Do I only represent Christian Writers? by Terry Burns

Well now, that's a good question?

I'm not sure, because I don't ask people about their faith in the submission process. I suspect since people can clearly see that this is a Christian agency (even though we do work in the secular market as well) that they would probably be comfortable with that if they were going to submit to us.

But I don't ask.

I do know one thing, an atheist or non-Christians might be decidedly uncomfortable in my client group. You see, I require all clients to be in a private online group which gives me the ability to contact them all at once. The group offers three options, priority messages only (I'm the only one that can send a priority message), on digest, and on full access where they can talk directly not only with me but with other clients as well.

I do watch what the group talks about and do participate, maybe more than I should. Once the group was set up another interesting aspect came out. They turned out to be an amazing group of prayer warriors who genuinely care for each other and pray for one another with great effectiveness.

See why I think a non-believer would probably not be comfortable in the group?

Then there is the fact that I am drawn to content that has a good faith message. Yes, that narrows the possible places it can be submitted but that is after all why I decided to start doing this. Will I represent something that does not have faith content in it? Sure, we need good family entertainment as well as Christian books. Saying that you can tell I don't park my beliefs and morals at the door even if I am doing general market books.

My mother has passed on now, but she is still my measuring stick for projects. If it is something that would have offended my mother then it isn't something I want my name associated with. It's a measuring stick that I'm comfortable with and I don't mind if people shake their head and say I'm giving up sales. Of course I am, but they aren't sales I want to make. There are plenty of agents that do those, they don't need me doing it.

But I'm taking the long road around the mountain answering the question. Do I only represent Christian authors? Probably. Is it intentional? No, I just think all of my clients are Christians, and whether I actually ask someone or not, that is who I am likely to end up with.

2012 Carol Award winners

We interrupt today's programing for this announcement: (last weeks author reveal is below-please checkit out)

The Carol Awards are ACFW's recognition for the best Christian fiction published by traditional publishing houses in the previous calendar year.


The winners of the 2012 Carol Award are:

Debut Novel
Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)
Long Contemporary
The Search by Suzanne Woods Fisher (Revell)
Long Contemporary Romance
My Foolish Heart by Susan May Warren (Tyndale)
Long Historical
Fairer Than Morning by Rosslyn Elliott (Thomas Nelson)
Long Historical Romance
To Win Her Heart by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House Publishers)
Mystery
Falling to Pieces: A Shipshewana Amish Mystery by Vannetta Chapman (Zondervan)
Novella
An Accidental Christmas from A Biltmore Christmas by Diane T. Ashley/Aaron McCarver (Barbour Publishing)
Romantic Suspense
Lonestar Angel by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson)
Short Contemporary
Lakeside Reunion by Lisa Jordan (Love Inspired)
Short Contemporary Suspense
Nightwatch by Valerie Hansen (Love Inspired Suspense)
Short Historical
The Deepest Waters by Dan Walsh (Revell)
Speculative Fiction
Broken Sight by Steve Rzasa (Marcher Lord Press)
Suspense/Thriller
Fallen Angel by Major Jeff Struecker/Alton Gansky (B & H Fiction)
Women’s Fiction
Dandelion Summer by Lisa Wingate (Penguin Praise/Berkley)
Young Adult
The Merchant’s Daughter by Melanie Dickerson (Zondervan)


Congratulations to all of the winners but especially to Suzanne Woods Fisher for winning the Long Contemporary Fiction slot with her title The Search, published by Revell
Suzanne is Joyce Hart's client.

We will return to our regularly scheduled program of First pages next week.

Last week's brave author was Rick Barry.  Please check out Rick's inspirational adventure novels, Gunner's Run and Kiriath's Quest. Stop by his blog/website for a visit. rickbarry.blogspot.com

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana Flegal

Welcome to Would You Read On? 


This week's First Page is the opening to a Historical novel. We welcome your thoughts. Please comment below if you would continue reading on.  

Nicodemus, Kansas

Spring, 1885

      Some folks said he was crazy, others saw him as plain evil but most folks just avoided Gideon McCoy and understandably so. When he rode through a town it was hard to decide which held your gaze more, the man or his horse. Each distinctly seized your attention and together they made a remarkable spectacle.

     In this small Kansas town it was unusual to see a man so pristinely garbed wearing such an expensive white shirt and black trousers under a long black overcoat. His fancy gun belt trimmed in silver pulled your eyes to his pearl handle six shooter. More of an odd occurrence was for the man to be a recognized gunman and a Negro. With unashamed impudence he led his steed down the main street of the town.

     The horse was a fine-looking tannish blonde with a bleached colored mane and tail, equally eye-catching and rare. The animal’s legs were outstanding, long and thick with hoofs uncommonly sturdy. He was indeed a magnificent beast trotting with the same imposing dignity his rider exhibited. The pair moved unhurriedly down the street taking in the distant view of an endless blue sky and tall prairie grass swaying in the warm breeze.

     The extravagantly embellished saddle was not only quality leather but had the rider’s name inscribed across the back. There would be no mistaking he was the infamous Gideon McCoy credited with walking away from over fifteen gunfights leaving his opponents sprawled dead in the dirt.

Would you read on?

Last weeks brave author was Jessica Nelson. 

Please check out Jessica's book, Love On The Range  Love Inspired Historical and stop by her website for a visit. www.JessicaNelson.net

Real Men Eat Quiche! By Linda S. Glaz

And real men read romance!

Not so much. 

And the few who write it, hide the fact with maybe the exception of Nicholas Sparks.

Last year at a local conference, I noticed that there were only a handful of male attendees. Maybe 10 or 12. I asked one of the men what he wrote. Answer? Romance. But he said it so quietly I had to ask again as I hadn’t heard him. He looked around, leaned closer, and in the same voice said, “Romance. But I sort of keep that on the down low.”

He told me he would be submitting under a pseudonym and had no intentions of ever revealing that he was the author.

I didn’t bother to ask him if he ate quiche. The guy had courage, just not enough to admit to anyone else that he wrote romance.

Now, one of my favorite romances is James Patterson’s Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas. Great romance! Wonderful romance! How’d he do it?

I’m not sure how women would feel in general about reading romance from a guy, so I’m asking here and now.

Would you chance a read ?

Fellas, would you write it ?   Read it ?

Please fill us in on your honest responses. I’m rather curious…

Would you read on? hosted by Diana L. Flegal

Welcome to our weekly column: Would You Read On? 

Please let us know if you are willing to read on by leaving a thoughtful comment for this contributing author. At the close of this first page you will find a reveal of last weeks nonfiction contributor.

The following page is in the Sci Fi genre.

Kita wasn’t supposed to come home—ever.

Molly rushed through the crowded transportation station, ignoring the sensation of gooseflesh rippling across her arms. Kita, her sister, left seven years ago on an Abraham Project—a missionary pilgrimage six-hundred light years away. It was a life-time commitment…supposedly. The telecom said Kita would need help getting home. But why?

“Molly Jacobsen, report to gabardine info mation kiosk.” The announcement aired across the mass com system, so every person in the transportation station heard it in their personal com link. Molly reached up behind her ear and pressed her own com link. The message repeated in her hearing only. Her stomach already felt tight, now it was cramping.

Gabardine information kiosk? She looked around for something—anything that had any resemblance to what gabardine might be. The communication-translation software missed the mark for the word, “information.”Perhaps it missed translating the color and called it gabardine. Was that green? Grey? Brownish-green? Who knows? It made no sense.

Molly half ran, half walked through the T. Station. Fear drove her on. She calculated Kita had been on the planet ten months, maybe eleven, before the decision was made to send her back home. Why? What went wrong? You’ve always been the stronger person, braver too. Still, it was a three-year suspended hibernation trip—how could anybody survive two suspensions in seven years? It just does NOT make sense!The selection process was so thorough. Kita was one of the top candidates. Why would they send her back?

Anger boiled in Molly’s gut. This pilgrimage made her mad from the get go. She knew her sister would go the minute she started talking about it. It was so like her.

Molly believed in helping the underdog, the helpless innocents, the oppressed.That’s why she became a law enforcer. But to trek across the universe for people who needed help with fertility and at the expense of her own family, no way! Not to mention forever leaving her twin—

Would you read on?

Last weeks courageous author was Jenny Smith. Her newest book is titled; Seriously God? I'm Doing Everything I Know to do and It's NOT Working.  You can connect with Jenny at the following links. Website: keepinginstride.com Facebook: keepinginstride Twitter: keepinginstride

I again! Me again! by Linda S. Glaz

I got it again!

So they gave the puppy to John and I. Errghhh.

I can understand when you use I incorrectly in dialogue, because folks speak that way, but just because it sounds like it’s hoity toity better to say it, don’t! When I is used incorrectly, it stands out so much. There’s an easy solution. Whenever you are tempted to say him and I, or her and I, or John and I, just drop the other person.

Would you really say:

So they gave the puppy to I? Of course not. Just by adding another person doesn’t mean you have to switch from me to I.

So they gave the puppy to John and me.

They gave the puppy to me.

See how much better that sounds?

This is one of those that when I read it, I go nuts. How about you? Do you have one grammar/punctuation issue that sends you off the deep end?

What Genre Is Your Book Publicist?

Too many authors make the mistake of hiring a publicist with the expectation of a miracle and with no realistic idea about the buying market in their genre. I'm not saying it's a mistake to hire a publicist, but what I am saying, is that you need to do your homework about the publicist and their area of expertise. Also, you need to do some research on what to expect for your book genre for a first-time author versus a well-established author and start pulling together some ideas and goals.

You really shouldn't hire a publicist until you know what you want and what to expect. Otherwise, you're just leaving yourself wide open for a sales pitch. Publicists know their business and many of them are good at what they do, therefore, they can make it sound like a wonderful package. It's just like any other business. There are legit publicists who will do a great job and give you your money's worth. Some are not so legit, will promise the stars and the moon and you will end up disappointed. Others who mean well and will do their best for you, but their contacts and networks aren't in the realm where you need to take your next book.

It's no different in shopping for a car. You wouldn't plunk down several thousand dollars on a vehicle without doing some research and going for a few test drives, would you? Why should investing in your book or writing career be any different?

Even though you hire a publicist, that doesn't mean they will be able to handle everything and you can go back to researching and writing the next book. They need bios, book covers, endorsements, and answers to interview questions from you. They may need to clear some time on both yours and their schedule to plan and discuss things. They may need you to meet people for live interviews, to be available for podcasts and other media recordings, and give feedback on mockup designs.

Will you have time for these things? If not, you may need a different publicist or package. Most authors work WITH a publicist. Each author is different. Their work habits and styles are varied and just as some agents work for some authors, other agents don't work as well. It's the same with publicists. Are you the type of author who really needs to develop a relationship with your publicist so that you will feel you can trust their judgment? Are you the type of author who doesn't need that tight connection and you can go anywhere as long as they give you a good price and provide quality work?

Are you an author who may want to work on one core area of your platform at a time? For instance, with your first book you just need to establish a platform, but for your second book you might need to build on that platform and make your foundation more solid. By the third book you might want to focus more on increasing your Social Media, or your public speaking engagements, or revamp your online presence to target your market and establish your message more accurately to reflect what you write.

Not all publicists offer the same services, but many offer multiple services. In spite of the wide range of services they may offer, keep in mind that they will have strengths in core areas of the business. This is important as you determine what your needs are and you narrow down your selection. As your writing career advances to various levels and you begin to concentrate on specific areas of your platform, you may find that working with more than one publicist for specific needs off and on at various times will work best for you. It will also open your platform and writing to more networks than what one publicist has established.

Know your needs. Know your expectations. Do your research. Then make a selection.

Post your questions and concerns, and I will do my best to answer. 






 

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana Flegal

Welcome once more to our weekly column: Would You Read On?
Please let us know if you are willing to read on by leaving a thoughtful comment for this courageous contributing author. At the close of this page you will find a reveal of last weeks contributor.

The following portion is from a Nonfiction piece:

I walked through the house one last time. I knew I had to pull myself together quickly. I paused, looking in the girls’ bedrooms, painted exactly how they had wanted. I walked through the living room smiling, remembering when my friend had spent days painting those walls with me. The front door beckoned me to open it one last time. As my hand grasped the knob, all of a sudden, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t open that door and walk to the truck piled high with our belongings. My head rested on the frame as tears filled my eyes.

How did we get to this place?

Oh, I remembered all the mistakes we had made, but when we finally began to wake up, we immediately turned to God.

We had thought he would come through.

He didn’t.

Our house was going into foreclosure, we were moving into a rental house, and God didn’t seem to care. There was no time to rehash this again; Chad and the girls were waiting. They needed me to put on a smile. It could have been worse. As I walked down those steps, I didn’t know it was about to get much worse.

Over the course of two years, like so many families, we faced foreclosure, job loss, the anxiety of no health insurance, and having to learn to adapt to a different income bracket. Somehow, adapting to a higher one had never been an issue.

Please let us know if you are willing to read on by leaving a thoughtful comment for this courageous contributing author. At the close of next Wednesday's post you will find a reveal of this weeks contributor.

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana Flegal

Welcome once more to our weekly column: Would You Read On?
Please let us know if you are willing to read on by leaving a thoughtful comment for this courageous contributing author. At the close of this page you will find a reveal of last weeks contributor.


Prologue (Bangladesh, current day)

            Neena shrank back but Shazari stood firm. “Get away from us,” she hissed.
            Ahmad continued toward them, laughing off Shazari’s fury. “Your husband is dead. You have no income. Soon you will have no food.”
            His grin was sly, evil. “You know you have no other choice.”
            Neena backed against a large tree, trembling. “I will never marry you!” she shrieked. She flung an arm up to shield her face from his sight. “How could you even think I would want to marry you?”
            “Want to?”Ahmad shoved Shazari aside. She pummeled him with uselessly small fists as he drew closer to Neena, close enough for Neena to feel his hot breath against her.
            “It is completely unimportant to me what you want.”
            Neena was shaking violently. Her voice came out in a desperate whisper. “Then . . . why?”
            He gripped a handful of her long, silky hair. “I want to own you,” he said. His chest heaved. “I want your husband’s daughter to know that I won.”
            His voice rose. “I will exact my vengeance on her by destroying your future.”
            Neena slumped down against the tree. Where had Shazari gone? Where had God gone?
            “Let her go.”
            Neena’s head shot up. Rashid stood behind Ahmad, feet planted, a weapon in his hand.
            Shazari stood directly behind him. Her chin was up. Her eyes shot sparks. “We are not as helpless as you think.”
           Ahmad burst into laughter. “You think my weak little brother, who has never stood up for anything in his life, is going to help you?”
            Rashid pointed the gun at his brother. “Let her go, Ahmad. You have made my life miserable since I was a boy, but I will not let you do that to them. I’ve had enough.”
            Ahmad’s eyes blazed, but his gaze failed to force Rashid’s submission.
           Very slowly,Ahmad’s hand released Neena. She rushed around him to Shazari’s side. Both women huddled behind Rashid, taking small steps backward toward the path that led away from the village.
            Rashid backed away with them. “I will take you away from here,” he said. “I will stay with you until I am certain you are safe.”
            Neena, Shazari and Rashid fled the village. “We’ll go to Asha,” Shazari whispered to Neena.“She rescues women in danger. She will have a place for us.”
            “You will never be safe,” Ahmad called after them. “Do you hear me, Rashid? I will find you!”
            He slammed his palm into the tree, shouting words raw with hate. “No matter where you go, or how far, you will never get away from me.”
            Ahmad clenched his hand into a fist, closing fingers around a piece of bark and crumbling it into dust.  “I will have my revenge.”

Would you read on?

Last weeks contributor was Lisa Fowler. Be watching for more about Lisa as she develops her 'Platform'.

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana L. Flegal

Hi Ya'll!
Thank you for taking time from your summer schedule to drop in and read today's First Page.

Middle Grade – Historical Fiction

CHAPTER ONE 

            I could’ve finished raising Gracie and Jack myself – if I’d been given the chance. Mama always said I was the responsible one of the family, looking out after her and the babies when Pop up and died on us. It was Pop who said men had no business raising babies; said it was woman’s work. But Pop didn’t know Mama would die so soon and leave us orphaned. I might have been only twelve but I was the oldest son and reckoned it was my duty to take up where Mama left off.

            My plans changed though when old widow woman McGuire, with her thick rimmed glasses and teeth that bounced when she talked, stuck her nose all up in our business. She alerted authorities we were three kids alone. Sheriff said he had no choice but to notify our next of kin after she squealed on us like she did. I tried hard – and for a mighty long time – not to hate her for that.

Our next of kin was Grandma of course, or Gam as we’d always called her. Once she knew, I figured she’d be blowing in on the next stiff wind, leastwise a short time after we laid Mama down. Sure enough I was right.

She hadn’t been around us younguns in a heap of moons. Matter of fact, she hadn’t seen Gracie, who was nine, in six years and never had laid eyes on Jack. So none of us were quite sure what to expect out of Gam. Most I remembered about her was things I’d heard Mama and Pop saying late at night after we were in bed. Best I could recall, most of it wasn’t too good. Gracie I’m sure, remembered less than I did about her. 

Please let us know if you would read on. We appreciate your comments :-) Stay Cool and enjoy summer. It seems as fast as the 4th of July goes by it just ZOOMS!

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana L. Flegal

Thank you for stopping by our blog today. Since we have no First Page for you today - we are happy to list the Christy Award winners announced this week at ICRS in Orlando. Congrats to all

 
 
 
 
CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Wolfsbane
by Ronie Kendig
Barbour Publishing 
CONTEMPORARY SERIES
The Amish Midwife
by Mindy Starns Clark and Leslie Gould
Harvest House Publishers
CONTEMPORARY STANDALONE
Promises to Keep
by Ann Tatlock
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
FIRST NOVEL
Words
by Ginny Yttrup
B&H Publishing Group
HISTORICAL
Wonderland Creek
by Lynn Austin
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
HISTORICAL ROMANCE
The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
by Julie Klassenby
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
SUSPENSE
The Queen
by Steven James
Revell Books, a division of Baker Publishing
VISIONARY
Veiled Rose
by Anne Elisabeth Stengl
Bethany House, a division of Baker Publishing Group
YOUNG ADULT
Waterfall
by Lisa T. Bergren
David C Cook

You can find out more about the books and authors from the official Christy Award press release. To find the list of other nominations and the replay of the ceremony’s live blog, visit the official Christy Awards site.



We also want to thank last weeks courageous author, Becky L. Miller.
You can find out more about Becky at her personal blog A Christian Worldview of Fiction - http://rebeccaluellamiller.wordpress.com/and her editing blog, Rewrite, Reword, Rework - http://rewriterewordrework.wordpress.com/

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana Flegal

Hi Y'all;
We hope your summer is off to a great start. Thank you for stopping by our blog today.

Today's First Page submission is an adult fantasy. Let us know in the comments below if you would read on or not.

Part 1
Epoch of Lord Abador – 19 Cida to 11 Fenad, 4702
The Other Worlder will instigate the end of the Epoch of Lord Abador either as Efrathah's staunchest defender or its most eminent foe.
 - from Rutad Jardan's Summations

Chapter I—The Fall

            On the basketball court, Jim Thompson expected trash talk. Here in his parents' beach-side condo, not so much.
            Kent Tanner, the jet-setting owner of the place next door, crossed his arms over his puffed-out chest. "It's better you got cut, Jim. Now you can settle down and get a real job. Only exceptional athletes make it big in the NBA."
            The guy's jab landed, just north of Jim’s own fears. He waggled his head back and forth the way that Denver Broncos wide receiver used to do when he popped to his feet after taking a ferocious hit. No way would Jim let Tanner know his cheap shot stung. The burble of conversation from the other guests swirled around them, peaking with an explosion of laughter from a bunch of college kids nearby. Friends of his sister, no doubt. When their voices died down, Jim eased back a step and parroted what he’d been telling his fans since his surgery. "I appreciate your concern, Kent, but this is only a temporary setback. I'm not done with basketball yet."
            "Trust me on this, kiddo, you don't want to be one of those players bouncing from team to team, earning next to nothing. There's no future in it."
            "I’ll keep that in mind." Jim flashed his photo-op smile, the best way to slam the door on the discussion. He couldn't listen to any more dreary predictions about his career. No matter what Tanner or anybody else said, he wasn't washed up. He could still play. All he needed was a chance to prove it.

Last weeks author submission was from author Cheryl Malandrinos.
You can learn more about Cheryl at one of her many online spots listed here.

Cheryl C. Malandrinos

http://ccmalandrinos.com

http://littleshepherdchildrensbook.blogspot.com

http://thebookconnectionccm.blogspot.com

http://childrensandteensbookconnection.wordpress.com

http://cherylschristianbookconnection.blogspot.com  

Book Table Reunion by Andy Scheer

At Mount Hermon a few years ago with
James Scott Bell and Angela Hunt.

You never know when you're going to run into an old friend, especially if you're involved in the world of writing.

This past Saturday morning my wife and I headed out on our daily walk, venturing into the neighborhood just west of us. My wife had checked online for garage sales and guided us toward a street where we'd find a sale.

“That's the street where Jeff Gerke lives,” I said, “the guy who runs Marcher Lord Press.” As we approached mid-block, I suspected the sale might even be at Jeff's house.

It was. Technically not a garage sale, Jeff's wife was conducting a fund-raiser for a friend with cancer. Besides lots of childrens clothes and computer items, there were tables loaded with books. I let my wife see if there were any nice outfits for our granddaughter, and I gravitated toward the good stuff.

Jeff walked from his house into the garage, spotted me at the table full of Christian fiction, and came over to shake hands.

The moment stood in contrast to the irony of our usual meetings. Though we live less than a five-minute drive away, we typically see each other only at writers conferences, at such places as Estes Park, Colorado; Leesburg, Florida; or Overland Park, Kansas. Even when you live in the same community—and the community is home to several publishing houses and dozens of writers—the best place to run into another writer, editor, or agent is still at a conference.

Jeff and I chatted awhile, getting caught up on what had happened since we'd last seen each other, in March at the Florida Christian Writers Conference. That's when I glanced down at the table of Christian fiction and had my reunion.

There on the table were lots of friends: Gayle Roper and Brandilyn Collins and Al Gansky and Rene Gutteridge and many others I've known for years—some just through their books and others through meetings at conferences. I was glad to run into them again at Jeff's. I wonder where else they were that weekend.

HARD TO SAY NO by Linda S. Glaz

It’s doggone hard to say no to a query for a good book.

But let me ask you this—when you walk into a book store and drop ten to twenty dollars on a book, are you willing to accept only good? OR do you expect the book to be very exceptional? I guess that’s what it all boils down to. But I’m not sure who hurts more when there is so much potential and we have to say no.

Let’s look at a few reasons why.

First and foremost would be sending me things I don’t handle. It’s pretty straightforward on our site that we don’t handle profanity and explicit sexuality. If your little sister or grandma would blush, we don’t take it. I’ve received more than a dozen queries for erotica this last two weeks alone. And if the query makes me blush…

Second, let your masculine characters be masculine. Men don’t talk a lot. They get to the point and move on. They don’t internally whine as much as women do (sorry, ladies), but they are different creatures than we are. They aren’t constantly trying to figure out their feelings. When they look at girl, they don’t stop and think about the weather forecast. They’re GUYS!

Third, don’t age yourself as an author if you’re over 50 by having your young characters named Wilma and Horace. Not gonna happen in 2012. Or have them say things like groovy, golly, and “gee she’s swell!” as well as a myriad of other things that younger people today wouldn’t say. This goes for internal dialogue as well.

Fourth, please don’t preach in your novels. If you are writing inspirational, be subtle, go easy. NO one, not even another Christian wants to be preached at. Characters can have faith-filled existence, but you don’t need to ram it down the reader’s throat. Even a scene for coming to know Christ doesn’t need to be preachy.

Okay, four reasons why I might say no. There are others: poor grammar, punctuation, no sense of formatting whatsoever, bad attitude in query letter, informing me that God told you to write the book and so I have to take it. And on and on and on.

Next week I hope to give you a few hints about what an agent loves to see. At least, from my perspective.

Have a good one.

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana L. Flegal

Welcome to Hartline's weekly column,  Would You Read On?
We appreciate you stopping by and welcome your comments below.

 This submission is a middle grade historical novel set in a fictional New England town in the 1870s

Chapter One

What would Aunt Martha say if she knew? It occurred to Amelia that her aunt and caregiver would more than disapprove of her frolicking along the edge of Ridgemont Lake with Ralph when she was supposed to be studying her lessons.

But the day had called to her. It was one of those glorious early autumn days where the elements couldn’t decide if they wanted to let go of summer. The warm breezes danced through her hair and tickled her cheeks. The sun peeked out playfully from between the trees whose leaves were in the midst of their annual change to red, orange, and yellow. 

With bare feet Amelia jumped to the next rock, the moss squishy and slippery underneath her toes. Her slender arms stretched out to help maintain her balance, she exhaled deeply. Oh, if only every day could be like this.

The screech of a hawk drew her gaze up to the sky and threw her off balance. Two strong arms encircled her waist and pulled her unsteadily onto the grass.

“You best be careful Miss Amelia.” Ralph scolded her with a waving finger. “You go home drippin’ wet and Miss Ridgemont is sure to know you ain’t been studyin’.”

Amelia’s hand flew up to her forehead and she pretended to swoon. “How dreadful it would be to have a bit of fun.”

Ralph’s lips curled as he gave a hearty laugh. He turned to pull his fishing pole out of the water. He had tossed it aside when he went to save Amelia from a possible nosedive into the lake.

Last weeks contributing author was Sally Apokedak.
You can learn more about Sally and her passion for YA novels and writing at her blog.


Happy 4th of July to you and yours

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana L. Flegal

Thank you for joining us today for this edition of Would You Read On? Please kindly comment below if you would like to continue reading.

Genre: Middle Grade YA Fantasy

Jonah Zackar stood at the woodpile, listening to the howling wind and remembering the warning Old Blind Alice had given him, last time he'd been out her way.

Her scratchy voice had added a creepiness factor to her words. "When birch branches clack in the wind, and rattle like dead men's bones, that means the little hairy men are searching." She'd trembled and pulled her afghan tight against the Alaskan chill. "Looking for victims," she'd whispered. "Wind makes 'em hungered."

Jonah squinted through the gap between his beaver fur hat and the wool scarf, which was wrapped across the bottom half of his face. All around, thin birch trees bowed, forced down by the unrelenting gale.

Out of the corner of his eye, Jonah caught a flash of color skittering across the snowy ground. He whipped around and stared.

Nothing.

Still the fine hairs on the nape of his neck stood up.

He shook the feeling off, telling himself to stop being silly. The movement he'd seen must have been twigs being blown about. He didn't believe in all that mumbo jumbo talk about little hairy men. He didn't believe they were out there, watching, with mouths watering, waiting for the perfect time to spring. What he did believe in was his uncle's temper. If he didn't get the wood in soon, he'd be a victim alright--Unc's victim. Moving clumsily, all bundled up in his thick fur parka and mittens, he shoved a piece of firewood into his bag.

Last weeks contributor was author Shelly Tucker. Shelly has recently set up a blog at www.shellytucker.com,  titled "Faith in the Desert". Please stop by and encourage her in this new endeavor.

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana L. Flegal

Welcome to our Would You Read On? column. Kindly leave your comments below as to whether you would or would not read on.


Genre: Suspense

 “Ahhhh!” Mahayla Harrison’s piercing scream echoed across the snow-covered mountainside.

The earth-shattering force of the explosion sent Mahayla hurtling backward through the air. Pieces of jagged rock and burning timber seared and sliced through her skin. Red-hot embers, shattered glass and twisted metal rained down around her battered and bruised body.

Prying her eyes open, Mahayla saw stars and discovered nail-biting pain coursing through her body. Lungs burning, she tried to gasp for air, but her broken ribs wouldn’t allow more than a shallow breath. The distinct taste of iron grew in her mouth.

Through the cloud and confusion of pain, her mind worked its way back to clarity and to the reality of the situation. Not good. Whoever had penned the phrase “ignorance is bliss” had obviously seen this coming…reality bites.

Moaning, “No…Lori…”

Pushing with her elbow, Mahayla tried to sit up, but her body wasn’t cooperating. A throbbing sensation in her shoulder and below her ribs grew with intensity. With each breath, ribs popped and grated across each other. Collapsing, she lifted trembling fingers and slid them across her body. Blood saturated her parka. Jagged pieces of wood protruded from her skin.

Fear wrapped its way around her heart. She was losing too much blood. Stinging tears tumbled from her eyes, burning like acid against her chilled skin.

Memories flashed and questions flooded her mind. Her best friend Lori had been in the cabin before it blew…tied to a bed, bloody and covered in …roses What type of monster could have cut her and then covered her with roses?

Would you read on?


We want to thank last weeks contributing author, Dora Hires. You can find out more about Dora at these links.
Facebook Twitter Blog~Heart Racing, God-Gracing Romance

Would You Read On? hosted by Diana L. Flegal

Thank you for joining us for today's edition of Would You Read On?.
Please kindly leave a comment at the end of this post.

Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance

“You can stop screaming now, Kibbles. We’re home.”

Teal Benning downshifted and coasted into the gravel driveway, the wail of country music drowning the cicada’s chatter from the open window of the sports car. But the tunes did nothing to tame her cat’s occasional ear-piercing screech.

Home? Not technically, but close enough. She’d grown up in this tiny house tucked in the Blue Ridge Mountains around Promise Lake.

For the last five years, home was in Atlanta, where she was Teal Benning, best-selling romance author and pro-basketball superstar Ian Hartsuk’s fiancé.

In Promise Lake, she was just Teal Benning.

Whoever that was anymore.

Teal sighed and closed the windows. Jerking the keys from the ignition, the silence settled over her, and in the darkness, a glint sparkled from her finger,    the remnant of her two-year-long relationship. Teal stared at the single diamond and clamped her lips together.

Correction. Ian Hartsuk’s ex-fiancé.

She tugged the ring off and smashed it deep into her laptop bag.

Why didn’t she fling it at Ian’s head? She would have relished his expression as he watched several thousand dollars sink to the bottom of the hot tub. Wouldn’t that have been priceless? Nah. What was a few thousand to him? She’d figure out what to do with it later.

Teal stepped out on stiff legs, giving the short black dress a yank south and tugging her sweater tighter. She heaved her laptop bag over a shoulder and reached in for Kibbles’s carrier.

 

Last weeks author was Lynn Donovan.You can connect with Lynn on Twitter @MLynnDonovan, and on LinkedIn, M Lynn Donovan. Or stop by her blog, Sitting on the Front Porch, visiting with Lynn.