on Eagle’s Wings. So hurry and catch up—I’m waiting for Book Three! – DiAne Gates, Author of Roped

Once again, Renee Blare has delivered a powerful and suspenseful romantic novel. Readers and lovers of such will not be disappointed at her writing talent. – Carole Brown, Award-winning Author

Book Two of the Snowy Range Chronicles launches July 8, 2016 – TODAY!! and propels the series upward to new heights. Suspense takes
on new meaning as the small town of Timber Springs faces the storm of the century during the peak of spring runoff. Paul Fitzgerald and Melissa Hampton must fight the battle of their lives as thunder and lightning reveal more than just rain.

If Mother Nature has her way, Timber Springs will never be the same…   A warm spring and early rainstorms melt the snowpack. Spring runoff compounded by the storm of the century sends Timber Springs into a tailspin.  Tossed into the role of rescuer, local pharmacist Paul Fitzgerald must face his past before the whole world falls apart. While he fights to contain the beast around him, he finds his steadfast control slipping through his fingers. And life…everyone’s life…hangs by a thread once again.

Melissa Hampton has her own demons to battle. After she learns of her mysterious beginnings amidst her mother’s keepsakes, she faces more than just the river rushing outside her door. Now, she must discern friend from foe…but as waters rise and tension climbs within Timber Springs, she needs to rise to the challenge or lose the only man she’s ever loved.   Can two people find each other through raging waters?

Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/tE055Wyzaso

Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/Through-Raging-Waters-Renee-Blare-ebook/dp/B01HBSB9BM/
(shortened) http://amzn.to/28NQIF3

Renee is giving away one free kindle copy of her novel to a commenter.

Renee loves to interact with readers and invites you check out her website, blog, and social media.

Website: http://www.reneeblare.com/
Blog: http://reneeblare.blogspot.com/
Group Blog: http://diamondsinfiction.blogspot.com/

Update on Iowa flowers

Posted on July 3, 2016 by Gail

Happy July fourth – beauty all around us. Yarrow and trumpet flowers, Veronica, delphiniums, and daisies. Enjoy!

Singing her heart out

Posted on June 30, 2016 by Gail

The wren out in our lilac bushes sings from the highest place she can find, and nothing’s stopping her. It’s incredible how consistently she lends her cheerful voice to her surroundings.

Not many feet distant, our delphinium daily shows more color. We’ve been keeping track of this plant’s emersion into a full blues and purple salute.The gradual ascent of pigment (if that’s what it’s called in plant life) delights me. But the key word is gradual, from all-white buds to this:

Change sometimes comes suddenly in our lives, but other times, creeps along slowly, so that we hardly notice. Last night a friend said, “I’m not much of a reader, and especially not during the summer, but I couldn’t put In Times Like These down.”

Wow – considering how long and hard I worked to express Addie’s slow transformation in the backdrop of World War II, that made my day. Or week…or month!

To Addie, who felt hemmed in and hopeless at times, change couldn’t come fast enough. But it bided its time – as occurs so often does with us. Ooh…but look … this morning, the color has spread farther for Delphie, which is what I’ve started calling my delphinium.

Meanwhile, our little wren keeps singing her heart out.

She puts all of herself into her tune. That’s what Addie did, too – her daily chicken chores, gardening, kitchen work, and even unexpected caregiving to an elderly WWI veteran strengthened her during the gradual ascent of her strength. And looking back, we can see that in our “keeping on,” we become more colorful, more empowered. That’s encouragement for today!

Good morning, sunshine!

Posted on June 26, 2016 by Gail

A quiet Sunday morning, but after a great rain last night, our plants are grinning all over the porch and deck.

Geraniums garner fresh sunshine . . . the plant on the right has TWELVE blossoms right now.

Rosemary and basil greet us . . .

Petunias and johnny jump-ups join in.

Yesterday the first edits for A Purpose True, the sequel to Addie’s story, arrived. A time to pay attention to details, to make things better, to brighten the world around us, and to enjoy the process.

Already, tomato blossoms promise a fruitful summer . . . what more could we ask?

New Puppy in the Family

Posted on June 21, 2016 by Gail

Our daughter and family brought their new sheepadoodle home yesterday. Is she cute or WHAT??!!

Here’s Grandpa cuddling Tessa:

Everyone is delighted with this quiet new family member – most of the time, she’s content to be held. But when we were outdoors, our neighbor’s dog barked, so Tessa uttered her first bark, too.

The perfect amount of white accentuates her face and all four paws, and she skips like the little lambs I recall from my childhood.

Her soft, wooly fur invites a hug. and reminds me how much comfort my heroine Addie found in Old Brown, the farm dog she petted and talked to when she was feeling down.

I just returned from a writing workshop in Cedar Falls, Iowa, which re-taught me that new friends make a huge difference in our lives.

And Old Brown made a difference for Addie, as little Tessa already has for her new family.

Are all writers Authors?

Posted on June 11, 2016 by Gail

Carol Parsons has been writing a long time. But what qualifies a writer as an author? Take it away, Carol . . .

I started writing when my oldest daughter was diagnosed with cancer in 1980. She was 3 years old and I needed answers, but I couldn’t find anything. When I found even the smallest amount of helpful knowledge, I would journal it so I could refer back to it later.

As time passed, we had two more children and decided to homeschool. I couldn’t afford homeschool curriculum, so I rewrote the public school’s lessons to suit our beliefs. Each week we would read library books, and I often thought I could write better, or spin an old story with a creative ending. Mostly, my writing was just for my family. Eventually however, I started writing newsletters for our church, pamphlets for the 700 club crisis line, plays for the church youth group, then employee manuals and such at my different jobs. In the process, I fell in love with writing, and after awhile I couldn’t remember a time I didn’t write.

For years, I had fantasized about writing a “real” book but never thought I could since I wasn’t…You know… A “real author”. As a public speaker I wrote my own materials, and when asked if I had books I laughed it off. So this year I took my materials from my workshops and other events and created e-books for Amazon. I was shocked at how well received they were. The sales started immediately.

Now, with two books and actual readers, I thought “maybe I am an author”. I began reading and learning all aspects from cover designs, editing, marketing, and formatting. I started writing a book that I had started years ago, and set a June 1^st deadline for myself. And through the Grace of God that deadline was met.

Today, I want to share with you my book. “Reaching the Mountain Top” is based on Isaiah 40:31, and written for anyone going through a challenge in their life. It shows four promises that God offers as we wait upon Him. I hope you will get the chance to check it out and let me know your thoughts.

Find out more on Amazon.com at; Reaching The Mountain Top