Tag: fiction

Weeping Over Fictional Characters

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch
 

Over the holidays, I had plenty of time to relax and to read. And I did a lot. I still have reviews to post, and I’ll get to it. 

Some of the novels I enjoyed were:

Five Days in Skye by Carla Laureno. Can’t afford to take a trip to Scotland? Just read this book and I promise you’ll be there. 

Crossfire by Jodie Bailey. Need a thrill? Want to lose your breath in a good way and stay on the edge of your seat, or in my case the couch? Jump into this Love Inspired Military romantic/suspense.

The Wedding Game by  Amy Matayo. Love sassy, witty banter and reality TV? Winner! A fun, fun read.

Always the Baker, Never the Bride by Sandra Bricker. I’ve read her other two out of order and I’ll tell you it doesn’t matter, but this one was my favorite. Love laughing, romance, and recipes? All three right here.

A Light In the Window by Julie Lessman. Interested in mysterious and dreamy heroes? Read her Daughters of Boston series? This book began it all. It’s a must-read.

I also read some not inspirational fiction.

A Shade of Vampire by Bella Forrest. Looking for interesting settings, vampires and teenage romance? Granted the back of the book had me wondering as the heroine is kidnapped and forced into a vampire prince’s harem. However…it turned out to be a really clean book. I was pleasantly surprised. This isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, but it was an interesting read and I liked it.

But I want to talk about the last book I read over the holiday. The one that had me boo-hooing.

Gripping.
Poignant.
Gut ripping.
Emotional.

A Fault in Our Stars by John Green

A story about teenagers with cancer. Doesn’t sound light-hearted. It is and it isn’t. There are moments when you get a break from the C-word.

I was utterly sucked into these lives. Especially the witty hero. As a mother, I cried over and over because I can’t even imagine. As a human being, the compassion flowed like rivers.

But what had me snot-nosed weeping was while both of the characters searched for answers to an after-life (one thinking something better was there and the other never believing anything) they never found it. They found love with each other. They grew as people.

I wept into my hands and begged God to reveal himself to them and then it hit me, um…they’re fictional. But my hope-filled heart ached anyway. And I have no idea what the author truly believes. I think the thoughts and discoveries and questions the main characters asked and explored were true to human nature. Faith was never really injected. So, I think it’s safe to say that he wasn’t writing from a faith-based point of view–not even from one character. I don’t think every character needs to be a Christian when writing inspirational fiction. In fact, in my opinion, they shouldn’t be. But that’s a different blog.

I felt a renewed gratefulness, though, that I do write from a faith-based viewpoint (at least one!) And if you write from a faith-based view, you should be jumping up and down. Because we have answers the world doesn’t. I’ve read some wonderful books, including this one, that make me think and wonder and give me information on a viewpoint I’ve never heard before. But I don’t want to simply offer new questions. I want to offer solutions. Hope. Something that will leave a reader with something more than damp and wadded up tissues or the satisfied sigh of a good read (though I do want that too!).

Your view may not be the same and that’s okay. But this is why I write. It’s personal to me. I don’t begrudge anyone who writes for other reasons. This book affected me. In so many ways. I 100% recommend it. Stellar writing. Amazing story. 

But mostly I was hit with what wasn’t written. What wasn’t in between the  lines or even subtly on the pages. 

It reminded once again why I write. Who I write to. And who I write for. 

What did you read over the Christmas holidays? Any recommendations? If you’re a writer, why do you write? 

Diamond Rings, Surfing, and Heaven in the form of Ice Cream with Sherry Kyle!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Today, I’m thrilled to have agent-mate, Sherry Kyle, hanging
out! Sherry is super sweet and I had the privilege of reading her newest book, The Heart Stone–so warming and
wonderful!
Sherry Kyle writes ReConnecting Faith and Fiction, including
books for 8-12 year old girls, as well as novels for women. Sherry is the
recipient of a Gold Mom’s Choice Award for her tween book, The
Christian Girl’s Guide to Style. Abingdon Press released her debut
novel, Delivered with Love, in 2011.The Heart Stone, her
second novel, released April 1st, 2013. Sherry and her husband Douglas have
four children and live by the ocean on California’s central coast. Readers
can connect with Sherry on her website at: www.sherrykyle.com
Okay, Sherry! Let’s chat:
Jessica, thank you so much for having me on your blog!
JP: You are so welcome! Thanks for being here. Tell everyone what
inspired the idea to write The Heart
Stone?
SK: The heart-shaped diamond ring. I thought it would be interesting if
a ring was offered to someone forty years ago, but now is worn by a single
mother to fend off any unwanted advances. This idea intrigued me and propelled
the rest of the story.
JP: I
thought it was intriguing too! Speaking of intriguing, Uncle George was a
missionary to the Philippines. Have you been on a missions trip there? Why did
you choose the Philippines?
SK: No, I’ve never been there. I chose the Philippines
because our adoptive daughter is Filipino and her birthparents were born there,
even though we adopted her from California. I thought it would be a fun tie-in
with our family.
JP: Oh
I love that, Sherry! George shows his niece, Jessica, a fan and shares with her
about the Philippine “fan” language. It reminded me a lot of Victorian “fan
talk.” Is that real or was that something you made up?
SK: The fan language is real. I wanted to include something
unique about the Philippines, and I thought the fan language was fun and
interesting to incorporate into the manuscript.
JP: How
cool! Can we expect to see future novels with any of the minor characters in The Heart Stone as main characters?
SK: I would love to write another story based on a minor
character from The

Heart Stone, but
at this point nothing is scheduled. Feel free to contact Abingdon Press,
however, and let them know! J I’m
currently writing a story set in La Selva Beach, California, about a woman who
discovers something in an old trunk.

JP: Sounds
mysterious! Let’s talk sweets. Ice cream seems to be a favorite of little Jacob
and Jessica (the main character). What is your favorite ice cream treat?
SK: The other day my husband and I went to Marianne’s Ice
Cream, the real shop in the story, and had a single scoop on a sugar cone. I
chose a flavor called Heaven and it’s my new favorite ice cream! It is vanilla
with walnuts, chocolate, peanut butter, and brownie bites. Doesn’t that sound
amazing? It was! I felt like I was living in my story because there was a woman
with her son sitting in the exact spot where Jessica and Jacob sat. It was
surreal.
JP: That
sounds well…like Heaven! Evelyn has many memories of her dates with George as
youngsters. Would you share where you went on your first date with your
husband?
SK: Sure! My husband and I went to church to hear Chuck
Swindoll, and then went out to A& V’s pizza in Fullerton, CA, on September
9th my freshman year in college. It was the first of many fun dates.
JP: I
love that your first date was centered on Jesus! Going to hear Chuck Swindoll! I
read on your website that your husband is a surfer? What about you? Do you
surf?
SK: I tried surfing once in college, but it’s definitely not
my sport. I don’t have the swimming skills and balance my husband has, and I’m
not fond of salt water. Plus, the water is chilly where we live. Brrr! I’ll
leave the surfing to him!
JP: And also sharks. Just sayin.
*Photos of beach and ice cream came from morgue file
Here’s a sneak peek at The Heart Stone:
When
the biological father of Jessica MacAllister’s son decides to break

their
custody agreement, Jessica and her son visit her Uncle George for advice and
refuge…

Following a year of grief, Evelyn Sweeney is finally ready to move on.
Pondering her new path in life, her mind drifts to her first love, George
MacAllister…

When the lives of these two women cross, they discover that one heart-shaped
ring binds their stories together. But will the results be a rekindled faith
and new hope, or will it lead them both back into the darkness they’ve fought
for so long?

In Justice For All

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I know, I don’t normally post on Thursdays but I finished a novel and you need to know about it. Like today.

I’m a fan of Robin Caroll. I am. She stood two feet from me at registration for the ACFW, looked right in my face and I choked. I said nothing. I might have given her a goofy grin. Not sure. 

I enjoy her books. I love her characters and I especially loved her hero and heroine in Injustice For All the first book in her Justice Seekers series. I’ve read the first two backwards, but it didn’t really effect anything. I prefer to read a series in order, personal choice, but you don’t have to. I’m itching to get my hands on her newest, Strand of Deception!

A heroine running for her life to stay alive, an FBI agent trying to prove himself by solving a cold case that involves her. That makes for lots of high impact action, swooning romantic scenes and lots of witty and fun dialogue!

Her characters aren’t just well-crafted, they’re real. I could relate to several of them in different areas of my own life. 

The spiritual threads are relatable (is that a word?)–even if you aren’t running from bad guys who can crush you like a cigarette. 

 I know what to expect when I pick up a novel written by Caroll. Southern heat and phrases, twists and turns, and a lovely romance with plenty of tension all laced with a journey of faith or to find faith.

*Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for the complimentary copy. All opinions are mine and honest!

Visit Robin Caroll at her
website! 
facebook page!

Here’s a sneak peek:
A federal judge lies bleeding
on his office floor, betrayed by a most unlikely source—people who helped him
bring criminals to justice. Now, why would someone working for the FBI need to
disappear after witnessing this crime?

When Remington Wyatt sees her godfather’s murder, she
recognizes the killers and knows it’s only a matter of time before they come to
silence her. She must do the only thing possible to stay alive . . . run.

FBI agent Rafe Baxter is serious about his career, and
solving a cold case involving a federal judge’s death puts him in line for the
promotion he so desires. But the case leads him to the small town of Hopewell,
Louisiana, where some secrets seem inextricably hidden deep within the bayou.

Injustice for All explores what
happens when everything a person believes in is utterly destroyed. Who can you
trust?


If you had to run for your life and settle down in a new town, what you change your name to and where would you settle?

Faith Readers Group Review and Sugar Cream Pie!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I haven’t posted a
group review in awhile. Not because we’ve hated the books, just…I don’t know.
Point is, we’re here today.
In March we read,
Poison by Jordyn Redwood. She wrote a really cool post on poisons, and I admit
that I never want to be on her bad side, as she knows way to many creepy ways
to kill me. 🙂 You can read it HERE!
We met in the café
with coffee and Jan Kerley’s fabulous sugar cream pie. Now ya’ll say that real
southern like. It was bite after bite of deliciousness and it went super well
with the fudge pie Gayle Adams brought. We chatted about life, the book and then
we Skyped with the fabulous, Jordyn Redwood.
She was super nice
and answered all of our questions. She even shared some real life experiences
that inspired some of her suspenseful and medical scenes. We all enjoyed that.
And she was ready with some fun questions of her own! What was our favorite scene?
What scene would we like to erase from the book? Which characters did we like
most and why?
It was so good, I didn’t think to
take a photo till it was half gone!
Sugah Creem Pah!
Like a Snicker Doodle topping over
a vanilla-like custard center.
It was thirty
minutes of laughs and fun. We wish Jordyn could have had some of that pie–we
even discussed it with her!
So here are some
things the ladies had to say: (I don’t think
there are any SPOILERS!)
“I loved the
book! It kept me up reading all night.”
“I felt like
creepy crawlies were on me while I slept!”
“I liked seeing
some of the characters from her first book show up in the story, but I felt
like if I hadn’t read the first book, I’d still be okay.”
“I had to skim
a lot of it because I have a terrible fear of spiders. If it wasn’t a book club
read, I may have put it down just for that reason.”
“I thought
everything was resolved but one thing and I’d like to know who caused that
problem.” (I adapted this statement to keep spoilers out.)
RATING:
Out
of 5 stars.
5
stars
Visit Jordyn at her
website
blog
Five years ago,
Keelyn Blake’s armed, mentally ill stepfather took her family hostage in their
house in rural Colorado. She and her half-sister Raven made it out alive, but
others did not. Authorities blamed the father’s frequent hallucinations about a
being named Lucent, but in the end, even the best of the FBI’s hostage
negotiators failed to overcome the man’s delusions and end the standoff
peacefully.
Now, Lucent is back,
and he’s no hallucination. In fact, he is a very real person with dangerous
motives. He has kidnapped Raven’s daughter, and–Keelyn worries–maybe has hurt
Raven as well. Though she is estranged from her sister, Keelyn feels the immediate
need to find Raven and save what family she has left. But when others who were
involved in that fateful day start dying, some by mysterious circumstances,
Keelyn wonders if she can emerge unscathed a second time.
Let’s go out on Friday all creepy-like! Since Jordyn’s book
had poison and guns… Would you rather die by a poison or a gunshot
wound?  I know I said creepy! Just answer
it!
*I say gunshot. I’d
bleed out faster and maybe even go unconscious. I don’t want to writhe in pain
due to some kind of poison messing with my nervous system.

The Duality of Toxins with Jordyn Redwood

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

I want to welcome one of my favorite authors to my blog today! Jordyn Redwood. Not only is she an amazing writer, but she’s a really sweet person. I had the chance to meet and chat with her at ACFW this past year. I gushed. I’m trying really hard not to right now. 
Jordyn Redwood is a pediatric ER nurse by day, suspense
novelist by night. She hosts Redwood’s Medical Edge, a blog devoted to helping contemporary and historical
authors write medically accurate fiction. Her first two novels, Proof and Poison, garnered starred
reviews from Library Journal and
have been endorsed by the likes of Dr. Richard Mabry, Lynette Eason, and Mike
Dellosso to name a few. You can connect with Jordyn via her website at www.jordynredwood.net. 
  Thanks for coming, Jordyn, and take it away!
I like book titles with double meaning. My first published
book was titled, Proof.
There were two types of proof the heroine needed. Proof to convict her
assailant of his horrific crimes and proof of God in her life.

Poison, the
second book in the Bloodline Trilogy, is releasing this month and in this
instance—there is an actual nefarious agent (not giving away too much) and a
side meaning as well.
What
poisons your life? Is it a bad relationship? Is it believing a
lie? Is it an actual toxin like drinking too much liquor, using illegal drugs
or prescription drugs in ways they weren’t intended?
Writing suspense, particularly with a heavy medical edge, I
think requires something unusual to be found. I’m a research hound. I love to
learn about new things. And for 
Poison,
I read a lot on different types of toxins.  
Aren’t toxins interesting? How minute substances can make a
person ill or end up killing? This is the stuff suspense novels are made from
and the lure for every author—finding that one poison—undetectable,
fast-acting, easily transmittable or ingested without the victim knowing.
I remember as a youngster hearing the story of how a
long-dead great uncle had passed. According to my grandfather, he’d served in
the military during WWI and had died as the result of complications from
mustard gas exposure.
So lately, in thinking about toxins, I began to wonder what
exactly mustard gas was and how did it kill.
Interestingly, I discovered that term “gas” can mean more than just a vaporous substance and can be any
chemical substance.

Lethal
Gases: Lead
to disablement or death.
Harassing
agents:
Disrupt enemy soldiers.
Accidental
Gases: Gases
encountered during war that are not related to a chemical agent like excessive
gases from gunpowder during a fight.
Mustard gas falls into the first group—lethal gases. Tear
gas, for instance, would fall into the second category.
But how does mustard gas kill?

Mustard
gas is also called sulfur mustard and
its name is derived from its foggy yellow appearance and mustard like smell. It’s a
blistering agent/alkylating agent and comes in many forms: vapor, liquid or
solid. When a person comes into contact with the agent, it damages the skin and
mucous membranes inside. The chemical liquefies tissue.
Since it freezes at a high temperature, it’s not very
effective when it’s cold. It doesn’t spread easily and would fall to the ground
before soldiers could be exposed. This property also made it a good weapon
because it could stay low on the ground for weeks depending on the temperature
and expose unsuspecting troops going into the area. Another factor that made it
a good weapon—people adjusted to the smell quickly.
Mustard gas was used first by the Germans in 1917 and was
born out of the trench warfare era where new military strategies had to be
devised to get men out of their bunkers. The agent was fitted onto artillery
shells which were then shot to toward the enemy lines without the accompanying
explosion which I’m sure seemed strange to the soldiers at the time.
Hey, why didn’t that thing blow up? What exactly is that
yellow fog?
Unfortunately, mustard gas doesn’t often kill expediently.
The first symptom was generally red blisters to the skin that developed within 2-24
hours. If the gas was inhaled, these blisters would slowly develop and seal off
the airway.
Other symptoms:
  •    Eyes: Irritation, redness, burning, inflammation and even
    blindness
  •   Skin: Itchy redness that is replaced
    with yellow blisters

  • Respiratory system: Runny or bloody
    nose, sneezing, hoarse throat, shortness of breath, coughing, sinus pain


  •   Digestive system: abdominal pain, diarrhea, fever, nausea and
    vomiting

It was possible for the body to heal if there was a short,
brief encounter. Longer, more frequent exposures proved to be more deadly.
By the end of WWI, chemical agents inured 1 million soldiers
and civilians and killed 100,000 people.
Likely, mustard gas wouldn’t be considered favorable to use
in chemical warfare these days because of its prolonged activity.
This link goes to a very
powerful article on mustard gas and its effects and was used heavily in the
writing of this piece—the italicized areas are from the article. It is
definitely worth the read.

What
about you? What interesting things have you researched that have ended up in a
novel?

I’d
(Jess) like to know, if you’re a reader, what interesting thing have you read
about in a novel that was used by the villain?

Here’s a peek at Poison!
Poison synopsis: Five years ago, Keelyn
Blake’s armed, mentally ill stepfather took her family hostage in their house
in rural Colorado. She and her half-sister Raven made it out alive, but others
did not. Authorities blamed the father’s frequent hallucinations about a being
named Lucent, but in the end, even the best of the FBI’s hostage negotiators
failed to overcome the man’s delusions and end the standoff peacefully.
Now,
Lucent is back, and he’s no hallucination. In fact, he is a very real person
with dangerous motives. He has kidnapped Raven’s daughter, and–Keelyn
worries–maybe has hurt Raven as well. Though she is estranged from her sister,
Keelyn feels the immediate need to find Raven and save what family she has
left. But when others who were involved in that fateful day start dying, some
by mysterious circumstances, Keelyn wonders if she can emerge unscathed a
second time.
You tube video link for Poison book trailer: http://youtu.be/slsX8j_Q_Ic
Link to the first five chapters of Poison: http://www.jordynredwood.net/resources/

Burn Calories by Kissing: Guest post by Lynda Schab!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

 You read that right! But you almost didn’t because at first I had the title, Burn Calories by kissing with Lynda Schab! I’m sure she’s glad I proofread my stuff! 
Lynda does list some interesting facts about kissing, but she’s talks about
marriage and romance and how that ties into her second novel, Madily In Love.
I’ve had the privilege of reading both her books and I’m begging, begging you to buy them. Today. Seriously. Fun and light-hearted, yet deep spiritual messages. I laughed, man did I
laugh, and I even cried at times. So enough gushing and let’s hear what Lynda
says about real romance!
Romance: A
feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love.
Who doesn’t want
that? I mean, do you know anyone who doesn’t want
to feel excited about spending time with the one they love? If I had to guess,
I’d say 98% of us crave or desire romance.
Now for my next
question: Who actually has that? Who can say their marriage is bubbling over with romance?
My best guestimate would be 5%? Maybe 10%? Okay, 15% tops.
So maybe it’s not all about the romance. Love is an action,
blah, blah, blah. But, come on. There’s a reason God created romance. He wired us to have a desire for thrill and adventure
(don’t believe me? Read The Song of Solomon). Marriage without romance is sort
of like eating a slice of cake without frosting. The cake may taste good, but
the frosting makes it all that much better.
As a side note, kissing is a major romantic act. Here are three
interesting facts about kissing:
  • Men who kiss their wives in
    the morning live five years longer than those who don’t (tell your
    husbands!). 
  • A team of medical experts in
    Virginia contends that you’re more likely to catch the common cold virus
    by shaking hands than by kissing (great news!). 
  • A fairly passionate kiss
    burns an average of 9 calories (that’s equivalent to six M&M’s!)
In my book, Madily in Love, Madi McCall is just coming out
of a marital rough patch (you’ll have to read Mind over Madi for that story)
and is determined to get back the romance she’s lost with her husband over the
years. But that’s not so easy. Especially when she’s just re-entered the
workforce, is dealing with a rebellious daughter, a son who is dating a girl
who is not exactly Madi’s idea of the perfect choice for him, and a
mother-in-law who has (temporarily) moved in and seems to have…um…criminal
tendencies. But Madi isn’t letting that stop her.
She bites the bullet
and attends a romance class at church, which offers great suggestions… that
fail miserably. All she wants is to find the peace among the chaos, and
rekindle the fire that has gone out of her marriage.
Although this book
has to do with the importance of adding romance to marriage, the main thing I
hope readers can take away is that even though
life seems unmanageable, disorderly, and chaotic, God is always in control.
One of the recurring
phrases throughout the book—as mentioned by Madi’s counselor—is “Embrace this place.” In other words, no matter
what you’re going through, recognize that it won’t last forever. And down the
road, you might just look back and see just how that “unbearable” season was
essential in moving you to a place of growth and necessary change.
And most of all, I
hope to show the fun—and not the frustration—of trying to add a little zest to
your marriage. There are a few good tips to take away, along with fun quotes
throughout, beginning with this one, which pretty much sums it up:
“Happy
marriages begin
when
we marry the ones we love,
and
they blossom
when
we love the ones we marry.”
-Tom Mullen
Lynda Lee
Schab got her writing start in greeting cards (Blue Mountain Arts, Dayspring)
and from there went on to write articles and short stories (Mature Living, Christian Home & School)
and in many places online. As a freelance writer, she works behind the scenes
at FaithWriters.com and is a regular book reviewer for FaithfulReader.com, as
well as a staff writer for www.SharedSorrows.com. 
Both books in the Madi series have finaled or semi-finaled in various contests.
Lynda admits she has a lot in common with the character of Madi. Not only are
they both addicted to ice cream, chocolate, and computer games, they struggle
with the same types of insecurities and continually require a hefty dose of
God’s grace. Lynda lives with her husband, Rob, and two teenagers in Michigan.
Connect
with her on her blogs, On the Write Track (for writers) and
ThePrincessMentality (for princesses everywhere whose lives are not a
fairytale). Also find her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads. The Madi series
is available through OakTara.com, and can be purchased from Amazon, Barnes& Noble, Christianbook.com, or ordered from any brick and mortar bookseller
around the country. Lynda also has signed copies available for purchase on her
website.
All Madi
Lee McCall wants is to fall madly in love again…
with her
husband.  
After a
rough patch, Madi’s determined to get her marriage back on
track.
She’s even taking a romance class at church and getting great
suggestions…that
fail miserably. The distractions are plenty. She has just reentered
the workplace as a health spa receptionist. Her 16-year-old daughter,Christina,
is pushing the limits, and Christina’s twin, Max, has fallen hard for a girl
who isn’t Madi’s picture of a perfect match for her son. Even younger
daughter, Emily, is developing a teenager-ish attitude.  
When her
mother-in-law moves in—temporarily, of course—the stress starts to drive
Madi a little crazier than normal. What she wants, more than anything, is some
peace among the chaos. 

Stalking St. Louis

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

It all started on a dark and stormy night…

Needle rips across record.
Okay, it all started on a balmy morning. And that is true. Finally, after polishing other manuscripts I’d written, I was going to research for a brand new plot simmering, well boiling over, in my mind. 
I grew up about an hour away from St. Louis, but I’d never looked at it through the lens of a writer…or an adult. I’d done some homework online and thought I knew where I wanted to go. Since my heroine’s an interior decorator, I thought it’d be fun to give the job of remodeling old warehouses into urban lofts. Doesn’t that sound fun? Yes it does.
St. Louis Loft district!
My sister and I decided to enlist our husbands. One, neither of us drive well in big cities and two, her husband, Rob, knows St. Louis like the back of his hand. I thank him so much since it helped put a lid on my husband’s irritation had we drove aimlessly for hours!
I wanted to visit Lafayette Square and the park! So that’s where we went first. To say it was hot is an understatement, but my big sis brought her professional camera and I was so high on excitement, I didn’t care…the guys may have.
Lafayette Park was even more beautiful than the photos I researched online! Definitely a place for romance!
My  husband calls the fleur de lis, “Fleur de la fleur” to get
under my skin. It works.
They use this building for weddings! And there’s my
family traipsing into the park. My sister’s husband Rob said, “
The things we do for Jess.” My husband replied with,
“You don’t know the half of it.”
So true! hee hee
I love the walks lined with lush foliage. 
Who doesn’t love ducks? (when they’re on the other
side of the fence that is) Oh wait, that’s a swan! ha!
And sense this new ms is romantic suspense, I hit pay dirt at this park, ya hear me! Pay dirt! 
This is like a little cubby hole under the bridge. One on each side. Tell me that’s not the A) perfect place to put a squatter, or B) stash a body. After the park, we drove around the neighborhoods. I was looking for homes for my heroine and my hero–he inherited a historical home from his grandma.
The chatter in the van cracked me up. My husband would pull over to the shoulder and I’d click away. “You got what you want?” 
“Yep. We’re good.”
Several natives honked and flipped us the bird. At one point my hubby stuck his head out and yelled, “Hey, we’re researching a book!” Pretty sure the driver cared not.
I was so engrossed with my characters and their lives and where they lived, I think I slipped over the edge a minute. 
“Hey, that house looks grandmaly-like,” my brother in law said.
“That one would work!” my sister said. 
I clicked and clicked and then….
I saw it!
A vacant home. A little run down. In definite need of some interior (and exterior) decorating! 
“Stop the van!”
Bathed in light, I heard the angels sing soprano, “Aaaaaaaaaaah!”
Rob said, “Grandma-like for sure. Definite work to be done. Ooooh, foundation issues, look.” He and my sister flip houses. He would know.
My heart slipped right out my rib cage. “Oh,” I whined. “I don’t wanna deal with foundational issues! I can’t have a house with foundation problems!”
My husband slid his sunglasses down on his nose. “Really? Jess, the house in your book doesn’t have to have it! It’s fiction.”
“Oh yeah.” Everyone laughed and I admit, I pouted. “No. I’m not having a house with those issues that you can clearly see. Drive on.”
I settled on a different house. We laughed and horsed around, then turned the corner as I hung out the window clicking away, only to see the owner of the house on his deck, shirtless, frowning at us. But I got that last shot and remembered my manners. “Thank you! I love your house!”
“Your going to get us arrested…again!” my sister growled. 
“It’s been fifteen years, we’re due.”
I don’t think she was convinced! (My big sis!) Then we went into a classier  neighborhood for my heroine’s parents and a murder victim. 
Isn’t this house gorgeous! Sigh!

I needed a good place for my heroine, so here’s a few of my choices. I have a billion more!
We had a blast and ate at the Cheese Cake Factory. You know they have a “skinny” menu. At. the. Cheesecake. Factory. Yeah…I know. No one felt like being skinny. Not in the whole place!

If you’re a writer, have you ever done research out of town for a story? Readers, do you like to see real places in the stories you read? 
*Wednesday Jaime Wright will be sharing a devotion, so come back for that and on Friday, Lynette Eason is in the house chatting about her books and suspense!

Talking Medical Drama with Author Candace Calvert!

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Last month our book club read a medical drama. Out of the five choices, we picked Code Triage–the 3rd book in the Mercy Hospital series! You can read our review HERE! I emailed Candace to tell her how much I personally enjoyed the book and she offered to not only skype with us, but to send us bookmarks and host a drawing on the night of our meeting! She’s lovely, witty, charming and a fabulous author! So I’m honored to have her here today! 
Candace is a former ER nurse who believes love,
laughter and faith are the best medicines. Her Mercy Hospital and Grace Medical
series offer readers a chance to “scrub in” on the exciting world of emergency
medicine—along with a soul-soothing prescription for hope. Wife, mother, and
very proud grandmother, she makes her home in northern California.
JP: How
long were you in the medical field before you decided to write medical dramas?
CC: As Cha Cha (the parrot) in Code Triage likes to say: “Forever.”  I was an ER nurse for more than three
decades, and began writing seriously (for publication) in around the year 2000.  I caught an agent’s eye (Natasha Kern) and
signed with her in 2002—but didn’t begin to write medical drama until a few
years later. We contracted with Tyndale House (for the Mercy series) in 2008.
JP: Do
you use real-life ER experiences you’ve had in your novels?
CC: Oh, absolutely. 
Many of the dramatic (and humorous) scenes in my stories had beginnings
in my “scrubs” days.  I’m sure that’s
what makes readers say they feel like they are “dropped into the middle of the
ER.”  But my depictions of medical cases,
patients, and staff are fictional composites in order to protect privacy, of
course.  Though my husband is quite
certain that every hero is purely based on him.
JP:
LOL! My husband seems to think the same thing. Your novels have been compared
to Grey’s Anatomy, but with faith elements. That show is super popular. Have
you seen a spike in sales since the comparison? I watched ER, but I’ve never
seen Grey’s.
CC: When we pitched the idea for my medical fiction to the
publishing house, we did indeed describe it as “Grey’s Anatomy finds its soul.”
 It was something fairly new to the
inspirational market. And after three encouraging years, I think we’d all agree
that the popularity of TV medical programs really does carry over into
print.  I have quite a few readers who
first picked up my books because they were sad to see the series “ER” end—or
because they are now fans of “Grey’s Anatomy,” or “House.”  In addition, many of my readers are employed
in the medical, fire, rescue and law enforcement fields.  I’m honored by their enthusiasm.  I love being able to infuse faith into
medical drama; in real life, it’s always been there. But mostly, I’m delighted
when folks call me the author of “medical hope opera.”  That’s as close as it gets. 
JP: I’ve
always been a fan of medical dramas and books. I’m a huge fan of yours now,
Candace! If you could put one of your books on the big screen which one would
it be and why?
CC: Interesting question. Probably my current release, Trauma Plan. It’s set in San Antonio
during Fiesta, with colorful scenes down on River Walk, at the Alamo, in the
charming Texas hill country towns of Boerne, Fredricksburg . . . and on the
famous dance floor at Luckenbach.  Cinematographically,
it would be a feast for the senses: 
especially the breath-catching skydiving moments!  But the characters are richly drawn as well:
a “maverick” doctor, a beautiful and determined nurse-chaplain . . . along with
a big-hearted rodeo clown and his crippled doggy sidekick, “Hobo.”  The plot has a lot of action, warm romance,
and tear or two— elements perfect with buttered popcorn.

JP:
Ooooh that does sound wonderful!  And
lucky me I have it sitting on my desk to read! Okay, now a few fun questions!
What do you like to do for entertainment?
CC: Hubby and I love to hike, birdwatch, and are in love
with travel: simple day trips to glorious nearby destinations like Lake Tahoe,
San Francisco, Napa wine country, or the Pacific coast (all settings for the
Mercy Hospital series). Our grander journeys have found me swimming with
stingrays in the Caribbean, hiking an Alaskan rainforest, atop a camel at the
pyramids, kissing the Blarney Stone in Ireland . . . and gazing in awe at the
ceiling of the Sistine Chapel.  We’ve
worn out some luggage.
JP:
That all sounds so perfect! Would you fit me in your suitcase? J Fill in the blanks: If I had a weekend
with no obligations and I could go anywhere in the world, it would be:

CC: …a
spiritual place with complete solitude, a few days of peace and reflection because our everyday world is noisy and
far too hectic. And I think it’s easier to hear God’s voice when we step away
from all of that. “Be still and know . . .” Amen.
JP:
That’s perfect, Candace! Thanks so much for taking time to come and visit with
us today.
CC: Thank you, Jessica for hosting me here. I’ve SO enjoyed
having this chance to connect with your readers. I’d be honored to have them “scrub
in” with my stories of hope.
You can connect with Candace through her website, facebook,
and twitter!
Question for you? Have you ever had to go to the ER? And did you watch ER or Grey’s Anatomy?
Here’s a peek at her newest novel: 

Sidelined
by injuries from a vicious assault, nurse chaplain Riley Hale is determined to
return to ER duties. But how can she show she’s competent when the hospital
won’t let her attempt even simple tasks? To prove herself, Riley
volunteers at a controversial urban free clinic despite her fears about the
maverick doctor in charge.

Dr.
Jack Travis defends his clinic like he’s commander of the Alamo.
He’ll fight the community’s efforts to shut its doors, even if he must use
Riley Hale’s influential family name to make it happen.

As
Riley strives to regain her skills, Jack finds that she shares his
compassion—and stirs his lonely heart. Riley senses that beneath Jack’s rough
exterior is a man she can believe in. But when clinic protests escalate and
questions surface about his past,
Jack
goes into battle mode, and Riley wonders if it’s dangerous to trust him with
her heart.

*You still have time to enter the contest for the Kindle Touch along with Donna Pyle’s new Bible Study, The God of All Comfort (and other goodies)! Contest closes Sunday, August 19th! Check out the awesome prizes HERE and ENTER to WIN! 

Faith Readers Group Review: Code Triage

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

Avgolemono soup in the crock pot!
Today’s another
Faith Readers Book Club review of Code Triage by @CandaceCalvert, but before I
dish the goods I’m pleased to announce the winner of the $5 Starbuck/Amazon
card (winner choice)! Urban Fun Word Contest.
Drumroll……….
Erynn! Congratulations!
They were all really good and hard to choose from! 
Find my email
address on the “Connect” page and send me your address! I’ll make
sure to get it in the mail ASAP!
The night started
out with pre-excitement when our very own Jan Kerley aka Rockstar decided to be
brave and make the famous Greek soup, Avgolemono, that our hero cooked. Here’s
the link: Avgolemono soup! As a former chef with a Greek heritage obviously his specialty was the
Greek lemon soup that he made for the heroine before they were ever married. It
was a lovely way to meet and the soup itself was  yummy! Definitely a summer soup with the
lemon flavor, making it light! Jan also brought huge yeast rolls and since the
hero (former chef) is now a cop–we had doughnuts in honor of the stereotype!
Ha!
Here are some of the
things we chatted about over dinner and before we talked with Candace through
Skype!
“I
could identify with all the characters in one way or another. I didn’t like
what Sam was doing, but with her background, I could see it.”
“I
wanted to smack Sam and Nick at times!”
“I
loved the symbolism in the story through the lemon tree, the dining room table
and even the horse.”
“The
medical facts intrigued me. Made it feel very real.”
“My
favorite scene was the luau they put on for the neighbors’ anniversary. I could
see it in my head like a movie. It made me laugh.”
“I’d
like to read about Riley and her story.”
Our overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars!
Candace Calvert
We had so much fun
skyping with Candace. It felt like she’d been one of our friends forever! She
was chatty, personable and interested in what everyone had to say. She talked
about a few of her favorite scenes to write!
At the end, she did
a drawing and gave her current book, Trauma Plan (Riley’s story) to the lucky
winner! She also sent us book marks which was really cool. Especially for this
chick who loves them (even if I normally read from my Kindle)!
Here’s a peek at the
3rd book in her Grace Medical Series, Code Triage.
*We hadn’t read the
first two book when we chose Code Triage, but we had no trouble at all jumping
into the story and understanding everything until the short epilogue to give
the reader a glimpse into the other characters from the first two books!
Dr. Leigh Stathos
likes her ER shifts fast, furious, and adrenaline-infused—“Treat ’em and street
’em”—with no emotional complications. Life’s taught her a soul-rending lesson:
nothing lasts forever, including marriage. And the clock is ticking toward the
end of hers. Then an unwelcome confrontation with “the other woman” begins a
whole new set of lessons. 
San Francisco police
officer Nick Stathos never gives up, whether protecting his patrol
neighborhood, holding fast to faith—or trying to save his marriage. Seven days
is all he has to reach Leigh’s heart. But when a desperate act of violence
slams Golden Gate Mercy Hospital into lockdown, it starts a chain of events
that will change lives forever. 
Do you read medical dramas, suspense or thrillers? And do you ever make recipes from novels? 

And the Winner Is…

Posted on by Jessica R. Patch

 

 
I have chosen the
name for my contest! My new WIP (work in progress) has a Saint Bernard that
belongs to a detective.  I didn’t give
much information about the hero of the story other than his occupation, on
purpose.
 
He’s had a
relationship turn sour, he sees a lot of negativity in the world with his job.
Unable to avoid the cliché, this story is about how the grass isn’t greener on
the other side. It’s full of irony and deceit. It is a romantic suspense,
whatdaya expect?!
 
How I chose the name
was pretty simple. I read it, then I closed my eyes and tried to see if I could
pull off a humorous scene using the name. This dog will be the way my
hero/heroine meet.
 
All the names were
great! So I’m going to give you my top five names and then the winning name!
 
5. Mr. Darcy
If my detective had a poetic side, the irony would be awesome. And I laughed several times thinking about it.
 
4. Bootsie
Big white feet look
like boots and I could come up with some dialogue but not enough humor.
 
3. Lipstick
Seriously, look at
that mutt’s mouth! I could see this dog as a puppy eating the detective’s ex’s favorite
tube of lipstick and the name, well…sticking.
 
2. Komere
Sounds like Come
here in an exaggerated southern accent and had my novel been set in the south,
I’d have probably went with that! Cracks me up!
 
1. Edith
“You named your dog, Edith?”
“Yeah, it
reminds me of my grandma.”
“Gentle and
soft?”
“No, rotund and
hairy.” LOL I could see my character so saying that! He’s a bit of a
wiseacre!
 
But I chose the following name because not only is it ironic and ridiculous, but I can actually weave
some truth about life into the dialogue and the name.
 
So
the winner of the $10.00 Amazon/Starbucks card (winner’s choice) goes to…..drum roll……
 
Jeff
Redding for the name:
 
Kitten!
 
Congratulations, Jeff! 
 
Here’s a tiny
snippet of dialogue I concocted on the fly after hearing the name.
 
After
dusting herself off, she took a good look at his dog. “Your boy dog’s name is Kitten?” The puzzled look on
her face made him grin again.
 
“I got her
at the beginning of an ironic stage in my life.”
 
She
crossed her arms. “Did you ever think you’d come out of it and be stuck with a
horrible name for a dog?”
 
“I’ll let
you know when I’m out.” He’d brought Kitt home the same day Miranda said she
wasn’t going to marry him. That God had another plan for her. It didn’t include
him.
 
He’d been
sure God had told him it had.
 
“You know
that’s mean really. Labeling someone as something they’re not is destructive.”
She glared at him and gave him a take-that look.
 
Thanks to everyone
who participated! I read every single one and I tell ya, it was hard to choose.
I valued all of your input.
 
What’s the silliest pet name you’ve ever heard?