Guest Blogger Derinda Babcock

Today I'd like to welcome guest blogger, Derinda Babcock as she shares about her new release, Dodging Destiny.

Back cover blurb

Lexie Logan thought she could run from God . . . and, like the Prophet Jonah, faced a storm of epic proportions.

Lexie knows God has called her to the mission field of Guatemala as a missionary's wife, but she has no intention of obeying. She has her own dreams: she wants to complete a Master's degree program in music and to play violin for the Topeka Symphony Orchestra.

As she waits to speak to an advisor, she pillows her head on her arms in the library of Kansas State University in June 2014, and wakes up in the back of a Conestoga wagon in June 1857, four years before the Civil War. Kansas is not a state, women do not have the vote, and slavery divides the nation. She is taken in by the Bells, who are homesteading in the newly opened territory.

While she lives with this family, God teaches her many things about obedience, trust, faithfulness, and love, but the most important lesson she learns is that there is no place in time or space where she can go to run from God, and that there is nothing that can separate her from His love.

When given a second chance, will she obey though there is risk involved, or will she play it safe and settle for second-best?

Other information:

Dodging Destiny grew out of questions I had about the Prophet Jonah's experiences as he fled God's command to go and warn Israel's enemies of coming judgment. What were the lessons Jonah learned? Does this story have implications for twenty-first century Christians? Did God command Jonah to go to another group after this incident? If so, did Jonah obey the first time, or did he have to re-learn the same lesson? Could these lessons be taught using a different setting and era?

As with all my stories, my intentions are to entertain, encourage, and inspire my readers. I hope they enjoy reading the stories as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Author Bio

Derinda Babcock has been an English Language Acquisition teacher for almost twenty-five years. During this time, she worked with students of all ages and many different linguistic and cultural backgrounds. The richness of this experience lends flavor and voice to the stories she writes. She enjoys historical research and the crafting of entertaining stories written from the Christian world view.

Here's the link to buy Derinda's new book.

http://www.amazon.com/Dodging-Destiny-Derinda-Babcock-ebook/dp/B014I5F25U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1440639581&sr=8-1&keywords=Dodging+Destiny

Welcome Elaine Manders

I'm excited to learn more about my friend, Elaine Manders. We both write for http://stitchesthrutime.blogspot.com.

Welcome, Elaine. How did you develop a 'love of story'?

My love of story began while reading and being read to as a child, the first stories being fairy tales and the Little Golden books. I can remember making up episodes to these stories for me and my friends to “make believe.” Before I began writing, I knew story must do more than perk the interest. It must transport the reader into what’s happening and make him care about what happens next. Because I like a happy ending, I gravitated to romance over the years and learned that story isn’t plot. Everyone knows there’s no new plot under the sun. My debut novella has a Romeo and Juliet plot. The h/h are in love, and a parent stands in the way, but the unique twists and turns the characters take in solving the problem is the essence of story.

I know what you mean about liking happy endings. :)

Where did you get the inspiration for your latest book?Last November I was writing an inspirational suspense to fit Harlequin’s line. Right in the middle, I realized it was going in a direction that wouldn’t fit the publisher’s requirements, so I decided to indy publish my completed western historical romance series. The conventional wisdom told me I needed a prequel to introduce the series and my writing. I began writing a novella as the prequel—only it turned into three novellas. The premise of mail-order brides seemed to fit my western romance perfectly, and by the end of the year, the first drafts were completed. Each time I edited the first one, I felt compelled to edit the other two. As a result, all three were ready for publication at the same time. I’ve decided to promote the Annex Mail-Order Brides one at the time, hopefully, to get as much traction out of them as possible before the main series is published. Adela’s Prairie Suitor is the first novella, so it’s the one I’m concentrating on right now.

You've been busy. How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing?

I pray before writing that I won’t write anything displeasing to God. I don’t put in much actual scripture references in my stories, but I do search the scriptures to keep my characters straight, because they don’t know any more than the average Christian and are always struggling over what’s right and wrong, just as I do.

In other words your characters are 'real'. :) Do you have a favorite scene in your newest release?

I always love to write humorous scenes. My favorite from Adela’s Prairie Suitor is right before Adela and Byron meet. Wanting to make a good first impression, he comes to town dressed in his Sunday best. The antagonist, a spiteful woman named Hilda Jane, stops him on the way to the train station. She asks for help in getting her wagon unstuck. He’s worried about being delayed, but has to help her. Just as he gets the wagon wheel unstuck, Hilda Jane jerks the horse’s bridle, pushing Byron into a puddle full of horse manure. At that moment the train whistle blasts announcing its arrival, so he has to meet his future bride smelling like manure. What makes this funny to me is that Adela has been fretting about having to meet Byron all sooty and smelly from her long train ride.

Oh, that's funny. I love having humor in stories I read... and write. :) What is the genre you write?

Every manuscript I’ve written so far is historical romance with a strong thread of intrigue in the plot. The heroines are all strong, independent women. That’s why I say I write historical romance to inspire and intrigue.

LOL. I hadn't realized we had such similarities in our writing styles. What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

Isaiah 40:31. “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Every time I feel over-whelmed, I recall that verse. If I but wait for the Lord, He’ll strengthen me and make me victorious.

That's a great verse. What do you plan to work on next?

I’m editing a Christmas novella to release in late October. It’s set in 1963, a pivotal year in recent history. Right after Christmas, I’ll be releasing the first long historical novel, Pursued, about a cattle baron who’s pursued by political enemies and a spirit-led librarian.

You definitely are busy. Where can readers connect with you?

https://twitter.com/ehmanders

https://www.facebook.com/elaine.manders.35

elainehmanders@gmail.com

My blog is currently under construction, but when it’s up and running, I hope to have a news list available.

Thanks so much for taking time to be with us today, Elaine. I truly have enjoyed it. Right now through Sunday Adela's Prairie Suitor is available free for download. Here's the link: http://www.amazon.com/Adelas-Prairie-Suitor-Mail-Order-Brides-ebook/dp/B0115QOXL4. Elaine has graciously offered ebooks of 2 and 3 in this series to one lucky commenter. :)

Next week Lillian Duncan will be sharing about her love of story. Don't forget to leave a comment this month to be entered into the drawing for the following. The winner will be picked on August 31.

Love of Story Welcomes Darlene Franklin

 This Wednesday I'd like to welcome multi-author, Darlene Franklin. Can you tell us a little about yourself?

I live and write from a nursing home—so my writing space consists of my bedside table and a library of ebooks. I recently changed nursing homes to be closer to my son’s family. He lives less than two miles away, with his wonderful wife and my four cherished grandchildren. Aside from writing, I read, do word search puzzles, exercise and play bingo for socializing.

That's great that you live so close to family. How much time do you spend researching before you write?

I didn’t think I spent that much time, until my latest project. The book I’m working on now (about tobogganing) took 2-3 days of intensive research. Because it will connect with a series of holiday romances set in Bethlehem, Texas, Loveland, Oklahoma, and Old Glory, Texas, I wanted a town with a Thanksgiving name. It had to be in a state far enough north to have snow in November (for the tobogganing); it had to have some rolling ground, not the flat prairies; and I wanted it in the west, like the other three stories. After a day or two of searching, I found Plymouth, Nebraska. Then I had to study the history of Plymouth to determine a good date for the story: 1871. And on from there.

I love the research part of writing almost as much as I love writing. :) Can you give us a teaser for your new story?

Becky Patterson escapes the stifling life at her father’s parsonage for an exciting life as a mail-order bride. . .only to learn her potential is a part-time preacher, Jake Underwood. Her dreams of working alongside Jake in his store stall when an itinerant preacher wants to ordain him as pastor of the growing church. Will Becky accept God’s calling on her life—or will she reject Jake’s love and the future God has planned for them?

LOL. That's sounds like a lot of potential for fun and conflict and I love mail-order bride stories. Where did you get the inspiration for your latest book?

Jacob’s Christmas Dream is the first book in the Christmas Mail Order Angels series. Mail order brides are a staple theme in historical romance; in this series, a pair of miners want to bring brides to a female-deprived town. With a biblical twist, my hero, Jake, said his father insisted he seek a wife from their hometown in Maine. Becky, my heroine, can’t wait to leave her father’s parsonage to marry a storekeeper.

Chuckle. Sounds like your heroine is in for a big surprise. :) . Do you have a favorite scene in your newest release?

I must say one of the first scenes is my favorite. Jake sends a letter to the Ladies’ Aide Society in Merville. The pastor, Becky’s father, opens it instead, hates the idea and tosses it into the fire. She, however, is very interested, and grabs it out of the flames.

I know you got me hooked to purchase it. What do you plan to work on next?

I am currently working on a sporting-themed novella, Tobogganing for Two, part of the Love’s Sporting Chance series. My heroine is afraid of the sport after her sister was paralyzed after an accident; when they move to Kansas, they meet a doctor who treated a lot of Civil War veterans with amputations. A tobogganing date makes each of them face their fears.

That one sounds good too. :) How did you develop a 'love of story'?

I come by it naturally. My mother loved stories—books and movies. She read to me until I announced I could read myself. I remember the classic Dr. Seuss books and later Nancy Drew but I was in the adult section of the library by the time I was ten or so.

:) Apart from writing, what is your favorite creative outlet?

 

Oh, music. Just this morning, I played piano for the church service at the nursing home where I live. What joy!

What is the farthest place from home that you've traveled?

I went to Spain during my senior year of high school. What a week!

It must have been an incredible trip. If you have a day off, what's your favorite thing to do?

Since I live in a nursing home, I love to get out! My son and grandkids pick me up for a trip to the park, a local restaurant, shopping—my favorite! Or I stay in, leave my room to visit with others more, watch more television, get in touch with old friends. . .

Before we close, how can readers get in touch with you?

https://www.facebook.com/darlene.franklin.3

https://www.facebook.com/Poet.Darlene.Franklin

http://www.amazon.com/Darlene-Franklin/e/B001K8993A

Twitter: @darlenefranklin

Thank you so much for stopping by today, Darlene. If we have five commenters, Darlene said she'll give one lucky person an ebook copy of her newest release. So comment away. :)

Next week, Elaine Manders will be here to tell us about her writing life. Don't forget, any comments for the month of August will also be entered in a drawing for the following:

A Special Welcome to Sammy Tippit

I had the pleasure of meeting Sammy Tippit a few years ago when we were both taking the same writing course. Welcome Sammy! It's great to have you here to discuss your new book and learn a little bit more about you. :) How does your faith and spirituality work in with your writing?

It is at the core of my writing. I am attempting to write fiction that doesn’t just add my faith in the story, but my fiction where faith is at the center of the story.

I can relate to that since I also write fiction. :) How did you develop a 'love of story'?

It began early in my Christian life. I experienced a personal faith in Christ while attending the university and found that following Jesus was an incredibly wonderful adventure. I began writing and speaking about the adventure upon which I had embarked. I developed a style of speaking that included telling stories of the things God had done in my life. When I started writing, it was natural to take the storytelling with me. A few years ago, I started thinking about fiction. I didn’t have any idea how to write fiction, but I knew how to tell a story. Once I learned some of the basics of fiction writing, I found a fun way to share truths through fiction stories. 

That's great, Sammy. When do you fit writing into your day?

I have a crazy schedule, especially when I’m traveling and speaking. I try to find “seasons” to write. During those seasons, I write mostly in the afternoons and edit/write during the mornings.

How long have you've known you're a writer?

I knew I wanted to write in 1985. I had visited Romania and saw the most incredible spiritual revival among people who were suffering for their faith. I was compelled to write their story. I wrote it shortly thereafter. It was published by Moody Press.

That's right, you have a number of nonfiction titles you've written as well. You are a man of many talents. :) You shared that you write Christian inspirational on the nonfiction side and mystery and suspense on the Christian fiction side. Where did you get the inspiration for your latest book?

I’ve been traveling back to city (Baton Rouge, Louisiana) where I grew up during the past few years. My wife’s father passed and her mother became ill. Thus, I found myself needing to travel to Louisiana on a consistent basis.  South Louisiana has a unique culture, and I thought it would be fun to write a series of Christian mystery/suspense thrillers set in Baton Rouge. As I met with some of my high school classmates, I wondered what might happen to someone who had left the city and returned after forty-four years. The story began to take shape in my mind.  Also, I became aware of thousands of young people who are being trafficked in America and thought it would be good to create a story that highlighted human trafficking in America. The story is not about human trafficking. It’s about one man’s search for family, but it highlights trafficking.

I love the cover. What is one thing you hope readers will take away from your story?

The power of forgiveness to heal our deepest hurts and revive our hearts.

Ooh. that's a great theme. What do you plan to work on next?

I will be writing the second book in the Louisiana Family Mystery series. It will highlight cyber crime and continue with the same major characters.

That's wonderful. Where do you get ideas?

Everywhere, everyone I meet.

:) What qualities do you look for in a hero and heroine?

Transparency and authenticity.

What is your favorite Bible verse and why?

Philippians 1:20, 21. Jesus isn’t just a part of my life. He is my life.

Amen. What does your writing space look like?

I love to write in coffee shops. And believe it or not, I write much on airplanes. Because I travel much and no one can contact me on a plane, it’s a great place to write.

I know your speaking ministry has taken you all over the world. What is the farthest place from home that you've traveled?

Siberia.

That's definitely somewhere I've never been. :) Is there something about you most people wouldn’t know?

I am a little reserved.

:) I'm guessing most writers would say the same thing. Where can readers connect with you?

www.sammytippitbooks.com and https://www.facebook.com/sammy.tippit

Thanks again for sharing your life with us, Sammy. Best of wishes with your new release. Next week Darlene Franklin will be sharing. Be sure to leave a comment this month for the chance to win: