LauraFrantz.net

2012-02-03T06:55:00.000-08:00

He giveth quietness. (Job 34:29)

"He giveth quietness" - quietness even in the midst of losing our inner strength and comforts. Sometimes he removes these because we make too much of them. We are tempted to look at our joys, pleasures, passions, or our dreams, with too much self-satisfaction. Then through His gracious love He withdraws them, leading us to distinguish between them and Himself. He draws near and whispers the assurance of His presence, bringing an infinite calm to keep our hearts and minds. "He giveth quietness."

~Streams in the Desert

lael goes dutch

2012-02-01T06:30:00.000-08:00

I want to thank Marian and my Dutch publisher for bringing The Frontiersman's Daughter to readers in the Netherlands as of this month. Love Lael's new cover! I think she looks more European and hope/pray readers enjoy the story. I'm thankful readers there have a heart for American history and inspirational fiction.

Here's the contact info for Dutch readers if they would like to order online:

From the publisher:
http://www.kok.nl/boeken/laura-frantz-de-pioniersdochter.html

From the following websites:
http//:www.cosmox.nl/boeken/de-pioniersdochter-laura-frantz-9789029704632

http://www.cosmox.nl/boeken/de-pioniersdochter-laura-frantz-9789029704632

Een welgemeende dank aan de Nederlandse lezers van mijn boek!

Book Review Sisters: Monday Morning Musings: Don't Judge A Book By Its ...

2012-01-30T07:23:00.000-08:00

While I'm working away at galleys for Love's Reckoning, I thought I'd share some posts from other blogs I found interesting. Thanks, Helen!

Book Review Sisters: Monday Morning Musings: Don't Judge A Book By Its ...: It's an age old saying, and everyone understands the premise behind it. But, it's a proverb that's rarely put into practice. Particularly...

Before the Scarlet Dawn: At last comes the novel readers have been waiting ...

2012-01-29T10:10:00.000-08:00

Before the Scarlet Dawn: At last comes the novel readers have been waiting ...: At last comes the novel readers have been waiting for. Book 1 in the long awaited 'Daughters of the Potomac Series' by author friend Rita Gerlach...

Please click on the link above to read more about this new release set in the 18th-century ~

Happy reading!

rests

2012-01-27T07:12:00.000-08:00

There is no music during a musical rest, but the rest is part of the making of the music. In the melody of our life, the music is separated here and there by rests. During those rests, we foolishly believe we have come to the end of the song. God sends us times of forced leisure by allowing sickness, disappointed plans, and frustrated efforts. He brings a sudden pause in the choral hymn of our lives, and we lament that our voices must be silent.

God does not write the music of our lives without a plan. Our part is to learn the tune and not be discouraged during the rests. If we will only look up, God Himself will count the time for us. With our eyes on Him, our next note will be full and clear. If we sorrowfully say to ourselves, "There is no music in a rest," let us not forget that the rest is part of the making of the music. The process is often slow and painful in this life, yet how patiently God works to teach us! And how long He waits for us to learn the lesson!

~John Ruskin, 1818-1900

oh JOY!

2012-01-24T15:59:00.000-08:00

Funny what a mere 24 hours can bring! Things like galleys and NEW BOOK COVERS and such:) Yep, I received the final design for Love's Reckoning late yesterday and was pleasantly blown away! In fact, I was so excited I had a hard time sleeping last night, kind of like a little kid. But it was the best kind of sleep deprived to be!

I wanted to announce the news here so any serious cover spotting can begin. Don't know when it will appear, or just where, but now it will happen. Soon. And I have an Amazon gift card here for the first one who finds it online and emails me.

This morning I showed it to my mom who said, "She looks so real I keep thinking I can touch her if I just reach out my hand." But no spoilers!! I will say it's a beautiful glimpse into the heart of the book. This heroine is the most lifelike of all so far. A thousand thanks to Revell's art team and designer Brandon Hill for getting it right:)

Then today, like icing on the cake, the galleys for Love's Reckoning came. WOOT! I love reading through the editorial comments, especially when I spy a smiley face or two:) I'll be offline till February 14 or so, polishing the book to a high shine for you. Prayers appreciated. If things are going well, I'll sneak in a devotional post or two. And that cover, if you find it;)

See you soon!

lael sets sail

2012-01-23T06:53:00.000-08:00

A SMOOTH SEA NEVER MADE A SKILLED MARINER

~OLD ENGLISH PROVERB

Here are a couple of photos for us sun-deprived folks, compliments of my friend, Hannah. She's sailing the high seas in the Caribbean right now...with Lael! We've had so much snow here of late - lots of swirling white stuff and wind and ice. So imagine my delight when she snapped these photos a few days ago and warmed me right up:)

I've been wanting to do a post on Hannah's family, the Millers, as they have the most amazing ministry. When she sent me the pics I knew the time had come. Hannah is a writer and avid reader who's just revamped her blog beautifully and somehow manages to stay on top of things while sailing with her family and sometimes making landfall in Canada and the U.S.

They have a marine-based ministry delivering vital cargo such as Bibles, clothing, food and other supplies to faithful coworkers in Christ who minister to many, often the very needy. They really are Christ's hands and feet and I love following them on their travels. Never a dull moment aboard their boat! Just read their newsletters/updates and you'll find out.

I think Lael looks quite happy at sea! Hannah has read TFD more than once so it means a lot that she cared enough to bring Lael along this time. But she's like that:) Love you, Hannah!

If you'd like to learn more about their family and ministry, please send them your email info at paul@millersemmanuel.com Prayers are so appreciated as they continue their much needed work.

Is there a missionary who has inspired you, past or present? Ever been on a missions trip? If not, where would you like to go?

*I'm trying to implement the new Blogger comment thread today so we'll see if it works. If there are no comments, I guess it's not!

HighlandCrossings

2012-01-20T06:36:00.000-08:00

It's always fun to celebrate releases with author friends. Highland Crossings is just out and combines all the elements I love - Scotland, immigration, the 18th-century, North Carolina, kilts and lasses and more;) You have four distinct stories in one volume.

The book trailer follows here so I'll hush and let it happen;)

Have a wonderful weekend!

And happy reading...

more whitefield...

2012-01-18T06:49:00.000-08:00

I lose nothing by being quiet and leaving all to Him.

True and undefiled religion does not take away but greatly enhances the comforts of life.

I have no thoughts of settling till I settle in glory.

When a soul is turned to God, every day is a Sabbath, every meal is a spiritual refreshment, and every sentence he speaks should be a sermon.

~George Whitefield 1714~1770

book bliss

2012-01-16T15:40:00.000-08:00

I'd love to hear what state of book bliss you're in;) Feel free to tell what you last read, what you're reading now, and what's next, if you like. We all benefit!

Guess I'll begin...

I just finished HEIRESS by Susan May Warren. Am now reading THE ROSE GARDEN by Susanna Kearsley. I hope to read GIVING by Melissa Lester (non-fiction) and A MOST UNSUITABLE MATCH by Stephanie Grace Whitson next. I won't bore you with research books!

Your turn!

And happy reading to you!

the joy of courtship

2012-01-12T20:09:00.000-08:00

I think courtship is so very important, even between the pages of a novel. It's critical not to rush things of the heart. Here's a quote I love from the 18th-century author of Tristam Shandy (remember Colonel McLinn recommending this book to Roxanna and her raised brows?) - well, Laurence Sterne wrote, "Courtship consists in a number of quiet attentions, not so pointed as to alarm, nor so vague as not to be understood."

Why courtship is so important is explored a bit by an author in the general market on a blog I recently came across. See if you agree:) I believe it's worth pondering...The Heroine Addicts: Getting to Know You

Happy writing!

comfort

2012-01-11T06:58:00.001-08:00

Comfort, comfort, my people, says your God. ~Isaiah 40:1

Store up comfort. The world is full of hurting and comfortless hearts. But before you will be competent for this lofty ministry, you must be trained. And your training is extremely costly, for to make it complete, you too must endure the same afflictions that are wringing countless hearts of tears and blood. Consequently your own life becomes the hospital ward where you are taught the divine art of comfort. You will be wounded so that in the binding up of your wounds by the Great Physician, you may learn how to render first aid to the wounded everywhere...God comforts us not to make us comfortable but to make us comforters.

~Streams in the Desert

a book begins...

2012-01-09T08:09:00.000-08:00

A book begins with falling in love. You lose your heart to a place, a house, an avenue of trees, or with a character who walks in and takes complete possession of you. Imagination glows and there is the seed of your book.

~Elizabeth Goudge

I'm in the midst of writing book 2 of The Ballantyne Legacy and it's quite a thrill:) Yesterday I scribbled down all the characters filling my head and heart. Hmmm. This new cast has 20 and I'm not done counting! Some are minor but necessary. When you move from the frontier to more civilized locales, more people pop up. More of them to love, I guess...

I think this image by Brandon Hill, photographer/designer is so beautiful and evocative. It's on the back cover of Rose's Pledge, a colonial novel that released this month. He's also the designer for Love's Reckoning. I hope you're still looking for that cover! I certainly am:)

Recently someone asked me the impetus or "seed" behind the books I've published. Here goes...

The Frontiersman's Daughter - Growing up in Kentucky, I often wondered what it would have been like being the daughter of Daniel Boone. He had several children, including adopted children, but his favorite daughter was said to be Jemima. My cousins and I used to dress up colonial-style and pretend to be Boone and his family, right down to the turkey shoot (the turkey was my little brother;)

Courting Morrow Little - I've read countless captivity stories since childhood and have always been especially intrigued by the tales of captives who didn't want to return to the white world but remained with the Indians. Some of the most interesting, heartfelt reader mail I've received since Morrow released is from descendants of captives.

The Colonel's Lady - If you've read the author note at the beginning of the book, you'll know it was infatuation with George Rogers Clark that led me to write this novel. George was the brother of William who was a leader of the famed Lewis & Clark expedition. Those Clark boys were natural heroes! And that flame-red hair didn't hurt;)

Love's Reckoning - There was a custom among 18th-century gunsmith apprentices to marry into the master gunsmith's family in America. This also extended to other trades during that time period. Marrying for love was still considered a novel concept. My gunsmith had to switch to another trade but I won't tell you which one he finds himself in - you'll just have to read the book!

If you're writing a book, what led you to write your story? If you've ever thought about writing a book, what would you write and why?

Seriously Write: Ask O: How Do I Give My Manuscript that Special Zi...

2012-01-06T07:19:00.000-08:00

Seriously Write: Ask O: How Do I Give My Manuscript that Special Zi...:

As we move into the new year, I thought I'd post some articles about writing that I find especially savvy or helpful for those of you who read this blog and are writers. I'll keep comments closed here in case you want to comment over there. Or just read and enjoy! Bless you!

a little loveliness

2012-01-05T10:57:00.000-08:00

I think the best thing about being an author is meeting people you wouldn't know otherwise. And sometimes the people are so lovely you can't keep them to yourself:) Melissa Lester is one of them. Not long ago she read Courting Morrow Little which she's hosting for her winter book club selection. When I found this out I visited her website and blog and oh my!

She's an author, too, and has written a wonderful book that embodies her ministry, Giving for All It's Worth. Melissa is all about giving. If you spend even a few minutes at her site you'll discover the Lord has given her the gift of hospitality. Four beautiful children. And oodles of creativity!

Another reader said to me recently, "I'm inspired and made glad when I look at beautiful things." Me, too. This wonderful book and handmade velvet bookmark came at a time when I needed them most. I was in want of a little loveliness as there had been some things happening in my world that weren't so lovely. I felt the Lord reminding me He can create beauty from ashes and the oil of joy from mourning. And He has!

I hope you'll be inspired and made glad if you visit Melissa, too.

a good and blessed year

2012-01-03T06:59:00.000-08:00

The land you are to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven. It is a land the Lord your God cares for; the eyes of the Lord your God are continually on it from the beginning of the year to its end. (Deuteronomy 11: 11-12)

We stand at the threshold of the unknown. Before us lies a new year, and we are going forward to take possession of it. Who knows what we will find? What new experiences or changes will come our way? What new needs will arise? In spite of the uncertainty before us, we have a cheerful and comforting message from our heavenly Father.

Yet the land we are to possess is a land of valleys and hills. It is not all flat or downhill. If life were always smooth and level, the boring sameness would weigh us down. We need the valleys and the hills. It is the difficulty encountered on the hills that drives us to the throne of grace and brings the showers of blessing.

We cannot see what loss, sorrow, and trials are accomplishing. We need only to trust. The Father comes to take our hand and lead us on our way today. It will be a good and blessed new year!

~Streams in the Desert

happy new year!

2012-01-01T14:35:00.000-08:00

Another year!

I love the word JOYFUL in the image here. That's certainly my wish for all of us as the days of 2012 unfold.

2011 was a bit of a blur -mostly a blessing - with some challenges thrown in for equal measure. Sometimes I feel like this this... Beth Moore always says it best:

Do you ever feel your life has been a frazzled string of highs and lows? I've lived so much of my life in the extremes. I seem to find myself in the valley or on the mountain as often as in between. Sometimes I feel like I'm doing the splits...!" (Beth Moore: David/Seeking a Heart Like His).

I'm not sure what the coming year holds but it's begun very quietly with a little southern flair. I ushered the New Year in with a double batch of Hopping John and am reading Heiress by Susan May Warren. OH MY! What a book! Never a wasted word. And it's quite true to life which I like very much. No sugarcoated history for me;)

For now I'm expecting galleys for Love's Reckoning along with that new cover. And, as I turn the corner on another year and mark 4 years of blogging, I honestly feel like I don't have anything left to say! Some of you blog beautifully and faithfully and I'm just amazed and touched by your commitment. I think I'm going to have less of an online presence as my plate gets a bit fuller in future.

Several of you have asked when my new website will be up and running. I'd hoped to have it in place by now but my web designer has been overwhelmed so it's been delayed. The new design is beautiful and dovetails beautifully with my upcoming series so it will be worth the wait, or so I hope! Having a new look (with several pages instead of just one) is something I'm looking forward to very much and I hope you like the finished product when it's...well, finished.

Anyway, I've been thinking of some of the things I wish I could do this year, aside from books, that is...

Here's my wish list:

*Knit
*Learn to play the harp or violin
*Read as many books as my friend, Becky, at her wonderful blog(s).
*Run a 10k instead of walking a few measly miles a day
*Return to England and visit Scotland, the land of my upcoming hero's birth

Notice I said wish;)!

Actually, my heart's wish is to know Him better and better, lay my writing at His feet, and trust Him more. As Susie May says in the dedication of Heiress, "For your glory, Lord." Amen.

What's your heart's wish/resolution(s) for 2012?

precious beyond words...

2011-12-21T17:30:00.000-08:00

Thanks be to God for His unspeakable Gift ~
indescribable
inestimable
incomparable
inexpressible
precious beyond words.

~L. Lebar

thank you, Lifeway!

2011-12-20T07:54:00.001-08:00

This morning my publisher contacted me to tell me Lifeway's Rachel McRae included some wonderful books on her best reads list for 2011. Please have a peek and see if you've read these or would like to:)

I feel I've been given a wonderful early Christmas gift and want to thank Lifeway and Rachel for all that they do to support Christian fiction and wonderful books! My dream is to go to Nashville and meet them in person someday.

Here's the link: Lifeway Blog

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-19T11:11:00.000-08:00

Christmas Eve was a night of song that wrapped about you like a shawl. But it warmed more than your body. It warmed your heart...filled it, too, with melody that would last forever.
~Bess Streeter Aldrich

The rooms were very still while the pages were softly turned and the winter sunshine crept in to touch the bright heads and serious faces with a Christmas greeting.
~Louisa May Alcott

Let us remember that the Christmas heart is a giving heart, a wide open heart that thinks of others first. The birth of the baby Jesus stands as the most significant event in all history, because it has meant pouring into a sick world the healing medicine of love which has transformed all manner of hearts for almost 2,000 years...underneath all the bulging bundles is this beating Christmas heart.
~George Matthew Adams

the gift of you

2011-12-12T17:11:00.000-08:00

Lately I've been wishing I could send readers a Christmas gift, snow dusted and berry sprinkled just like these packages. You've certainly given me a gift by being faithful readers here and in the pages of my books, sending me email, snail mail, Facebooking, and leaving blog comments! And that means more than I can say.

I think oftentimes we forget just how precious and powerful encouragement is and how the right word at the right time is, as Proverbs says, "like apples of gold in settings of silver." (25:11)

The past few months have been crazy busy and I keep waiting for things to settle down. But guess what? They never do. Those deadlines keep coming and then there's family and church life, too. Each of us have multiple things to juggle. Sometimes we just need to remember the best gift of all is taking time for each other. So, with that in mind, I've decided to close comments here and do some blog visiting the next 2 weeks, trying to catch up on what 's going on in your world. If you're a reader and have a blog I don't know about, please send me an email at lauran@tfon.com and I'll come visit. If you'd like to connect on Facebook instead, just look up Laura Feagan Frantz. See you soon:)

Have a blessed Christmas season!

cover candy

2011-12-11T13:16:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun to see who could spy my next cover first rather than posting it here when I get the green light. Book covers are a bit tricky. There's no formal announcement its on its way, at least for this author. Someone at Revell just quietly posts it on the web and people stumble across it. Even the author!

Granted, I'm given a final image several weeks beforehand but have to wait to share till it appears on the net. But I really don't know when that magic happens. No matter what - or when - it's always a wonderful surprise when it's finally out there:)

Here are 2 covers from the colonial era, that I'm wild about:) The new Love Finds You in Annapolis by Roseanna White is out as of this month and is a great historical. Siri Mitchell's The Messenger follows in March.

Every house does cover art a bit differently. The cover for Love's Reckoning is in process. A search is on for a model in her 20's. Recently I met the photographer/designer for this project and he's nearly in my backyard - Seattle! His work is exquisite. He's done historicals for both the CBA and ABA. He and the costume company had some questions this time round about the dress. He even sent a portfolio of several dresses and hats to choose from this past week. I was asked to pick my favorites and these were sent on to editorial and marketing for review.

I'd love to have someone here spy the cover for Love's Reckoning first, even before me! First one who finds it on the web will win an Amazon gift card ($25). Some of you are very savvy cover-spotters...

Have you seen any covers for 2012 either in the CBA or ABA that "pop" for you? Maybe you have your own new cover to show us (waving at Carla and Keli!). If so, please do! If you're dreaming about your first cover, feel free to share that, too. Once upon a time I did that, too...

Happy hunting!

grow in grace

2011-12-07T07:01:00.000-08:00

Do not think as you grow in grace your path will become smoother and the sky calmer and calmer. Quite the contrary. As God gives you greater skill as a soldier of the cross, He will send you on more difficult missions. As He more fully equips your ship to sail in stormy seas, He will send you on longer voyages to more boisterous seas, so that you may honor Him, and increase in holy confidence.

~Charles Spurgeon

giveaway winner!

2011-12-05T06:36:00.000-08:00

Thanks so much to all who entered the drawing and left wonderful comments! The winner of A Lasting Impression by Tamera Alexander is...

Sheri!

Happy reading to you!

Next time I'll be giving away 2 favorite movies:)

Bless you all!

in search of elegance

2011-11-30T00:36:00.000-08:00

These gowns at left are straight out of the 18th-century. One of my author friends, Carla Gade, saw this amazing exhibit on a research trip not long ago and shared the photo. It's so inspiring I thought I'd do a related post.

Today I'm playing dress-up over at Colonial Quills where I'm posting about my own search for elegance. I've decided we're never too grown-up to fuss about fashion and admire lovely things! I'll close comments here in hopes you'll join me over there.

Happy last day of November!

Come Thou Fount

2011-11-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

This is what I'm writing to this week. I've been singing this hymn all my life but love the instrumental version. The words were penned by an 18th-century Londoner who was notorious for drinking and gambling. One evening he and his friends heard George Whitefield preach. He was so haunted by his powerful words that he wrote this beautiful hymn. And we're still singing it today.

Let Thy goodness, like a fetter, bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for Thy courts above.

happy thanksgiving

2011-11-23T07:29:00.000-08:00

I'm so thankful for...heaven, books, fresh apple cider, violins, new snow, babies, quilts, leftovers, a warm bed, antiques, walks in the woods, starlight, happy endings, you...

Happy Thanksgiving!

more on giving thanks

2011-11-22T08:46:00.000-08:00

Several of us are giving thanks over at Rachel's great blog this week and it's a wonderful reminder of our blessings, author or no. If you haven't visited this site before please do! It has fresh content nearly every day and gives you a peek at all the wonderful book out there. Heartfelt thanks to Rachel and Lifeway! And to you dear readers! Here's the link...Lifeway blog.

giving thanks

2011-11-20T10:53:00.000-08:00

Is it just me or do you think planning the holiday menu is half the fun? Well, aside from eating it, that is:) I'm always a bit amazed that it takes so long to cook a big dinner which is then demolished in mere minutes! Good thing I love to cook!

A couple of weeks ago my mom and I sat down together, got out my granny's old recipes as well as our favorites, and made a wish list:) We live pretty simply here in the woods but this year we're cooking for a crowd and I'm a bit staggered by our menu. But we'll have plenty of leftovers for everyone which is always a treat.

I'll admit I struggle with the excess of the holidays oftentimes. Having a brother who's worked among the very poor is a reminder of the many who do without. I remember, too, that the holidays are often difficult for those who are missing loved ones or wish they could rewrite the past. It's a bittersweet time.

The photograph at left is unique, I think, because of the old photographs on the Thanksgiving table. If I could I'd love to sit down with my ancestors this week and share a meal. They'd probably be right at home with some of the dishes that are a family tradition but might turn up their noses at the strawberry pretzel salad;)

I'm thankful Mom and I are both cooking this year. Fortunately, she's bringing the ham, sweet potato casserole, lima bean casserole, crunchy green pea salad, bacon and cauliflower salad, and praline pumpkin pie.

I'm in charge of the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, apple bacon cornbread stuffing, strawberry pretzel salad, green beans, deviled eggs, rolls, cranberry sauce, and chocolate cream and cherry pies. It's also Wyatt's 15th birthday so we're
celebrating that, too!

I'd love to hear how you'll be celebrating this year. Have a special dish? A tradition? If you could invite one of your ancestors for dinner, who would it be?

imagine

2011-11-16T06:46:00.000-08:00

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild the house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you know that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to?

The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards you thought were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

new title for you!

2011-11-14T06:52:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited to share my newest title with you this chilly Monday! The first book in
The Ballantyne Legacy series, which will release September of 2012, is...

Love's Reckoning

I'd love to know your first impressions. Aye? Nay? Dramatic? A bit dark? Romantic? Intriguing. Or not?!

Believe it or not, these were the working titles I'd chosen. I was a bit surprised that Revell kept both. That doesn't often happen. Below are the working titles and the actual published titles for my previous books:

Dogwood Winter...The Frontiersman's Daughter
Red River Daughter...Courting Morrow Little
The Colonel's Lady...The Colonel's Lady

Cover coming! If you have any cover ideas I'd love to hear those, too...

happy friday!

2011-11-11T07:18:00.000-08:00

Today's winner of a signed copy of To Die For by Sandra Byrd is...

Debrjean!

Congratulations and happy reading! If you could email me at lauran@tfon.com and provide your snail mail address I'll mail the signed book to you - with bookmarks:) Next giveaway will be Tamera Alexander's A Lasting Impression.

Hope everyone has a blessed weekend, curled up by the fire with a good book, planning that Thanksgiving menu, or something autumnal. I'll be back Monday to share my next book title. Yep, it's official! I just received word from Revell. Can't wait to tell you here...

See you then:)

called

2011-11-09T05:49:00.000-08:00

We often want to be called of God, then ushered painlessly into a position of service and honor, miraculously possessing the character our callings require. God doesn't work that way. Our appointments are not about glamour. They're about glory. God's glory.

The tricky thing about God's preparation is how He prepares us - even through trials. We find ourselves saying, "I'm not sure what I was expecting, but I never would have expected this."

Painless of painful, enjoyable or distasteful, God always works to prepare us to serve Him, but He rarely prepares us in ways we expect. Why must we experience such preparation? Because any work we've grown accustomed to is usually a work completed. As soon as we've learned one lesson, He brings another. He will continue to work in us until we see His face. because that, beloved, is the ultimate moment for which we're being prepared.

Make no mistake. Jesus will be worth it.

~Beth Moore

David, Seeking a Heart Like His

to die for

2011-11-07T06:47:00.000-08:00

I'm such a fan of British history and when a new book popped up about Ann Boleyn - with a beautiful cover - I was an instant fan before I'd even read a word. And then the author and I bumped into each other online and she invited me to lunch:) We happen to live within a few hours of each other so off I zipped in my old red Jeep around Puget Sound to Port Orchard.We met at author Debbie Macomber's tea room for "high tea." And talked nonstop for three hours about books!

The tea room and gift shop were already decorated for Christmas and across the way is Debbie's knitting shop - a beautiful building that made me want to start clacking my needles.

Now back to Sandra's book...

The cover is stunning. I felt an instant kinship since I have a headless heroine myself;) And the prose... Oh my! Here's one lush line...

She loved him to the point of anguish.

Now that's to die for in my opinion! I won't tell you who's anguishing for whom. You'll just have to read the book! And you have a chance of doing so right here. I have a signed copy for one of you. Just leave a comment if you'd like to enter the drawing.

I love what Liz Curtis Higgs said about this book:

"Sandra Byrd's first venture into historical fiction is nothing short of brilliant. All the Tudor details are perfectly placed, like gemstones in a royal crown...giving readers a wider glimpse of history, a greater measure of hope, and an ending that satisfies at the deepest level. Simply put, To Die For is the best historical novel I've read in many a season, a masterpiece of history and heart."

You can visit Sandra at her beautifully done blog and see other books she's written and check out her mentoring and editing. Thanks, Sandra, for a wonderful tea! And a to-die-for book:) Winner announced this Friday, November 11th.

What are you reading right now?

Hallmark Channel - Love's Christmas Journey - Premiere Promo

2011-11-05T10:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a dear reader, Angi, for letting me know this next Love Comes Softly movie is here! Enjoy!

if

2011-11-02T17:10:00.000-07:00

If something I'm asked to do for another feels burdensome;
If, yielding to an inward unwillingness, I avoid doing it,
Then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If the praise of man elates me and his blame depresses me;
If I cannot rest under misunderstanding without defending myself;
If I love to be loved more than to love,
Then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If the burden my Lord asks me to bear be not the burden of my heart's choice,
And I fret inwardly and do not welcome His will,
Then I know nothing of Calvary love.
If I covet anyplace on earth but the dust at the foot of the cross,
Then I know nothing of Calvary love.

~Amy Carmichael
1867-1951
Missionary to India

love autumn

2011-10-31T15:23:00.000-07:00

After a 3 week break, I've decided to come back as I've missed you:) Lots can happen in 3 weeks! Here are a few highlights...

Edits...They were blessedly brief. Editorial said some very interesting things about this book which I wish I could share here. But no spoilers! I was walking on air afterwards and hope you enjoy the story, too. Release date is September, 2012. I should have a new title for you any day now - and then another lovely cover, or so I hope...

Travel...Randy and I took a road trip to Eastern Washington, specifically Lake Chelan and then up in the mountains to a little western town called Winthrop - a perfect place to set a story! Lots of fall color and apple cider and nights sleeping by a peaceful lake and then a rushing river...

Bible study...My mom and I are attending a Beth Moore revised study on the life of David. I thought it was more for her than me as she suggested it. NOT! This amazing study has my name written all over it. I think every woman in the audience must feel the same. I've been so humbled and convicted with what I'm learning and plan to share some in devotional posts to come...

Boys...We're heavy into basketball and fiddling here, schoolwork, and getting ready for the holidays. My brother is coming from Spain for Thanksgiving and I'm so excited. It will be the first time in many years that our whole family has sat down for a holiday meal together...

Next book...Would you believe I'm already at work on my next book?

Enough about me. I'd love to hear how October has been for you. Bane or blessing. I've had a bit of both. I haven't forgotten your prayer requests and they've stayed with me the past few weeks. I'd love to hear about any answers to prayer. Mainly, I just want to hear from YOU!

Happy November!

fall break

2011-10-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

Time to savor autumn. I'm expecting edits on this next book any minute and have a road trip planned, among other things. This is the month my new book cover happens, too, so am anxious to share that with you as soon as I can. I'll be away for a little while but thought I'd leave you with a quote I love...

The best things in life are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your right hand, the path of right just before you. Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain, common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things in life.

~Robert Louis Stevenson

Blessed autumn!

monday madness and more!

2011-10-09T19:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday...almost Monday!

Several things are happening this week and I hope you'll jump in:) First, one of my favorite historical authors, Liz Curtis Higgs, is interviewing at Overcoming Through Time and they're giving away a book of your choice by Liz. Any book! After being asked to do a review there, I can honestly say writing a book review is harder than writing a book! If you've not read any of Liz's books, it's like missing dessert! Please stop by if you can and comment. The spotlight on Liz lasts all week.

Next is my new friend, Amanda, who is giving away a copy of The Colonel's Lady starting today. Would you believe Amanda is only sixteen and has completed four novels?! Recently I met her at ACFW in St. Louis and we were able to chat a bit. She has a beautiful, generous spirit and offered to give away a copy of TCL that she recently bought just for the occasion. I hope you'll stop by and visit. I have a feeling we'll be holding one of of Amanda's books in hand someday.

Last but not least, the winner of One Thousand Gifts right here is...

Sara!

If you can email your snail mail addy to lauran@tfon.com, I'll mail that right out. Bless you all!

a sneak peek...

2011-10-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Here's a peek at my 18th-century dress:) I'll actually be wearing it at a couple of book venues in future, if I can still stuff myself into that corset after all the feasting in St. Lou! It's just the gown Roxanna Rowan would have worn, perhaps one of Bella's creations, straight out of the pages of The Colonel's Lady. Readers have been commenting that they're happy I made Roxie a kitchen diva - and glad Bella was a bit obsessed with her dresses;)

It's a quiet, rainy Friday here but there's still a bit of book buzz going on at Overcoming Through Time with a fun review of TCL and a giveaway by my dear friends Debra and Carrie. I'll close comments here in hopes you can join us over there. Just click on the highlighted link above to get there. If you've already read the book but would like to win for a friend or relative, please leave your name. We'd love to see you!

Happy Friday!

wednesday thoughts

2011-10-05T07:50:00.000-07:00

Few delights can equal the presence of One whom we trust utterly.

Forgiveness is the giving, and so the receiving, of life.

How strange this fear of death is! We are never frightened at a sunset.

I find that doing of the will of God leaves me no time for disputing about His plans.

If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of a loving thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give.

It is not the cares of today, but the cares of tomorrow, that weigh a man down.

~George MacDonald

"I have never concealed the fact that I regarded him (George MacDonald) as my master; indeed I fancy I have never written a book in which I did not quote from him." C.S.Lewis

bittersweet, a book, and 2 beautiful blogs

2011-10-03T06:57:00.000-07:00

Here's a bouquet of bittersweet for you, one of my favorite fall things. Love how the light is slanting across the table through those big windows and into the woods beyond.

It was a restful weekend and I'm so thankful after the busyness of St. Lou. I wrote a bit on my next novel, went out to dinner with family, and caught up on household chores. We also built our first fire of the season which means autumn is officially here. After church Sunday, Randy and I pressed several gallons of apple cider which is always fun and very Lael-like;) If you've read The Frontiersman's Daughter you'll know what I mean.

In the rush of last week I forgot to mention I'd brought home a book to give one of you. It's Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts. I usually read a book before giving it away but haven't this one. Has anyone else read this and want to say something about it? If you'd like to be included in the drawing, please leave a comment below. I'll draw the winner next Monday, October 10th.

I also wanted to mention two sites I've just discovered. This past Saturday I spent some time soaking up the joy and color over at A Little Loveliness blogspot. It eased my homesickness for southern things just a bit and reminded me of the beauty of home and family and all the little celebrations in life. Thanks so much, Melissa, for your creative heart and for taking time for beloved books! If you'd like a little (a lot!) of southern hospitality, recipes, devotional thoughts and more, please spend some time at A Little Loveliness.

I've also discovered an inspiring, uplifting, writing site that is just a gem ~ Allen Arnold Writes. For the past 3 years I've attended workshops taught by Allen and he is has so much to say about writing and living a Christlike life and more.

So here's a Monday question for you... If you were to share a book or blog today, what would they be? If you've read One Thousand Gifts, what did you like best?

a little more romance

2011-09-30T06:25:00.000-07:00

Some of you watched the prequel to this a couple of weeks ago. I must admit "Love's Everlasting Courage" looks interesting, maybe even more dramatic and romantic:) I promised to post when it was time to watch so here 'tis.

Have a wonderful weekend!

a prayerful day

2011-09-29T08:27:00.000-07:00

I had an epiphany about prayer while in St. Louis. Rather I felt the need to focus more on prayer here on the blog and privately. My prayer time is usually in the morning. I've learned from experience that if I don't begin the day that way things usually unravel.

The prayer room at ACFW in St. Louis was a busy place. I doubt it was ever empty. Someone was always on hand to pray with you, if needed. I often saw people praying in the hallways and other places. Very open and heartfelt. I have an author friend who is a master at this. Her prayers are really big bear hugs. She grabs you and doesn't let go till the praying is through:) You feel throughly covered!

Some of you who read this blog are going through heart-wrenching situations that are testing your head and heart to the limits. Many at conference were there despite overwhelming trials and physical problems. I've felt the prayer support of you readers when I needed it most - through edits and illness and family emergencies. It's sometimes hard to blog transparently about needs but I feel the Lord calls us to openness. No request is too small. Sometimes even small things distract and worry us so!

Are you in need of prayer today? Can you share a bit in a comment here or simply leave your name? God doesn't need specifics as He knows every need to the tiniest detail. Whatever you're comfortable with works. As we close out September and enter into an unknown autumn, I promise to pray for you daily.

Is prayer your steering wheel or your spare tire? ~Corrie Ten Boom

You may pray for an hour and still not pray. You may meet God for a moment and then be in touch with Him all day. ~Fredrik Wisloff

home from st. lou!

2011-09-27T08:53:00.000-07:00

I arrived home last night after 3 flights from St. Louis and am so glad to be on solid ground! These are just a few of the pictures from our time there. I'm sure you see some friends and authors you know or love:) I'll provide more commentary when you comment. For now I've some unpacking to do and more!

Bless you all. You were missed!

off to St. Lou...

2011-09-18T10:29:00.000-07:00

I'm off to St. Louis this week to attend the American Christian Fiction Writers conference in Missouri. Interestingly, the new book I'm writing has some St. Lou connections so it will be fun spending time there. I promise to take lots of pictures and share them when I return.

Prayers appreciated for safe travel, health, and open doors. My heart is with those who are coming to interest publishers in their work - it's thrilling and frightening and overwhelming at the same time. But I'm living proof it can happen - and sometimes in the way you least expect it!

See you next week!

May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. ~Genesis 31:49

love begins

2011-09-15T17:11:00.000-07:00

Our 17th anniversary is Saturday and we're celebrating by going out to dinner and watching this movie, Love Begins. Randy will probably fall asleep on me as it's a romantic one but it looks quite good, don't you think? Anyway, here's hoping for 17 more wonderful years. And more movies like these:)

Have a blessed weekend...

close the door

2011-09-14T06:57:00.000-07:00

So Jacob was left alone... ~Genesis 32:24

Left alone! What different emotions these words bring to mind for each of us! To some they mean loneliness and grief, but to others they may mean rest and quiet. To be left alone without God would be too horrible for words, while being left alone with him is a taste of heaven! And if His followers spent more time alone with Him, we would have spiritual giants again.

Our Master set an example for us. Remember how often He went to be alone with God? And there was a powerful purpose behind His command, "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray." (Matt. 6:6).

Earnestly desire to get alone with God. If we neglect to do so, we not only rob ourselves of a blessing but rob others as well, since we will have no blessing to pass on to them. It may mean that we do less outward, visible work, but the work we do will have more depth and power. Another wonderful result will be that people will see "no one except Jesus" (Matt. 17:8) in our lives.

~Streams in the Dessert

what's next...

2011-09-11T19:01:00.000-07:00

Recently readers have been asking me what's next. So I thought I'd give you a little update on writing...

On September 1st I submitted the first book in my new series, The Ballantyne Legacy, to my editor. She'll read it and see if there are any changes to be made. Yes, it's a skittish wait. I've had 2 books that didn't have edits/editorial letters and one that required several weeks of rewrites. I'll leave you to guess which was which;)

Right now Revell is deciding on a title for this new book and the art team is considering the cover. I've been asked for my preferences regarding both and I was able to give some suggestions. I think this next one will look very different than the previous three. I should have both title and cover for you this fall. Then next year you'll see it on shelves. Stay tuned for some historical fireworks with this new series! Am hoping it gives you a sleepless night or two...

I've also begun book 2 in the series. This time I've had to leave my beloved 18th-century behind and make the leap into the 19th. The story begins in 1822 and I'm finding it oh so...civilized. Am just a few chapters in and already the characters are taking me places I had no intention of going... And not a fort or soldier or settler in sight!

Recently I've been blessed with two more reader pics. Roxanna looks right at home by the bust of George Washington and the miniature Liberty Bell. This is from the Providence Forum offices in Pennsylvania, home/host of the tour I took of historic Philadelphia this summer. If you're looking for an amazing, educational, Spirit-led tour, please visit their website as another tour is in the making for next summer. Bless you, Lori, for the pic!

And last but not least is my dear friend, Patti, in Kentucky. Love the shirt! I've met so many people through my books and Patti is one of the dearest. She's a voracious reader and writer herself. And has the cutest grandkids on the planet!

And now, just when you thought there couldn't possibly be another giveaway, there is! Buzz on over to Mary's at her winsome site and join in the fun. If you'd like to enter for a friend or relative, please do! I'll close comments here in hopes to see you there!

everything

2011-09-08T09:58:00.000-07:00

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.~Philippians 4:6

We are to take everything to God - little things, very little things, even what the world calls trivial things. Yes, we are to take everything, living all day long in holy fellowship with our heavenly Father and our precious Lord Jesus. We should develop something of a spiritual instinct, causing us to immediately turn to God when a concern keeps us awake at night. During those sleepless nights, we should speak to Him, bringing our various concerns before Him, no matter how small they may be. Also speak to the Lord about any trial you are facing or any difficulties you may have in your family or professional life.

May we take these truths to heart, instinctively walking in them, so the result will be lives that glorify God more abundantly than ever before.

~George Mueller, from Life of Trust

say yes to the dress!

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-07:00

This is a very silly, girly post so proceed with caution;)

In just a couple of weeks I'll head to St. Louis for the annual American Christian Fiction Writers conference. The web is abuzz with what's to come there. One of the highlights is attending the gala awards banquet the last night. It's quite fun since it's a chance to shuck those jeans and t-shirts and don some serious duds...

Here's literary agent extraordinaire, Chip MacGregor, in Denver two years ago posing with yours truly. No, he's not my agent but he sure looks dashing in a kilt! The Frontiersman's Daughter had just released and he reminded me of Ian Justus, a fellow Scotsman. Only I never put poor Ian in a kilt. Now I wish I had!

This year I need your help in deciding on a dress. There's an author dinner for Revell one night, a dessert night for Books&Such clients another, and then the awards banquet.

I found both these two dresses for a song recently but can't decide which to wear! I even have a pair of black pumps with a blossom swirl at the toe which matches the floral pattern in either dress. Add some faux pearl earrings and a necklace and you're all set.

The black and ivory dress has an organza bodice of roses with silky skirt with a V both front and back. It comes to the knee so is still quite modest. I don't like anything shorter than knee length. Call me a prude if you like;)

The black and silver dress is tea-length with a satin underdress and a sheer lace overlay that resembles a garden. I normally don't wear black but it seems so popular these days - and all I could find were black dresses!

Below are two close-ups of the one at right, both bodice and skirt. Both dresses are much prettier in person. My camera skills are also lacking but hopefully you have an idea.

I must be a girly girl as I love dressing up. And I'd love to know which dress you prefer - or maybe you'll tell me to head back to the mall... If you're going to St. Lou this year, what will you be wearing? Or are you staying home and dressing down instead?

roxanna makes the rounds...

2011-09-04T20:00:00.000-07:00

This week we find Roxanna putting on her gloves and hat and visiting several more creative blogs, each with a unique ministry and mesage. If you have a few minutes, please stop by - we'd love to see you!

First stop is Colonial Quills where MaryLu Tyndall, C.J. Chase, and yours truly give away copies of our new releases - all under the guise of a historic tea party:) If you haven't read Surrender the Dawn or Redeeming the Rogue, you're in for a treat! Skip the scones and tea! Even the covers are delicious...

Next is Renee who is celebrating her love of books by inviting quite a few authors to her birthday party. Only you readers get the gifts! You'll see Julie Lessman, Erica Vetsch, Maggie Brendan and others who have September releases. Stop by and you might just win...

Next stop is Christy at SouthernSassyThings (I so love the name of this blog!) for some porch time and book talk. Christy is the consummate southern hostess. You'll soon see:)

Then you'll meet Wanda who is a history lover like me. I've been blessed to know her through Revell's blog tours and she has a wonderful, Christ-centered blog. Giveaway going on there, too.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, I'm guesting at Making Home Work. There you'll get some tips for writing despite a very busy life. Naomi Rawlings is our hostess and she's a newly contracted author - her novel, Sanctuary for a Lady, debuts next spring. I've had a peek at Naomi's writing and have to say historical lovers are in for a wonderfully written, thoughtful read!

I'll close comments here in hopes of seeing you there.

Happy Labor Day!

more quotes

2011-09-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Here are a few quotes that have meant a lot to me lately. As you can see, at least one of them is from my hero, Whitefield...

For as a good old Puritan observes, Christ is beholden to none of us for our hearts. We should never come to Jesus until we feel that we cannot live without Him.
~George Whitefield

Be humble, talk little, think and pray much. ~George Whitefield

Humble saints cannot think so well of themselves as others think of them, are not in love with their own shadow, nor do they magnify their own attainments. The love of God reigning in the heart will subdue all inordinate self-love. ~Matthew Henry

True service springs from a full and joyful heart, and runs over like the broad and boundless river. ~A.B. Simpson

farewell to summer...

2011-08-31T07:01:00.000-07:00

When I think of June, July, and August I don't think of books and travel and work but family and home. Here are a few candid shots from our summer...

We had a bumper crop of raspberries in our garden this year. Oh, what a joy picking a fresh bowl nearly every day...

My humble flower barrels, one of them...

Love the sound of splashing water, even in a little fountain...

Wyatt and the garden...

Paul and his fiddle...

The big hike ~ ropes are needed to scale the heights to the beach...

Paul swinging in his beach swing...

I call this the "Robinson Crusoe" shot:)

Lots of islands on the Pacific coast. Makes you want to row out to one and investigate...

My camera shy Wyatt. Pardon the shirt!

Paul took this last picture before going to sleep the final night camping...

What summer memories are most memorable for you?

r.s.v.p.

2011-08-29T03:50:00.000-07:00

If you're feeling rushed on this summery Monday, feel free to slow down and come to a cyber tea party over at Colonial Quills with MaryLu Tyndall, CJ Chase, and yours truly. We're giving away copies of our new August releases today.

Then stop in at Inkspirational Messages where Lorna hosts another giveaway of The Colonel's Lady and, with trademark Making Waves/A Great Catch humor, tells some secrets about the author;) I'm always amazed that Lorna knows me better than anybody in the publishing world and still likes me:)

We're both with Books&Such Literary Agency, write for Revell, and have the same editors. We've been conference/retreat roomies and chat regularly by phone. She's such a wonderful friend and it's an honor to be featured on her group blog.

If you've already read TCL, please enter for a friend or loved one! Or just stop by and say hello. I'll close comments here in hopes of seeing you there.

Happy Monday!

*The CQ post isn't available yet and this may have something to do with the hurricane as both webmasters are on the east coast. Prayers with you all!

two more winners...

2011-08-26T06:00:00.000-07:00

It's another summery Friday. I'm spending the morning editing this next book while Paul swims with friends at the lake and Wyatt stays home and keeps me company:) We've been busy picking raspberries, cherries, peas, carrots, potatoes and more.

I'm so looking forward to meeting this next deadline and having some more time to read and research and play in the garden before beginning that next book. I'm dying to tell you all about it but mum's the word;)

My friend Britt blessed me with this creative picture of TCL - I laughed out loud when I saw it as I think her wording is delightful:) Wish every reader felt that way! Thanks to those of you have read the book or want to! And to those who have left kind reviews!

Here are our Friday winners...

Scarlet M. and KarenK!

Congrats, readers!

If you'll email me your snail mail addy, I'll mail those books right out.

What are you doing this last weekend in August?

c.s. lewis says...

2011-08-24T05:06:00.000-07:00

To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken.

If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give it to no one, not even an animal.

Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements.

Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket - safe, dark, motionless, airless - it will change.

It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, unpenetrable, irredeemable.

The alternative to love's tragedies, or at least to the risk of tragedy, is damnation.

For the only place outside of Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is hell.

~C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves

readers, readers everywhere!

2011-08-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

Joanna's comfy reading chair. Love that pretty cup!

My silly son, Paul, wanting a part of the action:)

Susan and Sam in South Carolina ~ I so want to join her on her porch!

Ariel in Oregon! We're practically neighbors;)

If you haven't seen your photo yet, it means I haven't received it. But I'd love to! Just email lauran@tfon.com and I'll post.

Happy reading...

happiness is...

2011-08-20T19:20:00.000-07:00

Somehow August is slipping away and I'm wishing it back:) Pretty soon the book buzz will die down, my boys will return to school, my next deadline will be met, and the garden will need harvesting. I'm already missing sitting in my porch swing and editing and looking out on the wildflowers in our garden and woods.

I've decided happiness is not a book but a bowl of fresh raspberries or a handful of dried lavender. Sunshine. Splashing water. Whirring fans and open windows. A trip to the beach. Dinner by candlelight. And new characters swirling in your head:)

On Monday of next week (the 29th) I hope you'll join us at Colonial Quills for a cyber tea party and book giveaway with MaryLu Tyndall, C.J. Chase, and yours truly.

All this week Amber will be having a blog party at Seasons of Humility with daily giveaways of new releases. Please join Julie Lessman, Mary Connealy, and others as we celebrate books.

Roxie is also at Romantic Times in the spotlight if you want to take a peek. Thanks so much, Patsy and RT staff!

As I begin yet another book, I'm in need a bit of creative input from you dear readers. This involves the 2nd novel in my upcoming series, The Ballantyne Legacy. Characters are jumping onstage that just plain aren't in the synopsis! I now have two heroes (sorry, you'll have to fall in love twice and then choose between them) and a heroine who is struggling to be christened. So...

For those handsome heroes, which 2 names do you like best?

Jack
Cullen
Daniel
Caleb
______?

For the lucky heroine?

Libby (Liberty)
Ellie (Eleanor)
Chloe

_____?

If you could comment below, I'd love some help! Names are so very important to novels, just like titles. Feel free to be as creative and crazy as you want. This author truly values what makes a reader tick. Your idea might very well end up in print:) Bless you...

p.s. Heartfelt thanks to the creative, giving heart who fashioned these lovely cards and sent them to me snail mail ~ I treasure them and you!

more winners!

2011-08-19T07:47:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

I've been getting lots of reader mail, something I love - and yes, I answer every one:) Here's a line from a reader that gave me a great chuckle:

Those of us who are avid readers can appreciate how many "frogs" one has to "kiss" to find a "prince" of a book!

Our winners today are:

Amanda and Claire R.

Congratulations!

If you could email me at lauran@tfon.com, I'll mail your signed book or non-book gifts to you.If you'd like to send a photo of TCL and you, I'm posting those as they come in and have some wonderful ones for next week.

*This just in...Seekerville, one of the most popular blogs out there, is hosting a round the clock giveaway of books today and The Colonel's Lady is on the list, along with some other great authors from Bethany House. Please stop by and say hi and enter!

blossom

2011-08-17T07:04:00.000-07:00

Take the hardest thing in your life - the place of difficulty, outward or inward, and expect God to triumph gloriously on that very spot. Just then He can bring your soul into blossom.

~Springs in the Valley

within the pages

2011-08-13T12:23:00.000-07:00

The Colonel's Lady is finally out there, creating impressions in your head and heart if you're turning those pages. Here are a few images from Roxanna's world as I imagined them while writing the novel. No doubt your own imaginings might be quite different!

This coming week is Revell's blog tour for the book and I wanted to extend a HUGE thank you to all the bloggers for taking part - and for those readers who have left reviews or emailed me to talk about the book.

YOU BLESS ME!

I also wanted to extend heartfelt thanks to those bloggers off the tour who have hosted me or will be hosting me...

Colonial Quills
Carrie and Diana at Overcoming Through Time
Jeannie at The Character Therapist
Rel at Relz Reviewz
Jill at Jill Kemerer
Pat at AmHisBooks
Christy at Southern Sassy Things
Amber at Seasons of Humility
Renee at Steeler Girl
Naomi at Making Home Work

More to come...
In the midst of my own release, I'm so happy for author friends who have new titles out this month, too. Here's a huge huzzah for Kaye Dacus and Ransome's Quest, Sarah Sundin and Blue Skies Tomorrow, and MaryLu Tyndall and Surrender the Dawn!

In the meantime, my TBR stack is teetering and toppling but I can't do a lot of reading as my first book in The Ballantyne Legacy series is due September 1st. It's finished, of course, but still needs a bit of spit and polish:)

Once I press SEND and it's off to my editor, I have A BOOK waiting in the wings to read. It's sitting on the very top of my stack beside my writing chair. I even had the privilege of helping pick the final cover. Here's the first few lines to tempt you...

"No moon. Wispy clouds hid most of the stars. He could not have asked for a more perfect night."

Can you guess the book and author? She has a distinctive style that I love and her research is impeccable.

Care to share the first line or two of the book you have in hand right now?

Happy reading!

friday winners!

2011-08-12T18:41:00.000-07:00

Our two winners this Friday per random. org are...

Mary in Idaho!

and

Sweet Peripety!

If you could email me at lauran@tfon.com and tell me if you'd like a signed book or a non-book gift, along with your address, I'll mail those right out! Next drawing is Friday, August 19...

If the riches of the Indies, or the crowns of all the kindgoms of Europe, were laid at my feet in exchange for my love of reading, I would spurn them all.

~Sir Francis Bacon

Anyone who has a library and a garden wants for nothing.

~Cicero

stunning

2011-08-10T06:03:00.000-07:00

If you are a guide on a sightseeing trip, and you know that the people are longing to enjoy the beauty - even willing to risk their lives to see it - and you come upon some breathtaking ravine, then you should show it to them and urge them to enjoy it. Well, the human race does in fact crave the experience of awe and wonder. And there is no reality more breathtaking than Jesus Christ. He is not safe, but He is stunning.

God has put eternity in man's mind and filled the human heart with longing. But we know not what we long for until we see the breathtaking God... Hence, the famous prayer of Saint Augustine: "You made us for yourself and our hearts find no peace till they rest in you."

When our back is to the breathtaking beauty of God, we cast a shadow on the earth and fall in love with it. But it does not satisfy.

The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust in them... For they are not the thing itself; they are only the scent of a flower we have not found, the echo of a tune we have not heard, news from a country we have not yet visited. ~C.S. Lewis

The Dangerous Duty of Delight

by John Piper

What I've learned from my first 3 historicals

2011-08-07T10:13:00.000-07:00

When I first came to publishing an editor told me to "enjoy the learning process." I was so ignorant about the CBA then. I was without an agent, didn't have internet access here in the woods, had never been to a conference, had no writing contacts, and hadn't entered any contests. I was only marginally aware that these things existed. I simply knew that if I was ever to realize my dream of publication it would take a miracle. Since then it's been quite a ride. The door did open miraculously for me and I signed with a CBA publisher, Revell/Baker Books in 2008.

Often readers and friends ask what I've learned along the way. While every author's journey is unique, I can tell you what's been true in my own experience and what the Lord is teaching me. Since He's an infinitely personal God, my lessons are specific to me and my own writing journey. My struggles may not be your struggles, nor my joys your joys. But here are a few highlights...

*All writing, as Emerson says, is a gift of God. I write the stories God places on my heart and have found that they're not standard CBA fare. But I remain true to the vision He gives me. I work as hard as I can on each novel and leave the results to Him.

*Critique partners are truly valuable. I didn't have a CP till my third published novel. Now I realize how much harder I had to work to get those first two manuscripts into publishable shape.

*Know your history. During the editorial process, questions will be asked of you regarding the history you've included in your manuscript. It's almost like a test. You need to be able to explain or document anything you've included. Oftentimes editors aren't historians but you, the author, should be able to back up your handling of history.

*Good editors are allies, not enemies. Trust them to know what works and what doesn't during edits. They're usually right. Mine are:). Often you're so close to your story you can't see it objectively.

*Bestseller lists don't tell the whole story. Big box stores like Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, as well as other accounts, don't report to these lists. Bonnet books really do sell twice as many copies, be it Shaker, Quaker, Puritan or Amish, according to a Baker Publishing Group marketing executive. Stories set in the 19th-century American west and those about mail-order brides are also said to be top sellers. Oftentimes lists are made because of an aggressive marketing campaign. But a book can become a bestseller simply by word of mouth long after release day. More importantly, many overlooked books leave a lasting impression on readers' hearts. Only God knows the good your words do.

*Reviews are a two-edged sword. And they're simply one person's opinion, as an author friend reminded me. I've seen books I love given very low ratings and books I think aren't quality writing on bestseller lists. But then, that's just my opinion;) Some authors never read reviews, others check them daily. As time goes on I think less and less about them.

*Conferences really are important. I went to my first ACFW conference the month after my first book was released. Since I didn't know a soul, I found myself tapping a lot of people on the shoulder and introducing myself, quite a feat for someone who is naturally shy. Many of these people have since become dear writing mentors and friends. The focus of the annual ACFW conference is truly Spirit-driven. You'll feel so honored and blessed to attend. It's worth every cent!

*There's a world of contests out there. I think contests are helpful for unpublished writers in terms of name recognition and agent/editor contacts, etc. But I'll never forget my shock when I learned published writers nominate themselves for awards! My publisher and readers enter my books for the Carol and Inspy Awards and I consider this an honor and blessing. But I don't pursue contests personally.

*Don't shipwreck your family or your faith for your writing dream. You may achieve short term success but long term misery. Heaven's version of success is very different than ours. Being taken captive by social media (Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, etc.) and being preoccupied with stats and lists can spell disaster to your loved ones and the Lord. Time is a gift we need to use wisely and something I'm still trying to manage well.

*Take writing breaks. This is especially important when finishing a manuscript. Put it in a drawer, tell your beloved characters goodbye for a couple of weeks and work on other things. Your perspective will be restored and your book will be better in the end.

*Be gracious. Sending handwritten thank you notes and/or flowers to your editors, agent, writing mentors and others, plus cards/gifts to readers and those who've been helpful to you is so important.

*Be thankful. Writing is play to me but publishing is hard work. When I'm tempted to return to my sane, ordinary life, I remember that there are thousands of writers who would love to take my place. I've been given a tiny sphere of influence for a short period of time and it's all about God's glory, not mine.

*Treasure your readers. Author Robin Jones Gunn brought this home to me during a retreat several months ago. She spoke about our little flock of readers and how God has entrusted them to you as an author. Be gracious and giving of yourself, your time, and your resources with the ones the Lord brings into your life. My readers have enriched my life in countless ways and I'm so thankful for each one of them!

What are you learning in your own writing journey, whether you're unpublished or published? If you're not a writer, what has God been teaching you in the areas He's called you to minister?

Please stay tuned for more reader pics and a devotional post on Wednesday...

first friday giveaway!

2011-08-05T06:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Friday!

First, a freebie...

The Frontiersman's Daughter is available right now for free download on Kindle!!!

By now you're wishing I would cut to the chase and announce those two giveaway winner names. But I have a little confession to make. I don't like giveaways! I want to give something to everyone so it's always with a great deal of regret that I can only draw eight names this month. But I will tell you a little secret which shouldn't be a secret at all. You don't even have to buy my book and can still read it. It's a step away at your local library.

As a former library employee, I know that libraries have a budget for new books and often order them if a reader requests a particular title. Our librarians here LOVE when patrons go to the desk and put in a request. I can't tell you how many times readers have written telling me their libraries ordered my books for them and thus we connected this way. I especially love this because not only are you asking for yourself, you're benefiting others who can't buy new books.

Anyway, our first two winners for The Colonel's Lady launch, per random.org are...

Joanna (ZachandZoe's Mom) and Cathy!!

If our winners will email me at lauran@tfon.com and tell me whether they'd like a book or non-book gift, I'll mail those out. Your package will arrive with one of these lovely address labels, compliments of a dear reader:) Heartfelt thanks to you all for entering! Your names will all stay in the hat for the next drawing August 12.

I also want to thank Jeannie over at The Character Therapist for putting Roxanna and Cass on the couch, so to speak, and figuring out what makes them tick from a psychological perspective. I invite you to look at this fascinating site and enter the giveaway for a signed copy of the The Colonel's Lady there on Jeannie's blog.

Bless you!

pittsburgh!

2011-08-03T06:35:00.000-07:00

Thanks to those of you who followed along on my Philadelphia post and asked for more pictures. We'll make the leap to Pittsburgh here, equally rich in history...

After spending a week in Philadelphia recently, I boarded the train and traveled 300 plus miles west to Pittsburgh, leaving at noon and rolling in around 8:00 pm. The scenery was so beautiful along the way! In the 18th-century this was an arduous journey of at least 3 weeks over mountains and rivers on horseback. No official stagecoach route existed till 1821.

There were a great many Amish in my car. Old order, I think, as they were speaking Dutch. They were very friendly with Englishers like me:) I can see why Amish books are so popular as their way of life is like a living snapshot into the past. The children are just beautiful!

This bronze statue epitomizes Pittsburgh's history. My hero, George Washington, came to the Forks of the Ohio in the mid-18th century and ended up "treating" or meeting with Indians like the Seneca leader here. This statue atop Mount Washington is called "Points of View" and overlooks the city and its three rivers (Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny). You can see the Mon as locals call it, to the right at Washington's back.

This is the Pittsburgh I would have loved to witness when it was just a huge arrowhead-shaped piece of land in the 18th-century and a hotly disputed territory.

Pittsburgh as it appeared in the early 19th-century. This is taken from a sketch drawn by Mrs. E.C. Gibson, wife of Jason Gibson, Esquire of the Philadelphia Bar while on her wedding tour in 1817.

Pittsburgh today. I had a hard time seeing past all the steel and concrete to the history beneath even from my perch on Mount Washington. I so longed for an unspoiled view! I'm sure Ezekial Click and Red Shirt wouldn't recognize the place!

Here's an up close view of the point at which the Monongahela and Allegheny Rivers meet and merge into the Ohio. I was unprepared for how HUGE the rivers are and how very hilly Pittsburgh is after the flats of Philadelphia. The white outline on the green is where the original Fort Duquesne was located. In back of this was Fort Pitt which was far more immense and had a surrounding moat around and drawbridges to access it, much like a castle.

The last remaining blockhouse of Fort Pitt. To the right of this is a huge area called "The King's Garden" which once consisted of orchards and vegetable gardens that supplied the fort. Flowers were also planted and people enjoyed strolling through the gardens in the late 18th-century before the fort was dismantled. Sadly, it is no more.

I took a giant leap in time of 100 or so years from the 18th-century to the Gilded Age when I spent a day at Clayton, the home of Henry Clay Frick, one of Pittsburgh's leading industrialists. The Gilded Age is not one of my favorite periods as there was so much excess. But the Clayton estate is a lovely echo of the past and its owners were very interesting, a true rags to riches story.

The entrance to Clayton. Guests would arrive here by carriage and call on Mrs. Frick in the parlor which was quite plush and overdone. I so wanted to take pictures but none were allowed inside the house. I liked the simplicity of the butler's pantry and kitchen best. On the front portico is an immense orchestrion which is like a player piano but creates orchestra music instead with all sorts of instruments. Mr. Frick played this each evening during dinner and it was something of a Pittsburgh sensation:)

The front view of Clayton. The Fricks had another home in New York City where his renowned art collection is housed to this day.

This was the playhouse for the heir, Childs, and daughter Helen with a charming rose arbor entrance. Within is a little parlor where all the furnishings are small and Helen entertained her friends for tea. There was also a bowling alley for Childs and miniature male guests (see photo above)!

The children's entrance to Clayton. Inside this door is the most charming little sink where the children washed up after playing outside. I guess parents were as concerned about germs then as now! A sad bit of history... Clay and his wife, Adelaide, had 4 children, only two of whom survived to adulthood. Tragically, their oldest daughter swallowed a pin at age 3 which festered inside her until she died at age 6. My tour guide remarked how sad it was that a man could have all the money in the world and not be able to help his little daughter. Despite his faults as an industrialist, Clay Frick was a loving father and husband.

The greenhouse is still full of vegetables and flowers today. I believe it services the tea room just across the way which serves wonderful things. I had some chocolate custard there which was delicious!

My hostess, chauffeur, and college roommate, Heather. I think Heather took me to every museum in Pittsburgh! Here she is at home in her kitchen making her amazing fresh berry tart:) Ummm, did we have fun!

Have you ever been to Pittsburgh? In terms of historic places, where would you like to go? Or where have you been that you'd recommend?

The Colonel's Lady launch!

2011-08-01T21:55:00.000-07:00

I can't believe it's time for another book launch! It seems like Lael and Morrow just appeared - is it possible three years have passed? This time next year we'll be celebrating yet another series together, Lord willing. But we need to enjoy the moment right now:) I hope you like the gifts for the giveaways below. They have a colonial theme in keeping with the novel. Meanwhile, you're gifting me with more wonderful reader pics!

Sarah in Maryland!

Stacie Hope in Michigan!

Since some of you already have a copy of The Colonel's Lady or will be getting it, I wanted to have some other gifts along with the 4 signed copies I'll be giving away. If your name is drawn you can opt for a book or a non-bookish gift. I have 84 names in the drawings, collected from the post on June 29th. If you didn't comment and leave your name there, please send it to me at lauran@tfon.com to be entered in the drawings for all of August. Our first two winners will be announced this coming Friday, August 5th!

Last but not least, please stop by Rel's today for another fun and informative spotlight of The Colonel's Lady and some pictures of the real-life hero and heroine that inspired my creation of Cass and Roxanna. I'll close comments here in hopes to see you over there today. If I don't see you there, please stop by Wednesday for a post about my recent trip to historic Pittsburgh. It's quite a different destination than Philadelphia!

Bless you all!

heaven in their hearts

2011-07-29T14:40:00.000-07:00

Well might our Lord say, "The Kingdom of Heaven is within you," for they who truly are born of God, carry heaven in their hearts.

The tide of popularity began to run very high...had it not been for my compassionate High Priest, popularity would have destroyed me. I used to plead with Him to take me by the hand and lead me unhurt through this fiery furnace. He heard my request, and gave me to see the vanity of all commendations but His own.

Lord, show that Thou dost love me, by humbling me and keeping me humble as long as I live. The means I leave to Thee. I am Thy clay. Thou art the Potter; mould me as it seemeth good to Thy sovereign goodwill and pleasure! Amen and Amen.

I desire to make mention only of the Lord's righteousness... Like a pure crystal, I would transmit all the light He poureth upon me... I would have Jesus all in all.

~George Whitefield

1714-1770

readers and roxie!!

2011-07-28T06:44:00.000-07:00

When a book first appears it's always fun to hear where it is and SEE readers:) Thanks so much to those of you who have the book and have sent pics! I just love them and even Randy and the boys enjoy looking at them. I've been hearing from quite a few of you telling me what page you're on and which scenes they like best. Always happy news to an author! Here are some of the latest reader pics in my inbox...

Casey from Oregon!

Christy said she had a great mail day. TLC and tickets to Les Miserables!

Mandy and TCL from South Carolina!

Hooray for Carissa and Family Christian Stores!

Amanda from Rhode Island!

Coco and TCL! Bless you, Renee, in Pennsylvania!!

So...what page are you on? Any favorite characters or scenes? Or are you still waiting for your copy? I'd love to know!

historic Philadelphia

2011-07-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

Thought I'd take you on a little tour of historic Philly since I've just come from there. I was part of the Faith and Freedom Tour hosted by The Providence Forum in mid-July. This was a walking tour of the historic district and let me tell you, we made tracks from dawn till dusk:) But I never felt tired as the history there is so rich and awe-inspiring.

Our hotel was in Old City Philly and was bordered by a brick wall that had been erected in 1793 during the yellow fever epidemic. Betsy Ross's house was just a street away as was Christ Church where many of our founding fathers worshipped. I could see the steeple clearly from my room and it was a sight to behold at night, all lit up and backed by a full moon! Imagine my delight when I checked in and learned I was to stay a week on the very sight George Whitefield built his preaching house and preached!! Those of you who follow this blog and know what a hero Whitefield is to me can imagine my delight. Needless to say, my sleep was very sweet upon this hallowed spot:)

Here's our fearless leader, Dr. Peter Lillback, (author, historian, and seminary president) wearing a William Penn hat. Since Philadelphia is essentially a Quaker city, this was very fitting. Plus all that glorious sun was HOT!

Here I am smiling as I'm about to eat! In back of me is the historic ship, Moshulu, where we began the tour with an unforgettable dinner. See below:)

Best crab cakes I ever tasted! Isn't the presentation lovely?

Guess I'm a member of the clean plate club as I ate everything they set down in front of me;) And then they served dessert! Of course I ate all that, too.

There were so many memorable moments during the tour. But if you asked me to choose one I'd confess it was meeting George Washington at Valley Forge. This re-enactor had me smitten the moment he opened his mouth:) His voice was so rich and his manner so commanding and eloquent he belongs in a novel!

I'm not a small woman but George was SO TALL I felt a little like Martha Washington beside him. He kindly reminded me that no lady would ever stand to the left of a gentleman and so I corrected my error. Oh, those 18th-century customs!

Here is George Washington's headquarters at Valley Forge, one of the most amazing sites I've ever seen. This is the original house and I have pictures of the interior rooms I'll share with you in a later post. Stone houses are very common in Pennsylvania and are so very charming. Hard to imagine the very tall Washington stuffed into this house with Martha, officers and wives, and regular soldiers. There's a tranquility here that is hard to describe.

Our group at Valley Forge posing beside a Revolutionary War cannon on the site where soldiers had their huts. That particular winter was very brutal and many of the men went without shoes and were dressed in rags and had little to eat. To say it was a moving experience to even stand upon the same ground is an understatement. We owe those men and women so much.

This is a charming 18th-century garden behind Dolly Madison's house not far from my hotel. I went there every chance I could:)

Remember Morrow and Aunt Etta's mantua-making shoppe in Courting Morrow Little? I placed it here in Elfreth's Alley, the oldest existing street in America. See that "to let/rent" sign? You can imagine what I wanted to do! I think this would be a wonderful place to live and scribble stories.

Ben Franklin made his home in Philly and there are a gazillion bobble head Bens in his honor! I passed on these but chose some books and CD's instead. My favorite for the moment is Thomas Jefferson's Fiddle as he was a fine violinist.

I have over 1500 photos from this trip and will share more as the month of August unfolds. Please stay tuned as I'll post more reader/TLC pics later this week! Bless those of you who are sending them to me. I light up like a Christmas tree when they come in! Next Monday, the official launch day for The Colonel's Lady, we'll begin the giveaways - can't wait!

it's here!

2011-07-23T19:23:00.000-07:00

The Carpenter Shop bookstore in Athens, Georgia!

Diana from South Carolina

Michelle from California

Renee Ann from New York

I returned a mere 24 hours ago to some wonderful pics of readers and shelf-sightings and thought I'd post a few here. Coming home to these blessed me beyond telling:) There's so much I have to say but will need a couple of days to tame my laundry and email, organize my men, and all the rest. Will be working on a post about Philly and Pittsburgh with pictures to post in a few days. Suffice it to say, the Lord delighted me at every turn! And I can't wait to share with you here.

If you'd like to send a pic of you with The Colonel's Lady, I'd be thrilled! Or if you're feeling camera shy like I usually am, please send one of the book:) Just email me at lauran@tfon.com. I'll try to post them all in the weeks to come and we'll begin the blog launch and giveaways August 1.

Bless you all!

The Colonel's Lady...

2011-06-29T07:13:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd leave you a little something before bidding you goodbye! I'll be away for part of July on a research trip/tour of Pennsylvania and am packing my bags to go. Revell has just released the book trailer so thought I'd post this morning. Do you hear those violins? Love that music! Please share if you like. As soon as I return we'll have a launch party here with lots of giveaways, book talk, pictures from my trip and more! Prayers for travel mercies are so appreciated!

If you'd like to be entered in the first of several drawings for a signed copy of The Colonel's Lady as well as other launch party gifts (some of which I plan to pick up in colonial Philadelphia!), please leave a comment below. Your name will stay in the kitty for all the drawings. I'll leave this post up until I return so comment away...

Bless you all!

about that book...

2011-06-27T07:00:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to say I'm over at Colonial Quills today answering some interesting questions about my upcoming release, The Colonel's Lady. If you'd like to enter the drawing to win a signed copy of the book, please mosey over and leave a comment at the link above. Or just say hi and tell me what you're reading;)

Counting down till release day... August 1st is just around the corner!

Bless you all!

more Whitefield...

2011-06-25T10:25:00.000-07:00

My mind being open and enlarged, I began to read the Holy Scriptures upon my knees, laying aside all other books, and praying over, if possible, every line and word. This proved meat indeed, and drink indeed, to my soul. I daily received fresh life, light, and power from above. I got more true knowledge from reading the book of God in one month, than I could ever have acquired from all the writings of men.

Lord, teach me in all things simply to comply with Thy will, without presuming to say, even in my heart, "What doest Thou?"

Take care of your life and the Lord will take care of your death.

Press forward. Do not stop, do not linger in your journey, but strive for the mark set before you.

~George Whitefield

behind the stories

2011-06-23T07:58:00.000-07:00

Recently, when I was cleaning out the garage, I came across a book I'd bought about 10 years ago and never read. Well, I'd read about a chapter back then but it was so painful to me in those pre-publishing days that I buried it:) Now I'm really reading it and wish I'd stuck with it from the first as it would have encouraged me so much...

AND IT'S NOW AVAILABLE FOR ONE CENT BRAND NEW ON AMAZON!!! How's that for a summer reading deal?

Since it has one of my favorite historical authors inside, Liz Curtis Higgs, I read her chapter first:) But there are many other authors who have some wonderful things to say. I didn't know, for instance, that dear Liz was such a popular speaker and radio personality that she had a large audience waiting when she published her first novel. Or that Karen Kingsbury waited over a year for an editor to make a decision on the first manuscript that launched her career. This is just a few of the gems you'll find within its 288 pages.

I enjoyed these quotes at the start of each chapter...

The work of art which I do not make, none other will ever make. ~Simone Weil

Instead of a gem, or even a flower, if we could cast the gift of a lovely thought into the heart of a friend, that would be giving as the angels give. ~George MacDonald

I believe our heart desires are the allurements of God, coaxing us to a life beyond what we could ever ask or imagine. As we serve God out of our desires, we find a fulfillment and satisfaction like we've never known. ~Douglas J. Rumford

Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence - is the key to unlocking our potential. ~Winston Churchill

God is as creative in how He breaks into our lives as He is in the original creation. ~Lucy Shaw

closed doors, open windows

2011-06-21T16:45:00.000-07:00

I've been reading a lot of Whitefield lately, spending so much time with dear George I think Randy is a bit jealous;) His amazing writing and all the truths therein keep coming to mind. One in particular bears repeating here...

That God never disappoints us one way, but He opens a door to do good in another.

Journals, Friday, December 1, 1738

This past spring it became clear that my summer schedule as planned was not going to fly. The one thing I was most looking forward to was my Kentucky book launch in August. I ignored all the little checks that tell you something isn't feasible and assumed a do or die attitude:) Who wouldn't want to get dolled up in a reproduction silk gown in 90 degree heat and sign books and drink tea and eat scones for a day? (Well, plenty of people, actually, but this history-loving author finds it hopelessly appealing;).

Several things happened that essentially wrote a big NO across my calendar for that particular event yet I was determined to make it work. And then I received notice that the tea room had closed. How's that for confirmation? It's since moved and reopened in another location but they no longer have that charming historic house. Disappointment crowded in along with circumstances that made it impossible to reschedule.

It seemed I had to give up my plans before the Lord could hand me His. Only then did He open the door for me to go to Pennsylvania for research. A few days later Paul was asked to play fiddle for the local radio and at a summer venue during the time frame I was to be in Kentucky. So I stopped complaining and started praising, wishing I would have trusted and praised Him when all those doors were slamming shut instead.

I apologize with all my heart to readers who were willing to travel to see me! Lord willing, we'll meet. I do hope to return to the area in future and have another book event there. The good news is that I can pour my resources and creativity into a book launch right here on the blog starting August 1, something I couldn't do while traveling. I'm so excited to tell you what giveaways we'll be doing beginning with release day and how much I love the book trailer I just received for The Colonel's Lady! But that would be a certain spoiler. So just stay with me and enjoy the fun...

Closed doors and open windows are something we are all familiar with. Have you had an experience where something was taken away only to receive something better instead? Does trusting come easily to you or do you tend to complain instead of praise?

Guardian Duke

2011-06-17T12:56:00.000-07:00

Author friend, Jamie Carie, just released this lovely video of her upcoming historical, The Guardian Duke. This is a wonderful peek at how CBA book covers are made. Enjoy! And thanks, Jamie!

a constant calm

2011-06-14T19:00:00.000-07:00

God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved; God will help her when morning dawns.

Psalm 46:5

"Will not be moved" - what an inspiring declaration! Is it possible for us who are so easily moved by earthly things to come to a point where nothing can upset or disturb our peace?

When God is at the center of a soul, although disasters may crowd in on all sides and roar like the waves of the sea, there is a constant calm within. The world can neither give nor take away this kind of peace. What is it that causes people to shake like leaves at the first hint of danger? It is simply the lack of God living in their soul, and having the world in their hearts instead.

~R. Leighton

counting down...

2011-06-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

Guess we can start the official countdown till release day! The Colonel's Lady arrives in the Baker warehouse at the end of this month and though I've been expecting this I never feel quite ready. I've been talking with Revell's publicist about upcoming interviews and reviews in magazines, some of which make me smile or shudder;) It's a bit like putting your baby before a judge's panel in a beauty contest. And the old adage "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" is quite true. Some of you liked Lael best, others enjoyed Morrow more. Roxanna is waiting her turn in the wings. You get the picture... As an author, I don't have favorites. Each book and its cast of characters are meaningful to me in unique ways. That's why the pre-release days are a combo of jitters and joy. Here are a few JOYS:

Getting that first copy of your spanking new book by FedEx

Reading your first rave review (not rant)

Hearing the book is going into another printing

Finding your book in a big box store like Wal-Mart or Sam's Club

I do feel each book is a journey for me as an author. And I feel God placed these stories on my heart not simply for myself but to reach certain readers. Notice I didn't say all readers. I always pray that He will put my stories into the hands of those He chooses. I leave the results to Him. This helps me weather the bumps along the way and keeps the jitters to a minimum.

Here's a fun question that I was asked for an upcoming magazine interview. I'd love to hear your thoughts...

If you could have dinner with any historical figure, who would you choose and why?

my all in all

2011-06-08T06:00:00.001-07:00

The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

~2 Chronicles 16:9

God is looking for men and women whose hearts are firmly fixed on Him and who will continually trust Him for all He desires to do with their lives. God is ready and eager to work more powerfully than ever through His people, and the clock of the centuries is striking the eleventh hour. There is no limit to what God can do through you, provided you do not seek your own glory.

George Mueller, at more than ninety years of age, said, "I was converted in November 1825, but I didn't come to the point of total surrender of my heart until four years later, in July 1829. It was then I realized my love for money, prominence, position, power, and worldly pleasure was gone. God, and He alone, became my all in all. In Him I found everything I needed, and I desired nothing else. By God's grace, my understanding of His sufficiency has remained to this day, making me an exceedingly happy man. It has led me to care only about the things of God... Never be satisfied until you too can express from you innermost soul, 'God is an infinitely wonderful Being.'

~Streams in the Desert

one sheets and a great catch!

2011-06-06T07:00:00.000-07:00

One of the best things about being a writer is celebrating the successes and joys of friends who come to publication. No two journeys are the same! I really believe an author and publisher are tailor-made, at least when the Lord has a hand in the mix. And with that comes new friendships. There are several writers who have blessed me with their expertise and encouragement and Lorna Seilstad is one of them:)

Lorna's second novel, A Great Catch, just released and has been on a blog tour. "Fresh" and "fun" are two words I often hear about Lorna's work and this is, I think, an understatement. I don't think there's anyone in the CBA who writes like Lorna! She combines a real historical setting, Lake Manawa, with romance, humor, and spiritual truths that make for a delightfully refreshing read. If you've read the first book, Making Waves, you probably still remember that wonderful cover, not to mention that original story line;)

One of the best kept secrets about Lorna is how gifted she is at creating those interesting little things writers and editors love called "one sheets." When I was working on my proposal for my current series, she surprised me by making a killer one sheet. It was the very essence of my idea and so lovely (only you see a black and white one here - the final is much nicer!). My publisher loved it. It's also very helpful for editorial and marketing, back cover copy and press releases, etc.

If you're headed for a writing conference and want a professional presentation, I encourage you to visit Lorna's website and click on the writing tab where she shares her savvy about one sheets. She graciously shares samples there or she'll custom design one for you.

Fun facts about Lorna:

*Lorna is her pen name, and her real name, but most people call her Lori
*When she's not writing, she's a wedding planner
*She's 5 foot 4 inches and husband, David, is six foot six!
*She's the only author I know with zero rejections
*She has another series in the works with Revell:)
*She was wildly popular as a fan fiction writer prior to publication
*The black and white dress Emily is wearing on the cover for A Great Catch was designed and sewn for the model based on Lorna's ideas

Have you read any of Lorna's books? Ever been to Lake Manawa? I encourage you to do so, either in person or in print:) Heading to a conference? Working on a one sheet? I'd love to know...

Today Lorna is talking about one sheets and her first pitch to her editor at her blog Inkspirational Messages. I'm sure she'd love to have you visit!

randy's cherry chocolate chip cake

2011-06-02T08:35:00.000-07:00

It's my Randy's birthday today and I'm making this beautiful cake. He's 41 years young;) Readers are emailing and asking for the recipe so here 'tis...

1 (21-ounce) can cherry pie filling

2 cups mini-chocolate chips

1 recipe white cake batter or white cake mix

1 tablespoon vegetable shortening

1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries, with stems, drained and wiped dry

Red food coloring

4 cups vanilla buttercream or canned buttercream frosting

1/2 cup heavy cream, whipped

For the cake: Drain and rinse cherry pie filling under running water. Press cherries between several layers of paper towels until very dry. Chop cherries fine and reserve 1/2 cup (discard remaining cherries - or eat them!). Gently fold cherries and 1/2 cup chocolate chips into cake batter. Grease and flour three 8-inch cake pans and divide batter among pans. Bake on middle rack in 350-degree oven until toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean, 20-25 minutes. Cool cakes in pans 10 minutes, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.

For the cherries: Melt remaining 1 1/2 cups chips and shortening in bowl. Holding stems, partially dip maraschino cherries into chocolate and place on parchment-lined plate. Refrigerate until hardened, at least 10 minutes.

For the frosting: Beat 5 drops red food coloring into buttercream; add more coloring as desired.

To assemble: Spread 3/4 cup buttercream on bottom cake layer. Repeat with 3/4 cup more buttercream and second cake layer. Top with final cake layer and frost top and sides with remaining buttercream. Decorate with whipped cream and cherries. Yum!

heart full of God

2011-06-01T07:52:00.000-07:00

I've been reading George Whitefield's journals when he was a young man and sailed from England to America for the first time. Thought I'd share with you some of the timeless treasures therein...

Sunday, January 15, 1738

The weather was cold, and the wind blew very hard; but when the heart is full of God, outward things affect it little.

Wednesday, January 18, 1738

Had great comfort in reading the Scriptures. Was afterwards a little inclined to heaviness, but drove it off by a long intercession. Prayer is an antidote against every evil.

Thursday, January 26, 1738

Thanks be to God for His strengthening grace! As our day is, so shall our strength be.

Sunday, March 5, 1738

I am never better than when I am on the full stretch for God.

I got more true knowledge from reading the Book of God in one month, than I could ever have acquired from all the writings of men.

summer

2011-05-29T01:54:00.000-07:00

Summer is about to begin and I've been thinking about what the next few months hold. You're probably doing the same. Here's what will be happening at our house...

June will be dedicated to family. Here's hoping some warm weather is on the way! Time for sleeping in, cookouts, gardening, tending kitties (our twin cats just had a double batch!), and just being together. Wyatt is 14 and Paul is 11. Children grow up so fast. I sense the Lord telling me to savor every second.

I'm so excited about July. I'll be flying to Philadelphia and going on tour with The Providence Forum. Sound like a book tour? I wish! Dr. Peter Lillback, colonial historian, seminary president, and pastor will be our guide. He's the #1 bestselling author of George Washington's Sacred Fire. It's an honor to spend time with this gifted man in this historic city.

This charming scene at right is Elfreth's Alley, the oldest street in America, and the very spot Morrow's Aunt Etta had her dress shop in Courting Morrow Little. We'll visit here and Betsy Ross's home, Franklin's print shop, Christ Church, City Tavern, Valley Forge, and other historic places. After leaving Philadelphia, I'll take the train to Pittsburgh where I'll be staying with my college roommate and her family. You can plan on my spending a lot of time at Fort Pitt, Red Shirt and Ezekial Click's old haunt, or what is left of it. Since my new series figures prominently in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, this is a huge blessing.

August is a bit of a blur! I'll be having a launch party right here as well as other places. Please join me as I give away copies of The Colonel's Lady each week and also spotlight author friends MaryLu Tyndall, Kaye Dacus, and Sarah Sundin who are also releasing historicals that month. Lots of fun and prizes!

I'm wishing you His best blessings as you start this summer season - and a bounty of good books!

Ever been to Philadelphia or Pittsburgh? Do you have any favorite spots there? Are you staying home this summer or planning a getaway? I'd love to know either way!

Last but not least, the winner, per random. org, of An Unlikely Suitor by Nancy Moser is....

Cassie!

If you can send me your snail mail address I'll mail that right out. Bless you all!

friday and a giveaway!

2011-05-27T06:25:00.000-07:00

I simply love this gown and fichu and all the little details, even the softer colors. And the fan! When I saw it I thought of Roxanna in The Colonel's Lady as this ensemble is something she would have worn (and does) - when she's not dressed up in blue silk, that is;)

I'm posting over at Colonial Quills today if you want to stop by and visit. A copy of Courting Morrow Little will be given away if you want to be in the drawing or you can just stop and say hello.

Happy Friday!

song in the night

2011-05-25T07:35:00.000-07:00

I remembered my songs in the night. ~Psalm 77:6

It is indeed extremely doubtful that a person's soul can really know the love of God in its richness and in its comforting, satisfying completeness until the skies are dark and threatening. Light emerges from the darkness, and morning is born from the womb of night.

James Creelman once journeyed through the Balkans in search of Natalie, the exiled Queen of Serbia. In one of his letters, he described his trip this way:

During that memorable journey, I learned that the world's supply of rose oil comes from the Balkan Mountains. The thing that interested me most was that the roses had to be gathered during the darkest hours, with the pickers starting at one o'clock and finishing by two. Initially this practice seemed to me to be a relic of superstition or tradition, but as I investigated further, I learned that actual scientific tests had proved that a full forty percent of the fragrance of the roses disappeared in the light of day.

And it is also a real and unquestionable fact of human life and culture that a person's character is strengthened most during the darkest days.

~Streams in the Desert

an unlikely suitor

2011-05-23T08:10:00.000-07:00

Since we've been talking about heroes recently, I thought it would be fun to give away a copy of this book - it has three of them! I love spotlighting historicals and wanted to share this new release with you. I picked up an extra copy in case one of you might like it for your library. Some of you are fans of the Gilded Age, I'm sure;)

Nancy Moser does a beautiful job with her books and I became a fan after reading Washington's Lady a couple of years ago. That particular colonial cover bears a startling resemblance to The Colonel's Lady if you want to look it up!

Isn't the cover for An Unlikely Suitor lovely ~ both of them!? Take a peek at the original in the smaller pic. Covers can be tweaked quite a bit from start to finish as you can see here. Any guesses as to why the final was a winner? I think the hero's stance is rather intriguing and love the way the woman is holding her skirt plus the way her hair is escaping its pins. Cover art remains my favorite part of publishing, if you couldn't tell...

Have you read any of Nancy Moser's books? If you'd like to be entered in the drawing just leave your name and email below. I'll draw a winner next Monday, May 30.

What are you reading right now? Any good fiction or nonfiction? I'll tell you if you tell me;)

priorities

2011-05-18T13:09:00.000-07:00

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

Colossians 3:4

Colossians 3:4 says that Christ is our life, and this is so important to me when I list my priorities. As a young, married woman I knew it was supposed to be God first - then my husband, my family, my church, my work, and my other relationships. We get raised on this mentality. We compartmentalize priorities like a chest of drawers, making God the top drawer. Hover, that mentality is fruitless because God says, "I don't want to be the most important thing in your life. I want to be your life."

~Beth Moore

your very own hero

2011-05-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

As a historical fiction/romance author, I spend a lot of time thinking romantic thoughts. No surprise there;) And I get precious emails and notes from women who wish they could find a godly hero like the ones I (and other Christian writers) write about. I understand that yearning. Once - not so long ago - I was there myself. I married late. Had babies late. Published books late. Well, later than I wanted, but right on schedule according to the eternal timetable. And that's the only one that matters.

In today's culture, we have to walk the courtship path very carefully. We're bombarded with ungodly heroes on a daily basis. That's why it's such a joy to create godly men, even on paper! Fortunately, I have many, many heroes from history to help flesh out my characters.

I don't have a daughter but if I did, I'd get on my knees and pray for a George Whitefield for her. Seriously! Don't let the George fool you! I don't know if those of you who want to marry keep a list of qualities you desire in a man, but here, let me help you add to it...

*as a young man he began a lifelong practice of reading the Bible on his knees
*he chose godly friends (John and Charles Wesley, to name but two)
*he had a great sense of humor
*he had a heart for orphans and the poor
*he got up at 4 a.m. each morning
*he said holy things like, "I had rather wear out that rust out" when told he preached too much, and "We are immortal until our work is done."
*he had an amazing speaking voice - he preached in the open air to crowds of thirty to forty thousand people! If you don't believe it, ask Benjamin Franklin. He didn't believe it either till he went and heard for himself and emptied his pockets for his cause (and Franklin was so frugal he squeaked).
*he was so incredibly charismatic, that he (don't laugh) could reduce an audience to tears by simply pronouncing "Mesopotamia." So says historical sources!

Doesn't that sound like a real hero! Under inspiration, that is! If I wasn't smitten before I made that list (are you taking notes?), then this next comment finished me off...

"He lived. Other men seem to be only half alive; but Whitefield was all life, fire, wing, and force." ~Charles Spurgeon

Anyway, this post is from my heart to yours and far longer than I intended. I'm sure we all agree that no man, literary or otherwise, is worthy of worship. Just Jesus. Can you share a quality of Whitefield that speaks to you and you can add to your list? If you're married, does your real-life hero have a quality you love and can name here? Can you name a blessing of singleness?

a bit of beauty for you...

2011-05-13T12:49:00.000-07:00

I thought I'd wish each of you a blessed Friday and leave you with a lovely book cover, compliments of author friend, MaryLu Tyndall. Isn't it a beauty!? If you've not visited MaryLu's blog, it's one of my favorites. She has a great website and posts beautiful pictures along with inspiring devotional thoughts among other things. Today she is spotlighting her cover and gives a fascinating blurb about this upcoming book. Hats off to MaryLu and another amazing cover!

Hope you dear readers have a good book in hand! And a bit of sun peeking through:)

See you Monday!

a higher, nobler, fuller life

2011-05-11T08:04:00.000-07:00

Many saints are content to live like people in coal mines, who never see the sun. Tears sadden their faces when they could be annointed with heavenly oil. I am convinced that many believers suffer in a dungeon when they could walk on a palace roof, viewing the lush landscape.

Wake up, believers, from your lowly condition! Throw away your laziness, sluggishness, coldness, or whatever is interfering with your pure love for Christ. Make Him the Source, the Center, and the One who encompasses every delight of your soul. Refuse to be satisfied any longer with your meager accomplishments. Aspire to a higher, a nobler, and a fuller life.

~Charles H. Spurgeon

fun happenings

2011-05-09T07:08:00.000-07:00

Recently I received an email from my very first reader of The Colonel's Lady - it made my day! No, the book isn't out yet but one of the perks of working in-house at Revell is reading those books before they grace shelves. I'd so love to share what this dear reader wrote but that would be a major spoiler! So mum's the word;) This particular reader fell quite hard for my hero! So much so that she was researching him online - rather the real life hero he was patterned after:) Be still my heart!

I'm so happy to announce that today is the day our new group blog, Colonial Quills, officially debuts! The designer, Carla Gade, a new author and a web designer of many years, created the site and did a beautiful job. If you visit, you'll see some names that are familiar to you. And a bevy of beautiful colonial era books! She kindly dubbed the man in the tricorn hat at right Ezekial Click:)

My own site here will be undergoing some BIG changes this month. I don't know how long these things take but I'm excited about a new look and hope you like it, too. Please stay tuned!

Think of the blogs you like best and keep coming back to. What features do they have that appeal to you? What would you like to see more of here? I'd love to know your thoughts...

sing

2011-05-05T15:48:00.000-07:00

Oh, if only we would worry less about our problems and sing and praise more! How different our lives would be, and how much more joyful, if we would stop indulging in self-centered and inward thinking and instead would lift our experiences to God, praising Him for them.

It is easier to sing your worries away than to reason them away. Why not sing in the morning? Think of the birds - they are the first to sing each day, and they have fewer worries than anything else in creation. And don't forget to sing in the evening, which is what the robins do when they have finished their daily work. Once they have flown their last flight of the day and gathered the last bit of food, they find a treetop from which to sing a song of praise.

Oh, that we might sing morning and evening, offering up song after song of continual praise throughout our day.

~Streams in the Desert

cover cafe

2011-05-02T07:26:00.000-07:00

Can't resist these new covers. Have you seen them yet? Most of the time you readers are way ahead of me in the cover spotting game. But I always like to try and beat you to it;) These two Susans are quite prolific and Captive Trail appeals to me as I've always wanted to write a captivity story. But I think they're all beautiful and unique. I must be getting used to heroines with their heads chopped off, thanks to my Roxanna;) These two lovely ladies on To Die For made me feel quite at home. If you're curious about these books, pop on over to Amazon as they're up for pre-order and you can read the blurbs.

Speaking of covers, I was delighted to find that one of mine is a finalist for the 2010 Cover Cafe Contest. Guess which one? Click on the link to find out and please vote for whichever cover tickles your fancy. When I received the email last week I was so surprised. I don't know who entered this particular one in the historical division but feel it's quite an honor for Revell's art team since this is a site outside the CBA. It's fun thinking my girl has some admirers in the general market:) Voting opens today and ends May 31.

Have you seen any upcoming covers which just pop for you within or outside the CBA? In the cover contest over at Cover Cafe?

He knows...

2011-04-27T06:01:00.000-07:00

He knows the way that I take.

Job 23:10

When I feel God is the farthest away, He is often the nearest to me. "When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way" (Psalm 142:3).

Do we know of another who shines brighter than the most radiant sunlight, who meets us in our room with the first waking light, who has an infinitely tender and compassionate watchfulness over us throughout our day, and who "knows the way that we take?"

Oh, believer, what a glorious assurance this verse is! What confidence I have because "the way that I take" - this way of trials and tears, however winding, hidden, or tangled - "He knows"! There is an Almighty God who knows and directs my steps.

~Streams in the Desert

the end

2011-04-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

What, you may wonder, does an author do when she's not writing? This one spends time between chapters and scene breaks researching and hunting up antiquities like this at left. If I owned a pair of jumps this lovely I wouldn't bother wearing a dress! I'm always a bit awed that genteel women in the 18th-century were so well dressed underneath.

Okay, so it looks a little like body armor. But consider all the sigh-inducing details - the mauve ribbons/bows, the embroidered bodice, the laces that were so decoratively anchored, for lack of a better word. And check out that waistline! Our colonial sisters weren't really as tiny as we've been led to believe. The average waist size back then was 31 inches. Dear Martha Washington was downright fluffy! But I don't think George minded a bit;)

I just wrote THE END on my next book and put down my pen as you can see here at right. Book one of The Ballantyne Legacy. This is never one of those jump up and down, happy as a lark moments for me. Quite the contrary. Nothing makes me happier than a first draft. I'm always sad to finish, though I have months yet of polishing and rearranging before deadline.

First drafts are kind of like first love:) Future drafts are like marriage. After a while they kind of lose their lustre though the emotional tug remains. Not all writers agree. Some like editing and polishing best. Me, not so much.

I'm afraid I'm one of those slothful authors who pens their first draft in longhand;) No one can make heads or tails of my penmanship above and if I wait too long to transfer it to my laptop, I can't either. I usually write a couple of chapters and then type it on Word. There's something so comforting about writing in notebooks, maybe because I've been doing it since I was small. And unlike my laptop, notebooks don't crash!

Do you ever dread reaching THE END? Can you name the last book that you loved so much it left you wanting more?

blessed easter

2011-04-22T06:18:00.000-07:00

Wanting to wish each of you a very blessed Good Friday and Easter!

On Easter Day the veil between time and eternity thins to gossamer. ~David Horton

Where man sees but withered leaves, God sees sweet flowers growing. ~Albert Leighton

Our whimsy winner is...

Adge/Adrienne!

You should see that lovely Lost in the Pages mug in your mailbox very soon:)

If you could confirm your snail mail address for me at lauran@tfon.com, I'll have Heather mail that right out. Bless you all!

LauraFrantz.net

lael goes dutch

Book Review Sisters: Monday Morning Musings: Don't Judge A Book By Its ...

Before the Scarlet Dawn: At last comes the novel readers have been waiting ...

rests

oh JOY!

lael sets sail

HighlandCrossings

more whitefield...

book bliss

the joy of courtship

comfort

a book begins...

Seriously Write: Ask O: How Do I Give My Manuscript that Special Zi...

a little loveliness

a good and blessed year

happy new year!

precious beyond words...

thank you, Lifeway!

Merry Christmas!

the gift of you

cover candy

grow in grace

giveaway winner!

in search of elegance

Come Thou Fount

happy thanksgiving

more on giving thanks

giving thanks

imagine

new title for you!

happy friday!

called

to die for

Hallmark Channel - Love's Christmas Journey - Premiere Promo

if

love autumn

fall break

monday madness and more!

a sneak peek...

wednesday thoughts

bittersweet, a book, and 2 beautiful blogs

a little more romance

a prayerful day

home from st. lou!

off to St. Lou...

love begins

close the door

what's next...

everything

say yes to the dress!

roxanna makes the rounds...

more quotes

farewell to summer...

r.s.v.p.

two more winners...

c.s. lewis says...

readers, readers everywhere!

happiness is...

more winners!

blossom

more readers and roxie:)

within the pages

friday winners!

stunning

more reader pics:)

What I've learned from my first 3 historicals

first friday giveaway!

pittsburgh!

The Colonel's Lady launch!

heaven in their hearts

readers and roxie!!

historic Philadelphia

it's here!

The Colonel's Lady...

about that book...

more Whitefield...

behind the stories

closed doors, open windows

Guardian Duke