by Roseanna White | Dec 21, 2010 | Uncategorized
Every year, a whole new slew of Christmas books hit the shelves. Novels, gift books, inspirational non-fiction . . . you name it, you can find it.
Some years I’m reading Christmas books from September onward. Some years (like this one–sigh) I never get around to picking one up.
Last year my favorite novel for the theme was Loree Lough’s Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska. It wasn’t only for Christmas, mind you, as the story spanned several months . . . but it was set in the town “where it’s Christmas all year round!” so, you know. Excellent for the season. =)
Although I gotta say, my all-time favorite Christmas story is from that most excellent wordsmith, Dr. Seuss. How the Grinch Stole Christmas just can’t be beaten. We’ve already read it several times this year, and I imagine we’ll squeeze in a few more. =)
So how about you? What are you favorite books to settle down with this time of year?
by Roseanna White | Dec 20, 2010 | Uncategorized
Holiday spirit, you know. =)
Let’s chat Christmas songs! (I totally stole this topic from my friend Carole of Sunnybank Meanderings. Thanks for the idea, Carole!!)
My all time favorite is Silent Night. The English translation came about in 1859, so, see, this is modern–it comes after my current historicals. đ I also adore O Holy Night, One Small Child, and What Child Is This?
If we’re talking genuinely modern, then I gotta give a shout-out to Mary Did You Know, which is not only gorgeous, but has tingle-inspiring lyrics. I’m currently practicing this one to sing at our Christmas Eve service.
What are your favorite Christmas songs, be they hymns, modern takes, or featuring that jolly red elf?
by Roseanna White | Dec 17, 2010 | Uncategorized
Today I’m pleased to welcome Delia Latham to my blog. We’re all so busy with the holiday season that today I’m just going to keep it short and simple. Below you’ll find a message from Delia about her fantabulous giveaway package, a description of her latest book, Destiny’s Dream, and a little teaser to get you hooked. =)
I haven’t yet read this one (though I want to!!!!) but have read Delia’s work before, and it was wonderful. I appreciate an author who can pack a punch of a story into a small amount of words–something I can NOT do! LOL. Delia has that gift, and you don’t want to miss her wonderful romances!
And since today is the OFFICIAL RELEASE of Destiny’s Dream, I feel super-privileged to get Delia over here today!!
I hope everyone’s gearing up for a very Merry Christmas!
~*~
CONTEST:
The Daughters of Destiny contest will be underway as of December 1. In lieu of giveaways from blog to blog, Iâm encouraging all of you to
visit my contest page and take part in this giveaway. I also encourage you to tell your friends about itâŚand their friendsâŚand theirs! J I have TWO absolutely stunning decorative bottles, AND a wonderful, aromatic anointing oil to go in them. The contest has two parts. One decorative bottle/anointing oil will be awarded in each part. There are ample opportunities build up your entries, so come on over and check it out!
Sounds great, Delia! (And oooh! A giveaway I can actually enter! LOL)
~*~
About Destiny’s Dream
Is a little respect too much to ask at a parentâs funeral?
Apparently it is for Destiny May. Clay Gallagher is built like a small mountain and far more vocal than is fitting when he shows up late to her motherâs âgoing away party.â When it turns out heâs not even at the right funeral, Destiny demands retribution in the form of an escape from the dayâs dreary proceedings. Spending time with a handsome stranger who makes her laugh is more therapeutic than fighting with her overbearing family.
Clay finds Destiny beautiful, charming…and intelligent. So why is she stubbornly determined to open a Christian dating service? Clay has little respect for such a frivolous profession, and doesnât think the small, conservative town of Castle Creek will welcome such a progressive business. But when Destiny is threatened by an anonymous caller who deeply resents her and what she does for a living, Clay makes it his business to keep the saucy redhead out of harmâs way.
Trouble is, spending time in her company weakens his defenses, and Destiny may be the one thing Clay canât escape…if he even wants to.
~*~
About Delia
DELIA LATHAM is a Christian wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. While she considers each of these roles important ones, she treasures most of all her role as a child of the King and an heir to the throne.
A former newspaper staff writer, Delia promised herself a novel for years, while raising her four children, working at various jobs and writing the occasional article, poem, or song. She fulfilled that promise when Vintage Romance Publishing released Goldeneyes in 2008. A Christian historical romance with a touch of the divine, Goldeneyes is set in the farm country of the authorâs childhood, and therefore close to her heart. In 2010, White Rose Publishing released Yesterdayâs Promise in electronic format, and Destinyâs Dream in print and e-format. A childrenâs book will be available early in 2011.
Delia grew up in Weedpatch, a tiny agricultural community near Bakersfield, in Californiaâs San Joaquin Valley. She and her husband Johnny recently transplanted from that area to Okmulgee County, Oklahoma.
Find out more at:
~*~
Sneak Peak of Destiny’s Dream
The dim porch light revealed her smile. âI had a wonderful evening, Gallagher. Thank you.â
Clayâs eyes were fixed on her lips. Could they possibly be as soft as they looked? With a monumental effort, he managed to tear his gaze upward, only to find her green eyes every bit as magnetic.
He tugged gently on a loose tendril of hair. âIâm glad, ma jolie dame. Maybe we can do it again?â
Lowering her gaze, she spoke so softly he almost missed it. âIâll look forward to it, monsieur.â
Just when Clay thought he couldnât resist at least a brush of those inviting lips with his own, Destinyâs spontaneous humorâapparently never far from the surfaceâprevented him from losing control. Her lips parted in an enchanting smile and she shrugged one shoulder. âIâm afraid thatâs all the French I know, and I only learned it tonight.â
Clay chuckled. So now what? Should he just say good night and go? Should he kiss her? Man, I canât believe how much I want to kiss her. Shake her hand?
He settled for pulling her into a gentle hug, making it possible to drop a feather-light kiss onto her hair. I think I like you far too much, pretty lady. Grinning in the dusky darkness, he decided it was all right to say the words aloud. âJe crois que je vous aime bien trop, la jolie dame.â Stepping back, he took the key from her unresisting fingers and opened the door. With a final touchâthe brush of a finger under her chinâhe turned and walked away.
He almost reached his car door before she called out, just as heâd hoped she would. âClay?â
He turned.
âWhat was it you said?â
He sent her a little grin he hoped was mysterious, raised a hand in farewell, then slid behind the wheel and drove away. A fellow had a right to keep a thing or two to himself.
by Roseanna White | Dec 17, 2010 | Uncategorized
And the winner of Grace Bridges’ Legendary Space Pilgrims is . . .
Pegg Thomas! (twinwillowsfarm@ . . .)
Congrats, Pegg! I’m emailing you now.
by Roseanna White | Dec 16, 2010 | Thoughtful Thursdays, Uncategorized
I’ve been having a bit of difficulty getting into my latest work-in-progress. Probably because it’s been nine months since I wrote the first three chapters, and rather than day-dreaming about this one during those months, I was hard at work on Jewel of Persia. But this story is semi-under deadline, so I have to get working on it. Usually pressure gets my creative juices flowing, so I’m cool with that.
Except . . . well, it wasn’t working that way. Every single page, every single chapter has felt like a struggle since I picked it up again, and I had no idea what I was going to do about it. I kept thinking, “If I could just get to this part over here, but how do I do that?”
Yesterday my hubby had to travel to Baltimore for the day, and my mom took the kids Christmas shopping in the morning. Knowing I was going to have a solid block of writing time, I got all set up at my desk, put my butt in the chair, and stopped. Pulled out my Bible, opened to Proverbs 16.
1 The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.
2 All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes,
But the LORD weighs the spirits.
3 Commit your works to the LORD,
And your thoughts will be established. . . .
and of course the ever famous verse 9 . . .
9 A manâs heart plans his way,
But the LORD directs his steps.
Had I dedicated this book to God? I know I’d prayed for the writing of it, that the words come. But somehow that didn’t feel like enough yesterday. So yet again, I stopped. And I prayed that if I should write this book, that I write it the way the Lord wanted. That if this is to be the next step in my career, it be His step. That He would remove from me any motives not His own, and more specifically any ideas for the story that would not glorify Him.
Then I opened my eyes, and I wrote. I wrote 3,000 yesterday, which is by no means a record for me–but it’s been MONTHS since I’ve written that much in a day. And oh, it felt so good. Not just because it was an accomplishment, but because I finally felt as though I were writing the right book . . . for the right reasons. And yet, my story ideas haven’t really changed. The book didn’t suddenly take an unexpected turn.
But I think maybe I did. I think maybe I turned that corner and stopped thinking, “I have to write this book to show it to the editor,” and started thinking, “This story has potential and deserves to be told.”
I asked the Lord to show me and help me pull out some of His Truths through the telling of this story, and now I have this peace inside promising that I will. What will they be? Well, I don’t know yet. But I do know that I don’t ever want to write a book without them.
If this book ends up being the one that gets a contract with that major publisher it’s aimed at, then wonderful. But if it doesn’t . . . well I finally stopped thinking I’d be wasting my time on it if it doesn’t. Now I’m eager to see what God has to teach me, and just maybe others, through its telling.
by Roseanna White | Dec 15, 2010 | Remember When Wednesdays, Uncategorized
So part of my Annapolis research involves the church my characters would have attended. There really isn’t a whole lot of choice there–only one church existed in Annapolis at the time, and it was St. Anne’s Episcopal. Very excited about that, my friend Kimberly and I went into the church last week, grabbed the historical brochure they have, and chatted with a few of the ladies preparing it for Christmas while we let our jaws drop at the glorious stained glass and majestic pipe organ.
Then, of course, we learned that the current building was actually the third St. Anne’s Church to stand on the spot. Naturally, I needed the second. But I saw that the brochure had info on it, so I just tucked it away and enjoyed the building there now. It’s truly lovely, and we enjoyed our ten minutes looking around the sanctuary.
Yesterday I finally read the brochure. I learned that right before the Revolution, it was decided that the first St. Anne’s was far too small, so they tore it down to build a new one. Only, you know, war broke out. The materials got used for a fort instead (sheesh, what priorities;-). So where, you wonder, did the church meet, since the old one was already demolished?
For a while, at King William’s School, which later became my alma mater, St. John’s College. (Go, SJC!) But they outgrew that too, and moved to . . . the theater on West Street.
This made me grin, because I’d already discovered that a new theater was erected about a decade before drama was banned during the war. What, I had wondered, did they do with the building? Well, there’s my answer. It got to be the church! Apparently for quite a while, since the second St. Anne’s wasn’t finished until 1792. That’s nearly ten years when Church Circle sat without a church inside!
And boy am I glad I bothered to read that brochure, otherwise I would have had my heroine walking to said Church Circle instead of West Street here in a few days . . . ah, research. The things we discover. đ
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, sheâs 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 booksâŚto offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary.