The Perfect Present by Patti Jo Moore

Merry Christmas, my friends! Many of us are amazed at how quickly this year has flown, and now we find ourselves in the Christmas season again. You’re likely being bombarded with all the ads vying for your attention—many of those ads claiming they have “the perfect present” for someone on your shopping list.

With all the talk of shopping and presents, I was recently reflecting (aka procrastinating) 😉 and mused how the word PRESENT (as in gift) might relate to a writer at this time of year. So I jotted a list that I wanted to share with you, using each letter of the word PRESENT to relate to a writer.

P - Pray – this is what I try to do before beginning my writing—especially if I’m starting a new project or adding a scene to a story. Beginning that time in prayer keeps me focused on WHO my work is for.

R - Read – I know we’ve all heard that to be a good writer, you need to read. So true! Not just reading in our preferred genre, but in other genres as well.

E - Encourage – Think of how you’ve benefitted from someone else’s encouraging words, and try to be an encouragement to someone. As that oft-used phrase tells us, pay it forward. 😊 A simple word of encouragement (or a good book review!) might be exactly what someone needs that day.

S - Share – Do you know of someone who needs help during the Christmas season? Maybe you could share your talents with them. Gifts and food, lending a helping hand, and sharing the gift of your time might be priceless to another person (especially someone lonely or grieving). Sharing books is always nice, too!

E - Enjoy – Please don’t miss the beauty of this Christmas season, wherever you live. Whether you’re surrounded by a gorgeous, snowy scene, palm trees and a beach, or city buildings, there is beauty. Don’t miss the twinkling lights, the beautiful music, and the excited wonder on a child’s face. Who knows? Some of those details might find their way into one of your stories.

N - Naps – Okay, maybe you’re not in the habit of taking naps, but my point is we need to take care of our health during this busy season. No matter how long your To-Do list is or if you’re racing to make a writing deadline, please don’t neglect your health!

T - Thankful – Most important of all, may we be thankful for the Perfect Present sent to us by God, on that very first Christmas so many, many years ago. May we have thankful hearts that He loves us unconditionally, and gave His life for each of us. May we also be thankful for this writing journey we’re on! Have a very blessed Christmas!

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

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Sadie's Dream

In a coastal Georgia town in 1900, a young woman prepares to serve as a missionary in Africa.

After being jilted the previous year, she's certain she's meant to remain single.

When she meets a handsome businessman from Savannah, she begins struggling with doubts.

Over time she learns that the Lord's plans are best, and dreams really can come true.

Patti Jo Moore is a retired kindergarten teacher and lifelong Georgia girl. She loves Jesus, her family, cats, and coffee, and is blessed to be published with Forget-Me-Not Romances. When she’s not spending time with her family (including her sweet grandbaby) or writing her “Sweet, Southern Stories” Patti Jo can be found feeding cats—her own six and local strays.

She loves connecting with readers and other writers, and can be found on Facebook at Author Patti Jo Moore or her personal blog at http://catmomscorner.blogspot.com

Merry Christmas by Terri Weldon

It’s almost midnight and I should have been writing this post weeks ago. Instead I’ve been running around shopping, meeting friends, decorating, reading books and watching way too many Hallmark movies!

It’s all too easy to get so busy that we forget why we’re doing all this celebrating. Jesus came to earth as a baby. He left His throne in heaven to live a human life without sin so that ultimately He could bear our sins.

When I think of that incredible gift my Christmas list full of things I don’t even need seems pretty insignificant. And the gifts I can offer others pale by comparison. 

I pray this Christmas that you’ll find a quiet place, take a few minutes, and focus on God’s gift to us. Then with a heart full of peace, enjoy your time with family and friends.

How do you stay focused on the true meaning of Christmas? Do you enjoy the holidays or find them overwhelming?

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Mistletoe Magic

 

Misty Winslow is determined to find her prince, and she meets the man of her dreams through an Internet dating service. Or is he, because the new dentist in town also sets her heart aflutter. It's love at first sight for Tyler Davenport, but before he can finish his first root canal, Misty is involved in an exclusive online romance with Wes99—Tyler's online persona. How can he tell her he's the man she's been waiting to meet, and how rational is it for him to be jealous of Wes99! Soon Tyler's pulling out all the stops to woo Misty. As Christmas approaches, Wes99 and Tyler both ask her to meet them under the mistletoe. Which man will she choose?

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The Christmas Bride Wore Boots

Pastor Jacob Thompson is in need of a director for the living nativity program and veterinarian Molly Kincaid offers to take on the job. The task involves far more than Molly bargained for, nonetheless she’d do anything to help out the man she secretly loves – even sew costumes or cast eight-year-old Wesley Simpson as an angel.

Jacob’s daughter Emma longs to have a mommy of her own, but the widowed pastor has vowed to never remarry, and isn’t ready to open his heart to love again. Molly dreams of filling the void in both their lives, but fears she lacks the necessary qualities to be a pastor’s wife.

As Molly and Jacob work together on the living nativity, their feelings for one another grow. Will Molly realize she is just what Jacob and Emma need in their lives? Can Jacob be released from his grief stricken promise? Could this unlikely duo prove to be a match made in heaven?
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Terri Weldon enjoys traveling, gardening, reading, and shopping for shoes. One of her favorite pastimes is volunteering as the librarian at her church. It allows her to shop for books and spend someone else’s money! Plus, she has the great joy of introducing people to Christian fiction. She lives with her family in the Heartland of the United States. Terri has two adorable Westies – Crosby and Nolly Grace. Terri is a member of ACFW and RWA.

Readers can connect with Terri: Website: www.TerriWeldon.com or Blog: Seriously Write

More than a Love Story by Angela Ruth Strong

There was a time when I quit writing romance. My happily-ever-after had ended, and I felt like love stories were nothing more than fairytales.

This was about ten years ago, right after my sister’s wedding. She got married, and I got divorced. It’s hard to be around happy couples when you’re all alone, so I went and bought myself a ring. It was a simple platinum band engraved with the words “Unconditionally Loved.”

Fast forward ten years. I’m now remarried, and my sister’s going through a divorce. She worked hard to try to save her marriage, and she’s devastated. Today is her birthday, and she doesn’t feel much like celebrating.

As a gift, I wrapped my “Unconditionally Loved” ring.

I never imagined anyone else would ever wear this band, but as I thought about what to get her and what I’d needed when I was in her shoes, I realized I already had the perfect gift. A symbol of God’s never-ending love.

This is the same reason I write love stories again—as a symbol of God’s never-ending love. There are a lot of romance novels out there, but they can’t be love stories without God because God is love. I don’t want to write fairytales, I want to write novels that help women make wise decisions and avoid the heartbreak both my sister and I have gone through.

Wherever you’re at this Valentine’s, I want you to know you are unconditionally loved. This love may not come from the person you want it to come from, and you may not even feel like you deserve it, but that doesn’t matter. You are loved, and accepting the fact will change your life.

This is the lesson my main character learns in my latest novel, Finding Love in Eureka, thanks to the powerful bond she has with her sister. Rosie supports Genevieve and helps her find her way back to her first love—Christ.

This is the love story my own sister needs right now. This is the love story we are all looking for. May it be your story this Valentine’s Day.

How has God shown you he loves you lately?

Raised in a family of six adopted siblings, Genevieve Wilson fights to keep her dysfunctional brothers and sisters together, but everyone still seems to leave. If she’s not good enough to prevent her birth parents from giving her up or her siblings from abandoning her, then there’s no way she would ever be enough to have a lasting relationship with the successful pilot from work—which is exactly what makes him a safe subject for her daydreams.

Matt Lake is dating the perfect woman and working a great job. Life is easy until he starts to enjoy hanging out with the airline employees more than with his girlfriend—one employee in particular. He tells himself he’s only intrigued by Gen’s quirkiness, but nobody else makes him smile the way she does.

Can Matt give up the flawless life he’d planned in exchange for the messiness of love? And if so, will Gen risk her heart on reality when it’s never paid off in the past? 
 

Angela Ruth Strong lives in Idaho with her hubby and teenagers. Besides writing, she works at an airline and teaches yoga because she'd rather get paid for her hobbies than actually work. That doesn't mean writing is easy, but her readers are worth it. Her books have won both Idaho Top Author and the Cascade Award, and she's had her novels selected as TOP PICK for Romantic Times. She also started IDAhope Writers to encourage other aspiring authors along their journey. She'd love to hear about your journey as well, so feel free to drop her a line at angelaruthstrong@gmail.com.

Web and Social Media:

www.angelaruthstrong.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1557213161269220/

https://twitter.com/AngelaRStrong

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Finding-Love-Eureka-California-Resort-ebook/dp/B078HSC3NV/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1518064026&sr=8-1&keywords=finding+love+in+eureka

https://www.christianbook.com/finding-love-in-eureka-california/angela-strong/9781943959426/pd/959420?product_redirect=1&Ntt=959420&item_code=&Ntk=keywords&event=ESRCP

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/finding-love-in-eureka-california-angela-ruth-strong/1127874053?ean=9781943959426
 

Your Perfect Gift by Susan Tuttle

It’s December 1^st. How many of you are already finished with your Christmas shopping? Not me! I have started, but I’ve a long ways to go. But I LOVE buying and giving gifts, so I tend to string out this season as long as I can. Anyone else?

As I started to write this post, that one word immediately pushed to my mind: gift. What is a gift? It’s something the giver choses to give with no strings attached. It’s meant to suit the person who receives it and impact their life in a positive way. It’s meant to bring joy. To be helpful. To bless. Gifts are an amazing thing. And each one of you here has gift you’ve received, but it’s also one you’re meant to give.

God has given you the gift of writing. It comes in all shapes and sizes because WE come in different shapes and sizes, but make no mistake; God has given you this gift to share. I think of 1 Peter 4:10. God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve others.

Our writing can be a solitary thing at times, but it’s not meant to be kept in solitude. Oh sure, there’s always going to be those pieces that should live eternally in our desk drawer, but as we grow as writers those pieces should become fewer and farther between. We need to trust the gift God gave us and put our work out there, because it’s meant to serve others. This gift he’s given should impact people for him—and you don’t need to be on the New York Times Bestseller list to do that or have a million blog followers.

Whether you write a short story, an article, a Facebook post, or even a Christmas card…whatever God lays on your heart, in any shape or size, share it. Words are your gift, and gifts are meant to be given. So this season I encourage you to hand out as much of your gift as you can and serve (and bless) others with the love of Christ.

Merry Christmas, friends!

Susan L. Tuttle lives in Michigan where she’s happily married to her best friend and is a homeschooling mom of three. She’s firmly convinced that letters were meant for words, not math, and loves stringing them together into stories that inspire, encourage, and grow women into who God created them to be. Romance, laughter, and cookies are three of her favorite things, though not always in that order. You can connect with Susan at her blog, Steps, Facebook, or Twitter.