I Don’t Have Time to Write by Angela Arndt

Smartphone games

I see you. You’re nodding and saying, “See? Someone finally understands. I’ve got to take the kids to school, go to work, pick them up in the afternoon, help with homework, cook dinner, wash dishes, put them to bed, then fall into bed myself. I’m so glad someone finally understands.”

Ahem. Wrong. You know there’s a story rattling around in your head. But writing is not a one-of-these-days concept. Someday will never come.

But you do have bits and pieces of time you can use so you can start writing today. How? Here are a few suggestions to help you find time:
Time-Wasters
Instead of playing Candy Crush, Solitaire, or Words with Friends, (you knew I'd start here) jot down a few ideas in an email and send it to yourself with the subject line: WIP. (Just using the acronym for “work-in-progress” feels writerly, doesn’t it?)

Time-Theft
On-hold with the insurance company, Department of Motor Vehicles, or doctor’s office? Close your eyes and imagine your opening scene: your hero or heroine in an action scene that will leave your readers wanting more. 
Jot down a few notes: what did you see, smell, touch, feel or even taste? After you hang-up, quickly use your phone’s voice recorder app to describe the scene in detail. Then, save the audio file to your WIP file. 

Bonus: use Apple Dictation and Google Docs Voice Typing to save time (they will transcribe as you dictate).

Taking Back More Time
Designate one spiral-bound notebook for your WIP notes and take it everywhere: from the doctor’s office, back to the exam room. If you’re blessed with “flying thumbs,” then open the text app on your phone and write away. There at least two multi-published authors who have written their ENTIRE BOOK on their phones. Honestly.

Someone forgot their notebook.

Dream Download
Speaking of having a notebook with you at all times, here’s another tip: keep it by your bed. Why?

 A professor I had (a Rhodes Scholar) said our brains continue to wrestle with our problems while we sleep. Have you ever woken up at 3 a.m. with a great idea? That’s your brain’s background processes at work. 

Use the light from your smartphone or a small book light to jot down the highlights of the dream in your notebook so you can read it in the morning. Or if you can talk without slurring or waking your spouse, use your speech-to-text app.

Bonus
Keep all those WIP emails in one place by setting up smart folders and filters in your email program. Use Share command to save voice memos to that folder.

Excuses, Excuses!
Waiting for the perfect time to sit for hours at a time in your local coffee shop is an excuse. Instead, grab every moment you can and write, write, write!

Next week I’ll talk about specific apps and programs that can help you take back time.

Where have you found time to write? What’s keeping you from writing the next Great American Novel?

About the Author

Angela Arndt

 Angela Arndt is Jesus-follower and God-lover. She loves to write women’s fiction with a thread of romance and tell stories of strong, independent women in difficult situations. Her biggest hope is that she will encourage others to overcome their own “back roads” to find their joy in the Lord.


She and her husband, Charles, live on a bee farm in the middle of a big wood with their three furbabies: Beau, Harley, and Buddy the Wonder Dog.


She's also team-member of Seriously Write. Click here for more posts by Angie. By the way, she'd love for you to join her on her website, Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook. 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Laura V. Hilton

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month and you will see PINK popping up everywhere.

From Walmart, where employees who pledge to breast cancer treatment are allowed to wear pink to Lands End who has a special pink line that donates to the cause.

Last month, headlines were made when an actress tweeted that she has breast cancer. She made headlines. But many women are diagnosed every day who don’t.

My Story

In July of 2008, I was doing my routine breast exam and I noticed a lump. Since I was nursing, I ignored it, thinking it was normal. But a month later, the lump was large enough to misshapen my breast.

I still ignored it, thinking it would return to normal. But by September, my husband was worried, so I made an appointment to see the nurse practitioner. “Yep, there’s a lump,” she agreed.

I requested a prescription for antibiotics thinking it was an infection. So when she suggested a mammogram, I argued.

She won, so I went to have a mammogram. My very first one.

When they saw the results, they ordered an ultrasound and I began to cry.

After that test, they referred me back to my doctor who performed a biopsy. He said it looked like an infected milk gland. YES. Point to me for correctly diagnosing myself. I thought. 

He still refused to prescribe antibiotics. “We’ll just wait and see,” he said.

When the results came back, I went to the office alone. As I prayed in the waiting room, God assured me that everything would be okay.

But It Wasn’t

“In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, ‘This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.’” Isaiah 38:1

“You have cancer. I’m taking your breast.” The doctor’s words shocked me. Up until that point, I was still sure it was an infection.

Things went very fast after that. Whisk, bang, boom. I was back in the hospital where the same doctor performed my mastectomy. 

But the whole situation blindsided me. Young nursing moms don’t have a mastectomy. Mothers of five can’t get cancer.

Like Hezekiah, I cried out.

All In

“Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, ‘Remember Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.’ And Hezekiah wept bitterly.” Isaiah 38:2-3

I promised God at that point that my life that my writing and everything else was totally and completely His. Now, I belong to a church that does not lay hands on its members, but they did lay hands on me. And they prayed. I felt God’s presence, I felt His touch.

When the oncologist said my lymph nodes were clear, he still recommended chemo and radiation. I didn’t understand it. It hadn’t spread, what is the point? As he patiently explained that it would kill any other cancer cells in my body, he reminded me that I wanted to see my sweet little girl grow up.

I saw his point. I wanted to be there for my husband and my four other children, as well.

A fellow author who had survived breast cancer encouraged me to fight cancer with everything I had. When I read her main character had donated her hair to locks of love as a token punch to the disease. I did it, too.

Another survivor said I should drink lots of water. A gallon a day. So I did. Whether it was the water or God, I didn’t get sick in that first round. My blood counts stayed normal and I was able to function. All good since I still had five children to care for.

But when I started chemo, my hair started falling out. I asked my husband to shave my head and he cried as he did it. He said it was the hardest thing he’d ever done in his life.

Stage Two

The oncologist ordered six weeks of radiation. Compared to chemo, this was a walk in the park. The hardest part was getting marked up for it. I was seriously getting seasick on that twirling “bed.”

Soon it was time for three more chemo treatments. The oncologist promised I wouldn’t lose my hair or get sick this time.

He lied.

All my hair fell off this time, even my eyebrows and lashes. I got so sick. 

I Thought I Was Going to Die

“Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: ‘Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life.” Isaiah 38:4-5

But I didn’t. In fact, the oncologist thought I handled it well. So I shared my testimony and I told him it was all God. He wasn’t a believer, but perhaps I’d planted a seed.

Next Steps

If you are going through breast cancer, my prayers are with you. And if you aren’t, remember don’t let a little lump become big. And whenever you see pink, remember to get your mammogram!

About the Author

Award-winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom, and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015.

See below for information on Laura's latest, The Christmas Admirer. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Laura_V_Hilton or @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

The Christmas Admirer

The Christmas Admirer
by Laura V. HIlton

by Laura V. Hilton

Benaiah Troyer has loved Susanna King for as long as he can remember, but other than a lone summer filled with romantic buggy rides, marrying her remains an elusive dream. When his parents died in an accident a year ago, he broke up with her—for her own good. After all, they left him as the sole caregiver for his three younger sisters and his grandparents. What woman wants to step into a ready-made family like his? Still, he leaves her monthly gifts from “A Secret Admirer,” hoping she’ll know that someone loves her, even though he isn’t free to step forward.

Susanna has never gotten over losing Benaiah, and hopes he’s her secret admirer, but now the clock is ticking. Susanna’s father is remarrying in January and his wife-to-be doesn’t want to leave her Amish community and family in Iowa. So when Susanna’s daed sells his glass-blowing business to his right-hand man, Benaiah, she’s left with three options: 1) Go with Daed to his new home with a new frau and step-kinner, 2) Flush out her mysterious secret admirer, or 3) Resign herself to life as an old maid. She doesn’t want to follow Daed where his new frau is leading him. And number three isn’t happening. Marrying Benaiah is her greatest desire—but he broke her heart, and now he treats her like a pesky younger sister. Can she make him see her as a woman, one who could stand by his side as he cares for his family?

As Christmas approaches, Susanna and her friends start making gingerbread houses for select members of the community. Susanna plans for hers to go to Benaiah’s family. But while her gingerbread may find a home—will her heart?

For more posts by Laura V. Hilton, click here.

Social Media, Marketing & Branding Basics Part 2, Marketing Your Novel by DiAnn Mills

DiAnn Mills

We're so excited to have Edie Melson and DiAnn Mills on Seriously Write with this three-day series. Be sure to read yesterday's post by Edie Melson and come back tomorrow for a post by both ladies called (appropriately), The Experts Weigh In. - Angie

We writers embrace words, brainstorming sessions, hours to write, and constructive criticism, but there is one aspect of the writer’s life that shakes us to our core.

Marketing and Promotion

The nightmare of our career.

We think we have the notion.

But can’t move past the fear. 

Okay, I’m not a poet. But I know you understand writers must market and promote their books. Our goal is to successfully place our novels into the hearts and hands of readers.

I’m a firm believer in organization, and when I write a novel, spreadsheets keep me rooted in reality.

A writer gets ahead of the marketing and promotion stress by developing a Timeline Task. This is an indicator of what needs to be accomplished approximately a year before a book is released.

12 months out:

• Contact online and print publications to arrange for ad and banner placement. Make sure they are in place for the month of the book release. 
• Recruit your Street Team. Reach out to prominent authors in your genre for possible endorsements. This allows the endorser to schedule reading the novel. 
• Write blogs that connect to the novel. Stockpile them—you will be glad later.

9 months out:

• Order bookmarks and postcards.
• Arrange guest blogs and calendar when they will appear. 
• Remember, these have already been written. 
• Arrange production of your book trailer.
• Arrange production of author interview video.
• Announce to Street Team and brainstorm promo ideas.

6 months out:

• Contact TV and radio stations for interviews. 
• Create contest ideas with giveaways.
• Goodreads: update bio, headshot, ask-the-author section, add new release to books, link to blog posts, update page, be active! https://www.goodreads.com/author/guidelines.
• Design secret Pinterest Boards. 
• Use postcards to notify libraries of new book.

3 months out:

• Mail ARCS
• Keep Dream Team posted.
• Confirm all blog spots, ads, banners etc.
• Seek events to speak and sign.
• Check that all online platforms and retail stores have updated bio and photo.
• Arrange launch party or signing for the big day.

6 weeks out:

• Mail author copies or e-copies of book to Street Team. 
• Mail author copies or e-copies of book to reviewers.
• Encourage pre-orders.
• Post book trailer and author interviews.

Book release:

• E-mail blast.
• Blogs appear.
• Constant presence on social media platforms.
• Thank those who have helped make the release a success.
• Small tokens of thanks sent.
• Contests announced.

Follow up:

• Keep the momentum going by sharing deleted scenes, research, character insight, and behind the scenes action.
• Party time!

If you’d like a copy of my Marketing Timeline, e-mail me at diann@diannmills.com.

How do you approach marketing and promotion for your book?

About the Author

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.


DEADLY ENCOUNTER
DEADLY ENCOUNTER Discussion Questions
Watch the trailer
Airport Ranger volunteer Stacy Broussard expected a peaceful Saturday morning ride around the perimeter of Houston’s airport. What she encounters instead is a brutal homicide and a baffling mystery. Next to the body is an injured dog, the dead man’s motorcycle, and a drone armed with a laser capable of taking down a 747.
Though FBI Special Agent Alex LeBlanc sees a clear-cut case of terrorism, his past has taught him to be suspicious of everyone, even witnesses. Even bleeding-heart veterinarians like Stacy. But when her gruesome discovery is only the first in a string of incidences that throw her life into a tailspin, Alex begins to wonder if Stacy was targeted. As a health emergency endangers Stacy’s community, and the task force pulls in leads from all directions, Alex and Stacy must work together to prevent another deadly encounter.

Deadly Encounter is recommended for fans of the following:

• Christian Fiction
• Christian Mystery
• Romantic Suspense Books

If you enjoyed this novel, you may also be interested in the novella Trial By Fire!

The Scoop on Research by DiAnn Mills

DiAnn Mills

Writing romantic suspense is my passion. I stay awake at night planning a story in which a strong and vibrant heroine attempts the impossible, the forbidden, or the dangerous for the good of others. She meets a hero who compliments her strengths and challenges her weaknesses. Together they take the writer and the reader on an adventure. 

However, research can be difficult, especially if I’m not familiar with the character’s profession and its rules of conduct. I educate myself through online research and the library until I have accumulated enough knowledge to contact a real person who has this profession. My goal is to pose questions during the interview that are realistic for the character in my book. Sometimes I must preface my inquiry with, “I need to know if this situation could happen, not if it has.” The answer allows me freedom to create plot twists and circumstances that add tension and conflict to my story while staying true to the character’s profession. 

Photo courtesy of Pixabay
Friends chatting . . . or FBI special agents
tailing a bad guy

Some professions are easier to research than others. The FBI and Border Patrol want public support, and they were not only willing to help me write a credible book but patient in responding to questions. Both agencies allowed me to tour their facilities. 

The FBI offers solutions for my questions, and I’m grateful for their assistance.

Other professions involved in national security are required to keep their techniques secret. Makes sense to me. If we are to be protected from those who seek us harm, then methods must be hidden from the public. The CIA and Secret Service are two agencies that can’t reveal how we are to be kept safe. The writer is on her own to figure out how crimes are prevented and stopped. Sometimes a person in one of these fields will tell me what I’ve written is wrong. On those occasions, I become more creative in addressing a situation in my story.

The romance portion of romantic suspense has to be accurate. Some agencies frown on their employees fraternizing within their ranks. The reasons are sound. Think about a man or woman in a high-risk situation in which their priorities might be another person instead of his/her responsibilities. For a man and woman who are attracted to each other, employer guidelines might mean hiding their relationship. More juicy conflict.

Writing romantic suspense is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces have to fit in a way that is credible and in character. Every scene of the novel has to add conflict while the plot adds layers to the story problem. I encourage writers who are fascinated by romantic suspense to conduct realistic research. Book sales will grow!


How do you research your stories? We want to hear!

About the Author

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is co-director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference and The Author Roadmap with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion for helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.

DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com. 

Deadly Encounter
by DiAnn Mills

Deadly Encounter
Airport Ranger volunteer Stacy Broussard expected a peaceful Saturday morning ride around the perimeter of Houston’s airport. What she encounters instead are a brutal homicide and a baffling mystery. Next to the body is an injured dog, the dead man’s motorcycle, and a drone armed with a laser capable of taking down a 747.

Though FBI Special Agent Alex LeBlanc sees a clear-cut case of terrorism, his past has taught him to be suspicious of everyone, even witnesses. Even bleeding-heart veterinarians like Stacy. But when her gruesome discovery is only the first in a string of incidences that throw her life into a tailspin, Alex begins to wonder if Stacy was targeted. As a health emergency endangers Stacy’s community, and the task force pulls in leads from all directions, Alex and Stacy must work together to prevent another deadly encounter.

Be Strong and Very Courageous by Laura V. Hilton

Laura V. Hilton

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:7-9

“I’m afraid of this year!” I cried to my husband when he asked me how I’m doing. “My “baby boy” is leaving for the Coast Guard, my oldest son has been making bad decisions and I’m afraid of where this year will find him, my oldest daughter will be leaving to start her higher education, and my middle daughter is finishing up middle school and starting high school. And…”

“Read Joshua 1,” he says.

“What?”

“Read Joshua 1.”

“But I’m afraid that—”

“Joshua 1.”

“Is that your answer to everything?” There’s probably more than a hint of annoyance in my voice.

“Yes. Joshua 1.”

I have the phone on speaker, so I can do something else while I’m talking to him and my oldest son is being a dear and scrubbing the kitchen floor without my asking.

Then I bump my full cup of iced coffee. It goes everywhere! What a mess. “Ugh, my coffee! It’s everywhere! I’m afraid of this year. It’s getting bad already!”

I yank my chair out of the giant coffee puddle, my son grabs towels, and my husband says, “If that’s the worst thing that happens to you this year, we’re in good shape.”

I said, “But what if it’s not! They say that how the New Year begins is how it goes.”

“Joshua 1.”

“Arrrggggh.”

My son looks up from mopping my spill. “What’s Joshua 1?”

“A chapter in the Bible. He wants me to read it.”

My husband says, “I’ll let you go so I can get back to work, and you can read. Joshua 1.”

“Yes, dear.” So I load the washing machine and start it while my son finishes mopping the sticky mess left from the coffee spill. Then I sit to type. I have this blog post due, you see, and I don’t know what to say. What to write.

Joshua 1.

This time it’s that still small voice in my head.

Oh. I guess I need to read that first.

So, I do. And then there are those verses. These:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9.

Be strong and courageous.

Don’t be afraid.

Don’t be discouraged.

The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Whatever challenges this year brings.

Whatever blessings this year brings.

Whatever changes this year brings.

Wherever I go.

Are you facing challenges this year? Let’s claim Joshua 1 together.

Lord, help me to be strong and courageous. Help me not to be afraid or discouraged. Please help me to remember that you will be with me wherever I go. Amen.

About the Author

Award winning author, Laura Hilton, her husband, Steve, and three of their children make their home in Arkansas. She is a pastor’s wife, a stay-at-home mom and home-schools. Laura is also a breast cancer survivor. Laura also has two adult children.

Her publishing credits include three books in the Amish of Seymour series from Whitaker House: Patchwork Dreams, A Harvest of Hearts (winner of the 2012 Clash of the Titles Award in two categories), and Promised to Another. The Amish of Webster County series, Healing Love (finalist for the 2013 Christian Retail Awards). Surrendered Love and Awakened Love followed by her first Christmas novel, A White Christmas in Webster County, as well as a three book Amish series with Whitaker House, The Amish of Jamesport series, The Snow Globe, The Postcard, and The Bird House in September 2015. Other credits include Swept Away from Abingdon Press. Laura is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a professional book reviewer.

Connect with Laura
http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q
visit her blogs: http://lighthouse-academy.blogspot.com/ & http://lauravhilton.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @Laura_V_Hilton
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Author-Laura-V-Hilton/161478847242512
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vernetlh/

The Bird House

The Bird House
by Laura V. Hilton

Twenty–year–old Greta Miller's daed has been injured in a farming accident during the summer. The supportive Amish community tries to help out, but Greta and her sister must work outside the home to make ends meet, and so Greta rents a booth at the farmers' market. Because Greta is still in her rumspringa and free to explore the world, her family selects her to sell her homemade jams, jellies, and preserves to Englischers. Josh Yoder wants to court Greta, but years ago, he made the mistake of rejecting her during a seemingly innocent game; which resulted in him leaving the Amish. Three years later, he's back, but Greta wants nothing to do with him. Josh struggles to fit in and rebuild relationships he destroyed. Knowing Greta's family needs help, he steps in, hoping to win her back. When Greta admires one of his birdhouses, he gives it to her, hoping that it will open the door to more. But as their friendship begins to grow, a series of unfortunate events pull Greta away from the Amish, leaving her rejected by those she loves. Will Greta get beyond her family's distrust and return home? Will she prove her innocence? Or will she remain outside her Amish community?

Walk Over Your Work! by Alice J. Wisler

Do you ever find yourself inside a writing spiral?
Sometimes we are so busy at being productive, that we lose sight of what is really important, our goals, our hopes, and how to obtain them. We are operating in a literary fog. There are times we need to take a step back and view our writing in a new light.

A great way to do this is to walk over your work.

Yes, you read that right. I am an advocate for walking on a daily basis. Now, before you stop reading and think, this is not for me, give me another chance. I’m not talking about doing a marathon. A simple short walk can benefit your writing.

Let me tell you why you benefit.

As you walk, your endorphins burst open like little rays of feel-good bubbles, causing you to feel better about yourself. When you feel better about yourself, you are more productive. When you’re more productive, you are able to create stronger prose.

But that’s not the only thing about walking that can help your muse. Walking is a great way to exercise (I know, I used to loathe that word once) and tone up those wayward muscles. Studies prove how healthy walking briskly is. But wait, there is more!

There is a spiritual side to taking a daily walk that can bring value to your writing. When you pray as you walk—prayers for yourself and for others—your world opens up. As you talk with God, you feel his presence. And what could be more affirming than to be in the presence of the Creator of Creativity?

To make your walk more effective, here are some tips.

Feet—Start your walk with a good pair of tennis shoes that fit. If they are too small or large, the discomfort of your feet will steal from your experience. Since your feet are doing the work, make sure they are happy.

Clothing—Perhaps, like me, you’ve been inside pounding on your computer all morning and have not been outside. Since yesterday was cool, you dress for your walk in a jacket and long-sleeved T-shirt. You head outside and immediately feel hot. Check the weather before walking so that you are wearing clothing suited for the temperature. Loose clothing works well.

Thanks and Praise—Once you have your pace set, and filled your lungs with fresh air, look around you. Hopefully, there are some trees or flowers, and you can start by thanking God for the beauty he has created. Move on to praise him for who he is. Thank him for giving you the desire to create and inspire through the written word.

Ask—Of course, you have questions you want to pose to him. They could consist of Why can’t I be published more? Or why can’t my writing make more money? If you are in the middle of a project, you might want to ask him to help you think clearly, come up with a new idea, a fresh market to pitch your work to, etc.

Expect—I was once praying over a sticky situation that involved my agent and lo and behold, right there on my walk, my agent called! The conversation went well, clearing up the situation. Never doubt that God will answer your prayers either on your walk or later. Expect God to bring you solutions for a difficult scene or plot, realistic dialogue, and a vibrant and renewed joy in your writing.

If you’ve read this far, I hope it’s because you are ready to embark on allowing a daily walk to benefit your creativity. You can start with walking three times a week for about twenty minutes and then increase to walking five to seven days a week over the course of the next months. Increase your time as well, building up so you walk about forty-five minutes (three miles) every day.

I also hope that your time of walking and praying over your work will make you a more prolific writer!

Alice J. Wisler is the author of five inspirational fiction novels, the most recent, Still Life in Shadows. She teaches Writing the Heartache Workshops across the country, helping others see the benefits of writing from grief and loss. Her devotional, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning: Reflections of Comfort in Heartache, will be released in December. Learn more at her website: http://www.alicewisler.com.

Getting Out of Bed in the Morning motivates readers who are facing grief and loss to get out of bed and face a life which, although diminished by unfathomable sadness, still holds purpose and beauty.

Written in devotional format, Getting Out of Bed in the Morning is a companion for those going through sorrow associated with loss—whether brought to the journey through the death of a loved one, failing health, job loss, broken relationships, or weakened family ties.

Still Life in Shadows
Ex-Amish Gideon Miller makes his home in the mountains of North Carolina where he helps other dissatisfied Amish youth relocate to English lifestyles. Filled with bitterness over his abusive father, Gideon struggles. When his wayward younger brother Moriah and an autistic girl enter his life, Gideon learns that forgiveness is generous gift we must receive for ourselves.

For my review of Still Life in Shadows, go to my personal blog: Joy on the Back Roads. ~ Angie

To Write Issue Driven Books..or Not… by Margaret Daley

When I came up with the theme for Saving Hope, my first book in the Men of the Texas Rangers Series, I was determined to write about human trafficking (and child prostitution that comes from that problem). I got caught up in the research and issue of human trafficking. It ignited my passion to do something about it. I wanted to write a story that would highlight the issue and how extensive it was in the United States.

After writing Saving Hope, I had a loose framework for my second book in the series--Shattered Silence--about a serial killer targeting illegal aliens along the Texas border with Mexico. But something was missing for me in the story. I needed an added passion for the story. I needed an issue that I was passionate about. As a teacher I had always been concerned with bullying in the schools. I took it a step further in my book and showed it also in other situations--workplace and a marriage. Bullying became my theme as human trafficking had in the first book.

My third book--Scorned Justice--was about revenge and the lengths people went to for revenge. This isn't a social issue like my other books in the series, but it is a unifying theme to help me build my story upon. A lot of things are done for revenge and the subject intrigued me.

Severed Trust, my fourth book, came about when I heard of a friend who was addicted to prescription drugs. It started with a painful affliction that he couldn't control without heavy-duty pain medication. It helped with the pain, but it left him addicted to painkillers. As I've been digging deeper into the issue of prescription drug abuse, I'm shocked at how prevalent it is in the United States. One police officer that works at the state level said about half his cases are connected with prescription drug abuse. Teens are involved as well as adults. Certain prescription drugs can be as additive as illegal drugs like heroin or cocaine. My passion was sparked yet again.

When I can connect with that passionate side of me, I get excited about the story. That's why issue driven books can be so important to a writer. But a writer can be just as passionate about a character, a locale or a career. What's important for a writer is to tap into that passionate subject whether an issue or one of the other aspects of a story. That passion is conveyed to the reader, adding a spark to the story.

Margaret Daley, an award-winning author of eighty-three books, has been married for over forty years and is a firm believer in romance and love. When she isn’t traveling, she’s writing love stories, often with a suspense thread and corralling her three cats that think they rule her household. To find out more about Margaret visit her website at http://www.margaretdaley.com.

Shattered Silence - released October 2012
A serial killer is targeting illegal aliens in southern Texas. Texas Ranger Cody Jackson is paired with a local police officer, Liliana Rodriguez, to investigate the murders. 



While the case brings Cody and Liliana ever closer, the tension between Americans and Mexican Americans heightens. As Cody and Liliana race to discover who is behind the murders and bring peace to the area, what they uncover isn’t what they expected. Will Cody and Liliana’s faith and love be strong enough to survive the storm of violence?

Christmas Stalking - released November 2012
Bodyguard Ellie St. James has one objective: protect her client…without letting her know. Pretending to be Rachel "Winnie" Winfield's assistant lets Ellie stay close, but there's an unexpected complication—Colt Winfield. Winnie's grandson wasn't in on the plans, and the suspicious marine biologist isn't easy to fool. When the truth comes out, so do more threats to Winnie's life. Trapped on a Colorado mountain, Ellie and Colt must trust each other to guard Winnie and find the stalker. Before this Christmas becomes their last.

Writing Through Tragedy By Faith by Jennifer Hudson Taylor

So many people say that writing is therapeutic. For years I worked a full-time job and managed a schedule of writing in my spare time, as well as being a mother to a special needs child and a wife. I agree that writing is therapeutic, but this past year, I have been tested on that concept. Back then even though my schedule was quite hectic, I still had no deadlines or pressure to promote book sales. In spite of the fact that I longed for publication and worked hard to make it happen, a tiny piece of me feared the day it would happen.

You see, I knew my responsibilities would grow, and I was right.

For my debut novel, Highland Blessings, my book launch went well. I received favorable reviews, had several book signings, and it won the 2011 Holt Medallion Award for Best First Book. Still, I didn’t have many deadlines since the book was already written when we contracted it. The only deadlines I really needed to worry about were the macro edits and copy edits.

A year later my second book, Highland Sanctuary, was set to release. When I signed the contract, only the first three chapters were written. A few months before my book launch, my father-in-law’s health began to decline. He was dying of lung cancer. At about the same time, we learned that my mother had a very aggressive breast cancer. While Hospice came in to help my mother-in-law, my mother was going through surgery and a month later began radiation treatments.

Two weeks before my book released, my father-in-law passed away. Our family was grieving, and I still worried for my mother. By this time, I had signed contracts for four more books and two novellas. I ended up missing a conference where I was scheduled to speak and a major book signing where I had done well the year before. I got behind on blogging, emails, social media posts, and campaign mail outs. Four weeks after my father-in-law passed, I became very sick. A month later my daughter was hospitalized at fourteen for severe migraines. Six months later, she began having Tonic-Clonic seizures. We began a long series of MRI and EEG testing, and medication trials and adjustments. She could no longer be alone and we began fighting the school system to make sure she received necessary resources for her safety. Through all of this, I had to keep working my full-time job and writing to meet my deadlines.

When you sign a contract for an unfinished book, you are signing your name in faith that you will be able to meet your obligations, regardless of the circumstances that might befall you and your family. In a regular job, you might have someone cross-trained to back you up when you are out to keep your company from getting behind, but an author doesn’t have that luxury.

I don’t have answers that will work for everyone, and at times, I don’t know how I did it. All I know is that prayer and faith gave me strength when I had none. When worry wanted to consume me, God prevailed and I was able to find a few moments here and there when my characters took me to another place in time. I mentally escaped.

• When I couldn’t sleep, I wrote.
• When I couldn’t concentrate, I put on earphones and lost myself in music that helped me escape to my time period.
• When I was too tired to write, I slept, and ignored the guilt.
• When my house became too suffocating, I went outside and wrote.
• When my desk became the wrong place, I changed my environment by writing in the closet in the wee morning hours, on the steps, and wherever I could find a corner.
• I didn’t worry about edits, writing with perfect research, or getting it perfect. I merely wrote and concentrated on getting the first draft down.
• When the pain and confusion was too much, I prayed and cried out to God.

Remember, God is THE answer to everything—even writing through tragedies.

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is an award winning multi-published author of historical Christian fiction set in Europe and the Carolinas and a speaker on topics of faith, writing and publishing. Her debut novel, Highland Blessings, won the 2011 Holt Medallion award for Best First Book. Her work has appeared in national publications, such as Guideposts, Heritage Quest Magazine, Romantic Times Book Reviews, and The Military Trader. She serves as the in-house Publicist at Hartline Literary Agency. Jennifer graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Journalism. When she isn't writing, she enjoys spending time with family, long walks, traveling, touring historical sites, hanging out at bookstores with coffee shops, genealogy, and reading.

Jennifer's fiction is represented by Literary Agent, Terry Burns with Hartline Literary Agency.

Path of Freedom (1858, North Carolina)

Quilts of Love Series, Abingdon Press
Tentative release date: Jan 2013

When Quakers Flora Saferight and Bruce Millikan embark on the Underground Railroad, they agree to put their differences aside to save the lives of a pregnant slave couple. With only her mother’s quilt as a secret guide, the foursome follows the stitches through unknown treachery.

As they begin their perilous journey, they hope and pray that their path is one of promise where love sustains them, courage builds faith, and forgiveness leads to freedom.

The Power to Change Us by Robin Lee Hatcher

From a young age, I was a storyteller, a voracious reader, and a history buff. I am also a romantic and a follower of Jesus. Mix those traits together, and it should surprise no one that I write historical romances (as well as contemporary women's fiction) for readers of inspirational novels. And this month, November 2012, is the official release of my 66th book, Betrayal.

When I began writing my first novel in 1981, there was very little fiction published in the CBA (Christian Booksellers Association). Therefore, I wrote for the general romance market where I had 30 titles released. But after an unexpected change occurred in my own heart, I began writing stories about characters who sometimes wrestle with God and/or who are guided by their Christian faith. Only when I began writing these types of stories did I come into my own as a writer and find my true voice.

C.S. Lewis, author of the Chronicles of Narnia series and many other classics (both fiction and non-fiction), said, “We read to know we are not alone.” I believe he is correct. Every book we read is filtered through our own beliefs and our own life experiences. What one reader takes away from a novel will be somewhat different from the next reader. Readers love it best when their life experiences and beliefs are confirmed in the fiction they read.

But stories have the power to change us as well.

Recently, I received an email from a reader who had this to say: "My husband was verbally abusive for [#] years. When I read [Beyond the Shadows] in May, I did so with sobs. I didn't quite realize why I could identify with the main character, her husband being an alcoholic, mine just angry … [but] for the first time I could relate to someone … God has provided a miracle for us and I am now living with a changed man. The man I thought I married. I am so hopeful! Throughout this process many people have asked me what made me seek change, and I say, 'God sent me a [novel] that desperately made me want to get beyond the shadows of the emotional pain.' So, I want to say how grateful I am."

The above quoted reader discovered she wasn't alone in her pain. Characters in a novel gave her courage to make needed changes in her life. This kind of response encourages me as a writer and keeps me going when I'm struggling with plot or character or revisions or my own discouragement.

And of course, I have never lost my love of reading and writing romance. There is something satisfying about watching a man and a woman find each other, work through their problems, and then face the future together, bound by love and a commitment for the future. For them to do so against the backdrop of an historical time period appeals to me, both as a reader and as a writer.

My new release, Betrayal, is about two people who've been wounded by those they should have been able to trust the most. Here's the official blurb:

It’s the turn of the twentieth century and drifter Hugh Brennan is a man well acquainted with betrayal. Hugh finds himself drawn to the attractive widow, Julia, yet when he looks into her eyes, he recognizes the same hurt that haunts him. 

Julia Grace has little reason to trust men, but she’s going to have to trust someone if she’s to keep her ranch from the clutches of her dead husband’s half-brother. Is it possible God had a hand in bringing Hugh to her door? 

The latest historical romance from award-winning author Robin Lee Hatcher and the second book in the Where the Heart Lives series, Betrayal will take you to the high desert of western Wyoming, through the crags of the Rocky Mountains, and into the hearts of two seekers learning to trust God’s love no matter the circumstances.

I hope you'll discover that you, too, are not alone as you read Betrayal. And if so, I hope you'll write to me.

Robin Lee Hatcher is the best-selling author of over sixty-five books. Her well-drawn characters and heartwarming stories of faith, courage, and love have earned her both critical acclaim and the devotion of readers. Her numerous awards including the Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, the RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance, Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, the Idahope Writer of the Year, and the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award. For contact information or to learn more about Robin and her books, please visit her website at: http://www.robinleehatcher.com.

RT Book Club says: "Hatcher is a consistent 'must read' author. Her books are always engaging, and Betrayal [a Top Pick for November] is no different. The characters are very real, their trials and tribulations are easy to relate to and the setting is well researched. You’ll feel a warm, satisfying glow after turning the final page of this touching novel."