TopA GOOD READ
Newsletter For Readers and Writers

November 2010

 
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Welcome and thank you for sharing your time with me. Those of you who signed up for my newsletter since last month, thank you for subscribing.

Jo HuddlestonThis month ...

In 
Guest Gab: An interview with Tamera Alexander, author of new release Within My Heart.

In Writing Wisdom: Dan Poynter writes about when to market.

In What Am I Reading?: Announcement of the winners of last month's books and another one you could win. Review of Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon and Love Remains by Kay Dacus.

In Book Buzzings: Highlight of two recent novels, one by Sarah Sundin and another by K. Dawn Byrd.

Check Inspirational Insights to read my thoughts on giving thanks.


Share this newsletter with your friends and if you have any comments or suggestions about this newsletter, please email me.  
 
You can take a look at earlier newsletters by clicking the Archive button on my websiteAlways remember: I value your presence here and the time you share with me.


 
Quality Quote

"One day is there of the series

  Termed Thanksgiving day,

 Celebrated part at table,

   Part in memory."

--Emily Dickinson (1830-86), Complete Poems, Part One: Life, 1924

 

BuzzingsBook Buzzings
Yours and Mine

LMU inductionLast month Lincoln Memorial University (my alma mater) inducted me into their Literary Hall of Fame. It was a humbling and exciting experience. This photo shows Dr. B. James Dawson, President of the University presenting me my plaque. More photos from the occasion are posted on my website.

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Let me know your five favorite books and their authors and I'll include them here. Last name is optional.


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Last month I listed Randall Murphree's five favorite nonfiction books and promised I'd include his other lists in future newsletters. Below, then, are his five favorite books from his combined fiction and nonfiction books and their authors. If you'd like to follow Randall's reasoning of separating  your five favorite books by fiction and nonfiction, you're welcome to do so. Thanks, Randall.


Wrapped in Rain by Charles Martin

The Pearl by John Steinbeck

The Grace and Truth Paradox by Randy Alcorn

Simply Jesus by Joseph Stowell

The Testament by John  Grisham


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This month I highlight A Memory Between Us by Sarah Sundin and also Killing Time  by K. Dawn Byrd. Below is information about these books.

 

Memory BetweenTitle: A Memory Between Us
Author: Sarah Sundin
Genre: Historical fiction
Publisher: Revell
Release date: September 2010

Available here

Sarah's website
 

During World War II, B-17 bomber pilot Maj. Jack Novak has never failed to meet a challenge until he meets Lt. Ruth Doherty, a striking nurse with a shameful secret--can they confront their deepest sins, face their greatest fears, and learn to trust and to love?



Killing timeTitle: Killing Time

Author: K. Dawn Byrd

Genre: Inspirational romantic suspense
Publisher: Desert Breeze Publishing
Release Date: August 2010
Available here
Dawn's website

Incarcerated on trumped-up embezzlement charges, Mindy McLaurin investigates an inmate's death, allegedly from an overdose. When her cellmate dies she learns that both women ingested the same drug. Upon release, someone stalks her, framing her for her cellmate's murder. Can she prove to handsome Counselor Stone that she's innocent before she loses him forever? 

     

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 GuestGab Guest Gab
Interview with Tamera Alexander
Author of Within My Heart

  

TammyTamera Alexander is the best-selling author of From a Distance, Beyond This Moment, and The Inheritance (2010 RITA Award winner). Her deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose have earned her devoted readers--and multiple industry awards. After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville, Tennessee where they enjoy life with Tamera's father, Doug, and with their two adult children who live close by. And don't forget Jack, their precious--and precocious--silky terrier. Tamera uses her writing to draw closer to the Lord, and hopes that her readers will take steps closer to Christ as they read.

JO: Please give us a brief overview of the Timber Ridge Reflections Series.

TAMERA: Set in the town of Timber Ridge, in the Colorado Rocky Mountains (1870s), these three stories of faith and romance feature women who break the gender boundaries of their day not only by daring to have careers, but careers traditionally held by men. In the third book, Within My Heart, Rachel Boyd, a widow raising her two young sons, shows us what it means to take risks, and not only risks with her ranch, but also with something of far greater worth--her heart. These three women seek to fulfill their dreams and hopes in an untamed land where every advancement is hard-fought, every opportunity is cherished, and where love has the transcending power to change lives.


JO: Can each book in the Timber Ridge Reflections series be read as a stand-alone book?


TAMERA: Certainly! I always tell readers that if they're going to read all of them, why not read them in order for the richest experience. But each book is definitely a story within itself and can be enjoyed individually.


JO: How did you get started as a CBA (Christian Booksellers Association) writer?


TAMERA: I first considered writing a novel in 1999. But I need to go back a bit farther to really get to the "seed" of where all this started for me. In 1995, my mother-in-law, Claudette Harris Alexander, shared a book with me, one she thought I would really enjoy. I was busy and let time go by without reading it. She asked me again if I'd read it. Several times. I said no, but that I would. The best laid plans...

Very unexpectedly, Claudette died that same year from a brain aneurysm. Weeks passed, and as I was cleaning bookshelves downstairs, I happened across that little volume and immediately sat down and read it. Claudette was right! I felt an immediate connection with the thread of hope woven through that gentle love story--Love Comes Softly, by Janette Oke, originally published by Bethany House Publishers in 1979. That sent me searching for more inspirational fiction published not only by Bethany House, but elsewhere in the Christian Booksellers Association market.

A few years later my husband and I were driving back to Colorado from Texas late one night. I finished a novel, turned to him and said (only joking at the time), "I think I could write one of those." Without blinking, he said, "Well, do it." Competitive at heart, I nodded and said, "Okay."

My first novel made it to the review board at Bethany House Publishers in 2000, after which I received a very nice (and spot on!) rejection letter. Writing that first story was a learning experience for me that I took to heart. And with renewed determination, I set out to seriously study the craft of writing and have been writing ever since. Within My Heart is my seventh published novel.

JO: How did you come up with the concept for Within My Heart?


Within HeartTAMERA: So far, all of my stories have grown out of struggles I'm having in my own faith walk or from questions I'm wrestling with at the time, and the story in Within My Heart (WMH) is no exception. When thinking of great faith, we rarely think of great fear. But the Bible shows repeatedly that people of great faith also trembled in their boots as they took that first step in following God's will for their lives. Nevertheless, they took those steps, trusting Him and then running for Him with everything they had. We should do no less.


I believe the timing of my writing WMH was orchestrated by God, and I know without a doubt that He shaped and re-shaped the fabric of this story so that I would learn some crucial lessons of faith that I needed to learn at this time in my life. Lessons I needed in order to walk the road He set before me and my family. And I'm so grateful that He did.


JO: How did you choose the time frame?


TAMERA: The timeframe for this series (1875-1877) is set just before Colorado was granted statehood, and the actual event of its achieving statehood is celebrated in the course of these stories. My novels are filled with historical events that I weave into the plot and lives of the characters. Not only is this an era of history I love, it was an exciting time to live in Colorado and in the Colorado Rocky Mountains.


JO: What made you choose both Colorado and Tennessee as your settings?


TAMERA: It's said that writers tend to write what we know. And since I lived in Colorado for seventeen years, and since I'm a daughter of the South (born and raised in Atlanta), I guess that saying holds true for me. I've always loved history, especially the Old West and Southern history. So, I suppose you could say that my own personal loves dictated the settings. I only hope the love I have for these areas of our country, and their history, come through in my writing.


JO: What is the symbolism for the title Within My Heart?


TAMERA: There's meaning behind the title, of course, but practically speaking we needed to start this title with a preposition since we'd already established that pattern in the series. We have FROM a Distance, then BEYOND this Moment, so we naturally needed another "prepositional phrase" type title. But even more importantly, the heart of this story is about trusting your own heart's desires to God. It's about taking steps of faith while we're neck-deep in fear. It's about trusting that still small voice within your heart, even while the storms of life rage without. So...it seemed a fitting title.


JO: Was the hotel you wrote about in Within My Heart based on a real hotel from the 1800's?  If so, is it in operation today?

TAMERA: I based my hotel VERY LOOSELY on The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park (not constructed until the early 1900s), but only in the idea of a "fabulous warm springs resort that was open back in the day." Still, I tried to capture the Rocky Mountain setting, the warm springs, and the overall grandeur of the Stanley in Tolliver's Colorado Hot Springs Resort. 

The Stanley IS still open today, and is a beautiful place to visit (and stay!). Just don't watch The Shining before you go. You'll never look at those long hallways the same again.


JO: How much research did Within My Heart take?


TAMERA: I spent over two years researching the information for this series, and really, even longer than that when you consider all the traveling I did when my family and I lived in Colorado for those seventeen years. I visited every place I write about in these books, interviewed numerous historians, read diary after diary from early settlers of the area, and loved every minute!


JO: Do you have a favorite character in Within My Heart? Why?


TAMERA: Of course I love Rand and Rachel, the hero and heroine of WMH, and the journey their relationship takes. But two other characters who really captured my heart are actually secondary characters whose story spanned the 3-book series. Ben and Lyda Mullins (named after my own Uncle Ben and Aunt Lyda Mullins) took on lives of their own, and it pleases me when readers share that they, too, have fallen in love with this couple. We learn more about Ben and Lyda's personal story in Within My Heart.


JO: What is the most interesting fact that you learned while researching and writing Within My Heart?


TAMERA: While researching WMH, I poured over medical books from the 1870s and wasn't too surprised at how much we didn't know back then regarding the human body. What I found very surprising were the insights some very forward-thinking physicians did possess. Of course, Dr. Rand Brookston, the male lead in Within My Heart, falls into that category. Dedicated to their calling and tireless in their pursuit to heal, doctors like Rand blazed the trail for many of today's remedies and procedures by their stubborn thirst for knowledge and commitment to caring for their patients.


JO: How many books will be in the Timber Ridge Reflections series?


TAMERA: There are three--From a Distance, Beyond This Moment, and Within My Heart. All three books have Discussion Guides available for download, which include recipe suggestions for group meetings. I love doing Virtual Book Club Meetings with reading groups. Visit my website for more information.

 

JO: What are some of the challenges you face as an author?


TAMERA: I'm fairly outgoing, an extrovert by nature, so all the alone time spent writing can be a challenge. That said, the older I get and the more I've been writing, the more I'm enjoying this quieter life. By necessity, perhaps?

 

JO: What aspects of being a writer do you enjoy the most?


TAMERA: The glamorous wardrobe! Exercise pants and t-shirts all the way! On a more serious note... The connections made with readers are precious to me, and are such an unexpected and appreciated blessing!

 

JO: What clubs or organizations are you involved with helping with your writing?


TAMERA: At the top of the list is American Christian Fiction Writers. ACFW is a professional writers organization dedicated to equipping authors in the craft of writing Christian fiction. Their affordable annual membership offers online classes, critique groups, and an annual conference (held in September) that's among the best in the industry. The knowledge I've gained through my affiliation with ACFW, along with the relationships I've made there with other writers, have made all the difference. Check it out at www.acfw.com.


JO: What do you do to keep your writing fresh and improve on it each time you write a book?


TAMERA: By embracing the undeniable fact that I have so much yet to learn about writing, about life, about faith. God's creativity is boundless, and as I write, I pray to always draw from His reserves, not my own. At the outset of each book, I come with all my research and brainstorming and piles of notes, and I place it all before the Lord and ask Him to guide the story. To help me get out of the way and write the faith journey He has in mind for these characters. And ultimately, for me too!


JO: Are there any other new projects on the horizon?


TAMERA: Absolutely! I'm already working on my next series. Historical, of course, except these next six books will take place in my native South, which I love! These books, post-civil war era, are set in Nashville and are rich with historical detail and with characters who truly step off the page, because many of them are based on people who actually lived during that time. The first book is scheduled for release in 2011. Visit my website for more details.


JO: What message would you like your readers to take from reading Within My Heart?


TAMERA: That everything we experience�� in this life--both the painful and pleasant--is shaping us for eternity, and that sometimes the greatest steps of faith are taken neck-deep in fear. But we must take them! Even while not knowing where they'll lead. Because the best is yet to come!


JO: What is your greatest achievement?


TAMERA: My greatest achievement isn't really an achievement, per se, but rather an ongoing pursuit. And that's to be the best wife and mother I can be. Of all the earthly blessings God has placed in my life, my family is most precious. I adore the relationships we share and treasure our time spent together. And I love that our eternity together started here. Then comes the writing. Granted, sometimes it's a tough balancing act to keep the priorities in proper order, but if I earn every accolade in writing and yet fail at being who I need (and so want) to be in my family, I will not have succeeded.


JO: What do you do to get away from it all?


TAMERA: Read, watch movies, take walks, cook, bake, and spend time with family and friends while doing all of the above. Anything that doesn't require my laptop.

 

Tamera's website:      www.tameraalexander.com

Tamera's blog:          www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com

Tamera's group blog: www.writespassage.blogspot.com

Connect on Facebook:http://www.facebook.com/tamera.alexander

Connect on Twitter:   http://twitter.com/tameraalexander

Contact Tamera:        [email protected]

 

Discussion Questions for all of Tamera's books (including suggested recipes for book club gatherings) are available on her website.

 

JO: Tammy, thank you for sharing with my readers in this interesting interview and for giving a copy of your book, which you will personally autograph to the winner of our drawing and send it directly to him/her.

    

 


 

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WhatReadingWhat Am I Reading?

Let me know what you've read that really impressed you, tell why in about 100 words and I'll include it here. Giving your name is optional.

 
AdamLinda Wagner wrote me about a book she loved: "Adam by Ted Dekker.  It's a book within a book, with danger at every turn.  What bonds me to the book is the exposure of the destruction of child abuse.  The spiritual dimensions are real.  We learn the true enemy of our souls." --Linda Wagner

Thanks, Linda.



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It's easy to forward this newsletter to your friends: at the end of this email click "Forward Email."

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Someone asked how I select winners in my drawings. I use a computer program that randomly selects the winners. No pulling names out of a hat!!

If you're a winner, the rules are simple: email me your mailing address by the 25th of the month in which you're a winner; if you don't, I'll draw another winner. You can win only once in a calendar year.

I have some bad news and good news: Last month I interviewed Sandra D. Bricker about her two recent releases and the copies of them I would give away. When I received the books Sandie had personally autographed them to me, so I have to keep them. Lucky me! But I promised two book giveaways this month and that I will do. The two books are reviewed below. The winner of a copy of Touching the Clouds by Bonnie Leon is Chuck (cebeli...@...). The winner of Love Remains by Kaye Dacus is Randall (randa...@...). Congratulations! Please email me your mailing address by November 25 and I'll get the book to you.

If you didn't win this month, see below for news about another book giveaway.

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This month on November 25, I'll draw a winner from all current subscribers for a copy of
Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander. The winner is in for a treat: Tammy will personalize her autograph of the book to the winner and mail it directly to him/her! But the winner must send me their mailing address.


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Touching CloudsI recently read Touching The Clouds by Bonnie Leon, Revel Publishing, 2010, 362 pages. Before Alaska's statehood, Kate and Paul travel there separately, one searching for solitude and one itching for adventures of being a bush pilot. Kate knows it will be her biggest challenge to pilot in a man's world but her determination keeps her in the game. She and Paul both carry a secret from their past that they wish not to share. Their attraction to each other is immediate but their journey to understanding one another proves a treacherous pathway. The vivid descriptions of the wilderness settings almost become characters in the story that you will miss when you finish the book. Kate is a strong and stubborn heroine, which increases interest in the story. A good read.



Love RemainsI've also recently read Love Remains by Kaye Dacus, Barbour Publishing, 2010, 315 pages. Zarah and Bobby were in love years ago. Her military-general father kicked her out of the house when he learned she had defied him by dating an enlisted man. After he pushed her out of his house with what she could carry and $200, she went to Nashville and her grandparents. Fourteen years later Bobby moves to Nashville to lead an investigation within the historical commission where Zarah works. Because of Zarah's father's deceit they both feel they were betrayed by the other fourteen years ago. Can he really investigate the commission where she works? Can she forget the pain from the past and try to see if any love remains between them even when she learns he's investigating her? Dacus again gives us memorable characters and her mesmerizing flawless storytelling. A good read.



 
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WritingWisdomWriting Wisdom

When to Start Marketing

by Dan Poynter 

 

Dan Poynter"Just as a parent's responsibilities do not end with giving birth, an author's do not end with publication. The child must be raised and the book must be marketed."

----

From Dan Pointer's Fifteenth Edition of Self-Publishing Manual: http://www.parapublishing.com. To receive Dan's free newsletter Publishing Poynters: http://parapub.com/sites/para/resources/newsletter.cfm.

 


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Clean Chuckle

THANKSGIVING FORECAST

autumn turkeyTurkeys will thaw in the morning, then warm in the oven to an afternoon high near 190F. The kitchen will turn hot and humid, and if you bother the cook, be ready for a severe squall or cold shoulder.

During the late afternoon and evening, the cold front of a knife will slice through the turkey, causing an accumulation of one to two inches on plates. Mashed potatoes will drift across one side while cranberry sauce creates slippery spots on the other. Please pass the gravy.

A weight watch and indigestion warning have been issued for the entire area, with increased stuffiness around the beltway. During the evening, the turkey will diminish and taper off to leftovers, dropping to a low of 34F in the refrigerator.

Looking ahead to Friday and Saturday, high pressure to eat sandwiches will be established. Flurries of leftovers can be expected both days with a 50 percent chance of scattered soup late in the day. We expect a warming trend where soup develops. By early next week, eating pressure will be low as the only wish left will be the bone.


InspThoughtsInspirational Insight
Giving Thanks
by Jo Huddleston

 

Most people pause, however briefly, and try to be thankful for their blessings around this time of year. For me, on the one hand, it's simply a matter of being thankful for what most of us take for granted, for what we think is ours just because it's ours. For example, I'm thankful for shelter, food, medical personnel who care for us, teachers, the police department, the fire department, caring neighbors, books to read, sunsets to enjoy, and grandchildren to love.

 

On the other hand I'm also thankful for things I don't have, things that didn't happen. For example, no devastating weather, no outbreak of dreaded infection or contagious disease, no malnutrition and hunger to bring pain to children's faces in my community.

 

Please don't forget the "thanks" in the word Thanksgiving. What are you thankful for this season? I'm glad I have Someone to thank for all the good in my life. "Enter his gates with Thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name" (Psalm 100:4).




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