Gone Writing

I'm working on a project and taking a short break from the blog...I'll be back in a few weeks!

The RITA® Word is Out!!!

A Mother for His Family is a RITA® Finalist!!!

I am still in shock...absolute shock. This is an amazing honor.

Right now, I'm sick. I sounded really hoarse when I got The Call. I gasped and probably sounded like something inhuman over the phone. I still wish I could laugh or cry over this honor but frankly, it hurts my throat too much. Instead I am shaking my head a lot.

It's overwhelming in a lot of ways. Each of my novels has been a Story of My Heart--in other words, they've had a lot of me in them, with subject matters that have been heavy on my spirit, about characters who are so real to me I actually miss them when I'm done writing. This book is no exception, but this story is a little different. It deals with some tough issues, but that makes the ending scene the more sweet to me, when everyone is together and touching everyone else. A family. I cried when I wrote that end and I'm crying a little bit now (but not too much, because like I said, it hurts my throat! Gah! Kick in, antibiotics!).

I also prayed as I wrote: I prayed that one person who had been raped would find support and love here, or one person who felt ugly or insignificant or unloved or shamed or forsaken would see a New Thing about themselves and God; or that one person who felt like their plans withered on the vine would hold on for a new plan. Or if not that, that God would at least give one person a chuckle over something the children did or said. Or that they'd find escape from a frustration in their lives while they read.

This story got one star reviews on Amazon--go on and check them out! But I also got letters from readers. The story meant something to them for a variety of reasons.

Those are the reviews--the responses--I cherish. Although I'm kind of proud of those one stars, too. Seriously.

I am humbled and blown away to be a RITA® nominee. It's like the Oscars of romance writing. The awards ceremony is a fancy night of sequins and champagne and rich desserts and tears and cheers.

I owe everything to the Lord for putting Helena, John, Margaret, Louisa, Callum and Alex in my head. And to Debra E. Marvin who literally read this manuscript multiple times, maybe six? A dozen? I owe Tamela Hancock Murray for supporting and representing me, and for being such a good friend. And I owe Emily Rodmell the moon for taking a chance on me, editing this story and making it so much better.

To see the complete list of RITA® finalists, click here!

Emotional Wound Thesaurus

I have to pass on how helpful this book is to me when it comes to character formation and development!

Click here to purchase

Several months ago, I plotted a novel for a proposal. That proposal was just contracted (yay!) so now I am getting down to business. That means I re-plotted some elements to that initial synopsis and divided it into tentative chapters.

Now I'm layering how my characters develop as the plot goes along. Sometimes this is obvious to me, and sometimes it isn't. This book by Angela Ackerman and Becca Puglisi offers me guidance on where my characters come from and how that might shape their reactions to events.

Characters must have wounds, because frankly, we all have wounds. A perfect character would be boring and impossible to relate to.

My current characters have numerous wounds, just like real people, but their greatest wounds shape how they view the world. The hero, for example, has a learning disability in an age when the concept was unheard of: you were either smart or stupid when it came to book-learning.

The heroine was betrayed by both her father and the hero. She doesn't trust anyone anymore.

Both will struggle with their viewpoints of themselves and grapple with particular fears associated with their wounds.

Both will find their wounds triggered by something that happens in the plot, and both will have opportunities to overcome how they relate to their wounds.

And hopefully, both will find they are stronger together.

The Selah Awards!

The news is out!

The Selah Awards Finalists were just announced and I was shocked and delighted to see A Mother For His Family on the list!

It's wonderful to see so many friends on the list, too, as well as new-to-me authors. Can't wait to learn more about them!

***

2018 Selah Finalist Sticker
From: Eva Marie Everson, Director
BRMCWC Contests

Subject: The Selah Awards Finalists

Dear Edie and DiAnn:

As you know, The Selah Awards brought in a higher number of submissions this year than ever before! After months of reading by our judges, the preliminary scores are in. These scores were often so close, my heart ached that they didn’t all place in finals. Still, each category drew a number of finalists. The number of finalists per category was based on the number of entries per category.

And now, it is my pleasure to send you the following information:

These books and articles finaled for The Selah Awards:

 In the category of ANTHOLOGIES, the finalists are:

Granola Bar Devotionals: Spiritual Snacks on the Go
Alisa Hope Wagner
Marked Writers Publishing

Moments with Billy Graham
Edited and Compiled by Yvonne Lehman
(Multiple Authors)
Grace Publishing

Words to Cheer Your Heart Devotional
Entries by Michelle Medlock Adams
Ellie Claire

In the category of ARTICLES (ONLINE), the finalists are:

3 Ways to Raise Kids Who Care
Leigh Ann Thomas
Charisma Magazine

My Brave
Kaley Rhea
Arise Daily

The Day I Chose to Smile
Lucinda Secrest McDowell
(In)Courage

The Rock that Saved My Marriage
Melinda Eye Cooper
The National Christian Voice

In the category of ARTICLES (PRINT), the finalists are:

Dramatic Considerations
Leigh Ann Thomas
Southern Writers Magazine

Dream Comes True for Young Dancer
Julie Lavender
Statesboro Herald Newspaper

Mason Jar Blessings
Robin Luftig
Leading Hearts

Personality and the Writer
Linda Gilden
Southern Writers Magazine

Rescuing the Rescuer
Julie Lavender
Nazarene Publishing House
Standard Adult Take-Home Paper

Tarantula!
Julie Lavender
Guideposts: All Creatures Magazine

In the category of BIBLE STUDY, the finalists are:

A Whole Lot of Wonderful
Beebe Kauffman
Lighthouse Bible Studies

God is Out to Get Us: At All Costs—The Life of Abraham
Carol Bond Wagner
Relentless Pursuit Media

Heart Renovation
Katy Kauffman
Lighthouse Bible Studies

I Call You Mine: Embracing God’s Gift of Adoption
Kim de Blecourt
New Hope Publishers

Legacy: Living Now for Future Generations
Patty Schell
Kindle Direct Publishing

Strength in Adversity
Donna E. Lane
David Lane
Create Space

In the category of CHILDREN’S LITERATURE, the finalists are:

C is for Christmas
Michelle Medlock Adams
Little Lamb Books

Dinosaur Devotions
Michelle Medlock Adams
Thomas Nelson

That Grand Easter Day
Jill Roman Lord
Worthy Kids/Ideals

The Silent Noisy Night
Jill Roman Lord
B&H Publishing Group

The Very Best Story Ever Told
Robin Currie
Beaming Books

In the category of CHRISTIAN LIFE, the finalists are:

Courageous Women of the Bible
LaTan Roland Murphy
Bethany House/Baker

Holy in the Moment
Ginger Harrington
Abingdon Press

Like Me or Not: Overcoming Approval Addiction
Dawn M. Owens
Worthy Publishing

Praying God’s Promises
Linda Evans Shepherd
Revell/Baker

Prepare for the Harvest
Pamela Christian
Protocol Ltd.

Unhitching from the Crazy Train
Julie Sparkman
Jennifer Phillips
New Hope Publishers

When God Says, “Go”
Elizabeth Laing Thompson
Shiloh Run Press

In the category of CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE FICTION, the finalists are:

Crossroads of the Heart
Dana R. Lynn
Annie’s Publishing

Finding Love on Bainbridge Island, WA
Annette M. Irby
Mountain Brook Ink

Freedom’s Kiss
Sarah Monzon
Radiant Publications

New Duet
Cindy Erving Huff
Clean Reads

Return to Walhalla
Laura Hodges Poole
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC

The Promise
Susan Lantz Simpson
Kensington Publishing Group

In the category of DEVOTIONALS, the finalists are:

Buckeye Believer: 40 Days of Devotions for the Ohio State Faithful
Del Duduit
Burnett Young Books

Extraordinary Hope
Elizabeth Ann Wallace
Morgan James Publishing

Fabulous & Focused
Michelle Medlock Adams
Gena Maselli
Worthy Inspired

Live Bold
Andrea Tomassi
Cynthia Cavanaugh
Redemption Press

In the category of FIRST NOVEL, the finalists are:

Hidden Danger
Jennifer Pierce
Anaiah Press

Seeing Beyond
Kent Wyatt
Winged Publications

The Children of Main Street
Merilyn Howton Marriott
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC

The Forgotten Life of Evelyn Lewis
Jane Rubietta
Guiding Light/LPC

The Secret Heir
Janice Broyles
Heritage Beacon Press/LPC

Yoshi of Bethlehem
Sharon Mullen
Woodsong Publishing

In the category of GENERAL NONFICTION, the finalists are:

Anchored: Leading Through the Storms
Cynthia Cavanaugh
New Hope Publishers

If You Give a Girl a Giant
Karen Porter
Bold Vision Books

The Final Race
Eric Eichinger
(with) Eva Marie Everson
Tyndale Publishing

In the category of HISTORICAL/BIBLICAL FICTION, the finalists are:

Dangerous to Know
Megan Whitson Lee
Elk Lake Publishing

Faith is Not Silent
Billie Fulton
Elk Lake Publishing

The Secret Heir
Janice Broyles
Heritage Beacon Press/LPC

The Shenandoah Road
Lynne Basham Tagawa
Blue Rock Press

In the category of HISTORICAL ROMANCE FICTION, the finalists are:

Across the Blue
Carrie Turansky
Multonomah/Penguin Random House

Ain’t Misbehavin’
Jennifer Lamont Leo
Smitten/LPC

A Love Restored
Kelly Goshorn
Pelican Book Group

A Mother for His Family
Susanne Dietze
Harlequin Love Inspired Historical

A Musket in My Hands
Sandra Merville Hart
Smitten/LPC

Minding the Light
Suzanne Woods Fisher
Revell Books/Baker

Mist O’er the Voyageur
Naomi Musch
Smitten/LPC

River to Redemption
Ann H. Gabhart
Revell Book/Baker

In the category of INSPIRATION & GIFT, the finalists are:

Deep Waters: Lift Your Gaze
Kim M. Clark
Deep Waters Books

Spiritual Verse Today: God’s Light Volume One
Sharon CassanoLochman
Ontario Shore Publishing

When God Calls the Heart
Brian Bird
Michelle Cox
BroadStreet Publishing



When God Calls the Heart at Christmas
Brian Bird
Michelle Cox
BroadStreet Publishing

In the category of MIDDLE GRADE NOVELS, the finalists are:

Battle Buddies
Shelley Pierce
Elk Lake Publishing

Saving Mount Rushmore
Andrea Jo Rodgers
Anaiah Press

Sour Lemon and Sweet Tea
Julane Fisher
TouchPoint Press

In the category of MYSTERY/SUSPENSE FICTION, the finalists are:

Blood Moon Redemption
Judy DuCharme
Ambassador International

Deep State Stealth
Vikki Kestell
Faith-Filled Fiction

Perilous Treasure
Dan Walsh
Bainbridge Press

The Last Hemlock
Larry M. Arrowood
Woodsong Publishing

In the category of NOVELLAS, the finalists are:

Above All These Things
Connie Stevens
Barbour Publishing

Ice Melts in Spring
Linda W. Yezak
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC

Falling for Grace
Janet W. Ferguson
Southern Sun Press

Perfect for the Preacher
Megan Besing
Barbour Publishing

The Return
Marianne Evans
Pelican Book Group

In the category of ROMANTIC SUSPENSE FICTION, the finalists are:

Amish Christmas Emergency
Dana R. Lynn
Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense

Called to Protect
Lynette Eason
Revell/Baker

Expecting Danger
Jennifer Pierce
Anaiah Press

Fugitive Spy
Jordyn Redwood
Love Inspired Suspense

In Too Deep
Lynn H. Blackburn
Revell/Baker

Lone Witness
Rachel Dylan
Bethany House/Baker

Vanished in the Night
Lynette Eason
Love Inspired Suspense

In the category of SPECULATIVE FICTION, the finalists are:

Mark of the Raven
Morgan L. Busse
Bethany House/Baker

Sky Light Falls
Donna E. Lane
Bear’s Place Publishing

The Revolutionary
Kristen Hogrefe
Write Integrity Press

In the category of WESTERN FICTION, the finalists are:

Heartfelt Echoes
Jennifer Uhlarik
Barbour Publishing

Rose’s Redemption
Donna L. H. Smith
Hartline

The Brigand and the Bride
Jennifer Uhlarik
Barbour Publishing

In the category of WOMEN’S CONTEMPORARY FICTION, the finalists are:

Daring to Live
Mary Vee
Never Give Up Stories Publications

Manhattan Grace
Clarice G. James
Elk Lake Publishing

Miles from Where we Started
Cynthia Ruchti
Gilead Publishing

Mourning Dove
Claire Fullerton
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC

The Children of Main Street
Merilyn Howton Marriott
Firefly Southern Fiction/LPC

In the category of YA Fiction/Nonfiction, the finalists are:

Bold and Blessed
Trinitee Stokes
(with) Crystal Bowman
Teri Mckinley
Zonderkidz

F’lorna of Rodesh
Alisa Hope Wagner
Marked Writers Publishing

Get Your Spirit On: Devotions for Cheerleaders
Michelle Medlock Adams
SonRise Devotionals/LPC

Uninvited
Beckie Lindsey
Elk Lake Publishing

I look forward to receiving the winning scores and in announcing the winners at awards night during Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Respectfully Submitted,

Eva Marie Everson
Contest Director
(along with) Taryn Souders
Assistant to the Contest Director
BRMCWC

New ACFW Releases for March, 2019

More in-depth descriptions of these books can be found on the ACFW Fiction Finder website.

Children’s:

The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog by Daphne Self — Majesty, the firehouse dog, is missing. Willie and Jax are on the case to discover who is the dognapping culprit. Could it be their neighbor, Mr. Applebee? Or maybe it is Ms. Thornton? Join the Pintail Duo, Wilhelmina van der Coup and Jackson Barnaby, as they follow the clues to rescue Majesty in The Case of the Missing Firehouse Dog. (Children’s from Ambassador International)

Contemporary Romance:

When He Found Me by Victoria Bylin — With his career and faith in tatters, a disillusioned baseball player falls for an optimistic single mom secretly battling cervical cancer. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

His Secret Daughter by Lisa Carter — He just found out he’s a father… But is he ready to be a dad? When veteran Jake McAbee learns he has a daughter, he’s determined to raise the adorable toddler. But Maisie’s foster mom, Callie Jackson, insists Jake stay at her orchard until he’s prepared for fatherhood. While Jake and Maisie bond, the trio begins to feel like family. Could the best home for Maisie be the one Jake and Callie create together? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Finding Love on Whidbey Island, Washington by Annette M. Irby — Liberty Winfield lives with loss every day. She’d rather leave her history behind her, but when faced with moving back to her hometown, the past becomes unavoidable. She takes a job at the florist shop owned by her ex-boyfriend’s family from a decade ago. Now he’s unavoidable. Clay Garrison knows the pain of ruing his mistakes. Most of his regrets center around Liberty. If he could undo his poor choices, he would. Liberty is back. He has one more chance to make things right. She doesn’t believe anyone could love her unconditionally, so he sets out to prove her wrong. He must also try to right the biggest wrong of their past, knowing that in doing so, he could lose her forever. (Contemporary Romance from Mountain Brook Ink)

Whatever is True by Pamela S. Meyers — Bullfighter and ranch hand Clint Palmer yearns for a family of his own and desires a relationship with barrel racer Lacy Roberts, a fellow ranch employee. But what would she want in a guy who was abandoned by his father and has a mother who is an alcoholic? If he’s ever going to be seen in a different light by Lacy, he needs greater financial security than what a ranch-hand position provides. Lacy’s parents have scorned her ever since she opted for ranch life rather than pursuing a business career. She’s attracted to Clint, who has shown enough interest in her that she reveals a secret about her past—only to be rejected by him. She’s about to move on when Clint learns a secret related to his own life that changes everything. (Contemporary Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Her Colorado Cowboy by Mindy Obenhaus — Lily Davis agrees to take her children riding…despite her fear of horses. But now widowed cowboy Noah Stephens is determined to help her get comfortable in the saddle. And, at her children’s insistence, Lily finds herself promoting his rodeo school. As Noah and Lily work together, will Noah continue to shield his heart…or can they discover a love that conquers both their fears? (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Her Last Chance Cowboy by Tina Radcliffe — When pregnant single mother Hannah Vincent shows up professing to be the half sister of the Maxwells of Big Heart Ranch, horse trainer Tripp Walker is wary. Wounded before, he doesn’t trust easily. If only Hannah and her feisty five-year-old daughter weren’t so impossible to resist. Now, despite his doubts, joining this little family is quickly becoming the cautious cowboy’s greatest wish. (Contemporary Romance, Independently Published)

Buried Mountain Secrets by Terri Reed — Desperate to find her missing teenage brother, Maya Gallo ventures into the Colorado Rockies expecting rough terrain–not deadly treasure hunters. But when she’s caught in their crosshairs, rudely handsome mounted patrolman Alex Trevino come to her aid. The deputy sheriff knows what these bandits are capable of, so getting Maya–and her brother–home safely may be his hardest mission yet. (Contemporary Romance from Love Inspired [Harlequin])

Cozy Mystery:

Like a Tree by Danny & Wanda Pelfrey — The movie making industry spreading across Georgia has finally made its way to the little foothill village of Adairsville. Bookseller and police chaplain Davis Morgan along with a young female clerk discover the body of a member of the movie company on a historic site at the foot of a large oak tree. Davis despite his promise to his wife cannot resist investigating the mystery. He and his young friend, policeman Charley Nelson, quietly dig into the case even though it is officially under the jurisdiction of the county sheriff. There is no shortage of suspects: the mysterious red headed man, sister of the victim, the fiancée and others. During the investigation an already troubled Charley is framed for a drug crime, and Davis receives word that an old enemy is on his way to Georgia after escaping from prison to make good a threat against him. Late one afternoon it comes to an astounding conclusion beneath the same sprawling oak where it all started. (Cozy Mystery from CrossLink)

General Contemporary:

Within This Circle by Deborah Raney — After a tumultuous courtship, John and Julia Brighton have a second chance at happiness! With tragedy behind them and their children grown, they’re looking forward to a new and promising era in their lives. Only, such a promise is never guaranteed. And life can change in a moment. The Brightons’ lives are turned upside down when John’s daughter Jana abandons her husband, Mark, and three-year-old daughter. John and Julia reach out to young Ellie, to give the young couple time to heal, but how can they help this child, so confused and longing for Mommy? And how much sorrow and stress can both fledgling marriages endure? (General Contemporary from Raney Day Press)

Grace & Lavender by Heather Norman Smith — Recently retired Colleen Hill is always busy, constantly on a quest to make life more interesting. When the ladies’ group at her church partners with the local children’s home, Colleen jumps in as usual, volunteering to share her passion for cooking with a troubled teenager named Grace. Colleen must balance the new project with her pursuit of becoming a contestant on a television game show, along with all the other ideas her brain continually spins out. Colleen’s daughter Melody is quite different. She lives a calm, simple life and is content with who she is. That is, until an unexpected opportunity to work with Grace, too, pushes her to reevaluate life and dare to take on bigger dreams. The path starts with a newly-found interest in soap-making and leads her to responsibilities she didn’t even know she wanted. (General Contemporary from Ambassador International)

Historical Romance:

The Erie Canal Brides Collection by Johnnie Alexander, Lauralee Bliss, Ramona K. Cecil, Rita Gerlach, Sherri Wilson Johnson, Rose Allen McCauley, Christina Miller — Completed in 1825, the Erie Canal connected the Great Lakes to the Hudson River, and soon other states like Ohio created canals linking Lake Erie to the Ohio River. Suddenly the Midwest was open to migration, the harvesting of resources, and even tourism. Join seven couples who live through the rise of the canals and the problems the waterways brought to each community, including land grabs, disease, tourists, racism, and competition. Can these couples hang on to their faith and develop love during times of intense change? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

This Daring Journey by Misty M. Beller — The only hope to keep her newborn baby alive is to reach the safety of her Indian people… This mountain man is the last person she should trust to get her there. (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

The Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin — In spring of 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries at the front, receives an unexpected message by carrier pigeon: it is an urgent summons from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life—a woman he believed to be dead. Leaving Britain’s shores to return into war-torn France, he hopes his reunion with her will ease his guilt and this mission restore the courage he lost on the battlefield. Colin is stunned when he arrives in Paris to discover the message came not from Jewel, but from a stranger who claims to be her half sister, Johanna. Johanna works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence; having found Jewel’s diary, she believes her sister is alive and in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is at first skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them. When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, however, that trust is at stake, as danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

A Tender Hope by Amanda Cabot — As far as Thea Michener is concerned, it’s time for a change. Her husband murdered and her much-anticipated baby stillborn, there is nothing left for her in Ladreville. Having accepted a position as Cimarron Creek’s midwife, she has no intention of remarrying and trying for another child. So when a handsome Texas Ranger appears on her doorstep with an abandoned baby, Thea isn’t sure her heart can take it. Ranger Jackson Guthrie isn’t concerned only with the baby’s welfare. He’s been looking for Thea, convinced that her late husband was part of the gang that killed his brother. But it soon becomes clear that the situation is far more complicated than he anticipated — and that he’ll need Thea’s help if he’s ever to find the justice he seeks. (Historical Romance from Revell – A Division of Baker Publishing Group)

The Unexpected Champion by Mary Connealy — City dweller John McCall never expected to be out in the High Sierras of 1868 on a wild-goose chase to find the Chiltons’ supposedly lost grandson. But now that he’s out here, things have gotten even more complicated, mostly due to wildcat Penny Scott. She’s not like any woman he’s ever met–comfortable in the woods, with a horse, and with a gun. When Penny and John are taken against their will by a shadowy figure looking for evidence they don’t have, both realize they’ve stumbled into something dangerous and complicated. With their friends and family desperately searching for them, Penny and John must make a daring escape. When they emerge back into the real world, they are confronted with a kidnapper who just won’t stop. They must bring a powerful, ruthless man to justice, even as this city man and country woman fight a very inconvenient attraction to each other. (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

To Win Her Heart by Candee Fick — Despite Emma Richards’ fanciful dreams growing up in the shadow of King Arthur’s castle and the manor on the cliff, the orphan is now trapped inland serving her wealthy cousins with no hope for her own future. Sir Grayson Wentworth spent his years at Cambridge dreaming of the Cornwall coast and wishing he could return to the happy days of his youth. Called home to his father’s deathbed, the young baron soon learns he has inherited a title, a neglected estate, and a betrothal agreement he knew nothing about. When the new Lord Danvers travels to execute the last matters of his father’s will, he finds himself promised to one woman and falling for another. Can he keep his vow to find a wife and win her heart? Or will honor be sacrificed in the name of love? (Historical Romance, Independently Published)

The White City by Grace Hitchcock — While attending the Chicago World’s Fair in 1893, Winnifred Wylde believes she witnessed a woman being kidnapped. She tries to convince her father, an inspector with the Chicago police, to look into reports of mysterious disappearances around the White City. Inspector Wylde tries to dismiss her claims as exaggeration of an overactive imagination, but he eventually concedes to letting her go undercover as secretary to the man in question—if she takes her pistol for protection and Ian Thorpe, a policeman, for bodyguard. Will she be able to expose H. H. Holmes’s illicit activity, or will Winnifred become his next victim? (Historical Romance from Barbour Publishing)

The Highest of Hopes by Susan Anne Mason — After her beloved grandfather’s death, Emmaline Moore is shocked to discover that her “deceased” father is actually living in Canada. Having no other family, Emma decides she must find him, and so embarks on a journey across the ocean, accompanied by her best friend, Jonathan. Unfortunately, Randall Moore and his well-to-do family aren’t thrilled by her arrival, fearing her sudden appearance will hinder his chance at becoming mayor of Toronto in 1919. Despite everything, Emma remains determined to earn their affection. Jonathan Rowe has secretly loved Emma for years and hopes that during their trip he can win her heart. Concerned that Randall might reject her, Jonathan is ready to console Emma and bring her home. When she informs him that she has no intention of returning to England, Jonathan begins to despair. Can he convince Emma to find value within herself rather than seeking it from a virtual stranger? And will she ever come to see that Jonathan is her true home? (Historical Romance from Bethany House [Baker])

Katelyn’s Choice by Susan G Mathis — Katelyn Kavanagh serves the famous George Pullman and President Grant in the enchanting Thousand Islands. Yet the transition proves anything but easy when she falls in love and can’t tame her gossiping tongue. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh by Carolyn Miller — Can a very proper young lady of noble birth find love with a mysterious, fossil-hunting scientist in the smuggler-plagued coasts of Devon, England? (Historical Romance from Kregel Publications)

Sand Creek Serenade by Jennifer Uhlarik — Dr. Sadie Hoppner is called upon to nurse the gunshot wound of Cheyenne brave Five Kills after tensions erupt between the braves and the soldiers at Fort Lyon. Even as Sadie and Five Kills form an unlikely bond, danger threatens the fragile treaty that ensures peace for both their people…and their hearts. (Historical Romance from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas)

Cover Reveal for Cameo Courtships!

Today on Inkwell Inspirations, we're revealing the cover of a very special novella collection, coming soon! Hop over for more info, but I couldn't resist giving you a peek here, too!

Happy News!

I'm so happy to share some big news! I just signed a contract for a historical romance novel, coming February 2020. (That means it'll be in stores a year from right now!)

The title is To Be Announced. I can share more details with you soon, but for now, here are a few hints:

• Baby, it's cold outside.
• Kids. A dozen, in fact.
• Second Chance at Romance.
• A government operative.

Can't wait to fill you in on the rest as soon as I can!