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September 24, 2014 by Tricia Goyer Leave a Comment

Rewriting is the Real Work of Writing

Rewriting Is The Real Work Of Writing

I get letters almost daily from people who want to write a novel. Most of them have started one, and some are close to the end of their book. But once the writing starts, the fears come quickly. We know what we want to say. We know what story we want to share . . . but the words on the page often don’t match. Then we look at our manuscript and see that it needs so much work! I remember that feeling. I still feel that way at times.

I’ve written more than 70 books, and all of them seem TOO BIG for me. I always look at the words and paragraphs and think, “Am I going to be able to pull this off?”

I love what Anne Lamott said: “Just look at the one-inch picture frame and do the next thing.”

No one writes a perfect novel the first time out of the chute.

If it takes a year to edit your book, let it take a year.

If you need to start over, once you’ve come to the end and know your characters and the situation better, then by golly start over.

My first novel took a couple of years to write. Some authors I know go through complete rewrites after the first draft. I’m friends with a NY Times best-selling author (you would know her name), and she was just told by her editor that she needs to rewrite a large portion her book completely . . . and she rolled up her sleeves and got started!

Rewriting is the real work of writing, and we shouldn’t be afraid of that.

Of course we need the right information to make sure we rewrite well. We also need the right support group. I highly recommend ACFW if you’re not a part. There is a loop where people ask questions and workshops. There are also writing contests for unpublished authors so you can “submit” before you “submit”—to get constructive feedback and to see how your manuscript stacks up.

Remember this whole process takes time.

I started writing in 1994, and my first book came out in 2003. That’s 8 years later. With ANY career, people expect time to grow and learn. Doctors go to school. Teachers go to school and then student-teach. Artists go to art school. Writers must write—lots.

No one in any other occupation feels they have to get it right the first time. Remember that!

So, maybe the words on the page aren’t what you hoped for. Keep the best ones, throw out the worst ones, and rewrite the rest. It’s great practice, and you’ll never know what you may end up with!

Prayer

God, thank you for giving me the creativity to write. I am so grateful that we are made in your image. Teach me to have patience in the process of creativity. Teach me diligence and dedication.

Writing: Keep the best ones, throw out the worst ones, & rewrite the rest. @TriciaGoyer

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More Resources

– Bird by Bird: Some Instructions on Writing and Life by Anne Lamott

– On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King

– On Writing Well, The Classic Guide to Writing Nonfiction by William Zinsser

– Writing Down the Bones, Freeing the Writer Within by Natalie Goldberg

– The Writing Life by Annie Dillard

Do You Want To Write A Book?

Making your writing dreams become a reality is tough. You have ideas but you wonder if any of them are good. You have no idea how to connect with agents and editors, and what in the world is book proposal anyway?

I’m here to help. And I’ve invited some of my friends to help you too. They are professional agents, editors, authors, and marketing and publicity team members. They’re the best of the best in the Christian publishing industry. Together we want to help you reach your dreams.

To help you do this, I’ve created Write That Book. This premier group provides education, inspiration and connection with other writers and experts. Learn all the tricks of the trade while getting your personal questions answered.

Over thirty experts will be available throughout the month to answer your questions. Their decades of experience will be at your fingertips. They not only want to help you, but they also want to get to know you better. After all, your words might just be the ones they’re looking for!

For More Information or to Join Write That Book now CLICK HERE!

Or from Facebook go to: https://www.facebook.com/groups/writethatbook/

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September 19, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 4 Comments

Ways I Fuel My Creativity

I’m an author of a lot of books and a lot of blogs— 40+ and 3,000+ respectfully! I write a lot. I plot a lot, but one of my biggest weaknesses is in taking time to consider how to fuel my soul. There’s a lot outbound and if I’m not careful I get drained.

Creativity: There’s a lot outbound and if I’m not careful I get drained. @TriciaGoyer

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Ways I fuel my writing day:

Reading God’s Word
Writing a prayer in my journal
Reading a devotional book
Reading inspiring blogs
Chasing my kids around
Feeding my visual senses at Pinterest
Listening to my favorite songs via Spotify
Reading People.com (okay, mostly looking at the new babies)
Doing a craft with my kids
Reading a chapter of a novel
Chatting with a friend
Looking through stock photos and playing with PicMonkey

I used to think of these things as procrastination or obstacles, but I’ve found that when I give myself time to listen to words, to see lovely images, and to laugh and play, I’m filling up the creative fuel that allows the words to flow.

I’ve also discovered it’s important to brainstorm big ideas. Yes, writing a shopping list is planning, but at least every few weeks I like to jot down notes about “big-picture dreams.”

A few things that made it from ideas to reality:

Taking our teens on a mission trip (turned into three trips in three years)
Adopting a baby (we’ve since adopted three)
Write a book with a business guru (Ken Blanchard and I wrote Lead Your Family Like Jesus!)
Do a book-signing tour (my friend joined me.)
Go on a cruise (we’ve been on 2.)
Be on the Focus on the Family Radio Program (I’ve been on twice.)
Visit the Holocaust Museum in DC

Things I’m still dreaming about…

Have one of my novels made into a movie
Taking all my kids (including the new ones) on a Disney cruise
Being invited to be on the Today Show
Living in the Czech Republic with my family for a year
Taking a Mediterranean cruise
Visit New York City

How about you? Do you take time to feed your creativity? Do you take time to feed your dreams?

We’ll all get burnt out if we don’t create, explore, enjoy, hug, laugh, and dream. I guarantee you’ll be more efficient with your writing work when you feed these parts of your soul!

Prayer

God, thank you for fueling my dreams and creativity. You are a life-giver! I ask that you continue to fuel my desires and dreams. Breathe creativity into my days and nights.

More Resources

Creativity by Matthew Fox

Creativity According to the Kingdom by Matt Tommey

Roaring Lambs by Robert Briner

And the Winners Are…!

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Didn’t win?

I’m also giving away 3 copies of Darlene Schacht’s Messy Beautiful Love. Enter to win here. Winners will be announced next Monday September 22nd. Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win.

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September 16, 2014 by Tricia Goyer 13 Comments

Free Printables for Writing Your Novel

I’ve pulled together a ton of Free Printables for Writing Your Novel. A few are mine, but most of them are awesome resources that I’ve found around the Internet.

Free Printables for Writing your Novel

Are you interested in writing a novel but you don’t want to start? Do you learn by doing? Do you want easy-to-use worksheets to help novel writing made sense? These printables and resources are just what you need!

Yay! FREE Printables for your next novel, collected by @TriciaGoyer!

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Story Ideas

Create a Writer’s Notebook! This worksheet will inspire story seeds and concepts. Click here to download and print.

Character Creation

This series of worksheets will help you get to know your character’s personality, what they want, and how they might try to overcome challenges. Click here to download and print.

More of my Favorite Printables…

TheWritersCraft.com has a great set of worksheets.

Elizabeth Span Craig has collected a long list of wonderful tools and worksheets made by and for novelists!

Annie Neugbauer’s Plotting Worksheet is for writers who have scattered ideas that need to be worked into a basic plot structure. It’s one page, bare-bones, & easy to view at a glance.

Writer’s Digest has a wonderful index of worksheets to help you write your novel in 30 days.

Story Tracker (Act I, Act II, Act III): These worksheets help you outline before you start writing, and/or keep track of your story’s progression as you go.

Story Idea Map: This worksheet is especially critical for writers who will be working without any kind of outline. During the first few days of your 30-day effort, you should complete this worksheet.

Scene Card: Scene cards can be used as an outlining tool before you begin your 30-day effort, or as a daily writing and brainstorming technique. Scene cards can also play a critical role in revision. Index cards can be used instead of the worksheet if preferred.

At-A-Glance Outline: Offers a quick way to fill in the blanks of your story. It guides you to answer the right questions for each area of your story, the questions that will come up fast when writing.

Character Sketch: Keep track of the qualities of each major character using these sketches. As you become more experienced as a writer, you may want to create your own character profile worksheets.

Character-Revealing Scenes: This more advanced outlining worksheet helps you identify where and how you will reveal important aspects of each major character.

Climax: This worksheet helps you consider your novel’s climax, the point where the protagonist faces the conflict directly, with his goal on the line.

Closing & Denouement: Questions on this worksheet analyze the novel’s post-climax scenes with an eye toward tying up unresolved arcs and the novel as a whole.

Reversal Brainstorm: Plan ahead for characters’ changes of heart, new situations, unexpected betrayals and more.

Write That Book!

Are you ready to write your novel but just need a little help?

Imagine if you were friends with a successful author willing to show you the ropes. Tricia Goyer is that friend. The author of more than 75 books, she’s the writing coach you’ve been looking for, and she’s ready to help you:

learn from her expertise
network with experts so you can cash in on what they know
discover the community who needs to hear your message of hope

“Want to know how to write? You can learn while you sit in the carpool line!” Tricia Goyer

Join Write that Book here!

To help you do this, I’ve created Write That Book. This premier group provides education, inspiration, and connection with other writers and experts. Learn all the tricks of the trade while getting your personal questions answered.

Over thirty experts will be available throughout the month to answer your questions. Their decades of experience will be at your fingertips. They not only want to help you, they also want to get to know you better. After all, your words might just be the ones they’re looking for!

October 19, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 1 Comment

I Write How I Cook: Little of This, Little of That

I wanted to make a chicken pot pie. I’d googled a recipe the other day while I was writing my shopping list—making sure I had all the ingredients—but for the life of me I couldn’t find that recipe today. So instead I looked at three other recipes and then decided to do my own thing. It turned out delicious. Here’s the recipe.

Easy-Peasy Chicken Pot Pie

1 bag of frozen chicken breast strips—Grilled and Ready® by Tyson worked great!
1 bag of frozen peas and carrots
1 can of chicken broth
1 cup of heavy cream
2 Tsp corn starch
Pillsbury pie crust

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray. Mix the chicken breasts, peas, and chicken broth in a large pot and bring to a simmer, cooking until the pre-cooked chicken is thawed. Add the cream. Mix the corn starch with some water to make a thin paste. Stir in the corn starch and simmer until it’s thick and bubbly. Add pepper to taste.

Pour chicken mixture into 9×13 inch pan. Lay the two pie crusts on top, shaping them to fit the pan. Cut small slits to release steam. Bake for 15 minutes or until crust is gold brown.

Cooking and writing go hand-in-hand! Get @TriciaGoyer’s chicken pot pie recipe here:

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How easy is that?

So what does this have to do with my books?

1. I start with a plan. I know what kind of book I want to write, just like I knew I wanted chicken pot pie.

2. I choose my ingredients. These ingredients are character, setting, plot, theme, voice. I gather them up and lay them out, ready to mix them together.

3. I research my options. How many point-of-view characters should there be? Long chapters or short? Should I include letters? Should I have flashbacks? What feels right for this story?

Cooking and writing? Who knew there was a connection? @TriciaGoyer

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Read the rest of this post on Writes of Passage!

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October 16, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 11 Comments

My Writing Desk | Lynn Austin

On the desk around my monitor I keep reminders of all the urgent things I need to get done. There’s my calendar and the weekly list I make of top priorities for that week. There is also the chapter-by-chapter outline of the book in progress so I can see where I’m going and where I’ve been so far in the story. On the wall behind my monitor is a bulletin board with pictures of my characters and scenery from the story, so I can envision my characters easily every time I sit down to write. To the right of my monitor are important files of all my current projects, where they will be handy. All around my desk are my bookshelves with the reference and writing books I need to have close at hand. I also like to surround my workspace with pictures of my family because they are always close to my heart. I keep my Christy awards all around me, too, to remember what an honor it was to win them and to remind me to always give myself fully to the work of the Lord.

Get a sneak peek at where Lynn Austin’s novels take shape (plus a giveaway!) @TriciaGoyer

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Lynn is celebrating the release of her new book, Return to Me, with a Kindle Fire HDX giveaway and connecting with readers during her October 22nd Facebook Author Chat party. Winner will be announced at the “Return To Me” Facebook Author Chat Party on October 22nd. Connect with Lynn and friends for an evening of book chat, biblical trivia, prizes, and get an exclusive look at the next book in Lynn’s Restoration Chronicles series! Full details can be found HERE.

Bestselling author Lynn Austin has sold more than one million copies of her books worldwide. She is an eight-time Christy Award winner for her historical novels, as well as a popular speaker at retreats and conventions. Lynn and her husband have raised three children and live near Chicago. Find out more about Lynn at her website or on Facebook.

Enter to win a copy of Return to Me!

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October 11, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 10 Comments

Instead of Looking for the Right Publisher, Focus on Becoming the Right Writer

The Wrong Focus

I started writing in 1994 when I was pregnant with my third baby. I was 22 years old with some college under my belt. I’d been a Christian less than five years, and I’d read only one book about writing before I prepared my proposal for submission to a publisher via a writer’s conference. And as my friend and I drove to Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference, do you want to know what my biggest worry was? (Drumroll, please.) My biggest worry was WHAT IF more than one publisher wanted my book!

(The truth is that I had nothing to worry about!)

Publishers, Oh My!

Like most wanna-be authors, when I first started writing I was focused on the elusive publishers. They were the ones who were going to make all my dreams come true. I attended Mt. Hermon Christian Writer’s Conference year after year after year. I had appointments with editors. I attended their workshops. I read the market guides and schooled myself on their needs. Yet it took nearly ten years before I landed a contract, and looking back I realized I’d been focused on the wrong thing: publishers. I’d set my sights on THEM, not realizing God had some work to do with ME.

Hoping to publish your first book? You might be looking in the wrong direction. @TriciaGoyer

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Maturity, Please

First of all, I needed to grow up. I needed to grow in my knowledge of God, the Bible, and how to live and love as a Christian. I had great ideas for books, but when I first started writing I wasn’t mature enough to share an impacting spiritual message. God had work to do.

In my years of striving toward publication God led me through times of testing and times of healing. He connected me with a Bible-believing church and mature Christian friends. I started reaching out to help others, and I cared for my dying grandfather. I became a student of God’s Word and prayer. All these things changed me, matured me.

Writing Skill 101

I thought I knew how to write a book because I loved to read books. I wrote diligently for many years and received many, many rejections. But you know what? With the rejections, I learned what didn’t work. And I continued to read books on writing—and attend writer’s conferences—learning what did work.

My big breakthrough came when I was taking a class on scene writing at our local community college and I had an “ah-ha” moment. What the teacher (a former Hollywood Scriptwriter) shared about scenes changed how I wrote, and I had a book contract within a year. But I kept learning, kept trying, and my efforts paid off.

Becoming published is as much about God as it is talent and skill. @TriciaGoyer

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Humility and Dependence

When I first started writing I wanted to prove myself. I never would have admitted it to anyone, but I wanted to prove that a teen mom could make something of herself. Through the years of struggle I was humbled. I realized I could not do this writing thing without God’s help. Instead of counting on myself, I had to depend on Him. And that is where God wanted me to be. That’s still where He wants me to be.

Here is something I recently read in my BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) notes that struck a chord with me: “Those who teach or preach with life-changing spiritual power come into the presence of people after time in the presence of God” (lesson 3 notes).

I only have something to say when I’m in God’s Word, spending time with Him and listening to His heart. I only have words to share when I humble myself and depend on Him.

Don’t Give Up

I’m not sure where you are on the wanna-be-published journey, but I urge you not to get discouraged. Yes, it’s important to know the publishing world you want to enter, but it’s even more important to become a student of what God’s doing within you and through you.

God has a writer in mind who can impact the world . . . and He has a plan for getting you there. Trust Him, lean on Him, depend on Him, relinquish to Him. God’s approaching this writing thing with the end in mind. He knows where He’d gonna take you, and now He’s doing the work of preparing you to be the person He can trust to go there.

What about you? What has God been doing to make you the right writer?

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Did this post speak to you? Here are some similar ones you might want to read:

October 9, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 20 Comments

My Writing Desk | Stephanie Reed

Thanks so much for allowing me to share my space with you. Although I now do most of my writing on a laptop, a view of it and my toes would be pretty dull. My desk has more character. We bought this computer desk and chair at an Amish furniture shop. The keyboard is on a handy sliding tray, which can be hidden by a false drawer front that flips up. It matches the real drawer to the right, and it’s a nice example of Amish practicality and ingenuity.

You see lots of symbols of my three books. My first two were Across the Wide River and The Light Across the River. They are YA novels about the Reverend John Rankin family and their Underground Railroad station in Ripley, Ohio. You can see an IKEA lantern with a battery-operated tea light, reminiscent of the signal light the Rankins used to beckon slaves to freedom. There’s a photo of Rankin House, too. Both books are on my desk because I’m getting ready for an event at my church where I will sign copies of them and my newest book, The Bargain, Amish/historical fiction set in the 70s. (By the way, The Bargain is on tour as we speak, and I’m giving away a Kindle to celebrate!) There’s a church bulletin to remind me of the details of the event, right next to a copy of The Amish in Their Own Words. The faceless Amish doll came from a craft sale years ago. Lastly, I made the little penguin out of pipe cleaners. He’s a good companion, very quiet.

Get a sneak peek at where @StefReedBooks’ novels take shape (cc @TriciaGoyer):

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I clip a lot of stuff from newspapers to pin on my bulletin board (Pinterest, old school), including articles or photos that tie in with my books. There’s an article about lost photos of the 70s, a decade I remember well. I like bird photos because I watch birds. The Amish paper dolls are from when I worked in a Latchkey program. The calendar and a couple of receipts prove I am organized. My pink piglet flash drive is visible, plus doodles my daughter and I made of Betsie and Michael, main characters in The Bargain. And I think you can see I’ve always loved horses and days gone by.

I’d love to give away a copy of The Bargain. But first, turnabout is fair play: readers, where do you write? Share with me below!

Stephanie Reed lives on the outskirts of Plain City, Ohio, site of a once-thriving Amish community. She gleans ideas for her novels from signs glimpsed along the byways of Ohio, as she did for her previous books, Across the Wide River and The Light Across the River. Connect with Stephanie on her website or via Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

More about The Bargain: It’s 1971, and Betsie Troyer’s peaceful and predictable life is about to become anything but. When their parents flee the Amish, nineteen-year-old Betsie and her seventeen-year-old sister Sadie are distraught. Under the dubious guidance of a doting aunt, the girls struggle to keep the secret, praying their parents will return before anyone learns the truth—a truth that may end all hopes of Betsie’s marriage to Charley Yoder.

Enter to win a copy of The Bargain!

Stephanie is giving one lucky blog reader a copy of The Bargain! Enter using the widget below. Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win. If you want more chances to win her book and a Kindle, check out this page.

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October 2, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 10 Comments

My Writing Desk | Nancy Moser

To explain my writing area . . . it’s a bit unconventional. I have never used a keyboard placed upon a desk but would always rest it in my lap. So I finally gave into my habits and bought a leather chaise lounge chair so I could have my feet up and use the keyboard in my lap comfortably. I placed my monitor on a little table two feet past my feet. I have a credenza to my left with files close—and to act as a place to set my coffee. I am situated in the corner of a room with big windows looking out onto the backyard in two directions. We live on an acreage next to a wooded conservation area, so I often see deer and wild turkeys. The calming effect of nature helps me write. On the window shelf are many of the historical reference books I often need. I am always inspired by nature, so this gives me the best of both worlds: nature and air conditioning!

Get a sneak peek at where @MoserNancy’s novels take shape (cc @TriciaGoyer):

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Nancy Moser is the best-selling author of more than twenty novels. She is a winner and two-time nominee of the Christy Award, and her latest novel was named to Booklist’s “Top 10 Romance Novels of 2011.” Nancy and her husband have three grown children and three grandchildren, and they live in the Midwest. Connect with Nancy on her website or via Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.

About her new book, The Journey of Josephine Cain: A setting populated by hundreds of laborers, outlaws, and Indians is hardly the place for a wealthy general’s daughter. But Josephine Cain is determined to visit her father, who supervises the day-to-day work involved in the grandest ambition of post-Civil War America: the building of the Transcontinental Railroad. Life with the railroad is far from the proper life Josephine is used to, and she faces deadly gunfights, harsh weather, and vigilante uprisings. She is torn between the West and the East; between her privileged upbringing and the challenges of a new frontier; between the pull of the suitable beau her parents approve of and an attraction to a rough but charming Irish railroad worker. But if Josephine is willing, she just might find a new life, a unique purpose . . . and true love.

Nancy is giving away a copy of her new book! Enter using the widget below. Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win.

Speaking of winners, I’m happy to announce the winners of copies of Lead Your Family Like Jesus from this post are: Katrina, Kerry, Lis Ann, Vicky Lowman, Lonnie W. Brooks, Laura, Andrea P, Jennifer Gepfrey, Marcee, and Robin Christofaro. Please email your mailing addresses to caitlin {at} litfusegroup {dot} com by FRIDAY to claim your books.

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September 18, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 3 Comments

My Writing Desk | Carolyne Aarsen

Here’s the writing space. Unedited. As it is right now.

Some explanation is in order. The pink chair is left over from the grandchildren who were just up for a visit and love to check out my office. The white box on one corner of the desk is my latest gadget waiting to be hooked up—the Leap Controller. I love gadgets and am forever looking for just the right one. The other white box is my router, which gives me wireless access to the internet for my iPad, my husband’s iPad, my iPhone, my husband’s iPhone, my Macbook, and any family member who lugs their laptop or whatever around—which is most of them. The camera is still sitting out because I just loaded pictures from our latest camping trip with said grandchildren.

The bulletin board has notes for my latest book, continuity elements to keep in mind when one of the books of a series I just finished comes back to me for edits, a copy of my hero’s inner journey, notes, inspiring pictures and the Story Diamond Key, and a bunch of my passwords. Above that is a poster with the covers of most of my books. I also have my vitamins on my desk. My reasoning is I am at my computer every day and this way I’ll remember to take them.

Behind the desk is about a tenth of my personal book collection. These are the ones I love to have handy, so they are in my office. The rest are in my husband’s office, which has a wall-to-wall, ceiling-to-floor bookshelf that is double packed because the huge bookshelf in our living room is full. We love to read! I keep meaning to gather the dolls and teddy bears off the top of the shelf, but I get so used to seeing them there I keep forgetting. This picture is taken from the corner of the office where my husband has his chair parked so he can come and visit me when I’m working. The other picture is the view from my office window taken from my office chair.

Where does @CarolyneAarsen’s writing magic take place? Get a peek here:

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~~~

A transplanted city girl, Carolyne moved to the country when her fiancee and now husband, decided he wanted to farm. The move took quite well and Carolyne learned to milk cows, herd cows, drive a tractor, can, freeze, garden, bake, cook and preserve. She and her husband raised four wonderful children and took in numerous foster children. Somewhere along the way Carolyne decided she wanted to recreate her own version of the romance novels she loved reading. In her writing she yearns to show redemption and change and the chance to start over. Coming home to faith and love is a thread that is woven through every story she writes. Connect with Carolyne at her website, on Facebook, or on Twitter.

Carolyne writes with other authors under the pen name Kathleen Bauer as part of the Home to Heather Creek series. Carolyne wrote book one, Before the Dawn, and Tricia wrote book two, Sweet September. To celebrate the launch of the series, Carolyne and her publisher, Guideposts Books, are giving away a Kindle Paperwhite and copies of the series! To enter, click HERE.

Before the Dawn begins just one week after the funeral of Charlotte’s daughter, Denise. Denise’s three children barely have time to process the death of their mother before they must move to the Heather Creek Farm they have never visited with grandparents they barely know. At age 16, Sam is fiercely protective of his younger siblings. Emily is 14 and desperately misses her friends. Young Christopher is only 8 and just wants to fit in. While Charlotte tries to help her grandchildren adjust to their new life, she also wrestles with her own grief and the enormous task of bringing her family together. Bob believes the fastest path to adjustment is a firm routine, with structure and chores, the same way they raised their own kids. However, that route led to Denise running away from home as a teenager and an estranged relationship with her family. Charlotte is worried about making the same mistakes she made with Denise. Is this her chance to make things right?

It is spring when the children arrive, and as Charlotte looks around the farm, she hopes the new life around them will signify hope and healing. The miracle of new life, along with God’s healing touch, reminds all of them that it’s always darkest just before the dawn.

~~~

Carolyne is also giving away one copy of Before the Dawn and copies of her last two Love Inspired releases, The Bachelor Baker and A Father’s Promise. To enter, use the widget below. Only those in the U.S. are eligible to win.

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September 13, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 7 Comments

My Writing Desk | Shelley Shepard Gray

I’m sure I have one of the messiest desks, ever. Years ago I taught myself to only write here; I rarely sit at this desk unless I’m working. I put up the W-R-I-T-E letters above my desk to remind myself to do just that. 🙂 Consequently, I don’t do much else in my office besides write or do emails. Hmmm . . . maybe I should consider putting up the letters C-L-E-A-N too?

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s currently on my desk: My ever-present spiral notebook. I keep one for every series I write. A calendar. Lots and lots of research notes and papers I printed out for either books or booksignings. Glasses and glasses cases. Pens and more pens. A mug of hot tea. And, several copies of Ray of Light and Eventide.

I’m celebrating the release of the final book in The Days of Redemption series, Eventide, by giving away FIVE sets of the series.

Five winners will receive:

Daybreak, Ray of Light and Eventide

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on September 21st. All winners will be announced September 23rd at my blog.

Get a sneak peek of Shelley Shepard Gray’s writing desk AND a new contest she’s holding!

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Shelley Shepard Gray is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the “Sisters of the Heart,” “Seasons of Sugarcreek,” “Secrets of Crittenden County,” and Families of Honor series. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town’s bike trail. Find out more about Shelley at her website and on Facebook.

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Wondering what’s up next for me? My book The One Year of Amish Peace releases soon. You can pre-order it here!

August 21, 2013 by Tricia Goyer 8 Comments

My Writing Desk | Camy Tang

Here’s my writing nook! The chair is an ergonomic one I desperately need because of an old work-related injury from when I was a biologist researcher. Hubby bought a lovely footstool to prop up my feet and on top of that is a pink fuzzy blanket I made for myself out of my leftover yarn scraps for when the nights get cold. And I always need my tea—my teapot is to the side on top of an electric mug-warmer that does the job nicely, along with a mismatched cup and saucer set I bought from the local Goodwill. I always feel comfortable writing amongst all the books on my bookshelves—which are stacked three-deep and are mostly garage sale and thrift store buys. (How can anyone resist a book for fifty cents?)

Take a peek at @CamyTang’s office space and see where the writing happens! @TriciaGoyer

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About Camy: Evangeline Kelley is the pen name for the writing team of Patti Berg, Pam Hanson & Barbara Andrews, and Camy Tang, the four authors who collaborated to create Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn. Each of them has published novels individually, but this is their first series together. Camy loved to write ever since Junior High, but she put it aside because she felt convicted that her motives were not pure—she was more interested in being a published author than in serving God and writing for His honor and glory. But in 2003 she felt God’s calling to write again, and she has been loving every minute of it. Connect with Camy at her website and on Facebook and Twitter.

Camy’s latest release, which is under the pen name Evangeline Kelley, just came out this month. Whispers on the Dock is book 3 in the Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series. As Nantucket reaches the pinnacle of its summer glory, and the Marris sisters welcome guests at Misty Harbor Inn, youngest sister Sam Carter enters her mother’s cobbler recipe in the Summerfest baking contest. But she faces a formidable opponent, a past winner who is determined to keep her title even if it means stooping to dirty tactics. Can Sam’s newfound faith help her rise above the fray and reach out to this lonely woman? Meanwhile, an elderly guest arrives who knows the inn’s history, and the sisters are stunned to learn that their late mother lived there as a child. But she told them she’d never been to Nantucket until her honeymoon! Through the woman’s reminiscences and photos, the sisters make an intriguing discovery — not only about the mysterious Hannah Montague, the young woman who disappeared from the house in 1880, but also about their own family history.

You can enter to win one of three sets of the entire Postcards from Misty Harbor Inn series! Details HERE.

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Wondering what’s up next for me? My book The One Year of Amish Peace releases soon. You can pre-order it here!