Winner!
And the winner of Ozark Weddings by Anita Higman & Janice Thompson is . . .
Deborah M! (debbiejeanm@ . . .)
Congrats! I’m sending you an email now.
Modern . . . Laughs
First, sometime this week I’ll be posting about the Writing Roseanniversary Giveaway Extravaganza! As soon as I get all my ducks in their appropriate rows for it. =)
Now, onto my actual topic. As WhiteFire considers submissions, I’m thinking about which of my contemporaries I may want to publish with them. A few are out of the question (at least temporarily) as they’re under consideration at other publishers.
But one that got quick “no thanks” answers from everyone was my romantic comedy. The big pubs didn’t want things “that light” or “with a voice reminiscent of chick lit.” Now, I doubt WhiteFire’s going to have a problem with that, because they have a totally different business model.
My readers, however, are still vitally important–and contemporary romantic comedies don’t have a whole lot in common with the serious Biblical fiction WhiteFire is publishing so far. So here’s my question to y’all.
What would you expect all my books to have in common? What differences are you willing to accept? If you’ve read Stray Drop, would you also be willing to read something that’s more similar to the voice I use in my blogs? (Light and chatty.) Would it be enough that the light and funny ones still propel the characters to deeper faith and find love, or would you not know what to do with me if I went from quoting Greek philosophers to a heroine with a purple streak in her hair and a polka-dot dress?
Perhaps my readers here aren’t the best ones to ask, given that you read my blog, which is light and chatty. But I don’t have any way to ask those readers who don’t read my blog, so answer me anyway, if you would. š I’d appreciate it.
My Friend Tammy – Interview & Giveaway
Today I’m tickled to host one of the first writers who really lent me a hand with my own stuff and helped me perfect my very first one-sheet–which then led me to my agent! Tammy Barley’s the author of historical romance and such a fun, sweet lady. Hope you enjoy getting to know her and her second book, Hope’s Promise!
Tammy has graciously offered a copy of her book to one lucky reader. In order to be entered in the drawing, please leave a comment with an email address. If you’re a follower, that’s an extra entry. Follow me on Facebook, ditto. And if you refer someone else here who mentions you, that’s an extra for you too! (Nothing like complicating things for myself in an attempt to boost my following, eh? LOL)
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About Tammy
I have lived in twenty-seven places in eight states (so far) and have visited nearly all. When I’m not writing? I judge a number of top writing contests and love my work as a manuscript editor and biographer. I am also Mom to two sons, one daughter, a rescued American Eskimo dog, thirteen parakeets, and an aquarium full of fish. The children I homeschool; the dog I taught to sit. She also barks at parked cars. In my spare time, you’re likely to find me baking, gardening, behind a camera, or hugging a horse.
My first book in The Sierra Chronicles, Loveās Rescue, won second place in the Golden Rose Contest, inspirational romance category, went into its second printing only five weeks after it was released, and landed on ChristianBook.comās best-selling historical fiction list, at number eleven. Book two, Hopeās Promise, is already receiving rave reader comments and five-star reviews.
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About Hope’s Promise
For Better, for Worse
Jake Bennett is finally wed to the love of his life, Jessica Haleābut he isnāt convinced she wonāt leave him. Life is a constant struggle for the Bennetts as they battle drought and live in fear of raids on Southerners, and he is not sure that Jess knew what she was getting herself into when she married him.
In Sickness and in Health
Jess, however, despairs for another reasonāshe is unable to conceive a child.
A Solemn Vow to Stand Together
While trying to prove their unconditional love for each other, the Bennetts must defend against attacks on the Paiutes, the doubts that haunt them both, and an unknown force that threatens to destroy all they hold dear. Together, they must stand in faith through betrayal, barrenness, and a very real threat, trusting that God will reward their hopes for a better future.
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What’s your latest book?
Hopeās Promise, published by Whitaker House. It just released August 1, 2010.
Congratulations! August is a fabulous month for special occasions (says the girl whose birthday fast approaches, ha ha). What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?
When life is great, God is with you. When life is trouble, God is still with you, loving you dearly, holding you close, helping you through. He always gives us hope.
Very true, and we all need regular reminders. I personally love getting those lessosn through fiction. How about you? What’s your favorite genre to write? To read?
More and more, I love to write suspense, and incorporate plenty of it into The Sierra Chronicles, set in the ruggedāand often dangerousāOld West. I love to read historical romance and suspense, as well.
Sticking with what you already love then! Here’s an interesting question: What’s one of the oddest or most interesting things someone has ever said about you?
Iāve been called feisty, and someone said, in relation to that, that I wear size sixteen steel-toed boots. I think that was intended as a compliment. =)
LOL. Remind me to steer clear of those feet! Any funny family stories about living with a writer?
Recently, my family celebrated my grandmotherās 90th birthday. I saw people whom I hadnāt seen in decades. Many of these virtual strangers came up to me and asked, āAre you the writer?ā Finally I replied, āYep, and I also made the lasagna!ā =)
Any upcoming releases we should keep our eye out for?
The Sierra Chronicles book threeāFaithās Reward. (Totally gorgeous book coverāhave a peek at http://www.tammybarley.com/Bookshelf.html.) Itāll be in stores January 2011.
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Thanks for visiting, Tammy! Readers, you can check out Tammy’s website at www.TammyBarley.com and find her books from her site or at Barnes & Noble.
Void where prohibited. Entry into the contest is considered verification of eligibility based on your local laws. Contest ends 8/12/10. Winner will have two weeks to claim book.
Thoughtful About . . . How Did I Miss That??
I just realized that my one-year anniversary of this blog passed at the end of July without me paying a lick of attention. The nerve! Why, I oughta break up with me for such an oversight . . . š
Yesterday I realized I’d crested the 300 post mark and thought, “Wow, my one year ought to . . . have just passed. Argh!” Here I thought I’d come up with some brilliant giveaway and launch it on that day. Ah well, I’ll come up with something belated. =)
Anybody have any brilliant ideas? Something you’d really dig as a giveaway? I can always do books (mine and others’), but would anybody be interested in something more unique? A black and white drawing? A critique? A Stray Drop t-shirt? Candy? Maybe I’ll check in with some of my friends and see if anyone wants to pitch in some fun!
I’ll take suggestions on this through the weekend and announce my Anniversary Shindig Giveaway on Monday. So speak up! Give me an idea of what you’re just dying to win, and you might see it . . . then might win it!
Three cheers for a year of blogging!
Remember When . . . People Were Nice?
Okay, trick question–people are still nice, which is what inspired the title. š
In Jewel of Persia, there’s a piece of jewelry that plays a pivotal role in the story. It’s an open bracelet (called a torc) with lions’ heads on the terminals. Much like this. My heroine receives it in the first chapter, and it maintains its importance through much of the book.
It’s crucial enough that I want it to be on the cover, perhaps even worked into the chapter headings. So Roseanna went in search of images last week. After some fruitless exploring of Google images, I find the one above. Excited to see something so perfect (though originally the one in JoP was gold), I went to the site of the jeweler, Greek Jewelry Shop.
I’ve discovered that I love Greek jewelry, and these folks have been specializing in ancient designs since 1928. Based in Athens, they’re in their 4th generation of jewelers now and still holding fast to the quality and excellence that has earned Vaphiadis Jewelery (the name of their physical store) an impressive reputation in Europe. (See, even this is historical, so totally fits my theme for the day!)
My thoughts went something like, “I’d really like to use the image of one of their bracelets . . . and can’t without permission. I’ll email them. Worth a shot, right?”
To my utter surprise, on Saturday afternoon I got an email in reply saying that, yes, my request was very unexpected, but they would be delighted if I used their design in my book cover and that he would be happy to work with the designer if the pictures online weren’t of high enough quality. He also offered the gift of whichever bracelet I used, which left me blubbering in stupefaction. People are still that generous? Really?? I am so changing the description of the bracelet in the book to be silver like this one instead of gold!
Given that I was expecting my out-of-the-blue email to these folks to be overlooked and/or ignored, I was thrilled to strike up a conversation with this very talented–and very, very nice–jeweler. It just goes to show you that no matter the century, no matter the political or economic climate, people are still people at heart. And I’m just praising the Lord because while sometimes it feels like nothing works right, even the tiniest things, at other times He leads it all perfectly into place. Little things like permission to use an image–or like finding the right cover model for the book (which my friend Dina also accomplished for me this weekend–go, Dina!) can do wonders for showing you that, yes, you’re in the Lord’s will.
In Jewel of Persia, the torc pictured above is a symbol of the hero’s love. When Kasia takes it off at one point, it’s a rejection of him. When she puts it back on, it’s a sign of forgiveness. The very act of giving it to her spurs the conflict that fuels half the story.
Although, there’s a certain irony to using a Greek design from a jeweler in Athens when it’s given by Xerxes, whose set goal in the first half of the book is burning Athens to the ground . . . hmmm. Ah, well. A Greek wrote the history, so we all know how that turned out. =)
Special thanks to Aris Vaphiadis for his generous spirit and inspired designs. I’m looking forward to working his artistry into all my promotions and pointing the appreciative back his way for that special gift of Greek jewelry. Check him out, y’all!
About Me
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, sheās homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her booksā¦to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.