We LOVE Our Readers

And we prove it yet again this year for our third annual sweepstakes! This year, we're giving away something new.

One lucky reader will win

A Free, One-Year Membership to

Kindle Unlimited.

Millions of books at your fingertips for free, including these from the authors who have sponsored this contest:

Capture the Magic: Capture the Moment by Fay Lamb

Yesterday's winner is Ginger Solomon! Yea! You'll receive THE HEART SEEKER SERIES link at the email you left in your comment.

So thankful that Fay Lamb shared her romantic tidbit! Be sure to leave a comment with your email address to enter for the free copy of THE HEART SEEKERS SERIES that we'll be giving away first thing in the morning.

***

My husband is a data machine. He remembers dates and times while I can’t even recall today’s date or what occurred yesterday. I’ve been sitting with this data machine in the University of Florida’s stadium, affectionately known as The Swamp, for years.

You have to picture my husband, sitting in the seats we inherited from his father, seats he’s enjoyed since he was six years old. That’s a half a century. He’s grown up surrounded by die-hard Gator fans. Yet, he can gather all their attention by pointing to the field and declaring, “I remember in 1966 when Steve Spurrier …”

Me? I have to ask him who the Gators played last week and if they won—even if I attended the game.

The data machine doesn’t sound very romantic, does he?

But he also has a romantic side, and he woos me with it when he says, “I wouldn’t trade walking into the room on July 11, 1987, for all the money in the world.”

I wouldn’t have remembered the year short of his repeating it often, but I do remember what happened on that date. My data machine walked into a room and pretended to be my date because some deviant was hitting on me. I left the party with the data machine and never looked back, and every anniversary of our first date, he romances me off my feet with his declaration.

He woos me on our wedding anniversary as well, but shh … don’t tell him. We married on his birthday so that I’ll never forget the date.

***

Be sure to leave your comment with your email address. Fay's hubby has an unexpected romantic
side. Have you experienced that before? One of the comments yesterday was about how her husband just showed up unexpectedly with a single rose. Oo-la-la! It's the little things that can make such a difference! Share one of yours or something you've witnessed!

And don't forget that our Capture the Magic continues on February 14-21 with a book on sale every day. One book per day will be discounted 60% or more. Look HERE on our website, for more information and a schedule for the when the books will be on sale.

Come back tomorrow to see our winner listed and enter again by leaving another comment! Super-simple!

And learn more about Fay Lamb at her author page on the Write Integrity Press website.

12 Books of Christmas: THE EXPECTANT FUTURE CHRISTMAS by Sheryl Holmes

There are just some questions that are too big to answer.  Every year at least one of my nine children asks me,

“What do you want for Christmas, Mom?”

Inevitably, I sigh, and deflect, and say,

“Well that’s something for me to think about….”

I never really give an answer to that question…except once – a few years ago, I said:

“Peace. I want Peace for Christmas.”

That year, I got a decorative pillow with the words P. E. A. C. E. embroidered on it.

Every year, I contemplate what I should say – how much do I tell? I know the kids want a tangible answer like, a new pair of slippers, or lipstick, or bottle of lotion…something easy to search for and obtain at the local mall.  Yet, what I really want can’t be found at Target.

Even to this day, I have never given voice to the words that express my deepest desire.

I do believe it is what every Jesus-loving mother wants in her heart of hearts. The desire that God places in a mamma’s heart the moment He begins to knit inside her womb.  The desire that grows stronger and more intense as the years go by and the child grows taller.

Dare I whisper it?

Child, it is love.

Child, it is salvation.

This is what I want for Christmas.

I want it for you.

There is nothing I want more than for my child to know he is loved, by me, by his father, and even more so, by the Father.

I don’t desire to get anything for Christmas 

except to know,

you, my child, know you are loved by the Author of life.

I want you, my child, to take that gift of salvation 

that was born to us all on that first Christmas.

Is this not exactly what God wants for each of us?

Is this not why He gave us Jesus in the manger?

Ask me again this year, my child.  Ask me:

“What do you want for Christmas, Mom?” 

I think, this year, I will not sigh.  I will not deflect.  I will speak an answer definitively louder than a whisper.

“Child, I want you to know you are deeply loved.”

Until you ask me, I am praying, expectantly.

IN hope, I wait.

About the Author:

Sheryl Holmes, a daughter of the King, enjoys a loving marriage with her husband of twenty-six years. She is a devoted mother of nine, currently home educating five of her children. You can learn more about Sheryl and her book, TOWDAH, at her author page on our Write Integrity Website. And below, you can enjoy her recipe for her mother-in-law's special cookies.

Grandma's Christmas Cookies:

In love, my mother in-law made these every year for Christmas. When she passed away, I continued, in love, to make these for my husband and my children every year since.  It’s the only cookie they care about having; it’s just not Christmas without them!

This cookie bar is made in three layers:

1^st layer - beat ½ cup of better, 1 egg yolk, 2 TBS of water together.  Add in 1 ¼ cup of flour, 1 tsp. of sugar, and 1 tsp. of baking powder.  Press into a 13x9 inch greased pan & bake at 350 degrees for 10 minute.

2^nd layer - sprinkle 1 bag of mini chocolate chips onto the hot crusty bottom layer and return it to the oven for 1 minute. Take it out of the oven and smooth the chocolate out with a frosting spreader knife.

3^rd layer – beat 2 eggs, ¾ of a cup of sugar together and add in 6 TBS of melted butter, 2 tsp. of vanilla, and 2 cups of finely chopped walnuts and mix til smooth and creamy.  Pour onto the chocolate layer (optional: sprinkle with colored sugar) and bake for 30 minutes.

Cool, and cut into squares using a plastic knife.

12 Books of Christmas:

You can win a copy of Sheryl's book, TOWDAH, along with 11 other books (US residents only) by commenting below and leaving your email address for us to add to our monthly newsletter list. (Unsubscribe anytime.) Here's a question you can answer: What is some special or traditional that you or one of your family members share each year?

Oh, and don't forget that tomorrow this book along with 9 others will be available for 99¢. So if you don't win the contest and get them all for free, you can still enjoy some Christmas reading at deep discounts! But the price is only good tomorrow, December 13, for our Turquoise Tuesday sale!

12 Books of Christmas: Two Collaborations

Not only will one of our readers (US residents only) receive 10 paperback books of some of the best of Write Integrity Press, but we'll be giving away our two Christmas e-books as well!

THE CHRISTMAS TREE TREASURE HUNT, a novella that was team-written by nine of our authors, is an Amazon best-seller that catapulted all of the authors onto the top 100 list for eight days.

Here's the Amazon short version:

Grace takes delivery of a package and her life is turned upside down by nine sealed mystery envelopes from her late grandmother. Grammie’s instructions require Grace to take the journey of her lifetime, not only to far off places, but also into the deepest parts of her heart. As she follows the trail laid out for her and uncovers her family’s darkest secrets, Grace is forced to confront the loss and betrayal that has scarred her past and seek the greatest Christmas Treasure of all.

A RUBY CHRISTMAS was a follow-up collaboration put together by another nine authors. This book is extra special this year because it will be permanently retired in January. Get it while you have the chance!

Here's the Amazon short version:

Ruby Joy Buckner, cowgirl, has never left the Lone Star State, but at her father’s request, she takes her faithful canine companion and travels the world in search of Nativity pieces. As Ruby collects the pieces, she also collects a few unexpected surprises, including an awareness of the beauty in other cultures, and quite a menagerie of new friends, thanks in part to Yippee Ti Yi Yo who charms everyone they meet.

Ruby’s budding awareness of life outside Texas opens her eyes to a world of whimsy, and the Nativity pieces she collects are unusual. Will her father approve her eclectic collection … and the changes that travel brought to Ruby’s world?

12 Days of Christmas:

You can win an e-copy of both of these books along with the 10 print books (US residents only) by commenting below and leaving your email address for us to add to our monthly newsletter list. (Unsubscribe anytime.) And while you're commenting, tell us what you look forward to most at Christmas.

Oh and one more thing! When the winner is picked on Tuesday, December 13, if you didn't win, don't worry! You've got a special coming your way - All of the books we are giving away (that are currently available) will be only 99¢. It's our Turquoise Tuesday special! But be ready for the special because all the books will only be at 99¢ for only the one day!

12 Books of Christmas: CHRISTMAS MEMORIES by Elizabeth Noyes

Elizabeth Noyes writes suspense
and romance in her Cameron series.
Learn more about her at her author
page on the Write Integrity Press site.

Christmas has always been a special time for me.  As a child, my Daddy would read the Christmas Story from the Bible to us on the night before Christmas. He had a strong voice that grew deeper as he read. It filled with reverence as he made the story come to life for us. My sister, brother, and I would crowd around him, spellbound. It didn’t matter that we heard it year after year.

Afterward, Mama would make ‘real’ hot cocoa with marshmallows, and then we’d gather around the tree to open all the wrapped presents we gave each other.  That’s because Santa left his presents on Christmas morning. He didn’t wrap them, either because he had to visit every child in the world and wrapping paper took too long.

Despite my suspicions and lots of heckling from my brother, sister, and friends, I held onto the myth of Santa long beyond the normal age. My parents, bless their hearts, never once let on that he wasn’t real. They let me come to that conclusion on my own. It was a slow process for me. There was no conscious one day it’s fantasy and then the light bulb came on. No abrupt understanding, only a sad acceptance and a loss of wonderment.

Fast forward to my young adult years and I met the love of my life. Some might think it serendipity, happenstance, or chance. Others might call it fate, but as I look back I know it was God working in our lives. All the twists and turns that led to our unexpected meeting went way beyond possibility, one of those ‘you can’t make this stuff up’ kind of circumstances.

We got married, roamed the world, had kids, and started our own traditions. We collected ornaments and decorations from all the places we visited, and kept every tiny decoration our kids made when they were little. And every year, our tree grows more meaningful. There’s a Rudolph peanut with googly eyes from our little girl in first grade, a hand-painted ornament a Korean artist made for us, a clothespin nutcracker soldier our son made in third grade, a brötchen (hard roll) that a German friend decorated and varnished (40+ years we still have it!) … and the list goes on.

We still travel and collect ornaments, and now we save those treasures our grandchildren make. You see, ours is not just a Christmas Tree – it’s a Memory Tree.

About the Author:

Elizabeth Noyes—professional writer, aspiring author, dedicated dreamer—lives in the suburbs of Atlanta with her husband and best friend, Paul, who listens tirelessly while she regales him with all the tales in her head of damaged, but very human characters clamoring to be heard.

You can learn more about Elizabeth and all of her books at her author page on the Write Integrity Press website: www.WriteIntegrity.com

Mama’s Old Fashioned Homemade Hot Cocoa:

(with marshmallows!)

Ingredients

¼ c. Unsweetened Cocoa Powder

½ c. Granulated Sugar

½ c. Hot Water

¼ t. Salt

3 c. Whole Milk

1 c. Heavy Cream

1 t. Vanilla Extract

Marshmallows (we like the big ones!)

Instructions

1. Mix milk and cream together and set aside.

2. Combine the cocoa, sugar, water, and salt in a medium saucepan. Over medium heat, stir constantly until the mixture comes to a boil, and heat/stir for 1 minute.

3. Reduce heat and add the milk and cream mixture slowly, still stirring constantly. Heat, but do not boil.

4. Remove from the heat and add vanilla. Stir well. 

5. Serve immediately, topped with marshmallows.

12 Books of Christmas: 

You can win a copy of the first book of Elizabeth's Cameron series, IMPERFECT WINGS, as part of our 12 Books of Christmas contest. Leave a comment below with your email address (US residents only). Your email address will also be added to our monthly newsletter list. (Unsubscribe anytime.) While you're commenting, share a memory of a handmade decoration!

12 Books of Christmas: THE MAN CAVE by Cynthia T. Toney

He’d always been a saver. Not of money but of things.

He’d saved broken fixtures, unrecognizable hardware, scraps of wood and plastic and fiberglass, every old nail, bolt, and fastener.

Now he had to save whatever scraps were left of his dignity. An unexpected layoff claimed his good-paying job with bonuses. Who was he without his career—heck, without even a minimum-wage job?

Everyone turned him down, even the home improvement centers where he’d spent much of his time—and money, back when he had some. They didn’t know what an expert in building and maintenance they rejected. “Overqualified,” they said. Sure, he had a good education, but he was more than his degree. He had once helped build a fine house with his own two hands. Not the framework, electrical or plumbing, but a good deal of the interior and exterior, using the finest materials.

Lately he searched the discard piles at those same centers for pieces of two-by-fours, fractions of plywood sheets, and sections of molding too short for most builders to bother with.

When friends heard what he was doing, they searched their garages and attics. Soon he had a door, a window, a ceiling fan. A garage sale turned up a scratched sink. A family member donated some used light fixtures.

He drew up some plans and framed up a small building, using an existing slab where a rusted metal prefab once stood.

The wife spotted a neighbor’s weathered fence boards piled at the street for trash pickup. Placed at a 45-degree angle, they became a contemporary façade for the front door and a hinged window over the counter top, which he tiled from mismatched surplus, politely requested from a local flooring supply.

“What do you need for your building?” was the question from mother, wife, and children when Christmas, birthday, and Father’s Day rolled around. That got him the things he couldn’t find for free or on the clearance tables.

Each weekday morning after his wife left for her workplace, he walked out the back door of their home and traveled the few yards to reach what was now his full-time job. He found peace in the routine. 

“I’m afraid you’ll get depressed,” his wife had said at first. “You aren’t used to having so many hours to fill during the day. I don’t like the idea of you feeling sad or lonely.”

“I don’t want you to think about me while you’re at work,” he’d replied. He pointed to his project. “When I’m busy in there, I’m safe and happy.”

In his little building, he focused his energy, contained his worry, and sheltered his ego. Through hundreds of rejections of his resume, he pursued his endeavor. Each evening, he presented to his wife the small accomplishments of every stage of completion. Together they celebrated them.

The building became the place to go, whether he wanted to relax in solitude or entertain his wife, family, or friends.  It was his own creation, the nonliving thing he was most proud of.

When almost two years had passed, he received a job offer in another state. Of all the changes he had to make to take it, including a permanent move, parting with his man cave was the most difficult.

At Christmas, I look back at that period in our lives and think of that building. It reminds me of Joseph doing the best he could with what he had for Mary and Jesus. And Joseph was a carpenter like my husband.

Joy fills my heart, because God used the man cave to show me the kind of person my husband really is.

About the Author: 

Cynthia is a former advertising designer, marketing director, and interior decorator who holds a BA in art education with a minor in history. While employed by a large daily newspaper, she tried to rewrite some ad copy without permission and got into trouble for it. At that point, she knew she was destined to become an author.

When she’s not cooking Cajun or Italian food, Cynthia writes historical and contemporary teen fiction containing elements of mystery and romance. For more about Cynthia and her books, check out her Author page on our Write Integrity Press website.

And before you go, Cynthia has left a special recipe from her Christmas to yours! Enjoy!

SALMON PATTIES/CAKES

A Recipe (sort of... I don't use measurements) for holiday parties or when you’re tired of turkey and ham.

One can 14-16 oz. Alaskan Pink Salmon,  Drained but not dry
2 Eggs
Milk
Italian Bread Crumbs
Slice of Wheat Bread or some Saltine Crackers (optional...can use less bread crumbs if using either of these)
Zatarain's Fish Fry (or other seasoned cornmeal-based fish fry—Louisiana Fish Fry, Tony Chachere’s, Cajun Injector, Bootsie’s, Cajun King)
Flour
Chopped Bell Pepper (one large)
Chopped Onion, or onion flakes
Garlic, or garlic powder
Celery (optional...would be nice if you have it, but I used celery salt)
NOTE: If you use any saltine crackers or celery salt, DO NOT ADD EXTRA SALT to the patties.)

Mix some flour with a little fish fry to give the flour a pale yellow color, and set aside.  You will use

Cynthia's first book from her Bird Face
series is part of our giveaway! Leave a
comment for your chance to win. And
come back tomorrow for another entry!

this to dredge the patties in.

Pour about a half inch depth of vegetable oil in a frying pan, and have some extra oil ready for adding later.

In a bowl, mix the eggs, salmon, bread crumbs, bread/saltines (optional), a LITTLE  fish fry (Zatarain's is very spicy), the bell pepper, onion, garlic, celery (or celery salt if you like). When all this is mixed well, add enough milk to moisten and allow you to form a meatball in your two hands with the mixture. Test cook a small glob of the mixture in the microwave for 30 seconds to see if you like the taste.

Heat the oil in the pan to medium. Form one meatball at a time and flatten it and coat it with the flour/fish fry mixture. (If you make the patties too big, they will crack.)
Place in pan and continue to form patties, dredge, and fry. Turn each one when bottom looks brown. Lower the heat so that the oil does not begin to burn.
Add more oil before beginning to fry your next batch. (This recipe will make 10 or 12 patties.)
Drain patties on paper towels on large plates or a long pan.

They freeze and reheat well. (and taste even better)
Good with ketchup or tartar sauce.

12 Books of Christmas: 

You can win a copy of Cynthia's YA book, 8 Notes to a Nobody, along with 11 other books (US residents only) by commenting below and leaving your email address for us to add to our monthly newsletter list. (Unsubscribe anytime.) Here's a question you can answer: Grieving losses at Christmas is normal, but have you had a change in your life is stirred up in happy memories, like Cynthia's?

Magnificent Hope Store

We're thrilled and excited to announce the Magnificent Hope store, just in time for Christmas!

Magnificent Hope is such a wonderful part of 2012, and we're happy that she will continue to be with us through merchandise and special appearances all throughout the year. (Shhh ... she's even hosting a Christmas party this year - stay tuned for all the details after Thanksgiving!)

We've added a special blurb on our Zazzle site to tell people what Magnificent Hope is all about:

Magnificent Hope was created as the "Flat Stanley" for Write Integrity Press's virtual book tour during the summer of 2012. Hope Tour 2012 had a three-fold purpose: 1) to promote authors of Write Integrity Press and Pix-N-Pens Publishing, as well as other inspirational authors; 2) to promote awareness of several worthy causes to encourage people to get involved in their own backyards and to be the hands and feet of Jesus wherever we go; 3) to impact the lives of readers worldwide in a positive light, sharing Hope and the message of Jesus in all we do.

Who is Magnificent Hope? Magnificent Hope lives inside each of us, but we must be willing to let God use us however He wishes for her to thrive and be evident to others. Her rainbow hair represents all of us, all over the world, who want to live for Jesus. Her sparkle represents the Holy Spirit living within us. Her actions represent Jesus, and our actions reflect Him. Magnificent Hope also represents all we can be when we allow God’s love to guide our every thought, our every word, our every action. She represents all of the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. 25% of all proceeds will be used to establish the Magnificent Hope Foundation, an organization purposed to help fund, assist, and promote worthy organizations and needs.

So we invite you to drop by our store, and check out the fun merchandise. You'll find Christmas ornaments, postage stamps, mousepads, mugs, t-shirts, aprons, puzzles, skins for your electronics, note cards, greeting cards, calendars, and much more!

Here's the link: 

www.zazzle.com/ourhope

To celebrate, we're having a giveaway. Share the store link (and/or this blog post) on Facebook, Twitter, your blog or website, by e-mail to your friends and family, or post it on any other social network (no spamming please), then send Magnificent Hope an e-mail, magnificenthope [at] yahoo [dot] com, letting her know where you shared it. You'll get an entry for each way you do it.

The winner will receive one Magnificent Hope mouse pad, one Magnificent Hope mug, and a book of their choice (print or digital) from any of our books published this year.

We'll have the drawing next Friday, October 19th.

THANK YOU so much for helping us spread the word!!