Saturday Links

Hallee Bridgeman is one of my favorite Christian authors:

https://www.inspyromance.com/emailing-authors-encouragement/ 

Into the Light Adventures shared some cool pictures: 

https://intothelightadventures.com/golden-pancakes-with-syrup/ 

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

On The Ropes by Hallee Bridgeman contemporary suspense Christian romance. Wow. What a page turner. It wasn't what I expected and kept me on the edge. A very satisfying read.

Blog Interview Announcement

Tomorrow, Wednesday, at 7am EST, my written interview will go "live" over at Hallee Bridgeman's blog. I'm so delighted to be a guest.

Anyone who has followed me for a while knows that Hallee is one of my favorite authors. She writes Christian romance. I buy all her books and many in paperback, if I'm able. I was privileged to meet her, and her husband, at a Readers Conference. They're delightful. Their love story is amazing.

http://www.halleebridgeman.com/

Yes, I have the link to the interview, but it doesn't go live until tomorrow.

Here's the link:
http://www.halleebridgeman.com/interview-with-laurel-hawkes-and-a-giveaway/

Saturday Links

Hallee Bridgeman is one of my favorite authors and a genuinely nice person:
https://www.inspyromance.com/prepared-by-god/

I needed and still appreciate this encouragement from William Emmons:
https://wemmons.wordpress.com/2019/08/18/knowing-your-purpose/

God bless.

Saturday Links

Desiring Light shared an inspiring piece, "A Particle of Dust!"
https://desiringlight.com/2018/11/02/a-particle-of-dust/

Prepping for the coming year with Goal Setting, over at Closed Doors?
https://closeddoorsdotblog.wordpress.com/2018/11/06/setting-goals-and-crushing-them/

Hallee Bridgeman, one of my favorite Christian romance authors, shared a Christmas reminder over on Jennifer Slattery's blog:
https://jenniferslatterylivesoutloud.com/2018/12/13/when-our-soul-feels-its-worth/

God bless.

Favorite Book Friday

Chasing Pearl (Yesterday's Mail: Crossroads Collection Book 3) by Hallee Bridgeman contemporary Christian romance. I love her stories.

Favorite Book Friday

Virtues and Valor series by Hallee Bridgeman, Christian romance writer, contains eight episodes, the same World War II event from eight different points of view and includes the history of the heroine or hero or event inspiring the episode. Hallee is on my must read list. I laughed and I cried and I had a tough time putting down my Kindle until I'd read every episode.

A new favorite author...

Not long ago, I posted about discovering Hallee Bridgeman at this year's Arizona Dreamin', a Readers' Event.

I'm a planner in many things, though writing isn't one of them. In writing, I'm a pantster. Sorry, sidetracked. Yes, I'm also easily sidetracked. Where was I?

Conference. I knew I'd have the opportunity to choose to meet several authors, so I looked over the names. Many of the authors I already knew or they wrote romance novels I wasn't particularly interested in reading. I'm not a huge fan of first person, except in the case of an autobiography. I know, not typical, but I've never claimed to be typical.

The authors I didn't know I investigated. I checked their websites and looked up their books on Amazon. If they had a free download of a short story, I accepted the opportunity.

I read Hallee's novella Greater than Rubies, a follow up to her novel Sapphire Ice. I loved it. I wrote about the wonderful experience in a previous post.

http://laurelhawkes.blogspot.com/2014/06/hallee-bridgeman.html

I bought her paperback book The Jewel Anthology in the bookstore provided at the conference. It includes all three of her Jewel novels and the novella. It also includes the study guides and recipes accompanying each book. It made to the top of my To-Be-Read pile this past month. I thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. It was a delight to have all the stories together. The heroes and heroines are unique and yet share common threads of faith, either well developed faith or stepping onto the path.

They're Christian romances with real characters. People who have made mistakes. Horrible things have happened in their lives. They question their faith and struggle. In each story, I searched my own heart, my own faith, my own journey. I finished feeling uplifted and inspired.

These stories are the kind of romances I like to read. I've added her suspense books to my wish list.

Sharing links...

Writers in the storm shared proofing and editing tips:
http://writersinthestorm.wordpress.com/2014/05/28/proofing-and-editing-equals-great-story/
Side note: WITS has moved their blog, however, this link still works.

Sharing the links to some of my favorite blogs, the ones I visit as soon as I see there's a new post:

http://dianegaston.com/blog/

http://www.halleethehomemaker.com/

http://www.unknownsoldiersblog.com/

Hallee Bridgeman...

At the AZ Dreamin' Reader's Conference, readers are given the opportunity to meet authors. There is "speed dating," during which the available authors visit each table of readers and talk about their books for two minutes. Readers are then given the opportunity meet up to 7 authors by signing up for 6 Book Clubs, no more than 10 people in each group, and Dinner, 8 at the table.

Before attending the conference, I visited the AZDRC website and checked out all the authors. I investigated the types of books they wrote, including reading samples, and made a list of the authors I wanted to meet, some I knew already and some new.

Book Clubs last 30 minutes. Some authors read portions of their book. Some play games, have quizzes, share audio portions of their books. They all share goodies with their fans. It's also an opportunity to have books signed.

I read "Greater Than Rubies" by Hallee Bridgeman (it ties book 1 and 2 together) and knew I wanted to meet her. She writes the Christian Romance novels I want to read! Yes, writers are fans, too.

http://www.amazon.com/Greater-Rubies-Christian-Romance-Jewel-ebook/dp/B00AV59ANM/ref=sr_1_6?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1401902554&sr=1-6&keywords=hallee+bridgeman+jewel+series

I chose Hallee as one of my Book Clubs as well as dinner. What a delightful experience!

For the book club, she and her husband provided a healthy bowl of fruit, coffee, and donut holes. Yummy! We talked as friends do, sharing experiences in writing and our journey to become better Christians. In attending her Book Club and dinner, I also met some wonderful people. It's a joy to walk into a room and know you already have something in common with everyone present, a love for some of the same books.

I bought the Jewel anthology and look forward to reading it, soon. I need more time.

Dinner offered the opportunity to become better acquainted. We shared a prayer before eating, something I usually do alone. We Readers asked questions and the Bridgemans answered and gave more. I was fed not only with delicious food but with fellowship.

What the Bridgemans didn't know: My family was going through a make it or break it time. Because of their faith and example, I was encouraged and strengthened to meet the tribulation waiting for me.

I enjoyed the entire weekend, but my time with the Bridgemans alone made it all worth it. I hope to see them again, next year. I will never look at Monopoly the same way. Read "Greater Than Rubies" and maybe you won't either.

http://www.halleethehomemaker.com/