Secondhand Samhain is available today on Amazon

The seventh novella in the series is here...

Welcome back to Holiday, USA, small town America, where nothing happens, except holidays... and a little romance, if the hero and heroine trust God.

Jan Connor, the new manager of the secondhand shop Vintage Holiday, loves her job, her town, and her life. She doesn't need anything except a little bit of help. Her annual Halloween birthday party isn't coming together, and her antiquated computer system is only making it worse.

Trent McDonald, computer guru extraordinaire, is looking for a place to call home. His brother, Cowboy, suggested Holiday might offer what he needs but never mentioned Vintage Holiday's pretty shop manager.

Between one breath and the next, God changes everything...

http://www.amazon.com/Secondhand-Samhain-Holiday-USA-Book-ebook/dp/B01A0IBBQI/ref=sr_1_1

Holiday USA update and cover reveal

Secondhand Samhain is in final edits. I still need to write the blurb. Not my favorite thing to do but a necessary bit of work. Today's project while I wait for the final read through by my editor. I hope you love this story as much as I do. I had such fun writing it.

My Holiday, USA series cover artist, Ruth Mower, created a delightful and fun cover

Isn't it fun?

Christmas Present is also well on its way to being finished. It won't be published by Thursday, but I anticipate it will be soon after. Then the 2015 anthology, with the last 4 novellas, will be published in paperback, in February. Errant Knight is due and will fully occupy January.

Conversation between Heroes 24 December

Jack: Calling the meeting to order.
Leo: We have meetings?
Jack: We do now.
Richard: What has brought this about?
Jack: Nefarious social media hides our lady's communication.
Leo: Bah! We must not allow this to continue.
Fitzgerald: Shall I challenge them to a dual?
Trent: Wrong century.
Fitzgerald: How do we right this wrong?
Carson: Stand down, gentlemen.
Leo: We can't allow this to continue.
Trent: Not a problem. She's appearing again.
Leo: Excellent.
Fitzgerald: I do not trust this social media.
Carson: A wise man.
Leo: If all's well, why are we here?
Jack: An event worthy of notice.
Richard: The most important day of the year.
Leo: Easter isn't for a few months yet.
Richard: Without the birth, there would be no Atonement.
Carson: The calm before the storm.
Trent: Merry Christmas.
Jack: Happy Christmas.

Merry Christmas

For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:11

The birth of Jesus changed everything.

I bought the above Christmas cactus a few years ago. I named it Chris. Not particularly clever, I know. It broke my heart when it died off, bit by bit. A few segments dropped off in my hand. I figured, "Why not? It was dead anyway." I planted them. They're growing. So now I have two of Chris. I don't think they're concerned about sharing the same name. :-)

(in)courage shared this and encouraged sharing it:

Wordless

Sharing Links Saturday...

Over at A Writer's Path, Kate M. Colby shared her perspective on long term goals:
http://ryanlanz.com/2015/12/06/how-to-approach-your-long-term-goals/
And Meg shared how to add a time jump:
http://ryanlanz.com/2015/12/09/how-to-add-a-time-jump-to-your-story/

Give Her Wings posted a list of what is normal in a Christian marriage and what isn't:
http://giveherwings.com/differences-between-an-abusive-marriage-and-a-healthy-one/
I endeavor to create relationships like this in my stories. A part of me hopes that I'll learn to be "normal" despite being raised in "not normal."

Donna Hatch shares the history of "Kissing Under the Mistletoe."
http://donnahatch.com/kissing-under-the-mistletoe/

God bless.

Reluctant Knight in paperback...

For those who prefer paperback, Reluctant Knight is now available, along with all the other Laurel Hawkes titles.

http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Knight-Endless-Knights-2/dp/1682949877/ref=sr_1_2

The Rebellious Damsel

A baron's spoiled daughter, Cassandra Treyman's plans to escape her parents goes awry, and she determines to burn the Bible of the maid who ruined everything. One word captures her attention: Forgiveness. Is it too late?

The Reluctant Knight

Heir to his father's shipping empire, Richard Carrington's wealth fails to make a tradesman's son suitable for a baron's daughter. Her parents prefer to bargain her to an unknown suitor in India, a man Richard suspects may not exist. Why pursue an unattainable woman?

The World

Unscrupulous men and women conspire to gain what they desire no matter the cost to anyone else. Honorable men and women do what they may to follow God and aid in His work to save souls. Follow the world or follow God. Which will they choose? The consequences may cost more than they can afford.

Not on Pinterest...

I know, difficult to believe what you need can't always be found on Pinterest. It's true.

Vintage Holiday, the secondhand shop in Holiday, has a dancing flower that is activated by motion. Jan, the heroine in Secondhand Samhain, uses it instead of a bell. No surprise, since she's a bit unconventional.

I know what it looks like, but readers might not. My books aren't picture books, so I have to hope readers are able to see what I do by my description alone.

However, enter Pinterest.

I took a picture of the infamous flower. I'm able to post it here and pin it on my Holiday USA board.

 For the record, I set it outside so I'd have enough sun. Sorry, no video to show it dancing.

Fun.

Wordless

Links to a few of my favorite...

...Christmas songs.

Stille Nacht (Silent Night) by Manheim Steamroller on their Christmas album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTSkS0Abas4

Believe Again: O Come All Ye Faithful by David Osmond
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF__6qGtwSc

Baby, What You Goin' to Be by Trinity HS Alumni Choir
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsoB7mmdmFg

Mary, did you know? by Kenny Rogers and Wynonna Judd
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mN70R-3ao0U

Believe by Josh Grobin on the Polar Express album.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZ19mW-TMRk

Merry Christmas Darling by the Carpenters.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YR1ujXx2p-I

Josh Groban's O Holy Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Zh-yR0pbmU

A Soldier's Silent Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mO4cJdN-Q8o

Pinterest

Another blogger declared Pinterest a waste of time in regards to advertising and promoting. They saw no value of any kind for writers.

Yes, Pinterest can make time disappear. However, so can many other pursuits.

Pinterest offered a couple of benefits.

*I learned to manage my time when I visit. I allow myself to pin 15 items, and then I'm done. This keeps me from losing hours.

*I used to save links to pictures and articles in email drafts. The problem was that I had trouble finding some of them later. Enter Pinterest. Now, I'm able to save pictures and articles to particular boards. I didn't create boards for particular stories, at first. I was so excited when I figured out I could pin inspiration to particular story boards. Sometimes, as I'm writing, I'll open the accompanying board to help me describe particular places or things.

Added Bonuses:

*Sometimes, I need inspiration or a break.

*Sometimes, I'm looking for something particular. For example, I wanted an example of the MacDonald tartan for Secondhand Samhain. Yep, others have pinned it.

*Sometimes, I browse cookbooks like others browse magazines. I enjoy cooking and experimenting with food and recipes. I actually do try some of the recipes I pin. Some of the recipes have been good enough to keep. In order to make it easy to find them again, I have a board for pins I've tried.

Granted, many of the pins I'll never look at again. This does not diminish the value of a moment of inspiration, a smile, a laugh, a moment of awe, the birth of a dream, even a small one.

https://www.pinterest.com/lhawkes/

Saturday Sharing Links...

Yes! This! Writers In The Storm's Kathryn Craft shared "I am a Writer - Own it!"
http://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/11/i-am-a-writer-own-it/
And Fae Rowen gave some encouraging advice for those times when writing is a struggle:
http://writersinthestormblog.com/2015/12/when-writing-every-day-isnt-producing-the-results-you-want/

Armand Rosamilia is gearing up for "Authors Supporting Our Troops 2016."
http://armandrosamilia.com/2015/12/01/authors-supporting-our-troops-2016-asot2016/

 Donna Hatch is preparing for the release of her newest Rogue Hearts series:
http://donnahatch.com/new-release-announcing-the-suspects-daughter/

God bless.

Sunrise a month or two ago. Interestingly enough, what I saw was a pink/peach color. The camera interpreted it as this beautiful gold.

Before "Reluctant Knight" was "Tarnished Knight"

The Distressed Damsel

In 1817 England, Abigail Stewart is not the appointed estate manager. Her father, who was, is dead. The position should have been hers if not for the fact she's a woman. She's willing to go to any lengths to protect all she loves, including incur the wrath of the owner.

The Tarnished Knight

Jack Roper knows espionage and intrigue. Protecting King and country is his life, until a woman he's never met sets about demolishing everything he's worked to build for the purpose of attaining her own ends, regardless of what happens to him.

The Roper Estate

Without the baron present, Castle Sugan, the surrounding land, and the people living on it struggle to survive. All is not lost. God turns evil for good and changes hearts, but will Abigail and Jack choose to be a part of it...

New Releases from DBP... Reluctant Knight

The Rebellious Damsel

A baron's spoiled daughter, Cassandra Treyman's plans to escape her parents goes awry, and she determines to burn the Bible of the maid who ruined everything. One word captures her attention: Forgiveness. Is it too late?

The Reluctant Knight

Heir to his father's shipping empire, Richard Carrington's wealth fails to make a tradesman's son suitable for a baron's daughter. Her parents prefer to bargain her to an unknown suitor in India, a man Richard suspects may not exist. Why pursue an unattainable woman?

The World

Unscrupulous men and women conspire to gain what they desire no matter the cost to anyone else. Honorable men and women do what they may to follow God and aid in His work to save souls. Follow the world or follow God. Which will they choose? The consequences may cost more than they can afford.