PiBoIdMo Ends

WOW today is the last day of PiBoIdMo and it was an overwhelming month for me. TOO much going on I believe. But I did it!! I made it through and tomorrow I can go sign the pledge and get my badge of honor so to speak. I had 31 ideas (so far, the month isn't over until midnight *grin*) this month.

But big news is during this month I released my first children's book..YAY me!! and YAY you it is available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle!

If you buy a copy and love it (what's not to love it is adorable) please leave a positive review at Amazon! Thank you!

Here is the cover for your viewing pleasure.

Thanksgiving....some random thoughts

I personally do not have a lot of memories as a child that surround Thansgiving. I know that we spent the holiday with family, but for some reason, none of them stick in my mind. One Thanksgiving I do remember is the very first one Dave and I were married in 1985. We spent the day with his family, and I was horrified, that instead of waiting for people to pass food to him, he stood up and reached across the table. Obviously they were all used to it. No one else was horrified.
Over the years we have spent Thanksgiving with Dave's family and we would go to my grandmother's on Christmas. But life changes, every day and every year. As our own kids got older, we wanted a tradition in our home, so about ten years ago we started staying home on Christmas day.
But this post is about Thanksgiving. I am not an overtly sentimental person, so we do not do the whole "what are you thankful for" tradition. I truly believe that every day should be a day we are thankful. We have so much! Even the poorest in America have abundance compared to people in third world countries.
Another thing I have found is a grateful heart, is rarely a grumbling heart. When we are thankful and grateful for all we have, we tend to not focus on the things we don't have.
That being said, I have to say that OBVIOUSLY God had a reason for telling us to give thanks in every thing.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

A thankful heart is not centered upon us, but on the giver of all things, our heavenly Father. Today take time to give thanks for your many blessings.

Happy Thanksgiving

~Cindy~

Guest Post from Jenny Carlisle

You Had to Be There

Habukuk’s message from God , his “burden” includes this in the fifth verse of the First Chapter of his book. “Behold ye among the heathen, and regard, and wonder marvellously; for I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you.”

Oh, those moments that leave us awestruck. For a second or two, nothing else matters, not what has happened in the past, not what will come down the road in the future. Just a time when all we can do is take a deep breath and just try to absorb the wonder of God’s creation. During this time of hustle and bustle, organized ceremonies and unorganized chaos, we live for those “Ahh” moments when God is sufficient, and nothing else matters.

My husband and I love to just get out and drive, and when the sun is shining brightly on our windshield, just topping a hill on one of Arkansas’ many scenic byways can present an incredible panorama of beauty. The colors of the leaves, the sky, the waterways are spotlighted at just the right angle. We don’t always stop the car or snap a photo, but those vistas stay with us, become a part of our memories of care-free days doing whatever we please.

Sometimes, after a stormy day, the sun popping out from behind the clouds produces another such glorious moment. Heavenly rays extend to the ground, and we take a deep breath, knowing that God was with us the whole time. Often, He sends his classic symbol- a rainbow. We know it is a simple message from the maker that renews the promise he made to Noah so long ago. All will be right with the world again.

Holding a new baby, especially when there is a blood relationship, is another indescribable pleasure. The simple trust that this little soul is placing literally in your hands can be overwhelming. At that moment, the struggles leading up to the birth are forgotten; the worries of the days ahead are non-existent. God grants us just a second to simply revel in his miracle.

In contrast, the same sense of peace can be felt at the bedside of someone who is nearing the end of their journey on this earth. All of the pain and suffering can be forgotten when the patient is comfortably communing with his or her maker. Peace penetrates the room, and all who enter. Unexplainable, totally illogical peace, except for those who understand what awaits on the other side.

For me, awe strikes at the strangest times. For example: when my house is almost literally bursting at the seams with busy people of all ages, preparing a meal, or trying to find a spot to relax afterwards. The joyous shouts of the youngest, the bumping into one another, the questionable crashes heard from the kitchen, all provide me with a moment of sweet joy. After years of changes, and missing faces at the table, I recognize these times for their temporary nature. Nothing will ever be quite the same again. The happiness is palpable, almost painful. I relish these precious chaotic moments, and store them away for future, quieter days.

The shepherds felt the same way in Bethlehem centuries ago when the heavenly host brought them unbelievable news, and then they witnessed the miracle for themselves. How fortunate we are that Luke captured these moments in his Gospel. We can share in the wonder as we read that account over and over.

The marketing wizards call moments like this “Priceless”. They remind us that no matter the cost, that one event is totally worth it. Christians can enjoy these precious times with no thought to the past or the future, because Jesus has already paid the price. What is coming for us will be even more wonderful, more awe inspiring than any experience we have had on this earth. Amazing. I definitely want to be there.

Thank you, Lord for these glimpses of your wonder. May we always recognize and appreciate them.

About the Author

Jenny McLeod Carlisle has been writing stories since she could hold a pencil. She is a client of Terry Burns at the Hartline Literary agency, and is pursuing publication of her first Women's Fiction novel, Hold Fast. Wife of her high school prom date, mother of three, mother in law of three, Granny to four with a fifth expected in February, her full time day job with the State of Arkansas leaves very little time for jotting down the hundreds of tales that still dance in her head. She is a columnist for Ouachita Life magazine, which is distributed in the Southwest quadrant of Arkansas. Recently, she has appeared on Tales from the South, an internationally broadcast radio show for storytellers that is headquartered in Central Arkansas. Her motto for life is found in the 33rd. verse of the 6th. Chapter of Matthew's Gospel. Seeking Him first means that everything else will follow.

Blog site:

http://www.jennycarlisle.net

What is Laura V. Hilton Thankful For?

This is really going to sound strange, but I’m thankful for breast cancer.

Yes, you read that right.

Six years ago, I had the shock of my life. What I thought was an inflamed milk duct was diagnosed as breast cancer.

I’ve always been a Christian, I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ as my Savior when I was nine. I was in church, Sunday morning, Sunday night and Wednesday night. My parents had Bible studies in the home. I grew up immersed in Bible.

So, it might come as no surprise to find out I married a pastor.

Well, being married to a pastor doesn’t mean that you take the time needed for devotions, praise and worship, or the necessary things that make you grow as a Christian. I have five children. I homeschool. I was busy in the church. My life was spent constantly going and doing for others. I told the doctor I didn’t have time for cancer! He just looked at me.

Well, treatment is one of those things you have to make time for. And during those long hours sitting at the chemo room, I took my iPod shuffle, preloaded with praise and worship music. I spent my time praying and studying God’s word. And as a result, I developed a habit of spending time with the Lord. My own personal time with the One who loves me more than anyone else.

As for the times spent in recovery from chemo? Well, I had no time. My recovery from chemo time was spent catching up on homeschooling, church stuff, family stuff—all those things that didn’t get done when I was at the chemo room. The doctor commented that I breezed through chemo surprisingly well. That I was on the strongest, harshest chemo available, and I had virtually no side-effects (other than losing my hair.) I told him it was all God.

That was six years ago. Today I still make time for detailed study in the word. If I get busy and can’t spend time with God, I miss it and my day is incomplete. So, I thank God for breast cancer. For getting me back on the time I needed to spend with God.

What is something you’re thankful for?

 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 in April 2015, 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.

Find Laura Online

http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

visit my 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/

Her latest book

The Snow Globe

Victor Petersheim has left the Amish and works on a river boat on the

Mississippi River, spending three months on the river then having three months off. During his off-work months he returns home to his Amish community and helps out on his grandparents’ farm. When he returns home after his most recent absence, he discovers his grossmammi has developed health problems and they’ve hired Esther Beachy to be a “mother’s helper.” Victor is unsettled by this woman living in their home, but has to accept it. Esther loves listening to Victor’s grandmother’s stories and while puttering around in a store while the grossmammi’s in the hospital, she discovers a snow globe that depicts an area where the Petersheims used to live. She buys it as a gift for the grossmammi to cheer her up during her hospitalization. Victor is touched by Esther’s gift and her care for his grossmammi, and strives to be friendlier. Will Esther’s gentle heart draw him back to the community? Or will he return to the river once again?

Buy Laura's Books

Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Laura-V.-Hilton/e/B004IRSM5Q 

CBD: http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntt=laura+hilton&N=0&Ntk=keywords&action=Search&Ne=0&event=ESRCG&nav_search=1&cms=1

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/laura-hilton?store=allproducts&keyword=laura+hilton

Deeper Shopping http://www.deepershopping.com/index.php?query=laura+hilton&x=0&y=0&module=productsearch&_logmode=Y&querymodule=SPX

Jolene Staker Blogs about choosing to be Thankful

Thanksgiving of 1998 found me on a tour bus headed to Normandy, France. I was deployed to Germany and had a four day holiday weekend so I was going to take advantage of it. This was one trip of a long list of trips so while I was excited about the opportunity the experience wasn’t so new to make me not grumble a little about not having a traditional Thanksgiving meal.

This wasn’t my first Thanksgiving away from home since I spent Thanksgiving at Fort Lee, Virginia doing my advanced training right after joining the military yet it was my first Thanksgiving out of country and without the traditional United States holiday fare. We were going to eat, the food was going to be good and we all know when you want one type of food nothing else quite satisfies.

Not being a great history student in school it was a blessing to me that I was able to see the movie Saving Private Ryan right before going on this trip. When we got to the beaches at Normandy and I remembered the scenes of that movie I realized this was no ordinary sight-seeing trip. When I stood in the Normandy American Cemetery where every direction I looked all I could see was the crosses that represented the men who died during the D-Day landings I repented for my grumbling about missing turkey. The men buried there gave their lives and their families not only lost their loved ones they were also left without a place to mourn those loved ones close to their homes. When I put it into perspective I wasn’t actually sacrificing during my military tour.

And the people of Normandy may not celebrate the American Thanksgiving yet I can share you that they showed their gratitude for what the American people had done for them daily. They do not take the sacrifice those men made lightly, and I never will either.

Thankfulness is a choice. There is always something to grumble about and always something to be thankful for. Grumbling never lifts my spirits or improves my day yet the practice of being grateful makes each day easier to face.

No matter what challenge I am facing there is always someone dealing with something much worse. The most heartbroken I have ever been was when one of my Sunday school students shot and killed himself (may have been an accident yet it was ruled a suicide). I felt like nothing could be worse, and I struggled both with guilt and despair. Not quite a year later two young men killed five people at their school. I realized as heartbroken as I was that it could actually be worse. It has been seventeen years since I lost that young man, and I have seen so many examples of what worse looks like.

I started to write that no matter what I think I lack there is someone with less yet the truth is that I don’t think I lack anything. It is not because I have every single thing that I could think of to want but rather my habit of being grateful for what I have that allows me to feel the abundance of my life rather than what is missing. And this pertains to relationships, health and much more than just money and physical possessions.

I won’t pretend to be super spiritual and tell you that I am not looking forward to this year’s Thanksgiving meal. It always will be one of my favorite days of the year (or several days of the year depending how many dinners I can crash and how long the leftovers last). I love that we have a holiday to remind us to be thankful. And if there is one holiday that I wish would extend throughout the year it is Thanksgiving. I don’t see any reason we can’t be thankful Jesus was born on Christmas, thankful we get a fresh start at New Year’s, thankful we have someone to love on Valentine’s Day – you get the idea. The practice of thankfulness or gratitude is life changing and I know that firsthand.  

Jolene Staker lives in Conway, Arkansas with Cowboy (cat that thinks he owns the place) and a few other furbabies and is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Professional Counseling from Amridge University. She served in the military for 17 ½ years before being medically retired. Her favorite job while in the military was being a photojournalist which became possible when a unit was going to Germany and needed extra people so they accepted her college writing experience of being the managing editor of her small college’s paper as qualification to go. She was also deployed to Guantanamo Bay Cuba for 18 months where she did back to back tours, one as a photojournalist and one as a Chaplain Assistant (although not actually military trained in that capacity they asked her to stay when they needed extra people because of her dedication to the chapel programs during her first tour). She is now exploring all possibilities for how she might use her writing to glorify God and encourage others in addition to counseling and /or life coaching opportunities after she completes school and training.

Lisa M. Collins What is She Thankful For?

When Cindy asked me to write a thankfulness post I immediately knew my topic. Ever since the November of 2008 when the Lord showed me that I had the gift of storytelling and the skills to share that gift with others, I have been most thankful for National Novel Writing Month. The fall of '08 was one of the lowest of my life. I had been laid off from one of the best day jobs I had ever had and honestly I was asking the Lord a lot of 'why me' questions. It was in that search I found NaNoWriMo on the Internet. Have you heard of the program? Every fall writers across the world connect in person and online to do what some have called the impossible...Write a novel (50K words) in the month of November. What do we call this madness? National Novel Writing Month, or for short NaNoWriMo! The program gave me an outlet for my fears and anger of being let go, and I learned to put all my emotions into words. I wrote an YA epic fantasy set in a future Earth. The trials and tests the main character had to go through to save her world helped renew my faith that God, indeed, has a plan for each of us. He was with me. He was for me, and I was going to be okay. This year I am doing a paranormal mystery that I have decided to call: Operation Xander. You can check out the link and follow my progress. Or if you want to join me in the wonder and craziness that is NaNoWriMo add me as a buddy and join a local community of writers. Of course you are welcome to join my local group even if you live on the other side of the planet. We call ourselves the White County NaNo on Facebook.

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Lisa’s non-fiction has been published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and the Dead Mule School of Southern Literature. Her Sci-Fi story, The Tree of Life, is in Holdfast 2014 Anthology. She is currently writing a web series, Starborne Academy. Lisa copy edited and researched on Understanding Global Slavery by University of California Press, edits for Metahuman Press, and is an upcoming creative contributor with Pro Se Productions. She is a Sally A. Williams Grant winner for writing from the Arkansas Arts Council. Her most recent non-fiction endeavor is a series of cookbooks based around five main recipes that can be adapted into other delicious meals. The first book in the series is Five Recipes Every Southern Cook Should Master.

Trail to Thanksgiving...

For the next few days I will be sharing guest posts from some of my fellow Arkansas authors, about what they are thankful for, or about Thanksgiving.
My first guest blogger is Debbie Archer.

A Good Whack Upside the Head

My list of things I’m thankful for is heftier than my pitiful, tattered, unabridged dictionary resting on my desk. And I’m thankful for that, too. Yeah, yeah. I have one online. Big whoop. I can’t run my finger down the crinkled pages of that one. Nor can I close my eyes and randomly flip to a page and discover a new word begging to be included in my next wip. But, I digress.

Heading up my list of things/people that make my life a living dream: my husband, family, chocolate, happily-ever-afters, and blunders-that-turned-out-well. In short, the Jesus things. He sees to it that my life is one big blessing even though He makes me wade through a few mud holes to get to His arms. 

Last night, he smacked me upside the head with another big ol’ blessing. One that’s always been there, but for which I’ve never given him credit. Not a thumbs up. Not even a head nod! It never OCCURRED to me to be thankful for this … until last night.

About 9:00 p.m. I sat in the den doing my “calm down from a long day” routine. That includes sipping a cup of herbal tea, staring at the twinkle lights on the mantle, and talking to my hero. I’ve found that’s the perfect time for us to chat, because I have fewer distractions, I’m too pooped to do housework, and I have a list of things to ask his advice about. Uppermost on my mind last night was NaNoWriMo.

Once I decided to throw my heart, soul, and lack of common sense into this exercise of writing 50,000 words in a month, a bad case of the worries set in. I’ve tried it one other time and only lasted two days. Two DAYS! I melted into a puddle of nerves, threw up my hands, and quit. Now, here I was diving in again.

I snuggled into my spot on the couch, sipped, and allowed self-doubt to plop down right next to me. Then the sighing began. Had I made a big mistake by committing to NaNo this year? I mean, I work full time. I have a lot on my plate, and a lot of deadlines that have to be met. The only time I have to write is exclusively at night. Plus, NOBODY in my town is joining me.

In other words, what He heard from me was WaaaaWaaaaWaaaa. And that’s when He whacked me upside the head. As I sat in that quiet room, I heard His words clear as day in my heart.

“I gave you your writing. Be grateful. Others battle with the same problems you do. Use the gift I gave you. Now.

And since I can be a bit dense, he went on to explain a few things. Most writers work full time at another job. They all have responsibilities, and a LOT of people only get to write at night.

Now, I’ve always been thankful for my writing friends, but it NEVER occurred to me to be grateful for the multitude of writers I will never know. But I am now. We are all linked through this gift God handed to us. We are connected.

We live in a world where people don’t always “get” us as writers, and that’s okay. God gets us. We get each other. And, in this writer’s heart, I’m thankful for God’s clarification. I’m no longer worried about NaNoWriMo. If I finish, great. If I don’t, at least I’ll get myself into a writing pattern. More importantly I’ve found comfort in knowing that no matter when I write, another writer will be lacing words together. At the same time I’m mulling over a word, another writer will turn to a weathered dictionary to find the perfect word to touch a reader’s heart.

Wherever we are in our writing – wherever we are in the world, we are connected. And for this, I am grateful.  

Press Release from Litfuse Publicity

Press Release

Quilts of Love authors celebrate latest releases with a Christmas-themed chat

Live Facebook event allows readers to connect with authors and other fans of the series

Seattle: Nothing beats a Christmas party you don’t have to get dressed up for! Readers are invited to grab their quilts and a mug of their favorite warm holiday beverage and settle down for a night in with the authors of the latest releases in Abingdon Press’ Quilts of Love series. The Quilts of Love Merry Quilted Christmas Facebook party on December 9 at 8:00 PM EST will be hosted by the authors of the two latest releases, Jodie Bailey (Quilted by Christmas/October 21, 2014) and Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven (Swept Away/November 18, 2014). They will be joined by Gina Welborn (Masterpiece Marriage/December 16, 2014) and Cathy Elliott (A Stitch in Time/January 20, 2015), who will be giving readers a preview of their upcoming books.

The live Quilts of Love quarterly event will center on an interactive chat between the authors and readers, allowing participants from around the country (and the world) to participate in one large book club. The authors will share the inspiration behind their stories and ask discussion questions surrounding the themes of each book. Chat participants will be eligible for prizes to be given away at the end of the hour, including books, Christmas ornaments, sweet treats and other special selections chosen by the authors. The winner of a Kindle Fire giveaway, held in conjunction with the latest Quilts of Love blog tour, will also be announced. The chat has been promoted online with the help of bloggers participating in the blog tours coordinated by Litfuse Publicity Group.

It isn’t just the readers who are excited to take part in these chats. “I’m looking forward to teaming up with Laura, Cindy, Cathy and Gina to chat with everyone and to give away some fun prizes.  Who doesn’t love a party, especially when there are presents?” asks Bailey.

The authors are also fans of the series and its authors. “I’m in stitches over being a Quilts of Love author!” Welborn notes. Loven feels the same way. “The word ‘excitement’ doesn’t begin to cover the range of emotions I am experiencing being included in this great group of authors. I wouldn’t be here without my great co-author Laura, talent of this story, and Jodie’s book was so sweet. I look forward with great anticipation to reading Gina and Cathy’s books.”

“I’m excited to be a part of the Quilts of Love series with so many talented authors. I wanted to be a part of this line and was honored to write for them,” explains Hilton. She adds, “Any opportunity to chat with readers and hear their stories is a blessing, and I hope to see many there!”

The Quilts of Love series centers on the idea that quilts tell stories of love and loss, hope and faith, tradition and new beginnings. Each release focuses on the women who quilted all of these things into their family history. Featuring contemporary and historical romances, as well as Amish fiction, women’s fiction and the occasional light mystery, readers are drawn into the endearing characters and touched by their stories. January 2015 will mark the last monthly release for the current series of 25 stand-alone titles.

"The best reward for a Quilts of Love author has to be meeting the loyal readers,” says Elliott. “As the author of the final book in the series, I look forward to meeting many long-time readers and some new ones! It’s a great way to hear about their creative interests and get a glimpse into their own stories."

Readers can RSVP to the Facebook chat any time between now and December 9 by visiting the Quilts of Love Facebook page. All fans are encouraged to invite their friends to join in the fun.

Keep up with the Quilts of Love series online at:

quiltsoflovebooks.com ~ pinterest.com/quiltsoflove/ ~ facebook.com/quiltsoflovebooks ~ twitter.com/TheQuiltsofLove

About the authors and their books:

Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey (October)

A grandmother’s last wish is to communicate God’s love through an Irish chain quilt.

Taryn McKenna believes she’s easy to forget. Abandoned by her parents and left behind when her high school sweetheart joined the army, she vows to never love again and throws herself into her love for the outdoors and the pursuit of a college degree—something no one else in her family has ever accomplished. Her goal, as a young teacher in the hills of North Carolina, is to leave a legacy in the lives of the middle schoolers she teaches.

When Taryn’s grandmother Jemma, the only other person who ever held her close, has a heart attack that reveals a fatal medical condition, Taryn is corralled into helping Grandma work on a final project—an Irish chain quilt that tells the story of her history and the love Jemma knows is out there for Taryn. As the pieces of the quilt come together, Taryn begins to see her value. Can she learn to believe that God will never leave her behind even though others have?

Jodie Bailey is Tarheel born and bred. After 15 years as a military spouse, she settled with her family back in North Carolina. She is the author of the military suspense novel Freefall and is a contributor to Edie Melson’s devotional for military families, Fighting Fear: Winning the War at Home. While not working on her next novel, she teaches middle schoolers to love writing as much as she does.

Readers can find Bailey at JodieBailey.com or on Facebook (JodieBaileyAuthor) and Twitter (@jodiebailey).

Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven (November)

Sara doesn’t think she wants love. But her grandmother has other plans.

Sara Jane Morgan is trying to balance teaching with caring for her ailing, stubborn grandmother. When school lets out for the summer, the plans are for Grandma to teach Sara Jane to quilt as they finish up the Appalachian Ballad quilt Grandma started as a teenager. But things don’t always go as planned.

Andrew Stevenson is hiding from his past—and his future. He works as a handyman to pay the bills, but his heart is as an artisan, designing homemade brooms. When Sara Jane’s grandmother hires him to renovate her home, sparks fly between Drew and his new employer’s granddaughter.

Still, it doesn’t take Sara Jane long to see Drew isn’t what he seems. Questions arise, and she starts researching him online. What she discovers could change her life—and her heart—forever.

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning author and a professional book reviewer. A stay-at-home mom and home school teacher, Laura lives with her family in Horseshoe Bend, Arkansas.

Hilton’s online home is lauravhilton.blogspot.com. She is also on Facebook (Author-Laura-V-Hilton) and Twitter (@Laura_V_Hilton).

Cindy Loven is active in the church and writes from her home in Conway, Arkansas, where she lives with her husband and their son.

Loven blogs at cindylovenreviews.blogspot.com and can be found on Twitter (cndloven).

Masterpiece Marriage by Gina Welborn (December)

He wants to save his business. She wants to be a professor. But are they asking for more than they can really have?

After a flood damages the looms at Zenus Dane’s Philadelphia textile mill and the bank demands loan payment, Zenus turns to his aunt for help repurposing his textiles. Trouble is . . . his aunt has already been hired by the lovely yet secretive Englishwoman Mary Varrs.

Eager to acquire his aunt’s quilt patterns, Zenus attends the summer Quilting Bee, a social event his aunt has uniquely designed with the secret purpose of finding Zenus a wife. However Zenus only has eyes for Mary, but Mary has no such desire for him.

Though his aunt is determined to design a masterpiece marriage, both Zenus and Mary will have to overcome their stubborn ways. Can he realize that love requires stepping out of his routine? And will she recognize that following her heart doesn’t mean sacrificing her ambition?

Gina Welborn is the author of several novels and novellas, including The Heiress’s Courtship. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers; the president of Faith, Hope and Love; and one of the founding members of InkwellInspirations.com. She lives in Cache, Oklahoma, with her pastor husband and their five children.

Visit her Welborn online at GinaWelborn.com and on Facebook (ginawelbornauthor) and Twitter (@gina_welborn).

A Stitch in Time by Cathy Elliott (January)

Thea James has accepted an assignment as co-chairperson for Larkindale’s first quilt show extravaganza. Juggling the new assignment with running her antique business, she’s already feeling frayed when things start to unravel.

Mary-Alice Wentworth, a much-loved town matriarch, respect quilt judge, and Thea’s dear friend, is covertly conked on the head during the kick-off Quilt Show Soiree, throwing suspicion on her guests. It also appears that a valuable diamond brooch has been stolen during the attack. The family is furious. But is it because of the missing diamonds or their mugged mother?

When a renowned textile expert goes MIA and the famous Wentworth heritage quilt disappears, Larkindale’s reputation as a tourist have is at risk. Thea attempts to piece the mystery together and save the town’s investment in the Quilt Show before Mary-Alice gets another brain bump… or something worse.

Author and speaker Cathy Elliott nourishes her night-owl habit by creating cozy mysteries and more on her trusty laptop in Anderson, California. Like the protagonist in her new mystery, Cathy is an avid quilter. Besides collecting (too much) cool fabric, she also enjoys hunting for antique treasures.

Find Elliott at cathyelliottbooks.com and on Facebook (Author Cathy Elliott).

For more information about the live Facebook chat, contact Audra Jennings: 
audra@litfusegroup.com.