Guest Blogger: Author Lillian Duncan

Please welcome my fellow Pelican Book Group author Lillian Duncan!

Lillian Duncan lives in Ohio with her husband, four parrots, one Jack Russell, and a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. She’s been a Speech Pathologist for over thirty years.

She writes the types of books she loves to read, suspense with a touch of romance. Her first book was published in 2004. DECEPTION is her fifth novel.
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Writing Stories of Faith…Mingled With Murder And Mayhem

Really? Christian Fiction and murder/suspense novels. On the surface the two don’t seem to go together. After all, how can a book where murders, mayhem, and bad guys abound promote Christian values?

Oooh. Oooh. My hand’s raised. I know the answer to the question. Pick me. Pick me.

Real life isn’t all sweetness and fluff. It would be nice if it was, but, alas, it’s not. Life can be difficult, sometimes because of our choices and sometimes through no fault of our own. Jesus even warns us that we will have troubles.

So, that’s what I do. I write about the troubles—the more trouble the better. Then I show my characters learning and growing from their adversity. I show their faith becoming stronger in spite of the difficult circumstances they find themselves in.

How do I pick the spiritual message of my story?

I don’t usually know what the spiritual message is when I begin writing a new novel, but that’s not surprising to me. I am what they call a seat of the pants type writer, meaning I don’t outline and I don’t know what’s going to happen from one moment to the other in my story. That’s what makes writing fun for me!  I may have an idea where the story is going but it’s always subject to change.

For example in my new book, when I started writing DECEPTION all I knew was that the main character (Patti) was estranged from her twin sister to the point of not knowing she had a niece. I didn’t know why they were estranged, but once I discovered that the missing twin was the reason Patti’s wedding was canceled years earlier, the theme of forgiveness quickly took root as part of the story.

Most of the time the spiritual message of my book slowly reveals itself as I learn more about my characters and their lives. Sometimes, it’s only a whisper in the first draft but it gets stronger with each subsequent draft.

Jesus used stories to teach Biblical truths. We call them parables. He knew that people naturally respond to a story and are willing to learn from someone else’s problems rather than an in-your-face approach.

When readers identify with the characters of the book, they feel their joy, their hope, and their pain. If they feel Patti’s despair about not forgiving someone she loved when she had the chance, they might decide to call that mother, brother, or friend they’ve been angry at for some time.

At least, that’s my hope.

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Title: Deception

Author: Lillian Duncan

Publisher: Pelican Book Group

Book Description:

Twins are supposed to have an unbreakable bond, but Patti and Jamie have serious relationship issues. They haven’t spoken since Jamie ruined Patti’s upcoming nuptials years ago. When a niece she knows nothing about telephones, Patti must unravel the yarn of Jamie’s life and her mysterious disappearance. Detective Carter Caldwell takes his job seriously, and it’s his job to keep Patti and her niece safe. But Patti is determined to help find her sister. As the investigation grows more dangerous, Carter begrudgingly admits the safest place for Patti is at his side. Each step in their journey leads them closer to the truth but pulls them further down a road filled with danger and deception, where each will battle for survival and the lives of countless Americans.

Deception by Lillian Duncan is available from Pelican Book Group as both an ebook and a paperback.

Motivation

All serious writers have heard about the importance of motivation in a work of fiction.For you non-writers out there, the most basic definition of motivation in terms of your novel, short story, etc. can be summed up with one question: What motivates the character to do what he or she does?

With that question in mind, I have another one for you: What motivates you to do what you do?

My answer would be, “It depends.” I’m motivated by a lot of things for a lot of reasons. What motivates me in a certain situation or to do a certain thing is dependent upon what it is I want/need to do. But that’s pretty much the definition of motivation, isn’t it?

To prevent this post turning into a long-winded, confusing, stream-of-consciousness thing, I’m going to focus on one particular aspect of my life. What motivates me to write?

Well, the simplest answer to that one is that I can’t not write. I’m sure there are readers out there who have seen countless authors say this exact same thing and wonder what on earth the author is talking about. Let me try to explain. Keep in mind, this is only my experience and other authors may have a different opinion.

For me, writing is like breathing. I do it all the time, even when I don’t realize it. Something I see or hear will plant itself in my fertile imagination and soon a story is percolating in the back of my mind. Since this is the first step I take when writing a new story, I consider that percolation writing as well.

If I write myself into a corner or just plain don’t know where the story goes next, I’ll go off and do something else. Even though I’m not consciously thinking about my story, my subconscious is working through whatever issue has me at a standstill and soon a bit of dialogue or narration pops into my mind that will move the story forward. This is also writing.

Occasionally, I’ll dream about my current project or have a dream that inspires a new story. While my dreams and what end up on the page are usually not the same thing, that inspiration provides the necessary motivation to put words on paper. Again, I consider this writing.

As you can see, writing is a part of me and in every area of my life. It’s so much more than sitting at my computer and pounding out a set number of words or pages. It’s more than jotting notes on whatever scrap of paper is handy. Writing is also my brain working out the story, sometimes before I even realize the story is there.

So when I say that I can’t not write, I mean just that. The stories keep coming, the ideas demand to be put on the page, the characters beg to be brought to life for readers. Writing is an essential part of my life, and that is my main motivation. Of course, the reason I sought publication in the first place still provides me with the motivation to write and submit my work. What is that reason, you ask?

I wanted to share the stories I made up with others so they could enjoy them as well.

From comments by readers and reviewers, I think I’ve succeeded pretty well so far. Each new story offers the opportunity for me to share something I feel is important or entertaining with readers. The excitement over new possibilities is another motivating factor in my writing life.

Each new work I submit, each new story that gets published, brings out the same worry about whether others will enjoy it as much as I do. But even that worry is a form of motivation. After all, it makes me work hard to polish each story to the best of my ability and work even harder to ensure the story captures a reader’s attention.

Now that you know what motivates m, what is your motivation?

New Year, New Possibilities

We’re in the midst of the first week of the new year, and so far 2012 promises to be a good year. Usually around this time I post a New Year’s resolution or my writing goals for the year, but not this year. My only goal for 2012 is to do my best at whatever tasks I undertake.

One of those tasks is reviewing more books. As I’m sure you all know by now, I love to read. I also enjoy writing reviews to share my views on what I read. So, to kick off the new year, I created a new blog specifically for book reviews. The West Corner Reviews currently has all the reviews I’ve done on this blog as well as a new one that appears only on that blog. As the year goes on, I’ll be adding more reviews to The West Corner Reviews. I hope you’ll hop over and check them out! You never know, you might find a book you’d love to read.

Writing is another one of my tasks for this year, although I’m not going to be specific with my goals. That said, I do have some goals, but they are flexible and depend more on doing my best than writing a certain amount or submitting a certain number of manuscripts. I do have some exciting writing-related news, however. At the end of last year, Astraea Press offered me a contract for a sweet contemporary romance! More information on the ebook and release will be coming soon.

In other book news, if you’ve been thinking about purchasing one of my ebooks but have put it off for one reason or another, you’ll be happy to know all of my books have new, lower prices. If you’re interested, you can find my books at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, White Rose Publishing, and The Wild Rose Press, as well as other online retailers.

I hope you all have a terrific year filled with blessings, happiness, and books!

Review: Alienation by Jon S. Lewis

Title: Alienation

Author: Jon S. Lewis

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Book Description:

The invasion was only the beginning . . .

After his parents were killed in a car accident, Colt McAllister was drawn into a world he thought only existed in comic books—one where mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles don’t even scratch the surface.

Along with his best friends Oz and Danielle, Colt is now training at the secret Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural academy. But strange accidents seem to follow him. . . even with the security of the school grounds. What first seems random soon turns deadly. But who is targeting Colt?

As the alien invasions increase in frequency and force, C.H.A.O.S resources are taxed to the limit and they’re forced to utilize the new recruits. In the midst of battle, Colt will discover some startling revelations . . . about himself, his friendship with Oz, and why he has been chosen to defeat this alien attack against earth.

Review:

Sixteen-year-old Colt McAlister is back for another exciting adventure full of aliens and intrigue. This time, however, someone is determined to kill him. Thanks to the government’s belief that Colt is the one who will save the world from an invasion of six-armed, shapeshifting aliens, he must survive multiple attempts on his life. His friends Danielle and Oz are determined to help him in any way they can, but can he truly trust them? Can he trust anyone?

The second book in the C.H.A.O.S. Trilogy, Alienation is an action-packed thrill ride full of conspiracies, danger, and of course, aliens. From hoverboards and nanotechnology to robots and jet packs, this book embodies any geek’s dream world. Although fictional, the technology is described in such a way that it is fully believable and undeniably awesome. Colt, Danielle, and Oz continue to develop their close friendship as their characters grow in strength and depth. When the three friends arrive at the CHAOS Military Academy, they work together and separately to stop the plot to eliminate Colt. Through the wild, life-threatening events, Colt learns who he can trust and what friendship really means.

Yet again, Jon Lewis has done a wonderful job of writing a book that will hold the interest of both teens and adults until the very last page. Alienation shows the importance of thinking for yourself, as well as knowing when to rely on others. Teens are sure to love the adrenaline-laced adventures Colt and his friends experience, and parents will appreciate the thread of faith skillfully woven into the tale. With all of the questionable role models out there, Colt McAlister and his friends provide a welcome change with their determination to help others and do the right thing, no matter the personal cost.

I highly recommend Alienation, and the rest of the C.H.A.O.S. Trilogy, to anyone who loves science fiction, adventure, and high-tech toys. These books will not disappoint.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This review and the opinions expressed in it are my own and based solely on the contents of the book and my experience reading it.

Review: Invasion by Jon S. Lewis

Title: Invasion, a C.H.A.O.S. novel

Author: Jon S. Lewis

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Book Description:

Colt McAlister is drawn into a war against things he thought only existed in comic books.

After a car wreck takes the lives of his parents, Colt moves to Arizona to stay with his grandfather. There, an informant tells him that his parents were actually murdered because his mom, a journalist, was getting ready to write a story exposing Trident Industries.

Along with Oz and Danielle, his new comrades at Chandler High, Colt vows to uncover the truth. But the more they learn, the more bizarre reality becomes. Mind control, jet packs, and flying motorcycles only scratch the surface of what they discover.

Colt is recruited by a secret organization called the Central Headquarters Against the Occult and Supernatural. But the battle isn’t just against an out-of-control giant corporation. A gateway to another world is opening, and the invasion has already begun.

Review:

Sixteen-year-old Colt McAlister is enjoying a summer of surfing and freedom in his first car. Then his parents die in a head-on collision and everything changes. He moves to Arizona with his grandpa, hangs out with his childhood friend Danielle, and makes a new friend in Oz, who seems oddly familiar. As Colt works to find his way around school and his new life, he stumbles into a deadly plot involving the largest company in the world. With Dani and Oz by his side, he learns there may be more to comic books and conspiracy theories than he had always believed. Is it possible that they are based on reality and shapeshifting aliens are planning to invade Earth?

The ups and downs in Colt McAlister’s life ring true, even when he’s in the midst of an unrealistic situation. Readers can easily suspend disbelief, however, as they follow along on the adventure of a lifetime and cheer on the good guys. This is a classic story of good versus evil, although there are a few instances where the line between good and evil must be blurred for the sake of saving the world. These instances bring out Colt’s conscience, which is remarkably strong in the face of the challenges he stumbles or runs headlong into at every turn.

Jon Lewis has written an amazing tale of science fiction with just enough truth mixed in to make it frighteningly realistic. The possibilities suggested throughout the book add a chilling glimpse into what could be, while also including alien species that leave one hoping the UFO fanatics are wrong. Colt is a character anyone can look up to and sympathize with, which makes him a great role model for adolescent readers. This book was written for teens, but it is one that is easily enjoyed by adults as well.

I highly recommend Invasion to anyone who loves science fiction, action/adventure, or stories of the supernatural. This book is a keeper, and I look forward to reading the next book in the C.H.A.O.S. series.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. This review and the opinions expressed in it are my own and based solely on the contents of the book and my experience reading it.

Review: Accused by Janice Cantore

Title: Accused

Author: Janice Cantore

Publisher: Tyndale House

Book Description:

Detective Carly Edwards hates working in juvenile—where the brass put her after an officer-involved shooting—and longs to be back on patrol. So when a troubled youth, Londy Atkins, is arrested for the murder of the mayor and Carly is summoned to the crime scene, she’s eager for some action. Carly presses Londy for a confession but he swears his innocence, and despite her better judgment, Carly is inclined to believe him. Yet homicide is convinced of his guilt and is determined to convict him.

Carly’s ex-husband and fellow police officer, Nick, appears to be on her side. He’s determined to show Carly that he’s a changed man and win her back, but she isn’t convinced he won’t betray her again.

As the investigation progresses, Carly suspects a cover-up and strikes out on her own, uncertain whom she can trust. But when danger mounts, she begins to wonder if she made the right choice.

Review:

Detective Carly Edwards is stuck in “juvenile exile” and wishes she was back in her patrol car, on the front lines of protecting Las Playas, California. When a juvenile she knows is accused in a high-profile murder case, Carly is sure it will lead to her release from working in juvenile investigations and return her to patrol. Instead, it leads her into the investigation of her life and forces her to figure out who she can trust. Unfortunately, one of the few people she is sure she can trust is her ex-husband, a man she wants to continue to avoid. Carly and her ex must work together with the help of a few others to figure out who the real killer is and untangle the web of corruption and deceit surrounding them before someone else ends up dead.

Accused is a Christian suspense novel with romantic elements. The plot takes unexpected twists and turns, which quickly grabs the reader’s attention and holds it tightly until the end. The Christian themes could be woven in a little more smoothly in the first half of the book, but the second half mixes Christianity into the story seamlessly. The biggest issue I had with the elements of faith in the first half of the book was Carly’s somewhat repetitive negative reactions to any mention of God, prayer, or church. While it was good to see a main character in a Christian novel struggling with doubts and anger toward God, the repeated references to “Bible-thumpers” and disproportionate anger whenever anyone mentioned church or prayer to Carly felt a bit overdone.

Despite the occasionally clunky inclusion of Christian themes in the first half of the book, I enjoyed the story a great deal and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense or complex mysteries. The characters are realistic with flaws as well as good qualities, and the author did a marvelous job of weaving a plot so complex that the reader is left wondering who can be trusted right along with Carly. I would read more books by Janice Cantore.

Disclaimer: I received a free uncorrected Advance Reader Copy of this book from the publisher. This review and the opinions expressed in it are my own and based solely on the contents of the book and my experience reading it.

Happy Thanksgiving!

It’s Thanksgiving here in the United States. For many, this means a big family dinner with roast turkey and all the trimmings. For others, it means spending the day with friends. Still others may attend a community Thanksgiving dinner or volunteer at one.

Regardless of how you spend the day, however, the most important part of Thanksgiving is remembering to give thanks. What should one give thanks for? That is up to each individual. It could be something big, like having an awesome family. It could be something small, like the sun shining. Every person will have their own things to be thankful for. Here are a few of mine, in no particular order.

My family. They are so supportive of me and encourage me to do my best in everything. When something goes wrong, I know I can count on them.

My puppy. The day I adopted that little Rottweiler (possibly whippet) mix is one of the happiest I can remember. Paisley has done so much for me that I will always be thankful for.

God’s love and mercy. Without God’s help, I would never have gotten to this point in my life as successfully as I have. He has given me strength and comfort through countless situations, and I can never thank Him enough for His forgiveness.

The time and courage to participate in NaNaWriMo. For years, I’ve wanted to participate in this month-long writing challenge, but life or a WIP always got in the way. This year, however, I finally had the time and the idea for a new novel necessary to participate. Encouragement from friends and family gave me the necessary courage to participate.

A seemingly never-ending supply of story ideas. As an author, I’m always thinking about the next story, the next characters, the next plot twist. I am so thankful for the creativity God blessed me with and that I’m able to channel it into fiction.

The list of things I am thankful for could go on forever. Hopefully, your list is just as long or longer. Regardless of length, however, remember to be thankful at all times, not just on Thanksgiving. After all, a thankful heart is a happy heart.

If you’re in the United States, have a happy Thanksgiving! If you’re in another part of the world, have a wonderful Thursday.

Review: The Mercenary’s Marriage by Rachel Rossano

Title: The Mercenary’s Marriage

Author: Rachel Rossano

Publisher: Rachel Rossano

Book Description:

Trained as a mercenary soldier, Darius was a man of decisive action. He was also a man of compassion. Seeing a young slave woman about to become the spoils of war, he claimed her for his own. Marrying her before God and king, he made her a free and respectable soldier’s wife.

Brice was born a slave. Abused and beaten, she learned quickly to avoid being noticed and to stay away from men. When her master’s walls fell to enemy forces, she ran, but not fast enough. In Darius’ offer she found deliverance, but experience had taught her to fear power such as his. Could she trust in his protection, or had she traded one form of slavery for another?

Review:

Once I started reading The Mercenary’s Marriage I couldn’t stop until I finished the book! The vibrant characters felt like they could step off the page at any moment because of their realism. The journey and challenges of Darius and Brice kept me riding along on their emotional roller coaster until the very end. While I would have liked to see little more attention given to Darius’ motivation for his actions, I have to admit that the way Ms. Rossano wrote his character made it that much easier to identify with Brice. After all, Darius kept me guessing as much as he did her!

All in all, this is a wonderful sweet romance I would recommend to anyone looking for an engaging read. I would definitely read more books by Rachel Rossano.

Guest Blogger: Carol Ann Erhardt

Please welcome author Carol Ann Erhardt as she celebrates the release of Trapped, the first installment of her new romantic suspense series Havens Creek.

Inspirational romantic suspense writer, Carol Ann Erhardt, touches the hearts and emotions of her readers. Fans categorize her books as emotional, suspenseful and inspirational. Carol Ann spent her early writing years working at a corporate job and writing late at night. Her first novels, contemporary romantic suspense, sold well, but she didn’t feel fulfilled—in fact, felt as if she’d compromised on what her heart wanted to write. She began praying for God’s guidance in her writing. In the quiet solitude of prayer, God showed her the path He wanted her to take. Her third novel was an inspirational romantic suspense. Now she writes each and every day hoping to bring messages of hope, happiness, and inspiration to those who read her novels. She gives all the glory to God.

A Hardened Heart Does Not Forgive

by Carol Ann Erhardt

I’m not proud of having a quick temper. I suppose it’s something I inherited from my mother, for she was always quick to anger. This is something I’ve struggled with all my life and I believe it’s the biggest reason I had trouble learning about forgiveness.

Anger comes from pride. When we perceive someone has wronged us, we sometimes strike back through angry words or deeds. We justify it through holding to a belief that the other person deserves our anger. But what happens to that anger? It doesn’t hurt the other person. Instead anger infiltrates our heart where it festers and grows like an infected sore that refuses to heal.

So how do we get past the anger? How do we forgive?

Forgiveness doesn’t happen because we choose to forgive. Forgiveness is not just saying the words. It’s the action that goes along with the words. It’s how we deal with letting go of the anger. It’s an ongoing process that takes root within us and heals us from the inside out.

A few years ago, when I was President of a writing group, two people who were in charge of
our annual conference got into a spat which escalated rapidly. One approached me in tears. The other approached me in anger. Neither would talk to anyone but me…in private. I commiserated with the tears and retaliated against the anger. That old devil temper of mine reared its ugly head. What happened as a result? I prayed for forgiveness and through God’s grace I was able to find peace. I apologized to both women. The angry woman apologized, too. The teary woman could not move past her perceived hurt inflicted by the angry woman. She refused reconciliation. And, sadly, she eventually left the group.

This was my first experience with a hardened heart. Christ commands us to love one another. It isn’t a suggestion that we do so. Romans 12:17-19 (MSG) says: “Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

We don’t have to like someone to love them. It’s impossible for us to live in this fallen world without getting angry. We Christians can only ask God for the grace to love and forgive. We are not perfect, yet every day of our lives we experience God’s unfailing love and forgiveness.

When I wrote my newest book TRAPPED, I didn’t realize how deeply the issue of forgiveness was woven into the story until I wrote the end. But God knew. I’m a work in progress and I’m learning how to pray for the grace to love and forgive.

©Carol Ann Erhardt

Blurb:

She’s a woman who doesn’t trust cops. He’s a cop. She’s determined to keep her past a secret. He’s determined to find out what she’s hiding.

High school bus driver, Summer Grant, flees from death threats and winds up trapped in Havens Creek, a small town not far enough away from danger. With a broken leg and no transportation, she is forced to accept the hospitality of strangers. Staying with the police chief’s sister and five-year-old daughter in an isolated mountain home might be the ideal place for her to hide until she can get back on her feet, but if the man she’s hiding from learns her whereabouts, no one will be safe.

Havens Creek Police Chief, Jake Taylor, always protects his own. He feels duty-bound to help Summer when she ends up in his small town claiming she has no family. He has a soft spot for strays, but this two-legged one is hiding something, and he’s determined to solve the mystery.

An unwanted attraction draws them together. Evil threatens to rip them apart.
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Trapped is available in ebook format from Amazon.com.

Winners of The Key to Charlotte giveaway!

First, I want to thank everyone who commented on the blog tour. I appreciate each comment you left. You sure know how to make an author feel loved!

Now, without further ado, the two winners of the free PDF copies of The Key to Charlotte are:

Laurean Brooks

and

Tammy Ramey

Congratulations to you both! I hope you enjoy reading The Key to Charlotte.

Thank you again to everyone who helped make this blog tour a success!

Blurb:

Charlotte Harris can’t speak due to a quirk in her autistic brain, but that doesn’t stop her from communicating with others. Unfortunately, it prevents her from achieving two of her dreams–to praise God through singing and to carry on a simple conversation with her own voice.

Zakaria Rush is the new Director of Children’s Ministries at Charlotte’s church, and he can’t keep his thoughts off the partially mute blonde with a love for guitar music. Her innocence and love of the simple things in life intrigue him and make him long to give her what she wants more than anything: her voice.

Can Zakaria help Charlotte find the key to unlocking her ability to speak, or will his attempt to help her only lock away their chance for love?

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The Key to Charlotte is available in ebook formats from White Rose Publishing, Amazon.com, and Barnes & Noble, as well as other online retailers.