2015 has been a very full year with many wonderful blessings.

So here we are talking again about my upcoming series, Kate’s Case Files. Today I will be introducing the leading man, Patrick Connor.

Patrick stared out window that overlooked the roof of the hospital.  It wasn’t much of a view, but he didn’t see it any way. All he could see was her face, her eyes, and frightened look she had given him. He couldn’t get her out of his mind. He wished he knew her name.

She had thrown herself over Kim and checked for vital signs like a professional. Yet, afterwards, she had looked so vulnerable. The way she had clung to his arm when the popping started again had made him want to hold her close and whisper that everything was going to be okay.

He closed his eyes and shook himself, trying to dissolve the images. But the images wouldn’t go away. What was wrong with him? He had been up most of the night, that was what was wrong. Maybe he would go get some coffee and read some in his Bible. Maybe that would help.

I believe it was Isaac Newton that once said “If I seem to see farther than other men, it is because I stand on the shoulders of giants.” Often, that is how I feel about my writing. If people think that it is good, it is only because I stand on and with so many other great authors. My author friends are a constant source of inspiration, encouragement, and fellowship. Let me introduce you to some of them.

Grace Livingstone Hill: While this inspiring woman died long before I was born, she has had a profound impact on my life. Some of my earliest memories are of my dad reading her books to my mom in the evenings. Some of her books have encouraged me during the dark times in my life. She was my original inspiration to be an author and continues to be someone whom I admire for her unabashed faith and stories that were so much more then romances.

J. Grace Pennington: I fell in love with her books, but little did I know that I would become close friends with the lady behind the powerful Firmament series, and Never. Her stories touched me deeply, and when I finally met her, her openness about some of her deepest struggles has affected me in a positive way.

Kelsey Bryant: If you can imagine an elegant, soft spoken young woman, who carriers herself like a true lady in the humblest of manners, you have a good idea of what Kelsey Bryant is like. Her books as well as her person invite you to slow down and not rush. They are calming and remind you that old fashioned values can be carried out in today’s world.

Nicole Sager: I still remember being a bit hesitant to read her books. After all, the cover wasn’t amazing and it was fantasy. After I finished her first book, I rushed to get my hands on the next two in the Heart of Acrea series, because I had been so amazed. The stories were so rich with adventure and faith that I had to keep reading. I was privileged last month to get to meet her, and it was such a blessing.

Jessica Greyson: I got her book, because the cover was so pretty, but the story quickly became one of my favorites, and I found an excellent cover designer. I cannot tell you how much time we have spent chatting about everything from dumb book reviews to deep spiritual matters. Our dream is one day to meet in Williamsburg.

Alicia Willis: This list would not be complete without one of the few people I have ever encountered with whom I could have a passionate disagreement with and still feel absolute comfortable. Alicia has challenged me so many times in my thinking in the best way, making me think about things in ways I hadn’t thought before. There are few people with whom I have had the privilege of interacting with her level of passion for God and bringing the message of salvation to others. I hope someday that she and I will get to meet and take that tour of the Alamo together.

If you buy one of these books in the next two week (past purchases and free books do not count) either in paperback or Kindle, you will be entered to win either an email consult or a branding package for yourself (worth $30-$50)! Enter to win below:

“Young one, do not be quick to seek revenge. Those who seek revenge will fall into a pit of their own making. My mother taught me those words. You would do well to heed them.”

“It was my mother who said that and you know it,” Nathaniel contradicted, with a smile on his face.

John rolled his eyes, smiling at the same time. “My mother has always said the profound things.”

Nathaniel crossed his arms. “My mother was the profound one; your mother just uses all her good sayings.”

John clacked his tongue, tossing his arm across his shoulder. “Cousin, you have it backwards, as usual. Everyone here knows my mother is the wise one; ask any of the men.”

“John, only a handful of the men knew my mother. The only reason they will agree with you is you are the one holding a bow and arrow.”

Would you like to read more about Nathaniel? For the next two days you can get his story for free! Share the picture below anywhere you want to let people know about the deal.

Logan Sparks is a girl (that is right a girl) from my upcoming series, Kate’s Case Files. Today, I would like to share a little bit about her. You see, she isn’t what you would think. She is a girly girl with long red hair, can often be found wearing skirts, and loves her job as an FBI agent. Yes, she is full of surprises.

She can often be found with a bouncy ball in her hand. The harder she is thinking, the more animated her ball becomes. On her desk at work and in her home she has a large bowl filled with the little balls.
Ready to read a bit about her?

Kate's eyelids slid shut, and she forced them open again as they entered the elevator. It rose and deposited them on the third floor. It was only a short walk to room 303, and the door was already open. A girl with red hair that fell to her waist, in an ankle length skirt and button up shirt stood in the doorway, tossing a rubber ball between her hands.

“Thanks for doing this, Logan,” Brian said to the girl.

“God worked it out ahead of time. I got two twin beds, in case Kim got out today. Goodness, what have you two done to this poor girl, she looks dead on her feet.” Logan tossed Brian the ball and took Kate’s arm.

“She has had a rough day and needs sleep, I will fill you in in the morning,” Patrick provided.
Logan smiled, showing two rows of perfectly white teeth. “Go ahead and pick a bed, I can sleep in either.”

Since Logan is very girly, I think a girly giveaway is in order! Enter to win five dollars good at the Five Little Women Etsy store!

I am very excited today, because I will be introducing you to a character and a series that I have been working on for over a year. I plan to publish the first book this summer and the second one this fall, if God wills it.


“Are you keeping your grades up?”

“Yes Dad, I e-mailed you my last semester of grades, as well as my itinerary for Thanksgiving and Christmas break. I am still on track to graduate a year early.” There really wasn’t a lot of joy in the words. While she was glad she could go home for the holidays, she knew that she would be more than ready to start school by the time the holiday ended. Out her window, she saw a couple walking hand in hand in the snow smiling at each other. Her heart ached as she turned away.

“That is good. I have always said that you could do as well as your brothers if you put your mind to it. Have you already picked out a gift for your mother? You shouldn’t put that off until the last minute you know," said the man that bought Christmas gifts in July and then forgot where he had hid them. 

“No, sir,” Kate said in military fashion, "I wouldn’t…”

Bam!

Kate was knocked to the floor as she heard the window shatter. All the lights went out and Kate lay for a moment gasping for breath. What had just happened? Had someone thrown a rock through the window? Had a transformer blown?

“Kate? What did you knock over this time?” Her father’s voice was full of amusement. “Sometimes I wonder how you do so well in the military when you are so klutzy out of it. I guess the army is in your blood.

Kate blinked in the darkness. She sat up, the clinking of broken glass met her as she shifted. and looked around. Screams and panicked voices called to each other outside her dorm. An orange glow came from the direction of the blown-out window.

“Kate?!”

“Dad, something has happened.” Kate’s voice squeaked as she hugged herself.

“What has happened?”

“I don’t know,” Kate whispered. She moved slowly toward the window, almost afraid to find out.

“What?”

“I’ll call you back, Dad.” Kate hung up before there could be any further argument. She walked slowly toward the window, moving her tennis shoe back and forth on the floor to brush away the glass. Her eyes widened in horror as got closer to the window.  In front of her, one of the main lecture halls was burning. Something had happened, something very bad.

Bam! 

Kate’s ears hurt, and she could not believe her eyes as an explosion ripped through the administration building further away, just far enough not to knock her off her feet.

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"You will meet him tomorrow. We shall take a picnic lunch and spend the day with him in the hills.”
“Maggie should keep you both here to work; you don’t do nearly half as much as I do.”

Alditha winced at Glenda’s sharp words. She turned to the girl, continuing to roll the dough between her hands. “Good morrow, Glenda. How do you fare?”

If anything, Glenda’s face became more pinched, and her scowl only deepened. “Your smile may beguile others, but I see right through it.”

“I… I only wished to see how you fared this morning.” Alditha’s brow creased, and her smile faded.
Glenda’s hands went to her hips. “I know exactly what you are doing. You are trying to get on Maggie’s good side so that you can do less work. For the past few days you have gotten the easiest tasks. Mark my words, it will not last long.”

Eleanor threw her bun against the table and moved toward Glenda, but Alditha held her back.

Taking a deep breath to let out her frustration, Alditha spoke: “I am truly sorry you feel that way. As soon as I finish here, I would be happy to help you with your work.”

“But…”

Alditha placed her hand over Eleanor’s mouth before she could say more.

Glenda’s lips twisted into a sneer. “You think you are so much better than me, Alditha of Sittell, but you aren’t. I don’t need your help or your smiles. Use them on Maggie and get her to think you are so much better than you really are. Someday you will be sorry.” Giving Alditha a push, she made her way further into the kitchen.

Alditha turned back to her task at hand. She took out her frustration by squeezing hard a misshapen lump of dough.

“How could you be so nice to her?” Eleanor seethed. “She was horrible to you, and you didn’t say one mean thing to her. Why?”

“It wasn’t easy. Perhaps if I’m nice to her every day, she will grow less cold and angry.”

“Or she could grow more so and bitter.” Eleanor smashed the dough between the table and her clenched fist.


Do you think Glenda will change? Get your copy of Adventure and Adversities to find out!

 Far into the future, in our very own galaxy, there is a young girl trying to decide what to do with her life. You could win a digital copy of her story - a story with spaceships, leaser guns, and many other futuristic elements.