Christmas 2012 Series: Snowflake Sweethearts by Carrie Turansky

Good morning, everyone! We hope you had a great Thanksgiving. We have a lot to be thankful for, don't we? Today, we continue our Christmas 2012 release interviews with special guest, Carrie Turansky. Read on as she discusses her latest release, Snowflake Sweethearts! ~ Annette

What makes your Christmas novel different than others you've seen or read?

Snowflake Sweethearts is set in an actual town, Fairhaven, which is the lovely historical section of Bellingham, Washington. It is the third in a series of Love Inspired books set there and includes a fun group of senior-age matchmakers who appear in each book. The story takes place September through the Christmas Season. I suppose I'd say the unique characters make the story different than others I've read. The Northwest is also a less common setting. 

What genre is your story?

Snowflake Sweethearts is a contemporary inspirational romance. 

How did the story come about?

The ideas for the characters and story came to mind as I researched Fairhaven and brainstormed with my author friends, Terri Gillespie and Cathy Gohlke. They helped me refine my ideas and come up with my plot. 

What time of year did you write it, and how did you motivate yourself to write a Christmas novel at that of year?

I wrote it between August and and March 1, so it helped that the holiday season fell in the middle of writing the book. I played a lot of instrumental Christmas music to help me stay in the Christmas mood for writing. 

What's next in your writing? 

I am writing a three-book historical romance series set in England beginning in 1910 through World War 1. The working title for the first book is The Governess of Highland Hall. I've loved researching the Edwardian time period, and I even took a trip to England last summer to see the homes and countryside firsthand. When people ask me to describe the first book, I say it's like Downton Abbey meets Jane Eyre with a little Sound of Music thrown in. I have had interest from several publishers and hope to have a contract soon.  

Thanks for visiting Seriously Write today, Carrie! 

Thanks, Annette!  I appreciate this opportunity to connect with readers who enjoy holiday stories. Merry Christmas and Happy Reading to all!

In Snowflake Sweethearts - Travel back to Fairhaven, Washington, with single mom and personal chef Annie Romano. Annie has never forgotten the man she secretly loved as a teenager, and when he asks her to be the live-in caretaker for his ailing grandmother, she changes her plans and agrees. As the holiday season approaches Alex's grandmother, her matchmaking friends and one fatherless little girl are soon pulling at Annie's and Alex's heartstrings...just in time for a very special Christmas. I hope readers will enjoy this third and final book in the Bayside Treasure Series.

To learn more about Carrie, you can connect with her here:

http://www.carrieturansky.com

https://www.facebook.com/carrie.turansky?ref=tn_tnmn

https://twitter.com/carrieturansky

http://pinterest.com/carrieturansky

(print version)       (e-book version)

Sometimes to Write, You Must Fight by Debra Clopton

Does it ever feel like the journey to publication involves one battle after another? You’re not alone. Author Debra Clopton shares her heart and advice on how to win those battles that threaten to rob you of the joy you receive, and the ministry you provide through the written word. ~ Dawn

Sometimes to Write, 

You Must Fight

by Debra Clopton

Debra Clopton saying hello and that I'm excited to be invited to share here at Seriously Write. Thanks for inviting me, Dawn. I wanted to write something funny, but God placed something serious on my heart to share. Did you know that writing to make people laugh and remember God's goodness in their lives is not always an easy thing to do? Well, it’s true. And that's what I want to talk to you about today.

Have you ever needed to write but you can't because you are too distracted, or there is a family crisis, or it seems just one thing after the other is getting you down, and your mind is so tied up in knots that you can do nothing but worry? Or like me, you’re trying to write something funny and you aren’t feeling the least bit funny, maybe you feel more like crying?

That’s when it’s time to pull on the gloves and fight back!   

Here’s how I have a boxing match—and I am not crazy, I promise! It works.

Step One: Pray—get alone with God and ask him to help you with whatever is going on. I go for long walks in our back pasture where no one is around and I talk out loud. Remind yourself that you are GOD’s and that you want to be a blessing to others. Pray hard and talk honestly and openly to God about how you are feeling. I usually start my talk by asking for forgiveness, because I often realize that I’ve gotten off path with him somewhere in the craziness and have taken my eyes off of God. Now, put on the full armor of your Lord and move on to step two.

Step Two: Pull on those gloves—it’s time to fight—Satan wants to fog your mind like a dark cloud closes out the light, and he loves, loves, loves messing with your mind and stealing your joy. He needs to be put in his place—so, in the name of Jesus, rebuke Satan and any power you’ve allowed him to have in your life. A wise, older friend told me once that Satan can’t read your mind like God can, so for him to hear you during this verbal boxing match you must say it out loud…I can assure you he hears me loud and clear during this time. Rebuke Satan and remind him who you belong to! Tell “the enemy” to get away from you, you can even use Jesus’s own words—“Get thee behind me Satan.” Make Satan powerless over you by putting him in his place and out of your head. Make sure he knows you are serious.

 Last Step: After the battle, spend some quiet time letting the relief and calm of expressing your feelings wash over you. Let God speak to you in this clear state of mind. Now that you’ve used God’s power in your life you should be feeling much better…yes, your troubles may still be there, but you have reminded Satan, as well as yourself, that God is by your side, you are not alone. Ask God to fill your mind with his directions in all aspects of your life and work.

And then, get up and go write. I promise you are going to feel so much better—but keep the gloves handy because the more you do to bring God’s light into the world, the more Satan is going to try to still your joy and peace of mind. But God has equipped you for the fight—you are not alone.  

Click to reach Amazon.

Debra Clopton is an award winning, multi-published novelist. Debra lives in the heart of Texas cowboy country. Though she has numerous awards her greatest awards are her family, and she feels blessed to have a career that enables her to visit them often—have computer, will travel! Along with her writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church.  She is the author of the award winning Mule Hollow series (21 books) through Love Inspired imprint, the place readers tell her they wish was real. Her new Cowboys of Sunrise Ranch series with Love Inspired is set on a working cattle ranch that is also a foster home for 16 abandoned boys. Book 1 of the series HER UNFORGETABLE COWBOY is coming May 2013. Also, her 1800’s novella, AN EVER AFTER SUMMER in the anthology collection coming from Thomas Nelson titled A BRIDE FOR ALL SEASONS, with Mary Connealy, Margaret Brownley and Robin Lee Hatcher will be on shelves June 2013. You can find all 21 of Debra’s Mule Hollow series in digital form online. Debra writes stories to help you meet life with a smile.

To learn more about Debra, please visit:

Website: http://debraclopton.com/  my personal blog is there too

Facebook: http://facebook.com/debraclopton   

Blogs: http://craftieladiesofromance.blogspot.com 

This Writer's Thanksgivings by Dora Hiers

On any given day, if you ask my hubby how he’s doing, he will respond, “Life just doesn’t get any better than this.” That doesn’t mean he hasn’t experienced disappointments or struggles, but in his opinion, things could always be worse. Smart man, my hubby. 

Every writer suffers painful circumstances, whether that’s receiving another rejection or a negative review. Groaning and grumbling about our writing disappointments steals our joy and robs us of the abundant life God desires for us. He calls us to 

“Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; 

give thanks to Him and praise his name.” (Ps 100:4 NIV)

So let’s give Him thanks for our writing blessings! Today, I’m thankful for…

My Father, the God of all creation who continually inspires me with ideas and stories. Our God designed the entire universe, not leaving out a single detail, and yet He loves and cares for us. Isn’t that amazing? What an awesome God we serve!

My hubby. My biggest encourager and loudest fan. He's an integral part of my writing journey, from character development to plotting to marketing. He’s so many other things, but this is a writing blog, so I’ll leave it at that. :-)

Carolina Christian Writers and my Seriously Write team members. Dear friends who make the writing road less lonely and who encourage and uplift others with their sweet words.

Pelican Book Group/White Rose Publishing, Nicola Martinez & my gracious editors. Thank you for believing in me and for providing my stories with a publishing home. That’s how you make me feel. At home. You’re such a blessing to me.

Terry Prather, Emily Leachman and Friends of the Kannapolis Library for encouraging me to share my story and for opening library doors across the country.

Bruiser, my Golden Retriever, for providing me with much needed exercise throughout the day. Let him out, let him back in. Repeat fifty times a day. If it weren’t for him, I would be ten pounds heavier.

What about you?

Care to share your thanksgivings today?

Wishing you a joyous, Son-filled Thanksgiving Day, my friends!

A Simple Way to Deepen Your Character: Part Three

Happy Wednesday, my writing friends, 

The last couple weeks we’ve talked about how incorporating family into our stories can deepen our characters’ relationships, motives, and vulnerabilities. We talked about sisters last week. This week: brothers.

Rivalry

In the Bible, a handful of intense brother relationships spring up. The story of Jacob and Esau pops as one of the most intense. What can I learn from their relationship that will deepen my own characters?

One nugget is their rivalry for parents’ attention and affection. Mom loved Jacob best. Dad loved Esau. This planted jealous seeds in both which led to their defining conflict—the whole switched-inheritance thing.

When writing brothers, jealous rivalry flows naturally and can be the basis of a whole story—like in Steinbeck’s East of Eden.

Opposites

Have you watched the TV series, Heroes? It’s addicting! And surprisingly, the whole show centers not around a romantic relationship, but instead, on Peter Petrelli and his brother Nathan. When I first realized this, I wondered how they could sustain a whole show around brothers. But it worked!

Peter and Nathan operated very differently. Peter exuded compassion, heart, and inner strength. Nathan preferred to be practical. He desired success and sometimes bent rules to get it.

Their juxtaposed personalities added incredible opportunities for character development. When Nathan lacked empathy, Peter filled that void. Nathan learned from Peter. And vice versa. When Peter got too wrapped up in his feelings, Nathan helped him see the clear direction. They bickered and wrestled along the way, but their brother-bond kept them turning to each other for help. 

What can I learn from this brotherly aspect of Heroes? Create brothers who are opposite, but who add strength to each other’s weaknesses. I can use this for both conflict and to build closeness.

Support

Another show that featured a lot of brother relationships was One Tree Hill. The main characters, Nathan and Lucas Scott, grew up apart, but in high school, built a great relationship. They supported each other through the darkest heartaches. I admit the brother bond in this silly teen show inspired me. I liked seeing them encourage, listen, and cheer each other up. I liked how they overcame their conflicts and grew to forgive.  

What can I learn from One Tree Hill? Without forgetting the struggles of brothers, I can show the inspirational positive elements.

What are some ways you think brother relationships can build our characters? I’d love to hear.

God bless and happy writing,

Ocieanna