CFBA Author Intro: R.K. Mortenson

R.K. Mortenson

I'm R. K. Mortenson (the R and K may stand for "Really Kind," "Radically Kool," or "Remarkably Knowledgeable." They also happen to be my initials-Randall Kent. Though I go by Randy.) I've loved children's fantasy and adventure stories my whole life. Still do. Can't get enough of them. That's why I decided to write some of my own.

Landon Snow



Meet Landon Snow he is a small town boy just like you! He fights with his younger sisters, he is confused by adults, filled with doubts about God, and disillusioned with life, but a magic journey through the Book of Meaning will lead him into a realm where new friends are discovered and answers unearthed.

Fall into the pages of Landon Snow and become captivated by this compelling story. Follow Landon into a fantasy world where books speak, chess pieces come to life, and a golden coin rules the Odds. You'll cheer when a once-disillusioned boy emerges from this awesome adventure with his faith regained and hope restored.

Landon Snow and the Auctor's Riddle is the first book of a new series for fantasy fans of all ages. Once you enter this otherworld, you may find it hard to leave.

Visit R.K. Mortenson: http://www.landonsnow.com/

In Memory Of Bebe Moore Campbell

The literary community is mourning the loss of a great African American writer.

Bebe Moore Campbell

Campbell was the author of three New York Times best sellers: Brothers and Sisters, Singing in the Comeback Choir, and What You Owe Me, which was also a Los Angeles Times Best Book of 2001. Her other works include the novel Your Blues Ain't Like Mine, which was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year and the winner of the NAACP Image Award for literature.
Her most recent novel was 72-Hour Hold, the story of mother willing to do anything to help her mentally ill child. She was diagnosed earlier this year with a neurological condition.


My deepest sympathies goes out to Ms. Campbell's family and friends.

CFBA Author Intro: Kristin Billerbeck

Kristin Billerbeck

Born in Redwood City, I attended Sequoia High School, the same school my parents attended. Yeah, we're in a rut.

I went to San Jose State University and majored in Advertising, then I worked at the Fairmont Hotel in PR, a small ad agency as an account exec, and then,
I was thrust into the exciting world of shopping mall marketing. It's way more boring than it sounds, trust me.

I got married, had four kids, and started writing romance novels until I found my passion: Chick Lit. Who would have ever guessed all these useless facts might someday be useful?

Calm, Cool & Adjusted

Best friends since Johnny Depp wore scissors for hands, "The Spa Girls" live very separate lives, but stay in touch with routine visits to California's Spa Del Mar. The third novel in the Spa Girls Series focuses on Silicon Valley chiropractor Poppy Clayton, who is as colm, cool and adjusted as they come. Or is she? Known for her bad fashion sense, a love for all things natural and the inability to get a second date, Poppy is beginning to wonder if she might be misaligned herself. Her route to self discovery will be an unnatural one - a plastic surgeon, a house in Santa Cruz and a wedding date from the dark side. It's all enough to send a girl - and her gal pals - running for the spa.

Visit Kristin at: http://www.kristinbillerbeck.com/

St. Louis News Report

The next day after my beloved Cardinals won the World Series, our city was declared the #1 city for Crime, Detroit was #2.

We here in St. Louis were not happy with this news. The media has a habit of reporting the bad news in cities and never the good news.

This weekend we had some good news you probably won’t hear about in the world news.

This weekend 10 homes built by the Habitat for Humanity were dedicated to 10 single moms in St. Louis. For months, these mothers worked right beside other volunteers to build their home.

One of these individuals was my youngest sister. She is now a new home owner. Her two story home is beautiful. We all were so proud to see all her hard work pay off.

This is the type of news we like to hear about, but of course they’re never in the media.

Other news happening in St. Louis:

LaShaunda and Clyde Hoffman celebrated 10 years of marital bliss. On November 16th 1996 we became man and wife. Marriage has definitely been an adventure, but we both admitted these ten years have flown by. My hubby said it must mean we’re doing OK.

We both agreed for the next ten years to be more attentive.

One of our treats to each other was a movie together. We never go to the movies without the kids, so it was nice to snuggle together and watch Casino Royal. We’re both James Bond fans and enjoyed this movie. Of course the little baby, who tagged alone, decided he didn’t like seating in the chair and balled up in a knot for the whole movie. I decided that I won’t be doing any more movie dating until after the baby comes. Having a huge knot in your side isn’t very comfortable.

CFBA AUTHOR INTRO: Rene Gutteridge

Rene Gutteridge

Rene Gutteridge is the author of several novels, including Ghost Writer (Bethany House Publishers) The Boo Series (WaterBrook Press) and the Storm Series, (Tyndale House Publishers. She will release three novels in 2006: Storm Surge (Tyndale) My Life as a Doormat (WestBow Press, Women of Faith)Occupational Hazards Book #1 (WaterBrook Press). She has also been published over thirty times as a playwright, best known for her Christian comedy sketches. She studied screenwriting under a Mass Communications degree, graduating Magna Cum Laude from Oklahoma City University, and earned the "Excellence in Mass Communication" award. She served as the full-time Director of Drama for First United Methodist Church for five years before leaving to stay home and write. She enjoys instructing at writer's conferences and in college classrooms. She lives with her husband, Sean, a musician, and their children in Oklahoma City.

SCOOP

Channel 7 News producer Hugo Talley dreams of working with first-class professionals. Instead he’s saddled with an aging anchorwoman who refuses to release her claw-like grip on the newsdesk, a conscience-stricken reporter who’s reluctant to focus on sensationalism, and a new assistant–former homeschool student Hayden Hazard–who can’t just seem to leave her faith outside the newsroom. When the Channel 7 News team inadvertently stumbles on a hot news story, Hugo is frantic to exploit this rare opportunity. But a series of crises–including a Botox disaster and the disappearance of a colleague–threatens to destroy his chance for ratings success and send him completely over the edge. With their oddball antics and all-too-real foibles, this lovable cast of characters offers a hilarious look at the sometimes unexpected effects of taking one’s faith boldly into the workplace.

Visit Rene at: http://www.renegutteridge.com/

NOV - Random Thoughts

Da Vinci Code

Have you read this book? I’m a little late on reading it, but I’m glad I did. I listen to it on CD. It kept my attention from CD one to CD 13. The story definitely made you do some serious thinking about the Bible and what was fiction and what wasn’t.

I’ve decided that this was a work of fiction. Yes some of the things said in it made me go hmmm. However I’ve decided that those are just more questions I have to ask Jesus when we meet up in heaven. I know we’ll have some interesting conversations when we do meet and I’m looking forward to them.

HEROES

This show has captured my attention. I think it’s because I’m a superhero fan. I love the story line and look forward to each episode. They always ended making you go WHAT!

The brother’s flying, the man who can stop time and the girl who can never get hurt, it’s like a live comic book.

I hope they make it through the season.

The other show that I’m enjoying is brothersandsisters. They had me at Calista Flockhart. I loved her in Ally McBeal. This family drama definitely has some drama in the family.

When the mother let everyone know she knew her husband had an affair and who the affair was with, I cracked up because I knew she wasn’t as naive as she let on.

I’m looking forward to seeing what’s going to happen next.

In Memory of Gerald Levert

Gerald Levert

Whenever I asked an author whose music she listened to when writing, Gerald’s name always came up. His songs were the type of songs that inspired, love scenes and romance.

When I think of Gerald, I remember him starting out with Levert and how much I played their first CD when I was stationed in San Diego.

I had the pleasure of seeing them in concert once and seeing Gerald in concert twice.

I was front row center listening to him croon to us.

The G-Bear as his fans called him knew how to romance a woman.

My sympathy goes out to his family and fans.

I know we’re going to miss him forever.

His music will always be with us to inspire us even more.

CFBA AUTHOR INTRO: Siri Mitchell

Siri Mitchell: When I’m listening to a sermon and I’m taking notes, chances are, I’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If I’m nodding my head in response to a really profound statement, I’m probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.”

When I’m editing my manuscripts, I laugh at the funny parts. And I cry at the sad parts.

Sometimes I even talk to my characters. “Okay, Joe. Talk to me. Tell me what you’re thinking here.” And yes, the characters answer me. I actually hear them talking in my head.

Half the time, I think I’m an okay writer. The other half, I’m tempted to take a magnet to the hard drive.

The easy part is writing. The hardest part is editing. The worst part is wondering if the books are going to sell.

I have plenty of ideas for books; the thing I lack is the time to write them. I write by the word. Other writers write by the page. However you want to tally it, 85,000 words is a lot of pages.

In the world of writing I have done nothing right. I wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before I signed with a publisher. And then I had to write a fifth book so that they could publish it. In the process, I saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than I care to admit. I vowed never to write another word again. Ever. I went on writing strikes and I even stooped to threatening my manuscripts with the shredder.

However.

Writing is the most fun I’ve ever had. Writing is what I look forward to. Writing is what gives me energy. A daughter, a sister, a friend, a wife, a mother. Those are the roles I have. A writer is who I am.


The Cubicle Next Door

Siri Mitchell’s insightful, funny chick–lit style shines in this story of putting up walls and tearing them down—all for love.

Jackie Harrison, a computer administrator at the Air Force Academy, is a self–proclaimed geek who must share her cubicle space with the new guy, instructor and former pilot Joe Gallagher. She turns to her online journal to vent and eventually to express growing feelings toward this office neighbor who is everything she is not—fun, happy, and social.

But when her blog is featured as a top pick on primetime news, everyone reads it—including Joe. Will he figure out the words of adoration and confusion are written about him? And will Jackie ever risk expressing her heart offline?

TGFBA: Author Intro: Tamika Johnson

Meet Me at the Altar

(Leading Ladies Publishers)

October 2006

Tamika Johnson

Where do you go when you discover your husband is on the down low? When your husband wants to come back after he abandoned you and your child? When you no longer want to prostitute yourself? When you've fallen for a woman who's soul is broken? You meet Me at the altar...

CHAPTER ONE

Prologue

Shana

...I could tell you that my husband loves me and treats me, right...but you read enough fiction. My husband rarely comes home anymore and when he does he sleeps on the couch or complains that I am not the woman he married. He had the nerve to say that marrying me was an experience he would not want to repeat.

No one gets married thinking that one day they are going to fall out of love with their spouse and get a divorce, and no one, I mean no one ever thinks that the man that falls to his knees and plants an engagement ring on your finger, then stands before a room full of people and pronounces his undying love for you will ever sum up your life together as an experience. Judge Mablean where are you when we need you, girlfriend?

Now I know that you are wondering why I on't talk to someone like my pastor or the First Lady of my church...been there and done that so many times.

"Sister, Shana, if you would just submit things would get better." Pastor Hughes said that to me. Told me I have a problem with authority.

"A man likes to know that his wife is going to be home waiting up for him when he gets there , no matter what time he comes in the house." The First Lady told me that.

What I'd like to know is why I have to be the one waiting up until three and four o'clock for him when I am the one working three jobs to pay our bills? Can you answer that, Pastor and First Lady?

© 2006 Tamika Johnson

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