Uncategorized - Roseanna M. White

30 Days of Giveaways Wrapup

by Roseanna White | Jul 31, 2013 | Uncategorized

And we have our final two winners! The winner of the last Ring of Secrets is:

Kathy Walton!

And the winner of the Puritan prayers, Valley of Vision, is…

Emma! (augustlily)

Big congratulations to all our winners of July, and again my biggest, heartiest thanks for joining me for this month of celebration, reflection, and becoming acquainted.

I can’t tell you all how awesome it’s been to get to know everyone a bit and see such energy and enthusiasm around here. Though I can’t promise continual giveaways anymore, I do hope you keep stopping by regularly for conversation. =) After today, I’ll be going back to my standard Monday~Wednesday~Thursday routine, with special featured like reviews and interviews appearing occasionally on Tuesdays and Fridays.

And now to sum it all up with what this month was about–join me in officially welcoming into the world, my latest, Whispers from the Shadows, available at all the online retailers now, and should be showing up in stores no later than tomorrow!

I Love Her…Can I Trust Her?
I Love Him…Is He Safe?

1814—England and America are again at war. Sudden and implacable
treachery causes Gwyneth Fairchild’s world to crumble in a moment’s
time. The daughter of a British general, she barely saves her life by
fleeing London aboard a ship bound for America. Her goal is to find
refuge with the Lane family in Maryland. Yet after meeting the Lanes’
son, Thaddeus, Gwyn wonders how safe she is. For she discovers that this
family trades in a dangerous commodity—espionage.

Thad Lane is a prominent citizen in the city of Baltimore. He has the
ear of everyone, and he is in a unique position to pass on to leaders
of government exactly what he hears. Not long after the beautiful and
British Gwyneth Fairchild finds safe haven in his community, he
experiences the tug of love, though he fears it may blur lines of
loyalty. With family playing the part of enemies and enemies proving
themselves friends, a future with Gwyn is more than uncertain—it could
be life threatening.

In the end, with the British advancing relentlessly on Baltimore,
Thad and Gwyn have to trust in their shared faith in God to be a shield
about them. To give them a future and a hope.

Thanks again!! Oh, and did you notice the new header up there? Here are my daily questions:

Whatcha think of the new look (matches my website) or

Where do you usually shop for books?

We have no Christian bookstore in our town, and only one very small BAM whose Christian Fiction section is miniscule, so I’m afraid most of mine is online. How about you?

30 Days of Giveaways ~ FINAL DAY!

by Roseanna White | Jul 30, 2013 | Uncategorized

Yesterday’s winner is:

Kay Davis Moorhouse

Wow, it’s been a whole month. Can you believe it? I’ll be doing a wrap-up post tomorrow, announcing the final two winners and sharing my closing thoughts, but on this, the last official day of the giveaways, I just want to say a big…

It’s been so wonderful to make some new friends through this month of giveaways and blog posts. I hope to keep you seeing your around ye olde inter-web. 😉

And while I still have your attention, I figured I’d make an announcement about a decision I’ve made. Which ties into:

Story Time Tuesday ~ With Me

Last Thursday, I had the amazing honor of Skyping into a book club that was discussing my first published novel, A Stray Drop of Blood. Hearing these ladies talk about the book and ask me questions got me thinking about it again, and the next day a question of theirs kept plaguing me.

Is there a sequel?

Excellent question. Is there one written? Um, no. But there’s been one planned for years. In fact, I remember at my very first writers conference in 2007, a presenter asked, “If you only had enough time left to live to write one book, what would it be?”

My silent answer: the sequel to Stray Drop.

And yet I’ve written a dozen books since then, none of them this sequel. Largely because I couldn’t figure out how to start the thing, though I’ve got copious notes on the storyline, which burst into my head nearly full-grown six years ago.

Now, I have a biblical penciled into the WhiteFire fall schedule for 2014–over a year from now. I was planning on writing Song of Solace for them, about an Egyptian princess who journeys with the son of Melchizedek to Salem, in the days of Abraham. It’s going to be an amazing story to work on, I know. But after giving it some thought and prayer and discussing it with David (hubby and publisher at WhiteFire), I think that in fall 2014 we’re instead going to release this one:

Set in 58 A.D., just outside of Rome, A Soft Breath of Wind will bring some familiar characters back to the page for those who have read A Stray Drop of Blood–as well as some new ones who take over as main characters. In the first, the blood of Jesus was the pivot of my entire book. In this one, it’s the mighty wind of the Spirit that will take center stage.

I’ve yet to write anything resembling a blurb, but here’s my ten-minute toss-together:

A gift that has branded her for life

Zipporah is thirteen when the Spirit descends upon her, opening her eyes to a world beyond the physical goings-on of the villa outside Rome she has always called home. Within hours, she learns what serving the Lord can cost. Forever scarred after a vicious attack, she knows her call is to use this discernment to protect the Way. She knows she must serve the rest of her life at Tutelos, where the growing Roman church has congregated. She knows her lot is set.

Yet is it so wrong to wish that her master, the kind and handsome young Benjamin Visibullis, will eventually see her as something more than a sister in Christ?

Samuel Asinius, adoptive son of a wealthy Roman, has always called Benjamin brother. After Samuel’s wife and child die, he is eager to escape Rome and travel with Ben to visit the brethren in other parts of the world–and to be sure the legal owner of Tutelos comes to no harm before he can marry and produce an heir, ensuring the safety of all the Christians and Jews in Rome.

When their travels take them to Jerusalem for Passover, the last thing he expected was to cross paths with the woman who had sold him into slavery as a child–the mother he had long ago purged from his heart…and the siblings who carry a dark mantel on their shoulders. His sister, Dara, seems determined to learn more about him, going so far as to join them on the return trip to Italy.

But when Dara, a fortune-teller seeking the will of a shadowy master determined to undermine the Way, comes into the path of Zipporah, a whirlwind descends upon Tutelos. Though some would call it jealousy, Zipporah knows the truth of this woman that Benjamin and Samuel have brought among them…and fears it may be the undoing of them all.

Only the soft wind of the Spirit can heal their scars…with a love neither divination nor discernment could foresee.

Yeah, that’s gonna have to be streamlined and rewritten before it’s back-cover worthy, LOL. But you get the idea. If you look closely at the cover, you can even see the scars on Zipporah’s face. I tried to make her nose crooked too, but my Photoshop skills couldn’t pull that one off. 😉 The model’s a little too pretty, but we’ll forgive her. Because, well, she’s so pretty!! LOL.

And though this blurb has no hint of it, the story is set against the New Testament timeline that will climax with the arrival of Paul in Rome–where the Asiniuses and Visibullises will finally get to meet the apostle with whom they’re been corresponding. =)

So my last question for you this month!

If you could meet one Bible figure

(other than Jesus–that’s a given!),

who would it be?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 Days of Giveaways ~ Day 28

by Roseanna White | Jul 28, 2013 | Uncategorized

There are only 3 days left in the 30 Days of Giveaways! Remember that your bonus prize this week is an engraved copy of The Valley of Vision, a gorgeous and deep collection of Puritan prayers.

Yesterday my church had a community picnic and what we call Saturday Night Alive–a concert series on the last Saturday of each month. We enjoyed the stylings of a local vocalist, and I always so enjoy these concerts. Usually I’m the music at church, so it’s always a blessing to get to sit back and listen. =)

So a simple question for you today:

What’s your favorite kind of music?

I’m a sucker for the Big Bands of the 20s-40s. When not listening to that, it’s usually classical for me. =)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 Days of Giveaways ~ Day 27

by Roseanna White | Jul 27, 2013 | Uncategorized

First, our final winners from last week. The winner of Ring of Secrets (which she already has, I know, so another book…) is

Katie Scheihauer!

And the winner of the silvery plume pen, ink, & paper set is:

Bonnie Roof!

Congrats! And it’s our last week in the 30 Days of Giveaways! For these last four days, your bonus prize is something very near and dear to me, especially in conjunction with this series.

The Valley of Vision is a collection of Puritan prayers compiled by Arthur Bennett and made up of prayers from many great theologians. I stumbled across this when researching for Ring of Secrets. I wanted my heroine to pray some traditional prayers of the day that would demonstrate her heritage, especially when in opposition to the rabble-rousing British occupants of the City of New York. When I found these, I was moved to the depths of my soul.

I ended up quoting from this book in all three Culper Ring books. Winter in Ring of Secrets has a prayer book handwritten by her father which transcribes these same prayers (or at least the ones that had been written at the time, LOL). She has passed it down to Thad in Whispers from the Shadows. And in Circle of Spies, Thad finally finds someone to pass the original tome to as well.

God of my end,

it is my greatest, noblest pleasure

to be acquainted with thee…

The very first feedback I got on Ring of Secrets was about these prayers. I know they’ll touch you as they have me. =) And so, this week’s winner will get a leather-bound, gold-edged copy of Valley of Vision with their name (or their choice of name) engraved on the cover.

My question to you today (which I’m posting late):

Describe the Bible you read most often–color, binding, version

Up until recently, I still used the purple Precious Moments NKJV I got when I was 11. 😉

a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 Days of Giveaways ~ Day 26

by Roseanna White | Jul 26, 2013 | Uncategorized

It’s the last day for this week’s prize!! Hurry, enter, enter! Spread the news! Tomorrow morning, bright and early, I’ll be doing the drawing for this beautiful set!

And the winner of yesterday’s Ring of Secrets is:

Mary Preston!

And tomorrow I’m unveiling the final bonus prize. I hope you guys love it as much as I do. =)

Last night I had a fun time with book clubs–two of them! My local book club met and discussed The Sky Beneath My Feet by Lisa Samson (which I reviewed here), and I had the joy of handing out copies of my Whispers from the Shadows, which we’ll be discussing in August.

PLUS, I was asked to do a Skype call with a book club in New England, who was discussing A Stray Drop of Blood. I knew it would be fun–but I was totally blown away by the stories these ladies told. When we write books, we hope they’ll touch a life or two, entertain some folks, earn us some readers. My deepest prayer has always been that the Lord will use them for His purpose. And last night as these ladies came forward and shared how He had used Abigail’s story in their own lives, I was just blown away. Awed. Humbled. Only He could achieve something like that–and oh, what an honor to be one of His tools! I’m probably still glowing. 😉

Now it’s Friday, which means the end of the week, the approach of the day of rest, and a happy sigh for many, many people looking forward to those days off work. 😉 My family belongs to a Baptist church that has chosen to keep the original Sabbath, so Friday evening is for preparation and family time. We listen to an awesome radio show called “Jukebox Friday Night” that plays Big Band music from 6-9. We eat something fun for dinner, we dance in our living room, we laugh a lot, and we make beds on the floor in the living room for the kids–something they look forward to all week. Most of the year we also have a Bible study Friday evenings with a couple families we know through our homeschooling group who have kids about the same ages as ours. Gotta say, even though most of my days are like the others as a stay-at-homer, I still love Fridays. =)

So my question to you today:

Do you have (or have you had) a fun weekly(ish) activity

that you always looked forward to?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

30 Days of Giveaways ~ Day 24

by Roseanna White | Jul 24, 2013 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized

First, if you jump over to Colonial Quills today, there’s a review of Whispers from the Shadows with a giveaway of it! I know some of you already have Ring of Secrets, so you might be interested in getting that new one. =) https://www.roseannamwhite.com/2013/07/guest-marian-baay-reviews-roseanna.html

Can you believe there are only 6 left in the giveaway?? And only three for the beautiful Pen, Ink, and Paper set! Though still quite a few chances to win Ring of Secrets. =) Yesterday’s winner is:

Jill Haggard!

The Silvery Plume Pen and Ink Set

Now for today.

Remember When . . . She Chose the Gown?

As I took my early morning walk one day last week, I was brainstorming my next book, How Do I Love Thee? (Let Me Count the Ways Series, Harvest House, 2014) and musing about the ones already out. Somehow or another, my thoughts about those melded with my thoughts about my friend’s upcoming wedding in which I’m honored to be a bridesmaid.

And I decided it would be fun to talk weddings and dreams with you all today. =)

As a romance writer, weddings come up. LOL Though I don’t always write the wedding itself, you can bet there’s one at least alluded to at the end. Sometimes I actually get to include it in the story. Sometimes I just leave it in my imagination. But I know I’m not alone in sighing blissfully at the thought of flowing white dresses, bounteous flowers, and promises of forever.

In my first published book, A Stray Drop of Blood, there is indeed a wedding in the middle of the book…but not exactly a huge celebration. It’s biblical, and I’m afraid Abigail didn’t have what we’d call a gown. But she would have worn a new linen garment and the ruby necklace her bridegroom gave her.

In Jewel of Persia, Kasia finds herself wed to the king of Persia. There was no formal wedding ceremony for a mere concubine–just a contract, the time of preparation, and then the night she was brought to him. But I have these lovely pictures of my cover model, so imagine her looking something like this as she gazes into the eyes of her beloved.

My next book was Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland. Set in 1784, the book begins with a betrothal on the rocks and takes the readers through Lark’s escape from the emotionally-withdrawn Emerson, to Annapolis, and eventually back to her home in Williamsburg. Lark’s wedding dress would have been a fine gown (not necessarily white), which she would have worn again after her wedding. Her family was well-to-do, so it would have been fine indeed. Perhaps like one of these. =)

Then we jump back a few years to Ring of Secrets. Winter Reeves was of strong Long Island stock, more comfortable in homespun than the fine silks her grandparents forced upon her. She does, however, keep a nice gown for her wedding–still, it would be something she would feel comfortable in. I’d loved to have seen her in one like this:

In Whispers from the Shadows, Gwyneth arrives in Maryland with only one trunk of dresses, and she hasn’t the time or inclination to shop for more. For her wedding, she would have chosen something directly from her wardrobe. Perhaps even this one. 😉

In book 3 of the Culper Ring Series, Marietta is widowed. For her first wedding, all the stops would have been pulled out. She was marrying one of the wealthiest men in Maryland, after all. So let’s imagine her simpering in a Victorian beauty like this:

My next one is back to the Regency, in England this time. Maybe, when it comes time for Arabelle to marry, she’ll choose something like this.

I hear my soon-to-be-the-bride friend has chosen a dress with lots of frill and pouf–and I can’t wait to see it!! I always thought I’d pick out a ball gown to get married in. But I opted for a more modern, strapless look for my wedding, something simple because I married my hubby at the beach.