The Top of my TBR pile

At the top of my TBR pile is a just-released book called
THE MASTER'S WALL by Sandi Rog. It's set in 1st century Jerusalem
and is the debut book by this author, already getting great reviews.
(One reviewer said, "This is the BEST book I have EVER read!")

But I have to confess a more personal reason for moving
this book to the top: Sandi Rog is a mom of four young kids and has MS, and, as if
that isn't hard enough, her MS medication caused her to develop
a cancerous lymphoma--in her brain.
She's in the hospital right now undergoing treatment.

Some of us who know Sandi asked what we could do to help, and
she let us know that her publisher is donating $1 from each and
every book sale to a fund for Sandi's medical bills. So, I'd like to
respectfully suggest that if Biblical-era fiction appeals to you (think Romans,
Roman empire, Herod, etc.) then please consider adding Sandi's book
THE MASTER'S WALL to your TBR pile.

It's available at Amazon and other booksellers and won't break the bank. : )
It's also available as a KINDLE ebook (which can be read on any e-reader).

Here's the book blurb:
HE FIGHTS FOR HIS FREEDOM. SHE FIGHTS FOR HER LIFE. TOGETHER, THEY FIGHT FOR EACH OTHER. After watching Roman soldiers drag his parents away to their death, David, a young Hebrew, is sold and enslaved to serve at a villa outside of Rome. As David trains to become a skilled fighter, he works hard to please his master and hopes to earn his freedom. However, an opportunity to escape tempts him with its whispering call. Freedom beckons, but invisible chains hold him captive to the master's granddaughter, an innocent girl with a fiery spirit. David vows to protect Alethea from his master, the murderous patriarch, and contrives a daring plan—sacrifice his own life to save hers.

“It's a grand thing to find an intriguing story told by a talented storyteller, and that's just what we have in The Master's Wall by Sandi Rog. This story has it all: ancient Rome, authentically depicted; a hero worth rooting for; and a feisty, charming heroine—all flowing through a rousting tale beautifully spun. Rog—and every reader—has a winner with this one.”

ROBERT LIPARULO, best-selling author of Comes a Horseman, Germ, and the Dreamhouse Kings series

"Powerful, faith-challenging, epic in nature, The Master’s Wall beckons readers to ancient Rome where Sandi Rog delivers a captivating story that transforms lives––and not only those of her characters. Highly recommended!"

TAMERA ALEXANDER, bestselling author of Within My Heart (Bethany House Publishers) and The Inheritance (Women of Faith Fiction, Thomas Nelson)

". . . If you love gladiator scenes—you’ll love this book. If you enjoy coming-of-age stories, you’ll enjoy Alethea’s journey from girlhood to adult. If you thrive on romances, the sweet love story will grasp your heart. A must read for all the right reasons. “ DARLENE FRANKLIN, The Prodigal Patriot

Once again, here's the Amazon link to the paperback.

Thanks so much for letting me post this here, and if you choose to help Sandi
by getting her book, God bless you tenfold in return!
Hugs,

Linore

A Writer's Quote

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You must keep sending work out; you must never let a manuscript do nothing but eat its head off in a drawer. You send that work out again and again, while you're working on another one. If you have talent, you will receive some measure of success - but only if you persist. - Isaac Asimov, science fiction author

(Thanks John Kremer for the quote).

BOOK REVIEW: Where Hearts Are Free

Where Hearts Are Free by Golden Keyes Parsons

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


If you like a good read that is gently inspiring, look no further, as this book will fit the bill. It is well-written with the exception that much of the dialogue sounds Victorian rather than early Colonial American. The author does include Quakers who speak properly for the time period, but other than these characters, I wasn't able to stay in the period all that well. Aside from that, the read is surprisingly quick and compelling, and the plot will keep you turning pages until the end. There is one disappointing scene that is bound to be controversial, which I mention only because it is not gentle and those wanting only truly light-hearted romance may wish to avoid on account of its inclusion. But I award the author five stars for a well-paced, smoothly flowing story; one I enjoyed more than her previous books.



View all my reviews

Only 11 Days Left to Enter This Contest

This contest is sponsored by my own ACFW Chapter here in Ohio. Take a look--it may be the right one for you.

Only 11 days remain!

Want to get feedback on the opening of your book?
Want feedback on your back cover blurb?
Want help polishing those first 4 pages of your book, in preparation for important contests, like Genesis and Golden Heart?

HOOK ME is for you.

Sponsored by ACFW-Ohio, the Hook Me contest offers feedback from judges, a PDF of writing tips from published authors and judges, and even 2 nifty prizes for your favorite reader and writer: You!

Check the ACFW-Ohio web site for the contest rules and submission information. www.acfwohio.com

The basics:
1,000 words from the beginning of your book, and a 300-word back cover blurb in OND .doc or .rtf document -- emailed.
$15 check (ACFW members) sent by snail mail
DEADLINE: October 31
Judging will be finished and winners notified by December 1
Each entry will go to 3 judges

Check www.acfwohio.com for the complete rules, and a sample of the judging sheet.

Michelle Levigne
ACFW-Ohio 2010 president
www.MLevigne.com

The HOOK, LIne & Sinker Contest

1. Hudson Valley RWA is proud to announce it 25th Annual Hook, Line & Sinker contest, now accepting electronic, as well as paper submissions!

25th Annual Hook, Line & Sinker Contest

True or false? If the first three pages of your manuscript aren't attention grabbing the agent or editor will probably stop reading and reject the work. Sad, but TRUE!

Hone your skills in hooking an editor or agent by entering our Hook, Line & Sinker Contest. Three Hudson Valley RWA members, at least one published, will critique the first three pages of your manuscript. The five entries with the highest scores will be ranked by Harlequin editor BRENDA CHIN.

HOOK, LINE & SINKER CONTEST 2010

Now accepting both electronic and hard copy entries!

General Rules

Entry fee: $10.00

Include a cover page with your name, address, phone number, e-mail and title/genre of your unpublished, book-length novel.

Manuscript should be professionally presented, double-spaced, with one-inch margins all around.

Entries must be mailed to coordinator by regular mail or emailed to the contest coordinator no later than midnight November 1, 2010. ENTRIES REQUIRING A SIGNATURE TO CONFIRM DELIVERY WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.

Send entries to contest coordinator: Gina Rosavin, 397 Ridgewood Blvd. North, Washington Twp., NJ 07676 or email your electronic submission to: HVRWAContest@gmail.com

For the purposes of this contest, the author's name should not appear on the manuscript.

Winners will be announced in January, 2011.

Send electronic copies to: HVRWAContest@gmail.com
Send hard copies to: Gina Rosavin
397 Ridgewood Blvd. North
Washington Twp., NJ 07676
FMI: http://hudsonvalleyrwa.com/contest

Lesson from The Yearling

I loved The Yearling as a child. It was a long book and it earned a bit of reverence from this reader by the time I had finished it. Of course, I cried my eyes out. But like today's devotion for writers, below, I had still missed a lot--simply because I wasn't ready for any more. Thanks to Jeanette Hanscome (whose site you can visit by clicking on the title above, or her name) for this thoughtful meditation.



The Bigger Story
By Jeanette Hanscome

I have a strange habit of picking up spiritual applications and writing-life lessons wherever I go. It must be the devotional writer in me. This week I found one in an old movie.

Since trading cable for an inexpensive Netflix subscription, my sons and I have developed an appreciation for classic films. Most recently, I decided to introduce them to The Yearling. It had been so long since I watched it that I almost felt like I was seeing it for the first time. I remembered about enough to warn my eight-year-old that it was sad. I’d forgotten how long it took for the boy to actually get the deer that becomes the title character. As a kid that had been the story—Jody finds a baby fawn, names him Flag, raises him, then tries desperately to keep Flag from eating the family crops until Pa has enough and. . . well, we all know how the story ends. I vaguely recalled Jody throwing something at a snotty little girl who was making faces at him. I also remembered a close-up on a row of tiny graves stones, followed by a father/son discussion about Ma losing so many children that she couldn’t bring herself to risk loving anyone—including Jody—too much. But as I re-watched this movie with my sons I discovered how much I’d missed as a younger viewer.

As I told my almost-20-year-old, it suddenly hit me that The Yearling isn’t really about Jody and Flag. Well, it is, but that is only the surface plot; the bigger story is about Jody growing from a starry-eyed boy prone to wandering in the woods when he should be doing his chores and begging his parents to let him bring home “a critter” (such as a raccoon), into a young man who, after a few painful doses of reality, is ready to face the responsibilities of grown-up life. He gets there through a lot of heartbreak and loss, including a moment of completely understandable anger that pushes him to run away. But he returns to his parents a different son, one who, as Pa puts it “Isn’t a yearling no more.” (Don’t you just love those soppy Old Hollywood lines, and Gregory Peck’s ability to deliver them so beautifully that laughing at the melodramatic wording would be about as disrespectful as laughing at a funeral?) In the process we see the family grow closer and a grieving mother’s walls come down.

So what does this have to do with the writing life? It reminded me how often we see only the surface plot of our careers, missing the bigger much more important story. Just as we appreciate a movie or book in a deeper way as an adult than we did as a child, the deeper story of what God is doing in our lives shines through as we mature, experience setbacks, frustration and heartbreak, and learn to persevere. What once looked like a long dry season in our career, we suddenly see as a time of growth, either in the craft or in our ability to discipline ourselves to sit down and write. Or we recognize it as a time of preparation, when God taught us valuable life lessons that equipped us to be the writer He needed. The tragedies that took us away from writing for weeks, months, or even years and had us crying “Why God?” we later recognize as the missing piece of the puzzle—that source of wisdom and understanding that we needed in order to truly inspire others and point them to Christ.

Take some time this month to examine the deeper story beneath some of your personal or professional surface plots, particularly those that had you kicking and screaming and groaning, “Why God? When are you going to use me?”

What has God used to grow you to a point where He could say you are ready to serve Him in a new way—that you “aren’t a yearling no more?”

Did You Miss My Free Download?

Did you get my latest ezine? I always include a free download, no strings attached. (But you need to be subscribed to get new issues.)
Click the link below, take a peek, and sign up if you like what you see. : )

Warmest blessings,

Linore


Every issue comes with a free download. Enjoy!

Time for a Book Review

4.0 out of 5 stars

19th Century Mystery Delivers

By Linore Burkard "Inspirational Romance Author"


I read the Kindle edition of this book which had no description; I expected an historical romance of sorts and found that it is really much more
a mystery, and a crime mystery at that.

Despite not being my favorite genre, there is a lot going for this book, including a lovable protagonist, some very strong surrounding cast, wonderful descriptions of a country estate and lots of other 19th century details which make the reading so interesting--at least for an historical romance author like me. The mystery is well done and made me stay up half the night to find out how it all ends.

I wasn't crazy about the ending, but there is so much of England in another century here, to savor, that I may even read this again, or at least parts of it. Definitely worthwhile reading for history buffs, Anglophiles, mystery lovers, and there was, indeed, a thread of romance--thin, but there.

Note: There are paperback editions of this book available on Amazon, or you can download the Kindle edition for free. If you don't have a Kindle, use the Kindle app for PCs, also free.

Happy reading!

The Fair at New Boston, OH

I love the fall with the many festivals and celebrations it brings, not to mention pumpkins, haystacks and lazy scarecrows cropping up all over the place. One of the special festivals I managed to attend this past month was the Fair at New Boston, OH.
The theme is the American Revolutionary War, and there were more re-enactors at this one fair than I've ever seen in one place before (beside movie sets!).

To my surprise and delight, many people came in regency costume, too. In America, the time of the regency is known as the Federalist Period (ca.1775-1830). But whether you call it Georgian, Regency or Federalist style, I love it, and I took lots of pictures.

IF YOU ARE IN ONE OF THESE PHOTOS, please leave us a comment, telling us about your costume if you like.

For the rest of you, enjoy the photos! I had fun taking them and meeting each person who happily posed for me.

In the future, I'll certainly try to make it to this fair again. For "official" pictures and information regarding the New Boston Fair, click the title of this post.

The lady on the right gets my vote as the best-dressed regency belle of them all. And she made her own costume, including, if I remember correctly, the bonnet.

Three Days Left To Enter the SUZANNAH Contest

I don't enter many contests, but perhaps because I won 2nd place (with my book, THE HOUSE IN GROSVENOR SQUARE)in the IRCC (Inspirational Reader's Choice Contest) from my RWA chapter this past summer, I entered another, this one, in fact. The Suzannah. I like this one because it actually awards a little money and a trophy. Cool.

If you're thinking about entering, think fast, because the deadline's almost here.
Good luck~!


***Permission to forward granted and encouraged!***

Three days left to enter the 2010 Suzannah Contest!

This unique contest sponsored by the RWA-NOLA STARS is for PUBLISHED and
UNPUBLISHED writers and mimics an editor's desk by pitting genre against genre
for six finaling spots.

That's right, if you final, your manuscript goes in front of all SIX industry
judges. They are:

Emmanuelle Alspaugh (Judith Ehrlich Literary Agency)
Alexandra Machinist (Linda Chester Literary Agency)
Jill Marsal (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency)
Keyren Gerlach, Harlequin/Silhouette
Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing
Danielle Poiesz, Pocket Books

The winner of the Suzannah receives $300.00, provided by the Suzannah
Nelson family, along with a beautiful trophy. So spiff up your entry (7200
words including a synopsis) and send it in! For more information and Contest
Rules, visit

http://www.nolastars.com

The contest opens closes midnight CST, Oct. 1st. We will take only 120 entries.

Please share with your chapters and loops.

--Candace Irvin
Suzannah Contest Coordinator

***Permission to forward granted and encouraged!***

Three days left to enter the 2010 Suzannah Contest!

This unique contest sponsored by the RWA-NOLA STARS is for PUBLISHED and
UNPUBLISHED writers and mimics an editor's desk by pitting genre against genre
for six finaling spots.

That's right, if you final, your manuscript goes in front of all SIX industry
judges. They are:

Emmanuelle Alspaugh (Judith Ehrlich Literary Agency)
Alexandra Machinist (Linda Chester Literary Agency)
Jill Marsal (Marsal Lyon Literary Agency)
Keyren Gerlach, Harlequin/Silhouette
Lauren Plude, Grand Central Publishing
Danielle Poiesz, Pocket Books

The winner of the Suzannah receives $300.00, provided by the Suzannah
Nelson family, along with a beautiful trophy. So spiff up your entry (7200
words including a synopsis) and send it in! For more information and Contest
Rules, visit http://www.nolastars.com

The contest opens closes midnight CST, Oct. 1st. We will take only 120 entries.

Please share with your chapters and loops.

--Candace Irvin
Suzannah Contest Coordinator

How About Some Conflicting Advice

Everyone knows that a good novel has to have good conflict, right? But should it be internal conflict or external? Or should it be both? And, is there such a thing as good conflict?

Have no fear--my post today will give you all the "conflicting" advice you could want.

In all seriousness, yes, every good novel (or movie, or play) needs to have some juicy conflicts going. In a literary sense, all conflict is good, and the more layers of it you can keep juggling throughout your story, the better and more compelling the book will be.

But should it be external or internal, you ask? I try to use both in every book.

Heating Things Up ...

Internal conflict can be excruciating and is strong enough to carry a well-told story; however, it never hurts to add to the internal drama by heating things up outside your protagonist, too. In other words, layer on the external problems that amount to more conflict for your character(s).

Every conflict raises a question or two that your reader desperately wants answered. Such as:

* How will this problem be solved?
* What will happen to end this conflict?
* Which will keep them reading?

Before the end of the story, your job is to go back and make sure you have answered the questions, and you do this by solving the conflicts. If a conflict ends by chapter ten, create a new one in chapter eleven....

[To read the rest of this article, please click the title. You'll be taken to the blog "A Pen For Your Thoughts," where I wrote this as a guest post. Enjoy!]

In Honor of One Year Being Published--Author Rita Gerlach

A Deeper Look into Surrender the Wind

~ When an American patriot of the Revolution inherits his grandfather’s estate in faraway England, he inherits more than an isolated manor house. He discovers Juleah’s love and a plot that leads to kidnapping, murder, and betrayal, in this stirring tale of fidelity and forgiveness. ~

Instead of answering interview questions, I’m commenting on some quotes from reviewers to give my readers a deeper glimpse into the storyline in Surrender the Wind.

* * *

From author Marylu Tyndall ~ Ms. Gerlach's historic research is evident throughout the story, and her attention to detail and literary descriptions of scenes placed me right in the middle of the action.

If a writer wishes to write a historical novel, research is a vital, essential part of developing a great story. When I began Surrender the Wind, I read numerous accountants of the Battle of Yorktown where the book opens in the prologue. I researched uniforms, dress, weaponry, food, and culture.

As the book moves forward into Chapter 1, the reader is taken to England, to a crumbling manor house in Devonshire. The historical research from this point on had to be in the details. I wanted my reader to see in their mind the scene, outdoors and indoors. Everything from a tallow candle in the socket of a brass candlestick, to the blue and white pitcher and bowl on the heroine’s washing table, adds strong visual imagery. My editor told me once that a place can become a character in a book. I feel that is true for Ten Width Manor. It's walls hold secrets of lives past and present in the story. Because it is the ancestral home of the Braxtons, Ten Width has a stronghold on those living in it.

Then there are the historical cultural markings in a book that make up the characters. Dress. Etiquette. Traditional family life. I studied 18th century wills and marriage customs, the fashions of the period, and how the classes interacted with each other.

* * *

From author Linda Clare ~ The American Revolutionary period comes to life as Gerlach explores themes of patriotism with a faith element.

In America today there is a resurgence of patriotism. We are returning to our roots, our Constitution, and faith. In the 18th century faith played a major role in the lives of people in both the Colonies and United Kingdom. In Surrender the Wind, I bring faith into the story as a lifestyle. It is delicately woven into the characters' personalities. One thing I did not want to do is write a ‘religious novel’. My goal was to write a novel where readers would become immersed into the characters by relating to the struggles they faced which bring about spiritual breakthroughs.

* * *

From Annette Temple ~ A Well-Watered Garden Blog' This book is one of the most romantic books I've ever read. The passion and love that is poetically described between Seth and Juleah was rousing.

I am so grateful to Annette for this comment. She helped me realize that I achieved my goal. Most of us ladies want a bit of romance in our stories, don’t we? We want a hero that is tough with the world, but tender with his lady. And a heroine that is strong in the face of tribulation, but swept away by the love of a man. Romance in a novel, in my opinion, is the most intriguing when what is written is just enough to leave the rest up to the reader’s imagination. In Christian fiction a writer brings out romance deftly, love that goes beyond the material, but deeper into the heart and spirit of the characters.

I’ll close here with a romantic excerpt from Surrender the Wind . It is Seth and Juleah’s wedding night. I hope you will consider reading my novel, and keep an eye out for the release of book 1 in a new series, Daughters of the Potomac, coming out in May, 2012, entitled ‘Before the Scarlet Dawn’.

* * * * * *


In his bedchamber, which they now shared, Juleah slipped on her silk nightdress. Thin white ribbons laced the front. She sat at the dressing table brushing her hair. Tinted with the golden splendor of the candles, she smoothed it over her shoulder and ran her fingers down its length. Excitement filled her, tripped over her skin along with desire. She glanced around the room. How masculine it appeared. A fresh coat of paint would improve its appearance, and white curtains over the windows would bring it warmth and light.

She set the candlestick on the table next to their bed. The brass clock on the mantelpiece chimed out the hour. She paused to listen to the musical sound it made, while she pulled down the coverlet. The door drifted open. Seth came inside, shut it, and proceeded to pull off his waistcoat.

“Ah, have you seen the moon?” She opened the drapes wide to let the moonlight pour in. It bathed the room soft blue. “Is it not lovely, Seth?”

He joined her at the window. Wrapping his arms around his wife’s waist, he stood close behind her. His breath brushed against her neck and she sighed.

He whispered in her ear. “Doubt thou the stars are fire. Doubt that the sun doth move. Doubt truth to be a liar. But never doubt I love.”

It pleased her that he, a Virginian rebel, had memorized the beauty of Shakespeare’s verses. Melting with longing, she turned to him. He took her into his arms. She reached up and pushed back a lock of hair that fell over his brow. “I will never doubt your love, not for anything in the world.”

He brought his lips to hers and she strained against him. Love rose within each heart. He lifted her, and her feet dangled above the floor. Holding her, he kissed her, turned with Juleah toward their bed, and took his bride away from the window.


* * * * * *


Read Chapter One: http://www.abingdonpress.com/forms/displayImage.aspx?pcid=1173111

Rita’s Website: http://www.ritagerlach.com/index.html

Surrender the Wind is available wherever books are sold. Kindle additions available from Amazon.com

Cokesbury Bookstore is having an amazing sale. http://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=783958

The Success "Secret"

Sometimes newer writers feel like no matter what they do, success (ie., publication) remains out of their reach. Successful authors, they think, must know a secret or two that they are simply unaware of. Why else aren't they published by now?

If you are feeling like that, beware.

While success is sometimes a matter of being in the right place at the right time, or a result of who you know, more often it is a result of something completely within your grasp: Perseverance and work.

Perseverance can get you in the right place at the right time, and hard work will help you meet the people you need to know.

Colin Powell said, "There are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure."

Before you start to feel that life is unfair or that all of your time spent writing and editing your work is fruitless, ask yourself if you have prepared sufficiently, done the work that is necessary, and learned from your failures.

If you aren't published in book length fiction and that is your goal, then it stands to reason that your work is not done. (Even when you get published, your work is not done!)
Before getting that first contract, however, it is doubly important that you prepare--and keep preparing.
You must work hard--and keep working hard.
And you need to learn from every failure, which is, every rejection, every critique. (Some criticism will not be accurate, but learning to find the grain of truth in it can be very, very helpful.)

Only the Lord knows the right time, the right publisher, or the right agent for you.
And every time you get a rejection, you can accept that it was not the right place, time, or person for you or for your work.
The key is to find the right one, and that takes time, and patience.

"Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance." Samuel Johnson

It's hard to keep believing that success will happen when it hasn't happened, yet. It's difficult to persevere in the face of rejections. But this is precisely what you must do. This is the time to lean on your God, and remember that HE is the one who has called you to do this thing called writing. Your publishing success will come in His time and in His way.

In the meantime, remember that you write not because you may be published, not to impress an agent or editor, not to show your family or friends that you can, but to serve GOD. To steward the resources of creativity and imagination that He has entrusted to your care. When you remember that it is GOD you serve,you are always a success, so long as you are faithful.

His yoke is easy and His burden is light!

For more of Linore's instruction on writing, sign up for the Greater Harvest Newsletter. You'll receive announcements of upcoming Greater Harvest Workshops for writers and speakers, which you can attend for more in-depth help in your writing career.

The HOOK ME Contest

This is a contest run by my very own chapter of the ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers). I may even end up as one of the judges, so don't be shy! This is our first year but we're planning on making it an annual event. Here's the info:

The HOOK ME Contest, sponsored by the Ohio chapter of ACFW, is now open for submissions.

This contest is geared to help you polish your book for the Genesis and other writing contests!

Please check our web site for the contest page for the rules and a sample of the judging sheet. (Please note: we are still refining the page)

www.acfwohio.com/hookmerules.htm

Essentially, the HOOK ME Contest focuses on the opening of your book. You have to grab the attention of editors/agents/bookstore browsers in the first five minutes (if they even give you that much time!) and persuade them to keep reading.

ACFW Ohio offers judges who are published authors, editors, and/or experienced in judging other contests.

Every entrant will receive PDF downloads of articles that chapter members have written with writing, editing and research tips.
PLUS comments/suggestions from the judges, to assist you in polishing your opening in preparation for the Genesis next year, and other contests such as the Golden Heart.

There are two prizes available, along with winners' names being announced here on the main loop and posted on our web site.

DEADLINE: October 31, with winners announced at the beginning of December.

Please check out our site, OR you can email us for a .doc download of the rules.

Also, look for printouts at the conference in Indy!

Michelle Levigne
ACFW Ohio president
www.acfwohio.com
acfwohio@aol.com