CFBA: When The Morning Glory Blooms by Cynthia Ruchti

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing When The Morning Glory Blooms Abingdon Press (April 1, 2013) by Cynthia Ruchti

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Cynthia writes stories of hope that glows in the dark, merging her love for storytelling with inextinguishable hope for inexpressible hurts.

Cynthia spends her days diving into words, worship, and wonder and celebrating 40 years of marriage, three grown children, and five outrageously adorable grandchildren. One of her greatest joys is helping other writers grow in their craft. To that end, she served as the assistant director and a faculty member of the Quad Cities Christian Writers Conference, has served as worship and devotions staff for the Write-to-Publish conference, and teaches at other conferences as opportunities arise. She speaks to women’s groups, at mother-daughter banquets, and for women’s refresher days and retreats. It is her delight to serve on her church’s worship team. Rather than “busy,” she likes the term “active.”

For 33 years, Cynthia wrote and produced the radio broadcast The Heartbeat of the Home. The scripted radio drama/devotional broadcast aired on as many as 50 radio stations and two cable/digital television stations over the years. Cynthia was the editor of the ministry’s Backyard Friends magazine, a twenty-page, twice annual publication that reached 5,000 homes, churches, and parachurch outreaches.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Becky rocks a baby that rocked her world. Sixty years earlier, with her fiancé Drew in the middle of the Korean Conflict, Ivy throws herself into her work at a nursing home to keep her sanity and provide for the child Drew doesn't know is coming. Ivy cares for Anna, an elderly patient who taxes Ivy's listening ear until the day she suspects Anna's tall tales are not the ramblings of dementia. They're fragments of Anna's disjointed memories of a remarkable life. Finding a faint thread of hope she can't resist tugging, Ivy records Anna's memoir, scribbling furiously after hours to keep up with the woman's emotion-packed, grace-hemmed stories. Is Ivy's answer buried in Anna's past? Becky, Ivy, Anna--three women fight a tangled vine of deception in search of the blossoming simplicity of truth.

If you would like to read the first chapter of When The Morning Glory Blooms, go HERE.

CFBA: A Healing Heart by Angela Breidenbach

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Healing Heart Abingdon Press (April 1, 2013) by Angela Breidenbach

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Angela Breidenbach is a speaker/coach in mental and physical health, author of A Healing Heart April 2013 from Abingdon Press in the Quilts of Love series, Gems of Wisdom: For a Treasure-filled Life, Creative Cooking for Simple Elegance, and Creative Cooking for Colitis. Other works by Angela include compilation books and devotionals from Guidepost, Group, and articles in magazines, ezines, and newspapers. She is certified in mentor/peer counseling as a CTA life coach, as a Stephen Minister, and a weight loss/nutrition coach. Angela serves as an assisting minister (worship/prayer leader) for her congregation in Missoula, MT. Not only did she walk the hard line of deciding to donate her mom’s brain for the study of schizophrenia, but she’s also on the brain donation list at the Brain Bank-Harvard McLean Hospital.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Mara Keegan is an uber-successful mother and a widow of three years. She's been chasing success and all the "good things in life" for her family to make up for the cruel whim God played on them by taking her husband. In an effort to be the perfect mom, she decides to make a photo memory quilt, a graduation present for her daughter, Cadence.

She’s not yet finished when she experiences a heart attack. While Mara recuperates, she revisits the choices she's made that led to this physically and spiritually broken heart. The memory quilt must be finished in time for Cadence's big day, but Mara struggles with her burgeoning feelings for the man who must keep Mara's business going during her recovery, Joel Ryan. Can Joel find his way into Mara's heart and onto Cadence's quilt?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Healing Heart, go HERE

CURLY SISTER: Deatri King-Bey

Tell us a little about you and when and why did you decide to start wearing your hair naturally?

I’m a systems analyst, author, mother, wife and grandmother. I’ve worn my hair natural the majority of my life. Don’t get me wrong. I’ve tried the relaxed look, but I don’t look right and also didn’t like what it did to the quality of my hair. My hair is now locked, but before that I’d twists my hair and wear twists outs.

What was your biggest hair obstacle to overcome?

When I began the locs, I didn’t realize how long it would take for my hair to start locking. It literally took two years. I understand we all have different textures of hair which determines how long before your hair will loc, but two years? Wow.

My daughter decided to loc her hair and it started locking in two months. I was so jealous. LOL. I didn’t give up and now I’m good to go.

What are three products you can't live without for your hair?

Castile soap, olive oil and water.

What are your favorite styles to wear?

I just wear my locs down. I pull them back when I’m eating.

Which natural sites/blogs do you follow?

I don’t follow any.

Any advice for the newly natural sisters?

The healthier you are, the healthier your hair will be. Eat right, exercise, drink plenty of water and learn to work with your natural texture instead of against it. Everyone’s is different. Do what works for you.

Do you have a site/blog/facebook to follow?

I don’t have one dedicated to hair anymore. On my Facebook page, I talk about everything, including hair. http://www.Facebook.com/Deatri

Would you like to be my next Curly Sister? Send an email to sormag@yahoo.com

BLOG TOUR: Love at Any Cost By Julie Lessman

The Gilded Age is brought to life in the new Heart of San Francisco Series.  Fans of bestselling author, Julie Lessman, will join her on a journey to the West Coast for romance, passion, and surprising revelations found in Love at Any Cost.

Jilted by a fortune hunter, cowgirl Cassidy McClare is a spunky Texas oil heiress without a fortune who would just as soon hogtie a man as look at him. Hoping a summer visit with her wealthy cousins in San Francisco will help her forget her heartache, Cassidy travels west. But no sooner is she settled in beautiful California than Jamie McKenna, a handsome pauper looking to marry well, captures her heart. When Jamie discovers the woman he loves is poorer than he is, Cassidy finds herself cheated by love a second time. Will Jamie discover that money can't buy love after all? And can Cassidy ever learn to fully trust her heart to a man?

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of "Passion with a Purpose" underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. Winner of the 2009 ACFW Debut Author of the Year and Holt Medallion Awards of Merit for Best First Book and Long Inspirational, Julie is also the recipient of 14 Romance Writers of America awards. Chosen as the #1 Romance Fiction Author of the Year in the Family Fiction magazine 2011 Readers' Choice Awards, Julie was also awarded #1 Series of the Year in that same poll. She resides in Missouri with her family and is the author of The Daughters of Boston series and the Winds of Change series whose first book, A Hope Undaunted, ranked #5 on Booklist's Top 10 Inspirational Fiction for 2010.

SORMAG’s REVIEW

Cassidy McLaren is visiting San Francisco for the summer to get over a broken engagement and heart.  She’s done with men.  She literally bumps into the man who will steal her heart. Jamie McKenna wants the best for his mother and sisters and thinks marrying a rich woman will get them all they need.  Unfortunately the woman he falls for is broker than he is.  Can these two love birds move past their fears and trust in the love they have?

As a fan of Julie’s books I was sad to see her The Daughters of Boston series and the Winds of Change series come to an end but happy to know she was starting a new one, The Heart of San Francisco. 

I enjoy Julie’s writing because she draws you right into the pages.  I felt like I was in San Francisco, I could hear the trolley and see all the descriptions she wrote.  Cassidy was a cowgirl at heart but she knew how to be a lady.  Jamie has relied on himself so long, he hasn’t learned how to lean on the Lord.

Julie throws in a few secrets, lots of romance and shows you the true meaning of God’s love.

-          LaShaunda C. Hoffman

This book was provided for review by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group

“Available April 15, 2013 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.”

Curly Sister: Lutishia Lovely

Lutishia Lovely was SORMAG's JAN/FEB Cover Author - Read her INTERVIEW

Tell us a little about you and when and why did you decide to start wearing your hair naturally?

First of all, LaShaunda, thank you so much for inviting me to this forum! Such a great idea! Now, to your question. Before becoming a full-time author, I was – and still am – an actor. In the early 90s, while living in Kansas City, I would perform one-woman monologues of famous African-Americans (such as Harriet Tubman and Sojourner Truth) during Black History Month. These were mostly performed in schools across the city and at Black History events. Of course, these events served to instill pride in young people of color for their race, and love for the color of their skin - a message that wasn’t always conveyed via media or in school. Also around this time, I became the art director for an after-school program, called Images, for at-risk children. The combination of events really caused me to focus on my “image” and the message of beauty I was conveying to the young people. That’s when I decided to go natural, in 1992.

What was your biggest hair obstacle to overcome?

Gurlllll, my biggest obstacle at first was not looking like Buckwheat in Our Gang! Ha! Those months where I was “in between” – with some of my hair natural and some still texturized, was something else! I didn’t want to cut my hair all the way down, though, so I became inventive with scarves and hats and puffy pony tails until it grew out. Then I began to twist my hair to get that crinkled look, and wore it that way for years. Finally, after thinking about doing it for at least ten years, I locked my hair. Best decision I ever made!

What are three products you can't live without for your hair?

I’m continuously trying new products and don’t have a die-hard regimen. That said, for me, raw shea butter is a must, and I also really love Organics tea tree shampoo and conditioner and Carol’s Daughters Moisturizing Leave-In Conditioner.

What are your favorite styles to wear?

My favorite is to braid my locs while they’re wet, let them dry, and then unbraid them for the curly look. LOVE this style! For formal events, I like to wrap them on top of my head, maybe letting one or two dangle down.

Which natural sites/blogs do you follow?

None, although I’m very excited about a tour being organized by newly natural author Pamela Samuels-Young called Natural Born Writers. Several “natural” authors will be visiting major cities throughout the U.S., to promote a new book she’s written called Kinky Coily and to promote our natural hair!

Any advice for the newly natural sisters?

I’d simply say “embrace your beauty” and don’t be afraid to try new things. Personally, I love locs and highly recommend them, but I twisted for more than ten years and enjoyed that look, too. 

Do you have a site/blog/facebook to follow?

Everyone interested can keep up with my life, my novels, and my hair ::smile:: @ LutishiaLovely.com, and/or follow me on Twitter and Facebook @ lutishialovely. LaShaunda, thanks again and remember everybody: you are beautiful…naturally!

Would you like to be my next Curly Sister? Send an email to sormag@yahoo.com

MARCH Writing Challenge

I completed the writing challenge with 20,000 words. Not bad for one month of writing.  I was very proud of myself because I did a few thing I've never done with my writing.

I started a book from the beginning and worked toward the end.  I plotted the whole book.  I learned it’s hard to write every day, but if I have to, I can.

My lessons learned from this challenge:

You have to motivate yourself:  Writing is a career you do by yourself, if you don't believe in your own writing, who will. 

Team motivation is wonderful:  I did this challenge with my writing group and they were amazing with their encouraging words for each other. Some days reading how they were coming along, encouraged me to continue on.  It’s nice to have someone cheering you on.

Believe in yourself:  Especially on the days when you think your writing sucks.  I heard a quote from Dora the fish in Finding Nemo - Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

I created my own - Just keep writing, just keep writing.    Some days you wonder why you do all of this because no one will ever read your writing.  You say those words to yourself, just keep writing, just keep writing.  One day the writing will be worth it.

Write even when you don’t feel like it:  This is hard when you're not a published author.  I usually write when the muse hits.  However that will change when I become a published writer.  Writing on deadline is a term you hear a lot from published authors.  You can't write when the muse hits.  You have to write even when you don't feel like it.  This month there were a few days I didn't feel like it.  Sometimes I didn't write, which cost me in my daily word count.  There were days when I didn't feel like it but I pushed on and wrote.  I think some of those days were some of my best writing.

Read a good book to motivate you:  I made the mistake of agreeing to this challenge, when I'd also agreed to judge some books.  The good thing about the books I was reading, is they inspired me to write.  I wanted to be able to tell a good story like the books I was reading.

Writing challenges aren't for everyone, but I do believe they are helpful for jumpstarting your writing.  It helps you create goals and how to work toward them.

What did you learn from the writing challenges you participated in?

CURLY SISTER: Paulette Harper Johnson

The first time I went natural, I did it by myself.  It was a lonely journey and I gave in too soon.  The next time I tried, it I went online and talked to my curly sisters and I joined a few groups.  This time I wasn’t alone in my journey.  I had others to talk to and I learned a lot.

I wanted to introduce you to a few curly sisters who are also on this natural hair journey and my hope is that by sharing their experiences, it will help someone else on their natural hair path.

Our first curly sister is Paulette Harper Johnson

Tell us a little about you and when and why did you decide to start wearing your hair naturally?

Thanks LaShaunda for allowing me to be featured. 

Hello Natural Beauties. I’m Paulette Harper Johnson. I’m originally from Northern Ca. by way of the San Francisco Bay Area. I currently reside in sunny Florida with my husband of 2 years. I have two adult daughters who have blessed me with two adorable granddaughters.

My natural hair journey began in Dec 2010. I decided to go natural because my hair began to thin at the top really bad (due to alopecia) I had for years kept experiencing hair loss in certain parts of my scape. Not a pretty site when I use to wear my hair spiked! Prior to that, I had been contemplating going natural because I was seeing my other natural sista’s wear their hair and I loved it. The last perm I received my beautician told me that I needed to get a different hair style because my crown was getting too thin. That was all it took. That was my deciding factor. That was the last time I had a perm.

What was your biggest hair obstacle to overcome?

I believe the first 3-6 months was very frustrating for me.  At the time I didn’t really know my hair and what it loved.  There were many days that my hair did not want to cooperate. But I was determined not to go back to a perm.   I learned over time what products worked best for my 4 B hair. 

What are three products you can't live without for your hair?

LaShaunda I have to admit I was a product junkie. I tried a lot of products. Some worked, while others didn’t. The three products that I can’t live without: As a styler I use, As I Am Twist defining cream, my leave in conditioner I use, Giovanni direct leave in, and the Moisturizers: shea butter, aloe vera gel, essential oils.

What are your favorite styles to wear? My favorite style to wear is a two-strain twist.

Which natural sites/blogs do you follow?

When I started doing my research you tube became my best friend.  I found Mae, Kerry and Lady T who had a major impact on my learning how to care for and maintain my hair.

Mae of NaturalChica.com 

Simply Younique  http://www.youtube.com/user/SimplYounique?feature=watch

Lady T http://www.youtube.com/user/101LadyT?feature=watch

Any advice for the newly natural sisters?

I would tell those who are transiting not to give up. Keep learning which products will work best for your style of hair.  It takes patience to learn how to take care of your hair.  At times, you might get tempted to go back to a perm because of frustration, but with time, patience and determination your hair will eventually tell you when it’s “happy.”

Do you have a site/blog/facebook to follow?

https://www.facebook.com/paulette.harper2