Chatting on the Radio

On Thursday, October 17, Lisa Karon Richardson and I are guests on Shirley Mitchell's internet radio program, Aging Outside the Box.

To join us live at 7PM Eastern time, follow this link: http://revmedianetwork.com/AOTB/live.html

We'll be talking about the second book in our historical Charm & Deceit series: Vanishing Act. I hope you'll join us.

Mistletoe Memories Treasure Hunt

 

 

Sometimes the owner of the old house on Schooley's Mountain finds things stored in the attic. It's your job to collect those items as you travel to each blog on the Mistletoe Memories Treasure Hunt. Read the post about the featured novella and see what the unique giveaways are. You will find the item on the antique post card further down the page. Giveaways are available on each post and the grand prize is the lovely 12.5" x 18" Christmas banner pictured at the left.

Mistletoe Memories
Barbour Publishing, September 2013
by Jennifer AlLee, Carla Olson Gade, Gina Welborn, and Lisa Karon Richardson

For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything. ~Hebrews 3:4

One of America’s earliest summer resorts began atop the majestically wooded Schooley’s Mountain where the mecca of chalybeate springs (or “magic water”) drew visitors from near and far. Eventually the magic water disappeared, but the memories remained. Folks who live there tell the stories they heard from their grandparents who heard them from their grandparents. The four stories in MISTLETOE MEMORIES cover the almost 200 years after the house was built and center around a house that became a refuge that became an orphanage that became a home.

Comfort and Joy by Jennifer AlLee
When funding dries up a month before Christmas, Joy Benucci declares she'll do everything in her power to keep Comfort House, a transitional home for foster kids, operating. Even if she has to turn to modern-day Scrooge Evan Lancaster to do it.

My favorite character: I love Joy! She is spunky and determined, but she's spent so much of her time helping others that she's really ignored her own needs. Watching her figure out how to deal Evan - the handsome lawyer who just happens to be the one handing over the eviction notice - is all kinds of fun!

Giveaway: My special gift is an ornament for your Christmas tree that is also a picture frame. This way, you can memorialize your own mistletoe memory and relive it year after year.

Treasure Hunt: Post the answer to the question from your previous stop on the Mistletoe Memories Treasure Hunt (unless you started here). Answer the question below and bring your answer to the next blog and post it in the comment area. If this is your first stop you will return here and post an answer after visiting the third stop. Then you will be eligible for the giveaway on this page.

Question: The orphanage children will be happy to find this to play with in the snow. What is the toy?

Now please visit Carla Olson Gade, author of 'Tis the Season, the first novella in Mistletoe Memories to find the next treasure!

You may earn extra entries by following me and/or sharing this post. Include what you did in the comment.
Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/JenniferAlLee  
Facebook Author page - https://www.facebook.com/Author.Jennifer.AlLee
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Feel free to share a favorite Christmas memory when you comment. Do you have a mistletoe memory?

New Bloggy Attitude

You'd think that keeping up a blog would be easy for me. After all, I'm a writer. I write 80K word novels for a living. What's so hard about writing the occasional 250 word blog post?

As it turns out... all kinds of things.

I saw this on the back of a car, and thought it was hysterical.
My apologies for the slightly crude nature of the joke,
but some days, this is exactly how I feel!

Blogging is deceptive. It seems like it should be easy-peezy, but when you commit to a blog, it brings an unexpected pressure. What will I write about? What will my theme be? What if I don't have anything meaningful to say? What if people don't like it? Why isn't anyone leaving comments???

Obviously, the pressure to deliver got to be too much for me, which is why this is the first time I've posted since back in May. But tonight (at 4AM Pacific Time) I had a mini-epiphany.

I don't need to be scintillating.

Amazing, huh? All this pressure to deliver... It all came from me. So you know what? I'm releasing myself. I'm still going to blog, but I'm giving myself permission to use this particular piece of cyber real estate to be free. I might write about my latest attempt to lose weight, or the new TV season, or my new novel, or how frustrating it is when you get to the post office with your items all ready to go and the person ahead of you is carrying an open, unlabeled box with items still hanging out of it. But the point is, I'm just going to be me.

So, if you want posts that are a little more hefty in the "meaningful content" department, visit Inkwell Inspirations where I blog with 11 other amazing women. But, if you just want to hang out and experience my ramblings, come here. It'll be like joining me for coffee and gabbing about whatever comes to mind. Of course, I don't drink coffee, so imagine that I've got an iced tea.

Ahhh... I feel better already!

On the Radio

On Thursday, May 2nd, Lisa and I will be doing a radio interview about our new release from Whitaker House, Diamond in the Rough. All the info is in the blurb below. We'd love to have you join us!


May 2, 2013... 6PM-CST... "Gambling On A Chance" with our "Guests" Jennifer AlLee and Lisa Karon Richardson, Writers and Co-Authors of "Diamonds In The Rough" on "Aging Outside the Box®" Syndicated Radio Show with National Author, Writer, Speaker, Syndicated Columnist and Celebrity Radio Talk Show Host, Shirley W. Mitchell, as they discuss "Gambling On A Chance" with...  Starting New Adventures, Diamonds In The Rough and The Fascination of Historical Romance. Join us "LIVE on AIR" every Thursday Night at 2PM-HIST, 3PM-AKST, 4PM-PST, 5PM-MST, 6PM-CST, 7PM-EST and 8PM-AST. Be the 3rd, 7th, or 13th E-Mail on the Show and receive a FREE Copy of Jennifer's and Lisa's book, "Diamonds In The Rough"!

If only it was down about an inch...

My son spotted this when we were in Target:

Another example of why you need to be careful where you put the price tag :+]

The CFBA presents WINGS OF GLASS by Gina Holmes

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wings of Glass Tyndale House Publishers (March 1, 2013) by Gina Holmes

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Gina Holmes began her career in 1998, penning articles and short stories. In 2005 she founded the influential literary blog, Novel Journey now called Novel Rocket and she is also the founder of Inspire The Fire.

Her debut, Crossing Oceans, was a Christy and Gold Medallion finalist and winner of the Carol Award, INSPY, and RWA’s Inspirational Reader’s Choice, as well as being a CBA, ECPA, Amazon and PW Religion bestseller. Her sophomore novel, Dry as Rain, was also named a Christy finalist. Her upcoming novel, Wings of Glass will releases this month. She holds degrees in science and nursing and currently resides with her family in southern Virginia. She works too hard, laughs too loud, and longs to see others heal from their past and discover their God-given purpose.


ABOUT THE BOOK

From the bestselling author of Crossing Oceans comes a heart-rending yet uplifting story of friendship and redemption. On the cusp of womanhood, Penny is swept off her feet by a handsome farmhand with a confident swagger. Though Trent Taylor seems like Prince Charming and offers an escape from her one-stop-sign-town, Penny’s happily ever after lasts no longer than their breakneck courtship. Before the ink even dries on their marriage certificate, he hits her for the first time. It isn’t the last, yet the bruises that can’t be seen are the most painful of all.

When Trent is injured in a welding accident and his paycheck stops, he has no choice but to finally allow Penny to take a job cleaning houses. Here she meets two women from very different worlds who will teach her to live and laugh again, and lend her their backbones just long enough for her to grow her own.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wings of Glass, go HERE.


JEN'S THOUGHTS
Gina Holmes has become one of my must-read authors. In other words, when she writes a book, I MUST read it. Holmes has a way of tackling hard issues that makes them accessible without shying away from cold, hard reality. Wings of Glass is no exception. With characters that live and breath on the page, she makes us think about the true nature of love, how we respond when that love is twisted, and shines a light on the hope that awaits us all.

Faces in the Food

Yes, I fell down on the job. While I am still thankful, I wasn't able to live up to my desire to post something every day. So... we'll just go back to business as usual, with me trying to post as often as possible, and trying not to beat myself up too bad when I fail. LOL

Today, I'm thankful for the faces in my food. My mom laughed when I whipped out my camera and took a picture of this tart, but the expression made me smile.

CFBA presents FOR LOVE OF ELI by Loree Lough

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing For Love of Eli Abingdon Press (February 1, 2013) by Loree Lough

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

With more than FOUR MILLION copies of her books in circulation, Loree has 98 books (fiction and non-fiction for kids and adults; four novels optioned for movies; more books slated for release between now and 2014), 68 short stories, over 2,500+ articles in print, and over 19,000 letters from fans!

Loree loves sharing learned-the-hard-way lessons about the craft and the industry, and her comedic approach makes her a favorite (and frequent) guest of writers' organizations, book clubs, private and government institutions, college and high school writing programs both here and abroad.

A writer who believes in "giving back," Loree dedicates a portion of her income to Soldiers' Angels, Special Operations Warrior Foundation, and other worthwhile organizations.

She splits her time between a tiny home in the Baltimore suburbs and an even tinier cabin in the Allegheny Mountains, and shares both with her real-life hero Larry, who rarely complains, even when she adds yet another item to her vast collection of "wolf stuff."

ABOUT THE BOOK

When unspeakable tragedy leaves young Eli an orphan, two families are devastated. But Taylor, Eli’s aunt and legal guardian, vows to help him remember his parents by creating a Memory Quilt. As she begins piecing together the moments of his parents' lives, the story of the young family emerges and Taylor and Eli begin to heal. But Eli’s uncle Reece is slow to let go of the past and still blames Taylor’s brother for his sister’s death. So, although he has long been attracted to Taylor, Reece keeps a safe distance away. Can their shared love for Eli pave the way to forgiveness or will Taylor and Reece be separated by pain?


If you would like to read a first chapter excerpt of For Love of Eli, go HERE.

YOT Day 18 - Puppies

PUPPIES!

So cute!
Image via Morguefile.com

How can you NOT be thankful for puppies? God sure knew what he was doing when he made baby animals so dang cute... those big eyes, soft fur, the way they gamble about.

I love dogs. If it weren't for the fact that they need to be taken care of and cleaned up after, I'd have a couple of my own. But for now, I just enjoy the puppies and dogs of others. Here are a few extra-adorable ones to brighten your day.

A puppy dog pile
Image via Morguefile.com

YOT Day 17 - Grace

For those of you keeping score... I'm sure you've noticed I've missed a few days here on the blog. That doesn't mean I haven't been thankful, just that I've been super busy. So today, I'm especially thankful for grace.

Grace is that wonderful, undeserved gift of forgiveness and clemency. It's what lets me know that God loves me, no matter how many times I screw up. And it lets me know that my friends won't hold some missed blog days against me ;)

May every day be grace-filled!

YOT Day 9 - Free Books

Today, I'm thankful that my publisher, Abingdon Press, has made several novels available for free on Kindle... and my novel, The Pastor's Wife, is one of them. Here are the books that are free today and tomorrow (1/9 & 1/10):

A Time for Peace by Barbara Cameron 
Delivered with Love by Sherry Kyle 
The Dog That Talked to God by Jim Kraus 
The Pastor's Wife by Jennifer AlLee
The Call of Zulina by Kay Marshall Strom

Enjoy!

YOT Day 5 - Street Fairs and Forever Friends

At the beginning of December, I went back to my old neighborhood in Monrovia, CA. One of the reasons was to hang out with my friends, Diane & Kathy Daw. We have been friends for many, many years (about 23 years, I think). We've written, directed, and performed bunches of plays together. We've laughed until we cried. We've broken bread (among other things). We've talked for hours. And no matter how much time goes by, when we get together, it's like no time has gone by at all. I'm very thankful for these ladies. God blessed me with friends that have always made me feel like the third sister.

The other reason was to visit the Old Town Street Fair. The Street Fair was featured in my book, A Wild Goose Chase Christmas, so it was pretty cool to find these quilt-like boxes of berries.

My inner-editor was able to come out and play when I saw this sign. Do you think these were Brazilian deer?


What a blessing to share good times with good friends!

YOT Day 4 - Festive Decorations

My mom, me, and a very friendly
polar bear.

My mother and I went to the Bellagio Conservatory yesterday to see the Christmas display before they took it down. This is one of my favorite places in Vegas. It's beautiful, and it's free. And it gave me an opportunity to bless someone.

Shortly after we walked in, I saw a family taking turns taking pictures of each other. It was one of those situations where the group picture is always missing someone, because they were the photographer. So I asked if they'd like a picture of all of them together. They were so surprised at the offer, and so happy. And after I took the photo, one of the gals asked if she could take a picture of my mom & I for us. It was a definite "reap what you sow" moment.

Thanks, God, for a lovely day amongst the beautiful Christmas decorations!

YOT Day 3 - Affirmation

Today has been kind of a tough day. But God blessed me with some awesome news in my in-box. My latest novel, A Wild  Goose Chase Christmas, squeaked onto the ECPA Best Seller List. It's number 19, but that's okay... it's there!

So, thank you Lord, for affirmation coming at the time when I really, really needed it.

Oh, and in case you're wondering, this isn't just a Christmas book. It's to be enjoyed year round!

YOT Day 2 - Sugar-free Jell-o

Today, I am thankful for sugar-free Jell-o.

You see, I'm doing this low-carb diet. And it's working really well (especially now that it finally clicked that I must exercise at the same time... much more effective). Anyway, low-carb is a fairly easy plan for me to follow, but sometimes, a gal needs something that feels like a treat. And today, it's sugar-free Jell-o.

My current fave flavors are strawberry and lemon-lime.

Mmmmm Mmmm....

YOT Day 1 - Happy New Year!

Like just about everyone else, I was thinking about the start of a new year and the symbolism that holds. New beginnings. Fresh starts. And then I thought about what I want to focus on this year. The answer came pretty quickly.

Where will you go this year?

Thankfulness.

If you're like me, there are some days when you're anything but thankful. I know I can be grouchy and selfish, and then I fail to see all the blessings God has given me. So, in order to live in a spirit of thankfulness, I've decided that each day I'll post something I'm thankful for.

Today, I'm thankful that the Mayans were wrong! LOL... seriously, I'm thankful for today, the first day of a new year. To all of you, I wish blessings abounding and a year that gets better and better every day.

Now...the challenge will be to see if I can keep this up all year. So far so good... Day One of the Year of Thanksgiving (YOT) is accomplished!