Authors and Characters Dream of Christmas Vacations

Do YOU dream of Christmas vacation? As part of our Five Golden Days of Christmas celebration, we asked our authors for their favorite Christmas vacations, and for their characters. We'd love to hear from readers, too, so share yours in the comments!

From Jerusha Agen:

For her character in This Dance: Nowhere. Given the sad memories Nye Sanders has of living in New York City and traveling, she most wants to stay at home in Pennsylvania, enjoying the snow and Christmastime with the family she holds dearer than ever.

For Jerusha: You couldn’t pay me to be away from home at Christmas! Christmas is my favorite time of year, especially because of how beautiful the holiday has always been at my home, with my family. If I could hop a plane and go somewhere before or after Christmas, though, I’d take an expense-paid vacation to Norway.

From Betty Thomason Owens:

For her character, Nancy Sanderson, in Amelia's Legacy: Skiing in the Adirondacks

For Betty: St. Lucia

From Fay Lamb:

For her character, Libby: Tahiti (you can find out why in Charisse - still FREE on Kindle!)

For Fay: Well, I’ve been doing some research on Barbados (for The Love Boat Bachelor). I’ve always had this secret dream of touring the Mount Gay Rum factory (even though I no longer drink), but in watching the videos and viewing the pictures of this island, I’m ready to go there now.

From Elizabeth Noyes:

For her character, TJ McKendrick, in Imperfect Wings: Caribbean Islands

For Elizabeth: Bora Bora

From Julie Arduini:

For Jenna, in Entrusted: Jenna wouldn’t go far because she’s new at the job and loves where she is. Perhaps Lake George.

For Julie: It sounds like I’m marketing but I love Speculator so much I go back there time and time again. I’d love to go back to the place my husband and I stayed at years ago in Lake Placid. If I had to choose somewhere I’ve never been, perhaps Tennessee. Internationally? Italy.

If money and time were no object, 

where would you like to spend your Christmas vacation?

Join more of the Five Golden Days of Christmas here:

Free Kindle Books:

Charisse by Fay Lamb

 

Really Rare Rabbits: Giant Green Ghosts and the Secret at Peppermint Pass by Peggy Cunningham

Participating Blogs:

Tuesday's Blogs:

PNP BLOG: Does Your Nativity Set Have Personality? 

WIP BLOG: Authors and Characters Dream of Christmas Vacations 

Sheryl Holmes BLOG: Give Hope: Dump an Omelet in the Trash

PNP: Cancer Survivor and Mom of Nine Offers Hope All Year Long

WIP: Romantic Suspense Author Living on Faith 

Tracy Ruckman: Christmas at Rumi Rancho

Julie Arduini: The Focus of Christmas

Betty Owens: Authorview: Elizabeth Noyes

Fay Lamb: On the Ledge: A Very Special Mom

Monday's Blogs:

PNP: Writers’ Favorite Christmas Songs

WIP: Writers Play Secret Santa on Characters

Sheryl Holmes: Give Hope: Carry!

PNP: Rare Rabbits in Bolivia

WIP: Just Don’t Take Her Chocolate!

Tracy Ruckman: Romance, Suspense, Cruises, and Retirement: An Author’s Life

Julie Arduini: Christmas Present Memories

Fay Lamb: On the Ledge: Is that All?

Debra Butterfield Interview with Elizabeth Noyes

And be sure to mark your calendar! We're having a Facebook Party on Friday, December 5, and you're invited! We're giving away books, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, a Nativity, gift cards, and more! 

            

Romantic Suspense Author Living on Faith

Today's featured author in our Five Golden Days of Christmas celebration is Fay Lamb. If you've met her at writer's conferences, you'll know she's a treasure, and we're grateful to have her talents, her knowledge, her humor, and her faith here with us at WIP and PNP. She writes under both our imprints - her Ties that Bind romance series, with Charisse, Libby, Hope, and Delilah, is published through Pix-N-Pens, while her Amazing Grace romantic suspense series, with Stalking Willow, Better than Revenge, Everybody's Broken, and Frozen Notes, and her nonfiction The Art of Characterization, are published under Write Integrity. After the first of the year, we'll be releasing the first book, Storms in Serenity, in her newest series, Serenity Keys.

Today, we're giving away Charisse on Kindle! So grab your copy while you can, and be sure to tell your friends.

Here's the description from the back cover of Charisse:

Charisse Wellman’s husband has been gone a year, and she’s about to lose the only home her son, V.J., has ever known. She’s quit law school but the money just isn’t there. Her only option is to work as a law clerk for her ex-friend, Gideon Tabor. The only problem: Gideon is the judge who let her husband’s killer go free, and Gideon doesn’t know the connection.

Gideon Tabor can’t believe that the woman interviewing for the job is the girl he loved in high school. Charisse is hesitant about accepting his job offer, and when she does, Gideon makes every attempt to apologize for his relationship-ending blunder in high school. Charisse accepts his apology, but she keeps him at a distance. When Gideon learns that Charisse’s anger actually stems from his release of the man who ran down her husband, he tries to explain, but Charisse doesn’t want Gideon’s excuses or the love he has to offer. She wants her husband’s killer to pay.

Join more of the Five Golden Days of Christmas here:

Free Kindle Books:

Charisse by Fay Lamb

Really Rare Rabbits: Giant Green Ghosts and the Secret at Peppermint Pass by Peggy Cunningham

Participating Blogs:

Tuesday's Blogs:

PNP: Cancer Survivor and Mom of Nine Offers Hope All Year Long

WIP: Romantic Suspense Author Living on Faith 

Tracy Ruckman: Christmas at Rumi Rancho

Julie Arduini: The Focus of Christmas

Betty Owens: Authorview: Elizabeth Noyes

Fay Lamb: On the Ledge: A Very Special Mom

Monday's Blogs:

PNP: Writers’ Favorite Christmas Songs

WIP: Writers Play Secret Santa on Characters

Sheryl Holmes: Give Hope: Carry!

PNP: Rare Rabbits in Bolivia

WIP: Just Don’t Take Her Chocolate!

Tracy Ruckman: Romance, Suspense, Cruises, and Retirement: An Author’s Life

Julie Arduini: Christmas Present Memories

Fay Lamb: On the Ledge: Is that All?

Debra Butterfield Interview with Elizabeth Noyes

And be sure to mark your calendar! We're having a Facebook Party on Friday, December 5, and you're invited! We're giving away books, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, a Nativity, gift cards, and more! 

            

            

Writers Play Secret Santa on Characters

"Secret Santa" or "Dirty Santa" has been played at Christmas parties for decades. This year, we decided to shake things up a bit and we asked our authors what kind of Secret Santa their protagonists might play on their antagonist.

In Elizabeth Noyes' Imperfect Wings:

"A knuckle sandwich."

In Julie Arduini's Entrusted:

Ben would have no problem recycling and regifting the extra cups from the Memorial Day picnic and giving them to Kyle Swarthmore. Kyle sponsored the community event and made sure his name was all over the products he paid for, and it drove humble Ben crazy. He might fill the cups with candy, but he’d have to think about it.

In Fay Lamb's Libby:

Evan’s antagonist is his abusive father. Evan’s gift cannot be purchased. He’d want to be able to give his dad the ability to go back and live life unharmed by those who were supposed to protect him, so that Nate (his dad) could, in turn, love his wife and four sons in the same protective environment Evan never experienced.

In Betty Thomason Owen's Amelia's Legacy:

“A one-way ticket to the moon.” (Quite a feat in the 1920's, wouldn't you say?)

From Jerusha Agen's This Redeemer:

Charlotte Davis unsuccessfully tried to find the perfect gift for her boyfriend many years. One year, she made a little cowboy hat ornament out of paper and a marshmallow, but it promptly got crushed. She eventually gave up and just bought him a case of beer when she could scrounge up the cash for it. After what Charlotte goes through in This Redeemer, if she could give him anything, she’d give him the best gift of all—a Bible.

If you could play Secret Santa on your archenemy, 

what would you do?

Join more of the Five Golden Days of Christmas here:

Writers’ Favorite Christmas Songs

Sheryl Holmes BLOG: Give Hope: Carry!

Rare Rabbits in Bolivia

Just Don’t Take Her Chocolate!

Romance, Suspense, Cruises, and Retirement: An Author’s Life

Christmas Present Memories

Fay Lamb: On the Ledge: Is that All?

And be sure to mark your calendar! We're having a Facebook Party on Friday, December 5, and you're invited! We're giving away books, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, a Nativity, gift cards, and more! 

            

Just Don’t Take Her Chocolate!

Welcome to our "Five Golden Days" of Christmas celebration here at Write Integrity Press. We're co-hosting this event with our sister press, Pix-N-Pens Publishing. We'll have lots of fun posts on both blogs, on some of our authors' blogs, and even on our publisher's personal blog! (See the full list at the end of each blog post.) So grab come hot cocoa and come join the fun. We'll offer some free books during the week, and on Friday, we're having our annual Facebook Christmas Party, where we'll play some trivia, take reader questions for authors, and give away some party favors - hope to see you there!

Today, we'd like to feature one of our newest authors, Julie Arduini. We released her first book, Entrusted, earlier this month, and the reviews thus far have been delightful.

Here's one of the latest:

"If you enjoy a sweet romance in a quaint village, you'll love Julie Arduini's debut novel. She fills the town with delightful and insightful characters. The story has a good balance of humor, wisdom and love. Buy this book, wrap up in a warm blanket with a cup of tea, and snuggle in for a great read." ~ 5 Stars

From the back cover:

Jenna Anderson, sassy city-girl, plows—literally—into Speculator Falls with a busted GPS, arriving in town as the new senior center director. She has only one goal—that of belonging no matter how out of place she appears and how angry she makes town councilman and grocer Ben Regan.

Her new life is so rural there are no traffic lights, and when she learns her car isn’t equipped to handle the mountain terrain, Ben’s grandmother offers her late husband’s vehicle, further alienating the local businessman.

As she endears herself to the seniors at the center and creates a vision full of ideas, programs, and equipment, she ruffles Ben’s plans to keep Speculator Falls void of change, including the store his grandfather built.

The two work through community events and shared heartbreak only to face off in a town council meeting where Ben publically rejects her proposal for the senior center, causing Jenna to react out of her fears about belonging.

She returns to Ohio where she realizes she needs to surrender her plans for the center and fears about belonging and trust her Heavenly Father when facing fear, change, loss, and love.

If you'd like an autographed copy of the Kindle version, request one at Authorgraph!


Working with Julie has been five stars as well. She's hard-working, agreeable, and has the most delightful outlook on life. She's truly a blessing to all of us. But we've all learned one important thing about her that we must share:

Just Don't Take Her Chocolate!

The woman is a chocoholic, so consider yourself warned.

This afternoon, we'll add some more fun here and on all the blogs, so be sure to pop back in after 3:30 p.m. (Eastern time). And tomorrow, the fun continues!

Join more of the Five Golden Days of Christmas here:

Rare Rabbits in Bolivia  - Today's FREE Kindle book!

Romance, Suspense, Cruises, and Retirement: An Author’s Life

Christmas Present Memories

Fay Lamb: On the Ledge: Is that All?

Be sure to mark your calendar! We're having a Facebook Party on Friday, December 5, and you're invited! We're giving away books, jewelry, Christmas ornaments, a Nativity, gift cards, and more! 

Christmas Invitations by Blog

AND

Call for Submissions: Pens of Mystery

Pix-N-Pens and Write Integrity Press are pleased to announce their newest line of books – Pens of Mystery. We are now accepting submissions for mystery novels between 60,000-90,000 words.

We are open to submissions for a wide range of mysteries, including:

• Cozies 
• Procedurals
• Contemporary PIs
• YA Mysteries

We especially like series of three or more books.

Our books are clean and wholesome, but they can be written with or without a gospel message.

We do not accept horror, paranormal, erotic, or pornographic manuscripts.

Please follow these guidelines for submission:

You may submit your proposals to EITHER (both is not necessary or preferred - we provide two in case of technical difficulty) of the following e-mail addresses. Please replace words in brackets with symbols and delete any spaces:

editor [at] writeintegrity [dot] com

or

tracyruckman [at] pixnpens [dot] com

In the body of your original e-mail to us, please include

• A brief cover letter, to introduce yourself and your book.  
• Full word count (using Word’s counter) if the manuscript is complete, or an estimated time of completion and anticipated word count.
• A short bio.
• Pitch - 30 words or less.
• Long blurb – 150-200 words (think back cover blurb).

Then attach to the email in Word format:

• The FIRST three chapters AND the LAST chapter. If the book has a prologue or epilogue, include those in addition to the required chapters.

Do NOT send full manuscripts unless we request them. Consideration will be given only to packages submitted as requested - full manuscripts that have not been requested will be discarded.

Please follow industry-standard formatting. This means:

• Pages should have 1" margins on all sides.
• Lines should be double-spaced.
• Font should be Times New Roman, size 12.
• Use black ink only - do not use color fonts.

We will try to reply promptly to all submissions, but please allow up to 90 days to hear from us. If you haven't heard from us by that time, please send a brief e-mail inquiry.

We do not accept submissions by snail mail.

Submissions to Pens of Mystery should not include the following:

• Incest of any kind.
• Murder of children; child abuse.
• Vampires, witches, werewolves, paranormals, aliens, future realities, and New Age psychics as protagonists.

These guidelines will also be posted on a separate page of our website - please check the links above for future reference.

Shining in Africa

Shining in Africa

Guest post by Joan Campbell                

“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever” (Daniel 12:3NIV).

My country, South Africa, has a dark past of racism and oppression. This year we celebrate twenty years of democracy. Even though much has changed and improved, overcoming the deep scars of Apartheid has proven more difficult than we could have imagined. Our politics are fraught with corruption. Trade unions incite drawn-out labour strikes that bring our economy to its knees for weeks or months at a time.  One in ten people is HIV positive. The potent mix of poor education, chronic unemployment, and drugs, has led to the dubious ‘honour’ of having one of the highest crime rates in the world.

South Africa often feels like a rather dark place.

At times I have struggled with whether this is a good country in which to raise my daughters. Yet, over the years, God keeps reaffirming that this is just where He wants our family to be. For where there is much darkness, I believe God often provides the greatest light.

We know that Jesus called Himself the ‘light of the world’ (John 8:12 NIV) and rightly so. Yet I find it amazing that He called us—His followers—the light of the world, too (Matthew 5:14). With His Holy Spirit in us, we are to shine whether we are on the tip of Africa, an island in the Pacific Ocean, or a town in America’s mid-west. No matter where He has placed us, we are there for one purpose—to shine out His love and grace. How we do this will be as unique as He created each of us to be. Yet, led by His Spirit and driven by love, we are to reach out and care for those still lost in the dark.  

In my own life, I have found two things that keep me from fulfilling this purpose.

The first is discouragement. This can set in as I listen to news reports highlighting the suffering and anguish around me. How easy sometimes to believe that darkness has the upper hand! The second is indifference. As I see yet another beggar at yet another traffic light, a cool numbness can easily replace compassion.

It is when I sense these two attitudes creeping in that I have to run once more to the feet of my Father. It is only as His light falls afresh into my own heart that I can let it shine again in my city and my beloved country.

~ ~

About Joan:

Joan Campbell lives in Johannesburg and is the mom of two teenage daughters. She has written for various publications including The Upper Room and Scripture Union, and co-authored WIP’s The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt. She is releasing her book Encounters in November 2014. Joan leads writing workshops for the ministry MAI and she blogs on the topics of creativity, self-worth and faith. Download her e-book “10 Keys to Creative Living” when you subscribe to the blog.



Lighting my Corner of the World

Guest post by Deanna Klingel.

How do I let my light shine for the world? That was the question posed to me.

What I decided is, I don’t. At least, not for the world.  

Mother Theresa reminds us we cannot do great things on this earth, but we can do small things with great love. And so it is that I try to light my little corner of the world. For those I can reach, I offer hospitality. For those who hurt me, I can forgive. To those I love, I can shine a light for them to follow.

My hospitable corner must have enough room to invite God the Father with his majesty, God the Son with his abundance of love, the Holy Spirit who brings many gifts. So there isn’t any room in this corner for junk. It all has to go. When the cobwebs are swept, when the trash is out, I light my little light and all who wish to be near can come follow.

All my work is of, for, and in God. I offer my work day to Him, ask Him to bless it and complete it for His use. I don’t worry about getting it done, how many words I’ve written, whether it’s perfect, whether it will sell, or whether it will become a book. I have already given it to His care. When I hear from a reader that my story touched them, or if they just enjoyed it, I say thank you. Then to God, I say Thank You, Amen! It’s then I know that His work through me is a tiny light for someone. Not the whole world. Just someone God loves.

When I’m traveling with my books, my corner is the car. I drive carefully and courteously because God trusts me to do that. I begin my trips with a CD. I pray the rosary and morning prayers and listen to the beautiful music. If it’s a long trip, I might find some music of praise on the radio. But usually, the car is quiet while I listen to what God has to say to me. It’s the best place to listen. Sometimes He prompts me with something I should think about; maybe take an action, or maybe something I should write. I think God is found in silence. If I’m to have a light to shine, I must receive the light in quiet. And travel is a perfect time for peace and quiet.

When I’m meeting people while selling my books, I can see God using me, refining me in surprising ways. The humble Saint Theresa had a small little light that barely chased shadows from Calcutta, but that little light showed the rest of the world that it isn’t how much we do but how much love we put in that action. Following her example into my own little corner, I don’t try to shine a light all over the world, but only that those I meet, those I work with, those I love, or those who need to feel love, will feel God’s love as a result of our encounter that day. And that isn’t something I’m in charge of, really. I’m just in charge of keeping my light shining. I can only say as Mother Mary did, "here I am, Lord." And if my little light shines at all, ever, I can only humbly say, Praise God.

~~

About Deanna:

I was a child in a small town in the 50's. It was a time when kids amused themselves with paper, scissors, magazines, paste, crayons, and books, while listening to the radio. That's when I wrote and illustrated my first books, lacing the pages together with shoe strings. Writing wasn't something I dreamed of doing "when I grow up;" it was something I was already doing. I wrote plays for my classmates, wrote for the school newspapers, yearbook, tons of letters of correspondence with relatives and pen pals. I recently found a yellowed poem I wrote for the Michigan State University newspaper. Don't remember it, but there it is! After I had kids (7) I wrote puppet plays and stories for them, edited school newsletters, and projects, plays and news for Scouts and church. I wrote all the time. I made scrapbooks, diaries and kept journals. I hadn't figured out that I was a writer, or an author. That didn't happen until after the children were grown and I began writing travel books for grandchildren. Then one day it happened. I woke up and said, "I have a story in my head, and I think it wants to be a book. I guess I'll try to write a book."

Visit her personal website at www.booksbydeanna.com.

Cracks in the Ice

  

The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt

Light the Darkness Around You

Guest post by Ruth O'Neil

"And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness 

rather than light, because their deeds were evil" 

(John 3:19 KJV).

This verse may have been written sometime toward the end of the first century, but it is still relevant to us living in the twenty-first century. Maybe even more so.

People are obsessed with the dark. Have you noticed the themes of entertainment lately? Many movies and books are “dark.”

The Christian is commanded to be a light in the dark. In a conversation with other writers, we were commenting that many places where an author can advertise his book are full of other books that are simply filth. At first I didn’t really want to advertise my book in those places because I didn’t want it mixed up with the trash. However, as I thought about it later, and as one of my writing friends commented, that book would stand out because of its light.

Sometimes people make fun of me because of what I won’t watch. I let them have their fun, because my convictions may not be theirs and vice versa. However, I am convinced this is how Satan sneaks into our lives and pulls people way. He makes the dark look inviting and exciting.

That is why I have devoted my life to writing good things. Where there is utter darkness even the smallest of light will be seen. Yes, I could make more money writing things that were more sinfully appealing, but I won’t. I want to be able to stand before God and not have any shame in anything I wrote. I want to meet people that, because of my writing, were led to Christ, or at least deepened their relationship with Him. That kind of success is something money can’t buy.

I challenge you to pray and ask God to open your eyes to the light. Take thirty days and only watch, read, and participate in things that are wholesome. You know – the things that you wouldn’t be embarrassed by if your grandma or your kids were there with you. Take note of your attitude and demeanor after those thirty days. Has anything changed?

I hope so.

~ ~

Ruth O’Neil has been writing for over 20 years. She has published hundreds of articles in numerous publications, including one of the letters in Love Letters from the Heart, published by Pix-N-Pens, and a chapter in the bestselling novella, The Christmas Tree Treasure Hunt, published by Write Integrity Press. She has also published a cookbook for kids and a novel Come Eat at My Table. She homeschools her three children (well, one now really, as two have graduated). She and her husband have been married for 20+ years. In her spare time she enjoys quilting, crafting, and reading.

The Art of Characterization

The Art of Characterization How to Use the Elements of Storytelling to Connect Readers to an Unforgettable Cast by Fay Lamb
Put on your director’s cap and prepare to set your story world’s stage with memorable scenes and unforgettable characters. Great storytelling isn’t done haphazardly. Storytelling is an art which requires practice to master. In The Art of Characterization authors are shown elements of storytelling which, when practiced correctly, utilizes forward–moving description and back story, deep point of view, dialogue, and conflict to create a cast of characters readers will never forget. Available in print from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and by request at your local bookstore.
Also available on Kindle. 

Valentine Memory: He Didn't Forget!

A Dozen Apologies is FREE this weekend. Get your copy now!

Our authors continue to share their romantic moments with us. Today's guest is Debbie Roome.

I was a gawky teenager – so skinny that I looked almost anorexic – and at a girls only high school. Valentine’s Day was always a mixture of emotion for me. I hoped and longed for a card to arrive in the letter box or be slipped under the front door. By sunset on the 14^th February each year, the hope slowly transformed into sadness and rejection. No one would ever love me – or so I thought.

Then I met Kevin and on the 1^st February 1986 we married. Two weeks later, the usual anticipation arose as I got up, dressed, and packed some lunch for work. Would he have remembered? I looked on the dining room table, checked under my pillow and by the telephone. Nothing.

 

Kevin came out of the bathroom and gave me a big hug. “Have a good day, see you later,” he said.

I nodded squeezing him back, trying to stifle the disappointment. He disappeared out the door and I headed for the bathroom to brush my teeth. A large cream envelope was propped up by the taps, my name written in flowing script across it.

Wow! He didn’t forget!

I opened it carefully and found a beautiful card, covered in red hearts and gold swirls, with a lovely romantic message inside. It was a moment of pure joy and healing, and one I will never forget.

About the Author:

Debbie Roome was born and raised in Zimbabwe and later spent fifteen years in South Africa. In 2006 she moved to New Zealand with her husband and five children. Writing has been her passion since the age of six and she loves to write stories that touch people's lives and turn them towards God. Over the years she has won many awards and trophies for her work, including placing first in the Rose & Crown Novel Writing Competition in 2009 and 2012. In 2013, her novel, Contagious Hope was a finalist for the Australasian CALEB Award. Debbie's writing has opened doors for public speaking and she is often asked to share her life story and her experiences as a writer. Her books are available through all the major online booksellers and titles include Embracing Change, Contagious Hope, Magnitude 7.1 & 6.3, Cyber-Bullying is Never Alright, and Loving Leanne. Fly with Me is due for release in March 2014. She also has a number of ebooks available through Amazon.com.

Connect with Debbie on the Web:

Blog

Website

Other Romantic Moments:

A Romance Writer's Anniversary

My Sweetest Non-Valentine Moment
Romance on Thanksgiving
The Valentine Gift that Can't Be Topped
Wrapped in an Unforgettable Memory
One Romantic Weekend

Exciting Announcement!

Now that the voting is over, we're spotlighting the authors of each chapter and revealing who created each hero. Check out the author spotlights on Fay Lamb's blog every day for the next two weeks. 

Author Spotlight: Jennifer Hallmark

Author Spotlight: Theresa Anderson

Author Spotlight: Debbie Roome

Author Spotlight: Marji Laine

Author Spotlight: Phee Paradise

Author Spotlight: Betty Owens

Author Spotlight: Paulette Harris

Bonus Blogs:

Jennifer Hallmark on Delighted Meditations "Chicken House Fire"
Phee Paradise "Where My Treasure Is"
Marji Laine "Heroes and Romance"
Jennifer Hallmark at the Borrowed Book "Finding Time to Write"
Riley Tompkins Interviews Mara's Parents Cara and Dane Adkins
Tracy Ruckman is interviewed at Author Culture