Cassia Book Launch September 14!

       

         Join me in celebrating the release of my newest inspirational historical suspense, Cassia. The Online Book Launch Party will be on FaceBook Monday, September 14 from 6-9 p.m. EST.  

      The party will be on my author page/event, Susan F. Craft, at this link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1457549954546023

      Come by, chat, and leave a comment for a chance to win some really great prizes.  

        The Xanthakos family’s sea voyage from South Carolina to the North Carolina Outer Banks turns ugly after they pressure their ship’s captain to rescue a pregnant woman thrown overboard from a slave ship. When the slave contracts smallpox, the captain maroons her, Lilyan and Nicholas and their children, Laurel, Paul, and Marion, on an island.

        After Nicholas and Marion leave to seek help, Lilyan and her children and the baby, whom they have named Cassia, are captured by pirates and taken to their island hideout under the command of the vile Captain Galeo (The Shark), but Paul escapes along the way.
        Galeo is attracted to Lilyan and orders her and Laurel to dine with him where reveals his plan to make Lilyan his own and auction Laurel to the highest bidder and where he forces them to witness a mock trial and a hanging.
        Heartsick to see her child exposed to such evil, Lilyan rekindles her long-dormant courage and forges an escape plan. Meanwhile, Nicholas faces his self-perceived failure to protect his family. He must abandon the life of a vintner and once again call upon the skills he honed as a captain in Francis Marion’s militia.
          Together they face the hardest challenge to a parent, watching as life tests the mettle of their highly sheltered and beloved children. Bolstered by their faith, they realize their strength isn’t enough to see them through and that God is in control.
        Will the Xanthakos children withstand their trials and learn to be as tough as their parents? Will the family be united and return to their peaceful Blue Ridge Mountain home?

One of the prizes is a sugar cinnamon candle and a packet of Cassia notecards.

       

Jayme H. Mansfield - Author, Artist, Educator

When did you first discover that you were a writer?
        The first time I found myself in “the zone” was when I knew I had found my passion to write. Hours and hours went unnoticed and turned into full days in front of the computer.
        Ironically, for being an extrovert, I discovered a wonderful place—to be by myself, creating new stories.

What inspired your novel Chasing the Butterfly?

        The initial seeds for the story grew out of writing assignments for the Christian Writers Guild and my personal passions for painting and traveling to France numerous times. But after that, I was inspired to persevere and complete the novel as a personal journey and challenge.
        At some (often many) junctures of our lives, we have to contend with forgiveness. Writing the book was my way of navigating pain, communing with the Lord, and ultimately realizing the freedom and joy that come with forgiving.
       I promised God I would finish the story, and when I did, I wasn’t sure if it would remain for His eyes and mine only. But His ways are surprising—that’s when the doors began to fly open.

Where do your story and character ideas come from?
        My characters come from bits and pieces of family members, friends, and myself. I don’t recall ever concocting all of the characters—instead, they seem to invite themselves into the story because they have something important to say or do.
        As for the story idea, I am fascinated by strong women who eventually figure out how to survive life’s difficulties, and ultimately find hope in the blessings. I have always been intrigued with history so weaving that with an artistic element motivates me to create story.

Tell us how you came up with the lovely cover of your book.
        My long-time friend, Kelly Berger, is an accomplished professional artist in Colorado. When I received word from the publisher that they would consider an original piece of art for the cover, I went straight to Kelly. She read the manuscript and fell in love with the story.
        I had pulled at least thirty different images and photographs of Provence, laid them out randomly in my art studio, and asked her to take a look. From those and our shared travels to Provence, we envisioned the low vantage point—poppy field with the butterfly in the distance and the sunset backdrop.
        Off to work she went…when the final painting was unveiled, I was stunned. Truly, it was exactly how I had imagined the cover!
        Our friendship has been blessed by the opportunity to share in the creation of the novel.

You are one of the busiest writers I have met. How do you manage to balance writing time with teaching school and being mom to three active boys?
        I suppose I’m one of those people who have never understood the meaning of boredom. I find that I am driven by my passions to create in many forms. Sometimes, I wish I could lay aside a thing or two, but then I feel something’s incomplete.
        It’s probably a good thing I have three boys and a husband who are active and have so many personal interests. But I admit, there have been many days that I jump on and hold on tight!

How did you research your setting in France? Do you have any anecdotes or interesting experiences arising from your research which you would like to share with our readers? Have any of these found their way into your book?
        I’ve been to France, particularly Paris and Provence, several times. On each visit, hundreds of photographs captured the beauty and history—those images became ingrained in my mind and served as the visual memory when I wrote many of the scenes.
        I find World War II fascinating to read about, both in other novels and in non-fiction. Eventually, I needed to pull myself away from researching and get on with the story.
        On a fun side-note, whenever I mentioned paint colors I had to make sure the specific names of the paints existed at that time. I had a wonderful time delving into the history of art materials—it’s amazing where those unique names originated—but, that’s another story.

How do you see the importance of Christian fiction?
        The presence of Christian fiction is imperative—it’s a venue for biblical truth to be woven into story in an appealing, inspirational, and fresh manner. I can’t tell you how many readers have appreciated enjoying a story without the offenses that are prevalent in much of today’s writing. Whether a reader has been a Christian or not, the discussions that have ensued from the story always contain elements of faith, hope, love, and God.

What are three things that have had the most influence on your writing process?
        Belief -- I have a story to create that is intended to touch the lives of others.
        Gratitude and Humility – this writing journey is not merely about me, and I couldn’t do it by myself.
        Challenge – writing is difficult in every way imaginable—but the process, nuances, and craft is exhilarating (even when I’m exhausted!).

Do you plot your stories ahead of time, or do you write from the seat of your pants?
        Give me a horse to ride, and I’m on it! That’s my way of saying, “I love to write seat of the pants!” I get a rush from letting the story take off and run.

What events in your personal life have most impacted your writing, and how?
        I write from plenty of emotion. I have discovered that I write scenes and dialogue based largely on what is currently on my mind and what themes are coursing through my heart and soul at the time.

More About Jayme:

       

Jayme H. Mansfield is an author, artist, and educator. She provides vivid imagery as she melds her inspiring writing and artistic talents.
        Her passion for weaving stories about women who find their strength in the Lord continues in her upcoming novel, Rush, a historically compelling tale of the Oklahoma Land Rush in the late 1800’s.
        Jayme owns, paints, and shares the joy of creating visual art with children and adults at the Piggy Toes Art Studio in Lakewood, Colorado, for the past twenty years.
        After a career in both the business and creative sides of advertising, Jayme received her teaching and Master’s Degree in Elementary Education and Creative Arts.
        For many years in elementary education, she has shared a passion for literacy and the writing process with her students. She teaches at Aspen Academy in Greenwood Village, Colorado.

About Chasing the Butterfly:

From a vineyard in the south of France to the sophisticated city of Paris, Ella Moreau searches for the hope and love she lost as a young girl when her mother abandoned the family. Ella's journey is portrayed through a heartbroken child, a young woman's struggles during the tumultuous times surrounding World War II, and as a reflective adult. Through a series of secret paintings, her art becomes the substitute for lost love--the visual metaphor of her life. But when her paintings are discovered, the intentions of those she loves are revealed.

Digit ISBN: 978-1-941-103-37-1

Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: October 14, 2014

2015 Historical Fiction Book of the Year, Christian Small Publisher Association

2015 Inspirational Readers Choice Award Finalist – Women’s Fiction

Jayme on social media:
Website: www.jaymemansfield.com
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jayme-H-Mansfield/669237533103946
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jaymemansfield/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8432600.Jayme_H_Mansfield
Twitter: http://twitter.com/jaymemansfield
Other: Instagram : http://instagram.com/jaymemansfield
 Art Studio website: www.piggytoes.com

"C" Is for Christmas Novella

I'm participating in a blog hop called "A to Z." Each week our group will publish a post featuring the letter of the week.  This week is the letter "C."   Scroll down and make sure to visit the other blogs. It's sure to be fun. Oh, and leave comments, too.  They are always appreciated.

                                           

Meet Author Sandra Ardoin

Are experiences in The Yuletide Angel based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
Neither, really. The idea began with the creation of a mood and an event—Violet’s fear over what her brother’s impending marriage means for her and Hugh’s nighttime foray. The story and the characters built from there.

Which of your characters is most/least like you, and in what ways?
I think I’m most like Violet, shy and retiring, at least until I get to know someone. We’ve both learned to be a little more outgoing in public situations, yet neither of us will ever be the life of the party.

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
I’ll admit to reading the reviews for The Yuletide Angel. Fortunately, they’ve all been positive so far. As writers, I think we can learn from more than one review or critique that has the same criticism, but we have to be careful not to let everything that’s written, good and bad, go to our heads or dampen our moods. I’ll find out if that easier said than done.

What book are you reading now?
Right now, I’m reading Amanda Cabot’s At Bluebonnet Lake. I love her historicals, but this is the first contemporary by her that I’ve read. I have a large stack of books to read and review and have gotten a bit behind with the release of the novella.

What are your current projects?
I’m writing a contracted novel for Heritage Beacon, an imprint of Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas. A Reluctant Melody involves a secondary character in The Yuletide Angel, Hugh’s brother Kit. It’s scheduled to release in January 2016.

If you could have dinner with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
Good question. While I love Hugh and Violet, I think I’d like to have dinner with Kit and ask him more about his past mistakes. Ha! Maybe because he’s the hero in my next book!

Do you have any upcoming events?
I have two booksignings in my area coming up in November. I’ll be sharing the table with two writer friends. We did something similar in August and it was a lot of fun.

Can you tell us about some of the milestones you’ve reached as a writer?
I’ve had several. The first, of course, was receiving that first sale in 1986, a poster quote. After my daughter was born and I became a stay-at-home mom, I began writing short stories for children and adults, so that first sale was encouraging. Then in 2009, I began writing novels fulltime. In 2010, I had my first experience with the royalty system when my short story “Get a Clue” came out in Family Ties: Thirteen Short Stories (for children). Getting my agent in 2012 and my first publishing contract last May were huge milestones.

What motivates you to write, and where do you get ideas?
Well, right now, what motivates me to write is a contract I need to fulfill. Actually, I love writing fiction, expanding those imaginary scenes and snippets of dialogue that enter my mind on a frequent basis. My ideas comes from various places. Maybe I’ll read something that sparks a question or idea. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a what I mentioned before—an image or a line or two of dialogue will pop into my head. From there, I investigate who said what, why, and what happened next.

Do you have a life Bible verse?
I have favorite verses. I’ve leaned on Jeremiah 29:11 for my writing. God has encouraged me too many times in this endeavor for me not to believe He has some plan for what I write. Another favorite is Isaiah 55:8 (and 9). Those verses always remind me of who God is. Colossians is one of my favorite books of the Bible.

Tell us about one of your personality traits.
I can be a little obsessive/compulsive at times—nothing like Monk, though. When getting ready to leave the house, I run through the rooms, checking to be sure everything is off and nothing is plugged in that shouldn’t be (like my curling iron), and that I have my keys and whatever else I need. Then I do it again (and, sometimes, again). My daughter blames me for that same habit.

Where can people get a copy of your book?
The Yuletide Angel is available in both print and e-book on Amazon and in e-book on Barnes and Noble.

Sandra Ardoin is a multi-published author of short fiction who writes inspirational historical romance. Her Christmas novella, The Yuletide Angel, recently released. She’s the married mother of a young adult and lives in North Carolina.

Visit her at www.sandraardoin.com and on the Seriously Write blog. Connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Goodreads, and Pinterest. Sign up for her newsletter.

Meet Author Elaine Marie Cooper

       It's been my pleasure to become friends with author Elaine Marie Cooper over the past two years. She's a delightful, dear Christian woman and a talented writer. I thought you'd like to get to know her too. Her newest book, Fields of the Fatherless, published by Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas, was released October 22.

Are experiences in your novel based on someone you know, or events in your own life?
        The seeds for Fields of the Fatherless were planted in my mind when I was a young girl. The house up the street from our home was a historical site and my older brother liked to scare me by telling me there was blood on the floor in that old dwelling.
        I never forgot the Jason Russell House but I never actually visited it nor understood the full story until 2012. I was deeply moved by what had happened there during the first day of the American Revolution and the tale beckoned to be told. I feel so privileged to be the storyteller.

Did you have to travel much concerning your books? If so, what’s the most interesting place you traveled?
        I’ve traveled to Massachusetts a few times for book research. Although I grew up there, I now live in the Midwest and there have been many areas in my home state that I’ve not seen. As an author, I feel there is nothing like experiencing the actual settings to inspire me. I’d have to say the most interesting place I visited was the site of my 4th great grandparents cabin in Williamsburg, Massachusetts. It was built in 1782 and there is a large granite stone called the Prince Monument that marks the location. It was very stirring to my heart to be there. You can read about that visit at http://www.elainemariecooper.com/rocks-of-remembrance/

Which of your characters is most/least like you, and in what ways?
        I’d say the character of Sarah (Thomsen) Stearns from the Deer Run Saga is the most like me. She is the youngest in her family, fiercely loyal to those she loves, and often puts her foot in her mouth! LOL!

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?
        I definitely read reviews of my books. I like to know what readers like because they are my audience and I want to please them. Of course, if what they want might be offensive to my Christian beliefs, I do not cater to those whims or wishes. But reviewers definitely help me know what is working and what is not.

What book are you reading now?
        I am currently reading Newspaper Code by Lisa J. Lickel. It is a cozy murder mystery, Book 3 in the Buried Treasure Mystery series. I love these books! It’s like reading an adult Nancy Drew and I feel like taking my flashlight and reading it under my covers at bedtime! Actually, I think I’ve done that, only not with the covers to hide me since I don’t have to worry about Mom telling me to go to sleep. ;-)

What are your current projects?
        My current manuscript that I’m working on is a far cry from my historical fiction. A couple of years ago, I felt the Lord prompting me to write a memoir of my daughter who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2002. I resisted even thinking about undertaking such a painful project for several years, but the Lord had other plans for me. I pray that this story of my journey with my daughter will help other families going through a serious illness with a loved one. It is tentatively entitled, Bethany’s Calendar.

If you could have dinner with one of your characters, who would it be and why?
        Wow, I guess I would have to say it would be Daniel Lowe from the Deer Run Saga. What would it be like to be an enemy soldier in a hostile land and how did he adapt to his new home? I would pick his brain for details! Besides, he is so handsome… ;-)

Do you have any upcoming events?
       I am speaking at Johnston Public Library, Johnston, Iowa on October 27th at 3 p.m. at the Barn. I’ll be chatting about events that led to the American Revolution, as well as my new novel, Fields of the Fatherless, which releases five days prior to this event.
        I’m also doing a book signing at Coldwater Creek in the Jordan Creek Mall, West Des Moines, Iowa on October 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. I’ll be selling all four of my books there, including Fields of the Fatherless. I’ll be posting other upcoming venues on my website: www.elainemariecooper.com. The longterm plan is to attend Patriot’s Day activities at the Jason Russell House in Arlington, Massachusetts next April.

Can you tell us about some of the milestones you’ve reached as a writer?
        I feel like just becoming a writer at all is a milestone! I honestly never thought I would be an author of historical fiction. You just never know the journeys the Lord will take you on. Getting my latest contract for Fields of the Fatherless from Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas last December was definitely a milestone in my writing journey. Looking back at how it all came about makes me stand in awe of God’s strength, despite my human frailty.

What motivates you to write, and where do you get ideas?
        I always pray that the Lord will be my Motivator in all that I write, so when I feel passionate about a story or a cause, I sense Him moving me towards a blog, an article, or a new book idea. I desire that everything I write will be God-directed.

Do you have a life verse?
        Yes, Proverbs 31:8-9: Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. Those verses speak to my heart every time I read them. They whisper to me that God cares for the poor and the underdogs in our world. Love them and do not be silent when others demean them.

Who is your greatest encourager?
        Without a doubt, my husband Steve. I also have to say that my three dear friends from my coffee club (Sheila, Kris and Cindy) are my best encouraging friends—always faithful, ever caring and ever praying.

Tell me about one of your personality traits.
        Perhaps you picked up on this from my favorite Bible verse but I am always championing the underdog.

Where can people get a copy of your book?
Fields of the Fatherless is available at Amazon, http://www.amazon.com/dp/1938499921/

Thank you, Susan, for welcoming me to your blog. It has been a pleasure and a blessing!

Novelist Elaine Marie Cooper is the author of The Road to Deer Run, The Promise of Deer Run and The Legacy of Deer Run. Her passions are her family, her faith in Christ and the history of the American Revolution, a frequent subject of her historical fiction. She grew up in Massachusetts, the setting for many of her novels. Fields of the Fatherless will release October 2013. Visit her website at: http://www.elainemariecooper.com