Books & Writing - Launch Team!

Would you like to be part of my launch team 

for 

The Journey of Eleven Moons? 

I’m hoping to partner with several of you to help introduce the new revised and updated Journey of Eleven Moons. 

I’m so excited about this upcoming release. The Journey of Eleven Moons was my first novel ever. I’ve always loved the story of Anna and Iya and the adventure they share with Erik Engstrom, an outsider. However, I was a newbie writer when the book first debuted and had a lot to learn.

I reread the book a couple of years ago and wished I could rewrite it. I decided that 2013 was the year to return to the story and strengthen my work. The historical novel takes place in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska in 1886. When a tsunami destroys their village, Anna and her little sister, Iya, must find a way to survive. A stranger offers to help, but can Anna trust him?

This is the twenty year anniversary of The Journey of Eleven Moons, a perfect time to re-launch the book. I have only thirty-five openings on my team. If you’d like to join me in this exciting event please let me know.

Those on my team will receive—

·  A free electronic copy of the book, and you’ll be the first to receive a copy.

·  Members of the team will be included in an exclusive private Facebook page where you will have access to me and to each other.

·  And how about a free teleseminar or a chat with your book club?

·  I’ll also make sure you receive a public “thank you” on my website at www.bonnieleon.com.

I ask three things of you:

• Write a short review on Amazon or another book site—good or bad.
• Help spread the word about the book on your personal platforms or among your friends and associates.
• Share ideas and brainstorm additonal ways we can further present the message to a greater audience.

     This is going to be fun. I can't wait to get started. Just contact me at my website at www.bonnieleon.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor and we'll begin.

   

    Grace and peace to you from God,

    Bonnie Leon

Books & Writing - The Journey of Eleven Moons

In 1993 I made my very first attempt at novel writing. It was a real challenge and I remember feeling like I was blindly feeling my way through each chapter. Even so, it was more fun than I had imagined. 

The process was filled with wonderment. It was amazing to discover the story and become deeply acquainted with the characters . . . and to care about them. I'd never experienced anything like it. I laughed while I wrote. I found myself exhausted and out of breath when I finished some of the scenes. And I cried my way through others. It was the most surprising and amazing experience. Each day I could barely wait to get back to the story.

Ten months after beginning I had a completed manuscript. It felt like a miracle. But now the nerves set in. I'd promised myself I'd present it to an editor at the OCW Summer Conference that year. I barely dredged up the courage, but I did manage to share the story with two editors. A few months following that meeting the book sold to Thomas Nelson Publishing and I was astounded and thrilled when it made the CBA bestsellers list soon after being released.

Years later, with lots more writing experience under my belt, I reread the book. I still loved the story but the writing needed polishing and I could see gaps in the story where new scenes would be helpful. I longed to go back and rework it. But there never seemed to be time.

Years passed, twenty actually. Finally this year I had the opportunity to revise The Journey of Eleven Moons. I jumped in and went to work. It was more difficult than I had anticipated, but when I had the rewrite completed I thought I'd be heading out on my own to present the new and improved book. That's when my good friends and colleagues Sherrie Ashcraft and Christina Tarabochia casually mentioned that their publishing company, Ashberry Lane, might be interested in the book.

Soon we had a contract and a plan. I was ecstatic and so were they. Christina dove in and lent her expert editorial skills to the project, bringing even more life to the story. The next step - a search for the perfect cover. Christina had photographer Ashlee Murr and cover designer Nicole Miller set up . . . we just needed the right model. 

I love it when God steps in and leads us down a path of His choosing. Christina and I both agreed to pray and see what God had to say to us about models. That's when Sherrie suggested a young woman she knew - Maria Aguillon. I looked at a few photos and thought she was perfect. Christina made the call and she said, "Yes." Whoo Hoo! Then seemingly out of the blue, Christina's daughter's face popped into her mind. Lili would make a perfect Iya. 

The photo shoot was done (you can go to my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/BonnieLeonAuthor to see photos). The cover was created while Christina and I worked hard on edits. The book is nearly ready and I'm over the moon at the results. I absolutely love the cover and the story shines. People are going to love it. Anyway I hope so. I do.

The book will be available in mid-November (that's only 3 weeks) at www.amazon.com and www.ashberrylane.com. I hope you'll give it a first or even second read. It's a fabulous story, even if I do say so myself.  :-)

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Books & Writing - Changing My Mind

I haven't entered a writing contest in many years, not since a fellow author, who also happened to be a good friend, and I were entered in the same contest. I didn't know how to feel about competing with friends and colleagues. It didn't feel right and so I decided not to enter contests. Besides, I told myself, they are "so subjective".

And then a funny thing happened this summer. I was asked to be a judge for the OCW Cascade Writing Contest.  I'm not sure what convinced me to do it, but I decided to give it a try. I'm glad I did.

I read each book on my list and did my best to be objective. It's not easy. When I completed the reading and had filled out the forms with my scores I felt conflicted. All the books were good - each had their perfections as well as their flaws. I wished I hadn't agreed to be a judge. It was too difficult. Trying to be objective rather than subjective was no easy task. After all, I have my own preferred writing styles and genres. I was determined to remain objective, however.

When I'd completed my score sheets and turned them in, I'd decided I had been right not to enter contests. They can't present a complete picture of a book and its story. As a judge I could only offer a snapshot. 

Maybe all my hesitancy has good reasoning behind it, but all that went out the window when I attended the awards ceremony. 

I've changed my mind about contests. I like them . . . even with their flaws. 

It was such fun to see so many writers given credit for their hard work. The top three in each category were celebrated for their literary creations. They were brought up on stage and given an award certificate and credited for fine writing. After that, a winner in each category was selected and honored for their entry. 

The room seemed to spill over with joy as we linked arms (metaphorically) as comrades in an industry that asks much of its craftsmen. While I sat there clapping and smiling - thrilled for the winners - I remembered something similar that happened to me years before. It may well have changed my life. Though small in scale, the acknowledgement gave me the boldness to move forward and write my very first book.

From here on out, I'm going to support writing contests. I may even judge one here and there. It's a privilege and offers an opportunity to read some great books. I might even enter one now and again.

Bravo to all the winners this year at the OCW Cascade Writers Contest. And hooray to everyone who entered. May you all continue to work at your craft. I can't wait to read more of your books, stories, articles and poems. Good job!

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Books & Writing - The Train Baby's Mother - A Must Read

I was honored to be included as a judge for the first ever OCW Cascade Writing Contest. I'll admit to being skeptical about contests, in general. They tend to be subjective, and therefore difficult to gauge. But they can also be fun, educational and encouraging. 

As it turns out, the awards banquet for the Cascade Writing Contest was amazing and fun. This year's winner in the category of the published fiction was Sharon Bernash Smith's book, The Train Baby's Mother. 

While reading, I was impressed with this writer and touched by the story.  I highly recommend The Train Baby's Mother.

A time of great evil.

Unfathomable betrayal.

A desperate act.

Hadassah Jensen, a Holocaust survivor of Ravensbruck has spent twenty years trying to forget her haunting memories. Worst of all is the dark day the train hurled through the snow-covered countryside of Nazi Germany, throwing her life into a tumult from which she has not recovered. But when a piece of the puzzle from her past returns, she's confronted with her deepest shame.

Professor Fritz Miller will always remember the fierce protectiveness he felt the day he, as a twelve-year-old German farm boy, found the Jewish baby lying in the snow, next to the train tracks . . . and then had to give her up. When a shocking revelation emerges, he wonders, Is it possible to change destiny? And, If so, will there even be time to do so?

Sharon calls what she writes Reality Fiction: Where life meets imagination. "I'm willing to tackle the tough subjects that relate to the human struggles we all face. There are no "pat" answers in life and you won't find them in my books."

Sharon loves spending time with friends and family, especially her four granddaughters, as well as land sailing in the beautiful Columbia River gorge. She and her husband attend a large, Evangelical Church in Vancouver, Washington.

She'd like you to know that she's a cowgirl at heart.

I chatted with Sharon Bernash Smith the night of the awards and asked, "Why this story?" Her answer is included on the introduction of her book - thought provoking  words.

Here is what she says.

It is impossible to summarize within the pages of one book the level of destruction perpetrated against humanity during the Holocaust when Europe became Adolph Hitler's hunting ground. Anyone possessing a minute drop of Jewish blood was meant to be wiped off the face of the earth, along with those who dared interfere with his diabolical plan. He meant to exterminate them all, in order, he said, to create a "pure" race, worthy of preserving his chosen species.

Though all the stories can never be told (there are over six million), I've written a fictional account of one woman's imprisonment, survival, and fulfillment of her personal destiny. I've called her Hadassah.

My introduction to the Holocaust came when I discovered a book, Adolf Eichmann, a high ranking officer in the German Army, in my high school library. Every page held the most hideous details of his evil involvement in the mass exterminations. This was only fifteen years after World War II had ended, yet not one of my history classes had mentioned this vast debased atrocity.

I never forgot the book or the impact of its contents. Through the years, more and more information came to the forefront, and I began to glean a deeper insight, though I've yet to comprehend the evil behind it. I wonder, can anyone?

As an adult I saw The Hiding Place, a movie based on Corrie ten Boom's experience while hiding Jewish refugees in Holland during the German occupation. Tragically, her family was betrayed and all were sent to prison. Corrie and her sister, Betsy, eventually ended up in Ravensbruck, a German prison camp for women. Betsy died there, but Corrie was miraculously released to become a world wide speaker, called to "tramp for the Lord", until her death in her nineties.

After becoming a Christian myself, I read every book she wrote, and every book written about her. She became my mentor and to this day I am grateful for the life she lived and so graciously shared with others.

In 2008 I wrote a story "The Train Baby", based on information from a friend (she is the real Elllie in this book) who grew up in Germany during the war.

More than once her brothers took babies from Jewish captives held in cattle cars on the way to extermination camps. Each infant had been hidden in her family's basement and fed the only substance 
available . . . water from soaked bread. When it was safe, and arrangements had been made, the infants were moved to the Jewish underground by their sympathizers.

Later, I realized I wanted to tell a story about the train baby's mother. How did she die or how did she live?

I'm excited to share this story of God's plan and intimate participation in human destiny. I'm hoping and praying that the reality of God's grace will cause people to love him with deep affection, honor him more openly and trust him with gratitude. For as the Jews have always been God's chosen people, so, dear reader are you.


After reading this book all I could think of was, who can I share it with first? It's so good. Not because it's a pretty story. It's not. It's real and gritty and surprising. It changes hearts and minds. 

As a fellow writer I was impressed with this authors style. She is courageous, inventive and introduces you to characters so real you feel you know them.

I encourage you to read this book. It is well worth your time.

You can connect with Sharon -
on her blog at sharonbernashsmith. blogspot.com. 
Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/sharonbs2?fref=ts

Books & Writing - Top Ten Favorite Books

If I wasn't working as a writer I'd want to work in a book store or a library. I love books! All kinds of books. 

They take me places I've never been - open my mind to new ideas - draw me closer to God - give me courage to do more than I ever thought possible. The amazing thing is that I can do all that without leaving the safe haven of my comfy chair. I get to live out adventures, be carried along where I experience new times and places, and get to know the most interesting people. Sometimes, I even get to fall in love all over again. And there are books that renew my heart and mind, when I am given courage and hope.

I can't imagine a world without books. There was time when there was no written word and yet stories were handed down from generation to generation in the form of music, dance and the spoken word. I treasure story tellers.

My favorite genre is Women's Fiction and Historical Fiction, but it's always good to step out of one's typical read and try something new from time to time. I love books for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes it's a powerful writing voice. It can be the story or the characters I fall in love with. I don't fully comprehend the mystery of what clicks in my mind and heart about a book, but I do know that those I love most captivate me and they have characters I care about, people I cry and cheer with.

I'm excited about stories - can you tell? 

I've listed my top ten all-time favorites. Making these choices was excruciatingly difficult. I love so many. When I decided to list only ten that meant leaving off  many books I absolutely love, but there just isn't room to list them all. So, here are my top ten picks . . . at least for today.

I hedged a little. There are eleven books on this page. The Shape of Mercy is at the top.  :-)
  
If you haven't read some of these books yet you might want to try them. I'd love to know what your favorites are. Please share with the rest of us.

I hope you find a way to fill your life with great stories.

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Books & Writing: Waiting

I've been a writer for a good many years and one thing I know is that I don't know it all. There's always something new that comes along, something I thought I understood but realize I really don't get. 

BUT one thing I do know for sure is that writing is all about waiting. We wait for story ideas to formulate in our minds. We wait for guidance from readers and writers, hoping for word back that the brilliant idea we have is truly story worthy. And once the writing begins there are long gaps of time filled with everything but writing and we wait for time to jump back into our story. 

After the writing is done we wait to hear from critique partners, agents and editors. Is the work worthy of publishing? Once it is ready to send off to a publisher there is the agonizing wait for word from the senior editor and then the committee (most story proposals are accepted or declined by committee). Upon acceptance there is the process of pounding out a contract, followed by the editorial journey, which can take several rounds of changes. While all this is taking place a cover is being created and a writer waits to get the first glimpse of the cover that will introduce their story to readers. And finally we wait for the release date. 

But that's not the end of it. We also wait for reviews and to hear from readers. Is it a smash hit or a dud?

I'm not good at waiting. It can be excruciating. And the most painful wait for me is the wait to hear from publishers. Do they like it or do they hate it? Do they want to publish it? Waiting through this phase is agony.

That's the place I am now. The clock is ticking. I'm waiting. 

I don't know how I'd manage these kinds of waits if not for my faith in God. He supports me, stands with. He knows the beginning and the end of all things. He even knows about my book, the one I'm waiting to hear about. 

He knows. 

He's in control.

And so, I take a deep breath, entrust my work to 
Him . .  and I wait.

What is the hardest waiting place for you? And how do you manage  the wait?

Grace and peace to you from God,

Bonnie

Books & Reading: This Weeks Winner!

Thank you, Lorna Seilstad for being

my guest on Books & Writing

and

For giving away a copy of your new book!

The winner is . . .

Robyn Conners

Congratulations!

Lorna will be contacting you soon.

Books & Writing -- Author Lorna Seilstad

Welcome Lorna Seilstad!

Lorna is the author of Making Waves, A Great Catch, and The Ride of Her Life. A former high school English and journalism teacher, she has won several online writing contests and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. Lorna lives in Iowa with her husband. Find out more at www.lornaseilstad.com.

Lorna sat down with the hero (Lincoln Cole) and heroine (Hannah Gregory) who star in her new book, When Love Calls, and talked to them about their romance.

•  Lincoln, what's the most romantic thing you ever did for Hannah?

     I'm a romantic kind of guy. I like to show Hannah how I feel. I think the most romantic thing I did was take her to the top of the state capitol. She loves heights and the idea of flying, so it was the perfect spot.

• What's the most romantic thing you've done, Hannah?

     Hmmm. I'm not sure I've done anything in particular.

•  Where is the most romantic place you two have been?

     Hannah-Oddly enough, I think it was an aviary in a park. Lincoln has a way of turning even innocent bird names into flirtations. Oh, and I would have to say the trip to the dome of the state capitol. That's where he first told me he loved me.

• Do you two have a favorite romantic restaurant?

     Lincoln-I don't think we have a favorite, but I think we'd both agree our favorite food would be prepared by Hannah's sister, Charlotte. Boy, that girl can cook.

• How about a favorite song? Do you have one?

     Lincoln-No, I don't think so.

• Hannah, what's the most romantic gift Lincoln has ever given you?

     I never would have admitted this to Lincoln at the time, but including coffee beans in the groceries he had delivered to my sisters and me was a stroke of genius. I hadn't had any in weeks, and that first cup was perfect.

• How about you, Lincoln; what's the most romantic gift Hannah's given you?

     I'd have to say, sharing her sisters with me. The gift of a family has been a huge blessing.

• Hannah, what is Lincoln's favorite romantic vacation destination?

     I think Lincoln would love to travel the world. He's a man who loves knowledge and enjoys discovering new things. He likes challenges.

• Lincoln, what do you think would be Hannah's favorite romantic vacation destination?

     I think she'd love to visit the Wright brothers at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina because she's fascinated with flight. I'd love to take her there, but I'm not sure I could handle her actually flying one of those machines.

• What simple gesture does Lincoln do that melts you Hannah?

     All it takes is a touch from Lincoln to melt me and ignite me at the same time.

• Lincoln what is it that Hannah does that melts you every time?

     Hannah's smile. She is simply so beautiful.

• How soon after meeting Hannah did you know she was the one?

     I knew Hannah was the one way before she knew I was meant for her. You might say I grew on her.

• Hannah how long did it take for you to know Lincoln was the one for you?

  I didn't want Lincoln to be the one. He was the person the bank sent to tell me they were taking our home. It wasn't the best way to start a relationship.

• Who would you say is most romantic of the two of you?

     I'd say Lincoln is. He is very good at wooing people. He's good at reading them too, and he used both to win me.

• Hannah, what is the most caring thing Lincoln has ever done for you?

     He loved me and my sisters right from the start. He knew we were a package deal and accepted that.

• How about you, Lincoln?

     Hannah hid a truth from me because she was afraid it would hurt me. It caused problems for us, but I knew it came from her heart.

• Who said, "I love you" first?

     Lincoln did, and it was in the most romantic way.

• If you two end up married, where will you go on your honeymoon?

     Since I have two sisters to raise, our honeymoon couldn't be too long. I think we'd both enjoy a trip to the Grand Canyon.

If you'd like to know Lincoln and Hannah

better, pick up a copy of

When Love Calls.

     

Hannah Gregory is good at many things, but that list doesn't include following rules. So when she is forced to apply for a job as a telephone switchboard operator to support her two sisters, she knows it won't be easy. "Hello Girls" must conduct themselves according to strict-and often bewildering-rules. No talking to the other girls. No chatting with callers. No blowing your nose without first raising your hand. And absolutely no consorting with gentlemen while in training.

Meanwhile, young lawyer Lincoln Cole finds himself in the unfortunate position of having to enforce the bank's eviction of the three Gregory girls from their parents' home. He tries to soften the blow by supporting them in small ways as they settle into another home. But fiery Hannah refuses his overtures and insists on paying back every cent of his charity.

When one of Hannah's friends finds himself on the wrong side of a jail cell, Hannah is forced to look to Lincoln for help. Will it be her chance to return to her dreams of studying law? And could she be falling in love?

With historic details that bring to life the exciting first decade of the twentieth century, Lorna Seilstad weaves a charming tale of camaraderie and companionship that blossoms into love. Readers will get lost in this sweet romance and will eagerly look forward to championing each sister's dreams.

This sounds like a really fun read. 

And the cover is stunning!

For a chance to win a FREE copy of 

When Love Calls

all you have to do is leave a comment 

along with your email address.

I'll choose a winner one week from today.

Lorna can be found on the web at: 
www.lornaseilstad.com.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lorna-Seilstads-Fan-Page/119754468040830?fref=ts

Books & Writing -- Blowing On Dandelions by Miralee Ferrell

Do Dandelion Wishes Actually Come True?

Katherine Galloway knows the moment of calm she is feeling won't last, blown away like the dandelion seeds she'd scattered as a girl. It's 1880, three years after her husband's death, and she's struggling to run an Oregon boardinghouse and raise two girls alone. Things don't get easier when her critical domineering mother moves in. Katherine must make the situation work, but standing up for herself and her family while honoring her mother isn't easy. And with a daughter soon to turn fourteen, the pressure on Katherine becomes close to overwhelming. Then she crosses paths with Micah Jacobs, a widower who could reignite her heart, but she fears a relationship with him might send things over the edge. She must find the strength, wisdom, hope, and faith to remake her life, because everything is about to change.

Miralee has been kind enough to offer

a free book.

All you have to do is leave a comment along with 

your email address and you'll be included in the drawing.

I'll post the winner one week from today.

My thoughts:

Delightful 

is the first word that comes 

to mind.

I started the book, expecting a fun, light historical romance. And it was that, but oh so much more. Not only does Miralee create a sweet romance, she also sensitively and realistically examines broken relationships. 

The story begins in Baker City, Oregon in the year 1880.

After a tragedy leaves Micah Jacobs and his son Zachary homeless, Katherine Galloway takes them into her boarding house. Both Micah and Katherine are wary of any emotional entanglements, and Micah Jacobs can't get out from under Katherine's care fast enough. 

Micah and Katherine warily appraise one another while living in the midst of turmoil percolating among the tenants living in the boarding house. Katherine and her mother spar though they long for love and forgiveness.

The secondary characters in this story add to its charm. They are complex and colorful. I especially enjoyed the skirmishes between one of the boarding house tenants and Katharine's mother. 

Miralee Farrell deftly reveals the tenderness that lives beneath the surface of even the most cantankerous characters while gently reminding readers that we all can fall prey to the mistake of making inaccurate assumptions about others--assumptions that can be destructive. I especially enjoyed her use of humor to shine light on the painful and perilous rifts that exist in most every relationship. 

If you're looking for a light read that touches the heart, pick up Blowing On Dandelions. You won't be sorry.

Miralee and her husband Allen have been married almost 40 years. They live on 11 acres in the beautiful Columbia River Gorge in southern Washington State, where they love to garden, play with their dogs, take walks, and go sailing. Miralee also rides her horse on the wooded trails near their home with her grown daughter who lives nearby. She’s an avid reader and has a large collection of first edition Zane Grey books, which inspired her desire to write fiction set in the Old West. When she started writing fiction Miralee believed that she’d always stay with women’s contemporary, but has since branched out to historical romance. Her first two books were women’s contemporary with Kregel Publications, The Other Daughter, and Finding Jeena.

Miralee serves as president of the Portland, Oregon, chapter of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and belongs
to a number of writer’s groups. She speaks at women’s groups, libraries, and churches about her writing journey, and has taught at both writers and library conferences.

You can find Miralee at:
Facebook: www.facebook.com/miralee
Twitter: www.twitter.com/MiraleeFerrell
Blog: www.miraleesdesk.blogspot.com

Books & Writing -- Welcome the Dynamic Duo, Sherrie Ashcraft & Christina Berry Tarabochia

Welcome! Welcome! 

I'm thrilled to have Sherrie Ashcraft and Christina Berry Tarabochia here today! I've known this mother and daughter team for many years, and they are two terrific people. What a privilege to introduce them to you!

I've never done an interview with two people at one time, but I'll bet you have done a lot of duo interviews. This ought to be fun.

One thing I know about you two is that you know how to have fun. Just to give us a peek at the real Sherrie and Christina can you tell us about the most memorable moment you've faced together?

C: What HAVEN'T we faced together? 
S: We were missionaries to Nigeria, West Africa in Christina's younger years, which meant facing 
culture shock, many poisonous spiders 
and snakes, homeschooling,
and a witch doctor 
cursing us off a mountain
in the midst of Christina's 
seventh birthday party. This 
photo was taken just before
he showed up.





C: Since then, we've gone through Mom's depression, 2 1/2  months of my pregnancy bed rest with Mom as live-in help, my divorce, and my brother being convicted to years in prison for something he didn't do. 
S: Oh, and did we forget to mention that we shared a multi-generational house for five years?

Wow! You have experienced a lot together. Some of what you've been through would have shipwrecked another's faith, but you ladies are still rocking for Jesus. Amen to that!


I first met you both at an OCW Summer Writing Conference . . . years ago. We sat down at a table together to talk about a book you were working on. You impressed me and so did your writing. All those years ago, you were working together on a book. Is that the new book that's just released?

C: Yes, Bonnie, this is the book we first showed you over a decade ago around that table. But at the same time, it's NOT the same book! The backbone of On the Threshold remains, but the story line has been fleshed out and written in a completely different way during those ensuing years. 
S: We kept going to conferences and learning how to be better writers, then coming home and applying what we learned. By the way, your encouragement about our enthusiasm during that meeting pushed us to keep that energy up at every meeting thereafter.  J

How good to know that I could be an encouragement. I had so much fun talking with you.


Can you tell us about the book and how you came to write it?


S: Once we decided to write a book together, we knew immediately that we wanted to show various sides of a mother-daughter relationship, as well as tackle a subject not many Christian books cover in a realistic fashion--depression. 

Don't worry, as it's an uplifting book and has humor scattered throughout, but we wanted to spotlight a tough subject. Over the years, we created three strong characters: a mother, an adult daughter, and an oh-so-likeable cop. We each wrote each point of view and kept our theme verse in mind. 2 Peter 1:19b ". . . as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts." Yes, we took our characters into a dark place, but we also get to show the glory of God shining in their hearts. Eventually, that is. 

This definitely sounds like something I'd like to read.

Suzanne--a mother with a long-held secret. Tony--a police officer with 

something to prove. Beth--a daughter with a storybook future. 

When all they love is lost, what's worth living for?

Suzanne Corbin and her daughter, Beth Harris, live a seemingly easy life. Suzanne has distanced herself from her past, replacing pain with fulfillment as a wife and mother, while Beth savors her husband's love and anticipates the birth of their child. But all that is about to change.

Like a sandcastle buffeted by ocean waves, Suzanne's facade crumbles when her perfect life is swept away. Tragedy strikes and police officer Tony Barnett intersects with the lives of both women as he tries to discover the truth. Left adrift and drowning in guilt long ignored, Suzanne spirals downward into paralyzing depression. Beth, dealing with her own grief, must face the challenge of forgiveness. Can these two women learn to trust each other again? Will they find the power of God's grace in their lives?

Sounds wonderful! As soon as I finish here I'm going to download one onto my Kindle!

Read to the bottom of this post to find out how you can 

win a copy of On the Threshold!

How did you become a writing duo?

S: Since we share one brain but were separated at birth, it's been pretty easy to write together! Both of us had always talked about writing a book, but fourteen years ago I said if we were ever going to write, maybe we should work on a book together. It would hold us accountable. We lived on different sides of the state of Oregon at the time, so we did a lot of it via e-mail, and once a month I would make the 250-mile drive to Christina's house and we'd work on it in person. 

I'm so glad you're such a good team . . . er, I mean that you share a brain. Yep. That's what I mean.


You two have a fabulous mother/daughter relationship, but even in the best of circumstances mothers and daughters don't always agree. When you're working on a project together how do you handle differences in style and focus?

C: We agreed from the get-go that both of us needed to be proud of every single word of every single line in the book. In fact, we didn't even need a reason not to like it. If it didn't feel right, it was out of there! One advantage about co-writing was that one of us would do a chapter and give it to the other for editing. We split the word count evenly and gave each other doable deadlines. This process blended our styles, which are very similar anyway. By the end, we honestly couldn't remember who wrote some of the chapters.

What a good workable plan and so organized. I'm in awe. And I love the commitment to excellence.


I've had the privilege of attending a retreat with both of you as speakers. You guys are terrific. Our time with you was full of fun and inspiration. Do you speak often and what kind of topics do you like to share? Are you available to speak and how can you be contacted?

S: As the Women's Ministry Director at my church, I have the joy of teaching two weekly Bible studies, as well as speaking at women's events and retreats.
C: As the mother of five, I don't have as much freedom at this stage of my life, but both of us love to speak together as much as possible.
S: The two of us recently led a retreat called Doing the Impossible, based on the book of Nehemiah. We also did one on Taming Your Emotions for your church, Bonnie. We've shared on Following Your Dreams as a day event. Plus, I've led retreats having to do with the Christian view of sex (just call me Dr. Ruth of the Bible!) and on how to blend the practical and spiritual parts of a woman's life.
C: My favorite talk I have is the one I gave this February for the first time: Who's Your Daddy--Finding Your Way to a Father's Love.  it felt as if every single experience I've had in my life prepared me for that topic.

Drop an email to either sherrieashcraft@ashberrylane.net or christina@ashberrylane.net and we can talk details if you're interested in having us speak.

I'd love to hear a little about your individual lives. I know you are both busy women. What have you been up to? Are you working on a new project?

S: I'm the grandma of eight, and even a great grandma of one, and they all live within an hour of me. In the  middle of June our granddaughter and her toddler will be moving in upstairs while she
goes to Pacific University, so we'll be multi-generational once again! My parents live nearby, so there's always a lot of family time, which makes me feel rich beyond imagination. Being able to be involved in the lives of the women in my church as the Women's Ministry Director simply adds to my sense of fulfillment.
C: Two years ago, I remarried. My husband and I blended a family of five kids and one cat. Needless to say, we don't have many uninteresting days. I met sweet Dave on eharmony--he was matched to me within five minutes, and it was deep admiration at first "site" as we already knew a LOT about each other from our emails and questionnaires. Occasionally I still get to talk to book clubs (by phone or in person) after they read my award-winning debut novel, The Familiar Stranger, but most of my time is spent freelance editing, which I love.
S: New project? Well, we have plans for a sequel or two to On the Threshold if it does well. This story begs for more to be told. And Christina always has scenes for half a dozen books running around in her head!


Where can you be reached online?

You can sign up for our infrequent, Humorous Newsletter, where we take the infrequent part seriously, but the humor not so much! Head over to www.ashberrylane.net to do that. Not only will that keep you informed about our latest writing ventures and the release date of our print version of On the Threshold, but it will also be a way for you to enter a fun contest we've got going on.

Basically, anyone who posts about, buys, reads, or reviews the book will be entered proportionally to win a Kindle loaded with both books, On the Threshold and The Familiar Stranger AND 1,000 customer-designed business cards from Tekieme Studios. All the details are here http://christinaberry.net/christinas-blog/blogger/.

Here are online linnks if you'd like to download On the Threshold.
Kindle- http://www.amazon.com/On-the-Threshold-ebook/dp/B00CLOAHK6/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1368568885&sr=8-1&keywords=on+the+threshold

Nook- http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1115298008?ean=2940016468075

www.twitter.com/authorchristina

www.facebook.com/sherrie.ashcraft

www.facebook.com/authorchristina

www.christinaberry.net/

www.authorchristinaberry.blogspot.com

Sherrie and Christina are offering a free copy

of their new book On the Threshold to the winner of 

this week's drawing!

All you have to do is leave a comment along 

with your email address and I'll draw for

the winner one week from today!