Author Homes Tour-Merry Christmas from Lyn Cote

Several Inspirational Fiction Authors have created a loop on our blogs of videos or photos of our homes ready for the holidays. My home is buried in snow already but here's a Peek into my life-

Only weeks ago, autumn blazed outside my window--

Seasons change-winter at the lake...


A special memory of 2009, my son kisses his bride...



Here I am beside our tree (without ornaments yet!)



Merry Christmas from our home to yours! Now go on to Donita K Paul's blog http://dragonbloggin.blogspot.com/2009/12/christian-author-christmas-home-tour.html

to see her holiday preparations! I love her Dragon fantasy novels.--Lyn Cote

PS- Follow this link for a chance to win a basket of books and prizes.
http://www.bookreporter.com/features/holiday_basket_2009/contest.asp

British Author Veronica Heley Guests Today!

My guest today is Veronica Heley, a British writer of mysteries. I haven't read her books but I am going to --SOON!

Here's Veronica:

"Strong Women…

When the second World War broke out in 1939, we were living in Birmingham, a great manufacturing city in the Midlands of Great Britain. As bombing raids began, my mother took us four girls to lodge with a farmer and his wife in the country, and to go to school with his two children. Fortunately the farmhouse was a large one with two staircases and bedrooms leading off in all directions, but there was no gas or electricity, and the water came down by pipe from a reservoir up the hill.

It was an adventure for us children. For the adults it was something else.

My mother was torn between staying to look after us, and the need to return to Birmingham where my father worked by day in his office, and was an Air Raid Warden by night. My parents slept, when they could, in a damp cellar; the garden was turned over to geese, hens, and vegetables. The strain of the nightly bombing raids was a killer. My father was neither young nor physically very strong. My mother was a strong woman, but the constant anxiety told on her as she shuttled between the two parts of her family.

Back in the country, the house sheltered the farmer and his wife, their two children, an ancient cousin who’d been bombed out of her home, us four girls and our mother, two landgirls – and they were strong women, too – plus the occasional soldier who’d been billeted upon the farmer. Also needing to be fed, but going home at night, were two more men who helped run the farm. There were usually fourteen of us round the table in the dining-room for high tea, though we sat on benches on either side of a long scrubbed wooden table on the flagstoned floor for breakfast. A cooked breakfast, mind!

I wonder now how on earth the farmer’s wife managed, cooking on an open fire with an ancient oven built into the wall beside it, plus a couple of trivets for vegetables and the ever-simmering kettle at the front. There were oil lamps to trim and fill, plus candles at night. There were open fires in the two main rooms downstairs but none upstairs, of course. There were fourteen beds to change, though a woman did come in to help with the washing. On top of all that, the eldest daughter aspired to be one of the first women architects from her university, and succeeded! She was another strong woman.

Now I write about two different heroines, Bea and Ellie, both older women trying to deal with crime today, and I wonder how either of my heroines would have fared in wartime. I can’t quite ‘see’ Ellie Quicke in uniform; perhaps she’d be second-in-command running a canteen or volunteering in a hospital? Bea Abbot is another matter. She’d have been officer material in the armed forces, or perhaps drafted into some secret Ministry of Information work. Perhaps a code-breaking operation?

Ellie would not consider herself a strong woman because she is inclined to underrate herself, though everyone else – except her greedy daughter Diana – thinks she’s a very special person . Bea runs her own domestic agency which does not ‘do’ crime – but occasionally finds itself doing just that. She offers a home to two awkward youngsters, and tries to keep her Member of Parliament son to his marriage vows. Both are Christians and try to act as Christians should. It’s a strength which underlies everything they do. --Veronica Heley

www.veronicaheley.com

THE ELLIE QUICKE MYSTERIES – Murder in House, Severn House, hb June 09

THE ABBOT AGENCY SERIES – False Pretences, Severn House, hb Dec 09

Veronica, thanks so much for sharing. I think that people were used to working harder with their hands than now. As I said to my children once, "My mother got way more work out of me than I've ever gotten out of both of you!" But that's another story!--Lyn

The Final Book Giveaway for 2009, Her Patchwork Family

I hope you all remember that during the month of its release, I give away one copy a week of my latest book. To qualify you must leave a comment and include your email address. (To confound the spammers, write it, using (dot) instead of a period and (at) instead of @.) Or go to my website and click Contact and leave your email address there.

In December, that is Her Patchwork Family which will be released next Tuesday, the 8th. If you want to purchase it, just click its cover to the right. That will take you to my website where you may purchase it.

This is the second in my Gabriel Sisters series for Love Inspired Historical about three Quaker sisters. Each believes she has a mission to help others in the aftermath of the Civil War. Did anyone of you read the first in the series, Her Captain's Heart? This came out last December and told the story of the first sister, Verity.

Personally I think the Gabriel sisters are the liveliest and bravest heroines I've ever written. Nothing gets in their way. Each risks everything even death to carry out her mission from God.

Who is your favorite heroine of mine?

Interior Designer & Friend Christine Smart Shares Uncommon Good Sense

Hello, my name is Christine Smart. Lyn asked me to share a blog post on surviving the holidays. I must say that having good friends, like Lyn, not only help you get through the Holidays but they help you get through life! Sometimes it’s the prayers and thoughtful words spoken by a friend that bring peace to chaotic times. Lyn knows I’ve had a few!
Here are a few tips that I have learned over the years to help me get through Thanksgiving and Christmas as a peaceful and sane woman.

• Accept where you are at. Let’s face it, not every Christmas is the “Norman Rockwell Christmas” we picture in our heads. Tragedies happen, divorce, deaths, children leaving the nest and all the reminders that go with the loss seem to appear during the holidays. It’s ok to skip some of the “normal” traditions if you aren’t feeling up to it. But, do find a friend to talk to, write in your journal, find a counselor or pastor to help process the feelings. Don’t just stay busy with holiday plans and spending money to avoid dealing with what is going on in your life.

• Remember to take some time each day to just be quiet. Play a relaxing CD in the car while you are out and about. If we don’t take time to pray and listen to God, to fill our minds with uplifting music, we soon find ourselves spinning out of control thinking we are too busy to have a moment of quietness which truly helps to keep our focus on what is most important.

• Stop comparing yourself to others. Envying the neighbor or friend who appears to have it all together is a waste of time and energy. We are all good at putting “masks” on and we really don’t know what is going on behind the “perfectly” decorated house and family.

• Be nice to yourself. Sometimes I have to remove myself from the situation that is stressing me out and talk to myself like I would my best friend. After all if you can’t love yourself how can you love your neighbor as yourself?

• Ask for help! Sometimes as women we think we have to do it all and leave our family out of our plans for the Holidays. Accept the help you get. Your husband may not put away the dishes exactly like you do and that’s ok! Don’t re do it, just let is go and be thankful for the help. There are a lot of great recipes online for help with the big meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Check out www.savingdinner.com . The Thanksgiving menu and directions were a huge help to me when suddenly it was my turn to do the turkey and grandma wasn’t there to coach me!

• Sit down as a family and pick 7 things that make it Christmas at your home. Our pastor was doing a series about family and Christmas when my children were in grade school and this tip made a huge difference in my life. Was I ever surprised to learn that our children preferred putting lights up outside our house over making the gingerbread house! I was shocked at the things I had been stressing out about every year that didn’t even matter that much to them. So consult your family and others that are apart of your celebrations and see what they want to do.
Happy Peaceful Holidays!"

Now about Christine and her unique new business venture.

"I started my own business last fall called Designing Moves. I had been working at Ethan Allen and doing very well there with Interior Design Consulting. In early 2008 I started to feel like I would like to volunteer more to help other women and our community after the devastating flood in June. I struggled with God about this for a couple of weeks, it didn’t make sense to me to give up the job I loved and was making decent money at. Needless to say I told God I would see what He had planned for me. Shortly before giving my 2 week notice I had the thought of starting a business to help people move. I had helped my grandparents and in-laws through this process and saw an opportunity to help other families through this overwhelming task.

As I searched on line I discovered there is such a thing as Senior Move Managers and some have been Interior Design Consultants. It was a perfect business for me to start. I’ve been able to keep working with many of my clients with Interior Design Consulting and begin to help people with Move Management. I’ve been able to help clients with unpacking after a move, realizing they moved too much and need to downsize even more, finding the best homes for the items they no longer need, to getting to know the retirement centers in the area, all the way through to estate dispersal. To find a Senior Move Manager in your area go to: www.nasmm.org

Visit Christine Smart at her website. And if you want to learn more about her, drop by her Facebook page.



Christine, wishing you blessings in your new venture and thanks for all that good advice. It helps to get the holidays and what's really important about them straight. And friends like you are rare and wonderful --Lyn

Book Monday & Author Gail Martin's Monterey Memories

MONTEREY MEMORIES - Three novels by Gail Gaymer Martin set in the beautiful Monterey area in the central coast of California. The Barbour anthology includes the novels And Baby Makes Five, Garlic and Roses and Butterfly Trees.

Book Description

Walk the streets and countryside of Monterey, California, with three couples who are surprised by love in the midst of their busy lives. Chad helps Felisa when she goes into labor in his lettuce field. Juli meets Alan while volunteering at a soup kitchen. Ross takes an overdue vacation at Alissa’s bed-and-breakfast. Can busy people slow down enough to realize the love God has brought into their lives?

Reviews from AMAZON

Monterey Memories, an anthology, is a must buy. I truly love this book. In each of the three novels, set in the central coast of California, Gail writes of God's love with such ease and weaves His love throughout each story.

We see how faith and growth in the Word affects every aspect of the characters lives. Everyday normal people with trials and decisions, which we too, can identify. From trust, or acceptance to forgiveness, each of the story's characters learn to lean on God through their faith.

I'm adding this book to my gift list for friends and family. Who wouldn't want to find this warm, engrossing book in their stocking at Christmas? Or simply a gift to share.
REviewer: Carolyn J. Devaney

Gail's Bio:

Multi-award-winning novelist, Gail Gaymer Martin is the author of forty-three novels with three million books in print. Her novels have received seven national awards and was presented the Favorite Heartsong Presents Author Award for 2008. She writes for Steeple Hill, Barbour Publishing, and is the author of Writing the Christian Romance from Writers Digest. Gail is a co-founder of American Christian Fiction Writers and a popular keynote speaker and workshop presenter at conferences across the U.S. www.gailmartin.com.

Purchase the novel is bookstores everywhere or click this link to purchase on Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1602605823?ie=UTF8&tag=novgaigaymar-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1602605823

Author Lauralee Bliss & Tips for an Easier Christmas

My guest today is Author Lauralee Bliss who gives us a lot of ways to simplify our Christmas preparations--which BTW are nearly upon us! Here's Lauralee:

"As soon as I see the month of December looming, I must admit that a certain panic sets in. Oh, the amount of work to be done! Not only in gift buying for the family but wrapping the gifts, decorating, cards, cookies and parties, and of course, Christmas Day itself. Don't you just get dizzy reading this? My head is already spinning….

Okay, so I take a deep breath. I am a brave and courageous woman, faced with a multitude of responsibilities. And I do thank my dear Lord for giving me organizational skills that can really be useful this time of year. Without them, I know I would never be able to accomplish it all. Everything I listed is important to me. But I refuse to stress over it. I take it one step at a time. After all, this is supposed to be a joyous time of year. So I look at the calendar and begin making plans.

Cards. When do cards need to be done so people receive them on time? Order the cads (especially picture cards which are easy and come with signatures) now. Address envelopes while Christmas music is playing (that always soothes me). I order my cards online (like at Walmart.com) and have them shipped right to the store to save postage and time.

Decorating the house. Decide how or what you need to do. If we are having a party at the house, for example, we take more time to decorate it thoughtfully. Another idea is to make decorating a party itself. Invite family and friends to participate or make it your own family tradition. Have the kids and dad decorate the outside while you and the girls tackle the inside. Make sure to have the Christmas music playing. Order pizza for dinner so you don't have to worry about a meal.

Gifts. I tend to shop all year 'round so hopefully most of my shopping is done. But I have also participated in an annual event at my church that is fun. The first Monday in December, the ladies pile into a minivan and head for the big shopping mall in Virginia for a day of shopping . What fun to be with others and get the shopping done, too. It's a chance to fellowship and even brainstorm ideas for gifts.

Christmas cookies. Are you going to a party? Then decide on some easy cookie recipes to make. Don't try to make complicated cookies in difficult shapes and / or with fillings (unless you really want too, of course!). For me, time is precious. I love, for example, my old stand-by--Betty Crocker's Russian Tea Cakes (or I call them Mexican Wedding Cakes). A simple yet

elegant cookie for a cookie exchange or a party. The snow white color and delicate buttery flavor is wonderful. And they are so simple to make, with only a few ingredients.
1 cup butter or margarine, softened
½ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ¼ cups flour
¾ cup finely chopped nuts
¼ teaspoon salt
Powdered sugar
1. Heat oven to 400ºF.
2. Mix butter, 1/2 cup powdered sugar and the vanilla in large bowl. Stir in flour, nuts and salt until dough holds together.
3. Shape dough into 1-inch balls. Place about 1 inch apart on ungreased cookie sheet.
4. Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until set but not brown. Remove from cookie sheet. Cool slightly on wire rack.
5. Roll warm cookies in powdered sugar; cool on wire rack. Roll in powdered sugar again.

These are a few ideas to making the December madness a little less maddening and more joyous. But above all, take time to pamper yourself. Like picking up a good Christmas novel --of which I have a wonderful new release that will transport you to the time of the Gilded Age in, what else, the town of Bethlehem, New Hampshire in the beautiful White Mountains!

Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire by Lauralee Bliss.

http://www.amazon.com/Love-Finds-You-Bethlehem-Hampshire/dp/1935416200

Bio

Lauralee Bliss has always liked to dream big dreams. Part of that dream was writing, and her career began with small creative works as a teen just for fun. After several years of hard work, the dream of publishing was realized in 1997 with the publication of her first romance novel. Since then, she's had over a dozen books published, both historical and contemporary. Lauralee's desire is that readers will come away with both an entertaining story and a lesson that ministers to the heart. Lauralee makes her home in Virginia in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Readers are welcome to visit my website at www.lauraleebliss.com to learn more about my books and writing, along with my other interests.

And my blog www.blissfulwritingthoughts.blogspot.com

Thanks, Lauralee--Lyn

Author Marta Perry & Leah's Choice

My guest today is Author Marta Perry who has been a Love Inspired author for years. God has now called Marta to write Amish stories. I had the pleasure of reading her first Amish story which Marta will tell you about. Here's Marta:

"We recently had a special celebration in our church. We were each asked to write a message about or bring a photograph of someone who had influenced our lives in a particular way. It proved to be an emotional exercise, as you can imagine, which caused me to think of the many Christian women whose spiritual gifts have inspired me over the years. One of these was the minister of my church when I was growing up.

It was highly unusual to have a woman minister back in the fifties, and even more so when the church was in a small rural Pennsylvania community. But then, Pastor Ruth was an unusual woman. She had come to our area years earlier, when her minister husband was called to our church. Although she was ordained herself, she took on gladly the traditional roles of a minister’s wife in those days—hosting ladies’ teas, helping in the church nursery, taking meals to the sick.

She became such an indispensable part of our church family that when her husband passed away, the church unanimously called her to take over the pastorate. And so I had for my spiritual mentor this lovely Christian woman. She was quiet, gentle, humble, and self-effacing. Despite those qualities, or perhaps because of them, she never hesitated to find the strength to combat wrong when she saw it. Her life was a testament to her faith.

Although I didn’t realize it at the time, Pastor Ruth must have been in the back of my mind when I started writing about Leah Beiler, the protagonist of my current Amish book from Berkley, LEAH’S CHOICE. Leah, a humble, devout Amish teacher, is confronted with a surprising turn to her life with the arrival of two men in her Pennsylvania Amish community: Daniel, an Amish widower with three troubled young children and a tragic mystery in his past, and Johnny, the fiancé who left her ten years earlier when he ran away to the outside world.

Leah faces decisions she never expected to make, and her life is further complicated by her rebellious younger sister and her dedication to her volunteer work with a clinic studying the genetic diseases that afflict many Amish children. She discovers that she must find her strength in God to make the right choices, even when they bring her pain, trusting in Him to guide her to the place He has prepared for her.

I hope, if you read Leah’s story, you’ll let me know what you think of it. You can reach me at marta@martaperry.com, and I’ll be happy to send you a signed bookmark and my free brochure of Pennsylvania Dutch recipes. Or visit my website (under renovation) at www.martaperry.com or my blog at www.booksbymartaperry.blogspot.com."

I think any reader would love this book. I certainly did!--Lyn