Interview with G. Edward Snipes, author of "I Called Him Dancer".

What made you write I CALLED HIM DANCER? Have you ever danced, taken lessons?

The only dance lesson I’ve received came when I was walking in the woods. A yellow cloud surrounded me and I began swatting yellow jackets like a break-dancer. Upon reflection, I don’t think I had the grace needed to make it big, so I quit after my first lesson. No more bees for me.

The inspiration for I Called Him Dancer came from a song performed by Tralena Walker and co-written by Tom Webster. I attended a meeting at the Atlanta Writers Club. Tralena and Tom were guest speakers. The topic was on how to write a story in lyrics for songs. Not my cup of Formosa Oolong, but at least it was entertaining. After performing the song, "Dancer", either Tom or Tralena said, “We’ve been looking for someone who will turn the song into a novel. We think it would make a great story.”

Until those words were spoken, I was a passive observer. I looked up and words were swarming around me like those yellow jackets. They attacked my head while I lay screaming on the floor. Okay, maybe I didn’t scream – but my mind did. In an instant, the story unfolded in my mind and I knew this was something I was to write.

I knew nothing about dancing (other than what the bees taught me). Tom and Tralena gave me the lyrics and I started researching and writing. I have to admit that I worried about the dancing scenes, but I knew things took shape when people began asking how I became so knowledgeable about dance. I thought back to the bees and said, “It’s just something that hit me while walking in the woods.”

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

When I was a child, I got my first book. I flipped through the pages, then tore it apart. I didn't know it at the time, but that's exactly what you do when editing a manuscript.

I hated writing when I was younger. I only did what I had to do, and sometimes not even that. Writers block was more like writers dementia. My mind didn't return to me until after ... hmm. What were we talking about?

In 1998, I became active in prison ministry. Many of the men I ministered to were eager to learn. Someone asked me if I had my studies or notes on paper. I agreed to write out the next study and then my writing career was born. The problem wasn't that I couldn't write. It was that I didn't have something to say. Or didn't realize I had something to say. Over time writing transformed from a task to a passion.

Is I Called Him Dancer your first fictional story?

My first fictional story was written in high school. It wasn’t supposed to be fiction, but hey, the best fiction looks like the real world, right? I’ll tell you the story.

In high school, I had a class that was dedicated to writing a 30 page research paper. I chose the topic, The Arms race between the US and Russia. It was the 1980s when the Cold War was still on everyone’s mind. We spent weeks in the library researching our topic. I say ‘we’ in the general sense. My research was sports and other useless browsing. At the halfway point, we had to turn in our research note cards. The teacher graded them and as she returned them, she said, “Some of you aren’t going to pass this class.” She paused in front of my desk as she said this, and then dropped my notecards on my desk. She continued, “You cannot write this paper with less than 70 research cards.”

I counted my cards. Seven. A very weak seven. This information must have shocked my brain, for I didn’t even think about this again until the teacher informed the class that the rough draft was due in the morning. “Holy cow! It’s due tomorrow?” I said.

After school, I visited a few friends, ate dinner, and watched TV. It was now nearly bedtime. No more goofing off. I sat down and began to write. The information flowed. I clearly needed more research sources, so I interviewed military experts born mere minutes ago. But hey, Colonial Imagination was still a source. I wrote thirty pages – somehow. And I got a good grade in the class. After all, no one had more expert sources than I did.

I should have known then that writing was in my future, but it would be more than two decades before I discovered a passion for writing.

Tell us a little about your book, I Called Him Dancer.

For a moment, Michael danced on top of the world, but one bad choice turned his life upside down. The once promising Broadway star now washes windows for tips and lives among the homeless. When his former dance partner recognizes him behind the fray of whiskers, shame drives him away from her. Angry at God and the world, the Dancer refuses to allow anyone into his life. When everything is stripped away, three things remain: faith, hope, and love. The greatest of these is love.

I Called Him Dancer is a story about how one woman’s enduring faith and unconditional love drives her to reach out to a homeless friend, who has given up on life.

Who is your favorite character in I Called Him Dancer?

The character that inspired me the most is Kenyon. Many readers have stated the same. He’s human, struggling to do what is right, and lives by a genuine faith. At times he wrestles between what he knows God wants him to do, and what he wants. Kenyon is down to earth, not preachy, yet his life has an impact on others.

In the story I tried to present Christianity in an honest light. Many who claim to be Christians show hypocrisy and drive others (like the Dancer) away from the faith. This is a real problem in the Christian culture. Kenyon shows what sincere faith looks like. He’s far from perfect, but his simple faith impacts those around him. Kenyon’s sincerity is something the Dancer can’t understand and it piques his curiosity.

What would you like your readers to take away from this novel?

I want people to look at the reality of how faith impacts the world around us. Hypocrisy is being pretentious about faith, and there is a difference between failure and hypocritical behavior. Christians shouldn’t feel dejected when they fail. It’s part of this life of reaching upward.

Also, we all know someone who appears hopeless and hostile toward God, but we don’t know what the Lord is doing behind the scenes. Ultimately, hope is what everyone should take away. Hope that readers are not alone in their struggles. Hope that our lives can make an impact – even with our imperfections. Finally, hope that the people we care about are never out of God’s reach.

How can readers get in touch with you?

You can flash a light on the clouds that says, ‘Free chicken fingers,’ and I’ll play Batman music and come running. Some people prefer the simpler route of connecting with me on Twitter @eddiesnipes. My Facebook username is eddiesnipes. It might seem like a strange coincidence, but my LinkedIn name is also eddiesnipes. Even more crazy is my website: http://www.eddiesnipes.com. On each of these, I just closed my eyes and typed out random keys. I might have peeked on a few letters. You can get the book through online bookstores or your local Christian bookstores.


I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for posting the author’s interview on my blog. This blog tour is managed by Christian Speaker Services (www.ChristianSpeakerServices.com).

p.s. I read this book and it was absolutely wonderful!! It got 5 stars from me!!

And the winner is.......

Jo....you are the winner of the book, "Holy Guacamole"! I do hope you will like it. Even though my opinion was not 4 or 5 star, do give it a chance! It just might be the book for you!
Have an awesome weekend!
Blessings,

Glass Roads PR Book Tour of "Holy Guacamole"

Book Description:
Nestled along San Diego's coast, the former romantic getaway of the silver screen's most notorious lovers is now the sizzling hacienda of Bonnie Miller's culinary boot camp. "If you are what you eat, make it hot, spicy and irresistible," is her motto, and this queen of Southwestern cuisine enjoys quite a savory life; success, fame, and a reputation for the finest palate west of Barcelona. That is, until a pot-rattling bang causes Trace Domingo, a washed-up sports writer, to crash into her life. His arrival turns up the heat at the culinary boot camp as Bonnie discovers in life's recipe book, it is not the spices which add the most flavor, but how truly hungry you are.

　

My Review:
Holy Guacamole has a bit of everything….murder, suspense, romance, cooking, etc. I was a bit disappointed with the book. After reading the blurb, I thought it sounded like a really awesome book! Unfortunately I found it much too “busy”. The authors tended to jump around from place to place way too often which didn’t allow the story to develop enough for me. Just when you would get in one situation, ready to spend a little time there, you were whisked away to another place with another character.

I really wanted to love this book! I only “liked” it. I did read it all the way through but it took me much longer than I would’ve normally taken. It was just hard to get into. I wish the authors would’ve developed the characters a bit more and let us get to know them a little better. This is my honest opinion of Holy Guacamole. I would encourage you to go to Amazon and read the other reviews of this book before making up your mind. Everyone has different tastes in books!

***I was provided a review copy of this book by Glass Roads PR in exchange for my honest review***

If you would like a chance to win a copy of "Holy Guacamole", please leave a comment along with your email address. No email address, no entry! A winner will be randomly picked out of all eligible entries on Wednesday, 5/25.
Thanks for stopping by Janet's Treasures and may God bless you!

We have a winner!

Charity U.....you have won Penny's book, "Kaydie"!! You will absolutely LOVE it!
Thank you to all who stopped by and entered the contest! Wish we could've given each one a book!
Penny's books are truly worth buying, if you don't win copies!!
Blessings,

"Kaydie"...my review and interview with Penny Zeller, author

Can Kaydie ever learn to trust a man again?

Penny Zeller does it once again with “Kaydie”! We first met Kaydie in “McKenzie”, the first in this Montana Skies series. She is McKenzie’s sister and has come to live with her and her brother in law, Zach, after the death of her husband Darius. When Kaydie first met Darius she was smitten. He treated her like a queen and had made many promises in order for her to agree to marry him. Shortly after the marriage the abuse started, both physical and emotional. She would go days without eating. Darius had taken to robbing banks in order to have money for his wants. In a shoot out with authorities, Darius is killed. Kaydie is left with nothing, except her unborn baby.

Kaydie moves in with her sister and her family where she learns how women live on a ranch. She is very wary of everyone but her family at first. She slowly learns to trust the people in McKenzie and Zach’s life.

Jonah Dickenson is Zach’s head ranch hand, very dependable, well liked, and trusted. He is a bit taken with Kaydie when he meets her the first time. He offers his help but Kaydie doesn’t want anything to do with a man again. She is determined to raise her baby on her own, without a man’s help. Jonah tries to just be a friend at first. He knows she has had a hard time but doesn’t know all of the details. He just wants to try and make this pregnancy an easier time for her.

If you haven’t read “McKenzie”, Kaydie and her sister were raised in luxury. Servants, nannies, cooks, etc. They never had to lift a finger to do anything. Needless to say, their mother isn’t happy that 2 of her 3 daughters have ended up living on a ranch, doing things for themselves, not wearing the beautiful gowns they were used to wearing. Kaydie’s parents have picked out the man they want Kaydie to marry and they pay him handsomely to cross the country, bring her home and marry her.
Kaydie has known Cedric Van Aulst since childhood. She has a friendly relationship with him so she believes she knows him well and can trust him to care for her.
When Cedric arrives at the ranch, he declares his intentions for Kaydie. Jonah has fallen in love with Kaydie and wants her for his wife. Who will Kaydie marry? Who will love Kaydie’s baby like a father should?

Penny has, once again, written a very exciting, moving story of love, betrayal, forgiveness and God’s unending love. She has shown us that God can heal hearts and open them to the goodness He desires for us.

Thank you, Penny, for another wonderful book! We can't wait for the 3rd one in the series, "Hailee".

If you would like a chance to win a copy of this awesome book, please leave a comment with an encouraging note for Penny. (no comment, no entry) Giveaway is open to US residents only and will end at midnight, 4/18/11. Winner will be announced on 4/19/11. Thanks and good luck to all of you!!

And now for my interview with Penny:                    

Interview/Giveaway (U.S. residents)

Bio: Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles in national and regional publications. She is also the author of the humor blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” (www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com).She is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women’s prayer group. Penny devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word that God has given her to glorify Him and to benefit His kingdom. Kaydie follows McKenzie in Montana Skies, her first series with Whitaker House. When she’s not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball. She and her husband, Lon, reside in Wyoming with their two children. Penny loves to hear from her readers at her Website, www.pennyzeller.com.

Thank you for having me as a guest on your blog, Janet. It is great to be here!

Your most recent release is a historical fiction romance, titled Kaydie. Do you write novels exclusively? No, I have also written two nonfiction books and a children’s picture book. However, historical romance is my favorite genre to write J

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing? Prioritizing! I think this is one of the biggest challenges of being a writer, especially since I work from home. I have posted my writing hours on my office door, not so much for visitors, but for myself. 　It reminds me that if I don’t set time aside for my writing, it will be spent doing a host of other “necessary” things.

I have to be deliberate about putting aside time for my writing. 　I work while my children are in school and then quit for the day when they come home. 　My husband and my children are my main ministry, so they are most important. I also do a lot of volunteer work. In order to keep my priorities in perspective, which is so important,　I spend a lot of time in prayer seeking God’s guidance in using my time wisely. 　

Kaydie was released just this month and is Book 2 in your Montana Skies Series. Can you please give us a brief synopsis? I am thrilled about the release of Kaydie. A short synopsis is as follows:

Since the death of her abusive husband, Kaydie Kraemer’s life has been easier, but she’s wary of men and builds a wall of protection around her, staying with her sister McKenzie as she awaits the birth of her baby. Haunted by her painful marriage, Kaydie is determined never to fall in love again, and it will take the grace of God to change her mind—the same grace that works in the heart of ranch hand Jonah Dickenson, a confirmed bachelor who has unhealed wounds of his own to overcome.

Cindy Sproles produced a fantastic book trailer for Kaydie, which can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vwihs6rsqDk

You love to dot your novels with humor. Lucille, one of the secondary characters in the book, brings several laughs throughout the chapters. Tell us a little about her. I absolutely love writing about Lucille Granger! Her character remains in all three books in the series and she lends so much humor. She owns the Granger Mercantile with her husband, Fred. She is the town busybody and tends to be a gossip, but she has a good heart. Her main goal in life is to arrange marriages for the eligible bachelors of Pine Haven, beginning with Zach in the first book. She started her business, Lucille’s Love Connections, and carries on the tradition with Jonah in the second book and Nate in the third.

Speaking of humor, what is something funny or absentminded that you did lately (that you’d care to admit!) Just recently I sent an email to myself on accident. I didn’t realize that and wondered why the person I thought I had sent it to hadn’t responded. After several days, I checked my “sent” box and sure enough, I’d sent it to myself! I told a friend of mine and she mentioned that that was an honest mistake and nothing to worry about, as long as I didn’t reply to myself! J

What TV shows/movies did you love to watch as a child? I loved The Cosby Show and Magnum P.I. (When I was about 12, I had a crush on Tom Selleck. J ) As for movies, my mom would make us all-you-can-eat nachos on Sunday afternoons and our entire family would sit and watch the Five Mile Creek movies. Such fond memories!

Who are some women in history that you greatly admire? I greatly admire Esther from the Bible and Helen Keller.

Speaking of people in the Bible, if you could meet one person from the bible, who would it be? (besides Jesus, of course) Wow, I don’t think I could narrow it down to just one person! There are so many amazing people in the Bible. I would have to say there would be a three-way tie between Esther, Daniel, and John the Baptist. All exhibited such courage in the face of adversity, and I love how God brought them through that adversity. What testimonies and what inspirations to us all!

Where can readers purchase a copy of Kaydie? Kaydie is available everywhere books are sold, including Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Kaydie-Montana-Skies-Penny-Zeller/dp/1603742174/ref=pd_sim_b_1

What’s up next for your readers? I just finished the third and final book in the series, Hailee, which is scheduled for release in September. I'm also working on a second historical romance series that takes place in the Post-Civil War Era. I recently finished book one in the series and have started writing book two.

We look forward to the opportunity afforded us to possibly win a copy of your new book. If you were to meet a reader or fan face to face, what might you chat about?

When I meet a reader or fan face to face, I love to chat with her about what she envisions herself doing for God’s Kingdom and how can I pray and encourage her in that pursuit. If she is pursuing her dream as a writer, I tell her that one of the most important things to remember in being a writer is that if God has called her to do it, He will guide her every step of the way. In November of 2000, I gave my writing to the Lord. I quit my fulltime job with a social services governmental agency so I could stay home with my infant daughter. That was the start of my career, beginning with writing magazine articles. I would advise her to give her writing to the Lord and to not give up! I speak from experience when I say that when He closes one door, He opens another (much better) one.

Where can fans find you on the internet? I love to connect with my readers at my website www.pennyzeller.com,

my blog www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com,

on Twitter at http://twitter.com/pennyzeller, and

on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts

Parting comments? I would like to again thank you, Janet, for having me here, and also thank my readers for their support and encouragement. I couldn’t do it without you! Secondly, I would like to let everyone know that from April 1 – May 15 is my official blog tour for Kaydie. I will have all the details (including a chance to win Hailee, the third book in the series) on my FB author page, so be sure to stop by!

Reminder:  to enter to win a copy of "Kaydie" you MUST leave a comment with an email address to contact you. I would also love it if you'd leave an encouraging comment for Penny!
God bless!!

Life is full of changes, isn't it?!?

As a little girl in a movie from long ago said, "I'm baaaaaack!"
Hello and welcome back to Janet's Treasures. I will be keeping my blog up and will be doing reviews for a number of different products....music, dvd's, books, and who knows what else! I was invited by Amazon to join their "Vine Program" and decided I could do this and still have time for my family and for my crocheting. I'll get the chance to review a wide range of products and give consumers another honest opinion of things they may wish to try.
I hope to also have an occasional interview and even a giveaway or 2.
Thanks to all who have prayed for me and my family these past several months! For those who don't know, my 80 year old momma had double bypass heart surgery in January. She was very seriously ill and we didn't even know it. There were some very uncertain moments shortly after surgery but prayers were answered and she is doing wonderful now! Again, thanks for all of your prayers!
I hope you will keep up with my blog and I pray I'll deliver good, honest insight into various products that might just interest you!
God bless you and I say, blog on!!

New Year brings New Direction

Happy New Year to all of my faithful followers and friends! May 2011 be the year that all of your dreams come true!

This new year is taking me in a new direction. I will be getting out of the review "business" and focusing on my first love, crochet. I have been crocheting since I was 8 years old, taught to me by my mamaw. This is something I absolutely love doing and want to be able to do more of it. A prayer shawl ministry is one thing I want to start. I will be taking a certification class in order to be able to teach crochet. I have felt this "pull" to become more involved in crocheting and finally gave it serious thought. My feeling is that this is what I am supposed to be doing. With a chronic health problem, I have to kind of "pick and choose" what I do. And my husband and teenage daughter are behind me 100%. Ultimately they come first. Wish I could handle doing family, reviewing books, crocheting all at once but it just isn't possible for me.

So, my blog will be closing. I have had so much fun with it! I really appreciate my dear friend, Molly, for helping me get it set up and for making a couple of buttons for me! Thank you my sweet friend!!
Thanks to all who wrote to tell me how much they enjoyed my blog. Your comments made my day!
Maybe in the future I will start a crochet blog....who knows??

May God continue to guide you and bless you! I will certainly keep on reading, my second love!! (please realize that the crochet and reading come after my love of the Lord and my family!!)
If I can ever do anything for you or help in any way, please don't hesitate to get in touch with me!
Email: djbt@sbcglobal.net

Love, hugs, and blessings to you!!!

Our latest 2 winners:

First: The winner of "Faith's Reward" is......Virginia!

Second:  The winner of "A Path Less Traveled" is.....Rosemary Travis!

Congratulations to you both!! Thanks to all who stopped by and entered!
Merry Christmas and many blessings,

Review and e-book giveaway of "Orphaned Hearts" by Shawna K. Williams

Get ready to fall in love! Ms. Williams characters will grip your heart and you’ll find yourself wanting to do anything you can to help.


David Langley is a minister who is especially drawn to orphaned children. He himself is an orphan, having lost his parents and a sister in a fire when he was 2 years old. David was left with horrible burns, now scars, from this fire. He hasn’t let anyone see them because he’s afraid of what people might say or think.

Sadie Miller has just recently lost her father. Her mother died years before. After the death of her mother, she devoted her time to taking care of her father. Sadie didn’t get out and didn’t have friends over. Her “social” circle was home and church. It’s pretty apparent that she has her eyes on Pastor Langley. She loves baking him cookies, pies, etc.

I really enjoy Shawna’s writing! She has the ability to take you right to the time periods, and the towns she writes about. Her characters are so real! I feel like I know them. Little Caleb is an orphan, with a physical disability, that was supposed to be adopted by a local family in Brady Hill. But shortly before he was due in town, the family changed their minds. The Sheldon’s found out they were expecting their own baby and didn’t feel they could take care of a little boy during Mrs. Sheldon’s pregnancy. I just wanted to reach into the book and pull Caleb out and take him home!

Sadie is asked if she can take care of Caleb until David can find a home for him. Of course she falls in love with little Caleb and wants him for her own. What will the orphanage have to say about a single lady taking charge of a child? Can Sadie and David overcome the barriers that keep them from opening up and loving? I’ve given “Orphaned Hearts” 5 stars! It deserves every one of them!
Please leave a comment, with your email address, for a chance to win Shawna's awesome e-book! No email, no entry! She will also include a special handcrafted jewelry item for the winner to enjoy!







Review and giveaway of, "A Path Less Traveled" by Cathy Bryant

Another brilliant story by author Cathy Bryant! She writes about God's love and forgiveness in such an awesome way! It was so good to re-connect with friends from “Texas Roads”. Yes, “A Path Less Traveled” is the second in the Millers Creek series but you can enjoy it even if you haven’t read the first one. (but I would highly suggest you read “Texas Roads” because it is an awesome story, too!)

Here’s the back of the book blurb:

Trish James is tired of being rescued. When a spooked horse claims her husband’s life, she’s determined to blaze a path for herself and her traumatized son without outside help. But will that mean leaving the place etched on her heart?



Andy Tyler has had to struggle for everything, and starting a new law practice in Miller’s Creek, Texas is no different. Though prepared for business challenges, he’s not prepared to fall in love…especially with yet another woman who will probably abandon him for her career.

Trish is a an interior designer who is doing the decorating for her brother’s wedding. Having lost her husband less than a year before, she is just not as excited as she would be if the situation had been different.



Andy is back in Miller’s Creek for the wedding of his dear friend, Dani. Trish remembers seeing him around town during the renovation of Miller’s Creek last year, although they never met. He and Trish are formally introduced as Trish is decorating for her brother’s wedding. Let’s just say Andy makes a “smashing” impression on Trish.



I really enjoy Cathy’s style of writing. It’s like you are picked up and dropped into this small town in Texas. You are there, walking the streets and meeting the people of this awesome little town. You can smell the tantalizing smells coming from Mama Beth’s kitchen, or the Tex-Mex café, Soldano’s. Cathy’s characters are so true to life! My favorite is still Mama Beth. She is just so full of Godly advice and wisdom. I see my mamaw when I picture Mama Beth.

Cathy has written another 5 star story in “A Path Less Traveled”. I am eagerly awaiting the 3rd in the Miller’s Creek series!
 
If you would like a chance to win a copy of this really awesome book, leave a comment with your email address. No email address, no entry!
Good luck and God bless!!
 

       

And the winner is.....

Barb Shelton....you are the winner of "Where Love Once Lived"!!

I apologize for it taking so long to announce! Can you say BUSY?

Congratulations, Barb! I'll be in touch with you shortly.

Thanks to all who commented.

God bless!

FIRST Wild Card Tour

It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!

Today's Wild Card author is:

Tammy Barley

and the book:

Faith’s Reward (Book 3 of the Sierra Chronicles)

Whitaker House (January 4, 2011)

***Special thanks to Cathy Hickling of Whitaker House for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tammy Barley’s roots run deep and wide across the United States. With Cherokee heritage and such ancestors as James Butler “Wild Bill” Hickok, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Henry David Thoreau, she inherited her literary vocation and her preferred setting: the American Wild West. Besides her recent three-book Sierra Chronicles for Whitaker House, she’s published two series of devotionals for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary Society. A homeschooling mother to three teens, Tammy’s speaking engagements often become living history lessons with the Barleys dressed in Civil War-era attire, demonstrating 19th century needlework and leather crafts. Barley is a professional editor, ghostwriter, and frequent contributor to fiction publications. She’s developed a strong fan base among lovers of the Christian western genre not only through her books, but also through her Lassos -N- Lace Newsletter and blog.


Visit the author's website.

Product Details:

List Price: $9.99
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Whitaker House (January 4, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1603741100
ISBN-13: 978-1603741101

AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

January 1865

Honey Lake Valley, Northern California



“Jake?”

Jessica Bennett jolted upright in bed, her hand trembling as it searched the cold sheets in the darkness beside her. Her fingers brushed Jake’s equally cold pillow, then the soft fur of the cat that huddled on it, the only trace of warmth in the place where her husband had gone to sleep beside her. “Jake?”

Wind rattled the windowpane with nearly enough force to crack it. The wintry cold had seeped through the glass and turned the bedroom to ice. Jess hugged her flannel nightgown firmly to her and sat still and alert, straining to hear over the storm for any indication of movement in the house, either upstairs or down. She heard no thud of boot heels on the plank floor, no jingle of spurs to suggest any presence inside the house but hers.

Judging by the thick darkness, dawn was still hours away. Though she and Jake had worked until sometime after midnight, until they were both exhausted, he must have rested in bed until she had fallen asleep, but no longer than that. Once he had been certain she and the baby within her were at rest, he must have gone back to work and joined the next shift of cattlemen who fought to keep their horses and cattle alive, digging them out of the snow and providing hay to stimulate their bodies’ heat.

The misty darkness abruptly grew darker, closing in around her.

Then, blackness.

An image flashed through her mind—she stood in boot-deep snow under a gray sky, a Henry rifle gripped in her hands. At her sides stood two of the cattlemen. More than a dozen Paiute Indian men stepped forward to stand alongside them. She recognized one Paiute who worked at the ranch. The others were strangers. Their faces revealed fear, and resolve. In front of her, perhaps five paces away, stood thirty or more renegade white men who, as one, reached their hands to their holsters, drew their guns, then took aim at Jess and the Indians. Jess cocked the Henry rifle, pressed the butt to her shoulder, and sighted down the barrel at the cold, glittering blue eyes of the man who aimed the bore of his revolver at her. Though fear burned like liquid fire beneath her skin, she firmed her grip, shifted her index finger from the rifle’s trigger guard to the curve of the metal trigger. And pulled.

An explosion rocked Jess, tearing her back to the present. Shaken, she waited for the effects of the premonition to ebb, and focused on palpable images as they came to her: Her pulse, pounding like rapid drumbeats just beneath her ears. Her breath, passing though her parted lips in deep gasps, drying her throat. She swallowed. A chill permeated her flannel nightgown. The scent of forest that clung to the pine log walls filled the bedroom. The storm…. A second explosion!—No, not an explosion. It was the windowpane, pounded by the wind. Something trickled down her temples, rolled onto her cheeks. Startled, she swiped at it with her fingers. Dampness. Sweat. Nothing more. Sweat misted her forehead as well. She dried it with her sleeve and forced her breathing to calm.

Jess felt beside her, then remembered. Jake was gone. He hadn’t gone to sleep the night before.

In one movement, she flung the covers aside and reached toward the end of the bed for the union suit she had purchased two months before, shortly after she’d realized she was expecting a child. Leaving her flannel nightgown and stockings on, she stuffed her feet into the woolen legs of the union suit then stood and buttoned it up to her neck, using her thumbs and fingertips to feel the buttonholes and shove the buttons through. Jess hurried to the pegs on the wall near the window and felt for one of Jake’s flannel shirts. Her hand brushed one, then a pair of his trousers. Frustrated with not being able to see, she grabbed both garments and flung them onto the bed then rounded it to Jake’s side, where she felt along the surface of the tall chest of drawers until her hands connected with the oil lantern they kept there and finally the matchbox. After three strikes, a flame flared to life, and she lit the lantern then replaced the chimney with a glass-on-metal clink.

Winter buffeted the window once again. Jess ignored it. Moments later, dressed and belted, she slid her feet into her cowboy boots, then stuffed the extra fourteen or fifteen inches of Jake’s pant legs into the boot tops. Just as rapidly, she plaited her hip-length brown hair and secured the bottom with a leather thong.

She grabbed up the lantern, threw open the bedroom door—the place where she first saw her tall, handsome Jake standing when she was brought to the ranch, she recalled with a sudden lightness in her heart—then hurried out onto the landing and down the stairs, her boots and the steps gilded by a wide ring of golden lantern light.

The fire in the hearth had burned down and gave off little heat. Jess set the lantern on the mantel and pulled her weighty sheepskin coat from its peg near the front door, then tugged it on, followed by her woolen hat, scarf, and gloves.

The premonition had shaken her more than the other few she’d experienced before it, but what truly unnerved her was the certainty that had woken her—something had happened to Jake.

Jess lifted the iron latch that served as a door handle. The front door blew in and struck her in the chest. Resisting the wind, she held tightly to the door as she stepped out onto the covered porch and pulled the door closed, straining against the force of the gales.

On the porch she huddled deeper into her coat, thankful it hung to her knees. Squinting against the wind, she scanned the ranch yard and glimpsed dots of orange that flickered ahead of her and to both sides, lit torches that were barely visible through the snowflakes being driven through the night and against her cheeks and chin. Most of the torches appeared to congregate near the smithy, ahead of her and to the left.

Jess descended the two porch steps and moved toward the smithy, leaning into the wind. Her nostrils stuck closed, and she was forced to breathe through her mouth. If Jake had walked in this direction and broken a path through the drifts, she was unable to distinguish his tracks in the blackness. Already her toes and fingers tingled in sharp pain as if rubbed by frost.

One of the orange torches blew out. A moment later, another torch relit it. The man who held the relit torch shifted the flame away from the others, toward the ground. Its fire burst to nearly thrice its size, then gradually settled back to its original mass. The men must be using kerosene to keep them lit. On the wind, the faint smell of smoke drifted to her.

She pushed on and lifted one booted foot after the other over the snow as she forced her straining muscles to move as quickly as she could make them go, feeling oddly off-balance due to her inability to see.

A torch broke away from the others and wended its way in her direction, no doubt carried by someone bringing hay for animals to eat so they could produce their own warmth. She and Jake had done the same, beginning late the previous afternoon, when the storm had given its first whispers of the violence to come, and continuing until midnight, scattering hay about the ranch’s main compound. But now the snows made foraging impossible. The men who gathered near the smithy must have found another way to protect the animals.

The light of the single torch grew brighter and nearer, and she altered her path to move toward it. Orange light revealed Taggart’s surprised round face as his eyes met hers, his hairy eyebrows, mustache, and beard frozen white with ice and snow.

Jess leaned close to his ear and shouted over the storm. “Have you seen Jake?”

“He’s tendin’ the fireplaces in the buildings!” he yelled back and jerked a wool-clad thumb over his beefy shoulder. His fingers held a coiled lasso. “He told the men to string a rope corral from the smithy to the cookhouse to the bunkhouse, and back to the smithy. We’re searchin’ for the beasts and bringin’ them over, hopin’ the heat from the buildings will keep the critters from freezing.”

“By ‘beasts’ do you mean the horses?”

Taggart shifted the torch, apparently in mild impatience to be under way. “No, the cattle.”

Jess’s eyes searched the darkness and found a distant square of light emanating from the cookhouse window. Jake must be warm near the fires, or at least he remained so while inside, between jaunts from one building to the next in the deathly cold. Still, she couldn’t throw off the conviction that something was horribly wrong. “What about the horses? Without them, we’ll lose the ranch!”

“Jess, there’s no time for explainin’, though the boss knows about the horses,” he assured her above the scream of the wind. “He ordered us to wrangle the horses to the barn and stable.”

Jess nodded and held a glove over her nose, wishing she had a way to warm her face.

“Ye should be sleepin’,” Taggart chastised her, “but since ye’re here, we need ye.” He took her arm and turned her to face the outskirts of the ranch. “We’re able to drive the horses—a couple of the boys are on horseback doin’ just that—but the cows are the problem. They turned their backsides to the wind and lowered their heads to stay warm, but the snow is coverin’ them, and their breath and body heat have turned the snow into a casing of ice around them. They’re suffocatin’. Come on!”

Within her, Jess’s stomach sank in dread. She kept up with Taggart, step for step. They wended their way east past the ranch house and toward the Paiute village in the same manner he had approached her, occasionally changing direction from left to right as they continued forward, searching for cattle trapped in ice.

“Ye see? There!” Taggart held out the torch and headed toward a large mound half buried in a drift. The beast moaned, a pathetic plea that was nearly swallowed by the howl of the storm.

Jess thought the cow was merely covered in snow, but as she neared and touched its side, her glove stuck to ice.

Taggart kicked low to break the ice, again, then again, until it gave way with a dull crunch. The cow, with its first full breath, gave a loud bawl.

Desperate to help, Jess rounded the animal and kicked from the other side. Her toes stung unbearably with each blow, so she turned her boot and kicked with her heel. The frozen casing gave way.

Taggart secured the lasso around the cow’s neck and rapidly pushed off the rest of the snow. “Can ye take her to the rope corral, Jess, then come find me again? With two of us working together, one can break the cows free and the other can lead them to the buildings.”

Immediately, Jess took the end of the lasso from him. “If you wander too far, I won’t be able to see your torch.”

“Ye will. The wind’s still a fury, but the snows are dyin’ down. See?”

Jess realized he was right, though she was still forced to squint. Thank You, God, that the snows are dying. “I’ll hurry back.”

She had to pull to encourage the cow to move, and had to keep pulling against its wont to stop and hunker down. At the rope corral, she exchanged brief nods with the ranchmen there, then lifted the looped end of a rope from an iron post to lead the cow through to join the others. Jake’s idea was working. The cow nosed its way into the warm press of livestock and lowered its head to eat from one of the bales of hay. Though she paused to scan the open spaces between the buildings for Jake, she didn’t see him.

For the next several hours until sunrise, Jess helped the men rescue cows mired belly-deep in the snow, pausing only to gulp hot coffee kept in constant supply by the ranch cook and her longtime friend, Ho Chen.

Gradually, the snow had slowed until it resembled falling dust, but it wasn’t until dawn, while she led yet another cow into the corral, that she finally saw Jake. He was making his way toward the ranch house, hunched over, coughing uncontrollably, and was supported by two of the cattlemen, Seth and Lee.

The last of Jess’s strength bled from her. Jake had passed between extreme heat and cold, into hot buildings and out into the frigid storm, all night. She knew what such extremes did to miners who descended shafts to work in the hot steam more than two thousand feet beneath the surface of the Comstock, then later emerged up into arctic gales. Countless numbers of the miners died. From pneumonia.

“Lord Almighty,” she breathed, and ran toward the house. Never again, she promised God, never again will I doubt the instincts You gave me, if only You will let Jake live.

If you would like to win a copy of "Faiths Reward", leave a comment with your email address...no email address, no entry. A winner will be announced on 1/10/10. Good luck and God bless!

Drum roll please!.........

The winner of Penny Zeller's awesome book, "McKenzie" is.........Heidi!
Congratulations to you, Heidi! I know you will love this book. Penny did an awesome job!
I'll be in touch with you shortly.
Thanks to all who left comments!
May God bless each and every one of you,

We have a winner!

Sandee61, you are the winner of "Almost Heaven" by Chris Fabry!
Congratulations to you! I'll be in touch shortly.
Thanks to all who entered!!
Blessings,

And the winner is.......

Barb Shelton, you have won "In All Things" by Shawna Williams. Congratulations to you!!
Thanks to all who entered.
Blessings,

"Where Love Once Lived" review and giveaway!

Blurb from the back cover:

She’d once loved a bookmobile driver. Memories of that time with him poured in so rapidly she caught her breath. It’d been long ago, but her heart remembered. At first she remembered the love she’d felt back then but the good memories didn’t last long. She’d gone to the bookmobile as usual that last day, but nothing was to be the same again. She went to Brian with love and exciting news. She left alone. Not just without him, but alone in the world and apart from God.

Karen and Brian had been college sweethearts. Karen was sure that Brian would ask her to marry him. Instead, he told her he was going back to California to visit with his parents during the holidays. While there he ran into one of his high school classmates. One thing led to another and they ended up marrying due to a baby being on the way. That sets in motion other events that come to life later in the story. This book is packed with situations that are relevant to most of us today.


I really enjoyed this book! Although I did find, in spots, that it just seemed “too wordy”. I believe Mr. Frost did a really good job in developing his characters. I could see them and feel their emotions, which is the way a book should be. I loved the bookmobile! I grew up in a small town that had a bookmobile that came to the bank parking lot every 2 weeks. That was my favorite place to go on those Saturdays!

The inter-racial relationship was handled in a wonderful and understanding say. Of course a few people had problems with it, as is usual in real life. In addition to the interracial marriage, there were a few other “situations” that Mr. Frost wrote into his story. He did a beautiful job, in my opinion. I would definitely recommend this book!

Sidney W. Frost is an elder in the Presbyterian Church and a Stephen Minister. While a student at the University of Texas, he worked as a bookmobile driver for the Austin Public Library.
You can learn more about Mr. Frost here:
His blog: http://christianbookmobile.blogspot.com/
His website: http://sidneywfrost.com/ 
 
 
 
 
 
If you would like a chance to win "Where Love Once Lived", please leave a comment, with your email address. No email address, no chance to win! A winner will be randomly chosen and announced on 11/23/10. Good luck and may God bless!

 

75 Christian Authors * One Amazing Online Event!

The Christian Review of Books in conjunction with CrossPurposes Bookstore is excited to announce the first annual Christmas Book Signing Bash.

Beginning on the day after Thanksgiving and lasting ten days (26 November

- 7 December), this book signing will be an unprecedented online event. 75

of today’s favorite Christian Authors have come together to answer

questions, chat with their readers, and offer signed copies of their

books—all without leaving the comforts of home and hearth!



Readers can search by author, title, or genre at the Christian Review of

Books (http://www.christianreviewofbooks.com/) and then follow the purchase links

to CrossPurposes Bookstore (http://www.crosspurposesbooks.com/) and buy autographed

copies of each book featured. The authors will sign the books and ship them

to the customers.

For a full list of participating authors, visit the CRoB

What an opportunity! You can shop in the comfort of your home, in your jammies, skip the Christmas crowds, etc. Buy a signed book, by your favorite Christian author, for yourself or for Christmas presents. How awesome would it be to give a signed book to your favorite people for Christmas??
Check it out and get ready to shop on November 26, 2010.

And the Winner of "A Christmas Gift" is.........

Molly Edwards! Congratulations to you, Molly. I'll be in touch with you shortly.
Thanks to all who entered! I wish we could've given you all a prize!
God bless!

Review of "McKenzie" by author Penny Zeller includes interview/giveaway

Penny Zeller

Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles. She writes the humor blog “A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author” (http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/ ), is an active volunteer in her community, serving as a women’s Bible study small-group leader and co-organizing a women’s prayer group. Her passion is to use the gift of the written word to glorify God and to benefit His Kingdom. She devotes her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. When she’s not dreaming up new characters for books, she enjoys spending time with her family and friends and camping, hiking, canoeing, gardening, and playing volleyball. Penny’s most recent book, McKenzie, was released in September 2010 by Whitaker House and is the first in the Montana Skies Series. Her second book in the series, Kaydie, is a touching book of trust and God’s provision, and is scheduled for release in April 2011.

I want to welcome Penny to Janet's Treasures today! I'm so glad you're here to share a bit about yourself.


Hello, Janet! Thank you for inviting me to your blog. It’s great to be here!


How long have you been writing and when was your first book published?
I have been writing since I was in second grade and rewrote Bible stories from memory from what I had learned in church. (I suppose you could call it Second-Grade Commentary!)

My first book, titled Hollyhocks about a bug with severe food allergies and dedicated to my nephew, Seth, was published in 2003.


What advice or tips do you have for writers who are just getting started?
I am humbled how the Lord has placed me in a mentoring position for new writers. I love to chat with a new writer about what she envisions herself doing for God’s Kingdom and how can I pray and encourage her in that pursuit. I tell her that one of the most important things to remember in being a writer is that if God has called you to write, He will guide you, one step at a time.

In November of 2000, I gave my writing to the Lord. I quit my fulltime job with a social services governmental agency so I could stay home with my infant daughter. That was the start of my career, beginning with the magazine articles. I would advise a new writer to give her writing to the Lord and to not give up! I speak from experience when I say that when He closes one door, He opens another (much better) one.

A side note: I offer a host of writing helps on my website http://www.pennyzeller.com/ and at my blog http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/, where I also include a short article about 11 steps to sticking with writing.


Has anything surprised you about being an author?
That the hardest work comes after the book is published!

Tell us how you come up with characters.
I have a very overactive imagination, so coming up with characters is one of my favorite parts about the writing process. My characters are a potpourri of many different people. I love to people-watch, so this gives me a great resource. For example, I will take the hairdo of the woman in the mall, the nose of the woman in the airport, the eyes of the woman in church three rows up, and maybe some personality traits of two or three people I know as acquaintances. I combine all of these attributes into one person to develop my characters.


What is a typical writing day like for you?
I drop my children off at school, then come home and the work begins. In between laundry loads and other household duties, I write scenes, edit, do interviews, answer emails and phone calls, and dream up new characters!


How long does it normally take you to write a book?
It varies. For my two nonfiction books, it took about nine months each. However, for my fiction books, the time has been shorter in most cases. I wrote McKenzie in three months, which is about average for me. The shortest time ever for writing a book for me has been six weeks and that was for the first book in my next series, set in the Civil War era. I have a lengthy contemporary novel I am working on that has taken several years because of the intense research involved due to the subject matter. I know that in God’s timing, it too will be completed!

Where is your favorite place to write?
I love to do my writing in my home office by the fireplace next to the big window.


What is your favorite genre of Christian fiction?
Historical romance definitely tops the list. However, I do enjoy reading contemporary Christian romance as well. A dash of humor tossed in makes it an even more enjoyable read!


What are you reading right now?
I am reading and studying First and Second Timothy in the Bible.


What is your favorite thing to do to relax?
My family would laugh at the thought of me relaxing! My husband fondly refers to me as his little hyper Chihuahua.  I’m a high-energy sort of person…I love to go for speed walks, exercise, and spend time with my family. I also enjoy camping, hiking, canoeing, and attending Christian rock concerts. All of these things are relaxing to me, as well as sitting on the front porch, with my legs propped up and delving into God’s Word…with a glass of lemonade, of course!


What is your favorite movie?
I definitely can’t narrow it down to just one. I have many favorites – pretty much anything that is wholesome (preferably a romantic drama or romantic comedy!) Some recent ones I’ve watched that I thoroughly enjoyed were The Christmas Card, Though None Go With Me, Hidden Places, Duma, The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry, and Clancy.


What 3 things would you rather not be without?
My faith, my family, and my health.


If you had the time and the money, what would you like to do?
I would build a new Christian school in my town, start a diaper ministry for new moms, purchase flying lessons and an airplane for my husband, and take my family on a wonderful vacation to somewhere warm! If I had any money leftover, I would buy a few cute outfits. I have a slight addiction to cute clothes. *grins*


How can readers and fans contact you?
I love to hear from my readers! I can be reached through the following:

http://www.pennyzeller.com/ (website)

http://www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com/ (blog)

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Penny-A-Zeller/96391560959?ref=ts (Facebook page)

http://twitter.com/pennyzeller (Twitter)


Thank you, Janet!

 

My Review of "McKenzie":
 

Oh my goodness. How do I even start? I LOVED this book! Penny has written a remarkable love story. She has written about faith, hope, and God’s unchanging love for us.


McKenzie Worthington was born into a rich, sophisticated, well to do family in Boston. She is the middle daughter of three. She is used to having everything done for her by servants. Her parents are hoping for her to marry one of her own kind. McKenzie is used to beautiful clothes, tea parties, balls, etc.

Zachary Sawyer is a rancher. He loves God with all of his heart. He lives in a small town in the Montana Territory. His home is rather crudely built, according to some standards. Old, worn out blankets cover the windows. Zach works hard on his ranch. He has been praying for a wife, someone to share his life, his dreams, and his young adoptive son with.

Thanks to a nosey store keeper, Zach runs ads in several newspapers across the country advertising for a mail order bride. Back in Boston McKenzie is desperate to find her younger sister, Kaydie, whose abusive husband took her across the country away from her family. Kaydie has written a few letters to McKenzie, the last of which she mentioned being in and around Montana Territory.

McKenzie sees Zach’s ad for a mail order bride and decides to answer it. She sees it as the perfect way to find her sister. She will go there, marry Zach, find her sister, then her and Kaydie will both return home to Boston where she will have the marriage annulled. Sounds like the perfect plan until she gets there and finds Zach to be a very kind, gentle, loving man. His son, Davey, falls in love with his new Ma. The towns people accept her with open arms. All of this begins to change her heart and ruin her plans!

What will McKenzie do? She wasn’t supposed to actually have feelings for these people. She wasn’t born to live like this, she was born to live in high society.

Penny did an excellent job of writing her characters! They come alive on the pages! Her descriptions of the surroundings are so vivid you are there! This book is definitely one I will want to read again! And the sequel, Kaydie, is coming out next year! Can’t wait for that one.

I gave "McKenzie" 5 stars! It deserves more!!

If you would like to be entered in the contest to win a copy of this wonderful book, please leave a comment, with your email address! No email address, no entry! A winner will be announced on 11/17/10.

Good luck and God bless!!                 

 



How Could Amazon Do This??

I found out earlier this afternoon that Amazon is selling a book on it's website that is a "how-to-book" for pedophiles! Yes, you heard me correctly! How can anyone want to promote the rape of an innocent child? I know that people will be crying, "Freedom of Speech!!" Yes, we do have that in our country but I don't think that should include the freedom to write a book on how to rape and molest a child!

This country has gotten so far from the principles it was founded on! We can only hope and pray that God will continue to bless us, as a nation, even though we don't deserve it! We need to get back to what the country was founded on!

2 Chronicles 7:14 says it all:  "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."

Come on folks! We can't support a company that is promoting the rape and molestation of children!
Join me, and many of my friends, in boycotting Amazon!