Blah-Blah About My So-Called Career

Well, within the last month or so I have queried four agents. No response, except one of them did promise to review my proposal. So that is something. I haven’t been out and out rejected so I guess anything could happen. I do worry that with the economy as it is, that agents may be wary of taking on new clients and the publishers will not be as open to unpublished authors. I can only hope that someone will see something in this novella and believe it is worthy of seeing the light of day.

This novella isn’t like most of what is out there. That can be both good and bad, I guess. Good, that it is unique. Bad, that it may not be what an audience is accustomed to. It is nothing epic or outstanding. The description isn’t flowery or lengthy and the dialog isn’t anything remarkable. There are no villains, evil or hatred to overcome or great moral lessons to learn. The best way I can describe it is that it’s a simple, little historical romance based in 1915 and set in a tiny town in Indiana. The Christian market has published thousands of books exactly like this, so I originally thought it would fit right in. I still think it would; only now I see it is not going to be as easy as I had assumed. Well, when you assume, you make an a-- out of you and me. I am so good at doing that.

I suppose a month is nothing and that I ought to be patient. In the meantime, the current story I am working on is going well. I completed chapter six the other day. I average about two chapters a week. I’m not like most authors who can write for eight-hour days. Four hours is my maximum. There are other things that I must do during the day, so my life doesn’t revolve around writing.

That is all that is going on in regards to my career. Ta-ta!

“Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana,” by Melanie Dobson: Book of the Month

About the Author:
Melanie Dobson is the author of four novels and has a background in publicity and journalism. She grew up in a small Ohio town but now lives with her husband and two daughters in Oregon.
Read more about Melanie Dobson at www.melaniedobson.com




About the Book:
In a divided town during a dangerous era, who can be trusted?
Liberty, Indiana, is home to a stop on the Underground Railroad operated by Quaker abolitionists Anna Brent and her father. Harboring runaway slaves is a dangerous mission; anyone caught aiding them is subject to imprisonment. When Anna’s secret work is threatened, can she turn to the handsome yet outspoken Daniel Stanton, Liberty’s newspaper editor to ensure the safety of the runaways so dear to her? Will she and Daniel risk everything for their beliefs- including their personal liberty?


My Thoughts:
I knew that I would like this book from the moment I heard about it. Of course I was a little biased; finally a novel set in my beloved state! And then when I discovered that it was about the Underground Railroad, I was excited. I was certain that this book was going to stand out from all the others in the series and it did not disappoint me. For any Civil War or Underground Railroad enthusiast, or a lover of Indiana, this book is for you!

“How Do I Love Thee?” by Nancy Moser (July 2009 Featured Book!)

Book Description:
A novel of Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s poetic romance.
She dreams of love for others, but never for herself…
Elizabeth Barret is a published poet- and a virtual prisoner in her own home. Blind family loyalty ties her to a tyrannical father who forbids any of his children to marry. Bedridden by chronic illness, she has resigned herself to simply existing. That is until the letter arrives…
“I love your verses with all my heart,” writes Robert Browning, an admiring fellow poet. As friendly correspondence gives way to something more, Elizabeth discovers that Robert’s love is not for her poetry alone. Might God grand her more than mere existence? And will she risk defying her father in pursuit of true happiness?




Author Bio:
Nancy Moser is the best-selling author of twenty novels, including “Just Jane,” the Christy Award-winning Time Lottery, and the “Sister Circle” series co-authored with Campus Crusade co-founder Vonette Bright. Nancy has been married thirty-three years. She and her husband have three grown children and live in the Midwest. She loves history, has traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in various theaters, symphonies, and choirs.




My Thoughts:
I was first introduced to Elizabeth Barret Browning’s poetry when I was in high school, first in English lit and then again by a secret pal who gave me a book of her works. At that season of my life I didn’t really enjoy the classics, but Elizabeth’s poems were different. Though they weren’t too complicated but they still contained a vast deal of passion. I didn’t know much about the author’s private life beside the author bio in the book. So when I heard that Nancy Moser was coming out with a book on Barret Browning’s life, I was excited. I hadn’t known what “Ba” went through as a writer and a woman trapped by illness. Most of all she had to follow the plan that God had for her, even though it contradicted the plan her father had for her. True love triumphs in the end.

The House in Grosvenor Square by Linore Rose Burkard

About the Book:
As Ariana Forsythe plans her wedding to Phillip Mornay, she must adjust to the realization that she is soon to become the wife of an extremely wealthy man. She wonders if it’s wrong to rejoice that her future husband is rich. But she promises herself to use her new position to do what she can to aid the numerous street waifs she sees all too often in London.
During a tour of her future home—the house in Grosvenor Square—Ariana makes plans to redecorate according to her tastes. But when Phillip arrives home later, he is informed that an expensive silver candlestick and a miniature portrait of George III have gone missing. Moreover, each time Ariana visits the house, accompanied by a friend or relation, another item disappears.
Shortly thereafter Ariana is abducted as she leaves a performance at Covent Garden Theatre, leaving Phillip to unravel the pieces of the mystery. Where has his future bride been taken, and by whom? For what reason? How does Ariana’s faith play a role?
Finally, after the safe return of his intended, how does Phillip—a man of intense discrimination in his tastes—find the many alterations in his house? And what on earth is behind the sudden influx of bills from every charity in London, all thanking him profusely for his uncommon generosity? Will he have second thoughts about his future bride?




About the Author:
Linore Rose Burkard creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the Regency England era (circa 1800 - 1830). Ms. Burkard's novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy a romance that reminds you happy endings are possible for everyone.

My Thoughts:
While I liked “Before the Season Ends,” I think I like “The House in Grosvenor Square,” even better. I thought that Ariana and Phillip’s relationship progressed well, and was amazed at how his character did such a transformation after coming to Christ. What I have noticed about many male characters in Christian fiction, is that after they come to Christ they tend to get a bit bland or cliché. Phillip didn’t come across that way though, he is quite intriguing and realistic. Ariana isn’t the same either; she started out as an innocent, wide-eyed young girl and has become a wise, godly woman.
From what I have heard, the third book – “The Country House Courtship,” premiering in 2010- in the series is switching gears and focusing on a new couple. I’m going to miss Ariana and Phillip, but am curious about this new romance that will be blooming.

"The Inheritance" by Tamera Alexander

Product Description
An unexpected inheritance. An unknown future. An unending love.

Determined to tame her younger brother's rebellious streak, McKenna Ashford accepts her cousin's invitation to move west and to begin again. But she quickly discovers that life in Copper Creek, Colorado is far from what she expected. Shouldering burdens beyond her years, McKenna tries to be the parent Robert needs, instead of the older sister he resents. But an "untimely inheritance" challenges her resolve at every turn, while also offering a second chance to restore her trust--and perhaps even her heart.
U.S. Marshal Wyatt Caradon is dedicated to bringing fugitives to justice, yet years of living on the trail have taken their toll. When his path intersects with that of McKenna, he comes face-to-face with a past he never wanted to relive--and the one woman who can help him find the future he's been longing for.
As McKenna struggles to let go of her independence and Wyatt considers opening his heart again, they discover an inheritance beyond imagination. But it will come at a price.



About the Author
Tamera Alexander is a bestselling novelist whose deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose resonate with readers. Having lived in Colorado for seventeen years, she and her husband now make their home in Tennessee, where they enjoy life with their two college-age children and a Silky named Jack.
Visit her website at: www.tameraalexander.com
And her blog at: tameraalexander.blogspot.com

My Thoughts
This is my first Tamera Alexander book, but I know for a fact it won’t be my last. When I’m able I plan to read her other works. McKenna is a strong, independent woman of faith in a difficult situation. What caught my attention the most was her relationship with her brother Robert. It seems as though she is in a lose-lose situation. She can’t very well abandon him in his greatest time of need, but when she mothers him too much he only rebels more. The romance between her and Wyatt, while expected it is also adorable. And her unique friendship with Chin Mei, a Chinese woman, only adds to the story. I certainly hope that this book will have a sequel.

"Paper Roses" by Amanda Cabot

Product Description:
Her future stretched out like the clear blue Texas sky. But a storm is coming. Leaving the past behind in Philadelphia, mail-order bride Sarah Dobbs arrives in San Antonio ready to greet her groom--a man she has never met but whose letters, her paper roses, have won her heart from afar. But there is a problem--Austin Canfield is dead, and Sarah cannot go back East. As Sarah tries to reconcile herself to a future that is drastically changed, Austin's brother Clay wants nothing more than to shake the Texas dust from his boots, but first he must find his brother's killer. And then there's Sarah. Something is blooming out in the vast Texas landscape that neither Clay nor Sarah is ready to admit, and the promise of redemption blows like a gentle breeze through the prairie grasses. Book 1 of the Texas Dreams series, Paper Roses will sweep you away with a tale of love, loss, and tantalizing possibilities.
But it at www.amazon.com!



Author Bio:
Amanda Cabot is an accomplished author under various pen names. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America, the co-founder of its New Jersey chapter, and an avid traveler.
Her website: www.amandacabot.com


My Thoughts:“Paper Roses” was anything but the typical romance story. By the cover I expected a simple little love story, but this tale is twisted with mystery, murder but most of all- redemption. Usually in Christian fiction, one of the main characters is a believer, but neither Sarah nor Clay has a personal relationship with Christ. In fact, they ignore Him. In time they do come to Him and admit their feelings for each other. The one part that I liked most about this story was that even though Clay was a widower, he wasn’t harsh or uncaring as most widowers are portrayed. Yes, he is bitter and overcome with grief at the loss of his wife, but he isn’t without a heart. I eagerly look forward to “Toward the Sunrise,” the second book in the series which will debut in January 2010.